Vermilion Bird took out the remaining soldiers of Winterosch. The heads of the escaped aristocrats were sent to Diro, courtesy of the Shadow Division.Diro and his men were excited to see the heads of their oppressors. It felt like someone had avenged them. That someone was purported to be their enemy, Faeast.Nox was making his intention clear, and Diro was no fool. He knew Nox was trying to make an ally out of him. At this point, he had to consider his comrades' future, so he asked for their opinions.They gave their answer swiftly. Diro would call the shots, and they would go with it. Diro took some time to mull things over, and he sent a scout to gather information at Endriver Pass. They knew the army of Faeast would never kill prisoners of war.Diro thought they must've set up a camp to lock these people up, but when the scout sent the news back to Diro, he and his men fell silent. Faeast's army had mobilized all their logistical units to cook food for the prisoners of war.T
Yet, he couldn't fault Nox for that. The emperor was the root of their problems. If the aristocrats had shown even a shred of mercy, he would never have felt displeased about their rule. If the emperor had been a bit more useful, he'd never have fallen for Nox's trick.Diro made up his mind. He grabbed the goat's leg and started chomping down on it. Black Tortoise announced, "Dig in!" The food was ready, and barrels of wine were served. The Winterosch soldiers pounced at the food and ate as much as they could.Then they cried. The food was one thing. They were supposed to be Winterosch's elite, and yet they never had a meal this nice over the course of this war. Even Diro didn't get to have this kind of luxury."When you were stationed on the border, you used to fight Aldric a lot. You have invaded Faeast many times, Diro. Do you confess?" Nox said, and the air was filled with murderous intent.The Nox Army soldiers who were making food just a while ago were putting their hands on
In other words, if Winterosch tried to start a war down the line, Nox would wipe it off the world map. Diro felt his heart pumping furiously. He had a feeling Nox could do that if he wanted to. Even if Nox said he would destroy the heavens, Diro wouldn't doubt it."I will take the throne, and I swear that as long as I rule, I will not start a war against Faeast." Diro wasn't going to stubbornly hold on to his title as general. If this chance slipped by, he would not get another."Good, and I have faith in you. Here's my promise. As long as Winterosch stays in its lane, we will not wage any war against you." Nox nodded. He then wrote Diro's name on the pages of the Golden Book of Lords using runes."I now crown you as lord of Winterosch. You have the right to build a government and set up royal etiquette. You have the privilege to don the five-claw dragon robe.Diro's eyes went wide with shock. Winterosch and Faeast were two different nations. Winterosch's faith was not in dragons.
'Prison?' Harley was shocked, and then he was surprised. As long as he was spared the death sentence, he didn't mind the punishment. He was an Intermediate Pinnacle Legend Realm. Nox aside, he would be the strongest warrior in Faeast.If Nox didn't try to attack him, no one would be stupid enough to make things hard for him. All he needed to do was help Nox find White Tiger."Here's the thing, master. When we found out that you died in the Ocean of Death, we attacked the Four Great Generals. First, Aphrodite sabotaged Azure Dragon. She lured him into the Divine Formation outside the pass and took his soul. After that, she attacked the other generals."Nox aside, the Mousses were wary about Azure Dragon. He was in control of Faeast's penal code and was loyal to only Nox. Not even the emperor could make him do anything. That was why Quilo failed to rein in Azure Dragon.While the Mousses set Azure Dragon up, Quilo protected Black Tortoise and Vermilion Bird. He failed to keep White T
Nox had given them orders. If Faeast was in grave danger and something bad had happened to him, the Four Great Generals could merge their Sacred Beast Seals and summon that person. When they saw the look on his face, Black Tortoise and Vermilion Bird knew what he was thinking.Vermilion Bird asked, "Milord, you're thinking about…""I'm fine. He's an ace we have. We need to find Azure Dragon before we talk about that." Nox said, "Harley, tell me what's going on with White Tiger.""He's fine, but our holy heir has him locked up." Harley frowned."Keep talking.""The holy heir is the future leader of the Ice Temple and a student of an Emperor."Black Tortoise and Vermilion Bird's pupils contracted. Emperors were like Rulers. Technically, any Supreme could call themselves a Ruler, but there weren't a lot of acknowledged ones.The same went for Pinnacle Legend Realms. Emperors built their name on great violence. White Tiger was fine, but an Emperor's student had him locked up. Anyone
The major general and lieutenants stood straighter. Their eyes were on the cabin, waiting for Nox to show up."I know. Don't worry. The Assad Temple won't dare attack the Nox Army, just like how the Mousses didn't try anything with the Generals before they got rid of me. Do your job and worry about nothing else."Under everyone's eyes, Nox came out of the cabin. He was on a call with Atlas. Atlas could sense the divine sense of the gods from Assad Temple. He panicked the moment he felt so many powerful presences at once, so he called Nox.Nox was calming him down. He had to. Unlike Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, and the other generals, he needed to reassure Atlas. The others trusted Nox completely and would carry out his orders without question, but not him. Nox then ended the call.The major general and lieutenants bowed and almost knelt, as if he was the emperor."This is a military base, so military etiquette applies! What are you, amateurs?" Nox chided.The soldiers quickly
