Nox's eyes flickered open. "They're here!" he muttered, sensing that Aphrodite's scheme was not as simple as it seemed. Whoever was coming wasn't an enemy but, more likely, an old ally whose life he couldn't easily take.To the north of the Heaven's Cage, a figure charged through the mountains and appeared atop Phantom Peak. The sight of him brought a roar of joy from the hundred thousand soldiers stationed there while Atlas' face fell as he inwardly said that this issue was not good.The soldiers recognized him instantly as Lord Aldric, Northguard of Faeast. He was a powerful figure from the younger generation whose accomplishments included restoring significant lands in Faeast, achieving glory and honor for the country, and rising to prominence and kingship alongside Nox. His actions were seen as a way to redeem past losses and restore pride to the nation. He was also named lord before Nox.His fame in Faeast was second only to Nox's, and the royal family had groomed him as a
The guard tried to persuade him, but alas, Aldric had no patience to listen. With a single blow, he knocked the guard unconscious."Nox, last time we fought to a draw," Aldric said coldly.Nox nodded slowly. "Yes, that was years ago. Back then, I hadn't yet become Lord Nox.""True, and I wasn't yet Lord Aldric," the other replied. "But I must tell you, last time, I held back to let it end in a draw."Nox frowned. "Are you expecting me to go easy again, or should we both give it everything this time?" Aldric sidestepped the question, replying instead, "Aren't you at all curious about my alliance with the Mousses?"Unfazed, Nox shook his head. "Your reasons don't concern me. If we're going to settle this, let's take it elsewhere.""I'm afraid not. The Mousses want me to dismantle the Heaven's Cage barrier to let the chaotic spiritual energy leak out. Killing you is just a secondary objective."Without waiting for a response, Aldric stepped forward, releasing a surge of freezing
"This is a technique of absolute purity and positive energy, specifically designed to counter the ice techniques I've mastered. The universe operates by the balance of yin and yang, the five elements, and the eight trigrams. The five elements naturally reinforce and restrain one another, and this inherent suppression follows no rationale. Now that your technique aligns with these fundamental forces, it completely overpowers mine in the hierarchy of the elements. I'm simply no match for you," Aldric said with a bitter smile.It was unclear who would emerge as the winner in this duel, but reflecting on their last clash, he realized that if Nox had wielded the Rite of the Nine Sun-Dragon Art from the start, he wouldn't have lasted a single move and would have been utterly defeated. Even now, despite ascending to the Pinnacle Legend Realm, his offensive abilities were still insufficient to break through even one of Nox's True Dragons."Before the battle has even begun, you've already b
It was the Positive Energy Spirit Physique!When he saw the Positive Energy Spirit Physique of Aldric emerge, Nox struggled internally, hesitant to strike down an old friend. But seeing the state Aldric was in, the realization dawned on him that perhaps death might be a form of relief for him."Aphrodite's schemes always aim to leave her targets living a fate worse than death. Even her own allies are no exception," he muttered under his breath. "Lord Aldric, I don't know what you've done, but seeing your positive soul, I can forgive you.""Heaven's Demise: Destroy all gods and demons!"Blazing fire surged forth, consuming everything within hundreds of miles. When the flames finally subsided, Aldric's spirit lay quietly on the ground. It was nearly transparent and was just moments away from dispersing entirely."Free at last," he murmured with a faint smile. "Thank you, Nox."A weight seemed to lift from his heart, and he could finally put his worries aside. Nox walked over to him
If Nox was to lose control of himself, he could become a true God of Death in the Mortal World.Swoosh!Atlas and Black Tortoise arrived, their eyes narrowing as they took in Nox's transformation. They had never seen him like this. A dark, eerie aura surrounded him, making him look like a terrifying demon of unimaginable power!Nox was never one to kill lightly for he only targeted those who deserved it. He had long mastered the path of decisive action.But now, if that path descended into chaos, then in front of Nox, there would be no distinction between those who deserve to be killed and those who don't. For someone who was no longer able to distinguish between good and evil and viewed killing as casually as eating or drinking, such a person would be a disaster for Faeast."Nox! Snap out of it!" Atlas shouted."Damn it! How did the Mousses get their hands on a weapon of such mass destruction?" He cursed, uncharacteristically rattled, while Black Tortoise stood frozen, unaccus
An old man stood quietly beyond the blazing portal, watching Nox with a calm, knowing smile. Though he didn't speak a word, his stance conveyed his unwavering support."Master?" Nox murmured softly.This was none other than his teacher from Mystia, the Fire God himself, known as Fiery Ignis. Fiery smiled and nodded, then turned slightly to reveal a figure carrying a sword on his back. His gaze was cold and sharp, and although he stood motionless, his presence alone created an intense sense of intimidation, as if a sword's edge were pressed against one's vital point."Mr. Edge!" gasped Valkyron from within the dark void of the Ice Temple, visibly shaken."Master of Swords aka Dominic Edge!" Atlas narrowed his eyes before bowing deeply in respect. Behind him, Black Tortoise also clasped his fists in formal greeting.There was no conversation between them. The two peerless masters only cast Nox a brief, meaningful look before they silently withdrew. The blazing portal faded slowly,
