The merging went on for half an hour before a loud bang came from the top of Gurenu Peaks. The mountaintop was then covered in a wave of great fragrance—the fragrance of a pill. Even Mano and his team could scent the aroma."What's that? Smells like medicine," a long-faced officer asked.Everyone chorused, "Yeah, and it's real strong too. I think it's coming from Gurenu Peaks.""Dammit, what on earth is happening in Shinogawa Temple? What's with this medicine scent?"Everyone looked at the mountain with surprise. The officers were wondering what was going on, but then a dark voice boomed behind them, "That's Faeastian alchemy!" The voice shook everyone's heart, and they trembled.The voice came from a red-haired silhouette. His face almost looked like a panther, but his eyes resembled that of a viper. He wore a white kariginu cloak and radiated a powerful air. Behind him were a dozen Yin Yang Masters who wore eboshi hats.The Yin Yang Masters wore white kariginu cloaks, and the e
These Yin Yang Masters, however, were clad in black, and their emblem was a serpent. Once again, Mano recognized who this was. "That's Great Priestess Nami from Izanagi Temple!"Eastsun had four temples that reigned supreme: Shinogawa Temple, Izanagi Temple, Garuda Temple, and the strongest of all, Amaterasu Temple. These temples were important for Eastsun, and all had existed for over a millennium.Mano quickly bowed to the entourage from Izanagi Temple.But Sachiko Nami ignored him. Instead, she walked up slowly to Mutou and bent over a little. "It's been a while, Great Priest Mutou."Mutou put on an eerie smile. "It has.""I wasn't expecting you to show up because of this, Great Priest Mutou. Perhaps this Faeastian is more powerful than I thought." Sachiko smiled.Mutou looked at Gurenu Peaks coldly. "Ever since the Battle of the Ten Nations, we've never been insulted this much by Faeast. This cur has the gall to barge into our nation and refine a pill in the ruins of one of o
"He's alone?" Mano blurted. "He did this all alone?"Hitomi nodded."He destroyed a temple that's been standing for a thousand years by himself? How is this possible?""Yeah, and that's not counting Kitagawa Temple, too. That one has thousands of worshippers."The officers and Yin Yang Masters saw Hitomi nod, and their expressions changed to bewilderment and disbelief.Mutou slowly said, "I see Greenshade is a Legend Realm, then.""A Legend Realm?" Sachiko froze."Yes." Mutou looked at the far east and muttered, "I had the chance to travel to Faeast and saw a powerful Legend Realm. Mousse, that was his name. He's a powerful man from one of Faeast's ancient families."One look from him, and he crushed my confidence. I was petrified for a whole afternoon. If he hadn't spared me, I would've been…"Everyone present had looks of shock on their faces. After all, Mutou was one of the top ten fighters of Eastsun."Of course, that was ten years ago. Now, my divine arts are on par with
Just when they were about to trek up the mountain, another loud boom came from the mountaintop, and then, a crimson pillar shot into the air. The scent of a pill radiated from that pillar.Everyone shivered and looked at the mountaintop again."A pill. Faeastian alchemy! Dammit, what is he making? What kind of pill radiates that kind of aura?" Sachiko was looking at the mountaintop solemnly."Who cares about that? There's three of us and one of him. We can take him!" Jirou said.Mutou was quiet, but he, too, was looking at the mountaintop, though his gaze was cold. "Let's go."The great priests and their retinue leaped up the mountain.On the mountaintop, Nox, bathed in golden light, sat before a green cauldron. The aroma of pills came from within."Finally done, I see." Nox's eyes snapped open, and beams of light shot at the cauldron. He raised his hand and summoned something. A blood-red pill flew out of the cauldron and fell into his hand. It was the Bloodchanger.The pill w
Before the memorial tablets, a vague silhouette of an old man sat quietly, cross-legged. There wasn't an ounce of vitality around him, as if he was a phantom.But then, his forehead started to blink, and the emblem of fire appeared. "Hm?" The old man's eyes snapped open. His right eye sparked with lightning, but his left was filled with gray fog. A frown creased his forehead."No… Kirin Firepoison… Something happened to it. Did he rid himself of that poison?" the old man gasped and leaped back up. His eyes went wide, and he touched the fire emblem on his forehead.When the old man confirmed that the emblem had appeared, his face turned into a mask of solemnity. Then, a loud rumble shook the air, and the ancestral hall started to tremble.Cracks came from underground, as if something was breaking, and then, another gash formed on the hall's ground, as if an earthquake had landed. The hall was broken in two. An ancient voice said, "Ah, I expected no less from the Great Lord of Faeast
As the patriarch's voice disappeared, the silhouette bowed once more, and he leaped out of the dark chamber.Phoenix Chamber, the bedchamber of Faeast's new lord, Aphrodite. Aphrodite was in her room, clad in red and cultivating. Dark crimson auras swirled around her as she made hand seals, and the auras formed an armor around her.On her forehead was a petite emblem of fire. This was the mark of the Mousses' Kirin bloodline. This mark meant Aphrodite had awakened her bloodline power. With that power within her, Aphrodite's cultivation was rising rapidly.Then, dark winds blew into Aphrodite's room."Who goes there?" Aphrodite harrumphed and swung her right hand. The crimson auras around her converged into a saber and darted backward. It fell upon the sturdy walls, leaving a five-foot gash."Good. I expected no less from the family's future pillar. You've awakened sixty percent of the bloodline's power."A dark voice came from behind, and a vague silhouette appeared before Aphrod
Though he had regained his full power, he still couldn't make the news of his survival public. After all, the military, court officials, and sects would be plunged into disarray. When that came to pass, the ten nations would avenge their humiliation.Nox's survival must be kept secret. That was why Nox never told anyone.Still worried, Aphrodite said, "Even so, if he does regain his full power, no one in the family can be his match. No one can fend off his Eight Techniques and Ultimate Sun Dragon Manual.""You worry too much. Greenshade might be a powerful genius, but our family isn't as simple as you think," said the silhouette cryptically, and he waved his hand. "Come out."A pair of shadows appeared. One was in white robes, while the other was in black. The man in white robes looked like a scholar, while the one in black robes had the face of a grotesque phantom.As if these two had just returned from hell, the air around them was filled with the stench of death. "Greetings, Ms
'They will be killed…'Hearing that, Aphrodite shivered, and fanaticism flared in her eyes. "Of course, Grandfather." Aphrodite had wanted to cull the dissenters for a long time now so she could consolidate her position. Of course, she was happy that her grandfather was finally starting the motion.The silhouette's eyes flared coldly. He continued, "If we want to unify the military, we must get rid of the Shadow Division. Greenshade built that division himself. The commanders and military judges swore their fealty to him. If the Shadow Division falls, all the military men who worked with Greenshade will take our side.""Yes, Grandfather. But the commanders are all Legend Realms, especially Keith. They say Greenshade taught him his Tiger Demon technique, and he's nearly invincible among his peers." There was worry in Aphrodite's eyes.She wasn't wrong. Being the commanders of the Shadow Division, Keith, Bear, and Bard were formidable. They couldn't be the commanders otherwise.The
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