If this worked, Nineve and Queenie would be crushed inside. Nox wasn't panicking, however. He watched the Ironhands' patriarch work his magic. The cube started to cave in. Though she was in a dire situation, Queenie's fury rose.Flames started to burn where her heart should be. An ancient aura came spilling out of her. The moment it touched the cube, the structure crumbled. At the same time, Nineve crushed the cube imprisoning her for some reason. Also, the cube seemed to have submitted to her will.The cube shrank until it was the size of a regular Rubix cube. Nineve was flabbergasted. She had no idea what just happened. The old man shared her surprise. "What is this?""Simple. One, I trust the founder. Technically speaking, he is also one of my mentors, and he's the most powerful one of them all. I have no reason not to trust him. He wouldn't set me up, after all. Besides, he would rather sacrifice himself if it meant his student wouldn't have to suffer."Two, most of my enemies
"What happened, Nox? How'd I suddenly control this thing?" Nineve could make the cube move just with her mind."I'm more interested in how you fended off the fog. No, you're immune to it," said Nox. Queenie had the same question."Yeah. If Mr. Edge hadn't told me how to manage it, not even I could fend it off. You don't even have any power at all, so how did you do it?" Queenie saw how Nineve absorbed all the fog and came out unscathed."How should I know? Maybe it only works on cultivators." Nineve curled her lips. She then remembered the old man saying how she would become a sacrifice, and she grabbed Nox's arm. "Tell me the truth, Nox. Am I going to be a sacrifice?"Nox waved his hand. "Calm down. Even I am a sacrifice, you know."Nineve bawled and cried her heart out. She wouldn't stop no matter what. Nox coaxed, "You're a grown woman now. Crying all the time is unbecoming of you. I will not let you two become sacrifices, even if it's the last thing I do."Nineve didn't want
"How am I supposed to ruin this thing? It keeps spinning in my head!" Nineve wanted to scream. She could sense the cube in her mind. All she had to do was think about it, and the shards flew into the air to create new combinations. Nox told her to stop."Alright, stop! Tell the cube to stay as it is!" said Nox.Nineve told the cube to stop and keep all the shards in the air. Nox stood in the center and observed them with his divine sense. The shards were broken talismans, and every talisman was one shard. When all the shards came together as one, they would become a cube."As long as the talisman isn't ruined, then the cube can reform no matter how many times it is destroyed. The core is inside Nineve." Nox observed Nineve with his divine sense. The talisman's rune should be imprinted on her body, though some ancient talismans would do it on the bones.Nox, however, didn't find anything at all. "Odd. I didn't see anything in her body. Of course. If it did make Nineve its master, th
"No, you're not the Ironhands' descendant! He'd have recognized you! He was their patriarch!" Nox was speechless. He realized that Nineve was kind of stupid."So who might her ancestor be? The Three-Eyed Clan?" Queenie asked.That guess almost knocked Nineve out cold. The prospect of having a third eye on her forehead made her squirm."Even more impossible. The Three-Eyed Clan is a foreign bloodline, but the Limerents are pure bloods. They had never married any foreigner ever since ancient times," said Nox.Then there was only one possibility left. "Flame Emperor!" they chorused."Hm, that's good. If I am a Sovereign's descendant, that makes both of us Sovereigns! We're perfect for each other!" Nineve blinked innocently.Nox was silent for a moment, and he frowned. "You know, the guy might have turned his back on Faeast, or he's always been a villain. He tricked my grandpa into coming here.""I don't care! I'm on your side no matter which side Flame Emperor's on!" Nineve didn't
"What? Where's Ashland anyway? The moon?" Nineve couldn't hear Douglas too clearly. Douglas sent the location to her."I got the coordinates." Nineve typed them into the satellite map. When she saw where they were, her jaw fell. "Nox, we're in South Ashland! The Aleteran Forest! Odd. I could've sworn we were on the moon, but South Ashland? Is this even South Ashland?" The world around her was too dead to be South Ashland. Nineve didn't believe it at all."The Aleteran Forest? So that's where she is? That means she's never been in Celestial Domain all this time! But I've never heard of that before," Nox muttered. Now that they had their location, Nox didn't hesitate to march toward the bizarre mountain.At the same time, Imperia sent a naval fleet toward Nox's location. The Nox Army sent out an elite squad, and they rode an aircraft to Nox's spot. They were carrying a minor forbidden item. If Nox were to run into any danger, they would unleash the forbidden item to help him.While N
'Save myself?' Kirin wasn't sure what she was talking about. He asked, "What's that supposed to mean? I have stepped into the ritual. My Saint power has merged with this place. The lord wants to save his grandfather, so this place cannot fall, but if it doesn't fall, the empress will not die."This is why he left his body here. When the moment comes, I will sacrifice myself," said Kirin solemnly. He swore his loyalty to Nox. No matter how much he had to do, he would finish his job willingly, even if it cost him his life."No, he left his body behind to save the both of us. My death means nothing, but you're the only cultivator who became a sacred beast. Faeast needs Nox and the golden kirin. And do you think the empress is stupid enough to tie her fate to Celestial Domain? Then all we have to do is destroy this place, and we destroy her!"Eye technique users are all incredibly smart. She wouldn't leave this obvious flaw untreated," said Aphrodite.Kirin was stumped. "So what do I d
