Chapter 235: Fiery Passion (33)

The border line between Kaowangguo and Allen Kingdom had a very steep mountain range called the Aimong Mountain Range.

The mountain range runs north-south, stretching nearly 3000 kilometers, extending from the Nature Alliance all the way into the Radiant Empire, making it one of the highest and longest mountain ranges on the White Continent.

Within the range, layered peaks rise, strange peaks proliferate, and human habitation is rare.

Clip-clop~~ clip-clop~~

That day, on a narrow mountain path, two horseback travelers appeared.

No one else, it was Luosen and Mother Nature Qi Ge Rui La Na.

The reason is simple: they were seeking the resting place of the Heavenly Father of Divine Might.

Lana~ This place is really remote.

Qi Ge Rui La Na raised a hand to wipe sweat from her cheek: "When sleeping, one is most vulnerable, and only in such a place can one sleep safely."

She is now a Nine-ring Mage, of course not through her own breakthrough but thanks to Luosen's help.

She paused, then explained: "Actually, even I cannot precisely locate my grandfather's resting place; I only know a general area."

Luosen somewhat understood: "Even close relatives cannot truly be at ease, can they?"

Qi Ge Rui La Na showed a hint of embarrassment: "Yes, endless time can wear away all mortal feelings. Marital love and filial affection cannot serve as true guarantees."

Having said that, she turned to look at Luosen: "Probably because I've seen too much worldly emotion, I always feel some worry."

"What are you worried about?"

"I worry that we might become enemies in the future."

Luosen couldn't guarantee that either.

If we talk about ten or even twenty or thirty years, he would still dare to promise, but high-ranking mages have lifespans of hundreds of years—who knows what will happen in a century? On Earth, a hundred years ago wooden sailboats floated on the sea, and a hundred years later they could send people into space.

After thinking, he said: "We can't just neglect the present because of future changes, can we?"

"Leave future worries to our future selves to worry about."

Qi Ge Rui La Na felt much more relieved, nodding in agreement: "That's right."

At that moment, the two passed through a dangerous gorge resembling a 'One Line Sky' and entered a fairly spacious mountain basin.

In the basin, vegetation was lush and verdant, beasts and birds gathered in flocks, extremely abundant.

Standing at the basin's entrance, Qi Ge Rui La Na closed her eyes and quickly traced hand seals before her chest.

As the spell operated, threads of light emanated from her body, turning into countless green rays that swiftly moved through the mountain valleys and flora.

After a full ten minutes, Qi Ge Rui La Na said: "Alright, I have informed my grandfather of our arrival."

"Next we'll find a place to wait patiently; at most three days, my grandfather will come to find us."

Luosen silently sighed: "This is really cautious."

Then let's wait.

The two found a dry cave sheltered from wind and rain, lit a campfire, and began waiting patiently for the arrival of the Heavenly Father of Divine Might.

It wasn't just idle waiting.

After unloading their luggage from the horses and setting up two simple beds, Luosen used Transformation Technique to conjure a simple table and chairs inside the cave, then placed snacks and water on the table.

Then the two began to study the details of the doctrines of the New Natural Doctrine.

This was extremely tedious, involving clauses covering every aspect of society.

It was also very important; each doctrine would affect the future of the Nature Alliance.

The two focused on their discussion, soon losing track of time.

In the blink of an eye, it was the afternoon of the third day.

Qi Ge Rui La Na, feeling a bit tired from sitting, stretched and evaluated:

"No matter how you handle it, divine and secular authority will always clash. I feel that, with the current doctrines, divine interference in secular affairs is still too great."

To Luosen's surprise, this official Mother Nature was actually a radical reformer who wished to shrink divine authority as much as possible, preferably eliminating it entirely.

This is understandable, as one of her main goals in initially reforming the Nature Divine Sect was to make the voice in her head a little quieter.

Luosen, however, held a different opinion.

"I actually feel it's now a bit too small."

"After all, we rely on popular faith to resist demons; if divine authority is too weak, the people's perception will weaken."

This reason was fully sufficient, and Qi Ge Rui La Na agreed, but she had some concerns:

"But the voice in the head is still annoying; you've been wearing the True Name Ring all the time, surely it's uncomfortable, right?"

"It's fine; I'm used to it."

