Chapter Eighty-Six: Fierce Battle

Qiankun accepted the gift with an expression of delight, yet inwardly he remained calm. Wasn’t it just the power of a Chief God? In truth, after reaching the level of a Highgod, Qiankun’s true soul could already penetrate deep into the ocean of divine power, sensing the endless Chief God’s power within and even gradually absorbing it, drop by drop. Yet this ability sounded too unbelievable, so Qiankun kept it buried in his heart, never mentioning it to anyone. In fact, he had never used Chief God’s power before, for fear others might question the source of his power.

As Qiankun had suspected, Theresia did not ask him to leave together, but only chatted with him for a while before departing. With the might of a Chief God, there was rarely anything that required a Chief God’s envoy to handle.

The days that followed were carefree for Qiankun. However, with Linley’s arrival in the Infernal Realm, his adventures and growth eventually led him back to the Four Divine Beasts clan. The conflict between the Four Divine Beasts clan and the Eight Great Clans grew ever more intense and brutal.

After Linley became an elder of the Azure Dragon clan, he revealed extraordinary strength in several confrontations, slowly drawing the enmity of the Eight Great Clans, who resolved to kill him.

Due to the betrayal of a clan traitor, a trap to ambush Linley was quietly set in motion, awaiting his arrival.

In Youlan Prefecture, Mier City, Qiankun was leisurely savoring delicious food and fine wine at a restaurant. His divine sense quietly spread out, covering a vast area centered on Mier City, enveloping the enormous estate purchased by Tarosa and his companions. There, he discovered Linley, who, together with Delia and their newborn son Wade, was preparing to leave.

Qiankun dared to freely unleash his divine sense without fear of detection because, after reaching the Highgod level, he found that his powerful soul, with the aid of his soul will, allowed his divine sense to be as undetectable as that of a Paragon—so subtle that even Ashura-level experts could hardly sense it.

Once Linley and his party departed from Mier City aboard their massive silver wolf-shaped metallic lifeform, Qiankun quietly left the city and followed them.

Not long after the metallic lifeform left Mier City, Delia, who was speaking with Linley in one of the rooms, suddenly sensed eight waves of divine sense almost simultaneously enveloping the metallic lifeform. Everyone within was within the range of their search; many Azure Dragon clan members with Highgod strength showed a change of expression.

“Linley, there are eight Highgods probing this metallic lifeform,” Delia hurriedly communicated via divine sense, without even having time to speak aloud.

Linley’s face changed dramatically; he immediately spread out his own divine sense to investigate.

Outside, in midair, eight gray-robed figures hurtled down toward the metallic lifeform. Three of them, in particular, radiated an overwhelming, terrifying energy that made Linley’s heart tremble—he instantly recognized it as Chief God’s power.

“Chief God’s power?” Linley’s face turned ashen.

Of the eight black-robed figures, one suddenly slowed, while the other seven, three of whom were surging with Chief God’s power, charged straight for the metallic lifeform, homing in on Linley’s secluded chamber.

“Linley, run!” The voices of Purslo and Vettra burst into Linley’s mind; they had clearly detected the enemy before him.

But it was too late. The assault was too sudden and too swift.

Boom! The terrifying energy struck the metallic lifeform, which, in the face of such power, was as fragile as paper, instantly exploding apart. Shards of metal flew in all directions. With a furious roar, Linley’s draconic scales erupted forth and he immediately transformed.

Shards whistled through the air as Delia ducked low, shielding her son Wade.

“Delia, run!” Linley shoved Delia away, shouting via divine sense, “Vettra, protect Delia!”

The enemies were clearly targeting him. At this level of confrontation, only he and Purslo could handle it.

“Linley!” Delia was propelled away like an arrow. She instantly enveloped herself in a protective shield of divine power, securing little Wade, but still glanced back. She saw the hazy, earthen yellow radiance spreading out—Gravity Space! Then a blue aura—Water Chief God’s power! In an instant, Linley unleashed all his strength.

A fiery figure charged forth, shouting, “Delia, get far away—the battle is ours!”

Boom! An earth-shattering explosion erupted from the core of the earthen yellow barrier. Space itself split with jagged cracks, and the surging energy rippled outward like waves. The weaker clan members caught in its path were instantly obliterated.

In a flash, an intense battle broke out. Surrounded by seven Seven-Star Fiends—three of whom wielded Chief God’s power—Linley faced an unprecedented crisis. Despite desperate resistance, his scales were torn, blood spattered, and his body plummeted from the sky like a meteor, crashing violently into the ground.

Almost simultaneously, a blazing red light streaked through the sky, accompanied by a piercing scream, as Elder Nis, shrouded in Chief God’s power, fell from the heavens—his head incinerated to nothingness. Purslo had struck.

“You…” The Eight Great Elders, previously brimming with momentum, were stunned by Purslo’s sudden assault. The remaining seven stared in shock at the red-haired giant, his body enveloped in Fire Chief God’s power, gripping a long, horned divine artifact.

“Linley!” Purslo had no time for their astonishment, sending his divine sense underground.

“Linley!” Delia’s face turned deathly pale as she cried out, “Elder Vettra, quick, help Linley!”

“All right, but keep your distance and don’t get caught up in the crossfire,” Vettra replied via divine sense. Without hesitation, he unleashed Chief God’s power and charged into battle, making the distant seven elders pale.

They quickly communicated among themselves and decided that the strongest, Elder Chabu, would entangle Purslo, while the female elder Annecy would desperately block Vettra, and the remaining five would focus on killing Linley.

Chabu struck first, flying close to Purslo, and with him at the center, tens of thousands of green vines unfurled, enshrouding Purslo in a green mist—Chabu’s ultimate restraining technique, Dance of Life—not to kill, but to bind.

Led by Elder Tanpu, the five others charged underground to deal with Linley.

The earth trembled and churned. Soon, as the ground fractured, Linley and the five elders burst out one after another.

“Linley!” At the sight of him, Delia’s tears flowed. Linley’s arm was severed, blood still streaming, and his chest bore a ghastly wound—white bone visible.

Elder Chabu grew anxious seeing the five had not finished Linley, and at that moment, Elder Annecy fell to Vettra.

“Linley, I’m coming to help!” Vettra rushed toward Linley.

“Haha! Your Chief God’s power is nearly depleted—let’s see how you bind me now!” Purslo laughed triumphantly. Dance of Life was a powerful restraint technique, but the myriad vines consumed vast amounts of Chief God’s power, draining it rapidly.

“Tanpu, you must kill Linley!” Chabu’s anguished roar was heard. As he howled, countless green lights burst from his body, scattering in all directions.

With a final effort, Purslo struck down Elder Chabu, the strongest among them, with his horned divine artifact.