Lord of the Mists

by Wo Chi Xi Hong Shi

  “I truly don’t.” Linley had been puzzled earlier as to why the Overgod weapon had been swapped for a Sovereign artifact. Didn’t that mean he was lowering his own attack power?

  The Chief Sovereign of Death sent mentally, “Actually, this time, after we four Chief Sovereigns of the Edicts rendered our verdict upon you, all of you left. At that time, the Chief Sovereign of Destruction, Wodred, suggested a competition with the Chief Sovereign of Fate. However, the Chief Sovereign of Fate didn’t agree, because… the Chief Sovereign of Fate disdains competitions.”

  “Afterwards, the Chief Sovereign of Destruction mentioned the supreme technique that he had developed, based on the innate divine abilities of the Four Divine Beasts.” The Chief Sovereign of Death sighed. “At that time, we were all shocked. As for Orloff, that madman was intrigued. However, he could imagine the power of a supreme technique that was akin to the combined innate divine abilities of the Four Divine Beasts. And so that madman Orloff didn’t feel confident either. Thus, they made an agreement.”

  “What agreement?” Linley asked hurriedly.

  “The agreement was, once the Chief Sovereign of Destruction was prepared to release his supreme technique, he was only permitted to use his Sovereign weapon to attack. If the Chief Sovereign of Fate was unable to raise his hand to block the Sovereign weapon, that would be considered the Chief Sovereign of Fate having lost! If the Chief Sovereign of Fate was hit by the attack but still was able to block, then he would be considered the victor,” the Chief Sovereign of Death said.

  Linley understood as well.

  The Chief Sovereign of Fate, by relying on his understanding of the Laws and his own power, was able to use his hand to block an Overgod weapon.

  However, once he was struck by Spacetime Paradox, the Chief Sovereign of Fate’s speed would drastically lessen. If he wasn’t able to block the attack, then if the Chief Sovereign of Destruction was using his Overgod weapon, the Chief Sovereign of Fate would perish!

  “Thus, when using that technique, the Chief Sovereign of Destruction was not to use his Overgod weapon. The two were simply sparring, after all.” The Chief Sovereign of Death shook her head and sighed. “But they added a bet to their competition.”

  “What bet?” Linley said, puzzled.

  “If the Chief Sovereign of Destruction won, the Chief Sovereign of Fate would have to explain the principles of his supreme technique to him. But if the Chief Sovereign of Fate won, then the Chief Sovereign of Destruction would also have to explain the principles of his supreme technique.” The Chief Sovereign of Death let out a sigh.

  “But…” Linley was rather stunned.

  “At first, Wodred was unwilling to accept these stakes, but Orloff clearly wanted to know the principles of the supreme technique very much, and so he said that if Wodred didn’t accept these stakes, he wouldn’t agree to the duel.” The Chief Sovereign of Death sighed. “It was Wodred who wanted to challenge Orloff, after all. In addition, he was very confident in himself, and so he agreed to the bet.”

  Linley nodded slightly.

  “Linley, I know… even if one understands all the principles of an attack akin to an innate divine ability, actually executing it… without the blood essence, the power would be much, much lower, even if the attack could be executed.” The Chief Sovereign of Death looked at Linley. “Thus, Linley, the three of you in the Yulan branch are not to give Orloff the blood essence of the Four Divine Beasts, no matter what.”

  The Chief Sovereign of Death spoke quite bluntly.

  “I understand. I won’t give him the blood essence of the Four Divine Beasts.” Linley nodded.

  “Alas. Actually, by giving you these instructions…” The Chief Sovereign of Death stared far into the void, at the Chief Sovereigns of Destruction and Fate. “Ever since he came up with that technique, the Chief Sovereign of Destruction has surpassed me and Wawaya. The balance of power between us four Chief Sovereigns of the Edicts is gone.”

  Linley nodded.

  The Chief Sovereign of Fate had a protective Overgod artifact, but the Chief Sovereigns of Death and Life did not. Who could possibly resist the Chief Sovereign of Destruction’s ‘Spacetime Paradox’ attack?

  “This…” Linley couldn’t help but look towards the Chief Sovereign of Death.

