Nox could see that he and his mother were just bait. The Sect Alliance used them as an excuse to destroy the Limerents and the Greenshades. Jacques wanted to be the next emperor."How'd they get out of this? Quilo was barely a Supreme, and the Greenshades were even weaker. They couldn't have stopped the Sect Alliance," Nox murmured. Even with the taboo in place, the Sect Alliance controlled almost all the powerful factions in Faeast.Half the military's generals were on the path of the martial's side. Nox thought they would lose the fight.…Nineve noticed Nox sweating and looking pale. Confused, she asked, "What's wrong with him, Penelope? It's springtime. He shouldn't even feel chilly, much less sweat from it.""No, it doesn't seem like he's poisoned." Worried, Queenie wanted to check on Nox."He's fine, girls. He's in a dream." Penelope seemed to know everything, and she told the ladies to calm down.Nineve circled Nox a few times, muttering, "My father told me about this. Wh
The Greenshades weren't doing too well either. The Mousses, the military, the sects, clans, and families, were attacking them. But then, a young Aphrodite stood in front of the Greenshades and defended them.Nox was stunned. He only met Aphrodite after coming back from Mystia. The only girl he was close to was Nineve, but she was just about seven years old back then, so she didn't know much.Aphrodite was in her early teens, and she was smart beyond her age, so her soul was about twenty something years old. Why would she stop her own family? That was what Nox wondered. Then, Daniel and his brothers attacked."Daniel, you need to go. I'm the family's heir. They won't take another step as long as I'm here," Aphrodite shouted. The look in her eyes baffled Nox. She seemed to only care about Daniel's survival."I am the leader of this clan, girl. I chose them over my son and wife. I have committed a grave sin, and there's no way back for me. The only choice I can make is to go forward.
"Oh, get real. The Mousses gave the girl all their resources, but she's not as simple as they think. The bastards are heartless. They can't keep her under them forever. She'll be the reason for their rise and fall. They will pay for their heartlessness."Winston and Claude got off the stairs and followed Daniel into battle. At the same time, Nox's divine sense saw the enemies surrounding the palace. The Forbidden Army had sustained heavy losses, and their leader, Atlas, was surrounded. No one could save him.Many members of the royal family were dead. The surviving ones grabbed Nineve and retreated to the main chamber. They would make their last stand here. Atlas was heavily injured and fell unconscious. Nox finally understood why he became so rebellious and would work with the Mousses just to get the throne.If no help were to show up, the Limerents and the Greenshades would die. Then, Nox's divine sense saw Penelope. He quickly moved to the backyard. Penelope was still in decent h
Thanks to Penelope eventually joining the family, they started a business. She weaved her way through the world of business and politics to clean up the mess her family left behind. Thanks to her, the Greenshades slowly got richer.Nox never thought Penelope could be a cultivator. The power she revealed was about Eight Gates level. "You sensed me, Grandma? This can't be. But then what is up with this soul technique?" Nox was still confused."Hm, I saw the future, hon. Guess who I saw? Nox. Rainbow-colored lightning fell from the High Heavens when he was born. Geomancy says that's both great fortune and a dark omen. Two extremes in one person. I knew he'd have fate far beyond our understanding, just like how phenomena happen when emperors are born."Perhaps I was in too much of a hurry. Someone like him is born in the glory era of the path of the martial. He might end up as a demonoid that will harm the nation. I sacrificed all my power to pry into the future and see Nox's providence
But not even giving up Nox and his mother could keep the clan safe. Nox stared at Penelope. "If you saw my future, how'd you get out of this? I don't see a way out here."Penelope was a Supreme at most, and she exhausted all her power using the soul technique. Though she was still a Legend Realm, it wouldn't be long until that power was all gone. Penelope alone couldn't solve this problem.Penelope laid out Cassian's tablet and ordered eighteen clansmen to set up thirty-two mystical artefacts in the locations she wanted them to. Then, with her essence as guide, Penelope created some sort of formation. Nox could see that Cassian's tablet was the core of the formation.Nox himself was a master of formations and talismans. When the runes started to shine, Nox realized that this thing was a teleportation formation. This was a secret only Mystians knew about."The path of the ancient divine's spell. I see. She's part of that path, so Penelope's a goddess!" Nox said solemnly. He guessed
There were a dozen Emperors here. Cassian had no chance of winning this. "Not enough. Hermaeus told me he's friends with Grandpa, but he had to keep Nameless in check and couldn't help him. The only ones who came were the Masters. Sealmaster was an Emperor, but even with him in the fray, they couldn't have fended off all these emperors."Nox shook his head. They didn't have enough power. Sealmaster frowned. "I came as fast as I could when Penelope called. Guess I still came a bit too late. I could've taken Nox and his mother with me if I came earlier. We're not scared of the Sect Alliance."Cassian shook his head. "We didn't tell you in case you got dragged into this. Nameless is no easy enemy. If he is released, Faeast will once again be plunged into chaos. It's been riddled with wars for far too long, and the nation's fate is severely weakened. It cannot take another war."Sealmaster snorted. "I know what you're trying to do. Giving in won't help. The Sect Alliance will not let yo
