One of the candidates…”
So Beirut had been keeping an eye on all of his adventures through the Infernal Realm, and had been constantly evaluating him.
“Although I became a Sovereign, I, like any ordinary mortal, wish to be able to give the Sovereign sparks to those people who are close to me. My three children and Bebe…they clearly wouldn’t possibly have any accomplishments in earth, fire, and water. Because of Bebe, it was natural for me to entrust you with my hopes as well. But I also understood that amongst Sovereigns of the same rank, if there was too great a difference in one’s insights into the profound mysteries, that wouldn’t work either. Linley, back then, your comprehension of the profound mysteries of the Laws was simply at too low a level.” Beirut sighed. “After all, even the weakest of Sovereigns has fused five types of profound mysteries! I’m that sort, myself. But of course, the vast majority has fused just five profound mysteries!”
“The weakest have fused five?” Linley was a bit startled.
“Grandpa.” Bebe said, surprised, “You once said that many Sovereigns were amongst the very first batch of Highgods that rose shortly after the creation of the universe, who were lucky enough to seize a Sovereign spark. Their innate talent isn’t necessarily high; how could they have fused five profound mysteries?”
It must be understood that for many experts, fusing three or even four profound mysteries was their limit, and they wouldn’t be able to make any further breakthroughs.
“Haha…” Beirut began to laugh, then he looked mysteriously at Linley. “As for why even the less talented Sovereigns are able to fuse five profound mysteries…after you become a Sovereign, you will understand.”
“After I become a Sovereign?” Linley’s heart trembled.
“Although after you become a Sovereign, your future accomplishments will be significant…” Beirut shook his head. “The stronger you are as a Deity, the better. Back then, you had only fused three profound mysteries. You only relied on the ‘Soulstone’ and the powerful body given to you by your Azure Dragon lineage to defeat Seven Star Fiends.”
“The candidates that I considered generally had fused at least five profound mysteries.” Beirut shook his head and said, “For example, Bluefire. He was the most powerful of them. He had even reached a final bottleneck, and was just one step away from becoming a Paragon.”
Linley sighed in his heart.
Beirut had been keeping watch over a group of people. If he was being completely impartial, Linley wouldn’t even be qualified to become a potential candidate.
“But of course, because of Bebe, I still hoped that you would become a Sovereign.” Beirut laughed.
This was the nature of human relationships. Who wouldn’t hope for the possibility of giving nice things to their closest family and friends?
“However, your improvement speed is indeed fast. Your trip through the Netherworld…made me evaluate you even more seriously.” Beirut smiled. “In fact, I even asked Bluefire to have his original body and his divine earth clone follow you in secret that entire time, protecting you if necessary.”
“Follow in secret?” Linley and Bebe looked at Bluefire in shock.
Bluefire had been tracking him, but they hadn’t realized at all.
“Linley, I was quite surprised, because you actually were able to fuse a fourth profound mystery in the Planar Battlefield! You developed your new supreme technique, ‘Microcosm’.” Beirut laughed. “That technique of yours, especially when combined with the special way of using the Redbud Sovereign’s ‘Amethyst Space’, had already surpassed the techniques of most experts who had fused five types of profound mysteries.”
“In two thousand short years, you had fused four profound mysteries. This sort of speed, even across the entire universe, definitely qualified you as a genius.” Beirut laughed happily. “I was certain that if you continued to train like this, you would absolutely be able to fuse five profound mysteries.”
“And so, then and there, I decided that you would be the candidate to become the Sovereign of Earth.” Beirut said.
Linley let out a moved sigh.
“No wonder.” Bebe mumbled. “No wonder back then, Mr. Leylin appeared.”
“Right. My assignment, by that point, was essentially complete.” Bluefire laughed, and then he looked at Linley. “The Demigod who had received tutelage from me back at Mount Copper Gong had, in two thousand short years, had reached such heights, and was going to be, in the future, my comrade, the Sovereign of Earth. This truly was incredible. Who would have imagined…that shortly after I left, a major problem occurred. I was terrified as well. After all, my Sovereign clone couldn’t leave the Yulan Plane, while my original body wasn’t able to make it in time, even though I hurried back to save you. I was truly worried that you would be killed like Magnus, just like that.”
