Mario laughed. “He really is enjoying his life. Not only is he a deadbeat, but he seems really proud of it too. Hah!“It’s a shame that Sam chose to marry such a loser despite her pretty looks.”Samantha remained speechless, not knowing what to say.Cassey then continued, “It’s decided then. Wait for my call, Sam. I’m expecting you to attend my wedding. No excuses!”The Mercedes Benz sped off, taking with it whatever good mood Samantha had earlier. She was so speechless that all she could think to say at that moment was, “What were you thinking, Adrian? It’s obvious she’s trying to humiliate me, so why would you agree to attend her wedding?”‘I know very well what Cassey and her friends are like,’ she added silently.“You have no idea what kind of criticisms they’re going to hurl at you if you don’t go. So, you have to come as well.”“And you think they won't if I do?”“Well, they’ll hurl it at your face if you do.”Samantha was confused. ‘What in the world is he thinking?’“
Adrian and Belle shortly arrived at the headquarters of Southrive’s Swallowston Jewelers.There, Belle brought out a necklace to show Adrian and said, “This necklace is called the Heart of the Sea. It’s made from Graff Pink diamond, also known to be the most precious gemstone in the world.“Its cut, color, and clarity make one feel like they’re looking at the ocean. Its heart-shaped design is how it got its name.“This necklace is the most precious piece of our collection. It was previously auctioned at Paolo Auctioneers with a starting price of twelve million dollars, but nobody was able to afford it.“After that, this necklace was crowned to be fit for a goddess and has been in numerous exhibitions both large and small. You could even say that it’s as popular as a celebrity, holding the love of countless people.”Adrian took a look at the necklace.‘She’s right, it does seem very outstanding. With how it’s able to exhibit a woman’s elegance, it’s specially made for women. I dou
Every woman dreamt of owning the Heart of the Sea.Samantha had already seen the news that morning and replied, “I know. There are many saying that it was the legate who bought it. I guess he’s the only one throughout Swallowston, Southrive even, worth selling the necklace to.“I also heard that Lucas asked Belle to sell it to him many times, but she rejected him time and time again.”At the mention of the legate and Lucas Jenner, Adaline was suddenly reminded of the events that took place the day before.She was silent for a moment before she said, “Sam, do you think Adrian is…”“What’s wrong with him?” Samantha shot Adaline a curious glance.But, with a sigh, Adaline decided not to finish her sentence.‘I can’t confirm that Adrian’s the legate yet, so it’ll only be hearsay if I tell her about it now.’Instead, she shook her head and smiled. “Nothing. What I meant to say was he’s been proving himself to be a pretty decent guy. So, when are you planning to forgive him?”“It’s
Samantha put on the Heart of the Sea, which was the only piece of jewelry she had received over the years.‘It doesn’t matter if it’s expensive or not. What matters is that Adrian’s the one who gave it to me.’The dining table remained silent for the rest of the morning.After that, Adrian and Samantha headed to Bailar together.The company was on the brink of extinction, which was why Samantha had been coming up with ways to bolster the company.As they arrived and Samantha sat down in her office, her assistant immediately walked in.The assistant’s name was Nina Williams. She had been working for Samantha since Bailar was founded and was in charge of its operations.Samantha had a bad feeling when she saw Nina walking in. In an exhausted tone, she said, “Go on. What is it?”Nina heaved a sigh and said, “The company’s been continuing to run at a loss, and many major banks are asking us to pay up on the loans. We have three days tops before they step in and take over the compan
Samantha knew that she was going to get hung up on, but she continued to contact other banks for the sake of her company.Alas, none of the banks were willing to give her another loan.‘The company will go belly up in a few days if I can’t find some money to pump into it.’Seeing how dejected she was, Adrian said, “Why don’t you relax and take a breather? Who knows? You might just be able to get through this.”Hearing this, Samantha shot Adrian a glance and said, “What do you know about running a company? Our cash flow is almost depleted. I won’t be able to pay my employees if I don’t get some money soon.”Samantha shook her head while Adrian smiled and replied, “I wouldn’t be too sure about that. Maybe a bank will come to you themselves with a loan offer.”Samantha instantly shot Adrian a glare. “You’re being too optimistic about this. As if any sane bank would do such a thing for me in this situation?”“Let’s just wait and see,” Adrian said.Samantha ignored Adrian and wrote
Adrian smiled upon hearing that. “In that case, let’s get prepared.”Samantha nodded. If Swallowston Bank took the liberty to call, it signified that Bailar’s funding issue could be easily solved.She felt rather excited. Without a moment’s hesitation, she quickly packed up and drove to Swallowston Bank’s headquarters with Adrian.***Half an hour later, Adrian and Samantha arrived at Swallowston Bank’s headquarters.As soon as they got out of the car, Samantha walked toward the bank in excitement. However, a voice rang out before she stepped into the building. “Isn’t that my cousin and his wife? What a coincidence, meeting you guys here.”Samantha was stunned.Adrian turned around to see who it was. He saw a young man dressed in a suit and a woman walking over to them from the bank’s entrance.Samantha furrowed her eyebrows at the sight of the young man. His name was Cedric Xander, and he was Adrian’s cousin. He was Harold’s grandson and Leonard’s son.“Let’s go, ignore him,”
Once Cedric finished speaking, Adrian’s arm shook as a burst of power radiated through it. Cedric was scared out of his wits and instantly backed away in shock.Cedric’s eyes widened in surprise. He felt a sense of threat for just a brief moment.However, he was a proud man. He instantly said in a fury, “Adrian, you have no appreciation for my kindness. In that case, I’m going to make a call to Swallowston Bank. You’re not stepping foot in there.”Adrian’s interest was piqued. He smiled and said, “Go ahead and try. I’d like to see if I’m capable of entering Swallowston Bank today.”Cedric furrowed his eyebrows. He came to the bank today to withdraw some money and did not expect to bump into Adrian.In truth, he had found out about Adrian’s return some time ago. He had not expected this deadbeat to disrespect him.“Very well. Just wait.” Cedric pointed at Adrian.As he spoke, Cedric began to dial a number on his phone.Samantha grew anxious when she saw Cedric making the call. S
“Samuel?” Cedric was instantly delighted at the sight of the young man.It was Samuel—the general manager of Swallowston Bank.Cedric quickly approached him and said, “Thank you for taking the trouble to do this, Samuel. These two are trying to get into the bank. I’ll leave the rest to you.”Cedric turned to look at Adrian and Samantha in contempt as he spoke.Samantha was panic-stricken and hastily stepped forward to explain, “Hello, Mr. Samuel. I have an appointment with Ms. Mandy.”Samuel looked at Samantha and said, “Ms. Mandy?”Then, he sniggered. “What nonsense are you talking about? There’s only one Ms. Mandy in Swallowston Bank and she’s the president. She’s one of the top twenty richest people in Swallowston. Why would the president have an appointment with you?”Samuel stared at Samantha with a malicious expression. “You don’t even know how to boast. Who do you think you are to get an appointment with the president?”Samantha was dumbfounded. The person who called her
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