Chapter 36: The Decision
Linley looked carefully. In the main hall on the first floor of the Four Divine Beasts Palace, there was actually no one.
"Linley, come to the second floor." A voice sounded beside Linley's ear.
"Patriarch." Linley recognized the voice as belonging to Gislason. He immediately entered the side hall next to the main hall, where the stairs were located. Stepping onto the stairs, Linley arrived at the second floor of the main palace.
The second floor was noticeably much smaller than the first-floor hall.
A massive round table was placed in the center of the hall, and at that moment, six people were seated around it. Of these six, Linley only recognized two: the Patriarch and the Grand Elder.
"Judging by their attire and auras, the other woman at the round table should be the Patriarch of the Vermillion Bird clan." Linley identified them one by one.
The Azure Dragon clan, Vermillion Bird clan, White Tiger clan, and Black Tortoise clan—the four clans all had vastly different appearances and temperaments. At a glance, Linley could tell that among the six seated at the round table, the Azure Dragon clan had two members, the Black Tortoise clan had two, and the White Tiger and Vermillion Bird clans each had one.
"Linley, have a seat." Suddenly, the woman from the Vermillion Bird clan said with a faint smile.
The others also smiled at Linley. Gislason laughed and said, "Linley, don't stand on ceremony. We're meeting you here to keep things casual. Just sit down over there."
"Yes." Linley couldn't help but feel a warmth in his heart.
Linley knew that the people before him were the highest echelons of the Four Divine Beasts clan, and they were also the children of the original four Sovereigns.
"Linley, we called you here to ask about that Pussro." Gislason began.
"Pussro?" Linley was startled.
The matter of him and Pussro had already reached the clan's knowledge so quickly.
A man dressed in a white robe with peculiar markings on it, giving the robe a tiger-skin-like appearance, had a cold expression. He now showed a slight smile as well: "That Pussro possesses a Sovereign artifact, but we've never heard of him..."
Linley chuckled inwardly.
A few hundred years ago, Pussro was just a pitiful little cat in Alequin's arms. Who would know him?
"Linley, this Pussro is a Sovereign's emissary, that much should be correct, right?" A burly man, even larger than the members of the Barbary clan, said in a deep voice. Linley knew that those two were the leaders of the Black Tortoise clan.
"He is indeed a Sovereign's emissary, having become one probably only a few hundred years ago." Linley replied.
Around the round table, the top figures of the Four Divine Beasts clan exchanged glances, joy evident in their eyes.
"Which Sovereign?" Gislason quickly asked.
"I'm not sure about that. But he is a Fire-type Sovereign." Linley said.
The Grand Elder, seated beside Gislason, also pressed on: "Linley, do you know if Pussro saved you because of his relationship with you, or because he was following orders from that Sovereign?"
"Actually... I have some doubts about that too." Linley said.
"Oh?"
The six of them looked at Linley, listening intently.
Although Linley didn't understand what these six wanted to discuss with him, some things didn't need to be kept secret. He said, "In truth, Pussro and I have only met once before. While we can be considered friends, our bond isn't deep."
"It's understandable that he saved me on a whim, but he went so far as to threaten Bro and the other major clans, saying they must not target me again." Linley smiled.
The six around the table frowned upon hearing this.
"So he has a connection with you?" Gislason was also troubled. "It seems he wasn't sent by a Sovereign to protect Linley. There's no significant relationship between Linley and the Sovereign."
"That's hard to say." The White Tiger clan Patriarch countered. "That Pussro dared to threaten them, so maybe..."
"Alright, don't get your hopes up too high." The Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch sighed. "If a Sovereign truly intended to protect Linley, they would have directly sent someone to deliver a Sovereign's decree to the eight major clans. One decree... and the eight clans wouldn't dare touch Linley. Why go through all this trouble? Clearly, Pussro saving Linley has little to do with a Sovereign."
"Alas..." Gislason couldn't help but let out a low sigh.
The expressions of the others also soured.
Seeing this, Linley was inwardly stunned. But listening to their words, he began to understand: "So they were hoping that I had some connection to a Sovereign." Considering the clan's situation, Linley fully grasped it.
Ever since the four ancestors died, the Four Divine Beasts clan had lost their Sovereign backing. Even the eight major clans dared to bully them.
When they learned that a Sovereign's emissary had saved Linley, they hoped... that the emissary had been ordered by a Sovereign to protect him.
If that were the case, there might be a chance that the Sovereign would help the Four Divine Beasts clan for Linley's sake.
"Their hopes are dashed." Linley thought to himself.
"Alright, everyone, don't lose heart. At least we have a Sovereign's emissary as an ally." The Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch said with a faint smile. "And the possibility that the emissary was sent by a Sovereign isn't completely ruled out."
Linley looked at the six around the table, feeling a pang of sorrow.
When had the Four Divine Beasts clan fallen to such a state?
These Patriarchs were simply hoping for a Sovereign to stand behind them! But with the four ancestors dead, what other Sovereign would bother to help the Four Divine Beasts clan?
"Linley, I want to ask: are you a Demigod or a God?" The Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch smiled at him. "To be honest, I don't sense any God-level aura from you at all."
Linley glanced at the Patriarch.
Several others had already asked this question.
"Linley is a Demigod." Gislason quickly said. "This is a secret. Just keep it among yourselves and don't spread it." Since those present were the top figures of the Four Divine Beasts clan, it was fine for them to know.
