Chuck was discharged from the hospital that afternoon.On the other hand, Swallowston’s Criminal Affairs would also be announcing the verdict of Laurel’s case at three o’clock.In the afternoon of the same day, Adrian took Chuck to the hearing court. There were already many people seated inside the courtroom.Laurel, dressed in a prisoner's uniform and her hair tied in a ponytail, was escorted into the courtroom by two enforcement team members. Her head was lowered and her messy hair concealed her face in a way that it could not be seen clearly.Laurel sat down with her head lowered. The lawyers took their seats following her arrival. There was also media personnel at the scene.The judge sitting in the main seat announced, “After three hearings, there is a verdict in Laurel's case today.“The court acknowledges Laurel’s intentional fraud of Chuck Wilson’s property and money worth one hundred and seventy thousand dollars which indirectly resulted in the passing of Chuck’s mother.
Adrian and Chuck soon arrived at the Eastway Hotel.As they walked into the private room, a loud bang rang out. Adrian reacted swiftly and pulled out his gun from his waist. However, he did not see any bullet coming toward him. The only thing he saw was a large cloud of confetti falling from the sky.Samantha and Joanna were holding up their confetti poppers with bright smiles on their faces.“What the heck are you doing?” Joanna was instantly furious when she saw the gun in Adrian’s hand.She haughtily walked over and knocked Adrian on the head with her confetti popper as she berated, “You *ss! You thought we were assassins trying to attack you huh? You’ve even pulled out your gun! How over-cautious are you?”Adrian giggled and put away his gun.Samantha was extremely surprised because she had not expected him to react so quickly. She rolled her eyes. “Adrian, how could you carry something so dangerous on you? What if you misfire and hurt someone?”Adrian shrugged. “I reacted i
Of course, Reiss had heard what Joanna said. However, she made no comment on it to avoid awkwardness.Samantha cracked a flattering smile and said, “You’re here, Ms. Reiss.”Samantha and Reiss were not well acquainted with each other, after all, and thus she addressed Reiss in a polite manner. It was the way she greeted a stranger.Reiss nodded silently in reply.“Take a seat, everyone. The food will be served shortly.” Noticing that the ambiance was getting slightly awkward, Rue hastily came to mediate. At the same time, she glared at Joanna and reprimanded softly, “Stop spouting nonsense!”Joanna pursed her lips and said, “How would I know she’d be here so soon…”However, it was not a big issue because it was apparent that Reiss was not planning on making a fuss out of it.These people sat around the table. The food was soon served and everyone began to eat. Chuck suddenly noticed Juno sitting next to Rue and could not refrain from asking, “By the way, Mdm. Rue. Who’s this lit
The group began drinking.They enjoyed themselves a little too much because they were in a good mood. Even Samantha’s face flushed from drinking so much.Joanna asked her, “Oh, Sam, aren’t you planning to conceive? I heard that one shouldn’t drink when trying to conceive. Why are you drinking then?”Samantha was startled. “I forgot about that!”Joanna was rendered speechless. “Oh well. Your preparation is rendered useless now that you’ve drunk. In that case, just drink to your heart’s content!”They began drinking again.Perhaps Joanna was in a good mood or was affected by her difficult past so she drank so much that she was drunk. Samantha fared a little better. Even though she was tipsy, she was still composed.And it was apparent that Reiss could hold her alcohol well so she was fine. On the other hand, Chuck did not drink much because he was still recovering.Joanna was drunk so she had already begun to indulge in nonsensical talk. Samantha canceled the karaoke session that
Rue left for grocery shopping the next morning.All of a sudden, a loud shriek reverberated through the villa. It was apparent that the shriek came from Joanna’s room.Samantha was preparing breakfast in the kitchen when she was startled by the shriek. She hastily ran to Joanna’s room.“What happened, Jojo?” Samantha asked anxiously.Joanna’s eyes were wide in disbelief while Samantha was left puzzled.Adrian walked into the room with a towel and said, “Will you please stop scaring people first thing in the morning? What the heck is wrong with you?”Joanna got up from the bed, grabbed her pillow, and swung it ferociously at Adrian. “You still have the nerve to talk to me?! Was it you?!”Adrian chuckled and said, “You were in trouble and I couldn’t just ignore you, right?”“Gahhh!” Joanna was so furious that she went berserk upon hearing Adrian’s words. At the thought of last night’s situation, she felt her face burn with shame.Samantha figured out the situation and said, “Adr
Adrian headed to the Battle Warrior Department after leaving home.Daniel was in a meeting when Adrian walked into the room. The former quickly ended the meeting and beckoned everyone to leave. He made his way to Adrian and asked, “Sir, is there anything I can help you with?”Adrian asked, “Has the woman named Reiss returned to Northrive?”He had ordered Daniel to arrange for someone to watch Reiss over the past few days. After all, Adrian did not know Reiss’ innermost thoughts because she was still a part of the De Forrest family.Adrian would kill her without the slightest hesitation if she wished to protect her father. He would not make others sacrifice themselves because of this matter even if they had a personal relationship with him.Daniel said, “She hasn’t returned to Northrive but she spent the night in north Swallowston’s Cloucliff yesterday. She’s still there and hasn’t left.”“Cloucliff?”“Yes, sir.”Cloucliff was a cliff on Swallowston’s Mount Cirro. It was a sceni
Suddenly, Reiss heard the sound of footsteps coming from behind her. Someone was approaching.She hastily turned around and saw Adrian coming up behind her. He was carrying a takeaway box that he passed to her.Reiss hesitated for a moment upon seeing the takeaway meal. Then, she took it and eagerly began devouring the food.Adrian passed her a bottle of water and said, “Eat slowly. No one is going to take it from you.”Reiss missed two meals since last night. An ordinary person would be starving from missing two meals. She took a sip of water and felt her starvation slowly fade.Adrian sat down next to her and said, “I know what you’re thinking. I told you before that there are many things in this world that one just can’t help.“You don’t have to go home if you don’t want to,” Adrian added as he looked at her.“If I don’t go home, what will I do? If my parents are in jail, how will I live on my own?” Reiss asked with a hoarse voice.All of a sudden, she clutched Adrian’s hand
“Aaaah!” Reiss instinctively screamed when she sensed herself falling.Cloucliff was fifty meters in height at the very least. Even if one were to survive the fall, one would be seriously injured.Adrian grabbed Reiss’ arms as their bodies were suspended in midair. Then, he exerted strength to fling her upward.Reiss crashed into the ground above while Adrian dropped straight down.“Adrian!” Reiss shouted as she lay on the ground.All of a sudden, a glint was seen emanating from the bottom of the cliff. In the next moment, Adrian had already risen into the air and landed steadily in front of Reiss.In fact, Reiss did not even have the time to understand the situation before Adrian was already back up on the cliff.He casually placed a call. “Cloucliff collapsed. Barricade the area with caution tape to prevent people from coming in.”“Yes, sir.”Reiss glared at him but made no comment. Instead, she asked, “Who are you taking me to meet?”“You’ll know when we get there.”***
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