Rutherford Becomes a Deity

According to Luo Wen, aside from Hodan, the Arctic Ice Plain had three terrifyingly powerful figures: Rutherford, Ice Bear Misha, and Snow Lion Simba.

After Rutherford and Cesar became deities, he was one of humanity's four ultimate experts. He cultivated the Mysteries of Ice.

Ice Bear Misha and Snow Lion Simba had never been mentioned in the Coiling Dragon novel.

Ice Bear Misha: the strongest among ice bears, he also cultivated the Mysteries of Ice. Although he had not yet cultivated the Laws to their limit, he was not far from it. Combined with the naturally stronger body and powerful defense of an ice bear, Misha's strength was not much weaker than Rutherford's.

Snow Lion Simba: the strongest among snow lions, he cultivated the Water Element Profundities. It was said that he was also close to the limits of the Saint-level. Snow lions possessed bodies far stronger than humans, and their speed was extremely fast. His strength was no weaker than Misha's. Moreover, this snow lion had a terrible habit—he loved robbing others whenever he had nothing better to do. With his overwhelming strength, the people and magical beasts of the ice plain suffered greatly.

After bidding Luo Wen farewell, Olivier followed his directions to the coldest place in the Arctic Ice Plain: an iceberg. There was a Mystic Ice Sword there that belonged to Olivier. It was an extremely powerful divine artifact. With the mindset that there was no reason to refuse a free prize, Olivier decided to retrieve the sword first after leaving Luo Wen.

He found the long-famous Mystic Ice Sword as he had wished. It was crystal-clear, beautiful, incredibly hard, and razor-sharp. Olivier felt that the journey had not been wasted.

After obtaining the Mystic Ice Sword, Olivier decided to meet Rutherford, one of the four ultimate experts, and see just how strong he truly was.

As a powerful expert and the leader of the ascetics on the ice plain, Rutherford was not someone just anyone could challenge.

Like Desri, Rutherford had also gathered a group around him, including disciples and followers. One of them was named Monet. He was the strongest aside from Rutherford himself, even somewhat stronger than Luo Wen. The others were roughly on Heidens's level, with some even weaker. However, all of them were Saint-level experts, because it was difficult for anyone below the Saint-level to survive on the Arctic Ice Plain.

"Olivier has come to challenge Rutherford!"

Olivier's sudden arrival and his demand to challenge Rutherford surprised them. Although Olivier looked powerful, Rutherford's disciples and followers did not believe that an unknown nobody was qualified to challenge Rutherford.

The people before him were clearly not very strong, and Olivier had no interest in sparring with them. Seeing their expressions, as though he was unqualified even to exchange blows with Rutherford, Olivier no longer held back.

"You are not my opponents. Tell Rutherford to come out!" Olivier said calmly.

"You ignorant brat, you think you can challenge Lord Rutherford?" Monet looked down on Olivier. An unknown nobody wanted to challenge one of the five ultimate experts. Monet did not know that Cesar had already broken through.

The others all wore expressions as though that was only natural.

Olivier's gaze turned cold. His sharp eyes swept across them as he released a trace of soul pressure. Instantly, everyone, including Monet, felt an immense pressure. They felt that those were no longer eyes, but a sharp sword.

They had only ever felt such pressure from Rutherford.

Olivier's gaze passed in an instant, but Monet felt it clearly. He could not contend against it. Yet he was unwilling to accept this, and he wanted to test Olivier to see whether he was truly that strong.

"If you want to challenge Lord Rutherford, you must first get past me!" Monet said as he flew before Olivier. A powerful aura surged into the sky, and the others retreated one after another. Olivier, however, remained completely unaffected.

"Since you insist on asking for a beating, I cannot very well refuse." Olivier smiled faintly.

"Begin. Use your strongest move, or do not blame me for not giving you a chance." Olivier stood with his hands behind his back, not taking Monet seriously at all.

"You are quite arrogant. Even Lord Rutherford would not dare act like this!" Monet was furious when he saw how little regard Olivier had for him.

Monet vanished in an instant. The next moment, he appeared above Olivier, slashing his sword toward Olivier's head. Monet cultivated the Laws of Wind, and his speed was extremely fast, but in Olivier's eyes, it was painfully slow.

As the sword was about to strike Olivier's head, Olivier showed no sign of dodging. Monet's sword met no resistance as it passed through Olivier's body, splitting him in two.

Yet Monet showed no expression of victory. Instead, he became even more cautious. He was shocked by Olivier's speed, because he knew that he had not seen at all how Olivier had vanished.

Monet immediately reacted and searched for Olivier's figure. A Saint-level expert's reaction speed was incredibly fast, but at that moment, Monet discovered that a crystal-clear Mystic Ice Sword had somehow appeared at his throat. With a single movement, his head could be separated from his body.

Cold sweat instantly drenched Monet's entire body. If Olivier had wanted his life, he would already be dead.

"You are too weak." Olivier said indifferently.

Monet glared angrily at Olivier, speechless. Though he was unwilling to admit it, he was indeed far inferior to Olivier.

