Chapter 26: Floating Shadows
Having agreed to Hisset, Linley naturally tried every means to investigate Cecilia's situation, but even as a Red Robe Elder, he had no authority to enter the clan leader's residence without permission. After ordering someone to summon Dillin and Tarossa, Linley began to probe for information.
"Magnolia!"
Linley quickened his pace and greeted her.
Magnolia. A Red Robe Elder of the Bagshaw family. She was also the only female among the three Red Robe Elders that Baukewei had brought during the last great battle. Magnolia turned her head, a hint of a smile in her violet eyes: "Mr. Linley, is there something you need?"
"Magnolia, I have a question I'd like to ask." Linley said hurriedly.
"Go ahead." Magnolia was very polite.
"Last time, Sekra flew into a rage and wanted to kill my friend, presumably because of his wife. Do you know the current situation of Young Master Sekra's wife?" Linley asked directly.
Magnolia frowned and shook her head: "I'm not sure about that. Sekra and his wife both live in the clan leader's mansion, and we usually can't easily enter there. I think only the servants in the clan leader's mansion, the steward, and a few others know about this."
Linley's brow furrowed.
The clan leader's mansion was the most heavily guarded area in the Bagshaw family's territory. Living there were Baukewei, his two sons, and others. Those servants normally couldn't come out at all.
To investigate… it was truly difficult.
"If you have the chance, go directly and ask Sekra, or the clan leader himself." Magnolia suggested.
"Mm, I understand. Sorry for the trouble."
Linley immediately left.
Asking Sekra or Baukewei—didn't Linley know that was an option? But Linley also understood that once he asked, Sekra and Baukewei would definitely guess he was asking for Hisset. Then how would Sekra and the others feel about it?
At the very least, they wouldn't be pleased.
Linley wouldn't do something that would annoy people unless it was absolutely necessary.
He walked around for a while, asking several people of status, but none of them knew anything about Cecilia's current situation. Linley could only regretfully return to his own residence first. When he reached the gate of his mansion, he saw Hisset.
"Linley, how did it go?" Hisset asked immediately.
"Cecilia lives in the clan leader's mansion. I can't even enter that place without permission. Don't worry, I'll ask again in a while." Linley shook his head regretfully.
A flicker of disappointment passed through Hisset's eyes, then he forced a smile: "I'm not worried, I'm not worried!"
Linley sighed inwardly.
"Oh, by the way, Tarossa and Dillin have arrived." Hisset said.
"They're here?" Linley immediately headed inside. Hisset quickly added, "Linley, don't blame them. You know the situation back then—they just didn't want to make a pointless sacrifice."
"I understand."
Linley didn't really blame Dillin and Tarossa in his heart.
But Linley found it strange. Based on his understanding of Dillin and Tarossa, in that dangerous situation, they should have stepped forward. Yet the two had backed down, which was hard for Linley to believe.
Although there was nothing wrong with what they did, emotionally, it was hard to accept.
Passing through the corridor and entering the courtyard gate, Linley saw Dillin and Tarossa sitting there.
"Boss!" Bebe stood up, curling his lip disdainfully. "Those two are here."
Linley gave Bebe a slight glare. Even if he was annoyed, there was no need to embarrass them like that.
Dillin and Tarossa immediately stood up as well, both looking a bit awkward. Linley, however, walked over with a smile: "Dillin, Tarossa, sit down and chat. Sit!" Linley himself sat down first.
Dillin and Tarossa exchanged a glance.
"Linley, about today's matter… it was our fault." Dillin spoke first, shaking his head helplessly. "Sorry, at the time, we both thought that resisting would be nothing but suicide. So…" Tarossa nodded in agreement.
They were in the wrong, so they didn't have much confidence in their words. That was how Dillin and Tarossa felt now.
"I'm not blaming you." Linley said with a smile. "After all, Hisset is fine now." Linley could see that both Dillin and Tarossa felt guilty. Since they felt guilty, there was no need for him to say more.
Tarossa and Dillin breathed a sigh of relief.
"Linley!" Tarossa couldn't help but ask curiously, "I heard that you single-handedly killed a large number of island guardian warriors and even defeated a Red Robe Elder?"
