Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Bahamut's command was clear and concise, yet carried an unquestionable authority.

Countless question marks instantly flooded Xia Zuo's mind.

Why is Bahamut, the supreme ruler of wealth, protection, and dragons, so concerned about a human woman?
What is the connection between this and Cohen's promotion, and the pure dragon energy within him?
Asuna Iliad, a dragonborn, a "dragon rider," Cohen's lover... Among these fragments, there seems to be a clue he has yet to see clearly.

However, doubts remain, and curiosity remains.

Faced with a direct command from a true god, especially a dragon god known for his majesty and power, Xia Zuo knew very well what he should do.

He immediately suppressed all distracting thoughts and bowed deeply to Bahamut once again:
"As you so wish, Your Majesty the Great Golden Crown."

He then raised his right hand, and a ring on his finger, inlaid with tiny rubies, emitted a faint red magical light.

This was his emergency communication method with his most trusted intelligence adjutant, regardless of distance, but it was extremely costly and was usually only used in the most critical moments.

With a flash of magical light, Xia Zuo's command instantly traversed space and reached his trusted confidants who were waiting in the wings.

The instructions were very clear: use all means, as quickly as possible, to compile and summarize all files, reports, analyses, and rumors about "Asuna Iliad" in the Imperial intelligence database, regardless of their classification, source, or how seemingly insignificant they may seem, and immediately transmit them to him.

Execute immediately, regardless of the cost.

Having done all this, Xia Zuo lowered his hands and stood respectfully before the Dragon God, indicating that he had immediately carried out the order.

Out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't help but glance again at Cohen, who was still undergoing an astonishing transformation below. A feeling of jealousy welled up in his heart, but he managed to hide it well in front of the Dragon God.

The ancient deity Bahamut King, the King of Wealth, Guardian, and Dragons, suddenly takes an interest in a human woman. Compared to the legendary advancement and earth-shattering wager that will affect the gods and determine the future of the continent, this seems like just an insignificant episode.

At least, that's how it appears to most bystanders.

Most people's attention had already been firmly drawn back to the increasingly astonishing scene in the center of the field.

After receiving confirmation from Shazo, Bahamut turned his attention back to Cohen.

But deep within those eyes, besides the previous scrutiny and inquiry, there seemed to be something more indescribable.

He fell silent, like an ancient mountain, waiting in stillness.

We await Xia Zuo's information, and we also await the young man below to complete his astonishing promotion.

The ascension ceremony triggered by Cohen, which affected the entire world's rules, did not stop in the slightest because of this little episode.

On the contrary, it is advancing at an astonishing speed and with ferocity.

The first stage involves the extreme transformation and qualitative change of magic and the physical body. The tsunami-like energy fluctuations and the intense leap in life level do not stop after reaching a certain peak.

Instead, it naturally transitioned to the next stage, which was also the most crucial, mysterious, and difficult to take shortcuts in the process of becoming a legend—

The second phase: the consolidation of legendary status and the test of the world's will!
Boom! ...
It was not a physical thunderclap, but a grander, deeper resonance, as if it came from the world itself, that resounded deep within the soul of every living being.

Immediately afterwards, everyone, whether mortals on the ground, legends, saints, or gods in the sky, involuntarily raised their heads and looked up at the heavens.

Then, they witnessed a scene they would never forget.

The sky, which was originally illuminated by the radiance of the gods, the turbulent flow of energy, and the magical aura of various colors, suddenly underwent a dramatic change.

Thick clouds, dazzling divine power, dissipating energy... everything was forcibly smoothed out under the influence of some irresistible great will.

The entire sky transformed into an enormous mirror!

Calling it a mirror isn't entirely accurate.

Because what it reflects is not the scene of the earth below, but a flowing scroll composed of countless lights and colors!
Lifelike phantoms, scenes, and fragments, like chapters of an epic or hymns of heroes, emerge one after another on this magnificent canvas stretching across the sky.

And the protagonist of all the illusions is only one—

Cohen Corleone.

This is the embodiment and manifestation of legendary status!

What is a legend?

It's not just a story passed down orally, nor is it just a record in history books.

Those are the profound imprints left by individual lives through their thoughts, words, and actions in the vast river of time and network of rules of this world, the enormous echoes they evoke, and the widespread recognition they gain.

It is a strong resonance and deep connection between individual existence and the will of the world.

Advancing to the legendary level is not merely about accumulating power and undergoing physical transformation, but also about achieving a sublimation of one's very essence.

It requires that those promoted must possess sufficiently substantial, brilliant, and memorable "deeds," or in other words, "legends."

The "legendary status" accumulated from these deeds is proof of the ability to leverage higher-level rules and gain recognition from the origin of the world; it is a passport for the soul to enter the realm of legend.

