Diego

"Follow me, you lot..."

Linley led these Saint Domain members away, rendezvousing with the Tianlan Tribe group in the rear and scattering them to be integrated within. These people had nothing to do with the two slain God-level powerhouses, so they could be smoothly absorbed and become part of the tribe's assets.

My luck isn't bad, killing two Low-level Gods right off the bat...

Linley recounted the results of his scouting.

Thomas asked with a smile, "Linley, what are your plans for these two Low-level Godheads this time?"

Linley replied without a moment's hesitation, "I plan to save them for now, and when I've accumulated a batch of Blood Crystals, I'll go to Red Stone City to sell them and exchange them for cultivation resources."

True, as long as they found two Saint Domains to refine them, the Tianlan Tribe could add two Low-level Gods in a short time. Yet Linley had no need whatsoever for the help of two trash-tier Gods slightly stronger than cannon fodder.

Take Thomas, Donald, and Dennis for example; in the past, they hadn't purchased Godheads or Divine Artifacts in Red Stone City either, instead saving their money to buy cultivation resources. After all, even a Low-level Godhead cost a hundred Ink Stones, a Low-level God Artifact required ten Ink Stones, and there was no need to even mention Mid-level Godheads—a single one cost tens of thousands of Ink Stones, while High-level Godheads went for tens of millions of Ink Stones.

A single Soul Gold Bead retailed for one hundred thousand Ink Stones, holding a value even surpassing a Mid-level Godhead; however, smaller Soul Gold Granules only required ten thousand Ink Stones each.

The stronger the soul, the faster cultivation efficiency became.

To Thomas and the others, breaking through to become a High-level God earlier was far more cost-effective than adding several hundred Low-level Gods. How could authority compare to power? Otherwise, painstakingly cultivating scores or hundreds of God-level powerhouses only to end up working for the benefit of other tribal factions in the end—wouldn't that make for an enormous joke?

Even without factoring in Linley's combat strength, once the three of them broke through to High-level God, the tribe's strength would welcome a qualitative transformation.

"This... I..."

Donald hesitated, looking at Linley with an apologetic expression.

Seeing this, Linley smiled and bantered, "Donald, if you have something to say, just say it. Is it that you want a Godhead?"

Donald nodded and sighed, "My son has been at Saint Domain Peak for five thousand years after cultivating. He's begging me to get him a Godhead. As a father, it's really hard to refuse."

Linley understood. Everyone knew the significance and potential of independent ascension; once one refined a Godhead, they were destined never to become a true powerhouse. Yet for those without talent, this was also a matter of having no other choice.

Born in Hell and spending five thousand years of cultivation to reach Saint Domain Peak—such talent would struggle even to become a Saint Domain in a Material Plane. Waking up to one's potential early and refining a Godhead to become a God was the proper path.

"Just this little matter? No problem."

Linley chuckled indifferently, asking generously, "Which element do you want?"

Donald smiled. "Wind Law, the same attribute he cultivates. That way he can refine it faster."

Linley nodded, flipping his hand to produce a Godhead and tossing it to him as if it were an ordinary, everyday object.

"Thanks, Linley."

Amidst his gratitude, Donald heaved a sigh of relief, flying personally to the safest spot at the rear of the team to hand the Godhead over to his son for blood-binding refining.

Dennis asked uncertainly, "Linley, are we waiting for Donald's son to refine the Godhead, or are we charging in right now?"

Linley answered decisively, "Charge in right now, the sooner the better. We won't give them time to discover anomalies and prepare for battle; catching them off guard is the best way to maximize our profits."

Refining a Godhead could not be accomplished overnight, and such a time frame easily bred unexpected variables. For the sake of adding one more Low-level God in combat strength, Linley felt it was completely unnecessary.

Thomas seconded, "Agreed!"

Once Donald returned and they briefly assigned combat tasks, the crowd of Tianlan Tribe's God-level powerhouses aggressively barged into the Red Demon Tribe's territorial range.

"External God-level powerhouses!"

"It looks like they mean trouble. Quick, report to the chieftain!"

The residents of the Red Demon Tribe felt wave after wave of tyrannical imposing presence wash over them, leaving them dizzy and under immense pressure. Many individuals whose strength didn't even reach the Saint Domain collapsed to the ground in faints.

The Saint Domains turned pale with terror and helplessness, cold sweat pouring down their foreheads. In the face of divine might, they didn't even have the courage to resist—unless the tribe's God-level powerhouses resisted this force, organizing them to counterattack together and play that tiny, necessary part of qualified cannon fodder.

"Tsk, this Diego's architectural style is actually quite tasteful."

Flying in midair, Linley looked down at the great canyon split open like a sword slash, praising with a smile.

The Red Demon Tribe's housing construction was generally three stories high, and the exterior was relatively handsome and grand. Classified by strength and status, the black castles where several God-level powerhouses lived were as eye-catching as small hills.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Soon enough, three Mid-level Gods and two Low-level Gods flew out from within the castle.

The man at the head had dark skin, and his golden hair was slicked straight back, shining brightly.

Diego swept a sinister gaze across them and coldly interrogated, "Thomas, Donald, Dennis, you've got a lot of nerve. What do you want by coming to my Red Demon Tribe?"

As he spoke, he warily sized up Linley. This unfamiliar black-haired Mid-level God was actually standing in front of Thomas and the others, meaning something that was self-evident—he was undoubtedly the new chieftain.

Donald spoke up, shouting, "Diego, it's been some years since we last saw each other. Let's skip the nonsense; my and Dennis's tribes have already merged into the Tianlan Tribe. If you know what's good for you, surrender as well."

Dennis nodded, advising, "This is Linley, the new chieftain we have jointly recommended and recognized. He possesses formidable strength and the potential of a Seven-star Demon. Submitting to the Tianlan Tribe is a wise choice."

Upon hearing this, Diego sneered repeatedly, "What kind of joke is that? I might as well say I have the potential of an Overgod!"

"Hahahahaha!"

"A Seven-star Demon, my ass! In my dreams I wouldn't dare think of it!"

The two Mid-level Gods beside Diego let out uninhibited jeers, while the other three Low-level Gods wore nervous expressions.

Linley sent a voice transmission to Thomas and the others, "Those other two Low-level Gods must be patrolling elsewhere. I see these three Mid-level Gods aren't fit to be subjugated—kill them outright."

Within his magnetic field perception, the killing intent and emotions of Diego and another Water-element Mid-level God rolled on endlessly like a flood, mixed with a portion of jealousy. Clearly, they weren't as foolish and arrogant as they appeared.

"Good."

"We'll listen to you, Linley."

"No problem, all together."

Thomas and the others transmitted back one after another.

"Die—!"

Diego suddenly let out a loud shout, striking first. Yellow sand filled the sky, rising to transform into his advantageous battlefield. His figure shuttled like a ghost, his speed comparable to a Mid-level God proficient in the Wind Law.

Swish!

A chilling gleam lit up. Diego gripped a dagger, yet his target wasn't Linley or the other Mid-level Gods, but Jess.

Diego planned inwardly, I'll kill a Low-level God first to reduce their numbers!

"Whoosh!"

In the split second of a lightning flash, Linley's figure blocked the path before Diego's dagger, lifting his long saber and descending with a fierce, heavy-set, overhead chop wrapped in blazing thunder!

So fast! Could it be fused Mysteries?!

A shock shook the bottom of Diego's heart, but it was too late to evade the sharpness. He could only bite his bullet and raise his dagger to meet it head-on in a direct collision!