These mementos struck a chord with Nox. "Sir?" he called out quietly, but the old man gave no response.Nox checked his pulse. He ruminated, 'Very low frequency of heartbeat, barely any breathing, and his kidneys are close to failing.'But that was not the most important reason for the old man's condition. The real reason was a tumor in his belly. It was no ordinary tumor either, no. Instead, it was a ball of energy.Nox was experienced enough to know that it was inner energy the moment he touched the ball. However, the ball of energy hadn't made its way to the old man's elixir field. Instead, it was stopped and stored in his belly.Unable to be processed, the ball of energy dragged the old man into a weird illness."I see. He must've gotten himself into this because of an accident during training." Nox looked at the old man again. "You're lucky you met me. Since you've served the military your whole life, I shall save you."Nox extended his arm and held the ball of energy down.
Henry looked at his uniform. In surprise, he asked, "Are you a soldier as well?"Nox smiled, but he said nothing."Still, thank you for what you did. I will do what I can to repay this debt," said Henry with respect."You only healed so fast because it wasn't an illness you were down with.""Are you sure?" Henry now had questions."Yes," said Nox. He asked, "You only started feeling ill after your training, didn't you?""How did you know?" Henry was petrified.Nox answered, "Your training went awry, and the circuit of your inner energy went haywire. The inner energy got stuck in your stomach. All I did was smooth out the energy that's been trapped in your belly for years."Henry was at a loss for words. "You're a miracle, sir. Yes, I did get ill after my training. Forty years ago, when the war was still raging, I found an incomplete fist technique manual among the bodies of fallen soldiers."He continued, "After I retired from the military, I started practicing. Everything was
At the same time Nox was healing Henry, Queenie and her family were on their way to Sanders Pharmaceuticals. The factory was on the outskirts.Queenie and her family were in two cars. The one in front housed Queenie and her parents, while the one in the back housed Hogs and Jezebiah.George pointed at the road leading to the factory on the clearing ahead. "We're here, Queenie. And good thing Queenie's the company's owner now. If Dad finds out that Empire Corp bought out the company, he's going to have a heart attack."Yvette said, "What are you talking about? Henry's been in a coma for nearly a year. He can't even get angry at anything.""True." The thought of his wizened father made George sigh.A moment later, they arrived at the factory. The first thing they saw was over a hundred workers huddled in the factory.When Queenie came out of the car, someone shouted, "They're here! Surround them!"The workers quickly surrounded Queenie and her parents. The sudden confrontation sho
"You're the one who owes them, not me. The company belongs to your daughter now, remember?" Hogs answered.George thought he would blow up in fury. He couldn't believe his own brother would do this to him, but he couldn't argue. Queenie was the one who owned the place now, and Henry was still in a coma. He couldn't pay the workers."Give us our money!""Pay us, or you're not leaving!"The workers shouted and screamed again. They closed in on Queenie and her family, weapons at the ready. Hogs and Jezebiah smiled darkly.Just when things were about to get out of control, Queenie stepped forth. "I'll pay you guys."All the workers laid eyes on her. Queenie's parents were flummoxed.They thought, 'You're paying them? With what money? We owe them nearly a million. Collectively.'"You're paying? Fine, then show us the money." One of the worker's leaders stepped ahead. The man's name was Hudson Swines. He was a distant relative of Hogs' wife.When Hogs was the boss of Sanders Pharmac
The reignited wrath of the workers prompted Queenie to take more action. "If you don't believe me, I can swing by the bank and withdraw some money."Hudson sneered. "You're going to withdraw some money? Why should we trust you? What if you run away?"Angrily, Queenie said, "Then, you guys can come with me.""We're not going. We want cash, and we want it right now. Pay us, or you're not leaving," said Hudson, and he riled up the workers. "Listen up, people. We can't let them run away this time!"The workers were convinced, and things got out of control again.Queenie's parents were scared by the sight of this chaos. If they pushed the workers to the brink, they knew these people would stop at nothing to get what they wanted.George had to step in. "Honey, you need to call the family. We need to take whatever cash we have. And call all our friends. We'll have to take a few loans."Yvette was tearing up, but she quickly made the calls. Queenie, on the other hand, was blowing up wit
"Take me to Queenie right now."The servant paused for a moment. "But Master George told me to raise the funds. If they can't pay the workers today, something bad is going to happen.""Don't worry about the money. Just take me to Queenie, and I'll handle it," Nox said.The servant was hesitant. After all, she didn't know Nox. She didn't think she could trust him so easily.In the end, Henry had to step in. "What are you waiting for? Take Queenie's husband and go."The servant shivered and looked at Nox again. "Yes, of course, sir.""I leave Queenie to you, lad. Take her home in one piece," Henry told Nox.A smile curled Nox's lips. "Of course, Henry. I'll bring her home safely." He then left the house quickly and hopped into the car.The servant was driving. On the way there, Nox borrowed a phone from her and called Alexander. "Alex, do you still have the cash I told you to bring along last time?"Alexander was in his office. "Yes, milord. I still have it.""Good. I need some
"I do have money. The card is legit!"Queenie tried to explain, but Hudson wasn't going to listen. "Either you pay up, or I'll make you. We worked our asses off for you, and you're withholding our salaries? Guys, what say you? Should we make them pay?"Their emotions stirred, the workers roared, "Yes!"A venomous sneer twisted Hudson's lips. He held his steel bar tighter and jabbed it at Queenie. "One last time. Pay up!"Queenie was crying from fear now. She had no cash to pay everyone."You're not paying? Then you're asking for it." Hudson approached Queenie.George darted ahead and tried to stop him, but Hudson kicked him away. George fell, the pain keeping him down.Queenie roared, "Dad!"Hudson raised his weapon.The steel bar swung away at Queenie, but the split second before Queenie was hit, someone grabbed the weapon."You filthy bastard. How dare you attack my woman?" A towering figure stood before Queenie.It was none other than Nox.Hudson froze. Jezebiah and Hogs
The sight of Ferguson petrified George while Queenie's eyes went wide.Ferguson approached Queenie and smiled. "We meet yet again, Ms. Sanders.""M-Mister, what brings you here?" Queenie stared at Ferguson, dumbstruck.Ferguson answered, "My employer has heard of your financial woes. He sent me here to aid you. Monetarily speaking, of course."'Monetary aid?' Queenie's parents were speechless, and so was Queenie.Ferguson then snapped his fingers at the armored cars. The great vehicles roared closer to the factory. A dozen armed officers leaped out of the vehicles and pulled the doors open, revealing wads of cash stacked in the storage.Four armored cars brought a total of 150 million dollars. The impact stunned everyone once more. The workers, Queenie, and her parents, everyone. Yes, Jezebiah and Hogs included. Eventually, Hogs' legs buckled, and he almost fell unconscious.Nox was the only one standing still."A hundred and fifty million, Ms. Sanders. Take it. If you need mor
"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