"But we have—"He wanted to say they had the card, but Queenie interrupted, "Don't even get any ideas about that card. I won't take anyone's charity, Nono. It's beneath me."She added, "Besides, we don't know where that card came from, nor do we know who gave it to us. Do you think we can just use it?"Nox scratched his head. He had no idea how to answer that."Just go back downstairs. I need to start my job hunt." She chased Nox away.Nox felt a little miffed. "Guess it was a wrong call having Alex give us free money. Wonder how his purchase is going."…Ever since Queenie went with Nox, the Sanderses had been plunged into a dilemma. Centersea had ceased all partnerships with Sanders Holdings. The med factory hadn't been paying its workers for three months. They were one step away from bankruptcy.The whole family was draped in fear and uncertainty. Just then, a roar came from the residence's lobby."George, from this day onward, your daughter is no longer part of this family
Jezebiah was in a closed chamber. He asked, "Now that the bitch is exiled, what should we do?"Hogs sneered. "Now we just have to take all of George's shares.""But Dad, we've made an enemy out of Silas. Even if we get all of the company's shares, what will we tell him?" Jezebiah added.Hogs answered, "Don't worry. We're not the ones who made an enemy out of Silas. Besides, even if Centersea won't help us, I can still try and sell the company.""You want to sell the company? That won't be easy, Dad. We've made losses every year. Who'd buy our company?"A frown creased Hogs' brows. He wasn't confident in the family's company at all. Like Jezebiah just said, it was making heavy losses for years, and they had gone three months without paying the workers their salaries.Sanders Pharmaceuticals' production had ground to a halt, and the workers would keep coming to collect the debt. The thought of all these problems was giving Hogs a headache.And then a servant came hurrying into the
They could sell the company for cheap, but no one in their right mind would take it, yet Empire Corp themselves were doing something this crazy. Hogs took a deep breath."Mr. Laws, please come with me. We'll talk over tea."Ferguson waved him down. "We shall skip that. My employer has given me his command. The sooner we settle this purchase, the better."Ferguson pointed at the bespectacled man. "This is our CFO, Mr. Larson. He has gained all the necessary intel regarding your company. All that's left is the price offer. If the offer is fair, we shall proceed with the transaction."Mr. Larson smiled.Hogs couldn't believe the CFO himself was here. He wondered, 'Wow, they are fast. Not the top company in Riverton for nothing. But what offer should I make? The company has made losses every year. It's not even worth a few million. And we owe the workers three months of pay.'Hogs was wondering about the offer he should make. A moment later, he said, "This is a big decision to make,
Hogs was about to quote a lower price, but Ferguson said, "My employer dislikes the act of haggling, and he prefers having fives in his pricing. He is making an offer of 15 million for your company. Is that fine with you?"'15 million?' Hogs thought he was hearing things. 'Dear gods, that's a huge haul. Even at its peak, the company was only worth around that price, and now it's bankrupt, but Empire Corp is making a peak offer.'Buzzing with excitement, Hogs said, "Yes, of course. More than fine, actually."Jezebiah was grinning from ear to ear. He thought, 'Well, we just made bank.'"Can you sign the share transfer, then?" Mr. Larson held up his suitcase and whipped out the contract.Hogs quickly said, "Of course. Let me."Just as he was about to sign the papers, Ferguson said, "Mr. Sanders, I'm afraid you cannot sign the papers.""What?" Hogs was stunned.Ferguson smiled. "My employer has decreed that only Ms. Queenie Sanders can sign the papers for this purchase."The menti
The news of her permanent exile broke Queenie's heart, but she could do nothing about it. Her family used her as a chip on the table for their own profit, and now they kicked her out of the family.The thought of that ached her heart, and she was filled with fury. Still, life had to go on.Nox knew about the exile as well. He was on the first floor, looking out the window. "Alex should be done by now."Twenty minutes later, a car came to a stop before Pearl Residence. George and Yvette came out, and Yvette was talking to her husband. Eventually, she teared up. "Do you think she'll forgive us?"George inhaled deeply. "Don't worry. We're still her parents.""This is all your fault. You just had to freeze all her cards and let Hogs exile her. She's never been through this before all her life," Yvette grumbled.George knew he'd gone too far this time, so all he could do was sigh. "Alright, stop. I was just doing it for the family.""You'd toss our own daughter's happiness away for t
"You'd sacrifice my happiness for your company? I'm your daughter! And you know how much of a scum Silas is! You'd have destroyed me if you made me marry him!"Queenie's fury grew stronger, and her eyes eventually went red.A long sigh escaped George's lips. "You're right. This is my fault. I'm sorry, Queenie. Can you forgive me?"Queenie stared at her father in petrified confusion. 'He's apologizing to me? I thought he was here to demand an explanation,' she wondered.Yvette added, "Queenie, your father has never apologized before. This is his first time. You have to forgive him."Queenie might be their child, but she was no fool. They had just exiled her an hour ago and crossed her name off the family records, and now her father was here to apologize. Something was up.A moment later, Queenie asked, "Dad, why are you suddenly apologizing to me? Did Silas tell you to do this?"George waved his hands adamantly. "No, it wasn't him.""Then why are you doing this?" Queenie had mor
