"Can souls still get eye strain after they die?"
Doehring stared at the scene before him, completely unable to make sense of it.
He had been ready to have Linley fly straight out of the Tooth Wolves' encirclement.
But in the next moment, Linley had taken a giant sword from his Space Ring and begun slaughtering them.
Most importantly, in the battle technique Linley used, Doehring saw something he had once barely managed to touch upon.
The essence of magic!
Even when Doehring had still been alive, he had only grasped it vaguely.
Yet now, just from watching Linley use that battle technique, Doehring could tell that although it wasn't Earth Element magic, its essence was more comprehensive than what he himself had once understood about Earth Element magic.
The hundreds of Tooth Wolves—whether Rank 3, Rank 4, or the Rank 5 and Rank 6 wolves that arrived later—
Even the Wolf King of the entire pack, a Rank 7 Tooth Wolf—
Were like lambs waiting to be slaughtered before Linley.
Linley's movements seemed leisurely, but in truth they were unbelievably fast.
So fast that even the Wolf King, after realizing Linley was slaughtering its subjects, had only just turned to flee—
And the next moment, Linley had already caught up to the Wolf King.
"Die!"
Linley raised the Black Iron Heavy Sword high and brought it down on the Wolf King's head.
"Splurt!"
Without the slightest resistance, the Wolf King was split in two by Linley.
Blood stained the Black Iron Heavy Sword, gathering into a thin line before dripping from its tip onto the ground.
Only then did Linley realize that the giant sword in his hand had no edge at all.
And yet the sharpness he had just used to kill the Tooth Wolves with it had been no illusion.
"Big Brother Lin Ke." Linley looked at the Black Iron Heavy Sword in his hand. "This is what they call Laws and Profound Mysteries, right?"
Linley couldn't help thinking of the Laws and Profound Mysteries sold in the Combat Mall.
"That's right. The Wind Law Profound Mystery, Slow." Lin Ke nodded inside the System Space. "At present, you've only grasped the tiniest fraction of it."
At that, a smile appeared on Lin Ke's face. "But the good news is, even this tiny fraction has already cleared the path for you to reach the Saint level."
"Cleared the path to the Saint level?" A trace of confusion flashed through Linley's eyes. "Big Brother Lin Ke, what do you mean?"
"I mean that even without Dragonblood Warrior bloodline, you can now go on to become a Saint-level powerhouse without a hitch."
Lin Ke's voice sounded again, making Linley's breathing grow slightly heavier.
Linley was still young, but he had an intuition for cultivation far beyond that of ordinary people.
As soon as Lin Ke finished speaking, Linley grasped the key point. "So, becoming a Saint requires comprehending the Laws?"
"Of course not."
Lin Ke's answer left Linley momentarily stunned, but Lin Ke continued at once. "Saints who comprehend the Laws are a relatively powerful sort of Saint. Your Grandpa Doehring is one example. As for breaking through to the Saint level, mages need their spiritual power to undergo a transformation, while warriors need to comprehend the Power of Heaven and Earth."
"The Power of Heaven and Earth?"
Linley was about to ask more, but Doehring saw him staring blankly and spoke up.
"Linley, Linley!" Doehring's voice rang in Linley's mind. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine, Grandpa Doehring." Linley came back to himself, a smile returning to his face. "Grandpa Doehring, my strength should be pretty decent, right?"
As he spoke, Linley looked at Doehring with a proud expression.
"More than decent." Doehring took a deep breath. "Based on the strength you just showed, no one below the Saint level should be your match."
Doehring's words made Linley hesitate.
"Grandpa Doehring." Linley looked down at his hands. "Are you sure I'm really invincible below the Saint level now?"
"Of course."
Doehring nodded, his expression full of emotion.
"Linley, the level of battle technique you just used took me more than ten years after becoming a Saint to comprehend."
Doehring's tone grew somber.
"Most mages reach this level soon after breaking through to the Saint level. Warriors, on the other hand, might need decades or even centuries to comprehend it—or might never manage to at all."
At that, a trace of remembrance entered Doehring's eyes. "Do you remember the Saint-level mage and Saint-level warrior who fought above Wushan Town?"
"Of course, Grandpa Doehring." Linley nodded repeatedly. "Once I become a Saint, I'll make them pay for the damage they caused to Wushan Town."
"Based on the fight between them, I can be sure neither of them had reached your level."
As he spoke, Doehring turned to look at Linley, his eyes filled with puzzlement.
"So, Linley, you've reached this level as a Rank 7 Warrior. Do you still think it's an exaggeration to say you're invincible below the Saint level?"
Linley shook his head slightly.
"Linley." Doehring took a deep breath and looked at him solemnly. "I know you have many secrets, and I don't want to pry. But I need you to tell me outright: when you found the Coiling Dragon Ring, was someone directing you?"
Doehring's tone was exceptionally serious, making Linley tense as well.
"Grandpa Doehring, I swear to the gods." Linley spoke with a sincere expression. "Finding the Coiling Dragon Ring was a complete accident."
At that, Linley fell silent again.
At least, that was how it looked to Doehring.
In reality—
"Big Brother Lin Ke," Linley communicated with Lin Ke in the System Space. "How should I explain this to Grandpa Doehring?"
"Tell him someone guided you to claim the Coiling Dragon Ring," Lin Ke said lazily, lounging on the sofa as he continuously created all sorts of objects before him. "But don't tell him I exist. The Coiling Dragon Ring has a much greater history than you people realize."
"I understand, Big Brother Lin Ke."
Hearing Lin Ke's answer, Linley felt relieved.
Both Big Brother Lin Ke and Grandpa Doehring meant a great deal to Linley.
Grandpa Doehring had given him the warmth of family.
And all of Linley's strength came from Big Brother Lin Ke.
If possible, Linley would much rather the two of them never come into conflict.
Of course, for now, Big Brother Lin Ke held the upper hand.
"Linley?"
Seeing Linley fall silent, Doehring looked puzzled.
Fortunately, Linley and Lin Ke communicated quickly.
"Grandpa Doehring." Linley looked up at Doehring again. "Finding the Coiling Dragon Ring was an accident, but I can tell you that someone told me how to claim it. He also said that after I claimed the Coiling Dragon Ring, I would meet my teacher."
Linley's words made Doehring's expression change drastically.
"Who?" Doehring raised his voice, his face turning somewhat ferocious. "Hamlin? Was it Hamlin? Was it him?"
"Grandpa Doehring, calm down. It wasn't Hamlin. Please, calm down." Seeing this, Linley quickly explained. "It absolutely wasn't Hamlin. It was an elder of mine, definitely not your enemy."
Before you continue