Thalia started tearing up."Go home," said Nox."But will you miss me?" Thalia was going to sob."Yes.""Really?" Thalia was excited."Of course.""You're the best, Greenie. Pity you're marrying the succubus, or I'd have stayed." Thalia squeezed a tear from the corner of her eye and wiped it off."But yeah, I'm still little. When I grow up, I can marry you. They say you can get a divorce anyway. Once I get older, you can get a divorce and marry me. I know I'll look better than that succubus. You'll fall head over heels for me."Nox said nothing."See you, then. Think about me lots, Greenie. And tell the old git, too." Thalia waved Nox goodbye.Nox didn't try to get her to stay. She was part of the Wood family, after all.While Thalia was waving Nox goodbye, Houston started to stir. He was still woozy from all the drinking, and he asked the Woods' servant to get him some water.Houston took the bottle of water from the servant and gulped it down to clear his head. Then, he t
"No way this is happening. No way." Houston ran down the mountain.When the Woods' servant saw him looking crazed, they asked quickly, "What happened?""I saw a ghost! A ghost!" Houston said tremulously, but he didn't stop running. He didn't even bother getting into the car.The Woods' servant saw him off in confusion. A moment later, Kristoff, Thalia, Mouse, and Pig came down. Thalia kept staring back at Dragoncourt.'It'll be a long time before I see him again,' Thalia mused, and she started crying.Kristoff had no idea what happened between Thalia and Nox, but he was shocked. 'Riverton has someone this powerful hiding among them? And he recognized our most well-kept secret?'"Is he also one of us?" Kristoff had no answer. "Thalia, I need to ask you something." He looked at the weeping Thalia."What?" Thalia raised her head."How'd you run into that guy? Who is he? What's his name?" Kristoff asked.Thalia wiped her tears off. "Greenie? It was an accident, really."Thalia th
The Woods started returning home, but Kristoff noticed someone missing from the car. "Where's Mr. Pear?" he asked curiously.The driver said, "He ran away, sir.""What do you mean he ran away?" Kristoff was surprised."For some reason, he said he saw a ghost before he began running like no tomorrow. We tried to stop him."Kristoff had more questions now. He knew Houston all too well. He was a lewd person, but he knew how to navigate the world of politics. Now, he was the deputy head of logistics. 'But he ran away like he saw a ghost? What's going on?'Kristoff looked into the distance, then he turned to Dragoncourt. For some reason, he thought Nox was related to this matter. "This is kind of creepy. We need to go," said Kristoff."So, we're not going to avenge Lorelei?" Mouse and Pig asked."You want revenge? What can you even do?" Kristoff mocked.Mouse felt humiliated, but he knew he could do nothing. For now, he must wait.Back in Dragoncourt, Nox was standing with his hand
Imperia was the center of Faeast's political and financial world. It was also the world's largest trading hub. This place was inhabited by the rich and powerful. Anyone out there could be a millionaire.In the western part of Imperia stood a group of grand palaces. It was resplendent and took up dozens of miles. Everyone knew this place. It was the central command center. The navy, army, and air force took commands from this place.This was where the king of the military lived. The first thing people would see was the nine pillars stretching into the skies. Every pillar was dozens of feet wide, and a golden dragon was engraved on each one of them.Nine was the most revered number in Faeast, with dragons being the most respected beast. The pillars stood tall, with dragons overseeing the land of Faeast. Behind the pillars were grandiose palaces, with the first being the Nox Chamber.The Nox Chamber was made for the first lord of Faeast, but now it was empty, with only a dozen soldier
As time went by, the golden light around Aphrodite slowly dimmed. In the end, she trembled, and the light scattered into the winds. She spewed a stream of blood and wobbled weakly, trying to catch her breath."I still can't cultivate it?" she said in disappointment as she raised her head, a bitter smile hanging on her lips."This might be a powerful manual, but it is not suited for you. This is his manual, not yours." A vague shadow appeared in the chamber. It was something like a ball of fog or a blob of dark soul, though it was clear the one behind the shadow was an old man. His face, however, was obscured.Aphrodite didn't panic at the sudden appearance of the shadowy figure. She sighed. "Is he the only one in this world who can cultivate this, Grandpa?"Her voice noticeably changed at the mention of "he."The shadowy figure nodded. "Yes. Not only must the cultivator be a Legend Realm, but they must also cultivate using the inscriptions on the token, or they will fail. This man
When the shadowy figure was finally gone, Aphrodite raised her head, her eyes closed."Greenie, we'll be together forever!""Greenie, teach me how to fight!""Greenie, I love you. We'll travel the world someday. We'll be together forever, won't we?"Memories flooded Aphrodite's mind, and a drop of tear slithered down her cheek. It fell onto her hand. She looked at it and chuckled bitterly.Aphrodite swung her arm, and an air of violence roared around her. The tenderness she had a moment ago was gone, replaced by a cruel gleam in her soul.…At the same time, a car was swerving toward the military. It screeched to a halt, and someone hopped out in a hurry. He was none other than Houston. The sight of Nox scared the soul out of him.Houston left everything behind and hopped onto a private jet to Imperia. He'd gone a full day without eating, but the first thing he did was report to the military. He charged toward the entrance, but a quartet of armed guards pointed their gun barrel
