Many of them had fainted on the spot, but they did not dare to leave first because of their respect for Demarcus. Now that Demarcus had left, they instantly felt a sense of relief and hastily fled.During the escape, some even dropped their weapons.Meanwhile, Adrian looked at the black dog and felt somewhat taken aback. "What is this big dog?" Soon, Laney approached them and told everyone, "Let me introduce, this is Lord Obsidian."'Lord Obsidian? They called a dog a lord?' Adrian exclaimed inwardly.However, Adrian knew that they were now in the monster's territory. It was quite normal for a powerful monster not to take human form.Therefore, he did not say much. He just took a step forward and bowed to Obsidian. "Lord Obsidian, thank you for saving us."Obsidian looked at him and said coldly, "I didn't come here to save you. I came here to save Laney and the others."Seeing the chaos around, Laney felt deep self-blame and said, "What have we done wrong? Why are they treat
The surviving monsters cowered, looking quite disheveled as they had suffered significant injuries during the battle. As Obsidian walked over, he muttered, "The valley can be rebuilt, but once a lifeform dies, it's gone forever. Later on, let's conduct a ritual to appease the fallen souls here. Otherwise, it'll be unsuitable to turn this place into a blessed land in the future with all the souls here." Laney said respectfully, "We're aware of this, but we are not skilled in them. Could we…"Obsidian glanced at her and said, "Rest assured, I'll help you."Laney was overjoyed, and she thanked Obsidian profusely.Obsidian said, "No need for thanks. Moreover, this is not only helping you but also assisting Adrian. In the future, as you join him, this place will become one of his training places."Laney nodded respectfully.Once again, the group arrived at the innermost stone chamber of Verdant Summit. When passing by the statue of Celestial Drago, Quintin respectfully bowed.Even
Adrian had long known about this since Obsidian had mentioned it earlier. Even so, he had not figured out the true purpose behind Obsidian's actions.Obsidian continued. "Helping you means assisting you in solving this particular issue." He would impart a technique to Adrian, and Adrian could then directly pass on this technique to Laney and others. Laney and the others could be officially regarded as apprentices under Adrian at that point. In the future, as Adrian's faction grew, he could teach this technique to new apprentices under his command."Really?" Adrian felt excited by the prospect. Still, he was not naive. There must be some undisclosed motives behind Obsidian's actions. Obsidian seemed to sense Adrian's doubt and said, "I'm doing this to help you and to assist Laney and the others." Obsidian had been thinking about what lies ahead for Laney and the other monsters.Should they keep living in fear in this wild valley, always at risk from humans? Or should they find
"Your current training falls under self-realization. Although you have your own set of skills, its systematic nature can't compare to the Greenhursts," Obsidian said. "After you start the training, it'll complement the weakness of your original training style. When the day comes for you to transform into human form, you can completely abandon your previous training style and wholeheartedly devote yourself to practicing the celestial arts."As a spiritual beast with extensive knowledge of celestial arts, Obsidian succinctly illuminated the intricacies of Laney and the others' training styles.Besides, if Laney and the others could achieve a higher level in the future, they could also become apprentices qualified to pass down the techniques to others.After listening to Obsidian's words, Laney and the others nodded consecutively. With access to the celestial arts, it would be easier for them to train themselves.The initiation ceremony was simple. It was no different from other facti
The long howl came suddenly and hauntingly, resembling the howl of a wild wolf echoing across an open wilderness. Along with Obsidian's howl, the moonlight in the sky became even more radiant and dazzling.A gentle radiance began to descend from the moon, enveloping Verdant Summit like a layer of silver brilliance. Gradually, the soft silver light undulated and moved in multiple directions in the air. The scene resembled countless fireflies dancing in the sky.Suddenly, the faint silver glow in the sky flickered, and then it converged from all directions toward the giant statue of Celestial Drago. The eyes of the statue emitted a brilliant light, illuminating the entire night sky.In a short while, the silver glow transformed once again into a protective shield, encompassing the outer perimeter of Verdant Summit.As this happened, Obsidian's howl gradually subsided. Simultaneously, the shield emitted a faint blue light and disappeared into the vast night sky. Verdant Summit's prote
Adrian already knew about it but hoped Obsidian would share more secrets. Surprisingly, Obsidian just repeated things Adrian already knew. Why was he doing that?Obsidian spoke again. "No, you only know part of the story..."After a pause, he proceeded to share more details about the situation. Verdant Summit was initially created in ancient times by an ancient supremacy to seal a spatial rift that was connected to a chaotic and dark world. Evil forces from that mysterious realm attempted to enter through the rift in the distant past, but a few ancient supremacies thwarted their plans. Now, it seemed the stability of the rift was weakening, and the malevolent forces might return."I see. That's the whole story. It's unexpected." After a brief silence, Adrian said again, "So, how can we reinforce this seal? If it completely breaks, those evil forces entering this world will lead to devastation for all living beings!"Obsidian continued explaining, "Reinforcing the seal isn't par
An old man named Lelantos Carideus, who had white hair and a white beard, stood on a massive platform situated at the top of a cliff. He looked out toward the sea with his hands clasped behind his back, and from a distance, he appeared to have a strong and impressive presence about him.Lelantos was the current family head of the Ocean Oasis.Lelantos' expression was solemn as he stood facing the sea, his brows furrowed as if contemplating something.Far in the distance, the sea surged, and clouds of dark energy could be vaguely seen churning and billowing on the surface.Suddenly, a white light descended from the sky. As the white light landed and dispersed, it transformed into a man dressed in white.This man had almost floor-length white hair and long white eyebrows that reached his chest, giving him an elegant appearance. His snow-white and translucent skin and his beautiful face added a touch of enchantment. There was a vermilion rune between his eyebrows, which further enhan
Quintin was the lord of Silverboa City when he was kidnapped by the Watts. Now that the Watts had been driven away, he had naturally regained his freedom.He had excitedly invited Adrian to visit Silverboa City, and the latter did not refuse and followed him back to the city.*That evening, Adrian shut himself in his room. He had gone through a lot of things recently, so he decided to carefully summarize the recent events and make plans for his next training.While pondering, Adrian suddenly sensed a surge of powerful energy coming from all directions. 'There shouldn't be any other high-level individuals in this city. What's going on?' he wondered. At the same time, he felt that the energy surge was unusually consistent, advancing toward his direction in an orderly manner as if these people had undergone special training.This seemed strange to him because even a group of high-level individuals gathered together should not have such a consistent energy surge. After all, every
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