The Phoenix Tree spoke calmly, "Haha, there’s no need to worry so much, young one. Just focus on fulfilling your purpose."As the tree finished speaking, a few leaves gently trembled and drifted into the void. Adrian’s eyes lit up at the sight, and he eagerly reached out to claim them all. But the Phoenix Tree’s voice returned, warning, "Greed is endless, boy. Do you think you can take all these leaves? Do you believe each is filled with my precious essence?"Most of the leaves began to wither, leaving only two that floated slowly toward him. Astonished, Adrian asked, “What just happened? Please, enlighten me, elder.”The Phoenix Tree explained, "These leaves contain my essence. Only two are rich enough to retain it. The others withered. Did you think every leaf I bear holds such essence? You’re too naive.”Adrian’s face flushed with embarrassment, but after a moment’s reflection, he understood the wisdom in the tree’s words. If every one of the thousands of leaves held essence, th
Adrian gazed at the ancient, forest-like realm before him, awe and a touch of dread in his eyes. "This place... It’s not somewhere we should tread lightly," he said.Tyron and the Violet Rain Bird stood frozen beside him, while the little Fire Unicorn looked up, chittering softly.Adrian smiled down at the unicorn. "We can’t go back yet. There are too many powerful beasts here. But, little one, once I’m stronger, I promise to take you home for a while."The Fire Unicorn’s gaze softened with a hint of sadness. This was a place far from its true home.Adrian grinned back, reassuring it, "Trust me, it won’t be long."The unicorn’s eyes widened with hope, clearly looking forward to his promise. For Adrian, bringing it back was just a matter of time."Adrian, what happened back there?" Tyron finally asked. "One moment, we were pulled toward you, and then we were instantly transported here. Was there someone powerful intervening in secret?"Adrian frowned, reaching into his cloak. "Ta
A sudden rumble erupted in the distance, sparking excitement in Adrian’s eyes. Beside him, Tyron and the Violet Rain Bird shared the same look of anticipation. At last, they would fight alongside Adrian rather than watch him bear the burden alone.“Something powerful is definitely stirring over there. Let’s go check it out,” the Violet Rain Bird said.Once reluctant to follow Adrian, the bird now viewed him as a formidable leader, a visionary whose decisions inspired confidence. Tyron felt equally motivated, and even the Fire Unicorn bounced with excitement, wide-eyed with wonder at the vast, unknown world it was finally exploring.“Then let’s head out and begin a new journey!” Adrian declared.With his newfound strength, he was now a force to be reckoned with in this secret realm. Embracing his boldness, he led his companions toward the distant, radiant light pulsing ominously across the sky.Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…Figures from various directions shot toward the light, clearly
Seeing the look on Greg’s face, the onlookers knew they were mere spectators here. Approaching was out of the question. The Twelve Rakshasas alone would be more than a challenge, let alone Greg.The Rakshasas eyed Greg warily. Their leader furrowed his brow and said, “Well if it isn’t Mr. Greg. I didn’t expect you to take an interest in this treasure as well.”“Indeed,” Greg replied. “If it’s valuable, it’s mine. If it’s ordinary, you’re welcome to it.”Though his tone feigned indifference, Greg’s intent was clear. The best belonged to him, and whatever remained could go to the Rakshasas.Their expressions darkened at his audacity, but they restrained their anger.“Hah! Well said, Mr. Greg. Naturally, if it’s worthy, it’s yours. The lesser finds are ours,” the Rakshasas’ leader replied, forcing a smile. Greg’s strength wasn’t something to challenge lightly. Even if his powerful background didn’t intimidate them, his sheer prowess commanded respect.“Very well. Let’s see what this
Greg gripped his weapon tightly, anger flashing in his eyes as he spotted Adrian.Off to the side, Tyron watched with a look of mocking amusement.“Well, look who I’ve run into. Saves me the trouble of finding you.” Greg sneered, unleashing an intense aura that sent shivers through the onlookers.“What kind of power is this? He’s at the peak of the Astral Stage! It’s hard to believe he’s so strong,” someone whispered in shock.Greg’s strength was no accident. It hinted at years of disciplined training, not something achieved overnight. But Adrian met Greg’s gaze with defiant calm, his expression hardening as anger flickered in his own eyes.Greg scoffed. “I’ll give you one chance. Kneel, and I might let you live.”His desire to crush Adrian swelled as he recalled Adrian’s former arrogance. But Adrian remained cool and indifferent, fueling his rage.“You arrogant fool!” Greg bellowed, launching a deadly punch aimed straight at Adrian’s head. Adrian’s gaze sharpened, readying fo
A deep rumble echoed through the air as an oppressive force pinned Greg down, leaving him utterly helpless. He trembled, painfully aware of just how powerless he truly was. Every part of him wanted to resist, but Adrian's overwhelming power left him frozen in place.As Adrian approached, his gaze was cold and cutting. “What’s the matter? Can’t move? Don’t worry. To me, your so-called strength is nothing more than that of an ant.”The contempt in Adrian's voice sliced into Greg’s pride. Rage flared within him, yet he could no longer ignore the gap between their powers.The crowd below watched in stunned silence, their faces marked by shock and disbelief.“What’s happening? How can Adrian’s strength be so far beyond Greg’s?” “Exactly. Where did he gain such power? Did he encounter some extraordinary opportunity?”They had once been in awe of Greg's power, but now Adrian’s abilities seemed incomprehensible.As Adrian closed the distance, Greg’s anger peaked. “What do you intend to
