Chapter 25: Surging
The hazy light of the blood sun, like a layer of red gauze, shrouded the entire Lott tribe.
The entire Lott tribe became silent and oppressive!
After the battle with Brody, nearly one-tenth of the tribe's mid-level gods had died. That sounded like a small number, but that one-tenth represented hundreds of lives of mid-level gods. Fortunately, this was the Hell; everyone was accustomed to slaughter and death. The Lott tribe quickly returned to normal operations. The tribe's former second-strongest warrior, the captain of the tribe's guardian squad, Berlin, became the new chief.
"I just don't understand. How did that kid Brody become so strong? Last time he fled the tribe, he was only a mid-level god. I was confident I could kill him! His strength was mediocre. But in just over a decade, a mere decade, it's unbelievable. He became so powerful. When the chief fought him, he also said that Brody was merely an upper-level god who had refined a divine spark, yet even the chief, a Six Star Demon, died at his hands!"
In many places throughout the Lott tribe, all sorts of discussions were taking place.
"Some of the brothers who died still have divine clones alive. They all said that Brody had a special energy that could devour souls!"
"I saw it too. What killed the chief was a green light! I even recorded it with a floating image."
"Hey... let me tell you, I was not far from Brody at the time, and I used my divine sense to probe the source of that green light. It was a diamond-shaped red crystal in the palm of his hand. I think the reason Brody is so strong must be related to that strange crystal that emits green light!"
Brody had long since fled far away with his wife, which was why the tribe's residents dared to talk about it so freely.
"I heard that the old man with the curly brown-red hair, the strong one named Bariman, bought the floating images of Brody's massacre of the tribe's warriors from you?" a tall, thin, white-haired youth inquired.
"That's right. Just yesterday, Lord Bariman came again and bought the previous floating images. One set of floating images. He offered one million inkstones for it. As expected of a strong man that even Chief Alott received respectfully, he's really generous. By the way, what do you think? Why would Lord Bariman buy those floating images from us?"
"Hmph." The tall, thin, white-haired youth sneered. "Need you ask? He's definitely collecting enough floating images, the more detailed the better. Then, he'll sell this information to the Demon Castle! That Brody, an upper-level god who refined a divine spark, wielding that special crystal, actually killed a Six Star Demon. I've never heard of such a terrifying treasure. That crystal must be an incredible treasure. It had such great power in Brody's hands. If it were in the hands of a Seven Star Demon or a Lord Prefect, how much more powerful would it be? I think that Lord Bariman can definitely make a huge sum of money from this intelligence."
These tribe members guessed correctly. That Six Star Demon, Bariman, was considered a strong man even in the Hell. He was also aware of the news regarding the Overgod mission. He also understood... that red crystal might be the legendary Overgod token, the Red Diamond Crystal.
An Overgod token! What a treasure that was!
But Bariman also knew that the authenticity of the Overgod mission was still uncertain. Bariman, holding this detailed intelligence, which included dozens of floating images, sold it to the Demon Castle for an astronomical price. He guaranteed that the Red Diamond Crystal he had discovered, even if it wasn't an Overgod token, was no less precious than a Sovereign artifact.
The price—
One trillion inkstones!
This price was nothing to the Demon Castle. But generally, the total wealth of a Seven Star Demon skilled in accumulating wealth was around one trillion inkstones. After all, the authenticity of the Overgod mission was still uncertain. Plus, if the price was too high, the Demon Castle could simply send its own people to investigate and gather information.
The deal was done!
The Demon Castle spent one trillion inkstones to purchase this intelligence.
After verification, the Demon Castle personnel were one hundred percent certain that the Red Diamond Crystal emitting green light in the floating images was definitely a strange treasure. In an instant, this information was available in all Demon Castles throughout the Hell.
"What intelligence do you need?"
The counter service personnel said indifferently.
"Intelligence on the Overgod mission, one million inkstones, right?" a silver-haired, one-eyed youth said coldly, simultaneously taking out one million inkstones and his Demon Medal.
