# Chapter 1: The Establishment of the Empire
"Beirut!"
Linley and Bebe exchanged glances. Linley still remembered what Bebe had said back then—shortly after Bebe was born, when his eyes couldn't even open yet, a very kind voice had told him... that he belonged to the Beirut clan.
"Lord Beirut?" Bebe spoke up. "Alright, I'll go with you."
Linley looked at Bebe. Bebe's usually cute little eyes now held solemnity and a trace of... excitement! Bebe had never known his own origins. After he opened his eyes, there were no magical beasts of the rodent type around him at all.
Bebe had always suspected that the kind voice might have been his mother.
Unfortunately, Bebe had never seen her. The only clue was those three words—'Beirut.'
The Violet-Gold Rat King 'Harry' grinned, showing his teeth, and said, "Don't look so worried. Father inviting Bebe over certainly isn't a bad thing." Harry looked at Bebe. "Bebe, let's go together." The other two Violet-Gold Rat Kings also looked at Bebe.
Bebe immediately flew up.
"This time Bebe is going to the Dark Forest, and it'll probably take a while. Don't be too anxious," said the third Violet-Gold Rat King 'Harvey.'
Linley nodded and instructed Bebe, "Bebe, if anything important happens, notify me directly." Linley and Bebe could communicate spiritually over great distances. In the Dark Forest, they could generally reach each other through their soul link.
"I know, Boss." Bebe grinned.
Linley smiled encouragingly.
The mystery of his origins had always weighed on Bebe's heart. Now that he had a chance to possibly uncover the truth, Bebe naturally wouldn't hesitate.
*******
Snowflakes the size of goose feathers swirled down as a group inside the palace debated heatedly.
"So the most mysterious ruler of the Dark Forest is actually called Lord Beirut." Rebecca gasped, clutching her chest. The five supreme Deity-level experts of the Yulan Continent were indeed figures to be revered by all. The power of the Divine Realm far surpassed the Saint Realm.
Just like back then, when Stello couldn't even move in front of Hesse.
"Father," Taylor said, his bright, pure eyes fixed on Linley. "Is that Beirut very powerful? More powerful than you, Father?"
Linley, Wharton, and the others all laughed.
In a child's eyes, Linley was absolutely invincible.
"Lord Beirut..." Linley gazed into the distance toward the north, as if seeing the strongest expert standing at the pinnacle of the continent within the Dark Forest. "According to those three Violet-Gold Rat Kings, this Lord Beirut is probably the most terrifying Deity-level expert on the entire Yulan Continent."
Linley patted Taylor's head and said affectionately, "Taylor, your father doesn't yet have the strength to challenge him."
"Then Father will definitely surpass him in the future," Taylor said with certainty. "My father is the greatest genius on the continent, the most powerful Dragonblood Warrior in history."
"Haha..." Linley didn't answer, but he laughed.
Linley looked at Wharton and instructed, "Wharton, I'm going to the underground chamber tomorrow to cultivate. I won't be attending the establishment of the Baruch Empire." The so-called underground chamber was the secret room in the miniature plane at the core of the magic crystal mine.
"Brother, you're not going?" Wharton was very surprised.
The establishment of the empire was a major event.
"Forget it." Linley looked at Delia. Delia's magical power and spiritual energy were advancing at an unprecedented speed. Even after reaching the late stage of a rank 9 Grand Magus, she was still progressing rapidly. This terrifying speed even shocked Linley.
Before Delia, there was no such thing as a bottleneck.
"Delia, I estimate that when the empire is established, the Yulan Empire will definitely send envoys. Your parents or others might come. Just stay in the palace for now."
"Alright." Delia's mind involuntarily conjured images of her parents.
She still vividly remembered leaving the family back then. But over the past twelve-plus years, the family had long since reconciled with Delia. It was just that the distance between them was too great, so they rarely met.
This time, during the empire's establishment, her parents should also be coming.
Linley continued, "Delia, that underground chamber is a full ten meters high. I've already divided it into two levels. After you're done here, come find me, and I'll help you enter the chamber. Then you can cultivate with me. I estimate that in a few years, you'll reach the Saint-level Magus realm before I do." Linley said with a sigh.
Delia's eyes immediately lit up with joy.
Once Linley started cultivating, he never knew how long it would take. Naturally, Delia wanted to be with Linley.
"Alright, I'll definitely come find you then." Delia quickly replied.
...
The next day, Linley flew directly to the magic crystal mine. After the great battle, the mine had been excavated on a massive scale. In just over a month, sixty to seventy percent of the magic crystal mine had been dug up, leaving only scattered remnants still being mined.
Of course, a large underground structure had been built around that 'door.'
Linley walked through the corridor of the underground structure, pushed open a stone door, and arrived before this mysterious planar gate. A layer of deep cyan battle qi immediately emerged on Linley's skin, pulsing with a special rhythm, and then he stepped through the door.
"Sssss—"
The terrifying, blade-like energy currents cut at Linley but were completely blocked by the 'Pulsating Defense' on his body surface.
Stepping into this miniature plane, Linley felt a surge of comfort. The elemental energies of earth, fire, water, and wind were all so intimate (qinjin), and the pulsations of the earth were so clear. Looking up... he could see the multicolored spatial turbulence outside through the membrane.
"I've been stuck at the 256th level of understanding for a long time. I hope this time I can truly break through." Linley immediately sat down cross-legged and began to study and comprehend in silence.
Last time, Linley had gained some insight, but he only knew that his path was to reverse his cultivation from the 25th level, to the point where he could fully interpret the profound mysteries of the Earth's Pulsations through a single wave. How to walk this path, Linley was still very unclear.