Greg knew all too well that Adrian might truly annihilate him, especially after all his provocations.“Adrian, just end this already. What’s there to hesitate about?” Tyron urged. As a daemon, he held no sympathy for enemies and never showed mercy.Adrian smirked slightly. “Oh, I intend to. But first, I want him to realize he’s never mattered to me and that he shouldn’t think so highly of himself. Maybe he’ll remember that in his next life.”Hearing this, Greg panicked. “Please, spare me! I’ll do anything for you! I’ll even be your servant!”Adrian’s expression turned ice-cold. “Keeping you around would only sully my hands. I’d just end up killing you, so let’s finish this.”Adrian’s tone was thick with sarcasm, fueling Greg’s fury. Under different circumstances, he’d have burst into rage, but now he could only cling to defiance.“Don’t push me, Adrian! I’ve apologized and tried to make amends. What more do you want?” Greg’s voice boomed, echoing through the air.Adrian merely c
Adrian gave a faint smile. “No need to rush. You’ll be gone soon enough.”Greg spat out a mouthful of blood as an intense wave of pain and fear overtook him, his body slipping out of his control. The crushing force struck him again, pain radiating through every part of him.Suddenly, Greg was sent flying, leaving the onlookers stunned by Adrian’s power. Their eyes filled with awe and respect as they recognized just how formidable Adrian truly was.A blaze of fury flashed in Greg’s eyes as he glared at Adrian. “If you kill me, you’ll regret it. You can’t afford to offend the Universe Alliance. Think carefully. If you spare me, I won’t oppose you again. I’ll even help you if you need.”His words hinted at an alliance, but Adrian knew better. Sparing Greg would only bring future trouble.“In your next life, keep your eyes open,” Adrian said coldly.Greg was horrified as a fiery red energy surged out of Adrian and barrelled toward him. He was frightened of the incoming death.Adrian
Crack… crack…The sound of shattering echoed through the air, reverberating across the desolate landscape. Adrian and Renee had emerged in a stark and barren mountainous region. Clearly, they were no longer in Death Valley.Boom!Renee felt herself land on something soft. She was stunned and couldn’t quite process what had just happened.However, she forced herself to calm down. As she regained her composure, she was overwhelmed by the suffocating weight of the dust-filled air. Looking around in confusion, she noticed that the surroundings were unfamiliar. What’s more, Adrian was nowhere to be seen.“Huh? Where did he go?” Renee muttered. Her gaze darted about until it froze on an unbelievable sight.To her surprise, Adrian was beneath her, barely clinging to life. His breathing was faint, and his body was limp as if death had already taken him. Renee gasped, utterly shaken. She hurriedly got to her feet and lifted Adrian. After she dusted him off, she looked at him with a mix
Renee watched Adrian nervously, her expression filled with disbelief. After all, Death Valley had never been this terrifying before. Despite its ominous name, the actual danger wasn’t supposed to be this extreme.At this moment, Renee couldn’t figure out what they had triggered. Could their luck really be this bad? In the past, Renee had traversed this area alongside powerful warriors from Ciawales, even those at the Nascent and Fusion Stages, and they had passed through this valley with ease. But this time, the journey was unexpectedly difficult, fraught with numerous obstacles and dangers that left Renee utterly terrified.Fusions typically passed through this area without trouble. Even she and Adrian, who had slain the giant serpent, were effectively at that level of strength. By all logic, they should have been able to leave without any issues. But now, another monstrous entity had appeared, far more intimidating than anything they had encountered before.Adrian’s face darkene
“Is he not going to wake up?” Renee’s expression was filled with anxiety.The situation was dire. The thunderbolts were almost upon them, threatening to annihilate everything. Yet Adrian remained immersed in his deduction, showing no signs of waking up as if he was fully absorbed in deciphering the formation.Indeed, when it came to analyzing formations, such meticulousness was necessary, especially when attempting to uncover its deadly traps. This task could not be rushed.Crackle, crackle, crackle…Serpentine lightning twisted through the sky, streaks of energy descending as if from the heavens, ready to shatter everything. The entire sky trembled, and it felt like the very fabric of reality was breaking apart.Rumble!The barrier trembled once more, and the entire space around them quivered violently. Despite its strength, the barrier now seemed barely able to hold against the unrelenting onslaught. The thunderstorm’s sheer power was not something any ordinary person could wit
