Chapter Fifty-Two: He Can No Longer Be Deceived

Sunshine, waves, and a city built by the sea—Florence is such a romantic place.

“How beautiful!”

Linley had just emerged from the verdant forest to find the Night Elves’ royal capital standing before him—the stark contrast took him by surprise.

The leopard followed at his side, gazing at the distant city with its spires rising skyward. Florence’s beauty rivaled that of Twin Moon City; elves were masterful artists, and naturally, they lavished care upon their capital’s construction.

“Eve, where’s the location of the mark?” Linley turned to ask.

“It should be nearby.”

Eve searched amidst the ruins of a church, carrying a lantern as she cleared away rubble, eventually uncovering a magical mark carved into the ground.

“Prince, I’ve found it.”

She called Linley over and activated the mark.

“Tiger covers the earth,” came a voice from the mark.

Eve responded, “The pagoda subdues the river demon.”

“Code correct... Forest elves, thank heavens, you’ve finally arrived.” The mark projected the image of a Night Elf: “Continue east. There’s a monastery on Florence’s western side. Wait for us beneath the great oak tree behind the monastery.”

“Take care not to be discovered by others along the way.”

The image vanished, hurried and anxious.

The three set off toward the monastery. Linley glanced at Eve, “Who arranged those passcodes just now?”

“That noble,” Eve replied, looking at Linley. “Do you know where they're from?”

“No...”

Linley shook his head, but he understood. Those codes were ones he’d taught his elder sister long ago as secret signals for future visits. If that noble knew them, he must be her confidant.

The Night Elves couldn’t have known Linley would come; their use of the code was likely an attempt to increase credibility should the signal reach him.

“Is everything arranged on the front line?”

“Yes, per your instructions, I had them prepare for battle as quickly as possible,” Eve replied. “If you have no new orders, they’ll launch the attack tomorrow.”

That, too, was Linley’s idea.

Guided by Eve, the trio avoided Night Elf sentries and reached the back door of the monastery. Beneath the oak tree, a Night Elf dressed as a nun waited nervously.

“Prince, there’s no one else nearby.”

After observing for a moment, Eve walked over with Linley.

“You’ve arrived...” The Night Elf’s eyes brightened, and she hurried to greet them. “How many troops have you brought?”

Linley smirked, “No one else—just the two of us.”

“Just the two of you?” The Night Elf was incredulous. “Don’t joke—do you really think you can rescue the queen with only two?”

“I’d like to bring more, but two are enough.” Linley laughed heartily. “You play your part well; now tell me, was this all a scheme from the start, or did that foolish noble’s plan get exposed?”

Both the Night Elf and Eve were stunned, but the leopard darted in front of Eve, grabbed her sleeve, and dragged her away.

“What’s happening?” Eve stared at the Night Elf in shock. Was something wrong with this Night Elf? Why hadn’t she noticed?

The light around the Night Elf wavered. In moments, she transformed into an elderly woman wielding a staff.

“How did you see through me?” the woman asked.

Linley replied lightly, “I grew up among old men; your aura is too obvious, no matter how you disguise it.”

“Chief Astrologer Hera!” Eve exclaimed, staring at the woman. Hera gazed at Eve, “You’re an astrologer as well. Young one, I see boundless potential in you. Would you like to become my apprentice?”

“I already have a teacher,” Eve refused, sensing the murderous intent in the woman’s eyes—a Night Elf would never take a Forest Elf as a student.

“Chief Astrologer? That title sounds better than Chief Mage.” Linley asked curiously, “Tell me, are you working with that noble?”

Hera looked at him, “I have little connection with Barlow.”

Linley understood, “So his plan was discovered by you?”

Hera didn’t answer, but watched Linley warily—she couldn’t fathom his depths. She sensed an immense power within him, unrivaled among the young generation, yet not enough to trouble her.

Still, Hera dared not be careless.

Last night, the Grand Magus died suddenly. The new king ordered an internal investigation, revealing that Prince Barlow had colluded with the Forest Elves, plotting to rescue the former queen.

Barlow was imprisoned. Hera divined a terrible disaster looming over the Night Elf kingdom, and traced its source to this very spot—this person.

“Who are you, really?” Hera gripped her staff. “Was it you who killed the Grand Magus?”

Linley shook his head. Eve believed he had, but Linley hadn’t witnessed it—how could he be sure he wasn’t being framed?

“I don’t know. Find someone similar to him and let me try again; then we’ll know.”

Linley knew he had grown stronger, but he still couldn’t fully grasp the effects of his techniques—especially his Infinite Divine Skill. Was it that which killed the Grand Magus? He’d need to try it again with equal force to be certain.