"Monet lost just like that?" The others were astonished. They had not expected Olivier to be so strong or so fast. Now, none of them dared provoke Olivier again, and no one dared make another sound.

"Rutherford, it is time for you to come out." Olivier released Monet and spoke toward the back of the crowd.

Rutherford had been observing from not far away the entire time. He had noticed Olivier shortly after Olivier arrived. Perhaps Rutherford had also believed that Olivier was not qualified to challenge him, which was why he had not appeared.

People who came to challenge Rutherford were not common, but neither were they rare. Usually, Rutherford did not need to act; his subordinates could handle them. Seeing Monet lose so quickly, Rutherford knew that he had no choice but to act. He had thought he was well hidden, but had not expected Olivier to have noticed him long ago.

"You are Olivier, correct? Your strength is formidable, especially your speed. You are qualified to fight me." Rutherford appeared. Speed did not represent absolute strength, but once one's speed reached a certain level, one's strength could not possibly be poor. Thus, Rutherford regarded Olivier as an opponent worthy of battle.

"In that case, let us begin." Without wasting another word, Olivier drew the Mystic Ice Sword and slashed toward Rutherford. Seeing Rutherford's absolute confidence that he would not lose, Olivier knew that Rutherford would not strike first. To properly speak with someone standing at the pinnacle, one had to first display sufficient strength.

Olivier did not use Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin or fused Laws. He merely fused the Light Element Profundities with the Profundity of Light Speed, and only by a tiny amount. Although its power was not particularly great and barely reached the Saint-level limit, its speed was truly astonishing. Monet had just been defeated by this move.

"Take this!" Olivier instantly appeared before Rutherford and thrust toward his head.

Rutherford also drew his sword to block, secretly shocked. What speed! I nearly failed to block in time. Olivier vanished again in an instant, appeared from another direction, thrust out another sword, then vanished once more.

The others saw countless Oliviers appear in the air, each one thrusting toward Rutherford. Some vanished while more figures continued to appear.

"Olivier, your speed is impressive, but your attack power is too weak." Rutherford was completely on the defensive, constantly blocking Olivier's swords coming from every direction. He felt extremely stifled, yet he was unwilling to admit it, and instead mocked Olivier for his weak attack power.

None of Olivier's strikes were particularly powerful, but his speed was too fast. At first, Rutherford could still block them with ease, but Olivier's speed seemed to have no limit. Later, Rutherford could barely react in time. It felt as though if Olivier's next strike became even slightly faster, he would be pierced by Olivier's sword.

Yet as Olivier's speed continued increasing, Rutherford's reaction speed seemed to increase as well, as though he had broken through his own limits. Rutherford had reached the Saint-level limit many years ago, and he had not felt this way in a very long time. He was extremely excited. At his level, even the slightest breakthrough was immensely difficult.

"Olivier, faster!" As time passed, Rutherford became increasingly excited and instead urged Olivier to increase his speed.

What is wrong with Lord Rutherford? Has he not taken enough of a beating? Monet and the others wondered, but how could they understand Rutherford's current state?

Olivier had originally been practicing his skill. Having finally found a punching bag, how could he not make the most of it? He continuously increased his speed, experiencing the feeling of launching attacks at every point of speed. Hearing Rutherford's words, he understood Rutherford's state as well. Thinking back, Rutherford had nearly been unable to keep up with his speed earlier, yet now, as his speed kept increasing, Rutherford seemed able to keep up. Olivier immediately understood. He remembered that in Coiling Dragon, none of the five ultimate experts were evil people. Helping him out would not hurt.

Thus, Olivier continued increasing his speed. Olivier felt that he was nearing his limit, yet Rutherford seemed able to block his sword at the very last instant every time.

Finally, as time passed, Rutherford became increasingly bedraggled, but his aura grew stronger and stronger.

Olivier also became competitive with Rutherford, continuously increasing his speed until he surpassed his limit. It felt exhilarating, though not as intensely as it did for Rutherford.

This state lasted for more than an hour. Then Rutherford's aura suddenly surged uncontrollably, directly blasting Olivier away.

Rutherford closed his eyes.

"Buzz—"

Olivier, Monet, and the others felt an ancient, primordial force that shook the soul suddenly descend. It completely enveloped Rutherford, and even the surrounding space twisted. It seemed to isolate Rutherford from the rest of the world. Rutherford's entire body began floating in the air.

Olivier knew that Rutherford was about to become a deity. He had not expected that a single challenge from him would cause this tragic figure from the original novel to become a deity.

"Lord Rutherford has become a deity!!" Monet and the others cried out. Every pair of eyes shone with excitement. There was envy, but also delight. Rutherford becoming a deity would bring tremendous benefits to followers like them.

"Oh? Rutherford has become a deity." Beirut, in the Dark Forest.

"Someone has become a deity. The North Pole—Rutherford." The War God, the High Priest, and Dylin.

"At last, someone became a deity after me. The North Pole, Rutherford. Let us go take a look." Cesar.