Chapter 8: Where Are We Going?
“But…” Olivia said bitterly, “Even though I killed all those people, there were too many of them, and I had two children, Daya and Reya, to protect. With so many enemies, I could block two or three, but I couldn’t stop the rest! It was clear that the one named Boning gave the order—to kill me and both children! During the slaughter, Reya died! With my strength, I could barely protect Daya.”
Linley sighed inwardly.
Even with his sudden surge in power, Olivia was alone with two burdens, while the enemy was a group of Highgods. Once they surrounded him, it was already impressive that Olivia could protect one son.
“Olivia, in the months that passed, didn’t you have time to get the children into a city?” Linley couldn’t help asking.
If he placed the children in a city, wouldn’t they be safe?
“I didn’t have time.” Olivia said bitterly, “I thought about it. If I were alone, my flying speed would definitely get me to a city in time. But I had to bring the two brothers with me. They hadn’t even reached the God level—they were only at the Saint level. Their speed was too slow. Carrying them also affected my speed. Besides, Dina and I originally lived in a valley. With our strength, bandits wouldn’t dare provoke us. But from that valley to the nearest city, it would take at least a year or two of flying.”
Linley sighed inwardly.
Olivia’s speed was simply too slow. Before successfully refining the divine spark, Olivia was only an ordinary Highgod. With two sons in tow, how fast could he go?
“After killing those people, I finally made it to the city with my son. I settled Daya in an inn, then went alone, charging back to the Yushi Mountain Range in Tianshan Prefecture!” Olivia said in a low voice.
“Tianshan Prefecture?” Linley frowned.
The Infernal Realm’s Bloodstained Continent was infinitely vast. Tianshan Prefecture was located in the central region of the Bloodstained Continent, tens of billions of miles away from Youlan Prefecture.
“Yes, that man named Boning was from Tianshan Prefecture.” Olivia nodded. “Back then, Boning was arrogant. While taking Dina away, he even said to me… if I had the guts, I could find him in the Yushi Mountain Range of Tianshan Prefecture. He’d be waiting.”
Linley nodded slightly, imagining Boning’s arrogance.
“The city I stayed in wasn’t far from the Yushi Mountain Range in Tianshan Prefecture. After fusing two types of Highgod divine power, my speed skyrocketed. In just one year, I reached the Yushi Mountain Range. Through discreet investigation, I learned that this Boning was actually the son of the Tianshan Prefecture’s Prefect.” Olivia sneered. “Even if he was the Prefect’s son, I didn’t care. I just wanted to kill Boning and rescue my wife, Dina.”
Linley understood that Olivia was nearly insane at that point.
“This Boning was unruly and had a poor relationship with his father. He didn’t stay with his father but built a castle in the Yushi Mountain Range.” Olivia said grimly. “I sneaked in, intending to find Boning and kill him. Indeed, after refining the divine spark, I was stronger than him. I almost killed him…”
“But then, he had a drop of Sovereign power!”
Olivia smiled bitterly.
Linley understood. That drop of Sovereign power was probably a life-saving gift from the Tianshan Prefect to his son.
“Using Sovereign power, he far surpassed me. I had no choice but to flee. At that moment, my wife Dina came out to stop Boning, threatening him with her own life. Boning was distracted. In that brief instant, I slipped away.” Olivia said bitterly. “After that failed battle, I realized I couldn’t kill him alone. So I had to leave in defeat. I went back, took Daya, and came to Youlan Prefecture. I thought I’d rest quietly here, Linley, and cultivate in peace.”
Flying all the way back to Youlan Prefecture.
Even though Olivia’s strength had greatly increased, carrying his son still took over a decade to get here. The child Daya, once a toddler, had grown into a youth.
Linley now understood why Daya was so cold and had a murderous look in his eyes.
Clearly… Daya had grown up in hatred.
“I realized that after that battle, if Boning still had Sovereign power, he might stay in the Yushi Mountain Range without fear. If he didn’t, he’d probably worry about me coming back to kill him and would take Dina away. His father is a Prefect. Even if I cultivated for thousands or tens of thousands of years, I couldn’t avenge my son or get Dina back!”
Having lost all hope, Olivia only wanted to cultivate in peace. But then he heard Reno and the others talk about Linley reaching the Paragon level…
“I had given up hope. But just now, I heard that you, Linley, have become a Paragon.” Olivia looked at Linley.
Olivia had long known that Linley was strong, reaching the Seven Star Demon level. But since Boning had the Tianshan Prefect behind him, Olivia hadn’t told Linley at first. He didn’t want to drag Linley into it.
“Tianshan Prefecture?”
Linley nodded slightly.
Olivia’s sorrow and suffering made Linley sigh deeply. His wife taken, one son killed, and he couldn’t even fight back or take revenge.
“Olivia, don’t worry. I’ll go with you.” Linley nodded.
“Thank you.” Olivia was grateful when Linley agreed, then quickly asked, “Linley, when do we leave?”
“Well…” Linley hesitated.
“How about we leave tomorrow?” Olivia was impatient. The hatred of losing his wife and son gnawed at his heart like worms. Once the flame of revenge ignited, Olivia didn’t want to delay any longer.
“Tomorrow?” Linley frowned.
Tomorrow, Linley had planned to go to the Divine Light Plane!
In truth, after Gesresen’s account, Linley felt some wariness about the trip to the Divine Light Plane. He feared that the exalted Light Sovereign might disregard his status and kill him. But there was no other way to save his mother—only this path: through the Light Sovereign!
So, even if it was dangerous, Linley had to go.
