The nation of Faeast was in mourning, lamenting the death of Lord Nox.Queenie Sanders sat on the beach of Riverton. She was in a bikini, revealing all her perfect curves, but her brows were furrowed as she stared at her phone."Mourning? In the morning? And the whole Internet does it? Who's the deceased? Why's everyone going so far for him?"Queenie stared at the screen for five minutes before she clicked on the headlines. She was met with a big title in red, but all of them talked of the same thing across different news outlets."Today, we mourn the death of a god of war. The day before, our Lord fell into the ambush of ten nations' warriors, and he was felled in the Ocean of Death."So great was the battle it drenched the ocean crimson. So terrible was the battle that corpses decorated the ocean's surface."Even though Lord Nox has fallen, he took down a million soldiers from the enemies' nations all by himself."Queenie's jaw dropped, her eyes still glued to the headlines.
The man was unconscious, buffeted by the waves. The kind Queenie went straight to saving the stranger. Fortunately, she was a decent swimmer. With one hand, she dragged the man, and with the other, she swam toward the shore.Her strength was all but expended, but Queenie finally got the man to the shore. A long sigh escaped her lips, and Queenie checked for breathing. He was breathing, but barely. He's alive?Queenie looked at the stranger once more. He was lying on his belly, his clothes drenched and soggy. Queenie flipped the man over, and she was stunned by his looks.The man's face was the color of clouds, possibly because of his soaking in the sea for a long time. His lines were sharp, his features handsome. "He's hot." Queenie felt her heart race, but she wasn't one to fawn over every handsome man she came across. She took a deep breath and quickly did CPR for the man.A few dozen repetitions later, the man's breathing felt stronger. Queenie had saved him. "Finally."She heaved
"Dad? Uncle George? Why are you here?" Queenie was stumped. She couldn't believe it was her dad and uncle here."What are you doing, Queenie? And who is this man?" George roared. He almost had a stroke seeing his daughter together with a naked man in bed.Queenie finally realized why her father was reacting hugely. She quickly stood up and said, "Don't take this the wrong way, Dad. I don't know this man.""What? You don't know this man? And you slept with him? Are you mad?" George roared."Listen to me, Dad. I don't know him. He's—"Queenie was about to explain herself, but Hogs sneered. "Well, well, well, George. Your daughter slept with a total stranger, and on the cusp of her wedding with Centersea's heir. Now tell me, how should we deal with her?"George was shivering in rage, his eyes crimson. "What did I do to deserve this? You insolent child. What have you done? How dare you?"George raised his hand against his child, but just before the slap could land, someone grabbed George's
Queenie got changed and kept watch over the unconscious stranger. He was handsome if anything, and he had the air of a king. If he wasn't out cold, he would be the man of every woman's dream. "Who is he, and why was he in the ocean? And how did he send my family's bodyguards flying that easily?"Those questions and more were racing in Queenie's mind. Driven by curiosity and something else, Queenie wanted to know more about the man before her, but eventually, Queenie rested her head on the edge of the bed and fell asleep.She heard something rustle, and groggily, Queenie opened her eyes. What she saw made her shout.The man had awoken and was standing right in front of her. Scared, Queenie quickly scuttled backward and asked with caution, "W-What do you want?"The stranger had a dazed look in his eyes. He scanned his surroundings before turning his attention to Queenie. "Who are you? What is this place?" He had a deep, husky voice, but there was confusion in his tone."Queenie Sand
Queenie sighed again and looked at Nox. "Fine. You're hot, so I'll finish what I started. No matter what happens, I'm taking you back to town, and then it's straight to the hospital."See if we can get your memory back. And please explain everything to my family if you do," Queenie said."I'm going to pack my stuff and make preparations to return to the city. You watch some TV or whatever. Don't run around, and don't touch my stuff." Queenie turned on the TV for Nox.Nox nodded dumbly and turned to the TV. It was airing the Battle of the Ten Nations, specifically the part where the Ocean of Death was concerned.Black smoke billowed from the fleet of battleships, and countless aircraft were swirling around overhead.Amidst the smoke and screams of war, the warriors of Faeast were fending off the invaders from the ten nations.The moment Nox saw that, his mind went blank, and then pain shot up once more, only to be followed by a stream of memories.'Lord Nox. That's me, Nox Greenshade. I
