ã€ŠAttribute Farming Systemã€‹


 Chapter 1 - 1: 1314th Lifetime

    I was born crippled.

    Yeah, I know¡ªtragic, right? But don''t worry, I coped in the most responsible way possible.

    By drinking!

    For nearly two decades, I wallowed in self-pity, waiting for life to throw me a bone. It never did. But you know what did? Alcohol. Sweet, burning, blissful alcohol. My one true solace. My liquid therapy. My most loyal friend.

    Fast forward fifty years, and¡ªsurprise, surprise¡ªI died.

    Turns out, those little labels on liquor bottles weren''t just for decoration. Apparently, when you''re pushing seventy, drinking like a frat boy on a bender is not doctor-recommended. Who knew? Well, aside from the doctors. And the labels. And common sense.

    Anyway, my miserable, booze-soaked existence came to a sudden, unceremonious end. And honestly? Good riddance.

    Or so I thought¡­

    Another funny thing: Pretty sure God liked to play games, because why else would I be born as a cripple not once but twice!?

    The first time, I was at least conceived in the modern world of Earth with a loving family. On my second round of the cripple life, however, I found myself lying in a cold, wet puddle inside a cave of sorts. And although I wasn''t too keen on the era, based on the "ooh oohs" and "ah ahs" coming from nearby, I assumed it was around the start of the dawn of human civilization.

    I died within a couple of days. Yeah, it sucked, but oh well.

    Oh, there was one good thing that came out of the whole ordeal. I learned that dying from lack of nutrients while freezing to death was not a very pleasant experience. Not pleasant at all¡­

    Anyhoo¡­ God¡ªthat silly goose¡ªdecided I deserved a Round 3!

    This time, I was reborn in what was most definitely a prehistoric world. Funny thing about living among dinosaurs? There were no humans. This also meant that I myself wasn''t a human.

    Tell me, have you ever seen a baby T-Rex with the inability to use its limbs? Yeah, neither have I!

    Of course, after being reborn as one of those featherless chickens, I immediately figured out why that was. All it took was me flying out of a dino''s coochie, only to be instantly gobbled up by my cross-eyed mother for the whole "No Recorded Dinosaur Cripples" to paint itself a picture in my pea-sized brain.

    Yeah, that death was not a nice one, but it was at least better than my second death.

    Also, note for Dino Mummy: I''m pretty sure the reason I was born inept was due to the inbreeding you were doing with Dino Daddy!

    Then again, those goofy crossed eyes didn''t come from nowhere¡­

    Perhaps Dino Mommy''s parents were inbreeders as well!?

    Must be a family tradition!

    Ahem, ahem, where was I again?

    Ah yes, the matter of God''s unwillingness to give me a break. He really wasn''t the best at catching the hints I was throwing out while wailing like a banshee.

    Wait¡­ God was capable of understanding goo goo gah gah, right?

    Well, that wasn''t important.

    And neither was my fourth life, as it turned out.

    I was born into a lovely, lovely family. Standing over me were those very family members, all dressed in noble attire. I speculated it to have been roughly the Middle Ages, but interestingly enough, there was magic in this world. My parents were able to bend magic to their will¡ªand quite proficiently at that.

    I, on the other hand, was¡­ What was the word again?

    Oh yeah, a f*cking cripple!

    As I quickly figured out on my fourth playthrough, my crippled state was not only limited to my physical extremities; it also extended to my aptitude in magic!

    And when those oh-so-lovely parents of mine discovered my ineptitude, they covered it up and swept everything under the rug.

    By that, I mean they covered my head with a pillow, suffocated me to death, then swept my corpse under their rug.

    A nice rug, by the way. Really brought out the color in my eyes as I met my Maker.

    Speaking of my Maker¡­ Why was it that after so many crippled rebirths, he had yet to show his face to me? Was he afraid I''d fight back or something? Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Though, considering how he declared my destiny to always be that of a cripple, I find the notion of me fighting back to be quite mean¡­

    Cripples have feelings as well, ya know¡­?

    So, anyways, my fourth life came to a grand close!

    However, even though the curtains may have been closed shut, there would always be a new day. And as the light seeped through the curtains of my new home, the curtains to my joke of a life opened up once more!

    This time, I was born as the youngest son of a Duke who ruled a good chunk of a mystical world with dragons and talking donkeys. It had everything! Even those hot elves I''d heard about in my first life!

    Unfortunately for my pitiful virgin soul, I was thrown into the gutters as soon as my father learned of my incompetence! Dear Duke Father took one look at me, then said, "Nope, that kid ain''t mine!"

    ''As was the natural course of things,'' I thought as my life force gradually slipped away in those barren gutters. But seeing as I truly abhorred slow, dragged-out deaths, I was happy to hear the hissings of a massive snake the size of a bus.

    I had no clue what that thing was, but it was extremely scary and angry.

    However, none of that changed the fact that this snake was my savior¡ªmy way to receive a quick and (mostly) painless death!

    Yet, just as the snake opened its jaws and lunged at me, an old man with a wooden cane ruined things and slew the giant snake. That stinky old codger¡­

    I mean, a part of me was grateful that he saved me. But I''m almost entirely positive I didn''t cry out for help or anything; I wanted to die. Hell, I wanted to die four deaths ago!

    This old man''s saving grace was more bothersome than anything. And you can sure as heck bet that I put on the meanest wrinkled baby mug while glaring at him.

    That stupid old man, however, seemed to take this act of mine as a sign of intelligence. This subsequently compelled his senile a*s to pick me up and carry me away to his secret chambers of wizardry or whatever.

    The Dumbledore-like old bastard couldn''t read the room at all, even going so far as to dub me his damn disciple.

    After which, he dropped off a stack of books, instructed me to read them, then f*cked right the hell off to Narnia!

    Just thinking about that old bastard has really put me in a bad mood¡­

    Like, honestly, why in the hell did he believe I was some God''s Chosen??

    With all his decrepit heart, he believed that leaving a newly born infant to his own devices with a pile of magical books would bring about some divine epiphany and allow the infant to ascend¡­

    No, you dumbfuckadore, I f*cking died!

    Gah! The gall of some idiots!

    Whatever, let''s just get this recap over and done with already. I have some more attribute farming to do, after all.

    To sum up the rest of my lives, my sixth life had me as a crippled dog. I was beaten to death by some snot-nosed kids within the same hour.

    My 7th Life, I was back to being a human, but I was also unlucky enough to be the sole heir to a Trillionaire''s fortune in the 24th Century. I lived on the Moon and stuff; it was cool. However, it wasn''t like I was given the opportunity to sightsee for long.

    See, as unusual as it was, an alien race had enslaved the entire human civilization. My parents were breeders for the aliens, and when the Alien Masters learned of a crippled human''s birth, I was immediately sent to the platter of some ten-tentacled Gorp Glop Boss.

    I was slurped up and devoured, left to rest within a pit of stomach acid.

    8th Life was a little weird, for I was reborn in the 28th Century as the son of a common Gorp Glop alien whore. Weirder yet, this life was actually one of my most long-lived ones.

    Thirty-seven years.

    I wasn''t even considered an adult in Gorp Glop culture, but it was still a pretty damn long time for me. Wasn''t very pleasant or even enjoyable, but it was tolerable.

    On my 37th birthday, though, I was thrown into the Gorplex Worm Hole as a sacrifice to some sort of Worm God that lived on Neptune.

    I died, obviously.

    9th Life was comparatively more boring. A peasant. Died because my mother was accused of witchcraft, and I, as the spawn of the devil, wasn''t allowed to live.

    As the simple-minded plebs saw it, a physically inept 8-year-old child was a serious threat to their pig-like lifestyles!

    Some could say I was a feared figure, haha.

    With the start of my 10th Life, I seriously doubted that this life could be any weirder than my previous ones.

    However¡­ I was quickly proven wrong.

    I was reborn as an¡­ as an¡­ earthworm.

    Yeah, a motherf*cking worm!

    I hadn''t thought things could get much worse than being a glorping purple alien, but these days, I was rarely accurate with my expectations! This was one of those days!

    Let alone a day, I wasn''t even able to survive past the first hour¡­

    A crippled earthworm¡ªwhat did that even look like??

    An earthworm didn''t have limbs to begin with, so what exactly qualified a worm as a crippled worm???

    The simple answer: Incapable of wiggling, efficiently breathing, and moving.

    That run was naturally a flop!

    But with the beginning of my 11th Life, hope spurred inside me.

    It wasn''t hope created because of wishful thinking. Rather, it was just me praying for a win.

    I really, really, really¡­ needed a win.

    Unfortunately¡­

    A fly.

    A sh*t-eating, annoyingly buzzing, short-lived insect. That was what I became.

    But that wasn''t even the worst of it, for I was actually quite lucky among flies!

    I lived a grand total of three months!

    Which was a record-breaking lifespan for a sh*t fly¡­

    The more my mind wanders back to that brief period of time, I wince in disgust, finding myself hating¡­ myself.

    If I could, I''d wipe those memories from my mind.

    Regrettably, though, such good fortune was not meant for one such as I¡ªthe crippled soul who, even after experiencing 1,313 rebirths, couldn''t escape his destiny.

    Nevertheless, there was one more rebirth that left a big impact on me.

    My 12th Life.

    Twelve¡ªbeing an auspicious number¡ªmade me foolishly believe that I''d finally be set free.

    However, in the very first second of my new life, I came to understand that I really was a naive fool.

    A toilet.

    I was reborn as a living, breathing, gawdamn toilet!!

    And do you wanna know what toilets were used for??

    Yep, you guessed it! To sh*t and piss in!!

    But wait, wait, wait, that wasn''t even mentioning the ridiculous lifespans of living toilets!

    10,000+ Years!!!

    For 10,000 long, excruciating years, I lived a torturous life that wholly consisted of being shat in, urinated in, and forced to gulp it all down without complaint!

    And all of this was happening outside an alien gas station¡ªone in buttf*ck nowhere!

    There was nothing cool to look at, no hotties to whisp some of the pain away.

    There was nothing.

    Just a bleak rock floating in space with a large neon sign hanging above a futuristic dump show!

    I know I resolved myself to sit down and seriously ruminate over some of my previous lives. But at this point, I feel that I might just lose the last of my coco-pebbles if I keep forcing myself to recall all those godforsaken memories!!

    *Deep inhale*

    *Calm exhale*

    "Nope, I can''t do this sh*t anymore," Knox said, his face twitching out of control. "I focused my mind on something long enough to get my just reward, so where is it??"

    Just then:

    *Ding~!*

    [An Attribute Orb has dropped because of the exertion of an aspect related to the Mind!]

    [+2 Mind Attribute Orb]

    There it was¡ªhis Attribute Orb!

    The small, perfectly spherical whitish-blue Orb¡ªit was such a beauty.

    And one most warmly welcomed by one Mr. Knox Falazar.

    "A +2 Attribute Orb!?" He said, joy curving his lips upward. "Who woulda thought reminiscing about my sh*tty past would not only give me a whole number Attribute Orb but a +2! I just knew my 1,314th Life was the one!"

    "First, it was the Attribute Farmer System," he continued, beaming. "And then I come to learn that the number 1314 is especially auspicious in these lands, for it roughly translates to ''Forever.''"

    Knox smirked, focusing his mind on the whitish-blue Attribute Orb that only he could see.

    He beckoned it toward himself, watching as it collided with his immobilized body before assimilating with it.

    [Mind Attribute +2]

    [You have become significantly more intelligent!]

    [Your Mind-related Powers have moderately improved!]

    [Your control of your Mind-related Powers has moderately improved!]

    Though, if there were one downside to this auspicious 1,314th Life as a cripple, then it had to be¡­

    [Keep going like this, Dear Host, and you might just barely be able to bridge the gap between ''r*tarded'' and ''slightly less r*tarded'']

    [I imagine this information pleases you! Wait¡­ was I speaking too fast just now? If I was, then I sincerely apologize! I''ll make sure to speak slower next time¡ªpinky swears on it!]

    It had to be that the System¡­ was a Complete A*s!

 Chapter 2 - 2: Main Quest 1 - True Start

    The sun was shining bright, the birds were merrily singing, and a crippled young man was creepily smiling to himself in bed. It was just another typical day in the Falazar Household¡ªa large family with thousands of cultivators and an illustrious history spanning over a thousand years.

    And today, the eldest young master of the Falazar family¡ªthe ultimate disgrace¡ªwas doing what he usually did. Nothing.

    Well, to the outside world, it seemed like nothing. To those in his family, he was merely a cripple, one unfortunate enough to also appear mentally unsound. In fact, those who knew him had long since started mourning, convinced his mind had begun its slow departure from his already useless body.

    A fortunate thing, however, was that they had yet to consider putting him out of his misery. Well, at least most of them hadn''t¡­

    This meant that Knox Falazar still had some time to continue his Attribute Farming.

    The system he had awakened upon finding himself as an eerily quiet baby in this world¡ªthe Attribute Farming System.

    Although it had taken an extremely long time to efficiently farm attributes, after fifteen arduous years, Knox was finally nearing the goal he had been striving for.

    *Ding!*

    {[Main Quest #1]} - [True Start]

    [997/1000 Mind Attribute]

    ¡ª[Reward for achieving: Full Body Reconstruction]

    "The only reason it has taken me so long to reach this point is because the System has been really stingy with how often it dropped Attribute Orbs," Knox muttered, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "But no matter. Now that I''m so close to the finish line, I''m not even mad anymore."

    His light gold eyes flicked around the room, using the brightness of the light streaming in through the window to estimate the time of day. The servants only checked on him at specific times to confirm he was still alive. Keeping track of their schedules was crucial to avoiding another awkward encounter during his Orb Farming sessions.

    "Now that it has come to this," he said, a determined fire burning in his gaze, "I''ll tough it out and race to the finish line! Time to become un-crippled!"

    *Wham!*

    Just as those words left his lips, the door to his simply adorned room was slammed open. A haughty young man strode in, his medium-length black hair tied into an old Eastern-style bun. His garments were clearly woven from expensive fabrics, yet they failed to suit him at all.

    "You crippled piece of trash!" the young man bellowed, his voice grating to the ears. "Because of you¡­! Because you''re the eldest, Father has decided to pass on the title of Count to you!! You¡ªa fucking cripple!!"

    *Bam!*

    The young man''s foot slammed into the side of Knox''s crudely carved wooden bed, his face as red as a tomato, his fury near palpable. Knox simply stared at him, unmoved. He had long since grown used to being the target of others'' frustrations.

    ''In all my hundreds of lifetimes, people always blamed me for my inability to be able,'' Knox mused idly, his gaze resting on the relatively handsome yet thoroughly enraged young man standing over him.

    "Why have you come here, younger brother?" he asked, his tone as calm as a gentle stream. "Did Father twist your nipples or something? Do you require the warm bosom of your big brother?"

    The young man''s face contorted with rage as he transitioned from kicking the bed to kicking Knox himself. Each strike landed with brutal force, sending sharp waves of pain through Knox''s ribs and legs.

    "Kuk! L-Little Brother, your cultivation has improved once again, I see," Knox wheezed as blood trickled from his parched lips. "Oof! S-Say, while you''re up and active, why don''t you get this older brother of yours something to drink? I get quite thirsty this time of year."

    "Shut the fuck up, crippled trash!!" the young man hollered, his strikes becoming even harsher. "If not for you¡­! If not for you, Yennefer and I would be wedded by now! But because of your existence, Father wouldn''t allow me to propose to her! He said that you and she had already been promised to one another at birth!! It''s all your fault!!!"

    "J¡­Jeez," Knox muttered through bloodied teeth. "I had no idea¡­ To think¡­ To think that I stole your woman without even lifting a hand. Wow¡­ Just wow. I didn''t realize I was so awesome until you brought this matter to my attention. For this, I thank you."

    "You¡­!!" The young man''s entire face seemed to be made of pulsing veins as his blood pressure skyrocketed. Then, with a sickening pop, a vessel in his forehead ruptured. Blood gushed down his face like a fountain, his eyes rolling into the back of his head.

    And then, down he went.

    *Thud!*

    Knox sighed, watching his younger brother collapse to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. "Oh, Alden," he said, shaking his head. "Poor, poor Alden. You really must learn to better pick and choose your enemies. All that cultivation of yours, and what did it get you? Failure."

    Even unconscious, Alden Falazar was not spared from his elder brother''s sharp tongue. As the second eldest son, he had always envied Knox for being the firstborn. He wanted to be him¡ªjust without the being crippled part.

    "Some people just want it all and yet aren''t willing to pay the price," Knox mused, his expression one of mild disappointment. "Well, whatever. The attending servants will stop by soon for their routine rounds, so he''ll be fine. It''s not that I care about him personally; I just don''t want to be blamed for murder and executed on the spot. Had that happen one too many times before."

    His gaze shifted back to the empty space before him, anticipation flickering in his eyes.

    It was time for the Ding he had been waiting for.

    Come on, give Daddy a new pair of shoes! Be the one! S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Ding~!*

    [An Attribute Orb has dropped beca

    use of the burn-out a Mind near you has endured!]

    [Mind +3]

    Finally!

 Chapter 3 - 3: Full Body Reconstruction

    Finally!

    This was one small step for mankind, but one massive leap for Knox Falazar!

    Absorb! Absorb right away!

    As if responding to his command, the whitish-blue marble with the number 3 on it floated into the air before colliding with his body, instantly assimilating into him.

    OOOM!

    A surge of power coursed through his mind, strengthening his Mind Strength and Mind Strength Control ever so slightly. But more importantly, it completed the final piece of the fifteen-year-long puzzle.

    [Acquired +3 Mind Attribute]

    [Mind: 1000]

    [You have successfully completed your 1st Main Quest! At least you''re not a total letdown!]

    [Now, would you like your reward!?]

    Knox''s eyes gleamed with excitement, his body trembling in anticipation. "Yes!" he answered, nearly leaping in joy¡ªbefore remembering he couldn''t actually leap.

    [What do we say when we want something? You know the secret word.]

    Knox''s broad smile instantly thinned out. "...Are we really doing this?" A vein bulged on his shadowed face. "Now, of all times? Really??"

    [There''s never not a time to utilize proper manners, Dear Host!]

    Knox''s expression darkened. "Is there ever a time when I don''t imagine punching your stupid digital emoticon face?" he asked, still smiling.

    [Hey, I''m the one making the jokes here! ( ?? - ?? )]

    [Don''t be rude! Just say it!]

    Knox wanted to resist. Oh, how he wanted to resist. But seeing as he truly wanted to get this over with, he swallowed his pride.

    "Fine," he grumbled. "Pl¡­ Please, will you give me my reward¡­?"

    [Well, since you''re asking so nicely~]

    [Also, I have no power that lets me control whether or not you receive the rewards that you''ve earned~ Teehee~]

    "You motherfuc¡ª"

    Before Knox could finish his sentence, a long-awaited System Notification rang out. A notification he had been waiting for across hundreds of thousands of years. Across hundreds upon hundreds of lifetimes.

    *Ding!!*

    [You have received a ''Full Body Reconstruction'']

    [Would you like to use ''Full Body Reconstruction'' right now?] - [Y/N]

    Knox selected Yes faster than his mind could even process the question.

    Fortunately, just his intent was enough for the Attribute Farming System to proceed with the Full Body Reconstruction.

    [Commencing Full Body Reconstruction!]

    [In 10 seconds, you will enter a System-induced coma that will leave you out of commission for the better part of a day!]

    [10, 9, 8, duh, duh, duh, 3, 2, 1, ready set Go¡­!]

    ''What kind of stupid countdown was that¡ª''

    Before Knox could finish the thought, his consciousness faded. His breathing slowed, and his heartbeat completely stopped.

    But that wouldn''t cause a problem, right?

    ¡­Right?

    ¡ª------------

    *Huf¡ª!*

    When Knox awoke, he found himself in total darkness. There was no light, no sound¡ªjust an enclosed space pressing down on him. Judging by the airflow, it wasn''t a large space either. If he had functioning legs before, he would''ve been complaining about the severe lack of legroom.

    "Where am I?" he questioned, his golden eyes darting around. "This isn''t my room. But if it''s not my room, why am I here? I''m a cripple. Except for when I''m carried to the shitter to grace the sewage pipes with my big pipes, I never move places."

    More importantly, a faint scent of burnt incense lingered in the air.

    Someone was burning incense.

    But why?

    A realization struck him like lightning.

    "Oh, shit¡­ It can''t be!"

    As a metaphorical lightbulb flashed in Knox''s mind, his face paled.

    "I''m dead," he whispered, his complexion turning as white as a ghost''s. "Well, not technically dead. But I''m sure as hell at my own funeral¡ªlying in a coffin."

    It all made sense now. His heart had stopped for nearly an entire day. His body was cold and unresponsive. And in a world where cultivators had little patience for the weak, they must have assumed¡­

    They must have assumed he was gone.

    "Wait!" Knox suddenly gasped, shifting inside the coffin. "The Full Body Reconstruction! Was it a success!?"

    The moment he moved, he had his answer.

    "Of course it was a success!" His voice trembled with excitement. "How else would I be moving around like this!?"

    Knox lifted his hands, flexing his fingers.

    "I can move my hands!" His joy intensified. "My fingers, my toes, even my nose! I can move it all! I''m no longer a cripple!"

    *Bam!*

    Overcome with excitement, he accidentally leaned up¡ªonly to slam his head against the coffin''s lid. The impact caused the lid to slide off, crashing onto the ground with a loud, echoing thud.

    Knox blinked, his eyes adjusting to the dimly lit funeral hall. Slowly, he turned his head to the left, where dozens of people sat on velvet leather chairs.

    Every single one of them was dressed in black.

    The air in the room was thick with sorrow. Though only a few among them were crying, the melancholic atmosphere was undeniable.

    All eyes locked onto Knox, wide with pure horror.

    A crooked smile stretched across his lips.

    "Well, this is awkward," he remarked. "Why are you all staring at me as if you''ve just seen a ghost? Awed by my handsomeness, perhaps?"

    A brief silence followed.

    Then¡ª

    "The Eldest Young Master is alive! And he''s moving! Oh my God! It''s a miracle!!"

    Knox sighed. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This was going to be fun to explain¡­

 Chapter 4 - 4: Strength!

    ¡ª Some time later, within a separate room of Falazar''s large mansion ¡ª

    "You can stop sticking things in my mouth," Knox said, swatting at the hand in front of him. "The only thing you''re going to find in there are the remnants of what I ate before being proclaimed dead. I don''t know about you, but I think that might give you a disease."

    "Eldest Young Master, I''m just following the orders of Count Falazar," said a middle-aged man in an old-fashioned doctor''s coat. "Forgive me for not obeying your wishes."

    "Yeah, yeah, whatever," Knox rolled his eyes. "Just stick it in and finish quickly. I want to test out my arms and legs as soon as possible. There''s also this cultivation thing that everyone''s been raving about. You just know I have to try it."

    "Yes, Eldest Young Master¡­" the doctor agreed unenthusiastically as he resumed his consensual fingering session.

    ¡ª After enduring for a few minutes ¡ª

    "Alright," the doctor finally said, retracting his hands from Knox''s anus. In his hands was a bigger-than-average metal rod. "That concludes the physical check-up. Concerning your health, I''ll be reporting to the Count that everything is as it should be."

    "Gee, thanks, Doc," Knox said sarcastically as he pulled up his pants and turned toward him. "Without you probing me with your rod, I never would''ve been able to walk again. But now look at me¡ªgood as new!"

    He scoffed lightly before walking away from the probing table, exiting the room, and making his way down a long, empty hallway.

    Or at least, he wished it were empty¡­

    Unfortunately, a familiar presence was waiting for him¡ªone with a bad case of crazy eyes.

    Standing in the middle of the corridor was a woman with long, slightly curly pink hair and hazy purple eyes. Her figure was impressive¡ªbetter than most supermodels on Earth. However, neither her striking beauty nor her killer physique made up for her terrifying personality.

    "My love!" she exclaimed as soon as she spotted him.

    Knox, meanwhile, immediately hid his face behind his hands and walked awkwardly in the opposite direction.

    "You can actually walk!" Cela continued, completely ignoring his attempts to escape. "I prayed for years that this day would come to pass, but to think it really did happen!"

    At first glance, one might assume she was a concerned lover of Knox''s highly sought-after self. But appearances could be deceiving¡­

    "Well, my Knox," she whispered, her hands piously interlocked and her heavy, heated breath making the hair follicles on his neck stand on end. "Those last maids who got a little too handsy with you have already been¡­ taken care of! This means that we can finally be together!"

    "Sorry," Knox said, pushing her kissing face out of the way. "I have a fianc¨¦e now, which means you and I won''t work out. But listen, Cela, with your hotness and that, uhmm¡­ affectionate personality of yours, I''m sure men will be lining up for miles just to get the chance to be with you. Keep your spirits up, girl! Girl power for the win, yeah?"

    With a casual boop on her cute button nose, Knox skedaddled out of there. Large beads of sweat rolled down his face as he turned several corners. Only after ensuring that he wasn''t being tailed by his crazy stalker did he exhale a breath of relief.

    Leaning up against a wall, Knox caught his breath. Looking down at his jiggling legs and feet, the reality of it all finally seemed to sink in.

    He could move.

    He could actually f*cking move!

    He was no longer a cripple!

    It had taken hundreds of thousands of years of painfully dying and the loss of most of his sanity, but he had finally accomplished it.

    A cripple no more.

    "I have a good feeling about the days to come," Knox muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Then, a dreadful thought struck him. "Wait¡­ I didn''t just jinx things for myself, did I¡­?"

    [I don''t know,] the System chimed in, grinning. [Check your balls. Are they still there?]

    "!!!"

    Knox immediately stretched out the bottom half of his dragon-adorned robe, panic setting in. Fortunately for his future wife, his sleeping anaconda and golden jewels were still safe and sound¡ªtucked away securely within his robe.

    [Big words coming from such a ''small'' man!]

    [(?? ¡ä? )]

    "Don''t you have an off button for your voice or something??" Knox grumbled, brows furrowing in annoyance. "If you do, then I command you to turn it off."

    [Yeah, and I command you to stop being such a whiny b*tch, but seeing as neither will happen, you should stop asking for the impossible.]

    "...."

    Choosing to ignore his obnoxious System, Knox returned his attention to reality. It was then that he noticed his surroundings. Somehow, his wandering had led him to the Training Area of the mansion''s vast backyard.

    Numerous family members were outside, practicing their martial arts under the blistering heat. They seemed fully immersed in their training, driven by the sole goal of becoming stronger.

    Conveniently ignoring the explosive eruption of pinkish-purple aura from where he had just been with Cela, Knox''s golden eyes gleamed at the sight before him.

    All these people¡ªpracticing martial arts¡ªit was a mesmerizing thing to see.

    "Even from all the way over here," Knox murmured, his long raven-black hair wildly blowing in the wind, "I can feel the force of their strikes against the wooden dummies. To have such power¡­" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was at that moment¡ªshortly after regaining the ability to function like a normal person¡ªthat he realized what he truly wanted.

    Strength.

 Chapter 5 - 5: Time to Train!

    Strength!

    Knox''s voice rang out, loud and resolute. "That''s what I want!!"

    After experiencing hundreds of thousands of years watching people from all walks of life progress on their own paths, it was finally his turn!

    His turn to pursue power! His turn to no longer be a spectator confined to an immobilized existence! His turn to step forward and shape his own fate!

    "Hell yeah!!" Knoc bellowed, throwing his arms high into the sky. "This is the win! The win I''ve been so desperately searching for all my lives! The Path to Power!"

    However, there was one minor problem standing in the way of his grand ambitions.

    The Path to Power.

    How¡ªexactly¡ªwas it supposed to begin?

    "Maybe drugs are the answer?" Knox muttered, rubbing his chin in thought.

    The Falazar family members training nearby glanced his way, drawn in by his outburst, but he paid them no mind.

    "Drugs¡­ like Alchemy and stuff. Although I didn''t really pay attention to anything outside Attribute Farming in this life, I do recall a number of servants mentioning the Alchemy profession. There was also something about high-level pills and an Alchemy Grandmaster staying inside the mansion."

    And just like that, it was decided. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The first step on the Path to Power was to become a dopehead!

    ¡­Or maybe not.

    "Eldest Young Master?" A curious voice interrupted his thoughts. It belonged to the family''s Head Steward. "Why are you out here in the training grounds so shortly after your miraculous revival? Has the doctor already given you the green light to move around so vigorously?"

    Knox immediately put on his best poker face and nodded.

    Internally, however, he was praying to whatever lucky star was out there¡ªpraying that he wouldn''t be sent back to that test table!

    As someone who had lived as an alien in multiple lifetimes, Knox had been subjected to all kinds of bizarre experiences. Some of the worst involved technology straight out of whacky sci-fi movies.

    Probing.

    Yeah, probing. The whole shoving things up the bums of different worlds'' natives thing. It was a procedure he had undergone far too many times as the crippled child of a Probe Master for the Xylophorgs.

    Even thinking about it was enough to make him sick.

    Right now, he didn''t care about anything except training.

    If others could become strong, why couldn''t he?

    Maybe with the Attribute Farming System''s help, he could become something more than just a joke!

    Coincidentally, the Head Steward spoke the very words Knox had been yearning to hear:

    "Are you wanting to train, Young Master Knox??"

    The man''s corpulent belly jiggled slightly as he reeled back in shock. Beads of sweat ran down his fat-filled cheeks as his mind swirled with thoughts. He imagined how the Count would react if he knew¡ªif he knew that his eldest son, the bane of his family name, was actually aiming to train¡­

    He might just die from happiness.

    ''No, no, I''m getting ahead of myself,'' the Head Steward thought, evening out his expression. ''Knowing the Eldest Young Master''s personality, it''s very likely that he''s just out here to crack a joke or something.''

    After all, he himself had been the victim of many of Knox''s jokes before¡­

    A shiver ran down his spine just recalling those memories.

    Snapping him out of his reverie was Knox''s elated voice.

    "Training!? Damn straight I''m here to train!" Knox declared, lifting his nose high. "Tell me, good sir, where can I train in¡ªsecret¡ª? To properly unleash my overwhelming barrage of punches, none should be in my vicinity. I fear for their safety, not mine."

    "U¡­ Uhmm, yes, of course," the Head Steward stammered, his sweat glands working overtime.

    Gently, he wiped his forehead with an elegantly embroidered handkerchief before motioning toward an isolated forest beside the primary training field.

    "Right over there will be your best bet if you desire privacy. No one goes there at this time of the day."

    "Thanks, chap!" Knox said before spinning on his heel and sauntering toward the indicated spot. "Time to go test out my body! Hwa! Hwa!"

    As he watched Knox karate chop the air while approaching the forest, the Head Steward suddenly remembered something. However, aside from a slight raise of his brow, he didn''t act on the thought.

    "In my distraction, I completely overlooked the fact that Young Miss Yennefer has been seen visiting that particular forest quite often," he mused. "Though, surely she won''t be there today of all days¡­ Surely¡­"

    Despite his supposed certainty, his confidence quickly plummeted.

    Meanwhile, Knox continued his merry way toward the forest, swinging his arms back and forth like an elementary schooler on his way to recess.

    "I wonder how strong I am," he mused, flexing his well-defined biceps. "I look and feel pretty strong, but seeing as this is a world of cultivation, one can never be too certain."

    Just then¡ª

    *Splish, Splash!*

 Chapter 6 - 6: Sammy Berkshire

    *Splish, Splash!*

    Knox''s ears perked up at the sound of splashing water. Like a sly fox, he followed the noise, his steps light and calculated.

    Pushing through the foliage overlooking a small running stream, his eyes locked onto the outline of a humanoid female.

    His heart pounded in excitement.

    "Is this one of those scenarios?? Is it finally my time to catch a hottie in the midst of washing off her impurities!?"

    Without hesitation, he lunged through the foliage, arms wide open.

    "Daddy Knox is here, hottie! What say we skip the formalities and go straight to the¡ª"

    His words died in his throat.

    Standing before him was not the soft, alluring form of a bathing beauty but a wood creature.

    It had the general body shape and facial features of a human female, but it lacked all the important parts.

    "You scammer!" Knox declared, his outraged voice creating ripples in the stream. "And here I was about to show you the best night of your life before mysteriously vanishing the following mornin¡ª"

    SHING!

    A wooden blade extended from the creature''s arm, slicing through the air toward Knox''s throat.

    Reacting on instinct, he let himself slip, speeding up his evasion.

    *Drip¡­*

    Raising a finger to his cheek, Knox felt the warmth of fresh blood. A shallow cut stretched across the right side of his face.

    Slowly, his usual grin faded, replaced by an eerie coldness.

    "So, you''re not the friendly type," he uttered, his entire demeanor shifting. "Fine. Then I won''t be friendly either." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    An intense killing intent erupted from his glowing golden eyes. Ignoring the blood staining his face, he dashed forward.

    In a blink, he crossed several dozen meters.

    His hand¡ªnow pulsing with newfound strength¡ªclutched the wood creature''s throat. With a slight squeeze, he could already feel its resistance weakening.

    Yet, just as he was about to finish the job, a sudden voice rang out.

    "Stop! Don''t hurt my Spirit Summon!"

    Knox''s cold gaze flickered toward the source of the cry.

    At that exact moment, a massive tree filled his vision, barreling toward him with overwhelming force.

    "A Spirit Summon?" Knox asked, effortlessly sidestepping the oncoming tree. His movements were swift, precise¡ªalmost effortless. "What''s that? This tree creature?"

    He glanced at the struggling wood creature in his grasp, his grip unwavering.

    Even he was surprised by his own strength and mobility. Not even minutes ago, he was wobbling around like a drunken fool. Why the sudden change?

    And judging by the stunned expression of the girl descending from the sky like a fairy, she was equally as shocked.

    "How were you able to dodge that??" she asked, her cherry-red lips parting in disbelief.

    Knox scoffed. "Did you expect me to stand there and let a tree whack me in the face or something?" He rolled his eyes. "Anyway, if this thing is yours, then put it on a better leash. I would''ve killed it if you kept attacking. I don''t care how pretty you are."

    Without another word, he tossed the tree creature toward the girl and turned away, stepping along the stream''s shoreline in search of a good training spot.

    "Hey, wait right there!" the girl hollered, rushing after him. "You haven''t even apologized for what you did to Tia! Just look at the mark you left around her neck!"

    Knox slightly cocked his head back, his killing intent still palpable.

    "You want me to apologize for defending myself after being attacked first?" His voice dripped with sarcasm. "What''s next? You want me to kowtow and proclaim you my grandmother as well?"

    "N-No¡­ I just¡­"

    "You just what?" His piercing gaze locked onto hers. "You''re just stupid? Good for you, but I don''t care. Listen, kid¡ªif you keep bothering me, I''ll discipline you on behalf of your parents. Control your pets, or don''t own one. Goodbye."

    Still irritated by the unnecessary fight and the wound on his cheek, Knox kicked a nearby rock.

    The small stone shot forward, smashing into a tree and leaving behind a noticeable dent.

    That improved his mood¡ªif only slightly.

    But the moment he sensed the peach-blossom-eyed girl creeping up behind him again, his faint smile disappeared.

    He halted, turning to face his persistent stalker.

    His expression was shrouded in shadow, yet he wore a wide, friendly smile¡ªone that appeared anything but friendly in the eyes of the girl.

    "How old are you, kid? What''s your name?" His tone sent a shiver down the girl''s spine.

    "I¡­ I''m thirteen," she stammered, fidgeting nervously. "And my name is Sammy¡­ Sammy Berkshire."

    Knox stiffened, his expression shifting. His golden irises flickered with a trace of surprise.

    "The Berkshire family¡­ Wait." He narrowed his eyes. "Are you that younger sister?"

    Sammy hesitated for a moment before nodding shyly.

    "My big sister is Yennefer Berkshire."

    Knox froze.

    "Oh, f*ck."

    His danger instincts screamed at him like a blaring alarm.

    "Forget everything I said, girl! Tell me what you want! Hurry, hurry!"

    Sammy was taken aback by Knox''s sudden panic, but she quickly remembered why she had approached him in the first place.

    "I¡­ I''d like for you and my Tia to make up," she murmured, glancing between Knox and the gloomy tree lady dragging its feet behind them. "Please¡­ I don''t want her to be so sad¡­"

    "Sure, sure, whatever, kid!" Knox said hastily, his eyes darting around as if expecting an ambush. Then, with a dramatic sigh, he turned to Tia, the Spirit Summon.

    "I sincerely apologize for fighting back after being attacked!" he declared mockingly. "Next time, I''ll simply stand there and accept the embrace of death like a man!"

    His gaze snapped back to Sammy. "Are we good now, kid?! Come on! Just say we''re good!"

    "O-Okay, we''re good¡ª"

    OOOM!

    Too late.

 Chapter 7 - 7: Yennefer Berkshire

    "O-Okay, we''re good¡ª"

    Right as those words left Sammy''s lips, an overbearing pressure crashed down on Knox, forcing his knees to buckle.

    A deep scowl formed on his face as he clenched his teeth in frustration.

    "I just knew this sh*tty clich¨¦ would happen," he muttered under his breath. "Why am I not allowed to peacefully enjoy my non-crippled body!? Why is there so much nonsense!?"

    A voice¡ªsharp, icy, and filled with authority¡ªcut through the air.

    "What are you doing to my younger sister?"

    Knox''s head snapped upward, his golden eyes narrowing. Floating above him was a woman, her cold gaze locked onto him with clear hostility.

    Floating.

    She was actually levitating in midair!

    Although countless questions flooded his mind, Knox knew better than to stand there gawking. If he didn''t speak fast, his identity as the Eldest Young Master of the Falazar Count Family wouldn''t matter¡ªhis head would roll before he even had a chance to proclaim his Young Master status.

    The younger and more immature Sammy had only just embarked on the path of cultivation. Her cultivation base at the Marrow Refinement Realm made her a genius, but she had yet to harness Innate Energy.

    Her older sister, however, was an entirely different matter.

    Yennefer Berkshire.

    Peak Foundation Establishment Realm.

    A prodigy whose mastery over Innate Energy had earned her the title of "3rd Prodigal Goddess" of the Water Nation¡ªthe very nation that housed both the Berkshire and Falazar families.

    "If you don''t respond within the next two seconds, I''ll be forced to¡ª"

    "Hold on just a moment, Toots," Knox interrupted, raising a hand as if to halt her impending wrath. "As your adorable younger sister can tell you, I''ve done nothing but treat her with the utmost hospitality. Seeing as this forest and everything for hundreds of miles will soon belong to me, it''s only natural that I take good care of any lost bunnies."

    He had no real interest in claiming territory or authority, but she didn''t need to know that.

    Yennefer''s strikingly sculpted brow arched slightly as her piercing gaze scrutinized Knox from head to toe.

    Knox, ever aware of his own attractiveness in this life, was used to being ogled. But the way she looked at him¡­ it was as if she were eyeing a prime slab of steak.

    "You''re the Eldest Young Master of the Falazar Count Family?" Yennefer asked plainly. "I thought you''d be¡­ taller."

    Taller!?

    Knox''s expression darkened instantly.

    You b*tch! I''m already 6''2!

    Far above average in this world!

    What do you want me to be!? A f*cking giraffe!?

    You yourself are only 5''4! Are you planning to climb a tree during our smexy time!?

    His face twitched violently after only ten seconds of being in this woman''s company.

    And this was supposed to be his fianc¨¦e?

    Who cared if her beauty was unmatched?

    Who cared if her figure was flawless, unrivaled in both Heaven and Earth?

    ¡­Okay, maybe he cared a little.

    Just a bit.

    Knox took a deep breath, reigning in his irritation.

    "M¡­Miss Yennefer," he said, forcing civility into his tone, "is that really something appropriate for a young lady like yourself to say? Isn''t insulting someone beneath a person of your stature?"

    He carefully worded his statement, subtly alluding to her short height while making it sound as if he were referring to something else entirely.

    Her expression subtly tightened.

    Knox smirked internally. Irritated, are we? Good.

    Even if she was powerful, this was his home¡ªa place filled with individuals far stronger than even her. His father alone could think her out of existence if he wished to.

    For once in his many lives, Knox felt the full advantage of having a high social status.

    ''Now then, what''s your next move, Fianc¨¦e o'' Mine?''

    "You''re right, Mister Knox Falazar," Yennefer finally responded, shadows veiling her eyes. "It is indeed beneath someone of my stature. Speaking to a former cripple like yourself is something I shouldn''t be doing. How high is your cultivation again?" She feigned a thoughtful expression. "Oh¡­ I guess that was inconsiderate of me to ask."

    Knox''s smirk disappeared.

    ''This little¡­''

    Suppressing his irritation, he exhaled sharply and turned away.

    "Well, if that''s all, I''ll be taking my leave now."

    "Wait."

    The moment she spoke, an invisible force compelled him to halt.

    Knox''s muscles stiffened.

    ''Innate Energy Manipulation.''

    He gritted his teeth. This was a problem.

    "My sister still hasn''t told her part of the story," Yennefer continued smoothly. "Even if you are the Eldest Young Master of the Falazar Count Family, that doesn''t excuse you from mistreating an heir of the Berkshire Count Family."

    She turned to Sammy, her voice softening.

    "Come now, tell your big sister if you''ve been mistreated by this esteemed gentleman over here. And don''t worry, you can be frank with me."

    Sammy hesitated, her wide, watery eyes flickering between Yennefer and Knox.

    She hadn''t meant for things to escalate like this. What had started as a misunderstanding had spiraled into something far beyond her control.

    "B-Big Sister," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "H¡­He didn''t do anything to me that wasn''t deserved. I''m already over it¡­"

    A deafening silence followed.

    Unbeknownst to the innocent angel, her poorly worded statement sent rolling storms into the hearts of both Knox and Yennefer.

    "You sick bastard," Yennefer growled, her voice laced with pure venom. "Do you think that just because this is your territory, you can do whatever you want to your visitors?? What scum!"

    Knox''s eye twitched violently.

    He slowly turned his head toward the supposed angel responsible for his imminent doom.

    Which Deity had he offended to deserve this Devil-tongued girl!?

    But seeing how Yennefer''s glare was piercing straight into his soul, he swallowed his grievances and focused on the real threat at hand.

    "This isn''t what it seems," he said quickly. "Your sister''s wording is just screwed way the hell up! I really didn''t do anything inappropriate to her!"

    ¡­Wait.

    That didn''t sound much better.

    ''Sh*t.'' S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 8 - 8: System Interface

    "Inappropriate, you say?" Yennefer''s voice was chilling, her tone sharper than the blade she wielded. "I see..."

    "Wait, woman!" Knox shouted as the pressure around him increased a dozenfold. His body trembled under the force, but he refused to collapse. "Before you do anything rash, remember exactly who it is that you''re about to attack!"

    "Oh, I know precisely who you are," Yennefer said, her lips curling into an icy smirk. Without her moving a finger, her thin, light blue sword unsheathed itself from its scabbard, hovering in the air.

    "I know you''re about to be a dead man."

    SHING!

    The sound of the blade slicing through the air sent a chill down Knox''s spine.

    ''Sh*t!''

    He attempted to weave out of the way, but the large sword arc unleashed from Yennefer''s strike was too fast¡ªfar too fast for dodging to be possible.

    It was at that moment that reality hit him¡ªhe was absolutely f*cked. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, just as he resigned himself to what seemed like a premature and highly unfair death, something unexpected happened.

    His eyes widened as a translucent blue screen appeared before him, glowing with ethereal energy.

    *Ding!*

    [An Agility Attribute Orb has dropped from a Peak Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator!]

    [+76 Agility]

    As soon as the illusory words flashed in his vision, Knox''s instincts kicked in.

    His saving grace had arrived.

    Without hesitation, he pulled the Attribute Orb toward him, faster than the sword arc that threatened to cleave him apart. His body instantly absorbed the Orb, and the surge of power coursed through him.

    His stat sheet immediately reflected the change:

    ________________________________

    [Name: Attribute Farming System]

    [Host: Knox Falazar]

    [Cultivation: Mortal]

    [Title(s): A Thousand Lifetimes, A Thousand Times a Virgin (EX), Shameless Young Master (EX)]

    ______________________________

    [STRENGTH: 1 (20)] (Without the System''s help in reforming your useless body, even chickens could best you in a duel)

    [AGILITY: 2 (96)] (I''ve seen snails move faster)

    [ENDURANCE: 2 (20)] (Luckily for you, having low endurance doesn''t affect your chances of bedding a woman. 0% is 0%)

    [MIND: 1020] (They say there''s always one good aspect of every person. This is yours)

    [INTELLIGENCE: 3 (20)] (Ever heard of a book? They exist, ya know?)

    [PERCEPTION: 2 (20)] (At this point, someone could aim a gun straight at you and give you ten seconds to dodge, but you would still get hit.)

    [AFFINITY: 1 (20)] (You have no talent for anything. Ever heard of the phrase ''One-Trick Pony''? Well, you''re a No-Trick Pony.]

    [CHARISMA: 99 ] (....)

    _______________________________

    Knox smirked.

    ''My appearance has rendered you speechless, I see. Heh~''

    On another note, it seemed that his Full Body Reconstruction had set all his stats to a base 20. But now, with the absorption of that Agility Attribute Orb, his speed had skyrocketed past the rest.

    That was good¡ªexcept for the fact that a life-threatening sword arc was still barreling toward him.

    His gaze flickered toward the incoming attack.

    "...It does look a lot slower," he muttered, tilting his head.

    His feet twitched. His body felt lighter.

    "Let''s try dodging.''

    Knox sidestepped to the right¡ª

    *Fwooop¡ª!*

    A sharp sound blasted behind him as he effortlessly evaded the sword arc. The difference between his former self and his current self was like the difference between Heaven and Earth.

    The arc tore through the air, unleashing rolling waves of energy that rattled the entire forest. The surrounding trees bore deep scars, their bark splitting as thin fissures spread across them.

    By the time the sword arc finally collided with something, Knox was already seated cross-legged on a nearby boulder¡ªright beside the confident Eldest Young Miss of the Berkshires.

    He rested his chin against his fist, his expression one of utter boredom as he watched the destruction unfold.

    A massive explosion shook the ground as the arc''s impact kicked up a storm of dust and debris. Though the dust cloud obscured most of the view, the results were undeniable¡ªdozens of trees had been blown apart, their splintered remains scattered across the charred battlefield. In their place stood a 20-meter-wide crater.

    The sheer force of the attack was terrifying.

    Yet, as the dust began to settle, Yennefer''s expression subtly shifted.

    Something was wrong.

    Her eyes darted around.

    That scumbag pervert¡ªwhere was he!?

    "That was a good show," Knox''s voice rang out, smooth and mocking. "Bravo, bravo!"

    Yennefer snapped her gaze toward him, her brows furrowing as she found him clapping in an exaggerated manner.

    "You!" she seethed.

    Knox grinned. "Me!"

    WAAA!

    Yennefer''s aura exploded, her power surging to new heights. Fury boiled within her, her patience wearing dangerously thin.

    He was toying with her.

    She clenched her fists, ready to make him regret ever speaking¡ª

    But before she could act on her impulses, a series of footsteps approached from the distance.

    The rustling of leaves. The snapping of twigs.

    Yennefer''s breath hitched.

    She froze.

    Her eyes widened in sudden realization.

    ''What was I thinking!?''

    She had just attacked the Eldest Young Master of the Falazar Family.

    In broad daylight.

    Inside the Main Falazar Household.

    Was she out of her goddamn mind!??

    Even if she despised him¡ªeven if she had zero respect for him¡ªshe had no right to be so impulsive.

    Her ambiguous reasoning came back to bite her.

    Did she really attack him for the sake of her sister?

    Or was it¡­ because of something else?

    They say that when two extremely similar people meet, they could do nothing but hate each other.

    That seemed to be the case here.

    "Oh, my big, brave, loyal soldiers!" Knox suddenly shouted, alarm filling his voice. "The evil girl who attacked me for no reason whatsoever is right over here! Help! Please help me!"

    Yennefer''s eye twitched.

    Her fists clenched tighter.

    Knox, meanwhile, was nearly giddy with amusement.

    His acting was flawless.

    And why, one might ask, was he going through the trouble of playing the helpless victim?

    Firstly, he actually was the victim here.

    Secondly¡­

    In court, who was more likely to receive the judge''s favor?

    The male or the female?

    Exactly.

    Knox didn''t need to elaborate further.

    Let''s just say that if he played the victim before the vixen could¡­

    He''d come out on top¡ªright in his home turf.

 Chapter 9 - 9: An Innate Barrier

    "Eldest Young Master!?"

    A soldier burst through the thick forest shrubbery, his expression filled with concern. His sharp eyes scanned the area, immediately locking onto the destruction surrounding them.

    "What was that large explosion earlier!? And who are these two!??"

    His battle-hardened gaze fell upon the two beautiful girls standing in the clearing. As nearly a dozen other soldiers emerged from the foliage, they too directed wary stares at the unfamiliar young women.

    They had clearly heard what was said.

    Knox, ever the opportunist, wasted no time. With an exaggerated display of fear, he scurried away from the intimidating women and darted behind one of the soldiers. He pointed at Yennefer and Sammy, ensuring his hand trembled for extra effect.

    Nailed it!

    But it wasn''t enough.

    To truly sell his performance, he needed to go one step further.

    "T-There," he whimpered, forcing a quiver into his voice. "They''ve been bullying me¡­ See the pointy sword and the crater...? They want to kill me! Boohoo!"

    Knox was well aware of the reputation he had within the Falazar Family.

    A mentally impaired cripple.

    That was the common belief circulating among the household members and the world at large.

    ''Play the victim card! Play, play, play it till it runs out of uses!''

    "You actually have the gall to strike out at our Eldest Young Master!?" the first soldier roared, his Peak Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation surging outward, suffocating the air around them. "Are you actively seeking death!?" His glare was fierce as he pointed his sword at the women. "Tell me! Tell me who you two are! To die by my blade, I must know your names!"

    Knox''s inner thoughts screamed in frustration.

    ''No, you buffoon! Don''t do that! Kill the crazy b*tch first!!''

    This was the one thing he had failed to account for.

    "I am Yennefer, and this is Sammy," Yennefer stated coolly. "We are both daughters to the line of succession in the Berkshire Household."

    Context!

    Damn it! Why did that idiotic soldier have to ask questions and provide context!??

    The soldiers turned their heads toward their Eldest Young Master, their previously fierce expressions shifting into blank stares.

    It was obvious¡ªKnox would be receiving no assistance today.

    "So it''s just a lover''s spat," the first soldier muttered with an amused look.

    The rest of the soldiers nodded in agreement, their hostility instantly evaporating. They began casually turning around to leave.

    "What do you guys want for dinner? I was thinking the noodle joint on Sleeping Dragon Street."

    "Sounds good to me."

    "Same here."

    ''No, you f*cking bastards!'' Knox roared internally. ''To betray and abandon your Eldest Young Master like this¡ªjust what sort of backstabbing soldiers are you!??''

    A slow, menacing voice broke his inner rant.

    "So we''ve been bullying you, huh?"

    There it was¡ªthe voice of the Devil.

    Knox''s body tensed. His instincts screamed at him.

    "Get away from me, crazy woman!" he shouted, snatching up a random stick from the ground before making a mad dash in the opposite direction.

    With his enhanced agility, he moved like a phantasmal banshee, his speed leaving afterimages in his wake.

    Within seconds, he had already fled thousands of meters, putting a massive distance between himself and Yennefer.

    The forest, while considered small by this world''s standards, would still be seen as massive compared to anything on Earth.

    Confident in his escape, Knox let out a relieved sigh.

    "She can''t possibly catch up to me now!"

    He jinxed it.

    SHING!

    A blinding sword arc carved through the forest.

    Trees were cleaved in half in a fan-shaped pattern, the destruction extending for nearly an entire mile. A thunderous series of crashes echoed through the land as countless trees toppled over, their upper halves severed cleanly.

    Knox skidded to a stop, his face pale as he patted his head just to make sure it was still attached.

    "T... This crazy hoe," he muttered under his breath.

    "You survived that one as well?"

    A feminine voice carried through the air.

    Knox looked up to see Yennefer floating effortlessly, her presence both ethereal and menacing. Her grace and elegance stood in stark contrast to the deadly killing intent that radiated from her.

    She slowly advanced toward him.

    "Although you don''t seem to be the crippled trash that everyone makes you out to be," she mused, her eyes gleaming with intrigue. "Let''s see just how long your luck can hold up."

    "No! F*ck you, bitc¡ª"

    Before Knox could complete his well-mannered and perfectly reasonable response, another barrage of sword arcs was unleashed.

    SHING! SHING! SHING!

    This time, multiple arcs of light cut through the air, their trajectories chaotic and unpredictable.

    Knox''s eyes bulged.

    "Give me a break!" he bellowed, sprinting in the opposite direction.

    Despite his incredible speed, the sword arcs were rapidly gaining on him. He quickly realized that running wasn''t going to cut it.

    A thought suddenly crossed his mind, forcing him to momentarily pause.

    "I also wonder what I''ll be having for dinner tonight," he mused aloud, his tone nonchalant. "What do you think sounds better? Turkey or chicken?"

    Yennefer: "...."

    A moment of silence passed.

    Knox''s lips curled into a mischievous smirk.

    "Yeah, you''re right," he remarked, his voice dropping into a sultry tone. "I think I''ll have you for dinner tonight instead."

    His gaze lecherously roamed up and down Yennefer''s well-developed figure.

    For the slightest moment, her composed expression wavered.

    That brief lapse in judgment was all he needed.

    The smirk vanished.

    His playful demeanor dropped in an instant.

    *Fwoooop¡ª!*

    With a sudden burst of speed, Knox shot forward. He moved so fast that small gusts of wind erupted in his wake.

    The sword arcs¡ªstill in mid-flight¡ªbarely missed him.

    A few strands of his hair were severed, but he didn''t care.

    His focus was solely on closing the distance.

    With his legs pushing to their limits, he sprinted up a nearby tree, using it as a launching point to reach the floating Yennefer.

    Her brows furrowed in disbelief.

    "???"

    ''Is this idiot insane?'' she thought. ''I wasn''t really trying to kill him, but with that reckless move, he could''ve gotten his head lobbed off¡­!''

    Her thoughts were in turmoil as she prepared to deflect his advance.

    However, with a soft exhale, Yennefer gathered her Innate Energy.

    A distortion rippled through the air.

    Suddenly¡ª

    Everything stopped. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The leaves that had been falling from the trees slowed¡ªso much so that it appeared they had frozen in time.

    A faint hum reverberated through the air.

    This was her Innate Barrier.

 Chapter 10 - 10: Attribute Farming as a Crippled Young Master!

    "I''ve heard of these before," Knox muttered as he shifted direction, leaping to a different tree and narrowly avoiding the expansion of his fianc¨¦e''s Innate Energy Barrier.

    Midair, his sharp eyes flickered toward Sammy and her Spirit Summon. Under normal, more dire circumstances, he would have gunned for them, using them as distractions to throw Yennefer off guard.

    However, given that this was his fianc¨¦e¡ªand she was clearly holding back¡ªhe refrained from doing anything that would burn all bridges between them.

    Right now, what he truly needed were more Attribute Orbs. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But as far as he knew, Attribute Orbs dropped randomly unless he actively killed something.

    That meant his chances of finding one in this kind of situation were¡­ slim.

    Until¡ª

    ''Wait, is that¡­!?''

    A sudden chime echoed in his mind.

    *Ding!*

    [A Peak Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator has dropped an Energy Attribute Orb!]

    [+120 Energy]

    A dark purple spherical object separated from Yennefer and fell to the ground.

    Knox''s mouth almost watered.

    He waited until the exact moment it left her Innate Energy Barrier''s sphere of influence, then sprang off the side of the tree he was perched on.

    Although he didn''t fully close the distance, caution urged him to keep a safe gap from his feisty fianc¨¦e. He got just close enough to pull the Attribute Orb toward him using his mind.

    The dark purple sphere streaked through the air like a blur before merging into his body.

    At once, an empowering sensation coursed through him.

    Unlike the Agility Attribute Orb he had absorbed earlier, this one didn''t enhance his body physically. Instead, it strengthened something deep within the core of his being.

    His Sea of Innate Energy.

    His Energy Stat!

    Before, he had possessed no talent for cultivation or energy amassment. But now?

    That no longer mattered.

    His lack of talent was overridden, replaced by a direct increase in the amount of Energy stored within his Innate Energy Sea¡ªa sea that now stretched a dozen meters in diameter.

    Far superior to what it had been before.

    Which was nothing.

    Yennefer''s brows furrowed slightly, a hint of surprise flashing through her violet eyes.

    "Hmm?" she mused, tilting her head slightly. "Did you just advance your cultivation base?? But¡­ it doesn''t seem to be that way¡­"

    A deep inquisitiveness settled into her expression.

    None of this made sense.

    Had he been concealing his cultivation base all along?

    That would be the most logical assumption.

    But up until mere hours ago, Knox Falazar had been a cultivationless cripple. How could he have possibly progressed his cultivation to the point of possessing Innate Energy in such a brief window of time?

    The more Yennefer pondered over this inexplicable development, the worse her mood became.

    Just as she was about to escalate the situation¡ª

    A furious and deranged voice cut through the tension like a blade.

    "So you''re the thieving whore who plans to take my Knox away from me!??"

    A violent aura erupted from the edge of the battlefield.

    There she was.

    Cela Bonanier.

    The sole heiress of the Bonanier Count Family.

    Knox''s eyes flickered toward the source of the voice.

    Cela stood at the clearing''s edge, her glacial blue eyes ablaze with pure madness, her posture tense with hostility.

    She and Yennefer locked eyes.

    A deadly glare-off ensued.

    Knox sighed, shaking his head.

    "It appears she instinctively knew the Energy I acquired was mine," he mused. "I must say, although she''s definitely one of the craziest chicks I''ve ever met, she''s a real genius in what she does."

    As the two women''s auras clashed, tension crackled in the air. An opportunity which Knox took to sneak away.

    There simply wasn''t enough of him to go around!

    Handling two at once was far beyond his current capabilities.

    [You can say that again! Even one would be far more than you could handle!]

    [Sh*t, that doesn''t even just apply to human women either! A single furr¡ª]

    "Stop being gross, you damned System!" Knox snapped internally, clicking his tongue in annoyance. "Just be quiet and let me figure out my next course of action."

    [Fine, fine¡­ You''re no fun, humph!]

    Ignoring both his System''s whining and the explosions resounding in the background, Knox ran toward a small cave tucked away between the dense foliage.

    He slipped inside and ventured deep within.

    However¡ª

    Realizing that the darkness was far too thick to see through, he retraced his steps and settled near the entrance, where the dim light from outside barely illuminated the space.

    Lowering himself onto a medium-sized boulder, he leaned forward, his expression serious for the first time since this whole mess began.

    He needed to think.

    This land was known as the Water Kingdom, one of the Kingdoms of the Elemental Nations. The Elemental Nations consisted of eight powerful kingdoms:

    Water Kingdom

    Fire Kingdom

    Earth Kingdom

    Air Kingdom

    Ice Kingdom

    Dark Kingdom

    Lightning Kingdom

    Metal Kingdom

    The Water Kingdom alone housed hundreds of Noble Families and one Royal Family. At the top of the noble hierarchy sat the three Duke Families.

    Directly beneath them were ten Count Families.

    And somehow¡­ Knox had managed to entangle himself with the heirs of not one, not two, not three¡­ But four of these Count Families!

    The fourth had yet to make an appearance since his miraculous return to the world of the living. But he knew it was only a matter of time.

    With so many high-profile figures orbiting around him, Knox''s chances of being stabbed in an alley or left in a ditch were increasing by the second.

    The political climate of the Water Kingdom was simply that bad.

    If he wanted to survive, he needed one thing above all else.

    Strength.

    He could scheme and charm all day long¡ª

    But in a world where one''s fist reigned supreme, he needed to be strong himself.

    Only then could he truly live this non-crippled life to its fullest.

    And, if he was being completely honest, he had the teensiest bit of fear that if he died again, he''d end up trapped in the eternal cycle of crippled rebirth¡­

    That left him with one final question.

    What should his next move be?

    He needed a game plan.

    ''Game plan, game plan¡­ think, Knox!'' He thought. ''Welp, I''ve got nothing.''

    Maybe he should just go around soccer-punching people?

    No, wait¡ªhis System!

    That sick, sadistic a*shole of a System!

    Attribute Farming!

    That''s what he should be doing!

    "Attribute Farming as a Crippled Young Master!"

 Chapter 11 - 11: Slaying A Demonic Beast

    ¡ª In the Depths of the Forest Located Within the Mansion Territory of the Falazars ¡ª

    Knox stood amidst the towering trees, scanning his surroundings with a deep frown.

    "Let me think," he muttered, his gaze shifting from one spot to another. "Bushes there, trees over there, more bushes, more trees¡­ Where are the animals, for God''s sake!??"

    This was supposed to be a forest. So where was all the wildlife??

    Impatiently, he tapped his foot against the ground. Just as frustration began to settle in, a sudden rustling from the foliage to his left snapped him out of his thoughts. His eyes narrowed, trying to make out the source of the disturbance.

    Then¡ª

    Something jumped out!

    *Fiak, Fiak!*

    A rabid wolf lunged toward him, its three-meter-long body cutting through the air like a thrown spear.

    Knox''s reflexes kicked in instantly. He dropped low, sliding under the beast''s airborne body with ease.

    "What the hell, dude!" he barked, twisting his body as he evaded. "I was going to start small¡ªmaybe with a turtle or something¡ªbut then here you come. Don''t you know how to wait your turn?"

    "Grrrr¡ª!!!"

    The wolf landed with a skid, its claws digging into the dirt. It snapped its jaws, furious that its teeth had found nothing but empty air.

    Knox grinned. "Why so angry, brother? Someone step on your tail?"

    At that moment, the wolf let out a howl of agony, rolling in the dirt while glaring at its bloodied backside.

    In Knox''s hand, swinging playfully, was a lengthy fur tail¡ªgray and black, perfectly matching the wolf''s own coat.

    "You want it back?" he teased, raising the severed tail. "Well, too bad! I believe this will make an excellent addition to my future wall of battle trophies!"

    The rabid wolf''s eyes turned bloodshot, vengeful anger boiling in its heart. Its body trembled as adrenaline surged through its veins, temporarily nullifying the excruciating pain of its severed tail.

    Then¡ª

    It pounced.

    "Woah," Knox chuckled, sidestepping slightly. "You''re quite fast for a mutt. What are you? Rank 1? Rank 2??"

    The rabid wolf was indeed a Rank 1 Demonic Beast, but it wasn''t just an ordinary one. It stood at the pinnacle of its rank, making it significantly more dangerous than lesser Rank 1 creatures. In human cultivation terms, it was equivalent to a 1st Stage Qi Condensation practitioner¡ªthe perfect match for Knox''s current strength.

    "Hey, have you ever seen a human that could fly?" Knox taunted, his grin widening. "Well, I have! But you know what?? If only for a moment, I''ll do you the honor of putting you on the same level as us."

    The wolf stiffened, its instincts screaming at it to stop. It abruptly halted its charge, warily glancing around as if expecting an ambush.

    Nothing.

    Realizing it had been tricked, the beast''s ears twitched with anger.

    Knox laughed as a red orb of light dropped from the rabid wolf.

    "You''re not going to understand what I''m saying," he mused, watching the orb intently. "But there''s this system quirk that mine has. It makes it so that the longer my target stays in a high state of emotional imbalance, the higher my chances of obtaining Attribute Orbs become." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    With a wave of his hand, three red orbs, one green one, and one blue one floated toward him.

    [Strength increased by 30 points!]

    [Agility increased by 7 points!]

    [Endurance increased by 9 points!]

    Knox smirked, flexing his fingers as he felt the newfound power settle into his body. "Slowly but surely, I''m becoming more balanced."

    His eyes gleamed as they returned to the injured rabid wolf.

    "Now then, why don''t we see if you''ll drop even more goodies if I open you up like a pi?ata?"

    The beast barely had time to react.

    Knox''s improved speed sent him bursting forward, his sharpened wooden spear¡ªwhittled down from a sturdy branch with nothing but a rock¡ªpoised to strike.

    His golden eyes flickered as he slid past the right side of the wolf, his weapon piercing deep into its hide. Using his momentum, he twisted the spear, the jagged tip carving through flesh and muscle as he dragged it forward.

    SPURT!

    The rabid wolf''s insides became its outsides as it collapsed, blood pooling beneath its shredded body.

    Knox exhaled, shifting his gaze toward the shining objects that emerged from the wolf''s corpse.

    [A Peak Rank 1 Demonic Beast has been slain!]

    [A tiny pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    DING! DING! DING!

    Rays of colored light shot from the fallen beast''s remains, each beam indicating the Attribute Orbs that had spawned. It was like something out of a Diablo game, where loot shimmered from miles away.

    [Agility +23]

    [Agility +17]

    [Strength +30]

    [Endurance +15]

    X5 more¡­

    Knox''s eyes widened slightly. "All the Attribute Orbs are in the two-digit range?"

    A slow, satisfied smile curled onto his lips.

    "It seems my speculations were correct. Killing things gives far more than simply increasing their emotional distress."

    Unless his target was an extremely powerful individual¡ªone that dropped high-value Attribute Orbs¡ªthen murder was by far the most efficient method for growth.

    A dangerous glint flickered in his golden eyes.

    Did this make him a psychopath?

    ¡­Perhaps.

    But after 1,314 lifetimes of living in misery, who wouldn''t go a little crazy?

    Knox had long since accepted that he was far from normal.

    Was there a way for him to receive help? Maybe.

    But with how much was wrong inside his mind, he doubted even the universe''s finest doctors or therapists could fix him.

    He was too far gone.

    "Oh, well!" he exclaimed, his tone lighthearted, as if none of that even mattered. "Good mental health is for the weak and sheltered anyway! For me, the grind is all I know!"

    That and the phantom pain that had followed him through every lifetime.

    But who cared about that?

    No one ever had before.

    And so Knox turned on his heel, ready to resume the hunt.

    The grind waited for no man.

    It was time to return to¡ª

    Attribute Farming!

 Chapter 12 - 12: [Title (2) Shameless Young Master (EX)] - (Active)

    ¡ª After half an hour in the Falazars'' backyard forest ¡ª

    "Killing the low-level Rank 1 Demonic Beasts has become a bit unfulfilling," Knox Falazar muttered with a yawn, his stick stained with the crimson blood of the dozen-odd Peak Rank 1 Demonic Beast carcasses that surrounded him. "I do remember someone mentioning that the forest only had the weakest of Demonic Beasts inside it. I guess that really is the case."

    Bummer. But it was what it was.

    As he made his way out of the forest, he decided to take a peek at his System Interface. The explosions produced by the two girls had concluded a while back, so it was eerily quiet within the lush forest growth.

    The silence, however, made for the perfect suspense as he observed all the dramatic changes that had occurred within himself. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    BLING!

    ________________________________

    [Name: Attribute Farming System]

    [Host: Knox Falazar]

    [Cultivation: Mortal]

    [Title: A Thousand Lifetimes, A Thousand Times a Virgin (EX), Shameless Young Master (EX)]

    ______________________________

    [STRENGTH: 265] (Lifting 1500+ lbs has become a breeze)

    [AGILITY: 290] (Can move at a speed of approximately 60 MPH)

    [ENDURANCE: 230] (Warming the beds of three or less ladies in succession will result in success. Your chances of that becoming your reality, though, are astronomically low¡­)

    [MIND: 1250] (Possesses the potential to become the next Megamind)

    [INTELLIGENCE: 68] (You can successfully solve the Pythagorean Theorem)

    [PERCEPTION: 255] (You can evade a slow, ancient gun)

    [ENERGY: 310] (Attempting to conjure a fireball would be cool. Equivalent Energy Reserves of a Cultivator in the 3rd Stage of Qi Condensation)

    [AFFINITY: 32] (Not bad for crippled trash. Slightly above average Talent)

    [CHARISMA: 99] (Supermodel-level)

    _______________________________

    Looking at his System Interface, Knox realized that his chances of receiving Intelligence Attribute Orbs were a lot lower than his other stats. Affinity was virtually non-existent, and Charisma had literally not improved. However, he suspected this was because the Demonic Beasts he killed didn''t have much in the Intelligence or Talent department.

    Something else he noticed was how the Attribute Orbs he saw drop from Demonic Beasts with the same level of strength became less and less the stronger he became. After a brief Q&A with the System, he learned that this was due to the fact that Attribute points had certain values attached to them. What he saw as a number on their spherical surfaces was merely a visual representation of what that value was.

    What he saw changed as he became increasingly powerful. For example, if his strength were equivalent to a Nascent Soul Realm Powerhouse, then the value placed on the Attribute Orbs of what he had been fighting thus far might not have even been in the whole-number range.

    Slaying Rank 1 Demonic Beasts would only give peanuts and pebbles at that point¡­

    "I suppose this just means I have to ceaselessly search for stronger opponents in this vast world I find myself in," Knox stated resolutely, clenching his fists in anticipation of the future. "Although my family is of the Count rank and possesses a large amount of influence in the Water Nation, that very same nation is but a single piece of the Elemental Nations. And the Elemental Nations are just a small section of a land much larger and more mysterious."

    A smirk crept onto his lips at the thought of exploring to his heart''s content. With his functioning legs and arms, he would make the world his b*tch and face-slap whoever obstructed his path!

    After all, he was a Young Master!

    A Young Master known throughout the Kingdom as the useless trash that tarnished the noble name of the Falazar Count Family!

    If he didn''t take advantage of his illustrious background and infamous reputation, could he even consider himself a proper Young Master!?

    "To be a proper Young Master," Knox contemplated, pacing in circles within an encirclement of Demonic Beast corpses. "What should I do first? Start wantonly flaunting my status around town? Harass a pretty lass and incur the wrath of a Protagonist??"

    There were a number of ideas swirling around inside his mind, most of which were dubiously diabolical. However, out of all of them, one truly took the cake when it came to the diabolical scale.

    "I should be a menace and start creating enemies everywhere I go!" he declared, maliciously grinning. "Making good use of my high social status, I''ll strut my stuff and let this Kingdom know my unruliness. I''ll make everyone everywhere hate me at a manageable pace, which will both fulfill the conditions of my Young Master Title and send Attribute Orbs in mountain-sized loads!"

    The Title he was referring to was the second Title that he was born with in this 1,314th life of his. Its description was:

    [Title (2) Shameless Young Master (EX)] - (Active)

    ¡ª [For as long as the User maintains an aura of shamelessness while abusing the social system with his status, all dropped Attribute Orbs will be doubled in value]

    ¡ª [While the Title is active, the User will find himself inexplicably climbing through hierarchical ranks with ease]

    ¡ª [Tremendously Increased Luck (Assuming the Title is Active)]

    This Title was essentially his sole drive for wanting to be the biggest wanker the world had ever seen!

 Chapter 13 - 13: [Title (1) A Thousand Lifetimes, A Thousand Times a Virgin (EX)] - (Active)

    Oh, also, there was his first Title¡ªsimilarly of the EX Rank¡ªand it looked like this:

    [Title (1) A Thousand Lifetimes, A Thousand Times a Virgin (EX)] - (Active)

    ¡ª [This Title will remain active as long as the User retains his virginity and up until he achieves Ascension. After which, the Title will be deemed pointless and will disappear]

    ¡ª [Doubles the value of all Attribute Orbs (stackable)]

    ¡ª [Makes it easier for the User to attract and retain the attention of those of the opposite gender. Also improves the probability of the User being able to bend females to one''s will (dependent on the strength of the female in question)]

    ¡ª [Women drawn in by the User will often get into arguments or catfights over the User. The User is cautioned to make use of this ability with an apprehensive mindset]

    "Even after all this time, I still don''t know how to feel about this Title," Knox muttered. "I know for sure that I can''t let those benefits slip away, but at what cost¡­? The notion of me being a virgin until I ascend to Immortality is sort of a bleak one."

    But at the same time, he had endured for hundreds of thousands of years as a loner virgin¡ªwhat more was an additional couple thousand??

    "That''s typically how long it takes to ascend, right?" he asked himself. "Although this area is far too low-level to even begin considering Ascension, I believe a couple thousand years is a pretty good guess."

    But regardless of his baseless conjecture, he had some diabolical acts to get up to as a Shameless Young Master!

    And so, he ventured forth¡ªaround the lingering aura of the crazy chicks, outside the forest, and back to the comfort of his own home.

    That was when he put the ''Improve Cultivation Talent by Leaps and Bounds'' plan into motion!

    To that end, Knoc had two options. The first was to externally improve his Cultivation Talent with the help of rare and expensive magical herbs, which he could theoretically do (since he was rich).

    But instead, he decided to take the quicker and much more lucrative option of ''Somehow get Affinity Attribute Orbs to drop from the talented cultivators around him.''

    However, as awesome and detailed as that plan may sound, he still had no idea where to even begin. His first idea was to beat some cultivation geniuses up until the candies (Attribute Orbs) poured out of them. But on second thought, the far easier solution to his dilemma was to simply find someone cultivating and snatch up any Attribute Orbs that dropped.

    It was a flawless plan if he''d ever seen one!

    "After I collect a good chunk of the Affinity Attribute, I''ll ask around for an appropriate Cultivation Technique," he said while whistling as he strolled through the hallways of his home. "Then I''ll begin this whole cultivation journey thingy and become powerful enough to truly get out in the world and fearlessly show off as a certified Young Master!"

    Having it all figured out, he flipped his gaze between all the various rooms in his family''s mansion. He was aware that members of the family often cultivated in private rooms scattered throughout the building, but he wasn''t sure which rooms those were exactly.

    Furthermore, considering the fact that he practiced no proper technique and thus could not control nor wield his Innate Energy, he was unable to use a Divine Sense. Which, in the world of cultivation, was kinda like a lesser version of Omniscient Sight. It varied from person to person and improved as one''s cultivation advanced, which sounded pretty neat.

    More than that, though, it would be convenient to have.

    "In the future," Knox consoled himself. "In the not-so-distant future, I too will have this pervert sight of the cultivation world. I too will be able to see what lies beneath the thin fabrics of any lass weaker than I! This is the cultivation way!"

    Until that point, he had to be patient.

    However, now that he had gotten himself on the topic, he became a little paranoid¡ªwondering if any powerful old men cultivators could check out his junk whenever they so pleased.

    And even if there were such old perverts, he''d have no damn clue they were doing it¡­

    Yet, this only furthered his resolve to embark on the path of cultivation as soon as possible and acquire a Divine Sense of his own!

    If old perverted men wanted to have a pervert-off with him, then so be it! Bring it on!

    "It''ll be the ultimate showdown!" Knox declared. "Whoever falters and becomes embarrassed first loses! This is what Divine Senses were made for, were they not!? Therefore, I just have to become the greatest pervert this world has ever known¡ª Oh, is that a Cultivator''s room I see??"

    Distracting him from his grand and noble aspirations was the appearance of Innate Energy tendrils seeping out of the cracks of a door. This surprised him; after all, the rooms of their mansion were able to hide everything that happened inside them. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    To be capable of producing Innate Energy so immense that the rooms of their mansion couldn''t contain it¡­

    ''Heh,'' he thought, smirking. ''I found my first target.''

    The Affinity Attribute Orbs would be his!

    Now, to wait.

 Chapter 14 - 14: Amilia Moonshine

    ¡ª 30 seconds later ¡ª

    "I just need to keep waiting," Knox told himself while staring intently at the crude door in front of him. "Eventually, an Attribute Orb will drop."

    Random servants and members of the Falazar Family walked past him while whispering. However, right now, he was far too locked in to care about the rumors randos circulated behind his back. Moreover, they only talked about pointless stuff like his mental health, saying things like, "He may have come back to life, but he''s still ret*rded." or "Did only his body restore itself¡ªwhereas his brain passed on to the afterlife without him?"

    But in the grand scheme of things, none of the simpletons around him said anything that he hadn''t heard people sputter a million times before.

    For a very, very, ve~ry long time, he actually thought he had become immune to insults and mental abuse.

    At least, that was until he met his System¡­

    "Anyway," he whispered, afraid of accidentally alerting the resident of the room he was presently stalking. "Time to continue waiting!"

    ¡ª 5 minutes of waiting later ¡ª

    "Maybe¡­ Maybe I just need to wait some more¡­?"

    A slight tremble shook Knox''s lips as he watched the door, his eyes never leaving its hinges and cracks. He was hoping with all his being that he''d see golden lights shoot rays into the sky that only he could see. Those golden lights would be his Affinity Attribute Orbs¡ªthey''d represent the true start of his long and certainly eventful cultivation adventure!

    However¡­

    ¡ª Half an hour of painfully long waiting later ¡ª

    "Okay now," Knox said with bloodshot eyes. "This is getting a little ridiculous! It has always taken less than a couple of minutes for an Attribute Orb to drop, so something is definitely wrong here. I''m positive that I''m within range of whoever''s cultivating in there¡­ So then what¡­?"

    [Hey, dumbf*ckadore, you need to be able to visually see the target you''re trying to get to drop Attribute Orbs from!]

    With the heartfelt remark by the Attribute Farming System as a reminder, Knox recalled it saying something like that when he first awakened with it in his mother''s womb¡­

    "Oops," he said awkwardly. "I guess I should move outside the mansion and peek through his window like a genuinely perverted stalker. It''s a tad bit too next-level for me, but I''m sure I''ll find a way to manage. Overcoming one''s limits is half of cultivation, is it not?"

    Doing just as he said he would, he left the mansion and walked around the outside of its walls. Ultimately, he came across the window that belonged to the room leaking Innate Energy. Not caring about the stares of random passersby, he climbed up a small tree and peered into the window.

    Contrary to Knox''s original predictions, the resident of the room was not who he thought it would be¡­

    "A woman?" he questioned, tilting his head ever so slightly. "Well, I guess this is the world of cultivation, so gender strength differences have become null and void. Either way, this lady is smoking hot. A little older as well¡ªjust the way I like them."

    The woman in question appeared to be in her late 20s, maybe early 30s. She had long, flowing hair, a voluptuous figure, and piercing blue eyes that just seemed to stare into one''s soul. Making her aesthetic come together was a tightly fitted cheongsam dress colored white to complement her eyes.

    A hot babe through and through.

    However, with something far more important that he needed to focus on, Knox fixated his golden gaze on the action that the woman arduously cultivating on a cultivation mat was performing. Her presence¡ªeven from here¡ªwas stifling. But compared to his father, she still fell a few leagues short.

    ''Wait,'' Knox thought, suddenly remembering something. ''I have a System, do I not? So why is it that I don''t possess a System Feature that allows me to determine the power levels of people? Is my System broken or what??''

    *Ding~!*

    [What do you mean, Dear Host? Of course I bestowed upon you such a Feature!]

    ''So then why have you not told me this until now¡­?''

    [Because you never asked!]

    ''That is¡­ true¡­''

    "Just tell me how to use it," Knox said with a sigh. "Is there a special word I need to say or what?"

    [Yep, yep, there is!] said the System. [Say ''Show me dem panties'' out loud and the System Feature |System Sight| will activate.]

