At the critical moment of the Sovereign's descent, Lin Lei had actually achieved an epiphany and broken through to the Highgod realm. This left Beirut and several others caught between laughter and tears, though it also surprised many who were present — none more so than the experts of the Eight Great Families.
"This Lin Lei has become a Highgod?" Patriarch Bolin looked toward Lin Lei from afar.
"He actually became a Highgod!" Patriarch Edric and the others wore complicated expressions.
"Even if the Sovereign hadn't descended this time, we probably would have had to leave anyway," Patriarch Mingshe sighed softly.
Over the past thousand years, they had been so frantic precisely because they feared Lin Lei. They believed that as a Midgod, Lin Lei must have fused at least five profundities to be so terrifying. And now that he had reached the Highgod realm, he had likely fused all six — achieving Complete Mastery!
A Highgod of Complete Mastery — their power was by no means inferior to Beirut's!
"Thankfully, he didn't break through earlier," Patriarch Lernas let out a long breath.
"Mm." The patriarchs' hearts were a tangle of complicated emotions.
The Sovereign's decree left them unwilling to accept it. But Lin Lei's ascension to Highgod sent a chill of retrospective fear through them.
If a Highgod of Complete Mastery went on a killing rampage, the experts of their Eight Great Families would be nothing more than target practice. One need only look at Beirut to understand — he dared to catch a Sovereign Artifact with his bare hands. Such a freak — who could possibly stand against him?
"The Four Divine Beast Families certainly got lucky, producing a genius like this," Patriarch Barbary said in a low voice. "Let's just leave quickly."
"It's time to head back."
One by one, the patriarchs turned and departed. They dared not defy the Sovereign's command, and Lin Lei's existence made them more than willing to leave. Regardless, the matter between the Four Divine Beast Families and the Eight Great Families was settled from this day forward.
Every member of the Four Divine Beast Families was filled with excitement and agitation. Many wept on the spot — from this day forward, they no longer had to endure days filled with crisis and humiliation.
"It's over!"
"Haha, it's finally over!"
Voice after voice rose into the air above the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range. Many clansmen dropped to their knees in excitement, weeping openly. Over this past period, the Eight Great Families had relentlessly hurled insults and mockery — for the Four Divine Beast Families, it had been a form of spiritual torture.
At last, it was over!
"The Eight Great Families are starting to leave," Bei Bei spoke up.
Lin Lei turned to look as well. Under the organized arrangements of the patriarchs and elders, the members of the Eight Great Families rose into the air in vast numbers like a swarm of locusts, boarding their metal life-forms one after another and departing swiftly. All that remained was a vast, empty expanse of castle structures.
"It's all over." Gailisson's expression was deeply complicated.
The White Tiger patriarch also sighed with emotion. "More than ten thousand years — like a nightmare — more than ten thousand years, and it's finally over! The clansmen no longer need to hide within the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range, no longer need to live in fear."
Every member of the Four Divine Beast Families felt a weight lift from their shoulders.
"Lord Beirut, we will forever remember your great kindness!" Gailisson was the first to bow respectfully, and immediately the other three patriarchs and all the elders followed suit with deep bows.
Beirut smiled faintly. "If you wish to thank someone, thank the Sovereign."
Gailisson and the others understood perfectly well that the Blood Ridge Sovereign had no connection to their Four Divine Beast Families. If the Blood Ridge Sovereign had wanted to save them, he would have appeared long ago. The fact that he only appeared now — chances were, Beirut had played a role in this.
"Everyone!"
Gailisson suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice booming across the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range. Countless clansmen turned their eyes toward him. In a powerful voice, Gailisson proclaimed:
"Today is a day of great celebration! For over ten thousand years, our Four Divine Beast Families have borne an immense burden — elder after elder has fallen in battle for the clan... But today, the members of our Four Divine Beast Families can once again fly freely through the skies of the Infernal Realm. To celebrate this momentous occasion, we shall feast and rejoice — all clansmen, three days of grand celebration!"
"Good!"
"Three days of celebration!"
Cheers and howls erupted one after another, resounding throughout the skies above the Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range.
"Lord Beirut, Pusluo — you two must attend our celebration." Gailisson looked toward Beirut.
"Of course." Beirut nodded with a faint smile.
"Heh heh." Pusluo chuckled, then glanced at Lin Lei nearby and burst into laughter. "Lin Lei, achieving an epiphany and breaking through right before a Sovereign's eyes — I, Pusluo, have lived for so many years, and I've never seen anything like it."
Lin Lei could only smile sheepishly.
"You did see the Sovereign, didn't you?" Beirut asked with a smile.
"I caught only a single glimpse before the Sovereign departed." Lin Lei felt a trace of regret. In truth, before the Sovereign's arrival, he had been so immersed in his contemplation after witnessing the battle between the Grand Elder and Patriarch Barbary that he hadn't known when the Sovereign arrived or what was said.
However, from the conversations he had just overheard, Lin Lei had already gathered that the Eight Great Families were leaving because of the Sovereign's command.
A Sovereign is truly a Sovereign — with a single command, the Eight Great Families had to obediently leave. In Lin Lei's mind, he could still recall that colossal black face, dozens of meters tall, materializing in the sky above — and those eyes that made one's heart tremble.
The Sovereign's oppressive might — after experiencing it just this once, Lin Lei would never forget it.
"Come on, your family has quite the celebration ahead of them." Beirut rose into the air with a smile.
Lin Lei, Bei Bei, Pusluo, Dilia, and the others flew along with Beirut, while Gailisson and the other three patriarchs had already gone to prepare the celebration. This celebration would span the entire Heavenly Sacrifice Mountain Range.
As they flew along, Beirut suddenly laughed at himself.
Lin Lei couldn't help but turn to look. Beirut glanced at him and said with a helpless expression, "Lin Lei, I truly brought this upon myself. I had just encouraged you, saying I'd give you a deity artifact once you reached the Highgod realm. And here you are — you broke through in the blink of an eye."
Indeed...
Lin Lei's efficiency was a bit too much.