Lin Lei was heading out the door. Having gained a boost in power from the ancestral baptism, he was naturally in high spirits.
"Calling me?" Lin Lei heard the shout and turned, puzzled.
Nevertheless, Lin Lei looked back. The bald elder's face was flushed red, his eyes had turned scarlet, and the whole man looked like a wolf ready to devour its prey. Lin Lei's guard went up instinctively, but he still spoke up. "Elder, is there something you need?"
"Emanuel, what's wrong?" the handsome young man also asked quickly.
What's wrong?
Emanuel snapped back to his senses, completely regaining his composure. His expression returned to normal. Looking at Lin Lei before him, he understood clearly: "The ancestor's Coiling Dragon Ring has appeared. This absolutely cannot be leaked out. Gavi must never know."
Emanuel was a member of the Azure Dragon Clan's Elder Council.
He himself was a fourth-generation member of the Azure Dragon Clan, having lived for who knew how many years. But in terms of status within the Azure Dragon Clan, there were quite a few who ranked above him.
"If the ancestor's Coiling Dragon Ring becomes public knowledge, it will never end up in my hands." Emanuel's mind raced, and he made his decision in an instant, a cold smile forming in his heart. "Fortunately, this Gavi has never met the ancestor and doesn't know what the Coiling Dragon Ring looks like."
The ancestor, the 'Azure Dragon,' as a Sovereign, naturally rarely met with his descendants.
Within the Azure Dragon Clan, only the Azure Dragon's own children—the second generation—were closest to him. The third generation had also met the ancestor a few times. Some members of the fourth generation had seen him as well. As for those who came after... only the rarest of geniuses had ever been granted an audience with the ancestor.
This Gavi had never even met the ancestor, so of course he wouldn't recognize the Coiling Dragon Ring.
After all, joining the Elder Council required reaching the level of a Seven-Star Demon. It didn't mean one was born early.
"Emanuel, what are you thinking about?" Gavi asked.
"Oh, I have something to discuss with this Lin Lei," Emanuel said with a smile.
Lin Lei couldn't help but feel puzzled. "I've never seen him before. What does he want with me?"
"Just talk to Lin Lei right here," Gavi said with a grin. But Emanuel shook his head and put on a serious expression. "Gavi, I have a very important matter to discuss with Lin Lei in private. Do me a favor—go on ahead. Let me talk to Lin Lei alone."
"A talk? And in private?" Gavi was a bit curious.
Emanuel couldn't help but furrow his brow.
"Fine, fine." Gavi smiled. Since Emanuel had spoken up, Gavi couldn't press the matter. "I'll head out then. Oh right, Emanuel, we still need to discuss the matter of paying a visit to the Ulan emissary. I'll wait for you in the main hall outside. Hurry up."
Emanuel beamed. "Sure, just wait in the hall. I'll come out as soon as we're done."
"Mm." The handsome young man Gavi flashed a smile at the bewildered Lin Lei. "Keep at it, young man. I'll be waiting for the day you join the Elder Council too." With that, he walked out of the secret chamber, closing the door behind him.
"Heh heh, now that Gavi's gone... the ancestor's ring is mine." Emanuel could hardly contain his excitement. In his eyes, Lin Lei was nothing more than a Mid-stage God. A Mid-stage God with a 'Soul Defense Divine Artifact.' He could simply kill Lin Lei with a physical attack and naturally seize the Divine Artifact.
"Lin Lei." Emanuel smiled warmly.
"Elder." But Lin Lei was filled with suspicion. What did this man want to discuss with him privately?
As the saying goes, great skill brings great courage. Lin Lei had fused three Grand Mysteries and combined them with the 'Black Stone.' He was already formidable to begin with. Now, after the ancestral baptism, even his one weakness—soul defense—had been strengthened.
Even a Seven-Star Demon held no fear for him. He naturally faced Emanuel with composure.
Ssssss—Emanuel directly unleashed his 'God's Domain,' enveloping the entire secret chamber within it.
Lin Lei's expression shifted. "Elder, what are you doing?"
Emanuel simply smiled. "What I have to discuss with you is extremely important. That's why I've activated my God's Domain—to prevent anyone else from listening in."
"I wonder what this important matter is that the Elder wishes to discuss with me?" Lin Lei's attitude remained humble.
"Lin Lei, first read through the book you were just given," Emanuel said with a smile.
Lin Lei was brimming with doubts, but he still opened the book detailing the history of the Four Divine Beast Families. In front of Emanuel, he pretended to be shocked as he read, but inside, he was thinking: "That Emanuel had already let me go. But then he suddenly asked me to stay. And to talk in private? What is he really after?"
He pretended to be stunned while reading, all the while pondering.
Having split his soul into five parts, Lin Lei could focus on five things simultaneously. This sort of pretense was naturally simple for him.
"I don't have anything that would catch his attention," Lin Lei thought, unable to figure out the reason.
Lin Lei then closed the book, looked up at the bald man Emanuel, and feigned shock. "Elder, our ancestor was a Sovereign? And all four Sovereigns are dead? How is that possible?"
"That is a fact," Emanuel confirmed. "Lin Lei, you now understand the perilous situation our clan is in, don't you?"
"Yes, I understand." Lin Lei's expression was grave.
This was no pretense. Lin Lei was genuinely worried about the clan's situation. After all, eight powerful families were watching them like tigers eyeing prey.
Emanuel said solemnly, "Lin Lei, our Four Divine Beast Families face a monumental crisis. What we need now are true powerhouses! A true powerhouse needs not only personal strength but also powerful divine artifacts. Lin Lei, would you agree?"
Lin Lei nodded in agreement. "Divine artifacts are indeed important."
Emanuel looked at Lin Lei. "Lin Lei, you have a Divine Artifact, don't you?"
A Divine Artifact?
Those words struck Lin Lei's head like a bolt of lightning. His mind buzzed, and his expression involuntarily changed. The fact that he possessed a Soul Defense Divine Artifact was known only to Bei Bei and Dilia.
Lin Lei instantly snapped back to clarity.
"Elder, you must be joking." Lin Lei stared at Emanuel.
Emanuel let out a derisive laugh. "Lin Lei, stop pretending in front of me. I'll have you know—I'm fourth generation of the Azure Dragon Clan, and I personally laid eyes on the ancestor back in the day."