Lord of the Mists

by Wo Chi Xi Hong Shi

“Sovereign, what is this Overgod talisman of which you speak?” Linley said, puzzled. “Based on what I know, the four Overgods are the personifications of the four Edicts. They shouldn’t have any human emotions. Why would there be Overgod talismans?” But as soon as he spoke, Linley knew that he was wrong.

  If they didn’t have human emotions, did that necessarily mean they couldn’t issue talismans?

  Where did Overgod artifacts come from, then? Since there was such a thing as an Overgod artifact, then naturally there could be Overgod talismans as well.

  But this silver-haired man thought that Linley didn’t know about the existence of Overgod talismans and Overgod artifacts. He said calmly, “Since Overgods are able to take the form of a person if they choose, why is it that you think you can understand them? Based on what I know, of the three talismans, the ‘nine soul pearls’ are in your hands, correct?”

  “The ‘nine soul pearls’ of the three talismans?” Linley couldn’t help but say, startled.

  Linley was indeed startled, because he knew what this person was speaking of. “This Sovereign has come to find me for an Overgod talisman. So… he is referring to those nine soul pearls which allowed Molde to stay alive. That’s the Overgod talisman. No wonder it is so unique and has such incomprehensible power. So it is an Overgod talisman… but what are they used for?”

  At this moment, Linley truly wanted to send his divine sense into his interspatial ring to investigate those nine soul pearls.

  However, with the Sovereign in front of him, Linley didn’t dare act in such a way. Linley didn’t know what sort of detection powers a Sovereign possessed. Given the divine powers of a Sovereign, however, most likely they would be able to pay attention to anything he did. If Linley was to immediately investigate his interspatial ring, wouldn’t the Sovereign connect it all together?

  “There are a total of three Overgod talismans?” Linley had a completely stunned look on his face.

  The Sovereign of Wind looked closely at Linley, then let out a cold laugh. “Linley, although you have become a Paragon, you are still a Deity. An Overgod talisman is useless to you. I urge you to hand over this Overgod talisman. Don’t say that you don’t have it. I know… that the nine soul pearls are in your hands!”

  “I will give you just a single chance,” the Sovereign of Wind said calmly. “If you hand over the nine soul pearls now, I will spare your life. But if you try to dissemble even the slightest bit, then don’t blame me for killing you, then taking the Overgod talisman from you.”

  The Sovereign of Wind actually wasn’t completely confident about whether or not Linley had those nine soul pearls either.

  In fact…

  Whether the Overgods had even issued a mission, or if there were even three Overgod talismans, was unverified. However, to these Sovereigns who possessed eternal life, there were very few things capable of drawing their interest. Overgod talismans, however, were things that were more than enough to drive them insane with excitement.

  If there was even the slightest chance of it being true, the Sovereign of Wind wanted to try and ‘trick’ Linley into admitting it. He pretended to be completely confident. If Linley did actually have the nine soul pearls, he might be nervous and thus hand it over.

  Linley’s heart clenched. “Can it be that the Sovereign knew that I acquired those nine soul pearls from Molde? Only my people know about this, and Molde himself. Can it be that it was Molde who told the Sovereign? But Molde and I have a huge enmity between us. If he wanted to entrap me, it shouldn’t be as simple as this!”

  Linley hesitated.

  “Sovereign, just now, I told you that I am willing to swear an oath in the name of the Overgods. Why are you saying such things? Can it be that I would dare lie to the Overgods?” Linley said hurriedly. “I, Linley, swear by the Overgod of Fate that before the Sovereign told me about Overgod talismans, I knew nothing whatsoever about Overgod talismans. If I say a single false word… let my soul be shattered and dispersed!”

  Linley looked solemnly at the Sovereign of Wind.

  Indeed, the Sovereign of Wind frowned. An oath to the Overgods wasn’t something a person would casually make. After all, the universe itself was controlled by the Edicts.

  “Can it be that Linley really has no idea? That the news was false?” the Sovereign of Wind mused, puzzled.

  “Teresia!” a voice rang out.

