Chapter 3: Distribution of Treasures
Within the miniature plane deep beneath the Blood Castle.
Linley recounted to his wife, Delia, the scenes that had occurred in the Necropolis of the Gods. Delia’s heart clenched as she heard about Linley encountering the ‘Basilisk’ on the third level…
She worried about Bork’s uncertain fate,
Was shocked by the terrifying Flame Sovereign on the sixth level,
And trembled at how Linley had nearly perished beneath the vines and roots of the Mother Empress ‘Rashabell’.
…
“A million Abyssal Blade Demons!” Delia was completely stunned when Linley described the scene of entering the eleventh level. “Back when we mobilized our army to resist the joint attack of the Radiant Church and the Dark Church, I saw a gathering of five hundred thousand troops. Five hundred thousand soldiers were already a sea of people, endless and boundless.”
“Yes, it was truly endless.”
Linley couldn’t help but recall that scene in his mind—when their group of experts had just emerged from underground, nearly a million Abyssal Blade Demons had swooped down from the sky, covering everything, simultaneously slashing out their blade auras in a world-ending spectacle. It was during that attack that the second of the Six-Eyed Golden Lion brothers had died.
“Go on, tell me how you escaped, and how you obtained the divine spark in that environment.” Delia asked nervously.
Delia understood very well that she was only in the process of refining a divine spark, merely a ‘demigod’ at best. Her ‘God’s Domain’ was also half-baked, and she had no real grasp of the profound mysteries of the elemental laws. If she had been on the eleventh level of the Necropolis of the Gods, she would likely have been killed by the swarming Abyssal Blade Demons long ago.
Linley continued speaking immediately, describing how the group of experts desperately charged towards the passage entrance, how Linley stayed behind at the last moment to block the horde of Abyssal Blade Demons, how he was chased underground, and how he comprehended the ‘Profound Mystery of Velocity’ deep beneath the earth…
“Whew.” Only after Linley finished speaking did Delia dare to let out a long sigh of relief.
Delia looked up at Linley.
She still remembered Linley as the determined, talented youth from the Ernst Magic Academy. Now, Linley was a supreme expert who could roam freely among a million Abyssal Blade Demons. Delia couldn’t help but feel proud of her husband at this moment.
“What are you looking at?” Linley asked with a smile.
“At you.” Delia’s expression at that moment was like that of an innocent young girl.
Linley laughed. “Right, Delia, what should I do about these three divine sparks? Those experts have all hinted to me about them before. Of course, after Lord Beirut’s lecture, they might have changed their minds.”
Linley had to admit that when it came to handling interpersonal relationships, Delia was better than him.
“Linley, you…” Delia smiled helplessly and shook her head. “I don’t even know what to say to you. In the Necropolis of the Gods, the ones who made it to the end among the humans were Desri, Olivier, Fain, Rosalind, and Tulley. Five people. Among them, who has the best relationship with us? Isn’t it Desri? And according to Beirut, Olivier has great potential!”
“But look—Fain obtained the Life Source Pearl. Rosalind and Tulley each got divine artifacts. Yet Olivier and Desri got nothing.”
Delia looked at Linley with a smile. “Olivier has great potential. Desri has a good relationship with us. Both are worth winning over. Yet… they are the two who got nothing.”
Linley opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.
“Linley, your status has changed. You are the pillar of our Baruch Empire. You can’t be too casual when considering matters.” Delia said. “Look at the human society on the Yulan continent today. The strongest are the O’Brien Empire and the Yulan Empire, because they have the War God and the High Priest.”
“Only with a divine-level expert can an empire last long.”
“Even if you, Linley, have just entered the divine realm, it would probably be very difficult for you to compare with the War God and the others, right? After all, they have been in the divine realm for a very long time.”
Linley nodded slightly.
The strength of the War God and the High Priest was indeed not something he could casually speculate about.
Delia sighed emotionally. “Desri himself lives in our Baruch Empire, and his daughter married your good brother, Reynold. Naturally, you should win Desri over to our side and make him part of our family.”
