"Grandpa Belute, why are the four clan chiefs here?" Lin Lei asked in confusion, looking at Belute.
With his divine sense, Lin Lei easily detected that Gaisenisen and the other three were all inside his estate — specifically, in the eastern garden.
"Oh, speaking of that…" Belute said awkwardly. "Lin Lei, when you went to kill that Augustus, I believed the matter was a hundred percent certain. And I knew… Gaisenisen and the others have always wanted to avenge the four old ancestors. So I told them about it in advance. To let them celebrate early."
Lin Lei froze, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry.
"So right now, aren't they just waiting for my good news?" Lin Lei didn't know whether to laugh or what.
Belute stroked his beard and coughed twice. "After I told them, they were absolutely thrilled. They couldn't even wait — they decided to stay right here in your estate, so that the moment you returned they could find you immediately. I imagine… the guards and maids in your estate have already relayed word of your arrival. They'll be here soon."
Inside the silent hall, Gaisenisen and the Vermilion Bird clan chief were both seated. The White Tiger clan chief paced back and forth with a furrowed brow. As for the Black Tortoise clan chief, he stood right at the doorway, his eyes filled with anxiety.
"Big brother, when do you think Lin Lei will arrive?" the Black Tortoise clan chief turned his head and asked, his deep voice rumbling.
"The High Gods travel incredibly fast. Based on the time, it should be soon. Why don't you stop standing at the door and sit down? Calm yourself and just wait patiently," Gaisenisen urged.
"How can I sit still?" A trace of impatience crossed the Black Tortoise clan chief's face — he was clearly restless and uneasy.
The Vermilion Bird clan chief, seated nearby, managed a helpless smile. "Big brother, don't pick on third brother. Even I — though I'm sitting here, my heart hasn't been calm for a single moment. The High Gods move so fast; he'll definitely be back today. The question is whether Lin Lei can succeed."
"Lord Belute already said so," Gaisenisen replied. "With Lord Belute's character — if he weren't certain, would he have said anything?"
"Right," the others chimed in agreement.
Yet despite this, unease still gnawed at the hearts of all four clan chiefs.
"Chief! Chief!" Just then, a figure came sprinting from the distance.
"Whoosh!"
Gaisenisen and the Vermilion Bird clan chief, who had been seated, shot to their feet. All four clan chiefs looked toward the maid rushing in from outside. She was still far off when she called out, "Lord Lin Lei has returned! He's with Lord Belute!"
A streak of light flashed, and four figures vanished from the hall.
Under a great tree, beside a stone table, Lin Lei and Belute sat facing each other.
"They're here," Lin Lei said, taking a sip of wine with a resigned smile.
"This trouble is of my own making," Belute shook his head with a wry smile. "Honestly, I just don't understand. The Radiant Sovereign is a Sovereign, not a Paragon — how could his strength be ten times greater than we estimated? The Radiant Plane hasn't won ten consecutive matches in the Planar Wars."
"Unless… this Augustus has a High God clone," Belute concluded.
Lin Lei thought it over from every angle, and this was the only theory that held up.
It seemed there were no other possibilities.
"The likelihood is slim," Lin Lei shook his head. "We've met Earth High Gods, and we've encountered over sixty of them. Not a single one has the same aura as the Radiant Sovereign. And if the Radiant Sovereign had a High God clone, could he really hide it from the other Sovereigns? The Death Sovereign and the Destruction Sovereign — they've been alive since the birth of the world. He might deceive others, but he could never deceive them."
Belute nodded in agreement.
What on earth had caused the Radiant Sovereign's strength to be ten times greater than they had estimated?
"Lin Lei!" An urgent voice rang out.
Lin Lei turned to look. Four afterimages flickered past, then solidified into four figures — it was Gaisenisen and the other three clan chiefs. Whether it was the composed Gaisenisen, the cold White Tiger clan chief, the wise Vermilion Bird clan chief, or the taciturn Black Tortoise clan chief — every one of them fixed Lin Lei with a gaze full of anticipation and fervor.
"Has the Radiant Sovereign been killed?" the Vermilion Bird clan chief couldn't help but ask.
Lin Lei and Belute exchanged a glance. In the end, it was Lin Lei who spoke with a bitter smile. "Gaisenisen… I've let you down. I wasn't able to kill Augustus!"
Lin Lei offered no further explanation.
Gaisenisen and his three siblings stiffened, then all let out forlorn smiles.
"Lin Lei," Gaisenisen said with a slight bow. "I know that Lord Belute wouldn't have told us that without being fairly certain. This time we failed… but we very much want to know — in the future, Lord Lin Lei, will you kill that Radiant Sovereign?" The other three clan chiefs looked at Lin Lei as well.
Lin Lei extended his divine sense across the entire Heaven Sacrifice Mountain Range. At his level of perception, if any other High God were keeping watch, it would be impossible to escape his notice.
"I cannot say exactly when I will kill him. But once I possess sufficient strength, I will kill him," Lin Lei declared solemnly.
Gaisenisen and the others looked at one another, and finally they all offered Lin Lei smiles of gratitude.