Keith then led his men to Dragoncourt, but the moment they stepped onto the path, fog rolled in and blocked everyone's path."Commander, something's off with the fog," one member said.Keith scanned the fog icily. "This city is more than meets the eye. Didn't think I'd see this kind of formation here. Everyone, step back!"The Shadow Division members quickly retreated. Keith looked at the fog once more and put his hands together. A gust of spiraling air burst forth from his body, and the air started howling.Keith then held his hand up. "Begone!" he roared, and the spiraling air turned into a hurricane, charging into the fog.The hurricane thundered, and the fog was cut open, revealing the path again. Keith charged ahead like a tiger.While Keith was charging ahead, two silhouettes were seated silently in the mountains. They were Nox and Jebediah. Ever since Jebediah took the pill Nox gave him, his cultivation had been progressing at an incredible speed.Earlier in the morning,
Keith only smiled. "It's alright if you don't know. Let me ask you something. Did you join a Redmoon auction three days ago?"Jebediah was stunned for a moment. He said, "Yes, and what of it?""Then you're probably the guy." Keith got the wrong person, but Jebediah didn't know that.Jebediah looked at Keith, then at the Shadow Division members behind him. "Who the fuck are you guys? Why'd you barge into our place?"Keith was still smiling. "You do not need to know. I'll need you to come to HQ with us. We have questions for you."Jebediah chuckled. "You're an interesting man, oaf. You barged into our place, and now you demand I go with you? What do you think I am, chopped liver?" He harrumphed and hurled a few talismans ahead.The talismans exploded, and fog covered the place again, but the mist was black this time. Jebediah quickly made hand seals and howls charged from within the fog.A couple of skulls then darted at Keith, but Keith only sneered. He focused all the spiraling
The Shadow Division members gasped in shock. They couldn't believe Keith was hurt, and the enemy didn't even show his face."Commander!"They were going to Keith, but Keith held up his hand. He looked at the mountains, his expression grim.Then he spat out a mouthful of blood. "Didn't expect a powerful guy to be here. Fine. I'll see who you are. Everyone, stay here. Don't make even a move without my orders!" Keith roared.He stepped off the ground and leaped at the mountain. When he got closer, Keith felt the aura of a king pushing down on him harder. He tensed up and started activating his inner energy.As he raised his head, he saw someone with their back turned to him, seated on a rock. For some reason, Keith felt his face twitch. At the same time, he felt even more pressure coming off the silhouette.More importantly, he thought the silhouette felt familiar. "Dammit! Who is that man? How can he give off so much pressure?"Keith felt something squeezing his heart for the firs
"Yes, it's me," said Nox calmly.Keith was flabbergasted. "It's you? I-I thought you'd fallen in battle. Everyone claims you're dead. How did this happen?""No one can kill me if I don't want to die," said Nox confidently.Keith slammed his head against the ground. "Milord!" And the commander cried happily, calling out to his master. Everyone thought Nox was dead, even the Shadow Division.Everyone couldn't believe it when news of Nox's demise reached the Shadow Division. The commanders led all members and knelt beneath Qustian Peak for three days and nights.No one could convince them to leave. Nox founded the division, and these were his guards. Nox himself trained the commanders. Supreme Tiger, White Bear, and Wolfhound were powerful enough to rival Nox's four generals.Together, they were the Seven Madmen. Keith couldn't stop crying joyfully. Never had he imagined running into his lord again.Nox was a little annoyed seeing this. "Alright, enough. You're one of the commande
"Unbelievable! The bastards did that? Milord, please say the word. I will lead my man into Voxlia and slay Black Flag!" said Keith angrily.Nox waved him down. "Not the priority. Voxlia is just a tiny nation. Nothing to fear."Keith said, "You're right, milord. You almost wiped them out. I can't believe these people would try to invade us again."Nox said nothing."Milord, I have a question, but…" Keith trailed off."Ask away.""Why didn't you return to the military in Imperia and tell the guys you're still around? Ever since the news of your death made the rounds, everyone's hearts got broken. White Bear almost got himself killed kneeling beneath Qustian Peak." Keith started tearing up again.Nox clapped Keith's shoulder. "It's complicated with me. Remember to keep the news of my survival a secret, that's all."Keith nodded. He knew Nox had a reason to do this.Nox asked, "So, how many of you are there in Riverton? Did Bear and Bard come?""They're in Imperia, milord," said
Keith waved it down. "No apology needed. We're both working for the lord, after all.""Yes, of course, Supreme Tiger."Nox watched the two of them buttering each other up. He said, "That's enough. Keith, did you come alone?""No. I have about a dozen guys with me," said Keith."Tell them to leave. And remember, don't tell them I'm alive," said Nox.Keith nodded and went away.Derek and the other guys were anxiously waiting outside Dragoncourt."What now, Captain Five? It's been nearly half an hour. Are we just going to wait?" one member asked.Even though he was captain, Derek was getting anxious as well. He checked the time. "Five more minutes. If he doesn't come out, we're going in.""Yes, captain."Time went by. Five minutes were up, and Derek was about to lead a charge into the mountains, but a silhouette came leaping out.The division members roared, "Commander!"It was Keith. Derek quickly approached him, saying, "Commander, are you alright?"Keith was ecstatic, and
