Chapter 1057: Sovereign Over All

Lei En suddenly said, "Congratulations to the GrandSage on advancing to Thirty-level."

KangJieladeGreatSage nodded.

The crowd that heard this stirred; Thirty-level is a watershed for a Wizard's strength, allowing mastery of the Ten-ring Spell. Thus the Consul would be fighting three Holy Soul Wizards above Thirty-level at once, and the Consul has only just ascended to Holy Soul Wizard ten years ago—could he win?

Lei En then looked at the other two opponents: Tim*Kenan's level is higher than the teacher's, having reached Thirty-six as an Arcane.

Kaisitong is a Thirty-three-level Psychic and Elementalist.

But he remains unafraid.

If level could decide everything, then no one would need to fight; with dozens of legendary elements of one's own, this battle must not only be won, but won cleanly and splendidly!

Suddenly, divine power descended from the high sky.

The three divine avatars of the Empire descended onto the plaza, their formation a triangle, hovering a hundred meters above. Three streams of distinct, vast divine power linked to form a massive transparent force field, carving a circular area of five hundred meters radius in the plaza's center, separating Lei En and his three companions from the spectators.

The people were thrilled; it was their first close encounter with deities.

VijesCui, hovering above the steps before Rike Palace, an ethereal voice sounded to everyone: "Be careful not to harm the Empire's citizens."

"We will faithfully follow the lady's oracle," Tim*Kenan and the two others bowed.

Lei En turned back and said, "Yes, madam."

The Justice God Tirel tossed a golden scale, hovering over the plaza; his voice boomed, authoritative: "I will arbitrate this battle; when the Holy Sword touches the ground, you may act."

The scale in the air immediately began to descend.

This is the Justice God's holy emblem; the support shaft of the scale is a Holy Sword, its tip pointing down, originally embedded in a codex, but Tirel removed the codex. The entire Holy Sword descends at a steady pace, about ten seconds before it reaches the ground.

Ten seconds.

Lei En faced the three opponents, calmly observing them.

Tim*Kenan produced a gray staff, slightly longer than a typical staff, divided into three sections; the two ends are flat, set with a row of gems. The middle of the staff is hollowed into three circular rings, linked together, with the largest central ring etched with an anti-slip pattern. He grasps that ring as if holding a double‑headed sword, evoking his balance theory.

It is his self‑crafted Legend Grade staff—the Balance Scepter!

At the same time, layers of magical radiance flared on Tim*Kenan, activating numerous constant and augmenting spells—at least a dozen.

He holds the Balance Scepter, ready to cast.

The massive soul‑energy wave could be felt even beyond the Floating Shell Castle, causing those outside the field to hold their breath.

On the other side, KangJieladeGreatSage also began casting.

Twelve "Aien Stones" hovered above his head, each a different color; these magical stones are one of the GrandSage's most famous inventions, second only to Soul Stones.

Each Aien Stone has its own function, comparable to Legend Grade magical items, known in full only to the GrandSage.

At this moment, the GrandSage activated all twelve Aien Stones.

Multicolored light bathed the GrandSage's metal‑like face; his gaze focused as he poured soul‑energy into a magical ring on his hand, ready to trigger at any moment. Simultaneously, his feet pressed firmly into the ground, drawing endless Earth Power; concentric visible ripples spread outward, making the solid plaza surface undulate like water.

In contrast, Kaisitong's movements were far subtler; he simply drew a red longsword, its hilt set with a massive red gem.

That sword is his staff.

Kaisitong's murderous intent was the strongest and unmasked, simultaneously casting instant spells to empower himself while staring at Lei En as if he could devour Lei En's flesh.

The three Holy Soul Wizards linked via Mind Link, communicating without words.

They set their strategy while preparing.

The scale descended slowly.

Only when the scale was halfway down did Lei En finish his observation; he flicked his right hand, channeling a surge of lightning into the Thunder God's Hammer, instantly causing the hammerhead to blaze with dazzling lightning, triggering the warhammer's "Thunder God's Wrath"!

Boom!

A thunderclap rang, and even more ferocious lightning surged back from the warhammer, coursing from his arm into his body; golden bolts of lightning streamed over Lei En's armor, solidifying into a dazzling thunder battle armor.

Lei En exhaled a breath tinged with electric light.

