"I'm Nineve Limerent. What's your name, little girl?" Nineve asked."I'm Gina Greenshade!" Gina stared at Nineve. "Oh, you're so pretty, miss! I've never seen anyone who's as pretty as you are!"Nineve smiled. Children always said the damndest things. Of course, she was happy that Gina thought she was pretty. "You have a sweet mouth, Gina. Is Penelope at home?"Gina mused. "Are you talking about Grandma?""Yes," Nineve said."She's sorting out Nox's toys. I'll take you to her, miss." Gina hopped off the swing.Nineve then saw the dolls Gina was holding, and she shivered. "Where did you get that doll, Gina?"Gina happily held up the doll in her right hand. "Grandma gave it to me. She said Noxy and his childhood friend made this."'Childhood friend?' Penelope started to tremble. She had not heard that term for so long, and the mention of that pulled a lot of memories out of hiding.Staring at the doll, Nineve blurted, "Can I see that doll, Gina?"Gina thought about it for a mom
When Penelope saw Nineve, her eyes went wide. "Princess Nineve?"Nineve nodded with a smile, and Penelope quickly knelt. "Greetings, Your Highness!"Gina was dumbfounded and wondered what her grandmother was doing. 'Why is she kneeling to the lady? They just met!'"Penelope, please, stand up!" Nineve approached Penelope and held her up."I didn't think I'd get to see you again, Your Highness." As Penelope stood back up, her eyelashes trembled."You don't have to be so formal with me, Penelope. I've always thought of you as my own grandmother." Nineve smiled, holding Penelope's arm.Penelope was ecstatic. She wasn't expecting a meeting with the most beautiful princess of Faeast. Ever since the princess was taken back to Imperial City years ago, she never came back to this place.Yet, she was here today, and Penelope was excited. "Please, come in. Have a seat, Your Highness." She led Nineve into the house and grabbed a bamboo chair for her.Nineve took the seat without any hesita
Nineve fell silent. Realizing she had said the wrong thing, Penelope quickly said, "I'm very sorry for what I said. Please, pardon me, Your Highness."Nineve would not get mad over that. She waved it away and looked up. "Penelope, I have a question for you.""What is it?""Is he in Imperia?" Nineve then turned her gaze to Penelope.Of course, Penelope knew who she was talking about, and she nodded. "Yes, he is in Imperia."Excited, Nineve squeezed Penelope's hands. "Is he alive? He's not dead?""He is not," Penelope said.Nineve started shivering, and tears glistened in her eyes as excitement grasped her heart. "That dummy is still alive? Why hasn't he met up with me, then?" she complained.All of a sudden, Nineve thought this was all quite unfair, and tears streamed down her face. Quickly, Penelope consoled her, "Pardon him, Your Highness, but he has his reasons." She sighed."I know. I know my father did the wrong thing that day, but he stopped going after Nox ever since he
The thought of her father made Nineve's expression darken. Her father had objected to her dating Nox back then. He had also locked her up in the castle and forbade her from seeing Nox.Nineve connected the dots."Nineve, Nox has always felt guilty toward you. Though he has never talked about you, I know he thinks about you a lot," Penelope said.Nineve teared up. She used to love going to the Greenshades' place and playing with Nox. The dolls Gina held had been made by her and Nox. However, after Nox and his mother were exiled sixteen years ago, Nineve never saw him again.When Nox was crowned lord six years ago, she could only watch him from afar. She saw her beloved ascending to lordship and becoming the Great Lord of Faeast, but she didn't reunite with him.When Nox announced his engagement with Aphrodite, a heartbroken Nineve left Faeast alone and went on a tour around the world. Now, she had finally returned.The memories of the past caused many feelings to surge within Nine
"We need to protect Mom!" Claude said quickly.Daniel blurted, "Calm down, Claude. The intruder is at least Five Mountains. If they are trying to harm Mom, we can't stop them, not even if we take them on together."Claude and Winston were horrified. 'At least Five Mountains? So, they're on their way to Six Paths? That kind of warrior is in here?'"Daniel, who is that Top Legend Realm? Is it Felcro from the Imperial City? I don't remember anyone else in Imperia with that kind of power!" Claude asked sharply.Daniel didn't speak. He sensed the aura for a moment and shook his head. "It's not Felcro. I fought him before, and that's not his aura.""Then who could it be?" Winston asked."I don't know, but I don't think he's trying to harm Mom. You two can calm down now."Winston and Claude heaved a collective sigh of relief."Let's go. We should see our guests." Daniel walked toward the backyard steadily. Winston and Claude followed.While Nineve and Penelope were talking, the unkem
'Daniel?' Daniel was completely stunned. He slowly turned around, staring at Nineve in disbelief."Y-Your Highness?"Nineve smiled. "So, you recognize me, Daniel."The panicked Daniel hastily bowed deeply. "My humblest greetings, Your Highness!"Claude and Winston were also dumbstruck before they bowed. "Our humblest greetings, Your Highness."Nineve quickly went up to them and pulled Daniel up. "I just returned from the border, Daniel. Please, rise." She held his arm.Daniel stared at Nineve, his eyes wide. It had been years since they met. Frankly, he could barely recognize her. If she hadn't called out to him, Daniel couldn't have realized this was the girl who had stayed with the Greenshades so many years ago."It's been a while, Daniel. You're still as young as ever." Nineve smiled at Daniel."Oh, no. I'm quite old now, you see. If you hadn't called out to me, princess, I'd never have recognized you," Daniel lamented."Well, it has been more than ten years, I suppose," sa
