Chapter 32: The Might of a Sovereign
"Are there really those projection images?" Linley couldn't help but feel tempted.
Ever since learning that the so-called viewing of projection images of experts battling was a trap, Linley had doubted whether the Hantisi Castle truly had any projection images. But now, hearing the tone of Castle Lord Mosi, it seemed they really did exist.
"Whether they exist or not, won't you know by going to see?" Mosi said mysteriously.
Within a certain secret, spacious hall deep beneath the Hantisi Castle, many bookshelves lined both sides of the hall. However, what was placed on these shelves were not books, but fist-sized crystal balls.
Linley and Mosi were inside the hall.
"There are a total of 1628 crystal balls here, and each crystal ball contains a projection image." Mosi spoke eloquently. "At the same time, the crystal ball projection images also contain introductions, explaining the process of the battle, techniques, and so on."
Linley looked at the large number of crystal balls on the shelves, and his eyes couldn't help but light up. These were all projection images of battles between supreme experts.
"In this first secret chamber, many are projection images of battles between peak Seven Star Fiends, as well as battles between Infernal Realm Asuras and Abyssal Overlords. As for projection images of Sovereigns making a move..." Mosi pointed to a corner of the hall. In the corner stood a cylindrical pillar. At the top of this pillar was a gem that emitted light. "The projection images of Sovereigns are inside that pillar. The pillar is hollow and can be opened like a door."
Linley couldn't help but take a deep breath to calm himself.
Good heavens. Projection images of Sovereigns making a move? Regarding Sovereigns, he had only heard of them in legends. He had never seen one in reality. It was said that the dignity of a Sovereign was inviolable. But who knew exactly how powerful a Sovereign was?
"I'll start by watching the battles of Seven Star Fiends." Linley walked towards the bookshelf.
Only when he got closer did Linley notice that the surface of each crystal ball placed on the shelf actually had writing on it, with two names.
"This is to make it easier to find the projection image you want to see." Mosi walked over and said with a smile.
"I understand." Linley's gaze swept across the dozens of crystal balls on this shelf, and suddenly his eyes landed on one crystal ball. The writing on that crystal ball was – 'Purple Blood Fiend' versus 'Iron Leaf Fiend'!
"Purple Blood Fiend?" Linley immediately approached it.
Using a crystal ball imbued with the 'Projection Art', one could completely project the internal image into the air for people to watch, allowing many to view it simultaneously. If watching alone, one could extend their divine sense into it, allowing for extremely fast viewing.
Linley immediately extended his divine sense into the crystal ball—
On a desolate desert, there were roughly several thousand people standing scattered about, while in midair, two people were facing each other. One was dressed entirely in black scale armor, with long black hair that shimmered with a blue light.
The other, in a purple robe and with purple hair, held a purple longsword. Linley had long seen this familiar figure before.
"It really is him. The Purple Blood Fiend!" When Linley had previously probed his divine sense into the Purple Blood Softsword, he had also discovered many images. The protagonist of those images was invariably this figure. Only today did Linley confirm it one hundred percent.
"That longsword. The Purple Blood Softsword!"
Only today did Linley fully confirm that the original owner of his Purple Blood Softsword was indeed the legendary 'Purple Blood Fiend'.
The entire battle scene had no sound, only this segment of the image was recorded.
Both the Iron Leaf Fiend and the Purple Blood Fiend were experts in speed. Linley only saw the two experts instantly transform into two blurry afterimages. Wherever the Iron Leaf Fiend passed through space, it produced a strange, arcing spatial ripple. When viewed together, those arcing spatial ripples actually resembled a blooming flower.
An eerie purple light flashed continuously.
"Zzzt!"
A purple light shot into the sky. The flower of spatial ripples split in two, creating a spatial tear.
Only then did the figure of the Iron Leaf Fiend become clear, falling directly from midair. The Purple Blood Fiend's expression, however, showed no change at all.
"Both of their speeds are terrifyingly fast. The Purple Blood Fiend's sword is far stronger than Rilmont's or Paslow's. The sword strike leaves no trace, and its power is immense, with no need to build up momentum." Linley could barely discern some of the mysteries.
From the projection image alone, the Purple Blood Fiend's material attack was terrifying! It surpassed the Seven Star Fiends Linley had seen.
After the projection image, there was some introduction regarding this battle.
"This introduction is quite detailed." Linley praised after reading it. The introduction even explained the techniques the two had used in detail. It was only then that Linley learned: "So the Purple Blood Fiend's strongest aspect is the Way of Destruction."
Linley opened his eyes.
"How was it?" Mosi, sitting on a chair in the distance, looked over with a smile. "There are many Seven Star Fiends, but those with weaker strength have fused four types of profound mysteries of the laws, while the strong ones can match Infernal Realm Asuras and Abyssal Overlords."
"Very powerful." After reading the introduction following that battle, Linley understood the Purple Blood Fiend's terror.
If he himself were to encounter the Purple Blood Fiend, he would probably be finished too.
