"Is that the division leader? And the Chief of Staff? And the Director of Logistics? And is the last one our commander?"When Rivera's soldiers saw all the officers coming off the Eagle-10s, they were numb with shock. Rivera's legs almost buckled. 'The division leader? The Chief of Staff? The Director of Logistics? And the commander himself? W-What's going on?' he wondered.While Rivera was still in a stupor, the burly, uniformed Draco and his officers were already coming closer. Following them was Ferguson.Draco was about 6 feet 5 inches, his arms hanging down from his sides like a gorilla's. His face was as fierce as a panther. Draco Fort, also known as Leeroy Fort in his younger days, was one of the most arrogant, wildest, and hardest-to-tame soldiers of the south. But Nox managed it.Eventually, Draco became one of the Four Generals, and he became known as Draco. He had Nox to thank for his glorious life, and he was grateful for Nox. Draco was now the commander of a million so
Nox was in the room, sitting cross-legged. And then someone opened the door. A soldier said, "Commander, division leader, he's in there."Draco Fort, creator of Black Dragon Pool and a great warrior, stopped in his tracks. He stood at the doorstep, trembling."Commander?" Mervin called out to him.Draco took a deep breath and looked at the underground chamber tremulously. "Mr. Weeks, are you sure my lord is alive, and he's in there as we speak?"Alexander nodded with a smile. Draco straightened out his uniform and strode into the dark chamber. The moment he did, he was met with a figure he was very familiar with. That man was an invincible warrior. He alone took down the fighters of the ten nations.When Draco was told of his death, he abstained from food and water for seven days to mourn for him. He had sworn fealty to this man for life. "Milord, is that you?" Draco called out, his voice trembling.Nox slowly turned around, and a smile curled his lips. "Been a while, you old git
Not too long after, Rivera and Gold were brought into the chamber like criminals. Rivera quickly went down on his knees. "Commander, division leader, please, have mercy on me. I'm sorry!"Draco said coldly, "You bastard. I told you to attend the ball, and you let your nephew run amok and took in my lord? Only death awaits you! Guards, drag him away and shoot him dead."Rivera felt all the strength in his body sapped. "Commander, please, have mercy!"Draco would show none. Rivera was dragged away, and a bang echoed in the air. The lieutenant colonel was no more. Gold was already scared out of his wits, and now he wet his pants.Draco shot Gold an icy look. "And you. You raised your son to be nothing but a scum, and he tried to challenge my lord. From this moment onward, your family's wealth is confiscated, and you're exiled from this city. Forever. Now scram!"That command alone stripped Gold of all his wealth, and he was but an exile now. Then Draco turned to Nox. "Milord, are the
Draco shot up from his seat, and so did Alexander. Both did not look happy at all."Milord, how is that possible? Aphrodite is your…" Draco couldn't finish his sentence. He had no idea how."You're wondering why my erstwhile fiancee tried to kill me, yes?" Nox asked."Yes."Nox revealed a smile, but it soon turned into a twisted one. "I did not expect Aphrodite to stab me in the back either. The weaklings were no match for me. They could send out the strongest Legends, and they wouldn't even be able to defeat me. My 'demise' was thanks to Aphrodite."Hatred flared in Nox's eyes. "That night, she served me alcohol laced with poison. She used the strongest poison, Kirin Firepoison, against me. If it were not for her, no one could've defeated me," he hissed.Draco and Alexander were flabbergasted. This was the first time Nox ever told anyone about the truth behind the Battle of the Ten Nations. Everyone thought Nox defeated the ten nations by giving up his own life.They had no ide
Draco could understand that. As Nox said, the Mousse Family's strength was immeasurable. Not even Nox knew how powerful they were. After all, the family had survived for a thousand years.Legend had it that they had enough wealth to rival a country. Some said they had powerful warriors lining the family. Even their servants were top warriors.Draco clenched his fists. "Damn that family. Someday I will make them pay for harming my lord."After telling them the truth about the battle, Nox said, "Let's put this to rest for now, Draco. Just remember to keep the news of my survival a secret."Draco nodded solemnly. "I understand."Nox stretched his arms."Milord, do you know of the cure for Kirin Firepoison? If you require my services, I will do anything to hunt down the cure," said Alexander.Nox said, "It's alright, Alex. No one can cure this poison. Unless you can gather three cold herbs that are a thousand years old each and make a dose of Bloodchanger, nothing can cure this pois
George thought he was seeing things. He rubbed his eyes, but he still saw Nox and Alexander standing together. His jaw went slack. It almost felt like Alexander was the servant, while Nox was his master.Nox and Alexander made small talk, and Alexander left, while Nox went into the residence. George was starting to get uneasy as Nox came closer.He wondered, 'How'd he come back so soon? Didn't the Joshtons capture him? Did Alexander save him? But that's not right. How did he know the richest man of Riverton? Wait, did Queenie ask Alexander for help?'A light bulb lit up in George's head. He thought, 'I bet it is.' He thought his daughter must've begged Alexander to save Nox, and he got all proud and important. He mused, 'My daughter's awesome.'Nox saw George, and he said, "Hello, Mr. Sanders."George harrumphed. With mockery, he said, "Oh, you're released fast. Not bad."Nox smiled, but he said nothing."Greenshade, was that Alexander Weeks who took you back?"Nox didn't expec