"So you really are a Demigod? Haha, how did a Demigod like you kill a Seven-Star Fiend?"
The atmosphere in the hall grew lively again, and everyone began discussing Linley.
Faced with the inquiries of the several Patriarchs, Linley could only give a general account.
"Gravity Space?" The White Tiger clan Patriarch raised his sword-like brows in astonishment. "You're saying that a simple Gravity Space of yours can prevent Gods from flying within it?" Gravity Space was ordinarily a common technique.
Linley had only learned it through the guidance of the violet crystal beast.
"Gravity Space?"
Suddenly, the Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch exclaimed, staring intently at Linley and asking urgently, "Linley, can your Gravity Space change the direction of gravity?" The Patriarch's surprise puzzled the others.
"Quick, tell me." The Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch urged.
Linley was baffled. Was such a simple matter worth this level of agitation?
"Yes." Linley nodded in acknowledgment.
"Haha..."
The Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch burst into laughter, overjoyed. Her laughter left the other Patriarchs confused. She looked at Linley and said, "Linley, your Gravity Space must have been learned in the Violet Crystal Mountains."
Linley was taken aback.
How did she know?
Seeing Linley's shock, the Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch smiled smugly.
"Big sister, please tell us what's so amusing." The White Tiger clan Patriarch urged, and the others also looked at her.
The Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch beamed: "Everyone, Linley's unique Gravity Space is almost impossible to comprehend through self-cultivation alone. When my mother was alive, she once spoke of a Sovereign of Destruction!"
"A Sovereign of Destruction?" The others' eyes lit up.
Linley also stared at her.
"Yes." The Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch nodded. "This Sovereign of Destruction was born with the ability to control gravitational changes and influence souls. His power was immense... My mother said that this Sovereign of Destruction is the Sovereign of the Violet Continent!"
Everyone was stunned.
Linley was also dumbfounded.
"Aside from this Sovereign of Destruction, no one else should be able to use Linley's Gravity Space." The Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch said confidently. "Oh, and I heard that this Sovereign of Destruction also has a son. Aside from the Sovereign and his son, probably no one else can do it."
Linley was left speechless.
"Sovereign? Son?"
Scenes flashed through Linley's mind like lightning, and many things he hadn't understood suddenly became clear. "Could that violet crystal beast be the Sovereign's son?"
Instantly, the several Patriarchs of the Four Divine Beasts clan all looked at Linley.
Like drowning people grasping at a lifeline!
They were all proud and considered themselves favored by heaven. But after the four Sovereigns fell, they realized that the Four Divine Beasts clan had instantly fallen into a perilous situation, on the verge of collapse at any moment.
They longed for a Sovereign to step forward and help them! But none ever did!
"Linley!" Gislason's face was full of smiles. "Do you know the Violet Sovereign?"
"No, I don't." Linley shook his head.
"You don't know him?" The Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch laughed. "You learned your Gravity Space in the Violet Crystal Mountains, right?"
"That's correct." Linley nodded.
"Then that's it. The Violet Crystal Mountains are the birthplace and lair of that Violet Sovereign!" The Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch exclaimed in admiration. "This Sovereign's strength is immense. If he were to step forward and say just one word, those eight major clans would be so frightened they'd flee immediately."
Linley was still reeling. So the Violet Crystal Mountains were actually the habitat of a Sovereign.
"My Gravity Space was taught to me by a violet crystal beast named Reis Crystal." Linley quickly added.
"Reis Crystal?"
The several Patriarchs all shook their heads, indicating they had never heard of him.
"I haven't heard of him either." The Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch smiled. "But it sounds like he might be the Sovereign's child."
"This Reis Crystal is a Commander of the Abyssal Realm. Don't you know him?" Linley asked in confusion.
"Commander of the Abyssal Realm?" The six around the table were taken aback.
"Becoming a Commander of the Abyssal Realm requires participating in planar wars." Gislason said. "Our Four Divine Beasts clan doesn't get involved in that, and we don't pay much attention to the Abyssal Realm. Besides, Commander positions change frequently. Who knows who holds them?"
Linley nodded.
"Linley, you can go back now." Gislason smiled.
"Yes, go back. From today onward, you don't need to get involved in the Blood Battle Valley matters. Focus on your training and become a God first." The Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch also smiled.
Although Linley still had some doubts, he bowed: "Yes." Then he left alone.
After Linley left.
"Haha..." Gislason laughed.
"Haha..." The others also burst into laughter, their faces full of smiles.
The White Tiger clan Patriarch sighed emotionally: "After all these years, our Four Divine Beasts clan has finally seen a glimmer of hope!"
"Yes, finally a glimmer of hope!" Gislason also sighed.
Given the former glory of the Four Divine Beasts clan, none of them were willing to remain forever holed up in the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountains. Although the Lord of the Azure Prefecture had mediated an agreement with the eight major clans, forbidding them from attacking the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountains.
But that only preserved the clan's roots.
As for restoring their glory...
Unless they could produce an invincible Paragon God, or gain the support of a Sovereign.
"The Violet Sovereign." The Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch smiled. "In the past ten thousand years, we haven't seen a single shred of hope. Now, we've finally seen a little... This Violet Sovereign taught Linley such a unique technique, so their relationship must be close."
"Big brother." The Vermillion Bird clan Patriarch smiled at Gislason. "You must protect and take good care of Linley. We'll rely on him to connect with the Violet Sovereign."
"Don't worry."
Gislason also laughed. "Linley will definitely not come to any harm."