"Just luck." Linley said.
Tarossa and Dillin looked at each other. Living on Leilo Island, they knew the strength of a Red Robe Elder. Every Red Robe Elder had the power of a Seven-Star Demon! Yet Linley, who in their eyes was only a Demigod, had actually defeated a Seven-Star Demon!
Back in the Yulan Continent, Linley had only been a Lesser God.
"Linley, are you a Demigod or a God?" Dillin asked again.
It wasn't Dillin's fault for asking; Linley's performance was too shocking.
"Let's not talk about that. Just think of me as a Six-Star Demon." Linley shook his head. "Tarossa, Dillin, I want to ask you something. I heard that Hundred-Battle Champions can enter the West Island Secret Realm. Do you know what's in that secret realm?"
Red Robe Elders were also qualified to enter the West Island Secret Realm.
Linley was also curious about what was in the West Island Secret Realm of Leilo Island.
"West Island Secret Realm?" Dillin and Tarossa both looked surprised.
"Ask Tarossa. I'm not sure." Dillin shook his head.
"Aren't you also a Demigod Hundred-Battle Champion?" Linley didn't understand.
Dillin explained: "After entering the West Island Secret Realm, you still need to be examined by someone inside. Only if they deem you worthy can you go and watch. I was turned away at the door."
Linley was stunned.
Someone examined whether you were qualified to enter?
Linley turned to look at Tarossa. Tarossa sighed emotionally: "What the West Island Secret Realm lets us watch are just Floating Shadows!"
"Floating Shadows?" Linley was surprised.
Floating Shadows were very familiar to Linley. The 'Floating Shadow Technique' was just a simple water-system magic. Back when Linley and Alice broke up, Linley had once bought two crystal balls imbued with the Floating Shadow Technique. He used those crystal balls to record many memories and gave them to Alice.
But in the end, they broke up, and the crystal balls were smashed by Linley.
"Floating Shadows?" Linley couldn't understand.
Floating Shadows could record many images. But how could these Floating Shadows become the Bagshaw family's treasure? What exactly was recorded in them?
"Yes, Floating Shadows." Tarossa sighed. "They are recordings of battles between experts. Each Floating Shadow records a truly spectacular battle. The experts fighting are at least at the Seven-Star Demon level."
Linley's eyes lit up immediately.
For many people, watching real experts fight was beneficial for comprehension and improvement. Normally, battles between Seven-Star Demon level experts were very rare to see.
"How many battle Floating Shadows are there?" Linley was also looking forward to it.
"A lot. At least several thousand Floating Shadows." Tarossa praised. "There are many experts inside, and there are also introductions to those peerless powerhouses, like Six-Winged Demons, Purple Blood Demons, Snow Demons, Silver Moon Demons… it's really spectacular."
Linley listened with shining eyes.
So many Seven-Star Demon battles?
"But my strength isn't enough, so I can only go to the second secret chamber to watch." Tarossa shook his head. "In that second secret chamber, the vast majority are Seven-Star Demon level experts. Not only from Hell, but also from other Higher Planes and Divine Planes."
"I heard that the Floating Shadows in the first secret chamber are even more spectacular." Tarossa's eyes gleamed. "There are battle Floating Shadows of Asura-level experts. It's said there are even battle recordings from planar wars. And even… Floating Shadows of Sovereigns making a move!"
Linley drew in a sharp breath.
Floating Shadows of Sovereigns making a move?
"But that's the first secret chamber." Tarossa shook his head. "Generally, only Red Robe Elders or Seven-Star Demon level experts are qualified to enter and watch. And they also need an invitation from the Bagshaw family."
Linley clearly remembered Baukewei saying that as a Red Robe Elder, he was qualified to enter the West Island Secret Realm.
"So many Floating Shadows of experts fighting—this is a priceless treasure. Asura battles, planar wars, and even Sovereigns making a move?" Linley's heart burned with excitement. What would it look like when a lofty Sovereign made a move?
It had been two days since he became a Red Robe Elder. In these two days, Linley hadn't found out any information about Cecilia.