The princess stood in the bustling street after she left the Greenshades' manor, staring at the skyscrapers around her. "It's been years. Imperia's really growing."Since she was reminiscing about the past, Drunk didn't disturb her. Suddenly, Nineve blurted, "Let's go. It's time to get some answers.""From who?" Drunk asked, surprised."Who else? That heartless jerk who wouldn't leave my mind alone!" Nineve muttered as she hopped back into the resplendent carriage.Drunk laughed bitterly and leaped onto the coachman's spot. "Go!" He swung his whip, and the carriage set off.…Since his return to Imperia, Nox and his allies had stayed at his late mother's abode. This abode was where Nox made his memories and the proof of his bond with his mother.Bear and Bard went out on a recon mission for Azure Dragon and the Underworld's information early in the morning. Everyone else stayed in the courtyard.The brawny Steely asked Redsleeve, "You're spacing out again, Redsleeve. You've bee
He looked outside the abode and muttered, "Six Paths?"There was another person aside from Oldsmoke, Steely, and Redsleeve—Augustus, and he was sitting quietly with his legs crossed and with a sword lying on them.Augustus never talked much after he set off on this journey with Nox. He spent most of his time progressing his path of the sword and sharpening his mind. Keith was doing the same thing.Keith had enough power to become the patriarch of a family after becoming a Second Layer Firmament.Suddenly, they heard the clankings of a carriage traveling across the air of the courtyard. Nineve had arrived."What's that?" Oldsmoke, Redsleeve, and Steely came out of the courtyard, feeling surprised.Redsleeve stared at the carriage in astonishment and blurted, "Hm? A carriage? We're in modern society. Who even uses carriages anymore? Oh, wait. Is this a movie shoot?"Oldsmoke's eyes glimmered as he clicked his tongue in admonishment. "This is a luxurious carriage. Look, it's got dr
Three months later, Nox declared Faeast as the leader of all nations, ushering in a true era of peace and prosperity. Then, he abdicated the throne, passing the throne to Nineve. Nox proclaimed that this nation was neither the Greenshade nor the Limerent family's, but a world that belonged to its people.One year later, Nox and Queenie lounged under the warm sun on the sandy shores of the Ocean of Death, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility. The world had finally settled into peace, allowing them to take a well-deserved rest."Nono, what's Aphrodite up to?" Queenie asked, her brows furrowed as she leaned against Nox. "Is she planning something shady again? She's been building alliances all over like she wants to imitate the Three-Eyed Empress.""Death changes people," Nox replied calmly. "Don't worry about her. She knows exactly what she's doing."Old Aphrodite would've killed Jacques and run off to save herself without a second thought. Instead, she spared him, stripped his cul
The Nine-State Crucible hovered majestically over the heavens, drawing all the spiritual energy from the Nine States and Five Domains into itself. As the ultimate artifact of Faeast, the crucible was unmatched—a legendary relic that had never known defeat.The origins of the Nine-State Crucible were shrouded in mystery. No one knew who forged it nor why it disappeared over the ages. For centuries, many dismissed it as a mere myth. Yet now, it reappeared, proving its existence—and, by extension, the truth of all the ancient legends tied to it.The sight left every cultivator present in awe, bowing in reverence to the artifact."The ancient sovereigns of Faeast forged the Nine-State Crucible to safeguard the Nine States and Five Domains. "Its power ensures that Ascendants cannot interfere with the mortal realm. It has crushed even Ascendants in the past, and you, still merely a mortal cultivator, think you can stand against it? I promised to crush you, and I will!"With Nox at it
However, only Nox himself could sever the celestial providence. Only by cutting off the Celestial Lord's celestial providence could Faeast's providence be restored to its peak."Damn it! Nox Greenshade! Do you really think you can defy the heavens? I didn't want to damage my cultivation, but it seems I have no choice but to go all out! You think a one-ring Minor Saint can defeat me? I am the Celestial Lord—the apex of mortals, the Great Saint of Dao and Virtue, ordained by the heavens themselves!"The Celestial Lord's furious roar resonated across Mystia, drawing in vast waves of spiritual energy from the realm that converged upon him alone."Great Saint of Dao and Virtue? If the so-called heavens of the Transcendent Firmament made you, it only proves that even they have failures," Nox retorted coldly.Even the Celestial Lord, enraged as he was, could scarcely believe Nox's audacity—daring to disparage the mighty figures of the Transcendent Firmament."I am indeed a one-ring Minor