"The Purple Blood Fiend has a great reputation. His strength is enough to rival ordinary Infernal Realm Asuras and Abyssal Overlords. His achievements in the Way of Destruction are extremely high. Moreover, he is a soul mutant. Truly powerful." Mosi shook his head and sighed. "It's a pity that such a stunningly talented figure, over ten thousand years ago, went to a material plane and was killed."
Linley knew in his heart that this Purple Blood Fiend was killed in his own homeland.
"Could it be that Lord Beirut killed him?" Linley mused.
Linley didn't dwell on it and immediately continued to watch the projection images of other experts' battles. There were the Purple Blood Fiend, the Winged Devil Fiend, the Blue Robe Fiend, the Silver Moon Fiend...
Apart from these, there were also projection images of battles between supreme experts from other Higher Planes and Divine Planes.
Projection images of battles between experts at the level of Infernal Realm Asuras and Abyssal Overlords.
"There's even a projection image of Reisgem's battle." Linley watched the battles of others, but he didn't recognize almost any of them. Seeing Reisgem's, he was naturally delighted.
The 'Reisgem' in the projection image was in human form, looking like a very handsome youth, very similar to Bebe. However, this Reisgem was covered in purple crystal armor, and he fought entirely with his hands and feet.
Clean, crisp, and efficient. The 'Gravity Space' that shimmered with purple light was far stronger than Linley's.
"So strong." Linley was dumbfounded.
Another Abyssal Overlord fought Reisgem, but the battle was one-sided.
Linley had watched nearly a thousand projection images and finally walked to the cylindrical pillar in the corner of the hall. He pulled open the pillar's cover, and inside were three crystal balls.
"These three crystal balls, watching one is enough." Mosi finally stood up at this point and walked over with a smile. "These three crystal balls are all of Sovereigns dealing with Highgods, and the methods used are more or less the same."
"I know." Linley took a deep breath and extended his divine sense into one of the crystal balls.
On a vast, boundless ocean, a middle-aged man in a black robe stood in midair. He was looking up and laughing loudly, but tears were streaming down his face. Only his mouth could be seen moving, as if he were saying something.
Strangely—
In the sky above the ocean, a blurry, giant face suddenly appeared. This giant face was entirely formed from gathered elemental energy.
The middle-aged man in the black robe immediately pointed angrily at the giant face, speaking incessantly.
The giant face also showed a hint of annoyance on its expression. Its mouth moved, and the middle-aged man's body trembled, then fell directly from midair. The giant face then vanished.
"That's it?" Linley saw the introduction at the end of the projection image. "This man in the black robe was still an Asura of the Infernal Realm?"
Linley withdrew his divine sense from the crystal ball, his mind still dazed.
"That giant face, was that a Sovereign?" Linley turned his head to look at Mosi.
Mosi nodded and said, "Yes."
"That Sovereign killed an Infernal Realm Asura just by moving his mouth?" Linley found it hard to believe.
Mosi exclaimed in admiration, "The will of a Sovereign cannot be defied. Even someone as strong as an Asura, a Sovereign can kill a Highgod with just a single thought. In front of a Sovereign, no matter how strong a Highgod is, they have no power to resist."
Linley couldn't help but shudder.
Without becoming a Sovereign, Linley couldn't understand why a Sovereign was so terrifying.
A single thought could kill an Asura?
"The might of a Sovereign cannot be resisted." Linley thought to himself.
Compared to the countless gods, Sovereigns were far above. They could easily kill any Highgod.
"Sovereigns are still quite distant from us. As long as a Sovereign isn't angered, they won't lower themselves to make a move." Mosi said with a smile.
Linley nodded slightly. Having watched so many projection images, Linley's heart was deeply shaken. After calming his emotions, he said, "Lord Mosi, I've troubled you for so long. It's time for me to return. Thank you for this."
Mosi also nodded with a smile.
Linley suddenly remembered something and said with an awkward smile, "Lord Mosi, there's one more thing."
"Oh?" Mosi frowned slightly.
"That day during the battle on Leilu Island, I promised Bowker that I would serve as a Red Robe Elder for a hundred years, and without his permission, I couldn't leave Leilu Island. However, I am truly homesick and want to return early..." Linley said directly.
The next day, at Linley's residence within the Bagshaw family on Leilu Island. At this moment, Linley and Yulai were walking to the entrance of the mansion.
"Elder." The two guards at the mansion entrance immediately saluted.
Linley instructed, "Go to the residential area for the island's guardian warriors and bring Tarosa, Dilin, and Dilin's two sons here." This guard had been there once before and knew very well where Tarosa lived.
"Yes, Elder." The guard immediately left.
"Mr. Yulai, I'll have to trouble you this time." Linley turned his head and smiled.
"No trouble at all." Yulai was also very polite.
Linley had returned to Leilu Island from the underwater Hantisi Castle, bringing Yulai back. Yulai had come back under the orders of Castle Lord Mosi to command Bowker to release Linley and the others.
"Linley, I'll go find Patriarch Bowker first then." Yulai immediately departed.
Just as Linley walked into the mansion, he saw Bebe, Delia, Olivia, Hise, and the others all coming to greet him.
"Boss, you said we're leaving?" Bebe was the first to run over.