In the miniature plane, one couldn't feel the passage of time at all.
Linley began his peaceful cultivation.
*******
December 28th, Year 10022 of the Yulan Calendar. In two days, it would be the Yulan Festival. This year's Yulan Festival would be even more special than any in history, because... on this Yulan Festival, the Baruch Empire would be officially established.
The Baruch City was now even more lively, filled with people from out of town.
A dozen guards protected a simple yet elegant carriage as it moved through the streets of Baruch City. Just by looking at the guards, all of whom were above rank 5 in strength, one could tell that the person inside the carriage was no ordinary individual. After a while, the group arrived at an inn.
The guards all dismounted.
"Madam, we've arrived at the inn," the coachman said respectfully beside the carriage.
"I understand." A faint voice came from inside the carriage. A hand as white as jade pulled aside the curtain, and then a woman stepped down from the carriage. This noble lady wore a purple inner garment and a black outer robe. If Linley were here, he would recognize her—
Alice!
It had been nearly twenty-three years since the Day of Destruction.
Alice, who had been very young back then, now possessed the elegant aura of a noble lady after twenty-three years.
"Twenty-three years." Alice looked at this city, her heart filled with a myriad of emotions. She knew the name of this city—Baruch City. This city was named after Linley's surname. The fifth great empire of the Yulan Continent would be officially established in two days.
Its name was also the Baruch Empire.
"Linley Baruch." Alice softly murmured Linley's name.
Back then, when she, Kalan, and the others encountered danger in the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, Linley had suddenly descended to save her. At that time, Linley was just a promising youth. She was a carefree young girl, and Kalan was the heir of a great noble family.
Twenty-three years later.
Linley had reached a height she could never hope to attain.
Alice was deeply grateful to Linley from the bottom of her heart. When the Day of Destruction came, it was Linley who entrusted her to Director Meyer. Out of respect for Linley, Director Meyer had taken her and Lorraine along on the escape route, treating both girls well.
Later, Alice and Lorraine became Director Meyer's adopted daughters.
After that, Alice helped manage the Pruss Chamber of Commerce's operations. Lorraine wasn't good at business management, but Alice was very skilled at it. Director Meyer gradually delegated authority to her. This time, Director Meyer had sent her to Baruch City.
The purpose was... to build another Pruss Chamber of Commerce in Baruch City!
Generally, such extra-large (chaoda) cities would have a Pruss Chamber of Commerce. Baruch City would become the center of the entire Baruch Empire (the Chaos Territory), so naturally, a Pruss Chamber of Commerce had to be established there.
"Madam?" a guard beside her reminded her softly and respectfully. "It's snowing outside."
"Oh."
Alice snapped out of her memories and smiled faintly. "Let's go." Under the protection of her guards, Alice checked into the inn. The guards behind her all respected Alice greatly. They also knew that Alice's husband had died during the Day of Destruction.
They secretly wondered...
Why had Alice never remarried?
******
January 1st, Year 10023 of the Yulan Calendar. The Baruch Empire was established.
On this day, envoys from various countries arrived, and the entire city of Baruch celebrated. However, many reclusive experts on the Yulan Continent began to stir, as they had started receiving orders from Deity-level experts.
O'Brien Empire, outside the imperial capital, on Martial God Mountain.
"Welcome, Teacher." Nearly twenty Saint-level experts stood respectfully, while the Martial God 'O'Brien,' his fiery red hair flowing like blades, descended directly onto the mountain.
The Martial God 'O'Brien' nodded slightly and then gave orders. "Castro."
Castro immediately stepped forward to await the Martial God's command. The Martial God said indifferently, "You will set out immediately for the Chaos Territory to notify Linley to gather at my Martial God Mountain on March 3rd of next year."
"Yes, Teacher." Castro quickly responded.
"Lanko." The Martial God spoke again. His disciple Lanko immediately stepped forward. The Martial God ordered, "You will set out for the small island in the North Sea where Kenfande resides and tell Kenfande that he must arrive at my Martial God Mountain before March 3rd of next year."
"Yes, Teacher." Lanko also immediately accepted the order.
The Martial God then spoke again. "Kenyon." Kenyon immediately stepped forward. The Martial God continued, "You will set out for..."
...
In one breath, the Martial God arranged tasks for twelve of his disciples. Then, he kept ten of his disciples behind. These ten were among the strongest of the Martial God's personally taught disciples, including his first disciple, Fahn.
"You ten, prepare well. I don't want you to end up like your third senior brother and the others." The Martial God said indifferently.
"Yes, Teacher!"
These ten respectfully accepted the order. They all knew what their teacher was referring to.
"If you're afraid of death, you can choose to give up. There are many Saint-level experts who want this opportunity." The Martial God said calmly. He then looked at his ten disciples. Seeing their expressions, the Martial God nodded in satisfaction and then left directly.
...
In a large hall within the underground chambers, Castro sat down. He had flown for a long time, and after arriving at Baruch City, it was under Barker's guidance that he had come here. Castro had originally thought Linley lived at Blackwood Mountain.
"Castro, wait here for a moment. I'll go notify Linley." Barker said with a smile.
"Alright." Castro was very polite.
Barker then left the hall. In a few steps, he headed toward that mysterious door. Castro was very well-behaved and didn't dare use his spiritual energy to observe. After all, Barker was also a Saint-level expert and could easily detect his soul force.
Arriving before that door.
With one step, Barker entered the miniature plane.