"Listen to your father, Queenie. You are part of the family after all," Yvette persuaded.Queenie stayed silent for a long while. Eventually, she asked, "Dad, did Uncle Hogs send you here? Tell me the truth."Queenie's parents had no idea how to answer that, but their child was smart. She knew the answer the moment they hesitated to answer. She sneered. "I knew it. Dad, Mom, I can sign the papers, but we'll need to agree on a couple of terms.""Name it. As long as we can go through with the deal, I can do anything you ask," George promised."Good. One, I'm canceling the marriage with Silas."George said, "Of course. Sign the papers, and I'll deal with the cancellation of the marriage.""Two, from now on, you have no right to interfere with my relationship. I can date anyone I like," demanded Queenie.George and Yvette didn't agree right away, but to ensure a smooth transaction, George agreed, "Fine, I can do that."And that was that. Queenie was over the moon. She didn't care w
Hogs was pacing around in his room, waiting anxiously for Queenie and her parents' return.Jezebiah said, "Don't worry, Dad. She'll come back."Hogs harrumphed and snatched up a cigarette. He inhaled deeply. "It's odd. They want to buy our company, so why do they ask Queenie to be the one to sign? I don't understand.""Me neither," Jezebiah said. "By all accounts, that girl shouldn't even have the opportunity to get in touch with Alexander. She even made up a lie about that bastard being Alexander's godson.""True, but why did Empire Corp come for her twice, then?"Jezebiah rubbed his chin. "Maybe Alexander took a liking to her, Dad."That thought was ludicrous. "He's taken a liking to her?" Hogs was stunned."Yeah. I've heard some stories. Rich guys love pretty and innocent girls. Especially naive ladies like Queenie. And she's a virgin, too."Hogs' eyes shone. "You have a point. No, wait, that must be it.""Her personality is rotten, but she's a top-tier beauty. I bet Alexan
"Tell them to eat shit, guys! We're taking this for ourselves, and if they pull anything funny, we're taking them out!" one of the swordsmen's leaders shouted, and his comrades agreed."Dammit, the bastards. We're going in as well! We got orders from the Shadow Division. If they attack us, they're traitors!" The sects' cultivators gnashed their teeth. The soldiers were stunned. Their people were fighting among themselves even when the mission hadn't begun.It was ridiculous to fight over who would get the credit. Then, someone inside the governor's estate came out with their hands held high. The swordsmen and cultivators were about to move, but a general said, "Hold it! I'm the commanding officer here! I'll talk to him!"He strode ahead. At the same time, hundreds of guns were trained on the alleged remnant of the Olympians. The general looked at the man and asked solemnly, "You don't look like an Olympian. Are you a Faeast citizen?"The man nodded. The general asked, "The Mousses?
At the same time, the captain of the squad that arrived first on the scene asked his chief, "Chief, the governor's still in there. Should we—"The general shot him with a glare. "Governor? He is no longer a Faeastian governor, and we don't negotiate with foreign enemies. He has a duty to protect his nation and sacrifice for it!"The captain nodded. Faeast's rise to power could not be stopped, especially now. The remnants thought they could threaten Faeast just because they got one hostage. It was a joke. Then, the swordsmen came on their flying swords. The soldiers couldn't believe what they were seeing."I can sense them. They're inside, and they only have one hostage. Probably the governor." The swordsmen came down and greeted the generals. The generals greeted back."We're counting on you."The swordsmen were about to go inside, but then they sensed more aura coming in. "More? No, they're Faeast's cultivators. Finally revealing themselves?" The swordsmen looked around, their w
"I'll mobilize the Shadow Division. We are to take them down," said Keith. They had some Magic Mountain swordsmen nearby. These people demanded to come to Imperia to fight, and now they could be used for this operation.The swordsmen were drinking away at a barbecue shop and complaining about the situation when the news hit them. "The guys who fought in Imperia got a lecture from the founder and got more power from that, but we get nothing at all?"They were a little frustrated, and then through the news, they saw news about the attack on the governor's estate. Just when they were wondering if it might be the work of the Olympians' remnants, Keith's call came."I need you to take out the bastards at the governor's estate. Take no prisoners! If you can save the governor, save him. If you can't, too bad. But if they have taken any civilian hostage, don't act hastily."The swordsmen were excited. "Don't worry about it, kid. Unless they have a Pinnacle Legend Realm with them, they're n
