Brian's eyes glistened with tears. "That's great! With the sect's seal and my handwritten letter, no one will dare to slander him."All my peers know he didn't join any sect because he wanted to return to Mount Mystic. Please, deliver this to him. It will only be useful in the present world; it has no value here."Aria nodded. "Okay."The fortune tellers gazed at her as though they were seeing the long-lost Marek through her.Aria understood their intentions and didn't shy away from their looks. Instead, she addressed them one by one."That's right. I was confused before. You're all my seniors," she said with a small laugh.The presence of laughter during the manifestation began to influence the effect of the Soul Manipulation Manifestation.Brian didn't hesitate. "We have no more unfulfilled wishes. All we hope for now is a safe and peaceful future for our country."As soon as he finished speaking, he took the lead and sat cross-legged in mid-air. He started chanting, preparin
"The Carver family? I thought we intercepted all their information!""It was handled by the man beside me—there's no way there could've been a mistake. Besides, I have my own people inside the Carver family.""You're right. Once we find the intruder, no matter who they are, they'll be dealt with permanently! This territory is under my control!"Morlock suddenly turned to Eddy. Eddy's face went pale, and his expression twisted in terror as Morlock's own features seemed to shift grotesquely, as though shared by two distinct entities.Frozen in fear, Eddy couldn't move a muscle. His wide eyes reflected pure panic."Have Colonel Krieg investigate anyone who might've infiltrated!" Morlock instructed. With a loud thud, Eddy fell to the ground. Scrambling to his feet, he stumbled out of the room, trembling violently.Morlock added, "One look will tell him all he needs to know."The door slammed shut on its own, though there wasn't even a whisper of wind.…Meanwhile, Viktor conti
"Wait, this isn't right! We haven't boarded yet, and the only ones on the plane are Colonel Krieg and his adjutant. Why is it taking off?"Viktor listened to the panicked voices around him and suddenly pieced it together. "The enemy is on that fighter jet!"Indeed, it was Aria. With her skills, taking on an entire army alone might be a challenge, but handling three or four Krowonian soldiers—snipers or not—was no issue.The most difficult part of engaging a sniper was pinpointing their location. Luckily for Aria, her time as a sniper in the Special Ops team made this task a breeze.She was determined not to leave the Krowonian military camp without something to show for it. Taking a souvenir back seemed only fair.Taking out the leader would cripple the army. And if it came to negotiations, having a commanding officer as a prisoner would provide valuable leverage.But Aria wasn't causing this commotion without reason. She was baiting a certain fortune teller into revealing himsel
Greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt were emotions that dwelled within all hearts.Before Aria stood the restless souls of the fallen, their pain echoing in a single question—why us?Had they not lived earnestly, without sin? Had they not protected their humble lives, harming no one and never defying the heavens? Why, then, were they denied even an intact corpse?They had honored their elders, labored like beasts of burden, and asked for nothing but the survival of their children. Was such a modest hope too much to ask?These questions, arising from the depths of the souls' torment, were maddening enough to unnerve even the strongest of wills.Evil spirits, as terrifying as they might be, paled in comparison to the fathomless cruelty of the human heart.In the Netherrealm, there was an ancient saying, "The Wail of the Damned". It spoke of souls lost in the deepest corners of the River of the Dead, unredeemed and forever restless. Their cries had been so piercing that e
Inside the heart of this manifestation lay something powerful—something that belonged to Landon—the Soul-Summoning Plaque. This cursed artifact had once bound Landon, dragging him into the mountains and forcing him into a life of servitude, a mere plaything in someone else's hands."How could Landon forget its sinister pull and still venture near it? And what of Aria? Was she truly raised by her mentor only to have her soul offered to feed such a scheme?"While the crow stood in confusion, trying to piece together the unfolding events, Landon suddenly froze mid-movement.The black mist within the manifestation, which had been thickening ominously, abruptly ceased.Instead, it coiled around Aria, swirling slowly until it reached a complete standstill.Even the crow, experienced in such supernatural forces, was stunned by this sight.Then, from the dense fog, Aria's voice rang out, strong and defiant, "Because of these invaders! Because there will always be those who place power ab
"Didn't you say I'm just a Farsies, an experimental subject, no different from a lab rat?""Then let me experiment on you too, how about that?""Uncle Ryan, don't be afraid. Stupid, hold his legs.""His hands look delicious. I'll take care of those."Voices echoed one after another, mingling eerie laughter with sobbing cries.The Krowonian soldiers were paralyzed by fear; their mental states shattered. Scrambling backward in desperation, they clawed at the ground, their movements frantic and disordered.Some, gripped by blind terror, raised their guns—only to fire at their own comrades.When fear peaked, it turned humans into predators of their own kind.Amid the chaos, Aria didn't even spare them a glance. Her focus remained unyielding as she piloted the fighter jet higher. With a precise motion, she unleashed a missile aimed directly at the enemy's communications tower. The explosion severed their last means of escape.Seeing his forces crumble, Marlock clenched his tremblin
