Back in Faeast's camp on Darkbog Mountains, Dom was as happy as a lark. Ever since Nox made him an official member of Nox Army, he was prouder than ever. Although he was now old and lame, the old man still looked dashing in Faeast's military uniform.The border soldiers knew who Nox really was now. They were both excited and scared. The erstwhile lord had returned, but they were worried he might punish them for slacking off all these years.A few soldiers huddled around Dom. "Sir, are you close to the lord?"Dom said proudly, "Of course. He saved my life.""That's awesome, mister. If the lord wants to punish us, can you put in a good word with him?" the soldiers asked sheepishly.Dom smiled. "Don't you worry. The lord won't punish you as long as you follow the rules and secure the border.""Of course, sir. We swear on our lives that we'll protect the border."A fleet of military cars was approaching them. They stopped, and a uniformed Mario hopped out of one."It's the commande
"What's with that number of choppers?""What's going on, commander?"The soldiers were stunned to see these helicopters here. Mario was staring at the helicopters with wide eyes before he let out a gasp, "We're going to have a bigshot here soon! Quickly, everyone get out here and stand in formation! We must give them a proper welcome!""Yes, sir!"The soldiers quickly stepped forth, formed a formation, and got ready to welcome their guests. The helicopters all belonged to Faeast, and there were about a hundred of them. The rotors that whirred in the skies above almost sounded like roars as the helicopters slowly descended on the prairie.A while later, the helicopters all landed, and a group of imposing soldiers in black armor came out of the choppers in perfect unison, obsidian sabers hanging from their waists.The moment they showed themselves, Mario was flabbergasted. He gasped, "Dear gods, that's the Black Flag! They're part of the Forbidden Army of Imperial City!""What? Th
Mario was roughly escorted to the command center while Quintus' army surrounded the command center. As one of the three Forbidden Armies protecting Imperial City, all Black Flag soldiers were at least Greater Combatants. Some were even Grandmasters.As their commander, Quintus was a Third Layer Firmament, a warrior on par with Keith. He was inside the command center, wearing an icy expression. Mario's hands and feet were chained. He was being treated as if he was a criminal.Dom and the border's soldiers hung their heads low, too scared to say a single word."Do you confess to your crimes, Mario?" Quintus roared coldly. He used to be one of Nox's top ten generals and was famed for his brutality and bloodlust.Mario hung his head low. "I… confess.""Then, you will die for it! Men, take him out for execution!" said Quintus.The border soldiers could not believe what they just heard, including Dom.Mario retorted tremulously, "I do not mind dying, General Nettleton, but I wish to s
All ten generals who were stationed under Nox Army were formidable people, and Quintus was one of them. Their lust for blood was something they learned from Nox. Should anyone cross them, they would be more than willing to destroy them along with their nation.Now, Quintus would lead Black Flag to slaughter Snowground's people. The army was about to mobilize when a thunderous voice boomed overhead, "It's alright. I'm back!"Elation filled Quintus' face. That voice was obviously Nox's. "The lord is back!" An excited Quintus dashed out of the encampment.Black Flag, Dom, and the chained Mario rushed out in excitement as well. However, what they saw next shocked them. A white Snow Wolf King about ten feet tall was traipsing through the snow-covered ground, its head hanging submissively.On its back was Nox, and behind Nox was a beautiful, unconscious silhouette."Dear gods, that snow wolf is gigantic. Look! The lord is on its back!"The border soldiers and Black Flag were stunned to
They thought, 'My gods, a beast this big is kneeling before the lord? Is he a god?'A couple of border soldiers approached and led the Snow Wolf King to the empty room on the left. Before they could go far, Nox said, "Wait.""What do you need, milord?" The soldiers turned around, looking confused.Nox said nothing. Instead, he grabbed the air and grasped the unconscious lady on the wolf's back."Is that a Snowgroundian woman?" The soldiers were surprised to see Nox returning with a Snowgroundian woman. They had no idea why Nox captured her, not even Quintus.Nox opened his hand, and Senami fell with a thud. "Lock her up as well," said Nox. He left Senami behind and went into the encampment.The soldiers had no idea who this woman was, but they obediently did as they were told.When Nox entered the command center, Quintus quickly stood by his side. The Black Flag Army stood on both sides while Mario hung his head low, his hands still chained.Nox immediately noticed Mario's pred
Quintus was raring to go. Alas, Nox shot him down, saying calmly, "There's no need to go that far for these barbarians.""What do you have in mind, milord?" a confused Quintus asked.Nox stood up proudly and looked in Snowground's direction. "Six years ago, I killed my way to their capital alone. I can do that again!"Quintus said with stars in his eyes, "You are a force of nature, milord."Then, Nox and Quintus discussed Imperial City affairs, especially about the Mousses and the Philosophers. Nox killed so many Philosophers and Top Legend Realms back in Old Dragon's Peak. So far, the Mousses had been staying quiet since then.If it weren't for the business with Snowground, Nox would've returned to Imperia and hunted down the Mousses with extreme prejudice.While Nox and Quintus were talking, a border soldier came running in. "Milord, the woman woke up. She even beat up one of our men! She's in solitary confinement and cursing all of us!"Nox frowned. The tempestuous Quintus sh
After the soldiers were gone, Senami looked at Nox with fury in her eyes. "You're finally here, you demon! Release me, or kill me! Why have you imprisoned me?"Nox snorted, and a wave of powerful magick paralyzed Senami up to her neck. She felt like a piece of paper Nox could tear apart any moment. "You think I wouldn't kill you?"The sense of suffocation turned Senami purple. Right before the imprisonment energy would kill her, Nox released it, causing Senami to fall with a thud as she coughed violently.Quintus said coldly, "How dare you talk like that to the lord, you barbarian?"Senami coughed for a long while before she slowly rose to her feet. Her bright blue eyes contained unbound hatred, and they were glaring at Nox, Quintus, and Mario. "Who are you? Why are you antagonizing Snowground?"Quintus answered, "You have no right asking my lord's name!""The general's right. You bastards intrude upon our nation and abuse our people! You must pay for that!" Mario added.Senami
Before Nox could say anything, Quintus blurted, "Senas is nothing.""How dare you insult my father!" said Senami angrily.Quintus added, "And so what if I did? My lord destroyed a million of your elites in Wolven Peak six years ago and blinded that old man in one eye. Tell me, does he remember that?"Senami fell silent. The big battle happened six years ago, and Senami was only fourteen years old. She was still in training at Temple of Light. That battle almost took out her nation.Her father led a million soldiers into Wolven Peak. Alas, none of the soldiers survived. That was Snowground's worst defeat and humiliation they suffered. Senas saw that as the biggest stain of his life.Senami knew all of that. Nonetheless, she burst into sardonic laughter. "So what if your lord was undefeatable? He's dead! Dead!"Ever since Nox fell into the Ocean of Death, everyone assumed he had died, including Senami. However, her answer only made Quintus laugh. Mario joined in as well."What are
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