"So, after you leave this place," Locke continued calmly, "everything you asked about will still belong to you."
"Oh?"
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Liliya's lips.
Erase my memory?
No wonder someone this powerful had left no trace in the world.
Clearly, anyone who had encountered him before must have already had their memories erased.
A person who existed in no one's memory, combined with the ability to perfectly conceal his soul aura…
If such a powerhouse wished to hide, even Sovereigns would struggle to find him.
The only reason she had discovered him was because she possessed a treasure capable of monitoring the entire Netherworld at any time.
Otherwise, this man might have lived here in seclusion for countless years—then quietly moved to another plane to hide again—without anyone ever discovering his existence.
After that, Liliya began asking Locke about various doubts she had regarding the Laws of Water.
She also wanted to see what kind of expression he would make when he discovered that he couldn't erase her memory.
Just as Locke himself had said—
No matter how powerful a Paragon was, they were still only a god.
Even with Willpower, even if they could be called a "lesser Sovereign," they were not truly Sovereigns.
And she had never taken actual Sovereigns seriously.
So how could a mere Paragon escape her grasp?
Still, she remained cautious.
From Locke's explanation alone, she already knew how powerful Paragon Highgods were.
She worried that her Water divine clone might not withstand Locke's attacks.
Thus, while discussing the Laws of Water with him, her Sovereign body had already left the Netherworld Mountain and was heading toward this place.
Locke had already reached Water Paragon.
To him, the Water Laws of this universe held no secrets anymore.
Thus, no matter how tricky Liliya's questions were, Locke merely needed a moment of thought—or a brief demonstration of the Profound Mysteries—to give an answer.
Unfortunately, the Profound Mysteries of the Laws in the Coiling Dragon universe didn't work that way.
Even if someone explained them clearly, without personal comprehension, they still wouldn't belong to you.
Only when you truly realized them yourself could they become your power.
Otherwise, even if someone handed you a perfect answer sheet, you still wouldn't understand the Laws.
However, the more knowledge one accumulated, the more fuel one would possess for future breakthroughs.
Thus, Liliya's questions were profound, and Locke answered them in ways she could understand.
During this exchange, Locke suddenly realized something.
Liliya's comprehension of the Water Laws was actually extremely high.
At the very least, she had fused four Profound Mysteries.
"Indeed," Locke sighed inwardly.
"The geniuses of this world cannot be underestimated."
If he hadn't encountered his various opportunities, he might have reached only a similar level to Liliya.
"Liliya, you truly are a genius."
After answering all her questions, Locke spoke with admiration.
"If you maintain your current mindset, I can't guarantee you'll reach Paragon…"
"But fusing five Profound Mysteries will be effortless for you."
"Since your doubts have been resolved," Locke continued, "it's time for me to erase myself from your memory."
"If one day in the future you completely fuse the Water Laws and reach Paragon, you might remember me again."
As he spoke, Locke's soul power surged forward.
He attempted to enter Liliya's soul and erase himself from her memories.
But the moment his soul power brushed against her soul—
Locke's eyes widened instantly.
Within Liliya's soul, aside from a soul defense Sovereign artifact, there was also a power he was extremely familiar with.
Willpower.
"You… you…"
Locke pointed at Liliya, panic flooding his pupils.
A soul defense Sovereign artifact.
Willpower.
Yet she herself was not a Paragon.
That meant only one thing.
This girl was a Sovereign's divine clone.
And in the Netherworld…
There was only one red-haired Sovereign Locke could recall.
At that moment, Liliya leaned back in her chair with a satisfied smile.
Yes.
That was the expression she had been waiting for.
It was absolutely captivating.
Every time she saw that look appear in someone's eyes, Liliya felt a surge of pleasure.
But never before had it delighted her as much as it did now.
Perhaps the difference came from their identities.
"What's wrong?" Liliya said lazily.
"Aren't you going to erase my memory?"
"Why haven't you started yet?"
"I still remember you very clearly."
She leaned farther back.
Ice spread from the back of the chair, forming a crystalline backrest.
Imitating Locke's earlier posture, she crossed one leg over the other.