Qi Ge Rui La Na, only because Luosen was comforting others, felt moved yet ashamed, after all this suffering ought to have been hers to bear.

"You say, is there a way to completely transfer this voice onto a faith puppet?"

"It's probably difficult, because the power of faith is tightly bound to the divine name 'Mother Nature Qi Ge Rui La Na,' unless."

"Unless what?"

"Unless the Nature Divine Sect establishes a new god, transferring the divine office of Mother Nature to that new god, then you would be completely free of the bond."

Qi Ge Rui La Na's eyes lit up: "Ah~ This sounds like a good idea!"

Before her words faded, an angry elderly voice suddenly came from the cave entrance.

"Good fart!"

Upon hearing that voice, Qi Ge Rui La Na's face instantly turned pale; she hurriedly stood up and pulled Luosen up as well.

"Grandfather has arrived."

With the footsteps, an old man with white hair and beard, yet his hair and beard bristling, eyes wide open, tall and upright like a charging general, strode into the cave.

He was precisely the founder of the Nature Divine Sect, the Heavenly Father of Divine Might Aota'ergalse.

Faced with such a renowned Heavenly Father of Divine Might, Luosen did not dare to slight him, immediately rising to greet him.

As he drew near, he saw that the old man's cheek bore a long, deep scar, running from the right temple all the way to the left chin, nearly splitting his head in half.

Although it had healed, looking at it was still extremely creepy.

He walked into the cave, and the old man went straight to sit in the empty third chair, his gaze fixed on Luosen: "Do you know who left this scar on my face?"

Luosen gave an embarrassed smile: "It must have been left by my ancestor."

"Hmph!"

The old man slammed the shifting stone table: "Over three thousand years ago, you Steel Dragons opposed me!"

"Three thousand years later, a descendant pops up—not only coveting my granddaughter but also plotting to seize my Natural Alliance—it makes me furious!"

Qi Ge Rui La Na immediately said: "Grandfather, that's all from over three thousand years ago—why do you remember it so vividly?"

The old man glared at her angrily: "To you it's three thousand years, but to me it's less than five hundred!"

After saying that, he drew a deep breath and then exhaled slowly, as if trying to vent the pent-up air in his chest.

After several deep breaths, he couldn't help coughing repeatedly, prompting Qi Ge Rui La Na to rush forward and rub his back to ease his breath.

After a while, the old man finally recovered, weakly waving his hand: "Forget it, forget it—let's not bring up past grievances."

He didn't even have the strength to mention it.

He turned and glared at Luosen: "Out with it—what's your purpose?"

Luosen had already prepared his words; he first outlined the current state of the world.

When he mentioned that the Lord of Radiance was causing trouble for the Natural Alliance, the elderly Heavenly Father of Divine Might exploded again.

"That wretched little Mi Sai is still running around causing trouble—it makes me furious!"

He slapped the table, feeling the urge to rush overnight and attack Bu Ye Gong.

Luosen exchanged a startled glance with Qi Ge Rui La Na, thinking: "His temper is way too explosive!"

He could sense that the Heavenly Father of Divine Might's soul still held the strength of nine rings, but it was extremely chaotic and could collapse at any moment.

This was truly a wind‑candle in its last breath—he could die any moment and it wouldn't be surprising, yet his temper remained explosively fiery; in his youth he must have been a powder keg, ready to blow at the slightest spark.

No wonder he's called the Heavenly Father of Divine Might.

Qi Ge Rui La Na wore a look of helplessness and embarrassment.

The old man continued: "All right, go on."

Luosen kept speaking, all the way to "We plan to found a Natural Empire and marry Qi Ge Rui La Na as empress," when the Heavenly Father of Divine Might grew dissatisfied.

"Why can't my granddaughter be empress and you be her minister?!"

Qi Ge Rui La Na couldn't help shouting: "Grandfather, please spare me—such a huge empire, I can't manage it!"

Seeing her like that, the Heavenly Father of Divine Might sighed deeply: "Our descendants are useless!"

He gestured with his hand for Luosen to continue.

Then Luosen said: "I myself have advanced to eleven rings and gained some knowledge; I can help you advance to the tenth ring, increasing your strength while greatly extending your lifespan."

He paused, then added: "In fact, if you wish, with your talent ascending to legendary rank wouldn't be difficult at all."

