Coiling Dragon

by welyjesch

  But Olivier, Deia, and the others…they were different. It was best to separate them from this matter early on.

  Skyrite Mountains. Linley’s residence.

  Reynolds was seated on the ground. He was lying against a tree, holding a book in his hands, while Yale and George were seated facing each other.

  “Third Bro is too studious when it comes to training. As soon as he returned, he immediately went into closed-door training. Not even his original body is resting. Given his current level, why is he training so frantically?” Reynolds sat there on the ground, his gaze on his book while he mumbled aloud. “His original body and his four divine clones…he should leave at least one of them to accompany his bros in chatting. He can tell us about his journey, but he didn’t even chat with us. He went straight into closed-door training.”

  George shook his head, giving Reynolds, seated on the ground, a sideways glance. He laughed, “Fourth Bro, can it be that you believe that if Third Bro was as lazy as you, he would have been able to reach his current level? No matter how talented you are, you still have to work hard.”

  “I understand.” Reynolds replied, and then he suddenly saw the distant Bebe. He hurriedly called out towards him, “Hey, Bebe, c’mere.”

  “I’m busy. I’ll come later.” Bebe quickly ran away.

  Bebe flew down the stairs, and as he did, the corridor grew cold and dark.

  Soon, Bebe arrived at a private room.

  “Creaaaak.” The stone door was pushed open. Linley was there, seated in the meditative position within that stone room, his long hair hanging loosely. Linley opened his eyes and glanced at Bebe, then laughed and nodded. “Bebe, sit.”

  The stone door was shut.

  Bebe looked at Linley, puzzled. “Boss, something you need?”

  “Bebe.” Linley spoke to him through their spiritual link. “Previously, you asked me about the nine soul pearls, right? I’ll tell you now, but our conversation must be through our spiritual link. This is because…I can’t be sure if there is currently a Sovereign using his divine sense to monitor me!”

  Linley was unable to detect the divine sense of a Sovereign, which was why, to be safe, Linley didn’t dare to bring out the crown a single time.

  “But of course, it is still early on. Most likely, most Sovereigns don’t know about this. Thus, the chance that we are currently being investigated is quite low. Nonetheless, to be safe, we need to be vigilant.” After having experienced that last trial, Linley didn’t want to rely on luck alone.

  “It seems this is a serious problem.” Bebe’s eyes lit up as he sent back.

  “It is indeed quite serious. Those nine soul pearls are an Overgod talisman. That’s something even Sovereigns want. But, I can’t hand it over, because once I hand over those nine soul pearls, the Sovereigns will definitely keep asking me for an ‘Overgod decree’. Handing them over would just cause a disaster! Right now, the most important thing is to hide those nine soul pearls.”

  Linley had pondered over this for a long time. Although he had quite a few good ideas, in the end, he chose one which required Bebe’s help.

  “Boss, tell me.” Bebe sent back.

  Linley said aloud, “Bebe, you need to eat divine sparks, right? This interspatial ring has more than enough within.” As he spoke, he took out an interspatial ring and gave it to Bebe. While he said those things aloud, he simultaneously said mentally through divine sense, “Bebe, the Overgod talisman is inside this ring. I can’t open it up. What you need to do is to swallow the ring. You should now be able to make godspark weapons, right? Hide this ring inside of a godspark weapon and fuse it into it. I trust you are able to do this.”

  “Don’t worry, Boss. I am currently making a godspark artifact.” Bebe was completely confident.

  When Bebe had just become a Highgod, he wasn’t able to forge godspark weapons.

  But it had been more than a thousand years. After having eaten so many divine sparks, Bebe already had the power to forge godspark weapons.

  “In a bit, I’ll swallow this ring into my stomach, but I won’t digest it. I’ll cover it with a godspark weapon. Heh heh, a godspark weapon…even Sovereigns aren’t able to see through them and see what is inside them. Even if a Sovereign comes to investigate us, how would the Sovereign end up suspecting my godspark weapons?” Bebe was completely confident.

  “Even if he wanted to search, he would probably search me first.” Linley sent back with a faint smile.

  Items like Overgod talismans, to Deities, were quite dangerous.

