《Online Game: Starting with an SSS-Level Plundering Talent》 Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Unexpected Rebirth, SSS-Level Talent Chapter 1: Unexpected Rebirth, SSS-Level Talent ? Dark clouds gathered, casting a gray and oppressive gloom over the world. John''s armor was shattered, his hair matted with sticky blood, and his expression was one of exhaustion and despair. He looked at the devastated world around him, unable to hide the sorrow and hopelessness in his eyes. The people behind him were equally dejected; some were even slumped to the ground in utter despair. "Is it... over just like this?" John swallowed hard, his brow furrowing in pain. After seven days of continuous fighting, he had held on with hisst bit of willpower. Humanity had given everything, only to end up with nothing. John couldn''t ept it. Crack! A purple lightning bolt split the sky above, tearing it apart. A terrifying pressure enveloped the earth. Under the torn sky, a huge, grotesque face suddenly appeared. The oppressive pressure made it hard to breathe. The few people looked at the giant face, feeling a deep sense of helplessness. "God... gods! John, what do we do?" A disheveled man''s voice trembled with despair as he instinctively looked to John for help. John didn''t answer. He clenched his staff and stared defiantly at the huge, grotesque face. "Humans!" The deep voice echoed like thunder. The giant face looked down on them, its expression unreadable. "I admire you. Be my ves, and I may spare your lives." The face regarded them as insignificant ants. John and his group exchanged nces, some tempted. They hade so far; no one wanted to die. Everyone looked to John, hoping for his response. John didn''t reply. He gripped his staff and slowly raised it above his head. "Interesting!" The giant face showed a hint of expression-a deep disdain and mockery. "Human, you''re the first mortal to raise a weapon against me. Even ants strive to live; I pity your choice." John shook his head. He had never expected to survive. "I can''t kill you, but I only need to prove one thing: Gods are not invincible. My death will awaken more people to take up arms and resist!" His words were powerful, and the dull staff in his hand suddenly shone brightly. He gripped the staff tightly, his life force rapidly depleting as he forcibly cast a forbidden spell. John felt a sharp pain in his chest. Blood dripped as a blood-red de pierced through, stopping his spellcasting. He looked down at the blood-red de tip, shock and anger in his eyes. "My bro, it''s useless. We just want to live, even like dogs," Aron said coldly, twisting the de in his hand, shattering John''s heart. As the long de was withdrawn, John turned around, copsing into a pool of blood. Aron''s cruelty and the indifference of the others deeply pained John. "Very good," the giant face looked at Aron with satisfaction. Aron knelt, overjoyed, "Thank you, my lord." "Ha," the giant face remained cold. "Let''s y a game. Only one of you can live. Decide amongst yourselves." The god looked at them with amusement, seeing them as ants for his entertainment. "Hahaha..." Johnughed bitterly as hey dying, witnessing the ugliest side of humanity. Aron was dismembered by his subordinates, and those who had sworn brotherhood turned on each other, ughtering one another. They deserved their fate. Ding ding... The harsh ringing of the rm echoed in the cramped rental room. John reached under his pillow for his phone and turned off the rm. "Huh?" The next second, John''s eyes widened, fully awake. He sat up abruptly, looking around at the familiar yet strange surroundings with a bewildered, confused gaze. This looks like his previous rental apartment. But wasn''t he betrayed and killed by Aron? "Could it be!" John''s eyes widened as he suddenly realized something. He hurriedly picked up the phone beside him. July 7, 2025, 11:42 PM. Gulp! John swallowed hard, unable to hide his ecstatic joy. Rebirth! He had actually been reborn! And it was before theunch of "Gods Descend." When "Gods Descend" was released, it became a global sensation. Everyone thought it was just a game. Until the game data merged with reality and the gods descended on Earth, people realized it was not a game but a real parallel world. ... "In my previous life, I gave everything to protect Earth and humanity. Yet, this was the oue." "In this life, I will only protect those I care about!" "Aron, we will meet soon." John''s voice was cold, his eyes filled with murderous intent. Aron, the president of the Wind and Cloud Guild, was in the same novice vige as John and had a special encounter. But now, that encounter would be his. ... "Gods Descend" would officiallyunch at midnight, just a few minutes left. Buzz! After a dizzying sensation, John found himself in a strange environment. The world was shrouded in gray, like the calm before a storm. A mechanical prompt echoed. [Wee to the World of Gods] [Scanning your identity information] [Identity confirmed, please enter your ID] "Godyer!" John had already decided on his ID; what he didn''tplete in his past life, he would achieve this time. [ID entered sessfully, would you like to adjust your appearance? You can adjust it by up to 20%] A mirror appeared before John, reflecting his handsome face. "Adjust down by 20%." John chose to reduce his appearance, as various forces would soon enter Earth, and he didn''t want to be targeted. With his appearance adjusted, he looked less handsome and youthful, and more cold and murderous. Satisfied, John clicked confirm. [Scanning your physical attributes, awakening talent] The prompt sounded, and John felt a current pass through his body. The initial attributes in "Gods Descend" were rted to the yer''s physical condition, which was a unique feature of this game. The system would awaken corresponding talents based on the yer''s attributes. Talents were ranked from SSS, SS, S, A, B, C, D, E, F, SSS being the highest and F the lowest. Talents of S rank and above were unique. The higher the talent, the greater the potential and the faster the growth. Awakening an S-rank talent or higher meant bing a dominant force. In his past life, John had only awakened a B-level magical damage amplification talent. He wondered if this time would be different. John felt a sense of anticipation, vaguely sensing that his body was different from before. Finally, the system prompt sounded again. [Attribute scanplete] [Detected that you possess the power of reincarnation, awakening unique SSS-level talent, Plunder] [Plunder: SSS-level talent, unique] [Effect 1: Killing ordinary monsters has a 10% chance to plunder their attribute points] [Effect 2: Killing boss-level elites can permanently gain one of their skills, talents, or special attributes] [Effect 3: Killing monsters grants ughter points; the stronger the monster, the more points. When ughter points reach a threshold, talent effects can be enhanced or new special effects unlocked] John was ecstatic. He hadn''t expected to awaken a unique SSS-level talent. Plunder, the ability to plunder attributes by killing monsters. Killing boss-level monsters and elites guaranteed the plundering of skills, talents, or special attributes. This plunder talent meant he could infinitely grow stronger through killing, a bug-like existence. In his past life, John had be a Tier 9 Grand Magus with just a B-level magical damage talent. In this life, with the Plunder talent, John was confident he could reach the legendary Tier 10 profession and be a beingparable to the gods! [Please choose your profession] A light screen appeared before him, showing various profession options. The world of Gods had six main professions: Warrior, Knight, Mage, Priest, Archer, and Assassin. Additionally, there were many powerful hidden rare professions. However, those professions could only be obtained through encounters within the game. "Mage!" Just like in his past life, John chose the Mage profession again. Mages were weak in the early stages but became invincible in theter stages. [Profession selected sessfully, entering the World of Gods] After another dizzying sensation, John entered the novice vige. Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Entering the Game, S-Level Hidden Quest Chapter 2: Entering the Game, S-Level Hidden Quest ? Amidst lush green hills and clear waters, with flowers in full bloom,y a somewhat dpidated vige that resembled a paradise on earth. Upon entering the game, the first thing John did was check his own attributes. ID: Godyer Level: 1 (0/100) ss: Apprentice Mage Talent: Plunder; Unique SSS-Level Effect 1: Killing ordinary monsters has a 10% chance to plunder their attribute points. Effect 2: Killing boss-level elites can permanently gain one of their skills, talents, or special attributes. Effect 3: Killing monsters grants ughter points; the stronger the monster, the more points. When ughter points reach a threshold, talent effects can be enhanced or new special effects unlocked. Health Points: 50 (Constitution * 10) Mana Points: 80 (Spirit * 10) Base Physical Damage: 5 (Strength * 1) Base Magic Damage: 8+1 (Spirit * 1) Speed: 6 (Agility * 1) Physical Resistance: 5+1 (Constitution * 1) Magic Resistance: 8 (Spirit * 1) Constitution: 5; Strength: 5; Spirit: 8; Agility: 6 Luck: 1 Skills: Fireball Level 1; Deals 50% of Spirit as fire magic damage to the target; Consumes 5 mana, 3-second cooldown. Free Attribute Points: 0 Skill Points: 0 Equipment: Wooden Staff (Common), Magic Damage +1; Novice Robe, Physical Resistance +1 John''s attributes were almost the same as in his previous life, except for one significant difference... he now had an SSS-level Plunder talent! He believed that with the Plunder talent, he could grow much faster. John closed the attribute panel. White light flickered around him as countless yers poured into the game. Although it was just the beginning, the novice vige he was in was already nearly full. The chatter around him was incessant. "Wow, this game is so realistic!" "No wonder it''s 100% real; I can even smell the earthy fragrance." "The feel is so real..." A sleazy voice emerged from the crowd, followed by a loud p. "Pervert, get lost! If you want to touch, touch your own chest." A girl squeezed out of the crowd in panic. This was the game world, without any legal constraints. "I wonder if such a realistic game allows for deeper interactions?" "My friend wants to know too." The crowd was bustling and noisy, with conflicts even breaking out. John squeezed out of the crowd directly. The early stages were crucial, and he had to seize the opportunities in the novice vige. Many yers rushed into the novice vige, either to pick up quests or head out to the wild to hunt Level 1 Demonize Hares. John, however, did not pick up any quests nor did he hunt monsters to level up. Instead, he headed into the forest ahead. He remembered there was a hidden quest in the forest. In his previous life, Aron hadpleted this hidden quest, obtained a low-grade divine artifact, and quickly grew stronger. As a result, Aron''s Wind and Cloud Guild became a top-tier guild. But this time, the hidden quest would be his. John entered the area outside the novice vige, where the Level 1 Demonize Hares roamed. Screams echoed around him, and asionally there were shes of white light-yers being killed and revived by the Demonize Hares. "Are these powerful monsters really Level 1?" "Damn, this game is not meant for humans." "Forming a team, need a tanky knight and strong DPS." "Healer girl looking for a team, I have ample healing powers!" "I''m 18, awakened a D-level water talent, experienced inbat. Any big brothers want to level up together?" "Any assassins? I''m a knight and love being sneak attacked from behind." "Strong team looking for teammates. Four girls: innocent school beauty, cute loli, cold mature woman, and girl-next-door type. Seeking a warrior with stamina, mustst at least two hours..." "Ladies, look at me. Strong and sturdy, guaranteed tost three hours!" "ED man, go away." "Any big yers willing to help a newbie level up? I''m diligent and obedient, will even open back doors for you." "Looking for four strong teammates with C-level talent or above. Ten thousand dors reward for each level up!" "Eternal Guild recruiting members, D-level talent and above, many benefits." yers soon realized soloing wasn''t an option against the Demonize Hares and began forming teams. But were these teams really for serious leveling? John nced at the team advertisement with the four girls and muttered to himself, "I wonder if I couldst three hours?" What was he thinking? Early game leveling and power were crucial. Women would only slow him down. "Hey buddy, we need a mage for our team. Want to join?" [yer Fatty has sent you a party invitation] A man dressed as an archer blocked John and extended an invitation. John declined immediately, "No thanks, I prefer to go solo." "Damn, who does he think he is, a hero?" "He''ll see how tough these monsters are once he gets killed by a Demonize Hare." "We don''t need him anyway. Let''s find another mage." Ignoring the chatter behind him, John skillfully avoided the Demonize Hares and entered the forest. Demonize Hares were passive monsters and wouldn''t attack unless approached. "I remember it''s hidden in a cave," John thought as he cautiously ventured deeper into the forest. The forest was silent and eerie, filled with hidden dangers. The weakest monsters here were Level 3 Tusked Wild Boars, which were aggressive. Back then, when Aron took on this quest, he was only Level 3, nowhere near strong enough to handle the Tusked Wild Boars, and thus didn''t dare venture deep into the forest. This cave should be at the edge of the forest. John carefully searched the forest perimeter. Soon, he discovered a concealed cave hidden among dense brambles. "This must be it," John thought, gripping his staff tightly as he took a deep breath and cautiously entered the cave. "Who''s there?" A cold voice echoed, and a fireball illuminated the cave. The cave wasn''trge; an elderly man with a pale face sat cross-legged in the open space, a fireball in his hand, ready to attack at any moment. "An adventurer?" The old man recognized John''s identity and visibly rxed. He was severely injured and would be doomed if discovered by an enemy. However, a Level 1 adventurer could be easily killed. John examined the old man and confirmed his identity: the Seventh-Rank Grand Mage, Dino. "Sorry for intruding. Is there anything I can help you with?" John asked sincerely, his tone respectful. Dino was about to kill John, but upon hearing his words, he hesitated. A cunning smile appeared on his lips as he sized John up and said, "I do have a task for you. If you can get me a Life-Sustaining Pill, I can reward you with a low-grade divine artifact." [Ding! You have triggered the S-Level hidden novice vige quest: Help Dino find the Life- Sustaining Pill. Reward: Low-grade divine artifact. ept?] So, it was this guy! John knew Dino was setting him up. The Life-Sustaining Pill was a high-level and rare elixir that could instantly heal any injury as long as the person was still breathing. In the novice vige, only the alchemist Enzo had the Life-Sustaining Pill. Dino had already asked Enzo for it but was refused and even attacked. Left with no choice, he hid in the cave outside the novice vige, barely clinging to life. "Agree." John epted the quest without hesitation. [Ding! You have epted the S-Level hidden novice vige quest: Help Dino find the Life- Sustaining Pill. Quest duration: Four days. Reward: Low-grade divine artifact. Failure: You will be cursed by Dino and unable to leave the novice vige.] Unable to leave the novice vige... This guy was really devious! John wasn''t surprised. The quest duration of four days meant Dino had about four days left to live. John could refuse the quest and wait for Dino to die, then loot his belongings. But John wasn''t after Dino''s belongings; he wanted Dino''s skills and talents. In his previous life, Dino had brought devastating destruction to humanity on Earth during the gods'' descent. John suspected Dino had an SS or even SSS-level talent. His goal was to kill Dino and plunder his talent. Even severely injured and dying, a Grand Mage could easily kill John. He had to tamper with the Life-Sustaining Pill. John looked at Dino with a troubled expression. "Finding a Life-Sustaining Pill in four days without any leads is impossible. I suspect you''re trying to harm me." Dino''s face maintained a friendly smile. "Adventurer, we have no grievances. Why would I harm you? The alchemist Enzo in the novice vige has the Life-Sustaining Pill. He won''t give it to you willingly, so you''ll have to find a way to steal it." "Remember, you only have four days." Dino held up four fingers to remind John. John nodded and confidently assured, "I will get the Life-Sustaining Pill for you within four days." With that, he turned and left the cave. Dino watched John''s departing figure, his expression growing darker. "Such naive and adorable humans. I almost feel bad for what I''ll do to you. Hehe..." The mes extinguished, and sinisterughter echoed through the cave. ... John returned to the novice vige and headed straight to the apothecary. Stealing the Life-Sustaining Pill outright would be difficult. He needed to earn the alchemist''s trust first. The apothecary was stocked with an array of medicines, but their prices were prohibitively high. The cheapest low-level magic and health recovery potions cost 10 copper coins each, a fortune for yers at this stage. "Hello, adventurer. Are you here to buy potions?" A frail old man with a white beard appeared out of nowhere, smiling as he inquired. This was the alchemist Enzo, a Third-Rank Mage and an invincible presence to the yers in the novice vige. Of course, Enzo''s greatest strength was his alchemy talent. As a high-level alchemist, he could already concoct rare elixirs like the Life-Sustaining Pill. Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Soloing Monsters, Plundering Attributes Chapter 3: Soloing Monsters, Plundering Attributes ? John said, "Hello, I don''t need any potions. Do you need any help with anything?" "Not buying anything?" Enzo''s smile faded, and after a moment of contemtion, he said, "I do have some trouble, but you''re too weak to help me." "I can try." John knew that the alchemist had a quest that required yers to be Level 3 to ept. However, if you persist, the alchemist will still give it to you. "Alright." Enzo thought for a moment and then nodded. "These past few nights, the Tusked Wild Boars in the forest have been sneaking out to destroy my herb field. If you can kill the Tusked Wild Boars and bring back their tusks, I will exchange each set of tusks for a low-level magic or health recovery potion." [Ding! You have triggered the E-level novice vige quest: The Alchemist''s Request. Kill Tusked Wild Boars and bring back their tusks to exchange for low-level health or magic recovery potions. Do you ept?] "ept." John epted the quest without hesitation. Leaving the novice vige, John headed straight to the Demonize Hare territory. The Tusked Wild Boars were Level 3 monsters, and John was only Level 1, far from being their match. He needed to level up to Level 3 first, then head into the forest to hunt the Tusked Wild Boars. n the Demonize Hare territory, there were many yers, most of whom were in teams of three to five, barely able to kill a single Demonize Hare. Demonize Hares had 40 health points, 7 agility points, and their strongest attribute was their physical attack, which reached 8 points. When using the skill "Strike," their damage reached 12 points. Novice yers would be doomed if a Demonize Hare got close to them. John''s base magic attack reached 9 points, and his Level 1 Fireball spell could deal 13 points of damage (base magic attack + spirit attribute * 50%). As long as he kept his distance, John could kill a Demonize Hare with four Fireball spells. John distanced himself from the grouped yers and soon found a lone Demonize Hare. Keeping at maximum distance, John waved his staff, and a Fireball shot out, hitting the Demonize Hare precisely. -13 The Demonize Hare''s fur was scorched by the mes. It looked up with blood-red eyes, locking onto John, and charged rapidly. John quickly retreated, waiting for the Fireball spell to cool down. The Demonize Hare''s speed far surpassed John''s, and the distance between them closed rapidly. Whoosh! The Demonize Hare leapt and used its skill, Strike. John''s eyes were sharp, closely watching the Demonize Hare''s movements. "Now!" With the Fireball spell cooled down, John waved his staff, and a Fireball shot out, hitting the Demonize Hare precisely. Boom! -13 The mes surged, and the Demonize Hare staggered and fell to the ground, its expression dazed. Interrupted! The Demonize Hare''s "Strike" skill was forcibly interrupted by John''s Fireball spell. This level ofbat technique was something John had learned through countless life-and- death battles. Clearly, this was beyond the Demonize Hare''sprehension. John quickly retreated, widening the distance between them. The Demonize Hare, recovering from its surprise, bared its sharp fangs and charged at John again. Fireball! -13 As soon as the three-second cooldown ended, John fired another Fireball spell, taking the opportunity to pull back further. John''s expert kiting ensured that the Demonize Hare could never get close; each time it did, John''s Fireball spell would precisely interrupt its attack. With the fourth Fireball spell, John sessfully killed the Demonize Hare, remaining unscathed. [Killed Level 1 Demonize Hare, gained 10 experience points] No items dropped. A yer needed 100 experience points to level up from Level 1, so killing 10 Demonize Hares would suffice. "Carry on!" John targeted another Demonize Hare and repeated the process. [Killed Level 1 Demonize Hare, gained 10 experience points] [Plunder talent triggered, Strength +1] The notification shed. He had gained 1 point of Strength. John was delighted. The Plunder talent had a 10% chance to plunder an attribute point from ordinary monsters upon killing them. This was only the second Demonize Hare John had hunted, and he had already gained an attribute point. Unfortunately, it was a Strength attribute, which wasn''t particrly useful for John. John continued to search for solitary Demonize Hares. ... [Killed Level 1 Demonize Hare, gained 10 experience points] [Plunder talent triggered, Agility +1] [Your level has increased to 2, you have gained 4 free attribute points and 1 skill point] The notification shed. John had finally reached Level 2, and his Plunder talent had triggered again, granting him 1 point of Agility. John opened the attribute panel and distributed the free attribute points. All to Spirit. Ordinary novice mages typically allocated points to Constitution and Agility to increase survivability. But with the Plunder talent, John had no such concerns. At this point, John''s Spirit attribute reached 12 points, giving him 120 mana points and a base magic attack of 13 points. Fireball had also increased to Level 2, with damage scaling to 55% of the Spirit attribute as fire magic damage. John''s Fireball damage now reached 19 points. "Time to hunt Level 2 Green Snakes." John decided to head to the Green Snake territory to hunt them for experience. In the novice vige, each level increase in monsters resulted in a significant boost in their strength, though the experience gained only increased by 1 point. Many yers, even at Level 2 or Level 3, still chose to hunt Demonize Hares for leveling up. The Demonize Hare territory was bing increasingly crowded with yers. Many, seeing John''s formidable strength, invited him to join their teams, but John declined them all. Not wanting to be disturbed, he chose the territory of the Green Snakes as his next target. The Green Snakes, being magical monsters with high Spirit attributes, had a chance to drop Spirit attribute points upon being plundered. John left the Demonize Hare territory and entered the Green Snake territory. There were only two teams of physical attack yers here, busy killing the Green Snakes to level up. Green Snakes had a Spirit attribute of 9, which meant they had 9 points of magic resistance, making them a nightmare for novice mages. No mage would choose to hunt Green Snakes to level up, especially not alone. The two teams noticed John but showed no intention of inviting him to join. To them, a mage in this area was just a burden. John didn''t mind. He kept his distance from the two teams to avoid any unnecessary conflicts. Soon, he found a hidden Green Snake in the grass. Green Snakes were Level 2 monsters with 60 health points, 9 base magic attack, and the Wind Pierce skill, a basic wind magic attack. John raised his staff, but before he could cast a spell, the Green Snake attacked first. The snake raised its head, and with a burst of magic, a Wind Pierce shot toward John. John stood his ground, taking the hit head-on. -2 A damage number floated above his head. With 12 points of magic resistance, John''s defense reduced the Green Snake''s attack to just 2 points of damage. The snake seemed momentarily stunned by the negligible damage it had caused. John thenunched his attack, casting a Fireball spell that struck the Green Snake. Boom! -10 Despite the snake''s 9 points of magic resistance, it still took 10 points of damage, which was eptable to John. Hissing in pain, the Green Snake flicked its tongue and abandoned its magic attacks, opting to slither rapidly across the grass towards John. Remaining calm, John quickly retreated and fired another Fireball as soon as its cooldown ended. Boom! -11 John continued to hit and run the Green Snake. Its speed was far inferior to the Demonize Hares, making it easy prey. With the sixth Fireball spell, the Green Snake fell. [Killed Level 2 Green Snake, gained 11 experience points] [Plunder talent triggered, Spirit +1] As expected, the Green Snake provided a Spirit attribute point. John was lucky, as his Plunder talent triggered on his first Green Snake kill. To reach Level 3, John needed 200 experience points, which required killing 19 Green Snakes. This time, John didn''t hold back. Instead of attracting one snake at a time, he lured three simultaneously. The Green Snake''s magical attacks posed no threat to John, and their speed was no match for his. He easily overwhelmed them. Soon, John leveled up to Level 3, gaining an additional 2 points in Spirit from his Plunder talent. He allocated all 4 free attribute points to Spirit. Now, his Spirit attribute reached 19 points. Fireball had also leveled up to Level 3, dealing 60% of his Spirit attribute as fire magic damage. This brought his Fireball''s damage to an impressive 31 points. "Should I continue hunting Green Snakes?" John hesitated. With his current strength, he could handle the Level 3 Tusked Wild Boars. However, the Spirit attribute points from the Green Snakes were too enticing. "Forget it. Let''splete the quest first." After some thought, John decided to focus on the novice vige''s hidden quest. Although he had four days toplete it, he needed to be fully prepared. Just as John was about to leave, a massive Green Snake suddenly emerged from the grass. Whoosh! A gust of wind surged, transforming into a de that shed towards John. sh! His robe was torn. -9 A damage number floated above his head. "A boss!" John was thrilled. The creature before him was clearly a leader-level Green Snake boss! Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Snatching Monsters, Plundering Skills Chapter 4: Snatching Monsters, Plundering Skills ? In the world of Gods, bosses are ssified as Leader, Elite, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Demigod, and Mythical. The chance of encountering a boss in the novice vige is quite low. The green snake in front of John was a Level 2 Leader boss. With 120 health points and a base magic attack of 20 points, this boss was a formidable opponent. Given John''s current strength, he could defeat the boss as long as he was careful. He quickly retreated, raised his staff, and cast a Fireball spell that flew out and struck the green snake with precision. Boom! -11 "Hiss!" The green snake hissed in pain and rapidly closed the distance between itself and John. Unlike ordinary green snakes, this boss had a significant speed advantage. In just an instant, the green snake was right in front of John. Its agile body quickly attempted to coil around him. Skill: Death Coil! John''s expression grew serious. With Fireball still on cooldown, he couldn''t interrupt the green snake''s attack and had to roll on the ground to narrowly avoid it. As soon as the Fireball spell cooled down, he cast it again. Boom! The green snake paused, losing another 11 health points. Enraged, it swayed its body, conjuring a wind de that swiftly shed at John. -8 John was struck by the wind de again. "Someone''sing!" John cursed under his breath, noticing a team approaching quickly from a distance. They had clearly spotted the green snake boss as well. Handling the green snake boss alone was already challenging; if others interfered, he''d stand no chance. "Captain, it''s really a boss!" "Hey, it''s that lone wolf. He''s already reached Level 3." Two exmations came from the team. The group consisted of four members-three men and one woman: a knight, two archers, and a healer. It was a perfectly bnced team. John recognized the group. The leader was the archer who had previously invited him to join their team, with the ID: Fatty. Fatty was surprised by John''s strength but quickly focused on the boss. "Hey, buddy, we''re from Wind and Cloud Guild. How about letting us have this boss?" Fatty''s tone was condescending despite his seemingly polite request. The Wind and Cloud Guild''s leader, Aron, had significant financial resources in real life and had invested heavily in the guild, leading to its rapid growth. The guild had already gained some notoriety in the novice vige. Wind and Cloud Guild, huh? John sneered, not expecting to encounter members of Wind and Cloud Guild so soon. "Think you can snatch the boss? Let''s see if you have what it takes!" John abruptly changed direction, charging towards Fatty and his team. "Damn! Captain, he''s trying to use the green snake against us," the knight in the team quickly raised his shield, panic etched on his face. He had just reached Level 2 and was in no position to withstand the green snake''s attacks. "Take him out first," Fatty ordered, realizing John''s intention. He drew his bow and shot an arrow straight at John. In the world of Gods, there were no penalties for attacking other yers first, so Fatty felt no guilt. Whoosh! The arrow grazed John''s clothes as he perfectly dodged it. Fatty frowned slightly. "Little Five, attack with me." "Yes," the other archer replied, and both fired their arrows at John simultaneously. Whoosh! Whoosh! Two arrows flew toward John. John remained unfazed, his movements fluid as he effortlessly dodged both arrows. "Such high evasion!" Fatty was shocked. Dodging once could be luck, but twice in a row indicated exceptional agility andbat experience. By now, John was right in front of the team. "Well, a mage dares to get close," the knight sneered, raising his heavy wooden shield to smash it down on John. John spun gracefully, once again perfectly evading the attack. "Huh?" The knight swung and missed, his eyes widening in terror as he saw a wind de heading straight for him. It was the green snake boss''s attack. sh! -37 The knight''s low magic resistance caused him to lose a quarter of his health in one hit. And it wasn''t over yet. John raised his staff,unching a Fireball. But the target wasn''t the green snake; it was the knight. Boom! -29 The Fireball exploded, leaving the knight with only half of his health remaining. "Healer, heal me quickly!" The knight, panicking, desperately called out to the healer girl behind him. The healer finally reacted, raising her staff to cast a healing spell. But John, like a phantom, appeared right in front of her before she could finish. With Fireball on cooldown, John swung his staff at the healer. "Ah!" The healer cried out in pain as a single-digit damage number floated above her head. -4 John''s base physical damage was still too low. However, his objective was achieved. "Hurry, heal me!" The knight urged frantically, seeing no recovery in his health. By this time, the green snake had abandoned John and was now attacking the knight, having mistaken the team for John''s allies. "I... my spell got interrupted," the healer stammered, her voice trembling. It was the first time she had encountered such a situation. "What?" The knight, momentarily distracted, was immediately ensnared by the green snake''s Death Coil. The snake opened its gaping maw and bit down on his neck. Whoosh! A sh of white light, and the knight was killed instantly, dropping a few copper coins on the spot. Fatty finally reacted and hastily ordered, "Quick, spread out! Little Five, forget the snake, kill that mage first!" Fatty pulled the stunned healer girl back, drawing his bow and aiming at John once more. "Watch out, the snake!" the healer girl eximed, covering her mouth in fear and quickly warning Little Five. But it was toote. Little Five was immediately entangled by the green snake and then hit by a Fireball. It was John''s attack. The archer,cking any magic resistance, was instantly killed. "Despicable!" With another teammate down, Fatty was enraged. John was too cunning, forcing them to expose themselves to the snake''s attacks. "Run in different directions!" Fatty shouted, abandoning the terrified healer and running in the opposite direction of the snake. "Well, just a bunch of scum," John sneered, his killing intent growing stronger. He cast another Fireball, knocking Fatty down. "Buddy, it''s a misunderstanding," Fatty pleaded, his face filled with terror. He finally realized the power gap between himself and John and forced a smile. "Buddy, you know the Wind and Cloud Guild, right? I''m a squad leader in the guild..." Fatty tried to intimidate John by mentioning the Wind and Cloud Guild. John had no time for nonsense. As soon as his skill cooled down, he raised his hand and cast another Fireball. Boom! Two Fireballs sent Fatty back to the novice vige for free. On the ground, a longbow and several copper coins were left behind. "This guy was quite rich," John muttered, picking up the longbow and copper coins. In the world of Gods, currency was divided into gold, silver, and copper coins. 1 gold coin = 100 silver coins = 10,000 copper coins. In the early stages, copper coins were scarce, and their ck market exchange rate was as high as 10 yuan per copper coin. John had no use for the bow but could sell it. Whoosh! A gust of wind surged behind him. John remembered the green snake boss was still around. The green snake, having killed the healer girl, was now fixated on John. Without any interference, John found it much easier to handle the green snake boss. Three minutester, the green snake boss finally fell to John''s Fireball spell. [Killed Level 2 Leader Green Snake Boss, gained 22 experience points] [Plunder talent triggered, gained skill Wind de] [Wind de: Level 1, deals 50% wind magic damage to the target; consumes 5 mana, 3- second cooldown] The notification shed. "I actually plundered a skill!" John was delighted. Mages in the early game didn''tck damage but rather the number of skills. Having an additional skill increased John''sbat effectiveness by at least 30%. Besides the skill, the green snake boss also dropped a staff, two skill stones, and several copper coins. [Green Snake Staff: Common, usable by mages; Magic damage +5] [Skill Stone: Use to gain 1 skill point] The Green Snake Staff, with its 5-point magic damage bonus, was much stronger than his novice staff. John equipped it immediately, increasing his magic damage by 4 points. He also had two skill stones. In the world of Gods, yers mostcked skill points. Especially in theter stages, the skill points required to upgrade basic, intermediate, and advanced skills increased exponentially. Many yers in thete game,cking sufficient skill points to upgrade, could only use basic and intermediate magic. [Used Skill Stone, gained 2 skill points] John used the skill stones, gaining 2 skill points and choosing to upgrade his Fireball spell. [Fireball Level 5; deals 70% of Spirit as fire magic damage to the target; consumes 5 mana, 3- second cooldown] Level 5 Fireball dealt 37 damage, and Level 1 Wind de dealt 33 damage. "Time to deal with the Tusked Wild Boars." John confirmed he hadn''t missed anything and headed to the forest to hunt the boars. -- Just as John left, Fatty arrived with a group of yers in a hurry. "The green snake boss has been killed!" Fatty saw the boss''s corpse and copsed in despair. His death had not only dropped his level back to 1 but also lost him the purchased longbow, resetting him to novice status. A man carrying a broadsword approached Fatty and consoled him, "Fatty, I''ve reported this to the guild president. The president will avenge you." Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Tusked Wild Boar, Enemies Meet Chapter 5: Tusked Wild Boar, Enemies Meet ? John returned to the forest. The silence was eerie, as no adventurers dared to venture here. This time, John didn''t bother to hide his presence and actively sought out Tusked Wild Boars. Rustle... Suddenly, the bushes ahead shook, and a monster the size of a calf appeared. It resembled a wild boar, with tusks as sharp as daggers, glinting menacingly in the light. This was a Level 3 beast, the Tusked Wild Boar, with 120 health points and 10 base physical attack points. It also possessed two skills: Charge and Stomp. The Tusked Wild Boar had thick skin and tough flesh, but its magic resistance was low. Snort snort... The boar pawed at the ground, its cold eyes fixed on John, before suddenlyunching an attack. Skill: Charge! Boom boom... The ground trembled slightly as the massive body of the Tusked Wild Boar barreled forward like a tank. Its sharp tusks aimed directly at John''s vital spots. John couldn''t afford to take the hit. The Charge skill was one of the few low-level skills that couldn''t be interrupted. However, its weakness was itsck of flexibility. John sidestepped, and the Tusked Wild Boar roared past him. Boom! With a loud crash, a thick tree behind John was shattered. If he had been hit, he wouldn''t have survived. Snort! The boar turned, its hot breath steaming, and red at John with fury. Boom! The boar stomped the ground, using its Stomp skill. "I was waiting for that," John thought confidently. Seizing the moment, he cast Fireball. Boom! -31 The Fireball hit, interrupting the boar''s skill. Next, a Wind de whistled through the air, shing at the boar''s head. -27 Blood flowed, and a deep wound appeared, exposing bone. The Tusked Wild Boar screeched in pain, enraged, and charged at John recklessly. John easily dodged, creating distance. With his skills cooled down, he cast Fireball and Wind de again. After three rounds of attacks, the Tusked Wild Boar let out a final wail and fell to the ground, dead. [Killed Level 3 Tusked Wild Boar, gained 12 experience points] [Plunder talent triggered, Constitution +1] The system notification shed. John had sessfully killed the Tusked Wild Boar and his Plunder talent had triggered, increasing his Constitution by 1 point. "It actually dropped an item," John said, surprised, as he picked up a copper coin from the ground. The drop rate for items from ordinary monsters was very low. John happily picked it up and collected the boar''s tusks, which were quest items he could exchange with the alchemist for a low-level health or magic recovery potion, worth 10 copper coins. He decided to stay and hunt more Tusked Wild Boars to level up to Level 5 before returning to the alchemist to submit the quest. "Let''s continue!" John roamed the forest, searching for solitary Tusked Wild Boars. ... A piercing scream echoed as yet another Tusked Wild Boar fell to John''s magical assault. John had hunted over twenty Tusked Wild Boars, leveling up to Level 4 and plundering 2 points of Constitution and 1 point of Strength. He allocated his 4 free attribute points to Spirit, and his Fireball skill had now reached Level 6. His power had significantly increased once again. By now, the sun had set, and the forest grew darker and more ominous. Nighttime made the forest monsters more active, with even stronger beasts appearing. John knew better than to stay here any longer. "Someone''s there?" John frowned, spotting two five-member teams in the distance, all at Level 4. Reaching Level 4 so quickly meant they were among the top yers in the novice vige. Leading one of the teams was a knight d in leather armor, wielding a broadsword and a massive shield. He had a handsome face but carried an air of malevolence. John''s eyes instantly grew cold upon seeing him. Wind and Cloud Guild, Aron! ID: Unrivaled. John hadn''t expected to encounter Aron so soon in the novice vige. It made sense, though; in his previous life, Aron hadpleted the hidden quest to help Dino find the Life-Sustaining Pill, earning the low-grade divine artifact, the Guardian Shield, and rapidly increasing his power. Aron also noticed John and was especially surprised to see several Tusked Wild Boar corpses nearby. A top yer! He knew some of the game''s secrets; anyone who could solo Tusked Wild Boars at this stage was undoubtedly among the top yers. With a smile, Aron approached John and said, "Hey there, I''m Unrivaled, the leader of the Wind and Cloud Guild. Interested in joining our guild?" The killing intent in John''s eyes shed briefly as he hatched an even better revenge n. Stealing the Life-Sustaining Pill from the alchemist wasn''t guaranteed to seed, but he could use Aron and his guild to his advantage. "Unrivaled," a warrior whispered in Aron''s ear, "that''s the guy who killed Fatty''s team." "He''s Godyer?" Aron frowned. He hadn''t expected the skilled yer before him to be Godyer. Aron knew the Wind and Cloud Guild''s rapid rise in the novice vige was due to their financial power and loyalty. If this situation wasn''t handled well, it could cause dissatisfaction among the members. However, recruiting Godyer into the guild, at the cost of losing Fatty, was an eptable trade-off. Aron made up his mind and extended the olive branch to John once more. "Brother, I, Aron, love to make friends with heroes from all walks of life. If you join the Wind and Cloud Guild, I can offer you the position of vice president." This was Aron''s best offer, and he extended his right hand in a friendly gesture. If Godyer refused, Aron could always avenge Fattyter. John calmly looked at Aron without any response. Aron frowned, feeling an unsettling sense of being seen through by Godyer. "What, you don''t agree?" Aron withdrew his hand, his gaze turning cold. His team members immediately prepared for battle. John finally spoke, "President Unrivaled, you misunderstand. I actually have a favor to ask." With that, John revealed the quest he had epted to Aron. Aron''s eyes widened, his breath quickening as he eximed, "An S-level hidden quest, a low-grade divine artifact!" Gulp! Aron swallowed hard, a sh of greed in his eyes. If killing a yer could drop a quest, he would have attacked Godyer without hesitation. In the world of Gods, equipment was categorized as Common, Fine, Rare, Epic, Legendary, and Mythical (divine artifacts). Currently, no yer even had a piece of Fine equipment. The appearance of a divine artifact would undoubtedly cause a bloodbath. Aron quicklyposed himself, hiding his inner thoughts. He asked, "Bro, you want me to help youplete this quest?" John nodded, "President Unrivaled, if you help meplete this quest, I will give you the divine artifact as a reward." Aron was stunned, struggling to believe his ears. "Are you... joking?" He couldn''t fathom anyone resisting the allure of a divine artifact. John, however, looked resigned. "You can see the quest has a time limit. If I can''tplete it, I won''t be able to leave the novice vige. I''ve investigated; the alchemist in the novice vige is at level 10. I can''t handle him alone, so I need help." Watching Aron''s reaction and seeing his skepticism, John continued, "If President Unrivaled can''t help, I''ll have to seek assistance elsewhere." "Wait!" Aron was flustered. "In this novice vige, who is stronger than the Wind and Cloud Guild? I ept your request." Aron''s eyes narrowed as he added, "But what if you go back on your word afterward?" Clearly, Aron didn''t fully trust John. John replied calmly, "If I go back on my word, you can attack me. The Wind and Cloud Guild can handle one person, can''t it?" Aron pondered this n, finding no apparent traps. If Godyer reneged, he could openly attack. No individual, no matter how strong, could withstand the entire Wind and Cloud Guild. Aron extended his right hand to John again, smiling. "Happy cooperation!" John nced at Aron''s hand and shook it firmly. "Tomorrow at this time, we''ll meet in front of the novice vige apothecary." Before Aron could respond, John logged off and disappeared. Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Plotting Against Aron, Stealing the Life-Sustaining Pill Chapter 6: Plotting Against Aron, Stealing the Life-Sustaining Pill ? Aron stood staring at the spot where John had disappeared, his brows furrowed. He couldn''t shake the uneasy feeling in his gut. He turned to an elderly man dressed as a mage within his team and asked, "Matt, do you think this guy''s story is credible?" The old man stepped forward, bowed slightly to Aron, and then spoke, "The only uncertain factor here is the strength of the alchemist. I''ve already investigated; the vige chief and the guard squad in the novice vige are all Level 10. The alchemist hasn''t shown his power, so his exact strength is unknown." The elder looked at Aron and continued, "Master, I will send someone to test the alchemist''s strength." Aron nodded, "Find someone weak to probe him. Also, notify the guild members to push hard on leveling up tonight. We have a big operation tomorrow afternoon." "Understood," the old man nodded, and then began issuing guild announcements. ... In the real world, in a cramped rental apartment. John removed his helmet, rubbing his forehead, feeling a throbbing headache. Without realizing it, he had been online for 12 hours straight. Entering the world of Gods was mentally exhausting. The gaming helmet John used allowed a maximum of eight hours of continuous y each day. Exceeding that would lead to significant mental fatigue. "I need to get a gaming pod," John muttered to himself. Compared to gaming helmets, gaming pods were more advanced and could inject nutrient fluids to restore mental strength. A basic gaming pod allowed continuous y for three days. A mid-level gaming pod allowed continuous y for seven days. The top-level advanced gaming pod allowed a yer to stay online for a month. However, gaming pods were also much more expensive. A basic gaming pod cost 100,000 yuan. Mid-level and advanced pods weren''t just about money; they required connections and influence to acquire. John couldn''t afford even the most basic gaming pod at the moment. At the current exchange rate, one gold coin was worth 100,000 yuan. He needed to acquire a gold coin quickly. Otherwise, as the game progressed, the value of gold coins would depreciate significantly. John put aside this concern, ate something, washed up briefly, and went to bed to restore his mental strength. ... The next day, John woke up feeling refreshed, noticing a significant improvement in his physical condition. Game data would fully merge when the world of Gods connected to reality, but for now, it was gradually enhancing yers'' bodies. John reconnected his helmet and entered the world of Gods. He was still in the forest where he had logged off yesterday. The surroundings were quiet, with no other yers in sight. Tusked Wild Boars had tough hides and were not the best for leveling up. Aron and his team moved to the Level 2 Green Snake territory to hunt and level up. John, having reached Level 4, had a Spirit attribute of 23 points, resulting in a base magic damage of 28 points. His Level 6 Fireball dealt 45 points of fire damage, while his Level 1 Wind de dealt 39 points of wind damage. With two rounds of magic attacks, John could kill a Tusked Wild Boar. He roamed the forest, looking for more boars. ... [Killed Level 3 Tusked Wild Boar, gained 12 experience points] [You have reached Level 5, gained 4 free attribute points, 1 skill point] The notification shed. After nearly a day of hunting, John had killed over 30 Tusked Wild Boars and finally reached Level 5. Additionally, he had plundered 4 points of Constitution. John''s Constitution and base physical resistance reached 12 points,parable to a Level 5 warrior. "The SSS-level Plunder talent is truly terrifying!" John marveled once again. He opened his attribute panel and allocated all 4 free attribute points to Spirit, bringing his Spirit attribute to an impressive 27 points. His Fireball spell also leveled up to Level 7. "It''s time toplete the quest," John thought, checking the time before heading back to the novice vige. ... In front of the apothecary, John saw Aron waiting for him. Aron had sent his underlings to test the alchemist Enzo''s strength. A Level 3 underling provoked Enzo and was instantly killed. ording to the underling''s report, Enzo''s strength was on par with the vige chief, approximately Level 10. With their numbers, they could handle him. "Bro Godyer, you''re finally here," Aron greeted John warmly, a smile on his face. John nodded coolly, eyeing the members behind Aron. There were over 200 of them, all at Level 5. Clearly, they had gaming pods and could level up quickly by staying online without needing rest. Aron, full of pride, introduced his forces, "Brother, these are the elite of the Wind and Cloud Guild. Almost all the top yers in the novice vige are under mymand. Additionally, I have over a thousand underlings who will keep the vige guards busy." Aron''s introduction was also a veiled threat, warning John not to y any tricks. John smirked inwardly, confident that the Wind and Cloud Guild would be severely weakened by the end of the day. "I''m going to hand in the quest. You guys will attack the apothecary shortly. Just keep the alchemist busy; there''s no need to kill him," John instructed. Aron dismissed John''s concern with a wave, "Don''t worry, we''ve got this." John said no more and entered the shop. Inside, a few yers were purchasing potions. By now, yers could afford them as it was the second day. "Old man, I''m here to turn in the quest," John said, approaching the counter andying out a pile of boar tusks. Enzo, annoyed at being called "old man," was about to retort but held his tongue when he saw the boar tusks. "57 sets of boar tusks!" Enzo eximed, eyeing John in surprise. "Kid, I didn''t misjudge you. Each set of boar tusks can be exchanged for one low-level health or magic recovery potion. Take your pick." "Can I exchange them for copper coins instead?" These low-level potions were of little use to John; he needed money more than potions. Enzo frowned but then nodded, "Normally, no, but considering you brought so many boar tusks, I''ll make an exception." Enzo retrieved 5 silver coins and 70 copper coins from under the counter and handed them to John, "Here''s your reward, kid." "Thank you." John expressed his gratitude, quickly pocketing the coins. He was now one step closer to purchasing a gaming pod. After turning in his quest, John didn''t leave. Instead, he pretended to browse the potions at the counter, waiting for the Wind and Cloud Guild to make their move. Boom! Suddenly, an explosion rocked the entrance of the shop, followed by a loud shout. "Charge in, ransack the shop!" Chaos erupted at the entrance, with spells flying and arrows whizzing through the air, targeting the apothecary. "Courting death!" Enzo cursed furiously and charged outside. The yers inside the shop looked on curiously, buzzing with excitement. "Ransack the apothecary? Who''s bold enough to do that?" "It looks like it''s the Wind and Cloud Guild." "Damn, I''ve always hated that stingy old man. Let''s go help the Wind and Cloud Guild brothers out." ... The Wind and Cloud Guild had a significant reputation in the novice vige. The surrounding yers, eager for some action, quickly joined in, hoping to profit from the chaos. Taking advantage of the confusion, John slipped into the back of the apothecary and found Enzo''s bedroom. The Life-Sustaining Pill was hidden in a secretpartment under Enzo''s bed. In his previous life, Aron had boasted about how he had stolen the Life-Sustaining Pill, making it easier for John now. John swiftly entered Enzo''s bedroom and quickly located the secretpartment under the bed. Inside, he found not only the Life-Sustaining Pill but also three skill stones, a bottle of Mana-Suppressing Potion, and two bottles of unknown poison. He took everything and, without bothering to inspect them closely, escaped through the back door. ... The front of the shop had turned into a fiery inferno, with screams of agony filling the air, resembling a scene from hell. "Something''s wrong, this guy isn''t just Level 10!" "President, the information was wrong, run!" Screams echoed continuously as white lights shed-elite members being instantly killed. "Retreat, retreat now!" Aron, realizing the mistake, hastily ordered a retreat, but he was struck by a Fireball and killed instantly. Enzo stood at the entrance, his hair and beard billowing, casting powerful spells that indiscriminately targeted the surrounding yers, killing them all instantly. The true power of a Level 30 mage was on full disy. The more than two hundred elites led by Aron couldn''t hold out for even a minute and vanished in shes of white light. Even the onlookers were caught in the crossfire, suffering heavy casualties. ... Novice vige resurrection point. Aron emerged with a grim expression on his face. "Damn it!" Aron cursed through gritted teeth. Despite his caution, he had been misled by his underlings. Enzo''s power was far beyond just Level 10. "Young Master," the elder Matt, pale-faced, emerged from the resurrection point and spoke, "Our people have been watching the resurrection point closely. We haven''t seen Godyer. We don''t know if he seeded." Only then did Aron recall the primary goal of attacking the apothecary. If Godyer had managed to steal the Life-Sustaining Pill andplete the hidden quest, earning the low- grade divine artifact, then the losses suffered by the Wind and Cloud Guild would be insignificant. Aron hurriedly opened his friends'' channel, only to realize he hadn''t added Godyer as a friend. A bad feeling surged through him. Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Killing Dino, Plundering Talent Chapter 7: Killing Dino, Plundering Talent ? At this moment, John had already left the novice vige. [Ding, yer Unrivaled has requested to add you as a friend] The notification shed, and John promptly rejected it. Even if Aron was slow to react, he now knew he had been yed. "Time to log off and rest. I''ll turn in the quest tomorrow," John checked the time and vanished on the spot. Having stolen the Life-Sustaining Pill, half of the hidden quest wasplete. Next, he needed to deal with Dino. ... Real World. The Imperial Capital, a luxurious vi. Bang bang... The sounds of smashing and breaking echoed. Aron was furiously destroying the items around him, seething with rage. "Godyer, how dare you trick me!" To develop the Wind and Cloud Guild, he had invested thirty million dors. Due to helping Godyer with the quest, over two hundred elite members and more than a thousand regr members of the guild had been ughtered. The penalty for dying as a novice was severe, dropping yers back to Level 1. His entire thirty million dors investment had gone down the drain. Even worse, the hard-earned prestige of the Wind and Cloud Guild had vanished. Aron didn''t care about the money, but he couldn''t swallow this humiliation. "Matt!" Aron called coldly, looking towards the door. The door opened, and Matt hurried in, looking distressed at the shattered porcin on the floor. Matt spoke, "Young Master, facial recognition didn''t find any real information on Godyer. He must have adjusted his appearance." Aron''s face turned icy. "I don''t care about that. Godyer must pay dearly, both in the game and in reality!" Matt remained silent, waiting for Aron''s instructions. He knew Aron''s character well-calcting, ruthless, and vengeful. Suffering such a significant loss, Aron wouldn''t let Godyer go. "Two things." Aron contemted for a moment before speaking slowly, "First, ce a bounty on Godyer in the novice vige. Killing him once will earn a reward of 100,000 dors, no limit on the number of times. Second, have Sini get close to Godyer. Once we have his real-world information, I''ll grant her freedom." Matt lifted his head and looked at Aron, hesitant to speak. Sini came from a family of ancient martial arts practitioners, and Aron had spent a considerable amount to control her. Using her against Godyer seemed excessive. In Matt''s view, Sini''s value far exceeded that of Godyer, making this n unwise. However, he knew Aron''s personality-once a decision was made, it wouldn''t change. "I''ll arrange it immediately," Matt agreed and bowed before leaving. Aron''s expression rxed slightly as he spread his arms, leaning back on the sofa. His face darkened with a terrifying expression as he muttered, "It''s been a long time since anyone dared to provoke me like this. Godyer, I hope you don''t disappoint me! I want to torture you properly. Don''t you dare quit this game until I''ve had my fill!" ... The next day, John re-entered the world of Gods and learned about the bounty ced by the Wind and Cloud Guild. A bounty of 100,000 for killing Godyer once. John sneered at the thought. His goal wasn''t just to outsmart Aron; revenge was only beginning. First, he needed toplete his task. John checked the quest details. Today marked the third day, and Dino was likely at the end of his strength. Dying further risked losing the chance if Dino died before he couldplete the task. From Enzo, John had stolen not just the Life-Sustaining Pill but also a Mana-Suppressing Pill and two poisons. He examined these items carefully. [Life-Sustaining Pill: High-grade potion, can instantly heal any injury, excluding soul injuries] [Mana-Suppressing Pill: High-grade potion, seals internal magic, automatically lifts after three days] [Hundred Poison Pill: Mid-grade potion, refined from a hundred poisonous insects, extremely toxic, fatal to anyone below Level 7] [Bloodthirst Pill: Mid-grade potion, a failed product of refining the Qi and Blood Pill, drains life energy until death] All four pills, except the Life-Sustaining Pill, were deadly poisons. John suspected that Enzo specialized in poison crafting. He had one Mana-Suppressing Pill, ten Hundred Poison Pills, and two Bloodthirst Pills. Mixing these poisons would undoubtedly be lethal for the severely injured Dino. John carefully cut open one of the Life-Sustaining Pills, hollowing it out before grinding and mixing the Mana-Suppressing Pill, Hundred Poison Pills, and Bloodthirst Pills, then cing the mixture inside. He resealed the pill, making sure it looked wless. John nodded in satisfaction, "Perfect!" He stored the altered Life-Sustaining Pill and headed to the forest toplete the quest. In the forest, many high-level yer teams roamed. They weren''t hunting Tusked Wild Boars for leveling up but were instead on the Wind and Cloud Guild''s bounty hunt for Godyer. John didn''t want any confrontations for now, so he avoided them and headed for the hidden cave. The cave hadn''t been discovered by other yers. Whew! John entered the cave, the firelight flickering, indicating Dino had sensed his approach. Under the firelight, Dino looked even paler and more haggard. His eyes lit up with hope as he saw John, "Kid, you finally came. Where''s the Life-Sustaining Pill?" John stepped forward, palm open, revealing a milky white pill-the unaltered Life- Sustaining Pill. "Life-Sustaining Pill!" Dino''s eyes gleamed as he reached out to grab it. John quickly pulled his hand back, eyeing Dino warily, "What about my reward?" Dino red at John coldly. A weak human adventurer dared to y tricks on him. If killing John guaranteed the drop of the Life-Sustaining Pill, Dino would have acted already. "Hmph, I keep my promises!" Dino scoffed, taking out arge ck shield from his storage pouch. A purple glow shone, the unmistakable mark of a divine artifact. The Diamond Giant Shield, a low-grade divine artifact! John''s excitement was palpable. Though he couldn''t equip a shield, the value of such an artifact was immeasurable. Seeing John''s reaction, Dino''s expression turned disdainful. He had decided that once he obtained the Life-Sustaining Pill and recovered, he would kill John. His artifact was not something to be taken so easily. Dino extended his hand, saying, "Give me the Life-Sustaining Pill." John nodded, switching the pill with the tampered one in his palm without Dino noticing. Dino grabbed the pill and swallowed it without hesitation. John took a few steps back, his staff ready in hand. Dino was severely injured, and the altered Life-Sustaining Pill should be lethal. However, John feared a desperate counterattack. As the pill took effect, Dino''s face initially showed signs of recovery, but then his expression twisted in pain. He red at John with fury, "What did you give me, boy?" Bang! John didn''t waste words. He swung his staff, casting Fireball and Wind de at Dino. -1 -1 Dino''s magic resistance was astounding, and John''s attacks only dealt a minimal 1 point of damage each. "You''re courting death!" Dino roared, conjuring a fireball in his palm, but it quickly dissipated as the Mana-Suppressing Pill took effect. John rxed slightly, his voice cold, "Old man, don''t struggle. You''re dead today!" "Ugh!" Dino attempted to speak but coughed up a mouthful of ck blood. The Hundred Poison Pill and Bloodthirst Pill were rapidly consuming his life force. Already gravely wounded, he had no strength to resist. "You''ll regret this..." In his final moments, Dino managed to utter a few words before a magical curse shot out, hitting John. A sense of foreboding washed over John, and he knew it was toote to dodge. [You have killed the seventh-tier Archmage Dino, gaining 330,240 experience points] [You have reached Level 6, gaining 4 free attribute points, 1 skill point] [You have reached Level 7, gaining 4 free attribute points, 1 skill point] [You have reached Level 8, gaining 4 free attribute points, 1 skill point] [You have reached Level 9, gaining 4 free attribute points, 1 skill point] [You are affected by Dino''s curse; you cannot level past 9. Current experience: 327,340/900] [Plunder talent activated; you have acquired the divine growth talent... Wrath of the Gods!] A series of notifications shed. John had leveled up to 9 but could not progress further. "Damn, I still got cursed!" John cursed, checking the curse details. [Dino''s Curse: Cursed by Archmage Dino, preventing levels above 9. Can be lifted by a seventh-tier mage or reaching 1,000 Spirit points to forcibly remove it.] It could be lifted! Seeing the curse details, John was ted. Finding a seventh-tier mage in the novice vige was nearly impossible. Even if he did, they wouldn''t help him remove the curse. Alternatively, he could forcibly lift it by reaching 1,000 Spirit points. For a Level 9 yer, achieving 1,000 Spirit points seemed impossible. But John had the advantage of his Plunder talent, which could potentially grant him Spirit points from defeating magic-wielding monsters with high Spirit attributes. Reaching 1,000 Spirit points at Level 9 was entirely feasible for him. John breathed a sigh of relief and checked the newly acquired talent. Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Diamond Giant Shield and the Elven Saintess Chapter 8: Diamond Giant Shield and the Elven Saintess ? [Wrath of the Gods: Divine-level growth talent, currently F-level, grants 10% skill cooldown reduction] [Upgrade conditions: Kill 10 Level 1 monsters to upgrade to E-level] A divine growth talent? This seemed to be a tier above the SSS-level talents. In his previous life, John had never heard of a divine-level talent. Even at F-level, Wrath of the Gods provided a 10% reduction in skill cooldowns. No wonder Dino had managed to be a near-demigod, invading Earth and bringing devastation to humanity. John didn''t rush to leave; instead, he looked at Dino''s corpse. In the world of Gods, NPCs differed from yers-they were real beings. Once dead, they permanently vanished, and all their belongings would drop. John''s eyes were drawn to the ring on Dino''s right middle finger. It was a storage ring. He removed it, and with a mental probe, he viewed its contents. Various items filled the ring, including: 20 skill stones2 skill books11 stealth talismansVarious high-grade materialsOver 1,300 gold coins "Jackpot!" John''s eyes lit up at the sight of the gold coins. With the current exchange rate, one gold coin was enough to buy a basic gaming pod. With over 1,300 gold coins, he could easily afford a high-end gaming pod, provided he could obtain the qualification to purchase one. For now, he set aside that concern and began sorting through the items. He had 20 skill stones, plus the 3 he had stolen from the alchemist Enzo, giving him a total of 23 skill stones. He used them all, gaining 23 skill points. The two skill books were: [Earth Shield: Basic mage skill, conjures an earth shield that blocks damage equal to 50% of the caster''s Spirit attribute, costs 5 mana, 30-second cooldown] [sh: Basic warrior skill, deals physical damage equal to 50% of the caster''s Strength, costs 5 mana, 3-second cooldown] Earth Shield was a defensive magic skill, which John immediately learned. As for sh, it was a warrior skill, which he couldn''t use. John flipped through the items in the storage ring, frowning in confusion. "This guy doesn''t have any mage equipment?" Dino had no staff, no robes. Had they been taken from him, or did he simply not use a staff? The remaining items in the storage ring were currently of no use to John. His gaze settled on the heavy shield emanating a purple glow. [Diamond Giant Shield: Low-grade divine artifact] [Requirements: Knight ss, Strength 500+] [Physical Defense +1000, Magic Defense +500, Health +1000] [Additional Attributes: Constitution +1000, Strength +50, Spirit +50, Agility -100] [Diamond Protection: Artifact skill, halves iing damage; duration 10 minutes, cooldown 1 hour] [Description: Sacrifices speed for immense defensive power] John looked at the attributes of the Diamond Giant Shield, astonished. With a base boost of 1000 points to physical defense and 500 points to magic defense, any knight equipped with this shield would be a moving fortress. John even felt a momentary urge to switch to a knight ss. No wonder Aron had made such a meteoric rise in the previous life. With this artifact, even with poor talent, one could be a formidable knight. But now, this artifact was in John''s possession, severing any connection to Aron. John stored the Diamond Giant Shield. His next goal was to boost his Spirit attribute and break Dino''s curse. He couldn''t remain stuck in the novice vige forever. John remembered a nearby area popted by Level 10 me Spirit Foxes. These monsters were adept at fire magic, had high Spirit attributes, and were first-rank beasts, perfect for upgrading his Wrath of the Gods talent. John opened his attribute panel and allocated all his recently earned free and skill points. He added all 16 free attribute points to Spirit. With the 27 skill points, he upgraded his three basic skills to Level 10, the novice cap. John reviewed his updated attributes. [ID: Godyer] [Level: 9 (327340/900)] [ss: Mage Apprentice] [Health: 120 (Constitution * 10)] [Mana: 430 (Spirit * 10)] [Base Physical Damage: 7 (Strength * 1)] [Base Magic Damage: 43+ 5 (Spirit * 1)] [Speed: 7 (Agility * 1)] [Physical Resistance: 12 + 1 (Constitution * 1)] [Magic Resistance: 43 (Spirit * 1)] [Constitution: 12; Strength: 7; Spirit: 43; Agility: 7] [Luck: 1] [Talents] [Plunder: SSS-level, unique] [Effect 1: Killing regr monsters has a 10% chance to plunder their attribute points] [Effect 2: Killing boss-level enemies can permanently plunder one of their skills, talents, or special attributes] [Effect 3: Killing monsters grants ughter Points; the stronger the monster, the more points gained. Upon reaching a threshold, ughter Points can enhance talent effects or unlock new features; current ughter Points: 107] [Wrath of the Gods: Divine-level growth talent, currently F-level, grants 10% skill cooldown reduction] [Upgrade conditions: Kill 10 first-rank monsters to upgrade to E-level] [Skills] [Fireball: Level 10, deals 95% of Spirit as fire magic damage; costs 5 mana, 3-second cooldown] [Description: Max level skill; can be upgraded to Greater Fireball upon reaching first-rank mage, costs 10 skill points] [Wind de: Level 10, deals 95% of Spirit as wind magic damage; costs 5 mana, 3-second cooldown] [Description: Max level skill; can be upgraded to Wind sh upon reaching first-rank mage, costs 10 skill points] [Earth Shield: Level 10, conjures an earth shield that blocks 95% of Spirit as damage; costs 5 mana, 30-second cooldown] [Description: Max level skill; can be upgraded to Stone Armor upon reaching first-rank mage, costs 10 skill points] [Free attribute points: 0] [Skill points: 6] [Equipment: Green Serpent Staff mon), +5 magic damage; Novice Robe, +1 physical resistance] [Negative Status: Dino''s curse, cannot level past 9] ... "How powerful!" John marveled at his own growth. With his current strength, John was more than capable of handling the Level 10 me Spirit Foxes. It was still early, so John avoided the yers roaming the forest''s outskirts and ventured deeper into the woods, arriving at the me Spirit Foxes'' territory. These were all Level 10 or higher beasts, and no yers dared to tread there yet. Rustle... Suddenly, a noise came from the dense underbrush. John gripped his staff, ready to cast a Fireball, when a young girl stumbled out of the forest and fell to the ground. A person here? John was surprised, keeping his Fireball ready but not attacking as he approached cautiously. The girl had snow-white skin, strikingly beautiful features, long green hair, blue eyes, and pointed ears... An elf! John recognized her race and was taken aback. Elves were powerful native beings of this world, and he hadn''t expected to encounter one near the novice vige. The elven girl was pale and severely injured. Upon seeing John approach, she looked terrified and tried to flee. "Quick, she''s injured and can''t get far!" A man''s voice called out from the dense forest, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. The elven girl trembled, looking at John with pleading eyes, "Help me..." She could sense that this human was different from the dark humans chasing her. After a moment''s hesitation, John stepped forward, picked up the elven girl, and quickly climbed arge tree, hiding within its dense foliage. Several figures burst out of the forest, their eyes scanning the area like hawks. "Shh!" John gestured for silence, activating a concealment talisman he had taken from Dino''s storage ring. The talisman could perfectly hide their presence, making it impossible for the enemies to detect them even up close. Dino had used such talismans to evade his pursuers. A shadowy figure approached the base of the tree where John was hiding. The girl in his arms went rigid, clutching John''s arm in fear, barely daring to breathe. Severely injured, being discovered would mean death at best; at worst, she''d be a ything for these humans. Fortunately, the concealment talisman was powerful. The pursuer didn''t find any trace of John or the elf. After searching the area with no results, the leader of the group spoke coldly, "The elven saintess is gravely injured and poisoned. She can''t have gone far. Search the forest thoroughly." The group returned to the forest, searching thoroughly. Elven saintess? John heard their conversation and was astonished. The girl in his arms was actually the saintess of the elven race! As the pursuers disappeared into the forest, the elven saintess remained in John''s arms, clutching his arm tightly. He could feel her light weight, and a delicate fragrance filled his senses, making him feel calm and serene. Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Token of Affection, Elven Spring Chapter 9: Token of Affection, Elven Spring ? John swallowed hard, looking at the elven girl in his arms. "It''s safe now," he said. However, something was off about the elven girl. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were unfocused. This wasn''t due to her injuries but rather a special poison known as Love Flower Powder. This was a poison concocted by dark humans to enve and torment elves. The only antidote to this deadly poison is sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. The elven girl retained herst bit of sanity, staring at John with a heated gaze, struggling to utter two words, "Help me..." The branches of the tree they were on shook, quickly growing and intertwining to form a hammock. John''s clothes fell away, leaving him with only one thought: Could this really happen in a game? "So big!" The elven saintess looked at John''s firm member with a look of shock. It was her first time being this close to a man. But soon, the fear in her heart was reced by burning desire. The elven girl quickly shed her thin dress and eagerly mounted him. "Ah!" She gasped in pain, covering her mouth tightly to avoid alerting the enemies. The tearing pain was intense, with blood staining the leaves beneath them. The elven girl trembled, enduring the pain, but felt immense satisfaction within. Her body went limp, and she copsed into John''s embrace. The poison of the Love Flower Powder quickly dissipated, and the elven girl regained her senses. Realizing the shameful position she was in, she blushed deeply. "Human, I-I''m sorry..." The elven girl stammered, hastily searching for her clothes, wanting to escape. But John grabbed her arm, stopping her from fleeing. The desire burning within him couldn''t let the elven saintess escape so easily. With a mischievous grin, John said, "The poison of desire isn''t so easily cured." The elven girl looked puzzled, about to ask what he meant when John sat up, pulling her into his arms, his other hand exploring her body, moving rhythmically. "Mm..." The elven girl moaned unconsciously. The pain below was intense, but there was also a pleasure that reached deep into her soul, making it impossible to stop. Forgetting her shyness, the elven girl wrapped her arms around John''s neck, clumsily responding to his movements. John moved faster and faster. The elven girl panted heavily, her moans growing louder, forgetting they were being chased. Fortunately, the concealment talisman not only hid their presence but also muffled sounds. "Ah!" The elven girl cried out in ecstasy, her legs wrapped tightly around John, her body trembling uncontrobly. She felt utterly drained, copsing against John. Weakly, she pleaded, "Human, I-I can''t... Please, let me go..." The sensation was strange; she couldn''t feel her body, but her heart was filled with satisfaction. Even her injuries seemed to ease. John, however, had no intention of stopping. Heid the elven girl on the hammock, changing positions, his movements growing more intense. The elven girl moaned in pain, continuously begging for mercy, "I really can''t take it anymore... If this continues, I''ll break ... This was her nth time pleading. Were all humans this powerful? Tears rolled down the elven girl''s cheeks, forming a teardrop-shaped pendant. ... The leaves rustled, and the elven girl''s pleas and moans echoed, growing hoarse and weak. Over two hours had passed, and she had lost count of how many times she had climaxed. She felt like she was about to break. Finally, John reached his limit, letting out a satisfied groan as his essence surged forth. The elven girl felt the heat below, her body trembling uncontrobly, reaching another climax before gradually losing consciousness. Looking at the beautiful elven girl in his arms, John murmured, "Am I really this strong? Could it be rted to my rebirth?" The elven girl, a satisfied smile on her lips, fell asleep, still clinging tightly to John''s neck as if it gave her a sense of security. John didn''t leave immediately. After days of intense leveling, he was mentally exhausted. Holding the beauty in his arms, he too fell asleep. ... When John awoke, it was already dusk. The elven saintess had left without a word, leaving only a faint fragrance. The disheveled leaves around him were evidence of the intensity of their earlier activities. Beside him was a teardrop-shaped pendant and a vial of potion, pressed under a handkerchief with delicate writing: "My name is Anna. I will find you." John felt a sense of loss. "Anna?" he murmured, repeating the name. In his previous life, he had never heard of this name. It must have been this encounter that led her to disaster. Fortunately, he had saved her in this life. John put aside his thoughts, looking at the items Anna had left. [Tear of the Elf: Pendant] [Description: Said to be formed from the tears of an elven girl, it is a token of affection, with no special attribute bonuses] [Elven Spring: Elven sacred item, contains immense power, drinking it increases Spirit by 100 [points] John was shocked. Both items were legendary treasures. The Elven Spring could directly increase his Spirit by 100 points, which would be incredibly beneficial to him. However, John valued the Tear of the Elf even more. Though it had no attribute bonuses, it was a token of affection from the elven girl. Clearly, Anna had fallen for him. The gods and dark humans had destroyed the elven world. Their hatred for the gods and dark humans was as intense as that of humans. Moreover, the elven race was powerful. John could ally with them to fight against the gods and dark humans. And Anna was the elven saintess, the future leader of the elven race. John carefully put away the Tear of the Elf and then opened the Elven Spring, drinking it in one go. [You have consumed the Elven Spring, Spirit +100] [Dino''s curse weakens, can be removed by a fifth-rank mage or if Spirit reaches 500 points] The notifications shed. "Dino''s curse is weakening?" John was delighted. This was an unexpected bonus. His Spirit attribute had now reached 143 points. He only needed 357 more Spirit points to forcibly break Dino''s curse. This wasn''t an insurmountable task for John. Howl... The eerie howls of wolves echoed. In the dark forest, pairs of green eyes appeared. These were Bloodthirsty Demon Wolves, Level 15 beasts. They roamed in packs at night, searching for prey. John didn''t want to provoke them and immediately logged off, his body vanishing. In the distance, a figure in ck tight clothing, entuating a curvy figure, approached the tree where John had been hiding. "Strange, why did the trail end here?" The woman, holding two daggers, looked around cautiously, muttering to herself. Sini, ID: Gale, profession: Shadow Assassin. She was one of the few yers to obtain a hidden profession in the novice stage. Sini possessed an A-grade talent, Aura Perception. She had tracked John''s aura to this location. Howl... The wolves'' howls echoed, and the green eyes in the forest made Sini shiver. "He must have logged off. I''ll check again tomorrow." Sini, looking frightened, knew she was no match for the Bloodthirsty Demon Wolves. She immediately logged off. ... In the real world, John did not rest but instead turned on hisputer and logged into the World of Gods forum. This was the most popr forum since the release of the game, filled with yer-created guides. John wasn''t interested in the guides, most of which were incorrect. His goal was to purchase a gaming pod. Initially, John had nned to buy a basic gaming pod. But after killing Dino and obtaining over a thousand gold coins, he decided to go for a high- end gaming pod. John posted a message: "Offering 100 gold coins to buy a high-end gaming pod. Leave your Gods'' ID for in-game verification." The post quickly got buried but still caught the attention of many yers. Soon, John received over a dozen replies. "Bragging much? Do you even know what you''re talking about? Not even 100 silver coins, let alone 100 gold coins." "It''ste, go to bed. You can dream about it." ... The messages were all mocking, except for one useful reply. "Bro, you really have that much gold? Verify in-game, ID: Ritchie." Chapter 10: Chapter 10: The Deal, Assassin Sini Chapter 10: The Deal, Assassin Sini ? Ritchie! Seeing this ID, John felt a rush of nostalgia. The image of a confident and slightly roguish young man came to mind. Ritchie was both his in-game ID and his real name. In John''s previous life, when the monster tide army attacked, Ritchie had sacrificed himself to buy John time. If Ritchie were still alive, he would undoubtedly be by John''s side, fighting to the end. In reality, Ritchie''s background was not simple. His family had military connections, which meant he could indeed obtain a high-end game pod. Unlike the typical wealthy second-generation who only knew how to indulge in pleasures, Ritchie admired strength and sought power. After being easily defeated by John in the past, he had be John''s devoted follower. "Get online, I''ll add you as a friend," John replied to Ritchie and reconnected to the world of Gods. He was still on the tree, the hammock of interwoven branches still intact. Below, a pack of Bloodthirsty Demon Wolves roamed. The concealment talisman was still in effect, so the wolves didn''t notice John. Ignoring the wolves, John opened his friends list and entered Ritchie''s ID, sending a friend request. Soon, the request was epted, and Ritchie sent a message. Ritchie: "You want to buy a game pod? Send me a screenshot of your game gold." John smiled and instead of sending a screenshot, he initiated a trade and ced the Diamond Giant Shield in the window. Ritchie was also a knight and had an opportunityter to be an Earth Knight. John remembered Ritchie''s expression of envy and desire when he saw Aron with the Diamond Giant Shield in the past. However, Ritchie hadn''t used his background to pressure Aron into giving up the shield. Compared to Aron, Ritchie deserved the Diamond Giant Shield more. And was the right fit for it. John hadpleted the hidden quest with Ritchie in mind and was d to have reconnected with him so soon. ... In another novice vige, a young boy stared at the trade window in shock, swallowing hard. A low-grade artifact, the Diamond Giant Shield, was offered for just one copper coin. Ritchie''s finger hovered over the "ept" button, trembling slightly. "Damn, a gentleman does not take handouts!" Ritchie cursed, grabbing his shaking hand with his other hand. His reason overcame his desire, and he decisively rejected the trade. He breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of moral victory, though a part of him regretted it. Ritchie: "Bro, what do you mean by this?" He felt insulted and demanded an exnation from Godyer. Godyer: "An artifact for three conditions. First, help me get a high-end game pod; second, I know you''ll look into my background, so help me keep my personal information top secret; third, be my follower." "Damn!" Ritchie cursed aloud at Godyer''s message. This guy was not only crazy in his ID but also in real life. Moreover, he seemed to know his identity. Ritchie: "The first two conditions are fine, but the third one is impossible. Pick another." He really wanted that Diamond Giant Shield. Godyer: "Then just the first two conditions." Ritchie received another trade request. It was the same as the first time: the Diamond Giant Shield for just one copper coin. He was numb to it now. It seemed like Godyer really wanted to give him the artifact. Was there a catch? Ritchie: "Bro, aren''t you afraid that I''ll take the artifact and run? With my skills, you can''t do anything to me." Godyer: "Would you?" Ritchie gritted his teeth at Godyer''s message. He felt like this guy had him figured out. "Fine, you win!" Ritchie cursed, looking at the trade interface. This time, he decisively epted the trade. Ritchie: "Since you''re so sincere, I''ll keep the third condition open. If you can beat me, I''ll agree to be your follower." Godyer: "Deal. I''ll send you my address. Get me the high-end game pod as soon as possible." Ritchie: "No need. I''ve already traced your IP and got your information. The game pod will be delivered tomorrow." Ritchie felt smug. He thought he had turned the tables. Godyer, real name John, was just an ordinary person. With his identity exposed and the artifact in hand, he must be panicking. Godyer: "Okay." Just one simple word. Ritchie couldn''t stay calm. He didn''t seem to care at all. Was he slow to react, or did he have something to rely on? Ritchie: "Aren''t you going to say something softer? Aren''t you afraid I''ll mess with you behind your back?" No reply came. Ritchie then realized that Godyer had already logged off. "Damn!" He felt an urge to reach through the inte and teach John a lesson. But soon, his attention was drawn back to the Diamond Giant Shield. He caressed it, eyes full of affection, murmuring, "An artifact! I must be the first yer in the world of Gods to get an artifact." The only downside was that he couldn''t use it yet. It required 500 points of strength. Ritchie was itching to use it. It was like marrying the goddess of his dreams but not being allowed to consummate the marriage. He opened his friends list and saw that Brian was online, immediately sending a private message. Ritchie: "Dad, help me get a set of equipment that boosts strength. Also, give me the authority to log into Sky Net and modify someone''s information." He quickly received a reply from Brian. Brian: "Why do you need strength-boosting equipment as a knight? And don''t do anything reckless!" Ritchie: "I know, it''s just for an ordinary person, it won''t have any impact." Ritchie worked quickly. By noon the next day, John received his message. His identity information waspletely hidden, essible only to those with higher authority. In addition to a high-end game pod, Ritchie had gifted John a high-end vi worth twenty million to better conceal his identity. John epted the arrangement with a smile. The price of an artifact far exceeded thirty million. The vi was located in the suburbs of Down City, not far from John''s current location. After hailing a cab, he arrived at the vimunity in half an hour. His identity information was already recorded, allowing him to enter themunity under the envious and suspicious gaze of the driver. The vi had three floors, spacious and bright, with a simple yet elegant design. It was fully equipped with various furniture, appliances, and entertainment and fitness equipment. Having experienced the apocalypse, John no longer had a strong desire for luxury. These amenities didn''t interest him much. He went to the third-floor bedroom where the high-end game pod was already installed and filled with nutrient fluid, allowing for a maximum online time of one month. John couldn''t wait any longer andy down in the game pod, connecting to the world of Gods. [Identity verification sessful] [Wee, adventurer Godyer, to the world of Gods] The notification echoed, followed by a spinning sensation. John''s figure appeared at the ce where he hadst logged off, on the hammock made of woven tree branches. Boom, boom... The sound of magic explosions andbat reached his ears. "Someone''s here!" John instantly became alert. Anyone appearing here had to be a strong yer. Ahead, three fiery red me Spirit Foxes were besieging a woman. She wore tight ck leather armor, her long ck hair flowing, and her delicate face was icy and stern. She was being forced back in a disheveled manner by the me Spirit Foxes. Sini! John recognized her immediately. Indeed, only she could have tracked him down from Aron''s side. Sini noticed John and her eyes lit up. She called out for help, "Hey, give me a hand!" John remained motionless. He knew Sini''s background. She was a product of an Ancient Martial Arts Family, trained to serve and appease nobility, bound by a contract that obligated her to obey Aron. In his previous life, Aron had given Sini to John to win him over. John never treated her as a ve. Over time, they grew close, and Sini eventually opened her heart to him. However, during a battle, she took a powerful hit from a ninth-tier warrior for John, crippling her cultivation and bing an ordinary person. To avoid being a burden, she left without a word. Whoosh! A Fireball came crashing down, and Sini rolled away awkwardly, shouting again, "If you don''t help, I''m going to die!" John still didn''t move. He knew Sini''s personality and that to win her over, he had to let her suffer a bit first. Boom, boom... Two Fireballs hit Sini consecutively. At only level 7, she stood no chance against the level 10 me Spirit Foxes and was instantly killed. ... At the novice vige resurrection point, Sini emerged with fury burning in her icy eyes. "What a peculiar guy," she muttered. It was the first time she had been at a disadvantage with a man. Her carefully nned damsel-in-distress scenario had backfired, resulting in her death. Sini''s mission to approach Godyer was toplete Aron''s task and gain her freedom. Now, however, she was filled with curiosity about Godyer. Her eyes hardened with determination. "I need to find out exactly who you are." Sini left the novice vige, quickly heading back to where John had appeared. Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The Strongest Profession, Invitation to Team Up Chapter 11: The Strongest Profession, Invitation to Team Up ? Before long, Sini appeared in the territory of the me Spirit Foxes. She saw Godyer effortlessly battling two me Spirit Foxes, dispatching them with ease. "So strong!" Sini was stunned. This game wasn''t simple; it felt like a real world. Beyond attributes,bat skills were extremely important. Godyer seemed battle-hardened, but his fighting style was unfamiliar to her and didn''t resemble those from Ancient Martial Arts families. This guy must be a gaming expert with highprehension skills¡ªa martial arts prodigy. It''s a pity he chose the mage profession... [Defeated Level 10 me Spirit Foxes, gained 20 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, gained 1 point in Spirit attribute] [Sessfully defeated 10 first-tier beasts, Wrath of the Gods talent upgraded to E-level, gained 20% skill cooldown reduction] [Upgrade condition: Defeat 100 first-tier beasts, Wrath of the Gods talent can be upgraded to D-level] The notification shed. John had killed 10 me Spirit Foxes, gaining 1 Spirit attribute point. Moreover, his Wrath of the Gods talent upgraded to E-level, granting him a 20% cooldown reduction and unlocking the next upgrade condition: killing 100 first-tier beasts. "Continue!" John muttered, noticing Sini nearby but ignoring her, focusing on hunting more me Spirit Foxes. [yer Gale has sent you a party invitation] Sini sent a team invite to John. He declined it without hesitation, even intentionally letting a me Spirit Fox slip by, which pounced on Sini. Boom! A Fireball hit her. At Level 1, Sini was instantly killed. At the novice vige resurrection point, Sini was furious. "Bastard!" She could tell that Godyer had done it on purpose. Sini desperately wanted to take revenge on this guy, but at Level 1, she was no match. Even if she hadn''t dropped to Level 1, she felt she wouldn''t be able to defeat Godyer. "For the sake of my freedom, I''ll bear it!" Sini gritted her teeth, suppressing her anger. She entered the forest again, heading straight for the me Spirit Foxes'' territory to find Godyer once more. Another me Spirit Fox bypassed Godyer and charged straight at her. Predictably, Sini was once again killed instantly. "Damn it!" At the resurrection point, Sini looked grim. In the world of Gods, death was reversible, but the mental strain was significant. "I refuse to believe I can''t deal with you!" Sini was now dead set on confronting Godyer. ... After more than ten attempts, Sini emerged from the resurrection point once again, her face pale and her mental resilience nearing its limit. A yer running a stall nearby had been watching for a while. With what he thought was a charming smile, he approached Sini and said, "Hey, beauty, are you lovesick? Big brother can help you out!" His expression was lewd. Sini, already fuming, coldly replied, "Get lost!" "Oh, a feisty one. I like that!" The sleazy man raised his arm, intending to lift Sini''s chin. Sini stepped back, grabbed his arm, and applied a joint lock. Crack! The sound of bone breaking was apanied by the man''s pig-like squeal of pain. Sini moved like a phantom, her dagger shing as it sliced through the man''s vital points. He turned into a white light and reappeared at the resurrection point, looking dazed. "Hmph, loser!" Sini gave him a disdainful nce before turning to leave. A Level 1 assassin had just taken down a Level 6 warrior! The onlookers were stunned, their perception of the world shattered. "So, assassins are the strongest ss in the world of Gods!" "Is it toote to change my ss now?" "Our party is recruiting assassins, no requirements needed." ... In the crowd, a novice assassin looked at a nearby heavy armored warrior and stabbed him without hesitation. ng! The dagger broke, and the warrior''s health barely budged, disying a pitiful 1-point damage. The heavy armored warrior turned, his face full of muscle and anger, ring at the frail assassin. "What do you think you''re doing?" The novice assassin gulped and forced a smile. "Bro, I just wanted to test if my dagger was sharp..." Boom! The warrior swung his heavy sword, instantly killing the assassin, and spat. "Strongest ss? Trash!" ... Unaware of the scene at the resurrection point, Sini re-entered the me Spirit Foxes'' territory and found Godyer. Dead me Spirit Foxes littered the area. Godyer was effortlessly handling the attacks of three me Spirit Foxes. [yer Godyer has sent you a party invitation] Sini, ready to face death again, was stunned by the party invitation from Godyer. She quickly epted it, overjoyed, and then realized, "This guy has killed me 17 times, and I''m actually happy?" Despite her grudge, sini put on a smile toplete her mission. She looked at Godyer and said, "Boss, are you going to help me level up?" John picked up the two copper coins dropped by the me Spirit Foxes and said tly, "Yes, help me lure the monsters." Most of the me Spirit Foxes in the area had already been cleared by John, and luring more would be a waste of time. This task was perfect for Sini. "What?" Sini frowned, struggling to suppress her anger. She knew he wouldn''t be so kind and snapped, "Boss, I''m only level 1. If a me Spirit Fox even touches me, I''ll die." "Don''t worry, I won''t let you die," John replied. Sini rolled her eyes. She didn''t believe a single word Godyer said. She had died 17 times because of him! He was a demon. "Fine. If I die again, I won''t forgive you!" Determined toplete her task and regain her freedom, Sini reluctantly agreed. She charged towards a small group of me Spirit Foxes in the distance. Sini had a cunning n-this group had seven me Spirit Foxes. Godyer might be strong, but facing so many would be tough. She wanted him to taste death after killing her so many times. Nerves on edge, sini kept a close watch on the me Spirit Foxes'' movements, ready to dodge their magical attacks. Whoosh! Three fireballs roared towards her. She managed to dodge one, but the other two were unavoidable. "I was careless!" Sini thought, filled with despair. Now at level 1, her attributes were greatly reduced, leaving her no chance to dodge. Just as she closed her eyes, ready to meet her death again, she heard two explosions. Boom! Boom! Sini opened her eyes wide, utterly shocked. "How is this possible?" she muttered. A fireball and a wind de had precisely intercepted and destroyed the two fireballs from the me Spirit Foxes. "How did he do that?" Sini stared at Godyer, a strong desire to learn from him growing inside her. She wanted to ask but couldn''t bring herself to do it. Godyer was undoubtedly extraordinary. His control over his skills and his grasp of battlefield tactics were perfect. Otherwise it not make sense. "Hey, if you don''t want to die, get behind me!" Godyer''s impatient voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Sini quickly hid behind him, her mind racing with questions. John knew what she was thinking but didn''t bother to point it out. With his skills cooled down, he raised his hand, and fireballs and wind des flew out. Boom! Boom! A me Spirit Fox was instantly killed. The remaining six Foxesunched their attacks, sending six fireballs his way, enveloping him. John didn''t bother to dodge. He let the fireballs hit him, not even using Earth Shield. -1 -1 ... With his incredibly high magic resistance, the me Spirit Foxes'' attacks couldn''t prate his defense, only chipping away 1 HP at a time. Sini was once again deeply shocked. She nced at the party interface showing Godyer''s information and couldn''t believe it. "Is he really only level 9?" [The party has killed me Spirit Foxes. You gain 10 experience points.] The notification shed. Normally, experience points would be divided in a party, reducing efficiency. But with Godyer, Sini''s leveling efficiency hadn''t decreased-it had increased dramatically. Seeing Sini still in a daze, John urged, "Don''t just stand there, keep luring the monsters!" Sini snapped out of it, ring at Godyer. He was clearly using her as a workhorse. Determined to gain his trust, Sini continued to lure more me Spirit Foxes, willing to endure for her mission. Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Talent Enhancement, AOE Attack Magic Chapter 12: Talent Enhancement, AOE Attack Magic ? [Kill me Spirit Foxes, gain 10 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, gain 1 point of Spirit] [umte 100 Killing Points, Plunder talent special effect 1 enhanced] [Kill ordinary monsters, 20% chance to Plunder their attribute points] The notification shed. John was overjoyed. With the enhanced Plunder talent, the chance to plunder attribute points had doubled! He could now gain the 500 Spirit points even faster. Both the Plunder talent and the Wrath of the Gods talent can up the level And seemed to have limitless growth potential. The next Plunder talent enhancement required 1000 Killing Points, while the Wrath of the Gods talent needed 31 more first-tier monsters to upgrade. Feeling motivated, John quickened his pace in killing the me Spirit Foxes. Meanwhile, Sini was struggling. She couldn''t lure the monsters fast enough to keep up with John''s killing speed. Another five me Spirit Foxes fell. Sini copsed to the ground, panting heavily. "Boss, can you slow down a bit? I can''t keep up." The rapid increase in experience points was satisfying, but running back and forth was exhausting. John nced at Sini and said calmly, "You have two choices: keep luring the monsters, or I can send you back to the novice vige for free." "You!" Sini gritted her teeth. This Godyer was a devil who didn''t understand pity. "Damn this jerk!" she cursed inwardly, dragging her tired body to continue luring the monsters. Fortunately, her level had increased to 4, significantly boosting her Agility. Luring the monsters was no longer dangerous. Sini moved nimbly, weaving through the dense forest to attract as many me Spirit Foxes as possible. At one point, she managed to lure ten me Spirit Foxes, thinking it would trouble Godyer, but he handled them effortlessly. Monster! This guy was definitely a monster! Realizing Godyer''s immense strength, Sini stopped trying to y tricks. Boom! Suddenly, a fireball exploded in front of her, sending her flying and nearly killing her with over 100 points of damage. Sini Startled, and saw arge me Spirit Fox engulfed in mes ring at her. A boss! She turned and fled, shouting, "Boss, save me! It''s the leader boss!" John''s eyes lit up with excitement. Finally, another boss. Last time, he had plundered the Wind de skill from the Green Snake boss. He wondered what he would plunder this time. The me Spirit Fox boss, along with seven me Spirit Foxes, was hot on Sini''s heels. John quickly intervened,unching a fireball at the me Spirit Fox boss. Boom! -231 A significant damage number appeared, and the me Spirit Fox boss let out a wail of agony, its eyes filled with terror. A single spell from this human had knocked out a quarter of its health. The me Spirit Foxes abandoned Sini, turning their attention to John. Whoosh! A massive fireball appeared and instantly shot towards John. Boom! -54 An explosion followed, with the heat wave sweeping over John, reducing his health by 54 points, nearly half of his total. The me Spirit Fox boss was at the first tier of level 10, capable of casting advanced beginner-level spells like therge Fireball. John couldn''t afford to be careless. The gap between their levels and tiers was substantial. Sini, seeing Godyer dodging awkwardly, felt a pang of concern, "Could he be in danger?" She quickly caught herself, thinking, "Wait, why am I worried about him? I should hope both he and the me Spirit Fox boss take each other out." Whoosh! mes surged as the me Spirit Fox boss cast another spell. Sini, gripping her dagger tightly, hesitated about whether to help Godyer. At that moment, a wind de whistled through the air, hitting the me Spirit Fox boss with precision. Boom! -230 The mes surged, and the me Spirit Fox boss was stunned. Its spell had been forcibly interrupted. "How...how did he do that?" Sini was shocked, recognizing John''s deliberate skill from her training in Ancient Martial Arts. Skill intercepting a magic attack. Skill interrupting the enemy''s spellcasting. This Godyer was more terrifying than she had imagined. Aron had provoked this guy and would likely pay a heavy price. Sini, enved for years and filled with hatred for Aron, eagerly anticipated a direct confrontation between Godyer and Aron. Boom! Boom! The me Spirit Fox boss was repeatedly struck by two spells, its health plummeting to nearly nothing. "Screech!" With a final cry, the me Spirit Fox boss''s mes extinguished, and it fell to the ground, dropping two items-a staff and a pair of boots. [Killed Level 10 me Spirit Fox boss, gained 20 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, acquired skill Fire Rain] [Fire Rain: Level 1, deals fire magic damage equal to 30% of spirit to targets within range; consumes 15 mana, 10-second cooldown] Area damage magic! John was thrilled to have plundered an area damage spell. Compared to single-target skills, area damage spells were far rarer. In his previous life, even a basic area damage skill book was worth 10,000 gold coins, and it was hard to find. John never expected to get an area damage spell before leaving the beginner''s vige. In addition, the me Spirit Fox boss dropped two pieces of equipment. [me Staff: Common, usable by a Tier 1 mage; +10 magic damage, +5 fire magic damage] [Wind Boots: Common, usable by a Tier 1 profession; +7 speed] Both items were ofmon quality for Tier 1, but the me Staff added two attributes. Unfortunately, John couldn''t use it right now. Sini approached, her eyes longing as she saw the Wind Boots'' attributes. For an assassin, speed and physical damage were the most crucial attributes. John ignored her desire and stored both the me Staff and Wind Boots, saying, "Stop cking, keep pulling monsters." "You!" Sini stomped her foot, gritting her teeth. "I curse you to be single forever!" She had never met someone like this before. Usually, any man who saw her had ulterior motives, but Godyer was different. It wasn''t that he was ying hard to get; it seemed like he was just intentionally giving her a hard time. "Does he know who I am?" Sini wondered, ncing warily at Godyer before continuing to lure monsters. John didn''t notice her change in expression. He had six unassigned skill points from hisst level-up, perfect for upgrading Fire Rain. [Fire Rain: Level 7, deals fire magic damage equal to 60% of spirit to targets within range; consumes 15 mana, 10-second cooldown] With his high spirit attribute, the damage of the Level 7 Fire Rain reached 256 points. Two casts of Fire Rain could wipe out a group of me Spirit Foxes. John''s efficiency in killing the me Spirit Foxes increased dramatically, leaving Sini exhausted as she continuously attracted more. ... [Sessfully killed 100 Tier 1 monsters, Wrath of the Gods talent upgraded to Level D, now 30% cooldown reduction] [Next upgrade requirement: Kill 1000 Tier 1 monsters, Wrath of the Gods can be upgraded to Level C] Notifications shed. The Wrath of the Gods talent had been upgraded to Level D, providing a 30% cooldown reduction. Fireball and Wind de now had a cooldown of 2.1 seconds, and Fire Rain had a cooldown of 7 seconds. Each level-up in Wrath of the Gods provided a 10% cooldown reduction. John couldn''t imagine how powerful this talent would be at SSS level. The next upgrade required killing 1000 Tier 1 monsters, which wasn''t a problem for him. After dealing with two more me Spirit Foxes, he looked at the stunned Sini and said, "Keep going." Sini, with a resigned expression, spread her hands and said, "There are no more." John realized that the surrounding me Spirit Foxes had been cleared out. His spirit attribute had increased by another 7 points, and his agility by 2 points, bringing his spirit attribute to 164. He was closer to the 500 spirit points needed to break Dino''s curse. Unfortunately, there weren''t enough me Spirit Foxes, and their respawn rate couldn''t keep up with John''s killing speed. The area did have packs of Bloodthirsty Demon Wolves, but they were known for their strength and agility, which wouldn''t help in plundering spirit attributes. "Godyer," Sini said with a mischievous smile, "I just got word that the Wind and Cloud Guild is hunting a boss. Should we go ''help''?" She emphasized the word "help" with a hint of sarcasm. Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Snatching the Boss, Aron in Despair Chapter 13: Snatching the Boss, Aron in Despair ? "Oh?" John gazed intently at Sini. His first thought was that this could be a trap set by Aron, or perhaps Sini was trying to use him against Aron. Thetter seemed more likely. Sini had always wanted to escape Aron''s control, and even kill him, but the ve contract bound her to Aron''smands. John became interested and asked, "Tell me more." Sini, unaware of John''s inner thoughts, exined, "The Wind and Cloud Guild found a Level 10 elite boss, Earth Armed Bear, in the wild. They''re organizing their members to kill it. Should we take advantage of the situation?" Earth Armed Bear? John was surprised. Aron''s luck was extraordinary. In the previous life, it was not the Wind and Cloud Guild but another guild, the Overlord Guild, that discovered and killed the Earth Armed Bear boss. However, the Overlord Guild waster absorbed by Aron. John remembered that the Earth Armed Bear guarded the path from the beginner vige to the Level 1 city. The first kill would grant attribute points and drop a hidden dungeon scroll. These rewards must not fall into Aron''s hands, especially the hidden dungeon scroll. John looked at Sini and said, "Take me there." "Okay." Sini opened the map, identified the coordinates, and headed towards the Earth Armed Bear boss. ... In another part of the forest, overgrown with wild grass, an ancient pathy hidden. Bang, bang... The sounds of battle echoed through the area. Hundreds of yers were besieging a ck giant bear. The bear stood upright, towering over four meters tall, with a massive frame. Each swing of its giant paws took down two to three yers at a time. The knights at the forefront were terrified. This colossal creature was beyond their capability to handle. Aron stood at the rear of the crowd, his expression indifferent, and shouted, "No one retreats! Anyone who dies will bepensated with ten thousand dor!" With such a reward, everyone seemed to be fueled with adrenaline, recklessly charging at the bear despite the danger. Next to Aron was a burly man dressed as a warrior. Watching the white shes of death in the battlefield, he frowned and said, "Brother Unrivaled, isn''t this too cruel? The yers now aren''t strong enough to deal with this giant bear." The man was the leader of the Overlord Guild, Overlord. He was the one who discovered the hidden boss and,cking the strength to take it down, sold the information to the Wind and Cloud Guild. Aron nced at him and replied indifferently, "Great achievements require sacrifice. Besides, these people aren''t really dying." Overlord frowned, disagreeing with Aron''s philosophy. While in-game death wasn''t real, it still inflicted significant mental harm. No one could guarantee that frequent in-game deaths wouldn''t affect real-life mental health. The Earth Armed Bear had already been sold to the Wind and Cloud Guild, so Overlord held his tongue and continued observing the battle. Boom! Suddenly, the Earth Armed Bear mmed the ground, causing spikes of earth to surge up, engulfing the archers and mage squads in the rear. Screams echoed, and white lights shed as a dozen ranged yers were instantly killed. Aron''s face darkened; the ranged yers were the main attackers and couldn''t afford heavy casualties. Seeing the Earth Armed Bear preparing another attack, he quickly ordered, "Mages, archers, spread out! Knights and warriors, get up front and don''t give the Earth Armed Bear any chance to use its skills." The knights and warriors fearlessly charged forward, managing to temporarily suppress the Earth Armed Bear. Arrows rained down and spells whizzed through the air, striking the massive bear. Most attacks couldn''t even prate its defenses, dealing only 1 point of forced damage. However, with hundreds of people attacking simultaneously, the cumtive damage was still significant. The Earth Armed Bear''s 2000 health points had been halved after several rounds of attacks. ... John and Sini hid in the thick grass, watching the battle unfold. At that moment, the Earth Armed Bear unleashed another powerful attack, instantly killing over twenty archers and mages. The level 10 elite boss was far stronger than a head boss. Sini felt a chill down her spine and looked at Godyer beside her, asking, "Big shot, can you handle this big guy?" John shook his head. The Earth Armed Bear had high physical and magical resistances and possessed long-range area skills. Even if he could kill it, it woulde at a significant cost. But he didn''t need to defeat the Earth Armed Bear head-on. John was well aware of Aron''s tactics. Aron would sacrifice guild members to whittle down the boss''s health, then deliver the killing blow himself. John kept a close eye on the Earth Armed Bear''s health. Soon, it had dropped to just over 300, and the Earth Armed Bear became enraged, breaking through the knights'' defensive formation and charging towards the mages and archers in the back. "Stay here," John instructed Sini, preparing to make his move. The grass rustled as he quickly advanced. Everyone''s attention was on the Earth Armed Bear, so no one noticed John. "Young master!" Matt appeared beside Aron like a ghost, reporting, "It''s down to 30 health points. Be careful." Aron nodded, immediatelymanding, "Everyone stop attacking! Knights and warriors, keep it busy." The archers and mages retreated while the warriors and knights used their lives to block the Earth Armed Bear, giving Aron a chance to strike. Boom, boom... Explosions rang out as yers were continually killed. Aron remained unfazed, switching to a long spear and seizing the moment to charge at the Earth Armed Bear. Whoosh! A fireball suddenly flew toward him. Aron quickly rolled to the ground, narrowly dodging the fireball aimed not at him, but at the Earth Armed Bear. Aron, furious, turned to the mage squad and yelled, "Who attacked?" "Boss, it''s Godyer!" a yer recognized John and hastily warned. "Godyer?" Aron was stunned, then quickly realized that this guy was trying to steal the boss kill! Boom! -27 The fireball hit the Earth Armed Bear, dealing 27 damage. The bear still wasn''t dead. It had 3 health points left. Aron breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the boss had high magical resistance; otherwise, all their efforts would have been in vain. "Stop him, now!" Aron, panicking, gave the order and rushed towards the Earth Armed Bear, knowing that with only 3 health points left, one hit would kill it. And novice mages can only master one skill with a 3-second cooldown, so Godyer wouldn''t have time to make another move. Aron, feeling confident, suddenly heard a gust of wind behind him. A wind de swiftly caught up with him. Godyer had a second skill!? Aron''s eyes widened in fear and despair. The wind de was only 0.1 seconds faster than his spear, striking the Earth Armed Bear. [Novice Vige Announcement: yer Godyer has in the hidden boss Earth Armed Bear in Novice Vige, opening the passage to Jade City. Reward: 10 free attribute points, 1 skill point.] [yers can leave Novice Vige and proceed to Jade City for job advancement after reaching level 10.] The vige announcement echoed. "No!" Aron roared in despair and fury, his eyes bloodshot as he red at John. "Godyer, I''ll tear you to pieces..." Boom! A fireball hit him, and his voice was abruptly cut off as he was instantly killed. "He killed our guild leader!" "Get him! Avenge the boss!" ... The Wind and Cloud Guild members cursed and charged at John. He sneered, casting Fire Rain, and a wave of white lights shed as the weak yers were instantly killed. Amid the chaos, a graceful figure appeared, leaving trails of white lights in her wake. It was Sini. She ughtered the Wind and Cloud Guild yers without hesitation, seeing it as an opportunity to earn Godyer''s trust. In just a few minutes, the remaining hundred-plus yers of the Wind and Cloud Guild were ughtered by the two individuals. Only Overlord, the leader of the Overlord Guild, had the presence of mind to flee immediately. The money from selling the boss was already in his ount, so there was no need to risk his life for Aron. ... Novice Vige resurrection point. Aron''s face was as dark as night, his chest heaving, eyes burning with rage. "Cough!" Overwhelmed with anger, Aron spat out a mouthful of blood. "Young master?" Matt was startled, quickly supporting the staggering Aron. Aron steadied himself with difficulty, his voice trembling as he asked, "Matt, how much did we lose this time?" Matt remained silent for a moment, then sighed, "At least seventy million..." "Seventy million!" Aron''s face turned pale, his teeth gritted. He knew the losses extended far beyond the mary value. Two consecutive devastating blows had left the Wind and Cloud Guild in disarray, making it nearly impossible to reorganize. Taking a deep breath to quell his fury, Aron coldlymanded, "Order Sini. She has two days -just two days-to get Godyer''s real information, or she''ll lose her freedom forever!" With that, he logged off abruptly. ... Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Lucky Attribute, Secret Area of Goblin Chapter 14: Lucky Attribute, Secret Area of Goblin ? At this moment, John was examining the rewards for ying the boss. 10 free attribute points and 1 skill point. The Plunder talent had activated, but this time, instead of obtaining a skill or talent, he plundered 2 points of luck. "It can plunder luck!" John was pleasantly surprised. These 2 points of luck were even more valuable than skills in his eyes. The luck attribute is a hidden fixed attribute that cannot be increased by any means. 1 point of luck increases the sess rate of probability events by 1%. This includes the drop rate of items from monsters, equipment enhancement sess rates, and the trigger probabilities of hidden attributes such as critical hits andbos. Most importantly, it also increases the probability of Plunder talent activation. In addition, the Earth Armed Bear had also dropped 1 skill stone, 1 enhancement stone, a rare piece of equipment, and a scroll. [Armed Bear Belt: Rare] Equipment Requirements: Above 1st Tier Profession] [+50 Health Points] [Additional Attribute Bonus: +2 Constitution] It turned out to be a rare essory. In the world of Gods, equipment is divided into eight types: weapons, helmets, clothes, shoes, belts, bracers, rings, and nes. Among them, belts, bracers, rings, and nes are essories with lower drop rates. The quality of equipment is further divided intomon, rare, epic, legendary, and artifact. The corresponding boss must be killed to have a chance to drop them. Additionally, yers with high-level forging talents can also create high-quality equipment. The belt required a 1st tier profession to equip, which John couldn''t use, so he stored it away. Then, he picked up the scroll, which he was most eager about. [Secret Area of Goblin:essible to yers above level 10 and 1st tier, contains the treasure of goblins.] This also required a 1st tier level 10 yer, so John had no choice but to store it away. The Earth Armed Bear had also dropped a skill stone and an enhancement stone. John used the skill stone to gain 1 skill point directly. The enhancement stone could enhance the basic attributes of equipment, but lower quality equipment wasn''t worth upgrading. "Big shot, why haven''t you reached level 10 yet?" Sini asked curiously after picking up the items dropped by the yers and noticing John''s level. She had encountered John at level 9 and had leveled up to 10 herself, yet John was still at level 9. John ignored her question and allocated the newly acquired 10 free attribute points to his spirit attribute. His spirit attribute reached 174 points, and Fire Rain was also upgraded to level 9, slightly increasing its damage. Afterpleting these adjustments, John looked at Sini and said indifferently, "Sini, we need to talk." "Huh?" Sini''s eyes widened like a startled deer. She stepped back, a dagger appearing in her hand, staring coldly at John. "How...how do you know my name?" She had never revealed her real name to Godyer. John nced at Sini and said calmly, "No need to be nervous. I mean you no harm. Now, tell me, what does Aron want you to do by approaching me?" Sini scoffed at Godyer''s words. No harm? You killed me 17 times! She sheathed her dagger but remained wary, saying, "Aron wants me to get your real identity information in exchange for my freedom." She did not hide the truth. The fact that he knew her identity indicated that he must have a significant background in the real world. Deceiving him would easily be seen through. John sneered, fully aware of Aron''s nature. In the previous life, Aron had handed Sini over to him but still did not grant her freedom, intending to spy on him secretly. When John eventually found out, Aron had to return Sini''s ve contract to cate him. "You didn''t actually believe that, did you? That''s incredibly naive," John scoffed disdainfully. "You!" Sini was furious but didn''t dare make a move. For a mage, being close to an assassin was taboo, but she had a feeling she couldn''t kill Godyer. John continued, "My real name is John. This is my address information. Give it to Aron and see if he lets you go." He directly gave Sini his previous address information. With Ritchie having hidden his identity information, John wasn''t worried about Aron finding out anything. Sini stared at John, utterly confused. "What do you mean by this?" Godyer knew her purpose, so why give her his identity information? Was it false information? John saw through her thoughts and said, "The identity information is correct. I just want to help you." "Help me?" Sini was even more puzzled. John continued, "But don''t get your hopes up. Aron won''t let you go." "Wait a minute," Sini said and immediately logged out. John knew she was going to take his identity information to Aron, hoping to trade it for her freedom. But she was destined to be disappointed. John opened his friends list, which only had two names: Ritchie and Sini. At the moment, Ritchie was online. John sent him a private message. Godyer: "Ritchie, I need another favor." Ritchie: "Speak." Godyer: "You know Aron from the Smith family in the Imperial Capital, right? I need someone from his side." John provided Sini''s identity information to Ritchie. Ritchie: "I thought it was something big. Just a heads-up, these big families are quite ruthless. Don''t let beauty cloud your judgment." Godyer: "You''re overthinking it." Ritchie: "We''re all men here. No need to hide it. One call and it''s done." After sending the message, Ritchie logged off. ... In the real world, at the Smith family mansion in the Imperial Capital, Sini had just given Aron John''s identity information. Matt was busy at theputer verifying the information, his frown deepening. Aron, his face pale, looked at Matt and urged, "How is it?" "Young master, it''s a bit tricky," Matt said gravely, turning the monitor to Aron. On the screen, a massive information box shed with the words: "ACCESS DENIED!" "No, that can''t be!" Aron''s eye twitched in disbelief. Not being able to ess the information meant the person was beyond his reach. Aron couldn''t ept this reality. Beside him, Sini had grown impatient and urged again, "Is the verification done? Can I have my freedom back now?" Hearing Sini''s words, a ruthless glint shed in Aron''s eyes. He then put on a friendly smile, appearing approachable, "Sini, it seems John is quite fond of you." Sini frowned, taking a step back. Aron''s smile made her feel sick. She extended her hand, coldly saying, "Give me the ve contract!" Aron remained unmoved and calmly said, "How about this: you stay by John''s side and keep an eye on him. Once I get useful information, I''ll naturally grant you your freedom." "No way." Sini rejected him outright. "From now on, I won''t do anything for you." The smile on Aron''s face vanished, reced by a cold stare. Just as he was about to speak, the phone on the table rang. Ring ring... Matt answered the call, his expression growing serious. He handed the phone to Aron and whispered, "Young master, it''s Ritchie from Old Town City." "What?" Aron eximed, hastily taking the phone. His tone shifted to one of utmost respect, a stark contrast to his previous demeanor. "Mr.Ritchie, it''s really you..." Aron said, his face full of smiles, nodding repeatedly. After ending the call, his smile disappeared entirely. Aron looked at Sini, struggling to contain his anger. "I am no longer your master. You can leave now." Sini was puzzled, not understanding what Aron meant. She vaguely suspected this had something to do with John. Without asking further, she turned and left. No matter what, escaping Aron''s grasp was her priority. As Sini departed, Aron copsed onto the sofa, his face pale with fear. Matt, confused, quickly asked, "Young master, what happened?" Aron took a deep breath, regaining someposure, and said, "This John is closely connected to Ritchie. This time, we have to ept our loss..." ... Sini immediately logged into the world of Gods. Sure enough, John was still waiting in the same ce. "Did you do this?" Sini scrutinized John, curious about his identity. He seemed to be someone even Aron didn''t dare to defy. John hadn''t expected Ritchie to act so swiftly. He nodded and said, "I have your ve contract now. This is my current address. Come over." Ritchie had already ensured Aron would transfer Sini''s ve contract to him, and it would be delivered the next day. Hearing John''s words, Sini''s face turned pale, a self-deprecating smile appearing on her lips. She felt foolish for naively believing she would gain her freedom. Out of the wolf''s den and into the tiger''sir, Sini had resigned herself to her fate. Looking at John, she said inly, "I understand. I''lle right away." Before John could respond, Sini''s figure disappeared from where she stood. Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Signing the Contract and Subduing Sini Chapter 15: Signing the Contract and Subduing Sini ? John was puzzled when Sini logged off so abruptly. Even if she longed for freedom, was there really such a need to rush? Holding the Secret Area of Goblin in his hand, John had nned to ask Sini for help. The Secret Area of Goblin contained level 15 goblin mages inrge numbers. If everything went as expected, one trip to the Secret Area of Goblin could John over 300 points in mental attributes through his Plunder ability. However, the Secret Area of Goblin required yers to be at least level 10 and of the first tier to enter. He needed Sini to lead the team into the area. "I guess I''ll have to wait until she logs back in," John thought, ncing at the spot where Sini had disappeared. He decided to head back to the me Spirit Foxes'' territory to continue hunting them and increasing his mental attributes. ... [Congrattions! You have sessfully killed 1000 tier 1 beasts. Your Wrath of the Gods talent has advanced to grade C, granting 40% skill cooldown reduction.] [Next upgrade requirement: Kill 10,000 tier 2 beasts. Wrath of the Gods can be upgraded to grade B.] The notifications shed before John''s eyes. After a full day and night of fighting, John finally advanced his Wrath of the Gods talent to grade C, gaining a 40% reduction in skill cooldowns. However, the next upgrade would require him to kill 10,000 tier 2 beasts. Tier 2 beasts ranged from level 30 to 60, far beyond what could be found in the novice vige. This meant he would have to wait until he left the novice vige to continue upgrading the Wrath of the Gods talent. Still, the 40% skill cooldown reduction was already an impressive boost. ... After a full day and night of battle, John managed to plunder an additional 57 points in mental attributes and 8 points in agility. His mental attribute now stood at 231 points, bringing him closer to the 500-point goal. John rubbed his forehead, feeling the strain. "I need to log off and rest," he said wearily. The nutrient solution in the advanced game pod can replenish mental energy. However, continuous fighting for an entire day and night is physically exhausting, and rest is still needed to recover physical strength. Of course, in the world of Gods, one can also rest. However, it is not safe to do so in the wilderness, and John doesn''t want to waste a concealment talisman. ... Returning to the real world, John saw it was just past noon. Sini''s ve contract had arrived the previous afternoon. Returning it to her would grant her freedom. After a quick shower and a bite to eat, John went back to his room to rest. ... In the early evening, the doorbell woke John from his nap. "Who is it?" John asked, feeling a bit annoyed. Only Ritchie knew his location, so he rarely had visitors. Opening the door, he found an absolutely stunning woman standing there, looking at him with a slightly dazed expression. "Sini!" John recognized her instantly, a smile spreading across his face. Memories of their time together flooded back as if they had happened just yesterday. But recalling how Sini had left without a word in the previous life, John''s smile turned into a frown of anger. "You... you are Godyer?" Sini asked, uncertain. The young man before her, handsome and dashing, seemedpletely different from the cold Godyer she knew in the World of Gods. Seeing the smile on John''s face, Sini''s cheeks turned red, and her heart began to race. "Come in," John said, stepping aside to let her in. Sini entered the vi, curiously ncing around. The simple yetfortable decorcked any opulent feel, making the space feel inviting. "Wait here for a moment," John said as he walked into the bedroom. He returned shortly, holding Sini''s ve contract. "Your ve contract arrived yesterday." Sini looked at the contract in John''s hand, her fists clenched and lips pressed together in determination. "I can follow your orders, but I have my limits. There are things I will not do, and you cannot force me. That''s my bottom line!" John looked at Sini in confusion, then simply handed her the contract. "What are you talking about? Haven''t you always wanted to be free? From now on, you''re free." "What?" Sini stared at John, dumbfounded. "Aren''t you going to enve me?" John shook his head. "You''re free now." Sini stared at the contract in her hands, feeling lost. She had no idea what to do next. Then, a self-mocking smile appeared on her face. She had been raised as a ve and amodity by her Ancient Martial Arts Family. Freedom was a foreign concept to her. Even with the contract in hand, her family would just capture her and trade her again. Sini looked at John, making up her mind. A dagger slipped from her sleeve into her hand, and she quickly stepped forward, cutting John''s finger. His blood dripped onto the contract. John was taken aback, unable to react in time. He red at Sini, "What are you doing?" Sini grinned, holding up the bloodstained contract. "The contract is sealed. From now on, you are my master." John was puzzled. "Didn''t you want to be free?" With a ripping sound, Sini tore the contract in front of John. She said calmly, "This is true freedom. From now on, I can only be your servant. You can never trade me to anyone else." John was speechless, unable toprehend her intentions. Sini stepped closer, nearly pressing against John. She looked up at him, her breath warm against his skin. "Master, you killed me seventeen times. You owe mepensation seventeen times. Wait for me in the bedroom..." Blushing, Sini quickly ran to the bathroom before John could respond. Listening to the sound of running water from the bathroom, John''s mind was filled with images of Sini''s beautiful face and alluring figure. But this time, if she dared to leave without a word again, he would surely break her legs! John was still resentful of Sini''s abrupt departure in the previous life. This time, he vowed to protect her and never let her go again. ... John returned to the bedroom. After a while, the bedroom door opened. Sini, with her hair still damp and wearing John''s oversized shirt, which barely concealed her curves, entered the room with a shy, blushing face, like a budding flower. Gulp! John swallowed hard. Before he could react, Sini had already slipped into bed. "Master, seventeen times!" Sini''s body trembled slightly from nerves, but her face remained stubborn as she spoke. "You better not regret it!" John smirked and yanked off Sini''s shirt. Sini let out a gasp, her bodyid bare. Her proud, perky breasts, t stomach, and tightly closed legs with a hidden, intimate garden were fully revealed. John climbed onto her, gently teasing her breasts. Sini responded awkwardly and clumsily to John''s touch. As the tension between them grew, her stiff body gradually rxed. John pressed on, diving in deeply. Sini cried out in pain, clutching the bed sheets tightly, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes. "Master, it hurts..." John slowed down, tenderly licking away her tears and soothing her tense nerves. Once Sini had rxed and adjusted, John renewed his fierce assault. Sini regretted it. She lost count of how many times John had brought her to climax, yet he remained as firm as ever, seemingly endless. "Master, I was wrong, please forgive me," Sini pleaded in distress. But John had no intention of letting her off. He whispered softly in her ear, "Seventeen times, this is just the first." Sini''s body trembled, and she shook her head repeatedly. "Master, I was joking. I know I was wrong. Please, just give me..." Her pleas only fueled John''s desire for conquest. Sini''s voice grew hoarse, and she cried out in pain. Why was John so strong? Despite being an Ancient Martial Arts practitioner with a body far superior to ordinary people, she couldn''t handle it. John, it seemed, was as powerful in this as he was in everything else, profoundly deep and strong. Finally, just as Sini felt she might faint, she sensed John''s climax. A scalding hot flow surged into her deepest parts, igniting every nerve. Sini let out a long moan, her limbs clinging tightly to John with all their strength. The exquisite sensation reached every cell, making her feel as if she were in paradise... Sini let out a sigh, her bodypletely spent, too exhausted to move even a finger. "Sini, this was only the first time," John''s devilish voice whispered in her ear. Sini''s body stiffened. Only then did she realize John was still standing tall, seemingly even harder than before. "Master, I''m sorry, I truly am. Please, have mercy on me," she begged repeatedly. She didn''t know if John could actually manage seventeen times, but she was sure she couldn''t take it any longer. Chapter 16: Chapter 16:Wonderful Experience, Entering The Secret Area Chapter 16:Wonderful Experience, Entering The Secret Area ? John knew that Sini, being a first-timer, couldn''t handle too much. He gently pulled her into his arms and softly said, "We''ll save the rest forter. Get some rest." Sini bit her lip, making up her mind. "Master, I have an idea. But you can''t peek." With that, she slid under the covers. John was taken aback, not expecting what came next. He felt a warm, soft sensation envelop him. That incredible feeling was like an electric current, coursing through his entire body. He nearly gave in, but managed to hold back. Sini buried her head deeper, her mouth filledpletely. It felt ufortable at first, but she quickly adjusted. Contrary to what she''d read online, it didn''t have an unpleasant smell. Instead, it had a unique scent she found oddly captivating. Her movements were clumsy, slow as she sucked and moved her hand up and down his length in rhythm. John''s moans of pleasure spurred her on, making her movements more confident and vigorous. At one point, John''s member touched the back of her throat. It hurt, but she didn''t stop. Instead, she worked harder. Five minutes passed... Then ten... Then twenty... John was still going strong. Sini''s neck was stiff, her mouth numb. Tears welled up in her eyes from the effort. "Is my master''s thing made of iron?" she wondered, determined to see this through. Fighting back tears, she moved even faster, doing everything she could to bring John to climax. Finally, after another thirty minutes, John reached his limit. "Xiaoyu, get up. I''m about toe," he warned. But Sini ignored him, gripping him tighter and sucking harder. With a deep groan, John couldn''t hold back anymore, releasing his heat. Ahem. Sini swallowed repeatedly. John, surprised, quickly said, "Sini, you don''t have to swallow." But she didn''t stop until she had drained every drop, then, emerging from under the covers. She looked up at John, her eyes sparkling, her sweat-dampened hair clinging to her forehead, making her look even more alluring. With a satisfied smile, Sini said, "Master, I want to keep your taste forever. I''ll go freshen up." She hobbled out of bed, wincing in pain, and made her way to the bathroom. Listening to the sound of running water, John smiled, reliving the pleasurable moments. ... The next morning, Sini''s pained moans and pleas for mercy filled the room once more. After two more hours of relentless lovemaking, John finally let her rest, satisfied. "Master, is it toote to regret?" Siniy exhausted on the bed, looking at John with weary eyes. With a mischievous grin, John stroked her smooth, soft skin and asked softly, "What do you think?" Sini trembled, her face filled with fear as she noticed John was aroused again. She quickly said, "I''ll go make breakfast." She forced herself to endure the difort and hurriedly ran out of bed. Sini knew that if John continued, she wouldn''t be able to get out of bed at all today. John sighed, a bit disappointed, but let her go. He got up, washed up, and helped Sini set up her game pot. Sini had left the Smith family with nothing. So John had bought the game podst night, which was delivered this morning. It was just the basic model. But it was more than enough for Sini since she didn''t enjoy staying in the game for long periods. After a simple breakfast, John and Sini entered the game together. John reappeared in the me Spirit Foxes'' territory. In one day, over a hundred me Spirit Foxes had respawned. Squeak, squeak... The me Spirit Foxes noticed John and screeched as they rushed toward him. John remained calm, waved his staff, and cast Fire Rain. A shower of fire covered a dozen me Spirit Foxes. Their piercing screams echoed as the dozen me Spirit Foxes were instantly killed. Notification messages shed. [You have in a level 10 me Spirit Fox, gaining 20 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, +1 to mental attribute.] ... [You have umted 1000 kill points, enhancing Plunder talent effect 1, unlocking a new effect.] The Plunder talent had strengthened once more. John was overjoyed and quickly checked his status. [Plunder Talent: SSS-level, unique] [Effect 1: Killing ordinary monsters has a 20% chance of plundering their attribute points and a 1% chance of plundering special attributes.] [Effect 2: Killing boss-level enemies can permanently grant one of their skills, talents, or special attributes.] [Effect 3: Killing monsters doubles the drop rate of items, with a chance to dropmon or premium equipment.] [Effect 4: Killing monsters grants kill points; the stronger the monster, the more points earned. Reaching 100,000 points can enhance the talent. Current kill points: 13.] After the enhancement, the Plunder talent could now plunder special attributes from ordinary monsters, although the probability was only 1%. What surprised John the most was the newly unlocked effect. That is killing monsters doubled the drop rate of items, with a chance to drop equipment. In the world of Gods, the drop rate for items, especially equipment, was very low, with bosses being the main source. Now, with the enhanced Plunder talent, even ordinary monsters could drop equipment. Although only up to premium quality for now. As the talent further improved, the quality of dropped equipment could likely increase. Squeak, squeak... More me Spirit Foxes screeched and rushed toward him. John closed the attribute interface and continued fighting. Fireball, Wind de, and Fire Rain, alternating between the three skills. With his powerful magical damage, the me Spirit Foxes were killed before they could even touch John. Soon, the over a hundred me Spirit Foxes that had respawned around him were all ughtered. John gained 21 mental attributes and 3 agility points. In addition, two pieces of equipment had dropped. A light leather armor with +5 defense and an Adamantine Sword with +7 physical damage. John stored them all in his inventory. "Master!" At this moment, a graceful figure came running over; it was Sini. "I''m back," Sini said, her face filled with joy as she looked John up and down. Feeling a bit ufortable under her gaze, John said, "You can just call me by my name. ''Master'' sounds a bit weird." He had never treated Sini as a ve. "I won''t," Sini said stubbornly, wrapping her arm around John''s. "You look better in reality." John was speechless and changed the topic. "Have youpleted your ss advancement?" Sini nodded enthusiastically, looking proud. "Master, I''m now a 1st-level Shadow Assassin." With her ss advancement, she had also learned two new skills and was curious if she could now match up to John. However, she decided against trying. She knew how powerful John was. Even as a 1st-level Shadow Assassin, she was no match for him. "Master, here''s the Magic Poison you asked for," Sini said, taking out over a hundred bottles of Intermediate Magic Recovery Potions from her bag and handing them to John. John had specifically requested these. With his Wrath of the Gods talent providing a 40% skill cooldown reduction, his mana consumption was too fast to keep up with the recovery rate. John took the potions and handed the Secret Area of Goblin scroll to Sini, saying, "Let''s enter the Secret Area." Sini nodded, invited John to her party, and crushed the scroll. Buzz! A glow enveloped them, and with a spatial power fluctuation, they were transported to a forest. A gentle breeze blew, and the air was filled with birdsong and the scent of flowers, making it seem like a paradise. [Entering the 1st-level Secret Area of Goblin; Difficulty: Normal] [Completion Conditions: Obtain the Goblin treasure; S-level and above evaluations will receive additional item rewards] [The Secret Area will disappear upon death or obtaining the Goblin treasure] Notification messages shed. The Secret Areas had difficulty levels ranging from Normal, Brave, Hero, King, to Hell. The higher the difficulty, the more challenging thepletion conditions. Sini looked around curiously. "Master, is this the Secret Area? It doesn''t seem dangerous." As soon as she finished speaking, a squad of Goblin soldiers emerged from the forest. "Intruders!" With a roar, the Goblin soldiers charged at them with their spears. "Master, leave this to me!" Sini''s eyes sparkled. She wanted to impress John after her ss advancement and rushed forward. Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Slaying Goblins, Frenzied Attribute Boost Chapter 17: ying Goblins, Frenzied Attribute Boost ? But in the next second, Sini''s face changed. St! -106 A Goblin''s thrust caused Sini to lose over a hundred health points in one strike. As an assassin, her health was already low, and this attack brought it to the brink. "Master, help! These guys are really strong!" Sini was startled, quickly drinking a low-level health potion, and hurriedly ran toward John. Seeing the Goblin soldiers closing in on her, John decisively took action. Whoosh! A Fire Rain spell enveloped the dozen Goblin soldiers. -354 -350 -356 ... Damage numbers shed as the Goblins let out ear-piercing screams. Next, a fireball and a Wind de followed. Boom! Boom! -389 -391 Two Goblins were instantly killed. With John''s 254 points in spirit attribute, these Goblins, with only 600 health points and 40 magic resistance, couldn''t withstand his two magical attacks. "Despicable human, how dare you harm the great Goblin race! Die!" the remaining eleven Goblin soldiers shouted angrily, abandoning Sini and charging at John with their spears. Sini quickly warned John, "Master, be careful, those guys are level 15." Facing the Goblin soldiers'' attack, John stood his ground, his staff swirling as earth elemental energy surged. An Earth Shield instantly appeared in front of him. St! St! The spears struck the Earth Shield. The Earth Shield trembled, then shattered into nothingness. John swiftly retreated, the Fire Rain spell cooling down, and cast it again. Whoosh! mes enveloped the eleven Goblins, instantly depleting their health. They screamed and fell to the ground. [You have killed a level 15 Goblin, gaining 15 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, strength attribute +1] [Plunder talent activated, strength attribute +1] ... Notification messages shed. John''s strength attribute increased by 2 points. While strength wasn''t hugely beneficial for him, it was better than nothing. He knew that Goblin mages were present in this Secret Area, though they hadn''t encountered any yet. "Master, there''s some gear!" Sini noticed a spear on the ground, picking it up excitedly. It was an ordinary-grade level one spear with +9 physical damage. Since neither John nor Sini could use it, John stored it in his Storage Ring to sellter. After clearing the battlefield, John looked at Sini. Sini sighed, knowing what John wanted. She extended her hand and said, "I''ll pull more mobs, but I want the Wind Boots." The Wind Boots added +7 speed, making her task of pulling monsters safer. John didn''t hesitate to give her the Wind Boots along with the excellent-quality Armed Bear Belt. These items didn''t provide much benefit to him but were perfect for Sini. Sini beamed at the Armed Bear Belt''s attributes and quickly put it on, eagerly heading off to pull more monsters. In reality, they didn''t need to attract more Goblins on purpose. The sounds of battle had already drawn the surrounding Goblins. "Intruders! Intruders spotted!" "Get them! Destroy the intruders!" ... Angry shouts echoed as dozens of Goblins emerged from the forest. John didn''t take any chances, backing off and using his magic skills while keeping his distance. Sini stood in front of John, using her agility to draw the Goblins'' attention and ease the pressure on him. As spells flew and screams echoed, Goblin soldiers fell one after another. Their teamwork became more seamless, and Sini''sbat skills improved significantly. She even managed to kill a lone Goblin soldier without taking any damage. ... Two hourster, the area was cleared of Goblin soldiers, leaving behind a field of corpses and scattered loot. Sini was thrilled, rummaging through the Goblin corpses and picking up scattered coins and equipment, muttering about striking it rich. Meanwhile, John checked the attributes he had plundered from the in Goblin soldiers. 180 points of strength, 15 points of constitution, 9 points of agility, and 3 points of spirit. His strength had reached an astonishing 187 points! Even elite level 20 assassins or warriors, who pursued maximum strength, wouldn''t have such high strength attributes. John couldn''t help but smile wryly, considering whether he should start hitting monsters with his staff. Additionally, he gained 5 points of attack speed and 2 points of physical critical hit. These were special attributes typically enhanced by talents or high-quality equipment. Five points of attack speed increased his attack speed by 5%, and two points of physical critical hit increased his physical critical hit rate by 2%. Unfortunately, these attributes were meant for physical sses and didn''t benefit a mage like him. Unless he decided to use his staff for melee attacks. "Master, I can''t use these items," Sini said, handing John a pile of coins and a dozen pieces of equipment she had gathered from the battlefield. These things are all she left after picking. She nced at John''s level, puzzled, "Master, why are you still at level 9?" In the same amount of time, she had already reached level 15, yet John''s level hadn''t changed at all. Sini suggested, "Maybe we should disband the party. That way, you could level up faster." John shook his head, not bothering to exin, "It''s not about the experience. Let''s keep going." He remembered that Goblin mages were supposed to be in this Secret Area, and there were quite a few of them. As long as his spirit attribute reaches 500 points, breaking the curse, he can start leveling up normally. It seems best to avoid provoking the powerful beings in the world of Gods for now. Especially those Dark Humans with their unpredictable methods. John and Sini ventured deeper into the dense forest. Soon, they encountered Goblins again-20th level Goblin warriors and archers. "I''ll draw them out," Sini said before John could speak, and she charged forward. Whoosh! With a sh of cold light, she struck a Goblin warrior. -81 Sini only managed to deal just over 80 points of damage. "Intruder, die!" The Goblin warrior roared, swinging its longsword at her. Startled, Sini retreated hastily and called out, "Master, these guys are much stronger!" John didn''t take any chances. He swung his staff, casting Fireball and Wind de. Boom! Boom! -426 -431 The damage numbers floated up. The 20th-level Goblin warriors had 1200 health points; John''s two spells weren''t enough to kill them in one shot. Then, a rain of fire fell. The Goblin warrior''s health was depleted, and it fell to the ground with a scream. [Killed 20th-level Goblin warrior, gained 20 experience points] The death of the Goblin warrior enraged the remaining Goblin warriors and archers. Whoosh! Arrows whistled through the air, targeting John and Sini. Seeing Sini dodging frantically, John shouted, "Sini, get behind me!" Whoosh! The power of earth surged, forming an Earth Shield that blocked most of the iing arrows. John quickly retreated, creating distance, and drank an Intermediate Magic Recovery Potion. He swung his staff, casting Fireball and Wind de repeatedly at the Goblin warriors and archers. -360 -422 -431 With various spells alternating, damage nu bers ted above Goblins'' heads, and they fell one after another. Despite this, John remained cautious, continuously dodging the iing arrows. He only had 230 health points and couldn''t withstand two hits from the Goblin warriors and archers. Boom! Thest Goblin archer was killed. Sini breathed a sigh of relief, still shaken, "Master, should we keep going?" Several times, she had nearly been shot by the Goblin archers and had to hide behind John. John nodded, "Keep going, but draw more than ten Goblins at a time." "Alright." Sini agreed, drinking a low-level health recovery potion and waiting for her health to recover before drawing more Goblins. Deep in the forest, there were only 20th-level Goblin warriors and archers. Sini targeted isted groups of Goblins whenever possible. ... After half a day, there were no more Goblins to be found in the forest. Sini had leveled up to 18. John''s base attributes had seen significant improvements. His strength increased by 157 points, agility by 21 points, constitution by 12 points, and spirit by 6 points. He also gained 7 points of attack speed, 2 points of physical critical hit, 1 point of luck, and 3 skill points. John''s strength attribute now reached 344 points. While his spirit attribute was only 263 points. He was almost tempted to start bashing monsters with his staff. Sini finished clearing the battlefield and sat down wearily, asking, "Master, do we keep going?" "Take a break," John said. He was used to continuous high-intensitybat, but Sini still couldn''t handle it as well. "Okay!" Sini said happily, lying down on the grass. Her tight leather armor outlined her graceful figure. It makes John feel a surge of desire. But he restrained himself. The most important thing now was to increase his spirit attribute and break the curse. ... Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Breaking the Curse, Elite Boss Chapter 18: Breaking the Curse, Elite Boss ? By evening, a flicker of firelight could be seen in the forest. It was the Goblin territory. Sini looked at the Goblins patrolling the perimeter and warned, "Master, there are Goblin knights and Goblin mages." Compared to Goblin warriors and archers, Goblin knights and mages were far more dangerous. John, however, was excited and said, "You stay back." His target was the Goblin mages. Standing up, he immediately cast Fireball, targeting a Goblin knight on the outskirts of the territory. Boom! -397 A damage number floated above the Goblin knight''s head. These guys had considerable magic resistance. "Intruder! There''s an intruder!" The attacked Goblin knight roared in anger. Whoosh! A huge fireball whizzed by from the edge of the territory, illuminating the surrounding forest and revealing John''s figure. "Human!" "Attack! Tear that guy apart!" The Goblins were furious, charging forward with a roar. The ground trembled slightly as a massive horde of Goblins, including five hundred knights and over a thousand mages, surged forward. Sini was startled and quickly warned John, "Master, be careful, those knights have the Charge skill!" First-tier knights had Charge skills, and if a mage got close, they were as good as dead. Whoosh, whoosh... Countless spells whistled through the air-fireballs, wind des, and arrows-intertwining and enveloping John''s position. "Watch out for yourself," John reminded Sini. Ignoring the spells overhead, he charged into the Goblin army. Boom, boom... -1 -1... Spells hit John but couldn''t prate his defense, only forcing a deduction of 1 HP per hit. Even so, getting hit by these spells could still be fatal. John''s speed far exceeded that of a level 10 agility-maxed assassin. He swiftly bypassed the Goblin knights and plunged into the ranks of Goblin mages. "Hmph, foolish human!" A Goblin mage sneered as John approached, disdain on its face. It thinking he was like a moth to a me, ignorant and reckless. John brandished his staff, not casting a spell but instead striking the Goblin mage hard. Boom! -301 The Goblin mage''s spell was interrupted, and 300+ damage floated above its head. The mage stood there, dumbfounded, staring at John in confusion. A warrior wielding a mage''s weapon? Boom, boom! Two more strikes of the staff, and the Goblin mage fell dead. John swung his staff, charging into the ranks of the Goblin mages, moving like a force of nature. Fire Rain rained down, and the staff struck repeatedly. Piercing wails echoed. The Goblin mages'' formation shattered, leaving them helpless and fleeing in panic. The charging Goblin knight army finally realized what was happening and rushed back to defend. But the disorganized Goblin mages severely hindered their Charge, preventing the knights from fully utilizing their Charge advantage. From a distance, Sini watched in stunned silence. A phrase popped into her mind: melee mage! "Monster, the master is a monster!" Sini muttered to herself. She had initially nned to help, but now it seemed she would only be a hindrance. Sini sat backfortably against a tree, watching her experience points soar, feeling ted. Leveling up while lying down, this was amazing! ... Screams and curses filled the air. The battlefield was in chaos. John moved effortlessly, swinging his staff and striking the Goblin mages mercilessly. [You have killed a level 20 Goblin mage. You have gained 20 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated. Spirit attribute +1.] ... The notifications kept shing. Finally, John''s spirit attribute reached 500 points. [Your spirit attribute has surpassed 500 points. Dino''s curse has been forcibly lifted.] [You have leveled up to level 10. You have gained 4 free attribute points and 1 skill point.] [Your experience points have reached the maximum for the novice level. You can continue leveling up after your ss advancement.] John felt a wave of relief wash over him, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He had sessfully reached level 10. "Finally, I''m free!" John eximed in delight, quickly dispatching thest few Goblin mages. "Insolent human, you will pay!" came the enraged shouts. With the Goblin mages dead, the remaining Goblin knights went all out, charging towards John with fury. John smirked, swinging his staff as a Fire Rain fell. -789 -791 -899 ... A series of damage numbers appeared. The Goblin knights had 1600 HP and 120 magic resistance, but they were still killed by John''s two spells. "What... what are you? A warrior or a mage?" a Goblin knight asked in terror. This human was too strange-zing speed, incredible physical damage, terrifying magical damage... This couldn''t be a level 10 human. Whoosh! Another Fire Rain fell, and the Goblin knights copsed in droves, unable to withstand the assault. "Human, stop harming my people!" a furious roar echoed as a gust of wind whipped through the area, and arge sword shed towards John. John''s expression turned serious. With no time to dodge, an Earth Shield quickly formed in front of him. Boom! The Earth Shield shattered, and the immense impact sent John flying. He was startled; his spirit attribute had reached 517 points, and with the Earth Shield''s protection, it should have absorbed 490 points of damage. The fact that the shield broke meant this enemy dealt over 490 points of damage. "Boss!" Sini, seeing the gigantic Goblin that had suddenly appeared, instinctively wanted to help. But she held back, knowing her strength was no match for the boss. Her intervention would only be a hindrance. This was the 25th-level elite boss, the Goblin Chief. The final monster in the Secret Area of Goblin. Defeating it would grant them the Goblin treasure. The Goblin Chief, seeing its fallen kin all around, veins bulging in anger, roared with fury, "Human! You are unforgivable!" Whoosh! The greatsword swung, and the Goblin Chief activated the Sword sh skill. John remained calm, eyes sharp, closely watching the Goblin Chief''s movements before decisively countering. Bang! -613 A Fireball struck the Goblin Chief, interrupting its skill. The Goblin Chief was taken aback. This human''s single attack had wiped out a tenth of its health. And more terrifyingly, it had disrupted its skill. This interruption was intentional! The Goblin Chief, far more intelligent than ordinary monsters, sensed John''s formidable strength. Taking advantage of the Goblin''s hesitation, John quickly created distance, unleashing a Wind de. Bang! -609 The attack hit the Goblin Chief again. Enraged, it charged at John, its speed far surpassing his. But each time it got close enough to attack, John would interrupt with a skill and widen the gap. ... "Damn it!" the Goblin Chief cursed, feeling a deep sense of helplessness against John. "Whirlwind sh!" The greatsword swung, and a fierce wind howled as the Goblin Chiefunched its skill once more. At that moment, a Fireball came hurtling towards it. The Goblin Chief, now wary, turned to absorb John''s attack head-on, determined not to let him interrupt. "Die!" The Goblin Chief''s face contorted in pain, yet its eyes gleamed with confidence. This strike would surely kill the human. John was taken aback, not expecting such a maneuver from this seemingly clumsy creature. Whoosh! The greatsword, apanied by a raging wind, crashed down like a tidal wave, engulfing John. He tried to dodge, but it was toote. He swung his staff, summoning another Earth Shield. Bang! Bang! A series of collisions shattered the Earth Shield, and John took the hit. -509 A damage number appeared above him. John sighed in relief, grateful for the hundred-plus points of constitution he had plundered from the Goblin knights. Without those, this strike would have been fatal. Even so, his health was immediately halved. "You''re still alive?" The Goblin Chief was stunned, a sense of dread creeping over him as he saw John still standing. John smirked coldly, "Heh, time to end this." With a wave of his staff, a rain of fire descended, enveloping the Goblin Chief. -511 Following that, a Fireball and a Wind de hurtled towards the Goblin Chief. Bang! Bang! -611 -615 The Goblin Chief''s health plummeted, leaving him with just over a hundred hit points. This time, John stopped running and charged forward. The Goblin Chief looked confused but then broke into a joyful grin. He had been struggling to get close to this human. Nearby, two surviving Goblin Knights were rmed and shouted a warning, "My lord, be careful! He''s not a mage!" Not a mage? Have these two lost their minds? The Goblin Chief ignored them, raising his greatsword overhead, ready to strike John. Bang! Bang! John dodged nimbly, then swung his staff, striking the Goblin Chief hard. -101 -93 The Goblin Chief''s health waspletely depleted. As he fell to the ground, a single thought echoed in his mind: This guy... is he really not a mage? Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Premium Set, Leaderboard Opening Chapter 19: Premium Set, Leaderboard Opening ? [Killed Elite Boss Goblin Chief, gained 100 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, Strength +10, Physical Crit +1, Attack Speed +1] [You have cleared the Secret Area of Goblin (Normal), overall rating SSS] [Additional rewards: Level 1 Life Stone 5, Magic Stone 5] The notification shed. John felt a bit disappointed that the Plundered attributes from killing the boss did not benefit his mage ss. However, the SSS rating did grant him an extra five Life Stones and five Magic Stones. Life Stones and Magic Stones can be embedded in armor. A Level 1 Life Stone increases health by 10 points, and a Level 1 Magic Stone increases mana by 10 points. Two stones of the same level and type can bebined to create a higher-level stone. But like Enhancement Stones, the sess rate decreases as the embedding level increases. John didn''t n to embed these stones right away since his current equipment quality was too low. Common equipment has one gem slot, premium equipment has two, and rare equipment has three slots. The highest-level artifact equipment can have up to six gem slots. Nearby, the two surviving Goblin Knights saw their in leader and finally reacted, roaring in anger, "Despicable human, you will pay for harming Goblins! The great Demon King will not spare you!" Bang! Bang! John didn''t bother arguing. He swung his staff, casting magic to easily kill the two knights. With the battle over, Sini happily ran over, eximing, "Master, I got 10 gems." From clearing the Secret Area, she also received five Level 1 Life Stones and five Level 1 Magic Stones. Not knowing their use, she handed them all to John. John epted the gems without hesitation and turned his attention to the items dropped by the Goblin Chief: a longsword and a treasure chest. The longsword was a Level 1 premium item, granting +10 physical damage and +2 strength. These attributes made it an excellent premium item, but neither he nor Sini could use it. John put away the longsword and eagerly opened the treasure chest. [You opened the Secret Area of Goblin chest, gaining 10 Skill Stones, 1 Star Set, 1 Azure Bird Set, and 1 Origin Stone] Sure enough, there was an Origin Stone! John was thrilled. He had targeted this Secret Area of Goblin specifically for the Origin Stone. The conditions for an Origin Stone to appear were stringent; it only appeared on the first clearance of a Secret Area of Goblin if the rating was S or higher. After that, the Secret Area of Goblin would no longer refresh. The Origin Stone has a single effect: it allows the selection of a second ss. John had originally nned to choose a priest ss, which also benefits from high spirit attributes. But now, with his strength attribute reaching an astonishing 344 points, far exceeding the violent output physical sses of the same level. He decided to choose a physical output ss to utilize his strength attribute effectively. [You used the Origin Stone, opening the second ss selection] [Current avable sses: Knight, Warrior, Archer, Assassin, Priest] The prompt appeared. Among the physical damage sses, there were four options: Knight, Warrior, Archer, and Assassin. Archers were ranged attackers, which conflicted with the Mage ss, and Knights leaned towards defense, with limited strength benefits. That left only Warriors and Assassins. Assassin! John didn''t hesitate and chose the Assassin ss. Mages'' greatest fear was enemies getting close. The Assassin ss dealt deadly damage only when in close proximity to the enemy. John could already imagine the despair on his enemies'' faces when they realized he was also an Assassin. [You have chosen the Assassin Apprentice ss and learned the skill Assassinate] [Assassinate: Level 1, deals physical damage equal to 50% of strength to an enemy, consumes 5 mana points, cooldown 5 seconds] John used the 10 Skill Stones he had just obtained from the chest, converting them into 10 skill points, and upgraded Assassinate. [Assassinate: Level 10, deals physical damage equal to 95% of strength to an enemy, consumes 5 mana points, cooldown 5 seconds] [Note: Current skill max level. Upgrade to Tier 1 Assassin, consume 10 skill points, and the skill can be upgraded to Deadly Strike] John now had 5 fully leveled skills, and make them upgrade to 10 level. But only 5 skill points left. Upgrading apprentice skills to beginner tier required 10 skill points. Then each level thereafter also required 10 skill points. John''s skill points were far from sufficient. Many yers would focus on upgrading 1 or 2 skills. but John didn''t want to do that. He would find a way to get more skill pointster. John checked the two sets of equipment from the chest, both of which were premium sets with set bonuses. [Fire Phoenix Feather Crown: Premium, Tier 1 Mage ss; Mana +50, Spirit +2] [Fire Phoenix Belt: Premium, Tier 1 Mage ss; Health +50, Spirit +2] [Fire Phoenix Ring: Premium, Tier 1 Mage ss; Magic Damage +10, Spirit +2] [Set Bonus: Mana +100, Magic Damage +10, Magic Crit +1] [Note: The legendary Fire Phoenix set contains the power of the divine bird, greatly enhancing magic damage] ... [Star Boots: Premium, Tier 1 Warrior ss; Speed +10, Strength +2] [Star Bracers: Premium, Tier 1 Warrior ss; Physical Defense +5, Magic Defense +5, Strength +2] [Star Ring: Premium, Tier 1 Warrior ss; Physical Damage +10, Strength +2] [Set Bonus: Health +100, Physical Damage +10, Physical Crit +1] [Note: This legendary set is forged under starlight, its gleaming points resembling stars, greatly enhancing physical damage] Both sets were top-tier premium equipment. The set bonuses, especially the hidden attributes of physical and magical crit boosts, were impressive. "Master, this set is so powerful!" Sini eximed, her eyes shining as she looked at the Star Set in John''s hands. "Take it," John generously handed the set to Sini. He could use both sets, but switching back and forth was too troublesome. The Fire Phoenix set provided him the greatest enhancement. [Announcement: The number of Tier 1 yers in the world of Gods has reached 10,000. Leaderboard is now open] [Announcement: The number of Tier 1 yers in the world of Gods has reached 10,000. Leaderboard is now open] [Announcement: The number of Tier 1 yers in the world of Gods has reached 10,000. Leaderboard is now open] Suddenly, a series of three system announcements echoed, causing quite a stir in the world of Gods. The leaderboard was opening so quickly. John had expected. It was only the fifth day, and already 10,000 yers hadpleted their Tier 1 ss advancement. The monsters in the world of Gods were formidable, making leveling up no easy feat. The most challenging task was clearing the path from the novice vige to the Tier 1 city. Each novice vige had a 10th-level elite boss blocking the way to the city. Other novice viges didn''t have a powerhouse like John; defeating this elite boss must have come at a great cost. "Master, I made it to the leaderboard," Sini eximed in delight. "Really?" John, curious, opened the leaderboard to check. There were three leaderboards in total: the Level Leaderboard, the Equipment Leaderboard, and the Pet Leaderboard. [Level Leaderboard:] [First Dark Angel, Assassin, Level 29] [Second Ritchie, Earth Knight, Level 26] [Third Demon Emperor, Holy Mage, Level 26] [Forth Butcher, Berserker, Level 24] [Fifth Gaia, Dragon Knight, Level 24] ... [Tenth Gale, Shadow Assassin, Level 22] [Equipment Leaderboard:] [First Diamond Giant Shield, Lower Divine Artifact; Owner: Ritchie] [Second Dragon Fang, Tier 1 Rare; Owner: Dark Angel] [Third Judgment Spear, Tier 1 Rare; Owner: Gaia] [Pet Leaderboard:] [First Junior Earth Dragon, Elite; Owner: Gaia] Sure enough, Sini''s ID appeared at the bottom of the Level Leaderboard. The three leaderboards only disyed the top ten, and unlike the Level Leaderboard, the other two were not fully popted. The Pet Leaderboard had only one entry, Gaia''s Earth Dragon. The Equipment Leaderboard listed only rare quality or higher equipment. Given the current yer strength, defeating bosses of rare quality was nearly impossible, so the two rare items on the list were likely obtained through hidden quests. "All familiar names!" John''s eyes turned cold as he looked at the yers on the leaderboard. These individuals, with privileged backgrounds, considered themselves superior. When disaster struck, instead of resisting, they becameckeys of the Dark Humans. He intended to settle ounts with them, one by one. Chapter 20: Chapter 20: The Ancient Martial Arts Family and the Trial Assessment Chapter 20: The Ancient Martial Arts Family and the Trial Assessment ? Sini browsed the leaderboard with a puzzled expression. "Master, what''s the deal with the first ce on the level leaderboard? An assassin is three levels ahead of the second ce?" The level leaderboard, except for the top-ranking assassin, was filled with yers of hidden sses. John nced at the leaderboard and said calmly, "Nothing special. He just has an experience boost talent." This Dark Angel was one of the few yers with an SSS-level talent. However, his SSS-level talent wasn''t particrly powerful, merely an auxiliary experience boost that increased his experience gain by 90%. Sini nodded, not surprised that John knew these details. In her eyes, John was mysterious and powerful, even someone like Aron didn''t dare to offend him. "Master, to me, you are the strongest," Sini said earnestly. She wasn''t ttering John. Without his help, she wouldn''t have reached level 22 so quickly and made it onto the leaderboard. The level leaderboard ranked yers by their level but didn''t reflect their true strength. John turned his attention away from the leaderboard and looked at Sini. "Sini, I''m going to do my ss advancement." "Okay," Sini nodded. For some reason, her cheeks turned red, and she said softly, "I''ll log off and prepare dinner. Come offline early." Without waiting for John''s response, she logged off and disappeared. John smiled, left the Secret Area, and headed to Jade City, the nearest Tier 1 city from the novice vige, for his ss advancement. Outside Jade City, there was a hidden trial for the mage ss advancement. In his previous life, he barely passed the three-part trial to be a Judgment Mage during his second ss advancement. But now, John''s level 10 attributes far surpassed those of Tier 2 ss strongmen, making him more than capable of passing the trial. ... The appearance of the leaderboard caused quite a stir in the world of Gods. Especially among various families and guilds. In the novice vige. Aron had just in a Tusked Wild Boar, reaching level 7. "Damn Godyer!" he cursed through gritted teeth. If it weren''t for Godyer killing him twice, he would have already reached level 10 andpleted his ss advancement. He might have even made it onto the leaderboard. Aron checked the newly appeared leaderboard. Most of the IDs on the level leaderboard were familiar to him. But one name surprised him. Gale! That was Sini''s ID. The fact that this woman made it onto the leaderboard. That was something Aron couldn''t ept. To him, Sini was just a ve. He never expected that after escaping his control, she would top the leaderboard. Moreover, Sini turned out to be a hidden ss awakener, a fact she had never disclosed before. This filled Aron with a fresh surge of nameless anger, feeling as though Sini had yed him. However, Godyer''s ID was nowhere to be found on the level leaderboard. Aron sneered, "Hmph, I thought you were a formidable opponent. Turns out, you''re nothing special." Having learned that Godyer might be connected to Ritchie, he no longer dared to seek revenge. He could only vent his frustrations verbally. Closing the level leaderboard, Aron''s attention was drawn to the first item on the equipment leaderboard: a shield. "An artifact!" He swallowed, eyes filled with greed. But as he saw the name of the artifact''s owner, his excitement deted. Owner: Ritchie. Ritchie''s background was something the Smith family absolutely could not provoke. This artifact shield was out of his reach. Matt, standing beside him, also noticed the artifact shield, frowning as he pondered something. Aron asked, "Matt, what''s wrong?" Matt pulled his gaze away and looked at Aron. "Sir, do you remember that hidden task Godyer had? The reward was an artifact. And on the entire equipment leaderboard, there''s only this one artifact." Matt''s hint made Aron realize, "You mean this originally belonged to Godyer and was taken by Ritchie?" Matt shook his head. "Ritchie''s status means he represents the official side; he wouldn''t outright steal. I suspect Godyer gave it to him. They likely made some sort of deal, like Ritchie offering Godyer protection..." "Damn it!" Aron cursed, enraged. That artifact should have been his! To help Godyerplete that task, he had suffered immense losses, even causing his guild to disband. Now, it seemed he had done all that for someone else''s benefit! Aron felt a deep sense of injustice, but he didn''t dare offend Ritchie or make a move against Godyer. Seeing Aron''s thoughts, Matt smiled slightly, confident and calcting. "Sir, we can''t offend Ritchie, but there are those who aren''t afraid of him." Aron''s eyes lit up. "You mean the Ancient Martial Arts families?" But his excitement quickly faded, and he sighed. "The Ancient Martial Arts families rarely involve themselves in worldly affairs. They won''t target Ritchie." "Sir, you''re mistaken," Matt said with a cold smile. He was practically a member of one of these families and understood their methods well. He continued, "Sir, do you think the ves trained by the Ancient Martial Arts families are just for making money? They''re meant to monitor the actions of major families. Sini thinks she''s free with that contract, but she doesn''t realize she''s just a puppet of the Griffin Family, without any true freedom." Matt''s words sent chills down Aron''s spine. To the Smith family, the Ancient Martial Arts families were like a towering mountain, as unattainable as how ordinary people viewed families like theirs. If the Ancient Martial Arts families wanted to destroy families like theirs, it would be effortless. Aron took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He looked at Matt and asked, "So you mean to use Sini to stir conflict between the Ancient Martial Arts families and the military?" "No," Matt shook his head, pointing skyward with confidence. "Sini alone isn''t enough. But this game, the world of Gods, is." Seeing Aron''s confusion, Matt exined, "I''ve verified it through various channels; this isn''t just a game. It seems more like a real world. Moreover, any increase in power within the world of Gods trantes to reality. The Ancient Martial Arts families aren''t greedy for money or power, but if they can improve their cultivation, they''ll definitely be interested." "That makes sense!" Aron nodded repeatedly, his expression excited. The immense allure of an artifact is irresistible. If Ritchie could be persuaded to part with it, all would be well. But if he refused, the consequences would be dire. Aron said, "Matt, I''ll leave it to you to contact the Griffin Family." Matt gave a cold smile, his expression dark. "Sir, if we''re going to cause trouble, let''s make it big. Why not involve all the Ancient Martial Arts families?" "Do as you see fit," Aron agreed. He knew Matt''s history: once a ve and puppet cultivated by the Du family, an Ancient Martial Arts family. But after a serious injury while serving the Roys Family, his cultivation was destroyed. The high and mighty families showed nopassion. To them, Matt was just a dog. Without value, he was discarded. Later, Aron''s father rescued him, and Matt became fiercely loyal to the Smith family. ... Meanwhile, John had reached the outskirts of Jade City. Jade City was a Level 1 city, far more organized and bustling than the novice vige. At the city gate, a guard detachment was stationed, with many yersing and going. These were yers from the surrounding novice viges. In the city, various profession mentors could advance yers to the first tier of their careers, but not to hidden professions. John didn''t enter the city. Instead, he followed an overgrown path leading outside. Soon, he encountered dpidated buildings. Judging by the scale of these ruined structures, this must have been an even more prosperous and grand city than Jade City. The area was deste, rarely visited, and free of monster spawns, so few yers paid attention to it. "This should be the ce," John stopped in front of a ruined building, brushing away the dust on a stone tablet to reveal fourrge characters: The Temple of Magic! In his previous life, he had stumbled upon the Magic Sanctuary trial by chance and sessfully advanced to be a Judgement Mage, significantly boosting his strength. Back then, John barely passed the three trials. He felt that the Judgement Mage wasn''t the strongest profession avable here. The trial difficulty was tailored to the yer''s level. This time, John was only at level 10, so the difficulty would be greatly reduced, but his attributes were incredibly strong, ensuring he wouldn''t stop at just three trials. Taking a deep breath, he walked into the dpidated hall and approached a damaged statue, touching it and channeling his mana into it. Buzz! Light shed, emitting a powerful magical aura. [Magic Sanctuary trial activated. Enter?] Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Mage Puppets and Attribute Growth Chapter 21: Mage Puppets and Attribute Growth ? The prompt appeared, and John didn''t hesitate to choose to enter. A wave of spatial energy surged. John''s figure disappeared and reappeared in a vast hall that felt ancient and heavy. [First Trial: Eliminate 10 Level 1 Mage Puppets] [Current Mage Puppet Attributes: HP 200, Magic Attack 40] In the empty hall, 10 mage puppets materialized out of thin air. Magic energy fluctuated as the 10 mage puppets initiated their attacks first-fireballs, water arrows, Wind des-all targeted at John. -1 -1 ... The attacks from these mage puppets couldn''t even prate John''s magical defenses, causing only 1 point of damage each. John raised his hand, and a Fire Rain fell, instantly obliterating the 10 mage puppets. [Defeated Level 10 Mage Puppet. Plunder talent triggered: Spirit +1] [Defeated Level 10 Mage Puppet. Plunder talent triggered: Spirit +1] [Defeated Level 10 Mage Puppet. Plunder talent triggered: Skill Point +1] The notifications shed. Mage puppets weren''t considered monsters; they didn''t grant experience points or drop items. However, their attributes were real, and the Plunder talent could be triggered. The 10 mage puppets provided John with 2 points of Spirit and 1 skill point. [First Trial Completed] [Second Trial: Eliminate 100 Level 10 Mage Puppets] The battle ended, and the hall was once again filled with mage puppets-this time, 100 of them. John acted decisively, casting Fire Rain once more over the clustered mage puppets. As expected, they were all instantly killed. [Defeated Level 10 Mage Puppet. Plunder talent triggered: Skill Point +1] [Defeated Level 10 Mage Puppet. Plunder talent triggered: Spirit +1] ... This time, John gained 21 points of Spirit, 3 skill points, and 1 point of magic crit. These mage puppets, with their high spirit attributes, were perfect for increasing his Spirit. [Second Trial Completed] [Third Trial: Eliminate 10 Level 10 Elite Mage Puppets] [Attributes: HP 500, Magic Attack 80] The empty hall was once again popted with 10 puppets. Unlike the previous two stages, these 10 mage puppets possessed the strength of elite boss- level enemies. Facing even one elite boss was challenging for yers of the same level, let alone ten. However, John was an exception. With a single cast of Fire Rain, he engulfed the 10 elite mage puppets. The overwhelming damage instantly depleted their 500 HP. Instant kill! [Defeated elite mage puppet. Plunder talent triggered: Spirit +1, Skill Point +1] [Defeated elite mage puppet. Plunder talent triggered: Spirit +1, Skill Point +1] ... Notifications shed. John was surprised to see that the 10 elite mage puppets had yielded 10 points of Spirit and 10 skill points through Plunder. Skill points were exactly what hecked the most. Onward! The next stage consisted of 100 Level 10 elite mage puppets. In his previous life, John had failed this trial. But now, things were different. With no pressure, a single cast of Fire Rain engulfed the 100 elite mage puppets, killing them all. [Defeated elite mage puppet. Plunder talent triggered: Spirit +1, Skill Point +1] [Defeated elite mage puppet. Plunder talent triggered: Spirit +1, Skill Point +1] ... John gained another 100 points of Spirit and 100 skill points. [Fourth Trial Completed] [Trial Five: Eliminate 10 Level 10 Elite Mage Puppets] [Attributes: HP 1200, Magic Attack 160] This time, the mage puppets had the strength of elite boss-level enemies. John still felt no pressure. After his skills cooled down, he cast Fire Rain again. -919 -921 -917 The damage numbers shed, but Fire Rain''s damage was no longer enough to instantly kill the elite mage puppets. The mage puppets retaliated, various spells flying towards John. -1 -1 These elite mage puppets still couldn''t surpass John''s magical defenses. Bang! Bang! John unleashed two more spells, shattering two of the mage puppets. Once Fire Rain cooled down, he cast it again, engulfing and killing the remaining eight mage puppets. [Defeated elite mage puppet. Plunder talent triggered: Skill Point +1, Magic Crit +1] [Defeated elite mage puppet. Plunder talent triggered: Spirit +1, Skill Point +1] ... Notifications shed, showing that John had gained 7 points of Spirit, 6 skill points, and 4 points of magic crit. Compared to the leader-level mage puppets, the attributes plundered from elite mage puppets were even rarer. [Trial Stage Six: Eliminate 10 Level 10 Rare Mage Puppets] [Attributes: HP 2500, Magic Attack 320] John frowned. Why not 100 elite mage puppets? It wasn''t that John couldn''t handle rare mage puppets, but the increased difficulty and reduced quantity meant he would gain fewer attributes. Bang! Bang! -4 -7 Two Fireballs hit John, barely breaking through his magic resistance and causing single-digit damage. John counterattacked with a Fire Rain. Followed by a Fireball and Wind de, instantly killing one rare mage puppet. With his skills cooling down, John switched to two daggers, the novice knives discarded by Sini. Rushing to another mage puppet, he used the assassin skill Assassinate. sh! -570 The mage puppet''s physical resistance was only 120, so John''s attack caused over 500 damage. Quickly following up, John''s daggers shed, slicing through the puppet''s vital points and draining its HP to zero. As the mage puppet disintegrated, it stared at John in confusion, unable toprehend how a mage could be so skilled in closebat with such high physical damage. [Defeated Rare Mage Puppet. Plunder talent triggered: Spirit +10, Skill Points +3, acquired skill Lightning Strike] John had plundered a skill but didn''t have time to check it as he focused on the remaining eight rare mage puppets. The rare mage puppets put some pressure on John, but he still managed to kill them with rtive ease. From the 10 rare mage puppets, John gained 21 points of Spirit, 12 skill points, 3 points of magic crit, and a rare lightning skill, Lightning Strike. John immediately used skill points to upgrade Lightning Strike to level 10, the maximum for a novice. [Lightning Strike: Level 10, deals Spirit * 95% damage to enemies, consumes 5 mana, 3- second cooldown] [Note: Skill is at max level. Upon advancing to a Tier 1 Mage, spend 10 skill points to upgrade to Thunderstorm] Another powerful magic attack skill was added to John''s arsenal. John closed the skill description and looked around the now-empty hall, frowning. "Why is there no movement?" Based on the trial''s pace, the next wave of mage puppets should have appeared by now. If the trial had ended or failed, he should have awakened the hidden ss. But nothing happened for quite a while. [Generating new trial stage] Just as John grew impatient, a notification appeared. With a surge of powerful magic, a massive, metallic mage puppet materialized. [Trial Stage Seven: Eliminate a Level 10 Epic Mage Puppet] [Attributes: HP 6000, Magic Attack 640] This time, there was only one puppet, but it had the strength of a level 10 epic boss. Its Spirit attribute was 640, second only to John''s. Whoosh! Massive magic waves formed two gigantic Fireballs, one after the other, hurtling towards John. "Two Fireballs?" John thought, his expression serious. He feared he might not withstand the damage from both. Buzz! An Earth Shield formed in front of him, just as the two Fireballs struck. Boom! The Earth Shield shattered, and the second Fireball hit John directly. The intense heat and searing pain washed over him. -1242 John''s health dropped to just over 200 points from his original 1450, teetering on the brink of death with just one more hit needed to finish him off. "Finally, a worthy opponent!" John muttered to himself, eyes zing with determination. The mage puppet''s rigid face showed a hint of disdain as it prepared another spell. "You won''t get another chance!" John dered, eyes fixed on the mage puppet''s movements. In the next instant, he cast Fireball. Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Spell Combo, Wrath of the Gods Mage Chapter 22: Spell Combo, Wrath of the Gods Mage ? Boom! With a thunderous roar, the Fireball exploded, directly interrupting the mage puppet''s attack. -652 A damage number floated above the mage puppet''s head. Despite its strong magic resistance, John''s Fireball still dealt over six hundred points of damage. That was more than enough. He only needed to hit the opponent ten times to take it down. The mage puppet, its skill interrupted, showed a flicker of confusion in its eyes before quickly gathering magic again. As an epic-level mage puppet, it had more than just two skills at its disposal. Zap! A bolt of lightning struck precisely, interrupting the mage puppet''s skill once more. This was immediately followed by a Wind de. The constant interruption of its spells left the mage puppet in agony. It was like being on the verge of a climax, only to be suddenly pulled back. Boom, boom... The ground trembled as the mage puppet abandoned its magic attacks and charged directly at John. Now it was John''s turn to be surprised. A fragile mage trying to engage in closebat with an assassin? That was suicide. Even though the mage puppet was an epic-level boss, its physical resistance wouldn''t be high, and its health was just inted. Standing his ground, John shed a faint smile, calmly putting away his staff and switching to two daggers. The mage puppet noticed John''s movements and was puzzled, but didn''t pay much attention. It couldn''t believe that this human mage apprentice had any means of physical attack. Then John moved, using the assassin skill Assassinate. In an instant, he was in front of the mage puppet, his dagger slicing precisely across its throat. -1220 A massive crimson damage number appeared. Critical hit! John was slightly surprised. He only had a 5% physical crit rate, yet it had triggered this time. The mage puppet''s eyes were filled with terror and disbelief. Its health was now down to just over two thousand points. This human in front of it truly had physical attack capabilities. "It''s time to end this!" John''s cold voice rang out, as cold gleams shed from his daggers, each strike targeting the mage puppet''s vital points. His control over the battlefield and his extensivebat experience made his closebat abilities just as formidable as his ranged attacks. The mage puppet, in a state of panic, swung its staff wildly. Every time it attempted to cast a spell, John ruthlessly interrupted it. As an epic-level mage puppet, it had never felt so frustrated. Damage numbers continuously shed above its head. -201 -217 ... The two thousand plus health points were quickly drained. The mage puppet''s body shattered and scattered across the floor. Itsrge head rolled to John''s feet, its eyes filled with regret and unwillingness. If it had another chance, it swore it would never engage this strange human in closebat. [Killed Epic Mage Puppet. Plunder Talent Activated. Obtained B-Level Talent: Spell Combo; Luck +4] "I actually plundered a talent!" John was overjoyed and quickly checked his new acquisition. [Spell Combo: B-Level Talent. 50% chance to trigger abo effect when casting spell attacks] No wonder the mage puppet could cast two Fireballs at once-it had the Spell Combo talent. This talent was almost as powerful as Wrath of the Gods, although it was a pity it was only at B-level. In addition to the Spell Combo talent, John also gained 4 points of the rare Luck attribute. [All trialspleted. Awakening hidden profession] At this moment, a prompt appeared. The Magic Temple trials only had seven stages, and John had cleared them all. A beam of light enveloped him, and he felt a powerful, ancient magical energy flowing into his body, transforming into a warm current that spread throughout his limbs. [You received the blessing of the Magic Temple. Spirit +100, Skill Points +10] John was pleasantly surprised to find he had received additional rewards. The 100 points increase in Spirit significantly boosted his magic damage. Additionally, he gained 10 more skill points. [Detected Wrath of the Gods talent. Advancing to hidden profession: Wrath of the Gods Mage, Tier 1] [Wrath of the Gods Mage: Hidden profession. Increases magic critical hit rate by 10. Each level up grants an additional 4 Spirit points and 1 skill point.] [Your assassin profession has not yet advanced. Unable to level up for now.] [Trialpleted. Transferring out of trial space.] A series of notifications shed, and John exited the trial space, reappearing in front of the dpidated Magic Temple. "What a powerful hidden profession!" John eagerly checked the details of the Wrath of the Gods Mage, feeling both surprised and thrilled. The profession directly added the rare attribute of 10 points to magic critical hit rate. Additionally, each level up would grant him an extra 4 points of Spirit and 1 skill point. Ordinary Tier 1 professions only provided 8 free attribute points and 1 skill point per level up. John would gain an extra 4 Spirit points and 1 skill point with each level. A small difference at level 1, but what about at level 100? Or level 1000? In his previous life, his Judgement Mage profession only provided 2 extra Spirit points per level. Yet even then, John became one of the top yers in the world of Gods. The Wrath of the Gods Mage was far superior to the Judgement Mage. "Let''s upgrade the skills first." John opened his attribute panel. Since his assassin profession had not yet advanced, he could not increase his level. He had now umted 138 skill points and decided to upgrade all his mage skills to the novice level. 1st-3rd tier professions could learn novice skills; 4th-6th tier professions could learn intermediate skills; 7th-9th tier professions could learn advanced skills. Beyond the 10th tier, professionals could learn ultimate skills, and even forbidden spells. However, as the skill level increased, the skill points required for upgrades also skyrocketed. Many yers, even in theter stages, had to rely on novice and intermediate skills due to theck of skill points. But John was different. As a Wrath of the Gods Mage, each level-up provided an additional skill point. Coupled with his Plunder talent, he never had to worry about skill points. [Consume 10 skill points to upgrade Fireball to the novice skill Great Fireball.] [Consume 10 skill points to upgrade Wind de to the novice skill Wind de sh.] [Consume 10 skill points to upgrade Fire Rain to the novice skill Rain of Fire.] [Consume 10 skill points to upgrade Lightning Strike to the novice skill Thunderstorm.] [Consume 10 skill points to upgrade Earth Shield to the novice skill Rock Armor.] John used 50 skill points to upgrade all five of his apprentice-level mage skills to novice-level mage skills. Each novice skill upgrade required 10 skill points, with single-target skills increasing their spirit attribute boost by 10% and area skills by 7%. John still had 88 skill points left, enough to upgrade his skills eight more times. After some thought, he decided to focus on Rain of Fire. With his exceptionally high spirit attribute, his single-target magic attack damage was already sufficient, but he needed more area-of-effect magic damage. John reviewed his upgraded skills: [Great Fireball: Level 1, novice magic. Deals spirit * 110% fire magic damage to the target. Consumes 10 mana points, 3-second cooldown.] [Wind de sh: Level 1, novice magic. Deals spirit * 110% wind magic damage to the target. Consumes 10 mana points, 3-second cooldown.] [Rock Armor: Level 1, novice magic. Earth element condenses into a suit of armor, protecting the user and absorbing damage equal to spirit * 110%. Consumes 10 mana points, 30-second cooldown.] [Rain of Fire: Level 9, novice magic. Deals spirit * 146% fire magic damage to targets within the area. Consumes 30 mana points, 10-second cooldown.] [Thunderstorm: Level 1, novice magic. Deals spirit * 110% lightning magic damage to the target and ssh damage equal to half the initial damage to surrounding enemies. Consumes 10 mana points, 3-second cooldown.] All five magic skills showed significant improvements after being upgraded to the novice level. Especially with Rain of Fire upgraded to level 9, its damage was nearly double that of Fire Rain. John''s level remained at 10, but his experience points had reached an astonishing 370,000. Once hepleted his Assassin profession advancement, he could start leveling up normally. John initially nned to enter Jade City to find an Assassin instructor for his advancement. But as he looked at the deste ruins of the city in front of him, he had another idea. Since there was a magic shrine trial here, might there also be a simr trial for the Assassin profession? He was already a hidden profession, Wrath of the Gods Mage, and wouldn''t mind having another hidden Assassin profession. This ce had once been a prosperous city, so there must have been an organization for Assassin trials. John began searching through the dpidated buildings around him, hoping to find some clues. Beep! At that moment, his private chat pinged-it was Sini. Gale: Master, it''s time to eat. Godyer: Okay, I''ll log off soon. After replying to Sini, John nced around the vast, ruined city. Finding any clues in a short time was unlikely; it would take a more prolonged search. ... Chapter 23: Chapter 23: City Building Order, Post-Dinner Exercise Chapter 23: City Building Order, Post-Dinner Exercise ? John''s figure vanished, returning to the real world. It was already evening. He had been online for a full day and night. With the help of nutrient fluids, he didn''t feel tired, but he was definitely hungry. Sini was still busy in the kitchen. John headed to the bathroom, took a quick cold shower, and felt instantly refreshed. He could clearly feel his enhanced physical condition. The data from the world of Gods hadn''tpletely integrated, but the improvement in his in- game strength was subtly enhancing his real-life physique. John put on clean clothes and went to the dining room on the first floor. Sini had changed into a white silk camisole nightdress and was busy at the dining table. The hem of her dress swayed, revealing her long, snow-white legs. John couldn''t help but feel a bit entranced. Hearing movement, Sini smiled, "Master,e eat." The table was set with six exquisite dishes. John, knowing Sini''s culinary skills, felt a wave of nostalgia. "It''s just the two of us. Next time, you don''t need to make so many dishes," John said as he sat at the table, eagerly diving into the food in front of him. Sini had a small appetite. After a few bites, she put down her chopsticks, rested her chin in her hands, and watched John with a look of adoration. "Master, how does it taste?" "Delicious," John praised without hesitation. Sini''s cooking was indeed excellent,parable to any gourmet delicacy. "Really?" Sini beamed, her eyes forming crescents with her smile. "Then I''ll cook for you every day from now on." ... After dinner, John rxed on the sofa, watching the news on TV. Sini, sitting cross-legged, leaned on his shoulder. The news channels were all focused on the world of Gods. One news report caught John''s attention. "Latest news: Gaia, president of the Dragon King Guild, has obtained a City Building Order and will establish a city in a week..." A City Building Order so soon? John was surprised. The order required defeating a tier-3 rare boss, which seemed impossible with the current yers'' abilities. Even sacrificing yers'' lives to pile on damage wouldn''t achieve this. It was likely that Gaia didn''t obtain the City Building Order by defeating a boss. John didn''t dwell on it much. The n to establish a city in a week was doomed to fail. Establishing a city in the world of Gods was an open challenge to the Dark Humans, who would never allow it. To establish a city, one had to endure a 24-hour monster tide assault, which current yers'' strength couldn''t withstand. "Master," Sini''s breath was like orchid, her body nearly pressed against John''s, her cheeks flushed, "I want it..." Her voice was as soft as a mosquito''s buzz, but John still caught it clearly. Smelling her light fragrance, a fire ignited in his heart. He pulled Sini''s soft body into his arms and whispered in her ear, "You''re ying with fire!" Sini''s delicate body trembled, her head buried deep, her cheeks reddened to her ears. She knew John''s strength. But somehow, she felt a maic pull towards him, making her willing to be the moth flying into the me without hesitation. Looking at John''s handsome face, she felt her whole body heating up, her mouth dry. She took the initiative to kiss John. Sini gradually let go, bing passionate like fire, her eyes intoxicated. She kissed from John''s cheeks to his chest, her hands restlessly exploring his waist. John''s pants were ufortably tight, bulging. He undid his belt and pulled down his pants. His mighty erection sprang out, standing tall. "So big!" Sini''s body trembled, recalling the painful experience of the previous night. She felt both anticipation and fear. Gulping. Sini looked at John with pleading eyes, softly saying, "Master, just once. Only once, please." John didn''t answer directly. Instead, hemanded, "Come here." Obediently, Sini took off her safety shorts, still wearing her camisole nightdress, and straddled John''s thighs. Feeling the heat and hardness below her, she became wet and slippery, her breathing growing rapid. Half-squatting, trying to support her body, Sini''s small hands found John''s erection. "So big!" She was once again deeply shocked. Her soft, slender hands couldn''t even encircle it. Holding John''s erection, she guided it to her entrance, closed her eyes, her longshes trembling, and slowly lowered herself. "Ah!" She cried out in pain, her soft, slender waist arching, her wholebody trembling uncontrobly. John''s entry reached her deepest spot, causing a swollen, tearing sensation. The intense stimtion spread through her body, making her climax immediately. But John had no intention of stopping there. His strong arm wrapped around Sini''s slender, soft waist, while the other hand gently pulled down the loose camisole nightdress, revealing her snow-white, firm peaks, gently swaying. John''s mouth enclosed one peak, his other hand kneading the other peak, changing its shape in various ways. Sini clung tightly to John''s head, panting heavily, sometimes letting out pained yet indulgent moans. Gradually, John was no longer satisfied with the current state. One hand supporting Sini''s small, perky buttocks, he began a slow rhythm. "Mm... ah..." Sini''s moans grew faster and more pained. She could only instinctively cling to John''s neck, trying her best to match his movements. Sini''s delicate body kept trembling, the feeling was both wonderful and painful, continuing from the initial climax all the way till now. "Master... I, I can''t take it anymore, please... give it to me..." Sini''s voice was broken, even carrying a hint of sobbing, as she kept begging John for mercy. But this only excited John more. He held Sini''s hips, his thrusts bing increasingly fierce. Tears streamed down Sini''s face, she cried out in pain, her body going limp. Apart from making sounds with her mouth, she couldn''t muster any strength, only able to let John do as The pleased. One hour... two hours... Sini felt like she was going to break, her voice hoarse, desperately begging for mercy. John didn''t deliberately hold back this time. After two hours, he finally felt the climax approaching. To reach it faster, hepletely let loose, his thrusts bing even more intense. "Ah..." Sini''s moans turned into pained screams, echoing through the entire vi. Finally, John reached his limit, releasing a surge of hot essence deep inside Sini. Feeling the heat within her, Sini gasped, trembling all over. She followed John into another climax, copsing on top of him, utterly drained. "Master, why are you so strong, sob..." Sini started crying as she spoke. John looked apologetic,forting her, "Alright, I''ll be gentler next time." He admitted he had been a bit excessive these two times. He could feel that Sini almost passed out from the pain several times. Sini shook her head repeatedly, "It''s not that, Master. I''m just upset with myself for being so useless, unable to satisfy you fully." She didn''t get up from John, the two still tightly connected. She could clearly feel John''s hardness still pressing deep inside her, without any sign of relenting. Sini raised her head, tears still streaking her face, gazing at John with a dazed expression, she said, "Master, let me use my mouth." Before John could respond, she painfully got up. The sudden withdrawal caused sharp pain, and tears involuntarily streamed down again. Sini slid down to John''s crotch, kneeling on the floor. Looking at his imposing size, she gulped and took him into her mouth. Compared to the first time, Sini had improved considerably. Her small tongue teased John, her mouth moving rhythmically, while her small hand gripped the base, sliding quickly. John leaned back on the sofa, enjoying the sensation spreading through his body. Seeing John''s expression of pleasure, Sini became more enthusiastic, her pace quickening, taking him deeper into her throat. The exquisite stimtion grew stronger. This time, Johnsted less than an hour before feeling it build up. He didn''t let Sini swallow this time, pulling her up by the arm. Sini, cheeks flushed and eyes zed, looked at John in confusion, not fully understanding yet. John lifted Sini''s hips and thrust into her roughly. "Ah!" Sini''s dazed eyes focused, and she let out a pained scream. John ignored this, continuing to thrust quickly. The climax came swiftly, a more intense surge of hot essence flooding out... Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Temple of the Night, Nightmare Assassin Chapter 24: Temple of the Night, Nightmare Assassin ? "Mmm... mmm..." Sini''s soft moans filled the room, her body flushed, arching, and trembling uncontrobly. Under John''s relentless thrusts, she climaxed once again. This time, itsted over a minute before she finally stopped shaking, copsing limply against John, motionless. The continuous orgasms had taken their toll, and Sini passed out from sheer exhaustion. John sighed helplessly, not entirely satisfied himself. However, he knew that Sini had reached her limit and couldn''t endure any more. John''s thoughts wandered to the Elven Saintess, Anna. He wondered if the two of them together could satisfy him. Though the gods hadn''t integrated into reality. But they could still be together in the world of Gods. ... The soft sound of breathing reached his ears. Siniy on John''s shoulder, tears still glistening at the corners of her eyes, but a satisfied smile on her lips as she slept deeply. John, not wanting to disturb her, gently lifted her hips and carefully withdrew from her. "Mmm..." Sini moaned softly in her sleep, her face briefly contorting in pain. John gently picked her up and ced her on the bed, tucking her in. He then returned to the bathroom for another cold shower to extinguish the lingering mes of desire. Looking at the sleeping Sini, John felt wide awake. "Forget it, I''ll go back into the game," he decided, knowing that staying with Sini might lead to losing control again. John entered the game pod and re-entered the world of Gods. In a sh. He was back amidst the ruins. He continues his search for an assassin guild. Finally, in a dpidated building, he found a stone tablet with fourrge characters: Temple of the Night. This was the only ce he had found that resembled a location for assassin training. Nearby stood a rtively intact statue. Elf! John was surprised. The sculpture before him was a female figure, slightly deteriorated but still showing the features of an elf. However, the aura it emitted waspletely different from that of the Elven Saintess Anna. Dark and sinister. This must be another race of elves, the dark elves. Anna belonged to the nature elves. Dark elves were more powerful; they revered strength and didn''t hesitate to corrupt themselves with dark forces. They were also cruel and bloodthirsty, enving other races to serve them. Unfortunately, in this world, dark elves were nearly exterminated by the Dark Humans. John touched the statue, feeling the magic flow, but there was no response. It seemed different from the activation method of The Temple of Magic. He switched to his dagger equipment, letting his power surge, and tried again. This time, there was a reaction. The statue was enveloped by a dark force, and the surrounding atmosphere filled with a killing intent. [Temple of the Night trial triggered. Do you wish to enter?] John was delighted and immediately chose to enter. With a wave of spatial power, he vanished, reappearing in a dark, deep tunnel the next second. [Trial content: Enter the Death Corridor. The further you progress, the richer the rewards.] The message appeared, indicating that the assassin advancement trial was entirely different from the mage''s. "Death Corridor? Sounds dangerous," John murmured, unconcerned as he stepped into the deep tunnel. Whoosh! Suddenly, a cold glint shed, and a dark shadow rushed at him. It was an assassin puppet, but its level and attributes were not visible. John didn''t dare be careless. He switched to his staff,unching arge fireball. Boom! A loud explosion ensued, and the assassin puppet was sted apart, instantly killed. John sighed in relief. This newly appeared assassin puppet had only the strength of a 10th- level first-tier entity and posed no threat to him. Continue! He hurled a giant fireball into the depths of the tunnel. Seeing the interior, his scalp tingled. The tunnel''s sides were lined with countless assassin puppets, standing like statues. These beings didn''t attack unless approached, activating only upon proximity. "Now I get it!" John realized. This was a trial designed for assassins. Assassin had no long-range attack capabilities and could only engage in closebat. However, John was a unique case; he had two professions. His mage skills allowed him to attack from a distance, enabling him to pass the trial unscathed. "This means I can easily reach the end of the tunnel!" John was excited. As a first-tier Wrath of the Gods mage, his mental attribute had reached 778 points, dealing terrifying damage. Even in a fair fight, he wouldn''t fear these assassin puppets. John, not ying by the rules, began his magical assault on the statue-like trial puppets. Boom! A rain of fire covered the entire tunnel. Notifications kept shing. [Assassin puppet killed. Plunder talent activated. Strength +1.] [Assassin puppet killed. Plunder talent activated. Agility +1.] ... The mes dissipated, and John had no idea how many puppets he had in. In just a short time, he had increased his strength by 24 points, agility by 17 points, and critical hit chance by 1 point. John continued advancing, approaching more assassin puppets. Once his skills cooled down, he unleashed another Rain of Fire. [Assassin puppet killed. Plunder talent activated. Critical hit +1."] [Assassin puppet killed. Plunder talent activated. Strength +1."] ... The notifications kept shing. John ughtered his way through, and as the number of trial puppets in the tunnel decreased, their strength increased. Consequently, the attributes he plundered became more substantial. In this brief period, he gained an additional 117 points of strength, 75 points of agility, 3 points of critical hit chance, and one basic assassin skill: Pierce. Gradually, the surrounding assassin puppets could no longer be taken down with a single Fire Rain. John used other magical skills to attack, but they posed no threat to him. In the distance, a faint light flickered, indicating the end of the tunnel was near. John quickened his pace and intensified his skill releases. The assassin advancement trial was proving far easier to pass than the mage advancement trial. At the end of the tunnel, a few scattered trial puppets remained, their strength reaching first- tier epic quality. John continued his relentless long-range magical bombardment, quickly depleting his supply of Magic Poison. Finally, thest trial puppet was destroyed. [Epic Assassin Puppet killed. Plunder talent activated. Obtained B-grade Physical Damage Talent.] [B-grade Physical Damage Talent: Increases physical damage by 50%.] John received another notification, indicating he had Plundered a B-grade physical damage talent. With a 50% increase in physical damage, his physical attacks now surpassed his magical attacks. [Death Corridor trialpleted. You have received the blessing of the Temple of the Night: Strength +70, Agility +30.] [You have advanced to the hidden ss: First-tier Nightmare Assassin.] [Nightmare Assassin: Hidden ss, Physical Critical Hit +10, each level grants an additional 3 points of strength, 2 points of agility.] [You have learned the initial assassin skills: Death Whirlwind, Shadow Strike.] The notifications shed as John advanced to the hidden ss, Nightmare Assassin. This ss provided an additional 10 points of physical critical hit chance and granted 3 extra points of strength and 2 points of agility with each level up. The attribute increase was even slightly higher than that of the Wrath of the Gods mage, although it did not include additional skill points. Additionally, advancing to Nightmare Assassin granted him two powerful initial skills: Death Whirlwind and Shadow Strike. John, having no extra skill points at the moment, decided not to upgrade these skills for the time being. "It''s time to level up." John opened his attribute panel to check his experience points. Over the past few days, he had umted more than 370,000 experience points. John immediately chose to level up. [You have leveled up. Spirit +4, Strength +3, Agility +2, Free Attribute Points +8, Skill Points +2.] After reaching the first tier of his profession, each level up grants 8 free attribute points and 1 skill point. With his Wrath of the Gods Mage and Nightmare Assassin professions, John received additional bonuses: 4 points in spirit, 3 points in strength, 2 points in agility, and 1 skill point. This means that leveling up once for John was equivalent to two levels for others. John continued to level up. [You have leveled up. Spirit +4, Strength +3, Agility +2, Free Attribute Points +8, Skill Points +2.] ... The notifications kept shing. John leveled up continuously until he reached level 29, where his experience points were insufficient to continue. He was just over 7,000 experience points away from reaching level 30. At level 30, he could undergo his second profession advancement. It had only been a few minutes since Johnpleted his first-tier profession advancement. Reaching level 29 had granted John an additional 152 free attribute points and 38 skill points. This time, he decided not to put all the points into spirit but to distribute them evenly among strength, spirit, and agility. These three attributes greatly enhanced his professions. With 38 skill points avable, John prioritized upgrading his mage skills. He then reviewed his current attributes... Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Powerful Attributes and Death Land Chapter 25: Powerful Attributes and Death Land ? [ID: Godyer] [Level: 29 (12740/20000)] [ss: First-tier Wrath of the Gods Mage, First-tier Nightmare Assassin] [Health Points: 1750 + 50] (Constitution * 10) [Mana Points: 9580 +150] (Spirit * 10) [Base Physical Damage: 711 + 356] (Strength * 1) [Base Magic Damage: 964 + 30] (Spirit * 1) [Speed: 342] (Agility * 1) [Physical Resistance: 175 + 1] (Constitution* 1) [Magic Resistance: 964] (Spirit *1) [Constitution: 175; Strength: 711; Spirit: 958 + 6; Agility: 342] [Luck: 8] [Free Attribute Points: 0] [Skill Points: 6] [Talents:] [Plunder (SSS-grade Unique):] [Effect 1: When killing ordinary monsters, 20% chance to plunder an attribute point, 1% chance to plunder a hidden attribute.] [Effect 2: When killing boss-level opponents, permanently gain one of the boss''s skills, talents, or special attributes.] [Effect 3: Doubles the drop rate of items from killed monsters, doubles the probability of high-quality equipment.] [Effect 4: Killing monsters grants Kill Score; the stronger the monster, the more points. At 100,000 points, talent can be upgraded. Current Kill Score: 1173 points.] [Wrath of the Gods: Divine Growth Talent, Current Level: C:Reduces skill cooldown by 40%.] [Upgrade Condition: Kill 10,000 second-tier monsters to upgrade to B-level.] [Spell Combo: B-grade Talent, 50% chance to trigger abo when casting spells.] [Physical Damage: B-grade Talent, Increases base physical damage by 50%.] [Skills:] [Grand Fireball: Level 1, Basic Magic, Deals spirit * 110% fire magic damage to the target. Consumes 10 mana, 3-second cooldown.] [Wind de sh: Level 1, Basic Magic, Deals spirit * 110% wind magic damage to the target. Consumes 10 mana, 3-second cooldown.] [Rock Armor: Level 5, Basic Magic, Earth elements form armor that protects the user, absorbing damage equal to spirit * 150%. Consumes 10 mana, 30-second cooldown.] [Rain of Fire: Level 10, Basic Magic, Deals spirit * 153% fire magic damage to all targets within the area. Consumes 30 mana, 10-second cooldown.] [Note: Currently max level. At fourth-tier Mage, can be upgraded to Intermediate Magic Fire Meteor Shower with 100 skill points.] [Thunderstorm: Level 1, Basic Magic, Deals spirit * 110% lightning magic damage to the target and ssh damage to surrounding enemies. Consumes 10 mana, 3-second cooldown.] [Assassinate: Level 10, Basic Assassin Skill, Deals strength* 95% physical damage to the target. Consumes 5 mana, 5-second cooldown.] [Note: Currently max level. At first-tier Assassin, can be upgraded to Deadly Strike with 10 skill points.] [Pierce: Level 1, Basic Assassin Skill. Deals strength* 50% physical damage to the enemy and ignores 1 point of physical defense. Consumes 5 mana, 5-second cooldown.] [Death Whirlwind: Level 1, Basic Assassin Skill. Approaches the enemy and deals continuous damage, each attack causing strength * 11% physical damage,sting for 10 hits. Consumes 20 mana, 10-second cooldown.] [Shadow Strike: Level 1, Basic Assassin Skill. Turns into a shadow to quickly approach and attack the enemy, dealing strength * 110% physical damage. Consumes 20 mana, 20-second cooldown.] [Equipment: me Staff, Novice Dagger, Fire Phoenix Set] John looked at his attributes. He wasn''t just strong; he was terrifyingly powerful. His current spirit and strength attributes wereparable to those of a level 60 third-tier warrior or mage. The only shoring was his constitution attribute, which was only at 175 points. However, John made up for this with his extremely high agility and the defensive skill Rock Armor, which entirelypensated for hisck of defense. Furthermore, with the B-grade physical damage increase, his base physical damage had already surpassed his magic damage. Both his magical and physical attacks were overwhelmingly powerful. Ping! Just then, John received a private message from Ritchie. Ritchie: "Godyer, how did you level up so quickly? You''re second on the leaderboard!" John opened the level leaderboard. [1st: Dark Angel, Assassin, Level 30] [2nd: Godyer, Wrath of the Gods Mage, Level 29] [3rd: Ritchie, Earth Knight, Level 28] ... Sure enough, John had reached the second ce on the level leaderboard. Fortunately, the leaderboard didn''t disy detailed information, so his secondary profession as a Nightmare Assassin remained hidden. This was his secret weapon, not to be easily exposed. Ritchie''s level had dropped to third ce, at level 28. The first ce, Dark Angel, had already reached level 30 but was still a first-tier Assassin. Level 30 required a second-tier advancement trial, which was quite challenging. Most hidden profession yers needed to team up toplete it, let alone Dark Angel, who was just an ordinary Assassin. Ritchie: "Godyer, isn''t it time to fulfill our bet? If you can beat me, I''ll be your underling. Otherwise, you have to be my underling!" Ritchie sent another private message. He had been waiting for this day for a long time. He admired John''s strength and believed that having him as an underling would be very beneficial. Ritchie was very confident, knowing that the world of Gods wasn''t just a simple game. Real- life strength transferred into the game. Heing from an Army family, he had been pushed by his grandfather and uncle to undergo various physical training, even learning a basic Ancient Martial Arts mental technique. It''s no exaggeration to say that his strength wasparable to a military elite. Beating an ordinary person would be no challenge. Godyer: "Alright, half an hourter, meet at Jade City!" John readily agreed. Since Ritchie was so eager to be his underling, he wouldn''t refuse. Cities are connected by teleportation arrays, which allow for mutual transfer, though the cost is somewhat high. Each teleportation costs 10 silver coins. This amount is negligible for Ritchie. John closed the private chat and looked at the silent, deep passage. For a moment, he was stunned and muttered in confusion, "Why am I still here?" Afterpleting the trial, he should have been teleported out of this space. John was worried; what if he was trapped here? There were no teleportation arrays, and he didn''t have any spatial skills to leave. Fortunately, this wasn''t an enclosed space, and the light at the end of the passage attracted John''s attention. Maybe that was the exit. With no more dangers in the passage, John quickly made his way through and soon reached the source of the light. Outside, everything was shrouded in mist, not looking like an exit. It seemed to connect to an unknown area, giving him a sense of extreme danger. Looking back at the dark, deep passage, he had no other way to go. "Let''s take a look!" John muttered to himself. Earth elements gathered, forming a Rock Armor that enveloped him. Whoosh! John took a step forward, and the surrounding mist surged. Gale-force windsshed at him, causing stinging pain all over his body; the Rock Armor was useless. -10 -10 ... Damage numbers floated above John''s head. "True damage!" John was rmed. This mist was too bizarre; it ignored both physical and magical resistance, dealing true damage. Although it only dealt 10 points of damage per second, with only 1800 points of health, he couldn''tst long. John didn''t dare stay any longer and turned to leave. At that moment, a notification appeared. [You have discovered a hidden, unopened map: Death Land] [Detected that you possess blessings from the Temple of Magic and the Temple of the Night. You have received a Death Land Token, Contract Scroll1, and Attribute Fusion Stone1] A hidden, unopened map? John was puzzled. He had never heard of Death Land before, and the items rewarded were unfamiliar. He checked each item''s attributes. [Death Land Token: A pass to enter Death Land. Refining it will seal your life within Death Land. Current power is too weak to refine.] [Death Land: The sacrednd of the dark elves, possessing strange and powerful forces. No life can survive here, except dark elves.] [Note: This ce is sealed with numerous powerful monsters by the dark elves, forcing them to submit to the dark elves...] [Contract Scroll: Can be used to make a soul contract with any being, ensuring eternal loyalty.] [Attribute Fusion Stone: Allows early integration of your in-game attributes into the real world, excluding equipment bonuses.] Integrate attributes into the real world early! John was surprised and delighted as he looked at the Attribute Fusion Stone in his hand. Normally, integrating yer attributes into reality would only be possible when the world of Gods and the real world connected. He never expected to find an item that could do this in advance. John was certain that no one in the previous life had obtained an Attribute Fusion Stone, or it would have caused a massive upheaval. Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Sparring Match, Subduing Ritchie Chapter 26: Sparring Match, Subduing Ritchie ? Use! John, both expectant and anxious, immediately used the Attribute Fusion Stone. Buzz! The Attribute Fusion Stone transformed into a stream of light and merged into his body, with no other noticeable changes. "Is that it?" John wondered, feeling no immediate difference in his body. It seemed he would only be able to verify its effects once he returned to the real world. He wasn''t in a rush, so he turned his attention to the other two items. The Death Land Token would allow him to freely enter and exit this area. However, what excited him most was the token''s sealing function. Unfortunately, his current power was too weak to refine it. The Contract Scroll was even more powerful, allowing him to make a soul contract with any being, ensuring eternal loyalty. Imagine if he could contract with a god; John would be unstoppable. However, given the gods'' immense power, he knew he wasn''t yet strong enough to challenge one, likely getting obliterated before he could even present the contract. "My health is down to just over 300!" John noticed, rmed. He could sense powerful creatures lurking in the mist but had no health recovery potions left and couldn''t risk staying longer. John quickly used the Death Land Token to teleport out. Buzz! With a spatial ripple, John found himself back in the ruins. His health was now down to 220. He breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of joy. This adventure had been entirely worthwhile. Two powerful hidden sses, a significant boost to his attributes. The Death Land Token, and the Contract Scroll. The most rare and valuable of all was the Attribute Fusion Stone. Beep! John''s private chat chimed; it was Ritchie. Ritchie: "Godyer, I''m at Jade City. Where are you?" Godyer: "On my way." Ritchie: "Okay, I''ll wait for you at the arena." John closed the chat and quickly headed to Jade City. With over 300 points in agility, John moved at incredible speed, almost like a shadow. The arena was a ce provided by major cities for yers to spar. Death in the arena carried no penalties. In less than ten minutes, John arrived at the Jade City arena. He immediately noticed a young man leaning casually against a pir. The man, around eighteen or neen years old, was handsome and youthful. He had a de of grass in his mouth and was whistling at the passing female yers, drawing res from the onlookers. The man couldn''t care less and continued doing as he pleased. This was none other than Ritchie. John had seen Ritchie''s family discipline, strict to the point of being harsh. He couldn''t understand how such a rigorous upbringing could produce such a rebellious troublemaker. John jumped onto the arena and called out, "Ritchie,e up here." Ritchie was staring intently at a scantily d beauty. Hearing John''s call, he frowned. Everyone around him always addressed him respectfully as Master Wu. Who was this impudent guy? Shit! Ritchie spat out the de of grass and sized up John on the stage. After a moment, he realized, "You... you''re Godyer?" He had seen John''s real-life profile and recognized his appearance. "Interesting!" Ritchie jumped onto the stage, curiously examining John. "I''ve met many yers who enhance their looks, but you''re the first I''ve seen who downys them. You look like a pretty boy in real life, but here in the game, you seem more impressive." John smiled, already ustomed to Ritchie''s demeanor. He wasn''t offended. Taking out his staff, he said calmly, "Enough talk. Let''s get started. I''m on a schedule." "Alright," Ritchie said, his yful demeanor shifting to seriousness. A long spear appeared in his hand. "Just so you know, I won''t use my artifact. You go first." John shook his head, remaining calm. "If I attack first, you won''t stand a chance." Ritchie''s eye twitched. No one had ever dared to act more arrogant than him. Without another word, Ritchie charged at John, his spear thrusting like a dragon breaking through the sea. The speed and angle made it seem unavoidable. John stood still, showing no intention of dodging or even casting a spell. "Hmph, overconfident fool. It''s over!" Ritchie thought disdainfully. To equip the Diamond Giant Shield, he had allocated all his points to his knight, with his talent and the hidden ss of Earth Knight boosting his strength to 500 points. He was confident this strike would kill John. Just as Ritchie closed in and his spear was about to hit, John calmly raised his staff, not to cast a spell, but to block. ng! With a swift motion, John''s staff deflected the spear. The immense force numbed Ritchie''s grip, and before he could react, John''s staff struck him on the head. Bang! Bang! -907 -911 Two damage numbers appeared. Ritchie turned into a white light and reappeared at the edge of the arena. He stunned and bewildered. He was a knight, known for defense, with 120 points in physical resistance and nearly 1300 health points with his equipment. And a mage had just beaten him to death with a staff? Ritchie red at John, shouting, "You cheated! You''re a warrior pretending to be a mage!" John smiled, "Not satisfied? Then let''s go again!" "Fine!" Ritchie climbed back onto the stage, abandoning his earlier bravado. The artifact Diamond Giant Shield appeared in his hand. It granting +1000 physical defense, +500 magical defense, and an additional 1000 points in constitution. Ritchie was confident. This time, John wouldn''t even be able to scratch his defense. John''s physical attacks indeed couldn''t break through Ritchie''s defense with the artifact enhancement. However, John was a real mage. Whoosh! Waving his staff, two massive fireballs shot out one after the other, heading straight for Ritchie. Boom! Boom! -1424 -1439 The fireballs exploded, mes surging, and terrifying damage numbers appeared above Ritchie''s head. Ritchie was startled. If it weren''t for the high health and magic resistance provided by the artifact, he would have been killed by just one fireball. Could this guy really be a mage? Ritchie was getting nervous. Seeing the iing Wind de and the lightning striking down from above, he immediately activated his artifact''s skill. Diamond Protection! Damage received was halved,sting ten minutes, with a cooldown of one hour. Boom! Bang! -708 -711 ... Amidst the continuous booming and magical surges, John''s magical attacks were relentless, leaving Ritchie in agony. Though powerful, the artifact had a downside-it reduced his speed by 100 points. Ritchie had be nearly a sitting duck, only able to take the hits. With the barrage of magical attacks, even a shell would eventually break. Boom! Ritchie was hit by another spell, turning into white light and reappearing at the edge of the arena, looking defeated as he slumped to the ground. He could ept defeat. But this wasn''t just defeat; it was aplete thrashing. Is this even the same game? Cheats! This guy must be cheating! Ritchie got up, pointing at John, shouting angrily, "You''re a cheater! I''m reporting you for using hacks!" John frowned, sensing that this defeat had hit Ritchie hard. ncing at the furious Ritchie, he said calmly, "Are you out of your mind? You know more about the world of Gods than I do, right? If you don''t believe it, we can continue." Ritchie fell silent. Indeed, it was impossible to cheat in the world of Gods because it wasn''t just a game. The authorities had confirmed this was a real world. Though they hadn''t announced it to avoid unnecessary panic. The game had such a massive global impact that even the authorities couldn''t shut it down. As for cheats, they were simply impossible. Ritchie quickly switched to a friendly demeanor, running up to John with a grin, "Boss, teach me. How did you do that?" John understood Ritchie''s personality and didn''t say much. He simply said, "Let''s find a tavern and have a chat." "Sure," Ritchie replied, delighted, and quickly followed. In the cities of the world of Gods, hotels, inns, and various other consumer facilities were fully equipped. Moreover, eating and sleeping here could also reflect benefits in the real world. John and Ritchie arrived at a fairly upscale tavern and got a private room to avoid being disturbed. "Boss, are you sure you''re paying for this meal?" Ritchie asked repeatedly, eyeing the menu and swallowing hard. John, feeling impatient, nodded, "Yes, I''m sure. Order whatever you want." "Heh heh, then I won''t hold back," Ritchie grinned slyly. He had long heard about the delicious food in the world of Gods restaurants, but the prices were too high, and only in-game currency was epted. He simply couldn''t afford it. Now, hearing that John was treating, his eyes lit up, and he started picking the most expensive items. Soon, avish spread of food filled the table, looking and smelling delicious. Ritchie couldn''t wait, stuffing his mouth full of food and speaking unclearly, "Boss, what''s the deal? Why did you bring me here?" He knew John wouldn''t treat him without a reason, especially not in such a quiet and elegant high-end private room. Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Secret meeting in bar, Griffin Family’s action Chapter 27: Secret meeting in bar, Griffin Family¡¯s action ? Compared to Ritchie''s ravenous eating, John was much more elegant. He nced at Ritchie and said calmly, "Indeed, there is something. How many men do you have under yourmand now?" Ritchie paused, his actions halting, and he looked at John warily. "Why are you asking? That''s ssified information!" John picked up his tea and took a sip slowly. It was a sensitive question. "Never mind," John set down his cup. He realized it was impossible to exin to Ritchie immediately. "I''m not a spy, nor do I mean you any harm. What I''m about to tell you is very important." Ritchie looked at John, half-listening, as his attention drifted back to the delicious food in front of him. However, John''s next words made him sit up straight. "I know you''re running for the position of legionmander in the me Legion. I don''t care what you have to do, even if you have to use your grandfather''s and uncle''s connections. You need to get rid of Kevin. This is crucial." John emphasized thest sentence. Ritchie stood up abruptly, ring at John, his voice edged with suspicion, "Who are you, really?" His reaction was justified. The information John had just revealed was ssified. The me Legion was an extra unit being formed specifically for the world of Gods. It was still in the nning stages and hadn''t been finalized. Even high-ranking officials in the military knew very little about it, yet John seemed to know everything. John considered Ritchie''s intense reaction and came up with a usible exnation. "I have a unique talent that allows me to foresee future events." "Really?" Ritchie scrutinized John, starting to believe him. The world of Gods was mysterious, and having such a talent wasn''t entirely out of the realm of possibility. Besides, Ritchie had thoroughly investigated John and found nothing suspicious. Given John''s background, it was unlikely he would know about these matters unless it was indeed due to a unique talent. Ritchie sat back down, curious. "So, what did you foresee happening in the future?" John shook his head mysteriously. "I can''t say." "Fine," Ritchie grumbled, giving up on his curiosity. He resumed eating, mumbling through a mouthful of food, "If the boss asks, I''ll make sure to take the me Legion." With his connections, securing the position of legionmander was no problem. In the previous timeline, Ritchie had avoided using his family connections to avoid controversy within the military and had allowed Kevin to take the position. However, Kevin turned out to be a coward who eventually defected to the Dark Humans, leading to the me Legion''s destruction and the subsequent downfall of Earth. In John''s mind, Kevin had to be removed, but it needed to be done without causing unnecessary conflict with the military. "Boss, there''s one more thing," Ritchie said, putting down his chopsticks and looking at John. "Have you heard about Gaia nning to establish a city in a week? He invited me to help, and I decided to check it out." John frowned and said coldly, "Why get involved in that? Don''t go!" The first to establish a territory would get a hidden instance reward, essentially allowing them to endlessly farm skill stones. This was a reward John was determined to get. Ritchie looked puzzled, not understanding why John was reacting so strongly. He exined, "Boss, I''m not really going to help. It seems like Gaia has made some deal with a city lord. I''m just going to observe and learn so that when we establish our city, we have some experience." "What?" John eximed. This likely wasn''t just a deal with a city lord, but an alliance with the Dark Humans! The cities and even the novice viges in the world of Gods were under the influence of the Dark Humans. John hadn''t expected Gaia to align with the Dark Humans so quickly. With the help of the Dark Humans, Gaia would definitely seed in establishing a city. John couldn''t let that happen and had to stop Gaia. Even if it meant confronting the Dark Humans prematurely. Ritchie, seeing John''s reaction, asked, "Boss, is there a problem?" "No," John replied, not wanting to exin further. He decided to handle this matter himself. Gaia was backed by the Mike White Family, a powerful force with influence in several countries. Ritchie''s current status and power were no match for the Mike White Family. If it was John, he must conflict with Mike White Family. But John, with his divine attributes already fused, wasn''t afraid. "Ritchie, I have some equipment here. I''ll sell it to you at market price," John said, emptying the equipment he had gathered over the past few days from killing monsters. Gurgle. A tter followed as over a hundred sets of equipment, mostly first-tier and of ordinary quality, spilled onto the ground. "Wow, Boss, that''s a lot!" Ritchie eximed. No wonder John leveled up so quickly; how many bosses had he ughtered to get all this gear? But soon, Ritchie''s excitement dimmed. "Boss, can I owe you? I''m out of money." For equipping the artifact Diamond Giant Shield, Ritchie spent a lot of money. Ten million dor!it exhausted his private coffer, but just increase the strength to 500 point. John, not in need of money, nodded, "Fine, you can owe me. I''m logging off now. Contact me if you need anything." With that, he logged off on the spot. Ritchie looked at the pile of equipment, his heart leaping with joy. "Haha, I''m rich!" With this gear, he could quickly build up his forces. "Right, I forgot to mention the Griffin Family!" Ritchie suddenly remembered. Yesterday, the Griffin Family had contacted him, wanting his Diamond Giant Shield. Of course, Ritchie had refused outright. The Griffin Family is an Ancient Martial Arts Family with formidable power, but in the real world, Ritchie is not afraid of them. He suspects that Aron is somehow involved in this matter. The Griffin Family might target John. "Forget it, I''ll warn the boss tomorrow," Ritchie decided, not in a hurry. He packed up the equipment on the ground and left Jade City. ... In the real world, dawn had just broken. Snap! John snapped his fingers, and a small fireball formed at his fingertips. The attributes had truly fused into reality! John was overjoyed and excited. He dispersed the fireball, knowing its destructive power. Though it seemed small, it was strong enough to destroy the entire vi, so it was best not to experiment recklessly. In addition to mastering magical skills, his physical attributes had significantly improved. His body was now filled with immense power. John felt no difort despite the sudden increase in strength. In his previous life, his power was far more terrifying than it was now, and controlling this amount of power was effortless. Whoosh... His enhanced attributes also sharpened his senses. He could clearly hear the sound of running water from the bathroom. Sini was taking a shower. A mischievous smile appeared on John''s face. With his super-high agility, he moved silently and entered the bathroom. "Ah!" Sini screamed, startled. But then her voice changed, bing sultry and suggestive. ... Two hourster, the bathroom door opened. Siniy limp against John, her face flushed and eyes zed, weakly saying, "Master, you are too strong. You should find a mistress or a sister for me." She meant it sincerely. John was too powerful. She had used every trick she knew, including some shameful ones she learned online, but she still couldn''t satisfy John. She ended up feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. If this continued, she feared she might break. John didn''t answer, gently cing Sini on the sofa and softly saying, "Rest for a while. I''ll prepare breakfast." "Okay," Sini replied shyly, lowering her head. She didn''t want to agree, but her lower body ached, and she was too weak to move, needing time to recover. Listening to the sounds from the kitchen, Sini''s face lit up with a blissful smile. Her master never treated her like a ve. At that moment, she felt truly free. "This is so nice," Sini murmured to herself. Buzz! Her phone vibrated softly on the table, indicating a message. Curious, Sini checked the message, and her smile vanished. Her body trembled slightly with fear. "Tonight at midnight, Pale Mountain Park." The message was followed by a leaf symbol. It was from the Griffin Family! Sini instinctively clenched her fists, biting her lip hard, her eyes filled with despair and sorrow. The Griffin Family had found her. Pale Mountain Park was in Down City, not far from here. Sini felt she had no choice but toply. Her whereabouts had been exposed. If she refused, she feared for John''s safety. The kitchen door opened, and John walked out carrying a simple breakfast. Sini quickly regained herposure and deleted the message. Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Griffin Family Assassins, Unveiling Strength Chapter 28: Griffin Family Assassins, Unveiling Strength ? Breakfast was simple: two servings of steak and two sses of milk. Sini was delighted; this was a breakfast made by her master. She thoughtfully cut John''s steak into pieces and secretly observed him, asking, "Master, are you going to enter the world of Gods again tonight?" John nodded, not noticing anything unusual about Sini. "Yes, I should be." He had already reached level 29, just one level away from the second-tier advancement. John nned toplete the second-tier advancement task tonight. Sini moved closer to John, pleading, "Master, could you spend the day with me today?" She had a feeling that after tonight, she might have to leave John forever and return to that hell. She wanted to cherish every moment with him. John looked at Sini with a hint of confusion. The early stages of the game were crucial, but he didn''t want to refuse Sini. He nodded and agreed, "Of course, let''s go out and have some fun today." "You''re the best, Master." Sini quickly kissed John''s cheek, her face blushing as she buried her head in her food. She noticed John''s reaction and felt scared. She wanted to satisfy him, but her body couldn''t handle it. Tonight, no matter how painful it is, she would give John an unforgettable night! Sini silently made up her mind. ... Down City was a third-tier city, not luxurious but usually bustling. However, due to the global phenomenon of the world of Gods, the once bustling streets seemed quieter. John enjoyed the peace and tranquility. He and Sini went to the amusement park, tried all the rides, then went hiking, and even watched a nonsensical movie. After dinner, they returned home by dusk. "Master, I''m going to take a shower first." Sini, hugging a dolphin plushie as tall as she was, smiled as she bounced towards the bedroom. John had given her the plushie, and she loved it. Hearing the water running in the bathroom, John couldn''t resist, took off his clothes, and joined Sini for a romantic shower. That night, Sini was especially eager to please, using all her skills to satisfy John. But she had overestimated herself. The continuous climaxes, the blissful sensation, stimted every nerve, making her forget all her worries, as if she was floating on a warm, soft cloud... Eventually, her consciousness blurred, and she fell asleep in John''s arms, her face showing a mix of happiness and slight pain. John looked at the beautiful woman in his arms, feeling content. Sini had changed a lot under his care, bing more mature and alluring. "Hmm?" John frowned, his eyes shing with a cold killing intent. He sensed someone approaching the vi. An Ancient Martial Artist! It must be someone from the Griffin Family. John sneered, not surprised. Sini was a pawn raised by the Griffin Family to control the influential families in the secr world. They certainly wouldn''t allow Sini to escape their control. It seems that Aron''s interference has yed a significant role in this. John realized why Sini had been so eager tonight; the Griffin Family must have already contacted her. The beautiful woman in his arms stirred, letting out a pained moan. John quickly closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep. Sini opened her eyes, tears glistening as she gazed at John''s handsome face with reluctance. "Master, I''m sorry," Sini whispered softly. "These days with you have been the happiest of my life, but I can never escape the Griffin Family. Please, forget about me." John felt her cold lips on his, tears dropping onto his face, and then the emptiness in his arms. Sini changed into a tight ck outfit, secured two daggers to her wrists, and finally picked up the dolphin plushie from the bed. She took onest, tearful look at John before quietly leaving the vi. In bed, John opened his eyes, anger shing. "Looks like this woman needs a lesson!" In his past life, Sini had also disappeared without a word due to the Griffin Family''s threats. John was heartbroken, searching for her in vain. Fearing the worst due to the ruthless nature of Ancient Martial Arts families. Sini was likely not spared. After destroying the Griffin Family, he never found a trace of her. Determined not to let the past repeat, John got dressed and went downstairs. "Come out," John said coldly. The intruder hadn''t left with Sini, suggesting he was here for John. "Impressive, you''re quite alert," a figure emerged from the shadows. A thin, cold-faced middle-aged man who looked at John with a sneer. "A mere ordinary person daring to touch my Griffin Family''s trained ve, how audacious!" The man said, a dagger appearing in his hand, his intent to kill obvious. John remained calm. "Get out. I don''t want to dirty my vi." He walked outside. The man hesitated, momentarily intimidated by John''smanding presence. He sensed no martial aura from John, assuming him to be an ordinary person. "Hmph, ignorant fool!" Enraged, the man attacked from behind. Bang! John struck. One punch sent the man flying, blood spilling from his mouth. John''s integrated attributes from the world of Gods had given him strength on par with top- tier Ancient Martial Artists. The man, barely at second-tier strength, was no match. "You... cough!" The man knelt, spitting blood mixed with shattered organs, his face pale. His insides were crushed, beyond saving even by a god. He couldn''t understand how an ordinary person could possess such terrifying strength. Struggling with hisst breath, he asked, "Who... who are you?" "You''ve messed with someone the Griffin Family can''t afford to provoke!" John said, snapping his fingers. A flicker of me danced on his fingertips before flying onto the cold man''s body. Whoosh! mes engulfed the man instantly, burning him to ashes without a single scream. A gentle breeze scattered the ashes, leaving no trace. Without a second nce, John pursued in the direction Sini had gone. ... Sini had already arrived at Pale Mountain Park. At midnight, the park was silent and dark. The dim streetlights cast a faint glow, while distant sounds of stray cats and asional scuffles echoed through the night. A scar-faced man sat on a bench under a streetlight, cradling an ancient sword. Smoke curled around him, and cigarette butts littered the ground. He looked into the shadows beyond the light, revealing yellow teeth in a sneer. "Gale, if there''s one thing I can say about you, it''s that you''re punctual." From the darkness emerged a figure holding arge, adorable dolphin plushie. It was Sini. She wrinkled her nose at the acrid smell of smoke. Sini red at the scar-faced man, her voice cold, "I am a free person now. You have no hold over me!" "Free? Ha..." The man nced at the plushie she held, sneering as if he''d heard the most absurd joke. "You need to remember, you are nothing but a dog trained by the Griffin Family. If you don''t listen or can''t bite, the only oue is death. Freedom? Hmph, death is the only freedom you''ll get." Sini bit her lip, her eyes filled with humiliation and anger. She ced the plushie gently on a clean bench, her hands sliding down to reveal two daggers. She was ready to fight for the elusive freedom she longed for. The scar-faced man noticed her movements and smirked, still full of disdain. "If you don''t want that John to get hurt, you better behave." At the mention of John''s name, Sini''s body trembled. She abandoned the thought of resistance, her face filled with despair, and her voice devoid of any emotion, "Fine, I''ll go with you." The man looked pleased, about to speak when he suddenly sensed something. "Who''s there?" he shouted, drawing his sword as he turned. A handsome young man stood there. The scar-faced man broke into a cold sweat, realizing he hadn''t noticed the young man approach at all. Chapter 29: Chapter 29: A Dominating Strike and Incredible Luck Chapter 29: A Dominating Strike and Incredible Luck ? "Ma-master..." Sini''s eyes filled with tears as she saw John. She was both surprised and overjoyed but quickly said, "Master, you must leave, it''s dangerous here." "So, you''re John?" The scar-faced man was stunned upon hearing Sini call him that. "You''re still alive? Where''s ''Rat''?" John smirked coldly, looking at the scar-faced man. "You''ll be joining him soon enough." The scar-faced man stubbed out his cigarette, his expression darkening as he gripped his sword, ready forbat. "Stop!" Sini immediately stepped in front of John, ring at the scar-faced man. "You promised not to harm my master." "Foolish girl," the scar-faced man sneered as he swiftly moved towards John. He moving fast, leaving only a blur under the streetlight. His speed was astonishing, far surpassing the earlier cold man. John, however, remained calm, pulling Sini into his arms and whispering, "Leave this to me." Feeling John''s strong, broad chest, Sini momentarily forgot to resist, an inexplicable sense of safety washing over her. Whoosh! A fireball formed in John''s hand, hurtling towards the scar-faced man. "What''s this?" The man was puzzled but didn''t give it much thought. He swung his sword at the fireball. Boom! With a thunderous explosion, the fireball detonated, the massive energy st reducing the scar-faced man to ashes. Though the fireball was small, its power was akin to a grenade. Sini, nestled in John''s embrace, was dumbfounded. She hadn''t been affected by the fireball''s st, but the shock was immense. She looked up at John, stunned. "Master, are you an Ancient Martial Artist?" Sini was unsure, having never seen an Ancient Martial Artist wield such abilities. It seemed more like the power of a mage, simr to those in the world of Gods. Could it be that... her master''s game abilities could be brought into the real world? "Hmph!" John snorted angrily, ring at her. "This is the second time, Sini. The second time you''ve left without a word. Do it again, and I''ll break your legs and lock you up!" Sini smiled, feeling not fear but an unprecedented sense of security, being protected by someone. But what did John mean by the second time? Tilting her head, she asked, "Master, have I abandoned you before?" John didn''t bother to exin, knowing it would be tooplicated. "Just remember what I said. Now, let''s go home." "Okay!" Sini obediently didn''t ask further, not forgetting the dolphin plushie on the bench. Fortunately, the explosion hadn''t reached it. "Master, carry me," Sini said as she ran to John, arms open, looking pitifully at him. She had intentionally tried to leave a deep impression on John tonight, going a bit wild, and she still hadn''t fully recovered. John scolded her with a re. "You ran so far while feeling unwell. Get on." He crouched down, letting Sini climb onto his back. Sini was overjoyed and jumped onto John''s back, wrapping her legs around his waist. The dolphin plush was nestled in front of him. John couldn''t see any signs of difort in Sini. Fortunately, Sini was light. Holding her by her hips and feeling her soft chest against his back, he found it quite enjoyable. "Master, our location has been exposed. Should we move?" Sini asked, leaning close to John''s ear. She knew the Griffin Family''s style. After suffering such a loss, they would never let it go easily. John remained silent, pondering their next move. With the attributes from the world of Gods fused into his real-world self, he wasn''t afraid of the Griffin Family''s retaliation, unless they sent a top-tier martial artist. But such powerful figures were highly respected and rarely moved. John wasn''t worried about them. However, always being on the defensive wasn''t his style. He wanted to take the initiative. John thought of another Ancient Martial Arts Family, the Blues Family. Unlike other Ancient Martial Arts Families, the Blues Family adhered to their ancestral teachings and remained secluded. They would onlye out when humanity faced a catastrophe. In his previous life, the Blues Family was the first and only family to be annihted by the Dark Humans. They upheld their ancestral teachings and fought to the death against the Dark Humans and their beast armies. The Blues Family''s seven thousand elite warriors all perished, causing significant damage to the Dark Humans'' vanguard at the cost of their lives. Enraged, the Dark Humans targeted the Blues Family''s nonbatants. The entire family, more than thirty thousand people, refused to bow down to the Dark Humans, resulting in theirplete massacre. "I''ll find a way," John said, his voice heavy. This time, he was determined to protect the Blues Family. Conveniently, he still had a Life-Sustaining Pill, which could save the critically injured patriarch of the Blues Family and help him establish contact with them. The Blues Family and the Griffin Family were arch-enemies. The Blues Family patriarch''s severe injury was the result of a calcted ambush by the Griffin Family''s head and several elders. Sini sensed John''s preupation and didn''t ask further. She quietlyy on his back. ... The Griffin Family''s failed operation meant they wouldn''t act again for a while. Once they returned to the vi, they immediately connected to the world of Gods. John needed to reach level 30 as soon as possible and find a way to contact the Blues Family. Sini, after parting with Johnst time, had fortuitously received an S-level unique hidden quest to deliver a letter for an old man. In his previous life, John had never heard of such a quest, suggesting it was Sini''s unique opportunity. Confident that Sini was not in danger, he didn''t press for details and headed to the Dark Cave outside Jade City to level up. The Dark Cave was an underground maze with four levels, filled with undead monsters. The weakest among them were level 25 skeleton soldiers, making it perfect for John to level up. John entered the first level of the Dark Cave. Teeming with skeleton soldiers. Several teams of yers, all above level 20, were struggling to take down the skeleton soldiers together. John didn''tpete with these yers for monsters; he didn''t care about these weak skeleton soldiers. He moved quickly, a blur, heading deeper into the cave. Even the level 25 skeleton soldiers couldn''t react to his speed. An archer felt a breeze brush past his face, catching a glimpse of a figure shing by. The archer paused his attack and turned to the warrior yer in front of him, asking, "Captain, did you see that? It looked like someone just rushed in." "You''re seeing things. This ce is full of level 25 skeleton soldiers. Even the top yers on the leaderboard wouldn''t dare enter. No one''s crazy enough to rush in like that," the captain responded absentmindedly, focused on attacking the skeleton soldier in front of him. The archer stopped his attack, putting more pressure on the knight at the front. The knight, feeling the increased burden, yelled, "Hey! Stay focused! My health is dropping... Ah!" With a scream, the knight turned into a sh of white light and disappeared. Soon, more screams followed. Without the knight tanking, the rest of the party was overwhelmed by the skeleton soldiers and quickly eliminated. The hard-earned levels they had gained were instantly lost, dropping them back to level 10. Angry shouts echoed from the Jade City revival point. ... Meanwhile, John had reached the entrance to the second level of the Dark Cave. Not wanting to be reckless, he cast Rock Armor, covering himself before entering the next area. Buzz! In a sh, John appeared in the second level of the cave. It was filled with level 30 skeleton warriors and skeleton archers. Defeating these monsters would not only help him level up and Plunder attributes but also increase the level of his Wrath of the Gods talent. Boom! Boom! Nearby, the sounds of battle reached his ears. "yers?" John was surprised. He didn''t expect anyone else to dare enter the second level of the cave. He moved toward the source of the noise. There he saw a cute priestess with a youthful face and a buxom figure, her appearance rivaling Sini''s. This girl, however, was a bit violent, wielding a holy hammer and fighting off the surrounding skeleton warriors with determination. Despite her efforts, her attack power was too low, and she was in a dangerous situation. "Could it really be this coincidental?" John stared at the priestess, dumbfounded. She was Tracy, the daughter of the head of the Blues Family, an Ancient Martial Arts n. John had been contemting how to contact the Blues Family, and here he was, encountering their eldest daughter. His luck was incredible. "Help!" Tracy noticed John and immediately sent a party invite. [yer Star Dust invites you to join the party. Do you ept?] epted! John join in the party and saw Tracy''s information. Star Dust, Spirit Priest, Level 30. She had a hidden ss, and her level was even more surprising. He quickly checked the leaderboard. Sure enough, he had dropped to third ce. The top spot was still held by Dark Angel at level 31. "Hey, stop standing there and help out! Old man." Tracy yelled, having been hit by two arrows, her health dangerously low. She quickly cast a healing spell on herself, urging John to act. Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Adorable Lolita, Clearing the Dark Cave Chapter 30: Adorable Lolita, Clearing the Dark Cave ? "Old man?" John was speechless. He touched his face, even though he had adjusted his appearance downwards, he didn''t think he looked old enough to be called "old man." Did he really look that old? Seeing Tracy about to be overwhelmed by the skeleton warriors, he finally took action. Casting Rain of Fire, he enveloped the surrounding skeleton monsters in a zing inferno. Terrifying damage numbers shed: -2278 -2274 -2269... The level 30 skeleton warriors and skeleton archers had just over a thousand health points, and they were instantly annihted. [Killed level 30 skeleton warrior, gained 30 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, strength +1] ... Messages kept popping up. Tracy watched in amazement, eximing, "So strong! So fast!" "Strong" referred to John''s terrifying magic damage. "Fast" referred to her rapidly increasing experience points. Only then did Tracy take a closer look at John''s information, eximing again, "You''re Godyer? Oh my god, how are your health and mana so high?" When yers team up, they can see each other''s basic information and status, which helps with coordination. "Just average," John replied casually, picking up two pieces of equipment from the ground. The level 30 monsters only dropped tier 2 equipment. Tracy was speechless. This guy was too humble. Then she noticed the equipment on the ground. "Hey, uncle, aren''t normal monsters not supposed to drop equipment?" Tracy was sure that there hadn''t been a boss among the monsters they just killed. John examined the two pieces of equipment. Both were of ordinary attributes. He casually tossed them into his storage ring and said, "Can''t help it, being handsome means even heaven is kind to me." Tracy rolled her eyes. This guy was way too narcissistic. She scrutinized Godyer. He gave off a cold and aloof vibe. His looks were passable, but he definitely wasn''t what she''d call "handsome." Tracy continued, "Old man, can you help meplete my ss advancement task? I need to kill a level 30 elite boss." John nced at the adorable Tracy and said, "Since you asked, it would be ungentlemanly of me to refuse." "You''ll help me?" Tracy was overjoyed. With Godyer''s terrifying strength, she could definitelyplete her advancement task easily with his help. John nodded but then changed his tone, saying, "But first, you need to answer a few questions. What''s your name? Where do you live? Who else is in your family?" "What do you want?" Tracy''s eyebrows furrowed. She stepped back, eyeing John warily. John smiled slightly. He had a feeling this girl wasn''t too bright, so he continued to bluff, "Don''t misunderstand. It''s just that you remind me of someone I once knew. Her name was Louise, and she was as beautiful as you are when she was young." Hearing John''s words, Tracy''s eyes widened in surprise. "Uncle, do you know my mother?" "Your mother?" John looked at Tracy, pretending to be puzzled. Tracy nodded repeatedly, her face showing surprise and joy without a trace of wariness. "Old man, my name is Tracy. You should have heard of me. Unfortunately, my mother passed away when I was very young, so I haven''t heard about you from her." Tracy looked sorrowful. Deceiving such an innocent girl made John feel a bit guilty. Fortunately, he wasn''t a creepy guy. In fact, he wasn''t an old man at all. John looked at Tracy, pretending to suddenly remember. "So you''re Tracy. I didn''t realize you''ve grown up so much." Tracy nodded eagerly, really taking John for an elder. "Uncle, can you help meplete my task now?" "No problem," John agreed readily. Tracy''s advancement task was to kill a level 30 or higher elite boss. The second floor of the Dark Cave certainly had such a boss. John continued to cast his skills, enveloping the cave in Rain of Fire, clearing out the skeleton warriors and skeleton archers. [Killed level 30 skeleton archer, gained 30 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, agility +1] ... [Your level has increased to 30, spirit +4, strength +3, agility +2, free attribute points +8, skill points +2] [Unlock second job advancement task] [Wrath of the Gods Mage second advancement task: Kill a level 30 or higher epic boss] [Phantom Assassin second advancement task: Kill a level 30 or higher epic boss] The notification shed, and John finally reached level 30, unlocking his job advancement tasks. He needed to kill a level 30 or higher epic boss. Since both jobs had the same advancement task, he only needed to kill one epic boss to advance both. John continued to sweep through the surrounding skeleton warriors and skeleton archers, searching for the boss. Finally, after nearly wiping out all the monsters on the second floor, the boss appeared. It was a skeleton warrior and a skeleton archer, both level 30 elite bosses. "Old man, be careful. Don''t kill them outright," Tracy quickly reminded John. The job advancement task could bepleted in a team, but the final blow had to be dealt by Tracy. With John''s terrifying damage, she was really worried he might identally one-shot these boneheads. "Got it," John replied. He cast a big Fireball and Wind de sh in quick session, instantly killing the skeleton archer. [Killed level 30 elite boss skeleton archer, gained 120 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, strength +2, skill points +1, attack speed +1] The notification shed, and the Plunder talent granted him 2 strength points, 1 skill point, and 1 hidden attribute, attack speed. "Old man, slow down!" Tracy eximed, heartbroken as she watched the skeleton archer get one-shotted. She reminded John again. John continued to attack the skeleton warrior, this time keeping a close eye on its health to avoid identally killing it too soon. Soon, the skeleton warrior''s health dropped to just over a hundred points. John stopped attacking and cast Rock Armor on himself, standing in front of Tracy. "Your turn," he said. "Got it!" Tracy nodded and quickly cast her Priest attack skill, Holy Strike. A beam of light descended onto the skeleton warrior''s head. -12 The pitiful damage was almost too embarrassing to watch. Tracy looked at John, who was taking the hits without retaliating, and apologized. "Sorry, old man, my damage is a bit low. Please bear with me." John frowned. "A bit low?" he thought. Watching Tracy''s pitiful damage output, sometimes even in single digits, he resisted the urge to step in and finish the job himself. Finally, after three minutes, the boss''s health was fully depleted, and it slowly fell. John could almost hear the skeleton warrior sigh in relief, its empty eye sockets reflecting a sense of release. It was finally free from the torment of this busty but brainless Priest... "Old man, I leveled up!" Tracy was overjoyed. The umted experience from this short period,bined withpleting her job advancement task, boosted her to level 31. She had a feeling that if she continued to follow John, she could surpass the person currently at the top of the leaderboard. Tracy looked at John, hopeful. "Old man, can you continue to help me level up?" "Let''s go," John nodded, picking up the gear dropped by the two bosses: a pair of high- quality bracers and a high-quality magic hat, both tier 2. Since Tracy didn''t want them, he casually stored them in his Storage Ring and headed towards the entrance to the third level of the cave. The second level of the cave had been cleared of monsters, and they wouldn''t respawn for a while. John''s advancement task required him to hunt a level 30 or higher epic boss, so it seemed he would have to delve deeper into the cave to find one. Tracy followed closely behind John as they entered the third level of the cave. The monsters here were even stronger, all level 35 skeleton knights, skeleton assassins, and skeleton mages. Whoosh, whoosh... Magic surged towards them as soon as they entered, with dozens of spells flying their way. John stood in front of Tracy, about to cast Rock Armor when a holy light descended on him, forming a shield. Holy Shield. It was Tracy''s skill. Bang, bang... The spells hit the shield, causing ripples. The shield, unable to withstand the onught, shattered. Tracy pouted, disappointed. "Uncle, be careful. My shield is too weak to withstand attacks from level 35 monsters." John wasn''t concerned. He cast Rock Armor and then Rain of Fire. mes enveloped the area. The level 35 skeleton monsters still couldn''t withstand his attacks and were instantly killed. The strongest skeleton knight had only about 2000 health points, which couldn''t withstand John''s magic attacks. Let alone the low-health, low-defense skeleton assassins and mages. "Wow, old man, you''re really OP!" Tracy eximed, watching her experience points soar rapidly while she stood idly by. John''s face darkened. "OP? I''m clearly just strong," he thought. [Killed level 35 skeleton mage, gained 43 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, spirit +1] [Plunder talent activated, constitution +1] The notifications kept shing, and John''s four main attributes kept increasing. Soon, they had swept through the third level of the cave, and three powerful skeleton bosses appeared. However, they were not epic bosses. Just level 35 rare bosses: a skeleton knight, a skeleton assassin, and a skeleton mage. Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Rare Equipment, Undead Mage Chapter 31: Rare Equipment, Undead Mage ? The three skeletal monsters were massive and menacing. Tracy hid behind John, worriedly asking, "Old man, these guys look scary. Can we beat them?" John didn''t answer. He simply raised his staff and cast Rain of Fire. -2014 -2516 -992 Three damage numbers shed. John quickly understood the attributes of these three monsters. The skeleton knight had around one thousand points of magic defense and twenty thousand health. The skeleton mage had two thousand points of spirit attribute and twelve thousand health. The skeleton assassin had two thousand points of strength, five hundred points of agility, and thirteen thousand health. He could handle these three monsters. "Human, die!" the skeleton knight roared, gripping a long spear and charging towards John. Buzz! Earth elements coalesced, forming Rock Armor that enveloped John. But the skeleton assassin was quicker, shing to John''s side. Assassin skill: Deadly Strike! A cold light flickered, aiming directly at John''s throat. Tracy instinctively cast Holy Shield. Crack! The thin shield shattered instantly. The skeleton assassin was right in front of John. Unfazed, John raised his staff and struck the skeleton assassin''s wrist hard. Bang! -825 A damage number floated up. The skeleton assassin''s attack was forcibly interrupted. Crack! Immediately after, John cast Thunderstorm, triggering the skillbo. Two bolts of lightning struck the skeleton assassin one after the other. -2507 -2498 The skeleton assassin''s health dropped drastically, and it retreated in panic. Meanwhile, the skeleton knight''s charge and the skeleton mage''srge fireball came in session. Bang bang! The Rock Armor shattered, and John took significant damage. -704 Fortunately, after clearing the second and thirdyers of the dark cave, his constitution had significantly improved, barely allowing him to withstand the attacks of a level 30 rare boss. "Star Dust, heal me!" John reminded Tracy, quickly creating distance and focusing on the skeleton mage and skeleton assassin. These two posed the greatest threat to him. Whoosh! John castrge fireballs and Wind de sh, targeting the skeleton assassin. -2517 -2499 mes surged, and winds howled. The skeleton assassin was instantly killed. [Killed level 35 rare boss skeleton assassin, gained 340 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, strength +20, agility +10, physical critical hit +1] The notification shed. John didn''t have time to check the dropped equipment. The attacks from the skeleton mage and skeleton knight arrived simultaneously. He couldn''t dodge and had to take the hits head-on. -711 -1148 Two damage numbers appeared, leaving John with just over 1100 health. Luckily, a warm light enveloped him, and he was bathed in the healing light, recovering 400 health points. It was better than nothing. At this point, the skeleton knight''s eye sockets red with soul fire. It roared and charged at Tracy. "Ah! Old man, help!" Tracy panicked and started to run. "You should be running towards me!" John was exasperated. He couldn''t understand how Tracy had even made it to the second level of the dark cave. His skills cooled down, and he cast them again. Tworge fireballs, two Wind des, and two bolts of lightning streaked towards the skeleton knight. John wasn''t sure if it was his luck or Tracy''s, but Spell Combo triggered three times in a row. Boom boom... The air resounded with explosions, and massive energy waves rippled through the area. The skeleton knight''s twenty thousand health points were instantly depleted. With a wail, it copsed at Tracy''s feet. [Killed level 35 rare boss skeleton knight, gained 340 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, constitution +30, luck +1] He got another point of luck! John was overjoyed; his luck attribute had now reached 9 points. "Whew, that was scary!" Tracy patted her chest in relief and angrily kicked the skeleton knight''s corpse twice. Bang! Just then, John winced in pain. He was hit again by the skeleton mage, leaving him with only five hundred health points. "Old man, be careful!" Tracy eximed, hurriedly casting a healing spell to restore his health. "You''ve got no chance!" John said with a cold smile. He focused entirely on dealing with the skeleton mage. With his high cooldown reduction, he alternated between several skills. The skeleton mage''s casting was repeatedly interrupted by John. The mage, in utter despair and unable to fight back, eventually met its end with a grudge. [Killed level 35 rare boss skeleton mage, gained 340 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, spirit +20, skill points +10] The notifications shed. John''s spirit attribute increased by 20 points, and he gained 10 skill points. "Old man, you''re so strong!" Tracy marveled again. She gathered the loot from the three rare bosses and handed everything to John. They acquired 30 skill stones, 10 equipment enhancement stones, and 3 gems. Additionally, they got 3 pieces of rare second-tier equipment. [Crimson Dagger: Rare, second-tier, usable by Assassin ss] [Base physical damage +50, strength +7, agility +5] [Morning Dew Robe: Rare, second-tier, usable by Mage ss] [Physical defense +50, spirit +6, constitution +1] [Jade Staff: Rare, second-tier, usable by Mage ss] [Base magical damage +50, healing effect +50, spirit +5] All of these powerful rare items. "This one''s for you," John said, noticing the attributes of the Jade Staff and tossing it to Tracy. Increasing healing effects made it a divine item for the Priest ss. "Thank you, old man!" Tracy gratefully epted it and immediately swapped out her Holy Hammer. "Old man, should we keep going?" She excitedly swung her new staff, eager to test its power. John nodded, locating the entrance to the fourth level of the dark cave. He cast Rock Armor on himself before entering. Buzz! The two of them stepped into the fourth level of the cave one after the other. Contrary to their expectations, the ce wasn''t teeming with monsters. The area was wide open, with a high tform resembling an altar at the center. A figurey atop it. Below the tform stood an old man, hunched over, wearing ck robes. His face was gaunt. He was holding a staff as if casting a spell. John felt a sense of threat from the old man. "Adventurers!" The ck-robed old man noticed them too. Panic shed across his face as he coldly warned, "This ce is not for you to tread. Leave if you value your lives!" John ignored the warning, warily observing the old man. He readied his staff, prepared to attack at any moment. Tracy focused on the old man, excitement in her voice, "Old man, that guy is a level 60 tier- three undead mage, an epic-level boss. But he''s in a weakened state and can''t move. Let''s take him out!" Hearing Tracy''s words, the ck-robed old man visibly panicked. "So that''s how it is," John said with a smile, realizing the old man''s predicament. Strike when the iron is hot! John immediatelyunched a massive fireball at the old man. Boom! -1 The fireball exploded, but it only took away a single point of the old man''s health. John''s magical attack couldn''t even prate his defense. The ck-robed old man, initially tense, rxed and burst into arrogantughter, "Haha, you overestimate yourselves. With your puny strength, you think you can kill me? I''m giving you onest chance. Leave now, or face death." The old man''s threa was coldced with desperation. These adventurers had made it this far, so they must have killed the bosses on the third level. He was in the critical moment of reviving the undead lord and didn''t want any more trouble. John, full of disdain, silently switched to his daggers and opened his attributes panel. He used the thirty-plus skill points he had just earned to upgrade the basic Assassin skill, Death Whirlwind. The ck-robed old man watched John''s actions with confusion. Could it be that this guy wasn''t a mage? Whoosh! At that moment, John moved, bing a blur as he rapidly closed the distance to the old man. Taking advantage of the old man''s momentary distraction, John activated Death Whirlwind. Buzz... The daggers hummed, shing with cold light, and enveloped the old man, delivering ten strikes in an instant. -34 -35 -34 ... A series of damage numbers shed. John''s Death Whirlwind only inflicted around 350 points of damage. The old man''s physical resistance was also two thousand points! John''s regr attacks couldn''t break through his defense at all. He could only rely on Assassin skills for damage. Fortunately, John possessed the Wrath of the Gods talent, providing a 40% cooldown reduction. He alternated between Assassin skills: Assassinate, Pierce, Death Whirlwind, and Shadow Strike. Each attack could only inflict 200-300 points of damage. The old man had a health pool of fifty thousand points, and this damage wasn''t enough to threaten him. But since he was immobilized, John was confident he could wear him down to death. "Cowardly adventurer!" the old man roared in anger, but he kept his staff raised, unable to break his casting stance. "Come forth, my undead minions!" the old man chanted. With a wave of spatial energy, a swarm of skeleton monsters materialized. The lv40 skeleton monsters. He was indeed an undead mage. Although he couldn''t move, he could still perform basic summoning spells. Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Squeezing the Last Bit of Value and Power Enhancement Chapter 32: Squeezing the Last Bit of Value and Power Enhancement ? "Go, tear these adventurers apart!" the ck-robed necromancer coldly ordered. John was not afraid, but rather excited. There were over a thousand skeleton monsters, none of which posed any threat to him. "Star Dust, stay back!" John warned Tracy. He switched back to his staff and cast Rain of Fire. The skeleton soldiers were scorched by the mes, their agonized wails echoing as they died en masse. Only the high-health, high-defense skeleton knights could barely withstand the Rain of Fire, but even they couldn''tst long. [Killed a level 40 skeleton warrior, gained 55 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, strength +1] ... Notifications kept shing. In just the cooldown time of two Rain of Fire spells, the skeleton monsters were wiped out. "Old man, I leveled up again! I''m first on the leaderboard!" Tracy was thrilled, proudly showing off to John. She had reached level 33, surpassing Dark Angel and taking the top spot. John nodded, indifferent, then looked at the stunned ck-robed old man, saying calmly, "Keep going." "What?" the old man was bewildered, looking at John in confusion. John threatened, "Keep summoning, or I''ll kill you." "You!" The old man red at John, trembling with anger, "Adventurer, since you want to die, I''ll grant your wish!" He cast another summoning spell, this time calling forth five thousand skeleton monsters. This human adventurer was strong, but he was confident that so many skeleton monsters would be enough to overwhelm him. But soon, he was in despair. John''s damage was terrifying, and his skill cooldowns were shockingly fast. The skeleton monsters couldn''t even get close before being mercilessly sted away. [Killed a level 40 skeleton mage, gained 55 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, spirit +1, skill point +1] [Sessfully killed 10,000 tier 2 monsters, Wrath of the Gods talent upgraded to B level, gained 50% skill cooldown reduction] [Next level upgrade condition: kill 100,000 tier 3 monsters to upgrade Wrath of the Gods talent to A level] ... The Wrath of the Gods talent had leveled up! John was pleasantly surprised. With the Wrath of the Gods talent now at B level, the 50% skill cooldown reduction significantly boosted his power. He could cast his skills even more frequently. The five thousand skeleton monsters had no chance to fight back. They didn''t even get close to him before being ughtered. Hundreds of pieces of equipment were scattered on the ground. Tracy was excitedly helping John clean up the battlefield. John drank a mana recovery potion and looked at the stunned old man, raising his staff and saying, "What are you waiting for? Keep going!" The ck-robed old man''s eye twitched. He felt like this human was toying with him. "Damn it, I want to see how strong you really are!" He couldn''t believe this human had no limits. Gritting his teeth, he summoned ten thousand skeleton monsters this time. This time, the human was sure to die! The ck-robed necromancer silently prayed, feeling far less confident than before. Whoosh! The sound of magic echoed. The necromancer stared at John in amazement. Was it his imagination, or did this human''s damage and skill casting speed keep increasing? The ten thousand skeletonssted less than fifteen minutes before they were once again ughtered. "Wow, old man, I leveled up again! This feels so awesome, like I''m riding a rocket," Tracy eximed, happily darting around the empty space, picking up and organizing the equipment. John ignored Tracy and looked at the pale necromancer, gesturing, "Keep going!" Gulp! The necromancer swallowed hard, feeling a twinge of fear. He gritted his teeth and said, "I have no mana left." As soon as he finished speaking, a radiant light enveloped him, rejuvenating his spirit. It was Tracy. The Spirit Priest''s unique skill, Spirit Nourishment, could restore mana. "Now you can continue," Tracy said with a smile, looking at the necromancer as if she were saying he didn''t need to thank her. The necromancer suppressed his anger, realizing that these two adventurers were toying with him! He thought of a phrase. Squeezing thest bit of value! These two bastards could have killed him directly but were kindly restoring his mana, exploiting his remaining value! But the necromancer dared not refuse. He couldn''t move right now, and if he didn''tply, this human would surely kill him. Just a little longer! The necromancer nced at the high altar, gritting his teeth. It was the crucial moment in the resurrection ritual. Once the Undead Lord was revived, he vowed to torture these two humans, turning them into his undead servants, making their lives worse than death... Whoosh! The necromancer cast the summoning spell again. Another ten thousand skeletons appeared. John noticed the necromancer''s actions. He knew that hispliance was a dy tactic. After killing these ten thousand skeletons, he would be ready to confront the necromancer head-on. He couldn''t let the necromancer stall any longer. John resumed the ughter. ... Soon, the ten thousand skeletons were again wiped out. John nced at his attributes. In this short time, he had gained over five thousand attribute points and two hundred skill points. His current base attributes were: Constitution: 1255, Strength: 3037, Spirit: 2901, Agility: 1306. John''s strength had surpassed his spirit. With the physical damage talent bonus, his base physical damage reached 4555, far exceeding his magical damage. He now couldn''t tell which was his primary profession anymore. "Old man, should we continue?" Tracy asked, her face full of expectation. She had reached level 35, surpassing the second-ranked Dark Angel by three levels. Tracy''s rapid level-up had caught the attention of many. But like John, she refused friend requests from strangers and remained unaware of the outside world''s events. John said, "This guy is already at the end of his rope; there''s no need to torture him further." "Alright," Tracy reluctantly agreed, looking at the necromancer with a face full of sympathy. "It''s toote for you to make a move against me now, human!" The ck-robed necromancer red at John with a crazed look, finally unleashing his trump card. His tone was fervent as he dered, "Rise, Undead Lord!" Buzz! A vast amount of magical energy surged, converging on the altar. John sensed an incredibly terrifying aura, one he had felt before from Dino. This Undead Lord must also be a seventh-rank powerhouse. He had to stop it! Without hesitation, John attacked, casting Thunderstorm. "Hmph, foolish adventurer, it''s toote to act now!" The necromancer''s face was full of scorn and disdain. He didn''t dodge John''s attack. But in the next moment, his expression changed. John''s target wasn''t him but the corpse on the high tform. "Adventurer, stop!" The necromancer''s face turned pale with shock, but it was toote to intervene. Boom, boom! The magicalbo triggered, and two Thunderstorms struck the corpse. Though they didn''t harm the Undead Lord, they interrupted the necromancer''s spellcasting. The powerful magical energy surged and rampaged. It creating a massive energy vortex within the cave. "Ugh!" The necromancer coughed up blood, his face ashen, and his demeanor weakened. Leaning on his withered staff, he managed to stay upright. "Adventurer, I will tear you limb from limb!" The necromancer roared with a twisted fury. Years of effort and dedication were ruined. Even killing these two adventurers wouldn''t soothe his wrath. Buzz! A vast wave of magical energy gathered in front of the necromancer, forming a dark sphere. Advanced dark magic: Annihtion! John''s expression grew serious. Advanced magic required a fourth-rank or higher awakened one to cast. Forcing it would burn through the caster''s life force, causing significant damage. The necromancer had truly lost his mind. John remained vignt, focusing on the necromancer''s actions. Seizing the right moment, he cast a barrage of spells: Fireball, Wind de sh, Thunderstorm, and Rain of Fire, even triggering Spell Combo twice. Boom, boom... The cave echoed with explosions, magic shing violently. The necromancer''s spellcasting was forcibly interrupted. He coughed up blood again, his health dropping steadily. -1092 -1104 ... Multiple damage numbers floated above him. The necromancer stared at John in disbelief. "Impossible! This is impossible!" He was in shock. Moments ago, this human adventurer couldn''t even breach his magical defense. How could it be that now, in such a short time, the human was dealing over a thousand points of damage... What''s more, John can interrupt his spell. "It''s over!" John smiled coldly, switching to his dagger. With a Shadow Strike, he closed the distance in an instant,unching his Assassin skills. Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Successful Advancement, Mastery of Death Land Chapter 33: Sessful Advancement, Mastery of Death Land ? Buzz! Several cold shes gleamed, and the ck-robed elder let out a series of miserable screams. -4592 -4604 -4587 ... The ck-robed elder was an undead mage, and his physical defense was inherently low. John''s Assassin skills dealt terrifying damage. His health plummeted instantly. He red wide-eyed at John, full of resentment, before copsing to the ground. [You have in a level 60 epic boss, Undead Sorcerer, and gained 1680 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Spirit +50, Skill Points +10, Spell Crit +1. You have acquired the basic spell Dark Orb.] [You havepleted the advancement quest, sessfully advancing to Tier 2 Wrath of the Gods Mage and Tier 2 Phantom Assassin.] [Your level has increased: Spirit +4, Strength +3, Agility +2, Free Attribute Points +12, Skill Points +2.] [Your level has increased: Spirit +4, Strength +3, Agility +2, Free Attribute Points +12, Skill Points +2.] ... The continuous notifications disyed John had plundered a substantial number of attribute points from the ck-robed elder and had gained a dark-type basic spell, Dark Orb. He also sessfullypleted his second career advancement, raising his level directly to 35, just below Tracy, cing him second on the leaderboard. With his breakthrough to Tier 2, he gained an additional 12 base attributes with each level-up. Along with the hidden ss bonuses, his strength saw another significant boost. "Old man, was your advancement quest to kill an epic boss?" Tracy asked, astonished, noticing John''s level increase. John nodded and looked at the items dropped by the undead sorcerer. There were 30 skill stones, 100 enhancement stones, 10 first-level magic stones, and a ck diamond-shaped jade stone. No equipment had dropped. "A talent upgrade stone!" John eximed, his gaze fixed on the ck diamond-shaped jade. [Basic Talent Upgrade Stone: Increases the level of a talent. It can raise an A-level or lower talent by one level.] John was thrilled. Talent upgrade stones were rare and precious, with only an extremely low chance of dropping from epic bosses and above. Even in theter stages of the game, they were highly sought after and scarce. The basic talent upgrade stone could elevate a talent below A-level by one tier. John had three choices. His B-level Wrath of the Gods talent, B-level Spell Combo talent, or B-level Physical Damage talent. Since Wrath of the Gods talent could be leveled up by killing monsters, John decided not to waste the stone on it. He also disregarded the B-level Physical Damage talent. With his SSS-level Plunder talent, which allowed him to plunder attributes, he didn''tck physical damage. Upgrading the B-level Spell Combo talent seemed the most beneficial. If he could acquire a magic damage talentter, his mage''s damage would be explosive. Having made up his mind, John used the basic talent upgrade stone to enhance the Spell Combo talent. [You have used the basic talent upgrade stone. Spell Combo talent has been upgraded to A- level.] [Spell Combo: A-level talent, 60% chance to trigger abo when casting spells.] The A-level Spell Combo increased the trigger chance by 10%, further boosting John''s power. "Old man, add me as a friend. I want to level up with you in the future," Tracy approached, looking at John expectantly. "Alright," John agreed, and they exchanged friend requests. Tracy was overjoyed. Meeting John, she had leveled up five times in less than half a day and had also acquired a fine staff. She yawned and, somewhat reluctantly, said, "Old man, it''s gettingte. I need to log off." "Wait," John stopped her and took out the Life-Sustaining Pill, saying, "I remember the old patriarch of your family is severely injured and nearly at the end of his life. This Life- Sustaining Pill can heal his wounds and extend his life." Tracy instinctively took the Life-Sustaining Pill, puzzled. "Old man, this is an in-game item." She had heard of some martial arts fanatics who isted themselves for training and ended up losing their minds. Could ying games also make someone lose their mind? John exined, "Attributes from the world of Gods can be reflected in the real world. Healing wounds here can naturally be reflected in reality." Though the world of Gods hadn''t fully merged with the real world, it had already started subtly improving yers'' physical qualities. Major forces on Earth, including the Ancient Martial Arts families, had discovered this secret. However, the Blues Family had remained secluded and was unaware of this development. It seemed Tracy was the only one with a game helmet, a gift from a family member who had gone down the mountain to procure supplies. "Really?" Tracy examined the Life-Sustaining Pill in her hand, still skeptical. John continued, "Just try it. It won''t do any harm to your grandfather." "True," Tracy agreed, happily epting the pill. "Whether it works or not, thank you, old man. I''m logging off now." As she prepared to log off right where she stood. John stopped her again, exasperated. "Can you be a bit more careful? This is the wild. And don''t lose that Life-Sustaining Pill; it''s very important." He couldn''t shake the feeling that this girl was a bit scatterbrained. Tracy stuck out her tongue and took out a Return Scroll. "Got it, old man. You''re even more nagging than my dad." John was speechless. "Oh, by the way, old man, what''s your name?" Tracy suddenly remembered she didn''t know his name and asked curiously. "John," he replied, not hiding it. Once he saved the old Blues Family patriarch, the lie about knowing Tracy''s mother wouldn''t matter much. "John," Tracy repeated,mitting it to memory. "Old man, I''ll remember that. Goodbye." With that, she crushed the Return Scroll and disappeared on the spot. John continued to sort through his spoils. Nearby, there was a pile of equipment, over two hundred pieces, all Tier 2. Among them were seven pieces of fine equipment, with good attributes, though none were suitable for a mage or assassin. He stored them all away, knowing they could be sold for money or used to develop his own forces. In addition to this gear, the rare equipment dropped by the skeleton bosses on the third level of the Dark Cave was suitable for him. The Morning Dew Robe and the Red Practice Dagger were both rare Tier 2 items. John equipped the new items, which provided a slight boost to his attributes. Next, he approached the altar. On the altary a corpse of a young man, handsome and free of any signs of decay. This was the undead lord that the dark-robed man had mentioned. Curious, John stepped back and cast Wind de. Whoosh! The powerful Wind de struck the corpse but did no damage. -0 A damage number appeared, but the corpse remained unaffected. John''s attack couldn''t break through the man''s defense and only forced a reduction of 1 HP. It seemed the man''s HP was depleted, but he was not entirely dead. John had a hunch that this body might still have some use. "I need to find a way to take him," John thought. He tried storing the body in his inventory or Storage Ring, but to no avail. This confirmed his suspicion that the man was still alive. As living entities couldn''t be stored in those spaces. He couldn''t very well carry a corpse around everywhere. Then it struck him: Death Land!John recalled the hidden, unopened map at the Temple of the Night. Thest time, he hadn''t had the strength to refine the Death Land Token. But now, havingpleted his second job advancement and significantly boosted his attributes, he wondered if he could do it. Taking out the Death Land Token, he attempted to refine it again. This time, there was no prompt indicating failure. Whoosh! A light enveloped him, and his HP and MP began to drain. Startled, John realized that the token was absorbing his HP and MP to refine it. The rate of consumption was 10 points per second for both HP and MP. Without enough healing potions, he wasn''t sure how much it would take to refine the token.To be safe, he messaged Sini, trading for 100 basic HP recovery potions and 100 basic MP recovery potions. Each basic potion restored 10 points per second for 10 seconds, perfectly offsetting the token''s absorption rate. The potion''s duration could stack, but the recovery amount could not. John carefully monitored his HP and MP, taking a potion whenever either dropped below half. ... [You have refined the Death Land Token. You now control Death Land. The token cannot be traded or dropped.] Notification appeared. John calcted that only 10,000 HP and 10,000 MP were consumed for the process, meaning he could have seeded without the potions. He studied the token and felt a deeper connection to Death Land. He could sense hundreds of powerful entities, all imprisoned by the dark elves, representing various major races. Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Taming Beasts and Declaring War Chapter 34: Taming Beasts and Dering War ? John couldn''t help but marvel at the dominance the dark elves must have once held. Unfortunately, now they had been nearly exterminated by the Dark Humans. He shifted his gaze to the man''s body on the altar. With a thought, the man''s figure vanished, sessfully stored within Death Land. "It works!" John eximed in delight. He had discovered a new, powerful ability. However, there was a caveat: the target must be unable to resist. If they fought back fiercely, it would be impossible to store them in Death Land. Ping! John received a private message. It''s Ritchie. Ritchie: "Boss, I got set up. I lost the artifact." John frowned, his gaze turning icy. He noticed that Ritchie''s level had dropped to 1, sending him back to the novice vige. A first-tier yer usually only dropped to level 10 upon death, avoiding demotion. But multiple deaths could send them back to the novice vige. Godyer: "Who did it?" Ritchie: "Gaia! That bastard set me up. I was heading to the Imperial City to see them establish their city, but I got ambushed!" John sighed, realizing this was partly his oversight. The allure of the artifact was too strong. He had underestimated these yers'' desperation, still thinking with the mindset of his past life. Godyer: "Level up first. In two days, we''ll take revenge." In two days, Gaia would establish his city. Having colluded with the Dark Humans, the monster tide attacking would be under their control, just for show. Sess was assured. But John nned to intervene. Buzz! With a sh of light, John activated the Death Land Token and entered Death Land. The area was still shrouded in mist, with fierce winds howling. However, John no longer took damage. The body of the dark lordy quietly nearby, emitting a faint aura but showing no other signs of activity. John took a deep breath and ventured deeper into the mist. ng, ng... The sound of chains shing echoed, apanied by furious roars. John was stunned by the scene before him. Deep in the mist, chains bound hundreds of powerful beings. There were strong entities from various races and fearsome beasts, totaling over seven hundred, mostly ranging from tier four to tier six in strength. Under four tier beings had likely been consumed by the eerie mist, leaving only bones behind. John''s arrival drew their attention. ng, ng... Chains rattled, and a formidable aura filled the air, causing the surrounding mist to churn and twist! "Let me go!" "Despicable dark elves, once I''m free, I''ll make you wish you were never born!" "Filthy dark elves, your existence taints the elven race. I curse you to live in darkness, tormented by its embrace forever!" ... The creatures spat insults and curses, their voices filled with rage and contempt. "Huh, you''re not a dark elf?" A massive, menacing blood-red demon wolf noticed John''s difference and eximed. "So it''s a cute human." A seductive subus with an alluring figure and charming looks winked at John and said seductively, "Human, free me from here, and I promise to repay you well!" ng! The chains rattled as a snow-white, red-eyed demon ape nearly pressed its face against John''s, speaking coldly, "Human, release me, and you will earn the protection of the Blood- Eyed Demon Apes!" "Human, let me go, and I will kill one person for you, no, a hundred, even a thousand if you wish!" "Little brother, save me. You don''t want to see me trapped here forever, do you?" "Boy, release me at once, or I''ll devour you whole!" ... Various pleas, temptations, and threats echoed around him. John felt as if there were countless flies buzzing around his ears and roared, "Everyone shut up!" Several creatures frowned, ring at John with malice. But given their current predicament, they suppressed their killing intent and pretended to cooperate. Satisfied, John nodded and took out the Soul Contract Scroll. "I can release you, but you must sign a soul contract with me." Laughter and curses erupted around him. "Kid, are you joking?" "Hmph, even dark elves couldn''t make me submit, let alone a weak human like you." "My patience is limited. Release me immediately, or I''ll make you experience the torment of imprisonment!" ... John ignored them. He only had one Soul Contract Scroll and needed to bind the most powerful being to intimidate all the other creatures here. Blood-red demon wolf, Subus, Blood-Eyed Demon Ape... These creatures were all peak tier-six beings, but their strength was simr, unable to dominate each other. "Hmm? A tier-seven being!" John was drawn to a nearby giant tortoise that resembled a small mountain. This giant tortoise had reached tier seven and was not bound by chains. John grew cautious. His current strength was no match for a tier-seven being, especially since the creatures imprisoned here by the dark elves were all at least elite bosses. The giant tortoise sensed John''s gaze, extended its neck slightly, and raised its massive head, speaking calmly, "Boy, I''m here voluntarily. Death Land cannot confine me, so don''t even think about it." "Hmph, coward!" The blood-red demon wolf sneered with disdain. Boom! The ground trembled as the giant tortoise stood up, its limbs like stone pirs, its massive body resembling a mountain. A terrifying aura spread as it looked down at the blood-red demon wolf, saying coldly, "Just because I''m patient doesn''t mean I have no temper. Insult me again, and I won''t hesitate to crush you!" The blood-red demon wolf was unfazed by the giant tortoise''s threat. "Aren''t you? Gods Descend, the Dark Humans invade, and ravage our world. Yet you, like a cowardly turtle, hide in your shell, clinging to life. Even those despicable dark elves knew to resist." The surrounding powerful beings looked at the giant tortoise with disdain. The giant tortoise''s eyes flickered, its expression shifting repeatedly before it finally sighed in resignation. "Say what you will. I just want to live." With that, ity back down, pulling its limbs and head into its shell, ignoring the outside insults. John was somewhat impressed by the blood-red demon wolf. However, he was uncertain about which creature to make a soul contract with to intimidate the others. He found himself in a dilemma. "Master!" a weak voice called out. It came from a ck dragon, resembling a lizard with wings on its back. "A tier-three beast?" John was surprised. This ck dragon was the only tier-three creature here. It likely at the peak of tier three, but it was on the verge of death. The ck dragon spoke weakly, "Master, I am willing to sign a soul contract with you. Please release me from here." Scornful and mocking nces were cast its way, but none of the others spoke up. John ignored the ck dragon, putting away the Contract Scroll. Signing a soul contract with these creatures was impossible; he needed another n. After some thought, he spoke, "I''ll give you onest chance. Agree to do three tasks for me. They won''t be suicide missions, nor will they go against your racial ethics. Complete these three tasks, and you''ll be free. Otherwise, you''ll be trapped here forever, left to your fate." The creatures fell silent, staring at John. Finally, the subus spoke up, "Alright, human. I believe you. I swear on the name of my subus n to do three tasks for you." "I agree too!" ... With someone leading the way, other powerful beings also agreed to John''s terms, except for the giant tortoise. "Very well. In two days, I will release you," John said with satisfaction. Then he turned to the ck dragon. "Be my pet, and I will take you out of here." The ck dragon, on the verge of death, wouldn''tst two more days. It agreed without hesitation. [You have obtained the pet ck dragon, Avis, currently ranked number one on the pet and mount leaderboard.] John checked the dragon''s attributes. Avis, level 100, peak tier-three, epic dragon. The pet leaderboard updated, cing John at the top, surpassing Gaia''s pet. "Let''s go." John released the chains binding Avis and, with a thought, left Death Land. ... Two dayster. Western Continent, Imperial City. This was a newly established city. Below the city walls, 100,000 yers gathered. Leading them was a tall white man, holding a giant shield and mounted on a massive earth dragon. Guild Master of the Imperial Guild, Gaia! Gaia stroked the giant shield affectionately; this was the artifact he had taken from Ritchie, the Diamond Giant Shield. "If only my mount, this earth dragon, were an epic flying dragon," he thought, recalling the recently crowned top-ranked pet on the leaderboard, the ck dragon Avis. The owner of Avis was Godyer, ranked second on the level leaderboard with two items on the equipment leaderboard. His strength was undeniable. Unfortunately, this enigmatic figure refused all friend requests, making it impossible for Gaia to contact him. Rumor had it that Godyer was on good terms with Ritchie. But after stealing Ritchie''s artifact, they were now enemies. Asking Ritchie for help was out of the question. "Once I establish my territory, I''ll be the first to have a domain. Then, I''ll slowly track down this Godyer..." Gaia''s mind buzzed with ns as he waited for the monster tide, ready to make his mark. [Announcement: yer Gaia is establishing Imperial City and will face a monster tide attack. Defend for 12 hours to seed.] ... Three consecutive system announcements echoed throughout the world of Gods. It making Gaia and his Imperial City the center of attention. yers gathered around Imperial City, eager to witness the event. Gaia, filled with pride, wore a faint smile. He had already struck a deal with the lord of a level- three city, ensuring that the monster tide wouldn''t be too strong. Roar ... Roars echoed, and the ground trembled as the monster tide appeared. They were level-five monsters typical of novice viges. The Imperial Guild members were all level 20 and above, making these monsters no match for them. Standing atop his earth dragon, Gaia brandished his spear, exuding confidence. "Brothers, today''s battle will go down in history. We will witness the rise of the Imperial Guild together. Charge with me!" "Kill!" "Kill!" ... The hundred thousand guild members roared in unison, their war cries shaking the heavens. The surrounding yers felt chills down their spines. Gaia led the charge, and the weak monster tide army was quickly decimated, crushed like dry leaves. ... In the forest behind the monster tide, a massive ck dragony in wait, exuding a terrifying aura. Nearby beasts kept their distance, not daring to approach. John and Ritchie sat atop arge tree, watching the battle unfold below. Ritchie frowned in disappointment, "Boss, this monster tide is too weak. I could handle it myself. Besides, even with the ck dragon, we can''t take on the Imperial Guild''s hundred thousand elite members." "Be patient," John replied, not paying much attention to the battle below. He leaned against the tree, waiting for the right moment. He nned to strike just as the monster tide ended, making Gaia experience the fall from heaven to hell. The monster tide continued, with the strongest enemies being level 15 kobolds. Soon, the 12 hours were almost up, and the defense was about to seed. John decided it was time to act. He turned to the anxious Ritchie and said, "Dere war." "Boss, it''s just the two of us..." Ritchie''s words trailed off as he felt an overwhelming presence. A spatial rift appeared, and powerful, menacing creatures began to emerge. The skies darkened, and the earth trembled! Chapter 35: Chapter 35: City Massacre, the Fall of the Imperial Guild Chapter 35: City Massacre, the Fall of the Imperial Guild ? Ritchie, trembling uncontrobly, hid behind John, fearfully eyeing the monstrous beasts. These creatures were immense, like armored giants, blood-red demonic wolves with terrifying visages, enchantresses of unparalleled beauty with bewitching charm, fanged and winged tigers enveloped in mes... Even the powerful ck dragon on the ground seemed like a mere toy in their presence. "Handsome, what do you need us to do?" the subus asked John, batting her eyshes seductively. Unmoved, John pointed towards the city ahead and casually uttered, "Massacre!" The creatures'' eyes lit up at John''smand. They had been imprisoned for far too long and craved blood to awaken their savage instincts. "What are you waiting for? Dere war!" John urged Ritchie, who was still quaking with fear. Swallowing hard, Ritchie nced at the countless monstrous beings and then at John. It took him a while to process the situation, and he hesitantly asked, "Boss, did you summon all these creatures?" John impatiently nodded, snapping, "Look at you, all scared and useless." Instead of feeling offended, Ritchie was thrilled. With these terrifying beasts at their disposal, conquering Imperial City would be a piece of cake, even if it were a level 4 city. To dere war on a level 1 city, Ritchie had to pay 100 gold coins. It nearly all he had. Without hesitation, he made the payment. [Announcement: yer Ritchie has dered war on Imperial City.] ... The announcement echoed through the world of Gods three times. It causing a frenzy in the chat channels. Ritchie, however, paid no mind to the chatter, his eyes fixed on the fearsome beasts before him. His gazended on the blood-red wolf, and he eximed, "Boss, this red wolf looks so cool!" "You''ve got good taste, kid," the blood-red wolf responded, speaking human words, startling Ritchie. Examining the wolf closely, Ritchie''s excitement grew, and he asked, "Brother Blood Wolf, may I ride you?" John''s eyes narrowed in caution, focusing on the blood-red wolf. The agreement he had with these beasts was tenuous at best, not true subjugation. Riding a powerful beast was a grave insult, and John feared the wolf mightsh out and kill Ritchie. The blood-red wolf, however, scrutinized Ritchie and then nodded, "Kid, I like you. Just this once. Get on." "Thank you!" Ritchie was overjoyed, climbing onto the wolf''s back amidst the astonished gazes of the other beasts. "Boss, let''s go!" Ritchie urged, patting the wolf''s fur. "Brother Blood Wolf, let''s go." Howling. The blood-red wolf leaped forward with incredible agility, a crimson blur charging ahead. The other beasts followed suit. John, curious about the wolf''s behavior, mounted the ck dragon, Aevis. With a gust of wind, they soared into the sky, heading straight for Imperial City. ... At Imperial City, Gaia had just fended off thest wave of the monster tide when he heard the system announcement. "Ritchie, you really dare toe!" he scoffed disdainfully. Gaia knew that Ritchie wouldn''t let things slide and was likely to cause trouble today, so he had madeprehensive preparations. Hidden within the city was a squad of third-tier guards, elite forces from the third-level city, Ling Yue City, specifically prepared for Ritchie. However, he was confident that the elite members of the Imperial Guild were more than capable of handling Ritchie, making the reinforcements unnecessary. Crash! Suddenly, the ground began to tremble, trees toppled in the forest, and an overwhelming pressure filled the air. It felt like hundreds of terrifying beasts were charging toward them. The gathered guild yers in front of the city started to panic, a deep-seated fear welling up inside them, knowing they couldn''t possibly withstand this threat. Whoosh! The wind howled and the ground shook. Hundreds of colossal, fearsome monsters emerged from the air and the forest. Cries of rm filled the crowd. "What... what the hell is that?" "Bosses! They''re all bosses, and we can''t see their information. They must be at least tier- four!" "This damn system is screwing us! How do we fight that?" "Mom, I want to go home..." The crowd was in chaos, with many yers logging off on the spot. "Damn it! Nobody retreat! We''re almost done defending the city, hold the line!" Gaia roared in fury, kicking at his ground dragon. But the once proud and aloof ground dragon now cowered like a frightened puppy, trembling in fear. Realizing these beasts were unstoppable, Gaia quickly sent a distress signal to the elite soldiers hidden within the city. But there was no response. Those soldiers had already fled at the first sign of the monstrous beasts. "Gaia, didn''t expect karma to hit you so fast, huh?" A loud shout rang out as Ritchie, riding the blood-red wolf, charged directly at Gaia. "Ritchie!" Gaia spotted him, then his eyes were drawn to the massive, fearsome blood-red wolf beneath Ritchie, filled with envy and jealousy. He couldn''t understand why Ritchie always had the best things. Gaia''s face turned grim, and he tried to appease Ritchie, "Ritchie, I''ll return the Diamond Giant Shield andpensate for your losses. Can we call it even?" Ritchie scoffed, "Regret now? Toote!" "Ritchie, don''t push it. You know the power behind me. If you dare destroy my Imperial City, it will be a fight to the death!" Gaia threatened, invoking his family''s influence. "Hmph, we''ve been at odds for a while now," Ritchie replied dismissively. He patted the blood-red wolf beneath him, "Brother Blood Wolf, please, tear him apart." Ritchie had just reached level 12 and was no match for Gaia. "No problem," the blood-red wolf responded, bing a crimson blur that instantly appeared before Gaia. sh! With a sickening crunch, the earth dragon''s head was bitten off, killed instantly. "Dragon!" Gaia cried out, eyes wide with shock. Pets couldn''t be resurrected like yers. He barely had time to mourn before he felt a searing pain in his chest, his body being torn in two directions. He realized, toote, that the blood-red wolf had ripped him in half. His vision faded to white as his consciousness slipped away, and he vanished in a burst of light. One-shot kill! "Brother Blood Wolf, you''re so brutal, but I love it!" Ritchie eximed, his blood boiling with excitement. Hemanded the blood-red wolf to charge straight into the Imperial Guild''s yers. Despite the ten thousand elite yers of the Imperial Guild, they stood no chance against the monstrous beasts. They were mercilessly ughtered, turning into shes of white light and reviving back in the city. They thought the battle was over once they respawned, but their nightmare was just beginning. John, riding on Aivis, flew directly above the city''s respawn point. Watching the constant stream of yers reappearing, he unleashed a Rain of Fire without hesitation. The freshly revived yers, still in a state of shock and panic, were instantly killed again. Gaia, who had just revived, was also mercilessly killed. Receiving the system notification, he red furiously up at John. "Godyer, we have no grudge against each other! Why attack me?" John responded with a coldugh, raising his hand to unleash another Rain of Fire, killing Gaia once more. "Now we have a grudge, don''t we?" "Ah! You bastard, I''ll kill you!" Gaia cursed, on the verge of madness. This Godyer was guarding the respawn point, killing them the moment they revived, putting them back inbat status. This meant they couldn''t teleport or log off. If this continued, Gaia feared he would soon drop to level 1 and be sent back to the beginner''s vige, just like Ritchie. Whoosh! Another Rain of Fire descended, silencing the cursing yers who had just revived, turning them into white light once again. Many yers didn''t reappear at the respawn point, indicating they had dropped to level 1 and were now respawning in the beginner''s vige. John watched the respawn point filled with yers, leisurely casting Rain of Fire whenever the cooldown ended. Unfortunately, killing yers didn''t plunder any attributes like killing monsters did. The entire city was filled with shes of white light, apanied by screams and curses. In less than half an hour, the city had turned into ruins, with all yers gathering at the respawn point, their numbers dwindling. Many yers, having died too many times, dropped to level 1 and returned to the beginner''s vige. "Boss, isn''t this a bit too cruel?" Ritchie, having finished his own battle, arrived at the scene, feeling a pang of guilt at the sight. "Cruel?" John scoffed. If it weren''t for the fact that yers above level 1 couldn''t enter the beginner''s vige, he would have gone there to ughter them even more. He fixed Ritchie with a serious look, "Remember, showing mercy to your enemies is the greatest cruelty to yourself." Ritchie nodded. He and Gaia were already at odds, so he might as well see it through to the end. John continued to guard the respawn point, ughtering for another half hour until no more yers revived. Only then did he relent. Equipment was scattered all around the respawn point, and Ritchie''s eyes lit up with excitement as he eagerly picked up the loot. Initially, spending 100 gold coins to wage war against Imperial City had made him feel a bit of pain, but now he hadpletely recouped his investment. "Now, for the second task," John said, turning to the assembled beasts behind him. "Guard the surrounding beginner viges. If any level 10 yers appear, send them right back. The time frame is one month." He had given it some thought and settled on a one-month period. Missing a month of development time, he didn''t believe Gaia would be able to recover. "No problem," the colossal beasts agreed, nodding. The blood-red wolf looked at John and asked, "And what about the third task, human?" John considered for a moment before replying, "The third task is to kill as many Dark Humans as possible. It''s also for your own sake." "Understood." "Take care, human. We hope to meet again someday." The beasts bid farewell and dispersed. Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Blues Familys Gratitude and a Pleasant Dinner Chapter 36: Blues Family''s Gratitude and a Pleasant Dinner ? Ritchie looked reluctant. "Boss, just letting them go like that? Those beasts are incredibly powerful and could help us in many ways!" "You think I don''t want that?" John replied, feeling equally frustrated. These formidable beasts were not easy to subdue. If they were, they wouldn''t have been imprisoned by the dark elves in Death Land for so long. "Destroy the altar, and then we''ll head back," John said, locating the altar of Imperial City and promptly destroying it. The altar was the core of any city. Only by destroying it could the city be permanently erased. [Announcement: yer Godyer has destroyed the altar of Imperial City. Imperial City has vanished.] ... Three consecutive system announcements echoed, catching the attention of countless yers. The world chat channel buzzed with discussions. "Imperial City has actually fallen?" "I remember Imperial City was backed by the Mike White Family. Who has the guts to do this?" "Godyer? The most mysterious yer on the leaderboard?" "It seems like the war was initiated by Ritchie. It looks like Godyer and Ritchie are in cahoots. Both have military backgrounds." "I want to know how many people Ritchie mobilized. It only took an hour to wipe out the Imperial Guild." "It must have been a sneak attack. Building a city requires defending against 12 hours of monster attacks. Imperial Guild members must have been severely wounded." "Not really. I was there watching. The monster tide was weak. Imperial Guild hardly suffered any losses. And it seemed that only Godyer and Ritchie were responsible for the destruction." "Two people? Are you joking? The Imperial Guild imed to have ten thousand elite members. Even if they were ten thousand pigs, it would take more than an hour to kill them all." "I was there too. It was indeed just the two of them. But there were also hundreds of bosses, with the weakest being four-star elite bosses." "Bosses? So the monster tide destroyed Imperial City?" "No, the bosses appeared after the monster tide attack ended. It seemed like they were under themand of Godyer and Ritchie..." "Yeah, right. The more you talk, the less believable it is. I definitely don''t believe it." ... The world chat channel buzzed with spection about how Imperial City was destroyed. Those who witnessed it tried to exin, but no one believed them. At this moment, John and Ritchie had already returned to Jade City. "Boss, what''s the n now?" Ritchie asked, organizing his gear and happily reiming his Diamond Giant Shield. John said, "You should quickly establish your own faction. I''ll be hunting for a 3-star rare boss in the next few days. If it drops a City Building Order, we''ll immediately establish a city." The first guild to establish a city would receive hidden rewards, something John couldn''t afford to miss. "Alright!" Ritchie agreed, eyes lighting up. He had sessfully be the legionmander of the me Legion, though Kevin was made vicemander. Over the past few days, Ritchie had been investigating Kevin and had uncovered some issues. However, the Imperial City incident had dyed his actions against Kevin. "Boss, I''ll get to work," Ritchie said, bidding farewell as he turned to leave. With nothing pressing to do, John didn''t rush into hunting for the City Building Order. He checked his friends list and saw that Sini was offline. For the past few days, Sini had been constantly online, trying toplete a hidden quest that she hadn''t allowed John to help with. Beep! His private chat notification sounded. Tracy''s avatar was shing. Star Dust: "Old man, where are you?" Seeing Tracy''s message, John remembered that it had been three days since he gave her the Life-Sustaining Pill. There should be some news by now. Godyer: "In Jade City. How''s the old master''s condition?" Star Dust: "Old man, wait for me at the teleportation point. I''ll be there soon." Tracy didn''t provide an update on her grandfather''s condition. But John guessed that he had recovered and was no longer in danger. He closed the chat and headed to the teleportation point. Many yers had reached level 10 or higher, making Jade City bustling with activity. The teleportation point was crowded with people. "Old man!" Tracy called out, waving her hand with a big smile as she ran over to John. Just as John was about to speak, Tracy''s smile vanished. She stood with her hands on her hips, ring at him angrily. Tracy: "Old man, that''s not fair! You attacked a city and didn''t even invite me!" John was speechless. This girl had a ir for drama. "Next time, I''ll definitely call you next time," John said, changing the subject. "By the way, how is your grandfather''s condition?" A smile returned to Tracy''s face, and she said joyfully, "He''s much better now. The remaining injuries will heal over time, and he''s out of danger. My grandfather wanted to thank you in person, but the old man is so bad at this game that he''s still stuck in the beginner''s vige." John was stunned. How could she say such rebellious things? He smiled awkwardly. "It was nothing, really." Tracy grabbed John''s arm and asked, "Old man, where do you live? My grandfather and my dad want to thank you in person." "In person?" John was taken aback. Tracy''s grandfather, Chris, was the old master of the Blues Family, and her father, Peter, was the current head of the family. Both were highly respected figures in the Ancient Martial Arts world. John didn''t dare let these two visit him personally to express their gratitude. Thinking quickly, he said, "No need for thanks. Actually, I have a bit of a problem and could use your family''s help." "Old man, just tell me!" Tracy patted her chest with a bold expression, as if she was ready to do anything for John. John said, "I''ve offended the Griffin Family, and they''ve been hunting me down recently..." "Griffin Family!" Tracy interrupted, full of righteous indignation. "Don''t worry, old man. I''ll tell my dad right now, and we''ll destroy the Griffin Family to avenge you." She was about to log off. "Wait!" John quickly stopped her, feeling exasperated. It wasn''t that he underestimated the Blues Family, but the Blues Family was definitely not a match for the Griffin Family right now. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have been schemed against, leaving the old master gravely injured. John exined, "I''m not asking you to take revenge for me. I just want to stay with your family for a while toy low." "Oh, I see," Tracy''s eyes lit up. This way, she could see John every day. She agreed without hesitation, "No problem, old man. The Blues Family is always open to you." "Don''t you need to discuss this with your father?" John felt this little girl was unreliable. "Come on, this is a small matter. Juste over as soon as you can. I''ll send you my phone number and address. Call me beforehand." Tracy said hastily and logged off. John sighed, looking at the phone number and address Tracy sent him. He had saved the Blues Family''s old master, so staying with them for a while shouldn''t be a problem. Beep! Another private message came in. Sini was online. Gale: "Master, dinner is ready." Godyer: "Okay, logging off now." John closed the chat and logged off from where he was. ... In the real world, John opened the game pod and stretched his stiff body. He hadn''t logged off for nearly four days. However, he could clearly feel a significant improvement in his physical strength. After a quick shower, John went to the living room. Sini was busy with dinner preparations. When she saw John, she smiled and said, "Master, it''ll be ready soon." John''s eyes brightened. Sini was wearing a floral dress, with a light blue ribbon cinching her waist, highlighting her perfect figure. Her long, smooth hair cascaded over her shoulders, clearly indicating she had taken extra care with her appearance. This girl was definitely up to something! John felt a surge of heat within him. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Sini from behind. Sini let out a surprised gasp, her body trembling slightly. "Master, stop ying around. The food is almost ready." "How can food be more tempting than you?" John said with a mischievous smile. He picked Sini up and carried her towards the bedroom. What a... Sini''s heart raced, her cheeks flushed as she clung tightly to John''s chest, unable to resist. ... The bedroom door closed, and although the room had good soundproofing, Sini''s voice could still be heard. Her moans grew louder, eventually turning into pleas for mercy. After two hours, Siniy sprawled on the bed, her body trembling uncontrobly. The sheets and pillows were soaked. John kissed her forehead gently and said softly, "Don''t get out of bed. I''ll bring dinner in." "Master, wait," Sini pulled John back. Struggling to sit up, she nced at John''s still erect member and, without hesitation, took it into her mouth. John let out a groan of pleasure, his breathing bing heavier. Sini tilted her head slightly, seeing John''s expression of pleasure, and worked even harder. She felt John''s size stretching her throat and entering her esophagus. It was painful yet oddly satisfying. Her body began to react again. Sini wrapped her arms tightly around John''s waist, her body trembling as she briefly released him. Looking up at John with zed eyes, she begged, "Master, please,e in my mouth. I want it." She took him deeply again, moving faster, pushing him into her throat. John''s sensations intensified. Seeing Sini''s obedient and lovely appearance reignited his desire to conquer. After another ten minutes, John reached his limit. His body shuddered as waves of heat surged forth. Glurp. Sini swallowed continuously, her arms clinging tightly to John, her legs curling up as a wetness spread beneath her. She climaxed alongside him. "Mmm..." Sini released him, letting out a satisfied moan before copsing onto the bed, feeling utterly drained. John''s member remained erect. Sini swallowed, gazing at John with longing eyes. "Master, do you even have a limit?" John was curious too. Staring at Sini''s perfect body, he said, "I wonder the same. How about you make a sacrifice?" Sini shook her head in fear, tightening her legs. "Master, maybe I have an idea. My hidden task involves the elf race. I met a beautiful elf who once had a rtionship with a human yer. If what we can do in the game can be done in reality, do you think I canst until you surrender?" Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Sinis Attribute Fusion, Visiting the Blues Family Chapter 37: Sini''s Attribute Fusion, Visiting the Blues Family ? Hearing Sini''s words, John was taken aback. A yer who had a rtionship with an elf? Could it be him? Sini didn''t notice the change in John''s expression and continued, "That elf is a real beauty. Even I feel a bit inferior. If it weren''t for her giving her first time to someone else, I would have directly tied her up and thrown her on your bed, Master." John was speechless and decided not to tell Sini about his rtionship with the Elven Saintess for now. He said, "Can you get out of bed? It''s time to eat." Sini swallowed, looking at John with captivating eyes, hinting, "I''m already full." John, seeing Sini''s enticing expression, felt his desire ignite once again and asked, "Can you still handle it?" Sini''s eyes widened in terror. "Master, no more. If you just want to enjoy onest night of pleasure, then go ahead." Shey on the bed, closed her eyes, and looked like she was about to face death bravely. John couldn''t help butugh. "Alright, I won''t tease you anymore. You rest well, and I''ll bring dinner in." "Wait, Master. I have something good to show you." Sini stopped John, looking mysterious as she mimicked John''s gesture, snapping her fingers. Buzz! A strange energy fluctuation urred, and Sini''s figure gradually disappeared. "Huh?" John was surprised, looking at the sunken bed. He realized that she hadn''t disappeared but had turned invisible. The Shadow Assassin''s primary skill, Concealment! John asked in surprise, "Sini, have you brought your in-game abilities into reality too?" Sini reappeared, looking at John with pride. "I feel like it has something to do with you, Master. Every time we have sex, especially when I swallow, this feeling bes particrly strong." "With me?" John frowned, wondering if it was due to his attribute fusion. No, he had only recently fused his attributes. It must be another force, the reincarnation power that gave him rebirth. John had a feeling that even without using the Attribute Fusion Stone, his in-game abilities would gradually integrate into reality before the full merger of the world of Gods. Sini looked at John, even more captivated by him. John not only brought her immense pleasure but also helped her improve her strength... After a while, Sini''s body finally recovered a bit. With John''s mischievous assistance, she dressed and joined him for dinner. John, thinking of serious matters, said, "Sini, tomorrow, pack up. We''re moving out of here." "Okay, Master. Where are we moving to?" Sini asked as she ced a piece of meat on John''s te. She had no particr requirements for their ce to stay; as long as she could be with John, she was content. John replied, "The Blues Family, an Ancient Martial Arts family." "The Blues Family?" Sini half-raised her chopsticks, looking at John in surprise. "Master, you know someone from the Blues Family?" The Blues Family was a huge and powerful n in the world of Ancient Martial Arts, with strengthparable to the Griffin Family. To Sini, they were also a colossal entity. "Yeah, I saved the old head of the Blues Family. They should be willing to shelter us," John exined briefly. He wasn''t entirely sure if the unreliable Tracy would be able to arrange everything properly. ... After dinner, John and Sini didn''t enter the world of Gods. Instead, they cuddled on the couch, watching television. A news report caught John''s attention. The Mike White Family had issued a bounty on him and Ritchie, offering a reward of one billion dors! The Glenn Family also made a public statement, dering that if anything happened to Godyer or Ritchie, it would be considered a deration of war against the Dragon Nation. They wouldn''t hesitate tounch military action against the Mike White Family. John was indifferent to the Mike White Family''s bounty. His strength had increased again, and the assassins trained by the Mike White Family were no threat to him. Sini, however, was worried. "Master, what did you do to make the Mike White Family ce such a high bounty on you?" At the time when John and Ritchie attacked the Imperial City, Sini wasn''t online and didn''t know about the incident. John replied casually, "Nothing much, just destroyed a faction in the world of Gods that the Mike White Family had been nurturing." Sini leaned against John''s shoulder without asking more. They were moving to the Blues Family the next day, and with their protection, the Mike White Family, despite its power, wouldn''t dare to provoke an Ancient Martial Arts family easily. John and Sini spent the rest of the evening in each other''s arms and fell asleep together. ... The next morning, Sini got up early and packed their belongings. John had just moved into the vi recently, so apart from some daily necessities and clothes, the only cumbersome items to transport were the two game pods. The Blues Family''s residence was in Cloud Mountain, a restricted area where couriers couldn''t deliver. With no other choice, John called for a special transport service. He then phoned Tracy to inform her that they would likely arrive in the afternoon. In the car, the driver nced at the destination and made some idle conversation. "Are you two going on a honeymoon? Just so you know, Cloud Mountain isn''t the best ce to visit. There have been frequent strange urrences there," the driver remarked, noticing that John and Sini were young and assuming they were a newlywed couple on their honeymoon. "It''s okay, we have friends there," John replied, knowing that the strange urrences at Cloud Mountain were all caused by the Blues Family. That area was the Blues Family''s restricted zone, and outsiders were not allowed to approach. The driver was silent for a while before looking at John again. He spoke, "It''s easy to go there, but getting a ride back might not be as simple. I''ll give you my card. If you can''t find a ride back, you can call me, though the price might be higher." "No problem," John agreed with a nod. ... The vehicle sped along and reached the vicinity of Cloud Mountain by the afternoon. At the foot of the mountain, four people were waiting: an elderly man, a middle-aged man, and a young man and woman. Leading the group was the elderly man, standing with his hands behind his back and looking vigorous-it was Chris, the former head of the Blues Family. Next to him was the middle-aged man with clear features and a resolute expression, the current head of the Blues Family, Peter. The other two were Tracy and her brother, Armstrong. Armstrong, in his early twenties, yawned and looked impatient. "Grandpa, Dad, who are we waiting for? Why did we have toe down to the foot of the mountain so early?" Peter red at him sternly and said, "Don''t ask questions you shouldn''t." "Yes," Armstrong replied, obediently standing still and waiting. At that moment, a car stopped at the foot of the mountain, and a young couple got out, carrying some luggage. "Tracy, is that them?" Chris asked, noticing the neers. Tracy stepped forward, curiously examining the pair, and then shook her head in disappointment. However, she did note that they were quite attractive. The woman exuded elegance and grace, her beauty was so stunning that even Tracy couldn''t help but feel a twinge of envy. What surprised her the most was the man''s appearance-she had never seen someone so handsome. If only the old man looked like this... Tracy blushed at the thought and quickly dismissed it, reminding herself that the old man was her elder. Seeing that these two were not the people they were waiting for, Armstrong stepped forward impatiently and said, "Hey, this is private property. It''s not open to the public. Leave immediately!" John raised his head and nced at the four people, finally fixing his gaze on Tracy. He said, "I''m looking for her." "Me?" Tracy pointed at herself, looking adorably confused. She was certain she didn''t know these two people. John sighed inwardly; this little girl really wasn''t very bright. He reminded her, "Godyer." "Godyer?!" Tracy eximed in surprise and confusion, stepping closer to scrutinize John. There was indeed a resemnce in his features. She finally understood, eximing, "Old man, did you turn young again?" John was left speechless. "Old man?" Sini looked at John, then at Tracy, wondering if the girl''s vision was off. John was only a few years older than her, how could he be this girl''s old man? Sure enough, big breasts and no brain! Sini noticed Tracy''srge chest. She had felt a bit envious earlier, but now she felt more bnced. Meanwhile, Chris couldn''t watch any longer. He had naturally guessed that John had downyed his appearance. He stepped forward and said, "I didn''t expect Mr. John to be so young. Truly exceptional talent." John guessed the elder''s identity, bowed respectfully, and said, "Elder, you praise me too much. How dare I let you wee me while you are still recovering from your injuries!" "Haha, saving my life is a great favor. This is nothing," Chrisughed heartily, growing increasingly fond of John with each word. Handsome, humble, and courteous. "Please,e up the mountain," Chris gestured, then looked at Armstrong, saying, "Armstrong, carry our benefactor''s luggage up." "Alright," Armstrong replied, ncing reluctantly at the tworge game pods. Chris led John and Sini up the mountain. Peter trailed behind, scrutinizing John and Sini with a wary gaze. He hadn''t heard of any ''John'' guy among the Ancient Martial Arts families. He had assumed they belonged to a deeply hidden, single-lineage sect. But now it seemed otherwise. The young man had no discernible martial skills, and the woman beside him, though having some martial aura, was quite weak. What irked him more was that this young man had deceived his daughter, iming to know Tracy''s mother. This young man was in his early twenties, and when Tracy''s mother passed away, he would have been just three or four years old. How could he possibly have known her? Peter noticed his daughter looking smitten and grew even more cautious. Tracy, having been sheltered on the mountain all her life, was easily swayed by a few sweet words from this guy. He would keep a close eye on John; there was no way he would let this man take advantage of his precious daughter! ... Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Testing John, Accepting Sini as a Goddaughter Chapter 38: Testing John, epting Sini as a Goddaughter ? The Blues Family resides at the foot of Cloud Mountain. This ce is a bustling small town, full of life. People were farming, hunting, and working... While there were modern elements, it was almost entirely isted from the outside world. The Blues Family is self-sufficient, living a peaceful life, seldom leaving the vicinity of Cloud Mountain. "This is beautiful!" Sini admired the surroundings, deeply enchanted by the atmosphere. Smoke from cooking fires rose gently, children yed by the roadside, young men returned from hunting and work, and an old man carrying a fishing rod-all wore contented smiles and greeted each other. The sudden appearance of John and Sini only piqued curiosity among the townsfolk without causing any concern. This ce seemed like a paradise. "Please,e in." Chris invited John and Sini to a spacious living room. Although the furniture was a bit old, it was clean and tidy, clearly maintained daily. Chris sat down and said, "We rarely have guests here. Please forgive any shorings in our hospitality." "Elder, you''re too kind." John bowed, looking around. He sincerely said, "This ce feels veryfortable." Chris couldn''t hide his pride; the family was his everything, and he was delighted to receivepliments. At that moment, a servant brought a pot of tea, ced it on the table, and respectfully left. Chris personally brewed the tea and looked at John, "Young friend, words cannot express my gratitude for saving my life. I toast to you with this tea." "Elder, you tter me." John was about to stand up when a cup of tea flew towards him, wrapped in Chris''s strong internal energy. It was clear the old man wanted to test him. John remained calm, twisting his wrist to rotate the cup in his hand without spilling a drop. He caught it steadily, took a careful sip, and said, "Good tea." John wasn''t a tea connoisseur, but he could tell this tea was more fragrant and memorable than any he had tasted before. Chris smiled, having recognized that John was not an expert. He said nothing more. "Well, Brother John." Peter spoke up, struggling with how to address John. His father called John a young friend, but he couldn''t call John an elder. He scrutinized John and continued, "My daughter says you knew myte wife, but you don''t seem that old." Peter''s eyes shed with cunning; he wanted to expose John''s true nature in front of his daughter, making her see John''s real character. John wasn''t flustered; he had prepared for this. He put down the teacup and said apologetically, "Actually, I lied about that. I learned about the Blues Family from Sini." He pointed at Sini. Sini opened her mouth; when had she ever told John about the Blues Family? But knowing John had many secrets, she just smiled and nodded in agreement. John continued, "Sini greatly admires the Blues Family and told me many heroic stories about them, so I''ve alsoe to admire and yearn for the Blues Family." A string ofpliments followed, making Peter smile broadly and even reducing his hostility towards John. Chris sipped his tea silently, asionally ncing at Sini. He wasn''t as easily fooled as Peter. However, he could sense that John and Sini indeed had no ill intentions, so he didn''t expose them. John continued, "When I got a Life-Sustaining Pill, I always intended to give it to the old patriarch. However, the Blues Family is quite elusive, but then I unexpectedly met Miss Tracy. Tracy is clever and sharp, and she had some hostility towards me. Unfortunately, I had to make up a lie." Standing behind Peter, Tracy beamed at John''spliment. Peter looked a bit exasperated and said, "Young man, you''re exaggerating a bit." "Hm?" Tracy''s smile vanished, and she frowned, ring at Peter''s back angrily, "Dad, what do you mean by that?" Peter ignored Tracy, looked at John, and the hostility in his eyes faded. He asked, "Tracy mentioned that you''re being hunted by the Griffin Family and wish to stay here for a while?" John nodded, "Is it convenient for you?" "Of course, you saved my father''s life. You''re a benefactor of the Blues Family. You can stay as long as you need," Peter agreed readily. "Thank you, patriarch, and thank you, old patriarch," John quickly stood up to express his gratitude. He then continued, "I have another favor to ask. Sini was a ve raised by the Griffin Family, but I managed to rescue her by chance. I hope you can give her a status topletely free her from the Griffin Family." Peter didn''t immediately agree but looked at Chris for a cue. Chris nodded slightly, then Peter said, "In that case, Sini, would you be willing to be my goddaughter?" "Ah, this... I..." Sini was stunned, unable to react for a moment, and looked at John in a panic. "What are you hesitating for?" John pushed her toward Peter and handed her a cup of tea. Sini finally understood, knelt down, and respectfully said, "Godfather, please have some tea.'' "Haha, good," Peter was very pleased. He epted the tea and took a small sip. Then he took out a cherished jade hairpin from his pocket. "Sini, I don''t have anything good on me, so I''ll give you this hairpin as a meeting gift," he said, handing the hairpin to Sini. Tracy jumped out and said, "Dad, you said this was my dowry!" Peter replied, "You''re not getting married yet. I''ll prepare something else for you when the timees." "Hmph, biased," Tracy huffed angrily but then warmly embraced Sini''s arm, happily saying, "Sini, you''re my sister from now on." Sini smiled and nodded, feeling happy too. She wanted to give Tracy a gift but didn''t have anything suitable on her. She said, "Tracy, I''ll give you a gift in the world of Gods." "Great," Tracy responded cheerfully, not caring much about the gift itself. Peter said, "It''s gettingte. Your amodations are ready. You should rest now." "Sini, I''ll take you to your ce," Tracy said, holding Sini''s hand. She added, "Dad, I want to move in with Sini." "No way," Peter quickly refused. He could see the rtionship between John and Sini. He noticed the peculiar way his daughter looked at John. His goddaughter had already been with John; he couldn''t let his biological daughter fall for him too. Chris nodded and agreed, "Of course, you young people should be together. You''ll have plenty to talk about. Alright, go on and rest now." Tracy happily pulled John and Sini away. The room now only had Chris and a reluctant Peter. Peter, perplexed, asked, "Father, are you intentionally trying to match Tracy and John?" Chris nodded and said, "This young man is not simple. He might be the hope for the revival of the Blues Family." Peter frowned, "But he''s clearly just an ordinary person." He had carefully observed and found no trace of martial artist energy in John. "Ordinary person?" Chris chuckled dismissively and struck the table with his palm. Bang! Crack! The teacup John had just used shattered instantly, spilling tea all over the table. Peter''s eyes widened in shock and surprise, "Father, your internal power has improved again?" Chris wore a look of exasperation, "Is your brain not working, and now your eyes too? John did this." "John?" Peter was baffled, "But that kid had no hint of martial power." "You were deceived, and even I almost was. His power is quite unique," Chris said, looking at the shattered teacup. He vaguely suspected that John''s power might be rted to that game, the world of Gods. Peter approached the broken teacup, confused and shocked. He didn''t think he could do it, and he didn''t believe John could either. He still couldn''t ept it, "Father, even so, we can''t entrust the Blues Family to a stranger with an unclear background." "I''ve investigated him. His background is clean," Chris said, looking at Peter''s skeptical expression without further exnation. Given the Blues Family''s future, he wouldn''t make a hasty decision. During his time in the world of Gods, he contacted friends in the military to investigate John''s background. His identity and character checked out, and he indeed had a feud with the Griffin Family. Most importantly, he had connections with the military Glenn Family. The Glenn Family, though a secr power, operates with strict principles. If John had any issues, the Glenn Family would never associate with him. Peter remained silent. Since his father had made a decision, it was not his ce to argue further. However, the thought of his adopted daughter and his own daughter both bing John''s women made him feel somewhat uneasy. "By the way, how''s the progress on ordering the gaming helmets and game pots?" Chris asked, turning to serious matters. When he entered the world of Gods, he felt that the game was extraordinary, especially with its ability to heal real-world injuries. Thus, it seemed likely that training in the game would have real-world benefits as well. the world of Gods might significantly impact Earth''s various powers, potentially even leading to a reshuffle of power. The Blues Family needed to seize this opportunity. Although the Blues Family had remained reclusive, they still had numerous enemies. Peter replied, "They''re on their way. We had limited funds, so we ordered thirty thousand gaming helmets. Only a few core members of the family got the initial game pots." "That''s enough for now. We can upgrade the game pots as we get more funds. Alright, I''m off to y. You carry on with your work," Chris said, stretching and humming a tune as he left. Peter was left speechless, muttering, "That old man is getting more and more unserious. He''s addicted to the game." Whoosh! Suddenly, a shadow flew towards him-a shoe sole. Peter was startled and quickly dodged. He then remembered that Chris''s injuries had almost fully healed, his strength mostly restored, and his hearing was incredible. "Hmph, dare to badmouth me behind my back again, and I''ll skin you alive!" Chris''s angry voice echoed from outside. ... Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Temporary Stay at Blues Family, Haunted House Chapter 39: Temporary Stay at Blues Family, Haunted House ? Tracy led John and Sini to their new residence with a joyful bounce in her step. It was a standalone cottage, somewhat secluded but elegant and quiet. John, who didn''t like being disturbed, found it to his liking. "Master, are we really going to live here from now on?" Sini looked around, still feeling like she was in a dream. Tracy, displeased, pouted and said, "Sister, this ce is your home now. And besides, it''s the old man here who''s the outsider!" She pointed at John. John was speechless and couldn''t refute. These two girls had just met today and were already ganging up against him? Sini giggled and affectionately clung to John''s arm, stating seriously, "Master is not an outsider. And Tracy, you should call him brother-inw." "I won''t! He tricked me," Tracy retorted, clearly holding a grudge. John ignored her, turned to Sini, and said, "Sini, you have an official status now. You can''t call me ''Master'' anymore." "Then I''ll call you John." Sini leaned in, her breath warm against his ear, and whispered, "But in bed, I''ll call you Master." Before John could react, she grabbed Tracy and ran off. "What a little vixen," John muttered, watching Sini''s yful figure with a mix of amusement and desire. But looking at the small cottage, he felt a bit troubled. The cottage was quaint and elegant, with a living room and two bedrooms. The building materials were all wood and quite old. While still sturdy, the soundproofing was certainly not good. If Tracy moved in, it would be inconvenient. He needed an excuse to get rid of this pesky girl. John thinks it in his mind. Their luggage and game pots had already been moved in. Tracy''s brother, Armstrong, was not there, likely busy with other matters. John moved his and Sini''s luggage into the bedroom and set up the game pots. By the time he finished, night had fallen. Someone had delivered dinner. The meals here are typically self-sufficient, but since John was a guest, he received special treatment. "Wow, you guys started eating without me!" Tracy''s excited voice came as she rushed in. Following her was Armstrong, struggling to carry a huge game pot, and he shot a fierce re at John. John was puzzled. Why was this guy so hostile towards him? With her mouth full of food, Tracy mumbled, "Brother, help me move the game pot to the bedroom, then you can go back." "No way, I''m staying here too!" Armstrong dered, setting the game pot down and staring at John with a threatening look. Tracy countered, "There are only two bedrooms here. Where will you sleep?" "The living room," Armstrong replied without hesitation. Even if he had to put up with lessfort, he would stay to keep an eye on John. "No way!" Tracy set her chopsticks down and put her hands on her hips. "Leave now, or I''ll tell Grandpa you stole his wine." "You!" Armstrong, caught with his hand in the cookie jar, had no choice but to back down. He red at John, threatening, "Kid, if you dare make a move on my sister, you''ll regret it!" Then he turned to Sini, his expression softening into a smile. "Sister, if this guy bullies you, just let me know. I''ll stand up for you." John felt like these siblings must have been trained in opera, changing faces faster than flipping a book. Armstrong threw onest challenging look at John, clenched his fists, and then left. John sighed, feeling a bit frustrated. "So I really am the outsider here." Sini picked up a piece of meat and ced it on John''s te, trying tofort him. "John, maybe you should just marry into the family." Seeing the smug look on Sini''s face, John decided he''d give her a good lesson tonight. ... After dinner "Sini,e on, let''s log into the world of Gods," Tracy said, already setting up her game pod. "Alright," Sini agreed, though feeling a bit helpless. She realized it would be hard to have any alone time with John now that Tracy was around. Sini nced at John, who was leisurely sipping tea, her mind racing with thoughts. Maybe she could help John win Tracy over. Sini had grown up under the strict training of the Griffin Family, and she understood the workings of influential families. The old family head allowing Tracy to stay here likely meant they were trying to match John with Tracy. And it was clear Tracy had feelings for John too. Most importantly, having Tracy on their side would benefit both her and John. Sini couldn''t help but shiver at the thought of John''s strength, wondering if she and Tracy together could satisfy him... "What are you staring at?" John asked, noticing Sini''s gaze. "Nothing, Master. I''m going to log into the world of Gods now," Sini replied, feeling a bit guilty as she quickly ran to the bedroom and connected to the game. ... The night had fallen, and the surroundings were silent. John couldn''t help but smile as he sensed someone sneaking around outside the door. No need to guess; it was definitely Armstrong. "Time to teach him a lesson," John muttered with a cold smile. He knew Armstrong''s character well-it was simr to Ritchie''s. Armstrong was a martial arts fanatic. Unfortunately, his martial arts talent was mediocre, and he hadn''t achieved much in the martial path. John wanted to help him out. John silently slipped out through the window, leaping onto the roof of the neighboring house. He saw Armstrong crouched by the door, peering through the gap and asionally pressing his ear to the door to listen. John raised his hand, and a gust of wind blew out the courtyard candle. "Where did that winde from?" Armstrong muttered, looking around curiously. The night was dark, and the surroundings were pitch ck and silent. Armstrong swallowed nervously and whispered to himself, "I haven''t done anything wrong, so what am I afraid of?" He pressed his ear back to the door. Whoosh! Another breeze blew by, bringing a chill. Suddenly, two mes appeared in the courtyard- another. Obviously, it''s John''s tricks. "Ghost fire!" Armstrong was terrified, his voice trembling. He started banging on the door, shouting, "Sis, open up! There''s a ghost in the courtyard!" But inside, there was no response. Sini and Tracy were already logged into the world of Gods and couldn''t hear anything from the outside. Whoosh! The mes flickered, moving closer to Armstrong. "Get away from me!" Armstrong screamed, panicking and trying to run, but he ended up crashing into a pir. Bang! The loud noise made even John wince. Armstrong fell straight to the ground, unconscious. "Damn, this guy is really spineless," John muttered as he jumped down from the roof, looking at the fainted Armstrong with a mix of amusement and exasperation. It was still early autumn, so the nights weren''t too cold. Leaving Armstrong outside for the night wouldn''t cause any harm. John decided not to bother with him and went back inside, logging into the game. ... Buzz! A sh of light, and John appeared in Jade City. The area was bustling with people. Beep! John received a private message from Ritchie. Ritchie: "Boss, the Mike White Family has put a bounty on you. But don''t worry, they won''t dare make a move in real life. They might try to assassinate you in the game, so be careful." John wasn''t concerned. Whether in reality or the game, he didn''t fear the Mike White Family. He nced at his friends list and saw that Ritchie wasn''t online. Sini was still working on her hidden quest, and Tracy was with her. Neither of them had invited John to join them. He decided to hunt for a rare level 3 boss to obtain a City Building Order. With his current strength, he was confident he could handle a level 3 rare boss. Jade City, being a level 1 city, had mostly low-level monsters. Only one ce had level 3 monsters. The Moonshadow Gorge, on the border between Jade City and the level 2 city, Silverleaf City. The gorge was filled with powerful monsters over level 60, and there were definitely level 3 bosses there. John summoned his ck dragon, Avis, and amidst the surprised and envious gazes of the surrounding yers, soared into the sky, heading straight for Moonshadow Gorge. The wind roared, and the city beneath him quickly faded into the distance. Half an hourter, John arrived at his destination. Below, a vast gorge stretched for thousands of miles, disappearing into the horizon. At its widest, it was over ten kilometers, seemingly splitting thend in two and forming an insurmountable chasm. This ce was known as Moonshadow Gorge because every night, when the moon rose, a thin mist would rise within the gorge, casting ghostly shadows. Below, enormous, menacing stone giants roamed, level 60 rock giants with high health and defense, adept at earth magic. "Master, should I attack?" Avis asked eagerly, eyeing the stone giants below. "No need," John replied, raising his hand to cast Rain of Fire. -6359 -6361 ... Terrifying damage numbers shed as screams echoed; the stone giants crumbled under the searing mes. Instant kill! The rock giants had around 5600 health points, unable to withstand John''s immense damage. [Killed level 60 Rock Giant, gained 210 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, Spirit +1] [Plunder talent activated, Constitution +1] ... The notification messages kept shing. John''s spirit and constitution attributes steadily increased. Soon, over three hundred rock giants were cleared out. John''s level rose to 36, and his spirit and constitution attributes increased by more than thirty points each. Below, scattered among the rocks were a dozen pieces of equipment, all of them level 3 ordinary quality. John collected them all and continued to roam above the gorge, hunting more rock giants. As night fell, a thin mist enveloped the gorge, and the moonlight became hazy. John had already killed over two thousand rock giants and encountered only one rock giant leader, which was of ordinary quality and didn''t drop a City Building Order. Beep! John received a private message from Sini. Gale: "Master, it''s time for breakfast." In private, Sini still preferred to call John "Master." Godyer: "Coming." John replied to Sini, moved to a safe spot above the gorge, and logged out. ... Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Competition, Winning Over Armstrong Chapter 40: Competition, Winning Over Armstrong ? "Tracy, sis, I''m serious. This ce is haunted! You should both move to my ce and leave John here alone," Armstrong was nagging the two women, not noticing that John had already entered the living room. "Old man!" Tracy saw John and happily ran over to him. Armstrong finally noticed John and immediately fell silent, his eyes wary and fixed on John. "Did someone hit you?" John looked at Armstrong''s swollen forehead, smiling broadly and pretending to be curious. Armstrong frowned, feeling that John was mocking him. "Don''t mind him, Old man. He''s gone mad," Tracy said, ncing at Armstrong. "Alright, time to eat," Sini said as she brought out a pot of porridge. "Wow, it smells so good!" Tracy eagerly ran to the table. Armstrong shamelessly joined them. John knew Sini''s cooking skills well, and it seemed the brother and sister couldn''t resist her food either. As Armstrong drank his porridge, his gaze towards John became even more hostile. He thought John wasn''t good enough for Sini. He spoke again, "Sis, Tracy, I''m not lying. This ce is really haunted. Sis, I''ll get you a new ce. You should move out of here." John nced at Armstrong, and said disdainfully, "You''re a martial artist, yet you''re scared of ghosts? Pathetic." Bang! Armstrong mmed the table and stood up, ring at John in anger, "There really is a ghost here. If you''re so brave, why don''t you stay here alone?" "Alright, that''s enough," Sini intervened, stopping the argument, "Armstrong, there are no ghosts. You probably just imagined it, or someone is ying tricks." She shot a nce at John. Sini suspected John had something to do with it. She had seen John''s tricks before; they could easily seem supernatural to a martial artist. John ignored Sini''s nce, calmly sipping his porridge. Sini changed the subject, "John, the game headsets that Blues Family ordered have arrived. This morning, the old master invited you to give everyone a lesson." "Me? Teach?" John was surprised, looking at Sini in confusion. Hisbat skills came from countless life-and-death battles, not something he could easily teach. Sini exined, "Just some basic game operations and experiences. Everyone knows you''re the top yer on the leaderboard, Godyer. They all admire you." "Except me," Armstrong interrupted, looking at John with a challenging gaze. His eyes lit up with an idea, and he smiled, "John, if you''re so strong in the game, you must be pretty good in real life too. How about a spar?" Before John could reply, Tracy angrily said, "Hey, Armstrong, don''t go too far. Old man is just an ordinary person. How can he be your opponent?" John''s game attributes fused with reality, giving him a strong body. To martial artists, without the presence of internal energy, he seemed like an ordinary person. Armstrong ignored Tracy''s protests and provocatively raised his head, "Dare to?" John put down his porridge, wiped his mouth, and then calmly said, "Let''s add some stakes. If you lose, you acknowledge me as your boss." "Deal! But if you lose, you stay away from my sister and Tracy," Armstrong agreed without hesitation. He was confident he would never lose to John. John nodded in agreement. "Let''s go to the training grounds," Armstrong, eager after John''s agreement, grabbed him and walked out. Tracy immediately panicked, pulling Sini along, andined, "Sini, why didn''t you stop them?" "Rx, John knows what he''s doing," Sini said calmly. She knew John''s strength well and was certain Armstrong was no match for him. "What?" Tracy eximed, touching Sini''s forehead. "Sini, have you gone mad too?" ... Every morning, the Blues Family had a practice session, and this morning was no different. The training had just finished, and everyone hadn''t dispersed yet. Hearing about a duel, they all gathered out of curiosity. John and Armstrong were already on the tform. Armstrong picked a battle knife from the rack and started swinging it with vigor. "John, weapons have no eyes. You can still surrender." John didn''t say a word and made a gesture to proceed. "Hmph, fool!" Armstrong grunted and charged forward without wasting time. John stood still, calmly watching Armstrong. It was like watching a slow-motion scene in a movie. Armstrong''s moves appeared frame by frame in his eyes. In just a nce, John saw dozens of ways to counter and defeat Armstrong with one strike. Armstrong thought John was paralyzed with fear and, swinging his knife with the back of the de, he held back some of his strength. "You shouldn''t have held back," John''s voice came. In the next moment, Armstrong''s hand was empty-his knife had vanished. "What just happened?" he wondered, puzzled. Before he could react, he felt a blow to his chest and fell to the ground. He felt a chill on his neck, and a strand of hair drifted down. Gulp! Armstrong swallowed hard, his mouth slightly agape as he stared at John in astonishment. It took him a moment to react, "How... how did you do that?" "You lost," John said calmly, handing the knife back to Armstrong. Armstrong took the knife and got up from the ground, now calling out to John, "Brother-in-w, teach me!" "I can''t teach you," John refused. It wasn''t that he was unwilling; his skills were honed through countless life-and-death experiences, impossible to teach. The crowd below was stunned, unable to react. Some martial artists with high talent seemed to catch on, furrowing their brows in thought. "Old man is so strong? Sini, did you know?" Tracy was equally shocked. ... In a nearby pavilion, Chris and Peter watched the entire duel. Chris looked at Peter and asked, "Did you understand what happened?" Peter nodded, "Armstrong held back at the end, that''s why he lost so badly." p! Peter''s head was met with a solid smack. "Father, why did you hit me?" He rubbed his head, looking at Chris indignantly. Chris, blowing his beard and ring with anger, scolded, "I''ve spent my whole life dominating the martial world, a prodigy, and yet somehow I fathered someone like you." "Watch closely!" He stepped back and demonstrated John''s movements step-by-step for Peter, exining, "If Armstrong hadn''t held back, he would''ve been injured worse. John wrapped his palm around the knife handle, striking Armstrong''s chest. Otherwise, Armstrong wouldn''t have been able to withstand it." Peter only half-understood, nodding absently. Chris sighed, looking at Peter''s naive expression. He had long given up on Peter''s martial talents. Though Peter excelled in business and management, his martial aptitude was sorelycking. "Father, how does Johnpare to you?" Peter couldn''t discern John''s prowess, so he could onlypare him to Chris. "Compared to me?" Chris furrowed his brows in thought, finally concluding, "If I don''t use my internal energy, I''m not his match. This kid''sbat style..." He didn''t finish his sentence; the conclusion was too unbelievable even for him. John''s fighting style didn''t fit into the martial artist category but felt lethal in every move, as if honed through countless life-and-death battles. How could such a young man have experienced all that? ... Armstrong continued pestering John, "Brother-inw, just teach me. If it doesn''t work, I''ll even let my sister marry you." "Ah-hem..." John coughed violently. Was that something you could say so casually? Armstrong went on, "So should I call you brother-inw or sister-inw?" "Enough." John cut him off, fearing Armstrong would say something even more outrageous. "If you really want to learn, here''s what you do: enter the world of Gods, challenge monsters stronger than you, experience life-and-death battles, and graduallyprehend and summarize." "Mr. John, won''t we die if we do that?" someone from below asked curiously. The Blues Family members had gathered, listening intently to John''s teachings, and even their form of address had changed. In martial arts circles, being called "Mr." signified great respect. John patiently exined, "You will die, but not in reality. However, don''t die too many times, as it can damage your spirit. The key to this method is experiencing death, pushing your limits, and continually summarizing your experiences..." "Interesting!" Chris, listening from the pavilion, nodded in understanding. So this kid had honed hisbat skills through battles in the world of Gods. If this kid had been born into an Ancient Martial Arts family, he would definitely be considered a martial arts prodigy! Chris looked at Peter, who seemed distracted, and grew even more annoyed. "You better learn properly. I''m heading into the game now." With that, he turned and left. Listening to John''s insights, Chris had also gained some understanding and was eager to enter the world of Gods to verify it. ... In the training ground, the Blues Family members had gathered, listening to John''s exnations. John held nothing back, sharing his in-game experiences, techniques, and insights on improvingbat power. From morning until noon, John talked until his mouth was dry. "Alright, that''s all I can teach you. There might be some inuracies, so you should enter the game, validate, andprehend on your own." "Thank you, sir!" The crowd finally realized it was already noon. They bowed respectfully and left eagerly, wanting to enter the world of Gods to test and understand what they''d learned. Armstrong, however, clung to John, saying, "Brother-inw, your ce is really haunted. Why don''t you move to my ce? If that''s not possible, I''ll move in with you guys and protect you." "No way!" John rejected the idea immediately. Having Tracy around was already troublesome enough; if Armstrong moved in too, he and Sini would have no private space. Besides, John had been the one behind the "ghost." Armstrong''s current strength wouldn''t protect them; he''d only cause more trouble. John changed the topic, "Everyone''s entering the game now. If you don''t hurry, they''ll surpass you." "Oh, right." Armstrong suddenly realized. As the Blues Family''s young master, it would be disgraceful if others surpassed him. "Brother-inw, I''lle find youter." With a quick farewell, he rushed off. John breathed a sigh of relief, finally rid of him. "John, you''ve worked hard." Sini walked over, handing him a ss of water. Truly, Sini was the most considerate. Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Meeting Anna Again, The Land of Elves Chapter 41: Meeting Anna Again, The Land of Elves ? John returned to his residence, had a quick lunch, and then re-entered the world of Gods to continue his search for a 3rd-tier rare boss to obtain the City Building Order. ... He wandered through the Moonshadow Gorge for three days, nearly clearing out all the beasts in the area. His level rose to 50, surpassing the second-ranked Dark Angel by 11 levels, causing quite a stir. During this time, he killed seven 3rd-tier rare bosses. But still hadn''t found a City Building Order. However, his strength had greatly improved. His four basic attributes increased by over a thousand points, and he also plundered an earth- element primary area control skill, Earthquake! [Earthquake: Level 1, Primary Magic, Effect: Deals mental * 90 earth magic damage to targets in range and slows their movement. Cost: 50 mana, Cooldown: 30 seconds] Additionally, all of John''s Assassin skills were upgraded to level 10, and with the added bonus from his physical damage talent, thebat power of his Phantom Assassin far exceeded that of his Wrath of the Gods mage. The only regret was that he still hadn''t obtained a City Building Order from any of the bosses. John looked at the now deste gorge and felt a bit helpless. The monsters and bosses here wouldn''t respawn anytime soon. Ding! Just then, John received a private message from Sini. Gale: "Master, we''re in trouble. The orcs have attacked the elves. We need your help." Orcs! John saw Sini''s message and his expression turned serious. The orcs were a powerful force supported and cultivated by the Dark Humans, with all members being level 60 and above, and at least 3rd-tier in strength. The elite among them were equivalent to elite bosses, and the orc leaders were all rare bosses. In their prime, the elves would not have feared them. However, the elves had declined and were no longer a match for the orcs. Moreover, the yers'' current strength wasn''t enough to contend with the orcs. Still, John felt confident in dealing with these orcs. More importantly, killing orc leaders had a high chance of dropping a City Building Order. Godyer: "Send me the coordinates." Sini quickly sent the coordinates. John looked at the location and furrowed his brow. The coordinates pointed to a deep forest area near his starting vige, specifically in the heart of the Eternal Forest. "Could it be Anna''s elven tribe?" John thought of the Elven Saintess Anna and felt a surge of anticipation. Anna was his first woman in the world of Gods. Although the circumstances were unique and he had to save her, John felt a special connection with Anna. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he decided not to dwell on it. Whether it was Anna or not, he would find out soon enough. "Avis, let''s go." John woke up the drowsy Avis, and together they quickly flew towards the Eternal Forest. The Eternal Forest was one of the most perilous regions in the world of Gods, filled with mysteries and countless powerful beings. In his previous life, even when John had reached the pinnacle of ninth-tier strength, he dared not easily venture into the Eternal Forest. It was rumored that a temple existed there, inhabited by gods. Whether this was true or not, no one had ever confirmed. Thend of the elves was situated on the outskirts of the Eternal Forest, surrounded by powerful level 60 tree monsters. Avis, upon entering this area, became more cautious, lowering its flight altitude and slowing down. It scanned the surroundings warily and warned, "Master, this area feels very dangerous. It''s more perilous than Death Land." John nodded, feeling a simr sense of oppression. Rustle... Below, the trees shook, apanied by the sounds ofbat. A group of ugly humanoid creatures was attacking a tree monster. "Orcs!" John immediately recognized the vile and grotesque creatures below as orcs. Whoosh! mes erupted as John cast Rain of Fire, enveloping the orcs and the tree monster below. The powerful magic attack instantly killed them. [Killed level 60 orc minion, gained 210 experience points] [Killed level 75 demonic tree monster, gained 360 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, luck attribute +1] ... Notification messages flickered. John was surprised to plunder 1 point of luck from the demonic tree monster. On the ground, two pieces of third-tier ordinary-quality equipment dropped. John collected them without inspecting. He knowing that the appearance of orcs meant he was close to The Land of Elves. Continuing onward, he ughtered every orc he encountered. The trees grew denser, and the oppressive aura lessened. John ordered Avis tond and surveyed the area. Sini''s coordinates indicated this location, but aside from the dense trees, there was no sign of life. Avis spoke, "Master, I sense spatial energy here. There''s a hidden entrance." The massive dragon eyes glinted as Avis carefully sensed the surroundings. "You can sense spatial energy?" John asked, surprised. "Of course. The great ck dragon lineage is highly sensitive to magical fluctuations," Avis said, shaking itsrge head proudly. John ignored Avis''s boasting and asked, "Where''s the entrance?" Avis''s head drooped, embarrassed. "Master, I can sense the spatial energy, but I can''t find the entrance." "Damn, so what good are you?" John muttered in exasperation, realizing this big guy wasn''t as helpful as he''d hoped. He decided to message Sini. He sent a message to Sini for assistance. Soon, the spatial energy around them fluctuated, and three figures appeared out of thin air. Sini, Tracy, and a stunning elf. "An elf!" Avis immediately stood up, his eyes filled with hostility. Upon realizing that the elf was not a dark elf, his expression softened, and hey back down. The elven raceprised two types: dark elves and natural elves. Dark elves were evil, cruel, and selfish. Whereas natural elves were peace-loving and reclusive, rarely interacting with the outside world. The beautiful elf before them was a natural elf. John paid no attention to Avis. He focused on the elf, her flowing green hair, her skin like porcin, and her captivating beauty. It was indeed Anna. "Old man!" Tracy, seeing John, ran over joyfully. She had not seen him for three days and missed him dearly. "Benefactor? It really is you!" Anna, sensing a familiar presence, recognized John and cried out in surprise and delight. "Benefactor?" Sini nced at Anna and then at John, quickly understanding the situation. She walked over to John, pinching his waist hard, and said with a hurt tone, "Master, so you''re the human yer Anna was talking about!" Johnughed awkwardly, sensing Sini''s irritation. He reassured her, "It was a unique situation at the time. I had to save her." Sini let go, her hand gently rubbing John''s waist with concern. She whispered, "I''m just upset you kept something this important from me. If I had known earlier, I wouldn''t have worked so hard! Hmph!" She didn''t mind how many women were around John. As long as she held a ce in his heart. Tracy, puzzled, asked, "Sini, what are you talking about? And Old man, do you know Anna too?" "This is a long story," John said, unsure how to exin. Anna watched the affectionate interaction between Sini, Tracy, and John with a mix of envy and shyness. Sini noticed Anna''s feelings, took her hand, andforted her, "Anna, we''re truly sisters now." Anna nodded happily. "And me too," Tracy added, even though she still didn''t fully understand what was happening. "Alright, let''s focus on the matter at hand," John interjected, asking, "How many orcs are there? Can they enter the elvennds?" At the mention of orcs, Anna''s expression darkened. "Benefactor, you should all leave. The fate of the elves is already sealed." She nced at the powerful ck dragon behind John and chose not to borate. She believed that even with John and the mighty ck dragon, they stood no chance against the orcs. Rather than letting them die in vain, she thought it better for them to leave immediately. "Sister Anna, Old man is very powerful. He will definitely help you drive away the orcs," Tracy said, looking at John with blind admiration. Sini also urged, "Yes. No matter how strong the enemy is, there are always more ways to ovee challenges when we work together." Anna hesitated, but seeing the determination in John''s eyes, she reluctantly agreed. "Benefactor,e with me," she said. Stepping forward, she waved her hand, causing the spatial energy to fluctuate and revealing a hidden path. Anna led the way, with John and the others following closely behind. The ck dragon Avis squeezed in after them. [You have discovered a hidden, unopened map: The Land of Elves ] The notification appeared. Like Death Land, this was another hidden, unopened map. The only difference is that Death Land is shrouded in mist and filled with a menacing atmosphere. Here, it is bright and lively, full of vitality, with birds singing and flowers blooming. The most striking feature was an ancient tree with a massive, dense canopy that seemed to cover the entire Elven Lands. "That is the Tree of Life," Anna exined to John. "It is the sacred relic of the elves. Unfortunately, our other sacred relic, the Elven Spring, was stolen, preventing the Tree of Life from nurturing new elves. Now, our tribe is down to just over a thousand members, and we face an imminent threat from over ten thousand orcs who have found a weak point in our defenses. They could break in at any moment." She sighed deeply, feeling a sense of helplessness. As the Elven Saintess, she couldn''t even protect the remaining thousand or so members of her tribe. "Why don''t you leave this ce?" John asked, puzzled. These thousand or so elves were not significantly stronger than the orcs, and they wouldn''t be able to withstand an attack from such arge army. Anna shook her head and gently stroked a hanging branch of the Tree of Life, her eyes resolute. "The Tree of Life is the essence of the elven race. Without it, there is no elven tribe. We will defend it to the death." Around them, elves passed by, all armed and moving with purpose, their expressions determined. The elves here were prepared to live and die with the Tree of Life. Chapter 42: Chapter 42: The Orc Army, Plunder Talent Reinforced Chapter 42: The Orc Army, Plunder Talent Reinforced ? Sini looked at John, asking, "Master, can we stop over ten thousand orcs?" John replied, "As long as no epic or higher-ranked orc leaders appear, we can manage." "Benefactor, can you really stop them?" Hope rekindled in Anna''s eyes. John nodded, "Take me to the weak point in the spatial barrier." He could sense that this hidden space was not as stable as Death Land and likely had spatial fractures. "Follow me, benefactor," Anna said without further words, leading John and the others to the edge of the Elven Lands. The elves had already set up a defensive line here. Boom! Booming sounds echoed as the surrounding space became increasingly unstable, with someone attacking the spatial barrier from the outside. Threads of powerful dark energy seeped in, corroding the space. This area of space was on the verge of copse and could shatter at any moment. Elven archers stood on tree-constructed walls, gripping their longbows with anxiety, ready to attack at any moment. Anna looked at John, her eyes filled with tenderness. She said, "Benefactor, if we can''t hold them off, don''t worry about us. Leave here as quickly as possible." "Don''t worry, it will be fine," John said, taking Anna''s small hand and gently reassuring her. Anna blushed, nodding slightly as she met John''s gaze. Despite only meeting him twice, she felt a deep sense of reliance and trust in this human. Maybe, just maybe, he could change everything. She thought of the prophecy... Boom! Suddenly, a thunderous roar broke the space, and the sound of battle cries filled the air. A seemingly endless horde of orcs, ck as a tide, poured in. Their numbers far exceeded ten thousand. "It''s over..." Anna''s face turned pale with despair. "We can hold them off!" John''s calm voice cut through the chaos. Anna looked up at John, asking, "Benefactor, can we really stop them?" John nodded firmly, "You lead the elven forces and try to slow the orcs'' advance." The elves were mostly archers and mages. If the orc army broke through the defenses, the consequences would be dire. John then turned to the two women, instructing, "Sini, Tracy, stay in the rear and protect the elves as much as possible." Elves were a vital part of this world; unlike yers, their deaths were permanent. "No, I want to fight with you," Sini protested. Tracy added, "Old man, I can heal you. I''m really strong now." "No need, these orcs won''t be a threat to me," John insisted. Without further words, he mounted Avis. Roar! With a mighty roar, Avis soared into the sky, diving straight into the orc horde. "Master, can I attack now?" Avis asked eagerly, itching to join the fray. Previously, John had never allowed him to participate in hunting down the magical beasts. This time, John did not refuse. "Go ahead, show them what you''ve got." "Good!" Avis had long been eager to prove itself in front of John. Roar! With another mighty roar, Avis spewed out a torrent of ck dragon mes, engulfing the half-orcs below. Screams of agony filled the air. John switched to his staff, powerful magic surging through him as he alternated between spells. Hundreds of orcs were instantly incinerated in the mes. The terrible damage makes their formation thrown into chaos. Incredibly, one man and one dragon were able to hold off the orc army, if only for a short time. "He''s so strong!" On the distant walls, the elves watched in disbelief. "Our benefactor is this powerful?" Anna stared at John, who stood atop the ck dragon, casting spells with abandon. Her heart, which had been filled with dread, finally found relief. Maybe, just maybe, with their benefactor here, the elves had a chance. Despite John''s immense power, he couldn''t hold off tens of thousands of orcs alone. Many orcs bypassed John, charging towards the elves'' defenses. Anna snapped out of her daze and ordered, "Archers and mages, attack with everything you have! We can''t let the orcs breach our defenses!" "Anna, I''ll help too," Tracy said, brandishing her staff and casting various buffs on the elven defenders. Sini found herself with little to do. She had just reached level 30 and her second-tier profession, making her no match for the third-tier orcs below. She stayed on the wall, safe from the fighting. Fortunately, John''s overwhelming strength kept the number of orcs reaching the walls low, preventing them from breaking through. mes surged, wind howled, and thunder crashed down from the sky. The orc army suffered devastating casualties. John, however, was in high spirits, watching the notifications sh before his eyes. [You have in a level 60 orc, gaining 210 experience points] [Plunder Talent Activated, Strength +1] [Plunder Talent Activated, Constitution +1] ... John''s attributes steadily increased. Though the ground was littered with orc corpses, the horde continued to press forward, overwhelming the fallen. "Human, this is a grudge between us and the elves. You''d best stay out of it!" A thunderous voice roared. An enormous, heavily armored orc wielding a longsword appeared. A third-tier peak-level rare boss at level 100. John''s expression grew serious. His current strength made this opponent a difficult challenge. He decided to focus on killing more orcs to increase his attributes. Instead of withdrawing, John intensified his attacks. "Damn you!" The orc leader snarled, his gaze fixed on John and his dragon. As an orc warrior, hecked ranged attacks and couldn''t reach John in the air. "Elite orcs, kill that human and his dragon! The rest, charge with me!" the orc leader ordered coldly, leading his army towards the distant elves, leaving John and Avis behind. At this moment, a formidable force of over a thousand elite orcs emerged from the orc army, primarilyprising ranged attackers. These elite orcs, all at level 70 and of boss caliber, were formidable opponents. Whoosh... Arrows whizzed and spells howled as they targeted the airborne ck dragon. Avis was startled and quickly ascended to dodge the attacks, eximing, "Master, these guys are powerful! I can''t withstand their attacks." If it had been only a dozen elite orcs, Avis wouldn''t have been fazed. However, facing over a thousand elite orcs simultaneously was beyond its capability. "You go intercept the orc leader, and I''ll handle the elite orcs," John ordered, leaping off Avis''s back and charging toward the elite orc. "Be careful, Master," Avis cautioned before diving towards the orc leader. Although the orc leader was powerful, hecked long-range attack capabilities. Avis''s aerial maneuvers kept dying the orc army''s advance. "It''s a pity I''ve been trapped in Death Land for centuries, weakening my strength. Otherwise, I''d crush this guy easily!" Avismented. It longed to engage the orc leader in directbat but was currently not strong enough to face him head-on. The orc leader, exasperated by Avis''s relentless attacks, sensed the dragon''s lethal potential. He resolved to quickly destroy The Land of Elves. Grinding his teeth, the orc leader elerated towards the elves. Meanwhile, John hadnded amidst the elite orc army. Wielding his dagger instead of a staff, he moved like a ghost, slicing through the ranks with lethal precision. The elite orcs were no match for John''s swift and deadly strikes. Blood spattered, and cries of agony echoed as numerous elite orcs fell, their bodies littering the ground. The battlefield was strewn with gear, all of third-tier ordinary quality. [You have in a level 70 elite boss orc, gaining 620 experience points] [Plunder Talent Activated, Strength +1, Attack Speed +1] [Plunder Talent Activated, Spirit +1, Skill Point +1] ... [You have umted 100,000 Kill Score, Plunder Talent enhanced] The notifications shed. John was ted. He had finally achieved 100,000 Kill Score, enhancing his Plunder talent for the second time. After quickly dispatching two more elite orcs, he stepped back to examine the upgraded Plunder talent. [Plunder Talent: SSS-level, Unique] [Effect 1: Killing ordinary monsters has a 30% chance to Plunder their attribute points, a 2% chance to Plunder special attributes] [Effect 2: Killing boss-level enemies allows you to permanently acquire two of their skills, talents, or special attributes] [Effect 3: Killing monsters doubles the drop rate of items, and increases the quality of dropped equipment by one tier] [Effect 4: Killing monsters earns you Kill Score; the stronger the monster, the more points you get. Reaching 1,000,000 points will enhance the talent further. Current Kill Score: 117,000] "This is insane!" John was astonished. Compared to the first enhancement, the current three special effects had significantly improved. The chance of Plundering attribute points from ordinary monsters had increased to 30%, and the chance of Plundering hidden attributes had risen to 2%. Moreover, now when he kills a boss, he can definitely Plunder two attributes. The most insane enhancement is the third special effect: when killing monsters, the dropped equipment''s quality is increased by one tier. This means that if he kills a legendary boss, there''s a high possibility of dropping a divine artifact! "Despicable human, die!" a roar came, as arge number of elite orcs surrounded him. "Hmph, fools!" John sneered, feeling thrilled. To him, these orcs were nothing but sources of attribute points, skills, and equipment. His figure blurred into a shadow, and countless shes of cold light followed. A new round of even more ferocious ughter began. [You have in a level 70 elite boss orc, gaining 620 experience points] [Plunder Talent Activated, Strength +10, Skill Points +2, Attack Speed +1] ... The notifications shed, showing John had Plundered more attributes, including some rare ones. Additionally, the elite orcs were now dropping high-quality gear, upgraded from ordinary to premium quality. With such a bounty of high-quality equipment, John now had the capability to forge an elite army. Soon, over a thousand elite orcs were ughtered. Without wasting any time picking up the dropped loot, John quickly moved to support the elves. Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Defeating the Orcs, Life Sharing Chapter 43: Defeating the Orcs, Life Sharing ? At this moment, the elven defense line had been breached, and there were significant casualties among the elves. The orc leader was still being entangled by Avis. However, over ten thousand elite orcs remained, forcing the elves into a desperate retreat, clearly outmatched. "Their target is the Tree of Life. We can''t retreat any further!" Anna gritted her teeth, deciding to make a final stand against the orcs. Even if it meant death, she was determined to protect the Tree of Life. The remaining seven hundred or so elves no longer retreated. They gripped their weapons tightly, standing in front of the orc army with a determination to fight to the death. Sini and Tracy, moved by the elves'' resolve, also stepped forward to join the battle lines. While they could respawn if killed, the death of an elf meant a permanent loss. "Avis, go support the elves. Leave this guy to me!" John''s voice rang out as he finally cleared the remaining orc army and arrived at the battlefield. "Be careful, Master. This guy is quite strong," Avis warned before turning to support Anna and the others. With Avis''s help, the pressure on the elves significantly lessened, and they managed to hold back the orc army. The orc leader, having been engaged with Avis for some time, was now covered in wounds. He wiped the blood from his mouth, ring coldly at John. A cruel smile appeared on his face as he spoke, "Human, stop struggling. It''s futile. You can''t prevent the extinction of the elves, just like you won''t be able to stop the future extinction of humans!" "Is that so?" John''s eyes were icy cold. The orc leader''s words hit a nerve. Perhaps he couldn''t prevent the catastrophe in his previous life, but in this life, he was determined to change everything. John tightened his grip on his dagger, speaking slowly, "I wish you could witness the fall of the gods. Unfortunately, you''re about to die." "The fall of the gods? Haha, such boastful wordsing from you," the orc leaderughed arrogantly, full of disdain. John didn''t waste any more words,unching his attack immediately. Buzz! Cold light shed as John activated the Assassin''s Shadow Strike skill. The orc leader sneered disdainfully, "Hmph, human, if you were teaming up with that ck dragon, I might be cautious, but you''re alone. You''re no match for me!" John didn''t respond. In an instant, he was right in front of the orc leader, his dagger shing towards the orc''s neck. sh! -26516 Blood spurted, and a terrifying damage number floated above the orc leader''s head. Critical hit! The orc leader''s mocking stopped abruptly. He clutched the wound on his neck, retreating in shock, unable to believe it. "Human, how can your damage be this high?" He had a total of 96000 health points. After his battle with the ck dragon Avis, his health was already below forty thousand. John''s single strike nearly killed him, leaving his health below ten thousand. "Die, Death Whirlwind!" John shouted, his body turning into a blur, countless shes of cold light enveloping the orc leader. "Get away, Armor of War!" the orc leader roared, golden light surrounding him as he tried to fend off John''s attacks. ng, ng, ng... The sound of metal shing echoed continuously, but his health still plummeted rapidly, soon reaching the brink of death. Cough! The orc leader spat out a mouthful of blood, half-kneeling on the ground, coldly staring at John with a grim smile. "Still alive?" John was surprised to see the heavily wounded orc leader. His remaining health should not have withstood his attack. The orc leader struggled to his feet, ring at John as he spoke slowly, "Human, I have a premonition that you will be targeted by Dark Humans and even the gods themselves. You will die a horrible death!" Before John could react, the orc leader turned and quickly charged towards the Tree of Life, a ck talisman appearing in his hand. "Not good!" John realized, seeing that the orc leader''s target was the Tree of Life. "Dark Talisman!" Anna also noticed the orc leader''s action, her face paling in panic. "My savior, stop him!" Even before Anna could finish, John''s attack had already struck. Two Thunderstorms hit the orc leader in quick session. Boom! Boom! With a deafening roar, the orc leader was obliterated. But in his final moments, he activated the talisman and hurled it towards the Tree of Life. [You have in a level 100 rare boss, Orc Leader. You gain 4880 experience points.] [You have leveled up. Spirit +4, Strength +3, Agility +2, Free Attribute Points +8, Skill Points +2.] [Plunder Talent activated. Strength +50, Constitution +50, you have gained the talent Lifesaver.] As the notification messages shed, John didn''t have time to check them. "No!" Anna wailed in despair, copsing to the ground, her eyes wide with horror as the ck talisman flew towards the massive trunk of the Tree of Life. Buzz! The talisman exploded, dark magic surging forth, filled with an evil, corrosive aura that enveloped the entire trunk. Rustle... In an instant, leaves withered and fell, branches decayed, and the immense vitality of the tree was rapidly consumed. The orc army had beenpletely eradicated. But the surviving elves had no joy. They knelt on the ground, despondent, staring nkly at the dying Tree of Life. Sini approached the weeping Anna, trying tofort her, "Anna, it''s okay. At least some elves are still alive. There''s still hope." Anna lifted her head, her face streaked with tears, her eyes filled with deep helplessness and despair that pierced Sini''s heart. With a bitter smile, Anna spoke, "Sini, you don''t understand. The Tree of Life is the essence of the elves. If the Tree of Life dies, so will we. The elven race will vanish forever." "What do you mean?" Sini panicked, grabbing Anna and demanding an exnation. Anna''s face was devoid of its usual radiance, and she replied, "It means we will die too." "No, it can''t be," Sini couldn''t ept it and turned to John, pleading, "Master, think of something." "Old man, they''re so pitiful. Please save them," Tracy also begged. John was their only hope now. If he couldn''t find a way, it truly would be the end. The withered leaves fell like the dying breaths of the elves. Anna and the others began to lose consciousness, copsing to the ground as their life force drained rapidly. John''s heart ached. He couldn''t bear to see Anna''s life extinguished. There must be a way! John approached the withered Tree of Life, examining its attributes. [Tree of Life: Sacred artifact of the elven race, from which elves are born, sharing its life force] [Current Status: Life force draining, rapidly decaying and dying] [Note: You can sign a soul contract to share your life force with the Tree of Life, but your soul will be severely damaged, and your life force will be consumed...] There is a way! John saw the attribute description, ignoring the warning at the end. Fortunately, he still had the Contract Scroll that he hadn''t used yet. John didn''t hesitate. He took out the Contract Scroll and signed a soul contract with the Tree of Life, initiating life-sharing. "Please don''t reject it!" he prayed silently. The Tree of Life had a soul and consciousness; if it didn''t agree to the contract, John would be out of options. [Ding! The Tree of Life has agreed to sign a soul contract with you. Do you wish to establish a life-sharing connection?] [Warning: The Tree of Life is rapidly withering, and its life force is depleting. This will drain your own life force and put you in mortal danger.] "Establish!" John ignored the system''s warning and initiated life-sharing. Buzz! A surge of soul energy enveloped both John and the Tree of Life. Suddenly, John felt a splitting headache as if his soul were being torn apart. His health points plummeted rapidly. "Master, what''s wrong?" Sini was startled and quickly ran over to check John''s condition. "Tracy, heal him!" She noticed John''s health dropping quickly and urged Tracy. Tracy immediately cast a healing spell. Holy light surrounded John, providing a brief moment of warmth, but it was like trying to put out a raging fire with a single cup of water. The searing pain continued unabated. It was a pain that prated the soul, unavoidable and relentless. John''s health plummeted rapidly, and his face turned pale. He felt a growing sense of dread. The system''s warning about death likely meant his soul would vanish, leading to his real-life death. John couldn''t ept that oue. With difficulty, he took out two healing potions and drank them both. But it was useless. John''s health continued to drop by 1000 points per second, far too quickly to counteract. With his health nearly depleted, he became desperate. "Master, the Death Land!" Avis rushed over, urgently saying, "The dark elves and natural elves share amon origin. The mist of the Death Land is the source of the dark elves'' power. It might be able to restore the Tree of Life." John heard Avis''s words and gritted his teeth, struggling to maintain hisposure. He connected with the Death Land token in his mind, and with a thought, he and the Tree of Life vanished together, entering the Death Land. Whoosh! Mist surged as the enormous Tree of Life appeared in the Death Land, stirring up a whirlwind. The endless mist seemed to find an outlet, converging towards the tree. John watched the rushing mist but could no longer hold on. His body went limp, and he copsed to the ground, unconscious. Themotion woke the sleeping giant tortoise. The tortoise extended its head, frowning as it sensed the suddenly appearing energies. It muttered to itself, "How can there be such dark and evil energy here? And a pure life force... What''s going on?" Curious, it shed its enormous body and moved to the source of the dark energy. "The Tree of Life! Dark Talisman!" the tortoise eximed, then noticed the unconscious John and understood. "This boy forcibly signed a soul contract with the Tree of Life to extend its life!" The tortoise''s expression softened. A glow enveloped its body, and it transformed into an elderly man with a weathered appearance. The endless mist surged, all converging towards the Tree of Life, which absorbed it to counteract the Dark Talisman''s evil energy. "Still not enough!" The old man''s brows furrowed as he looked at the unconscious John and sighed in resignation. "Boy, if I were at my peak, I would save you. But now, I am but a shadow of my former self, burdened with a mission. I cannot help you." His expression showed his reluctance as he turned away, unable to bear watching. John''s willingness to sacrifice his life for the Tree of Life moved the old man deeply. If not for his mission, he might have risked his own life to save both John and the Tree of Life. "Huh, what''s that corpse?" As the mist cleared, a corpse was revealed, catching the old man''s attention. "Undead Lord! How did his body end up here?" The old man was puzzled, then looked at the unconscious John with a hint of excitement. "Boy, it seems your fate is not yet sealed!" Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Divine Talent, Undying and Immortal Chapter 44: Divine Talent, Undying and Immortal ? The Undead Lord was a pinnacle tier-nine powerhouse of the undead faction, reputed to be the closest being to a deity. Moreover, he possessed a terrifying talent: Undying and Immortal! If John could merge the Undead Lord''s corpse with this human, both he and the Tree of Life might be reborn! With this thought, the old man raised his hand, and the Undead Lord''s corpse flew over, floating above John. "ck Turtle, how dare you!" A roar echoed, and a wisp of soul floated out of the corpse. It was the remnants of the Undead Lord''s soul. The elder, known as ck Turtle, was not surprised. He smirked coldly and said, "Undead Lord, you''re still alive, after all. But your death has be even more valuable!" Saying this, the elder pointed a finger, and a force of primordial ice gathered, forming deep blue ice needles that aimed at the wisp of the remnant soul. "Old bastard, you dare!" The remnant soul struggled and writhed, but it couldn''t leave the confines of the corpse and could only watch as the ice needles closed in. Thud! The ice needles prated the remnant soul, instantly freezing the intangible soul, which then shattered into fragments of ice. "Hmph, if you were at your peak, I would be wary. But now, you''re nothing but a pushover." The elder sneered disdainfully, manipting the Undead Lord''s corpse as he continued his spellcasting. A radiant glow enveloped the unconscious John and the Undead Lord''s corpse. The elder''s expression grew serious as he began to gradually extract the life force from the corpse and infuse it into John. "Huh? Divine talent, Undying and Immortal!" The elder eximed in astonishment as he perceived the Undead Lord''s talent and swallowed hard. In the end, he restrained himself. The temptation of divine talent was too great. No wonder the Undead Lord dared to challenge deities with his tier-nine strength. With such a talent, he was almost impossible to kill. "You''re truly lucky, boy," the elder sighed. He no longer hesitated and forcefully separated the Undead Lord''s talent. Then, with a single strike, he shattered the Undead Lord''s corpse. Without the divine talent''s enhancement, the corpse was no longer indestructible. The elder focused his concentration and controlled a wisp of light and shadow, slowly integrating it into John''s body. It was the Undead Lord''s divine talent: Undying and Immortal. "Huh? There''s still a remnant soul?" The elder was surprised. He sensed that a trace of the Undead Lord''s remnant soul was still within the light and shadow. At that moment, the remnant soul broke free from its restraints and charged towards John''s body. "Not good!" The elder''s face went pale with shock. This despicable creature was attempting to return to life through the corpse. It was toote to stop it. In an instant, the remnant soul had already merged with John''s body. "Haha, old geezer, thank you! I really like this new body!" The Undead Lord''s voice echoed. The talent encased in the light and shadow also smoothly integrated into John''s body. "Damn it!" The old man was furious, realizing he had been tricked by the Undead Lord. Even after so many years of death, the Undead Lord had managed to retain two wisps of his soul. A divine talent indeed! "Sorry, kid!" The old man gritted his teeth, disregarding his own injuries, and forcefully separated a wisp of his own soul, attempting to merge it into John''s body to stop the Undead Lord. The Undead Lord''s power was terrifying. If he were to be resurrected, the continent would be thrown into chaos again. Even if it meant destroying John''s body, the resurrection had to be stopped. Bang! The old man''s soul wisp struck John but was immediately rebounded. He felt dizzy, a trickle of blood seeping from his mouth. Staring at the unconscious John in disbelief, he muttered, "What''s happening? Undead Lord, is this your doing?" The old man assumed it was the Undead Lord''s trickery. "Power of reincarnation? How is that possible?" The Undead Lord''s terrified voice echoed from within John. "Kid, what are you?" "You old fool! Did you know about this and set me up?" The Undead Lord cursed, his voice growing weaker until it disappeared entirely. The old man was left bewildered. He had no idea what was happening inside John''s body. Enduring his injuries, he moved closer to check. John was still unconscious but seemed to be out of danger. "Power of reincarnation? What is that?" The old man pondered, recalling the Undead Lord''s fearful exmations, filled with confusion. The human before him seemed to be full of secrets, yet he couldn''t uncover any of them. "Forget it, being alive is what matters." The old man decided not to dwell on it further, turning his attention to the Tree of Life. By now, the Tree of Life had sprouted new leaves, vibrant with life, and had been reborn. Not only that, but the mist of Death Land had dissipated, reced by a vast life force that revitalized the barrennd around it. Feeling content, the old man sighed, "This is no longer Death Land, but and of life. That kid truly turned a misfortune into a blessing." He looked at the unconscious John on the ground. He had acquired a divine talent, Undying and Immortal. Moreover, he had signed a contract with the Tree of Life, sharing its life force. As long as the Tree of Life remained intact, this human would indeed be an undying existence. ... Meanwhile, outside, the Elven Land was in chaos. Sini and Tracy were in shock, watching as John suddenly disappeared. Sini immediately returned to the real world to check on John''s status. John was still connected to the game, but no matter how much she called out to him, she couldn''t wake him up. Sini had a bad feeling. In the world of Gods, attributes and abilities could carry over to the real world, It meant that real danger could ur. Sini was terrified. Seeing that John remained unresponsive, she reluctantly returned to the world of Gods. "Sini, how is he?" Tracy ran up to her, anxious for news. Sini shook her head, her face pale and despondent. She feared something terrible had happened to John. She regretted ever letting him help the elves. Sini felt a deep sense of guilt in her heart. "Don''t worry, the master will be fine," Avis reassured. "I have a pet contract with him. I can sense that he is still alive." "Really?" Hope rekindled in Sini and Tracy''s hearts. Avis nodded. He could feel John''s soul fluctuating, sometimes strong, sometimes weak, but it had not dissipated. He believed the mist from Death Land could save the Tree of Life, and if that happened, John would be safe too. However, Avis wasn''tpletely sure and silently prayed for his master''s safety. Just then, Anna began to wake up. She looked around in confusion. "Where am I? Am I dead?" With the Tree of Life gone and the Elven Land drastically changed, Anna didn''t recognize her surroundings at first. "Anna, you''re awake!" Sini and Tracy eximed, rushing to her side. If Anna was awake, it meant John might be okay too. "Sini, Tracy, are you dead too?" Anna asked, still disoriented. Smack! Tracy lightly hit Anna on the head, annoyed. "What nonsense are you talking about? You''re not dead, and neither are the elves. It was John who saved you all." Anna rubbed her sore head, eyes wide with realization. "I''m... I''m still alive? But where is the Tree of Life?" She looked around at the deste Elven Land, noticing the absence of the Tree of Life. However, seeing the other elves awake reassured her that the Tree of Life was still alive. Avis nced at Anna and exined, "The master took it to Death Land." "Death Land..." Anna was shocked and couldn''t believe it. "The master can enter Death Land?" Avis gave Anna a look but didn''t borate. It had no fondness for the elves, even though it was the dark elves who had wronged and imprisoned it. Curious, Sini asked, "Anna, what is Death Land?" Anna had calmed down by now and exined, "It''s the sacrednd of the dark elves. However, after the invasion of the gods, the dark elves were almostpletely wiped out, and Death Land disappeared along with them. I didn''t expect that the benefactor could enter Death Land..." Her curiosity grew, and she looked at Avis, but the dragon showed no inclination to exin further. She refrained from asking more. ... Meanwhile, in Death Land, John had woken up, staring in shock at his new talents. [Lifesaving Talent: S-rank. When struck with a fatal blow, you will retain 1 HP and be invincible for three seconds.] [Undying and Immortal: God-rank talent. Upon death, the soul remains intact. As long as the body is not destroyed, absorbing massive life energy will result in resurrection.] John remembered that the lifesaving talent had been Plundered from the orc leader. "So you''re saying this Undying and Immortal talent belonged to the Undead Lord? And you used the body of the Undead Lord to save me?" After listening to the old man''s exnation, he still couldn''t believe it. Falling unconscious and waking up with a god-level talent seemed too good to be true. The old man smiled and nodded. "You could say it was a blessing in disguise. With the Undying and Immortal talent, plus the life-sharing contract with the Tree of Life, you now have an endless source of life energy. If you can find the Elven Spring to nourish the Tree of Life, you will be truly immortal." The old man sighed with admiration. Apart from this young man, the only beings capable of true immortality were probably the gods themselves. After a long pause, John finally grasped the old man''s words. But what he said next startled the old man. "Old sir, does this mean I can kill the gods?" The old man''s eyes widened. It was the first time he had heard such a shocking statement. Even ninth-rank powerhouses didn''t dare to challenge the gods, yet this seemingly weak human dared to speak such bold words. "Don''t be reckless, boy," the old man warned, seeing that John was serious. "The methods of the gods are beyondprehension. They might have ways to kill even you. Just focus on your training. While ying gods might be ambitious, you should have no trouble standing against them." John merely nodded, not giving a direct response. Standing against gods was something he had done in his past life. This time, he aimed to y them. No matter how high and mighty those beings might seem, if they had life, they could be killed. Just as he, with his Undying and Immortal talent and life-sharing contract with the Tree of Life, But he could be killed if someone destroyed the Tree of Life and annihted his soul. In this world, nothing was absolute. Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Subduing the Elves, Annas Gratitude Chapter 45: Subduing the Elves, Anna''s Gratitude ? "By the way, there''s one more thing," the old man remembered, continuing, "While helping you fuse the divine-level talent, a wisp of the Undead Lord''s remnant soul merged into your body. I''m not sure if you managed to destroy him, so you should stay vignt." "Remnant soul?" John was puzzled. He hadn''t noticed anything unusual within himself. On the contrary, after signing a soul contract with the Tree of Life and sharing life, his body was brimming with immense vitality. "Alright, I need to go back to my slumber. You take care now." The old man gave John a deep look before his figure shifted. He moved into the depths of Death Land, transforming back into his tortoise form, continuing his deep slumber. "This guy doesn''t seem like the type to cling to life so desperately..." John murmured to himself as he watched the giant tortoise disappear. With a thought, he also left Death Land. The Land of Elves. The three women felt much calmer now that they knew John was safe, though they were still somewhat worried. Just then, a sh of light appeared, and John materialized before them. "Master!" "Old man!" "Savior!" The three women cried out, their eyes reddening as they threw themselves into John''s arms. Sini even started sobbing quietly; she had been genuinely scared that something might have happened to John. John felt touched and gently patted the three of them, softlyforting, "There, there, I''m alright, see?" Anna, finallying to her senses, blushed and quickly stepped out of John''s embrace. Although she had been intimate with John before, it had been under the influence of a potion, and she still felt shy facing him now. "John, we finished clearing the battlefield. We found some amazing things," Sini said, remembering the important matter. She handed two items to John and continued, "These were dropped by the orc leader." "City Building Order! An epic-quality item!" John eximed in surprise, looking at the small ck token, his face full of joy. Finally, the City Building Order had dropped! The drop rate of the City Building Order was extremely low. Even with John''s Plunder talent, which doubles the drop rate of items, it took the ying of eight third-tier rare bosses to obtain a single City Building Order. With the City Building Order in hand, John could move forward with his next n: establishing a city and developing his forces. John then looked at the other piece of equipment he held-a belt of epic quality. [Blood-forged Belt: Epic, Tier 3; Health +1000, Defense +100, Constitution +80] The three attribute bonuses made it an outstanding piece of epic equipment. The only downside was that it required a tier 3 ss to equip. Additionally, the battle had yielded over a thousand gear enhancement stones, more than five hundred tier 1 iy gems of various types, and over a thousand skill stones. Sini handed all these items over to John. "Savior, I want to see The Tree of Life," Anna approached, looking at John with pleading eyes. She knew The Tree of Life was no longer in danger, but she wouldn''t feel at ease until she saw it with her own eyes. John nodded and looked at the gathering elves, saying, "You can alle along. Just don''t resist what''s about to happen." The elves nodded eagerly. The recent battle had been devastating, leaving only about six hundred survivors out of the original thirteen hundred-more than half of their number had been lost. John connected with Death Land through his mind, and with a thought, transported all the elves into Death Land. A gentle breeze blew, and the area was lush with greenery. The massive Tree of Life now dominated most of Death Land, which was vibrant and full of life, a stark contrast to the previous deste and witheredndscape. It seemed more fitting to rename it the Land of Life. "The Tree of Life is even more powerful now!" Anna eximed, caressing the thick trunk of The Tree of Life with delight and surprise. She could clearly feel that its vitality was stronger than ever before. If they could find the Elven Spring, The Tree of Life would be able to nurture new elves once again. The elves might indeed reim their former glory! Anna looked at John, hope igniting in her eyes. She quickly walked over to him and suddenly knelt down. John was startled. "Anna, what are you doing?" "Savior!" Anna looked at John with a serious expression and said, "I swear by the name of the Elves'' Holy Maiden that from now on, the elves will follow your orders and never betray you!" The elves behind Anna also knelt solemnly and swore, "We pledge our loyalty to our savior with the honor of the elves, and we will never betray you." John was surprised. He had helped the elves several times with the intention of forming an alliance with them to fight against the Dark Humans together. He never expected to actually subdue the entire elven race. Now, with The Tree of Life having a soul contract with him, any future elves born would bepletely loyal to him. John stepped forward, helping Anna to her feet, then addressed the elves behind her, "I won''t make any unreasonable demands. You can stay here for now and focus on improving your strength." "Yes, we will follow your teachings!" The elves responded respectfully. Anna added, "You all can go now and get familiar with the environment." The elves nodded respectfully and turned to leave, exploring Death Land. Under The Tree of Life, only John and Anna remained. Anna looked up, gazing at John with a dreamy expression, her cheeks flushed. "Savior, you''ve saved me twice and rescued my entire race. How can I ever repay you?" Understanding Anna''s feelings, John reached out and pulled her into his arms, lowering his head to kiss her deeply. Anna''s body trembled, her lips cold as she closed her eyes, letting John''s tongue explore her mouth. She responded clumsily and stiffly at first. The dense branches of The Tree of Life draped down, creating a secluded, private space. As Anna''s emotions stirred, she began to respond passionately to John, whispering, "Savior, I want to be your woman, like Sini, always by your side." "Alright," John replied, untying her belt. Her dress slipped off, revealing Anna''s wless body. Her skin was as fair as snow and as translucent as jade, appearing as the most perfect creation of nature. Her waist was slender and her chest, though not asrge as Sini''s and Tracy''s, was more firm, which John found captivating. "Savior, take me!" Anna was already lost in desire, her lower body wet. With delicate hands, she began to remove John''s equipment. Soon, they were both naked, facing each other. John''s massive length stood firm. Anna couldn''t help but shiver, feeling both fear and anticipation as she remembered their first time together. Her soft hand half-wrapped around John''s stiff length, her whole body trembling. "Please be gentle with me, Savior." John pulled Anna into his embrace, greedily kissing her cheeks, neck, and finally her breasts. Anna felt as if she had been struck by lightning, gasping for breath, her body trembling. Her chest tingled, and her lower body was wet and muddy. Every touch from John''s length made her both tense and excited. "Savior, take me," Anna finally couldn''t hold back. One hand wrapped around John''s neck while the other guided him to her entrance. She took a deep breath, biting her lip, and lowered herself onto him. "Ah..." Anna moaned in pain, feeling as if she were being torn apart, followed by an indescribable pleasure that reached her very soul. Her arms clung tightly to John, her face buried in his neck, her body trembling uncontrobly. The intense sensation from below sent her into an instant climax, her arms holding onto John as her strength seemed to drain away. But John wasn''t nning to let her go so easily. He lifted her hips and began to thrust slowly. "Ah... Savior, it hurts..." Anna winced in pain, crying out but still trying to match John''s rhythm. John kissed her cheeks gently, but his movements grew faster and deeper, his length prating fully. Anna feltpletely filled, the tip pressing against her deepest part, a sensation that was both painful and incredibly alluring. She wished it couldst forever, even though it was painful... Anna tilted her head slightly, her body trembling uncontrobly. She reached climax once again. Her moans turning into pleas for mercy. "Savior, you''re too strong... Please, let me go. Anna can''t take it anymore..." Anna''s body trembled, convulsing all over. She felt John inside her, and it seemed like the climax never stopped. This was a pleasure she had never experienced before, but her body was on the verge of breaking. "Savior, I''m going to break, I''m really going to break..." Tears streamed down Anna''s face as she begged for mercy. Johnid her on the ground, thrusting fiercely, and said softly, "Just endure a little longer, it''s almost over." "Savior, I''m scared... I really can''t take it, I feel like I''m going to die..." Anna begged, her painful moans breaking off intermittently. John was nearing his limit. He didn''t hold back, his thrusts bing faster and more forceful, Anna''s moans and cries of pain echoing in his ears. Finally, he reached his limit, releasing his pure, potent energy. "Ah..." Anna let out a long moan, feeling the intense heat inside her. Her senses reached their peak again, the overwhelming pleasure leaving her with a mix of satisfaction and pain. She slowly lost consciousness, her body still trembling and climaxing. "What a temptress!" John reluctantly pulled out, his length still standing firm, the fire inside him not quenched. But he knew Anna had reached her limit. Continuing could genuinely harm her. "Bring Sini in!" John thought of Sini, and using the Death Land token, he sensed Sini outside. At that moment, Sini and Tracy were sitting outside, looking bored while waiting for John. "Hmph, that big bad guy!" Sini pouted in annoyance, having an inkling of what might be happening. Beep! Her private chat alert went off. It was John. Godyer: "Sini, I''m bringing you into Death Land. Don''t resist." Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Under the Tree of Life Chapter 46: Under the Tree of Life ? Sini was puzzled, then felt a strange force pulling her into another space. She was startled and wanted to resist, but then remembered John''s instructions and decided toply. Buzz! With a sh of light, Sini''s figure disappeared. "Huh, Sini?" Tracy was surprised and muttered to herself, "What is Old man doing, not taking me with him?" She sat down in annoyance, sulking by herself. ... Death Land. Sini appeared under the Tree of Life, immediately seeing the unconscious Anna and John, who waspletely naked and still aroused. Her body trembled, and she instinctively wanted to run away. "Sini, satisfy me," John said, grabbing the panicked Sini. Sini struggled symbolically, her voice trembling, "Master, I''m not ready, and Anna is right there." She looked at Anna with embarrassment. Even though she had been intimate with John many times, she still felt shy with someone else present. "It''s okay, she''s unconscious and won''t feel anything," John dismissed Sini''s protests. Her beautiful face and the tight leather armor entuating her perfect figure made it impossible for him to hold back any longer. He roughly began to remove Sini''s leather armor. "Master, no..." Sini was panicked, wanting to refuse, but touching John''s arousal made her lose the will to resist. Rip! John roughly tore off Sini''s leather pants, revealing her white, delicate buttocks. Ignoring her protests, he positioned her to stand with her back to him and pushed into her. "Ah..." Sini cried out in pain, her legs struggling to stay on tiptoe, allowing John to enter only halfway. John held Sini''s slender waist, leaned in close to her ear, and whispered, "Sini, satisfy me." Sini bit her lip in pain, not speaking, but gently nodding her head in acquiescence. John thrust forcefully,pletely entering her. Sini cried out in pain, her feet almost lifting off the ground, her hands desperately clutching John''s wrists. "Master, you''re so strong..." she murmured, feeling filled to the brim, especially as John continued to thrust. The sensation of beingpletely filled spread throughout her entire body. At that moment, she felt she was entirely John''s. John supported Sini''s waist, thrusting rapidly from behind. He could feel how wet she was, with glistening droplets falling. This little seductress was even less restrained than Anna. John''s movements grew increasingly rough. Sini panted heavily, moaning in pain, continuously murmuring, "No, no..." "Master, I can''t take it anymore, I''m about to climax again. Please, hurry..." Sini couldn''t hold on any longer. She felt that in the world of Gods, it was no different from reality. The exquisite, painful sensation felt very real, and her body''s endurance was the same as in the real world. "Hold on a bit longer," John said, lowering Sini to the ground, positioning her to kneel with her rear raised high, making it easier for him to thrust. Sini''s lower body was drenched, making John''s movements even smoother. p, p... John pounded into Sini''s raised rear, watching her buttocks jiggle and change shape with each impact. The pping sounds grew more frequent. Sini''s mouth was open, gasping and moaning. She felt this position was so shameful, yet so thrilling, making her climax repeatedly, as if she were bathing in warm,forting clouds. "Sini, I''m close," John''s voice came. Sini, lying on the ground, lifted her head slightly, her eyes zed, "Master, please give it to me, I can''t hold on any longer..." John didn''t reply, but his speed increased, the sounds of their bodies pping together echoing as Sini''s buttocks quivered incessantly. Finally, John reached his limit, releasing his hot seed inside her once again. "Ah..." Sini gasped, her body going limp, disconnecting from John as shey on the ground. Her lower body released a spray of fluid as she experienced an even more intense climax following John''s lead. John was still hard, showing no signs of reaching his limit after two rounds. "Ugh..." Sini''s body trembled as shey on the ground, softly sobbing. John was startled and quickly lifted the exhausted Sini, wiping away her tears, his voice filled with concern, "What''s wrong? Did I hurt you?" Sini shook her head repeatedly, "No, Master, I liked it... It''s just, thinking about what happened, I got scared. Master, please promise me, don''t take such risks again, okay?" John was moved, holding Sini tightly in his arms, wiping away her tears, and said, "Alright, I promise." Sini happily buried her head in John''s chest, then nced down at John''s still erect member, and swallowed hard. "Master, I can still go on." She climbed onto John, kissing his cheeks passionately, positioning herself over him, and forcefully sat down. "Ah!" Sini cried out, clutching John''s neck tightly, her waist arching slightly as she trembled. She climaxed again. Despite the pain, Sini lifted her head, her face filled with adoration as she looked at John, whispering, "Master, this isn''t the real world. You don''t need to hold back with me." John responded not with words, but with fierce thrusts. Under the Tree of Life, Sini''s moans, cries, and pleas filled the air. For the first time, John let himself go, trying different positions and thrusting into Sini with abandon. An hour passed. Then two hours. Three hours. John climaxed twice, yet he remained hard, far from his limit. Sini''s voice was hoarse, tears streaming down her face. She regretted her earlier words, now pleading with John to stop while still wanting to satisfy him. "Sini, your health is dropping!" John eximed, noticing her decreasing health bar, he became rmed and stopped. In the real world, such exertion could cause her even more harm. Siniy limp on the ground, her consciousness fading. She spoke weakly, "Master, let me rest a bit." John felt a pang of guilt, holding Sini close, "I''m sorry, I went too far." He almost forgot the connection between the world of Gods and the real world. This time, he had indeed been a bit reckless. Sini shook her head weakly, "It''s my fault for being too weak to satisfy you." She nced at Anna, who was still unconscious. Her Master was incredibly strong, almost terrifyingly so. "Master," Sini looked up at John and said, "Call Tracy in. It''s clear she has feelings for you." John was taken aback, "Don''t talk nonsense. She''s your sister. Besides, Tracy is the heiress of the Blues Family. If I have rtions with her, do you think the Blues Family will let me off?" Sini sighed and exined, "Master, haven''t you noticed? The old master of the Blues Family is trying to set you up with Tracy. If you two get together, the Blues Family would be overjoyed." Seeing John''s hesitation, she sat up and continued, "Master, if you''re too afraid, I can help you." John yfully smacked her on the bottom, "Looks like you''ve recovered!" Sini flinched, looking at John''s still erect member, and tried to escape but ultimately gave in, saying, "Master, I really can''t take any more. Let me use my mouth." She slid down, her long, silky hair covering her face, as she skillfully licked John''s shaft with her small tongue. John shuddered with pleasure, unable to describe the sensation. Sini looked up, seeing John''s face filled with bliss, and smugly asked, "Master, does that feel good?" ... Another half hour passed, and John couldn''t hold back any longer, climaxing once more. But he still hadn''t reached his limit, his member remained stiff and uny Sini, feeling defeated, leaned against John''s chest. She was truly out of options. She resolved to help John win over Tracy. Perhaps even three women wouldn''t be enough... Sini''s heart was filled with helplessness and bitterness. She wanted to have John all to herself, but John was too strong and so exceptional that he would undoubtedly attract many beautiful women. What she could do was to make sure she held a special ce in his heart. As John''s passion slowly died down, he patted Sini in his arms and said, "We''ve wasted enough time. Let''s go; there''s important business to take care of." "Okay," Sini nodded obediently, helping John put on his gear. Anna was still asleep. John covered her with a piece of clothing, propping her against The Tree of Life to make her morefortable. Anna was too delicate to handle his intensity. He thought to himself that he would have to train her gradually to get her used to it. With these thoughts in mind, John and Sini left Death Land together. A sh of lightter, they appeared back in The Land of Elves. To their surprise, Tracy was still there, sitting on the ground, leaning against a rock, and dozing off with her chin in her hands. As she sensed someone approaching, she woke up and saw John and Sini, her face full of annoyance. "Old man, Sini, where did you two go? You''ve been gone for so long and didn''t even reply to my messages. Were you having fun without me?" Tracy demanded, hands on her hips, her chest heaving in frustration. "Alright," Sini said with a smile, taking Tracy''s small hand tofort her. "Next time, we''ll definitely take you with us." She winked at John as she spoke. John turned his head, pretending not to notice. "Really?" Tracy asked innocently, her face full of expectation. "You promise to take me next time?" John was speechless. This little girl was so naive; she would probably thank someone for selling her off. Ignoring the two women, he opened his friends list and sent a private message to Ritchie. Godyer: "I got the City Building Order. How''s the preparation going on the me Legion''s side?" Chapter 47: Chapter 47: The Blues Family Goes Crazy, Leveling Up Chapter 47: The Blues Family Goes Crazy, Leveling Up ? Soon, John received a reply. Ritchie: "Boss, the me Legion has been fully established, with ten battalions. However, we encountered some issues, and the leveling process is slower than expected." In military terms, five soldiers form a squad, ten squads form apany, tenpanies form a battalion, and five to ten battalions form a legion. The me Legion was already at full capacity upon establishment, indicating high importance from the higher-ups. Godyer: "What issues?" John was curious. Soldiers typically have superior physical fitness and know how to work together, so their leveling up should be rapid under normal circumstances. Ritchie: "Mike White Family has supported several forces that frequently harass us. Some of ourpanies have even been pushed back to the newbie vige." Mike White Family again! John frowned. He was puzzled. Military movements are usually ssified; how did Mike White''s forces find them? He thought of Kevin. In the previous life, Kevinpeted with Ritchie for the position of Legion Commander of the me Legion and eventually seeded. Now, with Ritchie as themander, Kevin should have been expelled from the military. Godyer: "What about Kevin?" Ritchie: "Boss, I was going to tell you about this. I gathered a lot of evidence of his misconduct, thinking it would get him expelled. However, he was protected by another legion, the ck Tiger Legion. I investigated further; the ck Tiger Legion had no prior connection with Kevin and no known misconduct." He was puzzled, unable to understand why the ck Tiger Legion would protect someone as useless as Kevin. Godyer: "The ck Tiger Legion''smander, Robert, is affiliated with the Griffin Family. It''s likely Kevin exposed your positions." Ritchie: "No way. The military has strict rules prohibiting any family influence. Also, leaking military operations is treason, a serious crime. Does Kevin have the guts for that?" John didn''t exin further. Robert, themander of the ck Tiger Legion, was recruited by the Griffin Family after bing amander and had been hiding well. Despite his faults, he wasn''t beyond redemption. In the previous life, he led the ck Tiger Legion in significant contributions against the monster tide. Kevin''s actions are likely unknown to Robert, as they are probably orchestrated by the Griffin Family. Since Kevin hasn''t left the military yet, dealing with him directly would be troublesome for John. This matter would have to be set aside for now. Godyer: "Have everyone operate in squads and spread out near other level 1 towns to level up. They need to reach level 30 and achieve second-tier strength within seven days." Ritchie: "Got it. I''ll arrange it immediately. Boss, be careful. The Mike White Family has bribed many top yers from the leaderboard. They''re actively searching for your whereabouts to take you down." Reading Ritchie''s message, John felt no concern. With his current strength, even if the Mike White Family managed to recruit every top yer on the leaderboard, they still wouldn''t be able to defeat him. Ritchie''s me Legion had 5,000 soldiers. Even if they all reached level 30 and became second-tier, they wouldn''t be able to withstand a monster tide attack. Thest time Gaia established a city, it was in collusion with the Dark Humans, who deliberately held back. When John built his city, the Dark Humans would undoubtedly exert their full force to prevent him from seeding. He needed more experts. John turned to the two girls whispering to each other and asked, "Tracy, how are the Blues Family members progressing in their leveling?" "Huh?" Tracy was startled by John''s question, her face inexplicably turning red. She replied, "Old man, those guys have gone crazy, especially my brother. He''s been challenging level 10 monsters with level 1 strength, saying he won''t leave the newbie vige until he can kill a level 10 monster. Each of them dies an average of four or five times a day, and none of them have left the newbie vige." "Challenging level 10 monsters at level 1?" Sini was equally surprised and nodded in agreement. "It seems Armstrong and the others have really gone mad." John didn''t speak, understanding why these guys were pushing themselves to the brink. He had taught them to improve theirbat skills by facing death. But wasn''t this too extreme? With level 1 attributes, they probably couldn''t even break through a level 10 monster''s defense, only dealing 1 point of damage each time. Killing a level 10 monster at level 1 would require wless execution, something even he would find challenging. Forget it, it seemed he couldn''t rely on the Blues Family for now. John allowed the Blues Family members to continue their extreme training, considering it a beneficial pursuit. Besides the Blues Family, he also had over six hundred elves at his disposal. While the elves were strong, their limited numbers made their assistance less significant. "It seems I''ll have to seek help from them," John thought, referring to the formidable beasts and monsters that had once been trapped in Death Land. He had already made three requests, unsure if those beings would agree to them. Putting this matter aside for now, John focused on advancing his level to 60, reaching the third tier. Currently at level 53, he was at the top of the leaderboard, 12 levels ahead of the second- ranked Dark Angel. "Let''s go, I''ll help you level up," John said, sending a party invitation to the two girls and adding them to his team. "Great!" Tracy responded excitedly. She had experienced John''s rapid leveling speed before. "Old man, I''m going to climb back up the leaderboard," she dered with determination. Having not leveled up much in the past few days, she had fallen to level 37 and dropped out of the leaderboard. Sini, meanwhile, was at level 31. She had focused onpleting the elves'' hidden quest, and have no time to up-level. The hidden quest awarded them with the friendship of the elves and two portions of Elven Spring. One portion was given to Tracy, and Sini intended to give the other to John. However, since John had already consumed Elven Spring and wouldn''t gain any further benefits from it. Sini, as an assassin ss, found the 100-point boost to her spirit attribute of limited help and decided to keep it for now. The trio, apanied by the ck dragon Avis, left the Land of Elves and ventured into the Eternal Forest to hunt monsters and level up. The forest was teeming with level 60 and above monsters, including the corrupted tree monsters. asionally, they encountered orc armies, making it an ideal leveling ground. The three of them satfortably on Avis''s broad back, enjoying the ride. [You have killed a level 75 corrupted tree monster, gaining 120 experience points] [You have killed a level 60 mutated tree monster, gaining 70 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, spirit +1] ... The notifications kepting. Though the experience points were shared among the party, reducing the amount each received, the girls were still very satisfied. "Old man, I leveled up again," Tracy eximed, thrilled with her rapid progress. Sini was equally pleased, having not had the chance to level up with John in a while. "Master!" At that moment, the deep voice of the ck dragon Avis sounded, "I feel like I''m about to break through. I need to retreat and focus on my breakthrough." "A breakthrough?" John was surprised. Avis was a third-tier epic pet, and breaking through to the fourth tier would significantly enhance his strength. "Alright, you can retreat to Death Land for your breakthrough. Don''t worry, it won''t affect you there anymore." John gave a simple exnation and then brought Avis back into Death Land. Without Avis, the three had to continue on foot, which slowed their progress considerably. Despite this, the two girls were quite satisfied. "We snuck out, so everyone needs to stay alert and not reveal our location," came a deep voice from within the forest, followed by the sound of footsteps rustling through the underbrush. "John, it''s orcs," Sini noted, immediately alerting John to the movements in the forest ahead. "Should we retreat, Old man?" Tracy asked anxiously. She had witnessed the orcs'' strength in the Land of Elves and, despite leveling up, knew she still wasn''t a match for them. Moreover, this orc squad wasrge, with over three thousand orcs. John, however, remained calm. "They''re here to deliver us experience points. Why would we run?" With that, he raised his staff and cast Rain of Fire in the direction of the sounds. Whoosh! mes engulfed the forest, and the orcs'' cries of agony echoed as notifications popped up continuously. [Killed level 60 orc, gained 70 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, strength +1] ... [Sessfully killed 100,000 third-tier monsters, Wrath of the Gods talent upgraded to grade A, skill cooldown reduced by 60%] [Next level requirement: Kill 10 fourth-tier elite bosses, upgrade Wrath of the Gods talent to grade S] ... John was delighted. The Wrath of the Gods talent had finally been upgraded to grade A and had unlocked the requirements for upgrading to grade S. Killing 10 fourth-tier elite bosses would be much easier than killing 100,000 third-tier monsters. "Damn it! Who dares ughter my orc tribe?" An enraged voice bellowed as a towering orc, engulfed in mes, charged out from the forest. "It''s an orc leader!" Sini gripped her dagger tightly but quickly decided to step back behind John. This orc leader was a level 100 rare-quality boss, far beyond her capability to handle. She didn''t want to cause any trouble for John. "I''ll handle this," John said confidently, raising his staff as several spells flew out. Fireball, Wind de, Thunderstorm... "A human? You''re courting death!" The orc leader, seeing a seemingly weak human, sneered. He didn''t bother to dodge the iing spells. Boom! Boom! A series of explosions resounded as the spells struck the orc leader, producing terrifying damage numbers. -10129 -10085 -10114 ... The magicbo triggered twice, instantly reducing his health by over fifty thousand, leaving him sprawled on the ground, covered in dirt and ashes. The orc leader struggled to his feet, his face full of fear. This human had wiped out half of his health with just one round of magic attacks. "Attack! Kill him for me!" Realizing John''s power, he quickly retreated into the orc horde, angrily issuing orders. "How shameless," John muttered with disdain as he watched the orc horde charge at him. His staff reappeared in his hand, and he unleashed another Rain of Fire. -13298 -13274 -13301 ... Terrifying damage numbers shed. These level 60 orcs only had a little over three thousand health points each and were instantly obliterated. [Killed level 60 orc, gained 70 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, critical hit rate +1] ... The notifications kepting as John quickly ughtered the surrounding orcs until only the orc leader remained. Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Advanced Mission, Ambush Encounter Chapter 48: Advanced Mission, Ambush Encounter ? Gulped. The orc leader staring at the scattered premium third-tier equipment on the ground, unsure if it was due to greed or fear. "Next, it''s your turn!" John sneered, raising his staff. Thud! To John''s and the two women''s surprise, the orc leader fell to his knees. It was the first time John had encountered a boss begging for mercy. "Master, I am willing to hand over my treasures. Please spare my life," the orc leader begged, trembling and kowtowing repeatedly. John scoffed. Compared to the orc leader who attacked the elves, this one had no spine. But John''s interest was piqued, and he asked, "What treasures?" Seeing a glimmer of hope, the orc leader quickly replied, "It''s a treasure scroll I stole from my n. It is said to contain the treasures of the extinct Gates Empire." "Interesting!" John sneered, not bothering to waste time. Heunched his attack. In the world of Gods, items on monsters and Dark Humans are guaranteed to drop upon death. "Human, you are not keeping your word!" The orc leader panicked as he saw the iing magic, scrambling to his feet to flee. But he couldn''t outrun the magic. Boom! Boom! The spells hit their mark instantly, and the powerful magical energy obliterated his remaining health. He fell to the ground, unwilling and defeated. [Killed 100-level rare boss orc leader, you gain 1630 experience points] [You level up, Spirit +4, Strength +3, Agility +2, Free Attribute Points +8, Skill Points +2] [Plunder talent activated, Strength +50, Constitution +50, Physical Critical +1] The notifications shed, and John leveled up again, reaching level 58, getting closer to level 60. Unfortunately, this time the orc leader did not yield any special talents. John nced at the items dropped by the orc leader and found a scroll. [Treasure of the Gates Empire: Hero-level Secret Area; rumored to contain the treasures of the extinct Gates Empire; can be opened by level 60 and above third-tier professions] A hero-difficulty dungeon! John was thrilled. Thest time he and Sinipleted the normal difficulty Goblin Secret Area, they obtained two sets of premium first-tier equipment. The rewards for this hero-difficulty dungeon would surely be higher. But it required third-tier professionals to open, so they couldn''t enter it yet. John was already level 58, very close to the level 60 third-tier advancement. He checked the other items dropped by the orc leader. 10 equipment enhancement stones, 10 embedded gems, and a giant axe, also of epic quality. [Mountain-splitting Axe: Epic, third-tier warrior, knight profession can equip; Physical Damage +100, Strength +80, Armor Pration +2] It even increased hidden attribute armor pration by 2 points! John was amazed. Two points of armor pration ignored 2% of the target''s physical resistance. Unfortunately, it was for warrior and knight professions. "John, why do you always get premium equipment when you kill regr monsters?" Sini asked in surprise, cradling a pile of premium gear she had gathered from the battlefield. "It''s due to my talent. Keep any of this gear you need, and I''ll take the rest," John replied. He nned to prioritize his allies for these premium items and then sell the rest to Ritchie and the Blues Family. In the world of Gods, gold had many uses in theter stages, so he wasn''t about to give away items for free. At best, they''d get a friends-and-family discount. The two women didn''t hold back, selecting gear that suited them best. Once they were equipped, the three of them continued deeper into the forest, hunting more monsters. They were still on the outskirts of the Eternal Forest, but the monsters were growing stronger. Enraged tree monsters at level 80, venomous tree monsters at level 85, iron-armored giant bears at level 90, and demonic giant apes at level 100. However, none of these creatures posed a threat to John, who dispatched them with ease. ... After two days, during which John took a day off to rest at Sini''s insistence. He finally reached level 60 and triggered the third-tier ss advancement quests. Sini and Tracy also leveled up past 50, reiming their spots on the leaderboard. John reviewed his advancement quests: [Wrath of the Gods Mage Third Advancement Quest: Kill two level 60+ epic bosses] [Demonic Assassin Third Advancement Quest: Kill two level 60+ epic bosses] Both quests required killing two epic bosses over level 60. This task wasn''t simple. The challenge wasn''t in defeating epic bosses but in finding them. John wasn''t confident he could handle level 100+ fourth-tier epic bosses yet. Hisst advancement had been a stroke of luck, involving the interruption-resistant Undead Mage. It seemed he would need to tackle that hidden quest. John remembered a hidden quest from his previous life that he was now strong enough to complete. "Tracy, do you still have a town portal scroll?" John asked, turning to Tracy. With Avis still in closed-door cultivation and the city too far away to walk, John preferred not to trek back on foot. "I do," Tracy replied, handing out three town portal scrolls to John and Sini. "Let''s head back to the city. I need to do my advancement quest." With that, John crushed his town portal scroll. The three of them vanished in a sh of light and reappeared at the Jade City teleportation point. The ce was bustling with yersing and going. John''s sudden appearance caused quite a stir. "Godyer!" "Yeah, that''s him." "Finally, we''ve got him." ... A crowd of over a thousand yers quickly surrounded John and the two women. John looked at the leader, a ck man dressed as an assassin, and a smile formed on his lips. "The second on the leaderboard, Dark Angel!" "Oh?" The ck assassin was surprised and studied John suspiciously. "You know me?" John didn''t respond, his cold gaze scanning the crowd. He recognized many as top-ranked yers. Smirking, he said, "Looks like you''ve been hired by the Mike White Family to assassinate me." He hadn''t expected these yers to fail in finding him in the real world and instead attempt to target him in the world of Gods. Dark Angel shrugged. "Godyer, I bear you no personal grudge, but you''ve crossed someone you shouldn''t have. Attack!" He pulled out a charm and crushed it. A strange energy surrounded John, freezing his magic. An anti-magic charm! John was surprised at how far the Mike White Family had gone to deal with him. The charm had the same effect as Mana-Suppressing Potion, temporarily sealing his magic, a bane for any mage. But the charm was much rarer and more expensive, one can cost ten thousand gold coin. In the real world, it''s a billion dor. "Quick, his magic is sealed. Kill him!" Dark Angel ordered coldly, stepping back. Arrows and spells flew towards John. -1 -1 -1 ... The damage numbers shed pathetically, unable to breach John''s defense. He remained unscathed, but the women beside him were vulnerable. Sini was hit by a barrage of arrows and spells, turning into a sh of white light and disappearing. Tracy, being a priest, had higher health and defense and managed to survive the first wave of attacks by hiding behind John. "Sini!" John shouted, furious as Sini vanished. He grabbed Tracy and threw her out of harm''s way. "You are unforgivable!" John''s voice was ice cold, his killing intent palpable as he wielded his staff and charged into the crowd. He deliberately withheld his assassin abilities. Dark Angel sneered. Initially, he was concerned seeing John only taking one point of damage per attack. But a mage rushing into closebat? That was a death sentence! With a cold smile, Dark Angel brandished his twin daggers and blinked behind John, aiming for a lethal strike. "Die!" he roared, his face twisted with triumph. He was confident that this strike would end Godyer. What top-ranked yer? He was the real number one. "Foolish," John muttered disdainfully. As if he had eyes on the back of his head, he effortlessly dodged Dark Angel''s critical hit and swung his staff hard. BAM! -6455 A terrifying damage number floated up. Dark Angel froze, his less-than-3000 health instantly depleted, and he vanished in a sh of white light. This guy is a mage? It''s hisst thought before respawning was full of confusion John moved fluidly, showcasing his exceptionalbat skills as he tore through the crowd with reckless abandon. "Help!" "This guy''s a demon! He can''t be killed and his damage is insane!" "Report him! Damn it, I''m reporting Godyer for health lock and invincibility hacks!" "Screw the Mike White Family for setting us up." "Godyer, I was wrong, please don''t kill me..." Cries for help, curses, and pleas for mercy echoed around him. Over a thousand yers couldn''tst even two minutes, ughtered by John. But John didn''t n to let them off that easily. In a sh, he reached the respawn point. The yers he had just killed were respawning, their faces nk with disbelief, still unable toprehend how a mage could inflict such monstrous physical damage. "Everyone not involved, get out of here!" John roared. Swinging his staff, he cast Rain of Fire, and mes rained down. "Oh no!" Dark Angel saw Johning and felt the danger, but it was toote to escape. The firestorm engulfed the respawn point in a radius of nearly a hundred meters. The freshly respawned yers screamed and were killed again instantly. The respawn point continued to sh as yers respawned only to be caught in the magic once more. "Godyer, I know I was wrong, please let me go..." Dark Angel was terrified, desperately begging for mercy. He had painstakingly leveled up to 50, but after being killed by John, he was down to a mere level 30 second-tier. John showed no sign of relenting, determined to kill them back to the newbie vige. "Stop! Who dares to cause trouble in Jade City?" A shout rang out as a squad of Jade City''s elite cavalry charged toward John. Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Jade City Wanted List, Hidden Quest Chapter 49: Jade City Wanted List, Hidden Quest ? John watched the elite cavalry charge at him, a bit surprised. In the world of Gods, the rulers of major cities were all Dark Humans. They typically didn''t interfere in yer skirmishes, even within the city. This unit of Dark Humans cavalry was clearly targeting him. However, John was unfazed. Jade City was merely a Level 1 city, and these elite cavalry were only second-tier, their levels not exceeding 60. They were no match for him. He waved his staff, casting two consecutive Thunderstorms. The lightning struck the leading cavalryman first. Obliterating him in one hit, leaving no trace of his body. [Killed level 55 Jade City elite cavalry leader, gained 370 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, constitution +1] Dark Humans were considered monsters as well. With their leader dead, the remaining Dark Humans cavalry became even more enraged and charged at John. He remained indifferent, waving his staff to summon a Rain of Fire, engulfing the entire cavalry force. Massive damage numbers shed, and over a hundred elite cavalrymen were instantly killed. The notifications kept popping up. [Killed level 50 Jade City elite cavalry, gained 160 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, strength +1] ... [You have maliciously killed Jade City guards. The Jade City lord has issued a bounty on you] "On the wanted list?" John sneered at the notification. A weak Level 1 city lord was nothing to him. More Jade City guards flooded the streets. Because of their interference, Dark Angel and his men weren''t reduced to level 1 and managed to escape Jade City in a panic. John''s anger now turned towards these guards. "Boss, I''m here to save you!" At that moment, a loud shout was heard as Ritchie led a team of men rushing in from the teleportation point. "Damn, it''s the Jade City guards!" Ritchie eximed in shock as he realized that those attacking John were not yers, but the Jade City guards. He had just received news that John was being ambushed by yers in Jade City. The surrounding guards also noticed Ritchie and his team and shouted angrily, "They''re with that Godyer! Attack!" With a shout, hundreds of guards charged towards Ritchie and his men. "Interesting!" Ritchie was unafraid. He held Diamond Giant Shield in front of him and led the charge,manding his team to engage the enemy. The team Ritchie brought was the elite of the me Legion, all above level 40, just barely able to withstand the guards'' attacks. "Ritchie, don''t get tangled up with them. Retreat!" John called out. He wanted to wipe out the Dark Humans in Jade City, but doing so would provoke them and bring reinforcements from higher-level cities. John knew he wasn''t yet strong enough for an all-out war with the Dark Humans. Ritchie, with his giant shield at the forefront, was reluctant but formidable, blocking the path like an immovable object. "Boss, these guys aren''t that strong. Leaving like this seems too easy on them." "There will be plenty of chances for revengeter. For now, we need to go. Teleport to the level 2 city, Silverleaf City." John reminded him, finding Sini and Tracy in the crowd and escorting them quickly to the teleportation point. Spending 10 silver coins, they teleported away. "Retreat!" Ritchie reluctantly ordered, leading his team to withdraw. Soon, John and his group arrived at the teleportation point in Silverleaf City. Silverleaf City, a level 2 city, was more prosperouspared to Jade City, though the streets were less crowded with yers. The surrounding area of Silverleaf City was filled with level 60 and above monsters, so yers generally only came here afterpleting their third job advancement. "Boss, how did you end up fighting with the Jade City guards?" Ritchie appeared at the teleportation point, curious about what had happened. The elite squad he brought hadn''t followed. "I''m not entirely sure," John said, suspecting it might be rted to the attack on Gaia during the establishment of Imperial City. If that were the case, Ritchie should also be targeted by the Dark Humans'' guards, but he hadn''t been. John decided not to dwell on it and coldly instructed, "Ritchie, I have a task for you. Find the yers who attacked us and kill them back to the novice vige, especially that Dark Angel." These guys had killed Sini, and he would not let it go easily. "John, I''m fine. There''s no need to waste resources on me," Sini said, knowing John''s actions were for her. She moved closer, wrapping her arm around his. Beside her, Tracy was furious. "Sini, they killed you. We can''t just let them off." John nodded in agreement, gently patting Sini''s head. "Anyone who harms my people must pay a heavy price." "Don''t worry, boss. I''ll make sure those guys regret it," Ritchie said, guessing what had happened, and confidently pounded his chest. Sini looked at John with teary eyes, deeply moved. She had never been so protected before. "Ritchie, I have two more tasks for you," John continued, turning to Ritchie. "Once Iplete my job advancement, we''ll start establishing our city. In the meantime, find a suitable location, one that is resource-rich and easy to defend." Ritchie nodded but expressed concern, "Boss, after we disrupted the establishment of Imperial City, won''t Mike White Family cause trouble?" "They definitely will. That''s why I have another task for you," John exined. "Go find the blood-red demon wolf and the others. Ask for their help in defending against the monster tide. As long as their demands are reasonable, agree to them." Ritchie''s eyes lit up. He had seen those terrifying beasts and monsters before; all were of fourth rank or higher. With their help, they wouldn''t need to fear Mike White Family or Dark Humans'' retaliation. "Got it, boss. I''ll get right on it," he said eagerly and left quickly. "Old man, are you still taking us to level up?" Tracy asked expectantly. John shook his head, looking apologetically at the two women. "I have other matters to attend to. You''ll need to level up on your own." "Okay," Tracy said, a bit disappointed. Sini, understanding, said, "John, you go ahead. Don''t worry about us." "Be careful. If you encounter danger, contact me immediately," John advised. After bidding them farewell, he didn''t leave Silverleaf City. Instead, he headed towards an abandoned mansion within the city. The hidden quest was within this mansion. As John walked away, Sini watched his back with determination. She swore to herself that she would not be a burden to him. "Tracy, let''s go hunt level 40 monsters and learn the Blues Family''s leveling method!" she said slowly. These past few days had been toofortable. She needed to break out of thisfort zone, improve her strength, and help John. "What?" Tracy was startled and eximed, "Sini, are you crazy?" She was a support ss priest with negligiblebat power, and Sini had fallen to level 30. They were no match for level 40 monsters. Hunting level 40 monsters was tantamount to suicide. However, seeing Sini''s determined expression, Tracy didn''t say anything more and silently supported her. The two women left using the teleport point. ... John arrived at a mansion in the city. The mansion was vast but dpidated. The heavy front doory askew, and the courtyard was overgrown with weeds, indicating it had been abandoned for a long time. John entered the mansion. From the remaining architectural features, it was evident that this ce had once been splendid, and its owner must have been wealthy and noble. Crash! Suddenly, a wine jar shattered in front of John. From the decrepit loft above, an impatient voice called out, "Another debt collector? Take anything valuable and leave me alone!" John looked at the broken wine jar and smiled. This must be the guy. He headed toward the broken loft. The old stairs creaked under his weight, seemingly ready to copse at any moment. "Damn it, didn''t you hear me? Get lost!" The man noticed someoneing up and grabbed another wine jar, hurling it toward John. John easily dodged and reached the loft. He curiously observed the middle-aged man before him. The man reeked of alcohol, with disheveled hair and beard, dressed in rags like a beggar. John didn''t underestimate him. "Hello, I was passing by the courtyard and got curious, so I came to take a look. Sorry for disturbing you," he said. Hearing John''s words, the beggar slightly lifted his head, his eyes lifeless as he nced at John. His tone, however, softened a bit. "Are you an adventurer? This is private property, not open to outsiders. You should leave." John remained unfazed. Instead, he found a rtively clean spot to sit down and said, "It sounds like you owe quite a bit of money for drinks? I have some gold coins here; perhaps they can help you out." With that, he took out ten gold coins and ced them in front of the beggar. The beggar didn''t reach for them. Instead, he looked at John with a wary expression. "Kid, what''s your angle?" John ced the coins down and said, "Everyone goes through tough times, but that''s no reason to give up. I might not be able to do much, but I can help you a bit." A flicker of light passed through the beggar''s dull eyes, followed by a self-deprecating smile. "Young man, I used to be as naive as you. But I like what you''re saying. Come, have a drink with me." With that, he grabbed a nearby wine jar and tossed it to John. John didn''t refuse. He caught the jar, took a hearty swig, and sighed in satisfaction. The wine in the world of Gods was spicier and more stimting than that in the real world. "Haha, you''re a straightforward guy," the beggarughed, taking another swig himself. His dull eyes began to regain some life. "Young man, would you like to hear a story?" John knew the beggar was about to reveal a hidden quest. He nodded and said, "I''m all ears." The beggar took another swig, nced around warily to ensure no one was listening, and then began his tale. Chapter 50: Chapter 50: The Land of Darkness, Powerful Demon Guardians Chapter 50: The Land of Darkness, Powerful Demon Guardians ? "This world is called the Skyline Continent. It was once home to countless powerful races. Though wars were frequent, there was still a semnce of peace and stability. Until they connected with a game called the world of Gods..." The beggar''s face was nostalgic as he spoke slowly. John frowned. He knew about the plight of Skyline Continent and feared that Earth''s future would mirror its fate. But wasn''t the beggar supposed to tell his own story? Moreover, John remembered this beggar was also a Dark Human. The tragedy of Skyline Continent was closely linked to them. Why did it seem like he was now speaking on behalf of the races of Skyline Continent? The beggar continued, ignoring John''s reaction: "One day, beings who called themselves the envoys of the gods, known as the Dark Humans, descended upon Skyline Continent. They unleashed brutal massacres on the various races, eventually conquering the continent. The gods'' malevolent hands then reached out to another world..." The beggar took another swig from his jar, not continuing his tale. He seemed satisfied with John''s shocked and puzzled expression. "Young man, don''t doubt it. It''s just as you think." John looked at the beggar, remaining silent. He had known these things already. His confusiony in the fact that the beggar''s hidden quest wasn''t supposed to be about this. He remembered that the person who received this hidden quest in the previous life mentioned that the old beggar had tasked him with killing two demon guardians to avenge his deceased wife. The beggar''s story was intriguing and shocking, but it seemed unrted to the hidden quest. Unsure of how to proceed, John decided to go along with the beggar''s story. He asked, "If what you say is true, is there any way to prevent this disaster?" The beggar shook his head, his eyes filled with deep helplessness. "Everything is controlled by the gods. They are high and mighty. How can mere mortals possibly stand against gods?" "Isn''t there any way at all?" John''s desire to find a solution was ignited. Regardless of whether others believed it possible, he was determined to stop this disaster and protect Earth. The beggar looked at John, silent for a long time, then sighed softly. "If you help me with something, I can tell you some methods to counter the gods. But I can''t guarantee they will be effective." John was puzzled. This seemed to align with the hidden quest, but why had the person who received it in the previous life not mentioned this part? Had the beggar not revealed it, or had that person deliberately concealed it? John only knew that this hidden quest ultimately failed, which was why the person had revealed it; he didn''t know any other details. He nodded and said, "Go ahead." The beggar continued, "My wife was brutally murdered by two demon guardians. If you can kill those two and avenge my wife, I will tell you the secrets to counter the gods." [Ding, S-level hidden quest triggered: Merchant''s Revenge. Do you ept?] A prompt appeared, indicating that things were finally back on track. "ept!" John immediately chose to ept. [You have epted the S-level hidden quest, Merchant''s Revenge: Kill the demon guardians and avenge the merchant''s wife; Quest duration: None; Quest reward: Unknown; Quest failure penalty: None] The beggar fumbled in his pocket and took out a crumpled map, handing it to John. "Young man, this is the map to the demon territory. You can only enter with this map. There are thousands of demon soldiers and two demon guardians, all above level 60. This is not urgent; you can wait until you reach level 100 and are at the fourth tier before dealing with them." John took the map, not paying much attention to the beggar''s advice. He epted this hidden quest for his third-tier advancement trial and couldn''t wait until the fourth tier. "Don''t worry, I will avenge your wife," John assured as he pocketed the map. The beggar said no more, leaning against a pir and returning to his usual despondent state, continuing to drink. John bid him farewell and examined the map the beggar had given him. It marked a hidden location in the forests surrounding Silverleaf City. Outside Silverleaf City, there were many powerful level 60 and above beasts. For ordinary yers, this quest might indeed require the strength of a level 100 fourth-tier yer toplete. But John was confident he couldplete it now. ... The forest was quiet and deep. Powerful beasts roamed about. Fire Bats, Minotaurs, Fire Spirits, Dragon Monsters... All were level 60 and above powerful beasts, but they were no match for John. He didn''t deliberately provoke them and quickly made his way to thend of darkness ording to the map''s route. Without Avis, traveling was much less convenient. John couldn''t help but hope that Avis wouldplete its advancement soon. The increase in strength was secondary to him; the most crucial part was the ability to fly. ... John moved swiftly through the forest, killing dozens of beasts and collecting three high- quality pieces of equipment. Finally, he arrived at the location marked on the map. The surrounding trees were denser, the environment deeper, and the area was eerily quiet, with no sign of any beast activity. This must be thend of darkness. He entered directly. [Ding, you have discovered a hidden map, the Land of Darkness] The notification popped up, but John paid no mind to it, staying alert and continuing forward. ng, ng... From the depths of the forest came the sounds of battle and fighting. John was puzzled; it seemed like two groups were fighting each other. Could there be other races here besides the demon soldiers? He quickened his pace. Emerging from the dense forest, he found himself on a vast in with a majestic ck city standing tall. In front of the city, two groups of soldiers were engaged in a deadly battle, all of them demon soldiers, numbering over a thousand. John approached slowly and overheard their conversation. "Joel, your men are about to copse. I think you should just surrender," said a burly man d in heavy armor. He was a demon guard, a level 70 epic boss. The other, referred to as Joel, was also a demon guard. Joel snorted coldly, watching the battlefield intensely. "Evan, don''t celebrate too early. It''s not over yet." He looks the battlefield nervously. Obviously, his soldier has almost defeated. John hid and watched in amazement. He had encountered many races but had never seen members of the same race fighting each other. The demon race was the first. John focused on the two demon guards. Both were level 70, third-tier epic bosses with 120,000 health points, and their strength and mental attributes reached 8,000 points. They were adept in both dark magic and closebat. The demons were one of the few powerful races that mastered both physical and magical abilities. "This is a bit tricky," John muttered with a serious expression. If he only had to deal with one demon guard, he was confident he could kill him. But facing two demon guards simultaneously, along with over a thousand level 60 elite demon soldiers, he wasn''t entirely sure. "I''ll need tounch a surprise attack to kill or seriously injure one of the demon guards first," John nned as he slowly approached the two demon guards. Both were focused entirely on the battlefield and didn''t notice John getting closer. The battle was already in full swing and nearing its climax. Joel and Evan gripped their fists tightly, cursing and directing the fight. Soon, thest of Joel''s demon soldiers fell, dying in a pool of blood. Seeing this, Evanughed triumphantly. "Haha, Joel, you lost again... Huh?" Hisughter abruptly stopped as he sensed danger. A wave of powerful magical energy made Joel turn his head as well. mes roared, Wind des whistled, and lightning shed as multiple spells struck. However, they weren''t aimed at Joel but at Evan. "Who dares?" Evan cursed, forming a magical shield in front of him. The spells struck. Boom! Boom! The magical shield shattered under the barrage, and damage numbers floated above Evan''s head. -8593 -17180 -8601 ... With his Spell Combo talent, Johnnded two consecutive hits and even scored a critical strike. Evan''s health dropped by a third in an instant. Shocked and unable to react, he saw a figure rapidly closing in on him. A sh of cold light, and he was hit again. -9797 -9729 -19440 -19458 ... More terrifying damage numbers shed, with two critical hits this time. Evan''s health plummeted to less than twenty thousand. He stumbled back in panic, finally seeing his attacker clearly. "A human, an adventurer?" Evan eximed, disbelief in his voice as he struggled toprehend how a weak human adventurer could inflict such terrifying damage. "Just a bit more!" John thought, eyes narrowing as he saw Evan retreating. He could tell Evan''s health was critically low; one more round of attacks would surely finish him off. However, with Evan retreating, another surprise attack was no longer possible. "Ha, interesting!" Joel''s mockingughter echoed from the side. He was delighted to see Evan in such a state. Fixing his gaze on John, a mischievous smile yed on his lips. "Evan, let''s change the bet. Whoever kills this guy gets to be the lord of the city, how about that?" "Fine, if you can kill him, I''ll forever acknowledge your position as lord," Evan agreed without hesitation. He knew Joel was no match for this human and anticipated a mutually destructive fight, allowing him to swoop in and im victory. "Agreed, it''s a deal!" Joel, unaware of Evan''s cunning, eagerly epted and charged at John. "Die!" Joel roared, wielding his massive cleaver in a straightforward but powerful strike aimed at John. John''s body was covered in Rock Armor, ready to absorb the blow. Bang! The Rock Armor shattered instantly. -2210 John lost over two thousand health points. Joel''s physical attack power exceeded eight thousand, but John could barely withstand it. John swiftly retreated, ignoring Joel. His focus was on the heavily injured Evan. He resolved to eliminate Evan first and then deal with Joel and the remaining demon soldiers. Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Dual Magic and Martial Arts, Tier 3 Class Chapter 51: Dual Magic and Martial Arts, Tier 3 ss ? John switched to his staff, the powerful magical energy surging. A series of spells roared towards Evan in the distance. "This guy''s cooldowns are so quick?" Evan was startled, cursing angrily, "Joel, you idiot, stop this guy!" He couldn''t take another hit from John''s attack. Seeing the gathering demon soldiers nearby, he didn''t hesitate to rush into them. He using their bodies as a shield against John''s magic. Boom! Boom! A series of explosions echoed. The demon soldiers fell in droves, while Evan was struck by two Thunderstorms, his health dropping below ten thousand. One more hit and he would be done for. Panicked, Evan turned and ran towards the fortress behind him. "You can''t escape," John said coldly, switching to his dagger and activating the Shadow Strike skill. In a sh, he darted through the demon soldier ranks, aiming directly at Evan. "Damn it! Shadow Mirage!" Sensing John closing in from behind, Evan cursed, unwilling to confront him directly. His body split into several clones, each darting in different directions. Swish! A cold gleam shed as John struck one of the clones, which then vanished. It wasn''t the real Evan. "So he has a life-saving skill like this!" John was surprised. Seeing the clones scatter, he switched back to his staff and cast Rain of Fire, covering the dozen clones. "Aah!" A scream pierced the air. The clones vanished, leaving only one figure scrambling towards the fortress. It was undoubtedly the real Evan. John raised his staff and two Lightning spells descended. Boom! Boom! Evan, unable to evade, fell to the ground, his remaining health depleted. [Killed 70-level Epic Demon Guard, gained 4960 XP] [Plunder skill activated, gained Strength +100, Spirit +100, Luck +1] No skills or talents were plundered. John disappointing. "Human, I didn''t expect you to kill Evan. You''ve truly surprised me!" Joel''s voice came from behind. He showed no sorrow for Evan''s death; rather, he seemed quite pleased. Evan was dead, making Joel the new leader here. As for the human before him, he didn''t see him as a threat. The only reason Evan was killed was that he was too weak,bined with the human''s sneak attack. "What are you all standing around for? Get him and avenge Lord Evan!" Joel ordered coldly. He knew the demon soldiers weren''t a match for John, but he didn''t care about their lives. The demon soldiers snapped out of their shock, roaring as they charged towards John. ording to the beggar, there should be over three thousand demon soldiers in the Dark Land. The ones here were just over a thousand. John guessed that the remaining soldiers were likely killed off by these two demon guards. Whoosh! Endless mes enveloped the area as John cast Rain of Fire. The 60-level demon soldiers, equivalent to elite bosses with ten thousand health points, couldn''t withstand John''s fiery assault. Agonized screams filled the air as demon soldiers died in droves. [Killed 60-level demon soldier, gained 420 XP] [Plunder skill activated, gained Strength +10, Spirit +10, Skill Point +1] ... The notifications kept shing as John reaped a bounty of attribute and skill points. Soon, all the demon soldiers were wiped out, leaving only Joel, the demon guard. "Interesting. Human, your strength is impressive," Joel remarked, his axe glowing with powerful magical energy. "But this ends now. Dark de!" Joel roared as he swung his axe with mountain-splitting force. John, however, remained unfazed, watching Joel''s movements closely. He cast a lightning spell, which struck before Joel''s attacknded. Boom! With a thunderous crash, the magical energy around Joel dissipated, and his skill was forcibly interrupted. "Cough!" Joel spat out blood from the magical bacsh, staring at John in disbelief. "You... you can interrupt skills!" Such a high level ofbat skill, he had only seen it in powerful Demon Kings. Joel couldn''t believe that the human before him had abat talentparable to a Demon King. John looked at him with disdain, calmly saying, "If you had teamed up with Evan earlier, I might not have been able to take you both down. But now, you don''t even have a chance to fight back." "Arrogant!" Joel was enraged by John''s words. Abandoning skill use, he charged directly at John, coldly dering, "You underestimate the demons. Elemental Disruption!" An eerie energy wave radiated out, causing the elemental forces around John to be chaotic and hard to control, preventing him from casting spells. He still has such tricks up his sleeve! John was a bit surprised; this had the same effect as the anti-magic seal, but the force was even more overpowering. The skills the demon guard had used so far were very enticing to him. "Human, without your magic, let''s see how you handle me now!" Joel''s arrogant voice boomed as he charged at John, swinging his axe with sheer brute force, no finesse, just raw power, aiming to crush John. But John was not afraid. His true strengthy not in his magic but in his physical attacks. Switching his staff for a dagger, he activated Death Whirlwind. His figure blurred into shadows, deftly dodging Joel''s shes while delivering precise strikes that made blood spray and damage numbers sh. -1014 -997 -2084 - John''s attacks included critical hits, rapidly depleting Joel''s health by over fifteen thousand. "Piercing Strike!" "Deadly Strike!" Two more Assassin skills struck Joel with precision. Reeling from the pain, Joel staggered back, his health plummeting, panic setting in. This human was far stronger than he had anticipated. He sensed death looming and knew it was toote to escape now. "Human!" Joel stepped back, halting John''s attack, and quickly proposed, "You came here for the Demon King''s treasure, didn''t you? I''ll give you the treasure map if you let me go." "Treasure map?" John was momentarily taken aback. This was the second time an enemy had begged for mercy. He sneered and asked, "Are you in cahoots with the Orcs?" "Orcs, those filthy beasts!" Joel spat in disgust. "Human, do not insult me. I am a noble, powerful demon." "Half a dozen of one, six of the other," John scoffed, uninterested in further conversation. He resumed his attack. Killing Joel was essential for his ss advancement. As for the Demon King''s treasure, it would drop just as easily when he killed Joel. "Damn it! You''ll regret ughtering the demons!" Joel cursed as he realized John had no intention of sparing him. Heunched a desperate counterattack. Despite having higher base attributes than John, Joel felt powerless against him. It seemed like John could see through all his moves, while Joel couldn''t fend off John''s relentless attacks. Soon enough, Joel''s health was depleted, and he died with resentment in his heart. [Killed level 70 Epic Demon Guard, gained 4960 experience points] [Plunder Talent activated: you gained a B-rank talent, Dual Mastery] [You havepleted your ss advancement quest and sessfully advanced to a Tier 3 Wrath of the Gods Mage and a Tier 3 Phantom Assassin] ... The notification popped up. John had sessfullypleted his Tier 3 ss advancement. Moreover, he had plundered another talent. John opened his status window to check. [Dual Mastery: B-rank talent; Your physical attacks now include 50% magic damage. However, regr attacks consume 10 mana points, and physical skill attacks consume double the mana points.] John was speechless. This talent drastically enhanced his physical attack and skill damage. His Phantom Assassin ss received yet another terrifying boost. However, his main ss was supposed to be Wrath of the Gods Mage. John found it hard to ept; at this rate, his main ss might be a mere decoration. "Wow, I have umted this many skill points?" He noticed the number of skill points he had. Over the past few days, he had gathered more than three thousand skill points. This was enough to max out all his basic skills, with plenty to spare. "Upgrade," Johnmanded, spending his skill points to max out all ten of his basic skills. He still had 2044 skill points remaining. John might be the only yer to have maxed out his skills at the current career stage. However, upgrading primary skills to intermediate skills required 100 skill points. Additionally, each skill upgrade also required 100 skill points. Even with the more than two thousand skill points remaining, John was still far from being able to max out everything. The journey to Tier 4 ss advancement was still a long way off, giving him time to umte more skill points gradually. He set aside his concerns and examined the items dropped by the demon guards. "Legendary gear!" John eximed as he held a ck armor piece in his hand. [Twilight Shadow Armor: Legendary; Usable by Tier 3 sses; Physical Defense +100, Magic Defense +100, Strength +100, Spirit +100] All four attributes reached the maximum values for Tier 3 legendary gear. The only downside was its tier; if it were a Tier 9 legendary item, its attributes would be comparable to those of a low-grade divine artifact. John immediately equipped the armor, along with the Blood Refining Belt dropped by the Orc leader. His strength saw a significant boost. "City Building Order!" John eximed in surprise upon seeing a token on the ground. He had unexpectedly acquired another City Building Order. However, he didn''t find the Demon King''s treasure that Joel had mentioned. "Could it be on the other demon guard?" John checked the items dropped by Evan. "Another City Building Order?" he muttered, astonished. He had spent days previously without getting a single City Building Order. Now, in this exploration of the Dark Lands, he had found two! Had these items suddenly be somon? John joyfully collected them and inspected the rest of Evan''s dropped items: 20 equipment enhancement stones, 20 equipment embedding gems, and a Tier 3 legendary spear, which unfortunately could only be used by warriors or knights. He decided to give it to Ritchie. John stored the items, still finding no treasure map. Was Joel trying to deceive him? Gazing at the fortress before him, he quickly gathered all the loot dropped by the demon soldiers and ventured into the city. Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Completing the Mission, the Descent of the Gods Chapter 52: Completing the Mission, the Descent of the Gods ? The city was ancient, with old but well-preserved buildings andplete facilities. "A Level 1 city wall?" John observed the towering ck walls. It was entirely the scale of a Level 1 city. By using the City Building Order, he could directly upy this city. The only downside was that the surrounding area was popted with Level 60+ beasts, which yers currently couldn''t handle easily. Upon entering the city, John was once again deeply shocked. Castles, a Temple of Life, a Potion Shop, a cksmith, a Tailor Shop, a Fine Craft Shop... All these facilities were avable, and they were high-level buildings, producing items with a quality bonus of +1. John was determined to upy this city, as its subsequent development would be significantly easier. The city was empty and deathly silent; all the demon soldiers had presumably been killed by him. John made his way to the central castle. Inside the castle, dim firelight flickered, casting an eerie and terrifying ambiance. John was unfazed, thoroughly searching the castle but failing to find the Demon King''s treasure that Joel had mentioned. "Could it be that it''s not in the castle?" He doubted that Joel was lying; the only possibility was that the treasure map was in another location. He continued to search the city. Rummaging through every building. In his search, John discovered a hidden treasury filled with arge quantity of ores, herbs, and other materials, along with over two thousand sets of Tier 3 warrior-ss high-quality equipment. However, he still couldn''t find any information rted to the Demon King''s treasure. John sighed; it seemed he would have to search for itter. He took all the equipment from the treasury, but due to limited storage space, he had to leave the other materials behind. Fortunately, no yers woulde here anytime soon. He was now more determined than ever to upy this city. "Let''s turn in the quest first." John was curious about the hidden quest''s reward. He left the city, taking Evan and Joel''s heads with him to present to the beggar as proof ofpletion. ... By the time John returned to Silverleaf City, it was night. The city was dark, with few yers in sight. asionally, patrol guards with levels over 60 passed by. John headed straight to the abandoned mansion. The beggar was still in a drunken state, leaning against a pir, dozing off. Hearing footsteps, he squinted open his eyes. When he saw it was John, he almost cursed but stopped himself. "Hey there, young man. Run into some trouble?" John shook his head. "I''vepleted the task." "What?" The beggar didn''t catch his words, looking at him suspiciously. Without further exnation, John pulled out the two heads and tossed them on the ground. The beggar jumped up, his drunkenness vanishing instantly. Staring at the heads, his body trembled. "It''s them! It''s really them! Haha..." Heughed uncontrobly, tears streaming down his face, kneeling on the ground, clutching the ne around his neck tightly. "J, did you see? Evan and Joel, those traitors, are finally dead. I''ve avenged you. Now I can be with you without any regrets..." The beggar''s voice was filled with relief, clearly ready to die. John quickly intervened, "People can''te back to life. We still need to live on. Please, ept my condolences." He didn''t care about the beggar''s fate; he only cared about his own reward. The beggar seemed oblivious to John''s attempts at constion, wiped away his tears, and stood up. "Young man, thank you. Please wait here for a moment," he said. John nodded, watching the beggar carry the two heads upstairs. Soon, the sound of running water came from above. After a while, a middle-aged man descended the stairs. d in fine clothes, with a handsome face and an air of elegance and nobility, he was a stark contrast to the beggar from moments ago. John frowned, taking a moment to realize, "Are you the beggar from before?" The middle-aged man smiled slightly, not offended by John''s term. "Young man, walk with me. Let me tell you about me and J," he said. J was his wife. "Alright," John agreed reluctantly. He wasn''t interested in any stories, but he was willing to endure for the sake of the reward. The man''s face showed a nostalgic expression as he began his tale. His wife wasn''t a Dark Human, but a demon! Dark Humans initially sided with the demons, butter, with the rise of the gods, they switched allegiance, bing enemies of the demons. He and his wife, J, had managed to evade the Dark Humans'' pursuit, but they were betrayed by J''s two subordinates, Evan and Joel. J was killed, but due to his status among the Dark Humans, he survived. During this period, he exhausted his wealth to avenge J against the Dark Humans and demons. He used various means to eliminate those Dark Humans responsible, which provoked the Dark Humans to retaliate against him. The two demon guards who betrayed J received the Dark Humans'' protection, and he was powerless to seek further vengeance. Hence, he enlisted John''s help... As the middle-aged man spoke, he led John to the Silverleaf City teleportation point. He didn''t care if John was interested in his story; he just needed someone to listen. "You kept your word. Now, tell me how to fight against the gods," the middle-aged man said, lifting his gaze to the dark, overcast night sky. John''s interest was piqued, and he looked at the man, waiting for him to continue. The man''s expression turned serious. Pointing to the teleportation point, he cautioned, "Young man, what I''m about to tell you might put us in danger. Be prepared to run at any moment." John didn''t quite understand, but he nodded, not taking the man''s words to heart. The middle-aged man took a deep breath and continued, "Long ago, the Demon Gods from the demon race could contend with the gods. But for some unknown reason, the Demon Gods fell, allowing the gods to rise. If you can grow into a Demon God, you will be able to oppose the gods." "Demon race? Demon Gods?" John frowned, never having heard of these before. Curious, he asked, "How can one grow into a Demon God?" The middle-aged man nced at the overcast sky, swallowed, and said, "It''s quite simple. Elevate your cultivation to the tenth rank and fuse with the Demon Soul, Demon Eye, Demon Wing, and Demon Armor. Then, you will be a Demon God on par with the gods." As he spoke, he took out a jade box from his pocket and handed it to John. "This is a wisp of a Demon Soul, left by my wife. Now, you just need to find the Demon Eye, Demon Wing, and Demon Armor, avoid the gods'' pursuit, and sessfully elevate to the tenth rank. Then you can be a Demon God..." The man''s voice was somber as he raised his head to the sky, his posture straight, eyes filled with defiance. Whoosh! Suddenly, a fierce wind roared, and a terrifying, oppressive aura filled the air, as if it could destroy everything. John''s heart skipped a beat, a familiar feeling washed over him. He had encountered this aura before. It was the aura of a god. Boom! Booming thunder echoed as dark clouds churned in the sky, and a huge, menacing face appeared in the heavens. "Oh my god, it''s a god! It''s a god!" "A divine descent, a celestial blessing." "Greetings, great god!" ... Dark Humans filled the street, falling to their knees, kowtowing repeatedly with utmost reverence. The middle-aged man sneered at the sight. He looked at John and urged, "Young man, use the teleportation array to leave. The god cannot lock nto you!" John realized that the god had been attracted by the beggar or rather, by the Demon Soul in his hand. But he didn''t move. Instead, he raised his head and stared directly at the immense, ethereal face, his staff appearing in his hand. "You''re insane!" The middle-aged man was shocked by John''s actions. Facing a god with a mortal body He must be either a fool or a madman. John didn''t speak. He gripped his staff tightly, eyes burning with a fierce desire for battle, surrounded by powerful energy waves. "Haha..." The middle-aged man watched John''s actions andughed wildly. He stared directly at the massive, menacing face in the sky and shouted, "God, do you remember the prophecy? It''s about toe true!" Crack! Two bolts of lightning struck simultaneously. One was pale and weak, the other dazzlingly bright. John and the god attacked at the same time. Thunderstorm erupted, creating ripples in front of the god''s face, leaving it unharmed. Thunderstorm was merely a basic magic skill, too weak to cause any real damage. In his previous life, John had reached the ninth rank and had to burn his life force, risking everything to cast a forbidden spell, only barely wounding the god. Boom! Lightning roared. John''s mind buzzed, and everything around him was instantly annihted. The middle-aged man vanishedpletely, leaving no trace. "Cough!" John spat out a mouthful of blood, left with only 1 point of health as his Lifesaver talent activated. Then, a tremendous life force enveloped him, instantly healing his injuries and restoring his health. It was the effect of his god-level talent, Undying and Immortal, along with the life-sharing contract with The Tree of Life. "Hmm, still alive?" The deep voice echoed, and the immense, menacing face in the sky stared at John with puzzled eyes. The winds roared as another attack wasunched. "I can''t block this!" John''s brows furrowed. He had a feeling that his Undying and Immortal talent wouldn''t save him from this attack. He connected with the Death Land token, and just as the attack was about to hit, John''s figure vanished. Boom! Another explosion rocked the ground. Everything around the teleportation point was engulfed in white light, turning to nothingness. "Hmph, insect!" The giant face in the sky scoffed disdainfully, and then the clouds churned and gradually dissipated. The sky remained dark and gloomy, as if nothing had happened. Only the two deep craters and the missing buildings around the teleportation point indicated that a god had indeed been there. On the street, Dark Humans still knelt, trembling with reverence. ... In Death Land, vibrant with life and newly built tree houses. "Savior!" Anna eximed with surprise and joy as she saw John appear suddenly, quickly running to him. John looked at Anna approaching and couldn''t help but be amazed. After going through trials and tribtions, Anna had be even more beautiful and enchanting. Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Demon Soul, Establishing a Sect Chapter 53: Demon Soul, Establishing a Sect ? "How are you feeling? Has your body recovered?" John asked Anna with concern. Anna blushed deeply, lowering her head, too shy to look at John. Whoosh! Just then, a figure flickered, and an old man appeared-it was ck Turtle. "Kid, what''s going on? I sensed the presence of a god just now!" ck Turtle stared at John, his tone tense. John was puzzled. Death Land was a separate space,pletely isted from the outside world. How did this old man sense it? "Yes, a god''s phantom appeared briefly," he replied, not borating further. He remembered the jade box given to him by the middle-aged man and opened it curiously. Buzz! A wave of soul energy surged, and a wisp of purple soul floated out, exuding a mysterious and powerful aura. [Demon Soul: Treasure (Iplete); Enhance cultivation to the tenth rank, merge with Demon Soul, Demon Eye, Demon Wings, Demon Armor to ascend to Demon God; Can be fused currently] The attribute description matched the middle-aged man''s exnation, but this Demon Soul was iplete. "This is... a Demon Soul?!" ck Turtle eximed in disbelief, staring at the soul in John''s hand. "Where did you get this?" "You know about the Demon Soul?" John was surprised. This old man indeed had secrets. ck Turtle nodded. "More or less. Not just a Demon God, but also an Immortal Emperor or a Demon Saint can stand against the gods, provided you find the treasures of the Demon n, Immortal n, and Demon n." John was astonished. "Are gods not the strongest?" "Humph!" ck Turtle snorted disdainfully. "No, they are the most despicable. The Demon n, Immortal n, and Demon n are no weaker than the gods. Unfortunately, they were all outwitted by the gods. The Demon Gods, Immortal Emperors, and Demon Saints all perished, and there''s no longer any possibility of ascending, which is how the gods took -control." As John listened to ck Turtle''s exnation, his brows furrowed. The world seemed far moreplex than he had imagined. ck Turtle continued, eyeing the Demon Soul in John''s hand. "Kid, this Demon Soul is indeed a treasure, but if you merge with it now, the gods will sense it and destroy you at all costs. I advise you to wait until you reach the tenth rank before merging." John nodded, putting the Demon Soul away. He had sensed it too-the god''s phantom had appeared because of this wisp of Demon Soul. Moreover, to ascend to a Demon God, he still needed the Demon Eye, Demon Wings, and Demon Armor-three great treasures that wouldn''t be easy to obtain. "Senior ck Turtle," John said as he thought of something, looking at the old man. "I want to establish a city, but I''m worried that the Dark Humans will cause trouble. Can I ask for your help?" John nned to establish a city in the Demon n''s Dark Land. With ck Turtle''s assistance, sess would be assured. ck Turtle looked at John, pondered for a moment, but then shook his head. "Kid, I have a mission to fulfill. I cannot leave Death Land." Before John could respond, ck Turtle''s figure flickered and disappeared into the depths of Death Land to continue his slumber. "Benefactor, I can help persuade Senior ck Turtle," Anna said from beside him. John was surprised. He looked at Anna and asked, "Do you know this old man?" Anna shook her head. "No, I don''t know him personally, but I''ve heard of some of his deeds. Don''t worry, Benefactor. I can definitely convince him." "So confident?" John was skeptical. Anna gave a mysterious smile and said, "It''s not my confidence, but my faith in you, Benefactor. Just wait for my good news." With that, she shyly kissed John''s cheek and, before he could react, she quickly ran off and disappeared into the depths of Death Land. John was puzzled but didn''t dwell on it. Not knowing if the god had left yet, he decided to stay in Death Land a bit longer. Whoosh! Suddenly, a strong wind blew, and a massive shadow flickered in the sky. It was the ck dragon Avis. The creature had finally awoken. "Master!" Avis dove down, stirring up a whirlwind, and happilynded in front of John, nuzzling him with his enormous head. Avis had grown a bitrger, his scales now denser and smoother, gleaming with a metallic ck sheen. John could clearly sense the significant boost in Avis''s strength. "Alright," John patted Avis''s massive head and asked, "Did you advance in rank?" Avis nodded repeatedly, proudly saying, "Level 100, early stage of the fourth tier. If I can advance one more time, I''ll regain my peak strength." Level 100 was the fourth tier; the next advancement would require reaching level 200, which was still far off. John wasn''t overly concerned with Avis''s strength. To him, Avis was just a means of transportation. Beep! Just then, John''s private chat pinged-it was Sini. Gale: "John, you haven''t logged off for several days. Take a break." Godyer: "Alright." John agreed, patted Avis, and logged off on the spot. ... In the real world, the sun was just rising. The air in the forest was fresh, and John took a deep breath, stretchingfortably as his bones cracked audibly. He could clearly feel that his strength had increased again. The aroma of breakfast filled the air, indicating that Sini had already prepared the morning meal. John''s appetite was instantly whetted as he walked out of the bedroom, only to find Armstrong at the dining table, devouring his food. Armstrong took a big gulp of porridge and protested, "Brother-inw, this is my house." "Old man," Tracy greeted John with a yawn as she emerged from another bedroom. She nced at Armstrong with annoyance and remarked, "Here to mooch off breakfast again." She also didn''t wee Armstrong. He ate too much, and whenever he noticed Sini logging off, he would rush over. "Hey, sister, this is my house!" Armstrong emphasized once more, realizing his status here was far inferior to John''s. Tracy ignored him and went to the kitchen to help. ... After breakfast, Armstrong leaned back in his chair with a satisfied expression, picking his teeth. "By the way, brother-inw," he said, suddenly sitting up and looking at John. "My grandfather asked if you could visit him when you have time." "The old patriarch?" John asked, puzzled. "When?" "Last night," Armstrong replied. "What?" John was exasperated. This guy was so unreliable; he only deliveredst night''s message today. Armstrong scratched his head sheepishly, "I had a lot on my mind and forgot. Plus, you were in the world of Gods the whole time." John understood that the old patriarch wouldn''t seek him out without a reason. There had to be something important. "Is the old patriarch avable now? Take me to him." Armstrong nodded, "That old man practices martial arts every morning. I''ll take you there." It seemed both siblings referred to Chris very casually. ... John followed Armstrong to Chris''s courtyard. The small courtyard was quite charming. Chris seemed to have just finished his training. Wearing a loose-fitting workout outfit, he was trimming the nts in front of his study. "Grandpa, John is here," Armstrong called out loudly as he pushed open the wooden door. Chris nced at Armstrong with a re, having already noticed their arrival. He turned to John with a smile, "Are you getting used to living here, my young friend?" "Yes, the environment here is great, and everyone is very friendly. I have to thank you for taking me in, old master," John replied sincerely. Staying with the Blues Family had saved him a lot of trouble. At least the assassins from the Griffin Family and the Mike White Family didn''t dare to openly target him. "d to hear that," Chris nodded, then looked at Armstrong, who was standing there in a daze. His smile disappeared, "What are you still doing here? Go and do your work." "Oh, okay." Armstrong, slow to react, nced at John, feeling that this guy now had a higher status than him. He left the courtyard, closing the wooden door behind him. Chris continued to meticulously trim the nts in front of him, speaking as he worked, "I hear you''re nning to help that Glenn Family boy establish a city?" "Yes, that''s the n," John replied, guessing that Tracy had informed the old master about this. Chris continued, "As it happens, Wenhao and the others have already left the novice vige. They can help you and learn from the experience." "Learn?" John looked at Chris, puzzled. Chris put down the scissors, satisfied with the neatly trimmed nts. "I also intend to establish a city." John was surprised but saw this as a good thing. He had been looking to support the Blues Family, and the first three organizations to establish cities would receive additional rewards. He wanted all three to be his allies, and the Blues Family was a good choice. John said, "I actually have two extra City Building Orders." "No need, I have a City Building Order. Just help us fend off the monster tide when the time comes," Chris replied, indicating he had done his homework on establishing a city. John was taken aback, "Old master, you have a City Building Order?" He remembered that Chris had spent more than half a month in the novice vige and wasn''t sure if he had left yet. Where did he get a City Building Order? "Is it rare?" Chris looked at John, exining, "When I entered the novice vige, I received a hidden profession task to be a Martial Saint, and then I needed to establish a sect." "Establish a sect?" John was stunned. What kind of hidden task had Chris received in the novice vige? In the world of Gods, there were only six main professions. Warrior, Knight, Assassin, Archer, Mage, and Priest. Hidden professions were extensions of these six systems. For example, John''s Wrath of the Gods Mage was still a Mage, and his Demon Assassin was still an Assassin. But Chris''s talk of establishing a sect seemed to be an entirely different system from the six main professions. Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Chriss Plan and Exploring The Secret Area Chapter 54: Chris''s n and Exploring The Secret Area ? In the previous life, John had never heard of such a thing. It seemed that Chris had gained a significant opportunity in the novice vige, which exined his prolonged stay there. Chris had never yed online games before and didn''t treat the world of Gods as a game but rather as reality. With a serious expression, Chris said, "This is just the first step of my n. I intend to integrate the strengths of various Ancient Martial Arts families within the world of Gods. I have a feeling that the world of Gods will have a substantial impact on reality." John was surprised that Chris had such a deep understanding of the world of Gods after such a short time. However, the impact would be more than just substantial; it would be disastrous. Looking at Chris, John hesitated for a moment but then said, "Old master, you have sharp insight, but the influence of the world of Gods might be even more terrifying, potentially bringing about a catastrophe." "Oh? What do you know?" Chris looked at John with curiosity. John shook his head, unwilling to say more. The integration of the world of Gods with reality was too unbelievable, and he didn''t want to reveal too many secrets. Chris stared intently at John, feeling that he couldn''t see through the young man in front of him. There was definitely something mysterious about him. Initially, he thought John''sbat skills were honed through experience in the world of Gods. However, after experiencing it himself, he realized it wasn''t that simple. He and the elite martial artists of the Blues Family had all tried life-and-death battles in the world of Gods. But their improvement was minimal. Suchbat skills couldn''t be developed overnight. "Let''s talk in the study," Chris said, heading towards the study behind him. John, puzzled, quickly followed. Chris pointed to a chair beside him and began, "I have a n that requires your cooperation." John looked at Chris in confusion but nodded, saying, "As long as it''s something I can do, I won''t refuse." Chris made a surprising statement, "Originally, I intended to match you with Tracy and hand over the responsibility of the Blues Family to you." John was startled and quickly waved his hands, "Old master, please don''t joke. I''m just an outsider." Ancient Martial Arts families have a strict hierarchy. While the Blues Family promotes harmony and equality, it is only within the family. If John were to be the head of the Blues Family, there would definitely be a lot of opposition. Chris ignored John''s protest and continued, "But I''ve changed my mind now." He paused, his expression serious, and said calmly, "The Ancient Martial Arts families have been disunited for too long. John, I need someone to bring these scattered forces together again." John immediately stood up from his chair, staring at Chris in astonishment. "Senior, you must be joking. This is even more impossible than making me the head of the Blues Family." Throughout the continent, there are dozens of Ancient Martial Arts families. They are very proud and do not submit to anyone. To make them acknowledge your leadership, you would have to defeat them, and not in a one-on-one duel, but in a group fight. Each family has its own experts, like Chris from the Blues Family. John''s strength was formidable, but not enough to challenge all the Ancient Martial Arts families. Even against Chris, the oue of a real fight was uncertain. Chris, however, hadplete confidence in John and firmly stated, "You are the only suitable candidate. And I''m not asking you to act right now. I''ll first teach you the Blues Family''s martial arts techniques." Seeing that John was about to refuse again, he continued, "If what you say is true, this concerns the future of humanity. We must unite the major human forces, and besides you, I can''t think of anyone more suitable." John fell silent, unsure how to argue against this. Moreover, he was also very tempted by this n. He had already witnessed the power of the Ancient Martial Arts families. In the previous life, the Blues Family''s ten thousand elite fighters fought to the death, holding back the vanguard of the Dark Humans. If he could unite the Ancient Martial Arts families and other forces to fight against the entire Dark Humans, it was entirely possible. "Alright, I agree!" John wasn''t one to overthink things, especially considering therger responsibility he carried in this life. "Goodd, you have guts. I knew I wasn''t wrong about you." Chris nodded in satisfaction, taking out a book of martial arts techniques and handing it to John. "This is the Blues Family''s technique manual, modified to incorporate the sses from the world of Gods. It will significantly help you improve your strength." "Thank you, Senior," John replied, carefully storing the manual. ... By the time he returned to his ce, it was already noon. Sini and Tracy had both entered the world of Gods. John flipped through the manual in his hand. It was a set of Ancient Martial Arts mental cultivation methods, obscure and difficult to understand, making it hard for an ordinary person to practice. Fortunately, with the attributes merged from the world of Gods, his body had undergone significant enhancement, and his strong mental attributes would help himprehend and master this technique. The only downside was that this technique could only be practiced in the real world. "Never mind, I''ll enter the world of Gods first." John didn''t rush into things, returning to his room and connecting to the game pod to enter the world of Gods. ... John reappeared in Death Land. A few elves were busy under The Tree of Life, but Anna was nowhere to be seen. He didn''t pay much attention to it, summoning the ck dragon Avis and leaving Death Land. John''s figure disappeared, reappearing near the Silverleaf City teleportation point. In front of him was a massive pit; the surrounding buildings and the teleportation point had all turned into nothingness. The area was still filled with a powerful, terrifying energy. John couldn''t help but think of the beggar. Although he was a Dark Human, he had chosen the side of justice. Unfortunately, he met his end this way. Up until now, John still didn''t know the beggar''s name. Fortunately, killing those two demon guards had fulfilled one of his wishes. "I wonder how many more people will have to die on the path to confronting the gods. Still too weak..." John felt a deep sense of powerlessness. He had a long way to go in this life. Now, he was only at level 60, tier three. Reaching tier nine or even tier ten might make it possible to fight against the gods, perhaps even kill them. A renewed sense of determination ignited in John''s heart. "Master, what happened here?" Avis''s body trembled. The overwhelming, destructive aura made him feel fearful. John didn''t say much; the descent of a god was too shocking a matter and might scare Avis. He jumped onto Avis''s back and said, "To the Eternal Forest." John decided to explore the treasure of the Gates Empire in The Secret Area. The teleportation point here had been destroyed, but fortunately, Avis had awakened and broken through, so he didn''t need to travel on foot. John sent a private message to Sini and Tracy, intending to take them along to explore The Secret Area and help them level up. Most importantly, they could help him with looting. ... John arrived at the outskirts of the Eternal Forest, where the two women were already waiting. The powerful beasts and wandering orcs made them wary of venturing too far. "Old man, what did my grandpa want from you?" Tracy, seeing John, happily approached and asked. "That''s adult business, little kids shouldn''t worry about it," John replied with mock annoyance. "Nonsense, I''m not a kid!" Tracy said indignantly, putting her hands on her hips. John couldn''t help but be drawn to her ample chest, indeed, not small at all. "Alright," Sini stepped forward and said, "John, weren''t you going to help us level up? Are we continuing to hunt orcs?" She had been caught in the ambush targeting John, which had dropped her level down to 30. After two days, she had only managed to level up twice. Sini realized how difficult leveling up was and that it was much faster to do so with John. "We''re not hunting orcs anymore. We''re going to explore The Secret Area. Leveling up will be much faster there," John said as he invited the two women into his party. He then jumped onto Avis''s back, heading towards the coordinates of the Gates Empire''s treasure in The Secret Area. In the dense forest, powerful tree monsters and solitary orcs roamed. John sted his way through without wasting much time and soon arrived at the coordinates marked for The Secret Area. The treasure of the Gates Empire was in a heroic difficulty Secret Area, requiring a tier-three profession to enter, with a rmendation for tier-four and above to explore. Confident in his abilities, John crushed the scroll. Buzz! A hum filled the air as spatial energy rippled, enveloping John, the others, and the ck dragon Avis. In a sh, they appeared in a deste desert, with a distant city half-buried under yellow sand. Notification appeared [Entering tier-three Secret Area: Treasure of the Gates Empire; Heroic difficulty] [Objective: Obtain the treasure of the Gates Empire; S-rank and above will receive additional item rewards] [Upon death or obtaining the treasure, the Secret Area will disappear] Whoosh... The wind howled, lifting clouds of sand that stung their faces. Rustle... Suddenly, the sand beneath them shifted. Avis, sensing danger, took flight immediately. Roar, roar... Giant, menacing worms emerged from the sand. They were level 60 sandworms. "Avis, let me handle this," John said as he noticed Avis preparing to attack. By killing the beasts himself, John could not only gain attribute points but also increase his Kill Score. He let loose his magical energy. Rain of Fire descended, and the massive sandworms writhed in the inferno, getting instantly killed. [Killed level 60 sandworm, gained 70 experience points] [Killed level 60 sandworm, gained 70 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, gained 1 skill point] "John, how is your damage output so terrifying?" Sini asked, watching the experience points increase rapidly. She struggled against monsters of her own level, while John effortlessly wiped out hordes of level 60 monsters. This made her feel the gap between them growing wider. "Can''t help it, I''m just too handsome," John replied, full of self-love. Sini rolled her eyes in response. "Yeah, right!" Tracy scoffed. John ignored them, picking up the two pieces of equipment dropped by the sandworms. Both were tier-three fine quality, but they were beneath his notice, so he stashed them away carelessly. "Avis, move on," John instructed, pointing towards the abandoned city buried under the sand. Avis flew close to the ground. Hidden sandworms erupted from the sand but were all brutally in by John. "Master, there are level 70 fire lizards ahead," Avis alerted John. In the desert below, huge lizardsy sprawled out, seemingly unbothered by John and his companions. However, John had no intention of sparing them. Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Water Fog Demons, Trapped in the Maze Chapter 55: Water Fog Demons, Trapped in the Maze ? mes roared. John cast Rain of Fire, enveloping arge area of fire lizards below. With screeches, the fire lizards stood no chance against his attack and were effortlessly annihted. [Killed level 70 fire lizard, gained 100 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, gained 1 spirit] ... The air filled with angry roars and hisses as the fire lizards were infuriated by John''s assault. Theyunched huge fireballs, which came hurtling towards the sky. ck dragon Avis faced the onught of hundreds of fireballs without flinching, letting them explode against its body. Boom, boom... -1 -1 ... Pathetic damage numbers flickered. These fire lizards'' magic attacks couldn''t even scratch its defense. "Master, these creatures are too weak," Avis''srge eyes were filled with disdain, almost enjoying the attack. John ignored Avis. As a 100-level tier-four epic dragon, if it couldn''t withstand attacks from these level 70 ordinary monsters, that would be truly disgraceful for the dragon n. "Old man, I''ve leveled up to 56," Tracy''s joyful voice came through. At this rate, she would reach level 60 and advance to a tier-three profession in two days. "John, I''ve leveled up too," Sini added happily. Her lower level allowed her to level up even faster, having already gained two levels in this short time. Soon, the area was cleared of fire lizards, with no more monsters in sight. John directed Avis to continue flying towards the distant, sand-buried abandoned city. The journey was eerily quiet, with no other monsters appearing, making the Secret Area seem unusually calm. "John, should wend?" Sini asked warily, eyeing the deste abandoned city below. Her intuition told her there was danger ahead. John nodded, signaling Avis to descend. The Secret Area''s treasure was surely hidden within this abandoned city. Whoosh! Avis''s wings pped, stirring up a cloud of yellow sand as itnded steadily on the ground. John and hispanions leaped off Avis'' back, curiously examining their surroundings. The buildings here had long been weathered and were extremely fragile. Besides the pervasive yellow sand, there was no sign of life. The abandoned city had no monsters lurking within. "Could the treasure of the Secret Area not be here?" John wondered aloud. "Old man, look over there! There''s a building," Tracy pointed to a distant spire-like structure that resembled a clock tower, the tallest building in the area that hadn''t beenpletely buried by sand. "Let''s go check it out. Avis, you keep watch from the sky," John instructed. He chose to walk instead of riding Avis, thinking they might discover some clues on the ground. Rustle... The sound of their footsteps was muffled by the swirling wind and shifting sand, which quickly erased their tracks. Rustle! Suddenly, as John led the way, he felt the ground give way beneath him. The sand around them began to sink rapidly. "Quicksand!" John eximed, quickly warning the others, "Stay back!" But it was toote. Both women, caught off guard, stepped into the quicksand and began to sink rapidly. "Old man, help!" Tracy cried out, panic evident in her voice as she struggled. "Don''t move!" Johnmanded. He knew that struggling would only make them sink faster in the quicksand. "Give me your hands," he said, grabbing Tracy and Sini''s hands. The three of them formed a circle, which slowed their descent. "Avis!" John called out to the dragon circling above, urgently seeking help. Avis, startled, finally noticed their predicament. "Master, what happened? Why are you sinking?" Avis asked, confused. "Stop talking and pull us up!" John ordered. Avis nodded, swooping down toward them. However, John quickly realized the danger and shouted, "Don''tnd!" "Huh?" Avis didn''t understand. The dragon''s massive body caused a whirlwind as it descended uncontrobly. Boom! With a thunderous crash, Avisnded, causing the quicksand to surge more rapidly, engulfing John and the others almost instantly. Rustle... The sand continued to flow, revealing a pit where they had been, resembling a well with something hidden beneath. Avis, realizing its mistake, moved away from the hole and called out, "Master, are you all right?" John and the others managed to crawl out of the sand. "Ugh!" Tracy spat out the sand from her mouth, her hand clutching her chest in relief. Rustle... Just then, more sand started pouring in from above as Avis tried to find a way inside. "Avis, stop!" John yelled. The dragon''srge size posed a real threat. If it came down, none of them would be able to escape. "Master, the entrance is too small for me to get in. I''ll find another way to help you," Avis said, relieved that John and the others were safe. "Just guard this ce," John instructed, not giving Avis any further thought as he surveyed his surroundings. They found themselves in a vast pce with deep,byrinthine corridors stretching out into the distance, leading to unknown destinations. "John, what do we do now?" Sini asked, moving closer to John forfort. The ce was chilly and unsettling, making her uneasy. "Let''s explore," John decided, choosing a random corridor and casting Rock Armor before proceeding deeper. He sensed danger lurking within. The corridor was long and illuminated by beams of light from above, preventing it from being too dark. John stopped suddenly, frowning. He had a nagging feeling of being watched by unseen eyes. "Old man, what''s wrong?" Tracy asked, nearly bumping into him. Without a word, John summoned his staff and cast Rain of Fire, engulfing the corridor ahead. Hiss... A sharp hissing echoed as enormous. A ghostly creatures writhed in the mes, their forms twisting in pain. [You''ve killed an 85-level Water Fog Demons, gaining 120 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, agility attribute +1.] ... [Water Fog Demons: The restless spirits of soldiers from the Gates Empire, now powerful beings adept at concealing themselves and proficient in water magic. Immune to 50% physical damage.] "As expected, there are monsters here," John observed, reading the creature''s attributes. These were rare undead entities, immune to half of all physical damage. Unfortunately, this trait wasn''t a talent or skill he could plunder. Still, their high agility and mental attributes. It made them prime targets for John''s plunder. Swoosh, swoosh... A barrage of water arrows shot toward them as the Mist Wraiths revealed themselves,unching a fierce attack. -8 -10 -7 ... The damage numbers were pitiful, barely scratching John''s magical defenses. The highest number only reached double digits. In the narrow corridor, John stood at the front, effectively shielding the two women from the water arrows. Buzz! A gentle light enveloped him as Tracy quickly healed the few hundred points of health he had lost. "Old man, am I getting stronger?" Tracy asked, her face lighting up with pride. John nodded. Sini teased, "Your healing is indeed plentiful. I guess some things didn''t grow in vain." Tracy blushed, annoyed. "Sini, stop teasing me!" Ignoring their banter, John pressed forward, clearing the corridor of Water Fog Demons. The hall echoed with their dying screams as John cut them down, the continuous notifications reflecting the women''s rapid experience gain. John enjoyed the plundering process, having gained 107 mental and 23 agility points in a short time. Eventually, they arrived at a spacious hall with numerous corridors branching off in different directions. John halted, frowning as he examined the maze-likeyout. "John, did we make it out?" Sini asked curiously. John shook his head, looking up at a hole in the ceiling. He called out, "Avis!" A massive, menacing dragon head appeared at the hole, looking down. "Master, have you found a way out?" "Avis? How did you get up there?" Tracy asked, confused. "I''ve been here the whole time," Avis responded, puzzled by her question. Tracy blinked in realization and turned to John. "Old man, are we lost?" John nodded, saying, "It seems we''re in abyrinth." He chose another corridor and ventured further inside. The women following closely. The number of Water Fog Demons dwindled as they advanced. After a while, they emerged back into the samerge hall from another corridor. John confirmed that they were indeed in an undergroundbyrinth. But how to escape? They tried several more corridors, only to end up back in the central hall each time. He had already tried all the dozen or so deep, dark passages surrounding him, only to find that they all led back to this hall. Each passage interconnected. "Do you have any ideas?" John asked the women. They shook their heads, equally baffled by the situation. "Master, why don''t you try destroying this ce?" Avis suggested from above, eager to help. John hesitated, but it seemed like the only option left. Provided they didn''t get buried in the process. The hall had no visible support pirs. John wasn''t sure what was keeping the structure intact. He chose a random corridor and cast Thunderstorm, triggering Spell Combo. Two bolts of lightning struck in rapid session. Boom! Boom! The hall shook violently, sand pouring from above. From one of the corridors came the sound of rushing wind. "Wind?" John perked up. This suggested another entrance or exit. "Let''s go," he said, leading the way into the corridor, with the women close behind. Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Undead Soldiers, Orcs Chapter 56: Undead Soldiers, Orcs ? The corridor still had wandering Water Fog Demons. But their numbers were significantly reduced. Pfft... -1 -1 ... Several water arrows struck John, each forcibly deducting a single health point. In just half a day, his mental attribute had increased by over a thousand points, making the Water Fog Demons'' attacks ineffective against his defense. As John advanced, he tried to destroy the surrounding passages. Boom! Thunderstorm hit the corridor, reverberating with a tremendous roar. The area trembled, but the spot hit by Thunderstorm remained unscathed, only causing strong winds to gush from the depths of the passage. The exit of the corridor was still further ahead. They continued onward. John stopped again, frowning as fierce winds howled around them. The wind seemed to being from a wall. This wasn''t the first time he encountered this in the passage, but he hadn''t paid it much attention before. Tracy moved forward and, to her surprise, her arm passed through the wall easily. "Old man, this wall is fake," she eximed. John was equally surprised. He cast Rock Armor once more, covering his entire body. "Stay close to me," he instructed the women. They nodded, following closely behind John as they passed through the wall. Whoosh! Cold winds howled, apanied by eerie screeches. The three of them found themselves in a hall shrouded in mist, surrounded by Water Fog Demons. Whoosh, whoosh... Arrows of water shot toward them as the Water Fog Demonsunched their attack. John stood at the forefront, waving his staff and casting Rain of Fire. Agonizing screams echoed as the Water Fog Demons writhed in the mes, being swiftly exterminated. Notifications continuously popped up, and equipment and items scattered across the ground. The drop rate for Water Fog Demons here seemed unusually high. The endless mes spread, raising the temperature of the hall significantly. One by one, the Water Fog Demons disintegrated in the sea of fire, their numbers dwindling rapidly. "Hiss!" Suddenly, a hiss echoed, and the mist surged. A huge, ferocious water dragon roared out, extinguishing the surrounding mes instantly. It was a mid-level magic spell, Water Dragon Technique! Mid-level magic could only be cast by 100-level or higher, four-tier monsters. John fixed his gaze on the depths of the mist, where a massive Water Fog Demon floated into view. It was a 100-level, four-tier elite boss, the Water Fog Demon Leader. "Finally, a formidable foe!" John''s eyes gleamed with excitement. Boss monsters could be Plundered for more powerful attributes. Moreover, his Wrath of the Gods talent needed to be upgraded by killing ten four-tier or higher elite bosses. This big guy fit the bill perfectly. John initiated the attack, casting two Thunderstorms in quick session. Boom! Boom! -18000 -17980 Terrifying damage numbers shed. The Water Fog Demon Leader looked terrified. Despite having fifty thousand health points, it was almost instantly killed by the human. "Hiss!" Another hiss sounded, and the surrounding Water Fog Demons madly surged forward, merging into the Water Fog Demon Leader''s body. Devour! The Water Fog Demon Leader''s health quickly recovered, and its body grew evenrger. John was a bit surprised. "I''d like to see how many Water Fog Demons you can devour," he said. Magic spells whizzed through the air, and several powerful magic attacks rained down. Boom, boom... The Water Fog Demon Leader let out a hiss, and its health rapidly depleted. This time, John didn''t give it a chance to recover and finished it off. [You have killed a 100-level elite boss Water Fog Demon Leader, earning 810 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, granting +10 Spirit, +3 Agility, +2 Skill Points, +1 Magic Crit.] The Water Fog Demon Leader dissipated, leaving behind a few items and a treasure chest. "A treasure chest?" John was puzzled. Could the Secret Area be over so soon? It seemed unlikely that the final boss of a three-tier, hero-level Secret Area would be so weak. Curious, he opened the chest. [You have opened the Water Fog Demon Chest, acquiring the skill book Water Mist Clone and 10 Skill Stones.] There was no notification indicating the end of the Secret Area, meaning it wasn''t over yet. "A skill book?" John was surprised. As this was the first skill book he had obtained in the world of Gods. [Water Mist Clone: Basic skill, no learning conditions; Summons a water mist clone with 55% of your health, no additional attribute bonuses.] It was a basic auxiliary skill that any ss could learn. Besides serving as a meat shield, the clone didn''t seem to have much use. John hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to learn the skill, as he currently had plenty of skill points. [Water Mist Clone: Level 1, Basic Skill; Summons a water mist clone with 55% of your health; No additional attribute bonuses; The clone disappears when its health drops to o; Consumes 100 mana points, 10-minute cooldown] The Water Mist Clone had nobat abilities, but it served as a decent lifesaving measure, which John found satisfactory. "John!" Sini, who was clearing the battlefield, pointed to a few corpses nearby in surprise. "There are Orcs." "Orcs?" John curiously stepped forward to check. Sure enough, they were Orc corpses, and they were powerful Orc elites. The bodies hadn''t dposed yet, indicating that these creatures had been dead for less than three days. But why were there Orc corpses here? John remembered that the Gates Empire treasure Secret Area had been obtained from an Orc leader. The Secret Area was an isted space; without the Secret Area scroll, how had the Orcs entered? John was puzzled and spected that there must be more Orcs here, likely also searching for the final treasure in the Secret Area. He needed to hurry. After killing the Water Fog Demon Leader, a passageway leading downward appeared in the hall. Quickly clearing the battlefield, they gathered over thirty pieces of premium equipment and some materials. John didn''t bother checking them all and stored everything in his inventory before entering the passage. The narrow, dark passage sloped downward, seemingly endless. There were no monsters, nor any signs of Orcs. In the distance, a faint glow flickered, indicating the end of the passage. John quickened his pace and soon reached the shimmering light. It was a damaged space barrier, leading to an unknown space beyond. Instead of rushing in, John first summoned a Water Mist Clone and sent it through the barrier. Buzz! The Water Mist Clone disappeared. Shortly after, John received a notification that the clone had been killed. There was indeed danger on the other side of the passage. John had over 40,000 health points, and his clone had 55% of that, which amounted to over 20,000 health points. However, without attribute bonuses, he couldn''t gauge the strength of the monsters on the other side of the passage. This was just a three-star Heroic Secret Area, so he didn''t expect the enemies to be too formidable. "Wait a bit before following me," John advised the two women. He cast Rock Armor on himself and, under their concerned warnings, stepped through the passage. Buzz! A wave of spatial power swept over him, and he found himself in an underground pce, faced with countless monsters. [Undead Soldiers: Level 90, formed from the grudges of the Gates Empire soldiers after their death, immune to 70% of physical attacks] Compared to the Water Mist Demons, these Undead Soldiers were stronger and more numerous. "Intruder detected!" "Kill!" "Protect the princess!" ... Shouts echoed through the hall, arrows flew, and spells surged as a cavalry unit charged forward. The Undead Soldiersunched their attack first. John was instantly engulfed in a barrage of arrows and spells. Boom! Boom! -1 -1 ... Pathetic damage numbers shed. The Undead Soldiers'' attacks were too weak to prate his defense. John remained cautious; there were too many Undead Soldiers, and one round of attacks cost him over 3,000 health points. Thankfully, Sini and Tracy had not followed; they wouldn''t have been able to withstand the onught. Whoosh! He activated his skills. Rain of Fire engulfed the area, and the ground trembled, severely hindering the soldiers'' charge. [Killed Level 90 Undead Soldier, gained 170 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, Strength +1] [Level up, Spirit +4, Strength +3, Agility +2, Free Attribute Points +16, Skill Points +2] ... John reached Level 61. Upon reaching the fourth tier, each level up granted 16 free attribute points. However, the experience required to level up was enormous. To reach the next level, John needed 520,000 experience points. ... He swept through the area, the Level 90 Undead Soldiers crumbling under his powerful magic. With a 60% skill cooldown reduction, his skill casting was almost continuous. In just a few minutes, over 3,000 Undead Soldiers were ughtered in the hall. John''s four basic attributes had increased by over a thousand points, significantly boosting his strength once more. Confirming there was no more danger, he messaged Sini and Tracy to join him. The two women entered the hall, gazing at the floor littered with corpses, expressing their awe before silently beginning to clean up the battlefield. "John, there are Orc corpses here too," Sini called out, alerting John. Judging by the freshness of the corpse, it seemed the Orc had died not long ago. Just then, sounds of battle echoed from deeper within the pce. "Let''s go check it out," John instructed, swiftly collecting the loot before heading toward the source of themotion. ... A group of about a hundred elite Orcs was being driven back by the Undead Soldiers. These elite Orcs, at level 100 and boss-tier, were far stronger than the Undead Soldiers. However, both the undead soldiers and the mist wraiths belonged to the category of wraith creatures and had higher physical damage resistance. This elite group of Orcs were all physical damage sses,pletely countered by the undead soldiers, making them no match. "Adventurers!" The Orc chieftain leading the group spotted John and hispanions, his eyes lighting up. Any adventurers who could enter here were undoubtedly powerful, especially a mage who could counter these spectral enemies. "Help us!" the Orc chieftain pleaded. "Adventurers, let''s cooperate. The treasure in the Secret Area will be all yours!" John crossed his arms, taking on a stance of merely watching the spectacle, showing no intention of intervening. The Orc chieftain, growing desperate, let a sh of malice cross his eyes. These adventurers clearly intended to profit from their struggle without lifting a finger. "In that case, we''ll deal with you first!" he bellowed, redirecting his troops to attack John and hispanions. Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Clearing the Secret Area, Vein of the Earth Chapter 57: Clearing the Secret Area, Vein of the Earth ? John looked on with disdain as the Orc chieftain charged at him, his movements slow and deliberate as he raised his staff. "Hmph, you think you can cast a spell now? Toote!" the Orc chieftain sneered, raising his massive de. As a Berserker, his physical damage was devastating, and any mage caught in close quarters with him was as good as dead. However, John wasn''t casting a spell. Bam! -10507 A dull thud echoed as John struck the chieftain with his staff, a terrifying damage number floating above the Orc''s head. With the power of his B-grade physical damage talent and the B-grade Dual Mastery talent, John''s regr attack dealt over fifteen thousand damage. Even with the Orc''s high physical resistance, it still inflicted over ten thousand damage. The chieftain felt dizzy, blood trickling from his forehead, and he stood there in shock. His health, just shy of fifty thousand, was nearly reduced by a quarter in a single hit from this human adventurer. "Despicable!" the chieftain roared, finally regaining his senses, enraged that this supposed mage was actually a warrior in disguise. "Attack! Take down these adventurers first," he ordered, retreating quickly as hemanded his subordinates to charge at John and hispanions. John remained unfazed, the powerful magical energy around him surging. Earthquake! Rain of Fire! Two area-of-effect spells nketed the hundred or so elite Orcs. [Killed 100-level elite Orc, gained 410 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, constitution +2, strength +5]... The notifications shed as the powerful elite Orcs fell effortlessly. John''s two spells wiped them all out, leaving only the chieftain standing. The Orc chieftain stood in a daze, finally realizing the gravity of the situation, "Adventurer, are you a warrior or a mage?" John didn''t bother to answer, raising his staff once more. "Wait!" the chieftain panicked, trying to stop John. "Adventurer, this is a hero-level Secret Area. The final boss is a rare fourth-tier power. You can''t defeat it alone. Let''s join forces. I promise the Secret Area''s treasure will be yours." "Not interested," John cut him off, casting another spell. Two Wind des, a Thunderstorm, and tworge Fireballs flew towards the chieftain in quick session. Boom... The series of explosions and the overwhelming magical energy left the Orc chieftain no time to scream before he was obliterated. [Killed 100-level elite boss Orc chieftain, gained 810 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, gained S-grade talent, Spatial Awareness] [Spatial Awareness: S-grade talent, allows detection of spatial weak points and the ability to learn spatial magic] "S-grade talent, Spatial Awareness!" John read the talent description, filled with surprise and excitement. No wonder the Orcs could invade the Land of Elves and this Secret Area. Some of them had mastered such a powerful talent. This is undoubtedly a godly skill for exploring the Secret Areas in the wild. Not only that, mastering the Spatial Awareness talent allows one to train in spatial magic. Spatial magic doesn''t belong to any particr school; it''s powerful and mysterious, and very few possess it. While John now had the ability to learn spatial magic, he would still need to find spatial skills. The rarity of spatial skills was on par with that of obtaining the Spatial Awareness talent. Whoosh! Suddenly, arrows flew towards John, interrupting his thoughts. With the elite Orcs defeated, the undead soldiers had set their sights on John and hispanions. "You two, stay back," he instructed the women, immediatelyunching a magical assault. Although the undead soldiers were numerous, they were no match for John. mes roared, wind howled, and the earth trembled. One by one, the undead soldiers fell to his magical attacks. Soon, most of the undead soldiers in the hall were cleared, and a massive, burly undead soldier emerged. It was the final boss of the Secret Area, a rare-grade level 100 undead general. With 100,000 health points and a strength attribute of 9600, all other attributes hovered around 5000. Just like the undead soldiers, it had physical attack immunity, but the undead general''s immunity was even higher, reaching 80%. "Human, leave this ce, or die!" a thunderous shout echoed throughout the hall. The undead general pointed its spear at John, exuding murderous intent. John was unfazed, raising his staff as powerful magical energy surged around him. "Foolish mortal!" the undead general scoffed,unching an attack and charging towards John. Rumble... Suddenly, the ground quaked, and the undead general''s speed was hindered. -12734 A terrifying damage number appeared. With just one area skill, Earthquake, the undead general lost over twelve thousand health points. But it didn''t end there. Large Fireball, Wind de sh, Thunderstorm, all struck in session, triggering two spell combos. Caught in the slowing effect of the Earthquake skill, the undead general couldn''t dodge. It could only watch helplessly as the skills rained down. -16215 -32339 -16227 ... Terrifying damage numbers shed, even triggering a magical critical hit. The undead general''s health quickly depleted and vanished into nothingness in an instant. Throughout the entire battle, John didn''t even take a step. [Killed level 100 rare-grade undead general, gained 1620 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, strength +50, constitution +10, agility +10, attack speed +1] [You have cleared the Gates Empire Treasure Secret Area (Heroic), overall rating SSS] [Bonus rewards: 100 skill stones, 20 free attribute points] The notifications appeared as the undead general fell, dropping several items and a treasure -chest. This must be the final reward of the Secret Area. "Old man, I''ve reached level 60 and unlocked the ss advancement quest." Tracy ran over, looking at John with eager anticipation. Her advancement quest required her to kill a tier-three elite boss. The thing she absolutely couldn''t do on her own and thus needed John''s help. "Don''t worry, I''ll help you with the advancement in a bit," John replied, understanding Tracy''s intentions. He then turned his attention back to the treasure chest in front of him. [You have opened the Gates Empire Treasure Secret Area chest and received: Crimson Serpent Set1, Phantom Mage Seti, Divine Heart Seti, Beginner Talent Upgrade Stone1] John was thrilled; the chest yielded three sets of rare tier-three gear and a highly precious Beginner Talent Upgrade Stone. [Crimson Serpent de: Rare; Usable by tier-three Assassin ss; Physical Damage +65, Strength +68, Critical Hit +1] [Crimson Serpent Armor: Rare; Usable by tier-three sses; Physical Defense +60, Magic Defense +40, Constitution +55] [Crimson Serpent Belt: Rare; Usable by tier-three sses; Health +700, Strength +61, Constitution +60] [Set Effect: Physical Damage +100, Critical Hit +2, Attacks inflict a bleeding effect, causing 1% damage per second until the target dies] [Description: Crafted from the body of the demonic beast Crimson Serpent Snake, it bestows significant physical damage boosts, making it a dream set for Assassins] ... [Phantom Mage Staff: Rare; Usable by tier-three Mage ss; Magic Damage +70, Spirit +66, Magic Recovery +2 points/second] [Phantom Mage Ring: Rare; Usable by tier-three Mage ss; Magic Damage +69, Agility +40, Critical Hit +1] [Phantom Mage Robe: Rare; Usable by tier-three Mage ss; Physical Defense +50, Magic Defense +70, Spirit +55] [Set Effect: Magic Damage +100, Magic Points +1000, Magic Recovery +10 points/second] [Description: The set shimmers with light, dreamlike and illusionary, providing high bonuses for Mages] ... [Divine Heart Staff: Rare; Usable by tier-three Mage and Priest sses; Healing Effect +700, Magic Damage +50, Spirit +55] [Divine Heart Dress: Rare; Usable by tier-three female sses; Physical Defense +55, Magic Defense +55, Spirit +40] [Divine Heart Ne: Rare; Usable by tier-three sses; Health +500, Magic Points +500, Agility +40] [Set Effect: Health +1000, Additional Healing Effect +20%, Speed +20] [Description: It''s said that this set was crafted over three years by a Priest and offers powerful healing effects] ... These tier-three sets seemed tailor-made for John and the two women. Especially the Phantom Mage Set, which provided a magic recovery rate of 12 points per second. Given that John had the Wrath of the Gods talent, he oftencked effective means to recover mana. His current battles required him to stock up onrge amounts of mana recovery potions. The Phantom Mage Set would provide a continuous effect akin to that of a basic mana potion recovery. John immediately equipped his new gear and handed the Crimson Serpent Set and the Divine Heart Set to Sini and Tracy. "Wow, this equipment is so beautiful!" Tracy was captivated by the Divine Heart Dress and Ne,pletely ignoring their attributes as she held them up happily. Then she looked dejected, realizing that this set required a tier-three ss to equip. "Old man, when are you going to help me advance?" Tracy asked John impatiently, eager to wear the new gear. She wants to equip the set as soon as possible. "Not yet," John replied, paying no attention to Tracy''s impatience. He sensed a weak spot in the space, indicating another hidden area. "John, what are you looking for?" Sini asked, delighted with her new equipment. "This space has something off," John said, carefully sensing the area until he pinpointed the weak spot in a hidden corner of the hall. "Stand back," he instructed the two women behind him. Raising his staff, he channeled a surge of powerful magic. Boom! Boom! Two Thunderstorms struck the spot, creating a rift in the hall. The spatial energy rippled, revealing a narrow passage. "Is this a hidden map?" Sini asked curiously, peering at the still-unstable passage. John nodded and, to be cautious, summoned a Water Mist Clone to enter the unknown space first. After a while, he received no indication that the clone had been attacked, suggesting the area was safe. "Let''s go in and see," John said, leading the way through the spatial passage. [You have discovered a hidden unknown map.] The prompt shed, and John saw his Water Mist Clone idling nearby. Mist covered the area, which was barren and deste. In the distance, a glimmering light reflected off the surface of a shimmeringke. John confirmed there was no danger and dismissed the Water Mist Clone before approaching theke. The smallke, spanning only a few dozen meters, had clear water. A line of information appeared: [Vein of the Earth; a rare treasure,parable to the Elven Spring of the elves and the Dark Sea of the demon race, known as one of the three miraculous waters. Drinking directly from it can increase strength by 100 points; can be added to Death Land.] Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Prophecy, Princess of Gates Empire Chapter 58: Prophecy, Princess of Gates Empire ? Another treasure! John looked at the description of the Vein of the Earth. It was a treasure on par with the Elven Spring. As for the Dark Sea of the demon race, he had never heard of it. The most important part was that the Vein of the Earth could be added to the Death Land, bing his private property. Moreover, drinking it for the first time could increase strength by 100 points. The Vein of the Earth was a spring that almost never dried up. It was no exaggeration to say that he could create a batch of powerful physical ss warriors with it. John drank from the spring, feeling the cool and sweet water. [You have drunk from the vein of the Earth, strength attribute +100] The notification appeared, and his strength attribute increased by 100 points, slightly enhancing his power. He then let Sini and Tracy drink from the spring as well. Tracy was a priest ss, and her strength attribute did not have a high multiplier, but who could refuse free attributes? "John, this spring water is as miraculous as the Elven Spring, and it''s endless," Sini said joyfully, looking at her increased 100 points of strength attribute. The boost was significant for her. John didn''t say much, activated the Death Land token, and directly added the vein of the Earth to it. Buzz! A sh of light and a ripple of spatial energyter, the Vein of the Earth disappeared. The two women looked panicked. "John, where did it go?" Sini asked, worried about losing such a rare treasure. "Come on, let''s go to Death Land," John smiled, without exining further, and reminded the two women. With a thought, he brought them into Death Land. "Old man, where is this ce? Oh, it''s Anna!" Tracy was in Death Land for the first time, looking around curiously. She spotted Anna and happily ran to her. Anna was also delighted to see Tracy and Sini. She had been a bit bored staying in Death Land for the past few days. Buzz! A wave of energy surged, and a pool of water appeared beside The Tree of Life. Rustle... The Tree of Life''s branches swayed, immense life energy flowed, and its abundant roots extended into the pool, allowing The Tree of Life to grow rapidly once again. "Is this... the vein of the Earth!?" Anna eximed, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at theke. Sini and Tracy, seeing theke appear, breathed a sigh of relief. Such a precious treasure was still in John''s possession, and that was all that mattered. The surrounding elves were also drawn to themotion, even waking the slumbering ck Turtle. "Kid, where on earth do you keep finding all these treasures?" He looked at theke in front of him and couldn''t help but marvel at John''s luck. Having control over the Death Land, subjugating The Tree of Life, and establishing a life- sharing contract were already extraordinary feats. Now, he had also acquired the Vein of the Earth, on par with the Elven Spring. This kid''s luck was simply out of this world. John ignored ck Turtle, feeling the immense life force from The Tree of Life. He turned to the stunned Anna and asked, "Anna, with the vein of the Earth, can The Tree of Life nurture more elves?" Anna snapped out of her daze, her face lighting up with joy and excitement. "Benefactor, it''s possible. It might even give rise to an entirely new race of elves. Just like the dark elves, who were born when The Tree of Life absorbed the Dark Sea from the demon race." John asked in surprise, "The Tree of Life has absorbed energy from the Dark Sea before?" Anna nodded and exined, "That was a long time ago. At that time, a powerful elf traded with the demons for some Dark Sea water, which led to the birth of many dark elves. Unfortunately, the dark elves were inherently evil and betrayed the elves..." She didn''t continue, her gaze filled with regret as she looked around the Death Land. Although the dark elves had betrayed the elves, they had ultimately been wiped out. Now, the surviving elves were under the protection of the dark elf Death Land. Anna couldn''t quite describe her feelings towards the dark elves. "Kid," ck Turtle interjected, looking at John. "Can I enter the vein of the Earth to cultivate?" The energy from the Vein of the Earth was almost identical to his own origin. If he could cultivate there, he would quickly regain his peak strength. John was about to agree, considering that ck Turtle had saved his life, but Anna interrupted him. "Senior," Anna said, "Entering the spring to cultivate is fine, but there''s one condition-you must sign a soul contract with our benefactor." ck Turtle frowned, clearly displeased. "Youngdy, I told you, he is not the one I''ve been waiting for." "Senior, don''t you understand?" Anna''s tone carried a hint of anger. "The identity of the savior from the prophecy doesn''t matter. What''s important is whom you choose. By choosing him, he bes the savior. Tell me, who else fits the prophecy of the savior better than our benefactor?" ck Turtle fell silent. John, however, was utterly confused. Prophecy? Savior? He remembered that the wealthy beggar also mentioned a prophecy when facing the gods, which seemed to refer to him. ck Turtle stared at John for a long time before shaking his head and refusing, "You are indeed different, but you are not from Skyline Continent. The current plight of Skyline Continent is caused by the Dark Humans. I will not trust an outsider again." "Senior, the benefactor is different..." Anna tried to persuade him further but was interrupted by ck Turtle. "Let''spromise," ck Turtle suggested, looking at John. "Kid, before the prophesied savior appears, I will help you as much as I can, but I will not acknowledge you as my master." "Really?" John was delighted. He had been wondering how to defend against the monster tide while establishing a city in The Land of Darkness. ck Turtle had the strength of a seventh-tier entity. With his help, it would certainly not be an issue. ck Turtle nodded and added, "But it can''t be too excessive, and I reserve the right to refuse." "Of course," John agreed without hesitation. With the agreement settled, ck Turtle eagerly jumped into the spring. Water sshed everywhere, and John felt a pang of distress, thinking about how these waters could increase one''s strength by 100 points. "Anna, what exactly is the prophecy you mentioned?" he asked, curious. Sini and Tracy also moved closer, sensing it might be a hidden quest. Anna exined, "About five hundred years ago, our continent, Skyline Continent, was invaded by the gods and Dark Humans. The various races of Skyline Continent suffered greatly. A seer from the monster race, in his dying breath, foretold a prophecy: a hundred yearster, a powerful figure would emerge, unite the various races, defeat the forces of the gods, and liberate Skyline Continent. Senior ck Turtle is a believer in that prophecy." "Is that so?" John murmured, not putting much stock in the prophecy. In his previous life, the so-called savior from the prophecy never appeared, and he didn''t believe he was the prophesied savior. Boom! Suddenly, a thunderous crash resounded, water sshed everywhere, and a figure shot out from the pool. It was ck Turtle. "Ugh... ugh..." ck Turtle coughed violently, his face red with exertion. John frowned and asked, "Can''t you swim?" ck Turtle red at John and said, "There''s a monster!" Boom! Another thunderous crash followed, and a creature burst out of the pool. It looked like a long snake, entirely white, with limbs on its belly, resembling the mythical Oriental dragon but without horns on its head. A flood dragon! John recognized the creature. Its aura was even stronger than ck Turtle''s, at least at the peak of the seventh tier. There was a monster at the bottom of the Vein of the Earth. He knew he wasn''t a match for the creature and positioned himself to protect the women, ready to escape if necessary. "Senior, can you handle it?" John asked, looking at ck Turtle. "It''s a bit tricky," ck Turtle replied, wiping his mouth. John then noticed ck Turtle was already injured. "Stop!" A voice suddenly called out. The water rippled as a graceful figure slowly emerged, standing atop the water. It was a woman, stunningly beautiful, with an air of cold indifference. She looked around, puzzled. Then fixed her gaze on John and his group, lifting her chin slightly with an authoritative demeanor. "Who are you? What is the current state of the Gates Empire?" John didn''t appreciate her tone and remained silent. The women were also unimpressed and ignored her. "Benefactor, let''s throw them out," Anna whispered to John. John was momentarily confused but then realized he controlled Death Land, meaning they were the ones who could be expelled. "I am Princess Ada of the Gates Empire. Answer my question!" the woman demanded impatiently, raising her staff. The white flood dragon coiled beside her, watching John and his group warily. Anna, irritated by the woman''s attitude towards John. She coldly replied, "The Gates Empire has been gone for centuries. And by the way, it was our benefactor who saved you, so you should show some respect!" She pointed to John. "What, the Gates Empire is gone?" Princess Ada''s body trembled, her expression turning sorrowful,pletely missing Anna''stterment. She then looked at the group and coldlymanded, "From now on, you will be my subordinates and fight for the restoration of the empire." John had enough. This woman was clearly delusional. He was about to use the Death Land token to expel her and the dragon. "Wait, kid," ck Turtle intervened, noticing John''s actions. "That beast beside her is not ordinary. We should keep them close and find a way to gain control." "How do we do that?" John asked skeptically. "You can''t even defeat that beast." ck Turtle smirked. "Simple, make her your woman. She''s a princess, after all, so you won''t be losing out." Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Finish The Secret Area, establish city Chapter 59: Finish The Secret Area, establish city ? John was dumbfounded, staring at ck Turtle. Was this old man serious? "John, I think the senior''s idea isn''t bad!" Sini chimed in, winking at John in agreement. John was at a loss for words. What kind of people were around him? Before he could respond, ck Turtle turned to Princess Ada, wearing a sycophantic smile. "Ah, Princess, we are honored to serve you." John looked at the old man with disdain. Hearing ck Turtle''s words, Ada''s arrogance intensified. She lifted her chin and commanded, "Now tell me about the current state of the continent." The group exchanged nces. Skyline Continent was now under the control of Dark Humans, with various races reduced to their minions. Tragically, the human race had been almost wiped out. Those who didn''t submit to Dark Humans, like the elves, struggled to survive in the shadows. ck Turtle didn''t ry the harsh reality. Instead, he painted a chaotic picture of the continent, emphasizing how all races longed for the return of Gates Empire''s rule, praising its kindness and strength. His ttery was so excessive that even the elves around them couldn''t stand it, casting scornful looks. While the Gates Empire had indeed been powerful, it was far from benevolent, having oppressed other races frequently. Yet, Ada seemed pleased, smiling and nodding in approval. John regretted agreeing to ck Turtle''s n. This woman seemed rather foolish; even if the Gates Empire still existed, it would likely fall under her rule. He sighed, scrutinizing Ada. She appeared to be a human, unlike the Dark Humans. Curious, John asked, "Anna, are there other humans in this world?" "Yes," Anna nodded, exining softly, "The Gates Empire was the pinnacle of human power, but itsted less than a century. The empire fragmented into dozens of factions, constantly at war. Later, when the gods and Dark Humans arrived, humans were nearly exterminated. Those who survived went into hiding." John listened to Anna''s exnation with a grave expression. If he couldn''t stop the Dark Humans and gods, humanity on Earth might face a simr fate. Ding! Just then, his private chat notification sounded. It was Ritchie. Ritchie: "Boss, all members of the me Legion have reached the second tier. The blood-red demon wolf has agreed to help us. As for the city location, I chose a spot between the newbie vige and Jade City. The monsters there are weak, so it won''t be too hard to fend off the monster tide." John read Ritchie''s message. It was good news. But the location choice was problematic. The area between Jade City and the newbie vige had weak monsters, which wouldn''t be beneficial for future development. Godyer: "Change the location to the Dark Forest. We''ll establish the city tomorrow." He sent Ritchie the coordinates of the demon city in the Land of Darkness. That city hadplete structures, all of which were high-level. The warehouse also contained arge quantity of materials and items that could enhance the soldiers'' strength. Despite the powerful monsters in the Dark Forest, with the help of ck Turtle and the blood-red demon wolf, defending against the monster tide wouldn''t be an issue. John wasn''t willing to give up that city. Ritchie saw John''s message. Though it seemed risky, he didn''t refuse. Ritchie: "Boss, should we announce it publicly?" Godyer: "Of course. We need to know who our enemies are." He intended to use this opportunity to uncover and deal with any hostile forces lurking around. ... Meanwhile, ck Turtle and Princess Ada were still engrossed in their discussion. John looked at the princess sympathetically. If she ever gained power, having a sycophant like ck Turtle by her side would surely doom her reign. Turning to Sini and Tracy, John said, "Let''s head out." Anna quickly interjected, "Benefactor, I want to go out as well." Death Land served as a refuge for the elves, but staying there constantly was inconvenient. After some thought, John handed the Death Land token to Anna, making it easier for her toe and go while ensuring the elves'' safety. Since Anna hadn''t entered the Secret Area, she couldn''t leave with John and the others. "Let''s go," John called to the two women, and with a thought, they left Death Land and returned to the Gates Empire Treasure Secret Area. The final reward had already been imed, and they had even obtained the Earth Vein. Confirming that there were no other treasures, John led the group out of the underground pce, reunited with Avis, and teleported away. The Secret Area wasn''t a permanent space. Once the exploration waspleted or failed, it would disappear entirely. Perhaps the hidden space with the Earth Vein might have remained. But now that the Earth Vein had been moved to Death Land, that mysterious space disappeared along with the Secret Area. They reappeared in the Eternal Forest. A few wandering Orcs spotted John''s group and charged at them with angry roars. John dismissed them with a wave of his hand, casting Rain of Fire, and they were instantly defeated. "Old man, I need to advance," Tracy said, looking at John with pleading eyes, remembering her advancement task. "Alright, let''s find a three-star elite boss for you to kill," John agreed readily. Finding a three-star elite boss in this area wasn''t difficult. Tracy cheered, pulling Sini along as they eagerly followed John. Tracy wasn''t as focused on increasing her strength as she was on finally being able to wear the dress and ne John had given her. As they wandered through the forest, they eventually arrived at the abandoned Land of Elves. John paused, staring at the Land of Elves, an idea forming in his mind. The Land of Elves was a secluded, permanent space, unfortunately damaged by the Orcs, leaving an opening. However, it could still be a ce to establish a city. He thought of the Blues Family; the Land of Elves would be an ideal location for them. If a temple existed there, it would also be a strategic point to monitor the movements of Eternal Forest beasts and the gods. ... Before long, they found a level 65 elite Orcs leader. With John''s help, Tracy managed to kill the Orcs leader, sessfully advancing to a three-star Spirit Priest. She then climbed to the second position on the level ranking, with John holding the top spot at level 63. As levels increased, so did the amount of experience required for each subsequent level, noticeably slowing John''s progress. This was also due to sharing experience points with the two women. Meanwhile, Sini reached level 49, just one level short of making it onto the leaderboard. Tracy eagerly changed into her Divine Heart set. The blue dress entuated her impressive figure, and the heart-shaped ne on her chest made her even more striking. She twirled in delight, her skirt fluttering, before jumping in front of John, eximing, "Old man, this dress is so beautiful. I''ve decided never to change my equipment again." "As long as you''re happy," John replied, not saying much more. While this three-star rare set was powerful now, it would lose its edge in theter stages of the game. But for women, beauty often took precedence over practicality. Beside them, Sini watched Tracy dancing gracefully, her eyes shifting as she calcted something in her mind. She turned to John and said, "John, since we''re establishing the city tomorrow, let''s log off tonight and get some proper rest." John looked at Sini, feeling that she had something on her mind, but he didn''t refuse and nodded in agreement. The group rode Avis, the ck dragon, back to Jade City before logging off. ... News of Ritchie''s n to establish a city quickly spread among various factions. The Mike White Family had the most significant reaction. Mike White''s top warrior, Gaia, had been killed and sent back to the beginner''s vige and hadn''t managed to leave since. In recent days, Gaia''s mental state had deteriorated, and he was even talking about quitting the game. Meanwhile, Dark Angel and other strong yers had been targeted after their failed ambush on John and were too afraid to leave the beginner''s vige. Mike White''s ranks were quickly thinning out of viable fighters. In Green Hill City, an estate built against a mountain was the most luxurious and grandiose residence in the city. This was Mike White''s private property, reportedly purchased for over ten million gold coins. Among all the major factions, only the Mike White Family had the audacity to spend such a fortune on a rtively useless estate in the world of Gods. In the study of the estate, a handsome, tall man listened to his subordinate''s report. This was Toby Mike White, the future leader of the Mike White Family. "Those two again, Godyer and Ritchie!" Toby gritted his teeth, seething over the losses these two had caused him. He had always wanted to eliminate them. But he found himself outmatched in the world of Gods. In the real world, Ritchie had military backing, making any move against him risky. As for Godyer, Toby could never trace his whereabouts. Ever since he began assuming more family responsibilities, Toby had never suffered such significant setbacks. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Struggling to control his fury, he looked at his hunched subordinate and asked again, "You''re saying they''re nning to establish a city in the dark forest outside Silverleaf City, a level 2 city?" The subordinate nodded, bowing respectfully, "Yes, that''s the information they''ve released." "Fools!" Toby sneered, knowing the strength of the monster tide. Thest time Gaia tried to establish a city, the monster tide was weak only because of Green Moon City''s assistance. For that, he had paid a hefty price and acknowledged the newly established Imperial City as a subsidiary of Green Moon City. Toby knew Ritchie''s character well and was certain that he would never side with the Dark Humans. This meant they would have to face the monster tide alone. Toby felt confident that Ritchie would fail without him having to lift a finger. However, what he desired was the satisfaction of revenge. Looking at his subordinate, Toby said, "I remember that Godyer has a grudge with the Griffin Family from the Ancient Martial Arts n. Contact them and other factions to stir up some trouble for Ritchie and his group." "Yes, sir!" The subordinate answered promptly and respectfully withdrew. Toby''s expression remained grim. After dealing with Ritchie and his group, he knew he needed to establish his own power and secure a foothold in the world of Gods. ... Besides the Mike White Family, various factions reacted, especially those already hostile towards John. Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Winning Over Tracy Chapter 60: Winning Over Tracy ? Overlord Guild Aron also learned about Ritchie''s n to establish a city. He was now the president of the Overlord Guild. Due to the influence of Godyer, the Wind and Cloud Guild had lost all its prestige and cohesion. Aron had disbanded the Wind and Cloud Guild and acquired the Overlord Guild. One had to admit, Aron had some skills. Under his full-fledged development, the Overlord Guild had grown rapidly, far surpassing the former Wind and Cloud Guild in scale and bing a first-rate force in the world of Gods. The vice president, Overlord, looked at the somewhat sickly Aron and said, "Unrivaled Brother, Ritchie represents the military. Should we go help them?" "Help?" Aron''s eyes were cold. He red at Overlord and said coldly, "Don''t you know about the grudge between Ritchie and me?" "You''re not nning to cause trouble, are you?" Overlord felt that this guy was crazy. With their power, provoking the military would not end well. He wouldn''t allow his brothers to do that. Aron sneered, nced at Overlord, and said, "Don''t worry, I won''t get directly involved. They have more enemies than just me!" He was confident that the Mike White Family would not stand by idly. There was also the Griffin Family, whose hatred for Godyer was no less than his own. Aron continued, "Overlord Brother, let''s forget about helping them. Also, gather the guild members. We''re going to the dark forest to watch Ritchie establish the city." Overlord frowned. He felt that Aron had ulterior motives. However, he was also curious to see if Ritchie''s group could sessfully establish a city. Once this was over, he decided to leave the Overlord Guild and cut ties with Aron for good. Overlord had made up his mind. Although he was somewhat reluctant to part with the Overlord Guild, he knew the importance of his future and life. ... In real world. John logged out, and it was already evening. Sini and Tracy were busy preparing dinner. "Brother-inw, I heard you''re nning to establish a city," came Armstrong''s voice from outside. The door opened, and he rushed in, looking excited. John, knowing his true intentions, leaned back on the sofa and nced at him. "You''ve got quite the ears." Armstrong plopped down casually. "This news has spread all over the world of Gods. My grandfather asked me to let you know that our family has over three thousand people who have advanced to the second tier and can help you out." "Three thousand people? That many?" John was surprised. He had met with the old patriarch just two days ago, and now so many had reached level 30 andpleted their advancement. It seems the strength of the Ancient Martial Artists was already showing in the early stages. Armstrong nced towards the kitchen and swallowed. "Brother-inw, I did some digging. The Dark Forest is mostly filled with level 60 and above monsters. Are you confident about this?" "More or less," John said, not revealing too much. The yers alone wouldn''t stand a chance against the Dark Forest''s monster tide. His trump card was those powerful beasts. "Brother-inw, there''s one more thing," Armstrong added, "I heard that the Mike White Family and the Griffin Family have teamed up to stop you from establishing the city." "The Mike White Family and the Griffin Family teamed up?" John was surprised. Ancient Martial Arts families generally looked down on secr powers. Even though the Mike White Family was thergest secr power on Earth, controlling several countries, it still couldn''t gain the respect of the martial families. This coboration clearly targeted him. It seemed after this, it would be time to deal with the Griffin Family. "John, dinner''s ready," Sini called as she and Tracy brought out the dishes. Tonight''s dinner was particrlyvish. "Wow, it smells amazing!" Armstrong was immediately drawn by the aroma, swallowing hard and eagerly running over. "Why are you here again?" Tracy pouted in annoyance. Armstrong not only had a thick skin but also a huge appetite. Ignoring her, Armstrong called out, "Brother-inw, hurry up, the food''s getting cold!" ... Dinner concluded amid the bickering of Tracy and Armstrong. After clearing the table, Sini noticed Armstrong still hanging around. " Armstrong, it''s time for you to head home," she said. "Huh?" Armstrong was taken aback but quickly understood, winking at John. "Brother-in-w, I''m heading back. Take it easy tonight." Sini''s cheeks flushed red as she hurried Armstrong out and locked the courtyard door behind him. She turned to Tracy, who was lounging on the sofa watching TV, and said, "Tracy, let''s take a bath." "Huh? This... this isn''t right," Tracy replied hesitantly, feeling ufortable at the idea. Though close to Sini, she wasn''t used to the idea of being naked together. John, feeling a bit mischievous, interjected, "How about I join you?" Sini shot John a re, ignoring hisment, and pulled the reluctant Tracy towards the bathroom. "Come on, there''s nothing to be shy about." John, left puzzled, listened to the sounds of watering from the bathroom, feeling increasingly restless. "Forget it, maybe I should go for a walk," he muttered to himself. He shook off his thoughts and went out to the courtyard, taking out the manual Chris had given him. Under the moonlight, he began to study it carefully. His enhanced vision allowed him to read easily in the dim light. ... In the bathroom, Sini couldn''t help but admire Tracy''s figure, feeling a twinge of jealousy. John is so lucky. She thought to herself, then said aloud, "Tracy, do you have feelings for John too?" Tracy''s heart skipped a beat. She paused, looking at Sini with a hint of guilt. "Sini, I liked him even before I met you. But I promise, I won''t try toe between you and John." She feared Sini might misunderstand, so she quickly corrected herself. "What are you thinking? Do you think I''m that petty?" Sini pulled Tracy to sit in the bathtub and asked, "Do you want to marry John?" Tracy was stunned, her initial instinct was to nod, but she quickly shook her head. "Come on, I know how you feel. I''m going to help you. Tonight, you''ll be with John," Sini said decisively. Tracy''s eyes widened in shock, "Sini, don''t joke about this. I could never do that to you and John." Sini smiled and continued, "Think about it. Anna is already involved with John, and that Princess Ada will be too soon. If you wait, you''ll just end up fourth." "What?" Tracy eximed, "Anna likes John too?" She pouted, feeling quite discontent. Clearly, she was closer to John, second only to Sini... Sini wore a mischievous smile and leaned in, whispering, "Tonight, I''ll create an opportunity for you two." Tracy swallowed nervously, looking down, her interest piqued. "Sini, are you serious?" "Of course," Sini reassured her, holding her hand. "We bothe from Ancient Martial Arts families. If you can''t be John''s woman, I''m afraid you might end up as a sacrifice for the family." Tracy remained silent, knowing Sini''s words held a lot of truth. She would rather marry John, even if he had many women around him. "Sini, I''m scared. And... what if John doesn''t like me?" Tracy''s voice was barely audible. "He definitely will. I''ll help you get ready, and John won''t be able to resist," Sini said, pulling Tracy up and starting to groom her. ... In the courtyard, John continued to study the manual, trying to cultivate the techniques. He gradually began to understand it. A unique energy started to flow into his body. This must be the internal energy that Ancient Martial Arts practitioners cultivated. John felt a pleasant sensation throughout his body, greedily absorbing the energy as his cultivation progressed smoothly. Suddenly, the door opened, breaking his concentration. Sini, her hair still damp and wearing a loose nightgown, stood in the doorway like a lotus emerging from water, delicate and alluring. John''s eyes lit up, and he quickly moved to embrace Sini. "John, stop," she said, halting his advance. "Tracy is waiting for you in the room." "What?" John was momentarily confused. Sini red at him and said, "You can''t refuse. Otherwise, Tracy will never be able to marry anyone else." "You..." John didn''t know what to say. He did like Tracy, but this felt somewhat forced. "Go on," Sini said firmly, dragging John and pushing him into the room. Click! The room was dark. She turned on the light, standing at the door, reminding him, "It''s Tracy''s first time. Be gentle with her. I''ll be waiting outside..." Her face flushed, she quickly closed the door. In the room, Tracyy on the bed, trembling slightly beneath the covers. John approached and gently pulled the nket aside. Tracy had her eyes tightly shut, her face flushed, her chest rising and falling with her rapid heartbeat, feeling incredibly nervous. She waited for what felt like an eternity, but nothing happened. Confused, she slowly opened her eyes and saw John standing quietly at the bedside. John smiled warmly. "Are you scared?" For some reason, seeing John''s smile made Tracy feel much more at ease. She sat up, her shyness evident as she said, "John, this is my first time. Please be gentle." Her hands trembling, she clumsily began to unfasten John''s belt. Seeing Tracy''s shy and adorable demeanor, John felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He pulled her into his arms and leaned down to kiss her deeply. "Mm..." Tracy moaned softly, her body quivering as if electrified. She wrapped her arms around John''s neck, responding to his kiss with an awkward, inexperienced passion. John parted her lips, greedily sucking on her small tongue, his hands moving to her chest. Her breasts were soft and firm, evenrger than they appeared under her clothes. After a long while, they separated. Tracy''s face was flushed, her breathing heavy. She gazed at John with a dreamy look in her eyes, murmuring, "John, I want to be your woman too, forever..." John nodded, quickly shedding his clothes. He then roughly tore away the light silk covering Tracy''s body. Her perfect figure was revealed, glowing like moonlight. John''s breathing grew heavy as he could no longer hold back. He pressed Tracy beneath him. ... Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Passion Ignited, A Night of Madness Chapter 61: Passion Ignited, A Night of Madness ? Tracy''s passion was ignited, and she was already drenched below. Nervous, she clung to John tightly, her chest pressing and deforming against him. John didn''t rush. He kissed her lips, cheeks, and earlobes... Tracy couldn''t withstand John''s teasing. She cried out in pleasure, her mouth releasing soft moans. Her body trembled slightly, no longer as tense as before. "Old man, take me!" She parted her legs eagerly, wrapping them tightly around John''s waist. She could feel the heat below her, driving her to the brink of madness with a desperate need for him. John didn''t hesitate any longer. He raised himself slightly and slowly entered her. "Ah!" Tracy cried out in pain, feeling a tearing sensation below. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Old man, it hurts..." She looked at John with tearful eyes, feeling both pain and a sense of fulfillment. She was finally his woman. "Hold on, it will get better soon." John stroked her flushed, delicate cheek, moving with extreme gentleness. He knew it was her first time and that she couldn''t handle his full intensity. Tracy smiled through her tears, responding to John with all her strength. "Old man, I''m not afraid. This is the feeling you give me, and I want to remember it forever." She held him tightly, kissing his chest, her tongue yfully teasing him. "Old man, what does it feel like?" Her height allowed her to reach his chest, making her appear both shy and adorable. John didn''t answer her. He bent down and buried his face in her firm breasts, kissing and caressing them. Tracy''s cries of pleasure grew louder. The strange sensation made her body move involuntarily, though she still hadn''t adjusted to John''s size. Amidst the tearing pain, there was an unfamiliar, exquisite pleasure. Her breasts grew firmer, her nipples perking up like inviting cherries. John raised his head, looking at Tracy, who was flushed and lost in passion. He smirked and asked, "What does it feel like?" "Old man, you''re so bad..." Tracy shyly covered her face with her hands and murmured dreamily, "This is all for you, and for our future children. Of course, I have to prioritize you." "I''m not that easy to satisfy," John said, feeling Tracy had adjusted, and began to move gently. "Ah..." Just one motion made Tracy open her mouth in a painful moan. She wrapped her arms and legs tightly around John, trying to keep him still. "Old man, why does it hurt so much?" Tears welled up in her eyes again. John stopped and gently kissed the tears from the corners of her eyes. "If you can''t handle it, this is fine." "No, I can do it!" she insisted, her face flushed. She looked at John shyly and whispered, "Besides, I really like this feeling. It hurts, but it also feels good. Come on, old man." Tracy bit her lip and closed her eyes, resigning herself to John''s will. John didn''t hold back any longer. He straightened up, lifted her hips, and began moving again. "Ah! Ah..." Tracy cried out repeatedly, her hands iling until they found John''s arms, gripping them forfort. Blood mixed with other fluids began to flow, making everything slicker. The tearing pain lessened, reced by an overwhelming feeling of pleasure. Ecstasy! Tracy thought of one word: ecstasy! "Old man, it feels so good..." She couldn''t help butugh out loud, guiding John''s hand to her chest, letting him do as he pleased. "Old man, I''m going to climax," Tracy said, her face flushed, looking at John with a dazed expression. Her legs bent, lifting her hips, her body trembling uncontrobly, and she moaned continuously... "Mm..." She let out a deeply satisfying moan, her strengthpletely drained, her legs falling limp, causing John to withdraw. Fluids gushed from her, soaking the bed beneath them. Tracyy there, her mouth open, breathing heavily, her chest heaving. John caressed her soft body, his desire still burning strong. He positioned himself again and thrust back into her. "Ah!" Tracy cried out, her pupils contracting as she gripped John''s arm tightly. "Old man, you''re so strong." "This is just the beginning," John said, moving slowly once more. The room filled with Tracy''s continuous moans, a mix of pain, pleasure, and joy. From initial shyness, Tracy gradually let go, passionately responding to John, her fluids flowing freely, climaxing time and again. Yet, John showed no sign of release. "Old man, I''ve climaxed again. Please, I beg you, let me go..." Tracy''s voice carried a hint of sobbing. She straddled John, looking at his erect member, her body trembling once more. The bed beneath them was soaked, and she felt as if John was draining herpletely. "Old man, Sini is still outside..." Tracy remembered Sini, feeling utterly exhausted. "Be a good girl, Tracy, just hold on a little longer," John replied, ignoring her pleas. He got out of bed and pulled Tracy to the edge. Tracy only made a token resistance before obediently spreading her legs, allowing John to continue. John, now unleashed, grabbed her delicate feet and thrust deeply, initiating the most intense charge. "Ah!" Tracy''s moans turned into hoarse cries of pain. She felt like she was going to break, her body unable to resist the continuous waves of climax under John''s relentless thrusts. The sensation was a mix of pleasure and torment. "Old man, please, I can''t take it anymore. If you keep going, I''ll be ruined..." she pleaded in agony, feeling trapped and unable to escape. "Hold on just a bit longer, it''s almost over," John reassured, gripping her ankles tightly, his movements bing more forceful and faster. Tears streamed down Tracy''s face, her mouth agape, unable to make a sound, hands clutching the bed sheets. The intense sensations from below, the sharp pain, left her feeling breathless. Finally, the stimtion brought John to his peak. He thrust deeply, releasing a torrent of heat. "Ah... old man, I''ming again..." Tracy cried out in a mix of panic and embarrassment, reaching her climax once more alongside John. Fluids gushed from her, and she copsed into unconsciousness, her body still trembling slightly. "This girl is really something," John murmured, looking at the soaked bed sheets in amazement. He carefully picked Tracy up. She frowned in her sleep, still unconscious. John changed the bedsheet to a clean one and gentlyid Tracy down. Despite his efforts, his lower body remained aroused and painfully swollen. He covered Tracy with a nket, put on a bathrobe, and left the room. ... In the living room, Sini waszily lounging on the sofa, watching TV. Her cheeks were flushed, clearly distracted. She nced at the clock and eximed, "Master, it''s been three hours! How is Tracy?" "She''s already fallen asleep," John replied. Sini red fiercely at John, reproaching him, "It was her first time, couldn''t you be gentler?" John smirked with satisfaction, "I''m going to take a shower first. You''re next." Sini swallowed hard, noticing John''s evident arousal, her heart filled with both anticipation and trepidation. "Master, let me help you." Blushing, she led the way to the bathroom. Inside the bathroom, the sound of running water filled the air as she prepared a hot bath for John, tenderly assisting him into the tub. "Come here," John said with a mischievous grin, grabbing Sini before she could escape, pulling her into the tub with him. "Ah!" Sini eximed, water sshing everywhere. Her thin nightgown clung to her body, entuating her perfect figure. She red at John, but continued to carefully wash him, asking, "Master, do you think four women will be enough to satisfy you?" John shook his head, genuinely curious about the answer himself. But his thoughts were now solely focused on Sini. "Get on," Johnmanded with a sly smile, lifting Sini effortlessly and guiding her onto him. Her body already wet with anticipation "Mm!" Sini moaned, She wrapped her arms around John, moving slowly at first. "Master..." she whispered, her voice filled with desire. Her wet hair clung to her face, making her look even more enchanting. "You''re such a seductress," John murmured appreciatively, gripping her hips and thrusting harder. Water sshed around them, mingling with their moans and cries. Sini responded passionately to John''s every move, climaxing again and again. "Master, slow down, I can''t take it anymore..." she said, clinging tightly to John, her waist arching and trembling uncontrobly. She climaxed once more, unable to control herself in front of John. "Master, let me catch my breath," she gritted her teeth and pulled away from John''s embrace, sliding her body into the bathtub. Holding her breath, she began to kiss and lick John''s lower body. John leaned backfortably in the bathtub, his breathing bing slightly heavier, and closed his eyes in sheer pleasure. Ssh! Sini emerged, panting slightly, gazing at John with adoration. "Master, give it to me," she pleaded. Taking a deep breath, she submerged her head again, taking John deep into her mouth, swallowing and sucking with increasing fervor. Her movements became more skilled, and John felt every nerve in his body light up with pleasure. Water rippled. Sini''s speed increased, her small hand gripping John''s length, moving up and down, taking him deep into her throat, even reaching her esophagus. The water in the bathtub had already lost its warmth. John finally couldn''t hold back any longer and quickly warned Sini. Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Return to the World of Gods Chapter 62: Return to the World of Gods ? Sini, undeterred, intensified her efforts, taking John deeply and sucking hard. The heat of his release surged forth, and Sini swallowed continuously, licking him clean before lifting her head, her face flushed red and breathing heavily. "Master, am I the best?" Sini asked, wiping the corner of her mouth and leaning against John, gazing at him adoringly. "Of course," John smiled, standing up and lifting Sini. "Let''s continue outside." Sini blushed, burying her face in John''s chest. John didn''t bother with a towel, instead using his control over the fire element to evaporate the water droplets on their bodies. Kneeling on the couch, Sini arched her back and spread her legs slightly, already wet with anticipation. "Master, this time I''ll definitely satisfy you," she vowed, gritting her teeth. John didn''t respond, instead, he entered her deeply with his rigid member. "Mm..." With just one thrust, Sini felt overwhelmed, her body trembling uncontrobly as she reached her peak. The sounds of their bodies colliding echoed, Sini''s moans growing louder. The intense stimtion made her forget everything else, her voice filling the small courtyard. Fortunately, John''s residence was a standalone house, so there was no worry about disturbing others. "Ugh... Master, I-I was wrong, please... forgive me," Sini''s earlier confidence had now turned into helplessness. She had overestimated herself and severely underestimated John. Her tearful pleas for mercy only intensified John''s assault. Huh. Finally, John reached his climax. Sini felt the heat inside her, and she followed him into another orgasm. "Master, are you done?" Shey limp on the couch, her buttocks twitching uncontrobly, her mouth slightly open, an expression of satisfaction mixed with pain and pleasure. "Not even close," John replied, showing no signs of stopping. He stood up, lifting Sini and holding her by her hips, carrying her. "Ah!" Sini gasped. "Master, this feels so strange." She clung weakly to John, blushing deeply, as he continued to ravish her. The intense thrusts sent waves of pleasure through her, reaching her very core, causing her to climax repeatedly, her moans unending. "Master, I can''t take it anymore, please... spare me," Sini begged, feeling like she might truly break under John''s relentless pace. "Hold on, just a bit longer," Johnforted her, kissing her as the standing position added a new level of intensity. The sounds of their bodies echoed, Sini holding onto John''s neck, her moans of pain and pleasure mixed as her legs wrapped tightly around him, enduring his unyielding thrusts. After another intense sessionsting several minutes, John finally reached his climax again. Sini''s legs trembled uncontrobly as her strength waned. Her consciousness was slipping, and she moaned, pleading for mercy. John felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him. He held his beloved Sini close and sat on the sofa. "Master, Sini knows she''s wrong... please, spare me," Sini murmured, tears flowing from the corners of her eyes. She was at her limit. "Sini, you''re the best. Master is satisfied," John reassured her gently, though he remained inside her, showing no signs of stopping. "Really?" Siniy weakly on John''s shoulder, whispering, "Master, am I the best and the most obedient?" "Of course, Master loves Sini the most," John lifted her chin and kissed her deeply. Sini felt a wave of contentment and happiness, though the swelling sensation below reminded her that John had not yet reached his limit. She looked up at John, tears still in her eyes, and said, "Master, I... I can hold on a bit longer..." Her voice trembled,cking confidence. "Silly girl, this is good enough. It''s almost dawn, let''s rest for a bit," Johnforted her gently, holding her close. Sini was touched but felt incredibly guilty. She truly was at her limit, only managing to stay conscious by sheer willpower. "Master, you should go keep Tracypany. It''s her first time, and if she doesn''t see you, she might feel neglected," Sini suggested. "And what about you?" John asked, looking at the fragile Sini in his arms. He felt even more tender toward her. This foolish girl always thought of others before herself. Sini replied, "I''m the older sister. I can''t be jealous of my little sister. Go to her; it''s almost morning." She tried to stand up. But John didn''t let her go. He said, "No, I''ll stay with Tracy after you''re asleep." Sini, unwilling to be apart from John, agreed reluctantly. "Alright then, I''ll fall asleep quickly." Exhausted and weak, she nestled on John''sp, resting her head on his shoulder. A satisfied and happy smile graced her face as she soon fell asleep. "What a little enchantress..." John muttered, feeling the warmth of her breath on his ear. He resisting his own desires. Gently, he withdrew from Sini''s body. "Mm!" Sini moaned in pain, her brows furrowing in her sleep, feeling a vague sense of loss. John gentlyid her down on the sofa, covered her with a light nket, and kissed her forehead before reluctantly returning to the bedroom. ... In the bedroom, Tracy was sleeping soundly, not disturbed by the noise John and Sini had made. John watched her sleep, noticing how she asionally smacked her lips, her hair tousled, and her cheeks still flushed with a lingering blush, making her look charming and adorable. Sensing John''s presence beside her, Tracy instinctively snuggled into his arms, finding afortable position. She smacked her lips again, a satisfied smile spreading across her face as she slept even more soundly. ... "John, Tracy, time to get up and eat," Sini called from outside. John opened his bleary eyes, nced at the time, and immediately snapped awake. It was already noon! Today was the day Ritchie was going to establish the city, and there was still so much to do. "Old man, ah!" Tracy eximed as she opened her eyes, blushing deeply. She quickly pulled the covers over her head, too shy to face John. p! John lightly smacked her on the buttocks and said, "Still shy? You know I''ve already seen everything. Get up and eat; I have things to do today." There was no time for John to linger andfort Tracy. He got dressed quickly, greeted Sini, and logged into the world of Gods. "Master is so hasty," Sini sighed, knowing John had more important things to attend to. She took it upon herself tofort Tracy. Sini entered John''s room to find Tracy still hiding under the covers, too embarrassed to show her face. She found it amusing and said, "Tracy, get up and eat." Hearing Sini''s voice, Tracy peeked out from under the nket, saying, "Sini, you go out first. I''m not dressed." "Come on, it''s not like I haven''t seen it before." Sini sat down on the edge of the bed and asked, "So, how wasst night?" Tracy''s ears turned red, and she shyly recalled everything that happened the previous night, a smile spreading across her face. "It was amazing, but also painful." The two women huddled together, sharing their experiences and insights. ... In the world of Gods. John appeared in Jade City. As soon as he logged in, he received over a dozen messages, all from Ritchie, inquiring about the city''s establishment. John quickly replied to Ritchie. Godyer: "Meet me at Silverleaf City." Ding! Almost immediately, he received a reply. Ritchie: "Boss, you finally logged in. If you had taken any longer, I would have put out a global bounty to find you. Also, give me your real-world contact info so I can reach you next time." John, currently staying with the Blues Family, hadn''t shared his contact details with Ritchie. Godyer: "I''m staying with the Blues Family, an Ancient Martial Arts family. You should be able to contact them." "Blues Family?" Ritchie responded, puzzled. John didn''t borate further. He entered the teleportation array and arrived at Silverleaf City. The once quiet Silverleaf City was now bustling with activity. The streets were filled with yers, although their levels were not very high. Silverleaf City, being a Level 2 city, was surrounded by Level 60 or so monsters. Typically, yers only came here to level up once they had reached third-tier strength. These yers, however, were not here to level up but were drawn by the news of Ritchie''s city-building endeavor. "Boss, you''re finally here!" Ritchie came running through the crowd, visibly relieved upon seeing John. "My troops are here, and I''ve also brought in some reinforcements from my father''s unit- two thousand strong, their strength on par with the me Legion soldiers." "Great. Where are the blood-red demon wolves and the other beasts?" John asked, not seeing any of the beasts around. "They''re already in the Dark Forest. They''ll only intervene if we can''t handle the monster tide," Ritchie exined. John had no objections. As long as they were willing to help, he was satisfied. "Alright, let''s move into the Dark Forest." The me Legion and Ritchie''s reinforcements quickly gathered outside the city. Seven thousand troops in total, they marched under John''s leadership into the Dark Forest. Many curious yers followed behind. These yers were no match for the monsters in the Dark Forest and would undoubtedly die if they ventured in alone, so they trailed behind the main army. Ritchie frowned at the yers following them and said, "Boss, should we get rid of these guys?" He knew that many of them were there to cause trouble. Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Major Powers Gather Chapter 63: Major Powers Gather ? "No need," John said, ncing at the yers trailing behind. He even recognized a few familiar faces, like Aron. He didn''t consider these people a threat at all. Ritchie establishing a city? These yers could serve as free advertising. In the forest, monsters asionally appeared, attacking the yers. John''s formidable strength was evident as no monster could withstand his magic attacks. The soldiers behind him were astonished, whispering among themselves, specting about John''s identity. "Who is this freak?" "You don''t know? He''s the top-ranked Godyer, the Wrath of the Gods Mage!" "He''s Godyer?" The crowd buzzed with excitement, their curiosity about John growing. "Why does the captain call him boss? Is he more powerful than the captain?" Several of Ritchie''s admirers eyed John with suspicion. One spoke up, "I heard that when Gaia established Imperial City, it was our captain and Godyer who destroyed it together." "How could the two of them manage that? Isn''t it said online that the captain led the me Legion and took advantage of the situation to destroy Imperial City?" "Idiot, we''re the me Legion. Were you even part of that operation?" "Shh, keep it down. Godyer is looking this way." "Hey, do you think we can get Godyer''s autograph?" ... John was bemused by the chatter behind him, doubting these were the elite soldiers Ritchie had described. He forged ahead, quickly arriving at The Land of Darkness. A dark-themed city stood tall. Ritchie, astonished, eximed, "Boss, you''ve already established a city?" John didn''t borate and entered the city. Inside, there were no monsters. This was demon race territory, and though John had eradicated the demons, their fearsome reputation remained, deterring any monsters from approaching. "You''ll guard this area," Ritchie instructed his troops. "No yers allowed. Anyone who tries to force their way in, kill them without mercy." After issuing his orders, he followed John into the city. In the city square, John emptied the 2nd-tier equipment he had collected over the days. sh... The clinking sound of metal echoed as a small mountain of gear formed. Thank goodness John had a Storage Ring; otherwise, he couldn''t have carried so much. Ritchie was stunned, asking, "Boss, did you rob some city?" John replied coolly, "I''ll sell these to you at a 20% discount." "Deal!" Ritchie''s eyes sparkled with excitement as he agreed without hesitation. Most of the equipment was top-quality 2nd-tier gear. Since most yers were around level 20 and hadn''t yet reached the 2nd tier, these items would be highly sought after. Once the me Legion soldiers upgraded their gear, Ritchie could make a significant profit from reselling the old equipment. John continued, "There are also a lot of enhancement stones, embedded gems, and other materials in the warehouse here. You can take care of them." "No problem," Ritchie replied, his eyes glued to the pile of equipment with a constant smile on his face. This equipment was enough to arm over four thousand soldiers, significantly boosting the strength of their legion. However, even with this gear, relying solely on their current strength to withstand the monster tide wasn''t realistic. Ritchie''s greatest reliance was on those beasts. After distributing the equipment, everyone continued their tasks. Reinforcing the walls, setting traps, digging moats-doing everything possible to impede the monster tide''s attack. John knew these measures would offer little help against the monster tide, but he didn''t stop them. "Captain," a somewhat frail soldier hurried over, noticing John and nodding in acknowledgment before addressing Ritchie respectfully. "We''ve scouted the surrounding yers. There are over 130,000, with more still arriving. Among them are significant forces like Mike White Family, Demon Emperor''s Heavenless Guild, Butcher''s City of Sin, and the Griffin Family from the Ancient Martial Arts world!" "So many?" Ritchie was surprised. Last time Gaia established a city, only around 20,000 adventurers came to watch. This time, 130,000 had gathered. But he wasn''t worried. With the blood-red demon wolf and other beasts on their side, any weak yers causing trouble would be killed without mercy. "Go keep an eye on them and report any developments immediately," Ritchie ordered, dismissing the soldier. He then turned to John and asked, "Boss, should we take action against these yers now?" The Mike White Family had been causing trouble for the me Legion recently, and Ritchie was itching for a fight. "No need for now," John said, taking out the City Building Order and handing it to Ritchie. "Let''s focus on establishing the city." Ritchie didn''t take it immediately. "Boss, you should be the leader of the me Guild. With you in charge, no one would dare defy us." "No need. Just give me the vice-leader position," John declined. He needed to establish his own force. A guild leader could only establish one faction, but a vice-leader could hold positions in up to three guilds simultaneously. "Alright, you''ll always be the boss of the me Guild," Ritchie agreed, using the City Building Order immediately. The City of Darkness could only be transferred to Ritchie''s control after using the City Building Order. [You have used the City Building Order on an unimed city. Would you like to rename it?] "me City," Ritchie dered, having already decided on the name. Buzz! A glow enveloped the area, and an altar formed in the main square. This altar was the city''s core. If destroyed, the city would disappear. [Announcement: yer Ritchie has established me City. In one hour, it will face a monster tide attack. Defend the city for 12 hours to seed.] ... Three consecutive announcements echoed throughout the world of Gods. Ritchie looked at the rising altar, feeling a surge of excitement. "Captain!" The same soldier returned, saluting respectfully. "A team has arrived, iming to be from the Blues Family. They want to help us defend the city." "The Blues Family?" Ritchie was taken aback and looked at John. This must have something to do with him. "Let''s go and greet them," John said, heading towards the gate. The Blues Family was an Ancient Martial Arts family of considerable status, deserving a personal wee. At the gate, a team of three thousand people stood in orderly formation, led by Armstrong. Sini and Tracy were also among them. Tracy looked shy, her head lowered, sneaking nces at John. Afterst night''s events, she still felt like she was in a dream. But with asional difort reminding her that it was all real. She wasn''t sure how to face John. "Brother-inw?" Armstrong stared at John for a while before recognizing him, then warmly greeted him. Ritchie looked Armstrong up and down, finding him familiar, then suddenly remembered and eximed, "Blues Family''s young master, Armstrong!" "Looks like you must be Ritchie," Armstrong said casually, not surprised that Ritchie recognized him. He knew the military''s capabilities. Ritchie sped his fists in gratitude. "Thank you, Young Master Li, for your assistance. I, Ritchie, won''t forget this favor." Armstrong waved it off. "No problem, I''m helping my brother-inw." He winked at John. He felt a bit exasperated by Armstrong''s bluntness. Ritchie didn''t mind, but he noticed something. "Why are all your people melee fighters?" John observed too. These three thousand Ancient Martial Arts disciples were all warriors, knights, or assassins-pure melee fighters. For this monster tide defense, yers weren''t the main force. Most were ranged attackers positioned on the walls to minimize casualties. Facing third-tier monsters with second-tier strength was almost suicidal. Ritchie''s father''s reinforcements were all ranged fighters. Armstrong shrugged. "Don''t worry, our Ancient Martial Arts disciples aren''t afraid of dying." Ritchie frowned, sensing a slight against his own soldiers'' courage. "Alright, let''s head to the walls and formte our strategy," John interrupted, leading the way to the city walls. Sini held onto Tracy, following closely behind John. The task of formting the battle strategy was left to Ritchie and Armstrong. John connected with Death Land and summoned Anna and the others. Buzz! With a sh of light, over six hundred powerful elves and two beasts appeared, startling everyone. One was the ck dragon Avis, and the other was a pure white flood dragon. John had learned that it was Princess Ada''s pet, named Judy. "Benefactor!" Anna smiled as she approached John, with ck Turtle following behind her. The old man had a bruised face, clearly beaten, likely by Judy. With these two seventh-tier powerhouses, John felt more confident about resisting the monster tide. "So familiar... This is Skyline Continent! Haha, I''m finally back..." Ada took a deep breath and laughed maniacally, causing the surrounding soldiers to step back and nce at her frequently. Ritchie frowned, moving closer to John and whispering, "Boss, who is this woman?" "A lunatic, just ignore her," John replied, regretting having let her out. Ada, overhearing John''s words, looked displeased. She raised her head arrogantly and said, "Your name is Godyer, right? Are these soldiers you gathered for me?" "Sort of," John said through gritted teeth, feeling annoyed. Initially reluctant to subdue this princess, he now wanted to humiliate this haughty woman using a man''s methods topletely conquer her. But with Judy watching intently, he dared not act rashly. "Old man," John whispered to ck Turtle, "can you handle this? Can you help me take down this woman?" ck Turtle looked embarrassed, ncing at Judy. "Kid, it''s tricky. Judy''s strength is also increasing. But I have some tricks. Help me find some herbs, and I can poison them!" John looked at him with disdain. This old man was so shameless, resorting to such underhanded methods when he couldn''t win in a fight. Chapter 64: Chapter 64: The Monster Tide Attacks, John Takes Action Chapter 64: The Monster Tide Attacks, John Takes Action ? "Kid, what''s with that look in your eyes?" ck Turtle said angrily. "I''m doing this for your benefit. The credit goes to you, and I''ll take the me. You''re still not happy?" John stered on a smile and bowed slightly. "Of course, senior. Your generosity is unparalleled!" "Hmph!" ck Turtle snorted, turning his attention to the soldiers on the city wall. He frowned and said, "Kid, you don''t really think you can rely on these adventurers to hold off the monster tide, do you?" "Aren''t you here, senior?" John knew that the current adventurers couldn''t withstand the monster tide from the Dark Forest. The monsters in the Dark Forest were powerful, with some even as strong as ck Turtle at the seventh tier. However, the most terrifying monsters were deep within the forest and wouldn''t interfere with John''s city-building efforts. [Announcement: The monster tide will arrive in five minutes.] The announcement sounded, signaling the countdown to the monster tide attack. The surrounding yers tensed up. If they could hold off the monster tide, they would be the first to establish a city, and their fame would spread throughout the world of Gods... Roar! Roars interrupted everyone''s thoughts. Trees shook as the first wave of the monster tide approached! Standing on the city wall, John peered into the distance and saw the attacking monsters. They were level 40 jungle wolves. He let out a sigh of relief. With the current strength of the yers, they could barely handle level 40 beasts, though the sheer number of them-ten thousand-was daunting. John didn''t n to intervene. These monsters were perfect for practice, and the yers needed to handle them to gainbat experience. "Boss, I''m heading down." Ritchie called out to John before leaping off the wall, holding his Diamond Giant Shield with newfound confidence. He positioned himself at the front of the army. "Knights and warriors, hold the front line. Assassins, be ready to strike at any moment. Priests, heal the wounded. No one is allowed to retreat!" His voice echoed below the wall. The soldiers responded loudly, their eyes resolute and determined, the atmosphere filled with a murderous aura. Only battle-hardened soldiers could exude such a presence. Armstrong, feeling inspired, looked back at the Blues Family disciples and shouted, "Everyone, follow me. Coordinate with the me Legion soldiers. Do not cross the defensive line." "Brother-inw, I''m off." He called to John, leading his family''s elite to join the first line of defense. Rustling... The forest shook as huge, ferocious jungle wolves burst out, charging towards me City. Ten thousand jungle wolves, a vast ck wave, surged forward. The surrounding yers gasped in shock. Toby from the Mike White Family looked at the monster tide below and couldn''t help but feel disappointed. "It''s just level 40 beasts. My yers can handle them." "What''s the rush? This is only the first wave of the monster tide." Beside him, a young man with his arms crossed over his chest, holding a heavy broadsword, looked on with a haughty expression. This was Skywalker, the eldest son of the Griffin Family, level 55, with the rare ss me desman. Though he wasn''t on the leaderboard, the third and fourth-ranked yers, Demon Emperor and Butcher, had already fallen to him. As for the second-ranked Star Dust, an auxiliary Spirit Priest, he didn''t consider fighting a support ss fair game. He hade here with two goals: first, to stop Ritchie from establishing the city; and second, to defeat the top-ranked Godyer. He want to prove that the Griffin Family was the strongest. Toby looked at Skywalker, a hint of malice shing in his eyes before a smile spread across his face. "Skywalker is right. Thank you for your help." Skywalker nced at him with disdain. "We''re only teaming up to deal with the me Guild. After this, we have nothing to do with each other." "Yes, yes, I understand." Toby nodded repeatedly, showing humility. The other leaders around them were stunned, trying to guess Skywalker''s identity, as it made the heir of the Mike White Family act so deferentially. Among the crowd, Aron saw this and clicked his tongue. The others might not know Skywalker''s identity, but he did. The Ancient Martial Arts families were still terrifying, even the mighty Mike White Family dared not provoke them. Roar... At that moment, roars and battle cries echoed as the monster tide shed with the defending soldiers, leading to intense fighting. The jungle wolves were powerful, nearly breaking through the defenses. Fortunately, Ritchie reacted swiftly, leading his men to close the gap immediately. "John, should we step in?" Sini asked, eager to join the fight after seeing this. "Not yet," John shook his head, observing the battlefield without any intention of intervening. The jungle wolves were numerous and strong. Many soldiers falling prey to them. However, John was impressed by the Ancient Martial Arts disciples brought by Armstrong. Despite their average level of 35, they managed to hold off wave after wave of the wolves'' charges. It showcasing their superior starting strengthpared to ordinary yers. Arrows flew from the walls, and spells rained down on the wolf horde, trying to alleviate the pressure on the soldiers below. The priests worked tirelessly to heal the knights and warriors on the front lines. Time passed, and many yers died, only to resurrect at the city''s revive points. These yers rejoin the battle without hesitation. After an hour, the number of jungle wolves had dwindled to around six thousand. Just then, more rustling sounds came from the direction of the forest. The second wave of the monster tide was arriving. In the jungle, a group of powerful beasts had gathered, exuding an aura of terror that made the surrounding monsters flee. These were the blood-red demon wolf and other beasts invited by Ritchie. "Should we intervene? These youngsters can''t handle the second wave of the monster tide," the subus said, adjusting her hair with a seductive smile on her face. "What''s the rush? Let these kids taste some hardship first. Do they think we''re working for free?" The Blood-Eyed Demon Ape yawnedzily, leaning against a tree, half-asleep. "Hey, isn''t that old guy on the wall ck Turtle?" A huge green serpent coiled around a tree, stretched its neck, and curiously asked, looking towards the wall. "Impossible, that cowardly turtle would never leave Death Land." The blood-red demon wolf remarked, ncing towards the wall, only for its eyes to widen in shock. "It really is him! Why is he here?" "Could he be helping the adventurers defend against the monster tide?" The beasts were drawn to ck Turtle, discussing amongst themselves. ck Turtle sensed their presence, gave a brief nce in their direction, and then ignored them. At that moment, the second wave of the monster tide emerged from the jungle. The soldiers on the wall grew anxious. The jungle wolves below had yet to be defeated. If the two waves of the monster tide merged, the soldiers below wouldn''t stand a chance. They increased their attack frequency, but it was like trying to put out a fire with a cup of water¡ªthe damage was too low to fatally wound the powerful jungle wolves. "John, it''s 55-level Predatory Beasts and 60-level Fire Bats!" Sini shouted, recognizing the second wave of the monster tide. The first wave had been 40-level jungle wolves, but the second wave had jumped straight to 55-level and 60-level monsters. The Fire Bats were particrly dangerous as flying monsters with ranged attack capabilities, able to bypass the first line of defense and attack the walls directly. The current yer strength couldn''t hold them off. John decided it was time to step in. "Sini, Tracy, join the party," Hemanded, adding them to his team. Tracy, initially stunned, quickly realized the opportunity and nodded enthusiastically. She was thrilled at the prospect of leveling up quickly again. John then added Ritchie and Armstrong to the party. Both of them, destined tomand their respective forces in future battles, needed to level up significantly. ... "The second wave of the monster tide is so strong, looks like we won''t have to intervene." Remarked one of the yers watching, relishing in the misfortune. The 55-level Predatory Beasts and 60-level Fire Bats, numbering twenty thousand, would be too much for the yers of the me Legion to handle. Toby smirked coldly and turned to his guild members. "We can''t let these guys off easy. When the city falls, we storm in, take over the resurrection point, and send them all back to the newbie vige!" He was determined to savor his revenge and wouldn''t let the me Legion off lightly. "Yes, sir!" His guild members responded loudly, eager for action. They weren''t afraid since the monster tide focused on attacking those defending the city, leaving them unharmed. Skywalker looked at the twisted expression on Toby''s face with disdain, taking a step back to distance himself from him. ... Whoosh! The wind howled, and a massive, menacing ck dragon swept across the wall. "Godyer!" In the crowd, Aron ground his teeth, his eyes burning with anger. His guild, the Wind and Cloud Guild, had been disbanded because of Godyer. Today, he would have his revenge. The surrounding yers also recognized the first-ranked pet on the pet leaderboard, the ck dragon Avis, owned by Godyer. It was clear that Godyer was about to make his move. "It looks like Godyer is going to meet his end today!" Toby''s face lit up with excitement, barely containing his eagerness. Suddenly, the sky was aze with mes, and a torrential firestorm rained down. Fire Bats and Predatory Beasts were engulfed in mes, their cries of agony filling the air as they fell helplessly into the inferno below. "One-hit kills..." The yers watching were dumbfounded, unable to believe their eyes. "Impossible, this can''t be! Godyer just broke through to the third tier. How can he one- shot Fire Bats with high magic resistance?" Toby was in disbelief at what he was witnessing. In the sky, the firestorm continued to rain down, interspersed with Thunderstorms. The ground shook from John''s area-of-effect spell, Earthquake. The monster army of over twenty thousand was annihted in less than ten minutes, not even reaching the first line of defense. While the first wave of the monster tide was still being dealt with, John single-handedly wiped out the entire second wave. Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Terrifying Power, One Man Against the Monster Tide Chapter 65: Terrifying Power, One Man Against the Monster Tide ? The ground below was littered with the bodies of monsters, leaving the onlooking yers in shock. Godyer was undoubtedly the rightful number one! Skywalker watched this scene, dumbfounded. He gripped his long sword tightly but eventually let it fall in resignation. His own strength, he feared, wouldn''t even reach Godyer before being obliterated by his skills. It seemed that reaching the third tier resulted in a significant power boost! Skywalker consoled himself with this thought, rekindling his fighting spirit. Once he reached the third tier, he was determined to defeat Godyer. Perhaps he wouldn''t even need to reach the third tier. He nced towards the Dark Forest. The sky had darkened, and the forest was now pitch ck and silent, full of lurking dangers. This was only the second wave of the monster tide. He refused to believe that Godyer alone could withstand the subsequent waves. "Equipment! Quality gear!" A shout rang out as yers noticed the scattered equipment among the monster corpses. There were hundreds of items, all second and third-tier quality gear. The surrounding yers'' eyes lit up with greed. Some couldn''t resist the temptation and quietly moved onto the battlefield to collect the equipment. Boom! Boom! Two Thunderstorms struck, instantly turning those yers into white light. John''s cold voice echoed, "Any yer who trespasses onto the battlefield is an enemy of the me Legion. Death!" The shout reverberated around. It scaring a few Assassins trying to sneak in to retrieve equipment back into the crowd. However, many yers continued to eye the dropped equipment, searching for another opportunity. John remained unfazed, standing silently on the back of his ck dragon, Avis, circling in the air. He didn''t deal with the remaining jungle wolves below, waiting instead for the third wave of the monster tide. Time passed, and another hour went by. The first wave of jungle wolves was finally dealt with. The soldiers had no time to catch their breath before the ground trembled slightly-the third wave of the monster tide had arrived. This time, it was 70-level Minotaurs, numbering over ten thousand, with two 100-level fourth-tier elite bosses, the Minotaur leaders. John was excited. His Wrath of the Gods talent required the ying of ten fourth-tier elite bosses to upgrade. After this monster tide, his talent would surely upgrade to S-tier, further reducing its cooldown. The Minotaurs roared as they charged. John raised his staff, unleashing Rain of Fire, triggering a Spell Combo, and turning the ground below into a sea of mes. Roars and screams echoed as the powerful Minotaurs fell under John''s magical attacks, unable to resist and getting annihted instantly. [You have killed a Level 70 Minotaur, gaining 52 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, strength +1.] ... Notifications popped up continuously, though John didn''t gain much experience due to the shared experience within the party. He didn''t mind this; what he valued were the attributes plundered through his talent. Just one wave attack of monster tide, he can plunder two thousand attributes, including special attributes. [Plunder talent activated, physical critical hit +1.] [Physical critical hit attribute has reached the maximum value of 100 points. Further increases will add 1% to physical critical hit damage per point.] John was surprised. He hadn''t paid attention to his hidden special attributes recently, and now his physical critical hit had reached its maximum value. A 100-point physical critical hit meant a 100% critical hit rate, ensuring every physical attack would be a critical hit. With his two main talents, physical damage and Dual Mastery, enhancing his attacks, each hit would be devastating. Even fifth-tier monsters wouldn''t withstand his normal attacks. Moreover, he could continue to increase this attribute, with each point adding 1% to his critical hit damage. John briefly considered abandoning his mage profession to focus solely on his Demon Assassin. Quickly, the third wave of the monster tide, the Minotaurs, were cleared by John alone. The ground was littered with corpses and scattered equipment, all of which were high-quality third-tier items. "Ritchie, don''t just stand there. Clean up the battlefield," John called out to the stunned Ritchie. Ritchie finally snapped out of his daze, taking a deep breath and swallowing hard. He silently gave John a thumbs up. John''s strength had surpassed the realm of ''strong''¡ªit was downright monstrous. Under Ritchie''smand, the soldiers excitedly began to clear the battlefield, collecting the dropped loot. They even harvested useful materials from the monster corpses, piling up the useless ones to form a temporary barricade. The watching yers stared longingly at the scattered equipment, feeling a pang of regret each time a piece was picked up. It was as if those items belonged to them. A few Assassin yers couldn''t resist the temptation and stealthily infiltrated the battlefield. But John detected them immediately, using a simple spell to send them back to the respawn point. Other yers, intimidated by John, dared not make a move, watching in frustration as me Legion members looted the battlefield. Toby observed the scene with burning eyes, filled with confusion. Why were these regr monsters dropping equipment? Could it be rted to the attacking monster tide? But thest time Gaia failed to establish a city, there was no mention of regr monsters dropping equipment. Toby watched as piece after piece of equipment fell into the hands of others, itching with envy. Such immense wealth couldn''t just go to me Legion. He would do everything in his power to seize it back! He needed to establish his own city as soon as possible to secure his ce in the world of Gods... On the city wall, Anna looked at ck Turtle and asked, "Senior, do you still not believe that our benefactor is the legendary savior?" ck Turtle frowned. He was also surprised by John''s strength but still shook his head, refusing, "He is not a native of Skyline Continent." "Does that really matter? Our benefactor is different. Besides, we have amon enemy." Anna was somewhat angry. She hadn''t expected ck Turtle to be so stubborn. Her intuition told her that John was indeed the prophesied savior. ck Turtle ignored Anna, staring at the slender figure atop the ck dragon in the sky. To be honest, he was somewhat swayed. If this adventurer truly was the savior of prophecy and he hindered his growth, he would be a sinner for eternity. ... The battlefield was quickly cleared. With the lure of equipment gone, the onlooking yers were much quieter. Roar! From the dark, deep forest came another wave of roars, and the ground trembled. The fourth wave of the monster tide was upon them. It was the Fire Spirits, level 80, resembling giants engulfed in mes, with thick skin and high defense, adept at fire magic attacks! John frowned. The Fire Spirits, despite their strength, were still no match for him. However, given the rapid esction, the next waves would undoubtedly bring level 100+ tier- four monster tides. The blood-red demon wolf and other beasts were powerful but too few in number. He wasn''t sure if they could hold the line. The firelight illuminated the forest, turning it into a sea of mes. The Fire Spirits moved like a flood, wading through the fire, their high magic resistance making the mes ineffective against them. John''s expression grew more serious. He cast Rain of Fire, his staff continued to wave, and the ground trembled as he activated the Earthquake skill. Boom, boom, boom... The ground shook, severely hindering the advance of the Fire Spirits'' army. Overhead, amidst the rain of fire, Thunderstorm and Wind de roared, along with the dragon me Devour from the ck dragon Avis. The Fire Spirits fell in droves, still unable to withstand the onught. "Boss, let one of the tier-three elite bosses through. I need it for my advancement quest," came Ritchie''s excited voice from behind. He finally understood why John''s twopanions leveled up so quickly. Teaming up with John, leveling up was like riding a rocket. In just under half a day, he had leveled up from the forties to sixty, meeting the advancement criteria. "Brother-inw, me too," Armstrong said nearby, watching his rapidly rising experience bar. He was already at level 58 and would reach level 60 after John finished off these Fire Spirits. "John, I want in too!" Sini called out from the city wall. She had already reached level 60 during the third wave of the monster tide. "No problem," John agreed, picking out three 85-level elite Fire Spirits bosses, severely weakening them before letting them through. Seeing the three charging Fire Spirits, Ritchie and Armstrong, full of confidence, gripped their weapons and charged. Sini, who had just jumped down from the city wall, frowned and quickly warned, "Be careful, those are 85-level elite bosses..." She hadn''t finished speaking when there was a loud bang, and the two of them were sent flying. Fortunately, Tracy on the city wall reacted quickly, casting a healing spell just in time to prevent them from being killed. The two broke into a cold sweat. After finally reaching level 60, they had almost had to start over. Ritchie helplessly called out to John, "Boss, we can''t beat them." He couldn''t understand why these monsters were so easy for John to handle but so difficult for him. John noticed the situation behind him, patted Avis, and said, "Go help them." With that, he leaped off Avis''s back into the midst of the Fire Spirits monster tide. "A mage getting up close with monsters? Isn''t he courting death?" Toby eximed with excitement, already envisioning John''s downfall. With such terrifying damage, Godyer must have sacrificed health and defense. There was no way he could withstand the Fire Spirits'' attacks. Moreover, there were still over three thousand Fire Spirits. But soon, Toby''s smile froze. Rock Armor formed around John, and the Fire Spirits'' attacks couldn''t even break through his armor. Then, with Rain of Fire cast, arge area was engulfed in fire, and Fire Spirits fell in massive numbers. Soon, the Fire Spirits army was once again ughtered by John alone. The watching yers had gone from initial shock to numbness. Equipment and loot were scattered all around. This time, however, the yers didn''t dare make a move. At this moment, Avis''s grumbling voice came from behind John. Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Talent Upgrade, Fourth-Order Monster Tide Chapter 66: Talent Upgrade, Fourth-Order Monster Tide ? "Did you two not eat? Put some effort into it!" Avis growled, struggling against the attacks of three Fire Spirits bosses. Its health was steadily decreasing. Although Avis had just broken through to the fourth tier, easily killing these Fire Spirits bosses was within its capabilities. However, withstanding their attacks proved to be a bit challenging. Ritchie and Armstrong exchanged nces, both fuming with anger. This ck dragon was utterly shameless. Even though Sini''s attacks were not particrly powerful either, Avis did not dare toin about her. "Can''t you even chew the food when it''s fed to you? You''re like two big babies!" Avis''s insults grew nastier by the minute. John was surprised; it was the first time he realized just how venomous Avis could be. Ritchie and Armstrong''s faces turned red with anger, and they even pointed their weapons at Avis. If they could beat this dragon, they would have dly stabbed it right in the rear. At that moment, Avis noticed John and immediately called for help, "Master, I can''t hold on any longer." John swiftly cast the Water Mist Clone skill. A clone formed, engaging one of the Fire Spirits. He had already leveled up the Water Mist Clone to its maximum, at level 10, giving it 100% of his health. It was over sixty thousand points. Unfortunately, itcked other attribute boosts and had virtually no resistance. The 85-level Fire Spirits elite boss could eliminate the Water Mist Clone in just four hits. John then personally intervened, engaging one of the Fire Spirits, and instructed, "Sini, attack with all you''ve got. I''ll handle the damage." "Got it!" Sini nodded, feeling an immense sense of security hiding behind John. She alternated her Assassin skills, striking the Fire Spirits. -71 -66 ... The pitiful damage numbers flickered. These were her skill attacks. Her normal attacks couldn''t even prate the Fire Spirits'' defense. With the help of other yers, the Fire Spirits boss''s health finally plummeted after five minutes. Sini seized the opportunity, delivering a fatal blow, and sessfully killed it with great difficulty. John sighed in relief. An 85-level boss was practically an invincible foe for 60-level yers. "Boss, it''s my turn!" Ritchie called out for help. He and Armstrong were in a dire situation, struggling against the Fire Spirits, despite Avis''s efforts. Avis, though powerful, could notpletely fend off the Fire Spirits'' attacks. If it weren''t for his divine artifact, the Diamond Giant Shield, they would have been defeated countless times. "Come on, Captain!" "You''re the best, Captain!" "Take it down, Captain..." The surrounding soldiers, with nothing else to do, cheered Ritchie on. Ritchie was utterly embarrassed, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into. This was humiliating enough. Especially in front of John. "Everyone shut up!" he roared, then added, "Aren''t you all supposed to be busy? Get back to cleaning up the battlefield." "Roger that!" The soldiers'' eyes lit up, drawn by the scattered gear on the battlefield. The allure of third-tier premium equipment was far more tempting than watching Ritchie''s humiliation. John and Avis worked together, fending off the attacks of the two Fire Spirits bosses. After ten minutes of gruelingbat, Ritchie and Armstrong finally managed to take them down. "Damn it, what the hell are these things? Boss, you take them down so easily, but it''s so difficult for me! Do you have some secret weapon?" Ritchie grumbled, feeling unbnced despite having a divine artifact, hisbat power was nowhere near John''s. Armstrong scoffed, "If you suck, just practice more. Look at you whining." Ritchie immediately shot up, seething with anger, "You''re not much better than me. Let''s settle this!" "Bring it on, I''m not scared!" Armstrong, a battle maniac himself, was quick to rise to the challenge. Just as it seemed the two woulde to blows, John intervened, "We''re in the middle of defending against a monster tide. Save your fight for after we''ve secured the city." They reluctantly backed down, though their eyes still held a fiery challenge, neither willing to concede. ... Soon, the fifth wave of the monster tide arrived-90-level Dragon Monsters. The number remained at ten thousand, significantly stronger than the Fire Spirits. John''s group magic attacks could barely manage to take them down in one hit. Once again, it was a one-man battle. The people on the city walls, having nothing to do, began cheering for John. "Godyer, you''re amazing!" "Godyer, keep it up! Crush those bastards!" "Godyer, my girlfriend''s a huge fan! Can we get a picture? An autograph would be awesome too." ... John''s face turned an array of colors as he listened to the shouts from the wall. He seriously doubted whether Ritchie had recruited these people from a cheerleading squad. Boundless mes surged, magic pulsated. One by one, the Dragon Monsters fell to John''s powerful spells, howling as they met their demise. Soon, all the surrounding Dragon Monsters were cleared out, leaving only four 110-level, four-tier elite leaders. "Avis, don''t interfere, I''ll handle these guys myself," John quickly instructed Avis, leaping down to the ground. Once he killed these bosses, his Wrath of the Gods talent would upgrade again. With a roar, a Dragon Monster leapt at John, ws shing with cold light, aiming for his vital points. John scoffed, activating his Spell Combo talent. Two bolts of lightning struck down in quick session. Boom! Boom! -17,400 -34,811 Two terrifying damage numbers floated up, with one being a critical hit. The Dragon Monster boss, with only 50,000 HP, was instantly depleted, copsing to the ground with a wail. [Killed a 100-level, four-tier elite boss Dragon Monster leader, gained 813 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, strength +20, attack speed +1] Killing the boss, John once again plundered a point in attack speed. One point increasing his attack speed by 1%. His current attack speed was approaching 2.0, allowing him to strike twice per second. The battle continued, and the remaining three elite Dragon Monster leaders, powerless to fight back, were effortlessly in by John. [Sessfully killed 10 four-tier elite bosses, Wrath of the Gods talent upgraded to S-level, granting 70% skill cooldown reduction] [Next upgrade condition: kill 20 five-tier rare or above bosses, Wrath of the Gods talent can be upgraded to SS-level] The prompt shed. John''s Wrath of the Gods talent finally upgraded to S-level, granting 70% skill cooldown reduction. His spell cooldowns were now just 1.5 seconds. And area-of-effect skills cooling down in 6 seconds and Assassin skills in 3 seconds. He could maintain seamless output, provided he had enough mana. The next upgrade condition for Wrath of the Gods required killing five-tier rare bosses. At his current third-tier level, with his four basic attributes all above 6,000 points. But killing five-tier rare bosses was still unrealistic. He would need to reach the fourth tier or significantly boost his attributes to continue upgrading the talent. For now, the 70% cooldown reduction was more than sufficient. ... John single-handedly took on four elite bosses, easily ying them, leaving the surrounding yers in a state of numbness. "Isn''t this Godyer a bit too powerful?" "There must be cheats! Definitely cheats!" "Didn''t experts already confirm? The world of Gods is practically a real world, cheats are impossible." "Experts know nothing." "I remember the rumors that Godyer and Ritchie destroyed Gaia''s Imperial City. That might actually be true." "Shh, do you want to die? Don''t you see Mike White Family''s Toby right over there?" ... One whispered reminder, and the murmurs quickly quieted down. Toby, of course, heard the surrounding yers'' chatter. His expression darkened as he red intently at John on the battlefield. This Godyer was terrifying. If he couldn''t be controlled, he had to be eliminated! "Sir, let''s make a move. As long as we can hold off Godyer, the other yers will be easy targets!" a yer behind him suggested. He eyeing the scattered high-quality equipment with greed. "What''s the rush!" Toby snapped, ring at the speaker. Over seven hours had passed, and there were at least two more waves of the monster tide to come. He hoped the uing waves would be stronger, strong enough to upy Godyer so they could take advantage of the situation. If so, they can do something more. No matter what, Toby couldn''t let Ritchie sessfully establish the city. The first territory in the world of Gods had to belong to the Mike White Family. ... Just as the Dragon Monsters were ughtered and Ritchie hadn''t yet ordered the soldiers to clean up the battlefield. The ground began to tremble again. The next wave of the monster tide was arriving. Roar... The roars echoed through the forest, shaking the very ground. Under the pitch-ck night sky, trees toppled as countless shadows, like an unending tide, surged out of the forest, charging straight toward me City. John''s expression grew serious. The monster tide this time was massive and far more powerful. There were 110-level Swift Wind Wolves, 120-level me Lions, 130-level White Tigers, and 150-level Earth Bears. The numbers were staggering, totaling fifty thousand. All were formidable four-star beasts, their powerful auras blending into a ck wave sweeping forward. John''s group magic couldn''t instantly kill these four-star beasts. Alone, he couldn''t stop this monster tide. He nced toward the forest, angrily shouting, "Are you going to help or not?" He could clearly sense hundreds of powerful presences hidden in the woods- unquestionably, the blood-red demon wolf and other beasts. "This little guy is getting anxious. It''s time we stepped in," the subus said, a faint smile still on her face, her long dress fluttering as she moved toward the monster tide. "I, Blood-Eyed Demon Apes, don''t admire many, but this kid is one. Holding off four waves of the monster tide alone-if he keeps growing, even we might not be able to take him down," Blood-Eyed Demon Apes remarked. Several nearby beasts nodded in agreement and followed him into the battlefield. The blood-red demon wolf and itspanions were all boss-level four-star beasts, numbering over two hundred. Some of the stronger ones were at the peak of the six-star level. When they appeared on the battlefield, their overwhelming presence was immediate. The weaker four-star beasts trembled on the ground, unable to withstand the pressure, and were trampled into pulp by the monster tide. "Kid, this is thest time we help you. Take care of yourself!" the blood-red demon wolf roared, tearing apart a Swift Wind Wolf, shouting up to John in the sky. Though both were wolf species, the blood-red demon wolf and the Swift Wind Wolves were entirely different. The blood-red demon wolf belonged to the beast n, while the Swift Wind Wolves were magical beasts, invaders. They were natural enemies. Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Demon Race, Dark Humans, Attacking Amidst Chaos Chapter 67: Demon Race, Dark Humans, Attacking Amidst Chaos ? John heard blood-red demon wolf''s words but didn''t respond. These powerful beasts were valuable allies in the early stages, and he had no intention of letting them leave. Roar... Roars and screams of the beasts echoed across the battlefield. The tide of the battle shifted instantly. Moments ago, the monster horde had the upper hand, but now, faced with these terrifying creatures, they had no chance. Among the beasts, the weakest was at least a four-star rare boss. They easily handled the four-star monster tide. John, standing on Avis''s back, drank mana recovery potions while casting his magic spells. Fire Rain, Earthquake, and Thunderstorm alternated. His damage could no longer one-shot five-star beasts, but with the help of these beasts, many monsters still fell under his spells. Notifications kept popping up as his Plunder talent continued to increase his four main attributes. Even his hidden attributes were growing. John was confident that after this battle, he would have the strength to kill a five-star rare boss. The battlefield was chaotic. Countless beasts died under thebined might of John''s and the beasts'' attacks, unable to threaten the walls or the soldiers around them. ... "No way!" Far away, Toby watched in disbelief, his shout full of anger. Just a bit more, and me City would have been destroyed, but then those terrifying beasts had suddenly appeared from the forest. It seemed these were the same creatures that had destroyed Gaia''s Imperial City! Toby recognized the beasts, his teeth grinding in rage, but he dared not act recklessly. These creatures were powerful, numerous, and capable of holding out until the monster tide ended. "Sir, should we attack?" one of his men asked again. Toby shot him a cold re, causing the subordinate to shrink back, terrified, and retreat silently. He wanted to join the fight, but Godyer and his allies hadn''t yet reached a desperate situation. Making a move now would be suicidal. The spectators were equally astonished, never imagining that anyone could fend off a fourth- tier monster tide. This battle seemed destined for me Guild''s victory. As long as they held out for 12 hours, the city would be established. Once the monster tide retreated, no one could stop them. The various factions watched with a mix of resentment and fear. Facing just Godyer was already a daunting challenge, but discovering he had such powerful beasts under hismand was terrifying. This battle would undoubtedly cement Godyer''s reputation across the entire world of Gods. On the city wall. Soldiers watched in awe, utterly dumbfounded. They hade expecting to fight, but after the first wave of jungle wolves, they hadn''t needed to lift a finger. Even with the jungle wolves, Godyer could have wiped them out with a few spells if he had wanted to. "Superior, are you not going to help?" Anna asked ck Turtle. "No rush, they can handle it," ck Turtle replied, though his gaze was fixed on the depths of the forest, his expression serious. He sensed several presences as powerful as the blood-red demon wolf, six-tier epic beasts. Dawn was breaking, and the monster tide attack was nearing its end. Boom... Suddenly, the ground trembled. From the forest came an overwhelming presence, matching the strength of the beast army. "They''re here," ck Turtle muttered, turning to Princess Ada. "Princess, these creatures can''t hold on much longer. Judy and I need to step in." Princess Ada patted Judy, her guardian dragon, andmanded, "Go. This city is the hope of the Gates Empire, it must not fall." Judy let out a majestic dragon''s roar and charged into the battlefield, targeting the iing monster bosses. Ssh! A massive wave surged, flipping several monster bosses. The fourth-tier regr monsters were instantly killed. Judy''s strength was undeniable. ck Turtle, not wanting to be outdone, transformed into his true form and summoned massive meteors to rain down on the battlefield. Boom boom... The ground shook with earthquakes, and the monster horde suffered heavy casualties. "Seventh-tier beasts are truly formidable!" John couldn''t help but marvel at the sight. It was fortunate that they had these two seventh-tier beasts; otherwise, they wouldn''t have been able to withstand the monster tide assault. "It should be almost over," John observed, eyeing the clusters of monster leaders, all of which were rare fourth-tier bosses or higher, and even some sixth-tier epic bosses. If he could kill them, he would certainly be able to plunder a wealth of attributes, perhaps even new skills or talents. "We need to find a way to keep them here," he muttered, his eyes gleaming with determination. Surrounding himself with swirling magic, he unleashed a barrage of spells, ughtering the monster horde below. Ding! At that moment, his private chat buzzed. It was Ritchie. John, puzzled, checked the message. Ritchie: "Boss, we have a situation! There''s a massive army approaching from the east and north of the city-Dark Humans and demon race!" John''s expression turned serious, his brow furrowing. This sudden development was completely unexpected. Dark Humans and demon race were not part of the monster tide. Especially rming was the fact that the Dark Humans were taking action. He signaled Avis to fly higher, surveying the area around the city. From two directions,rge armies were advancing rapidly-over ten thousand elite third-tier demon soldiers and Dark Humans. John wasn''t surprised by the presence of demon soldiers in Dark Forest. What shocked him was the open intervention of the Dark Humans, attempting to disrupt his city-building efforts. This had to be the elite forces from Silverleaf City, the only nearby second-tier city. "Can''t wait any longer, can you?" John sneered. First, it was the public attack from the Jade City guards, and now Silverleaf City was sending a large force to stop him. The Dark Humans were viting the rules by attacking yers directly, but they seemed desperate to prevent John from establishing his city. The demon soldiers posed an even greater threat. There were ten thousand elite third-tier demon soldiers, dozens of fourth-tier demon guardians, and a fifth-tier demon general, equivalent to a rare boss. John assessed the battlefield. ck Turtle and the other beasts were heavily engaged with the monster horde and couldn''t assist. He was the only one who could stop the demon soldiers. "Anna!" he called to the Elven Saintess on the city wall. "Lead the elves and hold off the Dark Humans army. No matter what, protect the city." "Don''t worry, my benefactor!" Anna responded confidently. She led over six hundred elite elves to defend the northern wall. "Avis, go help them," Johnmanded, patting the ck dragon before leaping down. The elves were powerful, equivalent to third-tier peak bosses, but their numbers were limited, and they were mostly ranged fighters, making it challenging to hold off ten thousand elite Dark Humans. "Master, be careful!" Avis reminded him, pping his wings as his massive body soared to support the northern wall. John then privately messaged hie and Armstrong. Godyer: "Ritchie, Armstrong, stay alert. The yers might take advantage of the chaos to launch a sneak attack. Don''t let them invade our base." Ritchie: "Don''t worry, boss. We''ll handle it from here." Ritchie and Armstrong were eager, hoping the yers would dare to make a move. They had just broken through to the third tier, significantly boosting their strength. While they weren''t a match for the terrifying monsters, dealing with the current yers would be a breeze. After giving his instructions, John quickly moved to the eastern side of the city, ready to single-handedly hold off the approaching demon race army. Over ten thousand demon soldiers, all at the peak of the third tier, were no match for him. The only real threats were the fourth-tier epic demon guardians and the rare fifth-tier demon general. ... Roars and battle cries echoed around the city as a chaotic melee ensued. Everyone was determined to hold the line, ensuring the city remained unscathed. In the distance, Toby watched the scene with excitement. The terrifying beasts, powerful elves, and that monstrous Godyer were all upied. Now, only the members of me Guild were left defending the city. This was their chance. "Quiet!" Toby roared, stepping onto a makeshift tform. He surveyed the crowd and began to speak slowly, "I am Toby Mike White, the next heir of the Mike White Family." The surrounding yers, initially disgruntled, fell silent at his introduction. Their gazes turned to admiration and longing. The Mike White Family, to ordinary people, was an insurmountable mountain, capable of influencing entire nations. Satisfied with the reaction, Toby continued, "me Guild''s Ritchie is arrogant, and that Godyer is a bloodthirsty killer. If we let them establish this city, our future will be bleak. Now is our chance to overthrow me Guild and build a free and equal nation!" The crowd exchanged nces, not fully convinced. ims of Ritchie''s arrogance and Godyer''s brutality were just Toby''s words. No one wanted to be used as a pawn by him. Seeing theck of response, Toby''s brow furrowed. He pressed on, "All the spoils of this battle will be yours to keep. Additionally, anyone who attacks me Guild will receive an extra 10 gold coins!" The yers'' eyes lit up, instantly captivated. Ten gold coins, equivalent to 200,000 dor, was a substantial sum. With nearly 20,000 yers present, it meant a potential payout of 4 billion dor from the Mike White Family. The Mike White is a powerful family truly. But what truly tempted them were the scattered pieces of equipment-high-quality third and fourth-tier gear worth far more than ten gold coins each. "Overthrow me Guild, build a free nation!" "Overthrow me Guild, build a free nation!" ... Someone started the chant, and soon, the crowd erupted. Without waiting for Toby''s orders, the 20,000 yers, driven mad by greed, charged towards the battlefield. They weren''t afraid of dying; getting their hands on just one piece of equipment would make it all worthwhile. Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Chaos Breaks Out, Battle with Demon Guardians Chapter 68: Chaos Breaks Out, Battle with Demon Guardians ? Toby watched the scene unfold, a cold smile ying on his lips, full of disdain. He relished the feeling of manipting everyone like puppets. To him, these yers were mere cannon fodder; the real trump cardy with the forces backing him. Looking at the 20,000 yers behind him, Toby issued a coldmand, "Your task is simple. Do whatever it takes to breach the city. The first one to storm the city will be an official member of the Mike White Family. Whoever destroys the city altar, I will support them in bing the biggest force in the world of Gods!" Upon hearing his words, the yers wentpletely berserk. "Don''t worry, Lord Toby! We''ll take me City for sure. Brothers, charge!" Butcher roared, leading his men into the battlefield. "Glory and wealth are within our grasp! Charge!" Demon Emperor was not to be outdone, leading his Sin City members into the fray. The battlefield descended into chaos instantly. me Legion members suffered heavy casualties, yet they all held the first line of defense, fighting to the death. Fallen soldiers resurrected and immediately rejoined the fight, using their lives to block the enemy''s advance. However, the sheer number of yers, attacking like madmen without fear of death, meant that the fall of the city seemed inevitable. From a distance, Toby watched with a dark expression. This was merely the first step in his revenge. He was determined to make Godyer and Ritchie regret ever entering the world of Gods. Turning to the Skywalker behind him, Toby asked, "Skywalker, aren''t you going to make a move?" Members of the Griffin Family had already joined the battle, causing significant trouble for the defending soldiers. "Hmph!" Skywalker snorted, fixing his gaze on one target. Initially, he had set his sights on Godyer. But after witnessing Godyer''s terrifying power, he quickly abandoned that idea. Instead, he focused on Armstrong, the heir of the Blues Family. The Griffin Family and the Blues Family had long been at odds, their conflict escting to a deadly feud in recent years. Defeating the Blues Family heir in the world of Gods would be a significant achievement. Armstrong had reached level 62, ranking third on the leaderboard, making him a worthy opponent. "Toby, don''t forget the promises of the Mike White Family!" Skywalker reminded Toby, drawing his long de. With a cold gleam, it hummed as it cut through the air. Skywalker plunged into the battlefield, cutting through enemies like they were nothing, making a beeline for Armstrong. ... Meanwhile, on the other side. John had decisively exterminated the invading demon soldiers, leaving only 14 fourth-tier demon guardians and the fifth-tier demon general. "Adventurer, you are very strong. Perhaps we can cooperate," Demon General Bolt stared at John, his eyes showing a hint of admiration without any intention of attacking. "Cooperate?" John frowned, looking at the corpses of demon soldiers scattered across the ground. He said calmly, "I''ve ughtered so many of your demon soldiers, and you still want to cooperate with me?" "Hmph!" Bolt looked disdainful, "Those guys are just ants. We demons worship the strong. I admire you. We can split the Dark Forest, but you need to give me this City of Darkness. In return, I will help you establish another city." John stared at him, sensing that Bolt was serious. The demon race''s influence in the Dark Forest was indeed powerful, but it seemed they were not in the best position themselves. Not particrly interested in the offer, but curious, John asked, "Why do you want this City of Darkness?" Bolt shrugged and replied, "The City of Darkness was once established by a Demon King. We have a special attachment to it and don''t want it to fall into the hands of outsiders." Demon King? Demon King''s treasure! John''s brow furrowed as he suddenly remembered something. Previously, Joel, one of the demon guardians of the City of Darkness, had mentioned the Demon King''s treasure. But John had searched the city thoroughly and found nothing. Seeing Bolt''s reaction now, John was certain that the Demon King''s treasure was still in the city. "Sorry, I''m not interested in your proposal. This city is mine!" With that, John raised his staff. Bolt was infuriated and, without wasting words, coldly ordered, "Stubborn fool, kill him!" At hismand, 14 demon guardians simultaneously charged at John. These guardians were all level 100, fourth-tier epic-level powerhouses, much stronger than Joel. But John was now far more formidable than before. Whoosh! A torrential rain of fire fell, turning the surroundings into a sea of mes. -7200 -7204 -14421 ... Damage numbers shed, with even two critical hits triggering. The level 100 demon guardians had 190,000 health points, so this damage was barely a threat to them. In an instant, the demon guardians rushed through the fire, dark magic power surging, attacking John. He retreated quickly and calmly, his staff waving as one magical spell after another flew out. Big Fireball, Wind de sh, Thunderstorm, Dark Orb... Spell Combo triggered three times, with seven magical skills striking one demon guardian. -12105 -12087 -24221 ... Three critical hits reduced the demon guardian''s health by over 100,000, leaving it with only one-third of its life. "Dark magic?" Bolt watched John cast Dark Orb, surprised. Dark magic was something only the demon race and Dark Humans could wield. How had this human adventurer learned it? Whoosh! Several Dark Orbs flew towards John. A clone materialized, stepping in front of him. Boom... Three Dark Orbs hit, instantly destroying the clone with over 70,000 health. The remaining five Dark Orbs headed straight for John. With no time to dodge, earth elements surged around him, forming Rock Armor to protect his body. The orbs exploded, and dark energy surged. Rock Armor only managed to block two of the orbs before shattering instantly. The remaining three orbs came hurtling towards him. -23003 -22944 -22972 John''s health plummeted, leaving him with just over 2000 HP, narrowly avoiding death. He quickly gulped down two high-grade health potions. The damage from the fourth-tier epic demon guardians was terrifying. Luckily, Bolt''s arrogance kept him from joining the fight directly; otherwise, John wouldn''t have stood a chance. "Finish this quickly!" John knew he couldn''t afford to be hit by the demon guardians again. Rain of Fire and Earthquake, his two AoE skills, were cast simultaneously. Then, he quickly retreated, gathering a massive amount of magical energy around him. Several magic spells whizzed through the air, targeting the demon guardian with the lowest health. Boom! Boom! -12077 -12142 The magical onught obliterated the demon guardian in an instant. [Killed a level 100 fourth-tier epic demon guardian, gained 1952 XP] [Plunder ability activated, gained +100 Spirit, +10 Skill Points, +1 Magic Crit] The notifications shed, but unfortunately, there were no new skills or talents acquired. John didn''t have time to check the dropped loot as he swiftly dodged iing dark magic spells. This time it wasn''t Dark Orb, but the intermediate skill Annihtion. A small ck hole appeared in front of him. There was no time to evade; the immense suction pulled him towards the ck hole, dropping his health to 1 point instantly. Lifesaver ability activated! Immediately, a surge of life force enveloped him, restoring his health to full. It was the life-sharing with The Tree of Life. "What? How does he possess such immense life force?" Bolt, observing the battle, was intrigued by John''s sudden recovery. This human definitely held secrets. Still, Bolt didn''t intervene directly, believing the remaining 13 demon guardians could easily finish the job. John was now even more cautious, not daring to let his guard down. The Lifesaver ability had a one-day cooldown. Since it wasn''t a skill, the Wrath of the Gods cooldown reduction didn''t apply to it. He still had the god-tier Undying and Immortal talent, but with the demon general watching, he couldn''t reveal too many of his cards. If he used physical attacks, these demon guardians wouldn''t stand a chance. But those were reserved for the demon general. "Human, my offer still stands. Even though your death here doesn''t mean true death, it will still impact your strength," Bolt urged once more, watching from the sidelines. John ignored him, his magical attacks bing even more intense. [Killed a level 100 fourth-tier epic demon guardian, gained 1952 XP] [Plunder ability activated, gained +100 Spirit, +100 Strength, +10 Skill Points] Another demon guardian fell. John was still under immense pressure, not daring to rx for even a moment. His skills were cast almost without pause, repeatedly interrupting the demon guardians'' spellcasting. While this strategy ensured his safety, it slowed down the rate at which he could kill them. "Interesting!" Bolt watched John''sbat techniques with growing interest. [Killed a level 100 fourth-tier epic demon guardian, gained 1952 XP] [Plunder ability activated, gained +100 Spirit, +10 Skill Points, +1 Magic Crit] ... One by one, the demon guardians fell. John''s health dropped to critical levels multiple times. But thanks to The Tree of Life''s life-sharing, he was repeatedly pulled back from the brink of death. [Killed a level 100 fourth-tier epic demon guardian, gained 1952 XP] [Plunder ability activated, gained +100 Spirit, +100 Constitution, +10 Skill Points] Finally, thest demon guardian was in, yet there were still no new talents or skills plundered. John exhaled deeply, focusing his gaze on the demon general, Bolt. "Now, it''s your turn!" he said, his expression serious. One hand gripped his staff tightly, while the other hand had a dagger sliding down his sleeve. Bolt chuckled coldly, his tone dripping with disdain, "Human, if I''m not mistaken, you have some sort of special life-restoration ability. As long as you''re not killed outright, your health can recover rapidly." John didn''t respond, his mind reeling. Bolt''s insight was indeed impressive. Thankfully, his Phantom Assassin ss had not been exposed. "You struggled so much against a few demon guardians. There''s no way you can defeat me," Bolt continued. As dark energy began to swirl around him, a prelude to casting Annihtion. John''s eyes narrowed, and heunched a massive fireball towards Bolt. Boom! -5750 The fireball struck Bolt, interrupting his spellcasting. However, the damage was negligible- only a bit over five thousand points. For Bolt, who had 250,000 HP, this was hardly significant. Chapter 69: Chapter 69: SSS Talent, Blessing of the Archmage Chapter 69: SSS Talent, Blessing of the Archmage ? Bolt remainedposed, producing a ck spear and staring at John, saying calmly, "You can interrupt spell casting; I am indeed surprised. Unfortunately, you can''t interrupt physical attacks. My physical attack is enough to kill you instantly!" With that, he turned into a blur, a cold gleam shing as his spear shot towards John. "Die!" Bolt roared, full of confidence in his strike. John made no move to dodge, a faint smile tugging at his lips. sh! Water Mist Clone stood before him, the spear piercing through it and slowly dissipating. Bolt indeed had the power to kill John in one hit. But he didn''t get the chance. "Death Whirlwind!" John shouted, vanishing and reappearing as a blur. Multiple shes of cold light enveloped Bolt. St... Blood sttered. With the dual talents of Physical Damage and Dual Mastery, John''s base physical damage had reached a terrifying 22,000 points. Moreover, with 100% physical crit, all his attacks and skills dealt critical damage. -8444 -8458 ... Ten red damage numbers shed. Bolt lost over 80,000 HP in an instant. Three more hits like that, and he would be dead. "Impossible!" Bolt panicked, retreating swiftly, staring at John in disbelief, "You''re not a mage; you''re an Assassin!" John smirked coldly without answering, activating the Assassin skill, Shadow Strike. "Coward!" Bolt cursed, his demeanor no longer calm. Dark energy surged around him, forming a protective shield. Crack! In an instant, the shield shattered, and the dagger struck. -33242 Another critical hit. Although the shield absorbed most of the damage, John still knocked off over 30,000 HP. Bolt was utterly panicked now, hurriedly saying, "Human, I can give you the City of Darkness and promise you a level 2 city!" "Not interested! Deadly Strike!" John roared, activating another Assassin skill. A sh of cold light pierced Bolt''s body. -84132 Another critical hit! With less than 50,000 HP left, Bolt couldn''t withstand John''s next attack. Escape! Without hesitation, he turned to flee. "Now trying to run? Toote!" John sneered, his agility rivaling Bolt''s. In a burst of speed, he appeared behind Bolt, unleashing another Death Whirlwind. "Die!" John''s cold voice echoed as multiple shes enveloped Bolt. Blood sttered, and damage numbers shed continuously. -8424 -8452 -1 -1 The anticipated scene of Bolt being killed did not ur. Instead, a purple glow surrounded Bolt, and a powerful aura surged. After the fifth attack, John''s strikes only deducted 1 point of health. "What''s going on?" John stared at Bolt, who was shrouded in purple light, sensing a tremendous threat. A message appeared. [Bolt, Rare Level 5 Demon General, Evolving...] "Evolution!" John''s expression changed. Evolution in beasts and demons most often urred during level transitions. But Bolt was only at level 200, far from the level 500 needed for the next evolution. Yet he was evolving without reaching that threshold. Currently, Bolt had the strength of a level 200 rare boss; post-evolution, he would reach epic tier, doubling hisbat power at least. "I can''t let himplete the evolution!" John thought, determined. He attacked the purple shield with his dagger, the cold gleam of his weapon striking rapidly. ng... -1 -1 ... A clear sound of impact echoed; each of John''s attacks could only forcefully deduct 1 point of health. Bolt had 817 health points left. With an attack speed of two hits per second, it would take John about 400 seconds, nearly seven minutes, to bring him down. John could only hope that Bolt wouldn''tplete the evolution within those seven minutes. ... Bathed in purple light, Bolt looked at John with a mocking expression, saying disdainfully, "Adventurer, it''s useless, stop wasting your energy. But, I must thank you for pushing me to the brink and triggering my evolution conditions." John ignored him, relentlessly attacking with his dagger, interspersing magic skills. All still only deducting 1 point per hit. Bolt watched his dwindling health, growing increasingly anxious. He continuously pushed against his internal barrier, speeding up the evolution process. If he were killed during evolution, it would be utterly humiliating. John continued to assault the purple shield. One minute. Three minutes. Five minutes. Bolt grew more desperate. His health had dropped below two hundred points, not enough to last another two minutes. The evolution process was far frompletion. If only he had more health. "Human, stop!" Bolt roared, aborting his evolution abruptly. Boom! A surge of energy exploded, the purple glow disintegrating, sending John flying. Boom! Bolt coughed up blood, his face pale, his eyes filled with fury. "Human, you''ve ruined me!" Bolt roared in a deep, angry voice. Forcibly ending his evolution had caused irreversible damage to his body, capping his evolutionary potential at the epic level for the rest of his life. "I will tear you to pieces!" With a furious cry, his spear, imbued with endless dark energy, caused ripples even in the surrounding air. Swoosh! The spear shed and instantly pierced John''s body. -100000 A terrifying damage number floated up. [You have been instantly killed. God-level talent Undying and Immortal activated, life- sharing activated, your life is restored...] The system notifications shed. John felt disoriented for a moment but quickly recovered, retreating swiftly to put distance between himself and Bolt. "What, still not dead?" Bolt was shocked, ring at John, "Kid, just how many secrets do you have?" John had no interest in small talk. He swung his staff, and a Thunderstorm descended. Boom! -30778 Thunder roared, and a terrifying damage number appeared. "What''s going on?" John was puzzled. Against a level five epic demon general, his magic shouldn''t even prate Bolt''s defenses. He stared at Bolt and suddenly realized. Weakness! By forcibly ending his evolution, Bolt had suffered energy bacsh, leaving his body in a weakened state with all resistances reduced to 1 point. This meant John''s attacks dealt full damage. "So, you''re not so tough after all!" John''s confidence surged. He quickly created distance, ensuring Bolt couldn''t get close, and rained down a series of magical attacks. -29941 -60744 ... Terrifying damage numbers shed, with even some critical hits. Bolt''s post-evolution health reached five hundred thousand, but he couldn''t withstand such relentless bombardment from John. "Kid, if you''ve got guts, don''t dodge!" Bolt raged. Every time he tried to use a skill, John would interrupt him. His only threat to John was close-range attacks. But John was too fast and had slowing skills that prevented Bolt from getting close. If this continued, Bolt would be kited to death by this human. Escape! The thought of retreat surfaced again. Bolt feigned a charge towards John, saw John retreat to create distance, and then abruptly turned to flee in the opposite direction. John was momentarily stunned, not expecting Bolt, even after evolving to an epic level, to shamelessly run away. "You won''t get away!" John chased relentlessly, casting spells in quick session with hardly any intervals. Bolt waspletely panicked and began to beg for mercy again, "Human, you can''t kill me. I can tell you the secret of the Demon King treasure." John sneered, his attacks relentless, and coldly replied, "You think I don''t know? The Demon King treasure is in the city instance. As long as I take City of Darkness, I''ll get the Demon King treasure." Bolt was stunned, "How did you know?" "It seems I guessed right!" John smiled triumphantly. He wasn''t sure, but seeing Bolt''s reaction confirmed his suspicion. Spell Combo triggered, several magic skills rained down. "No!" Bolt let out an unwilling roar, his health dropped to zero, and he copsed to the ground. [You have killed Level 200 Epic Demon General Bolt, gaining 8416 experience points] [You leveled up, Spirit +4, Strength +3, Agility +2, Free Attribute Points +16, Skill Points +2] [Plunder talent activated, you gained SSS-level talent: Blessing of the Archmage] [Blessing of the Archmage: SSS-level, unique; all skill levels +1, can surpass level limits] [You have received Blessing of the Archmage, primary skill Great Fireball (Level 10) level +1, surpassed limit, upgraded to intermediate spell ze Explosion (Level 1)] [You have received Blessing of the Archmage, primary skill Wind de sh (Level 10) level +1, surpassed limit, upgraded to intermediate spell Wind de Rupture (Level 1)] [You have received Blessing of the Archmage, primary skill Rock Armor (Level 10) level +1, surpassed limit, upgraded to intermediate spell Iron Armor (Level 1)] ... More than a dozen notifications shed. With the Blessing of the Archmage talent, all of John''s skills were upgraded by one level, from primary to intermediate! His power increased significantly once again. "Another SSS-level talent!" John joyfully reviewed his upgraded skills. Single-target magic and physical skills damage increased from 200% to 220%. Area-of-effect magic skills damage increased from 153% to 160%. Especially the area-of-effect Earthquake skill, now upgraded to Tremor, which could stun enemies for 1 second, bing a powerful crowd control skill! ... "Mike White, if you destroy my city today, I swear I''ll annihte your family in the real world!" Ritchie''s furious shout echoed through the city. John hurriedly collected the items Bolt dropped into his Storage Ring and moved to support the other battlefields. The monster tide army was blocked by the beasts and hadn''t threatened the city walls. On the other side, the elves and Avis, working together, also kept the Dark Humans'' army outside the walls. However, me Legion couldn''t hold off the yers'' attacks. The city was breached, and everyone gathered at the altar, using their bodies to shield it and defend it with their lives. John noticed that many members had already dropped to Level 10, having died multiple times, and some had even fallen to Level 1, returning to the novice vige. Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Successful Defense and Subjugation of Beasts Chapter 70: Sessful Defense and Subjugation of Beasts ? "From this day forth, any yer or faction that attacked me Guild will face unending retribution," roared John, his mes roaring around him as he charged forward. "It''s Godyer!" "Oh no, his damage is insanely high!" "Help!" "Run!" The yers who had just been arrogantly attacking the altar were now terrified, scattering in all directions at the sight of John. Under his mes, countless yers turned into white light and vanished. Instant kill! These yers couldn''t withstand John''s attacks at all. Screams echoed, and their formation was instantly shattered. Ritchie, who had been struggling under the yers'' assault, suddenly felt a surge of confidence when he saw John arrive. Waving his spear, he roared, "Charge! Drive them back!" "Godyer is here!" "Finally, it''s our turn to strike back!" "Charge! Wipe out these bastards!" The members of me Guild, who had been holding back their rage, were invigorated by John''s arrival. They began their counterattack with renewed ferocity. Even chasing down second-tier yers. They feared John more than the guild members. "He''s a demon, this guy is a demon!" "Godyer, it was a misunderstanding! We were deceived by Mike White Family..." Watching the yers being ughtered, their morale broke down, their curses and pleas for mercy echoing through the air. John remained indifferent, his attacks relentless. If they dared to attack me City, they had to be prepared to face death. In less than fifteen minutes, tens of thousands of yers werepletely annihted by John. The ground was littered with equipment, much of it high-quality gear that the yers had looted from the battlefield. Ritchie sighed in relief, rushing excitedly to John. "Boss, thank goodness you came in time. We were on the brink of copse." John nodded, noticing Sini and Tracy nearby, but Armstrong was nowhere to be seen. There were also few Blues Family members present. They hadn''t joined me Guild, so they would respawn in the nearest city upon death. "Where''s Armstrong?" John asked, puzzled. Armstrong, a third-tier powerhouse, should have been able to avoid death. Tracy angrily replied, "Uncle, my brother died. It was the Griffin Family who did it." Griffin Family? John frowned. The Griffin Family had also attacked the city. It seemed it was time to settle ounts with them. He turned to Ritchie and asked, "Did you keep track of the factions that attacked the city?" Ritchie nodded and said, "Apart from the solo yers, most of them are forces supported by Mike White Family. Boss, are we going to take revenge?" He waved his weapon, unable to swallow his anger. "Not yet. You handle cleaning up the battlefield. I''m heading to support the other walls," John instructed before heading to support Anna and the others. The elves were facing over ten thousand Dark Humans, all of whom were at least third-tier in strength. Fortunately, with the help of the ck dragon Avis, the elves'' casualties were not severe. John arrived at the northern wall without dy and immediately began his ughter. The remaining four thousand Dark Humans soldiers had no chance to fight back and were quickly annihted by John. [Announcement: me City has sessfully withstood the monster tide attack and has been sessfully established.] [All guild members receive 100,000 experience points, 100 free attribute points, and 10 skill points.] ... Three system announcements echoed. The twelve hours had passed, marking the end of the monster tide attack. The remaining monster army lost all will to fight and retreated like a receding tide. Even the powerful monster bosses withdrew. The yers on the wall burst into cheers. "We did it!" "The rewards are amazing: 100 free attribute points, 10 skill points, and 100,000 experience points..." "All the deaths were worth it!" "Thank goodness for Godyer." "I just want to say one thing: Godyer is awesome!" "I had doubts about Godyer being the vice leader, but now I''m convinced." "I''d ept him as the leader, not just the vice leader." Everyone was praising John. Ritchie stood aside, his face dark with irritation. Damn, these guys are so ungrateful. But he didn''t care. John was his boss anyway, and he deserved to be the leader. Ritchie interrupted the cheering crowd andmanded, "Enough chatter. Clean up the battlefield. Tonight, we celebrate with a victory feast!" "Victory feast!" Everyone''s eyes lit up with excitement. "Long live the leader!" "Let''s go, gather the spoils!" The members got busy again. On the wall, Ada watched with delight. Though these adventurers were rtively weak, their unity and fearlessness even impressed her more than the elite soldiers of the Gates Empire. With their help, she was confident in rebuilding the Gates Empire. ... "Human!" At that moment, blood-red demon wolf and several other powerful beasts approached John. "We have fulfilled our three promises to you. From now on, we will no longer intervene in your affairs. Farewell." "Wait!" John stepped forward, blocking the blood-red demon wolf and the other beasts. "We havemon enemies-monsters, Dark Humans, and gods. Stay and work for me, and I promise you won''t be treated unfairly." Boom! As soon as he finished speaking, a massive aura erupted. The blood-red demon wolf and the other beasts red at John with hostility. Blood-Eyed Demon Apes was the first to step forward, coldly saying, "Kid, don''t test our limits. Crushing you is as easy as crushing an ant." He waved his fan-sized hand threateningly. John knew well that these beasts had the power to back up their threats. He took a step back and looked at the ck Turtle, who was standing calmly to the side. "Elder, it''s your turn." The ck Turtle red at John but still stepped forward. With a simple palm strike, he hit the Blood-Eyed Demon Apes. Boom! The ground trembled, and dust flew. Blood-Eyed Demon Apes was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground and spitting blood. With just one strike, he was severely injured. Seeing this, the other beasts became visibly unsettled. "Old turtle, are you trying to make enemies of us?" the blood-red demon wolf cursed, ring at the ck Turtle. The ck Turtle''s expression was cold, and his fist clenched, making cracking sounds. He stared at the blood-red demon wolf and said coldly, "Wolf, I''ve tolerated you long enough. Do you really think I wouldn''t dare kill you?" The blood-red demon wolf swallowed hard, taking a step back. He knew the ck Turtle truly had the power to kill him. But seeing the other beasts around him, he gained confidence and challenged, "ck Turtle, if you were at your peak, I''d really fear you. But now, can you take on all of us?" All the beasts stood together, ring at the ck Turtle, ready to fight at any moment. They had just gained their freedom and would not easily submit again. Roar... At that moment, a deep and resonant dragon roar echoed. A long, white figure swooped down from the sky-it was Judy. "And what about with me included?" an ethereal female voice echoed. John looked up at Judy in surprise; it was the first time he had heard her speak and realized she was a female dragon. Beasts that reached the seventh rank could take human form, like the ck Turtle. Judy, also a seventh-rank peak beast, could naturally transform into a human but had never done so. With Judy''s appearance, the beasts fell silent again, frowning and their eyes flickering. They might have dared to fight against the ck Turtle alone. But against two peak seventh-rank beasts, they stood no chance. "Human, what exactly do you want?" The subus put away her charming smile, staring coldly at John, though her tone now carried a hint of submission. John said calmly, "Don''t worry, I won''t force you. You can stay in the Death Land to cultivate most of the time." "Dream on!" "Impossible!" "We''d rather die than go back to the Death Land!" The beasts reacted strongly, ready to fight to the death. They had finally escaped the Death Land and regained their freedom; there was no way they would return to that hell. "Everyone," John interrupted the beasts, exining, "The Death Land has changed. There''s now the Tree of Life and the vein of the Earth. You can use them freely, which is a huge benefit for you." "The Tree of Life? The Vein of the Earth? Kid, are you serious?" The blood-red demon wolf stared at John in disbelief. The Tree of Life and the vein of the Earth were both legendary treasures. Seeing the elves beside John made him somewhat believe it. But to be sure, they needed to check it out. He looked around and fixed his gaze on a weaker fourth-rank beast, a bloodde mantis, and coldly said, "You, go in and check it out." The bloodde mantis trembled, instinctively wanting to refuse but not daring to defy the powerful blood-red demon wolf. "I''ll go," the subus said. "This guy is too weak and could be easily threatened by this human. It''s safer if I go." She then looked at John coldly, "Human, you''d better not y any tricks, or I''ll kill you." "Got it. Don''t resist," John said, not wanting to waste time. He connected with the Death Land and transported the subus and himself there. Buzz! The two figures disappeared and reappeared in the Death Land the next second. A vast wave of life energy hit them. The subus was stunned, staring at the towering Tree of Life and the Vein of the Earth. Her voice trembled, "It really is the Tree of Life and the Vein of the Earth... Human, what about the Elven Spring?" She realized something. The Tree of Life and the Elven Spring were symbiotic, but the water beside them was from the vein of the Earth, not the Elven Spring. "I don''t know," John admitted. He also wanted the Elven Spring. It had already disappeared when he encountered the elves, and even they didn''t know its whereabouts. He looked at the subus and asked, "Can you agree to my conditions now?" The subus nodded without hesitation, then her tone shifted, "But I have a question. Why does the ck Turtle follow your orders?" Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Revenge, Destroy Silverleaf City Chapter 71: Revenge, Destroy Silverleaf City ? John didn''t hide anything and pointed to the nearby Vein of the Earth, saying, "Because of this." The subus realized and said, "That makes sense. The power of the Vein of the Earth is simr to the ck Turtle''s nature; that old thing couldn''t resist it. I thought you were the prophesied savior." She sighed with relief as she spoke. "You know about that prophecy too?" John looked at the subus, "Why, do you seem relieved that I''m not the savior?" The subus smiled seductively and said, "Don''t misunderstand. I''m relieved for your sake. Imagine if you were the prophesied savior. Do you think the Dark Humans, or even the gods, would let you live?" John nodded in agreement, realizing there was some truth to her words. However, he had no interest in being a savior. Regardless of his identity, in this lifetime, he was determined to confront and defeat the gods directly. The subus took a deep breath, looking contented, and said, "Let''s go back. With the Tree of Life and the vein of the Earth, no beast would refuse. You''ve truly lucked out." John didn''t respond and led her out of the Death Land. As they reappeared, the blood-red demon wolf was the first to approach, looking at the subus and asking, "Well? Was this kid telling the truth?" The subus smiled slightly and nodded, "Indeed, there''s the Tree of Life and the Vein of the Earth. Moreover, the dark aura of the Death Land haspletely disappeared, greatly aiding our recovery." "Really?" The group of beasts was excited, their eyes fixed on John, clearly eager to enter the Death Land. John, however, wasn''t in a hurry to agree and said, "There''s one more thing I need you to do: help me destroy Silverleaf City!" Since Silverleaf City had openly dispatched troops, he needed to show them his strength, serving as a warning to the Dark Humans. "Destroy Silverleaf City?" The blood-red demon wolf eximed, shocked by John''s decision. "Kid," the Blood-Eyed Demon Apes, now recovered from its injuries, also came forward, saying, "You know Silverleaf City is controlled by the Dark Humans, right? While the Dark Humans there aren''t very strong, they are backed by powerful ninth-rank Dark Humans." The beasts didn''t dare provoke the Dark Humans. Even at their peak, they were no match for the Dark Humans, let alone now. John, however, remained unconcerned. "What''s there to fear? You can all hide in the Death Land. If the Dark Humans want revenge, they can onlye after me." "Good point," said the Cloud Treading Beast, whose true form was a giant blue ox, also a peak sixth-rank being. "I''ve had enough of those Dark Humans. It''s time to deal with the ones in Silverleaf City." "I agree! This blood debt needs to be repaid, starting with interest." With their concerns eased, the beasts quickly voiced their support. The blood-red demon wolf, now eager, asked, "Kid, when do we move?" "Right now. And don''t spare any yers there either," John said coldly. The yers of Silverleaf City, most of whom had attacked me City and then resurrected, deserved their fate. John didn''t care if some innocent yers were caught in the crossfire. "Let''s go!" Johnmanded, mounting the ck dragon Avis. He led a mighty army of beasts toward Silverleaf City. He had already warned Armstrong and the others to leave Silverleaf City to avoid getting caught in the battle. ... At Silverleaf City, arge crowd of yers gathered around the resurrection point, their curses echoing in the air. "Damn that Godyer! I finally reached level 40, and now I''m back to level 30." "This guy''s existence breaks the bnce. We need to get him banned from the world of Gods!" "Agreed!" "I''m applying to join Mike White Family to fight Godyer!" "Forget it, buddy. I''m ranked 1174, and even I don''t qualify to join." "We can''t let this slide. Who''s with me to storm me City?" A burly warrior yer shouted in anger. There was a moment of silence, and everyone looked at him like he was crazy. They could talk big, but they weren''t stupid. If a powerful monster tide couldn''t take down me City, they''d be walking to their deaths. Suddenly, an announcement rang out. [Announcement: yer Godyer has dered war on Silverleaf City. All yers can join the defense. Holding Silverleaf City will grant rich rewards.] ... Three announcements echoed throughout the world of Gods. The yers around the resurrection point were stunned. "He''s insane! Godyer has lost it, daring to attack a city in the world of Gods." "This is our chance. Kill Godyer and defend Silverleaf City!" "Yeah, join the Silverleaf City defense. Godyer doesn''t stand a chance against the city''s forces." ... The yers were excited, shouting as they rushed to the city walls. Hiding among the crowd, Toby frowned. He didn''t believe Godyer was reckless. There had to be beasts involved; without them, yers alone wouldn''t stand a chance against Silverleaf City''s guards. "Sir, aren''t we going to act?" Butcher, standing beside him, was eager, looking to Toby for orders. Among the yers, he felt the most humiliated. He had worked hard to reach level 59, only to be killed by Godyer and dropped back to level 30. Half a month''s effort wasted, and he dreamed of tearing Godyer apart. "No, retreat. Leave Silverleaf City immediately," Toby said gravely, rushing towards the teleportation point. He remembered the disastrous oue of theirst attempt to ambush Godyer, where Dark Angel and others were killed and sent back to the beginner''s vige. These yers were likely doomed. Boom! Boom! Boom! Suddenly, thunderous roars echoed as a terrifying aura engulfed the sky. The beast army charged in, effortlessly destroying the city. John led the beasts straight to the teleportation point. He needed to destroy it immediately to prevent yers from escaping and to block reinforcements from other cities. Dark Humans, like yers, could also use the teleportation arrays. Just moments ago, yers were boldly proiming their support to defend the city for the Dark Humans. Now, seeing the beast army approaching, terror filled their faces. They frantically rushed towards the teleportation point. Facing these fearsome beasts, they had no will to resist and only wanted to escape as quickly as possible. "Hurry, break through!" Toby tried several times to get through the crowd but was pushed back each time. Infuriated, he ordered his men to attack the yers blocking their way. Chaos erupted instantly. yers who had been united in defending the city now turned on each other, desperately trying to flee. Shouts and screams filled the air as yers died, reappearing at the resurrection point. Toby and his men fought their way to the teleportation point. Just as he was about to activate it, a massive shadow loomed overhead. It was Avis, Godyer''s ck dragon. Then, Rain of Fire rained down, and dragon mes scattered, killing countless yers. "No..." Toby roared in frustration, engulfed by the mes. He was only 0.1 seconds away from escaping via the teleportation point. The next second, he found himself at the resurrection point. Boom! Boom! Thunderstorm echoed as John destroyed the teleportation point, leaving surrounding yers in utter despair. They screamed in rage. But soon turned into shes of white light, reappearing at the resurrection point. John cleared the area and headed towards the resurrection point to continue his ughter. "Log out, quickly!" Toby, realizing the situation, abandoned all concerns for his losses and logged out of the world of Gods. Other yers followed suit, trying to log out. But another wave of fire engulfed them, putting everyone intobat mode, preventing them from logging out. shes of white light signified yer deaths, followed by immediate respawns and deaths again. The psychological torment of continuous deaths broke their spirits. They were no match for John and couldn''t escape, leaving them only with rage and curses. "Devil! You''re a demon from hell!" "Godyer, you''re so brutal. Aren''t you afraid of retribution?" ... "Retribution?" John sneered at the yers'' curses below him. "If you dared to attack me City, you should have expected this result." "Godyer, I was wrong. Please, let me go!" "Master, I can help you attack Silverleaf City. Please, just stop." ... Some were on the brink of copse, begging for mercy. John ignored them, his spells continuing unabated. The number of yers at the respawn point dwindled as more were sent back to the beginner''s vige by John''s relentless onught. His expression remained calm, showing no mercy. These yers deserved their fate. Even if he didn''t target them now, when the world of Gods merged and was invaded by monsters and Dark Humans, they would be traitors. "Kid!" ck Turtle approached John, speaking calmly, "We''ve killed all the Dark Humans here. Do you want to upy this city?" "No need. Destroy the altar. I need a Level 2 Altar Upgrade Stone." John decisively refused. Destroying the city held more value. me City was a Level 1 city, and to upgrade, it needed a Level 2 Altar Upgrade Stone. It could only be obtained by destroying a corresponding city. "Alright," ck Turtle agreed, heading to the city square and destroying the altar. Whoosh! Instantly, the city''s buildings copsed and disappeared. With the altar destroyed, Silverleaf City turned into ruins. The respawn point vanished, and yers who died now respawned in the nearest city. John didn''t continue to target them. Although those yers didn''t return to the beginner''s vige, they had all dropped to Level 10, effectively the same as being sent back to the starting point. With the altar destroyed, another announcement echoed. [Announcement: Dark Humans have issued a bounty on yer Godyer. Any yer who kills Godyer will receive a piece of legendary equipment for their ss. No limit on attempts or participants.] ... Three more announcements reverberated throughout the world of Gods. The yers were in an uproar, discussing the news. In just half a day, there had been three system announcements, all rted to Godyer. Godyer had be the focal point of the world of Gods, with many yers organizing to hunt him down. In the real world, at Mike White Family headquarters. Toby listened to his subordinate''s report with a dark expression. He didn''t dare re-enter the world of Gods, fearing that he would respawn in Silverleaf City where Godyer might still be waiting. Taking a deep breath, he turned to his subordinate and coldly ordered, "At any cost, find Godyer''s whereabouts in the real world. Also, keep a close watch on his movements. Inform me immediately if he leaves Silverleaf City." "Yes, sir!" The subordinate responded respectfully before hurrying away. Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Abundant Rewards, the Second Origin Stone Chapter 72: Abundant Rewards, the Second Origin Stone ? In the world of Gods. John paid no attention to Toby. After the fall of Silverleaf City, he led the beasts back to me City. The army was still busy cleaning up the battlefield and taking stock of the loot. "Boss, you''re back," Ritchie greeted John with a smile, clearly pleased to see him. He had heard the system announcement and knew that John had destroyed Silverleaf City. John nodded, then turned to the group of beasts behind him and said, "Don''t resist. I''m going to transport you all to Death Land." The beasts all nodded eagerly, their faces full of anticipation. Wrapped in spatial energy, they were transported into Death Land. That is a ce filled with the energy of The Tree of Life and Vein of the Earth. It was an ideal training ground that would help them quickly restore their peak strength. "Both of you should return as well," John said, addressing ck Turtle and Judy, the two powerful seventh-tier beasts that remained by his side. ck Turtle agreed without hesitation, but Judy looked toward Ada for guidance. Ada, still exuding an air of arrogance, looked at John and said, "Judy will stay with me. However, your strength has indeed impressed me. I hereby appoint you as the Grand General of the Gates Empire. You will fight for the empire!" John frowned at Ada, thinking that there was definitely something wrong with this woman. He couldn''t fathom how someone like her could be a princess-it just proved that birthright often outweighed effort. Deciding to ignore her, John coldly said, "You should go to Death Land too." "No way!" Ada rejected the idea outright. Looking at me City behind her, she said calmly, "I need to stay here to handle matters and train your people." Ritchie, standing nearby, was visibly displeased. Who was this woman to assume that she could take charge of the city they had fought so hard to conquer? "Princess," ck Turtle said, with a sycophantic tone, "It''s better to leave the management of this city to Godyer. You have a more important task-taming those beasts. Only you can do it." "Is that so?" Ada looked at ck Turtle with suspicion. Judy added her voice, urging, "Miss, those beasts will be more useful to us." "Really?" Ada was tempted, though she still disliked the idea of going to Death Land, preferring the freedom outside. She nced at me City behind her. For the sake of restoring the empire, she decided to make a sacrifice. "Godyer, I agree to enter Death Land and manage those beasts," she said to John, still with a haughty demeanor, as if she were doing him a great favor. John didn''t bother with more words and simply transported her and Judy into Death Land. After sending Ada away, John eagerly turned to ck Turtle and asked, "Senior, what herbs do you need? I''ll find them right away so we can take down that Judy." John could hardly tolerate Ada any longer. If it weren''t for his desire to win over Judy, he would have sent Ada packing a long time ago. "Finally seeing things my way?" ck Turtle grinned slyly. "Refining a potion capable of subduing a seventh-tier beast isn''t easy. The herbs you need can only be found in one ce." He handed John a scroll and a scale, saying, "This is the map to the Beast n''s Secret Area. The scale is my token. The beasts there will help you when they see it." Anna, watching ck Turtle hand over the items, was surprised and delighted. The Beast n''s Secret Area was said to be prepared for the prophesied savior. Could it be that the senior now acknowledged John as that savior? ck Turtle looked at John and warned, "This token will only help you collect the herbs I need. Don''t get any ideas." "Do I look like that kind of person?" John said, exasperated, as if he''d strip the Beast n''s Secret Area bare. Still, he was curious about whether the Beast n''s Secret Area might hold some treasures. The elves had something as valuable as The Tree of Life. The Beast n, being even more powerful, must have some treasures of their own. John examined the items in his hand. [Beast n''s Secret Area Path: Special Secret Area, no entry conditions required] [Dragon Scale: Beast n token] Both items had only brief descriptions, revealing little information. John stored the items away, then sent ck Turtle back to Death Land. "Master, we''ll return as well," Anna said, bidding farewell to John. She had refined the Death Land token and could now enter and leave Death Land freely. With the beasts and elves gone, only John and a few others remained. Armstrong, looking rather displeased, approached John and said pitifully, "Brother-inw, do you have any powerful weapons or gear? Give me a couple of pieces. If not, I wouldn''t mind taking Ritchie''s Diamond Giant Shield." Armstrong had learned that Ritchie''s artifact had been given to him by John. After being defeated by someone from Griffin Family, he was boiling with anger. The real issue, he thought, was that his weapons and gear were too weak. Hearing Armstrong''s words, Ritchie immediately clutched his shield tightly, ring at Armstrong in rm. The Diamond Giant Shield was an artifact, the only one of its kind in the entire world of Gods. Tracy, unable to listen any longer, snapped, "Do you have no shame? If you want weapons or gear, go earn them yourself." "Exactly," Ritchie quickly agreed, clutching his giant shield even tighter. Armstrong shot a re at Ritchie and turned to Tracy, grumbling, "Sister, I''m your brother, your real brother." "Enough," John interrupted, saying, "I do have a piece of equipment that suits you." He thought of the silver spear, a third-tier legendary weapon dropped by the demon guardian Evan. Originally intended for Ritchie, it seemed better suited for Armstrong, who, as a disciple of Ancient Martial Arts, had morebat experience. Armstrong had been ambushed by Griffin Family disciples led by Skywalker and had died once, but he had managed to retain his third-tier status at level 60. "A legendary weapon!" Armstrong marveled as he held the silver spear in his hand. He twirled it effortlessly, the de shing coldly as it cut through the air with a sharp whistle. Then, with a sly grin, he turned to Ritchie and said, "Ritchie, let''s have a duel. The stakes will be the silver spear against your Diamond Giant Shield." "A duel is fine, but there''s no way I''m putting my Diamond Giant Shield on the line," Ritchie replied firmly. Though he didn''t think Armstrong could beat him, he wasn''t about to risk losing his artifact in a bet. "Captain!" A soldier suddenly ran over, excitement in his voice as he reported the results of the battle: "We''ve finished tallying the spoils. We''ve got 1,100 sets of second-tier premium gear, 5,400 sets of third-tier premium gear, and over 900 sets of fourth-tier premium gear, plus countless other materials..." "That much?" Ritchie was overjoyed. John had the unique ability to make even ordinary monsters drop high-quality equipment. And the lowest quality among the spoils was premium. With over five thousand sets of third-tier gear, they could outfit the entire me Legion. On top of that, there were numerous skill stones, enhancement stones, and gem materials for equipment. It was no exaggeration to say that after this battle, the me Legion had be the strongest force around. "Boss, how should we distribute these items?" Ritchie asked, knowing that most of the loot technically belonged to John. John considered for a moment and then said, "Set aside a thousand sets of the second- and third-tier gear for Blues Family. The rest, you can distribute among yourselves." "Thank you, brother-inw," Armstrong said, his eyes shining with gratitude. Then, as another thought struck him, he asked excitedly, "Brother-inw, when will you help us establish our own city?" He had been envious ever since seeing Ritchie sessfully establish a city and reap such rewards. "No rush. You need to focus on strengthening your forces first-make sure everyone reaches the third tier," John advised, nning to help Blues Family establish a city in The Land of Elves. The Land of Elves was located within the Eternal Forest, a ce even more dangerous than the Dark Forest. Even with the assistance of ck Turtle and the other beasts, John wasn''t entirely confident. They needed to be fully prepared-not only did the Blues Family disciples need to increase their strength, but John also needed to enhance his power as much as possible. During the recent attack on me City, nearly all the top-ranked factions in the world of Gods had participated, and they suffered significant losses. It was unlikely that any of these factions would sessfully establish their own cities in the near future, giving them some breathing room. "By the way," John suddenly remembered something and turned to Ritchie, asking, "Is there a city Secret Area?" Ritchie nodded and replied, "Yes, there is. Besides the skill stone Secret Area you mentioned, there''s another one, the Demon King''s Treasure." So, the Demon King''s Treasure was indeed a city Secret Area. "Grant me ess," John requested, curious to explore what the Demon King''s Treasure was all about. In a city Secret Area, only the city lord could grant entry, so anyone else wanting to ess it needed the city lord''s authorization. Without hesitation, Ritchie granted John full ess to both city Secret Areas. [Skill Stone Secret Area: Level 1, Entry Requirement: Second-tier or higher profession; Cooldown: 7 days] [Demon King''s Treasure: Unknown Secret Area; Entry Requirement: Seventh-tier or higher profession] John was already familiar with the Skill Stone Secret Areapleting a Level 1 Secret Area would reward only 100 skill stones. While he wasn''t too concerned about that amount. He knew the rewards would be more substantial as the city and Secret Area levels increased. However, what really piqued his interest was the Demon King''s Treasure, an unknown Secret Area that required a seventh-tier or higher profession to enter. Since advancing to the seventh tier was an increasingly difficult and time-consuming process. This Demon King''s Treasure would have to wait. John had a feeling that there was something significant hidden within this Secret Area, and he suspected that the demon race wouldn''t let the matter rest easily either. He instructed Ritchie, "Ritchie, keep an eye on the demon race''s movements in Dark Forest. If there''s any danger, let me know immediately." "Don''t worry, boss. I won''t let anything happen to me City," Ritchie promised with conviction. me City was the stronghold of the me Legion, where they had invested everything. It was crucial that nothing happened to it. John nodded in agreement and decided to head to the Beast n''s Secret Area to gather the herbs that ck Turtle needed. The location was also within Dark Forest, but much deeper inside. After bidding farewell to hispanions, he mounted the ck dragon Avis and took off. Sini and Tracy chose not to apany him; they decided instead to help the Blues Family strengthen their forces. Their primary reason was that they didn''t want to hold John back. By assisting the Blues Family, they were indirectly supporting John as well. ... As the wind howled, a massive shadow streaked across the forest below. Johnyfortably on Avis''s back, inspecting the spoils he had collected from defeating the demon guardians and the demon general. "Origin Stone!" he eximed, sitting up in excitement. He had unexpectedly acquired another Origin Stone, dropped by the demon general, Bolt. Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Beast Clans Secret Area, SSS-Level Hidden Quest Chapter 73: Beast n''s Secret Area, SSS-Level Hidden Quest ? Using the Origin Stone, John could add another ss to his repertoire. He was already a dual-ss wielder, possessing the powerful hidden sses of Wrath of the Gods Mage and Abyssal Assassin. With the Origin Stone, he had the opportunity to gain a third ss. However, John hadn''t yet decided on which ss to pursue next. So, he tucked the stone away for now, waiting for the right moment and the right ss to emerge. In addition to the Origin Stone, John also found several rare and epic-grade weapons and equipment, which he currently had no immediate use for. -- The wind howled. As Avis, the ck dragon, soared swiftly through the skies. They were now deep within the Dark Forest, a treacherous region where powerful flying beasts frequently appeared. John easily dealt with the tier-four beasts, but anything beyond tier-four was something he approached with caution. Soon, they arrived near the entrance to the Secret Area. Avis slowed down as they approached. Below themy a series of rugged mountain peaks, surrounded by powerful tier-four beasts. 150-level wandering swordsmen, 160-level me spirits, 170-level shamans, and even 190- level werewolves. "Master, shall I clear out the surrounding beasts?" Avis asked eagerly, ready to unleash his power. Being a tier-four epic dragon, dispatching these ordinary tier-four beasts would be effortless for him. John nodded, and they both sprang into action. A storm of fire rained down. After ying the demon general Bolt, John had acquired the SSS-level talent, Blessing of the Archmage, which increased all his skill levels by one. His Rain of Fire had now evolved into a mid-level magic skill, Fire Meteor Shower, with a wider range and higher damage output. Paired with Avis''s dragonfire breath, even the formidable werewolves couldn''t withstand their assault. [You have in a 150-level wandering swordsman. Experience +1630 points.] [Plunder talent activated. Strength +1.] [You have in a 160-level me spirit. Experience +1830 points.] [Plunder talent activated. Spirit +1.] ... The notifications shed as John''s Plunder talent triggered approximately once every three kills. Soon, the surrounding beasts were cleared out, and his attributes received a slight boost once more. Avisnded gracefully. John quickly gathered up the few pieces of equipment that had dropped. He not bothering to inspect them closely as they were all tier-four quality. "Master, is this the ce?" Avis asked, scanning the surroundings curiously. John frowned slightly. His Spatial Awareness talent had detected a spatial weakness in the area. Secret Areas were independent spaces, and any weakness in the fabric of reality indicated a potential issue. Despite his considerable strength, John wasn''t yet capable of breaking through such a space on his own, so he decided to use the Beast n''s Secret Area scroll. Buzz! Spatial forces rippled, and a path materialized-a gateway leading into the Beast n''s Secret Area. "Be careful," John warned Avis, casting Iron Armor on himself before stepping onto the path. After passing through the narrow path, the passage behind John closed, and the view ahead opened up. John frowned, his expression tense as he cautiously surveyed his surroundings. The area was filled with the acrid smell of smoke, and the air was thick with the stench of blood. Corpses of beasts and werewolves littered the ground. Nearby, mes still flickered, suggesting the battle had only recently ended. "Master, be careful!" Avis warned John, sensing danger. Whoosh! An ice arrow shot through the air, hurtling toward John with blinding speed. Bang! The Iron Armor shattered instantly. A wave of cold washed over John as the ice arrow pierced his chest, and a terrifying damage number appeared above his head. -380,000 [You have been one-shot by a sixth-tier Ice Phoenix. Lifesaver talent activated, preserving 1 HP.] The notification shed, snapping John back to his senses. He quickly retreated, and with the life-sharing ability of The Tree of Life, his health rapidly restored. "Who goes there!" Avis roared, immediately positioning himself in front of John, though his body trembled slightly. He felt a terrifying pressure that he knew he couldn''t withstand. "Hmm, you''re still alive?" A voice filled with curiosity echoed through the air. The temperature around them plummeted as a massive Ice Phoenix appeared, its crystalline body refracting light into a spectrum of colors. As it pped its wings, a cracking sound filled the air, apanied by falling ice shards. The ground trembled as countless powerful beasts emerged, surrounding them. "Hold your fire!" John shouted, leaping onto Avis''s back and soothing him with a gentle pat. He looked up at the Ice Phoenix and said, "I mean no harm. I was sent here by Lord ck Turtle." As he spoke, he pulled out the token that ck Turtle had given him. A dragon scale. "Lord ck Turtle?" The scale seemed to move of its own ord, flying up to the Ice Phoenix. After carefully examining it, the Phoenix''s hostility faded. "I thought you were a spy from the demon race. You''re lucky I didn''t kill you," it said, folding its wings andnding in front of John, scrutinizing him with interest. The surrounding beasts also rxed, encircling John as if he were a zoo exhibit, pointing and commenting among themselves. "Looks like he''s human." "Yeah, probably an adventurer." "He''s so weak. I could crush him with just one toe." A ck giant bear raised its enormous paw, measuring it against John. How rude! John''s face darkened. If these beasts weren''t so powerful, he''d have half a mind to roast that bear''s paw. The Ice Phoenix''s eyes were filled with confusion as it furrowed its brow and asked, "Are you the prophesied savior?" "No," John shook his head. "Oh." The Ice Phoenix visibly rxed. In its eyes, John''s strength was too weak. If he were the prophesied savior, then the Skyline Continent would truly be doomed. The Ice Phoenix looked at John curiously and asked, "Then what is your purpose here?" "Lord ck Turtle sent me to gather some medicinal herbs." John handed the list that ck Turtle had given him to the Ice Phoenix. The Ice Phoenix examined the list in its hand, then looked at John with suspicion. The list did indeed contain the items that Lord ck Turtle would request. But what could the lord want with these? Cold Spirit Grass, Soul-Eating Flower, and Dragon Fruit were ingredients for concocting a Mana-Suppressing Potion. But Twin Flowers and Pink Peach Blossoms were essential for making Love Flower Powder. Love Flower Powder was a vile potion that induced a state of lust and mingling of male and female. Could it be that Lord ck Turtle had a taste for such things? Seeing that the Ice Phoenix had not responded for some time, John asked curiously, "Is there a problem, Elder?" The Ice Phoenix nodded, returning the list to John and saying, "Most of the ingredients aren''t an issue, but Pink Peach Blossoms are unique to the Fox n, which has already betrayed us." His eyes zed with anger as he gestured with his wings toward the surroundings, saying furiously, "As you can see, we just went through a fierce battle, which was caused by the Fox n colluding with the werewolves." "Elder, is there no other way?" John was not particrly interested in the details of the battle; he only wanted to obtain the ingredients. The Ice Phoenix fell silent, but its gaze shifted between John and the ck dragon Avis. The other beasts around them were also smiling slyly at John. John instinctively took a step back, feeling that these creatures had something mischievous in mind. "s," the Ice Phoenix sighed, "If you want the Pink Peach Blossoms, you''ll have to go into the Fox n''s territory and retrieve them yourself." "I can do it, Master," Avis immediately volunteered. John ignored Avis and turned to the Ice Phoenix, asking with concern, "Is the Fox n''s territory dangerous?" The Ice Phoenix thought for a moment before replying, "That ce is unique. Any being above the fourth tier that enters will have their strength suppressed to the fourth tier, while the fox spirits remain unaffected." A space that could suppress power like that? John was astonished. Did that mean that within the Fox n''s territory, the fox spirits were practically invincible? The Ice Phoenix continued, "Of course, there are exceptions. Beings above the tenth tier are not affected. But those are demigod-level entities, and there are virtually none left on the continent." Tenth-tier beings... John''s eyes gleamed with ambition. In the previous life, when the world of Gods merged and the beings descended, no human had reached the tenth tier. The trial from the ninth to the tenth tier was too daunting, and no one had ever seeded. But this time was different. With his Plunder talent, John was confident that if he reached the tenth tier, he could even challenge the gods themselves. He looked at the Ice Phoenix, uninterested in wasting time with it, and said directly, "If you want me to do something, just say it." The Ice Phoenix seemed a bit embarrassed, letting out a dryugh before replying, "The Fox n has captured the Flower Fairy. I hope you can rescue her." "Flower Fairy?" John asked, puzzled. "She is a unique being within our beast n, very important to us, and she may even hold the key to the continent''s future," the Ice Phoenix said vaguely, clearly wary of John. But John wasn''t interested in the details and asked curiously, "If the Flower Fairy is so important, why don''t you rescue her yourselves?" "It''s useless," the Ice Phoenix said, filled with anger and sorrow. "The fox spirits can sense our presence. If we enter their territory, they''ll immediately detect us. Three seventh-tier beasts have already fallen in the Fox n''s domain. But you, as an adventurer, can avoid the fox spirits'' detection. You might just be able to save the Flower Fairy." "I think I''ll find another way to get the Pink Peach Blossoms," John declined without hesitation. It was clear to him that the Ice Phoenix was trying to send him to his death. If even seventh-tier beasts couldn''t make it out alive, what chance did he have? It wasn''t worth risking his life for a single ingredient. "A divine weapon," the Ice Phoenix said through gritted teeth, clearly desperate. "If you save the Flower Fairy, I will gift you a divine weapon or help your ck dragon advance one tier." A divine weapon! John was intrigued. In the world of Gods, divine weapons were incredibly rare. So far, only one had appeared-the Diamond Giant Shield. That he had obtained. Avis, standing by John''s side, was also interested upon hearing the Ice Phoenix''s offer. As an epic-tier dragon, if he could advance one more tier, he would be a legendary-tier beast, vastly increasing his power and even giving him a chance to be a demigod. But despite his own interests, Avis was more eager to see his master grow stronger. John was silent for a moment before looking at the Ice Phoenix and holding up two fingers. "Two. If I rescue the Flower Fairy, I want both rewards." The Ice Phoenix was furious and immediately refused. "Human, don''t be so greedy. You can only choose one." John wasn''t interested in arguing. He gestured for Avis to follow him. "We''re leaving," he said, turning to go. Avis eagerly followed. "Adventurer!" The Ice Phoenix panicked, blocking John''s path and reluctantly conceding. "Fine, I agree." [Ding, you have triggered an SSS-level hidden quest: Rescue the Flower Fairy. Do you ept?] Chapter 74: Chapter 74: The Seven-Tailed Fox Demon and the Flower Fairy Chapter 74: The Seven-Tailed Fox Demon and the Flower Fairy ? An SSS-level hidden quest! John was surprised this was the highest-level hidden quest he had encountered, and the dangers that came with it were likely immense. He looked at the Ice Phoenix, hesitant to ept the quest immediately, and asked, "If I don''tplete this quest, will there be any penalties?" He wasn''t fully confident in his ability to seed, and his primary goal was just to obtain the Pink Peach Blossoms. It didn''t seem worth the risk of saving the Flower Fairy if it meant putting his life on the line. The Ice Phoenix, sensing John''s thoughts, sighed reluctantly and said, "I will remove the penalty for failing the quest." Quest penalties were designed to force adventurers toplete tasks. But this particr adventurer seemed immune to such pressure. If John refused to take on the quest, there wasn''t much the Ice Phoenix could do about it. More importantly, John seemed to have a close rtionship with Lord ck Turtle, and the Ice Phoenix didn''t dare to offend ck Turtle. Hearing that there would be no penalty, John decisively epted the quest. [You have epted the SSS-level hidden quest: Rescue the Flower Fairy; Quest Rewards: Random Divine Weapon, Assist Avis in Ascending; Penalty for Failure: None] John quickly skimmed through the quest description. The quest wasn''t mandatory-he could pursue it if it seemed safe, but he wouldn''t hesitate to abandon it if it became too dangerous. "Adventurer, the Flower Fairy is very important to our beast n. If Lord ck Turtle knew about this, he would surely urge you toplete this quest. Please, I entrust this to you," the Ice Phoenix said, speaking to John with newfound respect. John nodded slightly. "I''ll do my best. How do I enter the Fox n''s domain?" "Follow me," the Ice Phoenix said, leading the way deeper into the Beast n''s Secret Area. John signaled Avis to follow the Ice Phoenix. The Beast n''s Secret Area was vast, at least twice the size of Death Land. Before long, the Ice Phoenix stopped at a mist-shrouded area, where the silhouettes of peach trees could be faintly seen within. "This is the Fox n''s domain," the Ice Phoenix exined as he nced at John. "The Pink Peach Blossoms only bloom deep within their territory, and the Flower Fairy is likely being held there as well." John nodded in acknowledgment. The thick mist obscured his vision, making it difficult to discern whaty beyond. This was another independent space, simr to the Gates Empire''s treasure trove-a Secret Area within a Secret Area. "How do I enter?" John asked. He could sense the weakened points in the space but found them stable enough that he couldn''t break through with his current strength. "I''ll assist you," the Ice Phoenix replied. He flew into the air, gathering a formidable amount of ice energy around him. In a sh, he transformed into a phantom and shot toward the mist. Boom! With a loud crash, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and even the mist was frozen in ce. The space trembled, and an unstable spatial rift appeared. "Adventurer, this spatial passage will only remain open for three days. That means you must return within that time, or I won''t be able to locate you," the Ice Phoenix warned John. The Ice Phoenixcked the ability to control spatial forces; it had merely forced open the rift with brute strength, which could only hold for three days. Once the passage closed, it could be reopened, but the location would be uncertain, and the Ice Phoenix certainly wouldn''t dare to venture into the Fox n''s territory to search for John. "Avis, you stay here," John ordered as he saw Avis preparing to follow him. Avis, being a beast, could be detected by the fox demons. If he entered with John, they would be immediately noticed. "No, master, it''s too dangerous here. I can''t let you go alone," Avis protested, worried for John''s safety. After all, even seventh-tier beasts had perished in the Fox n''s territory-his master wouldn''t stand a chance alone. "Don''t worry, I won''t die. Besides, I need you to do something for me," John reassured him, pulling him aside to whisper instructions. Avis nced at the Ice Phoenix asionally as he nodded. "I understand, master. Please be careful." John didn''t say anything more. He cast Iron Armor on himself and then took out a concealment talisman before stepping toward the spatial passage. "A concealment talisman? This guy has such a rare item," the Ice Phoenix murmured, surprised as it sensed John''s presence vanish. The concealment talisman, a rare item that only high-level talisman masters could craft, could conceal a person''s aura and movements, making them undetectable by beasts below the seventh tier. "If only this adventurer were an Assassin," the Ice Phoenix mused quietly. A concealment talismanbined with an Assassin''s stealth skills would make him nearly unstoppable in the Fox n''s territory. Avis nced at the Ice Phoenix but said nothing. His master''s second profession was the powerful Phantom Assassin, which naturally came with stealth abilities. ... Fox n''s Territory. The appearance of the spatial rift alerted the surrounding fox demons. A dozen or so four-tailed fox demons hid in the shadows, closely watching the rift. These fox demons were all seductive females, each with four fluffy tails swaying behind them. This is a mark of their status and power. One tail indicated the first tier of power. So these fox demons were all at the fourth tier. John couldn''t help butpare them to the subus of the beast n. Though these fox demons were also alluring, their charm differed greatly from that of a subus. The subus had a bewitching allure. While these fox demons exuded an entirely different aura-one that felt overtly lewd. As he passed by one of the fox demons, the strong scent of musk nearly caused him to reveal himself. John held his breath and hastened his pace. "Hmm, did you just feel something?" one of the fox demons asked, frowning as she scanned the area. It felt like a slight breeze had passed by. "What?" herpanion responded nonchntly, her eyes still fixed on the spatial rift. "Maybe it was just my imagination," the first fox demon shrugged off her concern, sensing no other beastly presence. ... By now, John had entered the Fox n''s territory, swiftly making his way through the peach groves. There was no need for him to conceal himself deliberately; whenever the musky scent of a fox demon wafted over, he knew one was nearby and carefully avoided it. The further he went, the stronger the fox demons became, with even six-tailed fox demons appearing. Fortunately, they were all ordinary beasts and not bosses. "Hmm, such a strong floral scent," John muttered, frowning slightly. The air was thick with the fragrance of flowers, almost overpowering, masking the usual musk of the fox demons. He began to feel a wave of dizziness, as if the fox demons wandering nearby held an inexplicable allure. Enchantment! John''s instincts kicked in, and he immediately bit down on his tongue, the sharp pain snapping him back to reality. Enchantment was a natural skill of the fox demon n, but he hadn''t expected the pink mist to have such a potent enchanting effect as well. "This must be the heart of the fox demon territory," John thought as he held his breath, trying to avoid inhaling too much of the mist. He carefully continued his stealthy advance deeper into the haze. The pungent floral scent grew even stronger, and John knew he had to stay on high alert. Suddenly, he heard amotion deeper in the peach grove. "Little girl, stop struggling in vain. Just give in and be my nourishment!" A raspy female voice echoed through the trees. It was a seven-tailed fox demon, draped in a sheer pink veil that barely concealed her seductive figure. Her presence was dripping with enchantment. But when John got a closer look at her face, he snapped back to full awareness. Her face was covered in oozing sores, some of which had already begun to rot, emitting a foul stench. Even more eerie was the massive peach tree before her, adorned with pink blossoms. Several thin branches dangled down, piercing into her body. Buzz! A flicker of rainbow-colored light caught John''s attention, drawing his gaze to a young girl beneath the peach tree. She appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen, exuding a pure and untainted aura, like a freshly bloomed flower after the rain-refreshing, graceful, untouched by the world''s grime. Her eyes sparkled like starlight, soft and radiant. The girl seemedpletely out of ce in the midst of this eerie scene. The pink mist swirled around her, and the peach tree''s branchesshed out, attempting to strike her. But each time, they were repelled by the fading rainbow light surrounding her. Despite this protection, the light was growing dimmer, and the girl''s face had turned pale, clearly struggling to maintain her defense. John quickly pieced together who she was: the Flower Fairy, Jean. "How strange," he murmured, frowning again. There was something oddly familiar about Jean, as if he had met her before. The Tree of Life! The realization struck him. ording to the Ice Phoenix, the Flower Fairy was born from a hundred flowers, sharing the same origins as the Tree of Life. Since John had already formed a soul contract with the Tree of Life, connecting their lives, it made sense that Jean''s aura felt so familiar. "I''ll pick the pink peach blossoms first. If the opportunity arises, I''ll try to save you too," John decided, willing to take the risk after seeing Jean. But first, he needed to secure the pink peach blossoms. The massive peach tree before him, covered in pink flowers, had to be the source. John held his breath and carefully avoided the surrounding fox demons and the powerful seven-tailed fox demon as he approached the peach tree. The tree''s branches were adorned with blooming pink peach blossoms, within easy reach. To his surprise, it was easier than he expected. He quickly picked a pink peach blossom and ced it into his Storage Ring. Whoosh! But suddenly, several branches whipped around, reaching out to ensnare him. John was shocked; it seemed his presence had been discovered. It was toote to avoid the attack. sh! The vine-like branches sliced through the air, shattering his Iron Armor and piercing his body. [You have been instantly killed by the seventh-rank rare boss, Peach Blossom Tree Monster. The god-tier talent Undying and Immortal has been triggered, and life-sharing has been activated. Health is being restored...] The notification shed before his eyes. John had been killed again. His Lifesaver talent had already been triggered once today, but fortunately, he still had his god-tier talent, Undying and Immortal. His health was restored, but it quickly began to drain again. The peach tree was devouring his life force! Panic-stricken, John swiftly broke free from the entangling branches, leaping back to escape the tree''s attack range. "Who''s there!" The loudmotion caught the attention of the seven-tailed fox demon. She let out an angry shout, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the area where John had just stood. The branches iled, and a trace of blood lingered in the air. "Such rich life energy..." she moaned in pleasure, as the sores on her face began to heal slightly. John watched from a distance, his heart pounding. He realized something after he saw this situation. The peach tree was also a demon beast and was symbiotically linked with the seven-tailed fox demon. She had captured the Flower Fairy to absorb her life force and heal her injuries. Now that he understood the situation, John knew he couldn''t let her seed. "This isn''t a member of the beast n. Search carefully and bring this one back to me!" The seven-tailed fox demon ordered excitedly, having sensed the immense life energy within John. Suddenly, the Flower Fairy in front of her seemed far less appealing. Thankfully, John''s invisibility skill,bined with the concealment talisman, kept him hidden. But in the next moment, something happened that made him break into a cold sweat. Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Exposed and Fleeing into Death Land Chapter 75: Exposed and Fleeing into Death Land ? Swish, swish... Countless petals whistled through the air like sharp des, aiming straight at John. The lower-level fox demons couldn''t detect him, but this seventh-rank Peach Blossom Tree Monster was different-it could sense his presence. -5000 -5000 -- His health was rapidly depleting. John couldn''t even cast Iron Armor, and in a matter of seconds, his health dropped to just twenty thousand. He quickly fled the range of the petals'' attack. The concealment talisman''s effect was still active, but his invisibility skill had been broken. "An adventurer!" The seven-tailed fox demon gasped in surprise, then eximed excitedly, "Quick, capture him! Be careful not to kill him." At hermand, the surrounding fox demons began tough seductively, their expressions filled with hunger as they lunged toward him. John couldn''t help but feel a chill run down his spine. Despite their allure, these fox demons gave off an eerie, unsettling vibe. Without hesitation, John attacked. Boom, boom... Two lightning bolts exploded among the fox demons, sending shockwaves through the air. A few pitiful wails echoed, but none of them were killed. These fox demons were all at least fifth or sixth rank, cing immense pressure on John. "Come on, little one, stop resisting. Come to your sister''s embrace!" A voice, dripping with seduction, whispered in John''s ear. It belonged to a fifth-rank elite fox demon. "Get lost!" John roared, drawing his dagger and stabbing it into the fox demon before him. sh! The fox demon''s blood was a vivid, unnatural pink. A damage number floated above her. -20714 John''s critical hit dealt over twenty thousand points of damage. "Ouch!" The fox demon cried out, her voice soft and pitiful, exuding helplessness. "Little one, you hurt me." She exhaled a sweet breath, sending waves of pink mist swirling around, tinged with a sickly- sweet scent. John felt his mind go hazy, his soul trembling slightly. Charm! Whoosh! The surrounding fox demons attacked, dozens of ribbons whipping toward him, trying to ensnare him. Suddenly, John felt a sharp pain deep within his mind, snapping him back to full awareness just in time to evade the grasping ribbons. There was no relief in his mind, only cold sweat breaking out on his skin-what had just attacked him was a soul-based attack, not something caused by the fox demons. "Who''s there!" John''s mind screamed in fury as he realized that something else had been lurking within him. He vaguely sensed that another soul was hiding inside his body. Suddenly, a voice echoed from the depths of his soul, "No need to thank me, little one!" John''s blood ran cold as he remembered ck Turtle''s warning. Undead Lord! It was the remnant soul of the Undead Lord-it had indeed been parasitizing within him all along. "Big brother, over here!" At that moment, the Flower Fairy, Jean, called out to John, waving to him. Surrounded by hundreds of fox demons, fluttering like graceful dancers, they wielded their silk ribbons, all aimed at ensnaring John. John pushed aside the thought of the Remnant soul inside him, focusing instead on the immediate threat. Whoosh! A Rain of Fire spread across the area, shaking the ground and causing the nearby fox demons to be momentarily dazed. Combining Fire Meteor Shower with Tremor, two powerful area-of-effect magic spells, he managed to break free from the fox demons'' grasp. Seizing the opportunity, John quickly rushed toward Jean. Buzz! Light flickered as he sessfully entered the protective seven-colored barrier. Their eyes met, and John couldn''t help but swallow hard. Jean''s long eyshes fluttered as she curiously observed John, her eyes bright with interest. "Hmph, you''re courting death!" came the cold voice of the seven-tailed fox demon, who sneered as she ordered the Peach Blossom Tree Monster, "Break the barrier and absorb both of them." John snapped back to reality, realizing that his situation had just be even more perilous. He was now trapped inside the Peach Blossom Tree Monster''s prison. "Do you have a way to escape?" they both asked at the same time, ncing at each other in surprise. Jean sighed softly, her tone filled with regret, "It''s over. We''re probably both going to die here." John, however, smiled as he looked at the girl before him, his nose filled with the faint scent of flowers. Unlike the sharp and overpowering scent of the fox demons, this was a fragrance of a hundred flowers, refreshing and soothing. "Aren''t you afraid?" he asked, noting Jean''sck of fear. "Of course, I''m afraid. But there''s no way out," Jean shrugged, her expression cute and completely devoid of any fear of death. John, however, said, "Don''t worry, I have a n. Just don''t resist." As he spoke, he began tomunicate with Death Land. Even within The Secret Area, it was possible to teleport to Death Land, though leaving Death Land would still bring them back to the same spot, keeping them in danger. Right now, the priority was to resolve the immediate crisis. Boom, boom... Several thick branches whipped through the air, smashing into the barrier, shattering it in an instant. But before the branches could reach them, John and Jean vanished without a trace. "Huh, gone again?" The seven-tailed fox demon frowned, her pockmarked face looking even more hideous as she roared in anger, "Surround this ce! If those two escape, I''ll turn you all into fertilizer!" She assumed that John had simply turned invisible again and hadn''t actually left the area. The surrounding fox demons trembled in fear, their eyes filled with terror, as they quickly conjured up pink mist to cover the area for miles around. The mist had a confusion effect, and if the human got caught in it, he would surely be visible. Rustle, rustle... At that moment, the branches of the Peach Blossom Tree Monster swayed, and a deep, neutral voice echoed, "There was a fluctuation of spatial energy. They''re not here." "Escaped?" The seven-tailed fox demon frowned, her eyes burning with rage as she too sensed the spatial disturbance. The deep voice continued, "They''ve likely entered another space. We just need to guard this area." "That''s a relief," the seven-tailed fox demon breathed, feeling slightly reassured. As long as they hadn''t escaped entirely, she still had a chance. The adventurer held a life force even greater than that of the Peach Blossom Tree Monster; she couldn''t afford to let him slip away. As long as she could absorb the life force of both the adventurer and the Flower Fairy, her power would recover to the eighth tier, with the possibility of even advancing to the legendary Nine-Tailed Fox. "Everyone, stay here and attack at the slightest sign of movement," shemanded, then turned her gaze toward the two fox demons that John had seriously injured. Thwack, thwack... Two branches from the Peach Blossom Tree Monster shot out, piercing through the bodies of the fox demons, greedily sucking the life force from them. "Please, mydy, no...don''t..." The two fox demons pleaded, their voices filled with terror, but their bodies were quickly drained dry. The immense energy from the fox demons was channeled through the branches of the Peach Blossom Tree Monster and into the body of the seven-tailed fox demon. She let out a moan of satisfaction, her face a picture of bliss. The surrounding fox demons, witnessing this, recoiled in fear, not daring to approach the range of the Peach Blossom Tree Monster. ... In Death Land. "Huh, this ce feels so familiar andforting!" Jean took a deep breath, her expression one of blissful contentment as she curiously surveyed her surroundings. She then turned to John, asking curiously, "Big brother, is this your home?" "Sort of," John nodded, not offering much exnation. At that moment, his thoughts were deeply immersed in searching his mind for the trace of the Remnant Soul. The fact that there was another soul inside his body left him feeling very uneasy. Yet, the Remnant Soul seemed to have vanished without a trace, leaving behind no discernible presence. "Big brother, can I stay here?" Jean asked, the atmosphere here giving her a warm andforting sensation, like being cradled in a mother''s embrace. John''s thoughts were interrupted, and he nodded, saying, "Sure." Jean''s face lit up with joy, and she excitedly began to y in the grass and among the flowers. Just then, several massive figures approached quickly from a distance. It was ck Turtle and the other beasts. "Flower Fairy!?" ck Turtle immediately recognized Jean, his gaze burning with surprise and delight. The other beasts also showed expressions of joy, with friendly, even slightly ingratiating, smiles on their faces. Startled by the sudden appearance of the beasts, Jean instinctively hid behind John, curiously asking, "Big brother, they don''t look like good people." John nodded in agreement, ring angrily at ck Turtle. "Hey, kid, why are you ring at me like that?" ck Turtle asked, displeased as he looked at John. "Old man, you said collecting those herbs would be safe, but I nearly died at the hands of the fox demons," John replied angrily, giving a brief ount of what had happened, including the lingering Remnant Soul inside him. ck Turtle was also at a loss when it came to the issue of the Remnant Soul. His brow furrowed, and with a cold expression, he said, "Those sly fox demons! To think they dared to collude with the werewolf tribe!" "ck Turtle, I''ve been saying all along that those fox demons are up to no good." "Thankfully, you foresaw this and had Godyer rescue the Flower Fairy." "If the Flower Fairy had been harmed by the fox demons, the consequences would have been unimaginable." The nearby beasts all cast grateful nces at John. ck Turtle immediately became anxious, shouting, "Stop talking nonsense! I had no idea about this. Kid, this was just a coincidence." He quickly offered an exnation, then turned his gaze to Jean, who was standing behind John, with a broad smile on his face. "Little girl, I''m ck Turtle of the beast n. You''ve probably heard of me. Come here." Jean frowned, warily eyeing ck Turtle before responding, "I don''t know you." ck Turtle didn''t seem to mind, keeping his friendly smile. With a wave of his hand, the water element formed arge hand that gently wrapped around Jean, pulling her toward him. "Ah! Big brother, help me!" Jean cried out in rm, desperately calling to John for help. John didn''t react, knowing that ck Turtle meant no harm. Although he wasn''t sure of Jean''s true identity, he could tell that these beasts valued her immensely. "Don''t be afraid, I mean no harm," ck Turtle tried to reassure her. He nced at John and added, "It''s you who should stay away from that human. He''s not a good person." John couldn''t help but feel indignant. These beasts are so shameless, gossiping right in front of someone! "Liar! I think you''re the bad one!" Jean retorted, her tiny hands grabbing onto ck Turtle''s beard. "Ow...that hurts! Let go!" ck Turtle hissed, sucking in a breath from the pain. He wanted to act but was afraid of hurting Jean, so he hopped around in difort. The other beasts turned red, holding back theirughter by recalling the saddest moments of their lives, trying not to burst out. John, however, had no such reservations andughed heartily. This little girl just avenged me! Finally, ck Turtle managed to free himself from Jean''s grip. His already sparse beard was now nearly bald. "Big brother," Jean called out, once again hiding behind John, peeking out with just half of her face as she red at ck Turtle. Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Devouring the Peach Blossom Tree Monster, Black Turtle Takes Action Chapter 76: Devouring the Peach Blossom Tree Monster, ck Turtle Takes Action ? ck Turtle winced in pain, his mouth twitching uncontrobly, before turning to John and warning, "Kid, don''t you dare have any ideas about the Flower Fairy, or the beast n will be at war with you." John was puzzled. It seemed like the beast n held Jean in high regard. "What''s it to you, you old fool!" Jean, displeased, stood up for John. ck Turtle awkwardly chuckled and said, "Fairy, you''re still young and don''t know how treacherous people can be. I may look like a good person because I am a good person. But this Godyer, he may look like a good person, but in reality, he''s a bad guy." Jean frowned, clearly unhappy, and turned to John, saying, "Big brother, isn''t this your home? This old man is a bad person; why don''t you kick him out?" "Great idea!" John''s eyes lit up. If he left Death Land, he would reappear in the fox n''s territory. It was the perfect opportunity to use these beasts to draw their fire. "Kid, we have an agreement! Don''t do anything rash," ck Turtle said, his expression turning frantic. He was well aware of how dangerous the fox n''s territory was. If his strength was suppressed to the fourth tier, entering the fox n''s territory would be a death sentence. John wasn''t actually nning to get him killed. Instead, he asked, "Is there another way to deal with the fox n?" He guessed that those fox demons would definitely be waiting at the original spot, and there was also that terrifying Peach Blossom Tree Monster. John couldn''t stay trapped in Death Land forever. ck Turtle didn''t answer right away. He just stared at John with a curious look, then sighed, "I don''t know what kind of luck you have, kid. I''m starting to suspect you might actually be the prophesied savior... but s..." He sighed again and didn''t continue. John wasn''t interested in being the savior at all, so he pressed on, "Do you have a solution? Just say it." ck Turtle stopped stalling and exined, "Breaking the suppression power in the fox n''s territory is simple. You just need to kill that thousand-year-old Peach Blossom Tree Monster." John frowned. That didn''t help at all. The Peach Blossom Tree Monster was a rare seventh-tier boss, and with his current strength, there was no way he could take it down. John looked at the group of beasts and asked, "Can any of you kill the Peach Blossom Tree Monster?" The beasts shook their heads repeatedly. ck Turtle continued, "We can''t do it, but it can." He pointed deeper into Death Land and said, "No nt-based beast can withstand its power." John caught on. "You mean the Tree of Life?" ck Turtle nodded. "The Tree of Life is the elves'' most precious treasure, and it''s a unique life form. If you bring the Tree of Life into the fox n''s territory, it can absorb and devour the Peach Blossom Tree Monster." John''s brow furrowed. He wasn''t ready to agree just yet. "Will the Tree of Life be in danger?" "Uh..." ck Turtle was at a loss for words, looking at John with exasperation. "Kid, do you even know what a supreme treasure is? It''s something even the gods covet. Even if that Peach Blossom Tree Monster were to cultivate for another ten thousand years, it still wouldn''t be a match for the Tree of Life. This only brings benefits to you, no downsides." "Alright, I''ll trust you this time," John nodded and began walking toward the Tree of Life. Underneath the Tree of Life, a group of elves was training, surprisingly under themand of Princess Ada. Anna sat beneath the Tree of Life, pouting and looking troubled. "Benefactor!" She spotted John and happily ran over to him, thenined with a displeased expression, "Benefactor, you need to do something about Princess Ada. She''s been tormenting the elves all day long." The elves around them echoed herint with groans of agreement. John, however, was a bit surprised. He noticed that the elves'' strength had increased significantly. Previously, they were only at the early stages of the third tier, but now they had reached the mid-tote stages of the third tier. This wasn''t just due to the effects of the Tree of Life and the vein of the Earth; Ada''s training must have contributed as well. It seemed that keeping Ada around might have some advantages after all. John nced at Ada, standing not far away in leather armor, looking every bit the strong and valiant warrior. He couldn''t help but feel a bit intrigued. However, the most pressing matter was dealing with the fox n''s territory. "Oh, what a beautiful little girl!" Anna eximed in surprise, noticing Jean. Jean, equally curious, blinked her bright eyes as she looked at Anna, sensing a familiar andforting presence from her. At that moment, ck Turtle intervened again, looking at Jean and cautioning, "Little girl, this woman is also no good. Stay away from her." Both Anna and Jean frowned and red at ck Turtle. ck Turtle remained unfazed, shooting a warning look at Anna. "Could she be the Flower Fairy of the beast n?" Anna guessed Jean''s identity, ncing between John and Jean, a smile creeping onto her face. ck Turtle, noticing Anna''s thoughts, quickly said, "Don''t get any ideas. This adventurer is not the prophesied savior. If anything goes wrong, you''ll be remembered as the greatest sinner in Skyline Continent''s history." Anna red at ck Turtle with disdain, retorting, "Do you think I''m as shameless as you? Besides, destiny is a strange thing. The one prophesied to be the savior might not even be the real savior." ck Turtle looked at Anna in confusion, sensing that the elves might know something he didn''t. John, uninterested in their banter, interrupted and asked, "Old man, what exactly do I need to do?" ck Turtle shot John a displeased look at being called "old man" but exined, "You''ll need to take the risk of entering the fox n''s territory. Then, use the Tree of Life to open a passage between Death Land and the fox n''s territory. We''ll support you from Death Land. Once the Tree of Life absorbs and refines the Peach Blossom Tree Monster, the suppressive force within the fox n''s territory will disappear, allowing us to enter and assist you." John nodded; it didn''t seem too difficult for him to manage. He simply needed to position the Tree of Life so that part of it remained in Death Land while the other part extended into the fox n''s territory. Although ck Turtle and the others couldn''t enter the fox n''snd directly, they couldunch attacks through the connected passage from within Death Land. And while the passage would be open, the fox demons wouldn''t dare to enter Death Land. John also had Ada summon Judy. With two peak seventh-tier beasts, seven peak sixth-tier beasts, and over two hundred fourth- and fifth-tier beasts, they had more than enough power to deal with the fox n. Buzz! A wave of spatial energy rippled as John slowly opened the passage between Death Land and the fox n''s territory. As expected, a group of powerful fox demons was waiting right where he had disappeared earlier. "It''s that human adventurer!" The seven-tailed fox demon spotted John, her excitement palpable as shemanded, "Quick, this time, we mustn''t let him escape!" Whoosh! A surge of life energy swept through as the massive form of the Tree of Life emerged, with half of its body extending from Death Land into the fox n''s territory. Pink mist swirled, and the surrounding peach trees swayed, greedily absorbing the life energy. The seven-tailed fox demon froze in disbelief before breaking into a twisted grin of delight. "The Tree of Life¡ªit''s actually the Tree of Life! Boy, you''re carrying such a supreme treasure on you!" The Tree of Life, brimming with immense life force, could restore her to her peak strength and even give her a chance to reach the legendary Ten-Tailed Celestial Fox! She trembled with excitement, her already hideous expression bing even more grotesque with joy. By now, John had fully entered the fox n''s territory, but the passage behind him remained open. Supported by the Tree of Life, the spatial passage was exceptionally stable. Rustle... The Peach Blossom Tree Monster began to shake violently, clearly terrified of the Tree of Life. "Not good!" The seven-tailed fox demon snapped out of her daze. The Tree of Life was trying to devour the Peach Blossom Tree Monster. "Adventurer, how dare you!" she roared in fury, charging directly at John. Severely wounded, she had been forced into symbiosis with the Peach Blossom Tree Monster. She couldn''t afford to let anything happen to it, or her fate would be sealed. Pink mist surged, transforming into sharp arrows that rained down on John with a piercing whistling sound. The seven-tailed fox demon smirked coldly, confident that this weak adventurer wouldn''t survive her attack. Once she killed him, she could seize the Tree of Life. Suddenly, a powerful wave of water elemental energy surged forth, and a water barrier materialized in front of John, swallowing up the iing arrows. "Huh? What''s going on?" The seven-tailed fox demon''s expression darkened as she sensed a dangerous presence. She quickly shifted her gaze to the space behind John. Ssh! A massive wave surged forward, apanied by shing lightning. Two terrifying spells struck in rapid session. ck Turtle and Judy had bothunched their attacks. "Seventh-tier powerhouses!" The seven-tailed fox demon was struck with terror, overwhelmed by the massive wave and the lightning strikes that followed. It makes her painful. After wave passing by, she bloodied and barely able to kneel on the ground, her once- beautiful face now aged and wrinkled. She red menacingly at the old man standing at the edge of the portal. "Kate? You''ve be the leader of the fox n!" ck Turtle''s voice echoed from within the portal. He recognized the seven-tailed fox demon. "ck Turtle, you... you''re still alive!" Kate spat out a mouthful of blood, her voice filled with venomous hatred. Had she been at her peak, she might have been able to contend with ck Turtle. But now, she was gravely injured, and with another seventh-tier powerhouse by ck Turtle''s side, she stood no chance. To make matters worse, she felt her life force rapidly draining away as the Peach Blossom Tree Monster withered, pulling her down with it. "Stop them now!" Katemanded in panic, ordering her remaining fox demons to attack John and the Tree of Life. If she could kill John, there was still a chance she could control the Tree of Life. "Kate, you betrayed the beast n, attempted to harm the Flower Fairy, and your crimes are unforgivable. Today, you will die!" ck Turtle roared, his voice filled with righteous fury. The water element around him became wild and chaotic, forming a massive tidal wave that surged into the fox n''s territory. From the safety of Death Land, ck Turtle''s power was unrestrained, and his full-strength attack as a seventh-tier peak powerhouse instantly obliterated all fox demons below the seventh tier. Only a few sixth-tier elite fox demons managed to barely withstand his onught. Seeing this, John couldn''t help but feel a pang of regret. If he had been the one to kill those fox demons, who knows how many attribute points he could have gained. Kate watched her nsmen die with cold indifference, her eyes devoid of emotion. "ck Turtle, you can''t fight the inevitable. Siding with the demon race is the only way to survive." "Stubborn fool!" ck Turtle snapped, losing all patience. With a wave of his hand, a towering wave transformed into a colossal water pir and came crashing down with overwhelming force. Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Spatial Skill and Enemy Attack Chapter 77: Spatial Skill and Enemy Attack ? In a hurry, petals swirled around Su Li, forming a vortex. Boom! A loud explosion echoed as a massive tremor shook the ground. Kate''s frail figure was thrown into the air, blood spurting from her mouth. Her condition worsened, her expression bleak, and her injuries more severe. "ck Turtle, do you really intend to push the fox n to the brink of extinction?" Kate wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, ring coldly at ck Turtle. Against him, she was utterly powerless. Bound by her symbiotic rtionship with the Peach Blossom Tree Monster, she couldn''t leave a certain area and was left with no choice but to endure the attacks. "Hmph, you brought this upon yourselves." ck Turtle had no time for further discussion. Water elements gathered around him, the temperature plummeted, and the water transformed into an icy spear, emanating a chilling, deadly light as it hurled toward Kate. Crack, crack... As the spear flew through the air, it seemed to freeze the surrounding atmosphere, the cold seeping into everything. John, hiding at a distance, watched in rm. Altering the environment in this way was a sign of a high-level magic skill, far beyond what a lower-tier opponent could manage. He doubted the seven-tailed fox demon would survive. Kate could also sense the terrifying power of the spear. Her expression turned to one of despair, but within her eyes shed a hint of determination. "If it''se to this, then let''s all perish together!" She spat out another mouthful of blood, her figure wavering as a powerful surge of energy gathered around her. This energy drawn from the surrounding peach trees. Kate was absorbing the energy of the entire fox n''s domain, transforming it into countless pink petals that swirled around her. Thousands of petals, all radiating a deadly aura, encased her body. "This is bad, she''s using an ultimate spell, ''Withering Bloom''!" ck Turtle''s face darkened. He quickly warned John, "Kid, get under the Tree of Life now!" An ultimate spell is second only to a forbidden curse, a power usually reserved for those above the tenth tier. Though Kate was only at the seventh tier, she was forcibly channeling the energy of the entire fox n''s domain to cast the spell-even the Peach Blossom Tree Monster was being affected. Her intention was to destroy the entire fox n''s domain! Luckily, John heeded ck Turtle''s warning and quickly took cover under the Tree of Life, avoiding the impending disaster. "Withering Bloom!" Kate shouted, her life force rapidly depleting. Countless petals transformed into deadly des, whistling through the air. But instead of targeting ck Turtle or the ice spear aimed at her, they shot straight up into the sky. "Has she lost her mind?" John was baffled, unable toprehend why Kate would ignore ck Turtle and the ice spear, choosing instead to attack the sky. Thud! The ice spear pierced through Kate, its immense power dragging her body several dozen meters, leaving a deep trench in the ground before freezing it solid. Hum! Suddenly, the space around them trembled, and the countless petals tore through the sky, opening a spatial rift. John''s eyes widened in realization-Kate wasn''t trying to destroy the fox n''s domain; she was attempting to annihte the entire beast n''s Secret Area. "Kate, you deserve to die a thousand times!" ck Turtle roared in fury as he witnessed the unfolding scene. The spatial rift she created could potentially expose the beast n''s Secret Area, leading to catastrophic consequences. He directly entered the fox n''s territory, his strength suppressed to the peak of the fourth tier. However, there were no longer any fox demons that could threaten him here. He intended to personally finish off Kate. A weak, mockingugh echoed through the area. Kate''s face was gaunt, her body withered. The wound from the ice spear had been frozen, preventing her from dying immediately. She looked at ck Turtle with a scornful gaze and weakly said, "ck Turtle, let me tell you onest secret: the Savior has already appeared, and he''s from my fox n!" "That''s impossible. Your fox n is entirely female; how could a Savior appear?" ck Turtle''s brow furrowed as he raised his hand, only to halt mid-air. He sensed that she wasn''t lying. Kate''s expression grew smug as she summoned thest of her strength to continue, "There are exceptions to everything. Our fox n indeed has a male, and I can tell you with certainty that he is the prophesied Savior. But he''s already been captured by the demon race. ck Turtle, you are supposed to be the Savior''s guardian, yet you''ve destroyed my fox n. Do you think the Savior will spare you? Haha..." Sheughed maniacally, blood continuously gushing from her mouth. So what if her final n failed? The beast n''s Secret Area would be her burial ground. Moreover, the fox n would not go extinct. ck Turtle had sworn to do everything in his power to protect the Savior. Whether the Savior would kill him to avenge the fox n was no longer her concern. "Senior, let me help you!" John rushed over at that moment, a dagger appearing in his hand as he aimed for the heavily wounded Kate. sh! A sh of cold light swept across Kate''s neck. -76 A pitifully small damage number shed above her. Even though Kate was a severely injured seventh-tier epic beast, John was still not strong enough to take her down. Fortunately, her health had already bottomed out, and the attack was enough to finish her off. [You have in the seventh-tier epic fox demon, Kate, gaining 1,085,280 experience points.] [Level up: Spirit +4, Strength +3, Agility +2, Free Attribute Points +16, Skill Points +2.] [Level up: Spirit +4, Strength +3, Agility +2, Free Attribute Points +16, Skill Points +2.] [Plunder Talent activated: Spirit +100, Skill Points +20, Luck +1. You have gained the skill Spatial sh.] [Spatial sh: Level 2 (enhanced by Blessing of the Archmage +1 level), basic magic skill, deals 120% of Spirit as Spatial Magic damage to the target. Costs 200 Mana. Cooldown: 5 seconds.] A spatial skill! John was both surprised and thrilled. After killing Kate, John''s level shot up by two, reaching level 71, and he unexpectedly gained a spatial skill. Spatial skills are rare and typically only those with spatial talents can learn them. With his S-rank talent, Spatial Awareness, John was naturally able to master it. He was surprised to learn that Kate also had a spatial talent. That exined how she was able to forcefully break through the Secret Area. John opened his attribute panel and immediately maxed out the level of Spatial sh. He had umted over 4,000 skill points by now, so the cost was negligible to him. [You have received the Blessing of the Archmage: The basic magic skill Spatial sh has been upgraded by one level, breaking through the limit and advancing to the intermediate magic skill, Spatial Rift sh.] [Spatial Rift sh: Level 1, intermediate magic skill, deals 220% of Spirit as Spatial Magic damage to the target. Costs 1,000 Mana. Cooldown: 10 seconds.] With this rare intermediate Spatial Magic skill under his belt, John''s power increased once again. In addition to these gains, Kate had dropped two pieces of equipment, both of which were of legendary quality. A staff and a robe. The attributes were excellent, but they required a seventh-tier level to equip. John casually stored them away. Hissing! At that moment, the eerie sound of hissing filled the air,ing from the peach blossom tree monster. It was on itsst legs, its life force draining rapidly as the pink blossoms withered and the leaves fell. "Kid, did you manage to pick the pink peach blossom?" ck Turtle snapped out of his thoughts and quickly asked John, his gaze fixed on him. "Got it," John said, pulling out a pink peach blossom and waving it triumphantly. "Only one? What a shame," ck Turtlemented, looking at the wilting blossoms with regret. "Old man, I''ve noticed you''re not exactly the most serious person," John said, rolling his eyes. He already knew that the pink peach blossom was only useful for making Love Flower Powder and had no other significant value. ck Turtle red at John and retorted, "You don''t get it, do you? Sometimes, you need to use unconventional methods to deal with enemies, achieving results they never expected." He then turned his attention to the peach blossom tree monster, which was gradually being devoured, and remarked, "This time, you''ve hit the jackpot. Even though the thousand-year peach tree monster is a rare beast, it possesses the power to nurture life. The Tree of Life will absorb and devour it, and it shouldn''t be long before it can produce new elves." "Really?" John asked, delighted at the prospect of nurturing new elves, which would significantly strengthen his forces. He stepped closer to inspect the Tree of Life, noticing that it appeared even more lush than before, with signs that it might soon bloom. Boom! Suddenly, a thunderous explosion echoed through the air, followed by deafening battle cries. Above them, through the spatial rift, hordes of powerful werewolves and demon soldiers from the demon race began pouring in. "This is bad!" ck Turtle''s face paled as he realized he had almost forgotten about this imminent threat. "The beast n''s Secret Area cannot bepromised! We must stop them!" he bellowed, leading the beasts of the Death Land to charge into the Fox Tribe''s domain to intercept the invading werewolves and demon soldiers. The Tree of Life had already devoured the peach blossom tree monster, and with the Fox Tribe''s domain no longer existing, the werewolf and demon race armies surged forward in full force. John quickly absorbed the Tree of Life back into the Death Land and turned to the elves, saying, "Anna, you all stay out of this." The strength of the werewolves and invading demon soldiers far surpassed that of the elves, and John didn''t want Anna and her people to sacrifice themselves needlessly. "Understood!" Anna responded, obediently retreating into the Death Land. John then sealed the portal to the Death Land. "Master, I''m here!" A massive shadow swept overhead-Avis, the ck dragon. John leapt gracefully onto Avis''s back, patting him as he instructed, "Let''s go help." Avis soared upward, circling to find a safe position. However, instead of immediately attacking, he asked, "Master, are we really going to help, or just put on a show?" John was taken aback, not understanding why Avis would ask such a question. "Did you hear something I didn''t?" he asked. Avis nodded his enormous head, replying, "You guessed right, Master. There''s indeed a treasure among the Yao Tribe. That Flower Fairy is linked to the prophesied savior and seems to be a sacrificial pawn." As he spoke, Avis nced down at the beast army below, as if searching for the Flower Fairy. "Sacrificial pawn?" John frowned, recalling the way ck Turtle and the other beasts treated Jean. They certainly didn''t seem to regard her as a mere sacrifice. However, it was clear that Jean and the prophesied savior were connected in some way. John wasn''t particrly interested in this matter, so he asked, "Is there anything else?" Avis continued, "There''s more. The reward the Yao Tribe promised you seems to be a legendary staff, and the Dragon Transformation Pool that they''re offering to help me evolve is a rare treasure, second only to the Three Great Springs." John was astonished. The Three Great Springs-Elven Spring, Vein of the Earth, and the demon race''s Dark Sea-were all legendary treasures. He already possessed the Vein of the Earth. But he hadn''t expected the beast n to have something so close in value to these treasures. Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Defeating the Level 5 Rare Boss and Annihilating the Enemy Chapter 78: Defeating the Level 5 Rare Boss and Annihting the Enemy ? "Master, there''s more to it," Avis continued when John didn''t immediately respond. "Do you remember the Demon Soul you obtained? When a tenth-level warrior collects the Demon Soul, Demon Armor, Demon Eye, and Demon Wing, they can ascend to a power rivaling that of the gods. The Beast n has something simr-aplete set, prepared for the prophesied savior." "What?" John was stunned, recalling ck Turtle''s reaction when he saw the Demon Soul. At the time, ck Turtle seemed dismissive of the gods, but it now made sense- the Beast n had their own way of challenging divine power. John looked at Avis with suspicion. "This should be top secret, right? I''ve been gone less than a day, and you''ve already gathered so much information?" "Hehe," Avis grinned mischievously. "Master, there''s a foolish pig demon in the Beast n. I got him drunk and squeezed the information out of him." After a brief pause, Avis continued, "Master, why don''t we just sit back and watch the show? Let the werewolves and demon race destroy The Secret Area, and then we can swoop in and seize the Dragon Transformation Pool and the Beast n''s treasures." John couldn''t help but chuckle and shake his head. Avis''s idea sounded great, but it wasn''t realistic. The Beast n was immensely powerful, and whether they helped or not wouldn''t make much difference in the battle. Even if the werewolves and demon race managed to destroy The Secret Area, John wasn''t confident he could snatch the Beast n''s treasures from these formidable opponents. It made more sense to help the Beast n, leave a good impression, and strengthen his own abilities. Roar... Roars and shouts echoed through the air as ck Turtle and Judy led the beast army to reinforce the Beast n, significantly reducing the pressure on them and pushing back the enemy''s offensive. "Lord ck Turtle!" The Ice Phoenix recognized ck Turtle and was both surprised and delighted. "Why are you here?" The Ice Phoenix couldn''t help but nce at John in the sky, suspecting that this had something to do with him. "I''ll exinter," ck Turtle replied, deflecting an attack from a sixth-level demon general. Seeing the endless stream of werewolves and demon soldiers pouring through the spatial rift above, he urgentlymanded, "Quick, seal the rift!" ng! A sharp phoenix cry, like the sh of metal, rang out. In the distance, mes erupted, and the temperature soared. A fire phoenix, its entire body engulfed in mes, appeared. "My lord, I''ve arrived!" The powerful aura radiated as the fire phoenix swiftly reached the battlefield. This fire phoenix was also a seventh-level beast and possessed the spatial affinity. After greeting ck Turtle, the fire phoenix soared into the air to seal the spatial rift. The werewolves and demon soldiers tried to stop the fire phoenix, but ck Turtle and the other beasts held them off. John couldn''t help but marvel at the power of the Beast n. As long as the spatial rift was closed, the crisis in The Secret Area would be resolved. He patted Avis and said, "Let''s help the Beast n." John noticed quite a few Level 5 rare demon generals and werewolf bosses on the battlefield. If he could kill just 19 more Level 5 rare bosses, his Wrath of the Gods ability would level up again. With his current strength, John was confident in his ability to defeat these Level 5 rare bosses. Avis descended, targeting the werewolf army below. With a furious roar, he unleashed a torrent of searing dragon mes. John waved his staff, casting a group magic skill-Fire Meteor Shower-which rained down upon the werewolves, causing heavy casualties. [You have killed a Level 190 werewolf, gaining 2,410 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Strength +1] [Plunder talent activated: Physical Crit +1] ... As the notifications shed by, John''s attributes kept increasing, and he plundered several rare properties in the process. "Howl...!" The werewolves roared in fury. Lacking long-range attack capabilities, they angrily threw their spears at Avis, but none of them could reach him. John locked onto a Level 200, Level 5 rare werewolfmander and leaped down,nding right in the midst of the werewolf army. "Master, be careful!" Avis noticed John''s movement and quickly descended to draw the enemy''s attention. "They''re no threat to me," John said confidently. He swapped his staff for a dagger and charged directly at the werewolfmander. The werewolfmander noticed John. Although the beasts were powerful, this particrmander had stayed back, not daring to engage directly. Now, this small human wasing straight for him. "Interesting," themander sneered, giving an order: "Everyone, stand back. This human is mine to deal with." The werewolf army obeyed, parting to create a path, which made it much easier for John to reach themander. The werewolfmander looked John over with disdain. "A weak human dares to meddle in the affairs of the werewolf n? You don''t know your ce." John wasn''t in the mood for conversation. His dagger gleamed with a cold light as heunched his a ck. "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread," the werewolfmander scoffed, his expression turning to rage. The idea that a weak human adventurer would dare challenge him was an insult. A long, sharp sword appeared in his hand, and he swung it fiercely at John. ng! A loud sh rang out as the werewolfmander felt a jolt in his hand, forcing him to step back. A damage number floated above his head. -113 The werewolfmander sneered. With over 800,000 health points, that little bit of damage was nothing to him. And that was with a critical hit; if it had been a regr attack, this human wouldn''t have even scratched his defense. There was no way this human couldnd a critical hit every time. "Boy, it''s over. Fury sh!" the werewolfmander roared, his massive energy surging as he raised his sword and brought it down with full force. John sneered at the werewolfmander''s attack. With such a long skill wind-up, he could interrupt it with his eyes closed. sh! Blood sttered. The dagger sliced through the werewolfmander''s wrist, causing his aura to waver, and the skill was instantly interrupted. "Cough!" Themander coughed up blood from the bacsh of his interrupted attack. He red at John in shock and demanded, "How... How did you do that?" "Hmph, just takes a bit of skill," John taunted, his figure suddenly bing ethereal as he activated Void Dance. This advanced Assassin skill allowed him to be nearly untouchable, delivering continuous strikes to his enemy. The werewolfmander''s eyes gleamed with cold disdain. The human in front of him had barely managed to break through his defense; even with skill attacks, he posed no real threat. But in the next moment, the smirk on his face froze. -5380 -5303 ... The air around him shimmered with cold light, and red damage numbers floated above his head. All ten strikes from John''s Void Dance were critical hits. The werewolfmander lost over 50,000 health points in an instant. Although this was only a fraction of his 800,000 total health. But he was stunned that every single attack from this human adventurer was a critical hit. Panicking, themander staggered backward, ring at John in shock and anger. "What''s your physical critical rate, kid?" John ignored themander''s desperate question. He unleashed a series of skills from his evolved Nightmare Assassin ss-Deadly Strike, Armor Piercing, and Death Rush-one after another. Each skill attack resulted in critical damage, dealing over 50,000 points of damage each time. The terrifying part was that John''s skills seemed to have no cooldown, one attack following another in rapid session. Within seconds, the werewolfmander''s health dropped to under 100,000. Frantic, he looked around at his fellow werewolves and roared, "Quick! Stop this guy!" With that, he turned and tried to flee into the ranks of his army. "It''s toote to run now!" John''s icy voice echoed in his ears like the whisper of death. Simultaneously, John activated Death Rush and Armor Piercing. -52040 -51451 Two massive damage numbers shed, both critical hits. The werewolfmander''s health was instantly depleted to zero. His eyes widened in shock and disbelief as he stared at John. He unable toprehend how a lowly Tier 3 human adventurer had killed him. [You have killed a Level 200 rare werewolfmander, gaining 21,040 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Strength +50, Physical Crit +1, Attack Speed +1] John had plundered 50 strength points and two rare attributes. In addition, the werewolfmander dropped twenty skill stones, twenty equipment gems, and an epic-grade Level 5 longsword. John swiftly gathered them all. "Awooo!" The surrounding werewolves finally reacted, their howls of rage filling the air as they surged forward like a tidal wave, engulfing John in an instant. John remained calm and unruffled as he switched to his staff. He cast Iron Armor for defense and summoned Water Mist Clones to absorb the brunt of the werewolves'' attacks. Without missing a beat, he unleashed Rain of Fire,bining it with a fierce Thunderstorm. Above, Avis showered the battlefield with scorching dragonfire, causing massive casualties among the werewolves. Seizing the opportunity, John leapt onto Avis''s back, escaping the encirclement of the werewolf army. "Keep going. Find the next rare boss," he instructed Avis, directing them to avoid the main battle where the stronger beasts fought. He focused on locating the rare Tier 5 bosses within the werewolf and demon race armies. Given his current power, John could only handle those below the rare Tier 5 level. John patrolled the battlefield''s edge, ughtering weaker werewolves, demon soldiers, and demon guardians while hunting for the rare Tier 5 bosses. He managed to take down ten rare bosses in session as the battle''s intensity gradually lessened. The spatial rift above The Secret Area had long since been sealed, and the strongest enemy left was a Tier 7 Demon Emperor, who had been in by thebined might of ck Turtle and Judy. The enemy forces were now isted and overwhelmed, making their defeat inevitable. Soon, John struck down thest demon guardian. In total, he had killed twelve rare Tier 5 bosses. Despite this, he felt a tinge of disappointment-he still needed to kill seven more to level up his Wrath of the Gods talent. But with the battlefield now cleared of enemies, there was no one left to challenge. John began to scour the battlefield for loot. Most of the werewolf and demon race bosses had been defeated by the Beast n, but they still left behind plenty of valuable items. These were things the Beast n didn''t care for, so they ended up being John''s spoils. At that moment, the members of the Beast n surrounded ck Turtle and the other beasts. It seemed that these beasts were well-acquainted, exchanging warm greetings with each other. "Lord ck Turtle, it''s such a relief to see you again. I knew you had to still be alive." "Thank goodness you arrived in time, or else The Secret Area of the Beast n would''ve been in grave danger." "Lord ck Turtle, have you heard about the Fox n''s rebellion?" ... The gathered beasts all showed immense respect for ck Turtle. John couldn''t help but be curious about the true identity of this old man. "Enough," ck Turtle spoke, cutting off the chatter among the beasts. He turned to the leaders, Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix, and asked, "Do you know about the prophecy of the Savior''s arrival?" Chapter 79: Chapter 79: The Powerful Artifact, Sword of Divinity and Demons Chapter 79: The Powerful Artifact, Sword of Divinity and Demons ? Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix exchanged a nce, then sighed helplessly without answering. They were well aware of ck Turtle''s vow to protect the Savior. However, with the Fox n now allied with the demon race, they had be enemies of the Beast n. Bound by his oath, ck Turtle could not kill the Savior and was even obliged to protect him. The Phoenixes didn''t want to put ck Turtle in a difficult position. "My Lord, where is Flower Fairy?" Ice Phoenix changed the subject, not seeing Jean, which filled him with concern. "She''s fine," ck Turtle replied, frowning as he thought of Flower Fairy. That naive little girl clearly had feelings for John. But her fate was tied to the Savior, unless John himself could be the Savior... "Hey, where''s my reward?" At that moment, John interrupted the conversation between the beasts, looking at Ice Phoenix and asking directly. Ice Phoenix instinctively looked at ck Turtle. He felt that saving Flower Fairy and wiping out the Fox n were entirely due to ck Turtle''s efforts. He didn''t want this human to take the credit. "Why are you looking at me?" ck Turtle frowned, clearly annoyed. "Since you promised him, you should keep your word." Ice Phoenix chuckled awkwardly and whispered, "I promised him an artifact, but this guy didn''t do much. What do you think?" He subtly hinted at ck Turtle, hoping he would suggest reducing John''s reward. After a brief moment of thought, ck Turtle said, "I recall that the Sword of Divinity and Demons has yet to find an owner. Let that be his reward." Ice Phoenix''s eyes widened in shock, taking a moment to process the words before eximing, "My Lord, that sword was meant for the Savior! You''re giving it to this guy?" His tone was openly disdainful as he pointed a wing at John. John wasn''t pleased; this scruffy bird was really starting to irritate him. Especially since it had killed him once before. ck Turtle cast a disapproving look at Ice Phoenix before continuing, "The Secret Area of the Beast n is under your and Fire Phoenix''s control. The decision is yours." With that, ck Turtle walked over to stand beside John. Ice Phoenix was stunned by ck Turtle''s actions, which clearly indicated he was siding with this human. He looked to Fire Phoenix for support. But Fire Phoenix merely nodded slightly, offering no words. Sigh. Ice Phoenix let out a sigh, then turned to John and said, "Follow me, kid." He spread his wings and flew deeper into the Secret Area. John jumped onto Avis''s back and followed closely behind. Buzz! The air around them hummed with spatial energy as they passed through a barrier. "An independent space!" John was amazed. This space was even more stable and hidden than thend of the Fox n. In the distance, mist swirled around a small pool, emanating a powerful energy. "This must be the Dragon Transformation Pool of the Beast n," John thought. Ice Phoenixnded in front of the pool and looked at the ck dragon, Avis. "You can stay in the Dragon Transformation Pool for three days, which should be enough time for you to evolve to the Legendary grade. But after three days, you must leave." "Great!" Avis was thrilled. After a quick word to John, he dove into the pool with a loud ssh. The water roiled, and John moved closer, curious to observe. "Kid, the Dragon Transformation Pool only works for the Beast n. It won''t do anything for you," Ice Phoenix said, noticing John''s interest. John couldn''t help but feel a bit disappointed, though he couldn''t help but wonder if the pool might have some effect on the Tree of Life. However, this is the Beast n''s Secret Area, guarded by powerful beings, so stealing the Dragon Transformation Pool would be impossible. Seeing Ice Phoenix standing still, John couldn''t help but urge, "Where''s my reward?" Ice Phoenix frowned, sizing John up before asking curiously, "What''s your rtionship with Lord ck Turtle?" "What do you mean?" John was confused. "Wait here!" Ice Phoenix said abruptly, not wanting to engage with John further. He then dove straight into the Dragon Transformation Pool. "Is the artifact in the pool?" John watched the churning waters, hesitating whether he should follow. He had a concealment talisman and an invisibility skill, making him undetectable by any beast below the seventh rank. However, he decided against it. He wasn''t sure if the concealment talisman would work underwater or if Ice Phoenix had detection skills. Soon, the water bubbled, and Ice Phoenix emerged from the surface. Water droplets slid off his body, freezing in mid-air before hitting the ground. He held a longsword in his beak, and his aura had be even colder. John''s attention was immediately drawn to the longsword. The de was long and dull, with no gleam at all. It didn''t seem like an artifact. "A sword?" John felt a bit disappointed. Longswords were weapons for warriors or knights, while he was a mage and assassin, unable to use them. However, he still had an Origin Stone that could grant him an additional ss. If this longsword was powerful enough, he might choose to be a warrior or knight. Ice Phoenix shook off the remaining water droplets, picked up the longsword, and handed it to John reluctantly, his expression full of reluctance. "Kid, you''re lucky." John took the longsword and examined its attributes. [Sword of Divinity and Demons: Mid-grade Artifact] [Requirements: Strength and Spirit above 5000 points] [Four Basic Attributes: +1000 points] [Additional Attribute Bonuses: Strength +2000, Spirit +2000, Mana +10000, Mana Recovery +50 points/second] [Attached Skills: Wrath of the Gods, Divine Punishment] [Wrath of the Gods: Ultimate warrior skill, deals 1000% physical damage based on strength to the target; consumes 10,000 mana, 7-day cooldown] [Divine Punishment: Ultimate mage skill, deals 800% magic damage based on spirit to all targets within range; consumes 10,000 mana, 7-day cooldown] [Note: The skills attached to the weapon are not affected by cooldown reduction] [Description: This longsword has in both gods and demons, tempered in their blood, and possesses earth-shattering power.] A mid-grade artifact! And it doesn''t have any ss restrictions! John stared at the ancient-looking longsword in his hand, both surprised and delighted. With this longsword equipped, he could use both mage and assassin skills without any limitations. Moreover, the attributes it added were astonishing. The four basic attributes increased by 1000 points, with an additional 2000 points added to both Strength and Spirit. John spected that the original owner of this Sword of Divinity and Demons likely possessed dual sses or the Dual Mastery talent. The most powerful aspect of this artifact was the two ultimate skills it carried. Wrath of the Gods and Divine Punishment. One was a single-target physical attack, while the other was an area-of-effect magical skill. The damage boost was 10 times the Strength attribute and 8 times the Spirit attribute. John''s current Strength was at 16,637 points, and his Spirit was at 14,705 points. If he unleashed an ultimate skill with a critical hit, he could deal over 300,000 damage. The only downside was the long cooldown time for both ultimate skills, and the fact that cooldown reduction didn''t apply to these weapon skills. Despite this, John was more than satisfied. Meeting the equipment requirements, John immediately equipped the Sword of Divinity and Demons, further boosting his four basic attributes significantly. This caused an immediate shift in the equipment leaderboard, stirring up quite amotion. [First ce: Sword of Divinity and Demons, Mid-grade Artifact; Owner: Godyer] "Look! The weapon leaderboard just updated!" "An artifact! Another artifact has appeared, and it''s a mid-grade one!" "Owner is Godyer? That makes sense." "What do you mean ''makes sense''? He must be cheating! Both artifacts are rted to him, and he''s Level 72, a full eight levels ahead of second ce. That''s totally not normal." "Excuse me, Mr. Godyer, are you epting any followers? I work hard, have good gear, and can even take a Stomp to my dignity if needed." "Mr. Godyer, the fortune teller said I bring good luck. I can be your girlfriend, make tea, and serve you." "@Godyer, I''m Toby from the Mike White Family. Let''s talk. Awaiting your reply." ... The world chat channel was buzzing with excitement. John''s acquisition of the artifact made him the center of attention once again, drawing interest from individuals and major factions alike. Even Toby left a message. In the Beast n''s Secret Area. John paid no mind to the chatter. He looked at Ice Phoenix and asked, "Senior, I didn''t just save the Flower Fairy; I also saved your Beast n. Rewarding me with just one artifact seems a bit stingy. How about two more?" Ice Phoenix, who was already feeling the pain of losing the artifact, widened his eyes in anger at John''s request. "Do you think artifacts are asmon as cabbages? There are no more!" He had never encountered someone so shameless before and immediately tried to chase John away. "Kid, you''ve got your reward. Now leave." "So stingy!" John grumbled unhappily. Ice Phoenix had mentioned earlier that the Sword of Divinity and Demons was meant for the Savior. Given that, he was sure they had prepared additional artifacts for their own rewards. Ice Phoenix was nearly driven to madness by John''s words. An artifact-this was an artifact! Even in the hands of gods, it would be a treasure. Not wanting to waste any more breath on John, Ice Phoenix pped his wings, creating a whirlwind, and left the area immediately. ck Turtle and the other beasts remained in ce, casting envious nces at the longsword in John''s hand. "My lord," the subus sidled up to ck Turtle and whispered, "Are you nning to give up on the prophesied Savior?" ck Turtle frowned and shot her a cold look. "Watch your words!" She shrugged, utterly unbothered by ck Turtle''s warning. Compared to the rumored Savior, she had more faith in John. "Kid, it''s time to head back," ck Turtle said, having gathered the medicinal herbs. He looked at John and urged him to move. John nodded. He had initially thought about trying to subdue the beasts in the Secret Area, but it was clear they were determined to guard this ce, and ck Turtle wouldn''t allow it either. Having the help of ck Turtle and the other beasts was more than enough for now. He could always return to tame the beasts here once he grew stronger. "Sir," Fire Phoenix stepped forward, blocking ck Turtle''s path, and asked, "What about the Flower Fairy?" ck Turtle pondered for a moment before replying, "The fairy is safe. You don''t need to worry." Off to the side, John was about to release Jean from the Death Land when he heard this and was taken aback. Wasn''t the old man opposed to him getting close to Jean? Why had he left Jean in the Death Land? John decided not to dwell on it, mentallymunicating with the Death Land to bring ck Turtle and the other beasts back inside. "Kid, stay here in the Death Land. I''ll have the potion ready in half a day," ck Turtle instructed John. "Wait," John hesitated. Using such underhanded methods to bully a young girl didn''t sit well with him. It wasn''t honorable. He looked at ck Turtle and said, "You go ahead and start brewing the potion for Judy. I need to talk to Yuxuan." "Alright," ck Turtle agreed without hesitation, turning to leave. His unexpectedpliance left John feeling a bit uneasy. Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Announcement and Adas Poisoning Chapter 80: Announcement and Ada''s Poisoning ? ck Turtle ignored John, called Anna for help, and turned to leave. With nothing else to do, John wandered over to the Tree of Life to observe its changes. At this moment, the massive Tree of Life was sparsely dotted with pale yellow flowers, about a thousand in total. ording to Anna, each of these flowers would eventually grow into a elf. When that time came, John would have a powerful new force under hismand. Buzz... A gentle breeze stirred, and vibrant, multicolored lights flickered beneath the tree. It was the Flower Fairy, Jean. Surprisingly, the Tree of Life began absorbing this radiant energy, elerating its growth. The flowers adorning the treetop started blooming, releasing a delicate fragrance thatplemented the multicolored lights. John was astonished. The energy radiating from Jean was actually speeding up the Tree of Life''s process of nurturing elves. The Tree of Life absorbed the multicolored energy, and the flowers that had blossomed already showed signs of forming fruit. At this rate, it wouldn''t take a month before the elves were born. "Big brother!" Jean woke up and, upon seeing John, hopped over to him with joy. She was now wearing a light purple dress, looking like a spirit from the flowers, her eyes bright and teeth as white as snow, radiating charm. She looked at John, her face full of joy. "Big brother, I signed an equal contract with the Tree of Life. Now I canmunicate with it!" "Is that possible?" John was surprised. The Tree of Life was a special life form, and even though it had a soul contract with him, it couldn''t activelymunicate. Even the elves born from the Tree of Life couldn''tmunicate with it. John guessed that it might be because both Jean and the Tree of Life were unique nt-based life forms. Jean nodded and continued, "Big brother, the Tree of Life told me something. It can sense the location of the Elven Spring, deep within the Eternal Forest." "What?" This was indeed unexpected good news for him. The Elven Spring was also a sacred relic, and besides helping the Tree of Life nurture elves, it surely had other unimaginable effects. But the Eternal Forest was mysterious and unknown. In his previous life, even after breaking through to the ninth tier, John hadn''t dared venture into the depths of the Eternal Forest. Retrieving the Elven Spring was impossible for now. Moreover, rumors said that gods existed within the Eternal Forest. If those rumors were true, he would need to break through to at least the tenth tier before daring to enter the forest''s depths. [Announcement: yer Toby has posted a world announcement] Suddenly, an announcement popped up. [Toby: @Godyer, the Mike White Family cordially invites you to join us. We can support you in bing a king, reigning above tens of thousands. Name your conditions, and as long as the Mike White Family can fulfill them, we will unconditionally support you. Reply if you see this message!] The announcement once again stirred up a storm in the world chat. yers could also post world announcements, but each announcement cost a whopping one hundred thousand gold coins! Even for Toby, spending so many gold coins just to send an announcement was painful. John frowned in confusion. Why would Toby publicly reach out to him in a private message? What kind of game was he ying? The offer to be the ruler of a nation was certainly tempting. But John remained unimpressed. The world of Gods would be a future disaster for humanity. Without immense power, even if you were the ruler of a nation, you would be nothing but an ant in the eyes of the gods. Moreover, John had a deep grudge against the Mike White Family, and Toby was known for his vengeful nature. There was no way this guy was acting out of goodwill¡ªthere had to be some hidden agenda. Ignoring Toby''s announcement, John sent a private message to Ritchie. Godyer: "Check on the recent activities of the Mike White Family." Almost immediately, John received a reply. Ritchie: "Boss, Toby recently organized arge group of yers to attempt the City Building Order, but they failed in the end. I suspect he''s looking for your help." Attempting the City Building Order? John felt that there was more to it than met the eye. The first City Building Order hade from Gaia, a member of the Mike White Family. If John hadn''t destroyed it, Gaia''s Imperial City would have been the first territory force in the world of Gods. Given the Mike White Family''s alliance with the Dark Humans, obtaining a City Building Order by hunting a rare Tier 3 boss should have been easy. There was definitely a scheme behind all this. Godyer: "Do we have anyone near Green Moon? Investigate if there''s any city being established near Green Moon." Green Moon was a Tier 3 city. Thest time Gaia tried to establish a city, the Dark Humans from Green Moon had helped. If Toby nned to build a city, he would likely choose a location near Green Moon again. Without the assistance of the Dark Humans, they wouldn''t be able to withstand the monster tide attacks. The first three forces to establish a city would gain territory dungeons. The first ce would unlock a skill stone dungeon, the second an equipment enhancement stone dungeon, and the third an equipment socket gem dungeon. These three dungeons would level up with the city and provide significant benefits to yers in the future. John''s goal was to secure the first three cities-he couldn''t let any other forces, especially the Mike White Family, get ahead. Ritchie: "Got it. I''ll inform you as soon as I have any news." Godyer: "How is the Blues Family''s strength developing?" John thought of Armstrong and his group. The Blues Family was the second territorial force he had supported. Ritchie: "Boss, their progress is a bit slow. They''ve been leveling up these past few days, gaining around 10 levels on average. It''ll take at least another half month before they can break through to Tier 3." John was frustrated; half a month was too long for him. With the Dark Humans'' involvement, unexpected incidents could easily ur. Godyer said, "Do your best to strengthen yourselves. When I return, we''ll establish a second city." John instructed Ritchie and then closed the private chat. yers were not the main force in defending against the monster tide; his trump cards were the ck Turtle and other mythical beasts. Recently, these beasts had been training in the vein of the Earth, significantly enhancing their strength. As long as they didn''t disturb the monsters deep within the Eternal Forest, there would be no problem fending off the monster tide. "Jean, bring Ada here. I have something to discuss with her." John decided against using the Love Flower Powder on Ada. It would be best if she cooperated; if she continued to be arrogant and harbored delusions of restoring her kingdom, he would have no choice but to expel her and Judy from the Death Land. "Okay," Jean responded and ran off to find Ada, who was training the elves. John walked to his treehouse. It was built by the elves for him, and he would asionallye here to rest. Soon, Ada pushed the door open and entered. She was still d in leather armor, looking as valiant as ever. "Godyer, what do you want?" She nced at John, haughty as usual, and casually found a ce to sit down. John couldn''t be bothered with pleasantries and got straight to the point. "I won''t beat around the bush. The Gates Empire has already fallen. You must obey my orders now!" "Outrageous!" Ada pped the table and stood up, ring at John with the full dignity of a princess. "You and everything here belong to me. If you follow my orders obediently, I might make you a general. But if you defy me, you will be my ve." John frowned, his expression darkening. He couldn''t understand where Ada got her confidence from. Even if the Gates Empire still existed, he wouldn''t have given this princess any special regard. Not wanting to waste time, John looked at her and said calmly, "You have two choices: obey my orders, or you and Judy leave the Death Land." "You''re kicking me out?" Ada gritted her teeth. This was John''s territory, and it seemed she had no other option. "Fine!" she agreed, but then added, "If I leave, give me back the vein of the Earth." As a princess ustomed to luxury and pride, Ada couldn''t possibly bow down to John. Moreover, with the Vein of the Earth, she could cultivate a group of strong warriors and still have a chance to restore her kingdom. John shook his head and said, "That''s impossible. You can''t take the Vein of the Earth. It''s the payment for saving you and Judy." If he hadn''t taken control of the Vein of the Earth, Ada and Judy would have remained in slumber for who knows how long. More importantly, the Vein of the Earth had already fused with the Death Land and the Tree of Life; she couldn''t take it away even if she wanted to. Ada took a deep breath and red at John, her voice icy as she said, "In that case, this ce will need a new master. Judy!" She shouted, intending for Judy to kill John and take over his territory. Boom! Suddenly, there was a loud explosion outside, followed by the sounds of intense fighting and Judy''s furious roar, "You bastard! You poisoned me!" The ck Turtle had already made its move. "What have you done to Judy?" Ada''s expression shifted, and she started to rush outside. At that moment, her legs gave out beneath her, and it felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She copsed to the ground, her cheeks flushed, her face contorted in pain. "You''re poisoned too?" John was surprised. Her condition was eerily simr to when Anna had been poisoned with the Love Flower Powder. But he hadn''t ordered the ck Turtle to use poison, and Ada hadn''te into contact with anyone else. How had she been affected? "What... what did you do to me?" Ada stared at John, her eyes filled with terror. A strange emotion began to well up within her, and she found herself inexplicably drawn to John. Love Flower Powder! She suddenly remembered a particr poison, and her current state matched the descriptions of the Love Flower Powder from ancient texts. "You scoundrel!" Ada was filled with shame and anger, wishing she could kill John, but she knew she was no match for him. Besides, she could barely muster any strength. She struggled to her feet, leaning on the furniture for support, and made her way toward the door, trying to escape. John didn''t stop her, caught in his own dilemma about whether or not to help her. If poisoned by Love Flower Powder, the only cure was through a union of opposites; otherwise, death was inevitable. Ada managed to reach the door but failed to push it open despite several attempts. She slumped against the door, her body burning with an unbearable heat, her hands itching to tear off her clothes. She looked at John, unable to resist swallowing hard, and felt a wild urge to throw herself at him. She bit down hard on her tongue, barely regaining a sliver of sanity, struggling to suppress the overwhelming urge within her. Trembling, she said, "Godyer, if... if you save me, all our grievances will be wiped clean." John shook his head. "Be my woman, and I''ll protect you." "Never!" Ada gritted her teeth, refusing, "This is just a transaction between us. I''d rather die than agree to your terms." John was unfazed and replied, "Suit yourself. But think it over. If you die, you''ll never restore your kingdom. If you be my woman and prove yourself capable, I''ll entrust you with a force tomand." Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Passion Awakens, Subduing Ada Chapter 81: Passion Awakens, Subduing Ada ? Ada slumped against the door, ring at John with tears welling in her eyes. The suppressed grievances in her heart finally surged forth. She could no longer hold back and broke down in tears. "I''ve been asleep for a thousand years. My family is gone, my country is gone. Why do you have to humiliate me like this? If it weren''t for the hope of restoring my kingdom, what reason would I have to live?" John opened his mouth but didn''t know how tofort her. He realized he had never truly understood Ada. As a princess of the Gates Empire, her life must have been carefree, well-protected by those around her. To be thrust into a thousand-year slumber, only to wake up to such devastating changes-her pain must be unimaginable. Watching Ada sob quietly, alone and helpless, John couldn''t resist stepping forward and pulling her into his arms. He spoke softly, trying to console her, "A lot has happened in the past thousand years. After the fall of the Gates Empire, the Skyline Continent faced an invasion from foreign forces, almost leading to its destruction. What we need to do now is drive out these invaders and protect the Skyline Continent..." His voice trailed off as Ada''s soft, tender lips interrupted him. With tears on her cheeks and eyes zed with longing, Ada kissed John passionately, her smooth tongue slipping into his mouth. John could only taste a delicate sweetness, and he found himself deeply drawn to her. Piece by piece, Ada''s clothes fell away, her reason ovee by desire, her hands fumbling with John''s belt. After a long moment, their lips parted, and Ada gazed at John with a dazed expression. "You''ll protect me, won''t you?" She wasn''t sure what she felt for John, but she envied the women around him who had his protection. John nodded. "The Death Land will be your home from now on, and we will be your family. If it''s your wish, I''ll even help you restore your kingdom." Ada stared at John, her heart filled with a strange sense of dependence-perhaps it was the effect of the Love Flower Powder. She kissed him again, deeply, her breath heavy as the potent drug took full control, overwhelming her with desire. "I can''t stand it... please, take me..." she whispered, her voice trembling as she desperately tore away her remaining clothes, revealing skin as pale as snow, wless and smooth, with a delicate, t stomach without a trace of excess. John couldn''t hold back any longer. He quickly stripped off his gear, and the two stood naked before each other. Under the influence of the Love Flower Powder, Ada was already lost in passion, her body wet with anticipation, her arms and legs tightly wrapped around John as she kissed him greedily, her lips trailing across his face and neck. "Bear with it; it might hurt a lot," John warned, sensing that this was Ada''s first time. He positioned himself and slowly began to move. "Ah..." Ada threw her head back with a cry of pain as a sharp, tearing sensation radiated from below, causing her to tremble uncontrobly. Her nails dug into John''s flesh, drawing blood. John didn''t mind at all. He held onto her hips and slowly pressed deeper, as the fresh blood of her maidenhood fell to the ground. Ada''s brows furrowed in pain, tears streaming down her cheeks. She bit her lip hard, then opened her eyes to look deeply into John''s, trembling as she spoke, "I''m your woman now. You''ll protect me, right?" "Of course," John affirmed. "No one will ever hurt you again. In the future, I''ll help you conquer the entire Skyline Continent." But Ada shook her head. "I don''t want that; it''s too exhausting. I want you to be my king, my master!" With that, she passionately kissed John again, her voice a heated whisper, "Master, it''s not enough. I''m not afraid of pain..." John couldn''t help but smile. It was the first time he had heard such a bold request. He didn''t rush. Instead, he gently kissed Ada,forting her as he waited for her to adjust, before slowly resuming his movements. "Mm!" Ada groaned in pain, her brows knitted tightly as she covered her mouth with her hand, afraid to make any noise. John lifted her up and ced her on the table, thrusting in deeply. "Ah!" Ada gasped, her head thrown back in a cry of pain. The sharp agony radiating from below nearly made her pass out. Yet amidst the pain, there was a strange pleasure that captivated her. "Master, it feels so good... faster..." Ada whispered, her voice barely audible as she kept her head lowered, too shy to meet John''s gaze. John was a bit surprised. His strength had been proven many times over. Anna, Sini, and Tracy had all struggled to endure their first time, and they had quickly begged for mercy. It seemed Ada had a bit of a masochistic streak. John decided to fully let loose and began to thrust more forcefully. "Mm, mm... Master, it hurts, it hurts so much..." Ada''s voice trembled, her toes curled, and her legs wrapped tightly around John, her expression a mix of pain and an inexplicable joy. "Ah!" After only a few more thrusts, Ada let out a blissful moan, her body trembling uncontrobly as she climaxed. She then wentpletely limp, copsing onto the table as all her strength drained away. Ada blushed with embarrassment. She couldn''t believe she had climaxed so quickly-so unreservedly. It had to be the effect of the Love Flower Powder. Feeling John still inside her, she opened her eyes and saw him watching her with an amused smile. "Master, don''t look!" Ada''s face flushed even deeper, and she hurriedly covered it with her hands, unable to face John. John gently pulled her hands away, holding her wrists down. "Can you keep going?" Ada swallowed nervously, closed her eyes, and nodded lightly without daring to look at him. Without hesitation, John lifted her legs again and resumed his powerful thrusts. Ada''s mouth opened wide in a silent cry of pain, her effort to stay quiet only intensifying the sensations. The pain in her lower body was sharp, but there was also an intense pleasure that reached deep into her soul, a mix offort and euphoria. With each powerful thrust, she felt herself nearing the peak again. "Master, faster..." Ada pleaded, her brows furrowed in pain, but she couldn''t resist the overwhelming pleasure. Her delicate hands grabbed onto John''s, pressing them firmly against her chest, as if trying to pull him even closer, deeper inside her. "Ah!" Ada couldn''t hold back, a cry of both pain and pleasure escaped her lips as her breath came in rapid gasps. Her body trembled uncontrobly as a wetness spread between her legs. That wave of intense pleasure washed over her again, dulling the pain below, and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Master, you''re so strong," Ada said with genuine admiration. "This is just the beginning," John replied, intrigued by the uniqueness of her body. He wanted to see Ada''s limits, to find out if she could endure his relentless assault. "Lie on the table," John instructed, giving her legs a gentle pat. Blushing furiously, Ada struggled to suppress the pain in her lower body, obediently positioning herself on the table, her back to John. Despite her embarrassment, there was an undeniable thrill, a sense of anticipation... John spread her legs, revealing the tender pinkness beneath, and plunged in deeply. "Mm..." Ada moaned long and low, the sensation different from before-more mysterious, more thrilling. John began to thrust vigorously. The sound of skin pping against skin echoed through the room. Ada''s hips quivered under the forceful impacts, shaking uncontrobly. "Master..." she cried out in pain, her arms iling helplessly behind her. John grabbed her wrists, intensifying his thrusts. "Master... too fast, I can''t hold on... Ah..." Ada''s voice trembled, her moans mingling with cries as her legs shook and she climaxed once more. Pa. The sound of their bodies colliding filled the entire room. "Master, I can''t take it anymore... I''m breaking... please, let me go..." Ada moaned in pain, her body writhing in a desperate attempt to escape. But her struggles only spurred John on, driving him to pound into her even harder, like a storm raging in full force. "Master, I''m really breaking... please, I was wrong..." Her desperate pleas, mixed with moans, filled the air. Ada felt like she was teetering on the edge of life and death. She had climaxed multiple times in quick session, her body and mind flooded with pleasure, but she couldn''t feel her body anymore-it was as if she was about to die. "Just a bit more, hold on," John muttered, sensing that he was nearing his own limit. His thrusts became even more powerful. "Please, Master, I''m begging you, I''ll be good from now on..." Ada''s voice was faint, barely a whisper as she pleaded, no longer able to hear anything but the pounding of her heart. Finally, John reached his climax, pressing himself tightly against Ada''s quivering hips, his dragon deeply buried within her as he released a torrent of energy inside her. Ada let out a moan, her hips trembling uncontrobly. As John reached his climax, she found herself swept up in another wave of pleasure, climaxing once more. John was surprised; Ada''s resilience was remarkable, even stronger than Sini and the other two women. Despite the intensity of his release, she hadn''t passed out. He took a step back, withdrawing from Ada''s soft body, his erection still standing tall. One round wasn''t nearly enough for John. Without the support of the table, Ada slid to the floor, copsing weakly against John''s legs, her forehead resting against his erection, her lips still murmuring softly. "Master, I can''t take it anymore... please, let me go..." Seeing Ada so vulnerable and helpless sparked a wicked thought in John''s mind. He lifted her chin and guided his erection into her mouth. "Ugh... cough, cough..." Ada''s mouth was suddenly filled, his length pushing deep into her throat, causing her to cough uncontrobly. Her eyes shot open, a bit of rity returning to her expression, showing some resistance. But when she saw the pleasure on John''s face, she felt a strange sense of pride. Clumsily, she followed the motion of his hand. "Master, is this how you like it?" Ada asked after pulling him out of her mouth, her face flushed with embarrassment. She looked up at John with shy eyes, swallowed hard, and then teasingly licked and yed with him with her tongue. John was driven wild by her teasing, the urge to thoroughly dominate her growing stronger. "Master, please sit down," Ada said sweetly as she guided John to a chair. She knelt on the floor and took him deep into her mouth again. John leaned back in the chair, letting out a sigh of pleasure. However, Ada was inexperienced and didn''t know how to please him more effectively. John gathered her long hair in his hands and urged her on, "Faster." "Mm," Ada hummed in response, picking up the pace as she tried to follow his instructions. "Cough, cough..." She couldn''t stop coughing, her expression pained. It wasn''t that John had any unpleasant taste-quite the opposite, she found his scent intoxicating. But he was too big, and each time he pushed deep into her throat, even into her esophagus, it caused her a great deal of difort. Yet, seeing the satisfaction on John''s face brought her immense pleasure, so she endured the pain and continued to stimte him with increasing speed. Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Sealing Demon Pill, Black Turtle Departs Chapter 82: Sealing Demon Pill, ck Turtle Departs ? Ada worked diligently to please John, and the strange sensation in her mouth unexpectedly stirred her arousal once more. Her body trembled slightly, and fluid began to flow steadily from her lower body. John noticed this, astonished by Ada''s unique physique. Who would have thought that the usually cold and aloof princess was actually so responsive? As John gazed at the obedient Ada, a sense of pride welled up within him. Ada''s expression was pained; she had used every ounce of her strength to please John. Her mouth had gone numb, almost losing all feeling. She wanted to give up, but seeing the pleasure on John''s face, she held on, forcing herself to ignore the difort in her throat. She buried her head deeply, allowing John''s massive length to push into her esophagus, intensifying the stimtion. After several more minutes passed. John finally reached his limit. He grabbed Ada, pulling her into his embrace, and thrust deeply into her soaked, scorching lower body. Ada''s body was slick with moisture, her insides burning hot. Unable to hold back any longer, John released himself inside her. Ada copsed against John''s shoulder, her mouth open, unable to make a sound. A suffocating pleasure reached deep into her soul. Her body trembled violently, and as John climaxed, she was pushed into an even deeper state of ecstasy. "Ah..." Finally, she let out a long moan, copsing limply against John, panting heavily, her body flushed red as blood surged through her veins. "Master, Ada loves this feeling..." Ada murmured as her consciousness began to fade, drifting off into a deep sleep, with fluid still seeping from her lower body. It seemed she could even climax in her sleep. "They''re all little temptresses," John thought, looking at the drool trailing from Ada''s mouth, his desire far from extinguished, only burning hotter. He couldn''t help but nce toward the door, a mischievous smile ying on his lips. He had sensed someone eavesdropping at the door-it was Anna. Gentlyying the limp Ada on the bed and covering her with a nket, John quietly approached the door. The door suddenly flew open, causing Anna to jump in surprise. She let out a cry and tried to flee, but John caught her, pulling her into the room. "Benefactor, I was just looking for you..." Anna stammered, eyes wide with panic as she took in the sight of John, fully naked, with his erection standing tall. "No rush, we''ll talkter," John replied dismissively, his hands roaming over Anna''s body. Anna put up only a token resistance before surrendering to John''s touch. John quickly lifted her skirt and pulled down her panties, entering her from behind. "Ah!" Anna cried out in pain, tears welling up in her eyes. She remembered thest time John had made her pass out, a mix of fear and anticipation swirling in her heart. "Benefactor, Anna is afraid of the pain... please, be gentle..." Anna clung to John''s arm, pleading softly. John didn''t respond. He held her slim waist tightly and began to thrust slowly. Anna''s initially dry lower body quickly became wet, and as always when she was with John, she found herself unable to resist. The intense pleasure coursed through Anna, electrifying every nerve in her body. She clung to the doorframe, her cries growing louder with each thrust. The room was filled with the sound of their passion, echoing off the walls. Anna''s dress had been discarded, and she now straddled John, pleading for mercy between gasps. "Benefactor, I really do have something to talk to you about... please, don''t make me pass out..." Anna reminded John, her voice trembling with the overwhelming sensations. Her soul quaking with pleasure. With each powerful thrust from John, her body climbed to new heights of ecstasy. The sounds of her cries and moans filled the room, continuing for over two hours. "Benefactor, I can''t take it anymore... If this goes on, I''m going to break..." Anna''s tears streamed down her face, her voice hoarse as she begged. John''s strength both thrilled and terrified her. She felt her energy draining with each thrust, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness several times. "Just hold on a little longer, we''re almost there," John murmured, stroking Anna''s hair as his movements became even more forceful. Anna gripped the clothes beneath her, trying to brace herself against John''s relentless assault. The pleasure radiating from her lower body was like an electric current, surging through her entire being, stimting every nerve. "Benefactor, please... give it to me, I''ming again..." As she spoke, her body trembled uncontrobly, the intense stimtion sending waves of dizziness through her head. John finally reached his limit, and a torrent of energy flooded into Anna''s body. "Ah..." Anna''s mouth fell open, her moans continuous as her hands desperately clung to John''s arms. Her body shook violently as an unprecedented wave of pleasure struck her to her very core, an indescribable sensation that overwhelmed every part of her being. The dizziness hit her hard, nearly causing her to faint again. "Benefactor, I have an idea... please, just let me rest for now," Anna pleaded, struggling to sit up as she clutched John''s arm. She nced at John''s still-throbbing erection beneath her, realizing that despite her multiple orgasms, he hadn''t softened in the slightest. Swallowing hard, she adjusted her hair and took him deeply into her mouth once more. John''s eyes widened in pleasure as he looked down at the obedient Anna. Curiosity piqued, he asked, "Were you spying on us at the door?" Anna shot him a reproachful look, momentarily releasing him before replying, "No, Sini taught me. Benefactor, please, finish in my mouth... I want it..." With that, she took him deeply into her mouth again. John was speechless. Sini, that mischievous girl, was clearly teaching her all the wrong things. But the pleasure surging through him left little room for concern about such matters. ... After nearly half an hour, John finally reached his limit. He could no longer hold back, and a wave of heat surged forth. Anna gripped his arm tightly, her head tilted back slightly as she stared straight at him, her throat working hard to swallow everything he released. "Ugh..." Anna coughed as she pulled away from John''s length, copsing weakly onto the floor. Though she felt a mix of emotions, deep down she was immensely satisfied. John felt a pang of guilt as he gently lifted her into his arms,forting her in a soft voice. "Benefactor, why are you still... like this?" Anna''s hand identally brushed against his still- erect member, and she felt a jolt of electricity course through her body, her cheeks flushing a deep red. Both of them were still naked, and fearing that John might lose control again, she quickly suggested, "Maybe we should call Sini or Tracy to help..." John was left speechless, wondering why all the women around him were so open-minded. Despite his lingering arousal, after four climaxes, his desire had somewhat diminished. He began to help Anna dress, taking full advantage of the opportunity, which made her blush even more. "Oh, right. What did you want to talk to me about?" John asked, suddenly remembering the original purpose of their conversation. Anna rolled her eyes at him, leaning into his embrace as she spoke, "Benefactor, the ck Turtle has left." She had already refined the Death Land token, allowing her to control the Death Land as freely as John could. "The old man left?" John was surprised. The ck Turtle had agreed to stay in the Death Land under numerous strict conditions, so he was certainly reluctant to leave. There must be a serious reason. John suspected it had something to do with the so-called savior of the Fox n. Anna nodded and then took out a thumb-sized pill, handing it to John. "Benefactor, the ck Turtle left this for you. It''s a sealing pill that can temporarily suppress the power of beasts below the eighth tier. He warned you not to use it lightly." John epted the pill, puzzled, and examined it closely. It was called the Sealing Demon Pill, with effects simr to a Mana-Suppressing Potion. However, the Sealing Demon Pill was only effective on beasts and was more convenient to use -just crush it, and it would work. The ck Turtle had used a Sealing Demon Pill to subdue Judy. John was a bit confused. The pill was only effective on beasts, so was there a beast that might pose a threat to him? He thought of Judy. But Judy was Ada''s pet, and since he had already won over Ada, she shouldn''t be a threat to him. Moreover, Judy had been seriously injured by the ck Turtle and was currently recovering in the Vein of the Earth. It would be a while before she could regain her strength. "Anna, did the old man say anything else?" John asked as he put away the Sealing Demon Pill. "Oh, yes, he did say one more thing," Anna recalled. "He said he would never be your enemy." "What does that mean?" John was perplexed, sensing that the ck Turtle was trying to hint at something. Anna shook her head, equally puzzled. "Forget it. The old man will probably return once he''s done with whatever he has to do. I''m heading out for now." John decided not to dwell on it any longer. He bid Anna farewell and left the Death Land. His figure reappeared in the Beast n''s Secret Area. The area had just seen a fierce battle, and the beasts were busy cleaning up the battlefield. A few of the beasts recognized John and greeted him as he passed. John nodded in acknowledgment before leaving the Beast n''s Secret Area. He didn''t rush back to me City. Since Avis needed to remain in the Dragon Transformation Pool for three days, he decided to stay nearby and hunt for fifth-tier rare bosses to level up his Wrath of the Gods talent. If he could hunt down eight rare bosses, his Wrath of the Gods talent would upgrade to SS level, significantly reducing his skill cooldowns. The area surrounding the Beast n''s Secret Area was teeming with powerful beasts, all level 160 and above, and it was known to contain fifth-tier rare bosses. With the Sword of Divinity and Demons in his possession, John''s strength had seen a massive boost, making it easy for him to take down fifth-tier rare bosses. ... For three days, he wandered through the Dark Forest, ughtering arge number of beasts and raising his level to 74. During this time, he also took down three demon generals and four fifth-tier rare werewolf bosses. He needed to find and kill just one more fifth-tier rare boss to upgrade his Wrath of the Gods talent. "It''s already the third day. Avis should be awakening soon," John thought, feeling the fatigue from three days of relentless fighting and sleepless nights. He decided to pick up Avis, take a short rest, and then hunt down the final fifth-tier rare boss. Beep! His private chat pinged-it was Ritchie. Ritchie: "Boss, you were right. The Mike White Family is indeed building a city, and it''s happening within the next few days." John wasn''t surprised when he read Ritchie''s message. It seemed he needed to pick up the pace, and he couldn''t let the Mike White Family seed. Godyer: "Find a way to stop them." Ritchie: "It''s going to be tough this time. Toby got his hands on a Secret Area, and they''re nning to build the city inside it." "What?" John was taken aback. He hadn''t expected Toby to pull a move like that. A Secret Area is an isted space where a city can indeed be established, but it''s not conducive to long-term development. yers can only enter it if they possess the corresponding scroll. Moreover, once a Secret Area is cleared or the scroll is used, it disappears unless it''s a permanent Secret Area, like the Beast n''s Secret Area. With the support of the Dark Humans and the advantage of building in an isted space, even if Toby established his city simultaneously, he would be able to fend off the monster tide more quickly. John realized he had to find a way to stop him, and fast! Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Contacting Toby, Acquiring Another Artifact Chapter 83: Contacting Toby, Acquiring Another Artifact ? John possessed the spatial awareness talent, but his current strength was too weak to break through stable spatial barriers. He could only shatter weak points in the fabric of space. If the Secret Area where Toby nned to build the city was a stable one, John wouldn''t be able to break through it. Especially since he didn''t even know the Secret Area''s exact location. Then he remembered the world announcement Toby had made three days ago. The Mike White Family had publicly extended an invitation to him-perhaps this could be his way in. Acting on his idea, John opened his friend list and sent a friend request to Toby. Almost immediately, his request was epted, and a private message followed. Toby: "Godyer?!" John nced at Toby''s message. The guy was clearly shocked as well. He replied briefly. Godyer: "I''m interested in your offer. Maybe we should talk." In Green Moon. Toby''s excitement was palpable when he saw John''s message. But then his expression darkened, and a sly smile crept across his face. The bait he had thrown out two days ago had finally caught its prey. As for why John had waited two days to respond, Toby didn''t think too much of it-perhaps John hadn''t been online or had just made up his mind. He quickly replied. Toby: "Green Moon, face-to-face." He closed the chat, feeling a wave of relief. "So, Godyer, I thought you were stronger than this. In the end, you''re just another ordinary person!" Toby sneered, his expression brimming with confidence. "Someone,e!" he called out toward the door. A subordinate hurried in, bowing respectfully. "My lord, what are your orders?" Toby replied calmly, "Inform the Green Moon city lord that the city-building ns are temporarily postponed. Follow the previous n and wait for my instructions." The subordinate looked at Toby with some confusion but didn''t dare ask any questions. He simply nodded, bowed again, and left the room. The room fell silent once more. Toby felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction, the stress of the past few days melting away. He leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, and swirled the unknown liquid in his ss, muttering to himself, "Godyer, the Elemental Secret Area will be your grave." He downed the liquid in one gulp. ... Back in the Dark Forest, John used the path through the Beast n''s Secret Area to re-enter it. Boom... Loud explosions and the sound of curses and fighting echoed through the area. "Bastard, leave the Dragon Fang behind!" It was the voice of Ice Phoenix. John didn''t know what was happening, but he quickly headed toward the sounds of battle. Ahead, snow and mes filled the air, creating a scene of fire and ice. shing in a chaotic disy. Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix, two powerful mythical beasts, were teaming up to attack a massive dragon. The dragon was covered in purple scales, with two horns on its head and wings on its back, exuding an immense aura of power. "Avis?" John looked at the purple dragon in disbelief. Avis had undergone aplete transformation. Gone was the lizard-like form of a Western dragon; now, Avis resembled an Eastern dragon with wings on its back. "Master, help!" Avis, noticing John, called out in desperation. Under thebined assault of Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix, he waspletely overpowered and frantically sought John''s help. "Stop!" John hurriedlymanded Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix to cease their attack, then asked angrily, "Why are you attacking Avis?" Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix halted their assault, and Avis quickly took the opportunity to hide behind John''s massive frame, breathing a sigh of relief. Although he had sessfully evolved to a legendary grade, his strength was only at the fourth tier, making him no match for Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix. "Hmph!" Fire Phoenix snorted, mes dancing around her as she struggled to contain her anger, refusing to even look at John. Ice Phoenix, with a cold expression, pointed at Avis and angrily said, "You''d better control your pet! This guy stole our Dragon Fang." Dragon Fang? A dragon''s tooth? John was puzzled. Avis, however, put on an innocent, obedient expression and leaned close to John''s ear, whispering, "Master, it''s actually a low-grade artifact." An artifact?! John''s eyes widened slightly, and he couldn''t help but swallow nervously. Avis was indeed looking out for him. He whispered back, "Can you put on a show?" Avis blinked hisrge eyes, his expression a mix of innocence and stupidity, as he looked at John with apparent confusion. Wham! John suddenly kicked Avis in the head. "Ouch!" Avis yelped, looking hurt and aggrieved. "Master, why did you kick me?" Though his scales were thick, John''s strength was considerable. Even though it didn''t harm his health, the kick still hurt. John sighed inwardly and quietly reminded Avis, "Run toward the exit of the Secret Area!" Saying this, he kicked Avis again, this time with more force, while shouting angrily, "You useless creature! You''ve only been away for three days, and you''re already stealing things? Is this how I''ve taught you? Just wait, I''ll beat you to death today!" Finally catching on, Avis quickly yed along, begging for mercy as he cried out, "Ouch, Master, stop hitting me! I know I was wrong." His pained cries filled the air as he clutched his head and scurried off-toward the Secret Area''s exit. Seeing this, both Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix felt a pang of guilt. They had initially suspected that John had instructed Avis to steal the Dragon Fang. But now, seeing how harshly John was disciplining Avis, it was clear that he hadn''t known about it. "Kid, just have him return the Dragon Fang and let it go. No need to actually beat him to death," Ice Phoenix called out, somewhat concerned, as she watched the pained Avis flee. John maintained his righteous facade, even drawing out the Sword of Divinity and Demons, and dered angrily, "No way, today he needs to learn a lesson. Stealing small things as a child leads to stealing bigger things as an adult." Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix were left speechless. Small? Avis was probably several times older than John. And this wasn''t some trivial theft-he had stolen an artifact. However, there was some truth in what this human was saying. Perhaps a good lesson was indeed in order. Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix mulled over John''s words, nodding asionally. They decided to use this saying to discipline the younger members of the Beast n in the future. "Master, I was wrong! I''ll never do it again!" Avis, seeing John pull out the Sword of Divinity and Demons, was genuinely frightened and sped up his escape toward the Secret Area''s exit. Avis knew well how strong John was, and with the addition of the Sword of Divinity and Demons, John could seriously injure him. "This isn''t good-they''re trying to escape!" Ice Phoenix finally realized what was happening as he watched John and Avis, one chasing and the other fleeing. "Quick, stop them!" He spread his wings and flew toward John at high speed, but he was too far away-it was already toote. Hum! The space around them rippled, and in an instant, John and Avis disappeared, escaping from the Beast n''s Secret Area. "Despicable! You treacherous scoundrel!" Ice Phoenix erupted in fury, cursing loudly. Only now did he realize that John had tricked him. He was about to chase them out of the Secret Area. When a flicker of mes stopped him-Fire Phoenix intervened, sighing as she said, "Let it go. Consider the Dragon Fang a gift to this adventurer." "Big brother, that''s an artifact!" Ice Phoenix fumed, unable to swallow his anger. Fire Phoenix reminded him, "Don''t forget, we still need this human''s help." Ice Phoenix fell silent, frustration boiling inside him as he gritted his teeth and said, "That bastard got lucky." ... After escaping the Beast n''s Secret Area, John and Avis flew non-stop. John was wary of the Beast n giving chase, ready to enter the Death Land at a moment''s notice. But there was no movement behind them. It was clear that Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix had no intention of pursuing them out of the Secret Area. John let out a sigh of relief, then patted Avis and asked curiously, "Avis, what kind of artifact is it? Let me take a look." Avis opened his mouth and spat out a short dagger, which floated into John''s hand. The short dagger was pure white, curved, and about a meter in length-elegant yet menacing. [Dragon Fang: Low-Grade Artifact] [Requirements: Assassin ss, Strength 1000+, Agility 500+] [Physical Damage: +1000, Strength: +1000, Agility: +200, Spirit: +100] [Additional Attributes: Critical Hit +10, Attack Speed +10, Luck +2] [Special Effect: Bloodthirst; Absorbs 5% of the damage dealt by normal attacks and skills as health, restoring your own HP.] [Attached Skill: Dragon''s Might] [Dragon''s Might: Auxiliary skill that boosts all stats by 20% and increases physical damage by 50% for 10 minutes. Cooldown: 1 day. No resource cost.] [Description: A powerful artifact forged from the Dragon Fang of a fallen Tenth-Tier Holy Dragon, imbued with the dragon''s overwhelming power.] What a powerful weapon! John examined the dagger''s stats, impressed by the three hidden attributes. And the special attack effect it provided. The Assassin ss, which focuses on high attack and agility, typically suffers from low health and defense, but the Bloodthirst effect would greatly enhance the survival capability of any Assassin wielding this weapon. The Dragon''s Might skill be also an excellent auxiliary ability. However, since John already possessed the Sword of Divinity and Demons, the Dragon Fang felt a bit redundant. "I''ll save this for Sini," he thought. The dagger would be far more effective in Sini''s hands, where it could truly shine. Artifacts that weren''t equipped wouldn''t appear on the rankings, so the weapon leaderboard remained unchanged. "Avis, you did well," John said as he stored the dagger away, patting Avis appreciatively. "Hehe, Master, it was nothing," Avis replied happily, then added, "Master, the Beast n has plenty of treasures. If I hadn''t identally revealed myself, I could''ve stolen their most valuable treasures." The Beast n''s most treasured artifact was said to be prepared for the prophesied savior, an item rumored to hold immense power capable of helping its bearer ascend to godhood. John was intrigued and said, "We might get another chance in the future." Avis nodded, his massive form streaking through the sky as he asked, "Master, are we heading back to me City?" "No, we''re going to Jade City," John decided. He wanted to see what Toby was nning. Although me City was the closest, its teleportation array had been shut down. me City''s establishment had angered many, and Ritchie, concerned about potential disruptions from yers and the Dark Humans, had ordered the city''s teleportation array to be closed. Only military personnel and members of the Blues Family were allowed into me City, with all other yers being strictly vetted. John had recently destroyed Silverleaf City on the outskirts of the Dark Forest, so the nearest city was Jade City, a Level 1 city. With Avis having broken through to the legendary grade, his flight speed had more than doubled. It took them less than two hours to reach Jade City. Jade City was bustling with activity, full of yers and lively chatter. Not wanting to cause a stir, John recalled Avis before entering the city. As soon as he stepped into Jade City, he felt an overwhelming sense of hostility-not from the yers, but from the city guards. It was clear that he was now on the Dark Humans'' wanted list. The guards in this Level 1 city were only Level 30, with second-tier strength. John couldn''t be bothered to deal with them and made his way directly to the teleportation point, heading for Green Moon. Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Plotting Against John, Elemental Secret Area Chapter 84: Plotting Against John, Elemental Secret Area ? Green Moon was a Level 3 city, surrounded by monsters over level 60, so it wasn''t heavily popted by yers. When John appeared at the Green Moon teleportation point, his arrival didn''t cause much of a stir. A short Assassin yer with a fawning expression quickly ran over, eyeing John cautiously as The asked, "Godyer, sir?" John nodded, guessing that this guy must be from the Mike White Family. The Assassin beamed and immediately said, "Sir, Lord Toby has been expecting you. Please, follow me." He led John to a small estate, one of the properties owned by the Mike White Family. The estate wasn''trge, and a few servants were bustling about-all of them Dark Humans ves. John couldn''t help but marvel at the extravagance of the Mike White Family. A single Dark Humans ve cost at least 1,000 gold coins per month. The expenses for the servants alone in this estate would amount to tens of thousands of gold coins each month. "Haha, Godyer, we meet again," a cheerful voice rang out as Toby warmly approached, arms outstretched. John frowned and stepped aside, avoiding the embrace. He had no interest in exchanging pleasantries with this man. His goal was to sabotage Toby''s ns to build a city, and he was well aware that the Mike White Family wasn''t genuinely trying to recruit him. Toby didn''t seem bothered by John''s coldness. He simply gestured politely, "Godyer, please,e inside." John, not in the mood for small talk, strode straight into the reception room. A flicker of killing intent shed in Toby''s eyes as he nced at the Assassin yer nearby and coldly said, "You''re dismissed. Leave us." The Assassin yer quickly retreated, and the two maids with pleasant faces in the reception room were also sent away. Now, only the two of them remained in the spacious room. John casually took a seat, picked up the cup of tea in front of him, and said calmly, "I''m interested in the terms you proposed. Let''s discuss them in detail." Toby waved his hand generously and said, "Godyer, there''s no need for formalities. Whatever you want, I''ll agree to it." "Oh?" A smile appeared on John''s face as he said, "I want to be the head of the Mike White Family. Can you agree to that?" "Heh," Toby forced augh and replied, "Godyer, you must be joking. Even if I could agree, the family would never allow it. But any other condition you want-wealth, power, women-you can have it all. You''ll be second to none..." John interrupted him, asking, "And by ''second to none,'' you mean?" "Of course, I mean under the protection of the Mike White Family. With us backing you, no one would dare touch you or your country!" Toby''s tone was filled with confidence in the might of the Mike White Family. John took a sip of tea, seemingly deep in thought. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "It seems I have no reason to refuse. Let''s consider it settled then-make sure your promises are fulfilled in the real world as soon as possible." "You can count on me!" Toby pounded his chest in a show of sincerity, then shifted his tone as he looked at John. "Since we''re all on the same side now, I could use your help with something." John smiled slightly and replied, "We''re friends now, no need to be so formal. Just tell me what you need." Toby grinned, "Straight to the point. I''m nning to establish a city and could use your help to fend off the monster tide." John''s smile widened; he had been wondering how to thwart Toby''s city-building ns. He didn''t rush to agree, instead taking a moment to think. After a brief pause, he nodded and said, "I can help you. But defending against the monster tide will take twelve hours, so I''ll needpensation-ten thousand gold coins." "No problem." Toby agreed without hesitation, not even blinking at the amount. He then added, "Would it be possible for those powerful beasts that apany you to assist as well?" John casually swirled the tea in his cup, studying Toby''s expression. It was clear Toby nned to betray him once the city was established. John shook his head, "I can''tmand those beasts. They helped me before because I had done them a favor, but they''ve since left." "Ah, I see," Toby responded, feigning disappointment, though inside, he was delighted. Without the protection of those beasts, his n would be easier to execute. He continued, "No matter. I n to build the city within a Secret Area. With you and my elite yers helping, we''ll have no trouble defending against the monster tide." John nodded, then asked, "When do you n to establish the city?" "This afternoon. Everything is nearly ready. Let''s meet at the south gate at noon," Toby said, rising from his seat, signaling that their meeting was over. John inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn''t realized Toby was moving so quickly-he had nearly let Toby seed in establishing the city. "Alright, I''ll be there on time," John said, standing up. "I''ll see you out," Toby offered, escorting him to the door and waving as John left. As soon as John was out of sight, the smile vanished from Toby''s face, reced by a dark, calcting look. He turned to the two guards beside him andmanded, "To the City Lord''s Manor." Toby then began walking toward the City Lord''s Manor. Unbeknownst to him, John had doubled back, using a concealment talisman and his stealth skills to silently follow them. The grand City Lord''s Manor was heavily guarded, but Toby entered without issue. This is a clear sign that the Green Moon City Lord held him in high regard. Led by a servant, Toby arrived at a pavilion. The pavilion surrounded by artificial hills andkes, an elegantndscape. In the pavilion, a middle-aged man with a goatee was loungingfortably on a chair, enjoying a massage from a maid. The Lord of Green Moon, Dine, possessed the strength of a fifth-tier epic-grade warrior. As he sensed someone approaching, he didn''t bother to rise from his seat and instead asked calmly, "How did it go?" Toby, adopting a respectful demeanor, replied, "My Lord, we n to establish the city this afternoon. But are you certain your arrangements will be enough to capture Godyer? Don''t forget, he has a legendary-grade pet by his side." Despite his confident exterior, Toby couldn''t shake the deep fear he had of Godyer, especially after several failed attempts to deal with him. His fear had only grown recently, as he had learned that Godyer''s pet Avis had advanced to the legendary grade-a fact. That filled him with both jealousy and rage. Dine frowned, his expression darkening as he asked coldly, "You don''t trust me?" "Of course not," Toby quickly replied. "It''s just that this guy has more than just magical attacks. Last time, my anti-magic charm didn''t manage to trap him." Dine waved his hand dismissively, clearly annoyed, and tossed a jade stone to Toby, saying coolly, "A legendary pet is indeed powerful, but at the fourth tier, it''s not capable of causing much trouble. You may go." Suddenly, a voice echoed in John''s mind, "Elemental Key!" It was the voice of the Undead Lord. Startled, John almost lost his stealth and revealed himself. Toby carefully pocketed the jade stone without furtherment, bowing as he took his leave. John silently followed him, all the while asking in his mind, "What is the Elemental Key?" The jade stone that Dine had handed to Toby must be something significant for the Undead Lord to react so strongly. For a while, there was no response, and just as John was about to give up, the voice of the Undead Lord returned, though fainter this time, "It''s the key to unlocking the Elemental Secret Area. The Elemental Secret Area is a special Secret Area unique to the Dark Humans. Kid, they n to use this Elemental Secret Area against you. You''d better not enter." "Is it that dangerous?" John asked internally. The Undead Lord replied, "The Elemental Secret Area can seal off magic, and the elemental golems inside are immune to physical damage." "Immune to physical damage?" John was taken aback, immediately thinking of the spectral creatures he had faced before. But unlike the spectral creatures, which were only partially immune to physical damage, the elemental golems werepletely immune. "Is there any way to counter this?" John inquired. He knew he had to enter the Secret Area to prevent Toby from establishing the city- otherwise, all his efforts would be for nothing. After a long pause, the Undead Lord''s voice returned, weaker than before, "The dark, spatial, and lightning magic you control won''t be affected. The strongest elemental golems in a Secret Area opened by a third-tier city lord won''t exceed the fifth tier." John breathed a sigh of relief. If the elemental golems were only at the fourth or fifth tier, he was confident he could handle them. The voice in his mind echoed once more, "Kid, whether you go in or not is up to you. I need to rest now. My soul was severely damaged from saving youst time." With that, the voice fadedpletely, leaving John alone with his thoughts. John frowned, dismissing the Undead Lord''s words with a hint of disdain. Indeed, thest time he was under the Fox Demon''s enchantment, it was the Undead Lord who intervened. However, John didn''t believe the Undead Lord was trying to save him. That strike clearly aimed to kill his soul and take over his body. Even if the Undead Lord hadn''t intervened, John wouldn''t have been in any real danger. With his Undying and Immortal talent and the life-sharing connection with the Tree of Life, as long as his soul wasn''tpletely destroyed, he couldn''t die. As for the Undead Lord iming his soul was weak, John saw this as a potential opportunity to eliminate him. Unfortunately, without any means to attack the soul or detect the Undead Lord''s presence, he had to set that idea aside for now. Leaving the City Lord''s Manor, John didn''t bother following Toby any further. He melted into the crowd. His mind more at ease now that he knew the enemy''s n. At noon. A crowd of yers, all elite members of the Mike White Family, gathered at the southern gate of Green Moon. Suddenly, a massive shadow fell over them, apanied by a howling wind. A gigantic Holy Dragon appeared in the sky. It was Avis. Boom! The ground trembled as Avisnded with a mighty thud, sending a gust of wind that knocked yers off bnce. Everyone stared in awe at the enormous Holy Dragon, their expressions filled with reverence and shock. Avis''s massive body was covered in tightly packed purple scales that gleamed in the sunlight, reflecting a metallic sheen as if forged from steel-something far beyond the yers'' ability to resist. Even Toby couldn''t help but swallow nervously. This was the first time he had seen Avis in his true form, and he felt a pang of doubt, wondering if Dine''s n could really kill this mighty dragon. John jumped down from Avis''s back. Toby quicklyposed himself, stering a smile on his face as he stepped forward to greet John with feigned enthusiasm. "Godyer, we really appreciate your help this time." His warm, sincere smile betrayed no hint of the treachery he was nning. John couldn''t be bothered with pleasantries. "Let''s get started," he said curtly. "Alright." Toby added John to the party, activated the Elemental Key, and led everyone into the Secret Area. Meanwhile, back in the city, at the resurrection point, arge contingent of fourth-tier city guards was assembling, waiting to ambush John upon his revival. Their orders were clear: to kill him again and again. ... Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Toby’s Misfortune, Attribute Fusion Stone Chapter 85: Toby¡¯s Misfortune, Attribute Fusion Stone ? The Elemental Secret Area. Massive waves of elemental energy surged all around. John was puzzled. With such abundant elemental energy, his magic attacks should be stronger, so why was magic supposedly unusable here? Perhaps Toby had another anti-magic charm or a simr item up his sleeve. He nced at Toby beside him but remained expressionless, quietly observing the surroundings. In the distance, a city stood tall. This was the city Toby intended to establish. By using the City Building Order and withstanding twelve hours of attacks, the city would be sessfully founded. "Godyer, I''m counting on you," Toby said sincerely before activating the City Building Order. [Announcement: yer Toby has initiated the establishment of Imperial City. If it withstands 12 hours of monster tide attacks, the city will be sessfully established.] ... The announcement echoed three times, causing a stir across the world of Gods. This was the Mike White Family''s second attempt to establish a city, as their first had ended in failure. yers everywhere were curious to see if they would seed this time. John''s private chat lit up with messages. It''s from Ritchie, Armstrong, and others. All asking about Toby''s city-building efforts. But he didn''t reply, his focus on the monsters appearing below the city walls. These were elemental golems, unique to the Elemental Secret Area. The monster tide had begun without any preparation time, as Toby had not requested any. The yers on the city walls started to panic as they watched the wave of elemental golems approach. Each golem was at least level 60, with third-tier strength. Far beyond their ability to handle. Toby, however, showed no signs of worry. He turned to John and said, "Godyer, it''s up to you." John frowned, suspecting that the elemental golems weren''t truly attacking the city but were instead targeting him. "Sure thing," John replied, coldly smiling as he swiftly attacked-not the golems below, but Toby himself. sh! John''s longsword pierced through Toby''s body, a terrifying damage number shing above him. -64326 Toby''s eyes widened in shock, ring at John. He didn''t even have time to scream before he dissolved into a sh of white light, disappearing on the spot. A one-hit kill! A jade stone fell to the ground. It was the Elemental Key. John quickly snatched it up and stored it in his ring. The surrounding members of the Mike White Family were stunned, staring at John in confusion, unable toprehend what had just happened. Wasn''t Godyer supposed to help them? Why had he just killed Toby in an instant? John didn''t give them any time to react. He immediately attempted to cast Fire Meteor Shower, a wide-area attack. But there was no elemental response. [Elemental confinement detected. You are unable to cast skills.] A notification appeared, and John realized it was the elemental golems below causing this interference. If that''s how it was, then he wouldn''t rely on skills. John swung his longsword and charged straight into the crowd of Mike White Family members, ready to cut them down. John''s physical attacks were even more devastating than his magical ones, and every strike was a critical hit. No yer could withstand even a single blow from him. The only downside was theck of an area-of-effect physical attack skill. Screams filled the air as one yer after another turned into shes of white light, disappearing. Finally, the yers began to realize what was happening. "Godyer, sir, you''re making a mistake! The elemental golems are the real enemies!" one of the panicked yers shouted, desperately trying to correct John. "Damn it! We''ve been tricked! This guy wasn''t here to help us at all!" "Help! I don''t want to lose any more levels!" ... Screams and curses echoed around the battlefield. At that moment, the elemental golems also joined the fray,unching countless spells. The golems were unaffected by any restrictions and unleashed their skills, indiscriminately attacking the surrounding yers. -1 -1 ... Damage numbers began to appear above John''s head as well. The elemental golems couldn''t break through his magical defenses, but their sheer numbers were overwhelming, and even the constant trickle of 1-point damage began to wear on him. He instinctively tried to cast Iron Armor, but it failed once again. Earth-based magic was also sealed. That left only his rare dark, spatial, and lightning skills. John wasn''t in a hurry to deal with the elemental golems. Instead, he plunged into the mass of yers, swinging his longsword, painting the battlefield with blood. No one could stand in his way. Whoosh! A scorching dragon''s me suddenly rained down from above-it was Avis. John was surprised that Avis''s Dragonfire Breath wasn''t affected by the elemental confinement. Dragonfire Breath was fueled by the internal energy of beasts, making it immune to the elemental seal. With Avis by his side, John gained another powerful ally. In thebined onught from John and the elemental golems, the over ten thousand yers were swiftly wiped out. Now, only the endless elemental golems remained. "Now, it''s your turn," John sneered, unleashing a relentless barrage of dark magic Annihtion, Lightning Chain, and Spatial Rift sh in quick session. These three spells, though small in range, coupled with his terrifying cooldown reduction, allowed him to cast continuously, making his kill efficiency rival that of any area-of-effect skill. The elemental golems had high magic resistance, but under John''s overwhelming magical damage, they still fell in droves. "Why am I not getting any experience?" John frowned. After killing hundreds of elemental golems, he hadn''t seen any increase in experience points, nor had his Plunder talent activated. It seemed these golems, much like the trial golems, weren''t considered living beings. However, unlike trial golems, these elemental golems did drop items-crystal shards. John didn''t bother inspecting them, focusing instead on the frenzied ughter of the remaining golems alongside Avis. ... Meanwhile, in Green Moon. Toby respawned at the resurrection point, his face nk with shock, before he erupted in a furious roar, "Godyer! How dare you betray me! I''ll kill you so many times that you''ll end up back in the newbie vige!" The nearby yers nced over at Toby, then quickly moved away, shaking their heads. To them, this guy was clearly insane-challenging Godyer was nothing short of suicidal. The Dark Humans had issued a bounty on Godyer, but even after all this time, no one had dared to make a move against him. "How did you end up dead?" At that moment, Green Moon''s city lord, Dine, approached with a squad of elite guards, frowning as he asked the question. Dine had been lying in wait with his men, ready to ambush Godyer when he respawned. Instead, Toby had appeared. Seeing Dine, Toby felt like he''d been thrown a lifeline. He hurried over, urgently exining, "My lord, that Godyer tricked me. Will those elemental golems be able to kill him?" Dine took a step back, frowning, and said calmly, "Don''t worry, it won''t be a problem." He then added, "I''ll send a squad of elite guards into the Secret Area to assist the golems." "Good," Toby replied, nodding quickly, eager for any help he could get. Dine extended his hand. "Give me the Elemental Key." Toby quickly opened his inventory, but after searching for a while, he couldn''t find the key. His face paled, and he swallowed nervously. "My lord, it seems I dropped the Elemental Key." "What? You useless fool!" Dine roared, striking Toby with a powerful blow. As expected, Toby was killed instantly. Fortunately, he respawned right next to the resurrection point. Emerging with a nk expression, Toby stared at Dine, anger creeping into his voice. "My lord, why did you attack me?" Dine red coldly at the freshly respawned Toby, barely containing his fury as he said, "Do you realize how important the Elemental Key is? If you don''t recover it, you''ll be hunted by the Dark Humans endlessly." Toby''s heart sank with dread, realizing that the jade stone must have been incredibly important. He had no doubt about Dine''s threat. The Dark Humans practically controlled the entire Skyline Continent. Unlike John, Toby didn''t have the strength to stand up to them. If they targeted him, he wouldn''t make it out of the newbie vige. All he could do now was pray that the elemental golems in the Elemental Secret Area were strong enough to kill Godyer. And hope that Godyer didn''t end up dropping the stone if he died in the Secret Area. Dine shot Toby a withering re before stepping aside to watch the resurrection point. Without the Elemental Key, he couldn''t enter the Elemental Secret Area himself, so he had no choice but to wait there. The resurrection point flickered with light as yers continued to respawn, all of them elite members of the Mike White Family-but there was no sign of John. ... Inside the Elemental Secret Area, John and Avis soared into the sky. John''s mana had been drained once again. The intermediate-level magic had greatly increased his damage output, but it had also dramatically increased his mana consumption. With the cooldown reduction from his Wrath of the Gods talent, John''s 140,000 mana points barelysted 20 minutes. This was even with the added mana regeneration effects from his equipment. Lying on Avis''s back, John sipped a mana recovery potion, waiting for his mana to replenish. Once his mana was fully restored, he ordered Avis to lower their altitude and initiated another round of ughter. Annihtion, Lightning Chain, and Spatial Rift sh were cast in rapid session, with each skill being unleashed every two seconds, without any dy. The elemental golems below had started to evolve from third-tier to fourth-tier and even fifth-tier. The fifth-tier golems were now a real threat to both him and Avis. Fortunately, their numbers weren''t overwhelming. "Master, killing these guys is getting boring," Avis grumbled, his enthusiasm waning. These golems didn''t grant any experience points, and all they dropped were seemingly useless crystal shards, making the effort feel pointless. "Hang in there, we''re almost done," John replied, feeling certain that there was some hidden secret within this Elemental Secret Area. Only about three thousand fifth-tier golems remained below. John and Avis worked together, quickly wiping out the remaining golems. The ground was littered with crystal shards, but aside from these, there were no other rewards. Avisnded, and John curiously picked up one of the shards to inspect it. The next moment, his eyes widened, and his breath quickened. [Attribute Fusion Stone Shard: 100 Attribute Fusion Stone Shards can bebined into one Attribute Fusion Stone, which allows the yer''s attributes in the world of Gods to be fused into the real world.] "It''s an Attribute Fusion Stone!" John was in disbelief. No wonder the Elemental Secret Area was tightly controlled by the Dark Humans, and why no one in the previous timeline ever discovered the existence of the Attribute Fusion Stone. Looking at the sea of crystal shards covering the ground, John couldn''t help but swallow hard. There were over 30,000 shards here, enough to create 300 Attribute Fusion Stones, which could be used to cultivate a formidable force in the real world. However, John had no intention of making this public knowledge. He decided to first use the stones for himself and a few trusted allies, keeping the remaining Attribute Fusion Stones stored away to avoid attracting too much attention. Additionally, with the Elemental Key in his possession, John could return to the Elemental Secret Area whenever he wanted, ensuring a continuous supply of Attribute Fusion Stones. John collected all the Attribute Fusion Stone shards, ultimately synthesizing 363 Attribute Fusion Stones. Satisfied, he pocketed them all, then turned his attention to the nearby city. With the elemental golems cleared out, if he didn''t destroy the city, it would be sessfully established after twelve hours, rendering all his efforts pointless. He entered the city, found the city''s altar, and destroyed it without hesitation. The announcement echoed once more. Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Assault on Green Moon, Lord Dine Chapter 86: Assault on Green Moon, Lord Dine ? [Announcement: yer Godyer has destroyed the altar of Imperial City. The defense against the monster tide has failed.] ... The announcement echoed three times. Sending waves of discussion through the yermunity. This was the second time John had destroyed the Mike White Family''s attempt to establish Imperial City. At the Green Moon resurrection point. Toby stood frozen in disbelief before an uncontroble fury surged through him. He roared, "Damn you, Godyer! I''ll never forgive you..." Boom! Toby''s words were cut short as Dine struck him down with a single punch. When Toby reappeared at the resurrection point, his face was pale. He looked at the furious Dine but hesitated to speak. It was clear that Dine was genuinely enraged. Dine stared coldly at Toby, barely suppressing his anger as he said, "You''d better pray I can recover the Elemental Key!" "To the south gate!" Dine barked the order, immediately leading the city guards toward the south gate. Godyer had destroyed Imperial City, which meant he hadn''t been killed by the elemental golems. Dine couldn''t fathom how John had managed it, considering that even he would be helpless against the elemental golems'' magic confinement. Unless Godyer possessed rare elemental magic skills. Leading his forces, Dine rushed to the entrance of the Elemental Secret Area at the south gate, intending to ambush John. [Announcement: yer Godyer has dered war on Green Moon. All yers can join the defense. Sessfully defending Green Moon will yield generous rewards.] ... The announcement reverberated through the world once more. "Again? Has Godyer gone mad?" "This seems to be the second time Godyer has attacked a system city." "But Green Moon is a Level 3 city. There''s no way Godyer can seed." "Forming a party to take down Godyer-only epting yers level 60 and above, third- tier and higher. Join quickly." ... The world chat was in an uproar, with most yers believing that John stood no chance against a Level 3 city. Many were eager to join the fray, hoping to im a legendary item by killing him. If they managed to take down Godyer even once, they could walk away with legendary equipment, catapulting their status to new heights. Ritchie and the others, upon hearing the system announcement, initially wanted to rush to John''s aid. But they quickly reconsidered. John had an army of beasts at hismand. Their own strength was too weak, and rushing in would only get in the way. At Green Moon''s south gate. Roar... a chorus of roars filled the air as hundreds of powerful beasts appeared, all of them rare bosses of the fourth tier or higher. Alongside them marched a formidable army of elves. The sight made the yers tremble with fear. The overwhelming aura emanating from the beasts was far beyond what any current yer could withstand. Many yers came to their senses and fled Green Moon immediately, hoping to avoid getting caught in the impending chaos. When Dine arrived with his forces at the south gate and saw the scene before him, even his legs began to tremble. "Toby, you bastard, how dare you deceive me!" Dine muttered under his breath. Toby had assured him that Godyer no longer had any beasts under hismand, yet here were over two hundred powerful beasts that Dine had no means of countering. Standing atop the city wall, Dine suppressed his fear as he gazed at the Holy Dragon circling above. He shouted, "Godyer, let''s make a deal. Hand over the Elemental Key, and I''ll overlook everything you''ve done so far. I can even lift the Dark Humans'' bounty on you!" The Elemental Key was too valuable to lose, and Dine felt he had no choice but topromise. At the same time, he was stalling, hoping reinforcements from other Dark Humans- controlled cities would arrive. "Not interested. Attack!" John cut him off, giving the order to begin the assault. Roar... With a mighty dragon''s roar, Judy shot into the sky, her massive tail sweeping across the air. The imposing city wall crumbled like a pile of rubble under her power, copsing instantly. Countless debris flew through the air, much of it hurtling toward John. Avis quickly maneuvered to dodge, then asked in confusion, "Master, did you offend her somehow? That female dragon looks like she wants to swallow you whole." John chuckled awkwardly. He and the ck Turtle had schemed against Judy and Ada. Although Ada had eventually submitted to him, Judy clearly still harbored some resentment. "Leave this to you all. Don''t let a single Dark Human escape," John instructed before directing Avis to dive straight into Green Moon. His target was the teleportation point. John was still wary of the power of the Dark Humans and knew he couldn''t allow reinforcements from higher-level cities to arrive. Whoosh! John swung his longsword, slicing through the air and sending a powerful sh toward the teleportation point. Boom! With a deafening crash, the teleportation point was obliterated, and the surrounding yers were caught in the explosion, instantly killed. "Master, should I go after the yers here?" Avis asked eagerly, eyeing the crowd of gathered yers. John nodded in agreement. Most of the yers in Green Moon were elites from the Mike White Family, with the rest being opportunists looking to profit from the chaos. These people deserved their fate. Dragonfire Breath unleashed a storm of mes across the sky. John and Avis worked together, mercilessly ughtering the yers in the city. Toby was the first to react, immediately logging out of the game. The other members of the Mike White Family, having been ruthlessly ughtered by John before, were smarter this time. Seeing Toby disappear, they quickly followed suit and logged off. But the yers who hade to Green Moon hoping to loot the spoils were not so lucky. They soon understood what true despair was. Avis''s massive form prowled the sky, relentlessly hunting down and killing the Dark Humans soldiers and yers below. Meanwhile, John stood guard at the resurrection point, his Sword of Divinity and Demons shing as he alternated between countless magical skills. "Godyer, you''re a monster! You won''t have a good end!" "Demon, this guy is a demon! The world of Gods should never have allowed a yer like him in." "Please, sir, I''m innocent. Let me go, I beg you!" The area around the resurrection point had be a sea of mes, filled with the endless sounds of curses, screams, and pleas for mercy from the yers. It was a brutal cycle: respawn, instant death, and then respawn again, only to be killed once more. As soon as they stepped out of the resurrection point, they were forced intobat mode, unable to log out or escape. The repeated experience of dying over and over again was tormenting them, wearing down their mental fortitude. Many yers'' levels had dropped below level 10, sending them back to the newbie vige. "Quick, attack the resurrection point!" someone shouted in desperation. If the resurrection point was destroyed, they would respawn at the nearest city, finally escaping Godyer''s wrath. The yers quickly realized this was their only chance. Forgetting their curses, they all focused their attacks on the resurrection point. Although their damage was minimal, their sheer numbers made a difference, and soon, the resurrection point was destroyed. A collective sigh of relief swept through the yers as they resigned themselves to John''s onught, awaiting the inevitable death that would free them. "They got off easy!" John remarked as he watched the now-empty resurrection point, a trace of disappointment in his voice. He felt no guilt. These yers hade here with the intent to kill him. After regrouping with Avis, John saw that the city''s soldiers had beenpletely wiped out. He then proceeded to destroy the Green Moon altar, earning a Level 3 Altar Upgrade Stone in the process. With the altar destroyed, the once-bustling Green Moon was reduced to ruins. At the city walls, Dine, who had been struggling to hold his ground, witnessed the scene unfold before him. His eyes widened in fury, veins bulging as he took in the devastation. Years of hard work and dedication, everything he had built, had been reduced to ruins in an instant. "Godyer, you''ve made an enemy of the Dark Humans-you''ll never have a good end!" he shouted, his voice filled with rage, though his heart was already considering retreat. But with the Elemental Key lost, Dine knew he would still face severe consequences if the higher-ups found out. He was trapped between a rock and a hard ce. Just then, John and Avis arrived. "Avis, leave this one to me," John said, leaping from Avis''s back andnding smoothly in front of Dine. Dine instinctively took a step back, swallowing nervously. Despite the seemingly insignificant human before him, a wave of fear washed over him. He gritted his teeth and tried to bargain. "Godyer, you have no idea how terrifying the Dark Humans are. Hand over the Elemental Key, and I''ll let you walk away." John couldn''t help butugh, scoffing at the offer. "Are you joking? Right now, I''m the one in control, and you''re the one at my mercy. I don''t fear the Dark Humans, not even if the gods themselvese down!" With that, he lunged at Dine, ready to strike. "Stubborn fool!" Dine''s face twisted in anger as he drew a flexible sword from his waist. He couldn''t believe that, as a fifth-tier rare boss, he would struggle against a mere human adventurer. ng! After just one sh, Dine''s expression shifted. Pain shot through his hand, and he almost lost his grip on the longsword. The physical strength of this adventurer was unexpectedly on par with his own. "You''re no match for me," a cold voice echoed as John''s figure vanished, and multiple cold shes enveloped Dine. It was the Assassin skill, Void Dance. John''s use of the Sword of Divinity and Demons to perform Assassin skills didn''t hinder him in the slightest. sh! sh! Blood sttered as damage numbers floated above Dine''s head. -7960 -8011 -8114 ... All critical hits. Dine lost over 80,000 health points in an instant. John was slightly surprised. This guy was stronger than an ordinary fifth-tier rare boss, likely in the mid tote fifth tier, with a health pool exceeding a million. Even so, John''s single skill attack had nearly cost him a tenth of his health. Dine staggered back, terror in his eyes as he stared at John. "Human, what kind of talent do you possess?" A 100% physical critical hit rate-he had never heard of such a terrifying talent. If this adventurer were allowed to grow, he would undoubtedly be a formidable enemy to the Dark Humans. John didn''t bother responding. With a Death Rush, he closed the distance to Dine again, alternating between Assassin skills. More damage numbers shed. Each of John''s skill attacks dealt over 80,000 points of damage. Dine was in despair. He could sense that he should be able to kill this adventurer, but every time he attempted to attack, John interrupted him. It was as if his every move was anticipated and countered by John. Facing John, he felt a deep sense of frustration. If John had been overwhelmingly strong and had simply overpowered him, he could have epted it. But the fact that John seemed so small and weak, yet Dine couldn''tnd a single hit, was infuriating. Soon, his health dropped below 100,000-he couldn''t withstand more than two of John''s skill attacks. "Adventurer, I am a disciple of the Eighth-Tier Lord of Green Willow City. If you kill me, he will never let you go," Dine pleaded, now genuinely frightened, resorting to threats by invoking the power behind him. Green Willow? John''s cold smile deepened, and the killing intent in his eyes intensified. He knew this name. In his past life, it was this very Green Willow who had ughtered the Blues Family''s entire household. But at that time, Green Willow had already be a ninth-tier powerhouse, almost invincible. Chapter 87: Chapter 87: SS-Rank Wrath of the Gods Talent and Attribute Fusion Chapter 87: SS-Rank Wrath of the Gods Talent and Attribute Fusion ? "You are unforgivable!" John suddenly struck with Deadly Strike and Armor Piercing simultaneously. "No..." Dine''s roar of defiance was cut short, powerless to stop the attack. -81022 -86210 Two critical hits, and Dine''s health was wiped out entirely. His eyes widened in shock, locked onto John as he copsed lifelessly into a pool of blood. A series of notifications shed before John''s eyes. [You have killed the Fifth-Tier warrior Dine, earning 29,440 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Constitution +50, Strength +100.] [Congrattions! You have killed 20 Fifth-Tier Rare or higher bosses. Your Wrath of the Gods talent has been upgraded to SS-Rank, granting 80% skill cooldown reduction.] [Next Upgrade Condition: Kill 50 Sixth-Tier Epic or higher bosses to upgrade Wrath of the Gods to SSS-Rank.] Atst, John''s Wrath of the Gods talent had reached SS-Rank, pushing his cooldown reduction to 80% and significantly boosting his power. The conditions for the next upgrade required him to defeat fifty Sixth-Tier Epic bosses. This is a daunting task considering he still struggled with Fifth-Tier Epic bosses. However, with an 80% skill cooldown reduction, John''s current abilities were already formidable, more than sufficient for now. His attention was drawn to the loot dropped by Dine. Dine''s flexible swordy on the ground-it turned out to be a Fourth-Tier Legendary-quality weapon. While the tier had decreased, the quality had jumped up two levels. The only downside was that it required a warrior ss to wield. And John wasn''t particrly fond of flexible swords. He remembered that Chris, the old patriarch of the Blues Family, used a flexible sword as his weapon in real life. Perhaps he could save it for him. John inspected the rest of the loot. There were 100 skill stones, 100 equipment enhancement stones, and 100 equipment embedding stones. Additionally, he found a rare Basic Talent Upgrade Stone, which could raise any talent below A- Rank by one level. Since John''s Spell Combo talent had already been upgraded to S-Rank, the Basic Talent Upgrade Stone wouldn''t work on it. He had two other talents below S-Rank: A B-Rank physical damage talent and a B-Rank Dual Mastery talent. These talents increased his base physical damage by 50% and added 50% magic damage to his attacks, respectively. Given that his strength attribute was higher, upgrading his physical damage talent would provide a more significant boost. John decisively chose to upgrade the B-Rank physical damage talent. [You have used a Talent Upgrade Stone. Your Physical Damage talent has been upgraded to A-Rank.] [Physical Damage Talent: A-Rank, increases base physical damage by 60%.] "It looks like I''ll need to choose another physical ss," John muttered to himself. His physical damage had increased yet again, and with an Origin Stone in hand, adding another physical ss would give him ess to more physical attack skills. However, he wasn''t in a rush. The next ss he chose couldn''t be weaker than his Wrath of the Gods Mage or Phantom Assassin; otherwise, it would be a waste. Meanwhile, the battle on the other side had concluded. The Dark Humans army had been ughtered by the beasts, and Green Moon had been reduced to ruins,pletely erased from existence. The yers watching from a distance were stunned, once again deeply impressed by Godyer''s overwhelming power. John didn''t bother with those onlookers-they were merely spectators, not disying any hostility. "Godyer!" A furious shout echoed as Judynded in front of John, her aura brimming with killing intent. Whoosh! The wind howled as Avis descended, positioning himself protectively in front of John, his eyes fixed warily on Judy. "Stop!" Ada hurried over, quickly intervening to prevent a possible sh. She was genuinely worried that the situation might escte into a full-blown fight. Judy''s hostility subsided slightly, but she still red at John with cold, seething eyes. "You dared to humiliate my master-I won''t let you get away with it." Johnpletely ignored Judy, stepping past her to approach Ada. He gently took her delicate hand and asked softly, "Are you settling in okay?" Ada''s face flushed with color as she nced at him with a mix of shyness and reproach, remaining silent. It seemed she was upset about his sudden disappearance without a word. Seeing Ada''s shy and delicate demeanor, John couldn''t help but feel a stirring of desire. However, he restrained himself. There were too many pressing matters that needed his attention. If he allowed himself to be distracted now, it could take half a day before he could get back on track. He affectionately ruffled Ada''s hair and said, "Once I''m done with everything, I''ll make sure to spend some quality time with you." Ada''s blush deepened as she lowered her head and nodded gently. Judy, standing nearby, was livid. Her eyes widened with rage, and she barely restrained herself from smacking John away with her tail. She quickly reminded Ada, "Master, don''t fall for his tricks. Men are all smooth talkers, not a single one of them can be trusted." John nced at Judy, wondering why he hadn''t noticed how much of a chatterbox she was before. It seemed like the ck Turtle hadn''t beaten her hard enough. When his power-up, he must to Teach Judy a lesson. He considered the Sealing Demon Pill that Anna had given him, but using it on Judy seemed like a waste. Given his rapid increase in strength, it wouldn''t be long before he could take her down on his own. "Master, you haven''t spent any time with Anna in a while either," Anna chimed in, walking over and eyeing John and Ada''s closeness with disapproval. She had helped John subdue Ada, intending to keep this haughty princess in check. However, after their rtionship deepened, Ada had be even more rigorous in training the elves, much to Anna''s annoyance. Still, the elves had grown significantly stronger, so Anna had reluctantly let it slide. John couldn''t help but feel a headacheing on. It was clear that these two women didn''t get along very well. "Kid, stop with the lovey-dovey stuff and deal with the mess. Then send us back," the blood- red demon wolf growled impatiently, urging him to get on with it. John shot the demon wolf a grateful look and then quickly gathered the beasts and elves, sending them back to the Death Land, leaving only Avis behind. With the area now quiet, he let out a sigh of relief. "Avis, let''s head back to me City," Johnmanded as he jumped onto Avis''s back. He had just destroyed two Dark Humans cities in quick session, which undoubtedly put him on their radar. Unwilling to risk using a nearby teleportation point, he had no choice but to travel by air. Fortunately, Avis was incredibly fast. After half a day of flight, John finally returned to me City. Avis''s massive form cast an intimidating shadow, but once the yers inside the city recognized it was John, they rxed. Ritchie, having received word of John''s arrival, rushed out of the city to greet him. Armstrong, Sini, and Tracy were also inside the city. The two women were overjoyed to see John, as they had missed him terribly during the days he had been away. "Boss, you''re really something else," Ritchie said with a hint of mock indignation. "You''ve been stirring up all this trouble-destroying Imperial City, then wiping out Green Moon- and you didn''t even think to bring me along." John exined, "It all happened so quickly. And this time, Toby''s n to establish a city was aimed directly at me. It wouldn''t have been safe to bring you guys along." He had a suspicion that the news Ritchie had received about Toby''s city-building had been deliberately leaked by the enemy. Otherwise, the secrecy of the Secret Area would have made it impossible to uncover. Ritchie waved it off, not too concerned. "Boss, the Mike White Family isn''t going to let this go easily after the beating you gave them. Be careful." "Don''t worry," Armstrong interjected confidently. "As long as my brother-inw is with us in the Blues Family, nothing will happen." The Blues Family had long been secluded from the outside world, making it nearly impossible for external forces to infiltrate. The Mike White Family would have a hard time getting to John in the real world. "John, you''ve been online for too long. You should log off and rest for a while," Sini urged, her expression filled with concern as she noticed how exhausted John looked. "Yeah," Tracy quickly agreed, nodding in support. Since me City had been established, John hadn''t logged off once. He had been in the world of Gods for a full week. "It''s okay, I still have a few things to take care of," John replied with a smile. "Let''s head to the council chamber." He then turned to Sini and Tracy. "You two shoulde along as well." Once they were all in the council chamber, Armstrong couldn''t contain his excitement. "Brother-inw, are you going to help us establish a city?" John nodded and asked, "How have the Blues Family disciples been progressing in terms of levels?" Armstrong''s enthusiasm dimmed as he answered, "Only a little over a hundred have reached the third tier. It''s really tough to level up after reaching the second tier." "Boss, I''ve got over five hundred soldiers who''ve reached the third tier. They should be able to help out," Ritchie chimed in. During thest defense of the city, the me Legion had gained a lot of experience points, advancing faster than the disciples of the Blues Family. John nodded. He knew that the yers weren''t the main force in defending against the monster tide; it was the beasts he relied on. He made a decisive call: "Tomorrow, the Blues Family will establish their city in the Land of Elves within the Eternal Forest. I''ll send you the coordinates shortly." Sini couldn''t help but voice her concern. "John, isn''t that too dangerous?" Tracy shared her worry. Both women had spent time in the Land of Elves with John, and they knew it was home to monsters above level 60 and an army of Orcs-far more treacherous than the Dark Forest. But John had already made up his mind. "As long as we hold the chokepoints in the Land of Elves, we''ll be fine. Plus, with the beast army on our side, we''ll be able to withstand the monster tide." "Brother-inw, I''ll go inform the family members," Armstrong said, trusting John''s judgment and ready to leave. "Not so fast," John stopped Armstrong, pulling out four Attribute Fusion Stones and handing them to the group. "Refine these. They''ll allow you to fuse your attributes from the world of Gods into reality." "What?!" Ritchie eximed, staring at the stone in his hand and then back at John in disbelief. "Boss, are you serious? We can actually merge our attributes from Gods into the real world?" John nodded. "You should have heard some inside information about this." Gulp! Ritchie swallowed hard. He knew that the world of Gods wasn''t just a game but a real world. However, the idea that the abilities gained there could be brought back into reality was beyond belief. If this got out, it would cause a massive upheaval. "I get it now. Brother-inw, you''re not an Ancient Martial Artist; you''re this powerful because you''ve merged your Gods attributes with reality!" Armstrong blurted out, looking at John in awe before eagerly beginning to refine the Attribute Fusion Stone. Compared to Ritchie and Armstrong''s reactions, Sini and Tracy were much calmer. Sini had long known about the possibility of merging Gods attributes with reality, and thanks to her rtionship with John, she had already partially merged some of her attributes, though notpletely. As for Tracy, she was too pure-hearted to ponder the broader implications. She simply trusted John and obediently began refining the attribute stone. Chapter 88: Chapter 88: The Gods Catastrophe and Artifact Rewards Chapter 88: The Gods'' Catastrophe and Artifact Rewards ? The four sessfully refined the attribute stones. Aside from receiving a notification, they didn''t notice any immediate changes in their bodies. "Boss, I''m going to log off for a bit," Ritchie said, eager to verify the effects in the real world. "Wait," John stopped him, his tone serious. "This is a big deal. You must not tell anyone about it." Ritchie frowned and asked, "Not even the higher-ups?" John nodded firmly, his expression grave. "Don''t mention this to anyone, no matter who they are." Ritchie fell silent. This conflicted with the principles he had been taught since childhood. However, considering John''s methods, and the care he had shown-like giving him the Diamond Giant Shield artifact and now the Attribute Fusion Stone-Ritchie fully trusted John. After a moment, Ritchie nodded solemnly. "Don''t worry, Boss. I won''t tell a soul." With that, he logged off. Armstrong and Tracy followed suit, logging off right after. Now, only John and Sini remained in the room. Sini snuggled up to John and asked softly, "John, do you think building this city might be dangerous?" For some reason, she couldn''t shake a feeling of unease. "Don''t worry, everything will be fine. By the way, I''ve got something for you," John reassured her, handing her the Dragon Fang artifact. "An artifact!?" Sini gasped as she examined the short de in her hands. "John, are you secretly running an artifact shop or something?" she teased. In the world of Gods, only three artifacts had surfaced, and all of them had ended up with John. Sini admired the de, especially the Bloodthirst effect it came with. "Master, when you log off, I''ll make sure to properly thank you," she said, looking at John with a seductive gaze. John couldn''t help but swallow hard, realizing that the women around him were each more enchanting than thest. But with Tracy and the others potentially logging back in at any moment, he didn''t dare take things too far. ... Not long after, Ritchie was the first to log back in. His expression was serious,cking the excitement John had expected. "Boss, my attributes really did merge with reality." The increase in power had left him stunned, and he recalled what John had mentioned earlier. "Boss, is it true that the world of Gods will bring a massive disaster to Earth?" John nodded. Ritchie slumped into a chair, overwhelmed by the thought. While it was incredible that attributes could be merged into reality, the monsters, Dark Humans, and even the gods from the world of Gods were far more powerful. He couldn''t help but worry about Earth''s future. "Boss, what are we supposed to do?" Ritchie asked, looking to John. If anyone could prevent this disaster, it would be him. "It''s simple," John replied calmly. "We stop the fusion of the world of Gods with Earth and eliminate the enemies in Skyline Continent." John had already started nning for this. His alliance with the elves and Beast n was just the first step. But it wasn''t enough. The yers needed to strengthen quickly. He would leave the military and the Ancient Martial Arts families to Ritchie and the Blues Family to manage. John knew he needed to find a way to strengthen the average yers next. Of course, not all yers-his priority was the few secr forces that had devoted themselves to protecting Earth in his previous life. Hearing the conversation between John and Ritchie, Sini was visibly shocked. She had no idea there was such a massive conspiracy behind the world of Gods. If everything they were discussing was true, how much pressure had John been under? Her gaze toward John was filled with admiration and concern, and she became even more determined to improve her strength and support him. After a moment of silence, Ritchie made up his mind. He looked at John and said, "Boss, don''t worry. I can''t speak for the entire military, but my me Legion and the Glenn Family will always stand by your side." John nodded, trusting Ritchie''s words. Soon, Armstrong and Tracy logged back in, both looking equally shocked yet excited by what they had discovered. John and Ritchie avoided further discussion about the world of Gods. The implications were far more significant than just the attribute fusion, and it was better to keep this knowledge from spreading too widely for now. John quickly finalized the details for helping the Blues Family establish their city. Afterward, at Sini''s urging, he logged off to rest. It was alreadyte at night in the real world. John quickly washed up and returned to his room. Before long, Sini entered, dressed in a loose-fitting nightgown, her hair still damp from a shower. Her cheeks flushed as she looked at John with a shy smile. "Master, you need to rest properly. Don''t be too... intense." Seeing how lovely Sini looked, John felt his exhaustion melt away. He stepped forward, scooping her up in his arms, and whispered into her ear, "With Sini looking so enchanting, how could I possibly rest?" Sini blushed even more, lightly hitting John''s chest as she ran her fingers over his muscles, her ears turning bright red. It didn''t take long before her loose nightgown was gently pulled away, and under John''s teasing touch, soft moans escaped her lips. "Master, please... take me now..." she murmured, her hand gripping John''s firm length, her body burning with need, longing for him to fill the aching emptiness within her. John didn''t hold back any longer. He pressed her beneath him, positioning himself at her already wet and ready entrance, and began a powerful rhythm. "Mmm..." Sini clutched the sheets tightly, her legs wrapping around John''s waist as she gasped, her mouth slightly open, unable to contain her cries of pleasure. Whenever she was with John, she couldn''t help but surrenderpletely. Even the slightest touch from him would send her into waves of ecstasy. "Master..." she moaned, her voice full of emotion as she kissed him passionately, trying to keep up with the intensity of his movements. The room filled with the sounds of their shared pleasure, her moans and his grunts blending together. Under John''s relentless thrusts, Sini shifted positions constantly, doing everything she could to satisfy him. "Master, Sini can''t take it anymore..." she whimpered, her body trembling as she reached yet another intense climax. Her strength gave out, leaving her copsed on the bed, her hips still quivering uncontrobly. But John wasn''t finished. His desire remained unquenched as he lifted her waist, positioning her again, and thrust deeply into her raised hips. "Ah..." Sini cried out, her hands clutching the sheets in desperation, her voice pleading through tears. "Master, I can''t... Please, just give it to Sini..." Her body was weak and exhausted, all she could do was beg for mercy,pletely at his mercy. Seeing her so vulnerable and desperate only fueled John''s desire further, driving him to thrust even harder. Sini''s mouth hung open slightly, but no sound escaped her lips. "Just hold on, almost there!" John urged, standing beside the bed, holding Sini''s waist as he thrust deeply from behind. "Master, please, I can''t take it anymore, please..." Sini kept whispering, her voice filled with desperation as she begged for relief. John, however, didn''t relent. With a few more powerful thrusts, he finally reached his peak. He let out a satisfied groan as the heat within him surged forth, spilling deep inside Sini. "Mmm..." Sini''s grip on the sheets loosened as her body went limp, copsing onto the bed. The intense stimtion sent shivers through her entire being, filling her with a deep sense of satisfaction. It took her a while to recover. When she finally did, she looked at John''s still-hard length and sighed, "Master, you''re too strong. Maybe you should go find Tracy; I''m sure she misses you too." But John shook his head, leaning back against the bed and pulling Sini into his arms. "Tonight, I''m staying with you." Sini, touched and feeling a bit guilty, nestled against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "Master, just give me a moment to catch my breath." John gently stroked her smooth back, saying, "You don''t have to push yourself so hard. Let''s get some rest." "No, I want to make sure you''re fully satisfied," Sini insisted, her determination unwavering. She slid her soft tongue over John''s chest, while her hand wrapped around his length, moving up and down. Feeling the surge of pleasure from her touch, John warned, "If you keep this up, neither of us will be getting any rest tonight." Sini, unafraid, blushed as she looked up at him and said shyly, "Master, you just rx. Lean back and let me do all the work." With that, she began to slowly move down his body, kissing her way from his chest to his stomach, and finally, to his still-erect length. Her soft tongue teased and licked, bringing John to the brink of madness with each delicate touch. Sini lifted her head slightly, noticing the pained expression on John''s face. With a smug smile, she asked, "Master, you''ve conquered Ada, haven''t you? Out of me, Tracy, and Anna, who do you think is the best?" John was instantly alert-this was clearly a trap. He quickly replied, "Of course, it''s you, Sini. If you could handle it, I''d only be with you." Sini giggled, delighted. She didn''t care whether John was being sincere; it was enough to know that she held a ce in his heart. She responded yfully, "I''m not that selfish, and besides, I couldn''t possibly satisfy you on my own." With that, she took John''s length fully into her mouth again, her head bobbing up and down with increasing intensity. John let out a deep groan of pleasure, his hands wandering over Sini''s firm breasts. "Mmm..." Sini moaned softly, spurred on by his reaction, working even harder. After a while, her neck began to grow numb, and her mouth felt almost disconnected from the rest of her body. But determined to please John, she pushed past the difort, taking him deep into her throat with every stroke. The intense sensations finally brought John to the brink. "Sini, I''m about toe," he warned, trying to pull her up. But Sini grabbed his hand, keeping him in ce as she sped up her movements, taking him as deeply as possible. John couldn''t hold back any longer. His body tensed, and he released with a shuddering groan. Sini gripped his hand tightly, her throat working to swallow every drop. "Ah..." Sini finally lifted her head, exhausted, and copsed onto John''sp, panting heavily. In front of her, John''s length twitched slightly, showing no signs of softening. Sini felt a wave of despair and resignation wash over her as she sighed, "Master, how long can you actually keep going?" John was curious about that himself. He had already discovered that two women couldn''t fully satisfy him. He wondered if having all four of them together might be different. "Master, wait here. I''m going to get Tracy," Sini said, ncing at the time. With the Blues Family nning to establish their city the next afternoon, they still had some time. John tried to dissuade her. "Let her rest, Sini." Sini gave him a knowing look. "With all this noise, do you really think she''s resting? Besides, I''m not jealous, and that girl probably had the same idea when she logged off earlier. Don''t let her down." Without waiting for his response, she threw on a robe and stepped out of the room. ... Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Back to the Gods, Establishing a City Chapter 89: Back to the Gods, Establishing a City ? It wasn''t long before the door creaked open, and Tracy was gently pushed inside. She wore a light blue, sheer nightgown that barely concealed her radiant skin. Clutching a cute stuffed animal to her chest, she stood hesitantly at the doorway. Her eyes met John''s, and though every instinct told her to run, her legs refused to move. Her heart pounded wildly as she lowered her head, fidgeting with the toy in her hands. In a soft voice, she murmured, "Old man..." A mischievous smile spread across John''s face as he patted the bed beside him. "Come here," Themanded calmly. Gulp! Tracy swallowed nervously. The tone of John''s voice left no room for argument. She obediently shuffled to the bed, casting a quick, nervous nce at John before diving under the covers. John couldn''t help but chuckle at her shy, innocent demeanor. He gently took the stuffed animal from her arms, lifting her chin with a teasing question, "Is this what you want?" Tracy''s breath hitched. Too flustered to look at him, she nodded slightly, closing her eyes tightly, surrendering herself to whatever John desired. John''s rough hands began to explore her delicate body, tracing the curves of her figure as the flimsy fabric of her nightgown slipped away. Her perfect form was revealed, with her smooth, luminous skin glowing softly in the dim light. Her ample chest rose and fell with each breath, a sight that was nearly impossible to resist. Tracy''s breathing grew heavy, her heart pounding as desire welled up inside her. When she realized John had paused, she curiously opened her eyes. "Old man, don''t stare!" she eximed, embarrassed by his intense gaze. She quickly reached for the nket to cover herself, but John caught her hand, stopping her. "Mm..." she moaned as his hand found her chest, sending a wave of pleasure through her body. Instinctively, she clutched John''s head to her chest, her voice trembling with need, "Old man, please be gentle with Tracy..." She recalled their first time together, how the overwhelming mix of pleasure and pain had consumed her. John''s strength both excited and frightened her, leaving her caught between ecstasy and fear. But soon, thoughts of anything but John faded away as she responded to his kisses, her body moving on its own. She was already wet with anticipation. John spread her legs, positioning his erect length at her entrance before slowly pushing in. "Mm... Old man, it hurts..." Tracy winced, her arms wrapped tightly around John''s neck as tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. Even though it was her second time, she still struggled to amodate his size. John paused, then lifted her by the waist, rolling onto his back so she was on top. "You move," he instructed. Tracy blushed deeply, feeling shy and hesitant. Like a cautious kitten, she nestled against John''s chest, her cheek brushing against his chin as she began to move slowly. "Mm..." The intense sensation made her moan with pleasure. Her lips parted, seeking John''s as she lost herself in the rhythm. Gradually, she became bolder, riding him fully, her back arching as she ced her hands on his legs for bnce, moving faster and faster. Her moans grew louder as waves of pleasure crashed through her, electrifying every nerve in her body. "Old man, Tracy... can''t hold on..." she gasped, trembling with each movement until finally, her legs tightened around him, and she sat down hard, ovee by the intensity of her climax. "Ah!" Tracy cried out, the force of John''s thrusts breaking through her defenses, unlocking a pleasure so intense it seemed to reach her very soul. Her body convulsed uncontrobly, and with another long moan, she climaxed, her strengthpletely drained as she copsed onto John''s chest. "Old man... you''re so strong..." she gasped between breaths, her voice a soft murmur. But John wasn''t finished. He lifted Tracy''s face to meet his, kissing her deeply as he propped himself up on his knees, continuing to thrust into her. "Mmm, mmm..." Tracy''s moans were muffled by his kiss, her body trying to keep pace with his relentless rhythm. John''s hands gripped her hips, guiding her movements as he picked up the pace. "Old man, slow down... Tracy can''t take it..." she pleaded, tears spilling down her cheeks from the overwhelming sensation. The continuous waves of pleasure coursed through her, leaving her on the edge of ecstasy. Feeling constrained, John shifted positions, rolling over to press her beneath him. With his full strength unleashed, he began pounding into her with even greater intensity. "Ah... no, old man, Tracy can''t handle it... please, stop..." Tracy''s voice was hoarse, her chest heaving from the force of each thrust, her breasts bouncing before John''s hands found them, kneading them into different shapes. She weakly clutched at his arms, she cries for mercy. But fueling John''s desire, making him push even harder. "Old man, please... I can''t... Tracy can''t take anymore..." she whimpered, her tears soaking the pillow as the sheets beneath her became drenched with her fluids. The powerful urge to dominate drove John forward, and with onest intense push, he reached his climax. With a deep growl, he held Tracy tightly against him, releasing a torrent of heat into her. "Mmm..." Tracy let out a long moan as she climaxed alongside him, her body trembling from the overwhelming sensation. The endless stream of fluids continued to flow, soaking the bed beneath them. "Old man... I can''t..." Tracy whispered, her eyes unfocused before she slipped into unconsciousness. John felt a pang of guilt-perhaps he had been too intense. It seemed that each of the women had different levels of endurance. Tracy had the weakest stamina, only able to handle one round before passing out. Anna could manage two rounds at most. As for Sini and Ada, John wasn''t quite sure which of them was stronger. Ada had withstood two of his climaxes before fainting during their first time, but she might be able to handle more as she adjusted. And then there was Ada''s submissive streak... Thinking about the women only reignited John''s desire. A part of him wanted to dive back into the world of Gods and explore these feelings further. But he restrained himself. He had been pushing himself hard over the past few days, and it was time to give his body the rest it needed. John felt the damp, sticky bed beneath him and sighed. Tracy really was like water-changing the sheets would be pointless. Deciding it was better to find a new ce to rest. He picked up the naked and exhausted Tracy. Even in her sleep, she winced in difort, her small head burrowing deeper into his chest. He carried her to her room, where Siniy awake in bed. Hearing him enter, she curiously asked, "John, why are you here?" "The bed''s soaked. It''s impossible to sleep on it," John replied, cing the unconscious Tracy gently onto the bed. Fortunately, the bed wasrge enough for all three of them. "You really went too far," Sini muttered, casting a reproachful look at John as she noticed Tracy''s state. She had experienced that overwhelming sensation before-the kind that made you feel as though your body no longer existed. It was thrilling, yet terrifying. She didn''t doubt that if John decided to unleash everything, neither she nor the others would be able to handle it. She nced at John''s still-erect length, a mix of fear and concern flickering in her eyes. "Master, are you still not satisfied?" she asked, inching away from him slightly. "It''ste. Let''s just sleep," John said, trying to reassure Sini, with no intention of continuing. Sini swallowed nervously. She wanted to fulfill John''s desires but knew she couldn''t handle it. Snuggling into his arms, she soon drifted off to sleep as exhaustion took over. John, lying between two beautiful, naked women, struggled with his own desires. It took him a long time to finally suppress the urge within him. ... The next afternoon, John, along with Sini and Tracy, logged back into the world of Gods and flew on Avis towards The Land of Elves. By the time they arrived, the Blues Family members and the me Legion had already begun construction on a small city. Although it wasn''t asrge as a Level 1 city, it was more than sufficient for the Blues Family. "Brother-inw," Armstrong greeted John and asked, "Should we make an announcement now?" "No need," John shook his head. The Eternal Forest was filled with unknown dangers, and he didn''t want to draw unnecessary attention. Plus, after thest city-building event, their enemies had likely gathered enough information. There was no need to make a big scene this time. "Got it. The city should bepleted by around six this evening," Armstrong informed him before returning to his work. This time, the responsibility of the city''s construction had fallen to him. Both the old family head, Chris, and the current leader, Peter, were intentionally giving him more authority to help him grow. Seeing that everything was under control and that his presence wasn''t particrly needed, John decided to enter Death Land. The beast army was still there, training in the Vein of the Earth, restoring their strength. Ada had been the busiest of all in the past few days, tirelessly training the elf army. Under her guidance, the elves had made significant improvements in their strength. It much to John''s pleasant surprise. However, John didn''t dwell on this for long. Instead, he made his way to the Tree of Life. "Big brother!" Jean called out, her face lighting up with joy as she spotted John. She immediately ran over to him, her happiness evident. Jean, who shared a unique connection with the Tree of Life, had been staying close by, focusing on her training. John smiled at Jean''s adorable enthusiasm and gently ruffled her hair. "Are you getting used to it here?" he asked. Jean nodded eagerly. "Yes, everyone here is so nice! And the Tree of Life will give birth to new elves in just three days!" "So soon?" John was taken aback, quickly turning his attention to the Tree of Life. Sure enough, among the dense foliage, there were over a thousandrge, green fruits, each about the size of a basketball, on the verge of ripening. These fruits would soon mature, giving life to new elves. An entirely new species of elves, in fact. The thought filled John with anticipation. The rapid development of the Tree of Life was, inrge part, thanks to Jean''s efforts. John couldn''t help but feel grateful for her presence. It seemed that the women in Death Land all had extraordinary talents. "Where''s Anna?" John asked, noticing that she wasn''t around. "She''s training the elves. Let me take you to her, big brother," Jean said, grabbing John''s hand and leading him towards the Vein of the Earth nearby. As they approached, the sound of battle cries grew louder. The elves were engaged in fierce combat with one another. John was amazed to see that all six hundred or so elves had advanced to the fourth tier, equivalent to the power of a boss-level leader. Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Annas Power Surge, Storm Brewing Chapter 90: Anna''s Power Surge, Storm Brewing ? What surprised John the most was Anna''s newfound strength-she had advanced to a rare fourth-tier boss. "Master," Anna greeted John warmly as she approached him with a smile. John eyed her curiously and asked, "How did your strength increase so much?" Thest time he saw Anna, she was still at the elite boss level. In less than two days, she had advanced to a higher tier. Advancing in rank on the Skyline Continent was extremely difficult. Such progress typically required a level-up, and even then, there was only a very low chance of a tier advancement. Anna blushed, casting a shy nce at John, and whispered, "It has to do with you, Master." "With me?" John was even more puzzled. As far as he knew, he hadn''t done anything unusual. Anna nodded and leaned closer to his ear, speaking in a hushed tone, "Thest time we were together, I absorbed some of your power, and after that, I advanced..." Her voice trailed off as her face turned bright red, but her eyes were filled with a deep, infatuated gaze directed at John. John was taken aback by this revtion. It seemed there was something unique about his body. When he was with Sini, she had experienced an early attribute fusion, although it was only a partial one. Now, in the world of Gods, his connection with Anna had somehow helped her advance to rare boss status. Looking at Anna''s adorable, bashful expression, John couldn''t resist gently squeezing her soft hand. "Big brother, what are you whispering about?" Jean interrupted, innocently curious as she came over. "N-Nothing," Anna stammered, quickly pulling Jean away, her face still flushed with embarrassment. As John watched them walk away, he felt a sharp gaze on his back. It was Judy, half- submerged in a nearby pond, ring at him with clear disapproval. It likely on Ada''s behalf. John smirked and provocatively returned her gaze before turning to Ada. He took her small hand in his and said softly, "You''ve been working hard these past few days." "It''s nothing," Ada replied, rolling her eyes at him, but there was a sweetness in her heart. Remembering his mission, John decided it was time to get serious. "I''m going to establish a city soon, and I''ll need your help," he said to the group. "No problem," Anna and Ada both agreed without hesitation. "Hmph!" Judy huffed, before disappearing back into the pond, likely to notify the other beasts. "This city will be established in The Land of Elves. The beasts there might be particrly strong," John exined, looking pointedly at Anna. The Land of Elves was her homnd, after all. Anna nodded, but didn''t seem overly concerned. She had affection for The Land of Elves, but her primary concern was The Tree of Life. With The Tree of Life now in Death Land, this ce had be the new home for the elves. She wasn''t particrly interested in what John nned for The Land of Elves. After giving a few more instructions, John collected over 15,000 portions of Vein of the Earth spring water and left Death Land. The first time one drinks from the Vein of the Earth, it increases their strength by 100 points. With the dangers that might lie ahead in establishing a city in the Eternal Forest, John decided to boost the strength of the Blues Familybatants and the me Legion soldiers. With 10,000 Blues Family members and 5,000 me Legion soldiers, the 15,000 portions were just enough. The amount of spring water he took was only a drop in the bucket for the Vein of the Earth and wouldn''t significantly impact it. John handed the spring water to Armstrong and Ritchie, instructing them to distribute it among the troops. The two couldn''t help but marvel at their fortune, feeling even more grateful to have crossed paths with John. It seemed almost like destiny that John had sought them out. ... By evening, the city construction wasplete. Anna and the other women led the elves to the top of the city walls. The Blues Family members, with their evident passion for Ancient Martial Arts, were almost exclusively in closebat roles-knights, warriors, and assassins. Ten thousand Blues Family disciples were stationed outside the city, forming the first line of defense. The Land of Elves, a Secret Area, had only one entrance. The monster tide could only attack through this narrow gap, so the key to sess was to hold this entrance. With everything in ce, John handed Armstrong a City Building Order to establish the city. [Announcement: yer "Reviving Ancient Martial Arts" has established the "Saint Martial Sect" in the Land of Elves. If they sessfully defend against the monster tide for 12 hours, the city will be established.] ... The name "Reviving Ancient Martial Arts" was Armstrong''s ID. As the announcement echoed throughout the world of Gods. The yers everywhere began to discuss it. The Blues Family had always remained reclusive, and Armstrong had kept a low profile. Although he had appeared on the level rankings, he hadn''t attracted much attention from other yers or factions. While most yers were unaware of Armstrong''s identity, Toby knew it all too well. As he was out hunting monsters to level up, the announcement made his eyes burn with rage. "Godyer! It''s that Godyer again!" Toby snarled, his anger boiling over. Armstrong, as the Blues Family''s young master, had a close rtionship with John. It was clear that the establishment of the Saint Martial Sect had John''s backing. "Find out where the Land of Elves is!" Toby barked at his subordinate, his tone icy. Godyer had already thwarted his attempts to establish a city twice. This time, Toby was determined not to let Godyer seed. The subordinate hesitated before responding cautiously, "Sir, we can''t find that location. It seems to be a Secret Area..." "A Secret Area? Damn it!" Toby cursed, frustration spilling over. He had previously tried to establish a city in a Secret Area, knowing that without the coordinates or a special scroll, other yers couldn''t enter, let alone interfere. Taking a deep breath, Toby forced himself to calm down. His eyes grew cold as he came to a decision, muttering to himself, "If I can''t stop him in the world of Gods, then I''ll have to deal with him in the real world." With that, Toby logged out and immediately contacted the eldest son of the Griffin Family, Skywalker. The phone rang only twice before Skywalker answered, his voice calm and direct. "I''ve already heard. We''re taking action in the real world. Are your people in ce?" Skywalker didn''t waste any time with pleasantries, getting straight to the point. Relieved that they were on the same page, Toby quickly replied, "Yes, I''ve got over three thousand top assassins. They''re already hidden at the base of Pale Mountain. I''ll send you the contact details." "Very well," Skywalker replied, his voice steady. He continued, "Now, let''s discuss the terms." Toby frowned, puzzled. "I thought we already agreed on the terms?" Skywalker remained calm, responding, "The situation has changed. This operation is costing us significantly, so the terms need to change as well. We''re asking for 100,000 high-grade game pods." "What?" Toby eximed in shock, his anger simmering. He responded coldly, "Skywalker, don''t push it. Do you have any idea how much 100,000 high-grade game pods are worth? The Blues Family and that Godyer are your enemies too." Each high-grade game pod was worth a billion, meaning 100,000 game pods would amount to 100 trillion. Even though the Mike White Family was thergest and most powerful secr force, it wasn''t easy for them toe up with such an enormous sum. But Skywalker was unfazed. "Calm down. Your conditions have changed, so mine have too. We''re offering to train 30,000 Ancient Martial Arts warriors." To ensure the Blues Family''splete destruction, the Griffin Family had formed an alliance with four other Ancient Martial Arts families. Initially, they had promised the Mike White Family to train 10,000 Ancient Martial Arts experts. Now, they were increasing that number to 30,000, with the additional spots being distributed among the other four families. This would also bring a substantial profit to the Griffin Family. Toby fell silent on the other end of the line, swallowing hard. To him, a trillion dors in assets was worth it if it meant gaining 50,000 powerful Ancient Martial Arts fighters. Taking a deep breath to steady his voice, he finally said, "Fine. In three days, the 100,000 game pods will be delivered." "Deal. Expect good news from me soon," Skywalker replied, pleased, and hung up. In the real world, at Pale Mountain. The hidden sanctuary of the Blues Family, no outsiders were allowed near. However, at this moment, thousands were gathering in the dense forests of the mountain''s back side. A force of 25,000 Ancient Martial Arts experts had assembled, drawn from the Griffin Family and four other prominent martial arts ns: the Willow, Eisen, Dwight, and Hower families. In addition, 3,000 modern soldiers equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, hired killers from the Mike White Family, were also present. Topletely annihte the Blues Family, the Griffin Family had joined forces with the four other Ancient Martial Arts ns. "Senior, are you sure you will uphold the terms you''ve promised us?" asked a burly middle- aged man, David, the head of the Eisen Family. An elderly man, with a gaunt face, deep-set eyes, and a hooked nose, nced at David dismissively. "Are you questioning me?" he asked coldly. David took a step back, a deep sense of fear in his eyes. "I wouldn''t dare." The old man was Harry, the Griffin Family patriarch, reputed to have broken through to the pinnacle of martial arts, making his strength unfathomable. It was said that the Blues Family''s old patriarch had barely escaped death at his hands once before. Harry reined in his aura, casting a nce around at the assembled group. "Rest assured, everyone. Each family will receive their promised 10,000 high-grade game pods within five days." The gathered leaders exchanged nces, their excitement barely contained. They had all been exposed to the world of Gods and had learned some of its secrets. The advanced game pods allowed users to stay online for a full month, enabling them to rapidly enhance their abilities. "Patriarch!" A subordinate appeared, kneeling respectfully before Harry. "We''ve gathered all information. The Griffin Family has sent over ten thousand of their strongest the into the world of Gods. Aside from a few disciples guarding the mountain gate, the rest are just ordinary people." "Excellent." A cold smile spread across Harry''s face as he looked around at the assembled leaders. "This operation is simple: leave no one alive." The faces of several leaders visibly tensed. "Senior, isn''t this a bit too ruthless?" Truman, the head of the Dwight Family, hesitated to voice his concern. Harry shot him a frosty re. "If you don''t pull up the roots, the weeds will grow back. If you''re unwilling, you can leave now." Truman''s eyelid twitched, and he wisely fell silent. He knew well enough what Harry was capable of, and backing out now would mean certain death. Seeing no further objections, Harry turned his attention to the Mike White Family''s assassins. "You will take the lead." The tall, burly leader of the assassins frowned slightly. It was clear that Harry intended to use them as cannon fodder. However, he showed no outward sign of displeasure and instead signaled to his men with a series of hand gestures. The three thousand assassins immediately spread out, moving with silent precision. Their efficiency even sparked a flicker of admiration in Harry. These so-called "ordinary" forces certainly had their strengths, and there were aspects worth emting. Among the three thousand assassins, over two hundred were snipers. They quickly took up positions on elevated ground, setting up their rifles and taking aim at the Blues Family disciples within the mountain gate, ready to strike at a moment''s notice. Unaware of the imminent danger, the Blues Family members continued their activities, oblivious to the threat bearing down upon them. ... Meanwhile, in the world of Gods, within the Land of Elves. The first wave of the monster tide struck as the system announcement rang out. The attackers were 60th-level, third-tier enchanted tree monsters, numbering around ten thousand. Chapter 91: Chapter 91: The Five Families’ Siege and the Blues Family’s Crisis Chapter 91: The Five Families¡¯ Siege and the Blues Family¡¯s Crisis ? The Blues Family disciples and the me Legion were more than capable of handling the tree monsters, so John didn''t rush into action. He stood atop the city walls, closely monitoring the battlefield. The sounds of battle echoed through the air. Shouts, roars, and the cries of the enchanted tree monsters as they were felled by the Blues Family disciples. Arrows flew from the walls, and spells rained down, each strike bringing down another monster. John felt a sense of pride. The me Legion and the Blues Family disciples were now among the elite forces in the world of Gods. While he had provided significant support, he was also aware of the hard work everyone had put in over time. "John, would you be interested in bing the head of Shengwu Sect?" Chris appeared beside him, speaking calmly. "Old man, you must be joking. This is your Blues Family''s force," John replied, ncing at Chris with a hint of exasperation. He had a growing suspicion that Chris wanted to hand over the entire Blues Family to him. "I''m not joking," Chris said, giving John a serious look before falling silent. He had made up his mind that once the city was established, he would support John in uniting all the Ancient Martial Arts families. This decision wasn''t just to aid John but also to ensure the future of the Blues Family. There was a hidden family within the Ancient Martial Arts ns¡ªone with a terrifying reputation and aplex rtionship with the Blues Family. With the emergence of the world of Gods, Chris feared that this hidden family might resurface. He didn''t want to fall under their control again, and John was his only hope. "Hmm?" John frowned as he noticed that several Blues Family disciples below had suddenly disappeared. They weren''t killed by the tree monsters; it seemed more like their connection to the world of Gods had been forcibly severed. Could something have happened in the real world? A sense of foreboding washed over John. yers couldn''t log out while inbat unless something significant urred in reality. He quickly turned to Chris and urged, "Old man, send someone to log out and check if something''s happened in the real world." Chris had noticed the same thing and nodded. Just as he was about to speak, Peter came running over, looking panicked. "Father, something terrible has happened!" Peter''s face was pale as he reported, "The Griffin Family patriarch, leading the Griffin Family along with the Willow, Eisen, Dwight, and Hower families, plus a group of assassins armed with modern weapons, has invaded our family estate." "What?!" Chris staggered, nearly copsing from the shock. John rushed forward to steady him. Chris, his face drained of color, waved John off and quickly said, "Young man, there are too many enemies. The Blues Family can''t hold them off. You need to take Tracy and Sini and escape now." Turning to Peter, Chris ordered, "Tell all family members to log out immediately and defend the estate with everything they''ve got." "Wait!" John stopped Peter before he could leave. With five powerful families attacking, the Blues Family was surely outmatched. There was only one solution that could turn the tide. "We need to fuse attributes with the real world!" John dered. "Hurry up and say what you''re thinking!" Peter snapped, irritated by the dy. John didn''t waste any time. He pulled out all of the Attribute Fusion Stones he had-359 in total-and handed them to Peter, instructing him firmly, "Select the 359 elite disciples of the Blues Family and have them fuse with these. It will allow them to bring the power and skills from the world of Gods into the real world." Peter looked at the stones in his hand, his brow furrowed in skepticism. It was clear that he didn''t believe John''s words. Irritated, he snapped, "Kid, do you think this is the time for jokes? You should be getting Tracy and the others out of here!" "I''m not joking!" John retorted, equally frustrated. He knew the integrity of the Blues Family, and he wouldn''t have risked giving away these Attribute Fusion Stones unless he was certain of their value. He continued, "You and the old master should be the first to fuse. Armstrong and the others have already done it. Trust me!" Peter hesitated, then turned to Chris, looking for confirmation. Chris didn''t hesitate. He picked up one of the Attribute Fusion Stones and began the fusion process immediately. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Peter quickly started organizing the selected disciples. "Thank you, old master!" John said sincerely. He could feel Chris''s unconditional trust in him. "The Blues Family should be thanking you!" Chris responded, giving John a meaningful look before logging out to handle the crisis in the real world. John didn''t waste another moment. He gathered Anna, Ada, and Ritchie, giving them quick instructions: "I have something critical to take care of. The defense against the monster tide is in your hands. Can you handle it?" "Don''t worry, boss. The me Legion won''t fall as long as I''m standing. Saint Martial Sect is safe with us!" Ritchie assured him, having overheard the conversation earlier. He was determined to prove his loyalty. "We''ll handle it, don''t worry," Anna added promptly. Ada simply nodded firmly, her resolve clear in her eyes. "Be safe!" John urged, then rushed to find Sini and Tracy. The two women had already fused their attributes with the real world, and th strength would be crucial. Tracy, with her Spirit Priest abilities, especially had the potential to turn the tide of any battle. Upon hearing that the Blues Family was in danger, neither hesitated-they immediately logged out to assist. "Armstrong, you stay here," John said, stopping him as he prepared to log out. "Why, brother-inw?" Armstrong asked, worried about his family''s safety and not understanding John''s reasoning. "The real world is under attack, but so is Saint Martial Sect. I need you here to oversee things. If anything goes wrong, I need you to alert me immediately," John exined, his tone serious. Armstrong looked at the me Legion holding back the monster tide below. After a moment''s thought, he nodded solemnly and bowed deeply to John. "Brother-inw, I entrust the Blues Family to you." John returned the nod, then logged out. Buzz... The moment John''s senses returned to the real world, he was greeted by the sound of rapid gunfire, mixed with screams and curses. The use of modern weapons meant that these assassins were likely sent by the Mike White Family. John''s expression turned cold. Without hesitation, he moved swiftly toward the Blues Family''s mountain gate. Where chaos and bloodshed awaited him. The scene before him was like a glimpse of hell itself. Over two thousand assassins, fully armed and equipped with assault rifles, mercilessly opened fire on the disciples of the Blues Family, not even sparing the ordinary family members who were nonbatants. The power of firearms was overwhelming, and even the skilled Ancient Martial Arts practitioners were unable to withstand the onught. Bodies littered the ground, and blood stained the earth red. The principle of not involving family in conflicts was a core t of Ancient Martial Arts, but these attackers had crossed a line that should never have been breached. An uncontroble wave of fury surged within John-these people deserved nothing less than death. He noticed Sini surrounded by a swarm of assassins, fighting for her life. Boom! John raised his hand, and a bolt of lightning struck down, instantly reducing a dozen assassins to charred remains. Boom! Suddenly, a thunderous crack echoed from the distant forest-it was the unmistakable sound of a sniper rifle! John''s heart raced as he sensed the imminent danger. Instinctively, he activated Iron Armor. Bang! The sniper''s bullet struck with a force that sent him stumbling backward. He felt a sharp pain in his chest and coughed up blood. Although Iron Armor had absorbed most of the impact, the sheer force of the bullet had still managed to injure him. "John!" Sini cried out in panic, rushing to his side to check on him. "I''m fine," he reassured her, shielding her with his body. His eyes were cold as he red into the depths of the forest. "Sini, leave no one alive." "Understood!" Sini nodded. Having been trained as an assassin under Aron, she was well- acquainted with the tactics of snipers. She gripped her dagger tightly, her form gradually fading until she waspletely invisible -a skill only the most skilled Assassins possessed. Trusting Sini to handle the snipers, John turned his attention to the assassins who were wildly spraying bullets with their assault rifles. Elemental energy surged within him. He unleashed ze Explosion, Rupture, and Chain Lightning in quick session, cycling through the single-target spells with precision. The battlefield was chaotic, and he couldn''t risk using area-of-effect spells for fear of hitting members of the Blues Family. Even so, the explosive power of his magic caused massive casualties among the enemy. "That''s him! That''s Godyer! Take him down!" one of the assassins shouted as they recognized John. Instantly, the focus shifted, and a hail of bullets was directed his way. John sneered, standing his ground as the storm of bullets rained down on him. His Iron Armor had withstood a sniper round-these assault rifles posed no threat. Boom! Boom! The ground shook with the force of his magical attacks. The assassins fell in droves, their ranks decimated. Though they were cold, emotionless killing machines, the sheer might of John''s power instilled fear in them-fear of the unknown. "What the hell? Is this guy a monster?" "Magic! It''s the magic from the world of Gods!" "Impossible. This is the real world..." Panic spread among the assassins. One of them, acting on impulse, pulled out a grenade, yanked the pin, and hurled it toward John with all his might. John''s expression tightened-his Iron Armor was on the verge of breaking and wouldn''t withstand the grenade''s st. Quickly, he conjured a Water Mist Clone, cing it between himself and the grenade. Boom! The grenade exploded, sending shrapnel flying in all directions. The Water Mist Clone was instantly shredded, and John was hit by the st, though the damage was not severe. "Monster! This guy is definitely a monster!" The remaining few hundred assassins, seeing John emerge almost unscathed, were consumed by an overwhelming fear that shattered their resolvepletely. "Die!" John growled, unleashing his dark magic spell, Annihtion. A small, fist-sized ck sphere shot out, like a miniature ck hole. As it moved forward, the space around it rippled, even the light itself was devoured. The three hundred assassins didn''t even have time to scream before they were swallowed up, vanishing into nothingness. With the immediate threat neutralized, John allowed himself a brief moment of relief. Despite his immense power, he realized that his current strength was stillcking when faced with the raw destructive force of modern weaponry-it was a close call. Boom! Boom! In the forest, the sound of sniper rifles echoed sporadically, gradually growing fainter. asionally, a terrified scream pierced the air. Clearly, Sini had taken action. Around him, the sounds of screams and battle cries filled the air as Blues Family disciples launched a fierce counterattack. Thebined forces of the five families, totaling over 25,000, were more than double the number of Blues Family disciples. Yet, among the Blues Family, there were over 300 elite members who had undergone the divine attribute fusion, significantly enhancing their strength. This sudden surge in power allowed them to not only hold their ground but to begin overwhelming the attacking forces. "Harry! Today we settle both old and new scores!" Chris''s voice thundered through the battlefield, his sword humming with deadly intent as he charged at a man with a shadowy face and a hooked nose. This was Harry, the Griffin Family patriarch and a grandmaster-level fighter. "Hmph, you''re overestimating yourself!" Harry sneered, wielding a double-ended staff, sharpened at both ends. ng! The two weapons collided with a resounding sh, forcing both men to step back. However, Harry had the slight advantage, regaining his footing after just three steps. He stared at Chris in disbelief and surprise. "You... you''ve broken through to the grandmaster level as well!" Thest time they fought, Harry had nearly killed Chris, leaving him gravely injured. He had assumed that even if Chris survived, he would be a shadow of his former self. But now, Chris had reached the grandmaster level! "Hmph, grandmaster? You''re nothing special!" Chris sneered in return, snapping his arm to straighten the flexible sword. The de shimmered with lethal energy as he charged at Harry once more. Chapter 92: Chapter 92: The Wind Sword Emerges, Blood for Blood Chapter 92: The Wind Sword Emerges, Blood for Blood ? The two fought fiercely, evenly matched, with neither able to gain the upper hand. John, however, didn''t linger on the battle between the two masters; instead, he began searching for Tracy. Not having seen her, he grew increasingly concerned for her safety. The sounds ofbat raged around him. As John moved through the battlefield with a calm, almost leisurely gait. Any enemy who came too close was swiftly and brutally dealt with. Finally, he found Tracy kneeling beside a pile of bodies. She was desperately pressing down on the gaping wound in the chest of a middle-aged woman who was barely clinging to life, trying to stop the relentless flow of blood. "Auntie, please hold on, you''re going to be okay..." Tracy''s voice trembled with fear and helplessness, her eyes red from crying as she cast healing spells over and over again, hoping against hope to save the woman. Seeing this, John''s heart ached. He knelt beside Tracy and gently spoke, "Tracy, it''s no use. Her heart''s been pierced; healing spells can''t bring her back." Healing magic could close wounds and mend injuries, but it couldn''t resurrect the dead. The woman''s lips curled into a faint, sorrowful smile as she weakly nodded to Tracy, acknowledging the inevitable before the light in her eyes faded away. "Why, old man? Why did they hurt her? Auntie was a good person, they were all good people..." Tracy sobbed uncontrobly, copsing into John''s arms. John could only sigh in frustration and sorrow. This ordeal was a harsh lesson for Tracy. But it was nothingpared to the horrors the future would bring. When the gods descended and the Dark Humans'' armies and monster tides invaded, the battles would be far more brutal, with countless lives lost in the struggle to defend their world. "Tracy," John said, lifting her chin so she could meet his eyes, "You need to remember this: only by bing strong can you protect yourself and those you care about." Tracy gazed at John, wiping away her tears as a newfound resolve took hold. "I understand now, old man. I know what I need to do." With renewed determination, she moved to the edge of the battlefield and began chanting softly, casting a powerful group healing spell. The battle-worn disciples suddenly felt a warm light envelop them, and their wounds began to heal significantly. They nced gratefully at Tracy, their spirits lifted. With renewed confidence, they threw themselves fully into the fight, striking at the enemies with everything they had. Tracy''s presence turned the tide of the battle. With their injuries tended to and their worries eased, the Blues Family disciples fought without hesitation, unleashing their full fury on the enemy forces. John watched her from a distance, a mixture of pride and sorrow in his heart. But John knew that they all needed to grow stronger. Especially Tracy. She had been sheltered for too long, and only through witnessing the bloodshed and loss of those close to her could she truly find the will to be stronger. As the battle raged on, the Blues Family disciples, fueled by their fury, unleashed a relentless assault on the fighters from the five families. The tide had turned in their favor. Boom! Suddenly, a thunderous explosion echoed through the forest-there were still snipers! John''s heart skipped a beat as he quickly looked over to Tracy. Thankfully, she was unharmed. However, in the sky, a figure was sent flying backward by the impact. It''s Chris. This is bad! John''s expression darkened. Chris wasn''t just a leader; he was the symbol of the Blues Family''s strength and resolve. If he fell, their morale would crumble. "Grandfather!" Tracy cried out, rushing to Chris''s side. She immediately began casting her healing spells, trying to assess and treat his injuries. "Hahaha, Chris, what good is your strength now? You''re still no match for modern weapons!" Harry cackled maniacally, his face twisted with rage as heunched a deadly attack towards Chris and Tracy. In a sh, John appeared in front of them, his presence radiating with overwhelming power. With a clenched fist, he struck at Harry with all his might. Bang! With a single punch, Harry''s staff shattered into pieces. Blood spurted from his mouth as he was sent flying backward. He struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from his lips, his eyes filled with fear as he stared at John. His voice trembled as he demanded, "Who are you?" John''s aura gave away no signs of martial arts training, yet his strength was terrifying. He recalled the legendary state of "Returning to Simplicity". A realm where a practitioner appears no different from an ordinary person, yet with a simple gesture, they can unleash devastating power capable of destroying everything in their path. A thought struck him with terror. "Are you from the Azure family?" he blurted out. The Azure family? John was puzzled. He had never heard of such a family before. "I''m alright," Chris''s voice came from behind, his left arm bloodied from a bullet wound. Thankfully, his internal energy had protected his vital points, leaving him with only a minor injury. "You''ve done enough, my friend. This one''s mine. I will make him pay for what he''s done!" Chris roared, pushing Tracy aside as he charged at Harry once more. "Damn it!" Harry cursed under his breath, engaging Chris inbat again, though his eyes never left John, his caution now doubled. He had mistaken John for a member of the powerful and secretive Azure family. After witnessing John''s incredible strength, all thoughts of continuing the fight had evaporated. He was now only focused on escaping. "You cowardly old bastard, toote to be afraid now!" Chris shouted angrily, sensing Harry''s hesitation. Both men were injured, but Chris''s wounds were worse. Despite this, he now had the upper hand, driving Harry back with relentless attacks. "Chris, you got lucky this time. Retreat!" Harry shouted, desperation in his voice. He shot a wary nce at John before turning to flee. Boom! Another deafening gunshot echoed, causing everyone''s heart to skip a beat. The sniper rifle''s power was immense. But this time, it was Harry who was thrown into the air, a bullet tearing through him from behind. Sini stood behind him, holding the smoking sniper rifle. "Die!" Chris roared, his killing intent surging. In an instant, he was upon Harry, his sword dancing as it coiled around the old man''s neck. sh! Blood sprayed, and a severed head rolled across the ground, leaving a long trail of blood in its wake. Harry''s body remained standing for a moment, his hand weakly reaching up as if to beg for mercy. "Leave no one alive!" Chris spat, kicking the lifeless body to the ground. His sword hummed as he plunged back into the fray, cutting down the remaining enemies. Screams of terror filled the air. With the death of their leader, the Griffin Family''s will to fight was utterly shattered. Their disciples, overwhelmed by fear, began to flee in disarray. "Sini, make sure Tracy stays safe," John instructed Sini before diving headfirst into the enemy ranks. "John, take these!" Sini called out, tossing two daggers to him. She then picked up two assault rifles from the ground, quickly reloading them and began firing at the retreating enemies with relentless precision. The power of firearms was still formidable. But against higher-level monsters and strong opponents, they lost their effectiveness. By the time creatures reached the seventh tier and above, they were no longer vulnerable even to heavy weaponry. Only by increasing their strength through the world of Gods could they hope to withstand the impending invasions of Dark Humans and the monster tide armies. ... The battle soon ended, leaving the stench of blood hanging thick in the air, with the ground littered with corpses. The enemy was almost entirely annihted, with only a handful managing to escape. John''s expression was grim. After this battle, the secret of fusing attributes from the world of Gods into reality would be impossible to keep hidden. The surviving Blues Family members, their eyes red with grief, began to scour the battlefield, searching for the bodies of their fallen rtives. This battle had imed the lives of over 27,000 enemies. But the Blues Family had lost over 12,000 of their own, most of whom were the family members of the warriors-ordinary people. The survivors gathered, their eyes burning with a thirst for vengeance, as they awaited Chris''s orders. Once the battle ended, Chris had immediately rushed to the back of the mountain. Buzz! Suddenly, a humming sound filled the air as a blue-green light shot skyward from the rear of the mountain, stirring up a powerful wind. "It''s The Wind Sword! The Wind Sword has appeared!" "The old master has drawn The Wind Sword!" "The Wind Sword is here-Heaven is watching over the Blues Family!" The crowd erupted in cheers, falling to their knees in reverence as they gazed at the pir of blue-green light. John, curious and confused, turned to Tracy and asked, "Tracy, what is The Wind Sword?" Tracy, her mouth slightly agape in shock, struggled to find her voice. When she finally spoke, she exined, "Old man, The Wind Sword is a weapon left by the founder of the Blues Family. After our ancestor passed, the sword was sealed in the mountain, and for centuries, no one has been able to draw it-until now. I can''t believe Grandpa has done it..." Her cheeks flushed with excitement and joy, just like the rest of the Blues Family disciples. At that moment, Chris appeared, leaping down from the mountain, holding the glowing three-foot The Wind Sword, that shimmered with an intense, sharp light. It was also a soft sword. His expression was grave as he looked over the bodies of the fallen Blues Family members. The Wind Sword sliced across his arm, and his blood sttered onto the ground. His voice, cold and resolute, echoed through the crowd, "A blood debt must be paid in blood!" "A blood debt must be paid in blood!" The Blues Family disciples shouted in unison, shing their wrists and letting their blood spill onto the already blood-soaked earth. Even Tracy, her face resolute, pulled out a dagger and bit her lip as she cut her own wrist. The atmosphere was charged with an overwhelming killing intent, and even John couldn''t help but feel a chill run down his spine. He recalled the previous life when the Blues Family had faced the Dark Humans. They had fought to thest man, with no one fleeing or surrendering. The Blues Family had no cowards, not even among the ordinary family members. "Young man, there''s nothing more for you here. You should return to the world of Gods," Chris said, turning to John. John understood what Chris intended to do, and he couldn''t help but feel a sense of concern. Chris continued, "Don''t worry, there''s no one left who can challenge me now!" His voice was filled with confidence. "Move out!" With thatmand, Chris led the remaining eight thousand Blues Family members out of the mountain gate in a mighty procession. "Sini," John called out, and she looked at him questioningly. As Peter''s goddaughter, she was also considered part of the Blues Family. John nodded, "Go ahead." Sini didn''t hesitate any further. She took Tracy''s hand and followed the Blues Family members as they left Cloud Mountain. The Blues Family still had about two thousand ordinary family members left. They began carving gravestones, preparing to bury their fallen kin. John stood off to the side, gazing at the pile of corpses that had umted into a small mountain. These were the bodies of their enemies, carelessly heaped together. He raised his hand, and a massive fireball shot out, engulfing the pile of bodies. Whoosh! The fire spread, its intense heat quickly reducing the corpses to ashes. After finishing this task, John returned to his quarters and reconnected to the world of Gods. He reappeared on the city wall. The roars of beasts echoed around him. The beast army had already joined the fray, and powerful fourth- and fifth-tier monsters were attacking below. The battle to defend the city was nearing its end. "Brother-inw!" Armstrong spotted John and hurried over, asking, "How is the Blues Family?" "The invading enemies have beenpletely wiped out, but the Blues Family also suffered significant losses..." John''s tone was heavy as he briefly recounted what had happened. Armstrong trembled, his eyes reddening with anger. "Those scum! They even attacked innocent people!" John ced aforting hand on his shoulder and said, "The old master has already avenged us. The five families will pay dearly for what they''ve done." Armstrong took a deep breath, suppressing the fury in his heart, and his expression gradually calmed. "By the way, is the Azure Family also an Ancient Martial Arts Family?" John asked, recalling how the Griffin Family patriarch had mistaken him for a member of the Azure Family. "What?" Armstrong eximed, his face showing fear as he trembled. "The Azure Family has appeared?" Chapter 93: Chapter 93: The Two-Winged Angel and the Ultimate Skill Chapter 93: The Two-Winged Angel and the Ultimate Skill ? When John saw Armstrong''s intense reaction, his curiosity about the Azure Family grew. In his previous life, he hadn''t heard of an Ancient Martial Arts family by that name. John asked, "I''ve only heard of them. Has the Azure Family surfaced? Are they really that powerful?" Armstrong visibly rxed but couldn''t hide the fear in his eyes. He exined, "The Azure Family isn''t just an Ancient Martial Arts family anymore. They''ve evolved into a massive Ancient Martial Arts force, more like the sects of old. And the Azure Family has deep ties with our Blues Family." He paused, clearly struggling to convey what he knew about the Azure Family, which he had only heard about from his elders. After a moment, he continued, "Brother-inw, have you ever heard of using one thing as a substitute for another? The Blues Family can be seen as a sacrificial offering for the Azure Family. Our family''s martial artse from the same roots as theirs, and if the Azure Family faces a significant crisis, they can devour our strength." "A sacrifice?" John frowned. This Azure Family didn''t seem like a benevolent force. With the emergence of the world of Gods, the Azure Family could likely resurface, impacting the real world. Perhaps in his previous life, he hadn''t been close enough to these secrets to know about the Azure Family''s existence. John decided not to dwell on the matter. Regardless of the Azure Family''s power, as long as he remained strong enough, no threat could truly harm him. Boom! Booming sounds and roars echoed from below the city walls. It all from powerful Tier 4 monsters locked in fiercebat with the beast army. The yers on the wall could do little to help, mostlyunching ranged attacks to finish off wounded monsters. John nced at the time-ten hours had already passed. The monster tide assault was nearing its end, and they only needed to hold out for two more hours before the Saint Martial Sect would be sessfully established. He decided it was time to take action. "Avis!" he called out. In response, Avis''s massive figure swooped down from the sky. John leaped onto Avis''s back, soaring above the monster tide. Below, he spotted a 110-level Rampaging Tree Monster, a 130-level Venom Tree Monster, a 150-level Jungle Bear, and a 160-level Death Spider... Whoosh! With a surge of fire energy, Fire Meteor Showers rained down. Spell Combo and magic crits triggered, turning the battlefield below into a sea of mes. The monsters roared and wailed, suffering heavy casualties. With John''s now formidable attributes, he was easily able to one-shot Tier 4 monsters. [You have killed a Level 130 Venom Tree Monster, gaining 1,210 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Strength +1.] [You have killed a Level 150 Jungle Bear, gaining 1,610 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Constitution +1.] ... Notifications shed continuously, and John''s four primary attributes steadily increased. Waves of warmth surged through his body, slowly strengthening his physique. John relished this sensation. With a swing of his longsword, he unleashed Fire Meteor Shower, Tremor, Lightning Chain, ze Explosion... And several other spells in seamless session. Monsters fell in droves, leaving a trail of weapons and equipment scattered across the battlefield. Nearby, the beasts had halted their attacks, staring in stunned silence. "How did this guy get even stronger?" the subus muttered, eyes wide with disbelief as she watched John. "Damn it! Not even we beasts have talents this powerful!" the Blood-Eyed Demon Ape cursed. The other beasts nodded in agreement, feeling fortunate that they had allied with John and bound themselves to him. Judy, watching from the side, had a flicker of concern in her eyes. She was also amazed at how quickly John''s strength was growing. She resolved to find an opportunity to teach this human a lesson-if he continued to grow at this pace, she would soon be outmatched. She made a decision in her mind. On the city walls, the members of the me Legion and the Blues Family were already ustomed, even numb, to the sight. To them, John was an invincible force. Soon, the current wave of the monster tide waspletely wiped out by John, leaving a field littered with weapons, equipment, and materials. Ritchie couldn''t help but swallow in envy. Turning to the stunned Armstrong, he remarked, "Your Blues Family just hit the jackpot. All the dropped weapons and equipment are top-tier, Tier 4 items." Armstrong snapped out of his daze and replied, "I''ll set aside a couple of items for you." With that, he began directing the Blues Family members to clean up the battlefield. Ritchie gave him a sideways nce but didn''t have his me Legion members help out, avoiding any potential misunderstandings. "There''s likely onest wave of the monster tide," John said, checking the time. There was still a little over an hour left until the assault would end. Leaning back against Avis, he began to restore his mana, waiting for the final wave to arrive. Rustle... A rustling sound echoed through the forest as the trees shook, and in the distance, a massive horde appeared. It was the Orc army, and they were all Tier 4 elites, equivalent to boss-level monsters. There were tens of thousands of them! John''s eyes lit up with excitement. To him, these elite Orcs weren''t here to attack the city- they were here to deliver loot! Boss-level enemies meant a 100% drop rate for equipment and items, and with his Plunder talent, the quality of the loot would be enhanced. These ten thousand Orcs meant ten thousand top-tier pieces of equipment. John ran his fingers along the Sword of Divinity and Demons, ready to test the power of its ultimate skill against these enemies. "Master, there''s a powerful presence," Avis said in a grave tone, rapidly ascending as it fixed its gaze on the distant horizon. In the distance, a white figure emerged, radiating an aura of purity and sanctity. John narrowed his eyes, focusing on the figure. It was a woman, wielding a sword of light, with white wings sprouting from her back, her entire being bathed in a divine glow. An angel¡ª a messenger of the gods. The appearance of an angel confirmed John''s suspicion that a deity existed in the Eternal Forest. "What kind of being is that?" Judy flew up beside John, staring at the distant white figure with a puzzled expression. Having been asleep for a thousand years, Judy and Ada hadn''t experienced the godly invasion of Skyline Continent and thus didn''t recognize an angel. However, the beasts below were visibly terrified. The blood-red demon wolf spoke up, "Kid, that''s a Seventh-Tier Two-Winged Angel. Can you handle it?" They were well aware of the angel''s power. With the ck Turtle absent, their only hopey with Judy. Although Judy was a Seventh-Tier being and even stronger than the ck Turtle. But angels were all legendary-ss beings, while Judy was still only at the epic tier. Staring at the radiant figure in the distance, Judy solemnly shook her head. "I can hold her off, buy us some time until the monster tide is over." John remained silent, his eyes locked on the rapidly approaching Two-Winged Angel. The idea of killing her intrigued him. An angel, a legendary-tier powerhouse with terrifying strength, could drop rare light-based skill books. Not only that, but there was a possibility she might drop a divine artifact. Unfortunately, the old ck Turtle wasn''t around. If the two Seventh-Tier beasts could team up, there was a good chance they could kill the Two-Winged Angel. Maybe the opportunity wasn''tpletely lost. John nced at the Sword of Divinity and Demons. The ultimate skill attached to this divine weapon might just be powerful enough to break through the Two-Winged Angel''s defenses. He turned to Judy. "We''ll work together. Let''s try to take down that Two-Winged Angel." Judy frowned, clearly skeptical of John''s n. While this human was undeniably strong, he was still no match for a Seventh-Tier being. John didn''t bother to exin further, instead ordering Avis to descend to the ground. The Two-Winged Angel could fly as well, so any aerial advantage was nullified. Avis, though of legendary tier, was only at the Fourth Tier and wouldn''t stand a chance against the angel''s overwhelming power. ... As the angelic army closed in, holy light illuminated the surroundings, and the yers on the walls stared in awe at the approaching Two-Winged Angel. On the city walls, Anna, the elf, narrowed her eyes, anger rising within her as she fixed her cold gaze on the angel. Her grip tightened on her longbow, an arrow already nocked and ready to fire. The disaster that befell the elves was brought upon them by these angels. The Orc army stood ready, but did not rush to attack. The Two-Winged Angel gazed at John with amanding tone, "Human, leave the Eternal Forest, or face death!" Her voice thundered as a powerful aura erupted from her, causing Avis to involuntarily step back. However, John remained unfazed, his expression calm as he fixed his gaze on the angel. With a flick of his longsword, he cast the mid-level dark magic spell, Annihtion. Buzz! A dark sphere of energy materialized in front of the Two-Winged Angel, causing ripples in the holy light surrounding her. sh! With a dismissive gesture, she casually crushed the dark sphere with a single hand. -1 A small damage number appearing above her. John''s attack had barely scratched her. "Heretic!" the Two-Winged Angel''s voice turned icy as she raised her light sword, sending a powerful sword beam slicing through the air towards John. Judy''s expression shifted, and she quickly moved to shield John. Despite her disdain for him, she couldn''t stand by and watch him die. Puff! Blood sttered as the sword beam struck Judy, shattering her scales. -136032 A massive damage number appeared. Indicating the terrifying power of the Two-Winged Angel''s strike. Judy had just taken over 130,000 damage from a single hit. Fortunately, this Two-Winged Angel was only at the early stage of the Seventh Tier. If she were any stronger, Judy wouldn''t have survived the blow. "Kid, this one''s pretty strong. You''d better not provoke her!" Judy warned, a fierce battle spirit igniting within her as she transformed. Her massive form shrank into that of a stunning woman d in white, wielding dual swords as she charged at the angel. The Two-Winged Angel, though small in stature, was immensely powerful, and she too took on a humanoid form to enhance herbat abilities. John was momentarily struck by Judy''s transformation-this was the first time he had seen her take on a human form. "ughter them! Wipe out these heretics!" The Orc army bellowed as theyunched their assault. "I''ve got this!" John halted the approaching beasts, raising the Sword of Divinity and Demons high into the air. Whoosh! Suddenly, the winds howled, and the skies darkened as a terrifying aura surged from John''s body. The surrounding beasts felt the immense pressure and retreated in fear. The Two-Winged Angel, startled by the sudden surge of power, quickly disengaged from Judy and looked towards John, eximing, "An ultimate skill''s aura!" But something wasn''t right. She quickly realized that an ultimate skill should only be within the grasp of a Ninth Tier being. John, a mere Third Tier human, couldn''t possibly unleash such a skill, even if he burned his life force. Her gaze locked onto the longsword in John''s hand, her eyes widening in shock. "Sword of Divinity and Demons!" "Divine Punishment!" John roared, bringing the longsword down towards the Two-Winged Angel with all his might. Divine Punishment was an ultimate area-of-effect magic skill, dealing mental *800% area magic damage. But it could also target a specific enemy. Boom! Thunder rumbled as dark clouds gathered overhead. Lightning crackled and danced across the sky, all converging on the Two-Winged Angel and the Orc elites below. Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Entering the Game, The Tree of Life Chapter 94: Entering the Game, The Tree of Life ? "Hmph, how foolish!" The Two-Winged Angel sneered in disdain. If John were a Sixth Tier or higher, she might have been more cautious. But he was merely a Third Tier being; even if he unleashed an ultimate skill, the damage would be negligible. Crack! Crack! Countless bolts of lightning struck down, shing with terrifying critical damage. The elite Orcs had no chance to resist, their bodies shattered by the lightning, leaving behind only blood and gore. Notification messages flooded John''s vision. [You have in an elite Orc, gaining 1,220 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Strength +1, Constitution +1.] [Plunder talent activated: Physical Crit +1, Skill Point +1.] [Plunder talent activated: Spirit +1, Attack Speed +1.] [Plunder talent activated: Magic Crit +1.] [Magic Crit attribute has reached the max value of 100 points. Further increases will add 1% to Magic Crit Damage per point.] ... [You have leveled up: Spirit +4, Strength +3, Agility +2, Free Attribute Points +16, Skill Points +2.] [You have leveled up: Spirit +4, Strength +3, Agility +2, Free Attribute Points +16, Skill Points +2.] [Plunder talent activated: You have gained a C-rank talent, Magic Damage Amplification.] [Magic Damage Amplification: C-rank, increases base magic damage by 40%.] ... John''s four core attributes, rare hidden attributes, and skill points all skyrocketed. He even acquired a new C-rank talent that amplified his magic damage. His Magic Crit attribute had maxed out at 100%. The ten thousand elite Orcs had boosted his core attributes by over sixty thousand points, further elevating his already formidable power. Additionally, John''s level had soared, reaching level 99. Just one more level, and he would advance to a Fourth Tier profession. However, the Two-Winged Angel wasn''t unscathed. The divine weapon''s skill could also triggerbo and critical effects. John was fortunate-both a skillbo and a magic crit had been triggered simultaneously. Two lightning bolts struck the Two-Winged Angel. -112,010 -109,220 In an instant, she lost over 200,000 health points. Though her total health was in the tens of millions, making this loss seem insignificant. But the fact that a mere Third Tier yer had inflicted such damage infuriated her beyond measure. "Human, you will die!" The Two-Winged Angel roared, her voice filled with fury. She nced at the ughtered Orc elites without a hint of emotion and then charged toward John with her sword raised. "Your opponent is me!" Judy interjected coldly, stepping in to block the angel''s path. The two shed once again in a fierce battle. John didn''t make another move just yet; he had one more ultimate skill up his sleeve-Wrath of the Gods. This skill was reserved for taking down the Two-Winged Angel. Around them, the beasts and yers on the city walls were still in shock, unable to process the devastating power of John''s ultimate skill. The battlefield was littered with mangled remains, and weapons glinted amidst the carnage, a testament to the overwhelming force they had just witnessed. Terrifying. Only one word could capture John''s might in their minds. The attack had been nothing short of apocalyptic. Fortunately, they weren''t his enemies-they felt utterly outssed. What shocked them even more was the sight of the Two-Winged Angel. Despite being struck by lightning and injured, she continued to dominate Judy, who was barely holding on. All they could do was hope that Judy could endure until the monster tide ended. Watching the ongoing battle, John felt a deep sense of frustration. He desperately wanted to kill the Two-Winged Angel, but Judy simply wasn''t strong enough to match her. "Benefactor!" Anna called out from the city wall, waving at John. John nced at the battlefield before quickly making his way to the wall. "What is it?" he asked, curious. "Big brother!" Jean ran over. This little girl had somehow left Death Land. It likely with Anna''s help. Jean looked up at John and quickly ryed, "The Tree of Life wants me to tell you to lure the Two-Winged Angel into Death Land. It has a way to kill her." "The Tree of Life? Alright!" John was surprised but didn''t doubt Jean''s words. The Tree of Life was a powerful artifact with many hidden abilities he wasn''t yet aware of. Meanwhile, the battle grew more intense. Judy was bleeding profusely, on the verge of copse, and could barely fight back. She was in a desperate situation. John quickly came up with a n and dashed back into the fray. "Be careful, John," the others called out, worried. "The glory of the Holy Light, grant me boundless strength. Let it be the de that shreds the darkness before me-Light Sword sh!" the Two-Winged Angel chanted softly, her voice resonating with divine power. A radiant light enveloped her as a massive sword of light materialized and sliced through the air, aiming for Judy. "It''s over..." Judy, gravely injured, was too weak to defend against the attack. She cast a longing nce toward Ada on the city wall. Just then, a figure shed in front of her, shielding her from the blow. St! -2,702,010 A terrifying damage number appeared above John''s head. "Godyer?" Judy murmured, her voice trembling as she gazed at John standing before her. Her eyes reflected a mix of emotions. [You have been struck by the Two-Winged Angel''s attack. Lifesaver talent activated, leaving you with 1 HP.] The notification popped up, and John was left with just 1 HP. "So strong!" John couldn''t help but swallow nervously. The Two-Winged Angel''s attack had dealt him over 2.7 million damage in a single blow. "Not dead?" The Two-Winged Angel frowned, a sh of confusion in her eyes. She swiftlyunched another attack, sending a de of light hurtling toward John. "Human, get out of the way!" Judy cried out in panic, knowing full well that John couldn''t withstand another hit from the angel. "Leave it to me!" John''s voice was calm, his tone brooking no argument. He was well aware that he couldn''t defeat the Two-Winged Angel, but his goal was to lure her into a trap. St! -901,920 Another massive damage number appeared. This was just a regr attack from the Two-Winged Angel, and once again, John was instantly killed. A notification promptly appeared. [You have been killed by the Two-Winged Angel. The Undying and Immortal talent has triggered. Life-sharing has activated. Your health is restored.] John''s face turned pale, a trickle of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth. His very soul had taken damage. This angel had the ability to attack the soul itself! He quickly issued amand: "All beasts above the sixth rank, enter Death Land." The Two-Winged Angel was immensely powerful, and though John wasn''t sure how The Tree of Life nned to deal with her, he knew that these high-ranking beasts were crucial allies. As for the beasts below the sixth rank, they were no match for the angel and would only be ughtered in vain. With a thought, John summoned all the sixth-rank beasts and Judy into Death Land. "Still alive?" The Two-Winged Angel seemed uninterested in the disappearance of Judy, focusing instead on John with a deep frown. Sheunched another attack. St! Once again, John was instantly killed, triggering his Undying and Immortal talent and life- sharing ability. But this time, his face was even paler, and his body swayed unsteadily. A voice echoed in his mind-it was the Undead Lord: "Kid, are you trying to get yourself killed? Angels have soul-attacking abilities! If you want to die, don''t drag me down with you. Get into Death Land, now!" The Undead Lord was furious. John''s soul injuries were a prime opportunity for the Undead Lord to strike back. But John''s body was too weak. Even if the Undead Lord took over, he still wouldn''t be able to stand up to the Two-Winged Angel and would likely die. Ignoring the Undead Lord''s ranting, John wiped the blood from his mouth and fixed his gaze on the Two-Winged Angel, taunting her with disdain. "Is that all you''ve got?" The angel''s murderous intent surged, but then realization dawned on her, and she eximed, "I see it now. You have a god-tier talent, Undying and Immortal!" John feigned a moment of panic, but internally, he felt a wave of relief. He knew that these powerful beings often had ways to strip others of their talents. A god-tier talent like his would be too tempting for the Two-Winged Angel to resist. "Haha, what an incredible surprise!" The angel''s face lit up with excitement, her expression turning almost maniacal as she stared at John with greedy eyes. Seeing that his n was working, John reached out mentally to connect with Death Land, preparing to draw the angel in with him. Whoosh! With a rush of spatial energy, his form vanished. "You can''t escape, human!" The Two-Winged Angel, oblivious to any danger, followed him directly into Death Land. There, the air was thick with powerful life force, saturated with rich spiritual energy. "What a marvelous ce!" The Two-Winged Angel''s excitement grew even more. She wasn''t just nning to strip John of his talent; she intended to seize control of this entire space. But in the next moment, her expression changed dramatically. Not far off stood a towering tree, its lush branches stretching out to cover nearly the entire area. "The Tree of Life!" the angel eximed, a wave of fear washing over her. She recalled how they had raided the Elven Spring before, only to be met with a fierce counterattack from The Tree of Life. The angels had suffered heavy losses, though they had managed to steal the Elven Spring. But she distinctly remembered that The Tree of Life was supposed to have been destroyed by the Orcs-so why was it here, and in such a flourishing state? Her eyes shifted to the nearby pool of water, and realization dawned on her. Without the Elven Spring, The Tree of Life had been nourished by the Vein of the Earth. Ssh! Suddenly, the tree began to shake violently, as if it hade to life. Escape! Panic gripped the Two-Winged Angel, and without hesitation, she attempted to tear through the fabric of space with a time rift, aiming to shatter the realm and flee. Whoosh! But The Tree of Life''s dense foliage formed a massive shield, blocking her attack. Boom! Leaves scattered everywhere, but the angel''s strike had been powerful. Still, to The Tree of Life, it was a mere scratch. And it teeming with vitality and sustained by the Vein of the Earth, Whoosh! With a swift motion, The Tree of Life struck back. Several thick vines, or rather roots, shot up from the ground, entangling the terrified angel. "Attack now!" Johnmanded immediately. The surrounding beasts snapped out of their shock andunched a ferocious assault on the ensnared angel. Yet their attacks barely made a dent. Only Judy''s strikes managed to inflict any meaningful damage, and even then, it was just over ten thousand points. John tightened his grip on the Sword of Divinity and Demons, biding his time. His attacks alone weren''t enough to prate the angel''s defenses. But he still had one ace up his sleeve-the ultimate skill, Wrath of the Gods. He intended to save it for a decisive, lethal blow. As the angel''s health bar flickered above her, her fear became palpable. The beasts'' attacks weren''t the real threat-what terrified her was The Tree of Life, which was slowly draining her of her power. "Human!" she cried out in desperation, her voice trembling. "Let me go, and I''ll tell you where the Elven Spring is." The Elven Spring was in the hands of the angels? John was taken aback, ncing at The Tree of Life. The thick roots wrapped even tighter around the angel, showing no intention of letting her escape. It seemed that The Tree of Life already knew the whereabouts of the Elven Spring. Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Killing the Angel, The Blessed Ring Chapter 95: Killing the Angel, The Blessed Ring ? John ignored the Two-Winged Angel''s pleas, carefully monitoring her health. Given his current attributes, the ultimate skill Wrath of the Gods could deal over 300,000 damage to her. As long as her health dropped below that threshold, he could finish her off. Panic gripped the Two-Winged Angel as she tried repeatedly to escape, all attempts failing. She red at John and shouted, "Human, I am a messenger of the gods. If I fall here, neither the gods nor the angelic race will ever forgive you." John was utterly unimpressed by her threats. He had long since been at odds with the gods, locked in a battle where only one could survive. The death of a rtively insignificant Two-Winged Angel wasn''t going to provoke a grand response from the gods or the angels, he believed. Boom! As the battle raged on, the angel grew more disheveled. Her once majestic figure was now battered and bloodied, her clothes torn, and one of her wings broken. "Human, I will swear allegiance to you! Please, spare my life!" she pleaded, her voice trembling with genuine fear. It was surprising to John-a proud angel willing to submit to a human. But he remained unmoved, his expression cold and unyielding. The angel''s health had now dropped below a million, and it was only a matter of time before she fell. John gripped the Sword of Divinity and Demons tighter, ready to strike at any moment. Seeing that her pleas were in vain, the angel''s face twisted into a mask of rage and desperation. She red at John with pure hatred and shrieked, "You and everyone close to you will suffer for this, human! You will all pay dearly!" "Is that so? Too bad you won''t be around to see it," John responded icily, raising his longsword as a terrifying aura erupted from his body. The surrounding beasts recoiled in fear, instinctively backing away. Even Judy looked wary and stepped aside, sensing the immense power gathering within John. "Ultimate skill, Wrath of the Gods!" John roared, and the longsword in his hand zed with a blinding light. The energy coalesced into a massive de of pure power, cutting through the air with a howling wind as it descended upon the angel. "No..." The Two-Winged Angel''s eyes widened in horror, her voice filled with helpless rage as she watched the enormous de bear down on her, unable to resist. Boom! The very space around them trembled as the angel''s blood sprayed into the air, a massive damage number appearing above her head. -334,908 It was a critical hit! The remaining health of the angel was instantly obliterated. White feathers floated down around her as she copsed into a pool of her own blood, her eyes locked on John in a mix of fury, regret, and sorrow. Even in her final moments, her mind was a whirlwind of emotions. And then, she fell silent. [You have in a Level 1000 Legendary Two-Winged Angel, gaining 2,144,000 experience points.] [You have leveled up: +4 Spirit, +3 Strength, +2 Agility, +16 Free Attribute Points, +2 Skill Points.] [You have reached Level 100, unlocking your ss advancement quest. You may now continue leveling up after advancement.] [Wrath of the Gods Mage ss Fourth Advancement Quest: y 5 Epic Bosses above Level 100.] [Nightmare Assassin ss Fourth Advancement Quest: y 5 Epic Bosses above Level 100.] ... [Plunder talent activated: +3 Luck, you have gained an S-ss Holy Light Talent.] [S-ss Holy Light Talent: Allows the mastery of Light-based skills, increasing the damage of Light-based abilities by 70%.] The notifications filled John''s vision as he processed his newfound power. John finally reached level 100, unlocking the fourth ss advancement quest. What surprised him the most were the attributes and talents he had plundered. He gained 3 points of Luck, bringing his total Luck attribute to 41 points. This meant that all probability-based events now had a 41% higher sess rate. Additionally, he acquired an S-ss Holy Light talent. The only downside was that he didn''t plunder any Light-based skills. However, that was to be expected. The Two-Winged Angel was powerful, and her skills were at least intermediate-level. John was still only at the third tier, meaning he could only train in basic magic. Even with the Blessing of the Archmage talent, which boosted his magic by one level, he still couldn''t plunder intermediate-level skills. His attention was then drawn to the items dropped by the Two-Winged Angel. Among them was another City Building Order, 200 skill stones, enhancement stones, and gem sockets for equipment. There were also two pieces of gear. One was the Holy Light Dual Swords, a seventh-tier legendary weapon, which had been wielded by the Two-Winged Angel. It wasn''t of much use to John. But then he noticed something extraordinary-a ring. "An artifact!" John eximed as he picked up the ring from the ground. [Blessed Ring: Lower-grade Artifact] [Requirements: All four primary attributes must be above 10,000.] [Attributes: +10,000 HP, +10,000 MP, +1,000 to all four primary attributes.] [Additional Attributes: +5 Luck, +10 Physical Crit, +10 Magic Crit.] [Skill: Resurrection.] [Resurrection: Passive skill. Upon death, the wearer is immediately revived with full health and status. Cooldown: 3 days.] [Description: A powerful ring blessed by the gods, granting the wearer the power of immortality.] It had a resurrection skill! John was overjoyed. The resurrection skill was considered the ultimate skill for priests, something even a ninth-tier priest couldn''t cast. And now, not only did he have the Lifesaver and Undying and Immortal talents, but he also possessed an artifact ring with a resurrection skill. And it greatly enhancing his survivability. Additionally, the ring increased his Luck by 5 points, and added 10 points to both his Physical and Magic Critical rates. John immediately equipped the ring. His HP, MP, and all four primary attributes saw a significant boost. At this point, John''s strength attribute had reached 39,637 points, and his spirit attribute had climbed to 37,705 points. His constitution and agility attributes had also increased, each surpassing 15,000 points. This monster tide attack had more than doubled his power. Rustle, rustle... The Tree of Life began to tremble, its roots wrapping around the Two-Winged Angel''s corpse before burying it into the earth. John was puzzled by this but didn''t dwell on it. He simply gave a brief instruction to the surrounding beasts and then exited Death Land. As he reappeared outside the city, everyone around him breathed a collective sigh of relief and quickly gathered around. "Boss, how did it go?" Ritchie asked impatiently. "It''s done," John replied calmly. "Brother-inw, I want an artifact too," Armstrong said, his eyes fixed on the ring on John''s finger. The equipment leaderboard had updated, with the Blessed Ring now ranking second. Of the four artifacts listed, all were linked to John in some way. "I''ll give you one if something suitablees along," John replied, indifferent. The Blessed Ring was incredibly powerful and useful to him, so he had no intention of giving it away. Armstrong was just making a casual remark and wasn''t seriously expecting to receive the ring. [Announcement: Saint Martial Sect has sessfully defended against the monster tide and established a city.] [All members receive 100,000 experience points, 100 free attribute points, and 10 skill points.] ... Now, it has been twelve hour, no more monster tide and they established the city sessfully. The announcement, repeated three times, resonated throughout the world of Gods. This was the second city to be sessfully established, causing quite a stir. The global chat channel exploded with activity, as yers discussed which faction Saint Martial Sect belonged to. Many yers attempted to apply for membership, but all were declined. Like me City, Saint Martial Sect had no intention of recruiting ordinary yers. ... In Green Hill City. Toby had been hiding, fearful of being hunted down by the Dark Humans. Fortunately for him, John had killed Dine, inadvertently saving Toby by diverting the Dark Humans'' attention elsewhere. "Goddammit!" Toby roared, smashing everything in the room in a fit of rage. He couldn''tprehend why Godyer was able to establish a city with such ease. While he, despite having the assistance of the Dark Humans, had failed twice. At the root of all his problems was that damn Godyer. He had hoped that the real-world attack on Godyer would seed, but even that had failed. Instead of weakening Godyer, the man had only grown stronger. He now sat at the top of the level rankings, having reached level 100, far ahead of the second- ce Butcher by 25 levels. And now, a new artifact, the Blessed Ring, had appeared. It clearly a reward for sessfully defending the city. Wasn''t the world of Gods supposed to be dominated by the Dark Humans, the most powerful force with gods pulling the strings behind them? How on earth is Godyer having so many lucky breaks? "Sir," a subordinate burst into the room, his face pale with fear. ncing around at the chaos in the room, he swallowed hard, then dropped to his knees, trembling. "The operation against the Blues Family... it failed." "No shit, genius! You think I can''t see that?" Toby''s fury erupted as he kicked the man to the ground. The subordinate didn''t dare resist. He struggled to his feet, keeping his head bowed low. "One of the assassins managed to send a message before he died." He paused, casting a nervous nce at Toby, who was still seething with rage. Cautiously, he continued, "The Blues Family... their experts brought the abilities of the world of Gods into the real world." "What?" Toby frowned, his immediate reaction was to dismiss it as insanity. Bringing abilities from the world of Gods into reality? Impossible. "It''s true," the subordinate insisted urgently. "The assassins reported that they were about to seed, but the Blues Family members were incredibly powerful. They used godlike skills and even had healing spells from priest sses that turned the tide of the battle..." Toby''s mouth opened in disbelief, his frown deepening as his thoughts raced. The news was too shocking, too unbelievable. But then again, he couldn''t ignore the strange and miraculous nature of the world of Gods. He''d heard of frail, even dying people who entered the game and came out transformed. What was this game, really? Toby shot a wary nce at his subordinate before abruptly logging out. Back in the real world, he immediately tried to contact the Griffin Family, but all he got was a series of busy signals. No one picked up. Copsing onto his sofa, Toby''s mind churned. The Griffin Family must have been compromised. "Damn you, Godyer!" he roared in frustration, spitting out a mouthful of blood in his rage. These repeated failures had cost him dearly. He had allied with the Dark Humans, only for them to be repeatedly thwarted by Godyer. And now, his coboration with the Griffin Family seemed to have ended in disaster as well. The string of defeats had pushed him to the brink. "This Godyer... he must know something-some secret!" Toby thought furiously, trying to suppress the rage that threatened to overwhelm him. There had been no whispers about the fusion of attributes from the world of Gods into the real world before now. Could this be tied to the fact that the Blues Family trained in Ancient Martial Arts, or was it somehow connected directly to Godyer? How could ordinary people bring godlike abilities into reality? Given what had happened to the Griffin Family, it was clear that not all Ancient Martial Arts practitioners could transfer attributes from the game into the real world. Themon factor had to be Godyer. Wiping the blood from his mouth, a sinister smile crept across Toby''s face as a n began to form in his mind. He had thought of a way to deal with Godyer. If this information became public, it would send shockwaves through every major power on Earth. No one would tolerate the existence of such a terrifying threat to their control. "Godyer, let''s see if you can stand against the whole world," Toby muttered, coldly chuckling as he began to set his n in motion. ... Chapter 96: Chapter 96: The Birth of the Elves, the Third City Chapter 96: The Birth of the Elves, the Third City ? The Land of Elves, Saint Martial Sect. With the sessful establishment of the city, the yers erupted in cheers. Although the Blues Family disciples had logged off, they had all participated in defending the city and still received generous rewards. "Brother-inw, I''ll leave this ce to you. I need to log off now," Armstrong said to John, concerned about the safety of his family. Without wasting any time, he logged off. With no Blues Family disciples left in Saint Martial Sect. Ritchie had no choice but to assign me Legion members to clean up the battlefield and assess the losses. This time, the losses from resisting the monster tide were minimal. John''s ultimate skill had wiped out all the elite Orcs, leaving almost no casualties among the yers. Moreover, the elite Orcs were all boss-level, guaranteeing 100% equipment drops. The haul included over a hundred thousand pieces of elite-grade, tier-four equipment, enough to fully arm the members of both Saint Martial Sect and the me Legion. In addition to the equipment, there was a massive collection of materials, skill stones, enhancement stones, and socket gems-an impressive bounty. "Boss," Ritchie approached John and said, "The battlefield''s been cleaned up. If everything''s in order here, I''d like to head back." To support the Blues Family in defending against the monster tide, only a small contingent had been left to guard me City, and Ritchie was concerned about its security. John nodded and said, "Go ahead and select five thousand sets of tier-four elite equipment. Open the portal between me City and Saint Martial Sect and head back." Portals between cities could be selectively opened but required mutual consent. Although Saint Martial Sect and me City were both closed to the public, opening the portal between the two would not cause any issues. "Got it. Thanks, boss," Ritchie said gratefully. He promptly selected five thousand sets of tier-four elite equipment and led the me Legion members through the portal back to me City. As John gazed at the now empty city, he couldn''t help but feel a pang of worry for Sini and the others. The Blues Family had gone to seek revenge against the five families-what would be the oue? "Benefactor, if everything''s settled here, we''re heading back to Death Land," Anna and the other girls approached John. Though they were in The Land of Elves, there was nothing left here that held their interest. However, John had a different idea. "I''ll go back with you," he said. He remembered Toby''s attempt to establish a city in a secret area. Death Land was also a permanent secret area, meaning it could be used to establish a city as well. Furthermore, it was isted from the rest of the world, safe from any monster tide invasions. If they waited for twelve hours, they could sessfully establish a city there. While the rewards for surviving a monster tide were tempting, John was wary of unforeseen dangers. He was already being targeted by the Dark Humans, and he didn''t have another suitable location to establish a third city. Death Land seemed like an ideal choice. John''s goal in establishing cities wasn''t to build up his own power but to secure the rewards for the first three city builds. In the secluded environment of the secret area, it wouldn''t cause anyplications. There''s another point to consider: now that yers'' strength has increased, they can use sheer numbers to hunt down rare tier-three bosses and obtain City Building Orders. John was concerned that other yer factions might beat him to it. John left a small squad of beasts to temporarily guard Saint Martial Sect and then led the elves, along with Ada and Jean, into Death Land. Buzz... In Death Land, the area was filled with a shimmering light, and a vast life force pulsed through the air. A group of beasts curiously gathered around The Tree of Life. "Look, big brother, the elves are about to be born!" Jean eximed, pulling John toward The Tree of Life. Anna and Ada, intrigued as well, exchanged nces and quickly followed. The beasts had already gathered, staring at the white orbs hanging from The Tree of Life, engaging in excited discussions. "Are elves really born from trees?" "These elves seem more powerful than Anna and the others." "It must be because they absorbed the energy from Vein of the Earth." "Could a dark elf be born?" one beast wondered, recalling the fear of being imprisoned and controlled by dark elves, with a worried expression. "No, dark elves are born from the demonic energy of the Dark Sea. The energy from Vein of the Earth is pure, originating from the earth''s core, so it won''t produce evil dark elves." Blood-red demon wolf noticed John''s arrival and quickly greeted him, "Kid, congrattions on gaining another powerful force." John nodded, his curiosity piqued as he observed The Tree of Life. Crack! At that moment, a soft cracking sound was heard. A white orb fell to the ground and split open, emitting a blinding light. From within, a figure emerged a tall, naked woman with ck hair and ck eyes, possessing the typical features of an elf. The light from the orb then transformed into light armor that covered the woman''s body. As the light faded, her face was revealed-cool,manding, and full of confidence. Her sharp gaze swept over the surrounding beasts and the other women before she walked slowly toward John. She knelt on one knee before him, her voice respectful, "Master!" The elf had been born from The Tree of Life, which had already formed a soul contract with John, recognizing him as its master. Naturally, these newly born elves recognized him as their master as well. John studied the elf before him with interest. She was armed with a spear, and her tight leather armor entuated her perfect figure. Her long ck hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her beauty was on par with the other women, though her demeanor waspletely different-efficient and confident. This elf, like Anna, was also a tier-four epic-level being, and her aura was even stronger than Anna''s. Considering that she had just been born, her potential for growth was undoubtedly higher. John helped the elf to her feet and asked, "What''s your name?" "Yuel, Queen of the Earth Elves," she replied, her tone calm as she looked at him. "Elven Queen!" Anna gasped in surprise, her eyes wide with amazement and a hint of envy as she looked at Yuel. She was a Saintess of the natural elf tribe, not the elf queen. The rank of an elf queen was higher than that of a Saintess. After the natural elf tribe''s queen was killed by Dark Humans, she became the leader. Unfortunately, there was still a gap between her and an elf queen. Crack, crack... At that moment, the sound of soft cracks continued, and one by one, Earth Elves descended from The Tree of Life. Blinding light shed as a vast life force surged forth. Over a thousand elves descended, all d in tight-fitting soft armor, each holding a spear. They stood in neat rows, exuding an aura of valiant strength. Though they were all graceful women, they radiated a strong, battle-hardened energy. These elves all possessed the strength of tier-four elite bosses. And this was just the first batch; with the energy of Vein of the Earth, The Tree of Life could continue to nurture more Earth Elves. With the addition of the Beast n, the natural elves, and now a group of elves. John''s forces had once again seen a significant boost in power. "Ada," he called, beckoning her over as he took out a City Building Order. Ada approached him with a puzzled expression, Judy close behind her, watching John with a look that was no longer filled with hostility. John handed the City Building Order to Ada and said, "I promised to help you restore your kingdom, and this is the first step. We''ll start by building a city." Although Ada wasn''t a yer, she could still use the City Building Order. "Really?" Ada looked at the City Building Order in her hand, then back at John, unable to believe it. Anna, standing nearby, pouted with displeasure. She still harbored some resentment toward Ada. In her opinion, only their master or Sister Sini should be entrusted with building a city. However, she couldn''t deny Ada''s skill in leadership and training, so she remained silent. John gently patted Ada''s head to reassure her. "Let''s build the city here in Death Land. It''s absolutely safe." Ada nodded vigorously and chose a spot not far from The Tree of Life, immediately using the City Building Order. Death Land was John''s territory, so defensive structures like walls were unnecessary; all that was needed was a territory altar. Buzz! A glow appeared as the territory altar formed, and then another announcement rang out: [Announcement: Ada has established Gates City in Death Land. Sessfully defend against 12 hours of monster tide attacks toplete the city''s construction.] ... Three consecutive announcements echoed throughout the world of Gods, once again causing a significant stir. The global chat channel was buzzing with yers'' discussions. "Saint Martial Sect just got established, and now another yer is building a city?" "Probably got inspired by Saint Martial Sect." "Do you think this Ada can pull it off?" "Not likely. We''ve all seen the scale of the monster tide attacks when me City was being built. I don''t think anyone except Godyer could manage to establish a city now." "Saint Martial Sect was sessfully built, what do you say about that?" "Rumor has it that Saint Martial Sect is part of Godyer''s forces." "That''s odd, I can''t find any information on this Ada or Death Land." "Can''t find it? Maybe it''s an NPC from the world of Gods?" "Can NPCs even build cities?" yers were surprised and spected wildly. Toby, who had just logged in, also heard the system announcement, and his brow furrowed in thought. He couldn''t figure out where this Ada hade from. "Damn it, does this mean the third city slot is already taken?" He gritted his teeth, filled with frustration. Toby had learned from Dark Humans that the first three cities established would be granted permanent city dungeons with substantial rewards. But now, three cities had already been established. The first was me City, led by Ritchie, connected to the military, and closely tied to John. The second was Blues Family, an Ancient Martial Arts family, also linked to John. Toby had a strong feeling that this Ada, who had established Gates City, was somehow connected to John as well. Death Land, he suspected, was also a secret area, and he couldn''t find or interfere with it. The third city seemed destined to be sessfully established. "Godyer, this is only the beginning!" Toby muttered coldly, still unwilling to give up. He had already leaked the information that abilities from the world of Gods could be brought back to the real world, and that it was connected to Godyer. Toby was confident that in the real world, Godyer would be a prime target. ... In a dense and deste forest. Several small, ck-d figures moved like phantoms, their weapons gleaming as they surrounded a giant serpent. It a tier-seven elite boss, the Devouring Python. The serpent''s gaping maw wasrge enough to swallow several of them whole. Fortunately, the figures were agile and well-coordinated, slowly wearing down the beast. One of the figures removed her hood, revealing a cold, breathtakingly beautiful face, with purple hair and pointed ears. These are traits of the dark elf race. Chapter 97: Chapter 97: The Exposure of Attribute Fusion, Attacking Dark Humans Chapter 97: The Exposure of Attribute Fusion, Attacking Dark Humans ? Just as Ada''s announcement of establishing a city echoed across the world. The group of dark elves momentarily halted their actions, their expressions filled with shock. "Death Land! Someone has actually entered Death Land!" The leader of the dark elves trembled, her breathing quickened as she struggled to contain her excitement. She coldlymanded, "Find this Ada and reim Death Land!" "Understood!" the other elves responded in unison. Without wasting any time, they abandoned their efforts to hunt monsters and increase their strength, their figures turning into fleeting shadows as they vanished into the forest. To them, Death Land was a sacred and forbidden ce, housing numerous powerful beasts. Reiming Death Land would signify the resurgence of the dark elf race. ... In a deste desert, a dpidated city stood, weathered by the harsh sands. Amidst the howling winds, the sounds of drills and training echoed. A weary yet resilient army trained in the swirling sands, their armor battered and faces gaunt, but their eyes shone with an unyielding determination. When the announcement sounded, the leading general froze, staring into the distance as tears glistened in his eyes, barely held back by his stoic expression. "General, it''s the princess! It''s Princess Ada!" one soldier choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "Ada, Gates City, there''s no mistaking it!" The soldiers ceased their training, looking to their general, waiting for hismand. The general took a deep breath, his tears evaporating as resolve hardened in his gaze. He raised his weapon high and shouted, "Our hope has returned! For the glory of the Gates Empire!" "For the glory of the Gates Empire!" the soldiers roared in unison, their voices carried away by the desert winds. With dust swirling around them, the army mobilized, setting out to find their Princess Ada. ... Back in Death Land. John and the women sat around the city altar, waiting for the monster tide to either begin or conclude. Since Death Land was an enclosed space, John was uncertain whether a monster tide would actually appear. To be safe, he decided to stay put until the city was sessfully established before considering leaving. Unbeknownst to John, Ada''s city had already caused quite a stir across the world. The beasts that surrounded the altar appeared uneasy, their expressions strange. The subus nced at the altar, then turned to John and said, "Hey, we all received a notification. It says if we destroy the altar, we''ll be rewarded with one million experience points, a thousand attribute points, and a hundred skill points." John was taken aback. So, destroying the altar during a monster tide would actually yield a reward? And it''s ten times the reward for defending the city. He turned a questioning look at the subus, not hiding his suspicion. "You''re not thinking of doing something foolish, are you?" The subus gave an awkward smile. "I wouldn''t dare, but it does seem like an easy way to gain strength quickly. What do you think?" She looked at John with eyes that gleamed with excitement. John pondered for a moment. It did seem like a feasible method. However, when he had sabotaged Toby''s attempts to build a city, the beasts hadn''t received any rewards. Perhaps the reward is only triggered under certain conditions: being in a sealed-off space, with no external monster tides, and beasts unable to enter. If these conditions were met, it might be possible to gain those rewards. The other beasts looked at John with eager anticipation, ready to spring into action. The altar had no protective measures, and with just a slight blow, they could easily destroy it. However, none of them dared to make a move without John''s permission. "Stay put and behave," John ordered sternly, ring at the beasts. The subus''s suggestion was indeed tempting; with enough City Building Orders, it could be a quick way to enhance the beasts'' strength. However, City Building Orders were rare. John wasn''t ready to waste the two he still had. Judy stood guard in front of the altar, her gaze cold as she watched the other beasts. This city had been established by Ada, and she wouldn''t allow any beast to destroy it. ... Time passed slowly as they all waited in boredom. Ping! A private message alert sounded in John''s mind. It was from Ritchie. Ritchie: "Boss, we''ve got a problem. The secret about attribute fusion has been exposed. I''m pretty sure it''s Toby''s doing." John wasn''t surprised by this news. He had suspected something like this would happen ever since he used all the Attribute Fusion Stones to strengthen the Blues Family members during the attack. He knew it would be hard to keep such a significant development under wraps. But he hadn''t expected Toby to be so cunning, spreading the information so quickly. John''s expression turned serious. He understood the magnitude of the situation. It wouldn''t be long before he and the Blues Family became targets for many powerful factions in the real world. The Ancient Martial Arts families were strong, but the allure of attribute fusion was too great for anyone to resist. This was not something that could be easily contained. He reached out to Ritchie for advice. Godyer: "Is there a way to divert attention?" Ritchie: "There is. We could start a war against the Mike White Family." John was taken aback by the suggestion. The Mike White Family was a massive force, with influence spanning across numerous countries. Nearly a quarter of the world''s power was somehow connected to the Mike White Family. Starting a war with them could throw the entire world into chaos. That something John was not eager to initiate. While John definitely nned to take action against the Mike White Family, now wasn''t the time. His strategy involved gradually weakening their influence within the world of Gods first. Once everyone realized the true importance of the world of Gods and began prioritizing the power of the gods, the downfall of the Mike White Family would be less significant. After a moment of thought, John formted a n to handle the situation. Godyer: "For now, don''t make any moves against the Mike White Family. Instead, leak the method for obtaining the Attribute Fusion Stone." Ritchie: "Boss, are you serious? This might cause even more chaos than starting a war with the Mike White Family!" Ritchie was confused. If yers began to fuse divine attributes into the real world, it would undoubtedly cause massive upheaval. Godyer: "Don''t worry. Even if they know the method, they won''t be able to get their hands on the Attribute Fusion Stone. This will also hurt the Dark Humans and expose their true nature early, which works in our favor." Godyer: "Also, bribe a few members of the Mike White Family-pick those who are weak and insignificant. Help them fuse their attributes and make sure they identally reveal it in the real world." Ritchie: "Boss, you''re really ying dirty. I get it." John closed the private chat, a cold smile ying on his lips. If Toby wanted to use others to do his dirty work, then it was time for him to bleed a little first. Greed knows no bounds. The temptation of attribute fusion would certainly drive factions already discontent with the Mike White Family to band together and take action against them. ... [Announcement: Gates City has sessfully withstood the monster tide. The city has been established.] [All members receive 100,000 experience points, 100 free attribute points, and 10 skill points.] ... At that moment, the announcement rang out. Twelve hours had passed, the monster tide was over, and Gates City had been sessfully established. Besides the beasts, John, the girls, and the elves all received the system rewards. A radiant light enveloped the area, and from the altar, a city sprang up. The city''s teleportation point, resurrection point, cksmith, and potion shop were all automatically generated by the system. Of course, the resurrection point was useless to Anna and the others. They were beings of the Skyline Continent, where death meant true extinction with no chance of resurrection. Death Land was a sealed Secret Area, so the teleportation points were non-functional. However, no one seemed to mind this. Ada was overjoyed as she looked at the newly built city, feeling immense gratitude toward John. Although it was only a level-one city, which was a long way from a kingdom. But it was a crucial first step. Ada believed that with John''s help, she could restore her kingdom and even unite the entire Skyline Continent. When that day came, she nned to hand the throne over to John. ... John was unaware of Ada''s thoughts. The sessful establishment of Gates City sparked yet another wave of excitement. The one most affected by this was Toby. He had now lost any chance of obtaining the rewards for being among the first three to establish a city. All his efforts had been in vain, and he had suffered enormous losses. This deepened his hatred for John. "Just you wait, Godyer. Your downfall ising soon!" Toby muttered, his expression dark, filled with anticipation. "My lord..." At that moment, one of his subordinates rushed in, clearly flustered, and knelt before him with a thud. Toby frowned, clearly irritated at being interrupted during his daydreaming. He turned a cold gaze toward his subordinate and said icily, "Speak. What is it?" Gasping for breath, the subordinate managed to say, "We just received word-Godyer has revealed the secret of attribute fusion!" "What?" Toby eximed, abruptly standing up. His first thought was that Godyer was spreading false information, but his curiosity got the better of him. He barked, "Tell me." The subordinate swallowed hard and continued, "The Dark Humans'' city lord controls a Secret Area, the Elemental Secret Area. By ying the elemental golems there, one can obtain Attribute Fusion Stones. Using these stones, you can fuse divine attributes into the real world." "This..." Toby wanted to dismiss the information as a lie, but he found himself momentarily speechless. He had indeed entered the Elemental Secret Area before, which was under the control of the Dark Humans'' city lord. He also recalled how, after losing the Elemental Key, the city lord of Green Moon, Dien, had reacted with intense fury, almost as if he wanted to tear him apart. "Damn it, why didn''t I notice this before?" Toby seethed with anger. Dien had specifically warned him against hunting the elemental golems. At the time, Toby had been curious and had tried to secretly attack them. However, the elemental golems were strange creatures, immune to physical damage, and within the Secret Area, the magic elements were sealed, making it impossible to harm them. It seemed that within the Elemental Secret Area, the golems were invincible. He couldn''t fathom how Godyer had managed to deal with them. "Goddamn you, Godyer! That was supposed to be my opportunity!" Toby cursed furiously. He was convinced that if not for Godyer''s interference, he would have been the first to discover the secret of attribute fusion. But now, it was toote. "Green Hill City..." Toby''s face twisted into a sinister grin. The city lord of the Dark Humans had the Elemental Key-so Toby decided he would take it by force. Green Hill City was only a level-one city with weak defenses, and yers could easily conquer it now. Besides, after coborating with the Dark Humans several times and paying a steep price, Toby had grown to despise them. They were nothing but leeches, sucking him dry, and he had long harbored a grudge against them. With a n forming in his mind, he turned to his subordinate andmanded coldly, "Five minutes. I want all family forces, anyone above the second tier, to assemble at Green Hill City. We''re going to take it." The subordinate was taken aback by Toby''s order. He had assumed the news about the Attribute Fusion Stone was bogus, but he hadn''t expected Toby to believe it. Not daring to object, he quickly acknowledged the order and hurried out. ... Chapter 98: Chapter 98: A New Class System Chapter 98: A New ss System ? [Announcement: yer Toby hasunched an attack on Green Hill City. All yers may join the resistance. Sessfully defending Green Hill City will yield generous rewards.] ... Suddenly, three system announcements echoed through the game. John was momentarily stunned; he hadn''t expected Toby to act so quickly andunch an attack on the Dark Humans. The information John had leaked was urate, but Toby was unlikely to obtain the Elemental Key. John had destroyed two cities and killed two city lords, but neither had dropped the Elemental Key. The Elemental Key in his possession was given to Toby by Green Moon City Lord Dien, and John had acquired it by killing Toby. He suspected that the Elemental Key wouldn''t drop automatically after killing a Dark Humans city lord. Toby was bound to be disappointed. [Announcement: yer Sharpde hasunched an attack on Night City. All yers may join the resistance. Sessfully defending Night City will yield generous rewards.] ... [Announcement: yer FireGod hasunched an attack on Water Deep City. All yers may join the resistance. Sessfully defending Water Deep City will yield generous rewards.] ... More announcements quickly followed. Several major guilds in the world of Gods had simultaneouslyunched assaults on cities controlled by the Dark Humans. In the global chat, yers were buzzing with spection: "What''s going on today? Two cities just got established, and now guilds are attacking Dark Humans'' cities?" "Are they trying to imitate Godyer? But what''s the point of provoking the Dark Humans?" "I smell a conspiracy." "Is anyone near Night City? Let''s team up and check it out." "I''m in Water Deep City. Anyone want to join me? Only second-tier yers and above." "Count me in." ... Most yers were clueless about why these guilds were suddenly targeting the Dark Humans'' cities. The information about attribute fusion had only been shared among the major factions and hadn''t reached the general yer base. In Green Hill City. Toby listened to the series of announcements, gritting his teeth in frustration. Normally, these factions would grovel before the Mike White Family, but now they dared topete with him for the Attribute Fusion Stone. He mentally noted each of these factions, vowing to settle the score with them once the war was over. The sounds of battle surrounded him, as the guards of Green Hill City and the yers shed, locked in a stalemate that was proving difficult to break. Growing impatient, Toby shouted, "Take Green Hill City, and every member will receive a 100,000 reward! Die once, and you''ll get an extra 20,000!" With such a huge incentive, his followers seemed to be fueled by adrenaline, throwing themselves into the fray with reckless abandon. The Green Hill City guards barely held their ground for a moment before they were overwhelmed. yers surged forward like a tidal wave, storming the City Lord''s Manor and attacking the Dark Humans with reckless abandon. Not even sparing the lowliest of servants. "Toby, are you out of your mind? How dare you attack the Dark Humans!" roared a voice, as Green Hill City''s lord, Gran, appeared. He was a formidable third-tier elite, and his mere presence caused the yers surrounding him to hesitate, unwilling to attack recklessly. Toby stepped forward from the crowd, lifting his chin slightly as he coldly met Gran''s gaze. "I don''t want to make this difficult. Hand over the Elemental Key, and I''ll spare your life." "What?" Gran paused, then burst intoughter. "Haha, human, are you joking? You think you can just demand the Elemental Key from me?" He looked at Toby with utter disdain. "Shut up!" Toby snapped, his patience wearing thin. "You know the situation you''re in. If you die, it''s permanent. Give me the Elemental Key, and I''ll let you go." Gran''s expression remained contemptuous as he slowly shook his head. "I don''t have the Elemental Key, and even if I did, there''s no way I''d hand it over to you." "No Key?" Toby frowned, sensing that Gran was telling the truth. Gran continued, "I''ve heard that Green Moon''s Elemental Key was lost. It seems you''ve uncovered the secret of the Elemental Secret Area. Let me tell you this: only city lords of third-tier cities and above possess Elemental Keys, and those keys do not drop upon death- they simply disappear." Third-tier? Toby clenched his teeth, frustration boiling inside him. With the current yer power levels, no one except Godyer could take down a third-tier city. And with the revtion that the Elemental Key doesn''t drop upon the city lord''s death. Threatening a third-tier city lord was even more out of reach. Toby was filled with regret, feeling as if his heart were bleeding. He had once held an Elemental Key in his hands, only to have it snatched away by Godyer. "Godyer!" Toby growled through gritted teeth. It was clear to him now that his only option was to find a way to steal the Elemental Key from Godyer. Taking a deep breath, Toby nced at Gran before retreating back into the crowd of yers. "Kill him!" he ordered coldly. The animosity between them had already solidified; there was no reason to hold back. Whoosh! Instantly, a barrage of arrows and spells rained down, engulfing Gran. "Humans, you''ll regret this!" Gran roared. Although he was a third-tier elite boss, he couldn''t withstand the overwhelming onught from the yers and was quickly defeated. Toby had been shrewd he only killed Gran and refrained from destroying the city''s altar. This ensured that Green Hill City wouldn''t disappear, avoiding drawing attention from other Dark Humans forces. The only downside was that he hadn''t obtained the Elemental Key. "Godyer, you''re next," Toby muttered coldly, already scheming his next move against him. ... In just one day, seven Dark Humans cities were destroyed, all of them first-tier. Unsurprisingly, none of the attacking forces obtained an Elemental Key and were instead added to the Dark Humans'' wanted list. Having failed miserably, these yers realized they had been duped and turned their anger toward Godyer. John, however, waspletely unfazed by this. He received a message from Sini: the Blues Family disciples hade back online and were busy building Saint Martial Sect. Leaving Death Land, John made his way to Saint Martial Sect and found Sini. Nearby, Tracy''s eyes were red, clearly from crying, and the Blues Family disciples looked equally somber. The recent upheaval had taken a heavy toll on the Blues Family. "John," Sini approached, signaling for him tofort Tracy. John silently moved to Tracy''s side, not saying a word. He had experienced far too many tragedies like this, so much so that he felt numb and unsure how to console her. "Old man!" Tracy threw herself into John''s arms, quietly sobbing. Only when she was with John did she feel truly safe. John gently patted her back, soothing her, "It''s all over now. Don''t be too sad." Tracy nodded slightly, wiping away her tears. She looked at him with newfound determination and said, "Old man, I want to be stronger!" "I''ll help you," John replied, feeling a sense of relief. This ordeal had clearly made Tracy mature a great deal, which he knew was ultimately a good thing for her. [Announcement: yer Chris has unlocked a new ss system, the rare ss ''Martial Artist''; yers can join Saint Martial Sect to switch to the Martial Artist ss.] ... Suddenly, a system announcement echoed. Even though John had already heard some details from Chris, he was still taken aback. Chris had actually managed to establish an entirely new ss system. John couldn''t help but wonder what kind of adventure Chris had encountered in the beginner vige. The world chat quickly became abuzz with activity: "Can someone please exin what on earth is going on today? First, two cities were established, then every major guild went berserk attacking Dark Humans'' cities. And now, a brand-new ss system?" "This ''Martial Artist'' seems to be a public rare ss." "Does anyone know how to join Saint Martial Sect?" "Don''t bother trying. I already asked; they''re only recruiting disciples from Ancient Martial Arts families." "Ancient Martial Arts families? Weren''t they supposed to be reclusive? And now they''re in The World of Gods?" "They''re just not often seen in the mundane world; it doesn''t mean they''vepletely severed ties. It''s perfectly normal for them to enter The World of Gods." "Masters, please, this disciple has exceptional talent and has been training in martial arts since childhood. I humbly seek eptance." "Are they recruiting dancers? I have ten years of dance experience, and I''m proficient in all kinds of positions. I''m willing to do whatever it takes to join Saint Martial Sect." "They want martial artists, not dancers." "Martial artists are still people, right? You never know; someone might have a taste for this kind of thing." ... Saint Martial Sect had once again be the focus of countless yers. John nced at the world chat and couldn''t help but admire Chris''s cleverness. Using the rare Martial Artist ss, it was possible to unify the entire Ancient Martial Arts families without bloodshed. This was exactly what Chris hoped to achieve. "Brother-inw," Armstrong found John and spoke, "Grandfather is looking for you, and he wants my sister and Tracy toe along as well." He nced at Tracy, whose eyes were still slightly red, and sighed sympathetically. "Alright," John nodded. The group followed Armstrong to the study in the City Lord''s Manor. Peter was already there. When he saw John, he immediately stood up, bowed deeply, and said gratefully, "John, you''ve saved our Blues Family once again. We will never forget this great kindness." John quickly helped him up, feeling a bit guilty. "Lord Blues, you give me too much credit. In fact, this disaster was partly my fault. If I hadn''t been staying with the Blues Family, perhaps you wouldn''t have faced such a crisis." Peter quickly waved his hand. "Nonsense. Our feud with the Griffin Family runs deep; they would have attacked sooner orter, regardless of your presence. This has nothing to do with you." "Enough with the formalities," Chris interrupted impatiently. He already considered John one of his own, especially knowing about John''s rtionship with Tracy. "Young man, pick a ss," Chris said, gesturing to a few scrollsid out on the table. John looked puzzled. "What are these, sir?" Chris exined, "These are hidden ss scrolls, all belonging to the Martial Artist category, but they are the strongest among them. See if any of them suit you." A hidden ss within the Martial Artist category? John''s curiosity was piqued, and he stepped forward to examine each scroll. Coincidentally, he still had an Origin Stone, which could allow him to gain an additional ss. If one of these sses seemed right, he could choose a hidden Martial Artist ss as his third profession. The scrolls revealed sses like War Soul, Martial Saint, Sword Immortal, Divine Strategist, Celestial Master, Illusionist, Alchemist, and Beast Tamer. The all top-tier sses that he had never heard of,parable to his Wrath of the Gods Mage and Phantom Assassin. Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Transitioning to Sword Immortal and Mastering Sword Flight Chapter 99: Transitioning to Sword Immortal and Mastering Sword Flight ? War Soul: A powerful physical burst ss that grants an additional 10 points to critical strike chance and 5 points to strength with each level gained. Martial Saint: A physical ss that boosts physical defense and attack by 10% and adds 3 points to strength and 2 points to constitution with each level gained. Sword Immortal: Master of swordsmanship and sword flight, gaining 2 points to strength and 1 point to each of the other three base attributes with each level. This is the most bnced ss. Divine Strategist: An archer ss that increases range by 10%, attack speed by 10%, and adds 4 points to strength and 1 point to agility, offering greater burst damage and lethalitypared to a standard archer. Celestial Master: Simr to the mage ss but with higher burst potential. Illusionist: A control ss that can seal an enemy''s physical and magical attacks. Alchemist: Simr to the priest ss, but more versatile, mastering various healing skills and potion-making talents. Beast Tamer: Simr to the Illusionist, but focuses on controlling beasts and monsters. All of these sses are exceptionally powerful, with each level granting an additional 5 attribute points. John was particrly drawn to the Sword Immortal ss, the most bnced of them all. "Thank you, sir," John expressed his gratitude to Chris as he selected the Sword Immortal ss scroll. Chris nodded in approval, saying, "The Sword Immortal ss is indeed a good fit for you." Afterward, Chris chose the Martial Saint ss scroll for himself and then addressed the others, "You all should choose a ss scroll that suits you." "Father, I''d like the Martial Saint scroll," Peter said eagerly, eyeing the scroll in Chris''s hand. "Are you trying to take what''s mine?" Chris red at him and immediately used the scroll. Peter protested silently but didn''t dare to say more. He deciding on the other scroll with hesitation. Armstrong quickly snatched up the War Soul scroll. It thrilled with its high burst potential and physical damage bonuses. He felt confident that he could defeat Ritchie if they were to face off again. "Are you trying to take what''s mine?" Peter mimicked Chris, angrily scolding Armstrong. Although he wasn''t actually interested in the War Soul ss. He realizing that the War Soul ss wouldn''t suit his martial talent. After some hesitation, he decided on the Celestial Master scroll, Tracy opted for the Alchemist ss, drawn to its healing capabilities and versatility, which suited her nature. Sini was tempted by the Divine Strategist ss scroll. The idea of a long-rangebat ss excited her, but she hesitated to give up her Shadow Assassin ss. "I think I''ll stick with the Assassin ss; it suits me better," she said, reluctantly looking away from the scroll. John, however, handed her the Divine Strategist scroll, saying, "Hold onto it for now. I''ll help you find an Origin Stone so you can have two sses." "Really?" Sini''s eyes lit up with excitement. She was thrilled at the prospect of having the Divine Strategist ss and happily epted the scroll. "Senior, do you have any suitable candidates in mind for these two ss transition scrolls?" John asked as he looked at the remaining two scrolls. The Illusionist and the Beast Tamer. John thought that the Beast Tamer ss, with its ability to enhance the power of beasts, would be perfect for Jean. Jean, being a Flower Fairy of the Beast n, naturally had the ability to control beasts, making this ss an ideal match for her. As for the Illusionist ss, he considered giving it to Ada. Although Ada was a princess, her strength wascking, and she had no real means of saving herself in dangerous situations. "They''re yours," Chris said without hesitation, handing over the remaining two ss scrolls to John. "Thank you," John expressed his gratitude. Chris then asked, "What''s your n from here?" Chris had originally intended to pass the position of Sect Master of Saint Martial Sect to John, seeing it as a strategic move to unite the Ancient Martial Arts families under one banner. However, John had declined the offer, so Chris had settled on making him the Vice Sect Master instead. "First, I''llplete my ss advancement and then deal with the hostile forces in the world of Gods," John replied calmly. The hostile forces he referred to included not only various guilds but also the Dark Humans. Once he advanced to a fourth-tier ss and gained the Blessing of the Archmage talent, his abilities would break through to the advanced level, enabling him to confront the Dark Humans head-on. "I want to go with you, old man," Tracy immediately chimed in. She eager to follow John and elerate her own power growth. Sini, too, looked at John with anticipation, clearly wanting to join them. Armstrong felt a pang of envy, but after ncing at Tracy and Sini, he decided against it. He didn''t want to be the third wheel. Besides, there was much to do in Saint Martial Sect, which had just been established, and his presence was needed there. John left The Land of Elves with the two women, mounted Avis, and set off for the depths of Eternal Forest in search of fourth-tier epic bosses. ying five of these epic bosses would allow him to advance to a fourth-tier ss. But before that, he needed to transition to the Sword Immortal ss. John took out the Origin Stone and used it immediately. [You have used the Origin Stone, unlocking a third ss choice.] [Current avable options: Knight, Warrior, Archer, Martial Artist, Priest] Since he had joined Saint Martial Sect, the Martial Artist ss option had been added to his list. However, John didn''t choose any of these. Instead, he directly used the Sword Immortal ss scroll. [You have transitioned to the rare hidden ss, Sword Immortal.] [Sword Immortal: Rare hidden ss. Each level increases strength by +2 and the other three base attributes by +1; attacks gain an additional 10% physical damage and 10% magical damage.] [You have learned the basic skill Sword Control; offensive skills Unrivaled Sword Dance, Infinite Sword Array, and Flying Sword Strike.] [You have reached the peak of the third tier at level 100. Sword Immortal ss enhancement: Constitution +100, Strength +200, Spirit +100, Agility +100.] [ss advancement quest unlocked: Defeat 5 level 100+ epic bosses to advance to fourth-tier Sword Immortal.] As the notification shed before him, John''s strength saw a significant boost. The Sword Immortal ss had directly unlocked his fourth-tier advancement quest, just like with his Wrath of the Gods Mage and Demon yer Assassin sses, requiring him to hunt down five fourth-tier epic bosses. What surprised John the most were the skills he learned. [Sword Control: Level 2 (Blessing of the Archmage +1 level), Basic; Basic Sword Immortal skill that increases Sword Immortal skill damage by 2%.] [Unrivaled Sword Dance: Level 2 (Blessing of the Archmage +1 level), Basic Sword Immortal skill; Deals 120% physical damage based on strength + 20% magical damage based on spirit to an enemy; consumes 100 mana, 10-second cooldown.] [Infinite Sword Array: Level 2 (Blessing of the Archmage +1 level), Basic Sword Immortal skill; Deals 90% physical damage based on strength + 10% magical damage based on spirit to multiple enemies; consumes 200 mana, 20-second cooldown.] [Flying Sword Strike: Level 2 (Blessing of the Archmage +1 level), Basic Sword Immortal skill; Deals 120% physical damage based on strength + 20% magical damage based on spirit to a single target; consumes 100 mana, 10-second cooldown.] Apart from Sword Control, all of these were powerful damage-dealing skills with added magical damage. The Unrivaled Sword Dance was a single-target attack, the Infinite Sword Array was an area attack, and Flying Sword Strike was a ranged attack skill. The Sword Immortal ss had it all-physical damage, magical damage, close-range skills, long-range skills, and area-of-effect skills-making it the most bnced and powerful hidden ss. Time to level up the skills! John checked his skill points and saw that he had umted 12,044 points. Moreover, he still had over 7,000 skill stones that he hadn''t used yet. With three sses and a total of 16 skills, once he advanced to the fourth tier, he would have enough skill points to max out his intermediate skills and even break through to advanced skills. He couldn''t believe it. With so many skills under his belt and more than enough skill points to max them out. His situation was a far cry from his previous life. Back then, he had only mastered four skills, and even then, he never had enough skill points. The contrast made it clear just how far he hade. [Sword Control has been upgraded to Basic Level 10. Blessing of the Archmage has broken through to Intermediate Level 1, unlocking the skill, Sword Flight.] [Sword Flight: A skill linked to Sword Control, non-upgradable; allows the user to stand on their sword and fly through the air; consumes 100 mana per second.] The notification appeared, leaving John momentarily stunned. Sword Flight? That was a technique straight out of legends, something only immortal cultivators were said to possess. Could it be that his Sword Immortal ss was actually a path to immortality? Excited by the thought, John pulled out the Sword of Divinity and Demons, turning to the two women with a grin. "Watch this," he said, clearly pleased with himself. The women looked at him in confusion as he leaped off Avis''s back. "John!" "Old man!" Both women screamed in shock. They were thousands of meters in the air, and while John was strong, he couldn''t fly. Falling from such a height would be certain death. "Avis, catch him..." Sini began, but her words trailed off as a figure swiftly soared past her- John. "Old man, you...you can fly?" Tracy gasped in disbelief, staring at John, who was now gliding through the air, standing on his sword. Sini swallowed hard, equally astonished. "Sword Flight? Isn''t that something out of those cultivation legends?" "Master, how are you doing this?" Avis, wide-eyed, flew a circle around John, utterly bewildered. John''s actionspletely upended everything Avis thought he knew. He couldn''tprehend how his master, who clearly didn''t have wings, was managing to fly. "Old man, I want to fly on a sword too!" Tracy stretched out her arms, looking at John with eager anticipation. The Sword of Divinity and Demons was a broad sword, more than capable of carrying two people. John nodded and extended his hand, pulling Tracy onto the sword with him. "Ah!" Tracy gasped as she nearly lost her bnce, her body wobbling precariously. In her panic, she grabbed onto John''s arm tightly. John steadied the sword, ensuring a smooth flight, but soon he grew restless with the status quo. He nced over at Avis and said, "Let''s have a race. Let''s see who can fly faster!" "You''re on!" Avis agreed without hesitation, confident that there was no way John could outfly him. Whoosh! With a powerful p of his wings, Avis surged forward, the wind howling in his wake as he rapidly elerated. He turned his head back, ready to boast about his speed, only to see John and Tracy speeding past him in a blur. "What the¡ª!" Avis cursed, his massive frame instinctively contracting to reduce air resistance as he pushed himself to catch up with John. "Come on, Avis, you can''t lose to the master!" Sini cheered from atop Avis, urging him on. Avis focused intently on the two figures ahead, straining every muscle to close the gap, but the distance between them continued to grow. Riding the sword, John and Tracy zipped through the sky at lightning speed. The fierce winds whipped around them like sharp des as they cut through the sky, thendscape below quickly bing a blur beneath them. Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Fourth-Tier Profession, Swordsmanship Mastery Chapter 100: Fourth-Tier Profession, Swordsmanship Mastery ? Tracy clung tightly to John, her face pressed against his back as they soared through the skies. The exhration of flying freely, with the vast expanse of the world beneath them, began to ease the burden that had been weighing on her heart. She wanted to shout out in joy, but when she opened her mouth, the fierce wind rushed in, making it impossible to make a sound. Avis had long been left far behind, his massive form now out of sight. Only then did John begin to slow down. Flying with the sword consumed magical energy, and after over half an hour of soaring at full speed, he had used up half of his magic reserves. With over 350,000 magic points, John could only sustain full-speed flight for about an hour. But that was more than sufficient for now. Tracy''s face was flushed with excitement as she eximed, "Old man, this feels amazing!" As she gazed at the vastndscape around her and reached up as if she could touch the clouds, the heaviness in her heart waspletely lifted. John nodded in agreement. It was no wonder that humans had always yearned for the sky- this feeling of flying freely was truly intoxicating. "Where''s Avis?" he wondered aloud, looking back. There was no sign of Avis. As his usual speed. He should have caught up by now. Boom! Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed from the distance, followed by an angry dragon''s bellow. It was Avis. "Tracy, hold on tight," John cautioned. They were deep within the Eternal Forest now, and he was worried about Sini and Avis''s safety. A streak of sword light shed across the sky as John''s speed increased once more. Boom! Boom! The air ahead was filled with explosions, and mes burst through the clouds. It was a group of fifth-tier me gryphons, attacking Avis. "Orcs!" John was surprised to see that the gryphons were being ridden by orcs. They also of the fifth tier. Although Avis was powerful, he was only at the early stages of the fourth tier. Surrounded by so many me gryphons, he was quickly overwhelmed and forced to flee in desperation. "Master, help!" Avis cried out, having spotted John and urgently calling for assistance. John raised his hand, unleashing a surge of magical energy. Fire Meteor Shower and Lightning Chain were cast simultaneously. Boom! Boom! Lightning crackled, and several me gryphons, along with their orc riders, were instantly annihted. As John''s power, he can handle five-tier monster easily. "There''s a powerful enemy here!" roared one of the orc leaders, his gaze locking onto the newly arrived John. This orc leader was a fifth-tier epic boss. That a formidable force even among the orcs. John quickly regrouped with Avis, pulling Tracy onto Avis''s back. With the Sword of Divinity and Demons in hand, he activated the skill, Infinite Sword Array. Whoosh! The sword energy hummed, and a fierce wind howled as multiple sword beams shot out, enveloping the surrounding me gryphons and orcs. The Sword Immortal skills, with their added magical damage,bined with John''s immense strength and spirit attributes, delivered devastating critical hits. The me gryphons and orcs were obliterated in an instant. [Killed Level 210 me Gryphon, gained1010 experience points.] [Killed Level 220 Orc, gained 1210 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, attack speed+1.] [Plunder talent activated, spirit +1.] ... The notifications shed continuously as the area was swiftly cleared of enemies, leaving only two epic-grade me gryphons and one epic-grade orc leader. The orc leader, now filled with terror, red at John and roared, "Who are you to dare trespass into Orc territory?" John had no interest in wasting words. With a swift movement of his longsword, a sword beam shot forth, piercing the sky and heading straight for the orc leader. It was the Sword Immortal''s single-target long-range attack skill, Flying Sword Strike. "No..." The orc leader screamed in terror, but his cry was cut short as the sword beam pierced through his body, causing a massive damage number to appear above his head. - 364894 John''s critical hit dealt over three hundred thousand damage. Instantly killing the already weakened orc leader. [Killed Level 250 Epic Orc Leader, gained 20,520 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, magic critical +1, spirit +100, skill points +10.] With the orc leader dispatched, John turned his attention to the two remaining epic-grade me gryphons. They too were fifth-tier epic bosses. A surge of powerful magical energy flowed through John. ze Explosion, Spatial Rift sh, and Lightning Chain were unleashed in rapid session. The two mighty fifth-tier epic bosses were powerless against the onught and were swiftly obliterated. [Killed Level 240 Epic me Gryphon, gained 18,520 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, spirit +100, constitution +50.] ... With the notifications confirming the elimination of all nearby threats, Avis let out a sigh of relief. Had John not arrived in time, both he and Sini would have been in grave danger. Avisnded, and the group began to collect the items dropped by the orcs and me gryphons. Among the loot were five-tier elite equipment and three pieces of five-tier legendary gear. Although John and hispanions had no immediate use for them, they stored the items forter. Additionally, they collected skill stones, equipment enhancement stones, and socket gems. "How did you end up getting targeted by these gryphons?" John asked curiously after finishing the cleanup. Sini pointed behind her and exined, "There''s an Orc city over there. Avis and I got curious and lowered our altitude to take a closer look. We didn''t expect them to have flying me gryphons." "An Orc city?" John''s interest was piqued. The presence of an Orc stronghold in this area hinted at something significant. Besides, he still needed to hunt two more four-star epic bosses toplete his three job advancements¡ªthis could be the perfect opportunity to hunt those Orcs. But before he could decide, Avis spoke up. "Master, those Orcs aren''t simple. I sensed the aura of a seven-star powerhouse." "A seven-star?" John frowned. Orcs weren''t particrly powerful, with most capping their strength at around five stars. It seemed unlikely that a seven-star being was among them. It meant that powerful aura wasn''ting from an Orc. John considered this for a moment and decided to postpone exploring the Orc stronghold. Although he had grown much stronger, he still wasn''t a match for a seven-star powerhouse. Thest time he faced one-a seven-star angel during the monster tide-he was nearly pushed to the brink. If not for The Tree of Life''s intervention, things might have ended very differently. Instead, John chose to stay in the surrounding area to hunt for four-star epic bosses. Here is the middle of Eternal Forest, all around are four and five-tier monster. It must have four-epic boss. The group wandered through the dense forest, encountering powerful creatures like berserk tree monsters and venomous tree monsters. Both around level 100, ssified as four-star beasts. Before long, John came across two four-star epic bosses: venomous tree monster leaders. They were easily dispatched, allowing John toplete his three job advancements. [You havepleted your job advancement tasks, sessfully advancing to a four-star Wrath of the Gods Mage, a four-star Specter Assassin, and a four-star Sword Immortal.] [Your level has increased: Constitution +1, Strength +5, Spirit +5, Agility +3, Free Attribute Points +20, Skill Points +2.] After advancing, John also gained a level, with slight increases in his four core attributes. Now that he was a four-star in all three professions, he received 20 free attribute points with each level-up. John evenly distributed these points across his four main attributes. Next on the agenda was upgrading his skill levels. With his recent advancements, he could now raise his skills to level 10 in the intermediate tier. Upon reaching the seven-star rank, he could then push those skills into the advanced tier. However, with the Blessing of the Archmage talent, John''s skill levels gained an additional +1, allowing his skills to break through to the advanced tier even at the four-star level. Upgrading intermediate skills required 100 skill points per level. Fortunately, with the skill points he had amassed, along with the more than seven thousand skill stones in his possession, he had more than enough to push his abilities to their limits. John used his skill points to upgrade his skills in a frenzy. [You have received the Blessing of the Archmage. Your intermediate skill ze Explosion (Level 10) has increased by +1, surpassing the upper limit and advancing to the advanced skill *Inferno Dance* (Level 1).] [Inferno Dance: Level 1, Advanced Magic. Inflicts Spirit\*450% fire damage to the target, with multiple consecutive attacks. Consumes 500 mana, with a 15-second cooldown.] [You have received the Blessing of the Archmage. Your intermediate skill Fire Meteor Shower (Level 10) has increased by +1, surpassing the upper limit and advancing to the advanced skill Hellfire (Level 1).] [Hellfire: Level 1, Advanced Magic. Inflicts Spirit\*330% fire damage to all enemies within the area, causing additional burn damage over time. Consumes 1000 mana, with a 30-second cooldown.] [You have received the Blessing of the Archmage. Your intermediate skill *Iron Armor* (Level 10) has increased by +1, surpassing the upper limit and advancing to the advanced skill Diamond Armor.] [Diamond Armor: Level 1, Advanced Magic. Earth elements form a diamond armor around the body, absorbing damage equal to Spirit\*450% and providing an additional 100 points of physical defense and 100 points of magical defense. Consumes 1000 mana, with a 10-minute cooldown.] ... [You have received the Blessing of the Archmage. Your intermediate skill Sword Control (Level 10) has increased by +1, surpassing the upper limit and advancing to the advanced skill Sword Control.] [Sword Control: Level 1, Advanced Skill. Increases Sword Immortal skill damage by 31% and unlocks the skill Sword Control.] [Sword Mastery: A skill associated with Sword Control. Cannot be upgraded. Allows the user to control a longsword remotely, dealing physical damage with normal attacks. Damage is amplified by *Sword Control*. The current maximum number of swords is one, with a control range of 100 meters. Consumes 500 mana per second.] With these notifications shing, John''s skills all advanced to the first level of the advanced tier, including his Water Mist Clone, which now carried 12% of John''s base attributes. The most surprising development was the Sword Control skill, which, upon advancing to the advanced tier, granted John a new ability. Sword Control. This skill enabled him to control his sword remotely, attacking enemies from a distance. This was another technique straight out of the legends of sword immortals. Sword Control acted like a normal attack, but it was enhanced by Sword Control, increasing its attack power by 31%. With his Dual Mastery talent and 100% physical critical rate, Sword Control could inflict terrifying damage of up to 130,000 points. The only drawback was the mana cost-500 points per second,parable to casting a high- level spell. But Sword Control had its strengths; it was continuous, flexible, and could y enemies from the shadows. "John, have you reached the four-star level?" Sini asked curiously, noticing that John had been standing still for a while. John smiled slightly and activated Sword Control. Buzz! The Sword of Divinity and Demons suddenly broke free from John''s hand, whistling through the air toward a nearby berserk tree monster. sh! 134,450 A terrifying damage number appeared, and the berserk tree monster was instantly in. Even more astonishing, the longsword spun in the air, then flew back into John''s hand. Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Beast Clan need help, Fox Clan’s White. Chapter 101: Beast n need help, Fox n¡¯s White. ? Sini and Tracy stared wide-eyed at the Sword of Divinity and Demons in John''s hand,pletely taken aback. "Old man, what kind of skill is that?" Tracy asked, her curiosity evident. With a smug expression, John let the longsword dance around him and replied calmly, "Sword Mastery." "Sword Mastery?" Sini was stunned. This seemed like another technique straight out of the legendary immortality arts. She looked at John in awe, her voice full of surprise. "John, could it be that you''re secretly a powerful immortal?" John chuckled and exined, "Not at all. This is just the strength of the Sword Immortal profession. Your Divine Strategist and Alchemist professions are surely powerful too." The two women''s eyes lit up with excitement. Sini even briefly considered abandoning her Shadow Assassin role in favor of bing a Divine Strategist. However, she managed to resist the temptation. John, noticing Sini''s thoughts, said, "Seven-star epic bosses have a good chance of dropping Origin Stones. I''ll find a way to get one for you." Sini nodded and then, blushing, leaned close to John''s ear and whispered, "Master, how should I repay you?" John felt the warm breath on his ear, coupled with a seductive fragrance. This little trickster was teasing him again, openly provoking him. Seeing Sini''s shy expression, he had the urge to respond immediately. But he restrained himself. "Old man, let''s keep leveling up! I want to reach four stars as soon as possible!" Tracy interrupted, unaware of the tension between them, and eagerly urged John to continue. John nodded, and the Sword of Divinity and Demons returned to his hand. Sword Mastery was indeed impressive, both in style and power, but the mana consumption was too extreme for prolonged use. Ding! At that moment, John''s private chat notification sounded-it was Ritchie. Ritchie: "Boss, there''s a powerful beast looking for you, an Ice Phoenix." Ice Phoenix? John frowned at the message. Could it be that the Ice Phoenix tracked him down for the artifact? That may not happened. He quickly dismissed the thought. If the beast wanted the artifact, it wouldn''t have let him leave the Beast n''s Secret Area in the first ce. There must be another reason. Godyer: "Did it mention why it''s looking for me?" Ritchie: "The Beast n''s Secret Area is under a massive attack by the demon race. They''re asking for your help, saying it''s at ck Turtle''s request." ck Turtle? John had a hunch about what was going on. He turned to the two women and said, "We''ll pause the leveling for now. We''re heading back to Saint Martial Sect." He quickly jumped onto Avis, and with the two women, they flew at top speed back to Saint Martial Sect. Upon arriving, they used the sect''s teleportation array to travel to me City. The Ice Phoenix was still waiting, pacing anxiously. As soon as it sensed John''s presence, it rushed over. "Finally, you''re here. The Beast n''s Secret Area is in grave danger. We need your help immediately." "Let''s go," John said curtly, signaling Ice Phoenix to move out immediately. Ritchie quickly asked, "Boss, do you need us to help?" "No need, I can handle it," John replied firmly. The strength of the demon race and the Beast n was immense; the adventurers were too weak to intervene in this matter. John took only Sini and Tracy with him, riding Avis as they followed Ice Phoenix at high speed towards the Beast n''s Secret Area. "Kid, where are the other beasts you have?" Ice Phoenix asked, curious when she saw only Avis apanying them. With the demon race''s invasion being so massive, she had expected John''s entire beast army to join them. "Don''t worry, I can summon them at any time," John assured her. Without further exnation, he pulled out the Illusionist and Summoner ss change scrolls and handed them to Sini. "Sini, go into the Death Land and give these scrolls to Ada and Jean. Let them know about the situation in the Beast n''s Secret Area." "Got it," Sini nodded. Her figure shimmered as space rippled around her, and she vanished, entering the Death Land. Ice Phoenix was surprised by John''s abilities but didn''t question further. Her concern for the Beast n''s safety drove her to increase her speed even more. ... A dragon and a phoenix streaked across the sky. Then swiftly arriving at the Beast n''s Secret Area. Boom! Boom! The sounds of explosions and battle cries echoed through the air. The demon race had once again breached the Secret Area''s defenses, with countless demon soldiers, demon guardians, and demon generals flooding the battlefield. Among them were three demon lords and one demon emperor. The demon lords were six-tier powerhouses, while the demon emperor had already reached seven-tier. The sheer number of demons was overwhelming, but the Beast n still held their ground- until they saw the figure of ck Turtle. "Has that old man lost his mind?" John muttered in disbelief, watching ck Turtle relentlessly attack the Beast n. "Kid, it''s all up to you now. Please, do your best," Ice Phoenix said hurriedly before diving into the fray, joining the battle against the demon horde. To John''s shock, ck Turtle had somehow broken through to eight tiers, making him the most powerful being on the battlefield. Thebined efforts of the seven-tier Fire Phoenix and Ice Phoenix could barely hold him back. Meanwhile, the demon emperor and several demon lords rampaged unchecked, ughtering the Beast n''s forces. Without hesitation, John summoned the Beast n and elf armies from the Death Land. "ck Turtle!" Judy roared, her aura filled with icy fury as she charged straight at ck Turtle. She had no intention of following John''s orders this time. The old tortoise had tricked herst time, leaving her gravely wounded, and worse, leading to Ada''s loss of innocence. Judy was determined not to let him escape this time. Even with three seven-star beasts attacking him, ck Turtle still held his ground, refusing to be overwhelmed. Meanwhile, the subus and elf armies joined the battle, easing the pressure on the Beast n forces. But no one could match the power of the demon emperor. John rushed to where the four beasts were fighting and shouted at ck Turtle, "Old man, have you lost your mind? Helping the demon race against the Beast n?" At this point, only the seven-tier beasts could hope to take on the demon emperor. But with all three of them tied up by ck Turtle, no one else could step in. ck Turtle nced at John, his expression filled with anxiety, but his attacks remained merciless. His true purpose in summoning John here was to kill the prophesied savior. Due to the constraints of his oath, ck Turtle couldn''t openly express his intentions or show any signs of rebellion. "Benefactor, kill that savior of the Fox n, and Senior ck Turtle will be freed from his oath!" Anna''s voice rang out from a distance, directing John''s attention. ck Turtle cast a grateful nce at Anna, but his attacks became even fiercer. He needed to provoke the three beasts further, ensuring they couldn''t break away to rescue the Fox n prodigy. John quickly grasped the situation, scanning the battlefield until his gazended on the lone male from the Fox n. The man was tall and handsome, with a strikingly beautiful appearance, but his eyes held a wicked glint that belied his looks. This was the Fox n genius, the prophesied savior-White. Buzz! The air hummed with the sound of sword energy as a longsword flew from John''s hand, cutting through the surrounding beasts and demon soldiers, heading straight for White. "Hmm?" White''s expression shifted slightly as he sensed the danger. A long whip appeared in his hand, which he deftly used to wrap around the iing longsword, hurling it aside. The Sword of Divinity and Demons returned to John''s grasp. From this brief exchange, John gauged White''s strength-he was a five-tier epic-level fighter. Fortunately, John had just advanced to the fourth tier of his profession, giving him the power he needed to take White down. "So, you''re the famous Godyer," White remarked, noticing John as he pushed aside two demon guardians blocking his path. He observed John with mild curiosity, a faint smile ying on his lips, his tone devoid of any discernible emotion. "I''ve heard you''re the one who wiped out my Fox Demon n?" "Not entirely. You''re thest one I need to finish the job!" John retorted sharply. He swung his longsword, sending a streak of sword energy slicing through the sky like aet, aimed directly at White. Flying Sword Strike! White''s brows furrowed; there wasn''t enough time to dodge. A whirlwind of pink petals swirled around him as he braced himself against John''s attack. Boom! -415,300 A terrifying critical hit reduced White''s health by over 400,000 points. His expression shifted dramatically. With his five-star initial tier strength, his total health was just over a million, and John''s single strike had nearly halved it. He was strong too strong! Realizing he couldn''t afford a direct confrontation, White nced at ck Turtle, who was still entangled with the three great beasts, and shouted angrily, "You old fool, deal with this human first!" ck Turtle''s face tightened, but he couldn''t defy White''s order. With waves surging around him, he unleashed a powerful attack that sent Judy and the others flying. Then, he turned and charged at John, a water dragon roaring in his wake. Boom! [You have been killed by ck Turtle. The Blessed Ring skill has activated. You are fully resurrected.] The system notification shed as John, drenched and battered, quickly retreated. He red at ck Turtle. "Old man, why are you attacking me?" ck Turtle sighed with resignation but continued his assault on John, all the while reminding him, "Kid, remember what I told you. I will never be your enemy." Boom! Another massive explosion engulfed John in a torrent of waves, leaving him with only one point of health as his Lifesaver trait activated. "Damn it!" John cursed, ring at ck Turtle. The old man imed he wasn''t an enemy, yet every strike seemed intended to kill him. Whoosh! The raging sea surged once more, with waves crashing down, threatening to engulf John yet again. John suddenly realized something and gritted his teeth, charging directly at ck Turtle. [You have been killed by ck Turtle. The Undying and Immortal trait has activated...] As expected, he was killed instantly, but he had managed to get close to ck Turtle. In his hand, a pill appeared. It is that ck Turtle had given him earlier, the Sealing Demon Pill. John crushed it without hesitation. Buzz! An eerie power surged, instantly sealing ck Turtle''s cultivation. Instead of fear, ck Turtle let out a sigh of relief. But then, his eyes widened in shock as a fist rapidly erged before his face. Bang! John''s punch sent ck Turtle flying. "Old man, you killed me three times!" John knew ck Turtle had no choice, but his anger still boiled over. "John, leave this old bastard to me!" Judy shouted as she rushed over. Her massive dragon tail whipped through the air, smashing towards ck Turtle. ck Turtle, now terrified, realized that with his cultivation sealed, he was no match for a seventh-tier beast. He could only rely on his formidable defenses. Whoosh! In an instant, ck Turtle transformed into his true form-a colossal turtle the size of a mountain. His body retracted into his shell for protection. Boom! With a thunderous crash, the giant turtle was sent flying. "You old turtle, today I''m going to tear off your shell!" Judy roared, relentlessly attacking the shell. Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix both sighed in relief, nodding gratefully at John before turning their attention to the demon emperor. Now, the only one left on the battlefield was White. Chapter 102: Chapter 102: The Spirit Fox Bloodline, Overwhelming Battle Energy Chapter 102: The Spirit Fox Bloodline, Overwhelming Battle Energy ? "Now it''s your turn," John said, turning his gaze to White, a faint smile ying on his lips as the Sword of Divinity and Demons hovered before him. White gulped nervously, quickly hiding behind the nearby demon guardians. "Stop him! Quick!" he ordered frantically. The demon guardians, though clearly displeased, moved to intercept John. Buzz! The sword hummed with energy as John activated Sword Mastery. The Sword of Divinity and Demons whistled through the air, swiftly cutting through the demon guardians. sh! Blood sprayed as one after another, the demon guardians copsed, lifeless. Instant kill! These demon guardians, all early-stage fourth-tier rare bosses with health points reaching a hundred thousand, couldn''t withstand even a single strike from John. As the notification shed on his interface, a few items dropped to the ground. John didn''t even nce at them, instead focusing on his floating sword. With effortless grace, he strolled leisurely toward White. White, now panicking, retreated step by step, his voice trembling in fear. "Human, you can''t kill me! I''m the prophesied savior of the Beast n! If you kill me, they won''t let you go!" John sneered. He knew full well that the Beast n despised White even more than he did; they were likely even more eager to see him dead. "ck Turtle! You useless bastard, what are you doing?!" White, realizing he couldn''t intimidate John, turned and screamed curses at the distant ck Turtle, who was being mercilessly pummeled by Judy. John had no patience for White''s ranting. The Sword of Divinity and Demons buzzed with energy, shooting towards him once more. "Damn it!" White cursed under his breath, forced to defend against John''s relentless attacks. ng! ng! The sound of the whip shing against the sword echoed through the air as White staggered backward, the force of each strike rattling him to the core. He couldn''t understand how this human, clearly only a fourth-tier, could inflict such devastating damage. sh! -140710 The sword broke through his defenses, dealing over 140,000 damage. White''s face turned pale as he stumbled back, realizing he stood no chance against John. "Human, you can''t kill me!" he pleaded desperately. "I am the prophesied savior! I can rule the Beast n, and with the demon race''s support, you and I could conquer the entire Skyline Continent..." "Not interested," John cut him off coldly. With a swift motion, he grabbed the Sword of Divinity and Demons, unleashing the skill Unrivaled Sword Dance. Buzz! The longsword vibrated violently, releasing countless sword lights that engulfed White, shredding him apart. "No! You''ll regret this, human..." White''s voice was full of terror, but it was abruptly silenced as his remaining health was drained to zero. [You have in White, a fifth-tier epic boss of the Fox n, and gained 39,400 experience points.] [Plunder ability activated, you have acquired the Spirit Fox Bloodline.] "Spirit Fox Bloodline? What''s that?" John wondered aloud, noting the notification. He opened his status to inspect the new trait. [Spirit Fox Bloodline: A bloodline power unique to the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox, allowing the user to cultivate Beast n techniques.] "Beast n techniques?" John was even more puzzled. He had never heard of any cultivation techniques before. The Spirit Fox Bloodline didn''t seem to enhance any of John''s attributes, making it appear not as powerful as he had hoped. Feeling a bit disappointed, his attention shifted to the items dropped by White: a long whip and a manual. The long whip was White''s weapon, but since it wasn''t enhanced by the Plunder ability, it remained a fifth-tier epic weapon. John casually stored it away; it was of little use to him since he had never heard of any yers specializing in whips. His gaze then fell upon the manual. [Overwhelming Battle Energy: High-grade Beast n technique. Requires Beast n bloodline to learn. Increases Constitution by 1 point and Strength by 2 points with each level. As you level up, you can unlock unique Beast n skills.] "This..." John was taken aback. He had just dismissed the Spirit Fox Bloodline as useless, only to stumble upon a high-grade Beast n technique. Although the attribute increase of 3 points per level didn''t seem particrly powerful. John decided to keep the manual in reserve and casually tossed it into his storage space. Then, he turned his attention to the ongoing battle. At that moment, the demon race and Beast n were locked in a fierce battle, neither side able to gain the upper hand quickly. This situation actually yed to John''s advantage. The seventh-tier Demon Emperor and several sixth-tier Demon Lords were tied up by the powerful beasts, leaving the remaining demon guardians and generals vulnerable. They were no match for John. "Sini, Tracy, join the party," Johnmanded, pulling the two women into his team as they unleashed a ruthless assault on the surrounding demon soldiers. des filled the air as John activated the Infinite Sword Array, engulfing the demon army around him. [You have in a level 90 demon soldier, gaining 370 experience points.] [You have in a level 150 elite demon guardian, gaining 540 experience points.] [Plunder ability activated: Physical Crit +1.] [Plunder ability activated: Spirit +1.] ... The notifications kepting, with John''s attributes steadily increasing. The demon soldiers and guardians fell with ease, and even the stronger demon generals could only barely withstand the sword array''s assault. But their health nearly depleted. Hellfire erupted, scorching the battlefield. The surrounding demon soldiers were instantly reduced to ash. John moved like a force of nature, cutting through the demon army with relentless fury. The Beast n, now under less pressure,unched a fierce counterattack. Boom! Suddenly, a massive wave surged as a thunderous roar echoed across the battlefield. "Enough! Judy, if you attack again, I''ll have to retaliate!" ck Turtle, now in his human form, looked disheveled, with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The effects of the Sealing Demon Pill had worn off, and his strength had returned to its full eighth-tier power. "You shameless old bastard!" Judy spat, cursing him but ultimately refraining from further attacks. Her anger had mostly subsided, and she turned her attention to the remaining demon forces. ck Turtle nodded gratefully at John, then turned to Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix. "Leave this Demon Emperor to me." "Damn it!" the Demon Emperor cursed, realizing that with white, the Fox n''s so-called savior, dead, ck Turtle was no longer bound. Now, no one could match ck Turtle''s strength. He nced at John with a cold expression and said, "Human, I know who you are. The Land of Darkness was your doing, wasn''t it? This is only the beginning. Retreat!" Realizing the battle was lost, the Demon Emperor gave the reluctant order to withdraw. Buzz! Suddenly, the air hummed with the sharp sound of sword energy as a streak of light shot towards the Demon Emperor. It was John''s attack, the Flying Sword Strike. Thud! -1 The streak of light pierced through the Demon Emperor''s body, but only inflicted a token damage of 1 point. John''s current strength was still insufficient to truly harm a seventh-tier powerhouse. "Hmph!" The Demon Emperor snorted in disdain, ignoring John as he turned to lead the remnants of the demon army in retreat. "You won''t get away!" ck Turtle roared, pursuing the Demon Emperor with all his might. Ssh! Tidal waves surged, sweeping away countless demon soldiers as they were flung toward the fleeing Demon Emperor. "ck Turtle, you''ve made a grave mistake!" The Demon Emperor cast a cold nce at ck Turtle. As the tidal wave crashed down, a ripple of spatial energy enveloped him, and in the blink of an eye, his figure vanished, reappearing a hundred meters away in an instant. "Spatial Teleportation!" John eximed, his eyes gleaming as he watched the Demon Emperor disappear. Spatial abilities were rare, and this one, which allowed the user to traverse space, was especially powerful. Once his strength improved, John resolved to hunt down this Demon Emperor and see if he could Plunder that ability. It seemed that the demon race had several powerful beings with mastery over space. "Damn it!" ck Turtle cursed. Even with his newly acquired eighth-tier strength, sufficient to challenge the Demon Emperor. He was unable to keep up with him due to thetter''s proficiency in spatial techniques. Frustrated, ck Turtle was forced to give up the chase. He returned to the battlefield and approached the body of White, the Fox n member. Gesturing to John, he called out, "Kid,e over here." "Hmm? Where''s the bloodline?" ck Turtle suddenly eximed as he examined White''s corpse, his brow furrowed in confusion. John, puzzled by the mention of the Spirit Fox Bloodline, which he had already Plundered. He asked, "What''s wrong?" "The Fox n bloodline inside him is gone," ck Turtle exined, ncing at John. "If we could have extracted his bloodline and fused it into your body, you would have be the new savior." "Could this be fate?" he muttered, looking up at the sky in resignation. With the savior gone, he feared that Skyline Continent might be doomed. John rubbed his nose and replied, "Are you talking about the Spirit Fox Bloodline? I think I already have it." "You... you already have it?" ck Turtle was stunned. Without waiting for John to exin, The grabbed John''s arm. And a surge of powerful water elemental energy flowed into John''s body. "How... how is this possible?" ck Turtle stared at John, his expression frozen in shock, with even a hint of fear in his eyes. He couldn''t believe it and asked, "Kid, why do you have so many powerful forces within your body?" "Is there a problem?" John asked, puzzled. ck Turtle released John''s arm, his brow furrowed in deep thought. "I''ve never heard of anything like this before. I can''t tell if it''s a good thing or a bad thing." John, however, was unconcerned. He figured it was rted to his unique professions. Having mastered three rare hidden sses, he indeed had three distinct powers within him, but they didn''t seem to cause any harm. "Perhaps..." ck Turtle hesitated, his gaze fixed on John, but then shook his head, abandoning the thought. "Never mind, it''s probably impossible anyway. Kid, there''s something else I need your help with." He pointed to the shattered Secret Area and continued, "I want to merge the Beast n Secret Area with your Death Land." The Beast n Secret Area waspletely shattered and beyond repair. John''s eyes lit up with excitement at the proposition; this was a great opportunity for him. The Beast n Secret Area contained the Dragon Transformation Pool, which, although not as valuable as the Vein of the Earth, was still a rare treasure. Not to mention the powerful beasts. Especially Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix, whose strength rivaled even Judy''s. John quickly asked, "What needs to be done?" The Beast n Secret Area wasn''t an artifact that could simply be stored away; it was a fragmented space, making it impossible to directly integrate into Death Land. ck Turtle exined, "We''ll need the help of The Tree of Life. It can create a link between Death Land and the Beast n Secret Area. Once that''s done, leave the rest to me." John nodded in understanding, then focused his mind and entered Death Land, controlling The Tree of Life to establish a connection between the two spaces. "Ice Phoenix, Fire Phoenix, I''ll need your assistance," ck Turtle called out to the two powerful beasts as a surge of immense energy emanated from him. With the help of The Tree of Life, they slowly began the process of merging the Beast n Secret Area with Death Land. The beasts of the Beast n watched this unfold with heavy hearts, filled with reluctance but also a sense of inevitability. The Secret Area was beyond repair, they would be vulnerable to constant attacks from the demon race and other hostile forces. Without its protective barriers, they can not beat the demon race. Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Drunken Moon Skill and Dark Elves Chapter 103: Drunken Moon Skill and Dark Elves ? The integration of Beast n''s Secret Area into the Death Land was a slow and tedious process. John and the women with him waited idly on the sidelines. To pass the time, John took out the Beast n technique manual, Overwhelming Battle Energy, and decided to learn it immediately. [Ding! You have learned Overwhelming Battle Energy. Current level: 1.] [Overwhelming Battle Energy: Level 1. Increases 1 point of constitution and 2 points of strength per level. 10 skill points required to level up.] John noted with interest that the technique could be upgraded using skill points. However, he hesitated-10 skill points for just 3 points of basic attributes seemed wasteful. Still, all of his other skills had already been maxed out. Advancing them further would require reaching the seventh tier, but having just advanced to the fourth tier, the seventh was still a distant goal. John checked his remaining skill points: 3,110. Given that it would be a long time before he could make use of these points for anything else. It seemed sensible to invest them into the Overwhelming Battle Energy. Leaving them unused would be a waste. With this in mind, John decided to upgrade the skill. [You have consumed 10 skill points. Overwhelming Battle Energy has advanced to level 2. Constitution +1, Strength +2.] [You have consumed 10 skill points. Overwhelming Battle Energy has advanced to level 3. Constitution +1, Strength +2.] ... [You have consumed 10 skill points. Overwhelming Battle Energy has advanced to level 100. Constitution +1, Strength +2.] [You haveprehended the passive skill, Drunken Moon.] [Drunken Moon: Passive Skill. Cannot be upgraded. Physical attacks and skills inflict an additional 10% true damage.] [Note: True damage ignores defense.] As the notification shed before his eyes, John was stunned-then overjoyed. He had unlocked a skill that dealt true damage. Drunken Moon was an unbelievably powerful skill. One of the biggest challenges in battling high-level monsters was breaking through their defenses. But with Drunken Moon, John could ignore those defenses entirely, inflicting true damage that bypassed any form of protection. John had never heard of such a powerful skill before. With his current physical attack damage reaching 140,000, this meant that regardless of how strong his enemy might be¡ªeven if it were a god-he could inflict at least 14,000 points of damage. And his physical skills, dealing up to 400,000 damage, would inflict over 40,000 points of true damage. John even felt confident that he could take down that seventh-tier demon emperor. "Let''s keep upgrading!" John thought excitedly. The Overwhelming Battle Energy had granted him the formidable Drunken Moon skill at level 100, and he wondered if there were more skills to be unlocked at higher levels. [You have consumed 100 skill points. Overwhelming Battle Energy has advanced to level 101. Constitution +1, Strength +2.] After reaching level 100, each subsequent level required 100 skill points, yet only increased his attributes by 3 points. John sighed. Fortunately, he had the Plunder talent; otherwise, it would have been nearly impossible for an ordinary yer to level up the Overwhelming Battle Energy to this extent. ... [You have consumed 100 skill points. Overwhelming Battle Energy has advanced to level 121. Constitution +1, Strength +2.] After reaching level 121, John was left with only 10 skill points, which wasn''t enough to continue upgrading. He also hadn''t unlocked any new skills. It seemed that he might need to reach at least level 200 to unlock another skill. John felt a twinge of frustration, once again realizing how scarce skill points were. He knew he would need to find more ways to acquire skill stones in the future. Relying solely on the Plunder talent to gather skill points was too slow. Rustle, rustle... Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the forest outside the Secret Area. "Benefactor, there are enemies nearby!" Anna''s eyes narrowed as she stared toward the forest, her brow furrowed. She sensed a familiar yet unpleasant aura that made her uneasy. "It seems to be another elf," Yuel added, her tone filled with dislike. "An elf? Could it be..." Anna''s eyes widened as a realization dawned on her. From the dense forest, hundreds of small, agile figures burst forth. d in ck, tight-fitting leather armor and shrouded inrge cloaks that obscured their faces, they wielded daggers as they swiftly closed in. "Dark elves!" the blood-red demon wolf roared, his eyes zing with fury as memories of being tortured and imprisoned by the dark elves resurfaced. A chorus of enraged roars followed as the beast army charged forward. "Attack!" A cold voice rang out as the dark elvesunched a fierce assault on the Beast n forces. Anna and Yuel exchanged a nce before leaping into the fray to assist the beasts against the dark elves. This group of dark elves was formidable; the weakest among them were at the fifth tier, while the leader had already reached the seventh tier in strength. With ck Turtle, Ice Phoenix, and the fire phoenix upied, it fell to Judy to engage the leading seventh-tier dark elf. "Stop!" John shouted, intending to subdue the dark elves rather than kill them. But no one heeded hismand. Instead, the dark elves intensified their assault. John swiftly joined the battle, driving back two dark elves who were attacking Anna. "Anna, is there any way to subdue them?" he asked. "Master, don''t even think about it. These creatures have long been corrupted by darkness. They are selfish, cruel, and inherently evil," Anna replied, her voice filled with disdain for the dark elves. Realizing that these dark elves were indeed fundamentally different from Anna and Yuel, John abandoned the idea of recruiting them and threw himself into the fight. "Trap Formation!" a voice called out as a powerful dark energy erupted from the dark elves, linking them together. It was a formation. "Hurry, don''t let themplete it!" Subus cried out in rm, attacking the dark elves with all her might. The Trap Formation was a deadly tool against the Beast n, with effects simr to the Sealing Demon Pill. It was effective against any race. If they were trapped, death was inevitable. Boom! With a thunderous impact, Subus and the blood-red demon wolf managed to break a gap in the formation. However, instead of escaping immediately, they turned to John, urgently warning, "Kid, get out now! The Trap Formation works on you too!" John, feeling a surge of anxiety, knew better than to underestimate the situation. Leading his group, he charged toward the gap in the formation. "Toote to run now!" sneered the leading dark elf as she swiftly evaded Judy''s attack and sealed the breach. Buzz! A hum resonated through the air as the formation closed, and a powerful dark energy began to flow. John felt an invisible pressure, realizing with a start that his magic was being sealed off. He frowned. These dark elves were even more sinister than the elemental golems he had encountered before. "Surrender or die!" the cold voice of the dark elf echoed through the space. "You filthy creatures think we''ll surrender? Keep dreaming!" the beasts snarled back in defiance. Whoosh! A gust of wind surged as Avis tried to fly upward. Bang! A loud crash followed as he collided with an invisible barrier and plummeted back to the ground. Avis shook his head, dazed, and looked at John. "Master, we can''t escape by flying. What do we do?" John''s expression grew more serious. Even with the Drunken Moon skill, without the ability to use his magic, defeating a seventh-tier opponent seemed nearly impossible. "Kid, just hold on a little longer," ck Turtle called out, noticing the trouble and hastening the fusion of the Beast n''s Secret Area. "ck Turtle?" the leading dark elf recognized him, her tone dripping with disdain. "Your time is up." "Kill them all! Take back Death Land!" she ordered, charging straight at Judy. sh! Judy''s scales shattered under the assault, blood spraying as she was overpowered. With her abilities sealed, she stood no chance against the seventh-tier dark elf. Boom! A loud crash echoed as the dark energy trembled. Ice Phoenix managed to momentarily break free andunched an attack on the Trap Formation. "You''ll pay for that!" the leading dark elf cursed, her de gleaming as she threw her dagger at Ice Phoenix, then darted out of the formation to confront her. Though both were of the seventh tier, it was clear the dark elf was the stronger of the two. "Finish them quickly!" Within the formation, the remaining dark elves pressed their attack on John and his allies. The beasts and elves were forced into a defensive stance, struggling to avoid the onught. "Stop resisting and enter Death Land," John urged, trying to pull the beasts and elves into Death Land, but nothing happened. Anna quickly exined, "Master, the Trap Formation seals off space. We can''t enter Death Land." John was nowpletely out of options. He turned to ck Turtle, shouting angrily, "Old man, forget about the Secret Area for now! Deal with these dark elves!" ck Turtle, equally frustrated, replied, "You think I don''t want to? I can''t break away right now." "Big brother, let me help you!" Suddenly, Jean appeared, half emerging from Death Land. John was startled and immediately warned, "It''s dangerous here. You shouldn''te out." Jean, despite her weak powers as a newly turned summoner, was vulnerable to the dark elves'' attacks. A single hit could kill her. "Don''t worry, I''ll be fine," Jean smiled gently, touching The Tree of Life. Rustling... The branches of The Tree of Life began to sway as if it hade alive. Several vines shot out, wrapping around the dark elves. The dark elves were terrified. They had been born from The Tree of Life, and now, facing it again, they felt an instinctual fear. With the pressure on him eased, John focused on breaking the formation with all his might. "Charge!" Suddenly, the sound of battle cries filled the air. Another army emerged from the forest, d in battered armor but exuding a powerful aura that matched that of the dark elves. There were over ten thousand of them. "What''s going on here? This ce is a total mess," John muttered, frowning. He hadn''t even finished dealing with the dark elves, and now a powerful new force had appeared. "Master, it''s the Undying Legion! The Undying Legion!" Judy eximed as she rushed to Ada''s side, her voice filled with astonishment. Ada, equally surprised and overjoyed, stared at the approaching soldiers. John nced at the two women, puzzled. This newly arrived army didn''t seem to be enemies. "Princess, we''re here to rescue you!" The leading general charged forward, his spear thrusting like a flood dragon emerging from the sea, striking hard at the Trap Formation. Boom! The ground shook as a massive surge of dark energy rippled through the air. The Trap Formation finally copsed under the force. With their powers no longer suppressed, the beasts charged out, joining forces with the soldiers to annihte the dark elves. Around them, vines continued to strike from the shadows, making it impossible for the dark elves to defend themselves. One by one, the dark elves were ruthlessly cut down. Chapter 104: Chapter 104: The bet of Tanya, curse of fox clan Chapter 104: The bet of Tanya, curse of fox n ? "Damned fools!" The leader of the dark elves, Tanya, snarled, her face twisted with anger. She shouted amand, abandoning her fight with Ice Phoenix and charging toward the suddenly appearing army. "Retreat!" she ordered through gritted teeth, watching as her dark elves were ughtered. The Trap Formation had been broken, and with the presence of The Tree of Life and the unexpected reinforcements, they were outmatched. Continuing the fight would lead to the annihtion of the dark elves. Whoosh! Suddenly, a massive wave surged forward, a wall of water blocking the dark elves'' escape route. It was ck Turtle. With Beast n''s Secret Area fully integrated into The Land of Darkness, ck Turtle was now free to act. The dark elves were trapped, their retreat cut off, leaving them with no way out. Tanya, the dark elf leader, red coldly at ck Turtle and spoke with icy resolve, "Are you sure you want to make an enemy of us?" ck Turtle sighed deeply and raised his voice to halt the battle, "Everyone, stop!" The fighting ceased as thebatants on both sides paused, confused by ck Turtle''s suddenmand. The Blood-Eyed Demon Wolf, eyes burning with rage, growled, "ck Turtle, this Tanya imprisoned us for centuries. We can''t just let her go!" This name belong to the leader of dark elf. Subus, eyes locked on Tanya, added coldly, "This demoness must die today!" Tanya sneered, unbothered by the threats surrounding her. "You think a bunch of trash like you can stop me? Pathetic!" "You filthy elf scum! Today, I swear we''ll fight to the death!" The Blood-Eyed Demon Apes roared, ready to attack again, but ck Turtle blocked their path. Anna and Yuel, standing nearby, frowned in displeasure. Though the insults were aimed at the dark elves, they couldn''t help but feel offended by the generalization. ck Turtle red at Tanya, his frustration clear. "Do you even want my help or not?" Tanya remained calm, her expression unchanging. "You owe us a favor," she said tly. "I know," ck Turtle acknowledged, though his hesitation was due to more than just a favor. He pointed toward John and said, "You can return to Death Land, but you must follow this human''s orders." John was taken aback by ck Turtle''s proposition, surprised that the old turtle was actually looking out for him. Tanya, however, looked at John with clear disdain. "You expect me to follow themands of this weak human?" she scoffed, her contempt for him in to see. "Hey! What''s with that attitude? Serving the benefactor is a privilege, and this is your chance to live!" Anna snapped, ring at Tanya in defense of John. But Tanya merely shook her head, her calm demeanor unbroken. She gripped her dagger tightly, ready to fight once more. "If that''s the case, then we would rather die in battle," she dered coldly. The dark elves around her, their eyes gleaming with a deadly resolve, stood ready to fight to the end, showing no sign of fear or hesitation. "You are truly stubborn!" ck Turtle finally snapped, clearly frustrated. He was trying to help the dark elf tribe, but they seemed intent on throwing it all away. "Fine, I''ll make another concession," he said, looking at Tanya, who appeared ready to fight to the death. "I''ll let you leave, but you have to give something in return. If I''m not mistaken, the scroll to the demon race''s Dark Sea Secret Area went missing recently. I bet it was you." Tanya nced at ck Turtle but didn''t deny it. Everyone knew that this was the handiwork of the dark elves. She calmly reached into her robe and ced a scroll on the ground. Then, she turned her gaze to John, speaking softly, "Interesting, a human who has managed to subdue two elf races. I''m curious about you now. If you can conquer the Dark Sea, I might just join you." With that, she pulled out two more items from her robe-two jade stones. "Origin Stone!" John''s eyes lit up in recognition. One of the stones was indeed an Origin Stone. While the other was equally rare-a Universal Order. The Universal Order had one primary function: resetting a Secret Area. Typically, after exploring a permanent Secret Area, such as those tied to cities, a seven-day recovery period was required before it could be essed again. Using a Universal Order would allow for an immediate reset. While it seemed wasteful to use on low-level city Secret Areas. But John immediately thought of the Elemental Secret Area. "Human," Tanya addressed John directly, "I can sense dark energy within you. If I''m not mistaken, you''ve taken on the dark elf-specific ss of Nightmare Assassin." John nodded, not denying it. Tanya continued, "Consider this Origin Stone and Universal Order a gift. Let''s make a wager. If, within six months, you manage to secure the Dark Sea, I will lead the dark elves to submit to you. But if you fail, you must hand over both the Death Land and the Dark Sea scroll." "Deal!" John agreed without hesitation. He knew that the Dark Sea Secret Area was a level-seven area. Six months would be ample time for him to grow stronger and be ready to explore it. Tanya smiled at John, a rare expression that softened her icy demeanor, making her seem almost warm and approachable. "A word of caution, human-you''ve been cursed by a fox demon. Take care," "Retreat." She said lightly before turning to lead the dark elves away into the dense forest. The surrounding beasts watched them go with resentment, but something else quickly grabbed their attention. "Kid, you''ve been cursed by a fox demon?" ck Turtle and the others immediately gathered around John, their expressions serious. John, however, waspletely baffled. He shook his head, confused, as he hadn''t received any system notifications about a curse. "It seems there''s only one way to confirm it," ck Turtle muttered, then suddenly struck out with a powerful blow aimed directly at John. "Old man, are you attacking me again?" John growled, a strong sense of impending danger washing over him. ck Turtle''s strike was merciless, clearly meant to cause harm. The women around them, confused and concerned, moved to help John, but were held back by the other beasts. To test whether John was truly under a fox demon''s curse, he had to be ced in a life-or- death situation or a state of intense mental focus. Boom! With a resounding crash, John was sent flying, utterly unable to resist the force of the blow. [You have been killed by ck Turtle. The Undying and Immortal trait has been activated...] A system notification shed, and John was resurrected at full health. "You old bastard, you''re getting way out of line!" John snarled, immediatelyunching his Flying Sword Strike. A streak of sword light sliced through the air, aimed directly at ck Turtle. sh! -42100 A ck damage number floated up. ck Turtle was taken aback. While the damage was minimal, what truly shocked him was that John had managed to break through his defenses. "True damage! Kid, have you mastered the power ofws?" ck Turtle asked, staring at John in disbelief. "The power ofws?" John was puzzled. He hadn''t heard of any such thing. The true damage was simply a result of his recently acquired passive skill, Drunken Moon. John quickly brushed off his confusion and continued his assault on ck Turtle. He determined to test whether the Drunken Moon skill would allow him to defeat a high- level opponent like ck Turtle. ck Turtle soon regained hisposure, easily blocking John''s attacks and overwhelming him. "Damn it!" John cursed as he was killed yet again. Despite his newfound ability to inflict true damage and his impressivebat skills, he was still no match for ck Turtle''s sheer strength and relentless attacks. His opponent''s raw power was too much to ovee with technique alone. Fortunately, John had the Undying and Immortal trait, as well as the life-sharing pact with The Tree of Life. He had no fear of death and continued to fight with intense focus, pushing his mental and physical limits. Whoosh... Several sword beams flew out, but they missed their mark, slicing through the air around ck Turtle without hitting him. "What''s happening?" John felt a sudden wave of disorientation, his vision blurring as he blinked rapidly, struggling to stay alert. At this moment, a surge of heat red up within John, making his entire body feel feverish and clouding his judgment. "Is this... a Lust Poison?" John suddenly realized what was happening and red at ck Turtle in fury. "Old man, did you seriously use Lust Poison on me?" ck Turtle''s expression grew serious as he stopped his attack. He red back at John and retorted, "I''m not that despicable!" Ada and Judy both shot murderous looks at ck Turtle, clearly displeased with his involvement. ck Turtle, feeling the awkwardness of the situation, avoided their gaze and exined to John, "Kid, this isn''t Lust Poison-it''s the fox demon''s curse." "Fox demon''s curse? Could I really have fallen victim to that?"John struggled to control the rising heat within him, trying to make sense of what was happening. So far, he hadn''t received any system notifications to confirm it. ck Turtle went on, "The fox demon''s curse is simr to Lust Poison, but it''s more insidious. It res up unpredictably, and the chances of it happening increase when you''re fully engaged in battle." "What?"John frowned deeply. This curse was far more dangerous than he had initially thought. If it activated during a crucial fight, especially against an evenly matched opponent, it could spell disaster. He quickly asked, "Is there any way to get rid of it?" ck Turtle nced at the women around John. The women seemed to understand what he was implying, their faces flushing with embarrassment, but none of them refused. Some even looked somewhat expectant. "The curse is extremely difficult topletely remove," ck Turtle continued. "It can only be eased over time, especially when it res up. The best way to manage it is through... certain activities, particrly when the curse is active." "Master, we''re ready to help," Ada said boldly, without a hint of shyness. Her words left the soldiers around them stunned, ring at John with murderous intent, as if they wanted to tear him apart. The other women, despite their embarrassment, nodded in agreement. Even Jean approached, looking up at John with innocent curiosity, "Big brother, can I help too?" John felt incredibly awkward, noticing the strange looks the women were giving him. "Uh, I think the curse has subsided for now," he said hastily. "John, that was quick!" Sini teased him, her voice filled with yful exaggeration. The other women giggled and nodded along. John shot Sini a warning re, mentally deciding that she''d pay for her teasingter that night. Turning back to ck Turtle, he asked, "Is there really no other way to deal with this?" John knew that as his enemies grew stronger, carrying such a curse was far too risky. ck Turtle sighed, "There used to be a treasure in Beast n, the Jade Core Lotus, which could counteract the fox demon''s curse. Unfortunately, it was lost long ago, and no one knows where it is now. My advice is to always keep these women close. Whenever the curse res up, that''s when you need them the most." "It seems that''s the only option," John said, resigned to his fate. The women shot him annoyed nces, as if using him of being reluctant. With Beast n now fully integrated into Death Land, John decided to bring all the beasts and Ada''s Undying Army into Death Land as well. His forces had grown significantly stronger once again. Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Attempting to Break the Curse Chapter 105: Attempting to Break the Curse ? Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix, both powerful seventh-tier epic beasts, along with over ten thousand other beasts, all possessed at least fourth-tier strength. Ada''s Undying Army was also formidable, having been cursed with no limit to their lifespan, some having lived for thousands of years. However, they could still die if killed in battle. The Undying Army, numbering over ten thousand, were all fifth-tier or higher in strength, with their leader, General Robin, reaching the level of a seventh-tier epic boss. The newly integrated beasts and the Undying Army quickly took a liking to Death Land. For the Undying Army in particr, this ce was a vast improvement over the barren desert they had previously roamed. Death Land was filled with life energy and rich in spiritual power, aiding them in further enhancing their abilities. Both Beast n and the Undying Army began searching for suitable ces to settle down. The best spot was undoubtedly around The Tree of Life. But that area was already upied by the women, who did not allow anyone except John to approach. No one had any objections to this arrangement. While the women were busy, only John, Sini, Tracy, and Jean remained inside the treehouse. "Sini, here''s the Origin Stone," John said, handing over the Origin Stone that had been gifted by the ck dark elf, Tanya. Sini epted it with delight, immediately using it to gain an additional profession. She chose to be a Divine Strategist, an archer ss. With her newfound skills, her power increased significantly. Snuggling into John''s embrace, she whispered seductively, "Master, how would you like Sini to repay you?" John couldn''t help but swallow nervously, feeling a strong temptation. However, he managed to restrain himself, considering that while Tracy was fine with it, Jean was still in the room- innocent and unaware of such matters. "The fox demon''s curse hasn''t red up yet," John replied, trying to stayposed. "It doesn''t always have to wait for the curse to act," Sini pouted, a bit dissatisfied, though she was also mindful of Jean''s presence. Jean, innocent and simple-minded, followed John around every day. It was clear that she had feelings for him as well. But John knew that this wasn''t the right time to get closer to Jean. Sini had an idea and said, "Tracy, log off." "Huh?" Tracy nced at John, swallowed nervously, and quickly lowered her head. She knew exactly what was about to happen. In a soft voice, she replied, "I still have some things to do. You two go ahead and log off first." Sini nodded, giving John a yful wink as she blushed slightly. "Master, don''t keep me waiting too long," She teased before logging off. John sighed, somewhat resigned, and turned to look at the shy Tracy. "Old man, you log off first. I''ll log off in a bit," Tracy mumbled, avoiding John''s gaze in her nervousness. "Alright. Sini won''tst long," John said with a soft smile, not wanting to tease Tracy any further. He logged off where he stood. Jean, watching the two disappear, was puzzled. "Tracy, where did Big Brother and Sister Sini go?" "They had something to do," Tracy replied awkwardly, though inside, she was feeling quite flustered. She started silently counting down the time, making small talk with Jean to pass the moments. ... In the real world, it was already early evening. The surroundings were quiet, and ever since the Blues Family had destroyed the Griffin Family, they had acquired a significant number of high-grade gaming pods. Now, almost the entire Blues Family spent their time in The World of Gods, focusing on leveling up their abilities. At that moment, the sound of running water could be heard from the bathroom. It didn''t take much guessing to know that it was Sini. John quickly shed his clothes, activated Concealment, and silently slipped into the bathroom. Inside, Sini was standing naked under the showerhead, water droplets cascading down her glistening skin, making her look even more alluring. Her perky breasts, slim waist, and round hips, paired with her long, graceful legs, made her look like the most exquisite creation ever. John couldn''t help but swallow hard, his heart racing. Whether it was because of the fox demon''s curse or just pure desire, the fire of lust burning inside him grew even stronger. "Sigh!" Sini suddenly let out a soft sigh and looked directly at the spot where John was hidden under Concealment. With a hint of yfulness and a touch of longing, she said, "Master, am I not attractive enough?" The little minx had noticed him! John was a bit surprised; it seemed that after the attribute fusion, Sini''s strength had increased significantly. Without hiding any longer, John stepped forward and pulled Sini into his arms. His hands found their way to her perky breasts, and he kissed her deeply, his tongue parting her lips and exploring her mouth with a passionate hunger. Sini whispered in her heart, "You rogue!" She was already aroused and responded eagerly to John''s kiss, her hand instinctively grasping his rigid manhood, causing her heart to race. John lifted her by her firm buttocks, pulling her up against him. Sini''s long legs wrapped around his waist, her arms encircling his neck, and she was already soaking wet with anticipation. John straightened up slightly, aligning himself with her entrance, and then plunged into her with a deep thrust. "Ah...!" Sini cried out in both pleasure and pain, but her moan was quickly muffled by John''s mouth. Her legs and arms tightened around him, her breathing in short gasps. "Master, this feels so intense... Sini can''t handle it..." she murmured, lost in the overwhelming sensations. Every thrust from John sent waves of pleasure crashing through her body, binding her tightly in his embrace with a powerful and almost overwhelming force. She barely managed tost a few minutes before her body gave in, shuddering with a powerful climax. But John was just getting started. Holding onto her hips, he continued to thrust relentlessly, each movement pushing him deeper inside her. "Ah... Master, this feels so strange..." Sini gasped, overwhelmed by the pleasure that was radiating through her entire body. It is amplifying with every movement. It is almost too much for her to bear, yet she clung to John, afraid of falling if she let go. "Master, please, put me down... Sini can''t take it anymore..." she trembled, her voice weak as she begged for mercy. But John didn''t relent. One hand gripped her thigh, the other wrapped around her waist as he drove into her again and again, each thrust deeper than thest. "Ah..." Sini could barely contain herself, her body quivering uncontrobly. She iled her arms, her voice tinged with panic. "Master, no, stop... it''s too deep... I can''t take it... I''m going to break..." Helpless in his grasp, all she could do was cling to him, her body pressed tightly against his, as she endured the powerful rhythm he set, feeling every inch of him inside her, pushing her to the brink. "Master, Sini really can''t take it anymore. Please... put me down," she pleaded, feeling on the verge of passing out. She was barely holding on, her consciousness slipping as she struggled to stay awake. John noticed Sini''s condition and slowed down, gently kissing her cheek. With a surge of fire magic, the water droplets on their bodies evaporated instantly. He continued to hold Sini tenderly as he carried her into the bedroom. "Master, please, stop torturing Sini like this..." Tears welled up in Sini''s eyes as she begged him with a voice full of desperation. Feeling a pang of guilt, John gentlyid Sini down on the bed. She copsed onto the mattress, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. John leaned over her, kissing away the tears on her cheeks, and asked softly, "Can you keep going?" Sini nodded weakly, biting her lip. "Master, am I too weak?" she asked, her voice tinged with self-doubt. "Not at all, Sini. You''re amazing," John reassured her, positioning himself once more. But Sini, fearing she couldn''t handle it, quickly protested. "Master, please, give me a moment," she said, swallowing hard as she tried to calm herself. Not wanting to disappoint him, she added, "Let me take care of you instead." Sliding to the edge of the bed, Sini knelt before John. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of his impressive size, and she hesitated for a brief moment before taking him into her mouth. "Mmm," John groaned in pleasure as he felt her warm, soft mouth envelop him. He gently stroked her silky hair with one hand, while the other teased her breasts. Sini nced up at him, blushing, before focusing on the task at hand. She bobbed her head, working diligently to please him. And her hands aiding in the effort. One arm wrapped around his legs, helping to take him deeper, while the other hand stroked him in rhythm with her movements. The intense sensation quickly brought John to the edge. "Sini, I''m close," he warned her. Sini looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of affection and determination. She took him even deeper, letting him reach her throat, determined to see him through to the end. The overwhelming pleasure proved too much for John to hold back. With a final, deep thrust, he released the pent-up energy within him, pouring out like a flood. "Mumm" Sini felt her mouth suddenly fill to the brim, her eyes widening in difort, but she held on, determined not to let go. Gulp! She swallowed repeatedly, each time feeling a deep sense of satisfaction as she saw the pleasure on John''s face. Only after she hadpletely cleaned him off did she pull back, looking up at him with a hopeful expression. ''Master, did I do well?'' ''Yes, Sini, you''re amazing,'' John smiled warmly at her. Despite having just climaxed, he was still painfully aroused. He lifted Sini, ready to continue their passionate encounter. But Sini quickly intervened, ''Master, I''m not at my limit yet.'' With that, she grasped his hand, leaning forward to take him into her mouth once more. She opened wide, trying to take in as much of him as she could, though she struggled with the size, managing only halfway before she had to stop. After a moment of holding him in, she released him with a breathless gasp. Her hands then took over, guiding her tongue in gentle, teasing strokes along his length. John leaned back against the headboard, thoroughly enjoying the attention. The satisfaction on his face was clear, but time passed, and still, he had not reached another climax. Nearly half an hourter, Sini, now exhausted, finally admitted, ''Master, I can''t go on... How are you still holding back?'' Her mouth was numb, her jaw aching from the effort. The repeated deep thrusts had left her feeling breathless, and she couldn''t continue. John, sensing her fatigue, grabbed her arm and pulled her up to him, whispering, ''Just a little more.'' Without giving her a chance to respond, he positioned himself and pushed deep into her. ''Ah...'' Sini cried out, her back arching as a wave of intense pleasure washed over her. She was already so aroused that she climaxed almost instantly, her body trembling as she copsed onto John''s chest. But John wasn''t finished. He flipped her over, pinning her beneath him as he began a relentless rhythm. ''Master, please, slow down... Ah, I''m going to... again...'' Sini moaned and whimpered, her voice a mix of pleasure and desperation as she clung to his arms, trying to match his pace. Chapter 106: Chapter 106: The power of curse, lost mind Chapter 106: The power of curse, lost mind ? "Master, please, Sini can''t take any more... Please, give it to Sini..." Tears streamed down Sini''s face as she weakly pleaded with John. But he didn''t stop. Instead, he straightened up, driving into her with even more force. "Ah... Master, it''s too intense..." Sini''s mouth hung open, feeling that same overwhelming sensation from earlier when John had lifted her up, pushing deep inside her. This time, though, it didn''tst as long. A rush of heat flooded through her, making her body shudder uncontrobly. She opened her mouth slightly, but no sound came out, as the intense pleasure surged through her once again, reaching the peak together with John. "Ah!" A long, drawn-out moan escaped her lips. Completely drained, she copsed onto the bed, her eyes zed over as she gazed up at John. In a weak voice, she murmured, "Master, Sini can''t go on... Go find Tracy." John looked down at Sini, whoy there so fragile and obedient. His heart ached for her, and he didn''t want to leave her side. He leaned back against the headboard, pulling her into his arms and whispered gently, "There''s no rush, I''ll stay with you a little longer." "Mmm..." Sini replied faintly, a satisfied smile spreading across her face as she nestled against John''s chest. Before long, her breathing slowed, and she drifted into a deep sleep. It utterly exhausted from the string of climaxes. John watched her, her sweet, serene expression only fueling the mes of desire within him. It was as if the fox curse was ring up again! Ever since the attributes had merged, everything from The World of Gods had followed him into the real world. Including the fox curse. He struggled to suppress the rising lust inside him. He didn''t want to disturb Sini any further. Fortunately, Tracy had already logged out some time ago. John kissed Sini''s forehead, carefully tucked her in, and hastily left the room. He knew that if he stayed a moment longer, he wouldn''t be able to control himself. In Tracy''s bedroom. She was dressed in a soft nightgown, cuddling a cute stuffed animal as she sat against the headboard, lost in thought. Then, the door creaked open. Tracy''s expression was a mix of nervousness and anticipation as she looked toward the door. John entered,pletely naked, his body taut with tension, and his desire visibly intense. Tracy swallowed hard at the sight. She feels a strange blend of eagerness and fear. "Wait, old man, is it happening again?" Tracy finally noticed the pained expression on John''s face, realizing he was fighting to keep something under control. John nodded, staring intensely at her, struggling to stay conscious. He asked, "I might lose control. Can you handle it?" Tracy''s body trembled with fear; she knew all too well how overwhelming John''s strength could be, having nearly passed out several times before. But seeing the pain on his face, she didn''t hesitate. She nodded and said, "Old man, I can." As she spoke, she began to reach for the hem of her nightgown to take it off. But John was already there in an instant, roughly tearing the fabric away. He grabbed her delicate ankle, yanked her to the edge of the bed, and without warning, thrust deeply into her. "Ah..." Tracy cried out, the sudden, tearing pain between her legs making tears stream down her face. John was far more brutal than ever before, but she didn''tin. She allowed him to use her as he wished. She knew this wasn''t really John''s intent; the fox curse was taking over, causing him to lose control, leaving him to act on pure, primal instinct. His hands found her breasts, roughly squeezing and molding them into various shapes. Tears flowed from Tracy''s eyes as she whimpered in pain, trying to reach through to him. "Old man, please, not so rough... it hurts..." But John didn''t respond. He continued to thrust relentlessly. Tracy''s cries filled the room as her body shook violently, her voice a mix of moans and pleas for mercy. Despite the pain, the rough treatment ignited a twisted sense of pleasure within her, a sensation that was as addictive as it was agonizing. She looked up at John''s tortured expression, his face a mask of inner conflict. She closed her eyes, letting the tears fall, surrendering herself entirely to him. ... "Old man, please... I can''t take any more, please, give it to Tracy... Tracy can''t take it anymore..." The relentless pounding had her on the edge of breaking, her body teetering between ecstasy and agony. The pleasure, intertwined with pain, overwhelmed her senses. Her skin was covered in red marks from where John had grabbed and squeezed her. She had nearly cked out several times, only to be pulled back by the searing pain. "Old man, it''s too much... You''re going to break me... Please, stop hurting Tracy..." Her voice was hoarse, reduced to desperate cries for mercy. But John kept going, shifting her into different positions, mercilessly taking out his frustrations on her body. It went on for a full two hours, during which Tracy pleaded for relief. Finally, John reached his first climax. A surge of burning, overwhelming heat flooding into her. Tracy''s eyes widened, her mouth opening as she gasped for air, her hands clutching the sheets, and liquid continuously leaking from her body. She let out a long, drawn-out moan. "Old man, are you back to yourself? Tracy... really can''t take anymore..." she called out weakly, hoping to bring John back to his senses. The intense climax brought John some rity. As he noticed the red marks he had left on Tracy''s skin, he was filled with guilt. "Tracy, does it hurt a lot?" he asked, his voice heavy with regret. Seeing that he had regained some control, Tracy managed a smile. She gently caressed his cheek, trying to soothe him. "It doesn''t hurt at all. In fact, it''s a feeling that only you can give me, and Tracy loves it..." Her soft, hoarse voice only reignited the fire within John. Instead of calming down, his desire grew even more intense. Pain etched on his face, he tried to suppress it, saying, "Tracy, you should go find Sini. I need to be alone for a while." "Old man, you still haven''t calmed down?" Tracy gulped, fear creeping into her voice as she saw the torment in John''s expression. She couldn''t bear to see him suffer. John, now almost delirious, urgently said, "Go, now." But Tracy shook her head firmly. "I want to help you, old man." Ignoring the difort in her own body, she struggled to sit up on the bed, positioning herself on her knees. Tentatively, she lowered her face toward his erect length. Sini had taught her how, but Tracy had always been too shy and traditional to try it. Now, seeing John in such pain, she couldn''t hold back. "Old man, Tracy loves you," she whispered before opening her mouth and taking him in deeply. John''s body tensed as she began, her every movement sending waves of pleasure through him. "Mmm..." she moaned softly, her eyes wide with pain as she struggled to keep up. John''sst remnants of sanity vanished. He gripped Tracy''s head tighter, forcing himself further down her throat, not stopping until he was deep inside. Tracy''s tears flowed freely as she shook her head, gagging and moaning with each thrust. She pushed against John''s legs, desperately trying to free herself, but she was trapped. John, lost to his desire, only focused on the intense pleasure. He kept thrusting, going deeper with each movement, reaching the back of her throat and beyond. Tracy nearly passed out several times, but she held on, enduring it all. Her eyes, now filled with pleading, looked up at him, silently begging for mercy. ... After what felt like an eternity¡ªmore than half an hour-John finally reached his limit. A powerful release surged through him. And Tracy''s eyes widened in shock. Her throat reflexively swallowed, but she soon began to choke, coughing violently as tears streamed down her face. She looked up at John, shaking her head, her expression one of pain and disbelief. Huh... Choke... Finally, she managed to break free from his grasp, gasping for breath, her chest heaving as she coughed uncontrobly. "Old man, do you feel better now?" she asked softly, seeing that John had regained some control. The malevolent force within John had finally dissipated, and he exhaled deeply in relief, thankful that he hadn''t pushed Tracy past her breaking point. He pulled Tracy into his arms, gently stroking the red marks on her skin, and said apologetically, "Next time, make sure to resist." "I don''t want to," Tracy gazed at John with a soft, dreamy expression and whispered, "It would break your heart if you knew. But if you like it when I resist, I can do that too." John felt even more tenderness for her. He kissed her cheek and said, "Get some rest. You''ve had a tough night." Tracy nced at John''s still-aroused state and swallowed hard. She wanted to help him, but her body was sore, and her mouth was numb, leaving her with no strength to try anything more. "Old man, maybe you should go into The World of Gods and find Anna and the others," she suggested, trying toe up with a solution for him. "No need. I''d rather stay here with you," John replied, shaking his head. As long as the curse didn''t re up again, he could manage to control himself. Tracy leaned against John''s chest and said, "Then go to Sini''s room." John nodded. When they entered Sini''s room, she was still fast asleep, exhausted from the night before. Despite everything, themotion hadn''t disturbed her slumber, showing just how tired she really was. Content with both of them by his side, John soon drifted off to sleep, apanied by the soft sounds of their breathing. ... It was noon by the time John woke up the next day. With the tender care of Tracy and Sini, he got dressed and then logged into The World of Gods. The three of them appeared in Death Land. The sounds of training filled the air, indicating that everything was running smoothly. The newly added Undying Army, the beast horde, and the elves were all under Ada''s command, training diligently. After greeting everyone, John left Death Land with Sini and Tracy to continue leveling up. The two women had reached level 70 and above. At this rate, they would hit level 100 and go through their fourth ss advancement within a week. However, John''s own level progression had slowed significantly. Despite killing so many beasts and demon soldiers, he had only reached level 102. Once he hit the fourth tier, the experience required to level up became a staggering 6 million points. Even so, his level was still far ahead of the second-ranked yer on the leaderboard, Butcher. John checked the leaderboard and noticed that Dark Angel had reappeared on the list. Now he at level 76, sitting in tenth ce. The SSS-grade experience boost talent was indeed powerful. Despite being hunted by Ritchie''s men for half a month, Dark Angel had managed to catch up. John suspected that the Mike White Family might have had a hand in this. Ding! Suddenly, John received a private message from Ritchie. Ritchie: "Boss, a lot of real-world factions are investigating you. I have a feeling they might try something crazy. Are you sure you don''t want to make a move against the Mike White Family in the real world?" It was the most effective way he could think of to shift the focus away from himself. Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Resetting The Secret Area, Encountering the Angel Again Chapter 107: Resetting The Secret Area, Encountering the Angel Again ? John wasn''t surprised by the message from Ritchie. Thest time he leaked the news about the Attribute Fusion Stone, it drove the major guilds into a frenzy, leading them tounch reckless attacks on Dark Human cities. However, when they failed to obtain the stone and instead faced relentless retaliation from the Dark Humans, the yers found themselves in a dire situation. Now that the yers had calmed down, they began to suspect that the information about the Attribute Fusion Stone might have been false, and their anger once again turned toward John. There was no doubt that the Mike White Family was fanning the mes behind the scenes. John also wanted to take down the Mike White Family, but he knew that the time wasn''t right. The Mike White Family''s influence in the real world remained strong, and moving against them now would only lead to widespread chaos and suffering. That something John was determined to avoid. After considering the situation, he replied to Ritchie. Godyer: "Stick to the original n. In three days, I''ll provide you with two Attribute Fusion Stones. As for those real-world factions, ignore them." The Elemental Secret Area had a cooldown period of seven days, and there were still three days left before it would reset. As for the various real-world factions, John wasn''t concerned in the slightest. He was currently with the Blues Family, and most of the Ancient Martial Arts Families had been brought under Chris''s control, leaving no one daring enough to challenge the Blues Family. Ritchie: "Boss, there''s one more thing. The military is also interested in the Attribute Fusion Stone, iming it''s for maintaining public order. The request came from Robert and Kevin of the ck Tiger Legion." John furrowed his brow as he read Ritchie''s message. He remembered that there were unresolved issues with Robert and Kevin within the military. Robert was affiliated with the Griffin Family, but since the family had been destroyed, he likely wouldn''t pose any further threat. Kevin, on the other hand, was a more insidious figure, known for his treachery and betrayal of humanity-someone who needed to be dealt with. John responded to Ritchie. Godyer: "Investigate Kevin thoroughly. I suspect he might be colluding with the Mike White Family. As for Robert, if he hasn''tmitted any major offenses, let him be. If they want Attribute Fusion Stones, they can earn them themselves." In the previous timeline, Robert had contributed significantly to defending Earth from the monster tide invasion, and John wasn''t ready to condemn him just yet. The impact of Attribute Fusion on the real world was enormous. During the Blues Family''s crisis, John had no choice but to use the Attribute Fusion Stone. However, he had no intention of supplying the military with arge number of these stones. Ritchie: "Got it, Boss. I''ll keep you updated with any new information." John closed the private chat and turned to the two women beside him. "Let''s go to Green Moon and level up." Green Moon was a Level 3 city that had already been destroyed by John, but the surrounding monsters hadn''t disappeared; instead, they had be even stronger. The area was now filled with formidable beasts, all at Level 3 and Level 4, making it an ideal ce for the two women to level up. The three of them rode on the ck dragon, Avis. The wind howled around them as they flew at high speed, quickly arriving at a forest within Green Moon''s territory. This forest was teeming with powerful Minotaurs. Level 100 Minotaur Soldiers, Level 110 Minotaur Warriors, and Level 120-130 Minotaur Priests, along with the formidable Level 150 Minotaur Generals. The area was crawling with them, and they were all formidable Level 4 creatures. Without hesitation, Johnunched into a ruthless ughter. His damage output was terrifying, and these Level 4 monsters couldn''t withstand his attacks at all. ... Over the course of three days, John had nearly cleared the entire forest, killing countless Minotaurs, which boosted his four basic attributes by over ten thousand points. Both women had also reached Level 90 and above, climbing to the second and third spots on the leaderboard. At their current pace, they would reach Level 100 andplete their fourth job advancement in just two more days. Instead of continuing the massacre, John turned to the two women and asked, "I need to enter the Elemental Secret Area. Do you have any ns?" "We want to go with you," the two women responded without hesitation. The Elemental Golems in the Elemental Secret Area weren''t ssified as beasts, so killing them wouldn''t grant any experience. The women were concerned that John''s Fox Spirit Curse might act up again, and staying by his side would allow them to help him detoxify if needed. John nodded and didn''t refuse their request. The three of them made their way to the ruins of Green Moon. The ce was now in ruins, with the asional monster wandering through. The Elemental Secret Area was also ssified as a City Secret Area, and only cities established by Dark Humans could control it. Normally, when a city was destroyed, the Secret Area would also vanish. But for some reason, this Elemental Secret Area hadn''t disappeared. John took out the Elemental Key and activated it, leading the two women and Avis into the Secret Area. Buzz! A hum filled the air as spatial energy fluctuated, transporting them into the Elemental Secret Area. The environment was deste, filled with Elemental Golems and powerful elemental energy. The area was dominated by the four basic elements: wind, fire, water, and earth. Simrly, John''s mastery of these four elemental magic skills was sealed, leaving him only able to use skills outside of these four elemental types. Whoosh! Suddenly, a barrage of magic attacks-Wind des, Fireballs, and Water Arrows-came hurtling towards John. Avis quickly ascended, dodging the magical attacks, and unleashed a roar, spreading dragonfire across the battlefield. John joined in with his dark, spatial, and lightning magic,unching a frenzied assault on the Elemental Golems below. These fourth- and fifth-tier Elemental Golems were no match for John''s powerful magic attacks, and they were instantly obliterated. Sini and Tracy, curious and eager, also began attacking the Elemental Golems below. Swoosh! Several arrows shot through the air as Siniunched her attack. However, a series of "miss" indicators shed. This showing that her Divine Strategist archer skills, being physical attacks, had no effect on the Elemental Golems. Frustrated, Sini reluctantly gave up on her attempts. At that moment, a purple mist spread out, enveloping the Elemental Golems, and a cascade of damage numbers flickered above them. It was Tracy''s attack. John, surprised and curious, asked, "Tracy, what skill is that?" Tracy proudly raised her staff and replied with a grin, "Old man, this is the only attack skill I learned after switching to the Alchemist ss-Misty Cloud. It inflicts continuous poison damage on enemies in the area." John was intrigued. Poison magic wasn''t tied to any elemental system, so the Elemental Golems couldn''t resist it. Under the onught of various magical attacks, one by one, the Elemental Golems were shattered, leaving behind fragments of Attribute Fusion Stones. John wondered if his Sword Immortal skills could damage these Elemental Golems. With that thought in mind, he unleashed the Infinite Sword Array. Buzz! A humming sound filled the air as countless des descended, covering the Elemental Golems below. -97010 -96802 ... Damage numbers flickered as the Infinite Sword Array only dealt additional magical damage, but it was still enough to instantly kill the fourth-tier Elemental Golems. However, the efficiency wasn''t high, so John abandoned using his Sword Immortal skills and continued to rely on his dark, spatial, and lightning magic to attack the Elemental Golems. With an 80% reduction in skill cooldowns, his magic filled the battlefield in a relentless barrage. Before long, the entire Secret Area was cleared of over 30,000 Elemental Golems, leaving the ground littered with Attribute Fusion Stone fragments. Without waiting for John to say anything, the two women happily began collecting the fragments. One hundred Attribute Fusion Stone fragments could bebined to form aplete Attribute Fusion Stone, a treasure of incalcble value. John managed to collect 344 more Attribute Fusion Stones in total. As he looked at the now empty Secret Area, he didn''t choose to leave. Instead, he took out the Universal Order given to him by the dark elf Tanya. The Universal Order would disappear after use but had the power to reset the Secret Area. [You have used the Universal Order. The Elemental Secret Area has been reset.] The notification appeared, and the surrounding elemental energy surged. A new wave of Elemental Golems materialized from thin air. Boom! Suddenly, the sound of battle echoed from a distance. A holy light shed, and an overwhelming aura filled the air. "An angel!" John eximed as he spotted the holy figure hovering in the sky. In this ce, there was actually a Two-Winged Angel. "Something''s not right!" John suddenly realized why Green Moon was destroyed, yet this Elemental Secret Area hadn''t vanished. This Secret Area wasn''t an independent one; it was part of arger whole. The records in Green Moon only mentioned one of the entrances. By using the Universal Order, he had inadvertently reset the entire Secret Area, summoning Elemental Golems from other parts of this vast realm. At that moment, the Two-Winged Angel noticed John''s group. Stopping its attack, the angel stared at John in surprise. "Humans? How did you manage to enter the Elemental Secret Area?" John''s expression grew serious. Without responding to the angel, he turned to the two women and said, "Enter Death Land." Without hesitation, he summoned both women and Avis into the Death Land. The Two-Winged Angel was a seventh-tier legendary creature, far beyond his current ability to defeat. While John had resurrection methods, the others did not. "Trying to escape?" The angel, seeing the sudden disappearance of the women, assumed John was attempting to flee and immediatelyunched an attack. A Holy Light shed, striking directly at John. Boom! [You were killed by the Two-Winged Angel. The Blessed Ring has activated, and you have been resurrected with full health.] As expected, John was instantly killed by the Two-Winged Angel. However, he quickly summoned ck Turtle from the Death Land. He hoping the eight-tier ck Turtle could handle the situation. "What is this ce?" ck Turtle, sensing the strange atmosphere, frowned. The space around him felt unnervingly unfamiliar. "An angel!" he then noticed the Two-Winged Angel and his expression changed. Boom! Another Holy Light struck, forcing ck Turtle to transform into his true form, only to be sted away, blood trickling from his mouth. "Old man, can you handle this or not?" John was deeply disappointed. Despite ck Turtle being at the eighth tier, he was no match for the seventh-tier legendary Two-Winged Angel. ck Turtle angrily retorted, "Kid, this is a divine realm, and my powers are restricted. Lure him into the Death Land!" With that, he reverted to his human form. John had no choice but to rely on the Tree of Life. He opened the passage to Death Land, and along with ck Turtle, they fled inside. "You''re not getting away!" The Two-Winged Angel, unaware of the trap, followed them into the Death Land. Buzz! As soon as they entered, the passage closed, and ck Turtle immediatelyunched an attack. sh! A massive tidal wave surged forward, aimed directly at the Two-Winged Angel. Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Angel Player, Plundering Divinity Chapter 108: Angel yer, Plundering Divinity ? "Hmph, overestimating yourself!" The Two-Winged Angel sneered, swinging her longsword as a blinding sword light cut through the massive tidal wave. A sword beam, shrouded in Holy Light, struck ck Turtle once more. Even without the suppression from the Elemental Secret Area, this Two-Winged Angel''s power still far surpassed ck Turtle''s. As a seventh-tier legendary angel, she easily overwhelmed the eighth-tier epic-level ck Turtle. "Damn it, kid, how did you manage to provoke another angel?" Themotion had attracted a group of beasts. If even ck Turtle, with his eighth-tier strength, was no match for the Two-Winged Angel, they stood no chance. Fortunately, the Tree of Life was still there. Rustle... Suddenly, several vines whipped through the air, quickly entwining around the Two-Winged Angel. Her expression shifted slightly; she sensed danger. "The Tree of Life!" she muttered, watching the vines approach. She swung her light sword, cutting them down effortlessly. She then attempted to use a skill-Time Rift-to tear space behind her. She want to escape here. "Old man, stop her!" John realized her n. He couldn''t let her escape. "You must be out of your mind!" ck Turtle had not been involved in thest battle against a Two-Winged Angel, so he wasn''t sure of the oue. Still, he gritted his teeth and charged toward the angel, transforming into a giant turtle, hoping his tough shell would block her attack. Boom! Holy Light flickered as ck Turtle was once again sent flying. This time, the damage was severe; a crack had appeared in his once-imprable shell. Fortunately, ck Turtle''s intervention gave the Tree of Life another chance to attack. Numerous vines wove together into a massive, aiming to entrap the Two-Winged Angel. "Get away!" she shouted angrily as countless sword beams tore through the vines. But just as she thought she was free, the ground shook, and thick roots, like writhing dragons, wrapped tightly around her. sh! shing at the roots with her Light Sword, the beams only managed to glow briefly before being absorbed. The sword itself became trapped. Panic set in as the Two-Winged Angel shouted, "I am a messenger of the gods! How dare you harm me?" Just like thest angel, she was using her divine backing as a shield. "Killing you is exactly the n!" John retorted, activating Sword Mastery as the Sword of Divinity and Demons flew toward the angel. sh! Golden blood sttered as damage numbers appeared above the Two-Winged Angel''s head. -14021 "True damage!" The angel stared at John in disbelief. With 8 million HP, this damage was minimal. What truly shocked her was that this seemingly weak human had somehow mastered true damage¡ªa feat usually reserved for ninth-tier beings. "Get her! Finish her off!" came the enraged roars from the surrounding beasts. Before John could even give the order, the beastsunched a frenzied attack on the Two- Winged Angel. Having already taken down one angel before, they were well-practiced. However, most of the beasts'' attacks barely scratched the Two-Winged Angel. Only the beasts with seventh-tier or peak sixth-tier strength could actually deal any significant damage to her. At this point, ck Turtle had recovered enough to join in the assault on the Two-Winged Angel. John didn''t stand idle either. He alternated between Sword Mastery and Sword Immortal skills, causing a flurry of damage numbers to sh above the angel''s head. "Damn it, get away from me!" the Two-Winged Angel roared in fury, feeling as if she were being swarmed by ants. "Holy Light Judgment!" she shouted, casting a powerful holy magic spell. From the sky, a pir of light descended and crashed down with a thunderous roar. Boom! The entire Death Land trembled as the beasts attacking her were instantly thrown back. Some of the weaker beasts were killed outright by the st. Despite her formidable attack, she still couldn''t break free from the grasp of the Tree of Life. John noticed something unusual-The Tree of Life seemed unaffected by her Holy Light magic. The terrifying light beam struck the roots, but they remained unscathed. While her light sword could inflict some damage, the Tree of Life''s immense regenerative abilities rendered it negligible. "Don''t back down, keep attacking!" John shouted, directing the Sword of Divinity and Demons to continue its relentless assault on the Two-Winged Angel. The other beasts, wary of getting too close, stuck to using their ranged attacks. The elves and any beasts below the fifth tier kept their distance. They knowing that even a stray attack from the angel could be lethal. Boom, boom... The sounds of explosions echoed continuously. The Two-Winged Angel, once so proud and untouchable, was now in a pitiful state-her feathers torn, golden blood streaming from her wounds. Her previous arrogance was nowhere to be found. She turned her gaze toward John and, with desperation in her voice, threatened, "Human, you cannot kill me. If I die here, this region will be exposed. You cannot withstand the wrath of the angels." "Hah, do you think you can scare me?" John scoffed. "You''re not the first angel I''ve killed." "What?" The angel nced at the roots of The Tree of Life that bound her and swallowed nervously. She realized that the human in front of her indeed had the power to carry out his threat. Trying a different approach, she pleaded, "Human, I''m not like the other Two-Winged Angels. If I fall here, this space will be revealed." John remained unimpressed, intensifying his attacks. Even if what she said was true, letting her go would only result in her seeking vengeanceter. It was better to end her life here in Death Land. Under the relentless barrage of skills, the Two-Winged Angel''s once-mighty 8 million HP quickly dwindled to nothing. John had been carefully tracking the Two-Winged Angel''s health, ready to deliver the fatal blow. Although the ultimate skill of the Sword of Divinity and Demons was still on cooldown. But his Drunken Moon skill, which added 10% true damage to his physical attacks,bined with his Sword Immortal skill, was enough to finish off the angel. "You''ll regret this, human!" the Two-Winged Angel roared at John, her voice filled with fury as she stared him down. Her health was critically low, and she wouldn''t survive another round of attacks. "Everyone, hold your fire! Sini, Tracy, join the party," John suddenlymanded, calling off the assault and adding the two women to his party. Hearing John''s words, a glimmer of hope shed in the Two-Winged Angel''s eyes. She thought he might be reconsidering, perhaps even allowing her to escape. But in the very next moment, a brilliant sh cut through the air¡ªa massive sword light streaked across the sky, descending with lethal precision. It was the Flying Sword Strike, the signature move of the Sword Immortal. Boom! -46800 A ck true damage number flickered above the angel''s head. With her health already on the brink, this strike wiped it outpletely. She red at John with intense hatred before vanishing in a sh of white light. [You have in a Level 1000 Legendary Two-Winged Angel, earning 720,000 experience points.] [Plunder Talent activated. You have acquired the skill Holy Light Strike, Luck +1, Divinity +1.] [Holy Light Strike: Level 1, Intermediate Holy Light Magic. Deals 220% of your Spirit as Light Magic damage to the target. Costs 200 Mana. Cooldown: 10 seconds.] As the notification shed, John barely paid attention to it; instead, he stared in surprise at the spot where the Two-Winged Angel had vanished. Her body was gone, leaving behind only a few scattered items. That white light... it looked like the Resurrection mechanic for yers. "Could that angel have been a yer?" John wondered aloud, astonished. Sini, who had also noticed something was off, asked curiously, "John, where did the body go?" ck Turtle and the other beasts were just as puzzled, having never encountered something like this before. "Kid, your guess is spot on," a voice echoed in John''s mind. It was the Undead Lord. John, surprised, mentally replied, "So that angel was actually a yer in disguise?" "Think, kid," the Undead Lord replied, sounding slightly exasperated. "If humans can connect to the World of Gods through special means, why wouldn''t other races be able to do the same? Angels, Dark Humans-they can all have yers among them." "So, you''re saying they could be yers too?" John was taken aback, realizing that the World of Gods was far moreplex than he had previously imagined. The Undead Lord continued, "Indeed. And those who enter the World of Gods as yers are the prodigies of their respective races, given the opportunity to grow safely. Once they''ve reached a certain level of power, they can use the Attribute Fusion Stone to merge their abilities with those from the World of Gods." John''s expression grew serious. He recalled the warning from the Two-Winged Angel earlier, realizing that she might indeed have the capability to lock onto his location in the Death Space. Fortunately, her power had likely diminished after that death, so she wouldn''t pose an immediate threat. "Human, how about we make a deal?" The Undead Lord''s voice echoed in his mind again. "What kind of deal?" John asked, immediately on guard. The Undead Lord replied, "You help me Resurrect, and I''ll pledge my allegiance to you." "Seriously?" John frowned, skeptical that such a good deal could be true. After all, this Undead Lord had attempted to take control of his body multiple times but had never seeded. The Undead Lord exined, "I''m not lying. If I wanted to take over your body, I would have done it already. When your Fox Spirit Curse res up, you''re utterly defenseless-I could have easily destroyed your soul!" Cold sweat broke out on John''s forehead; he knew he was entirely unconscious when the Fox Spirit Curse took hold. "Are you spying on me?" He suddenly realized another possibility, his anger ring. "Rx, I''m not that dishonorable," the Undead Lord retorted with a tone of disdain. "I admit, I did want your body, but I can''t inherit your abilities. That would be a waste. Especially your Sword Immortal ss-I can sense an ancient power within it. If you grow strong enough, you might rival the gods, maybe even surpass them." John frowned, deep in thought. The Undead Lord didn''t seem to be lying. "Hey, what''s the holdup?" ck Turtle noticed John''s silence, assuming the Fox Spirit Curse was acting up again, and asked with concern. "Nothing," John shook his head, snapping out of his thoughts. He decided not to respond to the Undead Lord right away. Instead, he focused on reviewing the attributes he had just acquired through his Plunder talent. One was a mid-level light magic skill, Holy Light Strike. The other was something called Divinity-a life attribute he had never heard of before. "Do you know what Divinity is?" John asked ck Turtle curiously. "Divinity?" ck Turtle looked puzzled and shook his head, indicating he had never heard of such an attribute. The other beasts and elves around them were equally bewildered. Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Gaia coming, seven-tier demon emperor Chapter 109: Gaiaing, seven-tier demon emperor ? "Old man, look at all these Attribute Fusion Stones!" Tracy eximed, her eyes wide as she inspected the items dropped by the Two-Winged Angel. There were over 1,700 Attribute Fusion Stones, hundreds of thousands of gold coins, several hundred skill stones, equipment enhancement stones, gem sockets, and a scroll. Unfortunately, no weapons or equipment were dropped. In the World of Gods, divine bosses typically drop weapons and equipment, but since the Two-Winged Angel was a yer, her death only caused her to drop random items from her inventory. John couldn''t help but feel a bit disappointed as he examined the scroll. [Scroll: Death Worm''s Nest - Rank Six King-Level Secret Area. Requires Rank Six or higher to enter.] It was a powerful King-Level Secret Area! However, it required a rank of six or higher to ess, and John had just recently broken through to rank four. He was still far from reaching rank six. John sighed; he now had several Secret Areas in his possession, but hecked the strength to explore them. There was the Rank Seven City Secret Area: Demon King''s Treasure, the Rank Seven Dark Sea Secret Area. And now the Death Worm''s Nest. He needed to find a way to level up quickly. With the Two-Winged Angel dealt with, John didn''t linger in Death Land. After saying a quick goodbye, he led the two women back to the Elemental Secret Area. ording to the Undead Lord, the Elemental Secret Area was created by gods to benefit the angel race and Dark Humans, helping them to increase their power. This meant that John might encounter more powerful beings from the angel race or Dark Humans within this area. But John wasn''t too worried. With Death Land as his sanctuary, he could escape any danger at will. He resumed hunting down the Elemental Golems. Now, with his newly acquired skill, Holy Light Strike, which was unaffected by the restrictions of the Elemental Secret Area, his efficiency in killing the golems increased slightly. Before long, they had cleared out the Elemental Secret Area again, yielding another three hundred Attribute Fusion Stones. In total, John had amassed 2,407 Attribute Fusion Stones from this expedition. He debated whether or not to distribute them to the Blues Family or the me Legion. Fusing attributes ahead of time would have significant repercussions in the real world. But if he didn''t use the stones, they would be worthless once the World of Gods and Earth merged. In his hands, they would have no value. "Better to boost some people''s strength now," John eventually decided after careful consideration. Helping the strong within the Blues Family and me Legion fuse their attributes would strengthen his control over the Ancient Martial Arts Families and the military. It was also the perfect opportunity to reveal the truth about the World of Gods. Whether the yers chose to believe it was up to them. John explored the Secret Area thoroughly but found no connections to other spaces. It seemed that only by using the Universal Order to reset the Secret Area could it connect to other areas within the Elemental Secret Area. John decided to stop dwelling on the issue; he had enough Attribute Fusion Stones for the time being. "Let''s keep leveling up," he said, leading the two women out of the Elemental Secret Area to continue hunting monsters and gaining experience. After their recent battle with the Two-Winged Angel, both Tracy and Sini gained a significant amount of experience. Tracy reached level 96, and Sini reached level 95. They were close to hitting level 100. The low-level fourth-tier monsters around Green Moon were no longer challenging enough for John. He decided to take the women to the Eternal Forest to hunt fifth-tier monsters. ... The three of them spent three days wandering through the Eternal Forest. Both women finally reached level 100, and with John''s help, theypleted their ss advancement quests. During this time, John''s fox demon curse red up once again, leaving the women utterly exhausted, but they didn''tin. "John, let''s take a break," Sini suggested, concerned for him. John had been pushing hard, helping them level up without taking much time to rest. John nodded. The relentless grind over the past few days had indeed worn him out. He also had some other matters to attend to. "Let''s head back to Saint Martial Sect," John said, calling for Avis to take them there. ... Under the leadership of the Blues Family, Saint Martial Sect had grown rapidly, now boasting a membership of 100,000, all elite disciples from various Ancient Martial Arts Families. They had all transitioned to the Martial Artist ss, making them a formidable force. During this period, there had been asional disturbances from the Orcs, but the sect had sessfully repelled them each time. Since Armstrong wasn''t in the city, John sought out the busy Chris. "You''ve been missing for days, and you finally show up," Chris said, setting aside his work, his tone mildly reproachful. "Old man, I''ve been busy, but I''m here to see you now," John replied, feeling a bit exasperated. Chris had hinted several times that John should make an appearance before the disciples of the various families. Clearly, Chris wanted John to take control of these Ancient Martial Arts Families. Knowing John''s straightforward nature, Chris got straight to the point. "So, what brings you here this time?" John didn''t waste any time. He took out 1,000 Attribute Fusion Stones and handed them to Chris, instructing him, "Old man, there might be some disturbances in the real world soon. Use these 1,000 Attribute Fusion Stones for the elite disciples of the Blues Family. Make sure they don''t fall into the hands of the other Ancient Martial Arts Families." Chris epted the Attribute Fusion Stones and assured him, "Don''t worry, I know how to handle it." "Old man, I have other matters to attend to," John said, confident in Chris''s abilities as he got up to leave. "Ah, you brat," Chris sighed, about to say more, but then simply added, "Go on, I''ll take care of things at Saint Martial Sect." John didn''t bother to argue and took his leave. He used the teleportation array to travel to me City. me City was much quieterpared to Saint Martial Sect. The me Legion had always had a smaller membership, with only about 5,000 members. Ritchie had a unique status, and expanding the ranks of the me Legion required approval from higher authorities. However, he wasn''t overly concerned with the numbers; what he valued was quality. For him, five thousand elite soldiers were more than sufficient. "Boss, I was just about to look for you," Ritchie said, hurrying to meet John as soon as he heard of his arrival. He pulled John aside and spoke in a low voice, "Do you remember Gaia?" Gaia? John certainly remembered him. Gaia was a Dragon Knight, a rare ss, and once the top warrior of the Mike White Family. He had tried to steal the Diamond Giant Shield, a powerful artifact from Ritchie, which led to his city''s destruction by John and Ritchie. Later, they sent beasts to camp out and kill him repeatedly in the newbie vige, and it had been a while since John had heard anything about him. Ritchie continued, "Boss, he''s in me City right now, and he wants to defect to us." "Defect?" John frowned. "Could this be some kind of trap set by the Mike White Family?" Ritchie shook his head. "I thought the same at first, so I had him thoroughly investigated. Turns out Gaia just got out of the hospital." John looked puzzled. "What, was he sick?" Ritchie tapped his temple with a finger and exined, "Mental issues. He was so broken by what we did to him that he had to undergo psychiatric treatment. That Dark Angel guy was in a simr state but has apparently recovered somewhat recently. Gaia''s condition was much worse. He had multiple breakdowns, even talked about quitting the game entirely, and it seems the Mike White Family has given up on him. Somehow, he got wind of the Attribute Fusion process and now wants to join us." "Do you think we can trust him?" John remained wary. "Boss, he''s actually still in the city. Why don''t you meet him yourself?" Ritchie suggested, leading the way to the City Lord''s Manor. "Besides, I''ve got a hold on him in the real world too. It doesn''t seem like he''s lying. I also figured that if we use Gaia to demonstrate Attribute Fusion, it would be more convincing to others." In the City Lord''s Manor''s hall, John finally met Gaia. Gaia was a shadow of his former self. His eyes were sunken, his hair disheveled, and he looked dazed as if he had endured some kind of horrific torment. Gone was the confident, imposing figure he once was. "Godyer!?" Gaia eximed as soon as he saw John, abruptly standing up from his chair. His face was filled with fear, and his first instinct was to log off and escape the scene. John had be an inescapable nightmare in his mind. Gulp! Gulping nervously, Gaia forced himself to calm down and looked at John. "Godyer, I swear, I''m genuinely here to join you. I''m a Dragon Knight with a hidden ss. Though I''m only level 30 right now, I have a high potential cap. I can definitely be of use to you." John casually took a seat, ncing at Gaia without rushing to respond. Gaia was practically a broken man, but whether his offer to switch sides was sincere or not didn''t matter much-he could be a useful tool to manipte the Mike White Family. Ritchie leaned in and whispered, "So, what do you think, boss?" John nodded slightly, "Go ahead with your n, but first, get him to at least third tier. He''s too weak right now; I don''t want him getting assassinated in the real world and embarrassing us." "Got it," Ritchie replied, then gestured to a nearby soldier. The soldier understood immediately and escorted the bewildered Gaia out of the room, closing the door behind them. Ritchie turned back to John and asked, "What''s the n?" John pulled out over a thousand Attribute Fusion Stones and handed them to Ritchie. "These stones are only for trusted members of the me Legion. No one else." Ritchie''s eyes widened, and he swallowed hard. "That many? Shouldn''t we give a few to the higher-ups?" "No. If they want them, they cane to me personally," John replied firmly. Attribute Fusion Stones still had significant influence in the real world, and he needed to ensure that those in power remained under his control. "Understood, boss," Ritchie said, carefully stowing away the stones. He wasn''t in any hurry to distribute them. "One more thing," John continued, ncing at the closed door. "Go ahead with the n to pin this on the Mike White Family, but this time, have Gaia leak some information about the hidden agenda of the World of Gods." "Isn''t that a bit early? It could cause panic in the real world," Ritchie hesitated. The implications were massive, and revealing such information could lead to widespread chaos. John was unfazed. "It''s not an official statement; they can believe it or not. After this, start preparing to take action against the Mike White Family in the real world." "Got it, I understand," Ritchie nodded quickly, fully grasping the gravity of the situation. Just then, a soldier hurried into the room, saluted John, and said, "Commander! There''s someone outside iming to be a Demon Emperor who wants to see you." Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Demon Race Genius Enters the Secret Area Chapter 110: Demon Race Genius Enters the Secret Area ? "Demon Emperor?" Ritchie was baffled; he didn''t know anyone by that name. John, however, furrowed his brows and replied, "It''s a Seventh-Tier Demon Race powerhouse." He remembered the demon emperor who had escaped during the assault on the Beast n''s Secret Area. "Seventh-Tier?" Ritchie was startled. The current strength of the me Legion was definitely not enough to contend with a Seventh-Tier powerhouse. He looked to John for guidance and asked, "Boss, what should we do?" "Let''s go see," John instructed the soldier to lead the way. me City was situated in the Land of Darkness, once known as the City of Darkness under demon race rule. The arrival of a demon emperor undoubtedly meant trouble. But the fact that he hadn''t brought an army left John uncertain about his intentions. Even if they had ill intentions toward me City, John had a trump card in the form of ck Turtle and wasn''t afraid of a Seventh-Tier powerhouse. When John reached the city gate, he saw the demon race visitors. Indeed, it was the same demon emperor, Glenn, who had fled during the attack on the Beast n''s Secret Area. Beside him was another demon race man, shrouded in arge robe with a hood that concealed his face, giving off an eerie vibe. "We meet again, human!" Glenn said with a faint smile, looking at John. John, however, remained wary, his expression cold. "You''re not wee here." Glenn wasn''t offended; he kept his faint smile and replied, "Don''t be so harsh, human. We''re not here with ill intentions; we''vee to discuss a partnership." "Partnership?" John eyed him suspiciously, his gaze shifting to the hooded figure beside Glenn. There was something about this man that seemed even more powerful. Glenn continued, "Human, this me City used to be the City of Darkness under demon race control. How about we manage it together?" John had already guessed their true objective. "You''re after the Demon King''s Treasure, aren''t you?" "Correct," a deep, raspy voice responded as the hooded man slightly lifted his head, revealing a pair of pitch-ck eyes that stared coldly at John. His tone was menacing, "Thisnd was never yours to begin with. I suggest you be wise and step aside, human." "What if I refuse?" John sneered, genuinely unafraid of the man''s threat. Boom! The hooded man stepped forward, and a massive surge of dark energy erupted from him, radiating an oppressive and terrifying aura that felt like a tidal wave crashing down. The surrounding soldiers staggered backward, and even Ritchie, pale-faced, couldn''t help but take a step back. John was shocked, struggling to withstand the man''s overwhelming pressure. This guy felt just as formidable as ck Turtle. "A Seventh-Tier peak powerhouse!" The voice of the Undead Lord echoed in John''s mind. "Kid, if I''m not mistaken, this guy should be the demon race prodigy, Owen." John frowned; he hadn''t heard of any demon race prodigy by that name. At this moment, Glenn stepped forward, stopping the hooded man. His expression remained calm as he spoke, "Human, we mean no harm. You can see for yourself-if we truly wanted to make a move against you, even that old turtle wouldn''t be able to stop us." "Is that so?" John was skeptical. This guy was so confident-could this demon race prodigy Owen also be a legendary-grade expert? He wondered if The Tree of Life could handle him. He silently asked the Undead Lord, "Do you know what''s inside the Demon King''s Treasure Secret Area?" The Undead Lord responded, "It''s aplete set of demon race treasures-Demon Soul, Demon Wing, Demon Armor, and Demon Eye. If someone manages to refine them, they could grow to rival the gods themselves." John understood. It seemed these two were after the demon race''s ultimate treasure. He had a n in mind and looked at Glenn before saying, "Forget about co-managing the city. But if you want to enter the Demon King''s Treasure Secret Area, I can agree on one condition." "Speak!" Owen''s voice was cold and impatient. John nced at him and continued, "It''s simple. I go with you into the Secret Area." Owen let out a softugh. Although his expression was hidden, John could sense the contempt and smugness behind it. Glenn, on the other hand, remained moreposed. He looked at John with suspicion and asked, "Kid, aren''t you afraid I might take you out inside the Secret Area?" "Would you?" John countered. Glenn frowned slightly. John''s confidence made him uneasy. This human was odd; even with ck Turtle''s protection, he had managed to kill the Fox n prodigy White. Although underhanded methods were used, it still made Glenn wary. "Fine, I agree." Owen spoke up impatiently. Glenn felt uneasy but didn''t argue further. "Kid, have you lost your mind? These two clearly have bad intentions," the voice of the Undead Lord echoed in John''s mind. John ignored the warning. Instead, he looked at the two demon race figures and said, "Join the me Guild. I''ll grant you permissions." In the world of Gods, sentient beings could also join guilds. Once they joined the guild, John immediately added them to the party and then transferred the leader position to Glenn. The Demon King''s Treasure Secret Area required Seventh-Tier strength to unlock, something John, being only Fourth-Tier, couldn''t achieve alone. Glenn nced at Owen, who gave a slight nod of approval, before epting the party leader position. John noticed the subtle exchange between the two. It was clear that Owen held both superior strength and statuspared to Glenn. "Let''s go," Glenn prompted as he activated the Treasure Secret Area. Space around them began to warp, and in the next moment, the three figures disappeared. They found themselves in a murky, oppressive space, thick with powerful dark energy. "Attack!" A shout came from beside John, followed by a surge of immense dark power. Sensing the impending danger, John quickly retreated but was still struck by a Dark Orb. Boom! [-1,107,100] A terrifying damage number floated above John''s head. [You have been killed by Seventh-Tier demon emperor Glenn. The Blessed Ring skill has been activated. You have resurrected at full health.] The notification shed as John immediately summoned Death Land, bringing forth ck Turtle and several other Seventh-Tier powerhouses, including the leader of the Undying Legion, Robin. The strong figures materialized out of thin air, catching the demon race off guard. "Glenn! Hmm? A Seventh-Tier Legendary Peak powerhouse!" ck Turtle gasped, his attention drawn to the hooded man, Owen. He red at John and barked, "Kid, can''t you stay out of trouble? Why do you keep provoking these terrifying beings?" The two sides stood off, tense but not rushing into battle. John turned to ck Turtle and asked, "Can you handle him?" ck Turtle shook his head slightly, lowering his voice, "This guy is even stronger than that Two-Winged Angel." That strong? John was taken aback. It seemed that these beasts weren''t going to be enough. He then asked, "What about The Tree of Life?" ck Turtle shook his head again. "No, The Tree of Life is effective against angels, but it doesn''t work against the demon race. In fact, their dark energy can even suppress The Tree of Life." John felt a twinge of frustration; his n to use the beasts and The Tree of Life to take down these two was clearly not going to work. ck Turtle urged, "Kid, retreat into Death Land." But John ignored him, his eyes shifting from Glenn to Owen. He spoke, "I know you''re here for the demon race''s treasures. I''m not interested in them; I just want to witness the experience. Besides, ck Turtle can assist you in obtaining them." ck Turtle''s eyes widened in anger as he red at John. When had he ever agreed to help them? Glenn, however, seemed intrigued by John''s proposal. The Demon King''s Treasure was a Seventh-Tier Secret Area, full of unknown dangers. Having an Eighth-Tier powerhouse like ck Turtle on their side could indeed be advantageous. He looked over at Owen for confirmation, waiting for his decision. After a brief moment of thought, Owen gave a slight nod. Glenn immediately agreed, "Human, we ept." "Great," John replied with a slight smile. He snapped his fingers, recalling all the other beasts and Robin back into Death Land, leaving only ck Turtle behind. ck Turtle scowled at John, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Kid, what kind of trick are you trying to pull now?" John reassured him, "Rx. If things get dangerous, I''ll bring you back into Death Land immediately." ck Turtle gave John a stern look but remained silent, unwilling to argue further. Owen seemed familiar with the area and led the way, swiftly moving through the dense fog. John and ck Turtle followed at a distance. Suddenly, the sound of fighting reached them. In the mist, demon soldiers and demon guardians appeared, engaging Glenn and Owen. John showed no intention of helping and instead pulled ck Turtle aside, asking in a low voice, "Can the gods sense this space?" ck Turtle paused, realizing John''s n, and shook his head. "No, they can''t. Secret Areas are independent spaces. Gods can''t sense them. Only by leaving the Secret Area and entering Skyline Continent could they be detected." He gave John a knowing look and added, "Kid, don''t get any clever ideas. If these two are bold enough to enter this Secret Area and retrieve the demon race''s treasure, they must have ways to conceal their presence. The gods won''t be able to detect them." John replied calmly, "It''s not just them who possess demon race treasures." He mentioned that he had a fragment of the Demon Soul. Though it was iplete, it could still attract the attention of the gods. ck Turtle was stunned and quickly cautioned, "You''re not thinking of using yourself as bait, are you? The gods have methods to attack the soul. Your Undying and Immortal talent won''t protect you." "Don''t worry, I know what I''m doing," John said confidently. He had survived a divine attack before. While gods did have soul-based attacks, they didn''t usually start with them. As long as he could retreat into Death Land in time, he would be safe. "You''re ying with fire, kid," ck Turtle sighed, giving up on trying to dissuade John. "Hey, you two, hurry up!" Owen''s impatient voice called from ahead. They ended their discussion and quickly caught up. As John nced at the fallen demon soldiers and guardians scattered on the ground, he clicked his tongue in disapproval. "You demon race folk really are ruthless, killing your own kind so easily." "Hmph, survival of the fittest. These were just cannon fodder," Owen replied coldly, his tone full of disdain, as if the ones he had killed were nothing more than insects. Glenn then added, "You two, move to the front." He was still suspicious of them, and having them in his line of sight would put him more at ease. Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Demon King’s Avatar, Battling the Demon Lords Chapter 111: Demon King¡¯s Avatar, Battling the Demon Lords ? With no other choice, John and ck Turtle led the way, advancing through the thick, lingering mist. The fog obscured their surroundings, but it wasn''t long before they encountered demon soldiers and demon guardians emerging from the haze. Soon after, more formidable foes appeared-demon generals and demon lords. These creatures of the demon race posed little threat to John. Only the sixth-tier demon lords offered any real challenge, but even they were manageable for him. The most critical aspect was that these demon lords were epic-tier bosses at the sixth level, making them perfect targets for boosting the level of his Wrath of the Gods talent. "Old man, leave these Six-Tier demon lords to me," John instructed ck Turtle. To level up his Wrath of the Gods talent again, John needed to kill 50 Six-Tier epic bosses or higher. So far, he had only managed to y two Seven-Tier legendary Two-Winged Angels. High-tier bosses were rare, and finding them wasn''t easy. ck Turtle nced at John with a hint of confusion but said nothing. He deliberately let the powerful Six-Tier demon lords through, leaving them for John to handle. John found it challenging to face the demon lords with his current strength, but his superiorbat skills allowed him to handle them with little difficulty, though it took time. [Killed Six-Tier Epic Demon Lord, gained 283,000 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, Spirit +10, Skill Points +10] ... The notification shed as John finally wore down the demon lord, activating his Plunder talent and gaining 10 points in attributes and 10 skill points. He also looted a legendary piece of equipment. John calmly collected his spoils, but the two behind him, Glenn and Owen, were visibly displeased, though they didn''t stop him. After all, they were the ones who had insisted that John and ck Turtle lead the way. "Kid, stop dawdling and hurry up!" Owen snapped, his patience wearing thin. John, unfazed, nced back at Owen and replied coolly, "If you''re in such a hurry, why don''t you take the lead?" Boom! Suddenly, a massive ck hand swept past John, crashing into the demon army ahead. The impact was devastating, with blood spraying everywhere, and even the powerful Six-Tier demon lords were obliterated in a single blow. Owen, who had unleashed the attack, looked at John coldly and asked, "Can we move faster now?" John swallowed nervously. The sheer power of this guy was terrifying. With the surrounding demon forces temporarily cleared, and no more threats in sight. John and ck Turtle reluctantly picked up the pace through the mist. As they ventured deeper, the fog began to thin out, revealing a grand pce looming ahead. The pce sprawled across a vast area, resplendent and magnificent, showing no signs of wear from the passage of time. John spected that this must be the final resting ce of the Demon King''s treasure. He quickened his pace, anticipation growing. "Kid, be careful. I can sense a powerful presence here," ck Turtle cautioned, stepping ahead of John. John looked around curiously, but he couldn''t detect anything unusual. Behind him, Owen and Glenn, both visibly excited at the sight of the pce, hurried to the front. Whoosh! Suddenly, the mist around them began to churn, and a phantom materialized directly in front of the pce entrance, blocking their path. "The Demon King!" ck Turtle gasped, immediately positioning himself in front of John with a serious expression. "Kid, don''t try anything reckless. Be ready to retreat into the Death Land at any moment." The Demon King was a legendary Eighth-Tier powerhouse within the demon race. Even though this was merely a projection of the Demon King, it was still far beyond what they could handle. John simply nodded, his curiosity piqued as he studied the towering phantom. Aside from its imposing size, it didn''t seem particrly extraordinary. "This is the Demon King''s pce. No one may enter!" a booming voice echoed, and a powerful aura of oppression descended upon them, nketing the area. John felt an intense wave of danger. This Demon King projection was undoubtedly formidable. "Master!" Owen stepped forward, removing his hood to reveal a handsome yet sickly pale face. He respectfully addressed the phantom, "I am Owen of the demon race, here to reim our race''s treasured artifacts." "Oh?" The Demon King''s phantom eyed Owen with interest, its hostility diminishing slightly. "If you wish to obtain the demon race''s treasures, you must first pass my trial." With that, the phantom waved its hand, summoning numerous demon generals and demon lords, even including Seventh-Tier demon emperors. In a sh, the Demon King''s phantom lunged at Owen. "ck Turtle, help us!" Glenn, now surrounded and under attack by two demon emperors, desperately called out for aid. John and ck Turtle exchanged nces, both remaining motionless with amused expressions, clearly uninterested in assisting. However, the demon race warriors had no intention of sparing them either. Two more demon emperors, leading demon lords and generals, charged towards them. "Kid, watch yourself," ck Turtle warned, his expression tense. Having just broken through to the Eighth Tier, he couldn''t afford to be distracted while fending off two Seventh-Tier demon emperors. John maintained his calm demeanor. He unleashed the Sword of Divinity and Demons and activated Sword Mastery, cutting down the approaching demon soldiers. The Fourth-Tier demon guardians and Fifth-Tier demon generals fell easily before his de, but the Sixth-Tier demon lords were able to withstand his attacks with rtive ease. John watched the horde of approaching demon lords with a thrill of excitement rather than fear. There were fifteen demon lords in total, all of them Sixth-Tier epic bosses. ying them would bring him significantly closer to upgrading his Wrath of the Gods talent. "Infinite Sword Array!" he shouted, unleashing a storm of des that filled the air, each one gleaming with deadly intent. Damage numbers shed across the battlefield, with a mix of standard damage and the distinctive ck figures indicating true damage. The lesser demons-demon guardians and demon generals¡ªwere annihted instantly, unable to withstand the onught. However, the powerful demon lords managed to survive the initial barrage of attacks, their tough defenses holding firm. The ten or so demon lords roared in unison as they charged toward John. These enemies, with their Sixth-Tier epic status, boasted a terrifying base physical damage of 400,000. John knew that his current attributes wouldn''t allow him to take them head-on. Buzz! Suddenly, a swirling mist appeared in front of him, coalescing into a clone. It was his Water Mist Clone skill. It now upgraded to Advanced Level 1. The clone possessed 100% of John''s health and 33% of his base attributes, significantly boosting its power. But even with this enhancement, the clone was no match for the demon lords. Dark energy surged as the demon lords unleashed a barrage of skills. In an instant, the mist dissipated, leaving nothing but empty air where the clone had been. John used this brief distraction to his advantage, retreating swiftly before activating Grand Tremor. Boom! The ground shook violently, throwing the demon lords off bnce. -4401 -4410 -4482 ... Damage numbers flickered across the screen, John''s magic attacks only dealt a paltry 4,000 damage to the demon lords, barely scratching them. Without the added boost from true damage or the physical might, his magic attacks couldn''t truly threaten these formidable foes. But John hadn''t expected his area-of-effect magic to deal significant damage. He was counting on Grand Tremor for its crowd control effect. For a full second. At the time, the demon lords stood dazed, paralyzed by the stun effect. John seized the moment, darting forward to confront one of the demon lords. In a sh, he unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, activating Unrivaled Sword Dance. sh! Blood sprayed as two damage numbers popped up. -248040 -64807 The demon lord''s physical defense was over 400,000. That meaning John''s attacks inflicted 240,000 in physical damage and over 60,000 in true damage. The demon lord lost nearly one-tenth of its total health in that single strike. "Human, die!" roared one of the demon lords in fury, snapping out of the stun. With a swift motion, the demon lord thrust his spear towards John. Anticipating the attack, John swiftly retreated, dodging the lethal strike of the demon lords. Simultaneously, he unleashed a sword strike, a dazzling arc of light tearing through the sky, descending with destructive force. It was the Sword Immortal skill, Flying Sword Strike! Boom! With a thunderous crash, the demon lord lost another 300,000 health points. Before the demon lord could recover, a storm of sword des erupted around him. The cooldown for Infinite Sword Array had reset, and John wasted no time in unleashing it once more. des filled the air, slicing through the demon lords, who could do nothing but endure the onught. Their eyes zed with anger as they realized they were being toyed with by a mere human. Furious roars echoed as theyunched a barrage of Dark Orbs at John. At that moment, John leaped into the air, his feet nted firmly on his longsword as he executed the Sword Flight technique, soaring high above, dodging the iing orbs with ease. "Kid, what kind of power is that?" ck Turtle, noticing John flying on his sword, couldn''t hide his surprise, almost getting struck by a demon emperor in the process. John ignored the query, hovering in the air, biding his time until his skills were ready again. "Cowardly human! Fight me face-to-face if you dare!" the demon lords raged, hurling curses into the sky. But John was now out of their reach, their attacks falling short. He paid no heed to their insults, instead, sipping a high-grade mana potion to replenish his energy. As soon as the cooldown for Sword Immortal ended, John smirked, saying coldly, "You want a fair fight? I''ll give you one." Before the demon lords could react, John plummeted from the sky. With a surge of earth energy, he activated Grand Tremor again. Once more, the demon lords were stunned, frozen in ce as a barrage of swords rained down upon them. In quick session, John unleashed Flying Sword Strike, Infinite Sword Array, and Unrivaled Sword Dance. His movements were fluid and precise, executing three powerful skills in less than a second. The demon lords barely had time to shake off the stun before John ascended back into the air. Repeating this cycle, John systematically wore them down. Despite their fury, the demon lords could do nothing but watch as two of their own fell to John''s relentless assault. "Ah! Damn you!" The remaining demon lords were beside themselves with rage, swinging their weapons futilely at the sky where John hovered just out of reach. "Lord demon emperor, could you help us deal with this pest?" one of the demon lords finally pleaded, looking towards the two demon emperors locked in battle with ck Turtle. ck Turtle frowned, his attacks growing fiercer as he kept the two demon emperors upied, giving them no opportunity to break away. Meanwhile, Glenn, observing the scene, smirked coldly. There were four demon emperors on the battlefield-he and ck Turtle each engaging two. Despite his own precarious situation, fending off two near-equal opponents using spatial magic, Glenn saw an opportunity to turn the tide. Sensing the plea from the demon lords, he subtly withdrew, allowing one of the demon emperors to break off and focus on John. "This human is mine!" roared the freed demon emperor, his dark energy coalescing into a pair of shadowy wings as he took to the sky, rushing towards John with deadly intent. Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Trapped in the Abyss, A Terrifying Beast Chapter 112: Trapped in the Abyss, A Terrifying Beast ? "He can fly too?" John was taken aback and hastily called out to ck Turtle for help. "Old man, give me a hand here." At his current strength, John was already struggling to deal with the six-star demon lords, let alone the even more formidable demon emperor. "Damn it!" ck Turtle cursed under his breath. He had attempted toe to John''s aid several times, but the two demon emperors kept him fully upied. Forced to focus on his own battle, he could only shout, "Kid, just get into the Death Land!" John continued to maneuver through the air on his flying sword, showing no intention of retreating into the Death Land. He had finally encountered a group of six-star demon lords, and he wasn''t about to let this opportunity slip away. He needed to take them down. But more importantly, he was here to stop the demon race''s genius, Owen, from obtaining the demon race''s treasure. Boom! Suddenly, a powerful wave of dark energy swept over John, almost knocking him off his longsword. He nced to the side in shock. Owen had already defeated the Demon King''s phantom. Though it was only a projection, the Demon King''s phantom still held the power of an eight- star legendary figure. And yet, Owen, with his seven-star legendary rank, had managed to ovee an eight-star opponent. His talent was undoubtedly extraordinary. The Demon King''s voice echoed, "Boy, you have passed my test. You may now enter the Demon King''s castle." The phantom no longer blocked Owen and vanished from sight. However, the surrounding demon lords and demon emperors did not disappear. They continued their relentless assault on John and hispanions. Owen smirked coldly. Instead of entering the Demon King''s castle immediately, he unleashed a Dark Orb that annihted the demon emperor facing Glenn. "Attack!" hemanded, leading the charge against ck Turtle. "Kid!" ck Turtle was rmed and immediately called out to John for help. "Damn it!" John cursed under his breath, filled with frustration. ck Turtle was no match for Owen, and continuing the battle would put his life at risk. With no other option, John used his mental connection to the Death Land to summon ck Turtle back. Owen''s powerful strike hit nothing but air, and he red at John with rage. "Glenn, seal the space! Don''t let this guy escape!" Seal the space? John''s face darkened as a sense of foreboding crept over him. He tried to reconnect with the Death Land to escape. Buzz! Suddenly, a spatial force rippled through the air, severing his connection to the Death Land entirely. "You''re dead, kid!" Glenn sneered, his dark energy forming into a pitch-ck arrow that shot toward John with deadly precision. St! The arrow pierced John''s heart, and a massive damage number shed before his eyes. -4,408,200 [You have been killed by seven-star demon emperor Glenn. Lifesaver talent activated...] The notification appeared, signaling that John had been killed once more. The Blessed Ring had already triggered once before, so this time, his Lifesaver talent activated. "Huh, still not dead?" Glenn stared at John in disbelief. He couldn''t understand how, despite striking twice with enough power to kill him instantly, the human before him was still alive. "I don''t believe you can''t be killed," Glenn muttered, charging at John once more. Boom! Dark energy surged, and John was sent flying, killed instantly once again. [You have been killed by seven-star demon emperor Glenn. Undying and Immortal talent activated...] Yet, John still didn''t die. "What''s going on?" Glenn''s brow furrowed as he watched John with suspicion, suddenly hesitant to attack again. "Betraying an ally after crossing the river-you demons really are despicable!" John wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, ring at Glenn, and once more tried to connect with the Death Land. But there was still no response. Thankfully, these two didn''t have any soul-attack abilities; otherwise, he would have been in real danger this time. Owen, also surprised by John''s survival, spoke up, "Stop wasting time. Banish him to the Abyss." "Good idea!" Glenn''s eyes lit up as a powerful spatial force began to ripple around him. The Abyss? What''s that? John watched Glenn''s movements, puzzled. At that moment, the urgent voice of the Undead Lord echoed in his mind: "Kid, run! The Abyss is the demon race''s Death Land. Once you''re in, there''s no escape." Realizing the gravity of the situation, John quickly took off on his flying sword, fleeing at top speed. If the Undead Lord was this terrified, the Abyss had to be a truly horrifying ce. Buzz! Suddenly, spatial energy enveloped John, and Glenn''s scornful voice rang out, "It''s toote to run now. You were too arrogant, kid. Abyss, manifest!" With a shout, a pitch-ck rift appeared beneath John, and an immense suction force dragged him down into the Abyss. "It''s over," came the Undead Lord''s despairing voice in John''s mind. Being devoured by the Abyss meant there was no escape-no different from death itself. Thud! Johnnded heavily on the ground, the impact jarring him to the point where it felt like his bones might shatter. This eerie space was filled with a powerful force that restricted him, allowing only low- altitude flight. After a moment, John recovered enough to take in his surroundings. Dark energy permeated the area, shrouded in a thick, misty haze, much like the Demon King''s treasure Secret Area. But this ce felt far more dangerous. He tried once more to connect with the Death Land-still nothing. Not only that, but his friend list was grayed out, cutting off allmunication with the outside world, and even preventing him from logging out. For the first time, fear gripped John. This Abyss seemed like apletely isted space. In his mind, he asked, "Undead Lord, is there any way to escape this ce?" Undead Lord: "I don''t want to talk to you." John: "Seriously? You''re throwing a tantrum now? Come on, talk to me--if you don''t, we''re both going to be stuck here forever." There was silence in his mind for a moment. Finally, the Undead Lord sighed in resignation. "Kid, you might as well ept it. To escape the Abyss, you need to master the power of darkws, and that''s something only a nine-star powerhouse can do." The power ofws? John frowned. This was the second time he had heard of such a thing. The first time was during his fight with ck Turtle, when he caused true damage, and ck Turtle mentioned it. But back then, John was too angry to ask for details. It seemed that this power ofws was somehow connected to true damage. Curious, John asked in his mind, "What exactly is this power ofws? How do I train to master it?" "I don''t know. If I knew, I''d have broken through to nine stars long ago," the Undead Lord replied impatiently, clearly not in the mood to entertain John''s questions. "So, if I reach nine stars, will I have a chance to master the power ofws?" John pressed on. Reaching nine stars would be tough, but if there were monsters here, he could eventually grind his way there. The Undead Lord sounded exasperated. "Kid, do you think the power ofws is asmon as cabbage? You can''t just decide toprehend it. That power is rare, even among the strongest. Only a handful of nine-star geniuses across the entire Skyline Continent have ever mastered it. And those who have are exceptional beyond measure. Even after the Skyline Continent merged with the world of Gods, the number of beings who grasp the power ofws can be counted on one hand." "So, you''re saying we''re really going to be stuck here forever?" John looked around, feeling a deep sense of frustration. Suddenly, he felt the ground tremble as waves of terrifying energy surged around him, and the mist began to churn. Dark, massive shadows started to emerge. They were enormous, grotesque beasts. "Well, well, a neer?" A melodic voice echoed through the air. A dark silhouette swooped down from above. It was a unicorn. But unlike the legendary, pure creatures, this one was shrouded in dark energy, radiating a malevolent aura. "A human? And such a weak one at that!" A deep voice echoed through the mist, and a massive figure emerged. That is a Behemoth, one of the legendary giant beasts. Gulp. "Ah, how I miss that taste. Let me devour him!" roared a terrifying ck dragon with three heads. Its enormous, foul-smelling jaws inching closer to John. Boom! A bolt of ck lightning crackled through the air, forcing the three-headed dragon to retreat. The unicorn coldly dered, "I saw him first. This little guy is mine." "Stop the bickering. Let''s stick to the usual rules-draw lots," suggested another voice. A Minotaur, wreathed in ck mes andcking a lower body, floated towards them. "Agreed," the other creatures chimed in. John watched these terrifying monsters-a collection of legendary beasts, all at the seventh or eighth rank-with a growing sense of irritation. Even a dark elf was among them. The creatures began to draw lots, casually deciding John''s fate. "Excuse me!" John interrupted, eyeing the fearsome beasts around him. "Shouldn''t you at least ask for my opinion?" The beasts nced at John, their expressions filled with disdain. The three-headed ck dragon sneered, "Does it matter? You''re just food." The fiery Minotaur grinned, "I''m curious, though. Who would you choose, little one?" The unicorn tossed its mane, adding, "It should be me. I''m far more elegant than the rest." The Behemoth looked John up and down, smacking its lips, "I''m not interested. This little guy isn''t even big enough to be a toothpick." John shot a re at the Behemoth and then cut in, "Actually, I have a way out of here, but I need to reach the ninth rank. You all seem pretty powerful, so how about one of you sacrifices yourself to help me level up?" For a moment, the beasts were stunned, their expressions a mix of disbelief and amusement. Yet none of them seemed angry. The fiery Minotaur eximed in surprise, "By the heavens, this little guy actually startled me!" The Behemoth, now intrigued, asked, "What did you do to get thrown into the Abyss, little one? Did you spy on the Demon Emperor''s daughter while she was bathing, or did you sleep with the Demon King''s wife?" John''s face darkened. As an upstanding man, he''d never do something so despicable. The Behemoth reminded him a lot of ck Turtle, equally vulgar. "Interesting," mused the three-headed ck dragon, its heads bobbing as it scrutinized John. "I almost feel bad about eating him now." "How about we try something new?" suggested the unicorn. The dark elf spoke up, "He''s too weak. I''m afraid we might identally kill him." ... Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Life Fruit, Bet and Arena Chapter 113: Life Fruit, Bet and Arena ? The powerful beings from various races continued their discussions, once again ignoring John. However, the good news was that they no longer debated who would eat him. Instead, they discussed how John could provide them with more entertainment. John frowned. He realizing that these beings, corrupted by their long confinement in the Abyss, were far from sane. "Alright, it''s decided then. We''ll have the Abyss Demons fight this little guy," dered the Behemoth, finalizing the n. The other beasts and creatures nodded in agreement. "I''ll build the arena." "I''ll capture the Abyss Demons." "I''ll set up the betting pool." ... Once again, these powerful beings ignored John and busied themselves with their tasks. From their conversation, John gathered that this ce was indeed inhabited by various monsters. He attempted to escape a few times, but each time the unicorn would catch him and hurl him back to the ground. "Little one, if you try to run again, I won''t be so gentle," she said in the sweetest tone, but a ck lightning bolt shot from her horn, striking a nearby boulder. Boom! With a loud crash, the boulder shattered into pieces. John realized he couldn''t act recklessly. Trapped by these maniacs, he had no choice but to resign himself to his fate. "That''s better," the unicorn said with a satisfied nod before continuing her work. Soon, theypleted an arena constructed from solid stone. The area was surrounded by a crowd of powerful beings-monsters, beasts, elves, werewolves, Minotaurs, Orcs, and more. Ten Abyss Demons were herded onto the arena. These were the Abyss''s native creatures, fifth-rank monsters at level 400, adept at dark magic. "ce your bets! Minimum wager is one Life Fruit. The current odds for the human surviving are 120 to 1! ce your bets!" shouted the fiery Minotaur, standing behind a pile of red fruits. From the chatter, John learned that these red fruits were Life Fruits, unique to the Abyss. Consuming one could increase a person''s lifespan by ten years, with no limit to the number that could be consumed. His eyes gleamed as he looked at the pile of Life Fruits. An item that extended lifespan was a rare and valuable treasure. Although John had nearly infinite life due to his life-sharing pact with the Tree of Life. But the people around him, especially Sini and the others, were still ordinary mortals. Even a ninth-rank powerhouse couldn''t exceed their natural lifespan unless they became a deity. That nearly impossible for people like Sini. "Alright, it''s your turn," the unicorn said, approaching John. "I''ve ced my bet on you to win, so don''t let me down." John was somewhat surprised. He had just reached the fourth rank, and anyone could see that he stood no chance against level 400 fifth-rank Abyss Demons. This unicorn actually dared to bet on him to win-what a gambler. John didn''t believe for a second that she could truly assess his abilities. He looked at the unicorn and said, "Sister, could you lend me a few Life Fruits? I''d like to ce a bet myself." Calling her "sister" made the unicorn smile brightly. "You''ve got a sweet tongue, little one. But if you lose, you''ll die. What''s the point of Life Fruits then?" John frowned slightly, realizing that even she didn''t think he had a chance of winning. He persisted, "Of course, I''m betting on myself to win. Sister, I''ll pay you back double." "Oh?" The unicorn eyed John with interest. "You''re quite the charmer. Alright, I''ll lend you one, and you don''t even have to pay it back." She didn''t really believe he would win, so giving him one Life Fruit seemed like a harmless gesture. "Just one?" John was disappointed. "Sister, lend me ten. I promise you won''t be disappointed." The unicorn hesitated, but after hearing him call her "sister" a few more times, she sighed and relented, "Fine, I''ll lend you ten. If you win, you''ll pay me back. If you lose, you don''t owe me anything." John was speechless. If he lost, he''d be dead-how could he pay her back? He couldn''t help but wonder what would happen if he died here. Would he respawn at a Resurrection point? But he quickly dismissed that thought. For other yers, it might be worth trying, but not for him. With his Undying and Immortal talent, he was nearly impossible to kill. The only way would be to destroy his soul, which would also mean death in the real world. Amid the shouts and cheers of the crowd, John stepped into the arena. The unicorn ced a bet of ten Life Fruits on him. She hesitated for a moment, then bet another ten on him just to be safe. She didn''t really believe John would win, so she hedged her bets. If he lost, she wouldn''t lose much. But if he won, she''d make a huge profit. The nearby dark elf silently ced a bet of ten Life Fruits on John as well. "Betting is closing soon! Don''t miss your chance! Right now, the odds for the human winning are 200 to 1! Bet on the human and strike it rich!" The fiery Minotaur was shouting, his saliva flying as he passionately encouraged bets. But instead of decreasing, John''s odds kept climbing. The first match was about to start, and the fiery Minotaur closed the betting. "Kid," the voice of the Undead Lord echoed in John''s mind, "Don''t reveal your true damage or the Sword of Divinity and Demons. These creatures are not to be trusted." Just as John was about to retrieve the Sword of Divinity and Demons from his inventory, he paused, heeding the warning from the Undead Lord. ncing around at the roaring and excited powerful beings from various races, he quietly switched to the Phantom Mage''s staff instead. If he couldn''t reveal his true damage ability or the Sword of Divinity and Demons, he''d have to rely on the skills of the Wrath of the Gods mage ss. Fortunately, the abyssal demons he was facing weren''t that strong; he could handle them. Whoosh! Dark magic surged, and several Dark Orbs shot towards John. The battle had begun. John didn''t dodge; instead, he summoned Diamond Armor, taking the abyssal demons'' magical attacks head-on. Boom! Boom! -1 -1 ... A series of explosions followed, but the damage numbers that appeared were pitiful. The powerful abyssal demons couldn''t even break through John''s magic resistance, only managing to inflict 1 point of damage. The surrounding cheers and shouts fell silent. The powerful beings from the various races stared in disbelief at what they were witnessing. Then, John made his move. With a wave of his staff, mes engulfed the area as he cast Hellfire, covering the entire arena. The abyssal demons howled in agony. Terrifying damage numbers shed in rapid session. -334766 -332474 ... These fifth-tier abyssal demons were instantly annihted. Notification messages appeared. [You have in a level 400 abyssal demon, gaining 12,680 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Spirit +1.] ... The arena fell into a dead silence. The powerful beings from various races stared dumbfounded at John, who stood on the stage,pletely unscathed. They couldn''t believe what they were seeing. "Cheating! That despicable human is cheating!" an Orc shouted, pointing at John. "He''s only a fourth-tier mage, how could he possibly have mastered the advanced spell Hellfire?" "Not only that, all of his magical attacks were critical hits! How could a weak human have a 100% magic crit rate?" "Yes, cheating!" "Protest! This bet doesn''t count!" ... The crowd erupted in anger. They didn''t care how John had mastered advanced spells or achieved such a high critical hit rate-they were simply upset over the loss of their precious Life Fruits. Many of the weaker creatures, desperate to win more Life Fruits, had gambled everything they owned on the abyssal demons. Now, in an instant, they had lost everything. The me Minotaur, who was acting as the bookmaker, also wore a grim expression. With John''s high odds, his unexpected victory meant that the me Minotaur stood to lose thousands of Life Fruits. He was sorely tempted to dere the bet void. "Everyone, shut up!" The Unicorn''s cold voice cut through themotion, her icy gaze sweeping over the various powerful beings. "If you can''t afford to lose, don''t bet. If you bet, you must ept the result. If anyone has a problem, they can challenge me instead." Silence fell over the crowd. No one dared to argue further. The Unicorn was an eighth-tier legendary being; aside from the Behemoth, the three-headed ck Dragon, and the dark elf, no one could match her strength. The three-headed ck Dragon seemed unhappy, but the dark elf had also bet on John to win, clearly aligning herself with the Unicorn. As for the Behemoth, he remained indifferent, unconcerned about the Life Fruits he had lost. The me Minotaur had no choice but to ept his loss. Gritting his teeth, he handed over a pile of Life Fruits, dividing them between the Unicorn and the dark elf. The Unicorn, satisfied with her winnings, transformed into a human form a tall, elegant figure in a ck dress, exuding a noble aura. Her beauty was stunning, though the horn on her forehead remained as a reminder of her true form. She picked up a Life Fruit and waved it yfully at John, clearly pleased with her sess. "The second round of betting begins!" the me Minotaur roared, eager to recoup his losses. "This time, the challenge is against 100 sixth-tier ordinary abyssal demons." The difficulty had been intentionally increased by the me Minotaur and the three-headed ck Dragon, who were determined to win back the Life Fruits they had just lost. The Unicorn hesitated. She had initially wanted to bet on John again, but the prospect of him facing 100 sixth-tier abyssal demons gave her pause. tter! At that moment, arge pile of Life Fruits-at least two thousand-was thrown onto the betting table. It was the dark elf, who calmly stated, "I''m betting on the human." The Unicorn frowned as she nced at the dark elf, known as Phantom. " Bonnie, have you lost your mind?" Bonnie, the first queen of the dark elves, had once attempted to steal the Demon Race''s Dark Sea but had failed and was subsequently imprisoned in the Abyss. Bonnie gave a serene smile and replied, "These Life Fruits were won by this little guy anyway. If he loses, it doesn''t really matter." The Unicorn''s frown deepened. She knew Bonnie too well-she would never make a bet she wasn''t confident in winning. Could it be that this human might actually pull off another victory? To be safe, the Unicorn decided to ce a thousand Life Fruits on John winning as well. Other powerful beings began cing their bets too. The odds for John were lower this time, but they still stood at twenty to one. Most of the crowd bet on the abyssal demons to win. The battle began once more. On the stage, John''s expression was serious. The hundred abyssal demons before him were at the peak of the sixth tier, posing a significant threat. With his spiritual power reaching over thirty-five thousand, he had the capability to take down these sixth-tier monsters. However, he was concerned about the increasing strength of the beasts he would face in the rounds toe. If he didn''t reveal his physical damage-dealing skills, he might not be able to keep up. Dark magic filled the air as the abyssal demons unleashed their attacks. John couldn''t afford to hesitate. He quickly summoned his Water Mist Clone while retreating, his staff moving swiftly as he channeled the earth element. The ground beneath the arena began to tremble violently as he unleashed the Great Tremor skill. The entire tform shook, and a cascade of damage numbers appeared. -224140 -227410 ... Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Mighty Strength, Sneak Attack from Behind Chapter 114: Mighty Strength, Sneak Attack from Behind ? John''s attacks continued tond with critical damage. However, this time, he didn''t instantly kill the sixth-tier Abyss demons. Even so, they were left with just a sliver of health and were in a stunned state. Whoosh! Immediately, an endless ze swept across, engulfing the entire arena. Unsurprisingly, all these Abyss demons were instantly annihted. [Killed level 500 Abyss demon, gained 17,630 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, skill point +1] [Plunder talent activated, magic critical hit +1] ... The notifications kepting, and the arena floor was littered with equipment and items. John, with a calm expression, picked up everything. The surrounding powerful beings of various races erupted once again. "This is impossible, absolutely impossible! How could a weak fourth-tier human possibly defeat 100 Abyss demons?" "It seems this human isn''t so simple. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been imprisoned in the Abyssal Land." Someone looked seriously at John. "It''s over, lost again!" A sixth-tier werewolf copsed to the ground. Twice he had bet, and twice he had lost everything, even his life. His time was nearly up; without the Fruit of Life to prolong his existence, he wouldn''t survive more than half a year. The onlookers were indifferent, long since ustomed to such scenes. The me Minotaur''s hands trembled as he tallied up his losses. He now hated John to the core; the two bets had nearly bankrupted him. Bonnie wore a faint smile as she watched John in the arena, unsurprised by the oue. "You knew this guy would win all along?" A unicorn approached, asking. Bonnie nced at her and replied calmly, "This kid is hiding his strength." "How did you know?" The unicorn frowned. She had observed John for a long time but hadn''t noticed anything special. Bonnie didn''t hide it and exined, "He has the aura of a dark elf, which suggests he has another ss-he''s likely a Nightmare Assassin." The unicorn was startled. "Are you saying he''s still hiding his strength?" Bonnie nodded. She was well aware of the power of the Nightmare Assassin, the strongest ss among the dark elves. This human seemed to have some connection with her dark elf n. "The next match, against a sixth-tier epic boss Abyss demon!" At this moment, the voice of the me Minotaur resounded once more. His voice was filled with madness. After losing a considerable amount of the Fruit of Life in two consecutive bets, he was determined to win it back at all costs. The surrounding powerful beings from various races howled in excitement. Before the me Minotaur could even speak, they all ced their bets. They overwhelmingly wagering on the sixth-tier epic Abyss demon to win. John''s performance in the previous two battles had indeed been strong. But it was impossible for him to be a match for a sixth-tier epic boss. Even they, when facing a sixth-tier epic boss, would feel some pressure. "Isn''t this a bit too much?" The unicorn frowned. John had already defeated the sixth-tier Abyss demons, proving that he had the ability to survive in the Abyss. They shouldn''t continue to target him. But the me Minotaur and the three-headed ck dragon were clearly out for revenge, wanting to make John lose arge amount of the Fruit of Life. Bonnie nced at John, hesitated for a moment, then ced another bet of a thousand Fruits of Life, wagering that John would win. To be honest, she wasn''t confident this time. She knew that John had some trump cards, but facing a sixth-tier epic boss, even with the Nightmare Assassin ss, he was not likely to be a match. The sixth-tier epic Abyss demon had terrifying stats, with all four basic attributes reaching a staggering 224,000 points, and a health pool of 2.5 million, far surpassing this human. However, she wouldn''t let this human die. If John was in danger, she would step in to save him. Seeing Bonnie bet on John winning again, the unicorn hesitated for a moment, then ced a bet of a thousand Fruits of Life as well. After all, these Fruits of Life were just her recent winnings, so she wouldn''t be too upset if she lost them. "What a bunch of shameless bastards!" On the arena stage, John opened his attribute panel to check his skill points. During his recent hunts, he had umted 1,101 skill points, enough to upgrade his Holy Light Strike, a light magic spell, to Advanced Level 1. Light magic was the bane of these dark creatures, and without revealing his true damage potential, it was his only reliable weapon. He immediately spent the skill points, raising Holy Light Strike to Intermediate Level 10, maxing it out. Under the Archmage''s Blessing talent, it broke through to Advanced Level 1. Holy Light Strike now dealt magic damage equal to 450% of John''s spirit power, with an additional 70% damage boost from the S-rank Holy Light talent, plus an extra 50% damage specifically against dark creatures. Whoosh! Suddenly, a ck gale howled through the arena as the Abyss demonunched its attack. It was an intermediate dark magic spell, Dark Storm. John had no time to dodge and could only cast Diamond Armor, bracing himself to withstand the iing damage. Boom! -175004 John''s body was sent flying, his health nearly depleted, barely avoiding instant death. "That was close!" "Finish him off, kill that human!" "We''re finally going to win!" ... The powerful beings in the audience started to cheer, taunting loudly. Bonnie watched the stage intently, her expression tense, ready to intervene at any moment. At this moment, John remained calm, looking at the arrogant Abyss demon with a faint smile. He spoke softly, "You have no chance." The Abyss demon sneered, the dark energy around it surging once again as it activated its magic skill, Annihtion. But John was faster. With a swift wave of his staff, mes transformed into a long serpent, striking swiftly. Advanced magic: Inferno Dance. Boom! The mes exploded, forcing the Abyss demon to take a step back, its eyes widening in shock. Its spell had been forcibly interrupted by John''s attack. -5400 A damage number floated out. With 2.5 million health, this amount of damage was almost negligible. But then, Holy Light descended, a pir of light crashing down. Light magic: Holy Light Strike. Boom! -112010 The damage number shed, instantly dealing 110,000 damage to the demon. "This human actually knows light magic!" "Luckily, he''s only at the fourth tier, no match for a sixth-tier epic boss." "Damn it, stop holding back! Kill that human! If you lose, I''ll tear you to pieces!" ... Angry shouts echoed around the arena. The Abyss demon, now fearful,unched another attack on John. An overwhelming darkness enveloped the arena, John feels dangerous. It is Dark Descent, a dark aura that weakened the enemy''s attributes. John responded immediately. The wind howled, and a massive Wind de cut through the air, striking the Abyss demon. Boom! Wind elements surged, scattering the surrounding darkness. Once again, the demon''s spell was interrupted by John''s attack. "Roar..." The Abyss demon roared furiously, as if a raging fire in its heart had no outlet. Another Holy Light descended. Boom! -117400 The Abyss demon lost another 110,000 health points. "Why is this human''s skill cooldown so fast?" "He has a spell cooldown reduction talent!" "Not only that, but hisbat skills far exceed the Abyss demon''s. It looks like we''re going to lose again!" ... The onlookers clenched their fists, staring intently at the battlefield. At this point, the once-powerful Abyss demon was being relentlessly battered by John, unable to fight back. Its health was rapidly dwindling, now almost depleted. Just then, Holy Light flickered around John as he prepared to unleash Holy Light Strike once more. Whoosh! Suddenly, dark magic surged, and a ck arrow shot out from the crowd, aimed directly at John. "Not good!" John''s expression shifted. He could sense the terrifying power of the arrow, but it was toote to dodge. Thud! -14171050 [You have been instantly killed by the three-headed ck dragon, Undying and Immortal talent activated]. Over 14 million damage-unbelievable! "Three-headed ck dragon, you''re courting death!" A furious shout rang out as Bonnie charged directly at the three-headed ck dragon. "Not dead?" three-headed ck dragon aimed in surprise. Forgetting about John for a moment, it quickly turned its attention to fending off Bonnie''s assault. Meanwhile, on the arena stage, another Holy Light descended, instantly killing the Abyss demon. [You have killed a level 600, sixth-tier epic Abyss demon, gaining 442,000 experience points.] [You have leveled up to level 107: Constitution +1, Strength +5, Spirit +5, Agility +3, Free Attribute Points +20, Skill Points +2.] [Plunder talent activated: Dark Element Affinity +1.] The notifications shed as John''s level increased once more. But what was this new attribute he had plundered? Dark Element Affinity? It was yet another attribute he had never encountered before. Boom! Boom! At that moment, a series of explosions echoed through the arena as everyone scrambled to dodge. The eighth-tier three-headed ck dragon and the eighth-tier dark elf were locked in a fierce battle. The aftermath of their shing skills alone was powerful enough to instantly kill a sixth-tier warrior. "Stop! The match is over." A powerful Behemoth intervened, separating Bonnie and the three-headed ck dragon. Bonnie ceased her attack and coldly remarked, "Three-headed ck dragon, this kid is under my protection. You''d better behave yourself." "Oh, really?" The three-headed ck dragon''s six ck eyes fixed on Bonnie, its killing intent palpable. It sneered, "Do you really think you can protect this little one?" The Behemoth frowned and interjected, "ck dragon, this kid''s strength is enough to survive in the Abyss. You can''t harm him." The three-headed ck dragon, unconvinced, retorted, "We have a rule: those who reach the seventh tier are not allowed to kill each other. But this human is only at the fourth tier, far from reaching the seventh!" The powerful beings trapped in the Abyss had established a rule: those who reached the seventh tier or above were prohibited from killing each other. At the seventh tier, one had enough strength to protect oneself in the Abyss, and if one reached the ninth tier, there was a possibility ofprehending the darkws and escaping this ce. The three-headed ck dragon continued to re coldly at John on the arena stage. This human had cost him over 7,000 Fruits of Life, a loss he could not stomach. The Behemoth continued, "His cultivation may be at the fourth tier, but his strength is enough to y a sixth-tier epic Abyss demon. He''s on par with a seventh-tier warrior." "If that''s the case, then let''s have him fight a seventh-tier warrior. If he wins, we''ll let him go," the three-headed ck dragon replied coldly. "Could you be any more shameless?" Bonnie scoffed. It was clear to everyone that John''s victory over the Abyss demon was due to his powerful light magic, which countered his opponent. Facing a seventh-tier warrior, he was almost certain to die. The Behemoth nced at the ck dragon, warning, "You are not to touch this human!" The three-headed ck dragon clenched its teeth in frustration, ultimately forced to relent. Behemoth, Bonnie, and the unicorn-three powerful beings were clearly siding with the human. He knew better than to make a tant move against them. Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Leveling Up by Killing Monsters, Two-Winged Black Serpent King Chapter 115: Leveling Up by Killing Monsters, Two-Winged ck Serpent King ? "Fine, I''ll give you this one," the three-headed ck dragon said coldly, ring at John. Since he couldn''t attack openly, he''d deal with this human from the shadows. This human had caused him to lose over 7,000 Fruits of Life, leaving him utterly humiliated. There was no way he could let this slide. Hearing their conversation, John couldn''t help but feel a sense of relief. It seemed he was out of immediate danger, for now. The powerful beings of various races red at John with anger but reluctantly dispersed. This time, only the unicorn and the dark elf, Bonnie, had bet on his victory, and both had earned a substantial amount of Fruits of Life. "Let me introduce myself, I''m Sara!" The unicorn approached John, extending her slender hand with a smile. "Godyer," John replied politely, taking her hand. It was smooth and delicate. "Well done, little one. You helped me win a lot of Fruits of Life. Here''s your reward." Sara withdrew her hand and handed John a pile of Fruits of Life-over 3,000 in total. John had only bet ten Fruits of Life the first time, which should haveted him around 2,000 based on the odds, but Sara had given him an extra thousand. "I still owe you twenty," John said, recalling his promise to repay her double. Sara waved her hand dismissively, "Consider it a gift from me-no need to pay it back." "You''re quite generous," came a mocking voice from the side. It was Bonnie. Thanks to John''s victory, they had won over 70,000 Fruits of Life. "Godyer, what''s your rtionship with the dark elves?" Bonnie asked, eyeing John with curiosity. John''s expression became cautious. His rtionship with the dark elves was anything but friendly. He didn''t answer directly and instead asked, "And you are?" He knew she was a dark elf, but he had no idea of her exact identity. "Bonnie, the first queen of the dark elves," she replied without hesitation. The first queen of the dark elves? John was puzzled. He had never heard of her before, but it made sense that she might have been imprisoned here for a long time and was unaware of the fate of the Dark Humans. After some thought, John decided to be honest about the current situation of the dark elves, though he deliberately omitted the part about his conflict with them. "What? The dark elf race nearly wiped out? And it was the Dark Humans who did it?" Bonnie''s fury was palpable. She was well aware of the Dark Humans; before she was imprisoned in the Abyss, they had just begun their invasion alongside the gods. At the time, she had looked down on those Dark Humans. "Those filthy humans, unforgivable!" she cursed coldly, her eyes zing with anger. John continued, "The Dark Humans have now upied the entire Skyline Continent, and the elves are no match for them at the moment. Lady Tanya entrusted me with the task of finding the Sea of Death, but I ended up in this situation instead. Sigh..." He sighed heavily, putting on an expression of guilt. "So, it''s Tanya, that little girl, who now leads the dark elves?" Bonnie asked, not doubting his words. John nodded and then asked, "Elder, is there any way to leave this ce?" Bonnie shook her head. "It''s difficult. Unless you canprehend the darkws." Just as the Undead Lord had said, it seemed that this was the only way out. John pressed on, "Elder, where in this area are the most monsters? I want to hunt Abyss demons to level up." He hade to terms with his situation and knew that his only option was to increase his strength as quickly as possible to find a way out of here. The unicorn, Sara, standing nearby, cautioned him, "Little one, leaving here now would be very dangerous." John had caused many of those people to lose a substantial amount of Fruits of Life, and quite a few wanted him dead. Here, under their watchful eyes, no one dared make a move. But out in the wild, there would be no rules to protect him. John, however, responded, "I must increase my strength. I can''t just stay here indefinitely." He waspletely cut off from the outside world, and Sini and the others were likely very worried. Bonnie nced at John, then handed him a jade stone, saying, "This has my mark on it. If you encounter danger, just crush the stone, and I''ll sense it." "Thank you, elder," John replied gratefully, quickly taking the stone. Bonnie pointed toward the forest outside and exined, "Out there, it''s all Abyss demons. The weakest among them are at the fourth tier, and the deeper you go, the stronger they be. The most powerful are the eighth-tier Abyss demons." "Eighth-tier? No ninth-tier Abyss demons?" John asked curiously. To increase his strength, he needed not only experience points but also toplete his ss advancement trials. Advancing to the ninth-tier required him to hunt down ninth-tier beast leaders. Bonnie replied, "There are some, but they''re few in number and usually hide deep within the Abyss, afraid toe out." Afraid toe out? John was puzzled. Ninth-tier Abyss demons were immensely powerful and had no reason to fear these strong beings. Why would they be hiding? Sara noticed his confusion and exined, "There are two ninth-tier powerhouses here who hunt down ninth-tier Abyss demons, especially the boss leaders, so they''ve all gone into hiding." "I see," John said in surprise. The strength of the beings imprisoned in the Abyss was truly terrifying. Sara, Bonnie, and the other two eighth-tier powerhouses here all possessed legendary-grade strength. Those two ninth-tier powerhouses were likely legendary-grade as well. After gathering some basic information, John bid the two women farewell and ventured into the forest. Around him, the mist thickened, and the dark energy grew more intense. Nearby, the three-headed ck dragon watched John enter the dense forest and sneered. One of its heads turned to a ck serpent with wings beside it, and it whispered, "That human must be hiding some secrets. Kill him, and make sure to bring his body back." The ck serpent nodded, its body slithering silently as it followed John''s trail, disappearing into the forest. The Two-Winged ck Serpent King was an epic boss that had just reached the seventh tier and was a loyal subordinate of the three-headed ck dragon. ... Whoosh! Hellfire surged, apanied by the anguished howls of Abyss demons. The surrounding Abyss demons were instantly obliterated. [You have killed a level 200, fourth-tier Abyss demon, gaining 2,630 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Constitution +1.] The notifications flickered, and John frowned as he watched his experience points grow at a slow pace. Now at level 107, he needed over ten million experience points to level up again. At this rate, it would take him years to reach the ninth tier. But John couldn''t afford to wait that long-he had to find a way out of here as quickly as possible. "If worsees to worst, I might have to start hunting down those powerful beings from various races," John murmured to himself, ncing at a few Orc corpses nearby. These guys had secretly followed him, intending to ambush him, but they were too weak- barely at the level of fifth-tier rare bosses. John had dispatched them easily without even needing to reveal the trump cards of his physical ss. "I should focus on raising my strength to the sixth or seventh tier first," he decided, temporarily shelving the idea of targeting other powerful beings. Once he reached the sixth tier, he was confident he could stand against eighth-tier opponents. At the seventh tier, he''d be capable of taking down even legendary eighth-tier beings. John continued to wander through the forest. Fortunately, there were plenty of Abyss demons around, so reaching the sixth tier shouldn''t be too difficult. Rustle, rustle... Suddenly, a faint rustling sound reached his ears, and he felt a surge of danger. A powerful being was approaching. "Show yourself!" John said coldly, turning to look be im. "Tsk tsk, you''re quite vignt," came a chilling voice. A massive ck serpent with wings emerged from the dense forest. Its skin blended almost perfectly with the surrounding environment, making it nearly invisible if not carefully observed. A seventh-tier epic boss-the Two-Winged ck Serpent King! John recognized the creature, his expression turning serious. The jade stone Bonnie had given him appeared in his hand, but after a moment''s hesitation, he decided not to use it. This Two-Winged ck Serpent King had only recently reached the seventh tier-John was confident he could handle it. "Boy, don''t resist. I''ll make it quick for you," the Two-Winged ck Serpent King hissed, circling John with a yful expression, not in any hurry to attack. John responded with a coldugh, as the Sword of Divinity and Demons materialized in his hand. The serpent''s eyes narrowed in confusion. It remembered John as a mage, so why was he drawing a longsword? "Sigh, what a pity," the serpent muttered, losing interest in talking. It lunged at John, its massive body moving with surprising agility as it aimed to coil around him. Buzz! The sword hummed with energy, and a sh of light streaked through the air. Sword Immortal skill: Flying Sword Strike! "Hmm?" A flicker of surprise crossed the serpent''s eyes, but it didn''t attempt to dodge and was struck directly by the sword''s light. sh! Scales shattered, and ck blood oozed out as the serpent let out a cry of pain. -152010 -47100 Two damage numbers shed-John had dealt over 150,000 physical damage and more than 40,000 true damage. "You''re not a mage!" the Two-Winged ck Serpent King roared in anger. As it quickly realized what had happened, its expression turned to one of shock and disbelief. "No, that was true damage... you''ve mastered the power ofws!" It instinctively took a step back, momentarily considering escape. The power ofws was a terrifying ability that only ninth-tier beings could grasp. "No, you''re only at the fourth tier, and you haven''tprehended anyws!" The serpent king calmed down, ring at John with rage. It was unthinkable-being intimidated by a mere fourth-tier human was a humiliation beyond measure. "Human, you are unforgivable!" It roared once more,unching itself at John with renewed fury. With four million health points, the damage it had taken so far was insignificant. It didn''t believe that John could keep up such attacks indefinitely. But soon, despair began to creep in. Instead of retreating, John charged forward to meet the serpent''s assault, his sword shing with countless strikes, enveloping the serpent in a storm of des. Unrivaled Sword Dance unleashed. ck blood sprayed into the air as the Two-Winged ck Serpent King lost another 200,000 health points. "Human, I can afford countless mistakes, but if you make even one, you''re dead!" it roared, enduring John''s relentless attacks as it opened its massive jaws, preparing to unleash a skill attack. "Is that so?" John responded with a look of disdain, casually swinging his longsword. A bolt of lightning suddenly crashed down. Boom! The thunderous crash of the lightning strike hit the serpent''s head, electricity coursing through its body. But to its shock, the attack caused no damage at all. Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Slaying the Two-Winged Black Serpent King, Reality’s Twist Chapter 116: ying the Two-Winged ck Serpent King, Reality¡¯s Twist ? John''s magical skills could no longer break through the opponent''s magical defenses. However, the Two-Winged ck Serpent King''s attack was forcibly interrupted. With unwavering confidence, John said, "Sorry, but I won''t make a single mistake!" As he spoke, countless sword des descended, activating the Infinite Sword Array. The Two-Winged ck Serpent King howled in agony, losing another hundred thousand health points. But then, John''s expression tightened in pain as a burning desire consumed his mind, clouding his judgment. The Fox Demon Curse had chosen this critical moment to strike. "Undead Lord, help me!" John frantically called out for aid in his mind. "Hold on!" The Undead Lord, understanding the urgency of the situation, issued a sharp reminder andunched a soul attack on John. "Ah!" John screamed as a stabbing pain seared through his mind, temporarily clearing his thoughts. At that moment, a me transformed into a long serpent, coiling around him in an instant. The Two-Winged ck Serpent King''s triumphant voice echoed, "Human, you made a mistake!" Boom! The fiery serpent exploded, and a terrifying damage number floated above John''s head. -1,654,000 [You have been instantly killed by the Two-Winged ck Serpent King. Undying and Immortal talent activated.] A notification appeared. John resurrected at full health,pletely unharmed. "Not dead? What''s going on?" The Two-Winged ck Serpent King was shocked, staring at John in disbelief. Thest time the Three-Headed ck Dragon had struck, it failed to kill him. And now, once again, John had survived. Suppressing the raging fire of desire within him, John struggled to stay conscious. "Sorry, but I can make countless mistakes too." "So, you have some sort of resurrection ability," the Two-Winged ck Serpent King realized, sneering. "But how many times can you resurrect?" With that, it lunged at John again. Buzz! The sword hummed as Flying Sword Strike was unleashed once more. However, the Fox Demon Curse severely impaired John''s judgment, and the fierce sword light narrowly missed the serpent''s massive body. The Two-Winged ck Serpent King had braced itself for the attack, but as the sword light merely grazed past, it finally noticed something was wrong with John. Delighted, it burst intoughter. "Haha! So, you''ve been afflicted with some negative status effect. The heavens are on my side!" With that, it lunged at John, jaws wide open, intending to swallow him whole. Once inside, there would be no escape-John would be doomed. Barely maintaining his rity, John activated the Assassin skill: Dance of the Void. His form instantly merged into the void, causing the Two-Winged ck Serpent King''s attack to miss once again. Immediately after, it was enveloped in a flurry of icy des. sh! ck blood sttered as the serpent lost another hundred thousand health points. "Curse you! I will tear you limb from limb, human!" The string of failures drove the serpent into a rage. Ignoring the damage John was dealing, its attacks grew more ferocious. [You have been instantly killed by the Two-Winged ck Serpent King. Undying and Immortal talent triggered.] Once more, John was killed. Panic swelled within him as the mes of insatiable desire burned brighter. This approach was clearly unsustainable. "Undead Lord, is there any other way?" John, feeling desperate, called out to the Undead Lord for help again. "Kid, I''ve realized that meeting you has been the unluckiest thing in my life. Don''t resist!" the Undead Lord warned, and a massive surge of soul power flooded John''s mind, merging with his soul in an instant. The effects of the Fox Demon Curse were significantly reduced. The Undead Lord''s weakened voice echoed, "Kid, you''ve absorbed my soul power. You can suppress the curse for now." "Thank you, elder. Once I get out of here, I''ll help you be reborn," John said, this time with genuine gratitude. He could feel that the Undead Lord had sacrificed part of its soul to assist him. "We''ll see about that when you actually make it out," the Undead Lord replied, not holding out much hope. John''s eyes cleared, and a Wind de Rupture cut through the air, interrupting the Two- Winged ck Serpent King''s attack once more. "It''s over!" John dered coldly as his sword aura red up, overwhelming the Two-Winged ck Serpent King. The Fox Demon Curse hadn''t entirely dissipated, but its influence on him had diminished significantly. sh! ck blood sttered as the serpent roared in fury, its health rapidly dwindling. Soon, its health dropped below a million. The Two-Winged ck Serpent King''s eyes filled with fear as it bellowed, "Kid, this isn''t over between us!" With that, it spread its wings and took to the skies, attempting to flee. "Hmph, you won''t escape!" John sneered, unleashing Flying Sword Strike once more, striking the serpent. Then, his longsword flew from his hand, slicing through the air in pursuit under his control. Sword Mastery! The longsword moved with agility, repeatedly striking the Two-Winged ck Serpent King and dealing over twelve thousand true damage with each hit. "What kind of monster are you?" The serpent watched in horror as its health plummeted. It pped its wings desperately, trying to speed up its escape, but it couldn''t shake off the relentless flying sword. Its health was quickly running out. "Lord ck Dragon, save me!" It roared in desperation, calling for help from the Three- Headed ck Dragon. But in the next moment, the Unrivaled Sword Array enveloped it, and its remaining health- less than a hundred thousand-was swiftly drained. With a thunderous crash, the massive corpse of the ck serpent fell to the ground. [You have killed a level 1000, seventh-tier epic Two-Winged ck Serpent King, gaining 1.08 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Constitution +100, Spirit +100, Skill Points +10.] ... The notifications flickered, and John finally let out a sigh of relief. He was fortunate to have had the Undead Lord''s assistance; otherwise, this encounter could have ended disastrously. The Undying and Immortal talent wasn''t as invincible as it seemed. If he died too many times, his soul would still suffer damage. While his soul would remain intact, preventing true death, if it reached that point, he might end up like the Undead Lord, forced to abandon his physical body to protect his soul. The cost of such a decision was far too great. At that moment, the weakened voice of the Undead Lord echoed in his mind, "Kid, the Fox Demon Curse is incredibly insidious. Although you managed to suppress it this time, the next time it acts up, it might be even worse. You couldpletely lose your mind. Be careful." "Is it that serious?" John frowned deeply. Trapped in the Abyss, he waspletely cut off from the outside world. Without the help of Sini and the others, he had no way to resolve it if the curse struck again. He couldn''t possibly deal with it himself, could he? John shook his head, deciding not to dwell on the issue. He would figure something out when the time came. Right now, the most important thing was to level up. He nced at the items dropped by the Two-Winged ck Serpent King¡ªa seventh-tier legendary longsword. The stats were decent, but with the Sword of Divinity and Demons in his possession, it hardly interested him. John casually stored the sword and took off using Sword Flight, heading deeper into the forest to hunt even stronger Abyss demons. ... In the Real World. John had been missing for three days, and during this time, several significant events had urred. Most notably, on the Mike White Family''s side, an Attribute Fusion Stone had surfaced. This wasn''t something orchestrated by Ritchie or John; Toby had somehow acquired arge number of these stones. At that moment, Gaia, battered and covered in blood, had fled to Ritchie''s ce, seeking refuge. Ritchie, his brow furrowed, still found it hard to believe. "You''re saying Toby has another expert by his side? Even you couldn''t take them on?" Gaia, now a third-tier Dragon Knight with formidable strength due to attribute fusion, should have been unbeatable by anyone except for Ritchie, John, and a few other powerful members of the Blues Family. Gaia nodded, his eyes filled with fear as he trembled, "I don''t know where those guys came from. I''ve never heard of them before. The most terrifying part is that their abilities don''t seem to be from the World of Gods, and Toby is extremely deferential to them." He paused, looking at Ritchie before continuing, "I suspect that those people are ancient martial arts masters from your country." "Impossible," Ritchie denied immediately. Currently, the most powerful among the Ancient Martial Arts families was the Blues Family, and they had already unified the Ancient Martial Arts world. Who would dare to support the Mike White Family from the shadows? Unless it was the Blues Family themselves... The thought made Ritchie swallow nervously. Based on Gaia''s description, only the Blues Family had the strength to pull this off. Could it be that the Blues Family had betrayed them? Ritchie''s expression grew serious as he paced back and forth. He hadn''t been able to reach John for days, and his worry was growing. He had asked Sini, but she, too, couldn''t contact John. All she knew was that John was still in the World of Gods and wasn''t in immediate danger. But now, with so much happening, Ritchie desperately needed John''s help. The Mike White Family, instead of being weakened by their schemes, had somehow acquired arge number of Attribute Fusion Stones and grown even stronger. They were now making moves against various other factions. "You may leave," Ritchie waved Gaia off, then called out, "Someone, get me in touch with the Blues Family!" He needed to confirm whether the Blues Family was really backing the Mike White Family. If they were, then the Blues Family would have to be dealt with first. His me Legion had 1,200 members who had integrated attributes into reality, so they could potentially stand against the Blues Family. Plus, he had the military''s support. Soon, the call connected, and an aide handed the phone to Ritchie. "Armstrong, it''s Ritchie," he said immediately. "What is it?" Armstrong''s voice on the other end sounded tired, as if he hadn''t rested in a long time. Ritchie probed, "I just received word that there''s an Ancient Martial Arts family supporting the Mike White Family. Do you know who it is?" There was a long silence on the other end before Armstrong finally spoke, "They aren''t an Ancient Martial Arts family. They''re a force far beyond that. Don''t provoke them. Keep a low profile for the next few days." "Not an Ancient Martial Arts family?" Ritchie was even more puzzled. Just as he was about to ask more, Armstrong continued, "Also, I need to ask a favor. My sister might be in danger soon. I want her to take refuge with your military." "Of course," Ritchie agreed without hesitation. He knew Armstrong''s sister, Tracy, had a close rtionship with John. He would do anything for John, even if it meant granting Armstrong''s request. If the Blues Family wanted Tracy to seek refuge with the military, it was clear that the force behind the Mike White Family wasn''t them. Moreover, it seemed the Blues Family might be facing their own threats. Armstrong added, "Remember, do not act rashly. Wait for news from my brother-inw, or... never mind, this isn''t something you need to worry about. I''ve got to go. Goodbye." Without waiting for a response, Armstrong hung up. "What exactly is going on?" Ritchie frowned deeply. He had a sense that the situation on the Blues Family''s side was even more serious than he had thought. They seemed to know something but were unwilling to share it. Frustrated, Ritchie decided to re-enter the World of Gods. For now, the most important thing was to increase his strength. ... Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Frenzied Level-Up, Skill Consumption Chapter 117: Frenzied Level-Up, Skill Consumption ? Land of the Abyss. John was isted from the outside world, unaware of what was happening beyond. He had ventured deep into the dense forest, where the area was swarming with Abyss demons of the sixth tier and level 500 or higher, numbering in the thousands. Among them were numerous sixth-tier epic Abyss demon leaders. Defeating these creatures could upgrade his Wrath of the Gods talent. With his current strength, as long as he wasn''t surrounded by those epic Abyss demon leaders, The wouldn''t be in any danger. "I wonder how many levels I can gain by ughtering all these Abyss demons?" John mused as he surveyed the surrounding demons. Instead of attacking immediately, he activated Sword Flight and skimmed low over their heads, drawing their attention. The ultimate skill of his Sword of Divinity and Demons had already cooled down. He nned to gather these creatures together and obliterate them all with a single Divine Punishment. Roar... Roar after roar echoed as countless dark spells whistled through the air. John didn''t dare let his guard down and swiftly maneuvered through the horde on his flying sword. By now, all the Abyss demons in the vicinity were drawn in, numbering over 30,000. "That''s enough!" John skillfully dodged a Dark Orb attack, quickly descending while gripping the Sword of Divinity and Demons. Whoosh... Suddenly, a fierce wind howled, and a terrifying pressure filled the air. The Abyss demons that had been furiously attacking John just moments ago instantly fell silent, looking up at the sky in fear. Boom! Boom! Boom! Thunder rumbled as dark clouds gathered, making the very air seem to freeze. "Divine Punishment!" John''s cold voice echoed as he swung down the Sword of Divinity and Demons. Crack! Crack! In an instant, countless electric serpents danced through the air, enveloping the Abyss demons, crackling with energy. Damage numbers shed across the screen in droves as the Abyss demons wailed in agony. -1,008,035 -998,244 ... John''s power had increased, and with the added bonus of a magical critical hit, his Divine Punishment attack dealt a staggering million-plus damage. The sixth-tier Abyss demons were vaporized in an instant, with notification messages flooding in. [You have in a level 500 Abyss demon, gaining 17,730 experience points.] [You have in a level 550 Abyss demon, gaining 22,730 experience points.] [Level up! Constitution +1, Strength +5, Spirit +5, Agility +3, Free Attribute Points +20, Skill Points +2.] [Plunder talent activated, Spirit +1.] [Plunder talent activated, Magic Critical Hit +1.] ... John''s four core attributes increased by over 10,000 points, and his level shot up to 167, just 33 levels shy of his fifth advancement! "This is absolutely exhrating!" John eximed, his face beaming with excitement. At this rate, he would soon reach the ninth tier. Of course, that would depend on whether there were enough Abyss demons and if the ultimate skill of the Sword of Divinity and Demons cooled down in time. The area around him was now a charred wastnd, littered with scattered equipment and items. Only 13 sixth-tier epic Abyss demon leaders remained, trembling as they stared at John in terror. They hadn''t been instantly killed by the Divine Punishment, but their health was reduced to just over 200,000. "Die!" John''s longsword hummed as he attacked again, a dazzling sword light slicing towards the nearest Abyss demon. Boom! -240,100 -44,500 The Abyss demon had little health left, and with a critical hit dealing 240,000 damage plus an additional 44,000 true damage, it was instantly killed. [You have in an 800-level sixth-tier epic Abyss demon leader, gaining 763,000 experience points.]n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om [Plunder talent activated, Dark Element Affinity +1, Spirit +100, Skill Points +10.] John had once again plundered a point of Dark Element Affinity. He didn''t quite understand its purpose, but it seemed to only be obtained by killing sixth-tier epic Abyss leaders or higher. "Roar!" The remaining Abyss demon leaders, finally reacting,unched an attack against him. Several Dark Orbs whistled through the air, hurtling toward him. John didn''t dare to take them head-on. He quickly conjured a Water Mist Clone, retreating rapidly as countless sword des shot out, enveloping the Abyss demon leaders. The Sword Immortal skill, Infinite Sword Array. St... Blood sprayed everywhere as the Abyss demons howled in agony. The terrifying critical damage,bined with true damage, instantly killed them. [You have in an 800-level sixth-tier epic Abyss demon leader, gaining 763,000 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Dark Element Affinity +1, Physical Crit +1, Magic Crit +1.] [Plunder talent activated, Dark Element Affinity +1, gained skill: Dark Descent.] [Dark Descent: Intermediate Level 2; A dark magic area skill, enveloping the surroundings in immense dark power, weakening enemies'' base attributes by 1% and increasing dark magic damage by 1%. Consumes 1,000 mana, cooldown: 20 minutes.] ... Notification messages shed across the screen as John plundered another 12 points of Dark Element Affinity and acquired an intermediate dark magic skill, Dark Descent. "Not bad at all," he nodded in satisfaction, not in a hurry to level up, as he began to loot the battlefield. "Hmm, someone strong?" John sensed powerful presences emerging from the depths of the forest, likely drawn by the ultimate skill, Divine Punishment. He didn''t want to be exposed, so he quickly cleaned up the battlefield. Discarding any trashy sixth-tier high-grade equipment, he only picked up the items dropped by the sixth-tier epic Abyss demons, as well as skill stones and other valuables. Then, he swiftly flew away on his sword, skimming low to the ground. ... Just as John left, a few powerful presences arrived. It was those eighth-tier powerhouses. "This is the ce!" Behemoth furrowed his brow as he sensed the lingering aura around him. "An ultimate skill? Could it be Lord Tony and Ben?" Bonnie''s expression was filled with doubt. The Abyss demons here were only of the sixth tier; there was no way two ninth-tier experts would be needed to take them down. Let alone use such powerful ultimate skills. Sara carefully scanned the surroundings and then spoke, "It seems that the aura of this ultimate skill isn''t very strong..." She didn''t continue, but a suspicion began to form in her mind. She remembered that the human had been heading in this direction to hunt Abyss demons. Could it possibly be that little guy? "We shouldn''t specte about ninth-tier powerhouses. Let''s head back." Behemoth decided not to dwell on the issue and turned to leave. "I have some matters to attend to, so I won''t be returning with you," the three-headed ck dragon said, having noticed the corpse of the two-winged ck serpent king on the way here. It was clear that the mission to kill that human had failed, and he intended to take matters into his own hands. "ck Dragon, I''ve had some insightstely. How about we spar a little?" Bonnie spoke up, a cold gleam shing in her hand as she immediately attacked the three-headed ck dragon. She had already guessed the ck dragon''s intention-to go after John. That human had a close connection with her dark elf n, and she wouldn''t allow the ck dragon to harm him. "Get lost!" the three-headed ck dragon snarled in frustration. His strength was nearly equal to Bonnie''s, so neither could gain the upper hand, and it would take time for their battle to reach a conclusion. "Are you heading back?" Behemoth, uninterested in intervening, turned to ask Sara. Sara shook her head. "The full moon is in three days. I need to go into seclusion for cultivation." Her cultivation method was unique, as she absorbed moonlight to train. However, the Abyss was a strange ce where the moon only appeared during the full moon each month. Transforming into her unicorn form, Sara spread her wings and flew toward a nearby mountain range. ... John remained unaware of everything that was happening there, still wandering through the forest, hunting Abyss demons. The Abyss was teeming with demons, ranging from the fourth to the eighth tier, making it a perfect ce for leveling up. If it weren''t for his concerns about changes in the World of Gods and the real world, he could very well stay here and train until he reached the ninth tier. But as things stood, it seemed he would only be able to leave this ce once he reached the ninth tier andprehended thews of dark elements. "Sigh!" John sighed helplessly, finishing off the surrounding Abyss demons before continuing his search. asionally, he encountered other powerful beings imprisoned here. He would kill the weaker ones outright, while avoiding the stronger ones for now. These creatures were all malevolent, so their deaths at his hands were well-deserved. [You have in an 800-level sixth-tier epic Abyss demon leader, gaining 763,000 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Dark Element Affinity +1, Skill Points +10.] [You have sessfully in 50 sixth-tier or higher epic bosses. Wrath of the Gods talent has been upgraded to SSS level, granting a 90% reduction in skill cooldown time.] [Next level upgrade requirement: y 10 first-tier or higher boss leaders.] ... John had just in another sixth-tier epic Abyss demon, and the notification shed across his screen. His Wrath of the Gods talent had finally been upgraded to the SSS level. The skill cooldown reduction had reached a staggering 90%, significantly boosting his power once again. Oddly enough, though, the requirements for the next upgrade hadn''t increased; they had actually decreased. Now, all he had to do was kill 10 first-tier or higher boss leaders. This felt like an insult. "What''s going on?" John was puzzled, unable to understand the reasoning behind it. However, since the upgrade conditions were unlocked. He decided to continue advancing without dwelling on it. He moved on, continuing to hunt down Abyss demons. While sixth-tier epic Abyss demon leaders were hard to find, boss-level Abyss demons were practically everywhere. Among every 10 Abyss demons, there was at least one boss-level demon, usually of the fourth or fifth tier. Before long, John had met the upgrade conditions, and the notifications shed again. [You have sessfully in 10 first-tier or higher boss leaders. Wrath of the Gods talent upgraded: Skill cost reduced by 10%.] [Next level upgrade requirement: y 20 second-tier or higher elite bosses.] "Skill cost reduction!" John eximed in delight. This was exactly what he needed. As the Wrath of the Gods talent leveled up, the biggest issue he faced was running out of mana. In every battle, he had to constantly drink mana recovery potions, yet his mana was still never enough. He had been worried that being trapped in the Death Land without a supply of mana potions would slow down his monster-killing pace. But to his surprise, the Wrath of the Gods talent upgrade now reduced the mana cost of his skills. It solved his most pressing problem. "Onward!" John was overjoyed. ying 20 second-tier elite bosses would still be a breeze for him. The wails of Abyss demons echoed around him. With his increased power, even taking down sixth-tier epic Abyss demons was no longer a challenge. [You have sessfully in 20 second-tier or higher elite bosses. Wrath of the Gods talent upgraded: Skill cost reduced by 20%.] [Next level upgrade requirement: y 30 third-tier or higher rare bosses.] Soon, the Wrath of the Gods talent was upgraded again, reducing his skill cost by another 20%, and unlocking the next level upgrade condition. Third-tier rare bosses were still easy prey for him. ... Chapter 118: Chapter 118: The Blood Moon Rises, Passion on the Mountaintop Chapter 118: The Blood Moon Rises, Passion on the Mountaintop ? In the sky, a dark red blood moon rose, casting an eerie glow over the Abyss, shrouding thend in an unsettling hue. John had been wandering through the Abyss for three days, ying countless Abyss demons and reaching level 170. He had plundered a substantial amount of attributes, significantly boosting his power once more. Moreover, his Wrath of the Gods talent had continuously upgraded, now reducing his skill costs by 50%. However, further upgrading had be difficult, as it required the ying of 60 sixth-tier epic bosses. While the Abyss was teeming with powerful demons, sixth-tier epic bosses were rare, forcing him to search slowly. "I should have saved those sixth-tier epic Abyss demons," John sighed in regret, his attention drawn to the mountain before him. The blood-red moonlight bathed the entire peak in a sinister crimson, making it look as though it were made of flesh and blood-a chilling, eerie sight. Strangely, there were hardly any Abyss demons in the vicinity, as if they were afraid to approach the mountain. "Could there be a treasure on this mountain?" John''s curiosity was piqued, and he used Sword Flight to ascend to the summit. The bitterly cold wind howled around him, but his strength was more than enough to withstand it. He soon reached the top, where thendscape was barren, offering no visible signs of anything special. "Huh, someone''s here?" John eximed, his eyes drawn to a graceful figure at the peak. She was d in a flowing ck dress, her long hair billowing in the wind. The most striking feature was the single horn on her forehead. It was Sara! The dark red moonlight bathed her, illuminating her delicate face. She radiated a blend of purity and allure, embodying a perfect bnce of light and darkness. John couldn''t help but be captivated. Sara''s beauty and graceful, noble demeanor were on par with that of Sini and the others. "Hmm?" Suddenly, he frowned, a pained expression crossing his face as the fox demon curse chose this moment to re up. "Undead Lord, what should I do?" He frantically sought the advice of the Undead Lord in his mind. "Isn''t there a stunning beauty right in front of you?" The other''s teasing voice echoed in his head. "Don''t joke around! That woman is an eighth-tier powerhouse and an expert in lightning magic, whiches with soul-damaging effects." John didn''t dare entertain any thoughts about Sara, even though she was breathtakingly beautiful-she was also deadly. The Undead Lord mocked, "Look at you, so spineless. The unicorn n absorbs moonlight to cultivate, and at this time, they''re at their weakest, unable to fully unleash their power. You might have a chance." "What happens when she recovers?" John was exasperated. While giving in to the urge might bring temporary relief, the consequences would undoubtedly be deadly. The Undead Lord sighed, "Then there''s nothing more I can do for you. This time, with the fox demon curse acting up, you mightpletely lose your sanity. I suggest you leave immediately." "I guess that''s all I can do," John muttered, swallowing hard as he struggled to suppress the mes of desire burning within him. The fox demon curse wasn''t fatal; if he could just endure it, everything would be fine. He turned to leave, but the fire in his heart only grew stronger, as if another demon within him was slowly awakening. His vision blurred, and all he could see was the captivating figure bathed in moonlight, drawing him in with an irresistible allure. "Sigh, you''re on your own now," the Undead Lord''s voice echoed in his mind before it faded away, closing off all his senses. He knew what was about to happen and didn''t want to endure the torment. John had no response; he hadpletely lost his mind, overwhelmed by the powerful fox demon curse. All that remained in his heart was desire. He turned back and began walking toward Sara, step by step. "Who''s there?" Sara sensed someone approaching and called out coldly, immediately halting her cultivation. "Hmm? Human, it''s you? What are you doing here?" She rxed slightly when she recognized John, a smile forming on her lips. She didn''t notice anything unusual about him. Gulp! John swallowed hard, his eyes zing with desire as he stared intently at Sara, his breathing growing heavier. "Human, what''s wrong with you?" Sara frowned, sensing something off about him. John didn''t respond. Instead, a low growl, almost animalistic, rumbled from his throat as he lunged at her. "You''re courting death!" Sara''s expression shifted to one of shock and fury. How dare this human try to take advantage of her! Boom! She raised her hand and struck John''s chest with all her might. [You have been killed by an eighth-tier legendary unicorn. Undying and Immortal talent activated...] The notification shed, but John was unharmed. Instead, Sara''s attack only enraged him further. Taking advantage of her momentary surprise, he grabbed hold of the horn on her forehead. "Ah!" Sara gasped. Her horn was a sacred part of her body, off-limits to anyone. "Human, let go of me!" she shouted, panic rising in her voice. With John''s hand gripping her horn, she felt a surge of electricity run through her, leaving her body numb and her strength drained. By this time, John had already pinned her down. Rip! Her long dress was torn open, revealing her snow-white shoulders. "Bastard, I''ll kill you!" Sara''s eyes turned blood-red with rage. She had never suffered such humiliation before. She clenched her fist and struck John again, this time with all her might. Boom! [You have been killed by an eighth-tier legendary unicorn. Undying and Immortal talentn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om activated...] John remained unscathed, and his equipment began to fall away as if by some unseen force. Sara set on the ground, a big one jump up on her face. She scared and want to run, but her horn is catch by John. It seems like take her life. p! Her dress has been dropped. Her white skin and perfect figure show more charming under the blood moonlight. She can''t resist and pushed down by John. That big one strongly get in her, without forey. "Ah..." Sara shout, her body trembled, feels like her under shed by him. Bleeding and painful. Her nail stab in his skin. "Human, get off me..." her tears drop and struggle, and shout from pian. John knew nothing of mercy. His mind was consumed by an insatiable desire, driving him to plunge deeply before abruptly pulling back and thrusting again with relentless speed, igniting the mes of passion within him. "Ah! It hurts so much..." Sara cried out in panic and helplessness, her voice trembling with pain. She tried to push John away, but for some reason, she couldn''t muster any strength in her body. All she could do was endure his relentless torment. "Human, please... don''t do this..." Her brows furrowed deeply, tears streaming down her face uncontrobly, filled with humiliation and pain. What was even more terrifying was that under John''s relentless assault, her body began to respond involuntarily. Blood, mixed with other fluids, seeped from her lower body, slightly dulling the pain, yet the strange sensation only grew stronger. This terrified her even more-she couldn''t let this human take advantage of her. "Bastard, I''ll castrate you, I swear..." Her words were abruptly cut off as her mouth was invaded, a tongue forcing its way past her teeth. She widened her eyes in shock, feeling a strange sensation that filled her with shame and fury. Without a second thought, she bit down hard. The taste of blood filled her mouth. "Mmm!" John''s face twisted in pain, but he briefly regained a sliver of rity. He quickly pulled his tongue back, only to have his desire and anger surge within him once more, making his movements even rougher. "Ah...!" Sara screamed repeatedly, her eyes pleading as she looked at John. "Human, please, let me go. I promise I won''t kill you." But John, lost in his own frenzy, paid no heed. He grabbed her forehead with one hand and pinned her hands down with the other, mechanically thrusting and pulling. "Bastard..." Sara cursed, her feet unable to find purchase on the ground, while the pain in her body gradually eased. As a Legend of the Eighth Rank, Sara possessed remarkable resilience, which helped to dull her pain but, paradoxically, intensified the strange sensation she felt, as if it was piercing directly into her soul. Furious and resisting internally, she bit down on her lip, trying to use the pain to ward off the unwee pleasure. But John''s relentless assault continued, battering down her inner defenses. "Mmm!" She bit her lip harder, her brow furrowed, and her toes dug deeply into the soil as her delicate body trembled uncontrobly. To her shock, she climaxed, unable to suppress it under John''s rough treatment. "Human, I will tear you apart!" she cursed inwardly, even as the sensation of joy blossomed within her like a blooming flower. She couldn''t let John realize she had climaxed, or that she had found any joy in it. But John wasn''t focused on her at all. The curse of the fox demon that gripped him hadn''t lessened; in fact, it had grown stronger. He was merely venting his pent-up desires with ruthless intensity. The forceful impacts continued, gradually eroding Sara''s rationality. "Mmm..." She let out a soft moan, her mouth slightly open. And then immediately reacted, overwhelmed by a mix of shame, anger, and confusion. She wanted John to finish quickly, yet at the same time, she didn''t want to let go of the overwhelming sensation. Her emotions were in turmoil, and even her desire to kill John was diminishing. ... On the mountaintop, under the moonlight, an indescribable scene unfolded. John held Sara tightly, his movements rough and unyielding. After enduring for four hours, he finally reached his first climax. "Mmm!" John let out a low growl as he thrust deeply, unleashing a powerful, scorching force that surged through him like a torrent. "Ah!" Sara couldn''t help but let out a pained breath. The turmoil within her body made it impossible to hold back any longer. She opened her mouth slightly. Gasping for breath as she climaxed alongside John, feeling a mix of shame, grievance, pain, and an unfamiliar, intoxicating pleasure. Sara didn''t know what she felt at that moment, tears streaming down her face. "Human, let me go... I promise I won''t kill you..." Her voicecked the earlier killing intent, instead carrying a note of desperation. At this point, the curse''s grip on John had weakened significantly, and he regained his sanity. But seeing the delicate, disheveled, and pitiable beauty beneath him filled him with dread. He had actually surpassed Sara! Although it hadn''t been intentional, he knew she wouldn''t forgive him and would likely kill him to vent her anger. If he was going to die anyway, why not indulge a little longer? John gritted his teeth and pretended to remain under the curse''s influence, continuing his rough thrusts. "Please, human, let me go... you''ve already had your way with me..." Sara''s tears streamed down her cheeks as she begged desperately. The sensation was strange-both irresistible and slightly painful. She prayed it would end soon. ... Chapter 119: Chapter 119: The Dark Law, Encountering Sara Again Chapter 119: The Dark Law, Encountering Sara Again ? Gradually, Sara was overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions and relentless orgasms, causing her to lose all sense of reality. Under John''s unyielding pressure, she began to plead desperately. "How strong!" John thought, surprised. The moon had long since disappeared, and he had been at it all night, climaxing three times. Yet, Sara never fainted and still managed to endure. John couldn''t help but wonder if she could hold on to her limits. Sara''s voice grew hoarse, alternating between pleas and, at times, even actively responding to John. She waspletely lost, unable to free herself from the cycle. ... The wind howled fiercely on the mountaintop, carrying away Sara''s pained moans. She had lost consciousness. In the cover of darkness, the descent into the abyss continued. "Human, please, let me go... I can''t take it anymore... I promise I''ll be obedient and won''t cause you any trouble..." Sara had reached her breaking point. She lowered herselfpletely, begging desperately. John ignored her pleas, only intensifying his movements. Finally, after another hour of relentless effort, they both climaxed once more, this time together. John let out a satisfied moan, his body finally sumbing to exhaustion. Fatigue and drowsiness washed over him, and he copsed onto Sara, quickly falling into a deep sleep. Sara, with a bewildered expression and tears in her eyes, gently patted John''s back beforepletely losing consciousness herself. After an entire day and night of intense struggle, John finally reached his physical limit. Sara, relying on her immense strength and resilience, had barely managed to withstand the storm-like impact. This left her mentally and physically drained. With John''s final climax, she could hold on no longer. ... The cold wind on the mountaintop raged fiercely as the twoy naked, tightly embracing each other and falling asleep face to face. After a day and night of madness, both had reached their absolute limits, both physically and mentally. After an unknown amount of time, Sara''s long eyshes trembled as she slowly began to wake. The difort in her lower body made her furrow her brow slightly, as if something had filled her, leaving her with an indescribable sensation. She opened her eyes, her mind still a bit hazy. The first thing she saw was a handsome, chiseled face with a strong, resolute expression. Sara''s eyes widened in shock as full awareness dawned upon her. A surge of uncontroble anger welled up inside her, and with a furious roar that echoed across the mountaintop. She screamed, "You bastard, I''ll kill you!" With terrifying power coursing through her, she struck out with all her might, aiming a powerful blow at John. It was this human who had taken advantage of her, robbing her of her precious first time. Boom! [You have been killed by an eighth-tier legendary unicorn. Undying and Immortal talent activated...] The searing pain jolted John awake, the system notification shing before his eyes. He quickly realized what was happening and, seeing Sara before him-her eyes zing red with fury, her body trembling and bare-he didn''t hesitate. He swiftly gathered up his equipment from the ground and turned to flee. "Stop, you bastard!" Sara grabbed her torn dress from the ground and threw it over herself. As she tried to stand, a sharp, tearing pain radiated from her lower body, causing her to stumble and nearly fall. Meanwhile, John was already soaring away on his Sword Flight, fleeing deeper into the forest without looking back. "My innocence...," Sara whimpered as she crouched down, tears welling up in her eyes. The overwhelming sense of vition and humiliation flooded her heart. She could never have imagined that her virginity would be forcefully taken by a mere human. "Godyer, I won''t let you get away with this...," she muttered through gritted teeth, staring in the direction John had fled. Despite her rage, she didn''t chase after him. It wasn''t just the physical pain; she could feel a strange new power emerging within her, something she could refine to significantly enhance her strength. And in thisnd of the Abyss, John wouldn''t be able to escape her. She would make sure to torment him slowly, letting him experience the same agony-caught between life and death! ... By now, John had fled deep into the forest, the mountain disappearing from sight. Seeing that Sara wasn''t pursuing him, he finally stopped, letting out a sigh of relief. "Kid, you''re really something else, putting her through that kind of torment for an entire day and night. It''s a good thing unicorns have a unique constitution, or she might not have survived it," came the teasing voice of the Undead Lord in his mind. John frowned in annoyance. "Were you spying on me again?" "Don''t use me of that. I sealed off my senses; I could only sense the state of your soul," the Undead Lord replied with a dismissive tone, clearly disdainful of the idea of spying on such matters. John frowned, feeling a bit uneasy. He decided that once he escaped the Abyss, he would find a way to help the Undead Lord regain a physical body and finally rid himself of this troublesome presence. "By the way," he thought of something and asked curiously, "Do you know what Dark Element Affinity is?" "Elemental affinity?" The Undead Lord eximed in surprise, "That''s an ability only ninth- tier powerhouses can cultivate! It''s the key to understanding thews. You''re not telling me you''ve somehow gained elemental affinity, are you?" His tone was filled with disbelief, as if everything about John was bing increasingly mysterious. "Elemental affinity is the key to understanding thews?" John wondered aloud. Over the past few days, he had plundered over seventy points of Dark Element Affinity, but he hadn''t yet grasped any of the power of thews of darkness. Could it be that his cultivation needed to reach the ninth tier first? The Undead Lord exined, "100 points of elemental affinity can be converted into 1% of the power ofws. Kid, have you really managed to gain Dark Element Affinity?" 100 points? John didn''t pay much attention to his reaction. So, if he could plunder 100 points of Dark Element Affinity, he could master the power of the darkws and escape from here ahead of time? Dark Element Affinity could only be gained by ying sixth-tier epic Abyss demons. Fortunately, upgrading his Wrath of the Gods talent also required ying these demons, so it would be killing two birds with one stone. He had no desire to stay in the Abyss any longer than necessary; it was far too dangerous here. The three-headed ck dragon clearly wanted him dead. And now Sara also hated him to the core. With his current strength, falling into the hands of either of these eighth-tier legendary powerhouses would be a death sentence. ... John continued to roam the forest, hunting down sixth-tier epic Abyss demons. Over the past few days, his strength had increased significantly, with both his power and spirit attributes surpassing fifty thousand points. Combined with his Dual Mastery, physical damage talent enhancements, and the formidable abilities of the Sword Immortal ss, he found dealing with sixth-tier epic Abyss demons to be rtively easy. [You have in an 800-level sixth-tier epic Abyss demon leader, gaining 763,000 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Dark Element Affinity +1, Spirit +100, Skill Points +10.] [Dark Element Affinity reached 100 points, you haveprehended 1% of the Dark Element Laws.] [Dark Element Laws: 1%; Dark magic damage increased by 100%, Dark magic resistance increased by 100%, and Dark magic attacks now inflict an additional 1% true damage.]n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om As the notifications shed across the screen, John was overjoyed. His Dark Element Affinity had reached 100 points, and he had indeedprehended 1% of the Dark Element Laws. The dark magic damage increase of 100% and resistance boost of 100% meant that he was now impervious to any dark magic attacks. Unless they came from someone who had also mastered the Dark Element Laws. Additionally, his dark magic attacks now dealt an extra 1% true damage. It had taken him considerable effort toprehend the Elemental Laws and achieve this small amount of true damage, highlighting just how powerful the Drunken Moon skill was. John didn''t dwell on the issue and instead attempted to break through the space around him to escape the Abyss. He channeled the power of the darkws, causing the space to tremble, but it didn''t break. "It''s not working?" John frowned, feeling frustrated. The power of thews he had mastered was too weak to break through this space. "Darkws? Kid, you reallyprehended the Dark Element Laws? How is that possible?" The Undead Lord''s voice echoed in his mind, filled with disbelief. He had never heard of anyone mastering thews before reaching the ninth tier. But the fact that John was only at the fourth tier made it even more astonishing. Realizing something, the Undead Lord urged, "Kid, you need to get out of here immediately. The powerful beings imprisoned in the Abyss are highly sensitive to dark energy and will be able to sense the power of the darkws." "They''ll be hostile toward me?" John was puzzled. He thought that mastering the darkws and breaking through the space would be a good thing for those powerful beings. However, he still used a concealment talisman to hide his presence and quickly made his escape. The Undead Lord exined, "There''s another way to cultivate thews-by plundering the elementalws that others haveprehended. This is why I didn''t want you to reveal your true damage. The other strong beings here won''t be afraid of it, but given how weak you are, if they target you, you''re as good as dead." "I really should thank you," John replied, feeling a shiver of fear and a deep sense of gratitude toward the Undead Lord. The Undead Lord dismissed it. "Save the fake gratitude. What you need to focus on is finding a way out of here. With your current strength, you''d need to reach at least the seventh tier to break through this space." Seventh tier? John''s brow furrowed. He had just reached level 179, and he needed to reach level 200 to undergo his fifth ss advancement. The sixth ss advancement would require reaching level 500, and to reach the seventh tier, he would need to get to level 1000. It seemed nearly impossible to achieve that in a short time. Despair filled his heart. It seemed that escaping the Abyss anytime soon was out of the question. Whoosh... Suddenly, several powerful auras surged toward him¡ªit was a group of eighth-tier powerhouses, drawn by the darkws that John had just released. He hadn''t gotten far, so he quickly held his breath, concealed his form, and descended to hide, observing from a distance. Sara was among them. Her face was cold as ice, her aura radiating a chilling killing intent, so intense that the others around her didn''t dare approach. Bonnie, who was close to Sara, was puzzled. Sara''s power had increased, which was a good thing, but her demeanor had changed dramatically, as if she harbored deep hatred toward everything around her. Bonnie suspected it was rted to the incident on the night of the full moon a few days ago, but Sara refused to speak about what had happened. "It should be right around here. Why can''t I sense it anymore?" The three-headed ck dragon hovered in mid-air, its three massive eyes glowing as it carefully scanned the surroundings. John''s heart pounded with anxiety as he remainedpletely hidden within the bushes, not daring to make a sound. Chapter 120: Chapter 120: John in Danger, The Ninth-Tier Powerhouse Chapter 120: John in Danger, The Ninth-Tier Powerhouse ? The concealment talisman was only effective against those below the seventh tier, but these terrifying beings were all eighth-tier powerhouses. If they focused their senses, they would undoubtedly detect his presence. John could only hope that they would be careless enough to overlook him. "Dark Blood Bat, can you sense anything?" the three-headed ck dragon asked, turning to therge humanoid, dark red bat beside him. "Let me try." The Dark Blood Bat stepped forward, slightly parting its lips to reveal several sharp fangs. Buzz! The air trembled as an invisible sound wave pulsed outward, spreading in all directions. John immediately felt a sense of dread. This humanoid bat had a powerful echolocation ability. "There!" The Dark Blood Bat instantly pinpointed John''s location, pointing directly at the bush where he was hiding. Cursing under his breath, John shot out of his hiding spot, activating Sword Flight and fleeing as quickly as he could. "Human!" Sara recognized John, her eyes filled with cold malice. The horn on her forehead crackled with purple electricity, and a bolt of lightning shot down toward him. Boom! As expected, John was instantly killed again. Fortunately, the Resurrection skill of his artifact, The Blessed Ring, had cooled down, allowing him to revive on the spot. "Be careful! The unicorn''s lightning contains soul attacks!" The Undead Lord''s voice echoed in his mind. John didn''t need the warning; he could feel it himself. He quickly summoned a Water Mist Clone to distract the powerhouses and bolted away at full speed. Boom! A thunderous explosion erupted behind him as his Water Mist Clone was obliterated. In a sh, Sara appeared in front of John, her speed astonishing. "Die, human!" she shouted, unleashing another terrifying lightning strike aimed directly at him. "Sara, have you lost your mind?" Bonnie suddenly appeared between John and Sara, blocking the attack. "You''d better stay out of this, or I''ll kill you too!" Sara''s voice was icy, and her murderous intent was palpable. Bonnie frowned, her expression furious. "Let''s see if you''re capable of that!" The two women shed instantly, dark energy surging as they fought. Both were eighth-tier legendary powerhouses. But after her encounter with John, Sara''s power had significantly increased, giving her the upper hand over Bonnie. Before John could make his escape, the other powerhouses surrounded him. "Are you sure it''s him?" the three-headed ck dragon nced at John, then looked at the Dark Blood Bat with a puzzled expression. How could a mere fourth-tier human possibly haveprehended the Dark Element Laws? The Dark Blood Bat stared intently at John and nodded firmly. "Yes, I''m certain. I can still sense the lingering darkw fluctuations on him." "In that case, this one''s mine," growled the Nether Panther from nearby,unching an attack on John. The Nether Panther was also an eighth-tier legendary powerhouse, far beyond John''s ability to contend with. Crack! Just as John was about to flee, a bolt of lightning struck down, hitting the Nether Panther. It was Sara. The Nether Panther recoiled, its body scorched and emitting a burnt odor. "Sara, how dare you attack me?" it snarled in anger. "This human is mine. No one else is allowed to touch him!" Sara''s voice was icy as she abandoned her fight with Bonnie and lunged at the Nether Panther. The Panther, weaker than even Bonnie, was quickly overpowered by Sara, unable to mount any effective defense. Whoosh! Suddenly, dark energy surged, and a shadowy figure descended from the sky-it was the formidable Behemoth, who alsounched an attack on John. "Behemoth, how dare you!" Bonnie cursed, stepping in front of John without hesitation. Boom! The terrifying force of dark energy erupted, sending both John and Bonnie flying. This Behemoth was even more powerful than Sara. "Kid, run now!" Bonnie nced back at John before charging at Behemoth again. "Be careful, senior!" John called out, feeling a surge of gratitude. He could tell that Bonnie genuinely wanted to save him, perhaps for the sake of the dark elf n. Without dwelling on it, John turned and ran. Two shadows flickered, blocking his path from both sides. It was the Dark Blood Bat and the three-headed ck dragon. "Damn it!" John cursed, his heart sinking into despair. He couldn''t handle even one eighth- tier legendary powerhouse, let alone two. Crack! Crack! Just then, two bolts of lightning struck down-it was Sara again. She had already defeated the Nether Panther and now stood, her body crackling with purple electricity and immense dark power, ring coldly at the three-headed ck dragon and the Dark Blood Bat. "I told you, no one touches him but me!" Gulp! John swallowed hard, not daring to let his guard down. He could feel the intense hatred Sara had for him. If he fell into her hands, he knew he would wish for death. "Let''s deal with this woman first," the three-headed ck dragon and the Dark Blood Bat exchanged nces beforeunching an attack on Sara. Though her strength had increased, she was still no match for two eighth-tier legendary powerhouses attacking her simultaneously. John let out a long sigh of relief but didn''t dare linger for even a moment. He quickly turned to flee. "Not so fast, kid," a mocking voice rang out as the Nether Panther blocked his path, a yful smirk on its face. Although the Nether Panther was injured by Sara, dealing with John was still a simple task. John''s expression grew serious as he nced toward the battlefield. Sara was entangled with the three-headed ck dragon and the Dark Blood Bat, while Bonnie was struggling against Behemoth''s relentless attacks, barely holding her own. The Nether Panther''s voice echoed with smugness, "Give it up, kid. No one''sing to save you!" In a sh, the Nether Panther appeared right in front of John, moving with lightning speed. "Get lost!" John cursed, activating his Assassin skill, Void Dance, slipping into the void to evade the Nether Panther''s attack. Simultaneously, several cold gleams shed, targeting the Panther. St! Blood sttered as dark damage numbers shed above the Panther. -4,983 -4,873 ... John''s attacks couldn''t prate the Panther''s defenses; they only inflicted true damage. Ten strikes resulted in just over 40,000 damage, barely a scratch on the Panther''s massive 15 million health points. "True damage!" The Nether Panther stared at John in disbelief. "Not only have you mastered the Dark Element Laws, but you''ve also grasped the Physical Damage Laws! How is this possible?" Fixing his gaze on John, the Panther''s expression turned to one of ecstasy. "Kid, you''re full of surprises, but all these powers of thews will soon be mine!" Buzz! A cold gleam flickered as the Nether Panther''s ws, sharp as daggers, pierced directly through John''s heart. [You have been killed by the eighth-tier legendary Nether Panther. Lifesaver talent triggered, life-sharing triggered.] The notification shed. John was left with just 1 point of health, but thanks to life-sharing, his health quickly began to recover. John breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that the Nether Panther didn''t possess any soul-based attacks. "Still alive?" The Nether Panther frowned, thenunched another attack. John had no way to defend himself. Boom! [You have been instantly killed by the eighth-tier legendary Nether Panther. Undying and Immortal talent activated...] "Still not dead?" The Nether Panther''s frown deepened, puzzled by John''s seemingly endless survival mechanisms. Taking advantage of the Panther''s momentary confusion, John quickly retreated, gripping the Sword of Divinity and Demons with both hands as a terrifying aura began to emanate from him. Whoosh... A fierce wind swept through the area, causing John''s clothes to flutter as he raised the Sword of Divinity and Demons high above his head. The terrifying aura continued to grow. The nearbybatants paused, shocked, and stared at John. "An ultimate skill? How is that possible?" The powerful Behemoth eximed, swallowing hard in disbelief. "Wrath of the Gods!" John roared, shing the longsword down with all his might. A massive sword beam formed, radiating an unstoppable force as it cleaved toward the Nether Panther. The Nether Panther''s expression turned to one of terror. With no time to dodge, it braced itself for the impact. Boom! A thunderous explosion shook the ground, creating a massive chasm. -311,290 -183,000 Two damage numbers shed above the Panther. Despite unleashing the ultimate skill Wrath of the Gods, John''s base attributes were still too low, resulting in only around 300,000 damage and 180,000 true damage. The Nether Panther tumbled into the chasm, battered and bruised, but instead of despair, a look of ecstatic relief spread across its face. "I survived! Haha, I actually survived!" "An artifact!" Behemoth shouted, eyes gleaming as he fixated on the Sword of Divinity and Demons in John''s hands. The other powerhouses couldn''t help but swallow nervously, and almost simultaneously, they all charged at John. Bonnie and Sara hesitated only for a moment before stepping in to block the others. The two women managed to hold off the three-headed ck dragon, the Dark Blood Bat, and the Nether Panther, but Behemoth, being incredibly powerful, broke through their defenses and rushed straight at John. "Die, kid!" Behemoth bellowed, as a massive hand covered in swirling purple mist descended from the sky, blotting out the sun as it came crashing down on John. "Soul attack!" John''s expression changed as he sensed that the strange purple mist was a soul-based assault. It''s over! Despair filled his heart. This time, it seemed like he was truly going to die here. Buzz! But then, a strange humming sound echoed, and Behemoth''s massive hand didn''t strike down as expected. Instead, it stopped mid-air, suspended as if held back by some invisible force. John looked up in confusion and saw a shimmering water barrier above him, silently blockingn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om what would have been a fatal blow. "What is this?" he wondered, bewildered. "Spare me..." Behemoth''s expression was now one of sheer terror, his body trembling slightly as he remained frozen in his attack stance, staring upward. The other eighth-tier powerhouses also halted their attacks, gazing skyward with looks of reverence. In the sky, at some point, two elderly men had appeared, standing effortlessly in mid-air. "Ninth-tier powerhouses!" John gasped. Flying without any external aid¡ªthis was the hallmark of a ninth-tier expert. Buzz! Suddenly, an ice de materialized out of thin air, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. Its target wasn''t John, but Behemoth. St! Blood sttered as a massive arm was severed, flying through the air. Behemoth''s face turned pale as he struggled to contain the pain, clutching the wound on his arm. He copsed to his knees with a thud, murmuring, "Thank you, my lord, for sparing my life." The two elders ignored Behemoth entirely as they descended from the sky, their eyes fixed on John. Gulp! John couldn''t help but swallow nervously, his heart racing. He had no idea what these two intended to do. "Is it him?" one of the elders asked, his tone curious. The other nodded, his expression filled with a sense of nostalgia. "Who would''ve thought that thousands of years have passed outside." The first elder frowned, his skepticism evident. "Ben, are you sure you''re not mistaken? This guy is just a human." Chapter 121: Chapter 121: Escape from the Abyss, Crisis in Flame City Chapter 121: Escape from the Abyss, Crisis in me City ? The old man named Ben red at the other elder and said, "No mistake. This kid killed the Beast n''s savior and inherited his bloodline. He also carries the fox demon curse." Hearing their conversation, John was certain that these two elders were powerful figures from the Beast n and, fortunately, seemed to harbor no hostility toward him. One of them even emitted an aura that felt strangely familiar to him. John bowed respectfully and looked at the elder who had spoken, saying, "Senior, may I ask what your rtionship is with Lord ck Turtle?" "You know that turtle brat?" The elder nced at John, then seemed to realize something. "Of course, that guy is the guardian of the prophesied savior." John frowned slightly. Why was this elder using such crudenguage? At that moment, the Undead Lord''s voice echoed in his mind: "Kid, he''s the Sacred Beast Tony of the Beast n." Tony?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om John was taken aback. The four Sacred Beasts-Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Tony-were the top powerhouses of the Beast n. He hadn''t expected to encounter Tony here. No wonder the elder referred to ck Turtle as his descendant. "Eh?" Tony looked at John, frowning slightly. "Kid, I can sense a presence in your soul that doesn''t belong to you. Would you like me to remove it?" "Old tortoise, you dare!" the Undead Lord cursed angrily, though Tony couldn''t hear him. In his prime, the Undead Lord had been on par with Tony in terms of power. John was a bit surprised. He didn''t think Tony was joking, which showed just how powerful a ninth-tier powerhouse really was. Hurriedly, he replied, "No need to trouble you, Senior. That guy may be annoying, but he means no harm." Over time, John hade to lose his animosity toward the Undead Lord. "At least you''ve got some decency," the Undead Lord muttered in his mind. The other elder frowned, staring at John in surprise. "The Undead Lord?" he asked, astonished. "What?" John was taken aback, staring at the elder in shock before realizing what this meant. "You... you can hear that guy?" The Undead Lord''s voice had alwayse from within his own mind, and he assumed only he could hear it. But this elder seemed to not only hear it but also recognize the Undead Lord. "Hey, old man, I mean no harm," the Undead Lord''s voice sounded again, this time addressing the elder directly. "Hmph!" The elder snorted dismissively, ignoring the Undead Lord as he turned to John with a smile. "Allow me to introduce myself -Ben." "Ben?" John repeated, confused. He hadn''t heard the name before but still bowed in respect. The Undead Lord then introduced, "Kid, the prophecy about the savior originated from him. This guy is even more terrifying than Tony." "Is that so?" John responded, curiously studying Ben. He had always been skeptical of prophecies, being someone who didn''t believe in fate, and the idea of a "savior" didn''t sit well with him. The prodigy of the Fox n was supposed to be the prophesied savior, but instead of saving anyone, he brought disaster upon the Beast n. "Boy, are you doubting me?" Ben seemed to sense John''s thoughts, a yful look in his eyes as he spoke. "My prophecies have never failed. How do you know that the savior in my prophecy isn''t you? Reincarnator." "What?" John was shaken to his core, stepping back in shock as he warily eyed the old man. Rebirth was his deepest secret, one he had never revealed to anyone-and he doubted anyone would believe him even if he did. Yet, this old man seemed to know something. "Kid, this old man has telepathic abilities!" the Undead Lord quickly warned. John quicklyposed himself, his expression returning to normal. "I have no idea what you''re talking about," he said. "Neither do I," Ben replied with a calm smile, not pressing the matter. However, the knowing look in his eyes made John ufortable. As if he had no secrets in front of this man. At that moment, Tony interrupted their exchange, saying, "Enough small talk. Let''s get this kid out of here." John was momentarily stunned and looked at Tony in surprise. "Senior, you can help me leave?" Tony nodded. "You''ve mastered the Dark Laws. With our help, you can break through this space." "Thank you, Senior!" John said, his voice filled with gratitude. He had been stuck here for ten days, worried that something might go wrong in the outside world. Tony continued, "Brace yourself. You''ll need to endure our power. Fortunately, you have a strong physique." With that, Tony and Ben moved behind John, cing their hands on his back. "Remember, use the Dark Laws to tear open the void," Tony advised, and then both he and Ben began channeling their immense power into John. Boom! John''s body shook violently as two overwhelming forces surged into him like a tidal wave. "Cough!" He couldn''t help but cough up blood, feeling as if his body was on the verge of exploding from the sheer power. "Hurry, release it!" Tony urged. Understanding immediately, John gripped the Sword of Divinity and Demons tightly as the power of the Dark Laws coiled around the de. "sh!" he roared, unleashing the terrifying energy. A powerful sword beam shot out, violently tearing through the fabric of space, creating a rift. The other powerhouses nearby watched the space rift with envy and longing but didn''t dare to make a move. Restrained not just by the rift but by the presence of the two ninth-tier powerhouses. Tony, seeing the rift, breathed a sigh of relief, a smile forming on his face. "Kid, it''s time to go." John nodded, hovering in the air on his flying sword. Curious, he looked at Tony and Ben, who hadn''t moved, and asked, "Aren''t you twoing with me?" Ben nced at the spatial rift and exined, "We can''t leave. The passage is filled with powerful dark magic attacks. Only those who have mastered the Dark Laws, and are thus immune to dark magic, can pass through." John was astonished and looked up at the rift above him, realizing that even ninth-tier powerhouses couldn''t pass through it. Fortunately, he had mastered the Dark Element Laws, granting him immunity to dark magic, so he didn''t need to worry. He turned to the two elders and promised, "Don''t worry, I''ll find a way to get you both out of here." Tony smiled warmly, "I believe you." Ben simply nodded without saying much. John then looked over at the other powerhouses and addressed Bonnie, "Lady Bonnie, there''s been some misunderstanding between the dark elf n and me. But rest assured, I won''t cause them any trouble." "If it''s just a misunderstanding, then it''s good that it''s cleared up. No hard feelings," Bonnie replied graciously. Though she was careful not to show any defiance with the two ninth-tier powerhouses present. John nced at Sara, opening his mouth as if to say something, but hesitated. His feelings toward Sara wereplicated. "Everyone, take care!" he said finally, before riding his flying sword through the spatial rift. The rift closed behind him. The group below didn''t disperse immediately. Tony turned to Behemoth and the other powerhouses, speaking calmly, "I don''t care what grudges you hold against that boy, but if any of you dare toy a hand on him again, it won''t just be your arm that''s cut off-it''ll be your head!" The powerhouses were terrified, quickly bowing and swearing they would never oppose John again. Sara''s gaze lingered on the now-vanished rift, her emotions conflicted. She was filled with hatred for John. But seeing him leave left her with an unexpected sense of emptiness. She heard Tony''s warning but remained silent. John had taken something precious from her-her first time-and she was determined to seek revenge. Even if she didn''t kill him, she would make sure he paid dearly. ... The World of Gods, me City. Owen and Glenn, two powerful warriors of the demon race, had sessfully obtained their race''s most treasured artifact. After leaving the secret area where the Demon King''s treasure was hidden, they descended upon me City. Ritchie arrived promptly, his eyes scanning the area. When he didn''t see John, he frowned and asked, "Where''s Godyer?" Owen sneered coldly, "He''s dead." "What?" Ritchie''s expression darkened as a Diamond Giant Shield and a spear appeared in his hands. He red at Owen, his voice filled with anger. "What have you done to Godyer?" He had been unable to reach John for days and suspected that something had happened to him, possibly at the hands of these two. Owen looked at Ritchie with disdain, ignoring his question, and instead ordered, "Kill them all and reim the City of Darkness!" "Yes!" Glenn responded and immediatelyunched an attack on Ritchie. Boom! Dark magic surged forward, and Ritchie, unable to defend himself, was instantly killed. "Captain!" "You bastards!" "Charge! Kill these two and avenge the captain!" The members of the me Legion were furious, roaring as they charged toward Glenn and Owen. "Hmph, foolish!" Glenn sneered, unleashing a massacre. The me Legion members were no match for him and fell one after another. The yers quickly resurrected at the city''s resurrection point, only to rush back into the fray with renewed anger. "Don''t be reckless!" Ritchie quickly stepped in to stop them, gritting his teeth with frustration. "Log out. We''re giving them me City." "But Captain, this city is our hard-earned base!" The others protested. me City was the stronghold of the me Legion in the World of Gods, and losing it was unthinkable. "That''s an order!" Ritchie said coldly. He had no choice. With turmoil urring both in the World of Gods and the real world, he had to ensure the safety of the real world. Many members of the me Legion had integrated their game attributes with reality. If they were killed in the World of Gods, they would lose levels, weaken their strength, and be adversely affected in the real world as well. He couldn''t allow his team to make unnecessary sacrifices, even if it meant losing me City. Reluctantly, the members obeyed the order and logged out, their frustration evident. Ritchie, however, did not log out. He faced Glenn again, demanding, "Tell me, where is Godyer?" His greatest concern now was John''s safety. Glenn smirked and said coldly, "I told you, he''s dead. You''ll be joining him soon enough." With that, he unleashed another attack on Ritchie, a massive wave of dark energy forming into a giant hand that descended upon him. Boom! The dark energy exploded, sending dust flying everywhere. As the dust settled, Ritchie stood unharmed, and a figure had appeared in front of him, shielding him from the attack. It was John! "Damn, boss, you''re finally back!" Ritchie eximed in relief, the weight on his chest lifting. With John around, any problem would be swiftly dealt with. Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Spatial Displacement Skill, The Return of the Gods Chapter 122: Spatial Discement Skill, The Return of the Gods ? "Godyer?" Glenn recognized John, his face filled with shock and disbelief. "Impossible! No one can escape from the Abyss!" John let out a sigh of relief. He had arrived just in time; otherwise, me City would have been destroyed. He looked at Glenn with disdain. "Did you really think the Abyss could hold me? Today will be the day you die." The air around John hummed with the sharp intensity of his sword aura, exuding a powerful presence. Glenn involuntarily took a step back, momentarily intimidated by John''s imposing aura. Owen, standing nearby, barked angrily, "What are you afraid of? He''s just a fourth-tier warrior! Kill him!" "Damn it!" Glenn snapped out of his fear and cursed,unching the first attack. A dark orb of energy flew toward John with a shrill whistle. John sneered and stood his ground, making no move to dodge. Boom! -0 The dark orb struck John and exploded, the powerful dark energy surging around him, yet it failed to cause him any harm. "The Dark Laws? How is this possible?" Glenn was once again deeply shaken. The power of thews was something only ninth-tier powerhouses could wield, and yet this human, who was only at the fourth tier, had somehow mastered it. It was beyond anything Glenn had ever imagined. Whoosh! Suddenly, Owen attacked, charging directly at John. Boom! [You have been in by Demon King Owen. Undying and Immortal talent activated...] The notification appeared as John resurrected on the spot, his eyes widening in surprise as he looked at Owen. Demon King was the title given to eighth-tier powerhouses of the demon race. Owen had evidently reached the eighth tier, likely having inherited the Demon King''s power. Though John''s strength had increased, even handling a seventh-tier opponent was challenging for him, let alone facing an eighth-tier legendary Demon King. "Kid, your power of thews will be mine!" Owen shouted as he charged at John again, undeterred by his resurrection. Although John was immune to dark magic due to his mastery of the Dark Laws, he was still vulnerable to physical attacks. Owen''s overwhelming physical strength meant he could kill John with ease. Knowing he was outmatched, John quickly retreated, his eyes locking onto the stunned Glenn nearby. He decided to deal with Glenn first before fully focusing on Owen. "Die! Unrivaled Sword Dance!" John roared, unleashing the Unrivaled Sword Dance. Countless sword beams shed through the air. St! Blood sttered, and two damage numbers appeared. -341,950 -49,030 With a critical hit and true damagebined, Glenn''s health plummeted by nearly one- eighth. "Get away from me!" Glenn shouted in panic, summoning a spear to force John back. He then turned to Owen, fear in his voice, "My lord, this guy''s attack power is immense! I can''t fight him!" John had mastered the Dark Laws, rendering dark magic ineffective against him, which significantly weakened Glenn''s abilities. "Useless!" Owen snarled, brandishing a massive ck longsword that whistled through the air as he shed at John. But John didn''t engage Owen directly. He swiftly dodged the attack and then lunged at Glenn again. Run! Glenn was truly terrified now. Without hesitation, he turned and fled. "You can''t escape. Flying Sword Strike!" John sneered, sending a sword beam streaking through the sky to strike Glenn once more. Boom! Another set of damage numbers shed. Glenn lost another 400,000 in health. With only around three million HP left, he couldn''t withstand many more of John''s attacks. "Help me, my lord!" Glenn desperately called out to Owen. "Idiot, run toward me!" Owen cursed, clearly unconcerned about Glenn''s fate. His sole focus was on killing John to obtain the power of thews John had mastered.