Thunder God's Wrath not only consolidates the battle armor but also amplifies a legendary element, the Lord of Thunder. He already possessed three Lords of Thunder; now it rose to four, instantly causing a qualitative shift, with lightning element affinity reaching an unimaginable level.

Dark clouds gathered high above, streaks of lightning roamed within them, thunder rolled repeatedly, brewing a terrifying lightning storm.

"Thunder Battle Armor!"

"The Consul truly wields the Thunder God's Hammer!"

Many people shouted loudly at Lei En clad in the Thunder Battle Armor; everyone was well‑acquainted with the Thunder God's Hammer's effects.

Lei En's body swelled to five meters tall.

Simultaneously, a pair of broad metallic wings unfolded behind him; each dark‑gold feather coursed with lightning, crackling, making him appear graceful yet his body and limbs brimming with terrifying power, the emanating aura sending shivers through souls.

Level 20 power, infinite fury!

Titanium‑golden body, Titan divine power, immortal battle soul!

Energy Furnace, Nine-ring Magic Siphon, Nine-ring Rainbow Light Cloak, Time Acceleration!

The Soul Eye and All-Seeing Eye both operate at their limits; within the unseen soul space, a melodious song plays.

Battle Music!

Since the eighth Soul Transformation, the battle music's function has changed; it can now play solely within one's own soul space, unheard by others, yet its effect remains the same.

Battle music can amplify power.

However, Lei En's power has already reached the Level 20 cap, so it's of little use; what he needs is another function of the battle music—casting acceleration! Each loop of the battle music shortens casting time by one‑tenth.

Earlier, Lei En activated the music while aboard the Augustus.

Now it is in its fifth loop; each second consumes massive soul‑energy, halving the casting time of all spells.

But that is enough.

Lei En wears the "Deep Crimson Seal Ring" obtained from Reslin, which can reduce the casting time of Level 7 to Level 9 spells by one second; after applying time acceleration, all mastered spells can be cast instantly!

Half a breath later, Lei En's condition reached its peak!

This is his first time unabashedly displaying all his power; he turned toward the three opponents with a cold smile, his eyes showing an ancient gate formed of coiled worms, and deep within his pupils a pair of golden hourglasses.

"Key of Doors!"

"Hourglass of Time!"

"He has already performed Soul Transformation eight times, reaching above th Level. He is proficient in Arcane and lightning spells, possessing at least ten legendary Elements…"

This monster!

Tim*Kenan and the other two all felt a cold dread in their hearts.

They recalled Augulevi Master, but Lei En, as a combat Wizard, has a fighting style opposite to Augulevi's—his spells are merely melee support, far more violent and far more lethal!

Everyone gazed at Lei En, who seemed like a deity descending, and none could hide their astonishment.

They glanced at the Consul, then looked up at the incarnations of the three gods of the Empire in the heavens, and simultaneously conceived a thought:

The Consul seemed more terrifying than the holy avatars!

The scale continued to descend.

Five, four, three, two, one!

In the final second before the Justice Scale touched the ground, Lei En drew a straight staff, instantly activated it, his figure blurred briefly, and instantly created twelve identical Mirror Images that scattered around.

Each Mirror Image stood five meters tall, with metallic double wings on its back, wielding a Thunder God's Hammer!

Bang!

The moment the Scale's holy sword pierced the ground, it exploded, divine power burst with a reverberation that echoed across the entire plaza.

The battle begins!

Rumble…

The rolling dark clouds above instantly unleashed hundreds of lightning bolts, twisting and winding, silverly dancing wildly; each bolt was thicker than a thigh, brimming with terrifying lightning power.

And countless Electric Blast Orbs, lightning arrows, thunderstorms, lightning spears, electric claws, electric sparks—each lightning spell possessed at least seven rings of power, many with nine rings—crowded together, raining down on the plaza like an overwhelming tide.

In an instant, the area delineated by the three divine power fields turned into a Lightning Inferno!

Those outside the force field showed terror on their faces.

But in the next instant, the sky‑filled lightning all froze.

They were held in mid‑air by an invisible force, their shapes and winding paths clearly visible, yet unable to move even an inch.

Tim*Kenan raised his balance staff, activating the attached spell—Eternal Stasis!

He is an Arcane practitioner, specializing in spatial spells.

