"What? Mr. Fang Yun isn't here?"
After Linley and Yale brought the Dream Awakening sculpture to Stone Sculpture Valley, they found only the Doham brothers.
"Ah, if only we'd come sooner."
Yale was full of regret. When he heard that Fang Yun had left only recently, he felt even more frustrated. He'd missed his chance to see Fang Yun, and whether he'd ever get another chance was anyone's guess.
"Oh, right. Wait here a moment."
Doham returned to the valley and carried out a long box.
The moment Linley saw the wooden box on Doham's shoulder, his breathing quickened. He already guessed what was inside.
Doham held the box in one hand and opened it with the other, revealing a blood-red battle blade lying quietly inside.
Doham smiled. "Linley, this is your Baruch Clan's heirloom, the battle blade Slaughter. The lord said that once you brought over the Dream Awakening sculpture, the blade would be yours."
As he spoke, Doham handed the box to Linley.
Linley suppressed his excitement and carefully accepted the box from Doham, gently running his fingers over the blade inside. Father, I've brought back our clan's heirloom blade.
Soon, Linley put aside his complicated feelings and gave Doham a noble's salute. "Please thank Mr. Fang Yun for me."
"Haha, this was what you and the lord agreed on. The lord always keeps his word."
Doham smiled.
Linley smiled too. That was right. Mr. Fang Yun was already a god-level powerhouse. He would never go back on his word.
After receiving the battle blade Slaughter, Linley could hardly wait to return to Wushan Town and tell his father. He didn't stay long at Stone Sculpture Valley and soon set out for home.
After Linley left, Dohar also departed from Stone Sculpture Valley.
With his current strength, he could secretly follow Linley without being noticed, as long as he didn't get too close.
Besides, it wasn't really following him. He was only keeping an eye on Linley from time to time. Under those circumstances, Linley naturally never noticed Dohar.
Two years later.
Dohar had witnessed Linley's experiences and changes over those two years. Before, Linley had been merely a genius. Now, he was beginning to resemble a true powerhouse.
Dohar had witnessed countless deaths during the Day of Destruction.
The greatest crisis he saw Linley face during this period was when the Radiant Church captured him. At the time, Dohar had wondered whether he should invoke the lord's name to rescue Linley.
But then the Day of Destruction struck.
By the time Dohar found Linley again, he was in Hess City. Dohar was disguised as an ordinary caravan guard, traveling with a merchant caravan.
"So it's the Purple Flame Warrior Clan!"
Dohar had naturally noticed Vincent Haide, who had helped Linley forge the Black Jade Heavy Sword.
Although none of the Hyde Clan members had fully awakened their Purple Flame Warrior bloodline, they were still descendants of one of the Four Ultimate Warriors. Dohar couldn't help feeling excited.
He resolved to find an opportunity to get to know Vincent and the others.
"Hm? An executive priest of the Radiant Church?"
In Hess City, Dohar suddenly spotted several members of the Radiant Church and began watching them closely.
The Radiant Church was Linley's greatest enemy now. If the two sides met, it would inevitably end in a fight to the death.
With that in mind, Dohar carefully followed them.
After secretly keeping an eye on Linley for two years, Dohar had grown increasingly confident in his ability to follow people.
"It's Linley!"
Dohar's expression shifted. Linley, who had killed Clayde, had just been cornered by the six men.
Dohar hid at a distance, watching the situation closely.
Linley had faced countless crises over the years, but he had made it through them all. So although Dohar stayed alert, he didn't rush to intervene.
"The Radiant Church's combined attack technique really is powerful."
Watching the six executive priests join forces to unleash a secret technique, Dohar felt a weight settle in his chest.
The way their battle qi merged perfectly was especially strange.
"Linley's in danger."
Dohar was certain that, with Linley's current strength, he wouldn't be able to break through this combined attack.
Just as Dohar expected, most of the black scales on Linley's body soon shattered. A deep gash across his chest, almost to the bone, kept bleeding.
Only his Dragonblood Warrior bloodline's powerful healing ability had kept him from dying immediately.
