"Rank A members, huh?""Yes. That's the reason I left in a hurry. I didn't think they'd come so soon." Keith clenched his fists, an aura of murder rolling around him."I don't care what rank they are. Any intruders will die," said Nox."Yes, milord." They talked for a bit, and Keith told the Shadow Division members to take Nox back to Dragoncourt. He couldn't stay around because of the fight with the Rank A members.After Nox was taken home, Keith and his team members hurried off. Nox came back to the estate alone. Jebediah was in the courtyard, teasing Thalia. Both of them came up to Nox, but he said nothing.Nox went into his room. The attempt on his life didn't bother him, but something else did—Queenie's safety. He wasn't scared of any threats or assassins, but Queenie was a different story.She was a civilian, and Nox couldn't always stay with her. His priority now was to protect his girlfriend. 'But what can I use?' he mulled."Oh yeah. A protective item. If she has one, s
They then strolled down the streets. Lots of stuff was on sale. Some were real, some were fake, some were good, and some were bad.Most talismans and cinnabar were fake. The wooden swords were mainly made of wooden bats, and haphazardly too. They weren't even blessed. After a round of strolling, Nox found nothing he wanted. It was vexing.Jebediah noticed his look of displeasure. He mused over his options for a bit. "Milord, there's a shop in the northern part of the town. An ancient shop. They say almost everything they sell is real. Should we check it out?""Very well.""I'll lead the way." Jebediah led Nox on another trip. On the way there, Jebediah said, "That shop is famous. Peony Abode, it's called. Riverton sorcerers love to shop there. Even guys from out of town would buy from the shop."Nox didn't care about that. He just wanted to get an excellent component to refine. A while later, they saw an old courtyard house from afar. The place felt ancient, and a plaque from the
"He's the VIP for all the bluebloods in the north."A frown furrowed Jebediah's forehead. "Why'd the owner of this place hire a geomancy master?""Wait, you don't know? Are you from out of town?"Jebediah nodded.The man said, "Fine, I'll tell you. See the flowers?" He pointed at the parterre. It was home to peonies. Wilted peonies, however.Curious, Jebediah said, "Yeah. And they're all wilted. Peonies, I assume?""Righto, but do you know that the flowers have not wilted for a hundred years?" the man said."What? The flowers stayed in bloom for a century? Is that a joke?" Jebediah was stunned."No, sir. Do you know why the shop got its name? This is why: the parterre of peonies that haven't wilted for a hundred years—until half a month ago, that is. The boss was panicked, so he hired this guy to check things out."That answered Jebediah's question. 'So that's how this place got its name,' he mused. 'No wonder the boss hired a geomancy master to help out.'Nox said nothing, b
"Master Flame, you must help me. I'll give you a million and a half. And I'll give you everything my shop has!" Mr. Windsor buzzed with excitement."Of course. I'll make a formation to draw out the earth's negative energy and balance out the energy overflow. Your peonies will bloom again in no time," said Master Flame.Everyone was in a good mood, but then someone exclaimed, "What a load of bullcrap!"Shocked, everyone turned around and saw a regal, handsome man stepping forward. That caught their attention.Mr. Windsor glared at Nox. "Who are you, punk? What is the meaning of this?"He thought, 'I spent so much time and money to get Master Flame here. I will not let anyone mess it up!'A retail assistant noticed Nox. "Boss, he's a customer!""A customer? I told you not to let anyone in today! Kick him out!" ordered Mr. Windsor shrilly."A minute," Master Flame stopped Mr. Windsor. He looked at Nox, his eyes narrowed. "You claim what I said was… nonsense. Why do you think so? P
"Do you even know the techniques involved in this work? Dragon's Expedition? Hidden Gold's Search?" Seymour stepped ahead, the air around him fierce.Nox, however, was unfazed. "I've never read anything you said, but I know you're wrong." He pointed at the parterre."This is no Positive Cell, and you can't balance the energy with negative energy. That won't make the flowers bloom. If you do that, you'll kill them faster. Go ahead, try it out."Rage had enveloped Seymour's mind. "How dare you doubt my skills! When I was already a pro, you weren't even born yet! I'll show you what it means to be a pro geomancer!"Seymour let out a roar and quickly plucked a wilted peony. He made a hand seal and started chanting under his breath. Everyone stared at him unblinkingly."He's going to cast a spell! Look!"Seymour's chanting went on for five minutes, then he roared again and made another hand seal. He pointed at the peony, and an invisible sliver of energy shot into the flower.A retail
"What?""The flower's wilted again!"Everyone was dumbfounded. Mr. Windsor saw red. He glared at Nox with murder. "What did you do, you bastard? You killed my flower!" he roared.Everyone else hurled insults at Nox as well. They thought Nox was pulling something."Ignorant fools." Nox harrumphed and let them be. He then turned to the silent Seymour. "What about you? Do you think I did this?"Seymour was at a loss for words. That 'spell' he used to revive the peony was just a trick. It wasn't easy to revive a wilted flower, after all."You killed my peonies, and now you're threatening Master Flame? Men, kick this scum out of my shop!"The retail assistants came forward. Since these people thought so lowly of him, Nox sighed. "Fine. You made your bed, so you're going to lie in it. Don't come to me for any help. But before I go, I'll show you what I can do."Nox stepped ahead, and a great wave of magick undulated across the courtyard and crashed on the wilted parterre. "I command