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Realizing his mistake, Glenn frantically ran toward Owen. "Infinite Sword Array!" John''s cold voice rang out as a rain of sword des descended, enveloping both Glenn and Owen. Owen''s immense strength meant he only suffered minor true damage. But Glenn lost another 300,000 in health. "Die!" Owen roared, finally closing the distance to John. His ck longsword, glowing with a faint purple aura, shed down with terrifying force. A soul attack! John''s expression changed, realizing it was toote to dodge. St! -6,040,000 John was killed instantly once again, and though his Undying and Immortal talent activated, his soul took a heavy hit. "Kid, be careful! You can''t withstand many more of these attacks!" the Undead Lord urgently warned. John nodded slightly, understanding the danger of Owen''s attacks. But this was the World of Gods. If he chose to flee, Owen wouldn''t be able to stop him. "Hmph, I was right. You possess the Undying and Immortal talent," Owen''s cold voice echoed,ced with contempt. "Let''s see how many of my attacks you can survive." John ignored Owen''s taunts and used Void Dance to once again close the distance to Glenn. "Human, damn you!" Glenn was on the verge of copse. His attacks couldn''t even scratch John. While Owen only seemed interested in using him as bait, showing no concern for his survival. After enduring two consecutive assaults, Glenn''s health had dropped by more than half. Panic set in, and he decided to ignore Owen, activating his Spatial Discement skill to teleport away. "Damn it, don''t run!" Owen cursed furiously. Hecked any long-range physical attack options and could only strike at close range. The Spatial Discement skill was indeed powerful, allowing Glenn to reappear a hundred meters away in an instant. But its cooldown was long. And John, using Sword Flight, quickly caught up with him. Flying Sword Strike, Infinite Sword Array, and Unrivaled Sword Dance were unleashed in quick session. Glenn screamed in agony, powerless to defend himself as his health plummeted rapidly. "Human, don''t kill me! I''ll give you the key to the Void Land!" Glenn was truly terrified now, pleading with John for mercy. "You wouldn''t dare!" Owen roared,unching a dark arrow toward Glenn, not John. John hesitated briefly, blocking the dark arrow, and then turned to Glenn with a cold re. "Hand over the key to the Void Land, and I''ll spare your life." John suspected that the key to the Void Land might allow him to control it and potentially rescue Tony and the others. "Fine, take it." Glenn shot a cold nce back at Owen, then pulled out a key. Instead of handing it to John, he threw it toward Owen. He hopes to provoke a fight between them and use the distraction to escape. "Trying to y tricks?" John snarled, activating Sword Mastery. His longsword shot forward, intercepting the key mid-air and sending it back toward him. He caught the key, but before he could examine it, Owen was already upon him. A sharp de glinted as Owen struck again, killing John instantly. Undying and Immortal talent activated, and John resurrected on the spot. However, his face was pale-suffering two consecutive soul injuries had taken a significant toll on him. Ignoring Owen, John used Sword Flight to catch up with the fleeing Glenn once more. "Human, I already gave you the key to the Void Land! Why won''t you let me go?" Glenn was in utter despair, his fear evident. John didn''t bother responding. His sword aura hummed as he unleashed his Sword Immortal skills in rapid session. Glenn''s remaining health, already critically low, was quickly depleted. [You have in a seventh-tier epic demon emperor, earning 2.56 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: You have acquired the Spatial Discement skill, sh.] [sh: A spatial discement skill that cannot be upgraded; instantly teleport to a random location within a hundred meters. Costs 100,000 mana points, 10-minute cooldown.] The notification shed before John. John was overjoyed-he had sessfully plundered Glenn''s spatial discement skill, sh. Although the ten-minute cooldown seemed lengthy, thanks to his Wrath of the Gods talent reducing cooldown times, it would only take a minute to recharge. This was undoubtedly a life-saving skill. "Kid, die!" Owen shouted as he charged toward John once more. Without bothering to collect the loot Glenn had dropped, John activated sh. Buzz! The power of space rippled, and John''s figure instantly reappeared a hundred meters away. "Huh? sh! How do you have Glenn''s skill?" Owen was shocked, dark energy gathering behind him to form a pair of wings as he chased after John again. "Hmph, think you can catch me?" John sneered, using Sword Flight to fly away, putting more distance between himself and Owen. John had already devised a n to kill Owen, which involved summoning a god''s avatar to annihte him. But he needed to lure Owen far from me City to prevent any coteral damage. "Stop right there!" Owen roared, furiously pping his wings to give chase. John remained calm, even deliberately slowing down to let Owen catch up. Soon, me City vanished from sight. John came to a halt, turning to face Owen with a calm expression. "Why''d you stop running, kid? Out of mana?" Owen taunted, though he felt a sense of relief himself-his own mana was nearly depleted. John, however, looked at him with disdain. "Run? There''s no need anymore." "Hmph, so you''ve epted your fate?" Owen scoffed. He raised his longsword, ready to deliver a killing blow. But John held up a hand, producing a jade box. "You''re strong, but how do youpare to a god?" "What are you talking about?" Owen frowned, his voice cold. "Are you trying to stall for time? It''s pointless-you will die!" With that, he lifted his sword to strike. John calmly opened the jade box. Buzz! A surge of immense energy flowed out. Owen felt a strange kinship to this energy-it was powerful and irresistibly alluring. From the jade box, a wisp of a Remnant Soul emerged. "Demon Soul!" Owen eximed, his eyes widening in realization as he understood John''s earlier words. The Demon Soul was a treasure powerful enough to threaten gods. The gods would never tolerate its existence, and even though this was just a wisp of a remnant soul, its potent energy was enough to attract a god''s avatar. "Kid, I won''t let you get away with this!" Owen snarled before turning to flee. Rumble... Thunder roared, and fierce winds whipped through the air as a terrifying pressure nketed the entire area. John had faced a god''s avatar before, but the overwhelming sense of helplessness still washed over him. Owen''s body froze, trapped in ce as he looked up in terror at the swirling clouds in the sky, which slowly formed into a massive, ominous face. "You''re insane! You''re going to get us both killed!" Owen screamed, struggling against the crushing pressure as he cursed John. "Is that so?" John responded with a cold smile before tossing the jade box to Owen. Owen instinctively caught it, realizing toote that it was a ticking time bomb. He tried to throw it away, but it was already toote. Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Owens Demise, Arrival of the Azure Family Chapter 123: Owen''s Demise, Arrival of the Azure Family ? John pointed at Owen, then looked up at the massive face in the sky and spoke, "Great deity, this man is a genius of the demon race. He has inherited the Demon King''s treasure and the demon race''s most precious artifacts!" "Despicable human! You''ll die a terrible death!" Owen cursed, trying to flee. Crack! A terrifying bolt of lightning split the sky, striking Owen directly. Boom! The earth trembled with a deafening roar, and everything around was instantly reduced to nothingness. John, unsurprisingly, was also killed by the st, triggering his Undying and Immortal talent. Where Owen had stood, four items floated in the air. They were the demon race''s treasures: Demon Soul, Demon Eye, Demon Wing, and Demon Armor. These treasures couldn''t be destroyed, not even by a god. John moved swiftly, grabbing all four treasures along with the wisp of Remnant Soul he had tossed earlier. Without wasting a moment, he mentally connected with the Death Land and vanished on the spot. "Hmm? Interesting!" A thunderous voice echoed, as loud as an explosion. The massive face in the sky watched the spot where John had disappeared, its gaze flickering, though its expression was unreadable. The deity had been outwitted by a mere human. "Human, I won''t forget you. Next time will be your end..." The rolling clouds swirled as the voice gradually faded, and the giant face slowly dissipated. ... "Hahaha..." John appeared in the Death Land, clutching the four demon race treasures,ughing in exhration. Just then, the Undead Lord''s voice rang out, "Kid, you''d better be careful. The gods can lock down space. Don''t try that trick again." "Got it, what a buzzkill," John replied dismissively, tucking the treasures away. These items required ninth-tier power to refine, and he was far from that level. "Benefactor!" A startled cry rang out as Anna ran toward him, throwing herself into his arms and sobbing softly. John was momentarily confused, then quickly tried tofort her. "What''s wrong, Anna? Who upset you?" "Sniff... It''s you, benefactor! You were gone for so long; we were all worried sick!" Anna lifted her tear-streaked face, looking pitiful and tugging at his heartstrings. John finally realized what had happened and spoke gently, "Alright, alright. I''m back now, safe and sound." Themotion brought others over as well. Ada and the other women, seeing that John was unharmed, visibly rxed, their worries easing away. Jean ran over joyfully and eximed, "Big brother, I knew you''d be alright!" John smiled and ruffled her hair. "Jean is always the best." "Kid, where have you been these past few days?" ck Turtle red at John. He hadn''t had an easy time recently. As the women had med him for John''s disappearance, since he was thest one to see John. "I was trapped in the Abyss," John replied, a hint of lingering fear in his voice as he recalled the harrowing experience. Fortunately, with his SSS-level plunder talent, he managed to plunder dark affinity andprehend the Dark Element Laws. Despite the dangers, the rewards were immense. "The Abyss?" ck Turtle gasped in disbelief. "You escaped from the Abyss?" It was clear that ck Turtle had heard of the Abyss and knew how perilous it was. John nodded but didn''t borate. He then remembered the key to the Abyss that he had acquired and pulled it out to examine it with curiosity. [Abyss Key: A key to ess the Abyss, can be refined if you possess a spatial affinity.] [Note: Do not gaze into the Abyss.] John, having an S-level Spatial Awareness talent, realized he could refine the key. [You have sessfully refined the Abyss Key.] The notification appeared, but John''s excitement quickly turned to disappointment. Although he had refined the key, he couldn''t fully control the Abyss. He could trap beings inside the Abyss, but he couldn''t release them. To free the beings imprisoned in the Abyss, he would need toprehend at least 10% of the Dark Element Laws. This wasn''t entirely impossible for him. If he reentered the Abyss and hunted down 900 sixth-tier epic Abyss demons, he could plunder 900 points of dark element affinity, thus advancing his mastery of the Dark Element Laws to 10%. However, this wasn''t an urgent task. Turning his attention back to the women, he asked, "Has anything happened while I was gone?" The women shook their heads, but Anna quickly added, "Benefactor, Sister Sini and the others haven''t logged in for several days." "Sini?" John was surprised, only now realizing that Sini and Tracy were indeed offline. Could something have happened in the real world? Concerned, he immediately reached out to Ritchie via private message. Godyer: "Ritchie, has anything happened in the real world these past few days?" Ritchie: "Boss, I was just about to report to you. There''s been a major upheaval in the real world. The Mike White Family has acquired several Attribute Fusion Stones, and there''s a powerful new force backing them, possibly an Ancient Martial Arts Family. It seems like there''s also trouble with the Blues Family." Godyer: "Tell me about the Blues Family first." John''s heart filled with worry as he read Ritchie''s message. Ritchie: "I''m not entirely sure about the details. A few days ago, Armstrong asked me to look after Tracy. But yesterday, Tracy left without a word, leaving behind only a letter. I''ve had people searching for her, but there''s still no sign of her." Godyer: "Understood." John closed the private chat and turned to the women. "I have something I need to take care of." Concerned for Sini and Tracy''s safety, he quickly logged off. ... In the Real World John woke up from the game pod. He feels mentally exhausted. He had spent days in the World of Gods with barely any rest. However, the gains were significant-his strength had increased considerably, especially his control over dark magic. He could distinctly feel the dark elemental energy lingering in the air, responsive and obedient. With a single thought, he could gather this energy tounch a dark magic attack. This was the result of mastering the Dark Element Laws. Without dwelling on this newfound power, John noticed the room was eerily quiet-Sini and Tracy were nowhere to be seen. However, he could sense several powerful presences near the Blues Family''s gate. With a sh, John hurried toward the gate. ... At the Blues Family Gate, A group of powerful individuals had gathered. Chris stood among them, looking disheveled, with a faint trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. He was facing off against two middle-aged men. These two men showed no signs of Ancient Martial Arts energy, appearing almost like ordinary people. Yet, Chris treated them with utmost caution, not daring to rx for a moment. These men were Xeon and Hummer, formidable members of one of the most mysterious Ancient Martial Arts families-the Azure Family. It wasn''t that theycked martial cultivation, but rather that they had reached a level where their power was concealed, making them capable of lethal attacks with something as simple as a falling leaf or a blooming flower. The Azure Family had deep ties with the Blues Family, as their cultivation techniques shared the same roots,plementing each other. However, the Azure Family had betrayed this bond, choosing a dark path. To rapidly enhance their cultivation, they had begun using Blues Family members as living resources to fuel their own growth. Whenever the Azure Family faced a crisis, they would plunder the strength of Blues Family members in brutal and cruel ways. It was clear that this time, they had set their sights on Chris, whose power had grown considerably. Xeon, his patience thinning, spoke coldly, "Master of the Blues Family, I''ll say this onest time-if you don''t want the Blues Family to be wiped out, hand over Tracy and that Godyer, ande back to the Azure Family with us!" Chris, however, shook his head, the Wind Sword in his hand humming softly. He replied calmly, "As I''ve said before, I''ll go with you. But John and Tracy aren''t here. You should give up on that idea." "Grandfather, we can fight our way out!" Armstrong red coldly at the two intruders, his voice filled with defiance. He couldn''t just stand by and watch Chris go to his death. "Master, don''t worry about us. You two escape-we''ll cover you!" The members of the Blues Family nodded in agreement, their faces resolute, ready to die if necessary. "How touching," Hummer said with a hint of mockery, drawing the longsword from his back. "Since you''re all so eager, I''ll be happy to send you on your way." The Blues Family members stepped forward in unison, unafraid, ready to face whatever came. p, p... Suddenly, the sound of pping echoed through the tense atmosphere as a man calmly approached, interrupting the standoff. "John!" Sini''s eyes filled with tears at the sight of him. The worry she had been holding onton/?/vel/b//in dot c//om finally eased. Xeon and Hummer turned their attention to the neer, curiosity in their eyes. "You must be John?" Xeon asked. "Indeed, that''s me," John replied calmly, his expression untroubled. Chris frowned deeply, quickly urging, "John, you and Sini need to get out of here. These two are too strong-you can''t defeat them." "Hmph, trying to escape now? Toote!" Xeon and Hummer sneered as they simultaneously launched their attack. Their killing intent locked onto John, and in the blink of an eye, they were upon him, their swords slicing through the air with deadly precision. John leapt back, narrowly avoiding their lethal strikes. He held out a hand to stop Chris, who was about to join the fray, and said, "Master, lend me your sword!" "Alright!" Chris agreed without hesitation, sending The Wind Sword flying towards Xeon and Hummer. "Huh? Sword Mastery!" the two eximed in shock as they deflected The Wind Sword, exchanging disbelieving nces. ng! They blocked the Wind Sword. The sword hummed through the air,nding smoothly in John''s hand. "You know Sword Mastery?" John asked, surprised. He couldn''t understand how they were familiar with a skill that was part of the Sword Immortal ss in the World of Gods. Especially since Sword Immortal was a unique hidden ss, and he had never revealed this secret to anyone. The two men didn''t answer, instead positioning themselves back-to-back, their longswords floating before them. "Sword Mastery!" John repeated in astonishment as the two prepared their attack. They were using the same skill. "Dual Sword Fusion!" they shouted in unison. Their swords intertwined, spinning together to create a powerful whirlwind that hurtled towards John. "Hmph!" John snorted, unimpressed. He tightened his grip on The Wind Sword, which trembled slightly in his hand before he unleashed a swift and precise sword beam. Flying Sword Strike! ng! The two spinning longswords were instantly knocked away, the sword beam cutting through the air with unstoppable force, heading straight for Xeon and Hummer. Panic shed across their faces-they had no time to dodge. Boom! The ground shook as the sword beam carved a deep chasm, blood spraying as both men were sent flying. "Xeon!" Hummer coughed up blood, cradling the lifeless body of his brother. His expression was a mix of fury and terror. With a single strike, John had killed Xeon and left Hummer gravely injured, severely weakening his power. "Who... who are you really?" Hummer stammered, swallowing hard as he red at John, his voice trembling with rage. Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Noahs Ark, Targeting the Mike White Family Chapter 124: Noah''s Ark, Targeting the Mike White Family ? "I''m the one who''s going to kill you!" John said coldly, his expression hardening as he activated Sword Mastery once more. The Wind Sword whistled through the air, slicing across Hummer''s neck in an instant. Hummer felt a sudden dizzying spin, and then he saw his own headless body... His eyes widened in terror before everything went ck. The Wind Swordpleted its arc, returning smoothly to the sheath in Chris''s hand. The surrounding members of the Blues Family stood in stunned silence, staring at John as if they had seen a ghost. Only Sini remained rtively calm, having already witnessed John''s prowess with Sword Mastery. "Master, what happened while I was away?" John''s voice snapped Chris out of his daze. Gulp! Chris swallowed hard, taking a long look at John before exining, "The Azure Family has resurfaced. They''re a familyparable to an Ancient Martial Arts sect, and they''ve also entered the World of Gods, gaining the ability to fuse attributes. It seems they''re somehow connected to the Mike White Family." Chris gave a brief overview of the situation. John frowned deeply. Even though he had revealed how to obtain the attribute stones, the Mike White Family, with their current strength, shouldn''t have been able to acquire Attribute Fusion Stones on their own. Unless the Dark Humans or the Angels were secretly supporting them. Attribute Fusion Stones are rare and valuable, even for the Dark Humans and Angels. The fact that they would give them to the Mike White Family indicated there was likely somerger conspiracy at y. "By the way, where''s Tracy?" John asked, noticing her absence. Armstrong quickly responded, "Don''t worry, brother-inw. My sister is with Ritchie. She''ll be safe." John''s frown deepened, his expression growing more serious. "I just received news that Tracy left without a word this morning. She should have already returned to the Blues Family." "What?" Armstrong eximed, concern washing over everyone. "Has something happened to Tracy?" Sini asked, her voice filled with panic as she looked to John for help. "Don''t worry, she might just be dyed on the way," Chris reassured them, though he was clearly troubled as well. He quickly gave orders, "Armstrong, take a group of elite disciples and search along the route." "Yes!" Armstrong replied, ready to leave immediately. "I''ming with you," Sini said, stepping forward. Armstrong hesitated, looking to Chris for approval. John intervened, "Let her go. Be careful on the road, and notify me as soon as you have any news." Sini, being a Shadow Assassin, was skilled in tracking, making her well-suited to find Tracy. The two quickly assembled a team and left without dy. John turned to Chris and asked, "Master, where is this Azure Family located?" The existence of the Azure Family was a lingering threat, and John intended to eliminate itpletely. "I don''t know," Chris replied, shaking his head with a sigh. "The Azure Family is extremely secretive. No one knows where they are." John frowned, feeling a deep sense of unease. This put them in a reactive position, having to wait for the Azure Family to make a move. It was a situation he found highly frustrating. "How about the Mike White Family? Could they know?" John asked, considering the possibility that the Mike White Family might have some connection to the Azure Family. "Unlikely. The Azure Family would never disclose their location to a mere worldly power," Chris replied, knowing the Azure Family''s cautious and ruthless nature. Even some Ancient Martial Arts families were unaware of the Azure Family''s existence, let alone locating them. John fell silent, pondering his next move. It seemed that the only option now was to take action against the Mike White Family. Originally, John had hoped to avoid causing too much of a stir in the real world. But the Mike White Family''s actions had escted beyond his control. He needed to eliminate them before they could cause even greater harm. "Master, I''m heading back into the World of Gods. Contact me immediately if anything happens," John instructed, before re-entering the World of Gods. ... In the World of Gods John reappeared in Death Land. "Master, have you taken care of things in the real world?" Anna asked as she approached him, leaning into him suggestively. John couldn''t help but smile as he nted a kiss on her cheek. "I still have some other matters to handle, but I''ll spend time with you once I''m done." "Okay," Anna replied, a little disappointed but still obediently nodding. John had been in Death Land for a while now, and he figured that the God''s avatar had likely left by now. He ced the demon race artifacts he had seized from Owen into Death Land, then focused his mind and returned to the World of Gods. The scene before him was one of utter devastation. The surrounding mountains, grass, and trees had been reduced to nothing, with an eerie, lingering sense of destruction hanging in the air. It was clear that after he had fled, the God''s avatar had unleashed its fury on the area, destroying everything in its path. "My strength is still too weak," John muttered, frustrated. He could barely handle seventh- tier epic-level opponents, let alone a God. With a determined thought, John summoned Avis from Death Land. The enormous dragon appeared with a burst of energy, looking thrilled. "Master, where are we going?" Avis asked eagerly. He knew that John''s strength had significantly improved and that he was no longer much help in battle. If John had summoned him, it was likely for travel. "Death Land, me City," John said as he leaped onto Avis''s back, giving the dragon a reassuring pat. "Got it!" Avis responded eagerly,unching into the sky. The flight was smooth but not overly fast. John leaned back, closing his eyes to rest while his mind raced, pondering what the Mike White Family was nning. ... The strong winds whipped around them as John and Avis quickly arrived in me City. Avis''s enormous figure immediately drew attention, and Ritchie was the first to greet them. "Boss, how did things go with the Blues Family?" Ritchie asked as soon as he arrived. "It''s handled for now. Let''s talk at the City Lord''s Manor," John replied, leading the way. Once inside the study at the City Lord''s Manor, Ritchie ordered the soldiers to keep everyone out and closed the door behind them. "Boss, a lot has happened these past few days," Ritchie began, detailing the recent events ton/?/vel/b//in dot c//om John. The Mike White Family had suddenly acquired arge number of Attribute Fusion Stones and was receiving backing from the Azure Family, causing quite a stir. The news of impending disaster in the World of Gods had also gained traction, and many people were beginning to believe it. Taking advantage of the growing fear, the Mike White Family started promoting something they called a "Noah''s Ark," openly selling tickets. "Noah''s Ark?" John scoffed. "Do they think there''s going to be a flood?" Ritchie exined, "Boss, ''Noah''s Ark'' is just a codename for their operation. I suspect the Mike White Family has some hidden agenda." John nodded in agreement. "Is there any way to get our hands on one of those tickets?" Ritchie shook his head in frustration. "No luck. I''ve tried every angle, but it''s impossible to infiltrate the Mike White Family. Their screening process is extremely strict, and they haven''t publicly revealed who has secured tickets." John frowned, deep in thought. After a moment, he said calmly, "Start preparing to take action against the Mike White Family in the real world. I''ll handle it personally." "Understood!" Ritchie replied with excitement. He had been itching to take on the Mike White Family. "Let me in! I need to see Ritchie..." Amotion erupted outside the door. John recognized the voice-it was Gaia. "Is that guy still here?" he asked, puzzled. Ritchie nodded. "The Mike White Family has several powerful members who''ve fused their attributes with the real world. Gaia couldn''t handle them, so he fled here for protection. He''s been the source of much of our information on the Mike White Family." "He''s still as much of a nuisance as ever," John remarked dryly. In the previous timeline, he hadn''t had much contact with Gaia. The Mike White Family was a core force, a towering presence in his eyes. But things were different this time around. John nced at the door and said calmly, "Let him in." The door swung open, and Gaia burst into the room. He looked even more haggard and worn out than before, his spirit clearly drained. "Ritchie, I have urgent-" he started, but then his eyesnded on John. "Godyer, you''re finally here!" He eximed, dropping to his knees with a thud. John was taken aback by Gaia''s dramatic entrance. "What''s going on?" he asked, frowning as he looked down at Gaia. Gaia''s expression was grave as he hurriedly exined, "I''ve got intel that the Mike White Family is nning to prematurely open a gateway between the World of Gods and the real world." "What?" Ritchie jumped to his feet, shock written across his face. John''s expression also grew serious, his brows knitting together. Others might be unaware of the disaster that the World of Gods could bring, but he knew all too well. "Who told you this? And how exactly are they nning to open the gateway?" John asked, his voiceced with urgency. John had lived through the catastrophe that the World of Gods could unleash, but he didn''t know how the connection between the real world and the World of Gods could be established. In his previous life, the gateway had opened when many yers had already reached the ninth tier. Based on the current timeline, that event was still five or six years away. "It was Dark Angel who gave me the information," Gaia replied. "But I''ve lost contact with him¡ªI suspect something happened to him. As for how they n to open the gateway, he didn''t know." John fell silent, uncertain about the truth of this information. He turned to Ritchie and asked, "Do you know anything about this Dark Angel?" Ritchie shook his head. Gaia, however, was desperate to convince them. "Godyer, Dark Angel might have had his differences with you, but that was when he was still with the Mike White Family. I know him well-he wouldn''t joke about something like this." John remained quiet, but he had already decided to take action against the Mike White Family, regardless of whether this information was urate. Even if the mysterious Azure Family was backing them, he felt no fear. Ritchie, recalling something, asked Gaia, "Do you know anything about the Mike White Family''s Noah''s Ark project? Is there any way to get a ticket?" Gaia shook his head. "Dark Angel mentioned it. The project is top secret-only those who pass their tests can get a ticket. He didn''t pass, and when he found out about the Mike White Family''s true intentions, he defected." Ritchie''s disappointment was evident. He suspected that the Noah''s Ark project might not be about saving people, but about destroying them. John turned his gaze back to Gaia and waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, you can go now." But Gaia didn''t move. Instead, he pleaded urgently, "Godyer, I swear everything I''ve told you is true. Only you can save the world. If you don''t believe me, I''ll lead the charge against the Mike White Family myself¡ªI''ll be the vanguard, even if it means being cannon fodder!" His voice was full of conviction. Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Disappeared with no one notice, steamer ticket Chapter 125: Disappeared with no one notice, steamer ticket ? John was somewhat surprised; it seemed that Gaia wasn''t all bad deep down. He continued, "We''ll let you know when it''s time." "Alright." Gaia nodded, no longer pressing the issue. He stood up and left. Once he was gone, Ritchie immediately asked, "Boss, what''s the n? Should I request some support from the military?" John shook his head. "We''ll operate covertly. The me Legion''s fused attribute warriors, along with the Blues Family members, should be enough to take down the Mike White Family. I need you to find a way to transport our people to their base without drawing attention." While John could use Sword Flight, that wasn''t an option for Ritchie and the others. The quickest way to move everyone quietly would be through military means, allowing them to infiltrate the Mike White Family''s central city undetected. "No problem," Ritchie agreed without hesitation. This was a task well within his capabilities. "One more thing," John added. "I want the Blues Family moved to a secure location under military protection." He was concerned that if the Blues Family''s strong fighters were pulled away, the Azure Family might seize the opportunity to strike. Ritchie shrugged. "That''s even easier. I''ll have a word with the old man." The old Blues Family leader, Chris, had long-standing ties with Ritchie''s grandfather, Elon. Moving the Blues Family under military protection wouldn''t be an issue. "Good. We''ll act in three days." With that settled, John left me City and rode Avis to Green Moon. The Elemental Secret Area had refreshed, and he needed to gather more Attribute Fusion Stones to boost the power of the Blues Family disciples and me Legion members. With his increased strength, the elemental golems in the Secret Area, ranging from fourth to fifth tier, were no match for John and Avis. They quickly swept through the area, eliminating over 30,000 golems and securing another 332 Attribute Fusion Stones. Without the Universal Order to reset the Secret Area, and not encountering any angels, John decided to leave the Elemental Secret Area. Three days passed. The Blues Family members had relocated to the military base, but there was still no sign of Tracy. However, Sini had discovered some clues. She had found traces of a battle, with remnants of a toxic cloud. That unique skill belonging to Tracy as an Alchemist. Nearby were a few bodies, not from any Ancient Martial Arts Family or the Azure Family, but rather well-trained assassins. Ritchie was working on identifying these dead men, though no results hade in yet. Judging by the signs of struggle, it seemed that the assassins hadn''t managed to harm Tracy. Sini suspected that Tracy might have escaped or been captured. But she likely wasn''t in immediate danger. John, left with little choice, decided to take down the Mike White Family first before continuing the search for Tracy. ... Around midday. In a remote border town in the Dragon Nation, there was a small airport, rarely frequented by passenger nes. Today, however, a group of over 2,000 tourists had chartered arge passenger ne with the destination set for the Central City. These 2,000 individuals appeared no different from ordinary people as they gradually boarded the ne. A young man stood at the boarding gate, frequently checking his watch with a look of impatience. This man was Ritchie. The entire me Legion and Blues Family, over 2,000 people, had all arrived-everyone except for John. At that moment, a tall man wearing sunsses appeared. Ritchie''s eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over, saying, "Boss, you finally made it!" "I got held up," replied the man as he took off his sunsses, revealing a handsome, sun- kissed face that caught the attention of the nearby ticketing staff. It was John. He hadn''t traveled with Ritchie and the others, thinking he could use Sword Flight to arrive quickly. However, finding an appropriate longsword for the flight wasn''t possible, and taking one onto the ne was out of the question. So, John had grabbed an iron sword, flown to the border town, and casually discarded it. "Tickets, we''re in a hurry," Ritchie said as he handed over two tickets, looking impatiently at the ticketing staff who seemed a bit starstruck by John. The ticket agent, snapping out of their daze, smiled apologetically, quickly checked the tickets, and then allowed them to pass. "Everything ready?" John asked quietly, ncing around casually. "Yeah," Ritchie nodded, then exined, "We''re posing as a tour group, so the identities are solid. We''re set to arrive in Central City at 1 AM tonight." The two had meticulously nned this operation. With John''s strength backing them, they were confident there wouldn''t be any issues. The two boarded the ne, and shortly after, it took off. ... The ne endured some turbulence, but by early dawn, it arrived at Central City,nding at a remote, semi-abandoned airport. The location wasn''t far from the Mike White Family''s headquarters. Even in the early hours, the city was brightly lit, with people still moving about the streets. Central City, symbolizing the center of the world and power, reflected the grand ambitions of the Mike White Family. Outside the airport, a thin middle-aged man noticed John''s group and quickly stubbed out his cigarette, hurrying over. "Captain Ritchie?" The man eyed Ritchie, cautiously confirming his identity. Ritchie nodded, saying, "Lead the way." The man was an undercover agent from the military stationed in Central City, codenamed "Monkey." "Follow me," Monkey said after giving a quick nce at the group of over 2,000 people behind him, asking no further questions as he led the way. As the group emerged onto the bustling streets, they drew quite a bit of attention, but they paid no mind to the curious onlookers. "Any recent activity from the Mike White Family?" Ritchie asked, scanning their surroundings as he inquired about the current situation from Monkey. Monkey shook his head. "No noticeable movements. They''ve mostly stayed inside their headquarters, likely logged into the world of Gods." John, walking beside them, spoke up, "Do you know anything about the Mike White Family''s ''Noah''s Ark'' n?" Monkey nced at John, not recognizing him as Godyer but sensing that he held a significant position. "We''ve only heard rumors. The details of the n are unknown to us. What we do know is that the criteria for getting a ticket are strict-only those with rare sses in the world of Gods or those who''ve awakened A-grade or higher talents are eligible. There''s also an identity check that we can''t pass. Even those who obtain tickets seem to vanish without a trace." John didn''t press further. He knew that once the Mike White Family was dealt with, all these questions would be answered. The group moved forward without any resistance, encountering no obstacles as they quickly reached the Mike White Family headquarters. The entire building was brightly lit, yet not a single person was in sight, as if everyone was inside the world of Gods. There weren''t even any security guards at the entrance. John frowned, sensing that the operation was going suspiciously smoothly. However, he trusted in his own strength. Even if Azure Family experts were hiding here, he wasn''t afraid. "Move in!" John ordered. A fireball shot out from his hand, sting the front doors open. The team swiftly moved in, securing all entrances and exits. The building''s lights flickered, but it remained eerily silent. "Boss, it seems like there''s no one here," Ritchie reported after searching several rooms, all of which were empty. John turned to Sini. She had the Shadow Assassin ss and had undergone attribute fusion, making her highly sensitive to life signs. Sini also shook her head. Aside from their own people, she couldn''t sense any other lifeforms in the building. Ritchie looked at Monkey with a cold expression. "How could you not know if the Mike White Family evacuated?" Monkey was stunned and shook his head vigorously. "N-no way. My team and I have been monitoring this ce 24/7. People have only been entering the Mike White Family headquarters, never leaving." "Then how do you exin the current situation?" Ritchie''s tone was harsh. He and John had meticulously nned this operation, ensuring there were no loose ends, yet now they were left with nothing to show for it. Monkey swallowed nervously, knowing full well that this was a failure on his part. He hung his head, unable to offer any further exnation. "Commander!" A soldier hurried down from the staircase, saluted, and reported, "We found Toby''s room and discovered a video recording. It''s addressed to Lord John." He turned to John as he mentioned the message. "Take me there immediately," John ordered. "Yes, sir!" The soldier responded promptly and led them to the top floor of the building. A sealed office had been forcibly opened. Inside, the office was spacious and luxuriously furnished, with arge screen in the center disying a paused image of Toby. Ritchie signaled the soldier to y the recording. In the video, Toby appeared with a smug expression, staring directly at the camera. "Godyer, I knew you''de here. You''re probably curious about what the ''Noah''s Ark'' n is, aren''t you?" John frowned, unsure of what kind of game Toby was ying. Toby spread his hands, exuding an air of confidence, and continued, "This is the ''Noah''s Ark'' n!" "Boss, what''s he talking about?" Ritchie asked, bewildered, his brow furrowed in confusion. Suddenly, it clicked for John. His eyes widened as he eximed, "The world of Gods! They''ve transferred themselves into the world of Gods!" "W-what?" Ritchie and the others gasped, disbelief written all over their faces. Sini, equally shocked, asked, "John, are you saying they''ve somehow entered the world of Gods with their real bodies? That''s impossible, right?" John responded, "Don''t forget, the Skyline Continent in the world of Gods is a real world." Ritchie swallowed hard, still grappling with the enormity of the situation. He nced around the empty building, struggling to ept the truth. "So, you''re saying that the entire Mike White Family has moved into the world of Gods? How could they possibly achieve that?" Toby''s next words provided the answer they needed. Staring intently into the camera, Toby smiled and said, "Godyer, I''ve left a ''ticket'' for you as well. It''s in the second drawer of my desk. The code is the birthday of the woman you care about most. Oh, and by the way, she''s on the ''Ark'' too." The video ended, leaving John deep in thought, trying to decipher the meaning behind Toby''s final words. "John, who''s the woman you care about most?" Sini asked, her voice tinged with a hint of jealousy. John''s expression shifted as he suddenly realized, blurting out, "Tracy!" "What?" Sini echoed, her own realization dawning as she rushed to the desk, quicklyn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om inputting Tracy''s birthday into the lock. Crack! With a soft click, the drawer popped open, revealing a small, white stone inside. Chapter 126: Chapter 126: The Angel Takes on a Disciple, Archmage Flow of Time Chapter 126: The Angel Takes on a Disciple, Archmage Flow of Time ? Sini looked rmed and asked anxiously, "John, is Tracy really in their hands?" John didn''t respond, but it seemed likely. Tracy had disappeared into thin air. If it wasn''t the Azure Family''s doing, then the most probable culprit was the Mike White Family. John picked up the white stone, curiously inspecting it. "Spatial power!" he eximed in surprise. This was definitely not a product of the real world; it came from the world of Gods. However, the world of Gods had not yet merged with Earth, so items shouldn''t be able to return to the real world. How had the Mike White Family managed it? It seemed they possessed secrets unknown to him. "Boss, you''re not seriously considering descending into the world of Gods, are you?" Ritchie asked worriedly. Descending into the world of Gods was not the same as logging into the game pot; death there could very well mean real death. Toby had left him a "ticket," which was obviously not given with good intentions. Sini immediately added, "John, you can''t take that risk." "Yeah, brother-inw, let me descend into the world of Gods and see what kind of scheme Toby is up to," Armstrong suggested. John, however, directly put away the spatial stone and said, "No one is entering; I have my own n." Tracy was in Toby''s hands but wouldn''t be in immediate danger. Moreover, since she had descended into the world of Gods, she would surely find a way to contact them. He decided to first assess the situation. At that moment, Ritchie''s phone rang. He stepped aside, said a few brief words, and furrowed his brows. "Boss, there''s new intel from the world of Gods," he said, hanging up and looking at John with a grave expression. "Several city forces have been established. I suspect they belong to the Mike White Family." John nodded, not overly surprised. He had already secured the rewards from the first three cities. Subsequent city establishments no longer offered Secret Area rewards, so there was no need to prevent the Mike White Family from expanding. John gazed at the empty building, feeling a twinge of helplessness. Fortunately, this operation wasn''t entirely fruitless; at least they had learned about the Mike White Family''s Noah''s Ark n. He turned to Ritchie and instructed, "The Mike White Family surely has spies in the real world. Keep an eye on them, and if you find any, eliminate them." "Got it, boss," Ritchie replied, then nced at Monkey. Monkey nodded and immediately left. "Let''s head back," John said, and the group boarded a private jet under the cover of night, returning to the Dragon Nation. The nended around noon the next day. This round trip had cost them a day. John moved to the military base, tidied up briefly, and Sini walked in. "Master, how is your Fox Demon Curse?" Sini asked shyly, her eyes filled with a hint of suggestion as she looked at John. John couldn''t help but swallow as he looked at her adorable expression. His heart raced with desire, and he immediately pulled Sini into his arms. Just as he was about to make a move, there was a knock on the door. "Brother-inw, I''ve received a message from Tracy. She''s online in the world of Gods and has something important to discuss with you," Armstrong''s voice came from outside the door. John was about to lose his temper, but upon hearing it was news about Tracy, he replied, "Got it. I''ll enter the world of Gods right away." Sini also stood up and straightened her clothes, saying, "I''ll go with you." John gave her an apologetic kiss on the cheek and said, "I''ll make it up to you when I have time." "Understood. Hurry and enter the world of Gods," Sini nodded, concerned about Tracy''s safety, urging him to log in quickly. The two of them entered the game pot and connected to the world of Gods. John appeared in me City. As soon as he logged in, his private chat lit up. It was Tracy. Star Dust: "Old man, it''s me, Tracy. I''m safe right now, but whatever you do, don''t descend into the world of Gods. It''s a trap set by the Mike White Family." Seeing her message, John felt a weight lift off his shoulders, and he quickly replied. Godyer: "Where are you? I''ll figure out a way to rescue you." Star Dust: "No need, old man. I''m safe here. It seems like I''m in the City of Angels, and a six- winged angel has taken me as a disciple. No one dares to touch me." City of Angels? A six-winged angel? John was astonished. The City of Angels was the territory of the angelic race, and it wasn''t open to outsiders. Without a map, yers couldn''t even find a way in. And a six-winged angel-one of the ninth-tier beings, an existence just below the gods. John hadn''t expected that a six-winged angel would take Tracy as a disciple. She must have some hidden talent. With a powerful angel protecting her, he no longer needed to worry about her safety. The private chat lit up again. Star Dust: "Old man, you mustn''t descend into the world of Gods. The Mike White Family wants to prematurely open the connection between the world of Gods and Earth. The so- called connection is actually a seventh-tier Secret Area that requires Earth yers to descend and clear it to open the passage. The Mike White Family can''t do it themselves for now, so they want to use you to open it." So that''s how it is. John sighed in relief. No one could possibly raise their power to the seventh tier in such a short time, not even him. Earth''s crisis wouldn''te anytime soon. In his previous life, many yers had reached the ninth tier before the world of Gods connected to Earth. It seemed that someone must have descended into the world of Gods back then and cleared this seventh-tier Secret Area. But who could it have been? John spected that the Mike White Family was heavily involved in this matter. He decided not to dwell on it any further. Godyer: "Tracy, I can''t enter the City of Angels right now, so be careful. If you''re in danger, let me know immediately, and I''ll figure out a way to save you." Star Dust: "Don''t worry, old man. I''ll also find a way to escape from here and meet you as soon as possible." Godyer: "Good." John closed the private chat and remembered the promise he had made to the Resurrection Undead Lord. "Hey, are you there?" he called out to the Undead Lord in his mind. "What do you want?" came the impatient voice of the Undead Lord in his head. John was instantly irritated. "Damn it, I was thinking of helping you with your resurrection, but it looks like you''re better off staying inside me." "Wait!" The Undead Lord suddenly panicked, his tone changingpletely. "I wasn''t fully awake just now and was talking nonsense. Did I offend you? I apologize." John was speechless. "Are all you old guys this shameless?" "That''s... nonsense. I''m a man of my word. If you help resurrect me, I''ll pledge my allegiance to you. I swear on the honor of the undead race," the Undead Lord promised earnestly. John, growing impatient, asked, "Alright, how do I help you resurrect?" Undead Lord: "I still have a body, but it''s in a fifth-tier Secret Area. If you find my avatar, my soul can detach from your body. However, I''ve lost my immortality, so I''ll need the power of the Tree of Life to resurrect." John nodded. This wasn''t particrly difficult for him. The only challenge was leveling up to 200 andpleting five career advancements. He was currently at level 179, just 21 levels shy of reaching 200. However, the experience required for each level was staggering; leveling up to 180 alone would require 83.32 million experience points. It would take at least a week to gain enough experience. At that moment, Ritchie found John and spoke up, "Boss! Someone wants your help to establish a city." "Oh? Who?" John''s eyes lit up. Defending a city from the monster tide was a quick way to level up. Ritchie exined, "It''s a friend of mine from the real world. Her ID is Flow of Time." "Flow of Time?" John eximed. In the previous life, this woman was a legendary figure, also known by another title: Archmage! She had made significant contributions in defending Earth from the invading beast army and Dark Humans. Unfortunately, she was eventually caught in a trap set by the Dark Humans and was killed in an ambush. "Boss, do you know her?" Ritchie looked at John, puzzled. John shook his head, "Just heard of her."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Ritchie continued, "Should we agree? She''s offering a fifth-tier hero Secret Area as payment, but there''s a condition-she wants to enter the Secret Area herself and needs a fifth-tier mage set." The rewards from a fifth-tier hero Secret Area are far more than just a set of equipment, so the request was reasonable. John thought for a moment and then said, "No problem. But I have a condition too-the spoils from defending against the monster tide are ours." Ritchie chuckled and replied, "That''s exactly what I was thinking. I''ll let her know." He sent a private message to Flow of Time, and she readily agreed. Ritchie closed the chat and said, "Boss, she''s agreed. The city will be built in Dragonblood Hignds, and we can set the timing. The sooner, the better." The recent establishment of several city forces by the Mike White Family had clearly spurred Flow of Time into action. "Dragonblood Hignds? This woman doesn''tck ambition," John murmured. Though Dragonblood Hignds wasn''t as perilous and mysterious as Dark Forest or Eternal Forest, the beasts there were still formidable. The weakest among them were fourth-tier elemental Dragon Monsters at level 100 and above, and the most powerful elemental wyverns were as high as the seventh tier. John was more than capable of handling it. This opportunity aligned perfectly with his need to level up, and the monster tide in Dragonblood Hignds was an ideal challenge. After thinking it over, he said, "Tell her to get ready. We''ll establish the city in two hours." "Got it." Ritchie ryed the message. Dragonblood Hignds wasn''t far from me City, and at Avis''s flying speed, they could reach it within two hours. For this operation, John decided not to involve the me Legion or Blues Family. The earth dragons of Dragonblood Hignds were too powerful for them to handle. And this mission was primarily for John to level up. "John, I want to go too," Sini said as she arrived in me City and quickly learned about their n. John didn''t refuse. The three of them boarded Avis and headed for Dragonblood Hignds. "Boss, can you help me get a powerful mount?" Ritchie asked enviously, eyeing the dragon they were riding. As an Earth Knight, hisbat strength would greatly increase with the right mount. However, his current strength was limited, and the beasts he had tamed were only around the third tier, which wasn''t much help. John thought of something and said, "What do you think of the blood-red demon wolf?" Ritchie''s eyes lit up, and he nodded enthusiastically, but then hesitated. "Boss, that''s a seventh-tier epic beast. How could it possibly be my mount?" John replied calmly, "Don''t worry, leave it to me. If that guy refuses, I''ll break his legs!" "That... might be a bit much..." Ritchie was a little hesitant, but deep down, he was full of anticipation. Meanwhile, Sini was already starting to feel sorry for the blood-red demon wolf. ... Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Battle Robe and Stockings, Fearsome Power Chapter 127: Battle Robe and Stockings, Fearsome Power ? Avis flew at high speed, reaching Dragonblood Hignds two hourster. On the outskirts, a small city had sprung up. Avis''s massive form cast a shadow over the city, causing the yers within to panic and rush to the city walls, as if preparing for battle. "Don''t be afraid! That''s Godyer''s pet; it''s here to help us," someone on the wall recognized Avis and quickly reassured the others. Even knowing Avis meant no harm, the yers couldn''t fully rx. The sheer pressure of its presence was overwhelming, far beyond what they could withstand. Avis circled above the city like a show of strength before finallynding with a thunderous crash. Themotion had already alerted Flow of Time, who immediately led her people to the city gate to greet them. "John, another beauty!" Sini nudged John''s arm, winking yfully. John quickly replied, "I''m not interested in beauties. Having you is enough." Sini giggled at his response. Ritchie, standing nearby, scoffed. He knew that John already had four beauties around him. Sini, Tracy, the elven saintess Anna, and the proud princess Ada from the Gates Empire. "Ritchie, long time no see," Flow of Time greeted with a smile, then turned her gaze to John and Sini, asking curiously, "And who are these two?" "Malina," Ritchie quickly introduced them, "This is Godyer and Sini." Flow of Time, whose real name was Malina, was the eldest daughter of the Smith Family, which was also a military force. Although she hadn''t joined the military, she leveraged her family''s background to establish apany, Phoenix Group, which focused on agricultural products and was known for itsmitment to helping farmers and alleviating poverty. "Pleasure to meet you," Malina said, her eyes lingering on John for a moment. John found himself captivated by Malina. She had an incredibly beautiful face, a tall and slender figure, and a cold, elegant demeanor. She was dressed in a battle robe paired with ck stockings, a strikingbination. John couldn''t help but stare at her long, beautiful legs and curiously asked, "Does the world of Gods have stockings too?" The others were momentarily stunned. Sini red at John fiercely. Ritchie even took a step back, speechless. John had just imed he wasn''t interested in beauties, and now he was fixated on her stockings. Malina frowned, clearly displeased, and her impression of John plummeted. Ignoring John, she changed the subject and asked, "Where are the other soldiers?" Ritchie replied, "Malina, it''s just the three of us. With Godyer, one person is enough." "One person is enough?" Malina clearly didn''t believe it, her expression showing her displeasure. If she didn''t know Ritchie well, she would have thought Godyer was making fun of her. She spoke up, "Let me make one thing clear: I won''t let my people die in vain. And if we fail to defend the city, I won''t be paying the agreedpensation. Additionally, you''ll have to reimburse me with a City Building Order." She had paid a hefty price for that City Building Order, and the Phoenix Legion had suffered heavy casualties. Failure was not an option in establishing the city. John, growing impatient, urged, "Don''t worry, nothing will go wrong. Go ahead and establish the city." "Hmph!" Malina snorted coldly, her dissatisfaction with John growing. Rude, arrogant, and ignorant-he was nothing like the strong and capable Godyer she had imagined. She nced at Ritchie, said nothing more, and proceeded to establish the city. [Announcement: yer Flow of Time has established Phoenix City. Sessfully defend against the monster tide for 12 hours toplete the city''s construction.] ... The announcement echoed three times. Over the past few days, many cities had already been established, so yers were not as excited as they had been earlier. Roar... As soon as the announcement ended, a chorus of furious roars erupted, shaking the ground, toppling trees, and sending countless powerful elemental Dragon Monsters charging out from the mountains and forests. On the city walls, the yers were tense, gripping their weapons tightly. Most of them were only third-tier in strength, with just a few fourth-tier warriors among them. Facing the overwhelming numbers of elemental Dragon Monsters, they were clearly outmatched. "Master, should I step in?" Avis asked eagerly, eyeing the elemental Dragon Monsters. He had a bloodline advantage over these creatures and was itching to fight. "No need, I''ll handle this myself," John replied as he stepped forward, the Sword of Divinity and Demons appearing in his hand. Malina was puzzled. This guy was a Wrath of the Gods mage-why wasn''t he using a staff and instead wielding a longsword? Rumbling... The ground trembled as tens of thousands of elemental Dragon Monsters charged forward, their momentum overwhelming. Malina couldn''t help but swallow nervously. She nced at Ritchie and asked again, "Ritchie, now is not the time for showing off. Are you sure this guy can hold off the monster tide all by himself?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Don''t worry, Malina. I wouldn''t mislead you," Ritchie replied confidently, without a hint of doubt in John''s abilities. Sini, standing nearby, shot an annoyed re at Malina. The way this woman referred to John was clearly irritating her. At that moment, the elemental Dragon Monsters had already reached John. Only then did he calmly raise his longsword. Whoosh... A fierce wind swept through, and a massive surge of fire elemental energy erupted. As the longsword came down, it unleashed an overwhelming sea of mes. Advanced magic, Hellfire! Not only that, but it triggered a Spell Combo, causing mes to surge even higher, engulfing the entire army of elemental Dragon Monsters. Roar... Roars of agony echoed as waves of damage numbers flickered in the air. -429200 -428309 ... All were terrifying critical hits, instantly obliterating the fourth-tier elemental Dragon Monsters with no resistance. [You have in a level 130 elemental Dragon Monster, gaining 1240 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, spell critical +1.] [Plunder talent activated, spirit +1.] [Plunder talent activated, skill point +1.] ... The notification messages kept popping up as over twenty thousand elemental Dragon Monsters were wiped out, leaving behind a field of loot-fourth-tier premium equipment, skill stones, equipment enhancement stones, and socketing gems scattered all over. These elemental Dragon Monsters, being magical creatures, had given John a significant boost in spirit attributes and skill points through his Plunder talent. On the city walls, the yers stood in stunned silence. "So strong!" "Is this the power of the top-ranked yer?" "I feel like I''m not even worthy of one of his fingers." "Bro, am I dreaming? p me," one yer said to the guy next to him. p! A loud smack echoed. "Ow! Did you have to hit so hard?" "You asked for it," came the reply. It followed by a wave of cursing from the walls. Malina, witnessing this scene, couldn''t help but swallow nervously. "Damn it, he really showed off this time!" She watched John''s solitary, proud figure, now somewhat resembling the image of a true powerhouse. But despite this, she still didn''t feel any warmth toward him. "This is just the first wave of the monster tide. There''s no way this guy can hold them all off!" she thought to herself, then quickly realized. "Wait, this is my city! As much as I dislike this guy, I still hope he can fend off the monster tide." She prayed silently, though her attention was soon drawn to the scattered loot. Malina began to regret agreeing to Ritchie''s terms. All that loot consisted of premium fourth-tier gear, skill stones, and other valuable items. If it were hers, it would significantly enhance the strength of the yers in Phoenix City. She looked at Ritchie and hesitated before saying, "Ritchie, how about we split the loot?" Ritchie immediately refused, "Malina, we agreed on this beforehand. Besides, if it were just me, I might agree. But you hired Godyer, not just me!" "I was just suggesting," Malina frowned, feeling frustrated. She nced at John, who was enjoying himself on the battlefield, and felt even more displeased. Her eyes shifted as she said, "How about this-I''ll have my people help clean up the battlefield? You''re our guests, after all. We can''t have you doing that." Ritchie was speechless; he could easily guess what Malina was thinking. He nced at Sini. But she didn''t seem to care, so he finally said, "Alright. Let your people help with the cleanup, but don''t overstep." "Understood," Malina replied with a smile. She then turned to the yers on the wall, who were staring dreamily, and snapped, "Stop gawking and get down here to clean up the battlefield!" The yers snapped out of their daze and quickly scurried down to collect the loot. Malina didn''t forget to remind them, "Remember, these items belong to Godyer. Don''t you dare pocket anything. Got it?" She emphasized thest few words, making her point clear. Sini shot Malina an annoyed look, feeling that this woman was getting more and more presumptuous. However, she didn''t interfere. As long as no one tantly stole anything, she was willing to turn a blind eye. ... The battlefield was soon cleared, and the loot was sorted and neatly piled to one side. Malina frowned, feeling as though the amount of loot hadn''t diminished at all. She stopped one of the yers and whispered, "Did anyone pocket anything?" The yer, looking righteous, quickly assured her, "Boss, don''t worry. These belong to the great Godyer. I wouldn''t dream of taking anything." "You idiot, get lost!" Malina snapped, frustrated at his obliviousness. She had hinted so clearly, yet he still didn''t get it. Unable to stand it any longer, Sini spoke up, "Alright, everyone pick one set of equipment that suits you, and don''t touch the rest." The Saint Martial Sect and me City didn''tck equipment, so giving some to these yers wasn''t excessive. "Thank you, mydy! Thank you!" The yers were overwhelmed with gratitude and showered Sini with thanks. Malina red at Sini, feeling that this woman was challenging her authority. At that moment, the second wave of the monster tide hit, once again consisting of elemental Dragon Monsters, but this time they were even stronger, with levels exceeding 150. However, they were still no match for John. Hellfire engulfed the battlefield, and once again, tens of thousands of fiery Dragon Monsters were instantly annihted. Malina watched in dismay. She was a mage too, and a powerful one at that, with a hidden ss-me Mage, specializing in fire magic. Butpared to John, she felt utterly insignificant. It must be because of his higher level and that divine weapon! She consoled herself, having already guessed that the longsword in John''s hand was the Sword of Divinity and Demons. She also noticed the change in the level rankings; Godyer was still number one, having leveled up from 179 to 181. The speed of his level-up was astonishing. Tempted, Malina hesitated for a moment before sending John a party invite. [Ding! yer Godyer has declined your party invitation.] Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Divine Punishment Returns, City Defense Succeeds Chapter 128: Divine Punishment Returns, City Defense Seeds ? As soon as she sent the invite, Malina received a system notification. "Damn it!" she cursed inwardly, ring at John. This was the first time in her life that someone had so tantly refused her. Her impression of John soured even further. John, however, was unfazed. He had agreed to help defend against the monster tide to level up quickly. Partying would split the experience points, severely impacting his leveling speed. Even Sini wasn''t in the party with him. ... The monster tide came in wave after wave. From the initial fourth-tier elemental Dragon Monsters, the assault had now escted to powerful fifth-tier beasts-giant elemental dragons. But with their mere hundred thousand hit points, they still couldn''t withstand John''s magical attacks. "Just how strong is this guy?" Malina wondered, conflicted. She admired strength, but John''s first impression had been so poor that she felt he didn''t deserve such overwhelming power. Time passed, and more than eleven hours had gone by. The monster tide was nearly over, and this was likely the final wave. Just then, an even more formidable tide appeared-sixth-tier elemental wyverns, numbering a hundred thousand! "Flying beasts!" Malina gasped, her heart sinking. She turned to Ritchie and asked, "Can this Godyer really handle it?" "Don''t worry, he''s got this," Ritchie replied, unconcerned. He knew that John hadn''t yet shown his full strength. While the sixth-tier monster tide was powerful, it was still no match for John. Roar... The sky darkened as the air filled with the overwhelming numbers of wyverns-ten thousand strong. Malina''s face turned grim. No matter how powerful John was, she couldn''t see how he could fend off ten thousand agile flying beasts. "We''re finished!" she thought in despair. All her efforts over the past hours were about to be wasted because of what she saw as John''s arrogance. Sini nced at her and said calmly, "Don''t worry, we''ll defend Phoenix City." "Lovestruck fool," Malina muttered coldly. To her, Sini seemed like a naive girlpletely bewitched by Godyer. Anyone with a bit ofmon sense would know that facing so many elemental wyverns alone is simply impossible. "You... hmph!" Sini seethed, gritting her teeth in frustration. With a cold snort, she decided to ignore Malina. By this time, countless elemental wyverns had already closed in. John remained unfazed, calmly raising the Sword of Divinity and Demons high above his head. Whoosh... A fierce wind howled, and an overwhelming aura of terror filled the air, creating an invisible pressure that seemed to weigh down on everything. In the sky, the elemental wyverns became frantic, staring at John below in sheer terror. Some even collided with each other in panic, plummeting to the ground in a cloud of dust, utterly defeated. Rumble... Dark clouds churned in the sky, thunder rumbled ominously, and a sense of impending doom enveloped the entire area. "Divine Punishment!" John''s cold voice echoed as he brought the longsword down with immense force. The wind roared, and countless bolts of lightning danced wildly like a horde of demons, engulfing the hundred thousand elemental wyverns. Roar! A chorus of anguished wails filled the air as countless elemental wyverns plummeted to the ground like raindrops. Some were even torn to shreds by the relentless lightning. In an instant, the hundred thousand elemental wyverns were reduced to ashes, and notification messages shed continuously. [You have in a level 5000 sixth-tier elemental wyvern, gaining 17,730 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Luck +1.] [Plunder talent activated, Skill Points +10.] [You have reached level 200, unlocking the job advancement quest. After advancing, you can continue leveling up.] [Wrath of the Gods Mage Fifth Job Advancement Quest: y 10 Epic Bosses Level 200 or above.] [Nightmare Assassin Fifth Job Advancement Quest: y 10 Epic Bosses Level 200 or above.] [Sword Immortal Fifth Job Advancement Quest: y 10 Epic Bosses Level 200 or above.] ... [You havepleted the job advancement quest and sessfully advanced to Fifth-tier Wrath of the Gods Mage, Fifth-tier Nightmare Assassin, and Fifth-tier Sword Immortal.] [You have reached level 201, Constitution +1, Strength +5, Spirit +5, Agility +3, Free Attribute Points +24, Skill Points +2.] [You have sessfully in 60 sixth-tier Epic Bosses. Wrath of the Gods talent upgraded, skill mana consumption reduced by 60%.] [Next level-up condition: y 70 seventh-tier Legendary Bosses.] ... The notification messages kept shing. Among the fallen were several boss-level elemental wyverns, causing John''s base attributes to skyrocket. Not only that, but he had directly leveled up to 200, unlocking his fifth job advancement quest, which hepleted immediately. His Wrath of the Gods talent was further upgraded, reducing skill mana consumption by 60%. However, advancing to the next level would be more challenging, requiring the ying of 70 seventh-tier Legendary Bosses. Currently, John was barely capable of handling early seventh-tier Legendary Bosses. The most difficult part was finding enough of these rare bosses, as they were scarce and hard to locate. John didn''t dwell on this issue, instead turning his attention to the pile of loot scattered across the ground. The loot consisted of high-quality sixth-tier weapons and equipment, along with arge number of skill stones, enhancement stones, and socketing gems. There were also rare elemental socketing gems representing the fourmon elements: wind, fire, water, and earth. A level 1 elemental gem socketed into a weapon could increase corresponding elementalN?v(el)B\\jnn magic damage by 1%. These gems were more rare and valuable than ordinary base attribute gems. At this moment, everyone was utterly stunned as they took in the devastation on the battlefield. Malina, in particr, stood with her mouth slightly agape, overwhelmed by what she had just witnessed. One person single-handedly equivalent to an entire army-how terrifying must that level of power be? No, Godyer''s abilities far surpassed any army. A regr army of yers would never have been able to withstand a hundred thousand sixth-tier elemental wyverns. "Hey, your jaw''s about to drop!" Sini teased, looking at Malina''s dumbfounded expression with a smug smile. Gulp! Malina swallowed hard and snapped out of it, shooting Sini a fierce re. She felt like this young girl was mocking her. [Announcement: Phoenix City has sessfully defended against the monster tide and has been established.] [All members receive 100,000 experience points, 100 free attribute points, and 10 skill points.] ... As the announcement rang out, the yers finally snapped out of their daze, and cheers erupted from the city walls. "We did it!" "Godyer is just too overpowered. We didn''t do anything, and we still got so many rewards." "Our boss really had foresight, getting Godyer to help us." "Alright, everyone, stop standing around-let''s get to work." With that reminder, the yers rushed onto the battlefield to collect the loot. Initially, some had grumbled about John getting all the loot. But now, they were more than willing to ept it. Without Godyer''s help, they knew they would never have been able to establish the city. ... John was busy checking his stats. Not only had he advanced to the fifth tier, but during this defense, his spirit attribute had increased by over 30,000 points, and his other three base attributes had each risen by nearly 10,000 points. His power had grown tremendously. He even considered using the City Building Orders he had to attract more monster tides and further boost his strength. Just then, Ritchie and the others approached. Malina looked at John, her previous coldness reced with gratitude. "Godyer, thank you for your help." John waved her off, saying, "No need, but just saying thanks is too light. What about the promised reward?" He was still thinking about the fifth-tier hero Secret Area scroll she had. Malina''s mouth twitched slightly. She couldn''t understand how someone like John could even find a girlfriend. She nced at Sini, guessing that she must be totally lovestruck,pletely taken in by John. "Hmph, I keep my word," Malina said, not wanting to argue with John. She handed over the Secret Area scroll. Then she added, "As we agreed before, I''ll be joining you in exploring the Secret Area." "John, I want to go too," Sini quickly chimed in. Malina nced at Sini and said, "No can do. This is a two-person Secret Area, so there''s no spot for you. It looks like your boyfriend will have to share with me." She smiled sweetly, her gaze filled with challenge. Sini ignored her, turning to John and asking, "Will it be dangerous?" She wasn''t worried about the beasts but rather about the Fox Demon Curse within John. John replied, "No, if anything goes wrong, I''ll retreat to Death Land." Anna and the other girls were always in Death Land and could help him detoxify at any time. Besides, the Secret Area wasn''t located in the Abyss, so he could enter Death Land whenever needed. Sini red at John and whispered, "I meant...". She subtly indicated Malina and winked at John, hinting that he should try to win her over. John pretended not to understand, ying dumb. Noticing Sini''s gestures, Malina reassured her, "Don''t worry, little girl. I''m not interested in your boyfriend; he''s not my type." Sini shot her a re, clearly displeased with the way she was being addressed. She replied, "Sis, I''m just looking out for you. Don''te cryingter." Then, she turned to John, giving him a fierce look. John wasn''t sure whether tough or cry. He hadn''t even made any moves, so why did Sini always seem to want him to win over every beautiful woman they met? Ignoring the two women, he focused on the Secret Area scroll in his hand. Dragonblood Treasure, a fifth-tier, two-person hero Secret Area, located in the Dragonblood Mountains. This made things much more convenient. He couldplete this Secret Area while also helping the Undead Lord with his resurrection. Without wasting any time, John sent a party invitation to Malina and said, "Let''s make this quick; I''m on a tight schedule." "In such a hurry? I prefer to take my time," Malina teased, giving Sini a provocative look as she spoke. Sini was speechless. Take her time? She hadn''t even discovered John''s limits yet-there woulde a time when this woman would be the one crying. She leaned close to John''s ear and whispered, "Master, if you win her over, Sini will give you a special reward." "Stop messing around; let''s focus on the task. You two head back. Message me if anything comes up," John instructed them, then mounted Avis with Malina and flew into Dragonblood Hignds. The entrance to the Dragonblood Treasure Secret Area was deep within the Dragonblood Hignds, surrounded by numerous elemental dragons. However, under the intimidating aura of Avis, the divine dragon, not a single elemental dragon dared to approach. "Master, I feel something here is calling to me," Avis said, flying low and scanning the area with a curious expression. "Is that so?" John''s interest was piqued as well. Perhaps this Dragonblood Treasure had something to do with the divine dragons. Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Teasing Malina, the Curse Strikes Chapter 129: Teasing Malina, the Curse Strikes ? Before long, John and Malina arrived at the entrance to the Secret Area. Avisnded, and there were no elemental dragons in sight nearby. John immediately activated the Secret Area. Buzz! The space around them rippled, and a rift appeared-this was the entrance to the Secret Area. Curious, Malina leaned in to take a closer look, but it was a spatial passage, so she couldn''t see anything inside. John gestured politely and said, "After you." Malina frowned in displeasure. "You first." This was a fifth-tier Secret Area, with powerful beasts inside. She wasn''t about to enter recklessly. "Stay close," John warned as he entered the Secret Area with Avis. Since Avis was his pet, it didn''t take up one of the limited slots. Malina followed closely behind. After a brief sensation of spinning, the two of them found themselves in a deste wastnd. The wind howled, whipping up sand that stung their faces. Malina frowned and stepped behind John, saying, "These are fifth-tier elemental dragons." Surrounding them were massive elemental dragons, their bodies asrge as hills. Roar!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Before John could act, Avis let out a mighty roar and unleashed a breath of dragonfire, engulfing the elemental dragons below. Screams and roars of agony filled the air. Though Avis was only a fourth-tier creature, he was a legendary boss, making short work of these fifth-tier elemental dragons. Even against a rare sixth-tier boss, Avis could hold his own. Malina watched in awe, once again deeply impressed. John''s strength was already incredible, but she hadn''t expected the ck dragon Avis to be so overpowering as well. A fourth-tier creature, effortlessly ughtering fifth-tier elemental dragons. This wasn''t just a few levels'' difference; it was a whole rank, over a hundred levels apart. Whoosh! A wave of heat rolled over them as the area around them turned into a sea of mes-John had unleashed Hellfire! After defending against the monster tide, his spirit attribute had skyrocketed, and the critical damage of Hellfire had reached a terrifying 600,000+, leaving the elemental dragons defenseless. One after another, the dragons were annihted, and Malina''s experience points soared. She had just reached level 100 in the fourth tier, but in just a short time, her experience points had doubled. This leveling speed was insane! She spotted a nearby dragon on the brink of death, summoned her staff, andunched arge fireball. Boom! -5021 The damage was just over 5,000, not even a fraction of John''s output. Malina was crushed and quietly put her staff away. She realized that trying to wield fire magic in front of John was just humiliating herself. John noticed the damage she dealt and was a bit surprised. For a yer with fourth-tier strength, even with a full set of epic gear, their spirit attribute wouldn''t typically exceed 5,000 points. At that level, their magical attacks wouldn''t even break through the magic resistance of a fifth-tier elemental dragon. Yet, Malina managed to deal over 5,000 points of damage. Since she didn''t have John''s Plunder talent, this damage output was impressive. It was likely rted to her ss. John nced at Malina and curiously asked, "I remember you''re a me Mage. Does your ss have any special abilities?" She looked at John and replied, "That''s my secret. Why should I tell you?" "Secret?" John hadn''t expected this woman to be so proud. He was just curious, and since she wasn''t interested in sharing, he decided not to press further. Malina''s eyes flickered with thought before she said, "How about this-you tell me one of your secrets, and I''ll tell you what''s special about my ss." "Alright, I like you," John suddenly dered. Malina was momentarily stunned, not sure how to react. Then she red at John and coldly said, "I don''t like you!" This was the first time she had encountered someone so shameless. He was confessing on the very first day they met? If it had been a serious confession, she might have let it slide, but John''s expression made it clear he was just messing with her. She knew exactly what men were after, and her impression of John plummeted even further. John, however, remained unfazed. "I''ve told you my secret. What''s your ss''s special ability?" "That... that''s your secret?" Malina was dumbfounded. John nodded seriously. "If I hadn''t told you, would you have known?" "You..." Malina was so exasperated she couldn''t find the words. As far as she was concerned, there wasn''t a single man who didn''t have some thoughts about her. But she had never met someone as shameless as John and didn''t know how to deal with him. John continued, "Are you going back on your word? If you do, I''ll post a public announcement to everyone. I''ll let the world know that the eldest daughter of the Smith Family is an untrustworthy hypocrite who leads people on and then abandons them." "Can you be any more shameless, you scumbag?" Malina couldn''t help but curse. She could understand being called untrustworthy, but what was with the "leads people on and then abandons them" part? It made it sound like she had something going on with John. John''s threat was baseless, but with her influence, who knew what kind of trouble such a rumor might stir up? "Fine!" She took a deep breath, feeling utterly defeated by John, and finally said, "My ss, me Mage, adds 50% fire magic damage, 10 points of Fire Elemental affinity, and increases spirit by 4 points with each level up." "10 points of Fire Elemental Affinity?" John was surprised. He had the Plundered Dark Elemental Affinity, which was crucial forprehending the power ofws. He hadn''t expected that Malina''s me Mage ss came with 10 points of Fire Elemental Affinity right from the start. Indeed, life isn''t fair-some people begin their journey far ahead of others. Seeing John''s surprised expression, Malina felt a bit smug, but also curious. She asked, "Do you know what Elemental Affinity does?" John nced at her and replied coolly, "Tell me another secret, but it has to be something I''m interested in." "You!" Malina red at John, then huffed, "Hmph, I don''t want to know that badly anyway." "Are you sure? Elemental Affinity is the key to surpassing the ninth tier and bing a god," John said, deliberately teasing her. Her curiosity was piqued again. The lure of bing a god was too tempting. She bit her lip and finally said, "Back in college, I had a crush on a guy. I was about to confess, only to find out he was gay!" "Pfft..." John burst outughing. The eldest daughter of the Smith Family, a true prodigy, had fallen for a guy who turned out to be gay. This was a major piece of gossip. Malina''s expression turned icy as she threatened, "If you dare spread this around, I''ll have someone castrate you." John shrugged off her threat, replying, "Rx, I''m not interested in your personal life." "You... that''s not my personal life!" Malina angrily retorted, then quickly added, "I don''t even have a personal life." Deciding not to tease her further, John said, "Elemental Affinity is the key toprehending the power ofws. With 100 points of Elemental Affinity, you gain 1% mastery of the corresponding elementalw. Mastering the power ofws brings you close to godhood." This was information he had learned in the Abyss. Malina was stunned and eagerly asked, "Then how can I increase my Elemental Affinity?" "No idea," John replied, shaking his head. His Plunder talent allowed him to steal Dark Elemental Affinity by ying Abyss demons. But that method wouldn''t work for Malina. He didn''t know how to acquire Fire Elemental Affinity. Malina frowned, dissatisfied with this answer, but she could tell John genuinely didn''t know. Her eyes narrowed as she curiously asked, "What''s the special trait of your Wrath of the Gods Mage ss?" "That''s my secret," John retorted, using her own words against her. "Master, stop flirting. A sixth-tier elemental wyvern has appeared," Avis''s voice interrupted, sounding a bit frazzled. Avis could handle a few elemental wyverns, but facing hundreds of them at once left him overwhelmed and struggling. John shot a nce at Avis and activated Infinite Sword Array. Buzz! The air hummed with sword energy as countless des rained down, shing with terrifying damage numbers. The hundreds of elemental dragons stood no chance and were instantly wiped out. John possessed the dual talent of magic and physical attack, which granted him an additional 50% magic attack damage. As his spirit attribute increased, so did his physical attack power. "That was a physical attack skill? Aren''t you supposed to be a mage?" Malina''s voice rang out in surprise from beside him. She was once again deeply shaken. John''s physical attack skills were even stronger than her magic attacks. What kind of ss did this guy have? As John casually picked up the loot from the ground, he didn''t seem concerned. The fact that he had physical attack abilities was no longer a secret. "And what were those ck damage numbers just now?" Malina continued to ask. This time, John didn''t hide anything. He exined, "That''s True Damage. It ignores all forms of defense. If you master the power of elementalws, you can also wield True Damage." "True Damage?" Malina swallowed hard, feeling a deep yearning in her heart. Then, surprised, she asked, "If you have True Damage, doesn''t that mean you''re already as powerful as a god?" John paused for a moment, then shook his head. "No, not yet. At the very least, I need to reach ninth-tier strength." He couldn''t even hold his own against a god''s avatar, let alone a full-fledged god. Comprehending the power ofws was powerful, but his basic attributes were still too low, so the boost wasn''t as significant. Only by reaching ninth-tier strength could he potentially rival a god. Though even then, there would still be a gap. "Hmm?" Suddenly, John''s expression tightened in pain as a wave of heat surged within him. His Fox Demon Curse was ring up at the worst possible time. He couldn''t help but nce at Malina beside him. Malina hadn''t noticed John''s change; she was still pondering over what he had just exined. Gulp! John swallowed hard, struggling to suppress the rising heat inside him. Malina was an absolute stunner, both in looks and figure. Her outfit-a red battle robe and ck stockings-added a level of allure that was hard for anyone to resist. John fought to maintain hisposure and said, "I''ve got something to take care of. Be careful on your own!" Before Malina could react, he mentally connected with Death Land and, along with Avis, disappeared. "Hey!" Malina called out in rm. This was a fifth-tier hero Secret Area, and she was only at the fourth tier. She couldn''t even handle regr elemental dragons, let alone the powerful elemental wyverns. "Damn it! You could''ve at least left Avis here with me!" she cursed angrily, feeling utterly abandoned. Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Taming Judy Chapter 130: Taming Judy ? At that moment, dark shadows loomed overhead as several massive elemental wyverns swooped down from the sky. Malina''s face filled with terror, and without hesitation, she turned and fled. ... John arrived at the treehouse in Death Land. "Master, why are you here?" Ada was training under the Tree of Life. Sensing John''s presence, she quickly approached him. "Hmm, is your Fox Demon Curse acting up?" She noticed the change in John, her expression shifting with concern, though a part of her seemed expectant. John nodded, struggling to suppress the desire burning within him. "Where are Anna and the others?" He didn''t see Anna or the other women; it seemed they weren''t in Death Land. "Anna, Yuel, and Jean led the elves to Eternal Forest," Ada exined. Anna had refined the Death Land key, allowing her toe and go freely. She had established a teleportation point in the Land of Elves and often took the elves out for training to enhance their strength. Seeing John''s pained expression, Ada felt a deep concern. "Master, let me help you detoxify." "No, you can''t handle it," John said, trying to stay rational. For some reason, he felt that the effects of the Fox Demon Curse were bing increasingly intense with each episode. He feared that Ada might get hurt. "Master, Ada can do it," Ada insisted, her expression determined as she led John into the treehouse. "Master, let me help you!" she said softly, her cheeks flushed as she began to slowly remove her clothes. Her skin was wless, pure and bare before John. Unable to hold back any longer, John let out a low growl and lunged at Ada. "Master, Ada isn''t afraid. Don''t hold back," she whispered, helping him remove his clothes. John''s physique was perfect, his muscles firm and toned, captivating Adapletely. Ovee with desire, Ada began kissing John''s chest, trailing her lips downward until she stopped at the sight of his firm, towering manhood. She looked up at him shyly, her eyes full of submission. "Master, Ada will help you detoxify." With that, she grasped John''s hand and took him deep into her mouth. "Mmm!" John groaned in pleasure, his body overwhelmed with satisfaction, though the fire within him burned even hotter, driving his urge to release it. He grasped Ada''s head, thrusting deeper with increasing intensity. "Mm..." Ada''s expression twisted in pain. She nced up at John, her struggles mere token gestures as she obedientlyplied. Her slender arms wrapped tightly around his hips, feeling the forceful push of his manhood against the back of her throat. The pain was intense, yet it was apanied by a strange, almost pleasurable sensation. She worked diligently, taking John''s full length into her mouth, the intense sensations coursing through her body. The area between her legs was already wet, and her body responded involuntarily. The soft sound of moisture echoed in the room. Ada''s expression showed pain as John''s rough thrusts made her feel as if she might suffocate. She tried to pull away several times, but John''s firm grip kept her in ce. "Mmm..." She whimpered, her eyes wide with pain, shaking her head slightly as if to beg John for mercy. Then, a surge of hot liquid erupted from deep within his body, rushing down her throat. Gulp! Ada swallowed with difficulty, her eyes dazed as she looked up at John. Her body trembled, and despite everything, she found herself climaxing. "Ah..." Finally released from his grasp, she gasped for air, looking up at him with soft eyes. "Master, do you feel better now?" John didn''t answer. Instead, he grabbed her by the arm, lifting her up and positioning her hips. With a swift motion, he plunged into her. "Ah!" Ada cried out in pain, wrapping her arms tightly around John, her legs curling around his waist as her body trembled uncontrobly. The brutal thrusts sent waves of overwhelming pleasure through her, causing her to climax again almost instantly. The room filled with the sounds of moaning and cries of pain. Soon, Ada couldn''t withstand John''s relentless assault, begging for mercy repeatedly. "Master, Ada can''t take it anymore. Please, spare me..." she pleaded, her body shaking. The overwhelming pleasure flooded her senses, making her feel as though she was floating, detached from her physical body. Fear gripped her as she begged John to stop. But John, lost in his desire, paid no attention, continuing his mechanical thrusts. Ada''s body convulsed with climax after climax, her voice hoarse as she moaned and begged for relief. Her mind teetered on the edge of copse, nearly cking out several times. "Master, Ada has another way... I''ll ask Judy to join you..." She couldn''t endure any longer and thought of Judy. After John had risked his life to save herst time, Judy''s attitude toward him had changed significantly. Ada and Judy, though master and servant, were as close as sisters. Ada had long noticed Judy''s feelings. But in John''s current state, his mind was clouded, and he didn''t respond, only increasing the intensity of his thrusts. "Master, please... Ada is scared, I''m going to break, please spare me..." Ada''s voice trembled, her breaths ragged. She bit her lip, struggling to stay conscious, and reached out mentally to Judy. Ada: "Judy,e to the Master''s room... save me..." Judy, who had been meditating, heard Ada''s call and was puzzled. She knew who Ada referred to as "Master." But why was she being called to John''s room? She didn''t sense any danger. Despite her confusion, Judy made her way to the room. As she approached the door, the soundsing from inside made her freeze in ce. Though she had never experienced such things herself, she understood what was happening in the room. Ada''s voice was hoarse, filled with desperate pleas, as if she was enduring unbearable torment. Judy swallowed nervously, hesitating for a moment before asking, "Master, how can I help you?" "Come in... ah..." Ada''s painful and raspy scream echoed through the door. "Master''s Fox Demon Curse has red up. I can''t take it anymore... You need to help him detoxify." "I-I can''t do that," Judy stammered, panicked and wanting to flee, but her feet felt rooted to the spot, unable to move. Ada''s agonized moans filled the room as she urged, "Hurry, just think of it as saving me. If this goes on, I feel like I might die." "Alright," Judy finally conceded, biting her lip. With trembling hands, she pushed the door open, standing frozen at what she saw. On the bed, Ada was pinned beneath John, being moved into various humiliating positions. "So big..." Judy whispered, her body trembling at the sight of John''s arousal. She instinctively turned to flee. "Come back!" Ada''s voice was filled with desperation as she pleaded with Judy, "Help me." "But Master, I don''t know what to do..." Judy''s face flushed crimson, her voice shaky with fear and uncertainty. Ada urged her, "Just undress and get on the bed. Think of it as saving me..." Judy noticed Ada''s distress and realized that continuing this way might genuinely be dangerous for her. Steeling herself, Judy began to remove her white dress, revealing her smooth, pale skin and a figure that was undeniably impressive. Ada couldn''t help but pause, surprised. It was the first time she had seen Judy''s body, it was even more voluptuous than her own. She found herself a bit envious, "Stop daydreaming, Judy. Get on the bed," Ada instructed. Then she turned to John, pleading, "Master, I''ve brought Judy to help you. Please, let Ada rest." John, hearing Ada''s words, regained a shred of his sanity. He looked down at Ada, her face streaked with tears and her body trembling, and felt a pang of guilt. "Have I gone too far?" he asked softly, gently caressing Ada with a hint of remorse in his voice. "Master, I''m okay. I just need to rest for a while. Let Judy take care of you," Ada replied, before pushing the hesitant Judy into John''s arms. "Ah..." Judy gasped as she collided with John, her body brushing against his burning erection. The sensation was like an electric shock, sending waves of tingling pleasure through her, leaving her powerless to resist. Ada''s voice came softly, "Master, be gentle... It''s Judy''s first time..." With that, she could no longer hold on and drifted into a deep sleep. John couldn''t restrain himself any longer. He gently pushed Judy onto the bed, his hands exploring and teasing her voluptuous body. Judy''s body stiffened, her eyes tightly shut, and her long eyshes trembled with anxiety. "Don''t be afraid," John whispered soothingly. Judy responded quietly, unsure of how to react, so she simply allowed herself to be guided byn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om him. Under John''s gentle coaxing and teasing, Judy slowly began to rx, her body gradually responding to his touch. Her long legs instinctively wrapped around John''s waist. John took the opportunity and thrust deeply into her. "Ah! It hurts..." Judy cried out, her legs tightening around John as her body tensed, trying to prevent him from moving further. At this point, John''s Fox Demon Curse had subsided, and his mind was clear. He moved slowly and tenderly,forting Judy as he went. "Rx, there''s no need to be tense," John''s voice was calm and reassuring, almost magical in its effect. Judy''s breath came in short gasps, her body trembling as she slowly began to rx. Once she had fully adjusted, John resumed his movements. "Ah! Master, it hurts too much... Please, be gentle..." Judy begged, the pain overwhelming her with each thrust. John wasn''t in a hurry. He continued to move slowly, soothing her with gentle caresses. Soon, Judy''s body responded, and under his expert touch, she reached her first climax. "Master, it feels so good..." she whispered breathlessly, gazing at John with wide, dazed eyes. Even though it was her first time, she had already fallen in love with the sensation. "Master, Judy wants more," she murmured, clinging to John and awkwardly kissing his cheeks, eager for more. A smile spread across John''s face-he had never heard such a bold request before. With a grin, he unleashed his full strength,unching into a storm of passion. Judysted only a few minutes before she began crying out, pleading for mercy. In that moment, she finally understood what Ada had gone through, her body no longer under her own control, caught between intense pleasure and pain. The overwhelming sensations consumed her, leaving her utterly lost. "Master, Judy was wrong... Please, have mercy..." Judy begged, unable to endure any longer. Fortunately, as a seventh-tier beast, Judy''s body was far more resilient than a human''s, barely able to withstand John''s relentless passion. But even with her supernatural endurance, she could only manage to survive through three of John''s intense climaxes. Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Fire Mastery Set, Photo Exchange Chapter 131: Fire Mastery Set, Photo Exchange ? John wasn''t fully satisfied, but with the Fox Demon Cursepletely subsided, he decided not to push the two women any further. Afterforting them and ensuring they rested, he left Death Land and, along with Avis, returned to the Dragonblood Treasure Secret Area. John reappeared at the same spot where he had vanished earlier. Roar! A chorus of roars erupted as a dozen elemental wyverns and dragons attacked. John drew the Sword of Divinity and Demons, swiftly cutting them down. "Where''s Malina?" John scanned the deste wastnd, but there was no sign of her. With only early fourth-tier strength, she wouldn''t have stood a chance against the elemental dragons and wyverns. She was likely in trouble. John opened his friend list. He remembered Malina''s ID, Flow of Time. He sent her a friend request. The moment he sent it, she epted. Godyer: "Where are you?" Flow of Time: "Dead." Malina''s reply was brief, but John could sense the anger in her words. Dying in a Secret Area meant the challenge was failed, and she couldn''t re-enter. Godyer: "My apologies, something came up. I''ll give you a fifth-tier mage set aspensation." Flow of Time: "That''s the least you could do. And I dropped from level 150 back to 100. If you really want topensate me, help me level up back to 150!" John stared at her message, feeling a bit exasperated. This woman was really pushing her luck. Before he had left, he remembered Malina was only level 105. Raising her to 150 in just one day was something only he could have done. Not wanting to argue, John replied, "Fine, once I''m done with the Secret Area, if I have the time, I''ll help you level up." Flow of Time: "Good, it''s a deal!" Only then did Malina seem satisfied. However, John wasn''t sure he could keep that promise-he had plenty of other things to do. After finishing this Secret Area, he still needed to help the Undead Lord with his resurrection. If he managed to find some free time, only then would he consider helping Malina level up. "Avis, let''s go," he said, jumping onto Avis''s back as they began their rampage through the Secret Area. This was a fifth-tier hero Secret Area, filled mostly with fifth-tier elemental dragons and sixth-tier elemental wyverns. The final boss was a sixth-tier epic elemental wyvern leader, which John defeated with ease. [You havepleted the fifth-tier hero Secret Area, Dragonblood Treasure, in 27 hours. Rating: A] [Reward: Dragon''s Blood] As the final boss fell, the notification appeared. "Only an A rating, huh," John sighed. If it hadn''t been for the Fox Demon Curse dying him for nearly a whole day, he would have easily earned an SSS rating. An A-grade rating didn''te with any extra rewards, but at least John still obtained the final treasure, the Dragon''s Blood. Curious, he examined it. It was a drop of golden blood, with no detailed description, leaving him uncertain of its exact use. "Master!" Avis''s massive head loomed closer, his eyes fixated on the golden blood in John''s hand. He swallowed greedily, his voice excited, "This is what''s been calling to me. Can I absorb it?" "Of course." Without hesitation, John tossed the Dragon''s Blood to Avis. Avis swallowed it eagerly, a look of satisfaction spreading across his face. "Master, I need to enter Death Land and go into seclusion for a while." "No problem," John agreed, nodding as he sent Avis back into Death Land. Over the past while, John''s strength had increased significantly, and with his Sword Flight ability, Avis had mostly be a mode of transportation. Improving Avis''s strength could only be beneficial for him. After ensuring there were no remaining treasures in the area, John approached the Secret Area treasure chest and opened it. [You have opened the Secret Area treasure chest and obtained: Skill Stone x100, Equipment Enhancement Stone x100, Four Basic Elemental Socketing Gems x100, Fifth-tier Epic Sets- Fire Mastery Set x1, Array Breaker Set x1, Chaotic Dance Set x1, Benevolent Cloud Set x1.] The rewards were quite generous this time, including four fifth-tier epic sets. John nced at their attributes, noting that they were top-tier among fifth-tier epic gear. The Fire Mastery Set, in particr, seemed perfectly tailored for Malina. It included the Fire Mastery Staff, Fire Mastery Hairpin, Fire Mastery Robe, Fire Mastery Belt, and Fire Mastery Ring. The set bonuses were impressive: Spirit +200, Magic Damage +500, Magic Crit +10 points, and Fire Magic Damage +20%. The powerful set attributes even made John a bit envious. However, he already had divine artifacts, so the Fire Mastery Set didn''t appeal to him. None of the women in his group needed it either, so it would be best suited for Malina. He opened his friend list, found Malina, and sent her a private message. Godyer: "Where did you get those ck stockings? Are they for sale?" Flow of Time: "Shameless! Get lost!" John chuckled at her reply, realizing she might have misunderstood his question. Godyer: "I want to buy a pair for my girlfriend. She''ll definitely look better in them than you." In Phoenix City, Malina was busy handling some affairs when she saw John''s message. Her chest tightened with anger, her fury rising. This guy was beyond shameless. She gritted her teeth and replied, "It was a system reward, a one-time item." Godyer: "Then are you willing to sell yours?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Flow of Time: "Get lost!!!" Malina was furious, her eyes scanning the room for something to vent her anger on. The few people in the room with her were immediately startled and quickly made their escape. Once outside, they were still shaken. "What happened to the boss? She suddenly blew up. Did you do something to piss her off, Dummy? A guy with a simple, honest face scratched his head in confusion and replied, "No way, I''ve been on my best behavior these past few days." "Do you think the boss might be hitting early menopause?" "Shh, if she hears you say that, you''ll be dead meat." "I think the boss is lovesick." "Lovesick? No way. With her standards, who could possibly catch her eye?" "Did you forget? What about Godyer?" "Oh, you might be onto something." ... Their whispers reached Malina''s ears clearly, making her want to storm out and tear them all to pieces. Just then, John sent her a trade request. Curious, she opened it, and her eyes lit up. It was a perfect fifth-tier epic set, exactly suited for her ss! But then, her face darkened, her eye twitching in irritation-the trade condition was stockings! "Bastard!" she cursed through gritted teeth, then sent John a private message. Flow of Time: "The stockings are a system-gifted item. They can''t be dropped or traded." Godyer: "Then just take some photos of your legs in the stockings and send them to me. I only need the legs-don''t include your face; I don''t want to ruin the fantasy." Flow of Time: "Godyer, you''re aplete scumbag! What do you mean by ''ruin the fantasy''? Are you saying my looks are that unattractive?" Flow of Time: "And by the way, this set was part of our original deal. If you go back on your word, I''ll immediately post an announcement saying you''re a heartless jerk who abandons women after using them, the biggest scumbag in the world!" Godyer: "Go ahead, I don''t care." John remained utterly unfazed. "Bastard! Scumbag! You''re a piece of trash!" Malina cursed him furiously. She now truly understood the saying: When someone is shameless enough, they''re unbeatable. She also knew that if she posted that announcement, it wouldn''t affect John at all, but her own reputation would be utterly destroyed. Looking at the attributes of the Fire Mastery Set, she ultimately couldn''t resist the temptation and grudgingly replied. Flow of Time: "Fine, wait." Malina logged out. Since the world of Gods didn''t have a photo feature, she had to take the pictures in real life, upload them to the world of Gods, and then send them to John. She didn''t usually like taking selfies, but since John only wanted pictures of her legs, she wasn''t too opposed. Soon enough, Malina logged back in and sent all the photos to John. Flow of Time: "Are you satisfied now? Give me the set." Godyer: "That''s a good girl." John smirked, deciding not to push her further, and promptly handed over the Fire Mastery Set to Malina. Flow of Time: "Take me leveling." John received another private message from Malina and immediately refused. Godyer: "I''ve got other things to do." Flow of Time: "What things? We had a deal-you promised to level me up to 150." John had been nning to help the Undead Lord with his resurrection, but seeing Malina''s message, he realized that taking her along might not be such a bad idea. He wasn''t in a hurry to level up anyway. From the Undead Lord, he had learned that the other body was in the fifth-tier Secret Area known as Skeleton Mountain. That was located in the hands of the fourth-tier epic boss, the Skeleton Warlord, in the seventh level of the Dark Cave. That guy was merely a fourth-tier epic boss-John could easily defeat him without breaking a sweat. He replied to Malina: "Head to the Dark Cave in Jade City and wait for me there. I''ll take you leveling." Flow of Time: "Aren''t you in a Secret Area? Come pick me up." Since Phoenix City didn''t have a direct connection to Dark Humans'' cities, even getting to the nearest city with a teleportation array would take her half a day. This woman is such a hassle! John muttered to himself in annoyance. With Avis in seclusion within Death Land, he had no choice but to bring Malina along by using Sword Flight to head to Jade City. Godyer: "Wait there." He sent the message, closed the chat, and exited the Secret Area, making his way to Phoenix City. Flying swiftly on his sword, John ignored the elemental dragons and wyverns around him, reaching Phoenix City in no time. "Look, it''s Godyer!" "Is that Sword Flight?" "Oh my god, that''s so cool!" ... As people spotted John, exmations of awe filled the air. After the recent siege defense, all the yers in Phoenix City had be his avid fans. John flew straight into the city,nding in front of the City Lord''s Manor. A crowd of yers immediately gathered around him. "Godyer, I''m your fan! Can I get your autograph?" "Idiot, this is the world of Gods. How is he supposed to sign anything?" "Godyer, could you hit me with your sword? I want to remember the feeling." ... John frowned-what kind of weird requests were these? Thankfully, Malina emerged from the manor. Seeing the group of yers surrounding Godyer with fanatical expressions, she felt annoyed and coldlymanded, "Everyone, get lost!" "Uh-oh, the tigress is mad-let''s go!" Someone shouted, and the crowd quickly scattered like birds and beasts. Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Carrying Beauty Along, Re-entering the Demonic Lair Chapter 132: Carrying Beauty Along, Re-entering the Demonic Lair ? Malina clenched her teeth, her eyes burning with anger as she searched for the one who had spoken out of turn. John leaned in, remarking, "A tigress? That''s actually quite fitting." Malina shot him a fierce re and changed the subject, "Level me up. Where''s Avis?" She looked around, puzzled at not seeing Avis. "He''s got something to do," John replied, not offering any further exnation. "Something to do?" Malina was skeptical. Avis was his pet; what could he possibly have to do? "How are we supposed to get to Jade City? On foot?" She frowned slightly. The distance to Jade City was considerable, and even reaching the nearest town would take half a day. "No need for that hassle. We''ll fly." John manipted the Sword of Divinity and Demons, stepping directly onto its broad de. Malina was taken aback, surprised that John could actually perform Sword Flight, and she couldn''t help but feel a bit envious. "What about me?" she asked, realizing she had no means of flight. John moved forward, leaving half of the sword''s de exposed, indicating she should stand on it. "You want me to get on too?" Malina hesitated. The sword was wide enough, but it would be cramped with two people standing on it, practically forcing them to be pressed against each other. She suspected this guy was trying to take advantage of her. John, however, grew impatient. "Do you still want me to help you level up or not?" "You...!" Malina red at John, gritting her teeth, and carefully stepped onto the longsword. Without any support beneath her, she feltpletely unsteady. "Hold on tight!" John''s face bore a mischievous grin as he suddenly elerated, sending the longsword soaring skyward. "Ah!" Malina screamed, iling her arms before quickly wrapping them around John, her eyes squeezed shut in terror. John felt the softness against his back, surprised at how well-endowed she was. "sl-slow down!" Malina''s face was pale as she looked at the rapidly receding ground, swallowing nervously. Falling from this height would surely be fatal. "You''re not afraid of heights, are you?" John nced back at Malina, asking curiously. "I''m not afraid of heights," she muttered, trying to ignore him as she instinctively scooted backward. She had never been this close to a man before, and the feeling was overwhelmingly strange. John noticed the softness at his back disappear, leaving him with a slight sense of loss. But he quickly thought of a solution, manipting the flying sword to asionallye to abrupt halts. "Ah...!" Malina cried out as the sudden inertia sent her crashing into him, her chest ttening against his back. "You shameless bastard!" She knew exactly what John was up to and cursed him angrily. "Sorry, the sword''s a bit out of control," John shamelessly replied, though his heart raced with excitement as he reveled in the moment. Malina was furious, biting her lip as she coldly said, "I want to stand in the front." "Are you sure?" John turned his head, a faint smile ying on his lips, a hint of anticipation in his eyes. Malina realized that if she stood in front, it would feel even more awkward, and without support, she would have to lean into him. "Fine, I''ll hold onto you, but no funny business!" she coldly threatened John, reluctantly agreeing. "That''s more like it," John replied smugly. His voice carried an air of triumph, making Malina grit her teeth in frustration, though she had no other choice. The flying sword sped through the air, the wind howling past their ears. John, no longer teasing Malina, flew swiftly towards Jade City. Gradually, Malina began to adapt to the speed. The thrill of soaring through the sky was indescribably exhrating. Of course, it would have been perfect if she were flying on her own, without John. "Hey, how do ordinary people fly?" she asked loudly, pressing close against John''s back. "Ninth-tier experts can fly unaided," John exined. "But for mages, once they reach the seventh tier, they can learn advanced flight spells." "Seventh tier?" Malina couldn''t help but feel disappointed. She had just broken into the fourth tier, and the seventh seemed a long way off. Curious, she asked, "Then how can you fly?" John replied, "This is Sword Mastery, a ss skill you can''t learn." "Aren''t you a mage? This doesn''t seem like a mage skill," Malina remarked, clearly intrigued by John''s abilities. She suspected that besides being a Wrath of the Gods mage, John might have a second ss. "That''s my secret. If you want to know, trade me one of your secrets, but it has to be something I''m interested in." John grinned mischievously. "Get lost!" Malina snapped. She couldn''t help but recall how John had once coaxed a secret out of her before-his methods were despicable. The two fell silent as the sword continued its swift flight. John avoided entering the nearest town to use the teleportation portal. He had been cklisted in most towns controlled by Dark Humans, and entering one would only cause unnecessary trouble. Moreover, the sword''s flight was fast enough that there was no need to risk entering a Dark Human town. ... Sword Flight consumed mana, and even though John''s mana consumption was reduced by 60%, continuous flight was still impossible. He had to periodically take mana restoration potions and wait for his mana to regenerate. After nearly a day of stop-and-go travel, they finally arrived outside the Dark Cave near Jade City. Jade City was a first-tier city, essible to yers who reached level 10. Currently, Jade City was bustling with activity, filled with yers level 10 and above, as well as second-tier yers around level 30 who chose to stay and level up. The Dark Cave was full of skeleton soldiers, all level 25 and above. Many yers were teaming up to hunt skeleton soldiers and gain experience. Seeing this, Malina frowned and asked, "You brought me here to level up?" These skeleton monsters were weak-she could easily obliterate them with her current power. "I told you, I have something to take care of," John said, not bothering to exin further as he headed straight into the Dark Cave. Malina frowned but followed him anyway. The first level of the Dark Cave was crawling with level 25 skeleton soldiers, and quite a few yers were grinding here to level up. The moment John and Malina appeared, they immediately caught the attention of the yers inside. Though they didn''t recognize John, it was clear from the gear the two were wearing that they were high-level yers. Malina frowned again; she didn''t like being the center of attention. John, on the other hand, seemed unfazed. He nced at the surrounding yers and announced, "Everyone, clear out. This area is off-limits now." As he spoke, he cast Hellfire, triggering a Spell Combo that engulfed the entire first level of the cave in terrifying mes. "Holy crap!" the yers around them cursed, scrambling to get out of the way. The attack was an area-of-effect skill, indiscriminately targeting everything in its range. Thankfully, John hadn''t directly targeted the yers, but a few unlucky ones were caught in the st, turning into white light as they were sent back to Jade City for Resurrection. In an instant, the skeleton monsters on the first level were wiped out. The yers were stunned, only now realizing what had just happened. "Is this what he meant by clearing the area?" "Unbelievable! Just because he''s high-level, he thinks he can do whatever he wants?" "This is outrageous! We just found a good spot to grind, and now we have to wait for the monsters to respawn!" ... The crowd red at John, shouting in protest. Malina took a step back, standing off to the side with a look of amusement on her face. John, however, remained unbothered. "Everyone, to make up for your loss, you can have all the loot." The yers instantly fell silent, their attention drawn to the pile of loot scattered on the ground. They couldn''t help but be puzzled. Most of these skeletons were ordinary monsters, so how could they drop anything valuable? "Dammit! I saw that gear first-it''s mine!" "Like hell it is! Whoever grabs it first gets it!" "A skill stone-mine!" ... The crowd''s attention was entirely consumed by the loot, and they even started fighting over it. "Let''s go," John said, ignoring the yers as he led Malina to the second level of the cave. A few yers watched them leave, whispering among themselves. "Did any of you notice? That guy looked kind of familiar." "What''s so strange about that? He''s obviously a high-level yer power-leveling his girlfriend." "Tsk tsk, did you see those long legs in stockings? Unreal!" "I''ve decided. I''m going to level up hard and find myself a girl like that!" "With your looks, not even the strength of a Godyer would save you." "Godyer? Wait, that guy just now looked like the Godyer!" "Are you kidding? Why would the Godyer be here?" "No way! I just asked the teammate who got one-shotted. It really was the Godyer!" "No way!" "Godyer, wait for me! I can wear stockings too. No, I can wear nothing at all..." A few innocent-looking girls went wild, abandoning their teammates and plunging into the second level of the Dark Cave. ...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om John had no idea what was happening on the first level of the cave. When he reached the second level, he followed the same routine: one spell cleared the entire area, and as before, he left the loot as a reward for the yers. Most of it was second-tier weapons and gear, nothing he was interested in. Sweeping through the cave, he quickly made his way to the fourth level. It was here that John had once killed an Undead Mage and encountered the physical form of an Undead Lord. However, the altar that had been there was now gone, reced by level 60, third-tier monsters. Quite a few yers were grinding in this area-members of a guild, and some were familiar faces. Among them was Aron, formerly the leader of the once-famous the Wind and Cloud Guild, now leading the Overlord Guild under the ID Unrivaled. "Godyer!" Aron gasped when he saw John, his face filled with terror. Realizing the situation, he immediately shouted, "Quick, teleport back to town! If you don''t have a town portal scroll, log out now!" Whoosh! No sooner had he spoken than a sky full of mes engulfed the area, instantly wiping out the skeletons and the yers alike. John hadn''t nned to attack them, but seeing Aron so panicked, he decided to send him on his way. Malina, having already witnessed John''s terrifying power, couldn''t help but sigh at the sight of such ruthless carnage. "Anyone who crosses you must be cursed with the worst luck ever!" "Is that so?" John didn''t seem to agree, replying, "I think I''m quite friendly." "Yeah, right!" Malina scoffed. As John explored the cave, her attention was drawn to the weapons and equipment scattered on the ground-all of them top-tier, third-tier gear. John might not care for it, but it was perfect for her Phoenix Guild. She quickly started picking up the items. The Dark Cave only had four levels essible to yers; to go deeper, they needed to find a hidden mechanism. Fortunately, with the guidance of the Undead Lord, John soon unlocked the entrance to the fifth level of the cave. [Ding! You have discovered a hidden map: Dark Cave, Level Five.] ... Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Undead Cave, Faction System Chapter 133: Undead Cave, Faction System ? A notification shed, and a staircase leading to the lower level appeared. Malina leaned in curiously and asked, "Is this a new map?" John nodded and headed toward the passage. To be safe, he activated Diamond Armor. The two of them passed through the corridor and arrived at the fifth level of the Dark Cave. Malina was disappointed; it was still full of skeleton monsters, but these were level 70, third- tier in strength. The level of these monsters was still too low, but at least there were a lot of them-over ten thousand, in fact. Moan! Groaning and snarling, the skeleton monsters noticed the intruders and rushed forward, brandishing their weapons. John remained calm, swinging his longsword as fire elements surged. A single Hellfire spell rained down, engulfing the skeletal horde. Crack, crack... Under the terrifying mes, the skeleton monsters were reduced to piles of bones on the ground. A notification shed. [You have in a level 70 skeleton monster, gaining 155 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Strength +1.] ... The experience points these weak monsters provided were pitiful. Additionally, the activation rate of the Plunder talent wasn''t very high. Out of over ten thousand skeletons, he had only gained about a thousand attribute points, all of which were in the four basic attributes. Compared to monsters of the same level, the activation rate was three times lower. The ground was littered with equipment and items. Malina, excited and thrilled, sifted through the skeletal remains. She thought it wasn''t bad, though the only downside was the meager experience points. John paid her no mind, following the Undead Lord''s instructions to open the passage to the sixth level of the cave. He nced at Malina, who was eagerly rummaging through the loot, and didn''t rush her. After a while, Malina''s brows furrowed as she looked at the pile of loot with a displeased expression. She turned to John and said, "Godyer, my inventory is full. Can I store the loot with you and get itter?" John, slightly exasperated, rummaged through his belongings and quickly found a Storage Ring, tossing it to her. "This is a Storage Ring. It doesn''t boost your stats, but it gives you extra storage space and doesn''t upy your ring slot." Storage Rings were rare, but John had defeated many powerful beings from various races in the world of Gods, especially those from the Dark Humans faction-almost all of them had a Storage Ring. Everyone around him already had one, and he still had a few extras. "A Storage Ring? Such a magical item?" Malina examined it with curiosity, her face lighting up with delight as she slipped it onto the middle finger of her left hand. John nced at her and added, "It costs one million gold coins or one hundred skill stones." "Why don''t you just rob me!" Malina red at him, ying coy. "I don''t have that!" John hadn''t really intended to charge her, so he casually said, "Then consider it a gift. Just send me a few more photos of you in ck stockings." Malina rolled her eyes at him, ignoring thement as she continued rummaging through the loot. Among the items, she found a few rare and epic pieces of gear, which made her quite happy. Before long, they finished clearing the battlefield and proceeded deeper into the sixth level of the cave. It was still filled with weak skeleton monsters, now ranging from levels 90 to 100. Boom! A fireball whizzed past John, crashing into the horde of skeletons. With an explosive sound, arge group of them was instantly killed. Malina raised her staff, a proud expression on her face. "How about that? My damage is pretty high, isn''t it?" "Not bad," John replied casually. Malina''s magic damage was indeed much higher than that of other yers of her level who yed the same mage ss. Butpared to John, it was likeparing the sky to the ground. The surrounding skeleton horde became enraged and charged at them with furious roars. John raised his hand, unleashing an overwhelming Hellfire that wiped out more than ten thousand skeletons in one sweep. Malina happily scampered around, picking up the loot, thoroughly enjoying herself. John couldn''t help butment, "What''s so great about picking up this trash gear?" "Trash?" Malina looked up, ring at John indignantly. "Do you think every yer is like you, decked out in luxurious equipment? Even just one of these items would drive yers crazy. Plus, my Phoenix Guild needs to grow and thrive-these items are essential." John fell silent. In this life, he had started at such a high level that he had indeed forgotten the struggles of lower-level yers. He stopped rushing Malina and instead turned to help her gather the loot, though he kept the skill stones and other valuable items for himself. As for the third-tier weapons and gear, which he had no use for and no one around him needed, he gave them all to Malina. Soon enough, they finished clearing the battlefield and entered the seventh level of the cave. This was the final level, still filled with skeleton monsters, but their strength had significantly increased, ranging from level 100 to 130 in the fourth tier. Malina again initiated the attack with her magic. A fireball crashed down with a loud bang, mes surged, but this time, it didn''t kill the skeletons in one shot. Her fire magic was powerful, but when facing monsters of the same level, its damage was limited. "Your turn," Malina said, annoyed, as she stepped back in frustration. "You''re wasting time," John grumbled. "You...!" Malina fumed, ring daggers at John. Boom! Suddenly, a series of loud rumbles echoed through the cave as a massive Tremor shook the ground. This time, John didn''t use his Hellfire skill but opted for another area-of-effect spell, causing a massive quake. The skeletons stood dazed, stunned by the effect, and then took massive damage that instantly killed them, leaving their bones scattered all over the ce. [You have in a level 100 fourth-tier skeleton monster, gaining 305 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Constitution +1.] ... As notifications shed, John noticed that the final boss of the seventh level-a fourth-tier epic skeleton warlord-had also been instantly killed, dropping a few pieces of loot. He stepped forward to inspect the loot and found the "Undead Cave The Secret Area Scroll" that the Undead Lord had mentioned. [Undead Cave The Secret Area: Fifth-tier Hero The Secret Area, essible to level 200 and above fifth-tier yers.] It was another fifth-tier Hero The Secret Area, with no further details provided. "Is this The Secret Area?" Malina came over, noticing the scroll in his hand, and said, "You promised to help me level up. You can''t leave me behind." "This..." John hesitated, pondering for a moment before deciding to exin the situation to her. After listening, Malina''s expression became a bit uneasy as she eximed, "I can''t believe there''s such a bizarre mechanic in the world of Gods!" She swallowed nervously, looking at John. "So thest time you left me behind, it was to find your girlfriend to... cure you?" John nodded. "I can''t guarantee that it won''t happen again while we''re exploring The Secret Area. If it does, and I have to leave you behind, and you get killed by monsters, I won''t be responsible. Unless, of course, you''re willing to help me with the cure." "Shameless pervert!" Malina cursed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She continued, "But I''m willing to take the risk." John, a bit unsure, asked, "So what exactly are you saying?" Malina red at him and coldly replied, "I''m saying I''ll go into The Secret Area with you. If you have another episode, go find your girlfriend. There''s no way I''m helping you." "Such a prude," John muttered under his breath. Malina clearly heard him, her eye twitching as she shot him a dark look. She silently vowed that as soon as this The Secret Area exploration was over and her level was higher, she would keep as far away from him as possible. The entrance to the Undead Cave The Secret Area was right there, saving them a lot of time. John immediately used the scroll, and with a ripple of Spatial power, a rift in space appeared. "Stay close," he reminded Malina, casting Diamond Armor again before stepping through the rift first. Malina quickly followed. They found themselves in a dark, eerie cavern. Pop! mes flickered as Malina raised her staff, conjuring a fireball at the tip to light up the entire cave. Crunch! The sound of bones cracking underfoot made Malina look around, and what she saw sent chills down her spine. The cave was filled with piles of bones, exuding a sinister aura, and she couldn''t help but edge closer to John. At this moment, John stood still, his brow furrowed in thought. Noticing something was off, Malina panicked and quickly asked, "Are you having an episode right now?" She was terrified; this eerie ce was worse than death itself. John nced at her and said, "No. Wait a moment, something''se up." It wasn''t the Fox Demon Curse acting up; rather, he had just received a private message from Tracy. Star Dust: "Old man, I''ve got some intel. The Angel Race and Dark Humans are teaming up to activate the Faction System. It seems like if they manage to get it going, they''ll be able to openly enter the world of Gods, and it''s all aimed at you." Faction System? John''s expression grew puzzled as he read Tracy''s message. In his previous life, he had never heard of any Faction System, so he curiously asked for more details. Godyer: "What''s the Faction System? How do they n to activate it?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Star Dust: "I''m not entirely sure on the specifics. But it requires yers to activate it. Their n is to bolster the strength of the Mike White Family and the Azure Family. The Azure Family has also had some powerful figures enter the world of Gods, but I haven''t encountered them yet." John noticed that there were new powerful yers on the level leaderboard-Toby had made the list, along with another unfamiliar name, Kent. With a surname like Azure, this person was almost certainly from the Azure Family. Both of these individuals had reached level 140 or higher, achieving fourth-tier strength, and were ranked second and third on the leaderboard. Although there was still a significant gap between them and John, their leveling speed was remarkable, undoubtedly aided by the Angel Race or Dark Humans. John spected that the activation of the Faction System was likely tied to a hidden quest and wouldn''t be easy to aplish. However, without any leads, he couldn''t do anything to stop the Mike White Family and the Azure Family. Star Dust: "Old man, they''re activating the Faction System specifically to target you. The Angel Race is particrly interested in two items you have: the Element The Secret Area key and a scroll for some ce called Death Worm''s Nest." Death Worm''s Nest? John recalled that this The Secret Area was a drop from the Two-Winged Angel, who had also entered the world of Gods in yer form. Before dying, the angel had even boasted about being able to locate Death Land. Whether or not the Two-Winged Angel''s im was true, John knew he couldn''t afford to be careless. Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Orcs, Refining Skeletons Chapter 134: Orcs, Refining Skeletons ? John replied to Tracy. Godyer: "Alright, I understand. Are you safe in the City of Angels?" Star Dust: "Don''t worry, old man, I''m perfectly safe. I''m more concerned about you. When the Faction System is activated, ninth-tier powerhouses will descend into the world of Gods." Godyer: "Don''t worry, I can handle it. Just be careful, and if anythinges up, message me immediately." John closed the private chat and thought to himself, "Undead Lord, once I resurrect you, will you be able to deal with ninth-tier powerhouses?" "Ninth-tier powerhouses?" The Undead Lord sounded exasperated. "Kid, can you stop causing so much trouble? If I were in my prime, taking on a ninth-tier powerhouse would be no problem. Right now, I can barely handle a seventh-tier powerhouse; otherwise, that old turtle wouldn''t have stolen my Undying and Immortal talent!" The Undead Lord''s tone wasced with bitterness. He had already resigned himself to the fact that the Undying and Immortal talent now belonged to John. "Seventh-tier? So you''re basically useless?" John was disappointed; his current strength allowed him to barely fight against seventh-tier powerhouses. Afraid that John might refuse to resurrect him, the Undead Lord quickly added, "Kid, my power is only temporarily suppressed. I''ll soon regain my peak strength." John scoffed at this-by the time this guy was back at his peak, John would probably be strong enough to take on ninth-tier powerhouses himself. Clearly, he would need toe up with another n. Understanding the Undead Lord''s concern, John reassured him, "Don''t worry, I''ll still help resurrect you." John then turned to Malina and said, "Let''s go. Malina let out a sigh of relief; she had been really worried that John''s Fox Demon Curse would re up, leaving her abandoned in this creepy ce. Crunch, crunch... The sound of bones cracking underfoot echoed through the dark, empty cavern. They hadn''t walked far before something unexpected happened. From the piles of shattered bones, terrifying skeletal monsters began to emerge, all of them powerful undead beings over level 200 and in the fifth tier. Malina obediently hid behind John. She was only in the early stages of the fourth tier, far from being a match for these skeletons, and didn''t want to get in the way. Whoosh! An endless wave of fire erupted as John unleashed Hellfire, engulfing the entire cavern. The sound of shrieking echoed as the skeletal monsters writhed in agony before perishing in the mes.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om -680034 -678800 ... The terrifying damage numbers shed across the screen. With only 100,000 health points, these powerful skeletons stood no chance and were instantly annihted. [You have in a level 210 fifth-tier skeleton monster, gaining 1590 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Constitution +1.] ... As the notifications kepting, the ground became littered with loot. Malina, astonished, looked at John and asked, puzzled, "How did your damage increase again?" She noticed that John''s level had only increased by one, yet the damage from his Hellfire had significantly improvedpared to when they were in the Dragonblood Treasure The Secret Area. These skeleton monsters weren''t any weaker than elemental dragons. John was a bit surprised-he hadn''t expected this woman to be so observant. "Maybe it''s because fire is especially effective against these undead creatures," he said, keeping the Plunder talent, his greatest secret, to himself. "Is that so?" Malina looked skeptical, clearly not believing John''s exnation. But her attention was quickly drawn to the loot scattered on the ground. At this point, she no longer minded how creepy the skeletons were. She eagerly sifted through the broken bones to gather the loot. These were all fifth-tier quality or better equipment. While they weren''t immediately useful, their value would skyrocket once yers leveled up. John didn''t remain idle either; he started cleaning up the battlefield, but he focused on picking up skill stones, equipment enhancement stones, and other valuable items. "Godyer, can I have these items too?" Malina asked him expectantly. John thought for a moment before replying, "Take half, and keep the rest for yourself." He wasn''tcking in equipment. His forces, the me Legion and Saint Martial Sect, were already well-equipped. The high-tier gear they had was sufficient to support yers up to the seventh tier. Still, it wouldn''t hurt to stockpile more equipment for future needs, as both the Saint Martial Sect and me Legion were set to continue expanding. Soon, they finished clearing the battlefield, collecting over three thousand pieces of equipment, and then continued deeper into the cave. As they advanced, more powerful skeletal monsters emerged from the shadows, only to be easily dealt with by John. The further they ventured, the stronger the undead monsters became. They even encountered wraiths that were immune to some physical damage. But with John''s dual expertise in both physical and magicalbat, he had no trouble dispatching them with ease. "Huh?" Suddenly, the voice of the Undead Lord echoed in John''s mind. "I sense something that doesn''t belong to the undead. Kid, stop wasting time and go check it out." John, puzzled, asked, "Isn''t it normal for other monsters to appear in The Secret Area?" "No. This Undead Cave was created by me to preserve one of my bodies. It should only contain undead monsters-no other life forms should be here. Go to the innermost chamber and check it out," the Undead Lord replied, his tone filled with concern as if sensing something was wrong. John didn''t waste any more time. He looked at Malina, who was still collecting equipment, and said, "Leave that forter; we need to check out the innermost area first." "Oh," she replied, quickly storing a few more items in her Storage Ring. Though reluctant, she nodded obediently and followed closely behind John. Sweeping through the remaining enemies, they soon reached the deepest part of the cave-arge, spacious hall. "Orcs!" John eximed in surprise. In the center of the hall, a raised tform had been set up, where a banshee and four Orcs sat in a circle, seemingly engaged in some kind of ritual. "Damn it, they''re after my body!" The Undead Lord''s furious voice rang out in John''s mind. "Kid, kill them all!" At that moment, the banshee noticed John and Malina, her expression puzzled. "Oh? Humans have managed to get in here?" The lead Orc nced at them and coldlymanded, "Don''t let those two interfere. Take care of them first." "Alright!" The banshee nodded, and a staff appeared in her hand. She began chanting in a low voice, "Fallen creatures, I grant you an undying soul and a powerful body. Rise again... Bone Dragon Summon!" As she waved her staff, a strange power enveloped the surroundings. Crack, crack... The bones scattered on the ground began to move as if alive, fusing together to form terrifying and powerful bone dragons. Each one was a sixth-tier boss-level entity. "Roar!" With an enraged bellow, the bone dragons, their eye sockets flickering with soul fire, launched an attack on John and Malina. John remained calm, wielding the Sword of Divinity and Demons, triggering a Spell Combo. An endless wave of Hellfire spread out, engulfing the bone dragons. Though formidable, they were no match for his magic. With over 400,000 health points each, the bone dragons were annihted before they could even get close, reduced to piles of shattered bones under thebined force of his spell crits and Spell Combo. "Hmm? A powerful adversary!" The banshee''s expression grew serious as she witnessed this. The fact that this human could instantly kill sixth-tier boss-level bone dragons was unsettling. She nced at the Orcs, who were still busy with their task, and shouted angrily, "Stop the refining process! This human is strange-deal with him first." The lead Orc gave her a dismissive look, still full of disdain. "It''s just a human. What''s there to fear? Help us hold him off for a bit; we''re almost done with the refining." The banshee frowned, realizing these guys were trying to use her as cannon fodder. From the human''s earlier attack, she knew she likely couldn''t match him. "Hmph!" With a cold snort, she stepped down from the tform, moving to the edge without any intention of fighting John. "What''s the meaning of this, banshee?" the lead Orc growled, ring at her. The banshee shrugged, ignoring him, clearly enjoying the spectacle. By this time, John and Malina had reached the tform and saw the body that the Undead Lord had left behind a skeleton. The skeleton was crystalline, glowing softly, as if it were a work of art. The lead Orc noticed John staring at the skeleton and quickly spoke with a friendly smile, "Human, this is just a broken body. It''s of no use to you. The treasure of The Secret Area is with the banshee." He was trying to divert John''s attention and provoke him into attacking the banshee. But John didn''t respond, instead, he asked the Undead Lord in his mind, "Is this the body you mentioned? What are these Orcs trying to do with it?" Undead Lord: "My body was crafted from rare minerals. Those Orcs are trying to refine it into a weapon, and its quality would rival that of a low-grade divine artifact. Stop them now!" "Comparable to a divine artifact?" John''s eyes lit up at the Undead Lord''s words. The Undead Lord was startled and quickly added, "Kid, it''s onlyparable to a divine artifact; it''s useless to you." "What are you thinking? I''m just curious about how you managed to use minerals to craft a body." John was unimpressed by the skeleton body itself. What intrigued him was the idea that minerals could be used to create a body-did that mean it was possible to create life? The Undead Lord seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and exined, "This technique is something only the Undead can achieve. Since you possess the Undying and Immortal talent, if your soul bes strong enough, you could also use other materials to create a body. But it''s not something you''d need. The Overwhelming Battle Energy you''re cultivating is designed to enhance the physical body. At its peak, your body''s strength could even rival that of the gods." "Really?" John was skeptical. The Overwhelming Battle Energy had been dropped by that Fox n prodigy, the so-called prophesied savior, and he didn''t think it was anything particrly advanced. He suspected that the Undead Lord was trying to dissuade him from coveting the skeleton body, deliberately making it seem less valuable. Still conflicted about the issue, John turned his attention to the Orcs and shouted angrily, "Get lost!" With a swing of his longsword, a blinding sword light shed, shing toward the four Orcs. These guys, like the banshee, were at the peak of the sixth tier and didn''t dare to directly confront his attack. "Human, how dare you!" the lead Orc roared in anger, forced to abandon the refining process for the skeleton. The four Orcs scrambled down from the tform in a desperate attempt to dodge the deadly strike. Chapter 135: Undead Lord Resurrection, Slaying Sixth-Tier Epic Powerhouses Chapter 135: Undead Lord Resurrection, ying Sixth-Tier Epic Powerhouses At that moment, a surge of soul energy shot out from John''s body, merging into the skeleton. It was the Undead Lord. Crack, crack... The unsettling sound of bones shing reverberated through the hall as the skeleton slowly sat up. "Godyer, it''s alive!" Malina, startled, quickly hid behind John. "Und... Undead Lord!?" The banshee''s face was filled with terror as she recognized the resurrected skeleton. She could feel a familiar and frightening aura emanating from it. Thud! She immediately fell to her knees, trembling as she pleaded, "Lord Monarch, I was deceived by them! Please, spare my life..." "Idiot!" the lead Orc cursed. "This guy''s just been resurrected; his strength hasn''t fully returned. Attack together!" The four Orcs roared as they charged at the newly resurrected Undead Lord. They had already provoked him, so their best chance was to kill him. If they seeded, they could seize the skeleton and continue refining it into a weapon. The banshee hesitated for a moment before alsounching an attack on the Undead Lord. She had already betrayed him, and the Undead Lord would never forgive her. "Kid, you handle these Orcs. Leave the banshee to me," the Undead Lord said before charging at the banshee. John didn''t hold back either, activating the Unrivaled Sword Dance. Buzz! Sword intent buzzed in the air as countless sword beams shed, enveloping the four Orcs. St... Blood sttered as terrifying critical damage numbers shed, mixed with true damage. -222004 -51430 -223510 ... These four Orcs were all above level 900, at the peak of the sixth-tier epic rank, with over four million health points each. This amount of damage alone wasn''t enough to threaten them. "True damage? How is that possible?" The lead Orc''s face was filled with shock as he stared at John in disbelief. "Human, how can you inflict true damage?" he asked in astonishment. "Hmph, ignorant!" John snorted, dismissing the Orc''s question as he unleashed a high-level fire spell, Inferno Dance. Whoosh! The violent power of fire elements gathered, forming four massive fireballs that spun and roared as they hurtled toward the Orcs. Boom! A thunderous explosion echoed through the hall, mes surging as the four Orcs were sted backward. Damage numbers flickered across the screen. -326832 -330231 ... During thest siege defense, John''s mental attributes had seen a significant boost, and with the Spell Combo triggered, these Orcs had just lost over 600,000 health points each. "Damn it!" The lead Orc was starting to panic. Even with over four million health points, they couldn''t afford to sustain this kind of damage. "This human''s defense must be low. We need to strike together, end this quickly, and then deal with the Undead Lord!" he ordered, gripping his longsword tightly as he charged at John. The other three Orcs followed closely behind. John knew he couldn''t afford to be careless. Earth elemental power surged, forming a Diamond Armor around him. He then summoned a Water Mist Clone to stand in front of him as a shield. Whoosh! Four sword beams shed through the air, slicing toward him. The Water Mist Clone shattered instantly, and the sword beams continued toward John. He managed to dodge three of the beams, but one struck him. Boom! -330210 Even with Diamond Armor, the Orcs'' powerful strike dealt over 300,000 damage, leaving John''s health dangerously low, nearly killing him. "He''s still alive?" The lead Orc was shocked; this human was far more resilient than expected. "Damn it, I''ll see just how much health you have left!" The Orc continued his assault. John immediately used his spatial skill, sh. His form vanished, reappearing a hundred meters away in the blink of an eye, effortlessly evading their attacks. "You won''t get another chance!" John''s voice was cold as he activated the Infinite Sword Array. Buzz! The air hummed with sword intent as countless des rained down, engulfing the four Orcs in a flurry of blood. -178919 -47921 -180131 ... The four Orcs lost another 200,000 health points. Just as they were about to counterattack, John leaped onto his longsword and shot into the sky. "Huh? What kind of skill is this?" The Orcs were stunned. They were all melee fighters with no ranged attacks, leaving them unable to threaten John in the air. But John waspletely unfazed. He summoned his staff and unleashed a relentless barrage of magic on the four Orcs. Inferno Dance, Wind de Rupture, Hellfire, Lightning Chain, Spatial Rift sh, Holy Light Strike¡­ Each was a powerful high-level spell, and with the Wrath of the Gods talent reducing his skill cooldowns by 90%, he cast them with no dy. The overwhelming elemental power surged, and the four Orcs were in agony as their health plummeted, dropping by more than half in an instant. "Boss, do something!" one of the Orcs cried out in desperation. If this continued, they were all doomed. "That human!" The lead Orc''s gaze turned icy as he locked onto Malina on the tform. Without hesitation, he charged toward her. Malina, who had been watching the battle unfold, suddenly realized the danger and frantically called out for help, "Godyer, save me!" She had just managed to reach level 112, and if she were killed now, she would drop back down to level 100. John sighed; this woman really was a handful. He quickly maneuvered his flying sword, appearing in front of the Orc leader in an instant, using his body to block the attack. Boom! The sword beam whistled through the air with a thunderous roar as the Orc''s strike triggered a critical hit. John''s health plummeted to nearly zero. [You were nearly killed by a sixth-tier epic Orc. Lifesaver talent activated.] The Lifesaver talent kicked in, leaving him with just 1 HP. "You''re still alive? Wait, you must have a resurrection skill!" The Orc leader realized what had happened. Judging by John''s physical defense, he estimated John''s health couldn''t be more than 350,000. His full-power attack, coupled with a critical hit, dealt over 700,000 damage¡ªenough to kill this human. But John hadn''t died, meaning he must have some sort of resurrection ability. "Hold on to me!" John took advantage of the Orc''s brief moment of shock, grabbing Malina and soaring into the sky. This time, she didn''t resist, leaning obediently into John''s embrace. Compared to losing levels, letting him get a bit close was a small price to pay. Besides, John''s focus was entirely on the battle, not on Malina. With no more distractions, John''s attacks became even more ferocious, bombarding the four Orcs with a relentless barrage of spells. The Orcs were overwhelmed, running in panic with no way to fight back. "Godyer, I know who you are," the lead Orc finally recognized John and tried to threaten him. "You''ve already angered the Dark Humans. If you provoke the Orcs too, you''ll be out of your depth. Let us go, and we''ll forget this ever happened." "I never considered you a threat!" John replied disdainfully. There was no point in pleading, let alone threatening him. "Annihtion!" John''s cold voice echoed. He cast the high-level dark magic, Annihtion. He had mastered 1% of the dark element''s The power ofws, doubling his dark magic damage and adding 1% true damage. The four Orcs were already on the brink of death, unable to withstand this devastating attack. "No..." Their roars of disbelief were cut short as the Dark Orb devoured them, reducing them to nothingness. N?v(el)B\\jnn [You have in a level 900 sixth-tier epic Orc leader. Experience points +2.08 million.] [Plunder talent activated: Constitution +10, Strength +10, Skill Points +10.] ... The notifications shed as John gained a significant number of attribute points through Plunder. The only regret was that he didn''t plunder any skills or talents. These four Orcs were all powerful, epic-level beings and must have possessed some formidable talents. "Godyer, can you put me down now?" Malina''s voice interrupted his thoughts. At that moment, John realized he was still holding her tightly, and their position was a bit awkward. He couldn''t resist giving her waist a gentle squeeze. Her slender waist was soft and smooth, with no trace of excess flesh. "Let me go, you jerk!" Malina snapped angrily, feeling the warmth and slight tickle around her waist. It sent a shiver through her body, making her feel both ufortable and tingly, as if a current had passed through her. "You''re so uptight," John muttered, finally releasing her and turning his attention to the other side of the battlefield. The Undead Lord was grappling with the banshee. Having just been resurrected, his strength was severely weakened, and for the moment, he was struggling to overpower her. John called out, "Hey, need any help?" "No, I''ll kill this wretch myself!" the Undead Lord''s voice was cold, the soul fire in his eye sockets flickering fiercely. He had entrusted the Undead Cave The Secret Area to the banshee, a sign of his deep trust in her. But she had betrayed him, and worse, had nned to use his body to curry favor with the Orcs. He wanted nothing more than to tear her to pieces. As the fight continued, John noticed the Undead Lord''s strength steadily increasing. He was now clearly dominating the banshee. It seemed he was getting used to his skeletal body. Meanwhile, Malina''s eyes gleamed as she spotted the loot dropped by the four epic-tier Orc bosses. Taking advantage of John''s distraction, she quickly picked everything up. Sixth-tier legendary equipment! Malina gasped internally¡ªthese four Orcs had dropped four pieces of legendary-quality gear. Epic-tier bosses usually only dropped epic-tier equipment. She couldn''t help but marvel at John''s incredible luck. Little did she know, this had nothing to do with luck and everything to do with his talents. Soon, the battle drew to a close. The banshee was severely injured and on the brink of death, no longer a match for the Undead Lord. With a thud, she dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she begged for mercy. "My lord, please spare me! I didn''t mean to betray you; I did it for the sake of the Undead race." "Hmph! Even in your pleading, you dare to justify yourself!" The Undead Lord''s cold eyes glinted with murderous intent as he prepared to strike her down. "My lord, I''m telling the truth!" the banshee cried out desperately. "I''ve heard that the Faction System is about to be activated. The Undead race is in decline¡ªif those powerful beings descend, we''ll have no ce left to survive. I had no choice but to coborate with the Orcs. Besides, I thought you had the help of an Undead Mage and wouldn''t need this body. My lord, I did all this for the Undead race." The Undead Lord listened to her exnation, unmoved. But John, surprised, asked, "You know about the Faction System?" The banshee nced at John in confusion, not responding, clearly not considering him worthy of her attention. "Answer him!" the Undead Lord''s icy voicemanded. Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Soul Technique, Taming the Blood-Red Demon Wolf Chapter 136: Soul Technique, Taming the Blood-Red Demon Wolf ? n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Y-yes!" The banshee was startled, turning to John with a smile that was more like a grimace, and said, "I heard it from the Orcs, but the information should be true." John already knew it was true; Tracy had informed him earlier. He continued, "Do you know how to activate the Faction System?" The banshee shook her head. "That, I''m not sure about. It seems there''s some kind of seal that needs to be broken, and only you human yers can do it." "A seal?" John asked, puzzled, looking toward the Undead Lord for answers. Before John could speak, the Undead Lord replied, "Kid, don''t look at me. I have no idea how to activate the Faction System either." John sighed, realizing he''d have to figure this out on his own. The Undead Lord nced at him and asked, "Anything else you want to know?" John shook his head. Boom! The Undead Lord raised his hand and sted the banshee into oblivion. John was a bit taken aback, confused. "Didn''t she say she did it for the Undead race? How could you kill her so easily?" The Undead Lord shot him a nce and said, "You actually believed that nonsense? Even if she was telling the truth, using my body to pledge allegiance to the Orcs would have been a death sentence!" John nodded in agreement. "Kid, I''ve got something good for you!" The Undead Lord rummaged through the banshee''s remains and pulled out a manual, tossing it to John. "Soul Technique?" John examined it curiously. [Soul Technique: High-grade cultivation method. Increases soul strength, with a chance to learn soul-rted skills.] Like the Overwhelming Battle Energy he was cultivating, this was also a high-grade technique. However, this one was even rarer, focusing on strengthening the soul. And added possibility of learning soul-rted skills. John immediately used it to start learning. Like Overwhelming Battle Energy, it required skill points to level up. Initially, it cost 10 skill points per level. Over time, he had umted over 700 skill points and more than 10,000 skill stones. There was no rush to level it up just yet. The Undead Lord continued, "I need to enter Death Land and use the Tree of Life and the Vein of the Earth to restore my strength." John nodded, recalling that they had discussed this n earlier. "Wait a minute," Malina interjected, "Get me out of The Secret Area first." Although the monsters in the Undead Cave had been in, leaving no immediate danger. The eerie environment made her reluctant to stay alone. "Huh, you really do have a never-ending string of beauties around you," the Undead Lord remarked, ncing at Malina with a teasing smile. "Let''s get out of The Secret Area first," John said, giving the Undead Lord a stern look. He then opened the final treasure chest, acquiring four sets of fifth-tier epic armor and some rare items. John then opened a spatial rift, and the two of them, along with the Undead Lord, left The Secret Area and returned to the seventh level of the cave. The skeleton monsters on the seventh level hadn''t respawned, leaving behind only piles of eerie white bones, but a crowd of yers had already gathered there. John had unlocked the hidden map and made it publicly essible, so yers had started to find their way in. "Hey, a skeleton monster just showed up!" "Wow, what a cool-looking skeleton! I want to tame it as a pet." "Are you stupid? That''s obviously a boss-everyone, attack together!" ... Voices filled with excitement and confusion echoed through the cave as countless skills were unleashed, all targeting the Undead Lord. Boom! Boom! -1 -1 ... The pitiful damage numbers shed across the screen. The yers were too weak to even scratch his defenses, only able to chip away 1 HP at a time due to the system''s forced minimum damage rule. "Fools!" the Undead Lord roared, casting a spell: "Fallen creatures, I grant you new life. Destroy everything before you-Evil Spirits Descend!" A sinister energy spread through the cave, and the scattered bones on the ground began to move, reassembling into terrifying skeleton monsters. "What kind of skill is this? An Undead Mage?" "A sixth-tier monster! Run!" "That''s definitely a powerful boss from the world of Gods!" "If we manage to kill it, who knows what kind of loot it''ll drop?" "Wake up, man! We''re no match for this thing." ... Panic spread among the yers. Even John was surprised; he hadn''t expected the Undead Lord''s casual resurrection spell to create sixth-tier monsters. The bones had belonged to mere fourth-tier creatures before. By him summon, their power had jumped two tiers. The yers were no match for these skeletons and were quickly ughtered, with only a few managing to escape using town portal scrolls. Meanwhile, Malina watched the summoned skeletons with envy. This guy is clearly an undead creature, incredibly powerful, and a master of summoning skills -he''s like an entire army by himself. Unable to resist, she whispered to John, "Godyer, is that guy your pet? Could you maybe let me have him?" "Pet?" John nced at Malina, slightly amused by her audacity. The Undead Lord had once been a ninth-tier peak powerhouse, proud and solitary. The fact that he had even agreed to join John''s forces was already remarkable. John had never considered making him a pet; the Undead Lord would never agree to it, nor was there any need. John looked at Malina and said calmly, "If you''re not afraid of dying, you can go ahead and ask him yourself." "On second thought, maybe not." Malina quickly shut her mouth, realizing that the Undead Lord was not someone to mess with. If she pushed her luck, he might very well turn on her. John continued, "It''s safe here now. You should use a town portal scroll to return. I have other matters to attend to." "No way, I haven''t reached level 150 yet! I''m sticking with you!" Malina refused. The leveling speed with John was just too fast. In less than half a day, not counting travel time, she had already reached level 114. If it weren''t for some guild matters that required her attention, she would have stayed with John indefinitely¡ªthis kind of leveling speed was too tempting. John frowned slightly and said, "I''m heading into a mysterious area next, full of danger. It''spletely isted from the outside world-no logging out, no contact with the world of Gods, and there''s even a risk to your life. Are you sure you want toe with me?" He was referring to the Abyss. To prepare for the uing Faction System, he had decided to recruit the powerful beings imprisoned in the Abyss. With their help, even a ninth-tier powerhouse wouldn''t pose a threat. "There''s a ce like that?" Malina asked, incredulous. She hesitated for a moment before asking, "What if the Fox Demon Curse acts up?" John looked at her in surprise. "You''re not seriously thinking abouting with me, are you?" Malina quickly shook her head. "I''m just worried about you, don''t get the wrong idea. You''re not nning to... handle it yourself, are you?" Suddenly realizing something, she warned, "Hey, don''t you dare use my photos for... that kind of thing." John was momentarily stunned, baffled by her train of thought. What was this woman thinking? Did she really see him as that kind of person? Asking for her photos was just a way to mess with her; he had no other intentions whatsoever. "I have other busines Use your town portal scroll to return to Jade City, and then tak the teleportation array to head back. I''ll help you level up some other time," John said, before focusing his mind to connect with Death Land, leading the Undead Lord and disappearing into thin air. "Hey, just like that, you''re leaving?" Malina stared at where John had vanished, feeling a sudden emptiness inside, a strange sense of reluctance. "Am I starting to like this guy?" The thought startled her, and she quickly shook her head, trying to push away such a crazy idea. She then pulled out her town portal scroll, returning to Jade City. From there, she took the teleportation array to the Dark Humans'' territory nearest to Phoenix City and made her way back to Phoenix City. ... Death Land. A group of beasts and elves eyed the Undead Lord with hostility. Especially the ck Turtle; if it hadn''t been for John''s intervention, the two would have already been at each other''s throats. The Undead Lord, however, seemed unfazed, heading straight to the area between the Tree of Life and the Vein of the Earth to begin his closed-door cultivation. "Kid, why did you resurrect him? That guy is cunning and treacherous-he can''t be trusted!" ck Turtle immediately warned John. He had no fondness for the Undead Lord. Moreover, the Undead Lord had lost his Undying and Immortal talent to him-although it had been passed on to John, the Undead Lord surely harbored a grudge against him. "Don''t worry," John reassured. "We''re all allies now. Besides, even if that guy does have ulterior motives, he wouldn''t be a match for you anyway, so what''s there to fear?" "Hmm? That''s true!" ck Turtle nodded in agreement, clearly pleased with the compliment. John couldn''t help but feel exasperated. He had only said a few ttering words, but this old turtle was really full of himself. Both ck Turtle and the Undead Lord had been ninth-tier powerhouses at their peak. But the Undead Lord''s strength had been slightly superior. John then found Anna and the others, giving them instructions: "I need to leave for a while. If anything happens in the world of Gods during my absence, make sure you fully support the Saint Martial Sect and me City." "Don''t worry, benefactor," Anna replied confidently. She had refined the Death Land key and, like John, had control over Death Land, allowing her to lead and guide others in and out freely. "Good, I''ll leave it in your hands then." John said his goodbyes to the group, and after a while, left Death Land. By his side was a massive blood-red demon wolf. This was a seventh-tier epic beast, the blood-red demon wolf. However, at this moment, the demon wolf was covered in wounds, looking pitiful and far from its once-arrogant self. It had just been given a beating by John, who had forced it to ept Ritchie as its master. "Human, how about we change the terms? I''ll ept you as my master instead," the blood- red demon wolf suggested, still somewhat reluctant. "No thanks," John replied, unimpressed by the offer. The blood-red demon wolf was indeed powerful, but it was likely that its peak would be at the seventh-tier. If it couldn''t evolve into a legendary beast, breaking through to the eighth tier would be nearly impossible. On the other hand, though Avis was only at the fourth tier and rtively weak, it was a legendary beast with the potential to grow into a ninth-tier peak creature. John also understood that having the blood-red demon wolf follow Ritchie was a bit of a demotion for it. So, he continued, "Alright, how about this-serve as Ritchie''s pet for three years. After that, you''ll be free." "Deal!" The blood-red demon wolf''s eyes lit up, agreeing without hesitation. For a creature with a long lifespan, three years was nothing-merely the blink of an eye. With that, the man and the wolf left the Dark Cave. Without resorting to Sword Flight, John rode the blood-red demon wolf, heading towards The Land of Darkness. Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Return to Flame City, Johns Plan Chapter 137: Return to me City, John''s n ? Jade City wasn''t far from The Land of Darkness. The powerful aura of the seventh-tier blood-red demon wolf made their journey swift and unobstructed. Within a day, they arrived back at me City. "John, how did it go? Did you win over Malina?" Sini, who was also in me City, immediately asked upon learning of John''s return. "What are you talking about? I''m not interested in Malina!" John replied, feigning righteousness. Sini rolled her eyes at John, disappointed. "Are you even capable? I gave you the perfect opportunity to be alone with her, and you still didn''t make a move? Do I need to step in and help you?" John opened his mouth but didn''t know what to say. Are the women around me just too straightforward? "You don''t already know if I''m capable?" he hinted, feeling a bit frustrated. If it wasn''t so inconvenient right now, he would''ve loved to teach her a lesson. Plus, Sini''s figure was every bit as good as Malina''s. He hadn''t seen Sini in stockings yet, and the thought intrigued him. "Boss!" At that moment, Ritchie, having heard of John''s arrival, came out to greet him. He immediately noticed the blood-red demon wolf, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Boss, is this guy for me?" John nodded. The blood-red demon wolf gave Ritchie a cold nce and warned, "Kid, I''m only serving you for three years, and you can''t force me to do anything. If there''s danger, I''ll run first and won''t care about your survival." Ritchie, however, didn''t mind at all. He walked up and patted the blood-red demon wolf''s shoulder cheerfully, saying, "Don''t worry. From now on, we''re brothers. I won''t force you to do anything you don''t want to do." The blood-red demon wolf frowned, then sighed in resignation, "You''re a kid after my own heart. Alright, I''ll call you brother." John was speechless. These two had just met, exchanged a few words, and now they were calling each other brothers? But despite the demon wolf''s arrogance, his temperament really did match well with Ritchie''s. John had a feeling that the blood-red demon wolf probably wouldn''t leave after all. "Head to the City Lord''s Manor. I have some matters to discuss," he interrupted, heading toward the center of the city. Ritchie let the blood-red demon wolf roam freely and quickly caught up to John. "Boss, I have something to report. I''ve secured approval to expand the me Legion and can recruit another 5,000 soldiers." "Good. That''s something you can handle on your own," John nodded, acknowledging that the me Legion was part of the military, and he wouldn''t interfere with its operations. Ritchie continued, "There''s one more thing. The military wants to build a stronghold and has asked for help from the Blues Family and me." This wasn''t a major issue, and having the military establish a stronghold would benefit their development. "Do you need me to step in?" John asked. "No need. The me Legion and the Blues Family have both grown stronger recently, and we can handle the monster tide. Besides, we could use the practice," Ritchie replied, declining John''s offer. He knew that if John got involved, there would be no opportunity for them to gain the experience they needed. A flower sheltered in a greenhouse cannot withstand storms. His me Legion must be a resilient and formidable force! John agreed with his perspective. The group made their way to the study in the City Lord''s Manor. John began, "Have there been any updates on the Mike White Family or the Azure Family?" Both Sini and Ritchie shook their heads. The Mike White Family had descended into the world of Gods and seemed to have vanished into thin air. Aside from appearing on the level rankings, there had been no other news about them. The Azure Family had also been quiet recently, seemingly giving up on targeting the Blues Family. Ritchie, curious, asked, "Boss, is something going on?" "Yeah," John replied, briefly exining the situation about the activation of the Faction System. "Faction System?" The two of them were puzzled; they hadn''t heard anything about a Faction System. However, the fact that powerhouses above the seventh tier would descend into the world of Gods clearly indicated that this was a direct threat to them. "Boss, are you nning to stop the Faction System from being activated?" Ritchie knew John well-he liked to keep everything within his control. With the Faction System activated and powerful beings arriving, it was clear that this situation was beyond their control. John did want to stop it, but there were no leads to follow. He looked at Ritchie and instructed, "Keep an eye on the Mike White Family and the Azure Family. If there''s any way to stop them, do it." "Got it," Ritchie agreed, then hesitated before asking, "Boss, should I report everything to you?" "No, I have other matters to attend to," John said, then shared his n to enter the Abyss with them. "No way!" Sini immediately objected, anger in her voice. "Have you forgotten the danger you were inst time? You can''t go in there again!" Last time, when John suddenly disappeared, she was worried sick. There was no way she would let him take such a risk again. "Yeah, Boss. We should think of another way," Ritchie also disagreed. "Don''t worry, it won''t be dangerous this time. I''ve obtained the Abyss key, which allows me to enter and exit freely," John reassured them, though he wasn''t entirely truthful. To freely enter and exit the Abyss, he would need to control 10% of the dark element''s The power ofws. His goal this time was to increase his mastery of thews of dark elements. As long as he could hunt down 900 sixth-tier epic-level Abyss demons, he would Plunder 900 points of Dark Element Affinity, converting it into 9% of thews of dark elements. "Really?" Sini asked skeptically. "Then I''ming with you this time. If there''s any danger, I can help you." She was referring to the Fox Demon Curse. "No," John refused firmly. The Abyss was too dangerous, even with the presence of Tony and Ben, two ninth-tier powerhouses. Other powerful beings still had their eyes on him. Especially that three-headed ck dragon. Though John''s strength had increased significantly, he was still no match for an eighth-tier legendary creature. Moreover, Sini didn''t have the Lifesaver skill or talent, meaning that if anything went wrong in the Abyss, it could lead to true death. He wasn''t willing to take that risk. Sini opened her mouth to say something more, but John cut her off, "I promise there won''t be any danger this time. Besides, the Fox Demon Curse has already red up several times and has weakened significantly. I''m able to control it now." The recent instances of the Fox Demon Curse had still been intense, but the duration had shortened considerably. John felt that with his willpower, he could withstand it. "Really?" Sini still wasn''t convinced. But she knew that once John made up his mind, it was hard to change it. She had no choice but to relent. "Boss, how long will you be gone this time?" Ritchie asked. This was also what Sini was most concerned about. John shook his head. "I''m not sure. But I won''t be gone for just a short time." He needed to hunt down 900 sixth-tier epic-level Abyss demons, which was a massive undertaking. The biggest challenge was that these demons were scattered, meaning he''d have to spend a lot of time tracking them down. John continued, "I''ve already spoken with Anna. If the Faction System is activated while I''m gone, don''t engage them directly. If there''s any danger, retreat to Death Land immediately." Death Land was the sacred ground of the dark elves and an independent space. He spected that those powerful beings wouldn''t be able to easily interfere with Death Land. Even if the Two-Winged Angel he had previously in could somehow lock onto Death Land, entering it wouldn''t be easy. "John, when are you leaving?" Sini asked, her tone filled with reluctance. "I''ll explore the Elemental Secret Area one more time before heading to the Abyss," he replied. The Elemental Secret Area had reset, and he nned to gather another batch of Attribute Fusion Stones for future use. Sini quickly added, "I''ming with you." If the Fox Demon Curse red up during that time, she would be there to help. He didn''t refuse, and they set out immediately. With Sini by his side, they took to the skies using Sword Flight and headed toward the ruins of Green Moon. Soon, the two arrived at the Green Moon ruins. John used the Elemental Key to enter the Elemental Secret Area. The elemental golems had respawned, still at the fourth and fifth tiers. With his current strength, dealing with these creatures was effortless. Hellfire swept through the area, followed by a massive Tremor... John unleashed several area-of-effect spells, engulfing the elemental golems. In just a few minutes, over 30,000 elemental golems had been ughtered, leaving behind only fragments of Attribute Fusion Stones. "John, you''ve gotten even stronger!" Sini pouted, feeling a bit frustrated. She had been working so hard recently, yet the gap between them hadn''t closed at all-in fact, it seemed to be widening. John could guess what she was thinking and offered some reassurance. "You''ve switched to the Divine Archer ss. Your strength won''t be weak in theter stages." "Yeah, I think so too." Sini nodded, her smile returning. In the battles over the past few days, she had already noticed the power of the Divine Archer ss. While she might not reach John''s level, her strength would far surpass most others of the same rank once she mastered the advanced skills. The two of them collected the Attribute Fusion Stone fragments, gaining a total of 334 Attribute Fusion Stones. John handed them all to Sini for safekeeping. Since the elemental golems wouldn''t respawn anytime soon, they left the Elemental Secret Area. "John, are you leaving now?" Sini asked, holding onto his arm, her voice filled with reluctance. "Don''t worry, I won''t be gone for too long," he replied, feeling a bit reluctant himself as he looked at Sini''s cute, endearing expression. Sini lifted her head, smiling brightly. "Master, I''ve prepared a few pairs of stockings. When youe back, I''ll wear them just for you." "Uh?" John was taken aback, wondering if Sini could read his mind. How did she know what he was thinking? Seeing his stunned expression, Sini grinned mischievously. "Malina told me everything. She said you were constantly asking her for photos of her legs in stockings." John was momentarily speechless. He hadn''t expected Malina to be so cunning, stirringN?v(el)B\\jnn things up between him and Sini behind his back. He quickly tried to exin, "Don''t get the wrong idea-I was just messing with her. You have no idea how arrogant she usually is. I wasn''t interested in those pictures at all. I deleted them ages ago." "Really?" Sini still seemed skeptical. "So, I misunderstood you. If you don''t like it, then I guess I''ll just throw those stockings away." "Wait, no!" John panicked. "It''s not that I don''t like stockings-I just don''t like them on others. But I''d definitely love them on you." Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Re-entering the Abyss Chapter 138: Re-entering the Abyss ? "Hmph, I knew it all along," Sini huffed, ring at John with a look that said she had seen through him from the start. "Oh, so you dare to mess with your master, huh?" John caught on, giving her a yful p on her perky bottom. He then threatened, "Just wait until I get back-I''ll show you how I deal with you." Sini let out a coquettish yelp, her eyes full of reluctant affection. "Master, Sini will be waiting for your return." John nodded, sending her back to the Blues Family''s Saint Martial Sect. After giving Armstrong a few instructions, he finally entered the Abyss. Buzz! The Abyss key activated, causing a ripple in space as a dark, deep rift opened in the air. John had prepared himself, but he still felt a twinge of anxiety. Taking a deep breath, he flew into the spatial rift without hesitation. Whoosh! A powerful suction force enveloped him, and the surroundings became a blur. An oppressive force weighed down on him. John couldn''t tell if he was ascending or descending-his body waspletely out of control. The Abyss only allowed low-altitude flight, so he kept a vignt watch on his surroundings, ready to maneuver his sword at any moment. He definitely didn''t want to crash and die! Soon, the ground came into view, and John quickly activated Sword Flight,nding smoothly on his longsword. He breathed a sigh of relief. The area around him was still shrouded in a gray haze, with powerful dark energy swirling about. However, having already grasped the dark element''s The power ofws, this environment didn''t feel as oppressive as before. In fact, it felt almost familiar. Whoosh... At that moment, several figures swiftly approached. It was Sara and her group. "Human, what are you doing here again?" Bonnie asked, looking at John in surprise. Out of the group, she was the only one who didn''t harbor ill will toward him. "Bonnie, ma''am," he greeted politely, "I''m just here to look around." "Look around?" Bonnie gave John an incredulous look. "Do you think this is some kind of tourist destination? Tony and Ben are still in seclusion. Let me take you to them." As she spoke, she nced warily at the powerful figures around the three-headed ck dragon, warning them that if they dared to make a move on John, she would alert Tony immediately. "Hmph!" The three-headed ck dragon snorted, ring at Bonnie but making no move. As for Sara, she continued to stare at John with cold, murderous intent. Yet, as she looked at him again, she felt a strange flicker of joy. The hatred she once harbored didn''t seem as intense as before. John quickly said, "No need. I have some matters to attend to first." He didn''t disclose the true purpose of his visit. After exchanging a few words with Bonnie, he took his leave. He wasn''t particrly worried about the three-headed ck dragon or the others attacking him. With the Undying and Immortal talent, as long as he utilized the dark The power ofws, he could alert Tony and Ben. That would be enough to hold off any adversaries until they arrived. "Damn it!" Sara seethed as she watched John''s figure disappear into the distance, her anger ring even more. Could it be that in his eyes, she was less important than Bonnie? "I''m warning you all-if any of you dare make a move against Godyer, I''ll notify the two elders immediately," Bonnie snapped coldly at the group before vanishing into thin air. It was a stealth skill. Bonnie was a powerful Demon Assassin, and once she activated her Concealment, none of them would be able to track her. Unless she attacked. ... As the powerful beings dispersed, only Sara, the three-headed ck dragon, and Behemoth remained. The three-headed ck dragon''s massive heads swayed as it approached Behemoth. "Behemoth, don''t you want revenge? That human cost you an arm. If we join forces, we can take out that human and Bonnie without anyone knowing." "If you want to die, don''t drag me down with you." Behemoth shot a cold re at the three- headed ck dragon before turning to leave. While John had caused him to lose an arm, and he did harbor some resentment. He hadn''t forgotten Tony''s warning. If he dared to make a move against John again, it wouldn''t just be his arm that he''d lose-it would be his head. He had no doubts about Tony''s resolve. "Coward!" the three-headed ck dragon muttered under its breath, seething with anger. It then turned its gaze to Sara. Though it didn''t understand why Sara was so intent on killing John, and despite their usual animosity. But the enemy of my enemy is my friend. It decided to propose an alliance with her. "Sara, if we team up¡ª" "Get lost!" Sara cut him off before he could finish his sentence. Ignoring the dragon, Sara turned and walked away. "Damn it!" The three-headed ck dragon''s six eyes burned with fury, feeling utterly humiliated.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Just wait. Once I kill that human and gain control of thews of dark elements, you''ll all be begging for my help," it muttered with a twisted expression. As for Tony and Ben''s warnings, those had long been cast aside in its mind. John was weak; as long as the dragon was careful and struck decisively, it was confident it could kill him without alerting the others. ... Meanwhile, John was unaware that he had be the target of the three-headed ck dragon. He wandered aimlessly through the Abyss, searching for sixth-tier epic-level Abyss demons. The Abyss was teeming with demons, including plenty of powerful seventh-tier and even eighth-tier ones. However, most were ordinary beasts, and even rare-tier Abyss demons were few and far between. John didn''t pay much attention to these weaker demons. Whenever he came across a group of Abyss demons, he ughtered them all. Though these lesser Abyss demons couldn''t grant him Dark Element Affinity, they could provide other attributes. And since they were numerous, the attributes he plundered were still considerable. Soon, he spotted another group of sixth-tier Abyss demons. He was lucky this time; among them were two sixth-tier epic-level Abyss demon leaders. Buzz! With a resonant hum, John unleashed his attack, countless sword des swirling around him in a frenzied ughter. The ordinary sixth-tier Abyss demons were weak and couldn''t withstand the barrage of sword des, falling instantly. Notification after notification popped up: [You have in a level 500 Abyss demon, gaining 17,730 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Constitution +1.] ... The ordinary Abyss demons in the area were wiped out, leaving only a dozen rare Abyss demons and two sixth-tier epic Abyss demon leaders. "Human, you''re courting death!" one of the demon leaders roared, the dark elemental energy around it surging as several Dark Orbs hurtled toward John. John didn''t even flinch, standing his ground as the Dark Orbs crashed into him. Boom! Boom! -0 -0 The orbs exploded, releasing powerful dark energy, but it didn''t cause him any harm. John had mastered thews of dark elements, making him immune to dark magic attacks. These Abyss demons were mostly mage-types with limited physical attack options, rendering him virtually invincible. "The power of dark elementws? How is this possible?" one of the sixth-tier epic Abyss demon leaders stared at John in disbelief. "Die!" John wasn''t in the mood for chatter. He unleashed abination of magic, Assassin, and sword techniques, enveloping the Abyss demon leaders. They were powerless to resist, their health depleting rapidly. [You have in a level 600 rare Abyss demon, gaining 220,000 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Skill Points +10.] [You have in a level 700 epic Abyss demon, gaining 600,000 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Dark Element Affinity +1.] ... John had managed to Plunder 2 points of Dark Element Affinity. His experience points also saw a significant boost. He had reached level 202 at the fifth tier, and his next level-up required over 120 million experience points. If he were to grind against regr monsters of the same level, it would likely take him half a day to gain a single level. Only by defeating higher-level monsters and leaders could he level up quickly. John began gathering the loot scattered on the ground. He was particrly interested in the skill stones. Now that he had two high-tier techniques, Overwhelming Battle Energy and the Divine Soul Technique, he needed skill points to upgrade them. The number of skill points required for upgrades was staggering, and relying solely on his Plunder talent wasn''t enough. He had no choice but to collect as many skill stones as possible. "Hm?" Suddenly, John''s expression darkened as he sensed something behind him in the dense forest. He called out coldly, "Who''s there?" A chillingugh echoed as the three-headed ck dragon slowly emerged from the trees. "Heh, heh... You''re quite vignt, kid!" "Three-headed ck dragon!" John instinctively took a step back, sensing the malicious intent emanating from the creature. "What, you''re actually going to attack me? Aren''t you afraid of Tony and Ben''s retaliation?" He kept his eyes fixed on the three-headed ck dragon, feeling a surge of uncertainty. The three-headed ck dragon was an eighth-tier legendary powerhouse. Even without soul attacks, it was still more than capable of posing a lethal threat to him. John could only use the threat of Tony and Ben, the two ninth-tier powerhouses, to try and keep the dragon at bay. The three-headed ck dragon sneered, "Do you think I''d risk my life attacking you if I wasn''tpletely certain? Don''t worry, those two old fools are in seclusion and won''t be arriving anytime soon. I advise you not to resist!" The three-headed ck dragon knew that John was immune to dark magic, but it also wielded more than just dark elemental power. It was proficient in dark, fire, and earth elements, not to mention its formidable physical attacks. Killing John would be easy. Whoosh! Not bothering with more words, the dragon unleashed three torrents of dragon me, engulfing John instantly. [You have been in by the three-headed ck dragon. The Guardian Ring skill has activated, and you are resurrected with full health.] As expected, John was instantly killed. Fortunately, he had several Lifesaver abilities. The three-headed ck dragon wasn''t surprised; it had already witnessed John''s various methods of avoiding death. "Let''s see how long you can keep this up!" the dragon scoffed, intensifying its assault. A barrage of powerful magical attacks followed, and John was once again obliterated. Then, his Lifesaver talent activated. ... Hidden within the dense shrubbery nearby, Bonnie remained concealed, her brows furrowed in anger as she muttered, "Damn it! He really dared to attack!" She knew that, despite John''s Lifesaver abilities, he wouldn''t be able to hold out for long. Just as she was about to intervene, a sh of lightning suddenly streaked across the sky, striking the three-headed ck dragon. It was Sara! Bonnie hesitated, choosing to observe silently rather than act. The three-headed ck dragon roared in pain as it was sent flying back by the lightning, ring at the suddenly appearing Sara in the sky. It growled, "Sara, what''s the meaning of this?" "I told you, this human''s life is mine!" she snapped, charging directly at the three-headed ck dragon. Chapter 139: Chapter 139: The Three-Headed Black Dragon and the Mystical Spirit Fruit Chapter 139: The Three-Headed ck Dragon and the Mystical Spirit Fruit ? At first, when John saw Saraing to his aid, he felt a flicker of gratitude. But upon hearing her words, he was left feeling helpless. Sure enough, Sara still intended to see him dead. Boom! Boom! Thunderous explosions echoed through the air as lightning shed and magic surged. Sara and the three-headed ck dragon were evenly matched, neither able to gain the upper hand quickly. "Sara, I''ll help you!" John didn''t take the opportunity to flee. Instead, heunched an attack on the three-headed ck dragon. An eighth-tier legendary beast was undoubtedly powerful, but John had an ace up his sleeve: true damage. Especially after upgrading Overwhelming Battle Energy, he had unlocked the skill Drunken Moon, which inflicted an additional 10% true damage. Though John''s attacks couldn''t break through the three-headed ck dragon''s defenses, they could still deal over 67,000 points of true damage, causing the dragon considerable pain. Whoosh! Suddenly, a fireball hurtled toward John. Boom! With a deafening roar, the mes erupted, and, unsurprisingly, John was instantly killed again, triggering his Undying and Immortal talent. He resurrected with full health and quickly fled the battlefield, realizing that even while being entangled by Sara, the three-headed ck dragon could still strike at him. This encounter gave him a true sense of the dragon''s immense power. The three-headed ck dragon wielded magic from three different elements and possessed an incredibly tough physical body. The most terrifying aspect was its three heads, which coordinated their attacks as if they were three separate eighth-tier powerhouses! Soon, Sara found herself in a perilous situation, struggling under the relentless pressure. Crack! Crack! Purple lightning crackled as Sara was sent flying, a trickle of blood appearing at the corner of her mouth-she was injured. "You''ve made a breakthrough!" she said, ring at the three-headed ck dragon, her expression grim. In her current state, she was no match for him. "Hmph, did you think you were the only one with a lucky encounter?" the three-headed ck dragon roared, his attacks growing even fiercer. Sara was barely holding on. In desperation, she looked over at John and shouted angrily, "Why aren''t you helping?!" "Me?" John was puzzled. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to help; his attacks simply weren''t enough to pose a real threat to the three-headed ck dragon. Whoosh! At that moment, a dark shadow shed by behind him, a cold gleam cutting through the air. It was Bonnie! Only then did John realize that Sara hadn''t been addressing him. ng! The dagger struck, sparks flying as it nced off the hardened scales of the three-headed ck dragon, which had withstood Bonnie''s attack. "Hmph, even the two of you together can''t take me down. Today, this human will die!" the dragon roared, his aura surging even higher. Whoosh! Endless dragon mes rained down, instantly corroding everything in their path. John''s heart pounded with fearpared to this monster, Avis was nothing. Despite thebined assault from Sara and Bonnie, both powerful eighth-tier legendary beings, they still couldn''t gain the upper hand against the three-headed ck dragon. Boom! Boom! Terrifying energy rippled through the air, forcing John to retreat again and again. He was still far too weak-he couldn''t even withstand the residual energy from the attacks of these three powerful beings. Rumble... The sky lit up with a web of purple lightning as Sara transformed into her true form: a jet- ck unicorn. This was her most powerful attack, but even that wasn''t enough to turn the tide. "It''s useless!" The three-headed ck dragon''s cold voice echoed, as its thick tail whipped like ash, sending Sara crashing to the ground. "If you both want to protect this human so badly, then I''ll just kill you first!" he roared, unleashing three powerful magic spells that targeted Bonnie. Each one was a high-level spell with devastating power. "This isn''t good!" Bonnie''s face paled as she quickly conjured a dark shield and attempted to retreat. Boom! With just one strike, her dark shield shattered, and the remaining two spells struck Bonnie directly. Blood sttered through the air as Bonnie was sent flying, severely injured. Struggling to get back on her feet, she gasped, "You actually consumed the Mystical Spirit Fruit!" "Mystical Spirit Fruit? What''s that?" John muttered to himself, perplexed by Bonnie''s words. "The Mystical Spirit Fruit is a rare Abyssal fruit, known as the Forbidden Fruit." Suddenly, a voice spoke behind him-it was Behemoth! John jumped in surprise, not having noticed Behemoth''s approach. Behemoth nced at him without hostility and continued, "Consuming it increases one''s attack power, but ites with a severe side effect: you can never break through your current tier. Only those who have reached a dead end in their cultivation would risk consuming it. By doing this, the three-headed ck dragon is destroying his future." The three-headed ck dragon was a legendary-tier being with immense potential. At the very least, he could reach the ninth tier, and he might even have the chance to be a demigod. But by consuming the Mystical Spirit Fruit, he had locked himself at the eighth tier. "Madman!" Sara cursed, also heavily injured. She suppressed her wounds and, together with Bonnie, charged at the three-headed ck dragon once more. Whoosh... The terrifying magic surged again, especially the fire-based spells, which were devastating. The three-headed ck dragon effortlessly repelled the two women once more. He sneered, "Hmph, did you really think I''d throw away my future? Losing one head is a small price to pay. Once I kill this human and master thews of darkness, I''ll ascend to demigodhood- Tony and Ben will be no match for me!" He wore a look of arrogance as his attacks grew even more ferocious, forcing the two women to flee in desperation, narrowly escaping danger at every turn. "Behemoth, help us!" Bonnie called out for assistance. Behemoth frowned but made no move. He had no desire to be an enemy of the three- headed ck dragon. Bonnie shouted angrily, "You can''t possibly believe this madman! If anything happens to the human, those two lords won''t spare you!" "Hmph, even if the three of you join forces, you still won''t be a match for me. Today, you all die!" the three-headed ck dragon sneered, suddenly turning his attacks toward the still- hesitant Behemoth. "Do you really think the Mystical Spirit Fruit makes you invincible?" Behemoth roared in anger, his body suddenly growing to the size of a mountain. He clenched his fist and struck at the three-headed ck dragon with tremendous force. Boom! A thunderous impact sent shockwaves through the air. Behemoth staggered backward, forced to retreat by the sheer power of the blow. The three-headed ck dragon was also sent flying, but he emerged unscathed. "Hmph, Behemoth. If you were at your peak, I might actually have reason to be cautious. But now, with one arm lost and your power severely diminished, you''re no match for me," the dragon taunted, dark, earth, and fire elements swirling around him as he single-handedly battled three legendary-tier powerhouses without faltering. "Too bad you''ve chosen the wrong side. Today, no one can save this human-you''re all going to die!" he roared,unching three magical attacks simultaneously, fighting the three of them head-on. Boom! Behemoth''s massive body was sent flying. Sara and Bonnie, already heavily injured, were pushed to the brink of defeat. "Find a way to alert Tony and Ben!" Behemoth shouted urgently, realizing that if the battle continued, they were doomed. The three-headed ck dragonughed mockingly. "It''s pointless. Even if those two manage to get here now, it''ll be toote." With that, he charged at Behemoth, recognizing the giant as the greatest threat and deciding to eliminate him first.N?v(el)B\\jnn Whoosh! His entire body became enveloped in white mes, the intense heat radiating from them seemingly capable of melting everything in its path. "Get out of my way!" Behemoth roared in anger, summoning earth elemental energy around him to form armor. It was a Diamond Armor. But far stronger than anything John could summon, with the diamond emitting a faint purple glow as Behemoth''s colossal fist mmed into the three-headed ck dragon. Boom! The mes surged, and the Diamond Armor shattered instantly, sending Behemoth''s massive body crashing to the ground. But the three-headed ck dragon didn''t escape unscathed. While the Mystical Spirit Fruit had enhanced his attack power, it hadn''t done anything to bolster his defense. Behemoth''s full-force strike managed to injure the three-headed ck dragon. "Think of something, quickly!" Bonnie urged, her voice filled with urgency. If this battle continued as it was, they, along with John, were all going to die. "Godyer, lend me your divine weapon!" Sara suddenly looked at John, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Alright!" John didn''t hesitate for a second. He activated Sword Mastery, sending the Sword of Divinity and Demons hurtling toward her. The three-headed ck dragon realized what was happening. His massive body shimmered as he rushed toward the Sword of Divinity and Demons, desperate to intercept it. But Sara was closer. She transformed back into her human form, snatching the Sword of Divinity and Demons out of the air. "So powerful!" She nced at the sword''s attributes and felt a wave of relief. As expected, the Sword of Divinity and Demons came with a powerful ultimate magical ability, and she could wield it. "How dare you!" the three-headed ck dragon roared, charging at Sara with reckless abandon, his three enormous heads shaking violently as he unleashed his most powerful attack. Bonnie and Behemoth exchanged a look, gritted their teeth, and ced themselves in front of Sara. They are using their bodies as shields to buy her time. "Thank you," Sara muttered, deeply grateful. She didn''t waste a moment, raising the Sword of Divinity and Demons high above her head. Whoosh! A powerful, oppressive wind swept through the battlefield, filling the air with a palpable tension. Gulp! John couldn''t help but swallow nervously. It felt as though he were in the presence of a god''s avatar! Was this the terror of an ultimate skill? Indeed, he realized just how weak he was-he couldn''t even begin to unleash the full power of the Sword of Divinity and Demons. "Wrath of the Gods!" Sara shouted, and with a mighty swing, she shed at the three-headed ck dragon from a distance. Rumble... A terrifying sword beam materialized, vast and boundless, tearing through the sky and leaving gaping rifts in space. "No!" The three-headed ck dragon howled in terror and defiance. The sword beam had locked onto him, leaving him no chance to escape. sh! Blood sprayed as one of his enormous heads was severed and sent flying. -52,480,000 Sara''s strike dealt over fifty-two million points of damage in a single blow. The fire-element head of the three-headed ck dragon, enhanced by the Mystical Spirit Fruit, was cut off, drastically reducing his power. Worse still, his health was almost depleted. Escape! Without a second thought, he turned and fled. With his strongest head gone, his power was significantly reduced, making him no match for the three opponents. "You''re not getting away!" Behemoth''s cold voice echoed as he clenched his massive fist and mmed it down. Boom! The three-headed ck dragon was sent flying like a ragdoll. Before he could even hit the ground, Sara and Bonnie unleashed their most powerful attacks simultaneously. Amidst the dragon''s pitiful wails and roars, he was left on the brink of death,pletely powerless to fight back. "Hold off on the final blow-let me finish this!" John shouted, his excitement and adrenaline surging. This was an eighth-tier peak legendary beast. If he could kill it and plunder a talent or skill, it would be a massive windfall. Even if he didn''t manage to Plunder a talent or skill, the sheer amount of experience points would be incredible. Chapter 140: Chapter 140: The Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart and the Three-Foot Black Dragon Sword Chapter 140: The Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart and the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword ? The three hesitated for a moment before stopping simultaneously. Killing the beasts and demonic creatures wouldn''t increase their strength, so they might as well do John a favor. Sara directly tossed the Sword of Divinity and Demons to John. He caught the Sword of Divinity and Demons and activated the Unrivaled Sword Dance. Several sword beams shed, enveloping the three-headed ck dragon. ng ng ng... The sword beams struck the dragon''s scales, producing a series of crisp collision sounds. John''s attacks couldn''t break through its defenses, only causing true damage. -87,739 Eighty-seven thousand points of damage. If the three-headed ck dragon were in its prime, with tens of millions of health points, this damage would be negligible. But now, it was already severely injured, barely clinging to life, with one head already severed, and its health points were below a million. "Human, get lost!" The three-headed ck dragon roared in fury, thrashing desperately. Its tail swept towards John. Even though it was heavily injured, its attack was still something John couldn''t withstand. He had already prepared to be killed instantly, but at that moment, a mountainous figure stood in front of him. It was Behemoth. Boom! A loud crash echoed as the dragon''s tail struck Behemoth. He remained unmoved, while the three-headed ck dragon was shaken back several steps. "Thanks!" John expressed his gratitude. Regardless of Behemoth''s strength, just having such a massive figure blocking in front of him made him feel incredibly secure. Buzz! A cold glint shed as heunched another attack, using the Assassin skill Dance of the Void. Once again, it was true damage. -66,976 The Assassin sscked the damage bonuses from Sword Control, causing only sixty-six thousand points of true damage. But this was enough. John took a step back, alternating between Sword Immortal and Demon Phantom Assassin skills, relentlessly attacking the three-headed ck dragon. Its health points were rapidly dwindling, with three powerful enemies eyeing him from all sides. The dragon had no chance to counterattack John. As the three-headed ck dragon sensed death approaching, it truly felt fear and hurriedly begged for mercy, "Human, spare me! I am willing to recognize you as my master!" Hearing this, John hesitated for a moment. This creature was a Tier 8 Legendary Beast with terrifying power. If he could subdue it, it would undoubtedly be a formidable asset. But he didn''t like this creature. It was treacherous, ruthless, and decisive. With such a personality, it would never truly submit. If given the chance, it would undoubtedly betray him without hesitation. "Sorry, I''m not interested in you!" John sneered, intensifying his attacks. Buzz! The sword intent hummed as a dazzling sh shed toward the three-headed ck dragon. "No!" The dragon''s expression was filled with terror as it let out an unwilling roar. Its health points had dropped to thirty thousand, unable to withstand John''s strike. "Human, this world is far more terrifying than you imagine-you''ll regret this!" The three- headed ck dragon red at John with fierce anger, roaring in defiance as the sword beam descended. Boom! -88,740 The three-headed ck dragon''s health points were instantly depleted. Its remaining two heads stared wide-eyed at John, filled with unwillingness and venomous hatred. [You have in a level 5000, Tier 8 pinnacle three-headed ck dragon, gaining 56.32 million experience points.] [Your level has increased to 204. Constitution +1, Strength +5, Spirit +5, Agility +3, Free Attribute Points +24, Skill Points +2.] [Plunder talent activated. You have obtained the SSS-level unique talent: Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart.] [Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart: SSS-level unique talent; allows you to multitask three ways simultaneously.] The notification shed as John reached level 204 after ying the three-headed ck dragon. He also gained a powerful SSS-level unique talent: the Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart. "What does this talent do?" John wondered, puzzled. The description was brief, but he could feel a subtle difference in his body. He focused his mind and swung his longsword. Buzz! Unrivaled Sword Dance, Soaring Radiance, and Inferno Dance. The all activated simultaneously! "This is the multitasking ability of the Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart!" John eximed in surprise and delight. He could release three different skills at once, causing his damage output to explode. Not only that, but his Sword Mastery had also improved, enabling him to control three flying swords simultaneously, attacking three different targets. Of course, this also meant that his mana consumption had tripled. "Human, how did you do that?" Behemoth, who was watching John unleash three skills at once, asked in astonishment. Bonnie remarked in surprise, "This seems to be the ability of the three-headed ck dragon, doesn''t it?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Sara stared at John, her brows furrowed, with a flicker of killing intent in her beautiful eyes. John smiled but didn''t answer, instead turning his attention to the loot dropped by the three- headed ck dragon. There was an Origin Stone, a longsword, and several hundred skill stones, equipment enhancement stones, and other items. The Origin Stone could add an additional ss. Since John already possessed three rare sses, he didn''t need it for the time being and put it away casually. His gaze was drawn to the longsword-a nearly 1.5-meter-long weapon with a broad de and a hilt intricately carved into the shape of a three-headed ck dragon. "An artifact!" John eximed in surprise, realizing that this was a lower-grade divine weapon. [Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword: Lower-grade divine artifact] [Requirements: Must simultaneously master Dark, Earth, and Fire magic.] [Physical Damage +1000, Magic Damage +1000, Four Basic Attributes +500.] [Additional Attribute: Attacks inflict an additional 10% Dark, Earth, and Fire magic damage.] [Special Effect: Can split into three short swords, each with Dark, Earth, and Fire attributes. Base attributes remain unchanged.] [Attached Skill: Triple sh] [Triple sh: The ultimate warrior skill, attacking the target three times, each dealing Strength*500% physical damage, with an additional 10% Dark, Earth, and Fire elemental damage per hit. Consumes 10,000 mana, cooldown: seven days.] [Description: A longsword containing the immense power of the three-headed ck dragon. Has a very low drop rate.] "So powerful!" John eximed with delight. This longsword seemed tailor-made for him, perfectlyplementing the Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart talent he had just acquired. Buzz! With a thought, the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword instantly split into three short swords. Guided by his Sword Mastery, they orbited around him, ready to strike three different enemies at once. Although the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword was only a lower-grade divine artifact and far inferior to the Sword of Divinity and Demons, John found himself favoring it more. Combined with his Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart talent, his strength had significantly increased once again. The threepanions nearby watched in awe and curiosity as John skillfully controlled the three short swords. Sara snapped out of her reverie and looked at John coldly, saying, "Human, it''s time we settle things between us." Bonnie frowned, stepping in front of John, her gaze fixed warily on Sara. Behemoth observed the group, hesitated for a moment, then took a step back without intervening. He could sense that there was something unusual about the rtionship between the two women and John, and he had no intention of getting involved in their conflict. "You can''t harm him!" Bonnie''s tone was firm. Though Sara wasn''t as powerful as the three-headed ck dragon, her ability to attack the soul made her an even greater threat to John. Sara took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "Bonnie, I don''t want to be your enemy. But this man has tarnished my honor, and today, this muste to an end!" "W-what?" Bonnie was shocked, struggling toprehend what she had just heard. She turned to look at John, then back at Sara, asking uncertainly, "Are you saying this weak human tarnished your honor?" Sara clenched her teeth, the thought of it a humiliation of the highest order. Bonnie knew Sara wouldn''t joke about something so serious. For a moment, she hesitated. "Senior, thank you for saving me multiple times," John said gratefully to Bonnie as he stepped forward, facing Sara directly. "This is something I should handle myself." Hearing his words, Sara clenched her fists tighter, her resentment growing. She angrily retorted, "And what about me? Haven''t I saved you too?" "Huh?" John was taken aback. Bonnie, watching the scene unfold, quietly stepped aside. Sara now seemed like a jealous wife, clearly harboring feelings for John, which meant she likely wouldn''t harm him. John looked at Sara, full of regret. "I''m sorry. What happenedst time was not my intention. Tell me, what must I do to help you let go of your resentment?" "Hmph, you''ve got some guts!" Sara said coldly, her expression icy. "I know the Fox Demon Curse wasn''t your intention. I won''t make things difficult for you-just withstand one of my attacks, and all our grudges will be wiped clean." "Alright!" John agreed without hesitation. Sara possessed soul attack techniques, but John had his Soul Technique, which could strengthen his soul, giving him confidence that he could withstand her attack. Even if he ended up seriously injured, he believed it wouldn''t be fatal. Rumble... Purple lightning crackled around Sara, enveloping her in a holy aura. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "You can dodge if you want." John simply nodded, standing firm, waiting for Sara''s attack. "Damn it!" she cursed, knowing that if John had shown any sign of fear or asked for mercy, she wouldn''t have attacked. But his calm demeanor only fueled her anger. No longer hesitating, she unleashed her purple lightning,ced with soul attack power, directly at him. Boom! With a deafening crash, a massive crater appeared beside John. The moment the lightning was about to strike him, it diverted its path. Sara was furious. "You idiot, why didn''t you dodge? Do you really want to die?" At that moment, John''s brow furrowed in pain as the Fox Demon Curse red up. He struggled to suppress the intense desire rising within him, barely maintaining his sanity. Hearing Sara''s words, he was puzzled. Hadn''t she been bent on killing him to vent her anger? Why had she suddenly held back? Could it be... that she''s developed feelings for me over time? Just then, Sara noticed something off about John and frowned. "Your... your Fox Demon Curse is acting up?" John nodded and immediately sat down cross-legged, focusing on the cultivation technique Chris had taught him. By circting this technique, he could suppress the power of the Fox Demon Curse- something he had only recently discovered. However, it could only suppress the curse, not eliminate it. Sara stood there, watching John struggle in pain, her expression conflicted. John fought to control the mes of desire burning within him, feeling as if he was on the verge of losing his mind. Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Subduing Sara Chapter 141: Subduing Sara ? John looked at Sara and said, "You should leave now. I won''t be able to hold on much longer." She didn''t respond, remaining where she was, her gaze shifting coldly to Bonnie and Behemoth. "Get lost, unless you can cure him," she snapped. Bonnie shot Sara a re but said nothing more. She pulled the still-dazed Behemoth away, leaving the area. John noticed that Sara hadn''t left and asked in confusion, "Aren''t you going?" The Fox Demon Curse had been ring up more frequently recently, and although the episodes were shorter, they were far more intense. He knew he wouldn''t be able to resist it much longer, and he feared he might lose control and do something unforgivable to her. Sara''s expression was conflicted as she stared at John. Taking a deep breath, she finally said, "I''ll help you break the curse." With a wave of her hand, a thick mist enveloped the area,pletely isting them from the outside world. "W-what?" John was momentarily stunned, his mind going nk as he watched Sara slowly begin to disrobe. He couldn''t help but swallow hard. He was confused by her actions, but there was no time to think. Under the overwhelming allure of Sara, hisst shred of reason was overtaken by desire. His armor and clothes quickly fell away, leaving them both exposed. Biting her lip lightly, Sara looked at John''s rising member and softly whispered, "Husband, please be gentle..." John pulled her into his arms, kissing her lips with greedy fervor. Sara let out a soft moan, offering only the faintest resistance before awkwardly responding to his advances. After a long moment, they parted, and Sara was left breathless, her gaze hazy with longing. Ovee with emotion, she straddled John, positioning her wet entrance over his erect member, and slowly lowered herself down. "Ah..." she cried out, the unfamiliar sensation sending a shockwave through her. Her soft body clung to John like an octopus, tightly wrapped around him. "It hurts so much..." Tears welled up in Sara''s eyes from the intense pain, but the strange sensation urged her to seek more. John''sst vestige of sanity vanished as he grasped her hips and thrust deep inside her. "Mm... Husband, please be gentle with Sara..." she pleaded, biting her lip in pain. She recalled their first time¡ªfilled with humiliation and agony, where John had practically tortured her. She should have hated him, but seeing him now in such torment, she couldn''t bring herself to be cruel. John captured her lips again, his tongue invading her mouth, greedily exploring. Moved by the moment, Sara wrapped her limbs around him, her body moving in rhythm with his, swaying gently. She feltpletely filled, the overwhelming sensations pushing her to the brink. Within just a few minutes, she could no longer hold on. "Husband, Sara is about to... climax..." she gasped, clutching John''s neck tightly, wrapping her legs around his waist, pressing herself closer to him as her body trembled. It felt as though flowers were blooming in her heart, a euphoric sensation deep in her soul soaring skyward, as if she were floating among the clouds. "Mm..." she moaned in pleasure, her strength suddenly drained, leaving her limp and hanging onto John. But such a short time wasn''t nearly enough to satisfy John. The effects of the Fox Demon Curse had eased somewhat, but his desire had only intensified. Seeing Sara''s delicate and alluring expression, John gripped her firm hips and began thrusting forcefully. "Ah..." Sara moaned in pain, her tender breasts bouncing before him. John was utterly captivated, lowering his head to take her nipple into his mouth, sucking and teasing it. "Husband, it tickles..." Sara gasped, her response immediate and intense as her body trembled uncontrobly, climaxing once more. John was surprised-he hadn''t expected her to be so sensitive. "No, Husband, Sara can''t take it anymore. Please, let me go..." Sara pleaded desperately, her small feet kicking helplessly, her arms iling weakly, unable to handle the overwhelming sensations coursing through her. She panted heavily, her body shaking with one climax after another. The pleasure was so overwhelming it left her dizzy, on the verge of passing out. "Husband, please stop. I can''t take it anymore, Sara''s going to break..." Her voice was weak, begging John to let her go. Sara''s pitiful pleas only fueled his desire further. John was already on the brink of release. He let go of her breasts, gripping her hips tightly to drive himself deeper with powerful thrusts. The intense stimtion made it even harder for Sara to hold on. In a panic, she begged, "No, Husband, you''re too fast. Sara can''t take it anymore..." As the searing heat surged into her, her body trembled violently, copsing weakly against John''s neck, her breathing in ragged gasps. "Husband, are you done?" Sara whispered weakly into John''s ear, having regained a bit of strength. "Yes, the Fox Demon Curse has passed." John said, stroking her smooth back. The curse may have faded, but the fire of his desire still burned brightly within him. Sara swallowed nervously. She knew well how strong John was. Last time, he had tormented her for an entire day and night until she passed out. "Husband, I can still hold on a bit longer..." she murmured, her face flushed red as she whispered in John''s ear. Already overwhelmed with desire, John flipped her onto her back, grabbing her ankles and thrusting deeply. "Ah..." Sara moaned in pain, her hands gripping the grass beneath her as John took full control. The sharp sound of skin pping against skin echoed, each thrust prating deep within Sara. Before long, Sara could no longer hold on, pleading repeatedly, "Husband, please, I can''t take it anymore. Please give it to me..." But John ignored her, continuing to push her to her limits, shifting through various positions. Sara was like a puppet, mechanically repeating her helpless pleas as John continued to have his way with her. She had lost count of how many times she had climaxed; all she knew was that the waves of pleasure never ceased. Her strength had beenpletely drained, and several times she teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, only to be rudely pulled back to reality by John''s relentless pace. This overwhelming sensationsted for more than an hour. John finally reached his limit again, and a powerful surge erupted from him. "Ah! Husband, I can''t take it anymore..." Sara gasped, her mouth wide open as the intense pleasure nearly suffocated her, coinciding with John''s peak. After a long moment, her body stopped trembling, and shey there with her mouth agape, breathing heavily. "Husband, please, no more. If we continue, Sara is really going to break," she pleaded, her body writhing and struggling to get John to pull out. But her movements only served to further inme John''s desire. He restrained her, teasingly saying, "It''s still early. Last time, we went on for an entire day and night!" Sara''s delicate body shuddered, and she shook her head repeatedly. "No, I really can''t. Do you know how much I sufferedst time? Ugh..." With that, she began to cry, overwhelmed by her feelings of injustice. The first time, John had used her as nothing more than an outlet for his anger. If only John had been a little gentler, she wouldn''t have hated him so much or tried to kill him repeatedly. John, realizing he had gone too far, quickly tried tofort her. "I was just joking. I''m done too." Sara stopped crying and looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, confused. "Husband, after we were togetherst time, my cultivation level increased. But why don''t I feel anything this time?" "Huh?" John was taken aback, but then he started to understand. Could it be that his essence really had the power to help the women around him enhance their cultivation?N?v(el)B\\jnn After all, Sini had experienced a boost in her attributes that carried over into the real world after being with him. Anna''s cultivation had also improved. Even Yuel, who had been intimate with him, had shown growth in her cultivation, though Tracy hadn''t noticed any significant change. "Do you want to know?" John asked, looking at Sara''s pitifully cute face, his desire rekindling. She nodded obediently. John stood up, and his erect member pressed directly against her face. Realizing what he intended, Sara shook her head in panic, trying to scramble away. But John swiftly grabbed the unicorn horn on her forehead. "Mm..." Sara moaned softly, powerless to resist. Aside from her breasts, her unicorn horn was also one of her weak spots. Suddenly, her mouth was filled as John forcefully pushed his member inside. "Mm..." Sara resisted, shaking her head slightly in pain, her eyes pleading with John to stop. "Be good, and listen," John said, finding her helpless expression even more arousing. He gripped her unicorn horn, thrusting deeper into her mouth. "Ugh... ugh..." Sara gagged, her mouth stuffed to capacity. Tears of humiliation welled up in her eyes as she closed them in despair, resigning herself to the degrading situation. With John holding onto her horn and pressing her head down, he continued to push his length into her, reaching deeper into her throat and even down into her esophagus. The humiliation triggered an involuntary reaction in her body. But the sensation quickly turned to pain. Her mouth became swollen and sore, eventually going numb, leaving her almost devoid of sensation. She nced up at John, her eyes filled with silent pleas as she whimpered softly. "Just a little more, bear with it," John said, ignoring her distress and bing even more forceful. "Mmm..." Tears streamed down Sara''s face as she shook her head in agony. She could feel John repeatedly thrusting into her esophagus, causing a strong gag reflex, but each time, she was forced to endure it. After enduring another several minutes, John finally reached his limit, releasing a hot, powerful surge. Sara''s eyes widened in pain as she struggled, her head held firmly in ce by John. Instinctively, she swallowed. It wasn''t until she had devoured everyst drop that John finally let go. "Gasp!" Sara pulled away, gasping for air and sobbing quietly. She red at John with a mixture of anger and hurt. "You bastard, why do you have to treat me like this?" John pulled her into his arms, trying tofort her. "My essence can help enhance your cultivation." "What?" Sara froze for a moment before realizing the truth. Indeed, she could feel a surge of powerful energy filling her body once more. "But you can''t humiliate me like that," she said, still struggling toe to terms with the experience. Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Controlling the Abyss Chapter 142: Controlling the Abyss ? John, feeling a pang of guilt, pulled her into his arms andforted her, saying, "Alright, I won''t force you next time." Sara leaned into his embrace, nodding obediently. "Um, you should get dressed," she said, ncing at John''s still-erect member. She swallowed nervously, feeling a wave of fear-she really couldn''t take any more. "Okay." John got dressed with Sara''s help, putting on his equipment. They didn''t continue, and Sara remained nestled in his arms, her head asionally nuzzling his cheek as she enjoyed the rare moment of tenderness. "Husband, how long have you had the Fox Demon Curse?" Sara asked, something suddenlying to her mind. John thought for a moment. "It''s been about a month, I think." Sara lifted her head, her expression worried. "That long? Haven''t you tried to get rid of it?" John was puzzled. "Isn''t this method supposed to break the curse? Besides, I''ve noticed that the duration of the curse''s effects has been getting shorter." "Who told you that this method could break the curse?" Sara looked at him incredulously, her concern growing. "The Fox Demon Curse is a very sinister power. If you don''t find a way to remove it and let it continue to develop, you''ll eventually lose your sanity and be a creature driven by nothing but desire." "What?" John was shocked. The ck Turtle had told him that releasing it would gradually diminish the curse. Could that advice have been wrong? Sara continued, "Fortunately, it hasn''t been too long. If you can find the Jade Heart Lotus of the Beast n, it canpletely neutralize the curse." The ck Turtle had mentioned this method as well, but the Jade Heart Lotus had vanished, and no one knew its whereabouts. John, curious, asked, "Is there any other way to remove it?" Sara shook her head. "Maybe Lord Tony and the others might know. I can take you to see Lord Tony." With that, she stood up, ready to take John to find Tony. "No rush. Let''s focus on getting stronger first," John said, stopping her. The Fox Demon Curse wasn''t an immediate concern. His main purpose ining to the Abyss was to y Tier 6 or higher Abyssal demons, increase his mastery of dark elements, and recruit powerful allies here to prepare for the uing Faction System. Sara quickly added, "I''ll go with you. I can help keep you safe." Now that their rtionship had been established, it was clear she had developed a sense of dependence on John. John nodded, not refusing her offer. He was worried that something unexpected might happen between the world of Gods and the real world. With Sara''s help, he could hunt down Tier 6 or higher Abyssal demons more efficiently. In the Abyss, demons were abundant, and John didn''t let any opportunity slip, even targeting ordinary Abyss demons. His goal was to gain experience and Plunder attributes. ... Over the course of more than a month wandering the Abyss, John finally managed to y 900 Tier 6 or higher epic-level Abyss demons, along with countless ordinary Abyss demons. Through this, he plundered a substantial amount of attributes and sessfully increased his mastery of the dark element''s Power of Laws to 10%. He hadpletely taken control of the Abyss, now able to freelymand and even lead the imprisoned powerhouses out of this realm. During this period, John''s level had also risen to 455. After reaching Tier 5, the experience required to level up became immense. He now needed over 200 million experience points just to advance a single level. Fortunately, the high level andrge number of Abyss demons made it possible; had he been in the world of Gods, it would have taken him half a year to achieve such progress. Not wanting to waste any more time, John said, "Sara, take me to meet with Tony and Ben." "Okay," Sara agreed obediently, nodding her head. She was overjoyed to learn that John had a way to take her out of the Abyss. During the past month, their rtionship had grown quickly. John''s Fox Demon Curse had red up twice, and both times, it was Sara who had helped him through it. Now, her reliance on John was as strong as that of Sini and the other women. ... Both John and Sara had the ability to fly, and they soon reached a deep part of the Abyss-a sheer cliff. This was where Tony and Ben had been in seclusion. The area was rich with dark energy, once home to a Tier 9 Abyss demon, but the two had in it and imed the ce for their training. Sara looked toward the cliff and called out, "Seniors, the Godyer is here to see you." Rumble... The ground trembled, and the cliff wall split open from the middle as two figures flew out. It was Tony and Ben, both Tier 9 pinnacle powerhouses. "Kid, how did you get trapped here again?" Tony asked, frowning at John. Assuming John hade seeking help, he continued, "Come on, I''ll help you get out." John quickly replied, "Seniors, I''vee to take you out of here this time." "Take us out?" The two of them were surprised, looking at him in confusion. John nodded and exined, "I''ve obtained the key to the Land of Darkness and have fully mastered the Abyss." "You... you''ve increased your mastery of the dark Power of Laws to 10%?" Tony stared at John in disbelief. He knew better than anyone how difficult it was toprehend the Power of Laws. He had been imprisoned here for thousands of years and still hadn''t managed to grasp the dark Power of Laws. "Haha, Tony, how about that? My prophecy was spot on!" Ben, however, looked smug, not the least bit surprised by John''s Tier 5 strength and his mastery of 10% of the dark Power ofn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Laws. Tony shot Ben a re but remained silent. John continued, "Seniors, the world of Gods is preparing tounch the Faction System, and I''m concerned that Tier 9 powerhouses might descend. That''s why I''m hoping for your assistance." "The Faction System is about tounch?" Tony and Ben exchanged nces, their expressions filled with excitement. John was puzzled by their reaction. Why did these two seem so eager for the Faction System to launch? "Kid, this is a good thing," Tony exined. "The Faction System will help all the major races to strengthen their powers more effectively. The gods must be feeling threatened and are likely nning to intervene personally." "The gods might descend?" John felt a pang of worry. The power of the gods far surpassed that of Tier 9 beings. If the gods themselves got involved, even Tony and Ben might not stand a chance. Tony nodded and added, "You don''t need to worry. For the gods to intervene personally, there''s another condition-the Ragnarok instance must be unlocked. When that happens, all the major races will have the opportunity to cultivate to god-level strength." All races able to cultivate to the strength of gods? John thought about the legendary treasures of the major races: the Demon Race''s Demon Soul, Demon Eye, Demon Wing, and Demon Armor; the Beast n''s Monster Bone, Monster w, Monster Core, and Monster Spirit. By advancing to Tier 9 and refining and fusing these treasures, one could rival the power of a god. And he already possessed aplete set of these treasures from both the Demon Race and the Beast n. John spected that the Ragnarok instance must be closely tied to these treasures. It seemed that theunch of the Faction System was indeed a good thing. John looked at the two seniors and asked, "Seniors, how do we unlock the Ragnarok instance?" In this lifetime, his goal was to challenge, and perhaps even y, the gods. Unlocking the Ragnarok instance was essential. The two shook their heads. Ben spoke up, "It seems that this matter is in the hands of the Angel Race. Theunch of the Faction System is the prerequisite, and the Ragnarok instance should appear afterward." The Angel Race? John recalled the two Two-Winged Angels he had in. With the Faction Systemunching, he was sure to face them again in battle. The Angel Race and the Dark Humans were among the gods'' most loyal followers, but the Angel Race was stronger and held in higher regard by the gods. Tony then said, "Kid, we''re not ready to leave just yet. Since you''ve gained control of the Abyss, if you ever find yourself in danger, you can summon us anytime." The two had long since grown ustomed to the Abyss, where the dark energy was incredibly dense. After thousands of years of cultivation, they had each attained over 90 points of Dark Element Affinity. Tony, in particr, had reached 99 points in Dark Element Affinity, putting him on the verge of breaking through to 100 points and mastering 1% of the dark Power of Laws. Once he achieved that, he would be able to leave the Abyss on his own. John nodded, understanding that as long as the two agreed to assist him when needed, it didn''t matter if they chose to stay in the Abyss. Ben spoke up, "Let me summon the other strong beings in the Abyss for you." With that, he waved his hand, and a Dark Orb shot into the sky, exploding in a brilliant disy. The powerful energy from the explosion could be sensed in every corner of the Abyss. Sensing this, the powerful figures of various races began to converge on their location. "There''s something else," Sara suddenly remembered and said, "John has been afflicted by the Fox Demon Curse. Do you have any way to remove it?" Tony nced at John, having already sensed the curse within him, and asked, "What? That old turtle didn''t give you the Jade Heart Lotus?" The "old turtle" he referred to was the ck Turtle. John quickly exined, "There''s been a misunderstanding, Senior. The Jade Heart Lotus was lost, and even Lord ck Turtle doesn''t know where it is." "What?" Tony''s expression darkened with displeasure. "Has the Beast n really fallen so far that we can''t even keep track of the Jade Heart Lotus?" John remained silent, though in his view, the Beast n was still quite powerful. However,pared to stronger races like the Dark Humans, the Demon Race, and the Angel Race, they indeedgged behind. Tony continued, "The Fox Demon Curse is the most malevolent power of the Fox n, triggered only by the near extinction of the n. Apart from the Jade Heart Lotus, there''s no other way to remove it. However, we can help you find the Jade Heart Lotus." With that, he turned to Ben. "Sigh, I knew you had something up your sleeve, you old rascal," Ben sighed heavily, his expression turning serious. Suddenly, he coughed up a mouthful of blood, and a wisp of his Remnant Soul emerged from his body. Ben''s face turned pale, his energy disrupted, as he guided the Remnant Soul toward John. "Kid, I once used the Jade Heart Lotus in my cultivation, and my soul is linked to it. As long as it''s nearby, this Remnant Soul will sense it." "Thank you, Senior!" John bowed gratefully and carefully stored the Remnant Soul. He was well aware of how damaging soul injuries could be almost irreversible and requiring a long time to heal. Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Subduing the Powerhouses of the Abyss Chapter 143: Subduing the Powerhouses of the Abyss ? Ben waved his hand dismissively, saying, "This minor injury won''t affect me much." Whoosh! Just then, several powerful auras descended upon them. It was Behemoth and a group of other strong beings. "Senior, you summoned us?" they asked, transforming into human form and bowing respectfully to Tony and Ben, their expressions curious. Tony nodded, scanning the group, but noticed the absence of the three-headed ck dragon. "Where''s that ck dragon?" he asked, puzzled. Behemoth hesitated, casting a nce at John. The rule set by the two seniors was that no one above Tier 7 was allowed to engage in mutualbat, and Behemoth feared they might hold him ountable. John quickly exined, "Seniors, the three-headed ck dragon attacked me, but fortunately, Behemoth, Sara, and Bonnie came to my aid." "Is that creature dead?" Ben asked in surprise. He had never liked the three-headed ck dragon much, but as a Tier 8 legendary being, the ck dragon was powerful. If it had chosen to flee, it would have been difficult for the three of them to kill it, even if they worked together. The fact that they had managed to do so surprised him. "If it''s dead, so be it," Tony said, showing no remorse. He then turned to Behemoth and said, "You did well. I''ll find a way to restore your severed arm." Behemoth''s eyes lit up, and he repeatedly expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, my lord! Thank you!" John couldn''t help but find it ironic. It was Tony who had severed Behemoth''s arm in the first ce, yet here he was, grateful to him for the promise of restoration. Such was the nature of power dynamics. Tony then addressed the assembled powerhouses, "The reason I summoned you all here today is to inform you that we''re leaving this ce." "What? Lord Tony, have you mastered the dark Power of Laws?" "Congrattions, Lord Tony!" "This is wonderful news! We can finally leave this cursed ce!" ... The group was ecstatic, offering their congrattions to Tony. Tony, however, looked a bit awkward. He, too, wanted to master the dark Power of Laws, but he was still just shy of achieving it. "Ahem!" He coughed twice to regain their attention and then said calmly, "I haven''t mastered the dark Power of Laws, but the Godyer can. However, there''s a condition-if you want to leave, you must swear allegiance!" John nced at Tony with gratitude. His intention had always been to subdue these powerhouses, but he was worried that their pride would prevent them from submitting. With Tony backing him up, these proud beings wouldn''t dare oppose him. The assembled powerhouses were stunned, staring at John in disbelief. "I, Sara, swear eternal allegiance to the Godyer!" Sara was the first to speak, yfully winking at John as she did so. Since she was already bound to him, such an oath was hardly restrictive for her. "I, Bonnie, swear allegiance," Bonnie said, giving Sara a displeased re before following suit. "I pledge my allegiance as well!" Behemoth quickly chimed in, offering John a ttering smile. He knew that this human had a close rtionship with Tony and Ben, and currying favor with him could only benefit himself. With the three Tier 8 powerhouses pledging their loyalty, the other strong beings, even if reluctant, dared not show any dissent. One by one, they all dered their willingness to swear allegiance to John. Their only wish now was to leave the Abyss. Among them were three Tier 8 legendary powerhouses, over a hundred Tier 7 epic and legendary powerhouses, and more than a thousand Tier 6 epic powerhouses. With such a formidable force descending upon the world of Gods, they would be capable of overwhelming most factions. Even with the Faction System opening, John had no reason to fear. Looking at these powerhouses, John felt a surge of confidence. He then turned to Tony and Ben and asked, "Seniors, are you sure you don''t want toe with us?" Tony shook his head and replied, "The Abyss has no adverse effects on us, and we''ve grown ustomed to it here. If there''s any danger, you can summon us anytime." Ben nodded in agreement. John didn''t press the issue. He had already spent a month in the Abyss,pletely cut off from the outside world, and was concerned that something might have happened in his absence. With that, he led the group of powerhouses and bid the two seniors farewell. Buzz! The power of space rippled, and John effortlessly tore open a spatial rift. He turned to the group of powerhouses behind him and instructed, "Stay close to me." With that, he stepped into the spatial passageway first, as a torrent of dark energy surged toward them. These dark energies were highly destructive, but John, having mastered thews of dark elements, was immune to dark magic damage. Moreover, with his mastery of the dark elements reaching 10%, he could now control these dark energies. John shielded the group of powerhouses as they safely passed through the spatial rift, emerging in the world of Gods, at the Saint Martial Sect. The terrifying aura emanating from the powerhouses spread across the area, causing the disciples of the Saint Martial Sect to react as if facing a grave threat, rushing out in rm. "John!" Sini and Anna were among them, their eyes lighting up with excitement and joy as they spotted John in the crowd. Sini quickly realized that these terrifying beings must have been summoned by John. "Everything is fine now. You can all stand down," she told the Saint Martial Sect disciples behind her. The disciples nodded, though they couldn''t help but stare in awe at the sudden appearance of these formidable figures-especially the one-armed giant, who stood like a mountain, exuding an immense pressure. ... "The air is so familiar-it''s the world of Gods!" "Haha, we''ve finally returned!" The powerhouses ignored the Saint Martial Sect disciples entirely, breathing in the fresh air greedily, brimming with excitement. "John, why were you gone for so long this time?" Sini asked as she approached, wrapping her arm around John''s. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Anna, looking at John with a pout, was clearly displeased. For the past month, they had been worried sick, regretting that they hadn''t joined him in the Abyss. Before John could respond, Sara frowned and coldly asked, "Husband, who are these two women?" She could tell immediately that John had a special rtionship with them. "Well..." John hesitated, ncing between the three women, unsure of how to exin the situation. Off to the side, Bonnie crossed her arms and watched with a smug expression, clearly enjoying the unfolding drama. "Husband? Hmph!" Sini, realizing what Sara had called him, snorted, giving John a sharp re. "Hello, sister! You''re so beautiful!" Sini suddenly stepped forward, pulling Sara aside. This woman seemed to have some sort of charm-after just a few words, Sara was giggling, her hostilitypletely dissolved. Bonnie, observing this, felt a twinge of annoyance. She had been looking forward to seeing John get into trouble. "Wait, are you Lady Bonnie?" At that moment, Anna noticed Bonnie, her face lighting up with surprise. "And you are?" Bonnie asked, puzzled. There was something familiar about the young girl, but she couldn''t quite ce her. Anna quickly responded, "Mydy, it''s me, Anna." "Oh!" Bonnie eximed, realization dawning. She smiled warmly, "The Elven Saintess of the Nature Elves! I didn''t expect you to have grown so much-you''ve be even more beautiful." Anna blushed and nodded shyly. Both the Dark Elves and the Nature Elves were born from the Tree of Life. Initially, the two elven factions had a harmonious rtionship, and Bonnie had taken care of Anna. But as disagreements arose, Bonnie eventually led the Dark Elves away from the Land of Elves, capturing Beast n warriors and establishing her own power. "And where is Tanya? Is she here?" Bonnie asked, her tone filled with concern. Despite the split, she still cared deeply for her Dark Elf kin, especially the Dark Elven Saintess, Tanya.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Anna shook her head, instinctively looking at John. Tanya had appeared during a previous Beast n crisis, but the encounter hadn''t gone well, leading to a conflict and a bet with John. Not wanting to worry Bonnie, Anna simply said, "Don''t worry, Tanya is still alive. She showed up not too long ago. I''m sure she''ll appear again." "That''s good to hear," Bonnie nodded, not pressing further. She was aware of some tension between John and the Dark Elves, but she wasn''t concerned. As long as she was around, the Dark Elves wouldn''t act against John. "Godyer, what''s our next move?" Behemoth asked, uninterested in the ongoing conversation and more curious about what was toe. John had been away from the world of Gods for a month and had a lot to catch up on. After thinking it over, he said, "I''ll take you all to Death Land first. Don''t resist." With that, he nced at Bonnie. Understanding his concern, Bonnie smiled and said, "Though Death Land is the sacred ground of the Dark Elves, it''s yours tomand now. I don''t mind." "Thank you. From now on, that will be your home," John said gratefully as he connected with the Death Land through his mind, leading the group of powerhouses into it. Sini and Anna followed closely behind. As soon as they arrived, a dense life force surrounded them, and Bonnie was left in shock and disbelief. "Is this really my Death Land?" She remembered that Death Land was supposed to be akin to the Abyss-a prison for the powerful beings of various races. But now, it looked like a paradise, a hidden sanctuary. Then she noticed the massive tree in the distance, its canopy stretching across the sky. "That''s the Tree of Life from the elves! No wonder..." she eximed in amazement. The other powerhouses, too, felt the overwhelming life energy around them, and they breathed in deeply, feeling invigorated. Compared to the Abyss, this ce was heaven. Whoosh! Suddenly, several powerful auras appeared as the ck Turtle and others, sensing the new arrivals, quickly rushed over. "Damn it, kid, what have you done now, bringing so many powerful beings here?" the ck Turtle asked irritably when he saw John. He was worried that these were enemies John had provoked, and some of these auras were so powerful they even made him feel uneasy. "Look at you, always so spineless. These are all allies," John remarked, giving the ck Turtle a nce. His behavior was a far cry from the dignified presence of his ancestor, Tony. "Wait, Bonnie!" A sudden shout rang out as Subus recognized Bonnie. Instantly on guard, she distanced herself, ready for battle at any moment. Many of the monsters previously imprisoned in the Land of Darkness had been captured by Bonnie herself. "Oh, Subus, you''re still alive?" Bonnie replied nonchntly, clearly not considering Subus a threat. "Alright, enough," John quickly intervened, speaking firmly. "We''re all on the same side now. Any past grievances can be settled privately, but no one is allowed to kill. We have amon enemy now-gods and the races that serve them." Hearing John''s words, the hostility among the monsters lessened slightly. They grudgingly acknowledged his point with a few grunts, and they decided to ignore Bonnie for the time being. Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Faction System Launch and Leaderboard Changes Chapter 144: Faction System Launch and Leaderboard Changes ? "Benefactor, I''ll find a ce for them to settle," Anna said as she took charge of leading the powerhouses away. The area around the Tree of Life was John''s private domain and off-limits, but the Vein of the Earth was an excellent alternative. The spiritual energy in the vein of the Earth was even more concentrated than around the Tree of Life, making it an ideal location. The ck Turtle remained behind, looking at John with concern. "Kid, where did you find so many powerful beings?" He seemed worried, as some of these individuals were far stronger than him, especially Behemoth, a terrifying creature known for feasting on dragons. With so many strong beings now in the area, he feared that if they had any ill intentions, he would be powerless to stop them. John, sensing the ck Turtle''s concerns, reassured him, "Don''t worry. They won''t dare make any moves, not with your grandpa turtle around." "Hmm?" The ck Turtle frowned, annoyed. "Are you trying to make fun of me, kid?" "Make fun of you?" John paused, realizing the misunderstanding, and quickly exined, "I meant your grandpa turtle, as in Senior Tony." "Grandpa Tony?" The ck Turtle was confused at first but then suddenly realized something, his eyes widening in surprise. "Did you really enter the Abyss? Are these guys all from the Abyss?" John nodded in confirmation. "And where''s Grandpa Tony?" The ck Turtle asked, not seeing Tony among the group, his concern evident. "Don''t worry, Senior Tony is fine. Do you know Senior Ben? He''s there too," John replied. The ck Turtle breathed a sigh of relief, but his curiosity remained. "Senior Ben was imprisoned in the Abyss as well? They couldn''t leave?" John exined, "It''s not that they couldn''t leave; they chose not to. If you want to see them, I can take you to the Abyss." "Uh, no thanks. I''d rather not disturb the seniors," the ck Turtle quickly declined. It seeming a bit fearful of both Tony and Ben. John didn''t press the issue and turned to Sini, asking, "Did anything major happen while I was away?" "Yes, quite a lot actually," Sini nodded as she led John to a treehouse, where she began summarizing the events of the past month. The Faction System hadunched not long after John entered the Abyss. First, the Angel Race''s Temple Faction was introduced, followed by the Dark Humans'' Dark City Faction and the Orcs'' Land of Corruption Faction. These three factions were all backed by the gods. yers could choose to join a faction, each offering different attribute bonuses. The Temple granted 1 point of Divinity, the Dark Humans'' Dark City increased physical and magical damage by 10%, and the Orcs'' Land of Corruption provided a 10% boost to health points. "Divinity?" John was puzzled. Thest time he killed a Two-Winged Angel, he plundered 1 point of Divinity from it. Curious, he asked, "Sini, do you know what this Divinity is?" Sini shook her head, "I''m not sure. There''s been a lot of spection among yers, though- many think it might be rted to the gods." The gods? John wasn''t convinced. He had obtained Divinity by Plundering it from a Two-Winged Angel, who was only a Tier 7 being. It seemed unlikely that it had anything directly to do with the gods. "And there''s more," Sini continued. "After the Faction System opened, several new races appeared, and the resources in the world of Gods have doubled, including the number of monsters. Some of these new races have attacked cities belonging to the Dark Humans as well as yer-built cities. Both Saint Martial Sect and me City were attacked, but we managed to defend them without much trouble." "Resources doubled? Monster numbers doubled?" John thought this was a good development, as it would allow yers to level up and grow stronger more quickly. "Have any powerful beings from the Angel Race or Dark Humans appeared?" he asked, still concerned about these two races. He knew they had Tier 9 powerhouses among them. With the Faction System now active, he wasn''t sure if those powerhouses would make their move. "No," Sini replied, also finding it strange. She had asked Tracy about it, but Tracy didn''t know what the Angel Race and Dark Humans were nning either. "By the way, John, there''s something else," Sini added, as another thought came to her. "Saint Martial Sect and Gates City have both unlocked faction missions. Once the city reaches Level 5, you can establish your own faction." "We can establish our own faction?" John was surprised. This Faction System didn''t seem to exclusively benefit the races under the gods'' control. "What about other cities? Can they establish factions too?" John thought about Ritchie''s me City. Sini shook her head, "No, only Saint Martial Sect and Gates City have triggered the faction missions." John furrowed his brow, suspecting he was onto something. It seemed that only forces native to the world of Gods could unlock faction missions once they built cities. The attacks from various new races on Dark Humans'' cities and yer-built cities were likely driven by this objective. Gates City''s lord was Ada, once a princess of the Gates Empire and a native human of the world of Gods. As for Saint Martial Sect, John spected that it might be rted to the Sect''s development of a new ss system. John then asked, "Sini, how do we establish our own faction?" Since the faction mission had been triggered, establishing their own faction would be a significant step, allowing yers to further enhance their strength. Sini recalled the details and said, "Once the city is upgraded to Level 5, the faction challenge mission automatically begins. It involves defending against a monster tide for twelve hours." "That easy?" John was a bit surprised. Upgrading a city required specific altar upgrade stones, which could only be obtained one level at a time. The stones could be acquired by destroying Dark Humans'' cities. John spected that this was likely the reason why powerhouses from various races were attacking the Dark Humans'' cities. As for defending against the monster tide, with the powerful beings under hismand- three Tier 8 legendary powerhouses, plus the option to summon Tony and Ben whenever needed-he felt confident. As long as there weren''trge numbers of Tier 9 powerhouses or god-level entities, holding off the monster tide for twelve hours shouldn''t be a problem. Sini then added, "By the way, there''s something else¡ªyou''ve fallen off the level leaderboard." "What?" John was shocked and quickly opened the level leaderboard. Sure enough, his name was nowhere to be found. [1. Kent; Divine Messenger; Tier 6, Level 504] [2. Toby; Light Mage; Tier 6, Level 502] [3. Beast Emperor; Holy Mage; Tier 6, Level 500] [4. Butcher; Berserker; Tier 6, Level 500] ... The leaderboard was filled with powerhouses above Tier 6, Level 500. The top spot was held by someone named Kent, a character John had never encounteredn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om before, with the hidden ss "Divine Messenger" at Tier 6, Level 504. Judging by the name, John guessed this person was likely from the Azure Family. It simr to how the Mike White Family had aligned themselves with the gods. What surprised John even more was seeing Tracy on the list. [10th ce: Star Dust; Alchemist; Tier 6, Level 500] Even thest person on the leaderboard was at Tier 6, Level 500! Apart from Tracy, everyone else on the list seemed to be from the Mike White Family or the Azure Family. John was astonished, knowing firsthand how difficult it was to level up. He had spent an entire month in the Abyss, killing a vast number of high-level Abyss demons, yet his level had only increased to 455. The speed at which these others had leveled up was far from normal. Sini continued, "I asked Tracy about it. She said they were helped by the Angel Race and were able to enter a secret area where they gained ten times the normal experience points." "Ten times the experience?!" John was shocked. He hadn''t known that such a powerful secret area existed in the world of Gods. If he could ess it, he could quickly push his level to the peak of Tier 9. The thought tempted him. If he reached the peak of Tier 9, he could refine the treasures of the Demon Race and Beast n, bing a being on par with the gods. However, knowing that the experience secret area was controlled by the Angel Race, John realized that acquiring ess to it wouldn''t be easy. "Let''s leave here for now and n how to establish our own faction," John decided, taking Sini with him as they left Death Land. The two reappeared at the Saint Martial Sect, where the signs of recent battles were evident. The sect had been under attack from several powerful beingstely. Fortunately, with Anna, the ck Turtle, and others defending, they had managed to protect both the Saint Martial Sect and the City of Darkness. Anna had left a marker at the Saint Martial Sect, allowing the powerful beings from the Land of Darkness to be summoned at any time. If me City were to face danger, they could quickly use the teleportation array at Saint Martial Sect to provide support. Ding! At that moment, Sini''s private chat alert sounded. She nced at the message, her brow furrowing, and then said, "John, it''s a message from Ritchie. me City is under attack by the Demon Race again, and they''re requesting our help." This was already the fourth time the Demon Race had attacked me City since the Faction System hadunched. It seemed the Demon Race had taken a particr interest in me City. Usually, Sini and Anna would lead the reinforcements. But with John now present, she felt more at ease. "Let''s go," John said. They quickly made their way to the Saint Martial Sect''s teleportation array and transported directly to me City. The city was eerily empty, with no signs of people in the streets. All the yers had gathered at the city walls. However, there were no sounds of battle, which indicated that the fight hadn''t yet begun. "Let''s move!" John wrapped an arm around Sini and took off in Sword Flight, swiftly reaching the city walls. Outside the city, tens of thousands of Demon Race troops were gathered but hadn''t yet launched their attack. On the walls, the 10,000 members of the me Legion stood ready, their expressions resolute, with no one showing any sign of retreat. John couldn''t help but admire Ritchie''s leadership-his soldiers were all elite warriors. "Hey, isn''t that the Godyer!" someone on the wall eximed, noticing John approaching on his sword. "It really is!" "Haha, those Demon Race scum better tremble in fear. Our Godyer is back!" The mood shifted instantly from tense and somber to one of excitement and relief. John was a bit surprised. He hadn''t realized he had gained such influence. "Boss, you finally made it!" Ritchie rushed over to greet John, clearly relieved. At that moment, Ritchie looked disheveled and exhausted, with bloodshot eyes that suggested he hadn''t rested well in a long time. The Bloodthirsty Demon Wolves behind him were also battered and worn, showing signs of having endured numerous battles. "You''ve been through a lot," John said, patting Ritchie on the shoulder, realizing that the past month had been tough for him. "Heh, it''s nothing," Ritchie replied, forcing a smile. John turned his attention to the Demon Race army gathered outside the city and asked, "What''s the situation with these Demon Race forces?" Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Slaying the Demon Emperor, Talent Upgrade Chapter 145: ying the Demon Emperor, Talent Upgrade ? Ritchie exined, "Boss, these guys are here to discuss a coboration." "Coboration?" John raised an eyebrow, unsure of what kind of tricks the demon race was trying to pull this time. Last time, a demon race genius also suggested working together, aiming for the Demon King''s treasure in me City. The Demon King''s treasure was located in the city''s secret area, but the ultimate prize, a priceless treasure of the demon race, had already been imed by Owen and wouldn''t be avable again. These demons couldn''t be after the Demon King''s treasure. "They proposed co-managing me City with us," Ritchie continued. "I''m not sure what scheme they''re brewing, so I''ve been stalling them." "Co-manage me City?" John chuckled coldly, immediately guessing their true intention. They likely wanted to take over me City and establish their own faction. In the world of gods, only Dark Humans and yers could use City Building Orders to establish cities. Ada''s Gates City was one such city, transferred to her by John after he founded it. If a race wanted to establish a faction, they had two options: conquer a Dark Human city or seize a city built by human yers. Compared to Dark Humans, human yers were much easier to deal with. "Humans, my patience is running thin. Don''t think that just because you have the Beast n''s help, I can''t take me City," a man''s voice boomed from outside the city walls. John curiously checked the scene. Thirty thousand elite demon soldiers, all at least Tier 4 in strength, stood ready for battle. Leading them was a demon emperor, a legendary Tier 7 powerhouse,parable to the demon race genius Owen. In the past, John would not have been able to match a demon emperor. But after spending more than a month in the Abyss, hunting down countless Abyss demons, his four basic attributes had seen massive improvements. His mental strength had reached 100,000 points, and his physical strength had increased to 70,000 points. On top of that, he hadprehended the power of the darkws, making him strong enough to y a Tier 7 powerhouse. "Boss, what should we do?" Ritchie asked, fully confident that as long as John was present, no problem was unsolvable. Below the city walls, the demon army roared, thirsty for blood. But John remained indifferent. To him, these demons were no more than ants. He locked eyes with the demon emperor leading the army and spoke calmly, "Coboration is out of the question. However, if your demon race is willing to join under mymand, I might consider it." Upon hearing John''s words, the demon army below erupted in furious outcry. "Human, you''re courting death!" "An insignificant human dares to spheme the great demon race! Unforgivable!" "Lord, stop wasting time with these people! Crush them already!" ... The demon emperor furrowed his brows, anger burning in his eyes as he red at John on the city wall. "Human, are you joking with me?" "It seems there''s nothing more to discuss," John said, feigning regret. He had no patience for further words. With a swift motion, the Sword of Divinity and Demons appeared in his hand, and violent fire elements surged around him. Whoosh! The longsword danced, casting Hellfire, triggering a spellbo. Boundless mes engulfed the demon army below. In an instant, the area beneath the city wall was transformed into a sea of fire. -950,301 -949,320 ... Terrifying damage numbers flickered. John''s area-of-effect magic, enhanced by critical hits, now dealt over 900,000 points of damage. The weak demon soldiers stood no chance. Their pitiful screams echoed as they were annihted in an instant. System notifications flooded in, as John gained a hefty amount of experience and attribute points once again. With just one skill, the demon army was nearly wiped out, leaving only a few Tier 6 epic demon lords and the Tier 7 legendary demon emperor. "Impossible!" the demon emperor roared as he burst out of the Hellfire''s range, his hair singed and his form disheveled. He stared at John in disbelief for a long moment before finally speaking, stunned, "You... you''re the Godyer?" John was slightly surprised. Was he really that famous now? Even a demon emperor from the demon race recognized him? "Damn it!" the demon emperor cursed, ring at John on the wall. He coldlymanded, "Attack! Kill him!" The demon lords around him looked terrified, frozen in ce. John''s earlier spell had almost killed them in one strike. If he attacked again, they would surely perish. One of the demon lords nervously nced at the demon emperor and cautiously said, "Lord, we can''t defeat him..." Boom! Before the demon lord could finish, the demon emperor punched him, killing him instantly. He then looked at the remaining demon lords, their faces full of fear, and coldly said, "Fight or die!" Gulp! The remaining demon lords swallowed hard, their faces pale with terror. Gritting their teeth, they reluctantly rushed toward the city wall. At that moment, John leapt down from the wall, ready to strike. "Run!" someone shouted. The dozen or so demon lords scattered like frightened birds, fleeing in all directions without a second thought. For a moment, both John and the demon emperor stood frozen in shock. "Courting death!" The demon emperor flew into a rage. His staff appeared in his hand, and several Dark Orbs shot out, instantly obliterating four of the fleeing demon lords. The remaining ones had already escaped into the forest, disappearing from sight. "Tsk, tsk!" John shook his head in disdain as he watched the scene unfold. "I regret it now. Even as ves, I wouldn''t want garbage like you!" The demon emperor''s eye twitched, feeling utterly humiliated. "Human, do you think you''re so powerful? If I wanted to kill you, it would be effortless!" he snarled, raising his staff. Dark magic swirled around him, forming dozens of arrows that whistled through the air toward John. "Dark magic?" John scoffed, standing motionless. He had no intention of dodging, letting the dark arrows strike him. Thud. Thud. -0 -0 ... A series of damage numbers shed, but John''s health didn''t drop by even a single point. "What... what''s going on?" The demon emperor''s eyes widened in disbelief. "You... you''ve mastered the Laws of Darkness? How is that possible?" His voice trembled as he stared at John, utterly incredulous. The power ofws was something that only a Tier 9 powerhouse, someone with extraordinary talent, couldprehend. Yet here was this human, only at Tier 5, having somehow mastered such a power. This was beyond anything he could understand. "Correct, but unfortunately, no prize!" John''s cold voice echoed, and with a sharp hum of sword intent, a brilliant sh tore through the sky, cutting straight toward the demon emperor. sh! -166,289 -93,144 Blood sttered, and two damage numbers flickered: a critical hit of 160,000 and over 90,000 in true damage. The demon emperor, at the early stages of Tier 7 with a health pool of nearly 9 million, wasn''t immediately threatened by these hits. But with John''s mastery of the Laws of Darkness, the demon emperor''s dark magic attacks were utterly useless. "Human, mark my words!" The demon emperor spat furiously, turning to flee. "You demons really are all the same!" John sneered in surprise. With a thought, he activated Sword Flight and immediately gave chase. Buzz! At the same time, the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword materialized, splitting into three as John unleashed Sword Mastery, rapidly closing in on the demon emperor. Cold gleams shed. -21,847 -21,410 ... Each hit dealt only true damage. Sword Mastery was akin to basic attacks and couldn''t break through the demon emperor''s physical defense, resulting in only around 20,000 true damage per hit. Yet even so, the demon emperor''s health was plummeting rapidly. Sensing death creeping ever closer, the demon emperor panicked and pleaded, "Human, spare me! I''ll join your ranks-no, I''ll even be your ve!" "Hmph, you''re truly shameless," John sneered in disgust,unching a dark magic attack- Annihtion. Buzz! A surge of immense dark power roared forth as a dark energy orbpressed rapidly, forming a small ck hole. The space around it twisted and contorted, wildly devouring everything in its vicinity. "No!" The demon emperor screamed in terror, his body helplessly being pulled toward then/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ck hole. Boom! With a deafening explosion, the terrifying dark energy erupted. Damage numbers floated above the chaos. -791,370 -129,580 John, having mastered the Laws of Darkness, saw his dark magic damage double. The devastating power of Annihtion devoured half of the demon emperor''s body, reducing it to nothingness. Only a mutted half-remained, lying in a pool of blood. His health was nearly depleted, leaving him powerless to survive John''s next attack. "Human, the Faction System has been activated. Soon, powerful beings from every race will descend. You won''t meet a good end!" Even in his final moments, knowing he was doomed, the demon emperor continued to spew threats. "So much nonsense!" John replied with disdain. A sh of cold light appeared as he activated his Unrivaled Sword Dance, shredding the demon emperor to pieces, leaving behind a few scattered loot items. [You have in a Level 1200 Tier 7 Legendary Demon Emperor, gaining 3.44 million experience points.] [Plunder Talent activated: Mental Strength +100, Skill Points +10; you have gained the Intermediate Dark Magic skill: Dark Storm.] The notification popped up, and John''s luck was good this time-he plundered a group- target dark magic skill, Dark Storm. Without hesitation, he used his skill points to upgrade Dark Storm to an advanced skill. [Dark Storm: Level 1, Advanced Magic, deals dark magic damage to area targets based on 330% of your Mental Strength. Mana Cost: 1000, Cooldown: 30 seconds.] With the enhancement from the Laws of Darkness, John''s power took another significant leap. He then turned his attention to the demon emperor''s dropped loot. A ck staff, two gemstones, over a hundred skill stones, enhancement stones, and other items. "Talent Upgrade Stone! Origin Stone!" John''s eyes were immediately drawn to the two gemstones. He had obtained another Origin Stone, along with a rare Primary Talent Upgrade Stone, which could upgrade any A-rank or lower talent by one level. John had mastered over a dozen talents, but only three of them were A-rank or below. His C-rank Magic Damage Amplification, B-rank Dual Mastery, and A-rank Physical Damage Amplification. Upgrading any of these talents would result in a massive boost to his power. After a brief moment of thought, John decided to upgrade his Dual Mastery talent. With his Mental Strength now at 100,000 points, enhancing Dual Mastery would increase both his physical and magic damage. [You have used the Primary Talent Upgrade Stone. Your Dual Mastery talent has been upgraded to A-rank.] [Dual Mastery: A-rank; Your physical attacks now deal an additional 60% magic damage. Normal attacks consume 10 mana, while physical skill attacks consume double mana.] With the A-rank Dual Mastery talent, his Magic Damage Amplification increased by another 10%. John was overjoyed as he finally turned his gaze to the ck staff. "An artifact!" he eximed, realizing with excitement that it was yet another powerful artifact. Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Barbarian Tribe, Destroying the City Chapter 146: Barbarian Tribe, Destroying the City ? [Dark Staff: Lower-grade Artifact] [Requirements: Mage ss, 2000+ Mental Strength] [Attributes: +10,000 Mana, +1000 Magic Damage, +1000 Mental Strength, +200 Constitution, +200 Agility] [Bonus Attributes: +10 Magic Critical Strike, +20% Dark Magic Damage] [Additional Skill: Dark Body] [Dark Body: Passive skill, increases Dark Element Affinity by 10 points] [Description: A powerful dark attribute weapon.] The Dark Staff granted an additional 20% boost to dark magic damage. Coupled with John''s mastery of the Laws of Darkness, which doubled his magic damage, the total increase in damage was 120%. This further bolstered his already formidable strength. The only downside was that the attached skill wasn''t a powerful ultimate magic ability, but a passive dark skill that increased elemental affinity by 10 points. For most people, this skill was incredibly valuable, making it easier toprehend the Laws of Darkness. However, for John, it wasn''t that useful. Whenever he desired, he could venture into the Abyss, y Tier 6 epic Abyss demons, and Plunder their Dark Element Affinity, further enhancing his mastery of the darkws. Overall, though, this artifact was still extremely powerful. John had been using a Tier 3 staff, the Phantom Mage''s Staff, and now he finally had something worthy to rece it. As soon as John equipped the new staff, his stats saw another boost. He now had four artifacts on him: the Sword of Divinity and Demons, the Blessed Ring, the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword, and now the Dark Staff. Of the six artifacts listed on the equipment leaderboard, all of them hade from his hands. "Boss, your strength has increased again!" Ritchie and the others approached as the battle concluded, looking at John with admiration and envy. John merely smiled and nodded. After spending more than a month in the Abyss, he had killed over 500,000 powerful Abyss demons and Plundered a vast number of attributes. It would''ve been strange if his strength hadn''t improved. He said, "Prepare yourselves. We''re going to attack some Dark Human cities to help the Saint Martial Sect establish a faction." "Got it!" Ritchie''s eyes lit up with excitement, and he immediately gave the order to gather the army. The Saint Martial Sect had triggered a faction mission, which required upgrading their city to Level 5 to unlock. To upgrade the city, they needed Altar Upgrade Stones. The sect''s city was already at Level 3. By destroying a Level 4 dark city and a Level 5 dark city, they could obtain the corresponding Altar Upgrade Stones to further increase their city''s level. Level 4 and 5 dark cities were incredibly powerful, often guarded by Tier 7 legendary beings. However, for John, dealing with such forces was a simple task. Before long, 5,000 elite troops were assembled. The me Legion had now expanded to 10,000 soldiers. Ritchie didn''t send the entire force, as a portion had to stay behind to defend me City, in case the demon race decided to stir up trouble again. This time, with John''s show of force, those enemies likely wouldn''t dare act rashly again- they would probably stay quiet for a few days. The yers who weren''t selected for the mission, however, were visibly unhappy. They gathered around Ritchie andined, "Captain, we want to join this operation too." "Yeah, Captain, you''re ying favorites by only picking the veteran members of the me Legion!" "We protest! This is unfair!" ... The crowd mored. They didn''t care about the danger; all they wanted was a chance to fight alongside the Godyer, something they could boast about for the rest of their lives. "Shut your mouths!" Ritchie roared, silencing the crowd, though they still grumbled under their breath, not daring to protest too loudly. He continued, "Rx, you''ll get your chance to shine. This time, we''re just attacking a Dark Human city. When the faction mission starts, you''ll all be included. Just make sure you don''t embarrass me when that timees." The yers, still a bit discontented, suddenly became excited upon hearing Ritchie''s words. "Even if it means certain death, I wouldn''t hesitate!" "Captain, when do we start the faction mission?" ... The group began to chatter once more, rubbing their hands together in anticipation. Ritchie interrupted them, irritated, "Keep it down! If anything happens to me City while I''m away, none of you will be joining future missions." "Don''t worry, Captain! As long as we''re here, me City stands! We won''t let anything happen!" they promised confidently. Ritchie quickly gave a few more instructions and set off. Most of the soldiers in me City had advanced to Tier 4, significantly boosting their strength. They no longer feared the beasts lurking in the outer regions of Dark Forest. However, since they had no means of flight, they had to march on foot. Fortunately, a Level 4 city wasn''t far from their location. The army marched forward, facing no resistance along the way. Soon, they arrived at the outskirts of the Dark Forest, near a city known as Golden Sands City. This was a Dark Human-built Level 4 city. When bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, the entire city shimmered as though covered in ayer of golden sand, hence the name. "Attack!" Cries of battle rang out. Golden Sands City was under siege by one of the Gods'' world''s faction forces. John observed the attackers with curiosity. They resembled humans but were muchrger and more physically imposing. There were more than 10,000 of them, all at Tier 4. John had never encountered this race before, so he turned to Ritchie and asked, "What race are those guys?" Ritchie exined, "Boss, those are Barbarians, a newly emerging race. They''re all brawn and little brain, but they possess high magic resistance. They''re not to be underestimated." "John, whose side are we on?" Sini, gripping her longbow, was eager to join the fight. The Barbarians and the Dark Human defenders were evenly matched, with neither side gaining the upper hand for now. "Whose side?" John smirked coldly and replied, "Take them both out!" He had no intention of joining the fray himself. The Barbarians and the Dark Human defenders were about as strong as the me Legion members. John wanted to see just how much the legion''s strength had improved in recent times. Upon hearing John''smand, Ritchie immediately issued the order, "Form up! Charge! Archers and mages, unleash full firepower!" The 5,000-strong army swiftly moved into formation with impable discipline. "Attack!" Battle cries erupted as knights and warriors led the charge, with assassins following closely behind. In the rear, mages and archers released a torrent of arrows and spells, raining down on both the Barbarians and the Dark Humans. Screams of pain filled the air as casualties mounted on both sides. The Barbarians, in particr, suffered heavy losses, caught between the hammer of the me Legion and the anvil of the Dark Human defenders. "Lord, it''s human yers!" one Barbarian shouted in panic. "Despicable scum! How dare they attack the savage Barbarians! Deal with them first!" The Barbarian leader roared, redirecting his forces toward the me Legion. The sh of battle intensified as the Barbarians charged forward, but the me Legion soldiers showed no fear. The two forces collided with tremendous force. It was almost too easy-like cutting through butter. The me Legion pushed deep into the Barbarian ranks like a sharp de, quickly carving out a breach. Knights and warriors held the front line, with assassins slipping in and out of the shadows like ghosts, delivering deadly strikes to the Barbarians. Meanwhile, from the rear, arrows and magic rained down relentlessly, decimating the Barbarian ranks. John didn''t engage in the frontline battle. Instead, using Sword Flight, he dashed into the city, where he destroyed the teleportation array and the resurrection point, cutting off the Dark Humans'' reinforcements. He thennded on the city walls and proceeded to massacre the Dark Humans'' archers and mages. Those who posed the greatest threat to the me Legion. Once the most dangerous enemies were neutralized, John paused to assess the battlefield. Nodding in satisfaction. He observed how the me Legion had grown significantly. Their coordination had improved, and they could now easily crush an enemy force twice their size of the same level. Ritchie and Sini, in particr, charged into enemy lines as if no one could stop them, wreaking havoc. Soon, under thebined assault of the me Legion and the remaining Dark Humans, the Barbarian army was nearly annihted. One of the leading Dark Human generals looked at Ritchie with gratitude and said, "Humans, thank you for your help. You are true friends of the Dark Humans!" "Friends? You must be out of your mind!" Ritchie sneered. "Blood-red demon wolf, finish him!" With amand, Ritchie, riding his blood-red demon wolf, charged straight at the Dark Human general. "Human, you''re courting death..." the Dark Humans general cursed, but in the next moment,n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om he was torn apart by the blood-red demon wolf. With only Tier 5 epic strength, he stood no chance against the Tier 7 peak epic blood-red demon wolf, who quickly dispatched him with ease. The brutal battle resumed, and although the Dark Humans soldiers were somewhat stronger than the Barbarians. It wasn''t by much. The army continued its assault, and the already fragile city gates were soon shattered. The me Legion stormed into the city, unleashing a merciless ughter upon the Dark Humans. "Humans, prepare to die!" A furious roar echoed through the battlefield as a Dark Humans elite of Tier 6 epic power appeared. He was the lord of Golden Sands City. "Boss, let me handle this one!" the blood-red demon wolf growled excitedly, stopping John from stepping in and charging directly at the city lord. For the blood-red demon wolf, taking down a Tier 6 epic opponent was an easy task. John, enjoying a rare moment of leisure, stood atop the city walls, three short swords hovering around him. If any of his soldiers were in danger, he would step in to assist. It didn''t take long before the lord of Golden Sands City fell to the blood-red demon wolf, and the Dark Humans soldiers were routed. Ritchie rushed into the city and destroyed the altar, obtaining the Level 4 Altar Upgrade Stone, which, once used, could upgrade their Level 3 city to Level 4. "Boss, which Level 5 city are we attacking next?" Ritchie asked excitedly as he handed the altar stone to John. Currently, most yers were only at Tier 4. Aside from John and a few top-ranking yers like the Mike White Family and the Azure Family, no one had reached Tier 5. The Level 5 cities hadn''t been opened yet, so Ritchie had little knowledge about them. "No rush. Let''s take down one more Level 4 city first," John replied. Both the Saint Martial Sect and Gates City, founded by Ada, had triggered their faction missions. John decided to upgrade both cities to fully establish them as faction forces. The army moved out, heading for another Dark Humans-controlled Level 4 city. Once again, they faced no significant resistance and easily crushed the enemy, securing yet another Level 4 Altar Upgrade Stone. Now, it was time to seek out and destroy a Level 5 city. John knew the locations of several Level 5 cities, though they were all quite far. The nearest one was Pale Moon, located in the Pale Moon Forest. Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Pale Moon, Encountering the Two-Winged Angel Again Chapter 147: Pale Moon, Encountering the Two-Winged Angel Again ? The area surrounding Pale Moon was teeming with powerful Tier 5 beasts, including me Dragons and Rock Giants. Although the strength of the me Legion had improved significantly, they were no match for such formidable creatures. John turned to Ritchie and said, "From here on, I''ll go alone. Lead the army back and wait for my signal." "Alright," Ritchie replied, a bit disappointed but understanding. He knew that the me Legion was far from capable of taking on the forces of a Level 5 dark city. They would only be a burden to John. "John, I want toe with you!" Sini pleaded, her eyes filled with determination. "Alright." John nodded, not refusing her request. Leaving the army behind, John took Sini with him and used Sword Flight to head toward the Pale Moon Forest. Suddenly, John halted mid-flight, sensing something. Avis had awakened-it seemed the creature had sessfully absorbed the Dragon''s Blood. "What''s wrong?" Sini asked curiously. "Wait a moment." With a thought, John summoned Avis. Boom! A massive shadow appeared, crashing to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust. It was Avis. John looked at the disheveled Avis with confusion. "What happened to you? Did you forget how to fly?" Avis mbered to his feet, still a bit dazed, but upon seeing John, his face lit up with joy. "Master!" However, his expression quickly shifted to one of urgency. "Master, something''s wrong! Bonnie, the dark elf, has appeared in the Land of Death. She''s a Tier 9 powerhouse-she must be trying to reim The Land of Darkness!" John realized immediately what had happened: Avis had been beaten up by Bonnie. "Don''t worry," John replied calmly. "Bonnie''s already under mymand." "What?" Avis shook his head in disbelief, lifting himself into the air with shock written all over his face. "Master, what have you been doing while I was in seclusion?" "Not much, just took another trip to the Abyss." John gave a vague answer, then, with Sini in his arms, leaped onto Avis'' back. "Head to the Pale Moon Forest. Do you know where it is?" Avis nodded instinctively, still reeling from the revtion. During his time in seclusion, it seemed like he had missed a lot. While he had absorbed the Dragon''s Blood and advanced to Tier 5, the gap between him and John had only grown wider, leaving him once again relegated to being nothing more than a means of transportation. As Avis flew swiftly through the skies, his Dragon''s Might radiated outward, keeping most beasts at bay. ... After a full day''s flight, they finally arrived at Pale Moon Forest. This was a ce dominated by powerful Tier 5 and above beasts. Avis'' Dragon''s Might could no longer intimidate them, and soon, several beasts, emerged to cause trouble.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Including me Dragons and Rock Giants. John immediately pulled Sini into his party to ensure her safety. With a swift motion, he activated Sword Mastery, sending three short swords flying through the air. In an instant, the Tier 5 beasts were effortlessly in. "John, the experience points are growing so fast!" Sini eximed, overjoyed as she watched her experience points increase rapidly. At this rate, it wouldn''t take more than a week for her to reach level 200 and undergo her fifth ss advancement. John, however, remained indifferent. "This is nothing. In the Abyss, leveling up is much faster. I''ll take you there to level up soon." "Really? Will it be safe?" Sini asked, not out of concern for herself but for John''s safety. "Don''t worry. The Abyss is already under my control," John reassured her. With his current power, as long as he avoided the regions controlled by Tier 8 or higher Abyss demons, there was no real danger. "Master, I want to go too!" Avis eagerly chimed in. "Alright. But first, we need to deal with the issues in the world of Gods," John agreed, nning to help the Saint Martial Sect and Gates City establish their factions before quickly advancing to Tier 6. ... The trio-John, Sini, and Avis-ventured deeper into the Pale Moon Forest. The strength of the surrounding beasts grew with every step, but they were still only Tier 5, posing no threat to John. Before long, a vast and magnificent city came into view. Pale Moon, a Level 5 city. Whoosh! Suddenly, an arrow shot toward them. Avis hastily dodged, sensing a faint threat from the arrow. On the city walls, a Dark Humans general stood with his bow drawn, ring coldly at John and Avis. "Humans, Pale Moon is not yet open. Leave immediately!" John nced at the man, unwilling to waste words. With a swift motion, a sword beam shot forth like a streak of lightning, aimed directly at the general. Boom! The sword beam struck, creating a gash in the fortified wall. The Dark Humans general was instantly killed. [You have in a Tier 6 epic Dark Humans general, gaining 160,000 experience points.] [Plunder Talent activated: Strength +10, Constitution +10.] The system notifications shed as the remaining Dark Humans soldiers on the walls panicked andunched an all-out attack. "Master, I can''t handle this many," Avis said gravely, quickly ascending into the sky. The soldiers were mostly Tier 5 and 6. While Avis could handle one-on-one fights, he couldn''t hold his ground against thousands of enemies. "Leave it to me!" John leaped into the air, using Sword Flight to soar above the city. He quickly located the teleportation point and destroyed it. Boom! With a loud crash, the teleportation point was obliterated. Since no yers had yet arrived in this Level 5 city, there was no need to destroy the resurrection point. Just as John prepared to deal with the soldiers on the walls, a furious shout rang out. "Human, you''ve shown yourself atst!" A holy figure emerged from the city, flying toward him. It was a Two-Winged Angel. "Huh!" John raised an eyebrow in surprise. It was a familiar face-the same Two-Winged Angel he had killed before in the Land of Death. He sneered, "A defeated opponent, yet you daree out to die again?" "Hmph, this time I won''t fall for it. Without the Tree of Life, you''re doomed!" the Two- Winged Angel roared, as a fluctuation of spatial power sealed the surrounding space, preventing John from escaping into the Death Land. Last time, it was the Tree of Life''s interference, along with the help of powerful beasts, that led to John''s demise. If it had been just John alone, she wouldn''t have taken him seriously. "You''re really confident," John sneered disdainfully, feeling the weakness in the spatial power around him. He could easily break through it. However, with his current strength, he could easily defeat a seventh-tier legendary warrior. Buzz! The sound of sword intent reverberated as John, uninterested in further conversation, attacked directly with a swift move of his sword,unching a blinding strike. "Foolish!" The Two-Winged Angel didn''t sense the impending danger, her longsword gleaming as she shed toward John. Boom! A thunderous roar echoed as terrifying sword energy rippled through the air. Feathers scattered as she was sent flying backward. "No... no way!" Blood trickled from the corner of the Two-Winged Angel''s mouth as she stared at John in disbelief. "How did your power increase so quickly?" It had only been a month. Even for someone of divine descent, such rapid improvement was impossible. John didn''t bother replying. Dark energy surged, forming a ck mist that enveloped the surroundings. "Dark Descent!" The Two-Winged Angel''s face changed drastically. This was advanced dark magic, and her attributes were severely weakened. Escape! Realizing she was no match for John, she didn''t hesitate, turning to flee into the distance. "Toote to run now!" John sneered. The Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword appeared, splitting into three as it whistled through the air, chasing the Two-Winged Angel and relentlessly tearing into her. -22840 -22457 ... A series of true damage numbers flickered as feathers withered and golden blood sttered. This Two-Winged Angel''s strength wasn''t evenparable to that of the demon emperor. "Get away!" she roared angrily, Holy Light surrounding her and forming a shield to block the flying swords. "Quick, help me hold him off!" she then called out to the Dark Humans army below for assistance. The Dark Humans army hesitated briefly but immediatelyunched an attack on John. Arrows flew, magic howled, all enveloping John. John sneered as his Diamond Armor formed, blocking the magic and arrows effortlessly. Then, a dark magic staff appeared in his hand, and terrifying dark energy surged, whipping up a fierce storm that engulfed the entire Dark Humans army. It was advanced dark magic-Dark Storm! Whoosh... The violent wind raged, turning into countless sharp des infused with terrifying dark magic, ravaging everything in its path. Under the blessing of the three great attributes-The Power of Dark Laws, the Dark Staff, and Dark Descent-John''s Dark Storm reached a terrifying critical damage of over two million! The Dark Humans soldiers stood no chance; they were all instantly killed. Even the Two- Winged Angel lost over 800,000 HP. Her total health was only around three million, and now she had lost a quarter of it in one blow. The vast city of Pale Moon was instantly transformed into a dead zone, with only two survivors. The Two-Winged Angel and the city lord of Pale Moon, a seventh-tier epic warrior. "My city!" the Pale Moon City Lord cried out, spewing blood, his figure wavering unsteadily. Pale Moon had been his life''s work, but in an instant, most of it had been destroyed by John. The Dark Humans soldiers had all been wiped out. "N-no... impossible..." The Two-Winged Angel stared at John, trembling with fear and disbelief. "You''ve actually mastered the Power of Dark Laws!" She had already witnessed John''s physical attacks with true damage, but those didn''t belong to the realm ofws. However, the dark magic attack just now was filled with the terrifying essence of the Power of Dark Laws. There was no doubt-this human had mastered the Power of Dark Laws. "How did you do it?" The Two-Winged Angel swallowed hard and asked in shock. "It''s none of your concern!" John sneered and once again unleashed advanced dark magic- Annihtion! Buzz! A Dark Orb rapidlypressed, instantly forming a ck hole, tearing apart the surrounding space as it rushed toward the Two-Winged Angel, ready to devour her. "No!" she shrieked in agony as her body was devoured by the ck hole, instantly killed! [You have in a level 1000 seventh-tier legendary Two-Winged Angel and gained 1.072 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Divinity +1.] The notification popped up as John plundered another point of divinity, though this time, there were no loot drops. Buzz! Suddenly, the Resurrection Point beside him lit up, and to John''s surprise, the Two-Winged Angel resurrected at the Resurrection Point. Chapter 148: Chapter 148: City of Angels, Targeting John Chapter 148: City of Angels, Targeting John ? "So you''re just like the yers!" John eximed in surprise, unleashing another dark magic attack. "Human, how dare you!" the Two-Winged Angel roared in fury, but in the next second, she was devoured by the ck hole once again. The air shimmered coldly as the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword ruthlessly tore through her. Her HP waspletely drained. [You have in a level 1000 seventh-tier legendary Two-Winged Angel and gained 1.072 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Divinity +1.] "Again?" John was surprised, as he had once more earned over a million experience points and 1 point of Divinity. Buzz! The Resurrection Point below flickered with light as the Two-Winged Angel reappeared, her face pale, her aura unstable. Her cultivation had dropped to the sixth tier. "Human, the Angel Race will never forgive you!" she shouted furiously, her light sword glowing as she gathered all her strength for one final strike. However, she wasn''t aiming at John; she was targeting the Resurrection Point beside her. Once the Resurrection Point was destroyed, she could no longer resurrect here, escaping John''s grasp. John realized her intent, but it was toote to stop her. Boom! A beam of Holy Light descended, obliterating the Resurrection Point. The Two-Winged Angel looked at John with cold indifference and said, "Human, you''ll regret crossing the Angel Race." "Tch!" John scoffed. He was tired of hearing such threats. "Die!" John growled, gripping his staff in his left hand and his sword in his right. He unleashed three abilities at once. Flying Sword Strike! Annihtion! Inferno Dance! With the Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart talent, he simultaneously unleashed three devastating attacks. Boom! Terrifying energy surged, and the Two-Winged Angel was in once more. The overwhelming energy even devoured and instantly killed the Pale Moon City Lord! [You have in a level 999 sixth-tier legendary Two-Winged Angel and gained 1.08 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Divinity +1.] [You have in a level 1000 sixth-tier epic Dark City Lord and gained 541,000 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Strength +200, Spirit +200, Skill Points +10.] The notifications flickered. The Two-Winged Angel dissolved into white light again, this time disappearing for good, but no loot dropped. John had plundered yet another point of Divinity. However, the Pale Moon City Lord did drop quite a few valuable items: a seventh-tier legendary belt, a City Building Order, a sixth-tier hero Secret Area Scroll, along with several Skill Stones, equipment enhancement stones, and other items. Although these weren''t immediately useful to him, John gathered them all up. He then destroyed the Pale Moon Altar, obtaining a Level 5 Altar Upgrade Stone. "John, I''ve leveled up to 177!" With the danger gone, Sini descended on her mount, Avis, her face full of joy. The leveling speed was exhrating. It wouldn''t be long before she reached the fifth tier. "Not bad," John nodded, ncing at his own experience points, feeling a bit disappointed. He had ughtered so many fifth-tier magical beasts and Dark Humans soldiers, yet he was still stuck at level 455, with more than 70 million experience points needed for the next level- up. After reaching the fifth tier, leveling up became increasingly difficult. John didn''t dwell on it. After cleaning up the battlefield, he mounted Avis and headed back to the Saint Martial Sect toplete his faction quests. ... In a secret space within the world of Gods, a massive city floated in the air, bathed in radiant light, exuding a holy aura. Within the city, figures swiftly flitted about-they were all angels. Among them, there were even mighty four-winged and six-winged angels. This was the legendary City of Angels, a level 9 city. Whoosh! A disheveled figure swooped down andnded in front of a luxurious mansion. It was the Two-Winged Angel John had just in-her name was Lisa. "I have information about the Godyer. I request an audience with Lady Elsa," she said respectfully to the two four-winged angels standing at the gate. One of them nced at her and replied indifferently, "Wait here." With that, she vanished in a sh. It using a powerful spatial discement skill. Besides wielding light magic, the Angel Race alsomanded certain aspects of spatial magic. Before long, the angel reappeared. The heavy doors slowly creaked open, and she said, "You may enter." "Thank you!" Lisa bowed respectfully before walking into the mansion. Inside, it was a world of its own-artificial mountains, flowing water, and at the forefront, a towering angel statue emanating an overwhelming aura of purity. Its presence was noble and sacred, impossible to look at directly. Even more intimidating were the twelve wings on the statue''s back. A ninth-tier angel typically had no more than six wings. The owner of this statue was a true deity. Soon, Lisa reached the entrance of a grand pce. She bowed deeply and said respectfully, "Mydy, I have urgent news to report." "Come in," a gentle female voice called from within. As the pce doors opened, Lisa stepped inside. The pce was bathed in a soft glow, with an even stronger sense of divine light filling the air. "Hm?" Lisa hesitated for a moment, noticing a young human woman inside. The girl was cute, holding a small fruit knife, peeling an unfamiliar fruit. It was Tracy. Lisa quickly regained herposure and turned her attention to the throne, where an incredibly beautiful angel sat, holding a scepter. She was Elsa, the city lord of Angel City, a peak ninth-tier warrior, and a six-winged angel. Lisa bowed once again and respectfully said, "Mydy, I have news of the Godyer." Beside her, Tracy paused, momentarily stopping her task of peeling the fruit. She looked at Lisa with a mix of anticipation and worry. "Speak," Elsa''s calm voicemanded. Lisa straightened slightly but kept her head lowered. "The Godyer appeared in Pale Moon. I believe the city has already been destroyed. He acquired a level 5 Altar Upgrade Stone, and I suspect his next step will be to establish a faction." "What? Pale Moon has been destroyed?" A shocked voice rang out. Lisa couldn''t help but look up. It was only then that she noticed another person in the grand hall-a Dark Human with an overwhelming aura, also at the peak of the ninth tier. It was Robing, the lord of the level 9 city, Dark Citadel. Robing turned to Elsa, clearly displeased. "I warned you not to activate the Faction System. Now, the Dark Humans have be the target of every major force. In just half a month, hundreds of cities have been destroyed, with countless Dark Humans dead or injured. You owe mepensation!" Elsa frowned slightly, her expression darkening. She turned to Lisa and said, "This no longer concerns you. You may leave." "Yes, mydy!" Lisa bowed respectfully, casting another curious nce at the young girl before leaving the hall. She couldn''t understand why a human yer would be here, but it was clear that she was. Elsa, now looking at Robing, said calmly, "The activation of the Faction System has benefitted you as well. As forpensation, that''s due to the ipetence of your Dark Humans." "You!" Robing seethed with anger. "If it weren''t for your people losing the Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area Scroll, I would never have agreed to activate the Faction System..." Boom! Suddenly, a terrifying pressure erupted in the room, forcing Robing to take two steps back. His expression became cautious, and he didn''t dare to say another word. Elsa''s voice turned cold. "Hmph, don''t forget, you also lost the Element Secret Area Key!" Gulp!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Robing swallowed hard, no longer daring to show any disrespect. He asked, "Then what should we do next?" Elsa nced briefly at Tracy, then said in a light tone, "I have my ns. This doesn''t concern you. Leave now. I''ll inform you when it''s time to act." Robing opened his mouth as if to say something but thought better of it. Reluctantly, he bowed and left the hall. The vast chamber now held only Elsa and Tracy. A soft smile appeared on Elsa''s face as she turned to Tracy and asked, "Star Dust, how is your training going with the technique I''ve been teaching you?" "Just so-so," Tracy replied tly, continuing to peel her fruit without much interest. Elsa didn''t seem to mind her indifference at all and nodded before continuing, "Do you want to meet that Godyer?" Tracy''s eyes lit up. She put down the fruit and stared at Elsa, her expression wary. "Are you going to let me leave?" Elsa smiled and nodded. "Once you''ve raised the Divine Path Technique to the 10th level, you''ll be free to leave." "Really?" Tracy''s eyes sparkled with hope. The Divine Path Technique was a top-tier light- attribute cultivation method Elsa had taught her, capable of significantly increasing healing power. Despite the benefits, Tracy had always been cautious, never fully trusting Elsa, and thus refrained from fully advancing the technique. Even so, she had already reached the 9th level and was close to breaking through to the 10th. "Really," Elsa smiled, her demeanor genuinely sincere. "I''ll enter seclusion to train immediately," Tracy said eagerly as she rose and walked toward the back of the hall. Elsa didn''t stop her, but the smile on her face slowly faded. "What an adorable little girl," she murmured to herself, though her expression gradually twisted into something sinister. "Godyer, I wonder how you''d feel knowing you met your end at the hands of this girl..." Although the Faction System had been activated, ninth-tier powerhouses still couldn''t descend into the World of Gods. The highest level that could appear was an eighth-tier entity. Elsa was confident that an eighth-tier four-winged angel could y the Godyer, but to be absolutely sure, she had another n in ce. ... World of Gods John and Sini had returned to the Saint Martial Sect, where they found Chris and informed him of their ns to establish a faction. "John, do you think it''ll be dangerous?" Chris didn''t seem excited. In fact, he appeared more concerned. He was well aware that the activation of the Faction System was designed to target John. Although starting a faction came with many benefits, Chris didn''t want John to take unnecessary risks. "Don''t worry," John replied confidently. "I''ve already gotten the details from Tracy. Even with the Faction System open, ninth-tier powerhouses still can''t descend. As for eighth-tier enemies, I have more than enough strength to handle them." In the Death Land, he had Sara, Bonnie, and Behemoth, all of whom were peak eighth-tier legendary powerhouses. Besides them, there were also Tony and Ben in the Abyss, two experienced seniors whom John could summon at any time. Dealing with eighth-tier legendary figures would be a breeze. "Alright, if you''re sure, then you have my full support. Every disciple of the Saint Martial Sect will cooperate with you fully," Chris said, seeing John''s determination and deciding not to argue further. By now, the Saint Martial Sect had close to 100,000 disciples, all hailing from various Ancient Martial Arts families. Half of them had already broken through to the fourth tier. With this level of strength, they should be able to withstand the monster tide attacks that would inevitably be triggered by the establishment of the faction. ... Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Establishing the Faction, Monster Tide Incoming 149 Chapter 149: Establishing the Faction, Monster Tide Iing The next day, many experts of the Saint Martial Sect gathered. The elves, the Undying Legion of the Gates Empire, and the Beast n army. Even the elite forces of Ritchieme City had all been brought in. To fend off the impending monster tide attacking the newly established faction, John summoned all of his forces, making thorough preparations. "Brother-inw, is it time to upgrade the city?" Armstrong asked while holding two Altar Upgrade Stones. John nodded, "Go ahead." "Alright." Without hesitation, Armstrong used the Altar Upgrade Stones to upgrade the city. [Ding, Saint Martial City upgraded to a Level 4 City.] [Ding, Saint Martial City upgraded to a Level 5 City.] [Announcement: Saint Martial City has initiated the Faction Challenge. In the next 12 hours, a monster tide will attack. Sessfully defend the city to unlock the Faction System.] ... Two system notifications about the upgrade of Saint Martial City, followed by three announcements, immediately caused a massive uproar in the world of Gods. "Another Faction System is being activated?" "Saint Martial City? Isn''t that a yer-built city? Does this mean yers can also unlock the Faction System?" "I recall Saint Martial City is tied to the Ancient Martial Arts Family, probably rted to the Godyer." "Let''s form a group and head to Saint Martial City. Anyone know the coordinates?" "Saint Martial City is in the Eternal Forest, where the monsters are formidable. I''d advise adventurers below Tier 4 not to get involved. Tier 4 yers can barely make it through." "Tier 4? Are the monsters that strong there? Do you think Godyer can hold them off?" "Not sure. This is the first time a yer is establishing a faction, so the monster tide will definitely be tougher than when building a city." "Does anyone know how to join the Saint Martial Sect?" "Same question!" "Does anyone know how to join the Saint Martial Sect?" "Same question!" "Maybe after they sessfully establish the faction, they''ll invite regr yers to join." ... The world chat channel buzzed with discussions, with many yers forming groups to head toward the Eternal Forest. This system announcement not only reached the yers of the world of Gods but also triggered strong reactions from various races and forces. City of Angels. "They''re unlocking the Faction System so soon?" Elsa frowned, muttering angrily, "That girl''s talent is terrible, and she hasn''t even reached the tenth level of cultivation yet!" She knew John would establish a faction, but she hadn''t expected it to happen so quickly. Her n was to wait until Tracy had cultivated the Godpath technique to the tenth level. Then, she''d have full confidence in killing the Godyer. But now, Tracy was still in seclusion, and Elsa found herself hesitating¡ªshould she try to stop the Saint Martial Sect from establishing their faction? The powerful beings of various factions, those of tier eight and below, were able to descend into the world of Gods to prevent the establishment of a faction. However, even tier eight angels couldn''tpletely erase yers. Even if they managed to kill Godyer in the world of Gods, he could still resurrect, and there was no guarantee that he would drop the Death Worm''s Nest secret area scroll. Elsa had gone through so much effort to activate the Faction System for the sole purpose of reiming the Death Worm''s Nest scroll from John''s hands. "Even if I don''t act, the Dark Humans and Orcs will. I should at least send a few Two-Winged Angels to investigate this human," she decided. She ordered a seven-man squad of Two-Winged Angels to descend into the world of Gods. ... Saint Martial Sect. Not long after the system announcement, loud rumbling echoed through the forest, trees were toppled, and countless monsters surged forth. Furious tree monsters, venomous tree monsters, jungle bears, death spiders¡­ All of them were powerful tier four and tier five monsters, swarming like a tide, rushing toward them in droves. John stood atop the city wall, not in a hurry to make a move. These tier four and five monsters could be barely handled by the yers. It was better to let the disciples of Saint Martial Sect and the soldiers of the me Legion hunt them down and grow stronger. "Everyone, prepare for battle! Maintain formation, no chaos! If any yer falls, immediately cover for them!" Ritchie calmlymanded the army. Even the one hundred thousand elite disciples of the Saint Martial Sect were under his unifiedmand. "Understood!" The army shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens. The surge of battle spirit was so intense that even John felt his blood boil. In this life, he was full of confidence. Although the yers were still weak, once they grew, they would be more than capable of standing against the Dark Humans. "Ranged sses, prepare!" Ritchie raised his hand, clenching his fist, calcting the distance of the approaching monster tide. "Attack!" At hismand, countless arrows wereunched from the city walls, and magic spells filled the sky, crashing into the monster tide army. Roar... Roar after roar filled the air as the monstrous army suffered heavy casualties. But soon, more monsters swarmed from behind, like an endless tide, pressing forward without end. Seeing this, Ritchie frowned. At this rate, the monster tide would reach the foot of the city walls in no time. "Knights, warriors, charge!" he ordered through gritted teeth. This move was practically sending the knights and warrior yers to their deaths, but it was the only way to slow the advance of the monster tide. "Elves, get ready!" At that moment, Anna stepped forward,manding the elf army to hold off the monster tide. "Robin," Ada looked at themander of the Undying Legion and said, "Go, and be careful." "Yes, Your Highness, don''t worry!" he responded, brandishing his spear and leading the Undying Legion into battle. "We''re going too." Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix charged out as well, leading the Beast n army into the fray. With the addition of the elf army, the Undying Legion, and the Beast n forces, the pressure on Ritchie and the others was greatly reduced, allowing them to fend off the monster tide''s attack. On the city walls, only a few powerful tier-eight warriors, like ck Turtle, remained. "These humans''bat capabilities are truly impressive," Bonnie remarked, watching the fierce battle between the yers and monsters below, unable to hide her admiration. Sara and the others nodded in agreement. Though the yers'' strength was rtively weak, their coordination was wless. If they were on par with the monster tide army in terms of power, they could easily handle the attack on their own. "Godyer, do you need us to step in?" Behemoth asked eagerly, watching the battle below, his fists clenched, clearly itching for a fight. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om John shook his head, "No rush for now. They can handle it." At that moment, ck Turtle spoke up, "Kid, when you have time, help me establish a city too. The Beast n needs its own faction." Hearing his words, everyone''s eyes lit up with interest. Especially Bonnie. As a dark elf, she had made many enemies in the world of Gods. Now that the Faction System had opened and powerful beings from all races were descending, some of those enemies were bound to be among them. If she could establish her own faction and gather the dark elves, it would be much easier to protect them. "Sure," John agreed without hesitation, then looked at the others and added, "Anyone else who wants to establish a faction, I can help you build a city." Bonnie was the first to speak, "Count me in, Godyer." "I''ll pass," Behemoth hesitated for a moment, then dismissed the idea. Although the Behemoth race was powerful, their numbers were few. It had been a long time since Behemoth had seen another of his kind. He even suspected that the rest of his species might have already gone extinct. ck Turtle immediately said, "You can always join the Beast n faction." "You?" Behemoth nced at ck Turtle with disdain. Though both were tier-eight, there was a vast difference in strength. Behemoth was a legendary-ss warrior, while ck Turtle was merely an epic-ss. The gap between them was immense. ck Turtle, clearly displeased, retorted, "Don''t forget, the Beast n has Tony and Ben backing us up." "Hmm, that''s something to consider," Behemoth''s attitude shifted instantly. With the protection of two peak tier-nine warriors, he would be much safer. "Dear, which faction are you in? I want to join yours," Sara looked at John with affection in her eyes. "Well..." John hesitated, unsure how to answer. He honestly didn''t know which faction to belong to. The Saint Martial Sect, Gates City, the Beast n, and the dark elf faction Bonnie wanted to establish¡ªall were under his influence. Choosing a single faction to join left him momentarily unsure of which to pick. He looked at Sara and said, "All of these factions are mine. You can join whichever one you like." ck Turtle immediately chimed in, "Lady Sara, why not join the Beast n? After all, we share the same roots." "Join myfaction!" Bonnie shot him a re and snapped. ck Turtle chuckled awkwardly and wisely shut his mouth. With his lesser strength, he didn''t dare offend Bonnie. "The dark elves, huh? That''s actually a good choice," Sara nodded in agreement. She had been trapped in the Abyss for a thousand years and had long mastered dark affinity. The dark elves also belonged to the forces of darkness, and their faction would naturally have a dark blessing that could enhance her cultivation. John didn''t involve himself in their conversation, instead observing the battlefield. The battle hadsted for over five hours, and no more monsters were emerging from the forest, signaling that the tide seemed to be nearing its end. However, John didn''t think it was over. This monster tide was likely just the first wave. Stronger enemies were surelying next. Roar! With a final, dying wail, thest tier-five Death Spider was shot down by the elves, bringing a temporary calm to the battlefield. "Hurry! Tend to the wounded and clear the field!" Ritchie nced at the time and immediately gave the order. The monster tide attack was only halfway through. Now was no time to rx. The yers efficiently began cleaning up the battlefield. "Attack!" Suddenly, shouts of battle echoed through the forest. But this time, it wasn''t monsters that appeared¡ªit was powerful warriors from various races. Demons, minotaurs, barbarians, undead¡­ There were even several races John had never encountered before. Their numbers dwarfed the previous monster tide, and their strength was far superior. "Everyone, looks like I''ll need your help this time," John said, turning to hispanions. With so many strong warriors from various races, the yers wouldn''t be able to hold the line. Even with the elves and Beast n, it would be tough to defend against this assault. The group nodded in agreement. "Don''t worry, Godyer. Leave it to me," Behemoth said eagerly, his excitement barely contained. "Wait," Sara quickly stopped him, pointing toward the approaching army. "Bonnie, look, there are dark elves!" Within the demon army was a contingent of thousands of dark elves, led by none other than the dark elf saintess, Tanya. If you didn''t look carefully, you wouldn''t have noticed them at all. Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Remnant Souls Response, Plunder Talent Strengthened Chapter 150: Remnant Soul''s Response, Plunder Talent Strengthened ? "Idiots!" Bonnie cursed as she vanished in a blur, charging straight toward the demon race army, positioning herself in front of them. "Get out of my way!" The leader, a tier-seven demon emperor, roared as he rushed toward Bonnie. Boom! A deafening explosion erupted as a terrifying wave of dark energy surged. The demon emperor had no chance to resist and was obliterated by a single palm strike from Bonnie. Her overwhelming power instantly struck fear into the demon race army, freezing them in ce, too scared to advance. "Tanya, get out here!" Bonnie red coldly at Tanya, who was hidden among the demon army. "Y-You... Lady Bonnie?!" Tanya stood frozen, dumbfounded for a long moment before finally rushing out from the demon race ranks, dropping to her knees before Bonnie with a sob, "Lady Bonnie, you''re alive! It''s such a relief..." "Lady Bonnie!" The dark elves behind her also quickly reacted, kneeling in reverence. Bonnie was about tosh out in anger, but seeing Tanya''s pitiful expression, her heart softened. She could imagine the pressure Tanya had faced all these years, leading the dark elves through hardship and struggle. "Stand up and speak. All of you, get up." Bonnie stepped forward and personally helped Tanya to her feet, her tone gentle, "You''ve suffered enough over the years." Tanya wiped away her tears, a bright smile spreading across her face. "It''s nothing, really. By the way, Lady Bonnie, the Faction System has opened. If we take down this Saint Martial Sect and establish our own faction, the dark elves will surely return to their former glory." Bonnie''s expression turned cold in an instant, and she barked, "Saint Martial Sect is Godyer''s faction." "Godyer?" Tanya looked both surprised and confused. "You know that guy, too? He owes me a wager, but now that you''re back, that doesn''t matter anymore. He also has the scroll to the Secret Area in the Sea of Death. I''ll kill him and take it back!" Her eyes gleamed as she locked onto John, who was fighting fiercely on the battlefield, ready to make her move. "Stop!" Bonnie blocked her path, her voice icy, "That man is my savior." "What?" Tanya froze, her gaze darting between John and Bonnie, bewildered, "So, what do we do?" Bonnie didn''t exin further. With a wave of her hand, countless dark arrows shot forward, tearing through the demon race army. Cries of anguish echoed as the demon race soldiers stood no chance against a tier-eight powerhouse. "Charge!" Tanya quickly understood the situation, letting out a battle cry as she joined the fray, attacking the demon race forces. The dark elves had officially switched sides. The sound of battle echoed across the field. The Beast n, elves, and Undying Legion became the primary force in the fight. The me Legion and Saint Martial Sect disciples fell back, supporting from a distance with ranged attacks. "Sini, join the party!" John called out, ughtering the various forces with ease. The strongest among them were only tier-seven, which posed no threat to him. This was a perfect opportunity to help Sini level up. "Boss, don''t forget me!" "Brother-inw, I want in, too!" Ritchie and Armstrong quickly reacted, both sending party requests. John didn''t hesitate and pulled everyone into the party. The armies of the various races were vast and powerful, but they stood no chance against Sara and the other tier-eight legendary powerhouses. Especially Behemoth, who charged into the heart of the army, swinging his massive arm. His enormous palm blotted out the sky, and with each strike, he crushed countless enemies beneath him. It was almost effortless. In just half an hour, the armies of the various races had suffered more than half their numbers in casualties. In the distance, the yers were left stunned, their jaws practically hitting the ground in shock. "These guys are terrifying. Thank God they''re not our enemies." "Totally agree." "I think Behemoth is the strongest. He''s like Tyson bullying a bunch of kids." "Godyer is the strongest, hands down! No debate!" "Agreed!" "Agreed +1!" "Stop standing around, it''s time to pick off the stragglers!" ... One yer''s reminder got everyone moving as they began lurking at the edges of the battlefield, looking for weakened enemies to finish off. Everyone quickly followed suit. At this point, those in ranged sses had the easiest time, their arrows and magic raining down endlessly, without a care for their own safety. The situation had shifted dramatically. The armies of the various races were rapidly dwindling in number, no longer posing any significant threat. "Attack!" Suddenly, more battle cries echoed from the forest as another wave of enemies charged forth. This time, it was the Orcs! And they were all elite Orcs, tier six and above. Leading the charge were two terrifying figures, both of them tier-eight legendary warriors. "Hmm?" John frowned, a faint wisp of a remnant soul appeared in his hand, flickering weakly. This was the remnant soul Ben had given him, which could sense the presence of the Jade Heart Lotus. And now, the remnant soul was reacting! John''s eyes gleamed as he locked onto one of the tier-eight Orc leaders. The remnant soul''s reaction wasing from that Orc. However, the Jade Heart Lotus wasn''t on him-he had only used its power for his cultivation. It seemed the Jade Heart Lotus was in the hands of the Orcs! "These two are mine!" Sara dered as lightning crackled around her, charging toward the two tier-eight Orc leaders. "One for each of us!" Bonnie added as she dashed toward one of the Orc leaders. Buzz! Suddenly, a powerful spatial ripple tore through the air, and the sky above was forcefully ripped open. "Attack!" Another wave of battle cries rang out-it was the Dark Humans, pouring out from the spatial rift. Leading them were two more tier-eight legendary figures. Among them were seven angels, though they were only tier-seven Two-Winged Angels. Even so, John felt a slight pressure. He quickly asked, "Shall we summon the two elders for help?" He was referring to Tony and Ben, the two tier-nine powerhouses. "No need, we can handle it!" Behemoth, filled with battle intent, roared and charged straight at the two tier-eight Dark Human leaders. However, with the loss of his arm, his strength had been weakened, and he couldn''t overpower the two of them. "Lord Behemoth, I''ll help you!" ck Turtle suddenly rushed in to join the fight. Though ck Turtle was only at the early stage of tier-eight and no match for the two Dark Human leaders, he could at least relieve some of the pressure on Behemoth. They just needed to hold out until Sara and Bonnie finished off the two other tier-eight enemies, and then they coulde to assist. Meanwhile, John wasn''t idle either. He locked his sights on the tier-seven enemies scattered across the battlefield. Luckily, he had brought several tier-seven experts back from the Abyss, and they were barely able to fend off the iing attacks. "Let''s take out this human first!" came a shout, and two Two-Winged Angels charged directly at John. "Hmph!" John snorted coldly, and a surge of powerful battle energy erupted around him. He wasn''t the least bit intimidated by the two angels'' onught. Buzz! The Infinite Sword Array activated, with countless sword des shing through the air, nketing the enemies below. Those below tier-seven were instantly in. Next, a sh of sword light followed, apanied by a howling Dark Orb. John''s Unrivaled Sword Dance and the dark magic Annihtion simultaneously struck, each targeting one of then/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Two-Winged Angels. Boom! Boom! Two explosions rang out, and the angels nearly fell from the sky, ring at John in shock and disbelief. "True damage! Human, have youprehended the Power of Laws?" they asked, exchanging nces, now showing no hint of underestimation as they attacked John again. The air buzzed with sword intent, and magic whistled through the battlefield. John faced the two Two-Winged Angels head-on, and not only did he hold his ground, but he also forced the angels into a precarious position, suppressing them with ease. "Damn it, this human is too strange. The two of us aren''t enough to handle him," they muttered, retreating once more,pletely shaken by the realization. "Yuna, Susan, help us take down this human!" they called out, summoning two more Two- Winged Angels to join the fight. All four teamed up to attack John. Buzz! Holy Light flickered, and four pirs of radiant energy came crashing down, sealing off all of John''s escape routes. Boom! With a massive explosion, John was obliterated on the spot. [You have been in by the Two-Winged Angels. The Blessed Ring skill has activated, and you are resurrected at full health.] The notification shed. The four Two-Winged Angels were just about to check for loot when they saw John standing before them, fully healed. They froze, utterly dumbfounded. "You didn''t die?" one of the Two-Winged Angels asked in shock. "Hmph, how shameless," John spat angrily. Dark energy surged from him, instantly enveloping the four Two-Winged Angels. Dark magic skill-Dark Descent! The four angels were affected by the dark power, their attributes reduced by 12%. Without hesitation, John unleashed abination of Annihtion, Dark Storm, and Flying Sword Strike, focusing his assault on one of the Two-Winged Angels. To his advantage, he triggered two magicbos. "No..." The targeted Two-Winged Angel, already low on health, was obliterated on the spot. [You have in a tier-seven Two-Winged Angel, gaining 1.04 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Luck +1, Skill Points +20.] The system notification shed as the angel''s form vanished. She, like the others, was only connected to the world of Gods through special means and didn''t suffer true death. "Now it''s your turn," John said, raising his hand and unleashing three more spells. This time, however, they weren''t dark magic, so the damage was significantly lower. Even with the skillbos triggered, the target wasn''t killed. Nevertheless, the Two-Winged Angel''s health dropped below one million. With a look of terror, she turned to flee without hesitation. "You won''t escape," John scoffed. Activating Sword Mastery, heunched the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword, which split into three and pursued the weakened Two-Winged Angel, tearing her apart. [You have in a tier-seven Two-Winged Angel, gaining 1.04 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Divinity +1.] John gained another point of Divinity. The remaining two Two-Winged Angels finally realized the gravity of the situation. Without a second thought, they fled in opposite directions. John, his skills off cooldown, summoned his dark power once more. With a swift gesture, he unleashed another round of magical attacks. Dark Storm, Annihtion, and Inferno Dance. Thebo triggered again, and the fleeing angel had no chance to resist, falling instantly. [You have in a tier-seven Two-Winged Angel, gaining 1.04 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Spirit +300, Skill Points +20.] ... [You have umted 1 million Kill Score. Plunder talent effect strengthened. New effect unlocked: Bloodline Plunder.] The notification shed, and John''s face lit up with excitement. His Kill Score had finally reached one million, and his Plunder talent had been further strengthened. Curious, he checked the new effect. Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Faction Established, Soul Skills Chapter 151: Faction Established, Soul Skills ? [Plunder Talent: SSS-Rank Unique] [Effect 1: Upon killing regr monsters, there is a 40% chance to plunder the target''s attributes; a 5% chance to plunder special attributes.] [Effect 2: When killing a boss-level or stronger opponent, you can permanently obtain two of the following: attributes, skills, talents, or special attributes from the boss.] [Effect 3: Doubles the drop rate of items upon monster kills; the quality of dropped equipment is increased by +1 tier.] [Effect 4: Bloodline Plunder - When killing a legendary or higher-tier race, there is a 0.1% chance to plunder their bloodline.] [Effect 5: Kill Strengthening ¨C Killing enemies grants Kill Score. The stronger the opponent, the more points earned. Once 10 million points are umted, the Plunder talent can be further enhanced. Current Kill Score: 15 points.] -- The strengthening of John''s Plunder talent brought about significant improvements. Notably, the first effect''s chance to plunder attributes from regr monsters increased from 30% to 40%, and the chance to plunder special attributes rose to 5%. Moreover, a new effect was unlocked. Bloodline Plunder now allowed him a 0.1% chance to plunder the bloodline of a legendary or higher-tier race when killing them. John was puzzled since he had previously plundered a bloodline before. When he killed the Fox n prodigy, the prophesied savior White, he had gained the Spirit Fox Bloodline. Aside from enabling him to cultivate Beast n techniques, it didn''t seem to serve any extraordinary purpose. John didn''t fully understand the true value of bloodlines yet, but considering how rare and difficult it was to plunder one-especially from a legendary-tier being-he knew it must hold immense significance. The next Plunder talent upgrade required 10 million Kill Score points. It was a monumental task ahead of him. Shaking off his thoughts, John turned his attention back to the battlefield. Due to his momentary distraction, the Two-Winged Angel he had been targeting managed to escape his range and fled the battlefield, her form vanishing from sight. "Got lucky this time," John muttered, before locking onto other tier-seven legendary figures still in the battle. Killing these enemies wouldn''t only him vast amounts of experience and benefits from his Plunder talent-it would also level up his Wrath of the Gods talent. At present, John''s Wrath of the Gods talent granted him a 90% cooldown reduction and a 60% reduction in mana cost. Even so, his mana pool, which exceeded 120,000, was being drained quickly, making it challenging to sustain prolongedbat. Boom! Boom! Explosions rang out as terrifying energy fluctuations surged across the battlefield. Sara and the others had sessfully killed four tier-eight legendary leaders, causing the Orcs and Dark Humans to copse in morale. Their armies broke apart, fleeing in panic,pletely routed. Many yers arrived in teams, only to be left speechless by the scene before them. "I can''t figure it out. Why are the elves and Beast n from the world of Gods helping Godyer?" "I suspect there''s some kind of shady deal behind this." "I protest! We must demand a ban on non-human races from aiding human yers in the world of Gods, or we''ll never stand a chance against Godyer!" "You fool, you think you can be an enemy of Godyer? Ever heard of the Mike White Family? They''ve disappeared, all because Godyer dealt with them in the real world." "Is that true? The Mike White Family is Earth''s most powerful faction!" "Check for yourself if you don''t believe it." "Right now, I''m more interested in whether the Saint Martial Sect faction will recruit disciples." - The yers were buzzing with spection as the battlefield''s oue became clear. The powerful warriors from the various races were fleeing in disarray, and the battle was nearing its conclusion. John, exhausted but determined, had just in yet another tier-seven legendary Dark Human. Along with the three Two-Winged Angels, he had taken down 12 tier-seven legendary figures. These enemies were different from the Angel Race-they had descended into the world of Gods in their true forms, meaning their deaths brought rich rewards. 9 low-grade artifacts, two Universal Orders, three Origin Stones, and hundreds of other rare items! John was stunned by the spoils. The Plunder talent''s effect of increasing equipment quality by +1 hade into y. Normally, killing legendary figures would only yield legendary gear. But since John had in them, they dropped artifacts instead. If he could kill enough legendary-tier enemies, he could mass-produce low-grade artifacts. John examined the properties of the artifacts. Several were useful to him. Sentinel Armor, which came with the ultimate defense skill Earth''s Vigil. It granted immunity to all physical and magical attacks for a short period-though true damage was excluded. FireGod Ne, a rare essory. While it didn''t have any special skills, it increased fire magic damage by 50% and added 10 points to fire elemental affinity, which could aid in mastering the Power of Laws for fire elements. As for the rest of the artifacts, John couldn''t make much use of them, so he decided to distribute them to others. Especially to Armstrong, who had repeatedly pestered him for artifact-level gear. At that moment, the monster tide attack came to an end, and the twelve-hour countdown was over. The announcement echoed across the world of Gods. [Announcement: Saint Martial Sect has sessfully repelled the monster tide and established the Saint Martial Sect faction.] [Saint Martial Sect Faction Buff: For each level gained, yers receive 4 bonus attribute points and 1 skill point.] ... "Four attribute points and one skill point per level!" John was amazed. The Saint Martial Sect faction buff was incredibly powerful, almost on par with his Wrath of the Gods mage ss. At level 1, yers would receive 4 extra attribute points, which scaled to 4,000 points and 1,000 skill points at level 1,000. As the game progressed, yers in the Saint Martial Sect faction would be significantly stronger than regr yers! Hearing the system announcement echo through the world of Gods, the yers went completely wild. Especially in front of Saint Martial Sect''s city, where a huge crowd had gathered. They weren''t there to fight for loot, but to apply to join the faction. "What an insane attribute boost!" "Respected elders, great ones, I humbly beg to join the Saint Martial Sect faction." "If you don''t ept us, we''ll die kneeling right here." "Please take me in! I''m willing to do anything to join." ... A mass of yers knelt at the gates, swearing their loyalty. They were dead serious. Meanwhile, everyone from Saint Martial Sect was busy clearing the battlefield, ignoring the desperate pleas. "Hey, cutie, can I marry you to join Saint Martial Sect?" a pretty woman asked one of the disciples. The disciple nced at her and calmly replied, "I like men." "That''s fine. My boyfriend''s a pretty boy, he wouldn''t mind. And if you don''t like pretty boys, I can find someone more your type," the woman persisted. The disciple stared, dumbfounded, overwhelmed by the sheer madness of the yers, and quickly fled from the scene. The yers were bing a major obstacle, interfering with the cleanup efforts of Saint Martial Sect disciples. John, growing furious, ascended the city wall and shouted, "Everyone, leave immediately! If you want to join Saint Martial Sect, wait for an official announcement. If you keep pestering us, you''ll be cklisted. If you don''t clear out, I''ll wipe the area clean!" As he spoke, mes roared, and a massive fireball began forming in his hand. The yers froze in fear. They knew John didn''t make empty threats. Countless innocent yers had been "identally" killed by Godyer before, and while many were angry, no one dared voice theirints. "Godyer, I''m a tier-four warrior. Make sure you pick me when the timees!" ... After bidding their farewells to John, the yers reluctantly began to leave. John paid them no mind and sought out ck Turtle. "Old man, do you know the strength of the Orcs'' faction?" John asked. He had already learned that the Jade Heart Lotus was in the hands of the Orcs, and their faction was deep in the Eternal Forest, not far from Saint Martial Sect. Their proximity posed a constant threat, and John figured it might be better to eliminate them altogether. ck Turtle was startled, eyeing John suspiciously. "Kid, what are you up to this time? The Orc faction has tier-nine powerhouses among them." He knew well the terror of tier-nine figures-Sara and the others wouldn''t stand a chance against them. "Look at you, so spineless. It''s not like I don''t have other reinforcements." John had already decided to enlist the help of Tony and Ben, the two tier-nine powerhouses. But that wasn''t urgent. First, he had to deal with matters concerning Saint Martial Sect. ... Soon, the battlefield was cleaned up, and the spoils were tallied. Over 30,000 weapons and pieces of equipment were gathered, most of them tier-five and tier-six, with many of them being top-quality items. In addition to the weapons and equipment, there were over 200,000 skill stones, enhancement stones, gems, and other items. John immediately took 100,000 skill stones to level up two of his key techniques: Overwhelming Battle Energy and Soul Technique. His Overwhelming Battle Energy had already reached level 121, and Soul Technique was now at level 100. However, each subsequent level required 100 skill points to upgrade. Unfortunately, despite reaching level 100, Soul Technique didn''t unlock any new skills, leaving John a bit disappointed. After using some skill stones, his skill points had umted to a staggering 130,000.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om A typical yer might never amass that many skill points in their lifetime. He decided to prioritize upgrading Soul Technique. [Consumes 100 skill points. Soul Technique upgraded to level 101. Soul strength +1.] [Consumes 100 skill points. Soul Technique upgraded to level 102. Soul strength +1.] - [Consumes 100 skill points. Soul Technique upgraded to level 500. Soul strength +1, soul elevated to Life Soul tier. Skill unlocked: Soul Barrier.] [Soul Barrier: A defensive soul skill that consumes 10 soul power per use, with no cooldown.] John upgraded Soul Technique to level 500, unlocking the Soul Barrier skill. This new ability provided him with a powerful soul-based defense, another life-saving option in dangerous situations. Each point of soul strength trantes into 1 point of soul power. However, soul power regenerates slowly, and soul-rted skills consume a lot of it, so these skills couldn''t be used recklessly. Additionally, his soul had advanced to the Life Soul tier. He remembered learning about soul cultivation levels from the Undead Lord. Life Soul, True Soul, Earth Soul, Heaven Soul, and the legendary Divine Soul. The Soul Technique could theoretically cultivate his soul to the highest level-Divine Soul- though no one in history had ever achieved that. But John believed he could, as long as he had enough skill points. He nced at his remaining points-still over 80,000. After some hesitation, he continued upgrading Soul Technique. Upgrading Overwhelming Battle Energy only added 1 point of constitution and 2 points of strength per level-stats that were negligiblepared to what he could plunder from killing a few monsters. However, soul strength was different. Currently, this was the only way he could increase it. [Consumes 100 skill points. Soul Technique upgraded to level 501. Soul strength +1.] ... [Consumes 100 skill points. Soul Technique upgraded to level 1,000. Soul strength +1. Soul elevated to True Soul tier. Skill unlocked: Soul Impact.] [Soul Impact: A soul-based offensive skill that deals irreversible damage to an enemy''s soul. Effective only against enemies with weaker soul strength than yours. Consumes 50 soul power, no cooldown.] Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Distributing Artifacts, Astonishing Talent Chapter 152: Distributing Artifacts, Astonishing Talent ? After upgrading Soul Technique to level 1000, John''s soul strength had reached the True Soul tier, and he had unlocked a new offensive skill-Soul Impact. With his current soul strength surpassing that of most tier-seven legendary powerhouses, he could now use Soul Impact to easily kill them. Only a few tier-seven experts who had cultivated their souls beyond a thousand points could stand against him. The most terrifying aspect of Soul Impact was its ability to deal irreversible damage to the soul. In other words, if John wished, he could permanently annihte a yer''s existence in the world of Gods. However, he didn''t n on using this skill against yers lightly. After reaching level 1000 in Soul Technique, each subsequent level would require 1,000 skill points, yet the increase in soul strength remained only +1 per level. John decided to stop upgrading Soul Technique for now and shifted his focus to Overwhelming Battle Energy. [Consumes 100 skill points. Overwhelming Battle Energy upgraded to level 122. Constitution +1, Strength +2.] ... [Consumes 100 skill points. Overwhelming Battle Energy upgraded to level 442. Constitution +1, Strength +2.] After using up all his skill points, Overwhelming Battle Energy had reached level 442, but he hadn''t unlocked any new skills. leaving him slightly disappointed. With no more skill points, he couldn''t continue upgrading. "Sini, go get Armstrong and the others," John said, turning to Sini, who seemed a bit bored. "Got it!" She nodded and hurried off. Following the recent monster tide attack, Sini, Armstrong, and Ritchie had all leveled up to tier five, significantly increasing their strength. John had been keeping a close eye on the level rankings for the past few days and was relieved to see that he still hadn''t appeared on the list. Whatforted him even more was that Toby and his group also hadn''t made further progress in their levels. This suggested that the Angel Race had only used Toby and his group toplete the task of opening the Faction System and wasn''t actively nurturing them any further. "Brother-inw, you wanted to see us?" Armstrong''s face lit up with excitement as he ran up to John, curiosity in his eyes. Anna and the others followed closely behind, equally intrigued. Without saying much, John pulled out seven pieces of equipment,ying them out before the group. The shimmering purple glow radiating from the items exuded a powerful aura. Their eyes widened in shock. "Ar-artifacts?!" Armstrong was the first to react, immediately eyeing a fiery red spear, which he grabbed and hugged tightly, afraid someone else might take it from him. It was the me Holy Spear, a low-grade artifact with impressive attributes, including an ultimate skill-me Judgment. Ritchie had his eyes on the spear as well, but he was a step toote. Besides, he already wielded the Diamond Giant Shield, so he couldn''t justify taking another artifact. "Brother-inw, is this for me?" Armstrong asked eagerly, looking at John with hopeful eyes. John nodded. Armstrong was overjoyed, then turned to Ritchie with a teasing look in his eyes. "How about a rematch in the arena? Dare to take me on?" "Who''s afraid of who?" Ritchie, always quick-tempered, epted without hesitation. The two headed straight for the city''s arena. Since the arena battles didn''t result in any permanent losses or death penalties, John didn''t stop them from going. "Husband, may I choose a weapon?" Sara stepped forward, her eyes locked on a longsword crackling with lightning, her mouth watering slightly at the sight. It was a low-grade artifact, the Thunder Sword, which required mastery of lightning magic to wield-perfectly suited for her. "Of course. Feel free to choose whatever suits you," John replied, as these weapons were meant to be gifts for them anyway. It wasn''t just generosity on his part; these powerful warriors had already pledged their loyalty to him, and their strength would ultimately benefit him as well. "Thank you, my love!" Sara beamed as she picked up the Thunder Sword, unable to hide her excitement. The other women stepped forward as well, eager to select their weapons. Sini eyed a pair of Crimson Bone ws, an assassin''s weapon, but their menacing appearance gave her pause. She preferred the Dragon Fang dagger John had gifted her earlier. After a moment''s thought, she passed on the ws and instead chose a pair of Windrunner Boots. The boots boosted agility by 1,000 points and came with a passive skill-Windrunner-which allowed her to move silently, an invaluable skill for an assassin. Each of the women quickly found the perfect gear for themselves, leaving only the Crimson Bone ws untouched on the table. John was puzzled. The Crimson Bone ws were an assassin''s artifact, and both Sini and Bonnie could have used them. Was it really just because they looked too fearsome? At that moment, Tanya stepped forward and picked up the Crimson Bone ws. The others immediately cast disapproving nces in her direction. Tanya was the saintess of the dark elf tribe, and her rtionship with John had been strained in the past. Now, having just joined his faction, her desire to im an artifact seemed a bit presumptuous. Noticing the others'' reactions, Tanya blushed slightly and quickly exined, "I''m taking these on behalf of Lady Bonnie." As she spoke, she handed the Crimson Bone ws to Bonnie. The group''s expressions softened. Bonnie had been a great help to Godyer in the Abyss, and her receiving an artifact was well-deserved. However, Bonnie didn''t reach out to ept the ws. "Don''t you like this gear?" John asked, puzzled. Bonnie shook her head and looked over at Sini. "Little one, these are better suited for you." She could tell that Sini had a close rtionship with John, and she didn''t want to risk offending her over an artifact. Sini smiled warmly and held up her Dragon Fang dagger. "Sister, I already have an artifact. You should keep this one." Bonnie nced at the dagger in Sini''s hand, clearly impressed. Nodding in acknowledgment, she finally epted the Crimson Bone ws. At this moment, ck Turtle approached John and said, "Kid, just a reminder, even with artifacts, we''re no match for a tier-nine powerhouse." Both he and Judy had received artifacts that increased their water elemental affinity, significantly boosting their strength, but they were still no match for a tier-nine opponent. Bonnie, curious, asked, "Are you nning to take on a tier-nine?" John nodded. "I sensed the Jade Heart Lotus is in the Orcs'' faction." "Jade Heart Lotus?" Sara''s eyes lit up. She knew how important the Jade Heart Lotus was. Only the Jade Heart Lotus could fully remove the Fox Demon Curse from John''s body. She quickly added, "You''re thinking of asking the two seniors for help, aren''t you?" John nodded again. "I n to enter the Abyss." He had already refined the Abyss and could summon Tony and Ben at any time. However, since he was asking for their help, it seemed more appropriate to go there in person. "John, I want toe too!" Sini said excitedly, immediately showing interest. The others, however, seemed less enthusiastic. Especially Sara and her group, who had been trapped in the Abyss for a thousand years and had suffered enough there. They had no desire to return. "Alright," John agreed without hesitation. Now that he had control of the Abyss, bringing Sini along posed no real danger. "I''ll leave the world of Gods in your care for now. I''ll be back soon," John instructed the group. Then, using his mastery of space, he ripped open the sky, creating a spatial rift. Holding Sini tightly, he leaped into the rift. Whoosh... Wind howled around them as they plunged into darkness. Sini, clearly frightened, clung to John. "Don''t worry, we''ll be fine," John reassured her. He carefully sensed the ground''s location, ready to activate Sword Flight at any moment. Buzz! His longsword hovered in midair, and John, holding Sini, stepped onto it, gently descending to the ground. Mist surrounded them, and dark energy surged through the atmosphere. Sini nced around and asked curiously, "John, is this the Abyss?" John nodded, exining, "The dark energy here can be unsettling. We''ll visit Tony and Ben quickly and leave." "Unsettling?" Sini scratched her head in confusion. "Not really. I actually feel quite comfortable." "Comfortable?" John frowned. The Abyss was designed to imprison enemies, and even tier- eight powerhouses struggled to withstand the oppressive dark energy. Sini had only just broken into tier-five-how could she tolerate it? She nodded and opened her hand, causing the dark energy around them to swirl, forming a vortex in her palm. John stared in disbelief and asked, "Have you mastered Dark Element Affinity?" Sini nodded, still confused. "Yeah, I''ve got 32 points in Dark Element Affinity. Does it do anything?" "Thirty-two points?" John was utterly stunned. Dark Element Affinity was the key to comprehending the Power of Dark Laws. Sini had never been to the Abyss before, yet she had already umted 32 points of affinityn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om in the world of Gods. Her talent was beyond extraordinary, and for the first time, John felt a twinge of envy. Maybe Sini would be able to grasp the Power of Dark Laws before even reaching tier nine. "John, can I train here?" Sini asked eagerly. "Not yet. We need to visit the two seniors first," John replied, not agreeing immediately. The Abyss was still filled with unknown dangers, particrly the powerful Abyssal demons lurking about. Leaving Sini alone here was far too dangerous. John activated Sword Flight and, with practiced ease, sped toward the secluded ce where Tony and Ben were in deep meditation. ... The news of the sessful establishment of the Saint Martial Sect faction had already reached the City of Angels. Several Two-Winged Angels stood with their heads bowed before Elsa, among them was Lisa, who had regained her strength and returned to tier seven. "Are you telling me that this human has mastered the Power of Dark Laws?" Elsa stared at them, her tone filled with shock and disbelief. The angels nodded in confirmation. Elsa turned her gaze toward Lisa, her expression cold. "You knew about this? Why didn''t you report it immediately?" Lisa lowered her head in terror, not daring to speak. She had intended to report it earlier, but she hadn''t been given the opportunity. "Enough, you may all leave," Elsa waved them off impatiently, not pressing the matter further. The Two-Winged Angels hurriedly bowed and retreated, leaving the grand hall silent once again. Sitting on her throne, Elsa furrowed her brows, her face dark with concern. She had cultivated for thousands of years and had only managed to grasp 1% of the Power of Light Laws. But this Godyer, having been in the world of Gods for less than a year, had already mastered the Power of Dark Laws. His talent was terrifying, and he had to be eliminated. She had assumed that this mission would end in failure for the Saint Martial Sect, which was why she hadn''t bothered sending tier-eight angels to interfere. But not only had they seeded in establishing their faction, various races had suffered heavy losses-especially the Orcs and Dark Humans, who had lost four tier-eight powerhouses. Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Sinis Origins, Mysterious Forces Chapter 153: Sini''s Origins, Mysterious Forces ? "Looks like I''ll have to pin my hopes on that little girl," Elsa muttered to herself. Despite the Saint Martial Sect''s sess in establishing their faction, she saw it as a potential advantage. She recalled that Godyer''s other force, Gates City, had also triggered a faction mission. Now that he''d tasted sess, he was bound to continue building more factions. All she could do now was hope that Tracy could reach the tenth level of the Godpath technique before then. When that happened, Elsa was confident she could not only kill Godyer but also destroy the Land of Death. ... In the Abyss. John and Sini soon arrived at the cliff where Tony and Ben were meditating in seclusion. Rumble... The ground trembled as the cliff parted on its own before John could speak. Two figures shot out. It was Tony and Ben. "Kid, you didn''te to chat this soon, did you?" Ben asked with a grin. His attention quickly shifted to Sini, and his expression changed to one of surprise,ced with a hint of hostility. "Such a high affinity for dark energy! Are you from the demon race?" Sini, startled, quickly hid behind John and shook her head. John, slightly displeased, said, "Senior, this is my wife, Sini. Can you really sense her dark affinity?" "Not from the demon race?" Ben gave him a skeptical look, then nced back at Sini, the hostility not entirely gone as he muttered to himself, "That''s strange." Tony, also surprised by Sini''s dark affinity, didn''t linger on it and instead turned to John. "So, what do you need our help with?" John nodded and exined, "I''ve sensed the presence of the Jade Heart Lotus. It''s in the hands of the Orcs. However, they''ve already established a faction, and they have tier-nine powerhouses. I might need your assistance." "The Orcs?" Ben''s brow furrowed, his expression turning angry. "Those lowly creatures- how dare they steal a Beast n treasure?" He then looked at John and said firmly, "Don''t worry. With the two of us, the Orcs don''t stand a chance." Tony nodded in agreement. "Just summon us when the timees." John had control over the Abyss and could summon Tony and Ben whenever he needed. "Thank you both," John said gratefully. With these two tier-nine powerhouses on his side, he felt much more confident. "There''s one more thing." John nced at Sini and asked, "Would it be possible for Sini to train here in the Abyss?" Since he couldn''t stay in the Abyss for long, leaving Sini under the protection of Tony and Ben would ensure her safety. "Of course," Tony agreed with a nod. Ben, however, eyed Sini once more, his eyes narrowing as he asked, "Kid, are you sure this girl isn''t from the demon race?" "Is there something wrong?" John asked, puzzled. He knew Ben''s abilities were extraordinary, even capable of seeing through John''s secret as a reincarnator. Could there be something unusual about Sini that he hadn''t noticed? Ben focused for a moment before confirming, "I''m sure she''s from the demon race, but there''s no trace of demon race energy on her. She probably wasn''t raised among them." John was taken aback and asked, "Sini, could you really be from the demon race?" Sini shook her head firmly. "That''s impossible. I''m an orphan. I was adopted by the Griffin Family when I was young. How could I be from the demon race?" She felt defensive, shooting an angry re at Ben, clearly upset by his im. Tony interrupted, trying to ease the tension. "Alright, maybe you''re mistaken." "Maybe," Ben muttered as he stroked his beard, letting the matter go for now. "If there''s nothing else, seniors, I''ll take my leave," John said, preparing to depart. He nced at sini. After a brief hesitation, Sini added, "Once we''ve dealt with the Orcs, and if there''s nothing else pressing, I''lle back here to train." "Alright," John agreed. With a wave of his hand, he opened a spatial rift, and the two of them stepped through, leaving the Abyss. Tony and Ben watched them disappear, but neither returned to their meditative state. As the rift closed and the Abyss grew silent once again. Tony turned to Ben and asked, "Old Wu, are you really sure that girl is from the demon race?" Ben shot him a re, his expression sour. "Do you doubt my abilities?" "Of course not," Tony replied quickly, knowing full well how exceptional Ben''s prophetic abilities were, even though hisbat strength wasn''t remarkable. Frowning in thought, Tony mused, "I recall there was once a highly gifted princess of the demon race..." Ben nodded knowingly. "You''ve figured it out?" "That can''t be," Tony said in disbelief. "The human world these peoplee from only recently connected to the world of Gods. How could the demon race''s princess end up in the human world?" Ben replied, "Don''t forget, the demon race was once on par with the gods. If it weren''t for the mysterious forces aiding the gods, there''s no way they could''ve defeated the demon race. And with the power of Demon Gods like Michelle and Kamal, breaking open a spatial rift to send their princess to another dimension wouldn''t be impossible." "But why Earth? Humans there are the weakest race," Tony said, still puzzled. In his view, if the demon race wanted to protect their princess, they would have sent her to a far more powerful world. "Weak?" Ben shook his head, his expression growing serious. "Tony, do you know what I sensed the first time I met that kid? The Power of Reincarnation. He''s a reincarnator who''s returned from the future." "That''s impossible!" Tony eximed in disbelief. "Breaking through reincarnation¡ªthat''s the kind of power only a main god or even the Creator would have. How could that kid possibly be a main god?" Ben said, "I never imed he''s a main god, nor that he broke through the cycle of reincarnation himself. Someone else helped him, allowing him to return to this world." "This!" Tony''s face paled as realization dawned on him. His voice trembled slightly, "Reversing fate itself! That means..." "Don''t speak of it!" Ben quickly interrupted, making a silencing gesture. Tony nodded in understanding but still looked confused. "But... hadn''t they all disappeared?" "Disappeared?" Ben gave a bitter smile. "Gods are supposed to be undying and immortal, and these beings far surpass gods. Do you really think that when the god race and demon race joined forces with a powerful mysterious force, they truly managed to eradicate them completely?" Tony took a deep breath, his tone solemn. "So, they''vee back for revenge. The only question is, is that kid a pawn in their game?" Ben replied, "We''re all pawns in the games of the powerful. Most of us are disposable, sacrificed for their ns. But this kid... he might be a crucial piece." "Let''s hope the Beast n has made the right choice this time..." Tony sighed, and the two said no more on the matter. ... In the world of Gods. John returned to Saint Martial Sect. A crowd had gathered and was still waiting, eager for news. ck Turtle hurried over as soon as he saw John and Sini. Noticing there were only the two of them, he breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Kid, how did it go? Did the two elders agree to help?" He was somewhat fearful of Tony, given that he had failed to protect the Beast n and even lost one of its treasures. John nodded. "Prepare yourselves. We''ll take action tonight." He had learned the exact location of the Orcs'' faction. It wasn''t far from Saint Martial Sect, nestled deep in the Eternal Forest. He nned tounch a surprise attack under the cover of darkness. The group discussed the n''s finer details. For this operation, John decided not to bring any yers from Saint Martial Sect or me City. The Orcs were formidable, and only the elves, the Beast n, and Ada''s Undying Legion would be up to the task. Of course, Sini, Ritchie, and Armstrong insisted oning along to witness the battle firsthand, and John didn''t refuse. Under the cover of night, John flew swiftly through the dense forest, his sword carrying him effortlessly. He moved alone. While the others had been sent into the Land of Death, ready to be summoned at any moment for a surprise attack on the Orcs. ... In the distance, the flicker of torchlight illuminated a vast city nestled in the dark forest. The Fallen City of the Orcs. "Hmm, yers?" John slowed his flight as he noticed movement in the forest below yers. These yers had joined the Orcs'' faction. In the world of Gods, new factions had begun recruiting human yers, including the Dark City of the Dark Humans and the Land of Corruption of the Orcs. However, their entry requirements were extremely high. Only the most elite yers could join these two powerful factions. John chose not to engage them, worried that any action might alert the Orcs. Whoosh... A figure passed silently overhead. "Hey, did you see that?" one of the yers asked, sensing something in the sky and looking up in confusion. "It was probably just some powerful flying beast. Don''t worry about it. Let''s focus on leveling up. Once we hit tier five, we''ll be able to join the Orcs'' inner circle," their leader said, as they continued to fight, working together to take down a tier-four berserk tree monster. Even though these yers had joined the Orcs'' faction, they were only outer disciples with limited ess to resources. To gain more, they needed to reach tier five and join the faction''s core. ...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Meanwhile, John silently arrived at the outskirts of the Orcs'' Fallen City. The towering walls were illuminated by torches, with Orc patrols clearly visible. Deep in the Eternal Forest, this city was frequently attacked by beasts, and the Orcs maintained constant vignce around the clock. "The Jade Heart Lotus is definitely here," John whispered to himself, holding the glowing remnant soul that reacted strongly to the presence of the lotus. This was the fragment of Ben''s remnant soul. He could sense clearly that the Jade Heart Lotus was somewhere within the city. Focusing his mind, Johnmunicated with the Land of Death and began summoning his forces. Buzz! A spatial ripple disturbed the air, and a group of powerful figures descended silently, each maintaining perfect quiet. "Husband, there are three tier-nine powerhouses here!" Sara appeared beside John, her senses sharp as she whispered a warning. "Three? Can Tony and Ben handle that?" John felt uneasy. He had assumed there would be at most one tier-nine in this city, given the Orcs'' general weakness, but three? It made him doubt their chances. Chapter 154: Chapter 154: The Demigod Blood Fiend, Mysterious Woman Chapter 154: The Demigod Blood Fiend, Mysterious Woman ? "We can handle it," Sara nodded confidently. "The two elders can take on two of the tier-nine powerhouses. Bonnie, Behemoth, and I have artifacts now-together, we should be able to handle the third." "Hurry up and make your move, kid," Behemoth grumbled impatiently. His massive form, unable to shapeshift like a beast, left him awkwardly crouching on the ground, barely hidden by the trees. Just as John was about to give the order, a massive fireball flew from the city walls, roaring toward them. The Orcs had noticed the disturbance and were already on alert. Boom! The fireball exploded, setting the trees aze and illuminating the area. The Orcs now had a clear view of the enemy forces-beasts, elves, and the Undying Legion, all ready for battle. "Enemies! Enemies at the northern wall!" a shout rang out from the ramparts, followed by a barrage of magic and arrows raining down. "Pretty sharp," John sneered. "But we''re too close to Fallen City now for them to stop us." "Attack!" With a singlemand, John led the charge. Roar! A thunderous roar shook the ground as a mountainous figure stepped forward, covering the distance to the walls in just a few strides. It was Behemoth. Boom! The towering, supposedly imprable walls crumbled like sand under Behemoth''s massive strike. Orcs were thrown into chaos, many crushed or killed instantly. "Damn! It''s a tier-nine powerhouse! Report to the Beast King at once!" The Orcs scrambled, their defenses in disarray as they desperately tried to retaliate. [Announcement: yer Godyer hasunched an attack on the Fallen City of the Orcs. All yers in the Orcs faction are urged to defend the city immediately.] ... Three loud announcements echoed across the world of Gods, setting the chat channels aze with conversation as yers weighed in on the situation. "Has Godyer gone mad? Attacking a faction stronghold? That''s no ordinary city!" "I''m in the Orcs faction. The Beast King ordered me to defend the city-what should I do?" "I got the notification too. Still debating whether I should join the battle." "What are you afraid of? The Beast King is in Fallen City. He''s a tier-nine powerhouse. No matter how strong Godyer is, he can''t take on a tier-nine." "A tier-nine? Looks like Godyer''s finally met his match." "I''ve had enough of that guy''s arrogance. How do I join the Orcs faction? I want to help bring him down!" ... Many yers were eager to jump in, applying to join the Orcs faction to either take advantage of the chaos or seek revenge on John. Boom! Boom! The sounds of battle, shouts, and screams echoed outside Fallen City. Elite Orc soldiers poured from the city gates, including numerous tier-seven and tier-eight legends, rushing to plug the breach. The scene quickly descended into chaos. John flew above the battlefield on his sword, his magic swirling around him. With expert precision, he manipted his sword, cutting through the Orc forces like a whirlwind. Most of the Orc soldiers were only tier-four to tier-six-no real threat to him. Many yers had joined the Orcs'' ranks, but they were just as easily defeated. The ground was littered with Orc corpses, the air thick with the stench of blood. Finally, themotion caught the attention of the more powerful figures within the city. "Beast n? Elves? How dare you attack my Orcs!" A furious voice rang out as three figures appeared in the sky, their overwhelming auras spreading across the battlefield like a storm. The lord of Fallen City, Beast King Salman, stood at the pinnacle of tier-nine,te-stage in power. Alongside him were his two generals, Barton and Kael, both slightly weaker but still formidable at mid-tier nine. Whoosh! Suddenly, a massive hand came crashing toward the three of them. It was Behemoth. "Fool!" Salman growled. Without any visible effort, the three of them sent Behemoth flying back, blood spraying from his mouth as he crashed heavily to the ground. "Did you think you could still stand against us in your weakened state? Kill them all. Leave none alive," Beast King Salmanmanded coldly, as his two generals charged forward, locking onto Sara and Bonnie, both tier-eight powerhouses armed with artifacts. The Orc forces, emboldened by their leaders, roared andunched a fierce counterattack. Despite their artifacts, Sara and Bonnie were no match for the tier-nine generals. They were quickly overwhelmed, barely able to fend off the attacks. "Godyer! Summon the two elders!" Bonnie called out urgently. John understood and immediately connected his mind to the Abyss, summoning Tony and Ben with a ripple of spatial power. In an instant, the two appeared. "Tony? Ben? You two are still alive?" Salman recognized them from afar, his voice cold and indifferent, showing no fear. "Hm?" Tony and Ben assessed the situation, their expressions instantly darkening with fear. "Something''s wrong! There''s divine energy here! Kid, you need to leave-now!" Tony warned, summoning a massive tidal wave that crashed down on Barton and Kael, sending them flying. Countless Orcs were caught in the wave, many perishing in its wake. The wave created a massive barrier between both sides. "Divine energy?" John was confused. He hadn''t sensed any presence of a god, but Tony and Ben wouldn''t lie about something like this. He immediately attempted to connect to the Land of Death to evacuate everyone, intending to dy the attack on the Orcs until they better understood the situation. Buzz! Spatial power flickered, but they remained in ce. Spatial lock! John''s expression shifted. Before he could act further, a frail figure emerged from the city, exuding an overwhelming aura of destruction. A god! John swallowed hard, his body paralyzed in terror. This wasn''t a mere avatar. It was a god''s true form! All the Orcs dropped to their knees, even Beast King Salman kneeling with utmost reverence. "Lord Blood Fiend!" The reason the Orcs had been able to establish their faction wasn''t just because they had allied with the god race They had a demigod in their ranks. Blood Fiend! Though only a demigod, even tier-nine powerhouses were nothing more than ants before him. "Interesting!" The Blood Fiend ignored the groveling Orcs, his gaze fixed on Tony, Ben, and the human standing behind them-John. "This little one must be the prophesied savior of your Beast n, right?" the Blood Fiend said slowly, his eyes locked on John. "I wonder, did your prophecy predict that I''d be the one to kill him?" Whoosh! A terrifying aura enveloped the area, locking onto John. Soul attack! John''s soul trembled violently. He could feel the shadow of death looming over him. This being had the power to erase himpletely. "You dare!" Tony roared, summoning every ounce of his strength to resist the Blood Fiend''s pressure. He turned toward John and shouted, "Kid, Ben and I will attack with all we''ve got. It''ll create a brief window to break the spatial lock-you need to escape!" "What about you two?" John asked, deeply worried. This assault on the Orcs had pushed him to use almost all of his hidden cards. "Forget about us! You can''t die here!" Ben gritted his teeth, his body radiating energy, but compared to the Blood Fiend''s overwhelming presence, it was like a flickering me before a raging inferno. "Hah, it''s pointless. Beneath a god, you''re all mere ants!" the Blood Fiend sneered, his entire body glowing with crimson light. The light coalesced into a monstrous, terrifying creature that lunged at Tony and Ben. Boom! The crimson light exploded. Tony and Ben were flung backward, crashing to the ground, coughing up blood. With just a casual strike, the Blood Fiend had nearly taken their lives. "And now, it''s your turn!" The Blood Fiend''s cold voice echoed as the blood light formed into a sword, which flew straight toward John. This was an attack on the soul! Everyone watched in terror, frozen in ce, unable to act. They were all paralyzed, locked in their positions by the Blood Fiend''s power. John felt despair washing over him. Though he had trained in Soul Technique and greatly enhanced his soul strength-along with mastering a soul defense skill, Soul Barrier. But he knew it wouldn''t be enough to withstand the attack of a god. Was this truly the end? His heart burned with unwillingness, but faced with the might of a god, he had no means of resistance. The spatial lock, the overwhelming soul attack-he was certain of his death. With a deep, hopeless sigh, John closed his eyes, waiting for death to im him. Buzz! Suddenly, a strange humming sound filled the air, and the expected feeling of death never arrived. John opened his eyes cautiously, seeing ripples forming before him. A blood-red longsword hovered mere inches from his face. "Gulp!" John swallowed hard, still feeling the immense, deadly aura emanating from the blood-red sword. It seemed like any second, the sword would strike and shatter him, annihting his soul completely. Boom! But at that moment, the sword trembled, then dissolved into countless streaks of blood-red light, vanishing without a trace. "Who dares?!" The Blood Fiend roared, his voice filled with disbelief. His eyes locked onto a figure that had silently appeared in the sky above. It was a woman, d in flowing green robes, her form swaying gently in the wind, as ethereal as a celestial being. "An illusion?" John muttered, noticing the mysterious woman. He couldn''t sense any aura from her, nor could he make out her features-it was as if she were merely a mirage, perhaps a projection simr to a god''s avatar. Everyone else lifted their heads, stunned by the sudden appearance of the woman. The oppressive atmosphere created by the Blood Fiend still filled the air, and the spatial lock remained intact, leaving them all unable to move. Buzz... At that moment, the Sword of Divinity and Demons and the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword in John''s hands began to tremble, flying out of his control toward the woman. The two swords circled her, gently rotating in the air. "Sword Mastery?!" John gasped in disbelief, his eyes wide as he stared at the woman. The aura surrounding her was unmistakable-she wielded the same Sword Mastery that he had trained in! This was the second time he had encountered someone who could use Sword Mastery. The first time was during the crisis with the Blues Family when a master from the Azure Family disyed the technique. This is second time.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om But this woman was far more powerful, hermand of the flying swords effortless, as though they were a natural extension of her being. Or rather, as if she herself was a sword. "N-no... impossible..." A trembling voice broke the silence. The Blood Fiend''s eyes widened in shock, staring at the woman in green with sheer disbelief. "Who... who are you?" he demanded, his voice filled with panic as he fixated on the mysterious figure. The woman gave no reply. Her arm lifted slightly, and with a sharp whistle, the longsword seemed to cut through space itself, appearing before the Blood Fiend in an instant-piercing through his body. The sword circled back to the woman, and as it hovered by her side, a single drop of blood slid off its gleaming de. The Blood Fiend stared down in bewilderment at his own body. St... His form split in two from the center, disintegrating into a cloud of blood mist. He was instantly killed. The Blood Fiend hadn''t even realized when the woman had struck, let alone had the chance to resist. John watched the scene unfold, his blood surging with excitement. So, even gods could fall so easily, he thought. To y a god was possible, after all. His heart burned with newfound determination as he locked his gaze on the woman in the sky. If she could achieve this, then so could he. Chapter 155: Chapter 155: The God’s Avatar and the Fall of the Orcs Chapter 155: The God¡¯s Avatar and the Fall of the Orcs ? The blood mist gradually dissipated, revealing five items. A turquoise, jade-like lotus flower, a violet gemstone, a purple talisman, a weapon, and a wisp of violet soul energy. With a wave of her hand, the woman in green drew the five items toward John. As they floated in front of him, a soft, ethereal voice echoed in his mind: "Do not refine these. Seek the Immortal Bone, Immortal Body, Immortal Sword, and Spirit Sense." John stared in stunned silence at the apparition of the woman in green, certain that the voice hade from her. Rumble... Suddenly, the sky darkened further as a mass of ominous clouds gathered overhead. Thunder rumbled, and an even more terrifying aura than the Blood Fiend''s filled the air. "A god!" John gasped. He recognized the feeling all too well-it was the sign of a god''s avatar descending. The space around them was still locked, and beneath the roiling ck clouds, a massive, menacing face appeared.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om It was the avatar of a god. The Blood Fiend had only been a demigod, but this face in the sky, though just an avatar, belonged to a true god, far beyond the power of the Blood Fiend. In the sky, the green-d woman''s apparition red with power, matching the aura of the god''s avatar. But this sh of titanic energies caused immense suffering for John and the others. Caught between the god''s avatar and the green-d woman''s apparition, they were overwhelmed by the sheer power radiating from both. Explosions erupted around them as the two forces collided, creating waves of destructive energy. John and hispanions were like tiny boats in a violent storm, in danger of being wiped out at any moment. Rumble... Without a word exchanged, a massive bolt of lightning descended from the clouds, crackling with terrifying energy. At the same moment, the longsword floating in front of the woman stopped spinning, its tip aimed directly at the god''s avatar. Then, with a pulse of spatial energy, John and the others were suddenly teleported thousands of meters away. In the distance, a colossal lightning strike crashed down, followed by a dazzling sword beam that lit up the entire sky as the two forces shed head-on. Buzz... John''s ears rang from the deafening noise, and he instinctively covered them, his eyes squeezed shut against the blinding light. Boom! Several secondster, the sky erupted as if the world itself wereing to an end. A ferocious wind howled, hurling John and the others into the air like leaves in a storm. Only Tony and Ben managed to shield themselves from the terrifying st of energy. Fortunately, they acted in time to protect the others, preventing greater casualties. After what felt like an eternity, the immense energy finally dissipated. John and the rest looked around in shock, finding thendscape utterly devastated. Trees had been obliterated, and the once-thriving forest now looked like it had been ravaged by an apocalypse. At the core of the explosion, spatial rifts appeared, only to be repaired momentster. The surrounding area, where the Orcs'' Fallen City once stood, was nowpletely devoid of life. The city and the entire Orc army had vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed. [Announcement: yer Godyer has destroyed the Land of Corruption Faction. The faction war system is now activated...] Three consecutive announcements echoed across the world, sending shockwaves through the global chat. The factions most shaken by the news were the Angel Race and the Dark Humans. Now, in the world of Gods, only three factions remained: the Angel Race''s Temple, the Dark Humans'' Dark City, and John''s Saint Martial Sect. ... City of Angels. A figure appeared out of thin air and stormed toward the grand hall. It was Robing, a tier-nine powerhouse of the Dark Humans. "Out of my way!" he roared, shoving aside two Four-Winged Angels who tried to block him. Bursting into the hall, he angrily demanded, "Elsa, what happened? Why was the Orcs'' faction destroyed?" Elsa sat on her throne, equally shocked by the system announcements. Her brows furrowed as she looked at Robing and replied coldly, "I don''t know!" "Don''t know?" Robing took a deep breath, his voice filled with urgency. "I thought the Blood Fiend was in Fallen City meditating. How could that Godyer possibly defeat the Blood Fiend?" His anxiety was palpable-if Godyer could destroy the Orcs'' Land of Corruption, he could surely destroy Robing''s own Dark City. After all, Dark City had no demigod to protect it, making it even weaker than the Orcs'' faction had been. "Are you asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?" Elsa shot back, equally frustrated. The moment she received the system announcement, she had tried to contact the God of Light, but there had been no response. She could only assume that the Blood Fiend had already returned to the godly realm and wasn''t present in the Land of Corruption. Otherwise, there was no way a mere human could have wiped out the Orcs'' faction. Even so, with three tier-nine powerhouses defending Fallen City, the fact that Godyer could annihte them meant he possessed the means to kill tier-nine powerhouses- a terrifying prospect. This realization filled Elsa with dread. Now, her only hope was Tracy. She had to eliminate Godyer before he reached tier six, or else even the Angel Race would be in danger. "Hmm?" Elsa''s expression brightened suddenly. She sensed that Tracy had awakened from her seclusion. It seemed she had finally broken through to the tenth level of the Godpath technique. Relieved, Elsa turned back to Robing, her voice icy. "I have important matters to attend to. You should return to Dark City. I''ll inform you if there''s any news. Dismiss him!" With that, she vanished into thin air. Two angels entered the hall, gesturing for Robing to leave. "Dammit!" Robing cursed under his breath, but knowing better than to linger in the City of Angels, he spun on his heel and stormed out. ... Eternal Forest. The sh between the green-d woman''s apparition and the god''s avatar had finally dissipated. John and the others rushed forward to assess the scene. The surrounding area was a voidpletely annihted. Only the Sword of Divinity and Demons and the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword remained, quietly embedded in the ground. A faint crack had appeared along the surface of the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword. John was shocked. Just how terrifying was the force of that collision? It had nearly destroyed a divine weapon. And that was only the power of a god''s avatar-if it had been the presence of a true god, the devastation would have been unimaginable. But what intrigued him even more was the mysterious woman. "Two elders," John turned to Tony and Ben, asking, "Who was that woman in green?" The two exchanged a nce before shaking their heads in unison. "We don''t know!" they replied, their voices synchronized. John frowned. Their reaction clearly suggested they knew something, but they weren''t willing to tell him. His thoughts drifted to the Azure Family. The masters from the Azure Family he had encountered before could also use Sword Mastery, though their skills were far weaker. Testing his theory, he asked, "Was that woman from Earth?" Again, they shook their heads vigorously, their replies still in unison. "We don''t know." John resisted the urge to curse. But from their evasive answers, his suspicions seemed to be confirmed. It became clear to him that Earth''s world, particrly the Ancient Martial Arts Families, wasn''t the most powerful force in y. There were even more formidable sects that practiced immortal cultivation. But centuries ago, these cultivation sects had mysteriously vanished, leaving only the Azure Family¡ªa family far superior to ordinary Ancient Martial Arts ns, seemingly tied to these long-lost sects. If his guess was correct, then the Azure Family definitely knew more than they were letting on. "Azure Family..." John muttered to himself. It seemed he needed to find the location of the Azure Family and pay them a visit. "Let''s head back to the Land of Death." John reminded the group, mentally connecting to the Land of Death, and teleported everyone there, including Tony and Ben. The familiar energy of the ce washed over them, and the group collectively sighed in relief. It felt like they had narrowly escaped death. "Huh? The Tree of Life! And Vein of the Earth!" Tony eximed, his eyes wide as he took in the sight of the towering tree and the shimmeringke beside it. He turned to John, saying, "Kid, you''ve got some real treasures here." John shot him a nce. "You nning on staying here?" ck Turtle, standing nearby, looked at Tony with hopeful eyes. He had once been the strongest in this realm, but the arrival of Sara and the others had diminished his and the Beast n''s significance. "I''ll pass," Tony shook his head. He was on the verge ofprehending the dark Power of Laws. While the abundant spiritual energy here was impressive, it wasn''t suited to his path of enlightenment. "Behemoth!" Tony called, turning to the massive figure. "This Tree of Life can help you regenerate your lost arm." Behemoth''s eyes widened in delight, his voice trembling with excitement. "Thank you, my lord." Tony approached the Tree of Life. John and the others followed, their faces filled with curiosity, unsure how Tony intended to restore Behemoth''s arm. Ssh! Suddenly, the surface of the Vein of the Earth rippled, and a skeleton shot out of the water. "Hahaha, kid, I''ve broken through-" It was the Undead Lord, about to boast to John, but he froze mid-sentence as he noticed the powerful figures gathered around. His soul fire flickered nervously in his eye sockets. "Undead Lord!" Tony bellowed, and both he and Ben moved to strike. "Ah, damn it! You two are still alive?" the Undead Lord cursed, diving back into the Vein of the Earth with a ssh, trying to hide. Whoosh! Tony raised his hand, causing the waters of the vein of the Earth to boil violently. The Undead Lord shot back out of the water, panic-stricken. He looked at John, pleading, "Kid, save me!" The boiling water formed into a giant hand that grasped him tightly. Tony, however, didn''t finish him off. He turned to John and asked, "Has this guy joined you as well?" John nodded. "Yes, let him go. He''s one of ours." "Hmph, lucky for you," Tony snorted, flinging the Undead Lord aside. The Undead Lord tumbled across the ground, rolling to a stop in a heap, before quickly scurrying behind John, still shaking with fear. Even at his peak, he had been no match for Tony, let alone now, after only regaining a fraction of his former strength. "Kid, I''m borrowing a branch from your tree!" Tony said, and with a sh of cold light, he severed a thick branch from the Tree of Life. John winced. Although removing the branch wouldn''t harm the Tree of Life itself, it was an elven treasure. Even a single branch was incredibly precious. Whoosh! The branch was wrapped in water elemental energy under Tony''s control, slowly reshaping itself into the form of an arm. It was a massive, stone-like arm, thick as a pir. "Behemoth!" Tony called out. Understanding, Behemoth stepped forward immediately and knelt. The branch-formed arm connected to his shoulder, and a stream of water from the Vein of the Earth flowed into the branch, bringing it to life as veins and sinews formed, giving it the appearance of a living limb. Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Refining the Jade Heart Lotus, Enhancement of Plunder Talent Chapter 156: Refining the Jade Heart Lotus, Enhancement of Plunder Talent ? "Amazing!" John eximed in his heart as he witnessed the scene before him. Isn''t this the legendary art of bringing the dead back to life and restoring the flesh to bones? "Tch!" A disdainful voice came from behind him. It was the Undead Lord. "What''s so special about this? I can do it too. Kid, with my Undying and Immortal talent, you''ll be able to do thister on as well." "Really?" John became intrigued. The Undying and Immortal talent was indeed powerful. As long as his soul remained intact, he would essentially be immortal. At this moment, the branch-like armpletely fused into Behemoth''s body. Behemoth flexed his arm, clenched his fist, moving it freely and easily. His face was filled with excitement. "Thank you, my lord!" he expressed his gratitude again. This arm, shaped from the branches of The Tree of Life and activated by the Vein of the Earth, was far stronger than his previous arm. He even considered asking Tony to sever his other arm so he could have it reforged as well... But that was just a fleeting thought. The Tree of Life was far too precious, and even if Tony agreed, John would never allow it. Afterpleting this, Tony turned to John and asked, "Kid, anything else? If not, we should return to the Abyss." His Dark Element Affinity had already reached 99 points, and he felt as if he could break through at any moment, reaching 100 points andprehending the power of the darkws. "No rush. I want to establish two more factions," John replied. Gates City had also triggered a faction mission. Once it was upgraded to a level-five city, he would be able to establish a faction. Moreover, he had promised to help Bonnie and ck Turtle establish their own factions. For Bonnie''s elves, he nned to establish their faction in Ritchie''s me City, which could also help defend against the demon race invasion. As for the Beast n faction, ck Turtle had chosen the previous Beast n Secret Area, but a city needed to be built first, so that matter wasn''t urgent. "Alright. I have some personal matters to attend to as well," Tony nodded, his gaze turning hostile as he looked at ck Turtle. ck Turtle''s heart skipped a beat. He knew this was inevitable. A fawning smile spread across his face, but before he could speak, a hand had already struck down. "Ouch!" ck Turtle howled in pain, flying backward. "You damn turtle! I entrusted the Beast n to you, and this is how you protect it? The Jade Heart Lotus went missing, the Beast n Secret Area was destroyed... Let me beat some sense into you!" Tony cursed, showing no mercy with his blows. "Grandpa Tony, I know I was wrong!" ck Turtle quickly transformed into his original form, screaming in agony. Everyone watched this scene with great interest. Jade Heart Lotus? John suddenly remembered the items that the woman in green had handed to him, one of which was a blue-green jade lotus that he hadn''t had the chance to inspect yet. His heart stirred, and he took out those items. Sure enough, it was the Jade Heart Lotus. [Jade Heart Lotus: A treasure of the Beast n, containing powerful spiritual properties. Can be refined.] There was only a simple description, without revealing much information. After refining it, the Fox Demon Curse could bepletely lifted. John wasn''t in a hurry to refine it, though. He turned his attention to the other four items. "Divine treasures of the gods!" he gasped, realizing that this was aplete set of divine artifacts. [Divine Core, Divine Rune, Divine Weapon, Divine Soul: Treasures of the gods. Once cultivation reaches the 10th tier and all four items are fused, you can ascend to godhood. Requires Divinity to fuse. Currently ready for fusion.] John couldn''t help but swallow hard as he read the information about the four items. He had already plundered Divinity from the Two-Winged Angel and had umted 11 points, meaning he could fuse these divine treasures. Once fused, as long as his level reached the 10th tier, he would be able to be a god. However, he didn''t proceed with the fusion. Fusing these items would allow other gods to sense him, and that was too dangerous. Besides, the woman in green had warned him not to refine these items just yet but instead to search for the Immortal Bone, Immortal Body, Immortal Sword, and Spirit Sense. John had never heard of these things before, but he suspected they were also priceless treasures, and that refining them would grant godlike power. Currently, he already had three sets of treasures: one from the gods, one from the demon race, and one from the Beast n. He could refine any of these to increase his level to the 10th tier, reaching a power equivalent to that of the gods. However, he was far more curious about the Immortal Bone, Immortal Body, Immortal Sword, and Spirit Sense, wondering what kind of power they might offer. He had already asked Tony and Ben about them, but they imed to know nothing. John was certain those two knew more than they were letting on but simply didn''t want to tell him. He had a strong feeling that the woman in green was an existence far more terrifying than even the gods. As for who or what she really was, he would have to find that answer himself. John decided not to dwell on the issue for now. Instead, he looked at the Jade Heart Lotus in his hand and began refining it. Buzz... A sh of blue-green light shimmered, and the Jade Heart Lotus instantly merged into his body, appearing within his mind. [Ding! Sessfully refined the Jade Heart Lotus. Mental attribute +10,000, Soul Technique +1,000.] [Fox Demon Curse lifted.] The notification shed, and John suddenly felt a wave of rity in his mind. The Fox Demon Curse had finally been lifted. Not only that, but his mental attributes had increased by 10,000, and his Soul Technique by 1,000 points. "So powerful!" John marveled, feeling the Jade Heart Lotus nourishing his very soul. This treasure was far stronger than any divine artifact. "Sini, it''s time to level you up," John said, turning toward Sini. He still needed two more level-five Altar Upgrade Stones and two level-four Altar Upgrade Stones, so he decided to continue destroying the cities of the Dark Humans. Sini also needed to enter the Abyss, and although Tony and Ben would be there to protect her, increasing her level would ensure even greater safety. Ritchie and Armstrong were also going to apany him, but with too many pressing matters in both the Saint Martial Sect and me City, they had no choice but to return to their respective cities. John and Sini rode Avis together, searching for level-four and level-five cities of the Dark Humans. In the level-four and level-five cities, the soldiers of the Dark Humans were at the fifth and sixth tiers of cultivation, respectively. With his current strength, dealing with these foes was a breeze.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Only the level-five cities had seventh-tier legendary Two-Winged Angels stationed as guards, which posed a bit more of a challenge. But just a bit. Before long, John located two level-four Dark Human cities. By himself, he effortlessly ughtered the inhabitants and razed the cities, obtaining two Altar Upgrade Stones in the process. Next was a level-five city, but it wasn''t any harder for him. In the vast mountain forests, a sprawling and majestic city appeared. This was Fire Dragon City, a level-five Dark Human stronghold. It was named after the powerful sixth-tier me Dragons that popted the area. John hovered above Fire Dragon City. Not wasting any time, he cast a high-level spell, Hellfire, triggering a Spell Combo, turning the entire city into a sea of mes. Screams of agony and terror echoed throughout the city. The Dark Humans didn''t even have time to react before more than half of them were dead or severely wounded. "Human! You seek death!" a furious shout erupted as three figures flew out from the city. The city lord of Fire Dragon City, along with two Two-Winged Angels from the Angel Race. "Godyer!" The Two-Winged Angels recognized John at a nce. They exchanged horrified looks and, without hesitation, turned to flee. "Master, those are seventh-tier Two-Winged Angels! Why are they running away from you?" Avis was stunned, unable to process the situation. John was a bit speechless as well. It seemed his reputation had already spread throughout the Angel Race. "Stop staring and go after them!" John snapped,unching into action. He unleashed zing Radiance and Unrivaled Sword Dance, easily ying the city lord of Fire Dragon City. Then he urged Avis to chase down the fleeing Two-Winged Angels. The city lord, though seventh-tier, was only of epic rank and posed no real threat. John''s Wrath of the Gods talent was just two legendary seventh-tier kills away from leveling up again. And these Two-Winged Angels were exactly what he needed. However, Avis''s flight speed was too slow to catch up to them. John switched to Sword Flight mode, and his Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword shot out, splitting into three des that quickly pursued the fleeing angels, engaging in a vicious attack. sh! Blood sprayed, and the numbers for true damage shed across the air. -27,460 -27,551 ... John''s current stats still couldn''t break through the physical resistance of legendary seventh- tier beings with normal attacks. But his greatest strength now wasn''t his physical prowess-it was his dark magic. Buzz! A powerful dark energy engulfed the area, and John cast Dark Descent, covering a radius of several dozen miles. The two Two-Winged Angels were caught within the field, their attributes weakened by 12%. "Human, get out of our way!" The two angels, realizing they couldn''t escape, roared furiously, gripping their light swords as they gritted their teeth and charged at John. John sneered in disdain, casting Annihtion and Dark Storm simultaneously. Thebo triggered a Spell Combo, unleashing a terrifying force of dark magic that devoured the two angels. -1,296,090 -150,140 -1,124,100 ... Massive damage numbers, exceeding a million, shed before him. With magical critical hitsbined with the true damage of dark magic, the Two-Winged Angels, despite their nearly 9 million health, saw it halved in an instant. Terror struck their hearts. They exchanged a nce and, without hesitation, fled in opposite directions. They had entered the World of Gods using special methods. Dying here wouldn''t mean true death, but it would cause them to lose levels-a devastating consequence for seventh-tier beings, as leveling up after that point was exceedingly difficult. This was something they could not afford. "You can''t escape," John scoffed, unleashing Unrivaled Sword Dance, Infinite Sword Array, and Flying Sword Strike all at once, targeting one of the fleeing angels. Blood sttered, and pristine white feathers fluttered to the ground. While she wasn''t instantly killed, she was gravely wounded and fell to the earth. John paid her no mind, switching to Sword Flight and quickly pursuing the other Two-Winged Angel. With his dark spells off cooldown, he raised his hand and sent two more waves of dark magic crashing down. "No...!" she let out a desperate scream, but it was in vain. She was instantly obliterated. [You have in a seventh-tier legendary Two-Winged Angel, gaining 1.6 million experience points.] [Plunder talent triggered: Divinity +1, Luck +1.] The notification shed as John gained another point in Divinity and Luck. The Two-Winged Angel''s body dissolved into a white light, disappearing without leaving any loot behind. Unbothered by theck of drops, John turned back to finish off the other Two-Winged Angel. With a casual wave of his hand, two more dark magic spells howled through the air. The wounded Two-Winged Angel, terrified, roared in fury, "Human, your doom is near! You''ll regret this-" Boom! Her words were cut short as she disintegrated into a sh of white light and vanished. [You have in a seventh-tier legendary Two-Winged Angel, gaining 1.6 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Divinity +1, Mental attribute +200.] [You have sessfully killed 70 legendary bosses above the seventh tier. Wrath of the Gods talent upgraded: Skill costs reduced by 70%.] [Next upgrade requirement: Kill 80 legendary bosses above the eighth tier.] ... Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Gates Empire, Tracys Return Chapter 157: Gates Empire, Tracy''s Return ? A notification shed across John''s vision-his Wrath of the Gods talent had upgraded once again, reducing his skill costs by 70%. However, the next upgrade would be even more difficult, requiring him to y 80 legendary opponents above the eighth tier. At his current strength, he was no match for eighth-tier legendary beings. It seemed that another upgrade to Wrath of the Gods would have to wait until his cultivation reached the sixth tier. John wasn''t in any rush. With the 70% reduction in skill costs, as long as he didn''t face prolonged battles, it was more than enough. After clearing the battlefield with Sini, they mounted Avis again, setting off in search of the next level-five city. Before long, another level-five Dark Human city was obliterated, and John acquired yet another level-five Altar Upgrade Stone. John decided not to continue searching for more cities. With a thought, he returned to the Death Land. "Ada," he called, handing over several Altar Upgrade Stones to her. "Upgrade the city and establish the faction." "Got it!" Ada''s face lit up with excitement as she took the stones. She was one step closer to restoring the glory of the Gates Empire. [Gates City has been upgraded to a level-2 city.] [Gates City has been upgraded to a level-3 city.] ... [Gates City has been upgraded to a level-5 city.] [Announcement: Gates City has initiated the faction mission. In the next 12 hours, it will face an attack from a monster tide. Sessfully defending the city will unlock the faction.] The notifications shed. Gates City had jumped from a level-1 city to a level-5 city in one go, sessfully triggering the faction mission. All that was left was to defend against the monster tide for 12 hours, and the faction would be established. Gates City, located within the Death Land, was an isted space, cut off from the outside world. When the city had first been built, there had been no monster tide attack. Now, John wasn''t sure whether one would actually ur this time. To be safe, he made sure everything was prepared for any unexpected situations. The surroundings remained quiet; no monster tide appeared. yers had also seen the system announcement, causing quite a stir, but they had no idea where Gates City was located. Even if they wanted to watch the spectacle or join the Gates Empire faction, they couldn''t find their way there. ... Angel City. Elsa heard the system announcement, a faint smile curling on her lips as she murmured to herself, "Gates City, Death Land! Ha, divine providence indeed!" She had already learned of the Death Land''s unique properties. With the Tree of Life and the Vein of the Earth there, it was far more valuable than Angel City itself. This time, she not only nned to kill the Godyer but also to seize control of the Death Land! "Come in!" she called softly. The grand doors opened, and a four-winged angel appeared, kneeling on one knee, waiting for hermand. Elsa nced at the angel andmanded, "Inform Robing that, no matter what, Gates City''s faction must not be established. Also, take that human girl with you, but do not give her any trouble." The Two-Winged Angel looked up, puzzled, but did not question the order. With a respectful nod, he quickly retreated. - Death Land. The elves, Beast n, and Ada''s Undying Legion stood ready in battle formation. As time ticked by, no monster tide had appeared. John spected that perhaps there wouldn''t be any monster tide for this faction initiation either. Buzz! Just as he began to rx, a spatial rift suddenly tore open in the sky. Shouts and cries of war echoed through the air as countless Dark Human soldiers and angels descended. A hundred thousand Dark Human soldiers, all above the sixth tier. On the Angel Race side, more than 300 Two-Winged Angels had appeared, along with over 20 four-winged angels. The four-winged angels were eighth-tier legendary beings. Thankfully, John had kept Tony and Ben around. "Human, I told you-you would regret this!" A furious voice rang out. It was Lisa, the Two- Winged Angel John had in in the Death Land. She had imed before that she could lock onto the Death Land''s coordinates, and it seemed she had been telling the truth. But John showed no fear. The Dark Humans and Angel Race had not brought any ninth-tier powerhouses, and with Tony and Ben present, even the eighth-tier four-winged angels posed no real threat. "Old man!" A joyful shout suddenly pierced the air. It was Tracy! John noticed the young girl within the Angel Race forces, her face lighting up with joy. He immediately gave the order, "Attack!" Roar... A chorus of roars echoed as the army charged at the Dark Humans and Angel Race. John''s figure vanished, only to reappear in front of Tracy a momentter. "Let''s go!" He grabbed Tracy, using Sword Flight to cut a path through the battlefield. Several Two-Winged Angelsunched half-hearted attacks, making no real effort to stop them. John breathed a sigh of relief. Tracy had already descended into the World of Gods-if anything happened to her here, death would be permanent. "Old man, I''ve missed you so much!" Tracy gazed at John, tears welling up in her eyes. She hadn''t seen John for over three months. Since John had been trapped in the Abyss, things had changed drastically in the real world. The Azure Family had emerged, and then she had been captured by the Mike White Family and sent into the World of Gods... "Don''t worry, as long as I''m here, nothing will happen to you," John reassured her before instructing Tracy to stay safely in the rear. He then charged back into the battle against the Dark Humans and Angel Race. Apart from the few four-winged angels, no one could stand against him. With a sweep of dark power, Dark Descent engulfed the battlefield. John activated his Sword Mastery and plunged into the enemy ranks, cutting through them like they were nothing. At that moment, two four-winged angels set their sights on John, charging toward him simultaneously. "That''s him, the Godyer! Take him down first!" the lead four-winged angel shouted, his body shrouded in Holy Light, his light sword gleaming as he lunged at John. Boom! Suddenly, there was an explosion. The lead angel was sent flying backward. In front of John, the air shimmered like rippling water as Tony appeared. He nced at the four-winged angel and said calmly, "Kid, your opponent is me." "Ninth-tier powerhouse!" she eximed in shock, her face filled with panic. "Impossible. Ninth-tier powerhouses shouldn''t be able to descend into the World of Gods yet. How are you here?" Tony didn''t bother responding. With a casual wave of his hand, a massive tidal wave surged forward, instantly devouring and killing hundreds of angels in an instant. John watched the scene unfold, filled with awe. Ninth-tier powerhouses were indeed terrifying, especially Tony, who had been trapped in the Abyss for years. His attacks now carried dark elemental forces, naturally countering these light-element angels. With Tony and Ben, both ninth-tier peak powerhouses, joining the battle, the eighth-tier beings among the Angel Race and Dark Humans were no match at all. As for the seventh-tier enemies, they were effortlessly cut down by John, Sara, and the others. The hundred-thousand-strong army was ughtered without much effort. Weapons, gear, and other loot were scattered across the battlefield. All of these were dropped by the in angels and Dark Humans, and among the items were even several divine artifacts. After cleaning up the battlefield, the monster tide assault still hadn''t officially ended, though no more enemies were arriving, and the spatial rift had already closed. John spected that no more enemies would appear and that they just needed to wait for the monster tide to end. ... Soon, twelve hours passed, and the announcement echoed through the air. [Announcement: Gates City has sessfully defended against the monster tide and established the Gates Empire faction.] [Gates Empire faction buff: Physical damage +20%, Health +50%.] ... Three world announcements reverberated throughout the World of Gods, causing quite a stir among the yers once again. In the world chat, countless yers were eagerly applying to join the Gates Empire faction. John paid no attention to these yers. The Gates Empire had always been managed by Ada, and she had no intention of recruiting ordinary yers. Instead, her Undying Legion all joined the faction. Of course, if the Beast n or elves wanted to join, they were more than wee. With the faction buffs of 20% increased physical damage and 50% more health, the Gates Empire''s advantages were on par with the Dark Humans faction and the Saint Martial Sect faction. As for Angel City''s Temple, its faction buff was 1 point of Divinity. At this point, yers still hadn''t figured out what Divinity actually did. "Tracy, were you in Angel City this whole time? Are there any strong powerhouses there?" The women, happy to see Tracy again, gathered around her, asking about everything that had happened recently. At that moment, John walked over. The women exchanged nces and, understanding the situation, tactfully left them alone. "Benefactor, if Sister Tracy can''t hold on, remember to find me...Anna," she whispered softly into John''s ear before her face turned bright red and she quickly ran off. The other women exchanged nces with John, their meaning unmistakable, before turning and leaving as well. John was left speechless. What on earth were these women thinking? He was only trying to get information about the Mike White Family and the Azure Family. Once they had left, only he and Tracy remained in the room. "Old man!" Tracy shyly moved closer, wrapping her arms around his neck, standing on her tiptoes, her face flushed as she gazed up at him. John couldn''t help but swallow hard. Seeing her blushing face so close, he leaned down and kissed her deeply. "Old man, I''ve missed you so much..." Tracy responded passionately, tightening her embrace as a burning fire ignited within her heart. ... City of Angels. In the grand, empty hall, Elsa sat on the throne, a cold smile tugging at her lips, her eyes filled with murderous intent. "Finally alone together, are we?" she muttered darkly. Tracy had been cultivating the Divine Path of the Angels, an Angel Race technique. However, there was a w in this technique. If a normal person without Divinity practiced it, they would be a mere sacrifice. Through this technique, Elsa could easily control the person cultivating it and sense everything happening around them. She had already learned of the Gates Empire''s establishment and knew that two ninth-tier powerhouses had helped Tony and Ben. While others might not know who they were, she was very familiar with those two-the strongest warriors of the Beast n. Yet, she had been unaware they had escaped from the Abyss, where they had been trapped by the demon race. "Hmm?" Elsa let out a soft gasp, her cheeks flushing. But then her eyes zed with fury! Through Tracy''s cultivation, she could clearly sense everything happening to her. At that moment, the two of them were locked in a tight embrace, kissing passionately.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om That strange sensation filled her mind. Elsa felt as though John himself was taking advantage of her. What was worse was that, through Tracy, she could vividly feel John''s masculine presence. Her long-dormant heart, unexpectedly, stirred with emotion! "Bastard!" she roared, consumed by rage. She seized control of Tracy''s body, summoning a surge of holy power, and struck John with a fierce blow. Boom! John crashed through the wooden door, utterly bewildered, staring at Tracy in confusion. He couldn''t understand why she had suddenly attacked him. Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Angel Elsa, Tracy’s Imprisonment Chapter 158: Angel Elsa, Tracy¡¯s Imprisonment ? At this moment, Tracy''s face twisted in pain, her expression shifting rapidly between fear and anger. Her aura fluctuated as well, alternating between gentle and furious-two entirely different energies. "Who are you?" John finally realized what was happening.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om He had encountered something like this before, back when the Undead Lord tried to take over his body. However, this felt different. He could sense an aura that didn''t belong to Tracy, but there was no indication of another soul being present. Buzz! Suddenly, Holy Light radiated from Tracy. Her aura shifted entirely, bing pure, haughtymanding-eerily. It simr to that of a Two-Winged Angel, but much stronger. "This little girl is truly weak," Tracy-or rather, the entity controlling her-spoke in a cold tone, moving her limbs as if testing the limits of her new body. "Who are you, really?" John asked cautiously, refraining from acting rashly. The aura before him was foreign and powerful, though not yet a direct threat. His concern was solely for Tracy. The entity had taken control of her body, and John feared for Tracy''s safety. "You are not worthy to know!" she spat coldly, her eyes zing with fury. "A lowly human dared toy hands on me. Die!" With a sharp cry, her body shimmered with Holy Light, which condensed into a silver needle that shot straight toward John''s mind. "A soul attack!" John''s heart sank. He could feel the terrifying power in the silver needle, and at such close range, dodging was impossible. In desperation, he cast Soul Barrier to defend himself. Pierce! The barrier of Soul Energy was effortlessly pierced, and the silver needle surged forward, driving straight into his soul. "Ugh!" John groaned in agony as a searing pain ripped through the depths of his soul. His meager Soul Technique was utterly overpowered by the assault, like a flickering candle in a storm, ready to be snuffed out at any moment. John truly felt the cold grasp of death as his consciousness began to fade. Buzz! Just then, a sudden humming sound resonated in his mind. A soft blue-green light flickered, instantly dissolving the silver needle and mending the torn strands of his soul. Cough! In the City of Angels, Elsa spat a mouthful of blood, her face pale, her spirit drained. The soul attack had backfired on her, leaving her soul badly wounded. "Impossible!" she gritted her teeth, trying to suppress the pain from the bacsh, and quickly reactivated the Divine Path of the Angels, once again taking full control of Tracy''s body. "Human, did you kill Lord Blood Fiend?" Her voice, now filled with disbelief and fear, trembled as she spoke. The power that had just erupted from John''s soul was the energy of the Jade Heart Lotus. She remembered that the Jade Heart Lotus had once been in the hands of Blood Fiend. For it to now be inside John, there was only one exnation: this human had killed Blood Fiend. A wave of terror washed over Elsa. Blood Fiend was a demigod-level being, an existenceparable to the gods themselves. Not even Tony and Ben could have matched his strength. How could such a powerful entity have fallen? John didn''t answer her question. Instead, he said coldly, "Who are you? Get out of Tracy''s body." "Hmph, in your dreams!" she shouted, her body glowing with Holy Light as sheunched another attack at John. This time, she didn''t dare attempt another soul attack. The bacsh from the previous one had been too severe, and another could prove fatal. Tracy''s body was too weak, and she could only wield the strength of a peak seventh-tier being. That wasn''t enough to threaten John. However, John didn''t dare strike back. Though the aura wasn''t Tracy''s, it was still her body she was controlling. Since Tracy had already descended into the World of Gods, any fatal harm to her now would mean real death. "Damn it!" John cursed inwardly, dodging her attacks and quickly retreating outside. "What''s going on, kid?" Themotion had caught Tony and the others'' attention. "Wait, Elsa?" Ben eximed in shock, staring at Tracy with a look of recognition, sensing a familiar aura. Elsa, the City of Angels'' ruler and a peak ninth-tier powerhouse. She was also known as the strongest being beneath the gods. Elsa had alreadyprehended the Light Power of Laws and had fused four divine treasures of the gods. If she could sessfully reach the tenth tier, she would ascend to a demigod, and perhaps even be a lower deity. Fortunately, she could only control Tracy''s body through the Divine Path technique, limiting her power to a fraction of her true strength. "Hmph, old fool, you still recognize me?" Elsa sneered at Ben but didn''t linger on him. She continued her assault on John. "How dare you!" Tony shouted, stepping between her and John, ready to strike. "Wait! Stop, please!" John cried out, startled, rushing to block Tony. Though it was Elsa controlling Tracy, it was still Tracy''s body she was using. John was terrified that any harm to her could lead to real consequences in the World of Gods. Tony hesitated for a moment, his palm trembling slightly as a water dragon shot past Tracy, narrowly missing her. "Haha! What''s the matter? Can''t bear to hurt your little lover?" Elsa mocked, herughter filled with delight as she recklessly charged at John, emboldened by his reluctance to fight back. "I don''t care who you are! Get out of Tracy''s body!" John growled, dodging her attacks, his frustration growing as he couldn''t fight back. "Hmph, that won''t happen. Today, either you die, or you kill your precious girlfriend!" she snarled, her eyes gleaming with malice. Her attacks grew more ferocious, and she even mixed in some soul attacks, determined to end John''s life. Blinding shes of Holy Light rained down. John''s health steadily dropped. As long as his soul remained intact, he wouldn''t die, but enduring constant attacks wasn''t a viable solution either. "Can you stop her without hurting Tracy?" John pleaded with Tony and Ben. Both of them frowned and shook their heads. Although Elsa''s power was restricted to the seventh tier while controlling Tracy, they could easily kill her. But doing so without harming Tracy''s body? That was nearly impossible. Tony hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Kid, let it go. If you want to achieve great things, you can''t get caught up in the little details-she''s just a woman." "Shut up!" John snapped, furious. He would never allow harm toe to anyone close to him. Ben nced at Tony, his face breaking into a smile. In all these years, this was the first time he''d been scolded, and by a human no less. Tony frowned, shooting a re at Ben, displeased. In his eyes, John was supposed to be the one to save Skyline Continent and shouldn''t be held back by emotional attachments. Sacrificing one woman didn''t matter. He spoke again, "Kid, it''s pointless. That girl has already fallen victim to the Angel Race''s Divine Path, she''s be Elsa''s puppet. If you can''t bring yourself to do it, I''ll deal with her for you." "Don''t you dare!" John shouted, his anger ring. If he weren''t in the middle of fending off attacks, he''d have sent Tony straight into the Abyss himself. "Hmph, foolish sentimentality!" Tony grumbled in frustration, no longer speaking, merely observing with a disdainful look. The others felt just as helpless. They wanted to assist, but there was no way for them to intervene. "Big brother, I know how we can help." At that moment, Jean stepped forward, looking at John eagerly. "Bring Tracy over here." John was puzzled, unsure what the young girl could do, but he followed her suggestion. "Hah, you think you can use The Tree of Life against me? Keep dreaming!" Elsa, seeing through Jean''s n, refused to fall for the trap,unching ranged magical attacks instead. Not only did she target John this time, but her spells also spread to everyone else. Sensing John''s reluctance to harm Tracy''s body, Elsa became even more reckless. Everyone in the Death Land-all enemies of the Angel Race-deserved to die! The group struggled to cope. Even though they could easily handle someone of Elsa''s strength. But they were unable to act without John''s order and were forced to flee in disarray. "Flower Fairy!" Tony and Ben''s eyes softened as they looked at Jean, full of affection. Ben nced at Tony and remarked, "Maybe it''s the Beast n''s good fortune that this human has be the savior. He would never harm Jean." Tony frowned deeply and replied, "But if he doesn''t, how will he fully merge with the Beast n''s treasure?" The very existence of the Flower Fairy was to help the savior fuse with the Beast n''s treasures. In truth, she was always meant to be a sacrifice. Ben, with a serious tone, asked, "If that day reallyes, will you intervene?" Tony fell silent, ring at Ben before suddenly springing into action. Waves of water surged from his hands, sweeping toward Tracy. "You old bastard! What are you doing?" John yelled, startled, as he immediately threw himself in front of Tracy. Boom! A loud explosion echoed through the air as John was sent flying by the water column, barely surviving the hit. Momentster, the torrent of water carried Tracy''s body toward The Tree of Life, wrapping around her protectively and cing her beneath the tree''s branches, unharmed. "Jean, it''s up to you now," Tony said, giving a sharp re at John, who had just flown back over. From the day he was born, no one had ever dared to call him an old bastard to his face. If John weren''t the prophesied Chosen One, Tony wouldn''t have held back. Whoosh! At that moment, The Tree of Life stirred. Under Jean''s control, a web of vines shot out, weaving themselves into a cage that trapped Tracy. des of Holy Light shed at the vines, but they did no damage. The Tree of Life was a natural counter to Holy Light magic. Seeing that she was securely bound, Elsa, through Tracy, gave up her struggle. She red coldly at John. "Human, I won''t give up so easily. If you have the guts, keep this little girl imprisoned forever!" With those words, the Holy Light aura around Tracy faded, and she copsed, unconscious. "Tracy?" The women gathered around, their faces full of concern as they looked at her through the vine cage. Just then, Tracy''s eyshes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes, her expression dazed for a moment before remembering everything that had just happened. Though Elsa had controlled her body, Tracy''s consciousness had remained intact, aware of everything happening around her. She looked at John, her voice filled with guilt. "Old man, I''m sorry. I was tricked by Elsa..." It finally dawned on her why Elsa had taken her as a disciple and taught her the Angel Race''s top-tier Divine Path technique. It had all been a setup to use her against John. Consumed by guilt, Tracy said, "Old man, I don''t want to be a burden. You should just kill me." "Don''t say such foolish things," John snapped, his anger ring. He would never let anything happen to Tracy. "Don''t worry, Tracy. We''ll find a way. And if you feel lonely, we''ll be here with you," Sini added quickly, trying tofort her. Chapter 159: Chapter 159: The God of Light, A New Plan Chapter 159: The God of Light, A New n ? "But I''m afraid I''ll hurt you all. If that happens, it would be more painful for me than dying," Tracy said softly, her kind heart filled with worry. She feared that even the vine cage woven by The Tree of Life might not hold her if Elsa took control of her body again, forcing her tomit actions she''d regret for the rest of her life. John turned to Tony and Ben, asking, "Is there any way to resolve this?" "Hmph, I''m just an old bastard who doesn''t know anything," Tony scoffed, his tone cold. John felt awkward. He had spoken out of anger earlier and hadn''t expected Tony to hold such a grudge. With no choice, John turned to Ben for help. Ben chuckled and said, "There are two ways, but neither is easy. The first is to kill Elsa. If she''s dead, she won''t be able to control the girl anymore." John frowned. Elsa was a ninth-tier six-winged angel-there was no way he could aplish that on his own. He nced back at Ben and Tony, hoping they could help. Tony snorted, "Kid, don''t even think about asking us to go on a suicide mission. Elsa is known as the strongest being under the gods. We''re no match for her, and besides, we can''t even enter City of Angels." The strongest being under the gods? John hadn''t realized just how powerful Elsa truly was. He wondered if, once he reached the ninth tier, he would be able to match her. But that goal was far off. He wasn''t anywhere near the ninth tier yet. "What''s the second option?" John asked, pressing for another solution. Ben gave a helpless smile. "The second method is even more unrealistic. You''d need to master Divinity, and your Divinity level would have to exceed Elsa''s. Then you could erase the mark she left on Tracy. But only a true god would have such power." "Divinity?" John''s eyes lit up. While the second option seemed difficult, it wasn''t entirely out of reach. His Plunder talent allowed him to steal Divinity whenever he killed angels. Moreover, he already possessed 17 points of Divinity. This path seemed much more feasible than killing Elsa. John then asked, "Do you know how much Divinity Elsa has?" Ben thought for a moment before answering, "She''s already fused the four divine treasures of the gods. Her Divinity is likely at least 100 points." 100 points of Divinity? John didn''t find that number too daunting. As long as he hunted enough angels, he could reach it. But aside from the City of Angels, where could he find arge number of angels? John suddenly thought of the Elemental Secret Area. Using a Universal Order to refresh the Elemental Secret Area had a chance of summoning angels. He already had 11 Universal Orders from his recent battles against seventh-tier powerhouses. In addition to that, by establishing a faction, he knew angels from the Angel Race would descend. If everything went smoothly, John calcted he would need to kill 83 Two-Winged Angels to reach 100 points of Divinity. Once his Divinity surpassed Elsa''s, he could free Tracy from her control. John, filled with confidence, reassured Tracy, "Tracy, I''ve found a way to save you. Can you endure this just a few more days?" "Really?" Tracy''s face lit up with joy. As long as she could escape Elsa''s control, she didn''t mind being confined in the cage at all. Sini quickly chimed in, "Tracy, when has John ever lied to us? He''ll definitely find a way." "Exactly," Anna added. "Tracy, just stay here and don''t worry. If you get lonely, we''ll take turns keeping youpany." The women all trusted John without question. "That won''t be necessary," Tracy said with a smile. "This is way better than being stuck in the City of Angels. You all have things to do, so don''t worry about me." John didn''t say much more. He turned to Bonnie and said, "Get ready. Let''s set up your faction." "Alright!" Bonnie responded excitedly, immediately agreeing. Establishing a faction would likely attract the descent of seventh-tier and higher Two- Winged Angels. Luckily, Tony and Ben were around to help with that. With a n forming in his mind, John and Sini left Death Land. He decided to set up the elf faction in Ritchie''s me City, but first, he needed to let Ritchie know in advance. Once John had disappeared, Tony nced at Ben and whispered, "Do you think the kid really has a way to save that girl?" "How would I know?" Ben replied with a slight shrug. "Maybe he''s justforting her. Even if she''s stuck in there, it''s better than being dead. "Ben''s voice held a note of regret, but he didn''t dwell on it. To them, powerful beings who had lived for countless years, much of their existence had been spent in closed-door cultivation. It wasn''t that different from being trapped in a cage. Especially considering they had been imprisoned in the Abyss for a thousand years. Compared to that, Death Land felt like heaven. ... City of Angels. Elsa''s expression was icy. She hadn''t expected her seemingly foolproof n to fail. Even with the Tree of Life and two ninth-tier powerhouses like Tony and Ben around, she had been confident she could still kill John. What she hadn''t anticipated was him possessing the Jade Heart Lotus. She couldn''t understand how John had managed to take the Jade Heart Lotus from Blood Fiend. Blood Fiend was a demigod, and aside from actual gods, no one should have been able to kill him. Whoosh! Suddenly, an immense presence filled the grand hall. Holy Light coalesced, and a figure slowly formed¡ªa stunningly handsome male angel, with twelve wings spread behind him. "Lord God of Light!" Elsa gasped, hurriedly stepping down from the throne and kneeling with deep reverence. "What are your orders, my lord?" "Blood Fiend is dead," the God of Light said softly, his voice calm but carrying immense weight. "Lord Blood Fiend is really dead?" Elsa was shocked. She had her suspicions, but hearing it from the God of Light himself still left her in disbelief. She asked hesitantly, "My lord, who killed Lord Blood Fiend?" The God of Light remained silent for a long moment before taking a deep breath and uttering two words: "The Immortals." "What?" Elsa''s eyes widened, her voice rising in shock. This revtion was even more startling than learning of Blood Fiend''s death. "No, impossible!" She swallowed hard, looking at the God of Light. "Didn''t the gods and demon race join forces topletely wipe out the Immortals? How could any of them stilln/?/vel/b//in dot c//om exist?" "The Immortals are stronger than we imagined," the God of Light sighed, a trace of fear flickering in his expression. Back then, even with thebined might of the gods and demons, they were no match for the Immortals. It was only thanks to the intervention of another powerful, mysterious race that the Immortals were supposedly eradicated. Now, after a thousand years, the God of Light had nearly forgotten the terror the Immortals once instilled. Yet, here they were again, emerging from the shadows... Elsa suppressed the rising fear in her heart and asked, "Does this have something to do with that human?" He nodded. "Yes. That''s why I''vee to you." "Whatever youmand, my lord. I will serve without hesitation," Elsa vowed, her loyalty to the God of Light unwavering. He continued, "Ninth-tier powerhouses and gods cannot descend directly into the World of Gods, and that human is currently protected by Tony and Ben. The only way to kill him is to open a passage between the World of Gods and Earth." Elsa understood immediately and nodded. "I know what to do, my lord." When human yers reach the ninth tier, they unlock a quest to open the portal between the World of Gods and Earth. Conveniently, both the Mike White Family and Azure Family were under their control. By helping them reach the ninth tier, they could open the portal to Earth. "There''s one more thing," the God of Light added, as something else came to mind. "You must protect Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area at all costs. That human may be connected to the Immortals. If he discovers the secret of the Death Worm''s Nest, it could be disastrous." "This..." Elsa swallowed nervously, her face pale with fear. "Hmm? Is there a problem?" The God of Light sensed her hesitation, his brows furrowing as his tone grew colder. Trembling, Elsa stammered, "Th-the Death Worm''s Nest... it''s already in that human''s hands..." "Fool!" he roared. A terrifying surge of divine light gathered, forming a massive hammer that crashed down upon Elsa. Boom! Elsa spat blood as she was sent flying, mming into a pir of the grand hall before copsing to the floor. She scrambled to her feet, kneeling in front of him, her body trembling. "My lord, your daughter, Susan, formed an angelic vessel and descended into the World of Gods to investigate the secrets of the temple. She encountered that human, and the vessel was destroyed. The Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area was lost..." she exined in a shaky voice. "Susan?" The God of Light frowned. He had wondered why his daughter had been so quiet recently, and now he understood-she had caused this mess. His expression softened slightly as he looked at Elsa. "Do not spread word of this incident. The damage is done, but we must find a way to fix it. Before that human reaches the sixth tier and uncovers the secret of the Death Worm''s Nest, you must open the path to Earth and eliminate him." "Yes, my lord," Elsa bowed deeply, though a trace of resentment flickered in her eyes. The God of Light''s daughter had been the one to lose the Death Worm''s Nest scroll, yet she faced no punishment. Instead, Elsa was tasked with keeping it a secret and cleaning up the mess. Sensing Elsa''s discontent, the God of Light added, "Do not worry. I will not let your efforts go unrewarded. Once this matter is resolved, I will help you ascend to the tenth tier. You will be the eleventh god of the Angel Race." Elsa''s eyes lit up, her breathing quickened, and she responded gratefully, "Thank you, my lord." Satisfied, the God of Light nodded before his form slowly faded away, disappearing from the hall. Elsa stood up, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth. After straightening her appearance, she seated herself on her throne once more and called out, "Someone,e here!" Therge doors of the hall opened, and a six-winged angel entered, bowing respectfully. "What are your orders, mydy?" Elsa spoke firmly, "Continue helping Toby and Kent level up. We must get their strength to the ninth tier as soon as possible." "Still helping them?" The angel looked puzzled, clearly confused by the order. It had taken a great deal of effort to help Toby and the others reach the sixth tier and unlock the Faction System. Now, getting them to the ninth tier would be even harder. Despite having ess to the Experience Secret Area, it would likely take at least six months, given how weak the human yers were. Chapter 160: Chapter 160: The Demon Race Princess Chapter 160: The Demon Race Princess ? Elsa knew how difficult the task would be, but she still spoke firmly: "This is a direct order from the God of Light. We must help them reach the ninth tier as quickly as possible. I''m counting on you all to make it happen." "The God of Light''smand?" The angel dared not show any further dissatisfaction. He nodded and was about to leave. At that moment, three system announcements echoed. [Announcement: The elves have joined me City, initiating the elf faction quest. Defend against the monster tide for 12 hours to establish the faction.] ... "me City?" The angel paused, turning back to Elsa. "Mydy, that''s the city controlled by the Godyer." "Curse him!" Elsa''s face darkened, her teeth clenched in anger. She had initiated the Faction System to expand the influence of the Angel Race, only for this human to benefit in the end. The angel cautiously asked, "Shall we try to stop them?" "Stop them? How? Can you enter the World of Gods and kill two ninth-tier peak powerhouses?" Elsa snapped, ring at him. The faction was being established, but no ninth-tier beings could descend. Unless the Godyer came to City of Angels himself, there was nothing she could do. "Go handle your own tasks," she waved him away, clearly irritated. The only way to deal with the Godyer now was to open the passage between the World of Gods and Earth ahead of schedule. Once the connection was made, not only ninth-tier powerhouses but gods themselves would be able to descend. By then, no matter how many strong allies the Godyer had, he would be doomed. The six-winged angel bowed respectfully and quickly retreated. "Godyer, enjoy your time while itsts," Elsa muttered coldly before disappearing in a sh. ... World of Gods, The Land of Darkness, me City. The me Legion, elite disciples from the Saint Martial Sect, as well as John''s forces of elves and Beast n warriors, were all gathered, standing ready for the iing monster tide. Ritchie climbed the city wall to where John stood and asked, "Boss, now that the elves are establishing their faction in me City, can we join?" yers who join a faction receive attribute buffs. Currently, the avable factions in the World of Gods included the Angel Race''s Temple, the Dark Humans'' Dark City, and the Saint Martial Sect of the Ancient Martial Arts families. The Temple and Dark City weren''t options Ritchie would consider. While the Saint Martial Sect was an option, it wasn''t ideal for ordinary yers. The newly formed elf faction seemed like a great fit, especially since it was based in his territory. John nced at him and replied, "Don''t worry. From now on, me City will be co-managed by you and Bonnie. You''ll be equals. If you want to join the elf faction, you''re free to do so." "Really?" Ritchie looked over at Bonnie. The woman had an icy expression, radiating a dark aura, and didn''t seem very approachable. John chuckled but didn''t exin further. Bonnie may appear cold on the surface, but deep down, she wasn''t a bad person. Moreover, the elves were only using me City to establish their faction. Most of the time, they would remain in Death Land, meaning they wouldn''t have much interaction with Ritchie. Roar... Suddenly, the roars of beasts echoed through the forest, the ground trembling slightly as countless fourth- and fifth-tier magical beasts charged toward the city. The me Legion and the elite disciples of the Saint Martial Sect had all reached at least the fourth tier, making them barely capable of handling these beasts. John wasn''t in a rush to intervene. Ritchie was already down by the city walls,manding the army. Knights and warriors formed the front lines, charging bravely while the priests behind them worked to heal, minimizing casualties as much as possible. From atop the walls, mages, archers, and other ranged sses unleashed a barrage of attacks on the approaching horde of magical beasts. The Beast n and elves joined the battle as well, focusing on the more powerful fifth-tier beasts. As for the fourth-tier beasts, they intentionally left those for the human yers to practice on. The battlefield was filled with the deafening sounds of battle-roars, the cries of beasts, and the shouts of warriors shing in chaoticbat. The magical beasts continued to attack in suicidal waves. John, along with Tony and Ben, stood on the city walls, observing the situation below. The beasts were too weak for Tony and Ben to bother stepping in. Before long, the monster tide had beenpletely ughtered, and the bodies of beasts were piled high around the city, with scattered weapons, gear, and other loot littering the ground. These drops were from the elite bosses and leader-level monsters. John hadn''t lifted a finger, so there weren''t many significant drops. Ritchie immediately ordered the members of the me Legion to clean up the battlefield and prepare for the second wave of the monster tide. John, however, was unconcerned with the loot or the monster tide. He kept ncing at the sky, his focus elsewhere. What he was truly waiting for was the arrival of the Angel Race. He needed to hunt Two-Winged Angels to plunder Divinity. It didn''t need to be many-just one hundred angels would be enough. "Commander," an Assassin yer approached Ritchie, reporting, "We''ve spotted arge army of the demon race in the forest-at least five hundred thousand strong!" "What?" Ritchie was stunned, unable to believe his ears. "How many?" The number was staggering, unlike anything he had ever encountered in battle before. He quickly asked, "What about their strength?" The Assassin replied, "They''re not particrly powerful. Most are third-tier demon soldiers, numbering around four hundred thousand. The leader, though I couldn''t gauge their strength, but I think it''s an eighth-tier Demon King." "That''s nothing to worry about," Ritchie breathed a sigh of relief. With two ninth-tier peak powerhouses, three eighth-tier elites, and over a hundred seventh-tier experts on their side, the demon race army, despite its overwhelming numbers, posed little threat. Up on the walls, John and the others also sensed the presence of the demon race army in the forest. "Strange," Ben muttered, his brows furrowed as he scanned me City. After a moment of contemtion, he turned to John and asked, "Kid, could this be the City of Darkness from the demon race?" John nodded, unsure of why Ben was asking these questions. "Is there a problem?" he inquired. Ben pressed further, "What about the Demon King''s Treasure Secret Area? Have you ever unlocked it?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Yes, I''ve unlocked it. Some so-called demon race prodigy entered it and got the demon race''s treasure, but I''ve already killed him," John answered honestly. "Owen?" Ben and Tony exchanged a nce, both eximing in surprise. "Yeah, Owen. Do you know him?" John was puzzled by their strong reaction. The two of them were speechless for a moment. Ben gave John a long look before saying, "You''ve made an enemy of the demon race for life. It''s a good thing the demon race is in decline now; otherwise, you wouldn''t havested long." "Is the demon race really that powerful?" John asked, perplexed. He had already killed many of the demon race''s top warriors-fifth-tier demon generals, sixth-tier demon lords, and even seventh-tier demon emperors. Even Owen, the prodigy of the demon race who had inherited the eighth-tier Demon King''s legacy, had been killed by John using the divine avatar. "Very powerful!" Tony replied with a grave expression. "At their peak, they were a force that could rival the gods. Otherwise, we wouldn''t have been imprisoned in the demon race''s Abyss. A thousand years ago, they were betrayed by their own allies, the Dark Humans, and with the gods receiving help from a mysterious faction, the demon race was eventually wiped out." "Rival the gods?" John frowned, finding it hard to believe. At that moment, the demon race''s army arrived beneath the city walls-over 500,000 strong. However, most were just third-tier demon soldiers, weak and easily dealt with. With this kind of strength, they didn''t evenpare to the Dark Humans under the gods, let alone the more powerful Angel Race. How could they possibly have once rivaled the gods? Tony noticed John''s doubt and added, "Don''t underestimate them. The demon race was indeed very strong in the past, but after being outmaneuvered by the gods and losing their ess to key cultivation resources, their strength has dwindled." Ben nodded in agreement. "Just to be safe, we should check out the Demon King''s Treasure Secret Area againter." "Is there something special about that Secret Area?" John asked, still confused. He had entered the Demon King''s Treasure once before, along with Owen and Glenn from the demon race. Other than a projection of the Demon King''s avatar, there hadn''t been any particrly powerful beings. Ben thought for a moment and exined, "This isplicated to exin, but in simple terms, god-level beings are nearly impossible to kill. In the demon race, there were four god- level beings. Two were permanently imprisoned in a temple, while the other two- Michelle and Kamal-were in, but their bodies vanished, and the gods were never able to find them. The remaining strongholds of the demon race are limited to three ces: the Abyss, the City of Darkness'' Secret Area, and the most mysterious of all, the Dark Sea." "You mean to say that the bodies of those two Demon Gods might be hidden in one of these three ces?" John asked in surprise. The three Secret Areas Ben had mentioned were almost all under John''s control. Hepletely controlled both the Abyss and the Demon King Treasure Secret Area, and he even had the scroll for the Sea of Death Secret Area, though it required seventh-tier strength to unlock. Ben nodded, then nced at the battlefield where Sini was fighting the demon race soldiers. After a brief hesitation, he asked, "Do you trust me?" "Of course I do," John replied. Ben and Tony had helped him a great deal, and they had even saved his life. Ben then pointed toward Sini and asked, "And do you trust that girl?" "Yes," John responded, confused as to why Ben was asking. "Between me and that girl, who do you trust more?" Ben pressed. "Sini," John replied without a moment''s hesitation. "I..." Ben nearly swore, his eyes ring with frustration. He realized he''d asked a pointless question. Tony, standing off to the side, couldn''t hide his smile at Ben''s exasperation. John, however, remained unbothered and asked curiously, "Why do you ask, Ben? Is there something secret about Sini?" From the moment these two had seen Sini, their reactions had been unusual, and John couldn''t help but feel suspicious. Ben shot John a re before continuing, "I''ve got a feeling you and the demon race are headed for a major conflict, so I might as well tell you. We suspect that the girl, Sini, is the demon race''s princess-specifically, the daughter of the two Demon Gods, Michelle and Kamal." "W-what?" John gasped, stunned, as he instinctively nced toward Tony for confirmation. Tony nodded in agreement. "It''s likely true. That girl''s affinity for darkness is extraordinary. I can''t think of anyone other than a descendant of the Demon Gods who would have such a profound connection to the dark element." Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Establishing the Elf Faction Chapter 161: Establishing the Elf Faction ? John furrowed his brow. If he had heard this in the past, he would never have believed it. But after encountering the Blood Fiend of the Orcs and witnessing that mysterious woman in green y him, John had begun to suspect that both the real world and the World of Gods held vast, hidden secrets he was unaware of. He thought back to his previous life, when sini mysteriously disappeared after losing all her cultivation in an attempt to save him. Reflecting on it now, the situation seemed far more peculiar. Sini and John had always shared a deep bond. It was unimaginable that she would leave without a word. More likely, she had been captured by the demon race. John turned to look at Tony and Ben, understanding their concerns. "Sini won''t harm me. I trust her," he said confidently. Tony and Ben exchanged a nce but said no more. Regardless of whether Sini was an enemy or ally, at least for now, she posed no threat to John. At that moment, the battlefield began to shift. An eighth-tier Demon King had appeared. "Bonnie, I don''t know how you escaped from the Abyss, but hand over City of Darkness, or I''ll throw you back into the Abyss!" the Demon King roared, spatial energy swirling around him as he tore open a rift in the sky, connecting directly to the Abyss. Seeing this, Bonnie''s face briefly shed with panic. She wasn''t afraid of the eighth-tier Demon King, but the thought of returning to the strange and terrifying Abyss made her shudder. However, she quickly remembered that John now controlled the Abysspletely. Even if she were thrown back in, he could easily release her. "Bonnie, let me handle that guy!" Behemoth roared, his massive body leaping into the air. His enormous hand, asrge as a mountain, came crashing down toward the Demon King. "Fool!" the Demon King cursed, manipting the rift to the Abyss in an attempt to swallow Behemoth whole. Behemoth, asrge as a mountain, was suddenly pulled uncontrobly toward the Abyss. Buzz! Another surge of spatial energy rippled through the air, and the terrifying force pulling Behemoth disappeared. The rift to the Abyss slowly closed. Boom! Behemoth crashed to the ground with a thundering impact. "What... what just happened?" The Demon King''s face twisted in disbelief as he realized someone hadpletely taken control of the Abyss. He held a key to the Abyss, allowing him to open rifts and imprison enemies. But to fully control the Abyss itself required mastery of at least 10% of the Power of Dark Laws.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Only the dreaded Demon Gods had such mastery. But in the great cmity a thousand years ago, all the Demon Gods had perished. There was no one left in the demon race with such power. "Hahaha! Bet you didn''t expect that! Your demon race''s precious Abyss is now controlled by a human!" Behemothughed wildly, with no fear left. His massive arms swung like crashing waves as he charged at the Demon King. "A human in control?" The Demon King was confused and in shock. Before he could dwell on the thought, Behemoth''s powerful attack struck him, forcing him into a hasty defense. Boom! With just one blow, the Demon King was sent flying,pletely powerless against Behemoth. "You''ve actually increased your strength!" The Demon King stared at Behemoth in disbelief, already contemting retreat. "You kept me trapped in the Abyss for a thousand years! Today, you die!" Behemoth roared furiously, showing no mercy with his strikes. The once-mighty eighth-tier Demon King was now nothing more than a ragdoll, tossed around by Behemoth,pletely overwhelmed. "Stop ying around and finish it quickly!" John''s voice rang out as he joined the fight, targeting the powerful seventh-tier demon emperors. With darkness enveloping them, he unleashed Dark Storm, Infinite Sword Array, and Hellfire all at once. The demon race army fell by the thousands in an instant. The system notifications flooded in, showing the vast amount of experience points and attributes John had plundered. He had no real interest in these demon soldiers. His sole focus was finishing the battle swiftly in anticipation of the Angel Race''s arrival. Only by hunting Two-Winged Angels could he plunder enough Divinity to save Tracy. The demon race army was utterly powerless before him. Meanwhile, the Demon King was easily defeated by thebined efforts of Behemoth and Bonnie. Soon, the 500,000-strong demon race army was annihted, leaving the battlefield littered with loot. John''s four main attributes increased by more than 40,000 points, and his level had risen to 459. He was now just 41 levels away from reaching 500 andpleting his sixth job advancement. However, leveling up at this stage required an astronomical amount of experience. At his current pace, it would take at least another six months to reach level 500 and advance to the sixth tier. As the battlefield grew quiet once more, the surrounding forest also fell into an eerie silence. No additional waves of the monster tide appeared. John checked the time. Ten hours had passed since the monster tide attack began, yet the Angel Race still hadn''t descended. Even the Dark Humans had yet to show themselves. Could the recent establishment of the Gates Empire have scared off the Angel Race and Dark Humans? John felt a pang of disappointment. Without the Angel Race''s arrival, he couldn''t plunder the Divinity he needed to save Tracy. Aside from establishing factions, Elemental Secret Areas were another potential source of Two-Winged Angels. But to encounter angels, John would have to use Universal Orders to refresh the Secret Areas, and the chances were slim. It would be impossible to hunt enough Two-Winged Angels through this method alone. If no angels appeared during the faction establishment, the Elemental Secret Area would be his only hope. The City of Angels was teeming with angels, but John didn''t know how to enter it, nor did he dare to. The city was guarded by ninth-tier six-winged angels. And Elsa, the ruler of the City of Angels, was famed as the most powerful being beneath the gods. He stood no chance against her. To recklessly enter the City of Angels would be certain death. For now, his only option was to hunt Two-Winged Angels through the Elemental Secret Areas, slowly umting enough Divinity to save Tracy. Soon, the twelve hours passed, and the monster tide attack came to an end, followed by the sound of system announcements. [Announcement: me City has sessfully defended against the monster tide, establishing the elf faction.] [Elf Faction Buffs: Natural Elves: Gain 4 extra points of Spirit and 1 skill point per level. Earth Elves: Gain 4 extra points of Strength per level and a 10% increase in physical crit chance. Dark Elves: Gain 2 extra points of Strength, 2 extra points of Spirit, and 10 points of Dark Element Affinity per level.] ... The faction that Bonnie established included three distinct types of elves, each with unique attribute buffs. "10 points of Dark Element Affinity?" Tony eximed in shock. He currently had 99 points of Dark Element Affinity, and gaining just one more point would allow him to fullyprehend the Power of Dark Laws. The fact that joining the Dark Elf faction would give him a direct boost of 10 points in Dark Element Affinity was incredibly tempting. However, as the leader of the Beast n, joining the elf faction would be seen as a betrayal to his own people, so he decisively gave up the idea. Besides, gaining that final point of Dark Element Affinity wouldn''t be too difficult for him through other means. Anna and Yuel both led their respective elf races to join the new elf faction, significantly boosting their strength. The most excited group, however, was the me Legion members. Bonnie had agreed to let them join the elf faction as well. The mage-ss yers didn''t hesitate to choose the Natural Elf race for its Spirit and skill point bonuses. The physical damage dealers opted for the Earth Elf race for its Strength boost and increased critical strike chance. As for the Dark Elf race, surprisingly, no yers chose it. The only two who joined the Dark Elf faction were Sara and Sini. Both of whom already possessed Dark Element Affinity. For them, the buffs from the Dark Elf faction were ideal. "Kid, let''s check out the Demon King''s Treasure Secret Area," Tony said to John as he approached, also submitting a request to join me City. The Demon King''s Treasure was a city-based Secret Area, meaning only members of me City with seventh-tier or higher strength, and permission from either John or Ritchie, could enter. John agreed, granting permission for Tony and Ben to join me City and enter the Demon King''s Treasure Secret Area. He and Sini joined the group as well, entering the Demon King''s Treasure alongside them. Whoosh! Spatial energy rippled as they were transported to an unfamiliar space. Dark mist swirled around them, and the entire area was enveloped in an oppressive force of dark energy. Ben and Tony carefully sensed their surroundings, both letting out a sigh of relief. "There''s no trace of godly presence here, which means the bodies of Demon Gods Michelle and Kamal aren''t in this ce," Ben said, reassured. Just to be sure, Ben turned to Sini and asked, "Girl, do you sense anything familiar about this ce?" Sini red at Ben, her tone displeased as she said, "Old man, do you have some sort of issue with me?" From the first moment she met Tony and Ben, Sini had felt as though they were singling her out. It left her puzzled. She had never met either of them before and couldn''t think of any reason why they''d hold a grudge against her. Ben, feeling a bit awkward, responded, "I was just asking, no big deal." John had already advised Ben not to reveal Sini''s possible true identity for the time being. After all, Sini being the demon race''s princess was only a theory they hadn''t yet confirmed. "Are we going to keep exploring?" Tony asked, scanning the area. There were several demon generals and demon lords roaming around. But they were so weak that neither he nor Ben bothered to fight them. Given how important the demon race seemed to consider the City of Darkness, Tony couldn''t shake the feeling that there was something hidden here. However, after searching the area, neither he nor Ben had found anything unusual. Ben shrugged and said, "Let''s call it. Even if there''s a secret here, we won''t be able to find it. Time to move on." "That''s it?" John asked in disbelief. The two had entered the Demon King Treasure Secret Area, taken a quick look around, and done nothing else. Tony, puzzled, replied, "What else did you want us to do?" Their main reason for entering was to check for any potential dangers. A seventh-tier Secret Area held little interest for them. Even if there was treasure, it wouldn''t be of much value to ninth-tier powerhouses like them. The Demon King''s Treasure Secret Area''s greatest prize had already been imed-the demon race''s treasure, which John now possessed. There really wasn''t much else left to explore. There were plenty of demon lords and demon generals wandering about. But John wasn''t interested in them either. With a thought, he led Sini out of the Secret Area, ending the exploration. "Kid, we''re heading back to the Abyss. If you need us, just summon us anytime," Tony said, leaving me City and addressing John. Now, only the Beast n faction remained to be established, but that required the construction of a city, and there was no rush for that. John didn''t try to stop them. With a quick thought, he summoned both Tony and Ben back to the Abyss. Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Fulfilling Promises, A Wild Night Chapter 162: Fulfilling Promises, A Wild Night ? With Tony and Ben having left, the elves, Beast n, and others returned to Death Land as well. Now that the three major factions had been sessfully established, John finally allowed himself a moment to rx. Since returning from the Abyss, he had been on high alert without taking a proper break. "John," Sini approached him and spoke softly, "I want to train in the Abyss for a while." "You''ve made up your mind?" John asked, a hint of reluctance in his voice. Sini nodded. She didn''t want to leave, but she was even more determined not to be a burden to John. She felt that training in the Abyss would greatly enhance her strength, allowing her to be of real help to him in the future. ncing around to make sure no one was watching, Sini leaned in close to John''s ear, her breath warm as she whispered, "But before I go, Master, I have a special reward for you. I''ll log off first." Before John could respond, Sini had already logged off with a teasing smile. Reward? John''s eyes lit up, and his mind shed back to the promise Sini had made before they entered the Abyss. She had promised him she''d wear stockings... Swallowing hard, excitement stirred within him. After giving Ritchie some quick instructions, John logged off as well. ... In the real world. John, along with the Blues Family and others, had moved to a secure military base. He and Sini, however, lived far from the rest of the group, nestled in a secluded mountain area where they were rarely disturbed. Stretching his slightly stiff body after exiting the game pod. John noticed the nutrition fluid inside was nearly full. He had been in the World of Gods for nearly two months, and the pod''s nutrition fluid onlysted one month. Clearly, Sini had been taking care of refilling it for him. "Master, you''re back so soon?" The door creaked open as Sini stepped inside. She wore a loose nightgown, her damp hair hanging loosely around her shoulders, freshly showered. In her hands, she held a pair of ck stockings, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. John moved toward her, gently lifting her chin and nting a soft kiss on her lips. "You go get dressed. I''m going to take a quick shower first," he teased. "Okay," Sini responded, her face turning even redder as she nodded. ... John quickly took a cold shower, barely bothering to change his clothes, and hurried back to the room. By the time he returned, Sini was already dressed in the stockings. She stood shyly before him, the ck stockings entuating her perfect figure, making her appear even taller and more alluring. "Is this okay, Master?" Sini asked. It was her first time wearing stockings, and she felt awkward, her legs feeling tightly bound and her body slightly ufortable. John swallowed hard, his eyes gleaming with desire. His body responded instantly, fire elements pulsing around him, evaporating the water droplets from his skin. In one swift move, he crossed the room, pulling Sini into his arms. With a single tug, her nightgown fell to the floor, leaving only the stockings that highlighted her long, perfect legs. "Master, be gentle... Sini wants to stay with you a little longer..." Sini whispered shyly, her voice filled with both embarrassment and desire as she responded passionately to John. Her small hand wrapped around the dragon beneath him, softly stroking. John didn''t respond with words. Instead, he captured her lips, his tongue sliding past her teeth as he kissed her deeply, drinking in her sweetness. Sini closed her eyes, a soft moan escaping her as she returned his fervent kiss. Her hand on the dragon moved faster, teasing him. What a seductress! John''s desire red even more intensely under her touch. Unable to hold back any longer, he grabbed her ankle, lifting her long, slender leg around his waist, positioning himself as he prepared to enter. "Master, not so fast... Sini wants to be with you a little longer," she panted, her body trembling with anticipation, already wet and ready. She knew that if he entered now, she would lose herselfpletely. Sini held onto John''s hands, stopping him from moving further. She kissed his neck, trailing her tongue along his chest, and slowly sank to her knees before him, kissing her way down until she was face-to-face with the dragon standing tall before her. She paused, swallowing nervously before ncing up at John with shy eyes. Then, she opened her mouth and took him in deeply. "Ahh..." John moaned in pleasure, feeling the warmth and softness around him. It was unbelievably good. Sini moved with skill and tenderness, her small tongue swirling around him, teasing and pleasing him at every turn. John''s breathing grew heavier as he stroked her long, silky hair, a look of satisfaction on his face. Encouraged by his reaction, Sini redoubled her efforts, alternating between slow, deliberate movements and quick, teasing strokes. The sensations were overwhelming, and several times, John nearly lost control, but he held back. "Master, isn''t Sini the best? The most obedient?" Sini asked breathlessly, releasing him for a moment, looking up at him with a dazed expression, clearly seeking his approval. "Of course, no one canpare to my Sini," John replied with a smile, gently stroking her hair as he praised her. Sini''s face lit up with a smile, satisfaction radiating from her as she gently guided his hand to the top of her head, whispering, "Master, Sini wants something more... exciting." As she spoke, she pressed John''s hand firmly against her head, taking him deeper into her throat. Her expression tightened in difort, but the look in her eyes was one of eager anticipation and longing. John was surprised. In the past, when the Fox Demon Curse had taken over, he had been rough with Sini and the others, but now, to his astonishment, Sini seemed to enjoy the intensity. Without hesitation, he reversed his grip, holding her hands down while pressing her head even closer, pushing himself deeper, his dragon touching the very back of her throat and slipping into her esophagus. "Mm!" Sini let out a muffled, pained moan, her wide eyes filled with tears as she gazed up at him, looking fragile and vulnerable. But her reaction only spurred John on further. The pent-up energy inside him, restrained for so long, could no longer be held back. He erupted with intense heat, releasing a torrent of pure energy. Gulp... Sini''s eyes widened as her throat convulsed, swallowing involuntarily as the hot liquid flowed down. The overwhelming sensation triggered something in her too, causing her entire body to tremble uncontrobly. Her hips twitched, and a mysterious liquid dripped steadily beneath her. She had climaxed at the same time as John. John groaned in utter satisfaction, finally releasing his grip on her head. But Sini didn''t stop. She carefully licked him clean, not leaving a drop behind, before finally releasing the dragon from her mouth, gasping for air. "Master, Sini wants more," she said breathlessly, her eyes full of desire as she looked at John''s still-standing dragon. Without hesitation, she pushed him down onto the bed and straddled him. With her long hair cascading over her shoulders, she leaned down again, taking him into her mouth once more, teasing him expertly. But soon, she began to regret it. The powerful, thick dragon continued to plunge deep again and again, and despite her efforts, John showed no sign of stopping or relenting. Ten minutes passed. Then half an hour. Then a full hour. By now, Sini''s mouth felt numb, her face etched with pain. She looked up at John with pleading eyes, shaking her head slightly, silently begging for mercy. But John held her head firmly in ce, leaving her no chance to escape. "Mmm..." Soft, muffled whimpers escaped from deep in her throat, tears streaming down her face. Her hands were pinned behind her head by John''s strong grip, making it impossible for her to struggle. A terrifying sensation of breathlessness began to overwhelm her. Desperate to be free, she did her best to cooperate, giving it her all. Finally, after what felt like another hour, John reached his limit once again, releasing a torrent of heat inside her. Gulp... Instinctively, Sini swallowed, her body trembling softly. Relief flooded her heart. "Huff..." She finally managed to break free from John''s hold, gasping for air as she copsed weakly onto his chest, tears still flowing down her cheeks. John, feeling a bit guilty, gently wiped the tears from her eyes and said, "I may have gone too far." Sini forced a faint smile and shook her head slightly. "No... Sini likes it." "Are you sure you don''t want more?" John asked, noticing his dragon still standing tall, showing no signs of calming down. Hearing this, Sini''s eyes widened in panic, and she quickly shook her head. "Master, no! Twice is really all I can handle." "I wasn''t talking about that," John said, grinning as he lifted her from behind, positioning her on her hands and knees on the bed, raising her hips. Sini''s lower body was already soaked and slippery, making it easy for John to slide his dragon inside, prating her deeply. "Ah..." She let out a soft moan, her body immediately copsing weakly onto the bed, her entire frame trembling, and her hips quivering with every move. With just one thrust, she couldn''t hold back and climaxed instantly. John, however, lifted her smooth, t stomach, allowing him to push even deeper. "Mmm... Master, no, I can''t... Sini can''t take it..." Sini moaned, her voice filled with helplessness, pleading for mercy. The intense sensationsing from deep within her overwhelmed her, prating her very soul. A pleasure beyond words flooded her mind, making her bodypletely lose control as she rode wave after wave of climaxes, unable to stop herself from reaching the peak over and over again. The overwhelming sensation left Sini dizzy with pleasure, making her feel as if she might faint several times. "Master, please... spare Sini... I''m going to break..." she gasped, her breath ragged as shey helplessly on the bed. Her body trembled uncontrobly, the intense waves of pleasure coursing through her. Her lower body was drenched, and she continued to climax over and over. But John had no intention of stopping. He flipped her onto her back, grabbing her legs wrapped in the silky stockings, and began another powerful round of thrusts, unrelenting. "Ahh..." Sini''s mouth opened wide, almost voiceless from the intensity. Her head lifted slightly, her face filled with fear as she clutched the bedsheets beneath her, shaking her head desperately. That familiar feeling of suffocating from the sheer force of John''s relentless pace returned, only this time it was even stronger. "Master... please... just give it to Sini, or she''ll break..." Tears streamed down her face as she begged softly, unable to fight back, her voice filled with pleading desperation. John didn''t respond. He only gripped her ankles tighter, increasing his pace even more.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The room echoed with the sound of their bodies meeting, as John''s dragon plunged deeper and deeper into Sini''s trembling form. Her cries of pain and pleasure filled the room, her tears soaking the bed, as her voice repeated her moans and pleas for mercy. After another intense ten minutes, John finally reached his limit. No longer holding back, he unleashed a torrent of heat into Sini''s body. "Ahh..." Sini moaned hoarsely, her voice cracking as she let out a long sigh of relief. She clutched the bedsheets tightly, her small, stocking-d feet curling as she reached a deep, overwhelming climax alongside John. "Mm!" she whimpered, her body going limp as she trembled uncontrobly. Her mind drifted, barely able to process the sensations, as her soft, whispered pleas for mercy trailed off into incoherent murmurs. Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Exploring the Elemental Secret Area, Level Changes Chapter 163: Exploring the Elemental Secret Area, Level Changes ? After three intense climaxes, John finally felt a sense of satisfaction and decided not to push any further. Hey back on the bed, exhausted. Sini instinctively curled up in his arms, but the moment she felt the dragon still standing tall, her body trembled slightly. With a weak voice, she said, "Master, Sini is too weak. You should return to the World of Gods and spend time with the other girls." With Tracy already in the World of Gods, Sini was the only one left here with him, and she knew she couldn''t handle any more. "What are you talking about?" John said, pulling her closer. "I''m staying here with you." The Fox Demon Curse had already been lifted. Although John hadn''t fully exhausted his energy, he was able to maintain control and wasn''t going to push her beyond her limits. Sini felt a bit guilty. She longed for John to stay with her but didn''t say more. She snuggled against his chest, exhaustion taking over. Soon, she drifted off into a deep sleep. ... When they woke up, it was already past noon the next day. After a brief moment of affection, the sound of Sini''s weak pleas echoed through the room again. The previous night had been too wild, and her body hadn''t fully recovered yet. Not wanting to overdo it, John quickly ended their session. With Sini''s help, he got dressed, ate a quick meal, and logged back into the World of Gods. The two reappeared in me City. The city felt unusually quiet. Ritchie and the city''s elite forces seemed to be absent, likely dealing with something important. John stopped a nearby soldier and asked, "Where''s yourmander?" The soldier''s eyes lit up with excitement upon recognizing him. "Godyer, sir! Phoenix City is under attack, and ourmander took the troops to help." Phoenix City? John recalled Ritchie mentioning it. The area around Phoenix City was home to other races, primarily demons of the third tier. The me Legion should be more than capable of handling them. He didn''t give it much thought and told the soldier, "Alright, carry on. You''re dismissed." "Yes, sir!" The soldier responded with a salute before hurrying off. "John, when are you going to im Malina for yourself?" Sini teased with a yful wink, a hint of jealousy in her voice. "That woman looks better in stockings than I do." John yfully smacked her on the backside. "I think you''re asking for trouble," he replied with mock irritation. Sini stuck her tongue out mischievously, her eyes filled with reluctance. "I''m going to the Abyss for training now. Make sure to visit me when you have time," she said, her voice soft with affection. She leaned in and kissed John deeply, making her feelings clear. "I promise I''lle see you," John replied, equally reluctant to let her go. After a few more moments of lingering affection, John finally opened the portal to the Abyss at Sini''s urging. Together, they stepped through the passage into the Abyss. Dark energy enveloped them. Even though John had mastered the Laws of Darkness, he still felt a slight difort in the Abyss''s oppressive atmosphere. Sini, on the other hand, appearedpletely at ease, as though this environment was deeply familiar to her. John thought about Sini''s lineage-she was most likely the demon race princess. He used Sword Flight, carrying Sini swiftly to the cliff where Tony and Ben were meditating. This was the spot where the dark energy was most concentrated. As they approached, the cliff parted slowly, and Tony and Ben, sensing John''s arrival, emerged to greet him. "Two seniors, I''m entrusting Sini to you," John said, respectfully asking for their help. Tony nced at Sini, who stood coldly by John''s side, and replied, "Don''t worry. We understand how important this girl is to you. As long as we''re here, she won''t be in any danger." John nodded gratefully. Reluctantly, he said goodbye to Sini and left the Abyss. ... "It''s time to explore the Elemental Secret Area," John muttered to himself. He thought of Tracy and how he needed to help her break free from the angel Elsa''s control before anything disastrous could happen. Summoning Avis, he flew towards the ruins of Green Moon. To enter the Elemental Secret Area, he needed to go through the entrance at Green Moon. me City wasn''t too far from the Green Moon ruins. With Avis flying at high speed, it didn''t take more than half a day to reach the destination. Using the Elemental Key, John opened the passage and, along with Avis, entered the Elemental Secret Area. Once inside, they were greeted by tens of thousands of elemental golems once again. John''s strength had grown considerably, and dealing with these fourth- and fifth-tier elemental golems was now effortless. Avis nced down at the golems, clearly unimpressed, and asked curiously, "Master, why are we bothering with these weak creatures?" "There''s a chance that an Angel Race powerhouse might show up," John exined, raising his hand to unleash Dark Storm, which engulfed the golems. Like a force of nature, the golems were decimated, leaving behind piles of Attribute Fusion Stone fragments. "Angel Race?" Avis''s expression turned serious, and he swallowed nervously. Having refined Dragon''s Blood, Avis''s strength had grown substantially, making him a sixth- tier legendary warrior. However, even now, he was no match for the Angel Race. The weakest of the Two-Winged Angels were seventh-tier legendaries, possessing powerful light magic capable of killing him easily. Dark winds howled, bolts of lightning crackled, and Holy Light shed... John alternated between his dark magic, lightning spells, and light magic. Before long, the elemental golems were wiped out, leaving behind more fragments of Attribute Fusion Stones. John gathered all the stones, adding over three hundred more Attribute Fusion Stones to his collection. Then, he took out a Universal Order to reset the Elemental Secret Area, hoping for the Angel Race to appear. [You have used Universal Order. The Elemental Secret Area has been reset.] Buzz! A ripple of spatial energy surged, and a new batch of elemental golems appeared out of nowhere, apanied by two powerful Dark Humans with seventh-tier epic strength. Unfortunately, no angels. John couldn''t help but feel disappointed. He had learned that the Universal Order didn''t resurrect the in golems but instead teleported them from elsewhere. "Human?" one of the Dark Humans noticed John, then suddenly realized something. His eyes widened in terror as he stammered, "Y-You''re the Godyer!" John didn''t bother responding. With a simple gesture, Dark Storm descended, followed by the Annihtion skill. Though the Dark Human was a powerful seventh-tier epic warrior, he stood no chance against John and was instantly in. Two pieces of seventh-tier legendary equipment dropped along with arge number of Attribute Fusion Stones and other items. At this point, John wasn''t interested in anything less than divine-grade equipment, so he quickly collected the loot and continued massacring the remaining elemental golems. After gathering up thest of the Attribute Fusion Stones, he used another Universal Order to reset the Secret Area. ... After using all 11 of his Universal Orders, John had encountered and in seven Two-Winged Angels, gaining 6 points of Divinity. His total Divinity now stood at 19 points-still a long way from the 100 points he needed. He sighed in frustration. Without arge number of Two-Winged Angels to fight, it would be almost impossible to gather enough Divinity through Plunder. The only viable option was to obtain more Universal Orders and continue resetting the Elemental Secret Area, hoping more Two-Winged Angels would appear. But even with this method, it was clear that reaching 100 points of Divinity in a short time was unlikely. He would have to leave Tracy in her current state a bit longer. "Let''s go," he said, patting Avis on the neck before opening a rift in space. Although he hadn''t gained enough Divinity, the 11 resets had earned him over 5,000 Attribute Fusion Stones. However, he didn''t have an immediate use for them. "Hmm? The level rankings have changed!" John habitually checked the leaderboard, and his brows furrowed. He had been keeping an eye on the rankings for the past few days, and yesterday, nothing had changed. But today, the yers on the leaderboard had all gained 1-2 levels. Most notably, Kent, the yer at the top of the leaderboard, had reached level 507-gaining three levels in just one day. It was clear they were trying to unlock the path between the World of Gods and Earth ahead of schedule, to descend to Earth early. John quickly realized their n. Kent and the others had ess to a Secret Area that gave them ten times the usual experience. At this rate, within a year, they could reach level 5000 or higher, achieving ninth-tier power. Even if their individual strength wasn''t enough, the Angel Race would surely find a way to help themplete the task of connecting Earth with the World of Gods. They had to be stopped. Determined, John rode Avis and flew back to Death Land. "Old man!" Tracy was still trapped within the vine-woven cage, with Jean by her side keeping herpany. When she saw John, her face lit up with happiness.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Jean also came over and asked, "Big brother, did you find a way to save Tracy?" John sighed and shook his head. Turning to Tracy, he said apologetically, "I ran into someplications. It looks like you''ll have to hang in there for a little while longer." "It''s alright, old man. I''m fine here," Tracy said with a warm smile, trying to reassure John. Her response only made John more concerned. He asked, "Tracy, do you know how to find Toby and the others from the Mike White Family?" John hade to see Tracy with the goal of stopping the Azure Family and Mike White Family from advancing their levels. Since Tracy had spent time in the City of Angels, she might have some useful information. But she shook her head. "Old man, I only know they''re in the City of Angels, but I''m not sure exactly where. After I arrived in the city, I met them briefly, but then Elsa trapped me and forced me to train in the Path of Gods." Her expression darkened with anger as she recalled the events. She had long suspected Elsa''s intentions weren''t good, but she had still fallen into the trap. She hadn''t expected Elsa to be able to manipte her through the training in the Path of Gods, using her against John... John pressed further, "Do you know how to enter the City of Angels?" He was considering taking the risk of infiltrating the City of Angels to kill Toby and the others, to stop the Angel Race''s plot. It would also allow him to hunt angels, Plunder Divinity, and ultimately free Tracy. Again, she shook her head but then suddenly remembered something. "Old man, could the Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area you acquired have something to do with the City of Angels?" John''s eyes lit up. He had almost forgotten about the Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area. The Angel Race had targeted him multiple times, specifically because of this Secret Area. At the time, John had asked Tony and Ben about it, but neither of them had ever heard of the Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area. Given how seriously the Angel Race took it, there had to be some important secret tied to it. However, it was a sixth-tier king-level Secret Area, which meant he would need to advance to the sixth tier to explore it. John was currently at level 459, and once he reached level 500, he could undergo his sixth job advancement. This wouldn''t be difficult for him. By entering the Abyss and ughtering Abyss demons, he could easily reach level 500 in a month or two, allowing him to proceed with his sixth job advancement. Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Leveling Up and Mastering the Demon Slayer Slash Chapter 164: Leveling Up and Mastering the Demon yer sh ? John decided to enter the Abyss once again to y Abyss demons and quickly level up to 500, preparing for his sixth career advancement. "Tracy, hang in there a bit longer. I promise I''ll find a way to save you," he reassured Tracy. Tracy obediently nodded and said, "Don''t worry, old man. I don''t feel like I''m suffering here." Jean, who was standing nearby, added, "Big brother, I''ll stay here with Tracy the whole time." Out of all the women, Jean was the most rxed. She didn''t train much, yet her power had already risen to the fourth tier. John suspected this had something to do with her identity as a Flower Fairy. The Beast n also paid great attention to her, as it seemed her appearance was somehow linked to the prophesied savior-himself. However, he wasn''t sure about the exact connection, and the members of the Beast n weren''t willing to exin. Without lingering any longer, John bid the two women farewell and left Death Land. Before departing, he reminded Armstrong and Ritchie to seek Anna''s help immediately if any danger arose. Anna usually led the elves in strengthening their powers within the Eternal Forest. Ritchie''s me City had also be part of the elves'' territory, so they could lend support if needed. Since the ninth-tier powerhouses from the Angel Race and Dark Humans couldn''t descend directly yet, with Sara, Bonnie, and Behemoth-three eighth-tier pinnacle powerhouses- they were invincible in the world of Gods. Buzz! With a wave of his hand, John easily tore open a space rift, opening a passage to the Abyss. He stepped inside. That eerie dark force assaulted him once again, making him feel ufortable all over. "Let''s go check on Sini," John thought, using Sword Flight to head towards the cliff where Tony and Ben were in seclusion. The dark force was particrly strong there, and Sini was also meditating in seclusion. Rumble... With a loud rumble, the cliff automatically parted. Ben flew out, nced at John, and asked in confusion, "Kid, why are you here again? Worried we might hurt that girl?" John felt speechless. Was he that paranoid? "I''m here to level up and thought I''d stop by. Where are Sini and Senior Tony?" he asked. He notices their absence and feeling puzzled. "They''re in seclusion," Ben sighed, then remarked, "That girl''s talent is simply astonishing. The old turtle''s been hit hard by it and has shut himself away to break through 100 points in Dark Element Affinity."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Old turtle? "You stinking monkey! I''m just in seclusion, not on a deathbed!" Tony''s angry voice echoed from within the cliff. Startled, Ben immediately shut his mouth. Although both he and Tony were ninth-tier pinnacle powerhouses, he wasn''t a match for Tony. His talenty not inbat but in prophecy. "Monkey?" John asked, puzzled, turning to Ben. "Senior, is your true form a monkey?" Ben angrily replied, "No, I''m a mythical beast-Gori." As he spoke, his appearance changed, transforming into an elderly white-furred monkey. "Gori? Isn''t that still just a monkey?" John observed Ben, now in his true form, and indeed, he looked no different from a monkey. "Ignorant!" Ben shot John a re, not bothering to exin further. iming to be a mythical beast, it was clear Ben wasn''t as simple as he appeared. However, John had never heard of a creature called Gori. Deciding not to dwell on it, John asked, "Senior, where can I find the most seventh-tier Abyss demons around here? I want to quickly level up to 500." "Seventh-tier Abyss demons, huh? There are plenty of them." Ben thought for a moment before giving John more than a dozen coordinates, all locations where arge number of sixth and seventh-tier Abyss demons gathered. There were even eighth-tier Abyss demons in some of those ces. With John''s current strength, dealing with regr eighth-tier Abyss demons was a breeze. Even if he encountered an epic-level eighth-tier Abyss demon, it wouldn''t pose a real threat. Most of the Abyss demons here relied on dark magic attacks. Without mastery over the power of darknessws, they couldn''t truly endanger him. Moreover, John had the powerful Undying and Immortal talent, and since the Abyss demonscked any soul-based attack methods, he was practically invincible here. If it weren''t for the fact that ninth-tier Abyss demons'' defenses were too hard to break through¡ªforcing him to rely solely on true damage, which made the process inefficient-he would''ve already been hunting ninth-tier Abyss demons. After bidding Ben farewell, John roamed the Abyss, ughtering vast numbers of Abyss demons. ... John spent over two months in the Abyss, returning to the world of Gods twice during that period. The demon race and Orc ns asionally harassed Saint Martial City and me City, but aside from that, nothing unusual urred. [You''ve killed a level 2000 seventh-tier legendary Abyss demon. You gained 7.36 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated. Dark Element Affinity +10, Spirit +100, Constitution +20.] [You have reached level 500. Career advancement quest unlocked. After advancing, you can continue leveling up.] [Mage of Wrath of the Gods sixth advancement quest: Kill 20 epic bosses above level 500.] [Nightmare Assassin sixth advancement quest: Kill 20 epic bosses above level 500.] [Sword Immortal sixth advancement quest: Kill 20 epic bosses above level 500.] ... The notification shed. John had in countless Abyss demons, and his level finally reached 500, triggering his sixth career advancement quest. Killing 20 epic bosses above level 500 wouldn''t be a problem for him at all. Over the past two months, John''s greatest gain wasn''t just his level increase but the attributes he had Plundered through his talent. His four basic attributes had increased by nearly 120,000 points, giving him a tremendous power boost, now allowing him to easily handle seventh-tier legendary Abyss demons. Additionally, he had Plundered arge amount of Dark Element Affinity. The higher the level of the Abyss demons, the more Dark Element Affinity he could Plunder. His mastery over the dark power ofws had reached 15%. His dark magic skills now carried an additional 15% true damage. On top of that, his umted skill points had reached 510,000! Several of the skills he had mastered would only be able to advance further after reaching the seventh tier. John decided to first upgrade his Overwhelming Battle Energy and Soul Technique. The Soul Technique had already reached level 1000, and upgrading it further would require 1000 skill points. As for Overwhelming Battle Energy, it was at level 442, and each upgrade required 100 skill points. He chose to prioritize raising Overwhelming Battle Energy to level 1000. [You spent 100 skill points. Overwhelming Battle Energy increased to level 443. Constitution +1, Strength +2.] ... [You spent 100 skill points. Overwhelming Battle Energy increased to level 1000. Constitution +1, Strength +2.] [Skill Drunken Moon has been enhanced.] [You haveprehended the skill Demon yer sh.] As the notification shed, John had sessfully raised Overwhelming Battle Energy to level 1000 and, in the process,prehended a new skill. Additionally, his Drunken Moon skill had been strengthened. [Drunken Moon: Passive skill, cannot be upgraded. Physical attacks and skills now deal an additional 15% true damage.] [Note: True damage ignores all defenses.] [Demon yer sh: Physical attack skill. Inflicts continuous normal attacks on the target with a 1% + Luck* 0.1 chance to stun the target for 1 second. The number of attacks is unlimited, continuing until the target dies. Consumes 1000 mana, with a cooldown of 100 seconds.] John was delighted. After increasing Overwhelming Battle Energy to level 1000, Drunken Moon had improved, now allowing his physical attacks to deal 15% true damage. But the most exciting development was the new skill he hadprehended-Demon yer sh! This skill inflicted continuous attacks on the target and came with a stun effect. If the target was stunned, the attacks would continue until the target''s death. Moreover, the stun chance was influenced by his Luck attribute, calcted as Luck* 0.1. John''s Luck had already reached 72 points, meaning Demon yer sh had an 8.2% chance to stun the target for 1 second. Coupled with his terrifying attack speed bonus, using Demon yer sh would almost guarantee a stun on his target. And this wasn''t even the limit. He could further increase his Luck through his Plunder talent. If he could somehow raise it to 1000 points, even gods would be forced to stand still, helplessly cut down by him. However, plundering enough Luck to reach 1000 points seemed incredibly difficult. John checked his remaining skill points-he still had over 450,000 left. After a moment of thought, he decided to start upgrading his Soul Technique. Both Soul Technique and Overwhelming Battle Energy were now upgraded to level 1000. From this point onward, each level required 1000 skill points to advance. [You spent 1000 skill points. Soul Technique increased to level 1001. Soul Technique +1.] ... [You spent 1000 skill points. Soul Technique increased to level 1455. Soul Technique +1.] The notifications continued to sh as John used up all his skill points, raising Soul Technique to level 1455. The technique had improved significantly. But unfortunately, he hadn''t unlocked any new skills. "Still not enough skill points," John muttered, ncing at the levels of his Soul Technique and Overwhelming Battle Energy. These two top-tier techniques seemed to have no upper limit, and the skill points required for each subsequent upgrade increased exponentially. John couldn''t help but wonder what would happen if these two techniques reached their max potential. Would it really allow him to y gods, as the Undead Lord had suggested? "Killing 20 epic bosses above level 500 toplete the career advancement," he closed the attribute panel, ready to tackle his career advancement quest. The Abyss was filled with sixth-tier and higher Abyss demons, and epic bosses were plentiful. For him, this was no longer a challenge. Once he advanced to the sixth tier, he could finally leave the Abyss and explore that Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area. Over the past two months, the level rankings had shifted significantly. The number one spot, Kent, had already surpassed level 700. John guessed that Kent, along with Toby and others, were likely killing monsters beyond their level, probably with the help of angels. Otherwise, even with ten times the experience multiplier from the Secret Area, leveling up this quickly seemed impossible. He could only hope that the Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area and the City of Angels were connected in some way, and that he could stop whatever was happening. John continued roaming the Abyss, quickly ying 20 epic-level sixth-tier Abyss demons, completing his career advancement. All three of his professions-Wrath of the Gods Mage, Nightmare Assassin, and Sword Immortal-had advanced to the sixth tier. Whew... Just as John was about to leave the Abyss, a sudden gust of wind surged in the distance, apanied by a massive fluctuation of dark elemental power. This was the sign of someoneprehending the Power of Darkness Laws. It wasing from the cliffside in the Abyss. Could it be that Tony had raised his Dark Element Affinity to 100 and had finally mastered the Power of Darkness Laws? Curious, John flew towards the cliff to investigate. Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Comprehending the Laws, Malina Seeks Help Chapter 165: Comprehending the Laws, Malina Seeks Help ? John arrived at the cliff, but the immense dark power had already dissipated. Tony and Ben stood in front of the cliffside. At this moment, Tony''s brows were furrowed, and he seemed rather unhappy. Curious, John asked, "Senior, you''veprehended the Power of Darkness Laws, but you don''t seem pleased?" Tony shot him a re and snapped, "It wasn''t me!" "It wasn''t you?" John was puzzled. Could it have been Sini who hadprehended the Power of Darkness Laws? She had only been in the Abyss for two months. Such talent would be too extraordinary! John knew just how difficult it was toprehend the Power of Darkness Laws. If it weren''t for his own overpowered Plunder talent, he wouldn''t even have mastered Dark Element Affinity, let alone the mighty Power of Darkness Laws. Just then, a figure flew out from the cliff. It was Sini. "John!" she spotted him immediately, her face lighting up with excitement. "Let''s spar!" Havingprehended 1% of the Power of Darkness Laws, Sini''s confidence had skyrocketed, and she wanted to test her newfound strength against John. "Alright!" John nodded, agreeing without hesitation. Without another word, Sini drew her bow, nocking an arrow and firing it at John, the shot infused with a powerful Power of Darkness Laws. But John didn''t even bother dodging, allowing the arrow to hit him directly. Thud! -720 The arrow struck, but a pitiful amount of damage floated above John''s head. It was the true damage from the Laws of Darkness. Sini''s attack was utterly incapable of breaking through John''s defense, only managing to deal 1% of true damage. Seeing this, Sini frowned, her expression displeased. She drew her bow again, preparing to unleash a skill-based attack. Buzz! Before she could act, there was a spatial ripple, and John''s figure suddenly disappeared. In the next instant, he reappeared in front of Sini. His cold longsword pressed against her neck. John smiled lightly and said, "You''ve lost." "Hmph, I''m done ying!" Sini pouted in frustration. She had thought that after comprehending the Power of Laws, even if she wasn''t a match for John, she could at least put up a fight. Yet here she was, still no match for him. Whoosh! Suddenly, two arrows flew from her hands, shooting towards Tony and Ben, who had been watching from the sidelines. Thud! Thud! -771 -709 Once again, the arrows failed to pierce their defenses, dealing only around 700 points of true damage. "Little girl, it was Godyer who bullied you! Why are you attacking us?" Tony eximed, annoyed. He was already upset that Sini hadprehended the Power of Darkness Laws before him, and now she had attacked him-though the damage was negligible, it still wounded his pride. If Tony hadprehended the Power of Darkness Laws, his strength would have increased significantly. Sini, still fuming, said, "Keep teasing me, and I''ll keep shooting at you!" "Teasing? Us?" Tony and Ben exchanged nces, bewildered. They realized that arguing with a woman was always a losing battle. Ben, however, didn''t seem to mind. He looked Sini up and down and said, "Little girl, the Beast n has a profession that would suit you perfectly. Interested in making a switch?" "Really?" Sini''s eyes lit up with interest, but then she shook her head, declining. "On second thought, maybe not." She now had two professions: Divine Archer and Shadow Assassin. She wasn''t willing to give up either of them. John didn''t say much. He simply pulled out an Origin Stone from his inventory and tossed it to Sini. He had obtained it earlier by killing a seventh-tier legendary being, but it wasn''t something he needed. Since Ben had mentioned the new profession, it was probably quite powerful. "An Origin Stone!" Sini''s eyes lit up as she caught the gemstone, her voice soft as she asked, "Master, how should Sini repay you?" "How about wearing stockings again?" John teased. Sini shot him a yful re but nodded shyly in agreement. "Ahem," Tony coughed awkwardly from the side, reminding them of his presence. As a ninth-tier powerhouse, his heightened senses allowed him to hear their entire conversation. John shot a nce at Tony before turning back to Ben. "Senior, what profession are we talking about here?" Ben didn''t say much either, taking out a profession scroll and handing it to Sini. John leaned in to take a closer look, curious about the profession. [Feather Spirit: Rare Special Profession. Increases physical attack by 10%, magical attack by 10%, and attack speed by 10%. Each level grants an additional 2 points to Strength and 2 points to Spirit.] This wasn''t a directbat profession, but rather a special support ss that enhanced both of Sini''s existing professions-Divine Archer and Shadow Assassin. Without hesitation, Sini learned the new profession, significantly increasing her overall strength. Not only that, but she also gained a new skill. "John, I can fly now!" she eximed excitedly as a strange force surged behind her, transforming into a pair of wings. Unlike the pure, holy wings of the Angel Race, these wings were formed from dark energy. Whoosh! With a p of her wings, the wind howled as Sini shot into the sky. Her flight speed was incredibly fast, and she moved with much more agility than mages who relied on magic to fly. Of course, her speed still couldn''tpare to John''s Sword Flight. Now that she had the ability to fly, her Lifesaver capability had also improved. After flying a few loops in the air, Sini descended back to the ground and turned to Ben, saying gratefully, "Thank you, Senior." Ben simply nodded without saying much. His actions were partly to win Sini over. With such astonishing dark talent, even if she wasn''t the demon race''s little princess, her status would still be significant. If she remained close to John, the demon race could be a powerful ally for him. "Sini, do you want toe with me?" John asked, looking at her. He had already reached level 500 and the sixth tier, which meant he could now explore the Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area. The people from the Mike White Family and the Azure Family were leveling up rapidly with the help of the Angel Race, and John needed to find a way to stop them. Sini was tempted, but after a moment of thought, she shook her head and declined. "I''d like to continue my training here." She had been quite pleased with her recentprehension of the Power of Darkness Laws, but after sparring with John, she realized there was still a huge gap between them. Determined to close that gap, she decided to stay and continue her meditation, hoping to further deepen her mastery of the Laws of Darkness and catch up to John as soon as possible. "Alright. I''lle visit you when I have time," John said, giving Sini a final word of advice before opening a spatial portal and leaving the Abyss. Ding! Just as he returned to the world of Gods, his private chat notification went off. It was from Malina, a message sent half a month ago. "What does this woman want now?" John wondered, opening the chat out of curiosity. Flow of Time: "Godyer, help me establish a faction!" John nced at the message and replied. Godyer: "No can do. yers can''t trigger faction quests. You''ll need help from other races to establish a faction." He had barely sent the message when a quick reply followed. Flow of Time: "???!!!" A series of emoticons appeared. Flow of Time: "I thought you were dead! Half a month to reply? Something going on in real life?" Flow of Time: "I know you can figure something out. Help me!" Malina was clearly frustrated. Joining a faction provided a huge power boost for yers. However, her guild members couldn''t all join the newly established factions. What really caught her attention was learning that Ritchie''s me City and the Saint Martial Sect factions were set up with John''s help, making her eager to have him assist her as well. John pondered as he read her messages. Establishing a faction wasn''t easy, and the Angel Race and Dark Humans certainly wouldn''t be happy about it. The only reason they didn''t interfere when me City''s elves faction was created was that they knew it was under John''s control, backed by ninth-tier powerhouses. However, Malina''s Phoenix Guild wasn''t part of John''s domain. If she tried to establish a faction, the Angel Race might send forces to stop her. The Beast n wouldn''t work in this situation. The Angel Race was aware that the Beast n was loyal to John, and the ck Turtle chose ton/?/vel/b//in dot c//om create their faction in Dark Forest, the Beast n''s Secret Area. But aside from the Beast n, John didn''t have other races under hismand. There were many new factions and races emerging in the world of Gods, but most were too weak to bother with. "Wait, the undead!" he suddenly thought of the Undead Lord. The undead faction was quite strong, and the Angel Race and Dark Humans had no idea that the Undead Lord was allied with him. John didn''t agree immediately. Instead, he responded to Malina. Godyer: "I''ll help you, but what''s in it for me?" Phoenix City. Malina clenched her teeth. She knew this guy wouldn''t help without expecting something in return. To strengthen her faction, Malina had no choice but to give in and y along with John''s preferences. Flow of Time: "A picture of my legs in stockings-one for 1G!" John couldn''t help but feel tempted when he saw her message. This woman definitely understood the art of negotiation. However, he didn''t agree right away. Godyer: "You think just a few pictures will convince me to help you set up a faction? No way. This time, I want a video of you dancing in stockings." Flow of Time: "Godyer, don''t push it too far!" Godyer: "You''re the one asking me for help. If you refuse, there''s nothing more to discuss." Malina''s chest rose and fell slightly with frustration, her eyes scanning the room for something to take out her anger on. But the room was empty-she waspletely alone. Taking a deep breath, she suppressed her irritation and replied to John. Flow of Time: "Fine, I agree. But you have to help me set up the faction first. I don''t know how to dance, so I need time to learn." Godyer: "You''d better hurry. Three days from now, I''ll help you establish the faction." John closed the private chat, a n forming in his mind. In three days, both the Beast n faction led by ck Turtle and Malina''s Phoenix City faction would be established. The Angel Race wouldn''t suspect that Phoenix City was under his influence, and they would likely send forces to intervene. If just 100 angels showed up, he would be able to plunder enough Divinity to rescue Tracy. Before that, he needed to help the Beast n build their city and collect enough Altar Upgrade Stones to upgrade the city to level 5, which would allow them to unlock the faction. John headed to Death Land, where he found the Undead Lord and greeted him. "Help me set up a faction? But I don''t have many followers," the Undead Lord said, uninterested in forming a faction. He had decided to follow John, caring little about the rise or fall of the undead. As long as he could survive, that was enough for him. John replied, "It doesn''t matter. Once the faction is established, more undead will naturally join you." "Alright then. I suppose it won''t do me any harm," the Undead Lord agreed with a nod. After leaving Death Land, John set out to destroy some Dark Humans cities and gather the Altar Upgrade Stones needed to upgrade the altar. ... Chapter 166: Chapter 166: The Heavenly Court Establishment and a New Faction Chapter 166: The Heavenly Court Establishment and a New Faction ? In three days, John easily destroyed eight Dark Human cities, gathering enough Altar Upgrade Stones. Unfortunately, the fifth-level Dark Human cities no longer had a seventh-tier Two-Winged Angel to guard them. Otherwise, John wouldn''t have hesitated to destroy more fifth-level cities, hunting angels to Plunder Divinity. For now, he could only hope that when Phoenix City established its faction, the Angel Race would send elite forces to intervene. ... Dark Forest, the former site of the Beast n''s Secret Area. Like the Land of Elves, this area also had an irreparable spatial rift through which many magical beasts had invaded. The Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix quickly wiped out the invading magical beasts at the ruins of the Beast n''s Secret Area. "Godyer, let''s establish the city," ck Turtle said, turning to John. In the world of Gods, only yers could use a City Building Order to establish cities. However, other races could seize and upy cities built by yers. For instance, Ada''s Gates City was initially built by John, whoter handed it over to her. The Beast n''s city needed to be established in the same way. John pulled out a City Building Order and asked, "What do you want to name the city?" ck Turtle responded, "Heavenly Court." He had already thought of the name in advance. "Heavenly Court?" John raised an eyebrow, skeptical that ck Turtle coulde up with such an imposing name. He didn''t dwell on it, and quickly used the City Building Order to establish the city. Since this was the former site of the Beast n, a few repairs were all that was needed. [Announcement: yer Godyer has established the territory Heavenly Court in the Beast n''s Secret Area. Defend against a 12-hour Monster Tide assault to sessfullyplete the city-building.] ... Three system announcements echoed, and the world of Gods chat channels erupted with discussion. "Godyer? The big guy?" "Isn''t this the first territory that Godyer has personally established? What''s he nning?" "I thought Gates City and Saint Martial Sect were already his?" "It''s different. He''s not managing those two cities himself." "Heavenly Court? That name sounds badass, fits Godyer''s vibe." "What''s Beast n''s Secret Area? And how can I join Godyer''s faction?" "Forget it. Godyer doesn''t recruit yers. My guess is this faction is for his beast followers." "Another faction? No way. Godyer already has two factions under his control." "Since the Faction Systemunched, three factions have been created, and two are tied to Godyer." "I heard a rumor that Gates Empire is secretly another one of his factions too." "No way. I heard the Gates Empire was founded by a human power in the world of Gods." "Shows what you know. Godyer''s not even a yer-he''s actually the king of the Gates Empire!" "Is that for real?" The conversation in the world chat spiraled out of control, with some yers even starting to question John''s true identity. Even more surprisingly, many yers seemed to buy into the wild theories. ... City of Angels. Elsa also heard the system announcement. "Heavenly Court? Hmph, his ambition really knows no bounds," she sneered with contempt.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The Heavenly Court had once been the pinnacle of the Beast n''s organization during its prime. Back then, the Heavenly Court had powerful Demon Gods who could rival even the gods themselves. But in the face of a mysterious, overwhelming force, they were as helpless as puppets. The Beast n, Elves, Undead, and Demon Race all fell one after the other. Only the gods sided with that mysterious power, rising to be an unmatched force, relentlessly plundering the resources of Skyline Continent, effectively blocking other races from achieving godhood. Perhaps only The Immortals had the strength to stand against that mysterious force... Elsa, lost in thought, swallowed nervously, then shook her head, deciding not to dwell on it. "I''ll let you have your moment for now. Once we deal with that Godyer, and the gods descend, it''ll be the end of you all," she muttered to herself. Whether the Beast n was building a city or a faction, Elsa had no intention of interfering. With Tony and Ben-two ninth-tier pinnacle powerhouses-on their side, even an eighth- tier Four-Winged Angel would be walking into a death trap. ... Meanwhile, in the Beast n''s Secret Area, the Monster Tide had begun, consisting mainly of fourth and fifth-tier monsters, such as Demonic Giant Apes, Rock Giants, and Fire Spirits. There were even Minotaurs from the Bull Demon tribe. These creatures sought to im the city for themselves and establish their own power. But they had no idea that this was Beast n territory. Ritchie''s me Legion and the elite disciples of the Saint Martial Sect were the first tounch their attack. The Beast n army swiftly joined the battle. Against the powerful Beast n forces, the fourth and fifth-tier monsters stood no chance. Roars of anger and cries of agony echoed across the battlefield. The monster tide army, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, couldn''t even get close to the city walls. In mere moments, more than half were dead. John, alongside Sara and several other eighth-tier powerhouses, stood on the city walls, watching quietly. The monster army was too weak for them to bother intervening. Even the strongest among them-seventh-tier epic monsters-weren''t worth their time. The Undead Lord, noticing a battalion of Undead Skeletons among the attacking monsters, turned to John with curiosity. "You said you''d help me establish an Undead faction. Where exactly?" "You''ll find out soon," John replied, not giving much away. Once the Heavenly Court was sessfully established and upgraded to a fifth-level city, and Phoenix City created its faction at the same time, the Angel Race and Dark Humans would certainly take notice. As John watched the skeleton army being ughtered below, he asked, "Aren''t you going to recruit those guys?" The Undead Lord shook his head dismissively. "Too weak. If there were Necromancers or spectral beings, I''d consider it." His previous subordinates were all Necromancers and Banshees, far stronger than these skeletal monsters. ... The battle continued, and after twelve hours, the system announcement echoed once more. [Announcement: yer Godyer has sessfully defended Heavenly Court against the 12- hour Monster Tide. City established sessfully.] ... Again, three system-wide announcements rang out. John immediately transferred the position of City Lord to ck Turtle and handed over the Altar Upgrade Stones required to upgrade the city to level five. "Do you think you can handle the monster tide attacks when establishing the faction without me here?" John asked, preparing to head to Phoenix City to help Malina set up her faction. "No problem," ck Turtle responded confidently, ncing at Bonnie, Sara, and Behemoth, three eighth-tier pinnacle powerhouses standing nearby. As long as arge force of Four-Winged Angels or eighth-tier Dark Humans didn''t descend, they would be able to defend the area easily. "Good." John nodded and then turned to Ritchie and Armstrong, reminding them, "You two help hold off the faction''s monster tide attacks. I''ll be heading to help Malina set up her faction." "Boss, are you going alone? Won''t that be too dangerous?" Ritchie asked with concern. "Don''t worry. I''ve got two ninth-tier powerhouses from the Beast n backing me," John replied confidently, having already spoken with Tony and Ben. Plus, now that he had advanced to the sixth tier, his strength had increased dramatically. Even facing an eighth-tier legendary Two-Winged Angel would be no issue for him. John then turned back to ck Turtle with a final instruction, "Wait for my signal before upgrading the city and activating the faction." "Understood," ck Turtle replied with a nod. With everything set, John summoned Avis, bringing along the Undead Lord, and headed toward Phoenix City. Phoenix City was located in the Dragonblood Hignds, far from their current location. John decided to stop at me City first and use the teleportation array to travel to Phoenix City. The cities he had helped establish-Saint Martial Sect, me City, and Phoenix City-had all opened teleportation channels between them, ensuring they could support each other if danger arose. Phoenix City, in particr, had faced several invasions from other racial factions since the Faction System was activated. Fortunately, Ritchie''s me Legion had helped defend it. Soon, John arrived at me City and activated the teleportation array, transporting himself to Phoenix City. Phoenix City was bustling with yers, most of whom were members of Malina''s real-world Phoenix Group, loyal to her. Unfortunately, they were somewhatcking in strength. "Hey, it''s Godyer!" someone eximed as soon as John stepped out of the teleportation array, recognizing him immediately. "Godyer, are you here to see the boss? I''ll go let her know!" one of the yers said, rushing off to find Malina. "Boss, can we join your faction? That elf faction looks down on us because we''re too weak," Others chimed in, surrounding John and discussing eagerly, treating him like one of their own. John, feeling a bit overwhelmed, quickly reassured them, "Don''t worry, everyone. I''m here to help you join a faction this time." "Kid, I''m starting to have second thoughts," came the voice of the Undead Lord from behind. He had noticed that most of the Phoenix Guild members were still below level 100, barely third-tier, and not even as strong as his skeleton soldiers. John shot him a re and said, "They''re just going to be part of your Undead faction in name. It''s not like you have to protect them." John didn''t expect much from the Phoenix Guild members either. Helping them establish a faction was mainly a way to draw the angels down. "Everyone, clear the way!" came amanding voice as Malina made her entrance. As usual, she was dressed in a fiery red mage''s robe, paired with ck stockings that entuated her long legs and wless figure, immediately catching the eye. John had to admit, Malina in stockings had a certain allure that even Sini couldn''t match. Her mature, slightly domineering presence was something Sini simply didn''t have. Malina''s eyes lit up when she noticed the skeleton figure next to John. With excitement, she asked, "Godyer, is this skeleton creature going to help me set up the faction?" She still remembered the Undead Lord''s power-summoning an army of skeleton soldiers with a wave of his hand. She had even entertained the idea of making the Undead Lord her pet back then. Hearing her words, the Undead Lord''s soul mes flickered with irritation. "Little girl, I am the Undead Lord, not some ''skeleton creature!"" Malina shed an apologetic smile, her beauty radiating like a blooming flower. "My apologies, I forgot you could understand human speech." "Understand human speech?" The Undead Lord was livid. This woman truly thought of him as some kind of pet! He turned to John and grumbled, "Kid, do I really have to help this brainless woman establish her faction?" "Brainless?" Malina''s eyes widened in fury, ring at the Undead Lord. He was just as infuriating as John! John, ignoring the argument, opened a private chat with Ritchie and told him they could now set up the Beast n faction. Then he handed over several Altar Upgrade Stones to Malina, his gaze deliberately roving up and down her figure as he teased, "Don''t forget about our little deal." "Hmph! Aren''t you afraid your little girlfriend will find out and get upset?" she snapped, snatching the Altar Upgrade Stones from his hand, clearly annoyed. Chapter 167: Chapter 167: A One-Man Defense, The Angels Descend Chapter 167: A One-Man Defense, The Angels Descend ? Angry? John couldn''t have looked more indifferent. Malina had no idea what Sini was like. If Sini found out, not only would she not be angry, but she''d likely try to help him win Malina over. John cut to the point, "Transfer the city to the Undead Lord and start the faction. I''m in a hurry." [Announcement: Beast n ck Turtle has established the Heavenly Court faction. Defend against a 12-hour monster tide. Faction will be established upon sessful defense.] ... Three back-to-back announcements echoed across the world. Malina paused, staring at John with suspicion. "I remember the Beast n is also one of your forces, right?" The ck Turtle had led the Beast n to aid Phoenix City during a previous crisis, so she knew they were under John''s control. He nodded, then urged her, "Hurry up and set up the faction." Frowning, Malina nced at John and the Undead Lord, asking again, "Are you seriously nning to fend off the monster tide alone? Don''t destroy my Phoenix City in the process!" "Do I look like the kind of guy who would do that? Besides, we''ve got the Undead Lord here, don''t we?" John pointed to the Undead Lord, who stood off to the side. "Fine." Malina decided to trust him and used the Altar Upgrade Stones to upgrade the city, then transferred the city''s authority to the Undead Lord. Another announcement rang out: [Announcement: Undead Lord has established the Undead Kingdom faction. Defend against a 12-hour monster tide. Faction will be established upon sessful defense.] ... Once again, three system-wide announcements echoed. The back-to-back creation of two factions caused a massive stir in the world chat. City of Angels. Elsa heard both system announcements, her brows furrowed in thought. She knew the Heavenly Court faction of the Beast n was tied to Godyer''s forces. But now, out of nowhere, there was an undead faction as well. "Undead Lord? Has that guy resurrected?" Elsa knew of the Undead Lord¡ªa former ninth- tier powerhouse from the undead race with considerable strength. However, he had supposedly fallen long ago, his soul severely damaged. Many powerhouses had coveted his Undying and Immortal talent, but the Undead Lord had been crafty. He destroyed his own body and split his soul to escape. If he had now returned, his strength probably wasn''t what it once was. "Summon someone!" Elsa called out after some deliberation, deciding to stop the Undead Lord from establishing the faction. The grand doors opened, and a six-winged angel entered, bowing respectfully. "Mydy, what are your orders?" "Has there been any word from the Dark Humans about whether this Undead Lord is working for Godyer?" Elsa asked, remaining cautious. The six-winged angel shook his head and replied, "I''ve inquired. The Dark Humans have faced numerous attacks from powerful forces of various races recently. Several of their fifth- tier cities have been taken or destroyed, but it''s unclear if the Undead Lord is receiving help from Godyer." Elsa frowned deeply. She hadn''t expected the faction system''s activation to turn the Dark Humans into a prime target, which exined why Robing had been looking so grimtely and why he seemed resentful toward her. The six-winged angel nced at her and continued, "Mydy, should we intervene?" "Hmm. Send 100 Two-Winged Angels and 10 Four-Winged Angels," Elsa ordered coldly. She couldn''t allow the undead to sessfully establish their faction. The six-winged angel, puzzled, asked, "Mydy, are we stopping the undead or the Beast n?" "Are you an idiot? The Beast n has ninth-tier powerhouses. Do you think you stand a chance?" Elsa snapped angrily. Terrified, the angel quickly bowed and backed out of the room. Elsa took a deep breath, trying to quell the frustration boiling within her. Ever since Godyer appeared, she hadn''t had a moment of peace. "Godyer, your time ising. Once the passage between the world of Gods and Earth opens, it will be your end!" she muttered darkly to herself. With the speed at which Kent and Toby were leveling up, it would take no more than a year for them to reach the ninth tier, at which point they would break through the barrier connecting the world of Gods to Earth. ... Dragonblood Hignds, Phoenix City. The moment the faction was established, swarms of fourth-tier Elemental Dragon Monsters, fifth-tier Elemental Dragons, and even sixth-tier Elemental Wyverns began gathering. They filled the skies, descending like an unstoppable tide, crashing toward Phoenix City. On top of that, powerful demons such as Lesser Demons and me Demons from the demon race joined the assault. The members of Phoenix City stood atop the city walls, their faces filled with terror as they trembled, unsure of how to respond to the overwhelming sight before them. "Godyer, you''ve doomed us all!" Malina shouted at John, her face full of rage. She knew John was powerful, but facing such a massive monster tide-especially with so many formidable creatures-there was no way he could hold them off alone. And the Elemental Wyverns were a particrly daunting threat. John nced at her calmly, saying nothing, as he summoned Avis and flew above the battlefield. "Master, should I help?" Avis asked, startled by the sight of the massive horde of Elemental Wyverns swarming the sky. Though he was also a sixth-tier fighter, facing tens of thousands of Elemental Wyverns was well beyond his ability to handle. "Just watch," John said in a calm voice. The Sword of Divinity and Demons appeared in his hand, while the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword floated in front of him. Buzz! The swords hummed with energy as a powerful surge of elemental force built around John, and heunched his attack. des filled the sky, roaring as mes surged upward. Dark clouds gathered above, and lightning crackled and danced through the air like a frenzied host of demons. In an instant, John unleashed three powerful skills, enveloping the vast armies of monsters both on the ground and in the sky. Boom! Thunder roared as Lightning Chain formed a massive web across the sky. Countless Elemental Wyverns were struck, instantly killed in a sh of lightning. One after another, the wyverns fell like raindrops, plummeting from the sky. But it didn''t stop there. In the air, endless shing sword des tore through the more powerful Elemental Wyverns, shredding them into pieces and scattering their remains as a bloody mist across the battlefield. Whoosh! On the ground, Hellfire raged, turning thend into a scene straight out of hell. Elemental Dragon Monsters, Elemental Dragons, and the demon forces writhed in agony asn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om the mes consumed them, leaving nothing but ash in their wake. [You''ve killed a level 1000 Elemental Wyvern. You gained 67,630 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated. Spirit +1.] ... The notifications shed continuously. John Plundered over 30,000 basic attribute points, further increasing his strength. Tens of thousands of monsters were ughtered by him alone. On the city walls, the members of the Phoenix Guild stood dumbfounded, their minds only able to form two words: "Unbelievable!" Godyer''s power couldn''t be measured by yer standards anymore. Gulp! Even Malina couldn''t help swallowing hard as she stared at John, standing confidently on the back of his ck dragon, hands behind his back, surveying the skies with an air of supreme confidence. That image was now seared into her mind. Without thinking, she sent him a party request. [Ding! yer Godyer has rejected your party invitation.] The notification snapped Malina back to reality. This guy was still the same shameless, arrogant, lecherous scoundrel he always was. "Godyer! You promised to help me level up!" She shouted, sending another party invite. John coldly rejected it again. "Jerk!" she cursed under her breath, then hesitated for a moment before offering, "Ten G for a video of me dancing in different stockings." "You should have led with that," John grinned, immediately adding her to the party with a satisfied smile. He had already reached level 500, and gaining more levels required over 400 million experience points. The small amount these weak monsters provided was insignificant. "Ugh!" Malina clenched her fists in frustration, ring at John. She felt utterly powerless against him. The thought of dancing in stockings filled her with embarrassment and anger. "Hey, what are you standing around for? Get your people to clean up the battlefield," John''s voice called out. Malina''s eyes lit up as she noticed the battlefield littered with spoils. Her anger evaporated instantly. John hadn''t mentioned iming any of the loot, which meant everything here belonged to Phoenix City. Malina nced at the people on the city wall, their gazes fixed on John with starry-eyed admiration. Her frustration only grew as she shouted angrily, "Stop swooning! That guy isn''t into men. Get down there and start cleaning up the battlefield!" One of the guild members, passing by her, leaned in and whispered, "Boss, how do you know Godyer isn''t into men?" Without hesitation, Malina raised her staff, casting a fireball that exploded near him. It leaves him covered in soot and instantly quieting him down. As John watched the guild members cleaning up the battlefield, he called out, "You can keep the weapons and gear. Skill stones and artifacts go to me." "Don''t worry, big boss. Anything you need, we''ll save for you." "Boss, do you need any skill stones? I''ve got a dozen on me-I''ll give them to you." ... The members of Phoenix Guild were unusually enthusiastic, with several even handing over their own skill stones to John. Malina, watching this scene, fumed with anger, feeling utterly betrayed. These people were supposed to be her loyal subordinates, yet here they were, sucking up to Godyer-that shameless jerk! I''m docking their pay! Everyst one of them! She silently vowed. John, meanwhile, paid no attention to these interactions. His eyes kept flicking toward the sky, brows furrowed. What he was waiting for wasn''t the monster tide, but the arrival of the Angel Race. Only four hours had passed since the monster tide began, barely halfway through. There was still a good chance the Angel Race would descend. Buzz! Suddenly, a powerful ripple of Spatial Energy tore through the sky, ripping open a gaping rift in the calm heavens. "They''re here!" John''s eyes lit up with excitement. The first to emerge were the Dark Humans, a massive army of over ten thousand soldiers. Leading them were several seventh- and eighth-tier legendary powerhouses! John''s excitement grew-these guys would definitely drop artifacts. Whoosh! With a burst of Holy Light, arge force from the Angel Race descended-over a hundred angels in total. Among them were one hundred seventh-tier Two-Winged Angels and ten eighth-tier Four- Winged Angels. All of them legendary in strength. Before his recent breakthrough, John wouldn''t have stood a chance against an eighth-tier Four-Winged Angel, but now that he had reached the sixth tier and greatly increased his power, taking down an eighth-tier legendary angel was no problem. "Wait... Godyer!" The leading Four-Winged Angel recognized John, his face paling with fear as he instinctively tried to retreat. "My lord, there are no ninth-tier powerhouses here. It looks like he''s alone!" a Two-Winged Angel surveyed the surroundings and reminded the leader. "You''re right!" The Four-Winged Angel leader sneered, his confidence restored. "Godyer, looks like today''s the day you fall. Attack!" With a roar, both the Angel Race and the Dark Humans charged toward John in unison, weapons raised and battle cries echoing through the air. Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Eighth-Tier Powerhouses, Demon Slayer Slash Chapter 168: Eighth-Tier Powerhouses, Demon yer sh ? John watched the advancing army with disdain,pletely unafraid. If these enemies had thrown everything they had at Phoenix City, they might have overwhelmed him. But if they thought they could take him down, they were sorely mistaken. Buzz! A surge of powerful dark energy swept across the battlefield as John cast Dark Descent, enveloping both the Dark Humans and the Angel Race forces. The spell weakened the enemies'' attributes by 12% while enhancing John''s dark magic damage by the same amount. Whoosh! He followed up with Dark Storm, unleashing a furious whirlwind of darkness. Massive damage numbers flickered across the battlefield. -2,309,030 -180,200 -2,410,020 ... Boosted by the dark magic enhancement, John dealt over two million critical damage and nearly 200,000 true damage per hit. The notifications shed rapidly. [You''ve killed a level 500 sixth-tier epic Dark Human. You gained 142,000 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated. Spirit +100, Strength +50.] ... All the enemies below seventh-tier were instantly wiped out. The once overwhelming force of tens of thousands was reduced to just over ten thousand in mere moments. Meanwhile, the Undead Lord wasn''t idle either. He cast necromancy spells, reanimating the dead Elemental Dragons and Dark Humans as undead creatures to fight against the remaining Dark Human army. However, John frowned-he had underestimated the strength of these legendary enemies. His immense dark magic damage, totaling over 1.3 million, couldn''t even break the defenses of the seventh-tier pinnacle Two-Winged Angels, let alone the eighth-tier Four-Winged Angels. "Human, you''re strong, but you''re still no match for us!" sneered the leader, an eighth-tier pinnacle Four-Winged Angel. He swung his light sword, sending several sword beams hurtling toward John. John didn''t dare take any chances. He conjured a Water Mist Clone and activated Diamond Armor. sh! The powerful sword beams tore through the Water Mist Clone with ease, and two beams followed, one after the other. Boom! John''s Diamond Armor shattered as the Light Sword sh struck him directly. -22,250,000 [You''ve been killed by the Four-Winged Angel. The Blessed Ring activated, and you''ve resurrected in ce.] Twenty-two million damage! As expected, John was instantly killed. Fortunately, he had plenty of lifesaving measures. "Human, give up. There''s no point in struggling," the Four-Winged Angel said coldly as he watched John resurrect, clearly unsurprised. He had already learned that John possessed resurrection-type abilities. "Destroy the city, and the rest of you eighth-tier angels,e with me. We''ll kill this Godyer once and for all!" the leader ordered, gathering the nine other Four-Winged Angels as they all charged toward John. "Damn it!" John''s expression grew serious. He decided it was time to stop ying around with these enemies. With a thought, he summoned Tony and Ben from the Abyss. Whoosh! The two appeared in front of him, just as several light swords came shing through the air. "Hey, kid! Couldn''t you give us a warning first?" Tony eximed, startled by the sudden attack. A shield resembling a turtle shell appeared in front of him just in time. ng, ng... The Light Sword shes hit the shield, sparks flying, but Tony waspletely unharmed. "Tony, Ben!" The leading Four-Winged Angel''s heart skipped a beat, instinctively trying to flee. "Stop them. Don''t kill them, leave them for me to handle," John instructed. He needed to kill these angels himself to Plunder Divinity. For Tony and Ben, two ninth-tier pinnacle legends, dealing with the Four-Winged Angels posed no challenge at all. Meanwhile, John charged toward the remaining Dark Humans and Angel Race forces. The 100 Two-Winged Angels and over 10,000 Dark Humans were too much for the Undead Lord to handle on his own. Buzz! Sword energy hummed, dark winds howled, and endless mes surged. John unleashed the Infinite Sword Array, Dark Storm, and Hellfire, covering the battlefield. In an instant, the enemy suffered massive casualties. With John single-handedly holding off more than 10,000 enemies, the pressure on the Undead Lord was significantly reduced. On the city walls, the members of Phoenix Guild watched in awe, gasping at the scene. Even Malina was filled with excitement. These Dark Humans and Two-Winged Angels were all legendary seventh-tier beings, and the experience points were skyrocketing. In just a short while, she had leveled up from 121 to 150. It faster than she had in the past several monthsbined. "I wonder if I can hit level 200 and reach the fifth tier..." Malina thought excitedly as she watched John in battle. With graceful ease, he moved through the battlefield, elegant andposed, cutting down angels and Dark Humans like they were nothing. [You''ve killed a seventh-tier Two-Winged Angel. You gained 1,600,000 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated. Divinity +1, Luck +1.] ... The notifications continued to sh, and almost every Two-Winged Angel yielded 1 point of Divinity through Plunder. Moreover, these Two-Winged Angels had unusually high Luck attributes. On average, for every 10 Two-Winged Angels John killed, he plundered 1 point of Luck. The only downside was that these enemies were summoned through special means and did not drop items upon death. The terrifying dark magic surged across the battlefield, mercilessly ughtering Two- Winged Angels and Dark Humans alike. Several legendary seventh-tier Dark Humans also fell, dropping a few artifacts as they died. John didn''t have time to inspect the loot, as he continued casting a flurry of dark magic, sword techniques, and assassin skills. Soon, only four seventh-tier pinnacle Two-Winged Angels and one eighth-tier legendary Dark Human remained. "Human! You''ve actually mastered the Power of Darkness Laws!" The eighth-tier Dark Human was visibly shaken. He had unleashed several dark magic attacks, none of which had harmed John in the slightest. And with John''s dark magic dealing true damage, it was clear that he had not only mastered the Power of Darkness Laws, but had done so with incredible potency. "How is this possible?" the Dark Human powerhouse muttered in disbelief, unable to ept the situation. "Stop talking and attack together! He''s not our match!" urged one of the Two-Winged Angels, and all of them charged at John simultaneously. "What a hassle!" John muttered. Realizing he couldn''t afford to be careless against these foes, he turned and flew toward Tony and Ben. At that moment, both Tony and Ben were in a difficult spot. They could easily kill the ten Four-Winged Angels. But John needed them alive, and they couldn''t let any escape. So, the two had no choice but to tank the damage head-on.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Can you two hold these guys off for me a little longer?" John shouted as he used Sword Flight to speed toward them. "Kid, what exactly do you want?!" Tony was visibly irritated, having been tempted several times to just kill the Four-Winged Angels outright. "I need them to boost my strength, almost there! You two handle the four Two-Winged Angels, I''ll deal with the eighth-tier Dark Human!" John said, immediately charging toward the Dark Human powerhouse. Tony and Ben, though frustrated, had no choice but to follow John''s instructions and keep the four seventh-tier Two-Winged Angels upied. "Fool!" The Dark Human cursed, brandishing a massive ck sword. Even without casting dark magic, he could easily kill John with his raw strength. John raised the Sword of Divinity and Demons to block the iing strike. ng! The powerful collision sent John flying backward, barely escaping being killed outright. "Hmph, even if you''ve grasped the Power of Darkness Laws, it''s worthless before a true powerhouse!" the Dark Human sneered, raising his sword again and charging forward for another strike. John narrowed his eyes, focusing intently on his opponent''s movements, and then he struck. "Demon yer sh!" His longsword whistled through the air as he activated his newly acquired skill. Boom! The longsword hit with a thunderous force, immediately triggering the stun effect. But that was only the beginning of Demon yer sh''s terror. As long as the skill wasn''t interrupted, it would continue to strike endlessly, until the enemy was dead. Whoosh! John''s attack speed was enhanced to over 300 points, allowing him to strike three times per second. The longsword moved so quickly it created afterimages. sh! sh! The continuous barrage of attacks hit their mark. The stun effect hadn''t even worn off before it was triggered again. The Dark Human stood there, dazed, eyes wide in terror. John''s Demon yer sh tore through the air like relentless waves crashing against the shore, as damage numbers continuously shed across the screen. -47,880 -47,200 Demon yer sh was a basic physical attack, unable to break through the Dark Human''s defenses, but it still dealt over 40,000 true damage with each strike. Against the Dark Human''s massive pool of over 30 million HP, this might not seem like much. But the terrifying part was that he waspletely unable to dodge, forced to take the hits while losing over 140,000 HP per second. He wouldn''tst long. His health rapidly plummeted, and within moments, he was on the brink of death. "Human, get away!" The Dark Human roared in panic, finally managing to break free of the stun and interrupt John''s relentless assault. He retreated, his heart racing. He exhaled in relief-he had barely 200,000 HP left, narrowly avoiding death. "Hmph, it''s over. Flying Sword Strike!" John''s cold voice echoed as a terrifying sword beam, like a streak of lightning across the sky, shed toward the retreating Dark Human with unstoppable force. "No..." The Dark Human''s eyes widened in terror as he roared in desperation, but it was too late to dodge. Boom! -282,000 A deafening explosion sounded as John''s attack dealt over 280,000 true damage, instantly wiping out thest of the Dark Human''s health. [You have in a level 3000 eighth-tier legendary Dark Human. You gained 12.16 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated. Strength +100, Spirit +100, Constitution +50, Agility +50.] As the notifications shed, John immediately Plundered 300 attribute points. Along with that, a variety of items dropped, including a ck longsword-a powerful artifact. John casually stored it away. Turning his gaze to the other side of the battlefield, he saw Tony and Ben looking worse for wear, but still managing to contain the 14 angels. "Let one of the angels through," John called out. He couldn''t handle all the seventh-tier angels at once, so he had to take them down one by one. Without hesitation, Tony and Ben released one of the Two-Winged Angels. This was a seventh-tier legendary Two-Winged Angel at its peak. Having witnessed John kill the eighth-tier Dark Human, the angel knew he stood no chance. He immediately turned to flee. "Trying to run?" John scoffed, activating Sword Flight and quickly chasing after him. Once again, he unleashed Demon yer sh. The stun effect triggered, and the Two-Winged Angel had no chance to fight back, swiftly falling under John''s sword. John gained another point of Divinity and Luck. And so it continued. Using the same method, John hunted down the angels one by one. Even the powerful Four-Winged Angels stood no chance, falling with ease. Only the leader, the eighth-tier Four-Winged Angel, proved to be more of a challenge. He seemed to possess some kind of immunity to control effects, putting up considerable resistance. In the end, John had no choice but to activate the ultimate skill of the Sword of Divinity and Demons-Wrath of the Gods. With the assistance of Tony and Ben, he finally managed to take down the leader in a hard-fought battle. Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Exploring Death Worms Nest, The Secret Area Chapter 169: Exploring Death Worm''s Nest, The Secret Area ? The battlefield was strewn with spoils, and no more enemies remained. This time, without waiting for John''s reminder, Malina immediately ordered her people to clean up the battlefield. John, uninterested in the loot, turned his attention to his own stats. In this battle, he had Plundered over 30,000 attribute points, once again significantly boosting his strength. More importantly, his Divinity had reached 117 points-those Four-Winged Angels had each yielded 2 points of Divinity. Additionally, his Luck had risen to an impressive 89 points. Now, when he used Demon yer sh, his stun chance was nearly 10%. If he fought an enemy one-on-one, and they had no resistance to control-type skills, they were guaranteed to be stunned until their death. [Announcement: Heavenly Court has sessfully defended against the Monster Tide. Beast n faction Heavenly Court established.] [Beast n Heavenly Court Faction Bonus: Joining the Heavenly Court faction increases the chance of awakening beast bloodlines by 50%.] ... At that moment, the system announcement echoed, confirming that the Beast n had sessfully established their faction. "Heavenly Court? That must be that ck Turtle kid!" Tony remarked, surprised, ncing over at John. John nodded, but after reading the system announcement, he felt somewhat disappointed. "Awakening bloodlines? That bonus doesn''t seem particrly useful." "Kid, you don''t understand a thing!" Tony snapped, ring at him before exining, "The bonus might look unimpressive, but at the level of gods, it''s invaluable. Do you even know what awakening bloodlines does?" "What does it do?" John asked, genuinely curious. Tony continued, "Awakening a bloodline grants you additional attribute bonuses. More importantly, only by awakening bloodlines can you refine the Beast n''s treasured artifacts and be a being on par with the gods. I''d advise you to join the Beast n faction-you might even save Jean''s life." John frowned. "What do you mean? Is Jean in danger?" "Not exactly," Ben chimed in. "Jean could help you awaken your bloodline, but the price would be her life." "Oh," John responded nonchntly. "I already have a bloodline-the Spirit Fox Bloodline." He had acquired the Spirit Fox Bloodline by ying White, the Fox n''s prodigy and prophesied savior, thereby bing the new savior himself. Tony gave him a sharp look. "You might possess the Spirit Fox Bloodline, but you haven''t awakened it yet. Figure out how to awaken your own bloodline and don''t go using Jean for that." "Do I look like that kind of guy?" John responded, exasperated. At the moment, he wasn''t particrly interested in the Beast n''s treasured artifacts. He still remembered the instructions from the woman in green-to seek out and refine the Immortal Bone, Immortal Sword, Immortal Body, and Spirit Sense. John spected that the treasures he sought-Immortal Bone, Immortal Sword, Immortal Body, and Spirit Sense-were no less powerful than the legendary artifacts of the Beast n, gods, or demon race. [Announcement: Phoenix City has sessfully defended against the Monster Tide and established the Undead Kingdom faction.] [Undead Kingdom Faction Bonus: Health +50%; and on the first death each day, there is a 50% chance to resurrect with no penalty.] ... Another announcement rang out, confirming the sessful establishment of the Undead faction. The faction bonus-50% extra health and a 50% chance to resurrect upon first death each day. It greatly increased the survival chances of Phoenix City yers. However, John wasn''t particrly impressed with the bonus. Tony and Ben merely sighed in acknowledgment. "Kid, do you have anything else for us? If not, send us back," Tony said, clearly irritated. He had been in the middle of trying to push his Dark Element Affinity to 100 points when John summoned him, interrupting his progress just as he was about to seed. "Thanks for your help, seniors," John replied gratefully, opening a spatial rift to the Abyss to send the two back. He hesitated briefly, wondering about Sini''s progress, but chose not to enter the Abyss. The priority now was to rescue Tracy. Soon after, the battlefield cleanup wasplete, and Malina handed John 130,000 skill stones and three artifacts. John nced at the artifacts'' attributes, noting they didn''t suit him, and casually stowed them away. As for the 130,000 skill stones, he refined them all, gaining 130,000 skill points. "Take me leveling!" Malina demanded, eyeing him expectantly. After defending against the Monster Tide, she had reached level 191 and was eager to hit 200 for her fifth career advancement. "No time. Also, you still owe me two dance videos for the 2GI paid. If you''ve got nothing else to do, go learn some dance moves," John replied dismissively, uninterested in humoring her. With a thought, he disappeared, entering Death Land. Avis and the Undead Lord followed him into Death Land as well. "You jerk!" Malina stomped her foot in frustration, cursing him before returning to Phoenix City. The Monster Tide defense had yielded great rewards, but most importantly, the Phoenix Guild members could now join the Undead Kingdom, greatly enhancing their survival capabilities. ... "Old man!" Death Land-Tracy''s face lit up with joy as she rushed to greet John. Anna and Yuel were there too. After helping the Beast n establish their faction, they had nothing else to do and hade to Death Land to keep Tracypany. "Have you found a way to rescue Tracy?" Anna asked John, her eyes full of hope. "Yes, I''m here this time specifically to free Tracy," John nodded confidently. He had already consulted Tony, who mentioned that Elsa''s Divinity was likely over 100 points. As long as John''s Divinity surpassed hers, he would be able to break her hold over Tracy. "Really?" The women''s faces lit up with joy. Especially Tracy, who had been feeling as if she were trapped here. Though she knew it wasn''t anyone''s fault, it still felt like a form of imprisonment. John nodded and gently took Tracy''s hand, attempting to use his Divinity to dissolve the divine energy that was controlling her. He could clearly sense the foreign power within her. But despite trying several times, he failed to remove it. "What''s going on?" John frowned. Tony and Ben wouldn''t have lied to him, so the only possibility was that Elsa''s Divinity was far stronger than his. After so many years of cultivation, it seemed that Elsa''s Divinity had increased beyond what John anticipated. "Old man, how''s it going?" Tracy asked anxiously when she noticed John hadn''t made any progress. John smiled reassuringly. "Don''t worry. It''s working, but it''ll take a few more attempts. I can''t remove all the divine energy in one go." He didn''t want to disappoint Tracy, so he lied to ease her mind. "Really?" Tracy''s face brightened with relief. As long as there was progress, she wasn''t too concerned about the timing. John nodded, continuing, "Just hold on a little longer. I''ll help remove more of it in a few days." "Alright!" Tracy nodded obediently, trusting himpletely. "Don''t worry, benefactor. We''ll stay here with Tracy and keep herpany," Anna added. John didn''t say much more. With a thought, he left Death Land and reappeared just outside Phoenix City. The battlefield was still littered with monster corpses, and members of the Phoenix Guild were busy cleaning up. John sighed inwardly. His Divinity was still insufficient, and there wasn''t a quick way to hunt enough angels to increase it. His only hope nowy in the Death Worm''s Nest, the secret area he had yet to explore. Now that he had reached the sixth tier, he could finally enter this Secret Area. The only question was whether it was connected to the City of Angels. "I should bring Malina along. She could help with the battles and the cleanup," he thought. Since the other women were busy with their own tasks, John decided to take Malina into the Death Worm''s Nest to explore and level up. Following one of the Phoenix Guild members, John found Malina busy in the City Lord''s Manor. Since the Undead Lord had established his faction and gone back to Death Land. Malina had taken charge of everything. But she didn''t mind. After all, Phoenix City was her domain. "What are you doing here?" Malina asked, her face showing clear annoyance as she spotted John entering the room. "I keep my word. If you''re here about the dance videos, don''t worry, I''ll deliver on my promise." She assumed John hade to pester her about the dance videos. John remained calm and said, "I''m here to take you leveling." "Really?" Malina''s eyes lit up, but then she quickly grew suspicious. "You''re not going to make some unreasonable demands, are you?" "Do I seem like that kind of person? Just tell me if you''re interested," John replied casually. All he really wanted was some freebor, and taking her to level up was just an afterthought. "Of course I''m interested. Where are we going to level up?" Malina eagerly handed off her duties to her subordinates and asked, clearly excited. "To a Secret Area," John said, sending her a party invitation. The Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area didn''t have a fixed coordinate. As long as you had the scroll, you could enter anytime. It seemed to be a permanent Secret Area. One of the few special ces that didn''t require coordinates to ess, making it more unique. Once Malina joined the party, John activated the Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area, and both of them disappeared into thin air. The next moment, they found themselves standing on a vast in. A gentle breeze rustled the grass, creating soft ripples across thendscape, apanied by the asional chirp of insects and birds. The ce was peaceful and serene, far too calm for what John had expected. He frowned, feeling puzzled. Death Worm''s Nest-shouldn''t it be some kind of underground cave? Why was it an open in? "Godyer, it doesn''t seem like there are any monsters here," Malinamented as she curiously scanned the area. "Let''s search around," John said, summoning his ck dragon Avis. The two of them took to the skies, flying across the mysterious space in search of answers. ... For three days, John and Malina wandered through the Secret Area, finally mapping out its vastndscape. The region was enormous, rivaling Death Land in size, and it was divided into four zones. There was arge grasnd, a desert, and two dense forests on either side. The grasnds and desert appeared devoid of monsters, but both forests were home to powerful creatures. In one forest were Dark Spiders, and in the other, Dual-ded Mantises-all of them formidable beasts of at least the sixth tier. "Avis, let''s start by dealing with the Dark Spiders," Johnmanded. They flew over the forest where the Dark Spiders lurked. Whoosh! John unleashed Hellfire, which engulfed the entire forest in mes. The trees caught fire, and the air was filled with the piercing screams. Those the Dark Spiders. These creatures were mostly ordinary sixth-tier monsters, unable to withstand John''s magic. [You have in a level 800 sixth-tier Dark Spider. You gained 17,730 experience points.] ... The notifications shed as John steadily gained experience points. Malina, however, seemed unimpressed by the slow pace of leveling. "Godyer, this is too slow. I leveled up way faster during the Monster Tide defense." John sighed, rolling his eyes. These were just regr sixth-tier monsters-how could they compare to the powerful Dark Humans or Angel Race enemies? "Master, there''s a seventh-tier legendary boss!" Avis suddenly spoke up, alerting them. John had sensed it too. Below them, trees toppled as an enormous Dark Spider, the size of a small hill, emerged from the forest. It was a seventh-tier pinnacle legendary boss.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Dark Spider and the Path to City of Angels Chapter 170: Dark Spider and the Path to City of Angels ? Whoosh! The Dark Spider initiated its attack,unching a massive web that enveloped John, Malina, and Avis. As a seventh-tier pinnacle legendary boss, the Dark Spider wasn''t to be underestimated. John, fully aware of the danger, swung his longsword toward the web. sh... However, the web''s toughness was astonishing; the sword couldn''t cut through it, and all three-John, Malina, and Avis-were tightly bound. Avis panicked, struggling violently, but the more it fought, the tighter the web constricted, eventually dragging them all down from the sky. John and Malina hit the ground hard. To make matters worse, the web wasced with deadly poison. "Godyer, I can''t hold on!" Malina cried out in fear. She had worked hard to reach level 191, but now her health was rapidly draining, and she was on the verge of death. While John was immune to the poison, he couldn''t break free from the web. Buzz! A momentter, Malina''s body turned into a sh of light-she''d been killed instantly by the web''s venom. But almost immediately, her form reappeared, looking disoriented. It was the Undead Kingdom faction bonus-the 50% chance to resurrect had triggered. Yet before she could celebrate, her health began plummeting once again. She was still trapped in the web. "Godyer, what should I do?" she pleaded, panicking. This time, if she died, it would be permanent, and her level would drop back to 100. Fire! John realized the solution. The web wasn''t vulnerable to des, but fire might be effective. Without hesitation, he cast Inferno Dance, triggering Spell Combo as several fireballs shot out, quickly melting the web. Avis and Malina were finally freed from the web''s grip, both letting out sighs of relief. "Stay back!" John warned, immediately charging toward the Dark Spider. Being a seventh-tier legendary boss, its defenses were too strong for John to prate directly. He could only rely on true damage to slowly wear it down. Whoosh! The Dark Spider swung its long, spike-covered legs, sending a fierce wind toward John. He dodged the attack just in time, stepping back swiftly. In response, John cast Annihtion, once again triggering Spell Combo. Two Dark Orbs rapidlypressed, forming ck holes that tore through the Dark Spider, devouring everything in their path. -178,320 -177,500 Two ck damage numbers appeared, each dealing true damage. However, with the Dark Spider''s massive health pool of over 15 million, this was barely a scratch. At that moment, John charged toward the Dark Spider and immediately unleashed Demon yer sh. Buzz! Several cold shes of light shed toward the Dark Spider''s legs. Boom! Boom! A series of explosions echoed as the stun effect triggered once again. The Dark Spider froze in ce, and with continuous strikes from John, one of its legs was severed entirely. Crash! Its massive body copsed to the ground, still in a stunned state. shes of light gleamed as John''s longsword cut directly into the spider''s eight eyes, sending green blood sttering everywhere while the spider let out anguished screams. Barely recovering from the stun, the Dark Spider was struck by more blows, immediately getting stunned again. The most terrifying aspect of Demon yer sh was that as long as the skill wasn''t interrupted, the enemy would continue to be attacked indefinitely. -44,850 -47,501 ... A flurry of true damage numbers flickered across the screen as the Dark Spider''s health plummeted rapidly. The creature was drenched in its own blood, wailing in agony,pletely helpless. Soon, itsst bit of health vanished, and it died under John''s relentless sword, filled with a sense of utter defeat. [You have in a level 2000 seventh-tier legendary boss. You gained 4.16 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated. Physical Critical Chance +1, Strength +100, Spirit +100.] John checked the items dropped by the Dark Spider. Among them was a dagger, a powerful artifact with a poison effect-ideal for the Assassin ss. After some hesitation, John decided to keep it. Though he rarely used his Assassin skills since transitioning to the Sword Immortal ss, his longsword could still perform assassin techniques and felt much morefortable in his hand. "Godyer, did you get any artifacts suitable for me?" Malina asked hesitantly, quickly adding, "I can buy them." She understood the rarity and value of artifacts and knew that her rtionship with John wasn''t close enough to expect one as a gift. "Nothing that would suit you, unfortunately," John replied. He had about a dozen artifacts on him, but most were geared toward warrior-type sses. He did have a staff, but it was for a priest, which wouldn''t help Malina. "If I find one that fits you, I''ll save it. But what exactly do you n to offer in exchange?" John asked, his eyes lingering on her legs wrapped in stockings. Malina instinctively took a step back, her expression wary. "I''m warning you-don''t even think about trying anything with me." John scoffed, "I''m not interested in you. Don''t you have any extra stockings?" He thought about the women around him-Yuel, Ada, and Judy. All of them had great figures, and it felt like a waste for them not to show off in stockings. However, since they were all from Skyline Continent and unable to leave that world, Malina was the only one in the world of Gods who had stockings. Malina shot him a fierce re, clearly irritated. "I already told you, the stockings are system rewards. They can''t be traded or dropped." "Then what do you n to use to buy the artifact?" John countered. Malina didn''t have anything that particrly interested him. Except for stockings. She bit her lip and grudgingly offered, "Fine. One more G worth of stockings dance video." "This is an artifact we''re talking about!" John shook his head, giving her a slow, appraising look. "Ten G''s worth-ten different types of stockings."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Don''t push it!" Malina snapped angrily. It was clear that John was just toying with her. "It''s entirely up to you." John shrugged indifferently. After all, it wasn''t him begging to give her an artifact. Ignoring Malina, he focused on collecting the Dark Spider''s dropped items. Nearby, he spotted a treasure chest. Could this Dark Spider be the final boss of the Death Worm''s Nest? John pondered briefly. Usually, treasure chests only appeared after the final boss of a Secret Area was defeated. However, since no system reward had been triggered, this likely wasn''t the ultimate boss. He opened the chest. [You have opened the Secret Area Treasure Chest. You''ve obtained: Flowing Feather Set x1, Spirit Stone x1, and City of Angels Map Fragment x1.] A City of Angels map fragment? John''s excitement grew-this Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area really was connected to the City of Angels. [City of Angels Map Fragment (2): Collect four fragments toplete the City of Angels map.] Four fragments¡ªeach likely corresponding to the four regions of the Secret Area. Was this why the angels were so nervous about the Death Worm''s Nest? Or was there some deeper secret about the City of Angels? John set the thought aside for now and examined the other item. [Spirit Stone: Effect unknown.] Unknown? This was the first time John had encountered an item with an unidentified effect. He wasn''t too concerned, so he stored it away. Then, he turned his attention to the armor set. The Flowing Feather Set was a seventh-tier legendary Assassin ss armor. Without artifacts, it would be considered excellent for a seventh-tier Assassin. However, John was already decked out in artifacts, so the set wasn''t of much interest to him. He stowed it away casually. "Avis, take us to the next forest," John instructed. Satisfied that he hadn''t missed anything, he called for Avis to head to the next forested area. This region was home to powerful sixth-tier Dual-ded Mantis monsters. The Dual-ded Mantis resembled a regr mantis, but its front limbs were two long, ck des, and it had the ability to fly. This time, both Avis and Malina had learned their lesson. They stayed high in the air, watching quietly as John handled the battle below. Once again, John unleashed Hellfire, and with the Spell Combo triggering, countless Dual- ded Mantises were incinerated in the fiery inferno that engulfed the forest. Notifications shed as Malina''s experience points slowly ticked upward. Although it was slowerpared to hunting Dark Humans and angels, the speed was still like a rocketpared to her usual grinding pace. At this rate, she''d soon reach level 200 and be able to advance through her fifth career progression. The scent of charred meat wafted from the forest as the Dual-ded Mantises roasted in the mes. Avis couldn''t resist swallowing hard, asking, "Master, can we eat these monsters?" John ignored him. Suddenly, a gust of wind howled as a massive Dual-ded Mantis appeared. It was another seventh-tier pinnacle legendary boss. Avis didn''t waste a second, turning tail and flying higher into the sky, leaving John to face the creature alone. "Human, you will die!" the Dual-ded Mantis snarled, speaking in a rough voice. It was enraged by the death of its kin and lunged at John, both of its de-like forearms shing forward with lightning speed, filling the air with deadly, gleaming strikes. John didn''t even have time to activate Demon yer sh-he was killed instantly. [You have been in by a seventh-tier legendary boss Dual-ded Mantis. The Blessed Ring activated, resurrecting you in ce.] The notification shed, and John quickly cast sh, teleporting himself a hundred meters away, taking no chances. Buzz! With a hum, his sword cut through the sky, a sh of brilliance as he executed to Dual-ded Mantises. Flying Sword Strike. Boom! The Dual-ded Mantis was knocked backward, but John couldn''t break through its defenses, only dealing 290,000 points of true damage. "Hmph, you''re not even close!" it sneered, its wings buzzing as it shot forward again with frightening speed. John had no patience for a prolonged fight. He activated Demon yer sh. Bang! The Dual-ded Mantis was briefly stunned, but immediately recovered, shing its des with such force that it disrupted John''s skill. This monster had resistance to stuns! John was taken aback-it would be more difficult than expected. "Trivial tricks!" The mantis'' cold voice echoed as it once again enveloped him in a flurry of shes. John was killed again, but thanks to his Lifesaver talent, he revived with just 1 HP remaining. "Damn it!" John muttered, quickly retreating to gain distance. He sheathed his Sword of Divinity and Demons, summoning the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword instead. Buzz! The sword hummed, surrounded by a surge of powerful elemental forces-darkness, earth, and fire elements all swirling together. "Triple sh!" John roared as he unleashed the ultimate skill of the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword. Whoosh! Three massive sword beams shot out one after another, carrying both powerful elemental attacks and physical damage. Boom! Boom! Boom! Three violent explosions echoed as the Dual-ded Mantis was sent flying, with damage numbers shing above its head. -1,294,000 -1,312,000 -310,200 ... A series of damage numbers appeared, with the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword''s ultimate skill breaking through the mantis'' defense and dealing over five million damage. The Dual-ded Mantis lost a third of its health in an instant. "An artifact!" it hissed, staring at the sword in John''s hand. Its gaze shifted to its own ded forearms, a glint of excitement in its eyes. "Human, I wonder if, by refining your sword, my des could evolve into an artifact!" With that, the Dual-ded Mantis lunged at John again, more determined than ever. Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Soul Attack, FireGod’s Blessed Artifact Chapter 171: Soul Attack, FireGod¡¯s Blessed Artifact ? John hadn''t anticipated that the Dual-ded Mantis would have such high attributes. Even after using the ultimate skill of the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword, he had only managed to take down a third of its health. And to make matters worse, his Demon yer sh was countered by the creature''s resistance. Left with no other option, John resorted to slowly chipping away at its health using physical attacks and dark magic. Whoosh! des shed as the mantis unleashed a terrifying flurry of shes, killing John yet again. Thankfully, the creature didn''t have any soul attack abilities. John''s Undying and Immortal talent activated once more, and he resurrected on the spot. "Soul attacks?" John''s eyes lit up as an idea formed. He wasn''t limited to just physical and magical skills-he also had powerful soul-based attacks. After cultivating the Soul Technique and refining the Jade Heart Lotus, his soul abilities far surpassed those of a seventh-tier legendary entity. Plus, the Dual-ded Mantis didn''t seem to possess any soul-based abilities, so its Soul Technique was likely underdeveloped. "Human, let''s see how many times you can resurrect!" the mantis growled, its voice cold and full of malice. Once again, itunched a barrage of lethal shes, covering the air with a web of shimmering des. John couldn''t dodge and was killed yet again. Undying and Immortal triggered, and he resurrected in ce. "Still not dead?" The mantis was surprised, but by this time, John had already used sh, teleporting himself a hundred meters away. Then, he unleashed Soul Impact. Buzz! The air trembled. Soul attacks were invisible and intangible. The Dual-ded Mantis felt an overwhelming sense of danger descend upon it, momentarily stunned. Before it could react, its soul was struck by the powerful attack. Boom! A thunderous roar echoed within its mind, its soul torn apart. Blood poured from its eyes, ears, and nose as it stared at John in disbelief and fear. "Soul attack? How... is that possible..." the mantis muttered in shock, frozen in ce as its soul dissolved. Its massive body copsed to the ground, lifeless. [You have in a level 2000 seventh-tier legendary boss. You gained 4.16 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated. Strength +100, Constitution +50, Agility +50.] The notifications shed as the Dual-ded Mantis died, dropping two ck des. Both were artifacts. Unfortunately, John had no use for them. Malina rushed over, her eyes glued to the des, only to realize they weren''t weapons she could use. She sighed in disappointment. John casually stored the des away. Nearby, another treasure chest had appeared. [You have opened the Secret Area treasure chest. You''ve obtained: Thunderstrike Set x1, Spirit Stone x1, and City of Angels Map Fragment x1.] The chest contained a seventh-tier legendary warrior set, another Spirit Stone, and another fragment of the City of Angels Map. However, the seventh-tier legendary warrior set was of little interest to John. Just like the first treasure chest, the second one contained a Spirit Stone-with its use still unknown-and another fragment of the City of Angels Map. John stored everything away. Now, he only needed two more fragments toplete the map. Following the pattern so far, the remaining two regions likely held more seventh-tier pinnacle legendary bosses. "Avis, let''s head to that desert," Johnmanded, summoning Avis to take them to the desert area. Before long, they arrived at the edge of the desert. Avis soared through the sky, but just like before, there was no sign of any monsters. "Godyer, do you think the monsters could be underground?" Malina suggested as she stared at the endless expanse of sand. "It''s possible," John mused, then decided to test her theory. He activated Infinite Sword Array. Buzz! Countless des rained down, piercing deep into the sands below. ng, ng... Suddenly, sharp metallic sounds echoed from beneath, and damage numbers began shing. Notifications followed. [You have in a level 500 Mechanical Scorpion. You gained 17,730 experience points.] ... Sure enough, there were monsters hidden beneath the sand. Whoosh! At that moment, the sand stirred, and several creatures resembling scorpions-each the size of a human-emerged from the dunes. They were Mechanical Scorpions, all sixth-tier monsters. John''s longsword shed as he unleashed both Hellfire and Lightning Chain. The Spell Combo triggered once again, amplifying the power of his attacks. The desert echoed with the anguished cries of the Mechanical Scorpions as they fell one by one. Soon, the entire swarm was wiped out. Then, the boss appeared-a massive Mechanical Scorpion, and just as expected, it was another seventh-tier pinnacle legendary boss. Given that it was a mechanical creature, John assumed it wouldn''t have any soul attack capabilities, nor would its Soul Technique be well-developed. Without hesitation, John activated Soul Impact. Buzz! The enormous scorpion raised its ws, preparing to strike, but it suddenly trembled, its eyes zing over as it copsed to the ground in a lifeless heap. Its Soul Technique was even weaker than the Dual-ded Mantis. [You have in a level 2000 legendary boss. You gained 4.16 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated. Spirit +100, Magic Critical Chance +1, Skill Points +10.] It seemed this Mechanical Scorpion was more of a magic-based creature, as John had Plundered 100 spirit points and 1 point in magic critical chance. "It... it''s dead?" Malina stared in disbelief, ncing around before turning her eyes back to John. She hadn''t seen him make a single move. Was there some hidden powerhouse here, or did John possess some kind of psychic attack? John ignored Malina and checked the loot dropped by the Mechanical Scorpion.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Godyer, I just hit level 200! Help me with my ss advancement," Malina said as she came over, but her eyes were quickly drawn to the fiery red ring in John''s hand. It was one of the items dropped by the Mechanical Scorpion. [FireGod''s Blessing: Low-grade Artifact] [Requirements: 10 points in fire Elemental Affinity, 5000 spirit attribute] [+10,000 mana, +1000 magic damage, +1000 spirit] [Additional Attributes: +50% fire magic damage, +10 magic crit, +10 fire Elemental Affinity] [Attached Skill: FireGod''s Blessing] [FireGod''s Blessing: Support skill. Increases fire elemental magic damage by 200%. Lasts 1 hour. 1-day cooldown. No mana cost.] [Description: A powerful ring blessed by the FireGod.] Malina''s eyes widened as she stared at the ring, practically drooling over it. John felt exasperated. The ring was incredibly powerful, seemingly tailor-made for Malina. FireGod''s Blessing could boost fire magic damage by 200%, a tempting ability even for him. Unfortunately, the ring required 10 points in fire Elemental Affinity to be equipped. And he had none. In the world of Gods, it seemed only Malina, who had the rare me Mage ss, met the criteria with her 10 points in fire Elemental Affinity. "Godyer, I want it," she said, noticing John wasn''t saying anything. John ignored her again and walked toward the nearby treasure chest that had just spawned. Malina was getting desperate. She gritted her teeth and offered, "I''ll agree to your offer-10 G''s worth of different stockings dance videos!" John nced at her with a smirk. "That was my previous offer. But now? This ring is worth more than just 10 G." He waved the ring in front of her with a smug look. Malina swallowed hard, knowing full well she couldn''t take it from him by force. If she could, she wouldn''t have hesitated. Taking a deep breath, she resigned herself to her fate. "Fine, 20 G. And I''ll show my face this time." "Deal!" John agreed without hesitation. Malina froze, immediately regretting her offer. She scowled and snapped, "Didn''t you say you weren''t interested in me?" John shrugged. "You might not be much to look at now, but maybe if I see you enough, I''ll get used to it." "Ugh, go to hell!" Malina fumed, her chest heaving in frustration. No one had ever called her ugly before. But, for the sake of the artifact ring, she swallowed her pride. "Give it to me!" Malina snatched the ring from John''s hand with glee, immediately slipping it onto her finger. Then, in her usual demanding tone, she added, "Help me with my ss advancement-no conditions this time!" "Do I seem like the kind of person who always asks for something?" John replied, not bothering to engage further with her demands. He proceeded to open the treasure chest. [You have opened the Secret Area treasure chest. You''ve obtained: Dragonblood Set x1, Spirit Stone x1, and City of Angels Map Fragment x1.] The contents were simr to the previous two chests-a seventh-tier legendary Knight set, a Spirit Stone, and another City of Angels Map Fragment. Only one more fragment was needed toplete the full City of Angels Map. "Avis, let''s go," John called out, mounting his dragon and heading back to the grasnds where they had started. Without hesitation, he unleashed Hellfire, setting the ins aze. Whoosh! mes engulfed the entire area, but this time, no system notification appeared. It seemed there were no monsters in this area at all. As the fire died down, only scorched earth remained. John scanned the area, curious about what could be hidden beneath the surface. "Master, there''s a cave!" Avis, always observant, spotted an entrance hidden among the ashes. Johnnded and approached the small cave opening. It was narrow, barely wide enough for one person to pass through, meaning Avis''s massive form wouldn''t be able to fit. At the entrance, John could see faint red lights flickering inside-monsters. "Could this be the real Death Worm''s Nest?" John wondered. Perhaps this was where the Secret Area''s final treasurey. "Avis, stay here. If there''s danger, take off immediately." John instructed the dragon before casting Diamond Armor on himself. Then, cautiously, he entered the cave. Malina followed closely behind. Whoosh... The moment they stepped inside, they were met with intense heat. John soon spotted the creatures-fiery red ants, each the size of a basketball. Buzz! With a swift swing, John''s Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword cleaved through several ants in an instant. [You have in a level 500 Red Armored Ant. You gained 17,730 experience points.] The notification confirmed the name of the creature: Red Armored Ant. The sixth-tier monster. Suddenly, the sound of rustling filled the cave as more Red Armored Ants surged toward them, their fiery bodies casting an eerie glow in the dim cave. Buzz! John activated Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword, splitting the weapon into three des that whirled through the swarm, cutting down the ants with ease. These weak creatures were no match for him. From behind, Malina shouted, "Godyer, save ten of the epic bosses for me! I need them for my ss advancement!" "You sure? These are sixth-tier monsters," John cautioned. Malina had just reached level 200 and was looking to advance her ss for the fifth time. But facing sixth-tier epic bosses-especially these Red Armored Ants with their mastery of fire magic and high fire resistance-wouldn''t be easy. She might not even be able to break through their defenses. "That''s what you''re here for," Malina said confidently, her usual bravado shining through. "It''s you who needs to kill them, not me," John replied, somewhat exasperated. Nheless, he weakened one of the sixth-tier Red Armored Ants, bringing it down to low health before backing off. Malina, not wasting a second, took out her staff and began casting fire magic. Boom, boom... -1 -1 A series of fireballs hit the Red Armored Ant, but the only damage dealt was a forced deduction of 1 HP per hit. As expected, her fire magic barely scratched the creature''s defense. Malina frowned, frustrated. John had been cutting through these monsters like butter-so why was it so difficult for her? Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Complete City of Angels Map Chapter 172: Complete City of Angels Map ? Malina activated her artifact ring''s FireGod''s Blessing skill, resuming her barrage against the Red Armored Ant. -112 ... With the 200% fire magic damage boost,bined with her ss bonuses and the ring''s 50% damage enhancement, her fire magic finally broke through the creature''s defenses, though only managing triple-digit damage. "Keep it up," John called out encouragingly, standing in front of her and absorbing the Red Armored Ant''s attacks with ease. Malina shot him a re, her staff waving as she hurled fireball after fireball at the Red Armored Ant. After five exhausting minutes, she finally managed to kill it. "Godyer, the FireGod''s Blessing onlysts for an hour. Help me lure more ants while it''s still active," she said, wiping the sweat from her forehead. John felt a twinge of annoyance, realizing that he had essentially be her bodyguard. Still, with a sigh, he went off to draw more Epic Red Armored Ants, weakening them before leaving them for Malina to finish off. This time, he lured three at once. Malina panicked, almost getting herself killed multiple times. If it weren''t for John holding off the ants'' attacks, she would have been obliterated in seconds. After finally taking down all three, Malina was out of breath and shaken, finally realizing the vast gap between her and John. She sheepishly admitted, "Maybe three is too many. Let''s stick to one at a time." "Weakling!" John teased as he set off to lure another epic ant. Malina red at him but couldn''t argue with the truth. Working together, they managed to kill ten Epic Red Armored Ants just before Malina''s FireGod''s Blessing wore off. With that, she sessfully advanced to a Fifth-tier me Mage. Buzz! A surge of fire elemental energy rippled around her as her red robe billowed dramatically, giving her a slightly more refined aura. John couldn''t help but stare at her, eventually blurting out, "Didn''t you say you only had one pair of stockings?" Malina, now donning knee-high white stockings that exposed her smooth, pale thighs beneath her flowing red robe, looked more striking than ever. The contrast was innocent yet alluring. With a smug smile, she replied, "This was a reward from advancing my ss. Only two pairs, though¨Duntradeable and undroppable." "How disappointing!" John muttered, still unable to tear his eyes away from her legs. Under his breath, he mumbled, "These legs could keep a guy entertained for three years straight!" Malina''s face flushed with irritation as she tugged her robe down, clearly ufortable under his gaze. "Have you seen enough?" she snapped. "Tsk, what''s the harm in looking? And don''t forget, you still owe me 12 more G''s worth of stockings dance videos," John said, finally averting his gaze but not without a lingering sense of satisfaction. Malina, now full of regret, tried a different approach. Her eyes gleamed as she suggested, "How about I just give you my worn stockings instead of the videos?" John gave her a sharp look. "What would I even do with those? Wear them myself?!" he barked before warning, "And don''t even think about weaseling out of this deal. If you try to back out, I''ll spread the word that your college boyfriend was gay." "You wouldn''t dare!" Malina seethed, knowing she had no choice but to honor their agreement. Begrudgingly, she nodded in submission. With that, the two continued exploring the cave, cutting down more Red Armored Ants as they delved deeper. The monsters in this section of the cave were no different from those in the other three areas, ranging from sixth-tier to seventh-tier in strength. Before long, they reached the end of the cave and encountered the final boss. A seventh-tier legendary peak Red Armored Ant, about the size of a calf. Whoosh! The Red Armored Ant instantly turned into a blur, charging swiftly at the pair. John remained calm andposed, activating his Soul Impact skill. Buzz! A strange ripple of energy surged forward, causing the Red Armored Ant to freeze mid-attack, its eyes zing over as it copsed lifelessly to the ground. Its soul had been obliterated, though its body remainedpletely intact. Malina looked puzzled, studying the ant''s corpse. "Godyer, how did you kill it? Teach me!" she asked curiously. "You wouldn''t understand," John replied, barely ncing at her as he turned to examine the ant''s loot. The ant had dropped a piece of warrior armor-the Radiant Armor, which was an artifact and had excellent attributes. However, John already had his Sentinel Armor, and this one seemed tailored for a female warrior. He thought of Judy-she hadn''t received any artifactsst time, and this armor would suit her well. He imagined her wearing it, looking valiant and strong. After the Red Armored Ant''s death, another Secret Area treasure chest appeared. [You have opened the Secret Area treasure chest. You''ve obtained: Master''s Robe Set x1, Spirit Stone x1, and City of Angels Map Fragment x1.] John casually stashed away the seventh-tier legendary mage set. Along with another Spirit Stone of unknown use and the final City of Angels Map Fragment. He now had all four fragments and couldbine them into aplete City of Angels Map. [City of Angels Map: A map showing the path to the City of Angels. It can only be used from within an Elemental Secret Area.] The map''s entrance was within the Elemental Secret Area. Thankfully, John had previously acquired the Elemental Key from Toby of the Mike White Family. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to ess it, even with the full map. "Strange..." John muttered as he looked around the empty cave, frowning. "What''s wrong?" Malina asked, noticing his confusion. "Is there something off here?" "There''s no system message for clearing the Secret Area," John replied. "These four legendary bosses aren''t the real final boss of this area." Malina''s eyes widened in surprise. "You think there''s a stronger enemy here?" "Let''s search the ce," John said, wandering through the maze-like tunnels of the cave with no particr direction in mind. asionally, they ran into lone Red Armored Ants, but most were just regr sixth-tier or seventh-tier creatures. For five days, the two of them roamed the Secret Area, defeating countless monsters, but the strongest ones they found were seventh-tier epic bosses that posed little challenge. "Forget it. Let''s get out of here," John finally said, giving up on finding anything more. Over the past few days, he had thoroughly swept through the entire Secret Area without uncovering anything significant. Concerned for Tracy''s safety, he didn''t want to waste any more time. Luckily, this Death Worm''s Nest was indeed a permanent Secret Area, meaning he could return at any time. With a thought, John led Malina out of the Secret Area and back to Phoenix City. "Remember to shoot the video. I have something else to do, so I''m off," John called out casually, his mind already connecting to the Abyss. He opened the portal to the Abyss and stepped through, leaving without another word. "That bastard!" Malina cursed under her breath. She was reluctant but resigned herself to her task, logging off to start practicing her dance for the video. ... Abyss John arrived at the cliffside where he''d been before. Surprisingly, Sini, Tony, and Ben were not in seclusion this time. Tony and Ben were training Sini. "John!" Sini noticed him first, excitedly rushing over. She proudly said, "I''ve now grasped 2% of the Laws of Darkness-my power has grown significantly." John nodded, smiling. "Want to spar again?" Sini shot him a re, immediately refusing. "You''re a freak. I''m not fighting you." Her defeat against Johnst time had shaken her confidence. Tony turned to John, clearly still annoyed, and asked, "What do you want this time, kid?" It was obvious that Tony was still upset about being used to hold off the Four-Winged Angels before. Even though he hadn''t been injured, his pride had taken a hit. "Ah, congrattions, Tony, on mastering the Laws of Darkness," John remarked, sensing the newfound power radiating from Tony. "Compared to you two, I''m still far behind," Tony sighed. What should have been a moment of pride was dampened by the thought of John and Sini''s abnormal talents. John was, after all, the prophesied savior, and it was somewhat understandable for him to be exceptional. But Sini, even as a princess of the Demon Race, had far surpassed expectations. In a few short months, she had grasped 2% of the Laws of Darkness, matching what had taken Tony thousands of years to achieve. John didn''t linger on the topic. He cut to the point: "I came to tell you both that I''m nning to enter the City of Angels." "What?" Tony was visibly startled. "Kid, you''re not thinking of asking us to help you take on Elsa, are you?" John nodded. If he encountered danger in the City of Angels, he would need Tony and Ben to step in. Tony quickly shook his head. "Helping you is one thing, but walking into certain death? That''s not happening." John was puzzled. "You''ve already mastered the Laws of Darkness, and you still think you''re no match for Elsa?" Tony''s face grew serious. "The gap between me and her is massive. Plus, she''s already refined the Gods'' Divine Core, Divine Weapon, Divine Rune, and Divine Soul. Once she reaches the tenth tier, she''ll be a demigod, maybe even a lower-tier god." "A demigod?" John murmured, recalling the Blood Fiend from the Orc n. He is a demigod-level powerhouse. If it weren''t for the intervention of the mysterious woman in green, they would have all perished back then. John pressed on, "What if you refined the Beast n''s treasure?" Tony shook his head again. "It won''t help. I haven''t fully awakened my Tony bloodline, so even if I refined the Beast n''s treasure, I wouldn''t be able to fully integrate it. The power boost would be minimal. Besides, that treasure is meant for you." John wasn''t particrly interested in the Beast n''s treasure, but the conversation worried him. Ben chimed in, his tone stern, "Godyer, you can''t enter the City of Angels. If Elsa finds out, you''ll be dead on the spot. We won''t even have the chance to save you." "Sini," John turned to her, hoping for some support, but she just stared at him, clearly reluctant to let him take such a risk. John sighed, looking at Tony and Ben. "Is there really no other way?" He knew he had to enter the City of Angels, not just to hunt angels and Plunder Divinity to save Tracy. More important to stop the growing threat from the Mike White Family and Azure Family. The leaderboards showed that Kent and Toby had already reached level 1000-seventh-tiern/o/vel/b//in dot c//om strength. At the rate they were progressing, they would soon reach the ninth tier. Once the world of Gods reconnected to Earth, the true disaster would begin. Chapter 173: Chapter 173: City of Angels, Enthusiastic Angels Chapter 173: City of Angels, Enthusiastic Angels ? Tony and Ben could only shake their heads in frustration. Against Elsa, they were powerless. Moreover, the City of Angels housed ninth-tier peak powerhouses, giving them no advantage. The Angel Race, protected by the gods, was far stronger than any other race. John pressed on, "If I encounter danger, I can retreat into Death Land or the Abyss. They shouldn''t be able to stop me, right?" Tony shook his head. "Kid, give it up. Most angels can control Spatial Power. They can lock space around you, making it impossible to open any portals. Besides, without Divinity, the moment you set foot in the City of Angels, they''ll detect you, and you''ll be as good as dead." Divinity? Not only did John possess Divinity, but his Divinity level was exceptionally high-116 points, higher than even some Six-Winged Angels at the ninth tier. Confused, he asked, "So, if I have Divinity, I can avoid detection by the Angel Race?" Tony nodded. "Exactly. " "But don''t get any ideas, kid. Divinity is exclusive to the Angel Race." John didn''t reply immediately, but his mind was already forming a n. With his Divinity, he could sneak into the City of Angels unnoticed, find a way to enter the experience Secret Area, eliminate Toby and Kent, and then hunt a few Two-Winged Angels. With his various Lifesaver techniques, even if a ninth-tier Six-Winged Angel found him, he could escape unharmed. However, before taking such a risk, he needed to prepare. He had to increase his Soul Technique level and enhance his artifacts. He also had several unused enhancement stones and gemstones for gear upgrades. Ignoring Tony and Ben''s warnings, he turned to Sini and asked, "Are you staying in the Abyss for now?" Sini hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I want to master at least 10% of the Laws of Darkness before leaving." "10%?" Tony gasped, taking a deep breath as he closed his eyes in resignation, too overwhelmed to respond further. "Alright, I''lle see you again when I get the chance," John said, bidding them farewell without mentioning his n to infiltrate the City of Angels. With a thought, he left the Abyss. He reappeared in Phoenix City. Malina wasn''t around, so John quietly activated the teleportation array and returned to Ritchie''s me City. Since the elves had established their faction in me City, the Demon Race hadn''t caused any more trouble. That put John at ease. With Bonnie and Sara around, the Demon Race wouldn''t stand a chance anyway. John made his way directly to the city''s cksmith workshop. Once the City of Darkness under Demon Race control, me City still boasted high-quality buildings, including advanced cksmithing facilities. Enhancing weapons and gear here increased the chances of sess. Coupled with his 89 points in Luck, John''s sess rate for gear enhancements was practically 100%. Inside, several yers with cksmith professions were busy forging equipment. When they saw John enter, they immediately greeted him. Members of the me Legion weren''t in need of powerful equipment themselves; instead, they forged weapons and gear primarily for selling to others and earning gold. me City had an abundance of resources, so much that they could hardly use it all up. "Godyer, sir, what brings you here today?" the lead cksmith asked, wiping sweat from his brow as he curiously addressed John. "I need a workbench. I''m here to enhance some gear," John replied, ncing around. All the yers were busy, and there were no avable workstations. "Godyer, let me handle it for you," the cksmith offered eagerly. It was an honor for him to be able to assist John. "No need. I''ll do it myself," John declined immediately. Others didn''t have his high Luck stat, so the risk of failure would be much higher, potentially wasting valuable enhancement stones. "In that case, use my workbench. It''s the highest-level one here, and it has the best sess rate," the cksmith said as he led John to his workstation and hurriedly tidied up the cluttered table. John epted the offer, pulling out arge stash of enhancement stones to start upgrading his gear. Enhancement stones could only increase basic stats. Weapon enhancements improved base physical or magical damage. While armor, essories, and other gear could boost physical resistance, magical resistance, health, mana, and other essential attributes. John took out his Sword of Divinity and Demons and began the enhancement process. [You used 1 enhancement stone and 1 gold coin. The Sword of Divinity and Demons has been enhanced by +1. Physical damage increased by 1.] The notification shed before him. Enhancing gear consumed both enhancement stones and gold coins. As the enhancement level increased, the required resources grew, and the sess rate dropped. For enhancements up to level 10, each level required 1 enhancement stone and 1 gold coin with a 100% sess rate. For levels 11-100, each level required 10 enhancement stones and 10 gold coins with a 50% sess rate. For levels 101-1000, each level required 100 enhancement stones and 100 gold coins with a 25% sess rate. And so on, scaling progressively. With John''s high Luck attribute, he wasn''t concerned about the sess rate. He continued enhancing the Sword of Divinity and Demons, pushing it to level 1000 before stopping. Beyond that, each level would require 1000 enhancement stones and 1000 gold coins, only raising physical damage by 1 point, which he deemed not worth the cost. He then moved on to enhance his other gear: the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword. Then the Blessed Ring, the Sentinel Armor, and the rest of his artifacts. He upgraded all of them to level 1000, slightly increasing his overall power once again. Next, John headed to me City''s warehouse, where he retrieved half of their skill stones, totaling a massive 140,000, ready to use them to further improve his Soul Technique. He possessed the Undying and Immortal talent, making Soul Technique his only significant weakness. After refining the skill stones, John umted over 330,000 skill points, which he immediately used to upgrade his Soul Technique. [You used 1,000 skill points. Soul Technique has been upgraded to level 1456. Soul Technique +1] ... The notifications kepting, and the amount of skill points required for each upgrade had reached an astonishing 1,000 points per level. John felt a pang of heartache at the rapid depletion of his resources. But improving his Soul Technique was essential. [You used 1,000 skill points. Soul Technique has been upgraded to level 1755. Soul Technique +1] Despite spending over 330,000 skill points, his Soul Technique had only increased by a little over 300 levels, and he hadn''t unlocked any new skills. "It''s time to head to the City of Angels," John muttered to himself. He was confident that as long as he didn''t encounter a ninth-tier peak powerhouse or an eighth-tier expert with soul- rted techniques, he wouldn''t be in danger. He summoned Avis and headed towards the ruins of Green Moon. This time, he told no one about his ns to enter the City of Angels, fearing that they would worry-especially Sini and the others, who would certainly object if they knew. Soon, John arrived at Green Moon, now a deste ruin overtaken by the surrounding monsters. He didn''t bother dealing with the creatures and instead activated the Elemental Key, transporting himself into the Elemental Secret Area. Elemental forces surged around him as fresh waves of elemental golems respawned. With a wave of his hand, John unleashed Dark Storm, effortlessly wiping out the golems.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Avis, head back to the Death Land. I have other business to attend to," John instructed after clearing the battlefield. "Got it," Avis replied before vanishing into the Death Land without further questions. John took out the City of Angels Path Map, feeling a bit anxious. After all, the City of Angels was home to ninth-tier peak experts who posed a significant threat to him. If he encountered one right after entering, his fate would be grim. "Hopefully, I won''t be that unlucky," he muttered, then activated the City of Angels Path §®§Ñ§â. Hum! Spatial power rippled as a space rift appeared before him. That is the way to the city of angels. Taking a deep breath, John cast Diamond Armor on himself before stepping into the rift. Ssh! The next moment, he found himself plunging into a pool of water, and a notification popped up. [Ding, you have been baptized in the Angel Race''s Rebirth Pool. Divinity +1, all four base attributes +500] A warm sensation surged through his body. Only now did John realize he was in a mystical pool. "Rebirth Pool?" This was even more powerful than the Vein of the Earth. He wondered if the Tree of Life could absorb the energy of the Rebirth Pool to create new elves. "Huh, how is there a neer arriving at this time?" A voice echoed nearby. John immediately became alert. There were over a dozen angels present, and they were all eighth-tier four-winged angels! One of the four-winged angels flew over andnded in front of him. John''s heart raced, ready to either fight or escape at a moment''s notice. "And it''s a male," the four-winged angel remarked, scanning John up and down with glowing eyes, showing no sign of hostility. John swallowed hard, but he remained cautious. "Hmm, I can''t even see your Divinity value! Little brother, how high is your Divinity?" The four-winged angel asked, her curiosity piqued. "Uh... about ten or so," John responded, slightly lowering his guard. It seemed this angel mistook him for part of the Angel Race. But he had no wings and was a male, which didn''t match the typical characteristics of the Angel Race. "Ten or so? That high!" The four-winged angel eximed, her excitement growing as she looked at John with even more fascination. John instinctively took a step back. He recognized that look-this angel seemed interested in him for more than just casual conversation. "Ahem." The four-winged angel coughed awkwardly, trying topose herself. "No need to be nervous, little brother. You''re probably here for the Experience Secret Area trial, right? The others arrived yesterday; you''re a bitte." She continued talking as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Experience Secret Area? John nodded along, pretending to understand. "By the way, little brother, what''s your name?" the four-winged angel asked, curious. "John," he answered truthfully, figuring that these angels only knew him as Godyer, not by his real name. "John? What a strange name." The four-winged angel muttered to herself, making a mental note of it. Not wanting to linger longer than necessary, John asked, "Sister, how do I enter the Experience Secret Area?" "My, aren''t you sweet!" The four-winged angel''s face lit up with a smile. "I''ll send you in." With a wave of her hands, a space rift appeared, leading to the Experience Secret Area. Before he stepped through, she added, "Be careful in there, little brother. If you''re alone and run into danger, call for help right away. There''s a ninth-tier six-winged angel overseeing the area. And if you need anything, you can alwayse to me. My name''s Amy." She winked at him, making her intentions clear. "Thank you, sister," John replied quickly, not daring to stay longer. After thanking her, he stepped into the rift without looking back. Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Experience The Secret Area, Exposure of His Whereabouts Chapter 174: Experience The Secret Area, Exposure of His Whereabouts ? Buzz! With a ripple of spatial power, John appeared in an unfamiliar space. "Is this the Experience Secret Area?" he wondered as he curiously surveyed his surroundings. Lush green mountains, clear streams, and birdsong filled the air, creating a paradise-like atmosphere. In the distancey a dense forest, teeming with tall trees. From time to time, the growls of unknown magical beasts echoed, and asionally, the figures of angels could be glimpsed. John headed toward the distant forest. Whoosh! Just as he stepped into the woods, an arrow shot out at him. It was fired by an archer d in silver armor. Thud! -4321 The arrow hit, and John lost over 4,000 health points. This kind of damage was trivial to him. "A magical beast?" John was puzzled, unsure whether this figure was a magical beast or some unknown race undergoing trials in the Experience Secret Area. Seeing the archer ready another arrow, John hesitated no longer and made his move. Buzz! The Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword whistled through the air, and with two strikes, he killed the archer on the spot. [Killed level 500, tier 6 Temple Archer, gained 177,000 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, attack speed +1] The notification shed. Indeed, the experience points here were tenfold. Moreover, in the Experience Secret Area, the enemies weren''t mere puppets or monsters, but actual living beings from whom attributes could be plundered. "Onward!" John was thrilled, delving deeper into the forest. With the tenfold experience boost, he was confident he could reach tier 9 within two months. Whoosh! A gust swept through the forest as arge group of silver-armored guards appeared. Temple Guards, Temple Archers, Temple Mages. All of them were powerful warriors above tier 6. But to John, these opponents wereughably weak. Buzz! The Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword split into three. Without even bothering to use skills, he unleashed his Sword Mastery, sending three cold beams of light slicing through the crowd, reaping their lives. [Killed level 600 Temple Guard, gained 277,000 experience points] [Killed level 700 Temple Mage, gained 377,000 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, spirit +1] ... The notifications shed continuously as John swiftly ughtered over a thousand temple soldiers, gaining a vast amount of experience points. But he wasn''t satisfied. These Temple Guards were merely tier 6; they were too weak, and the experience they provided was insufficient. John continued deeper into the forest, searching for stronger foes. The forest was also home to magical beasts, most of which were above level 500 and tier 6, providing the same tenfold experience boost. Howl! Suddenly, the distant howls of demonic wolves and the sounds of battle reached John''s ears. Curious, he moved closer. It was a group of level 700 silver-armored demonic wolves attacking a ten-member team. "Are they angels?" John observed the group of ten-a man and nine women-all radiating a light aura, though none of them bore wings. He understood why, when he first entered the City of Angels, that four-winged angel Amy had mistaken him for one of them. It turned out that angels below the seventh tier of legendary status hadn''t yet developed wings. The only way to distinguish them was by the Divinity they possessed. With a Divinity value as high as 117 points, it was no wonder he had been mistaken for an angel. The ten-member team wasposed entirely of sixth-tier epic-level warriors, a formidable force, but there were over a thousand silver-armored demon wolves surrounding them. The sheer number of wolves put them at a grave disadvantage, and they were struggling to hold their ground. "Hey! Someone''s here? Brother, help us out!" The male angel in the group spotted John and immediately called for assistance. "Hm, no wings either?" The angel quickly noticed that John was also of the sixth tier and couldn''t help but feel a wave of disappointment. Roars and growls filled the air, mingling with the surge of bright magic. The silver-armored demon wolves had considerable resistance to light magic and, fearless, charged relentlessly at the team. A scream pierced the chaos as one of the angels had her arm bitten clean off by a demon wolf. Her face turned pale, and in terror, she cried out, "It''s a pack of wolves! We need to find a way to escape!" "I have an idea." The male angel nced at John, his eyes darkening as he whispered, "Let''s run that way and use that guy to draw the wolves'' attention." "This... this isn''t right," one of the female angels hesitated, feeling uneasy about the suggestion. The male angel''s tone turned cold, "It''s either we die or he does. Make your choice." The group, initially hesitant, quickly decided to lead the wolf pack toward John. They even pretended to shout a warning in mock concern: "Run! The wolves are going berserk!" "Heh, interesting," John sneered. These people were far too weak, and he hadn''t nned to bother with them. But it seemed they had a death wish, walking right into his line of fire. John raised his Sword of Divinity and Demons, channeling a surge of wild fire elemental power. Whoosh! With a single swing of his longsword, mes erupted everywhere, unleashing the Hellfire spell. Howl... Pained howls rang out as the powerful silver-armored demon wolves were incinerated in an instant. "Huh? Fire magic? You''re not of the Angel Race!" The male angel, shocked by the disy, stared in disbelief at John. But before they could react further, the raging mes swept toward them. Panic spread among the group, and they hurriedly shouted, "Sir! Wait, the silver-armored wolves are over there..." Boom! The roaring fire engulfed them without mercy, and their voices were abruptly silenced. [Killed level 700 Epic Angel, gained 6.036 million experience points] [Plunder talent activated, Spirit +10, Constitution +10] ... The notifications shed, revealing that the experience gained from killing these angels was also tenfold. John quickly realized the truth: it wasn''t the magical beasts that were special here. It was this Experience Secret Area itself. Every living creature in this area, once killed, granted tenfold experience points! "Amazing," John murmured, scanning the battlefield. The silver-armored demon wolves had dropped quite a bit of loot, mostly sixth-tier high- quality weapons and equipment, none of which interested him. As for the ten angels, they still didn''t drop any items, likely due to their connection to the World of Gods through special means. Moreover, these ten angels only granted him 1 point of Divinity, with a 10% drop rate. It seemed that only by killing seventh-tier legendary Two-Winged Angels could he increase the likelihood of gaining Divinity. John picked up the skill stones dropped by the silver-armored demon wolves and continued to venture deeper into the forest. ... In an unknown, mysterious space, light flickered, and ten figures suddenly appeared, their faces pale and their eyes filled with fear. These were the same ten angels John had just in. "Godyer! That guy was a Godyer!" the male angel eximed in fury, clenching his teeth. He had struggled to level up past 700, but after being killed by John, he had dropped all the way back to level 500. Months of effort were now wasted.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "How did this Godyer enter the City of Angels? And why did he appear in the Experience Secret Area?" one of them asked in confusion. "Now is not the time to question that. We must inform Lady Elsa immediately." Realizing the urgency of the situation, they grasped a milky white jade stone that emitted spatial power and returned to the World of Gods, descending upon the City of Angels to seek an audience with Elsa as soon as possible. ... "Damn it!" A furious shout echoed through the grand hall. Elsa had been agitated for days, unable to calm her mind and focus on her cultivation. Every time she closed her eyes, the scene of Tracy and John together reyed in her mind. Back then, she had used the divine Path of Maniption technique on Tracy, allowing her to fully experience everything through Tracy''s senses. That strange, intense feeling had left Elsa both confused and captivated. "Could it be that I''m starting to like that guy? No, absolutely not! That''s impossible!" Elsa took a deep breath, but rather than calming her, the thought only made her more restless. "My Lady!" At that moment, there was a knock on the door. "What is it?" Elsa asked irritably. The angel at the door hesitated, clearly sensing her frustration, and didn''t dare to enter. Instead, he called out loudly from behind the door, "A few of the young ones just brought word that a Godyer appeared in the Experience Secret Area. I suspect it''s just a rumor, but should we investigate?" "What?!" Elsa eximed in shock, quickly opening the door. Her expression turned cold as she ordered, "Bring them to me immediately. I want a detailed ount of what happened." She didn''t think it was a rumor. The Secret Area of Death Worm''s Nest was tied to John. It seemed he had now reached the sixth tier and had even managed to defeat the four bosses of the Death Worm''s Nest, thus obtaining the pathway map to the City of Angels. Fortunately, he hadn''t uncovered the ultimate secret of the Death Worm''s Nest. Elsa breathed a sigh of relief. The secret of the Death Worm''s Nest was of immense importance. If something went wrong, even the gods wouldn''t spare her. Soon, the angels that John had in entered the grand hall, trembling as they recounted everything that had transpired in the Experience Secret Area. "Enough, you''re dismissed," Elsa waved them off impatiently after hearing their story, and the angels hurriedly left. Only one figure remained in the grand hall: a ninth-tier Six-Winged Angel. She asked with confusion, "My Lady, did the Godyer really descend upon the Experience Secret Area? How is that even possible?" "It''s simple. He possesses Divinity," Elsa said, a faint smile ying on her lips as she mused, "How interesting." "He has Divinity?" The Six-Winged Angel was stunned, her expression turning cold. "My Lady, allow me to enter the Experience Secret Area at once and eliminate this Godyer for good." "No," Elsa interrupted, raising her hand to stop her. Calmly, she said, "Capture him alive. This man has secrets, and I intend to interrogate him personally." With a casual gesture, she summoned a rope that flew in front of the Six-Winged Angel. "The Divine Binding Rope!" The angel swallowed hard, her eyes fixated on the rope before her. The Divine Binding Rope was a top-tier divine artifact, rarely used by Elsa. For her to take out such a powerful artifact just to capture this Godyer meant that there was something special about him. The Six-Winged Angel couldn''t help but wonder what it was that made this Godyer so significant. Without daring to ask any further questions, she carefully took the rope, bowed deeply, and exited the hall. As the doors closed behind her, silence returned to the grand chamber. Elsa''s face then broke into a sly smile as she murmured to herself, "Godyer, from now on, you''ll be nothing more than my ything." ... In the Experience Secret Area. John ventured deeper into the forest, ruthlessly ughtering magical beasts and angels alike. He even encountered a number of Two-Winged and Four-Winged Angels. The most dangerous moment came when he crossed paths with a Six-Winged Angel. Fortunately, John possessed spatial discement abilities. Before the Six-Winged Angel could react and seal off the space, he used his sh skill, teleporting a hundred meters away, then escaped by Sword Flight, narrowly avoiding disaster. [Killed level 1700 Elite Rakshasa, gained 8.28 million experience points] [Your level has increased to 551. Constitution +1, Strength +5, Spirit +5, Agility +3, Free Attribute Points +28, Skill Points +2] [Plunder talent activated, Strength +10, Constitution +5, Agility +5] The notification shed as John''s level rose once more, reaching 551. He had only been in the Experience Secret Area for three days. However, it seemed like his presence had been exposed. Over the past few days, many Two- Winged and Four-Winged Angels had appeared, and even powerful Six-Winged Angels seemed to be searching for something. Fortunately, John had plenty of lifesaving methods at his disposal. Anytime he noticed something unusual, he would immediately retreat into the Death Land, avoiding any direct confrontation and keeping his whereabouts hidden. Chapter 175: Chapter 175: The Divine Binding Rope ? John had already Plundered 200 points of Divinity and was once again attempting to help Tracy break free from Elsa''s control. "Still no luck?" he muttered, frowning as he struggled to dispel the Divine Path technique that controlled Tracy''s cultivation. "Old man, is something wrong?" Tracy asked, her voiceced with concern. "No, everything''s fine," John replied with a reassuring smile. "One more attempt, and I should be able topletely free you from Elsa''s control." "Great!" Tracy''s face lit up with joy, trusting him without hesitation. John didn''t linger any longer. With a thought, he returned to the Experience Secret Area. Continuing his hunt for magical beasts and angels, aiming to level up and Plunder more Divinity. At this point, John had ventured into a region filled with eighth-tier magical beasts. Dark Hydras, Shadow Dragons, and Venomous Drakes... As he gazed at the massive creatures appearing one after another, his frown deepened. These didn''t seem like ordinary magical beasts-they were demonic beasts! Whoosh! A dark shadow flickered as a terrifying Dark Hydra locked onto him and lunged forward. This was an eighth-tier legendary magical beast. John didn''t dare take it lightly. He immediately cast his dark magic spell, Dark Descent. Then, without pause, he unleashed Dark Storm and his dark skill, Annihtion, simultaneously. Against such a powerful eighth-tier legendary magical beast, John knew better than to recklessly use his Soul Skills. Some eighth-tier powerhouses possessed Soul Techniques far more potent than his own. If he recklessly used Soul Impact, he could suffer severe bacsh. Instead, he relied on his powerful dark magic and true damage to slowly wear down the creature''s health, torturing it to death. Fortunately, over time, John had Plundered a vast amount of attributes, making the task of ying eighth-tier legendary beasts far less difficult than it had been before. [Killed level 3000 eighth-tier legendary Dark Hydra, gained 243 million experience points] [Plunder talent activated: Dark Element Affinity +1, Spirit +200] The notification shed, confirming that the tenfold experience boost from killing the legendary demonic beast had granted him over 200 million experience points! John''s level had now soared past 700. At this rate, it wouldn''t be long before he reached level 1000, advancing to the seventh tier of power. Moreover, he discovered that he could Plunder the Dark Element Affinity from the Dark Hydra, meaning this beast had also mastered the Dark Element. With plenty of Dark Hydras roaming this area, John decided to stay here and level up. As long as he wasn''t surrounded by multiple Dark Hydras at once, he knew he wouldn''t be in any danger. ... John remained in the area for more than ten days, steadily leveling up to 993. His mastery of the Dark Power of Laws had also increased by 1%. Whoosh! Suddenly, two figures shed across the sky-ninth-tier Six-Winged Angels. "They found me this fast?" John''s expression tightened in frustration. Recently, the Experience Secret Area had been teeming with Six-Winged Angels, clearly on the hunt for something. He was certain that the Six-Winged Angels had been sent to deal with him, which had forced him to refrain from hunting angels actively over the past few days. Just as he was about to enter the Death Land, he noticed several figures not too far away. Humans! "Toby!" John''s eyes lit up as he recognized Toby among the group. These were members of the Mike White Family and the Azure Family. It suddenly dawned on him: the two Six-Winged Angels weren''t here for him. They were helping Toby and hispanions level up. "Finally, I''ve found them," John thought with a cold smile. He had entered the Experience Secret Area not only to hunt angels and Plunder Divinity, but for an even more important goal -eliminating members of the Mike White Family and the Azure Family. He nced up at the two Six-Winged Angels fighting four Venomous Drakes in the air. They hadn''t noticed him yet. Without hesitation, John took out a concealment talisman, activating it to mask his presence and using his stealth skills to silently approach. The concealment talisman would be ineffective against ninth-tier powerhouses, who could detect him if they focused. But with the angels upied in battle with the drakes, they had no time to pay attention to anything else. Quietly, John drew closer to Toby and the others, moving within range for a soul attack. Yes, he nned to unleash a soul attack. It was the only way topletely eliminate these threats. Buzz! The air vibrated subtly, rippling with energy. "Ah..." Toby and the others groaned, their faces contorted in pain, and then their eyes zed over as they copsed lifelessly to the ground. They had no techniques to defend their souls, and against John''s Soul Impact, they were utterly defenseless. In an instant, they were all dead. However, there was an unexpected twist. One man, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, looked around in terror before desperately calling out for help, "Lords! There''s an enemy! Toby and the others are all dead!" It was Kent! John quickly deduced the man''s identity. At Kent''s feety a shattered jade pendant. It was this pendant that had blocked John''s Soul Impact, though Kent had still suffered significant injuries. "What?" "What''s going on?" The two Six-Winged Angels frowned, swiftly ying the Venomous Drakes before rushing over to Kent''s side. "Soul attack!" one of them said, quickly assessing the situation after ncing at Toby and the others'' corpses. "Who dares?!" The angel let out an angry shout, unleashing a powerful wave of spiritual energy, instantly revealing John''s location. "Godyer!" both angels eximed in shock, locking onto him with an overwhelming pressure. "Damn it!" John cursed. He had the chance to escape, but he had to kill Kent. As long as one person survived, he wouldn''t be able to disrupt the Angel Race''s conspiracy. Buzz! John unleashed Soul Impact again. "Hmph, such a petty trick!" A cold snort echoed as a more powerful and purer soul force easily blocked his attack, then counterattacked. Not good! John''s face paled as he hurriedly cast a soul barrier. Boom! A thunderous roar echoed deep within his mind. His head spun, and blood poured from his eyes, nose, and ears. If not for the Jade Heart Lotus protecting him, his soul would have been shattered instantly. The Six-Winged Angels were terrifying, especially those who had mastered soul power. John couldn''t afford to stay any longer. He focused his mind, trying to connect with Deathn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Land to escape. Buzz! Spatial power rippled, but he remained rooted in ce. A Spatial Lock. "Boy, trying to run now? Toote! Die!" one of the Six-Winged Angels roared, readying another soul attack to finish him off. "Stop!" A sudden shout rang out, and another Six-Winged Angel flew down from above. This new figure''s aura was even more powerful than the two angels already present. "Lord!" The two angels immediately bowed in respect upon seeing him. "Stand down. The City Lord wants this one captured alive!" As he spoke, a rope flew from his hand. John, unable to resist, was instantly bound tightly. "What the hell?" John was horrified. His power waspletely sealed, and he couldn''t even use his skills. No matter how hard he struggled, it was futile. The Six-Winged Angel nced at him with disdain. "Give it up, kid. This is the Divine Binding Rope, a top-tier divine artifact. It can restrain even gods, let alone a mere human like you." Top-tier divine artifact? The Divine Binding Rope? John looked down at the rope wrapped around him and stopped struggling. His expression calmed, and he asked, "Alright then. How do you n to deal with me?" The Six-Winged Angel smirked. "You''ve got some nerve. But you''ll be handed over to Lady Elsa for judgment!" With a wave of his hand, John was pulled toward him. A spatial ripple followed, and in the blink of an eye, they disappeared, reappearing in front of a grand pce. Such powerful spatial power! John was taken aback. He could sense that this angel had directly teleported them from the Experience Secret Area without needing to pass through any exit or portal. "Move it," the Six-Winged Angel shoved him roughly toward the pce doors. When they reached the entrance, he bowed respectfully and said, "My Lady, the Godyer has been captured." The heavy doors swung open, and a soft, feminine voice responded, "You may leave." The Six-Winged Angel bowed again and retreated. Whoosh! John felt an invisible force lift him, floating him into the grand hall. The hall was vast and empty, with a woman seated on a high throne. She exuded elegance, grace, and an aura of divine sanctity, so imposing that it made anyone feel unworthy of meeting her gaze. John studied the woman and couldn''t help but swallow hard. He had been surrounded by many beautiful women in his life, butpared to her, they all seemed a little less dazzling. "You must be Elsa?" John calmly asked, having guessed her identity. "Interesting," Elsa responded, her lips curling into a smile as she gazed at him. She felt even more pleased, and said softly, "From now on, you will be my ve and ything." John was taken aback by her words but quickly scoffed, "Are you joking?" With a serene smile, Elsa waved her hand, and in a ripple of Spatial Power, both she and John vanished, reappearing inside a secluded chamber. A delicate fragrance filled the air, and soft light bathed the room, which was clean and refreshing, almost like a woman''s private quarters. The rope binding John vanished, and suddenly, both his Soul Technique and Overwhelming Battle Energy began to activate on their own. What''s going on? John was surprised. He had never experienced anything like this before. It felt as though the chamber was imbued with some kind of mysterious power. His gaze flickered before settling on a glowing stone that radiated a soft light from the center of the room. A Spirit Stone! He recognized the stone immediately-it was simr to the ones he had obtained from the Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area after killing the seventh-tier legendary bosses. Moreover, he could now discern the stone''s attributes. [Spirit Stone: Contains immense spiritual power, capable of converting mana into spirit energy, enhancing its potency.] Converting mana into spirit energy? John was confused. He didn''t quite understand the true function of the Spirit Stone. What baffled him even more was this chamber itself. It seemed to exist in a spacepletely different from the Skyline Continent of the World of Gods. "Godyer, here is your reward," Elsa''s voice interrupted his thoughts, and a technique manual was handed to him. It was the same high-tier technique that Tracy had cultivated¡ªthe Divine Path! John immediately understood and sneered, "I''m not going to cultivate this technique." He had learned from Tracy that once the Divine Path was cultivated to level 10, Elsa would be able to control him through it. Elsa, still smiling, replied softly, "Human, I don''t like to make threats. You have two choices. One, obediently cultivate the Divine Path. Or two, I''ll kill that Star Dust. You''re in my hands now, and that little girl is already useless." Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Divine Path Technique, Countering Elsa ? "You dare!" John growled, ring coldly at Elsa. The women close to him were his greatest weakness, and he would never allow anyone to harm them. Elsa remained calm, holding the Divine Path technique manual in her hand. She waved it lightly and once again offered it to him. "Care to give it a try?" she asked. "Fine, you win," John exhaled deeply, reluctantly epting the manual. He had no choice but toply for now. Looking at the introduction to the Divine Path technique, John didn''t rush to begin. Instead, he asked curiously, "If I cultivate this technique and you control me, how can I break free from it?" "Oh? You''re thinking of escaping my control?" Elsa''s expression turned yful as she stared at him. John replied calmly, "It''s nice to have hope. Otherwise, I might as well be dead." He had his doubts about the method Tony and Ben had told him for breaking the Divine Path control. He could learn the technique, but only if there was a way to break Elsa''s hold over him. "I''ll tell you, though it won''t make a difference. You''ll never escape my control," Elsa said, eyeing him without the slightest hint of concern. "Breaking the Divine Path control is simple --just kill me. But do you think you''re capable of that?" John frowned. That wasn''t realistic at all. He wasn''t even close to Elsa''s level of strength, and once under her control, defeating her would be even more impossible. "Is there any other way?" he pressed further. "There is," Elsa nodded. "It''s much simpler. All you have to do is surpass my Divine Path level and Divinity value." As expected, her exnation was different from what Tony and Ben had told him. Divinity alone wasn''t enough. To break free from the Divine Path control, the technique''s level also had to surpass that of the controller. John asked, "What level is your Divine Path, and how much is your Divinity?" Elsa nced at him, her face full of disdain. "Level 1011, Divinity 1081 points." "That high?" John was shocked. He had killed countless angels and Plundered their Divinity, yet he had only umted 337 points. Growing impatient, Elsa coldly threatened, "I''ve told you everything you need to know. Now, start cultivating the Divine Path immediately, or I''ll kill Star Dust." John frowned. Over the past few days, he had killed numerous magical beasts and angels, amassing over 120,000 skill points and skill stones. Based on the skill point requirements for upgrading a high-tier technique, he could easily raise the Divine Path to surpass Elsa''s level of 1011. But the Divinity value couldn''t be Plundered so easily. Right now, hunting more angels wasn''t an option for him. Still, Elsa was threatening Tracy, and John had no choice but toply. "Let''s hope you keep your word," he sighed, decisively taking the manual and beginning to learn the technique. Elsa smiled in satisfaction. "Don''t worry. From now on, you''re mine. I won''t let anything happen to you." [You have learned the Divine Path technique. Current level: 1. Divinity +1. Upgrade requires 10 skill points.] A notification appeared before John, but he wasn''t paying attention to Elsa''s words. He was ted. The Divine Path technique could increase Divinity! John nced at the smug Elsa, thinking to himself that soon enough, she would pay the price for her arrogance. He had more than enough skill points to raise the Divine Path technique beyond level 1011, surpassing Elsa, and his Divinity value would also exceed hers. At that moment, Elsa handed him 100 skill stones and said, "Hurry up and level the technique to 10. I don''t usually part with these so easily. Don''t make me regret my generosity." Skill stones are valuable? John was speechless. To him, these few skill stones were nothing special. He could easily kill a few bosses and Plunder 100 skill points, plus get skill stones from their drops. Still, he didn''t refuse. He absorbed the skill stones immediately and began upgrading the Divine Path technique. [You''ve consumed 10 skill points. Divine Path technique raised to level 2. Divinity +1.] ... [You''ve consumed 10 skill points. Divine Path technique raised to level 10. Divinity +1.] John stopped at level 10, not raising it further. He wanted to see what Elsa nned to do now that she had control over him. From his research, he knew that the Divine Path could control his body, but it couldn''t control his soul or consciousness. This meant that although John couldn''t move his body, he could still use his mind to spend skill points and continue upgrading the technique. In other words, he could break free from Elsa''s control whenever he wanted. "Good boy," Elsa said with a satisfied smile. The hostility in her eyes faded as she gazed at John, slowly undoing her clothes. Her pure white gown slipped off her shoulders, revealing smooth, pale skin and a voluptuous figure. John was stunned, involuntarily swallowing hard. It took him a moment to process what was happening, and he blurted out in disbelief, "You''re controlling me... for this?" He couldn''t help but wonder-was his charm really that powerful? Powerful enough to make an angel willingly offer herself? "From now on, you''re my ything, my ve. You''ll serve mepletely!" Elsa''s voice was soft, but her eyes zed with intensity as she used the Divine Path to control John, slowly stripping him of his equipment. Gulp! Elsa swallowed nervously, her body trembling slightly as her eyes were drawn to the impressive sight between his legs. John couldn''t control his body, but natural reactions like this were beyond his influence. Whoosh! A ripple of Spatial Power brought John directly in front of Elsa, her three pairs ofrge, white wings wrapping around them both. Looking at the beautiful woman just inches away, John found himself unsure whether to resist or not.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Soft, sweet lips pressed against his, and Elsa kissed him passionately, her breath quickening. The air of divinity and nobility she once exuded was gone, reced by unrestrained desire. John was speechless. Though his body was under Elsa''s control, he was still able to speak. "Isn''t this a bit strange for you?" he asked. "It''s like you''re... making love to yourself." Elsa broke the kiss, ring coldly at him. "I''m interested in your body. Your mind is irrelevant. Defy me again, and I''ll turn you into a mindless puppet!" As Elsa kissed him again, her delicate hand wrapped around John''s hardened length. She hesitated several times but ultimately didn''t dare to let him enter. John''s desire burned intensely, but with no control over his body, he couldn''t release the tension building inside him. Taking a deep breath, he focused his mind and continued to spend skill points to level up the Divine Path technique. [You''ve consumed 10 skill points. Divine Path technique raised to level 20. Divinity +1.] [You''ve consumed 100 skill points. Divine Path technique raised to level 101. Divinity +1.] [You''ve consumed 1,000 skill points. Divine Path technique raised to level 1,000. Divinity +1.] [New skill unlocked: Divine Path Control.] [Divine Path Control: A technique skill that allows you to control anyone cultivating the Divine Path, provided their level and Divinity are lower than yours.] ... As the notifications shed, John raised the Divine Path to level 1,000 and unlocked a skill- Divine Path Control. Now, he fully understood how Elsa had been able to control him. At that moment, John could clearly sense Elsa''s Divine Path level and Divinity value. She hadn''t lied: her Divine Path was at level 1021, and her Divinity was at 1081 points. But now, John''s Divinity had soared to 1337 points, far surpassing hers. Elsa could no longer control him so easily, though she was too lost in her emotions to realize it. Her breathing was rapid, her wings wrapped tightly around John, and her long, smooth legs straddled him. She tried multiple times to take him inside her but kept pulling back out of fear of the pain. John had a feeling that once his Divine Path surpassed level 1011, he''d be able to turn the tables and control her instead. Suppressing his desires and the temptation to reim control of his body, John focused again and continued leveling up. --- [You''ve consumed 1,000 skill points. Divine Path technique raised to level 1031. Divinity +1.] The notifications kepting, and John used up all his skill points, raising his Divine Path to level 1031, surpassing Elsa. His Divinity had now reached 1368 points, leaving her far behind. "Why is it so big?" Elsa panted, her eyes brimming with tears. She desperately wanted to take John inside her, but every time she tried, the pain made her stop. "I''ll help you with that," John''s voice suddenly rang out, filled with amusement. He regained control and, with strong hands, gripped her slender waist, pulling her down hard. "Ah!" Elsa cried out in pain, tears streaming down her cheeks as her body trembled. A deep red stain appeared on the sheets beneath her. "You bastard!" Elsa winced in pain, her brow furrowed as she cursed angrily, her voice cold. "Human, you''re just my ything. If you dare be so reckless again, I''ll turn you into a mindless puppet!" "Is that so?" John''s gaze turned just as cold. With a sharp thrust, he drove himself even deeper. "Ugh!" Elsa moaned in pain, her body quivering as the strange sensation almost overwhelmed her. The agony kept her grounded, though. Determined to teach John a lesson, she activated the Divine Path technique, intending to regain control over him. But in the next moment, her expression changed drastically. She stared at John in shock. "W- what''s happening? How is your Divine Path level and Divinity value so high? Are you... a descendant of the gods?" "Descendant of the gods?" John raised an eyebrow, uninterested in her question. He tightened his grip on her, his voice cold. "Now, you have two choices: sign a soul contract with me and be my ything, or die." "Hmph, I''d rather die!" Elsa''s eyes, once filled with desire, turned back to their usual cold and divine demeanor. A surge of immense light power gathered around her as she lifted her hand to strike at John. But the next second, she froze in ce, the gathered light power dissolving instantly. Her eyes widened in terror as she red at John. "Human, release me!" she shouted, her voice trembling with fear. Now under the control of John''s Divine Path, Elsa could feel everything happening around her but was powerless to move her body. Panic gripped her heart. John gently lifted her chin, exposing her slender, pale neck. "Don''t worry," he said calmly, "I''ll grant your wish." Elsa''s panic grew, and she quickly begged, "Godyer, let me go! I''ll lift the Divine Path from you and Star Dust, and I''ll no longer be your enemy." John smirked with disdain. "Do you really think I need that?" Elsa opened her mouth to say something more, but her words were cut off as John captured her lips. Her lips parted in shock, and John''s tongue slid into her mouth, intertwining with hers as he deepened the kiss. Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Conquering Elsa ? Elsa''s eyes widened, tears of frustration spilling down her cheeks. Yet the forceful, domineering nature of John''s actions ignited an even stronger response in her body than when she had controlled him earlier. It felt entirely different now-unpredictable, thrilling. She realized that, yes, when she had controlled John, it was like she had been making love to herself. This new sensation was nothing like that. Elsa was filled with desire, her body responding intensely, though she couldn''t move. She closed her eyes slightly, lost in the overwhelming sensations coursing through her. But then, she snapped back to reality. She was under John''s control, and she needed to find a way to escape his grip. "Ah... it hurts," she whimpered as John lifted her hips and adjusted her position, thrusting deeper into her. The sensation was overwhelming, almost breaking down her defenses. She tried to suppress her desire, frantically searching for a solution. But then John''s rhythm shifted-sometimes slow, sometimes intense. Deep thrusts alternated with gentle ones,pletely dismantling her control. "Godyer, please... have mercy on me. I was wrong... I don''t want this anymore," Elsa pleaded, tears rolling down her face. Despite her words, her body responded involuntarily. Gradually, John eased his control over her. But by then, Elsa was too lost in the moment, her body moving on its own, filled with desire. She cried out in pleasure, unaware of anything else. The sensations took over herpletely, her inner defenses crumbling as she began to passionately respond to John''s movements. "Ah!" she bit her lip softly, letting out a long, drawn-out moan. Her three pairs of wings wrapped tightly around John as her body trembled, eyes zed with desire, staring at him in a daze. Her mouth parted as she let out a soft cry of ecstasy, and momentster, her body copsed onto the bed, wings drooping weakly,pletely drained. "Already worn out?" John smirked, pulling out as a mix of fluids and blood trickled down from her. "Ah!" Elsa whimpered, feeling a deep emptiness inside her, her hands reaching out aimlessly as if trying to grab hold of something. But John wasn''t done. He flipped her over, positioning her on her knees, her hips raised high as he plunged back into her. "Ah... no, Godyer, this is too much... please, stop," Elsa moaned, her voice a mix of pain and desperation. Her hands pressed weakly against John''s thighs, trying to push him away, but she had no strength left. Suddenly, she felt John grab hold of her wings, pinning her down, leaving herpletely immobilized. With each thrust, deeper and more intense, she felt as if her body was being torn apart, helpless under his relentless control. "Godyer, I''m sorry, I was wrong, I know I was wrong, please, let me go..." she cried, tears streaming down her face as she begged for mercy in pain. The room echoed with the sounds of their bodies colliding, her once firm buttocks trembling and distorting under the repeated, forceful impacts. Elsa clung desperately to the bedsheets, her body trembling uncontrobly as tears flowed freely, soaking the pillow beneath her. The overwhelming sensation coursed through her body, striking at her very soul, making every inch of her skin feel an unbearable mix of pleasure and pain, as if it would break her. She was utterly lost in the moment, not even aware that she was no longer under John''s control. The intense pleasure left her unable to fully sense her own body, and she begged weakly. "Godyer, please... don''t do this to me. I can''t take it, I feel like I''m going to die... Please, I''m willing to sign the soul contract with you, just stop... please..." she mumbled incoherently, not hesitating to offer the soul contract, her words muddled by the confusion and intensity of the moment. But John paid her no attention. His grip tightened, one hand on her wings and the other on her stomach, allowing him to push deeper and deeper. His movements grew more fierce, as relentless as a storm. The pping of skin and Elsa''s hoarse pleas filled the room, echoing off the walls. More than half an hour passed before John''s climax erupted, a burning force surging through his body, overwhelming him. "Ah... please, I''ll sign the soul contract with you... This feeling, it''s so good, but it hurts so much..." Elsa moaned in both pleasure and pain, her body reaching a deeper level of release. She copsed onto the bed, her delicate body trembling, her wings shaking uncontrobly, a thin trail of saliva dribbling from her mouth as she murmured and pleaded. John, satisfied as he looked down at her weak, submissive form, said calmly, "Now, let''s sign the soul contract." As he spoke, John formed the soul contract. Elsay weakly on the bed, her mind still clouded by the intense pleasure, and obediently signed the contract. But as the rity of the moment returned, her face filled with horror, and she stared at John in disbelief. "What... what did you do to me?" she asked, trembling. She was overwhelmed with despair and panic. The soul contract had been sessfully signed, binding herpletely to John, making her his ything. She couldn''t even take her own life without his permission. John spoke calmly, "I am your master now. Kneel." Elsa closed her eyes slightly, tears of humiliation streaming down her face, but she didn''t dare resist. In pain, she crawled off the bed, naked, lowering her once-proud head, and obediently knelt before him. The once lofty, aloof, and holy Elsa, now kneeling in submission, filled John''s heart with immense satisfaction. John lifted her chin, positioning himself before her, his presence looming with traces of blood still visible. Elsa, bewildered, quickly realized what was about to happen and shook her head desperately, pleading, "Master, Elsa doesn''t want this... mmph-" Her words were cut off as John pushed her head down, forcing himself into her mouth, deep into her throat. Elsa''s eyes widened in pain, tears of humiliation streaming down her cheeks. She shook her head helplessly, her gaze filled with desperate, silent pleas. John remained unfazed, pushing her to the foot of the bed and restraining her, pressing her head against the edge. She couldn''t resist as he slowly thrust deeper. "Mmm..." Elsa let out a pained moan from deep in her throat, but her head was firmly held down, preventing her from escaping. Gradually, she adapted to the strange sensation in her mouth and, realizing resistance was futile, began to cooperate, breathing in rhythm with John''s movements. Her eyes zed over with a dazed expression as she looked up at him. Her mouth felt numb and sore, with a touch of suffocation. She desperately wanted to break free, but her body betrayed her, reacting uncontrobly as she trembled and climaxed again. For over an hour, she teetered on the edge of suffocation, nearly fainting, when John finally reached his climax. He thrust deeply into her mouth, down into her throat, and the intense pressure caused his heated release to surge through her. "Mmm..." Elsa''s eyes widened in pain, instinctively swallowing. "Hah!" She finally broke free from his grip, gasping for air, tears streaming down her face. Yet, despite everything, she dared not resist. But twice was far from enough for John. He pulled Elsa to her feet, his desire still strong and unyielding, aiming to enter her again. "Master, please... no more. I can''t take it," she begged, her voice trembling with fear. "We''re far from done," John replied, ignoring her pleas. He knew Elsa''s strength; Sara, who was only at the peak of the eighth tier, had endured his intensity for a full day and night. Her strength far surpassed Sara''s, and her endurance was naturally greater as well. However, back then, John had been under the control of the Fox Demon Curse, unable to restrain himself, which made things more excessive. Now that Elsa was his woman, he wasn''t going to be so rough. He lifted Elsa''s firm buttocks and held her in his arms, preventing her from struggling. The dragon prated deep into her without any resistance. "Ah... Master, I can''t take it anymore, Elsa has climaxed again..." she moaned, gasping for air as her arms wrapped tightly around John''s head. Her firm chest pressed against his face, while her slender waist arched, trembling uncontrobly. John responded by grasping her firmness and teasing her relentlessly with his tongue. "Master, it''s so ticklish... please, let go..." Elsa squirmed in difort, unable to fight back, but despite her protests, she was ovee by yet another uncontroble orgasm. John then ced her on the bed, grabbing her ankle and thrusting deep once more. The room filled with Elsa''s cries of both pain and pleasure as her soft body shifted into various positions. She experienced wave after wave of climax, the overwhelming sensations making her feel as though she would faint from the intensity. She had been tormented for an entire day, finally copsing onto John''s body,pletely exhausted. Her eyes were vacant, though her trembling body hadn''t stopped, with an unknown fluid steadily flowing beneath her. After endless climaxes, she no longer had the strength to moan. She clung to consciousness, barely keeping herself from passing out. Sensing that she had reached her limit, John, though not fully satisfied, decided to stop. "Master, you''re so powerful..." Elsa, having regained a bit of strength, could still feel him deeply inside her, as firm as ever. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she wiped the saliva from John''s chest. It unable to help herself from feeling captivated by the experience. She had be entirely absorbed in pleasing him. "Can you keep going?" John''s voice suddenly broke the silence. Elsa jumped, shaking her head in panic, pleading softly, "Master, I really can''t go on. If we continue, I might die."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om John chuckled. "Rx, I was only teasing you," he said, giving her a yful p on her firm behind. "Ah..." Elsa moaned softly as she felt him move even deeper. Fearing another round, she quickly climbed off of him, despite the difort she felt. John decided not to push her any further. Leaning back on the bed, he pulled Elsa into his arms, gently asking, "Does it still hurt?" "A little," she whispered shyly, her head lowered. "It''s okay, the pain will pass soon. I''ll stay with you," John said, his tone unusually tender as he finally allowed himself to rx. Having tamed Elsa, he knew Tracy was no longer a threat. The only one left on his radar was Kent, someone he could deal with whenever he wanted. "Okay," Elsa replied softly, looking up at him with a sweet, contented smile. She snuggled closer to him, her exhaustion from the day''s ordeal overwhelming her. In no time, she drifted off to sleep, feeling safe and satisfied in his embrace. Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Potential Threat, Azure Familys Kent Chapter 178: Potential Threat, Azure Family''s Kent ? Elsa woke up, and it was already midday. "Awake?" John''s voice came from beside her. "Ah!" she gasped, startled and embarrassed. Quickly, she used her wings to cover her naked body, lowering her head, her face flushed with a deep red. John, feeling a surge of desire again, started making moves. "Master, please no, I haven''t recovered yet..." she quickly begged for mercy. But John ignored her, letting his hands slip under her wings, caressing her bare skin. "Master, stop," Elsa said, her tone suddenly serious as she gently pushed him away. "There''s something important I need to tell you." Seeing that she was serious, John paused, curiosity piqued. "What is it?" Elsa sighed with relief and looked uneasy. "Master, I think I may have caused you trouble." John, not sensing any immediate danger, looked confused. "Exin." "It''s the Divine Path technique," Elsa quickly said. "This technique was passed down by the God of Light. Just as I can control the angels under me through this technique, the God of Light can control anyone who cultivates it as well." "God of Light? A deity?" John frowned. "Are you saying the God of Light can control me through this technique?" Elsa nodded, looking guilty. "Yes, Master. I''m so sorry. I didn''t mean to put you at risk." John, unfazed, asked, "So, if my Divine Path level and Divinity value exceed his, I can break free from his control, right?" Elsa paused, thinking about John''s terrifyingly fast progress. It was possible he could surpass the God of Light''s cultivation level. But she quickly shook her head. "No, Master. The God of Light''s version of the Divine Path is more advanced. Even if your level and Divinity are higher than his, you can only break free from his control. You won''t be able to control him in return." "As long as there''s a way to break free, that''s all that matters," John said, still calm. He then asked, "How strong is the God of Light''s Divine Path technique? And what''s his Divinity value?" Elsa thought for a moment before replying, "He''s a mid-tier god, so his Divine Path is at least at level 10,000. As for his Divinity value, I don''t know." "10,000? That''s insane!" John was shocked. After the Divine Path technique passed level 1,000, each upgrade required 1,000 skill points. To reach level 10,000 would require a total of 9 million skill points. John realized he couldn''t possibly Plunder or gather that many skill stones anytime soon. Moreover, they had no way of knowing how high the God of Light''s Divinity value truly was. Even more terrifying was the fact that he was a mid-tier god. In the hierarchy of divine beings, gods are ssified into demigods, lower-tier gods, mid- tier gods, and upper-tier gods. Each level is incredibly difficult to ascend. John understood that to be a demigod, one must refine the treasures of the gods, Beast n, and demon race, and alsoprehend The Power of Laws, reaching a level beyond 10,000. However, how to ascend to a lower-tier god was still a mystery to him. As for the far more powerful mid-tier gods, they seemed unreachable for now. Currently, John''s Divine Path level and Divinity value surpassed Elsa''s, allowing him to easily break free from her control through the same technique. But it didn''t solve the problem of being controlled by his own Divine Path. He needed to quickly find a way to raise his Divine Path level and Divinity value. "Master, there is another way to deal with this," Elsa said, looking at him. "The Temple." "The Temple?" John asked, puzzled. "Isn''t that part of the Angel Race''s territory?" Elsa shook her head. "No, this Temple is different. It''s a Secret Area sealed by the gods themselves. If you can unseal it, it will open up the path for all races on Skyline Continent to be gods. By fusing the treasures of other races, your Divine Path will automatically break free from any control." This method seemed much more straightforward. John already possessed aplete set of Beast n, demon race, and godly treasures. However, he hadn''t dared to fuse them yet. The gods would immediately sense it and could send an avatar to eliminate him. If he were ever truly controlled by the God of Light, he might have no choice but to resort to this method. Elsa continued, "But Master, there is a downside. If the seal on the Temple is broken, ninth- tier powerhouses and gods will be able to intervene directly." "Godsing into y?" John was intrigued. The best way to protect Earth might be to shift the battleground to the World of Gods and eliminate the gods early. He quickly asked, "Where is this Temple, and how can the seal be broken?" Elsa looked at him and replied, "The entrance to the Temple is in your possession-inside the Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area. As for breaking the seal, it can only be done by a demigod." "So the Death Worm''s Nest Secret Area is actually the entrance to the Temple? No wonder the Angel Race ced so much importance on it," John thought. However, the requirement to break the seal presented a new challenge. He couldn''t control a demigod powerhouse, let alone get one to break the seal for him. John was confident that he could eventually cultivate himself into a demigod, but that would require leveling up to 10,000. Even with the Experience Secret Area, it wasn''t something that could be achieved in a short time. By the time he reached that level, ordinary yers might have already advanced to the ninth tier and established a link to Earth. "Elsa, are you close to breaking through to demigod?" John asked, looking at her. Tony and Ben had mentioned before that Elsa had alreadyprehended The Power of Laws and refined godly treasures, making her the strongest person beneath the gods. Elsa shook her head helplessly. "Master, it''s impossible for me. I''ve already triggered the tenth-tier advancement quest, but the task is to kill a demigod-level being. I simply can''t do it. That''s why I turned to the God of Light. He promised to help me hunt down a demigod, and that''s the reason I submitted to him." She sounded frustrated. She had served the God of Light for centuries,pleting countless tasks for him. But despite all her efforts, he had yet to fulfill his promise. Meanwhile, two angels under his direct control had already advanced to demigod status. John hadn''t expected the path to bing a demigod to be so difficult it required killing a demigod. He had once faced a demigod: the Beast King of the Orcs. Ninth-tier powerhouses were like ants before that being. Killing a demigod would require someone of demigod strength. John realized that helping Elsa y a demigod wasn''t going to be possible. His thoughts turned to the mysterious woman in the green robes. However, he wasn''t willing to take that risk. If he provoked a demigod-level entity and the green-robed woman didn''t show up to save him, he''d be doomed. For now, he had to deal with the more immediate problems.