Linley had originally planned to send his Earth-type divine clone to the Divine Light Plane.
Although it was only an Earth-type divine clone, the clone’s soul was also mutated and contained Willpower. Though the Willpower wasn’t as strong as his main body’s, an Earth-type divine clone’s strength was close to that of a Paragon.
Linley’s main body had the strongest Willpower, surpassing a Paragon.
His Earth, Wind, and Water clones had slightly weaker Willpower, making them slightly weaker than a Paragon. If the divine clone went, even if the Light Sovereign disregarded his dignity, Linley would at most lose an Earth-type divine clone. He would still be a Paragon-level expert.
But now, Olivia’s request put Linley in a difficult position.
Indeed, Linley could send his Earth-type divine clone to the Divine Light Plane and go to Tianshan Prefecture with his main body.
But… if both bodies displayed Paragon-level strength in the Divine Light Plane and the Infernal Realm simultaneously, anyone with a bit of reasoning would realize that Linley was a soul mutant!
Because Paragon-level experts usually specialized. For example, one divine clone might be a Paragon, but the others wouldn’t be. It was almost impossible. Having one divine clone reach Paragon was terrifying enough. Having two divine clones both reach Paragon was simply inconceivable.
If Linley’s two bodies both showed Paragon-level strength in two different planes, it would be strange if no one got suspicious and investigated!
The secret of soul mutation must not be exposed for now!
“Linley, do you have something to do?” Olivia asked.
“I…” Linley hesitated.
“If you have something important, my matter isn’t urgent. It can wait.” Olivia quickly said.
But Linley knew that with his son killed and wife taken, Olivia probably thought about revenge and getting his wife back every moment.
“Boss, boss, the clan leader is here.” Bebe’s voice came from outside.
“Clan leader.” Linley turned to look. Gesresen strode in, looking somewhat anxious.
“Clan leader.” Linley quickly stood to greet him. Beside him, Olivia also dried his tears and stood up.
Entering the room, Gesresen quickly said, “Linley, I sent someone to deliver your message to Lord Beirut as you instructed. Lord Beirut’s response came immediately. He told me… absolutely do not go to the Divine Light Plane!”
Linley was stunned.
“Divine Light Plane?” Olivia also realized that Linley’s hesitation earlier was probably about going to the Divine Light Plane.
“Why did Lord Beirut say that?” Linley asked, puzzled.
“Lord Beirut said that your Fire-type divine clone was in the Yulan Continent and discussed with him the matter of saving your father, brother, and mother. So he went to the Divine Light Plane himself to talk to the Light Sovereign on your behalf. After all, Lord Beirut has no enmity with the Light Sovereign.”
Linley felt a surge of gratitude. He had only mentioned it casually with his Fire-type divine clone, but Beirut had personally gone to the Light Sovereign for him.
“But the Light Sovereign refused!” Gesresen sighed. “Lord Beirut also asked the Bloodstained Sovereign. The Bloodstained Sovereign said… getting the Light Sovereign to release an angel’s freedom was impossible. Even a Sovereign going wouldn’t have much hope. For you to go… it’s absolutely impossible.”
Linley recalled his father’s gaze.
“Father… I can’t do anything.” Linley felt powerless.
The Death Sovereign had said before that even if she went herself, the chances were slim. The Bloodstained Sovereign said the same. And Beirut had already gone once.
“Linley, Lord Beirut said everything he could to the Light Sovereign. He even offered that you would become the Light Sovereign’s emissary in exchange for your mother’s freedom. But the Light Sovereign still refused.” Gesresen said.
Becoming a Sovereign’s emissary was useless too?
Linley had no other bargaining chips.
“Lord Beirut also told me to stop you. Don’t go to the Light Sovereign. If you don’t go, fine. But if you appear before the Light Sovereign, he might kill you outright. Not just because you killed members of the Augusta family, but for another reason.” Gesresen urged.
“Another reason?” Linley couldn’t think of how else he had offended the Light Sovereign.
Was it because he had banished Magnus?
But Magnus was a Fate Paragon, an emissary of the Fate Sovereign, not the Light Sovereign’s emissary. Helping Montero was only due to his personal friendship with the Augusta clan leader.
“What reason?” Linley asked quickly.
“Lord Beirut said this reason can’t be spread, so he didn’t tell the messenger.” Gesresen said.
Linley nodded.
Over the years, Linley had come to trust Beirut deeply.
“Then I’ll postpone the trip to the Divine Light Plane for now…” Linley thought silently. He turned to Olivia and said, “Olivia, tomorrow, I’ll go with you to Tianshan Prefecture!”
Olivia’s face lit up with surprise.
“Boss, let me come with you. I’m so bored.” Bebe said playfully. Linley couldn’t refuse Bebe and agreed to bring him along. This trip to Tianshan Prefecture… for Linley, it posed no challenge. Although the legendary Tianshan Prefect was strong, he was far from a Paragon.
Those setting out together were Linley, Bebe, Olivia, and Daya. Daya was only at the Saint level and wasn’t originally meant to go. But Daya insisted, since his mother was in Tianshan Prefecture.
When Olivia asked Linley whether to bring Daya, Linley, confident in his strength, nodded and let Olivia bring him.
“Let’s go. We’ll reach Tianshan Prefecture within a year.” Linley said with a smile. At the same time, a massive black sword-shaped metallic lifeform appeared in the sky.
The four of them flew into the metallic lifeform.
Under Linley’s control, the metallic lifeform streaked across the sky like a black rainbow, disappearing above the Tianji Mountain Range as it flew eastward.