The news of Linley's ascension to godhood spread like wildfire throughout the Baruch Kingdom.
This newly established kingdom, which had only gained a foothold in the Chaotic Territory ten years ago, suddenly went from "having a Deity Level in charge" to "having its own god." Wherever the news spread, it caused an uproar. Those duchies who had been observing and secretly flirting with the Radiant Church changed their minds overnight, submitting surrender documents and offering up mineral veins, just to secure a stable position within the Baruch Kingdom.
Outside the capital, the once bustling streets had quieted down considerably. The common people didn't understand what Divine Spark was; they only knew that Lord Lei, who had exempted them from taxes for three years, was now a being who could fly into the sky and stand shoulder to shoulder with the legendary gods. As a result, the incense offerings became even more abundant, and the number of people in front of the stone statue of Linley in the temple was more than double what it used to be.
What truly calmed Dragonblood Castle down was the three Divine Spark that Linley subsequently retrieved.
Earth Element, Wind Element, and Light Element divine Divine Spark lay side by side on the stone table, their eerie light swirling and filling the room with a chilling aura. The profound and vast presence emanating from them caused even Saint Realm experts to involuntarily hold their breath upon approaching. These three Divine Spark were salvaged from the crumbling remains of the Abyssal Blade Demon Lord after slaying him on the eleventh level of the Necropolis of the Gods. Each one was enough to cause fierce battles among the powerful figures of the Yulan Continent, and even attract the covetous eyes of Deity Level beings.
" Delia," Linley pushed one of the Wind Element Divine Spark in front of her, "This one is compatible with your Wind Element. Once you refine it, you will be able to enter the Deity Realm."
Delia did not reach out.
She gazed at the Divine Spark for a long time. The swirling Wind Element luster within Divine Spark was just like the wind she had been trying to comprehend day and night for years, yet always falling short of. It was a strange feeling—as if she could reach out and grasp the power that others could not obtain even in a lifetime; yet it was also as if by reaching out, she would relinquish all the perseverance she had maintained over the years.
She suddenly raised her head, looked into Linley's eyes, and whispered, " Linley, do you want me to refine it?"
Linley was taken aback.
Delia continued, "You were willing to fight to your last breath in the Blade Demon's lair rather than Refine Divine Spark, insisting on forging your own path. Grandpa Doehring endured five thousand years in the Coiling Dragon Ring to obtain a Divine Spark he comprehended himself. If I were to swallow this ready-made one, would the winds of the future still be my own?"
Her voice was soft, but every word was spoken with utmost steadiness.
Linley opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words. He knew better than anyone that the Wind Element- Divine Spark and Delia's Wind Element talent were a match made in heaven. But he also knew better than anyone that Delia harbored the same stubbornness as him deep down.
At that moment, Doehring walked in from outside. He had clearly been listening outside for a while, and now he clapped his hands and laughed, "Good. It's Linley's good fortune to have the Baruch Clan marry you."
He walked to the stone table, scanning the three Divine Spark one by one, and finally looked at Delia: "Do you know what your most extraordinary possession is?"
Delia shook her head.
"It's your elemental affinity," Doehring said. "Your progress over the years since your marriage has surpassed even Linley's. There's a reason why the Wind Element Saint Magus, Longers, treasures you. What you lack has never been talent, but a path, a heart that can calm down and take it slow."
As he spoke, he took the Wind Element Divine Spark and placed it back in Linley's hand. "Keep this Divine Spark for now. If you ever face a life-or-death situation, you can refine it then. But for now, since you want to leave on your own, then leave on your own."
Delia bowed deeply. " Doehring, Grandpa Delin."
Doehring accepted her bow with a smile, then said seriously, "However, neither Linley nor I have walked our own path to becoming gods alone. We can't teach you the ready-made way. The Laws of Wind —fast, slow, Dimension —each have their own way. You figure it out yourself; don't try to imitate Linley."
Delia nodded, her eyes filled with determination.
From that day on, she no longer craved the comforts of the castle.
Every day before dawn, she would climb to the solitary cliff by the sea. The sea breeze, salty and strong, blew from the boundless ocean, whipping her long hair and robes. Delia would stand there, for the whole day, like a stone statue slowly sculpted by the sea breeze.
The wind brushed past her fingertips. At first, she wanted to emulate Linley and chase the fastest wind. She transformed herself into a green shadow, darting back and forth between the cliff and the sea, so fast that only a sliver of afterimage remained. But after chasing for half a month, she not only gained nothing, but also grew increasingly anxious. That speed belonged to Linley, not hers.