At this moment, what automatically evolved and appeared in the sky was the legend of Cohen Corleone, which he created, experienced, and imprinted on this world since he embarked on the path of the extraordinary!
The world's will is examining whether he is qualified to bear the name of "legend"!
The painting begins.

Act One: A young figure stands in an ancient ritual formation, surrounded by swirling dragon shadows, his weapon humming, and an ancient and domineering professional aura soaring into the sky.

Beside the scene, it seemed as if an invisible epic chant was resounding:

"Starting from humble beginnings, wielding the lost seal, with a mortal body, knocking on the door of the mastery of dragons and weapons—assuming the ancient secret profession of Dragon Seal Weapon Master!"

Then, the scene shifts:
In the extraordinary arena of Florence, a young man wields a sword, defeating the strong against the weak, breaking records time and time again, and leaving behind an undefeated legend.

The audience roared like a tidal wave, while the opponent's face turned ashen. For the first time, the name of the Lord of Shadows shone brightly in the world.

The scene changes again: Emerald Lake, a place of turbulent changes, where various forces gather, and the aura of legends and saints looms.

The young emperor maneuvered among them, planning carefully before making his move, and at the final moment, he made a ruthless strike, seizing the dragon egg that had caused a bloodbath right under the noses of countless powerful beings.

In the Lost Lands, an endless alliance rises from the desolation; at the Northwest Exchange Conference, he single-handedly thwarted the carefully planned joint attack by the Central Empire, the Eastern Empire, the Kingdom of Ceylon, and the Black Tomb, revealing his brilliance and shocking the continent.

In their homeland of Ceylon, they supported the exiled princess seeking to restore her kingdom, gathered their remaining strength, waged wars, plotted, and rebuilt a kingdom!
The All Nations Nobles' Martial Arts Festival, where the strongest Silver and the strongest Gold are blessed by the gods!

Leading the allied forces, he crushed the Demon Gold Empire, cleansed the abyss of its corruption, defied legend, and established an unparalleled reputation!
From nothing to something, create the Starry Empire, unite the lost lands, revive the ancient arcane glory, and establish the Effie Empire that spans the continent!
The scenes are continuous, intense, and full of iron and blood, wisdom and power, rise and conquest!

Each scene represents a solid step Cohen took and the creation of a legend.

These deeds have long been known throughout the mainland through various channels.

But at this moment, the impact and shock brought about by the world's will reproducing it in such a direct and grand way are incomparable to any written description or word of mouth!
The scroll above the sky moves swiftly, and Cohen's figure grows, transforms, challenges the impossible, and creates miracles time and time again.

His aura, as the painting unfolded, grew like a snowball, becoming increasingly profound, majestic, and tangible.

That's not just a simple increase in power, but an indescribable weight; it's the process by which his story, his legend, is being read, recorded, and recognized by the world itself!
Those ancient demigods and hundred-star saints who were not familiar with Cohen's rise to power stared in shock at the phantom in the sky:

"This...this is impossible."

How old is he? He's only been in the extraordinary realm for a few years, how... how could he have such a profound and glorious 'legend'?

Roosevelt Harper stared at the epic panorama unfolding in the sky and fell into a long silence.

He finally understood why Chief Heisenberg insisted that he, a demigod, come in person.

He finally understood where Cohen's confidence came from.

This is not just an accumulation of strength; it is a "legendary path" that others take thousands or hundreds of years to complete in just a few years!
This is a legend that was forged through a series of thrilling adventures and battles!
Grenus Tang remained silent, but the light in his molten gold vertical pupils flickered intensely, revealing that his heart was far from calm.

He originally thought Cohen was just a lucky guy with good fortune and high talent, but now it seems... he's a monster, a monster who can trample the tides of the times under his feet and write his own epic!

Drummond Quinn's gaze was sharp as a knife as he scrutinized every image, as if trying to imprint every step of Cohen's growth into his mind.

The shadows surrounding the tomb rippled slightly, seemingly fluctuating in response to the extraordinary legend.

Above the sky, that epic scroll, stretching across the heavens and shimmering with color, continues to unfold silently and magnificently.

Every scene is not a simple record, but rather a powerful reflection of the turbulent times, the cries of conviction, and the echoes of fate, striking the hearts of every viewer.

The mortals on the ground—demigods, legends, saints, nobles, generals, and soldiers—had long lost their voices, and could only open their mouths wide, using their bulging eyes and rapid breathing to vent the raging waves in their hearts.

Shock, awe, fear, fervor, anticipation... a variety of emotions intertwined and shifted on their faces.

The name Cohen Corleone, along with his image and deeds, is being etched into their souls in this most primal and powerful way.