After the Sovereign's Society was gone, Keith quickly returned to Nox. He couldn't be more excited to see Nox alive. He told Nox how much he missed him and how the Shadow Division missed him.Nox was melancholic but knew he couldn't show himself now, so he stayed silent."If you can't make a comeback, milord, then I shall stay with you, even if I were to be a servant." Keith was tearful."You're a commander. If you leave, what should your men do?" Nox rolled his eyes."I don't care! You trained me, milord. Without you, I wouldn't be here. I'm staying even if you're kicking me out!" Keith declared.Nox had a headache, but in the end, he said, "Fine, stay with me for now. But deal with the Shadow Division mess yourself.""Thank you, milord." Just like that, Keith got his wish to stay with Nox. He followed Nox into the great hall and saw a young girl. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she ate a lollipop.When the girl noticed Keith, she asked, "Where'd this big guy come from, Gr
Nox still had no idea that Queenie had fallen sick. It had been nearly five days since then. The first three days, Queenie barely ate or drank. She only started eating on the fourth and fifth day.Even so, she still looked almost cadaverous, and her soul felt crushed. Her parents were worried sick but couldn't do anything about it. She wouldn't talk to them, and she only lay around."What now, George? She's going to kill herself at this rate. Look at her." Yvette was in her room, wiping her tears.George was sighing, and he couldn't stop smoking. "It's all that bastard's fault! If he hadn't cheated on Queenie, she'd never end up like this."Yvette said, "Cursing him helps nothing. We have no idea where his house is, and we can't find him.""I know. Just give me some time. I'll come up with something." George had a frown on his forehead; then he smacked his leg. "Wait. Derek is already in Riverton, isn't he? Try calling him again." George was reminded of Derek.Yvette said, "I've
The talismans were Magic Mountain's Forbidden Art, and Nox had fused them with Ultimate Sun Dragon Manual. Nox's mentors back in Mystia had taught him the Sovereign Seal earlier than expected.Their goal was simple. If Nox became the Sovereign, he could use the seal to command all the natural energy around him. If he didn't become the Sovereign, he would teach the Sovereign how to use the seal.The Sovereign Seal was a Saintly technique and the most ancient technique around. It was stronger than a Celestial technique.A golden seal brighter than the sun slowly rose into the air. It was the Sovereign Seal.As it appeared, natural energy gathered around it. The energy flew into the relics Brundela took from Faeast. Within a museum not open to the public, a bronze sword started to tremble as natural energy flowed into it. That got the attention of a professor."That sword belonged to Faeast's Emperor Elijah! What is going on?"A silhouette came out of the sword, and his aura was maj
Back in the navy command center, Fergus got the drone footage of Brundela's latest development. There were a few generals from the Nox Army with him. They could see that the monsters in the capital were far stronger than the ones they took out."It's a pity the capital is too densely populated. We have the weapons, but we can't use them." Fergus slammed the table in frustration. Even if the capital were to fall into enemy hands and the people torn apart by the monsters, Fergus could not order his men to fire at the capital, or things would be bad for them.Fergus could only open fire if the monsters were in a no man's land."Commander Parrish, the lord has orders. We are to keep the waters guarded. Once the capital's crisis is over, we are to make our way to the port and give humanitarian aid," a Nox Army general said telepathically. He just got Nox's orders."Is that so? Then Nox can stop this crisis." Fergus' eyes shone. He had no idea what Nox was planning, but he was the Sovere
Demons were walking the lands of Brundela. Legendary creatures were roaming the streets as if the end of days were here. The resurrected monsters were causing chaos everywhere. When the Titans showed themselves, despair washed over Brundela.There were too many monsters running around. Even after the Twilight Order and Ice Temple cultivators sent out everyone they had, it still wasn't enough to stop these creatures. The monsters went straight to the council hall, and so did the Titans.The Ice Temple Lord created a Magic Ice Formation and kept using Forbidden Arts and mystical artifacts to fend off the enemies. He had already done his best."You have to do something, Nine-State Lord. I can't hold on much longer!" the Ice Temple Lord said telepathically.Though monsters were about, they were not a threat to the Ice Temple Lord. he could leave anytime he wanted, but he had a deal with Nox. If he were to desert the battlefield, he would face a hell far worse than he could imagine late
