Sovereign

Biodata

Nature and Ascension

Sovereigns obtain their position by refining a Sovereign Spark. There are only seventy-seven Sovereign Sparks in the world, making ascension largely dependent on opportunity and possession of a compatible Spark rather than cultivation alone 99.

• A Sovereign Spark may be categorized by both element and rank, such as the Water Element Lowgod Sovereign Spark refined by Simon and Diya's Wind Element Highgod Sovereign Spark 224 230.
• A deceased Sovereign's Spark can be collected and refined by another individual, allowing their authority and Willpower to pass to a new owner 230.
• Refining a Spark grants immense Willpower, access to faith energy, and a substantial enhancement to the user's soul and deduction abilities 225.
• The disparity between gods and Sovereigns is described as fundamentally insurmountable; even Simon, while invincible among gods, could not meaningfully threaten a Sovereign before obtaining a Spark 187.

Hierarchy and Power

A Sovereign's practical strength depends on more than rank. Willpower, Law comprehension, racial abilities, body refinement, Sovereign Power, and Sovereign Artifacts can all determine the outcome of a battle 225 226.

Sovereign Power and Artifacts

Sovereign Power

Sovereign Power is a scarce, attribute-based resource that dramatically strengthens its user when activated.

• Matching attributes are considered especially valuable; Simon receives Wind and Water Sovereign Power from Grayson because they suit his cultivation 93.
• It can be used to enhance speed, attacks, domains, armor, and defensive techniques 80.
• A single drop is valuable enough that Seven-Star Fiends may be hired or killed over it 201.
• Sovereign's Emissaries may receive Sovereign Power directly from their patron 160 252.

Sovereign Artifacts

Sovereign Artifacts are weapons or defensive items of extraordinary quality, commonly divided into offensive, material-defense, and soul-defense types.

• An offensive Sovereign Artifact can increase a suitable user's strength by at least tenfold 128.
• Soul-defense Sovereign Artifacts can block otherwise lethal soul attacks, including the combined Innate Divine Ability of the Four Divine Beasts 223.
• Sovereign Artifacts are often earned through Plane War military merit or bestowed upon Sovereign's Emissaries 83 127.
• They remain highly useful against Highgods, though an unowned artifact can be destroyed by a full-powered strike from a Sovereign 226.

Sovereign Covenant

The Sovereign Covenant was established after early Sovereigns turned their research toward faith energy, triggering destructive faith wars that killed many first-generation Sovereigns. The four strongest surviving Sovereigns united the remaining group to end the chaos and impose order 160.

Its known customs include:

• Higher-ranking Sovereigns are forbidden from casually hunting lower-ranking Sovereigns 231 232.
• A Sovereign who kills another can be summoned before the Sovereigns of Rules for judgment 231.
• The Covenant's rules are upheld primarily through power; Simon's overwhelming strength ultimately allowed him to disregard many of the Sovereign circle's unspoken conventions 252.

Sovereign's Emissaries

Sovereign's Emissaries are powerful subordinates chosen to act under a Sovereign's authority.

• Vivian accepts Simon as her third emissary, providing him with a soul-defense Sovereign Artifact, a Chief Sovereign Token, and Sovereign Power 160.
• A Chief Sovereign Token represents its patron to a degree and grants its bearer status and protection while traveling 160.
• Oufu recruits Buleile as an emissary for Plane War service, rewarding him with a soul-defense Sovereign Artifact and Sovereign Power 252.
• Emissary status is dangerous; Lvhua notes that she has seen many Sovereign's Emissaries fall over the years 157.

Known Sovereigns