Lord of the Mists

by Wo Chi Xi Hong Shi

  “Chief, Linley and Augusta have begun to fight. The two have already battled their way into chaotic space. By the looks of it, Augusta is probably going to die.” A Sovereign of Light had travelled to the Infernal Realm through the teleportation array, then immediately used his divine sense to notify the Chief Sovereign of Destruction regarding this matter.

  The death of one Chief Sovereign guaranteed that another one would be born. If Augusta truly were to die, then a free High Sovereign spark would be created.

  Within a cold, gloomy estate in the northern area of Sable Leviathan City.

  “Linley and Augusta?” The Chief Sovereign of Destruction, Wodred, let out a sigh as his eyes lit up. “I didn’t expect that shortly after I informed Linley, he would immediately go kill Augusta. He really is quite mad.” At the same time, he waved his hand as though he were opening a curtain, tearing a rift in reality. His body flickered, and he entered chaotic space.

  A black-robed Wodred stood there in the middle of chaotic space. He spread out his divine sense, easily discovering Linley and Augusta, who were currently battling each other. “By the looks of it, Linley holds an absolute advantage. Augusta seems to be in bad shape.” Wodred laughed. “Oh… Augusta has indeed decided to fly towards the Celestial Realm. However, Linley’s speed is slightly faster than his. Augusta probably won’t survive his attempt to reach the Celestial Realm.”

  Within the multicolored bursts of chaotic energy. Linley and Augusta; one fled up ahead, one chased from behind. Linley held his Life Overgod Sword in his hands, his dark golden eyes staring coldly towards the front.

  “Augusta’s life-preserving skills are quite formidable. He was actually able to receive two sword blows from me without dying.” Linley couldn’t help but sigh in amazement, in his heart. His attack power was far greater than his opponent’s; logically speaking, he should’ve been able to kill Augusta with one blow. However, whenever his sword energy struck his foe, Augusta would use his Lightsaber and a special life-saving technique to sacrifice the other parts of his body, while protecting his critical parts and preserving his life.

  “In addition, just now, when I executed my innate divine ability, ‘Dragon Roar’, the impact on him was quite small.” Linley, by now, truly had to admit that in terms of soul defense, Augusta was truly too powerful. His ‘Sword Intent’ technique contained both a material and a soul attack component, and yet the soul attack component didn’t appear to do anything at all.

  Still, the current Augusta was in quite a sorry shape.

  “LINLEY!!!” Augusta, utterly enraged, bellowed angrily, “Don’t go too far. The Chief Sovereign of Fate, Orloff, owes me a favor. You should know this. If you force me to use it… then when I arrive in the Celestial Realm, you will definitely die.”

  “I’m unable to defeat the Chief Sovereign of Fate, Orloff, but that’s only if he is here to save you. You have to at least escape to the Celestial Realm first. But you, Augusta… you want to escape from me and make it to the Celestial Realm? In your dreams!” Linley snickered. The distance between himself and Augusta was measurably shrinking. Very soon, Linley would give him yet another sword blow.

  Augusta bellowed furiously, “I withstood your first two blows, and I’ll be able to withstand your third and fourth ones as well! You won’t be able to kill me.”

  “Is that so?” Linley laughed coldly. “Augusta, I admit that your life-saving sword techniques are quite marvelous. You are actually able to guide away and dissipate much of my beam of sword energy. However, the difference in power is too great. No matter how marvelous your techniques are, it is useless. Enough. I already told you; you won’t be able to escape!” Linley was now extremely close to Augusta.

  But the strange thing was, Linley didn’t attack!

  “Eh?” Augusta felt puzzled and confused as well. But Linley just laughed coldly, continuing to draw close to Augusta. When the two were less than ten meters apart…

  “Haha…” suddenly, loud laughter rang out. To be precise, three loud laughs rang out. Linley’s body suddenly split into three. One was the Dragonformed Linley, the second was the blue-haired Linley, while the third was a green-haired Linley. Clearly, Linley was now completely unleashing the power of all three of his Sovereign clones.

  “Swish!” “Swish!”

  His wind-type Sovereign clone and his water-type Sovereign clone pincer-attacked Augusta from the side. They were no slower than Augusta himself.