  “Wodred and Orloff are able to counter each other; they shouldn’t go so berserk as to act against me and Wawaya,” the Chief Sovereign of Death sent with a laugh. “It is much like how we four Chief Sovereigns of the Edicts wouldn’t go act against the Chief Sovereigns of the Laws. Since we are already at the peak, if we kill everyone else at our level, won’t we feel lonely?”

  The words of the Chief Sovereign of Death were actually meant to comfort herself.

  “They can research. Why can’t you, Chief Sovereign?” Linley said consolingly.

  “I don’t have the patience.” The Chief Sovereign of Death let out a soft laugh. “If we are to actually fight though, so long as Wawaya and I join forces, it’s hard to say who will be the one to perish!”

  At this moment, the Chief Sovereign of Death and the Chief Sovereign of Life exchanged a glance, as though discussing something.

  Within the void, the Chief Sovereign of Destruction and the Chief Sovereign of Fate were currently chatting through divine sense.

  “Haha, how marvelous.” The Chief Sovereign of Fate’s eyes were filled with strange colors. “This ‘Spacetime Paradox’ of yours truly is extremely miraculous. Although the power is inferior to the combined innate divine ability of the Four Divine Beasts, it just so happens to avoid the problem of the differences in the souls. Wodred, I truly admire you.”

  “Hmph.” The Chief Sovereign of Destruction had an ugly look on his face.

  “Unfortunately, this technique can only be unleashed when relying on the lineage of the Four Divine Beasts.” The Chief Sovereign of Fate let out a sigh. After speaking, he couldn’t help but turn to look at ‘Linley’, amongst the other ten in the distance.

  The battle was over. The twelve Chief Sovereign level experts all departed from chaotic space and returned to the nearby Divine Wind Plane.

  The cool, clear sea wind blew. There, above the sea, those twelve figures separated as well.

  “Swish!” Not far away, atop the sea, a metallic lifeform flew past. The Deities within the metallic lifeform glanced towards the twelve in the distance. They didn’t pay any attention. How could they have imagined that those twelve floating figures were twelve Chief Sovereign level experts?

  “Orloff, last time, you said you were going all out. This time, you also said that you went all out.” The beautiful, red-haired maiden looked at Orloff and let out a snort. “Are you hiding part of your power?”

  Orloff, that old fellow, let out a resigned chuckle. “This time, I really did go all out. You have no idea… when Wodred used that technique just now, I was badly frightened. That soul attack is so strong that if it wasn’t for my soul-protecting Overgod artifact, I would truly have been finished. Even the distortion on spacetime was enough to make it so that I could just barely deflect that spear.”

  “Hmph. Keep acting smug.” The beautiful, red-haired maiden let out a snort.

  Linley and the others could only watch quietly.

  After all, the four Chief Sovereigns of the Edicts were on good terms with each other. It wouldn’t be appropriate for others to interrupt.

  “Linley.” The Chief Sovereign of Fate, Orloff, suddenly turned to look towards Linley. Chuckling, he said, “Are you free? If you are, how about you come pay a visit to my ‘Orloff Gardens’ in the Celestial Realm? What do you say?”

  The Orloff Gardens, in the Celestial Realm, was viewed as the most sacred of areas.

  This was a massive garden that floated extremely high in the air, and it was also the residence of the Chief Sovereign of Fate. Even ordinary Sovereigns, without Orloff’s permission, wouldn’t dare to enter the Orloff Gardens at all. Normally, the Chief So
vereign of Fate, Orloff, spent all his time in the gardens in research.

  “Linley, remember what you promised me,” the Chief Sovereign of Death sent to him. Not just her; even the Chief Sovereigns of Destruction and Life hurriedly looked towards Linley.

  As these three saw it, Orloff’s defense could be described as unbreakable.

  If Orloff was to then learn the ‘Spacetime Paradox’ technique, who could be a match for him? Although they all knew that, given Orloff’s nature, he wouldn’t kill them, but… they still didn’t want for Orloff’s power to rise too much.

  Linley laughed awkwardly, then said helplessly, “Lord Orloff, I truly am sorry. I have something important to do first.”

  “Haha, no rush, no rush. When you have time, you can come find me later.” Orloff smiled. “Alright, everyone. I’ll go back now.”

  The Chief Sovereign of Fate, Orloff, chortled, then left on his own.