“How about you become my target?” Linley looked at Hera, noticing flickering images in her pupils.

Hera suddenly recoiled in fright, “It’s you... It’s definitely you!”

As the chief astrologer, she used Linley’s words for prediction—and instantly saw herself blown to pieces by Linley, reduced to dust with nothing left.

“You can see your own death?” Linley was astonished; he glimpsed, reflected in Hera’s eyes, what she had seen. “Teacher, prophecy really exists?”

He shouted, “This is too much! Teacher, I want to learn prophecy too!”

Eve looked at him in confusion—what was the Prince calling out? What teacher?

“Prophecy doesn’t exist...” Suddenly, another voice sounded. Eve stared at her earring in surprise.

From the earring came the long-silent voice of the light sphere: “Prophecy is merely prediction. Astrologers gather information invisible to mortals and make forecasts; every power you use leaves traces. Yet the strong can conceal their information and traces. You needn’t learn the ways of the weak.”

“Weak...”

Eve felt irritated, while Hera quickly regained composure. “And who are you?”

The earring didn’t reply—it was busy with important research, uninterested in others.

“Even demigods can’t hide their information.” Hera sneered. “That earring of yours is truly arrogant!”

“I think so too,” Linley agreed, then smiled again. “Chief Astrologer, I’m going to rescue the queen. Will you lead me?”

“You are an arrogant youth. Do you think I’m truly afraid of you?” Hera waved her staff, and her figure vanished—Linley and Eve stood there for some time before realizing she had fled.

The leopard sighed, “If you can’t win, just run. Astrologers really are convenient!”

It had noticed astrologers were cunning—when facing an enemy, they first predict whether they can win, and if not, they turn and flee.

“How could this be...” Eve collapsed helplessly. She had expected a fierce battle, yet the opponent escaped so swiftly.

“Prince, what level is your power now?”

She questioned Linley, unable to fathom why the chief astrologer would flee without even a fight.

Linley considered, “My body refinement should be in its late stage; as for magic, I’ve only just begun—haven’t completed the foundation stage yet.”

Eve was utterly lost.

“He’s making up cultivation terms,” the leopard explained. “In simple terms, his physical strength is high, but his magic isn’t well trained.”

Eve was dumbfounded. “His magic isn’t well trained?”

Heavens, how could that be? The Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, the Infinite Sea—either was a world-shaking technique. How could he claim his magic wasn’t practiced?

“He only knows simple moves,” the leopard clarified, seeing Eve’s confusion. “Most spells in cultivation, we don’t understand yet. His moves are powerful because the energy here is rich, plus...”

“Plus your cultivation is unbalanced,” Linley added. By power alone, the Grand Magus and astrologer’s magic far exceeded his own. Yet their bodies were fragile; if struck by Linley, they’d be maimed or worse.

“The master’s physical strength matches his magical power; he uses himself as the standard,” the leopard explained to Eve. “Do you understand?”

Eve felt dizzy, but soon made sense of it. “You mean, the Prince’s magic is designed to affect himself?”

The leopard nodded. The world’s power system was fixed. The Grand Magus’s death ray was designed for mortals—it wouldn’t work on dragons. Linley’s body was nearly dragon-level; if the Grand Magus used a spell meant for dragons, it could harm him. Linley’s magic was crafted to his own standard.

The Infinite Sea, when cast on Linley himself, was just a simple punitive spell, but could kill others outright.

“Why cultivate this way?” Eve wondered. “It only increases consumption and wastes magic—what’s the point?”

“The master recovers quickly and can make best use of...”

The leopard trailed off, as Linley suddenly grabbed them both and used the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth.

Two minutes later, they stood on Florence’s southern side, watching their previous spot now a massive crater from a meteor shower.

“Seems they know how to deal with the master now,” the leopard said. The way to counter Linley was with overwhelmingly powerful magic.

Eve looked at Linley, “Prince, contact failed. Shall we return?”

“No, it’s a rare chance—I want to try again!” Linley was eager, grinning. “That astrologer was too impatient. Though my intentions aren’t pure, if she had cooperated, maybe they could escape being wiped out by the undead!”

Eve was taken aback. “That monster... it could destroy the Night Elves?”

“One look tells you—it’s a manifestation of hatred, impossible to kill.” Linley shot Eve a look. “The treasure I’m after is the undead’s weakness. If it’s devoured by the Wheel of Twin Moons, the undead loses its weakness, and the Night Elves will be consumed.”

Eve was stunned. “How... how do you know?”

“Exorcism is a must-have skill for a cultivator.” A flash of regret crossed Linley’s eyes.

Three years ago, the skeleton had left him feeling tricked. He learned his lesson and developed new spells—now, with a glance, he could discern the truth of the dead.