  Linley saw that in the distance, a blood-robed figure had suddenly emerged. A blood-red robe, and blood-red hair. The newcomer’s aura was even more overbearing and tyrannical than the Sovereign of Wind’s. He flew over unhappily. “Teresia, Linley belongs to my Bloodridge Continent. You can’t act wildly. Molde spouted some rubbish, and so you believed him? Overgod talismans? How many years has it been since they appeared? How could they now have appeared out of nowhere?”

  Teresia was startled.

  The words of the Bloodridge Sovereign as good as told Linley that they weren’t completely sure either.

  The Sovereign of Wind, Teresia, sent mentally, “Boson, what’s going on with you? How could you tell the truth in front of Linley? Aren’t you as good as trying to help him out? He’s just a Deity. Why act like this?” The Sovereign of Wind was very unhappy. He didn’t understand why the Bloodridge Sovereign was helping Linley.

  As he saw it, the Bloodridge Sovereign should join forces with him to make Linley hand over the talisman.

  “I heard everything Linley said.” The Bloodridge Sovereign swept Linley with his gaze, and then looked back at Teresia. “He swore an oath by the Overgods. How can this be false? In addition, the news stated that the nine soul pearls were placed alongside the Overgod decree. If Linley had both the nine soul pearls and the Overgod decree, how could he not know what an Overgod talisman is? Clearly, Molde was lying. Or, to put it another way, the news he brought was false.”

  The Sovereign of Wind had to admit that the Bloodridge Sovereign’s words made sense.

  “Overgod decree? What’s that?” Linley was secretly startled.

  But then, Linley suddenly understood…

  “This Molde really wanted to kill me!” Linley was shocked. “If I was caught off-guard and immediately handed over the nine soul pearls, most likely this silver-haired Sovereign would then demand the Overgod decree. And if I didn’t hand it over!? The Sovereign, after acquiring the nine soul pearls, would definitely believe that the information he had received was real and might very well then, for the sake of acquiring the Overgod decree, kill me and then inspect my interspatial ring.”

  16

  A TRIBULATION

  Linley secretly celebrated.

  Fortunately, he had suspected Molde of plotting against him, and that this scheme shouldn’t be a simple one. Thus, from the very beginning, he had staunchly insisted on swearing an ‘Overgod oath’. And indeed, there were no problems with Linley’s oath to the Overgods; although he had the nine soul pearls, prior to this, he truly knew nothing whatsoever about the Overgod talismans.

  But the Sovereign of Wind didn’t realize this.

  This was because, according to that sheet of paper, Linley had acquired both the nine soul pearls as well as the Overgod decree. As Teresia, Sovereign of Wind, viewed it, if the information was true, then Linley should know what Overgod talismans are. But if the news was false, then Linley wouldn’t know.

  By the looks of it, Linley truly didn’t know. That meant the news should be false!

  This logic seemed flawless!

  Actually, what the Sovereign of Wind didn’t realize was that Molde was a victim of his own cleverness. The news on that sheet of paper contained both truths and falsehoods! Molde’s actions were intended to make it so that even if Linley handed over the soul pearls, he would still be pursued by the Sovereigns. Since Linley wouldn’t be able to hand over the Overgod decree, then the Sovereign would probably kill Linley to ‘seize it’.

  The information was partly true and partly false, so as to ca
use Linley’s death.

  What he didn’t realize was that, precisely because the information was partly true and partly false, Linley actually managed to dodge this tribulation. It truly was a case where one was a victim of one’s own cleverness!

  “It seems this information is probably false,” the silver-haired Sovereign, Teresia, said calmly.

  “Only you would be so bored as to believe in it.” The Bloodridge Sovereign snickered.

  Linley finally let out a mental sigh of relief.

  But then, the corners of Teresia’s narrow eyes once more turned to Linley and the interspatial ring on his finger. Laughing calmly, he said, “However, Linley, given how confident you are in your innocence… fine, then. Hand over your interspatial ring to me and let me look through it. If there is nothing inside, then this news is clearly false… oh, and bring all of your divine clones out as well. Let me inspect all of their interspatial rings.”

  Linley’s heart lurched.

  Inspect his interspatial rings? Linley knew very well that those nine pearls were right inside his interspatial ring.