“Of course, winning others over is one thing. The most important thing is our own strength.” Delia said. “So, I think that among the three divine sparks, one should be given to your younger brother, Wharton, or to one of the five Barker brothers.”
“The second divine spark should be prepared for Desri.”
“As for the third divine spark, we’ll keep it for now, in case of any sudden need. For example, if the High Priest or the War God come to plead for a divine spark for their disciples. Or Dylin and Hissel might also be possibilities. Dylin for his son, Hissel for that Rosalind—they might do so. Letting them owe us a favor would also be beneficial.”
Hearing Delia’s analysis, Linley’s mind suddenly became clear.
“Alright, Delia, I’ll do as you say.” Linley nodded.
Delia continued, “Linley, as for the ten divine artifacts you obtained, the three light-red warblades, and the thousand Blade Demon warblades… I think we should store the thousand Blade Demon warblades for now. Consider them as national treasures of our empire. After all, each one is comparable to your Black Gouda Heavy Sword. And taking out a thousand at once would cause some upheaval on the continent.”
Linley nodded.
“The thirteen divine artifacts, including the light-red warblades, are easier to handle. Just distribute them among the family, or give one or two to Desri as gifts. These few divine artifacts are easy to allocate.” Delia said.
Linley smiled. “Alright, but one of these thirteen must be for you.”
“What?” Delia asked in confusion.
Linley flipped his hand and took out a set of divine artifact battle armor from his spatial ring. “Delia, this set of divine artifact battle armor is for you.”
“Huh?” Delia was stunned, then quickly said, “Linley, you are the pillar of the empire. You should use this divine artifact battle armor yourself.”
Linley laughed. “No need, Delia. First of all, I have the Life Source Pearl myself. Secondly, once I reach the divine level, you should know that the ‘Earth Guardian Sacred Armor’ spell can also be cast at the divine level. At that time, the defensive capability of the ‘Divine Guardian Sacred Armor’ will definitely match your divine artifact battle armor.”
“Then give it to Wharton and the others. I am still refining the divine spark.” Delia said.
Linley shook his head. “No need. Didn’t you say it yourself? One of the three divine sparks is for our own people. In a couple of days, I’ll ask Wharton if he’s willing to refine a divine spark. If he is, he can become a god too. If not, after I finish the last thing I want to do, I’ll give him the Life Source Pearl.”
“The last thing you want to do?” Delia was startled. “Linley, you mean?”
Linley nodded slightly. “I have been looking forward to this matter for a long time. Although I don’t have a hundred percent certainty now, at least they won’t be able to harm me.” A sharp glint flickered in Linley’s eyes.
******
By now, Wharton had abdicated. His son, ‘Sini Baruch,’ had become the new emperor of the Baruch Empire.
When he learned that Linley had returned, Wharton excitedly flew straight back to Dragonblood Castle. Linley’s daughter, ‘Sasha,’ also returned. The five Barker brothers were all gathered there. Everyone who had followed Linley in the past was assembled.
Linley asked Wharton if he was willing to refine a divine spark and become a god. After all, Wharton was already a Saint-level Dragonblood Warrior.
But Wharton’s answer left Linley helpless—
“Brother, if you give me an elemental divine spark, say an earth-type one, and I refine it to become an earth-type demigod, could I then comprehend the laws of fire?”
“No. If you become an earth-type demigod, your affinity and sensitivity to other elements will drop to the minimum, while your sensitivity to earth will reach its peak. For an earth-type demigod to comprehend the laws of fire should be impossible.”
“Brother, do you have a fire-type divine spark?”
“No.”
“Then I won’t use it.”
Wharton’s answer was straightforward. It turned out that Wharton, having reached the Saint level, had also embarked on the path of comprehending the laws of fire. Although he had only just begun, he truly enjoyed understanding the laws of fire.
Linley didn’t say much.
He understood his younger brother. He himself loved the feeling of his soul merging with the wind and the earth, sensing the freedom of the wind and the vastness of the earth. Comprehending the laws of the wind and the laws of the earth was, for Linley, a true enjoyment of the soul.
