Chapter 572: Duke Hong Shi

The Holy Soul Wizards' gazes all fell on Duke Hong Shi's hand, and an absurd thought arose: could this delicate iron box be the Lich's Soul Box?

Anxiwodasi said, "Kaisitong, you shouldn't be here."

Everyone gave a slight nod.

Lei En also understood the teacher's meaning. The Supreme Council has a rule that at any time, at least three Holy Soul Wizards must remain stationed in the Empire to prevent giving the Empire's enemies any opening.

This unnamed minor plane has already gathered nine Holy Soul Wizards.

The remaining three—Duke Hong Shi, KangJieladeGreatSage, and Storm Queen—bear the duty of protecting the Empire and may not leave on their own.

Duke Hong Shi obviously violated this rule, and the Supreme Council can hold him accountable.

However, Duke Hong Shi said solemnly, "Everyone, I must come." He bowed slightly to the Holy Soul Wizards, raised the iron box a bit higher, and announced loudly, "This is Augulevi Master's Soul Box; I have already found it."

"What?"

"How did you find it?"

The Holy Soul Wizards looked at each other; although they had their suspicions, hearing Duke Hong Shi say it himself still seemed unbelievable.

Just moments ago, they had painstakingly succeeded in imprisoning the Lich's soul to prevent it from returning to its Soul Box and reviving.

Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, Duke Hong Shi placed the Soul Box before them.

Had they known earlier, they could have simply killed the Lich.

Lei En was also shocked.

Duke Hong Shi's words revealed far too much information.

He couldn't help but scrutinize this Holy Soul Wizard, famed as the "Number One Genius in History," yet his Soul Eye saw nothing, as if a thick fog lay between. Duke Hong Shi gave him a feeling almost like the teacher's, and his heart raced.

Since the Ascension Legend, Lei En's observations of Holy Soul Wizards no longer backfired.

From his experience, even if he cannot pierce a soul's details, observing different Holy Soul Wizards yields varying feedback, allowing a rough judgment of their power rank.

For example, observing Silver Star Duke yields a much clearer result than observing the teacher; one can count the layers of the soul's structure like tree rings, thereby guessing the wizard's rank.

Lei En had previously seen that Silver Star Duke is a Twenty-three-level Ten Thousand Spirits Wizard.

The teacher could not see clearly at all, estimating around Thirty-five levels.

Now, Duke Hong Shi's soul condition is close to the teacher's, only slightly weaker, meaning he has also surpassed the Thirty-level mark!

Lei En felt a surge within.

It should be noted that Duke Hong Shi only began his Holy Soul Ascension a little over three hundred years ago, decades later than Silver Star Duke. As a Divine Chosen, Silver Star Duke enjoys the God of Magic's favor, yet is only at Twenty-three levels, at least seven levels below Duke Hong Shi; their rates of power increase are worlds apart!

Beyond the Holy Soul, each level-up is extremely difficult, taking centuries; at the Twenty-five and Thirty-level bottlenecks, being stuck for hundreds of years without advancing is normal.

Averaging one level per hundred years is already considered fast.

Duke Hong Shi rose by over a dozen levels within three hundred‑plus years, including two Soul Transformations, a pace so astonishing that no one would dare believe it if spoken.

Truly, he lives up to being humanity's Number One Genius!

Lei En shook his head inwardly, even doubting who truly is the God of Magic's Chosen One; even Divine Chosens don't level up like rockets—perhaps only a goddess's paramour could.

Of course, a Holy Soul Wizard's strength cannot be measured by level alone.

Black Robe Duke Tuzlei has been a Holy Soul for less than a hundred years, currently at Twenty-three levels, rising quickly and matching Silver Star Duke's rank, yet his performance in this siege of the Lich was undeniably far stronger than Silver Star Duke's, even serving as a crucial decisive factor, his importance comparable to the two giants and Ouroin Master.

By contrast, Silver Star Duke now seems somewhat superfluous.

Thus, level is only a reference; what truly decides strength is Element, casting technique and magical gear, as well as combat experience and timing.

Silver Star Duke is not weak, at least far stronger than Sabbath Dean, but her accumulation as a Holy Soul Wizard is too little; facing a Forty-one-level Lich, her massive numbers of magical souls, aside from the ancient dragon demon, are merely ornaments, unable to function.

Ten Thousand Spirits Wizards excel at dealing with hordes, but a Lich is a single foe; when the quality gap is too great, sheer numbers help nothing.

The true form of a Ten Thousand Spirits Wizard is fragile, with little protection; various concealment spells are easily seen through by the Lich, making survival impossible and being heavily restrained.

Even now, Silver Star Duke remains resentful, his face showing grievance.

Lei En's gaze swept over Silver Star Duke, then returned to Duke Hong Shi, seeing the Holy Soul Wizards' thoughts diverge as they stared at the Soul Box, unable to speak for a long while.

Duke Hong Shi has too many doubts.

First, his timing was too convenient; the battle had just ended when he opened a portal to arrive. Unless some Holy Soul Wizard present tipped him off, who could it be?

Second, from Sabbath Dean's disappearance in the holo‑meeting, being teleported to this minor plane, to the battle's end and the Lich's soul being imprisoned, less than ten minutes elapsed; how did he locate the Soul Box in such a brief span?

From this arises the crucial doubt: did Duke Hong Shi already know the inside story, and what role did he play behind the scenes?

Not only Lei En; the Holy Soul Wizards all harbored suspicion.

"Kaisitong, are you sure this is his Soul Box?" Tim*Kenan couldn't help asking, his mind full of doubts.

