“That took me by surprise.”Adrian was similarly surprised. Nicholas invoked a profound sense of mystery. He asked, “Based on what you just said, you seem to have a good knowledge of the Uduma Desert. What’s the story of that place? It felt like we were trapped in a spell or something.”Nicholas explained, “The truth is, the desert doesn’t exist at all. Everything we see there is part of an illusion. There are two levels to it, a visible illusion and a visual illusion.”“I don’t understand.” Mya shook her head in confusion. Nicholas said, “It’s simple. There’s something there surpassing scientific knowledge that presents that Steedten’s hotel and the desert to us so that we can perceive its existence with our own eyes. When we close our eyes, we’ll see a different form of the illusion. These two illusions are completely different but both exist in reality. Everything that you saw and felt from the moment you entered that hotel was not real.”Upon hearing Nicholas’ explanation,
Adrian brought Nicholas to the treatment room as Lacey began preparing medicines. Ten minutes later, Nicholas lay on the treatment bed covered in blood while Lacey carefully opened up his top to dress his wound. The others stared at the strange, terrifying wound on his chest. It looked like it had been caused by sharp claws and was covered in black-colored blood. Lacey said anxiously as she looked at Nicholas, “This is going to sting. Bear with it.”She then poured the medicine onto the wound and began dressing it. She also grabbed a scalpel to remove all the infected flesh before stitching it up. More than an hour had passed by the time she completed the procedure. She was exhausted and drenched in sweat. Once done with treating Nicholas’ wound, Lacey asked sympathetically, “What happened to you? How did you get infected with Reaperiosis?”Reaperiosis was a unique form of infection, and the term was coined by Lacey and her mentor. It was not an aggressive disease but an infected
“I heard from my mentor about the technology of ancient Gostia that allowed its people to control corpses. I believe that Gostia and Partingia are linked in some ways.”“So you believe that the corpse that attacked you was a relic of Gostia? How were they capable of controlling corpses?” asked Lacey. “It’s connected to Snowspirin—a medicine produced by Gostia. It’s capable of changing human cells and results in human evolution. I studied it during my journey and found that there are components of Isle 416’s worms in it,” said Nicholas. Everyone was stunned.Nicholas looked toward Gloria and said, “If you can’t be cured, you’ll become similar to the corpse that I encountered on the snowy mountain. You’ll be mindless and incapable of thought, but you’ll be left with a powerful, indestructible body.”Gloria was so scared that she was shaking. Nicholas’ story had linked Gostia and Partingia. In other words, Gloria’s condition occurred back in Gostia and Partingia a millennia ago. It
There were many unexplainable mysteries on Isle 416, in the Uduma Desert, and atop Mount Shangspar. If the outlanders found out, they would certainly go to extremes in view of their stubbornness. By then, not only Navia would be affected, but other places would be involved as well. Hence, the best way to manage this now was to investigate the matter thoroughly before the outlanders found out about it and identify an appropriate solution.Nicholas got out of bed. He knew that Gloria could not afford to wait anymore. He said to Lacey, “Study the Nihil Pill and Snowspirin with me. We’ll extract some of the excess components. Gloria can’t wait any longer.”“But what about yourself?” Lacey asked concerningly.“I’m fine,” said Nicholas. He then said to Adrian, “Please give us some room, sir. Lacey and I will inform you when we’re done.”Adrian nodded, then left the treatment room with Mya and Gloria. Nicholas and Lacey began to carry out studies on the two medicines. They wanted to extra
Gloria got onto the bed while Lacey pulled over some medical equipment that she attached to Gloria’s body, including a blood pressure monitor, ECG monitor, and all manner of testing equipment. While Lacey bustled about her tasks, she said, “Nick and I will be using a fusion treatment technique. We’ll be injecting extracted molecules from the antidote into Gloria’s blood vessels and combining them with a medicated bath, acupuncture, and Navien medicine. The process will be long, so please wait patiently.”“Will it hurt?” asked Adrian. Lacey shook her head. “I don’t know. We don’t have any precedent. Gloria, you have to bear the pain even if it does hurt.” She looked toward Nicholas. “We’re ready. You may perform the injection.”Nicholas nodded and walked over. The syringe he held in his hand contained green fluid. He clutched Gloria’s wrist before slowly injecting the green fluid into her. He took two steps back after he was done and waited for her reaction. Lacey walked over to
Lacey bustled about, then got Gloria into a medicated bath, who visibly shook for a moment when she got in. Black blood seeped out of her skin, ears, and eyes, staining the water red. Following the bleeding, the reading on the blood pressure monitor started dropping. Noticing this, Lacey said anxiously, “Nick, her blood pressure is dropping but it’s dropping too quickly. It’s about to reach the lowest value.”This was Lacey’s first time experiencing such a situation. Though she was still composed, she was also a little bewildered. Hearing Lacey’s report, Nicholas said, “Insert two needles above the kidneys to stimulate the secretion of epinephrine. We’ll continue to observe her condition after that.”“Okay.”Lacey felt for Gloria’s kidneys, quickly inserted two needles, then continued to observe. Watching the scene unfold, Adrian and Mya were tense and emotional. About two minutes later, Gloria’s blood pressure stopped dropping and rose slightly before stopping.Gloria’s blood
Lacey’s brows furrowed upon noticing the situation. Nicholas asked, “How is she?”Lacey replied, “She’s losing too much blood. If this continues, she will need a blood transfusion.”He answered, “We’re almost done. Use the silver needle to shut all her main arteries for three minutes before reopening them. Check her blood and find out what’s coming out of her skin.”Lacey nodded. She looked at Adrian and Mya. “Prepare another bucket of hot water.”Adrian and Mya nodded. Lacey removed all the needles on Gloria’s body and inserted new needles into a few main acupoints. Then, she ordered Adrian to get Gloria out of the tub and put her into another. Lacey extracted some blood from Gloria’s skin and put it under a microscope.She reported, “The worms are dead. We’ve succeeded, Nick.”He replied, “Don’t get excited yet. Let’s continue to observe her.”Lacey inhaled a deep breath. She then noticed Gloria’s skin slowly turning purplish-black in numerous spots. The spots on her skin
Gloria calmed down at last. She stopped shaking and her vital signs stabilized. Even though the value did not meet the normal standards, it was still well within the scope of treatment. In the meantime, Gloria had already fallen asleep. She felt as if everything around her was unrelated to her. All she wanted to do was close her eyes. Lacey felt relief wash over her after seeing Gloria’s latest condition. Adrian looked at Gloria, then turned to ask Lacey, “How is she?”Lacey nodded. “She has pulled through. I’ll examine the mutated cells in her blood again to find out the number of cells that have yet to be expelled.” She drew some blood and placed it into a piece of testing equipment. After getting the results, Lacey pronounced, “It’s much better than I had hoped. Only a small amount of mutated cells remain. The medicine extracted from the Nihil Pill and Snowspirin is still working inside her body to kill the remaining mutated cells. I’ll perform a few more rounds of acupunctur
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