If someone gave Linley a fire-type divine spark and asked him to refine it, Linley wouldn’t be willing to do it either.
Because…
Once he refined a fire-type divine spark, he would directly become a fire-type demigod. Then, comprehending other elemental laws would be almost impossible.
“Become a fire-type demigod, give up the profound mysteries of the earth, give up the profound mysteries of the wind?” Linley shook his head.
The gap between refining a divine spark to become a god and becoming a god through one’s own efforts was enormous.
Linley later asked the five Barker brothers.
Gates and the other three let their eldest, ‘Barker,’ refine the divine spark. Since Barker happened to like the earth element, Linley gave him the earth-type demigod divine spark. Barker then began his secluded cultivation to refine the divine spark.
******
In the back garden of Dragonblood Castle.
Four young-looking men were sitting around a round table, laughing loudly and drinking heartily. These four were—Linley, Reynold, Yale, and George.
“It’s been over ten years since the four of us brothers have been together. Come on, let’s all have a toast.” Yale said with a hearty laugh. Among the four brothers, even the weakest, Yale, was a level 7 mage, with a lifespan of several hundred years.
They still retained their youthful appearances.
“Yale, big brother, congratulations on becoming the president of the Dawson Conglomerate.” Linley said with a smile.
Being with his brothers from his youth made Linley incredibly happy.
“Haha, third brother, compared to you, I’m far behind.” Yale said cheerfully, then he patted George on the shoulder. “Second brother, the two of us have been completely outshone by third and fourth brother. Third brother goes without saying—he reached the Saint level long ago. Third brother founded the Baruch Empire. From his wedding until now, it’s been twenty-four years, right? Twenty-four years. Fourth brother, who was a level 7 mage back then, is now a level 9 mage. But what about the two of us?”
George also laughed. “Yale, big brother, don’t mention me. I stepped into the level 8 mage realm two years ago. I’m still a bit ahead of you.”
It was now Yulan Calendar 10034. Linley’s wedding was in 10010.
Twenty-four years had passed.
Of course, in the eyes of supreme experts, a single secluded cultivation session might last a hundred years. Several decades meant nothing.
“I’ve been busy, not enough time for training. Oh well, I’ve at least reached the level 7 mage realm.” Yale laughed twice.
George was an important minister of the Yulan Empire, and Yale was busy with the affairs of the chamber of commerce. They truly hadn’t invested enough time in cultivation.
“Third brother.” Yale patted Linley’s shoulder twice. “Living the life you have is truly interesting. Building a vast empire, becoming a peak expert on the continent. How many hot-blooded youths on the Yulan continent today take you as their goal? Those hot-blooded youths are just like the four of us brothers back then!”
Linley, Reynold, Yale, and George all fell silent for a moment.
They all recalled their unrestrained youth.
Reynold suddenly smiled and said, “Yale, big brother, according to you, you are now the president of one of the three major chambers of commerce on the Yulan continent, as rich as a nation. You should be satisfied, right?”
“Not yet. There are still the other two chambers of commerce.” Yale’s eyes gleamed. “I really want to swallow up the ‘Snow Island Chamber of Commerce’ and the ‘Geer Chamber of Commerce.’ But it’s too difficult. Still, difficulty makes it challenging.”
Linley stood up.
“Right, difficulty makes it challenging.” Linley looked up at the sky.
The Yulan continent plane was just a material plane. In this infinite space, there were countless planes, including the four supreme planes and the seven divine planes.
He was only at the peak of the Yulan continent.
“Reaching the ultimate peak of cultivation—that’s what’s interesting and challenging.” A hint of a smile appeared at the corner of Linley’s mouth.
“But before that, there is one more matter to resolve.” Linley couldn’t help but turn his head to look west, towards the direction of the Radiant Church’s ‘Sacred Island.’
Linley still remembered the death of Grandpa Doehring, and the oath he had made before leaving Hess City and entering the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts—‘Radiant Church, just wait. One day, I will uproot you completely!’
“It’s about time.” Linley silently said in his heart.