Nadine turned around and saw eight youngsters—both men and women—walking into the courtyard one after another.One of the young men’s names was Louis Gardner, her cousin. In fact, most of these youngsters were Nadine’s cousins from the Gardner family.“What are you all doing here?” Nadine asked curiously as she watched Louis and the others walk in.Louis smirked when he heard this. The group stood before Nadine as he said, “I heard from Aunt Carlene that you brought your boyfriend today. This is him, right?“Felix was furious when he heard about it. After all, you clearly know he’s been trying to pursue you, right?”As Louis spoke, the others next to him were carefully scanning Adrian from top to bottom. Nadine frowned and turned toward a young man next to Louis. The man was Felix, hailing from the Yale family—one of the ten most vital families in Southrive.Felix had always been among Nadine’s list of romantic suitors, even spending ridiculous amounts of effort in doing so. Howe
Adrian’s words struck Felix’s heart like a ferocious and relentless blade.The Gardners were all in shock, and Nadine’s face turned bright red as she pinched Adrian’s waist.The Gardners began to hurl their comments.“I never knew you were such a sl*t, Naddy.”“How great could this man possibly be for you to give yourself to him?”“You were Southrive’s goddess!”The Gardners all looked at Nadine as if she was a cheap woman, while Felix’s expression was absolutely hideous. He had dreamt of sleeping with her, but that was now going to remain a dream forever. On top of that, no sane person could withstand the thought of the one they love sleeping with another.Louis spat on the floor and said, “I’m appalled, Naddy. I wasn’t expecting such behavior from you. You’d seem so cool and distant most of the time, yet you’ve actually given yourself to a man like him?”Nadine was thoroughly enraged by Louis’ remark. She extricated herself from Adrian’s arms and said, “Shut up! All of you! M
The people around Adrian were stunned.‘What just happened?’Louis looked up with a face filled with confusion. He then turned toward Felix and the others, still unable to identify who it was that had slapped him.“Who hit me?” Louis asked as he covered his face.“Pfft…” Nadine stifled her laugh, while Louis shot a sinister glare at Adrian. However, it was at that moment Adrian sent another slap his way.Smack!This slap was much harder than the last, causing Louis to not only roll across the ground, but his face became swollen as well.Finally, Louis and the others were able to discern who it was that landed that slap.‘It’s him!’Panicking, Louis got up and looked at Adrian in a daze. He had not expected Adrian to retaliate and even became frightened for a brief moment.Meanwhile, Adrian said, “Are you done? If you are, it’s my turn now.”“What?!” Louis felt fear crawl up his spine.But before he was able to react to the situation, a silhouette charged at him and grabbed
After kicking up all that fuss, Louis and Felix had nothing to show for it.Originally, Adrian planned to stay in the old man’s courtyard for a while longer, but that plan was ruined. He had no choice but to leave with Nadine for the time being. He let go of Nadine’s waist once they were out of the rear courtyard. She grew displeased the moment he retracted his arm.“Why are you letting go?”Adrian looked down, shot her a glare, and pushed her away. After that, he walked off into the distance. Nadine stamped her foot angrily and gritted her teeth as she stared at him. With a cold snort, she said, “Fine! I will make you mine one of these days. Just wait and see.“Hmph!” She then caught up with Adrian and they strolled around the rest of the estate until the sky turned dark.Adrian paid Nadine zero attention. He focused solely on coming up with a plan to enter the old man’s residence and have a look around.The sky had turned completely dark by the time Adrian and Nadine arri
‘War Legate Achelous?’ Nadine was completely stunned. She never dreamt about the possibility that her father, who was dead, might have been a legate of Wyvern Peak.In fact, it felt surreal to her.Nadine took a deep breath and pulled Adrian to her bedside. “Sit, Adrian. Is it true my dad was a legate? He can’t possibly be War Legate Achelous, can he?“Up until I met you, I’ve been supporting Uncle Chase the whole time.”Adrian looked at Nadine’s anxious expression and put his hands in the air. All he had was speculation, but that might sometimes end up being true.Realizing that Nadine was on the verge of tears, he said, “Calm down. Let me investigate before we jump to conclusions.”Nadine nodded her head profusely. “Thank you, Big Brother. Please make some calls as soon as you can.”Nadine was so anxious that she even called Adrian “Big Brother.”He shot her a glare and said, “Don’t call me that. I’m four years younger than you.”“You’re still a big brother in my eyes. All m
Adrian hung up the phone and looked at Nadine, who was squatting in front of him.She was biting her lip, seeming both anxious and impatient.“Did you find anything?” Nadine asked.This was important to her because she wanted to know what kind of man her father had been. She might even turn out to be the daughter of a Wyvern Peak legate. If this proved true, her whole identity would change.Adrian patted her shoulder and said, “I’ve asked someone to look into it, but I’m afraid it’ll take some time.”Nadine fell silent and sat with her lips pursed. After a while, she said to Adrian, “What do you think I should do if my father really is War Legate Achelous?”Adrian thought this was laughable and said, “What can you do? Just let it slide. However, if he really is the legate, your identity will be completely different from what it is now. You will go from being an ordinary girl to a goddess.”“Please, I’ve always been a goddess. I may be a bit up there in age, but my looks and phys
Nadine was instantly stunned and stood rooted to the spot.‘Drugged?’Her mouth hung open as she stared at the bowl of soup. After a while, she picked it up and stirred it with a spoon before turning around to say, “Adrian, you’re not pulling my leg, are you? Why would Mother want to drug you?“Are you only saying this because you don’t want to drink it?“Fine! I’ll drink it if you don’t want to!”After saying this, Nadine opened her mouth and put in a piece of chicken when Adrian said, “I hope you don’t regret that.”Nadine was once again stunned speechless and her face stiffened, the piece of chicken still in her mouth. She could not find the courage to swallow it.She asked, “How can you be so sure? Mother wouldn’t harm me. That’s impossible.”“Logically, you’d be right, but maybe she’s doing this for someone else’s benefit.”“What do you mean?”Nadine stared at Adrian and continued, “How can you tell it’s been drugged? I refuse to believe you managed to discern that with
Adrian continued, “When I saw your father’s photo and compared it against War Legate Achelous’ statue, I thought they looked similar. With everything said, I suddenly feel that behind your mother’s mask lies a temperament befitting a legate’s wife, plus this veteran I’m talking about has been by her side this whole time. Only this time, she was the one who called him over.”“What’s Mother planning to do?” Nadine asked.“It’s simple, really. If I’m correct, your mother already knows who I am but is putting on an act.”“What?” Nadine was so shocked her legs gave way. “Are you saying that she knows you’re War Legate Draco? Why would she play along with our act then?”Adrian smiled, “There’s only one answer, and that is because your father was War Legate Achelous and she’s his wife. On top of that, she knows why we’re here and is keeping a close eye on us.”“No, no… No… You can’t be right.” Nadine waved her hands desperately. “What’s the big idea with this drugged chicken soup then?”
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