Hayden told them about the local customs and practices along the journey, and even about some unique events that happened in Bortuguesa. Adrian and the others learned a lot about the country through his stories. Gloria asked smilingly, “You know Bortuguesa pretty well, Hayden. How long have you been here? Seems like you’ve been here for quite a while.”Hayden nodded. “I’ve been here for ten years. My father used to work for Chase of Internal Affairs, and Chase sent him here as an ambassador. My mother and I followed him here. You can say that I grew up here. Also, my girlfriend is a Bortuguesan too.”Mya and Gloria were astonished. They were intrigued by love and relationships. Mya asked in astonishment, “You’re dating a Bortuguesan? Is she pretty? Is she as pretty as me?” She pushed aside the long hair that covered her face. Hayden smiled and answered, “Stop messing with me, Ms. Mya. Though I don’t live in Navia, I have some friends there. You’re the most beautiful woman in Wy
The mountain forest was a bustling place. They saw a tribe of monkeys swinging through the trees as soon as they entered the forest and also all manner of birds building nests on the tree branches. Many types of trees made up the forest canopy.There was a unique ecosystem here that was not found elsewhere. They walked through the forest for a little over an hour and traveled a long distance yet there were no signs of human activity to be seen. Mya was drenched in sweat from the humidity. She dabbed at her sweat as she scanned her surroundings. “How does an old man stay so deep inside a mountain forest? Do you think there are bear caves here? I’m very curious as to how he survives here.”From the information acquired, the miracle doctor was supposed to be an old man about seventy to eighty years old. A man of his age living in a deep forest would face trouble acquiring food, so how could he have possibly lived here for so many years?Hayden explained, “I heard that he’s very impre
The log cabin was built at the foot of the mountain, with an exquisite environment as its surroundings. It went without saying that the scenery was amazing. To Mya, this was what paradise looked like.Hayden turned to Adrian and said, “Sir, the trap mechanisms over there are extremely difficult to crack. Please instruct us on how to get through.”Adrian put Gloria down and looked around with his binoculars. Meanwhile, Mya sized up the surrounding areas as well. She said, “Over there, Adrian. Have we seen the setting of this place somewhere before? I find the trees and grass very familiar.”Adrian nodded. “Not just familiar. We have seen it before. It’s similar to the mechanism we encountered while searching for Reagan.”“You’re right!” Mya was enlightened. “I remember now. It was Reagan. His place was almost exactly the same.”Adrian looked around and said, “I believe Reagan’s place is the imitation of this place. He tried to copy the miracle doctor but he had only managed to co
He was gone. “Judging by the grave, it looks like the burial was six months ago. The miracle doctor passed away six months ago?” said Hayden in astonishment. Mya was stunned. It was clear she was in total disbelief. They had come here feeling hopeful after going through all manners of hardships, yet in the end, all they found was a grave.“This can’t be…”“This is impossible!”Mya said anxiously, “The miracle doctor can’t possibly be dead. We must still have a chance.” However, she did not even believe her own words. Adrian was crestfallen. He was under the assumption that they would find the miracle doctor and save Gloria. He never expected this to happen. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Noticing Adrian’s disappointment, Gloria smiled and said to him, “Perhaps this is my destiny, Adrian. I’m very happy that I get to spend the remainder of my time here. It’s nice here.”“No!” Adrian shook his head. “There must be another way.” He was unwilling to giv
Adrian refused to give up on this only chance, so he followed Lacey into the house.Lacey tidied up the log cabin. It looked like she was not planning on staying. Her purpose in coming here today was to tidy up the place. In the future, she would only come here sparingly.Adrian asked, “Your surname is Yellen, so that means you’re from Navia, right? Since you’re a fellow Navien, why won’t you help me?”Lacey paused for a moment. She was a Navien but had stayed in Bortuguesa for a very long time. On top of that, she had started a clinic of her own and was loved by the locals. She said, “I’m not obligated to help you. Do you think that you’re allowed to belittle me just because I’m a Navien?”“But I’m a Navien too,” replied Adrian. While Lacey cleaned up the place, she said nonchalantly, “I know that but so what? The woman’s illness has already reached a critical stage. She can’t be cured. Even if my mentor were still alive, he wouldn’t be able to cure her either.”Every word Lace
Gloria nodded. “My genes and cells were modified by the meteorite on the island. I have no other intention than to live. I want to live for my sister and all those who love me.”“What do you think, Lacey? Can she be cured? Give me a definite answer. We’ve traveled a long way to get here, and we didn’t come here to be met with your arrogance. If we weren’t at a dead end, would War Legate Draco beg you for help?” Mya said to Lacey. After a few moments of silence, Lacey looked at Adrian and said, “I’m aware of Gloria’s condition. Nick told me that you’d be coming but I refused to believe it. I didn’t expect you to actually show up.”“Who’s Nick?” Adrian was puzzled. Lacey said, “He’s my fellow apprentice, and his name is Nicholas Frost. We studied Gloria’s condition but we never expected that you’d find your way here. Nick is the only person who can treat Gloria.”Upon hearing this, Adrian walked up to Lacey. He asked, “Where is Nicholas? Take me to him.”Hayden said in astonishme
