"Oh?"
Within the Hongmeng Space, when Hongmeng saw that Locke remained inside his universe after finishing the arrangement of its Laws instead of leaving, he more or less guessed what Locke intended to do.
"Oh well."
"I've already waited for nearly two thousand calendrical cycles. Waiting a little longer won't make much difference."
"I'll wait until Second Brother finishes creating his universe before revealing myself to him."
"Perhaps Second Brother still believes that he's the only one in this Hongmeng Space."
"I wonder if I'll scare him when I suddenly appear before him."
"Hehe!"
Having made up his mind, Hongmeng didn't remain there any longer, instead returning toward his own small world.
He hadn't forgotten that besides Locke's original body, there was still a water divine clone remaining within the Magic Universe.
Furthermore, if Linley could comprehend the fused Laws of earth, wind, water, and fire, then it wasn't impossible for him to fuse the Sovereign power of those four elements into Hongmeng energy, cultivate a Hongmeng Body, become a Hongmeng lifeform, enter the Hongmeng Space, and become his Third Brother.
...
Within his universe, Locke found it somewhat strange that Hongmeng hadn't come looking for him.
However, he didn't think too deeply about it.
Perhaps Hongmeng was currently watching him create his universe from somewhere.
During the time he had to wait for the universe to complete itself...
He might as well take a look at what had been happening in the Magic Universe.
...
"Linley, you absolutely must participate in this upcoming Planar War."
Within the Infernal Realm, Beirut and Bluefire sat beside Linley with solemn expressions.
"Hm? What's wrong?"
Seeing the expressions on Beirut's and Bluefire's faces, Linley was somewhat puzzled.
He naturally knew about the Planar Battlefield.
It was there, on the battlefield between the Netherworld and the Fire Divine Plane, that he had encountered the Wind Paragon Bayer and ultimately completed his four-way soul mutation.
But now, he was already a Sovereign.
The Planar War had very little to do with him.
So why did Beirut and Bluefire still want him to participate?
"Lord Beirut, I'm already a Sovereign now. I can't enter the Planar Battlefield..."
"No, Linley, you've misunderstood."
Beirut shook his head.
"We're not asking you to enter the Planar Battlefield."
"We want your three Sovereign Armies to participate in this Planar War against the Light Divine Plane."
"Why?"
"I only learned about this from the other Sovereigns not long ago."
Beirut spoke gravely.
"After becoming a Sovereign, there are only two ways for a non-Paragon Sovereign to increase their strength."
"The first is the method every Sovereign already knows."
"Have your other divine clones refine Sovereign sparks."
"For every additional Sovereign spark refined, the strength of all of your Sovereign bodies increases tenfold."
"The second method..."
"Is to participate in the Planar Battlefield and achieve a ten-war winning streak."
"Once a plane achieves ten consecutive victories in the Planar Battlefield, all the Sovereigns of that elemental plane receive a portion of Will from the Laws of Heaven and Earth, increasing their strength tenfold."
"From the beginning of creation until now, the Planar War has been held nearly nine million times."
"But only two planes have ever achieved a ten-war winning streak."
"The first was the Netherworld."
"As a result, the four Death Sovereigns of the Netherworld are all ten times stronger than Sovereigns of the same rank."
"The second was the Light Divine Plane."
"So the five Light Sovereigns, including Light Chief Sovereign Augusta, are likewise ten times stronger than Sovereigns of the same rank."
As he said this, even Beirut revealed a lingering expression of fear.
Before this, Beirut's understanding of Light Chief Sovereign Augusta had been limited to knowing that Augusta was the strongest Law Chief Sovereign beneath the Edict Chief Sovereigns and possessed the strength to kill the Dark Chief Sovereign and the Four Divine Beasts.
Back then, Beirut had still fantasized about a Paragon possessing the earth, water, and fire elements appearing within the Yulan Plane, becoming a Law Chief Sovereign, and protecting him.
Only because Linley had turned misfortune into fortune during the Planar War and become the unprecedented four-way soul mutatee, while Bluefire had erupted with astonishing power during the struggle for the Overgod artifact and killed Sovereign Manlu to obtain a Fire Sovereign spark...
As for Linley, there was even less need to mention him.
Within only a few tens of thousands of years, he had become a Paragon in the Laws of the Earth, and after refining three Sovereign sparks, his strength had entered the level of the Edict Chief Sovereigns.
Otherwise, the three of them—including Linley—would probably all have become dead souls beneath Light Chief Sovereign Augusta's hands.
