Sovereign Antique Shop, lounge area.James was still playing with Plants Vs. Zombies, but Thea’s appearance kept popping up in his mind.Maybe Cynthia was right about him. He did not let her pay because he wanted them to get Thea to come so he could see her.He had a lot of things he wanted to say to Thea, but he could not say a word after seeing her again.It all felt unnecessary. His heart felt contradictory and complicated.It was an unprecedented feeling.Cynthia was also very sensible and did not disturb him.Time passed by slowly.Ten minutes later, a few muscular men dressed in black suits approached him. One of them was carrying a black safe in his hands.“Sir, we’ve brought it.”Yuri nodded. “Alright.” He glanced at James and said, “Mr. Caden, let’s head up to my office to open it.”James stood up.“This way, please,” Yuri gestured to him upstairs and immediately walked in front to lead the way.Yuri led James and Cynthia to an office on the second floor.The
James held his breath.Cynthia also watched attentively.She was also curious about the contents in the chest that James was willing to spend 100 million to purchase. At the same time, she was also suspicious of why James had the keys to open the chest.Under Cynthia’s gaze, James gently turned the key.Click!A crisp and loud sound resounded.The bronze-colored chest slightly popped open.James' eyes were glued on the chest.Inside the chest was a folded scroll.He carefully took it out.The ancient scroll was made of unique material, keeping it well preserved. At the same time, it was relatively heavy.James unfolded it and spread it out on the table.The ancient scroll was enormous, reaching a length of one meter when it was unfolded.“W-What is this?”Cynthia glanced at the drawings on the ancient scroll and was puzzled.“Is this a scroll of meridians and acupuncture points?” she asked.James carefully observed the scroll.Eighteen little figures were drawn on the
Sol’s Capital, a courtyard house.This was the Emperor’s Mansion, the residence of the Emperor—the Five Commander’s leader and the commander of the Red Flame army.The Emperor had already returned to the Capital.In the courtyard, under a gazebo.A middle-aged man dressed in a black suit was speaking to a young man in his twenties.“Bobby, I haven’t seen you in several years. You were still in high school the last time I saw you. What brings you here today?”The middle-aged man in the black suit was the Emperor.“Mr. Johnston, to be honest, my family has received news that a chest from the ancient tomb of the Prince of Orchid Mountain appeared in Cansington. We’ve also been informed that Thomas’ descendant has his hands on it. Grandpa sent me here for two purposes. One is to retrieve the chest, the other is to kill the descendant of the family’s traitor, Thomas.”The young man explained his motives.He was a handsome man dressed in a white shirt that spoke calmly and with a co
The Emperor smiled and said nothing more.Soon, a man and woman walked toward them. It was James and Cynthia.The Emperor immediately stood up and opened his arms to hug James. “James, what a rare visitor!”James lifted his foot and kicked the Emperor as he said coldly, “Don’t put on an act. You know why I’m here.”The Emperor quickly dodged his kick and took a few steps backward. “What do you mean, James? I’ve no idea why you’ve come to see me,” the Emperor said with a puzzled expression.“You’re James?”A voice sounded.James heard the voice and turned toward the source.A young man in his twenties stood up. He was dressed in a white shirt, looking at him disdainfully.“Who are you?” James frowned. Bobby glanced at James and said calmly, “Bobby Caden.”James' brows furrowed deeper. ‘Who is this person?’The Emperor smiled and said, “James, let me introduce you. This is Bobby from the Cadens of the Ancient Four. His grandfather is your granduncle. Strictly speaking, h
“Haha!”Bobby laughed coldly as if he had just heard the funniest joke of his life.“What are you saying, James? How dare you ask me for the Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside's Edge? The Cadens are the protectors of the Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside's Edge painting. You’re the descendant of the Cadens’ traitor. You’re just a remnant of a family that deserved to die. You also deserve to die!”James' face darkened.He slowly walked toward Bobby.The Emperor quickly walked over and stood in front of James. “What are you trying to do, James? Do you know who he is? He is the direct descendant of the Cadens and the future head of the family. You’re just a descendant of the Cadens’ traitor. It’s already disrespectful enough that you didn’t kneel to greet the future head of the family.”“Get out of the way,” James roared.His voice sounded like the rumble of thunder, making the Emperor stunned.The Emperor was only able to regain his senses after a few seconds. In fact, he simply came to
Bobby said fearlessly, “James, you son of a b*tch, you’re a sinner. You better kneel to me right now! Or else, Thea is going to die.”James glared at Bobby. “Never. A man never easily gets on his knees. How could I kneel to a b*stard like you?“Thea used to be my wife, but we’re already divorced. You’re a fool to use her to threaten me.”“Slash her.”Bobby ordered through the phone.Cansington, a construction site.Thea was tied to a chair.The place was heavily guarded by men dressed in black.One of them held a sharp dagger against Thea’s face.When he received the order, he immediately slashed the dagger across her face.A bloody wound instantly appeared on Thea’s left cheek as the knife swiped across her face. Blood began to drip down her cheek, staining her white dress red.She felt severe pain in her face but could only whimper since her mouth was covered.Thea struggled to free herself but was to no avail.Bobby held the phone and shook it in front of James as he sa
