The Match

"Sure enough, he's an arrogant genius!"

Wesport returned to the Delihua Hotel looking furious.

"What's wrong, Lord Wesport?"

"I went there in person, but that fellow wouldn't even show his face. He turned me down so decisively. It seems the Dark Church has no chance of recruiting him."

"But you're a Level 9 Great Mage! Should I—"

"No need. Now isn't the time."

Jonathan fell silent for a moment, then said, "How about I pay him a visit in your place? We're both geniuses, and I'm interested in him. I'm sure he'll be interested in me, too."

Wesport glanced at Jonathan, his brows twitching. He considered it for a moment and decided there was some merit to the idea. A genius like Linley would show a Level 9 Great Mage no more than superficial respect.

He might even feel a touch of disdain.

But it was different with a genius on his own level. He would surely feel a competitive urge.

"I think you're interested in him, too. Hahaha. Then tomorrow, you can go in my place to apologize, and try to recruit him while you're at it. If you still can't sway him, the Dark Church can give up on him for good."

"Yes, Lord Wesport."

The next day.

Jonathan paid a visit. As soon as Linley heard from Hilton that he was there, he hurried out to greet him.

"We meet again." Jonathan smiled.

"Indeed," Linley said. "Last time, I could only look up to you. But now..."

Bebe sprang from his arms and ran up onto Linley's shoulder. He stood upright, his little forelimbs crossed over his chest, and stared at Jonathan with a haughty air.

"Little mouse, what, want to try my Anti-Gravity Spell again?"

"Squeak, squeak! (Who's afraid of whom!)"

Jonathan looked Linley over. "Your bearing has changed a lot since I last saw you. You seem much more confident and mature. You must have been through a lot."

Linley nodded. "I've been through a few things."

He didn't go into detail. They weren't close enough for that.

"Are you here of your own accord, or on behalf of the Dark Church?"

"Both. Lord Wesport asked me to apologize for him. The Dark Church only wanted to invite you over last time. And if you're willing to join us, we'll agree to any terms you name."

Linley answered without hesitation. "No need!"

"I'm not planning to join any faction right now. But I'm surprised you were willing to join the Dark Church. Still, I imagine you have your reasons. You don't seem as respectful toward them as you let on."

Jonathan smiled without replying.

After a moment, he said, "You seem to be thinking of challenging me. You're the second greatest genius in history, and you broke through nearly a year earlier than I did. I'm only two years older than you."

At that moment, Linley heard Doehring say from beside him, "Linley, he's gotten much stronger. Even if you reveal your Dragonform now, you may not be a match for him."

"Don't rush into challenging him. And he's with the Dark Church. He might take the opportunity to cripple you."

"Grandpa Doehring, just how strong is he?" Linley asked.

Doehring sighed. "His spiritual force has reached at least the peak of the eighth rank, as a Magister. As for his battle qi, I'm not sure, but I'd guess it's at least early eighth rank."

"How is that possible? So soon?!"

"In just two years, he not only broke through to the eighth rank, but raised his spiritual force to the peak of it?"

"You went from early sixth rank to seventh rank in just a few days. You had a fortuitous encounter. Why couldn't he have had one, too?"

"That's not what I mean. It just seems so unbelievable!"

"It is unbelievable. You're already cultivating very quickly, but it'll take at least four or five years for you to reach the eighth rank as a mage, and probably another four or five to reach its peak."

"I thought breaking through to Level 9 Great Mage before you turned thirty would already make you a peerless magic genius. But looking at him, if my guess is right, he'll break through in a year or two."

"A Level 9 Great Mage at twenty or twenty-one... I don't even know how to describe someone like that. Perhaps he has the potential to become a god."

"Become a god?"

Linley yearned for it. During his last trip to the Magical Beast Mountain Range, he had discovered a mysterious Magic Array in Mist Valley and found the artifact Purple Blood. He had also learned from Doehring about the four supreme planes.

"Grandpa Doehring, I've still decided to challenge him. I have a feeling he means me no harm. Besides, with his talent, do you think he'd truly work for the Dark Church?"

"The fact that he hasn't revealed his true strength to the people of the Dark Church does suggest they're not of one mind. But... never mind. Since you've made up your mind, go ahead. If you're in danger, I can step in. With Bebe here, even if we can't beat him, he won't be able to do anything to us."

Linley's eyes shone as he stared fearlessly at Jonathan.

"I was thinking the same thing. Would you care to give me some pointers?"

"Of course. I'd be glad to!"

Linley told Hilton not to enter the courtyard, no matter what sounds he heard.

In the courtyard, the two faced each other.

"I'll give it everything I've got. I hope you won't hold back!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a hint of dark gold appeared in Linley's eyes. Dragonblood Battle Qi erupted from within him, and black scales immediately covered his body. Sharp spikes emerged from his elbows and knees.

Then a tail like an iron whip sprouted from his coccyx, while spikes also jutted from his forehead.

"So this is Dragonform?!"

As Jonathan looked at Linley, the emotionless dark-gold eyes sent a chill through him. They were terrifyingly cold.

"Eighth rank?"

"So this is the Dragonform of a Dragonblood Warrior?"

"Looks like the world has underestimated you."

"And you're no different. You claim to be a seventh-rank dual-element mage and a seventh-rank warrior, but you're hiding more than that, aren't you?"

A flash of violet light passed, and a purple soft sword appeared in Linley's hand.

Jonathan's expression turned grave. It was a Highgod Artifact. Even if Linley couldn't draw out much of its power, its sharpness could easily slice through Jonathan's body.

"Whoosh!"

Linley pushed off the ground, cracking the earth beneath him, and shot toward Jonathan like a shadow.

After transforming, his strength had reached early eighth rank, but his speed was undoubtedly at the peak of the eighth rank.

Jonathan held nothing back either. He unleashed his full speed, turning into a dark blur as he darted aside.

The two chased each other around the courtyard, their weapons clashing now and then with sharp metallic clangs.

A dagger engraved with three Micro Magic Arrays temporarily held off the edge of the divine sword Purple Blood.

Linley tried to use Purple Blood's special properties to affect Jonathan with its baleful aura, but Jonathan was completely unaffected. Instead, Linley accidentally let Jonathan's dagger scrape across his scales.

To Linley's surprise, the scales—which ordinary weapons couldn't even scratch—were torn open, and the dagger nearly cut into his flesh.

"He has a weapon with special properties, too. That dagger's almost as sharp as a divine artifact!"

Linley didn't dare let his guard down again!