"Don't worry, the flowers won't be alive for long.""What? What's that supposed to mean?""The flowers will wilt soon after this," Nox answered."But why? I saw them blooming again." Jebediah was confused."Of course, you don't know why. The cause for the peonies' wilting stems from something underground.""Underground?""Yes." Nox's eyes shone. The moment he saw the parterre, he felt something underground radiating great heat. It was thanks to that item that the parterre was wilting.However, Nox had no idea what that item was.While Nox was in the middle of the explanation, someone shouted, "Sir, please, a minute! A minute!"Nox and Jebediah turned around. They saw Mr. Windsor and his employees coming up to them.Jebediah frowned. "You guys?"Mr. Windsor was panting heavily, but he was bowing to Nox and apologizing profusely. "I am very sorry for what I did, sir. I apologize for my mistakes. Please, forgive me." He went down on his knees.Nox said, "Finally realized your
Mr. Windsor was petrified with awe. The parterre's truth was a secret guarded through generations. Ages ago, his family had a formation master, and under the parterre was a formation to gather wealth.Nox saw through it when Seymour failed to. Mr. Windsor was now looking at Nox with newfound respect.His hesitation, however, prompted Nox to ask, "Are you refusing?"Mr. Windsor gritted his teeth. "N-No! I'll dig the stuff up if you keep my flowers alive.""We have a deal." Nox smiled. He had no idea what was hidden underground, but he knew it was priceless."Can you come back with me, then?" Mr. Windsor asked politely.Nox and Jebediah went back to the shop. A fearful Seymour quickly bowed to Nox. "My humblest greetings, sir. I apologize for my earlier behavior. Please do not take it to heart."Nox didn't attack Seymour; he waved him down. "I don't mind. Next time, don't pull any cheap tricks."Embarrassed, Seymour wanted to hide in a hole. He didn't argue with Nox. "I will keep
"You're going nowhere! Die!" The Sovereigns chased after the spirit, and a hundred rulers followed. They trapped the Titan's spirit and ripped him to shreds."Holy shit! That's the ancient Faeastian Sovereigns for you!" White Tiger roared with pride. He was on the roof of a tower somewhere.Emperor Elijah narrowed his eyes and exchanged a look with the other Sovereigns. He hurled the remaining essence of the Titan's spirit to White Tiger and stuffed him with it. The energy filled White Tiger up, and he ballooned. Black, rancid energy came out of his body, and he fell into madness.Nox cast Heaven's Demise and sealed White Tiger's consciousness. The Ice Temple Lord, realizing what the Sovereigns were trying to do, encased White Tiger in a coffin of magic ice."This is an impressive underling you have, Nine-State Lord. Devouring spirits gives him power. Anyone else would've lost their minds and become a killing machine, but White Tiger's already mad to begin with. There's no further
"The third kind of Emperor uses natural energy, the power of Yin and Yang, and the elements to become one. Since they use all kinds of elements and energy to become an Emperor, they are practically invincible."The Ice Temple Lord was excited. "So, you're saying I'm the strongest kind of Emperor?"Nox was speechless. "No, what I was trying to say was you took the wrong path. You could've absorbed the energy in the heavens, but you absorbed the Yin energy in the ground. You're stronger than Frostmir, but his level was higher, so you'd still be no match for him." Nox pursed his lips."Eh?" The Ice Temple Lord was disappointed. He thought he could be on par with Nox once he became an Emperor. The Ice Temple Lord wasn't the only one who gained power. The Ice Temple cultivators did as well. Black Tortoise, White Tiger, and Vermilion Bird gained a lot of power, too.Vermilion Bird was now a Flawless Supreme, Black Tortoise was an Advanced Supreme, while White Tiger was an Intermediate Pi
The fact that Nox could cast Sovereign Seal showed the Ice Temple Lord a new level of power. The Sovereign was more terrifying than the gods. 'No wonder they could rule the world in ancient times.'The ancient Sovereigns and rulers of Faeast attacked their enemies. The fate of Faeast gathered over their heads, piercing the clouds that hung over them. The weaker monsters were all slain, and Emperor Hans pierced the pharaoh with his spear, returning him to dust.Emperor Blade killed the god of another ancient civilization. The evil energy possessing them was purified. Moments later, the only gods left were the Titans. Unlike the possessed gods, the Titans were ancient cultivators.Even if they didn't master any spells or techniques, they'd trained their bodies to their absolute best. The Sovereigns and rulers didn't have much advantage against these enemies.These spirits were only summoned through the relics and the remnants of energy left within. Their bodies were gone, and their s
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