Chapter 1: The Overgod of Life
Over the South Sea, Beirut, Qinghuo, and Bebe stood to one side, while the blurry figure in the high sky gradually solidified.
A green robe, emerald-green long hair, emerald-green eyes—as it smiled, heaven and earth seemed to tremble.
"Is this the Overgod of Life?" Linley stared at the woman who appeared before him, a woman wearing the Crown of Life! His heart couldn't help but throb. In terms of appearance, Linley had never seen anyone more perfect than the Overgod of Life. In terms of aura, the noble bearing of the Overgod of Life was utterly ethereal.
The Overgod of Life's gaze fell upon Linley.
"Since the birth of heaven and earth, this is the seventh Overgod mission, and the second time I have issued one. Congratulations, Linley Baruch, you have completed it." The Overgod of Life's voice was gentle. Not only did his ears hear it, but the voice echoed within his mind as well. "According to the mission's terms, you may now make a request of me. Anything within my power, I will fulfill for you."
As the voice echoed, Linley was completely dazed.
"You... what is your request?" The Overgod of Life spoke.
"Request?"
Linley snapped back to reality.
Beirut, Qinghuo, and Bebe also came to their senses, all of them shocked. "Qinghuo, the Overgod of Life made us lose focus just by speaking casually. Too terrifying." Beirut transmitted mentally. "Overgods are the supreme existences. The power of an Overgod artifact must far exceed that of a Sovereign artifact."
"Yes, it's a pity Linley didn't choose an Overgod artifact." Qinghuo sighed inwardly as well.
"Great Overgod of Life, my request is to revive my grandfather, Doehring Cowart!" Linley looked up at the Overgod of Life and quickly added.
"Revive..." The Overgod of Life fell silent for a moment.
Linley's heart grew anxious: "It has to succeed! Grandpa Doehring must be revived!" According to what Linley knew, when a soul is scattered, a Sovereign cannot save them. Only an Overgod might be able to, especially this Overgod of Life, who governs the laws of life and likely controls countless life patterns.
"Apologies, your request cannot be fulfilled." The Overgod of Life's tone remained as calm as ever.
"Cannot be fulfilled?" Bebe's eyes widened.
"Cannot be fulfilled?" Beirut and Qinghuo were also startled.
Linley's mind went blank. The Overgod of Life's words—"Apologies, your request cannot be fulfilled"—kept echoing in his head.
"Cannot be fulfilled? Cannot be fulfilled?" Linley's gaze suddenly sharpened. He stared intently at the Overgod of Life above and said urgently, "Overgod of Life, the birth and death of all life across countless planes are under your control. If a soul is scattered, how can you not revive it?"
Grandpa Doehring, he had deceived a Sovereign at all costs, desperately fought for the Overgod mission token, all for the chance to revive Grandpa Doehring.
But the Overgod of Life couldn't do it?
"Apologies, I cannot do it." The Overgod of Life shook her head.
"But you are an Overgod!" Linley shouted urgently, his heart full of unwillingness.
The Overgod of Life said coldly, "Linley Baruch. According to the mission's terms, I must fulfill one request for you. But this request must be something I can do. A scattered soul is true death. This is an iron law of the rules. As the embodiment of the laws of life, I naturally cannot do anything that violates the rules."
"My existence is to ensure that countless planes operate within the constraints of the rules. Reviving someone with a scattered soul would break the rules. To break the rules would mean losing the constraints of the rules across countless planes. Then, without those constraints and protections, countless planes would collapse." The Overgod of Life said coldly.
Linley's face turned pale, and his eyes were filled with despair.
"Boss..." Bebe looked at Linley, his eyes full of anxiety.
"So that's how it is." Beirut and Qinghuo exchanged a glance and shook their heads with a silent sigh.
The Overgods, though powerful, were ultimately manifestations of the rules.
A scattered soul is true death, a part of the rules.
How could the rules themselves do something that violates the rules? After all, the duty of the four Overgods is to keep the rules functioning normally.
"After expending so much effort and fighting for this Overgod mission token, it was all for that one sliver of hope. But who would have thought... it was all for nothing!" Linley looked up, and silently, two streams of tears flowed down. "Grandpa Doehring..." The Overgod of Life's answer meant that Doehring Cowart would never be revived.
At most, he would only exist in memory.
"Boss, don't be sad." Bebe quickly said.
"Heaven gave me a sliver of hope, and I fought and strove for it. In the end, I achieved it, but heaven shattered that sliver of hope." Linley's smile was bitter.
Beirut and Qinghuo walked over.
"Linley, don't be too upset. Life, aging, sickness, and death are far too common. You can't always achieve perfection just because you seek it." Beirut comforted him.
"Where there is life, there is death! Life and death are the rules of heaven and earth." Qinghuo also comforted him. "You and I have transcended life and death and can exist eternally, but once we die, our souls will scatter, and we cannot be revived. There are many, many people in this world who have lost loved ones. Try to see it more openly."
"I understand this principle." Linley took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
If he had known from the start there was no hope, it would have been one thing. He could have buried that pain deep in his heart.
But to be given hope, to strive for it, and then to have that hope shattered—it was like pouring salt on a wound, truly painful.
"To exist in this world, one must follow the constraints of the rules." The Overgod of Life said coldly. "Even with this Overgod mission, the request you make must adhere to the rules' constraints. The request you just made cannot be fulfilled. Now, Linley Baruch, please make another request."
"Another request?" Linley was stunned.
"Since the Overgod mission was successful, I must fulfill one of your requests." The Overgod of Life said coldly.
Since Linley's previous request didn't work, he naturally had to make another.
"Boss, hurry up and make one." Bebe quickly said.
