Chapter 29: Joining Forces
Deep within the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range, a massive metallic life form in the shape of a black phoenix hovered in the air. This enormous metallic life form was like a small mountain suspended high above, and at that moment, many people were continuously entering it.
On the cliff face below the metallic life form, a large group of people had gathered, seeing off their brothers, relatives, and friends.
Among them, Tarosa, Dillin, O'Brien, Bebe, Delia, and a group of others all stood before Linley.
"Tarosa, Dillin, Olivia, be careful on your journey. When you reach Miluo City, if you have the chance, you must come visit. I'll miss you all," Linley said with a smile as he looked at the group before him. Since returning and telling Delia and the others that they could go into the city, Linley had only then learned...
Delia and Bebe were just going to the city to look around and would come back.
But Tarosa, Dillin, and Hisset were preparing to move directly into the city.
"Of course, definitely!" Dillin said with a tone full of apology. "Linley, actually, we originally wanted to stay here with you. But the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range is strictly controlled, and since we're not of your clan, we can't leave the Grand Canyon or wander around freely. So..."
"I understand, no need to say more." Linley smiled.
But inwardly, he couldn't help sighing.
In the war with the eight great clans, the clan had been enforcing strict security to prevent enemy spies from infiltrating. Unless there were special circumstances, clan members were not allowed to wander around freely. And since Tarosa and Dillin were not clan members, the patrol warriors kept an even stricter watch over them.
Tarosa and the others had nothing to do here and couldn't move about freely—it was like being in prison.
"This was my oversight." Linley said with an apologetic tone.
"Linley, don't say that." Tarosa quickly interjected. In the hearts of Tarosa and the others, Linley had once saved their lives, and they all felt grateful to him. "Linley, when you have time in the future, come to Miluo City and visit us."
"Definitely." Linley nodded.
"Then we'll set off now."
Tarosa, Hisset, Olivia, Dillin and his family... these people bid farewell to Linley and all flew toward the distant metallic life form. Delia and Bebe, however, remained by Linley's side.
"Linley." Delia looked at him.
Linley smiled at Delia and couldn't help pulling her into his embrace. He whispered softly, "Be careful on the road."
Delia felt a warmth flow through her heart. Leaning against Linley's chest, she softly acknowledged him, then lifted her head to look at him. "Linley, don't worry about me. I won't be in danger. But you—our clan is fighting so fiercely with the eight great clans. When you fight for the clan, remember... I'm waiting for you."
Linley looked at Delia, who was staring intently at him.
"Don't worry. Your husband is very strong." Linley smiled.
"Conceited." Delia laughed.
"Oh, I can't stand this anymore. I'm leaving first." Bebe suddenly shouted.
Linley couldn't help glancing at Bebe, who had a mischievous grin on his face.
"Alright. Delia, Bebe, be careful on your journey. I've already spoken with the elder responsible for escorting you this time." Linley said. Delia and Bebe nodded. They then bid farewell to Linley and flew toward the metallic life form above.
Linley looked up, watching as the enormous metallic life form in the high sky started up. Then, in an instant, it streaked across the sky like a blur and vanished beyond the horizon.
Loving her also meant not forcefully binding her—giving each other some space.
Linley turned and flew back toward the Bloodbath Valley. But along the way, he could clearly see the large number of patrol warriors on the Dragon Path. The patrol warriors had resolute expressions, carefully watching every spot.
"The atmosphere within the clan is too tense. The patrol warriors are constantly on guard, afraid that spies might have infiltrated." Linley sighed inwardly.
With such a tense atmosphere, it was no wonder Tarosa, Dillin, and the others couldn't stay.
"It's not their fault. After all, the clan is in a crisis. I wonder if it can survive these ten thousand years." Linley knew that he had killed two Seven Star Demons, but the enemy could also kill two Seven Star Demons from their side.
With such continuous killing...
What would the Four Divine Beasts Clan look like after ten thousand years?
Inside the quiet Grand Canyon of the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range, Linley was in his study, reading a book that introduced the Infernal Realm. Suddenly, he closed the book and looked out the window. "Delia and the others have been gone for over a month, but I always feel a bit uneasy in my heart."
Linley shook his head. "I'm overthinking things."
Based on the distance between Miluo City and the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range, the round trip would take three to four months. It was still a long time before Delia would return. Even if they encountered danger, the intelligence department would certainly send word back.
"This Grand Canyon is actually the quietest place in the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range." Looking out the window, Linley could see in the distance some members of the Yulan branch gathered on the grass, chatting and laughing, looking very relaxed.
The reason they were relaxed was because they were ignorant!
They didn't know the difficulties the clan was currently facing. The clan also didn't plan to reveal those matters to the lower and middle gods in advance. But the upper gods who knew about the clan's predicament were very worried and were all training hard.
They wanted to enter the Bloodbath Valley and fight for the clan!
"Elder Linley." Suddenly, a voice sounded from outside.
"Come in." Linley frowned and said. The visitor was wearing a blood-red robe, the standard uniform of the Bloodbath Valley warriors.
Someone from the Bloodbath Valley?
"What's the matter?" Linley asked.
"Elder Linley. The Grand Elder has ordered that Elder Linley report to the Azure Dragon Palace immediately." The blood-robed warrior said respectfully.
"The Grand Elder is summoning me?" Linley immediately stood up. Without saying a word, he walked outside.
The blood-robed warrior followed Linley. Then, the two of them soared into the air and flew out of the Grand Canyon. Linley's departure attracted the attention of many in the Grand Canyon.
"Whoosh, whoosh~" The cold wind howled, cutting against the body like sharp knives.
