Linley

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Linley Baruch (林雷) 2
Alias(es)	Boss (used by Bebe) 86
Species/Race	Human; Dragonblood Warrior 45 46
Gender	Male 2
Affiliation	Direct disciple of Zhao Nan; Ultimate Empire 31 100
Occupation/Role	Mage, warrior, Ultimate Empire decision-maker and mining overseer 83 100
Status	Alive; entrusted with Sovereign Sparks and a path toward transcendence 162
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Unranked; Dragonblood bloodline inactive	3	Identified as an SSS-grade disciple with super-grade Wind and Earth talents and medium-grade Fire talent.
Level 1 Mage / Level 1 Warrior	5	Reached both first ranks after half a year of Zhao Nan's instruction in meditation and the Yunqi Style.
Level 2 Mage / Level 1 Warrior	8	Advanced in magic while warrior progress remained slower without battle-qi cultivation.
Level 2 Mage / Level 2 Warrior	26	Reached second rank in both paths by age eight.
Level 3 Magus / Level 3 Warrior	27	Continued parallel advancement through the Visualization Technique and martial training.
Level 4 Magus / Level 4 Warrior	37	Maintained equal progress in magic and warrior cultivation.
Dragonblood Warrior; Level 5 human-form warrior / Level 6 transformed warrior	45, 46	Awakened his bloodline using dragon blood and Blue Heart Grass; transformation greatly enhanced his physique and combat strength.
Level 6 Mage / Level 6 Warrior	62	Advanced alongside Ace during their Ernst Institute years.
Level 7 Mage / Level 7 Warrior; Level 8 transformed warrior	84	Survived solo tempering in the Magical Beast Forest, where practical dangers sharpened his survival instincts.
Level 8 Mage / Level 8 Warrior	86	Reached the threshold of the ninth rank before entering Misty Canyon.
Level 9 Mage / Level 9 Warrior	87	Ten days and nights of combat epiphany against magical beasts produced a breakthrough in both paths.
Lowgod	132	His Earth and Wind Laws each had nearly sixty percent of their profound mysteries fused.
Four-element Soul Mutation	154	Awoke after a fourteen-year coma with his Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire divine powers able to fuse into powerful gray divine power.
Post-mutation combat benchmark	156	Fought Bluefire evenly in an unrestricted battle; neither was affected by the spatial rifts their clash created.
Willpower range: 520,000 li	158	Learned to project Willpower across an immense area and recognized soul attacks as his strongest future offense.
Highgod	161	Was instructed to pursue Grand Perfection with his four-element clone or fuse two sets of four-element laws to save his mother.

Background / History

Early life and apprenticeship

At six years old, Linley became Zhao Nan's first direct disciple after formally greeting him as Teacher with Hogg's approval. Zhao Nan immediately recognized Linley's exceptional Wind, Earth, and Fire talents, as well as his inactive Dragonblood Warrior bloodline. 2 3

Zhao Nan trained Linley in both magic and martial arts rather than forcing him to choose one path. Their daily lessons began with the Yunqi Style and meditation, followed by practical instruction on elemental magic, battle qi, magical beasts, and herbs. Linley reached the first rank in both disciplines within six months. 5

Zhao Nan later taught him the Visualization Technique, guiding his first attempt by helping him sketch a stool within his sea of consciousness. Linley mastered the technique after persistent practice; it greatly increased and refined his mental energy, though he could initially visualize only simple objects appropriate to his level. 10 11

Bloodline awakening and Ernst Institute

Linley and Ace Hyde were admitted to the Ernst Institute after their magical aptitude test. Before departing for Fenlai City, Linley patiently fed a baby Shadow Mouse; fearing that Linley would not return, the beast initiated an equal contract with him and became Bebe. 51

Zhao Nan later provided Blue Heart Grass and living dragon blood so Linley and Hogg could awaken their Dragonblood Warrior bloodlines. Linley's transformation was agonizing and manifested scales, horns, spikes, and claws; afterward, he began cultivating dragonblood battle qi. 44 45

At Ernst, Linley continued training with Ace and learned Doehring Cowart's Flat Blade Style. Unlike the original course of his life described in the narrative, he had more time for leisure and cultivated from personal ideals rather than being driven solely by loss and revenge. 59

