The trees contained an abundance of energy, forming a dense aura around the courtyard.Observing the grand courtyard, Adrian exclaimed, "This guy really knows how to indulge himself. He occupies such a vast space without considering the feelings of other spirit summoners. Looks like he needs to be taught a lesson." Even though Morok was a high-level spirit summoner, it did not mean he could possess such a massive courtyard. It was clear that his situation was far from normal. Adrian wanted to find what secrets were hidden behind this matter.Adrian dashed toward the courtyard. With incredible speed, he reached the fringe of the courtyard and leaped onto a large tree. From there, he peered into the courtyard. To his surprise, there was no one inside.He mused, "I would think someone like Morok would have many followers. I didn't expect such a large courtyard to be empty. I wonder if he feels uncomfortable living alone in such a large space. Anyway, I should go in and take a look."
The female summoner was remarkably beautiful with rosy lips and white teeth. Yet, a hint of coldness lingered in her features, resembling a beauty only suitable for distant admiration.Adrian mumbled, "Who’s she? Could it be a high-ranking summoner?""Mihika, do you think we should find a way to deal with Adrian?" Morok asked, "He ruined my plans, and it's unforgivable. That's why I invited you here. I want you to help me teach him a lesson!"Mihika’s brows furrowed as she asked, "Is he really that formidable?""Yes, he is. He's not exceptionally powerful, but he defeated me in just a couple of moves. Moreover, he excels in alchemy, so I'd say he's pretty tricky," Morok replied."Oh? I didn't expect there to be such a powerful individual in this city," Mihika remarked with a faint smile. "But to be honest, Morok, you tend to let your emotions get the best of you. Even if Adrian is formidable, would he have gone after you if you hadn’t provoked him?""Yeah, you're right. I shouldn
Adrian's wish was to establish his might. Therefore, he would not simply go against anyone without reason. However, it did not mean that he was going to be a doormat. He was not about to let go of someone who disrespected him. After hearing the conversation between Morok and Mihika, Adrian pondered over how to deal with this matter. However, he could not think of anything as he knew nothing about Mihika. He wanted to find a solution, but it was hopeless.‘Since I can't figure things out right now, I shouldn't think about it too much now,’ he decided.Meanwhile, the conversation between Morok and Mihika ended. Before sending Mihika off, Morok said, "You have to teach Adrian a lesson!""I know what to do. Don't worry," Mihika replied indifferently before leaving. After Mihika left, Morok could barely contain his joy. He smiled triumphantly and said, "Hmph! This is what you get for defying me, Adrian. Let's see if you'll still be so arrogant in front of Mihika!"Adrian had no inte
With a smile, Adrian said, "Ms. Mihika, you should smile more often. It looks good on you. You’re always looking like someone owes you money. That expression doesn’t look very good on you."Seeing Adrian's nonchalant attitude, Mihika chuckled. "I supposed you heard everything clearly at Morok's place earlier. If so, why aren't you afraid to meet me?""Afraid? Why should I be?" Adrian laughed and shrugged. "A good conscience is a soft pillow. I've never done anything wrong, so why should I be afraid of you?""That's quite a saying, but why should I believe you?" Mihika asked. "Your intuition," Adrian replied.Mihika’s brows furrowed in confusion as she asked, "My intuition? What do you mean?"With his hands behind his back, Adrian strolled toward Mihika and said, "Intuition is simply your gut feeling. I know you're not a reckless person or someone who enjoys causing trouble for no reason. I’m sure that you will give me fair treatment."Mihika chuckled. "Oh dear, how should I des
Mihika glared at him and said, "Where do you think you’re going? You're coming with me!" Without waiting for a response, she stretched her arm toward him. Whoosh!Adrian felt a sudden breeze. Mihika then swooped in, grabbed him, and took off.With the wind blowing in his face, Adrian had a hard time opening his eyes. Putting up an energy shield around himself, he saw that he was flying in the sky with Mihika."Wow, you can fly? You must be very strong," Adrian commented. Mihika calmly said, "It's nothing special."A flash of light emitted from Mihika's hand, and a small emblem appeared. The emblem was shimmering with a sparkling glow. The sparkling light covered them, allowing them to fly.In no time, the pair arrived at a towering mountain that reached the clouds. The mountain was incredibly tall and its peak was impossible to discern. However, as they were flying toward the summit, an air blade shot out. In a moment, the air blade transformed into a person."Who are you? Do
Mihika nodded in satisfaction. "Tell me everything Adrian and Morok said during their alchemy competition the other day. Remember, you’re not allowed to utter a single falsehood. Otherwise, I won't be lenient with you."Duncan nodded and recounted everything that happened that day. He did not know the underlying circumstances or why Mihika suddenly took an interest in this matter, but he knew he could not lie to her.Adrian had not deceived Mihika. Duncan revealed the truth of the events and helped Adrian clear his name.After Duncan finished retelling the story, Mihika's expression eased slightly."May I ask what happened, Ms. Mihika?" Duncan asked.Mihika said, "Some things are not for you to know. Alright, there's nothing more for you to do here. You may go.""Understood." Duncan nodded and returned to Alchemy Apex. Adrian turned to Mihika. "What do you think? I told you I wasn’t lying. I won against Morok in both alchemy and combat, so he had no choice but to seek your help
Morok was startled when he heard Adrian's voice. He rushed to open the door and saw Adrian standing outside."You’ve got a lot of nerve to show up here," Morok snarled, his expression grim.With his arms crossed, Adrian sized up Morok and chuckled. "What's the matter? Am I not welcome?"Morok retorted, "Welcome? Of course, I'll welcome you. But Adrian, I think you’re unaware that you're already a dead man walking.""Oh? Really? I don’t know anything about that. Please, enlighten me," Adrian said, extending his arms as if inviting Morok to explain.Morok was amused. "Looks like you’re still unaware. What you did to me has offended Mihika. She's coming for you. If I were you, I'd be running for my life instead of standing here chatting.”Adrian laughed. "In my opinion, the one who should be concerned about their safety is you! Don't you agree, Mihika?"Morok was stunned. He quickly spun around but could not find any trace of Mihika. He breathed a sigh of relief. He looked back at
Mihika asked, "What's the matter? Why do you look so terrified to see me?""I..." Morok opened his mouth but could not articulate a complete sentence. Seeing him unable to speak, Mihika continued coldly, "Fine, since you won't talk, I’ll do it. Why did you lie to me?"Mihika’s tone carried an overwhelming force, crashing down on Morok like a landslide. This force shattered his confidence, and he collapsed on the ground.Trembling, he pleaded, "I'm sorry, Ms. Mihika! Please don't kill me!"Unperturbed, Mihika continued, "Do you have any idea who I am? How dare you deceive me! Have you ever considered the consequences if your lies were exposed?"Meanwhile, Adrian saw something happening in Mihika's hands. A cold energy was converging together to form a frosty sword. It seemed that she was ready to use the sword to deal with Morok and put an end to him.'As expected of Mihika. She does not hesitate to take down those who deceive her,' he thought.Meanwhile, Morok turned pale with
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