"Linley, judging from your previous battle against Light Chief Sovereign Augusta, the gap between your strengths is only around a hundredfold."
"This Planar War is the crucial battle for the Light Divine Plane's attempt at achieving its second ten-war winning streak."
"If the Light Divine Plane wins, then without question, the Light Sovereigns will receive another portion of Will, increasing their strength another tenfold."
"At that point, the gap between you and Light Chief Sovereign Augusta will shrink to only around tenfold."
"A difference of that magnitude..."
"May very well cause Light Chief Sovereign Augusta to develop some dangerous thoughts."
"So, Linley..."
"We cannot allow the Light Divine Plane to win this Planar War."
"I've already gone to the Wind Divine Plane to take over White Tiger Sovereign's White Tiger Army."
"Bluefire has likewise gone to the Fire Divine Plane to take over Vermilion Bird Sovereign Nimo's Vermilion Bird Army."
"The two of us have already sent those two Sovereign Armies to wait at the Planar Battlefield's teleportation gateway."
"In addition, the two of us have been searching the various planes for experts at the Asura Prefect level, hoping to gather two Sovereign Emissaries as well, so they can strengthen our side in the Planar Battlefield."
"Linley, you're now a Sovereign of three elements."
"You possess the Azure Dragon Army, the Black Tortoise Army, and the Manlu Army."
"With your three Sovereign Armies joining us, our chances of success will improve."
"At the very least..."
"We should be able to force a draw and bring the Light Divine Plane's ten-war winning streak to an end."
"Oh?"
Hearing Beirut's explanation, Linley raised an eyebrow.
"Lord Beirut, if I remember correctly..."
"The Light Divine Plane only has five Sovereigns and five Sovereign Armies, doesn't it?"
"This time, the Light Divine Plane's opponent is the Water Divine Plane."
"Even though the Water Divine Plane has lost the Azure Dragon Army, it still has four Sovereign Armies. The difference between the two sides shouldn't be very great."
"So why do you and Bluefire both think that even after adding your forces and my three Sovereign Armies, our chances have only improved enough to achieve a draw?"
"Linley, who told you the Light Divine Plane only has five Sovereign Armies participating in this Planar War?"
Beirut rolled his eyes at Linley.
Thanks to Bebe, Beirut could also be considered Linley's "grandfather."
Thus, even though Linley's strength and status now far surpassed Beirut's, Beirut still didn't truly regard Linley as an Edict Chief Sovereign who had to be treated with reverence.
"Indeed."
"The Light Divine Plane itself only has five Sovereign Armies."
"But have you forgotten the Dark Divine Plane and the Wind Divine Plane?"
"In the Wind Divine Plane, neither Teresia nor I will send our Sovereign Armies to aid the Light Divine Plane."
"So three Sovereign Armies from the Wind Divine Plane will join the Light Divine Plane."
"As for the Dark Divine Plane..."
"Under the pressure of the Dark Chief Sovereign, all five of its Sovereign Armies will participate in this Planar War on the Light Divine Plane's side."
"In that case, the Light Divine Plane will have at least thirteen Sovereign Armies."
"Besides that..."
"I've heard that each Light Sovereign also commands an Angel Army whose strength is no weaker than a Sovereign Army."
"In other words..."
"The Light Divine Plane effectively possesses eighteen Sovereign Armies."
"Hiss..."
"Eighteen Sovereign Armies..."
After hearing Beirut's explanation, even Linley couldn't help but draw in a cold breath.
"Lord Beirut..."
"What about the Water Divine Plane?"
"Won't it receive support from other Sovereigns?"
"How could it not?"
"But those Sovereigns are also unwilling to completely offend Light Chief Sovereign Augusta by sending their Sovereign Emissaries into the Planar Battlefield."
"There are only a handful of Sovereigns truly willing to dispatch their Sovereign Armies to support the Water Divine Plane."
Linley nodded in understanding.
No wonder that even after the five Sovereign Armies of the Yulan lineage were added, Lord Beirut only said that the chances of ending the war in a draw had increased considerably rather than saying they could defeat the Light Divine Plane.
The Water Divine Plane had five Sovereign Armies.
Even after adding the Yulan lineage's five Sovereign Armies, they would only have ten.
The Light Divine Plane, meanwhile, had eighteen Sovereign Armies.
Their numbers were nearly double.
Against such a disparity in a large-scale army war...
The only likely outcome was being slaughtered by the opposing side.
However...
If they abandoned one starfield and defended only a single passageway, then it wasn't impossible to hold that passage until the Planar War ended, forcing the conflict to conclude in a draw.
