Chapter 45: Beirut's True Power!
Multicolored streams of light surged and converged into a mighty, roaring spatial turbulence.
Spatial turbulence—the most dangerous place imaginable!
Even ordinary divine artifacts entering it would be ground into dust by the terrifying currents. Only those with defensive Overgod artifacts, or Paragon Upper Gods, could barely withstand the relentless impacts and preserve their lives. Yet even so, Paragon Upper Gods were helplessly swept along within the spatial turbulence.
The violent spatial currents battered everything, forcing all within to drift with the flow.
But at this moment—
A hazy white halo enveloped a tall figure. This figure wore a white robe embroidered with golden patterns, and his long golden hair cascaded down, dazzlingly radiant. He stood at the center of the vast spatial turbulence, the multicolored currents crashing against him without moving him an inch. This man was none other than the strongest of the seven Light-type Sovereigns—the Sovereign of Light.
The Sovereign of Light gazed into the distance with cold, indifferent eyes.
"The Redbud Crystal was already in my hands, yet..."
A trace of anger flickered in the Sovereign of Light's eyes. "But even if the Sovereign backing him is that woman, Violet, the teleportation from the O'Brien Plane to the Infernal Realm is random, landing at one of its many teleportation arrays. Perhaps the Redbud Crystal will fall into the hands of another Sovereign."
He immediately issued a command through his clone still in the Divine Light Plane: "Le, keep an eye on Linley. See which teleportation array he takes and which plane he heads to."
"Yes, Sovereign."
Although Clementine led a large group of Upper Gods, in truth, those Upper Gods obeyed Le's orders. Le was one of the two individuals who communicated directly with the Sovereign. At once, those Upper Gods spread their divine sense, locking onto Linley and Bebe above the ocean.
They tracked Linley's movements.
Linley naturally used his divine sense to isolate the area, preventing them from detecting him.
"Take a risky gamble? No. Many Sovereigns are fixated on the Overgod artifact. Most teleportation arrays are likely watched by Sovereigns. No matter how strong I am, I have zero resistance against a Sovereign." Linley shook his head. "I cannot afford to lose the Redbud Crystal."
"Then... what should we do?" Bebe racked his brains in frustration.
Linley pondered back and forth but couldn't think of a foolproof, safe method. Although the Sovereigns in the Infernal Realm seemed to have a decent relationship with Linley, that was merely interest in a junior. If the Redbud Crystal were involved, the Sovereign of Destruction's projection had spoken well here, but in the Infernal Realm, things might be different.
After all, in the O'Brien Plane, a projection couldn't do anything to Linley. Force was useless.
But in the Infernal Realm, which Sovereign wouldn't want the Overgod artifact?
"Boss, let's go ask Grandpa Beirut. Maybe he has a way," Bebe suddenly suggested.
"It's the only option." Linley nodded slightly.
In the Yulan Plane, within the Baruch Empire, Dragonblood Castle.
Beirut had been staying at Linley's Dragonblood Castle these days, and Linley's divine clone often discussed the progress in the O'Brien Plane with him. Spending so much time together had brought Linley and Beirut closer, no longer distant but more familiar.
"Whoosh!"
A figure flashed and appeared in the empty garden—it was Linley. In the garden, Beirut was amusing two children from the Baruch clan, looking very cheerful.
"You two, go play elsewhere," Linley said with a faint smile.
"Yes." The two children, upon seeing Linley, barely dared to breathe and obediently retreated.
Dragonblood Castle had long elevated Linley to an extreme status. In the hearts of the Baruch clan's younger generation, Linley was the pinnacle of existence.
"What's the matter, so urgent?" Beirut asked with a light smile.
Linley sighed helplessly. "Lord Beirut, things have really taken a bad turn."
"Oh?" Beirut frowned and looked seriously at Linley.
"It's like this—I've already obtained the Redbud Crystal. But now I'm troubled about how to return to the Yulan Plane. The O'Brien Plane only has eleven teleportation arrays, leading to the seven Divine Planes and the four Higher Planes. With so many Sovereigns, I suspect most arrays are under their watch. The moment I appear, they'll likely snatch it away."
Beirut nodded slightly.
"Linley, do you want to keep the Redbud Crystal for yourself?" Beirut suddenly asked.
"Yes," Linley confirmed.
If Linley intended to offer the Redbud Crystal to a Sovereign, say the Sovereign of Destruction, he could simply teleport to the Infernal Realm. Presumably, other Sovereigns in the Infernal Realm wouldn't dare snatch a Sovereign's prize. If Linley lied, claiming it was for the Sovereign of Destruction, and then used the teleportation array to return, that wouldn't work.
First, lying and using the Sovereign of Destruction's name would offend him.
Second, if other Sovereigns were nearby, they wouldn't let Linley arrive and then teleport back to the Yulan Plane. The moment Linley spoke to the array operator, the lie would be exposed.
"Tell me the entire process of how you obtained the Redbud Crystal," Beirut said solemnly.
"Alright. At the time, I and the other eight Paragon Upper Gods arrived at Lionheart City. We were all guessing what special meaning the name 'Lionheart City' held..." Linley began describing in detail, including the matter of the Sovereign's projections.
As Beirut listened, his brow furrowed.
"The Sovereign of Light actually traveled through spatial turbulence to the O'Brien Plane?" Beirut asked in surprise.
