Four Deities

When Robert had first encountered Leian in the Youquan Mountain Range, he had only just begun to comprehend Worldly Momentum through the spiritual power of a level-nine Grand Magus.

At the time, Robert had planned to return and enter seclusion to break through to the Saint Realm. Unexpectedly, on his way back, he happened to come across Margaret challenging Demos the Tyrannosaurus.

Later, when Robert saw Margaret present the token, an idea arose in his heart.

His challenge to Leian had not only been for the Goddess Token. He had also wanted to use Leian, this genius, as a stepping stone to make a name for himself in a single battle.

Yet he had failed to gain anything and instead suffered a loss. Despite cultivating both magic and martial arts, he had been thoroughly defeated, only serving to enhance Leian's reputation.

Afterward, Robert had salvaged his dignity through his dual cultivation of magic and martial arts, as well as his rapid entry into the Saint Realm. Yet in his heart, defeating Leian had become an obsession, an obstacle he had to overcome.

To that end, he had specifically challenged another genius of the Saint Realm and seized a Goddess Token from him, intending to defeat Leian before the many Saint Realm experts in the Goddess's Named Disciple Tournament and erase his past humiliation.

However, Robert had still underestimated the depth of his obsession. Now that he truly saw Leian, he realized he could not wait even a moment longer.

As Robert's challenge rang out, the Saint Realm experts all turned toward Leian, their gazes filled with either expectation or amusement.

Compared to Leian's low profile, Robert had challenged quite a few Saint Realm experts over the years. Everyone present knew his strength well.

Several years ago, Robert had already reached the major mastery stage of Worldly Momentum. He was undeniably at the middle stage of the Saint Realm.

Leian had entered the Saint Realm after Robert. Even if he was a genius, in their eyes, he could at most be at the middle stage of the Saint Realm.

That meant the two were evenly matched. If they fought, it would likely be difficult to determine a victor anytime soon. It was bound to be quite entertaining.

The more excitement, the better. Leian took in everyone's expressions and sneered inwardly. When he turned his gaze toward Robert, it had become incomparably cold.

Robert's talent and perseverance were both quite decent, considering he had persisted in cultivating both magic and martial arts. But he was far too obsessed with fame and gain, and Leian disliked him from the bottom of his heart.

Of course, dislike was one thing. If Robert did not provoke him, Leian could not be bothered to argue with him. Yet this man simply did not know his place and was determined to use him as a stepping stone.

Since that was the case, Robert could not blame him for bullying the weak. After all, the dignity of a god-level expert was not something any stray cat or dog could offend.

With that thought, Leian snorted coldly. Without any visible movement from him, a finger-sized streak of black sword light shot from between his brows and flew straight at Robert.

The sword light condensed from Destruction Divine Power was incredibly swift and utterly restrained, without even the slightest aura leaking out. Before Robert could react, the sword light had already struck him.

A soft bang sounded, and Robert instantly turned into a cloud of powder that scattered apart.

"Hiss—"

Though everything had happened in a flash, the sight made everyone draw a sharp breath. The expectation and amusement in their eyes vanished at once, replaced entirely by shock.

One sword beam had reduced Robert, a middle-stage Saint Realm expert, to ashes. What kind of method was that? What kind of strength?

Amid the stunned uncertainty, a few peak Saint Realm experts with broad experience had already begun to guess at Leian's identity.

"You..."

As Robert's teacher, Cavila the Magic-Martial Sword Saint could not accept his beloved disciple's death for the moment. He glared furiously at Leian, but after uttering only a single word, he seemed to recall something and forcibly swallowed the rest.

Just then, a sharp rebuke came from behind them:

"Insolence!"

The icy voice carried a familiar note. The Saint Realm experts instinctively turned around and saw Margaret, dressed in a black robe, striding toward them. Upon reaching Leian, she bowed and said:

"Lord Leian, the Goddess is waiting in the main hall. Please follow me."

As she spoke, she stepped aside and respectfully showed Leian the way.