"Then your conscious lifespan should increase by over a hundred years."

The Heavenly Father of Divine Might's eyelid twitched violently: "Really?!"

Luosen looked at Qi Ge Rui La Na: "Look at your granddaughter—she already has nine‑ring magic power, thanks to my help." Qi Ge Rui La Na also said: "Grandfather, nowadays magical arts have advanced tremendously, producing countless astonishing achievements."

"Luosen's magical accomplishments have reached an unimaginable height; not only that, he has successfully helped many mages break through the ring barrier."

"And to help you advance steadily, he even carried out extensive trials for a long time."

The Heavenly Father of Divine Might believed him mostly.

After all, he's about to die, so there's nothing worth scheming over.

Yet he still found it unbelievable: "Young man, aren't you afraid that once I ascend to legendary rank I'll retake control of the Natural Alliance and oppose you specifically?"

Luosen shook his head: "Not afraid."

"Mmm… you're quite confident—far more so than your ancestor."

"But you probably don't know that I can oppose the Lord of Radiance's ten rings with my nine‑ring magic power—and it's not luck!"

"If I ascend to legendary rank, you might not be my match."

Regarding this, Luosen was also very curious.

After thinking a bit, he said: "Old sir, I'm not sure if I'm your match, but I'll now show you a powerful move."

If you feel you can also use it, or block it, then in the near future Natural Empire, La Na will be Empress and I will be the Empress's husband.

Heavenly Father of Divine Might was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing loudly.

Ha~ Interesting, interesting, you young man speak so straightforwardly, ha ha~

After laughing, he seriously said: "It's clear you've made a lot of preparations."

Then let me see your abilities.

Qi Ge Rui La Na was a bit worried: "Luosen, don't joke, I really don't want to get into this trouble."

Managing a new-era empire of over six hundred million people, and going up against the Radiant Empire, the Holy Elves Empire, and even the demon kingdom across the sea, is no joke.

She asked herself she couldn't do it; just thinking about it made her scalp go numb.

Heavenly Father of Divine Might felt his granddaughter was disappointing, and shouted angrily: "Na Na, this is a matter between us men, don't speak!"

Qi Ge Rui La Na naturally feared her grandfather, so she could only remain silent.

Luosen smiled faintly.

Old sir, then you just watch.

While speaking, he raised his hand slightly upward, consuming about 50 Luosen of legendary mana, lifting the ground a hundred meters ahead into an earthen rectangular solid 30 meters thick, 30 meters high, and 50 meters long.

Because this spell is not violent, it does not damage the legendary crystal.

Heavenly Father of Divine Might was greatly startled, his beard trembling: "What immense mana!"

This spell is truly ferocious, hardly like power a mortal could wield.

Luosen chuckled darkly: "Of course it's rich; I carry a legendary crystal that stores 500 Luosen mana."

He pointed at the thick dirt mound and said, "Old sir, next I'll use a spell to pierce this mound."

Heavenly Father Shenwei looked at the mound, face full of disbelief: "Go ahead and pierce it so I can see?"

Luosen first handed over an ice talisman: "Wear this, so you won't be hurt by the spell's aftershock."

"As if the spell's aftershock could hurt me!"

Although he talked tough, he still honestly took the talisman.

Luosen walked to the cave entrance, raised his hand pointing at the mound, and silently thought: "Laifu, expend a flawless crystal worth 100 Luosen, stack waves focus, arcane ray."

Before the thought even finished, the other two present felt a surge of mana flash by, centered on Luosen's body, violently expanding into a wave of fierce power.

This is the 99 Luosen mana scattered from the shattered legendary crystal.

Once the mana dispersed, it immediately decayed into various kinds of energy.

Because it was chaotic and unorganized, its strength wasn't high; at one meter out it fell below Ten Rings.

Even so, it heated the cave stone walls to a glowing red, dripping down a large pile of lava like melting wax.

Yet one Luosen mana remained, focused into Legendary 12 mana, then transformed into an extremely condensed arcane ray.

Only see a arm-thick purple-black ray shoot from Luosen's finger, its texture condensed like metal, after rushing 50 meters it pierced straight through the huge dirt mound.

Piercing through wasn't the end.

It continued through the forest, traveling 200 meters before striking the cliff wall, leaving a bottomless hole in the stone.

