A single event stirs a thousand waves.
The emperor is the supreme ruler of the empire, at least in name. Benson Park accepting blessings from the Dark Church signals a significant political shift, a fact even ordinary citizens understand as submission and compliance. This blessing is seen as a reward from a superior to an inferior.
Previously, the Park Empire and the Dark Church maintained a relatively equal relationship. Now, the power dynamic has shifted unmistakably.
Outsiders are abuzz with discussions, while only a few high-ranking insiders grasp the gravity of this signal. Regardless of their opinions, they can't change the current situation or the future course of events. The real decision-makers are not the traditional managers within the empire but the god-level beings behind the scenes!
In the face of gods, numbers are meaningless. Even hordes are just cannon fodder, with holy domain beings as the unit of measure.
With this change, the entire Park Empire's internal power structures are being reshuffled, causing a flurry of activity and excitement.
...
Her pupils contract with a premonition that this man has grown stronger since their last meeting. She feels a faint sense of powerlessness in his presence, her muscles instinctively tensing.
"By the way, you don't know what demons are..."
Her fingers, elementalized and fused into a sword, slice through space effortlessly, changing into phantom divine beasts. The transformations are smooth and natural, without any awkwardness, completing the final step of comprehension and fusion.
Linn, dressed in a plain shirt and draped in a blue-black cloak, sits cross-legged, his eyes closed. His expression is indifferent and cold, with his hair fluttering in the chilly wind.
She doesn't continue, but Linn understands, his brow deeply furrowed, recognizing this as a time-lagged attack.
Sometimes, understanding comes in a flash of inspiration.
Linn thinks he probably knows more about certain things than she does, but he feigns curiosity, looking at her with anticipation.
His thoughts are somewhat chaotic when suddenly thunder rumbles, and lightning cleaves the sky, rapidly gathering moisture in the air.
This plane suffered a god war over five thousand years ago, and its resources have yet to recover. It's unlikely to gain significant attention now.
Aisha feels relieved, thinking that no matter how talented he is, he is just a native of a material plane. The universe is far beyond his imagination. She starts explaining with a bit of show-off attitude.
Understanding different elements can be beneficial to rule cultivation, like finding fire explosion mysteries in waterfalls. It's not surprising since all elemental laws and rules share some commonalities at their core.
Linn looks at her intently and asks seriously, "You must have a way to communicate with the higher realms, right?"
On the highest 'Heaven Tower,' clouds and mist swirl, with phantom divine beasts emitting dragon roars and phoenix cries. The illusions are both real and unreal, true and false.
Linn knows he underestimated the difficulty of merging three mysteries. It's much harder than merging two, even with his exceptional talent as the foundation. Otherwise, achieving such integration in a short time is merely wishful thinking, barring extraordinary luck.
Aisha frowns, deciding to be forthright.
In the soul space of his holy domain main body, Linn's fate avatar experiences slight progress.
"Heart of thunder..."
He's surprised by the frequency of god wars. Five or six thousand years is insignificant for god-level beings, but fighting two wars on a material plane, plus countless similar planes, is extraordinary.
Linn sips tea leisurely, showing no interest in continuing this topic.
Water is a core part of the natural world, essential to countless destinies and changes.
Seeing this, Aisha realizes it's impossible to lead the conversation or take control with this man. Their strength gap is apparent from the moment they interacted, and she's at a natural disadvantage.
Aisha tries a light-hearted, joking approach.
Linn nods, inviting her to 'Heaven Tower.' After sitting down, he casually retrieves tea from his space ring, and they chat about various topics.
The heavy rain cleanses the world, bringing vitality and washing away the mundane.
Linn listens carefully, comparing her words to his diary, finding no discrepancies.
His understanding of water technique is nearing completion. The fusion with the mysteries of water and mist elements is almost perfect, yet he's stuck at a final barrier, seemingly close yet possibly far from breakthrough.
Indeed, while his water god avatar cultivates the elemental mysteries, his fate avatar also benefits, a seemingly illogical yet perfectly reasonable process.
