The next day, an airplane landed at Riverton International Airport, and a figure lovelier than any celebrity came out of the VIP cabin. She shone bright and robbed everything around her of their luster.The figure was gorgeous and possessed a regal air, much like an empress, and a pair of men followed her. One was sallow and had the eyes of a dead man. He was donned in nothing but a gray robe, and a saber covered in black cloth was cradled in his arms.The other was Houston, deputy head of logistics. As the team approached the airport's exit, Houston asked, "Milord, why'd we board a plane? You could've asked for a private jet."When Aphrodite was told that Nox was alive, she decided to make a trip to Riverton herself. She wanted to see if the story was true. "What do you know, maggot? If I make my leave all of a sudden, the military will suspect foul play," said Aphrodite coldly."Yes, of course. How astute, milord. I can't believe I missed that," said Houston."Enough. Get us a r
Aphrodite waved at Houston. Houston was still trying to get a ride, but he quickly returned to Aphrodite. He was surprised to see the trio of ruffians standing with Aphrodite. "Who might they be?""They offered us a ride. Awfully kind of them, don't you think?"'What?' Houston couldn't believe it. 'These fools want to give the lord a ride?' He didn't say that out loud, however."Let's go, then." Aphrodite turned around and smiled.The ruffians were buzzing with excitement. 'She's easy. And I thought it'd be harder. It's our lucky day,' they thought."This way, please." The ruffians led the way to their car, and a while later, they were in the underground parking lot."That's my ride. Feast your eyes on it, lady." The man with dreadlocks took out his car keys and pressed a button.A G-Class beeped, and its headlights lit up. Aphrodite smiled. "It's passable.""Come with me, please." The man with dreadlocks approached his car.Just when he was about to open the door, Aphrodite s
An hour later, the G-Class arrived at Dragoncourt. Houston pointed at the estate. "That's where I saw him."Aphrodite rolled her window down and looked at the estate. "Stop the car," she blurted.Houston stopped the car a few hundred yards away from the estate. Aphrodite got out of the car, followed by Houston and Lonewolf."Lonewolf, the air around you smells like murder. Stay here. If he's alive, he'll notice you the moment you get into a thousand-yard radius around him," said Aphrodite.Michael Lonewolf said nothing. He gripped his saber tighter and grunted, then Aphrodite walked away. Houston was wondering what he should do, then he quickly followed Aphrodite.It was a clear day, but Dragoncourt was covered in a blanket of fog. Though the mountain wasn't towering, the formation blocked it from anyone's view. Aphrodite was at the base, staring at the estate far up high."Is he really still alive?" she muttered. She had no idea what to feel about the news. 'Am I looking forward
Aphrodite thought her heart was pierced by something sharp.Some distance away, Nox walked Queenie to her car. Before she left, Queenie hugged Nox and said something to him. Aphrodite could only watch while her heart throbbed with pain. She glared at Queenie with venom in her eyes.After Queenie was out of sight, Nox made his way back up, but he felt something and stopped in his tracks. Then he turned his eyes to Aphrodite's hiding spot.Aphrodite quickly cast a Presence Hiding Charm and held her breath. Nox lingered around for a long moment. When he was sure no one was hiding, he returned to his estate.After Nox was gone, Aphrodite heaved a long sigh and gulped in some fresh air, as well as Houston, who nearly suffocated."Milord, did you see that? That's him. He's still alive. Lord Nox is still alive," said Houston like he'd seen a ghost."Shut up!" Aphrodite screeched maniacally, and Houston almost fell."I can't believe he's still alive. Even after he's afflicted with Kirin
"Are you worried about Ms. Sanders, milord?" Keith asked.Nox didn't answer. He had no idea why he had this ominous feeling. A moment of silence later, he said, "Perhaps. Keith, I'll need you to keep Queenie safe. Nothing must happen to her!""Yes, milord," said Keith.After the Battle of the Ten Nations, the person Nox cared about most was Queenie. No matter what, he wouldn't let anyone or anything hurt her, especially not when their wedding was drawing near.…Aphrodite was in a luxurious presidential suite, gloomy and brooding. She held a golden dagger, slicing and cutting a photo of Nox. The photo was already tattered, but that didn't stop her. Her fury was unabated.Behind Aphrodite was Michael, still standing silent like a log. A long while later, someone rang the doorbell, and Michael opened the door.Houston hurried into the room. "I found it, milord," he reported to Aphrodite.Aphrodite was still cutting up Nox's photo. She ordered, "Tell me, Houston. Who's the bitch w
"He's going to marry an ordinary woman? How is this possible?"Houston remained kneeling. "But it's true, milord."Aphrodite was having a breakdown after hearing the news. Fury and jealousy were clouding her mind. She clenched her fists, her eyes crimson with rage. "I'll kill her! Houston, find out where she lives! I'll destroy her myself!""I'll drag her through hell! No one crosses me!" Aphrodite screeched like a banshee.…Night had fallen over the city. After dinner, Queenie went into her room for yoga. She changed into her yoga attire and started training while her parents worked on the invitations.The shadow of night encroached deeper into the land. Eventually, a trio of silhouettes appeared on the roof.Queenie was engrossed in her yoga, oblivious to the appearance of the strangers. She was still wearing her earphones, listening to music.Houston said, "That's her, milord."Aphrodite stared daggers at Queenie. Queenie's perfect looks and curves only deepened Aphrodite'
A quartet of Shadow Division members followed Keith. Houston gasped. "Wait, that's Supreme Tiger. Why is he here?"Aphrodite was staring at Keith venomously. "I see. Nox must've noticed something." She was a smart woman. The moment Keith showed up, she knew Nox must've realized something was off."You mean Lord Nox sent him here?" Houston was surprised."Yes. If there's anyone who can predict the future, it's him," Aphrodite muttered."What should we do, milord? Do we proceed with our mission?" asked Houston.Aphrodite looked at Keith. "She can live for a bit longer. If Keith is here, Nox won't be far behind.""I can handle Keith," blurted Michael. His voice was as icy as he was, but he was ready to battle."Forget it, Lonewolf. Fall back." Aphrodite knew Michael all too well. He was born to fight, and powerful rivals would only excite him.Aphrodite left, but Michael didn't do so. Instead, he shot a frigid look at Keith before he took his leave.When Keith arrived, he sensed
Queenie didn't know Keith well, but he left a good impression on her. How he called her made her blush, however. "What brings you here?""My bro sent me. For your safety." Keith couldn't tell Queenie who Nox really was."Nono did?" Queenie was surprised."Yes, milady."Queenie felt warm inside. "He's being overprotective. Riverton is a safe place.""No such thing as too much safety. Besides, you two are getting married soon." Keith smiled."I see. Don't just stand there. Come in and have some tea," invited Queenie."It's alright, milady. We're fine just standing here," said Keith.Queenie couldn't force them to come inside if they didn't want to. She said, "Call me if you need anything.""Sure thing. Thanks, milady."Queenie went back inside. With Keith protecting Queenie, Nox could feel at ease.The next day, Queenie was going to pick out her gown, and Yvette needed to go with her. The moment they came out, Keith showed up. "Heading out, milady?"Queenie beamed. "Yep. Pick
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
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