Beirut let out an emotional sigh as well. “Bluefire told me that you had suffered an attack from Magnus, and that you were a hair away from death. I was very worried as well. Worried that you would die.”
“But who would have imagined that this became your chance to transform!” Beirut’s eyes were shining. “You had four divine clones, yet were able to successfully mutate your soul. This let you become a supreme expert who surpassed the Paragons! Haha…Linley, you, as a Soul Mutate, are even more qualified than Bluefire and myself!”
The more powerful a person was, the more powerful they would naturally become upon becoming a Sovereign!
“Linley, look…” Beirut waved his hand, and a black stone box appeared.
Linley immediately recognized that this black stone box was the box that had been removed from that giant sealing formation.
“You should have already guessed what is inside.” Beirut smiled as he opened the box. He tossed aside the lid, and instantly, two auras of light shot out in every direction, and a heart-shaking aura drifted out from the light. Linley and Bebe couldn’t help but stare raptly towards it.
Within the box was a pair of gems that appeared similar to divine sparks.
The gems seemed to be made of a semi-translucent gray glass. At first glance, it seemed like some sort of jewels. These two gems were emanating two different types of light; one was a deep, weighty, earthen yellow color. The other was a soft, slick azure-green color. In addition, the aura and majesty contained within them made even Linley and Bebe’s hearts tremble.
“These are Sovereign sparks!” Linley was absolutely certain.
Beirut let out a very emotional sigh. “These two Sovereign sparks are the water-type Sovereign spark that came from the Azure Dragon’s corpse, and the earth-type Sovereign spark that came from the Black Tortoise’s corpse! I have already safeguarded these two Sovereign sparks for more than ten thousand years. I was worried that on one of my business trips outside of the Yulan Plane, I might be attacked and killed by the Chief Sovereign of Light. What, then, would happen to these Sovereign sparks? And so I decided that even if I died, I wouldn’t let Augusta acquire them. Thus, I created that seal.”
Linley secretly nodded.
A seal that only Sovereigns could break, and yet was kept in a material plane. The Chief Sovereign of Light truly did have no hope of opening it.
“Alas. How wonderful would it have been if we had a darkness-type Sovereign spark.” Bebe rubbed his jaw twice and mumbled.
Beirut laughed as he glanced at Bebe. “Do you think Sovereign sparks are so easily acquired? Alright, Linley. Let me tell you this. If you want to become a Sovereign, there is only one way, and one way alone; fuse with a Sovereign spark! Regarding Sovereign sparks…ever since the creation of the universe countless years ago, 77 Sovereign sparks naturally descended. Only by training to the Highgod level through your own power can you fuse a Sovereign spark.”
Linley nodded slightly.
Training to become a Sovereign was indeed something which pure effort could accomplish.
“The reason why Sovereigns are so powerful is because of their Sovereign spark. Highgod Paragons, and you, a Soul Mutate, have fused the power of your Will into your souls, yes?” Beirut laughed.
“Right.” Linley nodded.
“Sovereigns are different. Virtually all of the power of their Will is in the Sovereign spark.” Beirut said. “When fusing a Sovereign spark, the boundless Will power held within the Sovereign spark will transform your soul. Because the souls of your other divine clones are part of you, they, too, will receive a partial transformation. But that’s secondary; compared to the Will within the Sovereign spark, the power of the Will of the souls of your clones will be less than ten thousandth!”
Linley nodded slightly.
“Lord Beirut.” Linley asked, puzzled. “There are Lesser, Intermediate, and High ranks amongst Sovereigns. If I become a Lesser Sovereign, but in the future acquire an Intermediate Sovereign spark of the same element, will I be able to fuse it?”
“No.” Beirut didn’t hesitate at all.