Adrian held the Divine Frost Slayer Blade in his hands as he asked the question, stunning Llyod greatly. He had not expected Adrian to be a Grandmaster—even 100 of him would not stand a chance against Adrian."I... I didn't mean it that way..." Llyod stammered.Adrian chuckled, intending to teach Llyod a lesson. He wanted to show him that even as governor's son, he was still just trash in this world.Just then, someone entered through the entrance of the banquet hall. It was a middle-aged man dressed in formal attire. Even though he had gray hair gracing his temples, his eyes were sharp—individuals like him were often more complex than they seemed."Who's bullying my son?" the man asked as he entered. A dozen young men in formal attire followed him, each carrying various gifts."Uh... Mr. Ivan, things aren't what you think. It's just a minor dispute between young people!" Herald said as he nervously walked up to him.Their relationship had been fairly amicable before, but Ivan ha
Herald knew he could not afford to miss a key opportunity for the prosperity of their family, even though he cherished his daughter."No! I don't agree! Have you even asked for my opinion?" Sherri shouted. She had not expected her birthday party to turn into this."Sherri, I understand you're still young, so I won't force you. But you and my son have known each other for over a decade now. You both should be very familiar with each other. You can trust him!" Ivan said firmly, "So, let's set the date for three years from now. Let's proceed with the engagement tonight!" Sherri blushed with anger.Just when she was about to speak, Llyod beat her to it. "Sherri, rest assured. I'll definitely treat you well.""Sherri, why don't you just be with Llyod? It's good for both your families and for you!" Hilary chimed in, looking amused.She knew Sherri was a rebellious girl at school, and that her rebellion was fueled by her desire to break free from her family's control. They wanted her t
"Then do you know who I am?" Adrian asked back, and Ivan's expression turned dark. Truth be told, he did not want to antagonize a Grandmaster. However, the Pintzers were important to him. Without them, it would be hard to secure his position in this chaotic era. Therefore, he had to ensure Llyod married Sherri.As a consequence, Adrian naturally became their enemy. It was a choice he had to make. What he did not anticipate was that Adrian seemed unaware of the consequences of provoking him.Ivan glared at Adrian. "You'll know the consequences of crossing me!"He would not dare to confront Adrian directly because he was a Grandmaster. The people around him were no match for Adrian. However, he could get even more formidable individuals to deal with Adrian. Since Rufus had become the mayor of Leafall, Ivan naturally had to maintain a good relationship with him. The two had been almost inseparable during this time. Being an outsider, Rufus hoped to solidify his position as the mayo
After sitting down next to Adrian, Sherri lowered her head and began to contemplate the events unfolding before her. She felt that tonight's events were far beyond her expectations.However, the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt, but neither Ivan nor Lloyd were the cause.Whether it was Lloyd, Ivan, or even her father, she had anticipated their actions. She had long sensed Lloyd's feelings for her, and the recent developments with his family seemed like pieces fitting into a puzzle. What unsettled her was Adrian.On the one hand, it was Adrian's sudden change in attitude toward her.Thinking about this, Sherri turned her head and glanced at Hilary. She frowned as she noticed a hint of schadenfreude on Hilary's face. However, she shook her head as she felt these were all trivial matters. Yet she could not shake the feeling that she had missed some important piece of information.On the other hand, it was Adrian's background. He was from Silverboa, and he arrived i
Ivan and Lloyd turned their heads to look at Adrian coldly as if saying to him that he was doomed."Greetings, Mr. Rufus!" As the host of the banquet, Herald greeted Rufus with Ivan. Rufus was not clad in armor today. Instead, he wore the traditional warrior attire of Obscura City. His aide, Ilyas, was walking next to him.Upon seeing Ivan, Rufus smiled. He had a good impression of Ivan. On the first day of his tenure, Ivan had sent him over a dozen crates of gold, silver, and jewels. Therefore, when he received the notification from Ivan, he promptly came.In addition to aiding Ivan, Rufus sought to assert his authority. His tenure as mayor was brief, and with Quintin's prolonged presence, he lacked the chance to assert himself. He aimed to demonstrate his leadership once Quintin departed.When a conflict emerged with his governor, Rufus perceived it as an ideal moment to establish dominance over the troublemaker."Hail the mayor!""Long live, Mr. Rufus!" Rufus smiled in sat
None of the people in the hall had noticed the expression changes on Ilya and Rufus's faces. "That young man is done for!" "Of course, Mr. Rufus is here already. Besides, that fellow is from Silverboa. Who gives him the right to act arrogantly here?" "Shh! Don't say such things in the future!"Adrian smiled as he quietly listened to the discussions around him. It seemed these people still did not grasp the severity of the situation yet. They did not grasp the true nature of war.When Silverboa assembled a massive force to seize control of Obscura's territory, it was not just about maintaining their citizenship in Obscura anymore."How could you offend him?!" Rufus roared and slapped Ivan's face.Ivan was sent flying like a ragdoll, crashing into several tables before landing on the ground.Ilya stood by and watched coldly.The rest of the people were shocked. They did not expect Rufus to slap Ivan's face.Meanwhile, Ivan remained on the ground and could not get up no matte
Many attended the party to entertain themselves, but now they realized that they were going to get implicated as well. No one was innocent during a war."Mr. Adrian, in my view, tonight's incident is just a misunderstanding," Ilyas said as Rufus had become too nervous to speak. "Really? And how is it a misunderstanding?" Adrian asked calmly. Ilyas was stumped because he had no idea what had happened tonight. When he saw Sherri by Adrian's side, as well as Lloyd on the other side, he instantly understood everything."Lloyd! Come here and explain to Mr. Adrian what exactly happened!" Ilyas suddenly turned around and pointed to Lloyd, who stood there silently.Lloyd did not hesitate and nervously walked over. He forced a smile and said, "Mr. Adrian, it was all a misunderstanding. My feelings for Sherri have completely dissipated now. You two can be together without any interference from me in the future!"Sherri glanced at Lloyd disdainfully, her certainty about him solidifying
"But because tonight is Sherri's birthday, and to prevent any undesirable incidents on such a joyous occasion, I have decided to let you all off the hook for now," Adrian said. Sherri lifted her head and gazed at Adrian.As for the others, while they breathed a sigh of relief, they carefully pondered the meaning behind Adrian's earlier words and eventually came to a realization.When Silverboa captured Leafall, control of the city slipped from their grasp. Here, Leafall's inhabitants were not the foremost figures, not even Rufus or Ilyas held sway. The true masters were the Silverboans, a truth Adrian aimed to impress upon them.Silence descended as the realization dawned. Quintin's leniency had shielded them from this truth. It was only when they faced Adrian that they understood not every Silverboan would treat them kindly.In defeat, their feelings held no weight. It became evident that despite Quintin's benevolence, he wouldn't side with them in conflicts.At this point, the
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