"The reason is simple: if Heaven's Cage collapses, spiritual energy will leak uncontrollably, and at least half of Faeast will be engulfed in flames!" Valkyron understood that Nox would give everything he had, sparing no effort, to prevent any leak of this spiritual energy. This disaster, however, was no ordinary calamity as it was a man-made catastrophe! How could mere human power withstand such devastation?Even if he had the power of a god, he would have to pay a huge price to pass the test! It was very likely that he would become a cripple after leaving!Aphrodite had calculated perfectly. Nox had never planned to leave Heaven's Cage alive.Outside, a force of one hundred thousand soldiers surged toward the northern gateway of the Heaven's Cage. As the prison began to collapse, the once-hidden exit became exposed to everyone's sight. Together, Black Tortoise and Atlas unleashed their combined strength to clear the blocked path, allowing the army to evacuate in an orderly st
Mystia wasn't a unified entity. It was a strange realm, a world forged together by the deities who ascended after the War of Deification. They call it the Realm of the Gods!There were numerous entrances to Mystia scattered around the world. Their purpose? To act as a deterrent. The moment someone defied the will of the gods, Mystia could strike with unimaginable speed.Within Mystia, alliances were tangled and complex. No one force had absolute control. There was the 'Three Paths, Six Halls, and Twelve Pavilions.' The Eastern Peak Pavilion was just one of these twelve pavilions, and it was ranked near the bottom.Watching the fading golden rainbow, Nox spoke in a solemn tone. "The master of William is very timid, but this is also a way of survival."After the War of Deification, there were even more factions than today. Only through brutal internal strife did the current structure emerge. For a minor force to survive in Mystia, it must learn to navigate alliances carefully."Ah,
Nox felt choked by the sheer emotion he was feeling. Sometimes, even a thousand promises couldn't compare to the simple vow of staying together in life and death."Don't worry. There's no one in this world capable of killing me," he reassured her with a smile. All the talk about ruling the Nine States and Five Domains or becoming the emperor of the world paled in comparison to having the one he loved by his side.The destroyer ship made its way back to Faeast's inner harbor. Nineve eagerly led the group to the largest shopping mall in the area as soon as they disembarked.The marines quickly found themselves acting as her personal attendants, lugging bags upon bags of purchases. The spree lasted the entire day, only stopping when the mall finally closed for the night.Later that evening, Nox was watching a live news broadcast in the hotel.The screen showed an official spokesperson from Faeast addressing the issue of piracy on the high seas. The statement carefully emphasized the
As the Temple Lord of the Beast Temple, Kirin was none other than the auspicious beast Kirin itself.On the other hand, Mufasa, while known as the temple's guardian, was, in cruder terms, little more than a servant to the golden lion. His master, the golden lion, paled in comparison to the Kirin in both cultivation level and bloodline.Simply put, if the golden lion were present, it would have to kneel before Kirin."What now? Why'd you drag me out? Couldn't you deal with it yourself? You're so annoying! I was just having a great chat with my students," Kirin grumbled, clearly irritated.However, he immediately shut his gob after receiving a hard whack on the head from Nox."I called you out to ask if you could gather the beasts of the Beast Temple. Tell them to withdraw from Mystia and return to Faeast for the time being. I foresee a war with the path of the martial brewing soon, and I'll need a fully armed force of sacred beasts," Nox said, his piercing gaze fixed on Kirin."Ca
Faeast's rise was inevitable. This belief was absolute and unshakable!At that moment, Aphrodite came to a realization that so long as she and Nox had no romantic ties, their hearts could truly be in sync.Love brought complications such as resentment and division. But without personal emotions clouding their judgment, everything they did would be for the nation alone. Take this moment, for example. The intricate trap she had laid was no longer just a scheme. Rather, it had become a necessary move to safeguard Faeast. By nightfall, the destroyer arrived at the island where Voltaic resided. Before the ship even came to a stop, Voltaic stepped onto the water, striding across the waves with Mufasa by his side. With effortless grace, he leaped onto the bow, landing before Nox on the deck. "You old bastard, what's your deal? When I tried reaching out before, you acted like you were deaf. Now that I've shown up, you're all smiles and warm welcomes? What's that supposed to mean?" No