Misty Canyon trial

After reaching the eighth rank, Linley entered Misty Canyon alone to complete Zhao Nan's trial: retrieve the divine artifact at the center of the magic array in Sathius's former cave. The journey forced him to navigate swarms of magical beasts and confront his dependence on protection from others. 86

Doehring Cowart's challenge pushed Linley into a prolonged epiphany. While fighting nearly continuously for ten days and nights, Linley slaughtered numerous magical beasts and emerged as a ninth-rank mage and warrior. 87

Linley claimed the Purple Longsword through blood-binding, triggering the magic array and escaping the canyon with Bebe before Dylin emerged from the released prison. 89

Personality

Linley is respectful and obedient toward Zhao Nan from childhood, but he is not passive. He approaches difficult cultivation methods with seriousness, declaring that he will master the Visualization Technique rather than rely on alternative instruction. 2 10

He is determined to become stronger, especially after learning of his family's conflict with the Kingdom of Fenlai and the Radiant Church. Zhao Nan had to caution him not to let his desire to help Hogg become reckless, which Linley accepted. 72

Compared with the version of Linley discussed by Zhao Nan, he is more compassionate and less hardened by tragedy. His sheltered upbringing initially left him overly dependent on the protection of family and teacher, but his Magical Beast Forest and Misty Canyon experiences developed greater caution and self-reliance. 84 86 119

As a leader, Linley is strategic, pragmatic, and willing to make hard decisions. He delegates work according to each companion's strengths, insists on secrecy around the Magic Crystal vein, and uses overwhelming force during the Ultimate Empire's conquests when diplomacy fails. 83 100 101

Abilities & Skills

Elemental magic and dual cultivation

Linley cultivates magic and warrior battle qi concurrently, originally possessing super-grade Wind and Earth affinities alongside medium-grade Fire affinity. 3 26

• Demonstrated first-rank Wind Blade, Earth Spike, and Fireball spells in succession. 9
• Learned to improve spell force by compressing elemental power and to improve control by incorporating spiritual energy. 9
• Later possessed Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire divine powers following his Soul Mutation. 151 154
• His soul takes the shape of a sword, indicating potential for the Laws of Destruction. 10

Dragonblood Warrior bloodline

Linley's dormant Dragonblood Warrior bloodline was awakened through Sathius's dragon blood and cultivation of the Dragonblood Secret Codex. 44 45

• Transformation grants a sharp increase in physical strength, reaching a higher warrior level than his human form. 46 84
• His transformed body develops scales, horns, spikes, and claws. 45
• The Baruch bloodline originates from the Azure Dragon; Zhao Nan later gave Linley three drops of Azure Dragon essence blood to refine. 124
• He later awakened the Four Divine Beasts Clan's inherited Innate Divine Ability. 134

Visualization Technique

Zhao Nan's secret mental-energy technique is central to Linley's rapid magical development. 10 11

• Uses soul energy to sketch objects within the sea of consciousness. 10
• Produces more mental energy than ordinary meditation while refining its quality. 11
• Initially limited Linley to simple visualized objects; he could not create images far beyond his cultivation level. 11
• Played a role in the effort to preserve and awaken his consciousness when his soul was critically injured. 150 151

Greatsword combat

Linley wields heavy swords as a warrior, combining physical power, battle qi, and his Earth-oriented training. 87

• Uses the Black Obsidian Greatsword, whose weight was progressively increased as his strength grew. 87
• During his Misty Canyon epiphany, he wielded the ten-thousand-catty weapon as though it were weightless and killed multiple magical beasts with each strike. 87
• Learned Doehring Cowart's Flat Blade Style, which he valued despite Zhao Nan's more advanced teachings. 59

Four-element Soul Mutation and Willpower

Linley's near-fatal soul injury during the Plane Wars caused a four-element Soul Mutation involving Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire. 151 154

• His four divine clones can exchange energy continuously. 154
• Can fuse four divine powers into gray divine power stronger than any individual component. 154
• His soul-defending Sovereign Artifact began repairing itself after the mutation. 154
• His Willpower extends 520,000 li and can be applied in soul attacks. 158
• His strength after the mutation was sufficient to battle Bluefire evenly. 156