Linley's muscles convulsed and contracted, desperately trying to close the wound. But it was too large, and the best they could do was shrink it. The great loss of blood left Linley dizzy and close to fainting.
"Next time, you'll die."
One of the six executive priests spoke arrogantly. Beibei pressed anxiously against Linley's side. Both he and Linley felt despair.
"Hmph."
Linley jerked his head, struggling to stay conscious.
But he had lost too much blood, and the world around him was blurred. Just then, a dreamlike white light flew out and transformed into an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in a pale moon-white robe.
"Grandpa Doehring."
Linley froze, not understanding why Grandpa Doehring had come out now.
Doehring Cowart looked just as he had the first time Linley had seen him. He gently stroked Linley's head.
"Linley, from now on, you'll have to rely on yourself."
Doehring Cowart smiled at him fondly.
As he spoke, Doehring Cowart's soul slowly rose into the air, releasing a terrifying wave of spiritual power.
Doehring Cowart spoke as though to himself, his tone casual. "More than five thousand years ago, I only cared about cultivation, fighting, and killing. I was so proud that I wouldn't let anyone get close to me. I had no children or grandchildren, either."
"But after spending more than five thousand years inside the Coiling Dragon Ring, my disposition changed. Then I met you, Linley."
Doehring Cowart looked at Linley, and his spiritual power grew even more terrifying. Even the executive priests in the distance could feel it.
"Grandpa Doehring, what are you doing?"
Linley had a bad feeling.
Doehring Cowart sighed and didn't answer him. Instead, he reproached himself. "I always thought I was a genius. But in more than five thousand years, I never found the path to godhood. I wasted all that time. Now I know the path to godhood, yet I've made no progress at all. It's laughable."
Then Doehring Cowart looked at Linley. "In my current state, even if you gave me another five thousand years, I'm afraid I still wouldn't witness the realm of the gods. So, Linley, I can only show you a Saint-level spell once. You won't blame Grandpa Doehring, will you?"
By now, Linley had guessed what Doehring Cowart intended to do. He went nearly frantic and shouted, "No, Grandpa Doehring! No!"
Doehring Cowart smiled.
His spiritual power grew more and more terrifying.
Just as Doehring Cowart was about to burn up his soul completely and let Linley witness the power of a Saint-level mage, a scream suddenly rang out.
In an instant, the scream drew Linley and Doehring Cowart's attention.
The combined secret technique formed by the six executive priests had been broken.
Not far from them, a "White Tiger" hovered in the air, holding a massive battle blade. In the ruins below him lay an executive priest, cleaved in two by a single strike.
Two years earlier, Dohar had already reached the peak of the eighth rank in human form. Not long after the Day of Destruction, he had advanced to the ninth rank. After transforming, he possessed the strength of an early-stage Saint.
"That was all?"
Dohar spoke dismissively. His dark golden eyes fixed on the five remaining executive priests.
He had acted now because he'd sensed Doehring Cowart's terrifying spiritual power. It was obvious Doehring Cowart intended to fight to the death.
The lord had told him to save Doehring Cowart, so there was no reason to keep hiding.
Now he felt even more respect for Fang Yun.
The lord had arranged for him to do this two years ago. What kind of foresight was that? It was terrifying!
"A Tiger-striped Warrior!"
Linley was stunned at the sight of the White Tiger.
Doehring Cowart was also taken aback. He hadn't been able to detect Dohar following from a distance, but appearing this close made Dohar's identity easy to discern with his senses.
"Linley, it's Dohar!"
Doehring Cowart's voice rang out.
Doehring Cowart felt conflicted. If Dohar had arrived a moment later, he would have burned up his soul. Dohar had saved his life.
Although Doehring Cowart would have gladly died to save Linley, he wanted even more to watch Linley grow. He also wanted to witness the splendor of godhood for himself.
There were so many things he still wanted to do.
"Dohar?"
Linley was even more astonished. Had Dohar become a Saint-level Ultimate Warrior?!