Just then, several pirate ships appeared on the horizon. They were from Capwave Island. Now, Nox had every reason to suspect that these pirates were nothing more than pawns, a smokescreen used by the elites of the island nations to cover their tracks. "Milord, those guys have their eyes on us. What's the call?" the captain asked. "My rule is simple. If they make a move, fire. Wipe them out. But you're the captain, so I'll leave the decision to you," Nox said. The university students onboard were all fired up, ready to take action without a second thought. The captain, mindful of the number of civilians on board, decided to attempt communication first. He picked up the radio to send a warning to the pirates.The deafening roar of jet engines ripped through the sky. A sudden transmission cut into their frequency. The voice on the radio was firm and unmistakable. "This is the Faeast Air Force. We have orders to escort your vessel. Stand by." Above them, fighter jets h
Nox first checked on Cassian. After realizing he was fine and had only collapsed out of exhaustion and loss of life essence, Nox turned to lead a group of men toward the port. The mystical artifact sealing off the island had been retrieved. The isolated island would finally see the light of day once more! Nox had just arrived at the port when he was surrounded by a pack of students. Somehow, they found out their savior was Lord Nox of Faeast. They were all insistent on meeting him. "We just knew Faeast would save us!""Our savior is actually Lord Nox! We will surely study hard to repay Faeast!"They were young and impulsive. In their eyes, Nox was sent to rescue them as Faeast knew they were in danger. Hence, they were overwhelmed with emotions. Nox stared at them with a guilty look in his eyes. He had not even known they were kidnapped. Due to that guilt, he agreed to take a group photo with the students even though he disliked appearing before the public eye. The enti
"Zeller, you'll be brought to justice!"With a twist of his fingers, thousands of swords appeared out of thin air and swung at Zeller.Without any techniques he could use, Zeller had to risk his life to block and dodge every blow sent his way. However, his body gave up after a few hundred strikes, and his body was torn apart.Shaken to his very core, Zeller tried to make a retreat."Where are you going? Quintuple Lightning, awaken the divine tempest!"As deafening thunder roared through the sky, countless bolts of lightning struck down at Zeller's dark spirit, killing him.One of the best evil cultivators died just like that.His death also sounded the death knell for the Celestial Ordinance's Abode that had been causing chaos in Faeast for centuries.The Marine Corps gazed at Nox with passionate excitement in their eyes.This was their lord, someone who was stronger than Cassian!Nox turned around to find the remaining elites crying in despair. Some of them had already lost
The energy erupted with a force that broke through the clouds. Zeller swiftly realized something was wrong. The staff inside the formation was trembling. Cassian was about to break through his trap. Nox's eyes lit up. "Oh? Grandpa broke through to the fifth-ring Minor Saint realm."As soon as he said that, the energy set the air ablaze, causing the demonic phantoms to melt away. When Cassian appeared in view, he was covered in blood while tightly holding on to the staff. With all his might, he pulled the staff out of the ground. The instant the staff left the dirt, the formation dispersed. Cassian collapsed onto the ground, having depleted his life essence. "Shoot!" Zeller instantly tried to get the staff back. However, Nox acted at the same time at a speed far greater than Zeller's. He first rushed over to Cassian and took the staff from him. Then, he struck out with a palm that sent Zeller's life essence dispersing from the immediate area. Zeller was sent flying away
"Watch as I break through your technique!"With a low roar, Cassian used his essence to draw out a talisman. The moment the talisman was complete, the stench of blood flooded the air.Blood energy was unable to dispel the demonic phantoms, but it was able to reveal Zeller from where he was hiding within the phantoms."Found you!"Cassian sent another punch swinging. The tables were turned.A series of loud bangs echoed from within the cloud of demonic phantoms. The Golden Fire Saint power surged. With one last dull thud, Zeller was sent flying out of the formation."Mousse, you're mistaken. I told you so. Cassian would win!" Nineve said with a scoff. It was so great to witness Aphrodite humiliated.Aphrodite shook her head with a soft laugh. "Princess, do you really think what you see is the truth?"Nineve was stunned. "What do you mean? Speak clearly!""You saw Zeller sent flying out of the formation, but that doesn't put his life in danger at all. If you were Cassian, you wo
"Ashura's Seal, Demonic Phantom Fury!"Zeller waved his staff. When he struck it against the ground, countless demonic phantoms appeared, surrounding him and Cassian and blocking them from view. Amid the demonic cloud of phantoms, golden fire could be seen flickering within. Cassian was trapped by the phantoms, and the Greenshade family's ancient martial style did no damage. He could not disperse the demonic phantoms. Under Zeller's control, demonic energy seeped into Cassian's body, slowly scrambling his mind. "This is bad. It looks like the trap has turned into a personal demon for Grandpa." Nox frowned. "Act if you must. Faeast needs a strong fighter of the previous generation like Cassian right now," Aphrodite said. Nox nodded. Still, now was not the best opportunity for interference. If Cassian could not get rid of his personal demon, his cultivation would suffer in the future. There were many cultivators at Saint Realm who practiced the soul techniques of the pat