It took Nox six months to fully recover. His mentors warned him to never use Sanctity again unless he had no way out. Even if he had no way out, they insisted he shouldn't use the technique if he could help it. Death would be much preferable to the alternative."Still, the process is a lot smoother now. Maybe it's because I broke through, or maybe it's because I merged Ultimate Sun and Ultimate Moon. I can't waste too much time, though. I can't keep this form up too long."Nox started gathering natural energy and remade the formation. With his sacred physique, he didn't need to use the remnants of Mystia's formations as a base anymore. The formations made by Mystians were only Celestial-technique level. Now, Nox was beyond that.A golden formation started to form quickly. Nox swiftly created the runes, the main parts of the formation, and the control center. Halfway through the formation, Nox ran out of life essence. Sure enough, his lifespan was gradually eaten away.Nox's body wa
The slow crumbling of the nation's fate was gradually diminishing the troop's morale. Atlas had a look of sorrow on his face. The Limerents' providence had run out, and the new nation's fate was also on the brink of destruction because of the danger Nox was facing."Will Faeast never see its rise again?" Atlas roared into the heavens, his soul filled with agonizing sadness.Black Tortoise was going to commit the unthinkable. If Nox were to die, then he would have reason to live. The soldiers' formation was going to be thrown into disarray. Doubt, fear, panic, and sorrow were spreading through the soldiers.Aphrodite, who stood on top of a snowy mountain near Faeast's borders, was told the latest news from Heaven's Cage."I knew you could do it, girl. You knew that brat mastered sacred techniques. He'd have to use sacred energy to stop the rampaging energy from infecting the outside world. He hasn't cultivated enough, so he'll have to speed through it. "Sadly, making a formation t
The technique couldn't be activated because Nox used the remnants of the formation's energy to create a new formation. When the decay of angels hit, Nox's sacred technique lost its power.Heaven's Cage continued to crumble without the technique's support. As a result, the rampaging energy leaked out and destroyed the formation, activating Fiery Ignis' technique. Red lotuses bloomed and filled the realm. Nox quickly understood what they were doing.The lotuses were breaking up the energy into two components. Pure natural energy was absorbed, leaving nothing but rampaging energy behind. Yes, the remaining energy was fiercer, but it wasn't as abundant as before."What's he trying to do? He knew someone would sacrifice themselves to keep the energy stable when the formation is eventually destroyed?"Nox was a little confused by the turn of events. Before he could continue to muse over it, the lotuses glided over to him. Soon, he heard Fiery Ignis' voice saying, "No matter who you are
"Righteous energy! I had it all planned out. Yet, those fools failed to destroy the righteousness within him!" Aphrodite nearly busted a vein the minute she realized that things had taken a turn for the worse.Jacques received news from Northstate around the same time. "Atlas and Black Tortoise are leading a hundred thousand soldiers to the battlefield, and their morale has never been higher. The war hasn't even begun, but it feels as though they've already won it."Even Jacques was feeling irritated at this point. 'We went through so much, but Nox still manages to turn the tides and achieve greater strength?'Nox stood tall and mighty within Heaven's Cage, his aura imposing upon the realm. Righteous energy barreled through the clouds and destroyed all illusions in its path. "Sanctity."Nox cast his Sacred technique again. Now that he possessed greater cultivation, he didn't have to pay the price with his life essence. A wave of sacred energy flowed into the formation. Soon, the ce
He had no idea what Nox had done. Regardless, he was badly hurt. There was no way he could win this fight. Nox was on a whole other level. Even if the priest tried his best, he'd just die a horrible death."Spare my life. If you do, Ice Temple will not be your enemy, Nox!"Just when Nox thought the high priest would burn his soul and fight to the death, the guy caved like wet paper. "You've lived for five hundred years. I bet you've seen your fair share of battles. You're even a high priest. Man, even the sect bastards have more courage than you."When Nox fought the six warriors from the Pavilion of Regality, they didn't beg for their lives even when things were desperate.The high priest's face contorted at the insult. However, he forced himself to smile through the humiliation before saying, "Everyone who lives long enough fears death, Lord Nox. "You're a Mystian god, and a god of death at that. All your mentors are powerful figures in Mystia as well. We're colleagues. Why don
The capital of Northstate stood behind Vertolt. To make matters worse, they only had thirty thousand soldiers, while Winterosch had a million. If they had no reinforcements, they would definitely lose this battle.The general leading the army here was nearly eighty years old. Frankly, he wasn't Faeast's first pick for this position. Truth be told, the old general had retired twenty years ago. Alas, Faeast had no choice but to appoint him to that post.The general's name was Dylan Strohm, and he was in the Vertolt encampment when someone from Imperia summoned him. No, it wasn't the emperor. Instead, it was Douglas. "Mr. Strohm, the emperor is heavily injured, and he's far from healed. The underground chamber is facing some problems as well."The underground chamber is right under Imperia. If anything happens to it, Imperia itself would be threatened. The emperor is currently making his way to the underground chamber despite his injuries. "The army has been dispatched on an extermin
