Nox's friends wondered what he meant, but Quintus knew exactly what Nox was trying to say. Nox was the Great Lord of Faeast. He was crowned as nobility. Therefore, the responsibility of guarding the nation had also been hoisted upon him.Although he knew he was but a tool in the emperor's eyes, he was willing to carry out his job. He was Faeast's man through and through."My lord, please, accept my highest greetings. Your loyalty to the nation is unmatched!" Quintus bowed to Nox. He was not just showing Nox respect, but also loyalty."What are you guys talking about?" Nineve came over, breaking the solemn air. She looked happy, and she was smiling."Nothing. Just talking to the commander." Nox refused to drag Nineve into the political fight. So, he glossed it over."I see." Nineve continued, "I'm not mad at you anymore, Nox. Thanks for the gift," said Nineve, her cheeks pink."You're not mad? And you got a gift?" Nox was perplexed.Nineve extended her hand and waved it before No
A burly man in a regal robe was seated on a gilded throne within the resplendent chambers of the palace in Imperial City. An elderly eunuch in a red robe and high hat stood before the man. The eunuch was none other than the head steward, Felcro. The one in the regal robe was the emperor."Has the battle on Old Dragon's Peak come to an end, Felcro?" the emperor asked, his voice booming.Felcro bowed with a smile. "Yes, it has, Your Majesty. As you have predicted, Lord Nox slaughtered them all, save for the Magickas and the Warringtons. His father, surprisingly, is in the vicinity, and he has taken the life of Rakshasa Harvester," said Felcro.The emperor roared with laughter as he shot up from his throne. "Good, good. I expected nothing less from the god of war." The emperor asked, "His fight is the herald of a new war. This is now his domain. What do you think the boy will do, Felcro?"Felcro shook his head. "Apologies, Your Majesty, but I know not what he will do."The emperor p
"Are you happy with the answer, Lord Nox?" Felcro asked, smiling at Nox.Nox rolled up the decree and held it close. "Yes." He raised his head."Splendid. The emperor also has a message for you. Do what you want to do. He will clean up the mess you leave behind." Felcro smiled once more.Nox looked at the Gilded Halls and announced, "Tell the emperor I said thank you." And he strode off.Felcro saw Nox off. "Safe travels, Lord Nox." He stood underneath the Gilded Halls, seeing Nox off until Nox was a speck in the distance before finally leaving.Nox finally got the decree. 'Kill them all' was the message, and Nox could finally do what he wanted.…On the right wing of the palace was where the cabinet resided. The Eight Elders lived here. They were on par with Douglas in terms of position. The Elders were involved in everything, from politics to the lives of Faeast's people.Within the halls of the Clouds' abode, Carmenio was on a bed in one of the largest suites enjoying the so
Carmenio's face contorted in disbelief. "How did this happen? What about the Blackstones? And the dissidents?" asked Carmenio quickly."Our sources claim that the Blackstone heir died in battle, and all the families were slaughtered. The only survivors are the Magickas and the Warringtons."Carmenio was holding a piece of fruit, but it slipped from his grasp when his hand trembled. He was utterly petrified and his face was as pale as a ghost. A long while of silence later, he finally shot up from his bed."That is nonsense! The Blackstones gathered so many Philosophers, and they were aided by the dissidents. They had more than fifty Top Legend Realms on their side! They could not have all been slaughtered!"Carmenio found this all to be rather absurd."But it's true, sir! The Blackstones and the families were slaughtered. Even Starcatcher fell into ruins!" said the guard.Carmenio's face was filled with despair. 'They're all dead? Horatio was killed? Even all the Top Legend Realm
The moment Nox stepped in, dozens of guards immediately surrounded him. The leader, a Legend Realm, blurted with surprise, "Who are you? How dare you intrude upon the manor!"Nox looked at the guard coldly. "I'm here for Carmenio.""You bastard! Lord Carmenio is the head of the Eight Elders! How dare you address him so familiarly?" the leader roared and unsheathed his saber, pointing it at Nox.Nox did not look at the guards. Instead, he said, "The culling shall begin, and those who stand in my way will perish." Nox walked into the abode.The guards said sharply, "Men, take this bastard down!"The ignorant guards charged at Nox, swinging their weapons. Nox would kill them, of course. He had already said he would. So, he did not mind adding more blood to the crimson sea. He swung his arm, causing an invisible wave of strongwind to slam into the guards.The guards screamed as blood spilled out of their orifices. They could not withstand even a single blow before falling to their de
"If you kill me, you'll make an enemy out of Imperial City! Would you take that risk?" Carmenio was right. He was the head of the Eight Elders and only second to Douglas.It would make the nation look like a joke if someone like him were to be killed without any warning. However, he had forgotten one thing: Nox had painted the ground red with at least 50 men that day. Carmenio might be an important minister, but Nox wasn't one to quibble with titles and positions. He would not spare the old man.Nox produced a sword in his hand. It was ancient and had the engravings of celestial bodies and nature on it. The Blade of the Emperor."Do you recognize this weapon, you old fool?" Nox slowly raised the sword.Carmenio stared at the weapon with wide eyes as his eyes twitched in recognition. Sure enough, he blurted in horror, "The emperor's sword… Is that the Blade of the Emperor? Dear gods, why do you have it?"Carmenio was in disbelief, staring at the blade."Good. At least you aren't b
"What? Mr. Cloud's killed?" a shocked voice came from one of the Eight Elders' manors. "Even his manor was dismantled! Who would dare to kill a minister?"This old man was also one of the Eight Elders. Canary was his name, and he was a part of Public Works.Another old man sighed before replying, "His killer is one Nox Greenshade." He was a part of Administration."Nox? How is this possible? Did they fail their mission?" Mr. Canary was obviously in cahoots with Carmenio. So, he was well aware of what the mission entailed."Yes. It was a complete failure. The Blackstones and all Top Legend Realms were decimated. There were no survivors."The other ministers were ashen. They could not believe that the battle destroyed all their setup, going as far as to cost Carmenio's death."Curses. How did this happen? Mr. Cloud has served two emperors. He was our leader. He couldn't just be killed! Is Nox a butcher or something?" Mr. Canary roared."He cares nothing about order! Even if Mr. Cl
Felcro turned around and left. A while later, he stopped in his tracks. "Ah, yes. His Majesty has a message for all of you. The cabinet will undergo restructuring after today. That is all."'What? A restructuring?' the ministers thought as their faces fell. They knew all too well what a restructuring meant for them."What does that mean, Felcro?" Seid quickly asked."Nothing. That was just a message from His Majesty. After all, everyone knows what you lot did. That is all I have to say. If you wish to remain here, then do enjoy your stay." This time, there was no hesitation when he left.The ministers saw him off, flabbergasted and dumbfounded. Then, Bilius crumpled to the ground. His face was a mask of despair. "It's all over. His Majesty has taken Greenshade's side."The ministers were smart people, and they understood what was lying in wait for them. Their faces immediately turned white with fear.The battle of Old Dragon's Peak came to an end. The cabinet and the Mousses were
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