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
Everyone snapped out of their stupor and stared at the pit.Nox said, "Yes, that's right."Seymour smacked his head. "No wonder your parterre is dying. The peonies bloomed for as long as they did thanks to this formation, but it's worn out now."Seymour looked at Nox with worship. "You're right, sir. I have been mistaken since the start. I was talking nonsense. Now I see why you want this place dug up. Thank you for the lesson," he gushed and bowed to Nox.Nox kept quiet. His attention was all on the heat wave. He leaped into the air and landed on the edge of the parterre. He turned on his divine sense and looked at the black water.Moments passed, and Nox's eyes shone, a smile curling his lips. "I see." He waved his hand, and an explosion rocked the air. The black water splashed everywhere, then a purplish-brown stone the size of Nox's fist appeared.The scorching heat wave came from this stone. Everyone stared in confusion."What's that?""Is that a stone?""No way. How does
No one had seen a formation master setting up a formation before, not even Seymour or Jebediah. They watched Nox with unabashed excitement.Nox stepped ahead and looked at the worn-out formation. One look, and he knew which part was broken. Being too old, the earthly energy condensed in this position conflicted with the formation.That conflict sent the earthly energy shooting up. The firecrystal's heat energy couldn't keep the earthly energy in check. The leak was the reason the peonies started dying.Nox quickly made three formation seals. Winds howled, and invisible energy started to work its magic. The worn-out position of the formation started to heal itself.A moment later, Nox waved his hand. "The formation is complete!"The formation was repaired, and the heat wave disappeared into thin air. Seymour was beside himself with excitement. He was in this line of work for nearly thirty years, and this was his first time seeing someone repair a formation in an instant."He repai
The firecrystal was purplish-brown and resembled a marble. If it weren't for the energy contained within, most people would think it was just a marble."Didn't know Riverton had something like this." Nox was staring at the firecrystal, his eyes glimmering.Firecrystals could be used to make some rare artifacts, but Nox didn't need it. He just wanted to make a protective item for Queenie. "And I choose you. I can make a pendant out of you. It'll shield Queenie from regular harm."Nox's eyes twinkled, and he started refining the component. The firecrystal was the size of Nox's fist, and within it was its real essence—the power of fire. He would have to refine it down to its purest form if he wanted to make a protective item.He also had to carve some runes on it to make it work. Thus, he tossed the firecrystal into the air, and it started to spin. He then made some hand seals and pointed at the firecrystal.A golden sliver of magick shot into the firecrystal, and a scorching wave of
Dragoncourt was subjected to intense heat for a whole day. A lot of trees wilted in the process, but Jebediah and Thalia were hit the worst.The estate felt like a big sauna cranked up to eleven halfway through. They were drenched in sweat, and the heat almost suffocated them."The heat's killing me! I can't take this anymore!" Thalia screamed as she ran down the mountain.Jebediah thought his skin was getting crispy. He wiped his sweat and looked at the mountain in fear. "Dear gods. If this keeps up, the mountain's going to melt."Powerful heat waves blasted forth from Nox. He was sitting cross-legged, his hair billowing in the air. Around him was a beam of light as burning-hot as a blaze. Before him was the firecrystal, radiating heat.After a day of refinement, the firecrystal was now the size of a thumb, its surface a fiery red color. The firecrystal hovered before Nox.A long time later, Nox's eyes snapped open, and beams of gold shot from his eyes. "Come back!" He raised hi
"It is supposed to be small. How else can I make a protective pendant?" Nox rolled his eyes.Jebediah was still staring at the firecrystal in confusion. There were a lot of bizarre patterns inside, but it looked like an ordinary stone on the outside. If it weren't for Nox holding it, Jebediah wouldn't even look at it."Is this really a protective item, milord?" Jebediah asked."You don't believe me?""No, I do. I'm just curious. Never seen protective items like this before," said Jebediah.Nox got what Jebediah was trying to say. He looked at the old guy and smiled. "Try it for yourself.""How should I do that?" Jebediah asked."Attack the item with all your strength." Nox pointed at the pendant."What? I don't think that's a good idea." Jebediah waved his hand. He entered the Zen Realm and considered himself a capable sorcerer. If his attack ruined this pendant, he'd hate himself."Just do it." Nox held up the pendant."Are you sure, milord? What if I ruin it by accident?" J
