Chapter 44: Only One Person
Inside the Dark Forest, on the barren land that had been ravaged by the great battle. Linley was gathering his spoils, a smile involuntarily spreading across his face. "With so many treasures, this 'kill the god, take the wealth' business is really quite tempting. I only killed Ogwen, and I got this many treasures. I imagine in the Infernal Realm, plenty of people would engage in such a cost-free trade."
Soon, all the treasures were collected.
"Two Highgod artifacts, one Highgod spark. And four Demigod sparks, plus five spatial rings." Linley couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
Four Demigod sparks!
If he added the two he had obtained earlier, Linley now possessed six Demigod sparks.
"These two Highgod artifacts..." Linley examined the two artifacts before him. One was a Gothic spear. The other was a black dagger.
Back then, when Beirut killed Adkins, he had only collected two sparks and left.
Adkins had possessed two Highgod artifacts. One of them had shattered and broken apart, while the other, the black dagger, had fallen some distance away. Linley had naturally collected it.
Linley stored the Highgod artifacts and sparks into his spatial ring. In his hand, only five rings remained.
"I wonder what's inside the spatial rings of those four Demigods. I'll check them carefully once I return to Dragonblood Castle. As for Adkins's spatial ring, besides the Highgod spark, there might be other treasures." Linley mused to himself.
"I'm really lucky I sensed the energy fluctuations and rushed over immediately. Otherwise, I would have missed this golden opportunity." Linley felt a secret relief.
This time, he had not only avenged Little Casa but also obtained quite a few sparks and artifacts. Linley wouldn't turn his nose up at these treasures; the more, the better.
"I was already in the Dark Forest, so I could make it in time. If a Deity-level expert outside the Dark Forest had to fly over, it would probably take nearly an hour." Linley believed that no one should be able to arrive anytime soon, as the battle had been very brief.
Linley glanced around. "But I'd better leave quickly!"
"Whoosh!"
Linley immediately soared into the air, intending to fly south.
"Linley, don't rush off." A voice rang out in Linley's mind. At the same time, a black figure appeared before Linley—black hair, black beard. It was Lord Beirut, who had just effortlessly killed Adkins.
"Lord Beirut." Linley felt a wave of relief.
Beirut looked at Linley, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Linley, you made quite a haul this time."
"I was just lucky. I sensed the powerful energy fluctuations and wanted to come back to check. But my flying speed wasn't fast enough. By the time I got here, Adkins was already dead. I only saw the four of them killing each other." Linley said honestly.
Beirut nodded. In Beirut's eyes, what Linley had gained was nothing worth noting.
"Linley, there's something I need to tell you." Beirut got straight to the point.
"Oh?" Linley was a bit surprised.
Beirut smiled calmly. "Remember how I sent a telepathic message to all Deity-level experts on the Yulan continent, saying I would open the Necropolis of the Gods in a thousand years?"
"Yes." Linley was puzzled. "Lord Beirut, are you planning to change your mind?" Linley sensed an underlying meaning in Beirut's words and couldn't help but guess. It would be understandable if Beirut had such intentions.
Now on the Yulan continent, aside from Beirut himself, Sadista and Adkins were both dead. The only Highgod left was Qinghuo "Lei Lin."
"No." Beirut shook his head. "The Necropolis of the Gods will still open in a thousand years. However, Qinghuo and I have already discussed it. In half a month, I will let Qinghuo enter the Necropolis of the Gods alone."
"Only him?" Linley was very surprised.
Beirut nodded.
"Lord Beirut, there are still other Deity-level experts on the Yulan continent." Linley quickly said. He felt that Beirut's decision seemed unfair to the other Deity-level experts. After all, they were all on the Yulan continent; at least give them a chance.
Beirut shook his head. "No need. The true treasures in the Necropolis of the Gods can only be obtained by those at the peak of the Highgod level. If ordinary Demigods or Gods enter, they'll at most get a spark."
Linley's heart stirred. "That treasure is probably a Sovereign artifact."
Beirut continued, "So, Linley, help me inform Talos and the others. Tell them about this. Whether they stay or leave is up to them." Beirut still had some connection with Talos, after all.
After all, Talos had also served as the manager of the first eleven levels of the Necropolis of the Gods.
"I'll pass on the message." Linley agreed.
After that, Beirut and Linley parted ways. Linley quickly flew back to Dragonblood Castle.
After returning to Dragonblood Castle, Linley first dripped blood onto all five spatial rings to claim ownership. He carefully examined the items stored inside. Upon inspection, he did find some decent items. In Ogwen's spatial ring, there was also a Fire-type Demigod spark. In Getenby's spatial ring, there was an Earth-type Demigod spark, along with several artifacts.
Thus, Linley now possessed six Demigod sparks, two Demigod sparks, several Demigod and God artifacts, and two Highgod artifacts.
As soon as he returned, Linley inventoried everything, startling Delia, who was nearby. It was only after Linley explained the entire situation in detail that Delia breathed a sigh of relief.
In the courtyard where Linley and Delia lived, Linley was sipping some clear fruit wine.
"Ogwen is finally dead." Delia sighed deeply.
"He is dead. Xini should feel a bit better knowing this." In his heart, Linley actually felt that the disaster of a group of powerful experts descending from the Gebados Planar Prison was caused by him, Olivier, and Desri.
Delia also felt this topic was a bit heavy, so she changed the subject. "Linley, in the past, there weren't many Deity-level experts on the Yulan continent, and sparks were so rare. I never thought you'd get so many sparks now."
