Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 4, Seize Them


    After leaving the city of Fansi, Linley’s group immediately rode on their metallic lifeform to head towards the Skyrite Mountains.


    “The Skyrite Mountains are located within the northern borders of Indigo Prefecture. From Fansi City, there is a distance of nearly two hundred million kilometers. To fly there will take half a year.” Linley felt rather rxed.


    After knowing where the Four Divine Beasts n was, Linley also understood: “Most likely, this ce is too far away from the Skyrite Mountains, which is why the Boleyn n dared to be so arrogant.” This was Linley’s guess.


    “Another half year to go.” Bebe stretchedzily, letting out a long sigh, then looked at Linley. “Heh heh, Boss, let’s have a contest and see who will be the first to master a fifth profound mystery. What do you say?”


    Linley had already reached thete stages in training in the Profound Truths of Strength.


    As for Bebe, he had already reached a peak with regards to this fifth profound mystery of Darkness, and as soon as he gained an insight, he would break through. But ‘insights’ were something that one could hope for but not count on. Who knew how long Bebe would take?


    Linley immediately calmed down and began training.


    While training, time passed extremely quickly. Linley was only awakened from his training on three asions. By the fourth time he opened his eyes, they were only a few hundred thousand kilometers away from the Skyrite Mountains and were about to arrive.


    The metallic lifeform’s front became transparent, and Linley’s group couldpletely see through the metallic lifeform to the front.


    “Skyrite Mountains! The Four Divine Beasts n!” Linley felt that his breathing was growing ragged. The blood in his body was beginning to boil. He hade all the way over here from the Yn continent. Finally, he was returning to his own n.


    “I can see it. The Skyrite Mountains are up ahead.” Delia said in delight.


    Linley’s eyes were shining.


    One massive mountain peak after another could be seen piercing through the clouds and the sky, each of them astonishingly high. The reason why this area was known as the ‘Skyrite’ Mountains was precisely because so many mountain peaks here were so tall.


    “That is...”


    Linley’s eyes couldn’t help but light up. He saw an enormous bird of almost the same size as a mountain peak that looked as though it was about to take flight, its entire body surrounded by mes. Its feathers were fiery red, and it had green plumage on its forehead. Linley and the others could all feel the dominating aura which emanated forth from it.


    “What an enormous sculpture.” Linley couldn’t help but be amazed. “It has to be at least a hundred kilometers tall.” The tallest mountain peaks of the Skyrite Mountains reached upwards of tens of thousands of meters.


    This enormous sculpture wasparable in height to the tallest of mountain peaks.


    From the book he had read half a year ago, Linley had gained a better understanding of the Four Divine Beasts n and had learned that the ‘Four Divine Beasts’ referred to the ‘Azure Dragon’, the ‘White Tiger’, the ‘Vermilion Bird’, and the ‘ck Tortoise.’ Just from the names ‘Azure Dragon’ and ‘White Tiger’, Linley was able to understand what the creatures represented.


    But Linley had never heard of a ‘Vermilion Bird’ or a ‘ck Tortoise’.


    After carefully reading through the book as well as reviewing some of the pictures in the book, Linley learned that a ‘Vermilion Bird’ was a fire-type divine beast that was simr to a ‘Fire Phoenix’, but which was far more powerful. As for the ‘ck Tortoise’, it was an earth-type divine beast that seemed quite simr in appearance to the ‘Dragon-Turtles’ which Linley had seen before.


    Even the divine beast ‘Azure Dragon’ was not like those enormous winged dragons that he had seen on the Yn continent, nor was it like the Tyrant Wyrms. It was a dominating, noble, and utterly perfect, true divine beast.


    The most powerful water-type divine beast – the Azure Dragon.


    “The southern parts of the Skyrite Mountains should be where the Vermilion Bird n resides.” Linley immediately controlled the metallic lifeform, ordering it to fly towards the northeast.


    Indeed, the eastern part of the Skyrite Mountains was where the Azure Dragon n lived.


    “This...”


    In mid-air, staring afar at the distant sight of the Azure Dragon’s ‘Redding’ n, Linley was stupefied. Even Delia, Bebe, Olivier, Tarosse, and the others were so shocked, they couldn’t speak.


    An enormous, coiling dragon that was over tens of thousands kilometers long was within the mountain range.


    Of course, it wasn’t a real dragon.