  Because of the trick Molde had played, Linley didn’t dare to hand over the nine soul pearls at all. If he didn’t hand it over, it wouldn’t be so bad; most likely, the Sovereigns would believe that Molde was trying to harm Linley. But if he handed them over…it would be strange if the Sovereigns didn’t then demand Linley hand over the Overgod decree as well. If Linley handed over the ‘tattered crown’, the Sovereigns probably would go mad and most likely suspect Linley to be in possession of all three items.

  By then, Linley would be at the heart of a vortex of battles between Sovereigns.

  “If they aren’t able to find it on me, the Sovereigns will probably give up. Unless a Sovereign was absolutely certain that the Overgod talisman exists…only then would they frantically search for it.” Linley was very confident, because based on the information, he could tell…that the Sovereigns didn’t know whether or not the news about the Overgod talismans was true or not.

  Perhaps the Overgods hadn’t even issued a mission.

  Linley’s predictions were correct. This matter wasn’t finished. Molde was dead, but the 100 soldiers he had sent out didn’t know that. They still hastened to places throughout the Infernal Realm.

  The Starmist Sea was fairly close to the Bloodridge Continent.

  Starmist Sea. Deep within the sea.

  A nine storied tower. The farther down one went, the more space it took up. This nine storied tower that was located deep within the Starmist Sea took up a hundred kilometers, and was nearly five thousand meters high. The nine storied tower was completely, pitch-black, but the outside layer was faintly glowing with light, keeping the water of the sea at bay.

  Within the nine storied tower, at the main gates. Two horned warriors were there, standing guard.

  Within the tower. The first floor. Within the eastern hall.

  At the front of the hall, there was a throne glowing with illusory light. The figure atop the throne seemed so blurry, but the awe-inspiring, heart-shaking aura which manifested from this man caused a violet-robed man at the back of hall to kneel in terror, not even daring to raise his head.

  “Sovereign.” The violet-robed man knelt down before the throne. “Your subordinate just received this news, and then I rushed over here, not even daring to look back.”

  “Sovereign.” The violet-robed man knelt there on the floor of the hall. “Your subordinate received some news. There is word regarding an Overgod talisman.”

  “Overgod talisman?”

  A deep, hoarse voice echoed forth.

  Instantly, that black piece of paper flew towards the figure seated upon the throne, pausing momentarily before the throne. And then, the piece of paper began to burn before transforming into ashes

  “It was actually an ordinary piece of paper that contained this news? Laughable.” The hoarse voice rang out. “Where did you hear this news from?

  “Sovereign, a Highgod delivered it to us. When I saw it, I immediately found that Highgod and began to interrogate him. At first, the Highgod insisted that he gained it by accident and wanted to offer it to me. But I didn’t believe it and intensified the questioning. In the end, I learned that this news came from Lord Prefect ‘Molde’ of Skymount Prefecture, of the Bloodridge Continent. He was the one who sent this person here. I didn’t dare to ponder this, and instead immediately came to report it to you.”

  “A Lord Prefect of the Bloodridge Prefecture?”

  The Sovereign, seated on his t
hrone, pondered silently for a moment. “You did very well. Alright, then, you can leave now.”

  “Yes, Sovereign.” After hearing the words, ‘you did very well’, the violet-robed man’s eyes flashed with delight as he immediately left.

  “This news didn’t come on an Overgod decree. The chances that this is real is rather low, but for the Lord Prefect to dare act in such a way, perhaps…there really might be a chance.” That blurry figure immediately vanished, disappearing from the throne.

  The bloody sunlight shone down upon the Skyrite Mountains.

  The carvings of the Four Divine Beasts clan within the Skyrite Mountains all appeared so eye-catching. There were people visible everywhere throughout the mountains.

  “Whoosh!”

  A blurry human figure suddenly appeared before the Skyrite Mountains, seeming to have just teleported here. This man was dressed in a dark violet robe, which had stars embroidered atop of it. His long, deep violet hair hanged loosely to his shoulders. His features were almost devilishly handsome, but there was a very fine, small horn in his forehead.