While they were guarding Celestial Domain, Nox and the ladies had arrived at the mountain. The whole place smelled like demons, and bluish phantom flames hovered around. Nineve felt goosebumps coming up. "Looks like the legendary prison of demons."Queenie said, "That place is a cemetery.""Yes, it is a cemetery, and an ancient Sovereign is buried within. The phantom flames are part of the Flame Emperor's power. Only the living have Yang energy. Given the power of these flames, the Flame Emperor's dead. But he became a Saint with his body intact. It's nigh impossible to destroy the body of someone like that."Besides, Faeast's Sovereigns have Ultimate Yang Physique. Never heard about anyone cultivating Yin spirit before." Nox stared at the mountain."Wait, so Flame Emperor's the one buried underneath? He might be my ancestor, so where's the empress?" Nineve asked."Right here, on the mountain, pinning Flame Emepror's tomb down. If I'm right, from the formation of this mountain, sh
He was given glory by the heavens to stop war from tearing Faeast apart again. That was why Nox lived. Glory, power, and beauty could be easily had, if Nox wanted to, but that wasn't what Nox truly desired.Then, the beauties went on their knees. They weren't bowing to Nox, but a woman who just got out of her bath and changed. Nox met her gaze and was stunned by her looks. It was beyond what the world could offer.And he felt a chilling air of demonic aura coming off her. Naturally, someone like her would either be an angel or a demon. She was the latter. The woman looked at Nox coolly, and the aura of a ruler spilled from her. Though she was aloof, Nox felt a sense of allure coming off her.She walked out of her bath, revealing her perfect body before Nox. Anyone would feel their blood burning up if they saw her. The woman was playing with fire now. She put on an arrogant mask on purpose and unleashed her allure at the same time to control those who would lay their eyes on her.To
Queenie did as she was told and flew into the mountain. She was met with a gigantic furnace, and Flame Emperor was trapped within, suffering the burn. His astral form was extremely weakened."Look closely. This is not your usual fire. It's making me into an elixir, slowly refining my providence and funneling it into the coffin. The coffin's connected to Celestial Domain, and that place transfers my providence to the witch. She wishes to use my providence to gain greater heights."The empress is now a Five-ring Minor Saint. One step, and she'll be a Great Saint," explained Flame Emperor."She's using Nox to become a Great Saint?" Queenie asked."Exactly. If Nox relents and sacrifices himself for her, she can absorb his providence and become a Great Saint. The moment she does, she will activate Celestial Burtial and absorb the providence of all civilizations around the world. She wants to sacrifice the whole world for her own success."Queenie had her answers, but what confused her
Dominic was fighting with his life, buying time for Queenie. Suddenly, the empress' eye power weakened, and it couldn't even fight Dominic's will-of-the-sword. "What is this? What's Nox doing?"Dominic's will-of-the-sword noticed the scent of death coming from Nox. This mustn't happen. Nothing must happen to Nox, or his sacrifice would've been for nothing. "Stand up, Nox! You're not giving up here!" Dominic called out to Nox with his will-of-the-sword. As a fellow swordsman, Nox noticed the call."I want you to live Nox. I don't want you to die with me. I know this is all fake, but I just want to confirm what my father told me before. If someone's dying here, it's me!" Nineve lunged at Nox and held him tightly."Very well, then we're killing our way out of here!"Nineve nodded. Nox used his eye power to break the formation by force. With will-of-the-sword, he carved a path out of the formation. At the same time Nox and Nineve ran for their lives, Queenie was making her way to the m
"Nineve, Queenie is at risk right now! If I don't stop the empress, she will use her spell to control the whole world! Faeast will be gone! We will never rise again!" Nox said solemnly. He was worried this might happen. He wasn't scared of any illusion, but the rules would change if Nineve was in the picture.Her wish would affect Nox. When Nox brought Queenie up, she cried. "So you care about her the most. Go to her, then! No one loves me! I deserve this! I did this to myself! I should've given up everything to save you! I don't care about anything now. I just want to stay right here and be with my father!"Nineve had given up, and Nox wanted to scream. He wasn't sure how he should explain it to Nineve. Love needed no explanation, however."What do I do, Your Majesty?? I can't give her up for Nineve, and I can't give up Nineve for her. I can't make a choice." Nox was in a dilemma. No matter the decision, he would regret it. From a big picture perspective, he should save Queenie. Ho
