"Augustus, still trying to escape?" After pocketing that Sovereign spark, Lin Lei swept a cold gaze in the direction of the five Sovereigns, then dove straight into the collapsing spatial void, pursuing Augustus.
The grotesque spatial void devoured the seawater while continuously shrinking.
In the far distance, the Wind Sovereign Dia and the other four watched with undisguised terror in their eyes.
"Is… is that really Lin Lei?" a man shrouded in a black robe stammered.
"Shattering a Sovereign artifact with a single sword strike? That's terrifying. Huerlei is the Lightning Sovereign, and he has an Earth Sovereign clone as well, yet just now… if he'd been a hair slower, he'd be dead." The Water Sovereign's fair face had gone a shade paler. All the Sovereigns felt a chill of aftershock — if they had followed through with the plan to seize Lin Lei's Sovereign artifact, then—
None of them could be certain that even a handful would have survived.
"Dia, did you lie to us?" The other four Sovereigns turned to glare at the Wind Sovereign.
Dia's eyes were wide with shock as well. "You've all lost your wits from fright? When Lin Lei fought me, his exposed strength was roughly on par with mine. If he'd truly been that powerful back then, do you think I'd still be alive? Obviously, Lin Lei was hiding his strength before!"
The four Law Sovereigns heard this and each one bitter-laughed inwardly.
Lin Lei's sword strike just now had genuinely terrified them into confusion. If even the Lightning Sovereign couldn't withstand a single blow from Lin Lei, how could the Wind Sovereign Dia? This wasn't Dia's fault. If anyone was to blame, it was Lin Lei for concealing his true power.
"Whoosh~~~"
The sea wind howled.
For ten thousand miles in every direction, not a trace of life remained — only the barren wasteland left behind by the brief clash of three Sovereign-level powerhouses.
The Lightning Sovereign Huerlei had already fled the Light Divine Plane. Dia and the other four Law Sovereigns stared at the devastation, a heavy stone weighing on each of their hearts. Lin Lei had suddenly revealed terrifying power — strength great enough to fill them with dread.
In that moment, a single thought surfaced unbidden in all their minds—
"How can Lin Lei possibly be this strong?"
In the chaotic void, multicolored spatial tempests streaked wildly in every direction.
How could Lin Lei possibly be this strong?
It wasn't only those five Sovereigns who harbored this thought — so too did the Light Sovereign, Augustus!
"Even if I was caught off guard just now and didn't get to unleash my full power… he still shouldn't be this strong." Augustus was completely stunned by Lin Lei's sword strike. It had crashed down like one massive mountain after another, gravely wounding him in the very instant of contact.
Augustus involuntarily glanced back at Lin Lei.
Brown hair streaming behind him, Lin Lei's gaze was sharp as a blade, coldly fixed on Augustus in the distance. He gripped the Life Sovereign Sword and bore down at astonishing speed.
In this moment, Lin Lei was like a colossus born at the dawn of heaven and earth — utterly unstoppable!
"After this battle is over, I'll have few regrets left in this life." Lin Lei's battle intent soared higher than it ever had.
From a child in Wushan Town all those years ago, he had grown step by step until he now stood at the pinnacle of the Sovereigns. Along this path, his greatest regret was that Grandpa Derinkoort could not be resurrected. Resurrecting Grandpa Derinkoort — that was an impossible dream. Lin Lei had only one goal—
Kill Augustus and restore his mother's freedom. And for the sake of Grandpa Belute and the Four Divine Beast families as well.
"Augustus must die!"
Lin Lei's battle intent pierced the heavens. Dark green Sovereign's power surged through his body.
"Boom!" Like a streak of brilliant light, he instantly outpaced all the surrounding spatial tempests and hurtled straight toward Augustus.
Augustus's escape speed was remarkably fast as well. He glanced back, saw the killing intent blazing in Lin Lei's eyes, and inwardly lurched. He immediately sent a transmission: "Lin Lei, your strength already surpasses mine. Whatever you want, we can discuss it. There's no need for us to fight to the death!"
Lin Lei said nothing, merely closing the distance at maximum speed.
"Lin Lei—" Augustus tried to speak again, but at Lin Lei's speed, he had already arrived.
"Hmph."
The Life Sovereign Sword in Lin Lei's hand cut toward Augustus like a fire-wreathed meteor, its unstoppable, world-annihilating momentum already filling Augustus's heart with terror. Augustus had no time for words. With a low roar, the light sword in his hand traced an elegant curve, intercepting Lin Lei's Life Sovereign Sword.
"Clang!"
A deep, resonant note.
The surrounding spatial tempests exploded instantly. Innumerable spatial rifts tore open, and Augustus himself was sent hurtling backward like a tattered sandbag, blood spraying from his mouth.
Earth Law — Earth Shatter.
"Hm, still alive?" Lin Lei frowned.
Earth Shatter was Lin Lei's most powerful technique in the domain of the Earth Law. In terms of destructive force, it was roughly equal to his fused ultimate technique, Sword Intent.
"Logically, since I'm using fused Sovereign's power — a hundredfold increase in strength — he shouldn't have been able to block it." Lin Lei was somewhat surprised by Augustus's resilience, then gave a faint, indifferent smile. "Hmph. The fact that he could suppress six other Law Sovereigns means Augustus truly has the power to back it up."
While thinking this, Lin Lei continued his pursuit.
In the vast, desolate void, only the two of them remained.
"Hmph." Augustus wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, glanced back at the charging Lin Lei, and gritted his teeth. He sent another transmission: "Lin Lei, name your price. What will it take for you to stop fighting me? Whatever you need me to agree to, just say it!"
"Oh?"
Lin Lei regarded Augustus and replied flatly, "You want me to name my terms? Fine — they're simple. All you need to do is let me kill your Light Sovereign clone. As for your deity clone, I can spare your life." Lin Lei studied Augustus, watching for his reaction.