As Leijia and Vivian spoke, more than a dozen Highgods in the distance drew closer and closer.
The leading Highgod's aura seemed little weaker than Leijia's, and each of the Highgods behind him had a formidable aura. Clearly, none of them were weak.
The Highgods on Leijia's side were on guard, and the Highgods opposite them were equally wary.
Leijia still had nearly a hundred Highgods on his side. Their sheer numbers alone could overwhelm the other group.
Wearing a broad smile, the leading Highgod pointed at Vivian and said to Leijia, "My friend, this person and I have a small dispute. I hope you won't interfere."
Though the Highgod sounded polite, Leijia detected a trace of discourtesy in his words.
Standing nearby, Vivian frowned slightly. Although the dozen or so Highgods were quite powerful, she could break out of their encirclement without any trouble if she fought with all her strength and was willing to take injuries in exchange for their lives.
But if Leijia attacked her as well, then with the combined God Level experts on both sides, Vivian would likely fall here today.
Looking at the Highgod before him, Leijia chuckled. "What if I do interfere?"
The Highgod was immediately at a loss for words. Where did this country bumpkin come from? He's far too rude.
Though he cursed Leijia furiously in his heart, the Highgod still put on a placating smile.
He had no choice. Leijia's fists were too hard.
If they really fought, Leijia might lose a few of his men, but the dozen or so Highgods on the other side would all perish here.
Leijia had no desire to waste any more words on these Highgods.
Leijia waved his hand, and the God Level experts behind him understood. Without needing to be told, they surrounded the Highgod and the dozen or so God Level experts following him.
Noticing the movements of the God Level experts behind Leijia, the Highgod turned pale. He signaled to the God Level experts behind him, then smiled at Leijia. "In that case, we won't trouble you any longer."
With that, he led the dozen or so God Level experts behind him swiftly away in the opposite direction.
Leijia watched coldly as the Highgod left with the dozen or so God Level experts, but he did not send anyone to stop them.
Although it would not be difficult for Leijia, with his current strength, to wipe out this group, he was also worried that they would fight desperately and cause losses among the God Level experts under his command. That would not be worth the cost.
These Highgod experts were the forces Leijia had built up over tens of thousands of years. Those he had brought to compete for the Sovereign Sparks were the tribe's elites. Every one of them was powerful and utterly loyal to Leijia; losing even one would pain him for hundreds of years.
Seeing the Highgod leave with his people, Leijia turned his gaze back to Vivian.
Vivian nodded slightly to Leijia. Her voice was ethereal as she said, "Thank you. I still don't know your name, sir."
Leijia chuckled, his tone casual. "Vivian, you can just call me Leijia."
Then Leijia changed the subject. "Vivian, why were those Highgods hunting you?"
He already had an answer in mind, but he still put on a puzzled expression as he waited for Vivian's explanation.
Vivian blinked her beautiful eyes, trying hard to see through Leijia, but there seemed to be nothing in his eyes except confusion and curiosity.
Vivian sighed softly to herself. This future Life Sovereign, one of the Four Rules Sovereigns, explained to Leijia in her ethereal voice, "Mr. Leijia, I imagine you also obtained some of the crystals from that pillar of light. Those God Level experts were hunting me because of those crystals."
At Vivian's answer, Leijia's eyes lit up. Vivian was the future Life Sovereign, so didn't that mean the Sovereign Sparks in her possession were...
No rush. Better play it safe a little longer.
Steadying his somewhat rapid breathing, Leijia smiled at Vivian. "Yes, I also obtained some of the crystals from the pillar of light. How many did you get, Vivian?"
Leijia answered casually, and the indifference toward the crystals in his tone made it seem as though he really were discussing a perfectly ordinary matter.
Vivian did not grow wary at Leijia's words. Perhaps because he had shielded her from those Highgods earlier, her wariness toward him had already dropped to a critical level.
Otherwise, leaving everything else aside, the fact that Leijia had brought so many Highgods from so far away to seize Sovereign Sparks would have been enough to show that something was seriously amiss.
But at that moment, Vivian could not think that far.
Although she could not let her guard down completely around Leijia, Vivian now told him everything about matters that posed no danger.
Vivian parted her red lips, her gaze fixed on Leijia.
"Mr. Leijia, I obtained two crystals in total."
At Vivian's answer, Leijia's eyes lit up at once, like a wolf that had spotted meat.
Doing his utmost to steady the rise and fall of his chest, Leijia said to Vivian, "Vivian, could you let me take a look?"
As he said this, Leijia did not even notice the slight tremor in his voice.
Vivian did not refuse Leijia's request. She turned over her hand, and two crystals radiating an emerald-green glow appeared in her palm.
The Sovereign Sparks floated above Vivian's hand, giving off a rich aura of life.
Life Element Sovereign Sparks, and there were two of them.
At that moment, a thought occurred to Leijia. If he attacked Vivian now, could he get his hands on both Sovereign Sparks?
As soon as the thought surfaced, Leijia stamped it out.
Leaving aside whether he could do it, Leijia could hardly bear the consequences if he did.
He had now gained Vivian's goodwill, and with the Four Divine Beasts possessing Sovereign-level strength, he at least had no worries behind him.
If he attacked Vivian now and was lucky enough to seize the Sovereign Sparks, that would be fine. But if his luck was bad and Vivian managed to escape, he would be digging a huge pit for himself.
Even if Vivian did not escape, if she put away the Sovereign Sparks during the fight and her interspatial ring was crushed, Leijia could only have Redding search the whole of the Spatial Turbulence for them.
After thinking it over and weighing the pros and cons, Leijia chose to make an exchange with Vivian.
In any case, Vivian had two Life Element Sovereign Sparks. If he could exchange for one, he would naturally make a huge profit. If she was unwilling, Leijia would lose nothing.
As soon as the thought occurred to him, Leijia acted.
"Vivian, do you know what these crystals are for?"
At Leijia's question, a trace of curiosity flashed in Vivian's eyes. "Mr. Leijia, you seem to know what the crystals do?"
Leijia nodded and said to Vivian, "Of course I know. I can also tell you the crystals' secret, but you'll have to make a deal with me. How about it?"
Leijia did not immediately reveal the full secret of the Sovereign Sparks. Instead, he had Vivian swear an Overgod Oath to bind their conduct, and only after ensuring both sides' safety did he tell her everything about the Sovereign Sparks.