  “Linley.” The Chief Sovereign of Light, Augusta, who had been silent this entire time, beamed as he looked towards Linley. He sent mentally, “Weren’t you going to go to my Divine Light Plane?”

  68

  FIGHT, KILL!

  “The Divine Light Plane? Right,” Linley sent back and laughed. “Just now, when we were watching those two Chief Sovereigns battle, we had to delay that slightly.”

  “Let’s head out now, then.” Augusta smiled in such a friendly manner, as though he were about to invite his closest friend over.

  But between Linley and Augusta, there clearly existed multiple enmities.

  The first was that Linley’s ancestors had been killed by Augusta. The second was Beirut and Augusta had enmity between them as well. The third was that when Linley was a Highgod, Augusta had threatened Linley to force him to hand over the nine soul pearls, and had wanted to kill Linley. Fortunately, the Chief Sovereign of Destruction had appeared.

  But right now, it seemed as though the two of them had forgotten all these things.

  “Haha, let’s leave together.”

  Linley chortled, and thus accompanied Augusta to fly back towards the distant Windflow Mountain.

  “Augusta,” a voice rang out, and a figure suddenly flew over, moving like a bolt of lightning.

  Linley turned to look. This person had long, golden yellow hair, with the seal of a lightning bolt on his forehead. It was the Chief Sovereign of Lightning. The Chief Sovereign of Lightning chortled, “Augusta, you are going back? What a coincidence. I just so happen to have an important affair in your Divine Light Plane as well.”

  “Oh?” Augusta had a sudden thought, then smiled. “Linley is coming as well. Let’s go together.”

  Linley couldn’t help but feel surprised, and he gave Augusta a glance as he mused, “Augusta relies on his Overgod artifact for his power, but this Chief Sovereign of Lightning has a Sovereign clone. In terms of Will alone, he is on a level higher than Augusta. In addition, he is of the lightning-element, and so his speed is exceedingly quick. If he gets involved… can it be that Augusta feels confident in being able to deal with him?”

  This Chief Sovereign of Lightning, all smiles, followed Linley and Augusta towards Windflow Mountain.

  Halfway over, a voice suddenly rang out in Linley’s mind. “Linley, behind you, there are five other Chief Sovereigns who are following. There are two with you right now. It seems as though all seven of these Chief Sovereigns are rather envious of your Overgod artifact. How about you come to my Netherworld instead.”

  The speaker was the Chief Sovereign of Death.

  Linley couldn’t help but chuckle. His divine sense surpassed that of all of the Chief Sovereigns, and so he had discovered those five behind him long ago. What shocked Linley was that the Chief Sovereign of Wind, Diya, still dared to follow him as well.

  “Thank you, Chief Sovereign. I’m completely able to deal with this matter by myself,” Linley sent back.

  “Oh? It seems you are quite confident in yourself. Since you say that, be careful that in the future, you won’t even have the chance to feel regret,” the Chief Sovereign of Death sent, and then no longer paid attention to Linley. She quickly used Windflow Mountain’s teleportation array and left the Divine Wind Plane, returning to the Netherworld.

  Linley chuckled.

  In terms of power, who did he fear?

  Of the eleven Chief Sovereigns, the only one who caused Linley to feel dread was… the Chief Sovereign of Destruction!

  “Once I use my fused Sovereign power, my strength will increase a hundredfold. The Chief Sovereigns of the Laws are not worthy of concern. Even the Chief Sovereigns of the Edicts… the Chief Sovereigns of Death and Life wouldn’t necessarily be able to catch up to me when I’m flying. As for the Chief Sovereign of Fate, the reason he can resist ‘Spacetime Paradox’ is because of his soul-protecting Overgod artifact. It isn’t that he himself is particularly powerful. In terms of power, he isn’t that much stronger than the other Chief Sovereigns. After all, he doesn’t have an Overgod weapon! Against him, I still feel confident in being able to stay alive. Only… the Chief Sovereign of Destruction!”

  The supreme technique of the Chief Sovereign of Destruction, ‘Spacetime Paradox’, was simply too terrifying.

  When that technique was unleashed, the power of his soul attack was a thousandfold greater! The other Chief Sovereigns, in the face of that attack, would definitely perish. Only the Chief Sovereign of Fate could resist it.