  This new arrival swept the Skyrite Mountains with his gaze, then revealed a hint of a smile. “Those four divine beasts died. I didn’t imagine that their progeny would produce a Paragon.”

  And then, with another movement, he once more disappeared.

  In the air above Linley’s estate. That dark-violet robed man once more appeared out of nowhere.

  “Who is this?” Reynolds, upon seeing someone suddenly appear out of nowhere in the air above him, was badly startled.

  The guards surrounding this empty space were all stunned as well. Before they even noticed it, someone had appeared above them. In addition, there had been quite a few people staring into the skies. The person seemed to have teleported here, as he had appeared immediately.

  “Who is this?” Yale sent mentally, stunned. “I…I can’t see him clearly. He seems to be completely wrapped in a layer of fog.”

  “I can’t tell either.” Bebe also mumbled, astonished.

  This figure descended, landing on the ground. He calmly released his aura, making it so that everyone nearby did not dare to approach him.

  “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” Two figures charged out from the main hall.

  “Greetings, Sovereign.” The two figures simultaneously bowed.

  “Linley…Beirut…” The newcomer glanced at him with his violet pupils. “Let’s chat inside the room.” As he spoke, his body flickered, then vanished from that location. His speed was countless times faster than that of a Highgod Paragon.

  Linley and Beirut exchanged a glance.

  “Linley, your predictions were quite accurate.” Beirut sent with a laugh.

  “It was easy to understand. Only, I didn’t imagine that someone would come so fast.” Linley sent with a sigh. “Lord Beirut, which Sovereign is this?”

  “The Starmist Sovereign! He’s the one who controls the Starmist Sea. In terms of power, amongst the seven Sovereigns of Destruction, he is only weaker than the Chief Sovereign of Destruction. He is far more powerful than that Sovereign of Wind who came last time. Come, let’s go inside.” Beirut sent, and then Linley and Beirut immediately stepped into the main hall.

  Book 20, The Crown’s Riddle – Chapter 18, Joke

  Within the main hall. All the outsiders had departed.

  The Starmist Sovereign was seated on his throne, and his dark, violet gaze landed upon Linley. “Linley, based on what I know, you have acquired an Overgod talisman, the ‘nine soul pearls’, as well as the ‘Overgod decree’ which describes these three items. The Overgod talisman and Overgod decree are useless to you. You had best hand them over directly to me. Of course, I will not make you hand them over for nothing.”

  “Forgive me, Sovereign.” Linley bowed as he spoke. “I do not possess the Overgod talisman or the Overgod decree.”

  “Rumble…”

  A gloomy, cold, black aura that didn’t contain a hint of light wafted out from the Starmist Sovereign’s body. It instantly filled the entire main hall. Linley only felt his body grow cold, and his legs were even turning soft. He felt like he had back then, when he was an infant and seeing the ‘Black Dragon’, a magical beast of the ninth rank, for the first time.

  The difference between Deities and Sovereigns was simply too vast!

  “Sovereign.” The nearby Beirut said hurriedly. “Can it be that you are unaware that a Sovereign of Wind and the Bloodridge Sovereign have already sought Linley? Linley has already sworn an oath by the Overgod of Fate, and the Bloodridge Sovereign himself testified that this was nothing more than a trap intended to harm Linley.”

  “Boson and the others came as well?” The Starmist Sovereign’s gaze fell upon Beirut.

  “Yes, Sovereign.” Beirut hurriedly explained. “This news was transmitted by the Lord Prefect of Skymount Prefecture, ‘Molde’. Just prior to this, Linley killed his most powerful divine clone. Molde was unable to take revenge, and so he came up with this idea. Otherwise, how could there be such a coincidence, that right after Linley killed his most powerful divine clone, he would immediately receive information about this Overgod talisman?”

  “Molde…” The Starmist Sovereign knew that this information did indeed come from someone named Molde. “Does he want to die?” That low voice contained a hint of anger.

  “Molde probably wanted to take revenge against Linley, even if it cost him his own life.” Beirut said hurriedly. “After losing his most powerful divine clone, Molde was no longer worth anything. But Linley is a Highgod Paragon. The difference between the two is simply too great. For Molde to be willing to trade his crippled life for Linley’s life…it makes sense.”

