Chapter 5: Sound
Within the imperial palace of the O'Brien Empire.
The handsome young man 'Adkins,' who had been chatting and laughing in the pavilion, now let his smile fade as he coldly looked towards the northeast. He snorted, "This Beirut indeed possesses the strength of a Highgod. But he is far too arrogant."
"Lord Adkins," the silver-haired elder behind Adkins said respectfully, "This Beirut's arrogance is backed by something."
"Isn't it just relying on the backing of a Sovereign?" Adkins said, his gaze sharp beneath his delicate brows.
But Adkins also knew that although Highgods had already comprehended the laws, in front of a Sovereign... a single thought from a Sovereign was enough to kill a Highgod. A Sovereign was exalted, supremely honored, an existence that could only be looked up to.
"If, if only I could..." Adkins yearned deep in his heart.
In the Gebados Planar Prison, he had also heard of what was hidden in the Necropolis of the Gods. Even someone as noble as him, a Highgod, deeply desired the treasures hidden on the eighteenth floor of the Necropolis of the Gods. But Adkins understood...
The Necropolis of the Gods was a game set by the Sovereigns.
To enter the Necropolis of the Gods, he had to obey the rules set by the Sovereigns. Violating the rules... was to defy the will of the Sovereigns. The result of defying the will of the Sovereigns needed no further explanation.
"Bernice, have you confirmed your investigation?" Adkins asked coldly.
The silver-haired elder behind him said respectfully, "Lord Adkins, this subordinate has confirmed that O'Brien, Cesar, and the other Deity-level experts went to the Necropolis of the Gods over nine years ago. In a little over two months, the ten-year term will be up, and those people should be returning."
"Good."
A rare smile finally appeared on Adkins' face. "I will endure for just over two more months."
"No one can contend with me!" Adkins muttered to himself. Then he directly raised the wine glass before him and drained it in one gulp!
---
Dragonblood Castle.
Regarding the existence of the secret room in the miniature plane, Linley had already disclosed it to Desri, Olivier, and the others. At this critical juncture, Linley hoped that Desri, Olivier, and the others could also make progress. Olivier, Desri, and Linley's main body were all cultivating inside.
Dylia, on the other hand, usually stayed in her own room.
After all, refining a divine spark didn't make much difference whether one was in a miniature plane or an ordinary place. Linley had his main body focus on cultivating 'Pulsations of the Earth' in the miniature plane, while his wind-style divine clone stayed in Dragonblood Castle, quietly comprehending the profound mysteries of wind and the Violet Blood Soft Sword.
In the western garden of Dragonblood Castle, some low shrubs grew, and it was very quiet.
Dressed in a light blue robe, Linley was completely immersed in the Violet Blood Soft Sword and the profound mysteries of wind.
"According to Muba, divine artifacts are divided into three levels. The highest level can also be called a Highgod artifact. Above that are Sovereign artifacts. This Violet Blood Soft Sword of mine... is very likely a Highgod artifact." Linley used his spiritual energy to nurture the Violet Blood Soft Sword and could feel its spirituality.
Linley had now seen many divine artifacts.
But none of them could compare to the Violet Blood Soft Sword.
"A Deity-level expert's strength lies in two aspects: one is their comprehension and application of the laws, and the other is their compatibility with their divine artifact. Although I am a Demigod, if I can unleash the maximum power of the Violet Blood Soft Sword..." Linley recalled the 'Whisper of the Wind' he had comprehended.
The Whisper of the Wind was a successful combination of spiritual energy attacks, the unique properties of the Violet Blood Soft Sword itself, and the profound mysteries of wind.
Its power went without saying. Killing Pomont with a single strike had already satisfied Linley greatly.
"This Whisper of the Wind seems..." Linley frowned.
In his mind, Linley continuously simulated the process of the Whisper of the Wind: the coordination of spiritual energy and the Violet Blood Soft Sword, and the application of the profound mysteries of wind.
Although Linley had executed the 'Whisper of the Wind,' he actually knew *how* to do it without understanding *why* it worked.
"Back then, Dylia said that the mere vibrating sound of this Violet Blood Soft Sword made her soul tremble and her whole body go weak. Even Pomont, when I used the 'Whisper of the Wind,' the sword's humming sound prevented him from even controlling his spiritual energy to block it."
Linley had also discovered—the power of sound!
"Sound!"
Linley recalled the Snowcat Bear he had seen in the Necropolis of the Gods. That Snowcat Bear had threatened him with a flute at the time.
"Sound can influence, confuse, and attack the soul!" Linley concluded in his heart. "And within my wind elemental laws, it seems there is also a profound mystery of sound."
Linley didn't understand the profound mystery of sound.
When he had created the 'Whisper of the Wind,' it was because the Violet Blood Soft Sword itself possessed this characteristic. Linley had merely used the profound mysteries of wind to slightly guide the sword's hum, producing this effect. But now, Linley wanted to specifically study this profound mystery of sound.
"Hmm~"
Linley infused divine power into the Violet Blood Soft Sword, and it began to vibrate, emitting that sword's humming sound.
"Is Lord Linley inside?" Gates walked to the entrance of the western garden.
The maidservant smiled and said, "Lord Gates, Lord Linley said that he needs quiet for his cultivation. No one, without his permission, is allowed to enter the western garden. Right now, only Lord Linley is inside the western garden."
"No one is allowed in?" Gates was somewhat surprised.
What difference did it make if someone went in while he was cultivating?
But how could they know that Linley was studying the profound mystery of sound within the wind elemental laws? The sound attack he performed wouldn't affect himself, but if someone came close, it could easily harm others. And Linley's cultivation wasn't a step-by-step, gradual study of the profound mystery of sound.