"Boss, the West Island Secret Realm has so many amazing Floating Shadows hidden inside. Can I go watch too?" Ever since learning about the West Island Secret Realm two days ago, Bebe had also been itching to go see it.
"I don't have that authority. This is the Bagshaw family's treasure." Linley then frowned and said, "But I don't quite understand something. This large collection of Floating Shadows of peerless experts fighting is absolutely priceless."
"But why is the Bagshaw family willing to make it public, letting Red Robe Elders and Hundred-Battle Champions watch?" Linley was puzzled.
Logically, these Floating Shadows should be kept secret.
Bebe rubbed his nose and muttered, "Maybe the Bagshaw family thinks they're strong enough to be generous. It's also a lure to attract experts to participate in the arena battles." Linley nodded slightly.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded. It was a black-armored guard.
"Elder." A black-armored guard bowed respectfully. "By order of the clan leader, please gather at Zhuoyang Peak on West Island tomorrow morning. You will meet the other Hundred-Battle Champions from the arena and enter the secret realm together!"
Linley's eyebrows rose.
"Haha, speak of the devil!" Bebe also laughed loudly. "Hey, can I go?"
The black-armored guard was momentarily speechless, then bowed and immediately withdrew.
"How boring." Bebe snorted. He was itching to go, but Linley had no way to take him in to watch. Linley smiled and comforted him: "Alright, don't worry. You'll have a chance to see it later."
"What are you talking about, so happily?" Delia walked out from inside the house.
"Ha!" Bebe suddenly jumped up in surprise. "I'm so stupid! Hundred-Battle Champions are qualified to enter the secret realm. I'm a Demigod, but I can also become a Demigod Hundred-Battle Champion!" Bebe was extremely excited. "Last time I only got a Ten-Battle Victory. I'll keep going!"
West Island, Leilo Island, Zhuoyang Peak.
Zhuoyang Peak was a very ordinary mountain, only a thousand meters high. At this moment, eight people had already gathered at the summit. Linley was the last to arrive. When Linley arrived and looked at the other seven—
"Three Gods, two Demigods, two Lesser Gods." Linley judged instantly. Those who could enter the secret realm were mostly Hundred-Battle Champions. Even Lesser God Hundred-Battle Champions were allowed to enter.
"It's him." Linley immediately noticed one person.
A lean figure, black robe, black long hair, carrying a war blade on his back. It was Lemy & Pylnosen!
At this moment, Lemy & Pylnosen was also staring at Linley, his eyes gleaming: "You're Linley, right?" Lemy had accepted the Bagshaw family's invitation and had inquired about the battle that day. He had also learned Linley's name.
Linley was a bit taken aback. When had this Lemy come to know him?
"I watched your fight with that Red Robe Elder that day." Lemy's chiseled face revealed a smile, his gaze like that of someone spotting the best prey, and he said forcefully, "Your strength is very strong! After we come out of the secret realm, I hope we can have a match!"
Linley was amused and exasperated.
This Lemy was really a madman, wanting to challenge any expert he met.
"Everyone's here?" At that moment, a familiar figure walked over. A tall figure with short red hair—it was Young Master Sekra of the Bagshaw family.
Sekra swept his gaze over the eight people, pausing slightly on Linley, then announced loudly: "Alright, I'll lead you all to the secret realm. Everyone, follow behind me. Remember, don't cause any trouble along the way. If you get killed by the guards in the secret realm, don't blame anyone."
"Sekra." Linley suddenly spoke.
Sekra's brow furrowed slightly. He had no good feelings toward Linley. But he still spoke: "Elder Linley, is there a problem?"
"I'd like to ask, how is Cecilia now?" Linley said directly. Asking this question to Sekra was very awkward, but Linley had no other choice, as he couldn't enter the clan leader's mansion.
For Hisset's sake, he had to disregard face and ask once.
"You're asking about that?" Sekra's brow furrowed. He could guess that Linley was definitely asking for Hisset. In Sekra's mind, Cecilia's dying words seemed to echo again: "When I slept with you, I was thinking of you as Hisset!"
Sekra's anger surged, and he couldn't help but snort coldly. But he knew Linley's strength; starting a fight would only bring humiliation upon himself.
"She… has left Leilo Island." Sekra said coldly.