Chapter 8: Too Much Killing Intent
In this assassination attempt, Linley’s side had lost eighteen soldiers of the Radiant Church, along with four maids and two male servants. After this incident, the Radiant Church immediately increased the protective forces around the estate.
On the night of the assassination, in the estate’s living room.
“Linley, are you alright?” King Clay asked with concern.
“Your Majesty, it’s just a minor injury.” Linley’s arm was still wrapped in bandages.
In truth, Linley hadn’t been injured at all this time. However, Linley didn’t want others to think he was too formidable, so he had inflicted some superficial wounds on himself. He had simply used a flat blade to make a cut on his arm.
To Linley, who had experienced the pain of his first Dragonform transformation, this was nothing at all.
“Linley, I’m glad you’re okay.” Duke Patterson, who was beside Clay, also said with a smile.
Linley looked at Duke Patterson.
This evening, Linley and Duke Patterson were supposed to have a private meeting, but because of this assassination incident, the two were unable to speak in private.
“Second brother, let’s not disturb Linley any longer. Let him rest well.” Clay turned and said.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Patterson glanced at Linley, then followed Clay out.
Linley could sense a hint of helplessness in Patterson’s gaze as he left. Clearly, in their plan, Patterson had intended to meet with Linley alone tonight to discuss some matters. But now, the opportunity was clearly not suitable.
In the following days, the estate returned to tranquility.
“Boss, today is May 18th, right?” Bebe, who was having lunch with Linley, suddenly sent a soul transmission to him.
“Yes, what’s wrong?” Linley looked at Bebe.
Bebe wrinkled his little nose and curled his lips as he transmitted, “Boss, did you forget? That patriarch of the Debs family, Bernard, told you that June 18th is the day of his son’s engagement, right? He even invited you to attend. It’s already May 18th now. There’s only one month left.”
“Engagement?”
Linley was stunned.
In one month, Alice would be engaged to Kalan.
“That’s none of my business.” Linley quickly regained his composure and lowered his head to continue eating lunch.
Bebe’s round, bird-like eyes rolled two or three times, then he used his little paw to stroke his chin, looking puzzled: “Could it be that I, Bebe, saw wrong? That shouldn’t be. I’m so sharp, my judgment is spot on. Boss must care about it in his heart. If it were me, I would have already smashed that Kalan’s little brother with one claw.”
“Lord Linley.”
A knight from the Knight’s Guild walked in from outside the living room. “Lord Linley, His Eminence, the Red Archbishop Gilmore, has arrived.”
“Gilmore?” Linley paused slightly, then put down his bowl and chopsticks and walked toward the door.
Among the Radiant Church, the person Linley was most familiar with and had the best relationship with was probably this Red Archbishop Gilmore. Since the other party treated him with such courtesy, Linley naturally wouldn’t be arrogant enough to think he was truly superior.
“Linley, I have some good news to tell you.” As soon as Gilmore saw Linley, he spoke cheerfully.
Linley looked at Gilmore with confusion. “What good news?”
Gilmore said with a beaming smile, “Linley, do you know about that special group within our Radiant Church—the Ascetics?”
“I do.” Linley nodded.
Last time, when he was captured and escorted by experts from the Dark Church, it was the Deputy Arbiter of the Inquisition and an Ascetic, leading a group of deacons, who scared them off and brought him back to Fenlai City.
“In our Radiant Church, many people obsessed with magic or martial arts join the ranks of the Ascetics. It can be said that whether it’s the Temple’s Knight’s Guild or the Inquisition, they are far inferior to the Ascetics in terms of experts.”
Gilmore chuckled and patted Linley on the shoulder. “What I want to tell you is that you have a good chance of becoming the disciple of a legendary Ascetic.”
“Legendary Ascetic?” Linley frowned.
Gilmore said with a faint smile, “This legendary Ascetic is among the top figures even within the Ascetic community. He holds an extremely high status in our Radiant Temple, and his strength is such that, across the entire Yulan continent, only those three freaks can completely surpass him.”
“Three freaks?” Linley immediately became curious. “Your Eminence Gilmore, who are these three freaks you’re talking about?”
As the two talked, they had already returned to the living room.
Gilmore didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he gave a signal to a nearby White Priest. The White Priest very tactfully ushered everyone else out, then obediently closed the living room door and left.
Only Linley, Gilmore, and Bebe, the little Shadowmouse, remained in the entire living room.
“Linley, you might come into contact with these people in the future. Telling you won’t hurt.” Gilmore said with a mysterious air.
Linley looked at Gilmore with curiosity.
Gilmore sighed and said, “Across the entire Yulan continent, there are three beings who have completely surpassed the Saint realm. The freaks I’m talking about are these three.”
“Surpassed the Saint realm? Doesn’t that mean they’re gods?” Linley said in shock.
“Yes, they can be called gods.” Gilmore nodded.
Linley immediately pricked up his ears and listened intently.
Gilmore slowly began, “The first freak on the entire Yulan continent is the ‘High Priest of the Temple of Life’ of the Yulan Empire. Many simply call him the ‘High Priest.’ This High Priest’s age—at least I don’t know it. His lifespan is far too long.”
Linley nodded.
“The second freak also has an extremely long lifespan. He is the true master of the third most dangerous place on the Yulan continent—the Dark Forest. This freak is said to be of the magical beast race, but he has reached a level where he can transform into human form. Linley, you should know that even magical beasts at the Saint level can at most change their size and speak human language; they cannot transform into human form. For a magical beast to cultivate to the point of being able to take human form—the terror of that is unimaginable, enough to make one’s heart tremble.”
Linley nodded slightly.