The Emperor narrated the story of the Ancient Four’s origins.The Ancient Four dated back to a thousand years ago.“Prince of Orchid Mountain?”James frowned. There was no record of this person in history.He glanced at the Emperor and asked, “Who’s that?”The Emperor shook his head.He also did not know who the Prince of Orchid Mountain was.“How would I know about a person that existed a thousand years ago? Moreover, very little is recorded about him in the ancient scrolls of the Ancient Four.”“Mr. Johnston, why are you explaining so much to him?” Bobby said dissatisfiedly.The Emperor waved his hand and said, “Bobby, James is also a descendant of the Cadens. He should know about the history of his family. Plus, the things I’m telling him aren’t secrets anyway.”Bobby stopped interfering. His hand was broken, and he could not gather any strength in his arm.He waited patiently.When the people he arranged in Cansington to retrieve the chest unearthed from the Prince
“Really?” Cynthia was surprised.Bobby shook his head and said, “How would I know? It’s just a family myth. In ancient times, there were rumors of emperors searching the seas to search for immortal medicine and even offering sacrifices to the heavens to obtain immortality. The topic of immortality in Sol is endless.”Speaking of this, Bobby snorted coldly.“Why am I even sharing this with you guys?”Bobby sealed his lips and said no more.Meanwhile, James was deep in thought.He contemplated whether the Emperor and Bobby were telling the truth.The atmosphere grew tense once again.Time passed minute by minute.More than half a day had passed in the blink of an eye.At this moment, Bobby’s phone rang, and he answered the call.“We’ve retrieved the chest.”Bobby did not reply. He simply hung up the phone, stood up, and left.James stood up and blocked him. “You’ve got what you wanted. Let Thea go. Otherwise, I won’t let you leave this place today.”“You piece of trash, do
The sky was a brilliant blue, accented by white clouds. Vast plains stretched out with rolling peaks, rivers, and seas crisscrossing the expansive land, while an aura of Spiritual Energy permeated everything. This was a new world, brimming with life and vitality, existing independently from the myriad realms.Countless cultivation resources awaited discovery here. Unending adventures beckoned the brave, and limitless opportunities awaited those with exceptional talent.This was the new world James had created, based on the Forty-Nine Daoisms and merged with his own Daoism, to resolve the Leere Tribulation and save countless beings across the myriad realms.In this world, there was no powerful Heavenly Path, no hierarchy of races, no strict rules or oppressions, and no fate governing everything. Instead, actions were judged by karma. Fortune and misfortune, as well as success and failure, were determined by karma.Though it adhered to the principle of survival of the fittest and res
“No wonder,” Lord Goyo finally understood after an extended contemplation.He distinctly remembered that back at the Yin’s Void, Jacopo, the incarnation of Waitara Path’s Soremsia, had abruptly ordered him to move all foundations out of the Dark World. In hindsight, everything now made sense. It was likely that Jacopo had foreseen all of this.Realizing this, Lord Goyo felt a chill run down his spine as cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Despite doubting Jacopo’s identity as an incarnation of Waitara Path’s Soremsia, he had followed his advice. Otherwise, the consequences would have been disastrous.Snapping back to reality, Lord Goyo looked down at the Yang governor and Gladwin from his elevated position.“You fool, do you realize your mistake?”The Yang governor and Gladwin looked up simultaneously, their faces full of fear.“Lord Goyo, I truly didn't notice this. I had no idea when the Dark World was separated.”“Lord Goyo, there is something fishy about this. If James has
At the peak of Mount One in the myriad realms, the Yang Governor, disguised as James, descended with Gladwin. Both looked deathly pale, as if they had just escaped a life-threatening disaster. They were filled with panic.They stopped simultaneously upon arriving beneath a massive platform in a grand dojo.“We need to sort this out first,” the Yang Governor glared fiercely at Gladwin. “Who's going to explain this later, you or me?”Gladwin swallowed nervously. “Of course, it should be you.”“Why should it be me?” the Yang Governor scoffed. “Haven't you always claimed to be Lord Goyo's top confidant and meddled in our alliance's affairs? Now you're chickening out when there's a major issue?”Gladwin's face twitched. “This has nothing to do with cowardice. It's your duty as the leader of the Path Guardian Alliance.”The Yang Governor laughed in exasperation. “You've always been the one gathering intelligence across the myriad realms, boasting that you're better than Yegor from Skyn