"He claims it's urgent, and he saw a dead man. A guy who's supposed to be six feet under, but he's in perfect health."A frown creased Aphrodite's forehead. "A dead man?" Silence ensued for a moment. "He's cleared for entry.""Yes, milady."A moment later, Houston showed up. He saw the sallow man near the Phoenix Chamber's entrance. He sat there with his eyes closed, quiet as a rock. Even so, Houston's legs trembled.Houston quickly went around without giving the man a look, and he ran into the chamber, where a beautiful figure sat. Aphrodite.When Houston entered, he dropped to his knees. "My humblest greetings, milady."Aphrodite gave him a look. "Rise. What brings you back here?"Houston quickly said, "I bear urgent news. Traveled all the way back without stopping.""And what is this urgent news you speak of?"Houston paused for a moment. "Whatever you hear next, you must stay calm, milady. You mustn't let rage take over. This is bigger than I can imagine."Aphrodite smile
Houston knew very well how cruel the new lord was. During her crowning, a lieutenant general claimed she was unworthy to be lord. The next day, that person was decapitated and he was disemboweled. The body was hung in the lieutenant general's home, little more than a bag of skin.Houston shivered. "Y-Yes, milady." He told Aphrodite how he saw Nox in Riverton. He told her how the Woods were there to pick Thalia up and how Nox was in Dragoncourt.Aphrodite was already black as thunder, and at that point, the murder around her was becoming palpable. "Are you sure it was him?"Houston nodded. "I am very sure. Though I was just a regular unit in logistics, I saw him a lot of times. And he possessed a regal air no one else has. That's how I'm sure it's him."Aphrodite's face turned grim. "He's alive? But how? He's afflicted with Kirin Firepoison, and the ten nations' Legend Realms beat him into the sea."She mused over it for a moment, and her heart trembled. "Still, he is a lord and th
Three months later, Nox declared Faeast as the leader of all nations, ushering in a true era of peace and prosperity. Then, he abdicated the throne, passing the throne to Nineve. Nox proclaimed that this nation was neither the Greenshade nor the Limerent family's, but a world that belonged to its people.One year later, Nox and Queenie lounged under the warm sun on the sandy shores of the Ocean of Death, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility. The world had finally settled into peace, allowing them to take a well-deserved rest."Nono, what's Aphrodite up to?" Queenie asked, her brows furrowed as she leaned against Nox. "Is she planning something shady again? She's been building alliances all over like she wants to imitate the Three-Eyed Empress.""Death changes people," Nox replied calmly. "Don't worry about her. She knows exactly what she's doing."Old Aphrodite would've killed Jacques and run off to save herself without a second thought. Instead, she spared him, stripped his cul
The Nine-State Crucible hovered majestically over the heavens, drawing all the spiritual energy from the Nine States and Five Domains into itself. As the ultimate artifact of Faeast, the crucible was unmatched—a legendary relic that had never known defeat.The origins of the Nine-State Crucible were shrouded in mystery. No one knew who forged it nor why it disappeared over the ages. For centuries, many dismissed it as a mere myth. Yet now, it reappeared, proving its existence—and, by extension, the truth of all the ancient legends tied to it.The sight left every cultivator present in awe, bowing in reverence to the artifact."The ancient sovereigns of Faeast forged the Nine-State Crucible to safeguard the Nine States and Five Domains. "Its power ensures that Ascendants cannot interfere with the mortal realm. It has crushed even Ascendants in the past, and you, still merely a mortal cultivator, think you can stand against it? I promised to crush you, and I will!"With Nox at it
However, only Nox himself could sever the celestial providence. Only by cutting off the Celestial Lord's celestial providence could Faeast's providence be restored to its peak."Damn it! Nox Greenshade! Do you really think you can defy the heavens? I didn't want to damage my cultivation, but it seems I have no choice but to go all out! You think a one-ring Minor Saint can defeat me? I am the Celestial Lord—the apex of mortals, the Great Saint of Dao and Virtue, ordained by the heavens themselves!"The Celestial Lord's furious roar resonated across Mystia, drawing in vast waves of spiritual energy from the realm that converged upon him alone."Great Saint of Dao and Virtue? If the so-called heavens of the Transcendent Firmament made you, it only proves that even they have failures," Nox retorted coldly.Even the Celestial Lord, enraged as he was, could scarcely believe Nox's audacity—daring to disparage the mighty figures of the Transcendent Firmament."I am indeed a one-ring Minor
