Paragon

"Vmmm—"

The Laws of Heaven and Earth descended upon the cultivation room.

But this time, Aier's Godhead did not fly out of his body.

As he bathed in the Laws of Heaven and Earth, Aier could feel his true self's soul growing stronger.

Naturally, the greatest change was in the soul within Aier's Earth Element Godhead.

After being cleansed by the Laws of Heaven and Earth, Aier's Earth Element Divine Clone received a portion of Willpower bestowed by Heaven and Earth.

He opened his eyes. With a thought, Aier reached out with his right hand and tore open the space before him.

The fearsome Spatial Turbulence was as docile as flowing water beneath Aier's Willpower, showing not the slightest sign of rampaging.

"Finally! After over a million years of struggle, I've reached the very pinnacle of the gods!"

Aier smoothed over the rift in space before him, and his sense of security reached a peak unseen in a million years.

Even an Overgod would have to come in person to kill him.

"Next is the Wind Element Divine Clone."

After briefly testing out the Willpower of a Paragon, Aier turned his attention to the Wind Element Godhead in his personal space.

Although Aier had yet to produce his Water Element Divine Clone or Fire Element Divine Clone among Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire, he felt that the frequent descents of the Laws of Heaven and Earth in the Prefectural Mansion would seem suspicious to anyone and draw even more attention to him.

If an Overgod personally intervened, then even as a Paragon, Aier would probably have no choice but to grudgingly seek the protection of a more powerful Overgod.

Thus, Aier planned to cultivate his Wind Element Divine Clone to Paragon as well, then have it take his true self and enough Godheads to lie low on some Material Plane for several hundred thousand years, and finally become a Four-Element Paragon.

"Oh, it's Eric. What is it?"

In the cultivation room, Aier sensed Eric outside and called out to him.

Three thousand years had passed since Aier had become an Earth Grand Perfection.

Back then, it had taken Aier a hundred thousand years to cultivate his Earth Element Divine Clone to the level of an Asura Prefect.

After becoming a Paragon, the speed at which Aier's Equipment Slot refined Godheads increased greatly.

He could refine a Wind Element High-God Godhead in just two years.

Moreover, most of the Godheads Aier had refined in Caeles City had been Low-God and Mid-God Godheads, while all the ones he refined here in Liang'an Prefecture were High-God Godheads.

Over a thousand Wind Element High-God Godheads had brought Aier's Wind Element High-God Divine Clone to the point where it had fused seven Laws and Profound Mysteries, giving it the strength of an Asura Prefect.

In another twenty thousand years or so, Aier's Wind Element Divine Clone would surely complete the fusion of all nine Laws and Profound Mysteries and become a Paragon.

"Lord Aier, Hector Boy has arrived."

Aier paused, then remembered the man who had once offered up ninety percent of his clan's assets in exchange for Aier's protection.

Although, for Aier now, the resources he could access in Liang'an Prefecture were countless times greater than the Boy Family's wealth, Daniel Chris had readily accepted his challenge, allowing Aier to become Prefect of Liang'an Prefecture ahead of schedule. With the resources of the prefecture, Aier had cultivated to Paragon, so the Boy Family's ninety percent share was of little use to him now.

But Aier still remembered that he had once placed his hopes of becoming a Paragon in the Boy Family.

Thus, his goodwill toward the Boy Family would not fade just because they could no longer do much for him.

"Take him to the reception room. I'll be there shortly."

"Yes, Lord Aier."

"Lord Aier."

When Aier saw Hector Boy in the meeting hall of the Prefecture City, he raised an eyebrow.

Hector Boy looked much more haggard than he had three thousand years ago.

Though Hector Boy did his best to maintain his composure and manners, Aier could still see fear and unease in his eyes.

"Hector, it's been a while. It seems you've run into quite a bit of trouble."

Hector Boy was a Six-Star Fiend, after all. For him to look this troubled, he would have to have offended a Seven-Star Fiend or someone even stronger—or antagonized a powerful family.

"Sorry for the trouble, Lord Aier."

Hector Boy smiled bitterly.

Aier waved a hand, took the seat of honor, and motioned for Hector Boy to sit.

"Tell me, who are they, and what started the conflict?"

"The Four Divine Beasts Clan."

Hector Boy pressed his lips together. "When the Boy Family learned that Lord Aier had become the Prefect of Liang'an Prefecture, we decided to move the entire clan to the prefecture, so we could serve you better."

"But while we were selling off our clan's assets, our activities attracted the greed of certain people."

"I have some strength, but I didn't dare resist the Four Divine Beasts Clan."

As he said this, Hector Boy lowered his head, not daring to look Aier in the eye.

"If I hadn't mentioned Lord Aier at the last moment, the Four Divine Beasts Clan's experts would have seized not only the Boy Family's property, but killed every member of our clan—including me!"

"Oh?"

At this, Aier raised an eyebrow.

"Hector, do you mean that after you mentioned my name, the Four Divine Beasts Clan's people spared the Boy Family members but still took your property?"

"Hector, if I remember correctly, you once said you were willing to offer ninety percent of the Boy Family's assets in exchange for my protection."

"I'm sorry, Lord Aier. I failed you."

At Aier's words, Hector Boy went pale and slid from his chair, dropping to his knees.

Back when Lord Aier had only Eric's small merchant company by his side, the Boy Family's ninety percent share of its assets could secure his protection.

But now Lord Aier was the Prefect of Liang'an Prefecture. There were countless people and families far more powerful than the Boy Family who wanted to serve him.

In that situation, with the Boy Family's assets gone, it seemed they no longer had the standing to serve Lord Aier.

"No, Hector. This isn't your fault."

Aier shook his head, rose, and personally helped Hector Boy to his feet. "I told you three thousand years ago that your family could use my name in its dealings."

"You gave them my name, and the Four Divine Beasts Clan still plundered the Boy Family's assets."

"That's my fault. My reputation isn't enough to intimidate the Four Divine Beasts Clan."

"Eric."

"Lord Aier."

Eric bowed behind him.

"Prepare a metallic lifeform. Then we're going to the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range in Youlan Prefecture, Blood Peak Continent."