    ''Is that really necessary¡ª''

    [Of course it is!]

    ''¡­.Fine¡­''

    Knox steeled his nerves before inhaling sharply. Then, with a moderately loud voice, he said, "Show me dem panties!" while staring directly at the beautiful cultivating woman.

    Then their eyes locked.

    And from his point of view, they were having a very passionate moment.

    She was thinking lovely thoughts for sure, whereas he was thinking the same.

    For him, he was thinking how lovely the |System Sight| feature was.

    [Amilia Moonshine (Human)]

    [Age: 106]

    [Cultivation: Late Nascent Soul]

    [Battle Power: Peak Nascent Soul]

    [Occupation: Guard Captain of the Berkshire Count Family]

    [Mood: Murderous]

    S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 15 - 15: The GILF

    Damn, she looked hella good for her age!

    Wait¡­ Why did it say her Mood was Murderous right now¡­?

    What about their moment?? Was their burning passion all a lie!?

    Before Knox could think any more nonsense, Amilia''s expression turned fierce as she stared daggers into his soul. The atmosphere between them was suffocated by a crimson-red aura that took on a sharp, physical shape.

    She clearly wasn''t the least bit happy with him right now. But he had a very strong feeling telling him that this was just a small rough patch in their relationship. In no time at all, they''d bounce back and become the power couple of the centur¡ª

    CRACK¡ª!

    Hearing and seeing the glass of her window crack, Knox knew it was his cue to go.

    "Sorry, sexy GILF!" he shouted as he breezed past her window and picked up all the Attribute Orbs dropping out of her. "Though we aren''t fated right now, I promise to find you again! Then our love can be renewed! You and me, baby, for life¡ª Holy sh*t, not in the face¡ª!"

    Before he could make his grand retreat with the loot, the glass pane to Amilia''s room shattered. Glass shards flew everywhere, hitting him in various spots. Yet, it was not the glass that truly set him off¡ªit was the angrily gorgeous woman floating through the shards like Omni-Man.

    The shards seemed to freeze in time before they could make contact with the ground. Even the swaying blades of grass and the ambient sounds came to an abrupt halt. The area for hundreds of meters was reduced to an eerie, slow-moving silence.

    Knox, of course, was within this sphere of influence and was thus stuck in a running motion. One of his feet was frozen mid-air, whereas the other was planted in the ground. Cracks were present around his planted foot, for he had planned to race away at max speed.

    But well¡­ one could see how that turned out¡­

    "Who are you?" Amilia''s emotionless voice dripped into his ears like the sharpest of knives, her enchanting figure already standing right in front of him. "Why were you watching outside my window?"

    ''That¡­ Hmm??''

    Knox couldn''t speak.

    Realizing his dilemma, Amilia stopped affecting the area around his mouth.

    "Speak," she commanded, her expression a mixture of indifference and anger. "If your answer isn''t satisfactory, then I''ll be forced to act on whatever punishment I deem fit for you."

    Listening to those words and understanding how serious she was, Knox''s mind spiraled. Countless thoughts were brought forward, but very few of them seemed like they''d help him in the predicament he found himself in.

    However, in the end, he knew precisely what he had to say:

    "I see dead people."

    "¡­You see what?" Amilia asked. "What does that mean?"

    "It means exactly what it sounds like it means," Knox said while feeling the suffocating pressure in the area lessen considerably. "I saw a dead person near your window, so I climbed up here to prepare a sneak attack on the fiend. That ghost! Shame on it for waiting outside a young lady''s room like some sort of common-day pervert!"

    Amilia narrowed her stunning eyes at this nonsensical babble.

    "¡­Is this truly what happened?"

    "Why, of course!" Knox answered, holding twisted fingers within his Mind Space. "I never lie! Just ask my father and mother¡ªthey''ll back me up."

    "Your father and mother?" Amilia asked. "Who are they?"

    Who are they, she asked?? Heh~

    "Why, pretty young miss," Knox said with an innocent smile. "My parents are the Count and Countess of this very land. Count Falazar and Countess Falazar." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "???"

    "You''re a child of the Falazars??" Amilia asked, slight surprise flashing past her eyes. "Are you playing with me right now? If so, then I''ll have no choice but to¡ª"

    "Yep, yep," Knox interrupted, ignoring her flaring killing intent. "I really am of the Falazar''s Main Bloodline, and not only that, I''m the eldest son! The one first in line to succeed my father!"

    Bragging was okay, always!

    Especially when it made someone''s expression contort in such an oh-so-gratifying way.

    After a brief pause and a dispersion of killing intent, Amilia bowed slightly.

    "My apologies, Young Master Knox," she said, her expression still impassive. "I was unaware that it was you¡ªand also of your¡­ proclivity for the souls that have been left to meander the world of the living. If not for you, I could''ve gotten Miasma poisoning from that pesky bug over there."

    ''Wait, huh!?''

    Before Knox''s very astonished eyes, he watched as the extraordinarily powerful GILF made a claw gesture in a certain direction. She closed her clawed hand¡ªand bam¡ªthere suddenly appeared an illusory humanoid figure.

    It resembled that of an old man and was violently wiggling in place, fear having replaced its lust.

    What the f*ck!? He was right!??

    How could something so coincidental happen to him, of all people?? Someone who was reborn thousands of times¡ªeach time a Cripple!

    Wait¡­ Did something as lucky as this happen because of his first Title? The Thousand Times a Virgin one?

    [Yes, that''s correct. These are just a few of the benefits that come from doing what you do best¡ªretaining your virginity.]

    ''This¡­ The System really wants me to remain a virgin loser forever, doesn''t it¡­?''

    [The latter part of your reiteration is something you got covered all by yourself. But yes, you being a virgin for as long as possible is one of my goals!]

    Why was that, though¡­? How did an entity like the System profit from him being a virgin?

 Chapter 16 - 16: Unexpected Gains!?

    The System''s voice rang out with an air of confidence. [It''s simple, really,] it said. [You having an incentive to stay a virgin will improve your chances of having no women as distractions. Your path¡ªin its essence¡ªis a very long, very difficult one. It''s highly doubtful that any woman or man in existence will be able to keep up with you in this lifetime.]

    [Furthermore, this direction for you is excellent for your Character Development!]

    [Suffering and pain = character development! And what better pain and suffering is there than the one that''s derived from being tempted by the most country-toppling beauties around¡ªyet being unable to sate your thirst!? I call this Character Development Regime, ''Dying of Thirst, No Water for You, Little B*tch!'']

    [How is it? Do you like it as much as I do? (???)]

    Every day, Knox woke up¡ªand every day, he grew to hate his System more than the day before.

    Was it a secret special ability of his Attribute Farming System? That question remained unknown.

    But regardless of how much he wished his System were something he could physically punch, he had a sexy jade beauty staring him down. It was impossible to discern what exactly she was feeling just based on her deadpan face.

    "Young Master Knox?" Amilia asked respectfully. "Have you met your fianc¨¦e¡ªthe Young Miss¡ªyet?"

    "Who??" Knox asked. "Your Young Miss?? Nope, have no idea who you''re talking about."

    Amilia''s brows furrowed a little, but beyond that, she just¡­ stared.

    "Hmm?" Knox mused. "Is there something else you wish to say?"

    Amilia nodded, pointing toward the ghost that was struggling in vain. "What would you like to be done about this one? Should I kill it or leave it alive?"

    What the hell did she mean by that? She was the one who captured it; she could do whatever she wanted with it!

    Wait¡­

    ''I can benefit from this. Heh.''

    "Well, since it was on my family''s territory¡ªand seeing how I''m the rightful heir to the Count Title¡ªI think it''d be appropriate if I were to dispose of this villain myself," Knox said with an air of righteousness. "This is my duty as a Young Master of the Falazars! A young, beautiful lass like yourself shouldn''t dirty your hands with such a crude matter."

    All he received in response from the Guard Captain was a slight nod and a movement of her hands as she pulled the ghostly old man toward them.

    ''Damn, still nothing? Was this woman a stone wall or something??'' Knox thought, disgruntled. ''Usually, older women adored being complimented in such a subtly flirtatious way. It made them feel young again¡ªlike they were the hottest stuff on the block.''

    So then why was this stone-faced woman so unresponsive to all of his remarks!?

    Had he lost his touch!?

    No, there was no way that was possible! When it came to manipulating people, Knox was unrivaled between Heaven and Earth!

    If he just tried a bit harder, he was sure he could get this sexy lass to drop him a few more Attribute Orbs. Perhaps even some of the Charisma variety!

    At roughly the same time the ghostly old man was pulled over to him to be executed, Knox partially diverted his attention to the System Notifications he hadn''t read earlier.

    *Ding!*

    [Strength increased by 780 points!]

    [Agility increased by 690 points!]

    [Mind increased by 250 points!] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Endurance increased by 620 points!]

    [Perception increased by 530 points!]

    [Energy increased by 1,200 points!]

    [Intelligence increased by 310 points!]

    [Affinity increased by 130 points!]

    ''All this just from getting this hot chick a little worked up?? Holy sh*t¡­!'' Knox bubbled up in happiness. ''Can she become my Attribute Orb Sugar Mommy? Because I''m about to milk her for all she has!''

    Observing his stats and seeing that several of them were above 1,000 put him in a good mood. He was so pleased that he absentmindedly slashed out at the now corporeal ghost. Thanks to that and Amilia''s help in erasing its defenses, he was able to kill it in a single strike with just his hand.

    The ghost let out one last aggrieved shriek before being whisked away to wherever wandering ghosts went after dying. Though, far more interesting than that were the colorful pillars of light that erupted from where it had perished.

    DING! DING! DING!

    [You have slain an Early Foundation Establishment Realm Wandering Ghost!]

    [A small pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [Energy +150]

    [Strength +230]

    [Agility +313]

    [Affinity +60]

    x16 more¡­

    After assimilating all of the dropped Attribute Orbs, Knox felt his power skyrocket once more. Just referencing his Energy stat, he was now the equivalent of a 4th Stage Qi Condensation Realm Expert!

    And this was without even starting his cultivation journey!

    Just imagining how overpowered he''d become if he were to actually begin cultivating was enough to send waves of ecstasy coursing throughout his body.

 Chapter 17 - 17: |Extreme Madmans Inner Array|

    Amilia''s brows raised in surprise as she stared at the unusual Energy fluctuations occurring around Knox. "What is happening to you? Why do I sense a sudden surge of Innate Energy inside you?"

    Knox smiled mysteriously. "Who knows?" he said with a sly whistle. "Perhaps you''re just seeing things. Though, considering how youthful you appear, I doubt you have any eyesight issues."

    Silence¡­

    Still no visible reaction to his words!

    He didn''t mean to toot his own horn, but he was really freaking handsome, you know! Out of everything prior to the completion of the first Main Quest, his greatest redeeming quality was his exceptional appearance!

    He was like an Immortal who had fallen from the Heavens!

    He was that handsome!

    And yet¡­

    "I see," was all Amilia said before looking away and walking in a certain direction. "I''ll inform the Young Miss of your appearance outside the mansion. I''m sure she''ll visit you as soon as she can."

    With that, the cold-faced woman blurred and vanished into the folds of space, leaving Knox with only the enticing view of her plump butt jiggling as she achieved high speeds.

    ''Amilia¡­''

    The more he thought about her, the more he wanted to conquer her and see something other than emotionless indifference. If not for his first Title, he would''ve wanted to see her make a different type of face as well.

    ''Oh, the woes of being me¡­ Haiz¡­''

    Shaking his head in resignation, Knox walked away from the broken window and returned to his room. He informed a few people of his whereabouts and the shattered mess outside Amilia''s room on his way to his destination. The Head Steward started profusely sweating after hearing about what happened with Knox, his fianc¨¦e, and his stalker.

    However, Knox was positive that the middle-aged dude would be fi~ne. The Head Steward was tough like that.

    The tough man in question:

    "Oh, no! What should I tell the Count if he asks?? To learn of a dispute between the heirs of three Count Families in his very own backyard would¡­"

    The Head Steward began to believe that keeping everything to himself was the far better choice. Though, after factoring in his undeniable loyalty to the Falazars, he knew that the moment the Count questioned him, he''d fold and tell him everything.

    Such was the bane of being a faithful servant¡­

    ¡ª Meanwhile, within the brand new lavish room of the Eldest Young Master of the Falazars ¡ª

    "Dang~, they really hooked me up with this new crib," Knox said as his eyes appreciated the interior decorations of his room. "To think that the way they treated me changed so drastically just because I stopped being a Cripple. This world truly is a cruel, prejudiced one."

    Moreover, it wasn''t just this world; it was the same way for every single world he''d ever lived in.

    Always¡ªhe''d always been treated as lesser than. As an inferior product¡ªa mistake.

    And after so long of living like that, he grew tired of caring¡­

    With the passing of hundreds of thousands of years, he not only quit caring¡ªhe also quit caring about retaining what little remained of his sanity.

    Because of this, he became an unpredictable and highly¡­ dangerous person¡­

    Sometimes, he''d find himself admiring pieces of scenery, only to feel the urge to burn everything to the ground. To slaughter everyone in his way. To force the world to feel a mere fraction of the pain he had to endure to make it to the present.

    "I don''t know if I''ll be complete again¡ªto be normal again," Knox said while looking down at his clenched fists. "But what I do know is that I''ll become strong. So strong that not even God can bend and break me however he wants to."

    During his 1,314 crippled lifetimes, there were many times when he wished for death to come sooner. Naturally, he gave up¡ªmore than once. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But, in the end, he always bounced back. Even if he had no guarantee that things would get better, he still found it in him to keep trying. To continue persevering.

    Of course, things never did become better¡­

    That was until now¡ªhis 1,314th lifetime.

    "Now, then," Knox declared, slapping his cheeks. "Time to stop being such a gloomy mess. The kind of strength I desire isn''t going to come to me just because I want it to. I have to reach for it! Bleed for it!"

    With a newfound sense of resolve, Knox took out the Cultivation Manual that he had asked the Head Steward for not too long ago. The steward had told him it was unquestionably the best Cultivation Technique for the Body Refinement Realm in the Falazar Family.

    However¡­ he also said it was only so great because it cost the cultivator a price just as great.

    "The |Extreme Madman''s Inner Array|," Knox said as he read the worn-out italic lettering on a thin black manual that predated the founding of the Falazar Family. "It''s a Peak Sky-rank Technique¡ªone rumored to create the perfect foundation for cultivation while progressing through the Body Refinement Realm."

    A technique meant for the Body Refinement Realm being of the Peak Sky-rank was unheard of in the Elemental Nations. However, one must not assume that just because it was high rank that it was simple or easy to practice.

    To remold one''s body into an interconnected array that expanded to more parts of the body the higher stage one advanced to in the Body Refinement Realm¡ª

    This was the |Extreme Madman''s Inner Array|!

 Chapter 18 - 18: The Five Stages of Body Refinement

    The more one practiced the |Extreme Madman''s Inner Array| in sync with one''s cultivation, the more painful it became to complete the Inner Array. By the time one neared full completion, they''d have experienced pain that would leave even a hundred grown, seasoned men in tears.

    Knox, sitting on a cultivation mat, spoke in a relaxed manner as he cultivated. "I think the infamy of this technique is a bit exaggerated," he mused. "I''m already at the Flesh Refinement Stage after just an hour of cultivating with the Extreme Madman''s Inner Array. I basically skipped the first Stage¡ªthe Skin Refinement Stage¡ªwithin a few minutes."

    All in all, the only sort of pain he felt so far was less painful than getting a limb chopped off. Which, by the way, had happened quite often in his past lives.

    Of course, the pain was becoming progressively more intense the longer he cultivated the technique. However, as of right now, it was for him what a bug bite was for a normal person.

    "Well, whatever. I''m going to continue cultivating and see how much worse it becomes," he said while folding one hand over the other and closing his eyes. "First, my skin was refined with nine Array Nodes, then my flesh was refined in a similar way. Although I haven''t reached the peak of this stage, from what I can tell, there will be eighteen Array Nodes, which means I''ll have twenty-seven before entering the Bone Refinement Stage."

    At the bottom of the World of Cultivation, there was the Body Refinement Realm¡ªthe first Major Realm¡ªand it consisted of five Minor Stages.

    Each stage involved refining certain parts of the body with the Innate Energy that permeated the atmosphere. This could be viewed as prepping the body for the Qi Condensation Realm¡ªfor the true beginning of the Path of Cultivation.

    The five Minor Stages of the Body Refinement Realm were as follows:

    1- Skin Refinement

    2- Flesh Refinement Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    3- Bone Refinement

    4- Organ Refinement

    5- Marrow Refinement

    For the average cultivator, it usually took between three to five years to achieve the Marrow Refinement Stage. On the other hand, geniuses like Sammy and Yennefer had done so in a few months.

    Supreme geniuses of ancient times were speculated to have been able to reach the Marrow Refinement Realm in less than a week. However, such speculations lacked any legitimate proof of ever actually being the case.

    "Now, it''s time to see just how long it''ll take me to do the same with a couple hundred Attribute Points in Affinity and this broken Madman Technique," Knox said with a wide smirk, putting all his focus into cultivation. "By my calculations, every further Minor Stage is at least a few times harder to reach than the ones that came before. Though, with the Attribute Farming System, I can simply go out and gather more Affinity Orbs if I find myself lagging behind in terms of cultivation speed."

    With a solid itinerary scheduled out, he ceaselessly cultivated in his solitary personal room.

    Many things were occurring in the world outside his room¡ªwith numerous people even aiming to take his life¡ªbut at that moment, the only thing he cared about was cultivation. The pursuit of strength.

    ¡ª At around the same time, within the Capital City of the Water Kingdom, Royal Castle ¡ª

    "The Eldest of the Falazars has really returned to life?" The voice of an opulently dressed man echoed through the wide halls of the castle''s outer periphery. "And you say he''s miraculously become an able person? How is this possible?? Has anyone investigated the matter yet?? Was it the work of a Divine Natural Treasure or something???"

    Walking side by side with the opulent man was a fatter man. He was also dressed for the occasion, with dazzling jewels and trinkets dangling all over his body.

    "Count Roderick, my intelligence network isn''t much better than yours," said the second man. "I likely only received the information related to the Eldest of the Falazars a few minutes earlier than you did. And as far as I''m aware, there was no specific reason why that Knox Falazar kid suddenly got rid of his deceased and crippled statuses. It could''ve been due to the interference of a powerhouse, but we aren''t positive."

    "Come on now, Count Thorne," Count Roderick said with an accusatory tone. "You and I both know that you have insight into something that I don''t. Just spit it out already."

    Count Thorne''s expression turned complicated for a second as he appeared to be deliberating his options. Though, within no time at all, he had already reached his decision.

    "Fine," he said, sighing. "I do know something else. But let us wait until we leave the King''s Castle before we speak any more on such a sensitive matter. This does, after all, involve THAT."

    Count Roderick responded with a hearty laugh.

    "Lead the way then, old friend!"

 Chapter 19 - 19: Bone Refinement Stage Breakthrough

    After half a minute of maneuvering through the massive Royal Castle, the two Counts exited its large front gates. They then sauntered toward a more private location¡ªwhich led them to a shadowy alleyway in the northern part of the Royal City. In the distance sat the overhanging Royal Castle¡ªone that appeared massive no matter where one was in the thousand-mile-long city.

    "This is good enough," said Count Thorne, finding the area acceptable to discuss what he was about to reveal. "You know the importance of THAT in our plans, don''t you? And you''re also aware of the extent we''re willing to go to in order to acquire it, are you not?"

    Count Roderick nodded, the action causing his excessive amount of jewelry to jingle. "I''m, of course, in the know on that matter. But what does that have to do with Falazar''s eldest?"

    "You see," Count Thorne said, his voice instinctively lowering. "What most people know about THAT is that it''s in the hands of Count Falazar. But what most don''t know is that it''s passed down through blood hierarchy. As I''m sure you''re aware, this means that what we seek will eventually be passed down to whoever is the eldest of the Falazars."

    "I knew all this already," Count Roderick remarked, rolling his eyes. "Hurry up and get to the point."

    Count Thorne shook his head slightly at his fellow Count''s impatience. "The death of Knox Falazar," he said, pausing dramatically, "was not an accident. It was intentional."

    "!!!!"

    "You''re saying that you¡­"

    "Yes," Count Thorne confirmed. "Count Buford and I worked together with the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect to kill Knox Falazar while he was asleep. Moreover, we used one of the deadliest poisons in the Elemental Nations to do it."

    "For you to go to such lengths," Count Roderick muttered, a bit taken aback by the viciousness of someone he thought he knew well, "this means you already had someone in mind to replace Knox Falazar as the eldest heir?"

    "Yes," replied Count Thorne, feeling a tinge of regret over the failure of their foolproof plan. "We wanted to make Alden Falazar¡ªthe second eldest son¡ªthe new heir. That way, once Count Falazar eventually left for the border war with the Fire Kingdom, he''d temporarily pass on THAT item to his eldest¡ªAlden Falazar. We would have then betrayed that idiotic child and stolen the item for ourselves. With it in our possession, we would have acquired the necessary leverage to gain the King''s assistance in keeping Count Falazar off our backs."

    "This plan¡­" Count Roderick muttered, deep in thought. "It actually could have worked!"

    "Yes," Count Thorne admitted, experiencing even greater regret. "It would have worked."

    "But unfortunately," he continued, "that Knox Falazar kid became an enigma. Not only did he not die, but he also became a non-cripple. One way or another, our plan backfired."

    "...Tis unfortunate¡­"

    "Unfortunate indeed¡­"

    Both Counts sighed heavily before staring at one another and exchanging a knowing look.

    "Say, old friend," Count Roderick said with an evil smirk. "If I were to provide funds of my own to your little alliance with the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, would we be able to purchase something that will finish the job for good? An air-based poison of sorts?"

    Count Thorne reciprocated the maliciousness with a smirk of his own. "Yes, I believe that with your immense wealth, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect will be far more inclined to give us the crown jewel of their sect¡ªthe Faceless Poison."

    "Good," said Count Roderick, turning around and heading for the alleyway''s exit. "Then let''s make sure this cripple dies for good this time."

    "Let''s."

    With that, the secret conversation of the two Counts concluded. New, better-revised plans were put into motion.

    The gears that would assuredly throw the entire country into chaos began to churn faster than ever.

    Yet, in the comfort of his own home, a young man oblivious to it all had sweat pouring down his face.

    "The Bone Refinement Realm!" Knox roared. "Achieved!"

    OOOM!

    The airflow in the room spiraled out of control, with arcs of wind shooting in every direction around his meditating body. A light glow materialized above all his bones before settling down, just as it had done with his flesh and skin after his previous breakthroughs.

    54 Inner Array Nodes.

    That was how many he had lit up within his skin, flesh, and bones. To put into words what he felt after achieving this¡ªit was as if he was slowly but surely becoming something magically artificial. Something that detached him from his humanity.

    "How thrilling," Knox said with a wide, aching grin. "If this continues, then I''m sure I''ll experience something that''ll feel truly otherworldly!"

    *Ding!*

    Adding to his joy was the ringing of system notifications.

    [You have broken through to Stage 3 of the Body Refinement Realm¡ªthe Bone Refinement Stage!]

    [Strength increased by 30 Points!]

    [Agility increased by 30 Points!]

    [Endurance increased by 30 Points!]

    [Intelligence increased by 15 Points!]

    [Mind increased by 15 Points!]

    [Energy increased by 50 Points!] - (Due to Technique Manual)

    [Affinity increased by 0 Points¡­]

    [Perception increased by 30 Points!]

    Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 20 - 20: Marrow Refinement Stage, Technique Rankings

    "Very nice," Knox said with a content expression. "It''s more than double what I received when I broke through to the Flesh Refinement Realm. And as expected, lighting up these Inner Array Nodes has actively increased my Energy stat. This means that it''s enlarging my Innate Energy Sea, subsequently improving my Maximum Innate Energy amount."

    However, as much as he loved reveling in his achievements, he had to resume his cultivation and improve his strength even further.

    Yet, within the first few seconds, he realized something that made him reconsider what he should be doing right now¡­

    "To reach the next stage, it''ll take ten times longer than all the previous stages combined," Knox said, double-checking to verify that this information was correct. "Yep, it''s true¡­ This means that achieving the Marrow Refinement Stage in a short period will be highly implausible."

    This also meant that his original plan of racing to the peak of the Body Refinement Realm in one go was tossed straight out the window!

    ''Oh well,'' he thought, ''It''s back to taking cultivation talent from all the loyal members of my family. If those powerful lasses from earlier cross paths with me again, I''ll also steal some Affinity Orbs from them as well.''

    With everything decided, Knox rose from his cultivation mat and exited his room. After which, he strolled throughout most of the mansion, found anyone cultivating, and stalked them until they dropped his Orbs.

    This, of course, created some more rather unsavory rumors about him.

    But did he care?

    Nope, he had no f*cks to give! sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When he became all-powerful, the opinions of a bunch of nobodies wouldn''t matter a single bit anyway. What they thought of him meant about as much to him as what negative effects his actions could have on future generations.

    He wouldn''t be alive by that point. What did it have to do with him?

    ¡ª 2 hours later ¡ª

    It had been about eight hours since Knox began his first cultivation session. Now, he was back on his cultivation mat, making good use of all the Affinity Attribute Orbs he had snatched up in the past couple of hours.

    Though, the only reason he was cultivating again so soon was that he had reached a point in his Affinity Attribute Orb acquisition where barely anything dropped anymore. Even the well-known geniuses of the family had nothing left to give him after he secretly robbed them so many times.

    This was due to a limit he had when it came to the number of times he could force an Attribute Orb to drop. This limit was different for every person he stalked¡ªsome had higher limits, some had lower limits¡ªbut that didn''t mean much when he was robbing everyone of everything they were worth.

    Furthermore, after he passed the 1000 Affinity stat mark, the values on the Attribute Orbs he saw drop were severely reduced. It went from the occasional double digits to never surpassing the single digits.

    It was made abundantly obvious that Knox had to venture out into the world to find more superior Attribute Orbs. But to do that, he required strength. For even if his family''s status was there to support him in name, he would eventually come across a group that didn''t give a sh*t what his last name was.

    Next thing he knew, he''d be lying as a corpse in some alley with all his organs missing and his butthole violated!

    This was not what he wanted! Not at all!

    To avoid this somewhat probable outcome, Knox cultivated with everything he had. Day in and day out. He only took breaks when he needed to perform his mortal duties; otherwise, it was the cultivation grind 24/7, baby.

    ¡ª 14 days later ¡ª

    Two weeks had flown by in a flash. And with his persistence, tolerance to pain, and grindset mindset, Knox managed to advance to the Marrow Refinement Realm!

    Although he had yet to achieve the peak of the stage, he still believed that he had accomplished one hell of a feat.

    Two weeks to jump from the Skin Refinement Stage to the Marrow Refinement Stage¡ªif anyone else knew of this, their eyes would bulge out of their sockets. But considering how much pain had to be experienced to accomplish this, it made a lot more sense.

    Plus, he may or may not have had his Affinity Attribute at a point that the System had termed to be of the ''Earth-talent'' level.

    In this world, there were ranks for both one''s cultivation talent and the techniques or martial skills they practiced. These ranks were the same for all of these things and were classified as follows:

    1- Mortal

    2- Yellow

    3- Black

    4- Earth

    5- Sky

    6- Heaven

    7- ???

    8- ????

    9- ???????

    There were said to be ranks beyond the Heaven Rank, but within the Elemental Nations and even the surrounding regions, such ranks were more myth than reality. Hell, even the Sky and Heaven Ranks were rarer than a shiny OG Charizard card.

    This was also why the |Extreme Madman''s Inner Array| was such an enigma of a technique. It was very, very, very tough to cultivate while in the Body Refinement Realm, and because it couldn''t be cultivated after one advanced past the Body Refinement Realm, its value was reduced to less than most Earth-rank techniques.

    It was to the extent that one could find and purchase |Extreme Madman''s Inner Array| even outside the Major Sects and Families. This was unprecedented for a Sky-rank technique, let alone one at the very peak of the Sky-rank.

    "At this rate," Knox said, calculating, "it''ll take approximately three to four weeks to reach the pinnacle of the Marrow Refinement Realm. And unless there''s some divine pill I can get my hands on, there''s nothing I can do to speed the process up¡ª"

    *Bam!*

 Chapter 21 - 21: A Truly Audacious Girl!

    *Bam!*

    The door to Knox''s room suddenly slammed open, startling him slightly. If not for the fact that he had left his deep state of cultivation for a few moments, he could have received some very serious backlash damage.

    His brows furrowed in mild anger, yet just as he was about to lash out at whoever was rude enough to barge in like that, a heavenly feminine voice cut through the air:

    "Look, darling, it took me half a month, but I finally convinced my father to give me the |Mystical Body Tempering Pill|!" Cela said with glee as she rushed over to him and cupped his hands with hers. "See, see!? Although I had to kneel outside my father''s shrine for half a month without moving, I''d do it again if it were for you! Now you can break off your engagement with that wench and marry me instead! Look, here''s my dowry for you!"

    The mentally unstable pink-haired girl took a round, glistening pill out of her Spatial Ring. She presented it to Knox with a face that emulated a degree of joy he couldn''t even begin to comprehend.

    Why was this lass even so obsessed with him to begin with?

    If what she said was true, then she must already be beyond the point of simple infatuation. However, for the life of him, he couldn''t recall when exactly she became like this.

    There was this one time when Knox became ill and was sent to the same hospital ward as she was. She had gotten very sick far away from home and was thus sent to the one he was in¡ªwhich belonged to his family.

    At first, he talked to her out of boredom, but seeing as how cold and emotionless she was back then, he didn''t even receive so much as a nod. She ignored him like he didn''t even exist, and it stayed that way for days.

    But eventually, she did start to talk. What she said couldn''t in any way be interpreted as nice things, but for some reason, finally seeing her open up sparked the competitive spirit in Knox. And from that day onward, he took it as a personal challenge to get Cela to absolutely adore him.

    It took months and a bit of pretending to be sick even after he got better, but ultimately, he got her to sing praises of him for hours on end¡ª

    ''Oh, wait, sh*t¡­ The creation of this insane chick is totally my fault, isn''t it¡­?''

    Unbeknownst to himself, his top-tier manipulative nature somehow made a little girl his #1 fan.

    ''Damn¡­ Sometimes, I start to think that perhaps I''ve been overpowered since the very beginning. Just look at what I accomplished with just a bit of handsomeness and persistence¡ª''

    [Nope! Sorry to burst your over-inflated bubble, but this was almost entirely due to the effects of your 1st Title!] S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    See? Even the System said almost, which meant that his awesomeness did have a part to play in making this crazy Yandere! Ha!

    [Whatever you need to tell yourself to help you sleep better at night, Dear Host.]

    ''Tch, such an a*shole!''

    Before the Attribute Farming System, Knox believed himself to be the biggest douchebag to ever exist, but only after its appearance was he able to see Mt. Tai.

    However, in spite of his patronizing thoughts, the Yandere was staring up into his eyes with spiraling heart-shaped pupils. To him, it looked like she wanted to tie him up and throw him into her basement.

    Something he definitely wasn''t into!

    *Wink, wink!*

    "Well, well, pretty Miss Cela," Knox said in a tone far different from the way he spoke to her two weeks ago. "If I had known you were stopping by, I would''ve made proper accommodations. And this |Mystical Body Tempering Pill| that you speak of¡­ well, why don''t we discuss it over there?"

    He pointed toward a large, circular table located in the eastern area of his huge, lavish room. He then subtly pulled his new Sugar Momma over to the table with just the right amount of touching. He used two fingers and placed them on a spot on her lower back, making contact with the fabric sitting over her spine.

    This was a little trick he learned in his 71st Lifetime as the grandson of a wanton nightworker. Though, instead of this nightworker being his mother, it was his father¡ªa man famed throughout the district for being the best at pleasing a woman.

    Since he was a baby at the time, his father would often leave him in a crib to watch as he played with women like putty in his hands. It was incredibly impressive, to be honest.

    "So, tell me, lovely Miss Cela," Knox said while covertly eyeing the glowing silver pill in her hands. "What can I do for you to take that heavy-looking pill off your hands?"

    "Marry me!"

    "...Anything else¡­?"

    "Uhn-uh! Wait¡­ Maybe a kiss¡­"

    Liking the compromise, Knox turned his head to the side and tapped his cheek. "Go on, then," he said. "Kiss to your heart''s content."

    "Really!?" Cela asked, practically erupting in happiness. "Can I really kiss you!?"

    "Of cours¡ª"

    Before he could finish what he wanted to say, the pink-haired Yandere closed the distance at a speed he couldn''t properly react to.

    She turned his head to face hers, then she¡­ stole his lips for herself!

 Chapter 22 - 22: Lighting Up 171 Inner Array Nodes

    This shameless girl!

    To take advantage of him like this when he was clearly implying that she should kiss him on the cheek¡ªwait, was she using her tongue as well!?

    Honestly¡­ Knox was impressed.

    To think that this girl could be so brazen in broad daylight and in a man''s room, no less!

    Wow, just wow.

    She had found a loophole in his words and used it as her chance to freely do whatever she wanted. Her shamelessness was nearly at his level¡ªnearly.

    After a couple of minutes of having his mouth violated by the she-devil, Knox caught his breath and pulled away. There was some resistance from her as a pout formed, but even if not explicitly stated, there was a limit to everything.

    "Time''s up," he said while cutting the string of saliva that connected them. "You naughty girl. To think you''d do something like this when you''re already engaged to what''s-his-face¡­ You''re not even listening to me, are you?"

    "Guhehe~"

    Cela had her index finger pressed against her lips, humming creepy giggles. Her heart-shaped eyes listlessly stared into nothing, seemingly in a trance.

    "Damn," Knox muttered. "This chick really is a lost case."

    "But at least she knows how to pay for the goods," he continued as he easily plucked the |Mystical Body Tempering Pill| out of her hands. "I''ve heard of these before. The stewards talked about them being among the very best pills you could get while in the Body Refinement Realm. Their price was¡­ I believe it''s even more than I can afford."

    The pill in his grasp was, after all, not only capable of tremendously improving one''s cultivation while in the Body Refinement Realm, but it also had the unique effect of expunging the impurities within one''s body.

    It was primarily because of the latter reason that this silvery pill could go for thousands of Mid-grade Spirit Stones on the market. This meant the pill was worth more than the majority of Nascent Soul Realm pills.

    As for why the pill had such an astronomical price, the impurity expunging aspect did more than just that. It perfected one''s cultivation in the Body Refinement Realm, paving the way for a perfect foundation in the following Major Realms.

    ''If I remember correctly,'' Knox thought, glancing at the star-struck girl. ''Cela herself hadn''t taken this pill.''

    Looking at it this way, it became profusely clear to him that she had gone through great troubles to get this pill for him.

    Two weeks of continuous kneeling¡­ Did she really do something like that?

    "Haiz¡­" Knox muttered, hating what it felt like to know, without a doubt, that she had done such a ridiculous thing. "Although I''m planning to be the most shameless and unreasonable Young Master this world has ever seen, I know how to repay debts."

    Patting the girl on the head before walking out of his room, he stuck his hand up and waved.

    "You can consider your future set," he reassured her. "Once I ascend to realms beyond the scope of the Elemental Nations, I''ll make sure you get your dues."

    As if he was wholeheartedly sure that his words would come to fruition, he confidently smirked and blurred.

    FWIP!

    When Knox reappeared, he was outside the mansion¡ªa few thousand meters away, to be exact. He was still within the bounds of the Main Household''s Territory, but he was in one of the quieter areas.

    After finding himself a quaint tree erected atop a hill, he sat down beneath it. As a cool spring breeze blew the leaves on the tree and the blades of grass around him, he entered a deep state of cultivation.

    In his right hand was the silver |Mystical Body Tempering Pill|, which he put in his mouth without hesitation.

    At first, nothing happened.

    However, as soon as the pill began to dissolve, Knox felt wave after wave of Innate Energy bombard his body. It seeped into all his pores and his Innate Energy Sea, improving every current aspect of his cultivation.

    From his skin and flesh to his organs and marrow¡ªit was all refined to a degree far superior to what he could''ve managed on his own. Furthermore, with him guiding the process, he used some of the pill''s energy to light up the Inner Array Nodes he was missing.

    Knox''s Inner Array Nodes lit up at a similar rate to what his marrow was being refined at.

    148¡­ 156¡­ 159¡­ 163¡­ 169¡­ sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    171!

    All 171 Inner Array Nodes had been lit up, with his entire body appearing like some kind of Christmas tree. The pain was on a level that exceeded his expectations, but it was still something he could handle.

    "B-Being melted alive in a pit of stomach acid was still a bit worse than this," he said with a deep grimace. "S¡­ Still, I doubt anyone who hasn''t experienced something at least at that level of pain would be able to handle this. Ha¡­"

    To stop the pain, Knox had to successfully break through into the Qi Condensation Realm. But seeing as black gunk was still oozing out of his pores, he had no choice but to endure and wait for all impurities to leave his body.

    Fortunately, his body was quite exceptional at getting rid of impurities. In a mere 15 minutes, he was free of all impurities.

    Knox''s Charisma increased by 51 points because of this, and though one couldn''t tell from his grime-covered appearance, he had definitely become more handsome.

    His facial features were sharper, his eyebrows more sword-like, and his jaw had just the right amount of chisel.

    "W-Well, damn," he murmured, short of breath. "Th-The pain has increased by another notch, but it has still yet to reach my tolerance limit. Far from it¡­"

    Holding 171 Inner Array Nodes in a lit-up state for so long should''ve been impossible for any sane person. But luckily, that adjective did not exist in Knox''s dictionary!

 Chapter 23 - 23: 1st Stage of Qi Condensation

    OOOM!

    The Innate Energy above the hill tree became far more volatile than usual. Leaves were pulled off their twigs and sent into a twister of Innate Energy.

    And though this commotion wasn''t uncommon if one was attempting a breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Realm, this was not caused by someone breaking through into the Foundation Establishment Realm¡­

    "I thank you, Cela!" Knox Falazar crazily shouted with cracked teeth as he began to ever so slightly levitate off the ground. The black, putrid-smelling gunk that covered him from head to toe was thrown off with a massive gust of Innate Energy, putting his glorious nude-form on full display. "I thank you for speeding up an eventuality and giving me the opportunity for a flawless foundation!!"

    The pain he was feeling spiked one last time¡ªreaching black-out levels¡ªbefore suddenly disappearing altogether after he painstakingly endured.

    Through bated breath, he collapsed onto the soft earthen soil, his eyes bloodshot and his pearly white teeth chattering.

    "Hah¡­ That was¡­ hah¡­ nothing at all¡­ haha¡­"

    Knox lay sprawled out like a beached starfish. His clothes were gone, and his smooth skin was covered in sweat, but¡­ he did it.

    A breakthrough!

    The 1st Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm!

    After a brief period of respite, Knox leaned up. "This feels way different than how it did before," he commented as he realized that all 171 of his Inner Array Nodes had vanished.

    In their place, his entire body became an Inner Array Node itself¡ªevery inch of it filled with an overbearing purplish-gold energy.

    The Madman''s Array Physique.

    It was categorized as a Peak Sky-rank Martial Physique and was what the few lucky enough to reach the Qi Condensation Realm received if they cultivated with his technique.

    Essentially, the Physique transformed his whole body into one big Inner Array Node.

    The best part about the Physique was that all his powers would be amplified by the Array Node Body before being released into the outside world. As a result, this made it¡­ extremely overpowered.

    As this thought urged a satisfied grin on Knox''s face, the irritating voice of his System ruined the moment by voicing System Notifications whose contents he was already aware of.

    "Ding!*

    [You have broken through to the 1st Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm!]

    [Strength increased by 1000 Points!]

    [Agility increased by 1000 Points!]

    [Endurance increased by 1000 Points!]

    [Intelligence increased by 400 Points!]

    [Mind increased by 300 Points!]

    [Energy increased by 3000 Points!] - (Due to Technique Manual + Breakthrough)

    [Affinity increased by 200 Points!]

    [Perception increased by 900 Points!]

    [Your Innate Energy Sea has quadrupled in size, reaching an approximate size of 250 meters by 250 meters!]

    [Acquired |Madman''s Inner Array Physique (Peak Sky)|] sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [All your Main Attributes have improved by 2500 Points!] - (Strength, Agility, Endurance, Energy, Perception)

    [Intelligence increased by 1000 Points!]

    [Mind increased by 600 Points!]

    [Affinity increased by 1500 Points!]

    [Charisma increased by 50 Points!]

    Following these System Notifications was the mandatory appearance of his System Interface:

    ________________________________

    [Name: Attribute Farming System]

    [Host: Knox Falazar]

    [Cultivation: 1st Stage Qi Condensation]

    [Base Form Battle Power: 9th Stage Qi Condensation]

    [Title: A Thousand Lifetimes, A Thousand Times a Virgin (EX), Shameless Young Master (EX)]

    ______________________________

    [STRENGTH: 5200] (500,000 Pounds is nothing to you)

    [AGILITY: 5380] (10,000+ MPH Speed)

    [ENDURANCE: 4900] (Fit for the large heavenly harem of a King. Sucks for you, though!)

    [MIND: 2750] (Surprised your head isn''t 3 times the size of your body yet. Oh, wait, it is! Silly me!) - (Moving whole buildings with Spirit Telekinesis is simple)

    [INTELLIGENCE: 2100] (Capable of getting you out of most troublesome situations)

    [PERCEPTION: 5090] (Even ten mini-guns on full blast won''t be able to poke a hole in you. If you want to be the next Madara, you''ll become the improved version)

    [ENERGY: 6300] (Can now summon a mini sun. Equivalent Energy Reserves of a Cultivator in the 12th Stage of Qi Condensation)

    [AFFINITY: 3600] (Could be #1 of a Region. Early Sky-Rank)

    [CHARISMA: 280] (Is that you, Henry Cavill??)

    _______________________________

    "This strong already?" Knox questioned with a good amount of surprise in his voice. "I expected my breakthrough into the Qi Condensation Realm with the |Extreme Madman''s Inner Array| Technique to do wonders, but I hadn''t expected this¡­"

    According to the new System category, in his base form, he was already as powerful as a 9th Stage Qi Condensation Realm Cultivator!

    Wait a damn minute¡­ His Base-form?

    Does that mean he''d be able to transform into Goku or some sh*t in the coming future??

    It would be awesome if that were the case, but he didn''t know exactly how he should go about achieving something like that¡­

    "There are Physiques, which means there are likely also Bloodlines in this world," Knox mused while circulating his Madman''s Inner Array Physique. "So, theoretically, that means that as long as I acquire a Bloodline of sorts, I''ll become like a Power Ranger or something? Like hoo, ha, ha, I summon the power in thy treasure type sh*t, right?"

    He''d be lying if he said he wasn''t anticipating such a wonderful future. However, before considering something so outlandish, he had to progress his cultivation to better guarantee his safety in preparation for leaving his Family for exploration purposes.

    "Back to my cultivation session," Knox declared as he closed his eyes and re-entered a deep state of immersion. "Wonder how long it''ll take to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. My cultivation talent became over a dozen times greater, but the difficulty of this Realm feels even harder to advance in. Maybe a year to achieve the Foundation Establishment Realm¡­?"

    He hoped it would take less time than that, but he''d just have to wait and see¡­

 Chapter 24 - 24: The Faceless Poison

    ¡ª Within the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, Sect Leader''s Quarters ¡ª

    "50,000 Mid-grade Spirit Stones," said an old man draped in black. "That is how much it''ll cost you to purchase a single dose of Faceless Poison."

    The old man''s clothing had blackish-purple dragons stitched in, with every single one of them spread across him, their open maws rising toward his neck. If one observed closely, they''d feel like the dragons were alive, for they wiggled and moved around.

    In actuality, this phenomenon was known as Elemental Manifestation, and it occurred when an item was imbued with enough of a certain Element. In this case, the Elemental Manifestation happened as a result of the old man working around large amounts of the Poison Element.

    His viper-like expression was focused on three men who were also up there in age.

    Count Roderick, Count Thorne, and Count Buford¡ªthe three Counts most open about opposing the continual existence of Count Falazar. These were the men who had scheduled a meeting with the Sect Leader of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect today.

    However, at this moment, their faces weren''t looking too good. Hearing the amount requested by the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect Leader twisted their facial features into something uglier.

    "Aren''t you asking for an amount that seems a bit ridiculous??" asked Count Roderick, speaking on behalf of all of them. "Even 25,000 would''ve been an extremely high number, let alone 50,000!" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yeah!"

    "What you ask is absurd!"

    Listening to the three Counts, the old man opposite them scoffed. "If you can''t afford the cost, then so be it," he said. "Just don''t waste my time with your nonsense. All of you are well aware of the fact that you need the soul of a Soul Transformation Realm Expert to create the Faceless Poison. Do you have any idea how difficult it was to acquire a soul like that in these tumultuous times??"

    The three Counts, of course, knew this tidbit of information. But that didn''t mean the announcement of the Faceless Poison''s price tag ached their hearts any less.

    "Is there truly no room for negotiation...?" Count Buford asked with a pleading tone, hoping to leverage his friendship with the Sect Leader to assist in the discussion. "My third eldest daughter is set to marry your fourth son; think of their prosperous future together. Spending so much money right now could take away from what they''ll have after marriage."

    The Ten Thousand Poisons Sect Leader didn''t much appreciate the insinuations Count Buford was hinting at, but it also wasn''t like he was unable to understand what he was saying.

    Clicking his tongue, the Sect Leader tapped his wine glass. "Fine, 40,000 is my final offer, and one I''m only giving to you because of our healthy alliance," he said with a slightly strained tone. "We''re barely breaking even with this, so you better not try to dwindle the price any further. I''ll kick you all out right now if you do."

    "No, no, no!" Count Buford reassured while frantically waving his hands. "We''d never even dream of doing something like that! What you''ve done for us thus far is already a divine blessing that only someone as magnanimous as you could perform!"

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons huffed in displeasure. "Quit with the false pleasantries and pay up if you want to go through with the transaction."

    "Of course, of course," Count Buford said with a bashful smile. "Do you have your contributions of the Mid-grade Spirit Stones?" he asked the other two Counts.

    Count Roderick and Count Thorne nodded, then took out exactly 14,000 Mid-grade Spirit Stones from their Spatial Rings. The last 12,000 was tossed into the pot by Count Buford, who got to pay less due to him basically arranging this meeting all by himself.

    After taking the spatial bag that was handed to him, Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons gestured toward the space behind his throne. A cloaked figure suddenly appeared. He grabbed the bag of Mid-grade Spirit Stones before disappearing.

    FWIP!

    Less than a second later, the cloaked figure reappeared in the same spot he disappeared. In his gloved hands was a glass encasement in the shape of a cube. Inside the encasement was a tiny velvety pillow; sitting on that pillow was a vial containing a single drop of a greenish-purple mysterious substance.

    ''The Faceless Poison!'' the Counts thought in unison, their eyes widened. ''Even with the existence of that magically enhanced glass encasement, the extremely lethal medicinal aroma can be sensed! This is it! This is what''ll finish the job for good!''

    "Well?" said Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons. "Is what you bought what you thought it''d be? The poison that took the joint efforts of myself and thirty other Poison Masters to complete over the span of two months?"

    The three Counts fervently nodded, all afraid of accidentally offending the Soul Formation Realm powerhouse known throughout the Elemental Nations as the Harbinger of Poison.

    "This is far more than we could''ve asked for!" Count Thorne beamed. "We thank you for giving it to us at such a bargain!"

    "Yeah, yeah, whatever," Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons said with a roll of his eyes. "Just take it and get out of here already. Also, if things go sideways and you wind up getting caught, do know that I won''t be taking your side or defending you. I''ll remain impartial."

    "We totally understand," said Count Buford. "Thank you again. But seeing as what time it is, we should really be going now."

    "Do whatever you want; just leave me in peace."

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons¡ªstill in a bad mood over making no profit on such a large transaction¡ªshooed the Counts away after giving them the vial of Faceless Poison. They naturally skedaddled and left the smoky purple swamp that the Sect was located in.

    Once all alone inside his throne room, Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons'' expression became complex. He absentmindedly stared at his Gothic-style ceiling, sighing repeatedly.

    "I never should''ve gotten involved in the internal conflicts of this Kingdom, but now that I have, there''s no turning back..."

    While Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons prepared for the worst-case scenario, a certain shameless young man persisted in his cultivation journey. After obtaining the cultivation manual he''d be using to advance in the Qi Condensation Realm¡ªthe Thirteen Perfections Manual¡ªextorted from the Head Steward¡ªhe cultivated with everything he had.

    Time unassumingly trudged forward...

 Chapter 25 - 25: Banished!?

    --- After a Four-Month-Long Seclusion Session ---

    *Knock, knock!*

    Hearing knocks from outside the door, Knox Falazar opened his eyes. His piercing gold gaze focused on the door, and in the same second, he sent out his Divine Sense. The family servant outside was surprised to feel a Divine Sense¡ªand even more astonished to realize that it belonged to Knox.

    "Eldest Young Master, you broke through to the Qi Condensation Realm!?" the servant asked, using his Late Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation to shield his body from the invading Divine Sense. "The Master must know of this!"

    However, just as the servant was in the process of turning around and rushing toward the Count''s chambers, he recalled why he had bothered the Eldest Young Master to begin with. He stopped in his tracks before retracing his steps and pausing by the door.

    "May I come in, Eldest Young Master?" the servant asked respectfully. "Master has given out an order that involves you."

    "Involves me?" Knox repeated, wondering what his distant father could possibly want with the child he had ignored for most of his life.

    "Come in," he ordered, no longer contemplating. "Close the door on your way in."

    "Yes, Young Master," replied the servant as he opened the door and closed it behind him.

    "Young Master¡­?" he murmured with a puzzled gleam. "Is that really you??"

    Knox nodded, unsurprised that the improvements to his appearance caused the servant to be so bewildered.

    "What is it that my father wants from me?" Knox asked, semi-intrigued. "If it''s about my marriage with that bitc¡­ Miss Yennefer, then inform him of my insistence on continuing my cultivation seclusion."

    The servant shook his head. "It''s not that, Young Master," he said. "Master has already designated the marriage date to be more than four years from now. No, that isn''t what I''ve come to inform you of."

    "Then what is it?" Knox questioned, growing slightly impatient. "I''m very busy these days, so if you''ve come to waste my time¡­"

    Feeling an inexplicable sense of danger emanating from Knox, the servant shivered. He instinctively lowered his head, his pupils erratically flickering.

    However, after realizing what he had done, shame filled his heart.

    To think that he had become afraid of a kid who started cultivating less than half a year ago¡­

    Sighing, the servant motioned with his hands, clearly hinting for Knox to follow him. And although Knox really didn''t want to leave his cultivation seclusion, it became abundantly apparent that this matter was fairly important.

    "Haiz," Knox said as he creakily rose from his cultivation mat. "Lead the way."

    "Y-Yes, Young Master," replied the servant as he began walking through the hallways of the mansion. "What I''m supposed to inform you of is something that your father deemed to be of the utmost importance. But seeing as it''s something that''s better understood in person, I figured I should just show you."

    "Show me what?" Knox asked as he followed the servant outside the mansion.

    That was when he saw it¡ªin the far-off distance, there was a massive floating list outlined in gold. Sprinkling off of it and falling onto the land for tens of thousands of miles was a whitish-blue flaky substance¡ªthe residual energies of a true powerhouse.

    "The Ordinance List of the Azura Empire," the servant said dramatically while looking at the colossal floating list. "The Envoy of the Azura Empire passed by a few days ago, leaving that list behind."

    "The Ordinance List of the Azura Empire?" Knox asked. "I¡­ believe I''ve heard of it before¡­"

    The servant''s gaze surged with reverence as he stared at the fantastical list hovering in the skies hundreds of thousands of miles away. "Young Master, considering how you don''t pay attention in many of your lessons, I''m surprised you know what an Ordinance List is."

    "Just because I wasn''t displaying my attentiveness doesn''t mean I wasn''t listening," Knox said. "I simply didn''t feel the need to put up an act and pretend like I cared what other people thought of me."

    The servant smiled. "That''s very admirable of you, Young Master," he said. "But regardless, I''m meant to tell you that Azura''s Ordinance List has, on its timeless pages, the names of every person powerful and young enough to enter the rankings of the Azura Empire. And considering that our Elemental Nations Region is a small part of the Azura Empire, a single Azura Ordinance List was naturally dropped off." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Get to the point," Knox commanded. "What does all of this have to do with me??"

    The servant blankly stared at Knox for a couple of moments, finding it tough to get out what he wanted to say.

    However, in the end, he loosened his tongue and pointed at the Azura Ordinance List.

    "Eldest Young Master, as you are under 100 years old and the oldest male heir of the Falazar Count Family, you are required to participate in the rankings," he robotically declared. "On order of Count Falazar, you are to actively seek out those on the Azura Ordinance Rankings. You are then to challenge them, defeat them, and take their places. Only once you reach the Top 1,000 in the Elemental Nations Region are you permitted to return to the Main Family. Until that point¡ªor your possible death¡ªyou are prohibited from using the family''s resources or your inheritance."

    "!?!!"

    ''Wait a damn minute! Is this skinny bastard going to¡ª!?''

    "Knox Falazar¡ªEldest heir of the Falazars¡ªyou are hereby banished from the Falazar Count Family!"

    What the absolute Fuuuuuccckkk¡ª!!?

 Chapter 26 - 26: Three Weeks Later

    ¡ª Three weeks after the Eldest Son of the Falazar Count Family was banished, somewhere in the northern section of the Water Kingdom, at a busy tavern ¡ª

    "Somehow, after the passing of hundreds of thousands of years, I still wound up drowning my sorrows in alcohol," Knox Falazar muttered with a sarcastically reminiscent tone. "Instead of being a good Young Master, I should''ve just opted for the position of Universe''s #1 Alcoholic!"

    *Glug, glug, glug!*

    While Knox drowned out his sadness with good, old-fashioned liquor, the swinging doors of the tavern were suddenly whacked open. The loud noise produced by this action made the few dozen odd people in the tavern pause what they were doing to stare. Their expressions twisted in anger once they saw the newcomers walking past the smashed swinging doors.

    However, upon noticing the venomous black dragon insignias stitched onto the robes of the newcomers, everyone immediately averted their glares. They acted as if they had heard nothing, seen nothing, and knew nothing.

    The Ten Thousand Poisons Sect members were not existences they¡ªas mere mortals or Body Refinement Realm Cultivators¡ªcould dream of messing with!

    Then there was Knox Falazar¡­

    "Which inconsiderate bastards is it this time!?" Knox asked in an irritated growl. "Do you have some sort of death wish¡ª Oh, wait, it''s just more of you guys. Also searching for death, are you?"

    "Criminal Knox Falazar!" the head Ten Thousand Poisons Sect disciple said with a fierce look on his hood-shrouded face. "For attacking and killing over 100 sect members of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, you shall be sentenced to death!"

    Under the suffocating aura of more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators, Knox snickered. Then, no longer able to help himself, he roared with laughter.

    "You¡ªkill me?" he asked as if he had heard the biggest joke of the century. "How laughable!"

    SHING!

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    A thin black sword hanging on Knox''s waist vibrated. It flew out of its shadowy crimson sheath and cut through his uproarious laughter. Within an instant, it had pierced the necks of all 13 Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators from the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.

    Blood splattered the walls red, and the bodies the blood belonged to collapsed to the ground with resounding thuds. The expressions of the corpses emulated one of the purest forms of fear¡ªtheir eyes wide open and their arrogance non-existent.

    "Ahhh! That man they called Knox Falazar¡ªhe killed the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect members!"

    "How could anyone be so brazen to do something like that when the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect is so close by!?"

    "This young man is fearless!!"

    "Wait¡­ Knox Falazar¡­ Could it be¡­?? The famous Falazar Family?? The Count Family built upon the hard work of battle-hardened Military Generals!?? And is he¡­ is he the Crippled Young Master famed for his incompetence!?"

    "There''s no way!"

    As screams and useless yapping prevailed in the tavern, Knox yawned as all the recently dropped Attribute Orbs were pulled toward him. He nonchalantly sheathed his thin black sword back in its scabbard before looking over the incoming System Notifications.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have absorbed hundreds of Attribute Orbs dropped from slain Early and Mid-rank Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators!]

    [Strength increased by 7200 Points!]

    [Agility increased by 7400 Points!]

    [Endurance increased by 6800 Points!]

    [Intelligence increased by 3700 Points!]

    [Mind increased by 2850 Points!]

    [Energy increased by 9000 Points!] Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Affinity increased by 500 Points!]

    [Perception increased by 7120 Points!]

    "Bummer," Knox lamented. "When I first began killing Early Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators, I was receiving tens of thousands of Attribute points for each individual slain. Now, even after killing over a dozen Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators¡ªmost of whom were in the Mid-Foundation Establishment Realm¡ªI can''t even break 10k acquisition for a single stat."

    Doing some calculations, he predicted that it would take no longer than a couple more weeks for his gains to be reduced to the three-digit range for this type of trash.

    "Hmm¡­" Knox pondered, completely zoning out the ramblings of the frightened cultivators around him. "Very soon, Core Formation and Golden Core Realm Cultivators of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect will start coming after me. That is, assuming they follow the trend of sending out progressively stronger enemies after the weaker ones fail."

    He had to admit, the World of Cultivation could be incredibly stupid at times.

    ''I mean, seriously, if they had just had Golden Core or Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators hunt me from the get-go, I might actually be dead right now,'' he thought. ''But nah, these guys are total idiots.''

    "Welp," Knox said with a whimsical chuckle. "If they want to steadily make me stronger, then who am I to oppose their goodwill?"

    OOOM!!

    It was just then that he sensed an overwhelming presence flying in from the west. His ears perked up as he downed the rest of his liquor¡ªas well as all the alcohol that the fellows sitting beside him were in the process of drinking.

    After his thirst was satiated, he uncaringly belched before tossing a few glowing iridescent stones at the bartender''s head.

    "Ouch! What was that for!?" the bartender groaned while rubbing his reddened forehead. That was when he noticed what had been thrown at him.

    His face immediately paled. "These are¡­!?"

    "Mid-grade Spirit Stones!!" a female bartender exclaimed while looking over her co-worker''s shoulder. "Did he mean to do this, or!?"

    "*Burp!* I''m too intoxicated to read what the prices are or what I gave you, so just take it!" Knox shouted while wobbling left and right, attempting to make his way to the exit. He stepped on a head, accidentally crushing it and popping out its eyeballs.

    "Uhhh¡­ did this belong to any of you?" he asked as he picked up an eyeball, his vision blurry as f*ck. "W¡­Well, whatever. Here, you can have it as a tip."

    Knox wobbily tossed the eyeball at a random lady before ignoring her shrill shriek and hobbling through the broken swinging tavern doors. He may or may not have crunched a few bones of the Cultivator corpses on his way out, but none of that was his problem.

 Chapter 27 - 27: Sword Intent!?

    After taking a few more steps forward, Knox stopped and breathed in a bit of the dry, humid desert air before stumbling forward and crashing into a barrel.

    Slurring his words, he drowsily mumbled, "T¡­Those damned bashtards¡­! Bah! F-First, they try to poison me, then when that failed because of my System Sight, dos morons sends der menz after meez¡­!! T¡­They deserves to bes turned into Attribute Orbs!"

    *Thud, thud, thud!*

    The barrel Knox fell in carried him along for a ride as he rolled down a relatively busy street of the desert town known as Cactatorn. Uncontrollably, he rolled down the street in that barrel for a good two minutes, constantly gaining speed.

    However, totally out of the blue, he suddenly stopped rolling. He didn''t gradually slow down; it was an instant stop.

    "Wat dis...?" he incoherently murmured as he used everything he had to focus his vision enough to make out the blurry mess of colors before him.

    Knox first saw long, slender legs, then he saw the thin waist they were connected to. Shifting his eyes up, two milky-white valleys filled his sight. A little further up, there was a perfectly sculpted face with slanted eyebrows closely knitted together.

    "Hot chick Yen?"

    *Whack!*

    A fair-skinned hand slapped him across the face. The barrel he was in shattered, sending him sailing through the air before crashing through the third floor of a fancy restaurant.

    Standing up and shaking all the debris off, Knox grinned, his mind lucid. "Well, that was more than enough to sober me up," he said while cracking his neck. "Yen, baby, I can''t believe you''d give me such an affectionate greeting as soon as we meet each other after so long apart!"

    Under the astonished eyes of the people in the restaurant, he leapt out of the gaping hole he created in the wall of the third floor. Gracefully, he floated down and landed just a few feet away from his beautiful bride.

    "Have you missed me so much these months that you''re now resorting to stalking me?" he asked, slyly smirking. "If you''re that desperate to get a taste of this man-meat, then just say so. Who am I to disappoint a maiden as fair as you¡ª"

    WHIZ!

    An arc of sword light whizzed past him. Because he turned his head at just the right moment, it shot behind him and hit an unsuspecting building.

    BOOOM!

    The building was blown to bits, with a large chunk of the ground razed to oblivion.

    "Damn, girl," Knox said while admiring the destructive scene behind him. "If that building wasn''t an abandoned one, then you''d be the one being hunted as a criminal right about now. Oh, look, you chipped off a bit of that restaurant; I guess even the best of us become rusty."

    "Not me, of course," he continued smugly. "But you average folk, sure¡ª"

    SHING!

    Another sword arc!

    This time, even stronger and more destructive than before!

    "Wow," Knox remarked in awe. "To think you''d be so aggressive toward your soon-to-be husband. Have you no sense of modesty~?"

    Instead of evading the sword arc, he grabbed it with his right hand before squeezing and dispersing the energy with a form of energy of his own.

    "Sword Intent!?" Yennefer asked, finally speaking up. "How have you cultivated a Sword Intent in less than half a year?? It took me three years¡­!"

    "Ho?" Knox mused, his smirk widening. "There are many, many things you don''t know about me, my love."

    Sneaking his hands to her hips while she was taken aback by his awesomeness, he pulled her close and leaned his face toward hers. A scarlet-red blush formed on her cheeks as she hadn''t in any way foreseen something like this!

    She wanted to push away, but for some reason, her stupid body wasn''t listening to her commands¡­

    "S-Stop," Yennefer said softly, showing off a meek side that was rarely seen. "G¡­Get off of me¡­"

    Ignoring her, Knox leaned all the way in.

    Yet, at the very last moment, his lips and face passed by hers. "It didn''t take me less than half a year to cultivate my Sword Intent," he whispered seductively, his grin too corrosive for viewership. "It took me less than a month."

    "!?!?"

    Snapping back to her senses because of this information, Yennefer forcefully pushed him away. Neither her uncharacteristic shyness nor her indifference was present. Only a doubtful glare remained to appreciate his handsome self.

    "You''re lying," she said, her coldness returning in full. "There''s no possible way that you cultivated a Sword Intent within a month. It doesn''t matter what sort of genius you believe yourself to be."

    Knox laughed mysteriously. "Who knows, then?" he said. "Perhaps I''m lying, perhaps I''m not. Who can say for sure? Anyhoo, why are you here in Cactatorn? Wait¡­ are you actually here to see me!? I knew our love wasn''t a lie¡ª"

    *Thwack!*

    A kick to the gut!

    "Oof," Knox groaned, wheezing. "I deserved that¡­"

    However, in the very next second, he straightened his back and erased the grimace on his face. He then walked around his fianc¨¦e and looked her up and down with a curious gleam. "I see that you''ve broken through the Half-step Core Formation Realm and reached the Early Core Formation Realm. To think that my waifu was so impressive, haha." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yennefer clicked her tongue, rolling her purple eyes. "That''s a joke coming from you," she said, a little ticked off. "What Realm have you achieved by now, anyway? I heard from your family that you were in the Qi Condensation Realm just before you were banished. But what stage are you at exactly?? For some reason, I can''t determine your cultivation base."

    Of course she couldn''t!

    Did she honestly believe that he wouldn''t cultivate a Cultivation-concealing Technique as soon as he started his cultivation journey?

    Ha!

    ''One can never be too cautious in this world, and making sure no one knows precisely what they''re dealing with is key to one''s survival!'' Knox thought. ''Thanks to my Affinity Attribute¡ªwhich improves not only my Cultivation Talent but also every other type of Talent as well¡ªI became capable of rapidly advancing my proficiency in every single Martial Skill or Technique I picked up. This, of course, included the |Baseless Cultivation| Earth-rank Technique that I was lucky enough to snatch (steal) before being banished from my family!''

 Chapter 28 - 28: The Truth of Ordinance Value

    "You ask me what Realm I have achieved?" Knox asked with a sh*t-eating grin. "Well, I don''t mind answering your question, but you have to first do something for me."

    He tapped his left cheek. "You have to kiss me¡ªright here."

    A blood vessel popped on Yennefer''s pretty face as she lashed out with a powerful kick, this one strong enough to incapacitate a Half-step Core Formation Realm Expert!

    Though, in response to such a fierce kick, Knox merely lifted a finger and parried her calf. He then grabbed onto her plump leg before dangling her upside down.

    "Y¡­You bastard!" Yennefer shouted while embarrassingly trying to cover her naughty bits with her hands. "Let me down right this instant!"

    "I don''t know," Knox said, smiling gleefully. "Should I let you down? But from where I''m standing, I''m getting the perfect view."

    OOOM!

    Yennefer suddenly unleashed a rage-filled aura that surpassed what most Mid-Core Formation Realm Cultivators possessed. She forcefully freed herself from his grasp, kicking away and landing a couple dozen meters away. Her crystal-clear eyes narrowed like those of an angry feline as her aura pressed down on everything for thousands of meters.

    The Golden Core cultivator flying in from the far distance felt her aura and slowed down a bit. Yet, in the very next second, it returned to its original speed, even speeding up a little.

    "Wow, so strong," Knox praised as he cupped his hands over his brows like a sailor. "My waify really is such a cool, sexy babe~"

    "Shut up!" Yennefer yelled as her presence increased even further. "If another dirty word leaves that disgusting mouth of yours, then¡ª!"

    "Then what?" Knox asked, vanishing like a phantom.

    "!!!" ''Where is he!?''

    "¡ªWill you not want my kisses anymore~?" he whispered into her reddened ears as a tongue licked them.

    However¡­

    "It''s just too bad that you''re too young and I don''t want to kiss you anyway!" Knox hysterically laughed while carrying around a stray dog that he picked up as it was licking its butt. "But hey, at least little buddy here loves to give you kisses!"

    Yennefer''s pupils darted between him and the mangy, unhygienic mutt in his hands. Her complexion went from red to purple, then green, and finally a mixture of all three. Her knuckles turned white from how tightly she was clenching them.

    No longer able to restrain herself, her voice boomed outward, shattering the windows of every building within a hundred-meter radius:

    "YOU F*CKING BASTARD!!!!"

    "Hahaha!" Knox laughed his ass off before chucking the doggo into the closest dumpster. "Hey, crazy b*tch, if you want another helping of the gooey sh*t-breathed mouth, then, at your nearest convenience, find your way over to that dumpster and dig in! Don''t worry, he doesn''t bite!"

    "I''LL KILL YOU!!"

    "They say that you only know you''re married once you hate your partner enough to wish they were dead," Knox said as he fled through the bustling streets of Cactatorn. "It took this very lovers'' quarrel of ours for me to realize just how true that is!"

    After jumping over a rooftop as an illusory shadow, he flashed one final smile before vanishing for good. However, before fully leaving the area, he let his voice linger, giving one more message to his adorable bride and the Golden Core cultivator who had just arrived.

    "Babe¡ªthe apple of my eye, the only one I see¡ªI appreciate you stopping by to offer protection to me when the true battle for the Azura Ordinance List rankings begins in two months'' time," Knox said. "But you needn''t bother yourself with something like that. You can also inform your family that I don''t require you or anyone else''s protection."

    "F*CK YOU!!"

    "Well, with the heartfelt back and forth with my beloved wife out of the way," Knox continued, chuckling, "there''s something I want to say to our third-wheel. Mister¡­ Hmm¡­ Well, I don''t even have enough of a f*ck to give to make checking your name worth it to me. But anyway, just know that you, the rest of your sh*tty Sect, and whoever else is backing you will die by my hands. It''ll happen sooner rather than later."

    Coincidentally, as soon as he got out the rest of what he wanted to say, what he acquired from his wonderful experience with his fianc¨¦e finally arrived.

    *Ding!*

    [A small pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped after severely angering a Genius Cultivator in the Early Core Formation Realm!]

    [Strength +870]

    [Strength +1300]

    [Agility +2050]

    [Endurance +920]

    [Mind +620]

    [Affinity +3100]

    x21 more¡­

    Knox immediately pulled upon and absorbed what had dropped. An improvement to his Attribute parameters came right after.

    With that, he left for good.

    In milliseconds, he was already thousands of meters outside Cactatorn. He headed for the east side of the Water Kingdom¡ªhis destination being a fortress holed up in the depths of a snowy mountain range.

    In this fortress, there were thousands of prisoners being held in virtually unbreakable chains. Each one of them was at least of the Foundation Establishment Realm, with some even being in the Nascent Soul Realm.

    Some of the kingdom''s most dangerous criminals¡ªthese were the next targets for Knox''s Attribute Farming Grind. And with their ''consensual'' assistance, he might just stand a chance at striking back at the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.

    There was also the ongoing Azura''s Ordinance Rankings, which almost every genius of the younger generation in the Elemental Nations had their eyes set on. Though, for him, it was just a silly game among children.

    He heard rumors that you weren''t even allowed to kill your opponents. You could only beat them to a pulp and have their Ordinance Value transferred to your own. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    To be honest, this competition meant to test the competence of the citizens of the Azura Empire was more trouble than it was worth. Sure, a kingdom or region avoided extermination as long as they performed well enough, but not a single person in their Elemental Nations was informed of the rewards for ranking high.

    If there even were any!

 Chapter 29 - 29: Hiding in Plain Sight

    Knox swatted at the golden number floating above his head, an annoyed expression crossing his face. "This thing is really annoying, and it follows me everywhere I go."

    All citizens of each region in the Azura Empire below the age of 100 had a golden number form above their heads shortly after the Azura Ordinance List''s appearance. The number increased or decreased for every battle with a member of the younger generation they engaged in.

    No one besides the individual could see their number. Moreover, the only other way besides fighting for the number to increase was in relation to cultivation. This technically meant that if someone was stronger than their cultivation indicated, the golden Ordinance Value number wasn''t an effective way to approximate their placing on the list. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was a poorly designed setup by whoever created the Azura Ordinance List Competition.

    Then again, in all fairness, hopping realms in battle was not a common occurrence, especially in the higher realms, where the gaps between each minor stage were astronomical.

    Knox leaped thousands of meters with each step, his gaze distant as he spoke aloud. "I have yet to bother myself with asking what value your golden number should be at to qualify for the Top 1,000 in the Elemental Nations. But if my stupidly inaccurate guess is correct, then I suppose I need to be in the Core Formation Realm to qualify for the Top 1,000. Which, I must say, is quite the tall order for my father to have for me. And to achieve this in 10 years¡ªdoes my father not think I''m useless trash? Or did he banish me expecting me to fail?"

    The latter would give his father a good excuse to conveniently get rid of previously crippled trash, but who knew for sure?

    --- Meanwhile, within the Sect Leader''s Private Chambers in the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect ---

    "That crippled trash still isn''t dead yet!?"

    The furious voice of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect Leader reverberated through the halls of his throne room. Kneeling below his throne in reverence were a few servants, all of whom wore nervous expressions. Beads of sweat ran down their faces as they couldn''t even find it in themselves to look their Sect Leader in the eye.

    "S-Sect Leader, the boy has eluded us once more," muttered the servant at the forefront, his cultivation in the Golden Core Formation Realm.

    As the one instructed to chase and kill Knox for good, it was his responsibility to report his failure personally. This also brought about the oppressive atmosphere that everyone in the building¡ªexcept for the Sect Leader¡ªfelt at that moment.

    Anxiously continuing where he left off, the servant said, "The boy¡ªthe target¡ªslaughtered the entire hunting squad we sent out¡ªand did so with a single move. Then he somehow left the scope of my Divine Sense and vanished from the map¡­ Sect Leader, I''ve failed you! Please punish me!"

    *Bang, Bang!*

    The Golden Core Realm servant slammed his forehead against the ground several times. The fortified ground cracked, and so too did his head as blood fountained out of it.

    The Sect Leader''s livid expression eased up a bit as he dismissively waved his wrinkled hand. "Forget about it," he said, though his tone turned absurdly cold on the flip of a dime. "Just don''t let it happen again. Understood?"

    Large beads of sweat rolled off the servant in huge amounts, his complexion looking paler than that of a ghost. He profusely nodded while repeating, "I won''t let it happen again, Sect Leader! Forgive this lowly one!"

    "Enough!"

    The Sect Leader''s booming voice silenced the Golden Core Realm cultivator, sending shivers up and down his spine. In front of the power of a Soul Formation Realm cultivator, his strength was worth less than dirt.

    "Regardless of your incompetence, the strength and mysterious methods of the Eldest Son of the Falazars have really come to surprise me," said the Sect Leader, his aura gradually decreasing. "If our sources are accurate, then Knox Falazar only started cultivating shortly after miraculously returning to life. This means that in a little less than five months, a fifteen-year-old boy with not a smidgen of cultivation advanced to a point where even a group of Mid-Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators were not his match."

    Quietly pondering to himself, the Sect Leader considered the implications that such a prodigy would have for the Sect as a whole.

    Ultimately, the Sect Leader turned his head up, his expression bereft of emotion. Apathetically, he gave the verdict that would decide Knox Falazar''s fate:

    "Knox Falazar¡ªthe Eldest Young Master of the Falazar Count Family¡ªcannot be allowed to mature. Rip out the weeds before they sprout, roots and all. No matter how the Falazar Count reacts, don''t relent. Kill Knox Falazar. Send out everyone; don''t test him any longer."

    "Y-Yes, Sect Leader!"

    Following the simultaneous shouts of the servants, they blurred from their spots and used the Sect Leader''s authority to contact all their main forces. No matter if they were in the Qi Condensation Realm or the Nascent Soul Realm, any combatant who wasn''t immersed in cultivation or currently on a mission was tasked with a new objective.

    On Day 235 of the Lunar Calendar, Year 6681, 30% of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect powerhouses were ordered to spread out and hunt Knox Falazar. They were to corner him from all sides, blocking off all routes of escape.

    Then they''d slay him without holding anything back.

    --- Meanwhile, inside the Fortress Prison ---

    Knox hummed a quaint tune while dressed up in a prisoner''s outfit, swabbing the dirty floors of the Fortress Prison squeaky clean. "Oh, simple things, where did they go~?"

    "Hey, twigsh*t, get your head out of the clouds!" shouted a burly man wearing nearly identical orange, striped clothing as Knox. "Mop better! If you don''t hurry and finish up soon, then I''ll have your a*s tonight!"

    "O¡­Of course, Sir Albert¡­!" Knox sheepishly mumbled while cowering in place, his legs trembling. "I''ll work even harder!"

    Declaring this, he rushed forward, leaving smoke in his wake as he mopped the hell out of everything in a straight line. Then, after making it to the end of the cafeteria, he turned around and repeated the impeccable cleaning process for the next section of the floor.

    Knox left crystal-clear rows wherever he ran, and he assumed this was good enough for his senior inmate, for the man scoffed and left the area.

 Chapter 30 - 30: The 3-Part Prison Plan

    "What a classic move," Knox praised casually. "Dumping all the chores on the newbie, then shirking responsibility and going to laze around like a bum. I admire this type of person. To be a professional lazy bastard and be content with such a life¡ªI must admit when I''m inferior¡­"

    *Kuk!*

    The senior inmate Knox so admired suddenly coughed up blood and tripped. He whacked his head against a yellow stair railing before tumbling and breaking off a tooth after hitting his face against the enchanted concrete floor.

    ''Well,'' Knox thought, ''so far, the plan is going well. After a couple of days here, I''ve just about finished outlining the routes of every single inmate below the Golden Core Realm. As soon as I begin the killing spree, I can reach and kill every single one of them without risking interference from the guards that will be ''busy'' with the distraction I''m setting up in the High Ward¡ªthe ward where the Golden Core and Nascent Soul Realm prisoners are held.''

    When first coming up with the idea of farming Attribute Orbs by murdering a bunch of criminals, Knox wanted to attack head-on. However, after realizing that he''d 100% die if he did something so reckless, he went with Plan B.

    Plan B:

    Part 1 ¨C Sneak into the prison pretending to be a prisoner. Then scout out the layout of the prison, gathering any information he could while at it.

    Part 2 ¨C Plant a distraction large enough to keep most of the guards busy for a brief period of time.

    Part 3 ¨C Slaughter everything in sight! Leave no prisoners!! Muhahaha!!!

    Knox was amazed by his own ingenuity. Truly, his genius knew no bounds.

    On a side note, killing the Foundation Establishment and Core Formation Realm cultivators in the Lower Ward would be a breeze. Normally, this would not be the case. But with the high-level magic chains that bound their arms and feet as well as sealed away their cultivation, killing them with his unrestricted power would be easier than slaughtering chickens!

    At this point, the only thing preventing him from doing just that right now was the indecisive bastard he chose to be his distraction. Knox understood that it was a life-changing decision to make and all, but that dude seemed extremely depressed.

    One would think that by now he would''ve already gone through with it¡ª

    Just then:

    KA¡ªBOOOOOOOM!!!

    A massive explosion erupted, shaking the entire cliffside fortress. Yet, this thundering occurrence didn''t shock Knox one bit; on the contrary, it urged a wide grin onto his mud-covered face.

    "That gloomy bastard really did it," he said happily, already using Innate Energy to wash off the mud and dirt that had been meant to conceal his overwhelming attractiveness. "That means it''s my time to shine! Attribute Orbs, here I come!!"

    FWIP!

    Within milliseconds, Knox''s figure could already be seen phasing through the halls and walls of the extremely large Low Ward. Held tightly in his right hand was the thin black sword he had formed from his Sword Intent. And dripping down its edges was the blood of any prisoner he encountered.

    "Who are y¡ª"

    "Bastard, what are you doin¡ª"

    "Ahhh¡ª!!"

    It didn''t matter their cultivation, for with the help of the cultivation-sealing chains that restricted all the prisoners, they were no different from slightly stronger mortals!

    The old, gloomy Nascent Soul Realm prisoner had unknowingly served Knox well. Tampering with the man''s chains just enough to give him the option of self-exploding before the total depletion of his lifespan had turned out to be the correct choice!

    Just look at this! No guards around for as far as the eye could see!

    ''And all these system notifications¡­ Oh my god,'' Knox thought, ''I think I need a cleanup on Aisle My Pants!!'' Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have slain 89+ Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators!]

    [You have slain 32+ Core Formation Realm cultivators!]

    [Strength +3700]

    [Agility +4100]

    [Mind +2200]

    [Affinity +1035]

    x104 more¡­

    This was most definitely the largest number of Attribute Orbs Knox had acquired in one sitting. Furthermore, a good chunk of them were in the four-digit range, which tremendously improved his attributes!

