Hayward chuckled, “But of course. Most Grand Magus Saints have very powerful spiritual energy, but can only instacast spells of the eighth rank. The reason I can instacast spells of the ninth rank is only because I’ve trained for many years and thus have even stronger spiritual energy.”
Linley secretly sighed, “His Phoenix Metamorphosis can cause a Fire Phoenix that was hundreds of meters tall to condense into a phoenix which was only ten meters tall. I’ve never even heard of such a thing.”
Generally speaking, the Phoenix Metamorphosis spell was capable of creating a Fire Phoenix that was roughly a hundred meters tall, and which was already frightfully powerful. But Hayward… clearly was one of the most powerful of Grand Magus Saints.
“But in a dangerous situation, if a Grand Magus Saint was to wildly and repeatedly instacast spells of the eighth rank at you, they would still be able to slow you down,” Hayward said with certainty.
Linley nodded and laughed. “However, it wouldn’t be effective as you, Mr. Hayward, instacasting spells of the ninth rank. It would take me far longer to break through your Scorching Meteor Shower. If it was a spell of the eighth rank that was used to block me, my speed probably would’ve been much faster.”
“Linley, you can be considered a peak-level Warrior Saint. An ordinary Warrior Saint wouldn’t be able to break through an instacast spell of the eighth rank as quickly as you,” Hayward said.
Linley nodded.
Linley fully understood now… it was like how an ordinary person could sprint a hundred meters in ten seconds, but if he were running atop a track of mud, he might take fifteen seconds or even longer. Mud, to ordinary people, didn’t pose much of a threat either.
But it definitely would be able to slow their speed down.
“Linley, you must understand; the most important thing for a Grand Magus Saint to do when fighting against a Warrior Saint is to lower the opponent’s speed! Instacasting spells is one method, while for example darkness spells includes maledictive slowing spells… as long as the Grand Magus Saint can prevent you from catching up to them for a time, then the Grand Magus Saint will use that chance to utilize forbidden-level spells against you.”
Desri and the others flew over as well.
“Now that you’ve encountered a forbidden-level spell from a Grand Magus Saint, you should know how powerful they are.” Desri chuckled towards Linley.
Linley nodded.
Forbidden-level spells truly were terrifying. For example, that Phoenix Metamorphosis. Even if Linley were to stab straight through the skull of the Fire Phoenix, it would still constantly attack him, because it was a creature formed from elemental essence and wasn’t actually alive. A forbidden-spell like this was even more terrifyingly strong than a Saint-level magical beast.
At least Saint-level magical beasts feared injury.
To deal against forbidden-level magical spells, the only option was to break it by repeated blows and make it run out of energy.
“Linley,” that beautiful lady, Pennslyn, smiled as she spoke. “Instacasting and slowing the opponent’s speed is a rather passive way for a Grand Magus Saint to deal with an opponent. Actually, Grand Magus Saints have another powerful method.”
“Oh?”
Linley stared at Hayward in astonishment. “Mr. Hayward, can it be that you have other tools at your disposal?”
Grand Magus Saints were too terrifying!
Hayward nodded. “Of course. This method is a fallback method which Grand Magus Saints rely upon. Linley, come and try to attack me again. If you experience it yourself, you will understand it clearly.” As he spoke, Hayward flew backwards, pulling once more to a distance of a hundred meters away from Linley.
“The fallback method they rely on?” Linley was curious.
“Boom!” Linley once more charged towards Hayward, but Hayward didn’t move at all, only staring at Linley with confidence.
Once Linley drew near him though, Linley’s face suddenly changed. He felt a terrifyingly powerful storm of mental energy suddenly surround him and attack his spirit. In the blink of an eye, Linley suddenly felt dizzy, and his body swayed. Only after several seconds later did he fully recover.
Several seconds, to Saints engaging in battle was more than enough to determine the outcome.
Linley stared at Hayward in astonishment. “Mental attack?”
“Haha…” Miller flew over, laughing. “Linley, that isn’t a mental attack. If it was a mental attack, your head would be splitting from pain and you would’ve collapsed.”
