Gideon's declaration left Francis momentarily stunned. Overcome with anger, he let out a laugh. "You want to take our heads? Fine. I hope you have the strength to back up such claims and aren't just making empty threats!" He stomped hard, causing the ground to crack, and launched forward like a cannonball."Francis, be careful! Don't underestimate him. He defeated the Shadowgnaw Overlord with a single punch!" "What?" Francis' heart skipped a beat. His momentum waned, and in that instant, Gideon struck with his palm, sending him flying. Francis flipped in the air a few times and landed awkwardly, stumbling back more than 30 feet away. His expression turned grim. "What did you say!" "Francis, he took down the Shadowgnaw Overlord with one punch, and this inner core is from that beast." Francis was furious. "Why didn't you mention that earlier?"Naturally, Francis was aware of the Shadowgnaw Overlord. Over a year ago, he had faced it in battle but had retreated in a miserab
The ground trembled.Giles' eyes widened. "This is bad. Francis is about to use that move!"That scared him so much that he immediately retreated.At the same time, Francis had finished gathering his energy. He slashed downward with his blade. At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary strike, but it sent a chilling sense of danger through Gideon."It's Bane Sabre's fifth form, the Soul Severing Slash!"Just a moment ago, he was only using the second form, and now, he suddenly jumped to the fifth. It was no wonder the power skyrocketed!Gideon's morale flamed on. His mighty frame trembled, unleashing the raw power of his flesh and blood. He showed Francis' attack the respect it deserved. "Doombringer Knuckle!"At that moment, both the fist and sword energy collided, shaking the earth.The shockwave blasted Giles, leaving him covered in blood. He collapsed unconscious on the spot.Just then, a figure shot out of the battlefield, diving into a descending military aircraft."Tr
"Go check it out," the chief ordered.The squad rushed forward. Immediately, they were scared out of their wits."Sir!""This… This is…""It's Brightbane Sect's Francis… and Giles!""How is that possible?"Everyone was stunned.Francis and Giles were monstrous talents known throughout the entire eastern plains. Even as rogue cultivators, they had heard of them.But now, they had been killed!Who had the audacity to do this?"Sir, what do we do? Should we retreat? This is serious. We can't get involved.""No, fortune favors the bold. We're not far from Brightbane Sect. We must report this to their higher-ups immediately. That way, they can track down the killer in time. Maybe we can even get a reward, or better yet, a chance to join Brightbane Sect."The subordinates hesitated for a moment, then came to an agreement.They quickly chopped down trees and crafted two simple coffins, placing the bodies and heads inside. Carrying the coffins, they rushed toward Brightbane Sect.
Naesbrey Fortress stood tall in the middle of Glass Sea. The sea was truly dazzling, filled with brilliant colors that painted the entire sky in breathtaking hues, making it look like something straight out of a comic book."Mr. Snow, I wonder, what urgent matter has brought you all this way to seek an audience with Umbra?" Luna asked."Well… This matter is quite complicated, and it might disgust you," Gideon stated."Mr. Snow, please speak freely.""Let me introduce him first. This old man here is the Grand Elder of Moblathos from the outside world.""Moblathos?" Luna's expression changed.Decades ago, when she was still a child, she had heard of someone from Moblathos sneaking into Naesbrey Fortress to prey on women. It was shameless, vile, and despicable."Ms. Lumen, I told you this would disgust you, but calm down and hear me out first." Then, Gideon turned to Kori. "Get out and wait outside."Kori was both embarrassed and furious, but he had no choice.After Kori left,
As soon as Gideon finished speaking, Luna's expression darkened.She sneered. "Mr. Snow, you're being far too blunt. That's not good. I really don't want to turn against you. To be honest, I don't quite understand."You know that Umbra has a pure-essence physique, yet you still bring Ms. Seymour to Naesbrey Fortress? Do you really think you alone can protect your wife against all of Naesbrey Fortress?"Gideon said, "Indeed, I'm not arrogant enough to believe I can single-handedly take on all of Naesbrey Fortress. But I assume that Ms. Crescent is righteous and would never resort to such despicable acts. She shouldn't have any plans on using my wife's negative energy."That's why I suspect that this decision was made by you alone and has nothing to do with Ms. Crescent. My guess is that something has happened to Ms. Crescent. Am I right?"Luna's expression changed for a bit. "Mr. Snow, you are truly perceptive. I won't hide it from you. Umbra encountered some complications in her c