"I've heard about the Heaven's Cage case. It is home to a dangerous existence. Should it break free, it'll pose a great danger to Faeast. Lord Nox returned to ensure that this particular existence remained imprisoned. "Unfortunately, I received a call from the Defender Lord of the North and was informed that Lord Nox is most probably dead."Douglas had a limited understanding of these things. So, he thought that Nox was dead. The Mousses detonated a weapon of mass destruction at Nox's location, and with Atlas bringing the news… It was probably true.Dylan was thunderstruck, and he could barely come up with a response. A long while later, he raised his head, shedding tears. "Do the heavens wish to see Faeast fall as well? Lord Northguard is nowhere to be found, and his men were all killed. The emperor is entangled with the underground chamber, and even Lord Nox is dead…"At Dylan's age, he no longer cared about his death. He'd lived his life on the battlefield. So, he didn't wis
'The Sword Sect?' Douglas' heart trembled. He knew that the Sword Sect was facing a mountain of problems as well. Yet, they were the only ones who sent their members off to war, off to certain death."Six sects. Six biggest sects, and only one cares about the nation. The others want nothing but to split it up so they can rule separately." Douglas sighed. Soon after, his expression turned grim. There was murder on his face. "Did anyone find out how the Mousses got their hands on the forbidden item?"That's the only thing Faeast had against Mystia. It's thanks to that item's development that Mystia decided not to push us around. Yet, it's now in the Mousses' grasp. I see we'll have to clean up the military soon."Imperia was awaiting the news of Vertolt's fall. They would then fire the forbidden item at it. Right before the battle, the Sword Sect's members finally arrived."General Strohm, I am Shaun Naga of the Sword Sect. By orders of our leader, I and three hundred of my brethre
The talismans were Magic Mountain's Forbidden Art, and Nox had fused them with Ultimate Sun Dragon Manual. Nox's mentors back in Mystia had taught him the Sovereign Seal earlier than expected.Their goal was simple. If Nox became the Sovereign, he could use the seal to command all the natural energy around him. If he didn't become the Sovereign, he would teach the Sovereign how to use the seal.The Sovereign Seal was a Saintly technique and the most ancient technique around. It was stronger than a Celestial technique.A golden seal brighter than the sun slowly rose into the air. It was the Sovereign Seal.As it appeared, natural energy gathered around it. The energy flew into the relics Brundela took from Faeast. Within a museum not open to the public, a bronze sword started to tremble as natural energy flowed into it. That got the attention of a professor."That sword belonged to Faeast's Emperor Elijah! What is going on?"A silhouette came out of the sword, and his aura was maj
Back in the navy command center, Fergus got the drone footage of Brundela's latest development. There were a few generals from the Nox Army with him. They could see that the monsters in the capital were far stronger than the ones they took out."It's a pity the capital is too densely populated. We have the weapons, but we can't use them." Fergus slammed the table in frustration. Even if the capital were to fall into enemy hands and the people torn apart by the monsters, Fergus could not order his men to fire at the capital, or things would be bad for them.Fergus could only open fire if the monsters were in a no man's land."Commander Parrish, the lord has orders. We are to keep the waters guarded. Once the capital's crisis is over, we are to make our way to the port and give humanitarian aid," a Nox Army general said telepathically. He just got Nox's orders."Is that so? Then Nox can stop this crisis." Fergus' eyes shone. He had no idea what Nox was planning, but he was the Sovere
Demons were walking the lands of Brundela. Legendary creatures were roaming the streets as if the end of days were here. The resurrected monsters were causing chaos everywhere. When the Titans showed themselves, despair washed over Brundela.There were too many monsters running around. Even after the Twilight Order and Ice Temple cultivators sent out everyone they had, it still wasn't enough to stop these creatures. The monsters went straight to the council hall, and so did the Titans.The Ice Temple Lord created a Magic Ice Formation and kept using Forbidden Arts and mystical artifacts to fend off the enemies. He had already done his best."You have to do something, Nine-State Lord. I can't hold on much longer!" the Ice Temple Lord said telepathically.Though monsters were about, they were not a threat to the Ice Temple Lord. he could leave anytime he wanted, but he had a deal with Nox. If he were to desert the battlefield, he would face a hell far worse than he could imagine late
