Chapter 184


    In just two months, Jonathan made a giant leap from early-stage to middle-stage Nascent Soul. That


    was initially impossible, but thanks to Simon''s relentless pursuit, he figured out the supreme might of


    Great Emperor Seal.


    The Great Emperor Seal integrated the Syble Power of Requiem. Therefore, Syble Power was no


    longer just a beacon in search of Haemocore. Instead, it had transformed into vigor.


    Pure Syble Power was too weak. In other words, the spirit within Syble Power was insufficient and


    couldn''t unloosen solid vigor.


    However, with the addition of the vitality from the Great Emperor Seal, Syble Power was seemingly


    infused with masculine characteristics, reacting and bing much stronger.


    Vigor depended on one''s energy to slowly break down, and that required time.


    In that, Syble Power and Great Emperor Seal acted as catalysts.


    At that instant, Jonathan''s strength finally reached fifteen hundred kilograms.


    Besides, his endurance skyrocketed at once.


    If he were to unleash the power of Haemocore, he could attain a strength of two thousand five hundred


    kilograms.


    That far surpassed the strength wielded by final-stage Nascent Soul experts.


    At the same time, Jonathan could sense the wound on his palm itching. That was a sign of it healing


    rapidly.


    Nheless, it was still a wound courtesy of Simon—a final-stage Nascent Soul expert—who even


    destroyed his meridians, so it was by no means quick to heal.


    Jonathan reckoned that it would take at least five days for his wound to heal.


    Unfortunately, too many things could happen in five days.


    “Have you made a breakthrough, Jonathan?” Lesley queried in surprise as he and Elijah sensed an


    invisible change in Jonathan''s aura.


    Snapping back to reality, Jonathan turned to them and answered with a nod, “Yes.” Then, he paused


    for a second beforementing, “If my hand wasn''t injured, I would now have the confidence to deal with


    Simon alone. Regretfully, there are no ifs.”


    “How long do you think it''ll take for your wound to heal?” Lesley continued asking.


    “On the safe side, I''d say five days,” Jonathan answered.


    When Lesley and Elijah heard that, their hearts instantly sank to rock bottom.


    At the side, Catherine remained silent.


    All of a sudden, Lesley''s eyes lit up, and he eximed, “I''ve got an idea!”


    Jonathan and Elijah swung their gazes to him in concert.


    “Jonathan, I know you''ve got an incredible power-generating trick, no? You used it back when you


    pursued Simon in the forest then. I felt that your power at that time was on par with that of a final-stage


    Nascent Soul expert,” Lesleymented.


    At that, Jonathan was impressed by the man''s perceptiveness. He didn''t bother hiding anything but


    admitted frankly, “That''s right.”


    Lesley then questioned, “Now that you''ve broken through to the middle stage, has your strength


    amplified to the point where it surpassed final-stage Nascent Soul experts?”


    Jonathan didn''t quite understand what the man was trying to say, but still, he replied honestly, “It''s


    indeed possible, but the duration will be brief. That kind of explosive force can''tst.”


    “Ms. Catherine is also a final-stage Nascent Soul expert. Now that you''ve had a breakthrough in your


    cultivation, you can retreat first if Simon arrives. With your current strength, it''ll be difficult for him to


    catch up to you. Meanwhile, Ms. Catherine can intercept him. Once she engages with him, you can


    return and attack. Then, he''ll be in great trouble,” Lesley suggested.


    After Jonathan heard that, his eyes lit up. That''s certainly a great idea!


    He turned to Catherine and inquired, “We''ll go with that, okay?”


    Appearing quiet and docile, Catherine nodded in acquiescence.


    A slightly worried Jonathan asserted, “Catherine, you must intercept and attack him quickly. Otherwise,


    we all likely won''t survive.”


    “Got it!” Catherine replied with a nod, saying nothing further.


    Jonathan breathed a sigh of relief.


    Due to Simon''s attack, all the strawberries from back then scattered onto the beach in the end. Many


    were even trampled to mush, so they were all rendered inedible.


    Thus, Jonathan and Catherine went in search of food once more.


    But this time, confidence imbued Jonathan, thanks to his breakthrough in cultivation. Although he was


    injured, the injury was at least on his palm, so it didn''t affect his ability to flee. Presently, if he wanted to


    take off, it would be difficult for Simon to catch up to him.


    Subsequently, the two of them entered the forest and returned to their old haunt in search of


    strawberries.


    After doing that, they made their way back.


    This time, they didn''t bump into Simon, nor did thetter spy on them.


    C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Jonathan surmised that he might be resting as well or perhaps preparing for his next attack.


    The two of them returned to the beach.


    Without Simon mucking things up this time, the four of them shared the wild strawberries among


    themselves.


    The strawberries were exceedingly sweet and provided much nourishment to the body.


    After eating them, Lesley and Elijah looked much better.


    Meanwhile, Jonathan and Catherine continued sitting there cross-legged.


    The sunlight gradually grew increasingly hotter.


    By one o''clock in the afternoon, it was downright blistering.


    Sweat dotted the foreheads of both Lesley and Elijah, and their lips were parched beyond words.


    Contrarily, Jonathan and Catherine were just fine. As their cultivation level was high, they could lock


    vitality and moisture within their bodies.


    Jonathan quietly gained an understanding of the mysteries of the Great Emperor Seal. At the same


    time, he keenly experienced the profound marvel of middle-stage Nascent Soul.


    Next, he infused the spirit within him with vitality before ultimately transforming it into Force.


    That was considered another refinement and purification of the blood within him.


    When one attained final-stage Nascent Soul, a single drop of blood contained a strong spiritual imprint


    and could intimidate ghosts and spirits.


