The group passed the obelisk and was met with an illusory formation. This was a little trap set for those who entered by accident or force. They would lose their sense of direction and be taken out of Magic Mountain during their confusion. However, they would be met with another obstacle if they somehow managed to pass the formation. The illusory formation couldn't trap the group, of course. White Tiger and Harley were powerful cultivators even in Mystia, let alone Nox and Quilo. The next obstacle was a spirit formation. They could feel a big wave of grudge energy coming for them even before they stepped foot in it.Quilo said solemnly, "I have learned about geomancy due to my position. This thing is man-made, and it has the power to gather the grudge energy of those who died in its vicinity. Hundreds of miles, to be exact."I can't believe there are people who died unfairly, even in Faeast." He sighed. He had to do better."As long as humans exist, conflict follows, Your Majest
If one strove to live shamelessly, no amount of shame could ever affect them. That used to be what Harley was like, but he had regained a semblance of pride and guilt after working for Nox. The formation was torturing him now that his sins were screaming at his face. It was affecting his will, but his mind was far broken.Harley was still vice-Lord, and he'd seen a lot of similar things over the years. The group easily went through the second formation. Quilo figured out why these formations were here. "I think the formations are a way to send away those who came in by mistake. They also act as a test. One must have an iron will if they desire to enter the Magic Mountain. "This is how they filter for promising people, isn't it?""Correct. Loads of people tried to join Magic Mountain, but few made the cut. Most of them died before they could pass the trials. Some trials are better failed than passed. "Ignorance is bliss. They can always live a happy life if they don't know any
Quilo wasn't even a Supreme before his ascension, but he worked hard for the nation and vowed to survive through any and all trials. Although he was now an Emperor, he wished to die. Thus, this trial made him hesitate.Only the living could pass. Those who wished to die could never go through the trial. Harley had no idea why Quilo wanted to die. He thought, 'An Emperor is a big shot even in Mystia. They have reached the top. It is a delightful occasion. Why would anybody want to give that up?'"I see he's still hung up on that. You've gotten over the betrayal, but he's still trapped by something." White Tiger was still confused. He thought Quilo had a weaker mind than his lord."Oh, what do you know?" Nox chided.White Tiger scratched his head. He wasn't one to be roundabout. He had the tendency to say whatever was on his mind."The only thing the betrayal gave birth to was hatred. I never turned my back on her. She did, and she lost me. His Majesty, however, turned his back on
"They'd be creating demonoids en masse if they accept just anyone without vetting them." Vergil was a prime example of that. The leader of the Magic Mountain just couldn't let a talented man like him go. So, he ignored Vergil's darkness and created a monster."How many steps can an average Magic Mountain guy climb, milord?" White Tiger asked curiously.Nox thought about it. "I'm not sure about the warriors, but I've talked to their leader. He said the disciples are getting worse every year. The students averaged three hundred steps a thousand years ago, but they couldn't even get to a hundred in recent memory. "Anyone who can hit three hundred is a shocker right now.""Wait, the average was three hundred a thousand years ago? But there are 999 steps!" White Tiger's lips curled. That lowered his opinion of Magic Mountain."What? Are you going to give it a go?" Nox glanced at White Tiger. White Tiger was indeed interested. So, he asked for Nox's permission before climbing the sta
White Tiger was still climbing further ahead. He had gotten to two hundred and fifty steps. At this point, the spells were real, and they hit hard. Every step would strengthen the power of the elements.Physical cultivators would endure the attacks with their bodies. Sorcerers would use their mastery over natural energy to fend off the attacks. Everyone had their own ways to deal with these attacks. If they didn't, they would undoubtedly fail.White Tiger was no sorcerer, so he could only endure the hits with his body. The sacred beast essence started working its magic, fending off the elements. White Tiger soon shot up the stairs.Artifacts or bloodline power were borrowed power, at least for cultivators. That didn't mean they were using loopholes to pass the test. After all, great power would need a great body to carry it. It was just like using natural energy to cast spells. If they wanted to use borrowed power, they had to be able to hold it in first. If they could hold it, th
Since the swordsmen were so curious, the Master didn't leave them hanging for much longer. "He's one of the Four Great Generals who serve Lord Nox. He's White Tiger."The swordsmen's jaws went slack. They'd heard of the Four Great Generals. They were heroes who protected the nation."So, he's one of Nox's Four Great Generals?""It's no wonder he has an iron will. He's seen many battles in his life." The swordsmen had nothing but praise for White Tiger.White Tiger was already at the 320th step. Harley wanted to show off too, so he took the test as well. He endured the first one hundred steps with his body, but that couldn't take him much further.In the end, he had to rely on his techniques, but Ice Temple spells couldn't fend off the steps' techniques."Magic Mountain is more than meets the eye, alright. Spells won't work here. I have to fend it off with the power of natural energy." Harley stopped using magic ice and instead used the element of water to keep going.He had no i
Harley then looked at the men in purple robes. Other than the elusive leader, the Masters were the strongest people in the Sword Sect as they were in charge of the daily operations. The Masters' auras were as powerful as waves of a great river and stretched as far as the eye could see. Thus, the one he had his eye on was undeniably powerful."They say the Masters are Pinnacle Legend Realms, but they underestimated you. You're at least Advanced Pinnacle Legend Realms." He bowed at the Masters."Magic Mountain has been standing strong for a thousand years, and our legacy has never been eroded. Mystia, however, has always been at war among itself since the Investiture. "They claim the only way to reach the truth is to cultivate beyond prying eyes. Although they have succeeded in usurping the world's spiritual energy and treasures, they have failed to attain even the slightest hint of truth."Working for Faeast is the right move. Keep it up, and you might become an Advanced Pinnacle
The Masters didn't react as much. They knew the emperor was already in the Emperor Realm, so the four hundred steps were easy for him. Even five hundred wouldn't be hard. As they expected, Quilo kept going on until he hit the five-hundredth step."Anyone who manages that can be an Emperor. Even among us Masters, only the Sealmaster managed that. He's the only one among Magic Mountain's cultivators to make it to the five hundredth step," a Master commented.White Tiger's eyes shone with interest. "So, you mean that guy is an Emperor as well?"The Masters laughed. "We don't call them Emperors. They're half-Immortals."Harley added, "That's an Emperor. Magic Mountain's Emperor is powerful. He snuck into Mystia to find some divine herbs. Ice Temple Lord and Frostmir ran into him and nearly died in an altercation with him. "In the end, they had to ask for the Assad gods' help just to escape him."Whoa." White Tiger's eyes went wide. "He's that strong?"The oldest Master was amused b
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