Linley and Delia

January 1st of every year was the most important holiday on the Yulan Continent—the Yulan Festival.

And the Yulan Empire placed the greatest importance on this holiday.

This was because the first year of the Yulan Calendar was the year the Yulan Empire unified the entire Yulan Continent, and the Yulan Festival had been created to commemorate that historic moment.

Ten thousand years had passed. Though the Yulan Empire no longer possessed its former glory, its emphasis on the Yulan Festival had not changed.

The Day of Destruction had fallen on the Yulan Festival of Yulan Calendar Year 10000, and the Yulan Empire had attached immense importance to that day.

Delia, who had still been studying at the Ernst Institute at the time, had returned to the Yulan Empire early to take part in the celebrations.

As a result, Delia escaped the Day of Destruction.

After the Day of Destruction, Delia believed Linley had died. Her heart was as good as dead, and she decided never to marry, devoting all her thoughts to cultivation and her career.

At twenty-two, Delia became a Level Seven Mage. She was accepted as a disciple by the Saint Realm Archmage Longers, and she was also exceptionally skilled at diplomatic negotiations, holding an important post in the Yulan Empire.

She could be said to possess excellent family background, beauty, and ability.

In the Yulan Empire, Delia had countless suitors, but she rejected every one of them.

Ever since news of Linley's battle with Olivier reached the Yulan Empire, Delia's heart had come back to life. She did everything she could to persuade the emperor to dispatch an envoy to the O'Brien Empire.

She succeeded. Not long after Olivier's decisive battle with Haydson, the Yulan Empire's delegation arrived in Chiyan City.

That day, Fushi Road, Earl Mansion.

Linley was refining his Pulse Guard. Liewen sat nearby, watching the blue-black battle qi surrounding Linley's body and nodding to himself.

"Linley, if you continue refining your Pulse Guard, you should soon be able to use it for soul defense."

Linley withdrew the Pulse Guard from his body, let out a long breath, and smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Liewen."

After witnessing the battle between Olivier and Haydson, Linley had also been considering whether he could use Soul Attack. If he could not, could he at least achieve defense against it?

Just as Linley was troubled over this, Liewen enlightened him.

"You can try applying Pulse Guard to soul defense."

Although Linley had not truly succeeded yet, he had already made some progress. He knew this path was viable.

Liewen waved a hand, telling Linley there was no need to thank him. "Your battle qi will still be the key in your fight against Haydson. During this period, improve as much as you can."

"I understand."

The courtyard gate opened, and Gates, the fifth of Barker's five brothers, walked in.

Bebe immediately blocked Gates's way.

To prepare for his decisive battle against Haydson, Linley had been cultivating behind closed doors this entire time. Other than people like Liewen, who came to exchange insights and spar, he saw virtually no one else.

Bebe and Heilu's main task during this period was to prevent anyone from disturbing Linley's cultivation.

"Bebe, move aside. I have something important to report." Gates shouted in his booming voice. "My lord, there's someone outside named Delia. She says she's your old classmate and wants to see you."

"Delia?" Linley was first startled, then joy flooded his eyes as he headed toward the courtyard gate.

Liewen smiled faintly. She had finally arrived.

"Witnessed Linley and Delia's reunion. Body potential enhancement attempts +1."

"Liewen Andrew."

"Strength: Saint Realm."

"Potential: Highgod capable of fusing two Profundities."

"Physical strength: Ninth-Rank Warrior."

"Body potential: Highgod Artifact."

After using up this body potential enhancement attempt, Liewen's body potential rose to the Highgod Artifact level.

"Unfortunately, it wasn't my potential that improved." Liewen felt slightly regretful.

If his potential could improve again, his cultivation speed would also increase.

Fortunately, the next witnessing opportunity was not far away.

The next opportunity would come a year later, on July 21st, Yulan Calendar Year 10010.

On that day, Linley would marry Delia in Baruch City, the capital of the Baruch Kingdom he had established.

Not long after Linley's decisive battle with Haydson, he would head to the Land of Chaos.

The Land of Chaos lay east of the O'Brien Empire. As its name suggested, it was a region renowned for chaos.

Wars were frequent there, and there were dozens of duchies in total. Every few years, the number of duchies changed.

To the west of the Land of Chaos lay the O'Brien Empire, to the south the Luo'ao Empire, and to the east the Far East Prairie. All three powers wanted to annex the Land of Chaos.

In addition, the Radiant Church and the Dark Church had always sought to conquer the Land of Chaos.

Beyond that, beast tides often emerged from the Dark Forest north of the Land of Chaos. Some lasted decades, while others lasted only ten-odd years. Though the number and level of the beasts could not compare to the Day of Destruction, their frequent occurrence made peace impossible in the Land of Chaos.

With so many forces and factors involved, how could it not be chaotic?

Linley was going to the Land of Chaos to deal with the Radiant Church's forces there.

The Land of Chaos was vast, roughly half the size of the O'Brien Empire.

After the Day of Destruction, the Holy Union's territory had shrunk by a third. The present Holy Union was now roughly the same size as the Land of Chaos.

The Radiant Church valued faith greatly. Such a vast territory and population in the Land of Chaos could provide the Radiant Church with an enormous amount of faith.

Linley intended to destroy their foundation of faith in the Land of Chaos.

After nearly a year of effort, Linley had unified one-quarter of the Land of Chaos and established the Baruch Kingdom.

"There's about a year left. I'll go to the Yulan Empire for that year—hunt Saint Realm magical beasts in the Sunset Mountain Range to strengthen my body while cultivating." Liewen had already made his plans.

Liewen followed behind Linley out of the courtyard and saw Delia.

Beside Delia stood a middle-aged man with graying hair, who appeared to be in his forties or fifties.

The middle-aged man was Delia's teacher, the wind-style Saint Realm Archmage Longers.

Master Longers had also brought his Saint Realm magical beast, Ahuang the Earth Bear, and his 9th-Level Magical Beast, Paley the Thunder Gale Eagle.

Delia and Longers were also slightly startled upon seeing Liewen.

They had also seen the Memory Crystal Ball recording Liewen's battle with Useno in the Yulan Empire.

"Mr. Liewen!"

"Delia, Master Longers."

The two sides exchanged polite greetings.

Linley invited Delia and Master Longers into the courtyard. Liewen had already completed his witnessing, so he did not stay to disturb the reunion of the two lovers and took his leave first.

Since Kuhn and Lena also wanted to watch Linley's decisive battle with Haydson, the three decided to set out for the Yulan Empire after the battle ended.

Liewen himself was no longer interested in this duel.

He already knew both the course and the outcome of the battle.

Linley and Haydson would fight to a draw. Linley would be at a slight disadvantage due to insufficient battle qi, but with Bebe and Heilu, the two magical beasts, Haydson would be unable to do anything to Linley.

In the end, it would conclude in a draw.

After completing the witnessing, Liewen scarcely left the Daryl Family estate and cultivated continuously.

On one hand, he cultivated the Profundity of Purification. On the other, he researched more ways to use it.

When sparring with Linley, he had also wondered: since the Profundity of Pulse of the Earth could be used for attack and defense alike, could the Profundity of Purification do the same?

When Linley's battle with Haydson ended, Liewen finally succeeded in his research.