"Master Tim*Kenan, please wait a moment."

Duke Hong Shi did not answer immediately, but said, "I have received the goddess's approval, temporarily convening all Supreme Council members for an emergency meeting; the Empire's safety is now entrusted to the goddess herself."

He opened the psionic channel, and two silhouettes emerged, one male and one female.

The man's age was indiscernible; his feet hovered as he floated forward, twelve differently colored gems orbiting his head, features chiseled like knives, eyes clear and bright, skin with a metallic sheen, clad in a flowing magical robe, a gemstone emblem of the Alchemical Society pinned to his chest—KangJieladeGreatSage.

The witch was the Storm Queen Lei En had seen before.

She still, as in previous years, wore a somewhat tattered yet splendid robe, as if it hadn't been laundered for many years; a magical short sword hung at her waist, silver hair cascading, her beautiful face exuding a striking wild charm, her gaze radiant and unforgettable.

Lei En sensed on her an ocean‑vast elemental aura, encompassing ice, fire, and wind, which amazed him.

While he observed the Storm Queen, she suddenly turned her head, and their gazes collided.

The Storm Queen's gaze lingered on Lei En's face for half a second, her eyes slightly brightening, a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth, then she looked away.

That subtle expression, unnoticed by others, made Lei En's heart race.

The Storm Queen's reputation with men is infamous, even worse than her sister Silver Star Duke's; Lei En has no interest in becoming a comrade of countless men.

Lei En looked around.

Aside from himself, everyone else was a Holy Soul Wizard!

All Supreme Council members were present!

He glanced at the Sage Stone on the ground; the Ruby Prison's glow contracted, and even Augulevi Master, whose soul was already imprisoned, was not absent.

GrandSage.

The Holy Soul Wizards bowed one after another.

KangJieladeGreatSage's power is not outstanding in the Supreme Council, but his status is extremely high and his seniority deep; like Augulevi Master, he personally witnessed the birth of the Empire, lived over two thousand years, and now that Augulevi Master has fallen and died, he is the oldest senior in the Council.

Moreover, KangJieladeGreatSage invented the Soul Stone, a contribution to the Empire, to all transcendents, to the entire human race, so great it is indescribable.

Without the widespread Soul Stone, humanity could not have risen in the Fourth Era, nor the Empire's strength, and members of the Supreme Council could not have walked the Holy Soul path.

All transcendents owe a debt of gratitude to KangJieladeGreatSage.

No amount of respect is excessive.

Storm Queen does not receive such high treatment; the Holy Soul Wizards merely give her a slight nod, "Your Majesty, Queen."

KangJieladeGreatSage immediately looked at the Sage Stone on the ground; his facial expression changed little, but he let out a deep sigh.

"Anxiwodasi," his voice at first sounded like any mortal's, yet a slight mechanical stiffness could be discerned, his tone full of feeling, he said, "You asked me for a Sage Stone last year, was it for today's use?"

"Yes, GrandSage," Anxiwodasi replied.

"Alas…," KangJieladeGreatSage nodded, the gem hovering above his head bobbed up and down, he sighed, "I have known Augulevi for over two thousand years, never imagined he would fall, take this dead‑end path. His lifetime fame…"

He did not continue, and everyone felt a strong sorrow.

Lei En was also moved.

All along, KangJieladeGreatSage has been Augulevi Master's most loyal supporter; the two each have their strengths—one unmatched in power, the other master of alchemy—being respectively the first and second Holy Soul Wizards in history, and together they founded the world's first and second floating cities, Naiser and Aien, each becoming the leader of the Naiser Sect and the Alchemical Association respectively, jointly establishing the Supreme Council.

A friendship spanning over two thousand years is hard for those who haven't experienced it to understand.

Suddenly losing his closest friend, even though KangJieladeGreatSage now is a lifeless construct with an iron‑stone heart, he cannot suppress the pain and sorrow within.

"GrandSage, please accept my condolences."

Duke Hong Shi spoke words of comfort; his calm voice contained a healing energy for the heart, smoothing KangJieladeGreatSage's wound, allowing him to quickly regain composure.

Seven‑Ring True Word Technique — Spiritual Healing.

It can repair mental trauma, remove negative mind effects, inject spiritual energy, and simultaneously generate a mind barrier to guard against soul intrusion.

Duke Hong Shi's spiritual energy spell is silent and unseen, practically as if words become law.

"Thank you."

KangJieladeGreatSage extended his hand, the Ruby Prison that imprisoned the Lich's soul fell into his grasp; he examined his own crafted Sage Stone with a complex gaze, remaining silent.

Anxiwodasi withdrew his gaze from the Ruby Prison and said lightly, "Kailston, we are all waiting for your explanation."

Duke Hong Shi nodded, "Master Anxiwodasi discovered Augulevi Master's fall not long ago, right?"

"That's right, three years ago."

"I discovered it sixty years ago," Duke Hong Shi's expression was extremely heavy; looking at the Holy Soul Wizards whose faces showed shock, he said slowly, "Back then I went to Naiser to visit Augulevi Master; at that time, he had already transformed into a Lich, yet still retained reason and emotion, his soul fighting the Willpower of the evil god's corruption."

"He used magical research as an excuse to refuse meeting me."

"However, before I left, I happened to see Augulevi Master. As you all know, I possess the True Will, able to see through all invisibility, disguises and illusions…"

At this point, Duke Hong Shi's gaze drifted toward Lei En, his expression rather playful.

(End of Chapter)