"The reason I clashed with your Legion soldiers, Sovereign, was because they believed I was unqualified to meet Commander Havos. So, I simply proved my qualification."
"You came looking for me?"
Redding showed no interest in Locke's conflict with the Legion. What interested him was something else entirely—
Why had Locke come?
"Yes. I possess a secret concerning Sovereign Redding and three other Sovereigns. I wish to inform you of it."
"Speak."
"I beg your pardon, Sovereign."
"This matter is of great importance. I intend to exchange this secret for a promise from the four Sovereigns."
"So, I cannot speak of it here."
"If Sovereign Redding wishes to hear it, then please permit me an audience before your true Sovereign body."
"Oh? Interesting."
"Locke, are you not afraid that I might refuse your request… or even kill you?"
"I am afraid."
"But this secret is known to no one else in this world."
"If Sovereign Redding refuses me, the greatest loss would be yours, not mine."
"And as for killing me…"
"To be frank, before coming here, I had already prepared to lose this divine clone."
"Very well, Locke. You have piqued my curiosity."
"I am currently at Dragon Head Peak. Come. I hope your information proves worthy of my expectations."
With that—
The colossal face formed from Sovereign power shattered and dispersed.
At the same time, the ice encasing the Legion soldiers disintegrated instantly.
Though Redding issued no explicit threat, his tone made the implication unmistakable—
If Locke's information disappointed him, Locke would not leave unharmed.
"Exhaled… It worked."
Rising to his feet, Locke released a slow breath.
Since Sovereign Redding had agreed to meet him, at least half his plan had succeeded.
"May I have a map to Dragon Head Peak?"
"I assume no one believes I lack qualification to seek an audience now?"
Locke spoke lightly to one of the Highgods who had previously addressed him.
The soldiers immediately lowered their heads.
What could they say?
The Sovereign himself had granted the audience.
They had no standing to object.
"Yes—yes, of course. I'll prepare it immediately."
The Highgod hurriedly retrieved a map from his interspatial ring.
After witnessing Locke's power—and now his Sovereign summons—none dared offend him further.
Even if Commander Havos had been present earlier, they now knew—
It would not have changed anything.
When had Hell produced such a terrifying expert?
As he handed over the map, the Highgod silently resolved that the Azure Dragon Legion must begin gathering intelligence not only on the Water Divine Plane, but on all Divine and Higher Planes.
Once bitten was enough.
To be caught ignorant twice would be unforgivable.
Yet one question lingered in his heart:
Locke was clearly a Water Highgod, just like them.
Why was the difference so vast?
Locke, unaware of the Highgod's inner turmoil, studied the map and set off immediately.
This time, he did not use a metal lifeform.
From the map, Dragon Head Peak lay only two islands away—
Dragon Claw Reef
Dragon Neck Cliff
With his speed exceeding six thousand meters per second, Locke crossed the distance in just over three months.
Dragon Head Peak lived up to its name.
Viewed from the sky, the island resembled a colossal dragon's head.
At the dragon's mouth stood the entrance to Sovereign Redding's palace.
Locke landed at the mouth but did not enter immediately.
He announced himself first.
"Seven-Star Fiend Locke of Fiend Castle requests audience with Sovereign Redding at Dragon Head Peak."
"Enter, Locke."
"I have awaited you."
"Yes, Sovereign."
Only after receiving permission did Locke step into the dragon's mouth and enter the Sovereign Palace.
Vast. Enormous.
That was Locke's first impression.
At the far end of the hall rose ninety-nine steps.
Upon them stood a throne carved with blue dragon motifs.
A handsome young man with blue hair reclined lazily upon it.
"Greetings, Sovereign Redding."
Locke halted before the steps and bowed.
"Locke, you are impressive."
To Locke's surprise, Redding praised him immediately.
"These past few months, I visited Hell."
"The establishment of Fiend Castle. The classification of Fiends."
"Without a Sovereign's backing, such matters could never have succeeded."
"So, tell me—"
"Which Sovereign stands behind you?"
Locke smiled bitterly.
"Sovereign Redding, if I truly had a Sovereign backing me, would I have come all the way from Hell to seek you?"
"Oh?"
Redding's brows lifted slightly.
"Do you believe you can deceive a Sovereign?"
"Leave aside everything else—"
"The star classification of Fiends."
"Without a Sovereign telling you about the fusion of profound mysteries, how would you know?"
Indeed—
From Four-Star Fiend onward, each additional star corresponded to fusing another profound mystery.
And at present—
Only Sovereigns knew this secret.
"Why would I not know?"
To Redding's surprise, Locke seemed genuinely puzzled.
"Sovereign Redding, when I became a Demigod, my elders informed me of the six profound mysteries of the Water Laws."
"During cultivation, I wondered—since they are all Water Laws, can they not be fully fused into a single complete Law of Water?"
Locke shrugged helplessly.
"I truly don't understand."
"It was quite easy for me to fuse them."
"So why does everyone else only focus on comprehending individual profound mysteries instead of fusing them?"
"At first, I thought fusion might not increase power."
"But when I fully fused two profound mysteries, I discovered my strength had surpassed many Gods and reached Highgod level."
"That was when I realized fusion multiplies strength tenfold."
"Each additional fusion grants another tenfold increase."
"That is how I established the Fiend ranking system."
"Is there anything strange about that?"
Redding fell silent.
Locke's explanation made his teeth ache.
Yes, geniuses existed.
He himself was one.
As a Super Divine Beast Azure Dragon, he possessed the innate ability "Dragon Roar," which slowed time.
Countless powerful foes had perished under it.
His body, strengthened through Sovereign power refinement, had reached Sovereign artifact level.
Yet—
Compared to Locke—
He no longer felt like a genius at all.
After becoming a god, he had never once considered:
"If all these are Water Laws, can they not be fused into one complete Water Law?"
But Locke had not only considered it—
He had succeeded.
"I could fuse them easily. Why can't others?"
It was not that others did not wish to fuse.
They simply could not.
Even Redding believed—
Without becoming a Sovereign and gaining vast faith power—
He did not know how long fusion would have taken him.
Yet Locke—
His aura clearly indicated less than ten thousand years of life.
And still—
His fusion progress matched Redding's.
No—
Even surpassed it.
Redding had become a Sovereign millions of years ago.
And yet, on the path of fusion—
He had only barely reached Locke's level.
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