Sealmaster in Nox's era wasn't this powerful. Even Nox would have to take someone who could defeat an Emperor in one blow seriously. The temple lords didn't expect this either. They thought the Ice Temple lord would live longer."He must've used a Forbidden Art. His aura's a lot weaker now. Must have used up all his strength.""Yeah, let's take him down together!"The Mystian Emperors attacked Sealmaster, but Sealmaster bit his tongue. "Don't hold back, Cassian. We alone can't defeat them." He used his essence and cast a Magic Mountain secret art.Another portal appeared in the skies above, and a gigantic mirror manifested. "Greatsky Mirror, the treasure of Magic Mountain." Nox's eyes narrowed. He knew Sealmaster couldn't be so strong. The lightning was all thanks to this mirror.This mirror killed Zeus in the battle of Imperia and destroyed the Olympians. Killing an Ice Temple lord was child's play for it. A silhouette appeared in the mirror and slowly came out of it, then, he de
"She's smart. Now the Mousses are no longer traitors, but the people who took down the enemies. Since they control the military and are a part of the path of the martial, not even the royal family can do anything to her." Nox narrowed his eyes. Even back then, Aphrodite was smart.Griffin's will-of-the-sword lasted until Cassian exhausted his life essence. The founder's avatar stepped into the portal Penelope created and went back to Mystia. Nox had a guess that he was going to use the souls he took hostage to negotiate with the Mystians.After the crisis was over, Cassian returned to Mystia as well. Nox had no idea what happened after that. From what he heard during his time in Mystia, no news about Cassian came out after that."He didn't even get to talk to you, Grandma." Nox looked at Penelope and felt for her. Now he knew how much the dame had sacrificed for the family.Quilo dragged his wounded self and unconscious Nox out of the temple ruins. "Sorry you had to go through this
"Oh, come on. We can talk this out!" Kirin curled his lips."I'm not making a request or begging for a favor, Kirin. This is an order. Remember what you said? I make a hole through Mount Eternia, and you owe me your eternal loyalty." Nox was furious. He came for an important reason. Nox knew it would hinder Kirin's cultivation, calling him out when the time wasn't ripe.He wouldn't come here if he knew he could get out of the mission alive. "You're coming out right now, you hear me?" Nox gave an ultimatum. If Kirin wouldn't come out, Nox might kill him.Kirin's aura changed. "You're threatening me? I thought you were my friend, but you think I'm your slave?"A kirin's avatar appeared. Unlike the Generals' avatar, this one was a living being. Flames danced around it, and a sea of fire roared around Mount Eternia."I'm already generous enough, Kirin. Faeast has been nothing but kind to you, and you got some of its fate as well. I'm the one who faced almost every single danger that t
Nineve was about to poke them, but Aphrodite said, "Don't move. They've projected their astral form.""Astral projection? So why's Nox alright?" Nineve was confused."Not everyone is an Immortal like him. His astral form is already in Mystia." Aphrodite rolled her eyes."Um…" Nineve blinked, and then she realized Aphrodite just scolded her. She was about to yell at Aphrodite, but Queenie told them to look at the sky. The Generals' astral forms merged with their sacred beasts."The Sovereign can create true gods. If the Generals manage to reach the pinnacle or die in battle, as long as they have a sliver of their soul left, they can merge it with their sacred beast. To an extent, they're immortal, but the price to pay is their freedom. The sacred beast will control them, and they don't have their own will," Aphrodite explained.There were a lot of cons, but only Faeast's Sovereign could create gods. Immortality alone was enough to whip the cultivators into a frenzy. Losing their ow
That kind of power could kill anyone who wasn't a Saint easily. Any faux Saint or half Saint would die the moment they touched it, but Nox absorbed the energy instead. His body started to change colors. His skin turned red, orange, yellow, green, and even more, as if he was poisoned.The energy swirled in Nox's body once and was expelled. Nox's face returned to normal. "Still can't do it. I'm not scared of sacred energy, and I can absorb it, but I can't refine it. I wonder if it's because of my power level. Maybe I can refine it if I become a Saint?" Nox muttered.He had no idea. Even back when he wasn't a Supreme, he could ignore the formation's threat. He still had no answer for that. Nox's astral form flew into the mountain and traveled the passage he and Kirin opened up six years ago. Into the depths he went.He was met with a new world, as if it wasn't explored at all. There was something magical inside the mountain. It teemed with life here, and many different beings roamed th