Desri and the others flew over as well.
Desri personally explained to him. “Linley, what’s the biggest advantage magi have over warriors?”
“Mental and spiritual energy.” Linley didn’t hesitate at all.
Desri nodded. “Right. Magi possess the most powerful spiritual energy. The spiritual energy of a Grand Magus Saint is as powerful and boundless as the seas. They are far more powerful than that of a Warrior Saint. Aside from those few Grand Magus Saints who just entered the Saint level, the vast majority of Grand Magus Saints are capable of using this sort of basic ‘Mindstorm’ attack.”
“This Mindstorm attack doesn’t require any understanding of any Elemental Laws. It is nothing more than a spiritual energy based attack that uses a great deal of spiritual energy to strike at the opponent’s soul. This sort of tactic is very simple. Upon reaching the Saint level, a Grand Magus Saint will quickly come to understand it,” Hayward said with absolute certainty.
Linley understood this as well.
The so-called ‘Mindstorm’ just then felt like a tremendous amount of spiritual energy smashing upon his soul time and time again, even though it didn’t actually cause much damage to the soul.
“Hayward, naturally, developed his own unique spiritual attacks long ago. If he truly were to use his spiritual energy against you, you would be in trouble.” Desri laughed.
Linley now understood the basic underpinnings of these mental attacks (or spiritual attacks). It was to form that normally soft and weak spiritual energy into sharp ‘knives’ and repeatedly stab at the opponent’s soul. This sort of attack was truly frightening! If one’s soul wasn’t strong enough, it might be directly shattered and destroyed.
“Mindstorm! Haha…” Hayward shook his head and laughed. “This name was created by Grand Magus Saints long ago. But in truth, it’s nothing more than a very basic mental attack. It is only useful against Warrior Saints who are far weaker in mental energy.”
Linley felt a sense of dread.
Grand Magus Saints truly were powerful.
Whether by instacasting spells to slow movement or by using Mindstorm type attacks to attack the soul… they had methods to be highly effective.
“Grand Magus Saints are far fewer in number than Warrior Saints. Generally speaking, Grand Magus Saints have an advantage.” Higginson laughed loudly. “Linley, Warrior Saints have their experts, but Grand Magus Saints have their own as well. Who is stronger? That depends on the person.”
Linley nodded.
If he were to truly fight all out against Hayward, when faced with Hayward’s meteor blockade, he would’ve used his Profound Truths of the Earth – Hundred Layered Waves attack to blow a tunnel straight through all of the blocking stones.
In the past, Linley’s sword blow had created a tunnel in an entire mountain.
Just then, Linley was playing the role of an ordinary expert. But if this were a true life-and-death battle, most likely Bebe would’ve gotten involved as well. If Bebe and Linley were to charge forward together… given Bebe’s speed, how many Grand Magus Saints would be faster?
Even if they used mental energy to attack, could it be that they could simultaneously attack Linley and Bebe?
“Grand Magus Saints being stronger than Warrior Saints is just a generality. It can’t be treated as an absolute,” Linley understood.
But of course, if this Hayward wanted to kill him, it would be very easy. All he would have to d
o is use a mental attack. Given Hayward’s ability, he could definitely cause Linley’s head to hurt badly enough to make him collapse, and then Hayward could use the Phoenix Metamorphosis to attack. He wouldn’t even have had the chance to flee.
There is always someone mightier than the mighty.
Hayward was mighty, but if he were to encounter Fain, he probably wouldn’t be able to do anything. After all, Linley had personally witnessed how powerful Fain’s mental attack was.
On the flight back with Desri’s group, Bebe was mentally chatting to Linley while standing on his shoulders. “Boss, when in the future you reach the Saint level as a magus, you’ll be both a Dragonblood Warrior and a Grand Magus Saint in one. Hrmph… by then, beating them will be easy.”
Linley chuckled.
If he were to reach the Saint level in his human form as a warrior and also as a magus, the synergistic power would probably increase his power by dozens of times, if not more. By then, Linley most likely would be confident in his ability to deal with even the likes of Fain and Desri.
