A dense musty and humid smell came out from within.The secret room was not big, to begin with. In fact, it could not even fit a single person inside. However, there was a rectangular little table with a book sitting on it, covered by a piece of tarpaulin.Adrian took a deep breath and reached out to pick up the book, while Nadine seemed filled with shock and anxiously wanted to open it up.After flipping through a couple of pages, Adrian said, “This is a copy written in pen by your grandfather. I believe it’s Heroes of Wyvern Peak that was auctioned off at Fowler House.”Nadine became even more eager when she heard this. “Hurry up and take a look at what’s inside.”Adrian nodded and was just about to take a better look at its contents when he suddenly heard a voice say, “What’s going on here?! What the f*ck are you guys doing on the floor?! Are you all dozing off?!“Get up! Get up right now!”Adrian immediately turned his flashlight off when he heard the voice. The next shift o
“Just one kiss.” Nadine held up a finger.Feeling helpless, Adrian held the back of Nadine’s head and kissed her on the forehead. After that, he let go of her and disappeared into the night without a trace, leaving Nadine standing there in a daze, touching the part of her forehead he had kissed.After a long time, Nadine looked in the direction he had disappeared and said, “I really, really, really want to have you, but I know you’re not mine… If only we met each other a little sooner…”She then heaved a sigh of relief and smiled. “But it’s okay. You may not belong to me, but I belong to you. I’ll be your woman for the rest of my life.”At the same time, Carlene was standing on the balcony upstairs, silently watching her daughter with an extremely pained expression on her face.Nadine had no idea her mother was watching her and soon returned to her room.***Adrian left the Gardner family residence at two in the morning and arrived at a nearby square, where a car had been parked
‘Before, Kayn gave me a female-looking wooden doll and said that she was going to be the next legate of Wyvern Peak.‘Now, this book that the old man wrote states that Juno is going to be Wyvern Peak’s legate in the future, codenamed White Crane.’Adrian believed in the book’s contents since the prophecy about him becoming the legate came true. However, the old man had not copied the entire prophecy. In fact, there were only bits and pieces of it.He fell into deep thought at that moment.***“What does it say, sir?” Daniel asked when he saw Adrian’s expression.Hearing this, Adrian handed the book over to Daniel, who glanced through it before finding the same line.After reading it, Daniel seemed really surprised and said, “What the… This can’t be true, can it? Is Juno Byrd going to become a legate in the future? The same Juno in your family?”Daniel was extremely shocked, especially since he knew about Adrian’s family matters.“Let me have a look.” Mya took the book and look
Adrian planned to return to his room since the sun was not up yet. Yet, the moment he entered the living room, he ran into Joanna, who was in her pajamas.Joanna bumped her head against Adrian’s chest and hissed in pain. When she looked up and saw that it was Adrian, she said, “Are you crazy? What are you doing walking around so quietly in the middle of the night?”Adrian turned the lights on and turned toward her. “I think that should be my line. What are you doing out here at five in the morning?”Joanna rolled her eyes. “That’s none of your business.”Through the corner of his eyes, Adrian saw that the fridge’s door was ajar and Joanna’s hands were behind her back.‘I see what’s happening here.’“Are you getting a snack?” Adrian asked with a smile.Feeling exposed, Joanna chose not to hide anymore. Actually, she was famished and wanted to grab something to eat.“I’m hungry because I didn’t eat last night,” she replied.Adrian thought it was funny and shook his head as he he
Samantha fell silent, thinking that Adrian was right.However, there were times when one had to be very brave before making certain decisions.Adrian was already considered to be of old age to Wyvern Peak—with all of his capabilities gradually deteriorating. What they needed was a new legate with excellent reflexes and a clear mental state to manage them.Hence, he was searching for such a person.The question was whether Juno was truly capable of becoming the legate of Wyvern Peak. Indeed, if she became the legate, she would be the first in Wyvern Peak’s history—Navia’s even.Samantha took a deep breath and said, “I support you, dear, but you’re still going to have to persuade Mother…”“I’ll talk to her about it later.”Samantha said nothing more about the matter.***Adrian gave out orders over the next few days to all of Wyvern Peak’s soldiers that were scattered across the country to be on standby.Meanwhile, he made preparations to retrieve War Legate Achelous’ corpse fr
Nadine looked at her mother and asked, “What else are you hiding from me? Am I really your daughter, for starters? Why won’t you tell me anything?”Hearing this, Carlene knew Nadine was already aware of everything. She was already prepared for Nadine to find out the truth ever since Adrian showed up.“Come and sit, Naddy. Let’s sleep together tonight.” Carlene smiled as she patted her bed.Nadine walked over but knelt by the bedside and said, “I’m no longer a child, Mother. I’m thirty now. How long are you planning on hiding the truth from me?She then asked, “That corpse in the glass coffin at Grandfather’s villa… It’s Father, isn’t it? Don’t you think it’s just ridiculous for a daughter to wet herself from the shock of seeing her father’s corpse? After all, you know that happens to me whenever I get overly anxious…”“I thought this would all be over, but War Legate Draco has found out about it in the end… You see, Naddy. I sincerely wished for history not to repeat itself. Many
Never did it once cross Nadine’s mind that the person who was responsible for her father’s death would turn out to be her very own uncle, a man she had respected.All of these revelations destroyed everything she thought she knew. Turns out, her identity was definitely not that of an ordinary person.Nadine covered her mouth, unable to put into words what she felt at that moment.‘Father’s been dead for so many years, yet he hasn’t been able to be buried properly, while Mother’s been hiding this all these years.’Nadine cried at that thought as she asked, “Mother, why didn’t you expose Uncle Chase even though you know he has done so many heinous crimes?”Carlene shook her head. “It’s no use. Nobody can do anything to him as long as he’s in charge. In fact, I was prepared to take this to my grave if War Legate Draco hadn’t shown up.”“Why didn’t you hand the Dragon Medallion over to him then?” Nadine asked.“It wasn’t time yet. I wasn’t sure what he was going to do next. If he is
At the same time, Juno was sitting on her bed downstairs, looking at her laptop screen. Her screen showed a video feed that was coming from the observatory.Juno was the one who set the cameras up in that place. She had seen Adrian heading upstairs and could not fall asleep, so she turned on the live feed in the hopes of finding out what her brother was up to.She was dumbfounded when she overheard Adrian’s conversation with Rue.‘I’m going to become the next legate of Wyvern Peak?!’***“No!”Rue was silent for a moment before rejecting Adrian’s statement.“I won’t let you take Juno down the path you’ve taken. Do you have any idea how much I feared for your life ever since I found out you’re the legate? I’ve been so afraid that my son would leave me someday. Do you even know how that feels?!”Faced with Rue’s question, Adrian replied, “I understand, but sometimes your thoughts can’t dictate what we should and shouldn’t do. We’re all grown-ups now, we should choose our own path
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