Dragonblood: Book 2 of the Coiling Dragon Saga

by Wo Chi Xi Hong Shi

  But upon entering the Saint level, a Supreme Warrior, especially in Dragonform, would definitely be a peak-stage Saint-level combatant with incredible defense and offense. Even amongst peak-stage Saint-level combatants, the Supreme Warriors would probably be amongst the most powerful.

  “Heidens won’t be willing to kill a genius like you unless there’s absolutely no options available.” After finishing his speech, Doehring Cowart flew back into the Coiling Dragon ring.

  Linley’s heart was very calm.

  Life, death?

  The thing which Linley truly cared about was vengeance.

  “I’m afraid that even if he spares me, Heidens won’t allow me to kill Clayde.” Linley knew very well that having failed to kill Clayde this time, in the future, it would be very hard for him to kill Clayde. If he couldn’t kill Clayde, in his heart, Linley wouldn’t be able to accept it.

  “Who knows when I will be able to get vengeance.”

  Linley’s heart was filled with helplessness.

  Within the highest floor of the Radiant Temple. The Holy Emperor, Heidens, was sitting calmly on his seat.

  Guillermo was staring at the Holy Emperor in shock. “Your Holiness, that demon was Linley? But… but…”

  At first, Guillermo hadn’t known that person was Linley, but after the scales had retracted into Linley’s body, Guillermo discovered his identity. This had totally shocked the man.

  “That wasn’t a demon. That was a Dragonblood Warrior!” Heidens glanced calmly at Guillermo.

  Guillermo was startled, but then he quickly understood. “Right… the Baruch clan is the clan of the Dragonblood Warriors. But it has been over a thousand years since the Dragonblood warrior clan has produced a Dragonblood Warrior. It’s unimaginable that… that… that Linley was actually… your Holiness, that was a Dragonblood Warrior?”

  Remembering how terrifying Linley had appeared, Guillermo felt his heart tremble a bit.

  “Perhaps a mutated version. But it should be a Dragonblood Warrior transformation, yes. Otherwise, how could he rise in power so quickly?” Heidens said calmly. “This Linley’s potential is too great. Although this time, his offense was a major one, there are very few outsiders who know that ‘demon’ was actually Linley.”

  Guillermo instantly understood Heidens’ meaning.

  Linley’s potential is too great?

  Guillermo sighed to himself. Linley’s potential was absolutely terrifying. Not only was his potential as a magus incredible, he was also a Supreme Warrior. In both aspects, he was a very terrifying person. If such a person could remain within the Radiant Church, in several decades, the Radiant Church would almost assuredly have another supreme combatant.

  “Indeed. Your Holiness, others all say that it was a demon. Aside from those Executors who dragged Linley back, nobody else knows this demon was Linley,” Guillermo said respectfully.

  “Oh. Those four. Deal with them,” Heidens said coldly.

  “Yes, your Holiness,” Guillermo said respectfully. “It is their good fortune to be able to return to the Lord’s embrace.”

  Guillermo then said softly, “Right. Your Holiness, another person knows that the demon is actually Linley.”

  “You mean… Clayde?” Heidens said softly.

  “Yes, your Holiness,” Guillermo said. Questioningly, he wondered, “Clearly, this Linley has an extremely deep grievance with Clayde, otherwise he wouldn’t have gone to this extent to kill him. Your Holiness, Clayde is the ruler of the Kingdom of Fenlai. If we are to preserve Linley, perhaps we should have a chat with Clayde.”

  “Yes, we should have a chat.”

  A hint of a smile was on Heidens’ face. “I am very curious. What sort of deep grievance and enmity does Linley have with Clayde?”

  Late in the evening, Clayde arrived at the top floor of the Radiant Temple.

  “Your Holiness.” Clayde bowed respectfully.

  The Holy Emperor, Heidens, was seated on his chair, leafing through a few thick tomes. Without even looking up, he said, “Clayde. In your opinion, who is more important to the Holy Union? You? Or Linley?”

  Clayde’s heart thumped hard.

  “The Holy Emperor means to preserve Linley?” Clayde’s heart began to grow frantic.