Even Luna was shaken to the core."Activate!"It wasn't over yet. Gideon clenched his fists tightly and let out a thunderous roar toward the sky. His raw physical strength exploded, causing the palace to tremble violently and forcing Luna to step back.In everyone's sight, Gideon's hair whipped around wildly. His expression was cold and imposing, and his eyes seemed as if they could steal one's very soul."Ms. Lumen, how does it feel? Tell me. Do you still think I don't have the power to bring disaster to Naesbrey Fortress?" Gideon's voice was as firm as iron.Luna's heart pounded wildly, and her face was filled with disbelief.How could Gideon be this strong? How old was he?Among the younger generation of the eastern plains, the strongest was Umbra, who was only 28 years old. Yet, Luna had a feeling that even Umbra wouldn't be able to stop Gideon.Despite Umbra's young age, she had become the leader of Naesbrey Fortress, standing as an equal to the head of Martialgarde and th
"Frenzy poison? What do you mean?" Luna looked puzzled. "Is it some kind of toxin? Isn't Umbra just suffering from a cultivation backlash?""No. It's a terrifying poison."Gideon was both shocked and thrilled. He never expected Umbra to be afflicted with poison. But fortunately, it was just frenzy poison.He had a secret ritualistic technique that could suppress it. This was practically fate.It was as if the heavens had arranged for him to help Umbra and, in turn, for Umbra to help Elara. One event led to another in a perfect chain. It was like destiny.Seeing Gideon's expression, Luna felt a glimmer of hope. "Mr. Snow, do you have a way to cure her?"Gideon enunciated each word carefully, "Ms. Lumen, first of all, let me be clear. Even if Ms. Crescent were to absorb Elara's negative energy, it would never remove the frenzy poison. As far as I know, in this entire world, I may be the only person capable of suppressing it."Luna hesitated, unsure whether to believe him.He cont
Luna hurried away to personally search for the rare medicinal ingredients. Many of the herbs Gideon had listed were extremely precious. Naesbrey Fortress was short on time. She needed to act fast and trade with other factions to obtain them.Eve Hill was completely confused. She was Umbra's sole mentee. She was not even in her late teens, yet she was already a half-transcendent with immense potential. But since Luna had given her orders, she had no choice but to follow them.After settling Kori and the others in, Eve returned to the central palace and continued heading upward. She wanted to visit Umbra, but she hesitated.…Time passed. Inside the room, Gideon's face was pale.He was exhausted. He had overestimated himself and underestimated the frenzy poison. Helping Umbra forcibly suppress it had left him mentally and physically drained.The good news was that Umbra's condition had significantly improved. The frenzy poison was being suppressed in a controlled manner.Late into
The High Marshal title worked like a charm.The mayor of this city, Bailey Pearce, personally welcomed Gideon and his group into his residence with great enthusiasm and utmost respect.After all, news of Gideon storming Cook Manor and carrying the Imperial Token had already spread through every level of government across the Nine Provinces. Who would dare provoke the High Marshal?"Marshal Snow, what brings you to the Wasteland? Are you here to scout for resource troves? If so, I'd be happy to guide you myself.""There's no need for that. I'm here for information on Nethercult."Bailey was visibly startled. "Marshal Snow, Nethercult is one of the three major powers in the northern region. They're no joke."Gideon gave a cold snort. "I'm here to kill their cult leader. If Nethercult's disciples know what's good for them, they'll be put to work mining resources. If they don't, then I'll wipe them all out."Bailey broke out in a cold sweat.So, the rumors were true. Gideon was like
Attwell was already a Supreme.And judging by his energy, he wasn't just any Supreme, but a peak Supreme. He was probably even stronger than Pope of Light and Yohan. No one expected Attwell to have reached this level.Edric and Jandial immediately backed off."Attwell, we meant nothing by it. Don't act on impulse. Alfsee's our grandnephew. We will never hurt him.""Yeah, Attwell. I was out of line earlier. That's on me."Attwell gave a cold snort and reined in his energy. Only then did the two finally breathe easy."It's really not that big a deal." Attwell shook his head and said calmly, "I know the location of several S-class dragon veins in Dasovia. There's one right here in the Wasteland. If I wanted to, I could subdue it. With the power of an S-class dragon vein, I could go head-to-head with him."But what's the point? Fame, fortune, power—none of it means anything to me. Life is short. I might as well live it relaxed and comfortably."Edric and Jandial were deeply shaken.