She trudged into her house and saw her mother. Yvette quickly approached her daughter."Queenie, you're back." She then saw her daughter's puffy eyes and the tears hanging on her eyelashes. She asked, "Why'd you cry? Tell me, what happened?"Queenie was reminded of all the things that had happened, and she burst into tears. "Mom, Nono didn't kill anyone. He only said that to save me! Please, trust me! Help Nono!"Yvette was puzzled. "What are you talking about? I thought you saved Greenshade."Queenie's crying stopped at once, but she was bemused.Yvette said, "I mean, you asked Mr. Weeks to save Greenshade, didn't you?""What? Nono's back?" Queenie shouted in disbelief."Yeah, he came home in the afternoon. Don't you know that?"Queenie paused for a few moments, and she quickly asked, "You're not lying to me, are you? Is Nono really back?""Why would I lie to you? He's back. Just go to his room and see for yourself."Queenie ran upstairs and charged at Nox's room like a madw
Nox couldn't tell Queenie he did kill Silas. She was just a civilian, and the truth would scare her.Just like that, the Joshtons' fiasco was over, but Queenie couldn't understand why Nox was released for no reason. She thought the Joshtons actually did it out of the kindness of their hearts. She came out of Nox's room and felt a lot brighter.George appeared all of a sudden. "Queenie.""Dad? Why are you here?" Queenie asked curiously."Come here, Queenie. We need to talk," said George mysteriously."About what?""Just come over and you'll find out." George beckoned at his daughter.Queenie really wanted to know, so she followed her father into the courtyard. She asked, "What is it, Dad?"George looked at Nox's room and asked, "Queenie, tell me. How did the talk with Alexander go?""What talk? What are you talking about, Dad?" Queenie was speechless."You think you can keep it a secret? You're dating Alexander, aren't you?"Queenie couldn't believe it. "What are you saying,
"And you should shut up now. Her talent's restructured. Above average, I'd say. About on par with Azure Dragon but definitely far away from Kirin." Nox smacked his lips.Dominic and Aphrodite were shaken, especially Aphrodite. The look on her face changed. She was obviously wary of Kirin."Kirin? Honestly, you impress me again and again. You managed to tame the top talent of the path of the ancient divine, and now he's working for you," said Dominic.Kirin was the true captain of the Great Generals. Even the untamed White Tiger who would even crack jokes about Nox would stay quiet in Kirin's presence. If they wanted to summon him, Azure Dragon would have to risk his life to take on the burden. Even with the sacred beast essence together, they could only summon Kirin for a while.If Azure Dragon could hold on a bit longer back on Mount Prison, Kirin could've killed Goldenwheel and Black Flood all by himself."He only used ten percent of his power back then, and already he was a nig
Dominic used one golden core to prolong Aphrodite's lifespan. Under the influence of Dominic's life essence, the golden core's energy flowed through Aphrodite's body, breathing new life into what was essentially a corpse.Aphrodite looked no better than an old bat, but as life was breathed into her flesh, she regained her youth, though not fully. She looked like a woman in her late thirties, not twenties. Though she was past her prime, she looked more mature and elegant.Nox had a weird look on his face. Aphrodite used to be aloof and innocent. Now she looked mature and slightly alluring."Thirty years of lifespan. Her body's at about thirty-seven, thirty-eight years of age. Just like the age of your soul. Intelligence can only take you so far, but wisdom is forever. You'd do well to remember that. Life's a marathon, not a sprint."Dominic activated the second core. This core would reshape Aphrodite's talent, or to put it simply, it would change her fate. Aphrodite couldn't cultiv
There was no favor to be owed. If anything, he only owed Dominic a favor. "Threegolden cores. Last time I was training at your place, I had to beg and beg before you'd even give me the remains of the materials for the core. I can't believe you gave her three golden cores at once," Nox said.Aphrodite frowned. She knew what Nox was trying to say. If Dominic was only saving her because of Nox, it would be a waste. He wouldn't acknowledge it. In other words, he hadn't forgotten about her betrayal."Can you stop that? I didn't make these cores. I took them from beings that'd cultivated for a thousand years. All I did was refine them a little and stabilized their energy. They're not actual cores. You don't even need these to power up. Giving them to you would be a waste," chided Dominic.Cultivators who'd trained for a thousand years could conjure golden cores within their bodies. Goldenwheel managed it. If the core wasn't refined and stabilized the moment it left the cultivator's body,
