“I want to know something.” Adrian’s tone became gentle. “What’s the relationship between the Wolf Fangs and Randell Manor?” “They’re using each other,” Shay said through his tears, “But I figured it out too late. The leader is a jerk for attempting to kill me after using me!”Lionel pursed his lips. “You deserve it.”Wilmer then untied Shay and said in disdain, “A b*stard like you doesn't deserve to stay in Riston. Get out of here, now.”Shay was sobbing so hard that he could barely speak. The fake Green Plum Grass was still at the Randell Manor, and he should be able to find it there.“I’m going to the Randell Manor,” Shay declared.“I’ll wait for you at Medicis Manor.” Adrian nodded.Confused, Bucky asked, “Sir, this guy must be a liar. I’m afraid he won’t return if he runs away. I’ll keep tabs on him.”“There’s no need.” Adrian knew there was no way for Shay to run. There was no way out of this.Shay cried when he heard this. He became a wanderer after this happened. Not
Claude was bustling about in the Thousand Herbs Study. He was carefully studying a drug addict he had brought home. He wanted to remove the needle in the man’s chest.Rozi and Marissa had left the study. They could not accept what Claude was doing. It made sense to have done his observation in the forest, but he just had to bring the drug addict home and stink up the study.Caroline was the only one who showed interest. She was chatting with Claude through the window. “Did you find anything, Dr. Claude?” she asked.Claude was annoyed, thinking that this woman talked too much. He could not work in peace and thought that he had to shoo her away somehow.“The peonies in the garden have bloomed,” he said as he clenched his fists. “Go admire them if you have nothing to do.”Caroline was speechless. The people at the Medicis Manor were so boring. Nobody wanted to talk to her. She thought she was lucky to have run into Claude since they knew each other. Never had she expected him to give
Adrian fell silent.Bucky then smelled something familiar when he passed by Caroline. He looked at her in confusion. “That smell on you, where did it come from?”“It’s from the blanket in my room,” Caroline replied innocently, “I think it smells pretty good. You’ve no taste.”Bucky glanced at Adrian, wanting to tell Adrian about his guess. He then stopped since Caroline was standing there and winked at Adrian.Of course, Adrian understood what Bucky was trying to convey. He said to her, “Can we check out your room?”Caroline smiled happily. “Follow me. The smell seems to be from a grass of some sort, and the scent makes me feel good.”Adrian and Bucky said nothing.Caroline, talkative as she was, could not stop talking along the way. “I’m Dieter Morg’s daughter. Dr. Claude is so rude to have chucked me in such a simple room. My back hurts from sleeping on the thin mattress. I was smart though. I found a pile of dry grass in the other room and decided to stuff them under the beds
“I’m going with you,” Caroline said, “I hate such people. We have to kill him just to be safe.”Adrian was taken aback. Caroline was an innocent lady—as pure as a blooming flower. She had never experienced any hardships, so why did she have so much resentment?“Why?” Adrian said.“My mother was killed by this.” Caroline became teary-eyed, unwilling to recall what had happened. The only memory she had left of her mother still haunted her dreams. “I’ll never touch Wyldeweed.”Adrian came to a realization. Could it be the reason why Dieter was always in such a daze? After all, the man had gone through such a drastic change. Why had he not realized sooner?“Okay.” Adrian’s tone became gentle. “Let’s keep this a secret.”Caroline nodded.They headed to the Thousand Herbs Study and saw that the drug addict was the only person there. Claude was nowhere in sight. Had he run away?Caroline said in a panic, “Dr. Claude must’ve escaped. We have to go after him. We can’t let an evil man li
Claude looked at Adrian nervously. “Are you suspecting me or something? But I despise Wyldeweed. It must be Mr. Axel who did it.”Axel was already dead, so there was no way that they could question him about it. They could only speculate.Adrian looked at Claude. “I want to destroy the Wyldeweed so that it won’t harm any more people. Is that agreeable with you?”“Let me take a look at it first,” Claude said, “A couple of factions came by and said that we have Wyldeweed Pills. I thought it was just a rumor.”Adrian asked casually, “You can’t bear to destroy them, can you?”“We have to.” Claude seemed determined.They headed to the courtyard where Caroline was staying. Bucky had moved the Wyldeweed out, piling them in the courtyard. Hearing that Adrian wanted to destroy them, he made fire without hesitation.“What a waste to burn them.” Bucky sighed. “We’d be rich if we sold them. We’d make enough money to last for the rest of our lives.”Smack!Adrian slapped him, Bucky spun ar
Claude was terribly embarrassed. He could not believe Medicis Manor had caused such a horrible thing. He worked the fields himself and always thought Wyldeweed was just a normal weed.“I’m such a fool!” he lamented.“Stop blaming yourself.” Adrian comforted him. “I heard that Dr. Matteo will be arriving soon. I wonder what’s the purpose of his visit.”Claude shuddered. Matteo was not an ordinary person. He and Medicis Manor regularly had business dealings, and Medicis Manor would surely be doomed if they fell out.“What do we do?” Clause asked.“Don’t worry.” Adrian showed no panic. “Even if Dr. Matteo is using the Wyldeweed to make medicine, the dosage should be low. Moreover, there are replacements for it.”Lionel was shocked. He had heard of this, but he was not sure about it. It was a surprise that Adrian knew so much. He was a Battle Warrior, so how did he know so much about herbs?“How do you know?” Lionel asked.Adrian looked to Claude. “If memory serves, there’s a Herb
Everyone was worried, but fortunately, they had learned how destructive Wyldeweed was. They would never touch it, as the consequences of getting addicted to it were terrifying.Adrian squinted. “Do you have more suspicions, Dr. Claude?” Claude pulled out a receipt. It was the list of herbs he had prepared for Matteo. “Look at the list. I suspect that something’s wrong with these Sol Pills.”Adrian glanced at the receipt before handing it to Lionel. “I don’t know what Sol Pills are.”“It’s a supplement the wealthy take.” Although Lionel had mostly wandered aimlessly through Debonaire, he had learned about all sorts of herbs.Bucky explained, “Sol Pills are extremely precious, said to rejuvenate a person by 10 years. I’ve never seen it before though and have only heard of it.”“And Dr. Matteo wants a lot of it.” Adrian glanced at the receipt. “Where are these pills? I’d like to try one.”“I haven't found them yet,” Claude said, sounding a little crestfallen, “And I’ve looked thro
Matteo became even more furious. "Do you have any idea who I am?!""I do. You’re Dr. Matteo," Adrian replied, his tone dripping with disdain.This response caught Matteo off guard. Despite Adrian recognizing him, the lack of reverence on Adrian’s part was too audacious for his liking. He could not let it pass."I demand to see Axel.""Sorry," Adrian answered flatly, "You won't be able to see him.""But I must!" Matteo seethed with anger and embarrassment. He had never encountered such impertinence—someone who dared to defy his wishes.Hendrick, fighting back the urge to laugh, kept his head down. He was wary of Matteo's short fuse that might flare up if he showed any disrespect.However, Adrian remained composed. "Dr. Matteo, it's not that I'm unwilling to assist, but I simply can’t. If you insist on seeing Mr. Axel...""Axel and I have an agreement," Matteo haughtily declared. "It's time for him to fulfill his end of the bargain. None of this concerns you in any way."Adrian
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