Adrian could tell that Lacey was very proud of her fellow apprentice from the way she talked about him. It was as if Nicholas was the only important thing in her life. He figured that it was love.“Lacey, you say that Nicholas will be back in five days, but you also said Gloria won’t last five days. What are we supposed to do then?” Adrian asked out of worry for Gloria.Lacey made her way to Gloria and took hold of Gloria’s hand. She then checked Gloria’s eyes. After a while, she turned around and said to Adrian, “Nick left me with a way to relieve Gloria’s symptoms before he left. I’ll be treating her for the next five days. Nick will be back by then with the antidote.”Adrian was extremely surprised. He never expected someone could come up with such a thorough plan. He could tell that the apprentice named Nicholas was very confident in himself. Moreover, he was very mysterious. Adrian said, “Your fellow apprentice must be very impressive. What else did he tell you?”Lacey said,
Meanwhile, Hayden said, “Ms. Gloria, Ms. Mia, Lacey is famous around here. She’s known in Bortuton for her good character and the locals love her very much. They would send her heaps of gifts during festivities.”“Is she really all that?” Gloria was astonished. Hayden nodded. “She’s the one who cures most of Bortuton’s ill and sick. On top of that, her charges are low and she refuses to take a penny from the poor. Her generosity is what she’s known for.”Mya tutted and said, “I would never have guessed that such an arrogant and cold woman is actually so kind. Fine, I’ll close an eye to her flaws.”Gloria beamed in response. Half an hour later, Lacey led the group out of the forest. Adrian’s group spent more than an hour on their trek into the forest. With Lacy leading the way, the trek out was shortened by half an hour.There was a pink car parked by the roadside—clearly Lacey’s car. The moment they stepped out of the forest, she said to Adrian, “We’re going to Bortuton.”Adri
The Daemon Emperor was startled."What is happening? This power..."Formless energy was surging forward, pressuring his nerves and senses.Below, Andy and the others trembled uncontrollably."Who is it?" Finnian stared into the crimson mist.Even Andy was horrified, his gaze locked on the unfolding scene in disbelief, and asked, "What is this? What exactly is happening?" At this moment, Adrian abruptly opened his eyes.Apparently, the Daemon Emperor had once conspired with Adrian's subordinates to ambush him.However, Adrian had managed to annihilate the traitors and sealed this Daemon Emperor. Now, fate had brought them together again."If I killed you once, I can kill you again." Adrian stood tall, his white robes fluttering in the air.The Daemon Emperor was stunned into silence."This is impossible! You're not that mortal boy!""Is that so? In this life, your end has come, and so has the era of the daemons." Adrian's voice was calm yet resolute. He stretched out his han
Adrian's face hardened at the words. He despised threats above all else. While he understood what the mysterious entity desired, he couldn't yet fully comprehend its implications or find a way to counter it. His only choice was to focus on growing stronger.Within the hot spring, waves of raw, terrifying power surged and crashed violently against Adrian's body.The force, though beneficial, was brutal and overwhelming. Adrian's body struggled to endure, cracking as though it were disintegrating."Arghhh!"A heart-wrenching scream echoed as Adrian's flesh was torn apart and his aura gradually dimmed."Ahhh!"His agonized cries echoed once more. He could no longer withstand the pain.In the distance, a towering figure appeared and sneered. "What's this? Can't take it anymore? Pathetic. Humans are truly the epitome of stupidity."Suddenly, Adrian erupted with an explosive surge of energy, and in that instant, he broke through to the pinnacle of the Void Stage."Hmm? He actually b
At that moment, the crowd was speechless.Adrian had ascended as if it were the easiest thing in the world.Faced with such a sight, no one could say much beyond admiration. Even if the Holy Son claimed Adrian had cheated, many secretly wished they could cheat the same way.Lacking Adrian's means, all they could do was envy him.Finnian chuckled. "Haha! You really caught us all by surprise, kid. Still, I'll count this as you repaying me a favor."For Finnian, the outcome couldn't have been better. With a broad smile, he seemed to have achieved his desired result. Adrian's successful climb was all that mattered to him.Once Adrian had vanished, the focus shifted to the rest of the group and their trials.When Adrian opened his eyes again, his entire body ached, but an oddly comforting sensation flowed through him. Surveying his surroundings, he realized he was now in a pond."Where am I?" he asked.Though uncertain about the place, Adrian knew he had cleared the trial and arriv
