"Akes." Linley's voice came from behind him.
Akes turned and saw Linley walking toward him, accompanied by a white-haired, blue-eyed old man.
The old man wore a plain robe. His face was aged, but his eyes shone with astonishing brilliance, like a starry ocean, unfathomably deep. Strangest of all, though he stood right there, Akes couldn't sense his presence at all.
"This is Mr. Hodan," Linley introduced him. "He'd like to talk with you."
Hodan? Akes's heart jolted. The Plane Overseer from the original story, a member of the Renars Clan of Hell. This unassuming old man was actually one of the most powerful beings on the Yulan Continent. His strength was unfathomable, and he was an enemy of the Four Divine Beasts Clan. If not for Bebe, Hodan would have feared angering Beirut, and Linley would already have been sent to the Planar Prison.
"Mr. Hodan." Akes gave a slight bow, respectful but neither servile nor overbearing.
Hodan looked him up and down, letting his gaze linger for a moment before suddenly smiling. "A Holy Archmage of the fire element. Not bad, not bad."
Akes's heart tightened. He—
"You flatter me, sir." He kept his expression calm and gave nothing away.
Hodan waved a hand. "No need to be modest. I've lived a long time and seen eight hundred, if not a thousand, Saint-level powerhouses. I could count on one hand those who touched the Laws at such a young age. You have great hopes of becoming a god someday."
Becoming a god?
Those two words were like stones dropped into a lake, stirring ripples throughout the banquet. The nobles nearby turned their heads at once. One after another, their gazes fell on Akes—some envious, some jealous, some awestruck.
Becoming a god—that was a realm countless cultivators dreamed of,