The demonoid launched his attack, and everything would die. A dark demon descended and engulfed Azure Dragon. His energy disappeared, and his aura was gone. Then, demonic aura spilled forth, and vengeful phantoms killed the cultivators on the mountain.The cultivators were vaporized. Even the elders were destroyed as well. Mount Martial was once an iconic place for Faeast's martial arts world, but now it was a place littered with death. Weirdly enough, not even a trace of the dead was left behind. It was almost as if no one was here .Even Nox frowned. Cultivators of the path of humanity would either become saints or demons. Most became demons. Without Nox's guidance, even the Four Great Generals might become demons in the future."I have taken your underling, Greenshade. Yet you still try to save him?" The silhouette stared at Nox. Nox was his only target all this time.Nox sneered. "Let him go. I know you never wanted to kill him, but I wouldn't thank you. I know your lot all too
The truth hurts. The silhouette was infuriated, and black energy rose. The stench of evil wafted hundreds of miles away. His aura changed the whole landscape, and Mount Martial was a dead land. "How dare you, Greenshade! Fine, you may know my name, but the weight might kill you! I am the vice president of the Sect Alliance, Skye Dogson!"The demonic energy came crashing down on Nox in the form of a towering shockwave. This shockwave could tear through Azure Dragon's earlier technique, but Nox laughed. The guy's last name was funny enough."Dogson? Wait, wait, so you're literally a son of a bitch? No, wait, given your lineage, that's an insult to man's best friend!" Nox laughed and made a golden talisman. With the power of truth, he cast infinite truth unraveled.The golden talisman slapped the incoming shockwave, and flames roared. A sea of fire burned the battlefield and ignited the shockwave. Nox's skill with spells alone outstripped Azure Dragon's techniques."That's the lord fo
Nox's face fell. 'Fair fight?'Skye was confused. "What, you have a problem with it?"Nox held back his fury. "You think this is a sparring session? I don't spar with filth. I kill them."Skye gasped, and his face fell as well. 'He's that arrogant?'"I thought Faeastians say that Sovereigns accept everything, but you're a narrow-minded one. You might be an enemy, but I respect you." Skye frowned.It was true. He thought Mystian's best and most talented were nothing more than maggots. Only Nox could gain his respect. Cultivators were always confident no matter what they faced. They always go into battle thinking they would win, but looking down on their enemy would be their downfall."I am not looking down on you, but you have no right calling for a fair fight. The alliance has been the source of Faeast's problems all these years. You are the reason some dynasties rose and fell. When the nation was in disrepair and its people insulted, what were you doing? Fighting for power."Yo
Skye's eyes flared with passion. "Wonderful attack. That's on par with the Master of Swords! Not many can reach that level, but you are clearly one of them. I am no match in swordsmanship, but I can break this technique!"Skye injected his aura into his spell and summoned lightning bolts from the skies. They turned into chains and wrapped themselves around the energy, then they crushed the attack.Azure Dragon was worried. He knew how powerful this attack was, and it had never failed, yet Skye destroyed it easily. Nox, however, wasn't worried at all. They were both cultivators of the path of humanity. If they were cultivators of the Heavenly or Earthly Dao, the spell's destruction would backfire on him.Of course, if they were that kind of cultivator, their spells would be stronger."You have Eight Techniques, while I have the Holy Demonic Arts! They can destroy any weapon this world has to offer! It is the perfect counter for your techniques and any artefact, so the Fourteen Sword
Skye thought Nox could be bloodthirsty and soft. They were two different extremes, and someone like him could never go far in life. He was about to mock Nox, but then he noticed the change around him. The natural energy gathered on the mountain was of the Yang element, and it shone brightly like the sun."What are you doing? Trying to use the Heavenly Dao to kill me like the other cultivators?" Skye narrowed his eyes. He didn't think Nox would be so naive."The Heavenly Dao sees everything as equal. Faeast, however, has the path of humanity. I shall protect its people, and I do not allow demons like you to invade it. We have righteous energy with us. This mountain is in the lands of Faeast, and it will return to what it once was!"Skye laughed and pointed at Nox. "You're an interesting man. You believe in the righteous energy bullshit? Good and evil are subjective, and people's minds are fickle. I won't argue with you. You can't even break my spell, and you're already trying to chan
"Saintly Technique of Arts!"Talismans only needed a bit of their user's energy, and they could function well by themselves. Spells required seals and a continuous source of energy. If the user's energy ran out, they would have to use natural energy, and more so for Forbidden Arts.A towering wave leaped into the skies behind Nox. Azure Dragon's waves were nothing compared to this. It almost felt like Nox had summoned a whole river's worth of water to attack the mountain.Skye did not look happy at all. Though he could use all elements for talismans, he couldn't do so for spells. Talismans were usually one and done. Once they were made, they needed no further maintenance, but spells were like programs. Even if they were up and running, they needed constant maintenance, or they would break down.If the cultivators from Heavenly or Earthly Dao lost their focus and their spells broke down, the backlash would hurt them severely enough, and that was before a fight could begin.Skye mas