  “Where is Molde?” The Starmist Sovereign said coldly.

  “He has already been executed by the Bloodridge Sovereign.” Beirut explained. “Both the Sovereign of Wind, Lord Teresia, and the Bloodridge Sovereign were angered by this. Linley wanted to go pursue and kill Molde, but Molde was the Emissary of the Bloodridge Sovereign, after all. In the end, it was the Bloodridge Sovereign who personally killed him.”

  The Starmist Sovereign was silent, and he stared at Linley.

  Linley felt tremendous pressure from this Sovereign’s gaze.

  Suddenly…

  The Starmist Sovereign frowned as he looked towards the main hall’s door. A blurry figure suddenly took shape, transforming into the appearance of the Bloodridge Sovereign.

  “Boson, you came?” The Starmist Sovereign said.

  The Bloodridge Sovereign smiled, then bowed slightly. Laughing while walking over, he said, “Of course I came. You came to my territory; how could I not come to accompany you? Shinji [Xing’yi]. It seems as though the Overgod talisman truly is quite alluring. Previously, Teresia also chased after Linley and wanted to force Linley to hand it over. Linley had no other choice but to swear an oath by the Overgods.”

  And then, the Bloodridge Sovereign sat down as well.

  The Bloodridge Sovereign laughed as he looked at Linley and Beirut. “Don’t worry. The Starmist Sovereign isn’t like that madman, Teresia.”

  “Enough.” The Starmist Sovereign couldn’t help but glance sideways at the Bloodridge Sovereign. “Since Linley has already sworn by the Overgods, and with you bearing witness on his behalf…I trust what you have said. But Boson…your Emissary, ‘Molde’, actually dared to falsely generate news like this? There are only waves when the wind blows; I imagine that the Overgods might have truly issued a mission.”

  The Bloodridge Sovereign nodded. “It makes sense. But if there really was such a mission, we have to at least see one of the three Overgod talismans, right? The most important thing is the Overgod decree. The Overgod decree described the requirements of the mission, but the information on the decree was clearly altered. This is because even if there is an Overgod mission, there is no way the Overgod decree would have information on who is carrying one of the talismans.”

  The Starmist Sovereign nodded.

&nb
sp; Suddenly…

  “Rumble…” The Starmist Sovereign’s terrifying divine sense suddenly swept out…

  “Shinji, why did you use your divine sense to cover the entire Infernal Realm?” The Bloodridge Sovereign said, surprised.

  Hearing this, Linley felt his heart shudder. Cover the entire Infernal Realm? The distance one’s divine sense could reach was related to the strength of one’s soul and the power of one’s Will. Linley was only able to stretch to eight million kilometers or so, and that was because his spiritual energy was especially strong. But Sovereigns? They were able to cover the entire Infernal Realm.

  One could imagine how much stronger the Will of Sovereigns was, compared to his own Will.

  No wonder once a Sovereign came in person to deal with a Paragon, that Paragon would have to die. Unless, of course, the Paragon had already fled and avoided encountering the Sovereign, instead fleeing into a material plane.

  “Naturally, we have to discuss this matter with the other Sovereigns of the Infernal Realm. Otherwise, every ten years or every few centuries, another one of them will arrive. And we don’t know for sure whether or not this news is real or not.” The Starmist Sovereign said calmly.

  Linley’s heart lurched. “A discussion with every single Sovereign of the Infernal Realm?”

  The distant Redbud Continent, the eastern Jadefloat Continent, the vast Chaotic Sea…

  The Sovereigns, scattered across the distant lands, were now all connected through divine sense.

  “Shinji, why have you reached out to everyone?” Deep in the distant Chaotic Sea, an incredibly powerful presence spoke, with the voice echoing in the minds of every single Sovereign present.”

  “Chief, I have reached out to everyone because news has spread within the Infernal Realm regarding Overgod talismans. Soon, you will all learn of this, which is why I thought it best to reach out to you all directly to discuss this.” The Starmist Sovereign’s voice echoed in the minds of the other Sovereigns as well.

  Sovereigns were capable of covering the entire plane with their divine sense. There was no need for them to gather together to converse at all.