The imperial capital of the Yulan Empire. Master Longhaus’ residence.
Delia was seated in a courtyard alone, drinking some tea while flipping through some of Master Longhaus’ magical tomes. The Wildthunder Stormhawk, Parry, as well as the Worldbear, Hatton, were off to one side, chatting in the language of magical beasts.
“Hrm?” Delia saw something of interest in the magical tome. Her eyes lit up and she smiled.
Grand Magus Saints truly did have a deep understanding of magic. Delia felt that she truly was reaping great benefits here.
“Someone’s coming,” the Worldbear, Hatton, suddenly said. Delia stared questioningly towards Hatton. “Someone is coming? Why haven’t the guards informed us? Big Yellow, are you just making things up again?” Delia laughed as she looked at the Worldbear, Hatton.
The Worldbear stared at Delia with wide eyes. “Delia, you don’t believe me? Am I that sort of bear?”
“Someone really is coming.” Delia sensed it as well by now. In terms of environmental awareness, she was far inferior to a Saint-level magical beast.
Soon afterwards, footsteps could be heard from the outside.
“Might I ask if Master Longhaus is here?” A calm, confident voice could be heard.
“Come in,” Delia said casually. For this person to be able to come in unannounced meant that he definitely was no ordinary figure. The door was pushed open, and two handsome youths walked in at the same time. Delia immediately rose to her feet. “Respectful greetings, your Imperial Majesty.”
Of those two youths, one was the Emperor of the Yulan Empire, his Imperial Majesty, Emperor Rande.
Emperor Rande’s eyes lit up when he saw Delia. Laughing, he said, “Delia, you are growing more and more beautiful. Right, where is your teacher?”
“Your Imperial Majesty, wait a moment with George,” Delia said, then she turned to look at the Worldbear. “Big Yellow, ask Teacher where he currently is. His Imperial Majesty wishes to meet with him.” The youngster who had come alongside Emperor Rande was indeed the youngest Grand Secretary of the Yulan Empire, the highly-favored minister, George.
60
Forget It!
Emperor Rande smiled towards Delia. “Delia, We haven’t seen you in quite some time. Ever since you’ve returned from the O’Brien Empire, you haven’t gone to the imperial palace.” Emperor Rande was roughly the same age as Delia and they were on quite good terms.
“Teacher is quite strict. I have to train hard and study my magic.” Delia pretended to be resigned.
Emperor Rande laughed.
Right at this time, the Worldbear, Hatton, said to Emperor Rande, “Hey, blue-hair. My master says you can come in.” The Worldbear wasn’t the slightest bit courteous in his words, but Emperor Rande didn’t mind in the slightest. “Big Yellow, even if you don’t address Us as ‘your Imperial Majesty’, you should at least call Us ‘Rande’. That way, We would at least save a bit of face.”
“Is ‘Big Yellow’ a name that the likes of you can call about?” The Worldbear turned his big furry head away, seemingly very disdainful.
Rande chuckled, then after saying a few words to George and Delia, he entered the inner room. Right now, only George and Delia were left inside the courtyard. Delia had a very good impression of George… because George was Linley’s good friend.
Second Bro, ‘George’. He was the most rational and most reliable of the four bros.
He had a very good temper and rarely grew angry at others. He had extremely good relationships with people.
But Delia knew very well that George was also an extremely formidable person. At such a young age, he had become one of the Grand Secretaries of the Yulan Empire. It must be understood, the world of officials and bureaucracies was a dark, sinister place. For someone to reach such a powerful, influential official position and even become a Grand Secretary meant that in secret, George surely used quite a few tricks as well.
As to who was most vicious amongst the four bros, it was George, amiable, good-natured George, who had become the most vicious.
“George, sit.” Delia laughed.
George smiled and sat down. “Delia, last year, you should’ve seen Third Bro in the O’Brien Empire. Oh, by Third Bro I mean Linley.” In his heart, George longed for his dear bros, but as a high-level member of the Yulan Empire, he simply didn’t have the opportunity to visit the O’Brien Empire.
