As they descended, the surroundings plunged into complete darkness, and the air around them turned noticeably colder.Adrian shivered and muttered, "This place is really cold. Do you feel cold, Fluffy?"Fluffy shook his body and replied, "My fur is thick, so no. Are you cold, Master?""Yeah, I’m freezing.”"Shall we leave then?""No. We're here for an adventure, so it wouldn't be nice to turn around just like that. Let's continue forward," Adrian said through chattering teeth.However, the surroundings were pitch black, making it impossible for them to see anything in front of them. They did not know what kind of dangers awaited them in the darkness, therefore, they had to constantly be on guard.Adrian then pulled out a charm and waved it in the air. Instantly, a bright flame leaped out from the charm, illuminating the surroundings. He looked around, only to find that everything around them had changed.The walls around them earlier were constructed out of blue stones, but the
Adrian slowly headed deeper into the tunnel. He did not know how long it had been, but by the time he came to his senses, he had studied the entire mural. He felt like he had lived through a dream that spanned thousands of years.Adrian looked at Fluffy who was beside him with a strange expression. Detecting the peculiar look in Adrian's eyes, Fluffy asked, "What does the mural depict, Master? I can't understand them.”"You have only just gained higher intelligence, Fluffy, so of course, you can't comprehend such complex murals. I’ll tell you what they say," Adrian explained.He looked up to the murals on the wall. As the firelight flickered, his eyes focused on the mysterious depictions. Under the dancing flame, his thoughts once again traversed time and returned to an age long past.Many years ago, the so-called Death Forest was alive. It was a beautiful place filled with abundant aura essence. Countless rare and exotic creatures inhabited the jungle alongside various unique plan
Amid the flashing sword light, a dragon's roar echoed, and a figure appeared from within the light. The humanoid figure was dressed in a white robe. His robe fluttered, making him look like a celestial being descending into the mortal world. In this dark and lifeless forest, his presence was like a ray of sunlight.The animals in the forest were extremely frightened when Dexter arrived. Some fled, while others cowered in fear. But when the white-robed man arrived, the animals that had not managed to escape huddled behind him. It was as if the boundless darkness would not consume them if they stayed behind him.The man in white was unbothered by the animals seeking refuge behind him. He was solely focused on Dexter. They locked eyes, and neither uttered a word. Time seemed to freeze, creating a suffocating atmosphere.Eventually, Dexter broke the silence. He smiled and a trace of sorrow flashed through his eyes as he said, "Alex Owens. I never thought it would be you pursuing me. Eve
Alex then rushed forward and instantly appeared before Dexter. "I will use the immortality arts to dissolve the resentment in your heart..."His voice echoed gently, as soft as a spring breeze, touching something deep within Dexter's heart. Dexter felt as though he had traversed through endless time and returned to the distant past, to when they were still innocent youths.Many years ago, they had gazed at the celestial beings flying across the sky together every day, filled with envy. A deep-rooted desire was sown into their young hearts—to train to a high level, just like those beings that soared freely through the sky.The talented Alex quickly displayed outstanding aptitude in immortality arts. However, Dexter was different. His aptitude was not as exceptional as Alex's, and his achievements in immortality arts were not as remarkable.As time passed, the gap between them widened, and eventually, they became completely different individuals. Dexter, witnessing Alex becoming a fo
As Dexter emitted dark energy, the radiance around Alex enveloped him. The light on Alex became stronger and more dazzling, completely wrapping Dexter within. As the radiance surrounding Dexter intensified, the resentment in his heart slowly melted away, but he still harbored a lingering resentment."No, I don't want you to interfere! Don't!" Dexter was frantic. An indelible resentment emanated from his heart, making it hard for him to let go.Simultaneously, Dexter’s black aura surged even more. These dark energies converged in the air, carrying a powerful sense of resentment as if trying to swallow Alex.However, Alex showed no signs of abnormality. He calmly said, "Dexter, I can feel the emotions in your heart. I understand that your emotions must have consumed you over the years. But it's okay, I’m here now. As long as I'm here, I won't let you continue to fall into darkness."As time passed, the resentment within Dexter gradually dissipated. In the end, it turned into nothingn
Fluffy’s mouth hung wide in astonishment. "Master, that’s truly unbelievable. If you hadn't told me, I would never have believed there could be such powerful people.""Yes, there are countless powerful people throughout the world, many of them beyond our reach. Therefore, we must strive to improve our strength to have a chance to encounter higher-level items. Otherwise, everything will be in vain.” Adrian sighed."Yeah..." Fluffy nodded in agreement. However, after a moment of contemplation, he curiously asked, "So, are there any treasures beneath this ancient relic?"Adrian knew that this little creature desired treasures. He looked at the mural, then said, "According to this mural, there are indeed some treasures underground. This underground cave was originally Dexter's training abode. After Dexter was sealed, everything inside naturally became grave goods. However...""However?" Fluffy asked curiously.Adrian explained, "However, we don't know anything about the situation insi
The surroundings remained shrouded in silent darkness, with only the sound of his footsteps echoing."This is really strange... It's so dark here, and there's nothing unusual. Where on earth did Fluffy go?" Adrian muttered to himself as he walked.Using the faint light from the charm, Adrian spotted something lying on the ground not far ahead. As soon as he saw it, he hurriedly ran toward it. Upon approaching, he saw that the object lying on the ground was none other than Fluffy. The tiger appeared unconscious, curled into a ball and motionless.Adrian picked Fluffy up from the ground and shook him repeatedly. "Fluffy, what happened to you? Are you okay?"However, Fluffy remained motionless, lying silently in Adrian's hands. Adrian channeled his energy, infusing a little of it into Fluffy. After a while, Fluffy twitched slightly and slowly opened its eyes. Seeing Fluffy awake, Adrian was overjoyed."You're finally awake. You nearly scared me to death!" Adrian exclaimed.Fluffy, s
A burst of red light suddenly erupted from Adrian's long sword. The red light instantly exploded, forcing the assailant to retreat. This momentary reprieve allowed Adrian to catch his breath. If not for this, he would have been no match for the opponent.However, the creature was not a weakling. Although Adrian managed to repel it, it paused only for a moment before lunging at Adrian again as it let out a sky-shaking roar."Grrrraaagggh!"Adrian could discern that this creature was not human. A human could not produce such a sound. This was likely a ferocious monster. He could not see the creature's appearance though. It was entirely shrouded in darkness, making it impossible for Adrian to discern its true form.After the roar, the creature became frenzied and charged toward Adrian. Seeing it drawing closer, Adrian, holding onto Fluff, swiftly moved to the side to evade. Despite the creature’s ferocity, it failed to hit Adrian. Instead, it struck the spot where Adrian had been stan
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