  “If I hand over those nine soul pearls, he will be absolutely certain that the information he gained was real, and would definitely try to force me to hand over the Overgod decree. I won’t be able to hand it out, and this Sovereign will probably mercilessly kill me.” Linley understood this. By now, even though he had the nine soul pearls, he definitely couldn’t hand them over.

  In addition, Overgod talismans… one could tell just from the name that these things would surely attract the attention of many Sovereigns.

  If he were to admit having the soul pearls, even if this Sovereign of Wind didn’t kill him, most likely one of the other Sovereigns would. He would never again be able to live a peaceful life.

  “Sovereign.” Linley had a look of anger and humiliation on his face. “I, Linley, have trained for so many years and finally become a Paragon! You are a Sovereign, yes, but even common mortals can grow angry… much less me, Linley! Faced with your repeated questions, Sovereign, I, Linley, provided you with repeated answers. I even swore an oath by the Overgod of Fate. What else do you want?”

  The Sovereign of Wind was stunned.

  Linley stood there in midair. He stared at the Sovereign of Wind, not shrinking back at the slightest. Instead, he started to laugh. “You want my divine clones to come out? Fine!” With a thought, Linley transformed into five different people as his other four divine clones all emerged.”

  “Four divine clones!” The Sovereign of Wind, Teresia, was startled.

  Generally speaking, most Deities trained in one type of Law, with a few who trained in two. There were very few who trained in three types of Laws, but Linley actually trained in four. This was indeed astonishing.

  “You are quite wise,” teresia said emotionlessly.

  Linley and Teresia stared at each other. Linley showed no hint of subservience or humility as he said calmly, “Sovereign, my five clones have, in total, five interspatial rings! But I, Linley, feel that I have already demonstrated sufficient sincerity. I’ve even swore an oath by the Overgods, and yet you still want to investigate my interspatial rings? Fine then. Investigate away. The five interspatial rings are all there. However, pardon me, Linley, for not removing my binding from them. I, Linley, am a Highgod Paragon, not your slave. If you want to investigate my interspatial rings… then just go ahead and kill me!”

  Linley stared at Teresia.

  Linley’s intentions were clear…

  You are powerful! You are a Sovereign! But I’m not something that you can toy around with as you please. If you truly want to be shameless, fine, then. Come and kill me!

  The Sovereign of Wind, Teresia, stared at Linley, puzzled, like a viper staring at his prey.

  Sovereigns cared about face as well. Highgod Paragons were ‘emperors’ amongst Deities. They too cared about face. Given that Teresia wasn’t completely certain of the situation, for him to treat Linley in this manner, forcing him to swear an oath and then still insisting on checking all of his interspatial rings, was indeed rather excessive.

  Most likely, a Paragon who had even a bit of a temper would rather die than suffer this sort of humiliation.

  “Teresia!” The face of the Bloodridge Sovereign sank as he watched this happen. He said angrily, “Linley has already sworn an oath by the Overgods. In addition, the information you received came on a piece of ordinary paper, rather than through an Overgod decree. You intend to search through all five of his interspatial rings? Once word of this spreads, hmph!”

  The Sovereign of Wind, Teresia, began to worry. “Although Linley said that he will let me search, he meant for me to kill him, then search. He’s clearly forcing my hand. It wouldn’t be an issue if I found those nine soul pearls; I would be proven right. But if I kill him and don’t find them… then I would have unjustly accused him! Once this news spreads out, I would truly lose face.”

  Teresia was hesitating.

  “Sovereign, if you want to investigate, then please do so. I, Linley, have something to attend to. I can’t accompany you any longer,” Linley said solemnly. “As for that ‘Molde’ you mentioned, Sovereigns, not long ago, I killed his most powerful divine clone! He clearly came up with this information so as to unjustly accuse me. If you don’t plan to investigate any further, Sovereign, then I’m going to go find Molde. Hmph, I didn’t ‘pull up grass by the roots’ and exterminate all his clones; I didn’t expect he would repay me by doing this.”

  Teresia frowned.

  Right. In the palace of the Bloodridge Sovereign, he had learned that Linley had killed Molde’s most powerful divine clone.