    ¡ª Some time later ¡ª

    SHING!

    "N-No, ahhh!!!"

    After finishing up the last runner, Knox swiped his sword out. Blood belonging to various people splattered the confined walls of the prison fortress. Behind him were hundreds of corpses, all strewn out in random spots.

    "That makes what?" he wondered. "Number 800?"

    Knox hadn''t kept count of how many inmates he murdered, since it was inconsequential to know. However, he was positive that he was nearing the four-digit mark.

    "Hmm¡­" Knox murmured while rubbing his chin. "It has been a few seconds already, and if those guards are even the slightest bit competent, then they''re surely close to resolving the situation in the High Ward."

    Looking around and spreading out his Divine Sense, Knox saw no one else on this floor of the fortress. And seeing as the Lowest Ward held only Qi Condensation Realm and the weakest of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, he found it in his best interest not to waste his time when time was running so thin.

    "I suppose I need to commence the next part of this multi-step plan," he said as he grinned and felt the strength that hundreds of thousands of points in each attribute allotted him. "Seeing as I''m now dozens of times more powerful than when I came in, I can start picking off the higher-level mobs."

    As Knox began walking in a certain direction that he had scouted out some time ago, he laid his hands behind his head and nonchalantly stepped over the corpses sprinkled out like a modern art gallery. He only stopped once arriving at the base of a flight of stairs, though he remained hesitant for a brief moment.

    Ultimately, however, he landed a foot on the first step.

    Knox ascended the stairs in a laid-back manner. The higher he went, the crisper he could hear the shouts of the guards that had returned to the Low Ward. Their Golden Core Realm auras blasted out, enveloping a good part of the prison fortress.

    However, as if none of it had anything to do with him, Knox stepped onto the third floor of Fortress Prison Albitrax¡ªthe High Ward¡ªthe area holding the Golden Core Realm and weaker Nascent Soul Realm prisoners. This was usually where the most heinous and most powerful convicts in the Water Kingdom were locked up after being caught.

    Now, though, it was nothing more than the next farming ground for the Attribute Farmer!

 Chapter 31 - 31: Level 3 Sword Intent, Cleanup Duty

    ¡ª After a couple of seconds ¡ª

    The young man tipped the hat he had stolen from a guard who had been blown up in the Nascent Soul Realm self-explosion. This subtle action was enough for him to discreetly walk past the guards who were all running in the opposite direction. He assumed they had just been recalled to the 2nd Floor¡ªthe Low Ward.

    Moreover, from the looks of it, even the more powerful guards¡ªwho were typically stationed in the High Ward¡ªhad been requested to gauge the situation in the Low Ward as well.

    Of course, all of this worked very well to Knox''s advantage.

    After all, even with his current strength, dealing with so many Golden Core Realm guards would likely wind up with his head being spiked on a pike and set to rot at the front of the fortress. A shining example set in place for any daring enough to attack one of the most fortified fortresses in the Water Kingdom¡ªthat''s all he would become.

    Fortunately, that was not his destiny this day. Hopefully not the next day as well, but time would tell¡­

    "Doo, doo, doo~" Knox quietly sang while moving in a way that made it look as if he were teleporting between inmates and chopping off their heads.

    Having obtained quite a bit of practice at killing more efficiently while massacring in the Low Ward, disposing of the inmates in the High Ward became a breeze. He killed them so well that they weren''t even able to let out a peep and alert the guards of his presence.

    In and out, in and out, in and out. That''s what Knox had his sword do with the tender, unprotected skin of the Golden Core Realm prisoners.

    And after nearly a quarter of a minute of doing the Lord''s work, he finally reached the section of the High Ward that held the Nascent Soul Realm inmates. They were all in the Early stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, but even that was far more than enough to make his body tremble in instinctual fear.

    Yet¡­

    "Ha!" Knox laughed in the face of these prisoners. "That old, gloomy guy was far more terrifying than you wusses! Are you sure you didn''t purely rely on external means to improve your cultivation to this point!? Actually, how old are you all??"

    After observing their System Interfaces, he laughed even more gratingly. "A few hundred years old? Just a bunch of babies!"

    The Nascent Soul Realm prisoners¡ªwho were more securely bound in their own isolated cells¡ªfelt their blood pressure rise. He purposefully made sure they were able to hear every word that came out of his mouth.

    Why, one might ask?

    DING! DING! DING!

    [A Medium-sized pile of Attribute Orbs dropped after angering dozens of Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators!]

    [Strength +17,800]

    [Agility +22,500]

    [Endurance +31,100]

    [Strength +40,000] S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    x89 more¡­

    ''Damn!'' Knox thought. ''This is far more lucrative than I was expecting!''

    Without wasting a single moment, he pulled upon all the multi-colored Attribute Orbs. They flew toward him at the speed of light before seeping into his being and assimilating with his existence.

    [Strength increased by 17,800!]

    [Agility increased by 22,500!]

    [Endurance increased by 31,100!]

    [Strength increased by 40,000!]

    X89 more¡­

    OOOM!

    Knox''s Attributes skyrocketed! Passing over the 1 million mark for several of them!

    *Ding!*

    [Basic Battle Power has improved from ''Late Core Formation Realm'' ¡ú ''Half-step Golden Core Realm'']

    Just like that, he touched upon the Golden Core Realm¡ªa realm that would make one the City Lord of a small city in the Water Kingdom!

    But¡­

    "I''m not done," Knox stated while shifting his evil glare across all of the isolated cells. "That was merely the appetizer."

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Looking at his predatory gaze and sensing his stifling killing intent, the Nascent Soul Realm prisoners uncontrollably shivered. They were going to cry out for help, not caring about their illustrious cultivation or statuses.

    However, in the very moment their throats hummed with vocal vibrations, a Sword Intent Manifestation pierced through their heads¡ªkilling them on the spot.

    *Whooom¡ª!*

    The shockwaves produced by the speed at which Knox''s Sword Intent Sword moved created rolling waves of Innate Energy and wind. His raven-black hair blew wildly as he impassively watched the damage dealt to the Isolation Cells register. They were shredded into small chunks, with the same thing happening to the corpses of the Nascent Soul Realm prisoners.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain 31 Early Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators and erased their Nascent Souls with your Level 3 Sword Intent!]

    ''Oh?'' Knox raised his brows. ''So my Sword Intent is capable of erasing even Nascent Souls? A benefit of it being at Level 3, perhaps?''

    Well, whatever the case may be, there were still Attribute Orbs to absorb!

    DING! DING! DING!

    [A Medium-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [Affinity +950]

    [Strength +103,000]

    [Agility +108,500]

    [Affinity +2,700]

    x227 more¡­

    Excluding the Affinity Attribute Orbs¡ªwhich could be lower even for stronger cultivators¡ªalmost every other Attribute Orb was in the six-digit range. The more he absorbed, the lower the value shown on them became, but that didn''t change the fact that this was one hell of a loot pile!

    Absorbing them naturally brought his Basic Battle Power to new heights!

    [Basic Battle Power has improved from ''Half-step Golden Core Realm'' ¡ú ''Early Golden Core Realm'']

    WAAA!!

    The improvement that came to Knox''s power was enough to make him feel like he had just ascended. It was a heavenly experience, one that signified at least a thirtyfold increase in power.

    "Ha¡­" he deeply exhaled as he controlled his newfound strength as best as he could. It was tough when he was merely in the 9th Stage Qi Condensation Realm, but he managed to get the hang of it after a few moments.

    Yet, it was roughly at this time that the loud thudding of rushed footsteps rang out.

    That was when they appeared¡ªwhole squadrons of Golden Core Realm guards!

    "Well, look who has come just a tad bit too late," Knox said with a wide smile as he stretched out his arms, showing off the destruction he had created. "Behold, peasants! This right here is the epitome of humanity! Greed!"

    Knox wasn''t going to lie in front of such a generous audience. He had killed these villainous folk because he himself was a villain¡ªa greedy, greedy villain.

    "Well?" he asked. "How do you like my cleanup of some trash??"

    "You!!!" The guards instantly erupted in rage as fire shot out of their eyes. "Do you have any idea what you''ve just done, you scoundrel!?"

    "Cleanup duty?"

 Chapter 32 - 32: Falazars Prophecy

    Hearing the laid-back response, the Guard Captain¡ªa Half-step Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator¡ªunleashed the full extent of his aura. The concrete across the entire High Ward cracked in a spiderwebbed shape. Even the other Golden Core Realm guards experienced some discomfort.

    Knox, however, just stood there, staring blankly at the furious hair-bunned man. He noticed the shining medallion hidden away in the sleeve of the captain''s armor and immediately realized what was happening.

    He smirked.

    "I know very well that the Nascent Soul Realm guards are out capturing a notorious fiend that escaped just before I got here," Knox said. "Is that the backup you''re calling for right now?"

    ''How did he¡­''

    "But what I don''t understand," he continued, amused, "is why you''re requesting backup. At first glance, your lot both outnumbers me and is stronger than me. That is unless¡­"

    "!!!"

    "You know who I am," Knox coldly surmised as his figure blurred. "It truly is too bad that I refuse to fall into your silly trap. Well, until next time, Mr. Guard Captain. I''ll be sure to puncture you like a balloon filled with candy the next time we see each other. Hopefully, you drop something good."

    "Don''t you dare leave!!" the Guard Captain shouted, his boisterous voice further cracking the interior of the Fortress Prison. "You can''t leave! I won''t allow you to!"

    He grabbed out with his right hand, Innate Energy sparking at his fingertips. A large, illusory blue hand shot out, aiming for Knox''s fleeting figure.

    Knox scoffed before using his Intent Sword to slice through the illusory hand, which it did with little resistance.

    "Level 3 Sword Intent!?" the Guard Captain shouted in surprise. "The Manifestation Stage! How can you, someone who started cultivating less than half a year ago, possibly have access to the Manifestation Stage of an Intent!??"

    Knox frowned at his words. "So you do know who I am," he said in a tone devoid of emotion. "But for you to know who I am, those poisonous bastards must''ve put up wanted posters¡­ Tch!"

    He decided right then and there that the next major event on his agenda would be to completely obliterate the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect. He''d kill every single member of their organization and convert them into his loot.

    Treating him like some sort of criminal¡ªwho did those bastards think they were!?

    Knox swore that if his bounty was any less than that of a Crime Lord, he''d skin them after taking them for all they were worth!

    "Whatever," he scoffed, annoyed. "Don''t follow me. If you do, I''ll make sure to kill all of you as soon as I become strong enough to do so."

    The guards wanted to defy his warnings and give chase, but they knew from the wanted posters that he had mysterious methods that allowed him to vanish. Even still, they were confident that they could deal with those supposed methods if he was only as strong as the wanted posters stated. However, after sensing that his Innate Energy was sitting in the Golden Core Realm, they didn''t want to risk it and gamble with their lives.

    The Eldest Son of a Count Family¡ªand the Falazar Family at that¡ªone could never be too sure what someone like that was truly capable of.

    "The Guard Commanders will disembowel us as soon as they return¡­"

    "Yes¡­"

    And just like that, a Great Heist went off without a hitch, leaving squadrons of Golden Core Realm guards in a morass of depression¡­

    ¡ª In a different, far-off location, one that Knox knew all too well ¡ª

    "My son¡ªhe''s still alive?" A deep, raspy voice resounded within the dimly lit office room of the Falazar Count Family Mansion.

    An old man with slicked-back gray hair nodded. He wore a butler''s suit and had his eyelids always closed.

    "Your eldest son is still very much alive, Count Falazar," said the old butler, his expression unchanging. "Though, sir, there might be a matter that''ll interest you. It concerns Young Master Knox Falazar."

    Count Falazar''s facial muscles eased up from their tense state. Hearing his Head Butler''s words put him in a deeply contemplative state. He folded his hands and rested his chin on them, his thoughts known only to himself.

    "So the Prophet was right¡­" he ended up murmuring, his voice barely a whisper. His apathetic gaze then fixated on his Head Butler. "Tell me: what is it that you think will interest me?"

    Even under the overbearing pressure that Count Falazar unconsciously emitted, the Head Butler didn''t falter. He matched his lord''s gaze and calmly explained the situation that Knox was embroiled in with the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.

    Yet, after the explanation''s conclusion, rather than become angered, Count Falazar once again murmured talk of a Prophet. After a couple of seconds, though, he returned his attention to his Head Butler. His sword-like brows and long black hair synced up as he moved his lips, slowly giving his order: sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "The Ten Thousand Poisons Sect''s direct opposition to my authority is unexpected, but it matters not. The very moment they defied the Falazar Family, their fate was set in stone."

    The Head Butler''s brows slightly raised, yet his eyes remained closed shut. "Does this mean, my Lord¡­?" he asked to make sure he was understanding things correctly. "Should I send a declaration of war right away?"

    Count Falazar shook his head. "No," he said. "With the Water King about to send me back to the battlefield again, I can''t risk starting something that I won''t be present to finish. No, that''s not what I meant."

    "Then¡­?"

    Count Falazar''s eyes trailed outside his office window and into the vast, seemingly limitless expanse of land beyond. His brows profoundly furrowed as what appeared to be a hint of pride formed in his irises.

    "Knox will uphold justice on behalf of the family," he said prophetically. "After all, his destiny is one not limited to this small backwater region. Even the Azura Empire will be no more than a mere stepping stone on his path to something we can only dream of yet not attain."

    The Head Butler''s expression contorted in confusion. His nose wrinkled as he attempted to decrypt his lord''s cryptic words.

    But in the end, he couldn''t figure it out.

 Chapter 33 - 33: On The 6666th Year

    The Head Butler bowed respectfully before speaking:

    "My Lord, I''m ashamed to say this as your most loyal servant, but I fail to comprehend how Young Master Knox¡ªa young boy who just started to cultivate¡ªwill be able to make a dent in the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect. A more likely scenario¡ªif I may be so frank¡ªwould be his extremely unfortunate demise at the hands of those scheming snakes."

    Count Falazar''s serious facade cracked for the briefest of moments, a detail the Head Butler did not fail to notice.

    "It might appear that way from the perspective of most anyone," Count Falazar responded. "But I know my son. I know what heights he''s meant to reach for. I know that one day he''ll come to shock not only the Elemental Nations and the Azura Empire but the entire world. It''s fated to be so."

    His voice overflowed with well-concealed pride as he continued, "The rise of the one who''ll be unrivaled in Heaven and Earth. The Prophet has foretold it to be so."

    "...The Prophet?" The Head Butler''s confusion was evident as he tried to make sense of his lord''s words. "What Prophet are you speaking of? Which one in the Elemental Nations could possibly cause someone as great as you to trust them so much?"

    Count Falazar let out a hearty guffaw. "As great as me? In the grander scheme of things, I''m nothing. No less than a bug fighting for dominion on a tiny anthill. It took meeting HER for me to truly understand this."

    "Her?" The Head Butler''s curiosity deepened. "Is she the Prophet you spoke of, my Lord?"

    Count Falazar nodded. "Indeed. The Prophet appeared out of nowhere and gave only her title, which was the ''Unbiased Prophet.'' At first, I thought her to be an enemy, so I initiated a fight. Yet..."

    A pause followed as Count Falazar''s large, rough hands trembled, vividly reliving what he felt that day. "The Prophet''s power was so immense¡ªso unbelievably powerful¡ªthat I saw my death on repeat. Millions of times I died, and all she did was go to lift up her index finger..."

    "Premonitions of one''s own death," the Head Butler muttered, his disbelieving expression betraying the calmness in his voice. "For something of that unbelievable scale to happen to you, My Lord, just¡­ just what Realm do you need to be at?"

    Count Falazar shook his head in exasperation. "I know not the answer to your question," he admitted. "But what I can tell you is that even the Envoy of the Azura Empire felt like little more than an infant in the face of HER power."

    The Head Butler''s eyes widened ever so slightly for the first time in their discussion. His brows, however, nearly touched his hairline.

    "A Soul Transformation Realm Master¡ªno more than an infant!?"

    Those in the Elemental Nations believed the Soul Transformation Realm to be an unachievable goal. To think that even an entity of that level would be seen as so fragile when compared to another¡­

    Exactly what sort of incomprehensible existence was the Unbiased Prophet!?

    Count Falazar''s expression turned ever more complex. "The Prophet is not someone I can hope to understand," he said. "But what I do know is that just before she left as suddenly as she arrived, she bestowed upon me a prophecy. It was likely the only reason she was here in the Azura Empire to begin with."

    His voice dropped to a murmur as he repeated the Prophet''s words.

    "On the 6666th year of the Lunar Calendar, you''ll be blessed with a son. This son¡ªone scorned by all¡ªwill at first seem like your burden. A stain on your reputation. However, from a mold of the disdained shall blossom a Crimson Scar onto the world. Rivers of blood shall drown out the cries of the world, and from them shall emerge a being whose destiny knows no limits."

    "The only thing she told me before hurriedly disappearing was that I should give no preferential treatment to the son of mine yet to be conceived," Count Falazar reminisced, the inconceivable visage of that unfathomable, blindfolded woman still deeply imprinted in his memory. "She also instructed me to, under no circumstances, interrupt the natural process of things by assisting my son in the chaos that he was bound to wrap himself up in."

    The Head Butler, a servant who had faithfully served three generations of Falazar Sect Leaders, felt a level of curiosity exceeding anything he had previously known. In his old age, there was very little he hadn''t seen or heard.

    But this... this was a first even for him.

    A being capable of making a Soul Transformation Realm Cultivator seem inconsequential. A being that could somehow predict the future and foresee the birth of Knox Falazar.

    Had these words come from any other source, the Head Butler would have dismissed them as the delusions of a madman. But coming from Count Falazar¡ªa man who neither lied nor lost his sanity¡ªhe found himself compelled to believe the unfathomable.

    In the World of Cultivation, there was always an unseen limit hidden behind every observable limit.

    For them, the Azura Empire was the greatest force in the world. Yet, it was just that¡ªtheir world. The limit of what they were permitted to perceive. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    For an alien species who dominated an entire galaxy, their whole world would be whatever they could see. But what if¡ªwhat if, past the scope of their sight¡ªbeyond the boundaries of their universe¡ªthere existed more?

    More universes, more cosmic constructs, more, more, more.

    In its essence, the pursuit of Cultivation was the pursuit of something more. And to find more, one first had to discover the limits and test for larger limits.

    "Beyond a sky is another sky, beyond heaven is a higher heaven," the Head Butler murmured, seemingly lost in thought. "My Lord, I understand. I shall faithfully carry out your will and not help the Eldest Young Master in his affairs. But as for when his elder sister learns of this news¡­ there''s nothing I can do to stop her..."

 Chapter 34 - 34: Nyx Falazar

    Count Falazar heaved a sigh at the mention of the daughter he most worried about¡ªnot because she was weak or naive¡ªbut because of her¡­ unnatural obsession with Knox Falazar, her younger brother.

    "Since his birth, that troublesome girl has always stuck close to Knox," Count Falazar said, his face twitching in several spots. "And because of Knox''s unique ways of amazing that girl without moving a single muscle, they''ve since become virtually inseparable. If not for me sending her to the Battlefield to put some distance between her and Knox, he never would''ve left the nest and spread his wings. That would''ve subsequently put a corkscrew in the Prophet''s prophecy, which was something I couldn''t allow."

    The Head Butler had an -Ah- moment as a few missing pieces clicked inside his head. "I had often wondered why it was that you sent Young Miss Nyx to such a dangerous place with death around every corner. Being the young girl she was, it didn''t seem right¡ªeven if she was a once-in-a-thousand-year genius and over a hundred years old. But now¡­ now I understand precisely why you did what you did."

    "That''s good," Count Falazar said as he sank into the back of his leather chair. "Now then, I have some more paperwork to deal with. You''re dismissed."

    "Yes, of course, My Lord," the Head Butler complied respectfully before slowly backing up and fading away. "Even if I''m not to directly help the Eldest Young Master, I shall keep tabs on the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect and any other factions wishing to harm him. If anything, indirectly warning him of incoming danger is unlikely to mess with the prophecy."

    Count Falazar nodded. "Yes, that should be fine," he said while closing his eyes. "Just make sure not to take things too far. The less we interfere with Knox''s journey, the less we risk interfering with a fate that will not only take him to greater heights but also the rest of the Falazar Family."

    "Perhaps," he continued with a hopeful glint, "perhaps one day, we''ll no longer be constricted to the small Water Kingdom or the Elemental Nations. There might even arrive a point where our Falazar Family looks down at the Azura Empire from above. But such a whimsical dream¡ªit all rides upon the tail flaps of Knox." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A withered smile breezed outside of the Falazar Family Mansion.

    "I pray that''s the case, My Lord. Maybe then your forefathers can rest easy in the afterlife."

    ¡ª A certain amount of time later, within a large tan-colored tent erected in the center of a weapon and corpse-covered battlefield ¡ª

    "This report," said a woman with long black hair as dark as the night sky. "Is it true?" she asked, her face shrouded in shadows and her voice seething with rage. "Is it true that wanted posters of my Knox have been posted all over the Kingdom!? Tell me, IS IT TRUE!???"

    OOOM!!!

    The tent the woman was standing in was enchanted to a point where even Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators would find it difficult to put a scratch on it. Yet, with this outburst of the starry-eyed girl, cuts appeared all over the massive tent. Peeks of the bleak scenery outside could now be seen from within.

    "G-General Nyx," said a soldier, bowing with his head down. "T¡­The information is 100% accurate¡­! The Ten Thousand Poisons Sect has been at odds with Young Master Knox Falazar for a while, and now the Thorne, Roderick, and Buford Families have just declared their intention to capture or kill¡­ Y-Your¡­ your¡­"

    The Nascent Soul Realm soldier hesitated when he saw the terrifying face Nyx Falazar was making. He shuddered, his entire existence bearing the weight of unspeakable fear.

    "I''LL KILL THEM ALL!!!"

    RUMBLE¡ª!!

    The battlefield violently shook, with swords and spears slipping out of their places in the ground. Tens of thousands of Water Kingdom soldiers felt the hair on the back of their necks stand on end.

    In synchronization, they looked toward the source of the rumbling and terrorizing sensation they were feeling.

    However, upon realizing who it was that was menacingly floating above her tent, releasing wave after wave of energy, they immediately averted their eyes. None¡ªnot even the Nascent Soul Realm Commanders¡ªwished to incur the wrath of the Devil Woman.

    With a devilish glare that could cut through steel, Nyx Falazar looked between all of her subordinates. They shivered in response. She coldly snorted, figuring it a waste to take her anger out on a bunch of wastrels.

    "I''m leaving¡ª" she attempted to say, but was interrupted by her Second-in-Command:

    "You can''t, General!" he shouted nervously. "The Fire Nation is planning something big! If you leave now and the Northern Border is attacked, then¡­"

    "Then what?" asked Nyx, her voice oozing killing intent. "Tell me: what will happen if I leave!?"

    "!!!"

    "G-General¡­ If you leave now, the Northern Border will fall," the Second-in-Command said through chattering teeth. "And by that point, there will no longer be a brother or family for you to return to¡­ The Fire Nation Mongols will swarm in and spread out to every part of our Kingdom within the hour¡­"

    Nyx''s face twisted in fury as her aura pressed down on her Half-step Soul Formation Realm Second-in-Command. He was nearly crushed to death, but before such a gruesome outcome could come to pass, the cold-faced Nyx angrily huffed and dispersed her aura. She then took off into the air and shot into the distance at several times the speed of light.

    Her voice, however, trailed off in her stead, giving just the tiniest bit of solace to her Second-in-Command:

    "I''m going to the Grand General''s Encampment; don''t fuck things up here while I''m gone."

    "Y-Yes¡­" was all Jacob could say as he shakily watched the shooting star of black and purple light vanish into the horizon.

    FWIP!

    Once Nyx arrived at the edge of a giant mountain range, her cold eyes honed in on the several-hundred-mile-wide encampment. Within it resided more than a dozen Soul Formation Realm Masters, as well as hundreds of thousands of cultivators ranging from the Qi Condensation to the Nascent Soul Realms.

    This was the Main Army of the Water Kingdom. The army that kept watch at the Northwestern Border and protected the Kingdom from the Fire and Wind Nations, both of whom were considered to be on shaky ground with them.

 Chapter 35 - 35: Then The Fire Nation Attacked!

    After descending to the massive encampment, Nyx Falazar ignored the formalities and teleported outside the largest tent there. Within the tent were powerful auras belonging to Formation Realm Generals, yet she did not seem to give a single flying f*ck about that as she barged in.

    "Hey, old man!" she shouted, all eyes focused on her. "My baby brother Knox is being bothered by a bunch of insects; help him out right now, or I''ll reveal to your wife what you''ve been doing at night with all those barracks bunnies¡ª"

    "Now, now, General Nyx," the Grand General said with a twitching smile. "There''s no reason you need to be so aggressive so early in the morning. You spoke of Knox? Your younger brother, Knox Falazar?"

    "Who else, you old geezer!?" Nyx spat back, furrowing her brows, her patience running thin. "Quit it with the stupid questions and help me."

    The Grand General''s face repeatedly convulsed. To be disrespected like this in front of the Generals¡­ If not for the fact that they had all received similar treatment from her, he would have severely punished the woman.

    But more importantly than that was what Nyx Falazar was requesting from him¡­

    "Haiz¡­" he sighed, shaking his head. "I would help you and your younger brother if I could, but I''m afraid your father and the King have both given separate, private orders that make what you request impossible to fulfill. Sorry, little Nyx. Now, I think it''s best if you return to your post before something unfortunate occurs¡ª"

    "My father and the King¡­?" Nyx repeated, her eyes darkening. "They won''t allow you to help my Knox? Why??"

    "Because his fate is a unique one," the Grand General said simply. "At least, that is what they have told me."

    "The King, too??"

    "Yes."

    Silence.

    In the end, Nyx could only reluctantly give up. If she could not acquire help here, then she would just have to take the chance and personally assist her brother.

    No matter what, she would support him! Even if the whole world burned for it!

    Yet, in the same moment she stormed off and made her departure, dark clouds suddenly gathered in the skies for hundreds of thousands of miles. They appeared nigh instantaneously and blotted out the skies over every outpost, encampment, fortress, and plot of land on the northern side of the Water Kingdom.

    This inexplicable phenomenon caused the expressions of the Generals to drastically change. The first emotion they felt was surprise, but it was quickly suppressed by an overwhelming feeling of anger.

    "The Lightning Nation has broken the Peace Treaty and is attacking!"

    As soon as those words left the mouth of a Golden Core Realm Announcer, the whole encampment erupted in warrior-like shouts. None of them could describe the betrayal they felt as they watched lightning crackle and spark, revealing hundreds of thousands of figures calmly standing atop flying swords. They had phased in through the dark clouds, bringing with them mighty auras and lightning-imbued magical weapons.

    Shortly after the appearance of the Lightning Nation''s army, a fireball with a diameter of millions of meters zipped through the skies below the dark clouds. The fireball arrived before the Water Nation''s encampment in less than a second.

    Then, after spiraling in a mesmerizing way, the fireball¡­ exploded! S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    From the huge explosion of fire appeared tens of thousands of cultivators donned in flame-woven, dark-red fabric. Their eyebrows looked like smoldering kindling, with many of them having hair that had turned red due to their training in Holy Lands heavy in the Fire Element.

    The Fire Nation!

    *Clank!*

    "But then the Fire Nation attacked!" said a drunken middle-aged man, his eyes hazy from all the drinking he had been doing. "They joined in the fray, working together with the Lightning Nation''s forces to push our main army back!"

    Sitting beside the middle-aged man were a few other drunken men. However, even if they were drunk and in a bar, they knew better than to foolishly believe every word that left the middle-aged man''s mouth.

    He had not lied yet, but that surely would not last very long.

    And just as expected:

    "Luckily, the Aqua Arbiter appeared just in the nick of time to save the day and leave the Fire and Lightning Nations running for the hills!" said the middle-aged man, making grand gestures. "Nearly half of the armies of both nations were eviscerated, leaving not even their corpses intact¡ª"

    "I call bullsh*t!"

    "I as well! What you''re saying is just nonsense!!"

    "How can the Aqua Arbiter possibly have been there!? It''s common knowledge that she has been in seclusion, preparing to make a breakthrough into the Soul Transformation Realm for the better part of a century!"

    The drunken middle-aged man huffed in displeasure, belching at the same time. "What do you all know, hum!?" he said. "At the time, the Aqua Arbiter''s sole disciple¡ªNyx Falazar¡ªwas present at the location the Fire and Lightning Nations attacked. That''s why the Aqua Arbiter temporarily left seclusion¡ªto save her disciple! Though, personally, I''m inclined to believe that the Aqua Arbiter successfully made a breakthrough, and this event just so coincidentally coincided with the joint attack of the Fire and Lightning Nations."

    "Bah!" someone said. "If what you say really is true, then why wasn''t the Air Nation there!? Even ret*rds living under rocks at the bottom of the sea know that the Air Nation hates us just about as much as the Fire Nation does! So, why wouldn''t they join the battle as well, huh!??"

    Mischievous laughter resounded. "Haha, that''s where you show your cluelessness, fellow drunk! The Air Nation did, in fact, attack! It was just that the brief appearance of the Prodigal Children of the Water Deity thwarted their attempt at breaching the Southern Border!"

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    "The Water Deity Sect!? They actually made an appearance??"

    "Yes!" answered the drunken middle-aged man, satisfied with all the attention he was receiving. Virtually everyone in the bar, except for one hooded man, had become engrossed with what he had to say.

    But who cared about the attention of some random nobody with not a lick of cultivation?? He could have even been a deaf man or a cripple, explaining why he was not competent enough to praise his greatness with his eyes!

 Chapter 36 - 36: Tear-Drop Child Makes His Appearance

    ''Hum, who cares about that bum anyway,'' the drunken middle-aged man thought as he resumed his retelling of the events exactly as they happened. He explained the involvement of the Prodigal Children of the Water Deity Sect, using grand theatrics and falsities that were obviously exaggerated.

    Even so, not a single morsel made a peep while the middle-aged man finished his storytelling. They had promised themselves not to lose themselves in the crazy codger''s ramblings, but they couldn''t resist the appeal of the off-chance that he actually was in the know about what happened six months ago¡ªwhen the Fire and Lightning Nations first attacked.

    Not much had been disclosed to the public concerning what occurred on that disastrous day. All anyone knew for sure was that the Fire and Lightning Nations might have attacked; beyond that, they weren''t told anything.

    Clearly, there were secrets surrounding the incident that the government didn''t want them to know. And the people in the bar were well aware that the 2nd Stage Qi Condensation Realm middle-aged man was unlikely to have insight into something they didn''t.

    But as human nature dictated, none could forever dodge the temptations that extreme curiosity brought to the table.

    Knox Falazar sat quietly in a corner, his dark hood pulled further down over his face. ''In my first lifetime, curiosity brought my people to the stars,'' he mused, observing the middle-aged man. ''This guy is proficient in taking advantage of this aspect of innate human nature. Perhaps I should adopt something similar and try to farm Attribute Orbs as a storyteller.''

    Then again, simply killing everyone he was trying to tell a story to would allot far more Attribute Points. Going for a more advanced clientele with high cultivation bases might work, but it seemed like too much of a hassle.

    "Well, whatever," Knox whispered to himself, downing another cup of booze. "If my big sister was involved in that battle, then I suppose I have no choice but to go and verify that she''s okay. Haiz¡­ the woes of being an amazing younger brother¡­"

    After chugging a couple more cups of booze, he pushed back his chair and wobbled toward the door. As soon as the door swung shut behind him, he vanished¡ªhis existence but a mere afterthought in the minds of the citizens who frequented the most popular bar in Cryfall City.

    The city was very large and could be seen as one of the Top 20 Cities in the Water Kingdom. Within its walls resided hundreds of thousands of cultivators and tens of millions of mortals. And today¡ªbeing more special than most days¡ªwas the day that a Child of the Water Deity Sect was supposed to grace the city with his visit.

    [Tear-Drop Child] - [Ranked #104 among the Children of the Water Deity Sect] - [Ordinance Value: 9700 (Rank 280)]

    [Age: 41]

    [Cultivation: Early Nascent Soul Realm]

    [Battle Power: Middle Nascent Soul Realm]

    [Talent Level: Mid-Sky Grade]

    [Main Technique: Ravenous Tear (Peak-Sky)]

    The Prodigal Children of the Water Deity Sect were all top-notch geniuses found and adopted by the Founder of the Sect at or around birth. Each Child was rumored to possess cultivation talent of at least the Sky Grade. Furthermore, they were all typically extremely strong in terms of cultivation.

    ''And while in the process of leaving Cryfall City, I just so happen to encounter one of these very Prodigal Children of the Water Deity?'' Knox thought as he matched the stare that the young-looking boy before him was focusing on him. ''How coincidental. A little bit too coincidental¡­''

    He had just wanted to pick up a few barrels of the Crypeak Alcohol that he believed tasted divine. However, after carrying and walking away with the barrels, he was bewildered to find the Tear-drop Child waiting in the middle of the street.

    It seemed as if the boy had been waiting there a long while.

    A long, long while¡­

    Without opening his eyes, Tear-drop Child began to speak. "I knew you''d be here, Fate-bearer."

    Knox raised an eyebrow, forcing himself to sober up. "Fate-bearer? What do you mean by that? You some sort of cringy fortune-teller or something?"

    Tear-Drop Child was not amused by his words. The tear tattoo under his left eye lit up slightly as the edges of his lips curved upward. His long blonde hair blew beneath the traveler''s hat he wore, despite the absence of wind.

    "Cool trick," Knox commented. "But if you keep on trying to show off, I''ll show you the quickest way to the Underworld."

    Tear-Drop Child''s slight smile eased back into neutrality. His hair also stopped being wildly thrown around. "Knox Falazar," he began, his tone of voice not matching his youthful appearance. "A Fate-bearer is one with a higher-than-normal Fate Value. And though I can''t discern exactly how high your Fate Value is with my limited cultivation, I know for certain that yours is higher than mine. And I''m a Child of the Water Deity¡ªa Child of Fate."

    "Woah, narcissistic much?" Knox asked, unimpressed. "Anyhoo, this Fate-bearer and Fate Value stuff is cool and all, but the only thing I wanna know is why the hell you''re looking at me like that."

    Tear-Drop Child touched his mouth, realizing that he had let his urges get the better of him.

    Observing the wide, predatory smile, Knox curled his lips in disgust. "You being a middle-aged man in a ten-year-old''s body is already bad enough, but looking at me like that? Man, I just wanna punch you so badly right now." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Tear-Drop Child calmed his emotions enough to indifferently say, "Since the Founder¡ªour God¡ªsaved me from an inferior family of mortals, I have been taught in the Ways of Fate. I know how to see it, how to manipulate it, and how to¡­ use the Fate of others for my own benefit."

    "You''re saying a whole lot of bullsh*t, dude," Knox said, a frown forming as his other personality resurfaced. "I don''t have the time to deal with your nonsense. I don''t care if you''re a Master of Fate or the Sith Lord controller of the Force¡ªif you keep staring at me like that, I''ll kill you."

 Chapter 37 - 37: Uncaring Duel

    No longer able to restrain himself, Tear-Drop Child''s deranged grin nearly reached both his ears. His tear tattoo erupted in a golden-blue light before quickly disintegrating. Though, rather than disintegration, it was more like parts of the tear tattoo were leaving the skin of his face and molding into the shape of a small pair of bells.

    "You think some jingle-jingles will actually work against me?" Knox Falazar asked laughingly. "How about you start taking out magical hairbows and chanting to transform into a Magical Girl as well?"

    Tear-Drop Child¡ªclearly not a fan of Knox''s jokes¡ªfinished converting his tear tattoo into a golden-blue pair of bells. They were very simple in design, seemingly nothing special about them.

    However, as much as Knox outwardly mocked the bells, he knew better than anyone not to underestimate an opponent whom he knew next to nothing about.

    "Fate-bearer," Tear-Drop Child said as his aura skyrocketed in immensity, scaring away anyone within a ten-mile radius. "Don''t blame me for killing you and stealing your Fate Value¡ª" he paused ever so briefly as his figure blurred along with his bells.

    "¡ªBlame yourself for being too weak!"

    OUNG!

    The bells suddenly transformed into two giant hammers the size of buildings. Tear-Drop Child wielded them in his small hands, swinging them around almost too effortlessly. The space between the hammers and Knox shattered, with the buildings and any stragglers in the surroundings being blown hundreds of meters away.

    Under the gravity of Tear-Drop Child''s attack, the area was cleared out. No houses. No buildings. No vegetation.

    The once-prosperous area became a barren wasteland¡ªand did so in a mere instant.

    "Quite impressive," Knox praised as he felt the tips of his hair burn due to the absurd level of energy being radiated by the hammers. "For a Child of Water Dick or whatever, you''re definitely strong."

    "!!!!"

    "HOW DARE YOU!!!!" Tear-Drop Child erupted in rage, his once excited expression replaced with a twisted and scrunched-up mess. "DO NOT SPEAK OF THE WATER DEITY WITH YOUR DIRTY MOUTH!!!"

    "Damn, dude," Knox said while digging out the earwax in his ear. "Can''t you quiet it down? Some of us would like to have decent hearing in old age, ya know?"

    Acting as if the indescribably powerful hammers plummeting straight toward him didn''t even exist, Knox yawned. Then, with a bipolar flip, his expression frosted over. His sudden surge in murderous intent expelled the initial power of the hammers.

    He then took a step forward, activating a technique he had acquired nearly a year ago:

    "Thirteen Perfections, First Perfection: Step." S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    For a moment, time seemed to come to a complete stop. And in that moment, Knox''s foot moved forward by one pace. Yet, in that one pace, he bridged the gap between himself and Tear-Drop Child.

    He had his black Intent Sword in hand, already in the process of slashing down. However, with a cold snort from Tear-Drop Child, his trick was seen through. A large hammer shot toward him from the right side, and, unable to dodge in time, he was hit directly in his side.

    *Crack, Crack!*

    A few of Knox''s ribs broke as he went barreling tens of miles away. He flew beyond the wasteland point, returning to circulation, with his bruised body creating holes in dozens of buildings.

    Eventually, he came to a stop¡ªtumbling and smacking into a thick brick wall¡ªbut by then, most of his body had been reduced to shambles. The civilians around him looked at his pitiful state with a mixture of alarm, fright, and¡­ pity.

    ''Damn,'' Knox thought, feeling more annoyance than pain. ''I absolutely abhor when people look at me like that. Tsk! I really feel like smashing someone''s head in now.''

    He wanted to leave behind being pitied everywhere he went, but now this middle-aged kid bastard was forcing him to endure the very same sh*t.

    "W¡­What a f*cker," Knox muttered through bloodied teeth as he glared at the blonde-haired kid who appeared out of nowhere, hovering in the sky with his two hammers like some sort of god. "Fine, then, if you want to play, then let''s play."

    A mysterious energy seeped out of Knox''s body, spreading over all his limbs and bones before working to restore them. This was the Second Perfection of the Thirteen Perfections Qi Condensation Cultivation Technique¡ªRestore.

    The Thirteen Perfections Cultivation Manual was more than just something meant to improve cultivation. It was also a moveset¡ªone that could only be realized after the practitioner reached the Secret 13th Stage of Qi Condensation. And though one had to be ridiculously talented to be capable of exceeding the normal Qi Condensation Realm stage limit of 12, with all the Affinity Points Knox had been absorbing in the last 11 months, he was able to achieve it by prolonging his time in the Qi Condensation Realm.

    Knox even took things a step further than the 13th Stage of Qi Condensation, and he wondered if this powerful enemy of his would possess what it took to bring it out of him. But who could say for sure?

    "Listen, kid," Knox said as he rose up like a broken corpse doll. "I could''ve broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm months ago, but do you know why I chose not to?"

    Tear-Drop Child stared blankly at him, not the least bit interested in what he had to say. He only wanted one thing from Knox¡ªhis Fate.

    "Well, whatever," Knox said, irritated. "The point is that I''m not even in the Foundation Establishment Realm, yet I''m still better than you, who''s in the Nascent Soul Realm. My suggestion for you¡ªif you want this to go quickly¡ªis to roll over now and let me poke some holes in you. It''ll be easier for us both that way."

    He flashed a benevolent smile, trying his best to help this poor fella understand just how f*cked he was.

    Yet, Tear-Drop Child¡ªno longer finding Knox''s commentary necessary¡ªburst forward at many times the speed of sound. Hundreds of people¡ªmortals and cultivators alike¡ªdied.

    But he didn''t seem to care a single bit.

    And neither did Knox.

 Chapter 38 - 38: The 14th Stage of Qi Condensation, Level 4 Sword Intent

    Knox and Tear-Drop Child''s clash of swords and hammers sparked a string of destruction throughout the city as they bubbled and blew through countless buildings. At times, they went underground, only to emerge from the ground and create something akin to active, molten volcanoes.

    And for nearly a minute, Knox filed through all 13 Perfections in order.

    "Third Perfection: Guard."

    "Second Perfection: Restore."

    "Fourth Perfection: Flow."

    "Second Perfection: Restore."

    "Fifth Perfection: Piece."

    "Second Perfection: Restore."

    "Sixth Perfection: Slash."

    "Second Perfection: Restore."

    "Seventh Perfection: Reflect."

    "Second Perfection: Restore."

    "Eighth Perfection: Parry."

    "Second Perfection: Restore."

    "Ninth Perfection: Destroy."

    "Second Perfection: Restore."

    "Tenth Perfection: Bind."

    "Second Perfection: Restore."

    "Eleventh Perfection: Shatter."

    "Second Perfection: Restore."

    "Twelfth Perfection: Annihilate."

    "Second Perfection: Restore."

    "Thirteenth Perfection: Echo."

    "Second Perfection: Restore."

    By the time Knox reached the Thirteenth Perfection, he and Tear-Drop Child had destroyed more than half the city. The other half was left as little more than ruins, with complete and partial corpses scattered all over the place.

    Very few managed to escape the city in time. Only the Core Formation and Golden Core Realm Cultivators fled by flight before the clashing pair reached them. And though a number of them considered intervening or breaking up this fight between two god-like beings, they held their hand at doing something so foolish.

    It wasn''t as if Knox or Tear-Drop Child were purposefully slaughtering the citizens of the city; it was simply that, after a certain Realm, the deaths of the weak became inevitable.

    This was the World of Cultivation¡ªthe World of the Strong.

    If one couldn''t even protect themselves, they were subjected to the whims of those more powerful. Just five months ago, the Azura Empire had suddenly changed the rules of the Battle for the Ordinance List Rankings. Death became acceptable; any means used to come out on top were allowed.

    This was a classic case of those higher up on the hierarchy doing whatever they wanted just to obtain a little bit more entertainment. They even sent out fluttering eyeball devices made of an indestructible material, all of which had one purpose: to provide visual entertainment for those who saw the Elemental Nations and the rest of the neighboring Regions like inconsequential playgrounds.

    Scouting out Talents had become no more than a front. One didn''t need to be a genius to realize that those high and mighty entities from the Azura Empire didn''t actually believe that they''d find some hidden, super genius in a backwater location. It was just that now they weren''t willing to bother themselves with playing pretend.

    "Up my Bet by X10 on Rank 21 from the Elemental Nations Region."

    "Do me for X20 Bet increase on Rank 7 from the Frulolumino Region."

    "X100 Bet increase on Rank 69 from the Cryospire Region! Let''s go gambling with this one!!"

    Even now, as cultivators all over the Azura Empire desperately fought to protect their lives from those who wished to advance, betting rings were being held by higher beings. Each one capable of single-handedly wiping out the Elemental Nations if they so wished to.

    This was the Way of the World¡ªthe Way of Cultivation.

    ¡ª Five Minutes Later ¡ª

    "Ha¡­" Knox said, short of breath, leaning on his Intent Sword. "It looks like even after all I''ve done, I''m still not able to defeat someone in the Nascent Soul Realm¡­ A four Major Realm difference was too much to handle, huh¡­?"

    Contrary to his words and defeated tone, his smirk broadened. His aura flared as it began to change color, turning from a dark shade of purple to a more silverish gold.

    "Four Major Realms¡­ Too much to handle¡­?" Knox repeated, cracks spiderwebbing around his bloodied figure.

    Almost all of his bones had been shattered for the hundredth time today. And though they were quickly restoring with the assistance of the Second Perfection, that was nothing in comparison to how absurdly fast he was regenerating after his epiphany.

    OOOM!

    The 14th Stage of Qi Condensation!

    The 14th Perfection!

    "I''ve decided that you''re not too much for me to handle," Knox declared, exhaling sharply. "I just have to become stronger. It''s so simple that I have no clue why it took me until now to figure it out."

    His silverish gold aura swirled before extending beyond the clouds, enveloping everything within a radius of hundreds of miles. He then raised his now-evolved black Intent Sword into the air, putting on display yet another breakthrough he had just achieved.

    "14th Stage of Qi Condensation, the Gold Stage," Knox coldly uttered, volatile filaments of energy escaping the confines of his raised sword. "The 14th Perfection¡ªTranscension."

    RUMBLE!!

    The world trembled beneath his might, causing what remained of Cryfall City to sink into the ground. Over and over again, his presence intensified. Rolling waves of palpable power spread out and hit Tear-Drop Child in the face, pushing him and his divine hammers further and further back.

    "And now," Knox continued, his voice trickling with the incredible power sources that coursed through him. "Level 4 Sword Intent: Actualization."

    WAAA!

    What was once an Intent Sword strand multiplied and turned into dozens of strands, each one now menacingly spinning above him. They were all identical to the thin black sword in his hand, containing within them the same amount of power as well.

    "Let''s see you dodge this, you filthy casual."

    Knox then let his hand fall, subsequently causing all of the spinning black swords to shoot out like the rounds of a machine gun. At first, they followed the same trajectory, but midway through their advance, they switched directions and zigzagged all around.

    Tear-Drop Child was cornered from every single direction, escape seemingly out of the picture. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What brazen foolishness," he said with disdain. "You genuinely believe that you can best a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator while merely being in the Qi Condensation Realm? Well, let me give you a lesson on why, no matter the tricks you pull, trying to surmount a mountain as an ant is impossible."

    A crystal-clear energy seeped out of Tear-Drop Child''s body, quickly expanding and ascending. A straight pillar of energy was formed. And starting from the bottom, the energy pillar started to fold in on itself. Within milliseconds, this resulted in the creation of a massive tear-shaped droplet hanging high up in the sky.

    Zooming out, the tear-shaped phenomenon was determined to be nearly half the size of the entire Cryfall City!

 Chapter 39 - 39: Fight With Tear-Drop Child Escalates

    "Do you see now?" asked Tear-Drop Child after he teleported above the giant tear. "This is the Nascent Soul Realm. A Realm that even you, as a Fate-bearer, will only ever witness once in your life. Your certain death today signifies as much."

    Knox smirked as he recalled his platoon of Intent Swords back to him. They spun in perfect synchronization, awaiting his next command. The ground beneath him cracked and splintered under the pressure they breathed. Yet, even then, his Intent Swords were smothered by the stifling presence of that massive teardrop.

    He didn''t know what it was about the teardrop that made it appear so terrifying, but he knew as if on instinct that his death and the deaths of everything in a hundred-mile radius were guaranteed if that thing dropped.

    "The Nascent Soul Realm, huh¡­" Knox pondered, analyzing the innate aspects of the Realm in question. "You cultivate a Nascent Soul, expand your Innate Energy Sea, and tremendously improve your lifespan. That''s the gist of the Nascent Soul Realm, no? But all of that is just a little extra that the Creator of the Cultivation System threw on top, isn''t it? The true appeal of the Nascent Soul Realm is the astronomical improvement to destructive power!"

    Tear-Drop Child didn''t respond.

    However, uncaring about his uncaringness, Knox shrugged. "It''s fine, I wasn''t asking you to answer or anything," he laughed. "After all, what I said was nothing but facts. Though, if the insurmountable difference you speak of merely extends to more destructive power, I''ll surpass you in an instant."

    Tear-Drop Child remained silent, clearly not taking his words to heart.

    "You don''t believe me?" Knox asked with a toothy grin. "Fine then, I suppose I''ll just have to prove it to you."

    *Fwoop, Fwoop, Fwoop!*

    Falling all around him were spherical-shaped pills, each one possessing varying amounts of medicinal energies. To begin with, there were only dozens that spawned from his Spatial Ring, but then with the passing of the nanoseconds, that number turned into thousands upon thousands.

    With a small hill''s worth of valuable pills surrounding him, Knox cracked a fox-like grin. "As one final tribute to the man I''m about to obliterate, I''ll inform you of the Body Refinement Realm Technique I cultivated to perfection," he said. "Extreme Madman''s Inner Array. And from it, I acquired the Madman''s Inner Array Physique."

    "!!!!"

    For the first time since their encounter, Tear-Drop Child felt alarmed over what he had to say. As a result, he waved his hand downward and let his Main Technique |Ravenous Tear| plummet to the earth like a water-based meteor of destruction.

    Knox showed off his pearly whites. "It appears that you know precisely what the Madman''s Inner Array Physique is," he said slyly. "You also seem to know of the Physique''s fantastical secret feature as well. Here, I''ll show it to you right now and do so with the help of all the pill loot I amassed over the past year."

    *Whap, Whap, Whap!*

    Within an instant, every single multi-colored pill in the pill hill felt a suction force pulling them toward Knox. Unable to resist this force, they streaked right for him, disappearing into the folds of his existence a moment later.

    "The Secret Function of the Madman''s Inner Array Physique," he said as he felt a tsunami of Innate Energy wash over him. "Is the ludicrous ability to endlessly absorb and rapidly refine any Pills or Natural Treasure Herbs. An act that will not only improve my cultivation but also improve the quality of my Inner Array Energy!"

    As the massive teardrop attack shrouded his world in darkness with its imminent approach, Knox experienced absurd increases to his cultivation base. In less time than it took to form a thought, he had advanced from the beginning of the 14th Stage of Qi Condensation to the very peak of the same stage!

    A moment later, he was knocking on the door to a Stage that lived on as a myth in the minds of many people. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The 15th Stage of Qi Condensation.

    For most, even the 13th Stage of Qi Condensation was an impossibility unless one''s foundations were extremely solid. Yet, Knox not only made history in the Elemental Nations by achieving the 14th Stage of Qi Condensation, he had also begun to see a light at the other end of the tunnel for something more!

    "Why don''t you break for me?" he asked nicely, deriving amusement from watching Tear-Drop Child''s expression take a turn for the worst.

    And surprisingly, as if everything was one big joke, the walls of a dam that once seemed like a world exploded!

    OOOM!!!

    Breakthrough achieved!

    "See?" Knox said as his crimson purple aura frenzied out of control. "Sometimes, all you have to do is ask nicely, and the impossible can be made possible. Oh, and also, have a bunch of plot armor. I just recently got some of my own, but I know this d*ckhead vendor if you''re interested¡ª"

    "Give me your Fate, Fate-bearer!!!"

    WHABOOOOOM!!

    "Jeez, so pushy," Knox said as his wildly vibrant aura fluctuated. "But no matter, your attack is no different from a regular water droplet in the faucet to me."

    He calmly raised his hand and pinched.

    "!!!!"

    Under the astonished eyes of Tear-Drop Child, |Ravenous Tear| was expeditiously condensed. Then, with a slight tug, the hyper-condensed droplet zipped toward him before landing peacefully in his hands.

    "The 15th Stage of Qi Condensation," Knox said keenly, staring at the tiny, dangerous droplet with intrigue. "It''s not as simple as a direct increase in power. I learned this only after breaking through, but as it turns out, you obtain the neat ability to claim ownership over any energy that has left another''s body. There is a limit to the ability, and it doesn''t work on those with more Innate Energy control than I have, but as I said before¡­ I''m. better. than. you."

    "How Dare You!!!"

    Erupting in anger, Tear-Drop Child called upon his enormous Innate Energy Sea. Dozens of |Ravenous Tears| materialized above and around him before ascending to the sky and plummeting down the same as the first one.

    Furthermore, as time inched forward, Tear-Drop Child summoned more and more |Ravenous Tears|.

 Chapter 40 - 40: Turning The Tables

    "It''s futile," Knox said. "You won''t beat me as you are. But since you like relying on cultivation so much, perhaps you''ll stand a better chance if you aim to make a breakthrough into the Soul Formation Realm."

    As he spoke those patronizing words, he controlled the unruly Innate Energy in the tiny |Ravenous Tear|, molding it to his design. Then, with a two-finger slash, he cut forward.

    A crystal rift was etched into the sky, somehow hitting all the |Ravenous Tears| at once.

    SHING!

    Simultaneously, the |Ravenous Tears| ruptured and split open. The energy contained within them then traveled toward Knox, allowing for another seamless transition of ownership. Swirling over his palms were more than forty tiny water droplets, each one capable of erasing a small city.

    "If you value your dignity, then I''d give up while you''re ahead," Knox proposed in a tone permeating murderous intent. "Forfeit your life; become my Loot."

    "COURTING DEATH!!!"

    Blood vessels burst in Tear-Drop Child''s eyes as he burned through his Life Essence, bringing his Battle Power to the peak of the Mid-Nascent Soul Realm. After attaining such power, he drove his Innate Sea to the brink of collapse by using up more Innate Energy than he was supposed to have.

    "Ravenous Tear - Ultimate Move: Drowning Out The World!!"

    Tear-Drop Child''s furious bellow was followed by the summoning of hundreds of |Ravenous Tears|, each one possessing twice as much destructive power. They filled the heavens, all in the process of falling steeply.

    A catastrophic meteor shower!

    "Haiz," Knox sighed, shaking his head. "You''re not going to relent so easily, huh? Fine then, I suppose I''ll just have to beat you with even more overwhelming might."

    From the pills he had devoured with his Physique, he acquired more than enough Innate Energy to break through to the 15th Stage of Qi Condensation. This also meant that he had a lot of leftover Innate Energy following his breakthrough.

    Innate Energy that he crazily refined beneath a rainfall of city-destroying attacks.

    "You told me that the Qi Condensation Realm wasn''t enough to bridge the gap between it and the Nascent Soul Realm," Knox said as a goldish-platinum surge of Innate Energy enveloped him. "Very well then. I guess I''ll just have to reduce the gap from four Major Realms to three."

    WHALABOOOOM!!

    A massive eruption of Innate Energy escaped his body and engulfed the entirety of what used to be the prosperous Cultivation City of Cryfall. The ground caved even further, leaving the remains of the city as a buried relic of the past.

    A massive, vortex-like sinkhole opened up below him, mirroring the destructive flow of his Aura. It also represented his quickly forming Innate Barrier.

    In the 1st Major Realm¡ªthe Body Refinement Realm¡ªthe signature evolution trait was to accustom one''s body to the exposure of Innate Energy.

    For the 2nd Major Realm¡ªthe Qi Condensation Realm¡ªthe signature evolution trait was the creation of one''s Divine Sense. The average size for a recently formed Divine Sense had an approximate width and length of one meter by one meter.

    As for the 3rd Major Realm¡ªthe Foundation Establishment Realm¡ªthe signature evolution trait was the formation of an Innate Energy Barrier. The average sphere of influence for an Innate Barrier was roughly one meter by one meter.

    For Knox, however¡­

    "1,000 meters by 1,000 meters," he noted as he watched his Innate Barrier complete its formation. "Not bad."

    Early Foundation Establishment Realm - Achieved!

    "What!?" Tear-Drop Child''s brows raised to his hairline, his traveler''s hat flying off due to his astonishment. "How could you have possibly broken through so many times in such a short period of time!?? T-This is¡­ Is that what a Fate-bearer truly is¡­!??"

    Knox smirked, retracting his newly formed Innate Barrier. "I still have no idea what a Fate-bearer even is, but if I have one thing to say to you, then it''s that you suffer¡­ from a Skill Issue."

    SHING! SHING! SHING!

    His previous few dozen Intent Swords had multiplied into hundreds, each one three times larger than before. They spun tens of times faster as well, moving many times the speed of sound. The sound barrier repeatedly shattered around every single one of them¡ªand did so without them actually moving from their spots.

    A great sense of foreboding crept up Tear-Drop Child''s expression as he paled. And without hesitation, he left his sea of |Ravenous Tears| behind as a distraction that he used to slip away.

    "Ho?" Knox mused, shifting his emotionless gold eyes between the |Ravenous Tears| and the fleeing kid. "It''s cute that you believe you honestly have a chance of escape after getting me so riled up. But no matter, you get what you ask for. And beggars can''t be choosers."

    With a slight hand movement, he apathetically watched as hundreds of his black Intent Swords zipped through the air. They shot in and out of the equally numbered |Ravenous Tears|, reducing them to no more than popped water balloons.

    Knox, of course, gathered up the dispersed Energy. He reformed said Energy into newly made |Ravenous Tears|, each thousands of times smaller. All of which bobbed up and down in a tranquil way.

    After briefly glancing at them hovering above his right hand, Knox shifted his focus to the fleeing Tear-Drop Child. He shook his head in mock disappointment before stretching out his hand and crushing.

    "If you do this, the Water Deity and my brothers and sisters will have your head¡ª!!"

    POP!

    Tear-Drop Child wasn''t even able to get out his clich¨¦ villain line before exploding like a gory firework.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain an Early Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator!] Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [A medium-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [Strength +217,000]

    [Agility +230,000]

    [Endurance +300,000]

    [Endurance +225,000]

    [Affinity +15,000]

    X62 more¡­

    "Good shit," Knox crudely said as he felt his power improve by a small margin. "Normally, a single Cultivator won''t drop more than a couple dozen Attribute Orbs, but it appears that this Child of the Water Fuckface is more special than most. Perhaps he really was a Genius¡ªhard to say for sure."

 Chapter 41 - 41: 2 And A Half Years Later

    Having no solid concept of what was considered exceptional in this World of Cultivation, Knox had no idea at the time that the person he killed was a rather big deal in the Water Kingdom. In fact, in just the Water Kingdom alone, the man was ranked within the Top 50 on the Ordinance List, putting him among the Top Sons of Providence.

    And he would remain unaware of this information and his new shiny Ordinance Value Number even after he entered Seclusion to consolidate his cultivation. Naturally, this secluded cultivation was just an excuse he used to run away from the toppled city with all of Tear-Drop Child''s treasures. An action that made him not only a thief and murderer but also a genocidal maniac.

    As for the matter with his Elder Sister, he figured he''d go see her sometime after finishing his cultivation seclusion. She was a fossil, so it wasn''t like she''d care about the passing of time anyway.

    Nonetheless, time ceaselessly trudged on in an abandoned cave abode that Knox located outside what he thought to be a disbanded Mountain Sect.

    ¡ª 2 and a half years later ¡ª

    Unknowingly, Knox''s 18th birthday passed him by. And though one officially became a full-fledged adult in this world at 15, it was nice to know that he wasn''t engaged to a minor anymore.

    On a side note, consolidating his cultivation in the Early Foundation Establishment Realm took a ridiculous amount of time. Apparently, cultivating to the 15th Stage of Qi Condensation as a mere Mortal was defying the Will of Heaven or some shit, so yeah¡­ fuck him sideways.

    Just then:

    "Senior, we don''t mean to disturb your cultivation, but our Elders have ordered us to understand why it is that you''ve been cultivating in our Territory for the last couple of years."

    "Who the hell is it this early in the morning!?" Knox shouted what he meant to keep inside his head. "Wait¡­ Did you just say your Territory¡­? What Territory??"

    "S¡­ Senior," said a Peak Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator standing outside a vine-covered cave abode. "This mountain and the surrounding mountains, as well as everything within a thousand-mile radius, belongs to the Voidborn Sect. We of the Voidborn Sect have been walking this world in the shadows for tens of thousands of years. Our Ancestors, mighty beings who we''ve never seen, are even rumored to have exceeded the Soul Transformation Realm in the Last Era. Also¡ª"

    "Yeah, I don''t care," Knox interrupted, rising from his cultivation mat. "Just lead me to whoever''s in charge of your Voidhobo Sect," he commanded as he blink-stepped out of his cave, appearing beside the nervous Voidborn Sect Cultivator. "Furthermore, stop referring to me as Senior. Although I''m older than you, I''m young at heart. Moreover, my cultivation is below yours." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Voidborn Cultivator''s pupils erratically flickered as he hadn''t even noticed the approach. That was when he registered what had just been said.

    "Seni¡ªI mean, fellow brother, the name of my Sect is the Voidborn Sect. And there''s no need for brother to lie to me; even a blind man could see that you''re a powerful senior cultivator. Your presence is overwhelming, haha."

    Knox clicked his tongue. "Well, whatever," he said. "Just lead me to someone higher in authority. I wish to have a ''friendly'' conversation with them."

    Seeing the creepy smiling face made the Peak Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator shudder. He wryly laughed while gesturing toward the winding, rocky path that led down the mountain.

    "R-Right this way, brother," he said with a strained voice. "Our Sect is just down there. That''s also where you''ll meet the Elders."

    "The Elders, eh?" Knox asked as he expanded his Divine Sense enough to cover the small grouping of buildings that definitely wasn''t there before. "Hmm¡­ Hmm?? This is¡­"

    For some reason, the Voidborn Member''s expression gushed with pride when he saw the visible surprise on Knox''s face. He pointed his nose upward, becoming a little haughty.

    "Impressive, aren''t they?" he said. "Our Sect''s Elders possess incomprehensible methods that make even Golden Core Realm Experts admit their inadequacies!"

    "...They''re certainly impressive¡­" Knox muttered in disbelief. "And I''m sure their methods are as awesome as you say they are."

    "Hoho, I''m glad to have found another admirer of our glorious Sect''s Elders!" said the Voidborn Member, beaming from the top. "I feel like we have a kinship; what say we become martial brothers!? Brave through fire and water together¡ª"

    "Sure, sure, do whatever you want," Knox said dismissively, his mind still fixated on the other cultivators in this so-called Voidborn Sect.

    ''This kid''s obviously being scammed silly,'' he thought to himself as he did a more in-depth scan of the Elders of the Sect. ''And to think these geezers actually managed to con what seems like a relatively talented young lad. I''m¡­ severely lacking¡­''

    What the Voidborn Member thought to be him shaking his head due to realizing how inferior his cultivation was turned out to be because of something else entirely¡­

    Regardless, they made their way down the winding path. Once at the bottom, a large, withered Gate entered their sights. Barely hanging by a screw on the top of the Gate was a sign that read, ''Voidbarn Sect.''

    ''Damn,'' Knox thought. ''These idiots couldn''t even bother themselves to spell the name of their Sect correctly. Though, if I''m being honest, this name fits them better.''

    As they passed through the Sect Gates, they were immediately greeted with the sight of an old, pot-bellied man snoring on a crickety rocking chair. His cultivation was of the Early Core Formation Realm, whereas his age was in the three digits.

    "That''s Elder Loong!" the Voidborn member said excitedly. "He''s one of the Sect''s most mysterious and renowned Elders, his reputable fame known throughout the land!"

    "...Hey, kid," Knox said. "What''s your name?"

    "It''s Josop, senior brother. Why?"

    "No reason," Knox answered. "I was simply wondering what name I should be keeping an eye out for on an unfortunate statistics sheet. That''s all."

    Josop nodded, though did so with a very confused gleam in his gaze.

    They approached this ''Elder Loong,'' their opinions of his image differing greatly. To Knox, the man was a lazy bum. To the naive Josop, however, he was like a God that should be bowed to at every given opportunity.

    Doing just that, Josop''s back bent at a 90¡ã angle, his reverence off the charts.

    "Greetings, Elder Loong! I''ve told the Senior Cultivator as instructed!"

    "Hwa!? W-Who''s here to steal my panties!??"

 Chapter 42 - 42: Voidborn Sect, Sect in Trouble

    Elder Loong started with the popping of a snot bubble, his unfocused eyes wearily appraising the two figures standing over him. However, upon recognizing one of the figures, his brows relaxed as he leaned back into his chair.

    "Don''t you have any manners, you brat?" he asked with an annoyed tone. "Can''t you see that your all-powerful Elder here is in the midst of deep contemplation? And here I was about to uncover the Path to Immortality!"

    Josop''s smile died down, turning wholly apologetic. "Please excuse my rudeness, Divine Elder¡­! But I felt it necessary to inform you of the Senior I have guided down from the cave abode!"

    "Hum?"

    Elder Loong''s narrowed eyes fell on the unfamiliar figure, causing him to jolt back. "Who on earth are you!??" he asked. "The one illegally taking up residence in that cave should''ve only been in the Early Foundation Establishment Realm! So why is it that I feel as if just a sneeze from you can blow our whole Sect away!?"

    Suddenly realizing that he was displaying a side of himself that was unbecoming of an unparalleled master, Elder Loong cleared his throat. He then glared at the stranger and disdainfully snorted.

    "You have some nerve taking up residence in our Sect''s Territory without first requesting permission from the Rulers of said Territory," he arrogantly grunted. "Don''t you know the proper process of things¡­!?"

    "Then can I stay on your Sect''s Mountain?"

    "Done!"

    "!??"

    Josop looked between the two in bewilderment. He had expected a tense and lengthy discussion, but to think that things were resolved so easily¡­

    "Elder Loong¡ª" he tried to say, but was interrupted by that very same Elder:

    "Shut up, brat. You still have a lot to learn in this world; go back to your residence and recite the Sect''s Core Principles ten thousand times!"

    "B-But¡­"

    "No buts! Go now! Or ten thousand horsetail whisk lashes for you!"

    "Y¡­Yes, Elder Loong."

    Josop respectfully cupped his hands before fleeing the scene, though he took a few glances at the stranger before fully leaving. He seemed to be curious as to how someone had so effortlessly won over one of the great figures he worshiped.

    After Josop left the scene, Elder Loong''s domineering aura suddenly subsided. It was instead replaced by a pair of jittery legs and a crooked face.

    *Thud!*

    He hit the ground with a bang.

    "Please forgive this lowly one for offending Senior! Please, please, please!" he begged, tears and snot running down his face. "I wasn''t able to see Mt. Tai, and because of that, I failed to fully comprehend Senior''s greatness!!"

    The young cultivator standing before him rolled his eyes at this pitiful sight. "Get up," he ordered. "And neither you nor the other members of your ragtag gang will bother me from now on, understood?"

    "U-Understood, Senior! We wouldn''t dare!"

    "Also," Knox continued. "Teach that kid a cultivation-discerning Martial Skill or something. There''s a limit to laziness, and you six are dangerously tiptoeing around that line."

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The five other cultivators hidden around the small Sect Grounds felt a cold chill. They all possessed cultivation bases in the Core Formation Realm; moreover, they were lackluster within that Realm to boot. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Even Rank 2 Sects would have more impressive existences. And for a ''Ten thousand-year-old Sect'' to have these sorts of old losers as their strongest, well, it didn''t take a genius to realize that they were a bunch of pigs playing the tiger.

    Speaking to all of these Elders this time, Knox slowly and coldly threatened them. "If any single one of you dares to disturb me again or contact someone else about my presence, I won''t leave you with intact corpses."

    *Brrrr¡ª!*

    The Elders of the Voidborn Sect experienced a primal terror that loomed over them, carrying within its illusory bone hands a scythe with their names etched into it. Only one of them didn''t instantly piss their pants, and that was just because he passed out first.

    "If I need to repeat this to you again," Knox uttered before turning around and walking back up the winding mountain path, "Well¡­ I''m sure you all get the point."

    "Y-Yes, Senior, sir!"

    Following the sorrowful cries of the Voidborn Elders, Knox fleetingly vanished, his afterimages imprinting a stark and harrowing reminder in the minds of the Elders.

    He doubted they''d act cocky and domineering with him again, but who could say for certain?

    Anyhoo, he resumed his cultivation without respite. In his previous seclusion session, he made virtually no progress in anything except for smoothing out the bumps that rashly breaking through so many times had created.

    Now, however, Knox could freely progress his cultivation, hopefully aiming for the Middle Foundation Establishment Realm within half a year''s time!

    Unfortunately, plans didn''t always pan out as expected¡­

    ¡ª Two months later, an unexpected string of shouting was heard at the Voidborn Sect''s northern entrance ¡ª

    "Whether you like it or not, we''ll be requisitioning this area and your Sect grounds for the Secret Realm Exploration!" someone contentiously shouted, his Half-step Nascent Soul Realm aura pressuring the Voidborn Elders into submission. "Stop resisting and vacate the location with all your belongings at once!"

    An old man banged his head against the hard stone ground, drawing blood. He was the strongest among the Elders of the Voidborn Sect, being in the Peak Core Formation Realm. But again, he was lackluster among those of the same stage. Even a slightly above-average Late Core Formation Realm Cultivator could bring him to the brink of death if it really came down to it.

    "P-Please, kind Lords!" the old man pleaded. "You must understand our situation! When our Sect Leader and Vice Sect Leaders left us for other lands centuries ago, we were left all alone in this world¡­ These Sect Grounds are the only remaining evidence of our once mighty, hidden Sect. Surely your Skycloud Palace Sect can find it in your big hearts to spare us this one time. If anything else, do it on behalf of our Ancestors¡­!"

    Everything this old man was spouting was total bullsh*t!

 Chapter 43 - 43: The Devilstar Secret Realm

    Within a cave abode, a lone cultivator whispered to himself as he intently watched the events outside unfold.

    "I secretly investigated this ''Sect'' some time ago," Knox murmured. "There has never been anyone stronger in the Sect than that Elder. But seeing as a cultivation base in the Peak Core Formation Realm wasn''t anywhere sufficient enough to guarantee one''s safety in this world, the Elder cooked up a ploy that barred him from the Sect Leader position."

    "Though, if put simply," he continued, resting his chin on his knuckles, "the old dude relied on a mysterious backing that didn''t exist. And since no one could verify the truth of this matter without actually contacting the ''Sect Leader'' and ''Vice Sect Leaders,'' this old bastard could scare nosy people away."

    Seeing as the Sect was still up and running, his scheming method seemed to have been working just fine over the years. He and the other Elders had even managed to get themselves a few gullible disciples (chore boys) while the scheme was ongoing.

    However, today looked to be the day that their lucky streak ended¡­

    "Do you believe that we''re as stupid as all the other people you willy bunch have fooled before!?" The leading disciple from the Skycloud Palace Sect exploded in anger, smacking out with a strike that sent the Voidborn Elder sailing in a trail of his own blood. "Stay out of my sight. And if you know what''s good for you, then I''d suggest you leave this area at once. Next time I see you, I won''t be as lenient as I am now."

    ''Lenient!?'' the injured Voidborn Elder thought in despair. ''Your lenience severely damaged my internal organs, nearly killing me! You call this being lenient!??''

    Of course, the Voidborn Elder kept his thoughts to himself. Saying them out loud would only result in his life being cut short.

    It was with many grievances that he and the other Voidborn Elders reluctantly walked away.

    Yet, just as they were about to call for their Disciples, an oppressive aura pressed down on the mountain valley. The expressions of the Skycloud Palace Disciples drastically changed; they looked toward the source of this aura with a newfound sense of fear and respect.

    "Senior, we sincerely apologize if we''ve offended your grace," said the Lead Skycloud Palace Disciple, cupping his hands and lowering his head slightly. "Could you do us the honor of telling us why you''re interfering with our Sect''s personal matters?"

    Knox''s brows furrowed as he teleported above his cave abode. He then blink-stepped and appeared before the audacious, condescending lot before him.

    "Do I need a reason to do what I want in front of those lesser than me?" he asked coldly, his narrowed eyes shifting between the shivering men and women of the Skycloud Palace. "Well? Why should I give you a reason?"

    "T¡­This¡­" The Lead Skycloud Palace Disciple''s expression became complicated as his sweaty palms fidgeted. "Senior, don''t you think you''re being a bit unreasonable¡­? We''re the Rank 3 Skycloud Palace Sect, you know? O¡­Our Ancestors are in the Soul Formation Realm¡­" sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Lead Skycloud Disciple stopped mid-sentence; the face before him was just too much to handle. He instinctively averted his gaze to the floor, sweat beads rolling down his forehead.

    "Let me make something clear," Knox uttered emotionlessly. "I don''t give a flying f*ck if your Ancestors are in the Soul Formation Realm or the goddamn CEO of Temu. If you keep on talking, I''ll show you what the inside of your butthole looks like. You dig?"

    Silence...

    "I said, you f*cking dig??"

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    "W-We dig," the dozen or so Skycloud Palace Disciples said in unison, frightened even more than when encountering their own Elders.

    "Good," Knox said as he waved them off. "Shoo shoo now; go find yourself a different tree to piss up."

    "Y¡­Yes!"

    "Wait," Knox suddenly said, pulling the Lead Skycloud Palace Disciple toward him. "You; tell me why it is that you''re here. The rest of you can go."

    The other Skycloud Palace Disciples furiously nodded before flying into the distance, heading back to their Sect''s Main Forces.

    Knox knew what they planned to do, but he forgot why he cared. He had already taken a peek at their System Interfaces, thus he understood the inner workings of their Sect very well. Those Ancestors of theirs may have been in the Soul Formation Realm, but they couldn''t make moves easily. Moreover, their Sect was far inferior to the Falazar Count Family in the Water Kingdom.

    ''Unless an entity at the Peak Nascent Soul Realm and above appears¡ªwhich is unlikely¡ªnothing else poses a threat to me,'' Knox thought as he peered into the eyes of the scared Lead Skycloud Palace Disciple. ''Now, to figure out everything this guy knows.''

    Under the widened eyes of the Voidborn Elders, Knox interrogated and somewhat tortured the Lead Skycloud Palace Disciple. After his one-on-one session with him concluded, he kicked the disciple in the arse and sent him on his merry way.

    Killing him would''ve provided quite the juicy chunk of Attribute Orbs, but using him as bait to lure out the truly big fish was a far more lucrative choice. This was why he let them all escape.

    "Well, well, well, a Secret Realm, is it?" Knox mused, a smirk creeping up his handsome face. "How wonderful. And just when I was searching for more Geniuses to pillage."

    According to his reliable sources, a Secret Realm was opening in the surrounding 10,000-mile region. It was said to have been created and placed there by an extremely powerful Cultivator rumored to be in the Realm above the Soul Transformation Realm.

    The Unorthodox Devilstar.

    That was the powerful Cultivator''s name. And apparently, back in the day¡ªbefore his ascension¡ªhe was very famous. Though, the more accurate term would be infamous.

    Either way, the Secret Realm had a restriction on both age and cultivation. Only those below the Soul Formation Realm and younger than 300 years old were permitted to enter the Secret Realm¡ªthe Devilstar''s Secret Realm.

    As a result of these stringent requirements, Sects and Noble Families from all over the Water Kingdom had abandoned hopes of sending their strongest. Instead, they dispatched the most talented and powerful among the younger generation.

    In other words, Sons and Daughters of Providence ranked very high on Azura''s Ordinance List would be gathering in one spot.

    Even the Children of the Water Deity were expected to make their grand appearances very soon¡­

 Chapter 44 - 44: The Arrival of the Factions

    ''Just imagining all the delicious loot that would be huddled into one spot¡­'' Knox thought, a creepy laugh escaping his lips. ''It''s enough to make me drool, haha!!''

    "???" "???" "???"

    Noticing his audience, his expression instantly returned to neutrality. "You guys are still here?" he asked calmly, almost as if he had become an entirely different person from just a moment ago. "Go back to doing whatever you were doing. Also, it appears that I''ll be temporarily heading out very soon, so take care of my cave abode while I''m gone."

    Although still in shock from everything that had just happened, the Voidborn Elders found it in themselves to bow at a steep angle. A number of their decrepit bones creaked and cracked, but they ignored the pain for the sake of their continual chance at living.

    "We''ll do as you command, Sect Leader!"

    "Don''t call me Sect Leader," Knox ordered. "Why would I want to be the Leader of you bunch of idiots??"

    "Yes, Sect Leader!"

    Knox stared blankly at them.

    However, after realizing he''d never get through to these boneheads, he sighed before turning around and teleporting away.

    His destination: wherever the largest commotion was.

    ¡ª Outside a giant pit in the ground, where huge violent tendrils of energy wildly fluctuated in and above it ¡ª

    Tens of thousands of cultivators had flocked to the Devilstar Secret Realm as soon as they received the news. More than half the Sects in the Water Kingdom had joined in on the fun, bringing with them Spirit Ships and their best geniuses.

    In a certain corner of the gathering spot, cultivators garbed in cloud-adorned blue robes were conversing with one another. As the conversation went on, however, their expressions underwent many changes.

    "You''re saying that your requisition of a small territory failed because of the interference of a Senior whose cultivation you couldn''t discern?" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A Nascent Soul Realm Skycloud Palace Elder stood before the dozen or so disciples that had escaped Knox Falazar. His arms were folded behind his back, his gaze one of extreme intensity and profoundness.

    When his thinned eyes fell on the ragged Lead Disciple, a frown formed.

    "Rolo, do you have anything you wish to say for yourself?"

    Rolo¡ªthe Lead Disciple¡ªfelt more shame than he had ever felt. Thinking back on the sequence of events, it was more than a little suspicious that the Senior Cultivator hadn''t revealed his cultivation.

    But regardless of whatever the Senior was hiding, the fact remained that Rolo had lost without even fighting¡­

    "Please forgive this lowly one, Master!" Rolo shouted as he whacked his forehead against the ground, creating vibrational waves in the dirt. "Punish me however Master sees fit! This one will graciously accept whatever comes!!"

    Nodding in satisfaction, the Nascent Soul Realm Elder forcefully pulled Rolo up with his Innate Energy. "There''s no need for you to go so far," he said benevolently. "As long as you understand what you''ve done wrong, that is good enough for me. Now¡­ This Senior you encountered¡ªdid he seem stronger than your Master?"

    Rolo shook his head. "No, Master. Although the Senior was far stronger than me, his methods appeared too rudimentary. Almost as if he were limited to the Foundation Establishment Realm. With Master being in the Late Nascent Soul Realm, there''s no way he''d be your match!"

    "Good, good," the Elder tapped Rolo''s shoulder. "Don''t worry, then; your Master will avenge you. That mysterious cultivator shall learn to revere the status that our Skycloud Palace holds."

    "Thank you, Master!"

    GWORP! GWORP! GWORP!

    Phasing in from the distance was another fleet of Spirit Ships, some smaller or larger than others. The quality of them also varied from hoisted insignia to insignia.

    "The Buford Count Family has arrived!"

    "Jade Water Pavilion has arrived!"

    "Thundercloud Temple has arrived!"

    "Frozen Lotus Palace has arrived!"

    "Dharma..."

    As the Faction Announcer called out over twenty prestigious Faction names, the cultivators from Skycloud Palace Sect and the other minor organizations watched with rapt attention. It wasn''t very often that they could see a single First-rate Faction, let alone so many in one place.

    The exploration of the Devilstar Secret Realm was beneficial to lower cultivators in more ways than one. For starters, it provided them with the chance to witness what the best of the Water Kingdom''s powerhouses looked like.

    After reading off a long list of new arrivals, the Faction Announcer took a longer-than-normal pause. Then he announced two very unexpected names:

    "The Falazar Count Family has arrived!"