Skye was more than irritated. 'That bastard! This is not honorable at all!'"Are you stupid? Did you forget that the lord managed to mess with your portal even when he was fighting you?" Azure Dragon cursed.Skye's fury mounted. The portal was already sabotaged. Skye had two options left. One, destroy the portal. Two, let the water flow into Mystia. Neither choice was good, but he had to pick one, and eventually, he destroyed the portal.Once the portal was destroyed, the amassed energy exploded, and the air shook. Even the mountain trembled a little. Most of the water was already in Mystia, while the rest was sent flying into the air. Black rain fell out of the skies and dyed the ground black.Then, Skye's demonic aura grew stronger. Nox managed to rile him up. "I wasn't expecting this from you, Greenshade. You just made me mad. I'll kill you, I swear! I won't hold back anymore!"Demonic energy raged, and most of the western part of Faeast cowered under his darkness.Nox sneered
"Pity he's not on the mountain. Wonder if he'll avenge you if you're dead."Skye thought something was off. Nox was setting something up, he thought. 'Or maybe he's not after me at all!'"What are you trying to say? Explain yourself!" Skye was feeling a little uneasy now. He wondered what Nox was planning."Didn't I make it clear? I came for your head. Your master and the alliance will fall! Mount Martial isn't the only place. All your Faeast and foreign branches will be taken out!" This was Nox's goal. Mount Martial was only one of them. Before he came, Nox told his men to investigate.Magic Mountain's people joined forces with the Nox Army, Hidden Dragon Guards, and Shadow Division for this operation. Nox guessed they must be close to success, and his fight would be the last of it. "It's getting late, Skye. Say good night. Heaven's Demise, slay the demon!"Nox cast a Saintly technique and multiple Forbidden Arts, after which he used his eyes' power to set up a barrier around Mou
The cultivator gave Queenie a look of respect. Obviously, he was trying to inveigle himself into her favor.Since the cultivators vouched for Queenie, everyone else eased up. An enemy would've attacked them, after all.Queenie had no idea how powerful cultivators were, but the warriors and soldiers did. Even if Queenie was an enemy, the fact she found this place meant she was powerful as well. If they got into a fight, only the cultivators could hold on for a bit longer. The soldiers and cultivators would die right away."Milady, our mission is to keep the Nine-State Lord occupied and get the attention of the Nox Army and Faeast's military," said the cultivator. He suggested they bring Queenie into the battle.Queenie's nerves calmed down the moment Nox was mentioned. "So the Nine-State Lord is here?" She couldn't hold back her excitement, but everyone thought it was a little embarrassing for her. However, they would not dare laugh at her.Mystia called Nox the God of Murder. Quee
There was a team of special forces on the aircraft, and it belonged to the navy. The FD Special Forces. They quickly went into high alert and were prepared for battle.Once the aircraft landed, Nox got out first, while the special forces searched for good spots for battle. Before they arrived, Nox scanned the island with his divine sense, but there was no one in the base. There should be a company maintaining the place, but they were absent. Something was off.Then, the Nox Army came with the latest news. "Milord, the Mousses asked R&D to develop a mecha suit that can block any cultivator's divine sense. Development ended all of a sudden, but we think they must've created a prototype, but they wanted it hidden, so they told everyone the project failed."Nox sighed. Technology was powerful, alright. The scientists solved a problem the cultivators couldn't. Then the weather changed. Winds howled, and a storm turned the ground into mud and sludge.Nox's divine sense found the aura of
Not many people who became Saints had their bodies intact, but they still existed. However, even fewer practiced the path of the sword like Dominic and Voltaic. They were the strongest swordsmen in the world."I am not trying to be the number one swordsman here, Dominic. I wish to go beyond and reach the High Heavens. Don't let me down now," gushed Voltaic."I'm not even letting you go back alive." Dominic sneered, and a powerful will-of-the-sword shot out of Heaven's Fountain. The roaring wave on will-of-the-sword attacked Voltaic, and the battle wa sunderway.Queenie was far away from the battlefield, and yet she could still sense their aura. She had learnt her lesson, so she didn't use her divine sense. She kept flying onward until she saw a Faeastian naval fleet near the mainland.This was the Southern Sea's fleet. They had their orders to attack, and their commanding officer was Fergus, Nox's erstwhile superior. A Master from Magic Mountain was with them just in case. He was m
