However, in Mira's heart, this item had always belonged to Teacher Locke. It had merely been lent to her so she could continue cultivating and grow stronger.
"Very good, Mira."
After praising her, Locke made a beckoning motion. The Soul-Extinguishing Pearl in Mira's hands floated up and landed in his palm.
"I'll take the Soul-Extinguishing Pearl."
"However, I once told you that I would exchange it with something more suitable for you."
"Before that, let me introduce someone."
"The one beside me—you all knew she was a Sovereign, but not that she is the ruler of the Netherworld and the most powerful Sovereign—Lady Death Sovereign."
"Greetings, Lady Death Sovereign."
Mira was startled. She hadn't expected that the female Sovereign beside her teacher was actually the most powerful Sovereign.
"Mm."
Lilia nodded slightly.
"Mira, I won't deceive you. The Soul-Extinguishing Pearl you offered is something I personally want."
"In that case, the reward you receive should naturally come from me."
"My Lady—"
Hearing this, Mira hurriedly waved her hands.
"My Lady Death Sovereign, I have already offered this item to my teacher."
"If you require it, you should discuss it with him."
In Mira's view, since the Death Sovereign was the most powerful Sovereign, any favor from her would be extremely valuable to her teacher.
"Mira, if it's meant for you, then accept it," Locke said.
"Indeed."
Lilia nodded as well.
"Mira, don't underestimate your teacher."
"He says I am the strongest Sovereign, but that is only for now."
"In the future, your teacher will be the strongest Sovereign."
"Ah?"
Mira looked up at Locke, only to see him nod in agreement.
In front of the Death Sovereign and his disciple, Locke saw no need to conceal anything.
Leaving aside the possibility of obtaining a Water Sovereign spark to greatly increase his strength, even now, after hundreds of thousands of years of stabilizing the Water Divine Plane—suppressing other laws and increasing the proportion of water laws and elements—Locke had gained tremendously.
As a Paragon of the water element, his perfected laws, combined with the willpower of a Sovereign spark, could directly command the chaotic water laws.
Thus, compared to other non-Paragon Sovereigns, Locke's task of stabilizing the laws was far easier.
Moreover, the clashes between the perfected water laws and the four Supreme Laws had allowed Locke to make significant progress in fusing water laws with the Edicts of Fate.
What was a tedious burden to other Sovereigns had become an excellent cultivation environment for Locke.
"Mira, after discussing with your teacher, we have decided to grant you a Sovereign artifact."
"However, due to the Sovereign agreements, only direct relatives of a Sovereign or their emissaries can receive such artifacts."
"So, Mira…"
"Are you willing to become my Sovereign's Emissary and serve me?"
"Um…"
Mira hesitated slightly.
"My Lady Death Sovereign, but I am currently part of my teacher's Sovereign army…"
"It's fine, Mira."
Seeing her hesitation, Locke spoke.
"My relationship with the Death Sovereign is closer than you imagine."
"So, whether you are my subordinate or her emissary makes no difference to us."
"However, after becoming her emissary, I hope you will join the Netherworld army and serve as a deputy commander under her."
"If that is Teacher's wish, then…"
Mira no longer hesitated. She knelt on one knee before Lilia.
"My Lady Death Sovereign, I am willing to become your emissary."
"Very good."
Lilia nodded in satisfaction.
"Mira, what type of Sovereign artifact do you want?"
"A soul-defense artifact, a physical-defense artifact, or an offensive artifact—you may choose one."
"My Lady, I wish for an offensive Sovereign artifact."
"Offense? I thought you would choose defense."
"After all, with a defensive Sovereign artifact, if you encounter danger, you could tear open space and hide within the spatial turbulence until we come to rescue you."
"My Lady, I wish to serve both you and my teacher."
"If I cannot eliminate enemies for you, but instead require you to enter the spatial turbulence to rescue me, that would be the greatest humiliation."