Their targets were the relics around the altars. The moment the whirlpool showed up, the black energy conjured black walls and kept Brundela on lockdown, cutting off all communications.Possessed by evil spirits, gods from ancient civilizations came back to life. In the underground graveyard, the dead came bursting out of their coffins, and skeletons with phantom flames flickering around them charged at the holy knights and James' secret agents.Nothing more needed to be said. The holy knights' leader led the charge. The other knights resolved to fight to the death as they battled the skeleton gods.James and his secret agents fired off at the enemies, but the bullets did nothing to the skeletons. All they managed was to light a big spark. Only grenades and howitzers could deal damage to them, and even then, the damage was light.The battle was fierce. Though the knights did not fear death, they were still weaker than the prehistoric gods. These skeletons were nigh invincible, and
Nox was hovering higher than the Ice Temple Lord, and he got everyone's attention."Who's that?""It's a Faeastian!""My God, it's the Nine-State Lord!" Nox was known throughout Faeast and the world. Brundela's council members had recognized him the moment he showed up. They had nothing but fear for gods, yet Nox was the strongest man in the Mortal World, so they respected him.The clouds in Brundela's skies were hanging heavily over the ground, and the icy aura they radiated was making everyone shiver. Winter seemed to have come early for Brundela. The temperature was dipping fast.Back in the control center, intelligence agents were watching the surveillance footage closely, and they noticed the altar. The Twilight Order and Ice Temple cultivators were there, strengthening the altars' seal the best they could. There were soldiers guarding the altar as well.For some reason, the secret agents had a feeling something bad was going to happen. Murphy's Law, as they said.Suddenly,
A sliver of energy flew out of the puppet and gathered natural energy around it. Then, the temperature rose at a blistering rate. Fortunately, Bard's reminder came just in time, and Vermilion Bird was prepared for this. She led her team away from the spot.A pillar of fire engulfed the building, and heat waves shot off in every direction, lethal and deadly. The light eventually faded, and all buildings in a few hundred yards were razed to the ground.If Vermilion Bird had killed the puppet without thinking just now, she would have lost all her men and suffered serious injuries. "That bitch! I'm going to make her into a human swine one day! I'll give her hell!" she cursed.Bard gasped. 'Yeah, women can be really terrifying.' Not one General was a normal person.This incident didn't escape Nox, of course. He saw it through his divine sense. "Heh, you can't fight the flow of history? You say that, Aphrodite, but you've done the same thing more than once. Schemes and plots when your ey
Aphrodite was a master manipulator. She knew the weaknesses of Nox's underlings, and she praised Bard, "At least you know where you stand, Bard. You never overreach. Though we failed to make you one of us, I still thought it'd be a shame to kill you."Bard smiled. "Oh, you're such an actor, Ms. Mousse. You know why we don't like you? Queenie is a genuine lady, just like our lord. You're far inferior to her. And don't flatter yourself. Of course, I know where I stand. I can't even reach the pinnacle of martial arts, let alone cultivation."No matter how smart I am, my lack of talents holds me back. I can never be made an important leader." He was only spared because he couldn't become a threat to the Mousses.Nox didn't use schemes because he didn't need them. Absolute power could trump any plot.Vermilion Bird clenched her teeth. "What is the meaning of this? The lord knows that the bitch is here?"Bard shook his head. Vermilion Bird was a smart woman, but Aphrodite made her lose
Aphrodite felt nothing but sorrow, and Vermilion Bird burst into laughter. "I expected nothing less from these people. Your men are just like their employers. Hey, knights, you guys want to find out more about Faeast martial arts? See those Mousse guys? They're masters. Deal with them."Vermilion Bird gave her orders. She knew these people would escape the moment she showed up. The knights flew off, going after the escaped Mousses. The Mousses were a family of warriors, while these knights were cultivators, to an extent. They wore mystical artifacts, and the Mousses' guys didn't have something like that.The battle was fierce but short. The Mousses' powerhouses were taken out, and the rest were dealt with by the Shadow Division."And now only you're left. Interesting, isn't it? Karma always bites you in the ass. You betrayed my lord, and now your men betray you. You deserve this," Vermilion Bird cursed."Yes, I deserve this, but as long as he wants to be the Nine-State Lord, then w
'The beating heart of this land?' The woman's underlings looked grim. They were supposed to be the master tacticians here. Yet, Nox played them like a cheap kazoo. 'He's a far better tactician than we expected!'Nox began his counterattack not long after the Ocean of Death incident. This woman was none other than Aphrodite, Nox's old flame. When she saw Brundela's fate stabilizing, she knew right then that things had gotten out of her hands."Tell the Mousses in Eropa to retreat right away. There is no need to stay here any longer. He's not attacking us because he's waiting for us to do the same. The moment our men try to start anything, he'll swoop in and take them all out. "No one can beat him if he decides to go all the way. Not even me," said Aphrodite.Suddenly, the Mousses' powerhouse noticed something. "I sense bloodlust. Who goes there? Show yourself!" The powerhouses unsheathed their weapons and stood around Aphrodite, protecting her.A group of black silhouettes appeare