After verifying the Demon Medal, the counter personnel at the intelligence department immediately became respectful. They quickly took out a dossier and some floating images.
After viewing the dossier and floating images, the silver-haired, one-eyed youth turned to leave. But the counter personnel suddenly said, "Mr. Sja, our Demon Castle has just obtained a piece of intelligence regarding the Overgod token, the Red Diamond Crystal. This intelligence is absolutely true. As for the crystal in the information, even if it's not an Overgod token, it is a spiritual object on the same level as a Sovereign artifact."
"Oh?" The silver-haired, one-eyed youth turned his head sharply. "Not an Overgod token, but a treasure on the same level as a Sovereign artifact?"
"Yes." The counter personnel were full of confidence. "Absolutely true."
"How much for this intelligence?" the silver-haired, one-eyed youth asked coldly.
"For you, Lord Sja, it's not a high price. Nine hundred billion inkstones!" the counter personnel said with a smile.
This price made the silver-haired, one-eyed youth frown.
The Demon Castle's pricing was clever. Nine hundred billion was still in the hundreds of billions unit. If they priced it at one trillion, it would be in the trillions unit. The psychological impact on people was completely different. The intelligence originally bought for one trillion inkstones was now sold for nine hundred billion each time. They only needed to sell it eleven or twelve times to recoup their investment.
"Fine." The silver-haired, one-eyed youth moved his hand, took out a spatial ring, and tossed it over. "There are nine hundred billion inkstones inside."
"Please wait a moment, Lord Sja. That important intelligence is handled by the Castle Lord and his personal attendant. I need to go and ask for instructions. Please wait a moment." The counter personnel were very respectful. This Sja was a Seven Star Demon.
Generally, when encountering Six Star Demons or Seven Star Demons, the head of the intelligence department would recommend this piece of news. Those who were too weak simply couldn't afford to buy such intelligence.
A moment later, the silver-haired, one-eyed youth obtained the intelligence.
He carefully read the contents of the intelligence and watched dozens of floating images.
"Allowing an upper-level god who refined a divine spark to kill a Six Star Demon?" The silver-haired, one-eyed youth was also greatly shocked. Without hesitation, the one-eyed youth immediately left the Demon Castle at high speed.
As a Seven Star Demon, the silver-haired, one-eyed youth immediately rushed towards the Muya Continent at the fastest possible speed!
Demon Castles were spread throughout the Hell. There were many experts in the Hell, and quite a few strong people could afford this intelligence. Almost all of them, after seeing the detailed contents of the intelligence, immediately rushed from all over the Hell towards the Muya Continent. Unfortunately... the Hell was too vast!
From other continents, reaching the Muya Continent was too far.
Fortunately, those who went were all strong, and their travel speed was extremely fast.
Linley and his group leisurely toured various places. Afterwards, out of habit, they went to the third floor of the Demon Castle. Linley again purchased the intelligence on the Overgod mission.
After reading that intelligence, Linley was about to leave.
"Lord Linley, we have another piece of valuable intelligence here. It's about the Red Diamond Crystal." The intelligence officer quickly said. After checking Linley's Demon Medal, he already knew Linley was a Seven Star Demon.
"Oh, valuable intelligence? About the Red Diamond Crystal? Why is it separate from this collective intelligence?" Linley smiled as he looked at the intelligence officer.
"Boss, this Demon Castle really knows how to make money." Bebe sighed.
"No business, no profit." Yale said with a grin. This Yale was the manager of the Dawson Conglomerate. He was quite proficient in business matters.
The intelligence officer said bitterly, "Lord Linley, ordinary people are not qualified to see that intelligence. Moreover, the cost we paid to obtain this intelligence was enormous. We can't afford to lose money. The Demon Castle has already verified it. We guarantee... that Red Diamond Crystal, even if it's not an Overgod token, is a spiritual object comparable to a Sovereign artifact."
"Oh?" Linley's eyes lit up.
"Lord Linley, would you be willing to buy it? The price is not high, only nine hundred billion inkstones." The intelligence officer quickly said.