"Sigh…"
Hearing Mira's resolute words, Locke let out a sigh.
Back then, among the thousands of members of the Locke clan, Mira had barely stood out in his eyes—and even then, only by comparison.
At the time, Locke believed that under his guidance, she might reach the Saint level or even become a deity—but becoming a God would likely be her limit.
Yet now, he still remembered how, through hydrotherapy techniques and water-pressure training, Mira had forcibly broken past her racial limits, reaching the physique of a seventh-rank warrior.
From her relentless training, Locke had long known that Mira possessed an extraordinary stubbornness—once she set her mind on something, she would pursue it to the end.
"Very well. What weapon do you specialize in?"
"A greatsword, my Lady."
"I specialize in greatswords."
"I understand."
"Forging a Sovereign artifact will take some time."
"For now, go to the Netherworld army and assist Christina."
"I have already sent her a message—she will come to bring you over shortly."
"Yes, my Lady."
…
Within the Nether Mountain Range, at the Sixth Battalion camp of Locke's Sovereign army—
Oakes's expression sharpened. After waiting for a few breaths, he looked up at the ongoing battle between the Fourth and Fifth Battalions.
Whoosh!
In a flash, Oakes forcefully entered the battlefield. A streak of dark-cyan fused divine power flickered.
Boom!
With a punch and a palm strike, both magic formations were shattered. The soldiers serving as formation nodes fell from the sky like rain.
"Commander Oakes…"
"Commander Oakes…"
Seeing who had interrupted them, both Celes and Figaroa paled and hurried forward to salute.
What was going on?
They had fought many times before, and Oakes had never intervened.
Could it be that Mira had complained?
Thinking this, both extended their divine senses—but found no trace of Mira.
"Enough. Your sparring ends here!"
"Commander Oakes, our fight doesn't matter, but I want to know one thing—where is Commander Mira? Why isn't she here? Where did she go?" Figaroa asked anxiously.
Oakes shot him a sharp glance.
"You think Lady Mira is as idle as you?"
"Just now, she was summoned by Lord Locke."
"And Lord Locke informed me—Lady Mira has been accepted as a Sovereign's Emissary and has gone to serve under another Sovereign as a deputy commander."
"What?! Mira became a Sovereign's Emissary?"
"A… deputy commander?"
Celes and Figaroa exchanged glances, then both looked away in mutual disdain.
Celes already knew Mira's cultivation progress. From Oakes's words, he immediately understood—she had completed the fusion of five Profound Mysteries.
As for becoming a Sovereign's Emissary—that was only natural.
Figaroa, though unaware of her exact progress, knew that becoming an emissary required at least Asura Lord–level strength.
Which meant Mira's current status, position, and power were now comparable to his father, Oakes.
"You think Lady Mira is like you—idling around and competing for superiority all day?" Oakes reprimanded.
Celes glanced at Figaroa, who didn't dare raise his head, and inwardly scoffed.
When Oakes's gaze shifted to him, he quickly explained:
"Commander Oakes, we weren't competing—we were exchanging insights on magic formations."
"You see, after all these years, my mastery of formations has improved significantly."
Figaroa nodded rapidly.
"Yes, yes—Father—Commander Oakes—we were just exchanging knowledge."
"I hope that's true."
Seeing this, Oakes decided not to press further.
After all, Mira was no longer in Locke's Sovereign army. Figaroa wouldn't be able to chase her into another Sovereign's army—this alone made Oakes breathe easier.
As for Celes…
Well, he too had connections to Lord Locke.
But Oakes had a good impression of him.
Over the years, aside from a few formation exchanges with Figaroa, Celes had maintained a clean reputation.
Most of his time was spent studying formations with his subordinates.
At the very least, there were no rumors linking him improperly to any Sovereign.
Unlike Figaroa—
Who, within days of joining, had made it known across the entire army that he was Oakes's son.
(End of Chapter)
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