Eternal Stasis is an upgraded nine‑ring spatial freeze spell, analogous to the relationship between Time Reversal and Time Stop, both being ten‑ring.

Lei En and the twelve Mirror Images all froze, like insects trapped in amber.

But only for the blink of an eye.

Seizing that blink, KangJieladeGreatSage activated his "Golem Legion Ring".

A full forty‑eight towering golems were released, each ten meters tall, giant‑like, bodies forged from magical alloy, weighing over one hundred thousand pounds, etched with rune formations, gem‑crafted double eyes glowing, each possessing Legendary Peak power!

These golems are the alchemical creations of the GrandSage.

Their intelligence is extremely high; some gather energy to cast spells, some block in front of the GrandSage, some stride forward toward Lei En.

The GrandSage, while controlling the golems, expands his body.

Endless Earth Power surged forth, coalescing countless rocks outside the GrandSage's body, rapidly fusing into a single mass that enveloped him, swelling to over thirty meters tall, his form of rock, face of forged metal, exuding a vast terrestrial aura, like a demigod.

Ten-ring Spell—Earth Lord Incarnation!

KangJieladeGreatSage became the Earth Lord, his strength surpassing the Titan Giant, defense impenetrable, the Earth Heart granting him inexhaustible stamina and soul power, and his regeneration comparable to an Undying Body.

He swung a fist larger than a room at Lei En, and simultaneously unleashed a rapid Chain Meteor spell, a series of meteors from the high sky plummeting onto the plaza.

The golems also surged forward in a frenzy.

The GrandSage and the golems were unaffected by "Eternal Stasis", while Lei En's movements froze.

This was a coordinated tactic devised by the three Holy Soul Wizards: Tim*Kenan handled battlefield control, restraining Lei En and removing his protections and gear; the GrandSage led the main assault, the earth‑elemental being the only Law Seal Wizard with melee capability, engaging Lei En directly and absorbing damage.

The true killing move is Kelsong.

He vanished the moment the battle began, cloaking his presence, and cast the Ten-ring Spell "True Illusion Annihilation", erasing Lei En from the world outright.

This takes time.

Kelsong needs at least ten seconds to complete True Illusion Annihilation.

Thus, the two Holy Soul Wizards must buy him ten seconds; if they can hold out ten seconds, they may land a one‑shot kill.

Tim*Kenan maintained Eternal Stasis, his empty left hand flicking rapidly, consecutively unleashing a series of Nine-ring Techniques.

Tim Kainen Reverse!

Tim Kainen Sword Magic!

Tim Kainen Disintegrate!

These three spells named after himself: the Reverse Technique derives from the Ruby Reverse Ray, capable of dispelling protective spells on the target; the Sword Magic is cast by the founder, summoning a ten‑meter‑long Rending Sky Sword, an unmatched blade slashing at Lei En's core.

The Disintegrate then fires at Lei En's Thunder God's Hammer!

One Disintegrate alone is certainly insufficient; the chance to destroy the Thunder God's Hammer is low; the Reverse Technique also cannot break through Lei En's multiple spell effects.

Tim*Kenan cast wildly.

With unimaginable casting skill, he, in a blink, hurled two Disintegrates and three Reverse Techniques; this was the limit of what he could achieve.

Then, Lei En moved.

It was only a moment before invisible ripples erupted from Lei En, and time within the three divine power fields halted its flow.

Tim*Kenan and the GrandSage could resist Time Stop, but the spells they released could not; they floated in mid‑air, unable to advance.

All forty‑eight golems were immobilized.

Almost as Time Stop took effect, a nine‑ring anti‑magic field expanded, enveloping both sides; the enemies' magical aura dimmed instantly, and all enchantments and spells below nine rings were nullified.

The golems remain; they are not summons but alchemical constructs.

However, the golems' spellcasting was interrupted.

Lei En turned his head and gave Tim*Kenan a glance: Time Plunder!

Tim*Kenan vanished, forcibly thrown into the River of Time. At the moment he disappeared, the Ten-ring Eternal Stasis also failed.

Tim*Kenan possesses the legendary Element "Space Sovereign", which is also an Arcane affinity, giving him high resistance to Time Plunder; although not as strong as Augulevi Master, at most he can only be plundered for three seconds before returning to reality.