The thunder was booming, almost as if someone up there was roaring. Nox's Immortal energy turned the tables around. With Thunderlord's Seal, he was fighting back. The lightning in his hands was as sharp as a blade, and he cut down all the lightning bolts of the tribulation.The exploding bolts flew everywhere, and the seas screamed. Dominic's hair was standing on end. He gasped. "Something's off." And then a dozen lightning bolts fell. They crashed into Dominic, and black smoke billowed from his skin. "Yeah, it's coming to an end."Dominic was grinning in pain, but Aphrodite's eyes were shining. The clouds could no longer gather any energy. Nox had fended off the backlash. Nox flew high up into the air, breaking through the barrier. "Ultimate Dragon Control! Shatter them!"Dragon roars filled the skies as nine dragons appeared in the clouds. They engulfed the lightning clouds, and the lightning bolts disappeared."He did it. Incredible. Nox managed to fend it off! In the end, it's
"Dammit, he's too powerful! That's not what my intel told me. At this rate, I'll lose this fight, and I might die! Dammit, I wouldn't mind it if I died fighting Greenshade, but I don't want to die for nothing!" Tremeus hissed. Voltaic's power was vastly different from what Mystia's men told him.Even when he was already burning his soul, Voltaic was easily beating him up. If he was fighting Voltaic under normal circumstances, he would be taken out immediately."To Origin, Sanctity!" Ascended Immortal couldn't hold on any longer, so Nox raised his energy level to pure Immortal energy. Nox was now at Saint-level of strength."What?" Tremeus couldn't believe it. Nox was just a Pinnacle Great Ascension Realm, but now he had the power of a Saint. 'What kind of monster is he?' Tremeus thought. There was no one like him in the history of Faeast.The leader of the path of the martial was surprised. "He's too powerful. Dammit, if it weren't for the taboo, I wouldn't have let him live! This
Black Tortoise was in a hurry to take the Greenshades back to Imperia, while Daniel thought, 'He's still not perceptive enough. He still doesn't understand why I pleaded for the soldiers.' Sparing these soldiers meant sparing Aphrodite.Daniel knew his son all too well. He was Nox's father, after all. Nox was a loyal man, to his country, to his lover, to his friends, to his family. Nox would save Aphrodite the moment he met her. He couldn't let her die, after all.They were about to leave, but then two balls of powerful auras appeared in Black Tortoise's divine sense. "Someone's here!" The Greenshades noticed the commotion. They wondered if it was an ambush.A feral human came crashing into the cruise ship and tore through the deck until he landed in front of the group. Then, a crimson bird flew all the way down. They were Vermilion Bird and White Tiger."Hello, Daniel!" White Tiger grinned and gave Daniel a bear hug. Decorum was not his strength."White Tiger, that's the lord's f
The Four Great Generals were Nox's brothers, so they were also like family to the Greenshades."You could've been less blunt about it. Even if he doesn't have long to live, Nox can give him enough elixirs to prolong his life by a few decades," said Claude."Besides, the elixirs we took had sacred beast essence in them. You guys have the Yang sacred beast essence. Your blood can dispel the elixir's power and prolong our lives a little," added Winston."Sorry," said Black Tortoise, and he was about to kneel."Hold it right there. It wasn't meant to be an admonishment. You're a Great General and Faeast's guardian. You are the hope of the current generation. I will not allow you to kneel to anyone, not even me." Daniel was really mad this time. He thought, 'He's a Great General. At least have some dignity.'Black Tortoise was confused. 'What do they want me to do?'"None can stop Faeast's rise to power. Even Aphrodite knows that, so you must as well. She has repaid her family for rai
Daniel's body was filled with ice energy, and it couldn't be released. The energy was buried deep in his body. Divine sense couldn't even see it. Daniel wasn't the only one. The other Greenshades were suffering the same symptoms as well.The squad leader answered, "We do not know, General. The mistress didn't tell us anything about this." The other members teared up, and they bowed to the furious Black Tortoise.Daniel stirred and chided, "Black Tortoise, you are a Great General and the calmest among the quartet. Even if we and your lord are dead, you must remain calm, do you hear me? This is nothing!""But Mr. Greenshade…""You do not know Aphrodite at all. She wishes to be a legendary tactician and a modern legend. Even if she is evil, she knows there's a line she shouldn't cross!" said Daniel. He then explained the truth to Black tortoise.Aphrodite captured the Greenshades, so Daniel gave up his resistance. Though he was already a Supreme, Aphrodite could still get him killed
"Though you have committed the crime of treason, as long as you safely escort your charge and make enough noise, Faeast will not punish you. They need to make sure their image is upheld, after all," said Black Tortoise. That was why he was annoyed. Aphrodite no longer had the advantage, yet she still pulled one last gambit."What about the mistress, General? She said she has a plan. She no longer needs our protection, so does that mean…" The leader realized something. Their mistress was going to die, so she didn't need them anymore."She finally did one thing right, and it was right before her death. Pity it's too late for regrets." Black Tortoise snorted. He had no idea that Nox was risking his life to save Aphrodite. He thought Nox was going to kill the witch.And now the other suicide squad members realized that their mistress was dying. She sent them back home and set up one final play so they could survive. The members cried for their mistress, and the leader bawled. He pulled