  After having experienced this event, he now knew that Linley’s father and mother were killed as a result of him, even though he didn’t do it himself. In terms of responsibility for the deaths of Linley’s parents, he, Clayde, probably bore 90% of the responsibility.

  That year in the past, if it hadn’t been for Clayde deciding to take Linley’s mother and offer her up, how could she have ended up dying? And how would Linley’s father have died?

  Clayde remembered very clearly that look of unrelenting hatred in Linley’s eyes, even as Linley had been dragged away after being heavily wounded by the Holy Emperor.

  “This Linley will fight with me until one of us dies. He cannot be allowed to live,” Clayde said to himself.

  “Clayde, the outside world all believe that it was a demon. Nobody knows that it was Linley, yes?” Heidens looked at Clayde.

  Hearing these words, Clayde was even more certain of the Holy Emperor’s intentions. He hurriedly said, “Your Holiness, that Linley truly is an incredible talent. Most likely, he is the greatest genius to have appeared in thousands of years, both as a magus as well as a warrior. He is an absolute genius. It is very understandable that your Holiness would desire to have him be of use to the Radiant Church. But… it is already determined that he will not be of service to our Church.”

  These words from Clayde caused Heidens to frown. His eyes stared coldly at Clayde.

  Clayde’s heart quivered in fear.

  But he knew that if Linley didn’t die, then he would never have a moment’s peace again.

  “Your Holiness, do you know why Linley wishes to kill me?” Clayde hurriedly said.

  “Summarize,” Heidens said coldly.

  Clayde immediately said, “Your Holiness, the reason Linley wishes to kill me is because twelve years ago, I sent people to abduct his mother. And then, his father, in the course of investigating his mother’s disappearance, was killed. His mother and father, it can be said, died because of me.”

  “The enmity sowed by the deaths of one’s parents is indeed a great one.” Heidens nodded.

  “But your Holiness, do you remember that woman from twelve years ago? That woman I gifted to you, your Holiness?” Clayde looked at Heidens.

  Heidens started.

  “Are you saying…” The look on Heidens’ face changed.

  “Right. That woman was Linley’s mother!” Clayde said in a resounding, loud voice.

  “Your Holiness, if Linley is to remain within the Radiant Church, then as his station rises, he will begin to learn some of the secrets of the Radiant Church. He will definitely discover how and why his mother died. By then… is it even remotely possible that he would still be loyal to the Radiant Church?” Clayde let out a mental sigh of relief.

  He trusted that given the situation, Heidens would definitely decide to act appropriately. Yes, Linley’s potential was high. But the more powerful Linley became, the greater a threat he would pose to the Radiant Church once he discovered the truth.

  “If this is the case… pity. What a waste of a talent.” Heidens let out a single sigh.

  65

  A Hope of Living

  Upon hearing the words, “What a waste of a genius”, Clayde exulted mentally.

  He already knew that the Holy Emperor’s choice was.

  “You can leave now,” Heidens waved his arm and said calmly.

  “Yes, Your Holiness.” Clayde bowed respectfully, then turned and left the top floor of the Radiant Temple. In the entire hall, only Holy Emperor Heidens now remained. Walking to a window, Heidens stared down at the City of Fenlai, maintaining a long silence.

  After a long time…

  “Knock!” “Knock!” “Knock!” The sound of knocking on the door.

>   “Enter,” Heidens said calmly.

  The person who entered was Cardinal Guillermo. Guillermo glanced at Heidens’s back. Able to sense that Heidens was in a foul mood, he respectfully lowered his voice. “Your Holiness, how should we attempt to persuade Linley?”

  “Persuade? No need,” Heidens said calmly.

  Guillermo couldn’t help but raise his head to stare at Heidens in astonishment. If they wanted Linley to be of use to them in the future, at the very least they would have to speak with him and persuade him. After all, not only had Heidens severely injured Linley, Linley had a deep grudge against Clayde to begin with.

  “Guillermo, do you know who Linley’s mother was?” Heidens turned his head to stare at Guillermo. Guillermo was startled. Curiously, he said, “Linley’s mother? Didn’t she die while giving birth to Linley’s younger brother?”

  “No.”