    "The Dezmond Duke Family has arrived!"

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    "The Falazars as well as the Dezmond Duke Family!?"

    "How insane!"

    "Am I dreaming right now!? The War-hero Family as well as the Spirit Blacksmithing Duke Family!??"

    "What a duo!"

    Riding on the front of the Falazar''s Spirit Ship was a woman with long black hair that extended below her plump bottom. Though mesmerizingly beautiful, the fiercely annoyed look glued to her face was enough to scare away any potential suitors. Today, more than most, was one where her mood was worse than usual.

    As for why Nyx Falazar was so grumpy¡­ Well, it was because of none other than ''him''¡­

    From atop a high-reaching mountain peak, Knox surveyed the scene with interest.

    "So this is the gathering spot for the Devilstar Secret Realm?" he mused. "I see a few familiar faces, but considering how angry a few of them look, I''m definitely not introducing myself."

    In fact, for this little expedition, he wouldn''t even be participating with his normal identity.

    FWOOOSH!

    Innate Energy wildly swirled around him as his physical appearance underwent a metamorphic change. His otherworldly handsome features were replaced by something far less attractive, though it was still enough for him to be considered charming. His height also decreased by a couple of inches. And to top things off, his aura and presence were completely altered, making him indistinguishable from his Knox Falazar self.

    "The Half-step Sky Rank Martial Skill ''Heavenly Camouflage'' is truly a wonder," Knox commented while appraising his new form. "It''s so good that even I can''t tell that I used to look and feel like someone else. Unless a Soul Transformation Realm Expert shows up, I doubt anyone will be able to figure out I''m the Eldest Son of the Falazars."

 Chapter 45 - 45: Prodigies of the Water Kingdom

    With a slight grin, Knox descended the mountain''s summit. Blending in with the crowd was his chosen course of action as he patiently awaited the opening of the Devilstar Secret Realm. The energy tendrils shooting out of it were becoming ever more volatile, ensuring that he wouldn''t have to wait very long.

    However, during this wait, he noticed the arrogant cultivators of the Skycloud Palace Sect pointing up at the sky, their mouths agape in shock. That was when it appeared¡ªthe most massive Spirit Ship yet¡ªone that hoisted the Water Kingdom''s flag and the Royal Family''s insignia.

    "The¡­ Royal Family of the Water Kingdom has arrived!"

    Curiosity flickered in Knox''s eyes as he observed the Royal Family''s Spirit Ship. It was large enough to be termed a flying cruise ship, but more than its size, it was the entities on board that truly caught his attention.

    ''Ten or so Soul Formation Realm Masters,'' he noted. ''Furthermore, a couple of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators on board aren''t any older than twenty-five years. Hmm¡­''

    It quickly became apparent that these were likely the supreme geniuses of the Water Kingdom. After all, for most, even reaching the Nascent Soul Realm by four hundred years old was seen as a grand feat. For individuals in their twenties to have accomplished the same thing, they would either have to be top-level geniuses or young masters and misses stuffed like pigs with Natural Treasure Herbs and Pills.

    And since this was the Royal Water Family, it was anyone''s guess. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Hum¡­?"

    A young female figure on board the Royal Family''s ship suddenly shot her gaze in Knox''s direction. She was one of the Nascent Soul Realm geniuses he had observed, and from the looks of it, her cultivation was mostly natural.

    "A sharp woman," he murmured as he weaved through the swathes of cultivators, effectively leaving her keen train of sight. "I wonder who she is¡­"

    "Is something the matter, 13th Princess Maya?" a voice came from beside the watching woman. "Has someone down there offended you in some way? If so, then please tell me, and I''ll go dispose of them right away."

    Maya shook her head before elegantly turning away from the Spirit Ship''s dock. "It''s nothing, Elena," she said unempathetically. "Tell me, have the others arrived yet?"

    "By others, do you mean those ranking the highest on the Ordinance List?" asked Elena as her long brown ponytail whipped around her tightly fitted suit. "If so, then yes, most of them have arrived. Would you like me to name the ones you should be most concerned about?"

    Maya nodded.

    Elena took that confirmation as her go-ahead to begin pointing out all the most powerful and renowned geniuses in the area.

    "First," she said, looking at a young man with closed eyes and a high-rank sword kept close to his heart, "there is the most talented core disciple from Sword Sanctuary Sect¡ªLenon. Late Nascent Soul Realm, thirty-three years old, Level 3 Sword Intent, and a Sky-rank Treasured Sword passed down from his sect''s Sect Leader. The Sword Sanctuary Sect has high hopes that he''ll exceed past generations and become the true successor to the Heaven-rank Primeval Origin Sword."

    "The sword that hasn''t recognized an owner for five thousand years? Since the very inception of the sect?"

    "Yes, my Lady," Elena answered. "The only other known wielder of the Primeval Origin Sword was the founder of the Sword Sanctuary Sect. And although it''s not verified, it''s hypothesized that you need a very rarely seen Sword Body Physique to get the Heaven-rank Sword to acknowledge you."

    "Lenon has a Sword Body Physique?"

    "Unknown¡­"

    "I see," said Princess Maya. "Well, no matter. You may resume."

    "Very well, my Lady," Elena said as she motioned to a stone-faced kid wearing a traveler''s hat. "Ranked forty-one among the Children of the Water Deity¡ªStar-Gazer Child. Late Nascent Soul Realm, user of Star Force, and forty-two years of age. He''s accompanied by his elder sect sister¡ªthe strongest among the Children of the Water Deity below the Soul Formation Realm¡ªNala Maybringer. She''s ranked fifteen among the Water Deity''s Children, even outranking a few of the Soul Formation Children."

    The cute little girl they were looking at looked right back at them. She sneered before putting up a Dimensional Barrier that covered her along with the rest of her sect''s giant Spirit Ship.

    "As you can see," said Elena, "at just seventy years of age, Nala not only managed to reach the Half-step Soul Formation Realm, she also obtained enough mastery in the Dimensional Law to have the Water Deity Sect''s Founder mark her as a potential inheritor of his title."

    "Oh?"

    "Out of everyone, though, the competitor I''d be most cautious about is the second eldest son and disciple of the Blade King¡ªLucidador," Elena said with dramatic pauses. "He, too, is of the Half-step Soul Formation Realm but has been at that stage for the better part of three decades. Stranger yet is that, with his cultivation talent and the backing of the Blade King, he should''ve long since broken through to the Soul Formation Realm. Which means¡­"

    "Which means that he had been purposefully holding himself back," Maya finished for her Soul Formation Realm attendant. "But why would he do something like that?"

    Elena shook her head. "No one really knows. Rumor has it that he''s trying to attain the Echo of the Blade before breaking through, but no one has been able to confirm that information."

    "Echo of the Blade?" Princess Maya parroted. "Lucidador is actually trying to aim for something as esoteric as that? Does he not know that the last prodigy of Blade Intent required nearly half a millennium to acquire his Echo of the Blade?"

    "He should be aware, my Lady," replied Elena. "But as with most geniuses, Lucidador believes himself to be superior to everyone else¡ªeven other geniuses. And though it''s yet to be seen whether or not he attains the Echo of the Blade, if he does somehow get his own¡­"

    Princess Maya''s exquisitely carved eyebrows knitted together as she changed the way she looked at the long, blonde-haired man adorned in whitish-gold robes.

 Chapter 46 - 46: System Interfaces of Cela, Yennefer, and Nyx

    "He''s a threat to the Royal Family''s rule," Maya uttered coldly, her sleek, icy blue sword vibrating violently.

    "Yes, my Lady," Elena said, letting a faint trace of her killing intent seep through her subtle actions. "But, on the other hand, with you standing between him and the Throne, even if he attains the Echo of the Blade, his attempt at usurping will end in destined failure."

    Princess Maya''s tense expression eased slightly, though she remained humble. "You overestimate me, Elena," she said. "I was simply fortunate enough to be born with a Heaven-ranked Bloodline. In terms of age, cultivation, and experience, I''m still very much inferior to both Nala and Lucidador."

    "You say that now," Elena replied, with respect overflowing from her gaze. "But in a decade or two, you will have surely surpassed the two of them. After all, your Bloodline is not just any Heaven-rank Bloodline¡ªit''s the Peak-Heaven Rank Monarch Phoenix Bloodline!"

    "Your Bloodline has never before been seen within the Elemental Nations," she added. "Only in ancient scrolls and beyond the Elemental Nations has your Bloodline scarcely appeared over the span of the last few tens of thousands of years!"

    "That''s enough, Elena," Princess Maya said with a resigned sigh. "Now, where does he place among the top geniuses of the Water Kingdom?"

    "???"

    "Who are you talking about, my Lady?" Elena asked, puzzled. "I''m positive I listed off the most well-known, established geniuses as well as the up-and-coming ones in the Water Kingdom¡­ There are the twins as well, but they aren''t men¡­"

    Princess Maya pointed at a relatively handsome hooded man discreetly blending in with a large crowd of cultivators belonging to smaller sects and factions. However, this clarification only deepened Elena''s confusion. She tried racking her brain for any information pertaining to the hooded-man her princess had singled out.

    Yet she came up empty-handed¡­

    "I''ve already gone and memorized everyone in the Top 300 of Azura''s Ordinance List for the Elemental Nations Region," Elena muttered. "And yet no one in the Top 300 matches the appearance, disposition, or aura of this¡­ Early Foundation Establishment Realm young man."

    "Frankly, my Lady," she continued bluntly, "this person is common in every way, shape, and form. And with his cultivation only being at the Early Foundation Establishment Realm, he''s likely to die as soon as he enters the Devilstar Secret Realm¡ªif he even enters at all."

    "Hmm¡­" Princess Maya murmured curiously. "Was I wrong about him¡­? Maybe¡­"

    Normally, her instincts were never wrong, but there were always exceptions.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, below the numerous Spirit Ships, blending in with the crowd like an invisible ghost ¡ª

    ''I let just the slimmest sliver of my presence out, yet that foxy woman noticed me again,'' Knox thought, glancing at the 13th Water Princess. ''How very intriguing.''

    A small grin crept up his shadow-shrouded face as he observed her System Interface.

    [Maya Waters (Human/Lesser Phoenix)] - [Ordinance Value: 108,000 (Rank 9)]

    [Age: 27]

    [Cultivation: Peak Nascent Soul Realm]

    [Battle Power: Pinnacle Half-step Soul Formation Realm]

    [Occupation: 13th Royal Princess of the Water Kingdom]

    [Talent Level: Low-Heaven Grade]

    [Main Technique: Phoenix Sovereignty (Peak-Heaven) - (Innate Bloodline Technique)]

    [Bloodline: Monarch Phoenix (Peak-Heaven)]

    [Mood: Neutral]

    "Ho?" Knox mused. "This girl is stacked. To the point that, if not for the Attribute Points I gained from the System, I wouldn''t be considered as decked out as she is. Peak Nascent Soul at twenty-seven years old¡ªeven my lovely fianc¨¦e over there loses out in terms of prospects. Then again, she herself definitely had some fortuitous opportunities of her own."

    Peeking at the System Interface of an icy-faced woman floating down from her Family''s Spirit Ship like a heavenly fairy, Knox saw:

    [Yennefer Berkshire (Human/Fire Fairy)] - [Ordinance Value: 1,800 (Rank 904)]

    [Age: 19]

    [Cultivation: Middle Golden Core Realm]

    [Battle Power: Peak Golden Core Realm]

    [Occupation: Eldest Daughter of the Berkshire Count Family]

    [Talent Level: High-Sky Grade]

    [Main Technique: Blood Firesphere (Pinnacle-Sky) - (Inheritance Technique)]

    [Bloodline: Fire Fairy (Pinnacle-Sky)] - {Potential for upgrading and unlocking the full Bloodline}

    [Mood: Neutral]

    ''A Fire Fairy?'' Knox thought. ''Sounds hot. It''s just too unfortunate that I like them older¡ªa lot older. She''s too young.''

    He was interested in learning where his fianc¨¦e acquired this Bloodline and whether it had anything to do with her huge spike in cultivation and Cultivation Talent, but with the sudden surge of killing intent, Yennefer''s matter was set aside. He looked toward the origin of this ludicrous amount of killing intent, only to hide his face behind his hands the moment he saw that it was his elder sister.

    ''Now that''s what a batsh*t crazy woman looks like!'' Knox thought, shuddering as he increased the distance between the two of them. ''Ever since forever, that girl has been obsessed with me. And it''s only gotten worse in recent years! But with my recent prolonged seclusion session, I basically ghosted her after her life-and-death battle at the Northern Borders¡­''

    It was no wonder why she looked so pissed!

    [Nyx Falazar (Human)]

    [Age: 121]

    [Cultivation: Middle Soul Formation Realm]

    [Battle Power: Peak Soul Formation Realm]

    [Occupation: Eldest Daughter of the Falazar Count Family] S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Talent Level: Low-Heaven Grade]

    [Main Technique: Absolute Darkness (Mid-Heaven) - (Inheritance Technique)]

    [Mood: Kill, Kill, Kill!!]

    What the f*ck kind of mood even was that!?

    This was a moment where Knox sincerely thanked his past self for making the smart decision of putting on a disguise!

    Continuing to scout out the Spirit Ships, he saw another crazy standing on the Bonanier Spirit Ship. Pink hair, swirling insane-looking purple eyes, and a figure that only became more and more filled out with the passing years¡ªwho else could it have been but his stalker!?

    Cela Bonanier!

    ''There was, however, that one time when she gifted me the pill that perfected my Foundation in the Body Refinement Realm,'' Knox thought keenly. ''For that, I still owe her. Though, based on her System Interface, it''s obvious that she, too, had her fair share of fortuitous opportunities. Seems like I''m the only one lacking in this department¡­''

    He, the Cave Hermit, checked out his yandere stalker''s System Interface:

    [Cela Bonanier (Crazy Human)]

    [Age: 19]

    [Cultivation: Middle Golden Core Realm]

    [Battle Power: Peak Golden Core Realm]

    [Occupation: Eldest Daughter of the Bonanier Count Family]

    [Talent Level: High-Sky Grade]

    [Main Technique: Void Walker (Pinnacle-Sky) - (Inheritance Technique)]

    [Mood: Obsessed]

 Chapter 47 - 47: Entering The Secret Realm, Watching from the Outside

    ''I suppose I''m the only one among us who isn''t out there exploring for inheritances,'' Knox thought as the depression settled in. ''On a side note, what the hell is a Crazy Human!? Has her insanity affected her so much that it altered her goddamn race??''

    Just as that thought formed inside his mind, a loud disturbance came from off to the side. And when he saw what caused it, his sadistic side emerged as he knew just what his Side Quest would be on this little outing of his.

    "The Tracker Amulet is ringing like crazy, Count!" someone shouted. "That weasel-like bastard must be somewhere around here!"

    "Yes, I can tell as much," said Count Buford as he took out a communication talisman and contacted his fellow conspirators. "He''s here. Knox Falazar is here among the crowd."

    Count Roderick, Count Thorne, and the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect Leader had their eyes widen in surprise. They immediately sent out their Divine Senses, but seeing as they weren''t the strongest gathered there, they retracted them almost as soon as they sent them out.

    "How are we to find this cunning bastard if we can''t scan the area!?" Count Roderick asked. "Do we have no choice but to give up??"

    "No, there''s still something else we can do," said Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons. "Manually search and sieve through the crowd. One way or another, we''ll locate the bastard. And I assume everyone has already called for their disciples and subordinates? If so, then direct them toward the outer parts of the Devilstar Secret Realm in a circle formation. Let''s ensure that the mouse has nowhere to flee in this game of cat and mouse."

    "Understood!"

    The three Counts and the Rank 4 Sect Leader concluded their secret discussion. They all dispersed, each with their own objectives in mind.

    Knox watched them closely, diverting a portion of his attention to the speedily moving Soul Formation Realm Cultivators. ''What are they up to?'' he wondered. ''Ahh¡­ so that''s what they''re doing.''

    He had to admit, it wasn''t a terrible plan. However, it also wasn''t a very well-thought-out plan. Did they honestly believe that they''d be able to find someone in disguise among a large crowd of cultivators? And under the scrutinizing eyes of so many powerful cultivators, no less?

    ''Naturally, they won''t succeed,'' Knox thought. ''But this''ll make for an entertaining show when I return from the Secret Realm.''

    He was hoping that it''d end up being a bloodbath, but for that to occur, he would need to become substantially stronger while inside the Secret Realm. From what he had heard among the sea of cultivators, the Secret Realm would remain open for a year. And if he played his cards right, that should be more than enough time to improve his power by leaps and bounds.

    OOUNG!

    Coincidentally, just as Knox entertained the idea of becoming even more overpowered, a resonating gong sound echoed. It spread throughout the surroundings, knocking cultivators and Spirit Ships off balance.

    Some, however, remained unaffected by the opening sound of the Secret Realm. Among the younger generation, this included figures like Lenon, Star-Gazer Child, Nala, Nyx, Lucidador, and Maya. There were also a few descendants of the Dukes, Counts, lower nobles, and Lesser Sects who weren''t affected by the resonance of the gong.

    In total, three hundred among the younger generation felt little to nothing in the face of the Secret Realm''s opening. This number was important, for these were the exact number of people who were instantly transported away in pillars of light.

    Those who did not make the cut, however, were left stupidly staring at each other. Many of them were still in the process of understanding what had happened, but once they did, despair sank in.

    "How could I have not been eligible to enter the Secret Realm!? I''m the son of a Count!"

    "This is an outrage!!"

    "I didn''t feel a thing from the gong!" someone shouted hysterically, their ears and nose bleeding. "Please, you must believe me! J-Just let me in, and I''ll forget that this offense ever happened¡­! My father is an Official Minister!" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Soul Formation Realm Experts¡ªwho numbered in the hundreds¡ªdid a quick headcount. They were checking to see who among their lots had been accepted by the Secret Realm. And though many of the experts were left disappointed, there were also numerous who were radiating happiness.

    Elena¡ªthe 13th Princess''s Royal Attendant¡ªlooked at the spot where her Lady had just been standing. Yet, in spite of the disappearance of said Lady, her expression didn''t even so much as flinch. She simply noted the event before walking away¡ªher destination: the hot bubbly bath that she had prepared beforehand.

    For her, this major event for the Water Kingdom was no more than an excuse for her to have some R & R time for herself.

    Attending to someone as emotionally detached as the 13th Royal Princess wasn''t easy, after all¡­

    In other places, such as the Falazar''s Spirit Ship, Nyx''s aura fluctuated unusually. Her ears turned into something akin to radio dishes as she could have sworn she felt the presence of the person she cared about most in the world.

    However, after coming up empty-handed, Nyx''s expression worsened even more than earlier. She stormed off into the confines of the Spirit Ship, heading straight to her father''s private office to file the one-millionth complaint to him, demanding that he rescind the banishment of Knox.

    Something similar was happening in the Bonanier Family''s Spirit Ship as well. The only difference was that Cela hounded her poor, chubby father about marriage, also going back and forth with him about declaring war on the "skanky b*tch" and her skanky family.

    Count Bonanier declined the war proposal.

    Cela insisted.

    Count Bonanier declined.

    Cela had no other option but to insist.

    And it went on like this until a bright pillar of light suddenly enveloped her and a few others who should have been initially transported into the Secret Realm. The pillars of light forcefully teleported them to where the others had gone, which both gave Count Bonanier some respite and a bit of confusion.

    However, after taking into consideration the age of the Unorthodox Devilstar''s Secret Realm, Count Bonanier, along with the others, figured the belated teleportations to just be a malfunction.

    They occasionally spoke with each other outside the Secret Realm, patiently awaiting the appearance of the "screens."

 Chapter 48 - 48: Who Will Get The Most?, Purpledream Sisters Covet

    BLING!

    Just as the people hoped, colossal illusory blue screens depicting the scenes inside the Secret Realm spawned in multiple locations in the sky. Each of the screens had dozens of smaller boxed screens on them, all representing young cultivators who had entered the Devilstar Secret Realm.

    "Brother Skycloud, who do you think will come out with the most rewards?"

    A man dressed in Thunder Elemental robes approached the Patriarch of the Skycloud Palace Sect. This man also just so happened to be a Patriarch¡ªthe Sect Leader of the Rank 3 Thunderclap Temple. Moreover, he too was in the Early Soul Formation Realm, just like the Skycloud Palace''s Patriarch.

    "Who do I think will profit the most?" Patriarch Skycloud repeated, his aged gaze focused on the screens that followed his Sect''s Disciples. "As a Sect Leader, naturally, I''d want to believe that my Disciples will take the majority of the rewards, but that is simply wishful thinking. In all honesty, Lucidador, the 13th Princess, the two Children of the Water Deity, Lenon, and the Duke''s Heirs have the highest probability of leaving the Secret Realm with the most profit."

    "The Duke''s Heirs?" Patriarch Thunderclap asked. "You mean the twins of Duke Softshore?"

    Patriarch Skycloud nodded.

    "Those two girls are indeed exceptional, likely even exceeding the prospects of Lenon and Star-Gazer Child," Patriarch Thunderclap admitted. "But don''t you think it''s a bit ridiculous to believe that they''ll do better than the likes of Lucidador, Nala, and the 13th Princess??"

    Patriarch Skycloud laughed cryptically. "You never know what could happen. The twins might just surprise us all and put the Softshore Duke Household back on the map."

    "That would indeed be something fantastical to witness," Patriarch Thunderclap said as he stroked his medium-length gray and black beard. "However, if the Softshore Duke does end up making a comeback because of the efforts of his daughters, Duke Dezmond, Willow, and Demi surely won''t just sit back and watch themselves be surpassed."

    Patriarch Skycloud wisely chuckled. "For all the busybody monks you have in your Temple, you still don''t know of the potential of the Duke Descendants?" he asked. "Duke Dezmond, Duke Willow, and Duke Demi all have competent heirs. A number of them are even rumored to have Heaven-ranked Cultivation Talent or the equivalent of it. I even hear that Duke Willow''s Eldest Daughter has already been scouted by the Purpledream Witch Isles."

    "!??"

    "The massive congregation of islands ruled by the Purpledream Grand Witch!? The Sect where even Void Refining and Virtual Destruction Experts aren''t uncommon???" Patriarch Thunderclap asked with widened eyes. "Those Purpledream Witch Isles!??"

    Patriarch Skycloud nodded. "If anything, I''d be more worried about the other three Dukes ganging up on Duke Willow," he said. "Then again, with her Eldest Daughter''s presumed status as a Sister of the Purpledream Witch Covet, I doubt anyone in the Elemental Nations would be daring enough to mess with Duke Willow. Not even the Azura Empire would rashly conflict with the interests of the Purpledream Grand Witch."

    "...If this is true, then it could very well forever alter the political climate of the Water Kingdom and the Elemental Nations," Patriarch Thunderclap muttered, still very much in disbelief. "But just what sort of prospects does Duke Willow''s daughter have for the Purpledream Witch Isles to personally scout her?? Does she have Cultivation Talent beyond the Heaven-rank!??"

    Patriarch Skycloud shook his head. "No, a beyond Heaven-rank Talent hasn''t been seen in the Elemental Nations for tens of thousands of years," he said. "Back during a prosperous time when the Elemental Nations was a much more vital Region of the Azura Empire. An era where Soul Transformation and even Void Refining Realm Masters were everywhere. But no, it wasn''t because of her cultivation talent that Duke Willow''s daughter was scouted."

    "Then what??"

    "Although it''s only a rumor for now," Patriarch Skycloud whispered, cautiously surveying his surroundings, "I hear it''s due to an Innate Physique that suits the Purpledream Sister''s Covet very well. Though, with it only being in the Heaven-rank, no matter how much it suits the Sister Covet, she probably won''t ever become anything more than an Outer Disciple."

    "But even that is¡­"

    "Yes," Patriarch Skycloud said. "Even an Outer Disciple of the Purpledream Witch Isles exceeds the statuses of all our Kings, Sect Leaders, and other famous figures like the Blade King, the Aqua Arbiter, and the Sword Saint. This is simply the way of the World of Cultivation."

    "Indeed¡­"

    A silence encompassed the two of them for a moment before suddenly being cut through by the teleportation of a Skycloud Palace Elder. It was the one who had initially received the reports from the Disciples who went to requisition the Voidborn Sect''s Territory. And as he whispered next to Patriarch Skycloud''s ear, the Patriarch''s expression became increasingly more sinister.

    "Oh?" Patriarch Skycloud mused. "You''re saying he looked something like this?" he asked as he used his memory and Innate Energy to Qi-draw a portrait of a man who looked as if he fell from the Heavens. "Does this match the description of the man you''re talking about?"

    "Yes!" the Elder exclaimed. "According to my Disciples, the man was quite a bit more handsome, but everything else checks out. This is him!"

    "Hmm¡­" Patriarch Skycloud pondered.

    The Skycloud Elder slightly tilted his head in confusion. "Do you know who this man is, Sect Leader?"

    Patriarch Skycloud nodded. "I believe I do," he said, taking a dramatic pause. "Knox Falazar¡ªthe Eldest Son of the Falazar Family. Also the only heir of the Falazars to be banished in the last thousand years. Of course I know of him."

    "!??" The Elder''s expression warped in surprise. "You''re saying this is the same Knox Falazar who''s wanted by both the Sect Leader of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect as well as three Counts!? And as outlandish as the allegations are, even the Water Deity Sect is out to get him on grounds of him being the prime culprit of the murder of Tear-Drop Child! That Knox Falazar!? The infamous crippled genius??"

    The Elder''s voice accidentally came out loud enough for Patriarch Thunderclap and just about everyone else in the vicinity to hear him. This included the people of Count Falazar''s Spirit Ship, Count Bonanier''s Spirit Ship, and¡­ the Water Deity''s Children. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 49 - 49: A Harbinger of Retribution

    Those who had come to protect Star-Gazer Child and Nala had been peacefully napping on the back of their mystical Kunlun, waiting for the closing of the Secret Realm. However, when they heard the mention of a name that the Water Deity had instructed them to look out for, their eyes shot open. Extremely intense glares then bore into the soul of the Skycloud Palace Elder.

    "You fool¡ª!!!"

    Before Patriarch Skycloud could slap his idiotic subordinate across the head, several overbearing auras fell upon him.

    *Bang!*

    The almighty Sect Leader of a Rank 3 Sect¡ªa Soul Formation Realm Expert¡ªwas pressed into the ground like an inconsequential bug. The expressionless, child-like Children of the Water Deity stepped over him as if he were nothing more than an insect in their way.

    "!!!"

    Seeing his Sect Leader faint with froth leaking from his mouth erased all the color from the Skycloud Elder''s face. He immediately hit the floor, repeatedly bowing and smashing his forehead against the hard stone.

    "P-Please forgive this lowly one for saying what he shouldn''t have¡ª"

    "Be quiet," ordered one of the Children of the Water Deity. "Tell me, what do you know of Knox Falazar? Where is he right now?"

    As he lost control over all his limbs to the Children of the Water Deity, the Skycloud Palace Elder felt his heart sink. Even with his Late Nascent Soul Realm cultivation, a single glance was enough to immobilize and terrify him.

    And then, by some inexplicable means, his lips began to move, robotically spouting words¡ªdoing so without his permission!

    ¡ª After a couple of seconds ¡ª

    "Useless," one of the Children of the Water Deity uttered as he tossed aside the Skycloud Elder like a bag of trash. "But at least we know that Knox Falazar has yet to vacate the Kingdom after hearing that we''re hunting him. A bold one, he is."

    In actuality, Knox had no idea a band of aged children were aiming to capture and decide his fate. But even if he did, it was highly unlikely that he''d have a f*ck to give.

    His f*ck supply had been running low as of late.

    Unfortunate indeed¡­

    "Senior Brother Maelstrom, do you think that he snuck into the Secret Realm to escape us?" a Middle Soul Formation Realm Child of the Water Deity asked. "That''s what I believe he''d do¡ªassuming our information pertaining to his personality is correct."

    The first Child of the Water Deity who had spoken¡ªranked #6 in the Sect¡ªsilently brooded to himself.

    After a moment, he turned toward the Middle Soul Formation Realm Water Deity Child. "Can you get into contact with Star-Gazer and Nala?"

    The one he was asking shook his head. "No," he replied. "The Devilstar Secret Realm cuts off all contact with the outside world. Only those screens up there are capable of keeping us up to date with the movements of those inside."

    "Unfortuna¡ª"

    OOOM!! sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    An incredibly powerful crimson-red aura suddenly exploded out from the Falazar Family''s Spirit Ship. It squeezed down on the Children of the Water Deity, pushing their feet into the ground and leaving the weaker among them gasping for breath.

    "Scaring you weaklings away once wasn''t enough!? You still have the gall to be asking around about my Knox!??"

    ''What should we do, Senior Brother?'' the Middle Soul Formation Realm Water Deity Child voice-transmitted to the Child ranked #6.

    Lunar-Killer Child contemplated his Junior Brother''s question.

    ''Fighting this she-devil without the assistance of the Senior Brothers and Sisters will be a futile effort,'' he responded. ''It''s best if we retreat for now and call for the rest of our Siblings while we wait for the Secret Realm to close.''

    The Middle Soul Formation Realm Water Deity Child nodded before following the lead of his Senior Brother. They, along with the rest of the Children, activated a turquoise talisman that teleported them away from the area.

    "Tsk!" Nyx Falazar clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Those weak bastards escaped, and my Divine Sense can''t trace their whereabouts. Dammit!"

    Frustrated, she punched out.

    A huge hole was blown through a mountain range located hundreds of miles away. The various Factions and cultivators at the Secret Realm''s site all stared at the divinely beautiful woman, their mouths slightly ajar.

    "Hwa!?" Nyx''s face contorted into that of a gangster''s mug. "Are you idiots itching for a fight or something!?? Come on over then!!"

    Those below the Soul Formation Realm furiously shook their heads. Even some of the weaker Soul Formation Realm Experts lowered their heads, trying their utmost to avoid the gaze of the devil.

    "Bunch of cowards!" Nyx spat before thunderously returning to her Family''s Spirit Ship. "Next person who speaks ill of my little brother will be going on my sh*t list. Don''t say I didn''t warn you beforehand."

    With that, the she-devil slammed her cabin''s door behind her. Count Falazar nearly left his seclusion to reprimand her for her actions just now but decided not to in the end.

    "Falazar''s Eldest Daughter truly is a fearsome woman," Count Bonanier remarked from inside his Spirit Ship. "To think she has become so strong in a little over a century. Haiz¡­ If only one of my descendants was so competent¡­"

    Cela certainly had the potential to achieve similar success, but in the eyes of her father, she was a¡­ lost cause.

    Extremely unreliable.

    And since Count Bonanier had no exceptional male heirs, he had already considered his Family''s future to be a bleak endeavor¡­

    ¡ª An uncertain amount of time later, within the Devilstar Secret Realm, deep in the Beast-kin''s Region ¡ª

    "A powerful human has been slaughtering our kin, Sir Tiger King!" A striped tiger humanoid kneeled and looked up at the menacing figure sitting atop his throne. "You must uphold our honor, my King! The human''s simply too powerful! Only you can kill him!"

    "A human?"

    A voice both raspy and grating escaped the Tiger King''s mouth, his nostrils flaring. Yet, on the flip of a dime, his anger surged with great immensity.

    "A mere human actually has the guts to attack my Clan!? Which Clan does he originate from¡ªI''ll go and annihilate the entire Clan right away!!"

    "S¡­Sir Tiger King," the lower tiger-kin said with great difficulty, barely keeping his balance under the staggering aura of the giant, ten-meter-tall Tiger King. "T-This human possesses no mark from any of the Human Clans. It''s¡­ It''s as if he appeared out of nowhere¡­ As if he''s a harbinger of retribution¡­"

 Chapter 50 - 50: The Tiger Kings Retreat

    "A mere human!?" The Tiger King roared, his voice shattering the fabric of space. "Meant to give us retribution!?? What nonsense!!"

    The Tiger King descended from his throne, shoving his subordinate out of the way in the process. "I''d like to see this Non-Clan human for myself! And after I''ve taken a good enough look at him, I''ll skin the worm and adorn my fire mantle with it¡ª"

    BOOOOM¡ª!!

    Just as the Tiger King prepared himself for flight, a large tunnel was drilled through the side of his castle.

    "I hear there''s a kitty in these parts that requires my help," a voice echoed as a figure made his descent from the mile-long tunnel he had just created. "I''ll now tell you the two ways I can help. You choose which one you prefer. One: You give up, and I''ll kill you as painlessly as possible. Or Two: I kill you without caring about your feelings. Choose now, kitty-cat."

    "YOU DARE!??"

    WAAA!

    "Woah, so scary," Knox casually commented while clapping his hands. "Can you jump through fiery rings as well? I''ve always wanted to recreate a scene like that."

    The Tiger King''s fury seared a hole through the castle''s roof as his aura engulfed the building as well as everything for hundreds of miles.

    Half-step Soul Formation Realm!

    "Wow," Knox praised, his expression practically fawning over the Tiger King. "You''re a bit stronger than the Hippo was. I suppose you''ll have to do for today''s sword practice. And don''t worry, so as to make this more fair, you strike first. I won''t dodge."

    The Tiger King was so lost in his own ocean of anger that he completely overlooked the comment about a hippo¡ªa Hippo King who had once been a good friend of the Tiger King. That very Hippo King had valued their friendship so much that he sold the Tiger King out the second he believed it would save his own life.

    "The Hippo gave me quite the run for my money," Knox said as his demeanor completely changed. "Let''s see if you can do the same."

    SHING! CLANG!

    In a nanosecond, his Intent Sword clashed with the Tiger King''s massive Greatsword. The Tiger King used his immense physical prowess to push his opponent back, only to then bellow out and unleash an even more powerful primal strength.

    *Fwooop¡ª!*

    The Tiger King zipped forward at dozens of times the speed of light. He reached his target''s position in the blink of an eye, with his Greatsword swinging down at full power.

    The ground beneath them cracked before the Greatsword even hit, causing massive damage to the castle.

    "DIE!!!" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The castle split in two!

    A giant hole in the earth opened up underneath where the two halves of the castle had split. Lava and magma gushed out like geysers, killing hundreds of tiger-kin in the process.

    However, despite the large-scale destruction happening around him, Knox''s calm gaze stayed on the tip of the Tiger King''s Greatsword. The weapon was of the Earth-rank, making it an extremely lethal treasure item. And with the addition of its wielder''s strength, the Greatsword''s full power was unleashed.

    While the space around Knox collapsed at a rapid rate, his eyes flickered toward a particular spot.

    The Nascent Soul Realm tiger-kin who had reported his presence had been unable to flee in time. Though he had initially resisted his King''s might, in the face of a Half-step Soul Formation Realm Cultivator, even residual energy was more than enough to eradicate dozens of weaker Nascent Soul Realm beings.

    "Killing all your kinsmen," Knox said coldly. "That''s not very nice of you, now is it?"

    "YOUU!!!"

    RUMBLE!!

    The world trembled beneath the sheer pressure of the Tiger King''s might. Crevices thousands of meters in length opened up. Lava spewed from the cracks, and massive chunks of molten rock rained from the sky.

    It was like Hell on Earth.

    However, with just two fingers, Knox stopped the ensuing destruction in its tracks. Nipped between his fingers was the Earth-rank Greatsword that the Tiger King treasured more dearly than his own life¡ª

    *Snap!*

    He snapped the sword in two!

    A sadistic smirk crept up Knox''s relatively handsome face as he lunged the broken Greatsword''s top half into the Tiger King''s stomach. Blood spewed from the whisker-covered mouth of the beast as he slowly looked down, his eyes filled with both anger and fear.

    "You seemed like you really liked that sword," Knox said as he intentionally twisted the broken blade lodged deep in the Tiger King''s intestines. "So I figured you''d appreciate it if I brought the two of you a little closer. Well? Do you like it?"

    "Arghhh!!!" The Tiger King shouted in anguish. "F*ck you, bastard!!!"

    "Ahh, that blows," Knox said with a frown. "Guess my kind gesture didn''t get through to you as I hoped it would."

    "Well, no matter," he continued as his expression became devoid of all emotion. "If you don''t like my gift, then so be it. You''ll be dying either way, after all."

    "!!!"

    SHING!

    As soon as the Tiger King struck out with what remained of his Greatsword, Knox reacted. His hand moved faster than the Tiger King''s, and in a seamless sequence of blurry movements, he snatched the Greatsword before slicing horizontally.

    SPURT!

    A giant tiger head flew off the neck to which it had once been attached. In the same moment, Knox flashed forward, cutting the Tiger King''s body into thousands of pieces.

    "You won''t get away with this!!" The Tiger King''s Nascent Soul shrieked while escaping from his diced-up corpse.

    Just as Knox was about to slash out with his Intent Sword to finish the job, the Tiger King uttered something that stopped him in his tracks:

    "You''ll rue the day you ever messed with the Tiger-kin when I report back to Emperor Yin Tiger¡ªmy Senior Brother!"

    "Ho?" Knox smirked, suddenly dispersing all his energy. He then stumbled and dropped his Intent Sword, watching in despair as it slid across the ground.

    "Oh no¡­! I somehow fell, and now I can''t kill the awesome Tiger Master!"

    "Hahaha!" The Tiger King''s Nascent Soul erupted in laughter as it fled into the horizon. "You fool!"

 Chapter 51 - 51: 1st Trial Rankings

    After Tiger King''s Nascent Soul disappeared beyond the reach of his Divine Sense, Knox emotionlessly rose to his feet. He dusted off his black and gold robes before shifting his gaze to the multitude of powerful auras that emerged in the aftermath of the Tiger King''s unrestrained battle.

    "More farm animals?" he wondered, the edges of his lips curving upward. "They''ll make for the perfect appetizer before that Emperor Yin Tiger pays me a visit."

    Three months had passed since he was forcibly transported into the Devilstar Secret Realm. During this time, he had explored the vast region known as the Beast-kin''s Domain. Spanning tens of millions of miles, this land was teeming with Monsters, Beast-kin, Demon Beasts, and even other Competitors.

    Knox had, of course, slaughtered every single one he encountered. Attribute Orbs didn''t drop from trees, after all; they dropped from corpses.

    To be fair, he hadn''t originally intended to kill anything that breathed. However, since everything he encountered had the intention of stopping him from breathing, he had done the only reasonable thing¡ªput his Family''s self-defense lessons to use.

    "Chop, chop, chop," Knox muttered, karate-chopping the air. "Self-defense stands for chop, chop, chop, doesn''t it? Hum¡­ English never was my strong suit."

    Fast forward three months, and he had made every bug, donkey, and turtle his enemy. Millions had died by his hands.

    But oh well, their bloody carcasses fertilized the soil. ''Twas the glory of the Cycle of Life.

    ''In a way, I was merely performing my good Samaritan duties. Yep, yep.''

    "Stop, human!" a birdman suddenly shouted as he chased him through the sky. Behind the avian warrior, an army of hundreds of birdpeople followed, their crazed screams filling the air.

    "Harpies?" Knox mused, nonchalantly turning to face them while flying backward. "Let''s see. A couple in the Nascent Soul Realm, a few dozen in the Golden Core Realm, and the rest in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Not a bad lineup. But¡­"

    SHING!

    "You''re still too weak," he remarked, turning back around while sheathing his Intent Sword.

    Hundreds of birdpeople''s heads slung off the bodies they were once connected to. Blood and entrails dyed the skies red, and thousands of Attribute Orbs shot toward him. He graciously absorbed them before calmly continuing on his way.

    He had briefly considered looting the Harpies, but past experience had taught him that doing so was a waste of time. The inhabitants of this world lacked access to space stone mines and, consequently, could not create spatial rings or any efficient means of carrying valuables.

    More often than not, these so-called "farm animals" stashed their treasures away in hidden locations, and quite frankly, he found it too much of a hassle to sniff out all their hoards.

    In the end, only Attribute Orbs remained a consistent form of loot.

    "Anyhoo," Knox said, zipping toward a massive, floating island-like structure. "There are a couple of Half-step Soul Formation Realm loot bags in this place, which likely means some good stuff is being stored here. But even if there isn''t, I''ll still be getting Attribute Orbs and Trial Points, so I have nothing to lose in saying hello."

    The First Trial of the Devilstar Secret Realm was the simplest and most straightforward of the three trials. Its primary and sole goal was to kill¡ªbe it Monsters, Beast-kin, Demon Beasts, or even other Competitors.

    Every living being in the Secret Realm was worth a certain amount of Trial Points, and upon their death, all their points would transfer to their killer.

    "From what could be gathered by that colossal floating eye that seems to be looking everywhere at once," Knox muttered, glancing at the huge, demonically slitted eye in the sky, "the more Trial Points you have by the end of the six-month trial period, the better your reward will be. And you know me, a man who loves his loot. I really had no choice but to begin wantonly slaughtering everything! The big eye forced me to!"

    The Six-winged Seraphim''s Eye: "...."

    When the eye first appeared, it had briefly explained the rules of the first trial before proceeding to track the movements of every Competitor within the ''World of Pandora.''

    A large, neon-colored number hung above the Six-winged Seraphim''s Eye, displaying the exact number of surviving Trial Participants.

    At this moment, that number ticked down from ''132'' to ''131.''

    "Hundreds of Young Masters and Young Misses have already kicked the bucket," Knox noted in a disappointed, fatherly tone. "It''s such a shame that not everyone can be as great a Young Master as I am. Tsk, tsk. Getting outdone by a former cripple¡ªthey should feel ashamed!" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Hundreds of grieving souls were undoubtedly rolling in their graves right now¡­

    ''Right, where was I?'' Knox mused, speaking to himself as he often did. ''Ahh, yes, those Trial Points. I have no idea how many I have, for the number is hidden at first glance. However, shortly after the Six-winged Seraphim''s Eye appeared, it spawned a list to its left. It then asked me and every other Trial Participant to create a nickname that would record our progress on the rankings board.''

    And what had he chosen as his nickname, one might ask?

    [#1: CallMeDaddy] - [104 Million Points]

    [#2: BladeMaster] - [18.9 Million Points]

    [#3: DimensionalAdvocate] - [11.6 Million Points]

    [#4: PhoenixSaintess] - [5.85 Million Points]

    [#5: TwinSlayer] - [4.9 Million Points]

    [#6: TwinKiller] - [4.8 Million Points]

    [#7...]

    Out of all the names displayed, which one best suited the one and only? Well¡­ Heh¡­

    "Where do you think you are, human!?" a commanding voice suddenly rang out.

    Knox''s thoughts were interrupted as he looked up, pulling his Intent Sword out of the lifeless corpse of a Nascent Soul Realm Harpy. Before him stood a domineering Harpy Lady, her beauty accentuated by the pearl-crested trident she wielded.

    Tilting his head, Knox studied her curiously.

    "I don''t really know, Miss," he said. "One second, I was window-shopping for XXXL condoms, and the next second, I''m here! But wait, why are you here!? Who are you, Lady!??"

 Chapter 52 - 52: Slaying the Harpy Sky Sovereign

    The Half-step Soul Formation Realm Harpy Lady¡ªotherwise known as the Harpy Queen¡ªdidn''t understand what was going on.

    "You don''t know how you got here? How can that be¡ª" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    SHING!

    "Wha¡ª!?"

    In the split second that the Harpy Queen let her guard down, Knox blink-stepped and stabbed her in the stomach. A second Intent Sword slash followed, separating her head from her neck.

    "T¡­The Queen!!"

    "S-She has died!!"

    "The human killed the Queen¡ª!"

    "Be quiet," Knox said as he blurred before reappearing in the same spot. Dripping off the edges of his black Intent Sword was the reddish-gold blood of every Harpy in the surroundings. "I''m trying to track a powerful presence that got a little too nosy just now. Stop distracting me."

    Of course, the furious and vengeful Harpies didn''t heed his warning. Too overcome with grief, sorrow, and rage, they mindlessly charged at him, incidentally ravishing the picturesque Greek-like scenery in the process.

    The whole floating island was designed to look like a Greek paradise, with snow-white pillars and old architecture scattered about. There were even lush, green hills and softly falling waterfalls sprinkled here and there. Up above all this was a very big temple. Its dragon-coiled pillars¡ªthe size of Texas¡ªheld it in the air.

    OOOM!

    An extremely powerful aura blasted out from the huge temple, causing it to crack in several places. The cliff-lip it sat on started to crumble and break apart, its structural integrity failing.

    "ROOOAAARGGHHH!!!"

    Adding another layer of surprise was the sudden movement of the coiled-pillar dragons that had once appeared to be stone statues. They unwrapped themselves before springing off the pillars and ascending to the heavens.

    The dragons numbered ten in total, with the lead black-colored one being the largest and most formidable. A singular lightning-covered horn stuck out the front of its scaly head, lying just between both its draconic eyes.

    Stranger yet was the comparatively tiny humanoid figure standing atop the strongest dragon''s head. He had four pairs of wings, a Sky-ranked lightning-infused spear twice his size, and a terrifyingly scary face that contained enough anger in it to drown the world.

    "This is Stratos Heaven! One of our race''s holy places!!" the figure bellowed, his voice reaching every inch of the hundred-mile-wide floating island. "And not only have you killed my son¡ªthe current King of the Harpies¡ªyou''ve also killed his wife and all their children!!"

    Knox''s brows furrowed in displeasure as he spun his Intent Sword around in a laid-back manner.

    "Hey, dude, don''t put it like that," he said. "Their children were all hundreds of years old. Furthermore, I heard from some villagers before I came here that your son, his wife, their children, and just about every single birdperson in this place have been killing humans. Not only that, they actively captured and set humans free, only to hunt them for game."

    "Yeah, buddy, I''m not the bad guy here," he continued, conjuring hundreds more strands of Sword Intent. "I''m the good guy. The Savior. The Hero."

    "!!!!"

    Despite the supposed heroic speech, the mysterious figure didn''t seem to care. More likely than not, he had been involved in the heinous acts committed by his people.

    Hell, it was highly possible that he was the very one who created the sport.

    "Human Clans and all humans in them are treated like slaves in this world of Pandora," Knox coldly uttered as he leaned back, pumping his muscles and calling upon his Innate Energy Sea. "Although I''m not the justice type or especially patriotic, every good hero needs a valid enough reason to begin killing sprees. Thankfully, you and the rest of the farm animals give me all the reasons I require and then some."

    "SHUT UP, WORM!!"

    "ROOOARRGHH!!!"

    RUMBLE!

    The mysterious Harpy figure rushed forward¡ªthe dragons following quickly behind. They burned through the atmosphere, moving many times the speed of light. Fire and lightning blazed and crackled behind and in front of them, creating a vibrant magical conflagration of elements that instantly incinerated entire cities and all the Harpies in them.

    "Arghhh!!"

    "P-Please help me!!"

    "I¡­I don''t want to die¡ª"

    No matter how much the denizens of Stratos Heaven screamed out in anguish, their Almighty Ruler ignored their pleas. His fury melted away the last of his sanity as he put everything he had into a single, devastating attack.

    Knox shook his head.

    He moved. He disappeared.

    SPURT! SPURT! SPURT!

    "What even was the point of doing all that?" he asked in a tone devoid of emotion, slashing off all the blood on his Intent Sword. "Losing your mind in battle is about as stupid a move as one can make. A pity, really. You were stronger than any of the farm animals I''ve encountered thus far. But you wasted all of it by letting your anger consume you."

    Held within Knox''s left hand was the head of the mysterious figure, his lifeless face frozen in disbelief.

    SHA! SHA! SHA!

    All around Knox, his Intent Swords were constantly clashing with the dragons. A few of the dragons had died before they could activate their Innate Barriers, including the black one that he personally decapitated. This left only six dragons still alive, all of whom were put on the steep defensive as Intent Swords cracked their Innate Barriers.

    Within seconds, every single dragon''s Innate Barrier had shattered. The Intent Swords then immediately took the opportunity to pierce through their tough scales.

    SPLASPURT!

    A massive bloody display followed as hundreds of enlarged Intent Swords skewered the six dragons. All traces of life faded, with even their Nascent Souls having been completely erased.

    The System Notifications and Attribute Orbs then rained in.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have slain 10 Half-step Soul Formation Realm Flood-dragons!]

    [You have slain the Pinnacle Half-step Soul Formation Realm Harpy Sky Sovereign!]

    [You have slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Harpies¡ªranging from the Qi Condensation to the Nascent Soul Realm!]

    [You have slain the Half-step Soul Formation Realm Harpy King and Harpy Queen!]

    [A huge-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [Strength +1,100,000]

    [Perception +2,300,000]

    [Strength +8,700]

    [Intelligence +720,000]

    [Affinity +35,000]

    X6,900,000 more¡­

 Chapter 53 - 53: Getting Drunk Again...

    [Basic Battle Power improved from ''Half-step Soul Formation'' ¡ú ''Pinnacle Half-step Soul Formation'']

    [Becoming a full-time Serial Killer has been treating you very well, huh?]

    "...."

    [It''s fine, you don''t need to answer. Your System knows better than anyone how much of a nut-job you are!]

    ''You try living through more than one thousand lifetimes as a scorned cripple!'' Knox spat back. ''I''d like to see how mentally stable you''d become!''

    [Heh, stay salty ???]

    "Tch, whatever," Knox muttered, kicking a dropped sword that smashed into a skyscraper and obliterated it. "I''m going to see what sort of alcohol they''re keeping in their treasuries."

    When bullied by a sentient being that could not be physically touched, there was only one solution¡ª

    Immersing oneself in the glories of alcohol!

    In more than one lifetime, Knox had been born as the son, daughter, or whatever of bartenders, vineyard owners, and brewers. And thanks to his lucky star, his parental guardians had always treated him well by shutting him up with none other than alcohol!

    "Now that I think about it," Knox mused while pillaging a monumental, gold-embellished vault, "could it be that the reason I talk so much is because I''m subconsciously begging to get drunk? Well, damn. I got some serious problems, huh¡­?"

    *Plop!*

    "Oh well!" he declared, uncorking a bottle of the good stuff. "I might as well embrace my nature! It''s as God intended, after all!"

    *Glug, glug, glug!*

    While more than a hundred of the kingdom''s most renowned cultivation geniuses were struggling to survive and gather Trial Points, Knox was engaging in the holiest of acts. As they desperately scoured Pandora for powerful opponents, he fiercely dueled with his alcohol resistance.

    Who came out on top between the two? Well¡­

    ¡ª Some Time Later ¡ª

    "W¡­Where am I?" Knox groaned, rubbing his aching temples. "Is this¡­ Is this a jail cell??"

    The last thing he remembered was finishing up his looting session in Stratos Heaven, only to then indulge himself in the best worldly pleasure.

    He also faintly recalled the appearance of a horde of powerful presences, but everything after that was hazy¡­

    "Hum," Knox pondered, shaking the heavy chain that bound him. "Why was I captured and not killed? Was whoever did it enamored by my impeccable charm perhaps?"

    The impeccable charm in question:

    "Guhehe~, sesxhy lady~ Wanna be Daddy Knox''s Mommy~?"

    *Thwack!*

    *Clink, Clank!*

    *Toss¡ª!*

    "Yes, that must be it!" Knox declared, smacking one hand against the other. "But if that''s the case, why would I be thrown in a damp, dark cell?? Maybe they''re kinky like that¡­ Hmm¡­"

    "Might as well give up resisting while you still have the strength."

    A hoarse, dry voice suddenly echoed. It belonged to a middle-aged man who looked like he was on his last legs, appearing hundreds of years older than he actually was. Clearly, he had been trapped in that place for a while¡ªin the cell adjacent to Knox''s.

    "Who is it?" Knox asked, cautiously searching his surroundings. "Have you come to tear me a new one!?"

    "...No," the middle-aged man replied. "I''m in the cell to the right of yours. And I''ve been caged here like an animal for the past four centuries. Suffering silently and alone¡­"

    "Cool."

    "...Cool¡­?" The middle-aged man doubted whether he had heard correctly. "That''s all you have to say?"

    Knox shrugged. "I mean, four centuries of isolation isn''t that long, is it?"

    "Not that long¡­?" The decrepit prisoner repeated with a listless gleam in his foggy eyes. "Have you even lived a single century, young man?"

    A chuckle escaped Knox''s lips.

    "A single century?" he mused, recalling the hundreds of thousands of years of immobilized solitude he had endured. "You have no idea just how long I''ve lived."

    Silence¡­

    "You''re not a sane one, are you?" the middle-aged man ultimately asked.

    "Haha! Sanity is overrated, my guy!"

    "Oh yeah, I forgot to ask before," Knox added. "But where exactly are we right now?"

    "You don''t know??"

    "Nope," Knox admitted, grinning goofily. "One second, I''m enjoying my time with some good-quality booze, and the next, I find myself in this pungent-smelling place with some weird dude speaking to me through the walls."

    "You¡­ You really aren''t right in the head," muttered the middle-aged man. "But no matter, since you''re the first person I''ve talked to in the past few years, I''ll inform you of this place and who owns it. First off, though¡ªyou know of the Beast Revolt, don''t you?"

    "Not a damn clue!"

    Middle-aged man: "...."

    He sighed, shaking his frail head. "As ridiculous as it may be, I had a feeling that you were clueless," he said before his tone shifted slightly, becoming that of a narrator. "Tens of thousands of years ago¡ªsometime following God''s creation of this world¡ªbeasts all of a sudden gained intelligence. And after the passing of a few thousand more years, the Intelligent Beasts amassed enough strength to commence a revolt that shook the core of the world."

    "Woah, the beasties fought back, eh?" Knox remarked, fully immersed in the lore. "Do continue! I want to know what happens next!"

    "¡­Okay¡­" the middle-aged man said awkwardly. "Following the start of the Beast Revolt, skip forward a couple thousand years and we humans were reduced to less than a thousandth of what we used to be. Total defeat."

    "You guys actually lost to a bunch of semi-intelligent beasties?" Knox asked, rubbing salt in the already gaping wound. "Oof, would hate to be you all."

    *Fu¡­*

    The middle-aged man nearly had a stroke. His complexion worsened by a few shades as he clutched his sunken chest with his chained arm.

    It were his ancestors that this blunt fellow was talking about, after all!

    "Haa¡­ Young man, you really don''t mince words," he murmured. "Though, perhaps if we had someone like you around back then, we wouldn''t be in the strut we now find ourselves in. This insurmountably deep pit that we can''t seem to claw our ways out of¡­" Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yeah, yeah, must be a bummer," Knox said. "But can you get to the point where this relates to where we are and who''s holding us here? I kinda have something I want to do; time is money, am I right?"

    ''What something?? What time is money??'' the middle-aged man thought, exasperated. ''You''ll likely wind up being trapped in here just as long as I have¡­!''

 Chapter 54 - 54: Pandoras History, ENERGY Superiority

    As much as the middle-aged man wanted to scream curses at Knox, he couldn''t even find it in himself to infuse emotions into his voice. He simply sighed before resuming where he left off.

    "For thousands of years¡ªprior to the Beast Revolt¡ªanimals were treated like, well¡­ animals," the middle-aged man explained. "And the animals took that personally. So, after they gained enough power to win the war and become the dominant race, certain members of the Beast-kin developed peculiar¡­ habits."

    "The one who owns this dungeon and the palace above is known as the ''Cobra Empress,''" he continued. "And similar to her friend¡ªEmperor Yin Tiger¡ªthe Cobra Empress loves to slowly torture her prisoners. What better way to do that than to throw them into a dungeon to rot and waste away their lifespan? Furthermore, after the Foundation Establishment Realm, one no longer needs to eat or sleep, so those tossed into the Cobra Empress''s dungeons have no way to end their suffering sooner."

    "Hum¡­" Knox brooded. "And how did you get here exactly? If you''ve lived this long already, then your cultivation is probably pretty high. How does someone like you get captured and trapped in a dungeon?"

    The middle-aged man''s dilapidated face turned complicated. "Haiz¡­ Young man, that''s a long story."

    "Don''t worry, my guy," Knox said, checking an imaginary watch. "I was able to move around some things on my agenda. I now have some free time to waste."

    "...Very well," the middle-aged man conceded, his expression reflecting just how lost he was when it came to dealing with this person. "I''ll start from the beginning, then. Only that way will the whole picture be painted for you."

    "Mhmkay."

    ¡ª Sometime Later ¡ª

    To summarize what the middle-aged man had told Knox, he had grown up in a Human Clan as an ostracized bastard child. For hundreds of years, he worked tirelessly in order to reach the Half-step Soul Formation Realm. And because he kept to himself¡ªaway from the eyes of others¡ªnone of the Beast Masters residing over his clan even realized how powerful he had become until it was too late.

    In Pandora, an Intelligent Beast was considered a King or Queen over a clan as soon as they achieved the Half-step Soul Formation Realm and acquired the recognition of a Beast Emperor. To be a Beast King or Beast Queen was the same as being near the very pinnacle of the world.

    For a human to achieve the same thing in this day and age was¡­ unbelievable.

    However, with a quick System scan, Knox learned that the middle-aged man had an extraordinary Cultivation Talent. With Low-Heaven Grade Talent, he had been able to shatter all common norms and break through the wall that prevented one from reaching the Soul Formation Realm. His talent, along with his ability to remain unnoticed, had made him an anomaly in this era.

    Eventually, though, the Beast Masters caught onto his existence. Being in the Soul Formation Realm and totally invisible was impossible¡ªno matter how hard one worked to conceal themselves.

    On his 900th birthday, the middle-aged man¡ªknown only as Rayzer¡ªfound himself cornered by four Beast Emperors.

    Yet, even with four extremely old and powerful cultivators ganging up on him, Rayzer held his ground for days. A few were even seriously injured by him.

    However, in the end, a single human was unable to resist the authority of the Beast Race all by himself. With the arrival of a couple more Beast Emperors, he could no longer strike back. After weeks of being put on the defensive, he ultimately faltered.

    Following Rayzer''s defeat, the Beast Emperors deliberated on what to do with him. Around half of them wanted to kill him right then and there, lest he somehow find a way to rise again in the future. But with the interjection of the Cobra Empress, his fate had been decided.

    He would be a prisoner in her dungeon¡ªhis sentence an eternal one.

    "Damn," Knox remarked. "So the Beastie Emperors then went after your clan and destroyed it?" S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Rayzer heaved a heavy, complex sigh. This was his answer.

    "I sympathize with you," Knox said, staring up at the dripping cobblestone roof of his cell. "Well¡­ Hmm¡­ How about this? How about I escape this joint and take you with me? You can then work toward getting revenge for yourself and your clan."

    Rayzer''s heart sank.

    "Sorry, young man, but what you want to do is simply impossible," he said. "I appreciate the gesture, but the chains that bind us are made of an Innate Energy-sealing material. Furthermore, the material weighs so much that even I can only barely move them if I use every ounce of strength I have. Unless you have the keys, opening or breaking out of them will be impossible¡ª"

    CRACK¡ª!

    "Ahh, feels good to have those things off me," Knox said while rubbing his wrists and stretching. "They weighed quite a bit, you know?"

    "You¡­" Rayzer despondently mumbled, finding the sight occurring on the other side of his cell''s peephole an unrealistic one. "How could you possibly possess enough physical prowess to break the cuffs and chains like that!?"

    Hearing Rayzer shout sounded so strange to Knox, but he understood the confusion. Without prior knowledge of the Attribute Farming System''s existence, anyone would be perplexed.

    To briefly explain why Rayzer couldn''t escape his shackles but the younger prisoner could, one first had to understand that as one further progressed their cultivation, ENERGY became ever more dominant.

    Attributes like Strength, Agility, and anything else physical-related were set aside, making way for Energy. In cultivation, Energy¡ªor more specifically, Innate Energy¡ªwas the most important of all Attributes in terms of power.

    It went without saying that the higher one''s Energy Attribute, the larger their Innate Sea and the more Innate Energy they could unleash in their attacks. The cultivation system used by everyone intrinsically included this aspect as the prime driver of power progression.

    And because of it, the more one''s cultivation increased, the more their Energy Attribute left their other Attributes in the dust.

 Chapter 55 - 55: Are You Willing To Give Your Soul To The DEVIL?

    Unless one took the greatly unfavorable path of Body Cultivation, by the time a cultivator reached the Soul Formation Realm, every Attribute that wasn''t Energy became a thing of the past.

    In the end, Energy alone could enhance physical strength, improve defenses, or increase movement speed. There was no need for the other stats because they could all be indirectly and more efficiently utilized through the Energy Attribute.

    Think of a Battle Mage¡ªone that wasn''t limited to just long-range combat.

    That was a High-level Cultivator.

    That was Rayzer¡ªthe human genius who secluded himself for hundreds of years and peacefully cultivated.

    [But then there was Knox Falazar¡ªa madlad who was not limited to Energy superiority¡ªand all due to the existence of the mightiest and kindest System in the Omni-Verse!]

    [That''s what you were thinking, wasn''t it? Hihi~]

    "Most definitely not," Knox said out loud, sounding like a crazy person. "I think you''re delusional."

    [I''m only Delulu for you, Dear Host~]

    [You and Ryan Reynolds¡ª]

    "Be quiet now," he muttered. "I''m thinking."

    Rayzer: "...."

    The longer time pressed forward, the more Rayzer began to believe that his cellmate truly was mentally unstable¡­

    And he wouldn''t even be wrong¡­

    After a brief pause, Knox spoke again. "Say, buddy," he said. "Do you have any idea how many Soul Formation Realm Beasties are in this castle?"

    Rayzer deeply sighed, already having given up on convincing his deranged roommate not to do something stupid. Nothing he could say would get through to him anyway.

    "¡­Including the Cobra Empress, there are five Soul Formation Realm Beast-kin in her castle," he stated, slightly surprised to see a decently attractive man walk through a wall. "The Cobra Empress is the only Beast Emperor here, whereas the other four are her Demonic Generals. They possess no intelligence of their own, simply following the orders of their master. Moreover, they aren''t as strong as a normal Early Soul Formation Realm Cultivator. This doesn''t mean they won''t still be a challenge, but¡ª"

    "Yeah, yeah, whatever," Knox interrupted as he slashed out with an Intent Sword. "All I wanted to know was how many there were. As for dealing with them, just leave everything to me."

    *Clang, Clang!*

    Rayzer''s chains dropped to the ground with resounding clangs. More than the sound they made, it was what they represented that truly set his heart ablaze. A heavenly, freeing energy washed over him, making his heart feel countless times lighter.

    It was as if hundreds of years'' worth of solitude had been lifted off his chest all at once.

    "How invigorating!" Rayzer exclaimed as his Innate Energy Sea felt the change of the tides for the first time in centuries. "I never thought I''d see freedom again. But thanks to you, young man, I have. Tell me, so I may return the favor one day¡ªwhat''s your name?" S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Knox smiled, patting the middle-aged, raggedy man on the shoulder.

    "My name is Knox¡ªKnox Falazar."

    Then, spinning on his heel, he cut the jail-cell bars into dozens of pieces. "Also," he added, "you''ll get used to the solitude. Give it another few tens of thousands of years, and I''m sure you''ll look back on this period in time and laugh."

    Rayzer''s radiant smile gradually turned into a deep frown. What nearly became a tsunami in his inactive Innate Sea died out before it had the chance to become anything.

    "Young man," he said, downcast. "I won''t even live through the next decade, let alone tens of thousands of years."

    Knox raised a brow. Curious as to what Rayzer was talking about, he scanned the older man''s body without permission. His smile declined into a frown as realization set in.

    "You''ve been crippled," Knox announced. "And not just that¡ªyou''ve been a cripple for hundreds of years, likely since the very beginning of your stay here. To fix something like this¡­"

    "I''d need a Heaven-rank Divine Pill," Rayzer finished the thought. "But with my current inability to utilize my Soul Formation Realm power, I stand no chance at obtaining one. Furthermore, that''s not to mention the fact that Heaven-rank Pills are extremely rare. Even if I were at full strength, it still wouldn''t be a guarantee that I could get one¡­"

    "Ha¡­" Knox sighed. "And that''s not even the worst of it. If I''m right, then you need a Heaven-rank Pill that has nearly crossed over into the next Rank. To acquire something like that in the backwater Elemental Nations is¡­"

    Realization suddenly struck Knox, making him feel like an idiot.

    Smacking his forehead, he said, "But we''re not in the Elemental Nations right now, are we? We''re in the last thing left behind by the Unorthodox Devilstar before he migrated to larger areas to attempt a breakthrough into the Void Refining Realm."

    "!!!"

    "You know the god''s name!?" Rayzer asked, his eyes widening like an owl''s. "The one recorded in the Ancient Records!? Then does that mean¡­ you''re an Otherworlder? A Traveler who comes from beyond Pandora??"

    Knox chuckled and nodded.

    "Yeah, you could say I''m something like that," he said. "But none of that really matters right now. What''s important is that in a couple of months, I''ll be transported somewhere where high-level items are likely to be. And if I''m fortunate enough to find a Heaven-rank Pill that''ll repair your Dantian, Qi Veins, Core, and¡­ oh damn, they got your Nascent Soul and Primordial Soul as well??"

    A large gust of depression hit Rayzer in the face, turning him into one big frown. If anything, he had to admit that the Cobra Empress and the others had been very thorough when crippling him. They had made damn well sure that he''d never be able to circulate his Innate Energy again.

    "Well, no matter," Knox said. "What I''m trying to get at is whether or not you''re willing to pay the price to have returned to you what was once stolen from you."

    "So, tell me, Rayzer the Itinerant Cultivator, are you willing to give your soul to the Devil?"

 Chapter 56 - 56: A Daughter of Duke Demi

    "¡­My soul¡­?"

    "Yes," Knox said. "In exchange for you regaining the ability to cultivate, I only want one thing. You."

    "Me¡­?" Rayzer muttered, his eyes falling on Knox''s lower half. "Even if I''m never to experience the act of Cultivation again, I adamantly refuse to¡ª"

    "Hey, you f*cking old bastard," Knox shouted as he kicked Rayzer in the rear. "Stop thinking such defamatory nonsense! I only like older women! Older w-o-m-e-n! Are you a goddamn woman!?"

    Silence¡­

    "I could be for the Pill¡ª"

    *Wham!*

    "Shut the f*ck up, dumbass!" Knox snapped as veins throbbed across his face. "I want you to be my subordinate, that''s all! Stop making it seem like I want an old shit like yourself, tsk! Just say you''ll do it and sign this blood contract. Speak another strange thing and I''ll put my foot so far up your ass, you''ll really begin believing that you''re gay."

    Rayzer helplessly rubbed his sore bottom before noticing the golden-red parchment paper undulating toward him. On it was Knox''s signature, written in his blood. He just had to sign his name with his blood, and the contract would be deemed official.

    Hesitation briefly flashed past his aged eyes. Promising servitude to another was not something he had ever wanted to do. However, what use was his freedom if he couldn''t cultivate and was set to die to the Five Marks of Decay within the next few years?

    It was these self-realizations that made Rayzer cut his thumb against a rock and sign his signature in blood. If his life was doomed to end anyway, then he might as well put his faith in the incomprehensible young man before him.

    "Subordinate greets Master!" Rayzer shouted as he kneeled in reverence. "This one shall never betray the Master for as long as I live. And if Master is capable and benevolent enough to preserve my life and restore me to my peak, then I swear upon my Martial Spirit that I''ll live, breathe, and die for you!"

    Knox nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad, kiddo," he said while adapting the true pose of the timeless entity that he was. "Now then, why don''t you do this Master of yours a favor and tell me which way the exit is? My Divine Sense is severely limited in this castle, you see. Also, the alarm has been sounded."

    "!!!"

    "The wh¡ª"

    WHIRRRR¡ª!

    "See," Knox pointed above. "The alarm has gone off. My guess is that they know we''ve escaped."

    "Then we must go right now, Master!" Rayzer hollered, hurriedly dashing toward the hole Knox had made in the jail cell. "Huh!? Wh¡­What is happening¡­"

    *Thud!*

    Before Rayzer even made it ten whole steps, he stumbled and fell to the hard stone ground. Exhaustion had taken hold of him, his haggard breath indicating as much.

    "How did you think that was going to work?" Knox asked laughingly as he tossed Rayzer over his shoulder. "You''ve been in captivity for centuries, with no access to Innate Energy, no food, no water, no exercise¡ªno sustenance of any form. I''m surprised you didn''t immediately go unconscious the moment you cut your thumb. Haha!"

    "T-This is not a laughing matter, Master," Rayzer struggled to say while being lugged around like a sack of potatoes. "I¡­ If I''m a burden, then you must abandon me, Master¡­ I-I can take it¡ª"

    *Thwack!*

    "Oww!"

    "Take what, you idiot?" Knox asked, blowing the smoke off his hand. "You couldn''t even handle a single slap of mine. The only thing you''ll be taking if I leave you behind is a spear up the bum. So shut up and let me figure out how to best approach escaping this zoo I find myself in."

    "¡­Master¡­"

    Tears were nearly brought to Rayzer''s dried-up eyes.

    Though, they were quickly dissipated when Knox skidded around a corner, accidentally whacking Rayzer''s head against a wall.

    "That was my bad," Knox apologized as he ascended another gothic-style staircase. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I-It''s okay, Master," Rayzer replied. "I¡­ I can take it."

    Knox stuck his thumb up. "What a trooper! You''d make for a good meat shield!"

    "A¡­what?"

    Just then:

    *Bang, Bang, Bang!*

    Echoing out was the reverberating sound of heavy metal boots repeatedly hitting the cobblestone ground. Beast-kin guards were scouring the entire castle after learning that there were escaped prisoners. The light produced from their brightly lit torches created a harrowing scene behind the two of them.

    "Stop right there, prisoners!"

    "Yeah, I should stop right when you say I should," Knox snickered with a condescending smirk as he sped up. "That makes a lot of sense."

    Within nanoseconds, he had zoomed through dozens of floors, encountering countless prisoners on his way to the castle''s base floor. Many screamed out for help or assistance, but he didn''t care. Even the beautiful women prisoners were completely ignored by him.

    His degree of purposeful obliviousness knew not how to discriminate.

    Upon stepping foot onto the castle''s base floor, Knox was astonished to find a shifty-looking woman hiding behind a couple of booze barrels. She seemed to be staring at something in front of her, doing so with the intention of not getting caught.

    He quietly snuck up behind her before placing his face next to hers.

    "What are we looking at?"

    "Ahh¡ª"

    Knox muffled her scream with his hand. "Hush now, pretty lass," he whispered, his smile anything but friendly. "You appear to have been imprisoned like me and my subordinate here, so who are you?"

    Calming her nerves and stabilizing her shaky pupils, the raggedly dressed woman bit his hand.

    "Damn, what was that for??" Knox asked as he pulled his hand back. "Are you half-rabid dog or something?"

    "Grrr! Don''t touch me!"

    "I''ll take that as a yes," Knox said. "So, who are you? Wait¡­ Are the guards searching for you, not us??"

    The woman coldly snorted. "I''m a daughter of Duke Demi; why should I answer a question voiced by the likes of you? You''re scum, just like all the other men in this world!"

    ''Isn''t your father¡ªDuke Demi¡ªa man as well?'' was what Knox felt like saying, though he decided not to in the end. Instead, he asked, "So that means you''re a Trial Contestant. You must be quite strong then, right?"

 Chapter 57 - 57: Escaping The Cobra Empresss Castle

    "Humph!" The woman harrumphed. "Of course I''m strong! If not for these damn animals being so abnormally powerful, I could''ve bested any number of them!"

    "Is that so?" Knox asked with a devilish grin. "Well, strong young miss, what is your name? This weak one here could use your protection and guidance."

    He emitted his pitiful Early Foundation Establishment Realm aura into the general area. The Duke''s daughter couldn''t help but snicker a little when she sensed it.

    "Ha¡­ You''ve given this Lady a good laugh," she said oh-so-arrogantly. "And for that, I''ll do you the honor of telling you my name." S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Smelovia," she declared. "Smelovia Demi. Best remember it, weakling. It might help you out in the future."

    Knox smiled warmly. "It''s very kind of you to think of me, Miss Smelovia," he said as he took glances at the scene beyond the barrel. "But could you also do this lowly one a favor and tell me who those two are?"

    He already knew the identities of the two he was referring to, but Smelovia didn''t need to know that. She simply needed to be distracted.

    "Hoho~," Smelovia haughtily said, a hand hovering over her mouth. "Of course trash like you wouldn''t know the identities of influential figures in Pandora. But since I''m feeling especially magnanimous today, I''ll tell you that the snake woman is the Cobra Empress. The one standing opposite her is Emperor Yin Tiger. Both possess strength nearing the Middle Soul Formation Realm."

    "Is that so?" Knox asked like an amazed kid. "Is there anything else you can tell me about them, pretty Miss Smel¡­ Err¡­ Pretty young miss¡­?"

    He definitely hadn''t forgotten her name. Definitely not.

    Anyhoo¡­

    ''Well, since I''ll be using him as bait to get out of here, I suppose there''s no harm in telling him more,'' Smelovia thought as she kindly smiled.

    "Pandora is split into dozens of regions, each tens of millions of miles in width. Figures like these two¡ªBeast Emperors¡ªeach rule one or more regions. However, since Cobra Empress and Emperor Yin Tiger are rather low in the Beast Emperor rankings, they only rule over one region each. And just now, they were having what they thought to be a private meeting about the distribution of valuable resources like Spirit Stones. These distributions and the distribution routes related to them are what I originally came here for. And even after being cornered by several Beast Kings and ultimately captured, my objectives never changed."

    "Wow, so cool," Knox praised, keeping his voice low like hers. "Is that all, young miss?"

    Smelovia curled her lips in disdain. "Were you expecting more? Well, too bad. You''re just a scummy man with only one thing on your mind. And now you''re going to do something for me in exchange for wasting so much of my breath on you!"

    "Am I now?"

    "Yes!"

    ''Oh, no,'' Rayzer thought. ''Master''s expression has become scary again¡­''

    While smiling like the kindest soul to ever grace the face of the planet, Knox ''softly'' shoved Duke Demi''s daughter. She tumbled through the booze barrels before rolling into the middle of where Cobra Empress and Emperor Yin Tiger were talking.

    She frightfully looked up. Yet, even while disoriented, that didn''t prevent the fear that came as a result of seeing two pairs of horrifying eyes staring straight into the very dredges of her soul.

    "Noooo!!!"

    "Sorry not sorry, Smelly," Knox said as he vanished without a trace. "Guess I''ll just have to smell you later, hahaha!"

    [You really are a heartless bastard, Dear Host¡­ To think you''d throw a pretty, young maiden into the tiger''s den like that¡­]

    [It truly brings a tear to my eye. To think¡­ To think that your character development has progressed so much already¡­ What joy!]

    "Have I made you proud?"

    [Of course¡ªyou haven''t!]

    "Good," Knox said as he left the bounds of the castle. "I wouldn''t want your sh*tty appreciation anyway."

    The Attribute Farming System then went on and on about a bunch of narcissistic nonsense. Knox zoned it all out as he made his way out of the Cobra Empress''s region¡ªa vast plot of land and ocean known only as Serpent''s Basin.

    It was dubbed as such because the entire region was, quite literally, one very, very large basin. Untold numbers of ecosystems and biomes made up the basin, but that didn''t change the fact that it was what it was. And though there was only really one supreme ruler in the Serpent''s Basin, that didn''t mean there weren''t plenty of fiefdom lords.

    Speaking of the devil¡ª

    "You dare escape the Cobra Empress''s castle!? Truly courting death!!"

    ''Damn,'' Knox thought as he stopped running, deeming it pointless. ''It appears that I wasn''t as slick as I thought I was when escaping. The big, bad, booty bitch sent her goons after me. Haiz¡­ Oh well, I guess I''ll just have to humbly accept her Highness''s gift.''

    As it turned out, he had been unconscious for the better part of a week. When he said he got smashed off the stuff that was in Stratos Heaven, he really got smashed!

    But on a plus note, most of what he drank was infused with Innate Energy¡ªand high amounts of it at that. His cultivation had increased to the middle parts of the Early Foundation Establishment Realm because of it, putting him one step closer to the Middle Foundation Establishment Realm.

    Though, that was all beside the point.

    What he was trying to get at was that, because of his absence, the other Trial Takers had stepped up their game. A couple were very close to surpassing him in the rankings; in fact, the only reason they hadn''t was because of an inefficiency when it came to killing.

    Sure, several of them were stronger than him, but that didn''t mean jacksh*t when they were clueless when it came to locating the living beings worth the most Trial Points. That was the only reason he had been able to maintain first place up till now.

    "And seeing as how I would prefer to have CallMeDaddy topping the leaderboards, it''s time to begin killing again," Knox said as he patiently sat and watched as hundreds of powerful presences flooded the skies while moving in his direction. "Let''s see. There are two among them who stand out the most. One is a Bear Beast King, and quite a lot stronger than both the Hippo and Tiger Kings were. As for the other¡­"

    *Ding!*

 Chapter 58 - 58: Cobra Empresss 4th Demonic General

    {[Cobra Empress''s 4th Demonic General]}

    [Cultivation: Early Soul Formation Realm (Artificial)]

    [Age: Inapplicable]

    [Main Technique: Puppet Symphony]

    "Ho?" Knox mused, interest shining in his golden eyes. "I had no idea that one of those Demonic Generals would be tagging along. But now that I do, I can''t wait to see what will happen if I were to poke a few holes in it¡ªwhatever it is."

    "Do you have anything to say for yourself!?" roared the Bear King, his booming voice creating ripples in the space around them. "If not, then on the order of Her Majesty, the Cobra Empress, prepare to face serious consequences when we return to the castle! Her Highness has personally requested your presence in her chambers, so don''t expect to have a good fate!"

    Knox raised a brow, licking his lips. "A personal invitation by that fine piece of ass?" he remarked. "Yum, yum, count me in!"

    Bear King exploded in rage as he brandished his two double-sided axes, splitting open a very large mountain as a warning.

    "Open your mouth one more time, and it''ll be you getting split open next," he said in an oh-so-scary tone. "Stop playing around and allow yourself to be arrested!"

    "Woah, man, there''s no need to be so touchy," Knox said as he automatically absorbed all the Attribute Orbs dropping from Bear King. "Just because you can''t tap that doesn''t mean no one else can. But don''t sweat it¡ªI don''t mind if you watch while I show you what a real man looks like. No need to thank me."

    OOOM!

    "YOU FUCKER!!!"

    *Fwooop¡ª!*

    Bear King blitzed forward at several times the speed of light, holding his axes high above his head. The exotic metal they were forged from shimmered under the glaring heat produced by the three suns of Pandora.

    As the axes shattered layer after layer of space in order to reach him faster, Knox smirked. Then he effortlessly sidestepped the rash attack. He noticed many openings in Bear King''s form, and taking advantage of one, he stabbed a newly materialized Intent Sword into his side.

    *Kuk!*

    "My King!"

    "How dare you, human!!"

    "Do¡­ Do you have any idea what you''ve just done!?"

    Knox spawned another Intent Sword and lodged it close to the first one he left in the Bear King. Then, he cocked his head back and sadistically grinned. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You speak of what I''ve just done," he said. "But what you don''t understand is that you should be far more worried about what I''m going to do next."