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Coiling Dragon Ring — Linley's inherited ring and Doehring Cowart's residence; its dragon carving is connected to a fallen Chief God-level divine beast. 59 106
• Black Obsidian Greatsword — Heavy sword prepared by Zhao Nan and gradually adjusted to Linley's growing strength. 87
• Purple Longsword — A blood-bound divine artifact from the Hell Supreme Plane; it is a flexible soft sword that can wrap around Linley's waist like a belt. 88 89
• Earth Guardian Holy Armor — Armor worn for his Misty Canyon expedition. 86
• Soul-defending Sovereign Artifact — Damaged artifact that began restoring itself after his four-element Soul Mutation. 154

Relationships

• Zhao Nan — Teacher and first master. Zhao Nan considers Linley the disciple in whom he has the highest expectations and repeatedly guides, protects, and challenges him. 2 86
• Hogg Baruch — Father. Linley is devoted to Hogg and vows to grow strong enough to help him confront the Kingdom of Fenlai and the Radiant Church. 2 72
• Wharton Baruch — Younger brother. Linley is openly affectionate toward him and plays with him as a child. 3
• Bebe — Equal-contract magical beast companion and closest partner. Linley earned Bebe's trust through daily care, while Bebe later worked desperately to save him during his soul crisis. 51 150
• Doehring Cowart — Elder guide living within the Coiling Dragon Ring. He teaches Linley the Flat Blade Style, advises him through danger, and regards him as his own child. 49 59
• Ace Hyde — Fellow direct disciple and close friend. They trained together at the Ernst Institute and later jointly helped lead the Ultimate Empire. 51 63 83
• Yale, George, and Reynolds — Linley's close companions and collaborators in the Ultimate Empire; Linley assigned them responsibility for commerce, administration, and city security. 81 83
• Delia — Linley's girlfriend. He chooses not to bring her to the Chaotic Territory because of its instability and their youth. 81
• Dylin — Eldest senior brother under Zhao Nan. Linley and the other disciples formally acknowledge his seniority. 105
• Bluefire — Ally and later combat benchmark. Their post-mutation battle ends with both recognizing they are evenly matched. 156

Story Role / Major Arcs

Formation of the Ultimate Empire

Linley joins Hogg, Ace, and their companions in the Chaotic Territory after Ernst Institute. When a Magic Crystal vein is discovered, he divides responsibilities among his friends and personally oversees the secret mining operation. 81 83

He becomes a public decision-maker for the Ultimate Empire, leading campaigns against hostile forces and the Far East Prairie. He pairs political pressure with Bebe's rodent magical-beast forces, offering submission before escalating to conquest. 100 101

Necropolis of the Gods and the Higher Planes

Linley enters the Necropolis of the Gods with fellow disciples and Saint-level experts, where he recognizes a possible connection between its dragon relief and his Coiling Dragon Ring. 105 106

He later joins the Four Divine Beasts Clan in the Infernal Realm, unlocks its bloodline inheritance, and participates in its conflict with the Eight Great Clans. 134

Plane Wars and Soul Mutation

Linley enters the Plane Wars alongside his fellow disciples in hopes of resurrecting deceased loved ones. He survives an encounter with Magnus only because Zhao Nan intervenes. 141 143 144

A subsequent mysterious assault nearly destroys his soul. Bebe, Olivier, Bluefire, and Zhao Nan work to save him, after which he falls into a fourteen-year coma and awakens with a four-element Soul Mutation. 149 150 151 154

Quest to save his mother

After the Plane War, Linley learns that his mother remains beyond reach because her soul is with the Chief Sovereign of Light. Zhao Nan instructs him to focus on cultivation, specifically pursuing four-element Grand Perfection or greater law fusion before attempting a rescue. 160 161

In the final events, Zhao Nan gives Linley Sovereign Sparks and directs him toward the path of transcendence. 162

Notable Quotes

“Don't worry, Teacher. I will definitely learn the Visualization Technique you spoke of.” 10

“Father, rest assured, I will do my utmost to grow strong so that I can uproot the Kingdom of Fenlai and the Radiant Church from the Yulan Continent.” 72

“Everyone, I am Linley Baruch, the decision-maker of the Ultimate Empire. I have come here today to bring stability and harmony to the Far East Prairie. Of course, we are also here to conquer this territory.” 100