“I know.” Delia’s smile was very bright. “Linley’s often thinking about you as well.”
George felt warm in his heart.
After separating from Linley, over ten years had passed. George was now twenty-nine years old, nearly a man in his thirties. He even had two children. Those crazy childhood days were beautiful recollections.
The ten years he had spent in bureaucracy had caused George to become more and more mature and more and more crafty. But the more mature he became, the fewer the number of people he truly trusted in the Yulan Empire.
“I feel very proud that Third Bro was able to reach his current accomplishments.” George sighed emotionally. “In the O’Brien Empire, most likely no one would dare to offend him. In this entire world, only upon reaching the pinnacle of power can one be confident.”
“Linley has gone to the Anarchic Lands,” Delia said.
“The Anarchic Lands?”
George frowned. He remembered the enmity between Linley and the Radiant Church which he had found out about in Hess City. In particular, with those high-level people of the Radiant Church. George knew very well how powerful the Radiant Church and the Cult of Shadows were in the Anarchic Lands. “Given Third Bro’s temperament, he definitely wouldn’t be interested in just taking over territory. That means…”
George looked at Delia and whispered, “Third Bro is about to begin his battle against the Radiant Church?”
Delia felt a hint of shock in her heart. George truly was formidable.
“Right.” Delia nodded. Linley had told her about this long ago.
George began to worry. He knew what sort of temper Linley had. In the past, for the sake of vengeance, Linley was willing to give up everything. If it had been him, George, he definitely would’ve continued to secretly endure until he reached the point where he had absolute certainty of victory. Then, he would make his move.
“Is Third Bro confident of victory?” George looked at Delia. “The Radiant Church isn’t as simple as it would appear to be.”
Delia laughed as she looked at George. “George, Linley isn’t as simple as you think he is either.”
George laughed. Indeed. Despite being a genius, George never imagined that after they separated, Linley would become so powerful that he could fight Haydson to a virtual standstill. In particular, that Shadowmouse, Bebe… George felt quite speechless. “That little rascal, Bebe. He’s so monstrously powerful. What a freak.”
After a while later, Emperor Rande came out.
“George, let’s go,” E
mperor Rande said to George, and George immediately stood up. Emperor Rande smiled towards Delia, who was sending him off. “Delia, if you are free, you can come to the imperial palace for a stroll. The Third Princess has been missing you.”
Delia laughed. “I definitely will go.”
“Then there’s no need for you to send me off.” Emperor Rande laughed, then left alongside George.
The imperial palace. Emperor Rande’s study. There were only three people present; Emperor Rande, his personal palace attendant, and the leader of the Leon clan.
“Dylla.” Emperor Rande put down the quill in his hand, raising his head to smile towards Dylla Leon. “Today, We have summoned you for the sake of your daughter, Delia.”
Dylla Leon looked at Emperor Rande. “Your Imperial Majesty, what do you mean?”
Emperor Rande smiled. “As We recall, your daughter is yet unwed.”
“Right.” Dylla Leon nodded.
Had Emperor Rande taken a fancy to his daughter?
Emperor Rande nodded. “That’s right. In honesty… We rather like Delia. How about this. Help Us say a few words to Delia on Our behalf, and see if Delia is willing to marry Us. But of course… you have to let her make her own decision.”
Dylla Leon said respectfully, “Your Imperial Majesty, don’t worry. Your servant shall definitely go ask Delia.”
Emperor Rande nodded and smiled as he looked at Dylla Leon. “Dylla, you should understand that when We were but a prince, We had to have children before We could assume the throne. We don’t have much affection towards that woman. In terms of lineage as well as character, Delia is far superior to her. If Delia was willing to marry Us… We promise that Delia can become the Empress.”
Dylla Leon’s heart trembled.
Empress?
If his daughter were to become an ordinary concubine, there would be no need for the mighty Leon clan to agree. But the Empress… now that was a different situation.
Baruch Rising_Book 3 of the Coiling Dragon Saga Page 47