"Linley, since your grandfather Doehring Cowart cannot be revived, I think you should choose an Overgod artifact." Beirut's eyes lit up as he urged. "Or perhaps you have other dreams. But in this world, many things depend on strength! With strength, many problems can be solved."
Qinghuo also quickly added, "It's best to choose an Overgod artifact that suits you, one that can maximize your strength."
"I understand." Linley nodded.
Having experienced so many setbacks, Linley knew that with great strength, many things could be accomplished easily.
"What Overgod artifact should I ask for?" Countless thoughts flashed through Linley's mind. "A material defense Overgod artifact? No, that's not ideal. My own defense is decent. And using my hands and feet to attack wouldn't bring out my strongest power." Linley's greatest strength lay in his swords.
Whether it was the Black Grief Heavy Sword, the Bloodviolet Flexible Sword, or the Shadowstroke Divine Sword.
Linley's ultimate techniques were all in his swords.
"I'll ask for a sword-shaped Overgod artifact." Linley made his decision.
Linley looked up at the Overgod of Life in the sky and said, "Great Overgod of Life, I request an offensive Overgod artifact, a sword-shaped Overgod artifact!"
"I will fulfill your request." The Overgod of Life said coldly. At the same time, she extended her slender right hand. A green sword shadow slowly appeared, gradually solidifying into a physical form. A terrifying, sharp aura began to surge, and the surrounding space started to tremble and shatter.
"An Overgod artifact!" Beirut, Qinghuo, and Bebe stared wide-eyed.
Legend had it that only Overgods could create Overgod artifacts. In the past, only the four Chief Sovereigns of the Edicts and the Sovereign of Light possessed Overgod artifacts!
"This sword-shaped Overgod artifact..." Linley observed carefully.
It was a green longsword nearly one and a half meters long. The guard was shaped like a flower, and the hilt bore vine-like patterns, perfectly fitting the hand. The blade was adorned with patterns of various plants and flowers. Both edges were incredibly sharp. Even without moving, the sword caused the surrounding space to collapse.
"This is a Life Overgod Sword. Only one who has reached the level of a Sovereign can truly bear the terrifying energy within this Overgod Sword and make it recognize them as its master." The Overgod of Life slowly stroked the sword with her left hand, and immediately, the light on the sword's surface faded, becoming plain and unadorned.
At first glance, it looked like an ordinary sword, and the surrounding world returned to calm.
"Linley Baruch, I have fulfilled your request." With that, the Life Overgod Sword flew from her hand toward Linley.
Then, the Overgod of Life's form began to slowly dissipate. In the blink of an eye, the world returned to stillness. It was as if the Overgod of Life had never appeared.
"The Life Overgod Sword." Linley grasped the hilt. The vine-like carvings wrapped around the hilt allowed his hand to grip it more firmly.
"I don't feel anything at all?" Linley held the Overgod Sword but couldn't detect any special energy. He turned to look at Beirut and Qinghuo beside him. "Lord Beirut, what use is this Overgod Sword to me now?"
"Haha, the Overgod Sword is incredibly useful." Beirut laughed heartily.
"An Overgod artifact is the strongest weapon." Qinghuo's eyes also lit up.
At that moment, Bebe transmitted mentally to Linley: "Boss, my grandfather told you to ask for this Overgod artifact, but you can't make it recognize you as its master. That requires the strength of a Sovereign. Do you think... they might want this Overgod Sword for themselves?"
Bebe was worried for Linley.
Linley carefully observed Beirut and Qinghuo and shook his head, transmitting back: "It doesn't seem like it. If Lord Beirut wanted it, he would have taken it by force long ago. Before, when I made my request to revive Grandpa Doehring, Lord Beirut and Lord Reylin didn't stop me."
"That's true." Bebe nodded slightly.
"The Life Overgod Sword is in my hands, but..." Linley felt little joy, because his goal—reviving Grandpa Doehring—hadn't been achieved. If Grandpa Doehring could be revived right now, appearing before Linley and calling his name, Linley would probably go mad with excitement.
Unfortunately, after this, Linley understood that reviving Grandpa Doehring was hopeless.
"Lord Beirut, Lord Reylin, you told me to seize this opportunity and ask the Overgod of Life for an Overgod artifact." Linley looked at Beirut and Qinghuo with confusion. "Now, I have this Overgod Sword. But with my strength, I can't make it recognize me as its master. What am I supposed to do with this Overgod artifact?"
In Linley's hands, the Overgod Sword would probably be less useful than the Shadowstroke Divine Sword.
"Linley, there's no need to rush about that." Qinghuo smiled.
"Linley, rest assured. Since I told you to ask for this Overgod artifact, I naturally have a way for you to use it." Beirut smiled.
Linley wasn't stupid. A flash of insight struck him, and he exclaimed, "Lord Beirut, do you mean...?"
"Do you even need to ask? Linley, how do you think I became a Sovereign?" Qinghuo said with a grin.
"Grandfather, do you mean... you want my boss to become a Sovereign?" Bebe exclaimed.
Beirut smiled without denying it.
Seeing Beirut's expression, Bebe was certain. He said incredulously, "Grandfather, becoming a Sovereign requires a Sovereign spark. You and Lord Reylin are Sovereigns. Do you have another Sovereign spark, Grandfather?"
Linley looked at Beirut with confusion. Even if Beirut had a Sovereign spark, why would he let Linley use it?
"Don't ask so many questions. Follow me." Beirut smiled and flew forward.
PS: I've been in Suzhou for the past two days and very busy. Tomorrow, I won't have any rest and will have to take a bus back to my hometown. I could only manage to write one chapter today. Please forgive me. Starting from this chapter, the final volume of *Coiling Dragon*, "The Peak," begins. The conclusion of *Coiling Dragon* is entering its final countdown...