  “However, no need to worry about him.” Linley was very confident. “First of all, in the eyes of the Chief Sovereign of Destruction, he most likely only views the Chief Sovereign of Fate as being a match for him. Secondly, once I completely fuse the four types of profound mysteries from four Laws, my power… not even the Chief Sovereign of Destruction would be able to do anything to me.”

  Linley was very confident. His soul was extremely powerful to begin with. If he then fused four profound mysteries from different Laws, why would he need to fear ‘Spacetime Paradox’?

  Actually, Linley’s potential was greater than just this, because Linley didn’t want to go murder the other Sovereigns! Even if Linley didn’t make a breakthrough in the Laws, if Linley were to fuse with a fire-type Lesser Sovereign Spark… then his power would increase a hundredfold! Linley, at one leap, would rise to a level of power that was capable of threatening the four Chief Sovereigns of the Edicts.

  Only, if others didn’t make trouble for him, Linley didn’t want to go kill the other Sovereigns for no reason either. This was because, by relying on his own training, he would still have the ability to surpass all of the Chief Sovereigns.

  Windflow Mountain.

  Linley, the Chief Sovereign of Light, the Chief Sovereign of Lightning, and three other Chief Sovereigns were standing besides the teleportation array.

  “Divine Light Plane.” The Chief Sovereign of Light produced a Sovereign’s medallion.

  Sovereigns generally wouldn’t reveal their true identities, even when using teleportation arrays.

  A blurry light arose as the teleportation array was activated. In the moment of activation, a smile appeared on Linley’s face. Smiles also appeared on the faces of Augusta and the others.

  “Whoosh!”

  Just a few moments after Linley’s group of three departed, five figures descended from the skies. It was the other five Chief Sovereigns.

  “Hmph. That Augusta and Hurley, they are stronger than the rest of us five. I imagine all of us have the same idea today. On this trip… if the five of us move separately, most likely, none of us will have a chance to acquire the Overgod artifact.” The Chief Sovereign of Wind, Diya, glanced towards the other four. “Thus, it’s best if we join forces. Once the opportunity comes, we will rely on our own power to acquire the Overgod artifact.”

  The other Chief Sovereigns all nodded in agreement.

  They all understood what the others were thinking.

  If after acquiring the Overgod artifact, Linley was able to
rise in power to the level of the Chief Sovereign of Light, most likely the other Chief Sovereigns wouldn’t dare to have these sorts of thoughts.

  But Linley, after possessing the Overgod artifact, was only comparable to the Chief Sovereign of Wind? Naturally, nobody would fear him. The Chief Sovereign of Wind was one of the weakest of the rest of the Seven Elemental Chief Sovereigns.

  “The Divine Light Plane.”

  The other five Chief Sovereigns also entered the teleportation array, and the Chief Sovereign of Wind spoke out calmly while revealing his Sovereign medallion.

  “Yes, milord.” The soldiers hurriedly once more activated it.

  In the blink of an eye, the five Chief Sovereigns were teleported away.

  The soldiers at the peak of Windflow Mountain were puzzled.

  “How bizarre. The two groups of people that came back to back all had Sovereign medallions. It seems that most of them are Sovereign’s Emissaries. Why have so many major figures gone to the Divine Light Plane?”

  “For so many Sovereign’s Emissaries to go there… there must be a treasure of some sort.”

  The bored soldiers began to casually chat about this matter.

  How could they have known… that the eight people who had just passed were all at the Chief Sovereign level!

  Linley’s group of three emerged from an island, then flew away from it.

  “Linley, where are you going to go?” Augusta laughed in a very friendly manner.

  “Me? Haha… to be honest, this is my first time coming to this Divine Light Plane. However, my divine sense has already located the person I am looking for in the south.” Linley laughed as he pointed towards the south. “However, this friend of mine is an Angel.”

  “Angel?” Augusta was startled.

  “Right. Thus, I would like to ask you, Augusta, to help out. I hope that you can permit my friend to regain freedom and free will.” Linley laughed.

  “Angels are all born from the ‘Angelic Resurrection Pool’. To have them regain freedom? Hard, hard. Hard!” Augusta frowned, saying the ‘hard’ word three times in a row.