Dominic's energy formed a barrier, and his sword merged with his astral form. This was a true fusion between man and sword."Do you want to die that much, old man? It's not too late to back out. I can set up an exit, and your astral form can leave. Refuse, and I will snuff you out." The empress' face contorted. She was a demoness, and not an ounce of her beauty was left on her face.Dominic laughed. "Death does not scare me. It is not the end. Glory is what I seek. Generations to come will know me as a saintly swordsman, but none will remember even your name. You failed even after seventy thousand years. You will not get what you want! Give up on your delusions and accept reality!"There was a hint of death wish in Dominic's will-of-the-sword. Should he die in this battle, his name would be known throughout Faeast. He wasn't scared at all."Damn you. I will kill you! None of your faction will live!" The empress' third eye was bloodshot, and then the crimson strings came crawling ou
Aphrodite didn't react much. She said, "If she kills you, it's a good thing. Proves that you're a capable person. It's easy to kill someone. Not so much when it comes to controlling the heart. She doesn't have the power to control your soul just yet.""What the hell are you talking about? Same difference. Just tell me what I should do now. My sacred beasts are running out of energy. I can't ask them to put their lives on the line. They're practically an endangered species! They mustn't die!" Kirin had no choice but to call back the sacred beasts that'd exhausted their energy and dispel them.The Generals weren't sacred beasts, but they were Kirin's friends. He couldn't watch them die here."Oh, pipe down. There's nothing to worry about." Aphrodite snorted."So you have a plan?" Kirin thought they had hope, seeing that Aphrodite was so calm."No. I did everything I could. Everything is in fate's hands now," said Aphrodite."Dammit! What do you mean you did everything you could? I
"We're out." Dominic and Queenie were back in the real world. He saw the demonic mountain and the desolate world around him, and he wondered if this was another formation."We're out, master. This is the real world. Nono said Flame Emperor's trapped under the mountain," said Queenie solemnly."No, it's not the mountain that has him trapped; it's the empress." Dominic gasped. "No, that's not right. She doesn't have the right or authority to do that." He frowned. "And where's Nox?" he asked curiously. He only got out thanks to Nox's guidance, but the guy was nowhere to be found.Nox and Nineve fell into another illusion formation, and this time, they were transported back to Imperia. The formation carved out the whole city, and Nox was surprised it managed that. Nineve's head was spinning. She grabbed Nox's arm and wouldn't stop talking."Are we back in Imperia? You killed that bitch, Nox?"Nox was speechless. "No, we're in another illusion. Dammit, this can't trap me, but figuring
"What is he doing? Is he going to put everything on the line? No, he's trying to take the domain's control from me. How dare he! No, the golden kirin is something much more ancient than I am. If he activates some sort of secret spell, he might actually pull this off!"The empress would not leave this battle to chance. One mistake, and she would lose everything. She had no choice but to do everything she could to stop Kirin. However, using her eye power meant she would be distracted.And an opening was created.Nox was in the mist, but he suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Weird. The mist is growing thin. The empress' eye power is weakening?" This might be a trap, but Nox didn't care."Eight Saintly Techniques, Blazing Holy Eyes." Nox's golden eyes appeared and dispelled most of the mist. Right away, he found an opening. "Heaven's Demise! Shatter this thing!"He cast a Forbidden Art, and flames burned everything. A talisman sprang forth and burned into a crisp. The moment its ashes w
Nox, Nineve, Queenie, and Dominic were in the mist, all worried about one another. Back in Celestial Domain, the spirits' attack was growing fiercer. Some were even close to devouring the sacred beasts. Kirin had to call back the sacred beasts and send them away to keep the bloodline going."There are too many people who have died in this place over the last seventy millennia. We can't hope to kill them all. We can't last much longer at this rate." Kirin himself was bearing too much weight. He couldn't join the fray."I think it's time," Aphrodite suddenly said."What? Is it the final moment?" Kirin asked solemnly."No. I mean the empress is backed into a corner. You might think she's still relentless, but I think she's at her wit's end. Time to give her the final push. She's too tense, and one little distraction is enough to create an opening," answered Aphrodite seriously.Kirin had no idea what she had in mind, but he knew she wasn't lying. She was doing this for a reason. "Wha
Queenie was a little shocked. 'Next time? Please, no.'"I knew something was wrong. Nono wasn't sure if Nineve was Flame Emperor's descendant, but the one in the illusion was certain. I knew it was fake, but I couldn't help myself." Queenie sighed. She still couldn't get over herself.Dominic laughed. "You need some confidence. Be arrogant if you have to. It's better than to be craven. If Nineve is a Sovereign's descendant, then there must be a reason for your being here. Let's see if we can uncover the mystery."Dominic was about to take Queenie into a search for the truth, but Queenie stopped him. "Tell me the truth. Since you're an astral form, does that mean you're a sacrifice too?" she asked solemnly."No, not exactly. I can't break the formation, but I can enter it, though that comes with a price. It can't hurt me, but going out won't be easy." It was pointless to lie now, after all."So the empress can't hurt you for now, but if she wants to drag everyone down with her and