Their targets were the relics around the altars. The moment the whirlpool showed up, the black energy conjured black walls and kept Brundela on lockdown, cutting off all communications.Possessed by evil spirits, gods from ancient civilizations came back to life. In the underground graveyard, the dead came bursting out of their coffins, and skeletons with phantom flames flickering around them charged at the holy knights and James' secret agents.Nothing more needed to be said. The holy knights' leader led the charge. The other knights resolved to fight to the death as they battled the skeleton gods.James and his secret agents fired off at the enemies, but the bullets did nothing to the skeletons. All they managed was to light a big spark. Only grenades and howitzers could deal damage to them, and even then, the damage was light.The battle was fierce. Though the knights did not fear death, they were still weaker than the prehistoric gods. These skeletons were nigh invincible, and
Nox was hovering higher than the Ice Temple Lord, and he got everyone's attention."Who's that?""It's a Faeastian!""My God, it's the Nine-State Lord!" Nox was known throughout Faeast and the world. Brundela's council members had recognized him the moment he showed up. They had nothing but fear for gods, yet Nox was the strongest man in the Mortal World, so they respected him.The clouds in Brundela's skies were hanging heavily over the ground, and the icy aura they radiated was making everyone shiver. Winter seemed to have come early for Brundela. The temperature was dipping fast.Back in the control center, intelligence agents were watching the surveillance footage closely, and they noticed the altar. The Twilight Order and Ice Temple cultivators were there, strengthening the altars' seal the best they could. There were soldiers guarding the altar as well.For some reason, the secret agents had a feeling something bad was going to happen. Murphy's Law, as they said.Suddenly,
A sliver of energy flew out of the puppet and gathered natural energy around it. Then, the temperature rose at a blistering rate. Fortunately, Bard's reminder came just in time, and Vermilion Bird was prepared for this. She led her team away from the spot.A pillar of fire engulfed the building, and heat waves shot off in every direction, lethal and deadly. The light eventually faded, and all buildings in a few hundred yards were razed to the ground.If Vermilion Bird had killed the puppet without thinking just now, she would have lost all her men and suffered serious injuries. "That bitch! I'm going to make her into a human swine one day! I'll give her hell!" she cursed.Bard gasped. 'Yeah, women can be really terrifying.' Not one General was a normal person.This incident didn't escape Nox, of course. He saw it through his divine sense. "Heh, you can't fight the flow of history? You say that, Aphrodite, but you've done the same thing more than once. Schemes and plots when your ey
Aphrodite was a master manipulator. She knew the weaknesses of Nox's underlings, and she praised Bard, "At least you know where you stand, Bard. You never overreach. Though we failed to make you one of us, I still thought it'd be a shame to kill you."Bard smiled. "Oh, you're such an actor, Ms. Mousse. You know why we don't like you? Queenie is a genuine lady, just like our lord. You're far inferior to her. And don't flatter yourself. Of course, I know where I stand. I can't even reach the pinnacle of martial arts, let alone cultivation."No matter how smart I am, my lack of talents holds me back. I can never be made an important leader." He was only spared because he couldn't become a threat to the Mousses.Nox didn't use schemes because he didn't need them. Absolute power could trump any plot.Vermilion Bird clenched her teeth. "What is the meaning of this? The lord knows that the bitch is here?"Bard shook his head. Vermilion Bird was a smart woman, but Aphrodite made her lose
Aphrodite felt nothing but sorrow, and Vermilion Bird burst into laughter. "I expected nothing less from these people. Your men are just like their employers. Hey, knights, you guys want to find out more about Faeast martial arts? See those Mousse guys? They're masters. Deal with them."Vermilion Bird gave her orders. She knew these people would escape the moment she showed up. The knights flew off, going after the escaped Mousses. The Mousses were a family of warriors, while these knights were cultivators, to an extent. They wore mystical artifacts, and the Mousses' guys didn't have something like that.The battle was fierce but short. The Mousses' powerhouses were taken out, and the rest were dealt with by the Shadow Division."And now only you're left. Interesting, isn't it? Karma always bites you in the ass. You betrayed my lord, and now your men betray you. You deserve this," Vermilion Bird cursed."Yes, I deserve this, but as long as he wants to be the Nine-State Lord, then w
'The beating heart of this land?' The woman's underlings looked grim. They were supposed to be the master tacticians here. Yet, Nox played them like a cheap kazoo. 'He's a far better tactician than we expected!'Nox began his counterattack not long after the Ocean of Death incident. This woman was none other than Aphrodite, Nox's old flame. When she saw Brundela's fate stabilizing, she knew right then that things had gotten out of her hands."Tell the Mousses in Eropa to retreat right away. There is no need to stay here any longer. He's not attacking us because he's waiting for us to do the same. The moment our men try to start anything, he'll swoop in and take them all out. "No one can beat him if he decides to go all the way. Not even me," said Aphrodite.Suddenly, the Mousses' powerhouse noticed something. "I sense bloodlust. Who goes there? Show yourself!" The powerhouses unsheathed their weapons and stood around Aphrodite, protecting her.A group of black silhouettes appeare