Queenie was their target. She could've tried to run as fast as she could, and Dominic would try to hold everyone back. However, Queenie cast divine sense right away. That was stupid.Queenie was stunned, and her aura went awry. She fell into the seas, but Dominic quickly flew over and fished a drenched Queenie out of the waters. "Run and don't turn back. Don't use your divine sense either!" Dominic pushed Queenie away again. She had learnt her lesson, so she quickly flew toward the mainland.Dominic saw her off and turned around, and his enemy was already in front of him. He wore green robes and had twin swords on his back. He hovered over the sea, and his aura was powerful."Ah, the Western Sea's Saintly Swordsman." Dominic narrowed his eyes.Saintly Swordsmen were all Saints. This man became a Saint with his body intact. He was one of the pinnacle warriors in the world. The man nodded. "Dominic Edge, Master of Swords. You are a Saintly Swordsman as well, but you're not free from
Every time she had to make a choice, she would be hit with agony, but not this time. "I will die soon. You are mine, Nox. While we live, I cannot be with you. I must think for my family, and you only think about the country. But if we both die, then our problems will be solved. Only death can free us from our suffering."If we cannot be together when we live, then we shall die together. Nothing can separate us anymore." Aphrodite set up her final ploy with what remained of her life. She wanted to kill Nox.Aphrodite stared at an island far, far away. Compared to the Mousses' island, this one was undeveloped. Natural energy was abundant there, and it was a perfect spot for cultivation. It was dawn, and the power of light should be at its thickest. Life was about to wake up, but a sea of dark clouds came flying in, and a thunderstorm roared.The seas churned, and the waves ate up the island. "Mr. Edge!" Queenie had changed into the armor Fiery Ignis made for her. She approached Domini
Mystia was up to something again. "All Twelve Halls? No, the path of the martial is forcing them to." Nox didn't make his move right away. Half of the Twelve Halls were on his side. Mystia was making this move to get his attention."My word, Aphrodite. This again? You've really lost your touch, haven't you?" Nox mused over it a little and came up with a plan. "Send a message to Mount Prison. Summon Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise. They, along with White Tiger, will go to Eropa. Azure Dragon and the Nox army will remain in Imperia. The city is part of their goal," said Nox.Azure Dragon came to the mourning hall, confused. If they were staying in Faeast, where would Nox go?""Don't tell me you're doing this alone again. This might be a trap," Azure Dragon said."Doesn't matter. This is just a hail mary attempt from Aphrodite. I'll handle anything that comes my way. Nineve, stay with Quilo. I'll deal with whatever comes our way. Don't go anywhere," Nox told Nineve.Nineve held bac
"That is the kind of person you are. This is the fate you share with him. Fate arranged this meeting. Aphrodite and Nox shared a bond. Part of his achievement is thanks to her. They broke up not because fate wanted them to, but because she wanted too much."Greed blinded her. She turned what was supposed to be a perfect match into a disaster. The moment she turned her back on Nox, she lost the right to be a Sovereign's woman, but your fate says otherwise, and that's because you acted. You now have the power to carry that fate. You have changed your own destiny."It is time for your trial. Pass, and you can stay with Nox for life."Queenie didn't understand anything, save for the last part. 'Okay, okay. I need to pass this. I got to!' She had her own desire as well. She wanted to be Nox's woman. She wanted to live the rest of his life with him."Tell me what I should do, Mr. Edge," said Queenie solemnly. She knew a battle might be waiting for her, so she was nervous."Run. Run as f
"You're right, Queenie. You are the Mousses' only hope at victory. If I were you, I'd take my own life, and Nox would be invincible, but there's one flaw in that plan. Nox cultivates the path of humanity. He doesn't care how the world sees him. He can live if you die, but he might turn to the path of darkness."There's too much at stake here, and I cannot risk you. Like Nox, you cultivate the path of humanity as well. You can decide your fate."Queenie was stunned. She had no idea she was so important to Nox. If she were to die, he would go mad with grief."It won't be long until they're here. A few days, give and take. They've planned for this from the moment Fiery Ignis went back to Mystia. Aphrodite used what remained of her lifespan and turned the skies into her chessboard, and the stars her pieces. We're all pawns in her game. This is her last ploy. She will do anything to win."If she sees no hope for victory, she might kill you to crush Nox's heart, but she cultivates the H
Choice could be a luxury sometimes. The Mousses betrayed Faeast because they had to survive. Not everyone could pick loyalty in the face of death. Dominic and Nox could do it, but that didn't mean everyone else could."Even saints commit errors sometimes, let alone mortals." Dominic sighed. Sadness filled him up, and he took a big swig, then he lit up a cigarette.Queenie had no idea what Aphrodite had gone through, but she would never leave Nox. "I am just a regular girl, Mr. Edge. I'm not as smart as Aphrodite. I can't predict the future. I care about the present. I'll fight by his side." Queenie had made up her mind. She had the courage to see her love through, even to the bitter end."Really? If Nox is gone, so will you. If you're gone, he will still have to live on, even if it means unending agony. He must press on until he finds someone who can take his place, that is the price of being a Sovereign. It's not easy finding a successor. No one like him will be born in this genera