"Getting so many sparks?" Linley himself knew that each spark had been obtained through bloodshed. Either others tried to kill him, or he killed others.
"Sparks aren't so easy to come by." Linley sighed.
Delia understood what Linley was thinking.
"I suddenly understand something." A glimmer of light shone in Delia's eyes. "Originally, there were very few Deity-level experts on the Yulan continent, so sparks were naturally hard to come by. But now, with so many Deity-level experts... only the strong can obtain sparks, while the weak are killed. It's like... the rich get richer, and the poor even lose their capital."
The strong, like Beirut and Qinghuo.
For them, obtaining sparks was effortless. They could even easily kill ordinary Highgods.
But ordinary Demigods were the ones being plundered. They would be killed, and their sparks would be taken.
And Linley had originally belonged to the "plundered" side.
However, he possessed the incomplete Soul-protecting Sovereign artifact. This incomplete Soul-protecting Sovereign artifact had changed Linley's position, allowing him to stand firm, at least not be plundered by others. Occasionally, he could even plunder others!
"Hey, Linley, now that you have both Demigod and God sparks for the Earth and Fire elements, can't you make two people into Gods?" Delia suddenly said.
Linley's heart stirred. "Fire element?"
When Anras died, Linley had obtained a Fire-type God spark. Inside Ogwen's spatial ring, there was also a Fire-type Demigod spark.
"Wharton!" Linley suddenly used his divine sense to locate Wharton. "Wharton, come to my courtyard."
Wharton loved training in the Elemental Laws of Fire. Unfortunately, Wharton's talent was average. At his training speed, it would probably take several thousand years or even longer to reach the Demigod level.
"Big brother." Wharton pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in with a smile. "Big brother, you called for me?"
Linley looked at his younger brother with a smile. "Wharton, how is your training in the Elemental Laws of Fire going?"
Mentioning this, Wharton couldn't help but grimace. He said helplessly, "Big brother, you know my training speed. I've only just gotten a bit of a clue. At this rate, I don't know when I'll reach the Saint-level limit, let alone break through that bottleneck to reach the Demigod level."
Linley laughed.
"Wharton, look at this." Linley flipped his hand and placed the two Fire-type sparks on the stone table.
Wharton stared at the two black sparks emitting a red glow. His eyes went wide, and then he looked at Linley in shock, stammering, "Big brother, you... you're..."
"These two Fire-type sparks, one is a Demigod spark, and one is a God spark. First, refine this Demigod spark. After you've finished, refine the God spark. Once you've refined both, you'll be a God." Linley spoke casually.
Wharton was a bit dazed. Just moments ago, he had been talking with his wife about the future. Now, Linley had suddenly called him over and told him... I have two sparks here. After you refine them, you'll be a God.
"A G-God?" Wharton felt his mind was in a mess, with only two words echoing—God!
Linley and Delia exchanged a smile.
"Whoosh!" Wharton took a long breath, finally getting his brain to function normally. He looked at Linley. "Big brother, I really have no words for you. For so many years, I've dreamed of becoming a god. But I never thought that in the blink of an eye, you'd let me become a God. This, this is... Big brother, you can't shock people like this. I'll be scared to death."
"You little rascal."
Linley laughed and scolded, "Remember, refine the Demigod spark first."
"I'll refine it right now!" Unable to contain his excitement, Wharton immediately dripped blood onto the Demigod spark and absorbed it into his body. Then he stored the God spark in his spatial ring. Wharton couldn't help but sigh dramatically, "Ah, big brother, you're still not impressive enough. If you had gotten a Fire-type Highgod spark and let me refine it continuously... then wouldn't I be a Highgod?"
Linley looked at Wharton's playful expression and knew he was in a great mood.
"Still talking about a Highgod spark? Go and prepare tonight's banquet. I have something important to announce tonight."
Wharton immediately replied loudly, "No problem at all!"
In Dragonblood Castle, the Deity-level experts only occasionally gathered for meals. Tonight, Linley had taken the initiative to invite Talos, Dilin, and the others. Linley still remembered Beirut's instructions.
At the banquet, everyone chatted, laughed, ate, and drank.
"Everyone." Linley's voice suddenly rose. Instantly, the entire hall fell silent.
Talos, Dilin, the War God, the High Priest, and the others all looked at Linley with curiosity.
"There is something I must tell you all. Lord Beirut will be taking Lord Qinghuo to the Necropolis of the Gods in the near future." Linley announced.
"Is he opening the Necropolis of the Gods early?" Talos asked in surprise.
Linley shook his head. "Not exactly. This time, only Lord Qinghuo will be allowed to enter."
Talos, Dilin, and the others were all stunned. They had stayed on the Yulan continent, in part, to see what the treasures in the Necropolis of the Gods were. They were just watching from the sidelines.
"If we're not allowed in, then we won't know whether Lord Qinghuo gets any treasures or not." Talos shook his head with a sigh. Then he glanced at Dilin beside him. "Dilin, what do you think? I'm starting to find this boring. Adkins is dead, and the Necropolis of the Gods is only letting Qinghuo in alone. I think there's nothing interesting left on the Yulan continent. I'm planning to leave the Yulan continent in a few days and go to the Infernal Realm. What about you?"
"Me?"
Dilin hesitated for a moment, then said, "Then... I'll go with you to the Infernal Realm."