Lei En's mind leapt away from his spot, simultaneously canceling Time Stop.

The spells Tim*Kenan cast all struck empty space.

Boom!

Countless bolts of lightning rained down; lightning below the Nine-ring vanished upon entering the anti‑magic field, yet the remaining Nine-ring lightning filled every inch of space, engulfing the GrandSage and the golems.

Twelve Lei En Mirror Images simultaneously swung their hammers to the ground.

Thunderous Might!

Like twelve fireworks blooming, yet containing terrifying power and lightning, striking from ground to sky without a blind spot, hitting all enemies within the Triple Divine Power Field.

The entire plaza shuddered violently, as if an earthquake had occurred.

Forty‑eight massive golems were blown into countless fragments by the lightning shockwave; the Earth Lord that the GrandSage had become also suffered severe damage, its pillar‑like legs shattered by Thunderous Might. Though the Heart of Earth frantically siphoned life force to heal the wounds, its form remained stalled.

Lei En appeared before the Earth Lord, his body instantly swelling to become a Titan Giant over fifty meters tall; the Earth Lord looked like a child before him.

The Thunder God's Hammer in his hand also grew proportionally.

He raised it overhead and struck down with all his might!

An Ein Stone circling the GrandSage's head flickered, trying to create distance, but within the Nine-ring anti‑magic field even enchanted Nine-ring Techniques slowed, were interfered with, and failed to activate in time.

The Earth Lord instinctively raised a hand to shield his head.

Boom!

A earth‑shaking roar.

At the instant of impact, the war hammer reached a weight of a million pounds and triggered "Destruction Strike", its power surging tenfold, the immortal battle soul and Titan might amplified to the limit; with the largest body and heaviest force, it delivered the most terrifying hammer blow.

The Earth Lord instantly turned to dust, vanishing in ash.

One strike, instant kill!

The hammer's dreadful power was such that even the Heart of Earth's regeneration couldn't act before it pulverized the Earth Lord.

The GrandSage's twelve Ein Stones also vanished in that blow.

Lei En's body shrank to five meters tall; the All‑Seeing Eye detected a fragment of green Ein Stone beneath the ground, emitting a faint energy pulse, having absorbed the GrandSage's soul. The Nine-ring Resurrection took effect, but was delayed by the anti‑magic field, making the revival slower.

A Mirror Image flashed in, snatching the green Ein Stone from the earth through empty space, controlling the GrandSage's revival process.

Lei En's true form cast a sweeping gaze.

"Found you!"

Kai Ersi Tong hid within a spatial fold between the Ether Plane and the Prime Material Plane, evading Thunderous Might and lightning attacks, concentrating on casting.

If it were anyone else, it would be impossible to locate him.

But before the Key of Doors, Kai Ersi Tong was as conspicuous as a lighthouse in the night.

A Mirror Image hurled the Thunder God's Hammer with force; with a booming crash, the war hammer streaked through the void toward Kai Ersi Tong. Sensing danger, he entered the Ether Plane directly, only to find another Mirror Image's hammer already booming toward him within the Ether Plane.

In the Astral, Shadow, and Fey planes, Mirror Images also hurled Thunder God's Hammers.

Kai Ersi Tong had no escape and could only return to the Prime Material Plane.

Lei En had been waiting here all along; as soon as Kai Ersi Tong's figure appeared, a solid hammer strike slammed into his head.

Bang!

Kai Ersi Tong's psionic shield blocked the blow briefly, then shattered instantly, but before the hammer hit his head it triggered a mind leap and a series of Nine-ring Techniques—Mind Blast, Truth Spell: Soul Rift, Decree of Death, Storm Whip, and others—all striking the nearby Lei En without leaving any trace.

The spectators' eyes widened.

Each of those Nine-ring Techniques is extremely lethal, yet hitting Lei En was as harmless as a gentle breeze.

One can hardly imagine how high his magical resistance is!

Kai Ersi Tong's figure leapt out, already desperate; he instantly activated a magical item with Nine-ring Interdimensional Transfer, only to find himself still in place, as a Mirror Image had pre‑emptively sensed his intent and employed Phase Distortion.

Mirror Image was amplified to Nine-ring by the Endless Storm Staff, allowing the created images to also cast Nine-ring Techniques.