  Suddenly, a ray of sword light flashed out from the Life Overgod Sword in the Dragonformed Linley’s hands. That thick pillar of sword light carried an extremely fierce power, and Augusta was forced to slow down, so as to focus his energy in dealing with the attack. The Lightsaber in his hand slashed out in a marvelous arc…

  “Bang!” The beam of sword energy once more pierced through the right side of his chest, and even his shoulder blade was completely shattered.

  “Not good.” Augusta looked around himself; indeed, Linley’s wind-type Sovereign clone and water-type Sovereign clone, along with his Dragonformed original body, had formed into a triangle, trapping him within.

  Because he had slowed down slightly when blocking Linley’s sword attack, Linley had enough time to surround him.

  “Augusta, where can you go, now?” Linley laughed coldly at him. Augusta looked around himself; very suddenly, he stabbed out with his sword towards Linley’s wind-type Sovereign clone, attacking so quickly that he was like a ray of light flashing through the darkness.

  “Clang!”

  Within the hand of the wind-type Sovereign clone appeared a Sovereign weapon; the Bloodviolet sword. It clashed viciously against the blade of the Lightsaber.

  Augusta’s body trembled, and his face couldn’t help but change.

  “Still want to run?” Linley laughed coldly. Last time he had fought Augusta, Linley had been forced to rely on his Life Overgod Sword in order to fight Augusta to a standstill. Back then, Linley hadn’t dared to use his other Sovereign clones to block Augusta; those other clones didn’t have any Overgod artifacts, and so they definitely would’ve been killed by Augusta with one blow each.

  But now…

  Even without Overgod artifacts, Linley’s Sovereign clones were still able to just barely withstand Augusta’s blows.

  Augusta’s formerly savage, berserk, bedraggled appearance suddenly changed. He became icy calm.

  “Linley.” Augusta swept Linley’s three Sovereign clones with his gaze. “Why must you go so far and force me to such a state? Last time, you came to ask me to grant your mother her freedom back, and I released her, even though my soul was badly damaged, and gave her will back to her. I truly didn’t imagine that less than a thousand years later, you would actually come kill me.”

  Linley laughed. Laughed from utter rage. “Your soul was badly damaged? You gave my mother her freedom back? Augusta, at a time like this, you still are as shameless as to make this claim?” Linley snickered.

  Augusta raised an eyebrow… then laughed as well. “Oh, so you actually already knew.” Augusta’s laughter was so bright.

  “You are able to laugh, at a time like this?” Linley sent out his fused divine sense, stretching it out as far as he could. He saw that there were at least six Sovereigns within chaotic space, watching this battle through their own Sovereign sense.

  “Linley, aren’t you curious as to why I’m able to withstand your most powerful sword blow?” Augusta laughed. At the same time, a golden aura of light appeared on his body, and his revealed skin slowly took on a golden hue.

  “Golden?” Linley’s heart trembled. He couldn’t help but think back to the battle between the Chief Sovereigns of Destruction and Fate. The Chief Sovereign of Fate had relied on his right hand, covered with golden light, to block the Overgod weapon attack from the Chief Sovereign of Fate. But of course… that was also because the Chief Sovereign of Fate had tremendously powerful Will and a deep understanding of the profound mysteries as well.r />
  “Last time, when I collected the blood essences of the Four Divine Beasts from you, I knew that there would come a day when you would return for revenge.” Augusta laughed softly. “I also knew that it would be very hard for me to become a Paragon. Thus… I made a trade with the Chief Sovereign of Fate, Orloff. I used the favor he owed me and the blood essences, exchanging them for him teaching me his ‘Golden Samsara Body’ technique, his supreme defensive technique which he had spent countless years researching. Lord Orloff, who now already possesses the supreme technique, ‘Spacetime Paradox’, no longer cares as much about his ‘Golden Samsara Body’ technique as he once did.”

  “Originally, I didn’t want to reveal this technique.” Augusta laughed as he looked at Linley. “But Linley, you increased in power by far too much.”

  “Just because your body is tough, you think you can withstand my Life Overgod Sword?” Linley let out a disdainful laugh. “Not even the Chief Sovereign of Fate wouldn’t dare to use any other part of his body to withstand a blow from an Overgod weapon.”

