Recognition of the Paragon

Recognition of a Paragon

Truth be told, Palhouse was not a native of this Sain Plane, but perhaps having stayed for so long, he had developed a sense of attachment and possessiveness toward it.

Upon learning of Palhouse's whereabouts, Lincoln did not delay in the slightest; his Water Divine Clone and Wind Divine Clone immediately swapped shifts.

The Lake of Sighs in the Sain Plane was shrouded in endless, wispy fog, with towering mountain ranges standing along the lakeshore. Countless white cranes, orioles, and swifts frolicked between heaven and earth, while various fish swam freely in the water. Regrettably, a massive ruined city lay on the shore, half-hidden within the lake, seeming to emit sighs at every moment.

A middle-aged man with a round face, slightly plump, and long cyan hair draped over his shoulders floated above the lake surface. Falling leaves drifted with the wind, landing on him and the water, breaking the tranquility.

Lincoln found Palhouse, who was here indulging in the landscape, lost in a carefree, selfless state.

Sensing Lincoln's arrival, Palhouse no longer maintained the airs of a Paragon. He strolled across the water, quietly approaching to observe this Sovereign Lincoln mentioned during the missionary work.

"When those Sovereign Armies came to preach, demanding faith in Sovereign Lincoln, I suspected that in these endless planes, you were the only Lincoln of note. Yet, I found it hard to believe you had actually become a Sovereign. Seeing you now, I have no choice but to believe it." Palhouse carried an inherent air of melancholy that made one unable to bear him any ill will.

"So it is true that someone can become a Sovereign in this day and age when the Sovereign positions are stable. Palhouse pays his respects to the Sovereign!"

Palhouse did not perform a deep kowtow, and Lincoln did not mind; this was a convention, the pride of a Paragon.

"I do not know why the Sovereign has come here. A mere Material Plane is not worth such attention from a Sovereign, is it?"

Lincoln smiled slightly. "Naturally, I do not care for it. Palhouse, if you want this plane, take it. I came here to spar with you."

Palhouse smiled helplessly. "The Sovereign flatters me. Every time I encounter a Sovereign with a Water Divine Clone, they wish to rely on battling me to break through to the Paragon realm. Unfortunately, none have succeeded."

Lincoln continued to smile. "Whether they succeed or not is up to them, but whether we fight or not is up to you."

This was no longer the time when Lincoln had just become a Sovereign. He believed no Paragon would allow their strongest divine clone to enter the Chines Material Plane. And as long as it was not in a Sovereign's home Material Plane, a Paragon High-God within a Material Plane was absolutely invincible.

This was a consensus formed over countless years! After all, from ancient times to the present, neither had a Sovereign clone achieved the Paragon realm, nor had a super divine beast become a Paragon High-God.

Therefore, Lincoln did not attempt to use coercion or inducement; those were only useful when there was an information asymmetry or a complete disparity in strength.

"If the Sovereign is in the mood, Palhouse is naturally willing to accompany you!"

Palhouse smiled faintly, reached out, and pinched the air. A droplet of water rose, swirling with massive waves to transform into a long dragon, surging majestically toward Lincoln.

Lincoln did not show weakness either. With a wave of his hand, a circular, transparent shield made entirely of water appeared, firmly protecting him within.

The water dragon slammed violently against the shield, but the shield did not budge. Lincoln did not stop; he manifested countless ice crystals, firing them at Palhouse like a hail of bullets.

However, at that very moment, the shield suddenly collapsed. Slender ice needles appeared quietly amidst the impact of the water dragon, coming with such ferocity that they continued forward even after shattering the ice crystals Lincoln had condensed.

Lincoln was slightly surprised by Palhouse's attack power. He reached his right hand to his chest and gripped hard, and hair-thin ice threads, appearing from nowhere, firmly locked those ice needles in place.

Just as Lincoln was about to continue his assault, he was shocked to find himself trapped in a vast, thick fog that cut off his Divine Sense, causing him to lose his "enemy" and his sense of direction.

What terrifying use of the Mysteries of Fog Illusion. Even Milotic is far inferior to him in this regard. I wonder if a Fate Paragon could surpass him in this aspect. Lincoln secretly experienced the profound mysteries within, while simultaneously, starting from his feet, his entire body transformed into water elements, then atomized, merging into the thick fog.

If I cannot find you, I will strike directly at your techniques!

Gradually, this thick fog began to exert immense pressure, shifting from mere interference and isolation, with sounds of wind and thunder leaking out.

It was not the interference of Wind or Thunder divine power, but the near-materialization of a clash of Divine Sense.

After a long while, two clouds of mist separated from the thick fog, each condensing into form, revealing the appearances of Lincoln and Palhouse.

Both men looked at each other with solemn expressions, fine beads of sweat appearing on their foreheads.

Palhouse spoke, "With a cultivation of Laws just a sliver short of a Paragon, plus eighty percent Willpower, you are only a fraction weaker than us. Among the Sovereigns I have seen, you have the strongest divine clone."

Lincoln's eyes revealed a fighting spirit. "I am a sliver behind you in the fusion of Laws, and a sliver behind in Willpower, but who is truly weaker in strength—we will only know after we finish fighting!"

Palhouse nodded. "Not bad. If we did not have this indomitable spirit, even with heaven-sent talent, we would never have reached the realm of a Paragon. Therefore, today, I must also let you know, Sovereign, that what makes a Paragon strong is not just Willpower and that sliver of Laws and Mysteries."

As he spoke, Palhouse's figure was gradually hidden by the thick fog, and Lincoln felt dangerous auras beginning to emerge around him, growing denser by the moment.

Suddenly, Lincoln's entire body was being torn, penetrated, and dissolved by extremely fine, unknown objects, and the repair of his divine power could hardly keep up.

"Comparing attacks? I have already fought a Wind Paragon, let alone a Water Paragon?" Lincoln sneered, his divine power circulating with his will, truly putting the essence of softness and flexibility to use.

In terms of attack power, the Water Element is inferior to the Wind Element, but in terms of defense, the Wind Element is inferior to the Water Element.

Lincoln transformed into a water snake; all attacks were like drawing a blade to cut water—utterly meaningless. The water snake grew hazy water wings, and as those wings flapped, rainbows vaguely appeared where they passed, dispersing some of Palhouse's thick fog. Then, the snake's tail violently turned into a torrent and rushed toward the sky. In an instant, a misty drizzle fell, clashing fiercely with the world of thick fog.

For a long time, neither side could gain the upper hand. The thick fog finally dissipated slowly, and Palhouse's figure reappeared.

He asked curiously, "Sovereign, you mentioned earlier that you had fought a Wind Paragon. Could it be that a Paragon has finally appeared in this world?"

Lincoln shook his head. Although Palhouse was a Paragon High-God and understood some of the relationships between Sovereigns, he did not know much in the end. "Currently, there is only one Wind Paragon in the world, the Wind Sovereign Teresia. My Wind Divine Clone and his Sovereign clone fought with all Willpower set aside, and it was a hearty, exhilarating battle."

Palhouse digested this for a moment and continued to press, "And the outcome?"

Lincoln sighed, "Just like today, it ended in a draw."