"Lin Lei versus Hedson?" Master Rongs, standing nearby, was also astonished.
Viscount Kiefer nodded repeatedly: "Yes, just two nights ago, Olivier was critically injured by Lord Hedson and remains unconscious to this day. Lord Hedson then immediately challenged Master Lin Lei to a duel."
In the words of Viscount Kiefer and Scott, there was actually a veiled implication that Hedson had gone too far.
"This Hedson, known as the strongest in the Saint Realm. The fact that he could injure Olivier so severely that he's still unconscious proves his power is no empty boast. Lin Lei may be a genius, but he's only twenty-seven..." Master Rongs was also somewhat displeased.
He knew his disciple Dilia liked Lin Lei, and naturally he felt some affection for Lin Lei by association.
"Olivier was critically injured and unconscious?" Dilia's eyes burned intently. "With Light healing magic, how could he remain unconscious?"
No matter how severe the physical injury, Light healing magic could easily and completely heal it. Moreover, in terms of healing ability, there was actually another type of magic even more powerful than Light healing magic—Life Magic!
The three supreme high-level magics—Necromancy, Grand Prophecy, and Life Magic.
As long as one wasn't dead, even severe soul injuries could be healed by Life Magic.
"It seems to be a soul-related issue," said Scott. As a prince, he had access to much information.
"Soul?" Master Rongs furrowed his brow nearby. "Does this Hedson possess the ability to attack the soul?" In truth, Sovereign Mages were the ones most skilled at soul attacks.
Generally, once they comprehended Laws, with their terrifying Mental Power, comprehending soul attacks was not difficult.
"Do you think Lin Lei has any hope of winning against Hedson?" Dilia asked abruptly.
"Of course not," Scott said flatly. "Lord Hedson has been famous for hundreds of years, and no one has been found who can defeat him! Besides, Master Lin Lei recently fought Lord Olivier, and they were roughly equal. If Lord Hedson could do that to Olivier, it's entirely possible he could critically injure or even kill Lin Lei."
Even as composed as Dilia was, she now worried for Lin Lei.
If Lin Lei were killed?
Dilia truly dared not imagine it.
"Hedson would strike so hard? So mercilessly?" Dilia maintained her composure on the surface.
"Miss Dilia, just two days ago, Lord Hedson fought Lord Olivier and struck him so devastatingly. How could he hold back against Master Lin Lei?" said Viscount Kiefer.
Master Rongs also shook his head: "When Saint Realm experts fight, unless the gap in strength is too great, no one dares to hold back. If you hold back and your opponent strikes with full force, you could die."
Dilia fell silent for a moment.
"Miss Dilia?" Viscount Kiefer and Scott called softly.
"It's nothing. Let's go." The formulaic smile returned to Dilia's face, though it carried a hint of stiffness.
Viscount Kiefer and Scott both nodded.
At the gate of the manor.
"Miss Dilia, I've already told you—whether we can even see Master Lin Lei is not guaranteed," Viscount Kiefer said with a smile. He then called out casually to the guard: "Go and report that the Eighth Prince, Viscount Kiefer, and the special envoy of the Yulan Empire have come to visit Baron Wotton."
"Yes. Please wait a moment, everyone."
One of the manor guards immediately ran inside to make the report.
Dilia and the others understood that with Lin Lei's current status, seeing him would be difficult. They could only meet with Wotton first and then request to see Lin Lei indirectly.
"Please, my lords."
Dilia, Master Rongs, Viscount Kiefer, Scott, and the others stepped into the manor.
In the manor's drawing room.
"Wotton," Scott strode into the drawing room and said with a familiar smile, "Let me introduce you. This beautiful young lady is the special envoy of the Yulan Empire, Miss Dilia."
Scott was the Eighth Prince of the Empire, and Nia was the Seventh Princess. Scott and Wotton were naturally very familiar with each other.
"The Yulan Empire's special envoy? What brings you to my place?" Though Wotton was inwardly surprised, he still wore a smile and bowed politely: "Miss Dilia, it's an honor to meet you."
"Baron Wotton," Dilia said with a smile. "This is my teacher, the Wind Sovereign Mage, Master Longs."
Wotton was stunned, and even his steward Xili behind him was shocked.
In the O'Brien Empire, Saint Realm warriors were easy enough to meet, but Sovereign Mages—they had never seen one. After all, mages in the Empire were exceedingly rare.
"Wotton, the Empire's special envoy is here?" A boisterous voice rang out—it was Gates, one of the five Buck brothers.
Wotton had been training together with the five Buck brothers just moments ago. Upon hearing his subordinate's report, he had stopped training to come receive these guests. Gates, out of curiosity, had followed along.
"Ooh, what a beautiful girl." Gates's eyes lit up.
"Gates, this is the Empire's special envoy, Miss Dilia. This is the Wind Sovereign Mage, Master Longs." Wotton immediately made introductions, worried that Gates might cause some trouble.
Gates's attention immediately shifted to Master Longs.
"Whoa—a Sovereign Mage!" Gates's eyes went as wide as a bull's.
Master Longs sighed inwardly. Good heavens—who were these people? Wotton's towering frame was already enough to make Longs marvel. But Wotton was at least presentable and could be called handsome. Gates, however, was a different matter—his waist was astonishingly thick, and he looked just like a great bear.
"Stay away from my master." A deep, resonant voice sounded.
Behind Master Longs, the great bear's height increased dramatically—from its original two meters to a sudden three meters. The Earth Bear looked down at Gates with a trace of pride in its eyes.
"A Saint Realm magical beast?" Gates craned his neck to look up at the Earth Bear.
Dilia, however, got straight to the point: "Baron Wotton, my teacher and I have come here specifically to see Master Lin Lei."
"To see my brother—" Wotton's brow furrowed.
The other party's status was considerable, and they had brought along a Sovereign Mage. But in Wotton's heart, his brother's training was the most important thing—after all, in just over two months, there would be a great battle.
"I'm sorry, but my brother is fully focused on preparing for his battle with Hedson and cannot be distracted," Wotton said. When mentioning Hedson, Wotton showed not a shred of respect.
Hearing this, Dilia also recognized the importance of Lin Lei's preparation for that battle. After a moment of silence, she said: "Then... I won't disturb him."