Linley looked at Bebe, Delia, these loved ones of his. Although he hadn't seen them for just a day or two, during that time he had walked the line between life and death and learned many secrets.
"Yes, we're leaving this place." Linley smiled and rubbed Bebe's head.
"Delia." Linley turned his head to look at Delia.
"If that Castle Lord Mosi hadn't given face to the purple beast, I would probably have been finished." Thinking of this, a shudder ran through him. Linley couldn't help but pull Delia fiercely into his arms, holding her tightly.
"Linley?" Delia asked softly. She could also feel that Linley's emotions seemed off.
"I missed you." Linley said softly. Delia's face couldn't help but redden. She whispered, "Olivia, Hise, and the others are still here." Linley released Delia. Seeing her shyness, he couldn't help but laugh heartily.
Sekra was walking along the street. When he reached the entrance of Linley's mansion, he heard bursts of laughter coming from inside.
"Oh? That Linley is back?" Sekra recognized Linley's voice. Then he sneered, "Still acting arrogant with me. Now he's just a dog of my Bagshaw family, isn't he?" As a young master of the family, Sekra knew that those Red Robe Elders would all be soul-controlled.
Sekra then directly entered Linley's mansion.
The guards at the mansion entrance naturally didn't dare to stop Sekra.
Linley was chatting and laughing with Delia, Bebe, Olivia, and the others.
"Linley." A voice suddenly rang out. Linley turned his head to look. The person coming was none other than Sekra.
Sekra slightly raised his chin, sneered, and flipped his hand to take out the Bloody Leilu Token. "See this?"
Linley was puzzled.
"The Bloody Leilu Token. What about it?" Linley asked, confused. This time, Castle Lord Mosi had given him a lot of face, fulfilling all his requests. Linley didn't want to start a conflict with this Sekra again.
"Come here!" Sekra said coldly.
Linley frowned and walked over.
"Kneel down." Sekra commanded.
Linley's face darkened.
"In the name of the Bloody Leilu Token, I command you to kneel down." Sekra shouted sternly. "Hurry up." In the Bagshaw family, the controlled Red Robe Elders first obeyed Castle Lord Mosi, and secondly, they had to obey the Bloody Leilu Token.
Sekra now wanted to thoroughly humiliate Linley. As for killing Linley?
He wouldn't kill him. In his view, Linley would be a good dog for their family. How could he bear to kill him?
"Sekra, what are you doing?" Linley was utterly confused.
"Dare to disobey the order?" Sekra was furious. No one who had been soul-controlled had ever dared to disobey the Bloody Leilu Token.
"You have a problem with your brain, don't you?" Bebe immediately shouted angrily.
"Sekra!" Suddenly, an angry shout rang out.
Sekra turned his head to look. He saw his father, 'Bowker', walking over together with Yulai. Sekra quickly walked over and said angrily, "Father, this Linley actually disobeyed my order. He should be severely punished."
"Shut up!" Bowker was so angry his face turned red.
Sekra was stunned.
Bowker quickly turned his head and squeezed out a smile towards Linley: "Mr. Linley, during these few days here, my hospitality has been lacking. I truly apologize." Hearing these words, Sekra was dumbfounded.
"Father, how can you..." Sekra didn't understand.
How could someone who was soul-controlled and completely loyal be treated with such courtesy?
"You shut up!" Bowker roared angrily.
Ever since Yulai brought the order, after carefully discussing it with Yulai, Bowker understood. This Linley's identity was not ordinary. If he were merely a member of the Four Divine Beasts clan, he would absolutely not have made his ancestor, Lord Mosi, withdraw his hand.
"Father, I..." Sekra felt bewildered.
"Slap." Bowker suddenly slapped Sekra hard across the face. "I told you to shut up!" This slap from Bowker finally woke Sekra up. Sekra immediately stood to the side, not uttering another word.
"Mr. Bowker, there's no need for this." Linley now guessed that Sekra must have thought he was a soul-controlled person.
Bowker squeezed out a smile: "Linley, my son is sometimes too arrogant. It's only right to teach him a lesson. Linley, I've already learned from Yulai. Ah, you haven't even stayed a few days here and you're already leaving. What a pity."
"Can't be helped. I really do have matters to attend to." Linley said.
"Well then, I won't keep you any longer, Linley. Mr. Linley, you are free to leave at any time now... Of course, if you ever come back here again, my Leilu Island will always welcome you." Bowker said warmly.
"Certainly, certainly." Linley smiled.
Linley suddenly turned his head to look. He saw Tarosa, Dilin, and Dilin's two sons walking in. When Tarosa and Dilin saw Linley, they were both overjoyed and ashamed, their emotions complex.
They wanted to say something, but seeing Bowker present, they couldn't say much for the moment.
"Haha, Dilin! Tarosa!" Linley immediately smiled and went to greet them. "Don't say much. Everything is in the past!"
"Yes, everything is in the past." Tarosa and Dilin had tears glistening in their eyes. Having been soul-controlled and now regaining their freedom, this freedom regained after being lost moved even the toughest of men. And they knew that their regained freedom was all because of Linley.
"Haha, let's go. Time to set off!"
Linley gazed into the southeast. "Bluefire Prefecture... time to go back!"