A Mirror Image released Time Stop.

At that moment, Tim*Kenan had just emerged from the River of Time; before he could discern what was happening, he was struck by another Mirror Image's Time Plunder, and his figure vanished again.

The Holy Soul Wizard on the steps saw this scene, his eyelids flickering wildly.

Only they understood.

Put yourself in their shoes: facing thirteen Lei En, each wielding terrifying melee power, capable of instant Nine-ring Techniques, and mastering anti‑magic fields and Time Stop—essentially battling thirteen Lei En simultaneously. How hopeless that would be!

Kai Ersi Tong, caught within, didn't even have time to despair before falling into Time Stop; his thoughts slowed slightly.

Then he saw a Lei En before his eyes.

The Will of Truth let him recognize this as Lei En's true form, and his universal mind sensed the extreme malice in Lei En's heart.

"He wants to kill me!"

"From the start, his goal was me; he only wants to kill me!"

Kai Ersi Tong's mind cleared, then filled with endless hatred and helplessness. Under accelerated time, Lei En's speed was almost as fast as his thoughts, while he was slowed by Time Stop; the anti‑magic field prevented his normally instant Nine-ring Techniques from activating instantly.

Lei En, expressionless, swung his hammer down.

Clap!

Kai Ersi Tong's body, of ordinary constitution, was completely blown apart—flesh, bone, and marrow vaporized, leaving no trace of his existence.

A figure appeared not far nearby.

Nine-ring Substitute Death Spell!

Before Kai Ersi Tong could react, a Mirror Image struck his head from behind, killing him again.

Psionic rebirth, Kai Ersi Tong revived a second time, only to be hammered apart by another Mirror Image immediately.

After three resurrections.

In Kai Ersi Tong's sight, he saw Lei En's true form, and under the dual effect of Time Stop and an anti‑magic field, he could utter no word, cast no spell, and watched helplessly as Lei En raised the Thunder God's Hammer, its head expanding at lightning speed before his eyes.

Snap!

Kai Ersi Tong evaporated once more, leaving no corpse or bones.

This time, he truly died!

Lei En's soul eye saw Kai Ersi Tong's soul; with a thought, a dozen thick bolts of lightning struck down, each bearing the power of the Nine Rings.

Kai Ersi Tong's soul completely dissipated, his very form and spirit utterly extinguished.

At that moment, Tim*Kenan returned from the river of Time, only to find himself surrounded by a group of Lei En; the GrandSage revived on the Aien Stone, a war hammer pressing on his body as heavy as a mountain, rendering him unable to move.

"The battle is over," Lei En said.

Tim*Kenan turned his head around but could not find Kai Ersi Tong, instantly guessing the outcome; he hesitated to speak, noting that he still had many tactics unspent, and was not lacking the strength for a fight.

Lei En read his thoughts and said calmly, "If Master Tim*Kenan wishes to die, I can grant it."

Tim*Kenan's face flashed with a pallor.

"I concede," the GrandSage said weakly.

He was nearly crushed by Lei En's hammer, his soul on the brink of collapse; the wound to his soul stripped him of almost all combat power, and the destroyed golem pained him as if blood dripped— it was a golem he had spent centuries crafting, now gone in an instant.

Tim*Kenan felt reluctant, but after losing two allies, he alone could not possibly match Lei En.

He took a deep breath and finally bowed his head, "I also concede."

"Conceding still counts as you living, and my words remain valid," Lei En deactivated the anti‑magic field, "Both of you may reclaim your Fu Kong Cheng."

Tim*Kenan and the GrandSage both wore expressions of astonishment.

But Lei En had already turned and walked away.

Twelve Mirror Images dissipated like bubbles, leaving only Lei En's true form; he folded his titanium feathered wings, deactivated his thunder armor, maintained a five‑meter stature, and walked from the center of the plaza toward the northern steps, ascending each step with a steady echo.

Bang! Bang! Bang…

Lei En stepped onto the steps, turned to face the crowd, and raised the Thunder God's Hammer high.

"Long live the Consul!"

"Long live the Consul!"

"Long live the Consul…"

Hundreds of thousands of people in the plaza erupted in a roar like a mountain tide, repeatedly shouting Lei En's name; the fervent wave surged into the clouds, and the entire Nuosiruier could hear it, joining in, the sound piercing the void to reach the gods' realm.