Nine hundred billion inkstones was indeed a small amount for Linley now.
Consider that the ancient families of Salomon and Nisse had assets in the hundreds of trillions. A single drop of Sovereign power cost over a hundred trillion.
And the Four Divine Beasts clan, which once had influence spread across all planes, even if their power had contracted, their accumulated wealth over countless years had not diminished. That wealth was already an astronomical figure. As the current number one expert of the Four Divine Beasts clan, the clan couldn't let Linley appear stingy. They directly gave Linley a spatial ring.
As for how much wealth was inside, Linley hadn't counted.
To Linley now, wealth meant little.
"Alright, I'll buy this intelligence." Linley nodded.
"Please wait a moment, Lord Linley. I will immediately go and ask the Castle Lord." The intelligence officer was overjoyed and quickly said, then left.
Linley and his large group waited there. Bebe transmitted to Linley, "Boss, seeing how high the Demon Castle is pricing this and how secretly they're storing this intelligence, could the Red Diamond Crystal they found be the Overgod token?" Bebe knew that Linley possessed two tokens.
"Possibly." Linley nodded.
On the surface, Linley was calm, but inwardly he couldn't help but feel excited and expectant!
"I have two in hand, only the last one is missing. When the three tokens are combined, I can offer them to the Life Overgod and make a request." Linley knew he could ask for a Overgod artifact, and the request would definitely be granted. But he didn't want that. He only wanted Grandpa Doehring to appear before him again!
At that moment, footsteps sounded. Several figures quickly approached. The leader, a handsome young man in black robes, saw Linley and immediately stepped forward and bowed, "Greetings, Mr. Linley!"
"Castle Lord..." His subordinates, including the intelligence officer, were startled.
The strength of Castle Lords in various Demon Castles varied, but they were generally Six Star Demons, with some being Seven Star Demons.
"I heard that Mr. Linley wants this intelligence. Please, feel free to view it, Mr. Linley. As for the fee, there's no need to mention it." The black-robed youth said humbly. The ordinary responsible personnel in the Demon Castle, after verifying the Demon Medal, would only think Linley was a Seven Star Demon. But the Castle Lords knew Linley's reputation.
How could they dare to charge a Paragon nine hundred billion inkstones?
"Then thank you." Linley said with a faint smile as he took the intelligence. He understood that if the other party waived the fee, insisting on paying would only embarrass them.
"These are the floating images related to this intelligence." Seeing that the other party wasn't putting on airs, the Castle Lord was extremely excited and quickly brought out crystal balls one by one.
Linley carefully read the intelligence and watched the floating images.
As his understanding deepened... Linley's heart trembled with excitement!
"It's almost certainly him! And the size is completely consistent." Linley was extremely excited. At that time, many people in the Lott tribe, including Bariman, had observed the Red Diamond Crystal with their divine sense and knew its exact size, so they naturally described it. "This size perfectly matches the groove. And this power..."
Just thinking about obtaining the third token and achieving his goal made Linley extremely excited.
"Not good." Linley's heart stirred. "If I gather all three Overgod tokens, the Overgod will appear. The Sovereigns will also know the truth. Perhaps some Sovereigns will be furious and come after me!" Linley felt a pang of worry.
"Bebe." Linley transmitted.
"Huh, Boss?" Bebe was startled.
"You immediately lead everyone back to the Yulan Continent through the teleportation array on the Bifrost Continent. Then, please ask Lord Beirut for help, and also have all close relatives and friends still living in the Celestial Sacrifice Mountains return to the Yulan Continent immediately." Linley instructed solemnly.
"Boss, what are you..." Bebe was shocked.
"I'm just being cautious. A Sovereign probably wouldn't stoop so low as to vent their anger on my family, but I can't afford to take the risk. So, I'm making preparations early." Linley was very decisive. "After I save Grandpa Doehring, I will immediately return to the Yulan Continent! At worst, I'll stay in the material plane forever and never go to the divine planes again."