Doing so would also bring the Light Divine Plane's second ten-war winning streak to an end.
"Also, Linley."
"According to the Sovereign Pact, an Edict Chief Sovereign may have eight Sovereign Emissaries."
"You should use this time to fill all of those positions as quickly as possible."
"Each additional Sovereign Emissary increases our chances a little more."
"Alright."
Linley nodded, agreeing to Beirut's request.
Although from his perspective, even if Light Chief Sovereign Augusta gained another portion of Will, it wouldn't pose much of a threat to him...
For Beirut and Bluefire, however, it would be a tremendous crisis.
No one could guarantee that after Augusta obtained enough strength to preserve his own life against Linley, he would continue to restrain himself as he currently did.
After all...
During these years, Beirut and Bluefire had repeatedly made highly public appearances in the Light Divine Plane, trampling Augusta's dignity again and again.
It could be said that the enmity between Augusta and the Yulan lineage was no longer something that could be settled so easily.
If Augusta were given even the slightest opportunity...
He would absolutely skin the Sovereigns of the Yulan lineage alive, tear out their bones, and drain their marrow.
Precisely because of this...
Beirut had no desire whatsoever to allow Light Chief Sovereign Augusta another opportunity to grow stronger.
During this period, Beirut and Bluefire hadn't merely been searching for Sovereign Emissaries.
They had also been communicating with the other Sovereigns, attempting to persuade more Sovereign Armies to join the Water Divine Plane in opposing the Light Divine Plane.
Unfortunately...
Up until now, every Sovereign they had approached had remained extremely evasive on the matter and refused to give a definite answer.
It was precisely because of this...
That they had come to Linley, asking him to first take over his three Sovereign Armies and dispatch them to the Water Divine Plane in preparation for the coming Planar War.
Once Linley made his stance clear...
Many of those hesitant Sovereigns might finally choose a side and follow his lead.
There wasn't even any need for many.
If they could gain just three more Sovereign Armies...
Then the Water Divine Plane's battle to stop the Light Divine Plane's ten-war winning streak would have nearly a fifty percent chance of success.
Seeing how seriously Beirut and Bluefire regarded this upcoming Planar War...
Linley naturally didn't mind helping them eliminate the worry weighing upon their hearts.
Thus, he didn't delay.
He immediately traveled to the Wind Divine Plane, the Fire Divine Plane, and the Water Divine Plane, formally taking command of his three Sovereign Armies before sending all three to the Water Divine Plane to await the coming Planar War.
After finishing these matters...
Linley didn't stop there.
He traveled through the various planes with Doehring while simultaneously searching for suitable Sovereign Emissaries.
Just as Lord Beirut had said...
An Edict Chief Sovereign was entitled to eight Sovereign Emissaries.
If all eight were deployed into the Planar Battlefield, they would significantly improve their chances of victory.
After all...
Even within a Sovereign Army, it took at least a thousand soldiers forming a powerful magic formation merely to barely contend with an expert at the Asura Prefect level.
If they encountered a Sovereign Emissary equipped with a Sovereign artifact...
That number would need to increase by another four or five times.
...
At the summit of Mount Nether, inside the Sovereign Palace...
Locke slowly opened his eyes.
Now...
He had finally fulfilled the ambition he had made when he was reborn into the world of Coiling Dragon.
He had successfully transcended.
All that remained was to wait for the universe he had created to finish growing.
Then...
He would obtain the Mysterious Yellow Energy.
At that time...
The strongest Mysterious Yellow Body and Mysterious Yellow Soul within the Hongmeng Space would be nothing more than prizes already within his grasp.
When that day came...
Even Hongmeng, the very first lifeform born within the Hongmeng Space, would likely be somewhat inferior to Locke.
Because...
The universe Locke had created was twice the size of the Primary Universe created by Hongmeng.
Accordingly...
Once Locke's universe completed its final growth...
The amount of Mysterious Yellow Energy it would produce would likewise be twice that of Hongmeng's.
A Mysterious Yellow Body and Mysterious Yellow Soul cultivated with such an enormous quantity of Mysterious Yellow Energy would naturally surpass Hongmeng's by a considerable margin.
More than a thousand calendrical cycles...
He had finally achieved his long-cherished wish.
If Locke said he wasn't happy...
That would naturally be false.
However...
A new problem had now appeared before him.
Once his universe had fully matured and the Three Realms of Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld were completely perfected...
Locke would naturally take up residence within his own universe.
When that time came...
His family would naturally accompany him there.
(End of Chapter)
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