Then she carefully observed the changes in his expression.
She had to admit—
This posture felt extremely comfortable.
This man might be timid, but he certainly knew how to enjoy life.
I crashed the car…
That was the only thought in Locke's mind.
He had merely wanted to show off a little.
But he had ended up showing off right in front of a Sovereign.
And even tried to erase a Sovereign's memory.
At this moment, Locke felt immensely grateful that he had placed his two divine clones in different planes.
At worst, he would only lose his Water Paragon clone.
Once he thought of that, his emotions gradually calmed down.
Of course—
When he remembered the Sovereign's Might and Sovereign Beast blood essence stored in his spatial ring, his heart ached again.
If he could avoid dying…
He should still try.
After all, without those Sovereign blood essences, his path toward understanding space might be cut off entirely.
With a bitter smile, Locke clasped his hands respectfully.
"Sovereign… you jest."
"No matter how arrogant I might be, I would never dare attack a Sovereign."
"May I ask which Sovereign stands before me?"
"So that if I must die, at least I'll know in whose hands I died."
Of course, despite his words, Locke had already guessed her identity.
Only one Sovereign in the Netherworld would have the time to toy with him using a Water divine clone.
The Death Sovereign.
The one who proclaimed herself invincible within the Netherworld.
Earlier, Locke had thought she was merely some noble second-generation heir.
But it turned out—
She wasn't second-generation at all.
She was the ultimate first-generation powerhouse.
The most powerful backing in the universe.
Hongmeng's beloved daughter.
"Oh?"
Liliya rested her chin on her hand, watching him.
"You said your name is Klo?"
"Is that your real name?"
"Or just another lie you're using to fool me?"
"You claim you want to die without regrets."
"But you don't seem particularly afraid of death."
"Which means… you must have another divine clone in a different plane."
With every sentence she spoke, Locke's face grew darker.
As expected,
No Sovereign was easy to fool.
Every Sovereign had lived over a million years.
And Locke?
Even counting everything, he wasn't yet ten thousand years old.
These ancient beings had seen more people than he had eaten grains of salt.
Still, Locke felt a little relieved.
Using soul vision, he detected no killing intent from this Sovereign clone.
Instead, he sensed emotions like amusement and curiosity.
"Sovereign… if the Netherworld doesn't welcome me…"
"Perhaps I should just leave?"
Locke cautiously suggested.
"I assure you, Sovereign—if you allow me to leave, I will never appear before you again."
"You're dreaming."
Liliya rolled her eyes.
Just as he had said earlier—
This man avoided danger at all costs.
The moment he sensed danger in the Netherworld, his first thought was to run away immediately.
She believed him.
If Locke left today, he would never return to the Netherworld again.
"You offended a Sovereign," she said lazily.
"And you still want to leave?"
"Haha… Sovereign, you're joking."
"How could I possibly dare offend a Sovereign?"
"Oh?"
"Then who was it that said they would erase my memory earlier?"
Locke could only smile bitterly.
How could he have known?
That the random Water-element god he encountered was actually a Sovereign's divine clone?
Of course—
If the Water clone were the only Sovereign here, Locke would immediately flee toward the Undead Sacred Mountain.
From here, he needed only twenty minutes to reach the planar teleportation array.
Then he could escape to another plane.
And the world would once again become wide and open.
But…
In the mist outside the water palace, Locke could also sense the exact same emotions as the red-haired girls.
Someone who could evade his divine sense and ignore the fog he had placed around the palace…
There was only one explanation.
The Sovereign's true body had already arrived.
"Sovereign," Locke said respectfully.
"I apologize for my earlier offense."
"What must I do to earn your forgiveness?"
"Well…"
Liliya hesitated slightly.
A Paragon like Locke, possessing Willpower, deserved to be treated as an equal.
If she gave him a concrete condition…
Then once he fulfilled it, she would have no excuse to trouble him further.
And judging from her understanding of Locke—
The moment he obtained her forgiveness; he would immediately flee the Netherworld and never return.
And strangely…
When she imagined that outcome—
She realized she didn't want him to leave.
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