The once-arrogant Marlock lay sprawled on the ground, trampled underfoot by one soldier after another.Amid the chaos, a ragged figure crawled toward him, eyes locked on the emerald pendant hanging around Marlock's neck. He had clearly been observing from afar, waiting for his moment.After ensuring Marlock was lifeless, the man snatched the pendant and prepared to make his escape.But the "lifeless" Marlock suddenly opened his eyes in the very next second. Blood trickled from his eyes; his lips curled into a chilling smile. His hand shot up, gripping the thief's arm like a vice. The man froze as dark mist seeped into him, his eyes glazing over, life draining away.Only then did Marlock collapse backward, motionless once more.The thief, now holding the pendant, staggered to his feet, his expression twisted with malice—and a flicker of disgust. Yet, as he stumbled away, something felt wrong.An itch began to spread across his skin. His heart pounded erratically.…Meanwhile, an
Amidst the billowing smoke, the red flag flapped in the wind, looking particularly captivating. The four college students were also gazing at it, and they were all wearing peculiar expressions. Evander's heart was pounding like crazy. The country flag looked very different from its modern iteration, but Lionel could sense an inexplicable strength emanating from it. "It's an ally, Mr. Disher! She's communicating with us via sign language. It's our exclusive sign language, too!" Evander and Ingrid heard what the soldier said, and they were shocked. Who in the world was that young lady? How did she know about the earliest military sign language? It should've been a top classified information even in the 21st century. It wasn't their fault to be stunned, though. After all, the lady seemed very young, and she looked like a superstar. Considering the reality they were in, it was impossible to put this young lady and the military in the same picture, let alone fly a fighter jet."T
"I'll ask Boss if she needs a bellboy!"Harry hadn't changed a bit. With his flashy gold chains and oversized watch, he was always quick to jump at any opportunity to make money. If Aria invited him to meet other businessmen, he'd be on board without hesitation.Everyone who did business with Aria shared a common trait—they would get addicted. Every entrepreneur dreamed of growth. The longer they toil in the market, the stronger their desire to expand. It was a universal truth among business leaders.For these dreamers, an investor like Aria was a godsend. She thrived on improvement, making her an ideal partner.Harry, as enthusiastic as ever, bombarded Aria with messages. Aria had planned to visit Ludwiten before, but things kept happening, delaying her trip. Her frequent nightmares and the unresolved tension between her mother and uncles weighed on her mind. Now, with Barron leaving some important items for her in Ludwiten, she had no choice but to go. Sneaking there was neve
"Honestly, you shouldn't let Boss go to Ludwiten. If she insists on going, at least send me along! It's not as if you're unaware of how messy their business circle can be. This isn't Janovin we're talking about!"Harry's voice rang loud and clear as he slammed his palm on the CEO's desk, a bold move no one else at Grand Construction Corp would dare attempt. The employees outside exchanged curious glances, whispering among themselves. What could have dragged Harry back from his vacation in such a state?Harry was worried. "We have plenty of employees. How could you let a lady like her go over there by herself? What if she gets harassed? At least here, our influence can protect her. People would think twice once they know who she is. Stop sipping that coffee and answer me already!"Tavian Montague, the vice-CEO, sighed and powered off his computer. He removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Harry, calm down. Do you really think Aria got this far on luck? Don't let her lo
The eight figures sat together, ostensibly discussing Aria's arrival. In truth, their agenda was far less noble—they were determined to keep the items they had long appropriated, refusing to return what rightfully belonged to others. After holding onto these possessions for so long, they had convinced themselves they were entitled to them.Their plan was to maintain a façade of respect toward the Carver family to avoid public scrutiny. However, they were equally resolute in protecting their own interests. They intended to demonstrate the influence of Ludwiten's business elite on Aria. It would be much better if she could be persuaded to invest billions in their ventures.It was a strategy they'd employed before, notably with Owen, and found it amusing.Yet Percy, despite his youth, was not so easily deceived. His calm demeanor and precise legal arguments left little room for manipulation. The Carver family's resilience, after all, stemmed largely from their grandchildren.Sti