Adrian’s gaze sharpened as he released a wave of killing intent. “Hmph! So there’s still something left. Let’s shatter it once and for all!”Without hesitation, Adrian sat down cross-legged, summoning a powerful surge of energy that enveloped the barrier overhead. His forceful aura spread out, reinforcing the protective shield as he began to analyze the patterns of the formation around them.From the energy fluctuations, it was clear that this was not an ordinary formation. Deducing this, Adrian’s expression grew colder, his killing intent palpable.Boom!A powerful force reverberated, shaking the earth and sky. Renee was stunned. Adrian had once again entered a meditative state to break the formation. Should she assist him?The intensity of the attacks was overwhelming, and if Adrian were interrupted now, the consequences could be dire. Thinking of this, Renee prepared to make a move.“Don’t move. Stay put. This isn’t the same formation as before,” Adrian commanded sternly as if
Adrian scanned his surroundings, his gaze sharp and icy cold. The darkness of the night seemed to carry an ominous presence. He halted, staring intently at Renee, and said, “Don’t rush.”Renee was momentarily stunned, a look of confusion on her face. “What’s wrong?” she asked.Renee hadn’t noticed anything unusual. The only thing she desired was to quickly leave this cursed place. The longer she stayed here, the more uncomfortable she felt.Whoosh!A fierce wind swept through Death Valley, making the towering trees shiver as though they were alive and fearful.Adrian’s expression turned even colder as he looked around and shouted, “Stop hiding! Show yourself!”The sudden outburst left Renee startled. She couldn’t tell if Adrian had lost his mind or if her own senses were just too weak. The air seemed empty, with nothing unusual. The biting cold wind had always been a part of Death Valley’s sinister aura, something Renee had always attributed to the place’s natural state.Adrian’
Some daemonic beasts have a final self-destructive instinct upon death, causing their inner cores to explode and leaving nothing behind for humans to absorb. This was why an intact inner core was incredibly rare and precious.Yet, here Adrian was willingly giving one to her. Renee felt deep gratitude in her heart for this unexpected gesture.“Thank you. If I ever have the chance, I will repay your kindness,” Renee said with sincerity in her eyes.Adrian replied, “No need to thank me. You will certainly have the opportunity. Aren’t you my servant now? Protecting me is your duty. All right, let’s keep moving.”He continued moving forward. By now, it was already late at night.Renee gazed at Adrian, puzzled. She couldn’t figure out what kind of person he was. He treated her like a subordinate, yet his actions were more like those of a friend. She was finding it harder to understand Adrian’s intentions.But Adrian clearly had his own reasons. He wasn’t one to conform to expectations.
"What did you say? You want me to absorb it? But this inner core… It's yours…" Renee stammered, utterly shocked that Adrian was offering her the inner core. She knew well how precious this inner core was.Absorbing a beast’s inner core would significantly boost one's strength. It wasn’t that Adrian didn’t understand this fact. But he still responded calmly, "Yes, you heard me right. I want you to have it. There’s no need to be so surprised."Renee’s eyes widened even further. She couldn’t believe Adrian was treating her this generously. After all, she was just his servant.But to Adrian, it was a worthwhile decision. He had always viewed Renee as an equal. When he was injured, not only did Renee refrain from attacking him, but she also didn’t seize the inner core. More importantly, she had given him her energy to help him recover.Adrian had now gained immense strength. If he were to absorb the inner core’s power on top of that, it might be too much for him to handle and could back
Adrian chuckled lightly. "Why are you so excited? See, I'm awake now. If I never woke up, would you have stayed here watching over me forever?"Renee huffed, half-annoyed. "I’m not that foolish. If you hadn’t woken up, of course, I’d leave."Adrian smiled. "I need some time to recover. Can you keep watch for a little longer?""Sure!" Renee replied eagerly, beaming widely.Adrian then sat cross-legged and began his recovery. Watching him, Renee was filled with both shock and joy. It was nothing short of a miracle that Adrian had regained consciousness. Deep down, she felt a sense of relief mixed with surprise. She had never expected this outcome.At the same time, a flood of questions filled her mind. Normally, Adrian should not have survived such an ordeal. By all logic, he should have already been on his way to the afterlife. Yet, here he was, awake and alive. Renee found herself at a loss for words, overwhelmed by confusion.Seeing Adrian’s intense focus as he trained, Renee co
At that moment, a sudden burst of earth-yellow light erupted within Adrian’s consciousness. It was once again filled with surging waves of power. The soul storm reappeared, and the mysterious chaotic white mist returned, spreading throughout Adrian's soul space.The strange and mystical scene looked astonishing, and slowly, Adrian began to wake up from his deep slumber. As he regained consciousness, he felt a soreness envelop his entire body. Even his soul power seemed to have a slight ache.But before Adrian could fully process this sensation, a terrifying force surged through him. It flooded his entire being with an overwhelming energy.“What...What is this? This power is incredibly strong,” he muttered, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He could sense an immense energy roiling within his body, shaking his very core. The waves of power felt both foreign and potent, making him feel even stronger.Adrian’s expression turned to one of shock and unexpected delight. It was the