"Forget everything else. When it comes to familial ties, I'm your uncle. No matter how you look at it, you should come out and see me," Jandial exclaimed.That seemed to work. Inside the bamboo house, a presence stirred.Moments later, a handsome middle-aged man stepped out, dressed in rough linen clothes, long hair loosely draped over his back, yet still carrying an unmistakable noble air."Attwell…""Things have changed. I'm no longer a prince. I'm just Attwell."Edric and Jandial exchanged glances, then said, "Attwell, don't get the wrong idea. We're not using Alfsee to threaten you."Attwell smiled. "I've let go of all that. Alfsee might be my son, but he holds no sway over me. He has his own path—whether he lives or dies has got little to do with me."That caught Edric and Jandial off guard.Watching Attwell watering the flowers, they realized they couldn't read him anymore. Atwell really might have let go of everything and returned to simplicity."Attwell, this is a rare
A visit to the Nethercult in the northern Wasteland—perfect. It was basically a free pass to wipe out Nethercult.Gideon's killing intent surged.Jessica said, "Marshal Snow, should I talk to my father and arrange for a troop to assist you?""There's no need for that. If I wanted, I could contact Samson and have the Dragon's Aegis flatten Nethercult. But that would put Elara's life at risk. I'll pay the Nethercult a visit myself. I want to see what kind of stunt Tristan is trying to pull.""Marshal Snow, it's too dangerous. Tristan definitely has something planned. He wouldn't be bold enough to let you walk into Nethercult otherwise.""It's fine." Gideon wasn't afraid.He already had the confidence to take on a supreme. Even if Tristan had brought backup, it didn't matter."Gideon." At that moment, Ronan and Noel arrived."Mr. Foley, I didn't expect to see you here."Ronan laughed. "I was actually there the day you were appointed. Back then I was trying to guess who the new Hig
"Supreme core, huh?" Gideon muttered, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Interesting. I'm intrigued.""Die!" Tristan screamed hysterically.Gideon rapidly retreated—not out of fear, but to create distance, preparing a devastating killer move.Suddenly, a violent wind howled, spreading intense heat. The temperature in the area shot up.At that moment, firelight flickered in both of Gideon's hands. The left one glowed bright red—it was the Earthcore Flame. The flame on the right shimmered eerie green—it was the netherflame.Then, he brought both hands together.The two heavenly flames began to fuse, though they resisted each other, violently clashing under the pressure. The moment the seal was lifted, the explosion would be unimaginable.But that wasn't enough.Gideon opened his mouth and breathed out streams of core power, merging into the flames. The nation's destiny surged into it as well.The buildup of energy already roared in the void.The seawater beneath Gideon's feet spl
"Proceed!" The word rippled through the skies.From Imperial Palace, it shot out, passed through the High Marshal Seal, and transmitted over Tyrant Sea—stirring it to a boil, shaking the whole place.A dragon's cry echoed through the void from the seal.Next, a mysterious force poured out from the seal, flooding into Gideon's body, lifting him as if to the summit in one step. A commanding, Supreme energy surged from within."This is bad!" Tristan's expression changed.At this moment, Chase had approved Gideon's request. Empowered, Gideon's strength skyrocketed as though he had instantly leapt to the supreme level."Damn it!" Tristan clenched his teeth.He didn't want to back down, but he had no choice. He had to avoid a head-on clash."Are you trying to run away?" Gideon sneered.Now, he was invincible. Tristan was just a weakling—a bug. There was nothing more to him."Tyrant Sea, rise." Gideon raised both arms. The seawater grew wild and furious, surging hundreds of yards int
The broken blade condensed the force of the blade itself."The great Marshal Snow is using a broken blade? How pathetic! My ghost blade was forged over three years, infused with countless rare materials. It's indestructible," Tristan boasted, laughing."If the man's weak, the weapon doesn't matter."Gideon's casual jab left Tristan speechless, his face flushed with shame."A smart aleck, I see. Die!"Just like that, a black blade arc came down.Gideon stayed calm, swung the broken blade, and a white arc of energy shot upward.The black and white blades clashed and shattered on impact.Tristan's next move followed immediately. "The eighth style of the 13 Ghost Blades! Nether's Pass!"The strike carried a chilling gale. The sound of wailing ghosts and howling spirits echoed.As it neared, Gideon noticed countless skulls swirling in the wind. They were only shadows, but enough to make one's scalp crawl. They were clawing and snarling, like demons escaping from hell."Those are p
"Bitch!" The three men were furious and humiliated.As Nethercult guardians, being injured by a woman was unthinkable!"Nethervoid Hands."They moved together, and an intimidating hand seal came crashing down.Noel was just about to step in when suddenly, Elara stepped forward, facing the incoming attack head-on without a trace of fear. Pure essence energy erupted from her, causing the surface of the sea to freeze."Ice Soul Palm." A cold gleam flashed in Elara's eyes as she slammed her palm forward, clashing with the hand seal in a massive explosion.The three guardians were sent flying.Elara also coughed up blood and was knocked back into the floating palace."Elara!" Jessica panicked and rushed in, helping Elara up."I'm fine." Elara then wiped the blood from her lips and closed the palace gates.Her physique was strong, but her cultivation level wasn't high enough. If it got serious, she couldn't match the three guardians.Still, that brief clash had been her first rea
Gideon and Tristan clashed fists and were blown backward.Gideon's whole body went numb. He thought to himself, "Anyone who's remotely close to the word 'supreme' is no joke."Tristan, meanwhile, was shaken to his core. The moment their fists met, a massive force surged through his arm.If he hadn't reacted in time to deflect the impact, his body would've taken serious damage. Even so, his right arm was almost completely numb now.His long sleeves covered it so no one could see the trembling."No wonder it's called the Solar Titan Physique. It's one of the top-tier physiques. Now I see why.""That was nothing. Watch out, Mr. Neblanc. I'm about to turn it up." Gideon laughed loudly, battle intent soaring.He launched a full-on attack.It was not a secret technique. Instead, it was just pure close-quarters combat.That put Tristan in a tough spot. Just one exchange had already left him at a disadvantage. If they kept going toe-to-toe, there was a real risk he would get injured an