    This enormous coiling dragon covered an area of tens of thousands of kilometers, and carved atop of its massive body were giant draconic scales. At the same time, it was also, in and of itself, a long passageway in the mountains, and the entire passageway emitted an azure light. From afar, it truly looked like an enormous, terrifying Azure Dragon!


    “To build an enormous edifice of tens of thousands of kilometers long in the Infernal Realm is...unbelievable.” Tarosse sighed in shock.


    “Look carefully. The entire body of this Azure Dragon is actually one long passageway, with many castles and residences around that passageway.” Dylin said loudly.


    Linley waspletely lost in the awe-inspiring sight before him. A ‘dragon passageway’ that was tens of thousands of kilometers long and which coiled through the mountains, with castles and estates surrounding its perimeter and which formed a perfect whole with it.


    In front of the dragon’s head was an enormous golden castle, which looked like a dragon pearl.


    “The aura and majesty alone far surpasses any n that I’ve ever seen.” Linley was truly stunned.


    The Four Divine Beasts n had originally dominated the Four Higher nes and Seven Divine nes. Even after their fall, they wouldn’t forget the former glory of their n. Naturally, they cared deeply about the construction of their n’s headquarters.


    Although they had seen it from afar, Linley’s group had to fly for quite a while before arriving at the base of the Skyrite Mountains.


    Standing at the base of the mountains, Linley’s group stared afar through the ‘dragon passageway’, staring at the many patrolling soldiers dressed in azure armor. For a moment, they felt their hearts clench. At a nce, the warriors here were more than ten thousand in number.


    But Linley’s group could tell that every single one of them was a Highgod!


    “So many experts!” Tarosse sighed in amazement. “The Four Divine Beasts n really lives up to its name. At least in the number of Highgod warriors, it isn’t the slightest bit inferior to the Bagshaw n.”


    “This is a true, powerful, great n.” Dylin sighed in amazement as well.


    Salomon’s ‘Boyd’ n had been decent, but these ns, whenpared to the Bagshaw n or the Four Divine Beasts n, were nothing at all. Look at the Bagshaw n or the Four Divine Beasts n; every single soldier in their n army was a Highgod.


    “This is the Azure Dragon n!” Linley felt his blood pumping. “My roots, the roots of my Baruch n!”


    This seemingly endless dragon passageway gave Linley such a familiar feeling, one which made the blood in his veins thunder. It was a feeling akin to when the prodigal son returned home. The sense of belonging was extremely strong.


    “Linley.” Delia held Linley’s hand.


    Linley turned to nce at Delia. The two, looking at each other, couldn’t help butugh. They had experienced nearly seven centuries of turbulence. When they had firste to the Infernal Realm, Linley was just a Demigod. But now, he could effortless kill ordinary Highgods.


    They had made their way over. And now, finally, they had reached their destination.


    The root and foundation of the Four Supreme Warriors!


    The legendary Four Divine Beasts n’s gathering point: The Indigo Prefecture’s ‘Skyrite Mountains’!


    “Who goes there!” A loud shout from up above.


    From the wide dragon passageway, ten soldiers who had previously been on patrol flew over, and the captain of the squad barked, “This is an important area of my Azure Dragon n. You need to leave immediately.”


    Laughing, Linley replied, “Gentlemen, I myself am a branch member of the Azure Dragon n. I have been in the Infernal Realm for a very long time, but I’ve finally made it here.”


    “Hurry up and wee us.” Bebe said loudly. “It’s been so long, and we’ve really been exhausted.”


    “You belong to a branch of my Redding n?” The captain looked at Linley dubiously. “Kid, the members of my n returned a long, long time ago.” The other members of the patrol didn’t quite believe it either.


    “You should know that our Azure Dragon n is capable of Dragonforming.” One of the patrolling soldiers said.


    Linleyughed.


    “Crackle...” Immediately, azure-golden draconic scales sprouted from everywhere on Linley’s body, and a spike emerged from his forehead. Linley’s dark golden eyes stared at the captain. “Now, do you believe me?”


    Those patrolling soldiers all began tough as well.


    The captain was also all smiles. “Indeed! And judging from your body’s aura, it seems as though youe from a fairly pure lineage. But howe you have those spikes on your back? Still, there’s no mistaking that aura.”


    Dragonforming was a very simple way by which one could tell if one was a member of the Azure Dragon n or not.


    The Draconians of the ‘beastmen’ race werepletely different from the Dragonform of the Azure Dragon n. In terms of both power as well as aura, the difference was tremendous. They just looked a bit simr.