He was simply trying to improve the power of the Violet Blood Soft Sword based on its foundation.
To make progress in a short time, he had to focus on the weapon.
"Everyone is cultivating in seclusion; the atmosphere in the castle has changed." Gates turned and left. During this period, the three Deity-level experts—Linley, Desri, and Olivier—were all constantly cultivating, hoping to improve their strength a bit more.
Meanwhile, Barker, Sesslar, Dylia, and Haeru were all refining divine sparks.
But who would have thought that Linley's cultivation in the western garden would be unceasing? For an entire month, Linley never came out of the western garden once. The others in Dragonblood Castle didn't dare to defy Linley's orders and could only wait.
Wharton, Gates, Ankh, and Bult walked back together from the training grounds.
"Olivier's single sword strike simply released a group of experts. Now, this is really troublesome," Gates said.
Wharton and the others nodded.
Olivier's single strike had turned the entire Yulan continent upside down.
"When the War God and the High Priest return, they'll probably be dumbfounded," Gates said with a teasing laugh.
"Indeed, both empires are gone," Blackscale also laughed.
"When they come back, they'll have to discuss with my big brother and the others to solve the current predicament," Wharton said expectantly.
Many hands make light work. Although the War God and the High Priest were also Demigods, they had reached that level a long time ago. And there was also Dylin, whose main body was a divine beast. If a group of Demigods joined forces, they could still hold their ground.
"We can only wait. In a little over a month, the War God and the others will be back," Wharton said.
"I hope that in the Necropolis of the Gods, the War God and the others have also made breakthroughs," Ankh said seriously. "If they haven't, even if the War God and the others return, it's hard to say whether they can defeat that Ogwen."
As they were talking, they suddenly all stopped.
A middle-aged man in a thick robe appeared before them, a faint smile on his face.
"Who are you?" Ankh demanded.
"Muba?" Wharton frowned. He had seen Muba's face during his previous visit.
"Is he that Deity-level expert, Muba?" Ankh and the others were somewhat surprised. They hadn't seen Muba when he came that day, only hearing about him later and knowing that there was a Deity-level expert named Muba.
"Wharton." Muba still had a faint smile on his face. "I've come to see Linley."
"My big brother is currently cultivating, but..." Wharton shook his head. "My big brother gave orders that without his permission, no one is allowed to disturb him. You've come at a bad time."
"Oh?" Muba directly spread his divine sense.
In an instant, he discovered Linley in the western garden. At the same time Muba's divine sense found him, Linley also discovered Muba: "Muba, if you have something to discuss, come here."
Muba's figure flickered, and he directly flew towards the western garden.
"This Muba," Wharton said angrily. "My big brother doesn't allow anyone to disturb him, yet he still goes in." Wharton immediately ran towards the western garden. He wasn't aware that Linley had sent a divine sense message to Muba. Soon, Wharton arrived at the entrance of the western garden.
The maidservant standing at the entrance was actually running out.
"Why are you running around?" Wharton demanded.
"Lord Wharton," the maidservant immediately bowed. "Lord Linley instructed me to prepare fine wine and delicacies to entertain a guest."
---
Western Garden, Dragonblood Castle.
"Lord Linley, I admire you. In such a short time, the three of you joined forces and killed Pomont," Muba praised. "This Pomont was a top-tier Demigod expert, extremely strong in both soul attacks and normal attacks."
Linley smiled and glanced at Muba.
"Mr. Muba, may I ask what business you have this time? Please, speak frankly," Linley said directly.
Muba smiled and said, "I've come to help you, Linley."
"Help me?" Linley looked at Muba in surprise.
He and Muba didn't have any deep friendship. Last time, Muba had told him about divine artifacts. Because of that, Linley had focused on sensing the Violet Blood Soft Sword, combining it with his spiritual energy and the profound mysteries of wind to create the 'Whisper of the Wind.'
To be fair, without Muba's reminder, he wouldn't have created the 'Whisper of the Wind.'
"My situation is indeed very bad now. Is Mr. Muba willing to help me fight against external enemies?" Linley asked.
"I don't have that ability," Muba laughed. "I've come to tell you, Linley, some intelligence about the Deity-level experts who have appeared on the Yulan continent."
Linley couldn't help but feel a surge of joy in his heart.
Regarding that Ogwen who had destroyed the imperial palace, Linley didn't dare to act because he didn't know the difference in their strength.
"Then I'll thank Mr. Muba first. Please tell me the detailed information. I am extremely grateful," Linley said solemnly.
Muba smiled and said, "Lord Linley, don't be too grateful. I'm only doing this to make you, Linley, my friend. As long as you, Linley, consider me Muba your friend, then everything I've done will be worth it." Muba's smile was very sincere.
Linley didn't think too much about what Muba's true purpose might be. At least, for now, this person was helping him.
"Mr. Muba is naturally my friend. Please, go ahead. Especially about that Ogwen," Linley pressed.
Muba nodded and said, "Before that, Linley, let me tell you this. In the Gebados Planar Prison, there is a city called 'Azurefire City.' In the center of Azurefire City is actually the sealed spatial gate. Because of this spatial gate, it occasionally opens even after eons. This city is also the most prosperous city in the Gebados Planar Prison."
"Azurefire City was built by one of the five kings of the Gebados Planar Prison, an expert known as 'Azurefire.' Ogwen is considered a relatively famous expert in Azurefire City. His strength is quite formidable, reaching the level of a Demigod." When Muba said this, Linley couldn't help but grit his teeth.
A Demigod!
For now, he couldn't deal with him.