    *Cough! Cough!*

    The Bear King violently coughed blood as he unleashed enough Innate Energy to push away, sending himself spiraling into a mountain''s summit.

    "...Y¡­You''ll pay for this, you bastard," he angrily muttered while pulling out the Intent Swords with a pained and wrathful look on his face. "YOU''LL PAY!!"

    Following his bellow, a reaction occurred in the once-still Demonic General. It began to move upon receiving the word from the Bear King. Its glowing red eyes then shifted toward Knox¡ªan eerie action that was immediately followed by it blurring.

    In a fast sequence of extremely bizarre movements, it crossed the distance between them in the blink of an eye. Wielding a set of shadowy, jagged daggers, it slashed at Knox''s legs¡ªobviously attempting to render him immobile.

    Knox had a -bruh- moment when it did that. Why? Because they were f*cking flying!

    "What the hell will cutting my legs do?" he asked as he kicked out, knocking the mindless Demonic General off balance.

    He rushed forward, a new Intent Sword in either of his hands. He parried the counterattack the Demonic General shot off as soon as its core balance was momentarily compromised. It thought it was smart, following up with a double dagger slash when it saw him going in for the kill.

    However, anticipating that move, Knox ducked, then side-swept.

    *Clang! Clang!*

    The Demonic General dodged, following through with a right-handed dagger slash that clashed with Knox''s right-handed Intent Sword. It wasted no time slashing out with its left dagger, but Knox thought and moved faster. He leaned his head to the left at the last possible moment; a nick emerged on his cheek.

    Ignoring the slight pain, he let go of his right Intent Sword. Then, he landed a solid punch on the Demonic General''s hard, metal stomach. A dent formed as it shot backward like a shooting star, crashing into the mountain adjacent to the one the Bear King was recovering on.

    The Cobra Empress''s 4th Demonic General was not much larger than Knox¡ªpretty lean as well. If he had to describe it in a few words, it was like a possessed knight¡ªone with ominous tendrils of greenish-black energy seeping out of the crevices in its armor.

    "Overall, it makes for the perfect sparring partner," Knox said as he cracked his neck, preparing himself for the true fight. "It wasn''t going all out previously, but now¡­ Well, let''s see what it''ll take to pummel something that artificially achieved the Soul Formation Realm."

    BOOOM!

    The 4th Demonic General shot out of a crater in a mountain, creating an even larger crater that reduced the entire peak to a pile of rubble. The Demonic General''s daggers had combined, transforming into a demonic-edged katana.

    That very same katana was mere centimeters away from decapitating Knox.

    SHA! SHA! SHA!

    SHING!

    And then their swords clashed as they zipped through the skies, leaving death and destruction in their wake. Whether it be mountains, Beast-kin, regular animals, or monsters¡ªno matter what it was, all of it became casualties to the dazzling spectacle that was their fight.

    ¡ª Some time later ¡ª

    Rayzer: "...."

    Six-Winged Seraphim''s Eye: "...."

    "You weren''t too bad," Knox commented casually as he flicked the greenish-purple blood off his cracked Intent Swords. "For a puppet, that is."

    The reason his subordinate and the giant floating eye in the sky were so silent was not because he was now standing triumphantly above the obliterated Demonic General. Rather, it was due to the fact that he was more blood than human at the moment.

    Half his head had been melted off. An arm and a leg were missing, his remaining eye was mangled, and just about every bone and organ in his body was broken or damaged in some way.

    He looked like something from a messed-up serial killer''s wet dream.

    Knox wasn''t looking his best¡ªthat was for sure¡­

 Chapter 59 - 59: Spatial Sack

    "Kuk! Kuk!! Cough!!!"

    Knox had lost so much blood that even when he coughed, only weird gunk came out in chunks.

    "Wait¡­ F*ck¡­ Was that a piece of an organ??"

    He considered chasing after the chunk¡ªbecause, well, he kind of needed it. But seeing as it had already rolled down a decent distance of the collapsed mountain he was on, he figured it had its own path in this life.

    "Go on, organ chunk of mine," he said as a tear just barely managed to trickle down the less-mangled side of his face. "Be free. Live your best life! Go on! Go on now!! I-I don''t want you anymore¡­! Go home¡­"

    [What the hell are you doing, Dear Host? You''re embarrassing me right now.]

    Knox clicked his tongue¡ªthe moment ruined.

    "You really are an uncultured System," he scowled. "Have you never watched a good movie in your life? To not get the reference is criminal¡­!"

    [....]

    [Here are your System Notifications.]

    *Ding!*

    "Hey," Knox said. "Don''t think you can shut me up so easily¡ªOoh, shiny!"

    BLING! BLING! BLING!

    Vibrantly colored pillars of light blasted high into the sky¡ªoriginating from the corpses of the 4th Demonic General, the Bear King, and all of the Bear King''s Main Forces. These lights, which represented the appearance of Attribute Orbs, were accompanied by tons of System Notifications.

    [You have slain an artificially cultivated Early Soul Formation Realm Cultivation Puppet!]

    [You have slain a Pinnacle Half-step Soul Formation Realm Beast-kin Cultivator!]

    [Hundreds of Beast-kin Cultivators ranging from the Golden Core to the Nascent Soul Realm have died by your hands!]

    [A large-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [Affinity +28,000]

    [Strength +5,700,000]

    [Agility +9,200,000]

    [Mind +1,150,000]

    [Perception +6,320,000]

    X6250 more¡­

    "Although the load is smaller this time and it wasn''t enough to bring my Basic Battle Power into the Soul Formation Realm, it still tripled my strength," Knox said, feeling far more power coursing through his veins. "If I''m able to get my hands on the rest of those Demonic Generals, I might just be able to breach the wall that lets me into the Soul Formation Realm."

    Imagine that¡ªan Early Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator with the ability to contend with Soul Formation Realm powerhouses while in base form.

    "What was that, Master?"

    "Nothing, nothing, kiddo," Knox replied, his hands clasped behind his back. "I''m just enjoying the view, is all."

    "The view?" Rayzer asked, seeing nothing but gore and destruction. "What view, Master?" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Knox shook his head, slightly disappointed.

    "You wouldn''t understand, Rayzer," he said with a gaze that seemed to peer into the beyond. "Fighting and killing are not as barbaric as they appear. It''s an art. And as an artist, it''s only logical that there are some things that only I can see in my art."

    "I see, Master¡­"

    Rayzer took another good look at his surroundings, but except for a number of obliterated mountains and a few scattered limbs, nothing profound really stood out to him.

    Then again, perhaps he really wasn''t able to see things the way his Master could¡­

    "Now, now," Knox said with an elderly air about him. "Don''t look so disheartened. I vowed to you that I''d acquire a Heaven-rank Pill that would un-cripple you, and I don''t plan to break that promise. Thus, you should think about that instead of trying to comprehend something that you''ll never be able to."

    "...Very well, Master," Rayzer said before walking around to Knox''s back.

    Dodging his advance, Knox blankly stared at him.

    "What exactly do you think you''re doing?"

    "Piggyback¡­?"

    *Thwack!*

    "Stop with the gay sh*t, you dumb bastard," Knox reprimanded. "I''m not carrying you on my back!"

    "...Then in your arms¡ª?"

    *Thwack!*

    "What the hell are you¡ªa princess!?" Knox growled angrily. "Just get the f*ck in the sack!"

    "The sac¡ª?"

    Without giving his r*tarded subordinate the chance to question him, Knox picked Rayzer up by his raggedy-ass clothes and stuffed him into his magic sack.

    To be specific, it was a Spatial Sack¡ªworth thousands of Mid-rank Spirit Stones. Something he had ''borrowed'' from the corpse of one of the Early Nascent Soul Realm Trial Participants he had sent to a better place.

    What made Spatial Sacks so special¡ªand why they cost so much more for the same amount of inner cubic space¡ªwas simple.

    The capacity to hold living beings.

    For that reason alone, Spatial Sacks were astronomically expensive¡ªwith even a few dozen cubic meter Spatial Sacks costing just about as much as a Low-level Clan.

    These sacks also became one of the most popular items for kidnapping people, which¡ªoddly enough¡ªwas another important reason behind why they were so expensive.

    As for how someone with a cultivation as low as the Early Nascent Soul Realm came to own a valuable item like this one, Knox hadn''t had the time to ask.

    Because, ya know? Choppy, choppy, and stuff.

    ''But when you think about it,'' Knox thought. ''I myself am only in the Foundation Establishment Realm yet possess items that would leave any number of Nascent Soul Realm experts drooling. So, in a way, it isn''t all that weird that a Nascent Soul Realm weakling would have something like a Spatial Sack of this rarity.''

    Anyhoo, after sacking Rayzer and finishing looting the Beast-kin and the destitute pockets of the Demonic General, Knox took off into the skies. He then sonic-boomed in the direction of a fortress he knew the location of¡ªthanks to a map he had swiped from the Bear King''s corpse.

    Depicted on it were detailed drawings of every major area and notable location in all of Serpent''s Basin.

    ''The Serpent''s Basin is extraordinarily massive, so it will naturally take me a while to loot and farm all the good stuff,'' Knox thought. ''But that''s not a problem for me. If there''s anything I have the most of in this world, it''s time. And so, to become powerful enough as quickly as possible while also whittling down the Cobra Empress''s forces, I have to really lock in.''

    The grind waited for no man.

    Knox''s whole demeanor suddenly changed as his expression became as cold as ice, his killing intent palpable. The lives of millions were etched into his very existence, and the killing intent he emitted mirrored that same sea of blood and death.

    A massive, looming, bloody scythe now hung over Serpent''s Basin and the head of the Cobra Empress.

    And all Knox had to do was become strong enough to wield it¡ªand finish the job.

 Chapter 60 - 60: Ravaging Serpents Basin

    ¡ª An unknown amount of time later, within the Perfidious Castle of the Cobra Empress ¡ª

    *Thud!*

    Hearing and seeing another snake-kin hit the ground with sweat rolling off his face, the Cobra Empress''s sharp, delicate brows furrowed. "Let me guess¡ªanother stronghold has fallen?"

    "Y-Yes, my Queen! Fortress Beatriz has fallen to that human!"

    "And you?" The Cobra Empress motioned to the snake-kin who had arrived first and kneeled.

    "M¡­ My Queen, Fort Amock has also fallen to the insidious human¡­" said the kneeling snake-kin.

    "I see¡­ What number does that make now?" she asked, her face covered in shadows and unknowns. "50? 60? 70??"

    Silence.

    "Answer me!"

    RUMBLE!!

    "!!!" "!!!"

    "I-It makes 86, my Queen¡­!"

    "86¡­" The Cobra Empress repeated, her thoughts unreadable. "To have 86 bases demolished by a single human¡­ Just how many millions of our kind have been slaughtered because of the incompetence of you all?"

    "6-68 million, my Queen¡ª"

    BAZING!

    POP!

    "That wasn''t a question I wanted answered," the Cobra Empress said as she watched the Nascent Soul Realm snake-kin''s corpse fall to the floor. "If you want to live, then I suggest you listen very closely."

    The remaining Nascent Soul Realm snake-kin hastily bobbed his head.

    "Good," she continued. "I want you to call upon all the Beast Kings and Queens still alive in my territory. On my behalf, you''ll order them to encircle this audacious human. My three Demonic Generals and Neleron will be joining you in this crusade as well. Do. Not. Fail."

    "Y-Yes, my Queen!" the servant said. "I''ll carry out your orders just as you have instructed!"

    "Then get out of my sight at once."

    With a dismissive wave of her hand, the servant was forcefully teleported out of the Cobra Empress''s room. Confusion caught hold of him for the briefest of moments before he recalled Her Highness''s orders, which urged his feet into urgent motion. He flew to every subordinate Beast King of the Empress and informed them of what they had to do.

    A rendezvous time was also set up by him, scheduled for as soon as humanly possible.

    While that was happening, the Cobra Empress was tenderly running her dainty hands through luscious brown hair. Hair that was attached to the severed head of the 7th daughter of Duke Dezmond.

    "I made sure you never attempted to escape again," she warmly whispered to the head. "And the one who got away will soon join you as well. Then you''ll both become a part of my collection. My pretty, pretty collection."

    The Cobra Empress had an¡­ unusual fetish. One that had her actively seeking out all those deemed ''pretty'' in her eyes. She''d capture them and throw them in her dungeons before doing whatever she wanted to them.

    Those who didn''t attempt to escape would simply rot in their cells, staying as her skinny, perfect, pretty little dolls forever¡ªjust like what her mother wanted her to become.

    As for those who tried to leave her¡­ they''d end up just like Smelovia. Yet, in a way, they too were forever immortalized as heads that never truly died.

    Unfortunately, high-level cultivators'' lifeforces were tenacious like that¡­

    ¡ª Some time later, standing outside a huge, heavily guarded fortress hidden within the side of a gorge ¡ª

    *Tap, Tap, Tap!*

    "Hello! Is this thing on??" Knox asked while knocking on a microphone made from Innate Energy. "Can you all hear me? Shake head if yes, nod if no."

    "Kill the human!!!"

    "FIRE!!!"

    Swoooosh¡ª!

    "I''ll take that as a yes," Knox said as he stepped out of the way of a large beam of light that shot out of an Earth-rank Magic Artillery. He bounced around a little as a result of the light beam creating a crater where a dozen snowy mountains used to be.

    "Why is every single one of you always destroying everything?" Knox asked, shaking his head. "Don''t any of you want land? Trees?? Mountains???"

    "FIRE AGAIN!!!"

    Swoooosh¡ª!

    "I guess not," he said as he watched a massive light beam pass right through his afterimages and make contact with a different mountain range. "So violent¡­"

    FWIP!

    SHING!

    "There," he mused as he teleported back to where he had been levitating. Clenched in his hands was the enormous scope of the Magic Artillery Cannon that had been firing at him.

    "I solved the problem," Knox said while tossing away the scope. "Now then, why don''t we have a friendly discussion about what''s going to happen to all of you¡ª"

    "FIRE!!!"

    BOOOOM!

    Following the Peacock King''s boisterous shout, what remained of the Magic Cannon exploded. Shrapnel and highly advanced magical technology flew everywhere, killing several Beast-kin in the process.

    Knox''s lips curled in annoyance. "I guess this means you want to speed things up. Killing yourselves off like this¡ªare you trying to make sure I get less loot? Well, if that''s how it''s going to be, I''ll quit being amicable."

    OOOM!

    His aura frosted over along with his face as he flashed forward at more than a hundred times the speed of light. He reached the Peacock Queen in an instant.

    "!!!"

    Surprise passed through her colorful eyes before Knox''s blade cut them off¡ªalong with the rest of her bird-like head.

    Yet, rather than slow his advance, he sped up. He blurred from the Peacock Queen''s corpse, his Intent Sword slashing through the necks and Nascent Souls of every single morsel hidden away in Grand Fortress ''Moonrift.''

    A few more Beast Kings and Beast Queens were stationed there, but they fell no differently from the rest of the Beast-kin. He severed their heads, then their limbs and Nascent Souls, not even allowing them the opportunity to plead for their lives.

    BOOM! BOOM!! BOOOOM!!!

    The icy Grand Fortress had explosion after explosion blow holes through it as entire sections collapsed. Within milliseconds, all fifty square miles of the fortress had been reduced to rubble.

    Left behind were the faint, remnant screams of departed souls.

    *Ding!* S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [You have slain 6 Half-step Soul Formation Realm Beast Kings and Beast Queens!]

    [Tens of thousands of Beast-kin ranging from the Core Formation to the Nascent Soul Realm have died by your hands!]

    [A large-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [Strength +730,000]

    [Agility +615,000]

    [Mind +220,500]

    [Affinity +7,900]

    [Charisma +3]

    X142,690 more¡­

 Chapter 61 - 61: Seven-headed Basilisk, Five Marks of Decay

    "What a bummer," Knox muttered, absorbing all the dropped Attribute Orbs. "Killing Half-step Soul Formation Realm goons only allots six-digit Attribute Points now. But then again, I guess this was to be expected when my farming game has been so on point as of late."

    *Bzzzzz¡ª!*

    Before he could dwell on his thoughts any further, hundreds of large, crackling green and black portals formed around him. They spread out evenly in a perfect circle, and from them emerged millions upon millions of Beast-kin.

    WAAA!

    The strongest among them were in the Early Soul Formation Realm, of which there were four.

    Three of them were the robot-like Demonic Generals, whereas the last one was an old lady with a walking cane. Knox couldn''t discern precisely how strong she was, but he knew for certain that she was leagues above the 4th Demonic General he had fought a couple of days ago. Moreover, the last three Demonic Generals also felt far more powerful.

    Yet, that wasn''t all. In addition to the Demonic Generals and the mysterious old, hunch-backed lady, there were thousands of Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators. By itself, this wasn''t too big a deal, but the real problem lay in what ''unique'' professions they possessed.

    ''A number of Alchemists, a few hundred Runic Masters, as well as thousands of Formation and Array Experts,'' Knox thought as his brows furrowed further. ''If these people team up with the three Demonic Generals and the old lady, I could really end up being in trouble.''

    However, even though he knew serious bodily harm¡ªor even death¡ªwere possibilities, he didn''t back down. On the contrary, he stood his ground after descending to floor level.

    With his left hand folded behind him, he slowly raised his right hand and beckoned the opposition.

    "Come. Let me see what a bunch of juiced-up farm animals can do."

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The powerful old lady smacked her cane against the air she stood on. A resounding explosion echoed, sending waves of incredibly dangerous energy rolling in every direction.

    "The rumors floating around are right," the old lady said. "You''re just as presumptuous as they describe you to be. It''s simply too bad you aren''t strong enough to continue building up that reputation of yours. Too bad indeed¡­"

    The corners of Knox''s mouth raised as he summoned hundreds of Intent Swords¡ªall containing the full extent of a Level 4 Sword Intent.

    "If you wanna fight, then let''s fight," he said. "No need to mince words. In your old age, I''m afraid that if you talk too much, your dentures might just fall out."

    The old lady''s wrinkled expression twisted in anger. As she began transforming into something far more monstrous, Knox took a curious glance at her System Interface.

    {[Seven-headed Basilisk (Neleron)]} sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Cultivation: Early Soul Formation Realm (Weakened due to being in the 4th Stage of the 5 Marks of Decay)]

    [Age: 2800]

    [Main Technique: Stone Sight]

    ¡ª[As the last living sister of the preternatural Seven-headed Basilisks in Pandora, Neleron is the bearer of a legacy. However, because of the start of the Five Marks of Decay, she was forced to take refuge with the stronger Cobra Empress. In exchange for doing the Empress''s dirty work, she received precious pills and medicines that worked to prolong her life.]

    "So you''re living on borrowed time, huh?" Knox mused as he teleported two Intent Swords to his open hands. "I don''t know how I feel about beating up an old hag on her last legs, but oh well. Just as you want something from the Cobra Empress, I want something from you."

    "...And what might that be?" asked a hissing green Basilisk the size of a mountain.

    Knox grinned, his sleeves rupturing due to the explosive power coursing through his veins.

    "Why¡­"

    FWIP!

    "Your loot, of course!"

    CLANG! CLANG!

    His Intent Swords clashed with one of Neleron''s tails, causing sparks to fly. Yet, with her overwhelming amount of physical strength, she overpowered him, sending him nose-diving into a lake below.

    KA¡ªBOOOOOM!!

    The lake evaporated.

    "Ha¡­ You''re going to be a fun one," Knox said while wiping the blood off his smirk. "You''ve gotten my full attention. So don''t hold anything back! Give it to me; I can take it!!"

    Neleron: "...."

    "Very well," she said as all seven of her heads became active. "If death is what you seek, then I shall not deny you its embrace."

    RUMBLE!

    Two incredibly powerful auras erupted from Knox and Neleron. Intense shaking left the sky in a state of constant rumbling. And while the owners of the two auras battled each other head-on, the millions of Beast-kin sat back and witnessed the one-sided fight of the century.

    Knox''s a*s was handed to him on more than one occasion. It was only with the 2nd Perfection and his innate tenacity that he even kept himself conscious.

    Surprising as it may be, the Soul Formation Realm was nowhere as simple as it seemed. Even when up against a weakened old lady, he found himself losing his footing at every step.

    However, he kept persisting.

    Even with every part of his body being injured one way or another, he never stopped getting back up. To fight another round was what he yearned for, and until he won, he would never give up.

    ¡ª Half an hour later ¡ª

    "...I suppose this is my loss," Knox incoherently mumbled while lying in a pool of his own blood, half his body missing well¡­ everything.

    Neleron coldly looked down at him, her eyes thinned like a snake''s. She had reverted to her human form, seemingly doing this just to taunt him.

    She hadn''t even taken him seriously¡­

    ''Fighting against me while in the Soul Formation Realm,'' Knox thought. ''I imagine it feels much like fighting a cockroach that just doesn''t seem to want to die. To be reduced to a mere cockroach¡­ Haiz¡­''

    Lying in that pool of blood¡ªhelpless and defenseless¡ªreminded him too much of his excruciatingly long period of time as a cripple.

    That was to say, he wasn''t enjoying it one single bit.

 Chapter 62 - 62: As Long As My Cultivation Improves!

    *Thud, Thud, Thud!*

    As Neleron approached Knox, half of the millions of Beast-kin landed on the ground. It became quite clear to him that they were ensuring he had no chance of escaping. Whether by air, the ground, or underground, all escape routes were blocked off¡ªeach guarded by a Demonic General.

    "W¡­ Well, damn," Knox muttered while gurgling his own blood. "To think the Soul Formation Realm was such an insurmountable Realm. As I am, I''ll never be able to beat you¡­"

    "Human, do you have anything else you wish to say before being captured and brought to Her Highness?" Neleron asked, not out of kindness, but out of pity.

    Those brought to the Cobra Empress''s private chambers never returned. However, the anguished screams of her playthings lingered long after cleanup crews entered the room to clean out the ''mess.''

    Knox''s bleeding golden eyes fixated on the venomous hunchback lady.

    "You believe our fight is over¡­?"

    "???"

    "You yourself admitted your loss," Neleron said with a disdainful tone. "There''s no point in continuing this farce any further. You being as strong as you are while merely of the Early Foundation Establishment Realm is already a never-before-seen accomplishment. Be content with that and prepare yourself for the grim future that awaits you."

    "You''re right," Knox murmured, a new golden glow surging to life in his bleak gaze. "It''s my cultivation¡­ As long¡­ As long as my cultivation improves, I''ll be capable of beating you¡­!"

    Neleron sighed.

    ''What a delusional human boy,'' she thought. ''Even wishful thinking has its limits. And believing that your cultivation will increase as long as you say it will is beyond delusional¡ª''

    OOOOM!!!

    "What!?"

    Pushed away by a large blast of Innate Energy, Neleron was astonished to see a mountain of pills surrounding Knox on all sides. She was even more shocked to witness those same pills shooting into his body in massive quantities¡ªall being rapidly refined and absorbed by his |Madman''s Inner Array| Physique.

    "Is this human kid insane!?" Neleron accidentally shouted out loud, activating her Innate Barrier to negate most of the Innate Energy waves produced by mass pill consumption. "If he doesn''t stop what he''s doing right away, his body will cave under the energy stress and self-implode! If that really does occur, how will I explain it to Her Highness!? No! I must thwart this reckless action of his myself!!"

    She attempted to breach the distance between them, but due to yet another increase in Innate Energy waves, she was flung backward. Along with her, the three Demonic Generals and a significant portion of the millions of Beast-kin Cultivators were also sent flying.

    "I want to see just how many pills I''ll need to devour in order to surpass you¡ªto surpass the Nascent Soul Realm!!" Knox roared.

    WAAAA!!

    The aura being unstably unleashed by him only became more and more dangerous¡ªboth to himself and everyone around him. Even with the overpowered |Madman''s Inner Array| Physique, he was taking a very serious risk. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A risk that could result in the permanent erasure of his existence¡­

    Yet he went through with it anyway!

    The greater the risk, the greater the reward!

    Let''s go gambling!!

    "Are you out of your damn mind, human child!??" Neleron shouted as she pushed her Innate Energy into overdrive. "Quit what you''re doing at once!! If you don''t, this entire province will be obliterated!! You won''t survive!! None of us will!!!"

    "That''s a chance I''m willing to take!" Knox crazily shouted with a deranged grin on his blood-covered face. "Isn''t this exciting!?"

    ''This nut-job!''

    Neleron, the Seven-headed Basilisk, knew for certain that she had never met a crazier bastard in all her life!

    To kill them all and himself for the slimmest chance of a miracle happening¡­ What level of crazy did one have to be to attempt something like this!??

    Peak of Early Foundation Establishment Realm!

    Middle Foundation Establishment Realm!

    Peak of Middle Foundation Establishment Realm!

    Late Foundation Establishment Realm!

    Peak of Late Foundation Establishment Realm!

    Pinnacle of Peak Foundation Establishment Realm!

    Cultivating the Peak Sky-rank Foundation Building Technique ''Seven Sanctums Foundation'' to its peak, Knox achieved the absolute limit of the Peak Foundation Establishment Realm!

    His body felt like exploding, but that was of little consequence when faced with the goal of greater power!

    "More!!" he shouted to the heavens, lightning bolts striking around him. "I NEED MORE!!!"

    WAOOOM!!

    The mountain of pills had all but vanished, with countless amounts of Innate Energy assimilating with his Innate Sea!

    Absolute peak of Half-step Core Formation Realm!

    "Haaa!!" Knox bellowed, the strength within him too much to digest all at once. "I believe it''s time for round two!"

    *Fwoooop¡ª!*

    Without giving Neleron the chance to end his life, he flashed forward. He shattered all her defenses in a single sword strike, then followed up by charging large amounts of Innate Energy in his right palm. Letting go of the sword in that hand, he slapped toward the right side of Neleron''s face.

    She evaded in time¡ªalso expecting him to use his left hand next. But what she hadn''t expected was the usage of his legs, for he uppercut kicked with his left leg.

    CLANG!

    An Innate Barrier prevented his left foot''s advance, but with his right leg, he twisted his whole body and executed a downward spiral kick against the barrier. It shattered nigh-instantaneously, the dispersal energies pushing Neleron back several meters.

    Knox dashed forward, bridging the distance between them in an instant. Three Innate Swords materialized on his person¡ªone in each of his hands, and the last clenched in his mouth.

    SHA!

    Neleron erected another seven extremely tough Innate Barriers in a split second.

    "Futile."

    SHING! SHING!

    Knox double-slashed, sending two arcs of sword energy crashing into the old lady''s Innate Barriers. They shattered in consecutive motion, giving him the opportunity to lunge forward. However, seeing as it would take too long to build up more energy in his hands and perform the swinging action, he fell back on a very unconventional form of attack.

    "Block this, snaky!"

    SHASHING!

 Chapter 63 - 63: Devouring a Mountain of Pills Killed Snaky!

    "Block this, snaky!"

    SHASHING! sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Knox''s Innate Energy mixed with his Inner Array Power as he burst forward like a crimson blur. The Intent Sword held in his mouth sliced into Neleron''s skin like a hot knife through butter. A large gash formed, leaking vast amounts of purplish-green blood.

    She held her side, disbelief forming in her erratically flickering gaze. Dread quickly surfaced from the depths of her millennium-long soul as she slowly turned around, only to see his evil smirk facing her.

    "H¡­ How were you able to consume so many pills without killing yourself?" Neleron asked as she used her Innate Energy to stop the bleeding. "I''ve never heard of anything as ridiculous as consuming millions of pills to rapidly improve cultivation! That is the same as suicide!"

    Knox slung the oddly colored blood off the Intent Sword he now held in his right hand. Then, he answered the old lady''s question:

    "Even if I were to tell you, it''s highly unlikely that you''d understand what it is. After all, what I used to devour all those pills is something not of this world."

    "!??"

    "Not of this world!?" Neleron parroted, her brows raised to the heights of her forehead. "Does that mean that you''re an¡­ Otherworlder¡­!?"

    Knox shrugged. "Who knows? But what I do know is that you and I¡ªwe''re about to finish what we started. So prepare yourself. Because unless you kill me, I''m not going to give up."

    "....I see," Neleron said, temporarily pushing what he revealed to the back of her mind. "Very well, then. I shall stop holding anything back. This means I''ll also be making use of Her Highness''s Demonic Generals and her armies."

    "We finally get to join the fight!?" shouted a Monkey King.

    "Good! I''ve been itching to let loose and slaughter a human!!"

    "Make sure to go easy on the blood bag! We don''t want to kill him too quickly!!"

    "After this, let''s erase a few human clans off the face of the map!!"

    Knox apathetically glanced between Neleron, the Beast Kings, the Demonic Generals, and the millions of Beast-kin. They had all transformed into their Kaiju forms, blotting out the skies in every direction. Their combined auras made it feel like the entire world was pressing down on him, crushing him and his existence into submission.

    "Ha¡­" He laughed hysterically, his hand covering his creepily grinning face. "To fight a battle of 10,000,000 to 1¡ªI wouldn''t have it any other way!"

    OOOM!

    Knox erupted with the full power of the Perfected Half-step Core Formation Realm. His foundation was so flawless that unleashing everything he had produced an iridescent light so bright and dazzling that he resembled a star at the height of its life.

    "Come on!"

    HOOORAAAHHH!!

    Millions of powerful Beast-kin cultivators swarmed toward him like a raging tsunami¡ªone that decimated everything in its path.

    ¡ª 10 Days Later ¡ª

    "T-To think that a mere human¡­" Neleron mumbled, her massive scaly body in a terrible state. Not as terrible as Knox looked, but enough to make her appear more like a corpse than a living being.

    "Hum¡­ You weren''t bad either¡ªfor a snake, that is," Knox lightheartedly laughed while shakily leaning on a half-broken Intent Sword.

    Most of him wasn''t there, for only a single leg remained of his limbs. But even then, with both his eyes gouged out and multiple organs experiencing organ failure, he adamantly refused to let himself fall.

    Using his broken chin and an Intent Sword to stay standing, he looked around at the trail of destruction that he and Neleron left behind in their final exchange. Craters the size of large islands were littered everywhere, with an entire province of Snake''s Basin having been depleted of all life.

    "W¡­ We really did a number on this place, huh, fellas¡­?" he hoarsely asked the three dead Demonic Generals, whose jagged spears were still lodged into him, sticking out of three different parts. "The four of you and that Four Million Jade Cyclone Formation of yours nearly took me out for good. If anything, you should die proud; it was the most thrilling fight I''ve ever experienced."

    Neleron''s dimly glowing eyes shimmered for the briefest of moments as a small smile graced her aged features. Yet, in her last few seconds of life, the image of a young, extremely beautiful woman overlapped with her own.

    "T-Thank you, human," the two images¡ªone young and one old¡ªsaid in sync. "For¡­ for giving this old woman one last fight¡­.."

    Both versions of her then disappeared.

    She died.

    "It was my pleasure," Knox said with a small smile as he fainted the next second.

    However, even while knocked out cold, he didn''t allow himself to fall to the ground. There he stood, his mostly destroyed body¡ªleaning against a broken sword¡ªbathing in the warm morning glow of the rising suns.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, in a different region of Pandora, tens of millions of miles away from Serpent''s Basin ¡ª

    "Hmm¡­?" Lucidador''s ears perked up as he shot his gaze in a certain direction. "That power¡­"

    "Is something the matter, Senior Brother Lucidador?" asked Lenon, the Young Master from the Sword Sanctuary Sect. "Is another Beast King coming toward us?"

    Lucidador lightly shook his head. "No, it''s not that," he said. "I just had an irksome feeling that something unnatural was born in that direction¡­ I¡­ I can''t tell what exactly is making me feel this way."

    "If even you can''t, Senior Brother Lucidador, then it''s impossible that any of the other Trial Takers can," Lenon said with complete confidence. "Which means we needn''t worry about it. That is, unless it harbors hostile intent¡­"

    "No," Lucidador said, sighing. "It''s not hostile. At least not yet."

    "Then we have nothing to fear, Senior Brother!" Lenon said while slapping him on the back. "Come on, then! Let''s see if we cannot convince that Rat King to surrender his territory as well as his life!"

    Lucidador still had a disturbing feeling, but deciding not to worry about something he couldn''t yet understand, he followed Lenon''s advice. They then marched toward one of the entrances leading to a massive system of underground tunnels¡ªthe Rat King''s Nest.

 Chapter 64 - 64: Saint Rank

    ¡ª Similarly, within Pandora, inside the Hive of the Hornets, where four Beast Kings lived ¡ª

    "Hmm?" Feeling something similar to what set off the second son of the Blade King, the 13th Water Princess stopped mutilating a building-sized Hornet King as she looked toward the Serpent''s Basin. "How very unusual¡­"

    "A mere human slave actually dares to invade our hive and kill some of our own!? Courting death!!!"

    SHING! SHING!

    Brief illusions of a blazing aqua phoenix emerged above Maya Waters as she cut out thousands of times with her treasured sword. Both the Hornet King she was fighting and the newcomer were dissected into countless pieces, dyeing the hive''s interior a darker shade of red.

    "Don''t interrupt me."

    Duke Softshore''s twin daughters and the eldest daughter of Duke Willow all felt something eerily similar to Maya and Lucidador. Nala¡ªfrom the Children of the Water Deity¡ªalso took note of this phenomenon. Her junior brother, Star-Gazer Child, however, was unable to feel what she was sensing.

    The strongest surviving geniuses in Pandora were all¡ªin some way¡ªattracted by the intense battle that had just concluded in Serpent''s Basin. However, the Trial Contestants weren''t the only ones who noticed this disturbance, as native powerhouses like the Cobra Empress and Emperor Tiger Yin also raised their eyebrows in surprise.

    As for what really caused this pattern of attraction¡­

    The birth of a cultivator with a beyond Heaven-ranked Foundation.

    In the world of cultivation, how strong one was among peers of a similar cultivation was determined by many factors. What treasures they wielded, what bloodlines and physiques they possessed, or¡­ to what degree they had built up their Foundation.

    It wasn''t impossible to improve upon one''s Foundation later in life. But for a second, imagine how difficult it would be to remodel the foundations of a skyscraper after it was finished being built. This was what it was like to improve one''s Foundation in the higher Realms.

    For most, the Body Refinement, Qi Condensation, and especially the Foundation Establishment Realms were where the Foundation was built and solidified. The more patient cultivators would go out of their way to prolong their breakthroughs into the Core Formation Realm just to make sure that their Foundations were as good as they could make them.

    Similar to techniques, martial skills, and cultivation talent level, the quality of a cultivator''s Foundation was also categorized within the general ranking system:

    Mortal, Yellow, Black, Earth, Sky, Heaven, and then¡­ sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Saint!

    Never before in the history of the Elemental Nations had anyone perfected their Foundation to the Saint Rank. To accomplish such a feat, one would not only have to be ridiculously talented, but they''d also need to be incredibly rich. Moreover, they would have to possess a body that could withstand the stress that high amounts of power would put on them.

    To fulfill all these conditions, well¡­

    Frankly speaking, it was virtually impossible for anyone in the Elemental Nations. At the very minimum, one would require a Void Refining Realm powerhouse''s help to reduce the stress placed on the body of a member of the younger generation.

    Just that condition alone crossed off the Elemental Nations from ever obtaining a Saint-ranked cultivator, for they lacked even a single Void Refining powerhouse.

    But if one were to stack on more things that made the notion of a Saint-rank cultivator impossible, then it had to be that one would have to absorb ludicrous amounts of Innate Energy. This required a cultivation talent of at least the Heaven-rank as well as an absurd amount of resources.

    And again, for the Elemental Nations, this was an impossibility.

    However, in the land of Pandora¡ªand with access to abundant resources¡ªthings once impossible became possible.

    Of course, none of this would have happened the way it did if not for the Madman''s Inner Array Physique. And let''s not forget¡ª

    [Me!]

    Knox took stop after stop at all the bases he missed in Serpent''s Basin, his mind momentarily distracted.

    ''Yeah, you,'' he thought. ''If not for you, me acquiring a Saint-rank Foundation wouldn''t have ever happened. And the stress caused by obtaining it would''ve torn my existence in two.''

    [Hoho~, at least you realize as much~!]

    [But do continue. Keep on praising me, worm!]

    Knox narrowed his eyes. "Now you''re pushing your luck," he said as he cleaved entire mountains in half with light sword strokes. "If only you could make that talkative nature of yours worth something and talk your way into stopping the reduction of my Attribute Point acquisition rates by so much. Even Half-step Soul Formation Realm cultivators are giving less than 100 thousand Attribute Points now."

    [Hmm¡­ You''d like that, wouldn''t you?]

    "Yes, I would¡ª"

    [Well, too bad!]

    [One of my prime directives is to build up your character, and to that end, you''ll get no free passes from me! In fact, you''re lucky that I can''t control your world yet. For if I could, I''d send an unlimited number of strong enemies your way!]

    Knox clicked his tongue. "If you don''t have the ability to increase the value of dropped Attribute Orbs, then just say that," he scoffed. "Stop beating around the bush and putting on airs."

    [Putting on airs¡ªme!? How could you be so heartless as to assume such a terrible thing!??]

    [I''m the most innocent and kind angel there has ever and will ever be! (?????)]

    "Yeah, sure," Knox muttered. "And I''m Christopher f*cking Columbus."

    [Are you sure you weren''t him in one of your past lives?]

    Knox frowned. "What nonsense are you speaking now?" he scoffed. "I think I''d remember if I were Christopher Columbus¡ªOh, wait¡­ There was that one time when I was the son of a ship captain. But no, that can''t be¡­"

    [I guess you''ll never know, hihi. After all, you were a cripple through and through¡ªone so lost in your own sea of depression that you remained blissfully unaware of the ongoings around you¡­]

    "Okay, that''s enough," Knox commanded. "What are you¡ªmy therapist? Well, quit it. I''m perfectly fine; I don''t need someone to talk to. Especially not someone like you."

    [Someone like me, as in lovable, a sweetheart, the kindest, most understanding entity in all of the Omega-verse!?]

    "You lost me at lovable," Knox said as he slashed through an undersea base, killing off a few hundred thousand Beast-kin as well as a couple of Beast Kings. "If I were to use one word to describe you, then it''d have to be¡­ narcissistic, condescending, egotistical, unempathetic, douchebag, a*shole."

    [Just say you love me next time, teehee~]

 Chapter 65 - 65: The Cobra Empress

    [Also, I know your head is a useless waste of space, but don''t you think it would be good if you were to use the small pink mass inside it every once in a while? You described me with multiple words, not just one.]

    Knox let out a mischievous smile. "Oops. When I''m talking to you, I just can''t seem to help myself. I mean, there''s just so much to say about you that I find it difficult to stop myself."

    [Hoho~, apology accepted! I know I''m great!]

    [( ? ?¦Ø?? )?]

    "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say," Knox muttered, rolling his eyes. "Now be quiet as I finish cleaning up the rest of Serpent''s Basin."

    [Ho~? You just want to meet that venomous big booty b*tch ahead of schedule~]

    [But very well, game recognizes game.]

    "...."

    ¡ª An Unspecified Amount of Time Later ¡ª

    "I see that you''ve finally come," said a crisp feminine voice, one belonging to the Cobra Empress. "I figured you''d eventually find your way to me¡ªafter all, that is why you''ve been doing everything you''ve been doing, no? But I never imagined you''d arrive before me like¡­ this¡­"

    Knox smirked. "What? You don''t like the way I look when I''m drenched in the blood of those I''ve killed? Those who were once your subordinates?"

    The Cobra Empress seductively licked her lips, her purple eyes glazing over. "I assumed that the least you''d do was wash up before we had our destined meeting. However, it seems that you don''t view this meeting at the same level of importance as I do."

    "You''re wrong about that," Knox replied, flaring the Intent Swords he wielded. "I treat this fateful encounter of ours as something extremely dear to my heart. Why would I not? After all, you''ll be providing me with so many benefits."

    The Cobra Empress elegantly arched a brow.

    "Benefits?" she repeated, glancing around at her mostly demolished castle and the thousands of dead Nascent Soul Realm Beast-kin. "I fail to see what exactly you have to benefit from that you haven''t already taken for yourself. You slaughtered my armies, the armies of my subordinates, my subordinates. Almost every treasury vault in Serpent''s Basin has been robbed clean by you. What''s left? My Royal Treasury?"

    Knox scoffed, conjuring thousands of Intent Swords.

    "Your Royal Treasury is definitely something I wish to clean out, but that is not where the benefits truly lie," he said, unleashing the full capacity of the Saint-rank Half-step Core Formation Realm. "Do you wanna know the true answer?"

    "Do tell."

    FWIP!

    "It''s you!"

    "Hmm?" The Cobra Empress calmly raised her hand, the tip of her index finger''s nail stopping Knox''s full-power strike. "Not bad."

    FWOOOSH!

    Violent, rolling winds blew out behind her, destroying even more of the castle that was already on its last legs. Yet, even as everything around her was shredded to bits, she didn''t budge an inch.

    A light flick of her hand was all it took to send Knox flying backward.

    "But in the end, you''re just a¡ª" The Cobra Empress briefly paused as she blurred forward. "¡ªjust a human."

    BOOOM!

    A vigorous blow found its mark in Knox''s abdomen. Dozens of bones cracked and broke as he was sent rocketing backward at an even faster speed. His beaten and bloodied figure crashed through hundreds of walls before ultimately sailing outside the enormous castle.

    With eyes that struggled to remain open, Knox saw the castle explode into bits. Not because of his gallant exit, but because of the immensely potent aura being discharged by the slowly ascending Cobra Empress. Her voluptuous curves jiggled and ricocheted with every slight movement she made¡ªan alluring sight that would leave any number of devout Buddhists salivating.

    "Though, I must say, for a mere human, you''ve really managed to make a mess of things," the Cobra Empress nonchalantly said, doing so in a way that made it seem as if her entire Region hadn''t become a sea of blood in the past period of time. "But even after everything you''ve worked so hard to demolish, I can build it all up again. And this time, I''ll create something that won''t fall to a single living being originating from an inferior slave race."

    Grabbing hold of Knox''s legs, the Cobra Empress slung him away without a care. He was drilled deep into the ground, his face quite literally eating the dirt.

    Yet, even while buried thousands of meters under the ground, the Cobra Empress pinpointed his exact location and appeared beside him. She stared at his bloody, convulsing visage with an expression devoid of emotion.

    "You know, I was debating whether I''d kill an audacious worm like you now or later," she said. "But now I''ve decided. You''ll be going to a special place that I reserve for only the prettiest and most troublesome of toys. Oh, and if you believe your paltry disguise works against me, then you can think again." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Haiz¡­ The Beauty and the Beast," Knox muttered, listlessly watching as the Cobra Empress carried him away from the area. "T¡­ To think that my beauty couldn''t best the beast¡­ Tis a damn shame¡­"

    He let out a helpless thought. ''I have to admit, I was hoping that I''d be capable of putting up a better fight. But as it turns out, the real Soul Formation Realm¡ªone neither artificial nor weakened¡ªis in a totally different realm of existence. Not to mention that this hot, crazy chick isn''t too far away from breaking through to the Middle Soul Formation Realm. And as I imagine it to be, each Minor Stage in the Soul Formation Realm is like the difference between Heaven and Earth¡­''

    After lugging Knox around in flight for a while, the Cobra Empress came to a stop and floated down to a surprisingly ordinary house. It was three stories tall, located at the lip of a seaside cliff, and overlooked a vast blue sky and sea.

    But most notable of all had to be the fact that there were life signatures glaring within the house yet no auras¡­

    How strange.

 Chapter 66 - 66: A Messenger of Fate, Lily Serpentine

    "You''ve noticed it, haven''t you?" the Cobra Empress asked as she gracefully tapped against the ground before taking short strides toward the ordinary house''s front door. "An Aura-Concealing Formation¡ªone of the Sky-rank. It''s very useful for keeping away unwanted visitors, such as that insufferable Emperor Yin Tiger. Even after all these years, he still can''t catch the hint. I don''t sleep with just anyone, you know?"

    "F¡­Frankly, lady," Knox began with a dry, hoarse voice. "I don''t give a flying f*ck!"

    The Cobra Empress mysteriously smiled.

    "Oh, but I believe you will," she said. "Over time, you will grow to learn that, in this world, you only have me to rely on. And as my newest precious toy, I''ll be sure to spoil you. Shower you with all my affection."

    After forcefully dispersing Knox''s Earth-rank Appearance-Altering Technique, the Cobra Empress obsessively smiled before pushing him through a door. That same door closed shut behind him¡ªand since it was magically enhanced, escape became impossible.

    If the walls weren''t also enhanced to resist the full-power strikes of an Early Soul Formation Realm powerhouse, he might''ve had a chance of escape. But unfortunately, that was not the case.

    Then again, Knox thought as he appraised his dark surroundings, I wouldn''t have rashly confronted the Cobra Empress head-on if I hadn''t had a goal in mind. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As for why he made such a brash and dangerous move, there was something about the Cobra Empress that came off as peculiar to him. For one, from her partially locked description, he was able to learn that her obsession with torturing pretty people didn''t stem from nowhere.

    In her mind, what she was doing was her own sick, twisted form of what she believed to be morally right. This was because what she did¡­ was the same thing that her very own mother had subjected her to in her youth.

    "Be pretty," she said. "Be skinny," she said. "Be perfect," she said.

    Cobra Empress¡ªotherwise known as Valia Serpentine¡ªbecame so twisted due to the mental and physical abuse dished out by her mother. A mother who presided over Serpent''s Basin as the previous Monarch. It was also because of her unique status and hold over the Region that Valia was secretly happy that everything left of her mother had been torn down.

    Now, she finally had the opportunity to rebuild. To recreate things not in the image of her mother but in the legacy that she herself would leave behind for future generations.

    "Feel free to get nice and cozy in there, human. You''ll not be leaving anytime soon."

    Valia''s voice¡ªstill lingering in the air¡ªreached Knox''s attentive ears. However, he quickly discarded what she said, his attention wholly focused on the environment he found himself in.

    At first, the ordinary house may have appeared very simple. But on the inside, particularly in the basement, there existed something akin to an entirely different dimension. Old, stone stairs led down to a wide, lush green forest. A pond was situated at the very center of this incomprehensible forest, and sitting beside that pond was a young girl under a red, fluorescent gazebo.

    "This girl," Knox said as he approached her, simultaneously pulling up her System Interface. "So the cycle repeated itself, huh? From generation to generation¡­"

    *Ding!*

    {[Lily Serpentine]}

    [Cultivation: Peak Core Formation Realm]

    [Battle Power: Early Golden Core Realm]

    [Age: 5]

    [Main Technique: Poisonous Annihilation (Peak-Sky)]

    [Bloodline: Soaring Serpent (Early-Heaven)]

    [Secret Prospect: Time Cheat (Saint)]

    [Mood: Neutral]

    ¡ª[As the sole daughter and heir of Valia Serpentine, Lily is also the inheritor of everything that made the Cobra Empress as powerful as she was. On top of that, she also experienced a very similar childhood as her mother before her and her mother''s mother before her.]

    "The process repeats again," Knox muttered as he sauntered up to and sat beside the young girl on the bench. "Can this be considered a curse by the Heavens?"

    "...Who are you...?"

    His body was covered in blood from head to toe. Furthermore, two of his limbs were bent in multiple different directions. However, the cute, doe-eyed young girl didn''t seem to have any visible reaction to his appearance.

    Rather, she just seemed¡­ genuinely curious.

    Knox locked eyes with her, a hidden part of him seemingly mirroring the emptiness inside her. Much like himself before the System, she too had only ever known what it was like to be alone¡ªto feel alone in a tiny bubble world¡ªunable to escape.

    "Who am I?" Knox parroted, a fond smile forming. "You could say that I''m a messenger of Fate."

    "A messenger of Fate?"

    "Yes," Knox nodded, looking ahead. "And meeting you was the fate I came to deliver. So I''ll ask you a question¡ªone that I''ll ask only once."

    The long-haired, dead-eyed young girl stared at him for a few moments before seemingly giving him the go-ahead to fire away. He did just that, prompting his question:

    "Do you want out of here?"

    "Want out of here¡­?"

    What did he mean by that?

    How could one get out of here? Her mother wouldn''t permit it¡­

    Shaking her head, Lily said, "Not possible¡­"

    "It''s very much possible," Knox chuckled. "So is that a yes or a no? Because if you don''t want out of here, then I won''t force you to leave."

    Lily''s expression turned complex¡ªher surging emotions even more so. Her purple eyes shifted down to the feet she let dangle off the bench. Looking a bit forward, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the tranquil pond water.

    Yet, what she saw¡­ It was so very bleak.

    Like an empty, emotionless shell. One without purpose. One without meaning¡ªwithout drive.

    A question formed in the young, sheltered girl''s mind as she contemplated his words:

    "Who am I¡­?"

    *Pat, Pat*

    "???"

    With his hand softly rubbing her hair and his eyes still fixated on the artificially picturesque scenery ahead, Knox answered her question. "You can be whoever you want to be, can you not?"

    "...Anybody I want to be¡­?" the lifeless girl mumbled, her voice trailing off.

    "Haiz¡­ You must not even understand what I''m saying," Knox said apologetically. "But in due time, I''m sure you will. So how about it? Wanna go on a little adventure with me until you figure out who it is you wanna be?"

    After a brief pause. "...Yes¡­"

    Knox beamed. "Good, good, then let''s get going, shall we? This dwelling of yours is really quite depressing when you can see things as I do."

 Chapter 67 - 67: Leaving Serpents Basin

    With the casting of a magic spell, Knox severed the connection that this isolated space had with the Aura-and-Power Restricting Formations of the home:

    |True Severance| - (Early-Sky)

    Although it was a Martial Skill of the Early-Sky Rank, it was further amplified by his Inner Array Energy. This enhancement elevated it to the equivalent of a Late-Sky Martial Skill, which only emphasized how absurdly overpowered the |Madman''s Inner Array| Physique was.

    SHING!

    BOOOOM!! S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Shattered."

    Of course, without Knox''s impeccable deception technique, this never would have played out as it did. His appearance was disguised, yes, but there was another, higher-level disguise concealing his true power and secrets beneath that one.

    It was, in a way, a precautionary measure.

    And because of this cautious approach, he was able to guide events exactly as he intended. He fought the Cobra Empress, gauged her strength, uncovered the truth she was hiding, and then unleashed his true power to break himself and his newfound companion out of the elegantly disguised cage that held her captive.

    As for why he was so pleasantly surprised that everything had unfolded just as planned¡ªwhy he knew that all the hassle was worth it¡ªit was due to something that left even him astonished.

    Her ''Secret Prospect.''

    Time Cheat.

    It was an extremely powerful Saint-rank Prospect, surpassing even most other Saint-rank Physiques and Bloodlines. What made it truly special was its ability to allow anyone in the approximate vicinity¡ªincluding herself¡ªto comprehend the highly condensed and easily learned Time Law that encapsulated her.

    A bubble of Time permanently emanated from her, something that could neither be turned off nor reduced in intensity. Fortunately for her, unless one possessed an overpowered System or had surpassed the Void Refining Realm, this bubble was imperceptible.

    It simply existed.

    Of course, since it was her Secret Prospect, she could comprehend its mysteries far more easily than anyone else. However, that did not mean others couldn''t reap significant benefits from her Time Cheat.

    Her mother, the Cobra Empress, was one such example.

    Though the Cobra Empress had no knowledge that what she had been comprehending was the Time Law, she understood that being around her daughter altered her perception. Initially, the changes were subtle¡ªminor increases in awareness. But over prolonged exposure, her speed began to undergo drastic improvements.

    Subconsciously, she applied her comprehension of the Time Law to accelerate herself, creating the illusion of teleportation.

    Among those of the same Realm, she had no equal.

    Even if Emperor Tiger Yin, a physically stronger Beast Emperor, were to engage her in battle, she would still emerge victorious after only a few exchanges. After all, when she fought at full power, her Battle Power breached into the Middle Soul Formation Realm. Naturally, this was not reflected in the ''Basic Battle Power'' segment of her System sheet.

    Just like Bloodlines, esoteric and incomprehensible factors such as Laws and Daos were excluded from the calculations of one''s Basic Battle Power.

    Yet, it wasn''t until Knox confronted her in person that he noticed something amiss¡ªa foreign element influencing her power. This realization prompted him to shift his strategy. Rather than resisting fiercely, he allowed himself to be beaten down. Suffering some injuries meant little in the grand scheme of things, not when the rewards far outweighed the temporary pain.

    And so, he made the painful decision to take the loss and endure a thorough thrashing.

    "Now, here I am," Knox mused while bursting through the skies at speeds many times faster than light. "Girl in arms and running away from her mentally unstable mother."

    "GET BACK HERE, YOU WORM!!!"

    The Cobra Empress''s furious screams echoed for miles, grating against Knox''s ears. Despite his head start, she was gaining on him at an alarming rate. However, he had already planned for this very scenario.

    |Random Transportation Talisman| - (Early-Sky)

    A Random Transportation Talisman of such quality was exceedingly rare, but Knox had the fortune of adventuring alongside numerous Young Masters on this particular excursion into uncharted lands. If memory served him right, he had ''acquired'' it from the corpse of a Duke''s heir who, quite obviously, no longer had a use for it.

    Regardless of how he came to possess the treasured item, he wasted no time in activating it. Since it was a one-time-use talisman, it visibly withered away and vanished the moment its effect took hold.

    As the looming silhouette of a wrathful woman drew closer, Knox shot both middle fingers in her direction, flashing a shit-eating grin. "See ya later, crazy, big-booty bitch!"

    "COME BACK HERE AT ONCE!!! MY DAUGHTER!!!"

    The Cobra Empress lunged, her hand stretching out in a desperate attempt to seize them. But by then, it was already too late. What she grasped was nothing more than the afterimages left behind by Knox and Lily Serpentine as they vanished into the void.

    "YOU FUCKING WORM!!! I''LL KILL YOU!!!"

    RUMBLE!!!

    A massive portion of Serpent''s Basin quaked violently under the weight of the Cobra Empress''s cataclysmic fury. This disturbance soon attracted the attention of other Beast Emperors, who arrived at the scene only to find one of their own consumed by uncontrollable rage.

    A battle erupted.

    One that left Serpent''s Basin in utter ruin.

    But none of that had anything to do with Knox, now did it?

    FWIP!

    ¡ªKnox and Lily Serpentine reappeared in a remote part of the Region ruled by Emperor Gator, Emerald Fang Swamp¡ª

    "Ho?" Knox mused as he scanned his surroundings, immediately noticing several moving shadows beneath the murky green water. Dozens of creatures were converging on their location at alarming speed. "It appears that we have ourselves our own little welcoming brigade. I suppose it would be rude of us not to return the greeting in full."

    SHING! SHING!

    With his hand moving in a blur, multiple sword arcs slashed outward. The attacks collided with the water, sending massive waves surging in every direction and hurling the approaching gators into the air.

    As they were flung mid-flight, their savage forms were put on full display.

    Each beast was roughly twenty meters in length, covered in wickedly sharp, green and yellow scales, and radiated raw, primal aggression.

    There were about sixty of them in total.

    All of whom would soon learn that the human snack they had been expecting was far more than they had bargained for.

 Chapter 68 - 68: Deceased Beast Emperors Cave

    {[Emerald Gator]}

    [Cultivation: Early Core Formation Realm]

    [Age: 128]

    [Main Beastial Skill: Emerald Spike]

    Unleashing another casual barrage of sword arcs, Knox apathetically watched as all of the oversized gators were sliced into tiny chunks. The crisp sound of his Innate Sword slowly being sheathed synchronized with the blood fireworks produced as a result of the tiny chunks being further diced up¡ªreaching subatomic levels.

    The System Notifications then rained in.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain 62 Emerald Gators ranging from the Early to Peak Core Formation Realm!]

    [A medium-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [Strength +0.6]

    [Agility +0.8]

    [Perception +0.3]

    [Affinity +0.1]

    X140 More¡­

    Staring at the System Notifications, Knox''s mind blanked.

    With a deadpan expression, he sighed. "Core Formation Realm living beings have already been reduced to decimals¡­? You know I''m not even in the Core Formation Realm, right?"

    [Too bad, too sad! Why don''t you cry about it? (???)]

    Silence.

    "Whatever," Knox scoffed, returning his focus to his vicinity and also¡­ S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Gators¡­ dead¡­"

    Hearing the soft mumblings of the cute little girl swathed in his left arm, he looked down. Their gazes met¡ªone empty and the other pretending to be something that it was not.

    Realizing what was happening, Knox set Lily down and pointed at all the diced-up gators. "Yes, death," he said. "They died. And they won''t be coming back."

    Lily silently contemplated, though her seriousness came off as outright adorable.

    "They died," she eventually said. "Will I die as well?"

    Knox shook his head, patting hers. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

    His reassuring words eased up the young girl''s eyebrows as she became tired of staring at the gore. She looked up at him, reaching out her hands.

    Staaareee¡­..

    "???" Knox raised a brow. "Is something the matter? Do you want something from me?"

    Lily fidgeted her short arms, leaning up on her tippytoes.

    Finally understanding what she wanted, Knox slapped one hand against the other and picked her up. However, contrary to his expectations, she seemed unsatisfied.

    "Higher?" he asked.

    He received no response, but for some unusual reason, he could just feel what she wanted when she was so close. He brought her up from his arms to his shoulders. It was only then that she settled down, with hints of smugness emerging from her expression.

    I have the high ground now, you peasants! she seemed to say.

    "Hum," Knox tilted his head in slight confusion. "Well, whatever. Are you ready for another adventure, my child of Secret Prospects?"

    A slight tap came to his head.

    "I''ll take that as a yes," he chuckled before blurring forward. "Well, let''s see what booty this place has to offer! Hopefully booty that''s not so damn vicious¡­"

    Time then flowed forward, and as hours turned into days, the ending of the Unorthodox Devilstar Secret Realm''s 1st Trial neared.

    A few weeks later, outside a cave left behind by a deceased Beast Emperor, Razor Hawk Emperor''s Region

    "Yo, dumb b*tch, are you positive that your information was correct?" came a beautiful voice belonging to an even more beautiful pink-haired woman with large breasts. "Because if this trail leads to a dead end and you wound up wasting so much of my time, I swear¡­"

    "Doubting me at this juncture?" asked a lovely young woman with long jet-black hair that sparkled like stars in the night sky. "Even for a cow, I expected more from you."

    "You¡­" Cela Bonanier fumed from the top as she used everything she had not to rip out a b*tch''s throat right here and now. "If not for the Seal that has bound our life forces until the medicinal efficiencies from the Nine Heavens Essence Pill fully assimilate, I would''ve already long since killed you."

    "You could''ve tried," Yennefer shrugged.

    "Oh yeah, you homewrecking whore!?"

    "If you wanna go, then feel free to throw the first blow," Yennefer spat back. "It doesn''t matter if you get the first move; after all, within ten more moves, you''ll no longer have those cow flappers. At least, they''ll no longer be attached to you."

    "BIT¡ª"

    "Alright, you two, that''s enough," said a suave young man who appeared in between them. "There''s no need to fight. Especially not when it''s two young maidens as gorgeous as you both are."

    The young man wore a warm smile and was in the Middle Nascent Soul Realm, but neither Yennefer nor Cela liked him. The way he looked at them gave them the creeps; hell, he himself was likely a creep.

    However, considering that the two cat-fighting girls were only in the Half-step Nascent Soul Realm, they coldly harrumphed before backing away from one another. They gave the suave young man the cold shoulder, not even bothering to be polite.

    It was obvious as the difference between day and night that they weren''t interested in him. All dozen-plus Trial Takers gathered outside the cave saw it.

    But¡­

    ''These dames are head over heels for me,'' thought the suave young man as he flipped back his hair. ''They''re so shy that they don''t even know what to say to I, the 4th Eldest Son of Duke Demi, Harlow Demi! Oh, the woes of being so cool¡ªso dashing¡­! I don''t even know if I''ll be able to handle two girls as forthcoming as these on my own¡­ But I guess I''ll just have to find a way to manage!''

    "Hahaha!"

    Looking to the source of a deluded string of laughter, the other Trial Takers instantly averted their gazes. No way in hell were they willing to catch whatever ailed him.

    "What a creep bastard," a young, pretty woman whispered underneath her breath as she caught up to Yennefer. "You don''t need to worry about him, Yenny. That slimy Harlow may be out to get under the skirts of anything that looks even remotely female, but he doesn''t have the balls to get what he wants by force."

    "Who?" Yennefer asked, her mind seemingly elsewhere. "Oh, him. Hmm¡­ What was his name again¡­?"

    "...."

 Chapter 69 - 69: Harlow, the D*ckhead

    The pretty young woman sighed in exasperation. "You really are something else," she said. "But I guess that''s to be expected from the Berkshire Family''s Ice Princess. In all the time I''ve known you, I don''t think you''ve ever taken interest in a man."

    For some reason, images of a certain overly handsome, cheeky young man passed through Yennefer''s mind.

    Noticing a change in her friend, Yara, the pretty young woman, raised a brow. Then, when realization finally hit her, both brows raised in shock.

    "Wait a damn minute!" she accidentally shouted a little too loudly. "Has a man actually caught the eye of our Ice Princess!? Of our Yennefer!?"

    Yennefer shook her head. "You''re overthinking things," she said. "Me and him aren''t like that."

    "Him!?" Yara exclaimed. "So there is someone! Well then, what''s his name!? Come on, you have to tell me! Hold up¡­ Is this He your fianc¨¦!??"

    Overhearing their conversation, Harlow Demi perked his ears at the mention of a fianc¨¦. This topic prompted him to recall hearing something about a cripple marrying Young Miss Yennefer. At the time, he thought it to be just a joke.

    But now¡­

    ''A mere cripple truly has the gall to tarnish a flower of mine!?'' Harlow thought, maliciousness bubbling up inside him. ''I''d like to see this trash cripple myself! I''ll then teach him a lesson that he''ll never forget!!''

    As proven by his unbridled actions during the Secret Realm''s First Trial, Harlow Demi was not someone any responsible person would feel safe confiding in. For this and many other reasons, the Demi Duke Family kept him out of the loop for just about everything.

    Thus, he had no idea about the reputation that Knox had amassed for himself in the past period of time.

    Then again, even if he was aware, that likely wouldn''t reduce his arrogance or urge to teach Knox a lesson¡­

    ''Hum! Just wait until I get my hands on you, bastard!''

    ''Knox¡­?'' In a certain corner, a pink-haired girl''s eyes spiraled and darkened. ''He''s Mine.''

    Back where Yennefer and Yara were talking, the former finally got the chatterbox to stop asking so many questions about Knox. Yet, even after Yen answered them all, Yara didn''t seem the least bit satisfied.

    "Humph!" She huffed, cheeks puffed. "You''re no fun, you know that? You finally find this guy you like, and you won''t tell me anything more than I can find in an encyclopedia! ''He''s objectively handsome,'' ''He''s objectively tall,'' ''Objectively, he has clear, white teeth.''"

    "Gosh," Yara continued, pulling at her hair. "I swear, if I''m forced to hear you talk about objectively this and that again, I''ll¡­!"

    Yennefer looked away from her friend, fixating her gaze on the shimmering barrier that prevented entry into the Beast Emperor''s cave.

    "I already told you it''s not like that," she said. "I don''t like him; I can barely tolerate him. He''s cheeky, cocky, too good-looking for his own good, and he never takes anything seriously. It''s like life is all just one big game to him. I couldn''t see it before he miraculously became able, but it''s as if he views all living things and this world as pieces on a chessboard. Pieces that he wanted to play before¡­ but couldn''t."

    "However, now that he can do what he wishes¡­" Yennefer''s voice trailed off, following her mind''s lead. "Well, I don''t know for sure¡­"

    "Ho~?" Yara said suggestively. "This secret lover boy of yours is not only handsome but also funny and mysterious? A deeply profound fellow as well?? Why didn''t you tell me that you hit the jackpot!? You talking about him like that has really made me jealous, you know!??" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yennefer rolled her eyes. "Have you even listened to a single word I said?" she asked. "That Knox Falazar is an insufferable menace. And if I had it my way, I''d have my father annul our marriage agreement as soon as possible¡ª"

    "So then you wouldn''t mind if I were to have my shot at him, would you?" Yara interrupted, her serious expression throwing Yennefer off guard. "I mean, if Knox truly doesn''t mean anything to you, then I don''t mind taking him off your hands. My family is also a Count Family, so arranging a marriage with a temporarily banished child of the Falazars would be a cinch¡ª"

    This time, it was Yennefer who interrupted as she flat-out said, "No."

    "Ho~?"

    Realizing how wrongly she phrased it, Yennefer corrected herself. "That isn''t what I mean. It''s¡­ It''s just that¡­ I just don''t want to disgrace my family by messing things up between me and Knox Falazar. That''s all there is to it, so just drop it."

    "I was originally going to," Yara said with a sly smirk. "But after seeing you make a face like that¡ªone I''ve never seen before¡ªI''ve only become ever more curious about this Knox¡­."

    Just then:

    "We''re close to shattering the cave''s last protective barrier!"

    Shouts came from the Beast Emperor Cave''s entrance. Multiple Trial Takers in the Half-step Nascent Soul Realm had just started to finish breaking the last protective barrier.

    The others in the area gathered around, patiently waiting for the cave''s last barrier to fully break.

    Luckily, they didn''t have to wait long:

    CRACK¡ª!

    With the shattering of the protective barrier, the Beast Emperor''s secluded cave was opened!

    "Alright now," Harlow said, patting the shoulders of the man and woman who led the breaking of the cave''s barrier. "You bunch did a good job, but why don''t I take the lead from here? It could be very dangerous inside the cave, and since I''m the strongest one here, I''ll make the sacrifice and chart out the interior."

    ''What a deceiving a*shole!'' was what everyone wanted to say.

    None of them were stupid enough to believe the nonsense spewing out of Harlow''s mouth.

    Lead the way? Make the sacrifice?? Who the hell was he trying to fool with this bullsh*t???

    However, even if every single one of them knew the truth, they figured it wisest not to spark up conflict with him. After all, of what he said, there was one factual thing¡ªhe was the strongest among them. That was undeniable.

    A couple of them had achieved the Early Nascent Soul Realm, but none besides Harlow was in the Middle Nascent Soul Realm. This wouldn''t normally be much of a problem if it was any normal Middle Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator, but Harlow¡ªmuch like them¡ªwas also considered a Genius.

    And one with a Sky Rank Foundation to boot.

    Even some Late Nascent Soul Realm Monsters were not his match¡­

 Chapter 70 - 70: A Trap

    "Getting juiced up on pills and rare herbs his entire life did do well for something," Yara whispered into Yennefer''s ear, sneering secretly. "More than that, though, I''m more surprised he has yet to bloat like a balloon and explode from all the stuff he intakes."

    "Hum?"

    Harlow could have sworn he heard someone say his name, but perhaps it was simply the wind.

    Regardless, it was time to enter the Beast Emperor''s cave. And whether anyone liked it or not, he''d be the one leading the charge. Naturally, he would also have first pick of all the best treasures.

    "Come now, fellow brothers and sisters!" he shouted magnanimously. "Let us see what else this day has in store for us!"

    *Thump, thump, thump!*

    Into the torch-lined cave they went.

    Yennefer and Yara hung back from the group, keeping their distance from the pungent aura of scum leaking off Harlow. As they walked, Yara kept pestering Yennefer about Knox Falazar, but Yennefer had no more slip-ups; her poker face was impeccable.

    Cela, on the other hand, had been deliriously mumbling to herself in the far back since the first mention of her ''Darling.''

    Everyone around her was afraid to be within six feet of her. They kept their distance at all times; her crazy aura made sure of it¡­

    After a few seconds of speed-walking, the group came across a large pair of rustic golden doors. Clearly, they had been there for a while. However, without caring about the possibility of traps, Harlow reached out and touched the door.

    FWOOOSH!

    The doors swung open with ease, releasing gusts of air that had been contained in a singular shimmering room for what could have been thousands of years.

    "See?" Harlow said, his eyes greedily reflecting the mountains of gold and Spirit Stones filling the vault room''s interior. "What were you all so worried about? The loot is right there!"

    Everyone cautiously looked around. But after confirming the surroundings were safe, greed filled their hearts as well. They rushed into the vault room, leaving only the apprehensive Yennefer, the insane Cela, and the confused Yara behind.

    "Is something the matter, Yenny?" Yara asked, tapping her shoulder. "You look sort of pale."

    Yennefer shifted her eyes to her friend. "Something isn''t right here. I can feel it."

    "That sixth sense of yours again?"

    Yennefer nodded.

    "This place is definitely a trap¡ª" she started to say before being interrupted by a thundering explosion as several hills of gold were blasted upward.

    "What are those¡ª"

    *Swooop!*

    CHOMP!

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Before anybody even knew what had happened, a Peak Golden Core Realm cultivator was swooped up into the mouth of a massive golden-scaled lizard. Or, to be more specific¡­

    "A dragon!?" Harlow reeled back in shock, his previous confidence nowhere to be seen. "How could there be a dragon in here!?"

    "No," Yennefer said. "That is not a dragon¡ªand it isn''t alone."

    "Wha¡ª!?"

    Harlow turned to the Ice Beauty, but he was forced to look elsewhere when another one of their own was scooped up and devoured. That was when he saw them¡ªthree four-legged, domineering reptilians emerging from the hills of gold.

    Golden-flaked Earth Dragons.

    Although this subspecies of dragon possessed no wings, they were still absolute tyrants in land battles. A full-grown one could reach up to 500 meters in length and surpass the Nascent Soul Realm. These ones, however, were all roughly 100 meters in length, 300 years old, and of the¡­

    "Late Nascent Soul Realm," Yara murmured, her pupils dilating out of focus. "Yenny¡­ I think we''re going to die."

    Yennefer''s perfectly shaped eyebrows furrowed as she called upon her |Fire Fairy| bloodline. Her hair changed from its original black color to something more along the lines of scarlet. Moreover, her eyes turned redder, and a pair of illusory red wings materialized on her back.

    "Your bloodline!" Yara looked over in surprise. "Has your strength improved once again??"

    Yennefer merely nodded. Her cold expression became even icier as she got into a proper fighting stance. Her entire demeanor took another steep decline when she circulated her innate affinity with the Ice Element.

    That, together with the Fire Element acquired from the |Fire Fairy| bloodline, created a clash of opposing forces. However, for some inexplicable reason, the two elements seemed to merge perfectly with one another.

    "!?!"

    "This is¡­"

    It wasn''t only Yara who was stunned; all the remaining Trial Takers in the cave shot their gazes toward Yennefer¡ªwhere they stayed. They stood back and witnessed the creation of something truly spectacular.

    "Fire and Ice Fusion Wheel¡­" Harlow murmured in disbelief, his attention already stolen by the reddish raven-haired woman before him. "This is a Special Acquired Physique, one infinitely closing in on the Heaven Rank! The last time it was seen was hundreds of years ago! How can this be!? First it was that crazy girl with her Heaven-ranked ''Oblivion''s Final Destination'' Physique¡ªand now this!"

    Even the three Golden-flaked Earth Dragons were momentarily taken aback by the phenomenon occurring around Yennefer. It wasn''t that they were scared or fearful of her, but by nature, dragons were prideful beings.

    And subspecies though they may be, they were still dragons.

    This meant that the Golden-flaked Earth Dragons felt they should wait until their prey fully powered up. Only then could they savor the despair that would wash over their victims as they sucked the life out of them.

    WHOOooshhh¡­ sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As the energies swirling around Yennefer like an unstoppable cyclone finally settled down, the Golden-flaked Earth Dragons once again began to move. This was right around when some of the Trial Takers let out ear-piercing screams.

    CHOMP! CHOMP!

    In an instant, the Earth Dragons had somehow swallowed three more Trial Takers whole. Of those who had entered the Beast Emperor''s Cave, only nine remained. And of those, only three were in the Nascent Soul Realm.

    When faced with three Late Nascent Soul Realm monsters, things felt hopeless¡­

    Even Harlow¡ªthe strongest and most arrogant among them¡ªwas seen shaking like a leaf when the slitted, reptilian eyes of an Earth Dragon fell on him. Its forked tongue slithered out of its wide, bloody mouth as it lifted a leg, preparing to flash forward.

    "E-Everyone," Harlow hurriedly said while running for the exit, "cover me as I escape and find help! Hurry now!!"

    His two henchmen were forcefully pushed in the way of the Earth Dragons by him. But other than them, no one else risked their lives for the sake of someone who was clearly only out to save his own skin.

 Chapter 71 - 71: Death, Fire and Ice Fusion Wheel

    "Y...Young Master...! Ahhh!"

    "W-What did we do to deserve this, Young Master!? N-No, please¡ª!!"

    Two more shrill screams rang out as liters of blood splattered across the Gold and the Treasury Room.

    Horror engulfed the wills of many as they fled in the same direction that Harlow was heading in. Like previous times, the only ones who stayed behind were the stone-faced Yennefer, the murderous Cela, and the hesitant Yara.

    Luckily for them, this was the correct choice to make, for the Earth Dragons targeted the ones closest to the exit first. Cries and blood-curdling screams bounced off the walls for a few seconds before... coming to a complete stop.

    *Thud, Thud, Thud!*

    But with the slow, booming steps of the Earth Dragons serving as a grim reminder of impending doom, terror ran rampant inside of Yara. The hand she used to hold onto Yennefer''s robes shakily tightened, her terrified voice coming out accompanied by tremors:

    "I...I don''t want to die..." she mumbled, her breath heavy. "Y-Yenny... Please don''t let me die..."

    "Don''t worry," Yennefer said in a reassuring tone, gently rubbing her head. "I won''t let anything happen to you."

    ''Should I assist the floozy?'' Cela thought in the background, her eyes like bottomless abysses. ''Darling will be mad if I don''t¡ª''

    Before she could finish that thought:

    OOOM!

    Half of Yennefer''s long, flowing hair remained red, whereas the other half turned a light shade of blue. A radiant fire-and-ice ring formed behind her¡ªspinning at a size approximately four meters in length.

    The Fire and Ice Fusion Wheel!

    Like many other Manifestation Physiques, the Fire and Ice Fusion Wheel was one capable of being outwardly manifested¡ªan act that not only tripled one''s power when active but also reduced the strength of everyone in its vicinity.

    "Fire and Ice Wheel: 1st Fusion - Tundra Burn Circle!"

    A circle of fire and ice immediately spread out from Yennefer, surrounding the three Earth Dragons and trapping them inside it.

    Yet that wasn''t the end of her attacks...

    "Fire and Ice Wheel: 2nd Fusion - Infernal Frostbite!"

    SHA!

    Massive combinations of fire and ice materialized around the Earth Dragons in the form of needles. After tens of thousands of them came to be, they shot forward, penetrating the skin of the monsters. Though they didn''t sink very deep due to the toughness of their scales, it was still enough to send a chain reaction of fire and ice bursts throughout the outer skin layers of the Earth Dragons.

    "ROOOAAARGGHHH!!!"

    Their roars reverberated¡ªresonating with the incredible amount of pain they were feeling.

    Never in their long, arrogant lives had they ever believed that they''d one day be injured. And pain¡ªan unfamiliar sensation¡ªwas not one they liked one single bit. Fury consumed their slitted eyes as they erupted with an overbearing level of strength.

    ''Should I step in now?'' Cela asked herself, keeping the Dark Elements of her Oblivion''s Final Destination Physique on stand-by. ''No¡­ Not yet¡­ Darling wouldn''t want me to just yet¡­''

    WAAA!

    The ice and fire that covered the Earth Dragons were instantly extinguished. And except for the small freeze and burn marks, they were all but unharmed.

    "All that crying... over slight injuries like those...?"

    Yennefer was overcome with both disdain and a tinge of apprehension over the true strength of the Earth Dragons. Although what she used weren''t her most powerful attacks, they were sure as hell not her weakest.

    For a moment, she considered requesting the assistance of the one person she didn''t want help from. Cela did, after all, have a very powerful Heaven-ranked Physique that she obtained from the Spirit of what was once an extremely Formidable Cultivator of the Dark Arts.

    The Cultivator''s dying Spirit saw how talented Cela was the Darker Elements because of her proficiency with the ''Void Walker'' Inheritance Technique. This subsequently led to the Spirit giving everything it could give to her¡ªits inheritor¡ªbefore it eventually faded away into Oblivion.

    However, Yennefer was far too prideful to do something like request help from a b*tch like Cela¡­

    Taking her attention away from the matter was the trembling voice of her friend:

    "C-Can you really beat them, Yenny...?" Yara asked, attempting to drive away the doubt. "S...Shouldn''t we just run...??"

    Yennefer unsheathed her Treasured Sword, flaring the ice and fire elements inside it. She briefly looked at Yara, hesitation passing through her gaze for but the briefest of moments.

    In all honesty, she wasn''t the least bit confident that she''d be able to handle three Golden-flaked Earth Dragons by herself. But what other choice did she have?

    Asking for help from Cela Bonanier was even more impossible. Furthermore, it seemed like she herself was on the fence on whether to help or not; this could mean that asking would end up being a fruitless endeavor either way¡­

    Yara was the only other Trial Taker within a radius of thousands of miles, so no help was coming anytime soon. Furthermore, escape was impossible with the three angry lizards blocking the only entrance to the cave.

    Going deeper into the Treasury was certainly an option, but all it took was a quick Divine Sense scan for Yennefer to learn that a dead end was the only thing that lay ahead...

    This left only one option.

    "To stay and fight," Yennefer coldly said as she blurred forward. The spinning fire-and-ice wheel followed behind her before suddenly leaving her side and flying toward the Earth Dragons ahead. "For my sake and the sake of Yara, I have to use everything I have¡ªand I have to kill you."

    The Earth Dragons¡ªnaturally opposed to the fulfillment of this notion¡ªopened their maws wide. Rows of large, razor-sharp teeth were put on display¡ªand further back, beyond the teeth, spheres of golden light constantly gathered Innate Energy from the atmosphere.

    |Golden-flaked Annihilation Beam| X3

    These were the signature attacks of the Golden-flaked Earth Dragon Species. Attacks that had wiped out entire Clans in the past¡ªwhole Cities.

    Faced against such devastatingly powerful beam attacks, Yennefer shot forward. Like a bullet, she flew¡ªand upon reaching a distance of less than a hundred meters from the Earth Dragons, she tapped against the ground. Her body sprung upward, colliding with the Fire and Ice Ring-wheel that had become significantly larger before it sped ahead.

    RUMBLE!!

    Yennefer''s collision with the Fire and Ice Fusion Wheel made the whole cave shake. Stalactites fell from the ceiling and shattered against the ground, mixing with all of the Treasury''s loot. However, it was floating above the scattered debris and treasure where the greatest amount of brilliance originated¡ªone that outshone all the treasure in the vault.

    Following her collision with the Fire and Ice Fusion Wheel, Yennefer experienced a tremendous metamorphosis¡ªone that drastically altered her appearance. She grew horns from atop her forehead; hung around them were rings¡ªsome light blue and some red. These rings were also imbued with the element that matched their colors, adding an air of mystique that suffocated the less composed elements present.

