"My son… is alive? And… and he came back?" Daniel stared into the sky, and his vision blurred, perhaps from excitement or perhaps from something else. A long time later, he bellowed with laughter. "I knew this family's made up of tougher stuff than anything the world has ever seen!"…The night grew older. A silhouette was in a public cemetery, knelt beside a grave. His hair billowed in the breeze, but he remained kneeling like a quiet specter. "Mom, I'm back," he said in a shaky voice.Dim moonlight shone on the silhouette. He was none other than Nox. Eighteen years ago, five-year-old Nox and his mother were exalted from the clan. From then onward, they had no one but each other.Nox's mother once worked four jobs in a day to raise him. About a year later, she fell sick due to overworking, but she pushed through just to raise him. Eventually, when Nox reached the age of seven, his mother died.Nox remembered that day like it was yesterday. His mother had died on the eve of the Ne
"You didn't stand up for me when you kicked me and Mom out of the clan back then. You didn't even go and see her when she overworked herself to death. How dare you call yourself my father after everything you did?" Nox spat his vitriol like venom.Daniel didn't defend himself. He let Nox abuse him all he wanted in silence. A long time later, he said, "Yes, I failed as a father and husband, but it doesn't change the fact the clan's blood flows in your veins. It doesn't change the fact that you are my son!""Silence!" Nox roared and darted ahead like a meteor and then slammed his palm into Daniel's chest.Though he was the leader of his clan and the top dog of Imperia thirty years ago, Daniel didn't dodge this fatal attack. Nox's palm slammed squarely into his chest. A torrent of energy rumbled the cemetery, and dozens of trees broke in half.Even so, Daniel remained in his spot, unmoving and unbudging. The ground around him started to break, and the cracks didn't stop until a few do
"Daniel's a top Legend Realm. Not even the old gits in Imperia can hurt him. How did this happen?" Winston was confused."Damn it! Meishter! Tell me, who did this?" Claude asked Meishter murderously.Meishter quickly answered, "I don't know, Mr. Greenshade. He went to the cemetery where the madam was buried, and then he was hurt.""What? He went to the cemetery?" Claude and Winston had more questions after that. The cemetery in the west of the outskirts was where Daniel's first wife was laid to rest. It had been more than ten years since she died.'So why did Daniel go there?'"Quick, we must see him!" Winston and Claude rushed into the great hall.A dozen Legend Realms stood on the sides of the great hall. When Claude and Winston came in, they knelt. "Greetings, Mr. Claude and Mr. Winston.""Where's Daniel?" Claude asked."He's in the inner sanctum, tending to his wounds," an old servant said.Claude and Winston rushed into the inner sanctum. Daniel was inside, lying on a bed
Daniel and his brothers were powerful men. The fact that one was hurt left the other two seething and raging for vengeance. Just when Claude was about to slaughter the families in Imperia, a voice came from outside, "Hold it right there!"The voice wasn't loud, but Winston and Claude tensed up. "Mother!" They turned around and saw their partially blind mother in the great hall. Beside her was Gina.Claude had to ask, "What brings you here, Mother?"The matriarch gave him a cold stare. "Of course, I had to come. You fools would have ruined this clan otherwise!""But the bastards hurt Daniel! Are we just going to let it slide?" Claude huffed."And who told you the old gits were the ones who did this?" The matriarch gave her son another stern and imperious look."He's a Top Legend Realm. Who else but the old gits in Imperia could do this?" Claude's eyes were red with fury."Wrong. They were not the ones who hurt Daniel. Besides, he was already a Top Legend Realm ten years ago. Do y
Worried, the matriarch held her son. "Don't move. You're still too badly hurt.""It's alright. I can deal with this much." Daniel propped himself up against the headboard and smiled.The matriarch looked at her headstrong son and sighed. "Tell me, what happened?" she asked.Daniel waved the question down. "It's nothing to talk about, Mother. Stop worrying.""Nonsense. You call this nothing to talk about?" said the matriarch.Daniel smiled. "I'm fine, really."The matriarch heaved a long sigh. "I see. I know who did this to you. You know Nox is still alive now, don't you?" Though the matriarch might be blind in one eye, she could still see the truth.The fact that Daniel wasn't angry after getting hurt so much was enough of a surprise, but being happy on top of it could only mean that he knew Nox was alive.Daniel knew his mother was smart, so he nodded. "Yes, I do.""So, he did this to you?" the matriarch asked.Daniel didn't deny it. He looked up proudly. "He's all grown up
"I don't want to get into this mess. Before I die, I want you two to reforge your bond. Then I can rest in peace," said the matriarch slowly.Daniel said nothing. He didn't know if this wish could come true. However, it didn't matter to him. All he wanted was to keep his son safe; that was all."I'll be going now. Claude and Winston are waiting for you outside. You should talk to them." The matriarch slowly left the room. Not too long after that, Claude and Winston hurried in.They happily ran up to their conscious brother. "Daniel, you're awake! Tell us, who did this to you?" Claude asked, raring to fight.Daniel smiled. "You should stop asking questions about that. And I have great news for you two.""Great news?" Winston and Claude were surprised.Daniel nodded. "Yes. My son is still alive.""What?" The brothers gasped.Excited, Claude almost leaped in joy, and his eyes were filled with tears. "Are you sure that's true? So, the boy… the boy lives?"Winston was surprised as
"Are you stupid, Claude? Nox is still alive. We don't need to avenge him. And he's the Great Lord of Faeast. Do you really think anyone can leave a scratch on him?"Claude rubbed his head awkwardly, and he smiled. "True. I forgot he's invincible now. Lord Nox, eh?""The suicide squad was made for Nox. Now that he's still alive, it's time to hand over the management to him." Daniel took out a small token and handed it to Claude. The word on it read 'Greenshade.'This was the token of command. "Claude, take this token and tell Redsleeve and everyone else to swear fealty to my son. They are to meet him as soon as possible."Claude took the token. "Daniel, they're a proud bunch. They might refuse to take Nox's orders.""If they dare, then I shall kill them myself. Tell them it's an order!" A powerful aura exploded."I see. I'll tell them right now."Claude smiled, but then Daniel coughed up blood. After all, he was badly hurt. If it weren't for his own power, he'd have died. Talking
"You guys leave. I need some quiet time," Nox said slowly as he sat down.Knowing Nox's past, Bear and the others nodded before they left.Nox was alone, and he sat cross-legged.Bear, Bard, and Augustus were outside the main hall. Suddenly, Bear sighed, and he looked at the main house with worry. "The lord must be thinking about his mother.""Yes. I've heard the story. The Greenshades kicked him out of the clan when he was five. He had no one to rely on but his mother, but then…" Bard trailed off, and he eventually fell silent."Damn them! How heartless can they be? If it were me, I'd barge into their house and demand answers!" Bear balled his fists."Oh, shut it. You should stay out of this, Bear. Everyone has their own problems," chided Bard.Bear harrumphed. Whether he took that advice was a mystery to everyone.Augustus remained silent and standing.Time went by. Ever since Nox went inside, the surrounding temperature kept dropping.It was September, but the weather felt
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