Upon learning of this matter, Emperor Fraener promptly made a decision, rewarding Honorius, Quintin, and Zane.This should have been a joyous occasion, but the faces of the three showed no signs of happiness. Throughout the entire Silverboa City, especially the Guthries mansion, an air of gloom hung over as everyone knew that Adrian unfortunately perished in that battle. Quintin was melancholic all day long, while Rozi was seen with tear-stained cheeks.Val remained unconscious, and since Quintin and the others didn't know Mystic Elixir's location, they couldn't send her back to her faction. All they could do was arrange for people to take good care of her.It wasn't until three days later that a woman in white, elegant and ethereal, arrived in Silverboa City.She strolled along the streets, exuding an otherworldly aura. Those who caught sight of her became enamored with her celestial beauty. Numerous onlookers were tempted to approach and initiate a conversation. However, upon n
Luna waved her hand and said, "Ordinary medicines cannot heal Val's injuries. This is her own fate, foreseen by Supreme Master Atlas. Don't blame yourselves. Even if it had nothing to do with Adrian, we would have sent Val to investigate that church."As for compensation... There's no need for that. Thank you for taking care of Val these days. As a token of gratitude, Supreme Master Atlas has a message for you."Quintin was accompanying Luna on the way to Val's room. Upon hearing that, he stopped at the door and asked, "What message?"Luna smiled gently. "Mr. Quintin, I've heard you're concerned about Mr. Adrian. Supreme Master Atlas asked me to pass this message: The phoenix will be reborn from the flames. He narrowly made it. He will return soon."Even a fool could tell that this statement meant Adrian was not dead. He must have had a close call.If it were someone else, say, Honorius, who said this to Quintin, he would think that Honorius was just trying to console him. However
The current leader of Mystic Elixir was a woman, and apprentices in the faction included both men and women.Callista showed no emotions on her face at this time. Even her usual elegant demeanor was nowhere to be seen.Another figure stood in front of the central ancestral portrait. This person had their back to Callista, so her features were not visible. Only her cascade of hair could be seen from behind. Her hair was not tied up in any elaborate style, giving a simple and refreshing look. A faint layer of moonlight seemed to envelop her, creating a hazy and elusive appearance.This woman, quietly standing before the ancestral portrait, calmly lit three sandalwood incense sticks and placed them in the censer.After paying her respects, she turned to Callista and said, "Callista, did you come to see me about Val?"Callista's tone was clearly displeased, but she dared not show any anger in front of this person. "Ms. Athena, indeed. I don't understand why you would send Val to inves
Adrian had not died. He had exerted all efforts to protect himself and quickly found himself in a desolate place."I wonder where I am now." Adrian sighed. Although he was not clear about his current location, one thing was certain—he was in the northern part of Silverboa City.Originally, Adrian had intended to return to Silverboa City. However, before much time had passed, Dragon Prince, Rozi, and the others found him.He didn't expect them to find him so soon!Adrian looked puzzled, wondering how they had managed to find him in this vast world. Dragon Prince, however, smirked mysteriously. "Haha, the reason I found you so quickly is that we have the unique abilities of the dragons!""Well, you seem more like a dog to me!" Adrian teased.However, Vardala's actions before his death left Adrian with some indescribable feelings. He fell silent for a moment and then told everyone, "Now that you've confirmed that I'm okay, you should go back first."Everyone was naturally surpris
Thus, Adrian decided to head toward Frostspire. According to records, Frostspire was located in the wasteland of the extreme north amidst vast ice plains.Frost City had a very small land area. The people there were tall and robust, with good physical strength. Their food mainly consisted of various types of meat from cattle and sheep, along with strong liquor, making them well-suited for survival in such an environment.When Adrian walked through the streets of Frost City, he found the place surprisingly desolate. Even animals like cats and dogs were nowhere to be seen. Despite the heavy snowfall, this was not uncommon for a northern city.Adrian couldn't shake the feeling that something extraordinary had happened there. Intrigued, he wanted to learn more about what was happening with the city. To gather information, he decided to visit inns and taverns, as these places were usually bustling with people, and one could inquire about various news and rumors.Adrian entered a large i
The people, filled with fear and apprehension, organized numerous sacrificial rituals in an attempt to appease the spirits.However, all their efforts proved futile. Over time, the residents dared not venture outside anymore. Even when they did, they hurried along, unwilling to be turned into ice sculptures by the severe weather.Listening to the man's account, Adrian couldn't help but feel skeptical. As an immortal, he didn't believe in gods because immortals knew that there were no gods in this world.Although they were referred to as immortals, the notion of ascending to godhood was but a legend. Even if godhood existed, it would be an entirely different and mysterious world, unrelated to the mortal world. Folklore about gods and spirits was merely human imagination.Since it wasn't divine wrath, Adrian deduced something else must be causing the phenomenon. He speculated that the mineral must be a spiritual treasure, a natural wonder imbued with aura essence. Those who mined it
Not far away, several people were wielding tools, engaged in mining. They must be mining for the essence stones.When they saw Adrian, they waved their tools and asked, "Hey, what are you doing here? Don't you know it's dangerous?"Adrian smiled and replied, "Aren't you all here, too? If you're not afraid of danger, why should I be?"While speaking, he used his consciousness to scan the group. He found that none of them emitted any trace of mana—they were all ordinary people. Thus, he had no reservations.The apparent leader asked, "We're miners from out of town. We're here to mine. How about you?"Adrian chuckled. "I'm from out of town, too. I heard there's a valuable mineral vein here, so I came to take a look. Hope you don't mind."The leader generously said, "This mineral vein was discovered by everyone together. It doesn't belong to any one person. Feel free to mine. If we strike it rich, we'll share the wealth! Hehe, buddy, do you need tools?"The leader kindly offered Adr
"I am the spirit of this mineral vein, the guardian of this place..." The voice echoed once again, accompanied by massive information flooding into Adrian's mind.As it turned out, this Frost Crystal Mine vein was born from the aura essence of heaven and earth. Over an indeterminable period, it had integrated with everything around it, nurturing all living beings under its protection. It was akin to a great mother, safeguarding all life within its broad embrace.As time passed, this mineral vein, or rather, the aura essence born within it, developed its own consciousness. Given its integration with the surroundings, it possessed powerful spiritual power, enabling it to perceive various events in the world.It could sense the arduous survival of Frost City's ancestors on this land, feel a frigid blade of grass resiliently emerging in the fierce wind, and silently protect everything there with its immense spiritual power.Later, when the people there established a country and began l
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