In the Bloodbath Valley, groups of Six Star Demons were gathered in small clusters, and occasionally a Seven Star Demon could be seen. Linley had a cold expression on his face as he sped toward the Azure Dragon Palace. Stepping inside, he went straight to the fifth floor.
Linley swept his gaze across the hall. The Grand Elder, dressed in a black robe and wearing a silver mask, sat high above the hall. Besides the Grand Elder, there was one other person—
The bald elder, Emanuel.
Elder Emanuel was standing respectfully to the side. Seeing this person, Linley felt a flicker of doubt in his heart. "He's here too?"
"Elder Linley." Emanuel smiled and nodded at Linley.
"Elder Emanuel." Linley returned the gesture. Then, Linley bowed respectfully: "Grand Elder!"
The Grand Elder above said coldly, "Linley. Our Four Divine Beasts Clan and the eight great clans are at war. The eight great clans sometimes send people along fixed routes, waiting for us to ambush them. Generally, the side that ambushes and attacks has a slight advantage."
Linley nodded.
Ambushing and assassinating—it was unexpected, so naturally, it had the advantage.
"How could our Four Divine Beasts Clan always resort to such ambush tactics?" the Grand Elder said coldly. "Therefore, our Four Divine Beasts Clan also often sends out teams to travel along fixed routes, waiting for the enemy to come and ambush us."
Linley sighed inwardly.
He knew the clan did this. Back then, Sourhous had led a team along a fixed route, waiting for the enemy to ambush them. That time... Sourhous had fought fiercely with the enemy, and his strongest divine clone had been killed.
"Again, it's for the clan's honor!" Linley sighed inwardly.
The Four Divine Beasts Clan, because of this clan honor, was unwilling to always ambush and take advantage. Their pride was evident.
"This time, I originally arranged for Emanuel to lead a team out along the fixed route," the Grand Elder said. "But Emanuel is doing this mission for the first time. He didn't feel confident... so he recommended you to me."
Linley was stunned.
What kind of talk was that? A mission assigned to Emanuel could be passed on to someone else?
"Grand Elder. What do you mean by recommending me?" Linley said with some annoyance, and he couldn't help glancing at Emanuel beside him.
Emanuel quickly smiled and said, "Linley, I know you're very powerful. So... I recommended to the Grand Elder that you and I do this mission together."
"Together?" Linley was taken aback.
The Grand Elder nodded as well. "Yes. Normally, when our clan does this mission, only one elder leads the team. Occasionally, two will go. This time, I want you and Emanuel to go together."
Linley glanced at Emanuel, still feeling a bit dissatisfied in his heart.
After all, this mission had originally been Emanuel's.
"Linley, you haven't gone out for two years. It's about time you went out again," the Grand Elder said.
Linley felt helpless. Going out to fight wasn't the problem, but the way this mission had come about was frustrating.
"What, you're unwilling?" the Grand Elder asked.
Emanuel sighed and said, "Linley, if you don't want to go with me, then I'll go alone and fight the enemy. Even if I go alone, I won't let the eight great clans have an easy time. At worst, I'll lose my water-type divine clone."
Linley glanced at Emanuel.
Could he refuse at this point?
"Grand Elder, I am willing to go." Linley spoke.
Emanuel's eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Grand Elder. I have one more matter." Linley said.
"Speak." the Grand Elder said.
Linley said respectfully, "Grand Elder. Normally, when our clan does this mission, we send out a small team, just one Seven Star Demon. I was thinking... this time, we could disguise ourselves a bit."
"Disguise ourselves?" The Grand Elder looked at Linley with confusion. "Linley, after what happened last time, I think the experts of the eight great clans won't be careless enough to let a middle god get close again."
Linley smiled. That kind of tactic could only be used once.
"Grand Elder. What I mean is, Elder Emanuel and his team will ride a metallic life form ahead. I'll take just one upper god—two people total—and ride a metallic life form, pretending to be ordinary travelers moving forward."
Linley smiled. "An upper god and a middle god traveling through the Infernal Realm—this is very common and won't arouse suspicion from the enemy's intelligence personnel."
"Oh?" The Grand Elder began to understand.
"Elder Emanuel will be ahead, and I'll be behind, keeping some distance between us. The enemy originally thinks there's only Elder Emanuel, so they'll send fewer people. When they ambush Elder Emanuel, I can appear unexpectedly." Linley smiled.
Emanuel's face turned ugly.
Linley was using him as 'bait.'
"Normally, the clan sends out a small team. This time, the enemy won't be suspicious." Linley said.
"Alright, let's do it this way." The Grand Elder nodded.
Emanuel couldn't argue against it.
"Prepare yourselves and set off immediately." The Grand Elder said.
"Yes, Grand Elder." Linley and Emanuel both bowed. Then, they prepared to leave.
"Linley." The Grand Elder suddenly spoke.
Linley turned around in confusion and looked at the Grand Elder. A voice entered his mind: "Linley. You are still only a middle god and have a lot of room for improvement. If you truly encounter danger this time, immediately use Sovereign power. Your life is far more precious than a drop of Sovereign power."
Linley felt a warmth in his heart, but also some confusion.
The Grand Elder had arranged this mission, seeming to favor Emanuel, yet now he was giving such advice.
"Yes, Grand Elder."
Linley didn't think too much about it and simply responded. He then left the Azure Dragon Palace together with Emanuel.
"Linley. This time, we'll be joining forces. I hope that during the battle, we won't be suspicious of each other." Emanuel sent a divine message to Linley. Linley glanced at him, smiled, and replied via divine message, "Naturally."
With that, Linley flew directly toward his own Thirteenth Squad.
Emanuel watched Linley leave, gave a cold smile, and then flew toward his own squad.