'What? Griffin was a sworn brother to Magic Mountain's founder?!'"That's right," confirmed the formation master. "He only told us recently."As the first to learn of this connection, he had shared it with the Saints of the Five Elements, ensuring they wouldn't betray their alliance. Using the promise of ascension as leverage, he managed to secure their cooperation. After all, the Great Saint of Fire had already reached the threshold for ascension.The risks were minimal, and upon ascending to the Transcendent Firmament, the Magic Mountain's founder would surely offer his guidance. For that reason alone, the five mentors had rallied to aid Nox.With such mighty forces gathered, morale on Nox's side soared. Meanwhile, the Whitefield family's spirits plummeted, crashing from the heights of hope to the depths of despair in mere moments. The mental strain caused several of their weaker-willed members to break completely.With dread settling over them, the Whitefields could only place
The Whitefields were getting cocky, but then they realized the powerhouses that came weren't responding. The aura was powerful, but there was no life in it. On closer inspection, they noticed that the leader of the group only had half a body left. His soul was missing. The quartet behind him was nothing but a pile of mincemeat.The portal buzzed again, and seven silhouettes came out. Five of them felt domineering, and they looked prideful. It almost felt like they were peerless. These people were none other than the Saints of the Five Elements.Four of them were Pinnacle Minor Saints. While one had an aura so strong, this place couldn't handle it."A Great Saint! Great Saint of Fire!" Fiery Ignis, Dominic, and Achille couldn't believe their eyes.It had been too long since Mystia saw a Great Saint, and he was Nox's mentor."So, he's the one who broke through first. But now he's already hit his bottleneck. The other four's power isn't enough. If the Sacred Beast Seal isn't upgraded
The Montgomerys and the Byrds decided to see Nox together, but they were refused. They were cursing Nox and calling him disrespectful, but then they saw Nox and his team taking a portal to the path of the ancient divine."What? He went right to them? Why? He's going to fight the Celestial Lord now?" The representatives were shocked.'How dare they!' they thought.Nox and his team went through the portal quickly and appeared right over the Whitefields' place. The Whitefield family was the newest member of the divine four and the real mastermind behind the Inkdarks' demise."Kirin, I told you I'd take you back here someday. I told you that when we come back, the Whitefields will be no more. If you can't do it, I can wipe them out for you." Nox looked at Kirin."Don't look down on me, milord. You don't need to dirty your hands for them. I'll do it!" Kirin summoned his avatar, and with Saint power infused, the avatar turned into a real beast. The sacred beast itself descended upon the
"Time to finish this. My lord's going to the path of the ancient divine next. You should decide who's going to take over after the Celestial Lord is taken down. That's all. Now let's talk about our personal business. Listen up, anyone who had a part in attacking my family, tell your clans that I'm coming for them. I'm killing all of you!"Bloodlust filled the air, and the representatives were shocked. "You killed your own family. Yes, we made them attack you, but we never wanted to wipe it out!" the Whitefields' representative said.Kirin flew into a rage. "How low can you go? You forced them to kill me, or you would wipe us out instead! You think I'm stupid? You'd have killed my family either way! I know how you guys function. You're crueler than any beast out there. Listen up, there's still time to plan for your funeral. You'd better make a good plan."Kirin chased everyone away. The families were going back to prepare for battle, but two remained behind. One was the Byrds' repres
Nox's Magick Sword crushed the enemy leader's soul. "I said I would cut you down, and I did. Now do you see who's the ignorant one?"The enemy leader realized that Nox was the man at the pinnacle. Perhaps the moment Nox became a faux Saint, he was already no match for him. "So what if you can kill me? You are Faeast's Sovereign, and you have a duty to push Faeast to power. But the Celestial Lord still exists. As long as he is around, your wish will never be fulfilled." He sneered."Is that so? Well, he's next on the list to be culled. If anyone tries to make an enemy out of me, I will destroy them and their families, even if they are from the path of the ancient divine!"Nox shattered the remains of the soul, and the path of the martial's leader was no more. The problem harassing Faeast for millennia could be solved at long last. Achille was stunned. It hadn't been that long, but Nox had surpassed him.Nox was better than him in every way. He was an even better swordsman than Achil
The enemy leader was waiting. One technique broken wasn't enough to take Nox out. He wanted to wait until Nox had cast all he knew and find an opening to take him down, but Nox wanted to take him down with the power of the sword."You're stubborn. Very well, this makes things easier for me. I'll kill you, or at the very least, wound you!" He'd be stupid not to take advantage of this. The enemy leader's avatar morphed into a gigantic fist and slammed into Nox's chest.The impact shot through his body and reached his soul. Nox spat blood, and his soul was injured.Achille couldn't stand by anymore. Nox just told him not to push himself, but he wasn't taking his own advice. Then, Nox's weak will-of-the-sword shone blindingly, and then Unto the Origin appeared once more."Even under my pressure, you can use this technique? You're strong, but you're as stubborn as your mentor. You've lost your chance! Die! You'll never get here in time, Achille! Shadowkill!"The enemy leader's avatar t