"The conflict between the Natural and Dark Churches is irreconcilable. Within a hundred to a thousand years, their higher realm forces will deploy god-level beings to countless material planes, where only one side will survive."
Aisha admires Linn's artistic mastery, a reflection of his profound character.
She admits confidently, revealing, "Yes, I have a holy domain main body in the headquarters of the Four Divine Beasts families of Hell."
Many of her kin have similar capabilities, facilitating swift communication with their primary family.
Shocked, Aisha speaks evenly, "We need to talk."
A suitable technique can unleash multiple times the attack power in an instant.
But Linn hasn't settled on a direction yet.
The rain remains outside their sanctuary.
Such a vast operation across multiple planes surely has the main gods' endorsement, indicating the seriousness of the current situation.
The intensity of the upcoming faith war exceeds Linn's expectations, a fight to the bitter end.
"The Dark Church likely faces a similar situation, with four and five-star demons considered powerful even in the higher realms, invincible in most material planes."
Aisha notes the significance of these revelations, her calm facade belying her inner turmoil.
Linn nods, his smile reflecting satisfaction. His full mastery transforms even his rough techniques into seamless moves, showcasing the depth of his extraordinary talent.
A burst of inspiration lights up Linn's face, a radiant smile that even the pouring rain can't dim.
Aisha, realizing Linn might not be familiar with demons, briefly explains the concept.
With a bitter nod, Aisha confesses, "I wouldn't have come to you if it weren't urgent. If our Natural Church's god-level beings arrive first in this material plane, we might have a chance. Otherwise..."
"Boom!"
"Let's be straightforward, Mr. Linn."
In the Blackstone Duke's domain.
Linn, with a twinkle in his eye, says with a smile, "Miss Aisha, what if I said I don't want to join either side?"
Swoosh!
A powerful aura suddenly descends, surprising Aisha as she gazes at the rapidly appearing young man. "He's incredibly fast!"
Seeking fresh perspectives, Linn decides to forge his own unique techniques!
The might of six-star and seven-star demons is legendary, and above them are Asuras, unmentioned by Aisha, perhaps deemed unnecessary.
"This technique combines physical and soul attacks and can adapt at will. Let's name it Phantom Sword!"
Pausing mid-drink, Linn sets his cup down and inquires earnestly, "Are you certain?"
Thus, any envoys sent here would be at most four or five-star demons."
There's more good news!
"Hmm..."
Linn gazes through the rain, contemplating the natural landscape of mountains, rivers, and forests...
Aisha's glance at Linn carries a depth of meaning, her eyes cooling slightly as if she's pondering and formulating plans.
The grandeur of these architectural marvels, all credited to the Blackstone Duke, speaks volumes of his artistic prowess.
In this world, merging mysteries is foundational, but without a complementary technique, one risks being at a disadvantage among equals.
Linn welcomes Aisha warmly, "Miss Aisha, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit to my Blackstone domain?"
"Something's missing..."
"Mr. Linn, a genius of ascension from the material plane. It appears your strength has progressed further in less than a century."
Another thunderclap resounds, echoing both in the world and in Linn's heart.
"That's it! I've been overly focused on Misty Illusion as the core. Ultimately, this is a law of water, not mist. Mist is just a form!"
Above the Blackstone Duke's domain, a woman admires the grandeur of the palaces, impressed by their splendor.
Suddenly, Linn's smile recedes as he senses a familiar presence approaching. Rising promptly, he moves to welcome the arrival.
Instantly, the myriad phantasmal divine beasts transform into an array of weapons, their fierce aura tearing through the heavens and fracturing space.
Objects trigger memories of people.
In a moment of silence during the slightly tense atmosphere.
Aisha exhales and states plainly, "I can offer no guarantees. When the higher beings arrive, I won't be in command."
Her words are succinct, but Linn grasps their full meaning and the...
Warning!
A native god-level being who tries to stay neutral, avoiding allegiance, is likely to be purged by the incoming higher realm god-level beings.
Cruel? Undoubtedly. But more so, it's a stark reality.