'What? Griffin was a sworn brother to Magic Mountain's founder?!'"That's right," confirmed the formation master. "He only told us recently."As the first to learn of this connection, he had shared it with the Saints of the Five Elements, ensuring they wouldn't betray their alliance. Using the promise of ascension as leverage, he managed to secure their cooperation. After all, the Great Saint of Fire had already reached the threshold for ascension.The risks were minimal, and upon ascending to the Transcendent Firmament, the Magic Mountain's founder would surely offer his guidance. For that reason alone, the five mentors had rallied to aid Nox.With such mighty forces gathered, morale on Nox's side soared. Meanwhile, the Whitefield family's spirits plummeted, crashing from the heights of hope to the depths of despair in mere moments. The mental strain caused several of their weaker-willed members to break completely.With dread settling over them, the Whitefields could only place
The Whitefields were getting cocky, but then they realized the powerhouses that came weren't responding. The aura was powerful, but there was no life in it. On closer inspection, they noticed that the leader of the group only had half a body left. His soul was missing. The quartet behind him was nothing but a pile of mincemeat.The portal buzzed again, and seven silhouettes came out. Five of them felt domineering, and they looked prideful. It almost felt like they were peerless. These people were none other than the Saints of the Five Elements.Four of them were Pinnacle Minor Saints. While one had an aura so strong, this place couldn't handle it."A Great Saint! Great Saint of Fire!" Fiery Ignis, Dominic, and Achille couldn't believe their eyes.It had been too long since Mystia saw a Great Saint, and he was Nox's mentor."So, he's the one who broke through first. But now he's already hit his bottleneck. The other four's power isn't enough. If the Sacred Beast Seal isn't upgraded
The Montgomerys and the Byrds decided to see Nox together, but they were refused. They were cursing Nox and calling him disrespectful, but then they saw Nox and his team taking a portal to the path of the ancient divine."What? He went right to them? Why? He's going to fight the Celestial Lord now?" The representatives were shocked.'How dare they!' they thought.Nox and his team went through the portal quickly and appeared right over the Whitefields' place. The Whitefield family was the newest member of the divine four and the real mastermind behind the Inkdarks' demise."Kirin, I told you I'd take you back here someday. I told you that when we come back, the Whitefields will be no more. If you can't do it, I can wipe them out for you." Nox looked at Kirin."Don't look down on me, milord. You don't need to dirty your hands for them. I'll do it!" Kirin summoned his avatar, and with Saint power infused, the avatar turned into a real beast. The sacred beast itself descended upon the
"Time to finish this. My lord's going to the path of the ancient divine next. You should decide who's going to take over after the Celestial Lord is taken down. That's all. Now let's talk about our personal business. Listen up, anyone who had a part in attacking my family, tell your clans that I'm coming for them. I'm killing all of you!"Bloodlust filled the air, and the representatives were shocked. "You killed your own family. Yes, we made them attack you, but we never wanted to wipe it out!" the Whitefields' representative said.Kirin flew into a rage. "How low can you go? You forced them to kill me, or you would wipe us out instead! You think I'm stupid? You'd have killed my family either way! I know how you guys function. You're crueler than any beast out there. Listen up, there's still time to plan for your funeral. You'd better make a good plan."Kirin chased everyone away. The families were going back to prepare for battle, but two remained behind. One was the Byrds' repres
Nox's Magick Sword crushed the enemy leader's soul. "I said I would cut you down, and I did. Now do you see who's the ignorant one?"The enemy leader realized that Nox was the man at the pinnacle. Perhaps the moment Nox became a faux Saint, he was already no match for him. "So what if you can kill me? You are Faeast's Sovereign, and you have a duty to push Faeast to power. But the Celestial Lord still exists. As long as he is around, your wish will never be fulfilled." He sneered."Is that so? Well, he's next on the list to be culled. If anyone tries to make an enemy out of me, I will destroy them and their families, even if they are from the path of the ancient divine!"Nox shattered the remains of the soul, and the path of the martial's leader was no more. The problem harassing Faeast for millennia could be solved at long last. Achille was stunned. It hadn't been that long, but Nox had surpassed him.Nox was better than him in every way. He was an even better swordsman than Achil
The enemy leader was waiting. One technique broken wasn't enough to take Nox out. He wanted to wait until Nox had cast all he knew and find an opening to take him down, but Nox wanted to take him down with the power of the sword."You're stubborn. Very well, this makes things easier for me. I'll kill you, or at the very least, wound you!" He'd be stupid not to take advantage of this. The enemy leader's avatar morphed into a gigantic fist and slammed into Nox's chest.The impact shot through his body and reached his soul. Nox spat blood, and his soul was injured.Achille couldn't stand by anymore. Nox just told him not to push himself, but he wasn't taking his own advice. Then, Nox's weak will-of-the-sword shone blindingly, and then Unto the Origin appeared once more."Even under my pressure, you can use this technique? You're strong, but you're as stubborn as your mentor. You've lost your chance! Die! You'll never get here in time, Achille! Shadowkill!"The enemy leader's avatar t