But then he relaxed. Now that Dohar was here, Grandpa Doehring and he were safe.
"Boss, we're all right!"
Beibei sent an excited voice transmission.
Ever since he'd learned that Doehring Cowart existed, Beibei had grown very fond of the white-bearded old man. He often had Linley relay messages to him. Linley was practically a messenger, but he was delighted by it.
"Right, we're all right."
Linley still felt a little shaken.
"Saint-level!"
The five remaining executive priests blanched. They didn't even bother to say anything; they scattered in every direction.
Anyone who dared to openly kill the Radiant Church's priests clearly wasn't afraid of its Saint-level powerhouses. Staying would mean certain death. And with their combined technique broken, it would be easy for their opponent to kill them.
"Run?"
Dohar scoffed. He moved in a flash, seemingly turning into a streak of white light.
Tiger-striped Warriors excelled at speed. The priests had no chance of escaping.
Soon, Dohar, still in his White Tiger form, arrived in front of Linley.
"Big Brother Dohar!"
Linley called out.
Dohar smiled. "They're all dead."
"Thank you for saving my life, Big Brother Dohar."
Linley thanked him solemnly.
Beibei squeaked, too.
Dohar waved him off and looked toward Doehring Cowart. "If I hadn't acted, you would have burned up your soul, wouldn't you?"
In his White Tiger form, Dohar was at the Saint level. Though he couldn't see Doehring Cowart, he could still sense his presence.
Doehring Cowart gave a helpless, bitter smile, sending a pulse through his soul. "You saw that."
Though his soul was at the Saint level, there was nothing he could do except burn it up to unleash a single attack.
"Burn up your soul?"
Hearing Dohar's words, Linley felt another wave of fear.
He silently resolved to become stronger as quickly as possible. Otherwise, if he ran into another situation like this, he wouldn't know what to do.
"Don't be so extreme next time."
Dohar didn't say much more. "Think about Linley. If you really want to help him, just reach godhood. Then you'll be able to solve anything."
Hearing that, Doehring Cowart could only smile helplessly. Reach godhood? It wasn't that easy.
Still, he agreed with Dohar. In his current soul state, there was little more he could do to help Linley.
"Enough. Let's get out of here."
Dohar spoke directly. "The Radiant Church won't let this go after losing six executive priests."
In a small courtyard.
After hearing about Dohar's experiences, Linley couldn't believe it. "Big Brother Dohar, you followed me for two whole years?"
Beibei and Doehring Cowart stared at Dohar, too.
Dohar waved his hand. "Don't get the wrong idea. I wasn't following you. I was simply traveling along the same route. Besides, this was the lord's idea."
"Mr. Fang Yun?"
Linley froze.
Dohar nodded, his voice filled with admiration. "Two years ago, the lord told me to follow you and said I might get the chance to save Mr. Doehring. Perhaps the lord had already guessed that Mr. Doehring would be in danger."
"Mr. Fang Yun told you to save Grandpa Doehring?"
Linley was truly shocked now.
How was that possible?
But Linley didn't press for an explanation. No matter how Mr. Fang Yun had foreseen the danger to Grandpa Doehring, saving him was an enormous favor.
Without realizing it, Linley had already incurred many debts of gratitude to Mr. Fang Yun: the battle blade Slaughter, and Grandpa Doehring.
He had no idea how he could ever repay him.
Doehring Cowart also resolved that he would reach godhood.
After spending two days with Linley, Dohar officially left.
Only after Dohar had gone did Linley say to Doehring Cowart, "Grandpa Doehring, I plan to go to the Magical Beast Mountain Range and train in seclusion again!"
Doehring Cowart simply nodded without objecting. Both Linley and he needed to devote themselves to cultivation. He didn't want to leave this world with regrets.
Time flowed like water.
Yulan Calendar, Year 10003.
The Rhine Empire.
Edita wore a pale-blue mage's robe, with a small golden-red bird perched on her shoulder. It was none other than the Saint-level magical beast from Blue Star that had descended upon the Yulan Continent: the Crimson Feather Golden Phoenix.