"Yes, that's what Clementine told me. That's why the Sovereign of Light was so furious," Linley replied.
Beirut fell silent.
"You want to keep it for yourself... this..." Beirut pondered carefully.
"Linley!" Beirut suddenly said. "Here's the plan—have your main body and Bebe stay in the O'Brien Plane for now. Pretend you've had an epiphany and go into seclusion to cultivate. Stall for ten or fifteen days first."
"Lord Beirut, what do you mean?" Linley was momentarily stunned, then began to understand. "You want me to buy time? If enough time passes, the Sovereigns might leave the teleportation arrays? But that's not certain. Sovereigns could simply meditate near the arrays and wait for thousands or tens of thousands of years—that's ordinary for them."
With infinite lifespans, what were a few millennia to Sovereigns?
"That's not the reason." Beirut smiled faintly. "Wait a while, and you'll understand."
"Alright." Linley trusted Beirut completely.
But Linley was puzzled... What exactly was Beirut planning by having him deliberately stay in the O'Brien Plane for ten or fifteen days?
Within the chaotic spatial turbulence.
The Sovereign of Light was already on his return journey.
"Sovereign, Linley and Bebe haven't left the O'Brien Plane in a hurry. Instead, they've suddenly started cultivating above the ocean. Linley seems to have had an epiphany, and Bebe is guarding him," the surveillance personnel reported to the Sovereign of Light.
"An epiphany? Linley has several divine clones. One has reached Paragon, and the others are also breaking through. His talent is indeed formidable." Even though the Sovereign of Light held no goodwill toward Linley, he couldn't help but admire him.
With the Sovereign of Light's speed, he returned to the Divine Light Plane that same day.
On the eleventh day after Linley obtained the Redbud Crystal.
Inside Dragonblood Castle.
Linley was drinking and chatting with his father, Hogg, when Beirut walked in from the courtyard.
"Linley." Beirut's expression was serious.
"Father, I need to attend to Lord Beirut." Linley said. Hogg, knowing that Linley and Beirut had important matters, smiled and excused himself.
"Follow me." Beirut said calmly, then took off into the air.
Linley quickly followed.
"Whoosh—" Beirut shot into the distance, and Linley struggled to keep up.
"So fast." Linley was shocked. He could barely keep pace.
Linley's divine clone also had a soul mutation, a similarly powerful body, the same willpower, and could use fused divine power. Its speed was nearly identical to his main body. Yet he could barely keep up with Beirut!
In the blink of an eye, Linley and Beirut had left the Yulan Plane's territory and arrived over the South Sea.
Beirut suddenly stopped, and Linley halted as well.
"Lord Beirut, what is this?" Linley asked, puzzled.
"Didn't you want to know how to return to the Yulan Plane?" Beirut's eyes held a peculiar glint as he looked at Linley with a faint, knowing smile.
Linley was full of confusion.
"The method is simple—travel through spatial turbulence back to the Yulan Plane," Beirut said with a light smile.
"Through spatial turbulence?" Linley was startled. Legend had it that even Paragon Upper Gods were helpless in spatial turbulence. "Lord Beirut, spatial turbulence is terrifying. Paragon Upper Gods are swept along by it. Though I'm stronger than a Paragon, I'm not sure I can withstand it."
Linley had no confidence.
"I'm not asking you to go alone." Beirut smiled, then raised his hand like a blade.
With a single chop at the air—
"Crack!" The fragile Yulan Plane directly split open, creating a massive, door-like spatial rift.
Material planes were fragile. At Linley's level, he could even create a small plane chamber within a material plane by controlling the elements. Of course, this was only possible in a material plane. In the Infernal Realm or the Netherworld, it couldn't be done.
Sovereigns, with their terrifying control over elements, could even build independent divine planes.
An independent divine plane versus a plane chamber built within a material plane—this showed the immense gap between Sovereigns and gods.
"Follow me." Beirut grabbed Linley and stepped into the spatial rift.
"Lord Beirut!" Linley was shocked.
Held by Beirut, he stepped out and found himself no longer in the Yulan Plane but in the spatial turbulence.
The multicolored spatial turbulence was dazzlingly beautiful. But now, Linley was trapped in it. The currents washed over him in waves. He didn't hold back—fused divine power flowed through his body, resisting the impacts.
"Sizzle..." A spatial rift appeared nearby.
The turbulence pushed Linley, trying to sweep him into the rift, but he held his ground.
"The energy in spatial turbulence is indeed terrifying. No wonder Paragon Upper Gods are helpless. Still, I can barely move against the current." Linley found that with all his strength, he could swim upstream. It felt like...
When he was a child, struggling through a raging river.
"Linley, how do you feel?" Beirut's voice rang out.
Linley turned to look.
Amid the spatial turbulence, Beirut stood with a faint smile, completely unfazed by the currents.
"Lord Beirut, you?" Linley was astonished.
Paragons were swept along by the turbulence, but Beirut stood firm.
"Haha, at your speed, it would take tens of thousands of years to travel from the Yulan Plane to the O'Brien Plane." Beirut laughed at Linley's pace. Then, a green light shield spread from his body, enveloping Linley.
"It's easy to get lost in spatial turbulence. Your main body is in the O'Brien Plane, so you should know the exact direction. Guide me, and I'll handle the travel."
With Linley under the protection of the green light shield, Beirut transformed into a streak of green lightning and vanished in an instant.