    “Haha, brother, you’ve had an arduous trip.” The captain immediatelyughed and went to wee them, saying in a sincere voice, “When our n retreated from the various nes, we really were in too much of a rush. Most likely, at that time, you weren’t able toe back with everyone else at the time.”


    The captain let out a long sigh.


    “At that time, our main army returned as well, but it was disastrous. That year, my brother died in battle.” Tears glimmered at the corner of the captain’s eyes. “Let’s go. Let’s go home! At home, you’ll be safe.”


    The two words, “go home”, caused Linley to tremble with emotion.


    “These friends of mine came alongside me.” Linley said.


    “Them?” The captain frowned.


    “What is it?” Linley was puzzled.


    The captain said with a frown. “These are your friends, and you n to live with them?”


    “Right.” Linley nodded. “They risked life and death to travel with me. It would be good if we can live together. What, is that forbidden?”


    “It’s not that it cannot be done.” The captain reflected for a moment, then said, “The administrative rules of our n are quite strict. If it was just you by yourself, you would receive a superb wee, but if you want to bring them in, you’ll have to live in a fairly distant, remote part of the Skyrite Mountains.”


    “Remote is fine with me.” Linley shook his head.


    “That’s fine then.” The captain nodded, thenughed. “Come, go with me to register yourself. We’ll investigate what branch you belong to. Hey, you guys cane along as well.” The captain addressed Tarosse and Bebe and the others.


    Linley’s group immediately flew in along with the ten patrol soldiers.


    “Brother, my name is Yeer [Yi’er]. I came back from the Divine Fire ne. Which ne are you from? How could your lineage be so pure?” While walking, the captain asked in a warm, friendly manner.


    “Right, which ne are you from?” The other patrolling soldiersughed as well.


    “I, I’m from the Yn ne.” Linleyughed.


    The captain’s expression instantly hardened, and the same thing happened with the other soldiers.


    “Seize them!” Captain Yeer shouted icily, and immediately, the other nine patrolling soldiers moved aside as fast as lightning, immediately surrounding Linley’s group of people. From higher up the ‘dragon passageway’, many patrolling soldiers who saw these going-on’s immediately flew over as well.


    Linley’s group was stupefied.


    “Hey, what’s this all about?” Bebe immediately shouted.


    Linley just looked at the captain. “Captain Yeer, what’s going on? Why are you suddenly seizing me?”


    Captain Yeer said calmly, “Sorry, brother! The Azure Dragon ‘Redding’ n, although spread out across many nes, is only spread out across the Higher nes and the Divine nes. I’ve never heard of a Yn ne.”


    “Aren’t I a member of the Azure Dragon n?” Linley asked.


    “You are. I’m certain of this.” Yeer nodded.


    “However, if we can’t bepletely certain of your history and which lineage you belong to, then you can’t bepletely trusted either.” The captain said emotionlessly. “Some members were scattered across the universe when they were young, and were raised by other ns, who trained them and then sent them back to be spies! This has happened more than once.”


    In the past ten thousand years, the Azure Dragon n had be exceedingly cautious. Because...they had suffered too much previously when they weren’t.


    “You suspect me of being a spy?” Linley found it hard to believe.


    “Captain Yeer, if I were a spy, I wouldn’t say I’m from the Yn ne. I would make up a perfect identity and status.” Linley said urgently.


    Delia spoke out as well. “Captain Yeer, you might not have heard of the Yn ne lineage, but that doesn’t mean others in your n haven’t heard of it either. Please go investigate first.”


    “Hmph. Which lineage am I unaware of?” Captain Yeer was extremely confident.


    “What’s going on here?” A bark rang out from above, and a middle-aged man dressed in light gray robes flew over.


    Captain Yeer, upon seeing this person, immediately said with respect, “Milord, there is a person here who ims to be a member of our Azure Dragon n, and indeed, he has the lineage of the Azure Dragon n. However, he ims he is from the Yn ne lineage. I have never heard that our n has a branch in a ‘Yn ne’.”


    “Oh?” The middle-aged man looked towards Linley’s group in astonishment.


    “The Yn ne branch?” The middle-aged man looked towards them. “Who?”


    “Me.” Linley stood up.


    The middle-aged manughed. “Right, our Azure Dragon n does in fact have a branch on the Yn ne.”


    Captain Yeer and the other soldiers were all surprised.


    “This was something from six thousand years ago. Not many people know this.” The middle-aged man said with a calmugh. “Their branch called themselves the ‘Baruch’ n. Quite peculiar. Nobody knows which elder ended up starting up this branch.”