However, it is not only the mortals on earth who are affected.

Even in the higher reaches of the heavens, the divine beings who sit high on their thrones and look down upon the mortal world are not at peace.

They are the immortals who ignite the divine fire, raise the divine throne, and coexist with the rules.

They are geniuses who have traversed mountains of corpses and seas of blood, broken free from the shackles of mortals, and reached the pinnacle of their respective paths.

Their vision has long transcended the rise and fall of the mundane world, touching upon the origin and truth of the world.

But now, when Cohen Corleone's short life, which encapsulated so many miracles, was soaked in so much blood, and bore so much change, is laid out before them in such a direct way...

A strange feeling quietly crept into the hearts of some deities. They felt utterly inferior!

This young human has completed in just a few years what might have taken them hundreds, thousands, or even longer to build – a “legendary journey”!
They finally understood why the Goddess of Light, Aetheril, was willing to confront the Central Empire head-on to protect this human king.

He also understood why the Ice Goddess Daphne would so clearly side with Cohen, even at the cost of initiating a divine war.

This is more than just investing, more than just being optimistic.

This is a good relationship that has been formed in advance with a future colleague, or even a leader, and a heavy bet has been placed!
Such a profound and glorious legend, such a young age, such a terrifying rate of growth and incredible combat power...

No need for prophecy, no need for speculation.

Cohen Corleone, as long as he doesn't perish along the way, his future path will surely lead to the throne of the gods above the stars!

Moreover, given his demonstrated foundation and the astonishing accumulation of legends, once he is deified, he is destined to become a high-ranking deity, or even a higher level of existence!
His power, his path, and his understanding and application of the world's rules will all make him a pivotal, even dominant, figure in the future pantheon.

Unreserved pride and satisfaction radiated from the beautiful face of the Goddess of Light, Aetheril.

Ares the God of War, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit that seemed to materialize into flames.

He licked his lips, as if he couldn't wait to have a good fight with such a powerful future opponent.

Tina Kings, the goddess of wealth, had her eyes flashing with golden light as she seemed to be calculating the wealth, resources, influence, and... return on investment that Cohen might represent in the future.

The smile on her face grew brighter and brighter, as if she had seen a gold mine that would grow on its own...

The killing intent in Erebus's eyes was almost tangible, bursting forth.

Just as the gods were lost in their own thoughts and their emotions were churning—

Finally, the magnificent panorama in the sky has come to its final act.

Cohen stood atop the Effiin Empire, his gaze piercing through the screen, looking at the legendary ascension that was taking place at that moment.

The unfolding of the scroll painting has reached its climax and is nearing its end.

An ineffable will descended slowly from the infinite heights, from the depths of all things, from the source of the rules.

It is not a physical entity, has no form, and carries no emotion, yet it is omnipresent, filling every inch of space, permeating every ray of light, and resonating in the deepest recesses of every soul.

Vast, ancient, grand, and supreme.

It is the breath of the world, the pulse of the rules, the background music of the birth and death of all things, and the ultimate arbiter of all existence.

World will!

At this moment, this supreme will was projected clearly onto the sky, locking onto the center of the painting, onto the young figure who seemed to have become part of this grand epic—Cohen Corleone.

The final test has arrived!
Hold your breath.

Countless eyes were fixed on Cohen, on the sky shrouded in the will of the world.

Cohen Corleone.

In his early twenties, with his golden body, he had already defied the odds, built an empire, and written such a profound and glorious epic.

Can his incredible legendary status gain the ultimate approval of this supreme world will?

The answer will be revealed soon.

Once he gains recognition, the gates of legend will open wide for him!

In this suffocating silence, the magnificent scroll that covered the sky and stretched across the heavens and earth, after playing out its final act, did not dissipate like an ordinary illusion. Instead, it began to condense inward.

In the painting, countless figures belonging to Cohen transform into sparkling particles of light, imbued with an epic aura and the power of destiny.

Like rivers flowing into the sea and stars paying homage to their ancestral home, it surged wildly from every corner of the painting toward the very center, toward where Cohen was.

slam-la-

It was as if an invisible chain, spanning heaven and earth, was shaking and resounding.

That is the string of the world's rules, resonating strongly with Cohen's recognized legend.

Suddenly, an incredibly complex and massive magic circle lit up the ground beneath Cohen's feet.

The array diagram shimmered with light, and the most basic and fundamental elemental forces—earth, water, fire, wind, light, darkness—converged from all directions, flowing into the array diagram and cleansing Cohen's body and soul through it.

Then, a shocking scene unfolded.

Four enormous, overwhelming phantom figures suddenly appeared behind Cohen—

The Mother Tree of Life, symbolizing the origin of life, the interconnectedness of all things, and the eternal cycle, has branches and leaves that maintain the lifeline of all life in the world and is a concrete manifestation of the laws of life in the world.

