Adrian responded with a nod, took a deep breath, and pushed open the large door. Upon entering, he found the interior to be spacious and bright despite the absence of windows.The faction's founder's statue occupied the center, with eight individuals in elder attire standing before it.Adrian examined them one by one, noticing a mix of male and female figures of varying ages. One of the female elders, appearing around 30 years old, exuded a captivating charm with her slightly tight-fitting robes accentuating her graceful figure.These eight elders were the backbone responsible for maintaining the operation of Frostspire, as the faction leader usually remained secluded. Even Amara had never seen the faction leader. They were Edmund, Edward, Ernest, Everett, Elias, Eleanor, Elliott, and Emery from left to right. Eleanor, the charming female elder, specialized in ritual and ceremonial affairs.Adrian approached and respectfully saluted, "May I ask for what reason I have been summone
However, Ernest gestured for him to wait and led him to the corner. When they were at the corner, Ernest said, "I've been observing you for quite some time, and I notice that you have a unique constitution. It seems to be the rumored Spectral Forma."Adrian was stunned. He was quite surprised that Ernest could notice his Spectral Forma. However, he pretended not to know anything and asked, "Elder Ernest, what is a Spectral Forma? Could you please explain?""So you really don't know what a Spectral Forma is. Alright then, I'll explain it for you," Ernest said. After that, he proceeded to explain what the Spectral Forma was. In fact, Adrian had already known about it, but he just pretended not to know. However, he admired Ernest's detailed explanation, finding it more refined than what Silver had told him."With your exceptional aptitude, if you double your efforts, you'll succeed in the future. However, don't overly rely on your Spectral Forma. Once addicted, the consequences are
"Rubern?" Adrian said, "He didn't give me a hard time, but I can tell he doesn't seem to like me much."Amara sneered. "Let's not talk about him. Come, I'll take you to the dormitory for new apprentices."Amara guided Adrian down the mountain. At this point, Rubern hadn't taken any action against Adrian, leaving him unable to address the situation. Additionally, being new to the place, Adrian was unfamiliar with anyone other than Amara. The lack of evidence to support the notion that Rubern posed a threat meant Adrian couldn't take any decisive steps. Consequently, he chose to stay silent.Once again, they reached the bottom platform, crossed the square, and walked to the easternmost part. There, a delicate courtyard awaited them.The courtyard was beautifully arranged with trees, streams, pavilions, and towers, creating a picturesque setting.Amara pointed to the courtyard and told Adrian, "This will be your dormitory. Come, let's go in."Entering the courtyard, Adrian found it
Adrian still remembered vividly the elders' words during the daytime.Just as Ernest had said, if he wanted to accelerate his training speed, he needed to stop relying on his Spectral Forma entirely.In his previous battle against Reth, Adrian was surprised that he could barely hold his own due to the advantage of his Spectral Forma. However, the elders were correct. The Spectral Forma's power could turn against him at any moment.Since he had achieved advancement recently, he still needed to convert a substantial amount of spiritual energy into mana, especially the impure energy he had absorbed earlier.Adrian realized he needed more practice to completely transform all his spiritual energy into mana.Tonight was one of the most peaceful nights Adrian had experienced recently. He reflected on the recent battles as he practiced and tried to extract valuable experiences. After all, each combat he encountered provided precious insights that would significantly boost his strength.A
Amara had transformed into a skeleton, and Adrian was startled. He quickly struggled to sit up. Then, with a flash of white light, he found himself back in reality.Adrian exhaled in relief. The intense and impulsive sensations in his body vanished, giving way to a surging force of mana.At that moment, every ounce of spiritual power within him transformed into mana, coursing through him like boundless energy. It felt as if every bone in his body harbored incredible power.*The next morning, Amara came to find Adrian. He had changed into the Frostspire uniform.New apprentices did not hold a high status within the faction. They had to rely on the guidance of Intermediate apprentices and their own efforts.Looking at Adrian, Amara praised, "Impressive. I didn't expect your strength to improve overnight. Now that your spiritual power has completely transformed into mana, your strength must have increased significantly!"Adrian chuckled and said, "Abundant mana is nothing special.
Hearing Adrian's concerns, Amara hurriedly explained, "It's okay. Our rules aren't that strict. If you don't tell, and I don't tell, no one will know."With that, she grabbed Adrian and led him inside. "Come on! Trust me. No one will know about it."Adrian had no choice but to follow her inside.Amara's attitude toward Adrian was undergoing a subtle change. Initially, she had brought Adrian along to enhance her influence, but now, she started to treat him more like her friend. She was continuously taking care of him both in terms of training and daily life. This was a departure from Amara's previous mindset that believed there were no eternal friends, only people who came together for mutual benefits. However, things were different now.Veiled Sanctum truly lived up to its name. The paths were intricate and mysterious. Moreover, Adrian noticed a subtle faction within the place, but unfortunately, he lacked knowledge in formations. Otherwise, he might have gained insights into the
Adrian's progress in immortality arts would be relatively slow. As for how slow, it depended on each person's aptitude. Whether or not to learn Blizzard Frost was ultimately in Adrian's hands.After some thought, he decided to learn it. Learning one more technique couldn't hurt! Besides, this technique could temper his own mana, which benefitted him greatly. If his progress in the immortality arts was slow, so be it—there was no harm.Then, Amara taught Adrian the verbal spell for Blizzard Frost and let him ponder it on his own. This was how proper teaching should be. After being taught, apprentices should contemplate on their own. If there were any questions, it wasn't too late to ask. In the immortality arts, the essence lay in one's own insights, not others' teachings. Others could impart experiences and knowledge, but those were summaries made by others. Training on the foundation of others was like standing on the shoulders of giants—it wasn't a big deal. Only what one persona
This force felt like an impenetrable prison, completely enclosing Adrian.Adrian tried to find a flaw, but the surroundings were like an impenetrable fortress, impossible to break through. This force suppressed his consciousness, with no possibility of counterattack.Was this Rubern's power? Without making a sound, he had already pushed Adrian into a dead end. Was the gap between them really this big?Adrian clenched his fists tightly, almost digging into his flesh. He managed to say, "I didn't enter on my own. I'll say it again. Amara brought me in!"While speaking, he exerted all his strength, trying to unleash his mana. However, it was still useless.Rubern squinted and said, "Amara is a senior member. How could she not understand the rules? In my opinion, you acted on your own!"Without waiting for Adrian to speak, Rubern extended his finger and swiftly pointed toward the center of Adrian's forehead. Adrian felt a sharp force approaching him.Fortunately, his movements were
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