Blumer, You Want to Become a God Independently

After so many years, many parts of the estate remained as they once were, though there had been changes as well. The original structures retained their simple, archaic style, while the newly constructed areas were relatively more opulent, serving to reflect the status of the Duke's estate.

"You have done well; I am very satisfied."

Olivier sat in the main seat of the great hall. Blumer had not yet arrived, and Olivier spoke to the guard not only out of satisfaction with the guard himself, but even more so with Blumer.

Having not returned home for over a decade, being recognized by the staff made Olivier feel that this was truly his home. Furthermore, seeing the estate so well-ordered along the way, it was clear that Blumer had put in significant effort; at the same time, his cultivation had not fallen behind. How could Olivier not be satisfied?

"It has been ten years since I was last home, yet you were still able to recognize me. Very good. Tell me what has happened in the estate over these years."

Olivier asked the guard.

"My Lord, you may not know, but Lord Blumer had a portrait of you commissioned. Everyone who enters the estate is required to memorize your appearance, which is why we were able to recognize you."

Having received Olivier's affirmation, the guard felt that he was very easy to get along with and was quite pleased.

The legendary Lord Olivier was said to be extremely cold and unapproachable, yet this Lord Olivier was very affable, making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze. The guard had some doubts about whether this person might be an impostor, but he also considered that Lord Blumer was a Saint-level expert; who would dare to impersonate Lord Olivier?

The guard told himself that serving an affable person was much better than serving a cold one, so why worry about the rest?

"Tell me about Blumer. How has he spent these years?"

Olivier was more concerned about Blumer. Although they had spent little time together after his transmigration, he was, after all, his younger brother—the only kin he had in this world.

"My Lord, in truth, Lord Blumer has spent very little time at the estate over these years. He is usually cultivating at War God Mountain, or otherwise at the desolate mountain where you used to train, so I do not know much about Lord Blumer's affairs."

It seemed Blumer had put in a great deal of effort over these years; otherwise, it would have been difficult for him to break through to the Saint-level.

"The affairs of the estate have been managed by the steward all these years. The last time Lord Blumer returned was when His Majesty conferred the title of Duke upon him."

The Achison Duke's estate consisted only of the two brothers, Olivier and Blumer. With both of them away from home year-round, there were not many people in the estate. It was no wonder that when Olivier first walked in, he felt something was missing—it was the lack of human vitality; the Duke's estate was far too desolate.

Olivier had just finished speaking with the guard when a middle-aged, stout man arrived—the steward of the Duke's estate.

With a body full of blubber and a face glistening with oil, he looked nothing like a steward; he looked exactly like a wealthy, local landlord.

"Lord Olivier, you have returned. I am Sherlock, the steward of the estate."

Upon hearing that Lord Olivier had returned, Sherlock did not dare to be negligent and arrived immediately. Before approaching, he had observed Olivier from a distance for a while; being able to rise to the position of steward, his discernment was naturally not something a mere guard could compare to.

Although Sherlock had never met Olivier, he noticed that Olivier differed from the legends—he was not as cold, possessing an affable temperament and an extraordinary bearing. However, Olivier's appearance had not changed in the slightest from ten years ago; he was the person from the portrait.

"Sherlock."

Olivier called out, his voice flat, devoid of any emotion.

Olivier did not like this type of person; one look and it was clear he was the sort to throw his weight around. Furthermore, the name Sherlock reminded Olivier of a certain famous miser, making his impression even worse.

However, such people were resourceful. Used well, they were talents; used poorly, they were a scourge.

Looking at Sherlock, his strength was practically negligible. In this world where strength was supreme, no matter how clever he was, he could not stir up any waves. Just like the vast Yulan Continent—there were countless clever people, but the status of the High Priest and the War God remained unshakable.

Thinking of this, Olivier felt that having such a person was not bad; it would ensure the family was not taken advantage of in daily management.

This terrified Sherlock. He could not discern Olivier's attitude, but it was clearly not a good sign. His heart went through a whirlwind of emotions, feeling extremely uneasy. After all, to a Saint-level expert, killing him would be as easy as turning over a hand.

"Sherlock, is it? My brother and I are often away from the estate, and you have managed it well. However, you must remember that we can give you everything you desire, and we can also leave you with nothing."

Sherlock was a clever man, but since both brothers were away for long periods, he needed to be reined in, or trouble would eventually arise. Olivier believed he did not need to say much more for Sherlock to understand what he should do and what he must not do.

"Lord Olivier, this subordinate is loyal to the Achison family and has no ulterior motives. Please, my Lord, forgive me."

Sherlock was very anxious. He knew clearly that while Blumer was the Duke in the eyes of outsiders, in reality, he was the one who called the shots in the Achison estate; in practice, he was more like the master of the Duke's estate.

Whenever Blumer was not in the estate, he represented Blumer.

Sherlock understood that Olivier was warning him—he was not satisfied with some of his actions, but it had not yet reached the point of needing to dispose of him. As long as he remained loyal to the Achison family and took good care of the two Lords, he would remain the third-in-command, backed by two Saint-level experts.

"Where is Blumer now?"

Olivier realized that Blumer must not be in the estate, otherwise he would have arrived long ago, and he had not sensed the presence of any Saint-level experts within the grounds.

"Lord Blumer is at War God Mountain. Someone has already gone to notify him."

The guard chimed in, eager to answer. Being able to have such close contact with a Saint-level expert, the guard harbored a fantasy: if he could gain the appreciation of Lord Olivier, he would have a brilliant future.

Both the steward Sherlock and the guard hoped to make a good impression.

A streak of light flew across the sky above the Imperial Capital at an incredible speed. An ordinary person might only perceive a flash of light, but only a Saint-level expert would know that a Saint-level expert had flown past.

"Big Brother! Big Brother!"

The voice arrived before the person. A figure descended into the Achison family estate.

Seeing Olivier, the newcomer rushed forward and embraced him.

It was Blumer, who had rushed back from War God Mountain. Upon receiving the news of Olivier's return, Blumer had immediately hurried back at the fastest speed possible. Olivier had been away for ten years without a word; there were rumors that Olivier had fallen. At first, Blumer firmly believed Olivier would be fine, but as time passed, even Blumer began to waver. He had only worked hard at his cultivation every day, waiting until he was strong enough to go to the Arctic Ice Plain to search for Olivier—this was one of the reasons Blumer had been able to break through to the Saint-level so quickly.

However, although Blumer had broken through to the Saint-level, his strength was not yet very high. Going to a place like the Arctic Ice Plain was too dangerous, and his seniors at War God Mountain would not allow him to go unless he reached the peak of the Saint-level.

Now that Olivier had returned, how could Blumer not be overjoyed? One had to know that Blumer had always regarded Olivier as his idol; this was why he chose to cultivate on a desolate mountain and why he had challenged the Star Sword Saint, Tyrone, upon reaching the Saint-level.

However, after he challenged the Star Sword Saint, Tyrone, and used all his strength without gaining the slightest advantage, he realized that defeating someone who had been in the Saint-level for so long was no easy feat. Because of this, Blumer admired Olivier even more for having defeated the Star Sword Saint, Tyrone, with three sword strikes shortly after entering the Saint-level.

"You are already a Saint-level expert, yet you are still crying like this."

Blumer had been too heavily influenced by Olivier. Since he was young, he had relied too much on him. With Olivier gone for these years, he had missed him dearly, and upon seeing him, he lost control of his emotions.

"Mm, I knew you would be fine, Big Brother."

Blumer scrutinized his elder brother before him. Although his appearance remained unchanged, the sharp, cold edge he once possessed was gone, replaced by a more approachable and unfathomable aura. If Blumer didn't know Olivier's strength, he would have mistaken him for an ordinary young nobleman with no power at all.

"Big Brother, what is your current strength? Why can't I sense it at all?"

Generally, Saint-level experts could sense the energy of their peers, or at least gauge their approximate strength. After Blumer broke through to the Saint-level, he could sense the terrifying energy within his senior brothers who were stronger than him. Olivier's current state meant either he had no strength at all—which was impossible—or he had reached a realm Blumer could not comprehend, such as the Deity-level.

"No one below the Deity-level is my match."

Olivier said proudly, while simultaneously leaking a trace of his aura.

"Big Brother, are you even more powerful than my Eldest Senior Brother?"

Blumer asked. He had heard from his senior brothers that the strength of his Eldest Senior Brother, Fane, had reached the limit of the Saint-level, only one step away from becoming a Deity. He was puzzled as to how Olivier could be stronger than Fane.

"Sherlock, you all may leave. Go prepare some fine wine and good food; my brother and I have much to discuss."

Olivier said to Sherlock, then turned to Blumer.

"Let's eat while we talk."

"Blumer, do you know the classification of the Saint-level?"

Olivier asked Blumer.

"Among the hidden experts of the continent, aside from the Deity-level, there are the five limit experts like Fane, who are only one step away from becoming Deities. Below them is the level of the Pope of Light, which consists of about a dozen people. Below that is the level of Haydson. Most of the hidden experts on the continent are at Haydson's level. Then come the ordinary peak experts, mid-stage Saint-level, and early-stage Saint-level."

Blumer was worthy of being from the War God Sect; having just entered the Saint-level, he already had a clear understanding of its divisions. Back when Linley's strength was comparable to Haydson's, it was the War God himself who had told him these things.

"You are quite right. Then you should also know why Fane and the others are called the five limit experts; that's right, they have all cultivated one of the profound mysteries of the Laws to the limit, and one more step would allow them to become a Deity."

"Generally, a single Law contains six profound mysteries. For example, the Laws of Light are divided into the profound mystery of Light Elements, the profound mystery of Light Speed, and so on. Comprehending any one of these mysteries allows one to become a Deity. I see that you are cultivating the profound mystery of Light Speed, and you have only just begun to grasp it. When you comprehend it to the limit, your strength will be comparable to Fane's, and fully comprehending it will allow you to become a Deity."

Olivier said a great deal to Blumer in one breath.

"Then my teacher, the War God, became a Deity by comprehending one of the profound mysteries," Blumer muttered.

"Blumer, I must tell you that the War God did not become a Deity by fully comprehending a profound mystery. There are two ways to become a Deity: one is to comprehend a profound mystery and have the Laws of the Earth descend to form a Godspark; the other is to refine a Godspark to become a Deity. The War God was simply lucky enough to find a Godspark and refine it to become a Deity. This path offers almost no possibility for further cultivation or breakthroughs. The War God is merely the weakest among Deities, and he has no hope of breaking through further in the future."

"Ah..."

Blumer was shocked; he had never expected that the teacher he held in such high regard had not become a Deity through his own cultivation.

"The War God is not as unattainable as you think. Blumer, you must become a Deity through your own efforts."