After that, Nox barely talked to Melania at all. It didn't take long for the train to stop at Southtomb. The little group hopped off their ride, standing at the packed entrance of Southtomb's station. Nox stared at the skyscrapers in the distance. "Here at last."Nox swiveled back. "Your family calls the shots here?""Yes," said Melania."Good. Take me to lunch, then," Nox said imperiously.Melania couldn't refuse, or she would die. Humbly, she asked, "What would you like to eat?""Anything's fine."Melania didn't press on with any more questions. She hailed a ride and led Nox to an eatery. This city was her family's base of operations, so she knew it like the back of her hand. Soon, they arrived at Sunshine Restaurant, the most famous eatery in this city.Every rich businessman or politician would pick Sunshine Restaurant for their gatherings or dining events, so that was where Melania took Nox.The building was octagonal and towered like a mountain. Supercars lined up at the
Master Kingsley smiled. "If you say so, Mr. Hobson. I shall lend a hand, then. After all, us Phantomslayers have always been guest officers for the Regals.""Thank you, Master Kingsley."The group came in, and Donald summoned a waiter to get them the best table, all for Master Kingsley.Just as Master Kingsley was glancing around, he spotted Melania. He shivered. "Could that be…"Noticing that, Donald asked, "What is it, Master Kingsley?"Master Kingsley was looking at Melania closely. He muttered, "But that's Ms. Melania. How can she be here?"That did not escape Donald. Excited, he turned around as well.Finally recognizing Melania, Master Kingsley stood up straighter. "It is her!" He walked up to Nox's table quickly. Donald and his group followed closely."Greetings, Ms. Melania. I am Ashton Kingsley, part of the Phantomslayers." Ashton bowed to Melania.Melania wasn't expecting a run-in with a Phantomslayer here. She looked at Nox, but he didn't even look at them, so she s
After getting chased away, Ashton remained outside, looking gloomy. "Something's off," he muttered."What do you mean, Master Kingsley?" Donald was perplexed.Ashton looked at Sunshine Restaurant. "I get the feeling Ms. Melania doesn't feel right.""What do you mean?""She's not the subservient kind, nor would she look for anyone's permission to do anything. I'm almost certain that punk's holding her hostage.""What? But that's Ms. Melania. That punk wouldn't be so daring, would he?" Donald had a look of disbelief on his face."No idea, but I'm sure she's in trouble." Ashton narrowed his eyes, looking at the restaurant. "Here's an order, Donald. You and your men go to the Regals and tell their family head what we saw," ordered Ashton."Right away." Donald and his students quickly left for the Regals' place.Ashton's eyes were filled with rage. "I don't know who you are, punk, but threatening Ms. Melania is unforgivable!"Back in the restaurant, Nox and Melania had their lunch
After that, Nox kept on walking. He didn't pay any attention to Melania throughout the whole episode as if she was invisible.Melania and Nox arrived at the hotel a while later. Melania got Nox a presidential suite, and it was huge. It had everything, including the southwest's famous salt spring.Nox scanned the room, pleased with what he saw. Melania stood with him carefully."Well done. Now prepare the water," ordered Nox."What do you mean prepare the water?" Melania was confused."I want to use the hot spring. Do you expect me to do it dry?" Nox asked coldly.Melania was speechless. 'He wants me to fill the spring with water? I'm a lady. This is servant work.' Still, Nox controlled her, so she had no choice but to do as she was told.The spring was filled a while later. Nox shed his clothes, ready to get into the hot spring.Speechless, Melania covered her eyes. She cursed in her mind, 'Dammit! You can't strip right in front of me!'Melania wanted to scream, but she rememb
Melania felt awkward. She couldn't believe she was peeking at a naked stranger, but to make things worse, he caught her red-handed. She wanted to hide somewhere no one could find her.Nox repeated, "Don't just stand there. Come and wash my back."Melania was speechless. 'So, he really thinks I'm his servant? He wants me to wash his back?' Though furious, Melania was still Nox's hostage, and his body was perfect, so she obliged and came closer. 'Not like I'll lose anything rubbing the back of a guy like this,' she thought.Nox lay in the spring, the top half of his body naked. The tattoo on his back was impressive. Melania came closer and carefully went down. She picked up the white towel beside her and started washing Nox's back like a servant.Nox was enjoying his hot spring, while Melania had to crouch just to serve him. Every time she rubbed his back, Melania felt her heart thump. This was her first time rubbing a guy's back. Not even her fiance had this privilege.Melania kept
And no one in her family besides Drago could stop Nox.Nox got out of the hot spring and draped a white towel around his waist. "You can leave now."Melania stood up and looked at Nox quietly. She then said "Okay" and left.…The Regals were a family of martial artists whose history spanned centuries. They were even more powerful than the Curseland Five. Not only were they the leaders of the southwest's Martial Alliance, but they were also one of the richest families here.Their patriarch, Drago, had a physique on par with any Legend Realm. Everyone said he was invincible. He ranked number seven on the Heavenly Ranking.The Regals held great sway over all five states in the southwest, and their connections spanned far and wide. As Drago's eightieth birthday was nearing, all sects in the southwest, including the Phantomslayers, sent representatives to celebrate it.Even so, Nox declared that he would be taking the Regals' family heirloom at ten the next morning.The Regals' mano
A young man in a robe came out looking upset. "Bad news, Dad. I just called Greentown's sects. They're all dead. Killed. Even Melania's gone missing."Everyone in the great hall looked shocked. Nathan roared, "What? Dead? Are you sure?""Yes," the young man answered. He was Joshua Regal, the second son of Nathan.Nathan shot up from his seat. "And Melania?""Like I said, missing. I can't even get through to her," answered Joshua."How did this happen?" Nathan's face was contorted with rage. He whirled around, staring at Ashton. "Master Kingsley, are you sure you saw Melania in Sunshine Restaurant with a lad?""Yes, Mr. Regal.""Dammit, what's going on? How did the sects' people die? And why'd Melania show up all of a sudden?"Nathan looked more upset with every passing second. Ashton proposed, "Perhaps everything's linked to that lad?""The one with Melania?""Yes. As I've told you, Ms. Melania was subservient to him. She didn't even dare talk in his presence."Nathan's face
A long while later, Melania woke up. She only fainted because she couldn't take the pressure, but now she should be fine."Melania!" Nathan and his sons called out to her with concern.Melania sat up and told a servant to get her some water to drink.Seeing her better now, Nathan asked, "Melania, are you okay?""Yes," said Melania."What happened in Greentown? I heard the four sects were massacred?""Yes." Melania nodded.Fury filled Nathan's face. "Who's the bastard who did that?"Melania didn't sell Nox out. She sighed. "It was my fault. I should never have crossed him.""Who?" Nathan froze."Greenshade. I don't know his first name though," muttered Melania as she thought about Nox."Greenshade? The guy Ashton talked about?" Nathan asked.Melania said nothing, but the look on her face told Nathan what he needed to know. "Damn the little bastard. He messed up my turf and threatened my daughter?" he roared."He should pay for this. Dad, say the word, and Joshua and I will
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