Momentum of Heaven and Earth

In just half a month, Haoyue and Linley emerged from the Magical Beasts Mountain Range and entered the O'Brien Empire.

The O'Brien Empire was one of the most powerful empires on the Yulan Continent.

It covered a vast territory and produced powerful experts in great numbers.

Unlike the Holy Union and the Dark Alliance, alliances of numerous city-states bound together by faith, the O'Brien Empire was a unified empire with a highly centralized government.

It was powerful and orderly.

One day, Haoyue and Linley arrived at the banks of the Yulan River.

The Yulan River was the largest river on the Yulan Continent.

It originated in the icy plains of the far north and flowed south through the entire continent, eventually emptying into the Endless Sea.

The river was broad, and its waters rushed swiftly.

Standing on the bank and gazing at the endlessly surging water, one couldn't help but be moved.

"Wow, this river is so wide!"

Bebe stood on Linley's shoulder, his big, round eyes wide with wonder.

Haeru also lay by the bank, studying the continent's greatest river with curiosity.

Linley stood by the river, gazing at the rushing water, and became lost in thought.

Then they found a ferry and boarded it.

The river breeze blew against their faces, carrying moisture with it.

Linley closed his eyes and quietly felt it.

The sound of the rushing river, the waves lapping against the bank, the wind skimming over the water...

The various sounds intertwined, as though forming a magnificent piece of music.

Linley's mind gradually became immersed in it.

It was as if he saw it.

Beside him, Haoyue sensed a change in Linley's aura, and his heart stirred.

Here it comes!

He didn't disturb Linley, merely standing guard quietly at his side.

An opportunity to comprehend the Momentum of Heaven and Earth was something one could encounter but not seek.

Once interrupted, there was no telling how long it would take to enter that state again.

Time passed, minute by minute, second by second.

Linley stood motionless on the deck, like a statue.

A strange aura gradually began to emanate from him.

It was as though he had become one with the great river beside him.

Hum-

Suddenly, Linley opened his eyes.

A glimmer of understanding flashed in his eyes.

"So that's how it is..."

"The Momentum of Heaven and Earth..."

With that, Linley slowly raised his right hand.

The heavy sword in his hand slowly slashed down.

Whoosh-

Where the sword wind passed, it actually cleaved a gap through the river in front of him!

Immediately afterward-

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three enormous waves rose from the river in succession.

Each wave was higher and more powerful than the last!

The third wave was several times more powerful than the first!

"Is this... the Earth Profound Mystery: Triple Wave?"

Linley looked at his palm and murmured to himself.

His eyes were full of delight.

He had succeeded!

He had comprehended the Momentum of Heaven and Earth!

He had even created a profound mystery attack of his own-

Earth Profound Mystery: Triple Wave!

"Impressive."

Haoyue walked over, a smile on his face.

"Congratulations. You've comprehended the Momentum of Heaven and Earth so quickly."

"Hehe." Linley scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "I was just watching the river when I suddenly felt something."

That was talent.

Linley's talent had always been heaven-defying.

Combined with Doehring Cowart's guidance and the foundation he'd built over the past two years-

His long efforts had finally borne fruit, and everything had fallen into place.

"All right, don't think about it so much." Haoyue smiled. "You've just comprehended a new move. Don't you want to test its power?"

"That's right!" Linley's eyes lit up. "Big Brother Haoyue, let's have a match!"

Once the boat had docked, the two began to spar.

Linley wielded the Black Jade Heavy Sword, every move carrying the Momentum of Heaven and Earth.

The power of Triple Wave increased with each successive wave.

Even Haoyue had to take the explosive power of the third wave seriously.

Of course, taking it seriously was one thing.

The gap between them was still obvious.

Haoyue simply used the Water Element Profound Mystery of Roundness Sword Technique to defend and easily blocked all of Linley's attacks.

Although Linley's Triple Wave was formidable, it still fell far short of Haoyue's Profound Mystery of Roundness Sword Technique.

Still, Linley had only just comprehended it.

For it to have such power was already quite impressive.

After the spar, the two found a place to rest.

"Big Brother Haoyue, you're amazing." Linley panted, his face full of admiration. "I felt like I was already very strong, but I still couldn't even break through your defense."

"You've only just comprehended it. Don't rush." Haoyue smiled. "Once you've perfected Triple Wave, it'll be even more powerful."

"Besides, you're only an Eighth-level Warrior right now."

"Once you break through to the ninth level, or even the Saint level, you'll rise several more tiers."

Linley nodded, a glimmer of determination flashing in his eyes.

I'll work hard!

I must become stronger!

While the two were resting-

"Hm?"

Haoyue suddenly raised his head and looked toward the river in the distance.

"What is it, Big Brother Haoyue?" Linley asked in confusion.

"Someone's coming," Haoyue said calmly. "And there are quite a few of them."

Linley's heart stirred, and he looked in that direction as well.

Sure enough, before long, a fleet of boats slowly sailed down from upstream.

It was an escort fleet.

More than a dozen large ships were under tight guard.

Warriors clad in heavy armor stood at both the bow and stern of the ships.

A flag flew on the large ship in the very middle.

It bore the emblem of the Radiant Church.

"People from the Radiant Church?" Linley frowned.

How do we run into people from the Radiant Church everywhere we go?

"Come on, let's take a look." Haoyue stood up.

"What they're escorting probably isn't ordinary cargo."

The Radiant Church was escorting something with such a grand display...

Nine times out of ten, it was nothing good.

"All right." Linley nodded and stood up as well.

The two headed north along the riverbank, following the fleet.

After following it for about half a day, Haoyue and Linley finally learned what was going on.

The fleet was escorting a prisoner.

The prisoner was an emaciated old man.

The old man was locked in the hold of the ship in the middle, bound in specially made chains. His aura was weak, and he seemed to have suffered serious injuries.

But Haoyue could sense an extremely strange energy within the old man's body.

That energy was cold and corrupt, filled with the aura of death.

"A Necromancy Element mage," Haoyue said quietly.

"Necromancy Element?" Linley was startled.

Necromancy mages were people everyone on the Yulan Continent wanted to strike down.

The Radiant Church in particular regarded Necromancy Magic as heresy.

"This old man is probably a Level 9 Necromancy Great Mage Master," Haoyue continued. "I don't know how the Radiant Church managed to capture him."

"A Level 9 Great Mage Master?" Linley was shocked.

That was a top-tier expert!

How did he get captured?

"Even a Level 9 Great Mage Master isn't invincible." Haoyue shook his head. "The Radiant Church has plenty of methods."

"And judging by the look of him, he's probably seriously injured."

Linley nodded, then asked:

"Big Brother Haoyue, should we... save him?"

Haoyue glanced at him.

"You want to save him?"

Linley hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Not a single person from the Radiant Church is any good."

"Anyone they've captured definitely can't be a bad person."

"And besides..."

Linley clenched his fists.

"The Radiant Church and we are enemies to begin with."

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

Haoyue smiled.

This kid was becoming more and more capable of thinking for himself.

"All right." Haoyue nodded. "Then we'll save him."