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
As the chief of staff, Lionel was shouldering immense pressure. Anyone who laid eyes on him would praise him for being a strategic mastermind. Lionel only had 30-odd soldiers in his company. However, he was able to hold out this place for this long. Not only did he buy time for the main force, but he also razed some of the enemy's rally points. The enemy force didn't dare to launch a large-scale assault. Instead, they relied on the fighter jets to carpet bomb the place. The reason for that was because the enemy force thought Lionel must've brought with him a huge army. After all, he attacked them in such a grandeur fashion. Naturally, he must've come fully prepared for him to do something this bold.It was all thanks to Lionel's deliberate actions. He might've been vastly outnumbered, but he carried the intimidating pride of his great nation. Lionel would never waiver when he faced the enemy. He even went to the mountains and shouted at the top of his lungs. That was when it g
People said that one couldn't fight destiny and that God had a plan. However, this wasn't true for the Farshyans; they made their own destinies.Aria approached Lionel, and there was respect and admiration in her eyes. On the other hand, Lionel was stunned when he saw her. "Did you pilot the fighter jet?"Aria nodded and opened the hatch to unload the cargo. The only inconvenience about the fighter jet was its space; she couldn't load a lot of stuff into it. It would've been much easier if she had a passenger plane instead. Lionel still couldn't believe what he had just heard. "Did you really capture the enemy's colonel?""Yeah!" Aria needed to be economical with the use of space in the fighter jet. So, Viktor was still tied up. He had just woken up, and his eyes widened in shock as he kicked both of his feet. Aria looked over a little, but she ignored Viktor for the most part. Instead, she dragged someone who was tied to the side."Yeah. Also, I brought something else over. We
The college students stood there, unsure of how they should have responded. Astrid wanted to say something, but her body immediately stiffened when Aria glanced at her. Lionel wore a smile on his face. He even came up with an explanation for them. "You must've worn a Krowonian traditional outfit to save yourself. I understand it. After all, we often wear disguises when we are doing reconnaissance. "It was just that we didn't speak Krowonian. So, we were constantly worried that we would be found out. You guys are better than us. You knew how to speak Krowonian, after all."This is great." Lionel was smiling a second ago, but his eyes suddenly reddened. He looked at Aria. "I can't believe my beloved country is doing this well in the future. Is this really happening?"Aria responded solemnly, "We are doing wonderful, and we owe it to all of you.""Looks like it's worth losing an ear, then!" Lionel threw his head back and laughed, his voice reverberating throughout the surrounding a
Aria wondered why Barron had lingering regret within the manifestation. Apart from the Carver family's protection, what else could there be?The reason the Carver family's ancestors protected this manifestation had something to do with Barron. So far, the only thing that Aria hadn't found was Barron's regret.Aria wondered if there was more to the newspaper, something that might reveal a connection to the Carver family.With that thought in mind, she spread out the youth paper.Apart from that letter, she wanted to find something that could link to the Carver family.She looked through the newspaper but still didn't find anything.Aria frowned. It seemed like she had hit a dead end.Lionel observed her staring intently at the newspaper and brought her drink, hoping she might take a moment to drink. Aria had made a great contribution, so he wanted to reward her.When he reached her, he saw her looking stunned, her eyes glued to Barron's picture in the newspaper. He broke the sil
"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