Margaret, the Goddess's eldest disciple and a Saint Realm expert at the limit, had actually addressed Leian as "Lord." Though everyone found the implication hard to believe, they understood it perfectly well.

After the two departed, everyone looked at one another. For a moment, the scene was frighteningly silent.

At the same time, the same thought surfaced in all their minds:

So the mysterious expert who had become a god not long ago was Sir Leian!

Elsewhere, after seeing Margaret's attitude, Cavila the Magic-Martial Sword Saint no longer held even the slightest hope. His face had turned ashen.

Behind the valley

Margaret remained silent all the way until they reached the entrance of the black palace. Only then did she bow and say:

"Lord Leian, please!"

Leian nodded slightly and casually stepped through the palace doors.

Inside the main hall, the four god-level experts were still seated in the same positions Leian had seen through his divine sense before.

The Goddess of Dark Night sat cross-legged in the seat of honor. The Elven King and the Elven Goddess sat side by side on the left, while the armored middle-aged man sat alone on the right.

They seemed to have been waiting for some time. The moment Leian entered the hall, he saw all four of them look over and openly appraise him.

Seeing this, Leian also began observing the four of them.

The Goddess of Dark Night had cool, aloof features and gave off an air that kept strangers at a distance.

The Elven Goddess wore a gentle expression, with a faint smile always lingering in her eyes and brows, making people instinctively feel close to her.

The Elven King's expression was mild. Seated beside the Elven Goddess, his bearing was in no way inferior to hers.

The armored middle-aged man sat upright, imposing and spirited, like an imperial general. At a glance, Leian became even more certain that he was the Yulan War God.

As he considered this, Leian took the initiative to speak.

"Leian greets you all!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the armored middle-aged man replied with a smile.

"Leian, I know of you. Becoming a god within a hundred years is remarkable!"

As he spoke, he pointed to the spot beside him, inviting Leian to come sit.

Leian did not decline. Imitating the four before him, he openly sat down cross-legged below the armored middle-aged man.

Once Leian was seated, the armored middle-aged man continued.

"My name is Andrew. People call me the Yulan War God. I became a god through the Laws of Fire. I imagine you've heard of me, Leian."

So it really was him!

Leian's heart stirred, and he said with a smile:

"So it is Mr. Andrew. I have admired the War God's great name for a long time."

Andrew burst into laughter. "Leian, I heard that you became a god through the Destruction Rule. How about it? When we have time, shall we spar?"

"I would be delighted!"

Leian agreed without the slightest hesitation.

His straightforwardness seemed very much to Andrew's liking, and Andrew immediately became far more friendly.

At that moment, the Elven King across from them said with a smile, "It seems Leian becoming a god has benefited you the most, Andrew."

This was the Elven King's first time speaking. Leian instinctively looked over, and seeing this, the Elven King took the initiative to explain.

As the saying went, a name could be wrong, but a title never was. Andrew called himself the War God, and the title truly suited him. He loved challenging others more than anything.

Ever since becoming a god, god-level experts across the entire plane had received his challenges from time to time.

At first, everyone had been quite enthusiastic. But after sparring for so many years, they had long since come to understand one another completely. Continuing to spar brought neither gains nor enjoyment, yet Andrew never seemed to tire of it, giving them all headaches.

As they spoke of these amusing matters, Leian gradually became familiar with Andrew and the other three. Accordingly, he also learned their names.

The Elven King was named Kyle, a water-element lower god. The Elven Goddess was named Lia. She had also become a god through the Laws, a lower god of the Life Law.

The Goddess of Dark Night was named Jiadeliya, and she had become a god through the laws of darkness.

Among the four, the Elven King and the Elven Goddess were the oldest. More than seventy thousand years had passed since they became gods. Andrew was the next oldest, at a little over forty thousand years old.

The Goddess of Dark Night was the youngest. She had become a god less than thirty thousand years ago. Moreover, she was not the first Goddess of Dark Night. Before her, there had been seven in total, all of whom had already left this plane.