A few minutes later, Queenie was done packing. She came out of the room while Nox was still standing in the living room, acting like he was an amnesiac."Let's go, amnesiac." Queenie picked up her suitcase and left the house without looking at Nox. She muttered, "This is all your fault. My family wouldn't have thought I was a… Now, how should I explain myself?"Queenie sighed. She came to a white Mini parked outside the house and placed her suitcase in the trunk. "Get in," she said.Nox grunted and got into the car. It was pink inside and smelled nice.Queenie got in a moment later. "It's your lucky day. You're the first man to grace my car."Nox secretly chuckled, but he said nothing."We should get back to the city now." Queenie revved up the car and drove away. On the way back, she listened to the radio while Nox closed his eyes and ran his inner energy around his body to heal himself up.Queenie would sometimes steal a glance at Nox. He had a handsome face, twinkling eyes,
When Nox saw the smoke and noticed the scent of something charred coming from the circuit board, he knew what was going on. Being the one and only Lord Nox, a broken-down car was nothing to him.He quickly went to the trunk and whipped out a wrench. Nox then quickly turned the screws on the engine, trying to open the lid.Queenie was still making a call when she saw Nox fiddling with her car. A momentary pause later, she trotted up to Nox. "What are you doing?" Queenie watched Nox in surprise as he took off the engine's lid.Nox said nothing. He was going unscrewing the screws and checking the circuit."Wait. Are you trying to repair my car?" Queenie asked curiously.Nox said nothing and kept going on with the repairs. About two minutes later, Nox finally connected the broken wire. "Done."Queenie was flabbergasted. She stared at Nox in disbelief. "You're done? That was fast. You sure that's right?"Nox grunted. Queenie had more questions, one of them being why an amnesiac knew
While Nox was watching the motorcade in reminiscence, Queenie watched him. "Hey, what are you looking at?"Nox quickly turned around. "Nothing.""You were enthralled, though. Why?" Queenie asked.A smile played on Nox's lips. "Maybe because they feel familiar.""They feel familiar? You're an amnesiac. There's nothing to feel familiar with, especially not with cars from Draco. Wait. Were you a soldier?" asked Queenie.Nox was speechless again. He thought, 'A soldier? I was more than that.'Since Nox was quiet, Queenie smiled. "Don't worry about it. I bet you were a mechanic. When we get back to town, I'll take you to a big hospital. They'll help you get your memories back. I'll be cashing in on that favor when my car breaks down."Hearing that, Nox smiled dryly. Three hours later, Queenie and Nox finally came back to Riverton, a city filled with skyscrapers. Nox looked around, but he kept his silence.After she came back to the city, Queenie got a call from Lara. "Where are you,
"Say the word, and I shall help you push Faeast to power. All I want is for you to submit to me, not make me your master. Is a woman like me not enough for you? My beauty, power, and brains far outstrip whatever your women have. Survival of the fittest is how this world works. Cultivators like you should know that."Submit to me, and I shall become Heavenly Dao, while you shall rule the Mortal World. I shall rule the heavens, and you shall rule the earth. Together, we are the world!" The empress was making an offer again, and she presented a whole agreement.Unlike the deception she threw to Flame Emperor, she genuinely wanted to work with Nox this time. "You are a master of talisman. You know I'm not lying to you. I admire you, so do not let me down again. Push me into a corner, and no one comes out happy." The empress stared at Nox.She hoped Nox would understand where she was coming from and change his mind. Nox was in her trap, but all he did was laugh. "Let you down? You amuse