The onlookers stared in bewilderment, their faces etched with confusion as they struggled to grasp the unfolding events.Meanwhile, Adrian seethed with barely contained rage. This wasn't his first encounter with such torment. Every few steps he ascended, another trial awaited.To Adrian, the relentless punishments felt suffocating. Yet he pressed on—this was the final stretch of the climb. "Adrian, hang in there!" Andy shouted, urging him to conquer the last step. To Andy, reaching that final step symbolized Adrian's growth. He had witnessed Adrian's remarkable resilience countless times and held unwavering faith in his potential. In Andy's eyes, Adrian was destined for greatness. Adrian's expression turned cold as he locked his gaze on the steps ahead. Determination flickered in his eyes. "If reaching the top guarantees a reward, it doesn't have to be me up there. As long as someone makes it, that's enough." With that, he shifted his focus to the void above and formed
Adrian felt as if every nerve in his body was beyond his control. A deep sense of grievance filled his heart as the divine thunder from the void relentlessly crashed down.Rage surged within him, but under the onslaught of endless forces, he felt weak and constrained.Still, he had no choice but to press forward. He knew victory was within reach if he could endure a little longer—giving up now would mean death.If he fell, the shame and humiliation would crush him.Below, the Holy Son and others waited, eager to see him fail and mock him. This left Adrian no option but to push forward, striving toward the void above and his ultimate goal.The violent forces continued to bombard him from the sky.With every step, the thunder's impact intensified tenfold. His soul, already battered from a fierce battle with a horde of beasts, now felt as though it was dragging his exhausted body forward.Anyone else would likely have succumbed to despair. After all, under such immense pressure, ev
The oppressive forces descending from the void seemed determined to halt Adrian’s ascent up the staircase.Yet he refused to yield. To him, these overwhelming challenges were merely obstacles to conquer.He pressed forward with relentless determination.Thunderbolts continued to rain down, but the ominous red light from before did not return—a relief, as he never wished to endure its crushing weight again.The memory of that light still haunted him, leaving a lingering sense of helplessness. Its suffocating pressure had drained his strength, reducing him to a gasping, powerless state.Despite the toll on his body and mind, Adrian remained singularly focused on reaching the final step. His burning desire for greater power drove him forward, unwavering and resolute.Step by step, he ascended, reaching the 95th step in what felt like an instant.Only five steps remained. His gaze locked onto the summit, and a wild glint lit his eyes. A daring idea sparked within him, consuming his
Adrian pondered his situation, his cold gaze reflecting simmering frustration. Yet deep down, he recognized that whoever had designed the staircase was far from ordinary.Creating such a formidable trial required unimaginable power.Even a pinnacle Void Stage expert—or perhaps someone of the Multiply Stage—might bow in reverence before the ladder's creator."He won't last much longer. The divine lightning in this void is utterly destructive. In moments, he'll be reduced to ashes," sneered the Holy Son, his sharp eyes gleaming with malice.To the Holy Son, Adrian's demise was inevitable. Adrian had dared to offend him, and he was certain such audacity could only lead to death.Adrian caught the Holy Son's words and cast him a frosty glare. His intent to kill was unmistakable, though now wasn't the time.The staircase was no place for personal vendettas—eliminating him here would require careful planning.He also knew the Holy Son carried seals of immense power. A reckless move co
Finnian's sharp gaze reflected a hint of admiration. "Kid, you owe me a big favor this time. You'd better treasure this opportunity."Adrian remained silent, unsure how to respond. His cold eyes revealed no emotion, though he fully grasped the challenges ahead.Fear was a luxury he couldn't afford—he'd come too far to back down now.Suddenly, a streak of red light surged from the void, hurtling toward Adrian with terrifying speed. His eyes widened in shock as the crimson beam struck him, slamming him against the staircase.Caught off guard, Adrian collapsed, sprawled helplessly on the steps.The crowd below watched in astonishment. No one had expected his seemingly indestructible body to be overwhelmed so easily.The Holy Son sneered. "Haha! It seems he's triggered some kind of taboo. Let's see how arrogant he is now!"His voice dripped with schadenfreude, his eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction as he relished Adrian's struggle.Despite the crushing force, Adrian refused
"What exactly is up there pulling me so strongly?" Adrian's expression hardened as he pondered the mysterious force drawing him upward.A surge of violent energy erupted across the sky, crashing down like a raging storm.Adrian advanced cautiously, each step deliberate and precise.Gone were the reckless strides of before—now he moved with steely determination, fully aware of the lurking dangers.He'd learned that the void's formidable forces seemed to target him directly, compelling him to proceed step by step. Any attempt to bypass its unseen barriers would provoke a devastating strike."Ridiculous," Adrian muttered. "If I've chosen to climb, nothing will stop me."The void's relentless power intensified.Bolts of thunder hammered down mercilessly, battering Adrian's body. Yet fear never crossed his mind.What was there to be afraid of?To him, the divine thunder wasn't an obstacle—it was a crucible, a tool to temper his body and strengthen his resolve.Despite the storm, A