What was Cole worried about? What was he afraid of?
Locke's gaze was like a torch; every fluctuation of emotion in Cole's soul was sensed by him.
This close-range perception allowed Locke to see even more clearly than when he had been in the "Heaven and Human Unity" state in the training chamber.
These surging emotions also gave Locke something to speculate on.
Why, despite sensing so many negative emotions from Cole's soul, had Cole never mentioned any problems to him?
Why did Cole's emotions shift so rapidly in his presence?
Having been educated in the Chinese family system, and with five thousand years of history and knowledge behind him, Locke possessed insight far beyond this world.
From Cole's reactions, Locke easily deduced that all of Cole's emotions probably stemmed from Locke himself.
With a slight sigh, Locke turned and entered the training chamber.
"Cole, the reason I emerged from seclusion this time is that the next phase of my training is extremely important."
"If there's nothing urgent, try not to disturb me during my seclusion."
"Understood, big brother."
Although Cole's words and expression hinted at reluctance, Locke's soul perception told him otherwise.
Cole's soul showed no trace of reluctance. Instead, there was relief—and even joy.
Cole did not want him to emerge from seclusion. He did not want him here at all!
Locke realized this once again.
After giving Cole a long, deep look, he closed the training chamber door.
It was fine.
An eighth-level warrior only had a lifespan of three hundred years.
At most, a little over a hundred years remained. By the time Cole aged, Locke would have fulfilled the promise he made at his parents' graves.
…
Watching his elder brother close the training chamber door, Cole let out a sigh of relief.
This was perfect! Today, when his brother suddenly emerged, Cole had worried that his own current actions had been discovered.
But it turned out that his brother had simply come out to announce a long period of seclusion.
Although this notification felt strange to Cole—after all, in the past, his brother had never said how long he would be in seclusion—
The longer his brother remained in seclusion, the more advantageous it was for him.
"Since it's confirmed that big brother won't be emerging for a long time, I can act more boldly."
"After all, barring any unexpected circumstances, I might need two sacrifices to break through to the Sanctum."
"Cross and the others agreed to let me use the first sacrifice, but they will not provide the others."
"It's best I find them myself."
Cole turned and left, returning to the conference room, immediately deploying more personnel from the Locke Domain to search for individuals with pure souls.
In no time, rumors spread throughout Locke Domain: finding someone who could make a white pearl glow might change one's destiny.
…
"Interesting…"
In the Imperial Capital of the Frostsnow Empire,
A blue-haired Celes sat high upon his divine throne, a smirk curling at his lips.
As a high-ranking Water God, even among the water divine plane, Celes could barely be called a "powerful figure."
However, with the main Water God Phiros urgently needing faith energy, even Celes, a mid-ranking captain in Phiros's divine army, had to enter the material plane to collect faith energy for Phiros.
In the Wakanda Plane, Celes had operated for over ten thousand years.
When a lower-ranking God of the Temple of Light appeared in the Wakanda Plane, Celes had already noticed.
Yet after millennia of tedious days in the material plane, Celes decided to keep an eye on this lower god, curious to see what amusement he could provide.
After all, although Celes had also advanced from the material plane, he could not have imagined how uncomfortable returning to it would be after growing accustomed to life in the divine plane.
Yes—uncomfortable.
In the divine and supreme planes, elemental concentrations were dozens of times higher than in the material plane.
For a god used to the divine plane, the difference between the material plane and the divine plane was like the difference between an ocean and a pond.
Under such circumstances, Celes had little interest in cultivating.
The "Radiant Temple" created by that lower god, however, gave him a source of amusement.
In the material plane, Celes' divine perception could almost cover the entire Wakanda Plane.
If he wished, there would be no secrets in the Wakanda Plane from him.
He even knew that all the nobles of the Frostsnow Empire had methods for the Temple of Light to locate sacrifices.
If someone found enough sacrifices to break through to the Sanctum, they would quietly leave the Frostsnow Empire, enter the Temple of Light's territory, and have the High Priest perform the ritual.
Yet over the years, Celes had never seen anyone like the Grand Duke of Locke Domain.
Those seeking sacrifices to join the Temple of Light were usually talentless, stuck at level nine, unable to ascend further.
But the Grand Duke of Locke Domain, Locke, possessed talent almost comparable to Celes himself.
Someone like him… really starting to collect sacrifices to enhance strength?
Based on what he knew, this little one shouldn't be so short-sighted.
Thinking this, Celes expanded his divine perception and quickly sensed Locke's aura.
"Huh?"
Immersed in training, Locke suddenly felt a familiar sense of scrutiny.
"Is this… a divine-level being's divine perception?"
This was not the first time Locke had sensed such a thing.
"Is it His Majesty Celes, or the Pope of the Radiant Temple?"
The thought flashed through Locke's mind, and he soon confirmed the visitor's identity.
After all, this was the Frostsnow Empire's territory; the High Priest of the Temple of Light would not dare extend his divine perception here.
So Locke slightly bowed.
"Lord Locke greets His Majesty Celes. May I ask what instructions you have for me?"
"Oh? Locke, you can actually sense my divine perception?"
"Huh?"
Startled by Celes' words, Locke wondered if his assumption was wrong.
Can others in the Sanctum not sense divine-level beings' perception even in the 'Heaven and Human Unity' state?
Although surprised, Locke honestly explained.
"Your Majesty Celes, perhaps because I am currently in the 'Heaven and Human Unity' state, I can sense a trace of your aura through the connection between my soul and the world, so…"
(End of Chapter)
⭐ Enjoying the story?
You can read ahead and support the translations by joining my Patreon! Your support helps me update faster and take on more projects. Thank you for reading!
Read up to 50 chapters ahead!
patreon.com/AminaSims
Bonus chapter at 100 powerstones.