    Felicia was already considered very strong back then, causing Jonathan and Amber great difficulty.


    However, if a final-stage Nascent Soul expert were to act, he wouldn''t need much. A single drop of


    blood would be sufficient to vanquish Felicia.


    When one had attained the same cultivation stage as Edward and Mabel, just their writing alone


    contained a strong sense of vitality. A single line of their writing could scare off a vengeful spirit.


    Charms by the average Destino artist could only deceive the public. Conversely, charms by those of a


    higher level could intimidate some weak ghosts.


    Meanwhile, charms by true Destino artists could truly shake up ghosts.


    The charms they all drew were exactly the same, but the effects were vastly different.


    It had nothing to do with the power of the charm itself but the strength of the person''s vitality.


    A person might die, but his vitality could remain forever.


    Putting that aside, Jonathan''s heart lurched at that precise moment, for he sensed a chill in the air.


    Simon had arrived.


    Jonathan and Catherine shot to their feet.


    Twenty meters away, Simon slowly strolled over.


    His pace was sedate, and his shadow elongated under the sun.


    He was dressed in ck from head to toe. His countenance was chilly, rendering him just like Grim


    Reaper.


    As soon as he appeared, he caused them all a strong sense of oppression.


    One of Jonathan''s hands was injured then, so he definitely couldn''t take the initiative to attack as he


    couldn''t take the man''s life with a single blow.


    Then, he wouldn''t be able to defeat Simon, who possessed a weapon, with a single hand when the


    latter jolted back to his senses.


    Furthermore, he didn''t dare do it either, for he wasn''t all that confident with Catherine at his back.


    “Retreat!” Jonathan backed away while pulling Catherine along.


    He was determined to never allow Simon to approach furtively.


    At that moment, he hadn''t the presence of mind to bother about Lesley and Elijah''s safety anymore.


    If Simon insisted on eliminating them, he could only mourn their deaths.


    Nevertheless, he felt that the man probably had no interest in ughtering the two men who had no


    way of defending themselves.


    To his surprise, Simon suddenly headed toward Lesley and Elijah before lifting them both effortlessly.


    Lesley and Elijah had no choice but to endure the humiliation, allowing the man to manipte them as


    he pleased.


    In no time, Simon''s intention dawned upon Jonathan—the man wanted to seize them both and toss


    them at him as though ying ball.


    If he didn''t catch them, they would die for sure. But if he did, he would also perish.


    In such a situation, there was no correct answer.


    Despite all that, Jonathan fervently hoped that nothing would befall them both.


    Hence, he immediately bellowed, “Simon, if you don''t put them down, Catherine and I will take off into


    the forest at once. If you''re so great and mighty, you can bring them both along in pursuit of us. I''ll


    admit that I don''t want them to die, Simon, but you''re now hoping to use them to kill us. You


    underestimated me!”


    Upon hearing that, Simon was stunned for a moment.


    He stared at Jonathan intently before he ced Lesley and Elijah down at longst.


    It was clear as day that the man would take flight if he continued holding the two men captive.


    Besides, Jonathan and Catherine would no longer have anything holding them back if Lesley and Elijah


    were dead. Once they fled into the woods, that would unquestionably be a disaster to him, for he would


    be looking for a needle in a haystack.


    After Simon had flung Lesley and Elijah down, a burst of iciness erupted from his eyes. His figure


    blurred as heunched his attack.


    In that split second, he was so fast that he formed an afterimage, and the air in front of him split like


    ripples.


    In the blink of an eye, he reached Jonathan.


    His intense murderous force field promptly burst forth and enveloped the man.


    At the same time, his fists shot forward like lightning.


    From his sleeves, ten venomous snakes flew out once more and attacked Catherine.


    It was the same old trick again, but this time, he used his foot to attack.


    In a heartbeat, the sand on the beach swirled like a sandstorm, hurtling straight at Jonathan and


    Catherine.


    Simon''s feet and hands weren''t idle either as heunched a triple attack on them both right then.


    In a sh, his golden brass knuckles flew right at Jonathan''s throat.


    Without even batting an eysh, Jonathan used his Great Sage Force Field and blocked off the man''s


    lethal technique.


    Simultaneously, he activated the power of Haemocore.


    No sooner had the golden brass knuckles headed toward him that he unleashed the Shadow Step and


    retreated like a ghost.


    When Simon''s fist failed to find its target, he immediately pressed forward at lightning speed. He knew


    that Jonathan was injured, so he wanted to take the man''s life right then and there.


    The moment the man breathed hisst, everything would be over.


    Previously, Jonathan couldn''t unleash any impressive techniques, but he could presently move with


    ease after having attained a breakthrough.


    As soon as Simon came at him, he instantly veered away with Antelope Rhythm and dodged the man''s


    attack once more. At the same time, he unleashed Mongrel Attack.


    Surprise inundated Simon, for Jonathan''s kick was simply too powerful.


    He knew that he was no match for it head-on, so he had no choice but to twist sideways and dodge.


    At that exact moment, Catherine attacked him.


    Catherine was paralyzed for a while by those venomous snakes and sand, but she quickly gathered


    her wits about her and dealt with them.


    She wore a grim expression on her face then. While her moves weren''t as brutal, they were aggressive


    and ferocious, as quick as lightning. With her Eagle''s Ironw, she grabbed the back of Simon''s cor.


    Bending slightly, Simon narrowly avoided her grasp.


    Nheless, Catherine immediately swung her Eagle''s Ironw down and went after him.


    Verily, she was like a dog with a bone as she pursued him relentlessly.