  Heidens shook his head. “When you investigated Linley’s background and information regarding his mother, you weren’t able to uncover the truth. Linley’s mother was actually that woman we acquired twelve years ago.”

  That woman from twelve years ago!

  Guillermo instantly remembered, because that woman had had a huge impact on the upper levels of the Radiant Church.

  “But if we’ve already killed his mother, then…” Guillermo instantly understood why the Holy Emperor was now in such a foul mood.

  A genius such as Linley was extremely enticing. But in the future, once Linley discovered the truth about his mother, he would be a huge threat to the Radiant Church.

  “Guillermo. The 28th of this month will be the day when the glorious aura of the Radiant Sovereign will be the strongest, is it not?” Heidens said suddenly.

  “Yes.” Guillermo was somewhat perplexed by Heidens raising this question.

  “Make the preparations. That night, I intend to beg the Radiant Sovereign for a divine boon,” Heidens said calmly.

  “Divine boon?” Guillermo was greatly shocked, but then he quickly understood Heidens’s plan. He secretly sighed to himself, “The Holy Emperor is most likely requesting this divine boon on behalf of Linley. Although this will limit Linley’s future potential, given his talent, he will still be an incredible figure. Only, what a waste of his talent.”

  A Divine Boon was in reality a manifestation of the divine power of the Radiant Sovereign in the material world.

  The Radiant Sovereign, as a Sovereign, one of the most powerful entities in existence, could extend a thread of his divine, faith-based power to totally cleanse a person’s soul, causing them to be wholly devoted and faithful to the Radiant Sovereign. Only a person who had already reached the Saint level and was able to crystallize his soul would be able to resist the effects of this Divine Baptism.

  Everyone else… definitely could not resist!

  But after his soul had been affected by the Divine Baptism of the Radiant Sovereign, Linley’s natural talent would be impacted as well. His future accomplishments would definitely be a bit lower.

  “What a waste. What a waste of a talent.” Heidens sighed again. This was the reason why earlier, in front of Clayde, he had said the words ‘what a waste’. Heidens was, however, very confident. Once he had been affected by the Divine Baptism, even if he later found out about his mother’s death, Linley would still be loyal and faithful to the Radiant Sovereign.

  Because the faith this Divine Baptism created would go deep within a person’s soul!

  In the blink of an eye, ten days passed. The City of Fenlai was as calm as it had always been, but all the major noble clans in Fenlai felt a strange, oppressive atmosphere. For example, his Majesty, King Clayde, was always in a terrible mood these days, and several major ministers and nobles had run afoul of his temper and been executed.

  On the Fragrant Pavilion Road, behind a lavishly decorated hotel, a group of people were gathered together within a quiet, three-story building.

  Yale, George, and Reynolds had been here this entire time.

  Ever since they had found out about what happened to Linley, the three of them had continued to worry for Linley. They knew very well what a huge disaster Linley had dragged down upon himself. Not only had he openly attacked King Clayde and killed over a thousand elite warriors of the kingdom, he had even forced the Holy Emperor himself to subdue him in the end.

  “Boss Yale, have your people heard any news of Linley yet?” George asked, and Reynolds looked at Yale as well.

  Yale shook his head.

  All of them had ugly looks on their faces. They had grown up alongside Linley. At the Ernst Institute, they had eaten together and roomed together. Although they weren’t actual siblings, they were every bit as close to each other as real brothers were. There was no way they could just stand by and watch as Linley was executed.

  “There’s no way. I don’t have any means of reaching the high-level people in the Radiant Church.” Yale was somewhat frantic. “Wait a few more days. My father will arrive soon.”

  Yale’s father.

  Monroe Dawson!

  The Chairman of the Dawson Conglomerate, and the controller of the enormously powerful Dawson clan, whose wealth made even the Four Great Empires and the two major alliances envious. Their mercantile web had already encompassed every city in the Yulan continent, and was totally able to determine whether a nation’s economy flourished or collapsed.

  Each of the three major trading unions possessed tremendous power.

  Neither the two major alliances nor the Four Great Empires were willing to be openly hostile against them, because once one of the trading unions was openly at war with an empire, it could very well trigger an economic collapse, wiping out decades of progress and causing chaos within its domain.