    "This is..." Yara muttered in confusion as she witnessed horns and a swinging tail emerge from her friend. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Perhaps the whore can handle this, after all,'' Cela thought as she moved toward Yennefer''s general location. ''But just in case, I''ll stick close and join in if necessary. Darling would want it this way.''

    Her focus was entirely honed in on the one that would be most likely to hurt her Darling if harmed. This meant the more defenseless Yara was left out in the open¡­

    FWOOOOM!

    Yennefer''s Fire Fairy Wings received an upgrade, growing longer and larger¡ªalso appearing far more intimidating. Yet, this wasn''t all that had changed; her facial features also underwent a metamorphosis, somehow becoming even more beautiful and fierce.

    This was all a direct result of her fusion with the Fire and Ice Wheel, as this led to her body being heavily subjected to the non-harmful injection and infusion of high-density amounts of the Fire and Ice Elements.

    "Fire and Ice Fusion Wheel: 3rd and Final Fusion - Full Fusion Ultimatum!"

 Chapter 72 - 72: Never Again

    With the complete activation of the last move in the Fire and Ice Fusion Wheel Physique''s moveset, Yennefer exploded out with a mind-boggling level of brilliantly glowing blue and red energy.

    *Bam, Bam!*

    Because of the joint efforts of both the Golden-flaked Earth Dragons and Yennefer, the cave felt like it was on the verge of collapse. Golden coins jingled and were tossed around, with high-quality pills being juggled like common, everyday trash.

    However, in that moment¡ªfor the two opposing sides¡ªit was as if everything outside of their battle had ceased to exist.

    And for an instant¡ªwhen three simultaneous beams of destructive golden energy and Yennefer clashed¡ªtime seemed to come to a stop. A total freeze-point moment¡ªone that mirrored the rapid coalescence of the golden beams and Yennefer''s Treasured Sword. A powerful Early Sky-rank weapon fully capable of withstanding and utilizing the complete extent of its owner''s new form and fusion power.

    Yet¡­

    CRACKA¡ªBOOOOOM!!!

    Following a huge explosion that sent Yara flying backward and gold coins into oblivion, it became abundantly clear who the winner of their short, breath-stopping exchange was.

    *Kuk! Kuk!*

    Coughing up blood, a badly injured Yennefer knelt against her glistening icy-blue sword. From it, one could see the look of immense disappointment painted across its owner''s bloodied face.

    Disappointment that originated from her inability to keep her promise to Yara. A promise that had yet to be broken but would soon be, for she knew precisely what came next.

    Yara knew it too¡­ S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''I should back up the b*tch now¡­ ??? Wait¡­!''

    Before Cela could move on her intuition, she saw something that stopped her in her tracks.

    "Y-Yinny¡­" Yara despairingly murmured while reaching her hand out in Yennefer''s direction. "It''ll¡­ It''ll be okay¡­ It''s not your faul¡ª"

    "!!!"

    Before Yennefer could muster up the strength to stop it from happening, it was already far too late¡­

    CHOMP!

    Shadowing the cruel, gruesome sight before her, all the color in Yennefer''s face washed away. An empty husk she became, with one of the last things anchoring her to any sort of emotion vanishing forever. Leaving this world right before her eyes¡ªas if mocking her for being unable to do a single damn thing to prevent it from happening.

    *Crunch, Crunch.*

    After finishing up their snack, the Earth Dragons ominously approached the last surviving humans. Freshly drawn blood still dripped from their mouths as their massive shadows loomed over the distraught Yennefer and the stunned Cela.

    Then it happened.

    *Drop!*

    A drop.

    A warm, crimson-colored drop of blood.

    And along with it the entire world came crashing down on Yennefer. No longer able to prop herself up anymore, she collapsed to the cold, hard floor. Short, bated breaths left her mouth in slow-burst succession.

    The reality of it all was still settling in¡ªa reality that she so much wanted to be a nightmare.

    But no. This was her reality. The result of being too useless to keep something as simple as a promise. The result of being too¡­ weak.

    ''The Whor¡­ Yennefer¡­''

    Cela made a mistake. Had a lapse in judgement.

    She got so caught up with Yennefer''s situation that she completely overlooked the existence of the other person¡­

    But now, it no longer mattered. The damage was done. There was no turning back time.

    She could only hope that this didn''t damage her relationship with her Darling any more than it already was¡­

    ''Weakness.'' Yennefer''s thoughts began to spiral, her pupils and irises darkening. ''It''s a sin. A primordial sin. And because of my own weakness, one of the only things keeping me grounded¡ªdied.''

    "Never again," were the words that left her blood-filled mouth. "Never again."

    OOOM!

    Just as a Golden-flaked Earth Dragon went to devour its next delectable piece of prey, a massive eruption of Fire and Ice Elements volcanoed out from Yennefer. It pushed back all three of the monsters, sending them smashing into a golden-plated wall. Huge dents formed where they hit¡ªand those dents only became larger and larger as the incomprehensible aura leaking from Yennefer increased in intensity.

    Wishing to rectify some of her mistakes, Cela lashed out with a shadowy, tendril-covered blade. But upon seeing the tremendous changes occurring to Yennefer, she stopped herself.

    Now that things had come to this, it was best to see how things played out until she really had no choice but to interfere¡­

    "ROOOAAARGGHHH!!"

    The Earth Dragons eventually broke through the pressure pushing them into the wall, but by that point, the source of the pressure had already solidified herself¡ªher newfound power.

    A Heaven-ranked Physique.

    The Yin-Yang Elemental Frame Physique.

    It was born as a result of Yennefer''s emotions surging out of control. Moreover, it was the upgraded version of the Fire and Ice Fusion Wheel. This meant that its power was not only of similar origins but also a direct improvement, meaning that adjusting to the Physique took no time at all.

    "Never again," Yennefer repeated like a broken track record, her face shrouded by grimly conceived shadows. "Never again."

    WAAA!!

    Blue, red, and black rings materialized above her head, each representing a higher synchronicity with the Elements of Fire and Ice as well as the¡­ Law of Death. Together, the power they emanated was enough to make the Golden-flaked Earth Dragons feel something. Something other than pain or arrogance. Or the thrill of the hunt.

    Fear.

    Genuine fear.

    They feared not the cultivation base of Yennefer or even her newly evolved Physique. Rather, it was the lack of humanity and emotion seen on her darkened face that truly frightened the Earth Dragons.

    It was as if the frail human girl before them was willing to go to any lengths in order to make sure¡­ she was the last one standing.

    Then Yennefer blurred.

    Reacting on instinctual fear, the Golden-flaked Earth Dragons darted their eyes around. But in the end, their attempts at locating her bore no fruit.

    However, it was when they blinked that something changed. Not just physically¡ªit was the atmosphere that changed. And from this change emerged a searing chilliness that bombarded the Earth Dragons from all sides.

    By the time they realized what had happened, pillars of flames and glaciers of ice had already trapped them in place. They struggled but knew within an instant that they were immobilized. And it was in that instant that a sword slash containing the slightest sliver of Death Law pierced through the middle¡ªthrough the Fire and Ice attacks.

    "ROAAAAGHH¡ª!!"

    Accompanied by an ear-splitting, anguished roar was the death of the middle-most Earth Dragon. Its head had exploded like a watermelon, with the rest of its body going limp. A Nascent Soul tried to escape, but a string of Death Law erased it from existence.

    "Never again," Yennefer said coldly, her robotically moving figure phasing in and out of the stream of volatile elements. Using them as camouflage, she remained hidden. And all while firing off sword slash after sword slash at the last two Earth Dragons.

 Chapter 73 - 73: Go Away, Demon!

    Killing the first Earth Dragon had taken a lot out of Yennefer; after all, the Death Law was an extremely taxing Law to utilize. It was because of this that she resorted to less lethal but still very powerful attacks¡ªones that took far less out of her.

    ''She actually managed to kill one¡­'' Cela thought in slight astonishment. ''Tragedy did this¡­?''

    The agonizing roars of the Earth Dragons echoed out until they finally couldn''t take it anymore. They bubbled up in rage, shattering the flame pillars and the ice glaciers in one go. Unfettered, they dashed forward, breaking the sound barrier millions of times over.

    While doing so, they burned through their life force. This caused their bodies to light ablaze with a golden flame that spun beautifully, following the spiraling movement they performed in an attempt to maximize their speed and destructive power.

    SHA! SHA! SHA!

    Beams of golden annihilation light repeatedly shot out of the mouths of the two Earth Dragons, though this didn''t slow their advance one bit.

    They blazed toward Yennefer, melting gold coins and cracking Spirit Stones in the process. The material that made up the Vault''s roof and floor visibly melted in straight, ever-expanding drilled lines¡ªperfectly matching the trajectories of the Earth Dragons.

    Yennefer¡ªglitching in and out of reality¡ªemotionlessly waved her hands. Spears made of Fire and Ice materialized all around her, each spinning at several times the speed of light.

    She waved her hand forward, sending out all of the Fire and Ice spears at once.

    SHING! SHING! sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The elemental spears did little to halt or even slow down the Earth Dragons'' crazy spiraling. They did, however, work well as effective smoke screens when they clashed against the golden flames. This subsequently made Yennefer blend in even more, allowing for an effortless transition of positions as she left behind an afterimage holding a trace of her aura.

    Not knowing any better, the Earth Dragons attacked the afterimage. Yet, their charge didn''t stop there, as they crashed into a golden wall. A massive, endless hole was drilled into it, with the Earth Dragons seemingly lost inside.

    However, it was then that the Protectors of Beast Emperor Dracon turned back. Another huge hole was drilled through the golden wall.

    BOOOM!

    The Earth Dragons burst through a hole, debris flying everywhere. Evident by the fury on their sinuous faces, they had figured out Yennefer''s little trick. Now they were mad.

    Extremely mad.

    SWOOOOSH¡ª!

    An extremely fast and unexpected beam of golden light shot out of the tail of one of the golden dragons. It was so random that Yennefer couldn''t properly react in time. She threw up Fire and Ice-element defensive spells as a last resort, but she knew they wouldn''t hold.

    Yet, just as she braced herself for a tremendous impact, a portal of darkness appeared in front of her. It absorbed the golden beam''s energy within nanoseconds before vanishing without a trace.

    "???"

    Yennefer had been so zoned out that she totally forgot about the other survivor among their group. She looked over and saw a pink-haired woman putting away the extremely volatile void energy she kept at the ready.

    The two of them locked eyes before coming to a mutual silent agreement. They then jointly charged the Golden-Flaked Earth Dragons.

    And for hours¡ªthe better part of a day¡ªthe two sides fought. They clashed, bled, and eventually¡­ one side came out on top.

    ¡ª Outside the cave entrance to Beast Emperor Dracon''s stashed-away treasury ¡ª

    *Snore¡ª!*

    The snoring of a lazy fellow sleeping on a tall tree rang loud and clear. He was peacefully napping with a small girl on his head until the sudden sound of footsteps caused his ears to twitch. A single eye opened as the lazy fellow peeked at the cave''s entrance.

    ''So she won in the end, huh?'' Knox thought, a small smile forming. ''I was deliberating going to help, but seeing as how she left victorious, I guess things worked out just fine.''

    Attracted by the small commotion produced by the birth of a Heaven-rank Physique, Knox Falazar¡ªour intrepid protagonist¡ªdecided to take a peeksie. This happened some time after Yara''s untimely demise, which meant he arrived too late.

    He felt a little bad about that, but after a few seconds of thought, he started to view the whole grim experience as a pivotal moment for his fianc¨¦e. One that would surely evolve her not only as a person but also as a striver for greater character development.

    ''Don''t much like the b*tch,'' Knox thought. ''But that doesn''t change the fact that she''s my fianc¨¦e. And seeing how my father cares about our marriage alliance, that means I too care about it.''

    ''And you can''t very well have a marriage without the bride, now can you?'' he continued with a small inward chuckle, his eyes still tracking the slow movements of his wife-to-be. ''It''s good that she survived, but I wonder just how long she''s going to be walking around all gloomy like that. If she stays this way forever, our time as newlyweds will really depress the hell out of me¡­''

    Shaking his head with a sigh, Knox neutrally watched as Yennefer gradually disappeared. She then vanished without a trace, having left with half of all of Beast Emperor Dracon''s loot.

    But at the same time, a piece of herself was left behind¡ªone that she''d never be able to retrieve.

    "I suppose I should really work on her in the future," Knox said. "If not, my dreams of having a sweet and affectionate sugar momma catering to all my needs and keeping me away from the spotlight will be just that¡ªa dream."

    That was when he felt it¡ªan obsessive gaze suspiciously surveying the surroundings¡ªseemingly searching for something¡­ or someone.

    ''Oh, sh*t, it''s that crazy b*tch!'' Knox thought as he hurriedly ducked his head, activating all his camouflage abilities.

    ''Please go away! Please go away! Please go away!'' he chanted as if he were warding away inner demons.

    Eventually, his prayers were answered. Cela coldly harrumphed before leaving as a blur, her blood-stained body breezing into the wind.

    A few minutes passed by quickly. Knox stayed on that tree the entire time, aimlessly meandering about in his own thoughts. However, realizing that the coast was clear, he departed from the scene¡ªsilent as a fleeting ghost.

    From that point onward, time inside the Devilstar Secret Realm passed by rather fast.

 Chapter 74 - 74: The World Serpent, Grand Guardian of Pandora

    ¡ª Hours Before the End of the 1st Trial ¡ª

    This entire time, Knox had been desperately searching for a fitting Core Formation Cultivation Technique.

    ''One suitable for a Cripple who''s trying to get back on his legs,'' he thought. ''You get it? Back on his legs¡ªbecause a cripple can''t walk!''

    "Ha! Anyway," he said aloud, looking between the dozen-plus Beast Emperors that had him surrounded. "The cultivation technique I''ve been attempting to find turned out to be right under my nose. Possessed by the big booty Momma Sita right over there!"

    Pointing at an Egyptian-like woman standing next to the Cobra Empress, Knox burst out laughing.

    "What was your name again? The Torrential Empress or something?? Well, whatever your name is, you have something that I want. Hand it over now, and I might just consider sparing your life and have you serve as my maid-servant!"

    "Wait¡­" he paused dramatically. "How good is your foot-rubbing technique? Because for me, that''s a very crucial aspect when deciding who are best fit to be my maid-servants¡ª"

    SHING!

    "Woah now, beautiful," Knox said, blurring through a sand elemental attack aimed to cut off his head. "I know how much you probably want this face all to yourself, but violence is not the right way to go about getting what you want!"

    "This human is just as annoying as you told me he was," said the Torrential Empress, calming the active Sand Elements swirling around her yellow staff-sword. "His cultivation is also really only at the Half-step Core Formation Realm. It makes me wonder why you called us all together to take care of him. Couldn''t you have just done it yourself?"

    "I would''ve if I could," Cobra Empress replied, throwing venomous glares at Knox. "But this audacious worm is extremely good at slipping away. It was with this ability of his that he kidnapped my precious daughter¡ªof whom he has yet to show me since the kidnapping!"

    "Jeez, lady," Knox said, waving his hand dismissively. "You''re acting like you''re mother of the year or something. That poor girl was kept in a damn basement her entire life, for God''s sake!"

    Cobra Empress''s aura violently flared, but she restrained herself from moving too hastily. They were, after all, floating over the territory of one of the most terrifying entities in Pandora¡ª

    The World Serpent.

    More specifically, above the World Serpent''s head.

    "What do you know??" Cobra Empress spat back, controlling her temper. "You''re just a measly human! In fact, instead of requesting something from us, you should be groveling on the ground, begging that we spare your worthless life!"

    Knox''s expression suddenly turned very dark.

    "Request?" he repeated. "My dear, I wasn''t requesting anything. And unless you tell that friend of yours to hand over what I want, I''ll have to strip it from her by force. By then, I might accidentally strip more than just the Technique Manual."

    "You''d dare!?"

    The Torrential Empress''s anger flared. But upon noticing a slight rustling come from the giant moss-covered landmass below, she bit her lip and restrained herself.

    "Pssh!" Knox sneered. "Do I dare!? I dare to do a whole lot more than just that! Like that big guy down below, for example¡ªyou lot are scared of him, aren''t ya?"

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    "Don''t you dare¡ª!!"

    "Oh, I dare, alright!" Knox said laughingly. "I told you as much already, haven''t I!?"

    OOOOM!!

    "I FUCKING DARE!!!"

    RUMBLE!!

    The giant moss-covered landmass below was suddenly hit by one of Knox''s full-powered attacks¡ªan attack capable of slaying Beast Emperors¡ªthe same attack that vanquished the Gator Emperor not too long ago.

    Yet¡­

    "No damage," Knox laughed self-deprecatingly while watching the moss-covered landmass stretch into the skies. "Well, just one look at your System Interface is enough to tell me that an all-out strike of mine registers as little more than a bug bite for you."

    {[The World Serpent, Grand Guardian of Pandora]}

    [Cultivation: Half-step Void Refining Realm]

    [Age: 10,000+]

    [Main Technique: Supreme Devourer (Half-Saint)]

    ¡ª[Shortly after the Unorthodox Devilstar created Pandora, he decided that he needed something that would uphold order in his world. This was when he synthesized the DNA of a Lesser Soaring Serpent and an Inferior Legion Devourer¡ªboth Mythical Demonic Beasts. The result of this abominable act against mother nature was the birth of the World Serpent, the Grand Guardian of Pandora.]

    [Secret Information: The World Serpent was specially taught one of the Unorthodox Devilstar''s personal techniques¡ªthe Supreme Devourer Half-Saint Technique¡ªone of the Legacy Techniques of the LEGION.] sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''The Legion, huh?'' Knox mused to himself while nonchalantly dodging another Sand Element sword arc.

    "What a weasel!" shouted the Torrential Empress.

    Though, within mere moments, her anger quickly turned into fear. The eyes of the Devil had locked onto her, making her feel as if even her very soul could be extracted from her on a whim.

    "T-The World Serpent¡­" one of the Beast Emperors quivered in sheer terror as he pointed his trembling finger at the massive pair of primordial slitted eyes staring down at all of them.

    "Oh?"

    Slowly turning his head around, Knox saw something that would likely be engraved into his memories for the rest of his life. A colossal head the size of multiple planets, with a pair of world-sized eyes seizing control over his ability to entertain resistance.

    One second of staring at that behemoth was enough for Knox to understand just how truly insignificant he actually was. It was unlike when he first encountered the Seven-headed Basilisk or the Cobra Empress; this was a difference in power that exceeded all reason.

    Let alone a flick¡ªeven a thought would be more than sufficient to permanently erase him¡­

    It was this feeling, this sort of insurmountable strength, that led to Knox''s following series of actions:

    *Thud!*

    "Big Master World Serpent!" he shouted at the top of his lungs while kneeling on thin air. "Please accept ten bows from this lowly one! I kneel only for my parents, but for you, I''ve made a terribly difficult decision! I just hope¡­ I just hope that you can find it in your large heart to accept this trash as a disciple¡­!"

    *Bang! Bang! Bang!*

 Chapter 75 - 75: Half-Saint Technique Comprehensions

    *Bang! Bang! Bang!*

    Knox banged his head against solidified air, making the act convincing as hell.

    He pulled no punches!

    World Serpent: "...."

    While everyone else shuddered and shivered, struggling to do as little as gaze upon his true form, there was one person¡ªa human¡ªwho neither cowered nor fled like two of the Beast Emperors had done.

    An interesting human.

    Speaking in a tone that sounded as if it came from ancient times, the World Serpent asked, "You want to become my Disciple?"

    *Bang! Bang!*

    "More than anything else in the world, oh mighty Big Master!" Knox replied, his forehead bloodied. "I''ll do anything! You want your enemies gutted and slain? I''m your man! You want your buddy snake''s wife? Don''t worry, I''ll snatch her up without hesitation! Do you desire the tender flesh of this fair maiden over here?? Just watch as I obtain it for you¡ª"

    "That''s enough."

    Stopping right away, Knox hit his head against the air several more times. "Of course, Master Big Snake!"

    Silence¡­

    ''Come on! Bite the bait!'' Knox thought, readying himself to activate an Escape Talisman the moment things went south. ''You can see it, can''t you!? My potential!? My Saint-ranked Foundation!?? These other losers can''t, but I know you can!''

    Exhaling deeply, the World Serpent''s archaic voice sounded once more:

    "I''ll accept you as a Disciple¡ªmy first Disciple¡ªbut before that¡­ you must prove yourself."

    Knox inwardly smirked, though outwardly, he beamed. "Whatever you wish of me, Master! Just name it and it shall be done!"

    The World Serpent''s enormous forked tongue briefly left its mouth. On the very end of it was a torn-up, charred black book¡ªone that flew off the retracting tongue and landed in Knox''s hands. He curiously opened it up, only to have his eyes widen in euphoric surprise.

    "This is the first of two parts to the Half-Saint Technique that my God left behind for me prior to his disappearance," said the World Serpent. "If you can comprehend even 0.1% of it before the second Trial begins, then you''ll officially become my First Disciple. However, if you can''t comprehend the percentage I ask of you, then¡­ you shall become my next meal."

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Although the Beast Emperors weren''t the ones most affected by the World Serpent''s words, they still felt their Primordial Souls shiver. A couple of them even felt like their Martial Wills had been damaged.

    Knox, on the other hand, never faltered. Even as his whole existence was shaken to its core¡ªand even as blood leaked from all orifices¡ªhis gaze never left the two massive, slitted eyes looking down at him.

    "Interesting¡­" was all the World Serpent said before restraining himself. "Go ahead and begin comprehending. The first Trial ends in approximately 18 hours, so you have until then to prove that you''re a Disciple worth having. If not, in my stomach is where you''ll take your final breath."

    "Understood, Master!" Knox shouted through bloodied teeth, his smile as dazzling as the sun. "This lowly Disciple won''t disappoint!"

    *Hssssss¡­*

    "We''ll see about that."

    ¡ª A Few Minutes Later ¡ª

    Finally calming their nerves enough to think rationally, the Beast Emperors who were initially too stunned to escape when they had the chance now felt like fools. The World Serpent''s sinuous gaze was now locked onto them as well, watching their every move¡ªseemingly waiting for one of them to try fleeing.

    A decent appetizer was all they''d become.

    It was this realization that made many of them seriously regret ever listening to the Cobra Empress. She spoke of the rampant human possessing secrets that would surely entice them, but little did they know that greedily pursuing those secrets was what led to them facing the fine line between life and death.

    All eyes fell on the Cobra Empress.

    Begrudged, she whispered, "Don''t think that this is solely my fault. Remember, each and every one of you agreed to my proposal without giving it a second thought. Just like me, you all want to become strong enough to defy the tyranny of the three Supreme Beast Emperors. And this young human¡­ He might just be the key to making that far-fetched dream a reality."

    The brows of many furrowed.

    "You can''t honestly believe that we still have a chance of benefiting from this, can you, Cobra?" the Torrential Empress asked with a touchy tone. "The World Serpent has already awakened. And whether the human performs a miracle and successfully does what the World Serpent wants him to or not, we''ll still likely be devoured! You, more so than anyone, should know precisely what happens to those who disrupt the World Serpent''s slumber: after all, your greedy mother did that exact thing some years ago. And you''re aware of what her fate wound up being."

    A hush consumed the tense atmosphere surrounding the Beast Emperors as Cobra Empress controlled herself as best she could.

    Holding her tongue, she said with a shadowy face, "There''s a third outcome that you aren''t considering."

    "And what would that be?" asked a Middle Soul Formation Realm Rhino Emperor.

    "If the weasel human is lucky enough to fulfill the World Serpent''s request, we can then¡­ and then we can do¡­"

    Cobra Empress elaborated on her plan while keeping her voice low. And because of Knox''s deep state of comprehension, he was unable to tune into what they were saying.

    However, even if he could hear them, it was unlikely that he''d do anything more than scoff and dash away their aspirations with just a single slap.

    But regardless of what ifs, Cobra Empress finished explaining the plan before she and the others stood back and patiently waited to see the result of Knox''s comprehension session.

    And to make things more confusing¡ªcontrary to what one would naturally assume, they were not hoping for the outcome that made the most sense as Ops of Knox.

    Rather, they were praying to all the Gods above that he''d succeed. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡ª 17 Hours Later ¡ª

    Unfortunately for their already fragile hearts, after the passing of seventeen hours, Knox''s defeated expression and the words that left his mouth had their hearts palpitating:

    "I''m sorry, Master, but I couldn''t do it¡­ I''m too useless¡­"

    *Hssssss¡­*

    "Just tell me how much of the Technique you comprehended," the World Serpent demanded with a calm rasp. "I''ll decide what to do with you from there."

    Knox hung his head low, ashamed.

    "I''m absolutely mortified, Master, but I couldn''t master the Supreme Devourer Technique in the allotted time¡­ O-Only 2% of it was comprehended¡­ P¡­Please punish this incompetent Disciple!"

    Silence¡­

 Chapter 76 - 76: Slaughtering the Beast Emperors

    Whether it was the Beast Emperors or the World Serpent, they all stared at the ridiculous human with blank faces.

    Surely they heard wrong, right?

    Asking again, the World Serpent said, "Do not lie to me, boy. How much have you really comprehended of the Supreme Devourer Technique? I''ll know if you''re lying this time. And you know the consequences if I find out that''s the case."

    A golden-green glow formed in the colossal snake''s eyes as it activated |Falsity Sight|¡ªa very useful Heaven-rank Martial Skill capable of seeing through any falsehoods. Of course, it was only effective against those of a similar or lesser Cultivation.

    Knox shook his head, disappointed in himself. "I''m sorry for lying to you before, Master. You see, the truth is¡­ that I rounded up¡­! The genuine extent of my comprehension caps at 1.96%! Please severely punish this useless one!"

    "...." "...." "...."

    The World Serpent''s sparkling eyes remained unresponsive. "You speak the truth¡­ But to achieve what you say you have in such a short period of time, Saint¡­ Saint-ranked Affinity¡­?"

    That was the one quality that he couldn''t previously ascertain. But now¡ªwith the most recent display of talent¡ªthe truth was revealed.

    To have a Saint-ranked Foundation was already something to awe at. Add on what could be a Saint-ranked Potential, and you had the makings of a heavenly genius. Include a Saint-ranked Affinity into the mix, and the Saint-ranked Potential became official.

    Have all three Prospects, and you got yourself a bonafide freak.

    The Beast Emperors were too shocked to even get out a single word. Although they had no idea exactly how difficult it was to comprehend the |Supreme Devourer| Technique, they knew that it was harder to learn than their best Techniques¡ªones that took at least a few months to reach the 1.5% mark.

    Just what sort of genius was this human¡­?

    With a longer-than-normal hiss, the World Serpent''s body fully uncurled. He reached a height multiple times higher than before, his pose even more domineering.

    "Human child," he said, his voice deep and resonant. "Are you willing to become my Disciple?"

    Knox feigned surprise as he shot his bloody head up. "You''d really have my useless self as a Disciple of someone as mighty and magnanimous as you!?"

    The World Serpent quietly stared at him. Unknown thoughts ran through his mind before he replied, "Yes. From this day forth, you''ll be my one and only Disciple."

    Knox erupted in tearful laughter. "I can''t believe my dream is coming true! I''m going to be the 1st Disciple of Big Master Snake¡­!!"

    "Yes¡­."

    For some unusual reason, the World Serpent felt like something was off. However, after concluding nothing tangible, his string of thoughts was forgone. He then slithered his tongue, spitting out another black book¡ªthis one having two entwined golden stars on the cover.

    "!!!"

    "This is the second part of the Supreme Devourer Technique; comprehend them both. But fully learn the first half first."

    ''So easy!?'' Knox thought, finding it difficult to control his excitement. ''I expected it to take multiple visits across dozens of years in order to acquire the second half! To think it was so simple!''

    *Ding!*

    [A small-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped from the Half-step Void Refining Realm World Serpent after experiencing staggering levels of astonishment!]

    [Strength +108,500,000]

    [Agility +290,320,000]

    [Mind +65,870,000]

    [Affinity +600,000]

    X16 more

    ''Oh, so that''s why,'' Knox thought, slapping a fist against a palm. ''And as it turns out, bringing astonishment out of someone gives not just a single Attribute¡ªit gives all of them. Though, this does make me curious as to which other emotions also spawn the most Attribute Orb types.

    But for now, simply knowing how lucrative eliciting astonishment was more than good enough. After all, of all emotions, anger and surprise were the easiest to make people feel.

    "Big Master, this lowly one thanks you for your divine generosity!" Knox shouted with cupped fists. "I just hope that you won''t ever lose this part of you over time. You are, after all, getting up there in years."

    "...." "...." "...."

    Everyone was rendered speechless.

    "...Yes¡­" was the only thing the World Serpent could say in response to such a well-disguised insult. "Anyway, human child, what is your name?"

    "It''s Bob, Big Master!"

    "Bob?" Everyone parroted in confusion.

    ''I don''t know enough of this world, so being super cautious is very much a necessity,'' Knox thought while wearing a wide, friendly smile. ''After I take this old fart''s shit and run for the hills, he might just be able to use a curse skill or something that works if you know someone''s name. Can''t have that, now can I?''

    With a sly inward smirk, Knox saluted like a commanding officer. "Bob Bishop reporting for duty, Big Master! Just give the word, and I''ll capture all the freshly-worn panties this world has to offer!" S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "...That won''t be necessary¡­"

    "Understood, Big Master!"

    ''This human child is¡­''

    Really f*cking weird!

    As the World Serpent began to doubt his rushed decision to take Knox as a Disciple, said man pulled out his invisible watch.

    "Well, would ya look at the time?" he said. "It''s booze-drinking o''clock!"

    "Booze-drinking o''clock?" asked the archaic serpentine entity. "What hour of the day is that?"

    Knox grinned. "It''s every hour, haha!"

    Silence¡­

    "...I see¡­"

    Ever since meeting this strange human child, the World Serpent found himself becoming increasingly helpless in battles involving words.

    "Anyhoo, I really must get going," Knox said. "You know alcohol¡ªit waits for no man!"

    "Wa-Wait, generous Young Master!"

    One of the Beast Emperors called out. It was the Torrential Empress¡ªthe same crazy b*tch who had tried taking off his head on more than one occasion.

    Knox''s eyes narrowed.

    His kind smile flashed forward, and in an instant¡ªwhile her guard was down¡ªhe sliced through Torrential Empress''s neck. He then took advantage of the surprised states of everyone else and cut off the heads of all except for Cobra Empress¡ªa busty woman who he intentionally left alive.

    The Nascent Souls of the deceased Beast Emperors attempted to escape, but without letting them make it even ten feet, Knox slashed out.

    SHING! SHING!

 Chapter 77 - 77: |Dragon Lords Heavenly Requiem|

    SHING! SHING!

    The Beast Emperors permanently died, with their loot flying to Knox. Yet, that wasn''t the end of his onslaught. Another slash crisply divided the air.

    "Y-You¡­!" Cobra Empress staggered back and forth, holding the bloody stump that used to be her left arm. A grimace formed as the adrenaline wore off.

    "Me what, my dear?" Knox asked with an unassuming smile. "You''re acting like those beasties were your friends or something. We both know that they weren''t; in fact, I highly doubt you have anyone you can call a friend. A heartless b*tch through and through. Even I have a friend, ha!"

    For some reason, the World Serpent and Cobra Empress found that extremely hard to believe.

    "What?? I really do!" Knox said defensively. "Me and Alcohol¡ªour bond is iron-tight! So tight, in fact, that your loose hole can''t even begin to compare!"

    "YOU¡ª!!!"

    *Fwooop!*

    "Woah now," Knox said as he blurred through Cobra Empress''s defenses. "If you''re going to lose your temper, at least be smart about it. If not, you might just find yourself face-to-face with a pervert."

    *Slap!*

    A slap that could be felt in the souls of women all over the world. Cobra Empress hadn''t even seen it coming, but when the stinging sensation from her left buttcheek created a large red handprint, you can sure as hell bet she felt it.

    From top to toe, electric currents coursed throughout her body. It had her jumping forward and landing on the air in a very ''risqu¨¦'' position.

    Knox shook his head in disappointment. And while clicking his tongue, he spun Cobra Empress''s Attribute Orbs atop his index finger.

    "I had no idea your morals were as loose as your hole was," he said with disdain. "All it took was a single slap for you to get on all fours¡ªbutt raised my way and everything. Also, I''m sorry to disappoint, but you''re just not doing it for me. Maybe if you cover your face with a paper bag or something, that gagging urge I get when I look at you will go away. Then I can satisfy you like the pig in heat that you are!"

    "FUCKER!!!"

    Several veins on Cobra Empress''s forehead ruptured, causing blood to spray out of the open wounds. Her eyes then rolled into the back of her head as she passed out due to anger overload.

    "Jeez, I even have thirsty women falling head over heels for me now," Knox commented as he watched Cobra Empress''s unconscious figure plummet to the earth below. "Who could''ve guessed I was such a charming specimen?"

    *Ding!*

    [A medium-sized Attribute Orb pile has dropped as a result of successfully angering 9 Beast Emperors and severely angering a different Beast Emperor!]

    [Strength +6,500,000]

    [Agility +7,870,000]

    [Intelligence +2,400,000]

    [Strength +4,120,000]

    X36 more¡­

    ''Mostly Strength, Agility, and Intelligence from angering people, huh?'' Knox mused to himself before looking at the remaining System Notifications.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain 9 Beast Emperors of the Early and Middle Soul Formation Realm!]

    [A medium-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [Affinity +21,700]

    [Strength +13,180,000]

    [Agility +14,200,000]

    [Perception +7,930,000]

    [Energy +26,000,000] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    X59 more¡­

    World Serpent: "...."

    "Human child Bob Bishop¡ª"

    "Who?" Knox asked. "Wait, oh yeah, that''s me. What do you want from me, Big Master? Just name it, and it shall be yours or whatever."

    Silence¡­

    "...Human child, why did you do that just now?" asked the World Serpent with a twitching expression. "Why did you kill them?"

    Knox pointed fingers, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. While bagging all the loot he just borrowed, he victimized his defense story:

    "You see, Master, those beastie bastards were blazing perverts and stalkers!" He began dramatically. "They''ve been chasing me nonstop for days on end, after not only my purity but my soul and possessions as well!"

    "Also," he added. "They eat babies, so yeah. I had to do what I had to do. For someone as benevolent and big-hearted as you, Big Master¡ªI''m sure you understand."

    *HSSSSSSssss¡­*

    "Well, no matter," said the World Serpent. "They were of little consequence to me. However, of what you took from them, there was something that belonged to an old friend of mine."

    "An old friend?"

    "Yes," answered the World Serpent. "He visited this world long ago¡ªhis strength surpassing even my own. From what he told me, he came from the ''Azura Empire,'' which is what I know to be a powerful human faction."

    ''Yeah, you could say that,'' Knox thought to himself, hesitant to reveal the fact that he originated from that Empire. ''Better to be safe than sorry. This old fart could be testing to see if I''m on friendly terms with the Azura Empire, only to then reveal that he abhors said Empire! Gotta stay cautious, yep, yep.''

    "Regardless, this friend of mine brought with him many mysterious items," said the World Serpent. "One of such items is now in your possession."

    Under the thinned eyes of the goliath, Knox felt compelled to take out the item he wanted to see.

    ''How does he do that?'' Knox asked himself as his body seemingly moved on its own. ''Must be some sort of evolutionary ability of the Primordial Soul once it reaches completion. At least, that''s my working theory.''

    After taking out the Core Formation Realm cultivation manual that he originally wanted from Cobra Empress, the World Serpent unveiled its name and nature:

    "It''s called |Dragon Lord''s Heavenly Requiem|," he said with a deep, resonant voice. "The old friend I spoke of was known as the Dragon Lord, for he assimilated with the blood of a Lesser Dragon and became half-dragon himself. He was then forced to begin his cultivation anew. But, knowing of this beforehand, he created a number of cultivation techniques for each of the Major Realms while at his peak.

    "Furthermore," the World Serpent continued, "I dare say this friend came close to rivaling even my God himself. At least before God ascended to higher heights upon breaking through the Void Refining Realm. This also meant that the cultivation techniques he created were top-class. But of those, he left only one behind in this world, its location unknown even to myself. Dragon Lord said it would meet its destined user one day¡ªa user that was not the Beast Empress you killed."

 Chapter 78 - 78: The Top 10 in the Trial, Get in the Sack!

    "Human child," said the World Serpent, his killing intent suffocating everything for millions of miles on end. "If you hadn''t taken care of that undeserving thief, I would''ve done it myself. But seeing as you did, I think |Dragon Lord''s Heavenly Requiem| now rightfully belongs to you. Cultivate it well."

    A jaded black slab flew into Knox''s grasp. Engraved on it was a complete Core Formation Realm cultivation technique of the Half-Saint Rank.

    ''Dragon Lord''s Heavenly Requiem,'' he thought excitedly, transmitting its contents to his brain right away. ''What an amazing technique!''

    "Thank you very much, Big Master!" Knox said, his smile reaching both of his ears. "This lowly, stupid, incompetent, useless trash will try his best to live up to your expectations!"

    "...Yes¡­"

    Seeing as he might just decide later that it would be less of a hassle to simply devour his troublesome disciple, the World Serpent turned his massive head to the north. There, a huge crack in space was in the process of opening.

    "Disciple Bob¡ª"

    "Who?" Knox asked. "Oh yeah, silly me, always forgetting my god-given name."

    "...Human child," the World Serpent said in exasperation. "The 1st Trial will be ending any second now. And as an Otherworlder, your primary goal should be doing whatever it takes to reach the 3rd Trial and place 1st. But do be cautioned, the next Trial will be held in a hidden layer of space in Pandora. Moreover, it will be a Trial heavily related to breaking through to the Soul Formation Realm. As you aren''t even of the Core Formation Realm, you''ll naturally be at a disadvantage. Yet, even if that may be the case, your combat strength is more absurd than anything I''ve seen before. So very, very absurd."

    "Thanks, Big Master!" Knox exclaimed. "I try my best to live up to your esteemed reputation!"

    "...Sure¡­" The World Serpent dodged the subject. "I''ve gauged the fellow Otherworlders who came with you when you awakened me. They''re not short of talent¡ªand with their cultivation being far higher than yours¡ªit would be wise of you to be astute in the following two Trials."

    "With my |Supreme Devourer| Technique, you should be able to better stand your ground," he continued. "But still¡­"

    "You worry too much, Big Master," Knox waved his hand dismissively. "They''re just a bunch of kiddos. Bend them over one knee and slap them on the buttocks, and they''ll behave themselves. It''s as simple as that."

    *Silence¡­*

    "...Okay, you should really be going now," said the World Serpent in a hurried tone. "Like now, now."

    "But Big Master¡ª" Knox tried to say before being forcefully teleported by the space crack that opened up tens of millions of miles away.

    "Good Lord¡­ He''s finally gone," the World Serpent said with a relieved sigh. "I thought it would never end."

    RUMBLE!!

    The Grand Guardian of the Devilstar Secret Realm''s 1st Trial retreated into a deep slumber. He hoped he''d never be awoken again¡ªat least, never by that weird-as-f*ck human he took on as a disciple solely because of his immense talent. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Were humans always this scary¡­?''

    The final thoughts of the World Serpent echoed out before he closed his eyes¡ªa pair of piercing green and black globes that could remain closed for the next few centuries.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, in the area between Dimensions, the Tally Spot for all Trial Takers of the Devilstar Secret Realm ¡ª

    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!

    Seventy-three cultivators from the Elemental Nations suddenly found themselves in an unfamiliar environment. Hanging above their heads for all to see was a giant illusory whiteboard with various digital numbers and names depicted on it.

    The Trial Point Tally Board.

    It was what would determine the fates of many, for 1st Trial rewards were acquired based on how one ranked on the Tally Board. As proven this time around, most would be in the later Golden Core or early Nascent Soul stages¡ªwith millions of Trial Points to their name.

    Ranks 73 through 21 pretty much had the same amount of Points, ranging from 1.1 million to 9.9 million.

    Everyone in the Top 20, however, had at least 10 million Points. Furthermore, the Top 11-15 were past 100 million, which created huge gaps between each rank.

    Then there were the Trial Takers in the Top 10. All of them had 500 million+ Points¡ªsubstantially more than the original top rankers had during the midway part of the Trial.

    As for the Top 5, every single one of them was past a billion. Some even neared 10 billion.

    Last but not least, there was the person placed #1¡ªthe absolute winner of the Devilstar Secret Realm''s 1st Trial!

    "Surely this must be a glitch or something¡­ right?" someone questioned, his eyes so wide they looked to be on the verge of popping out.

    "No, it can''t be! It''s the same guy as before!!"

    "What guy!?"

    "The one who was rank 1 when the 2nd Quarterly results were shown to us¡­! He fell off during the 3rd Quarterly, but there''s no mistaking it! He has made a comeback!! CallMeDaddy has retaken his throne¡ªand done so by a landslide!!!"

    {{[CallMeDaddy]}} - [1st place - 1.32 Trillion Points]

    [#2: BladeMaster] - [8.7 Billion Points]

    [#3: DimensionalAdvocate] - [8.5 Billion Points]

    When those in 2nd through 10th saw who ranked at the very top, they were astonished, to say the least. This was especially the case for Lucidador and Nala, both of whom were extremely confident about having a close tie for 1st with the 4th Quarterly results.

    The Six-Winged Seraphim Eye''s presence gave them the chance to truly see who was best among the two of them¡ªand they were right¡ªit was a close tie.

    But not for 1st place¡­

    No, 1st place belonged to the one and only!

    "CallMeDaddy, heh," Knox laughed goofily in the background, acting as inconspicuous as possible. ''Are you seeing what your Big Brother has accomplished, Lily?''

    Lily¡ªwho was hiding away in a very, very expensive Spatial Sack¡ªpoked her adorable face out for a moment. She looked at the Tally Board, yet wasn''t the least bit surprised by the result.

    ''Big Bro too talented,'' she voice transmitted. ''Those losers didn''t stand a chance. Also, Big Bro has comprehended more of the Time Law than I have; they stood even less of a chance.''

    Spoken like a true mini-me!

    ''I also think Master is the most talented¡ª''

    ''Shut up, you dumb bastard!'' Knox reprimanded poor Rayzer. ''No one asked for your damn opinion!''

    ''Master¡­ Have you still not forgiven me for trying to ride your back¡ª''

    ''Hush! And go further into the sack! Further than the eye can see!''

    ''Y¡­Yes, Master¡­''

 Chapter 79 - 79: Obtaining 1st Trial Rewards

    ''Forget that perverted bastard,'' Knox clicked his tongue before returning his focus to the munchkin.

    Sooner or later, all of his bad habits would be transferred over to the easily moldable mind of one Lily Serpentine¡ªa young girl who, with the help of her new Big Bro, managed to escape the insane grasp of her mother.

    And though the Big Bro in question didn''t like his nickname one bit at first, over time, he learned to tolerate and even like it. Lily made use of the charismatic methods taught by said Big Bro to make this possible¡ªusing his own tactics against himself.

    "Damn, I''m good," Knox whispered to himself, awed by his awesomeness. "Now, should I or should I not reveal myself to the common masses?"

    Looking around at all the ravenous glares, he quickly made his decision.

    "I think I''m good," he said as he turned around and walked the other way. "I''m sure these big boys and girls can live on without knowing of my greatness. It''s better that way. After all, if they knew who I was, I''d have to kill them."

    If Knox''s true prowess somehow got leaked to the public, the red target on his back would certainly only become larger and redder. Which, for him, was a big no-no.

    Would Batman or Superman ever reveal their identities?

    No.

    It just wasn''t the way to go. Whether to protect loved ones or oneself, both led one down the same path.

    "Can''t have these losers reporting to the bigger losers that I''m a superior breed," Knox sighed. "They might get jealous and have one large circle-jerk to decide who gets the largest piece of me."

    Briefly glancing at the spot between his legs, his sigh deepened. "Don''t worry, little bro, I won''t let them take you away from me."

    While Knox was having a heartfelt moment with his ride-or-die, a pair of crazy eyes started sniffing around. As it belonged to none other than the Yandere Pinky, one could smell trouble from light-years away.

    Noticing Cela out of the corner of his eye, Knox quickly jumped and rolled¡ªperforming a Dark Souls getaway.

    Although he was stacked up on Camouflage Abilities and knew how low the chance was that his stalker would actually find him, one should never say never. Love knew no bounds. Insane b*tches knew even less.

    ''I don''t know what sort of batshit crazy sorcery these vixens use, but I know that sniffer of hers defies all logic!'' Knox thought while using an unsuspecting dude he mind-controlled as a shield. ''You, good fella, are a necessary sacrifice. If she catches me, I''m throwing you to the wolves first.''

    Even while mind-controlled, the poor lad cried tears of blood. Pity his soul, for he would not leave with one if Crazy B*tchatron 2000 got her hands on him.

    Fortunately, another familiar face¡ªYennefer¡ªapproached Cela. She brought her away from Knox, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief.

    "Thank the lords above," Knox quietly praised, finally receiving a breather. "Since she likely doesn''t believe I''m dead, I should be good for now. The Devilstar Secret Realm does, after all, not actually let anyone who dies inside actually die. They just get perfectly replicated and sent back to the outside world with a bit of soul damage. This was something we only just recently learned the truth of. On a side note, though, what is up with my stalker and fianc¨¦e? Why do they seem like they''re best friends now?"

    He entertained the idea that they bonded over his handsomeness, but that likely wasn''t the case.

    Or was it¡­?

    "I suppose overcoming hardship through a battle to the death can change everything in an instant," Knox mused, long since having understood the reality of the matter. "I, too, felt something click inside me after my first life-and-death battle. However, for me, it was more of a passing sensation. The vast majority of my life has been a silent, uphill war, so one small battle¡ªno matter how life-threatening¡ªwas no more than that¡ªa small battle."

    What was one battle in a war spanning hundreds of thousands of excruciating years?

    "ANNOUNCING REWARDS!"

    Suddenly appearing out of nowhere was the floating eyeball of the hour¡ªthe Six-Winged Seraphim''s Eye. Its robotic voice rang loud and true, with hundreds of different-colored treasure troves materializing behind it.

    "Rewards?" someone asked, his excitement bubbling. "The last Secret Realm I entered didn''t have any rewards, but this one does. I really lucked out this time! I just wonder what I''ll receive!"

    [Trial Taker Ranked #73 on the List - Reward: Stinky Sock Worn by God] Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    BLURP!

    A stinky, mildew-covered sock landed in the hands of the first person who spoke out. It hadn''t even been in one of the multi-colored Treasure Troves, which spoke volumes about just how worthless of a reward it was.

    There was no secret intent to comprehend. No epiphany to be had. Not even the slightest sliver of Innate Energy was left behind on the sock by the Unorthodox Devilstar.

    It was just a plain ol'' stinky sock. One that had been with the creator of the Secret Realm since time immemorial.

    "...Why me¡­?"

    "Ha!" someone laughed. "That''s the only fitting reward for the trash who''s ranked last on the Leaderboard! I bet even I''ll obtain something better¡ª!"

    [Trial Taker Ranked #72 on the List - Reward: Heavily-Worn Old Boot of God]

    BLURP!

    Yet another Non-Treasure Trove receiver.

    Yet another common item worth nothing!

    The first guy burst out laughing. He swung around his moldy sock, mocking the second guy. "You spoke a big game but ended up getting garbage just like I did!"

    "Mine''s still better, you dumb f*cker!" the second guy spat back, doing his best to cope. "I hope you get cursed by that stinky sock!"

    "And I hope that old boot finds its way up your arse! If you want my assistance in making that happen, just ask and you shall receive!!"

    "Oh, yeah!?"

    Excluding the squabbling of the two idiots, the rest of the Trial Takers received their rewards as well. The Six-Winged Seraphim''s Eye went down the line¡ªgoing from lowest to highest ranked.

    For most, though, what they received as rewards wasn''t considered anywhere close to being valuable. Those ranked in the 60s at least evolved from household items to pills and cultivation treasures.

    But there was nothing among the lot that couldn''t be obtained by the lowliest of disciples in their sects...

 Chapter 80 - 80: The Difference Between Destined and Commonfolk

    Those ranked in the 50s got some decent stuff¡ªinvaluable in the eyes of your average Core Formation Realm Cultivator¡ªbut they were in the Golden Core and Nascent Soul Realms. Thus, it was all deemed garbage¡ªno different from common household items. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Trial Takers ranked 31-49 finally got into the Treasure Trove pile. Those ranked higher received the Red Troves, whereas those ranked lower were given the Blue Troves. This made it obvious that the colors signified more than just a variegated color palette.

    "Oh? A Medicinal Qi Grass Stalk. I can give this to my Junior Brother when I return."

    "A Sacred Bull''s Left Testicle!? I heard crushing these into a powder can have your little bro standing proud for days on end!"

    "Lucky! But I also obtained something good¡ªCupid''s Blessed Aphrodisiac¡ªan Earth-ranked potion extremely hard to come by! I''ll be using this tonight on the goats, baby!"

    Except for the poor fates of some unfortunate goats, everyone''s luck was up. What they received would entice even Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators. Of course, treasure was in the eye of the beholder, so even lesser items were favorably seen by certain people.

    "What will you get, Big Bro? Bull test¡­ ta¡­ claw?" Lily twisted her tongue while attempting to pronounce an unfamiliar word, her expression cutely puzzled. "One of those??"

    Knox shook his head. Slightly chuckling, he replied, "I don''t know yet, but hopefully, it''s something good. Else we''ll be starving tonight."

    "Starve¡­"

    Devastation suddenly drained all the color from Lily''s complexion.

    "Don''t want that¡­! Don''t want that at all!"

    "Then pray with Big Brother here," Knox said, smiling. "This is a crucial moment for your character development, Lily. A gambling moment. One of the purest forms of enjoyment in this world¡ªright up there with alcohol. Both of which should be cherished eternally!"

    Lily fervently nodded. "Will pray! Pray, pray, pray!"

    She just repeated the word pray over and over again. She didn''t know what praying actually meant or what she should be doing, but Knox found it funny, so he didn''t stop her.

    Anyway, the rewards continued being given out. Only Treasure Troves past that point, though.

    After a couple of minutes, Knox was confident in his grasp of the rankings. From lowest to highest so far, they went:

    1- Blue

    2- Red

    3- Silver

    4- Gold

    The last three colored Treasure Troves were Black, Diamond, and a rainbow-iridescent color, of which Knox was still unclear on the exact order they were ranked.

    However, when it finally came time for the Top 10 to receive their rewards, he learned that Diamond was next. And surprisingly, Cela¡ªhis stalker¡ªnot only scraped into the Top 10 but was also the first to get one of these Diamond-ranked Treasure Troves.

    [Trial Taker Ranked #10 on the List - Reward: Holy Pill of Darkness (Middle-Heaven)]

    "Oh my God!" someone burst out in surprise. "To not only get a Heaven-rank item but a pill of the Middle-Heaven Rank!? So envious!"

    "I''ve heard of this pill before," said someone else. "It''s a pill that only the greatest of Grandmaster Alchemists can refine! And from what I hear¡ªdepending on what the consumer wants¡ªit can either tremendously supplement your Light or Dark Innate Energy upon consumption! That''s to say, if you main the Light or Dark Elements, your cultivation will improve by leaps and bounds if you swallow and refine the pill!"

    "Damn, it''s that good!?"

    As the cultivators around her chattered among themselves, Cela gladly accepted the pill that came from a Black Trove. Yet, her joy stemmed not from herself. Rather, the only thing on her mind was finding her Darling and giving him the pill.

    ''Surely he''ll start loving me like I love him if I shower him with gifts!'' she thought optimistically. ''I hear he loves gaining strength now, so he''ll definitely like this pill!''

    Knox tilted his head in confusion as he curiously observed the giddy pink-haired beauty.

    "Is she okay in the head?" he questioned. "¡­I suppose that''s a rhetorical question¡­"

    In spite of his quiet whisperings, the next Treasure Trove descended from behind the Six-Winged Seraphim''s Eye. It was another Black-ranked Trove¡ªone that went to none other than¡ª

    "My fianc¨¦e¡­" Knox muttered, getting a better look at her cold, graceful appearance. "She seems to be doing better than she was a couple of months ago. However, for some reason, I feel as if what happened with her friend is still eating away at her. Even if she''s learned the truth of dying in Pandora, an event like the one she experienced doesn''t just go away."

    Death.

    It was one of the most mysterious and unavoidable factors in the world. Something that came for everything with a soul. Very little was known about this abstract concept, but what was etched deep into the hearts of many was the lasting effect that death had on those who personally witnessed it.

    ''Yennefer Berkshire has simply experienced it for the first time,'' Knox thought deeply. ''But it surely won''t be the last time. I should know; I''ve witnessed the deaths of too many to count¡ªnot just in this lifetime but all my hundreds of lifetimes.''

    While locked in a complicated state of mind, he impassively watched as the Six-Winged Seraphim''s Eye''s robotic voice announced what Yennefer got:

    [Trial Taker Ranked #9 on the List - Reward: Low-grade Fire Origin Source]

    As far as natural Innate Energy-filled items went, Origin Sources neared the very top of the list in the Elemental Nations. They were like Spirit Stones but contained far more Innate Energy and were of a way higher quality and density.

    If priced on the market, a single Low-grade Fire Origin Source could go for thousands of High-grade Spirit Stones. Which, for reference, equated to millions of Mid-grade Spirit Stones¡ªenough to purchase dozens, if not hundreds, of the pill that Cela gave to Knox in order to perfect his foundation.

    A pill that Cela had to kneel in front of her father''s room for many days to obtain¡­

    "The Black-ranked Treasure Troves are so much better!" shouted someone ranked in the 10s. "We only obtained items in the Half-step Heaven-rank, yet everyone in the Top is receiving treasures that''ll make even the most prestigious of sects in the Elemental Nations jealous!"

    "Is this the true difference between destined geniuses and us common folk¡­!?"

 Chapter 81 - 81: Taking All The Treasure For Oneself!

    The passionate ramblings of the Trial Takers ensued. But with eight people yet to get what they deserved, the Six-Winged Seraphim''s Eye ceaselessly called out names.

    However, even as Duke Softshore''s twin daughters, Lenon, Nala, Princess Maya, and the others received their rewards, their minds were elsewhere. To be precise, they were distracted by the thought of sighting the one ranked first on the leaderboard.

    After Lucidador got a Diamond-rank Trove¡ªsame as Nala¡ªall eyes fell on the still large number of Treasure Troves floating behind the Six-Winged Seraphim''s Eye. They numbered over a hundred, which made no sense considering that there was only one remaining person who hadn''t received his reward.

    That was unless¡­

    "Is CallMeDaddy going to get all of that!?" someone asked what they were all thinking, his voice bringing to everyone''s attention the robotic voice of the Eye.

    [Trial Taker Ranked #1 on the List - CallMeDaddy - Reward: 108 Treasure Troves (Blue - Iridescent)]

    [Bonus for astronomical Trial Point requisition]

    *Fwooop¡ª!*

    A wave of multicolored Treasure Chests swarmed toward the location of a singular man. Someone who wore a cloak and had activated so many Camouflage Martial Skills that not even Nala or Lucidador could see through his identity.

    "That''s the one who amassed over a trillion points!?"

    "This is absurd! Who is this guy!??"

    "Is he not from the Elemental Nations?? Why have I never seen him before???"

    Overlooking the pointless quibbling of the weaker geniuses, the eyes of Lucidador and Princess Maya narrowed. Almost everyone was staring at Knox, seemingly attempting to discern anything they could about him.

    "There''s no point in trying to glean what you''ll never be able to see," Knox spoke with a hacker''s voice, with only the lower half of his face visible out of his hood. "Just keep to yourselves and let us go our own ways."

    Lucidador''s thick brows deeply furrowed. "Is that a threat?"

    Knox shook his head. "I''m simply advising a few young brats on what battles shouldn''t be chosen. Trust me, boy, I''m not that guy."

    In spite of the growing tension between Lucidador and Knox, neither of them was the first to make a move. Instead, it was Nala¡ªthe elder sister of the Star-Gazer Child¡ªa fierce woman ranked #15 among the Children of the Water Deity.

    Though, like many of the surviving Trial Takers, Nala had become much stronger since entering the Devilstar Secret Realm. So much so that even the Children ranked 11 through 14 were no longer her match.

    ''An inch away from the Soul Formation Realm,'' Knox appraised with System Sight while pocketing the river of Treasure Troves for later. ''Once this Trial concludes, she and that other dude will most likely successfully break through the Soul Formation Realm. It could become troublesome then¡­''

    A dangerous thought lingered in his mind:

    ''Should I just kill them now and be done with it? If I let them grow any more, they might be capable of offing me for good. An eventuality which I don''t want one bit.''

    However, as good as killing them sounded on paper, Knox knew he couldn''t. Even when Nala''s blade cut toward his throat at unbelievable speeds, he didn''t perform a fatal blow on her.

    BOOM!

    A figure went flying backward, but it wasn''t Knox.

    "I''m being lenient for now," he uttered coldly, blink-stepping behind the cannonballing woman. He caught her by her armor, his fingers digging into the enchanted metal. "But if you try something like that again¡ª" he whispered next to her ear, "¡ªI''ll kill you and forgo my caution."

    "!!!"

    Nala tried breaking free from Knox''s grasp, but he was simply too physically strong. It was to a level where, if she didn''t know any better, she''d assume he was in the Soul Formation Realm.

    "A Soul Formation Realm Cultivator!?" she questioned aloud. "But how could that possibly be¡­?? You have no aura and weren''t among us upon entering the Secret Realm!"

    Knox smirked before letting go of Nala. She immediately went into an aggressive stance, but he didn''t care.

    "You''re wrong about something," he remarked. "I''m not in the Soul Formation Realm. In fact, I''m far from it."

    "But your physical strength¡­."

    "What can I say?" Knox laughed. "Some of us are just molded to perfection by God! But don''t worry, I can help mold two ''somethings'' of yours to perfection; just say the word!"

    Nala''s anger surged; she deliberated her choices here. It was obvious that this unknown hooded man was extremely skillful, but for some reason, she felt as if his cultivation wasn''t too high. She hadn''t realized it previously, but his cultivation base was very crude¡ªtaking on the markings of a lesser Cultivator.

    ''But that doesn''t make any sense,'' she thought. ''How could someone with such a low cultivation possibly be my match in base form?? Should I unleash what I''ve been hiding all this time so as to force out his secrets¡­?''

    After a brief pause, Nala shook her head. ''No, not yet. There are still two more Trials, meaning that I can''t waste it here.''

    Coldly snorting, she turned around and walked away. Her plump butt swayed mesmerizingly, giving Knox quite the alluring show. He whistled slyly, causing veins to bulge on her forehead.

    "Heh, a shy hottie, ey?" Knox remarked, his words unknowingly sending ripples throughout the bodies of the Trial Takers. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Everyone present¡ªexcept for one uncaring man¡ªknew of the infamous reputation possessed by the Water Deity Child known as the Light''s Last Sight-Child. A Title that she earned as a direct result of her being born in a ray of light that extended to the Heavens. Over time, though, the Title found itself a new meaning, for those who crossed her wound up with one singular fate¡ªa one-way ticket straight to the lights of the Great Beyond.

    It was because of this scary reputation of hers that everyone was so shocked to see her merely tense up in response to Knox''s remarks. She made no further moves, her focus being on the continuation of the Trials.

    "What a cutie patootie," Knox commented loud enough for all others to hear. "If only I knew of some way to turn that smile upside down. Hmm¡­ A personal full-body massage perhaps?"

    *Tick!*

 Chapter 82 - 82: 2nd Devilstar Trialâ€”Kingdom Building Gameâ€”Kingdom Coins

    *Tick!*

    ''You must refrain from doing anything rash,'' Nala chanted to herself. ''He''s provoking you on purpose; you know this. Calm down; don''t let him get to you.''

    For some keen reason, when Yennefer and Cela heard the way the anonymous hooded man was speaking to Nala, they felt it to be very familiar. Although the tones of voice were nothing alike, could it be possible that they were the same person?

    Realizing that his cover would be blown if he kept up with his Attribute Farming, Knox snatched away the dropped Attribute Orbs before shifting his gaze toward the Eye. He could feel several people boring holes into his back¡ªsome greedy, some threatening¡ªbut he conveniently ignored them.

    Lucidador and the Softshore twins,

    ¡ªmore than the others¡ªwere staring very intently at him. The former wanted to fight him or something, whereas the latter wanted to¡­ don''t know¡­ eat him or something?

    "Those girls are eerily creepy," Knox softly muttered to himself. "What were their names again? I recall people talking about them like some kind of bigshot geniuses¡­ Luturd and Solanus, I believe they were?"

    Luna and Solaris. Those were the actual names of the twin prodigy daughters of Duke Softshore. Both were 71 years old, possessing identical cultivation of the Peak Nascent Soul Realm.

    Just like a ton of others, they underwent breakthroughs during the 1st Trial. Going from the Late to Peak Nascent Soul Realm, their progress could be considered superb.

    However, it was still nowhere as good as the truly fortunate ones like Cela and Yennefer. A couple of monstrous geniuses who entered the Secret Realm in the early stages of the Golden Core Realm and ended the 1st Trial well into the Early Nascent Soul Realm.

    Such absurd advancement speed was unheard of!

    To go from the early stages of the Golden Core Realm to the Early Nascent Soul Realm within a meager half a year¡ªwho in the Elemental Nations would believe something like that??

    ''I found myself somehow linked to a couple of heavenly daughters of Providence,'' Knox thought to himself. ''Every time I see them, they''ve obtained another fortuitous opportunity or increase in talent and power. It''s almost as if I''m watching two protagonists claw their way up from the bottom by doing whatever''s necessary.''

    He''d be lying if he said he wasn''t the smallest bit jealous. But it wasn''t like he hadn''t received Fortuitous Opportunities of his own¡ªsuch as the |Supreme Devourer| and |Dragon Lord''s Heavenly Requiem|, both of which were given to him by the World Serpent. Though, outside his lootings, Cela and Yennefer had far more lucky, lucrative encounters.

    They were like treasure magnets!

    ''My luck is supposed to have heavily increased as a result of my two Active Titles,'' Knox mused. ''But I still feel as if I''m nowhere near as lucky as these two crazies are. ''Tis a damn shame, but it is what it is.''

    Regardless of his inner musings, the Six-Winged Seraphim''s Eye started to speak again:

    [All Trial Takers have received their rewards for completing the 1st Trial. The 2nd Trial will now begin. 3¡­ 2¡­..]

    "Damn, that quickly!?" many blurted out, their attention having been taken away from the mysterious hooded man. "Can you not at least give us a bit more of a breather¡ª"

    Cutting him and dozens of others off was the simultaneous flashing of light pillars that expertly targeted every single contestant at once. Within an instant, they were all transported to the playing grounds of the next Trial.

    The 2nd Devilstar Trial, otherwise known as the Kingdom-building Game.

    Everyone''s objective for this Trial would be to build up a Kingdom and have said Kingdom fight for supremacy at the end of a five-month-long period. At first, this might appear to be an impossible task, for making a powerful Kingdom within such a short time frame shouldn''t be possible. However, this secret, isolated part of Pandora was unlike the rest of the world¡ªholding special qualities that made it the best place to accomplish what the 2nd Trial demanded.

    As for what these special qualities were; for one, the progression speed of every living being in the massive hundred-million-mile-wide area was sped up by 1000. This meant that buildings could be built at one thousand times the speed and native living beings could cultivate one thousand times faster. Yet, this was also to say that they''d die one thousand times quicker.

    Then there was the second major special quality of the area known as The King''s Grounds.

    Every native living being of the isolated space was basically a Non-Playable Character¡ªan NPC. Otherworlders could come in and force them to be their slaves, hire them to construct their infrastructure or manage their territories'' politics, or even create sweatshops and breeding farms.

    The possibilities were endless. And in a way, The King''s Grounds were like one big idling mobile game¡ªone where time could be sped up even more than a thousandfold if one acquired a lot of the ''in-game currency'' of the world.

    Kingdom Coins.

    They could be obtained through many different methods, such as cultivating a strong military force, subduing all usurper nobles, or even creating the best brothel franchise the world had ever seen. The bottom line was non-existent; even evil deeds that contributed toward developing your Kingdom gave Kingdom Coins.

    That brought up another matter¡ªone that pertained to what kind of Ruler an Otherworlder could become. Whether objectively evil or righteous, it mattered not; one could build the greatest Kingdom going either route.

    As for which way Knox chose to go¡­

    "Now, listen up, b*tches!" he roared while facing thousands of powerful native cultivators. "This country, this land, and everything you own now belongs to me! Even your wives and mothers are mine if I so wish for them!" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You devil!" shouted the current King of Sandoon, his Early Soul Formation Realm aura reaching beyond the clouds. "I''ll smite you down right here and now!!!"

    SHING!

    "How could thi¡ª"

    "You were saying?" Knox questioned while cupping a hand to an ear. "What''s that?? Speak up!"

    *Gurgle, Gurgle!*

 Chapter 83 - 83: 5 Levels of the Time Law

    *Gurgle, Gurgle!*

    King Sandoon clawed at his throat, trying to stop the blood from pouring out of the huge gash that dug out half his neck. He quickly realized, however, that his healing abilities weren''t working. Whatever the brazen invader had attacked him with stunted all regeneration.

    "Hmm?" Knox stepped forward, teleporting right beside the King. "Best speak up now or forever hold your peace."

    "Yeah, forever hold da peace!" Lily copied from atop his shoulders.

    ''What do you expect me to do, you evil bastard!?'' King Sandoon inwardly shouted. ''I couldn''t talk even if I wanted to! Wait¡­ Yes! I can communicate through Voice Transmission!''

    "Hwa?" Knox sported a gangsta''s mug. "Did you just tell me straight to my face that my grandmother is a whore and my mother a lady of the night!? Truly courting death!"

    ''What!?? I never sai¡ª''

    Acting like the tyrannical Young Master his 2nd Title dictated him to be, Knox slashed forward without listening to a single word spoken by the King. He diced the helpless bastard into tens of thousands of pieces, doing so right before the tearful eyes of his loved ones. His soldiers and confidants mourned his death with bellows and cries.

    However, one must not forget that these were all NPCs¡­

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain the Early Soul Formation Realm King of Sandoon!]

    [A small-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [Strength +3,210,000]

    [Agility +2,340,000]

    [Perception +1,900,000]

    [Affinity +6,400]

    X9 more¡­

    [Due to the presence of the Kingdom Building System imposed by the entity known as the Six-Winged Seraphim''s Eye, you now have two options.]

    [Option 1: Slaughter the rest of King Sandoon''s forces and potentially lose out on future Kingdom Coins.] - [Reward: 20,000 Kingdom Coins]

    [Option 2: Spare the lives of King Sandoon''s forces and prepare for the future of your ''Tyrant''s Kingdom'' by taking them in as subordinates.] - [Reward: 10,000 Kingdom Coins + 30,000 Subordinates]

    Without hesitation, Knox chose the same option that he had for the last few dozen countries he conquered. And contrary to what one might''ve assume, he picked¡ª

    The 2nd Option!

    "As much as killing everything I see sounds so very profitable, I have to continue thinking long-term," Knox stated while making the decision to take them in as his own. "I''ve already been doing this for 140 years, and I can''t give up now."

    Time within the King''s Grounds worked very unusually. Otherworlders experienced the passing of time as if things were 1000+ times faster, meaning that at the cost of no Kingdom Coins, a thousand years inside actually felt like a single year. Even more odd was the fact that the progression of time while in the King''s Grounds did not alter things like one''s bone age.

    If an Otherworlder used no Kingdom Coins to speed up time even further, then a thousand years inside the King''s Grounds increased one''s bone age by a single year. And for most, that was all there was to it. However, for Knox and his little Mini Me, the benefits didn''t end there.

    "We pledge our loyalty to Your Majesty, the Tyrannical Emperor!" X10s of thousands.

    "Yeah, whatever," Knox shrugged off their fervent cheers. "I don''t think I''m ever going to get used to how grieving spouses and parents are suddenly ready to kiss my a*s the moment I have the Kingdom''s System make them my subordinates. But anyway, I believe my Time Law just advanced to Level 2."

    Although the progression of cultivation, techniques, and martial skills within the King''s Grounds was synonymous with the natural time conversion of the outside world, that didn''t mean progression wasn''t still possible. This was, after all, the Trial meant to allow for an easier time breaking through into the Soul Formation Realm. A feat that was the way it was because of auxiliary purchases that could be made with Kingdom Coins, as well as the continuous conquering and pillaging of the prosperous countries scattered throughout the Isolated Dimension.

    Because of the allowance of progression, the constant manipulation of Time around him, and the company of Lily Serpentine, Knox was able to massively advance his comprehension in the Time Law. An extremely esoteric and hard-to-understand Law of the Universe.

    Normally, even divine geniuses with an Affinity for the Law of Time would require thousands of regular years to reach Level 2. And under normal circumstances, it would''ve taken at least this much time for the Saint Affinity-ranked Knox as well.

    But these weren''t normal circumstances, now were they?

    "Thanks to you and this weird place, I managed to achieve something spectacular," Knox praised while laying pets down on his munchkin''s soft bed of black hair. "At this rate, I might actually be able to outwardly project the Law of Time a lot sooner than expected. Then, perhaps after the passing of a few dozen regular years, I''ll be capable of effectively utilizing the Law in battle."

    "Umu?" Question marks appeared over Lily''s head. "I did something like that, Big Bro¡­?"

    "Yup, yup," Knox said as he tousled her hair. "You''re my little lucky charm!"

    Lily Serpentine didn''t quite understand what he meant by that, but as indicated by the giddy grin plastered across her adorable face, she was happy to help. Whatever Big Bro wanted, she''d do it without a second thought. For saving her from that previous torturous way of life, that was the very least she could do.

    While showering his munchkin with a bunch of compliments, Knox''s mind traced back to the different levels of the Time Law¡ªat least the ones he knew of.

    Level 1 - Faster processing and reaction speed, as well as varying boosts in physical speed.

    Level 2 - Extreme boosts to processing, reaction, and physical speeds. Can now also use the Time Law to improve the speed at which one comprehends various techniques. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Level 3 - Basic usage of Rudimentary Time Law spells like Time Bind, Time Crawl, Time Stop, Time Loop, Speed-up, Slow-down, Reversal, and Isolation Time Manipulation in a very limited area.

    Level 4 - Effective utilization of Rudimentary Time Spells, and ???? With ??????

    Level 5 - ???????????

 Chapter 84 - 84: The 1st Requiem, Underworld Lightning

    Level 5 and beyond was a complete mystery to Knox, but he could infer that these were the levels where the Time Law started to become an unstoppable force. A crazily powerful Element that could leave even Virtual Disaster Realm Hegemonies begging for their lives.

    ''And the key to harnessing such incredible power resides within this munchkin,'' Knox thought with a grateful smile. ''Bringing her along for the journey has truly been one of the best decisions I could''ve made.''

    "Big Bro," Lily called out. "A disturbance in the force."

    "There''s a disturbance in the force?"

    "Yes," Lily nodded, cutely pointing to the west from over his head. "That way. Many, many people."

    "How many exactly?" Knox asked, trying to use his Divine Sense and Perception Attribute to see what she was seeing. ''Damn, I''m still not there yet. Her keen level of instinct truly is incomprehensible.''

    Over time, Knox had discovered that Lily was not only invaluable for her |Time Cheat| Prospect, but she also possessed an unnatural ability to perceive the presence of living beings from incalculable distances away. This allowed her to determine the existence of others long before he could.

    With a disgruntled look on her face, Lily closed her eyes and deeply focused on those approaching. Sticking up four fingers, she stammered, "Four million."

    "Another Otherworlder''s main army, most likely."

    "Yes, like you," Lily confirmed, finally opening her eyes. "Painful to see anymore. Sleep now," she concluded, hugging his head before dozing off.

    Knox warmly smiled. "Good work, Lily."

    However, within a split second, that warm smile curved downward. His expression froze over, his piercing gold eyes emitting a murderous glow.

    "I''ve already annihilated the kingdoms of more than ten of you," he uttered coldly as Level 5 Intent Swords materialized all around him. "Yet you still covet my possessions?"

    Donning his shadowy hood, he briefly cocked his head behind him. "Follow Zapher. He''ll instruct you on where you''ll be stationed in my empire or if you''ll be staying here in this territory."

    FWIP!

    With the sudden appearance of a devilish butler in the Middle Soul Formation Realm, all the newly indoctrinated subordinates shouted, "Yes, My Liege!" before following their orders.

    After Zapher¡ªthe once-mighty king of a formidable kingdom¡ªteleported away with all the people of Sandoon, Knox fixated on the west. Increasingly greater amounts of Level 5 Intent Swords emerged around him, each capable of slaying a Soul Formation Realm powerhouse.

    Since the second quarter of the Devilstar Secret Realm''s first trial, Knox had become an entirely different person in terms of power. His Sword Intent had not only advanced to Level 5¡ªthe Multiplication stage¡ªbut he had also broken through to the Core Formation Realm.

    A feat that was only made possible because of the |Dragon Lord''s Heavenly Requiem|¡ªa cultivation technique that perfected his foundation in the Foundation Establishment Realm. It had also subsequently advanced his Total Foundation to the Mid-Saint Rank, bringing him one step closer to whatever lay beyond that.

    As for how |Dragon Lord''s Heavenly Requiem| functioned, there were a grand total of five Requiems, each of which was like a miniature lightning tribulation.

    Pass the lightning tribulation, and you progress to the next Requiem.

    When Knox attempted his breakthrough into the Core Formation Realm, he experienced one of these lightning tribulations. Just that single one¡ªthe weakest of the five¡ªhad nearly killed him. However, from his wrestle with death, he had not only successfully broken through and reached the First Requiem, but he had also acquired what made the |Dragon Lord''s Heavenly Requiem| such an overpowered cultivation technique.

    Requiem''s 1st Phase - Underworld Lightning

    Each achieved Requiem granted access to a more powerful Lightning Source. For the First Requiem, this was Underworld Lightning¡ªthe same lightning type he had to survive during his first Lightning Tribulation. It was an extremely potent Lightning Source, capable of harming even ghosts and other evil entities that traveled between the world of the living and the dead.

    That, however, didn''t mean Underworld Lightning wasn''t effective against the living¡ªbecause it definitely was. A fact that Knox was about to prove as he imbued his Level 5 Intent Swords with his Underworld Lightning.

    ZAP! ZAP! ZAP!

    RUMBLE!!

    The world shuddered under the might of thousands of Level 5 Intent Swords imbued with Underworld Lightning. Entire mountain ranges were obliterated, leaving massive charred craters in their place.

    However, just before Knox could direct the power of his Intent Swords toward the distant targets, a faint, familiar voice carried through the wind.

    "Darling~!"

    "...Sh*t¡­"

    Knox immediately dispersed his Sword Intent. He sighed and tried to speak, but before he could even get a single word out, a soft, curvy body collided with his.

    "I knew I was right~!" Cela said happily. "I just knew you were ranked first, Darling~! And there was no way the fastest-growing kingdom in the King''s Grounds could belong to anyone but you~!!"

    ''Fuck¡­''

    Twitches ran across Knox''s face. He truly hated how accurate his crazy stalker was when it came to things like this.

    ''Should I just kill her and save myself the hassle¡­?''

    *Grumble¡­*

    "Hmm?" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Looking up, Knox saw an adorable, grumbling face glaring daggers at Cela.

    ''Well, even if I don''t kill her myself, I''m pretty sure the little one will do the deed sooner or later¡­''

    Shaking his head, Knox grabbed Cela by the shoulders and pushed her away.

    "Kisses~?" was the only thing Cela''s twisted mind could think up.

    *Bonk!*

    "Stop being¡­" Knox struggled to find the right words. "Just stop being you, okay?"

    Cela furiously nodded, hearts swimming in her eyes. She kept stretching out her arms, looking for cuddles. Knox swatted them away repeatedly, yet she wouldn''t relent.

    "Could you quit it!?" he growled.

    Cela nodded in rapid succession.

    "Good," Knox said. "Now could you tell me why it is that you''re here with your entire arm¡ª"

    *Smooch, Smooch!*

    Knox: "...."

    "What are you doing¡­?" he asked.

    "Kisses!"

    *Bonk!*

    "Ouchies¡­!"

    Knox berated the r*tarded girl. He had not a damn clue how her brain worked¡ªhow it figured that just because he wanted her to quit doing one thing, she could just go back to doing the previous thing he told her not to do.

    But no matter her mental deficiencies, he made sure to drill into her all the Do''s and Don''ts.

 Chapter 85 - 85: Celas Willingness...

    After a bonking session that took far longer than it should have, Knox returned to his original question.

    To which Cela responded with a chilling voice:

    "That blade bastard and his sword servant bastard actually dared to target you, Darling. I''ll kill them."

    Observing her total personality flip, Knox sighed in resignation. "So you came to back me up? Don''t tell me you left your territory completely unprotected¡­"

    "Yep, yep!" Cela goofily giggled. "I brought everything at my disposal~! I''d do anything for Darling~! A.n.y.t.h.i.n.g~"

    Silence¡­

    ''This chick is batshit crazy, but her heart is in the right place,'' Knox thought, conflicted. ''She''s good to me¡ªtoo good for someone like me¡­''

    Knox lightheartedly karate-chopped Cela''s head.

    "Ouchies! What was that for, Darling??"

    Knox looked away from the charmingly pouty girl, his eyes glossing over the massive army she had brought with her. "Stop being dumb."

    "Dumb?" Cela repeated in confusion. "What did I do that was dumb, Darling?"

    ''I feel like her blind obsession with me will end up with her dying a very stupid death one day¡­''

    Knox couldn''t even muster up another sigh. He simply karate-chopped her head before floating away.

    "Tell your army to return to your territory," he instructed calmly, his back turned to Cela. "You yourself should also go back. I don''t need you here; you''ll only get in the way."

    Contrary to how she should have reacted, Cela''s smile blossomed. "That''s fine, Darling! I like being in your way; that means we''ll always be close to one another~!"

    Couldn''t this yandere girl catch a damn hint!?

    Following him would only lead to her being exposed to even greater dangers! Was she unaware of that, or did she simply not give a damn??

    "Haiz," Knox sighed. "Just don''t stray too far away from me. If you die, don''t haunt me as a ghost."

    "If I die, I''m not leaving your side!" Cela said as she interlocked her arms with his. "Whether in life or death, you''ll never be able to escape me, Darling~!"

    "F*cking great," Knox accidentally blurted out. "Still, tell your army to go back whence they came. I don''t need mine, so I naturally don''t need yours either."

    "Kk, Darling~!" Cela replied before turning toward her huge levitating army. Her demeanor took a 180 as she coldly shouted, "Get your lousy a*ses back to the capital! If a single one of you is still here by the count of three, I''ll gut you and display your mutilated corpses in front of my castle!!"

    "Yes, Ma''am!"

    Everyone dispersed, their fear still lingering in the atmosphere.