The Astral Dragon, composed of stars and cosmic dust, roams the celestial realm, its every breath drawing forth a tide of magical power.

The World Turtle, traversing the endless void, carries the entire continent and civilization on its shell. Its migrations and turns signify changes in the boundaries of the "world" and the emergence of unknown territories.

The Whale of Dreams, which roams the depths of the collective unconscious and the spiritual realm, is an ocean formed by the dreams, inspirations, fears, and desires of all intelligent beings.

Recognition from the four divine beasts of the world's origin!
The world's will has not only chosen to recognize it, but has given it the highest level of recognition and the most unreserved recognition!
The rich and glorious legend of Cohen Corleone completely moved this supreme will.

He not only has the qualifications to enter the legendary realm, but at the very moment he enters the legendary realm, he receives the blessing of the world's origin and the favor of its rules!
Meanwhile, Cohen, who had been enveloped by immense energy and extraordinary phenomena, slowly opened his eyes at this moment.

A flash of brilliant gold appeared in his eyes, which then returned to their deep black.

But within that blackness, the interplay of light and shadow seemed to reflect the entire world, containing an indescribable majesty and power.

Immediately afterwards, his aura erupted like a volcano that had been dormant for thousands of years.

Now, we've arrived at the final, most crucial, and defining step of this ladder to heaven—the step that will ultimately define the essence and future of a legendary superhuman.

Condensing legendary objects to construct a legendary realm!

hum-

A completely different kind of fluctuation in the rules rippled outwards from Cohen.

This fluctuation is not a violent surge of energy, nor a dramatic transformation at the level of life, but rather a "declaration of existence" that better reflects individual will and path.

All the onlookers, whether legendary saints on earth or incarnations of gods in heaven, held their breath and were completely focused.

Because what is about to happen will define Cohen Corleone as a legend.

The grand phenomena of the past only indicate that Cohen already has enough foundation to break through to the legendary level. As for the path after breaking through to the legendary level, that will be revealed in the upcoming promotion ceremony.

Legendary artifacts are the tangible manifestations of a legendary powerhouse's core strength, understanding of the path, and soul characteristics.

It could be a weapon, a palace, an ancient tree, a sea of ​​stars, or even the manifestation of a concept.

It is the engine of legendary power, the cornerstone of the legendary realm, and the most unique emblem of legendary strongmen.

The legendary realm, on the other hand, is the "absolute home ground" that legendary powerhouses carve out for themselves in the real world, using tangible objects as the core, rules they comprehend as the framework, and immense power as the flesh and blood.

Within this "home field," legendary powerhouses can greatly influence, distort, and even temporarily rewrite the rules of a local area to best suit their own power and fighting style.

The scope, strength, stability, and rule characteristics of a domain directly determine the upper limit of a legendary powerhouse's combat strength.

The broader the domain and the stronger the rules, the greater the combat power and the greater the potential. This is a truth that applies to all dimensions.

At this moment, the legends and saints on the ground all simultaneously recalled a name, a benchmark, and a scene that still stirs the soul and sends chills down the spine—

Queen of Cohen, Adele Angrain.

When she broke through to the Legendary level, the Legendary Realm "Frozen" was first unleashed, and its range covered the entire city of Florence.

At that moment, the entire city of Florence was completely transformed into her icy kingdom—what power, what potential!
Now, five years later, with the resources provided by the entire Effie Empire and her own extraordinary talent, no one knows how far Queen Angreen's "freezing" has expanded to.

The rules governing ice and snow within it have become incredibly refined and terrifying.

However, before the concrete form is formed and the domain unfolds, there is another crucial "prelude" for judging the potential of a legend and the depth of understanding of the rules—the legendary phenomenon.

When a legendary powerhouse is about to materialize a physical form, and his own "Dao" resonates most deeply with the "Principles" of the world, it often triggers the manifestation of the rules of heaven and earth.

It forms natural or supernatural phenomena with a wide range of influence and distinct personal characteristics.

This unusual phenomenon is a public declaration of its core rules and a direct reflection of the depth and breadth of its understanding of the rules.

The deeper the understanding, the stronger the resonance, the wider the scope of the phenomena, and the greater the momentum.

When Yadel broke through, the legendary phenomenon of "frozen continent and snow falling for thousands of miles" swept across the entire Northwest Continent!
The fact that that vast land experienced a whole day of freezing winter in the height of summer demonstrates the depth of its understanding of the rules and the magnitude of its potential.

At this moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on Cohen, their senses heightened, waiting to see what kind of strange phenomenon he would trigger! (End of Chapter)