  “Boss Yale, you told us to wait a few more days two days ago! If we keep on waiting, I’m afraid…” Reynolds was frantic as well.

  There was nothing Yale could do.

  Fortunately, his father had been engaging in some tourism in a kingdom not too far from the Kingdom of Fenlai. Upon getting the news, Yale had immediately gotten in touch with his father and expressed the hope that his father could come to Fenlai City as quickly as possible. Given his father’s status as the Chairman of the Dawson Conglomerate, most likely Heidens would personally welcome him to the city.

  Once his father appeared, the chances of rescuing Linley would be exponentially greater.

  “Young master, young master!” A tall, skinny youth came running in, excited. “Young master, the Chairman has arrived!”

  “Father!”

  Yale leapt to his feet in joy. In the eyes of Reynolds and George as well, a hint of hope appeared.

  Within the VIP reception hall of the Radiant Temple.

  A two-meter-tall, bald, pudgy man stepped into the hall, grinning merrily. This bald fatty was two meters tall and of enormous girth, most likely weighing 300 to 400 pounds.

  This was the Chairman of the Dawson Conglomerate – Monroe Dawson! From another door, in walked the Holy Emperor – Heidens.

  Heidens was also nearly two meters tall, but he was quite thin. The two of them together, both tall, both bald, but one fat while the other was skinny, made for a very interesting sight.

  Behind Monroe Dawson, there were two middle-aged men. One was a golden-haired man with cold, hawk-like eyes, while the other was a powerfully built red-haired man. These two followed solemnly behind Monroe Dawson. Without question, the two of them were both combatants of the ninth rank!

  Behind Heidens, as well, there were two red-robed Cardinals, one male, one female. These two were Guillermo and Melina.

  “Oh, Your Holiness.”

  Monroe called out in an exaggeratedly loud voice as he attempted to bow. However, that large belly of Monroe’s made bowing an extremely difficult thing to do. “Monroe, please sit.” Heidens was still quite friendly to him.

  Monroe immediately sat down, as did Heidens.

  Monroe’s enormous butt was simply too big. Most chairs wouldn’t be a
good fit for him. Fortunately, the Radiant Church had prepared a special chair for him in advance. Upon sitting down, a delighted grin split his rotund face, and he laughed loudly. “Thank you, your Holiness. On this trip, I had only intended to do some sightseeing near Greenstone Lake, but who would’ve thought that my son would insist on me hurrying over here? Alas, you should understand that as a father, I had no choice.”

  “Monroe, you really do pamper little Yale,” Heidens said with a smile.

  Monroe nodded helplessly. “Hehe, that little tyke. But I’ve heard Yale say that he has an extremely incredible bro by the name of Linley. Not only is he a master sculptor, he is a genius magus, and also a very powerful warrior. When I heard this, I was very much impressed. But from what Yale says, this Linley has now been imprisoned within the Radiant Temple.”

  “This is indeed the case.” Heidens nodded in acknowledgment.

  Monroe chortled, “Your Holiness, can you give me some face and free Linley? Young people are always so impetuous. Although I know he attempted to assassinate Clayde, in the end, Clayde didn’t die, right? I’m sure that your Holiness wouldn’t care too much about a small matter like this.”

  Monroe spoke casually and simply.

  But Heidens couldn’t respond to him in as casual a manner.

  This Monroe Dawson had gone so far as to explicitly ask Heidens to give him face. If Heidens refused, wasn’t that the same as directly refusing to give Monroe face? Although Monroe was grinning cheerfully, Heidens knew very well how powerful the Dawson Conglomerate standing behind Monroe was.

  “Monroe.” Heidens shook his head. “It isn’t that I won’t give you face. It’s that it’s really not convenient for me to free him. Because… Linley killed several people from the Ecclesiastical Tribunal, including students of Osenno himself. Osenno is extremely angry this time.”

  “Osenno?” Monroe Dawson frowned.

  Osenno was one of the other pillars of the Radiant Church – the Praetor of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal.

  In truth, it should be said that the Radiant Church actually had two leaders; the public leader known as the Holy Emperor, and the hidden leader in charge of killings, slaughters, and eliminating heathens and apostates – the Praetor of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal.