The War God's image shattered in Blumer's heart. Blumer had once admired Olivier the most, followed by the War God. Although Blumer believed his elder brother was formidable, he had also thought that Olivier might not necessarily become a god.
Only after a long while did Blumer recover from the shock of the news.
"Elder Brother, what profound mysteries have you comprehended?"
Blumer asked.
"I have now comprehended both the Light Elemental Profundity and the Darkness Elemental Profundity to their limits, so Fane is no match for me."
When Olivier had left the ice plains, his Light Elemental Profundity and Darkness Elemental Profundity had not yet reached their limits. However, although he had not entered secluded training during the journey, he had gained an insight while practicing Taiji Fist once and made a breakthrough.
"Elder Brother is amazing."
Fane and the others had cultivated for so long and had only reached the limits of the Saint-level, while Olivier had reached the limits in two profound mysteries in such a short time. Moreover, he was even stronger than Fane.
"Blumer, do you know how many Deities there are on the Yulan Continent?"
Not a single person had become a god on the Yulan Continent in nearly five thousand years. Olivier felt that there were two reasons for this. First, their horizons were too narrow. Second, many Saint-level experts placed their hopes in the Graveyard of the Gods, restricting themselves and causing countless Saint-level experts to die there.
Olivier felt that if Blumer was to become a god independently, he needed to broaden his horizons.
"The ruler of the Dark Forest, Dylin of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, the High Priest, the War God, Rutherford, and Cesar—there are six Deity-level experts. Other than the ruler of the Dark Forest, the other five are all the lowest-ranked Lower Deities. Among them, Dylin is the strongest. Of the remaining four Deity-level experts, I estimate that the High Priest is somewhat stronger. Even if they are Lower Deities, strictly speaking, becoming a Saint-level expert is only the beginning of cultivation. Deity-level experts like the War God have only just entered the gate."
"Blumer, I am telling you this because I do not want you to think that Deity-level experts are beyond reach. You must believe in yourself. One day, you will also become a Deity-level expert. I will become a god within ten years at most, so work hard, Blumer. Do not disappoint me. I do not want my younger brother to fail to even reach the Deity level."
Now that Blumer had reached the Saint level, Olivier felt that he should give him a strong dose of medicine. He must not think becoming a Saint-level expert made him extraordinary.
These words would greatly shock Blumer and overturn much of what he knew. This was exactly what Olivier wanted to see. Blumer had great talent, and Olivier did not want him to become someone who could only live beneath his protection for the rest of his life.
"Elder Brother, I definitely will not disappoint you."
Olivier's words today had deeply shocked Blumer, constantly battering his mind. He had not even fully understood what they meant, but ever since childhood, Blumer had always listened to Olivier.
"Rogue lion, come greet my younger brother."
As soon as they returned home, Olivier tossed Simba onto a stool. Olivier strictly forbade him from speaking in front of others, so he had been dozing on the stool.
After Blumer returned, Simba saw that he was only at the early Saint level and could be slapped to death with one paw, so he had no interest in him. Blumer, meanwhile, had not noticed the cat at all, his attention fixed on Olivier.
"Hello, Blumer. I am the little brother of the boss, the great Snow Lion Simba."
The cute cat spoke in human language, startling Blumer.
"Elder Brother, this cute cat is a Saint-level magical beast, a Snow Lion?"
Blumer knew that Snow Lions were an extremely powerful type among Saint-level magical beasts. This cat before him was rather different from what he had imagined.
"Hmph, I can only fit into human society looking like this. Otherwise, I could send someone at your early Saint-level flying with one slap."
Simba protested while acting cute. After arriving in human society, Simba had found that Olivier was right—his current appearance was especially popular.
"Haha, how adorable."
Blumer laughed.
The two brothers and the Snow Lion got along happily.
The next day, news of Olivier's return spread throughout the imperial capital. Olivier had returned from the ice plains after ten years without any news of him, and he had not challenged anyone. He was extremely low-key, causing much speculation, as this was completely unlike his previous style.
Many people guessed that Olivier's strength had stagnated over the years. Otherwise, he would at least have sought revenge against Rock Sword Saint Haydson.
A month passed, yet Olivier showed no startling moves after returning to the imperial capital. Instead, he bought two exceptionally beautiful female slaves, ate, drank, and enjoyed himself, frequently visiting the most luxurious places in the imperial capital and indulging in pleasure.
In truth, Olivier merely spent this period reading at home, practicing Taiji Fist, eating delicious food, then strolling around the imperial capital and enjoying life.
Olivier's behavior made people think he had fallen. He was no longer the genius Sword Saint Olivier who constantly challenged others and grew stronger. He had become a pleasure-seeker who only pursued romance and indulgence, and his strength surely had not improved much.
At dawn, Olivier rose to practice Taiji Fist. This was the time when light and darkness alternated, and practicing Taiji Fist then helped with the fusion of the profound mysteries of light and darkness. Practicing Taiji Fist at dusk had the same effect. Ever since discovering the secret of Taiji Fist, Olivier had kept at it.
"This feels wonderful."
Olivier had already reached the state where he could become a god at any moment. Each time he completed a set, he felt himself drawing closer to godhood.
"Sophie, Jessica, is breakfast ready?"
Sophie and Jessica were the two female slaves Olivier had bought. They were eighteen-year-old twin sisters, with Sophie as the elder sister and Jessica as the younger. They were the two most beautiful among all the slaves. Olivier had never seen women so beautiful before, much less twins.
Before becoming slaves, they had been young ladies from an aristocratic family in a kingdom. After their country fell and their family perished, both became slaves. Following training by the slave trader, they had long lost the spoiled temperament of noble young ladies, but they retained their aristocratic bearing. They could sing and dance, and they were also excellent cooks. Olivier had bought them for the price of an eighth-rank magical core, worth five hundred thousand gold coins.
However, after tasting their cooking, Olivier knew the money had been well spent. They were far better than the chefs in restaurants.
Both sisters had received specialized training from the slave trader and were outstanding in every aspect. Otherwise, they could not have been sold for such a price.
"My lord, it will be ready soon."
Sophie and Jessica felt incredibly fortunate. They had never expected that after becoming slaves, they would be sold to the genius Sword Saint Olivier. On the Yulan Continent, strength was revered. Countless princesses and noble young ladies would be willing to marry men like Olivier and Blumer.
What delighted Sophie and Jessica most was that their lord was easygoing and gentle. He did not care much about their beauty, instead valuing their cooking skills and other talents. He was the prince charming of the young women's dreams.
They had already prepared themselves to offer themselves to him at any time, but Olivier had never touched them. In private, the two sisters had even wondered whether Olivier had some problem in that regard.
"Where is that lazy lion, Simba?"
Olivier asked. Saint-level experts could absorb the energy of heaven and earth and generally did not need to eat, but after tasting the food made by the Sophie sisters, Simba came every meal to satisfy his cravings.
"I have not seen Lord Simba this morning."
Sophie replied.
When Sophie and Jessica first saw Simba, they thought he was very cute. Later, after learning that Simba was a Saint-level Snow Lion, they became somewhat afraid of him. Both sisters were fourth-rank magi. Sophie was a Water Element mage, while Jessica was a Fire Element mage. The aura Simba occasionally leaked made them tremble.
"Come, come, let's eat together. Ignore him."
Olivier stopped Jessica, who was about to look for Simba, and invited the two women to breakfast.
With two beautiful women accompanying him, the meal passed pleasantly.
After breakfast, Olivier found Simba and discovered that he had entered a state of cultivation. "Looks like this fellow has made some progress. Has he reached the Saint-level limit?"
Simba's talent truly was formidable.
At noon.
"My lord, my lord, this is terrible! Rock Sword Saint Haydson has sent a letter of challenge." As Olivier watched over Simba to prevent anyone from disturbing him, a gatekeeper came in to report.
"What are you shouting for? Sophie, Jessica, do not let anyone disturb Simba. I will go take a look."
Olivier said.
"A battle with me at Tu Jiao Mountain one month from now?"
Holding the challenge letter, Olivier stared at the messenger.
"I did not go looking for you, yet you came looking for me. Life is too boring, so I will play with you." As Olivier spoke, his aura pressed down upon the ninth-rank warrior messenger, frightening him so badly that he did not dare move. "Tell Haydson that I accept."
The ninth-rank expert hastily took his leave and fled at top speed, thinking, Damn it, that was suffocating.
"Although it does not matter what others think, since you, Haydson, have given me an opportunity, I am quite happy to change my image in the eyes of the people. Heh heh."
With that thought, Olivier returned to the rear courtyard.
On the other side, the ninth-rank expert moved quickly and soon returned to Haydson's residence.
"Teacher, Olivier agreed." The ninth-rank warrior reported.
"Oh? Did he say anything else?" Haydson asked.
"He said... life was too boring, so he would play with you." The ninth-rank warrior replied somewhat nervously.
"How arrogant. Since that is the case, I will play with you. I hope you do not disappoint me."
Haydson had made a slight breakthrough over the past ten years. Based on Olivier's character, he believed that Olivier had definitely made no breakthrough and felt he had no chance of winning, which was why he had not challenged him again.
"My lord, are you truly going to duel Rock Sword Saint Haydson?" Sophie asked worriedly. After all, Rock Sword Saint Haydson was famous far and wide.
"What, is my Sophie worried that I will lose?" Olivier said. "With Sophie and Jessica, both so beautiful and adorable, and with such delicious food, how could I bear to die? Do not worry. Haydson is no match for me at all. Dealing with him will take only minutes."
"Really? If you like us, my lord, why do you not take us?" Sophie asked shyly.
"I am waiting to fatten you up before eating you. Hahaha."
"My lord, you are so annoying. If we get fat, we will not be pretty anymore."
Before long, news that genius Sword Saint Olivier and Rock Sword Saint Haydson would duel once again spread from the imperial capital.
Everyone eagerly awaited the battle.
Yet Olivier remained as usual, eating when he should eat and playing when he should play, without the slightest sign of preparing for a decisive battle. This left many people puzzled.
Some felt that Olivier had truly fallen, but even more believed that he was fully confident.
Time passed leisurely in the company of Sophie and Jessica. Simba made some progress, but he had not yet reached the Saint-level limit. He was already infinitely close to it and should have possessed the strength he had when Olivier entered the Graveyard of the Gods in the original story.
Over the course of that month, many experts arrived in the imperial capital to watch the third match between genius Sword Saint Olivier and Rock Sword Saint Haydson.
Even Linley's Baruch Kingdom sent Gates to observe the battle.
Before you continue