Lei En accepted the cheers, which only gradually subsided after a few minutes.

Suddenly, he turned his head to look at the Rike Palace behind him.

This magnificent palace had stood here since the day it was built, but for the past thousand years it had been sealed.

The plaza fell silent.

The Holy Soul Wizards sensed what was about to happen, withdrew to the sides, and cleared a path in the middle.

Lei En stepped forward, continuing to ascend the steps.

Everyone watched his towering silhouette, step by step up the stairs, as if climbing to the pinnacle of the Empire's power; his height seemed ever greater, and after traversing hundreds of steps and passing the stone pillars on either side, he reached the platform before the palace.

The Holy Soul Wizards and imperial councilors followed behind him, like loyal subjects trailing their lord toward a pilgrimage site.

Lei En paused for two or three seconds before the millennia‑sealed great door.

Then, without hesitation, he reached out and pressed his hands against the door, exerting force with both hands.

Hum…

The towering door, dozens of meters high, was pushed open, emitting a reverberation as if from a distant past; the gap widened, Lei En surged his strength, and the two doors swung fully open, slamming against the side walls with a boom, scattering clouds of dust.

At the far end of the palace stood a Golden Throne.

It was entirely cast in gold, over two meters tall, its simple yet imposing design exuding an ancient aura; even a layer of dust could not hide its dignity and majesty. Beneath the throne were rows of rune engravings forming a massive rune array that covered the Rike Palace and even the entire Fu Bei Deng Castle.

Lei En entered the palace, stepped onto the rune array, and walked toward the Golden Throne.

People lingered outside the palace, watching.

Soon, Lei En stood before the throne; his five‑meter‑tall frame matched the throne's height. After observing for a moment, he suddenly turned, his blood‑red cloak sweeping across the Golden Throne, clearing all dust and revealing a brilliant radiance.

Under the gaze of the Holy Soul Wizards and imperial councilors, Lei En slowly sat upon the Golden Throne, laying the Thunder God's Hammer across his lap.

Silence fell within the Rike Palace.

The embodiments of the Empire's three gods appeared in the palace, and the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

Everyone held their breath as they saw the God of Justice Tiriel and the Mother Earth Gaia flanking the Golden Throne, while the God of Magic VijesCui stepped forward, his figure rising to the throne's height, raising both arms as light blossomed from his hands.

The other two deities each projected a divine beam, channeling it into it.

When the light dispersed, people saw that the goddess held a Golden Laurel Crown in her hand.

Its shape resembled a wreath woven from laurel branches, roughly circular but not closed; the branches and leaves were cast in gold, the golden leaves lifelike and neatly arranged, simple yet majestic, exuding the divine aura of the Empire's three gods, clearly possessing immense power.

In the eyes of gods and mortals, the God of Magic gently placed it upon Lei En's head.

He solemnly declared, "In my name, today for you—Ryan Augustus, I crown you Emperor of the Oriense Empire!"

VijesCui's voice rang across Nuosiruier's sky.

Throughout the Oriense Empire's realm, every city, every town, every street, and the newly built cities on both shores of the New Continent, billions of imperial citizens at that moment heard the God of Magic's voice, which pierced the heavens and the Abyss, echoing endlessly!

Boom…

In an instant, Lei En, seated on the Golden Throne, radiated dazzling light.

Beyond the Rike Palace, the Holy Soul Wizards and imperial councilors gazed at the emperor high upon the throne, their spirits wavering; hundreds of thousands of troops and imperial citizens half‑kneeling toward the Rike Palace shouted in unison, "Your Majesty!"

The sounds of worship echoed through the sky.

In the plaza, Tim*Kenan and KangJieladeGreatSage exchanged a glance, reading the meaning in each other's eyes.

The Empire's new era has arrived!

At 5:30 in the morning I finally finished writing, 7700 characters, exceeding the expected length.

After writing a full 1001 chapters, I finally got to Lei En's coronation as emperor; I felt quite moved, and also dissatisfied with many aspects, but I have done my best.

On the 18th I will rest for a day, and resume updates on the 19th.

I'm going to sleep now, then get up to outline the plot of volume eight, which should be the final volume of this book, titled Lord of Humanity.

(End of chapter)