One evening at dusk, Doehring appeared behind her without her noticing, carrying a jug of cloudy wine he had collected from the foot of the mountain.
"Still chasing speed?" Doehring asked.
" Linley's wind is fast, it's Dimension," Delia said. "I want to catch up with him."
"That's wrong." Doehring shook his head, unscrewed the flask, and took a sip. " Linley had the same thought back then. The wind isn't just about speed; it also has weight, and it gathers and disperses. When you stand on the beach, why don't you look at the waves? Waves are water, but what pushes them is the wind. The wind is invisible, yet it can lift up vast oceans and bend a blade of grass. Speed is only one aspect of the wind; gathering, dispersing, rising and falling are the other."
Upon hearing this, Delia stared blankly at the sea at her feet.
Waves crashed against the rocks time and again, shattering into snow-like foam, which was then swept up by the wind and scattered across the cliff. She stared at that foam for a long time, suddenly recalling every Wind Element spell she had practiced over the years—Wind Blade, Wind Binding, Flight... Which of those spells didn't "gather" the wind and then "disperse" it?
She suddenly understood.
From that day on, Delia no longer comprehended speed, but rather the gathering and dispersing of the wind. She no longer soared across the cliffs, but stood at the highest point of the reef, watching how the wind gathered and dispersed, how it shattered and smoothed the entire sea surface with each breath. She watched more and more slowly, her breathing became lighter and lighter, and it was as if her whole being was about to dissolve into the wind.
Later, she stopped standing altogether and sat on the cliff face, closing her eyes and letting the sea breeze pass through her body. Linley watched from afar and suddenly felt that the sharp edge of a magician on his wife was gradually fading away, replaced by a calmness that he couldn't see through or explain.
He didn't disturb her, only having Bebe bring her some food every day. Bebe was happy to do so, spending her days squatting on the edge of the cliff, sometimes looking at the sea, sometimes at Delia, munching on fruit she'd somehow gotten her hands on, and occasionally bringing up a silverfish to share with her.
Back at the castle, Barker refined the Earth Element Divine Spark. The bloodline of the Undying Warrior completely merged with the Laws of the Earth, instantly becoming a lower-level Earth Element Lowgod. On the day he emerged from seclusion, his entire body blazed with earth-yellow divine light. With a single punch, half of the entire back mountain collapsed. Amidst the flying debris, he burst into laughter, his voice startling the birds in the mountains.
" Lowgod." Barker clenched his fist and grinned. "That battle with Lord Lei back then, if we were to fight again, I wouldn't lose this time."
Sessler watched from afar, a complex emotion flickering in his eerie green eyes. He was a necromancer, walking the path of Edicts of Death; Divine Spark was useless to him, he could only rely on himself to trudging along, step by step. Doehring saw this, walked to his side, and whispered, "The path of the necromancer, I do not understand. But all paths lead to the same destination. Do not be fixated on Divine Spark, and your breakthrough will not be far off."
Sessler remained silent, only nodding quietly, his deep green eyes shining a little brighter than before.
As for Wharton, when Linley asked him, he scratched his head and smiled somewhat sheepishly, "Brother, I want to Fire Element. You should save this Divine Spark for someone more suitable."
Linley didn't try to persuade him any further. He understood his younger brother. Wharton was just as stubborn as him; once he made up his mind about a path, nothing could pull him back.
Desri ultimately remained silent about the Divine Spark, so Linley decided to keep it for the time being, waiting for someone destined to receive it.
On this day, Doehring stood atop the highest point of Dragonblood Castle, gazing at the rolling mountains to the south and the distant horizon where the sea met the sky. Suddenly, he said, "Becoming a god is a joyous occasion. But the Yulan Continent will not become peaceful simply because one more god has been added."
Linley had somehow appeared behind him.
Doehring didn't turn around. " Heidens has been entrenched on the Holy Island all these years not only because of the Pope's name, but also because of the support of the Radiant Divine Realm. Your ascension to godhood was too big a commotion to hide from him."
"I didn't mean to hide it," Linley said.
"I know." Doehring turned to look at him, his gaze calm to the point of being cold. "So what we need to do next is to uproot the Holy Island before he can invoke the gods. Becoming a god is not the end. As long as Heidens lives, Baruch will never sleep soundly."
Linley was startled, then nodded heavily.
Where the sea meets the sky to the south, the setting sun is slowly sinking. The Holy Island floating on the vast ocean is not yet visible, but its oppressive atmosphere is already pressing in from afar on the sea breeze.