Edita had now become a Saint-level mage in two elements, though few people knew it.
When Edita entered Wester Academy, she found Dean Potter. He was still only at the ninth rank. Standing before the window, he silently gazed outside.
When he saw Edita enter, Potter let out a long breath and smiled. "Sit."
Then Potter slowly took a small ring from his desk drawer. It had a special red ornament set into it. He handed it to Edita. "Here. Take it."
"What is this?"
Edita frowned slightly.
"The Ring of Feihong."
Potter answered at once, his tone tinged with helplessness. "It's a ring kept in the Rhine Empire's treasury, just like the Ring of Feilan. Both are Space Rings, and both were left behind by Mr. Wester. This one, though, was originally given to the royal family by Mr. Wester."
Before Edita could ask anything else, Potter explained, his voice tinged with sadness. "His Majesty the Emperor has issued a new order. Starting today, Wester Academy will be merged with Kawent Institute. From now on, there will be no more Wester Academy."
Ever since Edita relayed Fang Yun's request to the emperor of the Rhine Empire, Kawent Institute had practically become the Rhine Empire's national institute.
In just a few years, it had become unrivaled in the Rhine Empire, both in student numbers and influence. It had even begun to gain some renown in other empires.
However, Kawent Institute only admitted ordinary adults, so it hadn't attracted much attention.
But now, the emperor of the Rhine Empire was clearly no longer satisfied with the status quo. He planned to transform Kawent Institute into a more comprehensive institute.
The plan was to establish separate divisions for ordinary students and adults. Turning Wester Academy into part of Kawent Institute was the quickest, simplest, and most effective way to do that.
Hearing the news, Edita fell silent. Although Fang Yun was ultimately behind the matter, she had been the one to carry the message to the emperor of the Rhine Empire. "I'm sorry for the trouble."
Potter just smiled, unconcerned. In fact, he seemed somewhat relieved. "There's no need for that. This might not be a bad thing. It would be too difficult for Wester Academy to rise on its own. Now that it's merging with Kawent Institute, it might even surpass Ernst Institute someday."
Then Potter changed the subject. "From now on, this Ring of Feihong will represent the position of dean of Kawent Institute's ordinary division. You should wear it."
"Me?"
Edita froze.
Potter smiled. "That's right. Starting today, you're the dean of Kawent Institute's ordinary division."
After Edita left, Potter slumped into a chair by the window. He gazed out at the grounds of Wester Academy—or rather, Kawent Institute's ordinary division—and finally gave a bitter smile.
Before long, news of Kawent Institute's merger with Wester Academy spread across the Yulan Continent.
That year, Linley reached the peak of the eighth rank in human form, and the peak of the ninth rank after transforming. He officially emerged from seclusion and set out for the O'Brien Empire. Doehring Cowart was a Saint-level soul.
In the Yulan Calendar year 10006, Linley reached the ninth rank in human form and gained Saint-level strength after transforming. Doehring Cowart was a Saint-level soul.
In the Yulan Calendar year 10008, Linley's spiritual force broke through to the ninth rank in the O'Brien Empire, making him a Ninth-Rank Grand Magus at the age of twenty-seven. Doehring Cowart was a Saint-level soul.
In the Yulan Calendar year 10010, Linley established the Baruch Kingdom in the Chaotic Territory and married Delia. Doehring Cowart was a Saint-level soul, and that night Beibei was holding the Coiling Dragon Ring.
On January 1, Yulan Calendar year 10023, the Baruch Empire was established. That same year, the Necropolis of the Gods opened. Doehring Cowart was a Saint-level soul.
In the Yulan Calendar year 10033, the Saint-level experts' expedition into the Necropolis of the Gods ended, and Linley became a Saint-level Magus. He obtained three Divine Sparks from the Necropolis of the Gods and gave the Earth Lowgod Divine Spark to Doehring Cowart.
Doehring Cowart ultimately chose the path of refining a Divine Spark.
Before you continue