That was the first thing he asked after surviving a monumental battle. James patted his shoulder. "The twenty thousand men…" "As long as it's broken," Wyot interjected, staring into the emptiness. "It's a pity the Dark World is gone forever."James wanted to respond, but the other survivors gathered around them. After the battle and the aid of the path source, they had ascended to Path Emperors, becoming top powerhouses in the myriad realms.James nodded, then waved his hand, summoning a path pearl that gleamed with holy light. The light and aura it radiated were enough to make any living being kneel before it.Just as James was about to act, Wyot knelt on one knee, followed by his warriors.James frowned. "Wyot, brothers, you have the right to stand…""We will not be Deified until the Leere Tribulation is broken!" Wyot declared loudly, clasping his fists. His warriors did the same."We will not be Deified until the Leere Tribulation is broken!"Their voices were unified, echo
Then, the Formation of Perception shook violently. When he snapped out of it, he realized that the twenty thousand Doom Race warriors led by Xezal had almost all perished.Among the remaining ones, three were losing their bodies. Hastily, James tossed three path sources into the formation, but it did not stop their bodies from crumbling."Move them out, quickly," urged Zella. "They're under immense pressure inside."James waved his hand and broke the Formation of Perception.Xezal and his remaining warriors—just three of them—appeared in the void. They were tattered and covered in blood. Their hair was unkempt, and they were barely recognizable. These were heroes who had experienced hell.Though wobbling, they stood in battle stances. Their valiance and undying will moved James. He turned his hand and covered them with four path sources, then told them to sit and heal."That's the Doom Race for you. The fact that they survived this titanic battle says a lot about their talent," Z
"Fourth, I have left some treasures for the Yaneiri Clan. They should be enough to establish yourselves in the new world. Fifth, do not be Deified. Never, ever do that. You must keep the Yaneiri Clan safe."Wynton's body contorted, plunging him into further pain. Cracks spread across his skin. "You owe me, James! You owe my clan!" he roared for the last time in his life before crumbling into dust.The light strips that imprisoned him shattered as well, and purple flames lunged at James' light wall, the shockwaves splintering it into fragments before rampaging toward the inconsolable Zella.James flew to Zella, scooped her up, and they took off. The shockwaves from Wynton's self-destruction rapidly spread, obliterating the surrounding formations.But that wasn't the end. Once freed, the shockwave rippled across the Dark World, annihilating everything in its path. Countless universes met their demise.Meanwhile, James protected the remaining Doom Race warriors within the formation,
Wynton was hysterical, but James merely shrugged. “Wynton, they say the last act people do before they die is to be kind. I see none of that in you, and you lost to me.”“And so what?” Wynton roared. “You’re just luckier than me, James! You have a Yin governor as your wife, and she has your back all the time! You would never have come this far otherwise!”James smiled. “Keep going.”“I know you don’t want to owe me any favors.” Wynton glared at him angrily. “You gave me three free attacks to repay me for sparing you in the River of Time.“Now, I’ve given you your children’s past selves back, and you owe me once more. You’re waiting for my terms, aren’t you?”James looked resigned.“Wrong,” Wynton sneered. “I won’t ask for any promises, nor will I give you any chance to repay this debt. Now, you shall owe me a favor you can never repay!”James sensed something was wrong and was shocked. “Wynton!”Wynton, imprisoned, began to burn, flames flickering and licking his body. He roare
"That’s…" The sight of that token filled Wynton with shock. "Y-You’re working with the Shadowborns?""Will you give it to me?" James shot him a threatening look.Wynton shivered, taking a deep breath. Then, a flash of purple light burst forth, and a brilliantly shining mirror flew out from the top of his head.James released Wynton and grabbed the mirror. It resonated with the token, and both items shone blindingly, responding to each other.'It’s true,' James thought. 'The Shadowborn token the master gave me before he left can sense the Nothingness Path Mirror. But why?' Questions swirled in his mind."That mirror will do nothing for you," Wynton said. "I can’t control it, so you can’t either. The only one who can is the Yin governor."He looked at James. "And she’s cleaved in two. Unless you can merge them together, the mirror will not work. However, with just your wife’s half-self, finding Wuia’s current and future selves will be a nigh impossible task."James tucked the mirr
James remained silent. He couldn't muster a response. Now, he finally understood why the Leere Tribulation had been orchestrated and the role his wife played in it.He had initially thought that by destroying the past version of Wuia concealed within the River of Time, he could hurt Wuia. Even if he couldn't stop the Leere Tribulation, he could at least delay it.With more time, he planned to gather additional clues and eradicate all three versions of Wuia, permanently solving the problem. However, his conversation with Wynton had changed his plans.Wynton observed James standing in silence and smirked. "Of course, there's a way to do this."James furrowed his brow.Wynton, brimming with glee, continued, "Kill your wife and the Light Heavenly Path. If they vanish entirely, Wuia will never obtain the Void Spiral. Even if the Leere Tribulation materializes and he returns, his strength will be no greater than before his reincarnation. You'll have enough power to fight him."That was