"Okay, then." Jebediah made more hand seals, and negative energy came charging ahead. Gales howled, and even the skies went dark. Ghostly wails swirled around Jebediah, and phantom silhouettes appeared behind him."Phantom Procession!" Jebediah put all his power into that attack, and dozens of silhouettes attacked the pendant.He was a sorcerer. There was no way he couldn't ruin a pendant. If this got out, he would be embarrassed.Then something chilling happened. Before the phantom silhouettes could touch the pendant, another explosion echoed. As if detecting a threat, the ball of light expanded, and the phantom silhouettes disappeared into smoke."What?" Jebediah's mind was numb, but the light didn't stop. It fired off at Jebediah."Holy shit!" Jebediah quickly made hand seals to block the beam, but it was too late. The beam hit him and sent him flying away. He fell with a thud, groaning in pain.Nox approached him. "Do you understand now?"Jebediah felt his joints getting dis
"Guys, it's a nice day. Why aren't you out and about?" Queenie was surprised. Her parents would usually be out at this hour.George said, "I'd love to be out and about, but I can't.""Why's that?" Queenie asked."Why? Some foreign spies infiltrated Riverton, so the city's on lockdown. Everyone's on house arrest.""What? We have spies in Riverton?" Queenie did not look happy at all."Yeah."Queenie was then reminded of the assassination two days ago. Nox said something about Voxlia. "Maybe this has something to do with those guys." Queenie thought that was possible."But why'd they go after Nox?" That was a question Queenie couldn't figure out. She had to ask Nox eventually.Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Everyone froze, including Queenie."Who's out there? I thought we were in a lockdown," asked George."I'll take the door." Queenie was excited, thinking it was Nox. She opened the door and was met with a lean figure holding a bunch of presents.Queenie never met this
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
The empress didn't want Queenie to kill herself. She needed Queenie's willpower to crumble so she could plant her soul technique inside her. Once she controlled Queenie, Nox would have to relent if he wanted her freedom.Queenie was slowly walking into an abyss. "If my death can make you happy, then I will sacrifice myself, even if it can only take a bit off your shoulder."Sacrificing herself for Nox was a way for Queenie to fulfill her wish. Just when the empress thought she would succeed, a flash of holy light burst through the ground. Dominic had arrived, sword in hand."What?" The empress' eyes went wide. She thought, 'The old man entered my formation with nothing but his astral form just to save her?'Dominic harrumphed. "Surprised? Never thought I'd risk my own life?" He turned to Queenie. "Don't listen to her bullshit, Queenie! Nox has always been a straightforward man. No one can force him to do what he doesn't want to do! He's nice to you because he wants to!"No guilt t
His body was decayed, and violent energy radiated from head to toe. He was like a beast. Queenie had never seen him like this. Even though she knew this was an illusion, it still scared her. Perhaps this was what Nox would be like if he turned to the side of evil. If he wasn't a Sovereign, he would be a demon.Just like Nameless, he would be infamous. Nox slowly stepped toward the beach like a demon who'd clawed back out of hell. The sea was dyed red from his demonic energy. Everywhere Nox stepped, black, pungent lotuses bloomed."Look what you did to me, Queenie. Why did you save me? I am a loyal man, but I had to abandon Aphrodite to repay my debt to you! Who do you think you are? Even without Aphrodite, I have Nineve! She is royalty. A princess. A descendant of Flame Emperor."It is just right that I marry her. We are the perfect match! You keep hounding me just because you saved me. You made me marry a commoner! Do you know how hard I had it? I had to put on an act every day, te
Dos took a good look. Dominic did look like he was dead. "What is this? I can't sense any aura from him. But he's powerful enough. He shouldn't have walked into her trap." He thought Dominic might be trapped in a formation. If he didn't step into it, he wouldn't see Dominic. But if he did, he would be trapped, just like Dominic.Then, a ripple of energy came out of the training chamber. Dos was on guard. He mused about it and realized Dominic was trying to contact him. Obviously, Dominic saw him.Back in the mist, Dominic's astral form saw Dos. "Don't be stupid, Dos. They want you to walk into the formation. Remember why I called you back," said Dominic solemnly.At the same time, Dos was thinking hard. He was a master of talismans. This was probably why Dominic called him back. "I understand. Even if I can't help you, I won't walk into this trap." He made a few runes in the air and called upon a few powerful mystical artefacts to form a formation.Then, a formation appeared, and r