White Tiger was crying. A guy who didn't fear death was kneeling on the deck and crying his heart out. The Southern Sea navy gathered around. This man was a Great General, and they wondered what might have happened to him. Everyone knew it must be serious.Fergus was stunned. "Is Nox in trouble?" Nox used to work with Fergus for a while, and the man saw Nox as his own son. He was the future of Faeast. If a man like him were to die, he couldn't imagine what would happen to Faeast.All the Southern Sea navy units thought highly of Nox. He was their boss and comrade. A blanket of despair spread through the fleet. When that emotion reached its peak, it would turn into fury. Anger filled up the Southern Sea navy."Men, heed my order. Open fire at Celestial Domain and do not hold back!" Fergus ordered recklessly. He wanted to fire the forbidden item at Celestial Domain.When the news got back to Imperia, Douglas almost leaped out of his seat. "Are you mad, Fergus? Do you have any idea wh
The empress laughed. "That was a powerful attack, Greenshade. If we'd fought seventy thousand years ago, you'd have killed me, but I'm far stronger than I was. You have no idea how much I've suffered over the years. My eye power is beyond what you can imagine! I've gone through enough pain, and that's why I can stand at the top!"This is the final hurdle! Now I'll show you the suffering I've endured!" The empress' third eye opened, and the eye power it unleashed was twisting space itself. The whole world was shuddering.Heavy pressure weighed down on Nox, and his astral form trembled. Much to Nineve's shock, the third eye flew out of the empress and hovered high up in the skies, replacing the sun and moon. The eye turned crimson, but it reflected different colors and inversed the world's colors.Living beings were black and white in this world."Shit, that's her ultimate Soulcatcher and the level of power every eye technique user dreams of! The moment the kaleidoscope opens, you ar
Queenie didn't care about the big picture. She would do whatever Nox told her to. Flames burned her again, and the fires of a phoenix covered the mountain, suppressing Flame Emperor once more, stopping his release."You are my clan's emblem, phoenix! Why are you doing Greenshade's bidding?" Flame Emperor was furious. At his core, he was as short-tempered as the empress.The empress saw what was going on, and she mocked, "Seventy thousand years, and you are at the mercy of the new Sovereign! Not even your phoenix listens to you now!"Nox's astral form descended and stood before the empress. The bloodlust he radiated made her shake. "You're killing me? Can you really do that? My life is tied to Celestial Domain. Even if it is destroyed, I will not be harmed, but if I die, Celestial Domain will fall. Kirin and Aphrodite will die as well."One is the smartest mortal I've seen all my life. The other is the only cultivator who managed to merge with a sacred beast completely. My life for
For Nox, she could give up everything, even her life. This pain was nothing. "The man I love is a hero. Someone who can stand tall and proud. But even if he's no lord or Sovereign, I love him all the same. Not even death can douse the fires of my love."The pain heightened to its peak, and the flames were now a tribulation. They flew into Queenie's soul. At the same time, a blinding crimson light shone from Queenie's body. The light came from her chest."What?" The empress was trying to kill Dominic, but she sensed something terrible going on, and she froze. "She's my lost heart? Why? Seventy thousand years, and this is what I get?" She was losing it. Her determination was crumbling.Dominic laughed. "You know why? Because you're trying to take over as Heavenly Dao, and it will fight back, hard. Nothing good will come for you! To cultivate means to do good and stay just. Evil will never triumph, and you will die!" His laughter turned into a cackle.No one saw this coming. Who'd hav
"Worry not, Queenie. As long as the phoenix's heart is not destroyed, she will be reborn in flames. Every time a phoenix is reborn, they will gain greater heights." said Flame Emperor.'Yes, that's the legend of the phoenix.' Queenie was once again in awe of nature's magic. 'So Faeast's legends are true. Phoenixes are immortal!'"So where's the heart?" Queenie quickly asked. If she could find it and help Flame Emperor get out of his prison, he and Nox could kill the empress."Silly girl. It's right here. You are the missing heart."Queenie's mind buzzed, and she froze. 'I am the phoenix's heart? Wait, so who or what am I, really?'"That witch enslaved the phoenix's body, but she could never control her heart. No one can. The legends of a phoenix's immortality are not entirely true. Every time they are reborn, they will have died once. The new phoenix will inherit their predecessor's power, but they cannot represent their predecessor."Just like reincarnation, once someone goes in
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