Nox came to the base, and the major general presented a report about Prosperland's recent events. "It's the Light Nation. They're stealing Faeast's algae, and their unofficial history claims that Prosperland belongs to them. They claim that we invaded their land and are sending in their troops to take Prosperland," the major general said.The commander was dealing with this matter. Prosperland was in an emergency state. The army had been sent to the border, and they mostly gathered on Nineside Peak so they could keep the enemies at bay. However, some of the enemy soldiers had crossed the border."Light Nations? Both of them?" Black Tortoise asked."No. It's mostly Northlight. Southlight hasn't declared their stance, and we don't know their sentiments, so we can't predict what they'll do," the major general said."Nothing to worry about. The Light Nations wouldn't dare invade us. They're clowns. If we're talking history, they're our vassal states." Nox snorted. The representatives f
Teagan bribed the Mousses and established a connection with Douglas. When he found out that Nox might be the new emperor, Teagan didn't even dare meet with him when he came to Prosperland. He was worried Nox would kill him because he guessed Nox's thoughts wrongly.Thankfully, the Light Nations started a fight, so he came to Nineside Peak to hide. He wanted to use this issue to see what Nox would do to him. When the orders came through, he immediately guessed what Nox was trying to say.As long as he was loyal to the nation and served the nation, Nox couldn't care less what Teagan wanted to do, as long as it didn't cross Nox's principles.Teagan bowed in Nox's direction. "He lives up to his title. I'm the one who's been narrow-minded." He then stood up, and the usually unctuous commander looked solemn. He ordered, "We have our orders. Anyone who enters Faeast is an enemy, and they are to be killed!""Yes, commander!" the generals answered.The security at Nineside Peak was tight.
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
Now they had one, and it was Elizabeth. Her speech awakened the bravery and courage lying within the people of Brundela. An overwhelming majority of the council members stood up and chanted, "Long live the queen! Long live Brundela!""Good." Nox noticed something. The fate of Brundela stopped its downward shift and was stabilizing."The Mortal World and mortals. The Realm of the Gods has been here for millennia, and still, I can't figure out how mortals work." The Ice Temple Lord was confused. These mortals were prone to deception and scams. They were weak and frail. Yet, they had the potential to unleash strength that could shock even the gods."It's solidarity. You guys wouldn't get it. You call yourselves gods and lock yourselves up in the Realm of the Gods. You try to enslave the world despite being so out of touch with it."Do you know why I call you false gods? True gods are omnipotent. Their word is law. They can change the rules that govern this world just by saying it, b
Ice Temple's Lord didn't even look at Dickson. The man was so crushed that there wasn't even a hint of arrogance left in his soul. The Ice Temple's Lord's technique locked his spirit. So, it was not severely weakened. Thus, He would die very soon, even without the Ice Temple's Lord attacking him."Please, leader of gods. You are the only true god. I swear my undying loyalty to you. Spare me, please!" Dickson begged for his life.Dickson finally met his match. The arrogant would-be king couldn't even do anything against the Ice Temple's Lord."Oh, I can save you, but what makes you think you're worth it? You're lower than scum, and you think you have the right to ask for my favor? Repent and pray, then I might make it quick for you. Refuse, and only unending hell awaits."That threat scared Dickson. He cried and begged for mercy. He cursed his own soul and put his faith in a god stronger than his master."And you think you deserve the gift of life, maggot? Open your eyes, mortals
Two cultivators were fighting in mid-air, while the other Ice Temple cultivators made an invisible barrier to keep them in, or the council hall would be destroyed from the impact of the fight.The battle was awe-inspiring, and Dickson became smug. So what if his enemy was a leader of gods? Perhaps he was no match for one, but the Assad gods could easily destroy him if a slave could fight him for a prolonged period.Ice Temple's Lord realized that Dickson couldn't feel pain as the essence had nearly devoured his spirit. He was nothing if not feral, and he did not fear death at all. A brilliant idea appeared in his mind. He could create an army of fearless gods if he could get his hands on this technique.Nox said telepathically, "How much longer are you going to take? He's just a useless tribute. Do you honestly want to keep this up until he burns himself away?"Ice Temple's Lord's pupils contracted, and he looked at Nox. Nox looked up from his book. The Ice Temple Lord thought th