"By the way, Mr. Bane, there's one more thing." Arlo suddenly remembered something. His expression turned grim, rage filling his eyes.Draven frowned in confusion. "What is it?""It's…" Arlo hesitated."Spit it out! Stop beating around the bush like some old hag!" Draven exploded."Mr. Bane, Francis and Giles… have been killed." Arlo gritted his teeth.Draven trembled.Then, his voice dropped in disbelief. "What nonsense are you spouting? Who would dare kill Francis and Giles?"Arlo's voice was heavy with grief. "We don't know yet. The killer hasn't been identified. We're still investigating. But Francis and Giles are indeed dead. They were beheaded. A group of rogue cultivators stumbled upon their bodies and brought them back."Draven staggered.Then, under Arlo's lead, he entered a secret chamber where the headless corpses of Francis and Giles lay before him."Who did this?"In an instant, an earth-shattering killing intent erupted from Draven. His fury knew no bounds.Ev
"It would be best if we could eliminate Draven and Arlo. That would bring Brightbane Sect to its knees!"Luna raised a hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.She said, "To avoid causing panic, I had kept something hidden from you all. But now that Umbra has awakened, I will be upfront about it."Although Brightbane Sect is indeed detestable and loathsome, we should avoid direct conflict with them at this time."Umbra is poisoned. Right now, Mr. Snow is helping suppress it, but it's still affecting her. If a battle breaks out between us and Brightbane Sect, I fear Umbra won't be able to match Draven."The room stirred with murmurs.Luna tapped her fingers against the table. The crisp sound spread across the hall, restoring order."However, don't forget that we have Mr. Snow. Mr. Snow's strength is unfathomable. He is our honored guest. If Brightbane Sect is foolish enough to start a war, I doubt Mr. Snow will stand idly by."There's no need to panic. Carry on with your duties a
As soon as Gideon and Umbra stepped out of the grand hall, Eve came running toward them. "Ms. Crescent, you're finally out of seclusion!""What's wrong?""Ms. Crescent, you might not know yet, but Brightbane Sect is likely preparing for war against us. Ms. Lumen has assembled an army of 300,000 stationed at the front lines."Not only that, many factions are watching in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity. Naesbrey Fortress is in an extremely dangerous position at the moment."Umbra narrowed her eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them. "Brightbane Sect… Draven… He's digging his own grave.""Ms. Crescent, it's great that you're awake. Please head to the front lines at once and take command.""There's no need. Tell Aunt Luna that if Brightbane Sect's forces dare to step into Naesbrey Fortress' territory, show no mercy. Start the war immediately. There's no need to hold back."Eve felt her heart tighten.Meanwhile, Umbra and Gideon had already walked away."This is going to b
The process of awakening pure-essence physique could still be carried out even through clothing, but it was far less effective than direct contact.Umbra's delicate body trembled slightly.…Back in Brightbane Sect, loud voices could be heard."It's been three days, and still no leads? What did you promise me three days ago?" Draven's voice was sharp and furious in the grand hall.Arlo was drenched in sweat. "Mr. Bane, we have a lead.""Oh?""The battle took place at the border of the eastern plains and the vast mountain range. That area is completely uninhabited, so finding eyewitnesses was nearly impossible. So, I changed my approach and led a team into the mountains to gather information from the beasts."Turns out, my guess was right. At the time, Francis and Giles fought fiercely against the killer, causing a huge commotion that attracted several beast kings. After extensive analysis, we finally managed to confirm some of the killer's traits."Arlo took out a document and
"There's no need to start a war. There's no reason to drag all of Naesbrey Fortress into this. The two of us will go to Brightbane Sect. Do you think we can make it out unscathed?" Gideon asked."Not easily." Umbra's expression was serious.She said, "You're an outsider. You don't understand the six top powers of the eastern plains. Each of them has their own hidden trump cards and deep foundations. The two of us alone can't stand against the entire Brightbane Sect."He frowned. "So, do we really have to go to war? You'd better think this through."Umbra was conflicted as well.Dragging all of Naesbrey Fortress into this recklessly could be a disaster. After all, there were other factions waiting to pounce at any moment."Report!"Just then, a scout arrived with news. "Ms. Crescent, Brightbane Sect's grand elder, Arlo Watson, has appeared at the front lines with three seniors. He claims to be here for peace talks and wishes to speak with you in person."Umbra's heart stirred.
In the end, Arlo couldn't hold on any longer.With a heavy thud, he collapsed into a pool of blood, pleading in terror, "Ms. Crescent, spare me! I was wrong! I won't dare do it again! I was only following orders from Mr. Bane. I had no choice! Please, have mercy and spare my pathetic life! I'm willing to serve you however you want!"Alas, Arlo had fallen to such a miserable state, utterly powerless before Umbra. This greatly boosted the morale of the students of Naesbrey Fortress and the hundreds of thousands of troops."Incredible!" Even Gideon clicked his tongue in awe.Umbra's strength had exceeded his expectations. Her moves seemed simple, but each strike was extraordinary. A pure-essence physique was truly terrifying!"Take him."At Umbra's command, Luna subdued Arlo."Mr. Snow, what's our next move? Should we take him to Brightbane Sect? I don't think that's a good idea. Arlo alone isn't enough to threaten Draven. That guy is ruthless. He wouldn't care if a grand elder die
"This is the place." Umbra gazed ahead.It was an unremarkable mountain.Gideon was puzzled. Umbra had insisted on traveling with him to Brightbane Sect despite Luna and the others strongly opposing it. Yet now, she had brought him here instead."This is your trump card?"That's right." She smiled.She looked around and, with a mysterious tone, said, "I stumbled upon this place by chance three years ago. Beneath this mountain, there's an Earthcore Flame.""Earthcore Flame?""Yes." She nodded seriously. "You should know what an Earthcore Flame is, right?"Gideon clicked his tongue. "Of course I do! Earthcore Flames are rare treasures with all sorts of incredible uses. But what does bringing me here have to do with going to Brightbane Sect?"Umbra said, "I suspect that deep beneath this mountain, there's an entire Earthcore Flame Vein.""An Earthcore Flame Vein?" Gideon was shocked.Just a single Earthcore Flame was already incredibly valuable.Back when he trained under Titu
Just as Gideon touched the Earthcore Flame, the fire suddenly surged several times in size.In an instant, his shirt was reduced to ashes. His skin was scorched, but rather than making him back down, it only made his blood boil with excitement."Hold it!" he roared.The sheer power of his physique surged as he attempted to subdue the Earthcore Flame. However, the more he tried to suppress it, the more violently it raged.A low wailing sound echoed. In the blink of an eye, the Earthcore Flame had already expanded tenfold compared to when he first encountered it, growing even taller than Gideon himself.It danced wildly, like a fire spirit, mocking Gideon for overestimating himself."Mr. Snow!" Umbra called out to him.He stepped back, taking a deep breath. He glanced at his burned skin but didn't mind it. It would heal soon enough."The Earthcore Flame is getting stronger. There's a high chance that a flame vein is hidden below. Ms. Crescent, I need to go down and investigate. Y
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