  89

  CAN HE ACTUALLY BE…?

  “Whoosh…”

  Within the multicolored reaches of chaotic space, illusory ‘meteors’ of light and energy flew everywhere, forming the flood of rainbow-colored chaotic energy that filled the region.

  More than ten figures were standing there within chaotic space, astonishment on all of their faces.

  “I didn’t imagine that Orloff actually taught his ‘Golden Samsara Body’ to Augusta! Hmph, the blood essences of the Four Divine Beasts… in the end, they ended up in Orloff’s hands.” The Chief Sovereign of Destruction, Wodred, had a sunken, sinister look on his face. “It seems that Linley traded the blood essences of the Four Divine Beasts to Augusta, and Augusta then gave it to Orloff!”

  The look on Wodred’s face grew increasingly ugly. “Linley, he… ugh!” Wodred felt frustration burning in his chest. Right at this moment, however, a hazy, illusory phantom began to emerge from Augusta’s body.

  “Eh?” Linley was startled. He grew cautious, instantly fusing his water-type Sovereign clone and wind-type Sovereign clone back into his main body. “Linley, if you want to stay alive, you’d best depart!” Augusta said coldly.

  “If you have any techniques, put them on display. Otherwise, I’m going to strike again.” Linley seemed quite magnanimous, but in reality, he was extremely cautious right now. He no longer felt certain he knew everything there was to know about Augusta; if he continued to attack with abandon, he might be tricked. It was best to be careful and defend, and first investigate the situation.

  “Hmph. Die, then.” Augusta let out a cold sneer. Linley grew all the more cautious.

  Augusta’s eyes flashed like lightning as he stared coldly at Linley. The illusory images surrounding his body suddenly spread out, forming into an enormous illusion of a golden titan that was a hundred meters tall. The awe-inspiring aura of the titan caused even Linley to grow anxious. “An innate divine ability? What sort of divine beast is Augusta? But he can’t be; he has 182 children!”

  Linley had never heard anyone say that Augusta was a divine beast.

  “BANG!” A golden blur shot out from Augusta’s mouth, shooting at high speed towards Linley. Linley focused his concentration and used his Life Overgod Sword to block. But when that golden, illusory light struck against Linley’s Life Overgod Sword…

  “Bang.” It disappeared.

  “What?!” Linley was shocked. “That weak?” Just now, judging from Augusta’s attitude, Linley had thought that Augusta was preparing some supreme technique against him. He never imagined that this was just a fake technique. The attack power of that golden illusion probably wouldn’t have been able to scratch Linley, even if it had hit him head on. Clearly, it was just meant to make him nervous.

  “Haha, Linley, you really are easy to fool,” Augusta’s wild laughter resonated in Linley’s mind.

  “I was tricked again!” Linley’s face changed. By now, Augusta had already moved ten thousand kilometers away.

  “Swoosh!” Linley instantly increased his speed to the limit, once more chasing at high speed. But within a short period of time, Linley understood something. “The Golden Samsara Body only allows him to strengthen his body, and make his material attacks slightly stronger! This is much like how my Dragonform strengthens my own body. However, given that I am ten times stronger than him, that increase in physical power isn’t able to change the balance of power by much at all.”

  “Bang!” The inky jade fused power within Linley’s body was wildly bursting forth. Linley, in Dragonform, was constantly, ceaselessly closing the gap between himself and Augusta, as he continued to chase at full speed.

  “Linley actually managed to increase in power by this much! That bit of power gained from the ‘Golden Samsara Body’ technique is completely useless against him.” Although Augusta acted arrogant and brash, in his heart, he felt miserable. Glancing backwards, he saw Linley continue to chase after him, and he said to himself… “Orloff, come quickly! Otherwise…”

  THE CELESTIAL REALM. The Orloff Gardens.

  There were eight Sovereigns who lived within the Orloff Gardens. One of them was naturally the master of the Orloff Gardens, Orloff.