Heavenly Father Shenwei's eyes widened instantly.

He disregarded his old age and quickly ran to the mound to inspect.

He discovered that looking from this side of the mound, he could faintly see light from the other side; reaching out to touch the hole's four walls, they were smooth as a mirror, only slightly warm.

He also ran to the cliff wall 200 meters away, examined the hole there, found it similar, and measured its depth—it was a full five meters.

After returning to Luosen's side again, this powerhouse who had roamed the White Continent for thousands of years said nothing, just stared at Luosen without pause.

Luosen smiled: "Old sir, can you block it?"

"I can't block shit!"

Heavenly Father Shenwei swore, then asked: "Even a Legendary mage couldn't master such power, for a mortal's body simply cannot withstand it."

"You must be hiding some divine artifact!"

"A divine artifact?"

Luosen was instantly somewhat surprised.

Heavenly Father Shenwei nodded, raised his hand to reveal his wrist, showing an antiquely styled bracelet.

"Look at this bracelet of mine, called the Bracelet of Rejuvenation; I picked it up unintentionally."

"It has two functions: one, it helps me condense natural force of Legendary 3 strength; two, it is extremely powerful, with a near‑rebirth healing effect."

"If it weren't for this thing, three thousand years ago I would have been beaten to death by your ancestor."

Luosen's face showed astonishment: "Is this something you can just pick up?"

He wasn't surprised that the other knew the grading of Legendary power, after all, having lived so long, his experience was certainly extraordinary.

What puzzled him was where the other had obtained such a powerful Legendary artifact.

Heavenly Father Shenwei shrugged.

"Well, actually it was excavated from an ancient tomb, and the tomb's owner was the son of De Rui Tan."

"Yes, that's the missing Lord of Truth, De Rui Tan."

"This bracelet is the divine artifact forged by De Rui Tan; by your new terminology, it should be called a Legendary artifact."

Luosen fully understood why Heavenly Father Shenwei was so fierce.

"With this Legendary artifact protecting him, he can still command Legendary power; in the De Rui Tan plane lacking Legendary power, it's practically like having invincibility turned on."

"Can it stay effective all the time?"

"How could it? If it could stay effective forever, I'd have already slain that bastard Mīsàiè!"

He added after speaking: "Each use lasts half an hour; after using up that half hour, you must wait ten days."

"In other words, ten days of hiding for half an hour of true manhood."

Luosen fully understood.

Heavenly Father Shenwei sighed: "Times are different now; ancient artifacts don't work well anymore. The spell you just cast, its strength should have exceeded Legendary 10, right?"

Luosen nodded: "Exceeded."

"Tsk tsk~ you youngster are really something. I'm afraid even if the Lord of Truth De Rui Tan returns, he'd be killed on the spot by you."

Those words made Luosen start: "Will De Rui Tan come back?"

"I don't know, but he probably isn't dead."

After a pause, Heavenly Father Shenwei said another piece of news.

"The upper‑rank elves of the Holy Elf Empire are actually the bloodline of De Rui Tan's son. And in the elf prophecies, Father God De Rui Tan is destined to return in the end."

Luosen's interest surged: "Oh~~ this is truly interesting."

Heavenly Father Shenwei shook his head repeatedly: "Interesting? Not at all."

"Those elves, especially the upper‑rank ones, have their eyes all on top of their heads. And the Lord of Truth De Rui Tan is ten times more arrogant than they!"

Saying that, he took off the Rejuvenation bracelet and handed it to Luosen: "I know you new‑era mages like to study the principles of spells. Take it and research."

"If you can, make a new, better one and return it to me."

"As for the Natural Empire's affairs, since you have such talent, just go ahead with your young people's plan."

"I'm too lazy to bother with these troublesome matters; where I'm needed I'll cooperate. But don't keep bothering me—I'm old and like peace."

By the way, there's one more thing. That old bastard Mi Sai must be left for me; I will definitely kill him with my own hands!

After saying that, he looked again at Qi Ge Rui La Na, growing more disappointed the more he looked, and finally couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Ah~ my granddaughter has been ruined by my worthless son; she's nowhere near as good as Mi Sai's granddaughter.

You two hurry up and produce a great-grandchild for me, make several, I want to pick a good child to personally cultivate.

(End of chapter)