Locke swept his gaze around.
Those Sovereigns who had extended their divine senses over immediately felt a chill run through them upon meeting Locke's gaze.
Even though it was merely divine sense, Chief Sovereign Locke's eyes seemed capable of seeing straight through them through their divine senses.
"Everyone, after more than five trillion years, a new Sovereign has finally been born."
"In order to let this newly ascended Sovereign become acquainted with everyone, let us speak within the spatial turbulence."
After saying this, Locke casually tore open space and entered the spatial turbulence together with Theresia and Sovereign Snowfall.
Within the dazzling currents of the spatial turbulence, Theresia saw more than forty figures fly out from the Seven Divine Planes and Four Higher Planes. In merely a few minutes, they had all gathered outside the Water Divine Plane.
"Lord Locke."
"Lady Vivian."
"Lord Theresia."
"Lord Ouf."
After these Sovereigns arrived within the spatial turbulence outside the Water Divine Plane, Theresia noticed that they were clearly divided into several large factions and some smaller groups.
A small number of Sovereigns stood beside the Chief Sovereign of their own element.
Most of the Sovereigns were divided into four major camps led by four individuals.
But regardless of whom they followed, the first thing they did upon arriving was greet Lord Locke.
Clearly, Lord Locke's strength was even greater than Theresia had imagined.
"Congratulations, Lord Theresia."
"I never expected the newest Sovereign to be you."
After seeing Theresia, one of the Wind Sovereigns sighed emotionally.
For a Paragon like Theresia, once he became a Sovereign, even though he had only refined a Lesser Sovereign spark, he still possessed strength comparable to Intermediate Sovereigns.
Not long ago, Theresia had still needed to bow before them.
But now, both their strength and status had been completely reversed.
Upon meeting him now, this Sovereign had to take the initiative to greet Theresia and address him as "Lord."
"Lord Gale."
Facing the Gale Sovereign's goodwill, Theresia nodded slightly.
The Gale Sovereign had once invited Theresia to become his Sovereign Emissary and had always treated him fairly well.
After exchanging greetings with the Gale Sovereign, Theresia swept his gaze around.
The number of Sovereigns was fewer than he had expected.
Including himself, there were only forty-three Sovereigns present.
"Very well. Since everyone who matters has arrived, let me say a few words."
"Everyone already knows what happened today."
"The newly ascended Sovereign Theresia tore open space from the spatial turbulence and entered the Water Divine Plane."
"Furthermore, as a Paragon Lesser Sovereign, Theresia's Sovereign rank is equivalent to that of an Intermediate Sovereign, placing him within the third tier."
"Theresia has only recently become a Sovereign and was unaware of the agreements and rules among Sovereigns. However, ignorance cannot serve as an excuse to avoid punishment."
"That said, punishing without first teaching is not the style of us Sovereigns. Therefore, the punishment for Theresia's offense shall be reduced by half."
"What do the Sovereigns think of this punishment?"
"Lord Locke is wise."
The assembled Sovereigns all voiced their agreement.
This was precisely what they appreciated about Sovereign Locke.
Once rules were established, Lord Locke would never casually alter them. Instead, he became their guardian.
As long as they did not violate the rules established by Chief Sovereign Locke, those rules would become their protection.
It was much like the world from Locke's previous life.
That world had not been peaceful either.
Seeing that none of the Sovereigns objected to his ruling, Locke continued:
"Everyone, after five trillion years, new Sovereigns have begun appearing again."
"Theresia is the first, but he certainly will not be the last."
"To prevent incidents like this from happening again, please remember the following."
"From now on, whenever a new Sovereign appears, the first Sovereign to discover them has the obligation to explain the rights and responsibilities among Sovereigns to the newly born Sovereign."
"Yes, Lord Locke."
After discussing the matter of future newly born Sovereigns with everyone, the Sovereigns all returned to their respective planes.
Only Theresia remained.
After all, he had originally come to the Water Divine Plane specifically to seek out Locke.
Although he had unknowingly incurred some punishment, simply finding Lord Locke was enough for Theresia.
"Very well, Theresia."
"What exactly brought you to the Water Divine Plane to seek me out?"
"Lord Locke, it is like this."