  The Bloodridge Sovereign sent secretly, “Teresia, you need to pay more attention to your status. You are a Sovereign! Given what has happened, are you still going to insist on investigating?”

  “Boson, are you going to stop me? By the looks of things, it seems you are standing on Linley’s side,” Teresia sent back.

  “I’m not the one stopping you. Let me tell you something. The Redbud Sovereign, she asked me to take good care of Linley,” the Bloodridge Sovereign sent back. “In addition, based on what I know, Linley was in the Planar Battlefield not long ago and just recently returned. Where would he have acquired an Overgod talisman from? This information is clearly false. Even if an Overgod talisman exists, Linley isn’t necessarily the one carrying it. And let’s say that there really is one, and Linley really is the one carrying it! What, do you want to try and fight over the Overgod talisman?”

  “What, why can’t I?” Teresia sent back.

  “I know that you are a Paragon in your Laws. But you are simply a Lesser Sovereign. Later, when the storm comes… you should know that in each of the past six missions, it was a Chief Sovereign who succeeded. Over the course of the Overgod mission, Sovereigns fell. You truly want to get involved?”

  Teresia hesitated.

  “In addition, this news is completely false,” the Bloodridge Sovereign sent. “If it was true, how could it be that there was no hint of it before this? How could there be such a coincidence, that we just so happened to be the first to learn of it? How could there be such a coincidence, that the news was sent over by Molde? Who just coincidentally happened to have had one of his clones killed by Linley? And Linley… he’s a Paragon, yet would rather die than hand it over? Do you really think this is possible? Overgod talismans are useless to him!”

  Teresia was convinced.

  “Linley has a relationship with the Redbud Sovereign?” Teresia sent back.

  Teresia was just a Lesser Sovereign, while the Redbud Sovereign was an Intermediate Sovereign. More importantly, the Redbud Sovereign was birthed from the Amethyst Mountains, and was the first Amethyst Godbeast. She was countless times more powerful than Reisgem. Even Teresia was somewhat afraid of the Redbud Sovereign.

  “Of course he does. You can ask around. Linley specializes in using her Amethyst Space. The Amethyst Spa
ce technique is the supreme technique of the Redbud Sovereign,” the Bloodridge Sovereign sent back.

  The Bloodridge Sovereign was right there. There was no way Teresia would be allowed to act against Linley.

  In addition, the preponderance of the evidence and facts available indicated that the news was false!

  He, Teresia, had the exalted status of Sovereign. He couldn’t embarrass himself like this.

  Teresia swept Linley with his slitted gaze, then said calmly, “Since you’ve sworn an oath, I naturally believe you.” He swept his gaze past the interspatial rings belonging to Linley’s five clones, and then, with a flicker, he suddenly disappeared from Linley’s field of vision, his movements far faster than what a Paragon-level expert like Linley was capable of.

  “Is this a Sovereign’s speed? No wonder it is said that a Paragon facing a Sovereign isn’t able to fight back at all.” Linley felt secretly astonished.

  “Thank you, Sovereign.” Linley bowed towards the Bloodridge Sovereign in front of him, showing his gratitude.

  “Heh heh…” The Bloodridge Sovereign let out a calm chuckle. “Linley, your Four Divine Beasts clan resides within my Bloodridge Continent, and Beirut is my Emissary. The relationship between you and Beirut is not a shallow one. And, you are in the right in this matter. Of course I should protect you. If you have some time in the future, you can pay a visit to my Bloodridge Island. Bloodridge Island is in the Cloudlink Mountains.”

  “Yes, Sovereign,” Linley said gratefully.

  “Are you planning to go kill Molde?” the Bloodridge Sovereign said.

  “Yes.” Linley nodded. “This Molde tried to scheme against me. How can I spare him?”

  It was Molde who had acquired an Overgod talisman. Molde hadn’t publicly announced that he had acquired it, and now, he was trying to use it to scheme against Linley, and even mentioned some ‘Overgod decree’. He was quite insidious.

  “No need. You can head straight back to the Skyrite Mountains,” the Bloodridge Sovereign said.

  Linley was stunned.

  What? The Sovereign was going to stop him?