  “Linley actually managed to increase in power by this much and drive Augusta to such a state?” The white-haired, white-robed Orloff stood straight, his gaze cold and calm. “If he’s forced to his wits end, given Augusta’s temperament, he will definitely do ‘it’… and Wodred and the others will definitely be able to guess…”

  “I have no other choice!” The white-robed elder, Orloff, waved his hand. Instantly, the entire Orloff Gardens began to rapidly shrink in size, then transformed into a blurry light that flew into Orloff’s body.

  “Lord Orloff!” The servants in the garden, along with the other seven Sovereigns, all stared at him, puzzled. Why had Orloff taken away the Orloff Gardens?

  “Slash…” Orloff’s face was heavy but calm. With a wave of his hand, he tore a rift in space in front of him, then immediately stepped into chaotic space.

  These seven Sovereigns were the seven Sovereigns who had chosen to serve Orloff. Manlu and Borte were amongst their number as well. “Lord Orloff seems to be in a bad mood,” Manlu said with a frown. “In the past, no matter what difficulties Lord Orloff encountered, he would face them with a smile. Nothing was able to affect his temperament. But just now…”

  A blue-haired, three-eyed beauty said, also puzzled, “What’s more, Lord Orloff rarely takes the Orloff Gardens with him when he travels.”

  “Let’s go. We’ll go take a look as well.” The Sovereign of Fire, Borte, waved his hand as well, also tearing a rift in space, then immediately took the lead in entering it. The other six puzzled Sovereigns didn’t hesitate; they immediately charged into chaotic space after him, all wanting to learn what had happened.

  But when they spread out their divine sense…

  “What!?” The faces of the seven Sovereigns changed. “Linley and Augusta, two Chief Sovereign level experts…” By the time they entered chaotic space, there were already more than twenty Sovereigns watching this fight. “No wonder Lord Orloff went over there. So it is because Augusta is in trouble.” Those subordinate Sovereigns all knew about the relationship between Orloff and Augusta. “Let’s go. Let’s fly over there, but let’s stay some distance away. Otherwise, if we are hit by any ripples of power, we might die from them.”

  The seven Sovereigns also drew closer. Actually, many of the spectating Sovereigns were drawing closer towards Linley and Augusta. Only, at the same time, they maintained a minimum distance of at least a few billion kilometers. At this distance, given a Sovereign’s reaction speed, they should be absolutely safe.

  Energy ripples couldn’t possibly travel so far and still have enough power to injure a Sovereign. Linley and Augusta were only a few hundred kilometers apart. To close from ten thousand kilometers to a few
hundred; from this, one could tell the difference in speed between the two.

  A thousand years ago, Linley’s speed was already slightly faster than Augusta’s. Because his power had increased tenfold when he fused the four profound mysteries together, although that was primarily in terms of attack power, and his speed hadn’t increased by much, it had still increased by a bit. The Profound Mysteries of Explosion did, after all, contain some aspects that would help one move more quickly. Augusta’s body was transforming and his speed was increasing, but even so, he was still somewhat slower than Linley.

  “Oh, Orloff came?” Linley’s divine sense easily located Orloff. Augusta discovered Orloff’s arrival as well. Overjoyed, he hurriedly sent to Linley, “Linley, the news that you are chasing after and trying to kill me has already made its way to Lord Orloff. You should know… that after this Planar War, Lord Orloff owes me yet another favor. If you dare attack me, Lord Orloff will definitely kill you.”

  “Hmph. Augusta, save your strength. There’s no point to you threatening me.” Linley laughed coldly, and his speed increased once more as he pulled to within two hundred kilometers.

  “Linley,” a warm, gentle voice rang out.

  “Lord Orloff,” Linley replied with great courtesy. Orloff was currently hurrying over from the Celestial Realm, while Linley and Augusta had just flown out from the Divine Light Plane not long ago. The distance between the two planes was simply too vast. Even if Orloff flew over at maximum speed, he would most likely still need several minutes to arrive. For Sovereigns… a single second was enough to exchange countless blows. Multiple minutes? That was enough for Linley and Augusta to finish their fight to the death.

  “Linley, Augusta is my good friend. No matter what sort of hatred you and Augusta bear each other, I would like to urge you, Linley, to temporarily let it rest,” Orloff sent.

  “Impossible,” Linley refused.

  “Give me some face. What do you say?” Orloff was still very calm.