'What?' The Generals were confused, and White Tiger was a little frustrated."Milord, do you think we won't be of help? If she can come with you, why can't we?" Azure Dragon pointed at the princess. "Azure Dragon and the others might be useless, but I'm not!" He just got on the princess' bad side and annoyed his friends."Can you shut the fuck up?" Azure Dragon smacked White Tiger's head. An angry Nineve kicked him too.'He's looking down on me?'"I don't have much time. Stay back and keep an eye on Faeast. I have my reasons for taking them with me, and I need you guys to do something for me," said Nox.Azure Dragon could guess what that was. "You need us to summon Kirin?"'Kirin?' White Tiger shut up and said nothing more."Yes. I'm not sure if I can come back alive. It's time for him to join us." Nox nodded."I understand." Azure Dragon did as he was told. The other Generals did the same."Shit. That monster's coming out again." White Tiger was nervous. Kirin tormented him a
Nox had no choice but to take the ladies along. Queenie was fine with it, but Nineve could be a problem. Nox asked solemnly, "Will you come with me? I can't promise your safety, though.""You think I'm a coward? I don't need your protection! Besides, I can't stop you from saving your grandpa. And if I die out there, I don't have to be the empress anymore. I don't want to work all day like my dad did!" she said angrily, but Nineve wasn't afraid. Her family had no cowards.Atlas's reputation was the worst of them all. He worked with the Mousses at one point, but he never betrayed the country even in its darkest hour."Come back, Aphrodite. I know you're still there!" Nox shouted into the distance. And he was right. Aphrodite came back looking all smug."You've always been efficient, especially when it comes to important stuff. I knew you'd come to a decision soon enough." She smiled."Enough. I don't have time to tell the family, but Grandma probably knows what I'm doing. She'll exp
'Grandpa went to Celestial Domain.' Nox looked solemn. Nineve and Queenie had never seen him looking so grim before."I see. So that was an SOS. He must've been in trouble last time, but I wasn't powerful enough, so he didn't tell me anything. That communication spell must've taken everything he had," said Nox darkly.Time was not on their side. "I need to go now. I know the place. You're not coming with me, Master. Besides the founder, no one's strong enough for the journey," said Nox."What?" Nineve's jaw dropped. The Masters were all Pinnacle Legend Realms, and Sealmaster was a powerful Emperor. If not even they were powerful enough, that place must be a dangerous one.Nineve made it obvious she didn't want Nox to go. Queenie grabbed Nox's arm tightly. She couldn't dissuade him, but she wanted him to take her along. Aphrodite watched the drama unfold. She wondered what Nox would do."No." Nox frowned."Damn right you are!" the Master interrupted. "I can't tag along, but Nineve
"I know. They don't want their family broken up, but death is a release for you, Penelope, especially if living itself is painful." The Master sighed. If Nox heard that, he'd curse him, but Penelope thought it made a lot of sense."You have to live for yourself once. Death is another form of life for people my age. I couldn't do anything for myself while I lived. Death is how I will fulfill the promise I made when I was young."…Back outside, Aphrodite sat on the stairs and lit up a cigarette. She went through three before she said, "I presume you know what happened back then."Nox frowned. 'She knows everything.'Nox's reaction was the answer Aphrodite needed. "You overestimate my power. I don't have any spies in Imperia anymore, and no one can keep an eye on you."Nox almost shouted. Aphrodite had no idea he knew about the truth. That was just a ruse so she could observe him and get her answer."The mission is simple. Save Cassian and retrieve a treasure," said Aphrodite."W
'One of us will die? I need to make a choice again? Will I repeat my father's mistake?'Nox stared daggers at Aphrodite. "That is nonsense! Even if that prediction is right, we'll either get out of it together, or we die together! We will not live if the other dies!"Aphrodite paled. "That hurt my heart. Well, you are the Sovereign, and you won't give in to anyone. Even in death, you will be glorious." She smiled sadly.Nox didn't care about Aphrodite's prediction, but Queenie took it seriously. She knew Aphrodite wasn't talking nonsense."Shut it. Did you come with the Master, or did he invite you?" Nox didn't like Aphrodite at all. He didn't want to see her unless it was something important.Aphrodite knew Nox didn't like her, and she couldn't blame anyone. She did it to herself. "I know you don't like me. I would never come uninvited," she said.Nox narrowed his eyes. So that meant the Master called her here. Then, the drunken Master sobered up. Penelope opened her eyes as wel
"She called you a commoner! A peasant!" Nineve snapped."But is she wrong? I am a commoner." Queenie clicked her tongue. She didn't really care about her background.Nineve felt like crying, and Nox pulled her back. He said coldly, "And why are you here, Aphrodite? Why were you with a Master?"Aphrodite arched an eyebrow and answered slowly, "I can come and go as I please, Lord Nox. Remember, I saved this clan once."Nox's temples throbbed. 'How dare she try to pull another one!'Before he could fly into a rage, Aphrodite added, "If I hadn't escorted a Greenshade back to her home, Cassian couldn't have communicated with you. Though Penelope has lost her powers, she can still cast some spells as long as she has the right tools."Nox's face was twitching. Aphrodite was a sharp woman. Even now she could keep him at bay easily. She did help the family once back when she was younger. No one could compare to her intellect, save for the heavens themselves.She was just like the legenda