One week later, at the Proulx Gallery.
"This doesn't quite match the timeline of the original story," Jason remarked, looking at the sea of people before him.
Jason had long planned to visit the Proulx Gallery, but some things delayed him years ago, and he forgot about it until now.
A week after Hogg awakened his bloodline, Jason and Veronica came to the Proulx Gallery. They happened to see Linley's exhibition hall at that time, and Jason took the opportunity to buy two stone sculptures, a Snow Wolf sculpture and a bonsai sculpture.
Later, the couple felt that Monica wouldn't wake up for a while, and since they had come all this way, they couldn't just not see their daughter. So they rented a small two-bedroom apartment in a townhouse in Fenlai City.
Just seven days later, news of a "genius sculptor" and "master-level stone carving" spread.
Then Jason and Veronica had to queue up to get back into the Proulx Gallery.
"I should have just stolen that stone sculpture back then."
Veronica inexplicably likes the stone sculpture "Dream Awakening," and even said that after meeting with Hogg, she would ask him to help her buy Dream Awakening. Jason suspects it's because of a girl's possessiveness towards beautiful things.
"Why bother robbing it? Just wait for the auction and buy it. If that doesn't work, have Linley carve one for you too."
"That's not necessary."
In the end, the two gave up on visiting the stone sculptures and instead went to stroll around the Radiant Temple Square. Although the Radiant Church was quite despicable, the plaza was indeed a beautiful sight to behold.
"Jason, Veronica?" a gruff voice came from behind.
The two turned around. "Barek?"
Jason's elder Barek, Barek, broke through to the Saint-level more than 700 years ago. After a large number of powerful Rhine Clan went to the Netherworld, he served as the manager of Crescent Island for a period of time. During this period, his strength improved by leaps and bounds, and he is now a powerful figure in the third tier of the Peak Saint.
Two hundred years ago, he resigned from his post as the administrator of Crescent Island and took up a false identity in the Rhine Empire's army—he claims he still prefers life on the battlefield.
Jason and Barek hugged, and Veronica greeted them warmly in return.
Veronica and Barek both specialize in the laws of destruction and fire, and have sparred with each other many times.
"What brings you to Fenlai City?" Jason asked.
"I should be asking you that. Why would someone as important as you be running all over the continent?" Barek joked with a laugh, but still explained, "The country has been relatively peaceful lately. I heard that a genius mage has appeared in the Fenlai Kingdom, a seventeen-year-old Level Seven Mage. The Empire wants to win him over, so our Emperor sent me here."
"You're a warrior—" Jason looked at the other man suspiciously.
"Tsk, I ate a Blue Jade Fruit before, and recently refined enough magic power, so now I'm Fire Element Saint Magus!" Barek patted his chest and laughed.
Although Barek concealed his identity, the current emperor of the Rhine Empire still knew the true identity and actual strength of this war-loving ancestor.
Veronica interjected, "You came alone, without any delegation or anything?"
"They're too slow, they're still lagging behind." Barek waved his hand. "I've prepared a Blue Jade Fruit this time. I don't believe Linley can resist the temptation. If all else fails, we'll just take it by force. Even Jason is here this time, let's just take Ernst Institute with us."
Jason recalled the original plot; the Rhine Clan should have already taken all the Blue Jade Fruit Tree to the Netherworld by that time. As for the Rhine Empire's delegation, Linley probably didn't even meet with them.
Jason didn't want to reveal that he knew Linley. "Never mind, he's just a magician. The family doesn't need another one like him."
Thanks to the widespread education promoted by Jason, the number of mages on the Yulan Continent, especially in the Rhine Empire, has increased significantly. Coupled with the Rhine Clan's strong heritage, ordinary Saint Magus are simply not worth the attention of the higher-ups.
Jason speculated that the current Emperor of the Rhine Empire valued Linley because the Saint-level within his family didn't really obey his orders, so he wanted to cultivate Saint-level himself.
"So, you're here for a picnic?" Barek asked.
The three walked and talked until they came to a tea stall nearby, where they randomly found a table.
"Your niece, Monica, has been teaching at Ernst Institute in Fenlai City these past few years, so we've taken the time to visit her." Jason lowered his voice, "We haven't told her about my strength. The girl now believes the Radiant Church is hunting Veronica down, so she's here under an assumed name to gather intelligence."
"Pfft, hehe. How will you cover it up when your lies are exposed?" Barek chuckled. "Speaking of which, I've met Monica once. She went to Crescent Island two hundred years ago. Linda, Clear Spring, Ivan, and I all saw her then."
Linda, Clear Spring, and Ivan all live on Crescent Island. During Barek's administration, Crescent Island underwent significant infrastructure development, resulting in a pleasant environment and numerous magical beasts in the surrounding area.
Linda, Refine Divine Spark and become a god, has seen little change in strength over the years, except for a significant increase in her soul power. Ivan, Twin-Headed Silver Dragon, is much stronger than in the original story thanks to Jason's guidance, possessing at least the strength of Pope of Light Heidens. As for Clear Spring, his aptitude and temperament are the highest among the three magical beasts, and he already possesses the strength of the Saint-level Limit, only lacking a catalyst.
"By the way, did you guys go to the Proulx Gallery to see the stone sculpture ' Dream Awakening '?" Barek asked casually.
"We saw it by chance once when we first arrived in Fenlai City, but we didn't go to the exhibition afterwards."
Barek said regretfully, "I only saw it once three days ago, and I queued for more than an hour. It's a pity that His Majesty gave me so little funding this time; it's not enough for me to buy it."
Jason had never heard of his older brother's interest in stone carving; of course, it's possible he had only recently developed this interest.
Veronica asked in surprise, "You, a Saint-level being, are queuing up?"
"How could I, a general and envoy of the Rhine Empire, cut in line? It would be so shameful." Barek inexplicably followed the rules in certain matters.
Although Jason and Veronica might also choose to follow the rules in a similar situation.
"Did you pass through the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts on your way to Fenlai City?" Jason asked.
Yes, what's wrong?
"A divine beast has appeared in the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts. I fought it a few days ago; it's quite strong. Go back and tell the Emperor to be careful when passing through the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts."
Barek was shocked. Deity-level magical beast was no small matter for the Rhine Empire. At the same time, he was relieved that Jason had stayed behind to keep watch over the family.
Jason looked at the Radiant Temple before him and thought of something.
"By the way, have you heard of the Pope of Light Allison?" Jason had previously obtained the cultivation method of the Fate Law from him, so he could barely be considered to know him.
"I've heard of it. Not the previous one, but the one before that. Apparently, he apostased." Barek explained, "Normally, the Pope of Light is Saint-level, serving for about five hundred years. Even after retirement, they would remain in the Radiant Church, since the cultivation environment here is quite good. But that Allison seemed dissatisfied with some of the Radiant Church's actions. After using his position to release a group of death row inmates, he defected to the Arctic Wasteland."
Jason recalled his conversation with Allison years ago and couldn't help but chuckle, "The Radiant Church is truly despicable."