    "¡­This girl," Knox quietly muttered to himself. "Just what sort of crazy have I unknowingly linked myself to¡­?"

    Turning back to him, Cela''s icy expression vanished without a trace. She tightly embraced him, her ahoge hair taking on the shape of a heart. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Teehee, Darling~"

    "Don''t teehee me, you insane woman!" Knox attempted to push her off, but she clung to him like glue. "Get off me; you''re too close."

    "Uhn-uh~" Cela shook her head, giggling. "Likes it right here. You told me not to leave your side ever and to stay with you forever, so that''s what I''ll do~"

    *Snuggle, snuggle*

    A vein bulged on Knox''s forehead. "Don''t make yourself comfy, dingus," he snarled, finally pushing her off. "Don''t come within six feet of me. Whatever disease you have is something I don''t want."

    Cela pouted.

    That was when she remembered something she had meant to give him. "Here, Darling, I saved this for you," she said excitedly, taking a shimmering half-black, half-gold pill out of her Spatial Ring. "And don''t worry, the weird time-flow of this world hasn''t lessened the medicinal efficiency of the pill!"

    She shoved it into Knox''s hands, seemingly not the least bit reluctant to give away an item that could have helped her tremendously.

    ''This woman makes it so hard to keep her at a distance,'' Knox heaved a deep breath. "Fine, you can be within six feet of me."

    "Really!?" Cela beamed, latching onto him right away. "If someone looks at us like this, do you think they''ll assume we''re marri¡ª"

    "Don''t get ahead of yourself," Knox said. "And also, you must take this pill back. I won''t let you be so close unless you do."

    "B¡­But¡ª"

    "I don''t care what you have to say," Knox''s voice cut through hers. "Either take the pill, or watch as I throw it away. I don''t like the color of it, so I''ll be getting rid of it one way or another."

    Looking between the outstretched hand holding a Heaven-rank Pill and the handsome face belonging to its owner, Cela''s heart-shaped pupils pulsated. More hearts floated off the top of her head as she rubbed herself all over him.

    "I love you, Darling~" she earnestly declared as she picked the pill from his hand with her mouth and tongue. She then swallowed it and traced her hand from her throat to between her bosom and finally to her stomach. "Also loves what you put inside me~"

    Knox might have been slightly taken aback when she suddenly said those three words, but that shock quickly turned into visible disgust. He bonked her before flying far away.

    "Wait for me, Darling!"

    "No, go f*ck yourself!"

    "Only if you join me~!"

    A pair of mentally unstable young cultivators zipped through the skies at many times the speed of light. They traded insults and love declarations in an endless cycle as the otherworldly-looking man led them toward another powerful kingdom to conquer.

    Little did they know that a short red demonic imp was watching them from the folds of space.

    "Master, they''re on the move," it said through a soul connection. "They''ll be passing by your territory at some point."

    "Good."

    A voice came from the other side of the connection. It belonged to none other than the second eldest son of the Blade King¡ªLucidador.

    He swirled the cup of wine he was holding, his sinister expression reflected in the crimson liquid. Right beside him was Lenon¡ªa genius of the sword who wore an expression eerily similar to his senior brother''s.

    Their plan had worked!

 Chapter 86 - 86: Gathering of the 2nd Trial Participants

    It all started when Knox figured there was no longer a point in keeping his identity a secret. He didn''t go around announcing to everyone who he was, but he also didn''t bother hiding the truth from those who learned of it.

    It was sufficient to say that neither Lucidador nor Lenon were very happy when they discovered the identity of CallMeDaddy. They had expected such a lofty person to be the supreme heir of a secluded sect of unparalleled renown, so to learn that he was no more than a banished cripple¡­

    Well, it wasn''t an understatement to say that many arrogant geniuses were infuriated by the news.

    To think that they had been so severely undermined by a trash, banished cripple! It was a terrible affront to all of their images!

    However, it was around this time that the more cunning among them began to scheme. Knox had, after all, received a ridiculous number of Treasure Troves from the 1st Trial. Taking him out of the picture would not only restore their fickle pride, but it would also give them enough riches to create their own first-rate sect in the Elemental Nations.

    "The ambush is already set in place?" Lucidador asked, his arms folded behind his back and his striking gaze fixed on his massive, prosperous nation.

    Lenon nodded, laughing heartily. "Naturally, Senior Brother," he said. "That little crippled trash will soon understand just how much of a fluke his score in the previous trial was!"

    Lucidador maliciously smiled. "This pleases me greatly, Lenon. I''ve already attained the Echo of the Blade, so I''ll not only be able to easily deal with that cripple, I''ll also be capable of assisting you with that stubborn Heaven-ranked sect sword."

    Lenon''s brows raised in pleasant astonishment. He respectfully cupped his hands, bowing at a slight angle. "Thank you very much, Senior Brother! This one will be forever indebted to you!"

    Lucidador nodded like a senior, his poise that of a seasoned Grandmaster.

    After attaining the Echo of the Blade through the secret inheritance of an Ancient Blade Demon in the King''s Grounds, many things had changed about the Blade King''s second eldest son. His aura, his strength, the way he carried himself, and several others. It was almost as if¡ª

    Almost as if he had become an entirely different person.

    ''As soon as that crippled trash dies, I can finally erase the last of this body''s persistent soul.''

    Strange thoughts bounced around inside the mind of the golden-robed youth. Yet, none could discern the truth. The truth of what really happened after Lucidador "received" the Ancient Blade Demon''s inheritance and attained the Echo of the Blade.

    ''That bastard Devilstar trapped me here, expecting my escape to never come,'' he thought, his lips curling in disdain. ''Never would he have expected a youngling with a Level 5 Blade Intent and Heaven-ranked Blade Body to arrive in his little playhouse. Now, with all of these prospects my own, I just have to kill every single one of these talented youths and draw a blood sacrifice that will ascend me to the Soul Transformation Realm!''

    After thousands of years of captivity, freedom would finally be his!

    ¡ª As several unseen forces moved around in the dark, a large group of millions of cultivators surrounded just three people ¡ª

    "So you''re the one who was ranked #1 in the 1st Trial."

    The mocking voice of a haughty young man covered in shiny armor carried across thousands of meters. It belonged to one Mr. Seamon Meldon¡ªone of the heirs of Duke Meldon. Beside this figure of high status were the sons and daughters of multiple Count families, including the descendants of Count Buford, Count Thorne, and Count Roderick.

    Other Count and Duke descendants wanted to join the gang-bang as well, but on account of their families'' neutral or friendly relations with Count Falazar, they held back. Though, that didn''t mean they wouldn''t grab as much of Knox''s fallen loot as they could if he were to fall.

    That was why they stood back and watched. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Joining them were the twin daughters of Count Softshore, Nala, and 13th Princess Maya. More than the loot Knox possibly had in his possession, they were far more interested in the true potential of Knox Falazar.

    It was only natural they felt this way, for it wasn''t every day that a famed crippled young master suddenly exhibited unimaginable levels of talent.

    Had Knox Falazar been laying low and cultivating all this while? Was he hiding a degree of cultivation talent above the Heaven-grade?

    The questions the observing talents had were numerous. And as they watched tens of millions of native subordinate cultivators gather behind dozens of Trial Takers, they couldn''t help but think that things were getting a bit too out of hand.

    Looking around, Princess Maya noticed something unusual. "Have any of you seen Lucidador or Lenon? The blade and sword fanatics?"

    Nala Maybringer didn''t feel the need to respond. She simply kept her eyes on her junior brother and his gathered army.

    Luna and Solaris, however, responded to the princess''s question in sync:

    "Princess Maya, Lucidador and Lenon typically like to make grand entrances. They''re unlikely to arrive until the battle nears its end."

    "I see," Princess Maya said. ''No matter how many times I hear them talk, I still can''t get used to how they speak as if they''re the same person. But more importantly than that, Lucidador and Lenon''s absence makes it seem like they knew of this battle beforehand. Or is it more accurate to call it an ambush?''

    Maya deliberated helping Knox Falazar thwart the joint attack of so many powerful cultivators. Getting on his good side would certainly benefit her and her fight for the throne.

    However, on the other hand, she really wanted to see just how valuable of an asset he could be.

    And so, the heated tension between one tiny side and one massive side continued uninhibited:

    "So, are we going to fight or not, dipsh*t?" Knox asked in a low growl, his patience running thin. "You already brought your whole clown brigade, so let''s get this done and over with."

 Chapter 87 - 87: Seamon, Son of a Duke

    "Impatient, are we?" Seamon Meldon cruelly grinned, his confidence reaching an all-time high. "But don''t you worry, crippled trash. You''ll be dead soon enough!"

    "Sure, sure, dude¡­ Wait, your name¡­ Pfft!" Knox burst out laughing, holding his sides. "Where do you get off talking to anything but your mirror and body pillow with a name like that!? If I were you, I''d hide away in a closet and never leave it!"

    Cela''s ahoge hair bobbed in curiosity. So too did Lily''s ahoge. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They exchanged a glance that lasted longer than intended. Two harrumphs then sounded out as they looked away from each other.

    Cela, clinging to Knox, prompted a question to the hysterically laughing man himself. "What''s so funny about that pompous idiot''s name, Darling?"

    "Pompous idiot¡­?"

    Ignoring the idiot in question, Knox calmed himself just enough to reply, "His name is Seamon."

    "Seamon?" Cela tilted her head, puzzled. "I don''t get it, Darling¡­"

    "Haiz," Knox face-palmed. "You don''t get that his name sounds like semen, but you spout out more dirty words than a sexually deprived sailor?? Make that make sense."

    Finally understanding, Cela left her adorable state of contemplation. She slapped a hand against a palm before sneering in Seamon''s direction. "You''re named after Darling''s baby-making batter, you worm¡ª"

    *Bonk!*

    "Just be quiet."

    Knox silenced the troublesome girl. And though her cheeks puffed out in displeasure, she didn''t disobey.

    "Anyway, where were we?" Knox asked as he scanned his eyes across the staggering number of people opposing him. "Ah, yes, you were in the midst of your third-rate antagonist dialogue. Well then, don''t let me get in your way; do resume."

    "A-Ah, okay." Seamon cleared his throat with a couple of coughs, then let out a string of villainous laughter. "This is where you meet your end, crippled trash! Hand over everything you own and the two girls you have with you, and we might just give you¡ª"

    "Hold up a second, I''m gonna have to stop you right there," Knox interrupted.

    With an instructor''s tone, he dissected Young Master Semen''s words:

    "You want a little girl as well?" He narrowed his eyes. "Are you some sort of pedo freak on top of being an idiot?? Shame! Shame on you!"

    "Wa-Wait, but that''s just¡­" Seamon Meldon looked around with erratically flickering eyes. He felt like everyone was now staring at him¡ªjudging him. And for the briefest of moments, he was on the verge of breaking down.

    But in the end, he was a bonafide¡ª

    Young Master.

    "Ha! You think you can trap me with just words!? Well, think again! I thought you''d be more intelligent than that!"

    "And I thought you could control the one-inch twinkle dink between your legs," Knox remarked. "I guess we can both be wrong at times."

    "W¡­ Well, I thought you''d be more handsom¡ª" Seamon paused.

    "What?" Knox flashed a shit-eating grin. "Cat got your tongue??"

    He knew damn well that Sir Seamon couldn''t finish that sentence because he knew pigs flying and women becoming men was more probable.

    Cela turned squeamish as she wiggled her jiggly butt. "Darling is the most handsome man ever~! Marry me now!"

    "Still no."

    An instant rejection!

    "But I like the initiative," Knox added, sticking a thumb up. "Keep it up and you''ll definitely become someone important one day."

    Cela only heard the words she wanted to hear, which were important, I, and you.

    "I''m someone important to you, Darling~!?" She hugged him even tighter, pressing her boobs against him. "I just knew we were meant to be~!!"

    "Huh??" Knox bruhhed the f*ck out. "What the hell are you on, woman?? Give me some spac¡ª"

    "Stop ignoring me!!"

    Seamon Meldon''s irritatingly gravelly voice echoed out, bringing with it the full immensity of his Late Nascent Soul Realm cultivation base. He attempted to pressure the ones absorbed in their own conversations.

    "Dude, what the hell?" Knox cursed, covering his ears with both hands. "Stop being so goddamn loud! We all know you''re butthurt over your hugely inflated ego being threatened, but that''s no excuse for you to be acting like a toddler. Grow a pair, why don''t you?"

    "YOU DARE!??"

    OOOM!

    As a high-rank genius, Seamon''s aura exceeded his cultivation realm. It was this very aura that crushed down on Knox, Cela, and Lily.

    Feeling the insignificant pressure trying to get him to kneel, Knox''s eyes glowed a deathly shade of gold. And with Lily still perched atop his head, he flashed forward¡ª

    *Clench!*

    "*Kuk! Kuk!* Yo¡­u bashtard!!"

    "Stop talking," Knox ordered, his grip around Seamon''s neck squeezing harder. "You''re dead next time you do something like that, understand?"

    "Y-You¡ª"

    "I said, do you understand?"

    RUMBLE!

    "!!!"

    Frightened to the point of pissing his breeches, Seamon furiously nodded. All his previous gusto had been erased with just a single look from a renowned cripple.

    "Good," Knox said, now all smiles¡ªhis previous overwhelming killing intent nowhere to be seen. "Now, according to the script, what you''ll do next¡ªSemen-Fck*¡ªis you''ll give some dumb-ass speech to all these lovely loot bags you brought with you. After which, you and every other mindless sheep here will run to the slaughter. Out of self-defense, I''ll have no choice but to fulfill their wishes."

    ''This psycho¡­!! Freak, monster¡­!!!'' Seamon screamed internally, fear burrowing deep into his expression.

    "So, are we clear, Semen?" Knox asked in a very friendly way. "Do you know what to do next?"

    Terrified by the gleam in his golden eyes, Seamon Meldon shivered uncontrollably. And without thinking, he nodded enough times to put him in a neck brace.

    "That''s very good to hear, dear friend."

    Knox momentarily stopped speaking, his emotionless gaze suddenly shooting toward a jade beauty of impeccable elegance.

    Nala.

    Nala Maybringer¡ªone of, if not the most talented Water Deity Child¡ªalso being a recently broken-through Soul Formation Realm expert. A very cold and detached woman of incredible beauty.

    Yet, at this moment, something else had mixed in with her coldness. A fierceness that knitted her brows deep together and gave her aura a dangerous, murderous element that was wholly directed at a single person.

    A young girl whom Knox had grown to enjoy the company of in recent times.

 Chapter 88 - 88: Furious Geniuses

    "Scary¡­ Big Bro¡­" Lily mumbled as she fearfully clung to Knox''s head.

    "A monster!!" Nala announced with an abnormally high amount of hatred. "You''re actually harboring a monster, Knox Falazar!? Are you betraying the human race!??"

    Knox let go of the pitiful Seamon, his focus now on Nala''s livid face. He blocked her killing intent and aura from affecting Cela and Lily, then began to speak in a frosty tone:

    "I don''t give a shit what crawled up your ass or what your reason for such racial hatred is," he coldly uttered. "But stay out of this if you know what''s good for you. I don''t like beating up women, but I''ll make an exception for you if need be."

    "KNOX FALAZAR!!"

    "Yeah, that''s the name; don''t forget it," Knox remarked before returning his attention to the now enraged Seamon and his affiliated armies. "Don''t worry, though. After I deal with these buffoons, I''ll open up just enough in my hectic schedule to personally service you."

    Cela already hated the busty, barely-clothed Nala, but after misinterpreting the hatred in the air for sexual tension, her abhorrence outwardly projected itself. Her surging purple and black aura engulfed the area, and needing an outlet, she looked to Knox for permission.

    After a brief pause¡ª

    "Fine," said Knox. "But only those few hundred thousand over there. And try not to kill them if you can; I want to do the finishers. Or if I decide to slave them, they still need to be alive."

    Cela''s happiness overflowed. She swung around Knox before kissing him on the cheek and flying to where he told her she could go.

    Crazy shouts and laughter then resounded a second later¡­

    And for some reason, that was what acted as the start of the battle.

    "KILL THEM ALL!!!"

    Seamon Meldon''s wrathful bellow was immediately followed up by the warrior-like shouts of all the NPCs gathered in the skies. They brandished their weapons and conjured spells, creating a vibrant array of volatile elements.

    "Ho?" Knox mused, his pupils reflecting the dazzling sight before him. "Are you ready, Lily?"

    Lily bobbed her head. "Am ready, Big Bro," she said as she actively increased the output of her |Time Cheat| Prospect.

    This action of hers temporarily improved Knox''s comprehension of the Time Element.

    His Speed Tripled!

    "You read my mind, Lily," Knox evilly grinned, lightning crackling around him. "Let''s finish this quickly."

    Without waiting for confirmation, the corners of Knox''s mouth stretched out his cheeks. He then blurred¡ªhis figure but a mere series of afterimages that appeared all over.

    SPLAT!

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain 120,000+ Cultivators ranging from the Foundation Establishment to Soul Formation Realm!]

    [A massive-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [Strength +65,000]

    [Agility +870,000]

    [Affinity +13]

    [Energy +124,720]

    X1,105,000 more¡­

    [Acquired 8,000 Kingdom Coins by reducing the Forces of multiple opposing Trial Nations!]

    "Good haul," Knox calmly said, his Intent Swords dripping blood. "But I feel as if you bunch have more to give. A ragtag group like yours surely has to be worth quite the pretty penny, no?"

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Everyone on the opposing side felt shivers crawl down their spines. Even the NPCs were no exception, for if one disregarded their fabricated existences and willingness to be slaves, they were as human as they came.

    Too many to count wished to flee for their lives, but without their Master''s permission, that was impossible¡­

    "Wh-What are you all waiting for!?" Seamon shouted through chattering teeth. "KILL THE CRIPPLE!!!" S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yeah, kill me!"

    Knox joined in on the fun, cheering right beside the trembling Meldon Household''s Young Master.

    "!??"

    "H-How did you get beside me!?" Seamon screamed like a little girl as he backed up, once again hiding behind the backs of his subordinates. "Y¡­ You''re just crippled trash! You''re not supposed to be this formidable¡­!"

    Knox flashed the most terrifying smile Seamon had ever seen. "Oh, you haven''t seen anything yet."

    FWIP!

    He vanished like a ghost, his whereabouts unknown.

    However, within nanoseconds, the agonizing screams of thousands drained the last of the color from Seamon''s face. He hollered command after command, sending hundreds of thousands to their deaths. Moreover, he wasn''t the only one doing this, for all his Young Master and Young Miss buddies were doing the same things.

    But not only did their attempts at trapping him fail terribly¡ªthe longer they uselessly resisted, the more they fell like flies. Every million or so NPC deaths, Knox would take the life of one of their own.

    "For offending my Senior Sister, I''ll kill you a hundred times over!"

    The enraged voice of Star-Gazer Child carried through the wind, finding its way to Knox.

    "You''ll kill me, huh?" He mocked before looking at Nala Maybringer. "Well, did you hear that, big sis? Your junior brother is going to kill me a hundred times for your sake!"

    No response.

    Turning back toward Star-Gazer Child, Knox''s derision was made known. "I do wonder something: How are you going to kill me a hundred times if I can only die once, dumbass?"

    "BASTARD!!!"

    OOOM!

    "Yeah, I''ve heard that one before," Knox laughed as his hand flickered. "I''ve also killed most everyone who called me by that title. You''re no exception."

    SPURT!

    One of the most fearsome Children of the Water Deity exploded in a morbid firework of blood. He hadn''t even received the chance to unleash his Star-related Martial Skills.

    Nala was further incensed, but she knew it wasn''t yet the time to act.

    "Welp, that was anticlimactic," Knox said with a light chuckle. "Well, whatever, let''s finish things up."

    His predatory gaze locked onto the tens of millions of cultivators and Trial Takers. A cold chill ran through all of them, but that didn''t prevent them from being ruthlessly hunted.

    Until finally¡­

    "W-What¡­ sort of monster are you¡­!?"

    Over 30% of the tens of millions of gathered Cultivators died¡ªall by the hands of a single devil-like man.

    As for the remaining 70%, Knox only left them alive because¡­ all their Masters were lying in their graves¡­

    The heirs and descendants of the Duke and Count Households, the prodigies of various sects, those rare itinerant geniuses seeking riches¡ªall dead.

    Their greed blinded them. And for it, they lost their lives.

    At least, that was the case for their continued existence in Pandora and the King''s Grounds¡­

    "Dammit! That monstrous bastard killed me!"

    "He got you too!? That fucker!"

    "Let''s have the Elders slaughter him when he leaves!!"

    Of those enraged by the actions of a single devilish man, there was one returner who had something else on her mind.

    Yara¡ªthe friend that Yennefer assumed had permanently died before she learned the truth of Pandora. A girl who clenched her chest while not knowing if her friend even knew she was still alive.

    Even though her soul had been moderately damaged because of the soul sliver that was destroyed with her death in Pandora, concern for Yennefer outweighed the pain.

    "Yen..¡­"

    ¡ªMeanwhile, back inside Pandora, the 2nd Trial, King''s Grounds¡ª

    "You''re the last one left, Semen-shit."

    Knox''s voice rang out like the devil''s in the ears of Seamon Meldon¡ªa man who had not only pissed himself for the third time but also shat himself. And based on the brown stream trailing down most of his lower half, it was clear that this was no normal accidental shatting situation.

    No, this was an all-you-can-eat Taco Bell type scenario.

 Chapter 89 - 89: The Ancient Blade Demon

    "W-What do you want from me, Monster¡­!?" Seamon screamed out, spit and snot flying everywhere. "You''ve already annihilated my forces and my teammates! What else could you possibly want!? D-Do you just want to watch me suffer¡ªis that it¡­!??"

    "What do I want?" Knox repeated with a smile.

    SHING!

    "I want everything that is you," he finished, twisting the blade he had plunged into Seamon''s gut. "And I''ll get what I want one way or another. See you in the outside world, motherf*cker."

    "!!!"

    SPLAT!

    Before Seamon Meldon had the time to properly react, he exploded like a blood bomb. His guts painted the skies red, his death marking the finale of the battle.

    "Could you even call what just happened a battle¡­?" asked a Young Master who had stayed out of it. "What I saw was nothing short of a one-sided massacre¡­"

    Nala''s anger gauge was still extremely high, but that didn''t mean she wasn''t lucid enough to comprehend the implications of what had just occurred. Even she¡ªas a Supreme Genius¡ªcouldn''t lie to herself and say that she had ever come close to that level of power when she was in the Core Formation Realm.

    "How interesting," Princess Maya mused, her eyes curiously watching as a pink-haired woman with a dangerous aura leapt at the man who had piqued her interest. "A lover? Hmm¡­"

    *Whack!*

    The so-called lover was sent sailing with a ruthless slap¡ªone that urged a creepy, euphoric grin onto her face.

    "¡­Maybe not¡­"

    Knox, meanwhile, scowled before turning away from the Yandere who would likely never learn how to stop being so handsy. Up and grabbing his junk like that while sexually assaulting his mouth¡ªwas she out of her damn mind??

    "Whatever," he clicked his tongue, his focus now on the munchkin atop his head. "Did you like the fight?"

    "Mhmm!" Lily happily nodded, making cute martial-arts moves with her arms. "Big Bro was like kacha, then pow, pow, and bang! Then woaww!"

    Knox chuckled. "Maybe I''ll teach you a few of those moves one of these days. When you''re older¡ª"

    "Really!?" Lily bubbled with joy as she hugged his head, snuggling her face into his long raven-black hair. "Big Bro is the best!"

    "Those guys I beat up would beg to differ."

    "They''re dum-dums, then! Big stupid dummies!"

    "Is that so?"

    Lily fervently nodded while snorting in an adorable way. "Yep, Big Bro is awesome."

    "Ha¡­" Knox laughed a little before shifting his gaze toward the spectators in the distance¡ªan action that caused his expression to ice over. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Should I just kill them now and win this competition once and for all?'' he pondered. ''No, there''s still time left. And I have no idea what the 3rd Trial will involve, so I might still need them to acquire the most benefits from this Secret Realm.''

    Just as his thoughts stopped leaking killing intent, a couple of powerful presences shook the skies.

    OOOM!

    "Here they come," said Luna. "Like always," said Solaris.

    "Still weird¡­ but whatever," Princess Maya shrugged. "Should I help him now or continue waiting? Those before didn''t even surpass the Early Soul Formation Realm in terms of combat power, which, from the looks of it, was far from enough to bring out Knox Falazar''s full power. But these two¡ªparticularly Lucidador; they''re an entirely different story."

    She decided to continue sitting back, only planning to intervene if things took a turn for the worst.

    "Look at him, Senior Brother!" Lenon snickered while pointing in Knox''s direction. "He actually believes he''s some bigshot! When all he really did was dispose of some useless trash!"

    Lucidador stared at Knox, his thoughts running amok. ''This one is talented. A Tri-Saint Rank Talent.''

    As the Ancient Blade Demon debated switching out his current body for that of the genius before him, said genius felt his heartbeat quicken.

    "Strong¡­" Knox murmured with concealed excitement.

    With the help of System Sight, he learned the truth right away, but that didn''t deter him. Not even by the smallest amount.

    "Darling, I don''t like the way this one is looking at you," Cela chimed in, her words full of murderous intent. "Can I take care of him?"

    Knox followed the Yandere''s gaze. He found the pompous Lenon standing there, leering like a loose-tongued fool. It went without saying that this conceited young master needed a good beating to help him better understand his place, but the idea of fighting the loser himself bored Knox.

    "Are you sure you can handle him?" he inquired. "It seems he got quite lucky and managed to break through twice, achieving the Half-step Soul Formation Realm."

    Cela''s killing intent oppressed the air around her. An aura far vaster and more powerful than what she possessed in the 1st Trial made its grand appearance.

    "I can take him, Darling," she coldly uttered as darkness consumed both her eyes, turning them into pitch-black, swirling abysses.

    Knox blinked while looking at her. Then he sighed and waved her off. "Do whatever you want. You don''t need my permission."

    "Thank you, Darling!"

    BOOM! BOOM!

    Cela clocked her fist into Lenon''s smug face, sending him blasting through the earth below.

    "W-Who the hell are you!?"

    "I''m the one who''s going to smash your face into oblivion! Now die, die, die!! Die! Die! Die! Just DIE!!!"

    "You crazy bi¡ª"

    BOOOOM!!

    Because Lenon''s guard had been initially down, Cela was able to smack him silly. And while he worked to gain the upper hand in their abrupt fight, two mysterious robed figures were having a stare-down high up in the skies.

    "You''re an interesting youngling."

    Lucidador''s voice spread out like ripples in a pond, sounding unusually antiquated for a young man no older than a hundred years.

    "Am I now?" Knox asked, his grin widening.

    "Yes," replied Lucidador, his narrowed eyes further appraising Knox. "Your level of talent is very rarely seen. Even where I come from, you''d be considered a Little Prodigy."

    "Where you come from, ey?" Knox quipped, tightly clasping two Intent Swords. "Why don''t we have a more in-depth discussion about that??"

 Chapter 90 - 90: An Insurmountable Difference

    Lucidador stared unblinkingly.

    Ultimately, however, his eyes closed as he heaved a disappointed huff. "I''d like that, but it appears you''ve already decided on your next course of action. A decision that I find to be an incredibly foolish one."

    Knox smirked. "I guess we''ll just have to see how true that is!"

    *Fwoooop¡ª!*

    Without wasting any more breath on meaningless words, he zipped forward at hundreds of times the speed of light. His right-handed Intent Sword reached Lucidador in the blink of an eye.

    "Pointless."

    Lucidador''s icy-cold eyes darted toward Knox''s exact position, which was then followed by a slight finger raise. A large manifestation of blade intent appeared, effectively blocking the incoming Intent Sword attack.

    "Tsk." Knox clicked his tongue as he backed off.

    "Do you have any idea what it means to attain the Echo of the Blade?" Lucidador asked in a calm manner, seemingly not the least bit threatened by his opponent. "It''s the act of nearing a complete state with the art of the Blade. It''s something that a baby like you will require dozens more years to even begin to understand for the Sword. That is to say that you should¡­ give up. You won''t break through my defenses."

    "Ha! Nothing that exists can''t be broken!"

    Another tired sigh echoed. "Your resistance is futile. Why can''t you understand that?"

    "Stop talking with your mouth! Let''s converse with our weapons!"

    "¡­How pointless¡­"

    SHING! CLANG!

    SHING! X8

    CLANG! X8

    SHING! SHING! X96

    CLANG! CLANG! X96

    SHING! SHING! SHING! X7540

    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! X7540

    Princess Maya, Nala, and the others watched from the sidelines. They saw two flashes of light zooming all over the battlefield, clearing out the clouds and destroying anything in sight. Furthermore, the speed at which they moved only became progressively faster. It was to the point that even the strongest among the spectators felt their vision lagging behind.

    "Darling is so cool~"

    "You dare get distracted while fighting me, you b*tch!? Are you aiming for a painful, torturous death? Because I''ll give it to you after I''m done playing with your body!!"

    Cela''s giddy expression suddenly frosted over. She fixed a lethal glare on the raging young master, her killing intent boiling over. "Only my Darling is allowed to touch me. You declaring that you''ll do the same is the equivalent of offending my Darling, which is the same as offending me. And for it, I''ll string your innards on the front of your castle."

    "Yeah!? I''d like to see you try¡ª"

    |Oblivion''s Final Destination| - |3rd Move: Total Oblivion|

    SWOOOOSH!

    "!!!"

    "You and that damn Physique!" Lenon shouted as he activated several layers of protective barriers. His Sword Body also displayed more of its might, causing a holy, golden sword phenomenon to form above him. "I''ll slash right through it!!"

    His declaration was followed up by the massive golden sword phenomenon slashing downward. It cleaved through the Elements and Minor Laws infused into the atmosphere, leaving the area in severe disarray. A glitchy effect shifted the causality of many things, yet it only furthered the approach of a giant sphere of darkness. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Total Oblivion''s Obliteration," Cela announced in a tone bereft of emotion as she clenched her hand, causing the giant sphere of darkness to rapidly expand and rupture. "As my Darling likes to say: parry this, you filthy casual."

    "!!!!"

    KA¡ªBOOOOOOOM!!

    In a discreet corner of the battlefield, a violet-eyed girl carefully observed both of the ongoing fights. She briefly focused on Cela''s battle, her eyes glazing over ever so slightly.

    "She''s become stronger again¡­" Yennefer then returned her attention to the two extremely powerful figures creating tears in space everywhere they clashed. "Knox¡­ his strength is¡­"

    Just a few years ago, he was only a bit stronger than your average Body Refinement Realm cultivator. A mere gnat in her eyes.

    Yet now, his back seemed to stretch out further than she could reach¡ªhis rate of power progression moving on an entirely different scale.

    "Will it ever be possible for me to catch up to him¡­?"

    The hoarse voice of the Unbiased Prophet rang through time and space, living in the hearts of many: "His fate is a lonely one¡ªa path that neither man nor woman can traverse alongside him."

    However, no matter how small the chance may be, Yennefer still hoped that she''d be able to lag behind him, walking in his massive footprints. Though, she had no idea why precisely she even wanted that to begin with.

    A rivalry, perhaps?

    For the sake of her family''s alliance with the Falazars?

    For herself¡­?

    None could say for certain.

    ¡ª Some Time Later ¡ª

    "Why do you continue to resist?"

    Lucidador''s raspy voice cut through the silence that enveloped their stalemate. His cold eyes looked down at the otherworldly handsome raven-haired man gasping for breath. Cuts leaked blood all over his body, some far deeper than others.

    "I resist because I''m greedy," Knox replied, his mouth filled with the rancid taste of iron. "And until I beat you or die, I won''t be giving up."

    |2nd Perfection: Restore|

    Lucidador impassively watched as his opponent''s body restored itself to peak condition. However, he wasn''t all that surprised by such an occurrence. After all, Knox was a Tri-Saint Ranked Talent.

    Similar talents had been nothing if not full of surprises from the Ancient Blade Demon''s past experiences.

    "Fine then," Lucidador uttered as he raised his left hand. "I guess I''ll just have to show you the insurmountable difference between you and me in order to get you to submit."

    WAAA!

    Tendrils of dark golden Innate Energy shot out of Lucidador''s left hand. They extended to the heavens, wildly swinging around in a frenzy.

    Possessing enough power within them to one-shot a Late Soul Formation Realm powerhouse, the tendrils loomed overhead.

    Quickly, they took on the form of a thick saber-blade¡ªone that emitted enough arrogance to make even the world itself feel a sense of inferiority.

    "This sort of power¡­" Princess Maya softly murmured, surprise flashing through her eyes. "He wasn''t this strong before. What happened to him in this recent period of time??"

    "No idea," said Luna. "No idea," said Solaris.

    "The Echo of the Blade is not enough to boost his power to this degree. Likely¡­ something else," they both said in sync.

 Chapter 91 - 91: A Primordial Clone!?

    A rarity happened as Nala spoke up:

    "I''ve met this Lucidador before. His demeanor was different then as well, far unlike now. Even attaining the Echo of the Blade would not be enough to bring about such a drastic change to his personality."

    "You don''t think¡­??" Princess Maya''s mind raced with realization.

    Nala nodded while keeping her eyes on the massive golden blade phenomenon. "It''s possible."

    "¡­But possession¡­ Secret Realms typically only have risks like that if it''s a¡ª" Maya paused dramatically. "Trap."

    Nala didn''t respond. But from how her brows knitted tighter together, it was obvious that she considered something like that to be the case as well.

    Though, on the other hand, it was possible that they were just missing a piece of the puzzle¡ªsomething that blurred the truth of the picture from them.

    After a brief pause, Maya asked, "Can I count on you to cover me if Lucidador turns out to be what we suspect him to be? I have trump cards of my own¡ªones capable of fending off the attacks of even the most powerful Soul Formation Realm Cultivators, but they leave me in a very vulnerable state."

    Nala didn''t look the princess''s way; she merely nodded. All her focus then returned to the ongoing battle, her emotions still heavily conflicted over her grudgeful matter with Knox Falazar.

    "Now this is more like it!!" Knox crazily shouted, blood and teeth flying out of his mouth. "Come! Let''s have a true battle of men!! And since you''re showing off something like this, I can''t very well not reciprocate the love, now can I!?"

    RUMBLE!!

    The world quaked beneath the might of an extremely powerful Martial Skill that originated from beyond the borders of Pandora. From beyond the Elemental Nations even.

    |Supreme Devourer (Half-Saint)| - |1st Move: Devouring the Earth|!

    The crimson-black visage of a giant snake head materialized above Knox''s maniacally grinning figure. The snake head measured over 10,000 miles in width and length, towering over even the physical manifestation produced by the Echo of the Blade and the Essence of the Ancient Blade Demon.

    "Talk as you may, but dodging this is impossible!" Cassius declared as the snake head opened its maw wide, releasing a mind-bogglingly loud roar. "But no, I''m not done yet!"

    |1st Requiem: 1st Phase - Underworld Lightning|

    ZAP! ZAP!

    |2nd Requiem: 2nd Phase - Earthly Lightning|

    ZAP! ZAP!! ZAP!!!

    Full Might of the Middle Core Formation Realm with a Mid-Saint Ranked Foundation!

    Looking up and seeing the skies engulfed by a massive snake head surrounded by terrifying green and brown lightning, Lucidador remained expressionless. He simply let down his hand, the giant golden sword enlarging by dozens of times its original size.

    "I already told you that no matter what you do, it''s all pointless," he stated. "You''re far too young¡ªfar too inexperienced¡ªand far too¡­ weak."

    "Well, that may be true," Knox laughed. "But if I don''t at least give it my all before I go down, where''s the fun in that?? Haha!"

    "...."

    "¡­Very well," were the last words to leave Lucidador''s mouth before the world was blinded by gold.

    "ROOOAAARGGHHH!!!" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The first move of the Half-Saint Rank Serpent Devourer''s Technique collided with the colossal falling sword, creating an explosion of light that left many disoriented. Even those like Nala, Maya, and the twins were no exception, for the collision of two devastatingly powerful attacks was far too immense.

    After the settling of the dispersed energies¡­

    "Kuk!" Coughing up large amounts of blood, Knox keeled over, his clothes tattered and his body in shambles.

    "!!!" "!!!"

    "Darling!!" Cela called out while embroiled in her own dangerous fight, giving Lenon the perfect opportunity to viciously strike at her.

    BOOOM!!

    She was sent flying, worry mixing with the pain stinging at her sides.

    "Tut!" Lenon spat as he descended to the mountain that Cela destroyed. "That''s what you get, you dirty b*tch. Now, do you have any last words before I kill you and convert your corpse into a sex-puppet??"

    With shaky vision and damaged internal organs, Cela glared at the young man hovering over her. "Cough! G¡­ Go to hell, you BASTARD!"

    "So be it then," Lenon scowled before summoning dozens of light blue Intent Swords, each radiating lethal doses of Innate Energy. "Die."

    Cela closed her eyes, fully prepared for the end to come. Regret over not being able to spend the rest of eternity together with her love made a deep hole in her heart, but soon it would be over.

    ''Darling¡­''

    However, just as piercing Sword Light blocked out her vision¡ªwith death''s approach imminent¡ªan all-too-familiar figure appeared in front of her. A casual hand swipe from the figure not only erased all of Lenon''s Intent Swords, but also sent out a palm-shaped attack that crashed into Lenon.

    "Wha¡ª!?" He screamed out. The palm attack, however, quickly shut him up as it blasted him through hundreds of valleys.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Surprise and astonishment immediately flooded the expressions of all the spectators¡ªincluding the cold-faced Yennefer, who was about to make a move to help Cela.

    "I guess he had it all handled from the very beginning," Yennefer said with a resigned sigh, forcefully dispersing the Fire and Ice Wheel forming behind her. "My help was never necessary."

    This was right around when the Ancient Blade Demon disguised as Lucidador noticed that something was up. He shot his gaze back toward the beaten and battered Knox, only to see that the man who was supposed to be on death''s door was looking at him with a broad, cunning smirk.

    "You¡­"

    "Have you finally figured it out?" Knox inquired as his figure repeatedly switched between a state of being translucent and being visible. He seemed to be connecting with an identical version of himself¡ªone huge source of power and an even larger source of power becoming one. "What you had been fighting was nothing but¡ª"

    "My Primordial Clone!!"

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    "But to possess that much power with a mere clone, just¡­ just what sort of freak are you?"

    For the first time since their encounter, something other than indifference painted itself across Lucidador''s face. He appeared genuinely bewildered¡ªutterly overwhelmed with shock.

 Chapter 92 - 92: 1% Of My Full Strength

    Cracking his neck, Knox felt himself becoming whole again. "Good, now we can fight for real. Right, little blade demon buddy??"

    An even greater amount of shock was experienced by Lucidador, making his aura flare a bit out of his control. "How¡­ How could you possibly know about that!?" he hastily shouted, his emotions teetering on the edge of going berserk. "Wait!! That Technique! The Supreme Devourer and the Dragon Lord''s Heavenly Requiem!! Are you somehow related to that old bastard!? The Unorthodox Devilstar!?? The one who planned to imprison me here forever!??"

    "Ho?" Knox mused, rubbing his chin in nonchalant thought. "So that''s what the question marks in your description were hiding from me. How intriguing. An imprisoned Ancient Sword Demon, huh?"

    Lucidador became even more confused. "So that means you''re not related to that old bastard!?"

    "Nah, but I can give him a message after I kill you," Knox chuckled, Intent Swords numbering in the tens of thousands forming all around him. "Why don''t we make that happen sooner? I''m a busy man, you see; got places to be, alcohol to consume."

    Lucidador seethed, his previous indifference nowhere to be seen. Now, he was both confused and angered. Yet, he was not angry for the reasons one might think¡ªno, he was mad because of his confusion.

    Very old and powerful beings like the Ancient Blade Demon didn''t like being out of the loop on something. Unintelligence was not something they''d ever accept. And for a meager human of the Core Formation Realm to play him for a fool, well, that was simply¡­

    "Unacceptable!"

    WAAA!

    Knox''s smile widened so much that, in the dilated pupils of Lucidador, it almost seemed like he was being taunted.

    "COURTING DEATH!"

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    Lucidador blasted forward, achieving speeds that exceeded common sense. He moved so fast that even the produced sonic booms faded into oblivion before getting the chance to register.

    "Hm?" Knox, however, saw every minute movement made by the wrathful golden-robed man. "It seems that you still believe that I''m the same person that I was when it was just my Primordial Soul Clone fighting. Which, honestly speaking, is quite stupid for someone like you. After all, you should know that even those most proficient with the Soul can only get their Primordial Soul Clones to 10% of their Main Body''s strength."

    "I, on the other hand," Knox continued, raising a hand, "am not even of the Golden Core Realm, let alone the Soul Formation Realm. So how on earth could I possibly have a Primordial Soul? No, what I made use of was a neat Heaven-rank Martial Skill that I picked up from one of my Treasure Chests."

    ''The Treasure Troves had something like that??'' Princess Maya asked herself. ''Although I''ve already broken through the Soul Formation Realm, having something like that when my cultivation was lesser would''ve been extremely useful.''

    But¡ª

    There was a major downside to the Martial Skill. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "The Heaven-rank Martial Skill Primordial Duplicate has the potential to perfectly replicate my powers and create an exact copy of myself," Knox finished where he left off. His raised hand not only gathered his Innate Energy and Inner Array Energy but also a massive amount of raw Attribute power. "But to reach a point where your Artificial Primordial Clone can replicate your full power, you have to achieve the Soul Formation Realm. I myself am only of the Core Formation Realm, so instead of 100%, my Artificial Clone is only capable of utilizing¡ª"

    SHING!

    "1% of my full strength."

    "What!?" Lucidador roared in unwillingness as an impossibly powerful arc of Sword Intent shattered all of his defenses in an instant. "How could a Core Formation Realm brat possibly be so strong!? Even if you had access to genuine Saint-rank Techniques, you still wouldn''t be able to exhibit such strength!!"

    "You wish to know?" Knox playfully asked as he watched his full-powered crimson Sword Arc deplete the last of the Ancient Blade Demon''s life-preserving measures.

    "YES!!! TELL ME!!! AHHHHH!!!"

    "Fine then," Knox continued, blurring forward at an utterly ridiculous speed. "I owe it to a dead man to fulfill his final wish. But to get the answer you desire, I''m afraid¡ª"

    SPLAT!

    "You''ll have to ask King Yama in Hell!!"

    "NOOOooo..."

    The Ancient Blade Demon was completely vanquished!

    Lucidador''s remaining soul fragments detached from the unshakeable hold that the Demon had on them. However, considering that the Soul Sliver that entered the Secret Realm had been totally erased along with the Ancient Blade Demon''s existence, Lucidador could no longer participate in the Trials.

    One of the most formidable competitors¡ªgone, just like that.

    The expressions of Nala, Princess Maya, and the two Softshore Duke Twins drastically changed. Never had they witnessed such a display of strength among a member of the younger generation, and never in their wildest dreams would they have expected events to unfold the way they did.

    "The destruction to the area," Luna said in awe. "Tens of thousands of miles of land¡ªgone," Solaris said with an equal amount of awe.

    Nala''s brows furrowed in immense displeasure.

    Princess Maya, meanwhile, felt extremely conflicted. As a princess of a kingdom, she should be wary about the birth of such a supreme genius. However, another side of her felt like there were untold benefits to be had were she to befriend a person who obviously possessed an enormous amount of Providence.

    "What to do¡­" she mumbled to herself, her crystalline eyes glued to Knox''s valiant figure.

    The valiant figure in question:

    "Hehe, Loot! So much delicious Loot! Biggest haul yet! Even more than what I got from slaughtering tens of millions of cultivators! Quality over quantity, baby!!!"

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain an Early Soul Formation Realm Cultivator possessed by a Soul Transformation Realm Ancient Blade Demon!]

    [A small-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [Strength +856,000,000]

    [Agility +723,000,000]

    [Affinity +1,100,000]

    [Energy +990,000,000]

    x12 more¡­

    Not only was Knox able to obtain billions'' worth of regular Attribute Points, but he also acquired over a million points'' worth of Affinity¡ªan astronomical amount that put him one step closer to the Mid-Saint Rank Cultivation Talent.

 Chapter 93 - 93: Conquering It All!

    "Good shit," Knox remarked. "If only I could find a few more fat pigs like that one to loot."

    Just then, a softness smashed into him. He turned around to see what it was, only to facepalm at the sight of a pink ahoge hair happily dancing atop a crazy girl''s head.

    "Darling, I just knew you loved me~!" Cela squirmed, her ample curves pressing up against Knox. "You saved me~! You LOVE me~!!"

    "No," Knox denied as he pushed away the clingy girl. "I simply didn''t want to let you die when I still owe you for that pill you gave me a few years ago. That''s all, so don''t go and overthink anything."

    "Yes, of course, my Love! I won''t disclose the fact that you Love me as well!!"

    Knox helplessly stared at the pink-haired yandere. "Why do I even bother¡­?"

    "Because you care about me too much to properly quantify~!?"

    "You¡­" Knox sighed, redirecting his focus elsewhere. "The show''s over, folks, so unless you want my autograph, you should scurry back home."

    His words were meant for all the spectators, which included every single remaining Trial Taker¡ªa number totaling less than 30.

    Those were all that remained after the murder spree that had just occurred¡­

    Sensing a bit of killing intent, Knox shifted his golden eyes to the icy-cold, beautiful woman garbed in the Water Deity Sect''s attire.

    "You want to have a private one-on-one session or something, lady? If so, then just give the word, and I''ll open up my schedule. However, if not¡­" His expression froze over. "I suggest you vacate yourself from my sight. If not, then I might just lose control of my urges and devour you for everything you''re worth."

    "Scum¡­!" Nala growled, using unparalleled restraint to hold herself back. "If you let me go today, then I swear you''ll regret it!"

    Knox chuckled. He dismissively waved his hand, motioning to the world beyond. "Listen, I really want to care, but I just don''t," he laughed. "Maybe if it was the me of before, I would''ve taken the threat you pose to me seriously, but now¡­ well, your hatred for me is inconsequential. If you keep to yourself, I won''t bother you. If you dumbly try to attack me, I''ll just kill you and be done with it."

    Nala simmered in rage, but what more could she do beyond scowling and growling?

    She saw it. Everyone saw it.

    Knox''s strength. A level of power that defied common sense. One that shouldn''t ever belong to a cultivator in the Core Formation Realm.

    Little did they know that Knox''s main source of power originated not from his Technique Comprehensions or his Saint-ranked Prospects.

    No, what truly made him a monster were his¡ª

    Attributes!

    With most of them being in the billions range, not even Late Soul Formation Realm experts were his match. Moreover, the gap between him and such cultivators only widened when he activated all of his abilities and unique qualities.

    Sooner or later, none within the Soul Formation Realm would be his match. And by then, he''d no longer have to worry about the forces that opposed his continued existence in the Elemental Nations.

    ''They''ve surely heard of me already,'' Knox internally thought while flashing a suggestive smirk in Princess Maya''s direction. He did the same thing for his fianc¨¦e¡ªa sneaky woman who really believed she could stay hidden from him. ''And with how many enemies I''ve made for myself in the Nations, it surely won''t take very much for them to coerce the others who yearn for my possessions. With a collaboration like that, I very much doubt that it''ll be possible to easily escape the Secret Realm''s entrance area.''

    So, to avoid a potential death-flag route, Knox had only one choice before him.

    Become strong enough to single-handedly fend off the most powerful entities in the Elemental Nations!

    A ludicrous notion that would, at the very minimum, require him to possess Battle Power of the Half-step Soul Transformation Realm.

    To advance to that from his current standing in the peakmost stages of the Late Soul Formation Realm seemed like a simple feat, but it was anything but.

    In all honesty, Knox had no idea if he could actually pull off something so crazy.

    But the least he could do was give it his best shot!

    ''It''s either that or death and possible torture,'' Knox lamented. ''And as much as I''m sure the System will appreciate the ''Character Development'' garnered from getting my shit rocked, I think I''ll pass.''

    [Booo!]

    ''Shut it.''

    [Meanie, blegh!]

    Knox zoned out his annoyingly personable System, instead doing his best to do what the 2nd Trial demanded of him.

    Building up a Kingdom so as to become the most powerful one in the King''s Grounds by the end of the five-month-long period!

    Working toward that goal and then some, Knox ceaselessly conquered territories¡ªdoing so while also comprehending more of his two Half-Saint Rank Techniques as well as progressing his cultivation.

    ¡ª ~ 5000 or so years later (From Knox''s perspective) ~ ¡ª Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "My liege!"

    The boisterous shout of a large, imposing man pierced through the silence of halls so massive that entire cities could fit inside them. An immortal-like young man sat on a throne located at the very end of these halls. On all sides of him were millions upon millions of soldiers, each bowing their heads in reverence.

    "What is it, Bemon?" came the voice of the young man on the throne. "Time is running thin, so make it quick."

    "Yes, my Liege!" replied Bemon. "I''ve come to report the invasion of the Hallowmen from the Misty Peninsula! They''ve brought with them their whole army, which includes hundreds of Soul Formation Realm and countless Nascent Soul Realm cultivators!!"

    "Ho?" Knox raised a brow, holding the armrest of his throne a little harder. "In all my time as ruler of this Empire, I''ve brought us to the very pinnacle of this world. The Eastern Region, the Floating Continent, the Center Continent¡ªI''ve conquered it all!"

    His booming voice created premonitions of a mighty figure standing atop the world. A phenomenon that left his subordinates and minions gawking and silently praising to themselves.

 Chapter 94 - 94: Late-Saint Rank Talent, The Tyrant Emperor

    "We''re the single strongest nation in the world, and yet there still exist those who wish to stand against us?" Knox''s voice came out as cold as the Atlantic. "Tell me, Bemon, where are these impertinent fools right now?"

    "M-My Liege," Bemon pointed outside a large palace window, the scene outside resembling an apocalypse. "They''re already here."

    Knox cracked his throne''s armrest. A deathly glow formed in his golden eyes¡ªan occurrence that suffocated the air inside the throne room.

    "Bemon," he asked.

    "Yes, my Liege¡­?"

    "Prepare a new graveyard. Make this one larger than the last."

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The expressions of many underwent extreme changes, yet they didn''t voice what they were feeling. Bemon, however, spoke up, responding:

    "Of course, my Liege. It shall be done right away."

    "Good," was the last thing Knox said before he vanished from his spot.

    FWIP!

    "Your tyranny comes to an end right here and now, you vile Tyrant Emperor!"

    As soon as Knox covertly reappeared in the skies outside his palace, the shouting of a robust man adorned in mane-like armor bled his ears. The man possessed a cultivation base of the Peak Soul Formation Realm, making him one of the most powerful entities in the King''s Grounds.

    "I, the Monarch of the Misty Peninsula¡ªArkol¡ªhave come to take your life!"

    The maned man''s shouts continued echoing, his voice producing ripples in the fabric of time and space. His poise was indomitable, his posture immaculate.

    Yet¡­

    "You''ve come to take my life?" Knox questioned from a position mere feet away from Monarch Arkol. "What a joke."

    "!?!"

    Arkol turned around, his enormous hammer already in the process of swinging behind him. However, by that point in time, his life was no longer his to own.

    "Ho¡ª"

    SPLAT!

    The almighty ruler of one of the most formidable regions in the King''s Grounds died in an explosion of blood!

    Knox''s murderous glare shifted away from the remnants of Arkol. He looked between all the soldiers and cultivators that had rallied behind the Misty Peninsula''s monarch.

    And if only for an instant, millions of powerful living beings felt their connection with the world of the dead pull them close.

    SHING!

    Then, with a single slash imbued with the Level 2 Law of Time and a Level 6 Sword Intent, every single person of the Misty Peninsula¡­ died.

    "What a bunch of treacherous trash," Knox scorned, his eyes filled with derision. "The Misty Peninsula was a region I conquered with ease over a thousand years ago. Yet they and their new ruler actually dared to rise up in rebellion? The term ''idiot'' is not enough to properly describe them."

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain the Peak Soul Formation Monarch of the Misty Peninsula!]

    [Millions of usurpers have been felled by your merciless sword!]

    [A massive-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [Strength +870,000]

    [Agility +328,000]

    [Affinity +190]

    [Energy +960,000] S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    x13,530,000 more¡­

    "Can''t even receive any Attribute Orbs in the seven-digit range anymore," Knox complained.

    Though, when he saw the next System notification, his mood improved by a marginal degree:

    [All of your Main Attributes have reached the 10 billion mark, subsequently giving your Talent a large boost!]

    [Affinity +10,000,000!]

    [Mid-Saint Rank ¡ú Late-Saint Rank!]

    "Well, this is a pleasant surprise," Knox commented as he felt a hidden part of himself experience a major qualitative change. "I''ve been stalled at the Peak Core Formation Realm for a while now, but with this boost, I should be able to break through to the Half-step Golden Core Realm. After which, I can make use of that cultivation technique I obtained from that one Rainbow-ranked Treasure Trove to advance through the Golden Core Realm."

    With a content gleam in his gaze, Knox called for a familiar figure.

    FWIP!

    "You called, Master?" asked a young, suave man of the Middle Soul Formation Realm.

    "Rayzer," Knox said, with his back turned to the person who looked vastly different from how he used to. "Go and collect all the loot. You''re quite good at tasks like this, so I expect every single corpse to be wiped clean."

    "I shall not disappoint, Master!" Rayzer answered with concealed joy as he phased from his spot before zipping throughout the war-torn landscape.

    Knox stared off into the distance. The past few thousand years seemed to replay within his pupils, with the rate at which they passed him by more like a surreal dream than anything.

    "Thousands of years being no different from five months," he mused, his hands folded. "And even then, a lot has changed since I entered this place. For starters, that old bastard Rayzer successfully restored his cultivation and talent with the help of that Ultimate Spirit Elixir Pill I got from a Rainbow-ranked Treasure Trove. A sacrifice I was forced to make with a bleeding heart. Then again, this just goes to show how magnanimous I really am."

    *Ding!*

    "Be quiet."

    Knox silenced his System before it got the chance to make a snarky remark. He rolled his eyes, then focused on feeling the connection he had with the world around him.

    "King''s Grounds," he said as he closed and opened his eyes. "Our time together is coming to an end. But before that point arrives, you still have a show to witness."

    Knox fixated his sight on multiple different directions at once. Everywhere he looked held an extremely formidable kingdom or empire, each belonging to a Trial Taker.

    "After the passing of so much time, those little ones have turned out to be working just as hard as I have in taking out the weak links," he mused, rubbing his chin. "And at the end of our journey together, only less than ten of us remain. I do, however, wonder how the others plan to deal with me. I bet it''ll be quite amusing."

    Of those who made it to the 2nd Trial of the Devilstar Secret Realm, only seven remained.

    Knox Falazar¡ªthe widely recognized dark horse of the competition.

    13th Princess Maya¡ªa supreme genius who had even managed to breach the gap that separated her from older talents like Nala.

    Then there were the two twins of Duke Softshore¡ªLuna and Solaris Softshore¡ªboth of whom had broken through to the Early Soul Formation Realm like Maya.

    Naturally, there was also Nala¡ªLight''s Final Destination Child¡ªthe one who was originally predicted to tie with Lucidador in terms of potential. Of those who joined the exploration of the Devilstar Secret Realm, only she had broken through to the Middle Soul Formation Realm.

    Maya was close to achieving the same thing, but she still wasn''t there just yet¡­

    Last but not least, there were Cela Bonanier and Yennefer Berkshire. As the only two among the lot in the Nascent Soul Realm, their survival up to this point could be seen as a divine miracle.

    However, for those who knew of their Heaven-ranked Prospects, it was no surprise that they were capable of doing what those with higher cultivations could not.

 Chapter 95 - 95: [Extremity of Firmamentâ€™s Demise Shedding Rune] - [Half-Saint]

    ¡ª In the middle of a wide barren basin stretching in every direction for millions of miles ¡ª

    "So this is the decision that you all have chosen?"

    Knox''s deep, resonant voice carried through the stale, arid atmosphere. It reached the ears of the four other most powerful Rulers in the King''s Grounds.

    Speaking on behalf of everyone surrounding the lone, Immortal-like man, Princess Maya said, "We know we cannot beat you and have thus unanimously decided not to fight you for the position of #1 Nation. The only reason we''ve gathered here is for the reveal of the rankings."

    "But I''m only in the Core Formation Realm!" Knox laughed. "You sure you don''t want to gang up on little ol'' me~?"

    Silence¡­

    "Come on, guys, it was just a joke," Knox said. "Trying to lighten up the mood is making me realize just how much simpler it is to just slaughter everything that even so much as slightly inconveniences me."

    Nala tensed up, her fierceness showing through her indifferent facade. She had her hand tightly clasped on her sheathed sword, prepared to unsheath it at a moment''s notice.

    Knox smirked at this occurrence¡ªan action that surfaced even more anger on Nala''s pretty face.

    However, before a fight could break out, Cela''s rocket-like figure could be seen shooting toward the fox-like man. Her bountiful body smashed against him at several times the speed of light, yet it didn''t even faze him.

    ''Cela¡­'' Knox thought in exasperation. ''How could I forget about her¡­?''

    "Darling~!" she exclaimed, offering a spherical object exuding astronomical levels of Innate Energy. "I came across the abandoned shrine of an Ancient Ruler a while back, and inside it, I found two of these things! Here, you can have both of them!" she added while taking out an object identical to the first one.

    [Extremity of Firmament''s Demise Shedding Rune] - [Half-Saint] S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡ª[The Unorthodox Devilstar was known for many things in the Azura Empire''s Territory. An Alchemist, a Formations Master, a Powerful Cultivator. However, above all else, he was most proficient in his least-known Profession¡ªthe art of Runesmithing.]

    ¡ª[As a unique combination of Runemaking and Blacksmithing, Runesmithing was the act of inscribing Runes onto Items while in the process of forging said Item. Though, with Runesmithing being capable of producing extremely valuable commodities, this also meant it was very, very tough to master. It''s to the point that no Runesmithing Master has been spotted in the Azura Empire for tens of thousands of years.]

    ¡ª[The Unorthodox Devilstar was a one-of-a-kind prodigy. And though he kept his identity as a Runesmithing Master a secret for the majority of his life, he decided right before his advancement to the Void Refining Realm that he''d leave traces of his Profession behind.]

    ¡ª[The Extremity of Firmament''s Demise Shedding Runes were those traces, of which he left behind two in an extremely hard-to-find temple covertly hidden behind countless Disguising Formations. And these Runes¡ªupon absorption of their properties¡ªwill propel the user by a single Minor Realm. Only effective up to the Soul Transformation Realm and only works once per person.]

    After glossing over the lengthy item description, Knox immediately looked at the goofy, affectionate girl with genuine amazement. He considered himself to be a rather lucky fella, but when compared to the Yandere before him, he fell ten miles short.

    Snapping himself out of his stupor, Knox kept one of the Runes and handed the other one back. "Before you say anything, you have to know that only one of these gives anything for a single person. This means that the other is useless and therefore better used by the one who acquired them."

    "B-But Darling, I''m sure you can sell the other one¡ª" Cela tried to say but was quickly shut up with a karate chop to the head.

    "Hush and do as I say," Knox subtly commanded in a non-negotiable tone. "Oh, and Cela."

    "...Yes¡­?"

    "Thanks for the gift," Knox said while scratching his nose, averting his gaze. "Whenever you want something from me, just give the word. As long as it''s within my capabilities, I don''t mind giving you a hand."

    Happiness washed over Cela''s cutely contorted face. "Even if I want your hand inside me¡ª"

    *Bonk!*

    Annoyed, Knox scoffed. "Forget I said anything, you no-good temptress! Trying to stray my Martial Heart away from the One True Path!? You''ll need to give me a lot more than a single glowing ball!"

    Contrary to the logical direction of things, Cela''s eyes lit up even further. "So that means it''s a possibility as long as I give you even better things!?"

    Knox''s expression froze. "Well, I mean, yeah¡­ No, wait, stop with your coercion techniques, she-devil!"

    His Unparalleled Martial Heart nearly faltered!

    Such skill in the art of seduction¡ªjust what sort of mentally unstable Sugar Momma was placed in front of him!?

    Was this a test from Heaven!??

    As the couple quibbled with one another, an icy-faced beauty quietly observed what appeared to be a ''lovey-dovey'' discussion. Her frigid facade cracked a little as what looked to be sadness took its place.

    However, upon realizing what she was unconsciously doing, Yennefer lightly slapped her cheeks. "What are you even thinking about?" she murmured to herself. "You don''t even like him. He''s just someone your father paired you with at birth, and in the Limitless Path of Martial Arts, such an arranged marriage means nothing. He¡­ means nothing."

    13th Princess Maya glanced over at the Eldest Young Miss of the Berkshire Count Family, who was clenching her chest. A sigh escaped Maya''s lips as she shook her head in resignation over the facts presented before her.

    ''That makes two important figures of Count Families,'' she thought. ''Two heiresses who could very well bring their families to new heights. Both of whom have begun to fall for the same man¡ªa man who''s also likely to ascend his Count Family to unbelievable levels. Things have¡­ become troublesome¡­''

    At this point, unless Princess Maya somehow convinced her father to eradicate three of the most powerful Count Families, she had no choice but to ally with Knox Falazar.

    For if she didn''t, it was almost guaranteed that the reign of her family would come to an abrupt end...

 Chapter 96 - 96: Star-Wrought Moleseum, The 3rd Trial

    "Then that''s that," Princess Maya decided. "No matter what, I have to get Knox Falazar to either join the Royal Family or pledge allegiance to the continuation of the Royal Waters Family. Else he''ll always be a serious threat¡ªone that could very well upturn the entire Kingdom within the next decade."

    An idea swam around inside her mind¡ªone that would forever change the course of her life. However, for some reason¡ªeven with her calculative and decisive personality¡ªthe idea refused to surface.

    Marriage.

    If she were to propose marriage to the Falazar Family¡ªrequesting Knox''s hand in marriage¡ªwouldn''t that solve all of her worries¡­?

    Yet, she couldn''t seem to broach the subject of her own will. It just sat there, untouched, in the trenches of her brain.

    Just then:

    OOOOM!

    A presence so overwhelming that it made Knox look like an infant pressed down on everyone present. And that was with the owner of the presence not even intentionally doing anything.

    ''Who is this¡­??'' Knox inquired, his eyes analyzing the humanoid figure hovering in the skies above. ''Wait, that eye he''s carrying around in his left hand. Isn''t it¡­?''

    "The Six-Winged Seraphim''s Eye," Nala finished his thought, her mind swirling with thoughts of her own.

    "Yes, but it''s miniaturized," said Luna. "Yes, but just as powerful," said Solaris.

    The question still remained: Who was the figure casually holding the seemingly omnipotent Six-Winged Seraphim''s Eye?

    The figure itself appeared to be male. His skin was whiter than that of a ghost, his hair long and loosely flowing, and his height merely 2 meters. As for his attire, he had on a thin, translucent gray robe that had weaved into its fabric the essence of several esoteric Laws and incomprehensible aspects of the World.

    Overall, the figure was akin to a Ghost Deity¡ªan extraordinarily handsome and refined one at that.

    Opening up the figure''s System Interface, Knox''s eyes widened in realization:

    {[Six-Winged Seraphim (Azroth)]}

    [Cultivation: Half-Step Void Refining Realm]

    [Battle Power: Approaching the Early Void Refining Realm]

    [Age: 10,000+]

    [Main Technique: Space-and-Time Operator (Saint)] S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡ª[Like the World Serpent, the Six-Winged Seraphim is similar to being categorized as an Overseer of the Devilstar Secret Realm. Another similarity is the fact that this incredibly strong Entity''s cultivation is stagnated at the Half-Step Void Refining Realm.]

    ¡ª[The Six-Winged Seraphim was something the Unorthodox Devilstar synthesized when he understood the implications of leaving behind his Core Inheritance. And as a result of this realization, the Six-Winged Seraphim was designed in a way that would allow it to instantly transport the Devilstar Secret Realm in the scenario where the Core Inheritance''s location is compromised by higher forces.]

    After the initial shock, Knox quickly understood the hidden meanings put into the otherworldly Entity''s description.

    ''From what I''ve obtained so far, there should be nothing that could possibly hope to attract the eyes of monstrous beings beyond the Soul Transformation Realm,'' he thought. ''That must mean the best of the rewards have yet to come.''

    One of the reasons why Knox had been progressing his Cultivation at such a relatively slow pace was because he was holding out on the chance of there being Foundation-improving items in the Secret Realm. And now, with the ambiguous reveal of the Six-Winged Seraphim''s description, his unwillingness to speedily advance might just turn out to have been the correct choice.

    "To the Trial Participants of the Secret Realm left behind by my Master, I, the Six-Winged Seraphim, will now unveil your rankings in the 2nd Trial."

    The glitchy, almost transcendental voice of the hovering Entity traveled not through wind or sky but directly into the minds of all seven Humans. It then continued without giving any of them the chance to speak up:

    "After you view your rankings, I will then explain to you what the 3rd and final Trial will mean for you all. What it will mean for the future of your home."

    Although the Trial Takers did not yet understand what the Six-Winged Seraphim meant by its cryptic words, with the flashing of a giant golden-blue illusory screen, their attention was immediately diverted.

    BLING!

    {[Ruler Rankings of King''s Grounds]} - [Total Coin Count]

    [#1: CallMeDaddy] - [1.8 Billion Kingdom Coins]

    [#2: DimensionalAdvocate] - [108 Million Kingdom Coins]

    [#3: PhoenixSaintess] - [104 Million Kingdom Coins]

    [#4: TwinKiller] - [29.3 Million Kingdom Coins]

    [#5: TwinSlayer] - [29.2 Million Kingdom Coins]

    [#6: FireIceSeer] - [11.9 Million Kingdom Coins]

    [#7: Knox''sMommyOneAndOnly] - [11.25 Kingdom Coins]

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    ''1.8 Billion Kingdom Coins!? How is that possible!??''

    However, while everyone was so focused on Knox''s crazy results, the man himself was far more distracted by the person ranked number seven.

    A person whom he didn''t even need to know the name of to know who created it...

    "Teehee~" Cela giggled mischievously. "I think I''ll get the same name tattooed where only you can see it, Darling~" she touched her pelvis area, a seductive glimmer in her eyes.

    ''This crazy motherfucker¡­''

    Knox was speechless.

    He had definitely never met or heard of a woman¡ªor person in general¡ªquite as insane as the Yandere that stalked him. If put on a scale from 1 to 10, she''d not only hit 11, she''d break the whole damn scale!

    "Now that you understand where you rank and how many Kingdom Coins you accumulated during your entire stay in the 2nd Trial, I will tell you what it all means," said the Six-Winged Seraphim as he raised his hand and swiped.

    WHOOOSH!

    The rankings list was whisked away. Taking its place was a giant pearly white building that appeared out of thin air. It was a few miles in length and width, had dozens of spiraling white pillars placed between the floor and roof, and was slowly spinning above the Six-Winged Seraphim.

    "This is the Star-Wrought Moleseum," he announced. "It is also the 3rd Trial¡ªthe Trial of Opportunity."

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The Final Trial involved opportunity!

    But what did that mean, exactly¡­?

    Elaborating, the Six-Winged Seraphim shrank the Moleseum with just a single hand gesture. He then placed the building on the top of a bald mountain summit. After which, he calmly descended to a location sitting just a few meters above the Moleseum.

    "Now then," he began. "Where should I start? Ah, yes, that''s what I''ll say."

 Chapter 97 - 97: The Trial of Opportunity

    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!

    Every Trial Takers was forcefully teleported just outside the Moleseum''s front entrance. They were transported in such a way that the ones ranked lower on the rankings list for the 2nd Trial were situated further toward the beginning of the line. This meant that Cela was set to be the first to go in, with Yennefer meant to go in second.

    "The 3rd Trial is the Trial of Rewards¡ªthe Trial of Opportunity."

    The Six-Winged Seraphim''s voice cut through the thoughts of the youngsters below. He gestured with the tips of his pinky fingers, urging open the large double doors of the Moleseum.

    "Your objective is simple," he continued, letting all those below bear witness to the splendor that was shown coming from inside the Moleseum. "There are an incalculable number of treasures inside that are beyond anything that your tiny Nation is capable of producing. But to get to the higher-end treasures, you require not only a large number of Kingdom Coins¡ªyou also need to be capable enough to enter the area that holds said treasures. Simply put, this is a test of strength with upper limits based on how well you did during the 2nd Trial. This means that even if you''re capable enough to enter a better area of the Moleseum but lack the necessary Kingdom Coins, you won''t go further than you are."

    ''Hmm¡­'' Knox inspected the Moleseum''s interior, noticing several differently colored barrier walls separating cut-off sections. ''Ahh, I understand how this works. It''s like a game where you need to be of a certain level to enter the next, better area, where you''ll also need to have a fist strong enough to beat up the mobs to progress. That''s why our Kingdom Coins were calculated in a cumulative format and not based on what we currently have.''

    This was a good thing for him because he had spent more than 90% of his Kingdom Coins almost as soon as he got them. That was how he was able to tremendously speed up the time dilation of his Territory¡ªan action that led to his Empire growing at an utterly absurd rate, ultimately allowing him to conquer more than 10% of King''s Grounds. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Though that amount didn''t sound like much in retrospect, one had to know that Nala''s Empire¡ªthe 2nd greatest by the end¡ªaccounted for barely 0.1% of the world''s surface area.

    However, seeing as she was nowhere near as bloodthirsty as Knox, it only made sense that she lagged so far behind. In the end, he had every advantage. He became stronger because of the 1st Trial''s rewards, his ruthlessness knew no limits, and the time dilation of his Empire was several times that of Nala.

    None of the other Trial Takers stood even half a chance against him in the 2nd Trial¡­

    Finishing his explanation, the Six-Winged Seraphim said, "To reach the next areas in the Moleseum, you''ll need to make use of your martial prowess and budding wills to push through increasingly greater levels of gravity. If you can do that, then you can use your Kingdom Coins to take away from the areas whatever you can afford. Naturally, this means that your cumulative Kingdom Coin amount will decrease, never to return again."

    After concluding his explanation of the 3rd Secret Realm Trial, the Six-Winged Seraphim let the double doors to the Moleseum fully open. He then stretched out his hands.

    "You may now attempt the 3rd Trial. One at a time, you''ll go in, starting with¡­ you." He pointed at the silly-faced Cela. "Your rank is #7¡ªyour name: Cela Bonanier. Proceed with due haste. There''s not much time left."

    ''Not much time left??'' Knox questioned. ''What does that mea¡ª''

    RUMBLE!

    Shaking the entirety of Pandora was a rumbling so loud and immense that even the massive World Serpent was tossed slightly into the air. Mountains and forests were treated even more harshly, as they were launched and obliterated due to the sheer velocity at which they traveled.

    Noticing everyone''s unease and alarm, the Six-Winged Seraphim said, "Ignore it; knowing will only negatively affect your Karma in this life. But hurry and attempt the Final Trial¡ªI cannot hold out forever."

    Astonishment built up in Knox as he used his Perception to observe small beads of sweat rolling down the Six-Winged Seraphim''s pale, white face. He was obviously being overexerted; his muscles trembled, his stance becoming shaky.

    Cela¡ªfinally leaving her reverie¡ªhurriedly apologized before rushing into the Moleseum.

    While the harrowing thought of what could be affecting the Six-Winged Seraphim in such a way lingered in Knox''s mind, he was also interested to see how Cela performed in the Trial. And for the next few seconds, he watched as she effortlessly passed through the 1,000 Kingdom Coin blue-colored barrier, the 10,000 Kingdom Coin red-colored barrier, as well as the silver-colored 100,000 Kingdom Coin barrier.

    ''So they correlate to the rankings of the Treasure Troves,'' Knox noted before continuing to spectate Cela''s attempt at the 3rd Trial.

    She had not taken anything from the first three areas, a decision she started to slightly regret upon reaching the 1,000,000 Kingdom Coin gold-colored area. The gravity multiplied from 10,000 times greater than normal to 100,000 times greater, causing Cela to initially stumble due to the unexpected increase.

    Ultimately, though, she eventually got through the gold barrier, upon which she was greeted with the glorious sight of thousands of Sky and Heaven-ranked treasures. They ranged from Heavenly Pills to Supreme Weapons and lit up the area like a dazzling disco ball.

    "So many valuables," Luna awed. "But that''s just the gold-ranked area¡­ What do you think is inside the Diamond and Black areas?" asked Solaris.

    "So many goodies," Cela drooled. "I bet Darling will love all of this~!"

    But before she made the rash decision of purchasing everything in sight, the glimmer produced by the Diamond-colored barrier caught her eye. She retracted her hand, then took step after step toward the barrier.

    "So she''s going to try for something more¡­ I see," said 13th Princess Maya as she watched from the sidelines.

    "For Darling, only the best is what he deserves~!" Cela fervently shouted as she tenaciously ventured into the Diamond-colored barrier.

    OUUM!

    "!!!"

    Cela''s feet were immediately planted into the ground, blood leaking from her nose and eyes. Yet¡­

    Yet she didn''t fall.

    She stood her ground and took another step. Even under gravity millions of times greater than normal, she successfully took that step.

    Then another step.

    And another.

    And another¡­

    And another¡­..

    Another¡­ Another¡­ Another¡­ Another....

 Chapter 98 - 98: Knoxs Compassion...?

    After the fiftieth step, Cela was looking worse than a mother in labor. However, even though her ears were ringing¡ªscreaming at her to give up¡ªshe didn''t.

    "F-For¡­ Darling¡­"

    Her mumbles of ''Darling'' ceaselessly came out in the form of blood-patterned murmuring. That was her driving force¡ªher guiding light.

    "She''s going to kill herself, and for what¡­?" Yennefer softly commented, complicated emotions swirling within her heart. "Does she love Knox Falazar that much¡­? I¡­ I don''t understand¡­"

    "He''s my Fianc¨¦; would I do the same¡­?"

    As the conflicted questions of a jade beauty echoed out just loud enough for herself to hear, the terrible sound of bones cracking and scraping against one another grated on the ears of many. They looked toward the source of the sound, only to see the whites of Cela''s bones beginning to show through her once peachy-painted skin.

    The relentless girl was only a few dozen feet away from passing through the Diamond-colored barrier. However, it were these very steps that posed the most danger to the one trekking them.

    Each step¡ªone accident away from an early death.

    Each further step¡ªan increase in the likelihood of that event becoming one''s reality.

    However¡­

    "She really did it," Knox exhaled a breath of relief as he felt his worry lessen considerably. "She''s on the brink of death, but she did it. But¡­ But I wonder just how far she was willing to go if the barrier didn''t end. Was she going to let herself die? All for my sake¡­?"

    He didn''t quite know how he felt about her not caring whether or not she had to risk her life to make him happy. But for some reason¡ªsomewhere in his greedy black heart¡ªhe¡­ didn''t like it.

    Not one bit.

    Which was extremely unusual, considering that he''d do just about anything for even the smallest chance of acquiring more benefits.

    But when it came to the well-being of the yandere woman who only seemed to want to see him overcome with joy¡­

    "Haiz," Knox sighed. He shook his head before refocusing on the pitiful sight of Cela gasping for breath with bloodshot eyes.

    ''At this rate, even if she has survived the barrier, she''ll die due to the injuries she incurred,'' he thought as his eyes shifted to the aloof, pale-faced man who possessed no wings. ''I suppose I''ll just have to resolve this in an unorthodox way.''

    "Yo, featherless birdy!"

    "Hum?"

    The Six-Winged Seraphim''s apathetic gaze met his, sending chills into the deepest dredges of his soul.

    While momentarily stunned, Knox took a moment to register the words that left the Seraphim''s lips:

    "You''re an interesting one, human," he said with a bit of intrigue. "Your foundation is the highest I''ve ever seen. And from the looks of it, you''ve received the assistance of the World Serpent. The Dragon Lord''s Heavenly Requiem and Supreme Devourer techniques indicate as much. Your physical, mental, and energy stats are also very strange¡­ You''re an enigma."

    "Oh," Knox opened his mouth. "Well, that''s a new one. However, more importantly than that, I need to know if I can¡­ hmm¡­ like toss something into the Moleseum?"

    Silence¡­

    "You wish to preserve the life of that girl?" the Six-Winged Seraphim ultimately asked, his tone devoid of emotion.

    "Preferably, yes," Knox replied, his response shocking Yennefer and the other Trial Takers.

    Nala, Princess Maya, and the twins had only known him to be an uncaring tyrant. A self-centered being. One who only gave a damn about his own well-being.

    And in a way, they were correct in their assumptions.

    Hell, even Knox himself couldn''t understand why he was doing something so troublesome!

    Was he doing it for the additional treasures that Cela would offer him?

    Or was it for a more selfless reason¡­?

    ''What a useless topic to ponder,'' Knox cursed at himself, despising his own stupidity. ''I do what I want, when I want, however I want, and for whatever reason I want. That''s all there is to it!''

    With a cold gleam in his striking gold eyes, he looked up at the mildly amused pale figure. "So? Can I throw something in to save her or not??"

    An even larger amount of interest glazed over the Six-Winged Seraphim''s gray eyes. "You ask for my permission, but I can read your intent. You''ll do it whether I say yes or no, won''t you?"

    Knox clicked his tongue at the perception of the pale-faced bastard. "Yeah, so what if I am?? What are you going to do about it??"

    Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the rapid depletion of Cela''s lifeforce. Her life was hanging by a thread¡ªa fact that surged forward an insane level of murderous intent.

    "If you don''t kill me now or let me help her out, then I guarantee that I''ll show you exactly what will be done to you if time runs out."

    "Hum¡­?" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was of the smallest amount, but the Six-Winged Seraphim definitely felt fear. A fear stemming not from a difference in cultivation base or power but a type of fear nonetheless.

    Yet, this only amplified the Half-Step Void Refining Realm being''s curiosity¡­

    Yennefer, meanwhile, was bombarded by waves of incomprehensible emotions.

    ''He''s willing to make enemies of an entity like that for her¡­? I¡­ I don''t understand why that displeases me as much as it does.''

    13th Princess Maya, on the other hand, felt a craving that she had never once experienced before. Smiling gingerly while licking her lips, she murmured to herself, "He will be mine. He must be on my side, no matter what it takes."

    Then there was Nala, who was feeling a mixture of both anger and helplessness.

    Even now, she believed there to be the slightest chance of her coming out on top if they were to fight. However, seeing him act so fearless in the face of such immense adversity forced the truth to sink in more and more¡­

    Finally responding to the audacious human and his billowing killing intent, the Six-Winged Seraphim waved his hand. A tiny hole then opened up in the exact same spot on all the barriers leading up to the Diamond-ranked one.

    "You may help that girl," he said. "But you must fit it through that hole and make sure it accurately shoots through all of the follow-up identical hol¡ª"

    FWOOOSH!

    "!??"

 Chapter 99 - 99: Do You Mind?

    FWOOOSH!