Tobias once said that Aria was the most gifted person in the Decatorian way. Yet, for all her supposed talent, she couldn't use the Emperor Coins just by casually throwing them on her first attempt. She had to study them before she could wield them effectively.Thankfully, Leon chose the entertainment industry. If he had chosen to be inducted in the Decatorian way, the disciples of Mount Dracotigris would have been disheartened. "Leon, have you ever considered going into another industry?" Aria asked. Leon shook his head, a rebellious smirk on his face. "Aria, look at me. This face was born to be a celebrity. It'd be a crime to waste it."Aria sighed, accustomed to his narcissism. It was hard to argue—Leon's rebellious charm and striking looks had won over both women and men. Yet, his popularity brought challenges of its own."I still have Emperor Coins with me," Aria said, pulling out a beaded bracelet adorned with the coins and securing it around Leon's wrist. "Take it. For yo
Warren's eyes reddened as he gazed at Fergus, the grandson he had once hoped to raise personally. In that moment, he felt his life had been worthwhile. As one grew older, they came to understand a fundamental truth—if their descendants could grasp their thoughts, rather than dismissing the ways of the past as irrelevant, it was something to celebrate. Warren could now pass on everything to his grandchildren, finally feeling worthy within the Carver family.…Meanwhile, Leon furrowed his brows in the second-floor bedroom. "What are they talking about?""It's probably about Ludwiten. They have some business to settle. Why?" Aria had intentionally given Fergus and Warren some time to talk. As for her, she stayed with Leon in his room, playing games and snacking.When she heard his question, she smiled. "Are you interested as well, Leon?""I'm not cut out for business." Leon couldn't sit still and kept pacing back and forth. His silver hair, falling perfectly, made him look like a
That night, Warren stood before the memorial hall and spoke to his ancestors."Aria will be returning to Ludwiten tonight. Things will be different this time. There will be many obstacles ahead of her, but we must return eventually. Aria will finish what I couldn't. Please protect her."The Carver family was forced to shift their business from Ludwiten to Janovin at the time. And back then, they believed they could return at any moment. Yet, over 70 years had passed since then.Both Warren and Stephen were sentimental individuals, always hoping to return to Ludwiten. However, circumstances had shifted over the years. Moreover, the business landscape in Ludwiten had grown increasingly complex, with rising foreign investments. Their commitments in Janovin, especially after Owen married Fiona, kept them from returning.Warren had expected Owen to stay in Ludwiten, as he had promised the Grisham family. But Owen broke that promise.Warren's greatest wish had always been to return to
Although the crow was unsure of its owner's thoughts, it was indeed afraid of the dagger made out of Oracle bones.In fact, it wasn't made of ordinary animal bones. It was from the Oracle, one of the Four Perils. Most importantly, it carried spiritual energy from heaven and earth.Back then, the crow didn't expect the insignificant sect, which was consistently at the bottom of each tournament, to have the purest spiritual energy. Plus, all of their members were not to be underestimated. The crow would have never believed it if it hadn't come to live in the mountains with Landon. After all, Landon was bewitched to become the woman's boy toy. He stayed behind only because he liked the sect's spiritual energy. At that, the crow shifted its body and didn't continue to disturb Landon. Since Landon mentioned he needed the knife sheath, the crow would go and get it. Apart from the curved dagger in the wooden box, there was also a somewhat inconspicuous emerald and a turtle shell-lik
The box included a protective membrane. Carrying bones around would raise questions in modern days. Even Aria worried about inspections. Sometimes, Tobias acted just like those arcane seekers from Mount Dracotigris. When her fingertips touched it, heat surged through her bloodline. The blade felt like it belonged in her hands; even its tassel was exquisitely crafted. But she remembered something when she entered the manifestation and got the Soul-Summoning Plaque. She had been an arcane seeker in her past life, hadn't she? Could an arcane seeker use a blade? She had mostly seen them wielding swords, just like those TV shows with flying swordsmen. Perhaps she had to use a blade because she came from a smaller guild. As Aria traced the bone blade, her initial attraction grew into fascination. Tobias wouldn't leave her just any blade. Since she'd encountered it in the manifestation, it must be connected to her. "Do you like it?" Suddenly, Landon's voice came close. It was low,
Breaking the Eight Trigrams Manifestation required precision instead of force. The path led from the East Gate of Life through the Southwest Gate of Rest, finally striking through the North Gate of Opening. But this was not just about breaking a manifestation. The lock had eight marks—Life, Rest, Harm, Block, Vision, Death, Awakening, and Opening. These were the eight gates within the manifestation. As Aria studied the corresponding numbers, she was suddenly struck with inspiration. Following the sequence, she pressed them. The lock then opened with a click. She raised an eyebrow, recognizing the familiar combination. "0715, my birthday." Aria casually opened the box. "Typical of Mr. Revelare to choose that date." She knew she was born on Twilight Hallows, a day when parents would urge children home early. Owen had always believed Aria's birth signs were not the best, and he thought this was likely because of this day. People considered it the Day of Spirits. On this day, a