"Doesn't matter. We have our orders. Now we just have to do it," Bayon said."Of course, Bayon.""Let's go." Bayon turned into a cloud of crimson fog and disappeared.The air around Bason and Badon was slowly filled with crimson fog as well. Moments later, they turned into a blur and disappeared.…Another day went by. There were two days left until the wedding. A bunch of relatives had arrived at Queenie's house thanks to George. He wanted the whole of Riverton to witness this wedding. After all, he knew how stately the man Queenie would marry was.First thing in the morning, more relatives came to Queenie's house. One was Yvette's cousin, while the other two were George's cousin and uncle.George led Queenie out to welcome them. Keith and his team were protecting Queenie and her family as per Nox's orders.A silhouette in a black robe appeared on the corner of the street across. The only thing visible was his devilishly green eyes.His shuddering gaze fell upon Queenie. A lo
Badon returned to their hideout in Riverton."What? The Butcher is here?" Bason asked. For some reason, the mention of Keith contorted his face with rage."Yes. I saw him with my own eyes," answered Badon.Bayon sneered. "No wonder she sent us here. It turns out that we have a Rank Nine Grandmaster guarding the target.""Damn the Butcher! I didn't expect to see him here, but we can finally settle our score! I've been holding it in for three years!" Bason said."Calm down, Bason. The Butcher is a Rank Nine Grandmaster. It won't be easy to take him down," Bayon said."Are we going to just let it slide?" Bason screeched and tore his robes back, revealing a hideous scar dotting his rune-covered torso.Previously, the Shadow Division tracked down Bason when he was in Imperia, and Keith was the one who came. They ran into each other at the train station, and the battle that ensued was terribly ferocious.Bason used everything he had, but he was no match for Keith. In the end, Keith s
It was eight at night. Queenie and her mother came out of the house. Queenie was wearing a dress and a pink jacket. She paired it with white sneakers, looking innocent and lovely.Upon seeing that, Keith quickly came up to Queenie. "It's late, milady. Going out?"Queenie smiled. "Yes. We have to be at the train station to pick up a relative.""But it's late. It's not safe," Keith said with concern. Nox told him to keep Queenie safe, and he was going to do just that."You worry too much. It's only eight. The station's about half an hour away. We'll be fine," Queenie said.Keith was hesitating. He checked the darkening sky. "Fine, but we're going too.""Wait, you guys are coming along?" Yvette blurted."Yes," Keith answered adamantly.Speechless, Yvette looked at Queenie. Queenie understood that Keith was just doing his job. She said, "They can come with us, Mom."Though she thought it was weird, Yvette agreed. Keith and his team followed Queenie to the train station.Keith and
Keith, of course, kept an eye on Queenie. Yvette and Queenie weren't worried at all. They didn't think anyone would attack them in public.About fifteen minutes later, a train was coming in. The arrival was announced, and Yvette smiled. "They're here. Been a while since you saw your great-aunt. She adored you when you were little. Took you around for some literal catfishing." Yvette started reminiscing about the past.Queenie smiled. "I remember her. She had a pond at her place. I fell into it when I was a kid, and she saved me.""I'm glad you remember."Tourists shuffled out of the train, luggage in tow. Queenie and Yvette stood on their tiptoes, looking for the dame.A while later, a wrinkly crone in almost anachronistic clothes came out, holding a snakeskin bag. She was in her seventies, her skin rough and tanned from her work in the village. With her was a girl no more than seven years old.The girl had grimy hair as if she had gone a long time not washing it, but her eyes we
Something tugged on Queenie's heartstrings. She picked up the girl and kissed her cheek. "Thank you, Nat, but I can't take this.""But great-aunt said you have to. It's for your wedding."Queenie wanted to explain, but the crone stuffed the gift into her hands. "Take it. I don't have much, but it's the least I could do."Queenie held the gift, touched by the gesture. She picked up Nat again. "I'll take it, then. Thank you, Nat. So, where do you want to go? Anything you want to eat? I'll buy it for you."Carefully, the girl said, "I-I want to ride a car. The ones that go up a hill.""You mean the roller coaster?" Queenie smiled."Yes. She saw that on TV and wouldn't shut up about it. So here we are." The crone smiled.Queenie kissed Nat's cheek again. "I'll take you there tomorrow. And we're having a whole day for ourselves.""Thank you, Aunt Queenie!" The girl happily wrapped her arms around Queenie's neck.Keith was listening to the conversation, and he was moved. A long chat
"Oh my god. What is that thing?" Yvette screamed in terror.Queenie was flabbergasted. She had never seen anything this horrifying, and she blanched as well.The Shadow Division members quickly formed a protective circle around the Mini. Everything around them turned into a blur. Suddenly, a crimson claw burst from the fog, charging at Keith's team members and the car behind them.Before the claw could hit, a towering figure landed before the car with a thud. Keith.Keith lashed a fist at the claw. "Who dares attack? Show yourself!" The punch could break almost anything it touched, and the winds it stirred shattered all the shops' glass windows.The fist didn't stop there. It tore through the air and shredded the crimson claw into pieces."I expected no less from the Butcher." Someone chuckled. A silhouette in black robes slowly manifested itself in the mist.His face was obscured, but the air around him was tainted with evil. Keith shot him a glare. "Who are you? How do you kno
The Curseland Demons were strong, of course. They grew up learning cursebugs and witchcraft. All of them were top Zen Realm sorcerers.It was also said that Bayon had been an Origin Realm sorcerer for a few years.Faced with Keith, Bason's eyes glinted. "Let's settle this!" He made hand seals, and black runes appeared before him. He pointed ahead, and the runes shot at Keith like arrows.Keith roared. The purple strongwind turned into a barrier and crushed the runes. He then slammed his fist down on Bason.No sorcerer could take a heavy hit head-on. Bason retreated into the crimson fog. Keith's fist missed, and the energy crushed the house behind.While Keith and Bason were fighting, Keith's team members were on high alert, protecting Queenie and her family.Queenie and her family were stupefied at the scene, especially Yvette. She couldn't believe Keith just destroyed a house in one blow. Her voice was chattering. "W-What's going on, Queenie?"Queenie was similarly stunned. She
Even the ground was shattered from the roar. Shockwaves undulated across the battlefield. Just when they were about to devour Bason, a gigantic phantom face charged forth from the fog and dashed toward Keith.Sensing danger, Keith somersaulted through the air and punched the face with his fists. The face shrieked and zoomed backward. Another silhouette came out of the fog."Bason, I told you it's not easy to take him down."Keith looked at the newcomer coldly. "Bayon, eldest of the Demons."Bayon let out a sarcastic laugh. "Ah, the commander knows my name. What an honor."Keith said in a shrill voice, "You guys are number nine on Skyweb's Most Wanted. Of course, I know your names!"The Demons laughed."Where's the other one? Get out here so I can take down all of you in one go!" Keith declared."How arrogant you are, Commander Moon, but you alone are no match for us!" Bayon snorted derisively, the evil around him thickening."Shut up and die!" Keith, a Rank Nine Grandmaster, r
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