He had heard of these two figures from Delin Cowart. Even in Delin Cowart’s era, these two were invincible existences.
“And the third person?” Linley pressed on.
Gilmore sighed again, “The third person is someone I deeply admire. He is the founding emperor of the most powerful military nation on the Yulan continent, the ‘O’Brien Empire.’ He is known as the ‘War God,’ ‘O’Brien.’”
“O’Brien?” Linley immediately remembered the name.
The O’Brien Empire was named after this man, which showed how astonishing he was.
“Over five thousand years ago, the War God rose rapidly, defeating one powerful expert after another. In that era, there were many super-strong individuals. For example, the Four Ultimate Warriors were also born in that time.” Gilmore smiled at Linley.
Linley thought of his own ancestor, ‘Baruch.’
The first patriarch of the Baruch family had risen just over five thousand years ago.
“Although the Four Ultimate Warriors of that time were powerful, their brilliance was completely overshadowed by the War God. The War God defeated one Saint-level expert after another, and eventually even fought a decisive battle with the High Priest over the ‘Yulan River.’ The two fought, and because of that battle, over ten thousand people died from the collateral damage. In the end, the Yulan Empire and the O’Brien Empire both abandoned that large area, which eventually formed three kingdoms as a buffer zone between the two empires.” Gilmore said with a sigh.
“Linley, in many people’s hearts, the High Priest is the strongest human. But the War God was able to fight the High Priest to a draw. And how long had the War God been cultivating? That’s what many people admire about him. Who knows how far the War God’s cultivation has progressed after more than five thousand years.” Gilmore praised.
Linley nodded inwardly.
“The War God, and the High Priest fought to a draw? How is that possible?” Delin Cowart’s voice rang out in Linley’s mind.
Delin Cowart had lived in an era completely illuminated by the High Priest’s brilliance.
In Delin Cowart’s heart, the High Priest was far too strong, utterly unbeatable.
“Grandpa Delin, every era has its own powerful experts, right? If you hadn’t died back then, Grandpa Delin, and had continued cultivating, maybe one day you could have broken through the Saint realm and become a powerhouse on par with the High Priest.” Linley said in his heart.
Delin Cowart let out a low sigh and then said no more.
“Let’s not talk about those three freaks. The person I’m about to take you to see is only second to those three freaks. If you can become his disciple, it will be of great benefit to your breakthrough in magic.” Gilmore said.
Linley chuckled inwardly.
Second only to the three freaks? His own Grandpa Delin hadn’t been at the peak of the Saint realm back then too?
“What is this legendary Ascetic’s name?” Linley pressed.
“His name is… Fallen Leaf.”
In the slums of Fenlai City, Linley hadn’t known that a super-large city like Fenlai, ranked among the top on the Yulan continent, could have such a desolate and backward place. It was even far worse than the small town in his countryside.
At this moment, Linley and Gilmore were walking side by side through this filthy alley.
“Your Eminence Gilmore, is Lord Fallen Leaf here?” Linley asked incredulously.
“Yes.” Gilmore nodded. “Linley, remember this: Lord Fallen Leaf hates those nobles who think they’re superior. So you must be humble, even humble and polite to these paupers.”
Linley looked at some of the paupers nearby.
Not far away, a seven- or eight-year-old boy, so thin he was just skin and bones, was wearing a tattered hemp cloth that was greasy and black. The boy was staring at Linley with wide, curious, and fearful eyes.
Because he was so thin, his eyes seemed even larger and more prominent.
That innocent gaze made Linley’s heart tremble.
Linley didn’t do anything more; he just followed Gilmore, continuing forward. Along the way, Linley saw many impoverished children. These children were barely clothed, and most were extremely thin.
“We’re here.” Gilmore suddenly said.
Linley couldn’t help but turn to look.
Ahead was a hut haphazardly built from iron sheets. An old man who looked like a beggar was sitting in front of the hut. This old man was so thin it was heartbreaking. His skin seemed to be all folded up, and his hands were like chicken claws, nothing but bones and a layer of skin.
This old fellow was looking at Linley with great interest.
“Lord Fallen Leaf.” Gilmore said respectfully.
“Is he really Lord Fallen Leaf?” Linley couldn’t confirm it in his heart, but seeing Gilmore act this way, he had to believe it.
But could this old man, who looked like a beggar who could be blown over by a gust of wind, really be the top Saint-level expert, Lord Fallen Leaf?
“Gilmore, is this the talented young man you were talking about?” The beggar-like old man asked.
“Yes, Lord Fallen Leaf.” Gilmore said respectfully.
“Grandpa Fallen Leaf, Grandpa Fallen Leaf! Please save my mother! She’s been beaten and injured!” A childish voice rang out. A little girl was carrying her emaciated mother, walking over step by step.
The beggar-like old man immediately walked over and extended his right hand.
A holy light shone, and the severely injured woman recovered at an astonishing speed.
The beggar-like old man turned back to look at Linley. “I only teach people with kind hearts and pure souls. As for you… your killing intent is too heavy. I won’t teach you.”
Hearing this, Gilmore was stunned.
“Too much killing intent?” A faint smile appeared on Linley’s face.
The great revenge for his father and mother tormented Linley every day with unspeakable suffering. He constantly wanted to kill Patterson. But he had to stay calm and not act impulsively. This forced suppression caused Linley’s killing intent to grow continuously.
“Lord Fallen Leaf, I’ll take my leave then.” Linley gave a slight bow, turned around, and walked away directly.
The beggar-like old man, who had been about to say a few more words, was stunned to see Linley leave so decisively. Then, a hint of a smile appeared on his face.