That was blasphemy. They were both Saints, and he was more powerful than Voltaic, yet he was insulted. "You bastard! Don't look down on me! I'm the leader of the Sect Alliance! I'll make you pay!"Tremeus had never been insulted before. He was one of the best cultivators in the world, after all. Flames erupted from his soul, and they crashed into Voltaic. Towering waves flew high into the air. The battle between a saintly swordsman and a powerhouse of the path of the martial was underway."Tremeus is putting in his all. If Voltaic hadn't won in his earlier fight, he might be defeated, but he did win, and his understanding of swordsmanship deepened. His aura's never been stronger. He might not be able to defeat Tremeus, but at least he won't fall." Dominic narrowed his eyes.Still, the outcome of this situation depended on Nox. If Nox could come out victorious, then all would be fine. If he couldn't, then not even killing Tremeus could change anything. Nox had cast all Eight Saintly
Voltaic arrived at a critical junction. Dominic suspected that he would be the powerhouse arranged for this plan. Voltaic stopped a distance away. He looked confused, and then he shouted telepathically, "Get out here, you bastard! Damn you, Aphrodite! You lured me out so you could attack Faeast? That's my homeland, you witch!"Dominic wasn't expecting this at all. "Wait, so there's someone else?" He was musing over the matter when he sensed another person's aura in the seas. "He's in the sea!" Dominic unsheathed his weapon. At the same time, Voltaic's divine sense noticed the person as well.He leaped into the seas, and then a hundred-yard ravine split open the waters a moment later. Voltaic's sword energy created a vacuum on the surface of the sea. Before him was a warrior in black, holding up the sword energy with his hand."Tremeus Lifenstein, leader of the Sect Alliance. He's a Saint too, but only his soul is intact. His life must be coming to an end, so he couldn't wait any l
"Yeah, this one's not as powerful as the ones in his tribulation, but it's no pushover either. Endure it, and she lives. Fail, and both of you die." Dominic looked at Aphrodite. "Look at her. She's smiling."Aphrodite had gotten over herself. She'd have stopped Nox if he hadn't tried to take the backlash, but now that he'd gotten himself into it, it was too late to do anything. When she'd freed herself from her chains, Aphrodite could finally be herself again.This was what she'd been waiting for. No matter the outcome, Nox had fought with her. Another lightning bolt fell out of the skies, and Nox took it head on. Only two bolts had fallen thus far, but Nox was starting to feel his strength fail.It was almost as if there was something watching from behind the vortex. It could feel Nox's strength fail, and it quickly dropped another lightning bolt."Eight Saintly Techniques!" Nox knew his body alone couldn't stop the bolts, so he quickly used his spells. However, that enraged the v
Nox dispeled the death energy and pulled Aphrodite back from the abyss."Nox!""Don't say anything. Death is easy, but living on isn't. You still owe the nation, and before you clear your debt, you are not allowed to die. Eight Saintly Techniques, Holy Revival!"That was Holy Revival. Once it became a Saintly technique, it could change fate itself. If Nox could handle the backlash, Aphrodite could survive.Dominic had been watching nearby, and he quickly flew into the Dao. "So he's made his move."Nox could save Aphrodite, but she'd run out of her lifespan. Not even he could tether that kind of person to life. It was time for the Master of Swords to make his move. "If you can handle the backlash for her, I'll use my power to prolong her life, Nox!" said Dominic telepathically.Nox glared at him. He knew the old man would save Aphrodite. That was why he came along. Aphrodite couldn't die. It would be a great loss for Faeast."Be careful, Nox. If you fail, you'll die too!" Domini
Nox nodded. "That battle was dangerous. I only got out alive through sheer luck, but to be honest, the traps after that were mediocre. I didn't even feel anything in the last few ones."After the Heaven's Cage trap, the threats from the northern battlefront, Mount Prison, and Sect Alliance did nothing for him. Aphrodite answered, "Because I relented. I hurt you and myself at the same time. Every time I tried to hit you where it hurt, I hurt myself too, so every trap after that had flaws in them. I wanted to kill you, but it only made you grow."Aphrodite smiled. She was just a maiden in love when she was dating Nox. Like regular couples, they'd banter and play games together, but those were days she couldn't go back to. Then, Aphrodite trembled, as if she could sense something. With a twisted face, she snarled, "Kill me. I want to die by your hands."It would be an honor to die at Nox's hands. She thought of herself as a warrior, and it was an honor to die in battle. She didn't want
Aphrodite almost felt like she'd found her old self back. It almost felt like she was his tactician again, and she was unstoppable back then. She could have anything she wanted. She thought she had everything under control. Everyone could be controlled, because she was smart enough to do that.And then reality gave her a big, fat slap. Without Nox, she could do nothing. "I've not done a lot of right things in my life, Nox. My grandpa's gone to the path of the martial. He's fully turned his back on Faeast," said Aphrodite. Nox's next enemy would be the path of the martial."They'll come sooner or later anyway." Nox nodded."One more thing. Amass all the power you can. Faeast hasn't survived this long all by itself. Where you stand now, you know the sacrifices of a group of people cannot fight the flow of destiny," said Aphrodite."Yes, it's thanks to the path of the ancient divine. It began in Faeast, and they wouldn't let the path of the martial do anything stupid," said Nox. The p