The group moved on, climbing a flight of 9,999 steps. When they reached the top, they arrived at the central plaza of the Universe Alliance.The plaza was enormous. From there, the view stretched out endlessly, with clouds rolling like a vast sea, creating a breathtaking scene.At this point, Bryn addressed them, "As esteemed guests of the Universe Alliance, you are welcome to use the guest rooms, labs, and other facilities. We will reconvene here in three days to discuss our strategies against the daemons. Does that work for everyone?"There were no objections, and everyone began to disperse. For them, entering the Universe Alliance felt like finding a safe haven amidst the chaos. It was a welcome relief.Adrian and his companions were about to leave as well, but Bryn called out, "Mr. Adrian, please follow me.""Me? Why?" Adrian asked.Bryn smiled and said, "Because you are a guest from Purecastle."It seemed the Universe Alliance was aware of their arrival—or rather, they had
Stellar Atrium was the most important site in the Universe Alliance. Though it had only three stories, its position at the highest point made it seem as if it was bathed in the vastness of the stars."Mr. Adrian, this way, please," Bryn said, gesturing invitingly as he led Adrian into the Stellar Atrium.As the doors slowly opened and Adrian stepped inside, he was awestruck by the breathtaking scene before him. "I never imagined the Stellar Atrium would be so magnificent. It's truly awe-inspiring!" he marveled.Bryn, with pride, explained, "This place was built with the wisdom of the Universe Alliance's leaders over the ages. It far surpasses any other similar site."Adrian expanded his divine consciousness to explore the place, discovering many remarkable features.Without delay, the two entered the Stellar Atrium, where a vast hall filled with people awaited them. As they stepped inside, they chanced upon a discussion. One person with a loud voice declared, "We should go to war
Another person spoke up, "Who is this? Why did you bring someone along without any explanation, Sir Bryn?"Bryn responded, "You don’t recognize him? This is Adrian, an apprentice of Purecastle and one of the few who have had the most recent contact with the daemons."The crowd exchanged glances, and soon someone realized, "Wait... Is he that Adrian?"Adrian was slightly surprised. "Oh? You know me?"The person nodded. "Yes, I've heard of your reputation. You defeated three daemonic generals. That's truly impressive!"The immortal seemed pleased to meet Adrian, and many others in the group showed similar expressions. However, a voice suddenly rang out, "I thought it was someone important, but it's just a worthless nobody."The speaker was the same person who had earlier opposed the head of Severing Heaven, Andreas Boone. Unlike Severing Heaven, Andreas' faction had not suffered attacks from the daemonic tribes. As one of the first to join the Universe Alliance, Andreas held senior
As Andreas spoke, he assumed a stance, eager to see what Adrian would do. Adrian smiled faintly and replied, "Good, that's exactly what I wanted to hear. In that case, let's discuss this and see where the truth lies."With those words, the surrounding crowd quickly dispersed, understanding that Adrian had made his choice. There was no need for them to intervene. All they had to do was step aside and watch how Adrian would handle the situation.Andreas sneered and said, "Kid, what do you intend to do? Speak up."Adrian responded calmly, "You just called me a worthless nobody, didn't you?""So what if I did?" Andreas replied with a hint of intimidation in his voice. Despite his tough words, he knew Adrian was an exceedingly powerful immortal. The intensity of Adrian's aura made it hard for him to breathe, and his bravado was beginning to wane.Adrian smiled slightly and asked, "Then may I ask, what do I need to do to prove that I'm not such a person?"Andreas was stumped, unable to
Bryn quickly clarified, "There's no need to be overly impressed by Adrian's strength. His level might not be as overwhelmingly powerful as it seems. However, his divine consciousness is exceptionally strong—there’s no doubt about that. Whether it's his level or spiritual power, his strength in either is more than enough."The crowd finally breathed a sigh of relief. Bryn's assessment was accurate; if Adrian's level alone were that powerful, it would be terrifying.While those around them marveled at Adrian's abilities, Andreas felt it most keenly. Trapped inside the formation Adrian had created, he experienced a moment of dizziness before finding himself in a mysterious, unfathomable space. All around him was dazzling light, like a sky full of brilliant stars.Shocked, Andreas cried out, "What kind of sorcery is this? Let me out of here at once!"Adrian smiled and explained, "Sorcery? Hardly. I simply designed a formation to isolate us from the outside world. This palace is too lux
Andreas could sense that Adrian was aiming to kill, so he didn’t dare let his guard down. With a powerful swing of his spear, he unleashed a barrage of counterattacks.Clang! Clang! Clang!Their weapons clashed in midair, the force of their strikes resonating throughout the space. Judging by this exchange, Andreas was no weakling. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to fight Adrian to a standstill.However, a brief stalemate didn’t mean much, as true strength is revealed in a prolonged battle. For Adrian, the initial clash was just a test—now, he was ready to get serious. Feigning a retreat, he quickly created distance between himself and Andreas.Andreas assumed Adrian had been intimidated by his strength and was now retreating. With a cold sneer, he chased after him, spear in hand."Die!" Andreas shouted. With a flick of his spear, countless powerful energy blasts shot forth.Whoosh! Whoosh!Accompanied by howling winds, even Adrian found it difficult to fend off the onslaug
The barrier was covered in numerous runes, each containing enormous power. Tyron examined it closely but couldn't determine its nature. Since observation wasn’t revealing anything, he decided to touch the barrier to see what it was.As he did, a powerful light erupted from the barrier.Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!Moments later, several formidable figures emerged from the light. They quickly surrounded Tyron, cutting off his escape. Tyron was taken aback. On closer inspection, he realized these newcomers were apprentices of the Universe Alliance. They glared at him menacingly, making him stay on high alert.One of them demanded sternly, “Who are you? Why are you here? What are you trying to do?”“Enough with the questions,” another interjected harshly. “Anyone appearing in this restricted area must have ulterior motives. We should apprehend him immediately!”Tyron realized that this was indeed a restricted area of the Universe Alliance. The hostility from the apprentices confirmed it.
Tyron's composed demeanor seemed slightly arrogant, causing the Universe Alliance apprentices to view him with suspicion. With Oscar and his group's added comments, their expressions grew even grimmer.One of the apprentices looked at Tyron coldly and said, “Regardless of your intentions, you’ll need to come with us. This matter must be decided by the elder who brought you here.”Tyron was then taken away by the apprentices. Although he wanted to resist, he quickly realized he was on someone else’s turf. Seeing Oscar’s triumphant expression, he calmed down and simply said, "Fine."As Tyron was escorted away, Oscar let out a series of cold chuckles. “Hmph! This is what you get for following me!”With a murmured phrase, Oscar mysteriously vanished from the spot, while those around him looked on with satisfaction.“That guy seems to be from Purecastle. He really thinks he's something special,” someone commented.“Yeah. Just because Adrian killed three daemonic generals, they all thi
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