"Ever since becoming a Paragon, I discovered that I have already reached the end of the road of cultivation."
"However, from Loran and the Netherworld Sovereign, I learned that although you are also a Paragon, Lord Locke, you have never given up on cultivation all these years."
"Therefore, I wish to ask Lord Locke for guidance. How should one continue cultivating after reaching the Paragon realm?"
Before Locke, Theresia lowered his posture completely.
On one hand, even after becoming a Sovereign, Theresia could still feel the enormous gap between himself and Lord Locke.
On the other hand, regarding the path of Laws, Locke was unquestionably a pioneer. Since Theresia wanted to obtain from Locke the method of continuing cultivation after becoming a Paragon, how could he possibly not show sufficient respect?
"Oh? Cultivation after the Paragon realm?"
Upon hearing Theresia's question, Locke raised an eyebrow.
He had naturally known that Theresia had come looking for him.
However, he had not expected this to be the question Theresia wished to ask.
"Theresia, since you learned from Loran and the Netherworld Sovereign that I have always been cultivating, why do you assume that what I am cultivating is a path beyond the Paragon realm?"
"I myself am a soul mutator of Water and Fate. Could I not simply be cultivating the fusion of different Profound Mysteries?"
"Lord Locke is a soul mutator?"
Theresia was stunned.
Because of his friendship with Loran, he already knew that Loran was a soul mutator and had always been astonished by a soul mutator's ability to fuse divine power and different Laws.
But only now did Theresia learn that not only was Loran a soul mutator—even Lord Locke himself was one.
If that were the case, then Lord Locke cultivating the fusion of different Profound Mysteries indeed made sense.
Theresia fell silent.
He no longer knew whether Lord Locke truly had opened a path beyond the Paragon realm.
Or whether all of Lord Locke's countless years of cultivation had merely been devoted to fusing different Laws.
Before becoming a god, Theresia had actually possessed affinities for other Laws as well.
However, when cultivating them, he found that his progress was far inferior to his progress in Wind.
Thus, when becoming a god, Theresia had chosen to let his original body become divine, strengthening his affinity with the Wind Laws and ultimately reaching his current achievements step by step.
No one knew just how much Theresia regretted this after becoming a Paragon.
Before becoming a Paragon, he knew he could continue moving forward, and becoming a Paragon had been his goal.
But after reaching the end of the path of Laws, he became lost.
He could no longer find the road ahead.
Had he known that becoming a Paragon would leave him feeling so empty and confused, Theresia would rather never have become one.
It was precisely because of this that he remembered Loran's words and placed his final hope upon Lord Locke.
If even Lord Locke possessed no road ahead, then Theresia didn't know how despairing his future would become.
"Then, Lord Locke, have you truly spent all these years only cultivating the fusion of different Profound Mysteries?"
Feeling the emotions radiating from Theresia's soul, Locke's lips twitched slightly.
This fellow really did have far too much drama in his heart.
However, Locke could understand Theresia's determination to continue advancing.
After all, over a thousand cycles later, this fellow would even threaten Linley—the true protagonist of Coiling Dragon—in order to obtain an Overgod talisman.
Of course, afterward he would successfully contribute a Wind Lesser Sovereign spark to Linley.
Since Theresia had already contributed a complete Wind Paragon Law to him, Locke also wanted to see whether Theresia could bring him even more surprises in the future.
A single flower does not make spring; only when a hundred flowers bloom together does spring truly arrive.
Locke also hoped to have a few more companions on the road of cultivation.
At present, Death Chief Sovereign Lilia counted as one.
As for Theresia, that depended on whether he possessed the qualifications.
Thinking this, Locke stopped teasing Theresia.
"Not exactly."
"The fusion of different Profound Mysteries is only what this Fate Sovereign clone of mine is cultivating."
"As for my original body and my Water divine clone, they are continuing to cultivate the Laws."
"Hm?"
Theresia's eyes instantly lit up.
"Then, Lord Locke, I am willing to submit myself to your command. Please do not hesitate to teach me the method of cultivating beyond the Paragon realm."
In order to obtain the method of cultivation beyond the Paragon realm, Theresia directly sold himself to Locke.
(End of Chapter)
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