    A Half-Saint Ranked Healing Pill shot through every single one of the holes perfectly, moving at a speed that defied common sense. Yet, just before it could collide with the Black-ranked Barrier and destroy itself, it stopped in the blink of an eye. It then undulated toward the half-alive girl before entering her mouth and dissolving¡ªwithout Cela doing a single thing.

    This occurrence shocked the hearts of everyone watching!

    "Such control and mastery over one''s Innate Energy," Luna muttered. "How is it possible?" Solaris added in disbelief.

    Seeing him use such mysterious methods disturbed Yennefer even more than before. Realizing that what she had seen of him thus far had been merely the tip of the iceberg left her feeling as if she were slowly but surely sinking into a morass of despair.

    ''Just¡­ just how much further will he get ahead of me¡­?'' she couldn''t help but wonder as unease gnawed away at her.

    The Six-Winged Seraphim, however, had a very different reaction to this development.

    "The World Serpent actually snagged something like you before I could. With the mystical stage you achieved in the Qi Condensation Realm, you are sure to rattle the Azura Empire to its very core."

    Ignoring the Six-Winged Seraphim, Knox impatiently watched as the medicinal properties of the Half-Saint Pill assimilated into Cela. His trepidation only disappeared when he saw her complexion improve. Her body quickly began to restore itself¡ªmelding together bones, repairing skin tissue, and making her whole again.

    Realizing that he had felt a huge wave of relief just now, Knox shook his head.

    ''I just want her alive for the benefits she can provide me. That''s all. Stop overthinking things, Knox Falazar.''

    After experiencing a full recovery, Cela painstakingly lifted herself up. She rubbed her temples, the lingering headache a persistent irritation. However, within seconds, the residual pain vanished without a trace.

    "Umu¡­?" Question marks practically floated above her head. "What happened to me? The pills I consumed definitely weren''t working¡­ Did I not die?? How unusual¡ªwait, was it the work of my Darling???"

    Seeing her shoot a heart-filled gaze in his direction, Knox instantly averted his eyes. He hid behind his hands, doing his best to act invisible¡ªeven though he had no covert Martial Skills activated.

    He hoped with all his existence that she wouldn''t misinterpret the situation¡ª

    "This means you love me just as much as I love you, Darling~!!"

    Too late¡­

    "Goddamnit¡­"

    Hiding out of sight and out of mind, Knox waited until Cela got bored. He then turned around and watched as she chose her treasures like it was Christmas.

    In the end, she walked away with several mid- and peak-grade Heaven-ranked items, as well as two Half-step Saint-grade items.

    The first of these two was a girly bracelet that tremendously improved one''s affinity with the Darkness Element. She immediately tried offering it to Knox but received an instant rejection. A pout stayed plastered on her face for a while, but she eventually got over it.

    When she finally got around to equipping the bracelet, she was very surprised to feel her battle power improve by an entire Minor Realm!

    The second Half-step Saint-grade item she picked¡ªalso the most expensive one¡ªwas a risqu¨¦ technique that involved none other than¡ª

    Dual Cultivation!

    And could one guess what she did with said technique?

    Absolutely nothing! Because Knox adamantly refused to give in to temptation and take the easy way out! (No matter how tempting it might have been¡­)

    However, luckily for Cela''s unwise spending decisions, the Duality of Shadows Dual Cultivation Technique could also improve one''s cultivation when the user merely imagined doing it with the one they loved. Moreover, the more intense the emotions involved, the more effective the technique.

    Which, for Cela¡­ was beyond easy.

    It did, however, have her creepily giggling with a finger in her mouth as she watched Knox ''very'' intently.

    But overlooking that, her cultivation speed increased more than threefold after acquiring the Half-step Saint-grade Duality of Shadows Cultivation Technique!

    While Knox was being constantly bugged by the pink-haired yandere still reveling in her rewards, a muddle-minded fianc¨¦e took the stage. She approached the Moleseum, took a deep, cold breath, then moved forward with an icy countenance.

    The Blue Barrier was passed in an instant, with Yennefer not sparing even a single glance at the treasures inside!

    SHA!

    The Red Barrier! Passed!

    SHA!

    The Silver Barrier! Passed!

    SHA!

    The Gold Barrier! Passed!

    Then came the Diamond Barrier¡ªthe one that had nearly sent Cela Bonanier into the afterlife. It seemed to stare Yennefer down, as if trying to steer her away from certain doom.

    Yet, she still stepped forward, dismissing the treasures of the Gold area as if they were nothing but trash.

    However, as she felt the immense gravity of the Diamond Barrier buckle her knees and force her teeth to clench, Yennefer couldn''t help but occasionally look behind her. Her eyes always tracked back to the same exact spot¡ªa spot occupied by an ethereal man with an emotionless persona.

    But each and every time she caught a glimpse of him, regret sank deeper into her core.

    The way¡­ the way he looked at her was not the same as with Cela. And for some reason, this bothered her¡ª

    It bothered her a lot.

    It was also this deeply unsettling feeling that allowed Yennefer to pass through the Diamond Barrier without making a peep. However, when she looked down and saw the current state of her body, the adrenaline drained from her system. Her already weakened kneecaps gave out, causing her to collapse into a puddle of her own sweat.

    She lay helpless on the floor. Just like with Cela''s Heaven-ranked Physique, Yennefer''s Heaven-ranked Physique did very little to help her.

    Then again, it was only because of those formidable physiques that they were even able to make it past the Diamond Barrier in the first place¡­

    Observing her predicament, Knox silently deliberated.

    Sighing after coming to a decision, he looked up at the hovering Six-Winged Seraphim. And though large amounts of perspiration had built up on the powerful entity''s face, that didn''t stop Knox from voicing his question:

    "Do you mind?"

    S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 100 - 100: Into The Rainbow-colored Barrier!?

    With slightly broken focus, the Six-Winged Seraphim met Knox''s gaze. And without thinking much of it, he opened up holes similar to the last ones¡ª

    WHOOOOSH!

    A similar scenario unfolded, with one of Knox''s last few Half-step Saint Rank Pills sliding down Yennefer''s throat. He felt his heart bleed at the loss of something worth tens of thousands of High-grade Spirit Stones, but he had to learn to let go.

    ''These girls better be fucking worth it!'' he internally shouted while biting the edges of his shirt¡ªdoing the total opposite of letting go. ''My booty¡­! Noooo¡­''

    Sad days awaited the poor lad.

    WAAA!

    Gradually opening her eyes, Yennefer was blown away by the rate at which her body fully regenerated. She had been certain she was a goner, with every single pill or item she used doing nothing to prevent the inevitable.

    But then, out of nowhere¡ªjust like with Cela¡ªshe felt a warm, soothing green energy flow into her, wrapping her existence in a cozy, rejuvenating blanket. Then she found herself unconsciously staring in the direction of a particular robed man.

    She shouldn''t have even considered it. After all, they weren''t even close to being on good terms. In fact, they didn''t even like each other. She knew that. He knew that.

    Yet he still gave her the Pill.

    And she still assumed that it was him who saved her.

    Weird thoughts swam inside her mind as she robotically chose her treasures from the Diamond-ranked area. She then promptly departed from the Moleseum, only to pass by the indifferent robed man set to be her husband.

    Extending a hand, she gave him a sword-shaped amulet with an enchanted chain running through it. This amulet was a Half-step Saint-grade Item that tripled the damage of sword-related attacks as long as one''s power didn''t exceed the Soul Formation Realm. After breaking this limit, the effects would be reduced to a 50% increase in damage, with that number becoming even smaller the higher one advanced.

    "You don''t have to¡ª" Knox started to say before being promptly interrupted by Yennefer:

    "And you didn''t have to save me. So we''re even."

    "...We''re even, then¡­"

    For some reason, their ever-so-brief conversation felt more like a business transaction than anything. And for an even weirder reason, this slightly annoyed both of them, leaving them feeling unsatisfied.

    Nevertheless, after Cela and Yennefer obtained their rewards from the Diamond-ranked area, it came time for the rest of the Trial Takers to attempt the Moleseum.

    With each new person entering, the Six-Winged Seraphim''s complexion grew grayer. Furthermore, his stance became unsteady and off-center.

    Eventually, everyone¡ªexcept for one¡ªreceived their just dues.

    As Nala passed by Knox, she scowled before coldly snorting and continuing on her merry way.

    ''What a weirdo,'' he thought as he strolled up to the Moleseum''s double doors. His golden eyes then met those of the Six-Winged Seraphim.

    "There''s no time," said the Six-Winged Seraphim, his sunken cheeks emphasizing his extreme fatigue. "You must go in and finish quickly. If not, when IT arrives, even I won''t be able to save you."

    "What? I don''t¡ª"

    "Don''t you understand??" The Six-Winged Seraphim''s tone turned urgent. "IT knows you''re in here, which has given it even more reason to speed up its break-in! The World Serpent will be the first to go down. Then I''ll die next. By that point, no one will be left alive to protect you from what is to come."

    Things had just become exponentially more serious.

    "Very well, then," Knox said, overlooking the increasing rumblings. His frosty expression locked onto the Moleseum''s entrance, his steps fleeting and ghostly as he flash-stepped through the colored Barriers.

    "!!!" "!!!"

    "This speed¡­" Princess Maya muttered in awe. "He''s zipping through the Barriers like the increase in gravity levels aren''t even there¡­"

    The Blue Barrier!

    The Red Barrier!

    The Silver Barrier!

    The Gold Barrier!

    The Diamond Barrier!

    All shattered in rapid succession!

    Looking as if he had been taking no more than a leisurely stroll, Knox turned away from the Heaven-ranked treasures scattered throughout the Diamond Area. His gaze shifted to the pitch-black Barrier, and with instantaneous movement, he arrived at its edges.

    Reaching out, he touched the mysterious black energy that made up the Barrier¡ªthe same Barrier that only Maya and Nala had managed to successfully pass through.

    "He''s going in," said Luna. "He can do it, can''t he?" Solaris asked.

    Princess Maya''s elegantly carved brows furrowed deeply. All her attention was focused on the casual steps of the man who didn''t seem the least bit affected by the gravity of the Black Barrier.

    "Tens of millions of times the normal gravity," she mumbled. "And he treats it as if it doesn''t even exist¡­"

    Nala''s already soured mood worsened. Her expression twisted in disgruntlement as that same feeling of helplessness from earlier returned.

    ¡ª After a couple of seconds ¡ª

    "That was a little tougher than I expected," Knox remarked while wiping a single droplet of sweat from his forehead. "It got a bit tricky toward the end. Yet this only makes me curious to see what that beauty there will do to me."

    The notion of the Rainbow-colored Barrier weighed heavily on everyone''s minds¡ªespecially the two geniuses who had experienced it firsthand.

    ''Just a single step into that Barrier, and I felt as if the whole world was crashing down on me,'' Maya mulled.

    Phantom sensations from that experience made her hand tremble. She used her other hand to stop the tremors before focusing intently on the scene before her.

    Widening her eyes, she was astonished to find Knox taking step after step inside the Rainbow-colored Barrier.

    "How could this be¡­" She noticed traces of struggle on his countenance, but it was nowhere near what she had assumed it would be. "A genius of the highest caliber¡­ born in the Water Kingdom¡­" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Maya''s lips suddenly curved upward; she could hardly restrain herself.

    He had to be hers!

    He was the key to her succession to the throne!

    The key to the future expansion and development of the Water Kingdom!

    Sniffing the air with narrowed eyes, Cela muttered to herself, "I smells a thieving b*tch."

    That was when she caught sight of the creepily grinning princess.

    "There''s the thieving bitch!" Cela announced, as an invisible cat tail and ears on her person violently reacted to the b*tch. "Will kill her!"

    "But how¡­?"

 Chapter 101 - 101: Spirituality and SHF Attributes

    Cela Bonanier may have been an insane yandere, but she wasn''t stupid. It didn''t take Albert Einstein to realize that Princess Maya was stronger than she was.

    However, that didn''t mean she''d give up so easily!

    All da thieving b*tches had to die!!

    Her living in the same world as them with her Darling was impossible! One had to budge!!

    As malicious ideas spun around inside Cela''s head, Knox had just passed the one third-waypoint into the rainbow-colored barrier. His nonchalant facade had long since cracked, what with the gravity pressure being more than a hundred million times greater than normal.

    But even as a super irritating migraine assaulted his cerebral cortex, Knox didn''t pause his advance even once.

    Upon reaching the halfway mark, the gravity pressure hit a higher milestone. This occurrence forced Knox''s soles into the ground, his knees buckling.

    Yet he kept moving¡­

    After a couple of minutes fighting the urge to go unconscious, Knox successfully passed the three-fourths mark. By this point, an enormous headache wasn''t the only thing ailing him. Blood was leaking from his ears and nose, and blood vessels had ruptured within his eyes.

    Cela had all but forgotten about her grudge with Maya; all she was worried about now was the state of her darling. Tears bubbled in the corners of her eyes as she clutched her chest.

    "Darling¡­"

    Yennefer, meanwhile, was unknowingly quite affected by Knox''s sorrowful state as well. She, however, did not show her turbulent emotions in the same manner as the yandere.

    "How many feet left¡­?" Knox inquired through bloodied teeth, the rumbling outside growing increasingly intense. "One¡­ two¡­ three¡­ yeah, I''m not counting all that¡­"

    With a wry smile, he discarded any distracting thoughts and persisted in his advance. He took each step one at a time, each one at least twice as difficult as the one that came before.

    ¡ª Some time later ¡ª

    "Why¡­ why is he still going¡­?" Luna questioned with a horrified expression. "He''s dying¡­ He''s going to die," Solaris mumbled, holding a hand over her mouth.

    Cela and Yennefer''s complexions were anything but good right now. They were feeling a mixture of anger, worry, sadness, and helplessness. And not knowing how to properly process these emotions, they vented through their scarily growing murderous auras.

    Nala observed this phenomenon with an unreadable look on her face.

    She failed to comprehend how they could be so affected by the life or death of someone like Knox Falazar¡­

    He harbored a Monster Girl for God''s Sake!

    *Splurt, Splurg!*

    ''Well, there went the last of my style points,'' Knox thought self-deprecatingly as he felt another wave of pain wash over what remained of his severely disfigured body. ''Was that an organ that just exploded and leaked out of what used to be my stomach¡­?''

    ''Well, whatever,'' he continued dismissively as his body continued to deteriorate. ''I don''t have much more to go, so I should just hurry and get it over with.''

    Just then, something totally unexpected occurred:

    BLING!

    [You have taken extreme gravity damage and subsequently endured enough to unlock a once-locked Attribute!]

    [Defense Attribute activated!]

    [Taken extreme gravity damage!] x7

    [A small-sized pile of Defense Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [Defense +103,000,000]

    [Defense +130,000,000]

    [Defense +165,000,000]

    [Defense +142,540,000]

    x3 more¡­

    ''Huh?'' Knox raised his messed-up eyebrows in surprise. ''I feel like I should''ve had this Attribute unlocked since the very beginning, but whatever. Now that I do have it, though, I can already feel the damage I''m taking lessening considerably.''

    He raised his hideous face off the ground. His original slug-like crawl gradually returned to a normal walking posture. Furthermore, as his rapidly improving Defense Attribute lessened the impact of the gravity damage, his body received enough of a reprieve to heal.

    [Defense Increased by 200 Million!]

    [Defense Increased by 180 Million!]

    [Defense Increased by 220 Million!]

    [Defense Increased by 70 Million!]

    x??? more¡­

    Knox''s Defense Attribute improved by leaps and bounds in a matter of seconds. And under the gawking expressions of the observers, he completely regenerated¡ªbringing about another change in his System Interface.

    Or rather, two changes:

    [You have received and recovered from enough injuries to unlock a Secret Attribute!]

    [Self-Healing Factor (SHF) Attribute has been unlocked!]

    [Recovered from Extreme Gravity Damage!] x23

    [A small-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [SHF +32,000,000]

    [SHF +36,100,000]

    [SHF +27,000,000]

    [SHF +49,950,000]

    x19 more¡­

    In addition to this Attribute, the second change to the System Interface bombarded Knox with another series of System Notifications:

    [Your Mentality has taken hit after hit since you awakened the Attribute Farming System, leading to a breakthrough in the unseen parts of your mind and psyche.]

    [As a result, your Mind and Intelligence Attributes have been combined and improved!]

    [Will Attribute has also been unlocked!]

    [Mind + Intelligence + Will =] ¡ú [Spirituality Attribute has been created!]

    [Due to the refining and hardening of your mentality, Spirituality Attribute Orbs have dropped!]

    [Taken Extreme Mentality Damage!] x89

    [A medium-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

    [Spirituality +9,600,000] sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Spirituality +17,840,000]

    [Spirituality +112,150,000]

    [Spirituality +180,000,000]

    x85 more¡­

    Knox underwent one drastic transformation after another, causing his aura to wildly fluctuate.

    The Six-Winged Seraphim¡ªwho had been fighting a silent battle outside¡ªsuddenly turned toward the Moleseum. His emotions surged as he found himself inexplicably drawn to the one-of-a-kind aura.

    "This¡­"

    But for some odd reason, the Six-Winged Seraphim was anything but happy. He knew without a doubt that if he could sense the uniqueness of Knox''s aura¡­

    Then so too could IT.

    RUMBLE!!!

    Feeling like the earth below them would be turned upside down, the Trial Takers darted their eyes around in every direction. An unbelievably powerful presence had appeared everywhere at once, giving them the illusion of multiple invaders.

    Then, out of the blue, a giant congregation of storm clouds formed. They gathered together, molding into the shape of a fierce elderly man''s face.

    "What you''re doing is futile."

    The ancient, terrifying voice of the face carried throughout all of Pandora, accompanied by the thundering of lightning.

 Chapter 102 - 102: {[Stone of Mysterious Origins]} - [????]

    "Your Master has long since forgotten all of you, so why do you uselessly defend a Legacy that was abandoned by the one who made it?" the face continued, the crackling of thunder worsening. "I''m different from him. I want to bring what you defend to greater heights. Just peacefully hand over the Mark of the Outer God and make this easy for all of us."

    The Six-Winged Seraphim''s face contorted in fury as his aura rolled out in the form of oppressive energy tendrils.

    SHA! SHA! SHA!

    Three identical sets of wings suddenly sprouted from the Six-Winged Seraphim''s back as his furious shouts shattered whole layers of space:

    "You actually have the nerve to speak of peace when you took advantage of our Master''s kindness in raising you up from nothing! Without him, you''d still be stealing steamed buns as a scrawny lowlife!!"

    The amicable expression on the massive, world-sized storm cloud face froze. It was then replaced by something ugly¡ªsomething mirroring all the hatred flooding his heart.

    "I owe that old bastard nothing!!" he bellowed, lightning strikes annihilating entire regions. "From day one, your Master never took me seriously! He saw me as no more than a joke!! But fine, since you wish to do things the hard way, then we''ll do just that!!!"

    OOOM!

    The owner of the stormy face had yet to fully break open the protective barrier guarding one of the Secret Realm''s entrances. However, it surely wouldn''t be long before said barrier was reduced to ash.

    Shifting his sight away from the huge, spiderwebbing crack forming in the sky, the Six-Winged Seraphim honed in on Knox''s position in the Moleseum. Seeing what he was up to whisked away a little of his anger.

    ''He has successfully passed the Iridescent-ranked Barrier,'' he analyzed. ''Good. Now he just has to choose the right one. A choice that must not come from anyone but him.''

    Inside the Moleseum, Knox¡ªclad in tattered clothes¡ªwas presented with three items. Each one cost a billion Kingdom Coins, meaning he could only choose one before going broke.

    Opening up the System Interfaces of each item, he compared them:

    {[Drop of Blood of a Genuine Lesser Dragon King]} - [High-Saint]

    ¡ª [Upon consumption and refinement, one will receive the Partial Bloodline of a Genuine Lesser Dragon King. As the Bloodline Inheritor of a very powerful Entity of the Void Refining Realm, one will be able to dominate those of the same Realm as well as acquire a few Racial Traits that the Genuine Lesser Dragon King possessed.]

    The drop of blood was held in an exquisitely decorated vial, radiating a savage, unruly aura that seemed to believe the entire world was beneath it.

    Knox was definitely interested, but with two more items to appraise, he held off on rashly taking the blood droplet for now. His eyes then traced the outline of a long crimson sword¡ªa Nagikatana, to be precise.

    The sword was huge, over two meters in length. A harrowing blood effect coated its edges, a result of the Law of Slaughter being imbued into the material that went into its forging. Said Law of Slaughter was at Level 7, placing it even above what Knox had comprehended of his Sword Intent.

    And this was without even considering the fact that Laws were exponentially harder to comprehend than Intents.

    {[Sword of the End]} - [High-Saint]

    ¡ª [Forged from dozens of Low-Saint-ranked metals and the High-Saint scales of a Genuine Lesser Dragon King, the Sword of the End evolved during its forging process. It became a Growth Weapon, capable of growing alongside its user.]

    ¡ª [The Sword of the End has the unique ability to devour anything within its capabilities. It then copies what it devours and infuses what was copied into its existence. The wielder of this weapon is also capable of taking advantage of what was copied, with the possible scenario of sharing what was copied.]

    Knox thought the Lesser Dragon King Blood would be his go-to, but the appearance of this large nagikatana complicated things. He looked between the two, unable to decide which one suited him most.

    While contemplating, the third item in the Iridescent-ranked area came into view:

    {[Stone of Mysterious Origins]} - [????]

    ¡ª [This is a stone of mysterious origins. It''s unknown what it does, where it comes from, or what its value is. Can be used as a throwing weapon or close-ranged head smasher-inner.]

    Knox: "...."

    "This rock is really lined up next to a droplet of Lesser Dragon King Blood and the Sword of the End?" he questioned, a skeptical glint in his gaze. "Is someone f*cking with me here??"

    That could very well be the case, but the more likely answer was that there was more than meets the eye to the palm-sized black and gray stone encased in a glass-paned box. Then again, it didn''t even possess a particularly interesting design, looking pretty much like any random stream-side rock.

    After a brief period of deliberation¡­

    With a darkened face, Knox tore at his hair while confirming his choice. "Gahhh! This better turn out to be a gamble worth taking!" he groaned, his bloodshot eyes filled with distress. "This stupid f*cking rock! It has nothing even remotely attractive about it, yet I still ended up choosing it!!"

    Tightly clasped within his right hand was the simple-looking black and gray rock that had virtually sent him into poverty. He closely inspected it, desperately searching for something to soothe his bleeding heart.

    After a few seconds, his hope had all but vanished.

    "I''m so f*cking stupid¡ª"

    WAAA! S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Before Knox could finish insulting himself, the stone in his hand suddenly erupted in a brilliant display of goldish-purple light. The light seeped out of the newly formed cracks in the stone before zipping toward Knox and entering his body¡ªwhether he wanted it to or not.

    "What the hell!?"

    While he momentarily freaked out over the invading light making itself at home inside him, another change happened to the rock itself. The cracks that were originally small and scarce spread out and grew in number.

    CRACK¡ª

 Chapter 103 - 103: Everyone in the Water Kingdom Gathers!

    CRACK¡ª

    The rock shattered, revealing a shiny, pointed object that magically floated in the air. Its appearance was that of a tattoo with a three dimensional feel to it. Moreover, it was in the shape of a bleeding eye hieroglyphic, making it look quite ominous and domineering.

    {[Mark of a Lower Outer God]} - [Divine]

    ¡ª[Upon assimilation with the Mark, the User will acquire the most basic of Outer God Physiques. Furthermore, the User will gain full control over Pandora and the extending Devilstar Secret Realm.]

    "He chose correctly." The Six-Winged Seraphim felt a mountain''s worth of stress lift off of his back. "Now that unfilial cretin will learn the true consequences of messing with what was Master''s."

    FWIP!

    Teleporting beside the perplexed youth, the Six-Winged Seraphim said, "You must put it close to the center of your forehead. Only that way can the assimilation process commence."

    "???" Starting in surprise, Knox shot his cautious gaze behind him. "How did you get here??"

    "That is unimportant," replied the Six-Winged Seraphim. "Time is of the essence right now; you have to do as I instructed."

    "And if I don''t?"

    "...Then we''re all doomed¡­"

    Knox closed his mouth, his pupils reflecting the splendor of the levitating bleeding eye mark. "A Divine-ranked Item¡­ Will assimilating with this thing improve my power¡­?"

    The Six-Winged Seraphim would''ve laughed if not for the urgency of the situation. "It''ll do far more than that. It''ll alter who you are¡ªwho you''ll become. This process will most certainly be one of the most important events that''ll ever happen for you."

    Knox more intently scrutinized the floating symbol. "Alter who I am¡ª"

    RUMBLE¡ª!!!

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The Secret Realm was on the verge of collapse, with pieces of the sky crumbling and plummeting.

    "I''M HERE!!!"

    The Six-Winged Seraphim sensed the movement of the World Serpent, but they both knew that he wouldn''t be able to hold out for long.

    Sharply turning back toward Knox, the Six-Winged Seraphim shouted, "You must decide now! There''s no time!!"

    Knox¡ªnot knowing what the smartest choice was¡ªdid what he did best. He said, "Fuck it." before guiding the floating symbol to his forehead.

    OUNG¡ª!!!

    The reaction produced by the assimilation of the Outer God''s Mark was tremendous. Waves of goldish purple energy rolled out of Knox''s figure, enshrouding the entire world in a blanket of regality.

    "What''s going on!?" Cela looked to the source of the incalculably powerful surge of energy. Worry quickly consumed her heart when she realized that Knox could no longer be seen. "Darling!!!" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She tried rushing the Moleseum, but was almost immediately denied entry by an impermeable barrier set up by the Six-Winged Seraphim. He spoke directly into her head:

    "He''ll be fine."

    Although Cela was still overcome with sorrow and trepidation, she stopped smashing into the barrier. However, she couldn''t bring herself to leave the scene, so she stayed right there, impatiently awaiting Knox''s reappearance.

    Yennefer felt something inside her tug her in the direction of the Moleseum, but she resisted the pull. She couldn''t¡­ She couldn''t allow herself to be controlled by the heat of the moment.

    She and Knox were strangers. Just two people forced into something that neither of them asked for.

    It should stay that way¡­

    Shouldn''t it¡­?

    ¡ª Meanwhile, in the world outside the Devilstar Secret Realm''s Entrance in the Water Kingdom ¡ª

    "What happened?? The screen suddenly went dark!"

    "And just when it was getting to the good part!"

    "Who would''ve thought that the infamous trash of the Falazar Count Family would turn out to be so formidable!? It''s the plot twist of the century! Show us the feed!!"

    "Turn it on!"

    "Turn it on!"

    "Turn it on!"

    Cultivators that came from all over the Water Kingdom hollered to the top of their lungs. Public outrage over the blackening of the floating screens was prevalent.

    "Silence!"

    However, with just a single word from a domineering figure who stood at the very top of the Water Kingdom''s hierarchy, everyone instantly shut their traps.

    The Water Deity!

    "What do you think is happening within the Secret Realm?" The whisperings of one of the Soul Formation Realm Water Deity Children were directed to Lunar-Killer Child. "After Junior Brother Star-Gazer lost to that Enigma, I didn''t think things could get much worse. But now, with this most recent issue, Master''s face is not looking too good."

    Lunar-Killer Child briefly side-glanced at his Junior Brother. "Don''t bother yourself with something that even Master doesn''t understand. We''re vastly inferior to him, so thinking any more on the matter will only be deemed a waste of time."

    "...Yes, Senior Brother¡­"

    After finishing his short conversation with his Junior Brother, Lunar-Killer Child flipped his icy gaze between those whom he considered to be his Senior Brothers. Those ranked #5 through #1 in the Sect.

    #1. Abyssal-Tide Child - (Half-step Soul Transformation Realm)

    #2. Serene-Flow Child - (Peak Soul Formation Realm)

    #3. Torrential-Storm Child - (Peak Soul Formation Realm)

    #4. Azure-Moon Child - (Peak Soul Formation Realm)

    #5. Drifting-Fog Child - (Late Soul Formation Realm)

    ''Although Senior Brother Abyssal Tide is in the same Realm as the Master, they are still leagues apart in terms of actual strength.'' Lunar-Killer Child analyzed while looking at the powerhouses from the other gathered Factions. ''And since there are those equal to Master in terms of Battle Power here, an all-out fight would be severely disadvantageous.''

    It wasn''t only their Water Deity Sect that called all their primary forces when Knox Falazar''s true prowess was revealed. Learning of an existence who could very well threaten every single one of them in due time put everyone on edge.

    The Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.

    All of the Count Families.

    Duke Meldon, Duke Willow, Duke Demi, and Duke Softshore.

    Dozens of other Rank 3 and Rank 4 Sects.

    Whether for the purpose of opposing him or getting on his good side, virtually every major faction in the Water Kingdom Sect arrived for the sake of a single person. A young man once overlooked as trash worth less than the grime stuck to the bottom of one''s shoe.

 Chapter 104 - 104: Saya Willow, Duke Willow

    Inside the Falazar Count Family''s Spirit Ship, a couple of very powerful figures were engrossed in a game of chess. Their voices conveyed their truths, matching the moves that flickered chess pieces across a mahogany board.

    "Why did you never tell me your eldest son was such a genius, Count Falazar?" The gentle voice of a gorgeous woman garbed in purple dripped into Knox''s father''s ears. "If you had informed me of his existence beforehand, I would''ve been more than happy to arrange an appropriate marriage between our two families."

    "Even if it were with your eldest daughter, Lady Willow?"

    Duke Willow''s flawless facial features stagnated as she processed the question, her brows furrowing.

    Count Falazar chuckled as he moved a pawn across the board. "You must forgive my lackluster sense of humor, Lady Willow. I''m well aware that your eldest must maintain her chastity if she wishes to join the Purpledream Isle''s Sister Covet."

    Duke Willow knew full well that he was purposefully playing with her, but she still responded courteously. "It''s okay, Count Falazar; we all speak out of turn every now and then. Consider it forgotten."

    "Hoho?" Count Falazar smiled, finding her passive-aggressive way of speaking rather amusing. "It''s your turn."

    Duke Willow appraised the board, a bit of annoyance forming in her expression. "It''s your win¡ª"

    "Hold on, you still have a play right there," Count Falazar interrupted, pointing to her Queen piece. "You should never dismiss the Queen so easily, Lady Willow."

    Duke Willow''s beautifully carved eyebrows knitted further together as she figured out what play he was referring to. Though begrudgingly, she picked up her Queen and moved it to a spot that kept the game going.

    As the two of them traded words while progressing the game, a few figures quietly sitting outside their room wore varying expressions.

    Alden Falazar felt his blood boil at the repeated mentions of the person he abhorred more than anyone else. "That trash is just a stupid cripple! Why is everyone making such a big commotion over him!? Even I could do what he''s doing in the Secret Realm if given the chance¡ª"

    "Shut up."

    "!!!"

    Feeling his entire existence shiver uncontrollably, Alden looked over, only to see the fierce expression of Nyx Falazar piercing into his soul.

    "Quit your babbling, Alden," she commanded coldly. "One more nasty remark, and I''ll be forced to forgo our blood relations. Know your place."

    Alden, unable to do anything else, furiously nodded before averting his shaky gaze.

    Nyx could tell by the way he was tightly clenching his robe that the trouble he''d cause had yet to end, but she lectured him no more. Instead, she looked at the graceful woman sitting a few meters away.

    Saya Willow.

    The eldest daughter of Duke Willow. Also the first in line to succeed the position of Duke.

    "Hmm?" Feeling a familiar glare, Saya turned toward Nyx. Her lips curled upward as she laughed like an eloquent noblewoman. "Why the hostility, sister? Is something bothering you?"

    Nyx clicked her tongue. "Don''t call me your sister. And yes, something''s bothering me!" she spat. "You!"

    Saya giggled, her luscious locks of golden-brown hair fluttering around her perfectly sculpted face. "Sister Nyx, you really should learn how to rein in that temper of yours. How are you to find a good husband if you''re always lashing out at everyone around you?"

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    "You annoying b*tch!" Nyx''s aura violently fluctuated, her Heaven-ranked sword vibrating like crazy. "Not that it''s any of your damn business, but I don''t need a husband; I have my Knox. And why the hell are you even here?? Weren''t you leaving for that faction far away from the Elemental Nations!? Why haven''t you bit the dust yet!?"

    "Your Knox, huh?" Interest and amusement mixed together in Saya''s crystalline eyes. "You''re still the same die-hard brother-con as ever, I see. And I leave for the Purpledream Isles a couple of years from now, so you''re stuck with me until then."

    "Damn it!" Nyx cursed. "Can''t they take your fat ass any sooner!? I''ll even pay them!"

    Saya giggled mischievously. "I''m afraid not, Sister Nyx. But while I''m here, why don''t you introduce me to that popular younger brother of yours? I''ve been dying to meet him~"

    Nyx''s face darkened to the point that even an abyss wasn''t as dark. "You''ve been dying, so I''ll speed up the process."

    OOOM!

    Even with the presence of aura-restricting formations, the killing intent radiating from Nyx''s voluptuous figure was great enough to alert her father and Duke Willow. She instantly received a mental transmission ordering her to calm down, to which she very unwillingly complied.

    "Sorry about her, Lady Willow," Count Falazar said with an awkward smile. "She only gets like that when her brother is mentioned. I''ve yet to find a solution to this frequent occurrence, but I''m constantly searching."

    "Which brother?" asked Duke Willow. "Knox Falazar?"

    Count Falazar nodded.

    "I see¡­" Duke Willow muttered. "So that means the two supreme geniuses of your family are very close? With your eldest daughter recently having made a breakthrough into the Late Soul Formation Realm, I doubt many would dare mess with Knox with her at his side."

    Count Falazar thought back on all the interactions he had witnessed between his eldest son and eldest daughter. His smile turned crooked as he nodded in an extremely unconvincing way. "Yes, you could say that they''re close."

    "That surely spells nothing but great prosperity for your family," Duke Willow mused. "After all, with no conflict among the best of your younger generation, inheritance disputes become a thing of the past. I''m a little envious of this harmony."

    Count Falazar softly laughed. "Surely you jest, Lady Willow. With the future prospects of your eldest daughter, no one in the Elemental Nations is worthy of your envy. Though I do wonder just how high that Saya girl will ascend."

    Duke Willow hid her pride for her eldest daughter well. "If she can become even half the genius that your eldest son is, I can pass over into the afterlife happy."

    "He''s still developing, but I appreciate the kind words of Lady Willow, haha."

    The two Half-step Soul Transformation Realm experts wore faces almost as fake as the words that left their mouths. Neither would openly admit that their heir was better, but they sure as hell felt it.

    However, the silence was quickly broken when Count Falazar moved his King piece and called, "Checkmate."

 Chapter 105 - 105: A Void Refining Realm Grandmaster!?

    Duke Willow scrutinized the board, sighing helplessly after realizing where she had messed up. "I don''t believe I''ll ever be able to best you at chess. I never have, and I doubt that fact will be changing anytime soo¡ª"

    WAOOOOOM!!!

    Interrupting her words was the eruption of an absurd amount of energy from the Secret Realm''s Space Crack. It shook everyone out of their stupor, urging them to stop whatever they were doing and teleport to the source of the disturbance.

    "This level of power¡­" Water Deity brooded, a complicated look etched across his face. His eyes focused on the tendrils of Innate Energy wildly swinging around the Secret Realm. "It''s above the Soul Transformation Realm¡­"

    "A Void Refining Realm Grandmaster!?" Count Buford exclaimed, his mouth agape. "How could there be a Void Refining Realm Expert''s aura pulsating from the Devilstar Secret Realm???"

    It was at that moment that the tens of thousands of Cultivators outside the Secret Realm heard a furious bellow that shook them to their cores: Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "YOU!!! HOW COULD AN ANT LIKE YOU HAVE POSSIBLY ASSIMILATED WITH THE OUTER GOD''S MARK!??"

    WAAAA!!

    "YOU DARE EXPEL ME!?? WHEN I FIND YOU, I''LL SKIN YOU ALIVE AND DISEMBOWEL YOUR FAMILY IN FRONT OF YO¡ª"

    Before the booming voice could bleed the ears of anyone else, it was suddenly cut off. A blaring, static-like sound then echoed as the faint murmurings of a different voice drowned out what little remained of the original voice.

    A change then occurred in the Secret Realm''s Entrance as a figure akin to a fallen immortal broke through the Spatial Crack. His striking gold eyes scanned his environment, noticing thousands of people who had come out to greet him.

    "Ho?" Knox''s brow raised as he saw several powerhouses emitting auras so great that space bent around them. "Seems like quite a lot of you have made it here today. Good, I was worried that I wouldn''t have any decent punching dummies to test out my new Physique."

    Brandishing an unfamiliar nagikatana his size in length, Knox swung it around. Arcs of blood sprayed the skies as glowing gold horns grew atop his forehead. A long, unruly tail quickly followed suit, swaying in a violent yet rhythmic way behind him.

    "Is that¡­ my Knox¡­?" Nyx was taken aback. The man looming above them was extraordinarily handsome, just like her younger brother, but almost everything else about him was different.

    It felt as if he had ascended to a higher plane of existence. He was ethereal, like a Divine Deity who had decided to grace the common mortals with his presence.

    The Trial Takers who were sent back before him felt their spines tingle. This was especially the case for Alden, who couldn''t believe the person he was staring at to be the same one who had been restricted to his bed for over a dozen years¡­

    "Knox Falazar!!!"

    The wrathful roar of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect Leader reverberated. The owner of the roar blasted out with a Half-step Soul Transformation Realm aura¡ªone that left the weaker Cultivators gasping for oxygen.

    Knox indifferently turned toward the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect Leader. His killing intent negated most of the old fogey''s aura, causing him to reel back in shock.

    However, the real shock had yet to come, for Knox blurred. He reappeared mere inches away from the Sect Leader, Sword of the End outstretched.

    "Don''t you dar¡ª"

    SHING!

    Without caring a single bit about what the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect Leader had to say, Knox slashed diagonally. A large gash emerged on the Sect Leader''s chest, forcing him to cough up a blot of blood.

    "You''re in the Half-step Soul Transformation Realm?" Knox mocked coldly. "Disappointing. So very disappointing."

    "You bastard!!!" Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons pushed him away with his Innate Energy before backing up and glaring at him. "I''ll slaughter you and your entire family!!!"

    OOOM!

    A massive pressure crushed down on the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect Leader, making him cough out even more blood. He looked up with out-of-focus vision; his horror skyrocketed when he saw the refined middle-aged man hovering above him.

    "C-Count Falazar¡­!"

    Count Falazar emotionlessly looked down at the injured Sect Leader. "You''ll be slaughtering whose family now? Please tell me more, as you have piqued my interest."

    "Th-That is¡­" Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons frightfully averted his gaze, suddenly finding the floor far more interesting to stare at. "I-I meant no offense by it, Count. It''s just that¡­."

    "It''s just that what?" Count Falazar questioned. His thinned eyes glowed a deadly shade of red as he pressured the scared Sect Leader into submission. "You must wholeheartedly believe that just you and those other three buffoons ganging together is enough to bully my family. But you''d be mistaken; you''re a fool. Just like they are fools."

    He briefly glanced at Count Buford, Count Thorne, and Count Roderick. His glare was filled with immeasurable disdain. It was as if he were looking at the lowliest, most irredeemable of trash.

    "Falazar¡­"

    The three Counts ground their teeth in frustration, but they knew that they were no match for him in one-on-one combat. They might have stood a chance of besting him if they teamed up and made use of the joint formations they had stationed their subordinates at. However, with the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect Leader tied up with the drilling done by Count Falazar, there was nothing they could do at the moment.

    He was key if they wanted to successfully take down the War General known far and wide for his martial prowess.

    Back in the day, Count Falazar had single-handedly fended off more than a dozen Half-step Soul Transformation Realm powerhouses from the Fire and Air Nations. Furthermore, he had done so while heavily handicapped by a formation they had erected to kill him.

    While just about everyone was distracted by the ever-growing tension between Count Falazar and Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons, a woman with an amply blessed figure was looking elsewhere. She first noticed the subtle hand signals being made by Knox, then connected them to the silent changes happening with the Devilstar Secret Realm.

    A small, amused smile crept up this woman''s divinely beautiful face as she watched the Devilstar Secret Realm spit out six youngins before shrinking and shooting toward Knox. The shrunken Secret Realm then vanished into his body, its presence completely erased.

    "How so very intriguing," the woman mused with pursed lips. Her pretty aqua eyes shimmered as they never left Knox''s side. "So this is the young man my disciple can''t seem to quit raving about."

 Chapter 106 - 106: The Lineage Treasure of the Falazars

    Sensing something that tried extremely hard to keep itself hidden, Knox activated his System Sight without turning around. A System Interface then flashed before his wary gaze:

    {[Leera Lawson (Aqua Arbiter)]}

    [Cultivation: Early Soul Transformation Realm]

    [Age: 528]

    [Cultivation Talent: Early-Heaven]

    [Main Technique: Aquafina Armageddon]

    [Mood: Intrigued]

    ''There''s actually a Soul Transformation Realm Expert here???'' Knox questioned, a bit of uncertainty festering inside his heart. ''This definitely complicates things.''

    However, that was when he saw a segment of her System Interface that related to relationships. At first, he thought nothing of it, but that was only until he came across a name that couldn''t be any more familiar if it wanted to be.

    [Special Profession: Master of Nyx Falazar (the Eldest Daughter of the Falazar Count Household)]

    ''That woman is very, very powerful, Master.''

    Rayzer''s concerned voice came from the Spatial Sack that Knox carried around. The existence of the Aqua Arbiter put him on edge.

    ''Tell me something I don''t know, numnut,'' Knox rolled his eyes. ''Even with the addition of my Sword of the End, Partial Lesser Dragon King Bloodline, and Sky 1 Lower Outer God Physique, I highly doubt I''m her match. After all, from the looks of it, she can even fight above her Realm.''

    To make matters worse, the Aqua Arbiter wasn''t even the only Soul Transformation Realm Master hiding among the crowd. A closer look around was all Knox needed to discover multiple such hidden powerhouses.

    The Sword Saint, the Blade King, and the¡­ King of the Water Kingdom¡­?

    Putting aside the surprise he felt upon seeing an inconspicuous hooded man covertly blending in with the sea of Cultivators, Knox confirmed the existence of four Soul Transformation Realm Powerhouses. Although this included the Aqua Arbiter, it was still an amount that astounded Knox.

    ''I was under the assumption that there were no Soul Transformation Realm Cultivators in the Water Kingdom, but this little gathering has opened my eyes to the truth.''

    Upon further inspection, Knox realized something else.

    They were all¡­ staring at him¡­

    ''Well, shit,'' he cursed. ''Staying low-key has been thrown out the window. Then again, with that mysterious Void Refining Realm Grandmaster now hunting me, I suppose my low-key career in the Elemental Nations ended right then and there.''

    Now Knox had no choice but to showcase all that he was worth. He did this in hopes of making his ascension to higher heights all the smoother.

    Either go big or go home!

    It was around this point in time that people began noticing the arrival of the other Devilstar Secret Realm Trial Takers.

    "They''ve returned!"

    "Nala, Princess Maya, and the rest have made it back from the Secret Realm!!"

    Hearing the name of his daughter, the disguised King Waters shifted his gaze in a particular direction. "Where did the Secret Realm go¡­?" he wondered. "Could it be¡­?"

    King Waters glanced at the nonchalant Knox but saw no indication of him having done anything with the Secret Realm.

    Was it just his imagination?

    He himself wasn''t sure, but he knew without a doubt in his mind that the young, otherworldly genius was concealing innumerable secrets.

    It was just a gut feeling, but for some reason, it was more fact than mere conjecture for him.

    "Dear Daughter," Count Bonanier called out as he flew up to a girl with crazy-looking black eyes. "Come and give Daddy a hug."

    Without sparing him even a single glance, Cela passed by her father''s outstretched arms, where she then started fervently screaming.

    "Where''s my Darling~!? Darling, where are you~!?"

    "No, Big Bro¡­ Crazy lady incoming," Lily cautioned from inside Knox''s Spatial Sack. "Be careful. Protect your rear."

    "Why my rear¡­?"

    Lily''s expression suddenly turned very serious. "Uncle Ray told me the crazier the woman, the more likely they were to get you from behind with a sword of their own! Must be wary, he says!"

    Silence¡­

    "M-Master, you have to believe me, I¡ª"

    *Thwack!*

    A gigantic illusory gold Innate Energy palm flattened Rayzer into the artificial land that Knox had placed in the Half-step Saint Grade Spatial Sack he picked up from the Moleseum on his way out. It was fair to say that Unc Ray was knocked out cold, froth leaking from his mouth.

    "From now on, don''t listen to that Uncle of yours," Knox instructed the innocent, baby-faced Lily. "He''s not right in the head, you see."

    Lily was a little puzzled, but she nonetheless nodded. "Uncle Ray shtupid, yes?"

    "Yes."

    ''Boohoo!'' Rayzer cried with a mouthful of dirt, grievances flooding his heart.

    Ignoring the idiot, Knox refocused on the tumultuous matter at hand. The Water Deity was looking at him as if he were ready to dig in, and as a straight MILF lover, this was simply inexcusable.

    ''Even with the arrival of those kiddos, these older brats are still dead set on gunning for me.'' Knox''s hold on his nagikatana tightened. ''Should I attack them first? Or would it be wiser to wait for them to strike, then strike back and dub it self-defense¡ª''

    Before he even finished the thought, a crazy amount of cackling came from the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect Leader. His previous fright was seemingly nowhere in sight, with his aura pulsating like the beating of a heart.

    Blood stained the skies, worsening with each further heartbeat.

    "Foolish Count!!"

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons ascended above Count Falazar, a wide, evil smirk twisting his wrinkled face.

    "For years, I''ve been preparing for this moment! It didn''t have to come to this, but the miraculous change in your eldest boy steered everything in a direction of no return!! And whether you like it or not, that cube will be mine for the taking!!!"

    The mention of the item that originally pushed the three Counts against Count Falazar made all their faces light up in realization.

    "Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons, You!!!" Count Roderick pointed fingers in the direction of the rapidly transforming old man. "You''ve known about the Lineage Treasure of the Falazars since the very beginning, haven''t you!? You tricked us!!"

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 Chapter 107 - 107: A Day When History Is Made

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons maniacally laughed, his aura increasing by the second. "Of course I f*cking knew, you idiots!! And originally, the plan was to wait a few dozen more years, when the time was ripe, but the interference of you morons forced that date forward!! But don''t worry, I always get my due compensation from idiots like you."

    "What is that supposed to mean!?"

    Right then, Count Buford, Count Roderick, and Count Thorne felt their hearts stop. They clutched their chests, terror creeping up their faces.

    "You¡­ What did you do to us¡­!?"

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons treated that question like the biggest joke of the century. "I''m a Master of Poison, you fool. The number of ways I know of that can deal with slow-witted youngins like you is countless!"

    Slowly, the Counts withered away. First, it was their lower extremities, then it moved up the rest of them, draining them dry before turning them to skeletons. This was ultimately followed by them being reduced to an energy substance.

    Count Buford, being the last to go, looked at Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons as if he had just experienced the ultimate degree of betrayal.

    Yet all he received in response was an eye-roll. "Let''s not blind ourselves from the truth. You were using me, but I used you first; it''s nothing personal, just business."

    "You....."

    Count Buford was unable to avoid the same fate as the others. And with him being converted into an unknown colorful substance, Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons'' grin became more prominent. He raised his hands, causing the same process to happen to all of the subordinates and descendants of the Three Counts as well.

    Even as lads and lasses cried out for help, not a single person came to their aid. Everyone simply stood back and watched as thousands of Cultivators were mummified and converted into energy.

    Said energy substance blobbed together in the area above Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons'' head. It constantly transferred the hyper-condensed energy into his person, fueling both his power, his insanity, and his transformation into something that was anything but human.

    "Should we stop him?"

    The Soul Transformation Realm Experts communicated with one another on a private call line.

    "No, let us further test the boy."

    "Yes, after seeing where his true limits lie, we''ll make a move and end the life of this¡­ abomination."

    What was taking up most of their view was a massive dragon-like creature with dozens of oddly placed limbs and heads. Moreover, it was dark in color like ink and emitted an aura so evil and vile that it contaminated the air around it.

    Even his very own subordinates went into creating what he had become¡­

    This was Ten Thousand Poisons Sect Leader!

    "I Want Everything You Own, Boy! Your Possessions, Your Lineage Heirloom, What You Obtained From The Secret Realm, Even Your LIFE!!!"

    The crazed shouts of the monstrous creature echoed as it honed in on the uncaring dragon-like young man.

    "I''ll Wipe That Indifference Right Off Of Your Face! But First¡­"

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons shot its many heads toward the equally unamused Count Falazar.

    "I''LL KILL YOUR FATHER RIGHT BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES!!!"

    "ROOOAAARGGHHH!!!"

    Exchanging a glance with one another, Count Falazar asked his eldest son, "Can you handle it?"

    Although startled by the concealed confidence his father had in him, Knox nodded. "Leave big ugly to me, Pops. You have bigger fish to fry anyway."

    Sensing the Water Deity''s malice, Count Falazar understood right away what his son meant.

    "A coup¡­"

    As soon as those two words left his mouth, the world around them underwent a drastic meltdown of Elements. Lightning, Fire, and Wind burned through the ozone layers, creating blurry ripples everywhere one looked.

    "Is that¡­" Princess Maya mumbled, disbelief crawling up her face.

    "The Fire Nation!" Luna exclaimed.

    "The Lightning and Air Nations!" Solaris shouted.

    "Darling¡­"

    Cela, who was unable to reach Knox because of the extreme conflagration of elements, felt her heart strain when she saw all the ludicrously powerful presences invading his side of the Elemental Clusterfuck. Her emotions ran rampant inside her, just waiting for the opportunity to send her into a mindless rampage.

    More than anything, she hated feeling helpless when it came to protecting the one whom she cherished most in the world!

    "¡­Knox¡­"

    Yennefer was also worried about Knox for some inexplicable reason, but she knew better than to allow her emotions to control her. Instead, she turned her cold glare to all the Elemental Nation Cultivators descending from the heavens.

    "So they came, after all," King Waters softly said from behind the hood that shrouded most of his face. "This could very well be the end of the line for us. But if Falazar''s superstitious claims are as true as he says they are, then¡­"

    King Waters fixed on Knox''s broad-shouldered frame.

    "Perhaps this will be a day where history is made."

    "Or it could very well be the day the Water Kingdom becomes nothing more than history. Forgotten history¡ªforced to be erased by the winners."

    History was written by the ones who won.

    And if today turned out to be their last, then it was very likely that any evidence that their Kingdom ever existed would be wiped from the history books¡­

    This was not out of cruelty or personal hatred. No, this was¡ª

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    "DO YOU SEE NOW, COUNT FALAZAR!? THIS IS YOUR END!!"

    "So this was all planned," Count Falazar said with a flash of realization. "To think you had been capable of hiding among us for so long. A spy. We were all ignorant to the truth. You even took advantage of the revealing of Knox''s talent and subsequent gathering of all the Kingdom''s top forces to surround us and take all of us out in one go."

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons'' many faces all evilly smirked.

    "YES, YOU WERE ALL HARBORING A VENOMOUS SNAKE, AND NOW YOU SHALL PAY THE PRICE FOR SUCH OBLIVIOUSNESS!!!"

    OOOOM!

 Chapter 108 - 108: Outer Gods

    OOOOM!

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons erupted with a power infinitely close to the Soul Transformation Realm.

    Count Falazar was prepared to fight anyway, but with a single gesture from his son, he paused. He looked at Knox, seeing something within his golden eyes that had even him feeling fear.

    Sighing in resignation, Count Falazar said, "Fine, but don''t get yourself killed." Before he teleported to where the other Traitor was standing.

    "Hello, Water Deity."

    "I''ve been waiting for this day for a long time, Count Falazar. A very, very long time."

    "Funny thing is, I don''t recall ever interacting with you much," replied Count Falazar, rubbing his chin in contemplative thought. "Yeah, I honestly don''t remember."

    Water Deity frowned deeply, anger making a mess of his insides. "Oh, but you will. I''ll see to it myself."

    "Sounds like a threat."

    "It is."

    Silence¡­

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    They clashed swords within an instant, bringing the battle to the surroundings. Entire lakes evaporated in an instant. Animals and mortals alike were obliterated, with whole towns sinking into the ground.

    Meanwhile, back with Knox and the fat, ugly fucker before him.

    Taking a peek at the big bastard''s System Interface, he saw:

    BLING!

    {[Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons (Big Ugly Fucker)]}

    [Cultivation: Pinnacle of Half-step Soul Transformation Realm]

    [Age: 600+]

    ¡ª[Due to the usage of a Forbidden Blood Technique called |Life Syphon Mutation Sequencer|, this Cultivator has experienced massive qualitative change. His strength is now over a dozen times greater than it was before, warranting caution to all those who face him.]

    "The System has the same sense of humor as I do¡­"

    Knox didn''t know how he was supposed to feel about that information, but with several weapon-like arms barreling toward him, he was given little time to ponder. He dodged the first weapon-arm by the hair on his chinny chin chin, but the second and third arms were not so easily evaded.

    SHING!

    Knox parried one with the Sword of the End, causing sparks to fly. However, with the second one aiming to pierce him from behind, he had to transition from facing frontward to spinning backward. His Nagikatana collided with the third arm blade, creating a large dent in its hard outer encasing.

    Tough!

    "DIE!!"

    SHA! SHA! SHA!

    Six more weapon arms of the blade and axe variety cut through the air, with just the wind produced from the attacks dealing huge amounts of damage to the topography. A couple of unsuspecting Spirit Ships were even cleaved in half.

    Faced with certain death, Knox exhaled sharply. A golden glow emerged from his slitted eyes as he tapped once, tapped twice, tapped thrice, then vanished.

    ''WHERE IS HE!?''

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand''s thoughts rang out as if countless banshee-like entities had become one with his voice¡ªa side effect of the Forbidden Technique.

    A cold smile materialized right beside him. He instinctively shot out his arms, but by then, the smirk had already disappeared and reappeared along with the rest of the body it was connected to. A repositioning that had Knox emotionlessly standing on the side of one of the Sect Leader''s arms.

    "HOW¡ª!?"

    In an instant, Knox blurred around the arm in a spiraling motion, running the Sword of the End everywhere he went. The Law of Slaughter applied not even a nanosecond later, eviscerating the arm and sending mutated blood flying everywhere.

    "ARGHHH!!!"

    Ignoring the simultaneous agonizing cries of Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons and all the Cultivators he devoured, Knox elegantly landed on the huge gory mess of a stump. This was where one of the Sect Leader''s arms used to be attached¡ªan appendage of an approximate size of thousands of meters.

    A small rainfall of blood occurred for the devastated land below.

    "Seems like your increase in size and projections has just made you a bigger target," Knox coldly uttered, his Nagikatana pulsating in joy as it absorbed all the Blood Essence it managed to nab. "But seeing as this is my first real fight since undergoing a complete metamorphosis, it would be nice if you could¡­ I don''t know¡­ try a little harder?"

    RUMBLE¡ª!!!

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons exploded with rage. His wrathful aura pushed Knox off of him, sending him cannoning into a water basin. However, the whole way down, he appeared uncaring; his arms were folded in front of him, with his face one of total neutrality.

    "YOU WORM!!!"

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons grew back the arm that Knox destroyed. Furthermore, dozens more arms sprouted out from all over him, with their sudden appearance razing the atmosphere due to energy overload.

    WHOOOOM!

    Ludicrous levels of Fire Innate Energy flared from out of each of Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons'' arms. Small balls of fire were gathered above each arm, absorbing more and more energy before hyper-condensing in an endless cycle.

    OOOM. OOOM! OOOOM!! OOOOOOM!!!

    Eventually, the fireballs stopped condensing, instead letting the absurd amount of energy within expand their sizes to an astronomical degree.

    "DO YOU FINALLY UNDERSTAND THE INSURMOUNTABLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CRIPPLED TRASH LIKE YOU AND SOMEONE LIKE ME!?!?"

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons'' voice boomed out as dozens of city-sized swirling balls of fire suffocated the air around him. The sweltering heat produced by them was so intense that large lakes evaporated; the peaks of mountains were melted off; entire towns were incinerated.

    ''When Immortals battle, the Mortals suffer,'' Knox thought, his expression deadpan. ''The World of Cultivation never changes.''

    Bringing out more of the power of his Lower Outer God Physique and Lesser Dragon King Bloodline, Knox''s golden horns grew longer, and his tail thicker. Moreover, an overwhelming source of power radiated from inside his Sea of Innate Energy.

    The source of a Lower Outer God.

    Outer Gods were one of the most mysterious groups of mythical entities in the World. They lived outside the Azura Empire, in lands so mystical and massive that it made the Elemental Nations look like a tiny roadside pebble.

    And this wasn''t even an exaggeration¡­

    Outer Gods really did reside on a higher plane of existence, one where their bodies were forced to adapt and grow to appropriate sizes. Reaching heights far bigger than the diameters of planets.

    There were also various kinds of Outer Gods, of which there were the weakest and lowliest of them: The Lower Outer Gods.

 Chapter 109 - 109: The Elemental Nations Congregate

    Lower Outer Gods were the only Outer Gods known to stick close to the lower lifeforms, which encompassed anyone in and below the Virtual Destruction Realm.

    It was one of these Mortal Minglers that descended to an area located somewhere in the Azura Empire some thousands of years ago. He was found by the Unorthodox Devilstar in critical condition. And though he had instructed the Unorthodox Devilstar to let him pass on, the abnormal human ignored him.

    The human did everything in his power to heal him.

    But nothing worked¡­

    An Outer God was simply too advanced a lifeform. One that a mere Half-step Void Refining Realm Cultivator would never be able to heal.

    Especially not one who lived in such a desolate place like the Azura Empire¡­

    However, even though the Lower Outer God knew his Divine Spark would flicker its last ember, it sensed something in the human. Genuine mortal compassion. Something that was few and far between among the lower lifeforms.

    It was because of this discovery that the Lower Outer God passed on something before its untimely demise: The Outer God Mark.

    It was proof of the Lower God''s existence. It was also the only known way a destined Mortal could obtain one of the most important pieces of an Outer God: The Source of the Outer God.

    If one was successful in assimilating with the Mark of an Outer God, then they''d immediately see an Outer God''s Source form inside them. From this formation, they''d instantly receive the lower-leveled Physique that the Outer God possessed in life; furthermore, they''d acquire an Innate Technique practiced by all Lower Outer Gods.

    "Nine Sky Divine Source."

    OOOM!

    The First Sky!

    Each Sky of the Technique represented a stage that one had cultivated of the Lower Outer God Physique. And though the First Sky was just the beginning of the Cultivation journey of a Lower Outer God, it was still vastly superior to a common Soul Formation Realm Cultivator''s cultivation base.

    Knox''s presence multiplied manyfold as a single halo materialized above his head. This represented the First Sky and was the first indication of a Mortal transcending his humanity.

    "WHAT!? YOU THINK JUST THAT WILL STOP ME!!? ME!???"

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons exploded in fury as he let plummet from above him all the city-sized fireballs. They contained within them enough energy to wipe out entire countries, with their fall from Heaven burning even the Elements and Laws in the area to a crisp.

    Knox suddenly shot his eyes open, a golden brilliance shooting out of them. He then moved his hand in a blur, the halo floating above his head glowing in sync with the movements he performed with the Sword of the End.

    In an instant, and without a big commotion, the dozens of fireballs dissipated.

    "HOW!?" Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons was overcome with dumbfoundment.

    What he conjured should''ve been enough to completely obliterate whole groups of Half-step Soul Transformation Realm Cultivators, yet it was dispersed so easily. So effortlessly! S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    So¡­ So¡­

    Disrespectfully!!

    "I''LL KILL YOU, WORM!!!!"

    Knox sharply exhaled, the crisp sound of his Nagikatana leaving its sheath echoing once more. He whipped it around, with its flawless sides reflecting his impassive appearance in them.

    "You''ve already said that once before. Can''t you come up with anything new?"

    His calm question fluttered through the tension-filled skies; however, it only further incensed Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons. He sprouted nearly a hundred more appendages; blood leaked from his dozens of hideous faces as he burned through his lifeforce in an attempt to achieve a higher level of strength.

    The Early Soul Transformation Realm!

    RUMBLE!!!

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons'' temporary advancement into the Soul Transformation Realm was immediately followed by the raising of his weapon-arms. He then roared like crazy while gathering a record-breaking amount of Fire Energy centerpiece above his Main Head.

    SWOOOOSH!

    A sphere of flames so massive that it trumped the size of several planets formed above Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons'' heavily mutated figure. It spun in place at thousands of times the speed of light, with the produced solar flame winds attracting the attention of just about everyone.

    Standing to the far back on the side of the Lightning, Fire, and Air Nations, a few extremely powerful figures were discussing this matter with one another.

    "Who is the one summoning that attack?" asked a sturdy man garbed in robes with a giant lightning bolt embroidered on the front. "I know the youngling is one of our Prime Targets, but that monstrosity was not in any of the reports. Which doesn''t make any sense considering its strength. Likely only the Ancestors could take it down as it is without sustaining any damage."

    A fire-adorned figure locked in on the faraway battle between Knox and Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons. "The abomination should be the Sect Leader of that one Rank 4 Sect¡ªone of our contacts on the inside. As for how he got like this and how he got so strong, I''m unsure. He obviously kept some things from us. Though it wasn''t like we were totally truthful with him either."

    The calmer-looking representative of the Air Nation silently scrutinized the huge flaming sun hanging above Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons. He spoke no words, but he didn''t need to to understand that such a powerful attack posed a threat even to him.

    Noticing this, the Lightning Kingdom Representative chuckled. "You''re too cautious for your own good, Aero. There''s no way those flames can even get within a thousand feet of you, what with your Heaven-ranked Aeromonia Physique."

    No response came from the Air Nation Representative.

    "He always was the silent type," commented the Fire Nation Representative. "Well, no matter, leave him be and let''s do our part in this battle."

    The Lightning Nation Representative nodded.

    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!

    All three of them vanished, with their targets having already been designated.

    Reappearing beside a refined man garbed in all white and carrying a Heaven-ranked Sword close to his heart, the Air Nation Representative made his presence known.

    "There''s no need for that."

 Chapter 110 - 110: At The Whim Of Higher Beings

    "There''s no need for that." The Sword Saint spoke without opening his eyes, his white robes billowing about in a tranquil way. "One would have to be blind not to sense an aura as overwhelming as yours¡ªeven if you may conceal it as well as you do. However, why did it have to be you?"

    The Air Nation Representative did not respond. He merely stared at the inexpressive Sword Saint, half his face covered behind a high-raised robe collar.

    The Sword Saint sighed.

    The Air Nation Representative didn''t so much as blink. One moment, the Sword Saint''s sword was resting in its sheath; the next, it gleamed under the searing glow of a massive fireball plummeting from the heavens, its heat distorting the air between them.

    The speed at which the Sword Saint unsheathed his sword was such that it looked as if it had instantaneously teleported¡­

    The Air Nation Representative''s brows furrowed to match his sudden surge of seriousness.

    The Sword Saint frowned. "Fine then, make the first move, Aero, the Cyclone Patriarch. If this is the decision you have chosen, then so be it."

    Aero made not a peep, but his following actions spoke louder than any words could have.

    As a clash of swords shattered time and space in a location hundreds of thousands of miles away, a lone Nagikatana-wielding human was faced with a giant ball of fire over a million times his size.

    "BLAME YOURSELF FOR BEING TOO WEAK!!!"

    Listening to the deranged shouts of Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons, Knox dug earwax out of his ears. He flicked away the wax before blurring in place, his hand unsheathing and sheathing his Nagikatana in repeated motion.

    |True Unsheath| X100000 - [Level 7 Sword Intent]

    This technique was merely of the Sky Rank, but after some imaginative thinking, Knox devised a way to ascend it far past its preconceived rank.

    SHING! SHING! SHING!

    The solution was to simply spam the hell out of it!

    However, this in and of itself did not make for a functional technique. After all, each slash would hit the target at different intervals. No matter how fast one slashed, that wouldn''t change.

    But this was where the missing component came into play: the Time Law.

    |Time Law - Level 3: Time Stop| - (Limited Area)

    Although Knox was only capable of freezing everything within a few inches of himself, that was more than enough for what he needed it for.

    As the sword arcs powered up by |True Unsheath| piled up in the hundreds of thousands, the massive ball of fire incinerated the clouds above and the fields below as it plummeted. Yet, within the tiny sphere of influence blotted out by an incalculable number of sword arcs, a cold smile crept up an otherwise flawless face.

    Activating a sword-shaped Half-Saint Amulet that rested over his neckbone, Knox''s sword power multiplied severalfold. A bit of gratefulness lurked within his heart before his smile grew colder, and then words that crackled and sparked were spoken by him¡ªwords that would end it all:

    "Time," Knox began, his voice resonating with one of the most unsolved mysteries of the Universe. "Unstop."

    SHIIINNGG¡ª!

    Without warning, all of the stacked-up sword arcs flew out at the same time. And due to how densely packed they were, their damage effectively multiplied. Furthermore, this happened within a very small linear range, meaning the damage was not spread out.

    It was intensified in a single spot.

    One that shot straight through the massive flaming sun, bursting it apart. The resulting flames rained from the skies, spreading everywhere like a firestorm from hell.

    However, while this was happening, a monstrous many-armed creature wiggled erratically. Its blackened eyes flickered and spasmed as they looked toward their shared body.

    There¡ªat the center of their existence¡ªwas a hole.

    It had a rough diameter of tens of thousands of meters and took up a large chunk of Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons'' body. Blood poured out of the hole, mixing together with the mutated brain matter that had been reduced to the atomic level on contact.

    "I¡­ I was supposed to be invincible..."

    The last words to leave Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons'' many mouths were those of disbelief. His remaining eyes then rolled into the backs of their heads as the abomination that was the Sect Leader fell from the heavens like a fallen star.

    His Body¡ªDevastated.

    His Nascent Soul¡ªObliterated.

    His Primordial Soul¡ªErased.

    Sect Leader Ten Thousand Poisons of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect was no more.

    His well-thought-out and elaborate scheme was deemed a failure. His life forfeited. His reputation tarnished. His appearance grotesque.

    There were not many worse ways to go out¡­

    "Till the end, you were nothing much."

    Knox''s emotionless words echoed as the scene around him could only be described as apocalyptic. Fire rained from the heavens¡ªa torrential-flame Armageddon. Sword and spell attacks of unbelievable magnitude flashed in every direction, the residual damage enough to topple cities and towns.

    Yet, in the midst of it all, he stood. Still and composed. With a listless gaze that seemed to be appraising everything and yet nothing all at once.

    "In a matter of mere moments, tens of millions lost their lives," he spoke as if he were a timeless being. "But for us, it''s as if nothing more than ants were squashed¡ªtheir lives meaningless. Just as a regular mortal views an insect as something not worth its life, we view lesser existences the same way. It makes one wonder, though¡­.."

    "What of the higher beings that live above us like gods over bugs?" His sight was brought to the stars, where he imagined the appearance of starry figures whose sizes could not be properly measured by normal standards. "The Outer Gods. What if one of them just all of a sudden determined the continued existence of the Elemental Nations and Azura Empire to not matter anymore?"

    This question furrowed Knox''s brows in deep thought. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was a harrowing one¡­

    Yet also a self-realizing one.

    "I need to become stronger," he affirmed his realization, his eyes igniting with an everlasting fire. "I can''t stop acquiring more strength. Not in this life, not in the next. Not until only I stand above all else."

    OUUNG!

 Chapter 111 - 111: Like A GOD!!!

    OUUNG!

    The Cosmos chimed out at Knox''s proclamation, seemingly accepting the challenge that the daring mortal dared to propose.

    A small smile formed on Knox''s face as he swiped the blood off the Sword of the End. He then sheathed it in its gothic-style scabbard before turning around and calling toward him all the dropped Attribute Orbs.

    [Strength Increased by 1,340,000,000!]

    [Agility Increased by 1,560,700,000!]

    [Spirituality Increased by 1,180,000,000!]

    [Affinity Increased by 2,450,000!] Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    X43 More¡­

    "Increases by the billion??" Knox''s eyes widened in shock as he double-checked to make sure he was seeing things correctly, with the subsequent results only furthering his amazement. "To think that killing trash like that was what would finally give me one billion Attribute Points from a single orb. I''ve fought way tougher battles before, but perhaps the quality of foes has simply weakened¡­?"

    In actuality, that was far from the truth.

    Knox may not have been aware of it, but he was slowly but surely becoming a cheat so overpowered that it would soon be inconceivable to call him anything but an anomaly. Whether it be his Sword Intent, Saint-Grade Techniques, Saint-Grade Items, Saint-Grade Bloodline, or Divine-Grade Physique¡ªall of it put him far above everyone else in his realm bracket.

    Even if there were richer and more influential Young Masters in higher areas capable of acquiring all that he had, it was still unlikely they could copy his success. After all, he not only had all these external factors propelling him upward, but he also had a High-Saint Rank Cultivation Talent, a Mid-Saint Rank Foundation, and Potential that could very well be touching upon the Divine Rank.

    It wasn''t the least bit an exaggeration to state that, within the Elemental Nations, Knox was second to none.

    As for how that status of his held up beyond the bounds of the tiny Elemental Nations, well¡­ that was yet to be seen.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, back on the battlefield outside the vanished Secret Realm, two blade-wielding figures were seen zipping through the skies at tens of thousands of times the speed of light ¡ª

    They were moving at such speeds that, while destroying everything in their path in a molten and cut-up string of chaos, they somehow crossed national borders.

    Finding themselves within the Fire Kingdom, one of the figures frowned, whereas the other manically grinned.

    "What!?" asked the Blade King, his shit-eating smirk tearing away at the Fire Representative''s nonchalant facade. "Did you honestly believe that only our Kingdom would be damaged in our fight!? With you being the right-hand man of that red-haired crowned bastard, I would''ve figured you to be a bit more realistic!"

    CLANG! CLANG!

    Their blades clashed with even greater fervor, the excess energy rippling through the skies. Mountain valleys and small oceans were destroyed in a diced-up display of blade prowess, yet that damage only worsened with the sudden rise in the Fire Representative''s emotions.

    Blade King smirked, fending off every single attack with a blurry hand. "What?? Strike a nerve, Igron!?"

    "Shut up!"

    Igron''s furious bellow was followed up by a barrage of blade slashes that careened toward Blade King at utterly ridiculous speeds. Neither sound nor light could keep up as the Blade Arcs grew larger and more ferocious the shorter the distance between them and the Blade King became.

    "Look at you!" Blade King sarcastically praised. "You must really think you''re something special, huh!? What, with you achieving a miraculous breakthrough into the Soul Transformation Realm! Haha, I faintly recall when you were in diapers¡ªand even then, I was still in the same Realm you so desperately strived for your entire life!"

    SHA! SHA!

    Effortlessly parrying every Blade Arc thrown his way, Blade King''s smile broadened. "Do you truly believe that you have a snowball''s chance in hell of defeating me!? Do you think that just because we''re both in the Early Soul Transformation Realm, we''d be equal!? What a joke!!"

    HUUUAAHH!

    Blade King''s vicinity exploded outward with him only having imagined it. Then, with another passing thought, a mountain was suddenly enlarged to dozens of times its original size.

    "!!!"

    BOOOM!

    The tip of the enlarged mountain smashed into Igron, sending him flying high up into the sky.

    However, just as he attempted to catch his breath from the blow and slow down, a tree had somehow appeared above him.

    This tree, however, was anything but normal, for it too was abnormally large¡ªlarge enough to smack him down to the earth as a speeding bullet.

    "We are anything but equal, boy," said Blade King as he tossed away the enormous tree he had clutched in his hands. "You are still learning the ropes of your new Realm, whereas I have mastered everything that will take you centuries to do the same. You are not my match; concede your life to me now and I may just spare you some pain."

    *Kuk! Kuk!*

    Coughing up large amounts of blood was merely the surface damage that Igron had sustained. On the inside, he was a complete wreck, with his internal organs bleeding out all over the place.

    Yet, for some reason, a wide, cunning smirk crept up his sinister facial features.

    "You''re right, oh mighty Blade King!" He crazily shouted, blood spitting everywhere. "I''m not your match; I never was! But, you see, Combat Power isn''t only based on one''s own strength! I''ll demonstrate that to you right now as I try out one of the products that the one who started this all gave to us!!"

    Taking an ominously glowing scarlet-red pill out of his Spatial Ring, Igron consumed it before Blade King could react in time.

    And with a massive eruption of bloodlust from Igron, it was already too late for Blade King to prevent whatever was happening.

    Being launched away from Igron, Blade King stabilized himself mid-air before looking at him with an unreadable expression.

    "You¡­ What have you done¡­?" he asked, unable to properly convey what he was thinking. "To think that you''d go so far as to collude with outside forces to destroy us. Are you that desperate, Igron? That cowardly??"

    "Call me whatever names you wish, HAA! B-But, I feel amazing!!" Igron shouted through euphoric groans as demonic horns grew out of the top of his head.

    His skin turned a dark shade of red and his eyes blackened, with yellow slits carving down the middle of them.

    "I FEEL LIKE A GOD!!!"

    OOOOM!!!

 Chapter 112 - 112: A Mysterious Figure Hiding Among The Clouds

    OOOOM!!!

    Although the Sword Saint neared the very peak of the Early Soul Transformation Realm, he still felt pressured underneath this new level of power Igron was exhibiting. Getting serious, Sword Saint performed a few warm-up slashes before unleashing the full extent of his Level 8 Sword Intent¡ªan Intent that he had been honing for centuries.

    "COME!!"

    With a spazzing face, Igron blasted out with a volcano-like demonic aura. Its bloody, stifling tendrils whipped around with a mind of their own, alerting everyone in the Water Kingdom and Fire Kingdom of their existence.

    Somewhere in the Fire Kingdom, a sinister-looking old man momentarily paused the rocking of his chair. His ancient gaze shifted in a certain direction, where crimson-colored energy tendrils had enveloped the skies.

    "He has done it," said the old man, his voice hoarse and dissociated from reality. "This means that I''ll finally be able to rest in peace. Soon. Very soon."

    His eyes¡ªwhich were already struggling to stay open¡ªclosed.

    But not permanently.

    No, it wasn''t yet the time¡­

    A hooded man hovering high above the Elemental Nations suddenly fixated on an area of the small congregation of landmasses. To him, the Elemental Nations were no more than a tiny courtyard, but seeing the explosion of demonic energy raised his pursed lips into an eerie smile.

    "The first one has taken the Pill. And though one taker has a chance of accomplishing what I want, if more take the pill, then the chances of success will naturally increase."

    The mysterious hooded figure remained suspended in mid-air, his scrutinizing gaze keeping track of all the major ongoing fights in the Elemental Nations.

    Millions of lesser Cultivators from the four battling Elemental Nations were immersed in ferocious battles as well, but the hooded figure paid them no heed.

    Even the back-and-forths of the Early Soul Transformation Realm Cultivators were barely worth his attention, let alone the inconsequential life-and-death fights of mere ants.

    Save for a single unique human boy, none below the Soul Transformation Realm entered his eyes.

    ''A supreme genius has appeared in this lesser Territory. It really is unfortunate that he''ll be gone soon. Destiny has foretold it to be so.''

    Taking him out of his reverie was the sight of several Soul Transformation Realm Cultivators flying toward the Water Kingdom like shooting stars.

    These were the Ancestors, Rulers, and most powerful Powerhouses of the other Elemental Nations. There were 22 total, and among them, the Monarchs and other such pinnacle Cultivators of the Lightning, Fire, and Air Nations were included.

    This occurrence urged an even wider smirk on the hooded man''s shrouded face. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "All the pieces are coming together. Soon, what I prophesied will come to fruition. My breakthrough will happen."

    ¡ª Meanwhile, blitzing in and out of the folds of space while slashing down every foe from the opposing Elemental Nations, Knox was suddenly alerted of something by a voice inside his head ¡ª

    ''Be careful, Young Master.'' The World Serpent''s message of caution was followed by a transfer of vision to Knox. ''Up there, someone extremely powerful is watching. He''s insurmountably stronger than me and Seraphim are, and unlike us, he''s not restricted.''

    "Hum¡­?" Cooperating with the World Serpent''s magically shared sight, Knox saw a hooded man hiding between the folds of space above the clouds.

    Amusement flashed through his golden-flaked slitted pupils as his draconic tail flung around.

    "How so very interesting. I do wonder what this person''s goals are."

    "Likely an enemy," Six-Winged Seraphim chimed in as his vision also focused on the hooded figure. "Although his maliciousness is well concealed, it''s definitely there. As for what exactly his intentions are, I can''t say for sure."

    Knox softly chuckled while decapitating one Cultivator after the next.

    Both Core Formation and Soul Formation Realm Cultivators alike were slain by him with ease. Their lives amounted to little more than another heap of Attribute Orbs that darted toward the one who lorded over Attributes.

    SHING! SHING! SHING!

    Clanging against something that gave a bit more resistance, Knox exerted a little more strength.

    "What!?"

    The Half-step Soul Transformation Realm Expert from the Lightning Nation watched in horror as his stance was thrown off balance. The barrage of sword slashes bombarding him had been too overpowering!

    "W-Wait, I am¡ª"

    SPLURT!

    "Don''t give a f*ck," Knox said coldly as he shattered the last of the Expert''s defenses, the razor-sharp edges of his sword carving a large gash out of the poor fellow.

    "You can say you''re yatatata of Orgyland, and I still won''t give a sh*t. So instead of incessantly blabbing those gums, why don''t you just shut up and become my loot?"

    "NOOooo¡ª"

    Seeing the blurry advance of the devil-like man before him, the Expert backed up. However, Knox moved too fast for retreat to be possible.

    Yet, in the very same moment the Expert''s eyes closed as he accepted his fate, a giant crackling barrier of lightning appeared in front of him; it successfully fended off the Devil''s sword slashes.

    Knox frowned as he jumped a few meters away.

    Opening his eyes upon realizing he hadn''t died, the Half-step Soul Transformation Realm Lightning Expert''s eyes pleasantly widened.

    "Thunderbolt Empress!"

    "Hmm?"

    Knox took a better look at the woman before him, his eyes curiously trailing her busty figure.

    Upon stealing her yellowish, sparky gaze, he tilted his head.

    "Your name is the Thunderbolt Empress? So that means you can zap-zap and stuff, right?"

    Thunderbolt Empress: "...."

    "You''re an unusual youngster," she commented as if she hadn''t heard what he said. "Your Talent is also unrealistically high. Why don''t you consider jumping ship and coming over to the Lightning Kingdom? The Water Kingdom is destined to fall today, so you staying would only make you lose your life¡ª"

    "Nah, I''m good," Knox shrugged. "This place is quite cozy. Betraying them wouldn''t sit right with me. But hey, since you''re offering things, why don''t we make this place even cozier in a warm, isolated cabin somewhere~?"

    Thunderbolt Empress blankly stared at the brazen, slick-tongued human floating opposite her.

    "Empress, you must kill that Devil!"