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Turning to Elsa, John asked, "Are there still people from the Mike White Family and the Azure Family in the City of Angels? They can''t be allowed to live." Those individuals were key to the Angel Race''s ns to establish a link to Earth. Their presence remained a serious threat. Elsa replied, "Master, you can''t kill them all. The City of Angels isn''t entirely under my control. There''s a faction of the God of Light''s direct Angel Race. If they find out, they''ll surely report it to the God of Light, and that would cause major trouble." She then added, "But don''t worry, Master. I won''t let them continue leveling up." "There are angels here that aren''t under your control?" John asked with interest. He was looking for a way to quickly increase his Divinity value, which required hunting angels to Plunder. He had been concerned that Elsa wouldn''t approve of this, but knowing there was an angel faction not under hermand meant he could hunt them without issue. Sensing his thoughts, Elsa said, "Master, I can lure them into the Experience Secret Area for you. However, I can''t personally act against them." John, confident, replied, "As long as they''re not ninth-tier powerhouses, I can handle it." Elsa nodded and then handed him the Divine Binding Rope. "Master, this is a top-tier divine artifact. If used properly, it can even restrain gods. With this in your hands, you should be able to handle ninth-tier opponents." John''s eyes lit up. He had been intrigued by this artifact for a while, and he eagerly took it, curious to examine it. [Divine Binding Rope: Top-tier Divine Artifact] [Requirements: None] [Special Effect 1: Binds enemies, sealing their cultivation and strength; its power scales with the user''s abilities.] [Special Effect 2: Locked] [Special Effect 3: Locked] John was puzzled. The artifact didn''t offer any stat bonuses and only had three special effects. Only one was currently unlocked. The other two were still a mystery. Elsa reluctantly took out a dozen Spirit Stones, her expression pained as she handed them to John. "Master, use these to convert some spirit energy. If you drive the Divine Binding Rope with spirit energy, you''ll be able to restrain ninth-tier powerhouses. I''ll make arrangements to lure those angels into the Secret Area." "No rush. There''s something else I need to do first. I want to speak with the people from the Azure Family." John put away the Divine Binding Rope and the Spirit Stones, thinking it was a good opportunity to learn more about Earth''s cultivation sects from the Azure Family. "Alright," Elsa replied. With a flutter of her wings, a long, elegant white gown covered her impressive figure, restoring her cold and holy aura. John couldn''t help but feel a bit disappointed as he dressed himself with her help. A ripple of Spatial Power followed, and the two of them appeared once again in the grand hall. Elsa sat regally on her throne, exuding the presence of a ruler. John stood at her side, mindful that their rtionship had to remain hidden. "Summon the others," shemanded softly. The doors opened, and the same ninth-tier Six-Winged Angel who had captured John walked in with a respectful expression. "My Lady." Elsa gave her orders. "Bring Kent here. Also, for now, keep the humans who descended from Earth out of the Experience Secret Area." "Yes, My Lady," the angel replied, though a hint of confusion crossed her face. She didn''t ask questions and promptly left. Before long, Kent was brought into the hall, trembling as he knelt before them, not daring to raise his head. "You may leave," Elsa waved her hand, dismissing the Six-Winged Angel, who bowed and exited the hall. Once the doors were shut, John descended from the tform, curiously studying Kent. The young man looked to be in his twenties and emanated a strong martial aura. Wasting no time, John asked directly, "Kent, I want to know about the cultivation sects on Earth." "Huh?" Kent lifted his head at the question, his eyes widening in shock as realization struck him. "It''s you! You... you''re that John!" Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Rescuing Tracy, the Demon Races Young Master Chapter 179: Rescuing Tracy, the Demon Race''s Young Master ? Kent recalled his encounter with John in the Experience Secret Area, where he had barely escaped beingpletely wiped out by him. His eyes darted nervously toward Elsa on the throne, and he quickly stammered, "My Lady, he''s the Godyer! The one you''ve been searching for!" A terrifying pressure filled the room. From her high vantage point, Elsa red down coldly and said, "He''s with me now. Answer his questions." Kent swallowed hard, ncing at her and then back at John, before reluctantly opening his mouth. "As for the cultivation sects, I don''t know much. About a thousand years ago, they mysteriously vanished, as if there was some great crisis. After that, there was no word from them." John frowned. That was consistent with the information he already knew. He pressed further, "Did the cultivators from those sects enter the World of Gods?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "W-what?" Kent looked shocked and confused. John studied his reaction, which seemed genuine. It appeared Kent wasn''t aware of this. Continuing, John asked, "Who is the strongest person in your Azure Family? Did anyone enter the World of Gods?" "It''s our family''s patriarch. He''s been in seclusion, cultivating. Aside from me, about twenty other disciples from the Azure Family descended into the World of Gods, but they were all... well, you..." Kent trailed off, his voice trembling as he nced fearfully at John. John''s power was too eerie, and Kent knew that resisting him was pointless. Especially now, with his Lifesaver Jade Pendant shattered, Kent had no choice but to submit. "Where is your Azure Family located?" John decided he would pay a visit to their patriarch himself. "That..." Kent hesitated, knowing that the location of the Azure Family was a closely guarded secret. He feared revealing it. John''s eyes narrowed as he spoke coldly, "You don''t have a choice." Terrified, Kent swallowed again and finally relented. "Ten kilometers east of the Co-Cloud Mountains, but you need a special method to enter." The Co-Cloud Mountains bordered the Cloud Mountain, where the Blues Family was based. John was surprised to learn that the Azure Family had been operating so close to him all along. "What method do you need to get in?" he asked. Kent hesitated but, seeing the coldness in John''s eyes, quickly responded, "There''s a withered peach tree near the entrance. You need to tap it ten times to break the seal." John noted this and then asked, "Onest question-what is your family''s patriarch''s strength?" Kent quickly replied, "I truly don''t know. He''s been in seclusion for a long time, and I''ve never met him." Satisfied that Kent was telling the truth, John nodded to Elsa. Understanding the gesture, Elsa spoke softly, "Guards!" The doors to the hall opened, and the Six-Winged Angel who had brought Kent earlier entered, her expression respectful. Elsa pointed at Kent and instructed, "Take him away, and make sure he''s kept under close watch." "Yes, my Lady," the angel replied, leading Kent out of the hall. The hall doors closed again as Elsa gracefully descended in front of John, her cold demeanor from earlierpletely gone. She asked, "Master, what are your ns next?" "I''m going out for a bit. Let me know when the Experience Secret Area is ready," John replied, deciding to return to the real world to visit the Azure Family. But before that, he needed to help Tracy break free from the Divine Path technique. "Understood," Elsa nodded. Without further dy, John focused his mind and left the City of Angels, reappearing in the Elemental Secret Area. Ding! At that moment, his private chat pinged with a message from Ritchie. Ritchie: "Boss, where did you disappear to again? A Demon King from the eighth tier showed up in me City asking to see you. This guy''s incredibly powerful-Sara and the others teamed up, and they still couldn''t take him down." John was startled by the message. Sara and the other two were all eighth-tier peak powerhouses, yet evenbined, they couldn''t handle this Demon King. Could this guy be a ninth-tier powerhouse? But ninth-tier beings couldn''t descend right now. Tony and Ben were the only exceptions, as they were trapped in the Abyss, making them the only ninth-tier entities capable of descending. It looked like he might need to summon Tony and Ben to deal with this Demon King. John quickly replied to Ritchie. Godyer: "Any casualties?" His message had barely sent when Ritchie replied. Ritchie: "Boss, finally! No casualties. This Demon King has been polite, and it seems he needs something from you. Sara and the others have been keeping a close eye on him." Godyer: "Got it. I''ll be back soon." John felt relieved. Although he didn''t know what this Demon King wanted, it seemed he wasn''t hostile, so there was no immediate urgency. The Elemental Secret Area had refreshed a new batch of elemental golems, but John had grown tired of dealing with them. He left the Elemental Secret Area and, with a thought, entered the Death Land, where he found Tracy still trapped. "Tracy, I''m going to fully free you from the Divine Path technique," he said. Though Elsa had been subdued and posed no threat to Tracy anymore, the God of Light-a far more powerful figure-remained in the shadows. As long as the Divine Path technique was in ce, Tracy was at risk. "Really, old man?" Tracy''s face lit up with excitement. She had been stuck in this ce for so long, and it was driving her crazy. John nodded, taking her hand gently. He activated his own Divine Path technique and began forcefully breaking down the one within her. "Mm..." Tracy winced slightly, feeling a dull ache inside her, but it was bearable. In no time, the Divine Path technique waspletely dispelled. Tracy was finally free, and to John''s surprise, the Divinity she had gained from cultivating it hadn''t disappeared. "If I''d known this earlier, I would''ve had her level up the Divine Path technique a bit more," John thought with a wry smile. John had already learned the significance of Divinity-it allowed the refining of godly treasures, such as the Divine Core, Divine Rune, Divine Weapon, and Divine Soul. He also happened to have aplete set of godly treasures in his possession. Once the seal on the Temple was broken and the path to godhood was open, he would hand those treasures to Tracy for her to refine. John nced over at Jean and said, "You can take down the vines now. Tracy''s fine." "Okay." Jean nodded obediently, happy as she controlled The Tree of Life, retracting the vines. "Old man!" Tracy, freed from her restraints, threw herself into John''s arms, sniffling softly. "What''s wrong?" John asked in a flustered tone, worriedly looking down at her. Tracy wiped the tears from her eyes and shook her head. "Nothing... I was just scared." She had felt terrible, remembering how she had nearly killed John under the influence of the Divine Path. The guilt had weighed heavily on her, making her want to disappear. John gently patted her back,forting her. "It''s all over now. Just stay here in Death Land from now on. Don''t go wandering off." If Tracy descended into the World of Gods and something went wrong, it would mean permanent death for her. Unless the portal between the World of Gods and Earth was opened, there was no way for her to return. John would have to find another solution. "That''s great! Tracy can stay here and keep mepany," Jean chimed in excitedly. The little girl rarely liked leaving Death Land and enjoyed her time there. "Alright," Tracy agreed, smiling at Jean with warmth. She had grown fond of her. "I''ve got some other things to take care of. I''lle see you bothter," John said, bidding them farewell. He found Avis and, with a thought, teleported back to the ruins of Green Moon. Riding Avis, he swiftly returned to me City. The city seemed peaceful, with no signs of trouble. "Boss, you''re finally back," Ritchie greeted him eagerly upon learning of his return, leading him toward the City Lord''s Manor. "That Demon King is still waiting for you in the manor." "Any idea what he wants?" John asked curiously. Could it be that the Demon Race hadn''t given up on me City? Ritchie shook his head. "He only said he needed to meet you. He hasn''t revealed anything else. Plus, he hasn''t shown any hostility-he''s been polite to us. I think he''s here to ask you for something." "Really?" John was intrigued as they arrived at the City Lord''s Manor and came face-to-face with the eighth-tier Demon King, Shadowme. It immediately became clear why Sara and the others couldn''t defeat him¡ªthis Demon King had also mastered the Power of Darkness. Mastering the Power of Darkness at the eighth tier was rare. Only John and Sini had aplished it before. It seemed that this Demon King-Shadowme-was either exceptionally gifted or had some special weapons or gear that enhanced his Dark Element Affinity. "You''re the Godyer?" Shadowme asked, looking John up and down in shock. "Such a high level of mastery over the Power of Darkness... it seems the rumors were true!" As he spoke, he suddenly dropped to his knees with a loud thud. Startled, John instinctively took a step back, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected gesture. Ritchie, who had followed behind, was just as shocked. He pinched his leg, wincing as the sharp pain confirmed that he wasn''t dreaming. "What the hell?" He thought, bewildered. Could the boss really have such charisma? Even a Demon King kneeled before him on sight? "Shadowme greets the Young Master!" the Demon King Shadowme said, bowing deeply with a respectful expression. "Y-Young Master?" Ritchie stammered, looking back and forth between Shadowme and John in disbelief. "Boss, are you the Demon Race''s Young Master?" John ignored Ritchie''s astonishment and focused on Shadowme. "You''ve got the wrong person," he said calmly. "There''s no mistake," Shadowme shook his head firmly. "You''ve mastered the Laws of Darkness and gained control of the Abyss. You are undoubtedly the Young Master of the Demon Race. You may not know this, but you''re actually a descendant of Demon Gods Michelle and Kamal." John frowned. He knew Shadowme was referring to Sini, but it seemed the Demon Race didn''t even know her real identity or gender. They only knew that Michelle and Kamal had an heir, but whether it was a prince or princess was unknown to them. "Isn''t it possible," John said with a sigh, "that the Young Master you''re referring to is actually the Demon Race Princess?" "Princess?" Shadowme studied John more closely, his brow furrowed as he hesitantly asked, "You''re... you''re a woman?" John''s face darkened. Irritated, he coldly replied, "You''re mistaken. I''m not your Demon Race Young Master. I can see you mean no harm, so just leave." But Shadowme misunderstood. Thinking John didn''t believe him, he knelt further and swore his loyalty on the spot. "If you don''t trust me, I swear my allegiance! I, Shadowme, vow by the Demon Gods that I will serve you, Godyer, and never betray you!" With the oath made, a bond of loyalty was sealed. Now it was John''s turn to be stunned. Out of nowhere, he had gained a loyal subordinate. But he couldn''t shake the feeling that Shadowme might not be the sharpest tool in the shed. Sighing, John finally said, "You''re still mistaken. Let me take you to meet the actual Demon Race Princess." He hadn''t seen Sini in quite some time and was starting to miss her. "Demon Race Princess?" Shadowme scratched his head, momentarily confused by the turn of events. Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Descendant of the Demon Gods, Journey to the Azure Family Chapter 180: Descendant of the Demon Gods, Journey to the Azure Family ? John, tired of the back-and-forth, opened a portal to the Abyss, gesturing to Shadowme and saying calmly, "Let''s go." Shadowme''s expression turned respectful as he immediately recognized the portal leading to the Abyss. Only someone who hadprehended at least 10% of the Power of Laws could fully control the Abyss. This only reinforced his belief that John was indeed the Demon Race Young Master. The two of them stepped through the spatial rift and descended into the Abyss. Shadowme frowned as they arrived. Even though he had mastered the Power of Darkness like John, the oppressive energy of the Abyss made him feel ufortable. It was as if the darkness here was too overwhelming for him, whereas for Sini, it only seemed to enhance her strength. John didn''t waste time exining, leading Shadowme toward the cliff where the others were in seclusion. Whoosh! As they neared the cliff, Tony and Ben sensed their approach and flew out to meet them. "Ninth-tier powerhouses!" Shadowme gasped, quickly stepping in front of John to shield him. "Rx, no need to be tense-they''re on our side," John said, slightly touched by Shadowme''s protectiveness, though it was clear that he wasn''t the Demon Race''s ruler. "Demon King?" Tony red coldly at Shadowme, his voice dripping with menace. "Are you here to take care of this guy?" As a ninth-tier powerhouse who had also mastered the Power of Darkness, Tony could easily handle Shadowme. John quickly intervened, "No need for that. I''m here to see Sini." At that moment, a figure emerged from the cliffside. "John!" Sini called out happily as she ran over to him. "The Power of Darkness!" Shadowme eximed in awe. He scrutinized Sini, immediately sensing the immense Power of Darkness radiating from her. Compared to John, her dark aura was even more pronounced, making her appear more like a true member of the Demon Race. Confused, Shadowme began to wonder if perhaps Michelle and Kamal had two heirs. Seeing Shadowme''s bewildered look, John rified, "This is the person you''ve been searching for." "Then... who are you?" Shadowme asked, still trying to make sense of it all. "I''m human," John replied casually. "Wait... didn''t I just swear loyalty to you?" Shadowme''s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing at John. But bound by his oath, he couldn''t do anything to harm John, no matter how confused or frustrated he felt. Thud! Shadowme dropped to his knees again, this time in front of Sini. "Princess, I''ve finally found you!" he eximed, his voice full of emotion as he crawled forward a few steps on his knees. Sini was startled and quickly ducked behind John. Confused, she whispered, "John, is this guy out of his mind?" Having grown up an orphan without any parents, the sudden appearance of someone iming she was a princess struck her as utterly bizarre. Her first thought was that this Demon King must be crazy. John looked at Sini seriously and said, "Sini, it''s possible that you really are the Demon Race Princess." "Huh?" Sini froze, then reached up to touch John''s forehead with a puzzled expression. "Are you sick or something?" "Young one, the Godyer is telling the truth," Ben chimed in from the side. "Think about your experiences in the Abyss. This ce is formed by the concentrated power of the Demon Gods. It''s a forbiddennd for the Demon Race, and only the Demon Gods or their descendants can remain unaffected here." Sini''s mouth hung slightly open, still in disbelief. "But... but I''m from Earth. I''ve lived there my whole life." "Your Highness," Shadowme quickly exined, "This was likely orchestrated by the Demon Gods. They can break through space barriers, and they must have sent you to Earth for some reason." Sini still looked unsure, her eyes turning to John for reassurance. He nodded and said, "It seems likely to be true." "Well, if I''m the Demon Race Princess, then I''m the Demon Race Princess," Sini finally said, epting it with a shrug. She turned to Shadowme and asked, "So, if I''m the princess, that means the entire Demon Race has to follow my orders, right?" "Of course," Shadowme responded, still kneeling with unwavering loyalty. However, this time he didn''t rush to swear his allegiance again, cautious after the previous misunderstanding. "Alright, get up," Sini said, ncing at him before adding, "So, what treasures does the Demon Race have? Anything that could help John grow stronger? Bring them all to me." "Uh..." Shadowme was momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond. He then turned his eyes to John, his expression turning angry. "Human, release me from this oath!" "Watch your mouth!" Before John could reply, Sini snapped angrily. "He is my... husband! You will show him respect!" She almost said "master," but quickly corrected herself, remembering that was her bedroom term for John. "Husband?" Shadowme red at John, his eyes darkening with disapproval, but there was nothing more he could say. Bound by his vow, he couldn''t do anything to harm John. He then turned to Sini and spoke respectfully, "Your Highness, most of the Demon Race''s treasures have been sealed. The reason I sought you out is so you can inherit the legacy of the Demon Gods and break the seal. When that happens, the Demon Gods will be able to resurrect." "Wait, you''re saying you can break the seal?" Tony interrupted, surprised. Shadowme, who had no particr fondness for the Beast n, simply nodded slightly in acknowledgment. John furrowed his brow and asked curiously, "The seal you''re talking about-is it the Temple Seal?" Tony and Ben looked shocked. "Kid, how do you know about the Temple Seal?" Ben asked, astonished. They had never disclosed any information about the Temple to him. John nodded but didn''t borate. He had been struggling to figure out how to break free from the Divine Path technique, and it seemed like the Demon Race had just delivered the answer right to his doorstep. John looked at Shadowme and asked, "How do we break the seal on the Temple?" Shadowme exined, "Your Highness needs to inherit the legacies of the two Demon Gods. With their power, we can break the seal. However, the Demon Gods are resting in the Dark Sea, and the Dark Sea Secret Area is currently controlled by the Dark Elves. Before we can do anything, we need to reim the Dark Sea Secret Area." John responded calmly, "There''s no need for all that trouble. The Dark Sea Secret Area is already in my possession." "In your possession?" Shadowme looked at John, stunned and excited. "That''s incredible! Once Her Highness receives the Demon Gods'' legacy and the Temple seal is broken, the two Demon Gods can resurrect. The Demon Race will rise again!" But Sini frowned, concerned. "John, if the Demon Gods are resurrected, won''t that put you in danger?" "Your Highness, those are your parents!" Shadowme protested, rmed that she was worried about a human. "I know, now be quiet," Sini snapped, clearly unconcerned with such titles. She had grown up alone, used and abused by the Griffin Family as an assassin. If not for John saving her, she would still be living in that hell. To her, John was far more important than anyone or anything else. Shadowme shot a wary nce at John. He clearly thinking the princess had been deceived by this human. John ignored Shadowme and said, "Even if the seal is broken, the Demon Gods might not necessarily be a threat to me. In fact, breaking the seal will force the gods to intervene, and that''s our chance to kill them and save Earth." Sini nodded obediently. "I''ll follow your lead." John continued, "There''s no rush on this. The Sea of Death is a seventh-tier Secret Area, and I need to advance to the seventh tier before I can enter." Currently, John''s level had risen to 773 in the Experience Secret Area, though the leaderboard still showed members of the Azure Family and Mike White Family. No one knew his true level. Once he hit level 1,000, he would trigger the seventh-tier ss advancement quest. With the tenfold experience boost in the Experience Secret Area, John was confident he would reach that goal quickly. Additionally, Elsa had already arranged for a group of angels under the God of Light to enter the Experience Secret Area. By hunting them, John could not only increase his level but also Plunder Divinity. But there was no hurry-John had other matters to attend to first. He looked at Shadowme and said, "You can step back for now. I''ll notify you when it''s time to explore the Sea of Death." Shadowme frowned but didn''t argue. He took out a small jade stone and handed it to Sini. "Princess, this is my Communication Stone. If you need anything or find yourself in danger, you can contact me at any time." "Alright, got it," Sini replied, taking the stone with a wave of her hand, clearly dismissive. Shadowme nced at John and Tony, sensing that they harbored no ill intentions toward Sini. Only then did he tear open a spatial rift and leave the Abyss. Having mastered the Power of Darkness and wielding a divine artifact, his strength rivaled that of a ninth-tier powerhouse. The Abyss could not hold him. "Sini, I have some matters to take care of in the real world," John said as he turned to her, preparing to leave. "The real world? Does it involve the Azure Family?" Sini asked. "Do you want me toe with you?" The Azure Family was the only remaining issue in the real world that needed resolving. "No need. I can handle it," John declined. He wasn''t sure of the Azure Family''s patriarch''s true strength and didn''t want Sini to take any unnecessary risks. With hisbined attributes, including the Lifesaver talent and the Undying and Immortal ability, John was confident that even if he wasn''t a match for the Azure Family''s patriarch, his life wouldn''t be in danger. He briefly recalled the mysterious woman in green who had appeared when he faced the Beast King, a demigod-level foe. He nced at Tony and Ben. These two clearly knew something but had been unwilling to reveal it. Not wanting to press the matter, John simply nodded at them in farewell before leaving the Abyss and logging off. ... In the real world, it waste at night. The surrounding area was silent. John stretched after exiting his game pod, loosening his stiff muscles. He nced at the nutrient levels in Sini''s pod-they were sufficient and didn''t need replenishing. Hum! John extended his hand, and the sound of a sword humming filled the air. A green longsword flew toward him andnded in his grasp. It was Chris''s Wind Sword. After learning that John had mastered Sword Mastery, Chris had insisted on gifting the Wind Sword to him. He was currently on a military base, still some distance from the Co-Cloud Mountains, where the Azure Family was located. The flight by sword would take about four hours. Whoosh! Under the cover of the dark night, a figure streaked across the sky at incredible speed.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Military radar detected the anomaly, but before it could lock onto the target, the figure had already vanished. John flew swiftly, and just as dawn began to break, he arrived at the Co-Cloud Mountains. He found the withered peach tree Kent had mentioned. The chirping of birds could be heard in the distance, but the surrounding area was deste. It didn''t look like the location of a grand sect. John was puzzled but approached the withered peach tree and gently knocked on it. ng! A sharp, metallic sound echoed. It didn''t feel like wood-it was neither metal nor wood, its material unknown. ng... He continued knocking, and on the tenth strike, the air around him began to ripple. The scene rapidly shifted before his eyes. Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Azure Family Patriarch, Secrets of the World of Gods Chapter 181: Azure Family Patriarch, Secrets of the World of Gods ? The forest before him was deep and lush, a stark contrast to the destendscape from just moments ago. "Amazing!" John muttered in awe. This was merely the work of a powerful Ancient Martial Arts Family. If he were to enter a cultivation sect, what kinds of even more impressive techniques might they have? Remaining vignt, John stepped slowly into the dense woods. The surroundings were eerily quiet, but he wasn''t about to let his guard down. Whoosh! Suddenly, from the thick foliage, a sharp glint shed toward him. That is a small flying sword hurtling at high speed. ng! John quickly raised The Wind Sword, easily deflecting the attack. "This is the Azure Family''s forbidden ground! Intruders shall die!" a voice barked from the trees, followed by the rustling of leaves. Dozens of Azure Family disciples emerged, each wielding a longsword. Without a word, they charged toward John. "Hmph!" John sneered, clearly unimpressed. To ordinary people, these Azure Family elites would seem like superhuman warriors, but to John, they were nothing more than minor obstacles. Buzz! The Wind Sword trembled in his grip before it shot forward. His Sword Mastery was leagues beyond what these disciples couldprehend. shes of steel tore through the air, followed by sprays of blood as a dozen Azure Family disciples fell dead on the spot. John showed no mercy. The Azure Family had allied with the Mike White Family in an attempt to prematurely open the gateway between the World of Gods and Earth. He suspected that the catastrophe that befell Earth in his previous life was likely linked to the Azure Family as well. Done with hiding his presence, John took to the sky with Sword Flight, soaring above the treetops until he spotted the sprawling Azure Familypound in the distance. "Azure Family! Come out and face your death!" John shouted, unleashing his Flying Sword Strike. A sword light materialized out of thin air, streaking across the sky and cutting through the buildings below. Boom! A thunderous explosion followed as a powerful gust of wind swept through the area, reducing a portion of thepound to rubble. "Outrageous!" "Who dares to wreak havoc in the Azure Family?" ... Furious voices erupted from all directions as hundreds of figures shot into the sky, flying on their swords, charging toward John with murderous intent. "Stand down!" A voice, calm but brimming with authority, cut through the chaos. A terrifying aura filled the air as a figure appeared on the distant mountaintop.An elderly man hovered in midair, his eyes as sharp as lightning. From miles away, his gaze locked onto John in an instant. "Patriarch!" the surrounding Azure Family disciples gasped, immediately kneeling. This was the Azure Family Patriarch-Hummer. John''s expression grew serious. The aura emanating from this old man was no weaker than his own. There must be more secrets to Earth than we know! Whoosh! In the blink of an eye, a gust of wind swept past, and Hummer appeared right in front of John, a fierce sword light shing toward him. John''s Wind Sword trembled in response, releasing a sword light of its own to meet the attack head-on. ng! The resulting sh of power was immense, and John was sent flying backward by the impact. Hummer, on the other hand, was merely pushed back a dozen meters before he steadied himself in midair. The difference in strength was clear. Even so, Hummer''s expression darkened, his brows furrowed in shock as he coldly stared at John. "Who are you, boy?" He could tell that John was young-remarkably young to have reached such a terrifying level of cultivation. It was almost unbelievable. "Hmph, I''m the one who''s here to take your life!" John scoffed, refusing to back down. He charged forward once more, his sword shing as he unleashed his Unrivaled Sword Dance. "Arrogant fool!" Hummer sneered, though his hand showed no signs of underestimating John. As he lifted his sword, multiple sword lights intertwined, shing in rapid session. ng, ng... Sword light shed violently in midair, and the intense sound of impacts reverberated through the air. Below, the Azure Family disciples were dumbfounded, unable to follow the speed and precision of the battle. "How strong is this young man? Who is he?" "Could he be a descendant of one of the lost cultivation sects?" "Impossible. The cultivation sects disappeared thousands of years ago; their legacies have long been severed." "Let''s hope the patriarch can kill this arrogant intruder." "Of course, the patriarch is invincible! Not even true immortals could stand against him." ... Boom! Another thunderous explosion rocked the sky as both John and Hummer were thrown back, their forms bing visible again. John''s clothes were tattered, streaked with blood. A thin line of crimson trailed from the corner of his mouth. But Hummer hadn''t escaped unscathed either. His sword hand trembled slightly, and a drop of blood rolled down his fingertip. He, too, had been wounded. Taking a deep breath, Hummer''s hair and beard fluttered unnaturally as his aura surged, filling the space with overwhelming pressure. "Young man," Hummer growled, his voice low and menacing, "you''re the first person in a thousand years to injure me. But no matter who you are, today you will die."With a furious roar, Hummer hurled his sword into the sky. It expanded instantly, growing to hundreds of feet in length, spanning the horizon. The oppressive force that followed was terrifying. John swallowed hard, feeling the same level of pressure that only ninth-tier legendary beings could exert. "Heaven and Earth sh!" Hummer bellowed, controlling the massive sword in the air as it came crashing down with destructive force. John''s expression grew grim. There was no way he could take this head-on. Quickly, he summoned his Water Mist Clone and activated sh, his figure blinking to a spot a hundredn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om meters away. Boom! The giant sword mmed into the earth, causing a tremor that split the ground, creating a massive gash that stretched for hundreds of meters. Terrific energyes out. Even though John had escaped, the aftershock still hit him like a speeding truck, sending him flying through the air, blood spilling from his mouth as he crashed back to the ground. "Is this what immortality power feels like?" John grimaced, swallowing down a mouthful of blood as he struggled to stand. He realized he was no match for this old man. Whoosh! Hummer descended from the sky, his chest heaving withbored breaths, indicating that thest attack had taken a toll on him as well. "Boy, who are you? I''ll give you a swift death if you tell me," Hummer said coldly, pointing his sword at John, towering over him. Hack! John coughed up more blood but met Hummer''s gaze without fear. "You think I''m scared of you?" he spat defiantly. He had the Undying and Immortal talent-Hummer couldn''t kill him. And besides, John had another trump card. Hum! The air trembled as he unleashed Soul Impact. "Huh?" Hummer''s brow furrowed, a sudden wave of fear gripping his heart. For the first time, he felt the cold shadow of death looming over him. Pfft! Blood sprayed from Hummer''s mouth, his body trembling as a jade pendant around his neck shattered. "A soul attack!" Hummer stared at John in shock and disbelief. "You... You''ve inherited the cultivation sects'' legacy!" Only true immortals could cultivate the soul. Hummer mistakenly believed John had reached that level. John had no interest in correcting him. His eyes flicked to the shattered jade pendant. It reminded him of thest time he used a soul attack-Kent had also worn a simr lifesaving charm. It seemed the Azure Family all had these protective measures. Even so, Hummer was gravely injured. His strength was now less than a tenth of what it had been-he was no longer a match for John. Standing tall, John looked at him coldly. "I can give you a swift death. But first, tell me what happened a thousand years ago? Where did the cultivation sects go?" Hummer''s face tightened, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "You don''t know? You''re not from the cultivation sects?" "John," he answered inly. "John?" Hummer frowned, racking his brain to recall the name. He had been in seclusion for years, disconnected from the happenings of the world. "Patriarch, he''s the Godyer!" one of the Azure Family disciples behind him called out. "Godyer?" Hummer''s eyes widened as he finally pieced it together, studying John intently. "I see. Your poweres from the World of Gods." John locked eyes with him. Hummer''sck of surprise confirmed what John had suspected. The World of Gods held deeper secrets than he''d imagined. With resignation, Hummer spoke softly, "Go ahead and kill me. I may not be able to defeat you, but you''ll never learn the truth about the sects." "Oh, really?" John sneered. With a flick of his wrist, his Wind Sword flew, not toward Hummer, but at one of the Azure Family disciples behind him. sh! Blood sprayed through the air as a disciple''s head was severed cleanly from his body. "Bastard!" Hummer cursed, his eyes locked on John with burning hatred. "The cultivation sects have a strict code: ''Innocents are not to be harmed.'' Are you not afraid of the consequences?" "I''m not immortality," John replied with a smirk. He had guessed correctly-Hummer valued the lives of his family members. Whoosh! The sword whirred through the air and returned to John''s hand. "I''ll give you one more chance. Where did the cultivation sects go a thousand years ago?" Hummer took a deep breath, his cold gaze fixed on John. "You already know the answer, don''t you?" "The World of Gods!" John had suspected it, but hearing it confirmed left him momentarily stunned. "How did they enter the World of Gods?" he pressed further. Hummer''s face twisted with disdain. "You''ve stumbled into power by sheer luck. You have no idea of the true methods of the immortals, nor do you understand the deeper secrets of the World of Gods. But I''ll tell you anyway-the World of Gods doesn''t just refer to the Skyline Continent. Wherever the gods descend bes the World of Gods. These beings survive by plundering resources from different worlds. Earth is just one of their targets." "I see..." John muttered in realization. So, that was the true nature of the World of Gods. He continued, "Were the cultivation sects trying to prevent the disaster from striking Earth? Did they seed?" Hummer let out a mockingugh. "What do you think?" John immediately understood. If the cultivation sects had seeded, Earth wouldn''t have ended up connected to the World of Gods. Hummer added, "Boy, I suggest you give up. Fighting against those beings is certain death. Siding with the gods is the only way to survive." "So, you''ve aligned yourselves with the gods!" John''s voice turned icy as his sword hummed with murderous intent. Just as he suspected, the disaster that befell Earth in his previous life had everything to do with the Azure Family. Sensing John''s growing intent to kill, Hummer smirked and took a step back. "I''ll let you in on one more secret. The gods have already taken direct action. The connection between the World of Gods and Earth is about to open." "What?" John''s brow furrowed. This revtion was clearly different from Elsa''s n to raise ninth-tier powerhouses. "Boy, we''ll meet again-retreat!" Hummer pulled out a stone from his hand. "A Spatial Stone!" John gasped, recognizing the stone used to descend into the World of Gods. "You''ll all die!" John roared, unleashing another Soul Impact. Whoosh! Spatial power surged, and Hummer vanished into thin air. But the Azure Family disciples weren''t as quick. Hundreds were in in an instant by John''s de, though many others sessfully descended into the World of Gods. "Damn it!" John cursed, frustrated. He had been so close to killing Hummer. Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Cultivation Sects, The Immortal Treasures Chapter 182: Cultivation Sects, The Immortal Treasures ? "I can''t let them live." John was about to leave and enter the world of the Gods to hunt down those who had in the Azure Family. At that moment, a faint power flickered, drawing his attention deeply. "What is it?" he wondered, feeling intrigued. Was there a treasure here? Curiosity piqued, he followed the source of that weak power. It wasn''ting from the Azure Family but from the dense forest deep within the mountains. It seemed the ancestor of the Azure Family, Hummer, had just flown from this direction. Surrounding him were scattered rocks, remnants of a ruined structure, and a broken stone tablet caught his eye. Weathered by time, he could vaguely make out threerge characters on it. "Co-Cloud Sect? This is a cultivation sect!" John was astonished; the force drawing him grew even stronger. He stepped into the forest, where a stone staircase, overgrown with weeds, led directly to the mountain''s peak. The source of that alluring power was at the summit. He executed Sword Flight, quickly reaching the mountaintop. The cold wind blew against him, but the area was lush with greenery, a powerful force radiating around him. This power was identical to that emanating from the Spirit Stone in Elsa''s room. Yet it wasn''t this power that attracted him. The energy was faint but felt intenselypelling, as if calling from the depths of his soul. Curiously, he scanned the surroundings for the source of the power. The open mountaintop revealed everything; beneath the thick grass was a hidden entrance to a cave. That alluring energy wasing from within. Intrigued, John entered the cave. Buzz! A faint ripple of spatial power echoed, as if this ce were isted from the outside world. The cave was not spacious; everything was in in sight, with a simple stone table, stone stools, and a stone bed. Signs of human life were evident, and the strong pull came from four items on the table, glowing with a soft white light. Convinced there was no danger, he approached with curiosity. A piece of jade bone, a jade stone, a jade talisman, and a small, palm-sized jade sword. "This is... Immortal Bone, Immortal Body, Spirit Stone, and Immortal Sword!" he eximed involuntarily. He had never seen these items before, but he instinctively guessed their names at first nce. remembered the instructio from the woman in green, warning him not to refine the gods'' treasures, but to find these four items. "Could it really be this coincidental?" He nced around the cave, his gaze drawn upward. Whether it was an illusion or not, he felt as if a pair of enormous hands in the void were guiding him forward. He stopped dwelling on the issue and looked at the four items on the stone table, muttering in confusion, "How do I use these things?" Curiously, he picked up the small jade sword. Whoosh! The jade sword was sharp, easily cutting through his palm, and blood dripped onto the stone tform, revealing four small characters. "Enter the game with your body?" John''s brows furrowed in confusion, and then the bloodstains vanished, absorbed by the other three items on the table. Only then did he notice that the jade sword was also drawing in his blood. Buzz! With a humming sound, the four items suddenly merged into his body. "Did... did I just refine them?" He could feel his body strengthening, his power significantly increasing. This was only from refining the four items, not aplete fusion. To fully merge the Immortal Bone, Immortal Body, Spirit Stone, and Immortal Sword, special conditions were still needed. Crack! At that moment, another light sound echoed as the stone table cracked, and several stones rolled off. "Spatial stones?!" he eximed in disbelief. Under the heavy stone tabley hundreds of spatial stones. Could it be that spatial stones weren''t products of the world of Gods, but originated from the real world? He realized that the strong figures from those cultivation sects likely descended into the world of Gods using spatial stones. "Enter the game with my body? Do they want me to descend into the world of Gods as well?" He recalled the four characters that had appeared on the table and frowned at the spatial stone in his hand. He had no desire to enter the world of Gods. "Let''s see how it goes," he murmured to himself, collecting all the spatial stones-307 in total. After thoroughly checking the cave to ensure he hadn''t missed anything, he decided not to linger and used Sword Flight to quickly return to the military base. ... The round trip had taken a whole day, and the biggest regret was that he hadn''tpletely dealt with the Azure Family. He could only ask Elsa if she knew the whereabouts of the Azure Family in the world of Gods. After helping Sinigame pot fill with nutrients, he immediately entered the world of Gods. He appeared outside me City, and shortly after, several notification sounds rang out. [You refined the Immortal Bone, Constitution +10000] [You refined the Immortal Body, Agility +10000] [You refined the Spirit Stone, Spirit +10000] [You refined the Immortal Sword, Strength +10000] [Fusion conditions for Immortal Bone, Immortal Body, Spirit Stone, and Immortal Sword: Convert all magic power into spiritual power] ... "Forty thousand attributes just like that!" John was astonished; he hadn''t expected such a massive boost in power from refining the Immortal Bone, Immortal Body, Spirit Stone, and Immortal Sword. Most importantly, he had unlocked the fusion conditions. Convert all magic power into spiritual power. The Spirit Stone Elsa had given him could turn magic power into spiritual power. One Spirit Stone can convert 10,000 points of magic power into 1 point of spiritual power. His magic power totaled over 1.9 million, meaning he would need 190 Spirit Stones, which was still far from enough. Whoosh... Suddenly, a fierce wind whipped up, dark clouds gathered in the sky, and a terrifying pressuren/?/vel/b//in dot c//om enveloped the area. "Oh no!" John''s expression changed; he had almost forgotten that refining several major racial treasures in advance would attract the attention of deities. The Immortal Bone, Immortal Body, Spirit Sense, and Immortal Sword were treasures of the same level as those of other races. "Ritchie, all members of me City, immediately teleport to Saint Martial Sect!" he quickly warned the members of me City. They had to break through the Abyss passage and escape before the deity''s avatar descended. The Abyss waspletely isted from the world of Gods, making it impossible for the deity to sense them. Death Land was also a separate space, but angels and Dark Humans had previously descended into Death Land. He wasn''t sure if the deity''s avatar could enter; there were too many treasures in Death Land that were crucial to him, and he didn''t dare to take risks lightly. The Abyss passage closed. Ritchie sensed something was wrong. Upon hearing John''s warning, he reacted quickly and ordered everyone to teleport to either Saint Martial Sect or Malina''s Phoenix City. Those who couldn''t teleport immediately logged out. A massive face appeared in the sky as the deity''s avatar descended, but me City was already deserted. "Hmm? Why did they suddenly vanish?" The gigantic face furrowed its brow, muttering to itself, "Could they have logged out? The aura just now seemed to belong to The Immortals; I must report this to Lord God of Light!" Thunder rumbled in the sky as the massive face slowly faded, the dark clouds dissipating, and the world regained its rity. John entered the Abyss, exhaling a long breath of relief. He regretted refining the four treasures. Now he was already targeted by the deity, making his movements very inconvenient. Breaking the seal of The Temple required level seven. He was only at level 773, far from the required 1,000. He would need to enter the City of Angels'' Secret Area to quickly level up to seven. He wondered if the City of Angels was under the deity''s surveince. This was his only hope, and he reached out mentally to contact Elsa. He had signed a master-servant soul contract with Elsa, allowing for mentalmunication. Godyer: "Elsa, I refined the Immortal Bone and other treasures. Is the City of Angels within the deity''s detection range?" "Immortal Bone? Master, you refined The Immortals'' treasures?" Elsa''s tone was shocked. The Immortals? John was puzzled. Could it be that the cultivation sects were The Immortals? It seemed Elsa knew something. He quickly asked in his mind, "What kind of existence is this The Immortals? Please exin in detail." Elsa said, "Master, I''m not sure about the specifics. All I know is that The Immortals are very powerful and ruthless. They suddenly appeared in thest world of Gods, intending to annihte all races. At that time, even the most powerful gods and the demon race couldn''t match them. It was only when a mysterious force behind the gods intervened that The Immortals were dealt with." "A force behind the gods?" John asked in surprise. "Aren''t the gods the strongest?" "No," Elsa replied. "In front of those beings, the gods are like ants. However, that mysterious force has only appeared once tobat The Immortals and has never shown itself again." John furrowed his brows, a heavy expression on his face. His ultimate enemies might not be the gods after all. What shocked him was the power of The Immortals, which was strong enough to take on all the races in the world of Gods. The Immortals were even more powerful than he had imagined. He decided not to dwell on this; the most important thing now was to deal with the gods. He asked, "Elsa, if I appear in the City of Angels'' Secret Area, will the gods notice?" "No," Elsa reassured him. "There are many angels in the City of Angels refining treasures, not just the gods, but also the demon race, the Beast n, and the human race from Skyline Continent. The gods won''t pay attention to the City of Angels." The human race from Skyline Continent also had treasures? John was surprised, recalling Ada and her Undying Legion, who were all native beings of Skyline Continent. It seemed that the races able to survive in the world of Gods were not simple. The fact that the gods wouldn''t detect the power in the City of Angels put him at ease. As long as he didn''t descend into the world of Gods before breaking the seal of The Temple, he would be safe. Once he broke the seal, the path to bing a deity would open, and strong figures from other races, including the demon race and Beast n, would emerge. At that point, the gods would have no time to focus on him. "Oh, and Master, there''s one more thing," Elsa continued. "The God of Light just assigned me a task, asking me to send someone to find and capture the demon race princess, saying she is a yer." She thought it was necessary to inform John about this. "What?" he eximed, realizing that the little princess of the demon race was, of course, Sini. But how did the gods know? Sini''s identity had only just been confirmed, and only he, Tony, Ben, and Demon King Shadowme knew about it. There was no way it could have spread so quickly. "There''s a traitor!" he spected, believing someone had intentionally leaked this information to the gods. Tony and Ben were powerful figures of the Beast n, and they were sworn enemies of the gods; they couldn''t possibly betray the Beast n. The only other suspect was Shadowme. But that guy had sworn loyalty to him and wouldn''t betray him either. Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Shadow Cloak, Return to the City of Angels Chapter 183: Shadow Cloak, Return to the City of Angels ? John suspected that this incident was still rted to Shadowme. Perhaps that guy had identally let something slip, and there was indeed a traitor within the demon race. Using Sword Flight, John quickly arrived at the cliff where a few people were in seclusion. Sensing his arrival, the cliff opened up, and Sini flew out immediately. "John, have you dealt with the Azure Family issue?" she asked curiously. Knowing the Azure Family''s power made her somewhat worried. "I ran into some trouble, but don''t worry," John nodded, looking at her. "I need to find Shadowme; can you call him over?" "Sure." Sini didn''t ask further questions. She took out themunication stone Shadowme had given her and contacted him right away. Most demon race members above the seventh level could open the Abyss passage, but they didn''t dare to enter carelessly and couldn''tpletely control the Abyss. Soon, Shadowme appeared, apanied by another powerful figure. A fellow eighth-level Demon King. "Princess!" Shadowme bowed, and the Demon King behind him also bowed deeply, casting curious nces at Sini. "Who is this guy?" John asked coldly, staring at him. Shadowme nced at John, resigned, and no longer sought to lift his oath of loyalty. He said, "Sir, this is another powerful member of our demon race, Demon King Yate." Yate looked at John and smiled, nodding in greeting. It was the first time John had encountered such a polite demon race member; he was already certain that this guy was a traitor. He turned to Shadowme and asked, "How many people have you revealed the identity of the demon race princess to?" Shadowme was puzzled and replied, "The princess''s identity is a secret. I haven''t disclosed it; only we few know." "Is that so?" John sneered, pointing at Yate and saying coldly, "Elders, restrain this guy!" Tony and Ben exchanged nces, but they acted without hesitation. Yate, being only an eighth-level Demon King, stood no chance against the ninth-level powerhouse and was easily subdued.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om John frowned, having sensed a faint fluctuation of thews of darkness from Yate. It seemed this guy also wielded the power of darkness. "Let go of me, you bastards! What do you want?" Yate shouted angrily, ring at John. Shadowme frowned and quickly said, "Sir, Yate is one of us." "One of us?" John scoffed, replying, "This guy has already betrayed the demon race and allied himself with the gods." "W-What?" Shadowme was taken aback, looking between John and Yate, uncertain whom to believe. Yate''s eyes flickered with a hint of panic but quickly returned to calm as he angrily retorted, "You''re ndering me!" He then turned to Shadowme, anxious, saying, "Sir, this guy is human. The princess has already been seduced by him. You can''t let him manipte you any longer. He wants to kill me and weaken the demon race!" "Uh..." Shadowme was momentarily at a loss. He preferred to believe Yate, but having already sworn loyalty to John, he didn''t know what to do. "Stubborn as ever," John said disdainfully, coldly adding, "I have my people on the gods'' side. The moment you leaked the princess''s identity to them, I already knew." "Impossible! You''re just a human; how could you subdue a god!" Yate eximed in disbelief, but immediately regretted saying it. "Idiot!" John was at a loss for how to pressure this guy when Yate inadvertently revealed everything. "Yate, you''ve actually betrayed the demon race and allied with the gods!" Shadowme reacted, his anger ring, wishing he could kill Yate right then and there. Now that his identity was exposed, Yate became calm. "Betray? Shadowme, you''re the real traitor for siding with humans. And this weak little princess is also human. Do you really think she can save the demon race? Aligning with the gods is the only way to survive!" "Looking for death!" Shadowme was furious, condensing the power of darkness into a sharp sword that shot toward Yate. "You want to kill me? Dream on!" Yate shouted angrily, suddenly unleashing a powerful aura that knocked Tony and Ben back. This guy was indeed hiding his strength! His appearance changed slightly, a ck armor forming around him, and a pair of ck wings sprouting from his back, with his eyes glowing crimson. "A demon race treasure!" Tony eximed in shock. This guy had actually refined a demon race treasure, making him as strong as a ninth-level powerhouse. Buzz! Spatial power rippled as Yate effortlessly tore open the Abyss passage. But he didn''t flee; instead, he took out amunication stone and shouted, "Lord Wyrm, the demon race princess and that Godyer are here!" He was transmitting information to the gods. "Stop him! Godyer, close the spatial passage!" Tony''s expression changed as he attacked Yate without holding back. John understood what was happening and directly closed the Abyss. "You actually refined the Abyss!" Yate was surprised but didn''t panic too much. Facing the assault from Tony, Ben, and Shadowme, he still maneuvered with ease, asionally opening new spatial passages. "Elders, can you handle this? You can''t even deal with an eighth-level Demon King?" John was furious; this guy kept opening spatial passages, making it unbearable for him. Tony fumed, "Why don''t you take a turn?" Although Yate was only an eighth-level powerhouse, he had refined a demon race treasure and merged some of its attributes, making him stronger than his level suggested. Even with Tony''s mastery of the power of darkness, he couldn''t subdue Yate just yet. "Leave it to me!" John raised his hand, and a rope flew out, ensnaring Yate before he could react, causing him to fall to the ground. The Divine Binding Rope''s effect sealed all his powers. "Kid, what kind of artifact is this?" Tony asked, looking at the Divine Binding Rope with surprise and curiosity. "High-grade artifact. Let''s deal with this guy first, and save the finishing blow for me!" John instructed the two. Yate was a legendary eighth-level warrior, so he definitely had some valuable items. "Bastards, the gods won''t let you get away with this! Shadowme, you will regret your decision today!" Yate shouted angrily. The group wasted no time talking andunched powerful attacks. Before long, Yate was left with less than six hundred thousand health points. Buzz! The sword resonated, and John wielded the Sword of Divinity and Demons, unleashing his ultimate skill, Wrath of the Gods. A terrifying sword beam shot out, aimed directly at the bound Yate, who was utterly defenseless. Boom! A thunderous explosion rang out as the sword intent surged, and a damage number flickered into view. -736100 Over seven hundred thousand true damage instantly depleted Yate''s health, killing him in a heartbeat. [You have killed a level 5000 Legendary Demon King, gaining 56,320,000 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, skill points +100, Dark Element Affinity +20.] The prompt shed; since Yate hadprehended the power of darkness, John directly plundered 20 points of Dark Element Affinity. In addition, several items dropped, including a demon race treasure, amunication stone, a ck cloak, and arge quantity of enhancement stones and skill stones. "A cloak?" John was curious; it was the first time he had seen a cloak-type equipment. [Shadow Cloak: Low-grade artifact] [Equipment Requirements: Demon race andprehension ofws of darkness.] [Agility +1000, Attack Speed +10, Luck +1] [Additional Attribute: Comprehension ofws of darkness +10%] [Additional Skill: Ethereal Body] [Ethereal Body: Passive skill, increases dodge rate by 10%.] "Impressive!" John eximed, amazed that the cloak came with a passive skill that increased dodge rate by 10%. The only downside was that he couldn''t use it; it required being of the demon race and comprehension of the power ofws. This cloak was practically tailor-made for Sini. "Sini, it''s yours!" John tossed it to her directly. "Thank you, Master!" Sini eximed, delighted as she looked at the cloak''s attributes. She couldn''t wait to don it, wrapping it around herself, which entuated her elegance and added an air of mystery. John found himself entranced by the sight. Just then, themunication stone emitted a voice: "Yate, I''ve arrived. Quickly open the Abyss!" This guy seemed to be the god Yate had allied with, a powerful lower-tier god named Wild Dragon. The group fell silent. John picked up themunication stone and replied coolly, "So, Wild Dragon? You''re not wee here." There was a long pause before the stone crackled to life again: "Are you the Godyer?" "That''s right. I think we''ll meet soon, and that will be your end!" John retorted. "Ha ha..." A scornfulugh echoed back. "Kid, I''ll be waiting for you." Bang! Themunication stone suddenly shattered, startling John. Shadowme sighed in relief, ncing at Sini with a look of guilt. "Princess, it was my oversight. I didn''t expect a traitor would appear among us." Sini shook her head, about to speak, but John interrupted, "Can the demon race be trusted? They''re not all traitors, are they?" Shadowme quickly replied, "No, this is just an isted incident. The demon race still has its honor." John scoffed, saying, "Members of the demon race must swear loyalty, either to me or to Sini, or they''ll be eliminated." Shadowme nodded in agreement and said, "I can swear loyalty to the princess, but not to you." John dismissed him; he had little respect for these beings. Turning to Sini, he warned, "Sini, the gods have their sights on you. Stay in the Abyss and don''t venture out. I''ll raise my level to seventh soon." Once the Temple seal is broken, the gods would personally intervene, increasing the danger but also presenting more opportunities-perhaps even a chance to be a god or surpass them. John opened the Abyss passage, leaving the Abyss behind and swiftly entering the City of Angels before the gods could notice. Ssh! Hended back in the Rebirth Pool of the City of Angels, nearly choking on the water. "Hey, little brother, when did you leave?" The four-winged angel, Amy, noticed John and immediately approached with enthusiasm. John smiled and replied, "Lady Elsa entrusted me with some tasks; she was the one who sent me away." Chapter 184: Chapter 184: The Law of Light, The God of Light Descends Chapter 184: The Law of Light, The God of Light Descends ? "It turns out to be you, my lord!" Amy eximed, her eyes wide with envy. Being recognized by Elsa so early showed just how high John''s talents must be. John didn''t want to linger, quickly saying, "I''m in a hurry to report back to Lady Elsa, so I''ll take my leave now." With that, he hurried away. As he left, Amy couldn''t help but sigh, "If only I could win him over..." He navigated the familiar path and soon arrived at the grand hall without any obstruction. Clearly, Elsa had given prior notice. The doors slowly opened, and John stepped inside before they closed behind him. "Master!" Elsa greeted him with enthusiasm, leaping into his arms and wrapping herself around him. "Alright, let''s get down to business." Unable to resist her charms, John yfully pinched her shapely backside. Elsa blushed and reluctantly let go, saying, "Master, I''ve looked into it. The Azure Family isn''t in the City of Angels." John frowned slightly; it seemed the Azure Family had directly allied with the gods and had nothing to do with the Angel Race. Eliminating the Azure Family would be moreplicated than he thought. Elsa continued, "I''ve dealt with that Kent without anyone knowing. I''ve set everything up for the Secret Area, but I need you to help my people break the Divine Path Technique they''re under." "No problem." John nodded, agreeing to the n. "Let''s head to the Secret Area!" He was eager to increase his power and break the Temple''s seal. ... Buzz! A wave of spatial power rippled as Elsa led John into the Secret Area. "My lord!" There were over a hundred angels here, all bowing respectfully. These were Elsa''s loyal followers, mostly eight-tier four-winged angels, with more than thirty nine-tier six-winged angels among them. Elsa nodded and said, "First, let''s your Divine Path Technique." The angels lined up, casting curious nces at John but asking no questions. This operation was aimed at eliminating the God of Light''s faction within the Angel Race. To prevent any mishaps, Elsa decided to remove the Divine Path Technique first to avoid being controlled by the God of Light. John''s mastery of the Divine Path Technique and his Divinity levels far surpassed those of these angels, allowing him to easily their Divine Path Technique. Soon, the Divine Path Technique was lifted from all 177 angels, and relief washed over their faces as they finally freed themselves from the God of Light''s influence.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om As for himself, having refined the Immortals'' treasure, the God of Light couldn''t control him through the Divine Path Technique. Elsa turned to John and said, "Master, we can''t act directly. If you encounter anyone you can''t handle, we will intervene. Remember to use soul attacks to eliminate thempletely." "Don''t worry, I know what to do." John nodded. With the high-grade artifact Divine Binding Rope, he could easily take down even a nine-tier six-winged angel. Elsa announced the emergence of a powerful artifact, and many angels entered the Secret Area to explore. Besides the hundred or so angels by her side, John could easily take down the rest. Before long, John encountered a small team of angels-four in total-all eight-tier four- winged angels, strong and formidable. Buzz! The air vibrated as heunched a soul attack, instantly annihting two of the angels. [Killed a legendary four-winged angel, gained 563 million experience points] [Plunder talent activated, Divinity +2, Luck +1, Light Elemental Affinity +1] ... Light Elemental Affinity? The notification shed, and John was pleasantly surprised. His soul attackpletely obliterated the angels, and in addition to Plunder Divinity and Luck attributes, he had also gained 1 point of Light Elemental Affinity. Did this mean he had the potential toprehend the Law of Light? John was filled with anticipation. Compared to hunting six-tier epic Abyss demons in the Abyss, there were far more angels here. Moreover, all of them were above seven-tier legendary beings. Not only that, but with the tenfold experience boost, he had earned over five hundred million experience points. "What are you?" came a furious shout. Although the two four-winged angels hadn''t been killed by the Soul Impact, they were heavily injured and red at John. These two had soul cultivation techniques, but they weren''t particrly strong. John couldn''t be bothered with conversation and unleashed Soul Impact once more. He didn''t even need to use the Divine Binding Rope against these two. They groaned, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths, their eyes losing their luster as they slowly fell to the ground, dropping a few items. Soul Impactpletely obliterated them, resulting in item drops. John gained a substantial amount of experience points again and Plundered 4 points of Divinity, 100 skill points, and 2 points of Light Elemental Affinity. "An artifact!" he eximed, captivated by the four pieces of equipment that had dropped, all of which were artifacts. With the Plunder talent increasing drop quality by +1, all seven-tier dual-winged and above angels were guaranteed to drop artifacts. John was thrilled; if all went well, he could amass arge collection of artifacts here. He quickly examined the drops, but none of the four artifacts suited him, so he stored them away and continued his hunt for angels. At this rate, he would reach seven-tier status in less than a month. ... John continued to roam the Secret Area, ying a significant number of monsters and angels along the way. A month had passed without him noticing. His Divinity had surpassed seven thousand points, and during this time, he had killed over two thousand angels, mostly eight-tier four-winged angels, along with quite a few nine-tier six-winged angels. Of course, the most significant gain was hisprehension of the Law of Light, which had reached an astonishing 20%, surpassing that of the Law of Darkness. Comprehending the Law of Light rendered him immune to light magic damage, and his light damage increased by 100%, giving his power a significant boost. In addition, he plundered two light-rted skills: Light Sword sh and Holy Light Exorcism Bolt, both upgraded to advanced magic skills. At this point, his level had risen to 999, with a required experience of 50.4 billion to level up. He needed just 1.13 billion more experience points to reach level 1000 and trigger the seventh ss advancement quest. As he continued to roam the Secret Area, he found fewer and fewer angels; nearly all of them had been wiped out by him. Reluctantly, he turned to hunting monsters to gain experience. However, this method was much less efficient. Whoosh... Suddenly, a figure shot toward him-it was a nine-tier six-winged angel, exuding an aura that rivaled Elsa''s. John''s eyes lit up as he recognized her; she must be Hannah. Hannah was one of the strongest angels directly under the God of Light, also at nine-tier, and hadprehended the Law of Light, making her second only to Elsa-her level had yet to reach 1000. If he could take her down, he would surpass level 1000 and meet the conditions for ss advancement. "Human!" Hannah red at John with a cold expression, then her eyes widened in realization. "You''re the Godyer! How did you enter the Secret Area?" "You don''t need to know," John replied dismissively, activating the Divine Binding Rope and channeling all 13 points of spirit power from the Spirit Stone. "Divine Binding Rope!" Hannah''s expression changed slightly as Holy Light flickered around her, allowing her to swiftly evade the rope''s grasp. Her eyes locked onto John, seething, "Where did you get Elsa''s artifact?" John didn''t respond, focusing intently as this was the first time the Divine Binding Rope had failed. He continued to manipte it to attack. "Hmph, useless!" Hannah scoffed, summoning two light swords that glimmered fiercely, effortlessly repelling the ropes before charging at John. Whoosh! Just then, another sh of Holy Light appeared-Elsa had arrived. "Master, this one is powerful. I''ll handle her," she said, raising her hand. The Divine Binding Rope grew longer, wrapping around Hannah like a celestial river. "Elsa!" Hannah''s expression shifted, ring at her. "You dare betray the God of Light and side with this human!" Ignoring Hannah, Elsa turned to John and said urgently, "This one seems to possess an artifact as well. I can''t control her for long!" "Leave it to me!" John dered, activating Soul Impact. Buzz! The air trembled slightly as a wave of powerful soul energy surged into Hannah''s mind. Boom! Suddenly, a loud rumble echoed deep within John''s soul, causing his head to spin and blood to pour from his orifices. It was a soul bacsh! "Master!" Elsa eximed, startled, as she rushed to support him. "I''m fine!" John managed to say, swallowing a mouthful of blood as he shook his still-dizzy head. Luckily, the Jade Heart Lotus was protecting him; otherwise, he would surely have been doomed. Elsa sighed in relief but turned her gaze to Hannah, her brow furrowed in confusion. "That''s impossible. I haven''t heard of this one having any soul cultivation methods." "No!" John shook his head, realizing something crucial. "There''s another powerful soul force within her. That''s what injured me." "Wait!" He suddenly snapped to attention, looking at Elsa and the others. "It''s the God of Light. Don''t resist!" With that, he intended to pull Elsa and the others into the Death Land. Buzz! Spatial power trembled, but they remained rooted in ce. "Haha! Now you want to leave? It''s toote!" Hannahughed maniacally, breaking free from the Divine Binding Rope. She looked to the skies and shouted, "God of Light, Elsa has betrayed you!" Thunder rumbled... Dark clouds swirled, and an immense pressure enveloped the entire Secret Area. John''s expression turned to one of horror as he felt immobilized; this presence was stronger than any divine avatar he had encountered before! He was filled with frustration-he was so close to reaching level 1000. If he had known, he would have escaped sooner. Whoosh... The clouds churned, lightning shed, and an angelic figure appeared, boasting a staggering twelve pairs of wings! The God of Light, a mid-tier god! "The Immortals!" The figure sensed the Immortal aura emanating from John, a flicker of fear crossing its eyes before being reced by overwhelming fury. "That''s impossible, human! Die!" it roared in rage, summoning Holy Light apanied by a powerful soul attack that rushed toward John. But John no longer bore the initial terror; the Sword of Divinity and Demons and the Three- Foot ck Dragon Sword floated up, positioning themselves before him. He wasn''t controlling them. He looked up, bewildered, as the familiar figure of a woman in green reappeared before him! Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Meet again with the Woman; Ascending to the Seventh Tier Chapter 185: Meet again with the Woman; Ascending to the Seventh Tier ? The ethereal blue silk dress danced in the wind, floating gracefully like a celestial being from the heavens. Buzz! At that moment, a powerful sword intent erupted with a booming sound, blocking the attack of the Holy Light. John looked up, noticing that the figure of the woman in blue was bing increasingly blurry, seemingly struggling against the avatar of the God of Light. "Thank you, senior, foring to my rescue!" As the restraining power faded, he regained his mobility and quickly expressed his gratitude to the blue-d woman. "It''s impossible; you have fallen, your Divine Soul has perished, and you shouldn''t exist!" The God of Light stared at the blue woman, his expression filled with disbelief and fear. "Are you Darabont?" A light and airy voice emerged from the woman, marking her first spoken words. Previously, theirmunication had only been through soul transmission. The God of Light frowned, realizing that Darabont was a title from before he ascended to godhood; this blue-d woman should not recognize him. "You... you''re from the past!" He suddenly grasped something, eximing in shock as he fixed his gaze on the blue woman. She remained unresponsive, her Sword of Divinity and Demons and Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword floating in front of her, her features obscured, yet an overwhelming battle intent emanated from her. "Run!" At that moment, John heard her voice resonating in his mind. He reacted quickly, realizing that the blue woman''s phantom might not be able to contend with the God of Light''s avatar. "Elsa, don''t resist!" He turned to the nearby Angel Race, urging them, and mentallymunicated with the Death Land, directly pulling Elsa and the other angels inside. "Trying to escape!" The God of Light realized what was happening and roared angrily as he lunged at John. At the same time, the blue woman moved as well, unleashing boundless sword intent that transformed into countless sword lights, enveloping the God of Light. The atmosphere shifted ominously, as overwhelming energy surged. John dared not linger and quickly left the City of Angels. The two sword lights-Sword of Divinity and Demons and Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword- followed him as he fled. As the spatial rift closed, he faintly saw the blue woman''s phantom dissipate, seemingly unable to withstand the God of Light''s avatar. John had no time to ponder these thoughts; he had already exited the City of Angels and arrived in the world of Gods. He thenmunicated with the Death Land, directly entering it. Boom! Suddenly, a loud explosion erupted nearby, apanied by the sounds of fiercebat. "I don''t want to hurt you; don''t bring humiliation upon yourselves!" Elsa''s voice reached him as she effortlessly fended off the attacks from Sara and several other eighth-tier powerhouses. The Tree of Life swayed, and Jean, controlling it, joined the fray, but they still proved no match for their opponents. "Stop!" John quickly intervened to halt the confrontation. Sara stood in front of him, warily watching Elsa. She said, "Husband, these angels have suddenly invaded the Death Land. We can''t handle them; you need to summon Lords Tony and Ben quickly." "Husband?" Elsa''s gaze turned icy as a sh of light appeared, and Sara received a hard p across her face. "Who are you to call him that? Show respect to your master!" Elsa said coldly. "Ma-master?" Sara touched her stinging cheek, looking at John with surprise. "Elsa, that''s too much!" he said, feeling some anger. Sara was also his woman; he wouldn''t allow anyone to bully her. "Hmph!" Elsa huffed, her eyes filled with warnings and threats as she red at Sara. "Husband, you... you tamed her?" Sara gulped, looking at John in astonishment. She recognized Elsa. The most powerful being beneath the gods; even Tony and Ben were no match for her, yet she had been subdued by John. It was hard for her to ept. John nodded without further exnation and looked at the women, warning them, "We''re all on the same side now. No more chaos. I have things to attend to; you can get to know each other." After giving the reminder, he opened the portal to the Abyss and stepped inside. He had refined The Immortals'' treasure and was unsure if the gods could sense their avatar''s presence in the Death Land. To be safe, he decided to enter the Abyss to level up to the seventh tier as quickly as possible. "Master, wait for me!" Elsa called out, quickly following him into the Abyss. Only about a hundred angels remained in the Death Land, looking at Sara and the others with suspicion. Fortunately, no one continued fighting. ... Darkness enveloped them. Elsa furrowed her brow, feeling ufortable in this ce, as even her light-based powers were somewhat suppressed. "Master, is this the Abyss?" she asked curiously, surveying her surroundings. John nodded. Whoosh! Suddenly, three figures shot toward them from a distance; it was Sini and herpanions. "Elsa!" Tony eximed,unching an attack alongside Ben. A towering wave surged, with hints of ck light swirling; he unleashed his strongest attack right away. "Hmph, the old fool has actuallyprehended the darkws!" Elsa said disdainfully, waving her arm as a light shield formed, blocking the overwhelming wave. Two beams of Holy Light descended, striking Ben and Tony. Boom! Boom! With two loud explosions, both men were caught off guard, spewing blood as they were sent flying. John was taken aback; it was the first time he had seen Elsa in action, and he hadn''t expected her to be this powerful. "Kid, you''ve really gotten yourself into trouble with the wrong people!" Tony shouted in anger. "This guy doesn''t have the darkws. Quick, open the portal! We need to escape and leave her trapped in the Abyss!" "Old fool, how cruel you are!" Elsa''s gaze turned icy. If she hadn''t known this was John''s group, she would have already struck him down. John finally spoke up, "Elder brothers, Elsa is one of us now." "One of us?" Tony and Ben exchanged nces, looking at John with confusion and disbelief. "Sister, are you an angel? You''re so beautiful!" At that moment, Sini approached and took Elsa''s hand, curiously touching her wings. Elsa instinctively felt a bit resistant but, noticing John''s warning gaze, quickly snapped to her senses and smiled, saying, "No, it''s you who''s prettier!" "Looks like the master has hit the jackpot," Sini giggled, pulling Elsa away as the two began to whisper to each other. "Kid, you really tamed Elsa?" Tony asked John, still unable to believe it. John nodded but didn''t borate further. "Where can I find a gathering of ninth-tier Abyss demons? I need to level up." He had already refined The Immortals'' treasure, and with the gods now watching him, he needed to reach the seventh tier as soon as possible to help Sini obtain the Demon Gods'' legacy and break the Temple''s seal. "Follow me." Tony gave him a deep look and led him deeper into the Abyss, to a canyon. In the canyon, powerful Abyss demons were scattered about, but they were all regr ninth- tier beasts. Most of the boss-level threats had been eliminated by Tony and Ben. "Do you need our help?" Ben asked John. "No, I can handle it," he replied, shaking his head. Surrounding himself with flickering Holy Light, he cast the Holy Light Exorcism Spell. Boom! Boom! Holy Light shone brightly as John harnessed the power of light, enhancing his magic attacks by 100% and adding 20% true magical damage. These ninth-tier ordinary beasts were no match for him and were instantly annihted. [You have in a 5000-level ninth-tier Abyss demon, earning 1.76 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, Spirit +1.] ... The notifications continued to pour in. Without the tenfold experience boost, John could only gain just over a million experience points from ying the ninth-tier Abyss demons. Fortunately, there were plenty of Abyss demons around. If all went well, he would reach leveln/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 1000 in two days and trigger his seventh career advancement quest. The two men watched in stunned silence. "Lightws? What kind of freak is this kid?" Tony looked at Ben and couldn''t help but ask, "Is the savior you prophesied really this powerful?" "Uh..." Ben fell silent, equally unable to ept it. "I''m going to go into seclusion," Tony said, feeling defeated, and turned to leave. Ben followed suit. ... After wandering in the Abyss for two days, John finally leveled up to 1000, triggering his career advancement quest. [You have reached level 1000, unlocking your career advancement quest. You may continue to level up after the advancement.] [Wrath of the Gods Mage seventh advancement quest: y 50 legendary bosses of level 7 or higher.] [Nightmare Assassin seventh advancement quest: y 50 legendary bosses of level 7 or higher.] [Sword Immortal seventh advancement quest: y 50 legendary bosses of level 7 or higher.] ying legendary beings of level 7 or higher was easy for John; the only challenge was finding 50 legendary Abyss demons of that caliber. He continued to roam the Abyss, searching for legendary-tier Abyss demons. [Sessfully killed 80 legendary bosses of level 8 or higher. Wrath of the Gods talent upgraded; skill consumption reduced by 80%.] [Next level upgrade condition: y 90 legendary bosses of level 9 or higher.] ... Notification messages shed. To John''s surprise, his Wrath of the Gods talent had leveled up again, reducing skill consumption by 80%! Previously, in the Secret Area of the City of Angels, he had already killed arge number of level 8 legendary four-winged angels. The next level required him to y 90 legendary bosses of level 9 or higher, which wouldn''t be a problem for him; the only difficulty was finding the ninth-tier legendary bosses. John decided not to dwell on this and continued searching for legendary Abyss demons of level 7 or higher. After another week of wandering in the Abyss, he finally killed enough legendary Abyss demons toplete his career advancement. His power received a slight boost again, but more importantly, after reaching level 7, he could increase the levels of his advanced career skills. During these days, he had umted over seventy thousand skill points by using skill stones and the Plunder skill from ying beasts. He wasn''t nning to upgrade his cultivation level just yet; he wanted to use everything to enhance his skills. Each level increase for advanced skills required 1,000 skill points, and John had mastered over twenty skills, which was enough to max them all out. Moreover, he possessed the SSS-grade Blessing of the Archmage talent, and he wondered if he couldprehend an ultimate magical skill upon reaching level 7. Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Skill Enhancement, Dark Sea Chapter 186: Skill Enhancement, Dark Sea ? The ultimate magical skill could only be mastered by those who reached level ten, meaning they must be demigod-level beings. Moreover, the ultimate magical skill couldn''t be learned directly; it could only be comprehended after fully upgrading an advanced skill to level 10. John felt anticipation as he upgraded his major career skills. [You have consumed 1,000 skill points. Inferno Dance has been upgraded to advanced level 10, reaching the current career maximum level. The Blessing of the Archmage talent is triggered, breaking the level limit.] [Inferno Dance: Level 11, advanced magical skill, breaking the level limit. It inflicts mental *950% fire magic damage to the target and can attack multiple times. It costs 50,000 mana or 5 spirit points; cooldown is 30 seconds.] The notification shed. John had upgraded Inferno Dance to the maximum advanced level but hadn''tprehended an ultimate skill. Instead, he had broken the level limit, increasing the damage bonus to 950% of his mental attribute. The maximum bonus for advanced magic was 900%, and breaking the level limit only added 50%. Nheless, this was still impressive for John; his skill damage had effectively doubled. It seemed that due to the conversion of some of his mana into spirit, he could also use spirit points to cast his skills. He didn''t dwell on this further and continued spending skill points to upgrade other skills. [Wind de: Level 11, advanced magic, breaking the level limit. It inflicts mental *950% wind magic damage to the target, costing 50,000 mana or 5 spirit points; cooldown is 30 seconds.] ... [Hellfire: Level 11, advanced magic, breaking the level limit. It inflicts mental *630% fire magic damage to targets in an area, causing continuous burn damage. It costs 100,000 mana or 10 spirit points; cooldown is 100 seconds.] [Sword Control: Level 11, advanced skill, breaking the level limit, increases Sword Immortal skill damage by 41%...] John had sessfully upgraded all his skills to advanced level 11, resulting in a significant increase in damage. The only regret was that he hadn''tprehended an ultimate magical skill. However, for him, the damage output of an advanced level 11 skill was quiteparable to that of an ultimate skill. An ultimate skill at level 1 had a damage bonus of 1,000%, while an advanced level 11 skill had a bonus of 950%. The difference was just 50%. With over 40,000 skill points remaining, John decided to spend them all to enhance his Soul Technique level. Now, his strength made him unafraid of level 9 legendary beings, but the only weakness he had was his Soul Technique. ... [You have consumed 1,000 skill points. Soul Technique has been upgraded to level 1,800; Soul Technique +1.] John spent over 40,000 skill points but only increased his Soul Technique by 45 points. Once the Soul Technique reached level 1,000, the cost to enhance it became astronomical. It was time to explore the Dark Sea, the Secret Area. The Dark Sea was a level 7 Secret Area, and he had now reached level 7. Entering the Dark Sea to help Sini obtain the Demon Gods'' legacy and break the Temple''s seal was his objective. John returned to the cliff where the others were in seclusion, focusing on their training. At that moment, Sini wasn''t training; she was chatting with Elsa, theirughter ringing out. It seemed she had a certain charm, as she got along well with the other women around John. "Hey, Master, you''ve reached level seven?" Elsa noticed John''s arrival and hurried over to greet him. Sini''s eyes lit up as she chimed in, "Does this mean we can explore the Dark Sea Secret Area now?" John nodded. "The Dark Sea of the demon race? Master, I want to go too!" Elsa said eagerly. "Alright," John replied without hesitation. The Dark Sea was a level 7 Secret Area that might contain legendary beings above level 8. Although he wasn''t afraid, Sini''s strength wasn''t particrly strong, so having Elsa''s protection eased his mind. Tony and Ben were in seclusion, focusing on their training, and hadn''t shown up. Without notifying them, John directly tore open a spatial rift and left the Abyss. The Dark Sea Secret Area was also a permanent Secret Area with no fixed entrance; as long as one had a Secret Area scroll, they could enter anytime, anywhere. The three appeared in the World of Gods. John didn''t dare waste any time; he and the two women had refined treasures from different races. He possessed the Immortals'' treasure, Sini had the demon race''s treasure, and Elsa had the gods'' treasure. The moment they appeared in the World of Gods, a powerful aura stirred, catching the attention of the divine beings. John quickly used the Secret Area scroll to open a spatial passage. Before the divine beings'' avatars could descend, the three of them hurried through the passage. Buzz... The fluctuations of spatial power subsided as they emerged in an unknown area, floating in mid-air above a vast ck ocean. The dark energy here was even denser than in the Abyss. Elsa frowned, clearly ufortable in this environment. "Sini, do you sense anything?" John asked her. She concentrated for a moment, shrugged helplessly, and replied, "No. Other than the stronger dark energy, there''s nothing special here." "Master, could it be underwater?" Elsa suggested, pointing at the ocean below. "That''s possible," John nodded. The three of them then held their breath and dove into the water. Ssh! With a flurry of water, their powerful abilities allowed them to hold their breath for one or two hours without any issue. Underwater, it was pitch ck, and the dark energy was even more intense. Sini waved to the others, pointing into the distance where something seemed to attract her. The two understood and quickly followed her, swimming through the water. Whoosh... At that moment, the water rippled, revealing a group of dark sea monsters armed with harpoons. All of them were above level 1000, seven-tiered magical beasts. Buzz! Holy Light flickered beside John as Elsaunched her attack, effortlessly dispatching the sea monsters. They continued forward, swiftly navigating underwater. asionally, sea monsters would try to harass them, but none posed a threat. In the distance, there was a faint glimmer reflecting from the ocean floor. Sini picked up her speed and swam toward the light. It was a vast city, surrounded by densely packed sea monsters, blocking their path. John and Elsa attacked simultaneously, their powerful Holy Light magic illuminating the way, easily carving out a bloody path into the city. "Wow, there''s no seawater here!" Sini eximed, breathing freely. Among the three, she was the weakest; without the protection of the other two, she wouldn''t have made it this far. John surveyed the city, puzzled. "Sini, is this what was attracting you?" Sini nodded. "It should be deeper inside." The group pressed further into the city. New magical beasts appeared: undead skeletal warriors. The undead had once been minions of the demon race. These creatures posed no threat to John and hispanions, and they soon reached the heart of the city. "Humans! Angel Race?" Suddenly, a voice echoed, strong and powerful-a level nine demon lord! "You are not wee here; leave at once!" He red at Elsa, wary and unwilling to act rashly. He could sense Elsa''s strength and knew he was no match for her. "How dare you! I am a princess of the demon race!" Sini stepped forward, her tone icy, exuding an aura of authority. "A princess of the demon race?" The demon lord was taken aback, and upon sensing her aura, he quickly knelt down, his expression respectful. "Your Highness, you have finally returned!" Sini nodded, speaking coolly. "Let us in." "Your Highness, you may enter, but what about them..." The demon lord raised his head, casting a suspicious nce at John and Elsa. Sini responded, "They are with me; they are our allies." "Our allies?" He looked doubtful. John was one thing-a human siding with the demon race wasn''t too surprising. However, Elsa was an angel, a subordinate of the gods, and the rtionship between the angel race and the demon race was nearly one of eternal conflict.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Moreover, he could sense that her strength far exceeded his own. A being of such power was likely among the top ranks of the Angel Race-how could she possibly ally with the demon race? Seeing that he still wouldn''t move, Sini grew impatient. "Do you think you''re their match? If you don''t want to die, get out of the way." He swallowed hard, too intimidated to say more, and quickly stepped aside, allowing them to pass. John entered first, crossing through the city where there was still no seawater seeping in. The dark energy here was even more intense, mixed with a hint of darkw. "Dark Sea!" A pool of water ahead caught his attention. The massive dark energy was emanating from this pool. Sini was also drawn to it. "John, this pool is what''s attracting me. I feel it canpletely merge with the demon race treasures I''ve refined." John nodded. "Go ahead; we''ll guard you here." "Alright!" Sini jumped directly into the pool. Curious, John approached to examine the pool''s properties. [Dark Sea: demon race treasure, contains powerful darkw, direct consumption increases Dark Element Affinity by 10 points and enhances understanding ofws of darkness by 10%.] It was indeed the Dark Sea. John could feel that this Dark Sea was even more powerful than the vein of the Earth. He recalled that the dark elves of the elves'' lineage were born from the Tree of Life absorbing the energy of the Dark Sea. He wondered if he could incorporate the Dark Sea into Death Land. This wild thought crossed his mind. But he quickly abandoned it. He sensed two powerful auras within the Dark Sea pool. They belonged to two demon gods, Michelle and Kamal, who were also Sini''s parents. These two had perished and nowy dormant at the bottom of the Dark Sea. ording to Tony, there was a good chance they could be resurrected again. They just needed an opportunity. John was uncertain whether these two would be friends or foes, so he didn''t dare take the risk. Although he couldn''t incorporate them into Death Land, he could take some of the Dark Sea water. Bonnie and herpanions had been born this way. John pulled out several containers and began to collect arge quantity of Dark Sea water, enough to allow the Tree of Life to create another batch of elves. During this time, the Tree of Life had produced two additional batches of earth elves, significantly enhancing the strength of Death Land. Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Merging the Demon Race Treasures, Resurrection of the Demon Gods Chapter 187: Merging the Demon Race Treasures, Resurrection of the Demon Gods ? John recalled another treasure of the elves: the Elven Spring. The Elven Spring could nurture nature elves, and the Tree of Life sensed it deep within the Eternal Forest. John spected that there might be divine beings residing in the depths of the Eternal Forest. Even with his current strength, he didn''t dare to tread there lightly. Perhaps once the Temple''s seal was broken, he would discover the secrets hidden deep within the Eternal Forest. As the Dark Sea returned to calm, John confirmed that Sini was not in danger and finally rxed. He and Elsa waited quietly by the pool. The demon emperor had also appeared, watching John and Elsa warily from a distance, not daring to approach. ... John remained there for several days, but the pool showed no signs of activity, and Sini still hadn''t emerged. He couldn''t help but feel concerned. Finally, on the seventh day, the pool began to boil, and a massive aura permeated the air. Boom! The water surged, and a figure shot out. It was Sini, her ck hair flowing gracefully over her shoulders, her dark eyes deeper than ever, seeming to twinkle with starlight. d in ck armor, she sported a pair ofrge ck wings, emanating a powerful aura. "Demon Gods'' power!" The demon emperor was filled with excitement, kneeling on the ground with utmost respect. "Congrattions, Princess, on merging with the demon race treasures!" Sini nced at him, giving a slight nod. With a p of her wings, she instantly appeared in front of John, her face alight with joy. "John, I''ve merged the Demon Soul, Demon Eye, Demon Wing, and Demon Armor. My four basic attributes have increased by one hundred thousand points, and my Soul Technique has risen by ten thousand points." "One hundred thousand?" John was taken aback. "That''s such a huge increase?" Elsa chimed in, "Master, when you fully merge treasures, your basic attributes receive a significant boost. The most substantial increase, of course, is in Soul Technique." Sini nodded in agreement. John couldn''t help but think of the Immortals'' treasure he had refined. To fully merge it, he needed to convert all his magical energy into spiritual power. But that required a vast amount of spirit stones, which were rare-so rare that even Elsa didn''t know how to find them. "Master, let''s have another spar!" Sini said excitedly, tugging at his arm. "Are you sure?" John smiled at her. Her four basic attributes had increased by a hundred thousand points, a massive boost, but his attributes were even higher. Especially his strength and mental attributes, which had reached 180,000 and 210,000 points, respectively. His constitution attribute was over 90,000, while his agility was a bit weaker at just over 60,000 points. "Don''t worry, I''ll go easy on you!" Sini replied proudly, pping her wings and soaring into the air. Dark energy swirled around her, transforming into a giant ck serpent that lunged toward him. John remained calm, raising his hand as the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword flew out, splitting into three. Several sword lights shed, instantly shredding the ck serpent to pieces. The dark energy scattered in all directions, yet he remained unharmed. "How is that possible?" the demon emperor eximed. He could feel that the ck serpent was formed from darkws, carrying immense destructive power. He hadn''t expected this seemingly weak human to easily neutralize it. Sini furrowed her brow, her expression serious. That attack was merely a probe. A longbow appeared in her hands, its string vibrating intensely. In an instant, dozens of ck arrows shot forth, each infused with darkws. This was her strongest attack. John still remained unperturbed. Three cold lights intertwined rapidly, effortlessly deflecting the dozens of ck arrows before halting right in front of Sini. The three short swords pointed directly at her vital spots. "Sini, you''ve lost again!" John''s calm voice rang out. Throughout the exchange, he hadn''t moved from his spot. "Hmph, I''m done! You''re just bullying me!" Sini pouted, putting away her longbow and stomping her foot in frustration. After finally gaining such a significant power boost, she hadn''t expected to lose so miserably to John. Elsa walked over tofort her. "Sini, you''re still really strong. It''s just that Master is too monstrous. Once I teach you somebat techniques, you might be able to beat him." "Really?" Sini''s eyes brightened, hope reigniting within her. John smiled but said nothing. Combat experience was indeed her weakness, but with his Plunder talent, her improvement would surelye faster. "By the way," Sini suddenly remembered something and dropped the previous topic. "John, am I really the daughter of the Demon Gods?" "Princess, of course you are the daughter of the Demon Gods. Otherwise, how could you possess their power?" The demon emperor interjected before John could respond. Sini shot him a re and looked questioningly at John.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om She didn''t trust anyone but him. "It should be urate," he nodded. Various signs indicated that Sini was indeed the daughter of the Demon Gods. "Really?" Sini pouted, looking a bit unhappy. She continued, "John, I met two Demon Gods who im to be my parents. They want me to help them resurrect. Should I agree?" "Princess..." The demon emperor was about to speak, but her stern gaze silenced him. He swallowed hard, reluctantly stepping aside and refraining from interjecting. John was curious and asked, "Demon Gods Michelle and Kamal?" Sini nodded. He had heard Tony and Ben mention them before; these two Demon Gods were immensely powerful, especially Michelle, who was a mid-tier god on par with the God of Light. Kamal was slightly weaker but still a lower-tier god. If he could bring these two under his control, his power would increase significantly. John asked, "How can we resurrect them? Is it possible to subdue them?" Hearing this, the demon emperor''s eyes widened in anger, practically ready to confront John. A weak human daring to think he could subdue the Demon Gods was utterly reckless. However, Sini spoke up, "Resurrecting them is easy; The Tree of Life can do it. I''ve asked them, and they''re unwilling to submit. They only agreed to help you with three tasks." John''s eyes lit up; this was not an uneptable proposition. Moreover, if the Temple''s seal were broken and the gods descended, he would need protection. These two Demon Gods would be an excellent choice. As for how to subdue them, they could negotiate the termster. With Sini there, he believed the two wouldn''t dare act against him. He said, "Take me to see them." Sini nodded and led John into the Dark Sea. Elsa, curious, followed along. The water didn''t appear as dark as it seemed; instead, it was clear and bright, allowing a clear view of theke bottom. There stood a high tform, atop which rested a crystal coffin containing a man and a woman, both lying still and peaceful, devoid of any signs of life. These two must be the Demon Gods, Michelle and Kamal. John approached the crystal coffin, observing the two and ncing questioningly at Sini, unsure how tomunicate with them. "Human!" Suddenly, a deep male voice resonated in his mind. Startled, he looked at Michelle in the coffin, wondering silently, "Are you the one speaking?" The voice came again, this time with an unfriendly tone: "Yes, I''ve heard of you. The demon race has suffered quite a bit at your hands." John felt a bit embarrassed; he couldn''t be med for that-those demons were just too weak. Michelle continued, "We can overlook the past. If you agree to help us resurrect, we can assist you with three tasks." John replied, "Isn''t three tasks a bit too few?" "Kid, don''t get greedy!" A female voice rang out in his mind. turned to look at woman the coffin; it must be Kamal. John remained unfazed and thought to himself, "The Temple''s seal is about to open; I''m sure you''re eager for resurrection as well. Here''s the deal: agree to be my subordinates, and I''ll help you resurrect." Boom... Suddenly, a terrifying aura erupted from the coffin, nearly sending him flying. Kamal''s voice boomed, "Human, do you really think I can''t do anything about you?" John responded dismissively, "You should try getting out of that coffin first." "Bastard..." "Enough!" Michelle interrupted, her tone softening considerably. "Human, I''ll make you another promise: if you ever confront the gods, the demon race will assist you with all our power." "Fine, it''s a deal." John agreed readily, as his intention to subdue the two was also to fight against the gods. Since they had brought it up themselves, whether he needed to bribe them was no longer important. "Wait, we have one more condition," Kamal''s voice came again. "We can help you, but you must leave our daughter." "Sini? No way!" John replied, turning to leave decisively. Michelle became anxious. "Human, this matter isn''t urgent. We can discuss itter." "There''s no room for negotiation!" John suspected that Sini''s previous disappearance in his past life had something to do with the demon race''s meddling. Everything could be discussed, but this was his bottom line-he couldn''t agree to it. Michelle reluctantly relented. "Fine, we won''t obstruct you." "Just wait; I will help you with resurrection." John waved to the two women and left the water''s edge. Sini quickly asked, "So, did they agree?" She didn''t have much of a bond with Michelle and Kamal, but if they truly were her parents, she still wanted to do something for them. John nodded and reached out tomunicate with Death Land, opening a direct passage connecting Dark Sea to The Secret Area. In resurrecting the two, aside from their agreed terms, he certainly intended to collect some interest. This Dark Sea would be the interest! "What are you nning, human?" The demon emperor noticed John''s intentions and questioned him angrily. He replied nonchntly, "Resurrecting the Demon Gods; do you want to stop me?" "Jean!" He called out to the passageway to Death Land, "Control The Tree of Life and integrate Dark Sea into Death Land." "Okay, big brother!" Jean peeked out, nodding obediently. Then, she manipted The Tree of Life to devour the Dark Sea. Chapter 188: Chapter 188: The Temple Seal, Demigod Susan Chapter 188: The Temple Seal, Demigod Susan ? "John, you actually found the Dark Sea!" Bonnie''s figure appeared, looking at the Dark Sea before her with astonishment and delight. With the water from the Dark Sea, their dark elf n would experience a significant boost in strength. Not only that, but The Tree of Life could also nurture new elves. Meanwhile, the demon emperor watched this scene with growing anxiety. It was clear that this human intended to take advantage of resurrecting the two divine beings to monopolize the Dark Sea. He couldn''t defy Sini''s orders, and he wasn''t a match for John, so he could only watch helplessly. Whoosh! Soon, the Dark Sea fully merged with Death Land, and the passageway closed. With the life force of The Tree of Life nourishing them, along with the power of the Dark Sea, Michelle and Kamal would be resurrected in no time. Seeing that there were no more treasures here, John turned to Sini and asked, "Did you find a way to break the Temple seal?" She nodded and took out a jade stone, exining, "This contains the power of the Demon Gods, which is enough to easily shatter the Temple seal." "Great." John then looked at Elsa. She understood and said, "Master, take me to the Secret Area of the Death Worm''s Nest, and I will help you open the passage to the Temple." ... The three of them left the Dark Sea''s Secret Area and immediately entered the Secret Area of the Death Worm''s Nest. John had already explored this ce, and while there were still sixth-tier Red Armored Ants and Dark Spiders wandering around, they posed no threat to the three of them. "Master, this way." Elsa led the way, guiding them to the center of the Death Worm''s Nest, where four different areas converged. Light gathered around her, transforming into four beams that surged into the ground. Boom! The ground trembled as four stone pirs slowly rose. "Sini, can you help me? Use your power to activate the stone pirs," she instructed, gathering the power of Holy Light and channeling it into two of the pirs. Sini nodded and followed her lead, condensing her dark power and infusing it into the other two pirs. Buzz! The pirs glimmered, and the four streams of energy coalesced at the center, causing spatial fluctuations that opened a rift in space. This was the passage to the Temple. John frowned and looked at Elsa, questioning, "This rift in space seems like only a god or someone who has fully merged with a treasure could open it, right? Ordinary yers wouldn''t be able to activate it. Why are the gods so anxious?" "Master, there are other ways to open it." She pointed to the four grooves on the pirs and exined, "Using Spirit Stones can also activate it." Spirit Stones? John remembered that after defeating the four seventh-tier legendary bosses here, he had obtained four Spirit Stones, though their effects were unknown. It seemed those four Spirit Stones were meant to unblock the passage to the Temple. Who would have thought? "Let''s go." John no longer lingered on the question and stepped into the passage first. Buzz! A wave of spatial power surged. John found himself in an unknown area, surrounded by a vast expanse filled with swirling, mottled energies-wind, fire, water, earth, darkness, and light-all mingling together. It seemed there were powerful restrictions here; he could feel his own strength being suppressed, unable to fully unleash itself. "Is this the Temple?" Sini curiously surveyed the surroundings, noticing the destion- there were no grand halls or structures in sight. "Elsa! You actually made it in," a sudden furious shout echoed, and a terrifying aura enveloped them. A figure flew toward them rapidly-it was an angel. An eight-winged angel! A demigod powerhouse! "Susan!" Elsa recognized the angel, her expression shifting. "Impossible! Beings above the ninth tier cannot descend into the world of Gods. How did you get here?" "Hmph, aren''t you here too?" the angel named Susan replied coldly. Elsa realized, her disbelief palpable: "You... you actually recognize a human yer as your master!" While it was true that ninth-tier beings couldn''t typically enter the world of Gods, those confined in certain special spaces, like Tony and Ben, were exceptions. Moreover, like Elsa, who acknowledged John as her master, such beings could evade the constraints of the world of Gods. "Hmph! Do you think I would be as foolish as you?" Susan sneered disdainfully. "I may recognize a human as my master, but that guy is still under my father''s control. I am still free." With that, her gaze turned to John, a murderous intent radiating from her as she said coldly, "Human, we meet again." "Have we met?" he asked, puzzled. This angel seemed somewhat familiar, but he was sure he had never encountered a demigod-level angel before. Elsa quietly reminded him, "Master, you killed a projection she conjured; that''s how you obtained ess to the Death Worm''s Nest''s Secret Area." "It''s you!" John suddenly realized, disbelief washing over him. "You''re actually a demigod powerhouse!" "Today, you will all die. Holy Light Judgment!" Without further ado, Susan swung her light sword, and a beam of Holy Light descended abruptly, enveloping the three. John wasted no time and positioned himself in front of the two women to take the brunt of the attack. -96,443,000 -5,043,000 Two damage figures shed-over ny-six million from the skill and over five million from true damage. John was instantly annihted. [You have been in by the demigod powerhouse Susan. The Blessed Ring triggers; you resurrect on the spot.] "Master!" Sini and Elsa looked on in worry. "I''m fine!" John''s expression was serious as he kept a vignt eye on Susan. The sky was calm, as if the green-d woman''s projection would not descend again. "Heh, I knew you had a means of resurrection. I wonder if you can withstand a soul attack?" Susan sneered disdainfully, her vast soul power coalescing as a beam of white light shot toward him-it was a soul skill!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om John didn''t dare to be careless; he quickly activated his Soul Barrier. Puff! The white light dissipated without causing a ripple. John was taken aback; this woman''s soul attack hadn''t even broken through his Soul Barrier. Her Soul Technique was far inferior to his own. "Is this really what a demigod powerhouse looks like?" John scoffed, his previous anxiety easing. Even if she was powerful, without a soul attack, he felt invincible. "Impossible!" Susan''s eyes widened in disbelief. "My Soul Technique is over ten thousand points! How could you possibly block my soul attack without a fusion treasure?" "Sorry, but my Soul Technique is a bit stronger than yours," John replied casually. Thankfully, he had obtained the Jade Heart Lotus, which boosted his Soul Technique by 10,000 points. Combined with his training, his Soul Technique had reached an impressive 11,800 points, far exceeding hers. Buzz! Suddenly, the air trembled as he unleashed his soul skill, Soul Impact. Boom! A thunderous explosion echoed as John coughed up blood from the bacsh. Though her Soul Technique wasn''t powerful, she possessed a formidable soul power that didn''t belong to her. Just like that Hannah, it was a technique from the God of Light. "John, what should we do?" Sini asked anxiously. She and Elsa had fully fused with the treasures of the demon race and gods, significantly boosting their strength, but they still couldn''tpete with a demigod powerhouse. Wiping the blood from his mouth, John stared at Susan with confidence. "I can take this woman down!" Susan was strong, but she was nowhere near the level of that Beast King from the Orcs. While he might not match her strength directly, with his Undying and Immortal talent and true damage, he could wear her down. "Hmph, just you? Let''s see how many times you can resurrect!" Susan scoffed, brandishing her twin swords as powerful light surged, charging at John once more. "Get back!" he warned the two women as a massive dark power surged. He unleashed his skill, Dark Descent. An expanse of dark power enveloped the area. Having reached the seventh tier, his Dark Descent skill had been upgraded to level 11, reducing the enemy''s attributes by 32% while enhancing his own dark magic damage by the same amount. "Annihtion!" he shouted softly, triggering the Spell Combo. Two Dark Orbs shot out with a howl, rapidlypressing until they transformed into two miniature ck holes, voraciously devouring everything around them. A flicker of panic crossed Susan''s face as she was uncontrobly drawn toward the two orbs. "Get away!" she yelled, unleashing a barrage of Holy Light that sliced toward the Dark Orbs. Buzz! The space trembled as the two beams of Holy Light were directly consumed by the ck holes, and the next moment, they exploded. Boom... -1,151,800 -1,151,875 Two damage numbers shed, both representing true damage from dark skills. Susan lost over two million health points, a mere drop in the bucketpared to her three billion health. "Hmph, you''re not all that impressive," she said, ncing at the damage John had inflicted. Though shocked, it posed no real threat to her. "Die!" she shouted, enveloping John in countless beams of Holy Light. John, unsurprisingly, was instantly killed again. Then, his Lifesaver talent triggered, along with The Tree of Life''s life-sharing ability, rapidly restoring his health. The power of a demigod was terrifying; even a regr attack could easily finish him off. He had no desire to dodge, choosing instead to tank Susan''s attacks while unleashing a furious flurry of light magic, dark magic, Sword Immortal skills, and Assassin skills. All were methods that dealt true damage. With the Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart talent, he could instantly release three skills. Coupled with the Wrath of the Gods talent, which reduced cooldowns by 90% and skill costs by 80%, his skill attacks flowed without interruption. Boom boom... Magic surged, and the sound of sword intent resonated. Each of John''s skill attacks dealt between 800,000 and 1,100,000 damage to Susan. While her health pool was immense, she could not withstand such relentless bombardment. "You bastard, how many times can you resurrect?" Susan growled in anger, once again eliminating John and retreating swiftly. She was beginning to feel afraid. In front of her, John seemed fragile, easily killed; she had already defeated him over twenty times, yet he resurrected without a scratch. Meanwhile, she had lost over a hundred million health points. If this continued, she feared she might truly be worn down to nothing. Chapter 189: Chapter 189: The Great Battle Against the Demigod Chapter 189: The Great Battle Against the Demigod ? "What''s wrong, scared already? This is just the beginning!" John scoffed, continuing to bombard Susan with attacks. "Damn it!" she cursed, but her gaze shifted to Sini and Elsa nearby. Coldly, she said, "If I can''t kill you, then I''ll take care of these two women first!" She immediately redirected her target, charging toward the two women watching from a distance. "You dare!" John shouted in anger, immediately stepping in front of them. Though Sini and Elsa had fused with a powerful artifact, greatly enhancing their attributes, they were no match for a demigod. Moreover, the twocked any means of resurrection. Sini was rtively fine; death could lead to resurrection, though she would lose some levels. But for Elsa, who had descended into the world of gods, death meantplete disappearance. Boom! Holy Light enveloped the area, and terrifying energy surged as he was killed again. His Undying and Immortal talent activated, allowing him to resurrect on the spot. "You two get into Death Land first!" he instructed, connecting his mind to Death Land. A wave of spatial power pulsed, and the two women vanished without resistance. "Damn it!" Susan cursed. Realizing this, she quickly sealed the space to prevent John from escaping as well. "I don''t believe you can keep resurrecting. Light Sword sh!" she shouted, the light sword whistling as it struck again. John stood firm, letting the Light Sword sh hit him while dark and light magic shed, triggering a Spell Combo that dealt millions in true damage. [You have been killed by the demigod Susan. Undying and Immortal talent activated, resurrecting on the spot.] The prompt shed, and he resurrected without a scratch. At that moment, Susan appeared right in front of him. "Dance of the Void!" "Unrivaled Sword Dance!" "Demon yer sh!" In an instant, three skills activated, enveloping Susan in countless icy beams. Then, as Demon yer sh was unleashed, the Sword of Divinity and Demons came crashing down. Bang! -65,190 Demon yer sh was a regr physical attack, inflicting over sixty thousand in true damage. But the most important effect was the stun. During this time, John had in thousands of angels, raising his luck attribute to 112 points, which guaranteed a 100% stun with Demon yer sh. Susan froze, ring at John in fury. The longsword roared like a wave, a continuous barrage of strikes surged forward. Bang, bang... Thunderous booms echoed as damage numbers kept shing. Susan stood there, her eyes wide with anger and fear! "Get away!" she screamed, unleashing a terrifying force that sent John flying. "Phew..." she gasped, trembling with anxiety, daring not to linger, hastily retreating and avoiding closebat. She had no means to resist the stun skill! John watched her panic and realized. Just now, she had used the power within her to forcibly propel herself away, breaking free from the control of Demon yer sh. "Looks like you''re not all that!" John sneered, already formting a n to take control of the situation. Whoosh! A rope shot out, extending as it flew. "Divine Binding Rope!" Susan frowned, dismissing him. "Kid, you can''t trap me with your strength!" "What if you''re stunned, though?" John''s voice echoed, but his form suddenly vanished. It was a spatial skill: sh. In the next moment, he appeared right in front of Susan. "Hm?" A flicker of panic crossed Susan''s face, and she immediatelyunched an attack. "Unrivaled Sword Dance!" But John was faster. The Unrivaled Sword Dance interrupted Susan''s skill directly. "Demon yer sh!" he followed up, bringing the longsword down as the tidal wave of attacks crashed upon her again. Without surprise, she was stunned once more, and the Divine Binding Rope descended, tightly binding her and sealing her internal energy. Under normal circumstances, John''s Divine Binding Rope wouldn''t have been able to restrain her. But now, she was in a stunned state, her internal energy sealed, and with no means to resist the stun, she couldn''t escape John''s assault. Boom, boom... Thunderous sounds echoed as the longsword swung down like a torrential storm. Susan''s health points steadily dwindled; if this continued, she would undoubtedly die. "Godyer, you know who I am. If I die, my father will never let you go!" Panic surged within her. Despite her efforts, she couldn''t break free from the stunned state or the Divine Binding Rope. She had to invoke the name of the God of Light to intimidate him. "Ha!" John scoffed dismissively. "The God of Light? That guy might soon join you in your grave!" "Arrogant!" Susan screamed in fury. "You''ll have no good end for offending a deity!" John ignored her, intensifying his attacks with the longsword. The health points of a demigod were terrifying; even if the opponent stood still and allowed him to strike, it would take a long time to take them down. Susan tried repeatedly but could not escape the binding of the Divine Binding Rope. She cursed vehemently, yet a deep fear gnawed at her. If this continued, she would surely die. "Human, I will tear you apart!" she shouted, her expression frenzied, recklessly channeling the power of light within her. "Nine Heavens Holy Spirit, I offer my blood as a price, listen to my plea, expel the evil, and protect the holy spirit!" she muttered, suddenly spitting out a mouthful of blood, her complexion waning. At that moment, a ray of Holy Light descended upon her, instantly dispelling her stunned state. "Human, die!" Her face contorted with rage, she broke free from the Divine Binding Rope, her light sword gleaming as countless sword beams rained down. She wanted John to experience the sensation of being sliced to pieces. Pfft! [You have been killed by the demigod Susan. Undying and Immortal talent activated, resurrecting on the spot.] The notification appeared, and John resurrected again. Ignoring Susan''s attacks, he unleashed Demon yer sh once more. Bang! As the longsword fell, Holy Light flickered around Susan, but she was not stunned. With a smug expression, she sneered, "Human, it''s useless. In the Holy Spirit''s protective state, you''re immune to all control effects. You will die today!" Saying this, the Light Sword sh descended, and John was unsurprisingly killed once more. "I''ll see just how many times you can resurrect!" Susan dered defiantly, her attacks growing even more ferocious. "Resurrect until I drain you dry!" John''s fighting spirit surged as he disregarded Susan''s attacks, continuing to unleash light and dark magic skills, along with the Sword Immortal skill, bombarding her relentlessly. He wanted to see whether he could resurrect more times or if her health points would hold out longer. Boom, boom... The air was filled with deafening roars as fierce winds howled and colossal energy raged. Both John and Susan were in a desperate state. Though equipped with the Undying and Immortal talent, he was not invincible. Having been killed hundreds of times, John felt a dizzying sensation in his head; his soul was taking damage. If this continued, it could lead to irreversible harm to his soul, even threatening his life. The Undying and Immortal talent did not guarantee invulnerability. However, Susan was in even worse shape. Thebination of John''s light and dark magic attacks, along with the Sword Immortal skill, inflicted true damage that she couldn''t resist. At that moment, her once-white dress was stained red with blood, hanging from her like a tattered banner. Both pairs of wings on her back were broken, feathers scattered. Her health had plummeted to over three hundred million, and if this kept up, she would surely die. As a demigod, she needed to descend in her true form to the world of gods; here, death meant true death, with no chance of resurrection. She swallowed hard, fixing her gaze on John, and slowly said, "Human, shall we call it quits? Continuing like this will only lead to mutual destruction." "Really?" John scoffed, powerful energy swirling around him, showing no signs of backing down. "I''m willing to take the risk!" He was calcting Susan''s health, aware she couldn''tst much longer. Whoosh! Magic surged as Holy Light struck down, and with it, Light Sword sh and Dark Storm enveloped Susan. "Stubborn fool!" she spat,unching her own powerful light magic skill. She could sense that John was also nearing his limits; who would live or die was still uncertain. Cough! Once again, John was killed by her, and upon resurrection, he couldn''t help but cough up blood. A sense of unease settled in; with each resurrection, his soul was damaged, and it felt as if death for him would mean true death. "Haha, human, you can''tst much longer!" Susan cackled, witnessing the scene, her light sword flickering as she charged again. "I''ve had enough of you!" John wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a thought crossing his mind as the Divine Binding Rope shot out once more. He noticed that the Holy Light surrounding Susan had vanished, meaning she no longer had any means to resist the stun. "Hmm? Here we go again!" A flicker of panic crossed Susan''s eyes, but it was toote for her to retreat. In an instant, she was bound by the Divine Binding Rope, her internal energy suppressed. Just as she prepared to break free, John''s attack came crashing down. Bang! The longsword swung down hard, executing the Demon yer sh once again. Susan was predictably stunned. The next second, the longsword howled, its icy glimmer shing, and the wave of attacks descended upon her once more. -65,210 -64,820 ... Numbers representing true damage flickered in the air. Susan felt a surge of terror; she had just over three hundred million health points left and couldn''t hold out for much longer. "Human, I am the daughter of the God of Light; you cannot kill me," she stammered, invoking the name of the God of Light as a threat. John dismissed her with a scoff. His feud with the gods had long since be a battle to the death; even if he let Susan go, the God of Light wouldn''t spare him. "No one can save you today," he retorted coldly, his longsword howling as he intensified his assault. Before long, Susan''s health dropped below ten million. At that moment, John suddenly stopped his attack.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Susan was momentarily stunned, then a smug expression appeared on her face. She thought John had grown fearful and arrogantly dered, "Human, you''ve made the right choice. Now, sign a ve contract with me and be my servant; I promise your safety!" "Are you dreaming?" John looked at her as if she were a fool, then connected his mind to Death Land and summoned Elsa. With Susan bound, the spatial lock had been lifted. "Master, are you okay?" Elsa looked at him, concerned by his disheveled and weakened state. John shook his head and asked, "Is it true that if you kill a demigod, you can ascend to be a demigod yourself?" Chapter 190: Chapter 190: The Divine Path Opens, Gods Descend Chapter 190: The Divine Path Opens, Gods Descend ? Elsa''s eyes lit up as she nced at Susan. It was then she noticed that Susan was gravely injured, on the brink of copse, and bound by the Divine Binding Rope, utterly at their mercy. She felt a jolt of shock; John was only at the seventh tier and hadn''t fully fused with The Immortals'' treasures, yet he had the ability to kill a demigod. If he were to fully merge with The Immortals'' treasures and advance to be a demigod himself, how terrifying would his power be? "You dare!" Susan realized the situation, ring at Elsa as she threatened, "I am the daughter of the God of Light. If you dare to touch me, you will die without a doubt!" Elsa frowned; she was well aware of the God of Light''s strength and hesitated to take action. John spoke up, "You have already recognized me as your master. Even if you spare this woman, the God of Light will never let you go." "Master, I know what to do," Elsa nodded, her gaze turning fierce as she looked at Susan. She believed in John; once he grew stronger, he would surely surpass the God of Light. "Elsa!" Susan panicked, swallowing hard as she looked at John. "Human, I''ll join your side! I''m powerful and can definitely help you!" John remained unmoved, knowing that this Susan, being the daughter of the God of Light, was unreliable. "Hmph, do you think you''re worthy to serve my master?" Elsa scoffed, gathering her light magic and striking fiercely. Her attributes far exceeded John''s, and her damage was staggering, enhanced by a 5% understanding of The Law of Light, which included 5% true damage. Boom! A tremendous roar erupted as powerful light energy surged forth. "No!" Susan let out a furious cry, her remaining health points instantly wiped out, and she met her end. On the ground, several items scattered-two light swords, which were low-grade artifacts. In addition, there were a few skill stones, an intermediate talent upgrade stone, and two Spirit Stones. John collected them all. Perfect, Tracy could refine the gods'' treasures, and he would keep the two light swords for her. Whoosh! At that moment, a ray of Holy Light descended, enveloping Elsa. Killing a demigod andpleting the advancement trial was a mark of her ascension to demigod status. Bathed in Holy Light, she floated upwards, greedily absorbing its power. After about ten minutes, the Holy Light finally dissipated, and Elsanded, sprouting a pair of wings on her back, her aura bing even more sacred and powerful. "Master, I''ve broken through to demigod!" She approached John, filled with joy and excitement. "Moreover, my four base attributes have each increased by 200,000 points!" "So much?" John was astonished; he hadn''t expected the fusion of various racial treasures and the promotion to demigod to yield such immense benefits. He couldn''t help but feel a bit of anticipation. Elsa gazed deeply at him, her eyes filled with more obsession. She had thought that following John meant she would never break through to demigod status in this lifetime. Yet, in just a few days, with John''s help, she had in a demigod and sessfully advanced to that level herself. "Elsa, where is the seal of The Temple?" John felt the space around them and did not sense the presence of any seal. Elsa carefully sensed her surroundings, waved her hand, and the divine aura surged, dispersing the surrounding forces. She exined, "Master, this suppressive force is the seal that prevents entry into the world of Gods. As long as we break it, the seal of the world of Gods will be lifted." John nodded, saying, "I''ll let Sini out." "Master, there''s no need to trouble Sini. I can handle it myself." Having broken through to demigod status, her power had increased significantly, making it easy for her to shatter the seal. Whoosh! Two light swords appeared in her hands. "sh!" she shouted angrily, bringing them down fiercely on the space. Boom! The space trembled, waves of terrifying energy surged, and the suppressive force was gradually dismantled. Soon, it waspletely cleared away, and the world was left pure and clear. A gentle breeze swept through, bringing an indescribable sense of relief, as if the oppressive force that had hung over her heart had finally vanished.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om At that moment, several announcement sounds echoed. [Announcement: The Temple seal has been lifted; the Divine Path to the world of Gods is now open.] [Announcement: Killing monsters will grant ten times the experience; all hidden areas will be revealed, and maps are now essible.] [Announcement: The faction skill system has been activated; boss loot has been enhanced.] ... The world of Gods erupted with tremendous tremors. John couldn''t focus on these; a terrifying aura descended, locking onto him and Elsa. It was the God of Light. With the Temple seal lifted and the Divine Path opened, ninth-tier powerhouses and gods could now descend into the world of Gods. "Master, what should we do?" Elsa was filled with panic; they had just in Susan, the daughter of the God of Light. Although she had broken through to demigod status, she was still two massive realms away from the God of Light and was no match for such power. "Susan!" a shocked voice called out as a twelve-winged male angel descended, directly rushing to Susan''s corpse. His holy aura was terrifying, vast as the sea, far beyond what Elsa couldpare to. "Godyer, Elsa! You two did very well!" He nced at the corpse on the ground, slowly rising as an overwhelming killing intent enveloped the two of them, almost palpable in its intensity. John frowned deeply and shouted, "Aren''t youing out? Do you really want to watch me get killed?" "Huh?" The God of Light paused, his expression wary as he looked up at the sky. He thought John was summoning the woman in the green dress and coldly replied, "Godyer, no one can save you now." "Then what about me?" Suddenly, a calm voice echoed as a rift in space appeared, unleashing boundless dark power, and two figures descended. A man and a woman, both d in ck armor with a pair of ck wings on their backs, exuded a terrifying aura, both being god-level powerhouses. Especially the man, whose presence was not at all weaker than that of the God of Light. "Michelle! Kamal!" The God of Light recognized them, gasping in shock, his expression wary as he hesitated to act. Michelle smiled slightly and said, "God of Light, didn''t expect to see you again!" "Stop the small talk and kill him," Kamal urged impatiently, his temper ring. "God of Light, the reign of your Angel Race and the gods ising to an end!" Michelle dered coldly, raising her hand as dark clouds loomed overhead, a terrifying aura spreading. "Hmph, you don''t really think your remnants can shake the gods'' status, do you?" The God of Light scoffed, as a beam of Holy Light burst forth from behind him, dispersing the dark clouds and illuminating half the sky. Before either side directly shed, the mere collision of their auras was enough to overwhelm John and force him and Elsa to retreat repeatedly. "Kid!" At that moment, Kamal looked at him and said coldly, "Get out of here. Stronger beings will be arriving soon; you are not fit to participate in a battle of this level." "Understood. Thank you, senior!" John replied, his heart stirred as he and Elsa left The Temple and descended into the world of Gods. Whoosh! A gentle breeze blew, and the world of Gods underwent a dramatic transformation, filled with powerful spiritual energy. "The Divine Path has opened; I wonder if that is a blessing or a curse?" Suddenly, Ben appeared beside them, looking contemtive. John was startled and asked in surprise, "Senior, how did you leave the Abyss?" To pass through the Abyss, one mustprehend the power of darkws, yet he possessed none of that. Ben nced at him and exined, "The Divine Path has opened, the suppressive force has vanished, and all hidden areas and maps are now essible for free entry and exit." "What?" John eximed, his mind racing to Death Land, which was home to numerous treasures. Especially The Tree of Life, Vein of the Earth, and Dark Sea, all coveted even by god-level powerhouses. His heart stirred as he directly entered Death Land. Elsa and Ben followed closely behind. Fortunately, Death Land was peaceful, not having attracted anyone''s attention. "Senior, is there a way to conceal Death Land?" John asked Ben. His own strength was too weak; if other god-level powerhouses set their sights on Death Land, he wouldn''t be able to defend it. Ben shook his head. "It''s useless. With the Divine Path open, all hidden areas and maps are essible. But you don''t need to worry; the Dark Sea is here, and Michelle won''t let anything happen to Death Land." "That makes sense." John realized that the Sea of Death was a treasure of the demon race, and with a mid-tier god like Michelle guarding it, no one would dare to cause trouble. He thought about the treasures in his possession. With the Divine Path open and gods descending, it was no longer necessary to keep them; it would be better to let his subordinates refine them to enhance their strength. He turned to Ben and asked, "Senior, will you refine the Beast n treasure, or will it be Senior Tony?" "Huh?" Ben was taken aback, looking at him with curiosity. "Why, aren''t you going to refine it yourself?" "I''ve already refined the Immortals'' treasures." John''s mind sparked, and the Immortal Bone, Immortal Body, Spirit Sense, and Immortal Sword appeared before merging into his body. "The Immortals... right..." Ben nodded, pondering for a moment before saying, "If you''re not going to use the Beast n treasure, then leave it for Jean. That girl has a special constitution and will attract the attention of some unscrupulous beasts." "Okay." John nodded in agreement, not asking further. Ben had mentioned that Jean could help the Beast n awaken their bloodline powers, and only by awakening those powers could they fully integrate with the Beast n treasures. Besides that, he also had aplete set of god and demon race treasures, along with a remnant soul from the demon race. These items were no longer necessary to keep, so it made sense to hand them over for refinement to boost everyone''s strength. "Elsa, gather everyone!" John instructed as he made his way to the treehouse beneath The Tree of Life to retrieve several treasures. These items had been stored in the treehouse for a while. Soon, everyone gathered. John handed the Beast n treasures to Jean and the god treasures to Tracy, enhancing their powers. Tracy possessed a Divinity value, allowing her to refine the god treasures, but she would need to master the power of Light forplete integration. That was something to consider forter. He still had aplete set of demon race treasures in his hands and turned to Sara and the other eighth-tier powerhouses, asking, "Who among you will refine the demon race treasures?" "Treasures?!" they eximed in unison, swallowing hard, excitement and anticipation evident on their faces. Chapter 191: Chapter 191: Refining Treasures, Arriving in the City of Angels Chapter 191: Refining Treasures, Arriving in the City of Angels ? Behemoth nced at Sara and Bonnie beside him and shook his head helplessly. "My Dark Element Affinity isn''t high, so I think I''ll pass." Refining demon race treasures was simple, but fully integrating them required an understanding of thews of dark elements. Moreover, his rtionship with John was clearly not as close as that of the two women. Bonnie then spoke up, "Sara, why don''t you give it a try?" Sara felt tempted but did not agree. Instead, she looked at John and said, "Husband, I''m not in a hurry. Let Bonnie take it. She''s establishing a faction and managing the entire elves, so enhancing her strength is the most important thing." "Alright, I''ll make sure to find something good for you next time." John also believed that giving it to Bonnie was the most suitable choice. "Wait!" At that moment, Ben stepped forward, looking at Bonnie coldly. "If you want to refine the treasures, you need to sign a soul contract with the Godyer." "Senior, isn''t that a bit tooplicated?" John questioned, confused. Bonnie and the others had already sworn loyalty to him; signing a soul contract seemed unnecessary. Besides, the soul contract was too domineering, and they wouldn''t easily agree to it. Ben replied, "Kid, I''m doing this for your own good. Your identity is special; don''t trust anyone easily, especially not the gods." "What do you mean?" John asked, a bit puzzled. Did this old man sense something? Ben shook his head, not borating, but calmly looking at Bonnie. "It''s alright; I''m willing to sign the soul contract." Bonnie was indifferent. After spending time together, she was willing to trust John. Buzz! A surge of soul power condensed as she voluntarily initiated the signing of the soul contract. John hesitated for only a moment before not stopping her, and their souls sessfully bound together. As long as he wanted, he could easily erase Bonnie. Ben then turned to the other eighth-tier powerhouses and continued, "Sign the soul contract, or leave this ce." "I''m fine with it." Sara was the first to step forward, willingly signing the soul contract with John. Behemoth hesitated a bit, but after ncing at the two women, he also agreed to sign the soul contract. "Lord Ben, do I need to sign too?" ck Turtle asked, puzzled. Ben frowned and replied, "You decide for yourself. Do you want to pledge loyalty to the Beast n or to this human?" "What do you mean? Are you Beast n going to be enemies with me?" John was confused, feeling that Ben''s behavior was somewhat unusual today. ck Turtle also looked at him in bewilderment. John was the prophesied savior; the Beast n should be doing everything they could to assist him. Ben shook his head, unwilling to exin further. He nced at the sky and reiterated, "Godyer, don''t trust anyone easily, especially the gods. They have returned, and I must leave now." Before John could respond, Ben''s figure flickered and vanished into thin air. Immediately afterward, a massive dark aura enveloped the area as Michelle and Kamal descended. Both appeared disheveled, with Michelle clearly gravely injured, barely remaining upright with Kamal''s support. The powerful beings in Death Land looked at them with awe. Gods were almost an unreachable existence for them, something they could only aspire to in their lifetime. "Elders, you''re injured?" John asked in surprise. Michelle was a mid-tier god; if she was wounded, it likely meant the attacker was above that level. Michelle turned to him, her expression menacing, and coldly asked, "Kid, are you rted to The Immortals?" "Yes. What''s it to you?" John nodded; this matter was no longer a secret. "Hmph, I regret agreeing to your terms!" Michelle snorted, her killing intent palpable. Sini stepped forward, positioning herself protectively in front of John, staring coldly at Michelle. Michelle''s gaze flickered, her murderous intent subsiding. She turned to Kamal and said, "You tell him. I''m going to enter seclusion to heal." With that, she leaped into the Dark Sea. "You all can disperse now." Kamal dismissed the others, leaving only John and Sini behind. "Elder, what happened?" John asked, looking at her in confusion. "Ah." Kamal nced at Sini and sighed helplessly. "The gods of various races have reached an agreement to pause their infighting, and demigods and above will also refrain from interfering. But you''re the exception." "I''m the exception? Are the gods going to target me?" John was puzzled, his instincts hinting that this was rted to his identity as The Immortals. Kamal nodded and continued, "We, as a couple, have no choice but to restrict the demon race from attacking you. However, we can''t stop the other races'' powerful beings. But don''t worry; they won''t act against you in Death Land." "So you''re saying I can only hide in Death Land?" John scoffed, finally understanding the meaning behind Ben''s earlier words. While Michelle and Kamal appeared to be protecting him, they actually intended to im his Death Land. And he was left with no options. "Aren''t you gods? Is there no other way?" Sini asked, displeased. Staying in Death Land wouldn''t help him grow stronger; if he were forced to hide there, it would be nearly equivalent to imprisonment. Kamal nced at Sini and exined, "Gods aren''t invincible. Even so, we''ve already offended gods from other races." With the Divine Path opening, the gods of various races emerged one after another. The demon race was left with only her and Michelle, putting them at a disadvantage. She continued, "However, you don''t need to worry too much; most of the gods are injured and won''t attack you for the time being." After saying this, she ignored the two and entered the Sea of Death to meditate. Gods are injured? John was puzzled, not understanding what had happened during the battle. He regretted not staying behind to watch. However, the fact that the gods were injured provided him with an opportunity. "Elsa!" John called for Elsa and several other powerful beings, saying, "We''re going to the City of Angels!" The City of Angels still held many angels, and he decided to continue ughtering them to weaken the God of Light''s power while also enhancing his own strength. "Old man, I want to go too." Tracy, who had been trapped for a long time, wanted to join the action. "No. You''re still too weak." John firmly refused her. She had descended into the world of gods in her true form, and if anything went wrong, it would mean real death. "But I''ve fused with the gods'' treasures and my strength has increased significantly." Tracy protested. "No means no." John''s attitude was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation. Tracy was furious, her gaze flickering as she said, "Old man, how about this: if I defeat you, let mee with you." She was already at the seventh tier, and with the fusion of the gods'' treasures, she felt confident in her ability to defeat John. "Are you sure?" John looked at her with a yful expression. Elsa, standing nearby, chuckled, "Little sister, I advise you to give up. My master has killed a demigod before." "Killed a demigod? Really?" Tracy shot her a fierce re, incredulous at the im. She recalled being tricked by Elsa; although Elsa had been subdued by John, she still felt displeased. John spoke up, "Alright, you stay in Death Land for now. When I have time to help you improve, and once you fully fuse with the gods'' treasures, you''ll be free to move around." "Fine." Tracy had no choice but toply. John took out the map to the City of Angels and activated it directly. With the seals of the world of gods lifted, all hidden maps and The Secret Area were opened. He didn''t need to enter the elemental Secret Area; knowing the coordinates was enough to unlock the path to the City of Angels. Sara, the several eighth-tier strong beings, Elsa, and the Angel Race followers all passed through the spatial passage and arrived in the City of Angels. Thud! The group fell unprepared into the Rebirth Pool. This time, John''s Sword Flight did not backfire. "Elsa!" A surprised voice echoed around them.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The angels guarding the area were startled by the sudden appearance of the group. The leader, a six-winged angel, red at Elsa and shouted, "You''ve betrayed Lord God of Light, and you dare toe back!" "Go!" Elsa, uninterested in small talk,manded her subordinate angels to attack. These were all loyalckeys of the God of Light and could not be subdued. Whoosh! The power of light surged, a divine aura enveloping the entire City of Angels. The six-winged angel looked at Elsa, fear and shock in his eyes as he stammered, "Y-You''ve actually broken through to demigod? How is that possible?" "Die!" Elsa dismissed any further conversation, unleashing a sharp beam of sword light that instantly killed the six-winged angel. John quickly said, "Elsa, no gods have descended; you don''t need to intervene." His purpose foring here was to increase his strength. With Elsa''s terrifying power, if she acted, there would be no chance for anyone else to strike. "Alright, Master, I''ll protect you," she agreed, positioning herself beside John and Sini. The sword intent hummed. John also began his assault. Having broken through to the seventh tier, his power had significantly increased, and he faced the nine-tier six-winged angels without any pressure. [You have killed a level 5000 four-winged angel, gaining 563 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Light Elemental Affinity +1, Divinity +2, Skill Points +30.] ... Notification messages shed, the Divine Path activated, and the experience gain throughout the world of gods was increased tenfold. Additionally, the drop rate for items from bosses was greatly enhanced. John set his sights on the nine-tier six-winged angels, all legendary figures who would drop powerful artifacts upon death. Furthermore, if he could y 90 six-winged angels, his Wrath of the Gods talent would upgrade again. Powerful energy surged as screams echoed, plunging the entire City of Angels into chaos. Against Elsa and John, these angels were utterly overwhelmed, suffering heavy casualties. John''s target remained the powerful nine-tier six-winged angels. In just a short time, he had already in over seventy six-winged angels and leveled up 15 times. At this rate, he could soon break through to the ninth tier. "Only 17 more nine-tier angels to go," John murmured, focusing again on a six-winged angel. The angel looked terrified and hurriedly shouted, "Quick, call for help from Lord God of Light!" Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Annihilating the City of Angels, Killing a Demigod Chapter 192: Annihting the City of Angels, Killing a Demigod ? A distress signal shot up into the sky. John felt a bit uneasy. The God of Light was a mid-tier god, and while he had learned from Kamal that the deity was injured, he didn''t know the extent of the wounds. If the God of Light descended, they would definitely not stand a chance. Even if it wasn''t the God of Light, they wouldn''t be able to handle any lower-tier god that appeared. Boom! Suddenly, the heavens roared, and a powerful aura descended. John let out a sigh of relief; this aura wasn''t very intense and seemed to be from a demigod, likely on par with Elsa. "Elsa, you betrayed the God of Light, ughtered angels, and killed Lady Susan-this cannot be forgiven!" A furious shout rang out as a terrifying sword light shed down from the sky. An eight-winged angel appeared, radiating a powerful aura of light, not weaker than Elsa''s. This was a demigod under the God of Light, named Diana. "Master, leave it to me!" Elsa''s fighting spirit surged, her wings unfurling as she shot upward, shattering the sword light and confronting the eight-winged angel head-on. She looked at her opponent with disdain and coldly said, "Diana, you''re just a defeated foe of mine. If it weren''t for the God of Light favoring you, do you think you could have be a demigod before me?" "Hmph, that was in the past; today, you will die!" Diana''s rage ignited, and an enormous force of light gathered as sheunched her strongest attack at Elsa. Elsa remained unfazed, equally summoning her most powerful strike. The two collided, unleashing a terrifying surge of energy as they fought fiercely. John sensed that Diana had just recently advanced to demigod and her power was about on par with Elsa''s, so he felt there was no danger. He turned his focus back to hunting down the nine-tier six-winged angels. Dark power enveloped him, a massive sword intent swirling around as John fought like a god of war. Demigod-level opponents posed no threat to him. The angels were in despair, not daring to confront John head-on, and hurriedly fled. With the arrival of the demigod, the battlefield dynamics had not changed at all. John''s power was unmistakable. Sini, having fully integrated the treasures of the demon race, had significantly boosted her strength, allowing her to barely contend with a seventh-tier two-winged angel. Sara, Bonnie, Behemoth, and ck Turtle, four eight-tier powerhouses, targeted the eight- tier four-winged angels exclusively. The most formidable force remained the angel army under Elsa, and with the Divine Path Technique neutralizing threats, they fought without worry. Angels fell one by one, and the experience of a few soared, growing bolder with each battle. However, the angel army of the City of Angels was in despair; some angels had even quietly escaped the City of Angels. [You killed a level 7000 six-winged angel, gaining 1.2 billion experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Divinity +5, Light Elemental Affinity +5, Luck +1, Spirit +100.] [You sessfully killed 90 nine-tier legendary bosses; the Wrath of the Gods talent has leveled up, reducing the consumption of magic and spiritual power by 90%.] [Next-level upgrade condition for Wrath of the Gods talent: Kill 10 demigod-level or higher beings.] ... Enhancement notifications flickered; John had sessfully in 90 six-winged angels, and the Wrath of the Gods talent upgraded once more. Skill consumption was reduced by 90%. With a 90% cooldown reduction on skills, he could unleash skill attacks continuously. What excited him the most was that the Wrath of the Gods talent could continue to level up. However, the conditions were somewhat demanding: kill 10 demigod-level or higher beings. This was not an impossible task for him. He set his sights on the eight-winged angel battling Elsa. At that moment, both were somewhat disheveled; they were both newly advanced demigods, unable to gain the upper hand over each other. In fact, Diana seemed to possess slightly greater strength. "Elsa, I''m here to help you!" John called out, activating Sword Flight and charging forward. "Seeking death!" Diana scoffed, abandoning Elsa to attack John instead. "Master, be careful; this one is a bit powerful," Elsa warned, though she wasn''t worried. If John could take down Susan, he could certainly handle this one without issue. Whoosh! In an instant, his figure vanished, activating Dance of the Void and Unrivaled Sword Dance simultaneously, cold light flickering as it enveloped the rushing Diana. Thud! -767410 -764100 ... A series of damage numbers shed, all true damage. "Hmph, I thought you were stronger. You''re not that impressive!" Diana sneered. Although she was surprised by John''s strength, the thought of him defeating her was undoubtedly a fantasy. Just as she was preparing to counterattack, a sword light flickered, and John''s attack fell again. Demon yer sh! Boom! -85400 A pathetic true damage number floated up. Diana, initially dismissive, was about to mock him when she was suddenly stunned. Boom, boom... Thunderous roars echoed as John''s attacks rained down like a storm. "Bastard, get away!" Diana snapped back to her senses. Holy Light enveloped her, instantly freeing her from the stun. In a swift motion, she unleashed a sword light that directly obliterated John. [You were killed by the demigod Diana; the Undying and Immortal talent triggered, allowing you to resurrect at the same spot.] "Master, are you alright?" Elsa hurriedly pushed Diana back and looked at John, her expression filled with concern. "I''m fine." He shook his head, though his face was somewhat pale. Last time, John had died too many times while dealing with Susan, and he had not fully recovered yet. If he died again, it could cause irreversible damage to his soul. "Elsa, help me hold her down," John instructed, handing the Divine Binding Rope to Elsa. "Got it!" she replied confidently, taking the Divine Binding Rope. Whoosh! The Divine Binding Rope flew out, instantly erging and tightly wrapping around Diana. "This is bad!" Diana''s face went pale. With Elsa having advanced to demigod status, the power of the Divine Binding Rope had greatly increased, and she found it impossible to break free. Next came a howling wind and a humming sword intent. A flurry of light and dark magic, along with sword skills, descended upon Diana, unleashing a furious barrage. She struggled helplessly, her health rapidly depleting, but she was bound by the Divine Binding Rope and unable to escape. "Bastard!" she cursed, panic flooding her mind. "Elsa, do you really want to oppose the gods? Do you really think this weak human can stand against powerful gods?" Elsa scoffed, "I don''t know if I can fight the gods, but killing you will be a piece of cake!" Boom! Diana was sted away again, her feathers falling, blood sttered everywhere,pletely defenseless. At this point, her health had dropped below one hundred million, and she couldn''t withstandn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om much more punishment. "Die!" John''s cold voice echoed as he cast Dark Descent, unleashing a storm of magic. Despair washed over Diana as she roared, "Elsa, you made a grave mistake! No race would allow a powerful Immortal to live. You''re doomed!" Her voice cut off abruptly as John struck her down. [You killed a demigod; you gained 6.76 billion experience points.] [Your level has increased to 1075...] [Plunder talent activated: Divinity +10, The Law of Lightprehension +1%, magic critical hit +10, skill points +50, spirit +200.] ... Notification messages shed as John plundered a wealth of attributes. The most extravagant was a direct increase of 1% in The Law of Lightprehension. Hisprehension of The Law of Light had reached 22%, surpassing Elsa. Diana also dropped arge number of items: skill stones, equipment enhancement stones, and a mid-level talent upgrade stone. In addition, there was a mid-grade artifact, the Holy Light Ne, which increased Light Elemental Affinity. It wasn''t suitable for John, so he handed it directly to Elsa. "Thank you, Master!" Elsa eximed, overjoyed. Artifacts were rare for demigods, especially mid-grade and high-grade ones. Her Divine Binding Rope had been acquired by chance and was something she treasured greatly. "Let''s end this quickly and finish off the remaining angels so we can return," John ordered. He didn''t dare linger for too long, fearing the arrival of more powerful deities. Elsa joined the battlefield, ruthlessly ughtering. When dealing with these angels, she was like a force of nature. Soon, the angelic army of the City of Angels was almostpletely wiped out. Apart from a few angels who managed to escape, all were in. Sini led the team to clean up the battlefield. With the Divine Path activated, the drop rate for boss-level items increased. Especially with John''s Plunder talent in y, he reaped a significant number of low-grade artifacts. Before long, the battlefield was cleared, and John and the others left the City of Angels. He had initially wanted to take the Rebirth Pool of the City of Angels. However, that spring was connected to the City of Angels, making it impossible for Death Land to refine it. Moreover, since Death Land had opened to the outside, deities could descend at any time, forcing him to give up on that idea. ... As the group retreated, the once bright and holy City of Angels had be a dead city. Bodies were piled high, and rivers of blood flowed. A four-winged angel crawled out from the mound of corpses, staring at the scene before her in horror as she swallowed hard. If John were there, he would certainly recognize her; she was Amy, the one who had greeted him. "He''s not an angel, but a human..." Amy murmured to herself, casting onest nce at the City of Angels before fleeing. This matter was too serious; her low status meant she couldn''t meet the God of Light, and she had no desire to get involved. ... In the world of the Gods, deep within the Eternal Forest,y an expanse of void. A spring bubbled and flowed, emanating a powerful life force and spiritual power. This was the Elven Spring. Around it sat several figures in meditation, including angels, Dark Humans, and Orcs, all radiating immense power; without exception, they were all divine beings. The God of Light was among them. "Hmm?" At that moment, he suddenly opened his eyes, a boundless fury rising within him. He shouted, "My Lord, my City of Angels has been ughtered!" "The City of Angels has been destroyed? Who did it?" asked a bald man nearby, puzzled. "That human!" The God of Light gritted his teeth, gazing at the empty throne in the distance, and continued, "My Lord, you must avenge me; my daughter was killed by him." Whoosh! A shadow slowly took form upon the throne. "You useless fool!" the figure seethed, ring at the God of Light, killing intent radiating from him. "This is all your own doing. If you hadn''t lost the Death Worm''s Nest, would this have happened?" The God of Light bowed his head in fear, not daring to speak further. Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Upgrading Talents, A Treasure for Humanity Chapter 193: Upgrading Talents, A Treasure for Humanity ? The others fell silent, not daring to speak. The bald man turned to the shadow on the throne and asked, "My lord, have you not yet regained your strength?" "What? Do you Dark Humans want to rece me?" The shadow fixed its cold gaze on the bald man. "Not at all." The bald man quickly lowered his head, swallowing nervously, and replied cautiously, "My lord, I mean that human is weak and pathetic. If a lower-tier god were to descend, he could be easily in. Perhaps..." "No!" The shadow interrupted him sharply. "The demon race, the Beast n, and the humans from the Skyline Continent are all watching you. If you''re not afraid of death, feel free to descend into the world of Gods." The others exchanged nces and obediently fell silent; without the protection of gods, they were not invincible. The shadow continued, "You don''t need to worry. I have made arrangements. As long as the Immortals do not resurrect, that human won''t stir up any major trouble. The most important thing now is to strengthen our powers in preparation for the impending disaster." "Yes!" The group replied respectfully, refraining from further discussion as they resumed their training. On the throne, the shadow gradually faded away. ... In the world of Gods, chaos reigned. Many powerful Dark Humans descended, seeking revenge against the various races that had attacked Dark Humans cities in the past. In recent days, several cities had been destroyed by Dark Humans. Fortunately, the cities under John''smand were deep in the forests, in unknown dangers, and given the yers'' formidable strength, they faced no threats. The Saint Martial Sect had encountered several waves of Orc attacks but sessfully repelled them all. With the Divine Path opening, experience gains increased tenfold, and most yers from the Saint Martial Sect and me Legion reached tier five, with a few even attaining tier six. Unless faced withrge-scale attacks from tier five or higher foes, they would be virtually safe. John had been leading a few women on the outskirts of the Eternal Forest, ying Orcs and leveling up. Their strength had significantly increased, with all of them reaching tier six or higher. Tracy, in particr, had attained tier seven, and with her refinement of the gods'' treasures-though not fully fused¡ªher power was second only to Sini. The surrounding Orcs and beasts no longer posed a threat to them. John returned to the Death Land to organize the spoils from the past few days. With the boss drop rates increased, he had collected 130,000 skill stones and plundered over 10,000 skill points during this time. He could level up his techniques once again. Additionally, he had two intermediate talent upgrade stones, which could enhance talents below S grade by one level. Upgrading S-grade talents would yield the greatest benefits. John currently had four S-grade talents: Spell Combo, Lifesaver, Spatial Awareness, and Holy Light. The Spatial Awareness and Holy Light talents enhanced his sensitivity to space and light elements. Since he possessed the Plunder talent, the boost from these two talents was not very significant. After some thought, he decided to enhance the Spell Combo and Lifesaver talents. [You have used an intermediate talent upgrade stone. The Spell Combo talent has been upgraded to SS grade.] [Spell Combo Talent: SS grade. When casting magic skills, there is an 80% chance to trigger Spell Combo.] The Spell Combo talent had been upgraded to SS grade, increasing the triggering probability from 70% to 80%. His power had received another significant boost. Combined with the Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart talent, if luck was on his side, he could unleash six magical attacks in an instant. Especially afterprehending thews of light and dark magic, his damage output had increased by 100%. He felt confident he could easily take down even a tier nine expert. "Let''s continue." He took out the other talent upgrade stone to enhance the Lifesaver talent. [You have used an intermediate talent upgrade stone. The Lifesaver talent has been upgraded to SS grade.] [Lifesaver Talent: SS grade. When facing a fatal blow, you retain 1 health point and be invulnerable for five seconds. This can trigger twice per day.] The prompt flickered, indicating that the Lifesaver talent had increased its triggers from once a day to twice after reaching SS grade. Furthermore, the invincibility duration had extended from three seconds to five. His survivability had received another substantial boost. "Now to enhance the Soul Technique." He took out over 130,000 skill stones and refined them all, umting 143,000 skill points. His only remaining weakness was the Soul Technique; with a strong enough soul, he would have no fear even against divine beings. However, strengthening the soul was extremely challenging. Currently, his Soul Technique was barely on par with demigod-level experts, leaving a significant gap to lower-tier gods. [Consume 1,000 skill points. Soul Technique upgraded to level 1,801. Soul Technique +1.] ... [Consume 1,000 skill points. Soul Technique upgraded to level 1,943. Soul Technique +1.] Quickly, he consumed all his skill points, raising his Soul Technique to level 1,943, but unfortunately, he still had notprehended any skills. A hint of disappointment washed over him. "I wonder what the Azure Family is really after?" He closed the attribute panel, pondering the Azure Family''s descent into the world of Gods. He instructed the Saint Martial Sect and Elsa to keep an eye on the Azure Family, but there had been no news about them in recent days. He spected that the Azure Family''s arrival was aimed at opening a passage between the world of Gods and the real world. However, the level rankings hadn''t changed much; he remained in first ce at level 1,093. Next was Tracy at level 1,032. In the entire leaderboard, they were the only two at tier seven; the rest were all tier six. As for the yers from the Mike White Family and Azure Family who had once appeared on the list, they had all been thoroughly eliminated by him and Elsa. The ancestors of the Azure Family had descended into the world of Gods, but they were nowhere to be seen on the level rankings. John was unsure of their true intentions. In recent days, the world of Gods had been strangely calm, which made him uneasy. With the Divine Path opened and the seals lifted, he had expected arge influx of divine beings. Yet, aside from the few powerful God of Light figures that had initially appeared, he hadn''t encountered even a single demigod. Moreover, Michelle and Kamal had been in seclusion in the Dark Sea and hadn''t emerged since. John felt a vague sense that all of this was connected to the previous great battle. What exactly had happened, he had no way of knowing. [Announcement: yer Flow of Time has obtained the human treasure of the Skyline Continent: Golden Body, Sacred Bone, Heaven Soul, and Celestial Veins.] ... At that moment, three announcement sounds echoed, catching his attention. "Flow of Time? That girl Malina has had a lucky encounter!" John was astonished; this woman had incredible luck. Not only had she transitioned to the hidden ss of me Mage in the world of Gods, but she had also obtained a set of divine treasures. This was the first time someone other than him had acquired divine treasures. What surprised him the most was that the system would announce the acquisition of divine treasures now. It seemed the gods were suppressing yer growth. Currently, aside from John, even if yers refined divine treasures to boost their four main attributes by 10,000 points, they wouldn''t stand a chance against legendary experts above tier seven. Moreover, refining a treasure didn''t meanplete fusion; upon death, it would inevitably drop. With the announcement, Malina had undoubtedly be a target. Ding! John received a private message-it was Malina. Flow of Time: "Godyer, I''ve discovered a hidden Secret Area. Let''s explore together, and I''ll offset 20 gigabytes of dance videos." Godyer: "Not interested." John decisively declined; it was clear the woman was trying to dodge her debt. Flow of Time: "There are divine treasures in the Secret Area!" He looked at the message from Malina but didn''t rush to reply. It seemed she had obtained the divine treasures from this Secret Area. This Secret Area was definitely not simple; aside from himself, Malina had no suitable partners. Sure enough, it wasn''t long before he received another private message. Flow of Time: "You''re ruthless. Come to Phoenix City; there are Beast n experts in this Secret Area, and I can''t handle them. You need to help me explore." "Beast n involved?" John hesitated, wondering if he should consult Tony and Ben. He recalled Ben''s warning from a few days ago and ultimately decided against it. He felt that the situation within the Beast n wasplicated and could likely pose a threat to him. Godyer: "On my way." John closed the private chat, made his way to the Saint Martial Sect, and took the teleportation array to Phoenix City. As soon as he stepped out of the teleportation point, he sensed a heavy atmosphere in the city; the distant walls showed signs of damage. In recent days, Phoenix City had been besieged by Dark Humans and hordes of beasts. Thankfully, Ritchie hade to the rescue, managing to hold the city. Even so, the yer losses within the city had been significant. "Godyer!" Malina appeared at the teleportation point and waved at John. She was still dressed in her loose red robe and white stockings, the breeze revealing her curvaceous figure. John spoke up, "Where are the videos I wanted?" Malina, who had been smiling just moments ago, immediately lost her cheerful expression upon hearing his words. She replied unhappily, "Can''t you be a bit more ambitious? Aren''t you afraid your little girlfriend will get mad?" "Not at all," John said nonchntly; in fact, Sini would probably prefer it if he took Malina. "Hmph!" She huffed, then said, "Godyer, how about this: I''ll give you the human treasure I obtained to offset those 20 gigabytes of videos." "Are you serious?" John was taken aback. Aplete set of divine treasures was worth far more than those 20 gigabytes of videos. He stared at Malina, beginning to wonder if this woman had feelings for him. "Hey, don''t think too much," Malina said, feeling uneasy under his gaze. "I just want to repay you for giving me the artifact." John replied calmly, "In that case, I still choose the video of you dancing." "You!" Malina felt displeased and gritted her teeth. "How about this: you help me level up to tier seven, and I''ll give you this set of human artifacts."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om As she spoke, she took out the human artifact she had just obtained and offered it to John without hesitation. John furrowed his brow, surprised by her generosity. He asked, "This artifact can enhance each of your four basic attributes by ten thousand points. Are you really willing to part with it?" "Really?!" Malina swallowed hard. She didn''t know the artifact''s properties, but after a moment of hesitation, she said, "I genuinely want to give it to you. It would help you a lot more." This woman didn''t seem to be joking, which left him a bit bewildered. He looked at the four artifacts: the Golden Body, Holy Bone, Heaven Soul, and Celestial Pulse. They were of the same grade as the artifacts from the Beast n, demon race, gods, and The Immortals. Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Demigod Experts, the Powerful Bone Dragon Chapter 194: Demigod Experts, the Powerful Bone Dragon ? "Keep it for yourself. I''ve already refined the Immortals'' treasures. Where is this Secret Area? Let''s get you leveled up," John said, shifting his gaze. He wasn''t interested in the Skyline Continent''s divine treasures. Among the women around him, Ada was suited for them, but since they belonged to Malina, he didn''t feel right asking her for them. Perhaps there would be another set of human treasures in this Secret Area. "Then I''ll refine it myself." Malina no longer insisted and eagerly began to refine the set of treasures. Sure enough, her four main attributes increased by 10,000 points, greatly enhancing her power. "Let''s go, Godyer. I''ll take you into the Secret Area." She was thrilled as she led John deeper into the city. John was puzzled and asked, "Is the Secret Area inside the city?" "Yeah." Malina nodded and exined, "It appeared unexpectedly after you opened the Divine Path seal." She guided John to the back of the City Lord''s Manor, where tall weeds concealed a cave. yers were stationed nearby, and upon seeing the two, they greeted them warmly. "Alright, you guys can step back now." She waved her hand impatiently, noticing that the yers were more enthusiastic about John than her. "This is it." She entered first, and as the cave was dark, she instinctively pressed closer to John. The cave wasn''t deep. Soon, a beam of light shone through, marking the exit of the cave. Outside the cave, the surroundings were lush and verdant, with dense vegetation and beasts roaming about¡ª all were epic-tier six or above Beast n experts. Malina swallowed nervously and pointed to a nearby skeleton, saying, "This is where I found the human treasure." John curiously examined the skeleton, noting it bore no divine aura. It was likely a tier nine expert from the Skyline Continent who had fallen here after refining a treasure. "By the way, I also have a few Spirit Stones. Do you need them?" Malina suddenly remembered and pulled out four Spirit Stones. "Very useful!" John didn''t hesitate to take them; what he needed most were Spirit Stones to convert into magic power. If he transformed all his magic power into spiritual power, he could fully fuse the Immortals'' treasures. "Hmph!" Malina let out a dissatisfied huff, wanting to negotiate terms but hesitated and decided against it. "Let''s go. I''ll get you leveled up." John stepped out of the cave. The cave exit was well-concealed, and the beasts roaming nearby didn''t notice them; otherwise, Malina''s Phoenix City would have surely been overrun. "Intruders!" "Humans?" "Dare to invade Beast n territory? Go, kill them!" As the two appeared, they immediately caught the attention of the surrounding beasts, whichunched an attack on them. John scoffed; the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword flew out, splitting into three and mercilessly ughtering the nearby beasts. These epic-tier six beasts were no match for him. Malina raised her staff halfway, but before she could cast a spell, the dozen or so beasts around them were all annihted. "Y-You''ve gotten even stronger?" She nced at John, feeling a blow to her confidence. During this time, she had worked hard to improve her strength and had just refined the human treasures, greatly enhancing her power. Butpared to John, she still felt weak and insignificant. He ignored her, sensing carefully and warning, "Be careful; there are divine beings nearby!" "Divine beings?" Malina swallowed hard and quickly hid behind John, alert and nervously asking, "Can we handle them? Or maybe we should just leave." She worried; divine beings were far beyond tier nine, and ordinary yers were no match for them. "Don''t worry; it''ll be fine." John looked unconcerned; he could feel that the divine aura wasn''t very strong and likely belonged to a demigod. He was more than capable of dealing with it. After collecting their spoils, they continued deeper into the area. As they ventured further, the beasts they encountered grew stronger, with the weakest now being legendary tier seven beasts. However, the legendary tier seven beasts were still no match for John, who easily defeated them. Malina hid behind him, astonished, and couldn''t help but ask, "Godyer, can you handle divine beings?" "Not really. But I can kill demigod experts," John replied. Malina was confused. Not really? Kill demigod experts? Wasn''t that contradictory? She didn''t want to press further and obediently followed John, cleaning up the battlefield where the beasts had dropped nothing but divine artifacts! This thrilled her immensely. Before long, they had reached the depths of the Secret Area, where they encountered nothing but tier nine legendary beasts, their power terrifying. Boom! Suddenly, a loud rumble echoed, apanied by sounds of battle in the distance. A group of beasts was chasing an elderly man.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Hm? Ben!" John recognized the fleeing elder; it was Ben. He was at the peak of tier nine strength but was in dire straits, wounded and surrounded by numerous tier nine beasts. Buzz! With a resonant sword intent, John decisively intervened, unleashing the Infinite Sword Array, showering the area with sword des and causing heavy casualties among the tier nine beasts. "Kid, what are you doing here?" Ben, relieved by the sudden assistance, finally noticed John and looked rmed. "Get out of here! This is no ce for you!" He pulled John, trying to leave. Whoosh! Suddenly, a fierce wind howled, and a terrifying pressure descended. Boom! Dark clouds roiled overhead, and thunder rumbled ominously. "Bone Dragon!?" John eximed, recognizing the creature in the dark clouds- a massive dragon made entirely of bones, stretching several thousand meters long. Its aura unmistakably belonged to a demigod expert. Seeing this, Malina''s expression turned to one of terror, her legs trembling, unable to even run away. Is this what divine beings are like? So terrifying! Despair filled her heart as she abandoned any hope of struggle and nced at John, filled with regret. She didn''t believe John could stand against such a monstrous Bone Dragon. If she hadn''t insisted on bringing him to explore the Secret Area, he wouldn''t be in danger now. "Kid, I really drew the short straw meeting you. You should run; I''ll hold it off!" Ben cursed as he pushed John aside and charged toward the Bone Dragon. "Elder!" John was startled and didn''t have time to stop him. A confrontation between a tier nine expert and a demigod was akin to suicide. Bang! With a deafening crash, blood sprayed as Ben was sent flying backward at an incredible speed. John rushed forward to catch him, relieved to see he was not in mortal danger. He exhaled and said, "Elder, have you lost your mind? That''s a demigod expert!" "Cough!" Ben spat out a mouthful of blood, weakly saying, "Its target is you." "Me?" John was puzzled as he looked at the massive Bone Dragon circling in the sky. "Hmm? The aura of the savior. Ben, the savior you prophesied is actually a human!" A thunderous voice echoed as the Bone Dragon''s huge, blood-red eyes fixed intensely on John, filled with surprise and excitement. "I was just looking for you; I didn''t expect you to deliver yourself right to me." "My lord!" Ben wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, struggling to rise and standing in front of John. "He hasn''t awakened his bloodlines; killing him would be useless." "Hasn''t awakened his bloodlines?" The Bone Dragon mused, staring at John as a surge of power flowed into him. John was startled and instinctively wanted to resist, but he quickly realized this power posed no threat. "Indeed," the Bone Dragon said, disappointment evident in its voice. "However, the savior of the Beast n cannot be a human. Kid, you''re still doomed!" A fierce wind howled, and beneath the dark clouds, lightning flickered ominously, the terrifying pressure enveloping the entire Secret Area. All the beasts trembled in fear, copsing to the ground. "My lord!" Ben spread his arms, blocking John, gritting his teeth as he said, "You simply want to awaken the Azure Dragon bloodlines, and only the Flower Fairy can do that. She is still alive." "Oh?" The Bone Dragon ceased its attack; the temptation of the Flower Fairy was greater than that of this human savior. It turned to Ben and said coolly, "Go fetch the Flower Fairy and trade her for this human." "My lord, that would require you to go in person," Ben directly refused. He intended to utilize the demon race, Michelle and Kamal, who were in seclusion in the Death Land, to deal with the Bone Dragon. "Hmph, do you think I''m a fool?" The Bone Dragon was not deceived; the world of Gods had already been locked down by the gods, and a reckless descent would mean certain death. "You will fetch the Flower Fairy immediately, or I will kill this human!" it roared, a massive Dragon''s Might spreading, forming a dragon w in the void, reaching for John! "Fine, I agree!" Ben had no choice but to grit his teeth andply. "Just stay put!" John interrupted him directly, a sharp sword light whistling as it shed toward the approaching dragon w. Boom! With a thunderous sound, fierce winds roared as he soared into the sky. The powers of light and darkness spread, and the Spell Combo was triggered, instantly summoning five magical attacks that struck the Bone Dragon. Boom... -1,338,000 -1,125,000 ... A series of damage numbers shed, all true damage, directly reducing the Bone Dragon''s health by over six million points. "Hmm? The powers of light and darkness!" The Bone Dragon was surprised, but its gaze became even more excited. "You truly are the savior from the prophecy; however, your powers will soon belong to me." As it spoke, its massive body twisted, dark clouds roiling, and a thick dragon tail swept towards John. Boom! John was sent flying with no ability to resist, instantly defeated. [You were killed by the Azure Dragon; The Blessed Ring activated, you are resurrected at full health.] The prompt appeared, and John remained unharmed. Ben, knowing John''s abilities, quickly reminded him, "Kid, it has a dragon soul attack; you''re no match for it." "Thanks for the tip!" John shot him a re; the old man was just being a nuisance. If he hadn''t warned him, the Bone Dragon might not have used the soul attack. Sure enough. The Bone Dragon unleashed its soul skill, Dragon Soul Roar! Roar! With a dragon''s roar, the power of the soul transformed into a massive dragon that surged forward. John could clearly sense the strength of the Bone Dragon''s soul, far surpassing his own. Not daring to underestimate it, he quickly activated Soul Barrier. Boom! The dragon soul surged toward him, the roar echoing in his mind as the Soul Barrier shattered instantly, the immense impact striking at his very soul. Buzz! Suddenly, a surge of azure light erupted from the depths of his soul, barely deflecting the soul attack. Even so, his soul sustained heavy damage. Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Slaying the Azure Dragon, Plunder bloodlines Chapter 195: ying the Azure Dragon, Plunder bloodlines ? "Jade Heart Lotus!" The Bone Dragon eximed as it sensed the change in John''s soul, ring at Ben with cold fury. "You are truly generous to give a Beast n treasure to a human! He must die today!" Itunched another attack, its massive body charging forward, but thankfully it wasn''t a soul attack. Boom! John was unsurprised as he was once again annihted, triggering his Lifesaver ability. Buzz! At that moment, a spatial fluctuation heralded Elsa''s arrival. "Master... hmm, the Azure Dragon!" she gasped, her expression turning grave as she focused on the Bone Dragon in the sky. The Azure Dragon was a lower-tier god among the Beast n. Fortunately, this creature''s physical form had been destroyed, leaving only its skeletal remains, which significantly weakened its power to that of a demigod. "Elsa? Servant of the God of Light!" The Azure Dragon''s blood-red eyes glinted with malice as it fixed its gaze on Ben, snarling, "Is this the savior you predicted? Apdog of the God of Light!" Ben frowned, too weary to exin. He knew Elsa had broken through to demigod status, which might give them a chance to y the Azure Dragon. John turned to Elsa and asked, "Can you handle it?" She furrowed her brow, her expression serious as she replied, "Master, this guy was once a lower-tier god with powerful soul strength. It might be a bit challenging." "Let''s give it a try!" John said, realizing they had no way out. With Elsa''s arrival, the space around them had been sealed, leaving them only one option: to kill their opponent. "Overestimating yourselves!" The Azure Dragon roared, its massive body twisting as it opened its mouth to unleash a torrent of dragon mes that engulfed the area.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Old man, protect Flow of Time," John reminded as he and Elsa charged toward the Azure Dragon. Whoosh! A rope appeared, stretching in the wind until it was asrge as the Azure Dragon itself, wrapping around it tightly. "Divine Binding Rope!" the Bone Dragon eximed, followed by a gleeful shout, "You little brats truly surprise me!" Buzz! A terrifying force surged from the Azure Dragon''s body, attempting to break free from the Divine Binding Rope''s grip. Elsa furrowed her brow, quickly saying, "Master, this guy is too powerful; I can''t hold him for long." "Leave it to me!" John shed forward, appearing in front of the Bone Dragon. The Sword of Divinity and Demons manifested in his hand, and he struck down fiercely. Boom! -48020 A pathetic damage number shed. The Azure Dragon hadn''t even reacted when it was left stunned, and a tidal wave of attacks followed. With gleaming cold edges, John unleashed a relentless barrage, each strike dealing over forty thousand points of true damage. "Demon yer sh!" the Azure Dragon shouted, its massive blood-red eyes ring at John. "Kid, I didn''t expect you toprehend Demon yer sh, but dreaming of killing me with that? Not a chance!" As it spoke, a surge of soul energy coalesced, and it unleashed another soul attack. John was startled, but quickly realized it was not the previous Soul Impact; this soul energy was much weaker and manageable. Boom! A resounding st echoed in his mind. Although it didn''t deal significant damage, it interrupted his Demon yer sh attack. "Damn it!" he cursed. The Divine Binding Rope could seal the Azure Dragon''s power but couldn''t stop its soul attacks. Fortunately, it couldn''t unleash the initial soul strike again; it seemed that attack could not be used freely. Whoosh! John leaped back as dark energy enveloped him, invoking Dark Descent. Powerful dark and lightws surged, and three magical attacks fell simultaneously. Holy Light Strike, Light Sword sh, and the dark magic Annihtion. This time, he was lucky enough to trigger three Spell Combos, unleashing six magical strikes on the Azure Dragon''s massive body. Boom... The terrifying light and dark magic shed. John''s magical attacks couldn''t break the Bone Dragon''s magical resistance; they could only deal true damage. After one round of attacks, he dealt over seven million true damage. For the Azure Dragon''s staggering eight billion health, that was almost negligible. But John''s assault was far from over. The Sword Intent resonated as he unleashed Flying Sword Strike, Unrivaled Sword Dance, and Infinite Sword Array simultaneously. With the Wrath of the Gods talent activated, John''s skill cooldowns and magic costs were nearly negligible as he unleashed a fierce barrage on the Azure Dragon. In an instant, it lost over fifty million health points. "Damn it! Don''t you have any cooldowns on your skills?" the Azure Dragon snarled, clearly rattled. It unleashed its terrifying power, quickly breaking free from Elsa''s bindings and charging at the two. [You were killed by the Azure Dragon. Lifesaver talent activated.] Once again, John was taken down. In his five seconds of invincibility, he released over twenty magic attacks, triggering Spell Combos. The Azure Dragon lost another fifty million health points. If this continued, it would surely be in. "Master, be careful! It''s about tounch a soul attack!" Elsa, having been thrown back, quickly warned as she realized the Azure Dragon''s next move. John''s expression shifted; this was the same soul strike it had used before. Whoosh... A spectral dragon formed from soul energy surged toward John. Not daring to underestimate it, he activated Soul Barrier again, bracing for the iing attack. Boom! A thunderous roar reverberated in his head as John was knocked back, blood streaming from his orifices, nearly causing him to fall from the sky. Fortunately, the Jade Heart Lotus activated once more, shielding his soul, but even so, it sustained serious damage. "Kid, the reverse scale!" Ben shouted urgently. "Its body has been destroyed, and the reverse scale on its chest is unprotected. That''s its weak point!" "Old fool, you''re asking for death!" The Azure Dragon roared with fury, abandoning John and charging straight at Ben. He didn''t have time to help. "Master, I''ll take care of it," Elsa said, her body glowing with Holy Light. A shield of light formed instantly, protecting Ben and Malina. Boom! The light shield shattered immediately, sending Ben and Malina flying. Malina, being weaker, was caught in the energy wave and was instantly killed. Fortunately, she had incredible luck; her death triggered a 50% chance for resurrection from the undead camp. Terrified, she retreated, eyes wide as she watched the fierce battle above. "Elsa, bind it again," Johnmanded. Understanding the urgency, Elsa summoned the Divine Binding Rope once more, expanding it rapidly to temporarily ensnare the Azure Dragon. "Attack the reverse scale!" John urged, coordinating their assault. Elsa nodded, her light sword soaring through the air. Two dazzling beams shot toward the only scale on the Azure Dragon''s skeletal chest. Boom! -327,960,000 -65,590,000 Terrifying damage numbers flickered. Over three hundred million from the light magic, plus sixty million in true damage. This was something John couldn''tpare to. But what John excelled at was the Wrath of the Gods talent. Whoosh! Light and darkws swirled around him. John''s attacks crashed down, delivering six magical strikes. -11,670,000 -1,312,000 ... Several damage numbers lit up. John was astonished; his magical attacks dealt over ten million damage directly. "Wait, this thing''s reverse scale has no defensive power at all!" he suddenly realized, excitement flooding his expression. He swung the Sword of Divinity and Demons, unleashing more skill attacks. Elsa sensed the urgency as she swung her light sword, Holy Light shing, relentlessly attacking the Azure Dragon''s reverse scale. A terrifying energy surged. The Azure Dragon''s blood-red eyes lost their vitality, its soul damaged, teetering on the brink of copse. "Ben, even if I die today, I''ll take you down with me!" it roared, surrounding itself with a massive surge of power, straining to break free from the Divine Binding Rope. Ignoring John and Elsa, its gigantic body twisted and lunged straight for Ben. "Watch out!" John yelled, realizing he couldn''t intervene in time. Elsa quickly conjured a light shield, but it was shattered instantly by the Azure Dragon''s attack, showing no signs of diminishing force. Ben stood calmly as the fearsome dragon head loomed closer, his hands behind his back, eyes slowly closing. "Azure Dragon, how dare you!" a booming voice echoed as another powerful aura descended -a demigod had arrived. Tony appeared, stepping in front of Ben and transforming into his true form. He was a colossal tortoise, towering like a mountain. Boom! The Azure Dragon''s attack collided, sending the giant tortoise flying, blood sttering, and its hardened shell cracking with fine lines. Fortunately, it had absorbed the Azure Dragon''s lethal strike. "Tony, I knew I wouldn''t die!" Ben''s triumphant voice rang out. At that moment, John and Elsa''s attacks struck simultaneously, aimed at the Azure Dragon''s reverse scale. Bang! Crack! The only scale on its skeletal chest shattered. Its massive body crashed down, kicking up a cloud of dust, leaving it with only a few health points. "Elsa, leave it to me!" John''s voice rang out as a brilliant sword light shed in the air, slicing directly toward the Azure Dragon. Flying Sword Strike! "Human, you will regret this..." the Azure Dragon roared, but the sword light fell, cutting off its voice. Thud! The soul fire flickering in its eye sockets extinguished, and it diedpletely. [You have in the demigod Azure Dragon, earning 10.7 billion experience points] [Your level has risen to 1094...] [Plunder talent activated, skill points +500, strength +500, constitution +500, you have obtained the Azure Dragon bloodlines (awakened)] [Azure Dragon bloodlines: Increases four basic attributes by 10,000] Notification messages shed, and John let out a sigh of relief. This Azure Dragon had been the strongest enemy he had encountered apart from the God of Light. Fortunately, its physical form had been destroyed, revealing a fatal weakness. Otherwise, even with Elsa''s help, it would have been a challenge to defeat it. But the rewards were plentiful: a significant increase in attributes from Plunder, and the awakened Azure Dragon bloodlines, boosting his four core attributes by 10,000 points! John nced at the items dropped by the Azure Dragon: two primary talent upgrade stones, a mid-tier divine spear called "Rage of the Dragon". And ten Spirit Stones, aplete set of Beast n treasures, and numerous skill stones. He collected them all. As the Azure Dragon fell, the surrounding beasts panicked. Tony bellowed, "Anyone who doesn''t want to die, stay still!" The immense divine aura radiated from him, sending the beasts into a state of terror as they knelt in reverence. "Elder, congrattions on breaking through to demigod!" John approached Tony and said, offering his congrattions. At this moment, Tony looked battered and bloodied. Although he had managed to block the Azure Dragon''s attack, his injuries were severe. "I''m still far behind you, kid," he remarked, ncing at the fallen Azure Dragon with a sigh of regret. Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Secrets of the Immortals, The Azure Family Appears Chapter 196: Secrets of the Immortals, The Azure Family Appears ? Elsa flew over, her brow furrowed as she looked at Tony and asked, "Old man, did you y a demigod?" To break through the demigod realm, one must defeat a demigod-level opponent. With his strength, even if he awakened bloodlines and merged with a Beast n artifact, he wouldn''t stand a chance against a true demigod. Tony nced at her and replied casually, "Someone helped." "A Beast n warrior?" Elsa inquired, her curiosity piqued. Tony shook his head, unwilling to borate. Beside them, Ben furrowed his brow in confusion. Since the Divine Path seal had opened, he had been searching for Beast n divine warriors but had only encountered the Azure Dragon; there had been no sign of any other Beast n gods. It was impossible for Tony to have encountered a Beast n deity. Could it be...? As he contemted, Tony shook his head in response. Ben understood, and turned to John, saying, "Kid, summon that little ck dragon of yours. The Azure Dragon''s corpse will be a treasure for him." "Avis?" John nced at the massive body of the fallen Azure Dragon and, with a thought, summoned Avis. "Master... Wow, what a pure aura!" Avis eximed, his eyes sparkling as he was drawn to the enormous corpse on the ground. John replied calmly, "It''s yours." "Thank you, Master," Avis said gratefully before diving into the hollow skeleton of the Azure Dragon. "Kid, we have something to discuss with you," Ben said to John, his expression turning serious. "What''s going on?" John asked, walking over in confusion. Ben nced at Elsa, knowing she had already signed a soul contract with John, and continued, "It''s about The Immortals." "The Immortals?" John was taken aback; these two finally seemed willing to reveal some secrets about The Immortals. Elsa also knew a bit about The Immortals but was unaware of John''s connection to them. Ben sighed and exined, "It''s not that we don''t want to tell you everything about The Immortals; it''s just that we''re too fearful of them. We don''t want you to be involved with The Immortals." John frowned, puzzled. "Are The Immortals truly evil?" "It''s not that," Ben paused, considering the word "tyrannical." "They''re just too... domineering." He continued, "The Immortals'' powerful beings suddenly descended to stop the gods from invading other worlds. Their n was to eliminate all potential ascendants and seal the Divine Path. This included our Beast n... The most frightening part is that they truly have the power to do so." John opened his mouth in shock, unsure of what to say. While it seemed extreme, if it meant saving Earth, he might consider it... He couldn''t help but ask, "So why did they ultimately fail?" "Because there are entities even more terrifying than The Immortals," Ben said, swallowing hard, his expression wary. John curiously asked, "Entities more terrifying than The Immortals? Are they gods?" "Gods? Ha!" Ben scoffed. "Do you really think gods are that strong? During their peak, both the Beast n and the demon race were not afraid of gods. The ones who eliminated The Immortals were the forces behind the gods. It was with their support that the gods became the strongest, suppressing all major races and sealing the Divine Path..." "The forces behind the gods?" John questioned. Ben continued, "We don''t know who they are, but the strong members of The Immortals had no resistance against them." John frowned, realizing they seemed to be beings far beyond the gods. He nced at Elsa. She shook her head, saying, "Master, I don''t know who they are either; all I know is they call themselves the Shadow n." Shadow n? Johnmitted that name to memory. He could sense that the ultimate enemy wouldn''t be the gods but rather this Shadow n. "Why are you telling me this now?" John asked, puzzled. Previously, when he inquired about The Immortals, they were unwilling to share anything. The two exchanged a nce, looking helpless. Ben spoke up, "We want to stop all of this too. Our world, where the Beast n resides, has be a wastnd as those powerful beings plunder resources, forcing us to wander and plunder other worlds'' resources." "Master," Elsa interjected, "it''s not just the Beast n; the Angel Race, gods, demon race, Dark Humans, Orcs, and many other races are also victims. Moreover, several races have beenpletely annihted." "Is it really that dire?" John thought of Earth in his previous life. If he couldn''t prevent this, humanity might face a simr fate. "But how can we stop all this? We can''t even deal with the gods right now, let alone that terrifying Shadow n behind them," he felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. His current strength barely allowed him to take down a demigod. Tony chimed in, "It''s simple: Resurrection the Immortals!" The Immortals were also god-level beings, simrly existing as Undying and Immortal. Unlike John''s Undying and Immortal talent, they could resurrect as long as their soul and body remained intact. Moreover, god-level beings prioritize soul cultivation, making both their body and soul nearly indestructible. Like Michelle and Kamal, who had been killed by the gods, their bodiesy dormant in the Dark Sea. With the Divine Path opened, they could be resurrected using the life force of The Tree of Life. Ben continued, "Most of the Immortals and the god-level beings of other races who were in are sealed in the Void. If we can break the seals, we can resurrect them." "Void Area? Where is that?" John asked curiously. Ben replied, "Deep within the Eternal Forest. I don''t know the exact coordinates." John sighed, "If I''m not mistaken, there are gods present there, right?" With his current strength, entering the depths of the Eternal Forest and encountering a demigod or stronger would mean certain death. "You''re not alone, kid," Tony said. "With the Divine Path opened, the Skyline Continent will yield many treasures. We''ll help you strengthen your abilities and recruit other god-level beings to break the seals of the Void together." "Can we trust those guys?" he thought of Michelle and Kamal, who were cultivating in the Dark Sea. He didn''t trust them. "I don''t care; we''re just using them to break the seals and resurrect the Immortals," Ben replied, sharing his mistrust. He had nearly lost his life at the hands of a Beast n god. "Just be careful. We''ll help you find other gods," Tony said, rising to his feet as two threads of soul power appeared. "Senior, what do you mean?" John was surprised that they were willing to sign a soul contract with him. "Consider it our token of allegiance to the Immortals. Once we resurrect the Immortals, who knows what those bastards might do," Benined, clearly wary of the Immortals'' actions. "Alright," John agreed, not refusing, and initiated the soul contract with both of them. "Senior, this is aplete set of Beast n treasures," he said, taking out the treasures he had obtained from the in Azure Dragon.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Ben shook his head and didn''t take the treasures. "My abilities are unique; bing a god won''t make much difference for me. Plus, with Tony around, I''ll be fine." Tony added, "Don''t worry, us old-timers aren''t going anywhere." "Alright," John said, not insisting further, watching them leave. This set of Beast n treasures could be given to Sara or Behemoth for refinement. "Godyer, why do you have so many strong followers?" Malina approached, curiously eyeing Elsa. She felt a twinge of envy; Elsa was noble and elegant, her beauty leaving Malina feeling inadequate. "Can''t help it if I''m handsome!" John replied, puffing out his chest. The two women exchanged disdainful nces. "Ugh, talk about self-absorbed," they seemed to think. "Fine, you don''t appreciate it," John muttered, focusing on searching the area for treasures. The Azure Dragon had once been a lower-tier god, and this ce was its training ground, so there should be plenty of treasures here. John scavenged over thirty Spirit Stones, along with more than ten thousand skill stones and equipment enhancement stones. Once he was sure he hadn''t missed anything, he led the two women out. As for Avis, he wouldn''t wake up for a while. There was no danger here; the remaining Beast n members had all pledged loyalty to John and signed a soul contract. They returned to Phoenix City. Boom... Suddenly, sounds of fighting and shouts erupted from outside the city. "Enemies ahead!" Malina frowned, immediately stopping a nearby yer. "What''s going on?" "Hey, boss, you''re back!" The yer recognized Malina and quickly said, "A team of yers is attacking our city along with the Dark Humans. We thought they weren''t that strong, but their yer team is quite formidable. I was just about to ask for help from me City." "A yer team? Take me to see," John replied, intrigued. He suspected it was rted to Malina obtaining the human treasures. The group hurried to the city wall. Buzz! Sword energy resonated as several flying swords glinted, effortlessly ying the ranged yer characters atop the wall. "Sword Mastery!" John eximed, recognizing it as an attack from Sword Mastery. Besides him, only the Azure Family''s disciples wielded such skill. He quickly climbed to the top of the wall and spotted the yers attacking Phoenix City. As he guessed, they were indeed Azure Family disciples. Moreover, he recognized their aura; they had all refined The Immortals'' treasures but hadn''t yet fused with them. "Where did they get those Immortal treasures?" John wondered, excitement bubbling within him. These Azure Family members hadn''t fused with their treasures, so if he took them down, they would definitely drop. Buzz! The sword energy resonated as the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword shot out, splitting into three as it targeted the Azure Family disciples and the Dark Humans below. All the Dark Humans were at least tier seven experts, and the Phoenix City yers couldn''t withstand their assault. Thankfully, John had arrived just in time. Pfft... The flying swords swirled, and both Dark Humans and Azure Family disciples fell without resistance, instantly eliminated. "Hmm? What''s going on?" John frowned, noticing that when the Azure Family disciples died, they vanished into white light, resurrecting just like regr yers. They weren''t truly dead. Chapter 197: Chapter 197: The Great Races Powers, Sealing Array Chapter 197: The Great Races'' Powers, Sealing Array ? N?v(el)B\\jnn John confirmed that the Azure Family had descended into the world of Gods. Could it be that, like the Angel Race, they connected through some special means? "John!" Hummer eximed, recognizing him. Anger surged through him as he coldly ordered, "Everyone, attack! Kill that guy to avenge the fallen Azure Family disciples!" In an instant, their firepower shifted, with spells and arrows raining down upon him. John scoffed, standing his ground and refusing to evade the onught. -1 -1 ... A series of damage numbers shed; their attacks couldn''t even breach his physical and magical defenses, merely deducting 1 health point each. Only the tier-seven and above Dark Humans managed to inflict some decent damage. "How is this possible?" Hummer was shocked. They had refined The Immortals'' treasures, boosting their core attributes by ten thousand points, far surpassing ordinary yers, yet they couldn''t prate John''s defenses. "Hmph, this is where you all meet your end!" John sneered, directly unleashing Soul Impact, targeting Hummer first. Buzz! A resonating hum echoed, and deep within his mind came a thunderous roar. He suffered a soul bacsh, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth. "What a powerful soul!" he thought, his face pale and heavily injured. Much like John and the others when they had killed several powerful angels, he sensed an otherworldly force within the Azure Family disciples. However, the soul power within the Azure Family disciples was even more formidable; the bacsh nearly left him incapacitated. They were backed by an existence more powerful than the God of Light. John thought of the gods. Hummer''s expression was grim, his mind swirling with dizziness. But he quickly regained hisposure and coldly dered, "John, you will pay for your arrogance! Attack! He''s just one person; no matter how strong he is, he can''t take us all on!" His furious shout rallied the Dark Humans, whounched an even fiercer assault. Clearly, they had never witnessed John''s true horror. "Master, do you need me to step in?" Elsa asked as she approached John. To her, their strongest members were nothing more than tier-nine legendary warriors, hardly worth her interest. "No need," John replied firmly, his immense sword intent swirling around him. He unleashed the Infinite Sword Array. Buzz! The air resonated with the sound of swords, and countless des rained down, enveloping the army below. Pfft... Blood sprayed as terrifying damage numbers shed; entire sections of the army copsed. The Azure Family members fared no better; being struck by the des meant certain death. Unable to use soul attacks topletely obliterate them, he could only inflict losses on their levels. Only the tier-seven and above Dark Humans could barely withstand John''s assault. [You killed a 500-level Dark Human, gaining 177,000 experience points] [Plunder talent activated, skill point +1] ... Notification messages kept shing as John plundered numerous attribute points, the spoils of battle littering the ground below. On the city wall, Malina watched the scene unfold with delight, reminiscent of the previous defense battle. Now, as a team with John, her experience was rapidly increasing. Malina even wished for a few more waves of enemies; at this rate, she would soon break through to tier seven. Roar... Roars echoed through the mountains and forests, asrge groups of foes emerged. Beasts, Orcs, Barbarians, Giants, demon races, and a dozen other species-all were armiesposed of tier-five and above warriors, numbering in the hundreds of thousands! These creatures were also drawn by the system announcement, hoping to seize the treasures she had obtained. "Godyer, can you handle this?" she couldn''t help but feel a twinge of worry. "Don''t worry. These trash pose no threat to the Master," Elsa scoffed from beside her, still uninterested in taking action. It dawned on Malina that the angel before her was a demigod; dealing with these foes would be a walk in the park. Feeling reassured, she directed the yers on the city wall to fight. With John standing in front, she couldn''t miss the chance to pick up spoils. "Kill them! Leave not a single one alive!" came the rallying cries from behind. Thebined armies of various races charged straight at the Dark Humans. With the gods backing the Dark Humans, they had long oppressed and persecuted others. The animosity these groups felt toward the Dark Humans far exceeded that of humans. Caught in a pincer attack, the Dark Humans quickly suffered heavy casualties. They were already no match for John; the sudden appearance of new enemies threw them intoplete disarray. "Damn it! Fall back!" the leading Dark Human cursed, gritting his teeth as he led the remaining forces in an attempt to break through. But John wasn''t about to let them escape. Dark Descent unleashed, with countless spells howling and wreaking havoc. In no time, the Dark Human army was decimated. As for the Azure Family disciples, they had beenpletely wiped out under John''s first round of Infinite Sword Array. Unfortunately, he hadn''t managed to erase thempletely. Warriors from various races, including Beast n, demon race, and Orcs, gathered at the foot of the city but hesitated to attack. Among the demon race, a ninth-tier Demon King stepped forward, looking at John and proiming loudly, "Human, I know who you are. The demon race does not wish to be your enemy. Hand over the human treasures, and we will withdraw immediately." John sneered, dismissing the idea. "Oh? So the demon race is interested in human treasures too?" "It''s unavoidable. The treasures of the demon race are too scarce, so I can only refine treasures from other races," he replied, clearly frustrated. With the Divine Path opening, many ninth-tier warriors had emerged, but the number of treasures avable was too low, forcing them to resort to those from other races to enhance their strength. John refused to part with his treasures. "But I only have one set of treasures. If I give it to you, what will the other races do?" Upon hearing his words, the various armies became vignt, their eyes narrowing as they sized each other up, tension thick in the air, ready to strike at any moment. "Everyone be quiet; don''t waste time talking to him. Kill him, seize the treasures, and we can sort it out afterward!" a ninth-tier warrior from the Orcs dered, fixing his gaze on John. "Agreed!" Several other warriors from different races echoed their support. "Sorry, but we, the Beast n, won''t get involved in this matter." From the Beast n ranks, a ninth-tier Three-Eyed Serpent emerged, looking at John with a calm demeanor. "Godyer, you have done us a favor. This time, let it be our way of repaying that favor. We withdraw." With that order, he led the Beast n''s tens of thousands of troops in retreat. "Such a pity," John couldn''t help butment; killing these enemies would have granted him substantial experience points. However, with Tony and Ben, the two Beast n elders, already allied with him, he felt he should give them face. As the Beast n withdrew, the warriors from various races did not intervene. From their perspective, the absence of the Beast n made little difference; in fact, it reduced competition. John turned his attention to the Demon King, saying, "Aren''t you guys leaving? If I remember correctly, Michelle instructed you not to act against me." "Hmph, Lady Michelle isn''t here," the Demon King retorted dismissively, coldly ordering, "Attack! Leave none alive!" Dark magic surged as the demon race armyunched their assault. And quickly followed by warriors from other races. "Seeking death!" John scoffed, summoning the powers of light and darkness. He unleashed his strongest attack. Boom! Boom! The ground shook as terrifying energy shed; he single-handedly held back thebined forces of hundreds of thousands. The Demon King, witnessing this, was not surprised. "Human, I knew you were powerful. If we weren''t confident, would we dare to engage you? Form the formation!" With a fierce shout, several ninth-tier legendary warriors quickly retreated to key positions, conjuring Spirit Stones in their hands. A potent energy surged as they attempted to seal off the area. "Wait, they''re setting up a sealing formation!" On the city wall, Elsa noticed their actions, her expression changing. She urgently warned, "Master, kill those ninth-tier warriors! They''re trying to set up a sealing formation!" A sealing formation? John was puzzled, but he guessed that this was a formation with the same effect as the Sealing Demon Pill. Without Elsa''s reminder, he stared at the Spirit Stone in the hands of a few people. "Die!" John shouted coldly as the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword flew out, splitting into three as he activated Sword Mastery, targeting the Demon King. "Demon Armor!" the Demon King bellowed, his ck armor materializing to effortlessly block John''s Sword Mastery attack. "Hmm? Do you possess a demon race artifact?" John asked, surprised. It was clear the Demon King had refined a demon artifact, but he only had a single piece-the Demon Armor. "Fool, you will die! The formation isplete!" the Demon King roared, as a beam of light erupted from the Spirit Stone in his hand, synchronizing with the others to seal off the area. John felt a strange force enveloping him, suppressing his spiritual power and mana, preventing him from casting spells. It was indeed simr to the effects of a Mana-Suppressing Potion or an anti-magic charm. If there had been a demigod present, he might have been concerned, but these ninth-tier warriors stood no chance against him with such tactics. "My magical attacks are not my only strength; my physical attacks are terrifying as well." "No need for you to intervene; I can handle this," he told Elsa, blocking her from stepping in. Gripping the Sword of Divinity and Demons, he charged at the Demon King. "Hmph, you overestimate yourself!" the Demon King scoffed, confident even within the formation, despite his own magic being sealed. He believed his power surpassed that of the Godyer. Boom! With a single swing, John sent the Demon King flying, blood spewing from his mouth as he stared in shock. "Y-Your strength... why is it so immense?" "Foolishness!" John replied coldly. "You had a chance to live, but that opportunity is gone now!" He lunged at the Demon King once more. "This human is a bit strange; let''s all attack together!" the Demon Kingmanded, ncing at the seven ninth-tier warriors beside him. The group exchanged looks and charged at John simultaneously, their attacks purely a test of strength. Among them, a ninth-tier giant exerted significant pressure on John, his power far exceeding that of the others. However, John remained unfazed. "Damn it, everyone use ranged magical attacks!" one of the warriors shouted in rm, realizing the escting danger. The Orc warrior quickly ordered the forces outside the formation to unleash their spells and arrows. Although this could potentially injure their own men, the urgency to eliminate John outweighed their concerns. Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Bountiful Harvest and Precious Relics Chapter 198: Bountiful Harvest and Precious Relics ? Whoosh... A rain of arrows and spells whistled through the air, enveloping the group. John frowned, unwilling to get entangled with these foes. "It''s over," he said, stepping back to avoid most of the magical and arrow attacks. He then unleashed his soul skill, Soul Impact. The sealing array suppressed magic, but it could not contain soul attacks. Buzz... The air trembled as powerful soul energy surged, instantly engulfing the nearby ninth-tier warriors. "Soul attack!" Their expressions shifted in rm, and without any means to resist, their souls were swiftly destroyed. Blood flowed from their orifices as they copsed to the ground, lifeless. One-hit kills! John''s soul power wasparable to that of a demigod, making it easy to dispatch these ninth-tier legends. Especially without divine protection. [You have killed the ninth-tier Demon King, gaining 37.6 million experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Spirit +100, Dark Element Affinity +5.] ... Notification messages shed before him as the fallen enemies dropped a multitude of items, including dozens of Spirit Stones. John was delighted; he desperately needed Spirit Stones. "The Demon King is dead?" "Retreat! This human is a monster!" ... As the few fell, the remaining forces of various races were thrown into chaos, losing their will to fight and fleeing in panic. John had no intention of letting these enemies escape. Multiple spells surged around him, unleashing powerful area-of-effect attacks that mercilessly bombarded the various racial warriors. mes roared and light and dark magic enveloped the battlefield, transforming the area into a hellscape where the foes had no means of resistance and were ruthlessly ughtered. Even so, many managed to flee. John chose not to pursue them. After this battle, they should have realized the terror of Phoenix City and would think twice before attacking again. Whoosh... Suddenly, a fierce wind swept through, and a terrifying presence enveloped the area. "A demigod!" John frowned, his expression grave as he looked up at the sky. Elsa immediately flew down from the city walls andnded in front of him, keeping a vignt eye on the sky. Boom! Booming thunder rolled as a figure materialized in mid-air, followed by several powerful auras descending. They were all demigods, with two of them even being lower-tier gods. John felt apprehensive; if it were only one or two demigods, he and Elsa might have a chance to fight. But with more than two demigods and two lower-tier gods, his death was certain. The figure in mid-air wore a look of terror and quickly retreated. The surrounding divine presences faded in tandem, and the world regained its rity. "What just happened?" John asked, puzzled. Elsa let out a sigh of relief and exined, "Master, the demigod that just appeared is from the gods. He wouldn''t dare to descend lightly. The deities of the various races are all watching the gods and their divine warriors." "I see," John replied, understanding. No wonder there had been no divine appearances except during the activation of the Divine Path. Even the demigods were hiding in The Secret Area. "Godyer!" Malina approached, her eyes gleaming as she surveyed the spoils of battle. "Can we have a share of these items?" "Give me the artifacts, skill stones, and Spirit Stones. We can split the other items evenly," John said casually. Right now, he was primarily interested in Spirit Stones and skill stones, finding little value in the rest. "Sure!" Malina beamed, immediately directing her subordinates to clean up the battlefield. Most of the enemies were boss-level beings, leading to a bountiful haul. They collected over seventy low-tier artifacts, 170,000 skill stones, and 125 Spirit Stones. These Spirit Stones were all dropped by ninth level powerhouses. John, take them all away. What hecks the most now is Spirit Stone, which can convert magic points. After several days of battles and with the Plunder ability, his power had increased significantly, and his magical energy had reached over 2.5 million points. He needed 250 Spirit Stones to convert all his magical energy into spiritual power. Once he transformed all his magical energy, integrating The Immortals artifacts would ensure that any future boosts to his mental attributes automatically converted into spiritual power. His current stash of Spirit Stones was still far from sufficient. Additionally, they were rare; only powerful ninth-tier beings dropped them, making them hard to acquire. With the threat of The Secret Area resolved, John didn''t linger in Phoenix City. He bid farewell to Malina and returned to the Saint Martial Sect. The Saint Martial Sect and me City remained tranquil. Despite several assaults from the Dark Humans and Orcs, those enemies had proven utterly ipetent, suffering heavy losses. Since then, no strong foes dared to target John''s territories. Feeling a surge of motivation, John entered Death Land to enhance his techniques and refine Spirit Stones for converting them into spiritual power. Over the past few days, he had plundered over 30,000 skill points and,bined with the 170,000 skill stones he possessed, his skill points exceeded 200,000. It was time for another boost in his technique level. He chose to elevate his Soul Technique once more. [Consumed 1,000 skill points; Soul Technique upgraded to level 1,944, Soul Technique +1.] ... [Consumed 1,000 skill points; Soul Technique upgraded to level 2,152, Soul Technique +1.] He spent all his skill points, bringing his Soul Technique to over 2,000 levels, yet he still failed toprehend any new skills. "What''s going on? Not gaining a skill after breaking the 2,000 level barrier?" John furrowed his brow in frustration. He had invested over a million skill points to elevate his Soul Technique, yet not a single new skill had emerged. It felt like aplete waste. He thought it might have been better to invest in Overwhelming Battle Energy, where he might have gained several skills instead. At least he found some constion in the fact that his Soul Technique had improved. He pulled out the Spirit Stones-155 in total-and began the refining process to convert them into spiritual power. The refining of Spirit Stones was no easy task; it required meticulous effort and time. ... Over the course of half a month, he refined all the Spirit Stones, converting over a million magical points, resulting in his spiritual power reaching 161 points. However, his overall strength did not see a noticeable increase. During this time, there had been three system announcements regarding the emergence of three sets of treasures, but none were imed by human yers; instead, they were taken by strong beings from other races. John was unaware of their specific locations and thus could not plunder them. After the Divine Path was activated, other races gained their own opportunities, which also triggered system announcements. Despite the chaos on Skyline Continent, no divine beings had descended. Whoosh! Just then, the waters of the Dark Sea surged, and Kamal appeared. "Godyer, I was just looking for you," she said, gracefully descending. Her injuries had healed, and her aura had strengthened considerably, indicating a significant recovery of her power. "Is something the matter?" John asked, puzzled. Kamal nodded. "In three days, a treasure will be opened." "A treasure?" John replied, confused, not fully understanding what she meant. "It''s somewhat simr to The Secret Area," Kamal exined briefly. "This treasure is essible only to those who have refined treasures but have notpletely integrated them. It can aid in the fusion process. Each race has several slots avable, and we, the demon race, can offer you one of those slots." "Really?" John responded, surprised and skeptical about the demon race''s apparent goodwill. Kamal shifted ufortably under his gaze and replied coldly, "You don''t need to doubt it. Within this treasure, mutual killing is prohibited. Even if someone wanted to attack you, they wouldn''t dare to do so openly." "Thank you," John said gratefully, then added, "But isn''t one slot a bit too few?" Kamal furrowed her brow, visibly displeased. "How many do you want?" "How about three slots?" John suggested, thinking of hispanions. Bonnie had refined a demon race treasure, and he had obtained a Beast n treasure by ying the Azure Dragon, which he wanted to give to Behemoth. Both of them hadn''t fully integrated their treasures, so he wanted to bring them along. "Not possible!" Kamal replied decisively. "Don''t be greedy. We, the demon race, only have ten slots. Giving you one is already a huge favor. If it weren''t for your acquisition of The Immortals treasure, we wouldn''t even consider it." "How stingy," John remarked, but seeing her about to get angry, he quickly asked, "Is there any other way to obtain more slots?" "There is, but you can''t do it," she exined. "Every race with a divine being can invite participants to gain slots." Divine beings? Bonnie and Behemoth didn''t meet the criteria. Bonnie was a dark elf queen and the strongest among the elves. As for Behemoth, John had only encountered him, and he wasn''t sure if there were any others of that race, let alone a divine being. He considered the Beast n, but they might not grant him a slot either. He had to think of another way. Looking at Kamal, he asked, "If I were to y a demigod, would that count as a divine being?" "You can kill a demigod?" Kamal said, surprised and stunned, her brow furrowing. "If you can y a demigod, you might just earn three slots." "Three? Why not ten?" John was confused. Kamal was speechless. "Kid, you think just because you can kill a demigod, you canpare yourself to the demon race? The number of slots is determined by strength." "Fine. Three slots are enough. Just make sure to reserve that one slot for me," John conceded,n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om not wanting to be too greedy, especially since there weren''t many strong refiners among his followers. "Hmph!" Kamal scoffed, clearly doubting John''s ability to y a demigod. She thought he was just boasting. "By the way," John remembered something and asked, "Can your demon race give me a set of demon race treasures?" "Kid, don''t get too carried away!" Kamal''s anger was real. The treasures were scarce, and the demon race barely had enough for themselves, let alone give him one. She didn''t have any spare treasures either. "Not agreeing is fine, but no need to get angry," John shot her a re, unafraid. He realized that asking for the treasures was a bit excessive. He had hoped to help Sara acquire a set of demon race treasures, but it looked like he would have to find a way on his own. Kamal''s eyes flickered for a moment before she said, "It''s impossible to give you a set of demon race treasures, but you can go and take them yourself." Chapter 199: The Giant Spirit City, the Powerful Giant Spirit God 199 Chapter 199: The Giant Spirit City, the Powerful Giant Spirit God "Oh?" John''s interest was piqued. Kamal continued, "Did you notice the system announcement from a week ago? It mentioned that the Dark Humans'' Itai obtained a set of demon race treasures. I know his location, but I wonder if you dare to seize it?" John''s eyes lit up immediately. "Where is he?" "In the Giant Spirit City, a level nine city of the Dark Humans. However, there is a demigod stronghold there," Kamal said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. She couldn''t descend into the world of Gods to snatch the demon race treasures herself, and her own demon race level nine warriors weren''t strong enough to take on the challenge. She was eager to see if John would actually dare to go. "A demigod stronghold?" John''s excitement grew. The coordinates for Giant Spirit City were located in The Secret Area. With the Divine Path opened, all The Secret Areas and hidden maps were essible, as long as he knew the coordinates. "Thank you!" John expressed his gratitude. He desperately needed to hunt a demigod to upgrade his Wrath of the Gods talent. "Elsa, we have a mission!" He summoned Elsa and then left Death Land, heading towards Giant Spirit City. "Are you really going?" Kamal frowned, still doubting John''s ability to kill a demigod. Perhaps it was due to the angel by his side. Kamal could sense that Elsa was a demigod herself. But even so, taking on the Giant Spirit God in Giant Spirit City would be nearly impossible. "Human, if you die there, don''t me me¡­" Kamal sneered, secretly hoping for John''s downfall. As long as he fell, Death Land would be a no-man''snd, and they could openly seize it. Most importantly, Sini, the princess of the demon race, must not be involved with humans. ¡­ John and Elsa flew northward toward Giant Spirit City. Avis was still not awake; he was likely still refining the corpse of the Azure Dragon. He had a feeling that after this encounter, Avis''s strength would see a significant boost. After all, the Azure Dragon had originally been a lower-tier god; if it weren''t for its severe injuries and fatal weaknesses, it wouldn''t have been defeated by him and Elsa together. The two flew swiftly, arriving at a deste area¡ªthe coordinates Kamal had provided pointed to this spot. "Master, this seems to be the entrance to Giant Spirit City," Elsa observed her surroundings, looking puzzled. "You know this ce?" John asked, surprised. Elsa nodded, exining, "This is one of the few level nine cities of the Dark Humans, and it''s guarded by a demigod. Master, you aren''t thinking of plundering the demon race treasure that Itai obtained a few days ago, are you?" She had heard the system announcement from a few days back. Itai was the lord of Giant Spirit City, a peak level nine warrior. However, he wasn''t the strongest; there was also a terrifying demigod, the Giant Spirit God, who presided over the city. "Is that a problem?" John asked, noticing her change in expression. She swallowed hard and cautioned, "Master, the Giant Spirit God is incredibly powerful. He wields the power of giants and is among the few demigods of the Dark Humans with a chance to break through to be a lower-tier god. I am nowhere near his match." John furrowed his brows, realizing that Kamal''s intentions weren''t as benevolent as they seemed. If he were to eliminate the Giant Spirit God, it would weaken the Dark Humans'' strength, benefiting the demon race. But if he were killed by the Giant Spirit God, Kamal could seize Death Land directly, gaining even greater advantages. But John wasn''t willing to give up. He asked, "What about his Soul Technique? Do you think we can kill him together?" Elsa thought for a moment and replied, "The Giant Spirit God''s Soul Technique is decent, but it''s definitely superior to an ordinary demigod. However, hecks soul attack methods; his strength lies in the power of giants. Still, I won''t be able to withstand his attacks." "That''s fine; I''ll help you block," John said confidently. As long as the Giant Spirit God didn''t have soul attacks, he felt no fear. Worst case, he could still rely on his Undying and Immortal talent to oust him. "Let''s go!" He sensed the entrance to Giant Spirit City. With a fluctuation of Spatial power, he and Elsa entered without obstruction. Whaty before them was destion. The city wasn''t the luxurious, prosperous ce he had imagined; instead, it seemed somewhat dpidated. However, the Dark Humans here were strong, all above level seven epic rank. "Human! Demigod angel!" A surprised voice rang out as the surrounding Dark Humans noticed them. Frowning, one of them said coldly, "Outsiders are not wee here. Leave at once!" Whoosh! John didn''t bother to argue. He activated Sword Mastery, and a sh of cold light instantly killed several nearby Dark Humans. Whoosh¡­ Suddenly, a fierce wind picked up, and dark clouds gathered in the sky, spreading a terrifying aura. It was a demigod, and the power emanating from him was far greater than Elsa''s; it could only be the Giant Spirit God. Buzz! With a fluctuation of Spatial power, a bald Dark Human appeared, wielding a long staff. He was tall and stocky, wearing a broad smile as hepletely ignored John and addressed Elsa, asking casually, "Elsa, I heard you betrayed the Angels¡­" She furrowed her brow, wary, and nced at John beside her. "Oh? There''s a little human brat too?" The Giant Spirit God seemed to finally notice John. "Hm? The Immortals!" Sensing the aura emanating from John, his expression changed. He swung his long staff, aiming directly at him. [You have been killed by the Giant Spirit God. The Blessed Ring is activated...] Prompt messages flickered, and John felt a surge of terrifying power coursing through him. Even with the Resurrection from The Blessed Ring, he still sustained severe injuries. So strong! He was a bit shaken; it seemed that this guy''s attack inflicted ongoing damage. Even after Resurrection, the harm didn''t cease. Fortunately, hecked soul attack methods, so John could withstand it. "Oh, I see now. You''re that Godyer!" The Giant Spirit God looked at John, now resurrected, with a somewhat bewildered expression. "Interesting, you dare toe to my territory to seek death!" With that, he swung his staff again, charging toward John. "Damn it..." John cursed, and unsurprisingly, he was killed once more. The Lifesaver talent activated, granting him five seconds of invulnerability. Buzz... The surrounding dark and light powers surged, and he unleashed a magical attack, triggering the Spell Combo talent to bombard the Giant Spirit God. Boom, boom... -1,423,000 -1,547,000 ... A series of damage numbers shed, each inflicting over a million in true damage to the Giant Spirit God. In those five seconds, John attacked 15 times, triggering Spell Combo 13 times, and the Giant Spirit God lost nearly forty million in health. However, this was nothingpared to his 10 billion health points. "Hmm, such high true damage¡ªthis is interesting!" The Giant Spirit God remained unfazed, looking at John with curiosity before unleashing another fierce attack. Boom! John spat out blood and was sent flying, unsurprisingly killed once more. The Lifesaver talent activated for the second time, granting him another five seconds of invulnerability. He unleashed another barrage of attacks. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Whoosh! At that moment, the Divine Binding Rope shot out as Elsa intervened, skillfully binding the Giant Spirit God tightly. With a swift movement, John appeared in front of the Giant Spirit God, raising the Sword of Divinity and Demons high, preparing to execute Demon yer sh. Bang! -77,220 John''s strike dealt just over seventy thousand true damage. However, the true power of Demon yer shy in its ability to control and be uninterruptible. The longsword glimmered as a flurry of attacks rained down. The Giant Spirit God remained indifferent, sneering, "A human has actually grasped the Beast n''s Demon yer sh, but such attacks are ineffective against me!" Boom! A terrifying force surged; he effortlessly broke free from the Divine Binding Rope, swinging his staff to engulf both John and Elsa. Having witnessed the Giant Spirit God''s strength, John knew Elsa couldn''t withstand the blow, so he instinctively stepped in front of her. Boom! A powerful strike shattered himpletely. The Undying and Immortal talent activated, and he resurrected on the spot. John gasped for breath, his face pale, staring at the Giant Spirit God in fear. "You have soul attack methods!" He had been killed multiple times, and his soul had evidently taken damage. "Not at all." The Giant Spirit God replied sincerely, "Have you heard of the phrase ''one force can ovee ten weaknesses''? When strength reaches its peak, it can also harm the soul." John furrowed his brow, his expression grave. This guy was more terrifying than he had imagined. It seemed that even among demigod-level powers, the gap in strength could be vast. "Master, what should we do?" Elsa swallowed hard, looking at him for help. "Haha¡­" The Giant Spirit God sneered dismissively, snapping his fingers to instantly seal the space around them, preventing their escape. "Don''t waste your energy struggling; just ept your deaths!" With that, heunched another brutal attack. "Let''s do this!" John gritted his teeth and charged forward recklessly, simultaneously casting dark magic¡ªDark Descent. Three beams of light and darkness struck down at once. Boom¡­ Thunderous explosions echoed as the Spell Combo activated, causing the Giant Spirit God to lose over seven million health points. As expected, John was killed again, resurrecting on the spot and spitting out another mouthful of blood, his face pale. "Master! Damn it!" Elsa was furious, feeling John''s soul had been severely damaged. She shouted in anger and charged at the Giant Spirit God without hesitation. "Be careful!" John quickly tried to stop her. Boom! With a resounding crash, blood sprayed as Elsa was sent flying, her injuries severe from just one hit. "You handle the long-range attacks; I can deal with him!" John wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Thanks to the life-sharing from the Jade Heart Lotus and The Tree of Life, his soul injury was recovering quickly. A flurry of spells surged forth as he charged at the Giant Spirit God again. Boom boom¡­ More thunderous roars erupted, inflicting millions of true damage once more. "Overestimating yourself!" The Giant Spirit God scoffed, swinging his staff in a whirlwind and preparing to strike John down again. "I want to see just how many times you can resurrect!" He gave John no chance to breathe, as shadows of his staff filled the air, instantly killing John a dozen times. In an instant, John was killed a dozen times. Elsa panicked but managed to suppress her internal injuries. She used the Divine Binding Rope again to tightly bind the Giant Spirit God. Meanwhile, John fought through his own injuries, continuing to unleash a relentless barrage of light and dark magic at the Giant Spirit God. "Hmph, useless!" The Giant Spirit God shrugged off the magical attacks, effortlessly breaking free from the Divine Binding Rope''s restraints, and once more killed John in a single blow. ... Creation is hard, cheer me up! Like it ? Add to library£¡ Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know. BigWhiteGoose Chapter 200: Near Death, the Power of the Giant Spirit 200 Chapter 200: Near Death, the Power of the Giant Spirit A terrifying energy surged through the air, causing the surrounding Dark Humans to retreat in excitement as they watched the battle unfold. They were confident that John and Elsa were no match for the Giant Spirit God. Boom! With another deafening sound, John was killed once more, his face pale as he spat out a mouthful of blood. "Still not dead?" The Giant Spirit God panted slightly, a faint trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. He had killed John hundreds of times, yet he too was feeling the strain, his health rapidly declining under the relentless magical bombardment from his opponent. After half a day''sbat, his health had dropped to one billion. This human was strange, wielding both light and dark powers, which were entirely different from one another. Not only that, but it seemed his skills had no cooldown, allowing him to unleash a barrage of spells without a moment''s pause. At this rate, the Giant Spirit God feared he might truly be in. John, on the other hand, was in a dire state¡ªweak, dizzy, and barely holding on by sheer force of will. He attempted to use a soul attack, but the opponent''s Soul Technique far surpassed his own, resulting in a bacsh that only worsened his injuries. He dared not use a soul attack again. "I want to see just how many times you can resurrect!" The Giant Spirit God gritted his teeth and swung his staff once more, charging at John. "Killing you will be enough!" John replied defiantly, unleashing his own magical attack in retaliation. Boom! Once again, John was swiftly killed, but the Giant Spirit God also lost millions of health points in the process. "Human, you''vepletely angered me!" he roared, his attacks bing fiercer, leaving John no chance to retaliate. In an instant, John was killed several times. "Master!" Elsa eximed in panic, clearly sensing the severe damage to John''s soul. If this continued, he would undoubtedly die. "Wandering light elf, heed my call, shower down your blessings, and heal the wounded souls¡ªSoul Healing Technique!" She chanted the incantation, a wave of light pouring down to restore John''s soul injuries. Bathe in the Holy Light, John felt a moment of warmth as his soul wounds healed slightly. But it was hardly enough to make a difference. The Giant Spirit''s attack came crashing down again, killing him once more and worsening the already fragile state of his soul. "Master, I''ll hold him back! You find a way to escape!" Elsa gritted her teeth, charging forward without regard for her life. She summoned the Divine Binding Rope, briefly restraining the Giant Spirit again as beams of light sliced down. John seized the opportunity to unleash his magic attacks. "Hmph, useless!" the Giant Spirit scoffed, brushing off their attacks and breaking free from the Divine Binding Rope. He shifted his focus, charging toward Elsa. "Die, Earth Tremor!" he shouted,unching his most powerful attack. It''s over! In despair, Elsa closed her eyes. Suddenly¡ª Blood sttered as John, using Sword Mastery, pierced her shoulder, pulling her away just in time to narrowly avoid the Giant Spirit''s lethal strike. "Dodge! I won''t die!" John urged, gritting his teeth as he unleashed another wave of magical attacks. "Master..." Elsa felt a surge of emotion, remotely controlling the Divine Binding Rope to bind the Giant Spirit God. This was the only way she could assist John. However, the Giant Spirit God''s strength was astonishing; the effect of the Divine Binding Rope was nearly negligible. Moreover, now that his life points had dropped below one billion, he became even more frenzied. In just a short time, John had already been killed dozens of times. "Human, you possess a soul treasure!" the Giant Spirit God noticed the anomaly. The Undying and Immortal ability wasn''t a cost-free resurrection; without a soul-type treasure, this human would have perished long ago. Ignoring him, John dragged his weary body forward, continuing his relentless barrage. The Giant Spirit God was genuinely frightened and began using skills to defend himself, but the true damage ignored any defenses, rendering his efforts futile. ... The battle raged on, John''s face pale as a sheet, his form swaying dangerously. At the same time, the Giant Spirit God was also in dire straits, his life points plummeting to ten million, precariously close to death. Using his staff for support, he locked his gaze on John and said with a hint of resignation, "Human, if you can withstand my final blow, I will ept my fate!" Taking a deep breath, he straightened his body, gripping the staff tightly as powerful muscles bulged in his arms. "Power of the Giant Spirit!" he roared, his body growing slightlyrger as his armor strained and began to tear. "Earth Shattering Strike!" he followed up, swinging his staff to create a massive shadow that shed, a howling wind rising to darken the sky as it came crashing down toward John. "Block it! You have to block it!" John couldn''t evade the iing blow, watching the massive shadow of the staff hurtling down from above, silently praying. Whoosh! At that moment, a graceful figure dashed forward, unhesitatingly positioning herself in front of him. It was Elsa. Boom! A violent roar echoed, and the ground trembled as John was sent flying. In mid-air, white feathers tainted with blood floated down, and a soft formnded in his arms. "Elsa!" John trembled slightly, feeling through their soul contract that Elsa''s life force was rapidly fading. N?v(el)B\\jnn "Master..." she looked up at him, forcing a smile as she spoke haltingly, "I''m fine. You... you need to go..." "Don''t speak. Don''t resist," John interrupted her, taking a deep breath. He activated the life-sharing contract. Bound to The Tree of Life, his life force was immense, and perhaps this could save Elsa. But there was a downside: their lives were now intertwined; if either of them faced disaster, they would both perish. At this moment, John could hardly care about the consequences. As Elsa''s life ebbed away, just in time, the life-sharing contract waspleted. "Ugh!" John winced in pain, feeling his own life force drain away, flowing into Elsa. Then, a more potent life force surged forth from The Tree of Life, instantly filling the void between them. John sighed with relief; Elsa was still unconscious, but she was no longer in danger of dying. "Now it''s your turn." Gentlyying Elsa down, he rose unsteadily, coldly fixing his gaze on the Giant Spirit God. At this moment, the Giant Spirit God slumped weakly to the ground, swallowing hard and letting out a resigned smile, surrendering to fate. He wore a calm expression, saying, "I''ve seen the shadow of The Immortals in you; you''re all a bunch of lunatics. Perhaps the gods will pay for their arrogance. Kid, make your move, or once I recover, you''re dead!" John looked at him, feeling a twinge of respect but held nothing back. He unleashed a barrage of light and dark magic, along with Sword Immortal and Assassin skills, overwhelming the Giant Spirit God. Boom¡­ With each st, the giant''s health plummeted, rapidly hitting zero as he copsed to the ground. [You have in the demigod Giant Spirit God, earning 26.76 billion experience points.] [Your level has risen to 1095...] [Plunder talent activated: Strength +1000, Skill points +100. You have gained the power of the Giant Spirit.] [Giant Spirit Power: Strength attribute increase 100%.] The notifications shed before him as Johny weakly on the ground, astonished. He had actually plundered the Giant Spirit God''s power, boosting his strength attribute by 100%. No wonder the giant was so formidable. "Human, you dare kill the Giant Spirit God? Unforgivable!" Suddenly, a furious roar echoed as a horde of Dark Humans surged forward. Leading them was a formidable figure, a peak ninth-tier powerhouse. And had already refined a treasure. John struggled to rise; despite his weakened state, dealing with them was a breeze. "Heh, thinking of revenge?" He looked at the approaching foes with disdain. Summoning thirty ck dragon swords, he split them into three, unleashing Sword Mastery to shred through them with reckless abandon. "Master, leave it to me!" Elsa''s voice came through. Thanks to their life-sharing, she was unharmed, waking up serenely. Confused, she looked at the charging Dark Humans, her anger ring as sheunched a furious counterattack. The powerful light energy surged around her, and her aura seemed to strengthen. The Dark Humans crumbled before her, quickly falling to her onught. John let out a sigh of relief, weakly sitting on the ground. "Master, are you okay?" Elsa asked, her expression filled with concern. John snapped back, "Don''t worry, I''m not dead. But you nearly got me killed." Elsa looked remorseful, kneeling in front of him like a child who''d made a mistake. "Alright, I was just joking." Seeing her guilty expression, John''s anger dissipated. He reminded her, "Now that we''re life-sharing, don''t take reckless risks. I don''t want to lose my life for no reason." "Don''t worry, Master, I''ll take care of myself," she replied sweetly, leaning against him. "Um, Master, you''re reacting," she said, her cheeks flushing as she lowered her gaze. John was speechless. "With you this close, how could I not react?" Yet, Elsa showed no sign of moving away, softly asking, "Master, can you handle it?" John felt a surge of frustration; after the life-and-death battle, he was indeed weak, but his desires burned intensely. "Maybe you''re the one who can''t handle it." He rolled over, pinning Elsa beneath him. "Master¡­" she gasped, symbolically resisting for a moment before surrendering, responding eagerly to him. "Master, lie down obediently and let me do it. "She clearly felt that John''s soul was still weak, and obediently took off his long robe, revealing his perfect body. John couldn''t help but swallow his saliva, feeling hot in his heart. Elsa''s pretty face turned red, and she took off John''s equipment. Her white wings stretched out, covering the two of them. She leaned on John''s chest, breathing rapidly, and whispered, "Master, don''t work too hard, just once" "This is not your decision, "John regained some strength, turned over and pressed her down, holding her lips and greedily sucking. "Mmm... "Elsa whimpered, closed her eyes slightly, wrapped her wings around John, and the two were tightly entangled. Creation is hard, cheer me up! Like it ? Add to library£¡ Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know. BigWhiteGoose Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Wild Encounter, Bountiful Gains Chapter 201: Wild Encounter, Bountiful Gains ? In the open wilderness, Elsa''s soft cries echoed continuously. It didn''t take long before she was overwhelmed by John''s relentless onught, reaching a shuddering climax. "Master, let me help... You''re going too fast, I can''t take it..." she gasped, struggling to catch her breath as she pleaded desperately. Though it wasn''t her first time, she still couldn''t endure John''s aggressive pace. The swelling pain in her lower body sent waves of both agony and pleasure through her. Part of her longed for it to end quickly, yet another part of her felt an inexplicable yearning. "Don''t worry, I won''t go overboard this time," John murmured softly, gently stroking her hair. However, his movements only grew more intense. "Master, no... it''s too much... I can''t bear it..." Elsa winced, gripping the grass beneath her with both hands, her wings wrapping tightly around John. The fierce rhythm quickly wore down her resistance. Her body trembled, and her wings drooped weakly. The overwhelming sensations pushed her to the brink of fainting, leaving her gazing up at John with a blissful smile on her face. "Master, you''re too strong... Please... spare me..." she begged softly, her voice trembling. She had already climaxed three times in such a short period, feeling utterly fulfilled both physically and emotionally. If this continued, she feared she might not hold on-and worried about John''s own wellbeing. "We''re just getting started," John whispered, leaning down to hungrily kiss her delicate skin, his hands roaming and teasing. "Mmm..." Elsa moaned helplessly as she gave in once more, wrapping her arms tightly around John''s head. The intense pleasure radiating from her chest and lower body ignited every nerve, making her feel as though she were drifting through the clouds, caught between ecstasy and oblivion. "Master, I can''t... I''m going to climax again... Ah!" Elsa cried out loudly. Her legs tightened around John, her hips trembling uncontrobly, and fluid continually seeping from her lower body. The blush spreading across her fair skin was enticingly seductive. "Just a little longer, we''re almost there," John panted slightly, straightening his posture. He grasped her ankle and rested it on his shoulder. Elsa''s hips lifted involuntarily, allowing him to go even deeper. "Ah... Master, it''s too deep... Elsa can''t take it...," she whimpered fearfully, tears welling up in her eyes as she pleaded for mercy. The impact surged beneath her, reaching deep into her soul. She felt like she was drowning, waving her arms in panic, begging desperately. John held her small hand and pressed it against her smooth abdomen as he continued to thrust with greater force and intensity. Elsa''s mouth opened wide in pain, but no sound escaped. Tears streamed down her face as she shook her head repeatedly, silently pleading. "Just hold on, we''re almost there!" John tightened his grip on her wrist, his pace quickening. Elsa''s delicate body trembled violently, her breasts shaking, and she could do nothing but yield helplessly to his movements. After more than ten minutes, John finally reached his limit. With one final, deep thrust, he released his powerful, fiery energy deep within her. "Ah..." Elsa let out a weak moan from deep within her throat, her lower abdomen rising and falling erratically. Her body convulsed uncontrobly, overwhelmed by the burning sensation spreading through her lower body, sending her into an unprecedented climax. At this moment, John felt a wave of dizziness in his mind. His soul was still far from fully healed, leaving him weak as hey limply against Elsa''s body. "Master, you''re too strong..." she whispered softly, slowing down a bit as she gently stroked John''s back. "Don''t move around. My soul is injured, but my body is still strong," John warned. Although he felt feeble and drained, the fire of desire within him remained undiminished. His body continued to press deeply into Elsa''s, unwavering. Hearing his words, Elsa couldn''t help but tremble. She swallowed nervously and obedientlyy still on the ground, not daring to move a muscle. She was genuinely afraid. John''s strength was overwhelming so much so that she couldn''t satisfy him on her own. After hesitating for a moment, she bit her lip and suggested, "Master, why don''t you lie down? Let me take the lead." "Are you sure?" John asked, a bit tempted. He was feeling quite ufortable and eager for a full release. Taking a deep breath, Elsa nodded resolutely. She supported herself with her wings and flipped over, positioning him beneath her. "Mmm..." she winced at the swelling sensation from her lower body, frowning slightly in pain. She couldn''t help but nce down at John, his firm and imposing esence making her entire body shudder. Nervously, she swallowed again. Regret briefly shed through her mind, unsure if she could endure it. "Master, don''t move..." she murmured, blushing with embarrassment, avoiding eye contact. Guiding him carefully, she aligned him with her lower body and, gritting her teeth, stubbornly lowered herself down. "Mmm..." Elsa let out a pained whimper, tears streaming down her face. The sensation in her lower body was a mixture of pain and pleasure, making it difficult to control her movements. She bit down on her lip and started moving slowly. "Ah... Master, this feeling is so strange..." she cried out, her body trembling as she involuntarily picked up the pace. Leaning back slightly, she rested against John''s bent legs, her movements bing more fervent. "No... Master... Elsa can''t do it again..." she moaned repeatedly. Her legs mped tightly around him as he prated deep into her body over and over. She couldn''t hold on any longer and reached another climax, her delicate body trembling uncontrobly before copsing weakly onto John''s chest. "Master, isn''t Elsa too useless?" she murmured, overwhelmed with self-me, feeling utterly drained and unable to summon any strength. "Not at all," John gently reassured her, stroking her soft, long hair. "I''m feeling much better now. If we take it slow, we can get through this together." Elsa could still feel the excruciating pain in her lower body, and knowing John was trying tofort her only made her feel more guilty. "Master, I''ll find another way..." she whispered, determination shing in her eyes. With a deep breath, she separated herself from John''s body and leaned down, kissing his lips, then his neck, and continuing down to his chest, until she reached the base of his powerful form. Taking another deep breath, Elsa positioned herself below him, holding his legs gently. Opening her mouth, she took him in deeply. "Mmm!" John groaned softly, his hand instinctively reaching down to stroke her hair. Encouraged by his response, she became more attentive and dedicated to her task. ... Itsted for over half an hour. Elsa nearly suffocated and fainted several times, but eventually, John reached his climax. A powerful and fiery release surged out, and she embraced him deeply, lifting her head slightly to gaze up at him with adoration as she greedily swallowed everything. "Hah..." she exhaled softly, finally releasing him from her mouth. She gasped for air, staring at his still firm and unyielding form. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at him with a hint of grievance and whispered, "Master... Elsa really has no other choice..." She didn''t dare continue any further, afraid that something serious might happen. "Don''t worry, I''m feeling much better now." John, having satisfied both his body and soul, pulled Elsa into his arms and kissed her deeply. "Stay with me for a while," he murmured. Though he felt a bit better, a wave of exhaustion still washed over him. Even with the shared power of the Tree of Life, the damage to his soul was severe this time and would take more than a short rest to recover. Elsa nodded obediently, nestling against his chest. Her longshes fluttered as fatigue began to overtake her. Not long after, both of them fell into a deep sleep. Fortunately, the Dark Humans of Giant Spirit City had all been in by Elsa, so there was no danger looming over them. ... By the time they woke up, the sky had already turned dark, and their surroundings were shrouded in pitch-ck silence. John''s soul had almost fully recovered. Feeling refreshed, he nced at the delicate and shy Elsa in his arms. Unable to resist, he began teasing her once again. Hours passed before he finally relented. Elsa, after several rounds of pleading, had nearly fainted multiple times. Only then did he decide to spare her from further exhaustion. After they both dressed and equipped their gear, they had the chance to inspect the battlefield. This battle had yielded a significant haul. There were two sets of supreme treasures-one belonging to the Giant Spirit God and the other from that demon, Itai. In addition, the Giant Spirit God''s death resulted in the drop of a high-grade divine artifact- a long ck staff called the Dark Dragon Staff. It added 5,000 points to strength attributes and had a unique feature, allowing it to change its size at will. The weapon was powerful, but since John wasn''t used to wielding staffs, it would be more suitable for Behemoth. John casually stored away the items and continued inspecting the rest of his spoils: two Basic Talent Upgrade Stones, over 30,000 Skill Stones, and a variety of legendary and epic-quality weapons and equipment. Most of these Dark Humans had been in by Elsa, so the item drop rate didn''t increase significantly. He stored them away without much thought. However, the two Basic Talent Upgrade Stones and the 30,000 Skill Stones were of significant value. "Master." At this moment, Elsa descended. She had just flown into the city to scavenge for items and now wore a joyful expression. "I found the treasury of Giant Spirit City! It''s packed with a massive amount of Skill Stones." "Oh? How many are there?" John''s interest was piqued, and he asked curiously. Elsa raised three fingers. "Three hundred thousand?" John guessed. That number would already be considerable forN?v(el)B\\jnn him. But Elsa shook her head, her voice brimming with excitement. "Master, it''s over three million!" "What?" John eximed in disbelief. Skill Stones were rare, and their drop rate was quite low. Even with his Plunder talent, he had only managed to collect a little over one million Skill Stones over a long period. And yet, there were over three million Skill Stones in Giant Spirit City alone? Elsa continued, "Master, I suspect that this Giant Spirit God had already reached level 20,000. He was likely trying to break through to the lower-tier gods." John raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What do lower-tier gods have to do with Skill Stones?" Elsa exined, "Master, the requirements to ascend to a lower-tier god are: reaching level 20,000, elevating one''s skills to level 10,000, and ying a lower-tier god." "What? You need to raise your skills to level 10,000?" John was taken aback. He hadn''t realized that breaking through to the lower-tier gods had such harsh conditions. After skills reach level 1,000, each additional level requires 1,000 skill points. To elevate a skill to level 10,000 would require over 9 million skill points! Such an astronomical figure-an ordinary yer wouldn''t be able to umte that amount in their entire lifetime. No wonder Skill Stones were so rare; it seemed they were all controlled by divine-level beings. Something dawned on him, and he turned to Elsa, asking, "To advance to the lower-tier gods, do you need just one skill at level 10,000, or do all your skills have to reach that level?" Hearing his question, Elsa was stunned for a moment and asked in surprise, "Master, you haven''t been practicing multiple skills, have you? To ascend to a lower-tier god, all your skills must reach level 10,000." She suddenly remembered something, and her expression turned apologetic. The Divine Path Technique that John was cultivating was something she had forced upon him. It seemed like she had inadvertently caused harm to her master. Chapter 202: Chapter 202: Mastering Soul Skills, Returning to the Death Land Chapter 202: Mastering Soul Skills, Returning to the Death Land ? "All cultivation techniques?" John sighed in frustration, but at least he only cultivated three techniques. The Beast n''s Overwhelming Battle Energy, the Divine Soul Art given to him by the Undead Lord, and the Divine Path Technique from the gods. Bringing these three techniques to level 10,000 would require over 27 million skill points. However, since he was currently only at the seventh tier, still far from the threshold of lower- tier gods, he could take his time to gradually increase his skill levels. "Take me to the treasury," John said, following Elsa as they made their way to the Giant Spirit City''s vault. The treasury was well hidden and not veryrge. Inside, it was filled entirely with Skill Stones and nothing else. He couldn''t help but feel a little disappointed. But the sheer number of Skill Stones here was still unimaginably valuable. "These Skill Stones should be enough to raise my Soul Technique to level 5,000 or higher," John murmured to himself, deciding to refine the Skill Stones and continue advancing his Soul Technique. His battle against the Giant Spirit God had made him realize the critical importance of the Soul Technique. Even for gods, without the support of soul power, death meant total annihtion. "Elsa, stand guard outside. I''m going to refine these skill Stones," he instructed her. "Understood." She nced at the towering pile of Skill Stones, then promptly stepped outside to stand watch at the entrance of the vault. She had ughtered all the Dark Humans in Giant Spirit City, so no one would disturb them. John immediately began refining all the Skill Stones. Including the skill points he had umted over time, he gained a total of 3.378 million skill points. He chose to continue leveling up his Soul Technique. [You have consumed 1,000 skill points. Soul Technique has reached level 2,153. Soul Technique +1.] ... The notification messages shed rapidly as John''s skill points depleted at an rming rate. He couldn''t help but feel a twinge of pain watching the points disappear. [You have consumed 1,000 skill points. Soul Technique has reached level 5,000. Soul Technique +1.] [You have mastered new soul skills: Intimidation and Memory Extraction.] [Intimidation: A soul-based support skill. Immobilizes enemies and bypasses soul defense skills. Effective only against targets with a lower Soul Technique level than yours. Causes no bacsh damage. Consumes 100 soul power points per second. No cooldown.] [Memory Extraction: A soul-based support skill. A powerful soul force invades the target''s mind to search for soul memories. May cause irreversible damage to the target''s soul. Effective only against targets with a lower Soul Technique level than yours. Consumes 200 soul power points. No cooldown.] The notification messages continued shing, and John was thrilled. "I actually mastered two soul skills!" he eximed, looking over the descriptions of the newly acquired abilities. Although they were just support skills, they would be incredibly useful to him. With Intimidation, he could immobilize his target-whenbined with his Demon yer sh, it would be an invinciblebination. As long as his Soul Technique level was higher than his opponent''s, he was confident he could easily kill even a god. And Memory Extraction, which could search an opponent''s soul for memories, was undoubtedly a powerful support skill as well. Of course, both skills were only effective against targets whose Soul Technique was lower than his. "Let''s keep going!" John nced at his remaining skill points-there were still over 580,000 left. He decided to continue leveling up his Soul Technique. Each level of Overwhelming Battle Energy only increased his constitution by 1 point and his strength by 2 points-attributes he could easily plunder by killing a few enemies. His Overwhelming Battle Energy had already reached level 1,000, and every additional level cost the same amount of skill points as his Soul Technique, without the guarantee of gaining any new skills. There was no point in wasting skill points on it. On the other hand, his Soul Technique significantly enhanced his survivability, making it the most worthwhile investment. [You have consumed 1,000 skill points. Soul Technique has reached level 5,001. Soul Technique +1.] ... [You have consumed 1,000 skill points. Soul Technique has reached level 5,588. Soul Technique +1.] After using up all his skill points, his Soul Technique reached level 5,588, though he didn''t gain any new skills. John wasn''t greedy-reaching level 5,000 and acquiring two soul skills was already more than enough. With the boost from the Jade Heart Lotus, his Soul Technique power now exceeded 15,000 points, making it nearly impossible for ordinary demigod-level beings to pose any threat to him. "There are still two Basic Talent Upgrade Stones." John took out the two stones, which were also dropped after ying the Giant Spirit God. A Basic Talent Upgrade Stone could elevate an A-grade or lower talent by one level. He possessed over a dozen talents, but only two of them were eligible for an upgrade. One was his A-grade Physical Damage Talent, and the other was his C-grade Magical Damage Talent. After plundering the Power of the Giant Spirit, his strength attribute had been amplified by 100%, reaching an astounding 450,000 points-an enormous boost in power. Upgrading the Physical Damage Talent would yield the greatest benefit. [You have used a Basic Talent Upgrade Stone. Physical Damage Talent has been upgraded to S-grade.] [Physical Damage Talent: S-grade, increases base physical damage by 70%.] Upgrading his Physical Damage Talent to S-grade increased his base damage multiplier by 10%, which was a significant boost for him. Unfortunately, talents that reached S-grade required a higher-tier Talent Stone for further upgrades. He took out the second Talent Upgrade Stone and decided to elevate his Magical Damage Talent. [You have used a Basic Talent Upgrade Stone. Magical Damage Talent has been upgraded to B-grade.] [Magical Damage Talent: B-grade, increases base magical damage by 50%.] The talent upgrade increased his magic damage multiplier by another 10%. This trip to Giant Spirit City had been extremely fruitful: two sets of supreme treasures and over three million skill points. The most important gain was his increased strength. With the Plunder Power of the Giant Spirit and the mastery of two new soul skills, his power had at least doubledpared to before. After confirming that nothing was left behind, he finally stepped out of the vault. Elsa was still standing guard outside. Seeing him emerge, she hurried over. "Master... Oh! Your soul injuries have already healed so quickly?" Her expression was filled with surprise. Thanks to the Soul Contract and their life-sharing bond, she could clearly sense John''s soul power. Not only had his injuries healed, but his Soul Technique had also improved significantly. "I have a soul-rted cultivation technique. As I increased its level, my injuries naturally healed," John exined calmly. "I see," Elsa responded with delight. "Let''s head back to the Saint Martial Sect," John said. Instead of entering the Death Land directly, he decided to return to the Saint Martial Sect first. The two flew at full speed and arrived back at the Saint Martial Sect within half a day. Everything was as tranquil as ever-nothing unusual had happened. It had taken him two days to y the Giant Spirit God and return. The secret treasure would open the day after tomorrow, so he still had time. With that thought, he took Elsa with him and entered the Death Land. "Old man!" Tracy greeted him happily as she rushed over, pouting slightly. "You promised to help me level up, but I haven''t seen you for the past two days!" "I had something to take care of. Isn''t Jean here to keep youpany?" He nced at Jean, who stood quietly to the side. "But I want to increase my strength!" Tracyined. Watching the other women around John growing stronger made her anxious, but John wouldn''t allow her to leave the Death Land for fear of the dangers outside. "Alright, alright. Once I''m done with everything, I''ll take you to level up." John sighed helplessly. Tracy had already reached the seventh tier and refined a god-tier treasure, making her nearly invinciblepared to ordinary yers. However, now that the Divine Path had opened and numerous ninth-tier powerhouses had descended upon the Skyline Continent, Tracy wasn''t absolutely safe. At the very least, she needed topletely integrate her god-tier treasure before she could face ninth-tier opponents with some level of self-preservation. "Why is it so quiet here? Where''s everyone else?" John asked curiously, noticing that no one else was around. "They''re all out leveling up." Tracy pouted. For the past few days, only Jean had been with her -everyone else had been busy. "Gather them all. I have something I need to discuss with them," John instructed.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Okay." She nodded and quickly contacted Sini through private chat. Before long, the women and their beasts returned to the Death Land. With the Divine Path now open and the Hidden Secret Area essible, anyone who knew the coordinates could enter freely. "Master, is there a reason you called us here so urgently?" Behemoth asked, ncing curiously at John. After signing the Soul Contract, Behemoth''s attitude had be much more respectful. John nodded and took out two sets of supreme treasures, cing them in front of Sara. "Choose one that suits you," he said calmly. "Thank you, my husband," she replied, her face lighting up with joy. Over the past few days, both Bonnie and Behemoth had refined their treasures and ascended to the ninth tier, their strength increasing tremendously. As a result, Sara had be the weakest among the ninth-tier powerhouses. Without hesitation, she chose the demon race treasure. Having spent nearly a thousand years in the Abyss, she hadn''t yetprehended the power of Dark Laws, but her Dark Element Affinity had already reached over 70 points, making the demon race treasure the perfect fit for her. Boom! Suddenly, a loud roar erupted from the Dark Sea, sending waves sshing in all directions. Kamal emerged, her eyes wide with shock as she sensed the aura of the demon race treasure. "A demon race treasure... and a god-tier treasure?" she muttered incredulously, swallowing hard. She looked at John with suspicion. "Kid, did you really kill the Giant Spirit God?" John nodded nonchntly, his expression calm. "Is there a problem with that?" Kamal furrowed her brows, clearly doubtful. She knew all too well how powerful the Giant Spirit God was a peak demigod-level being. Even for her, killing the Giant Spirit God would have required some serious effort. Could it be that this angel has some kind of secret? Although still puzzled, she decided not to dwell on it any further. Eyeing the demon race treasure in Sara''s hands, she said, "Kid, give me that treasure, and I''ll owe you a favor. How about it?" "No way!" John refused without hesitation. A favor from a lower-tier god meant nothing to him at this point. Kamal''s brows furrowed deeply, her gaze turning hostile as she stared at him coldly. "Kid, if I decided to take it by force, none of you could stop me." Sini immediately stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Sara, her expression filled with displeasure. "You can try." "Hmph!" Kamal snorted coldly, reluctantly giving up. However, her resentment toward John deepened. Sini''s attitude towards them had grown colder, even hostile, and Kamal was certain it was due to the influence of this human. The secret treasure will be the ce where this guy meets his end! "Kid, the secret treasure opens tomorrow. Be prepared." She issued the warning coldly before diving back into the Dark Sea. "Secret treasure?" Behemoth''s eyes shed with curiosity. He looked at John and asked, "Master, is it the same secret treasure that can help one merge with a god-tier treasure?" "Oh? You know about it?" John raised an eyebrow, surprised. Behemoth nodded, his expression filled with envy as he asked eagerly, "Master, does this mean you have the ability to enter the secret treasurend?" Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Distributing Divine Artifacts, Ben Appears Chapter 203: Distributing Divine Artifacts, Ben Appears ? "Mhm." John nodded and said, "Not only can I enter, but you, Sara, and Bonnie are also eligible to go." "We... we''re eligible too?" The three of them were stunned, hardly daring to believe it. "Eligibility is determined by me!" John dered confidently. "Old man, I want to go too!" Tracy piped up eagerly from the side. "Don''t be ridiculous," John rejected her outright. Her strength was still too weak. Although Kamal had mentioned that fighting was forbidden within the secret treasurend and there would be no danger, he didn''t trust her word. After Sara had refined the demon race treasure, there was still one god-tier treasure left. John nced at the women and asked, "Who wants to refine it?" They all seemed tempted. "Master, I''d prefer a human race treasure from the Skyline Continent," Ada said, looking at John expectantly. "Alright, I''ll keep an eye out for one," he agreed with a nod. "Master, I want a human race treasure as well," Yuel added. As an earth elf, Yuel was born from the power of the Vein of the Earth absorbed by the Tree of Life, so her internal energy had a certain simrity to Ada''s. "No problem," John replied confidently. As long as a human race treasure emerged, he was certain he could obtain it. He turned to look at Judy and Anna. "Which one of you wants to refine it?" Anna''s gaze lingered on the treasure, but she turned to Judy. "You take it. The Beast n treasure suits me better," Judy said with a smile. "Alright. Thank you, old man!" Anna said happily, taking the god-tier treasure. As a nature elf, god-tier treasures were the best fit for her among all the various races'' treasures. "Benefactor, I also want to enter the secret treasurend," Anna said, having sessfully refined the god-tier treasure, though she was still far from fully merging with it. She looked at John with longing. "No." John refused firmly. "Your strength is too weak, and it would be dangerous. Don''t worry, I''ll collect resources from the secret treasurend to help you fuse with the treasure." "Old man, what about me?" Tracy immediately chimed in. "I won''t forget about you." John felt a pang of guilt, but to ensure her safety, he had no choice but to limit her freedom. The secret treasurend held items that could help various races merge with their respective treasures. These items could be brought out. John then took out a pile of divine artifacts, looked at everyone, and said, "Pick whatever you like. Don''t hold back." "Husband, did you raid the gods'' main headquarters?" Sara eximed in surprise as the group quickly gathered around to choose their weapons. Everyone was considerate, letting Sara, Bonnie, and Behemoth have the first pick. Since they were going to enter the secret treasurend, strengthening their abilities would also be beneficial for John. "A mid-grade divine artifact!" Behemoth''s gaze was fixed on the Dark Dragon Staff. He swallowed nervously and looked at John, asking cautiously, "Master, may I choose this weapon?" "This was meant for you in the first ce." John picked up the Dark Dragon Staff and tossed it over to Behemoth. "Thank you, Master!" Behemoth expressed his gratitude repeatedly. The Dark Dragon Staff expanded in his hands, bing as thick as a pir. With a casual swing, it sliced through the air with a powerful whoosh. "With this divine artifact, I feel like my strength has increased by an entire tier!" he said, brimming with excitement and battle intent. He couldn''t help but nce over at Sara and Bonnie, itching to test his newfound power. But remembering their close rtionship with John, he quickly dismissed the thought. "If only Tony and Ben were here..." Behemoth thought of the two, recalling the times he''d suffered at their hands in the Abyss. "Big guy, don''t get cocky just because you have a divine artifact. Those two are still way stronger than you," ck Turtle said disdainfully. "Oh, really?" Behemoth replied dismissively, sizing him up. "If you weren''t so weak, I''d use you as a practice target." At that moment, John spoke up. "You might want to hold off on that thought. Tony has already reached the level of a demigod." "Demigod?" Behemoth swallowed hard, his attitude suddenly bing much more humble. "H-hey, little turtle, I was just joking earlier. Don''t go spreading nonsense," he said to ck Turtle, his tone considerably more polite now. "Hmph!" ck Turtle snorted coldly, not bothering to respond. "Um, is no one taking this spear?" Judy suddenly asked, holding up a long spear. This was the mid-grade divine artifact Azure Dragon''s Wrath, dropped after John had in the Azure Dragon. "Just keep it for yourself. Out of all of us here, who else uses a spear?" Ada shot her a nce. "Stop pretending to be shy." "Hehe, okay then." Judy, not being one to refuse a good opportunity, grinned and nced gratefully at John before storing the spear away. Buzz! Suddenly, a ripple of spatial power surged through the air as Ben appeared. "Whoa, look at all these treasures!" he eximed, eyes wide with shock at the sight of the divine artifacts scattered on the ground. "Senior, what brings you here? See anything you like?" John asked, gesturing towards the equipment. Ben tore his gaze away from the artifacts and cast a wary nce at the nearby Sea of Death. "I came to find you for something else. Come with me to the Heavenly Court." With that, he disappeared in a sh. John felt a twinge of confusion, looking over at the Dark Sea. It was clear that Ben was being cautious of Michelle and Kamal. Sensing the urgency, he exited the Death Land and returned to the Saint Martial Sect. He then used the teleportation array to travel to the Beast n city, Heavenly Court. The teleportation arrays in the cities under his control were all interconnected, making it easy to provide swift support in case of any danger. Just as John stepped out of the teleportation array, Ben approached him immediately. Pulling John aside and ensuring that there was no one else around, Ben finally spoke. "Kid, you can''t enter the secret treasurend." "Oh? How did you know?" John asked curiously. He had secured his spot through the demon race''s quota, and Ben, being from the Beast n, shouldn''t have known about this arrangement. "It''s not just me¡ªpowerhouses from all the major races already know about it," Ben said gravely. John frowned. "Is this some kind of trap targeting me?" Ben nodded. "Yes. The powerful figures from various races, including a few factions under the gods themselves, have reached an agreement to eliminate you in the secret treasurend." John sneered. As expected, the demon race didn''t have good intentions. Kamal was certainly aware of this; otherwise, the demon race wouldn''t have offered him a spot so easily. "Didn''t they say that no one can kill each other in the secret treasurend?" John asked, still puzzled. Ben exined, "That''s right. But that rule only applies to those below the ninth tier. This time, a few people who meet the conditions to break through to demigod-level will be entering the secret treasurend. They''re only missing the final step-merging with their treasures. Once they be demigods inside, they''ll be able to kill you." John''s eyes lit up. He''d been wondering how to find demigod-level opponents, and now these guys were practically delivering themselves to his doorstep. He asked curiously, "If demigods can attack me in the secret treasurend, does that mean I can attack demigods as well?" "Of course you can. Do you think the rules would force you to just stand there and get beaten up?" Ben gave him a sideways nce. "Kid, you''re not nning to kill a demigod, are you?" John smirked coldly. "If they''reing for me, why wouldn''t I strike back?" Ben frowned deeply. "I know you''re capable of killing demigods, but doing so will provoke other gods. The opening of the secret treasurend requires mid-tier gods to intervene. If they decide to take action against you, you won''t stand a chance." John hesitated for a moment. While he was confident in his ability to take down demigod- level powerhouses, he knew that facing lower-tier or mid-tier gods would mean certain death. "Would they openly attack me?" John asked. "It''s hard to say," Ben replied, shaking his head. "Lately, even Tony has been hitting walls. He''s met with several powerful gods, but none of them are willing to support you." John fell silent, pondering for a long time before finally speaking. "I''m willing to take the risk." The secret treasurend held many items that could help merge treasures and significantly increase his power. He couldn''t afford to pass it up. "Kid, you''re insane! Forget mid-tier gods-even lower-tier gods could easily wipe you out!" Ben said angrily. "What if I hide inside the secret treasurend?" John suggested. The secret treasurend was unique in that only ninth-tier and lower-tier powerhouses could enter. Gods were unable to set foot inside. Ben was stunned for a moment, realizing it was indeed a viable option. But then he shook his head. "Are you nning to hide in there forever?" "Well, we''ll see who can hold out the longest," John said with a smirk, doubting that those gods would camp out there indefinitely. "Ah, I knew I wouldn''t be able to convince you." Ben sighed helplessly. After a brief moment of hesitation, he continued, "Go ahead and do what you need to do. Tony will be there too. He has a treasure that can deter even the gods. He''ll ensure your safety." "Thank you." John expressed his gratitude, curious but refraining from asking further questions. "I''m off. I have other matters to attend to. Be cautious for now. If the other gods from various races refuse to cooperate, we''ll have to make a big move." As soon as Ben finished speaking, his figure blurred and vanished before John could respond. "A big move?" John wondered aloud, perplexed by what Ben and Tony could be nning. With Ben gone, there was no one left to answer his questions. He returned to the Saint Martial Sect. The next day. Michelle and Kamal appeared, apanied by nine other demon race powerhouses, all at the peak of the ninth tier and having refined demon race treasures. They were only a step away from bing demigods. The group sized John up, heads held high, expressions full of disdain. John couldn''t understand where they got their sense of superiority from. If it weren''t for his caution around Michelle and Kamal, he''d have liked nothing more than to st these arrogant fools into oblivion.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Human, the demon race is only providing you with one spot. As for the other three slots, you''ll have to earn them yourself. We won''t assist you," Michelle said indifferently, clearly having heard the situation from Kamal. "I understand. I won''t trouble you." John''s voice remained calm, his expression nonchnt. Seeing that he showed no sign of respect towards Michelle, the demon race powerhouses looked even more displeased. "Enough. Let''s go," Michellemanded, spreading her demon wings and soaring into the distance. John and hispanions followed closely behind. There were a total of eleven people on the demon race''s side: nine ninth-tier powerhouses and two gods, Michelle and Kamal. On John''s side, there were only five-Sara, Bonnie, Elsa, and himself. Their strength was insignificantpared to the other mighty races. Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Gathering of the Powerful, Proving Strength Chapter 204: Gathering of the Powerful, Proving Strength ? The group flew across mountains and valleys, their powerful aura as divine beings spreading throughout the air. Not a single beast dared to cause any trouble along their path. Michelle kept a close eye on John, who was trailing behind. He deliberately increased his speed, but John followed at a steady pace, never falling behind. It was clear he wasn''t at his limit. He could have gone even faster, but the nine demon race powerhouses apanying him would struggle to keep up. At this point, a few of those fellows were already panting heavily. Yet John, riding his flying sword, remained rxed and at ease. "Hmph, let''s see how long you can keep up that arrogance," Michelle thought with dissatisfaction, deciding not to push further. As they advanced, the surrounding temperature continued to drop, and snowkes began to swirl in the air. In the distance, a massive snow-covered mountain came into view. "Master, that''s the ce," Elsa whispered softly beside John. John nodded, already sensing several powerful auras atop the mountain. One of them was no weaker than Michelle''s, indicating the presence of another mid-tier god. Whoosh... A frigid wind cut like a de. Following the demon race, John arrived at the peak of the snow mountain. Many people had already gathered there, clustering ording to their respective factions. John curiously scanned the crowd. There were members from the Angel Race, Dark Humans, Orcs, Beast n, and Demon Race. Additionally, new races had emerged since the opening of the Divine Path: Dragonkin, Giants, Barbarians, Evil Demons... Among them were beings of divine rank, the weakest being demigods, while most were lower-tier gods. Aside from Michelle, there was one more mid-tier god. John turned his gaze toward the individual-someone with long, curly purple hair, standing at the forefront of the Angel Race and Dark Humans. The man''s eyes were closed, appearing to rest. If John''s guess was correct, this man was likely a god. "Master, that is Mantra, a mid-tier god from the gods'' faction," Elsa whispered an introduction. John nodded, noticing that there were even humans standing behind Mantra. "The Azure Family!" John''s brows furrowed, killing intent shing in his eyes. Behind Mantra, a group of ten humans from the Azure Family stood, led by none other than Hummer. The Azure Family-just as had suspected, they had indeed aligned themselves with the gods! Hummer also spotted John. With a cold look, he raised his hand and made a shing motion across his throat. "Hmph!" John snorted dismissively, ignoring him, and turned to survey the other powerful beings present. "Tony?" He noticed Tony in the Beast n''s camp and was about to greet him when Tony subtly shook his head.N?v(el)B\\jnn Immediately, a voice echoed in his mind. "Kid, didn''t I ask Ben to warn you not toe?" It was Tony. John shrugged helplessly. He couldn''t use soul transmission-that was a technique reserved for demigods. Tony said, "There''s a soul contract. Just speak in your mind; I can hear you." Understanding dawned on John, and he spoke in his mind, "With so many treasures, I don''t want to miss out." Tony replied, "You''re courting death. Don''t you know all these people are here because of you?" John thought back, "Ben already told me. If things really go south, I''ll have to trouble you, senior." Tony sighed, "Just don''t go overboard." With a resigned sigh, Tony stopped paying attention to John. At that moment, two more groups arrived. One was a group of human cultivators from the Skyline Continent. The other group''s aura was equally formidable. Leading them was a lower-tier god, with ten others following closely behind. Their bodies were covered in dense scales, but it was unclear what race they belonged to. "Master," Elsa leaned closer to John and whispered, "These beings are from the Sea n. They usually hide deep within the vast ocean and rarely make an appearance." The Sea n? John looked on curiously. Their group also had ten ninth-tier powerhouses, seemingly on par with the demon race and Beast n. "Is everyone here now?" Mantra spoke indifferently, opening his eyes. His gaze, as sharp as lightning, swept over the crowd one by one. When his eyesnded on John, he paused slightly. He continued, "Those participating in this treasure hunt, step forward." From each faction, a few individuals stepped forward. All were ninth-tier peak powerhouses. The gods'' faction, counting the ten from the Azure Family, had a total of fifty slots. The Angel Race, Dark Humans, and Orcs each had twenty slots. The demon race, Beast n, and Sea n each had ten slots, while most other races were allotted three to five slots. "Hmm? Why are there three extra people?" Mantra''s eyes narrowed as he noticed Sara and her twopanions, his tone turning cold. John stepped forward with a smile and replied, "Sir, they are under mymand." "You?" Mantra''s eyes narrowed even further, his expression icy. He asked disdainfully, "What faction do you represent? Do you have any divine beings?" John maintained his smile and responded, "I''m from the Earth Human faction, and we have divine beings." Mantra''s brow furrowed, a hint of caution in his gaze as he nced at Hummer standing behind him. Hummer shook his head gently, indicating that he was certain Earth no longer had any immortals. Mantra''s gaze shifted to Elsa beside John and he said dismissively, "Angel Race demigods don''t count." "I know." John nodded calmly, "But I can kill demigods. Does that count as being at the demigod level?" "You can kill demigods?" Mantra sneered, his tone full of disdain. "Not even ninth-tier powerhouses dare say that. You, a mere seventh-tier weakling human, aren''t you afraid of biting your tongue?" John pointed at the Dark Humans faction behind him and said, "They should know very well -Dark Humans'' Giant Spirit God has already fallen by my hand." Mantra turned his gaze towards the leader of the Dark Humans, a lower-tier god. That man quickly retorted, "Kid, don''t joke around. Giant Spirit God perished over a thousand years ago, probably long before you were even born. What''s next? You traveled through time to y him?" "Haha..." Laughter erupted from the crowd. John frowned in confusion. It''s impossible that the Dark Humans wouldn''t know about the fall of Giant Spirit God and the massacre in Giant Spirit City. Although he didn''tpletely destroy Giant Spirit City back then and there was no system- wide announcement, there was no way the Dark Humans could be ignorant of such an event. These people were clearly ying dumb. He then nced at the demon race, and said, "Lord Kamal can vouch for me." "Don''t spout nonsense-I know nothing," Kamal quickly denied, the corners of his mouth curling into a sly smile. John was momentarily at a loss. The lower-tier god of the Dark Humans looked at Mantra and suggested, "My lord, this kid ims he has the ability to kill demigods. I don''t think he''s lying. Why not let him prove it? If he can really y a demigod, then we can grant him three slots." Mantra nced at him but said nothing, which could be considered tacit approval. He then looked towards the demigod powerhouses in the various factions and said, "Is there any demigod willing to challenge this human?" John realized what they were plotting. If he could truly kill a demigod, it would weaken the strength of the opposing factions. If he wasn''t strong enough, they could use the hands of others to get rid of him. John sneered coldly and nced past the Dark Humans, his gaze settling on Michelle and Kamal. He spoke nonchntly, "I wonder if your demon race has any demigod powerhouses. I want to issue a challenge." Both of their brows furrowed, their expressions filled with displeasure. Regardless of whether John had the ability to kill demigods, they wouldn''t dare make a move against him. "I will!" At this moment, a demigod powerhouse from the Orcs faction stepped forward. The figure had a fierce appearance and a burly frame, wielding two massive battle axes. His upper body was bare, disying his muscr physique like that of a war machine. The crowd began murmuring among themselves. "That''s Iron Mountain from the Orcs, isn''t it? I heard he''s been a demigod powerhouse for hundreds of years." "This human is doomed." "Who can he me but himself for overestimating his abilities?" "This fight is meaningless. Let''s get it over with quickly so we don''t waste time exploring the treasure grounds." None of the powerhouses from the other factions believed John stood a chance. Iron Mountain nced at John with a chilling gaze and said coldly, "Kid, this is a fight to the death. Do you dare?" "That''s exactly what I want!" John took a step back, and the Sword of Divinity and Demons materialized in his hand as a surge of magical power swirled around him. Whoosh! All the divine beings present simultaneously moved back, putting more distance between themselves and the twobatants. Among them, Mantra and Michelle retreated the furthest. The ninth-tier powerhouses, on the other hand, gathered around curiously, observing the battle from a safe distance. John felt puzzled. Iron Mountain was merely a demigod. Could his battle energy really spread far enough to pose a threat to mid-tier gods? "Something''s off!" John suddenly looked up at the sky, recalling the green-robed woman. These people must be wary of The Immortals. It seemed that The Immortals had appeared before and had probably issued an order forbidding them from attacking him directly. He thought back to the divine war that had broken out when the Divine Path was first opened. Many powerful deities descended, and the result was Michelle of the demon race, along with a host of other gods, suffering serious injuries. Now, it seemed highly likely that an Immortal had intervened in that battle. "Kid, die!" Iron Mountain roared, swinging his massive battle axes. A gust of fierce wind swept forth as he shed towards John. John didn''t dare to face the attack head-on. Using his spatial discement skill sh, he instantly reappeared a hundred meters away. Immediately, he cast Dark Descent, and with a swift flick of his longsword, several beams of light and dark magic shot down upon Iron Mountain. Boom! Boom! A spellbo was triggered as six powerful spells struck Iron Mountain. John''s magic attacks couldn''t break through his opponent''s magic resistance, but they still inflicted close to ten million points of true damage. He let out a sigh of relief. This guy was far weaker than Giant Spirit God. John could take him down with ease. "Light and darknessws!" Iron Mountain was stunned but didn''t seem overly concerned. "Hmph, no wonder you''re so arrogant. But that''s all you''ve got! Whirlwind sh!" He bellowed in fury, both axes spinning wildly. Hundreds of frigid, gleaming arcs shot out, enveloping John. St! John was instantly killed, as expected. But the Blessed Ring triggered. "Hmm, not dead?" Iron Mountain was taken aback. In the next instant, more spells whistled through the air, crashing down once more. Boom! Boom! With a series of explosions, Iron Mountain lost another ten million points of health. His total health was around three billion. As long as Johnnded another three hundred or so waves of attacks, he would be able to finish him off. Others might find that impossible, but John could do it. "Damn it!" Iron Mountain was seething with rage. It was like being bitten by a tiny, insignificant ant¡ªan insult of the highest order. He roared again and unleashed another frenzied assault on John. Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Treasure Grounds, Scrambling for Resources Chapter 205: Treasure Grounds, Scrambling for Resources ? [You have been instantly killed by demigod powerhouse Iron Mountain. The Lifesaver talent has been triggered.] John resurrected once again, gaining five seconds of invincibility. Magic spells surged around him. Light and dark magic alternated seamlessly without the slightest gap. Currently, his strongest attacks were physical ones. If he activated the Sword Immortal skill andbined it with Demon yer sh, he could easily finish off his opponent. However, John didn''t want to reveal too many of his cards. For dealing with this guy, the Wrath of the Gods mage skill was more than sufficient. Boom! Boom! In just five seconds, over forty spells howled through the air, creating a series of deafening explosions. The powerful forces of light and darkws intertwined, shing violently. Iron Mountain was caught in a pitiful state, losing over four hundred million points of health. "Damn you!" He was utterly enraged,unching a frenzied counterattack. As the five seconds of invincibility came to an end, John was instantly killed once again. Immediately after, the Lifesaver talent was triggered for the second time. John''s expression remained calm as he unleashed another smoothbination of skills, causing another four hundred million damage. With the five seconds of invincibility gone. John rapidly retreated, sending out a wave of soul power-activating his soul skill, Soul Impact. Buzz! The air trembled. Iron Mountain, charging in fury, suddenly froze in ce. "Cough!" He spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale as he stared at John in horror. "Such powerful soul energy!" He was shocked and felt a sense of lingering fear. Thankfully, he possessed some soul defense techniques. Otherwise, that attack would have been enough to shatter his very soul. He couldn''t afford to drag this out any longer. Gritting his teeth, violent winds howled around him. In a sh, he appeared right in front of John, swinging his axe down with brutal force. John, however, remainedpletely unperturbed. The Soul Impact just now had allowed him to gauge Iron Mountain''s soul technique, which was far inferior to his own. The only pity was that Iron Mountain had soul defense measures, preventing him from being killed in one strike. But John had another skill up his sleeve. Buzz! Another powerful wave of soul energy erupted as he activated Intimidation. Iron Mountain, with his giant battle axes raised high, stood frozen in ce. Intimidation was a soul attack, different from a stun-it directly caused the opponent to lose consciousness. The Intimidation skill was incredibly potent, but its consumption was equally staggering, draining 100 soul energy points every second. With John''s current level of soul technique, he could immobilize his opponent for just over a hundred seconds. But that was more than enough. Whoosh! A torrent of powerful light and dark magic spells surged towards Iron Mountain, bombarding him relentlessly. It was as if John''s skills had no cooldown and required no mana consumption at all. "Damn it, stop!" The lower-tier god from the Orcs sensed something was wrong and roared angrily as he charged forward to intervene. But midway through his run, he abruptly halted. He felt an overwhelming presence-a terrifying aura that seemed to be emanating from the Beast n''s direction. He turned to look, puzzled. Mantra and Michelle also noticed something and nced towards the Beast n''s camp, but they couldn''t detect anything unusual. John paid no heed to themotion around him. Wielding his Sword of Divinity and Demons, he unleashed a perfect blend of light and dark energy, each skill connecting seamlessly without the slightest pause. Just as his soul energy was about to be depleted, he finally managed to obliterate Iron Mountain. [You have in a demigod-level powerhouse, gaining 6.76 billion experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Strength +200, Constitution +100, Agility +100.] The notification shed across his vision, and a deathly silence fell over the area. Everyone stared in stunned disbelief, their eyes wide open, unable to process what had just happened. "So... strong..." Kamal couldn''t help but swallow hard. Even though she had mentally prepared herself, she hadn''t expected John to dispatch a demigod-level powerhouse so effortlessly. The Immortals truly were terrifying. This human could not be allowed to live! She turned to look at Michelle standing nearby. Michelle''s brows were tightly furrowed, and she asionally nced towards Mantra in the distance. It was evident that the two of them weremunicating via soul transmission. "Lord Iron Mountain... is dead?" Someone asked uncertainly, staring at Iron Mountain''s corpse on the ground and rubbing his eyes in disbelief. "That''s impossible. He''s only a seventh-tier, after all!" "Uh, I think I might''ve spoken a bit too loudly earlier. He''s going to enter the treasure grounds too... Could he target me?" "What are you afraid of? There are restrictions in the treasure grounds that prevent mutual ughter." "But those restrictions only apply to those at the ninth tier and below. What if this human isn''t affected?" Everyone fell silent. Entering the treasure grounds was supposed to be an exciting prospect, but now no one felt any joy at all. They were all terrified that John mighte after them once inside. At this moment, John picked up the items Iron Mountain had dropped, then looked directly at Mantra, who was keeping his distance, and called out loudly, "Sir, may I ask if I can now secure three entry slots?" Everyone turned their gaze towards Mantra, hoping that he would disqualify John from entering the treasure grounds. Mantra took a deep breath, his figure flickering as he appeared in the middle of the battlefield. He nced down at Iron Mountain''s corpse, then looked back at John, his expression wary. Mantra spoke in an even tone, "Yes, you may." "Thank you," John nodded in gratitude before casually returning to his faction''s side. Discussions erupted among the onlookers, but John ignored them all. The few gods beside Mantra didn''t move; they remained standing where they were, seemingly engaged in a soul conversation, discussing something among themselves. John noticed that there had been some changes in the entry slots for the treasure grounds. Both the gods'' faction and the Dark Humans, along with the Orcs, demon race, and Beast n, had adjusted their personnel. Tony''s voice suddenly echoed in John''s mind again, "Kid, the six new entrants are all ninth- tier peak powerhouses. With the help of divine beings, they''ve managed to kill demigods before. As soon as they get their hands on a supreme treasure inside, they''ll be demigods themselves. Their n is to take you down in the treasure grounds!" John also noticed the personnel changes, six people had been swapped out. Coincidentally, his Wrath of the Gods talent had just upgraded again, requiring him to kill six more demigod powerhouses. And based on previous arrangements, there would likely be more than just these six targeting him. "I can handle them," John whispered to himself confidently. Tony remained worried. "Are you sure about this? I can guarantee your safety on the Skyline Continent, but once you enter the treasure grounds, no divine being can intervene." "Don''t worry, I have a few cards up my sleeve." John felt curious about how Tony could ensure his safety, but he didn''t ask further. Seeing John''s confidence, Tony didn''t say anything more. Before long, the list of participants was finalized. Mantra stepped forward and announced calmly, "Everyone, get ready to enter the treasure grounds." As he spoke, powerful elemental energy surged around him, effortlessly tearing open the space, creating a spatial rift at the peak of the snow mountain. This was the entrance to the treasure grounds-only those below the ninth tier could enter. Mantra spoke again, "Remember, this spatial rift will only remain open for one month. You must exit within that time, or you''ll be trapped in the treasure grounds until it reopens again three hundred yearster." John was surprised. The treasure grounds only opened once every three hundred years. There must be an abundance of valuable treasures inside. The gods'' faction, along with the ten Azure Family disciples, were the first to enter. They were followed by the Angel Race, Dark Humans, and Orcs... John''s group was assigned to go inst. But he didn''t mind. "Elsa, stay close to Tony. If you encounter any danger, ask him for help." John was concerned about Elsa''s safety and reminded her earnestly. "Alright." She nced at Tony, who stood among the Beast n''s ranks. Although puzzled, she didn''t ask any questions. Leading the way, John and his threepanions entered the treasure grounds one by one. Buzz! Spatial energy fluctuated, and they found themselves in a destendscape. Behemoth took a careful look around and said in surprise, "Master, this doesn''t seem to be part of the Skyline Continent''s space." John nodded; he sensed it as well. "Husband, what should we do next?" Sara asked curiously, scanning the surroundings. It was their first time in the treasure grounds. Without any prior experience, they were unsure of what to do. "Follow that guy," John said, noticing a ninth-tier demon from the Evil Demon Race up ahead. He quickly moved to follow. The demon noticed John tailing him and was startled. He came to an immediate halt and said respectfully, "Sir, I have no enmity with you. You wouldn''t target me, would you?" "Stop with the nonsense. Whatever treasures you''ve found-hand them all over," John said coldly. The demon''s face was filled with despair as he pleaded, "Sir, I''ve just arrived! I don''t have anything yet. But I do know that there are Earth Spirit Stones in the mountains up ahead." "Earth Spirit Stones? What''s that?" John asked, puzzled. It was the first time he had heard of such an item. The little demon quickly exined, "They can enhance your affinity with earth elements and help youprehend thews of earth elemental power. Sir, I can take you there." He eagerly led the way. John and hispanions didn''t worry about the demon ying any tricks and followed him immediately. Before long, they arrived at a hidden cave brimming with dense earth elemental energy. John found over a dozen Earth Spirit Stones inside. Just as the demon had described, these stones indeed enhanced earth elemental affinity. He hadn''t expected to find such valuable treasures here. After collecting all of them, he turned to the little demon and asked, "Are there any more?" The demon shook his head frantically. "Sir, I only know of this one location." "Alright, you can leave now," John said, not making things difficult for the demon. After all, thews of the treasure grounds prohibited mutual ughter. The demon seemed to receive a pardon, bowed deeply, and quickly fled in panic. "Let''s keep going," John said, and the group continued their search for more treasures. The Earth Spirit Stones weren''t of much use to them. They were primarily items needed to fuse with the human faction''s supreme treasures from the Skyline Continent. None of John''s group had refined those specific treasures. But they could keep the stones for Ada and the others. John''s team was practically like a band of robbers, looting everything they came across and reaping a substantial harvest. They collected Earth Spirit Stones, Wind Spirit Stones, Water Spirit Stones, and Fire Spirit Stones. They even found rare Light Spirit Stones and Dark Spirit Stones, which respectively boosted Light and Dark Elemental Affinity. These two types of Spirit Stones were indeed useful for John and hispanions. Especially the Dark Spirit Stones, which enhanced Dark Elemental Affinity and allowed for deeperprehension of thews of darkness. They could even be used to fuse with the demon race''s supreme treasures. John divided the fourteen Dark Spirit Stones between Sara and Bonnie. Each Dark Spirit Stone increased Dark Elemental Affinity by 1 point. Once they reached 100 points of affinity, they would be able to fullyprehend the power of darkness and perfectly fuse with the demon race''s supreme treasures. "Let''s go find some more people," John said, after having just stripped a dragonkin powerhouse of everything he had, gaining seven Bloodline Awakening Stones in the process. These stones could help magical beasts awaken their bloodlines and fuse with the Beast n''s supreme treasures.N?v(el)B\\jnn Since John had no use for the Bloodline Awakening Stones, he handed them over to Behemoth. "Godyer, aren''t we going a bit too far?" Bonnie couldn''t help but speak up. All the treasures they had obtained so far had been plundered from the hands of other race powerhouses. The others, fearful of John''s strength, didn''t dare resist at all. Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Fusing the Supreme Treasure, Ultimate Skill Chapter 206: Fusing the Supreme Treasure, Ultimate Skill ? "Too far?" John scoffed with a dismissive look. "If it weren''t for the no-killing rule, they''d already be dead." Bonnie fell silent, not saying another word. The treasure grounds were vast, and it wasn''t easy to encounter other race powerhouses. The group roamed around aimlessly. Although they didn''t find any items needed to fuse supreme treasures, they did discover a plethora of skill stones, basic talent upgrade stones, and Origin Stones, among other items. John took everything without leaving a single item behind. ... Unconsciously, a week had already passed, and the group had amassed a massive collection of treasures. Among them were over a hundred Spirit Stones, plundered from the Azure Family and the gods. While thews of the treasure grounds prohibited direct killing, there were no restrictions on snatching items. Whoosh! Suddenly, a powerful energy fluctuation swept through the air-it was the aura of a divine being. Someone had broken through to the demigod level, and they weren''t far away. Instead of feeling intimidated, John looked excited. In the treasure grounds, you couldn''t attack ninth-tier or lower powerhouses, but there were no such restrictions against targeting demigods. He knew that most of those breaking through to the demigod level here were preparing to deal with him. "Let''s go take a look," John said, and with that, he leaped onto his sword, flying swiftly toward the source of the divine aura. Sara and the other two followed closely behind. Soon, they arrived at a cliff. A female angel stood there, bathed in Holy Light, radiating waves of divine energy. She looked pure and aloof, like a sacred entity descending from the heavens. "Godyer!" She recognized John immediately, her expression shifting. A ripple of spatial energy surrounded her, and in a sh, she reappeared a hundred meters away. Then, with a flutter of her wings, she shot off into the distance. "Did... did she just flee?" Behemoth was stunned. It was his first time seeing a divine being flee in panic. John also felt a pang of disappointment. "It seems they n to wait until all of them have broken through to demigod level before making a move against me." "Husband, could it be dangerous for us?" Sara asked, her tone filled with concern. "Maybe," John replied nonchntly, "but we''ve had some upgrades of our own. Let''s find a ce to retreat for a while and fuse the supreme treasures." He had collected enough Spirit Stones to convert all his magic points into spiritual power, enabling him to fuse The Immortals'' supreme treasure. By then, his strength would have a significant boost, and dealing with those demigods wouldn''t be a problem. Sara and the others had also collected many items for fusing supreme treasures and could smoothly merge with them as well. The group found a rtively safe and secluded spot where they wouldn''t be disturbed and began their closed-door training to fuse their supreme treasures. John took out over two hundred Spirit Stones and began refining them to convert his magic points. [You have refined a Spirit Stone, converting 10,000 magic points into 1 point of spiritual power.] ...N?v(el)B\\jnn [You have refined a Spirit Stone, converting 10,000 magic points into 1 point of spiritual power.] [All your magic points have been converted into spiritual power. You can now fuse The Immortals'' supreme treasures.] The notifications continued to sh as John sessfully converted all his magic points into spiritual power. "Such immense power!" He furrowed his brows in pain as a massive surge of energy roared through his body. Buzz! A powerful aura fluctuation emerged as four supreme treasures of The Immortals-Immortal Bone, Immortal Body, Spirit Sense, and Immortal Sword-rose out of his body, revolving around him in slow, deliberate circles. This was the process of fusing The Immortals'' supreme treasures. It took more than an hour before the overwhelming force gradually subsided, with the treasures merging back into his body. [You have sessfully fused The Immortals'' supreme treasures. Constitution +100,000, Strength +100,000, Spirit +100,000, Agility +100,000.] [You haveprehended a superior cultivation technique: Immortal Sword Art.] [Immortal Sword Art: Level 1. Enhances swordsmanshipprehension.] "So powerful!" John opened his eyes, feeling an incredible surge in his overall strength. After fully integrating the supreme treasures, his spirit attribute had increased significantly, and he had regained his magic points, which had now beenpletely converted into spiritual power. At this point, his spiritual power attribute had reached 349 points, and the magic points required for his skills had all been transformed into spiritual power. Fortunately, the Wrath of the Gods talent skill cost reduction still applied to spiritual power, ensuring that he wouldn''t run out quickly. "Why did Ip another superior cu tion technique?" John looked at the acquired Immortal Sword Art with a hint of frustration. Leveling up a cultivation technique required consuming a huge amount of skill points, and breaking through to lower-tier god status demanded that all cultivation techniques reach level 10,000. He currently had three superior cultivation techniques, and raising each to level 10,000 would cost over 27 million skill points. He felt immense pressure. Over the past few days, John had collected more than 90,000 skill stones in the treasure grounds and had refined them all. "Let''s upgrade the Immortal Sword Art and see if I can unlock any new skills." After a brief moment of thought, John decided to increase the level of his Immortal Sword Art. The skill point cost for the first thousand levels of the cultivation technique was still manageable for him. The 90,000 skill points were enough to boost the Immortal Sword Art to level 1,000. [Consumed 10 skill points. Immortal Sword Art has been upgraded to level 2. Swordsmanship comprehension +1.] ... [Consumed 10 skill points. Immortal Sword Art has been upgraded to level 100. Swordsmanshipprehension +1.] [You haveprehended 1% of the Sword Law. All sword skills and attacks now inflict 1% true damage.] "I''veprehended the Sword Law?" John was surprised and delighted. It turns out that not only the primary elements could manifest as the power ofws- swordsmanship could as well. It seemed that techniques like saber arts, spear arts, and archery could also manifest into the power ofws. John continued to level up. [Consumed 100 skill points. Immortal Sword Art has been upgraded to level 101. Swordsmanshipprehension +1.] ... After reaching level 100, each additional level required 100 skill points. This amount of consumption was still eptable for him. [Consumed 100 skill points. Immortal Sword Art has been upgraded to level 200. Swordsmanshipprehension +1.] [You haveprehended 2% of the Sword Law. All sword skills and attacks now inflict 2% true damage.] ... When Immortal Sword Art reached level 200, heprehended another 1% of the Sword Law. For every 100 levels increased, Immortal Sword Art added 100 points to swordsmanshipprehension, which tranted into a 1%prehension of the Sword Law. Keep going! John, excited, continued leveling up. [Consumed 100 skill points. Immortal Sword Art has been upgraded to level 300. Swordsmanshipprehension +1.] [You haveprehended 3% of the Sword Law. All sword skills and attacks now inflict 3% true damage.] ... [Consumed 100 skill points. Immortal Sword Art has been upgraded to level 500. Swordsmanshipprehension +1.] [You haveprehended 5% of the Sword Law. All sword skills and attacks now inflict 5% true damage.] ... [Consumed 100 skill points. Immortal Sword Art has been upgraded to level 1000. Swordsmanshipprehension +1.] [You haveprehended 10% of the Sword Law. All sword skills and attacks now inflict 10% true damage.] [You haveprehended the ultimate skill: Return of Ten Thousand Swords.] [Return of Ten Thousand Swords: Level 2 (Blessing of the Archmage level +1). An ultimate swordsmanship skill thatmands tens of thousands of sword energies, dealing 1200% Strength sword damage + 600% Spirit magic damage to enemies in a wide area. Consumes 100 points of spiritual power. Cooldown: 10 minutes. Each level upgrade requires 10,000 skill points.] "An ultimate skill? This is..." John gulped, dumbfounded. Ultimate skills could only beprehended by demigod-level powerhouses at the very least. Yet, here he was, still at the seventh tier, and he had already unlocked one. This was insane! He couldn''t help but marvel at his luck. With Return of Ten Thousand Swords, the skill could unleash an attack with 1200% Strength and 600% Spirit damage amplification. Based on his current attributes and the damage boost from Sword Control, he could deal over 14 million damage to his enemies, which would be enough to pierce through a demigod''s physical resistance. Additionally, the attack included 10% true damage from his Sword Lawprehension and 15% true damage from his physical attack skills. Most importantly, Return of Ten Thousand Swords could continue leveling up, with each additional level requiring 10,000 skill points. "Damn it, I''m out of skill points!" Johnmented. He had just spent over 90,000 skill points upgrading Immortal Sword Art. But it was fortunate that the treasure grounds were filled with arge number of skill stones. He could slowly collect more. He nced at the three still in closed-door training. Half a day had passed, and they had yet to fully fuse with their supreme treasures. During this period, another wave of demigod energy surged nearby. There was no doubt-this new presence was also here to deal with him. Now that he had fused with the supreme treasure andprehended an ultimate skill, he felt no pressure even against multiple demigods. He even consideredunching a proactive attack to hunt down these demigod powerhouses. However, he was concerned for Sara and the others'' safety and decided to wait until all three had fully merged with their treasures. - Another day passed, and the three of them finally awoke, one after another. Buzz! A powerful surge of dark elemental energy erupted-Bonnie was the first toprehend thews of darkness, fully merging with the demon race''s supreme treasure. She slowly opened her eyes, excitement and joy brimming in her gaze. Noticing John beside her, she hurried over, dropping to one knee with a look of utmost reverence. "Master, words cannot express my gratitude. From now on, no matter how many members the Dark Humans have, they will be at yourmand." "Stand up." John smiled, reaching out to lift Bonnie to her feet. Her strength would be a great asset to him. Soon, another surge of dark elemental energy spread throughout the area. Sara had also sessfullyprehended thews of darkness and fused with the demon race''s supreme treasure. She happily ran over to John. Now, only Behemoth remained. Once he awakened his bloodline, he could fuse with the Beast n''s supreme treasures, which would greatly enhance his strength. After another half day, a blood-red mist roiled through the air, exuding a powerful energy that dwarfed the dark elemental energy from Sara and Bonnie''s breakthroughs. Both women were shocked. Sara stared at Behemoth, who was writhing in pain within the blood mist, and eximed, "Could this be the power of Behemoth''s bloodline?" Bonnie, eyes sparkling with curiosity, fixed her gaze on Behemoth and asked, "Did you notice those golden streaks flowing through his blood?" "Golden Behemoth!" Sara cried out in disbelief. John looked puzzled and asked, "What''s a Golden Behemoth? Is it really powerful?" The two women nodded simultaneously. Sara exined, "Husband, the Golden Behemoth is the most powerful and rare existence within the Behemoth n. I never expected that Behemoth actually possesses the Golden Behemoth bloodline. You''ve hit the jackpot this time!" "Really?" John looked at Behemoth with curiosity. He wondered what kind of transformation would ur once Behemoth fully awakened the power of the Golden Behemoth bloodline. Whoosh... Finally, the blood mist dissipatedpletely, merging into Behemoth''s body. The Beast n''s supreme treasures-Monster Bone, Monster w, Monster Core, and Monster Spirit-emerged one by one, growingrger until they matched his massive frame before slowly integrating back into his body. His size expanded by another thirty percent. "Roar..." Behemoth roared to the sky as he awoke. The sound was like thunder, sending gales howling and powerful energy rippling through the surroundings. Regardless of his exact strength, his sheer presence alone was already overwhelming,pletely crushing Sara and Bonnie in terms of aura alone. Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Memory Extraction, Eight Demigods Chapter 207: Memory Extraction, Eight Demigods ? Boom! Behemoth took a step forward, standing before John. He knelt down and bowed deeply. "Master, I have awakened the Golden Behemoth bloodline." "Good, I know. Stand up," John said with satisfaction, nodding. The three had fully fused with their supreme treasures. Once they reached level 10,000 and killed a demigod, they would be full-fledged demigod powerhouses. "Let''s go. It''s time to get down to business," John dered confidently, deciding to take the initiative and hunt down demigods. Over the past two days, three more demigod auras had appeared one after another. All the ninth-tier powerhouses from various races who had entered the treasure grounds were now trembling in fear, almost all of them hiding away, too afraid to move freely for fear of being targeted by those newly ascended demigods. But John was fearless and even weed those demigods toe find him. He only needed to kill six more demigod powerhouses for his Wrath of the Gods talent to upgrade once again. Currently, Wrath of the Gods provided a 90% cooldown reduction and a 90% reduction in spiritual power consumption for his skills. However, afterprehending the ultimate skill, this was bing insufficient. With Return of Ten Thousand Swords under the effect of Wrath of the Gods, the cooldown was one minute, and the spiritual power consumption was reduced to 10 points. Even this amount of consumption was taxing for John. What he loved most was that feeling of continuous, relentless bombardment. Wouldn''t it be amazing if he could spam even ultimate skills without pause?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Let''s go and hunt some demigods!" John said decisively, leading the group toward the location of the nearest demigod aura. They flew swiftly and soon arrived above a canyon. "Master, it''s the demon race members," Behemoth recognized the figures below and spoke up. Among the nine demon race powerhouses, one had just broken through to demigod level. "Godyer!" The demigod noticed John and immediately turned to flee without hesitation. "Hmph, you won''t get away." John activated Sword Mastery. A three-foot-long ck dragon sword shot out, splitting into three, and swiftly pursued the demigod. In the treasure grounds, ninth-tier and lower powerhouses couldn''t attack each other, but there were no restrictions on targeting demigods. St! Blood sttered as damage numbers shed. -287,500 -221,000 ... All the attacks dealt true damage. This guy had just broken through to demigod level, but his physical resistance was already over 9 million points. John''s normal attacks couldn''t prate his defense. But that didn''t matter to him at all. "Godyer, wait! It''s a misunderstanding-we''re on the same side!" The demon''s face was filled with panic as he pleaded. He knew firsthand how powerful John was. Even Iron Mountain had been killed by John, and he had only just broken through to demigod level. He was no match for John. To deal with John, he needed to join forces with the other demigod powerhouses. "Really?" John blocked the demon''s path, a cold smile ying on his lips. The surrounding air trembled as he activated his soul skill. It was Memory Extraction. "Ugh..." The demon froze in ce, his expression twisted in pain. He could feel his soul being invaded, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. "So that''s what it is!" John sneered as he easily essed the demon''s soul memories. Just as he suspected, Michelle and Kamal were plotting to kill him. This guy had been arranged by them to break through to demigod level specifically to assassinate him. The demon race had three reasons for targeting him: first, fear of The Immortals; second, their desire to seize Death Land. If he died, Death Land would be ownerless, and Michelle and Kamal could take control with ease. As for the third reason, it was because of Sini. She was the future leader of the demon race and couldn''t have any association with a human. The soul energy dissipated. "Cough!" The demon coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face pale as he stared at John in horror. Trembling, he stammered, "Wh-what did you just do to me?" "The demon race... you''ve got guts, I''ll give you that." John let out a coldugh, not interested in wasting time on him. He immediately activated his soul skill Soul Impact. This demon''s soul strength was below 10,000 points, and he had no soul defense measures in ce. John could eliminate him effortlessly. "Ah!" The demon let out a muffled groan, his eyes gradually losing focus as his body went limp and plummeted from the sky. [You have in a demigod-level powerhouse, gaining 6.76 billion experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Dark Element Affinity +10, Spirit +1000, Skill Points +100.] The notifications shed, and John nced at the loot that the fallen demon had dropped. It included a full set of demon race supreme treasures and a high-tier artifact-a dark belt that enhanced health and theprehension of thews of darkness. It didn''t particrly interest him. Aside from that, there were also numerous attribute Spirit Stones, skill stones, and other valuable items. John collected everything without leaving a single item behind. He then turned his attention to the remaining eight demon race powerhouses. They were being held in check by Sara, Bonnie, and Behemoth, their faces filled with fear. "Master, we mean you no harm," one of them quickly spoke up. The others nodded frantically, hoping John would spare them. But they were all part of the plot against him orchestrated by the demon race. Although he didn''t want to let these people go, thews of the treasure grounds protected them, so he couldn''t make a move against them. Still, all of them thought John had already broken through to demigod level and was not bound by thews, which made them panic even more. John said casually, "I''ll give Michelle and Kamal a bit of leeway. Hand over all the treasures you''ve obtained in the treasure grounds, and you''ll be free to leave." "This..." The group hesitated, reluctant to part with their spoils. But when they met John''s icy gaze, none dared to disobey. One by one, they obediently handed over all the treasures they had obtained over the past few days in the treasure grounds. Arge collection of Spirit Stones, elemental Spirit Stones, Bloodline Awakening Stones, skill stones, and even a few basic talent upgrade stones and Origin Stones were surrendered. John took them all with satisfaction and didn''t make things difficult for them, allowing them to leave peacefully. "Let''s go." John and hispanions continued wandering the treasure grounds, seeking out demigod-level powerhouses to hunt. During this time, John encountered three more demigods-members of the Angel Race and gods faction. These individuals were sharp and, upon sensing his presence, fled immediately. They were particrly troublesome because all of them had mastered spatial discement skills. John couldn''t catch up to them in time and had to give up. "Do these guys want to attack me or not?" he muttered in frustration. After roaming the treasure grounds for half a day, he had only managed to kill a single demigod from the Dark Humans faction. During that period, he sensed the emergence of several more demigod auras, but none of them waited for him to get close-instead, they all fled without exception. "Husband, I think they''re trying to gather together before making a move against you," Sara said worriedly. John nodded. He had guessed as much. Seeing their concern, he smiled and reassured them, "Don''t worry. Not only have they grown stronger, but I''ve also made a breakthrough myself. I''m more than capable of handling them." With confidence brimming, John no longer focused solely on hunting demigods. He instead searched for more treasures in the treasure grounds and looted other race powerhouses. These guys had entered the treasure grounds and broken through to demigod level solely to deal with him. ... Another seven days passed. John had collected even more treasures. But in the past few days, the treasure grounds had be eerily quiet. Powerhouses from all the various races were hiding, not daring to show themselves. A few more demigod auras had appeared during this period, but John only managed to kill one demigod from the Dark Humans faction. All the others escaped before he could get close. "Time to level up my ultimate skill." He refined all the skill stones he had obtained, gaining another 110,000 skill points-enough to upgrade Return of Ten Thousand Swords to level 10, the maximum. [You consumed 10,000 skill points. Return of Ten Thousand Swords has been upgraded to level 2.] ... [You consumed 10,000 skill points. Return of Ten Thousand Swords has been upgraded to level 10, reaching maximum level. Blessing of the Archmage level +1, current level: 11. Cannot be further upgraded.] After consuming 90,000 skill points, Return of Ten Thousand Swords finally reached the maximum level and even broke through the level cap, reaching level 11. [Return of Ten Thousand Swords: Level 11 (Blessing of the Archmage level +1), Ultimate Swordsmanship Skill. Commands tens of thousands of sword energies to strike enemies in arge area, dealing 2100% Strength-based sword damage + 1050% Spirit-based magic damage. Consumes 100 points of spiritual power. Cooldown: 10 minutes. Current level is maxed and cannot be further upgraded.] John''s strength had been significantly enhanced once more. He was confident that even if faced with an encirclement by ten demigod powerhouses, he could easily eliminate them. ... Deep within the treasure grounds, a group of demigod powerhouses had gathered-eight in total. There were three from the gods faction, two from the Angel Race, one from the Dark Humans, one from the Orcs, and one from the Beast n. A demigod from the gods faction nced at the others and asked, "Is it just the few of us? Where are the demon race members?" "They''re dead," replied the Dark Humans'' demigod. "One of our own was also killed by that Godyer." The group frowned, their expressions growing serious. The demigod from the Orcs spoke up, "Even with just the eight of us, we should be more than enough to handle that human." "Indeed, it''s time to make a move. If we keep waiting, the Apocalypse Stone will descend," said an angel, causing the others'' eyes to light up. They exchanged wary nces, sizing each other up. The demigod from the gods faction let out a coldugh and suggested, "There''s only one Apocalypse Stone. How about this-whoever kills that human gets the stone. That way, we won''t have to turn on each other in the end." "That''s a good idea. It''ll prevent certain people from holding back," the Dark Humans'' demigod said, casting a pointed nce at the Beast n''s demigod powerhouse. This demigod, Roc, was a golden roc by nature, rumored to possess the bloodline of the ancient mythical beast Roc. "Robing, what''s that supposed to mean? Are you doubting me?" Roc''s gaze locked onto the Dark Humans'' demigod, his tone icy. "Not at all, I''m just stating facts," Robing replied with a cold snort, his eyes filled with hostility. "Enough, stop arguing. Does anyone have any objections to this n?" the gods'' demigod interrupted, his tone indifferent as he looked around at the group. "I agree." "So do I." ... Everyone voiced their agreement. "Good. In that case, let''s move!" With unanimous consent, the group immediately set off to hunt down John. This time, they didn''t bother concealing their presence. The overwhelming demigod auras radiated from them as they moved, causing the powerhouses from various other races who sensed the energy to retreat as far away as possible. The rules of the treasure grounds couldn''t restrain demigods, and everyone feared a potential massacre by these powerhouses. Meanwhile, John and hispanions also sensed the divine auras converging towards them. "They''ve finally decided to make their move?" John sneered, a look of eager anticipation shing in his eyes. "Master, it seems like there are quite a few of them. I can help hold off one demigod," Behemoth offered. John was surprised and asked, "Your strength has increased that much?" Behemoth scratched his head sheepishly and said, "I can only hold off one, but it''s still risky." "Husband, Bonnie and I can also hold off one each," Sara chimed in. Bonnie nodded in agreement. Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Slaughtering Demigods, Wrath of the Gods Talent Chapter 208: ughtering Demigods, Wrath of the Gods Talent ? "No need. I can handle this," John said confidently. "Let''s go. Time to greet our guests." Not only did he refuse to hide he wanted to confront them head-on. Feeling the immense divine auras, John and hispanions quickly made their way toward them. Before long, both parties came face to face. There were eight demigod powerhouses in total. John felt a rush of excitement. As long as he killed four more demigods, his Wrath of the Gods talent would level up again. "Human, you really don''t know your ce," Robing of the Dark Humans sneered, his gaze cold as he looked at John. They all noticed that John had approached them on his own ord. Just then, a voice sounded in John''s mind: "Godyer, try to find a way to escape. I can keep two of them upied." John was stunned and nced at the demigods before him. Was one of these people actually helping him? It couldn''t be anyone from the gods, Dark Humans, or the Orcs. That left the Angel Race and the Beast n. It could be one of Elsa''s subordinates, or perhaps someone with ties to Tony. The voice came again: "I owe Tony a favor. Consider this me paying it back." John looked at the Beast n''s demigod a giant roc. The roc nodded slightly in acknowledgment. "Enough talk, let''s take him down quickly!" roared the demigod from the Orcs,unching the first attack. The others followed closely behind. Killing John would grant them the Apocalypse Stone, and each of them was eager to seize it. There was only one Apocalypse Stone, and no one was confident enough to believe they could single-handedly fend off multiple demigods in a brawl for it. "Kid, get moving!" the roc shouted, no longer hiding his intentions. He immediately lunged at Robing and the Orc demigod. "Hmph, Roc, I knew you were up to something!" Robing snorted angrily. He immediately abandoned his assault on John and turned to attack Roc instead. Buzz! Suddenly, the air quivered, and a powerful wave of soul energy spread out. John unleashed Soul Impact, enveloping all seven demigods except for Roc. "Cough!" The demigods coughed up blood, their faces turning pale. "A soul attack!" Robing shouted in surprise, momentarily dazed, giving Roc the perfect opportunity to send him flying. Among the seven demigods, only the demigod from the Orcs was instantly killed. The others all had soul techniques over 10,000 points but had soul defense measures in ce. John wasn''t surprised. These people were all the top talents of their respective races and definitely had Lifesaver mechanisms or other means of protection. "Damn it, attack together! Don''t waste time!" a demigod from the gods faction wiped the blood from his mouth, and a flying sword shot out, aimed directly at John. "Sword Mastery! Hm, you''ve fused with The Immortals'' supreme treasures!" John eximed in surprise, but before he could react further, several more attacks rained down on him. Boom! As expected, he was instantly killed. The Blessed Ring effect triggered, and he resurrected with full health. Whoosh! Light and dark magic surged around him, and sword intent hummed in the air. Heunched a furious assault, targeting the Dark Humans'' demigod, Robing. Robing, already injured from John''s Soul Impact and Roc''s attack, was the weakest among the group. "No, help me!" he cried out in terror, frantically trying to dodge. "Hmph, useless trash!" The others didn''t care about Robing''s fate and continued their onught against John. Boom! John was killed once more, and his Lifesaver talent activated. With five seconds of invincibility, he stood firm amidst the barrage of attacks, not dodging or retreating. He unleashed Flying Sword Strike, Infinite Sword Array, and alternating light and dark magic. At this point, John''s Sword Immortal skill was capable of piercing through a demigod''s defenses.N?v(el)B\\jnn Robing''s health plummeted rapidly, with each strike dealing over ten million points of damage. In an instant, his health dropped to just over three hundred million. Boom! John was killed once more. The Lifesaver talent triggered for the second time. Before Robing could catch his breath, a storm of magic and sword intent surged in all directions. "No!" His eyes widened in horror, and he let out a desperate roar. In an instant, dozens of skills engulfed him, and his health was drained to zero. [You have in a demigod-level powerhouse, gaining 6.76 billion experience points.] [Your level has increased to 1,097...] [Plunder talent activated: Dark Element Affinity +10, Strength +500, Spirit +200, Skill Points +200.] The notifications shed, but John ignored them. As the five seconds of invincibility ended, he was killed once more. Immediately, his Undying and Immortal talent triggered, and he resurrected on the spot. "He''s still not dead?" someone shouted in shock. The remaining demigods were visibly panicked, and even Roc, who had been helping John, gulped and hurriedly distanced himself from the battlefield, fearful of getting caught in the crossfire. "Hmph, pathetic!" John sneered, soaring high into the sky as the Immortal Sword flew out of his body. Having fully integrated The Immortals'' supreme treasures, the Immortal Sword within him could now be used as a weapon. Its power was in no way inferior to that of a divine artifact. Buzz... Sword intent hummed as the surrounding space trembled slightly, and an overwhelming aura began to spread out. "This... this is an ultimate skill!" One of the demigods swallowed hard, his face etched with fear. "Don''t give him time to cast it! He can''t keep resurrecting forever-attack!" roared the demigod from the gods faction, charging towards John. The others quickly came to their senses and followed closely behind. "Return of Ten Thousand Swords!" John''s cold voice echoed. The wind howled, and countless sword lights flickered in the air, enveloping the demigods before cascading down like a torrential storm. The terrifying attack left them all in a state of panic. They barely had time to react and hastily activated their defensive skills. Swoosh! Swoosh! Sword lights filled the sky, and under John''s precise control, they destroyed everything in their path. Return of Ten Thousand Swords was not merely an area-of-effect skill-it dealt continuous damage. With the powerful attributes buffing the skill, it easily pierced through the demigods'' defenses. Each strike inflicted over 20 million critical damage and an additional 6 million true damage. Their health bars plummeted rapidly. Watching from a distance, Roc''s heart trembled. He couldn''t help but swallow nervously. "So strong... Is this human really only at the seventh tier?" He backed away further, terrified of being caught up in the devastating attack. [You have in a demigod-level powerhouse, gaining 6.76 billion experience points.] [Plunder talent activated...] [You have sessfully in 10 demigod powerhouses. Wrath of the Gods talent has ascended to God Level. Skill cooldown reduction: 99%. Magic and spiritual power consumption: 99% reduction.] Two of the demigods perished instantly under the relentless assault of Return of Ten Thousand Swords. John''s Wrath of the Gods talent leveled up once more, reaching God Level. With a 99% reduction in skill cooldowns and a 99% reduction in skill consumption. His abilities could now be cast continuously, almost without any pause or resource expenditure! "So powerful!" John couldn''t help but exim. This was the true form of the Wrath of the Gods talent. However, after reaching God Level, it was already at its peak and could not be upgraded any further. Whoosh... The countless sword lights dissipated, leaving only three demigod powerhouses standing in the battlefield. Two were from the gods faction, and one was from the Angel Race. "Cough!" The Angel Race demigod coughed up blood, gravely injured, staring at John in horror. His voice trembled as he asked, "Impossible! What... what are you?" "You talk too much!" John sneered, and with a wave of his hand, countless magical and sword skills surged forward once again, almost seamlessly. Two demigod powerhouses were killed instantly, leaving only thest remaining demigod from the gods faction-the one who had fused with The Immortals'' supreme treasure. John turned his gaze to the man and asked coldly, "Where did you get your Immortals'' supreme treasure?" "Gulp!" The demigod swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and suppressed the fear in his heart. He spoke in a resolute tone, "Human, don''t expect to get anything out of me. Do it." He knew there was no escape. Although he put on a fa?ade of righteousness, his body couldn''t stop trembling. "Hmph, is that so?" John snorted disdainfully, not interested in exchanging more words. He directly activated his soul skill, Memory Extraction. Buzz! The demigod''s expression froze, his eyes staring nkly at John. "Hmm?" John frowned as he focused on extracting only the most recent memories and anything rted to The Immortals'' supreme treasures. "So, that''s how it is!" His gaze turned cold as the soul energy dissipated. He had already acquired the answers he needed. At that moment, the demigod''s eyes regained rity, filled with fear. Trembling, he stammered, "Wh-what did you just do to me?" "Hmph, you''re worthless now!" John said with disdain, dismissing the demigod''s question. With a swift motion, he unleashed a barrage of light and dark magic,bined with his Sword Immortal skill, and annihted the demigod on the spot. Another 6.76 billion experience points gained, along with a significant boost to his base attributes through Plunder. "Azure Family!" John muttered coldly. From the demigod''s memories, he had learned that the supreme treasures of The Immortals were brought here by the Azure Family. Not only that, but the Azure Family possessed arge collection of The Immortals'' supreme treasures, serving as the cultivation sects'' contingency n. After failing to stop the World of Gods n, it was the Azure Family that led various noble families in an attempt to resist. But the Azure Family, being cowardly and greedy, stole all The Immortals'' supreme treasures and defected to the gods. The gods wanted to use them as pawns against The Immortals. There was another crucial piece of information-Earth''s portal had been sealed by the cultivation sects, and to break through, one needed to fuse with The Immortals'' supreme treasures and reach the demigod level. Only John and the Azure Family could aplish this. It seemed that the crisis from his previous life was also caused by the Azure Family. "Unforgivable!" A boundless killing intent surged within John. He needed to eradicate the Azure Family. Additionally, he uncovered another secret from the demigod''s memories. A treasure in the treasure grounds was about to be born. The Apocalypse Stone, whose effects were somewhat simr to the Origin Stone. However, the Apocalypse Stone''s impact was far more profound-refining it would allow one to fuse with another set of supreme treasures from a different race. This treasure was about to be his. John casually collected the loot from the seven in demigods, acquiring another seven sets of supreme treasures, including one set from The Immortals. There were also numerous fusion resources, skill stones, talent upgrade stones, and other valuable items. He then turned his gaze toward the remaining Beast n demigod-Roc. Roc instinctively took a step back, contemting escape, but quickly realized it would be futile. In desperation, he hastily said, "Human, I mean you no harm. I was helping you just now." John didn''t attack. Instead, he asked calmly, "You''re with Tony?" "No, I owe him a favor," Roc replied hurriedly. John nodded, thought for a moment, and then said, "I''ll give you a chance-submit to me." "C-can I refuse?" Roc''s heart sank. He didn''t want to agree. He knew of the deep-seated grudge between the Beast n and The Immortals. Secretly helping John was something he had done without the knowledge of the Beast n''s deity, Janaan. If he submitted to John now, it would mean betraying his npletely. Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Acquiring the Apocalypse Stone, Fusing the Beast Clan Supreme Treasure Chapter 209: Acquiring the Apocalypse Stone, Fusing the Beast n Supreme Treasure ? "That''s fine, but you won''t be leaving alive," John said coldly, sword intent swirling around him. The roc sighed helplessly, then dropped to one knee. A surge of soul energy flowed from him as he willingly initiated a soul contract with John. John was a bit surprised. "So decisive?" "I''m willing to take a gamble. Besides, I trust Ben''s judgment," the roc replied calmly. He could see the resurgence of The Immortals in John, something that couldn''t be stopped. It was better to align himself with The Immortals now rather than resist.N?v(el)B\\jnn Buzz! The soul contract formed, and John nodded in satisfaction. The reason he epted the roc''s submission was to deal with the Azure Family. Neither he nor the Azure Family members could break through to demigod level here, and thews of the treasure grounds prevented them from fighting. Moreover, the rules of the treasure grounds werepletely different from those of Skyline Continent. Killing someone from the Azure Family here meant true death-no chance of resurrection. John nced at the roc and said, "Let''s go. Take me to the Apocalypse Stone." "Huh, you actually know about it?" The roc looked stunned. The Apocalypse Stone was a top-secret matter, known only to a few demigods and a handful of ninth-tier peak powerhouses. John merely nodded and didn''t borate further. The roc immediately took the lead, flying deeper into the treasure grounds. Soon, they arrived at a mountaintop, where arge altar stood. John had been here before, but hadn''t paid much attention to it at the time. The roc exined that the Apocalypse Stone would emerge from this location, but it would take another two days for it to appear. So, they waited. "Roc, right? I want to spar with you," Behemoth suddenly said, approaching the roc with a provocative expression. Having fused with the Beast n''s supreme treasure, his strength had increased drastically. He was eager to see how he measured up against a true demigod. During the previous battle, John had taken care of everything, and Behemoth hadn''t had a chance to fight. He was determined to challenge the roc. "You?" The roc scoffed disdainfully, uninterested in engaging with him. "What? Afraid?" Behemoth taunted, raising his Dark Dragon Staff and pointing it at the roc provocatively. The roc''s expression darkened. He nced at John. He worried about identally hurting the big guy and offending John in the process. John nodded in approval, equally curious about how much Behemoth''s strength had increased after awakening the Golden Behemoth bloodline and fully fusing with the Beast n''s supreme treasure. "Fine, in that case, I''ll teach you a lesson," the roc said, taking to the sky. He added dismissively, "I''ll let you have three moves." "Arrogant!" Behemoth roared in anger. His Dark Dragon Staff grew evenrger, and a blood- red aura flickered around him. The staff whistled through the air as he swung it down with tremendous force. "Hm?" The roc frowned slightly, his expression turning serious. He could feel the immense power behind this strike. However, since he had already given his word, he decided to take the hit head-on. Boom! With a deafening crash, the roc was sent flying, rolling awkwardly on the ground before scrambling back to his feet. "Golden Behemoth!" The roc''s eyes widened in shock. He stared at Behemoth in disbelief, finally realizing he couldn''t underestimate him. Whoosh! Demonic energy surged as the roc''s body underwent a slight transformation. A pair of ck wings sprouted from his back, and a long spear appeared in his hand. With a fierce shout, he took the initiative andunched an attack. "Good! Come at me!" Behemoth shouted, undaunted, as he swung his massive staff. The wind howled as the two shed violently. Boom! Boom! The continuous explosions echoed through the air, their attacks heavy and fierce, colliding with pure brute strength. At first, Behemoth barely managed to withstand the roc''s onught, but as time went on, he found himself being overwhelmed. He was pushed into a defensive stance, struggling to hold on. Bang! With a thunderous crash, Behemoth''s massive frame was sent flying and smashed into the ground, causing the earth to tremble. Hovering in mid-air, the roc stood tall, spear in hand, his hair and beard fluttering in the wind. His face showed a smug expression. "Kid, you''re far from being able to challenge a demigod. Go train for a few more centuries before you try again!" "Damn it!" Behemoth growled as he picked himself up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He felt humiliated-his gigantic form could squash the roc underfoot, but size and power weren''t proportionate. Feeling insulted, he gritted his teeth and charged at the roc once more. The wind roared, and shes of cold light filled the air. But again, Behemoth was utterly powerless. He was sent flying, crashing down again in a miserable state. Seeing this, Sara and Bonnie exchanged a nce and then soared into the sky, joining forces to attack the roc. "What''s this? Ganging up on me? Against a true demigod, you''re nothing more than insects!" the roc scoffed, showing no fear as he fought back with renewed vigor. A surge of powerful dark energy spread around him, and the wind screamed. Even with three of them attacking at once, the roc remained unfazed, a look of ease on his face. It was evident he hadn''t even used his full strength. His ck wings behind him began to transform. The feathers, as sharp as des, asionally shot out, forcing Sara and Bonnie into dangerous situations, dodging narrowly with each attack. Behemoth''s enormous form seemed like nothing more than a toy in front of the roc''s prowess. Boom! With another deafening explosion, Behemoth was sent sprawling, arms and legs iling as hended heavily on the ground. Sara and Bonnie were also forced to retreat repeatedly, unable to put up any meaningful resistance. "Alright, that''s enough," John called out, halting the fight. He could tell that if the roc fought seriously, all three of them would have been severely injured or even killed. Behemoth struggled to get back up, his face full of frustration. Looking at John, he asked, "Master, why is it so easy for you to kill demigods, but so difficult for us?" John sighed inwardly, realizing that his recent effortless victories over demigods had given his subordinates a skewed perception of their strength. The roc interjected, "You''re already very strong. If you truly ascend to demigod level, I''m afraid I wouldn''t be able to match you." "Hmph!" Behemoth snorted, unwilling to listen. He felt like the roc''s words were taunting him. John also noticed that the strength of his subordinates was stillcking. He needed to help Sara and the others reach level 10,000 as soon as possible. Once they could kill a demigod themselves, they would ascend to true demigod status. The group went into seclusion to train and increase their power. John, having nothing better to do, waited patiently for the Apocalypse Stone to appear. ... Two dayster, a beam of light enveloped the altar, and a massive surge of energy pulsed through the air. A light blue, thumb-sized gem slowly floated up. "So, this is the Apocalypse Stone?" John murmured, staring at the gem curiously. Whoosh! Several powerful auras appeared around them as multiple ninth-tier powerhouses, attracted by the energy, arrived at the scene. They too wanted to seize the Apocalypse Stone. However, as soon as they sensed the roc''s demigod aura, they were immediately struck by fear and dared not approach. "Subdue them!" John ordered coldly. He had no intention of letting these intruders go. With the roc present, a demigod who wasn''t bound by thews of this ce, he could easily eliminate these ninth-tier powerhouses without any restrictions. "Understood!" Sara and the others immediately sprang into action. They might not be able to deal with demigods, but handling these ninth-tier powerhouses was a walk in the park. The dozen or so ninth-tier powerhouses that had been drawn to the location were effortlessly subdued. They included members from the gods, demon race, Angel Race, Dark Humans, and even a few from the Beast n. "Master, are you nning to seize the Apocalypse Stone? We''re willing to assist you," a few of the Beast n members recognized the roc and bowed respectfully. The roc frowned but said nothing. The others watched the roc and John warily, but there was no fear in their eyes. After all, their own races also had demigod powerhouses, so they weren''t particrly afraid. If they knew that their demigod leaders had already been ughtered by John, they''d probably be trembling in fear by now. Whoosh! At that moment, the light around the altar dissipated, and the Apocalypse Stone flew out. John reacted instantly, darting forward and catching it in his hand. "So hot!" he yelped in pain. The gem was scorching, almost forcing him to drop it. Wrapping his hand in spiritual power, he managed to hold the Apocalypse Stone and examined it curiously. [Apocalypse Stone: Supreme Treasure. Refining it allows the user to fuse an additional set of racial supreme treasures. Can only be refined once.] It was just as he thought-the stone could enable him to fuse another set of supreme treasures. John already wielded the power of light and darkness and had awakened the Azure Dragon bloodline. This meant he could potentially fuse with the supreme treasures of the gods, the demon race, or the Beast n. However, there was only one Apocalypse Stone, and it could only be refined once. John immediately ruled out the demon race''s supreme treasures. He was already practicing the gods'' Divine Path Technique and the Beast n''s Overwhelming Battle Energy. The supreme treasures of the gods and the Beast n were the best fit for him. Moreover, as the prophesied savior of the Beast n, he decided to make his second set of supreme treasures the ones from the Beast n. "Time to refine the Apocalypse Stone." John nced at the gem in his hand and began the process of refining it. Buzz! Light shimmered around him as the Apocalypse Stone merged into his body. Yet, he didn''t feel any immediate changes. "You dare refine our gods'' Apocalypse Stone, human?!" roared a disciple from the gods faction, ring at John with fury in his eyes, looking as if he was ready to risk his life to get it back. The others red at him with simr intensity. If not for the restrictivews of the treasure grounds, they would have already pounced on him. John simply ignored them. With a cold smile, he turned to the roc andmanded, "Roc, kill those who are making a fuss." "You dare threaten me? We have three demigods from the gods faction on their way right now!" a few of the gods'' disciples shouted defiantly. "Hmph, they''re already dead!" Roc scoffed coldly, no longer in the mood for words. The spear in his hand gleamed with a deadly light as he effortlessly ughtered every member of the gods faction present, sparing only those from the Beast n. A heap of treasures and racial supreme treasures fell to the ground from their bodies. John collected them all without hesitation. One of the Beast n disciples looked at Roc with trembling eyes and stammered, "Master, weren''t you supposed to be fighting the Godyer? What''s going on?" "Shut up!" Roc bellowed angrily, casting a fierce re at them, his eyes full of warning. He had pledged loyalty to John, but he had no desire to massacre his own people from the Beast n. He was worried these reckless brats might speak carelessly and offend John. The few Beast n disciples exchanged confused nces, clearly not understanding what was happening. John, fully aware of Roc''s concerns, responded calmly, "Hand over all the treasures you''ve collected, and then you may leave." Their brows furrowed in anger as they red at John. "Didn''t you hear him? Hand over all your treasures and get lost!" Roc barked, his voice filled with fury. "Master, have you-have you betrayed the Beast n?" one of them finally realized, his expression shifting to one of rage. Whoosh! A cold light shed, and a spear pierced through the speaker''s throat in an instant, killing him on the spot. Roc withdrew his spear as blood sprayed into the air, and the disciple''s body slowly slumped to the ground. Staring down the remaining disciples, who were now frozen in terror, Roc said coldly, "I''ll say it one more time: hand over your treasures and get the hell out of here." "Y-yes, of course," they stammered, finallying to their senses. One by one, they handed over the treasures they had collected over the past few days and fled in a panic. John happily took everything they had surrendered, then pulled out aplete set of the Beast n''s supreme treasures and began refining and fusing with them immediately. [You have refined and fused with the Beast n''s supreme treasures: Monster Bone, Monster w, Monster Core, and Monster Spirit. All four basic attributes +10,000 points.] [Azure Dragon bloodline detected. Beast n supreme treasures sessfully fused.] Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Transformation into a Dragon, Leaving the Treasure Realm Chapter 210: Transformation into a Dragon, Leaving the Treasure Realm ? A flickering notification appeared, and a powerful surge of energy burst forth from within John. "Roar..." A dragon''s roar reverberated through the air, and a massive, menacing dragon''s shadow materialized behind him. "This is the Azure Dragon Bloodline!" Roc sensed the overwhelming energy within John and gasped in disbelief. The Azure Dragon was a formidable lower-tier god from the Beast n, possessing immense strength. Now, with the appearance of the Azure Dragon Bloodline in John, there could be only one exnation- the Azure Dragon must have perished. "Could it be that this human killed him?" Roc stared at John''s figure, swallowing hard, his heart filling with even more reverence and fear. Whoosh! Violent gusts of wind surged as the Monster Bone, Monster w, Monster Core, and Monster Spirit-four invaluable treasures-emerged from John''s body. Rather than merging into his physique, they instead integrated into the massive, ferocious dragon''s shadow behind him. "Roar..." Another dragon''s roar sounded, and the shadow of the dragon grew even more solid, almost as if it had materialized into a tangible form. Storm clouds gathered, and the colossal form of the divine dragon whistled through the sky before swiftly drilling back into John''s body, disappearing without a trace.N?v(el)B\\jnn [You havepletely fused with the Beast n''s treasures. All four base attributes increased by 100,000 points.] [You haveprehended a unique skill: Dragon Transformation.] [Dragon Transformation: Unique Skill. Transforms the user into a dragon, boosting attributes by 50%, consuming 1 point of spiritual power per second.] Terrifying energy surged through him, and John''s power was elevated to an even greater height. Not only that, but he had also gained a unique skill-Dragon Transformation. In this form, his entire being would take the shape of a dragon, and all his attributes would increase by 50%. Maintaining the dragon form would consume spiritual power, but he possessed the Wrath of the Gods talent, reducing spiritual power consumption by 99%. With his current 459 points of spiritual power, he could sustain Dragon Transformation for more than twelve hours. Of course, in battle situations, the consumption of spiritual power would elerate, shortening the duration. Still, for him, it was more than sufficient. After refining and merging with the Beast n''s treasures, his four base attributes increased by an additional 110,000 points. Moreover, with the Power of the Giant Spirit enhancement, his strength attribute alone increased by 220,000 points. With his current power, he could easily y a demigod-level being. Even when facing a lower-tier god, he would still have a fighting chance. If his opponentcked any soul-attack methods, he was confident that he could even kill a lower-tier god. "Lord, your strength has increased once again." Roc noticed that John had sessfully merged with the Beast n''s treasures, feeling a twinge of unease in his heart. He could already y demigod beings before. Now, he would undoubtedly be even more terrifying. "Lord, what''s our next move?" Behemoth also came over, curiously inquiring. "Find more treasures and rob other powerhouses from different races," John responded calmly. There were still more than ten days left until the end of the treasure exploration. He didn''t want to waste any time. The more treasures he could plunder, the more he could help others fuse with the treasures to increase their strength. "Of course, there''s one more crucial thing to do-find the Azure Family disciples and eliminate them." John and hispanions left the area, continuing to wander through the Treasure Realm. ... In the following days, they raided many more powerhouses from other races and killed quite a few of them as well. Most of their targets were from the gods, Angel Race, Dark Humans, Orcs, and demon race. As for disciples of other races, John merely robbed them without killing. He didn''t want to make enemies of all the races. There was just one day left before the Treasure Realm would close, but they still hadn''t found any members of the Azure Family. John suspected that those guys must have gone into hiding. Toozy to continue searching, he went straight to the exit of the Treasure Realm, preparing to lie in wait. The Treasure Realm could only remain open for one month. If one couldn''t leave in time, they would have to wait another three hundred years. Aside from various fusion treasures and tools, there were no other living creatures in this realm. It wasn''t suitable for cultivation, and no one wanted to be trapped here for three hundred years. John and his team guarded the exit of the Treasure Realm, and soon, someone showed up. They were native humans from the Skyline Continent, only three of them. John had never encountered them before and guessed that these guys had been hiding and cultivating the entire time. "Stop right there! If you want to ,hand over all your treasures!" Behemoth stepped forward, his gigantic framepletely blocking the exit. He stared coldly at the trio. "Why should we?" One of them looked at Behemoth''s mountain-like body and couldn''t help swallowing hard. "Because I can kill you!" Roc stepped forward as well, speaking indifferently. "You have two choices: obediently hand over your treasures and then leave, or I''ll kill you and take the treasures myself." "You''re pushing us too far!" The leader''s expression was unwilling, but then he nced at John, standing silently to the side, and quickly said, "Godyer, we from the Skyline Continent have no grievances with you. How about this-we''ll give you our Bloodline Awakening Stones, Light Spirit Stones, and Dark Spirit Stones, and you let us go?" John nced at the one who spoke and said coldly, "I want all the treasures you have on you." Roc took a step forward, a spear appearing in his hand, ready to strike at any moment. "Fine, we''ll hand them over." The three were reluctant, but faced with the threat of death, they decided to surrender their treasures. John''s voice sounded again, "Don''t try any tricks. I can sense if you''re hiding any treasures." The three men froze for a moment, startled. They had indeed nned to keep some treasures hidden. "Master, wait a moment. There are more peopleing." One of the humans from the Skyline Continent noticed disciples from other races, including the gods and Angel Race, approaching and quickly stopped the leader. What John was doing would undoubtedly offend everyone present. If they all decided to resist together, there might be trouble. "Why are you blocking the way? Get lost!" The leader, a peak ninth-tier gods powerhouse, sneered arrogantly. He nced at Behemoth with cold disdain. Buzz! At that moment, a cold gleam shed, and Roc suddenly made his move. Before the arrogant god could even react, he was instantly killed. "Roc, how dare you attack us gods? Do you have a death wish?" The gods'' people continued to shout arrogantly. "Hmph, you''re exactly the ones I want to kill," Roc replied dismissively. Without wasting any more words, he swung his spear. His demigod-level strength burst forth, effortlessly obliterating the peak ninth-tier powerhouses in front of him. The gods and Angel Race powerhouses were all massacred, their precious treasures scattering across the ground. Sara and Bonnie stepped forward and collected each piece of treasure, one by one. "Master, I''m willing to hand over all my treasures. Please, just let us leave." The three humans from the Skyline Continent were terrified now and hurriedly pleaded. "Wait here first!" John ignored them and looked beyond, noticing members of the Azure Family. "Roc, capture those guys over there. Don''t kill them yet," he immediately ordered. "Yes, sir!" Roc responded, his figure shing as he appeared in front of Hummer and his group of ten. With a wave of his hand, a gust of fierce wind swept up the group and threw them directly in front of John. "John, you''re still alive?!" Hummer looked at John in disbelief. "What''s wrong? You seem surprised." John nced at Hummer mockingly, a faint smile ying on his lips. "Tell me all the secrets of your cultivation sects, and I''ll give you a swift death." "Hmph, don''t even think about getting any information out of me." Hummer snorted coldly, resolved to face death. John stared at him coldly, not wasting any more words. He immediately activated his soul skill, Memory Extraction. Buzz! A wave of soul energy surged, easily prating Hummer''s mind and extracting his memories. Hummer stood there dazed, frozen in ce. John frowned. He didn''t obtain any useful information. Hummer didn''t know much-most of it was simr to what he had already extracted from the god who had refined the Immortals'' treasure. The only noteworthy piece of information was that the cultivation sects'' inheritance was hidden within the World of Gods. However, as to how to obtain it, even Hummer didn''t know. "What... what did you do to me?" Hummer regained his senses, feeling a sharp pain piercing through his soul. He looked at John in terror. John had no interest in engaging further. He casually waved his hand at Roc and said calmly, "These guys are useless now. Kill them all." "Understood!" Roc moved swiftly, easily ughtering the ten Azure Family disciples. These people were weaklings, not even reaching the seventh tier in strength. However, they did possess quite a number of valuable treasures-ten sets of Immortals'' artifacts and arge amount of Spirit Stones. Sara and Bonnie quickly gathered all the treasures. Not long after, more disciples from the Dark Humans, Orcs, and Demon Race arrived one after another. John gave the order to eliminate everyst one of them. As for the remaining disciples from other races, he didn''t go to the extent of exterminating them. He nced at those trembling in fear and said indifferently, "Hand over all the treasures on you, and you can leave." The group looked down at the corpses on the ground, swallowing nervously, not daring to show any hint of resistance. Those bodies belonged to the gods and their subordinate races, the most powerful beings in the Skyline Continent. If John dared to kill members of the gods, what would hold him back from killing them? "Master, we''re willing to hand everything over," the three humans from the Skyline Continent standing at the front said immediately, surrendering their treasures obediently. Most of what they handed over were Spirit Stones of the basic elements: water, fire, wind, and earth. To fuse the treasures of the Skyline Continent''s human race, one needed toprehend the power ofws associated with at least one of these basic elements. "Alright, you can go now." John nodded with satisfaction and motioned for Behemoth to step aside. The three humans, fearing that John might change his mind, didn''t dare linger for even a second and hastily fled the area. Next up were three members of the Demon Race. "Stop." John blocked one of them and used Memory Extraction again. With a cold smile, he said, "You still have 10 Dark Spirit Stones and 1,192 Skill Stones that you haven''t handed over." "Wh-what?" The man was terrified and instinctively shook his head in denial. "Roc!" John signaled Roc, who was standing nearby. St! Blood sttered as the man was instantly beheaded, and, sure enough, 10 Dark Spirit Stones and over a thousand Skill Stones fell from his body. John spoke coldly, "This is yourst warning. I have a way of detecting hidden treasures. Anyone who dares to keep something for themselves will end up like him." He pointed at the corpse on the ground, issuing a chilling threat. In reality, he didn''t have any means of detecting hidden treasures; it was merely the effect of using Memory Extraction. But Memory Extraction consumed an enormous amount of energy, so it wasn''t something he could use continuously. He had to make an example of someone to intimidate the others. After witnessing this, everyone was struck with fear and didn''t dare hide anything anymore. They lined up obediently and handed over all their treasures. ... Atop the snow-capped mountain. The spatial rift opened once more, and the gods of various races craned their necks, waiting eagerly. Very soon, three figures emerged-it was the three humans from the Skyline Continent. Their faces were pale, and just thinking about John''s terrifying power still sent shivers down their spines. Chapter 211: Chapter 211: The Undying Flame, Intimidating the Gods Chapter 211: The Undying me, Intimidating the Gods ? The demigod leader from the Skyline Continent quickly approached them, eager to ask, "So, how did it go this time? What''s the harvest?" The man in the lead shook his head with a grievance written all over his face. "Sir, we didn''t get any treasures. Everything was looted by that Godyer." "What? The Godyer is still alive?" Kamal eximed in shock, utterly incredulous. Within the Beast n''s ranks, Elsa breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that John was safe. Then, her gaze turned icy as she looked at Kamal. So it was her. This woman had ill intentions all along, plotting against their master behind everyone''s back. The demigod from the Skyline Continent furrowed his brows and continued to ask, "Did he break through to the demigod level?" "No, not exactly, but he has a demigod from the Beast n by his side." As he spoke, he couldn''t help but nce over at the Beast n''s camp. "Beast n?" Everyone''s gaze shifted to the few members of the Beast n. The leader of the Beast n delegation was a lower-tier god named Janaan. At that moment, Janaan looked bewildered. He had no idea what was going on. He stared coldly at the human and said, "Boy, you can talk nonsense all you want, but don''t drag my Beast n into it. The only one from the Beast n who could possibly reach demigod status is Roc." "Yes, it was Roc," the man hurriedly confirmed. "Impossible! Roc was a participant in this n. How could he possibly assist that human?" Janaan refused to believe it. Mantra, another god, stepped forward and asked the man, "Where are my people from the gods?" The gods had three demigods involved in this mission. Counting other races, there were a total of nine demigod powerhouses. Even if Roc had defected, it shouldn''t have affected the entire n. The man nced at Mantra, his face showing a hint of fear, and said, "They''re all dead. Not just the gods, but also the Angel Race, Dark Humans, Orcs, and the demon race powerhouses -they were all ughtered by Roc." "What?" Everyone gasped in shock and turned their killing intent toward Janaan. The Beast n members immediately tensed, preparing for a potential battle. Janaan''s expression turned frantic as he quickly tried to exin, "Everyone, there must be some kind of misunderstanding here." He turned to the human and continued, "We can''t trust the words of one person alone. Let''s wait for more survivors to arrive." At that moment, more powerhouses from various races began to arrive one after another. Their ounts were identical to the first man''s. Even survivors from the Beast n confirmed the same story. "Janaan, do you have anything else to say?" Michelle roared furiously, the terrifying power of darkws surging around her. The crowd surrounded the Beast n members, poised to attack at any moment. "This is impossible! Don''t forget, our Beast n was also part of this n. Moreover, the rest of our Beast n members were also looted!" Janaan struggled to exin, but no one was willing to listen. Janaan sensed that there was something very fishy about this entire situation and couldn''t help but look at Tony nearby. Tony had once tried to persuade him to join the Immortals, but Janaan had firmly rejected it. Moreover, he and Roc shared aplicated history. If something unexpected had happened, Tony was definitely involved in it. "Tony, do you know anything about this?" Janaan asked coldly. Regardless of whether Tony was involved or not, he had decided to sacrifice Tony to quell everyone''s fury. "No, I don''t," Tony replied, shaking his head calmly. On the inside, however, he was cursing John thoroughly. He had repeatedly warned John not to go too far. And now? Not only had John looted resources from every major race, but he had also killed people from the gods and the demon race. There was no way this situation could end well. Whoosh! Just then, another wave of spatial power fluctuations rippled through the air, and John and his group appeared. "Huh, what''s this? nning to fight?" John looked at the tense standoff between the various factions, all seemingly targeting the Beast n. He guessed what might be going on and slowly took a step back, saying nonchntly, "Mind if I just watch from here?" "Roc!" Janaan ignored John and turned to Roc beside him, asking coldly, "What the hell is going on?" Roc nced at him indifferently and responded, "I''ve already pledged my allegiance to the Immortals." "You bastard!" Janaan cursed furiously and was about to attack Roc. "Wait!" Mantra interrupted, stepping forward and speaking icily, "Janaan, I''ll give you a chance to prove your innocence-kill that human. If you refuse, I''ll wipe out your entire Beast n!" "Count me in," Michelle added coldly. The other powerhouses from various races echoed the sentiment, pressuring Janaan to take action against John. "What do you mean by this?" Janaan''s brows furrowed as he realized that these people wanted to use him to test if John was truly backed by the Immortals. "Either fight, or die!" Mantra roared, the power of light bursting from him. A gleaming sword of light formed, hovering ominously above Janaan''s head. "Fine!" Janaan swallowed hard and nced at John, his expression full of wariness. But for the sake of the Beast n, he decided to take the gamble. "Let''s see who dares!" A calm voice rang out. Tony stepped forward, positioning himself in front of John, and coldly swept his gaze over the crowd. "The Beast n truly knows how to protect its own," Mantra sneered, giving Tony only a cursory nce, not putting him in his eyes at all. To him, a mere demigod couldn''t stir up much trouble. "Tony! So, you were involved in this after all. If that''s the case, I''ll clean house today!" Janaan roared furiously, parts of his body morphing into a beast-like form. Wings sprouted from his back, his ears turned sharp, fangs grew longer, and his hands transformed into razor-sharp ws. His true form seemed to be some type of bat-like demonic beast. John leaned closer behind Tony and whispered, "Senior, what trump card do you have? I''m no match for these guys." "Damn, so you do know fear!" Tony cursed softly. Then, with a calm tone, he added, "Just watch. None of them will dare touch us." As he spoke, a crystal orb appeared in his hand, with a white me flickering inside. The surrounding temperature spiked abruptly, even causing the snow atop the mountain to melt slowly. John was utterly confused. He couldn''t sense any power from the white me at all. Yet, the expressions of the surrounding gods turned to one of terror, as if facing a formidable foe. "The Immortals'' Undying me!" Janaan eximed, stepping back involuntarily, not daring to approach. "Haha..." Tonyughed arrogantly, sweeping his gaze across the crowd. He sneered and shouted, "Anyone who''s not afraid, step forward now!" Everyone exchanged uneasy nces, not daring to move a muscle. Even Mantra and Michelle, two mid-tier gods, looked wary and red at Tony with cold, -cautious eyes. Feeling even more emboldened, Tony continued his tirade,unching into a flurry of curses, "Damn cowards! You call yourselves gods? Pathetic! Spineless turtles... No, calling you turtles is an insult to turtles! You''re all just ants, worms..." The longer Tony cursed, the more agitated he became, even going so far as to insult members of the Eisen Family. John stared, wide-eyed and speechless, at Tony''s verbal onught. He was genuinely afraid that these people might lose their temper and attack recklessly. The crowd''s faces alternated between red and white, ring at Tony in fury, yet no one dared to make a move. "Damn it! I can''t take this anymore! I don''t believe you''d dare break that crystal orb! If you release the Undying me, no one here will survive-not you, not that human!" Michelle roared furiously and prepared to strike. Tony didn''t hesitate for a second and raised the crystal orb threateningly. "Michelle!" Mantra immediately stopped him. He wasn''t willing to take that gamble. He red at Tony coldly and spat, "Tony, right? Fine, you win. Leave now, before I change my mind!" "Tsk, giving in so quickly? My worthless life for so many gods-what a deal..." Tony continued to taunt them, acting as if he was ready to die alongside everyone. "Old man, enough. Let''s just go." Even John couldn''t stand it any longer. He interrupted Tony, genuinely worried that these people might disregard their own safety and attack. "This is no fun. Let''s go." Tony looked a bit disappointed but still gave a mocking wave to a few of the gods as if taunting them further. John dragged him away immediately, and before leaving, he nced at Michelle and Kamal, saying, "You''re not wee in Death Land." With that, he led his group and left the scene. As they disappeared into the distance, Mantra''s fury erupted like a volcano. "Beast n!" He roared, and suddenly, his terrifying power of light surged forth. Boundless Holy Light descended, engulfing the twenty-plus members of the Beast n in their camp. "Lord, this has nothing to do with me- " Janaan''s face was filled with terror. His voice wasn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om abruptly cut off as the Holy Light enveloped him entirely. The twenty-plus members of the Beast n were annihted in an instant, including Janaan and the two demigod powerhouses. Mantra''s heart was still boiling with rage as his cold gaze slowly swept over the remaining powerhouses from other races. "Mantra," Michelle stepped forward and spoke, "It seems we''ve all been yed. In that previous battle, that woman in the green dress gravely wounded us, and her energy has since dissipated. She won''t be appearing again. The only trump card that human has left is likely the Undying me in Tony''s hand." "So what? Are you willing to go against it?" Mantra nced at him coldly. The Undying me was a unique power of the Immortals, and its terrifying might was enough to melt mid-tier gods instantly. Even upper-tier gods dared not face it head-on. Michelle continued, "What I''m suggesting is that if we can force Tony to exhaust the Undying me, that so-called Godyer would be amb waiting for ughter." "Oh?" Mantra''s eyes lit up. This was indeed a viable n, but it would require the sacrifice of a lower-tier god. The strongest among John''s group was only a demigod. If a lower-tier god stepped up, it would be enough to pressure them into using their trump card. Mantra nced at the few lower-tier gods standing beside him. Immediately, they all took a step back, their faces filled with fear. It was clear that Mantra intended to send them to their deaths. "Too bad about Janaan," he muttered, looking over at Janaan''s corpse. He had justunched a soul attack¨DJanaan''s soul had beenpletely obliterated, making resurrection impossible. Turning to Michelle, he said, "How about this? We each send out one lower-tier god. What do you think?" Mantra clearly wanted to use this opportunity to weaken the demon race''s strength, preparing for the uing war. Michelle saw through his intentions but nodded in agreement nheless. "Fine." He understood that the greatest threat was the Immortals, and they had to be eliminated at all costs. Afterward, he could rally the other races. "It''s settled then. We''ll act in three days." Mantra set the date and led his people away. The others also dispersed quickly. ... John and his group flew rapidly, heading back to the Saint Martial Sect. Tony wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, still trembling slightly. Seeing this, John''s face filled with disdain. "Old man, I thought you were so fearless back there. Turns out it was all just an act." Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Return to Death Land and Distribution of Treasures Chapter 212: Return to Death Land and Distribution of Treasures ? Tony shot John a re and snapped, "This mess is all your fault, you know. Besides, the Undying me is terrifyingly powerful. If that crystal orb were to shatter, everyone would die. Do you think everyone''s as reckless as you? This old man still wants to live a few more years." John scoffed, then asked curiously, "Is the Undying me really that powerful? Let me give it a try." Tony red at him again and tly refused, "No way. Its power is too immense. I''m afraid you''ll get yourself killed if you use it recklessly." "You''re such a miser." John lost interest. The Undying me, despite its immense power, was a one-time-use item. Moreover, its primary purpose was to perish together with the enemy-it was more of an intimidation tool than anything else. ... The group flew at high speed and returned to the Saint Martial Sect by midday. Tony and Elsa immediately entered Death Land, while John, having other matters to attend to, went in search of the busy Chris. "It''s been a while since I''ve seen you, kid," Chris said in a mildly reproachful tone when he saw John. "So, what brings you here this time?" He knew that every time John showed up, it was for something important. "I''ve acquired some treasures," John replied with a faint smile, taking out eleven sets of Immortals'' artifacts. The Immortals'' artifacts were most suitable for the descendants of the Ancient Martial Arts families to refine, and he only trusted members of the Azure Family. "These are... treasures?" Chris asked in surprise, picking up one set of artifacts and examining it curiously. With the opening of the Divine Path, news about the various races'' treasures had spread widely, but it was his first time seeing one in person. John nodded and continued, "There are a total of eleven sets of Immortals'' artifacts. Senior, you can select eleven strong members of the Azure Family to refine them." He then produced arge number of Spirit Stones, all of which were obtained from the Treasure Realm. "Spirit Stones!" Chris eximed in astonishment. "Senior, you know what these are?" John asked, equally surprised. Chris nodded and exined, "I saw them a long time ago-back at the Azure Family. It''s said that these are treasures originating from the cultivation sects and can be used to enhance strength." "Really?" John was skeptical. Spirit Stones appearing in the real world? He suspected that Spirit Stones were not native to the world of Gods. Spirit Stones could help refine the Immortals'' artifacts, yet before the Divine Path opened, there were no Immortals in the world of Gods. The disciples of the various sects on Earth arrived over a thousand years ago, and these Spirit Stones were very likely brought by them. Chris didn''t press further. Instead, he said, "I''ll have Armstrong handle the distribution." He immediately had someone summon Armstrong. "Brother-inw!" Armstrong greeted John with a face full of excitement upon seeing him. Although his martial talent was not exceptional, his management skills were outstanding. It seemed that both Chris''s son and grandson excelled in management. However, now that they had entered the world of Gods and refined the Attribute Fusion Stones, fusing attributes from reality, their strength had greatly increased,pensating for their previousck of martial talent. After listening to Chris''s instructions, Armstrong quickly had suitable candidates in mind. "Brother-inw, should we reserve a set for Ritchie? And what about Tracy?" He hadn''t seen Tracy for a long time and felt a bit concerned. "No need. Tracy has already refined a gods'' treasure. As for Ritchie, he''s better suited for the human treasures from the Skyline Continent," John replied, thinking of Ritchie. Ritchie had a hidden ss-Earth Knight-so boosting his earth elemental affinity would be the most beneficial. Earth was one of the four basic elements, and mastering thew of earth would allow him to refine the treasures of the Skyline Continent''s human race. "Alright, I''ll get it sorted." Armstrong nodded and allocated one set of the Immortals'' artifacts to Chris, Peter, and himself. The remaining eight sets were given to the strongest and most loyal disciples of the Blues Family and those absolutely loyal to John. After wrapping up these arrangements, John headed to Death Land. "Tracy, let everyone know to gather," he called out to Tracy, who was lounging around nearby, looking bored. "Okay." She immediately messaged Sini and the others, then ran over to John''s side and asked expectantly, "Old man, can you help me level up now?" She had been stuck in Death Land for a while. Although she was no longer trapped in that vine-woven cage, she still felt cooped up. John nodded, took out 100 Light Spirit Stones, and handed them to her. "Refine these Light Spirit Stones first. Comprehend thews of light and fully integrate with your gods'' treasure. Then I''ll help you level up." "Got it!" Tracy was overjoyed. She carefully stored the 100 Light Spirit Stones away without asking any questions, then bid him farewell and returned to her room to begin refining the Light Spirit Stones in seclusion. Not long after, Sini and the others returned to Death Land as well. "Benefactor, you''re back!" Anna looked at him, her face full of anticipation. The other women also watched him eagerly. John knew exactly what they were hoping for and took out all the treasures he had acquired during his time exploring the Treasure Realm. There were 33 sets of gods'' artifacts, 11 sets of demon race artifacts, 4 sets of Beast n artifacts, and 4 sets of Skyline Continent human artifacts, along with numerous items to aid in artifact fusion. The group''s eyes sparkled as John spoke, "Go ahead and choose whichever you like." "Thank you, my lord!" Everyone was thrilled and gathered around the artifacts, carefully selecting their preferred items. Of course, the women closest to him got to choose first. They were overwhelmed by the options and couldn''t decide which race''s treasure suited them best. For the others, obtaining just one set of artifacts would have been a tremendous opportunity, but the women by John''s side had the luxury of choosing freely. "I think I''ll go with the Skyline Continent''s human treasures," Ada said after much consideration, putting down the gods'' treasure in her hand and finally choosing the Skyline Continent''s human artifacts. It was the treasure that resonated most with her. Yuel, being an earth elf, also chose the Skyline Continent''s human artifacts. "Undead Lord, why did you choose the gods'' treasure?" John asked in surprise when he noticed the Undead Lord opting for a gods'' artifact. After all, he was part of the Undead race and currently in the form of a skeleton. Light magic was his natural bane. "Kid, I''ve discovered something. If I can master the Law of Light, then I won''t be afraid of light magic anymore¡ªbasically making me an invincible existence without any weaknesses!" The soul mes in his eye sockets flickered with excitement as he proudly exined. "A skeleton that masters the Law of Light?" John was at a loss for words but decided to let the Undead Lord do as he pleased. There were plenty of gods'' artifacts anyway, so he didn''t mind the Undead Lord''s choice. Soon, everyone finished selecting their treasures. With the limited number of Beast n artifacts, the Ice Phoenix, Fire Phoenix, and several other Beast n powerhouses had no choice but to settle for the gods'' artifacts. Afterward, everyone received attribute Spirit Stones, bloodline awakening stones, and other items that would aid in the fusion of the artifacts and began refining and merging with their treasures. John also took some basic attribute Spirit Stones for himself. He took 100 each of wind, fire, water, and earth Spirit Stones, which would allow him toprehend 1% of the elemental Law of each attribute. Once everyone received their items, they all went into seclusion to cultivate. John also chose to enter seclusion, refining the basic elemental Spirit Stones and skill stones to enhance his techniques. Only Sini, Elsa, and Tony remained to guard Death Land. John hadpletely offended all the major races, and Tony was worried that they might seek revenge. He had been on high alert these past few days. [You have refined Fire Spirit Stone. Fire Elemental Affinity +1] [Your Fire Elemental Affinity has reached 100 points,prehending 1% of the Fire Elemental Law.] ...N?v(el)B\\jnn Notification messages shed as John refined 100 Fire Spirit Stones, sessfully comprehending 1% of the Fire Elemental Law. "I wonder how Malina''s doing?" He couldn''t help but think of Malina. She had a rare ss-me Mage-and had gained an additional 10 points in Fire Elemental Affinity. If she couldprehend the Law of Fire, her strength would increase tremendously. Moreover, mastering the Fire Elemental Law would also help her fuse with the Skyline Continent''s human treasures. John had enough Fire Spirit Stones in his possession and decided to help Malina out. However, he wasn''t nning to give them to her for free-he at least needed some kind of exchange. He recalled that Malina had promised him a 20G dancing video, which she still hadn''t delivered. He shrugged off the thought for now and continued refining the other elemental Spirit Stones. [You have refined Earth Spirit Stone. Earth Elemental Affinity +1] [Your Earth Elemental Affinity has reached 100 points,prehending 1% of the Earth Elemental Law.] ... [You have refined Water Spirit Stone. Water Elemental Affinity +1] [Your Water Elemental Affinity has reached 100 points,prehending 1% of the Water Elemental Law.] ... [You have refined Wind Spirit Stone. Wind Elemental Affinity +1] [Your Wind Elemental Affinity has reached 100 points,prehending 1% of the Wind Elemental Law.] Notifications continued to sh as John sessfullyprehended the Laws of the four basic elements. He didn''t push for further improvement. His strongest attack methods currently were from his Sword Immortal ss and mastery over the Laws of Light and Darkness. The reason forprehending the Laws of the four basic elements was to gain 100% magical resistance corresponding to each element. "Time to keep leveling up my skills." John took out a massive pile of skill stones, stacking them together like a small mountain. This was his haul from the Treasure Realm-over a million in total. He began refining them immediately, umting a total of 1.77 million skill points. After some thought, he decided to focus on upgrading Soul Technique. Among the four techniques he had mastered-Divine Path, Overwhelming Battle Energy, Soul Technique, and Immortal Sword Art-all had been raised to over level 1000. For each subsequent level, 1000 skill points were required. Apart from Soul Technique, the other three techniques provided little additional benefit unless a new skill wasprehended. He didn''t want to take any risks, so upgrading Soul Technique remained the safest option. [You have consumed 1000 skill points. Soul Technique has been upgraded to level 5589. Soul Technique +1] ... [You have consumed 1000 skill points. Soul Technique has been upgraded to level 7365. Soul Technique +1] After using up all his skill points, Soul Technique had increased by over a thousand levels. His Soul Technique was now at level 17,000, far surpassing the capabilities of demigod powerhouses and evenparable to some lower-tier gods. The only downside was that he still hadn''tprehended any new skills. "I wonder if I''ll unlock a new skill after reaching level 20,000?" He couldn''t help but anticipate it. However, he was still more than 2,000 levels away from level 20,000, requiring at least 2.6 million more skill points-something impossible to achieve in the short term. "Time to level up." He stepped out of his room, determined to raise his level and break through to the ninth tier. "Old man, you''re finally out!" Tracy called out. She had already refined the Light Spirit Stones and fully merged with her gods'' treasure, significantly boosting her strength. "Take me to level up!" she said, looking at John expectantly. Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Destruction of Dark City and the Emergence of Lower-Tier Gods Chapter 213: Destruction of Dark City and the Emergence of Lower-Tier Gods ? "Alright." John nodded in agreement and called over Sini and Elsa as well. "Elsa, do you know the locations of the Dark Humans'' ninth-tier cities?" He decided to target the Dark Humans'' ninth-tier cities to weaken their strength while also plundering their resources. Right now, the thing hecked the most was skill stones. "I do," Elsa nodded and continued, "But each of those Dark Cities has demigod powerhouses stationed there." "No problem," John said casually. With his current strength, killing demigods was effortless. Even if he encountered a lower-tier god, he was confident in his ability to hold his own. "Kid, I''ming with you guys." Tony approached at this moment. He was worried that John might encounter danger. His only trump card right now was the Undying me. He needed to stay close to John to intimidate the powerhouses from the various races. "Alright," John didn''t refuse. Just as the group was preparing to leave, a sudden wave of spatial power surged. A massive figure appeared-a ck dragon. "That''s a divine dragon bloodline!" Tony eximed, staring at the ck dragon. Thankfully, the creature''s strength wasn''t overwhelming, only at the seventh tier-Legendary level. "Master!" The enormous ck dragon looked at John and called out, then charged toward him excitedly. It was Avis! This guy had been in the Azure Dragon''s Secret Area for over a month and had finally refined the power within the Azure Dragon''s corpse, evolving into a divine dragon bloodline. Seeing Avis, John couldn''t help but smile. Avis''s strength had increased tremendously, and more importantly, he now had a reliable mode of transportation. "We''re heading to take down the Dark Humans. Why don''t you join us?" John said as he leapt onto Avis''s back. Avis''s size had doubled since thest time John saw him. Tony and the women also flew up onto Avis''s back. John then provided Avis with a set of coordinates-Dark City, one of the Dark Humans'' ninth- tier cities. It was once the city where Robing resided. However, Robing had been in by John in the Treasure Realm after breaking through to the demigod level. Since the opening of the Divine Path, two demigod powerhouses had taken up residence in Dark City, making it a formidable stronghold. But John felt no fear at all. Whoosh... The fierce wind roared as Avis flew at high speed, his velocity matching that of a ninth-tier powerhouse. Half a dayter, a majestic city loomed into view-Dark City, one of the few remaining ninth- tier cities of the Dark Humans. Avis flew over the city, casting a massive shadow that startled the Dark City garrison. "A magical beast?" "Get lost! This is no ce for you to be!" Angry shouts echoed from within the city. Several magic spells whizzed toward them from the city walls, forcing Avis to swiftly ascend. The garrison here consisted entirely of seventh-tier or higher Dark Humans. However,pared to the City of Angels, their strength was much weaker-most were only of Epic rank. "Go!" John pulled Sini and Tracy into the team and didn''t bother wasting any time. He immediatelyunched his attack. Buzz! Sword energy hummed as a boundless gust of wind howled, and a terrifying aura enveloped the entirety of Dark City. John unleashed his strongest attack right from the start-his ultimate skill, Return of Ten Thousand Swords! Whoosh! Sword energy surged, and endless sword lights whistled down like a torrential rain, bombarding every corner of Dark City. "An ultimate skill?" "A demigod powerhouse!" "Damn it, this is a ninth-tier city of the Dark Humans! Aren''t you afraid of our race''s retaliation for attacking us?" ... The city echoed with curses, but they were soon reced by agonized screams. Even ninth-tier powerhouses couldn''t withstand the onught of sword lights. The sky was filled with sword energy, blood sttered everywhere, and the enormous city was obliterated. Hundreds of thousands of Dark Human powerhouses were instantly killed. [You have in a ninth-tier Legendary Dark Human, gaining 676 million experience points.] [Your level has increased...] [Plunder Talent Activated: +10 Skill Points, +1 Magic Critical, +200 Spirit.] ... Notification messages shed continuously, and John''s experience points soared wildly. Not only that, but he also plundered a massive amount of attributes, boosting his strength once again. [Announcement: yer Godyer has destroyed the ninth-tier city of the Dark Humans- Dark City.] As the sword lights dissipated, the cityy in ruins, the sacrificial altar was reduced to rubble, and three system announcement notifications echoed in the air. The destruction of a ninth-tier city caused quite a stir. "Master has grown even stronger..." Avis was stunned. After not seeing John for a month, he never expected his master''s strength to have increased so dramatically. Single-handedly, John had effortlessly wiped out an entire city-no less, a mighty ninth-tier city. Within the city, only a few ninth-tier Legendary powerhouses managed to survive by sheer luck. Just then, two figures flew into the sky-they were the two remaining demigod powerhouses. "Godyer!" One of them recognized John, his face turning pale with fear. The news of John''s actions in the Treasure Realm had already spread far and wide, and it was well-known that demigod powerhouses were no match for him.N?v(el)B\\jnn "Run!" The two exchanged a nce and, without hesitation, bolted in opposite directions. John''s eyes narrowed slightly, and the air around him trembled as he activated his soul attack skill-Soul Impact. Cough... The two demigods staggered, coughing up blood as their souls took damage. Although the attack wasn''t fatal, it wounded them enough to hasten their retreat. For powerhouses above the demigod level, most had some form of soul defense. It was difficult for him to annihte them purely through soul attacks. "Elsa, Tony, stop that guy!" Johnmanded, then immediately activated Sword Flight, speeding toward the other fleeing demigod. Having run into two demigods at once, he couldn''t afford to let either of them escape. Elsa and Tony were also demigod powerhouses. While they might not be able to kill a demigod, holding one back was an easy task for them. "You can''t escape," John''s cold voice echoed as dark and light elementalws surged around him. Several spells whistled through the air, smashing toward the fleeing demigod. Boom! Boom! The ground shook with explosions, and the demigod was sent flying. After refining the Immortals'' and Beast n''s artifacts, John''s strength had skyrocketed. His skill attacks were now powerful enough to break through both magical and physical defenses. The enemy immediately lost billions of health points. "Godyer!" The demigod red at John in terror, hastily shouting, "If you kill me, you''ll be making an irreparable enemy of the Dark Humans. You''ll be dead for sure!" "Heh, am I not already their enemy?" John sneered coldly, wasting no time with further talk. The Sword of Divinity and Demons roared to life, a brilliant sword light shooting out. He seamlessly alternated between several Sword Immortal skills, including Flying Sword Strike and Unrivaled Sword Dance. With the Wrath of the Gods talent reducing cooldowns and resource consumption by 99%, his attacks were relentless and unceasing. Each strike dealt over 20 million physical critical damage and more than 3 million true damage. The demigod''s health dropped rapidly and was soon depleted. "Despicable human! Lord Thunder has already taken action. Your arrogance won''tst much longer!" Knowing his death was inevitable, the demigod cursed furiously. Boom! A Light Sword shnded, and his health was instantly drained to zero. He fell on the spot, dead. [You have in a demigod powerhouse, gaining 5.58 billion experience points.] [Plunder Talent Activated: Dark Element Affinity +10, Skill Points +200, Strength +500, Spirit +500.] The notification messages shed as the demigod died, dropping a set of demon race artifacts, a mid-tier divine weapon, and a mid-level talent upgrade stone among other items. John didn''t bother inspecting the loot carefully. He picked everything up and hurried to the other battlefield. At this point, Elsa and Tony were engaged in a fierce battle with the other demigod but were barely holding their ground. Both had only recently broken through to the demigod level and were no match for their opponent. "Leave it to me!" John shouted as he arrived, unleashing a barrage of spells and attacks at the enemy demigod. The demigod had no power to fight back and was easily killed by John, dropping another mid- tier divine weapon, a set of demon race artifacts, and several other items. "Master, can you really kill demigods so effortlessly now?" Avis flew over, staring at John with a shocked expression. "Just barely," John replied with a smug, nonchnt tone. The group then began to clean up the battlefield. Many of the spoils were buried under the rubble, making them difficult to retrieve. John, meanwhile, was searching for the treasure vault of Dark City. "Elsa, do you know who Thunder is?" John asked, recalling the demigod''s threat before his death. "Thunder?" Elsa nodded and exined, "Master, he''s a lower-tier gods powerhouse." "That guy seemed to be nning toe after me," John remarked casually, not taking it too seriously. "What?" Elsa, however, looked a bit apprehensive and warned, "Master, you should be careful. He has mastery over the Law of Thunder, and his strength is not to be underestimated." John nodded. A lower-tier god wasn''t someone he couldn''t deal with. Before long, he found Dark City''s treasure vault. There were over a million skill stones inside -not as many as in Giant Spirit City. But still a decent haul. In addition, there were various equipment enhancement stones, iy gems, and other rare items, all of which John collected. Afterward, he helped the women clean up the battlefield. Beneath the ruins, there were still divine weapons, skill stones, and other items. He didn''t want to leave anything behind. ... Meanwhile, back in Death Land. Two figures suddenly descended, emanating a terrifying aura-they were both god-level powerhouses. These two were the lower-tier gods that Mantra and Michelle had arranged to eliminate John. Thunder from the Dark Humans and the Death Demon General from the demon race. "Huh, he''s not here?" Thunder carefully sensed his surroundings but couldn''t detect John''s presence. There wasn''t anyone else around either. Everyone had gone to the Eternal Forest to level up. "So many treasures!" Thunder''s attention was soon drawn to the numerous treasures scattered throughout Death Land. The Tree of Life, Vein of the Earth, Dark Sea... Each one of these treasures could elevate the strength of an entire race. And here, there were three of them. He couldn''t help but swallow, his eyes glinting with greed. The Death Demon General nced at him warily and reminded, "Don''t forget our mission. We''re here to kill that Godyer." "Hmph, I know." Thunder snorted coldly, irritated. "Those guys sent us here to die. What''s the rush?" The two of them were well aware that John possessed the Undying me. If they cornered him, he would undoubtedly release the me, resulting in mutual destruction. [Announcement: yer Godyer has destroyed the ninth-tier city of the Dark Humans- Dark City.] ... At that moment, three system announcements rang out. Thunder''s face changed, and he roared angrily, "Dark City! That human actually went to Dark City!" "Let''s go!" The two exchanged a nce and immediately left Death Land, rushing toward Dark City at top speed to intercept and kill John. Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Dragon Transformation, Battle Against Lower-Tier Gods Chapter 214: Dragon Transformation, Battle Against Lower-Tier Gods ? The two lower-tier gods flew at high speed, heading straight for Dark City. Meanwhile, the Death Demon General secretly sent a message to Michelle, urging him to take control of Death Land as soon as possible. As long as John was killed, Death Land would be an ownerless domain. Whoever refined it first would im it as their own. ... John and his group finally finished clearing the battlefield, collecting over 300 low-tier divine weapons and more than 200,000 skill stones. "Let''s go to the next ninth-tier city," he said as he jumped onto Avis''s back, preparing to leave. At that moment, two terrifying auras surged from the distant horizon, approaching rapidly. "Master, it''s Thunder. And the other one is the Death Demon General from the demon race!" Elsa''s face turned pale as she recognized the two figures and hastily warned him. "Kid, run! I''ll hold them off!" Tony said gravely, the crystal orb containing the Undying me appearing in his hand once more. Whoosh! The wind roared as the two figures arrived in the blink of an eye, hovering in mid-air, their gaze immediately locking onto John. But soon, their attention shifted to Tony-more specifically, to the Undying me in his hand. Thunder looked at it with trepidation and said, "Tony, our target is the Godyer. As long as you leave quietly, we won''t trouble you." Tony stared at them coldly, unmoved. "Kid, get out of here. Once the Undying me is released, it will cover a hundred miles. I''ll keep these two upied." "Old man, don''t be impulsive." John stopped Tony and said, "Can''t you see? These two are here to die." Tony frowned. He understood what John meant-these two were here to force him to use the Undying me. Even if John escaped, without this deterrent, other lower-tier and mid-tier gods would soone for him, and he would be doomed. "Then what do we do?" Tony asked, still ring coldly at the two enemies. If all else failed, he was prepared to take them down with him. John took a step forward and looked directly at the two lower-tier gods, speaking calmly, "I can handle this." "They''re lower-tier gods!" Tony reminded him. "Master," Elsa added anxiously, "the Death Demon General has soul attack abilities." "Is that so?" John''s brow furrowed slightly. With his Undying and Immortal talent, he had no fear of lower-tier gods. However, if the enemy possessed soul attack abilities, it could pose a significant threat. If his soul were to be destroyed, the Undying and Immortal talent wouldn''t activate. He asked, "Elsa, do you know what that guy''s Soul Technique is?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Elsa shook her head. Deciding not to waste time, John refined all the skill points he had just obtained to continue upgrading his Soul Technique. After umting another 1.44 million skill points, he used them all to level up Soul Technique. [You have consumed 1000 skill points. Soul Technique has been upgraded to level 7366. Soul Technique +1] ... "What''s this? Trying to increase your strength now? Isn''t it a little toote?" Thunder sneered as he watched John refine skill stones. "Stop talking nonsense and finish this quickly!" The Death Demon General, worried that unexpected changes might ur,unched a soul attack without hesitation. Even if Tony were to release the Undying me, he didn''t care-his only concern waspleting the task Michelle had assigned him. "You lunatic!" Thunder''s heart skipped a beat at the sudden attack. He didn''t immediately join in, but instead kept a wary eye on Tony, ready to flee at a moment''s notice. While loyal to the Dark Humans, he wasn''t willing to risk his life for them. "Old man, don''t be reckless. I can handle this. All of you, back off!" John warned, a trickle of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth. His soul had suffered some damage. He had just used up all his skill points, raising his Soul Technique to level 8809. The Death Demon General''s Soul Technique was only around level 18,000-insufficient to kill him instantly. "What a powerful soul!" The Death Demon General was visibly shocked. He had assumed that killing a mere seventh-tier human would be effortless, but he hadn''t expected John''s Soul Technique to be so formidable-he was nearly backfired by his own soul attack. With John''s Soul Technique almost on par with his own, the Death Demon General didn''t dare to recklessly use more soul skills and instead switched to closebat. Boom! [You have been killed by the Death Demon General. The Blessed Ring has been triggered.] With a deafening explosion, John was instantly killed, just as he had expected. The next moment, he resurrected on the spot. Whoosh! Sword energy buzzed as he simultaneously activated Unrivaled Sword Dance and Dance of the Void, wildly shing at the Death Demon General. -3,380,000 -2,143,000 ... A series of damage numbers shed, all of them indicating true damage. "Hmph. Human, stop your futile struggle. Your attacks may be peculiar, but they can''t harm me in the slightest," the Death Demon General scoffed disdainfully. As a lower-tier god, even at the initial stage, his four basic attributes were all above 80 million, and his health points were over 9 billion. "Those demigods who died by my hands had the same thought. You won''t be any different!" John retorted just before being killed once more. Immediately, his Lifesaver talent activated, granting him five seconds of invincibility. He unleashed his most furious barrage of attacks. With a 99% skill cooldown reduction, he instantly cast dozens of spells in rapid session. Seeing that John didn''t appear to be in any immediate danger, Tony, Elsa, and the others quickly mounted Avis and retreated to the edge of the battlefield to avoid getting caught up in the lower-tier gods'' attacks. They were only at the demigod level. Against lower-tier gods, they stood no chance and their only leverage was the Undying me. Boom! Boom! Thunderous explosions echoed across the battlefield. During his five seconds of invincibility, Johnunched over a hundred spell attacks, causing the Death Demon General to lose over 500 million health points. His expression shifted to one of wariness, and he staggered back, realizing he had underestimated this human. "Thunder, what are you waiting for? Attack!" He red angrily at Thunder, who was standing at a distance. Now that Tony and the others had withdrawn, eliminating the threat of the Undying me. Thunder finally moved without hesitation. Crack! A bolt of lightning descended in an instant, striking directly at John. Boom! John was killed once more, triggering his Lifesaver talent for the second time. Ignoring Thunderpletely, he continued his relentless assault on the Death Demon General. Boom! Boom! Another hundred spells rained down, and under the continuous barrage, the Death Demon General lost billions more in health points. "Damn it!" He roared in frustration and charged at John with reckless abandon. [You have been killed by the Death Demon General. Undying and Immortal has been triggered.] ... Notification messages shed continuously. Under the relentless assault of the two lower- tier gods, John found himself on the defensive, being killed repeatedly almost immediately after each resurrection. If it were just one lower-tier god, he was confident he could take them down. But facing the uninterrupted attacks of two, he was struggling to keep up. "Dragon Transformation!" he bellowed, and a dragon''s roar reverberated across the heavens and earth. John''s form shifted and changed, transforming into a massive, resplendent five-colored divine dragon. "Dragon''s aura? What the hell! Is Master part of the Beast n or the Dragonkin?" Avis shouted in shock from afar. He could sense that the divine dragon aura emanating from John was even stronger than his own. Tony was equally stunned, his face filled with disbelief. At this moment, the aura emanating from John was indistinguishable from that of the Beast n. Could it be that he wasn''t human at all, but rather a true member of the Beast n? "You will die!" John''s voice rumbled like thunder, apanied by the deep, resonant roar of a dragon. After transforming into his dragon form, all his attributes were boosted by 50%, and his strength surged to an even higher level. Yet, it still wasn''t enough to fully withstand the attacks from the two lower-tier gods. Fortunately, he now had more opportunities to strike back. No matter how many times he resurrected, as long as he could take down one of them in the process, he couldpletely turn the tide of battle. Boom! Boom! Several spells exploded, and sword techniques whistled through the air. After his transformation, every one of John''s attacks inflicted nearly 5 million true damage on the Death Demon General. Bang! John was killed again, only to be resurrected momentster with full health. By this point, the Death Demon General was in a miserable state. He had only recently broken through to be a lower-tier god, and under John''s relentless barrage, his health had already plummeted to 5 billion. If this continued, he feared that he might really be killed by John. "Thunder, what the hell are you doing?" He shouted furiously, suspecting that Thunder wasn''t using his full strength and was deliberately holding back. "How is this my fault? You''re just weak-maybe you should train more!" Thunder was also in a bad situation. Even though John hadn''t specifically targeted him, he had been caught in the st radius of several of John''s area-of-effect skills, losing over 300 million health points in the process. If this kept up, they might really not be able to take John down. Gritting his teeth, the Death Demon General suppressed his anger and said, "This human can''t keep resurrecting forever. Don''t give him a chance to fight back! If I die, you won''t survive either." "Of course I know that." Thunder didn''t bother arguing. He raised his hand, and bolts of lightning enveloped John. John was struck down again. Thunder''s lightning attacks had a paralyzing effect, making them even more threatening than the Death Demon General''s blows. "Damn it!" John cursed, still maintaining his divine dragon form. The Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword shot out, splitting into three as itunched a relentless assault on Thunder. He wasn''t focused on dealing damage-his goal was to disrupt Thunder''s lightning attacks. "What a bizarre way of attacking!" Thunder muttered in shock as his lightning skills were interrupted by John''s strikes time and again. Such precise attacks were something he couldn''t replicate himself. Without the threat of Thunder''s lightning, John''s offensive barrage intensified. The power of light and darkness surged together, and dozens of skills poured down, enveloping the Death Demon General. Boom! Boom! The battlefield echoed with deafening explosions as the Death Demon General struggled desperately to defend himself. He turned angrily toward Thunder once more, shouting, "Thunder, why aren''t you attacking? You bastard, are you trying to get me killed?" "You think I don''t want to? This guy''s attacks are too weird! They keep interrupting my skills!" Thunder shouted back, equally frustrated. If it weren''t for his fear of the gods behind him, he would''ve considered fleeing and leaving the Death Demon General to fend for himself. "Don''t give him any chance to retaliate," the Death Demon General warned as he tried to escape the onught of John''s longsword attacks. Boom! John was killed again. Before he could resurrect, several more attacks rained down. The two lower-tier gods had finally put aside their arrogance and started working together, coordinating their strikes to prevent John from counterattacking. "Damn it!" John cursed, his repeated deaths causing his soul to weaken and his head to swim with dizziness. If this continued, he might actually be in real danger. Buzz! The air vibrated as John gritted his teeth and activated his soul attack skill. The Death Demon General''s Soul Technique was about the same level as John''s, and Thunder''s Soul Technique was even lower. Even if he couldn''t kill them with his soul attack, he wouldn''t suffer a severe bacsh. Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Slaying the Death Demon General Chapter 215: ying the Death Demon General ? He nned to unleash the Undying me and take everyon"Ugh!" The Death Demon General and Thunder groaned in unison, both receiving a severe soul injury simultaneously, with a trace of blood seeping from the corners of their mouths. They both had soul defenses in ce, making it impossible topletely annihte them. Even so, the attack disrupted their offensive rhythm. "It''s time to end this!" John roared angrily,unching another soul skill, Intimidation, at Thunder.N?v(el)B\\jnn Intimidation was a single-target control skill, and the Death Demon General''s Soul Technique was almost on par with John''s, so he wasn''t confident in being able to restrain him. But Thunder was a different story. Buzz! The air trembled, and Thunder was caught in the skill, freezing in ce. Intimidation consumed 100 soul power points per second, and with John''s current Soul Technique, which boasted over 18,000 points of soul power, he could hard-control Thunder for more than three minutes. He had to kill the Death Demon General within these three minutes. "Die!" John''s voice turned icy as he transformed into his dragon form. The battle continued without interruption, as his Sword of Divinity and Demons danced, unleashing a barrage of magical and sword skills. With precisebat techniques, he disrupted his opponent''s skill attacks multiple times. "Damn it!" The Death Demon General cursed, feeling a surge of frustration. What terrified him most was that his health was continuously dropping. If this went on, he wouldn''t be able to hold out much longer. "Closebat!" He dared not cast any more spells. His figure flickered as he rapidly closed in on John. [You were instantly killed by the Death Demon General. Undying and Immortal talent activated.] John resurrected once more, his expression calm as he quickly pulled away. His dragon ws firmly grasped the Sword of Divinity and Demons, and with a swift motion, another barrage of skills rained down. Boom! Boom! Terrifying energy shed, sending violent gusts sweeping across the battlefield. In the distance, Tony and the others retreated again and again, staring at the scene in shock. "Is this kid really going to kill a lower-tier god?" He gulped, his voice full of doubt. "I believe in Master." Elsa gazed at John''s god-like figure with shining eyes, full of admiration. Sini and Tracy were the same. In the eyes of these women, John was invincible. Avis merely watched quietly without saying a word. ... Boom! With a thunderous crash, the Death Demon General was sted away once again, spitting blood, severely wounded. His health had dropped below 300 million points. "Human! What kind of monster are you?" the Death Demon General roared in fury, gritting his teeth as he charged recklessly at John once more. At this moment, he had lost all sense of reason. His attacks werepletely disorganized and wild. "Die!" John shouted furiously, his voice booming like thunder. He simultaneously unleashed his Unrivaled Sword Dance and Dance of the Void, countless piercing cold shes enveloping the Death Demon General. In his dragon form, each of John''s strikes inflicted millions of true damage upon the Death Demon General. In an instant, the demon''s health, which had been at 300 million, rapidly plummeted to zero. "Godyer! Lord Michelle will never let you go!" he roared unwillingly, his figure engulfed by countless magical attacks. His health was instantly depleted, and his body fell to the ground,pletely lifeless. [You have in the Death Demon General and gained 46.72 billion experience points.] [Level up...] [Plunder talent activated: Dark Element Affinity +50, Physical Critical +10, Magic Critical +5, Spirit +1000, Strength +1000, Skill Points +200.] System messages shed rapidly. John''s Plunder talent absorbed arge number of attribute points, and he gained an additional 50 points in Dark Element Affinity. His understanding of the power of the Dark Element Law increased by another 1%, reaching 16%. The Death Demon General dropped a plethora of items, but John wasn''t in a hurry to pick them up. "Next, it''s your turn!" John''s voice was icy. In his dragon form, he appeared instantly in front of Thunder, wielding the Sword of Divinity and Demons in one hand and the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword in the other. He unleashed Demon yer sh with both swords simultaneously. His soul power was nearly depleted, and he wasn''t sure if his opponent had any means to resist the stun effect. Whoosh! The wind howled, and endless cold shes shimmered. Though they were only ordinary physical attacks, each one dealt over 500,000 true damage to Thunder. What made it terrifying was that once Demon yer sh was activated, it would continue until the opponent was dead-unless it was interrupted. Boom! Boom! A series of loud explosions resounded. Thunder stood frozen in ce, his eyes wide with fear as he could only passively endure the onught. Buzz! The air trembled. Finally, John''s soul power ran out, and he could no longer maintain the Intimidation effect of the soul skill. "Get lost..." Thunder woke up, but in the next second, the longsword shed down, activating the stun effect of Demon yer sh. He stood motionless, unable to make any moves again. "Stunned!" His expression changed slightly, but he wasn''t as panicked as before. He couldn''t break free from the Intimidation effect. However, the stun alone wasn''t enough to restrain him. A surge of powerful energy coursed through his body, and he effortlessly shrugged off the stun effect. In an instant, a bolt of lightning descended and struck John directly. [You were instantly killed by Thunder. Undying and Immortal talent activated.] John couldn''t withstand the attacks of a lower-tier god and was easily killed. But seeing the Death Demon General in, Thunder had no will to fight. He immediately turned around and fled. "Trying to run?" John resurrected again, showing no intention of letting him go. His dragon body roared through the air at a terrifying speed, pursuing Thunder relentlessly. Whoosh... Gusts of wind howled as the terrifying dark and light elemental powers swirled around. Endless magical skills rained down, enveloping Thunder. Boom! Boom! Deafening explosions echoed as the massive energies wreaked havoc. Thunder was directly blown away, crashing to the ground in a miserable state. Seeing the dragon swiftly closing in behind him, Thunder''s face was filled with terror. He quickly shouted, "Godyer, let me go. Otherwise, I''ll fight to the death, and you''ll die too!" "I''m willing to take that gamble!" John sneered, showing no intention of stopping his attacks. Besides, this guy had no soul-based abilities, so he posed no real threat to him. Once again, a torrent of skills poured down. Thunder''s brow furrowed, and his face shifted slightly as arcs of lightning flickered around him. "Lightning Shield!" He didn''t dare to take the attacks head-on. A shield formed from condensed lightning appeared, blocking the onught of magical skills. But the Lightning Shield could only withstand magical damage; it couldn''t block true damage. A series of ck damage numbers shed, each hit dealing millions of true damage to him. Thunder''s health was around 12 billion, yet even so, he lost over a billion HP in an instant. The most terrifying thing was that John''s attacks were continuous, without any cooldown or interruption! "Damn it! Don''t your skills have any cooldown or cost?" Thunder was both shocked and furious, fleeing in a panic. But John''s flying speed after Dragon Transformation was not a bit slower than a lower-tier god''s. Thunder simply couldn''t escape. Boom! Once again, he was engulfed by a barrage of skill attacks. If this continued, he would surely die. Rather than being beaten passively, it was better to fight back. Maybe he still had a chance to kill John. "Human, I''ll make you understand the price of offending a god!" He waspletely enraged now. A staff appeared in his hand as dark clouds filled the sky, crackling with electric serpents dancing wildly. A terrifying aura spread-it was an ultimate magical skill. "Thunderous Wrath!" Thunder roared furiously, and countless lightning serpents crashed down from the sky, covering an area of tens of thousands of meters. John was caught at the epicenter of the explosion, struck by multiple bolts of lightning. -16,088,000,000 ... An astronomical damage value of over 16 billion. [You were instantly killed by Thunder. Undying and Immortal talent activated.] [You were instantly killed by Thunder. Undying and Immortal talent activated.] ... The system notifications shed repeatedly. John was paralyzed by the lightning attacks. What was most terrifying was that the damage continued over time. In a split second, he was struck by dozens of lightning bolts, repeatedly killed and resurrected dozens of times. "Human, I''d like to see if you''re truly unkible!" Thunder''s face twisted with rage, his eyes shing with lightning as he crazily drained his mana to maintain Thunderous Wrath. Endless bolts of lightning filled the sky. John had been killed over a hundred times. "Cough..." After being killed and resurrected once again, he couldn''t help but cough up a mouthful of blood. The repeated deaths and resurrections had severely damaged his soul. If this continued, he might truly face a life-threatening situation. "Master!" Elsa, standing far away, was frantic. With their life-sharing bond, she could clearly feel the trauma to John''s soul. The death of the soul meant true death. She wanted to rush in to help, but the difference in power was too great-there was nothing she could do. Moreover, she was already life-linked with John. If she were killed by Thunder, John''s injuries would worsen even further. The only thing that could threaten Thunder was the Undying me in Tony''s hand. But at such close range, if it were unleashed, John would be caught in the st too, and they might all perish together. "Damn it!" Sini gritted her teeth and cast a dark spell that hit Thunder. Unfortunately, it only dealt a little over 20,000 true damage. Tony was startled and quickly stopped Sini. They were too weak. If they angered Thunder, they wouldn''t be able to withstand even a single strike from him. ... Boom! The final bolt of lightning thundered down, and the dark clouds dispersed. John resurrected once more. But his current condition was extremely poor. His face was pale, blood lingered at the corners of his mouth, and he could no longer maintain his dragon form, reverting back to his original body. "Still not dead?" At this moment, Thunder wasn''t in good shape either. Maintaining an ultimate magical skill for such a prolonged period had taken a huge toll on him, and his mana reserves werepletely depleted. He stared at John, who had resurrected once again, a look of sheer terror on his face. He was utterly at a loss. "Human, what kind of monster are you?" he voiced the question burning deep within him. "Heh." John let out a cold chuckle, forcibly suppressing the stabbing pain in his head. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at Thunder with a yful expression. Around him, immense power of light and darkness coalesced once more as he spoke slowly, "Have you ever heard this saying? What doesn''t kill me only makes me stronger! And you... you''re just a stepping stone on my path forward." Whoosh... The longsword swung through the air, whipping up fierce winds. The overwhelming force of darkness enveloped Thunder as John activated Dark Descent. Immediately following it, Annihtion, Dark Storm, Light Sword sh, and Holy Light Strike -one spell after another-were cast in rapid session, seamlessly chaining together, engulfing Thunder''s figure once more. Boom! Boom! The deafening sound of explosions echoed all around. Thunder''s health points plummeted at an rming rate. Each of John''s magical attacks inflicted over four million points of true damage on him. "If I can''t escape, then let''s all die together!" Thunder roared, breaking free from the onught of spells and locking his gaze onto Tony and the others. More specifically, onto the Undying me in Tony''s hand. e down with him! Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Law of Life, Slaying Thunder Chapter 216: Law of Life, ying Thunder ? "Not good!" John noticed Thunder''s intention, and his expression changed drastically. He shouted anxiously, "Scatter, now!"N?v(el)B\\jnn Tony quickly understood the situation, but facing the onught of a lower-tier god, there was no way he could escape. Panicking, he immediately retracted the Undying me. Even if he died, he couldn''t let John get caught up because of him. "Hmph, it''s useless. As long as I kill you, the Undying me will drop anyway." Thunder sneered maliciously, charging forward at high speed. With his manapletely drained, he could only resort to closebat. But he was confident-a mere physical attack from a lower-tier god would be enough to instantly kill a demigod. It''s over! Tony watched the rapidly approaching Thunder, a sense of despair filling his heart. His defense was incredible, but it was only enough to withstand attacks from other demigods. Against a powerful lower-tier god, he was doomed. "Your opponent is me!" At that moment, a surge of spatial energy rippled through the air. John used his spatial discement skill, sh, and appeared instantly in front of Tony. "Get back!" He nced at Tony andmanded. Bang! With a deafening crash, Thunder''s attacknded, and John was instantly killed once more. Fortunately, Tony seized the opportunity to flee the battlefield as fast as he could, putting as much distance as possible between him and the fight. "Cough!" John resurrected again, unable to stop himself from coughing up a mouthful of blood. "Hm? Your soul is injured?" Thunder''s eyes lit up. Up close, he could sense that John''s soul was already wounded, and quite severely at that. "Hahaha! So, you''re not invincible after all!" Heughed maniacally, seeing a glimmer of hope for victory. Raising his staff high as a melee weapon, heunched a series of frenzied attacks at John. Bang! John was instantly killed again, his mind reeling and his soul throbbing with pain. This time, the damage to his soul was far worse than when he fought the Giant Spirit God. He had slightly underestimated the strength of a lower-tier god. "Get lost!" John resurrected once more, and before Thunder could react, he activated Demon yer sh. Bang! With a powerful sh, Thunder was stunned. However, Thunder had methods to resist stun effects. Not daring to stay close, John quickly put some distance between them. He forced himself to ignore the dizziness assaulting his mind and unleashed another wave of skill attacks. Magic surged, and sword light flickered-another round of relentless bombardment ensued. "Boy, stop this pointless struggle. I still have over 4 billion health points left. Killing you will be more than enough!" Thunder''s cold voice echoed as he burst out from the spell''s range and closed in rapidly. John dared not let him get close again and quickly retreated. Crack! At that moment, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck down from above. Thunder''s mana had recovered slightly. He didn''t need to use a powerful spell-just a single lightning bolt was enough to kill John. [You were instantly killed by Thunder. Undying and Immortal talent activated.] The system notification shed. John knelt on one knee, his soul throbbing in pain. At that moment, a Jade Heart Lotus appeared, radiating a green light deep within his soul. Following this, a surge of immense life energy emerged, healing his injured soul. "What is this?" John was astonished. The sudden surge of life energy waspletely different from the power of the Tree of Life. It wasn''t as overwhelming, but it was purer, as if it originated from within him. [After experiencing multiple deaths, you haveprehended the Law of Life.] The notification popped up again, leaving John stunned. In such dire circumstances, he had actuallyprehended another Law-an even rarer and more powerful Law of Life. Deep in his mind, his wounded soul rapidly healed under thebined effects of the Jade Heart Lotus and the Law of Life, instantly returning him to his peak condition. His soul power also fully recovered. Whoosh! John let out a long breath, feeling an indescribable sense offort as he turned his gaze towards Thunder. A powerful battle intent surged within him. "Huh? Your injuries are healed? How is that possible!" Thunder eximed in disbelief. Soul injuries were the hardest to recover from, and yet John''s Wounds had fully healed within just a few breaths. This was utterly impossible. "Heh, it''s time to end this!" John chuckled coldly, not wasting any more words as he activated his soul skill Intimidation once more. Buzz! The air trembled, and Thunder was frozen in ce again, his eyes wide with fear as he stared at John in horror. "It''s over. Return of Ten Thousand Swords!" With a cold shout, John transformed into his dragon form. At the same time, the Immortal Treasure, the Immortal Sword, flew out from his body, hovering in mid-air. Endless sword intent surged, stirring the winds and clouds. In an instant, it transformed into thousands of sword beams. A boundless pressure enveloped the area, and countless sword beams rained down,pletely engulfing Thunder''s figure. sh... -12,833,000 ... A series of terrifying damage numbers shed. John''s ultimate skill, Return of Ten Thousand Swords, inflicted over 12 million points of true damage. It was as devastating as Thunder''s Thunderous Wrath. John''s Return of Ten Thousand Swords was also a continuous damage skill, but with a 90% reduction in spiritual power consumption, it could persist almost indefinitely. Thunder''s 4 billion health points rapidly dropped to zero in an instant. He remained under the soul skill Intimidation, unable to utter a single scream. [You have in Thunder and gained 42.253 billion experience points.] [Plunder talent activated. You have acquired the SSS-grade Lightning Elemental Affinity, obtained the ultimate skill Thunderous Wrath, Lightning Elemental Affinity +50, Spirit +1000.] The system notification appeared, and John was ted. He had actually plundered an SSS-grade talent. The most surprising part was that he had also plundered an ultimate skill. It''s well known that only demigod-level beings canprehend ultimate skills. And yet, here he was a mere seventh-tier warrior-already wielding two terrifying ultimate skills. The only regret was that he hadn''t yet mastered the Law of Lightning. In the Land of Secrets, there were no treasures avable that could enhance his understanding of the Law of Lightning. Curious, he checked his newly acquired abilities. [Lightning Elemental Affinity: SSS-grade. Increasesprehension of Lightning Elemental Affinity by 90%.] [Thunderous Wrath: Level 2 (Blessing of the Archmage +1). Lightning-type ultimate magic skill that deals lightning magic damage equal to Spirit * 1100% to targets within a specified range.] The SSS-grade Lightning Elemental Affinity directly increased hisprehension of the Lightning Elemental Affinity by 90%. John was thrilled. After killing Thunder, he had plundered 50 points of Lightning Elemental Affinity, and now, with the SSS-grade Lightning Elemental Affinity, he had a real chance ofprehending the Law of Lightning. If that happened, his attacks would receive an enormous power boost. "Kid, you actually managed to kill lower-tier gods, and not just one, but two!" Tony flew over, still looking at the bodies of the fallen Death Demon General and Thunder on the ground in disbelief. John''s power defied conventional understanding. Could this be the terrifying potential of The Immortals? No! Even the strongest of The Immortals couldn''tpare to John''s monstrous abilities. Tony had witnessed the strength of The Immortals before. A seventh-tier warrior could never kill lower-tier gods-facing off against demigods alone would already be a struggle. His talent was beyondprehension. If he were to grow into a lower-tier god or even a demigod, he would likely be an unstoppable force. "It was just luck." John let out a breath of relief. He had indeed underestimated the power of lower-tier gods. Fortunately, the rewards from this battle were substantial. Not only did he y two lower-tier gods, but he alsoprehended the Law of Life. He nced at the two bodies on the ground. The Death Demon General and Thunder were both lower-tier gods. Their souls were immortal, making them undying beings. As long as they received enough life energy, they could resurrect again. And now that John had mastered the Law of Life, he could potentially resurrect these two beings. He had the idea of subjugating them. Lower-tier gods were still considered invincible in the current Skyline Continent. "John, here are two mid-tier divine artifacts," Sini said as she picked up the items that the two gods had dropped and handed them over. "Mid-tier artifacts?" John was puzzled. He had already acquired mid-tier divine artifacts from killing a demigod. Lower-tier gods should drop items of one grade higher-typically high-tier divine artifacts. It seemed that both lower-tier gods and demigods only dropped mid-tier artifacts. Perhaps only mid-tier gods dropped high-tier divine artifacts. But with his current strength, it was impossible for him to kill a mid-tier god. He examined the two weapons carefully. A dark longsword and Thunder''s staff. The two mid-tier divine artifacts were excellent, but John already had the Sword of Divinity and Demons and the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword. Although the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword was a low-tier divine artifact, it resonated perfectly with his Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart talent, so he had no intention of recing it. The two pieces of equipment weren''t suitable for anyone in his group either, so he put them away without a second thought and turned his attention back to the two bodies on the ground. "Senior, Elsa, is it possible for either of you tomunicate with the souls of deceased lower-tier gods?" John asked, considering the possibility of subjugating these two lower-tier gods, but first, he needed to establishmunication with them. Both of them shook their heads. Elsa exined, "Master, our soul power is too weak. Once a lower-tier god dies, their soul falls into a deep slumber. Only a soul with far greater strength than theirs can awaken them." "I see..." John tried to sense the situation. He could tell that the souls of the two gods were still alive, but he couldn''tmunicate with or attack them. His current level of Soul Technique was still too weak. With a sigh, he decided to take the two bodies with him for now and figure out a wayter. If nothing else worked, he could always resurrect them and kill them again. Though such an approach seemed rather cruel and twisted. "Elsa, let''s continue searching for more ninth-tier cities of the Dark Humans," John instructed as he turned to Elsa. His Soul Technique had already reached over 18,000 points. He wanted to continue plundering resources from these ninth-tier cities and push his Soul Technique to 100,000 points before attempting to subjugate these two lower-tier gods. The group mounted Avis and continued their search for the Dark Humans'' ninth-tier cities. ... Before long, John had obliterated two more ninth-tier cities, in three demigod-level warriors, and collected over two million skill stones and other items. It was more than enough to boost his Soul Technique to 100,000 points. "Old man, this leveling up is way too slow," Tracy pouted, her face full of dissatisfaction. After spending half a day, she had only reached Level 1043. John had told her that she needed to reach the ninth tier, Level 5000, before she could act freely. But at this leveling rate, it would take her at least half a year. John felt a bit helpless too. He himself had only reached Level 1108. After reaching the seventh tier, the experience required to level up was staggering. Even with the Divine Path activated, granting a tenfold increase in experience gain, it was still a slow process. The only way to level up faster was to kill arge number of demigod-level beings. "Master," Elsa said, as if recalling something, "the experience in the Secret Area of the City of Angels is still increased tenfold." John''s eyes lit up, and he asked in surprise, "You mean to say that, even with the Divine Path active, the experience is increased tenfold again?" Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Confronting Michelle, Ruins of the Ancient Battlefield Chapter 217: Confronting Michelle, Ruins of the Ancient Battlefield ? "Yeah," Elsa nodded and exined, "That space is unique. No matter how the external environment changes, it always provides ten times the experience of the outside world." John was tempted. If they could leverage the experience boost from the Secret Area, their leveling speed would significantly increase. But then Elsa added, "However, Master, I heard that the God of Light is currently stationed in the City of Angels." "The God of Light?" John knew the coordinates of the City of Angels and had initially nned to head there for leveling up in the Secret Area. After hearing Elsa''s words, he immediately dismissed the idea. The God of Light was a mid- tier god, and John was nowhere near strong enough to confront a mid-tier god yet. "Hm?" At that moment, Tony''s expression changed, and he spoke up, "Ben just sent word- Michelle and Kamal are in Death Land." "What?" John furrowed his brows but then quickly understood. The Death Demon General must have been sent by Michelle. These two were likely waiting for John''s downfall so they could seize control of Death Land. "Hmph, they''re still scheming." John''s anger surged as he looked at hispanions and said, "Let''s go, we''re heading back to Death Land." Without hesitation, the group locked onto Death Land''s coordinates and teleported back. Buzz! With a ripple of spatial energy, John and his team returned to Death Land. At that moment, Ben was in a standoff against Michelle and Kamal. Blood stained the corner of his mouth, indicating he had already shed with them and was seriously injured. Ben was merely a peak ninth-tier warrior, not even at the demigod level, making him no match for Michelle and Kamal. It seemed the two hadn''t gone all out against him yet. "Godyer?!" Kamal looked at the suddenly appearing John in shock. "You-you''re still alive?" "What, surprised?" John sneered and said coldly, "I''ve told you before-Death Land doesn''t wee you." On the side, Tony immediately drew out the Undying me, stepping in front of John and Ben with a vignt expression. Michelle nced at the Undying me in Tony''s hand, her face showing a trace of fear, and asked, "Where is the Death Demon General?" "Dead," John responded indifferently. "Impossible." Kamal fixed her gaze on John. Seeing that the Undying me was intact and Tony''s group was unharmed, she scoffed coldly, "I don''t believe you have the power to kill a lower-tier god!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Oh? Want to test me?" John took a step forward, his powerful fighting spirit erupting. He showed no fear facing the two of them. Kamal''s eyes twitched, suppressing the anger rising within her. It wasn''t John she feared, but rather the Undying me in Tony''s hand. She turned to look at Michelle, asking, "What should we do?" Michelle frowned deeply and spoke in a calm tone, "Godyer, to be honest, I don''t want to be your enemy. How about this-hand over the Dark Sea, the body of the Death Demon General, and Sini, and we''ll leave peacefully." "That''s impossible! I''m not going with you!" Sini snapped coldly, ring at them with hostility. She never regarded the two as her true parents. What made things worse was that these two individuals had repeatedly targeted John. This made her very angry. Ignoring Sini''s outburst, Michelle turned to John and said coldly, "This is my final offer. There''s no room for negotiation." "Then let''s all go down together." John directly took the Undying me from Tony''s hand and asked, "How do you use this thing?" Tony was startled, afraid that John might lose his head and actually detonate it. Despite his worry, he exined, "You control it with your mental power. Even if your soul is attacked and you''re on the verge of death, you can still release the Undying me." "That simple?" John easily established a mental connection with the Undying me, ying with it curiously. "Kid, be careful!" Tony''s forehead was drenched in cold sweat. He knew John''s reckless nature all too well and feared that he might identally set it off right here. Michelle couldn''t help but swallow nervously, keeping her gaze fixed on John. She said coldly, "Kid, I don''t believe you have the guts to release the Undying me." "Oh? Want to try?" John smiled and raised the crystal sphere in his hand, saying nonchntly, "I''m a very timid person, so don''t make any sudden moves. If I get nervous and identally trigger it, neither of you will survive." "Michelle, let''s reconsider this," Kamal said, tugging at Michelle. They weren''t afraid of death, but right now, the two of them were the only remaining gods of the demon race. If they were to perish here, it could mean the end of the demon race as a whole. Moreover, Sini was here too, and Kamal didn''t want anything to happen to her. Michelle red at John, gritting his teeth. In the end, he was forced topromise. "Kid, you win. But don''t think this is over!" he spat angrily, then grabbed Kamal''s arm, and the two of them vanished instantly. "Cowards," John said, looking disappointed. He nced curiously at the crystal sphere and murmured, "I was actually hoping to see how powerful this thing is." Tony couldn''t help but shudder when he heard John''s words. He quickly snatched the crystal sphere back and said, "Kid, if you find out its power, you''ll be dead too. You''re not suited to keep this thing. Let me hold onto it." John raised an eyebrow and asked, "Can''t this thing be remotely detonated? Like setting up a trap and luring powerful enemies into it?" "It can be remotely detonated, but gods have incredibly sharp senses. They won''t fall for such tricks easily. Plus, they can effortlessly erase the spiritual mark on it, making it useless. This thing is mainly used for intimidation," Tony said as he carefully put the Undying me away. He only had this one, and it wasn''t something to be used lightly. "Then it''s still pretty useless," Johnmented indifferently, losing interest in the Undying me. He turned to Ben and asked, "Senior, what brought you back all of a sudden?" Ben''s visits were always rted to some urgent matter. Ben nced at Tony before finally speaking, "I''ve found the coordinates of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, but there''s a seal there, making it impossible to enter. The only way to break the seal is from the inside." Elsa''s face turned pale at Ben''s words, and she eximed in fear, "You''re nning to break the seal on the Ancient Battlefield Ruins? Are you all crazy?" John looked puzzled, "What are the Ancient Battlefield Ruins?" Tony exined, "Godyer, remember the n I mentioned to you before? The goal was to break the seal in that ce, resurrect the fallen god-level warriors trapped inside, and use them to fight against the gods. But those warriors aren''t willing to cooperate with us. Now that we''ve be a target for everyone, the only way to shift their focus is to release the monsters sealed within the Ancient Battlefield Ruins." "Monsters from the Ancient Battlefield Ruins? Are they powerful?" It was John''s first time hearing about this, and his face was full of curiosity. Tony nodded, "Powerful isn''t even the right word. They''re terrifying. The creatures sealed there are called Hunters. They can grow stronger through ughter and have soul attack capabilities that bypass soul defenses-making them a unique threat even to gods." "Grow stronger through ughter? Like a Plunder talent?" John asked in surprise. This ability to grow through killing seemed quite simr to his own Plunder talent. "What''s a Plunder talent?" Everyone looked at him in confusion. John just shook his head. His Plunder talent was unique. Those Hunters couldn''t possibly have the same talent-at best, it was something simr. Tony continued, "And the most critical point is that no race on the Skyline Continent can deal with the Hunters-only The Immortals can." John finally understood and said, "So we release the Hunters to force the gods'' hand, and resurrect the strong ones among The Immortals to deal with those beings." "Exactly." Tony and Ben nodded in agreement. "Master, this is madness!" Elsa knew all too well the horror of the Hunters and hurriedly objected, "What if the gods refuse to release the warriors of The Immortals? Every living being on the Skyline Continent would face total annihtion!" Tony dismissed her concern, "It won''t be up to the gods at that point. As long as the divine warriors of the major races unite and hold off the gods, we can break the seal on the Ruins, releasing the divine warriors of all races and the strong ones of The Immortals trapped within." John''s interest was piqued. He smiled and said, "I like this n." He had never fundamentally shaken the gods'' foundations, and Earth''s crisis had never truly been resolved. From his perspective, the more chaotic the Skyline Continent became, the more it would benefit him. Beside him, Ben spoke up, "There''s another problem: the seal can only be broken from inside the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. And right now, only one person can get in." "Who?" John asked curiously. "The Undead Lord," Ben replied calmly. The seal on the Ancient Battlefield Ruins was something that the Undead Lord and The Immortals had worked together to create. The only ones who could pass through the seal, aside from those fallen warriors of The Immortals back then, were now limited to the Undead Lord. "That guy?" John was a bit surprised. It seemed like there were still many secrets surrounding him. "I''ll summon him right away." Having signed a soul contract with the Undead Lord, John could easilymunicate with him. Soon, with a ripple of spatial power, the Undead Lord appeared. "What do you want, kid?" he asked John irritably after giving him a quick nce. "Huh? How did your strength increase so dramatically?" John was astonished to see that the Undead Lord had reached the peak of the ninth tier. Not only that, but he had refined and fused with a divine treasure. All he needed to do was kill a demigod-level warrior, and he could advance to the demigod level himself. Hearing John''s words, the Undead Lord looked pleased with himself and said, "This is nothing. I''ve just restored my former peak strength. So, what do you need from me?" Ben interjected, "We want to enter the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, but the seal there is still intact. You''re the only one who can take us inside." "The Ancient Battlefield Ruins?" The Undead Lord froze for a moment, then hesitated. "But the coordinates for that ce have been hidden. Even I can''t find it." Ben calmly responded, "I''ve already deduced the coordinates." "What?" The Undead Lord eximed in surprise, staring at Ben with wide eyes. He asked curiously, "You can''t be serious... Do you really have the ability to foresee the future? How did you manage to calcte the coordinates hidden by upper-tier gods?" Ben simply smiled without answering. John asked, "Can you get through the seal?" He couldn''t help but feel that the Undead Lord seemed somewhat unreliable. "Of course I can. I was one of the ones who set that seal back then-it definitely won''t stop me." The Undead Lord looked even more smug. But then his expression turned troubled again, and he added, "However, that seal is incredibly strong. Even if we manage to get through it, with our current strength, we won''t be able to destroy it." Tony replied calmly, "Don''t worry about that. We have the Undying me." Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Earth Soul Strength, Toying with Thunder Chapter 218: Earth Soul Strength, Toying with Thunder ? "Undying me? That''s an artifact of The Immortals. Where did you get it?" The Undead Lord was stunned and looked at Tony curiously. Tony shook his head, offering no exnation.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om John frowned slightly. He suspected that The Immortals didn''t give him the Undying me merely to intimidate the gods. It was probably also intended to break the seal on the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. Seeing that Tony wasn''t willing to say more, the Undead Lord turned to John and asked, "Before we proceed, can you help me break through to the demigod level first?" To break through to the demigod level, one needed to kill a demigod-level or higher warrior. With his current strength, the Undead Lord couldn''t achieve that on his own, so he had no choice but to ask John for help. "Of course. But there''s no demigod-level being around. Let''s just go with killing a lower-tier god instead." John recalled that he still had the bodies of two lower-tier gods in his storage. With the Tree of Life here and his mastery of the Law of Life, he could easily resurrect those two beings at any time. "Lower-tier gods?" The Undead Lord gulped, saying, "Kid, don''t mess around. A demigod is more than enough." John ignored him. With a thought, he took out Thunder''s corpse. Compared to the Death Demon General, Thunder would be easier to handle. But before that, John nned to first upgrade his Soul Technique. After killing two lower-tier gods and plundering the resources from two ninth-tier Dark Humans'' cities, he had amassed over two million skill stones-enough to boost his Soul Technique to 100,000 points. He was curious to see what changes would ur when his Soul Technique reached 100,000 points. "Is this the body of Thunder, the Dark Human?" The Undead Lord stared at the corpse on the ground, his face filled with shock. "Kid, you didn''t actually kill this guy, did you?" He looked at John with disbelief. Elsa nced at him and replied coldly, "What, are you doubting Master?" "Doubt? Seriously? You try killing a lower-tier god!" he snapped back at Elsa. Having been resurrected recently, the Undead Lord hadn''t spent much time with John and was unaware of how powerful he had be. From his perspective, even a demigod like Elsa seemed stronger than John. John couldn''t be bothered to exin, so he directly refined all the skill stones he had, umting a total of 2.11 million skill points. [You consumed 1,000 skill points. Soul Technique increased to Level 8,810. Soul Technique +1.] ... [You consumed 1,000 skill points. Soul Technique increased to Level 10,000. Soul Technique +1.] [Soul level increased to Earth Soul. You haveprehended the skills Nightmare and Soul Perception.] [Nightmare: A soul skill that invades the target''s soul, creating terrifying illusions to torment them. Effective only against targets with a Soul Technique level lower than yours. Consumes 1,000 soul power.] [Soul Perception: A support skill that releases powerful soul energy to sense the presence of any living being. Consumes 10 soul power per second.] John quickly advanced his Soul Technique to Level 10,000, reaching the Earth Soul level, andprehended two powerful new soul skills. The Soul Technique is divided into five levels: Life Soul, True Soul, Earth Soul, Heaven Soul, and the most powerful, Divine Soul. Only by practicing soul-based cultivation methods can one raise their Soul Technique. The Soul Technique he practiced was originally given to him by the Undead Lord. He hadn''t thought much of it at first, but now it was clear that it was indeed a formidable technique. He reviewed the two new skills he had justprehended. One was an offensive skill, and the other was a support skill. Nightmare was especially noteworthy. Whenbined with Memory Extraction, it could be used to clearly identify an opponent''s weaknesses and inflict endless torment. As for the other skill, Soul Perception, it was a detection-type skill. As long as there was any soul fluctuation, John could easily sense it. He checked his remaining skill points-919,000 in total. After reaching Level 10,000, each additional level of Soul Technique would require 10,000 skill points. He decided not to continue leveling it up for now. His Soul Technique had already reached a power level of 20,000, enough to easily crush demigod-level warriors and surpass most lower-tier gods. There was no need to keep increasing it further. Breaking through to the lower-tier god level only required his cultivation technique to reach Level 10,000. Besides his Soul Technique, he had three high-tier cultivation techniques that also needed to be upgraded, which would require a staggering amount of skill points. He couldn''t afford to waste any unnecessarily. "Let''s see if I can awaken Thunder''s soul," he thought, and with a slight surge of his soul power, he easily invaded Thunder''s soul. "Human!" Thunder''s terrified voice rang out in John''s mind. "W-what do you want?" He could clearly sense the immense power of John''s soul. He was already dead, and if his soul were to suffer any further damage, it would meanplete annihtion. John said calmly, "Don''t be nervous. I''m going to resurrect you." "What?" Thunder''s voice was filled with surprise and caution. He didn''t believe John could be so kind-hearted. Buzz! The next moment, a powerful surge of life energy flowed into his body, and his soul was awakened. Thunder immediately scrambled up from the ground and retreated, his expression wary. He asked coldly, "Human, what are you nning?" John responded nonchntly, "Obviously, to kill you again." "What?" Thunder was stunned, and before he could react, a wave of dizziness overtook him as a surge of powerful soul energy invaded his consciousness. It was Memory Extraction. John easily essed Thunder''s memories. What Thunder feared most was a mid-tier god- Mantra. It was Mantra who had assigned him the task of killing John. "Interesting." John smiled yfully, then activated his Nightmare skill, manipting Thunder''s consciousness. In Thunder''s mind, John transformed into the form of Mantra. "L-Lord Mantra..." Thunder''s face was filled with terror, and he dropped to his knees before John with a loud thud. This scene left everyone around them stunned. The Undead Lord looked at Thunder, then back at John, and asked in confusion, "Did this guy just submit?" Elsa frowned deeply, sensing something was off about Thunder. His eyes were vacant, clearly indicating he was under some form of control. At that moment, John spoke slowly, "Hmph, useless trash. Why is that Godyer still alive?" Thunder swallowed nervously and quickly exined, "My lord, that human is very strange and extremely powerful. I''m no match for him." John continued, "In that case, why are you still alive?" Thunder''s heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat streamed down his face as he repeatedly kowtowed, begging for mercy, "Please, my lord, give me another chance. This time, I promise I''ll kill that human!" The Undead Lord watched this unfold, the mes in his eye sockets flickering as he asked, "Has the Godyer gone mad, or has this Thunder gone insane?" Elsa shot him an angry look and snapped, "Idiot, can''t you see? Thunder is being controlled!" "Soul maniption? I see..." The Undead Lord finally understood and nodded in realization. John toyed with Thunder for a while longer but eventually grew bored and withdrew his soul energy. "How dull." He looked disappointed. Other than Thunder''s cowardice and fear of death, there was nothing particrly scandalous about him. "Huh?" At that moment, Thunder snapped back to his senses. Realizing he was kneeling in front of John, he sprang up and jumped back in a sh. "You bastard! What did you do to me?" he yelled in fury, his face flushed with a mix of shame and anger. If he wasn''t wary of John''s strength, he would have attacked him on the spot. Buzz! Another surge of soul power rippled out as John activated the Intimidation skill. Thunder froze in ce, standing motionless. John moved swiftly. With a flick of his hand, immense waves of darkness and light energies erupted. An endless barrage of skills rained down, enveloping Thunderpletely. Boom! Boom! A series of explosions echoed as Thunder''s health points plummeted rapidly. "Huh, his power actually decreased?" John noticed that after Thunder''s resurrection, his strength had significantly weakened. It seemed that even god-level warriors experienced a severe reduction in power each time they were killed. Their strength would decline significantly, far inferior to John''s Undying and Immortal talent. In no time, Thunder''s health dropped to just over 10 million. John stopped his attacks and nced at the stunned Undead Lord nearby, reminding him, "What are you standing there for? It''s your turn." "Huh? Oh..." The Undead Lord snapped back to his senses, raised his skeletal arm, then lowered it again helplessly. "Godyer, I can''t break through his defenses." John sighed, "Use true damage. Didn''t you merge with a divine treasure andprehend the Law of Light?" The Undead Lord scratched his bony head awkwardly and said, "But I don''t know any light magic." John waspletely speechless. This guy was an undead, yet he chose to merge with a divine treasure that countered his very nature. And now, he hadn''t even learned a single light-based spell. Given his current strength, he could only deal minimal damage. With Thunder still having over 10 million health points left, it would take forever to kill him. John didn''t dare to continue attacking either-any random spell from him could potentially kill Thunder instantly. "Here''s a skill book for you." Elsa, unable to bear it any longer, tossed him a skill book casually. It was an intermediate-level light magic spell, Holy Light Strike. "Thanks." The Undead Lord expressed his gratitude and immediately learned the spell withoutint. "Kid, watch me!" He said confidently and cast Holy Light Strike on Thunder. Boom! -2,304,000 The spell only dealt a little over 2 million true damage. "Why is it so low?" He was stunned, realizing how far his damage output was from John''s. It was only now that he truly grasped the terrifying extent of John''s power. Fortunately, Thunder only had just over 10 million health left and was immobilized by the Intimidation skill, unable to fight back. Boom! Finally, after the sixth Holy Light Strike hit Thunder, he was sessfully killed. Buzz! At that moment, a radiant Holy Light enveloped the Undead Lord. Bathing in the light, his skeletal body turned pure and pristine, exuding a sacred aura that shed starkly with the usual undead presence. Under the cleansing of the Holy Light, he sessfully ascended to a demigod-level warrior! "Whew!" As the Holy Light dissipated, he let out a long breath and looked at John. The mes in his eye sockets flickered as he said gratefully, "Godyer, thank you for helping me reach this level. If you need anything in the future, just give the word." "Enough." John waved dismissively. This guy had already signed a soul contract with him and was bound to follow his orders regardless. He then turned his attention back to Thunder''s corpse, sending his soul power into it once more. "Human, what exactly do you want?" Thunder''s terrified voice echoed in John''s mind. John replied calmly, "Sign a soul contract with me and obey my orders from now on." "Dream on!" Thunder refused without hesitation. "In that case, I''ll just kill you again!" John sneered. He was curious if he killed Thunder once more, would he still gain experience points and trigger the Plunder talent? If so, he might have just found a way to farm unlimited experience. Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Subduing Lower-Tier Gods, Heading to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins Chapter 219: Subduing Lower-Tier Gods, Heading to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins ? "You dare!" Thunder was truly terrified now. He waspletely helpless against John. Moreover, each time he was resurrected, his strength and soul would suffer significant damage. Compared to John''s Undying and Immortal talent, this damage was far more devastating. A massive surge of life energy flowed into Thunder, bringing him back to life once again. The moment he opened his eyes, he nced at John and immediately tried to flee. Buzz! But John had anticipated this. A spatial binding sealed the area, making escape impossible. Besides, Death Land was John''s domain, giving him a natural advantage. "Human, I surrender!" Seeing that John wasn''t joking, Thunder panicked and quickly said, "I''m willing to sign a soul contract with you!" He had no choice but to submit. If he continued dying over and over, he riskedplete annihtion. "How boring." John sighed in disappointment. He had hoped to see if he could keep gaining experience points. "Sign the contract!" A wave of soul power surged out, and he formed a soul contract. Thunder nced at John, reluctant, but in the end, he had no choice but toply. Buzz! The soul contract took shape. Thunder, not daring to show any trace of dissatisfaction, knelt before John respectfully and said, "Greetings, my lord!" "Stand up." John nodded in satisfaction. A lower-tier god was a valuable asset that could greatly aid him. Next, it was time to deal with the Death Demon General. With a thought, John summoned the Death Demon General''s body. "Huh? The Death Demon General!" The Undead Lord eximed, staring at the corpse with a me of hatred flickering in his eye sockets. John looked at him curiously and asked, "What? You know this guy?" "Yeah." The Undead Lord nodded. "He used to be one of my subordinates, butter betrayed me and joined the demon race." "One of your subordinates?" John was surprised. The Death Demon General was a lower-tier god, far more powerful than the Undead Lord. Then he added, "You must have some serious character ws if your own subordinates keep betraying you." He recalled that the banshee who served the Undead Lord had also defected to the Dark Humans. "Uh..." The Undead Lord was speechless and said ndly, "I just didn''t want topete with those guys. As long as I stayed alive, that was good enough for me." John knew his personality well-indeed, he had always been indifferent and unambitious. If it weren''t for the Divine Path opening and the hint of danger he sensed, this guy would probably still be hiding somewhere, living a carefree life. Without saying more, John sent his soul power into the Death Demon General''s body, attempting to establish contact. "No response?" He frowned. Despite his Soul Technique reaching 20,000 points, he still couldn''t awaken the Death Demon General''s slumbering soul. The Death Demon General''s Soul Technique must be close to 19,000 points, making the gap between them quite small. John decided not to waste time trying to wake him up. A massive surge of life energy poured into the Death Demon General''s body, easily resurrecting him. "Huh?" The Death Demon General opened his eyes and looked around in confusion. "Godyer!" He noticed John nearby and immediately jumped up, his guard up as if facing a dire threat. Whoosh! Dark energy surged around him. He raised his hand and conjured an arrow of darkness, which shot towards John at lightning speed. He still remembered Michelle''s orders clearly. "You dare!" Thunder roared, stepping in front of John and effortlessly deflecting the attack.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Thunder, have you lost your mind?" the Death Demon General red at Thunder, utterly confused. Weren''t they supposed to kill this human together? Thunder might not be reliable, but attacking his own side was unexpected. At that moment, John''s voice rang out, "Death Demon General, I''ll give you one chance- submit to me, or die!" "Keep dreaming!" he shouted furiously and charged straight at John. "My lord, leave it to me," Thunder stepped forward, his body crackling with lightning. Then he seemed to notice something amiss and eximed in shock, "Wait, where''s my Lightning Elemental Affinity?" John felt a bit awkward upon hearing this. He had already plundered Thunder''s lightning affinity. Although it didn''t greatly affect Thunder''s current strength, it would severely limit his future growth potential. Boom! Boom! The two began to sh fiercely. Neither could gain the upper hand for a while. Thunder''s power was slightly stronger, but after dying twice, his strength had been severely weakened, making him evenly matched with the Death Demon General. Buzz! The air trembled as John activated his soul skill, Intimidation. With his soul power now far superior to theirs, he couldn''tpletely annihte the Death Demon General''s soul, but he could immobilize him with ease. The Death Demon General froze in ce, his eyes zed over. Boom! Boom! A series of thunderous crashes followed as several bolts of lightning struck, instantly reducing his health by over a billion points. The Death Demon General''s eyes widened in terror,pletely unable to move. "Thunder, leave the final strike to me," John instructed calmly. He wanted to see if killing the resurrected Death Demon General again would yield experience points and trigger the Plunder talent. "Yes, my lord!" Thunder responded, and his attacks became even more ferocious. The Death Demon General''s health plummeted rapidly, soon dropping to just over a hundred million. Thunder halted his assault. One more attack from him would be enough to finish the job. Sword energy surged, and with a dazzling arc, John''s sword descended. Light and dark magic erupted like a storm, raining down from the skies. The Death Demon General, utterly defenseless, was once again in. [You have in the Death Demon General, gaining 8.92 billion experience points.] [Plunder talent activated. Dark Element Affinity +50, Spirit +500, Strength +500, Skill Points +100.] The system notifications shed. Killing the Death Demon General again still granted experience and Plunder attributes. However,pared to the first time, the amount of experience and plundered attributes had decreased significantly. Moreover, the items dropped weren''t divine artifacts, but merely skill stones and other basic materials. Just like when yers die, god-level warriors also lose many levels upon death. John''s hypothesis was confirmed. He proceeded to resurrect the Death Demon General once more. "What exactly do you want, human?" The Death Demon General''s face was pale as he took a step back, heart filled with fear. He was utterly powerless against John. John replied indifferently, "This is yourst chance. Submit to me. If I kill you again, your soul will be damaged, and I can erase you with ease." The Death Demon General remained silent. He knew John was speaking the truth. "Godyer, this guy is a traitor. He''s not trustworthy. Just kill him," the Undead Lord suggested. He still holding a grudge over the Death Demon General''s betrayal. Thunder stepped forward, ready to attack at any moment. "Where did this skeleton soldiere from?" The Death Demon General red coldly at the Undead Lord, not recognizing him. He was genuinely terrified. After hesitating for a moment, he knelt on the ground and voluntarily formed a soul contract. John sessfully signed the contract, gaining control over yet another lower-tier god. He was overjoyed and looked at Tony and Ben, saying, "Let''s go-time to head to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins." "Old man, I want to go too!" Tracy called out quickly. She was desperate to leave Death Land. In recent days, even Jean had often gone out to hunt magical beasts and strengthen himself, leaving her withoutpany. Sini also looked at John with hopeful eyes. "Alright," John hesitated but ultimately nodded in agreement. The coordinates of Death Land were practically public knowledge by now, making it unsafe for Tracy to remain there alone. Though the Ancient Battlefield Ruins were dangerous, having the two girls by his side gave him peace of mind. After Ben provided the coordinates, they all boarded Avis and sped off. The Ancient Battlefield Ruins were different from The Secret Area. Even if you knew the coordinates, you could only enter through its designated entrance. The Death Demon General and Thunder sat far at the back of the group. The Death Demon General nced at Thunder and whispered, "Did our lord just say we''re heading to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins? Is it that Ancient Battlefield Ruins?" "It must be," Thunder nodded, his expression also filled with apprehension. "Has our lord gone mad?" The Death Demon General swallowed nervously. Both he and Thunder, as lower-tier gods, had witnessed firsthand the horror of the Hunters-beings capable ofpletely erasing even gods. Thunder nced at John''s back and said, "Our lord is one of The Immortals. Maybe he has a way to deal with them." "True," the Death Demon General nodded in agreement, having just remembered John''s unique identity. ... Meanwhile, Michelle and Kamal had left Death Land, but they didn''t head straight back to the Dark Forest. "Kamal, you head back first. I''m going to make a trip to the Void Area," Michelle said softly, thinking about John''s astonishing talents. Kamal was startled and quickly protested, "No way! That ce is the domain of the gods. Going there is suicide!" "Don''t worry, they won''t make a move against me now. That Godyer is too terrifying; we must get rid of him as soon as possible. If we allow him to grow any further, he''ll be our worst nightmare." Michelle offered some reassurance before mentally connecting to the Void Area''s coordinates, instantly teleporting to the depths of the Eternal Forest. Nearby, a winding spring babbled softly, radiating an immense amount of spiritual power-it was the Elven Spring. Michelle couldn''t help but feel envious. The Elven Spring was even more powerful than the Dark Sea, but it had been taken by the gods long ago. There were dozens of terrifying presences in the vicinity, so he didn''t dare act rashly. Instead, he called out loudly, "Michelle, Demon Sovereign, requests an audience with the Lord of the Void." The surroundings fell into a deathly silence. After a long moment, a figure appeared-it was Mantra. "Michelle, what are you doing here?" Mantra asked in surprise. There were several of Michelle''s enemies here. If any of them decided to attack, Michelle would be dead without question. Michelle nced at Mantra and said, "That Godyer is still alive. He killed both the Death Demon General and Thunder." "What?" Mantra eximed, his brows furrowing as he stared at Michelle. "Are you sure?" His expression turned sour as he asked coldly, "Do you think I''d risk my lifeing here just to deliver false news? This matter must be reported to the Lord of the Void. I''m leaving now." With that, he wasted no time and vanished instantly. Mantra watched Michelle disappear, his expression grave. He was just about to seek an audience with the Lord of the Void when a voice echoed in his mind. "Have the God of Light deal with that human. The Death Worm''s Nest Scroll was lost because of him, and he must atone for his mistake." Mantra was startled. He recognized the voice-it belonged to the Lord of the Void. He bowed respectfully toward the Void Area and said, "Yes, my lord. I will see it done." With that, he, too, disappeared from the scene. ... Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Crisis Looms, Escaping into the Ancient Battlefield Ruins Chapter 220: Crisis Looms, Escaping into the Ancient Battlefield Ruins ? Avis sped northward at a breakneck pace. The surroundingndscape grew increasingly deste as they flew, with yellow sand swirling wildly through the air, the climate turning harsh, and no signs of life anywhere-not even a trace of magical beasts. After flying for an entire day and night, the group finally arrived at a region of extreme cold in the northernmost reaches. This was where the entrance to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins was located, and around it, one could still see skeletons eroded by the fierce winds. Other than that, there wasn''t even a shadow of a person, let alone any signs of life. The biting wind howled through the air. Sini and Tracy, being weaker, struggled to withstand the cold and instinctively moved closer to John for warmth. "Let''s get started," Tony said, clearly displeased with the environment. He nced at Ben, urging him on. "Alright." Ben nodded solemnly, raising his hand as a powerful surge of energy rippled out. John looked on curiously. This power didn''t belong to any element he knew-it was something he had never encountered before. "Open!" Ben shouted, and the surrounding space trembled as a pathway formed-the route to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. However, they couldn''t enter yet, as there was still a seal blocking the entrance. "Undead Lord, it''s up to you now." Ben, looking somewhat drained, turned to the Undead Lord beside him. "What? You''re the Undead Lord?" The Death Demon General, hearing this, stared at the skeleton soldier, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. No wonder this guy held such animosity toward him. "Hmph!" The Undead Lord snorted coldly, ignoring the Death Demon General. He stepped forward, the mes in his eye sockets flickering as he carefully sensed the seal before him. Buzz! An invisible barrier stood in his way. This was the seal of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, ced jointly by him and the fallen Immortals. The mes in his eye sockets zed brighter as he turned to the group, his tone grave, "I can only open it for a brief moment. You must take that opportunity to enter quickly. And if we can''t break the seal from the inside, we''ll be trapped there forever." "Don''t worry. With the Undying me, we''re sure to break the seal," Tony said confidently. The Undead Lord didn''t say anything more. His massive soul power surged out, merging with the seal, attempting to force it open. "Godyer! You actually dare to break the seal of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins!" Suddenly, an enraged shout echoed from a distance. A powerful aura of light surged as a figure rapidly closed in. "God of Light!" John''s face changed instantly. This opponent was a mid-tier god-someone John couldn''t possibly contend with. Even Thunder and the Death Demon General, the strongest members of his group, were only lower-tier gods and no match for the God of Light. The gods were pulling out all the stops to deal with him, even sending a mid-tier god to intervene. "How much longer do you need?" John urged the Undead Lord. Right now, their only safe option was to escape into the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. He anxiously said, "My lord, the seal contains the power of The Immortals. It will take at least one minute to break it open." One minute? That was more than enough time for the God of Light to kill all of them. He had to find a way to dy him. "Hurry!" Johnmanded, and without hesitation, charged at the God of Light. "Foolish!" the God of Light roared, his radiant sword gleaming as it shed down mercilessly. Boom! A thunderous explosion erupted as terrifying energy waves surged outward. Thunder and the others quickly shielded the Undead Lord, ensuring he wouldn''t be caught in the devastating energy st. [You have been in by the God of Light. The Blessed Ring has been activated.] The notification shed as John resurrected, spewing a mouthful of blood. The God of Light''s attacks carried soul damage, and just one hit had left John''s soul severely injured. Immediately, a surge of immense life energy coursed through his body, slowly mending the wounds on his soul. "Hmph, utterly weak!" The God of Light sneered. He swung his longsword, unleashing countless sword beams that rained down on John. [You have been in by the God of Light. The Lifesaver talent has been activated.] A golden light enveloped John''s body, granting him five seconds of invincibility from the Lifesaver talent. Suppressing his soul injury, John used those precious five seconds tounch a fierce counterattack against the God of Light. Boom! Boom! Waves of light and darkness surged as sword energy howled through the air. In an instant, he unleashed over a hundred skill attacks, enveloping the God of Light in a flurry of strikes. A series of damage numbers shed-all true damage. In the blink of an eye, the God of Light lost several billion health points. Butpared to his total health of over 30 billion, it was nothing. "Kid, no wonder you were able to kill lower-tier gods. You do have some tricks up your sleeve." He nced at Thunder and the Death Demon General nearby with disdain. He could clearly sense that the two had died twice already and were now subservient to John. "But against a powerful mid-tier god like me, you have no chance of survival!" he dered. Then, he activated another skill-Holy Light--which descended with an earth-shattering roar. Boom! The ground shook violently under the force of the impact. Once again, John was instantly killed. The Undying and Immortal talent triggered a second time. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face pale, his head throbbing with searing pain. But then a warm surge of life energy spread through his body, soothing his injured soul. Without wasting any time, John used the remaining seconds of invincibility tounch another furious barrage of attacks at the God of Light. Boom! Boom! The relentless explosions rang out, but the God of Light didn''t even attempt to dodge. As soon as the five seconds of invincibility ended, he effortlessly killed John once again. [You have been in by the God of Light. Undying and Immortal talent activated.] John knelt on one knee, his soul injuries severe. The God of Light''s Soul Technique was far superior to his, rendering himpletely defenseless. "Damn it!" Tony cursed angrily. The Undying me appeared in his hand, but after a moment of hesitation, he put it away again. The Undying me was meant to break the seal of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. If he used it now, everyone would perish together, and all their efforts would be wasted. "Hurry up!" Tony turned to the Undead Lord and urged impatiently. The Undead Lord was equally anxious, but breaking the seal was no easy feat. "Almost there!" he gritted his teeth and pushed his soul power to the limit. Even if it meant depleting his own essence, he had no other choice. Boom! At that moment, John was killed again. The soul me in his mind flickered dangerously, on the verge of being extinguished. The healing effect of the Law of Life was like a drop in the ocean. He feared he wouldn''t be able to withstand the God of Light''s next attack. Buzz! Just then, a ripple of spatial power resonated- the Undead Lord had finally broken the seal. "My lord, get in here, quick!" he called out urgently to John. Elsa didn''t hesitate. She flew over at high speed. She could sense that John''s soul was gravely injured, teetering on the edge of copse, making it difficult for him to move. At that moment, the God of Light''s attack descended once more. "No!" Elsa cried out in terror. She pushed herself to move faster, but it was toote to stop it. Even if she reached him, she wouldn''t be able to withstand the blow. "Elsa, take our bodies with you!" the Death Demon General''s voice rang out. He and Thunder leaped past Elsa, instantly positioning themselves in front of John. Boom! The explosive roar reverberated as bone-chilling winds swirled. Despite theirbined efforts, the Death Demon General and Thunder were no match for the God of Light''s strike and were instantly killed. Fortunately, although John was affected by the st, his soul remained unharmed. "Master, let''s go!" Elsa rushed to John, cradling him protectively. She swiftly stored the Death Demon General and Thunder''s bodies. Even though the two had died again and their souls were wounded, they wouldn''t bepletely obliterated. With life energy, they could be resurrected once more. "Hmph, you won''t escape!" the God of Light snorted coldly. Realizing what was happening, he chased after them relentlessly, a beam of light shooting from his sword straight at Elsa. In the nick of time, she jumped into the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, clutching John tightly. Buzz! A spatial ripple pulsed, and the group effortlessly passed through the seal, descending into the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. "What are those creatures?!" Avis eximed in horror, feeling his skin crawl as he stared at the countless dark, sinister beasts stretching as far as the eye could see. "Those are Hunters!" Tony warned, swallowing nervously, his face tense and alert. John, feeling his wounds slowly starting to heal, took a good look at their surroundings. The Hunters resembled dragons in some ways, but they were much smaller in size, with pointed, jagged teeth, long, sharp ws, and wings sprouting from their backs. Every single one of these creatures was at the seventh-tier, the legendary level. "Living beings! Fresh living beings!" "There are demigods among them. I can smell the fragrance of their fresh blood!" ... Hoarse voices echoed all around as the throats of the Hunters trembled, producing eerie, human-like speech. asionally, their scarlet tongues flicked out, licking their lips with a bloodthirsty eagerness. Their crimson eyes were locked onto John and his group, filled with a ravenous hunger for flesh and blood. A swarm of Hunters slowly closed in, surrounding the grouppletely. There was a sinister yfulness in their gaze, as if they were in no hurry to make a move. The group stood back-to-back, huddled tightly together. John''s expression turned grim. Despite the Hunters'' seemingly small stature, he could sense an overwhelming threat emanating from them. "Tony, what''s the n?" he asked, turning to Tony beside him. Tony eyed the countless Hunters surrounding them and said, "We fight our way out, then locate the core of the seal and destroy it." "Alright!" John nodded. His injuries had recovered slightly, and he was just about to make his move when a powerful surge of light energy appeared behind him. "Godyer, you will die today..." The God of Light''s voice echoed. He had also managed to slip through the crack in the seal. But his words abruptly stopped as he took in the sight of the countless Hunters surrounding them. "Hunters!" His expression shifted to one of utter terror, and without hesitation, he turned to flee. Bang! A loud collision resounded as he mmed directly into the barrier of the seal and was violently repelled.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "A mid-tier god!" "An Angel Race member... Ackey of the gods!" "Well, what a delightful surprise." "Kill this mid-tier god first!" Roars of fury erupted as the Hunters bypassed John and his group, surging toward the God of Light like a tidal wave. "Damn it, get out of my way!" he yelled, his face twisted in fear. The immense power of the Law of Light erupted from his body, sting away the surrounding Hunters. Countless weaker Hunters were obliterated on the spot, seemingly fragile and easily in. As the Hunters passed by, the corpses of those who had died or were seriously wounded turned into mere piles of bones. These creatures didn''t even spare their own fallenrades. The God of Light dared not hesitate. He dispersed the Hunters around him and pped his wings, attempting to escape this ce. "Hahaha! You won''t get away!" Maniacalughter echoed as the Hunters spread their wings and shot into the sky. Their speed was astonishing as they chased relentlessly after the God of Light. Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Slaying the God of Light, Massacre of the Hunters Chapter 221: ying the God of Light, Massacre of the Hunters ? The God of Light, in a state of panic, darted around like a headless fly, showing no desire to fight.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om John was puzzled and asked, "Isn''t this guy being overly cowardly? He can easily kill lower- tier gods, so why can''t he handle these seventh-tier Hunters?" Tony exined, "Kid, you don''t understand. Hunters possess soul attacks that canpletely annihte gods. What''s worse, their attacks deal percentage-based damage, bypassing any form of defense." "Percentage-based damage? There''s such a terrifying creature out there?" John was shocked. If there were only tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of Hunters, they wouldn''t pose a threat to a god. But there were far too many Hunters here, an endless sea of them, surging forward like a tide. Even if the God of Light tried to hold them off, he''d be worn down eventually. It reminded John of the old saying: even a giant can be brought down by a swarm of ants. The Hunters whooshed past them,pletely ignoring John and his group. Their sole target was the God of Light. It seemed that he was far more enticing to them than John and the others. "Let''s go check it out!" John said with interest. He jumped onto Avis''s back and urged him to follow the fleeing God of Light. The others were startled and wanted to refuse, but there really wasn''t anything else for them to do right now. Finding the core of the seal in this ce wouldn''t be easy, and even the Undead Lord didn''t know its exact location. Following the God of Light and seeing what happened seemed like a good idea. Avis soared into the sky, his heart pounding as he looked at the dense swarm of Hunters flying past. It was terrifying. Fortunately, they didn''t attack him. Boom! Boom! In the distance, the power of Light Laws surged, and sword beams shed. The God of Light was once again surrounded and relentlessly assaulted by the Hunters. His health points were steadily decreasing. The Hunters had ranged attack capabilities,unching ck energy spheres that bypassed all defenses. Although the damage was low, each strike only dealing around 300,000 points, the sheer number of them made it devastating. John did a quick calction¡ªeach of these Hunters'' attacks dealt 0.001% of the God of Light''s total health. But there were simply too many of them. Even with the God of Light''s health in the hundreds of billions, he couldn''t withstand such a relentless assault. If he died, the Hunters would devour his corpse, leaving nothing behind. His soul would be extinguished, erasedpletely. The power of Light Laws surged as the God of Light unleashed his full strength, massacring the surrounding Hunters. Yet, he showed no signs of rxation; instead, he grew more and more frantic. His magic power was being consumed at an rming rate, and within less than half a day, it was entirely depleted. Left with no choice, he engaged the Hunters in closebat, causing his health to drop even faster. Every attack caused 0.001% damage, but the sheer number of Hunters made the situation untenable. "Godyer!" He noticed John and hastily called out for help. "We have to work together, or if I die, you won''t survive either!" "Master, should we help him?" Elsa asked. The God of Light wasn''t wrong in what he said. John furrowed his brows, also wary of the terrifying nature of these Hunters. He was just about to intervene when even more Hunters surged in from the horizon,pletely engulfing the God of Light''s figure. His health dropped at a staggering rate. Countless Hunters surrounded the God of Light, and it was already toote to save him. John kept his eyes on the God of Light''s health bar. Rather than letting these Hunters benefit from his demise, it was better if John himself delivered the killing blow. "Join the party." He quickly added Sini and Tracy to the group, and then, light and dark energies surged as several powerful spells crashed down on the battlefield. [You have in a level 1000 seventh-tier Legendary Hunter and gained 723,520 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: You have gained 0.01 units of Shadow Power, Strength +100.] ... The surrounding Hunters were also caught in the crossfire and were effortlessly obliterated by John, granting him a massive amount of experience points. His Plunder talent was activated once again. "Shadow Power?" John frowned as he noticed the notification. He couldn''t help but recall what Elsa had mentioned about the Shadow n. Could these Hunters be rted to the Shadow n? But what exactly was the purpose of this Shadow Power? John was perplexed. There was no description of what the Shadow Power did, and his body didn''t seem to show any changes. It was likely because the amount of Shadow Power plundered was too insignificant-killing a single Hunter only plundered 0.01 units, and even then, it wasn''t a guaranteed drop. Boom! Boom! The formidable power of light and darkness exploded, decimating the surrounding Hunters. The God of Light''s health bar had dropped to just a few million points. When he saw John attacking, he felt a surge of joy, thinking John was there to save him. But then, a barrage of magic spells rained down on him. "Human! If I die here, you won''t survive either..." he cursed angrily. Yet, before he could finish, his voice was abruptly cut off as John''s attacks obliterated him. [You have in the God of Light and gained 125.586 billion experience points.] [Level up...] [Plunder talent activated: You have gained 1% Law of Light mastery, Divinity +200, Spirit +2000, Strength +1500, Skill Points +500.] The notification shed, and John immediately leveled up twice, reaching level 1110. "A high-grade divine weapon!" His attention was drawn to the radiant sword dropped by the God of Light''s corpse. But before he could retrieve it, the God of Light''s body was once again swarmed by the Hunters, who began ravenously devouring it. To his shock, they weren''t just consuming his body-they were even gnawing at the items that dropped. "Damn it! Stop it!" John shouted as he watched one of the Hunters bite a chunk off the sword. What kind of creatures were these? The power of The Laws surged around him as countless magical skills erupted, instantly clearing out the surrounding Hunters. The God of Light''s body had been gnawed down to a ragged, barely recognizable form. "Avis, go!" Johnmanded sharply, and Avis dove down without hesitation. John reached out quickly, intending to pick up the loot dropped by the God of Light. Crack! But the moment his hand touched the radiant sword, its light dimmed and the sword crumbled into pieces. An upper-grade divine weapon had disintegrated into worthless scrap metal just like that. Whoosh! At that very moment, a powerful force surged around them. The Hunters that had been gnawing on the radiant sword, as well as those that had feasted on the God of Light''s corpse, began to emit a faint Holy Light. A massive aura emanated from their bodies. John was utterly shocked. These creatures could actually devour energy from anything, absorbing it to evolve themselves. This ability was even more domineering than his own Plunder talent. Tony''s expression turned grim. He quickly warned, "Godyer, kill them now! If they fully integrate the God of Light''s power, they could evolve into demigod-level beings." "Understood!" John nodded, and the Immortal Sword, an artifact of The Immortals, flew out from within him. The powerful sword energy surged, winds howled, and dark clouds gathered in the sky as endless sword beams flickered around them. An overwhelming pressure filled the area. Buzz! Suddenly, a rain of sword beams descended, covering the sky and enveloping all the Hunters in its path. The ultimate skill-Return of Ten Thousand Swords. Stter! ck blood sprayed into the air, and mournful wails echoed. Every Hunter within the range of the sword beams was instantly in. [You have in a level 1000 seventh-tier Legendary Hunter and gained 723,520 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: You have gained 0.01 units of Shadow Power, Agility +100.] ... The notifications continued to flood in as John plundered a massive amount of attributes and more units of Shadow Power. Luckily, he had acted in time. The Hunters that had begun to devour the God of Light''s corpse hadn''t yet fully assimted the power, allowing John to kill them effortlessly. "Ignorant creatures! Now it''s your turn!" one of the surviving Hunters roared. "I want that demigod angel!" another Hunter screeched. "That human''s flesh... It''s even more enticing than that of a mid-tier god." "Attack! Tear them apart!" ... Roars and howls filled the air as countless Hunters swarmed forward. John''s disy of immense power didn''t deter them in the slightest. Instead, it seemed to drive them into a frenzied state, making them even more reckless. His expression turned serious as he summoned the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword, which split into three. Activating Sword Mastery, he unleashed a frenzied onught on the approaching Hunters. Simultaneously, the Sword of Divinity and Demons danced in the air, with various magic spells interspersed between his strikes, giving the creatures no respite. Though the sheer number of Hunters was overwhelming, they couldn''t get anywhere near him. asionally, a ck energy sphere would strike John, but it would only inflict a measly 30 points of damage. The Hunters'' attacks all dealt percentage-based damage-they relied on their numbers to wear down opponents. John''s confidence soared. Perhaps other divine beings couldn''t handle these Hunters, but he was different. However, with his Wrath of the Gods talent, John was like a perpetual motion machine. His skill cooldowns were reduced by 99%, and his spell cost was cut by 99%, allowing him to cast spells almost without limit. Moreover, these creatures, although capable ofunching soul attacks, weren''t truly fatal. John had signed a life-sharing contract with The Tree of Life, which allowed him to receive a continuous supply of health. As long as he wasn''t killed instantly, he could rapidly recover. Additionally, with his Undying and Immortal talent, the Hunters'' attacks merely chipped away at his soul''s energy rather than directly annihting it. It was virtually impossible for the Hunters to kill him. John waspletely free from worry,unching a relentless massacre against the Hunters. The Ancient Battlefield Ruins posed no real danger to him-instead, it was a perfect training ground. The Hunters were mostly at the legendary seventh-tier level, and although their strength was formidable, their sheer numbers were what made them truly overwhelming, stretching out in an endless sea of darkness. Even in such a short amount of time, John''s level had increased by another rank. Elsa and the others began to calm down and joined in the frenzied assault on the Hunters. Although they were struck repeatedly by the ck energy spheres, causing their health to steadily drop, they had a powerful advantage. Tracy, being a rare hidden healing ss, Alchemist, was a game-changer. A soft green light enveloped them, brimming with life essence that not only restored their health but also mended any damage to their souls. Moreover, Tracy had another ace up her sleeve-a mana restoration technique called Word of Truth. With this, they could effectively battle the Hunters with almost zero resource depletion. "This ce isn''t as dangerous as I thought," Sini said cheerfully. "I expected it to be much worse." Elsa and Tony, however, didn''t share her optimism. They had witnessed the Hunters'' terrifying capabilities firsthand before. Tony gave a word of caution, "Kid, we can''t let ourselves get trapped here. Once our magic power runs out, or we run out of stamina, we''ll still end up dead." "Don''t worry. Just attack in turns," John suggested calmly. He wasn''t ready to pass up this opportunity for such an easy way to gain experience. Besides, there was no ce to hide anyway. The entire area was swarming with Hunters, a dense, seething mass that stretched as far as the eye could see. With no other option, the group reluctantly followed John''s advice and took turns attacking. Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Shadow Power and Percentage-Based Damage Chapter 222: Shadow Power and Percentage-Based Damage ? "Master, don''t you want to take a break?" Elsa asked with concern, noticing that John had been fighting continuously. "No need, I''m more than fine," John replied, brimming with fighting spirit. This kind of battle didn''t wear him out at all. Hearing his response, Elsa''s cheeks turned bright red. John was referring to his immensebat strength, but she couldn''t help but think of something else entirely. Sini and Tracy both noticed Elsa''s reaction and shot John a re. Clearly, this angel had also had some "encounters" with him. Around them, the constant wailing and shrieking of Hunters filled the air as the creatures were ruthlessly ughtered. Their bodies were quickly devoured by their own kind. These Hunters would sometimes drop items, but there was no time to pick them up amidst the chaos. ... Unknowingly, the group had been battling for an entire day. Even though Tony and the others took turns resting, they still felt physically drained. Even Avis had to descend to the ground. While the Hunters could fly, staying airborne meant being attacked from all sides, putting them under immense pressure. In contrast, John showed no signs of fatigue. His longsword danced in the air as spell after spell shot out, as if his energy were boundless. The others watched in awe, their faces full of disbelief. Finally, Tony couldn''t hold back and asked, "Godyer, do your skills have no cooldown or cost? You''ve been fighting continuously for an entire day."N?v(el)B\\jnn "More or less," John replied nonchntly, without further exnation. His expression remained calm as he continued to ughter the endless waves of Hunters. asionally, he would even unleash his ultimate skills. The group took shelter behind him, recovering their strength and replenishing their mana without facing any threats. Initially, they felt a bit guilty about leaving all the fighting to John. But after witnessing his seemingly bottomless reserves of power, they epted the situation and focused on restoring their own energy. ... [You have in a level 1000 seventh-tier Hunter and gained 723,520 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Strength +100, Constitution +100, Skill Points +10.] [Plunder talent activated: You have gained 0.01 units of Shadow Power, Attack Speed +1.] [You have umted 100 units of Shadow Power. Normal attacks and skill attacks now inflict additional damage equal to 0.001% of the target''s maximum health.] The notification shed before his eyes. John was surprised. After umting 100 units of Shadow Power, he had gained the same percentage-based damage ability as the Hunters. Although the damage percentage was quite low, it was better than nothing. Besides, his most powerful attacks were based on true damage, so this minor percentage boost was just an added bonus. He wondered if the percentage damage would increase as he gained more Shadow Power. His Plunder talent didn''t have a high chance of obtaining Shadow Power-it only activated when he killed seventh-tier Legendary Hunters or higher, and even then, not every time. But it was still an incredible ability nheless. He had already in more than a million Hunters, boosting his four basic attributes by over a hundred thousand points. His level had risen to 1112. If this continued and the number of Hunters remained sufficient, he could potentially level up to the eighth tier or even the ninth tier right here. Without slowing down, John continued his relentless ughter of the surrounding Hunters. At this point, Elsa and the others had nearly recovered their stamina and mana, and they rejoined the assault on the Hunters. ... Unknowingly, they had fought for another full day and night. Yet, instead of diminishing, the number of Hunters had increased significantly. Moreover, their power had also escted-from the previous seventh tier to the eighth tier- bringing their percentage-based damage up to 0.01%. Compared to the seventh-tier Hunters, the damage output had increased tenfold. The group started to feel the pressure. But John remained calm and unbothered. After two days and nights of constantbat, he still showed no signs of reaching his limit. Initially, the group had been worried that John''s stamina would deplete, and they urged him to take a break. But now, they werepletely desensitized to his seemingly inexhaustible strength. He was, without a doubt, a monster. Tracy, watching John''s frenzied ughter of the Hunters, blinked in curiosity. She leaned toward Sini and whispered, "Sister Sini, do you think the old man really has no limits at all?" Sini was momentarily stunned, her face flushing red. She knew exactly what Tracy was insinuating, and she pretended to be angry, saying, "You cheeky little thing, what are you thinking about all day?" Tracy stuck out her tongue yfully and didn''t say anything more. asionally, she would wave her staff, casting healing spells to replenish the group''s lost health and mana. "Godyer, these Hunters are getting stronger by the minute. We need to find a way to get rid of them," Tony said gravely, alerting John. He noticed that ninth-tier Hunters had already started appearing. He couldn''t help but feel anxious. Even if John''s abilities had no cooldowns or mana costs, there was always a limit to his physical stamina. Yet, the Hunters seemed endless and inexhaustible. If this continued, they would eventually be overwhelmed and face certain death. John nodded in agreement. The continuous battle was starting to take its toll on him. Additionally, the newly appearing ninth-tier Hunters now dealt 0.1% damage based on maximum health. He wasn''t worried for himself. But if Sini and the others got surrounded, they would be dead before they had a chance to recover their health. He considered resurrecting Thunder and the Death Demon General, but even gods didn''t have an advantage over these Hunters. In that scenario, John would have to protect them as well, adding to his burden rather than alleviating it. Surveying the endless tide of Hunters around them, John made a quick decision and said, "Pick a direction, any direction, and fight our way out." He chose a direction and led the charge. The others followed closely behind. With John''s overwhelming power, the immense energy of The Power of Laws surged around him. His magic skills roared across the battlefield, furiously bombarding the surrounding Hunters. [You have in a level 2000 eighth-tier Hunter and gained 2,660,000 experience points.] [Your level has increased...] [Plunder talent activated: Shadow Power +0.01, Skill Points +10, Magic Crit +1.] ... Notifications shed continuously, and his level had already risen to 1130. Eighth-tier Hunters provided significantly more experience points, and the probability of plundering Shadow Power had also increased. At this point, he had umted over 500 points of Shadow Power, yet the percentage- based damage remained unchanged. He didn''t know if Shadow Power had any other effects beyond this and wasn''t too concerned about it. Instead, he continued to focus on ughtering the incessantly approaching Hunters around them. The group pressed forward. This ce seemed endless, with Hunters swarming from every direction. There was nowhere to hide, no way to escape. John moved mechanically, swinging his longsword and casting various skills with precise, unchanging rhythm. The relentless and monotonousbat had left him somewhat numb, and his stamina was being gradually depleted. Sini, Elsa, and the others were in even worse shape, their stamina long since exhausted. It was only due to John''s protection that nothing disastrous had happened. "Master, there''s a gorge ahead!" Avis''s voice rang out from above, pping his wings as he pointed excitedly toward the distantndscape. "Let''s go!" The group''s eyes lit up, a spark of hope rekindled. John took the lead, elerating toward the gorge that Avis had indicated. The gorge wasn''t particrly wide, just enough for them to maneuver within. The steep cliffs on either side served as natural barriers, blocking the attacks of most of the Hunters. As long as they could defend against assaults from the front, back, and above, their pressure would be greatly reduced. [You have in a level 5000 ninth-tier Legendary Hunter and gained 18,773,000 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Shadow Power +0.01, Constitution +100, Luck +1.] [You have umted 1000 units of Shadow Power. Normal attacks and skill attacks now inflict additional damage equal to 0.01% of the target''s maximum health.] -- The notifications shed again, and with 1000 points of Shadow Power, his percentage-based health damage increased to 0.01%. The most significant increase, however, was in his four basic attributes: strength and spirit had both broken the one million mark, while constitution and agility had also risen to over 500,000 each. With his current strength, he could easily defeat demigod-level opponents. Even if he encountered lower-tier gods, he wouldn''t be as helpless as he was before. Butpared to mid-tier gods, there was still a considerable gap. The greatest threat posed by mid-tier gods wasn''t from their attribute-based damage but rather from their overwhelming soul power. If he could advance to the demigod level or further elevate his Soul Technique, he would definitely be able to y mid-tier gods. However, after his Soul Technique reached level 10,000, each additional level required 10,000 skill points, and every level-up only increased his power by 1 point. The cost was simply too overwhelming, so he didn''t want to continue spending skill points on it. Roar... Roars echoed all around as the Hunters continued to surge forward endlessly. John stopped dwelling on this matter and refocused onbat. ... Another three days passed. John hadn''t rested for a single moment. After three continuous days of fighting, he was starting to feel disoriented, hanging on only through sheer willpower. Moreover, the Hunters that were now appearing were all formidable ninth-tier ones. Without John, the rest of the group wouldn''t have been able to hold them off at all. "John, can you still hold on? Maybe we should think of another n," Sini asked worriedly. With John defending them, they had asional moments to rest, so their mental state was still rtively stable. But John had been fighting non-stop for five days. If this continued, Sini feared something terrible might happen to him. John furrowed his brows, his expression equally grim. He had already in millions of Hunters, but their numbers showed no sign of diminishing. He suspected that the number of Hunters here, at a conservative estimate, could reach tens of billions. At this rate, they were all going to die. "Godyer, why don''t you resurrect Thunder and the Death Demon General? Let those two handle the situation for a while so you can get some rest," Tony suggested. "Alright!" John agreed. After all this time, he''d almost forgotten about those two. Thunder and the Death Demon General were both lower-tier gods. With the gorge providing natural protection, they should be able to hold off the Hunters for a while. John willed it, and their corpses appeared before him. He then channeled his life force into their bodies. He felt another wave of dizziness wash over him, nearly causing him to copse, but he managed to stay upright through sheer force of will. The two souls stirred, absorbing the life force and slowly awakening. "H-Hunters!" the Death Demon General eximed, his face filled with fear as he looked at the never-ending wave of Hunters pouring in from all directions. "Master, did you really enter the Ancient Battlefield Ruins?" Thunder gulped nervously, his expression equally grim. John didn''t bother to exin andmanded, "Stop talking and help me hold these Hunters off for a while-I need to rest." "Understood." The two of them quickly realized that John was not in a good state and promptly agreed. They each took a side of the gorge, bracing themselves to fend off the oing onught of Hunters. Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Frenzied Slaughter, Hunter Leader Chapter 223: Frenzied ughter, Hunter Leader ? Both Thunder and the Death Demon General were lower-tier gods, possessing immense power. For a short period, holding off these Hunters was not a problem for them at all. Elsa, Tony, and the Undead Lord had also ascended to demigod status, allowing them to fend off the ninth-tier Hunters effectively. Only Sini and Tracy were rtively weaker, being at the seventh tier, making them less of a threat to the Hunters. The two of them stayed close to John, ensuring his safety. John, having withdrawn from the battlefield, could no longer hold on mentally. Leaning against Sini, he closed his eyes, and soon, the sound of his steady breathing filled the air. Sini''s heart ached as she looked at him. Gently, she adjusted his position, letting him rest his head on herp so he could sleep morefortably. Boom! Boom! Thunder roared and dark forces surged all around. The Death Demon General and Thunder managed to repel most of the Hunters'' attacks. asionally, a few lone Hunters would break into the gorge, only to be effortlessly dispatched by Elsa and the others. Though the Death Demon General and Thunder were lower-tier gods with formidable strength, they struggled to keep up with the endless onught of Hunters. In just half a day, their magic energy waspletely drained, forcing them into close- quartersbat. With the relentless swarm of enemies, their health points continued to plummet. Although Sini had healing capabilities, it was impossible to keep up with the sustained damage caused by so many ninth-tier Hunters. "Wake up the Godyer. If this continues, we''re all dead," Tony panted as he cut down a Hunter that had broken through. "Alright!" Sini nodded and gently roused John. John opened his eyes. Although he had only rested for half a day, his mental strength had already recovered significantly, and his physical stamina was fully restored. "You two step back and rest now. Leave the rest to me," he instructed Thunder and the Death Demon General. Gripping the Sword of Divinity and Demons in his hand, he summoned the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword, which split into three, and began yet another frenzied ughter against the approaching Hunters. All the Hunters around were ninth-tier. Tony had mentioned before that Hunters could only cultivate up to the demigod level. However, John had yet to see any demigod-level Hunters appear. Even so, the ninth-tier Hunters posed a significant challenge to everyone. Surrounded by the immense power of light and darkness, John unleashed a barrage of relentless attacks on the Hunters swarming the gorge. In an instant, the Hunters within the gorge werepletely eradicated. Elsa, Tony, and the others couldn''t contribute much to the battle, so they took the opportunity to rest, preparing to rece John when the time came. John continued fighting for another day. The Death Demon General and Thunder had fully recovered and took over from him, allowing him to step back and rest. John hadn''t reached his limit yet he could easily keep fighting for another two days and nights. However, Sini and the others wouldn''t allow it, fearing for his safety if he pushed himself too far. Left with no choice, John reluctantly agreed to rest. Thus, the group took turns resting and attacking, relentlessly ughtering the Hunters. John had lost count of how many ninth-tier Hunters he had killed. He only knew that both he and the two women had ascended to the eighth tier, and his Plundered Shadow Power had umted to ten thousand points, increasing his percentage-based health damage to 0.1%. His strength had significantly improved once again. The group''s coordination became increasingly refined, and the constant influx of Hunters no longer posed a threat. And so, they continued like this for an entire month. By now, they had all be numb to the endlessbat, and despite the unrelenting waves of Hunters, the number of enemies hadn''t decreased at all. Instead, demigod-level Hunters began appearing. This sudden esction increased the pressure on them once more. Only John and the two lower-tier gods, Thunder and the Death Demon General, could handle demigod-level Hunters with rtive ease. Even so, the duration of John''s rest periods grew shorter and shorter. The extended battles meant that Thunder and the Death Demon General couldn''t recover fully during their rest intervals. John had attempted to use his soul skills, but they barely affected these Hunters and only resulted in severe bacsh. The Hunters gave him a strange feeling, as if they were all connected to a shared soul! It was as if these Hunters weren''t separate entities at all. "Roar!" Suddenly, a deep and resonant roar echoed through the canyon, causing all the surrounding Hunters to cease their attacks. They turned toward the source of the sound and, one by one, kneeled down in reverence. "What''s going on?" Thunder frowned, his expression tense. He had never witnessed such a bizarre scene before. "It seems like someone even stronger has shown up," the Death Demon General murmured, swallowing nervously. Whoosh! In the sky above, a fierce wind howled as an enormous Hunter, significantlyrger than the others, descended slowly into the gorge. It was a Hunter leader, with strength at the demigod level. John felt confident that he could easily take down this creature but chose not to attack. He wanted to see what this beast intended to do.N?v(el)B\\jnn "It''s been a long time since I''ve encountered someone as strong as you," it croaked, its raspy voice echoing as its gaze swept over John with a curious glint. "If I''m not mistaken, you''re a warrior of The Immortals, aren''t you?" John nodded, not bothering to deny it. The Hunter leader didn''t seem surprised. Instead, its eyes showed a hint of admiration. "Only an Immortal could be a worthy opponent to us. The rest-just a bunch of weaklings," it said with disdain. As it spoke, it nced at the others with a predatory gleam in its eyes, its gaze lingering on the Death Demon General and Thunder for a moment longer, before it licked its crimson lips hungrily. It seemed that divine beings held a tremendous allure for these creatures. The Hunter leader withdrew its gaze and turned back to John, continuing, "Human, I have no desire to be enemies with The Immortals. You didn''te here just to ughter us, did you?" John nodded and replied, "We''re here to destroy the seal." "What?" Its eyes lit up with excitement, a look of joy spreading across its face. "Why didn''t you say so earlier? If I''d known you were here to destroy the seal, do you think I''d have made things difficult for you?" John was taken aback for a moment. This creature clearly wanted to help them. He responded calmly, "Well, you never asked." "Damn, we''ve been fighting for nothing-it''s all been a misunderstanding." All hostility vanished from the Hunter leader as it turned to the surrounding Hunters and snapped, "You useless fools, get out of here. All of you!" In an instant, the Hunters receded like a tide, leaving the canyon eerily silent, with only the enormous Hunter leader remaining. John couldn''t help but ask curiously, "Aren''t you afraid that, by sending your minions away, I''ll seize the chance to kill you?" The creature casually shrugged its wings. "You yers can resurrect, right? We Hunters can do the same. The cost is a bit steep, sure, but it''s nothing a bit of re-training can''t fix. Besides, if you kill me, you''ll have to face the wrath of every single Hunter here. I don''t think you''d be that foolish." John frowned; he didn''t like this creature at all. But it did have a point. He couldn''t kill it so easily. The Hunter leader continued, "You probably don''t know where the core of the seal is, do you? Follow me." It spread its wings wide and shot out of the canyon, flying deep into the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. "My lord, I don''t trust that thing!" Thunder said warily, his voice tinged with unease. He feared the creature might lure them out only to spring an ambush. "Rx. That thing has no ill intentions-at least for now," John replied, his expression thoughtful. He didn''t trust the Hunter leader either. But it clearly wanted them to destroy the seal so it could escape this ce. At least until that goal was achieved, it wouldn''t dare make a move against them. And if the seal were destroyed, they could escape too-beyond these ruins, it would be easier to shake off these creatures. Avis followed the Hunter as it flew over the vast expanse of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. Everywhere they passed, the ground teemed with countless Hunters. Over the past month, they had ughtered nearly a hundred million of these creatures, yet their numbers didn''t seem to have diminished at all. Perhaps what the Hunter leader said was true-their deaths weren''t final. They could be resurrected. The Ancient Battlefield Ruins stretched far and wide. After two hours of flight, they finally reached the edge of the ruins andnded near an altar. "Human, this is the ce," the Hunter leader gestured at the altar before them, then asked curiously, "So, how do you n to destroy the seal?" John looked over at Tony. Tony took out the crystal sphere. "Huh? The Undying me!" the Hunter leader eximed in shock, its face filled with terror. John was intrigued and asked, "What''s the matter? Can this thing really annihte all of you?" "Heh heh..." The creature forced an awkward smile but didn''t say much. It only took a few steps back involuntarily. John sneered. He had guessed correctly-the Undying me couldpletely obliterate the Hunters. "Tony, let me handle this," Ben stepped forward, reaching out to take the Undying me. But Tony dodged his grasp, remaining calm. "You can''t do it." He nced at the people around John, sighed helplessly, and decided to activate it himself. "Wait, isn''t it possible to detonate it remotely?" John stopped him, curious. If using the Undying me meant sacrificing Tony, John would never agree to it. Tony sighed and exined, "The Undying me has a st radius of a hundred thousand meters. Only upper-tier gods'' spiritual power can cover such a distance." A hundred thousand meters? John was taken aback. Even though his Soul Technique had advanced to over twenty thousand points and he had mastered soul perception, his mental strength still couldn''t reach that far. Tony continued, "Don''t worry. My defenses are strong. I might get out of this unscathed." "Not happening." John didn''t buy it. He snatched the Undying me from Tony. "Hey, kid, don''t do anything reckless!" Tony was startled. "Godyer, why not let this guy detonate it?" Undead Lord suggested, pointing at the Hunter leader. The creature was so frightened it immediately shook its head. "No, not me! That thing can destroy mepletely!" John sneered, "Look at you, such a coward. Why notmand one of your Hunters to do it?" "Hmm, that could work." Its eyes lit up. It beckoned to one of the elite seventh-tier Hunters nearby. It had initially wanted to use an ordinary Hunter, but those were too dim-witted and unreliable. Taking the Undying me from John, it handed it to the selected Hunter and meticulously instructed, "Use your spiritual power to detonate this crystal sphere and destroy the altar. Remember, only detonate it after we''re far away-when you can''t see us anymore. Got it?" The Hunter''s gaze was dull. After a moment, it nodded seriously. "Remember, don''t detonate it until you can no longer see us." It repeated the instruction several times, then ordered the surrounding Hunters to disperse. John and the others quickly climbed onto Avis''s back and fled the scene as fast as they could. Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Breaking the Seal, Unleashing a Mighty Life Force Chapter 224: Breaking the Seal, Unleashing a Mighty Life Force ? Avis, well aware of the terrifying power of the Undying me, flew at top speed until they were a hundred thousand meters away, far enough that the altar could no longer be seen. Only then did he dare to stop. Buzz! Before long, a terrifying surge of energy rippled through the air from the distant horizon, sweeping toward them. The surrounding temperature soared instantly, fierce winds howled, and John and his group were directly blown off their feet. John clearly saw a blinding white light shing in the distance¡ªan immense ball of fire. Wherever it passed, the Hunters too slow to escape were instantly incinerated, leaving nothing but empty air where they once stood. Even from a hundred thousand meters away, they could still feel the powerful shockwave''s effects. Buzz! Suddenly, the entire space around them shook violently, emitting a low, resonating hum. The seemingly indestructible power of the seal was utterly insignificant in the face of the Undying me, copsing instantly under its immense force. [System Announcement: The seal of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins has been shattered, now connecting to the World of Gods.] ... As the system announcement rang out three times in session, yers began to buzz with curiosity, specting wildly. None of them truly knew what this "Ancient Battlefield Ruins" represented. However, within the Void Area, the gods and deities were thrown into utter chaos, reacting in sheer panic. "The Ancient Battlefield Ruins have been opened? Damn it! Who did this?!" A roar of fury echoed throughout the Void Area, emanating from a figure seated at the highest throne-an upper-tier god, Heidern.N?v(el)B\\jnn He was also known by another title: The Overseer. The powerful figures beneath him were equally shocked, their faces filled with fear. "Overseer, could it have been that Godyer?" ventured Mantra, who was among the gathered deities, voicing his suspicion. The God of Light had already set out over a month ago to hunt down the Godyer, yet there had been no word from him since. The most likely exnation was that the Godyer had fled into the Ancient Battlefield Ruins and destroyed the seal. "Godyer? Damn it!" Heidern cursed, recalling that John possessed an Undying me-a weapon that could indeed shatter the Ancient Battlefield''s seal. "What the hell was the God of Light doing? He can''t even deal with a lowly human, and now he''s let that man destroy the seal of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins!" He was furious, his rage echoing through the hall. The powerful figures below him all bowed their heads deeply, terrified of drawing his wrath. One deity nced up at him cautiously and asked in a timid voice, "Overseer, now that the Ancient Battlefield Ruins have been opened, what should we do?" The fearsome reputation of the Hunters was deeply ingrained in the hearts of the gods. Many of their kind had fallen to those creatures. Whatever happened, none of them wished to face the Hunters again. Heidern took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down as he suppressed his fury. He spoke slowly, "I suspect that human intends to resurrect The Immortals. You all stay here and guard the Void Area. I''m going to visit Lord Shadow." With that, his figure shed, appearing in a secret chamber. He hurried over to a stone tform. A surge of immense holy power poured into it, activating the tform. Buzz! A light flickered, forming a vague silhouette on the tform. Its face was obscured, but it emanated an aura of darkness and malice. "Greetings, my lord!" The once-mighty Heidern now knelt humbly on one knee, his expression reverent and deferential. "What is it?" a cold voice echoed from the silhouette. "My lord, the seal of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins has been shattered, releasing countless Hunters into the Skyline Continent. They threaten my dominion. I implore you to take them away," he pleaded quickly. These Hunters had been brought in by the Shadow n, initially intended tobat The Immortals. However, it turned out that these Hunters posed a far greater threat to ordinary gods, while beingrgely ineffective against The Immortals. "I''m aware," the voice replied, still as icy and emotionless as before. Heidern''s brows furrowed slightly, and he hesitantly asked, "My lord, when will you take action?" "Hmm?" The silhouette''s gaze turned cold and menacing. Heidern trembled in fear, immediately lowering his head and shutting his mouth, not daring to speak further. His position as the Overseer had been bestowed by this very being. To others, he seemed all-powerful, but when facing a member of the Shadow n, he was no more than a groveling servant. He knew full well just how terrifying these entities were. In their eyes, he was as insignificant as an ant. Even the mighty warriors of The Immortals had been effortlessly crushed by them. The powers they wielded were utterly bizarre and beyond the gods'' capacity to counter. The icy voice resounded again, "When will Skyline Continent''s final Secret Area be opened?" "This..." Heidern''s expression turned to one of terror as he swallowed hard. He finally managed to speak, "It will take another six months. The pathway to Earth hasn''t been fully connected yet." Fearing the lord''s wrath, he hurriedly added, "But I''ve already secured control over several humans from Earth. As long as they obtain The Immortals'' legacy, the passage will open. By then, the final Secret Area of Skyline Continent will be essible." "Very well, I understand." The cold voice grew distant, and the silhouette vanished in an instant. "My lord, what about the Hunters?" Heidern asked desperately, but received no response. It was over! He slumped to the ground in despair, a sense of impending doom washing over him. He had a faint suspicion of what was going on. When the final Secret Area of Skyline Continent opens, it''s likely that the Shadow n''s strongest will descend and seize the ultimate treasure. He, on the other hand, would merely be discarded like a pawn. Swallowing nervously, he realized the harsh reality. The gods might appear formidable and glorious, but without the protection of the Shadow n, they were nothing. "No, I have to think of something..." He scrambled to his feet, pacing back and forth anxiously as he pondered his next move. The only way forward was to prevent the Shadow n from descending. Without their interference, Heidern was confident he could seize the ultimate treasure. That way, his position as the Overseer would be unshakeable, and no one would be able to challenge his authority. But how could he stop the Shadow n from descending? "First, prevent the Earth''s channel from opening!" He couldn''t think of a better solution at the moment, so he decided not to establish the channel to Earth. As long as the world of Gods didn''t connect to the new world, Skyline Continent''s final treasure wouldn''t emerge, giving him time toe up with a countermeasure. ... In the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. With the seal shattered, countless Hunters poured out like a relentless tide, invading the Skyline Continent. "Human, we''ll meet again!" The lead Hunter nced deeply at John, his gaze filled with hidden meaning, before turning around and leaving. Countless Hunters swept past John and his group, but none of them attacked. The ground trembled violently, winds howled, and the sky was darkened with a dense mass of Hunters. This went on for half a day until all the Hunters had disappeared, flooding into the Skyline Continent. John roughly estimated that there were at least a billion of them. "Master, by doing this, are we not bringing catastrophe to the beings of Skyline Continent?" Thunder asked, trembling with fear. Despite being a member of the Dark Humans, he felt that this approach was too extreme. Tony nced at him, sneering, "What are you afraid of? It''s not like there''s no one to deal with them." "The Immortals?" Thunder was momentarily stunned before realizing the truth. John''s n was to resurrect The Immortals. The gods and powerhouses of Skyline Continent''s various races were no match for the Hunters. If they wanted to survive, they would have to break into the Void Area and rescue or resurrect the trapped Immortals within. Ben watched the Hunters vanish, his gaze profound. "Let''s go. Our task is only going to get harder from here." The others nodded and were just about to leave when- "Hm?" John suddenly stopped, his brows furrowing. He had instinctively activated his Soul Perception and clearly sensed an extremely powerful life force in the vicinity. At the very least, it was at the level of a lower-tier god. It shouldn''t be a Hunter. Those creatures had already left, and the highest level they could reach was only demigod. "Master, what''s wrong?" Elsa noticed John''s sudden pause and asked curiously. John replied, "There''s a powerful entity here- at least at the level of a lower-tier god." "That can''t be right. The Hunters wouldn''t spare any life form, let alone a powerful deity," Tony disagreed, doubting John''s im. "Let''s check it out," John said without offering further exnation. He jumped onto Avis'' back, carefully sensing the location of the life force, and directed Avis to move forward. The others followed, their curiosity piqued. "Wait, it''s not just one!" John''s voice echoed back. As they got closer to the source, John sensed more, weaker life forces-ones he hadn''t detected before because they were masked by the overwhelming presence of therger entity. There were millions of these weaker life signals. Could it be more Hunters? John spected that only Hunters could exist in such enormous numbers. "Kid, are you sure you''re not mistaken?" Tony frowned. If there was really an entity above the demigod level here, he would have sensed it immediately. "I''m positive." John was certain. The advantage of his Soul Perception was that he could sense any living presence, with no chance of error. He urged Avis to fly faster. The others exchanged nces but chose not to argue further. Soon, Avisnded in front of a hidden cave entrance. "It does seem like there''s a powerful life force here, but I can''t feel any energy fluctuation," Ben observed, his brows furrowing as he stared at the cave entrance. "Doesn''t this ce seem a bit too eerie?" Undead Lord hesitated as he looked into the dark, deep cave, not daring to step forward. Everything about this ce felt unknown. Without his Undying and Immortal talent, he didn''t dare to take risks. "Master, let me go in first." The death demon general scoffed at Undead Lord''s hesitation, taking a deep breath as he approached the cave entrance. Bang! A collision sound rang out, and he cried out in pain as he was sent flying backward,nding heavily on the ground. "Master, there''s a barrier here. I can''t get through." He groaned, rubbing his forehead in pain as he struggled back to his feet. "Is that so?" John murmured, stepping forward slowly. He passed through the barrier effortlessly, without any resistance. "Huh, what''s going on?" The death demon general was baffled and tried to step forward again. Bang! He was thrown back again. Curious, the others also tried to enter but were all repelled. Only John could enter the cave with ease. "Could it be that only Immortal beings can get through?" Ben stroked his beard, deep in thought. This was the first time he''d encountered something so peculiar. Shadow Power! John had a different theory. He suspected that it was rted to the Shadow Power he''d plundered. The life force within this cave was definitely connected to the Hunters or the Shadow n. Chapter 225: Chapter 225: The Hunter Broodmother and Soul Essence Chapter 225: Chapter 225: The Hunter Broodmother and Soul Essence Seeing that no one else could enter, John turned to the group and said, "You guys should head back. I can feel that while this lifeform is strong, its power is not enough to threaten me." The others hesitated but eventually nodded in agreement. With the seal on the Ancient Battlefield Ruins already broken, there would definitely be chaos spreading across the Skyline Continent. Ben and Tony needed to unite the various races'' gods and rally them to resist the enemy gods, rescue the imprisoned Immortals, and find a solution to the problem of the Hunters as quickly as possible. Sini and the other girls wanted to stay and wait for John, but he firmly sent them away as well. He was worried that those Hunters would target the territories under his control. The girls were powerful enough to offer some protection if anything happened. Once everyone left, John ventured deeper into the cave alone. With a snap of his fingers, a fireball formed in his palm, lighting up the surroundings. The cave was deep, and its depths were shrouded in darkness. Yet, he could distinctly sense that strong life force inside. It seemed to have noticed his approach and was bing increasingly agitated. In the distance, countless weak life signals began rushing in his direction. He nced at them dismissively, letting the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword float in front of him as he continued forward cautiously. Crack! A sudden sound of something breaking underfoot made him pause. Looking down in confusion, he saw a pile of shattered eggshells. Whoosh! Suddenly, shadows flitted through the darkness, apanied by a chorus of angry roars as a swarm of Hunters emerged from the depths of the cave. Compared to the Hunters outside, these were much smaller, and significantly weaker, ranging from levels 1 to 6. "Could this be the Hunter''s breeding nest?" he wondered. Without missing a beat, he split the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword into three, activating Sword Masteryto begin a merciless ughter against the iing Hunters. sh! Blood sprayed as screams echoed. These frail Hunters fell with barely any resistance. [You have in a level 500 Hunter, gaining 176,300 experience points.] ... Notifications shed continuously, but John''s pace was unaffected as he pressed forward. These Hunters were mere ordinary beasts, providing little to no attributes from his Plunderability. Crunch, crunch... The sound of cracking eggshells echoed underfoot, as the ground was littered with shards. The further he went, the more numerous the Hunters became, although they remained weak. He continued to control the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword with no mercy, mowing down the oing waves of Hunters. As he ventured deeper, the number of Hunters began to decrease, but their strength grew. Now they were all level-9 legendary Hunters. He even encountered two demigod-level Hunters. John guessed that these were guardians, ced to protect something deeper within. But against him, they were no match. With ease, he dispatched them and turned a corner, stepping into a vast, open cavern. Illuminated by the flickering firelight, he finally saw whaty within. The spacious cavern was lined with countless white, basketball-sized eggs. "Leave this ce, human!" a furious voice boomed, apanied by a powerful wave of soul energy. Although the soul energy was potent, it was purely an intimidation tactic, devoid of any actual damage. "Is this... the Broodmother?" John stood there, dumbfounded. At the far end of the cavern, on a wide, t stone tform,y an enormous Hunter. Its size wasn''t remarkable due to its body, but because of its grotesquely swollen abdomen, which dominated its entire form. It reminded him of an ant queen in an anthill. This Hunter was clearly the equivalent of a queen ant, responsible for mass-producing the Hunter offspring. "No wonder there are so many Hunters," John muttered, ncing at the densely packed giant eggs scattered across the cavern. Gripping the Sword of Divinity and Demons tightly, he activated Dark Storm, letting the dark energy engulf the entire nest. "How dare you, human!" the Broodmother roared furiously, seeing John''s actions. It unleashed a powerful wave of soul energy, trying to intimidate him. Buzz! The soul energy seeped into his mind, but the Jade Heart Lotus manifested, easily neutralizing it without causing any harm. John sighed with regret, shaking his head. Such a vast amount of soul energy was wasted on this creature that didn''t even know how to use it properly. It was like a miserly rich man, sitting on a mountain of gold but not knowing how to spend it. "If I''m not mistaken, all the Hunters share one soul with you. If you die, they lose their ability to resurrect," he sneered, ncing down at the shattered eggshells on the ground. All these Hunters were reborn through the Broodmother, hatched from the giant eggs. The Broodmother''s expression turned wary. It spoke again, this time in a more cautious tone: "Human, I''ll warn you onest time¡ªleave this ce!" "Ha! That''s not up to you," John scoffed. He didn''t want to waste any more words. The Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword shot forward, spinning rapidly and shing at the Broodmother. sh, sh¡­ -8,442,000 -8,452,100 ... A series of critical damage numbers shed before his eyes. Sword Masterywas just a basic physical attack. Given that his Strength and Spirit attributes were both at two million, his ordinary physical attack could only deal around four million damage. But the Broodmother had no defensive measures whatsoever. Moreover, its enormous belly made it immobile, turning it into a giant sitting duck. St! With each sh from the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword, wounds opened across its grotesque form, spilling dark blood onto the cavern floor. "Human, all Hunters are connected. If you kill me, they''ll sense it. When that happens, you''ll be dead, too!" It shuddered, finally sensing the true threat of death. Cold sweat glistened on its body as it spat out a desperate warning. John snorted dismissively. "You mean the Hunters in the Ancient Battlefield Ruins? I''m not worried about them." Those Hunters were released by him. Sooner orter, he''d annihte them all. And with the death of the Broodmother, they''d lose their ability to resurrect, significantly reducing their threat level. "No!" The Broodmother shook its massive head frantically, eyes filled with pain. It hurriedly added, "I mean all the Hunters across the universe! If I die, every single one of them will sense it. You will be faced with trillions¡ªno, quadrillions¡ªof Hunters. A true endless swarm that even a Dominator or a Supreme God can''t withstand!" "Dominator? Supreme God?" John frowned. He had never heard of these titles before. It seemed this creature harbored a wealth of secrets. Unfortunately, its soul was too powerful. Using Memory Extractionon it wouldn''t work and would only backfire. "Hmph, I''m willing to take that risk!" he scoffed, increasing the intensity of his attacks as he unleashed his skills. Boom, boom¡­ Sword beams whistled through the air, apanied by a barrage of powerful magical spells. Under the terrifying critical damage, the Broodmother, without any form of defense, suffered a massive one-billion-plus damage with each strike. It didn''t take long for its life force¡ªhundreds of billions of health points¡ªto bepletely drained, and with a final, shrill scream, the Broodmother sumbed to death. [You have in the Hunter Broodmother, gaining 100 billion experience points.] [Your level has increased to 2077...] [Plunder Talent Activated: Soul Technique +1000, Shadow Force +1000] [You have been marked with the Hunter''s Hatred Seal. Prepare for relentless pursuit by Hunters.] The notifications shed across his vision. John couldn''t believe his eyes¡ª100 billion experience points! This creature was equivalent to a mid-tier god. Not only that, he managed to plunder an additional 1000 points in Soul Technique and 1000 points in Shadow Force. His Soul Technique attribute had now reached over 21,000 points, and his Shadow Force had also surged to more than 20,000 points. Yet, the percentage-based health damage didn''t increase. As for the final notification, he merely brushed it off with a smirk. The Hunters'' enmity meant little to him. Without the Broodmother, the Hunters on Skyline Continent, numbering only around a few billion, had lost their ability to resurrect. As long as he didn''t face overwhelming numbers, his life would not be in danger. Boom! Suddenly, the Broodmother''s bloated belly burst apart, scattering a mountain of loot across the cavern floor. They weren''t eggs but all kinds of items and treasures. Weapons, equipment, skill stones, enhancement stones, and various other item drops were sprawled out on the ground. There were even a variety of elemental Spirit Stones and other rare resources. "I get it now!" John''s eyes widened in realization. He surmised that all the items obtained by the Hunters were delivered to the Broodmother for refinement and absorption, to breed more Hunters. And all these items were those that the Broodmother hadn''t yet refined. Among them, he even spotted some loot from his own previous Hunter kills. "I''m rich!" His eyes sparkled with greed, as he scooped up everything into his storage space. A quick estimation revealed over 10,000 sets of low-tier divine weaponry and equipment, more than 4 million skill stones, and a collection of around 3,000 Spirit Stones and Elemental Spirit Stones. There were also over a hundred Lightning Spirit Stones. If he refined those Lightning Spirit Stones, he could gain control over the Lightning Power of Laws, thereby enhancing his strength even further. "What''s this?" A small, purple, diamond-shaped jade stone, about the size of his palm, caught his attention. He distinctly remembered that this object hadn''te from the Broodmother''s stomach; it must have been dropped after killing it. Picking it up curiously, he inspected its details. [Soul Essence: Supreme Treasure. Absorb to gain 10,000 points of Soul Technique. Requires a special me power for refining and absorption.] "Supreme Treasure!" John eximed in shock. This item was a Supreme Treasure, and absorbing it would increase his Soul Technique by a whopping 10,000 points! Improving Soul Technique is extremely difficult. Even though he possessed a significant number of skill points, he had already expended over 9 million of them, yet had only managed to increase his Soul Technique by 10,000 points. It was increasingly difficult to level up further¡ªevery additional point in Soul Technique required an astounding 10,000 skill points. The only unfortunate thing was that this item required the absorption of a special me to refine. "Wait, isn''t the Undying meconsidered a special me?" He suddenly thought of the Undying methat had been used to destroy the seal. After it was released, the Undying mecontinued to burn and showed no signs of extinguishing. Tony had warned him that the energy of the Undying mewas terrifyingly potent, capable of burning for centuries, and he should never get too close¡ªotherwise, it would put his life at risk. John suspected that the Undying memight qualify as a special me and might be able to refine this Soul Essence. "Let''s give it a try!" After carefully inspecting the entire cavern to ensure he hadn''t missed anything, he left the cave. He took to the air with Sword Flight, heading back toward the altar. From a distance, he could already see the white mes flickering there, emanating an intense heat that distorted the surrounding space. Recalling Tony''s warning, he descended from his sword and started to approach slowly on foot. The Undying mewas capable of dealing soul damage and could easily annihte him if he wasn''t cautious. "So hot!" Even though he was still more than seventy thousand meters away, the searing heat was already overwhelming. The very air he breathed felt as if it were setting his lungs aze. Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Crimson Karma Lotus, Red Lotus Fire Chapter 226: Crimson Karma Lotus, Red Lotus Fire ? John halted his steps, not daring to move forward recklessly. He took out the Soul Essence to observe its state. "Still not working?" He frowned deeply as he noticed no reaction from the Soul Essence. The surrounding temperature clearly wasn''t high enough. Gritting his teeth, he held his breath and continued pushing forward against the zing heat, inching closer to the center of the Undying me''s explosion. -10,000 -10,000 ... The damage numbers shed above his head, indicating a loss of 10,000 health points per second. The intense heat from the mes was now posing a threat to his very life. Fortunately, he had grasped the Power of Life''s Laws and was linked to the Tree of Life through a life-sharing pact, making this level of health loss manageable. The ground beneath his feet was scorching hot, and he could already see the flickering white mes in the distance. He checked the state of the Soul Essence once again. "Just a bit more," he muttered while staring at the undting white mes ahead. The distorted space around them marked the location of the altar, right at the explosion''s core. It seemed like he needed to reach the core area to fully refine the Soul Essence. If those white mes touched him, death would be inevitable. But giving up now would be too much of a regret for him to bear. After all, this treasure was hard-earned, and aside from using the Undying me, he couldn''t think of any other way to refine it. "Screw it!" He decided to take the risk, knowing he could always retreat if things got too dangerous. He stepped forward and entered the core explosion zone of the Undying me. "Ugh!" His brows furrowed, and his face twisted in pain. The terrifying heat instantly fused with his flesh and began to sear his very soul. The agony was unbearable-something beyond the endurance of ordinary people. He felt as if he would bepletely incinerated in the next second. Fortunately, the Soul Essence in his hand finally reacted. Under the intense heat of the Undying me, it began to slowly refine. "It''s working!" He suppressed the pain and sat cross-legged, trying to calm himself down and focus on absorbing the Soul Essence. "Why is it taking so long?" He opened his eyes, the pain intensifying to the point that he almost gave up. The temperature here was still too low for the Soul Essence. At this rate, it would take three to five months to fully refine it. There was no way he could endure for that long. He nced at the nearby flickering white me. Though it looked feeble, it was something that could threaten even the soul. Buzz! An idea came to mind. He activated Sword Mastery, and the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword flew out, carrying the Soul Essence toward that white me. Whoosh... The me flickered and instantly adhered to the Soul Essence, merging into it. "It''s working!" John was overjoyed. He could clearly feel the Undying me refining a substantial portion of the Soul Essence. He continued! Guiding his longsword, he maneuvered it toward another white me to elerate the refining process of the Soul Essence. ... Like this, the flying sword, bearing the Soul Essence, was bathed in dozens of white mes until it was thoroughly refined and ready for absorption. The Soul Essence returned to his hand. Ignoring the scalding heat radiating from it, he immediately began to absorb its energy. "Ugh!" A cry of pain escaped his lips as his eyes widened, his face contorted in agony. The Soul Essence had actually absorbed the power of the Undying me. As he absorbed it, the scorching energy surged directly into his soul, burning it furiously. Not only that, he cried out in agony as his lungs filled with the searing air, and his entire body seemed on the brink ofbusting and exploding. "It''s over!" Despair washed over his face as he realized that his soul had been severely damaged by the Undying me. The me continued to burn relentlessly, and at this rate, his soul wouldn''t be able to withstand it. Buzz! At that critical moment, the Jade Heart Lotus appeared within his mind, emitting a soft green glow that enveloped his soul and shielded it from the ravaging white mes. The Jade Heart Lotus was actually absorbing the power of the Undying me! Moreover, as he continued to absorb the Soul Essence, the increase in his Soul Technique was simultaneously strengthening the Jade Heart Lotus. "This might not be such a bad thing," he realized, clenching his teeth and pressing on with refining and absorbing the Soul Essence. A surge of powerful soul energy flowed into his body, apanied by the scorching Undying me. Once more, his soul and body were subjected to the torment of searing burns. Intense pain flooded his mind, and his health plummeted at an rming rate. Fortunately, with the life-sharing pact from the Tree of Life, his life was not in any real danger. His soul was shielded by the Jade Heart Lotus, and though the pain was excruciating, he wasn''t in mortal peril. And as he absorbed the Soul Essence, his soul power steadily grew. ... John endured this relentless torment for an entire day. He was pushed to the brink of mental copse several times before he finally managed to fully absorb the power contained within the Soul Essence. [You have refined and absorbed the Soul Essence. Soul Technique +10,000] [The Jade Heart Lotus has absorbed the Undying me, evolving into the Crimson Karma Lotus. Soul Technique +10,000] [You have learned a new skill: Red Lotus Fire] [Red Lotus Fire: A soul-based area skill. The karmic mes are intangible, purifying the soul.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om They cannot be defended against and are immune to soul bacsh. Consumes 1,000 soul power per second; no cooldown.] A series of notifications shed before his eyes. He was stunned. Everything around him seemed to be crystal clear, and his soul perception range expanded significantly. Even the pain caused by the Undying me had diminished noticeably. "So powerful!" He couldn''t help but swallow nervously as the reality of his newfound strength sank in. Absorbing the Soul Essence had instantly increased his Soul Technique by 10,000 points. Moreover, the Jade Heart Lotus had absorbed the Undying me and evolved into the Crimson Karma Lotus, greatly enhancing its power and adding another 10,000 points to his Soul Technique. His current Soul Technique had reached over 31,000 points, far surpassing the vast majority of mid-tier gods. The most terrifying thing was the soul skill he hadprehended-Red Lotus Fire. Itpletely disregarded any defensive measures of the target and caused no soul bacsh, burning the target''s soul relentlessly. He felt incredibly powerful right now. With his Soul Technique elevated to this level, he was confident that he could stand toe-to-toe with mid-tier gods and even had a real chance of killing one! "It''s time to head back." He stood up, having spent more than a day in the ancient battlefield ruins after absorbing the Soul Essence. He was worried that Sini and the others might encounter trouble. Utilizing Sword Flight, he left the ancient battlefield ruins immediately. Buzz! With a spatial ripple, he reappeared in the Skyline Continent. "Roar..." Suddenly, roars and snarls echoed around him as countless hunters lunged toward him. John was momentarily startled, but he quickly realized that these creatures were likely drawn by the Hunter''s Hatred Mark that lingered on him. He didn''t release any offensive skills but instead opted for a soul-based attack. He wanted to test his theory: were these hunters truly connected to the mother insect, sharing a single soul? Buzz... Buzz... The air vibrated, and in an instant, the souls of the dozen or so hunters rushing toward him were annihted. Their bodies copsed limply to the ground. Just as he suspected, the souls of these hunters were linked to the mother insect''s. With the mother insect already in, these hunters had lost their soul protection and their ability to resurrect. "Looks like you aren''t so formidable after all!" He sneered, and suddenly, a crimson me bloomed, spreading like a lotus flower and enveloping the hunter army. Soul attack skill-Red Lotus Fire! The crimson mes flickered as the hunters stared nkly. They didn''t feel any heat or pain; the fire seemed illusory, almost as if it weren''t real. But the very next second, they clutched their heads, letting out agonized, ear-piercing shrieks as their souls were purified, and they diedpletely. [You have in a Level 1000, Tier-7 Hunter, gaining 678,300 experience points.] ... Notification messages kept shing. These hunters were all ordinary beasts, not bosses, so he didn''t plunder many attributes. "No boss among them?" He surveyed the field littered with hunter corpses-there were over ten thousand of them. Under normal circumstances, there should have been at least one boss present. The only usible exnation was that the bosses had developed some level of intelligence. Realizing that the mother insect was dead and that they had lost their ability to resurrect, they dared not confront him recklessly. "How interesting." He chuckled coldly, picked up the loot from the ground, and then rode his sword, flying toward the Saint Martial Sect. On his journey back, John was ambushed by hunters several times. However, they were all ordinary beast-level hunters, and he didn''t encounter a single boss-level leader. He felt no pressure at all and easily ughtered them, quickly returning to the Saint Martial Sect. The Saint Martial Sect was rtively quiet and hadn''t suffered any major incidents, though there were hunter corpses scattered around. It was clear that the sect had experienced an attack from the hunters. He hadn''t expected these creatures to spread so quickly. In just one day, they had already reached the Eternal Forest. This made him a bit concerned. Hunters were capable of biting and devouring souls, which meant they couldpletely obliterate yers. "John, you''re back." Sini''s eyes lit up when she saw him. She rushed over excitedly, with Tracy following closely behind. This young girl had now reached the eighth tier and was adamant about not staying in the Death Land anymore. With her strength slightly improved and Sini by her side, she would be safe as long as they didn''t encounter a god-tier enemy. John decided not to force her to stay away any longer. He looked around at the hunter corpses and asked, "Hunters have appeared here too? Were there any casualties?" Sini shook her head and replied, "No, there weren''t. Fortunately, we were well-prepared, and the number of hunters wasn''t overwhelming, so we managed to fend them off easily." "That''s a relief." He sighed in relief. Sini continued, "But other factions weren''t so lucky. When the hunters descended, they targeted the major faction strongholds right away. The Dark Humans suffered severe losses- over a hundred cities were annihted in just one day. Also, the Heavenly Court faction of our Beast n waspletely wiped out. Malina''s Phoenix City was destroyed as well." "The Heavenly Court was wiped out?" John was stunned. "Where were Tony and the others? Couldn''t they hold off the hunters?" Sini exined, "Tony and Ben weren''t there. As soon as they left the ancient battlefield ruins, they split off from us, saying they were going to unite with other god-tier powerhouses from different races. By the time we received word that the Heavenly Court was in danger and rushed to their aid, it was already toote. Fortunately, the Beast n didn''t suffer too many casualties." "That''s good to hear." John felt relieved. The Heavenly Court could be rebuilt as long as the Beast n didn''t suffer significant losses. He then asked, "What about Phoenix City?" Phoenix City was a faction established by the Undead Lord, known as the Undead Kingdom, and was under his direct control. Malina had been managing it for some time. Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Upgrading Immortal Sword Technique, Tony Injured Chapter 227: Upgrading Immortal Sword Technique, Tony Injured ? Sini shot John a re before speaking, "When they noticed something strange about the hunters, they immediately abandoned the city. With Ritchie''s support, although Phoenix City was destroyed, there weren''t too many casualties. They''ve now relocated to me City. And by the way, your little ''lover'' Flow of Time is safe as well." "What do you mean, ''my little lover''?" John was speechless and quickly exined, "I have nothing to do with Malina!" "Oh really?" Sini clearly didn''t believe him. She scoffed and said, "If you had nothing to do with her, why would you ask for a 20GB dancing video from her?" "Exactly! Old man, I didn''t know you were into that kind of thing!" Tracy chimed in, fanning the mes. "Uh..." John was dumbfounded and couldn''t help but ask, "How do you even know about that?" Sini grinned smugly. "The video is with me. Want it?" John quickly realized it must have been Malina''s doing. That woman was clearly up to no good. Putting on a righteous face, he said, "I''m not interested in that stuff. You can keep it for yourself." "Old man, are you sure? Even I got a little excited watching that video," Tracy teased as she yfully winked at him. John gulped, but his face remained steadfast. "Do I look like that kind of person? If you like it, go ahead and keep it for yourself." "Ugh..." Both women rolled their eyes at him, clearly unimpressed, and let the subject drop. Sini''s opinion of Malina had softened. If John did end up with that woman, she wouldn''t mind. "I''m going to check on Death Land," John said, seeing that nothing urgent was happening at Saint Martial Sect. Having obtained arge number of skill stones, he decided to refine them and further upgrade his techniques. "We''re going to level up." Sini and Tracy didn''t follow him. After greeting him, they went to join Anna and the others to grind levels in the Eternal Forest. The women had all advanced to at least the eighth tier, so they wouldn''t be in danger in the outskirts of the Eternal Forest. John didn''t stop them and, with a thought, returned to Death Land. Once back, he immediately took out a massive pile of skill stones, stacking them into a small mountain-over four million in total. These were the spoils he had collected from ying the hunter queen. His Soul Technique had already reached 10,000, and now each additional level required 10,000 skill points, but it still only increased his Soul Technique by one point. The cost was astronomical. With his Soul Technique already exceeding 30,000, only upper-tier gods posed any real threat to him. He decided not to continue leveling it up for now. He had three top-tier techniques left to upgrade: Overwhelming Battle Energy, Divine Path, and Immortal Sword Technique. All three techniques were already at level 1000, and each level beyond that now required 1000 skill points. The Divine Path technique increased his Divinity, but since he hadn''t fused with a godly treasure, it didn''t provide much benefit, so he decided to ignore it. Overwhelming Battle Energy granted 1 point of Constitution and 2 points of Strength per level, but the boost wasn''t significant. So he quickly ruled that out as well. That left only the Immortal Sword Technique, which was the most suitable option. Each level increased his Swordsmanship Comprehension by 1 point, allowing him to furtherprehend the Sword Law and enhance his true damage. He directly refined all the skill stones, umting 4.42 million skill points-enough to raise the Immortal Sword Technique by over 4,000 levels. [Consumed 1000 skill points. Immortal Sword Technique has been upgraded to Level 1001. Swordsmanship Comprehension +1] ... [Consumed 1000 skill points. Immortal Sword Technique has been upgraded to Level 2000. Swordsmanship Comprehension +1] [Sword Law Comprehension 20%. Sword attacks and skills now inflict 20% true damage.] ... [Consumed 1000 skill points. Immortal Sword Technique has been upgraded to Level 5000. Swordsmanship Comprehension +1] [Sword Law Comprehension 50%. Sword attacks and skills now inflict 50% true damage.] ... [Consumed 1000 skill points. Immortal Sword Technique has been upgraded to Level 5428. Swordsmanship Comprehension +1] The system notifications shed continuously as John exhausted all his skill points, raising the Immortal Sword Technique to Level 5428. Unfortunately, he didn''t gain any new skills. However, hisprehension of Sword Law reached 50%, meaning that his true damage now inflicted 50% of its total potential-his strength had increased significantly once again. With the true damage boost,bined with the percentage-based damage from his Shadow Power, he felt confident that he could now take on mid-tier gods. Of course, provided their Soul Technique was lower than his and theycked any specialized soul attack skills. His Soul Technique had now exceeded 30,000 points, surpassing that of most mid-tier gods. "Time to continue leveling up." John nced at his current level, which had reached 2077. He was now at the eighth tier and remained at the top of the leaderboard. Following him were Sini and Tracy, and below them, most others were still seventh-tier powerhouses below level 2000. With the Divine Path unlocked, experience points were multiplied by ten, allowing many leveling enthusiasts to rise quickly. Butpared to him, they were still far behind. Buzz! Just as John was about to leave, a surge of Spatial Power resonated, and Tony and Ben appeared. "Cough!" Tony immediately coughed up a mouthful of blood. Supported by Ben, he looked pale and gravely injured. "Elders, what happened?" John hurried over, asking with concern. "Damn it, the n didn''t go well!" Tony cursed, sitting down heavily on the ground and wiping the blood off his lips. He sighed, "Godyer, we might have toe up with another n. The gods from the various races are unwilling to cooperate with us." John frowned, his gaze turning cold. "Who injured you?" "The Beast n." Tony replied tly, "Janaan was killed by Mantra, and those bastards med it on us. They even captured Roc. Only Ben and I managed to escape." He coughed up another mouthful of blood, his expression livid. "The Beast n and the Demon Race are the two most powerful factions. Only by working together do they have the strength to break into the Void Area. But now, with these guys refusing to cooperate, our subsequent ns will be difficult to implement." John''s brows knitted tightly together as heforted, "Elder, focus on recovering first. We''ll figure out the rest of itter." He raised his hand, channeling a surge of powerful life force into Tony''s body, healing his injuries. "Huh?" Tony felt the immense life energy coursing through his body and looked up at John with a puzzled expression, but chose to remain silent. John continued, "How strong is the Beast n? Do they have any upper-tier gods?" He had made up his mind to personally deal with the Beast n. Since they had captured Roc and injured Tony, they would have to pay the price. Ben spoke up, "Yes, they do. But that guy has been in seclusion, preparing to fight for the Final Treasure. The Beast n''s affairs are handled by three mid-tier gods." Three mid-tier gods... John was confident he could handle them. "The Final Treasure? What is it?" John asked, curious.N?v(el)B\\jnn If even an upper-tier god would fight for it, it had to be an incredibly rare and valuable item. He recalled the Treasure Lands, but that ce was only essible to those below the ninth tier, so it couldn''t be the same as what they were referring to here. Ben sighed deeply and exined, "It''s thest treasure of the Skyline Continent. When the Final Treasure appears, it signifies that the Skyline Continent''s resources are exhausted and it is on the path to destruction. Whoever obtains the Final Treasure will be the Controller. The god Heidern, of the gods, is a Controller-his power is unfathomable, and even upper- tier gods are insignificant in front of him." The Overseer? John remembered the warning the Hunter Queen had given him before she died. She mentioned that there would be relentless revenge for her death-revenge so fierce that even a Controller or a Prime God would be unable to withstand it. So, obtaining the Final Treasure would make someone a Controller. Ben continued, "There''s one more condition for the Final Treasure''s Secret Area to open. That is for the world of Gods to connect with another world, so that when the Skyline Continent is destroyed, the lifeforms here won''t bepletely annihted." "What?" John eximed. The world of Gods connecting to another world was clearly referring to Earth. He had to stop this from happening! He recalled the Azure Family disciples and the powerful figures like Hummer whom he had already killed. But many members of the Azure Family were still in the hands of the gods. They were the key to connecting the world of Gods with Earth, but he had never been able to find their exact location. It seemed that only by entering the Void Area and resurrecting the Immortals and the various divine beings of other races could he hope to stop this chain of events. He turned to Ben and said, "Elder, take me to the Beast n''s territory." Tony, standing beside them, immediately intervened. "Godyer, don''t be reckless. The Beast n despises you, and with three mid-tier gods on their side, they could easily kill you." John, however, appeared calm and confident. He replied nonchntly, "I''ve made huge progress in strength recently. It''s not certain that mid-tier gods can kill me now." "Are you serious?" The two elders exchanged incredulous looks. John was currently at the eighth tier. The gap between him and a mid-tier god was vast-like a chasm impossible to cross. iming to be able to stand against a mid-tier god was nothing short of shocking. Seeing his resolve, John nodded affirmatively. Tony still hesitated, but Ben, after a moment of contemtion, spoke up. "Alright. We''ve exhausted all other options. It''s time to take a gamble." John smiled faintly, refraining from further exnation. With a thought, he summoned Avis. Although Tony''s injuries had not yet healed, he insisted oning along. Left with no choice, John allowed Avis to carry them. He also summoned back Thunder and the demon general of death. Both were lower-tier gods, and they might be of some use. Avis sped through the skies. Tony nced at John, who was sitting behind them, and whispered to Ben, "Ben, why did you agree to this insane n? Did you see something in your visions?" He still couldn''t believe that John could confront mid-tier gods head-on. Killing lower-tier gods was already impressive enough, but even if John had gained strength in the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, it was hard to imagine that he could be a match for mid-tier gods. Ben hesitated for a moment before replying quietly, "I did see some glimpses, but they were not good omens." "What did you see?" Tony asked, his curiosity piqued. Ben nced back at John, who was resting with his eyes closed, and then said softly, "The opening of the Skyline Continent''s final treasure. There was carnage everywhere, and a terrifying entity descended." Tony''s eyes widened. "Was it the Immortals?" Ben shook his head slowly. "No, it was the Shadow n." "W-What?" Tony gasped, swallowing hard. He slumped in his seat. "Does this mean we''ve failed?" "I don''t know." Ben looked uncertain. "My predictions have be increasingly hazytely, as if some invisible force is preventing me from peering into the future. It''s made me wary of using my powers lightly." Chapter 228: Chapter 228: The Land of the Beast Clan, Battle Against Mid-tier Gods Chapter 228: The Land of the Beast n, Battle Against Mid-tier Gods ? The two men were speaking softly, but with John''s Soul Technique having advanced significantly, his heightened senses caught every word clearly. "Has the n failed?" John frowned slightly, yet he didn''t believe that was the case. Ben could foresee the future; his abilities were unique. However, John didn''t believe in fate. No matter what, he was determined to protect Earth in this lifetime. The group remained silent. Avis flew swiftly and soon arrived at the Land of the Beast n. It was a vast forest, lush and green. Hidden beneath the dense canopy of trees was a path leading directly into the Beast n''s territory. John could clearly sense the presence of more than a dozen powerful auras here, all of them belonging to beings stronger than lower-tier gods. Among them, three stood out as the most formidable-mid-tier gods. Sensing danger, Avisnded on the ground, not daring to venture further without caution. "Let''s go!" John led the way, stepping boldly into the territory. Whoosh! The view suddenly opened up into a vast in, where the grass was tall, flowers bloomed, birds sang, and powerful beasts roamed freely. "Tony? You dare toe back here?!" a voice roared furiously, and over a dozen beasts charged forward, surrounding the group. They could sense two strong lower-tier god auras and couldn''t help but look warily at Thunder and the death demon general standing beside John, hesitating to attack recklessly. "Hurry, go inform Lord Dolmen," one beast, eyeing the situation with apprehension, immediately instructed a nearbypanion. Dolmen was one of the three mid-tier gods of the Beast n. Tony furrowed his brow, worry etched on his face as he nced at John and asked in a low voice, "Godyer, are you sure you can take on a mid-tier god?" "Rx, I''ve got this," John replied confidently. At this moment, a powerful aura surged from the depths of the Beast n''s territory, approaching rapidly andunching a direct attack at Tony. It was none other than Dolmen, the mid-tier god of the Beast n. Without hesitation, John stepped in front of Tony, unleashing his soul skill, Soul Impact. If this opponent had weak Soul Technique and no means of defense, he would be obliterated instantly. This would also serve as a warning to the Beast n. Buzz! The air vibrated as a formidable soul force condensed into a sharp de, piercing directly at the iing Dolmen. "Huh? Such powerful soul energy!" Dolmen''s expression changed. He dared not take it head- on, immediately abandoning his attack to use a soul defense technique. Boom! A loud roar echoed in his mind. Blood spurted from his mouth as hisplexion turned pale. He no longer dared to attack recklessly, staring at John in terror. Although the soul attack didn''t kill him, it severely wounded his soul. "Who are you?" He stared at John, eyes filled with wariness. The human in front of him looked weak, but his mastery of Soul Technique was terrifyingly strong, far surpassing his own. John nced at him and responded calmly, "I''m the Godyer. I''ll give you a chance-release Roc and have the Beast n submit to me!" "You''re that Godyer?" The mid-tier god was stunned, then his eyes red with anger. He scoffed, "Hmph, your soul may be powerful, but do you really think you can kill me?" Without hesitation, he attacked. His monstrous energy surged, creating a whirlwind that charged directly at John. Boom! [You have been instantly killed by the Beast n''s Dolmen. The Blessed Ring has been activated.] A message shed, showing that John had been easily in. "Hmph, so this is all you amount to. What''s the use of a strong soul? In front of me, you''re still just a weakling." Dolmen''s face twisted in arrogance. He was already aware that John possessed the Undying and Immortal talent, but such a resurrection ability was not without limitations. Whoosh! A longsword appeared in his hand as he prepared to strike again. "Foolish." John let out a coldugh, activating his soul skill, Intimidation. Dolmen''s Soul Technique level was merely a little over twenty thousand. Before John, he had no chance to resist and was immediately paralyzed on the spot. "Demon yer sh!" John''s voice echoed icily as he gripped the Sword of Divinity and Demons, unleashing the Demon yer sh. Boom! With a single strike, the stun effect triggered, furtherpounded by the Intimidation skill''s effect. Dolmen stood dazed, forced to take the blow without being able to fight back. Boom! Boom! Countless sword beams enveloped Dolmen,unching a relentless onught. -991600 -200000000 -992470n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om -200000000 ... A series of damage numbers shed. Demon yer sh wasn''t a conventional sword skill and didn''t receive boosts from Sword Law. It inflicted 15% true damage along with 0.1% maximum HP damage per hit. Dolmen''s attributes were formidable, with his HP reaching a staggering 200 billion. The 0.1% maximum HP damage meant each strike dealt 200 million damage. Less than a thousand hits would be enough to end his life. "Bastard, stop!" A furious roar echoed as two more figures rushed forward, each radiating an aura as powerful as Dolmen''s. They were the other two mid-tier gods of the Beast n-Ricky and Mermaide. Buzz! At this moment, the air trembled as a powerful wave of soul energy condensed into the form of a divine dragon, hurtling towards John. It was a soul attack. Boom! A loud hum rang in John''s mind, but the Crimson Karma Lotus merely shuddered slightly, effortlessly blocking the soul attack. John remainedpletely unscathed. However, the assault from John''s Demon yer sh was interrupted. Dolmen''s face turned pale as he hastily retreated. In just a few moments, he had already lost over ten billion HP. If not for Ricky and Mermaide intervening in time, he would have been dead by now. "Cough!" Ricky coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face ashen as he suffered bacsh from the soul attack. He stared intently at John, disbelief written all over his face as he muttered, "What an unbelievably powerful soul force!" Dolmen was shocked. He turned to Ricky and asked, "Ricky, even you can''t stand up to him?" Ricky shook his head solemnly, his expression grim. John remainedposed, looking at the three of them as he spoke again, "Now that all of you are here, I''ll repeat myself-submit to me, join my ranks to fight against the gods, or I won''t hesitate to annihte you all." "Arrogant fool!" Mermaide spat angrily, a long whip materializing in her hand as she red at John with hostility. Mermaide was a woman with a pair of antlers on her head, indicating that her true form was likely a deer-type beast. Dolmen quickly spoke up, "This human only has a strong soul, but his physical strength is weak and insignificant. If the three of us join forces, we can definitely kill him!" "Agreed!" Ricky nodded and immediatelyunched an attack on John. Dolmen and Mermaide followed closely behind, their immense demonic energy surging through the air. The surrounding weaker lower-tier gods couldn''t withstand the pressure and hurriedly retreated, distancing themselves from the battlefield. Avis and the others quickly withdrew as well, fearing that the energy from the fight might reach them. Tony''s face was filled with worry. "He''s facing three mid-tier gods simultaneously. Could this kid be in danger?" Their group was too weak inparison, with the strongest being Thunder and the death demon general, who were merely lower-tier gods. Before mid-tier gods, they stood no chance. Ben nced at John, stroking his beard thoughtfully as he said, "This kid has an incredibly strong soul force, and with his Undying and Immortal talent, he just might have a chance of killing a mid-tier god." Tony said no more, nervously watching the battlefield and silently praying. Boom! Boom! Several explosions echoed across the battlefield. John was sent flying backward, utterly defenseless as he was killed in an instant. Lifesaver talent activated. He have gained five seconds of invincibility. Without missing a beat, heunched a fierce counterattack. Dark and Light Magic swirled wildly, and a boundless sword aura buzzed through the air. The overwhelming barrage of magic attacks enveloped the three mid-tier gods. Facing these powerful mid-tier opponents, John''s attributes were still too low. He relied entirely on true damage and percentage-based HP damage to hold his ground. Damage numbers shed repeatedly. The three mid-tier gods'' expressions turned grim. "Shadow Power!" Ricky eximed in horror, "You-you''re from the Shadow n?" John didn''t respond. Instead, his hands kept channeling magic spells, unleashing a relentless onught against his foes. "Damn it, die already!" Dolmen roared furiously, charging at John head-on, braving the endless onught of sword beams. [You have been instantly killed by the Beast n''s Dolmen. Lifesaver talent activated.] The message shed again as his Lifesaver talent triggered for the second time, granting him another five seconds of invincibility. John remained calm and unruffled. Wielding the Sword of Divinity and Demons, he unleashed yet another round of devastating attacks. The three mid-tier gods were suffering greatly, losing nearly ten billion HP in an instant. Dolmen, in particr, was severely wounded. If things continued like this, they would genuinely be at risk of dying. "Kid, I don''t believe you can be invincible every time you resurrect!" Mermaide snarled, her long whip whistling through the air as itshed out toward John. Crack! A crisp sound echoed as John was sent flying backward, instantly killed once again. [You have been instantly killed by the Beast n''s Mermaide. The Undying and Immortal talent has been activated...] The prompt shed, but this time, there was no invincibility effect. The eyes of the three mid-tier gods lit up with hope as theyunched a frenzied assault on John. In the blink of an eye, John had already been killed over a dozen times. Yet he remained utterly calm. With his improved Soul Technique, he could withstand a greater number of deaths than before. These attacks were of little consequence to him. But John wasn''t merely taking hits; each time, he seized the opportunity to counterattack. asionally, he even unleashed his Intimidation skill to immobilize Ricky or Mermaide, focusing his relentless attacks on Dolmen. His health continued to drop, and by now, it was down to less than two million. "Human, don''t push your luck!" Dolmen shouted, both fearful and furious. He didn''t dare make any rash moves against John. It was clear that this human was targeting him specifically, trying to take him down first. With attacks of such intensity, Dolmen knew he wouldn''t be able to hold out for long. What was most terrifying was John''s innatebat prowess. He could always time his counterattacks perfectly during the brief moments between his resurrections, even managing to interrupt their skills. It wasn''t just Dolmen who was suffering; Ricky and Mermaide were also finding it hard to bear. "Attack with true form!" Ricky roared, a dragon''s cry reverberating through the air as he transformed into a massive azure dragon in an instant. Mermaide and Dolmen also immediately shifted into their true forms. Mermaide''s true form was a magnificent five-colored deer. Dolmen''s true form was a colossal white ape. Once the three of them assumed their true forms, their power surged dramatically. They surrounded John,unching closebat attacks, leaving him no room to retaliate. Boom! Boom! Explosions echoed continuously. With perfect coordination, the three mid-tier gods attacked relentlessly. Each time John resurrected, he didn''t even have a chance to counter before being killed again. In just a short span, John had been killed over a hundred times. In the distance, Tony and Ben watched anxiously, but there was nothing they could do. They were far too weak. Going up against mid-tier gods was tantamount to seeking death. Boom! John was instantly killed once more, and his anger finally erupted. Roar! Suddenly, a massive dragon''s roar reverberated through the battlefield. Golden light shed as John transformed into a mighty golden divine dragon. Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Subjugating the Beast Clan, Journey to the Demon Race Chapter 229:Chapter 229: Subjugating the Beast n, Journey to the Demon Race "Divine Dragon bloodline? What''s going on? Could this guy be part of the Beast n too?" Ricky eximed in shock as he stared at John, who had transformed into a divine dragon. A sense of awe welled up inside him, making him feel an inexplicable urge to bow down. John''s Divine Dragon bloodline was far purer than his own. While the three mid-tier gods were momentarily stunned, John broke free from their encirclement. The massive dragon head, with its blood-red eyes, stared coldly at them. His voice rumbled without a trace of emotion: "I''ve already given you a chance, but you chose not to cherish it." Whoosh! Crimson mes rose beneath the three gods'' feet. Startled, they jumped back, only to realize that they didn''t feel any heat. Their expressions turned to confusion. "Something''s not right!" Ricky''s soul was exceptionally strong, allowing him to sense the terrifying nature of the mes. He cried out in horror, "It''s Hellfire! Get out of here¡ªah!" Before he could finish his warning, he felt his soul being scorched by the mes, causing him to clutch his head in agony. Hellfire was strange and sinister, bypassing all forms of soul defenses. Even with Ricky''s formidable soul power, he stood no chance against the red mes. The other two were even worse off. Lacking any form of soul cultivation, their Soul Techniques were inherently weak, and under the burning Hellfire, their souls were continuously devoured. Dolmen''s face turned deathly pale. The soul fire in his mind flickered dangerously, pushing him to the brink of destruction. Red Lotus Fireconsumed 1,000 points of soul power every second. John''s current Soul Technique could only sustain this level of power for a little over thirty seconds, but that was more than enough to kill these three. The trio''s expressions turned to fear as they struggled desperately. The excruciating pain showed no sign of abating as they helplessly watched their souls being devoured bit by bit. Whoosh¡­ Just as the three were on the verge of death, a fierce wind swept through, scattering a radiant emerald light that bore a resemnce to John''s Jade Heart Lotus power. However, this force was far weaker than his Crimson Karma Lotus. Even so, it managed to suppress the burning Hellfire. Boom¡­ Boom¡­ Thunder rolled across the sky as a primordial, terrifying aura descended upon them. John''s heart trembled. Faced with this overwhelming presence, he felt utterly powerless, as if the other party could kill him with a mere thought. "Human, stop this at once." A voice like crashing thunder reverberated through the heavens and earth. "Lord Ans-Dragon!" Ricky and the other two, sensing the terrifying aura, looked overjoyed. They respectfully knelt down on the ground. All the other Beast n experts followed suit, bowing low in reverence. Even Ben and the others hurriedly moved to John''s side, wary and vignt. All the other Beast n experts followed suit, bowing low in reverence. Even Ben and the others hurriedly moved to John''s side, wary and vignt. Tony''s expression was grave as he suppressed his fear, whispering a reminder, "Godyer, this is the presence of Ans-Dragon, the only upper-tier god in the Beast n." John nodded slightly, resisting the terrifying pressure. He could tell that the other party bore no malice. "Human!" The voice boomed once more, "The Beast n can serve you, but under one condition." "Speak," John replied, looking into the void. He couldn''t pinpoint the source of the voice. This could only mean that the other party''s Soul Technique was vastly superior to his own. If this Ans-Dragon were to attack, John would be as good as dead. The voice continued, "After The Immortals'' Resurrection, you are not to attack the Beast n again." "Agreed," John epted without hesitation. He had anticipated a far more demanding condition. Ever since he had subdued Tony and Ben, he hadn''t nned to target the Beast n further. It was only because they had refused to cooperate and injured his people that he retaliated. "Good. Just inform me when you''re ready to move. As for you three young ones, do not resist anymore," the voice echoed once more. "Yes!" Ricky and the other two responded respectfully. The terrifying aura gradually dissipated, indicating that Ans-Dragon had left. John didn''t pay further attention and instead turned to Ricky and the others, asking, "Where is Roc?" "Don''t worry, he''s fine," Dolmen replied, reverting to his human form, though his hostility had faded, his discontent still lingered. Had it not been for Lord Ans-Dragon''s timely intervention, he would have been utterly destroyed. At that moment, Roc was brought forward. "Lord!" Roc called out excitedly when he saw John, rushing over with a look of joy on his face. He was unharmed, indicating that the Beast n hadn''t mistreated him. John nodded at him and said, "Let''s go. Time to subjugate the Demon Race." The Demon Race and the Beast n were the strongest forces besides the factions under the gods. Only by uniting the powerful warriors of these two races could they stand a chance of contending with the gods. Just as John and his group were about to leave, the voice rang out once more. "Wait." The voice stopped them and added, "Ben stays. I have something to ask him." John looked at Ben, seeking his opinion. "Don''t worry, Lord Ans-Dragon won''t harm me." Ben reassured John with a gesture, turning and heading back into the Beast n''s territory. The group left the Beast n''snd, flying on the back of the ck dragon Avis, heading towards the Demon Race''s Dark Forest. On the way, they passed by Ritchie''s me City. me City was rtively peaceful, with no signs of impending danger. John didn''t linger and continued straight to the depths of the Dark Forest. The Demon Race,pared to the Beast n, would be far easier to handle. The strongest beings within the Demon Race were only three mid-tier gods: Michelle, Solondz, and Narmaya. There were no upper-tier gods among them. The rest were merely lower-tier gods, including a certain Kamal. Whoosh... Avis whistled through the sky, flying past the cities of the Demon Race below. Witnessing John''s immense power had given Avis newfound confidence. He was no longer timid when facing the Demon Race. Boom! Boom! Suddenly, the sound of fighting and angry roars echoed from below. In the forest, countless beastly shadows flickered, frantically besieging the Demon Race''s cities. "Hunters!" John eximed in surprise. There was an enormous number of Hunters here¡ªnearly a million of them, all of considerable strength. He hadn''t expected these creatures to infiltrate so quickly. "Roar!" A series of deafening roars resounded as the countless Hunters swarmed up, noticing the few figures in the sky, especially John. The hatred imprint from the Hunters on him drove them into a frenzy. "Hmph, courting death!" John scoffed. The Sword of Divinity and Demonsappeared in his hand, humming with sword intent as he unleashed the Infinite Sword Array. With his greatly enhanced power, dealing with these Hunters was a breeze. Countless des rained down, apanied by the anguished wails of the Hunters as they fell one by one. They were utterly helpless before his might. "That human¡ªretreat at once!" One of the demigod-level Hunters recognized John and, without hesitation, turned tail and fled. In an instant, the millions of Hunters retreated like a receding tide. John was puzzled. With the Hunters'' hatred imprints on him, they should be attacking recklessly. Why did they suddenly retreat? As the Hunters withdrew, the Demon Race''s army let out a sigh of relief. They then turned their attention to Avis in the sky. "Who dares trespass into the territory of the Demon Race?!" A furious roar erupted as over a dozen ninth-tier Demon Kings and demigod Demon Lords soared into the sky, blocking Avis''s path. John nced at them and spoke coldly, "Tell Michelle toe out and see me." "How arrogant! You, a mere human, dare to address the Demon God by name!" one of the demigod Demon Lords roared and charged at John. He had been bested by the Hunters and was already seething with rage. Seeing a weak human recklessly intruding was just the opportunity he needed to vent his anger. Buzz! The air vibrated as John, unwilling to waste words, unleashed a soul attack¡ªSoul Impact. Boom! In an instant, the Demon Lord bled from his seven orifices, eyes wide with terror as he plummeted from the sky, lifeless. Demigods were not true deities andcked the ability to resurrect. Moreover, his soul had beenpletely annihted. Even if he were a true god, this was his end. "Godyer, you''re courting death!" A voice roared in fury as Kamal appeared, ring coldly at John. "Considering Sini''s rtionship with you, I don''t want to make things difficult. Get lost!" she snapped, though there was a hint of unease in her heart. She knew that John had killed lower-tier gods before and wasn''t sure if she could defeat him. Whoosh... Just then, a fierce wind swept through as three figures materialized, their terrifying auras signaling that they were all mid-tier gods. John recognized Michelle, and he assumed the other two must be Solondz and Narmaya, the other mid-tier gods of the Demon Race. "Godyer, how dare you!" Michelle spat coldly, his voiceced with killing intent. A long ck de materialized in his hand. "I haven''t even made a move against you, yet you dare barge into the territory of the Demon Race!" Kamal hesitated and quickly tried to dissuade him. "He''s deeply connected to Sini. If he dies here, it might make things worse, don''t you think?" She feared that if they killed John, it would irreparably damage their rtionship with Sini. "It doesn''t matter. We''ll simply erase her memory," Michelle responded coldly. He knew Tony had already used the Undying me to destroy the seal on the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, making this the perfect opportunity to kill John. "Hmph!" John sneered. Hearing Michelle''s words only fueled his desire to kill. He suspected that in his past life, Sini might have had her memory erased by these very people, disappearing without a trace and leaving no evidence behind. ring at the three mid-tier gods, John spoke with icy resolve, "I''ll give you one chance to live. The Demon Race must submit to me!" "Kid, are you kidding me?" "Enough talk! Without the Undying me, he poses no threat to us. Attack!" Infuriated, the three gods cursed and shouted. Michelle took the lead, striking first. Buzz! The air trembled as John immediately activated his soul skill, Intimidation, freezing Michelle in ce. Next, he unleashed the Red Lotus Fire. Whoosh! Crimson mes surged and instantly enveloped the other two mid-tier gods, Solondz and Narmaya. John refrained from attacking Michelle directly. Despite everything, this man was still Sini''s father. Even if there was no emotional bond between them, John wasn''t willing to kill him outright. "Ahhh¡­!" Agonizing screams echoed through the air. Solondz and Narmaya clutched their heads, writhing in pain as the mes consumed them. The sensation of having their souls devoured and purified by the fire was excruciating¡ªsomething no ordinary being could endure. Their Soul Technique levels were merely around twenty thousand points, far weaker than John''s. And with no upper-tier gods in the Demon Race to save them, they were utterly helpless. "What are you doing, human?!" Kamal demanded furiously as she watched the two gods suffer, but she didn''t dare to step forward. John ignored her. He nced at the two mid-tier gods writhing in the mes and spoke coldly, "I''m giving you a chance to live. Submit to me and sign a soul contract!" John didn''t trust the Demon Race. They were notorious for being fickle and unpredictable. Only by having them sign a soul contract could he truly feel secure. Chapter 230: Chapter 230: Subjugating the Demon Race, John’s Plan Chapter 230: Subjugating the Demon Race, John¡¯s n ? "I submit!" "I agree too, human-please, withdraw these mes..." Solondz and Narmaya, struggling in agony, immediately agreed to sign the soul contract. John, seeing their willingness to submit, retracted the Red Lotus Fire. "Whew..." The two of them sighed in relief, copsing to the ground, faces pale and drenched in cold sweat. It was their first time feeling death so close. And not just any death-the kind of death that would erase their very existence. "Sign the contract." John summoned two soul contracts, which floated before them. The two exchanged nces, filled with reluctance, but dared not resist any further. The human in front of them truly had the power to kill them. Buzz!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The soul contracts were signed. With a respectful bow, the two of them said in unison, "Greetings, my lord." "Rise," John responded indifferently. "Godyer, what have you done?!" Kamal''s voice was filled with fury upon witnessing this scene. Solondz and Narmaya were the strongest in the Demon Race, yet they had been subdued so effortlessly? John ignored her and turned his gaze back to Michelle, who was still frozen by the Intimidation skill. With a thought, he withdrew his soul power. Whoosh! Michelle regained his mobility and immediately retreated, his eyes filled with wariness as he watched John. "I don''t want to harm you," John said calmly. "Sign the soul contract with me." "In your dreams!" Michelle roared angrily. Despite his fear, he refused to lower his head. "Godyer, I don''t believe you dare kill me!" "Hmph," John sneered. "Out of respect for Sini, I won''t kill you. But I can erase your memory." As he spoke, he nced over at Kamal. Both Michelle and Kamal''s expressions changed instantly. They had already witnessed John''s terrifying power. His soul force was so deep and unfathomable that he likely could erase their memories with ease. John continued, "This is yourst chance-sign the soul contract, or I''ll have no problem turning you into a mindless fool!" A soul imprint floated in front of Michelle. He swallowed hard, ring at John with anger. Seeing that John wasn''t bluffing, he hesitated for a long moment before choosing to yield. Buzz! Michelle infused the soul imprint with his soul force, sessfully signing the soul contract with John. "My lord!" Michelle bowed deeply, not daring to show any hint of dissatisfaction in his expression. Kamal, standing by the side, gritted her teeth but ultimately epted the reality without a word. John nodded in satisfaction. With both the Beast n and the Demon Race under his control, the remaining weaker races -whose strongest members were merely lower-tier gods-were of little consequence. Whether or not they submitted was no longer important. However, even with thebined power of the Beast n and the Demon Race, confronting the gods was still impossible. The three major factions under the gods-Angel Race, Dark Humans, and Orcs-each had power that was in no way inferior to his current forces. If they wanted to enter the Void Area and rescue the sealed powerhouses of various races, a long-term strategy would be necessary. Roar... Roar... Suddenly, a series of deafening roars echoed from afar, and fierce winds began to churn. The sky grew dark, shrouded by a massive, oppressive shadow. "Hunters!" Michelle''s face changed, and he couldn''t help but swallow nervously. These creatures were known for their terrifying ability to devour even god-level beings. "Why are there so many of them all of a sudden?" Kamal gazed at the vast ck mass in the distance, blocking out the sun and casting everything into darkness as if night had fallen. The number of Hunters appearing this time was estimated to be at least one billion! "My lord, what should we do?" Solondz and Narmaya looked to John for guidance. With so many Hunters attacking, there was no way they could hold them back. If things went poorly, the entire Demon Race could be annihted. Seeing the swarming Hunters, John felt a chill down his spine. These creatures had likely been attracted by the Hunter hatred imprint on him-they were targeting him. If he left, the Demon Race might be spared from disaster. "They''re after me?" A thought struck him. What if he led this massive swarm of Hunters to the gods'' Void Area? He hadn''t yet figured out a way to contend with the gods, but these creatures were like a gift from the heavens. John still remembered how much gods and the Angel Race attracted these Hunters. This n just might work! Having made up his mind, he turned to Michelle and immediately ordered, "Summon all the demigod-level powerhouses of the Demon Race and prepare to attack the Void Area." "What? My lord, with just the strength of the Demon Race, we don''t stand a chance against them. It would be suicide!" Michelle protested, unwilling to ept the order. He didn''t care much about the lives of his subordinates, but he certainly wouldn''t agree to putting the entire Demon Race at risk of extinction. "I know." John didn''t bother exining and spoke coldly, "Do as I say." He then turned to Tony andmanded, "Tony, inform the Beast n right away. Gather all demigod-level and stronger warriors and prepare to attack the Void Area." "Understood!" Tony nced at the dark swarm of Hunters in the sky and seemed to understand John''s n. He said nothing more and turned to leave. "Despicable human!" A hoarse, angry voice echoed. Leading the Hunters was a demigod- level creature-Munir. It was the one who had once helped John,manding the Hunters to detonate the Undying me and destroy the seal on the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. Now, seeing John again, Munir was filled with rage. "Last time, I helped you in good faith and didn''t intend to be your enemy. But you dared kill our Queen Mother! You will pay with your life!" With a furious roar, Munir led the Hunters in a fierce charge. John remained unperturbed as he watched the oing Hunters. With a wave of his hand, countless sword des rained down, ughteringrge swathes of Hunters-yet he deliberately spared Munir. "Hmph, you want revenge for the Queen Mother? Let''s see if you''ve got what it takes!" he taunted with a cold smile, turning to flee. "Human, you won''t escape!" Munir, blinded by fury,pletely ignored the nearby Demon Race members and chased after him relentlessly. Just as expected! John couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. As he ran, he continuedunching attacks at the Hunters behind him. Each attack gave Munir just enough leeway to dodge effortlessly. Whoosh... Endless Hunters roared past, stirring up fierce whirlwinds as they pursued. Michelle and the others staggered back in fear, their faces pale with cold sweat as they watched the massive swarm of Hunters pass overhead. In a single day, they had faced two life-and-death crises. One was brought by John, and the other by these Hunters. "That was close!" Narmaya exhaled deeply, feeling a wave of relief as the Hunters finally left. Nearby, Avis shouted angrily, "What are you standing around for? Get the Demon Race''s army together and help the master attack the Void Area!" "Huh?" Michelle was stunned for a moment before realizing, "The lord intends to use these Hunters against the gods?" Solondz and Narmaya''s eyes lit up in realization. "That might really work to breach the gods'' defenses!" Michelle immediatelymanded, "Summon all demigod-level and above powerhouses!" He then turned to Kamal, giving her a serious instruction: "Kamal, you will stay behind. If anything goes wrong, you''ll lead the Demon Race to safety and prevent our total annihtion." Kamal was taken aback, and with a worried expression, she asked, "Why? With so many Hunters, are they still not enough to bring down the gods?" Michelle smiled bitterly and sighed, "Everyone underestimates Heidern''s power. The Overseer controls an entire domain. In his territory, he''s invincible. Our only hope is that the Godyer can break into the Sealed Grounds and resurrect The Immortals. That''s the only way we might stand a chance." Kamal''s face turned solemn. She took a long look at Michelle and nodded firmly. "Don''t worry. I know what to do. If your n fails, I''ll lead the Demon Race to retreat into Death Land." Michelle nodded in acknowledgment. The Demon Race''s army quickly assembled, numbering over a thousand strong, but most were merely demigod-level powerhouses. There were over a hundred lower-tier gods and only three mid-tier gods-Michelle, Solondz, and Narmaya. Instead of heading directly to the Void Area, they flew rapidly toward the Eternal Forest. They needed to wait until the gods'' forces were fully engaged with the Hunters before making their move. ... Beast n Territory A massive dragon soared into the sky, its wings spread wide. Its long, winding body resembled an unbroken chain of mountain peaks. The terrifying aura it emitted caused all nearby creatures to prostrate themselves on the ground, trembling uncontrobly. It was the upper-tier god of the Beast n-Ans-Dragon. "Go!" he roared, leading the powerhouses of the Beast n towards the Eternal Forest as well. Ans-Dragon''s enormous form twisted and turned in the sky, stirring up a storm. Then, in a sh of light, he transformed into a dignified middle-aged man, a silver spear in hand. "Ben!" He turned to Ben and asked again, "Are you sure you''ve foreseen this n''s sess?" "Absolutely!" Ben nodded with certainty. "Good!" Ans-Dragon asked no further questions and instantly appeared at the front of the formation. "Ben." At this moment, Tony approached, speaking in a low voice, "Will this n really seed?" Ben furrowed his brows and whispered, "I''m not sure. I saw some figures-the godly powerhouses of the Beast n who had once fallen-but I didn''t see any sign of The Immortals." "Why not?" Tony asked, puzzled. If the long-dead god-level beings of the Beast n could be resurrected, that would indicate the n was a sess. Moreover, The Immortals were even stronger than those gods. How could they not be resurrected? Ben hesitated for a moment before replying softly, "I suspect that the Godyer may be using The Immortals'' power, draining their soul force to perform the reversal of heaven and earth, defying fate itself. The Immortals might have beenpletely erased." Tony''s expression shifted, and he asked, "Then how are we supposed to fight the gods?" Ben shook his head and continued, "The Godyer should be the key to everything. Let''s go. We''ll find out soon enough." The two stopped discussing further and followed the Beast n''s army, rapidly heading toward the Eternal Forest. ... Meanwhile, John was leading the massive horde of Hunters through the Eternal Forest, fleeing toward the depths of the Void Area. His speed with Sword Flight was exceptionally fast, far outpacing the Hunters, forcing him to intentionally slow down and asionallyunch attacks to provoke them. Munir, caught up in its blind rage, had gathered all the Hunters, vowing to kill John this time and avenge the Queen Mother. "Human, you won''t escape. Surrender and die!" It roared repeatedly, chasing John relentlessly. "Hmph, pathetic creatures. Want to kill me? Catch me first!" John taunted them over and over, infuriating his pursuers further. ... Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Breaking into the Void Area, Chaos Ensues Chapter 231: Breaking into the Void Area, Chaos Ensues ? Soon, John sessfully led the Hunters into the depths of the Eternal Forest. He had never been here before. The forest was lush, teeming with life, its vitality rivaling even that of his Death Land. "Elven Spring!" In the distance, a meandering spring caught his eye. The immense life force was radiating from this very spring-undoubtedly the Elven Spring. John slowed down, carefully sensing his surroundings. There were many traces of life energy, but none belonged to gods. This should be the Void Area, so why wasn''t there a single godly presence? "Human, this is only one of the coordinates!" A dignified voice called out from afar as a middle-aged man appeared, followed closely by the Beast n''s army. "Ans-Dragon?" John sensed the aura emanating from the man and guessed his identity. Ans-Dragon nodded slightly, acknowledging John''s presence. Behind them, Munir led the Hunter army, surging forward with ferocity. John couldn''t afford to waste time. He activated his spatial talent and carefully scanned his surroundings. As expected, he detected a weak point in the fabric of space. "Open up!" he shouted, unleashing a full-power Flying Sword Strike at the spatial weak point. Buzz! The spatial energy fluctuated, instantly tearing open a rift that led straight into the Void Area. John could sense thousands of powerful auras inside-all of them belonged to beings stronger than lower-tier gods. Among them, there was one presence so terrifying that it made him shudder- a presence even more formidable than Ans-Dragon. He had no time to think further. Staring at Munir, he taunted coldly, "If you''re not afraid of death, follow me inside!" With that, he dashed into the spatial rift. "Human, you won''t escape!" Munir didn''t hesitate and charged in with the Hunter army right behind him. Entering the Void Area, John found himself in a vast emptiness, befitting its name. The only notable feature was a small spring bubbling gently, flowing outward into the Eternal Forest. This was the source of the Elven Spring. Whoosh! Behind him, the countless Hunters swarmed in as well. "So many powerful auras!" Munir, too, sensed the unusual nature of this ce. Instead of fear, he became incredibly excited. "Human, I should really thank you. I''ll kill you first, then devour these gods. Perhaps I can nurture a new Queen Mother." Heughed triumphantly and lunged at John. Nurture a Queen Mother? John was puzzled but didn''t have time to ponder. Countless Hunters flooded toward him. He immediatelyunched his counterattack. "Hunters?!" Suddenly, a chorus of shocked voices rang out as several god-level powerhouses descended. Seeing the endless tide of Hunters pouring in, they felt a chill run down their spines. "Hurry! Inform Lord Overseer!" One of them shouted in panic, only to be overwhelmed by the swarm of Hunters in an instant. Roar... Roars and screams echoed through the Void Area as the two sides shed violently. None of the gods noticed John in the chaos. John made sure not to expose himself. While fending off the attacking Hunters around him, he steadily moved towards a grand hall in the distance. Whoosh, whoosh... Suddenly, several powerful auras descended, making even John feel a sense of dread. They were upper-tier gods-eleven of them in total. Thankfully, with the Hunter army present, thebined strength of the Beast n and the Demon Race alone would have been insufficient to stand against these beings. "Godyer!" At that moment, an upper-tier god from the Angel Race spotted him and roared furiously, charging straight at him. John was startled. Not daring to confront the upper-tier god head-on, he swiftly fled deeper into the midst of the Hunter army. "Damn you! You brought these creatures here!" The enraged upper-tier god, known as the Wrath of the Gods, pursued him relentlessly. "An upper-tier god of the Angel Race!" "A rare delicacy!" "Get him! Devour him!" Roar! The Hunters howled madly and swarmed towards the upper-tier god, abandoning John entirely. The allure of an Angel Race upper-tier god was clearly stronger than the Hunter hatred imprint on John. The entire Void Area descended into utter chaos. Faced with the onught of billions of Hunters, not even god-level powerhouses could hold their ground. John saw two mid-tier gods being devoured by the Hunters. The devoured Hunters instantly evolved into demigod-level entities, their power surging. They became even more ravenous, their eyes blood-red as they fearlessly assaulted the surrounding gods. At this point, John was trapped within the encirclement of the Hunters, continuously casting wide-area magic attack spells. These Hunters couldn''t threaten his life, but escaping their grasp was no easy task either. He could only do his best to draw the Hunter army closer to the grand hall in the distance, hoping to divert the attention of more god-level powerhouses. The situation grew increasingly chaotic. Even the Angel Race upper-tier god chasing him was now entangled by countless Hunters, losing track of John''s presence. "Get out of my way!" The upper-tier god roared repeatedly, his entire body shrouded in Holy Light as he ughtered the Hunters with fury. But his health continued to plummet rapidly. Unlike John, he didn''t have any special life recovery methods. Even as an upper-tier god with over ten trillion HP, he was on the brink of danger under the relentless percentage-based damage attacks from the Hunters. "Hunters, this is my domain. I have no intention of ughtering you, so withdraw at once!" A majestic voice reverberated through the air, apanied by an overwhelming pressure that made even upper-tier gods feelpletely powerless. John''s heart pounded in fear. This must be the terrifying presence he had sensed earlier. "The Overseer!" Munir''s eyes widened in astonishment, his gaze burning with excitement as he stared intently at the pce in the distance, his breathing heavy. "Charge! Take down The Overseer first!" he roared, abandoning John and the surrounding gods, leading the Hunter army straight towards the distant pce. "Courting death!" A furious roar, as loud as thunder, shook the heavens and the earth. Without warning, a barrage of magical attacks rained down from the void above. Hurricanes roared, heavenly fire descended, tidal waves surged, and the ground shook with violent tremors... In an instant, hundreds of magical strikes pummeled the ground like the apocalypse itself. Countless Hunters were annihted in the blink of an eye. Such a dense array of attacks made even John feel inadequate inparison. But the Hunters were utterly fearless, devouring the corpses of their fallenrades and charging toward the grand hall with no end in sight, wave after relentless wave. "Is that... The Overseer?" John murmured, swallowing hard as he watched the terrifying onught of magic that felt like a natural disaster. He had learned from Tony and the others that Heidern, one of the gods, was known as The Overseer. In the previous world''s copse, he had obtained the ultimate artifact with the help of the Shadow n and ascended to the status of The Overseer, making his power unfathomable. "Godyer!" An enraged shout pierced through the chaos as the upper-tier god from the Angel Race spotted John and charged at him furiously. "Not good!" John''s expression shifted. With the Hunters focused on attacking the pce, the gods were granted a temporary reprieve. All eyes turned to him, and a barrage of attacks ensued. Boom! [You have been instantly killed by the upper-tier Angel Race god, Divine Core Lei. The Undying and Immortal talent has been activated...] The prompt shed as he resurrected at full health. Without a moment''s hesitation, John turned and fled. The upper-tier gods of the Angel Race were masters of soul attacks. Although his Soul Technique had seen massive improvements, he was still no match for an upper-tier god. "Hmph, you can''t escape. Stop wasting time! The Hunters are for Lord Overseer to handle. Focus on killing this human first!" The Angel Race upper-tier god roared, rallying the surrounding gods andunching a direct attack at John. "Damn it!" John was infuriated. These gods were utterly shameless-ganging up on a mere eighth-tier powerhouse like him! Dozens of god-level beings surged forward, most of them mid-tier gods. There was no way he could escape. "Fine, let''s do this!" He gritted his teeth as his soul power surged. He activated the Red Lotus Fire without hesitation. Buzz! Crimson mes erupted, enveloping several nearby gods. "Ugh! Soul attack..." Agonized screams echoed as several mid-tier gods clutched their heads, struggling in pain, utterly defenseless. Even the upper-tier gods frowned. The Red Lotus Fire bypassed all soul defenses, dealing pure, raw damage. Even though their Soul Techniques were superior to John''s, they still couldn''t withstand it. "Human, you dare wield Hellfire! I won''t let you escape today!" The upper-tier god of the Angel Race endured the burning pain in his soul. A glowing sword formed before him, whistling through the air as it thrust toward John. "Damn it, a soul attack!" John''s expression shifted, sensing the terrifying soul power contained within the sword. His current Soul Technique couldn''t possibly withstand it. "Kid, leave it to me!" A figure suddenly appeared in front of John, effortlessly intercepting the glowing sword attack. It was Ans-Dragon. "Whoosh!" "Kid, I''ll hold them off. You go and resurrect The Immortals," he turned and advised. With a sweep of his silver spear, a whirlwind erupted, and he charged at the Angel Race upper-tierN?v(el)B\\jnn god. "Attack!" Battle cries reverberated as the Demon Race and Beast n armies stormed in, engaging the other god-level powerhouses. Meanwhile, The Overseer was entangled by the Hunter army. The remaining gods were held off by thebined forces of the Demon Race and the Beast n, providing John with a golden opportunity. However, the Beast n and the Demon Race couldn''t hold out for long. He needed to act quickly. John blended into the chaos of the Hunter army, charging toward the distant pce. If his guess was correct, the fallen gods and The Immortals were sealed within that very pce. Boom! A gigantic fireball, like a falling meteor, crashed down beside him and exploded violently. The tremendous energy ripple instantly killed him. [You have been instantly killed by The Overseer Heidern. The Undying and Immortal talent has been activated...] The prompt shed as he resurrected at full health, though his head throbbed with stabbing pain-his soul had been injured. The Overseer''s skill attacks contained soul damage as well. John couldn''t afford to worry about it. He dodged the barrage of magical attacks as best he could, elerating toward the pce. Boom! Boom! Explosions erupted continuously around him. His strength was simply too weak. Even the slightest touch of these skills was enough to kill him instantly. Fortunately, at this point, arge number of Hunters had already stormed into the pce, distracting The Overseer. The frequency of magical attacks in the air decreased. Seizing the opportunity, John finally made it into the pce. Ignoring the Hunters around him, he activated his Spatial Awareness talent once more, carefully sensing the interior of the pce and searching for the location of the seal. Chapter 232: Chapter 232: The Immortals Legacy, Resurrection of the Gods Chapter 232: The Immortals'' Legacy, Resurrection of the Gods ? "Found it!" John immediately detected a spatial weak point-it was at the throne above the great hall. Buzz! The Sword of Divinity and Demons hummed with sword intent as John swung it. A barrage of sword skills, along with Light and Dark magic spells, struck down violently. Boom! The hall shook with a deafening roar, and a spatial rift appeared-it was the seal that imprisoned the fallen gods. Without hesitation, John leapt through the rift. Spatial power fluctuated as he descended into a barrennd. "What a bizarre ce!" John frowned deeply. The environment here was even more unsettling than the Abyss of the Demon Race. There was no detectable energy or life force here. Seals were scattered everywhere, each imprisoning the fallen gods of various races. However, there were no gods, Angel Race, or Dark Humans present. Most of the imprisoned beings were from the Skyline Continent''s human race, along with powerhouses from the Beast n and the Demon Race. It seemed that the human race of Skyline Continent had put up a valiant effort against the divine invasion-only to ultimately meet defeat. The weakest beings sealed here were mid-tier gods, and there were many of them. With such strength unable to contend against the gods, one could only imagine what would happen to humanity if the world of Gods were to connect with Earth. "Wait, I sense life!" John eximed in surprise as he detected faint life energy and a weak trace of The Immortals'' aura. It emanated from deep within the sealed grounds. Without bothering to rescue the other imprisoned powerhouses, John took to the air with Sword Flight, speeding toward the source of the aura. "Members of the Azure Family!" he shouted in astonishment. At the heart of the sealed grounds stood a massive sword, towering several hundred meters high. Powerfulws of the universe swirled around it, and sword intent roared violently. Chains bound its de, anchoring it deep into the earth. Beside it, to his shock, were members of the Azure Family. The faint aura of The Immortals was emanating from the giant sword. Without wasting any words, John unleashed Soul Impact against the Azure Family members. Buzz! The air trembled. Hundreds of Azure Family members bled from their seven orifices as their souls were shattered. They didn''t even have time to scream before they fell dead, one after another. Only one remained standing, trembling in fear at the sudden massacre unfolding before his eyes. Whoosh! Johnnded in front of the survivor, staring coldly as he demanded, "Where is the body of The Immortals?" "Wh-What?" The Azure Family member stammered, swallowing hard as he recognized John. He shook his head repeatedly, stammering, "There''s no body of The Immortals here." "No body?" John didn''t bother with pleasantries. He immediately used his soul skill, Memory Extraction, and invaded the man''s soul. "Hm?" John frowned. As expected, he found no information regarding the remains of The Immortals. The Azure Family members were here to refine the legacy of The Immortals and to establish a connection between the world of Gods and Earth. Moreover, only a fully manifested Immortal-level powerhouse from the world of Gods could break the seal and open the passage between the two worlds. The Azure Family''s presence here served precisely that purpose. What puzzled John, however, was that a few days ago, The Overseer Heidern suddenly ordered them to halt the process of connecting the passage to Earth. The Azure Family member had no idea what Heidern''s intentions were. At this moment, the young man from the Azure Family was left standing there, his face nk and a trickle of drool hanging from his mouth. He stared at John with a foolish smile, clearly mentally impaired. His soul had been too weak. John''s forceful intrusion had caused irreversible damage. Without further ado, John unleashed Soul Impact, instantly obliterating him. "If the body of The Immortals isn''t here, then where could it be?" John frowned, muttering to himself as his gaze drifted toward the towering sword. This must be the legacy of The Immortals. Curious, he reached out and touched the giant sword. Buzz! The de shimmered with a radiant glow, and suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind: "Enter the game." "Senior, what do you mean?" John quickly asked, recognizing the voice. This was the second time he''d heard those four words. The first time was in the real world, in the Azure Family''s ancestral grounds, when he acquired the Immortal-level treasure. He still didn''t understand what those words meant. But no further voice echoed in his mind. It was as if what he had just heard was a mere illusion. Staring at the giant sword before him, John found himself in a dilemma. He had risked his life toe to the Void Area to rescue The Immortals, yet there was no sign of them here-only this legacy. Furthermore, from the memories of the Azure Family member, he had learned that refining this legacy required entering the world of Gods. He still had several spatial stones in his possession, but if he entered the world of Gods without first establishing a connection back to Earth, he would be trapped there forever. He wasn''t ready to descend into the world of Gods just yet, but he couldn''t leave The Immortals'' legacy here either. Communicating with his Death Land, he attempted to transfer the giant sword into his domain. ng... ng... The chains binding the sword rattled violently, but the attempt failed. The chains were firmly anchoring the sword to this ce. "How dare you touch The Immortals'' legacy!" Enraged, John gripped the Sword of Divinity and Demons. Powerful sword intent surged forth, and he shed directly at the chains. Crack! The chains snapped with a crisp sound. They weren''t as sturdy as he had expected. He continued to sever each of the dozens of chains restraining the sword. Buzz... The longsword hummed and trembled as the power of The Immortals within it grew even stronger, finally breaking free of its bindings. John tried again to transfer the sword into the Death Land. Buzz! With a sh of sword light, it vanished and entered the Death Land. "Hm?" Just then, John frowned as he received a distress signal from Tony. Although The Overseer Heidern was still temporarily entangled by the Hunters, the remaining god-level powerhouses were overwhelming thebined forces of the gods and the Demon Race. They were on the verge of copse. "I guess I''ll have to resurrect these guys," he muttered, looking at the rows of sealed corpses nearby. Each of them was a terrifying presence at the mid-tier god level or higher. They weren''tpletely dead-breaking the seals and infusing them with life force would be enough to resurrect them. Even if they couldn''t defeat The Overseer, the chaos caused by these resurrected powerhouses would certainly keep the gods from having any peace. John approached the corpse of a human from the Skyline Continent. He broke the seal and attempted to establish a connection with the being''s soul. "What incredible soul power!" John was stunned. Although the corpse belonged to a mid-tier god, its Soul Technique was far superior to his own, making it impossible for him to wake it up. He had intended to negotiate a soul contract before reviving the being, even if it meant offering other conditions if the contract was rejected. But without being able to awaken the soul, there was no way tomunicate. He tried waking up several other mid-tier gods, but each attempt ended in failure. These beings, although categorized as mid-tier gods, were clearly the elite among mid-tier gods, with power beyond his imagination. John couldn''t help but wonder-did the forces under the gods truly have the strength to defeat such powerful beings? Left with no other choice, he decided to go ahead and revive them. Whoosh! He activated the power of lifews, pouring immense life force into the first mid-tier god from the Skyline Continent. The vast life force instantly stirred the being awake. Crack... crack...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The god''s eyes slowly opened, his body shifting slightly. The sound of bones cracking echoed as powerful wind-elementws surged around him. He stood up abruptly from the ground. John instinctively took a step back, warily watching this revived powerhouse. "I... I''ve awakened?" The being murmured to himself, surprise and joy shing across his face. He then turned his gaze to John, frowning deeply, a hint of hostility in his eyes. "You''re not from the Skyline Continent''s human race?" The man frowned slightly and then asked indifferently, "Kid, are you the one who resurrected me?" John nodded in affirmation. The man continued, "I am Vaseraga. Consider this a favor I owe you." With that, he no longer paid any attention to John. Taking out a porcin vial, he released a surge of immense life force and turned to begin resurrecting other god-level powerhouses from the Skyline Continent''s human race. Boom... Tremendous fluctuations of powerws spread through the area. These god-level beings from the Skyline Continent were extraordinarily powerful, with a few emitting auras so strong that John felt they could easily obliterate him. Fortunately, Vaseraga exined John''s actions to them, and they didn''t cause him any trouble. The resurrected gods focused solely on reviving other Skyline Continent humans, ignoring those of other races. John frowned deeply, sensing that this wasn''t a good sign. He then moved to the most powerful Beast n upper-tier god present and directly shattered the seal binding him. Vast life force surged and poured into the Beast n powerhouse''s body. "Kid, stop! You''re not allowed to resurrect other races'' powerhouses!" One of the resurrected human gods shouted angrily, trying to stop him, but it was toote. Whoosh! Fierce winds swirled, and a terrifying aura spread through the area. The Beast n being opened his eyes, his form shifting as he transformed into a colossal, fearsome ck dragon. His massive frame almost filled the entire sealed ground. "Cand-Dragon!" Several of the resurrected human gods from the Skyline Continent gasped, hastily retreating with wary expressions. Whoosh! The ck dragon''s body shimmered and shrank, transforming into a young man d in a ck robe. His long ck hair flowed behind him as his dark eyes curiously examined John. He then asked in a deep voice, "Are you one of the Beast n, or a human?" "I''m human, but I awakened the Dragon Bloodline." John answered truthfully, without concealment. "Ah, I see." Cand-Dragon scrutinized him, showing no hostility. In fact, there was a hint of admiration in his gaze. He continued, "Kid, are you interested in joining my Beast n?" John shook his head and replied, "Senior, Lord Ans-Dragon and Tony are currently leading the Beast n in an attack on the Void Area. They are in danger and need your help." "Ans-Dragon? Tony? They''re still alive?" Cand-Dragon''s eyes brightened as he spoke, "Kid, the Beast n owes you a great debt of gratitude." Whoosh! With a swift movement, he resumed his colossal dragon form. Boundless power erupted as he shattered all the remaining seals in the area. Vast streams of life force converged as he began reviving all the sealed god-level beings, including those of the Demon Race. Boom! With a thunderous roar, an overwhelming surge of dark energy erupted. A Demon Race upper- tier god flew out, confronting Cand-Dragon head-on. He asked coldly, "Cand-Dragon, was it you who saved me?" "No, it was this human," Cand-Dragon responded, reverting to his human form and pointing at John. "Oh?" The Demon Race powerhouse frowned. "You''re not from the Skyline Continent''s human race. I suppose things aren''t looking too good for the Skyline Continent right now, are they?" Chapter 233: Chapter 233: Powerhouses Clash, Escape from the Void Area Chapter 233: Powerhouses sh, Escape from the Void Area ? The Skyline Continent was a world targeted by the gods. The presence of other races descending upon it meant that the continent''s destruction was imminent. This realization filled the Demon Race powerhouse, Beelzebub, with excitement. If the Skyline Continent were to fall, it would signal the emergence of the Ultimate Treasure. If he could obtain it, he could be The Overseer, elevating the Demon Race above all other races. And the world John was from would be the next target of the gods'' plunder. Cand-Dragon nced at Beelzebub and said, "Beelzebub, my Beast n has alreadyunched an attack on the gods. Would you like to join me in dealing with them?" "Not interested," Beelzebub declined tly, a hint of schadenfreude in his tone. John looked at Beelzebub, feeling a strong dislike for the man. He spoke up, "Senior, members of your Demon Race are here as well. Michelle and others led the Demon Race in attacking the gods'' domain. That''s the only reason I was able to rescue you all. The situation is dire." "My Demon Race is here too?" Beelzebub''s eyes brightened immediately. He shouted, "All Demon Race powerhouses, follow me and fight our way out!" With a furious roar, he led the gods of the Demon Race out of the sealed grounds. Cand-Dragon also led the Beast n powerhouses away. Only the human gods from the Skyline Continent remained. The leading upper-tier god nced at John but said nothing further. "Let''s go." With a singlemand, he led the gods of the Skyline Continent away as well. However, they did not join the battle between the Beast n, the Demon Race, and the gods. Instead, they left the Eternal Forest, returning to the Skyline Continent. Sensing an opportunity, John also left the sealed grounds, reappearing in the Void Area. Boom! Boom! Deafening explosions reverberated around him, filled with the power to destroy the heavens and the earth. The entry of the Beast n and the Demon Race powerhouses into the fray instantly reversed the situation. The forces of the godsprising the Angel Race, Dark Humans, and the Orcs-were no match. In mere moments, hundreds of lower-tier gods had already been in. The gods'' defeat was almost a foregone conclusion. "Godyer!" At that moment, Tony retreated to John''s side, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. His aura was weak, clearly indicating he had been injured. This level of battle was simply not one a demigod-level being like him could participate in. He asked anxiously, "What about The Immortals? Why haven''t I seen any sign of them?" John shook his head, frustration evident in his voice. "I couldn''t find the bodies of any Immortal-level beings." "What?" Tony''s face paled. He swallowed down a mouthful of blood and said, "Then how did you manage to resurrect the powerhouses of the Beast n and the Demon Race?" John was puzzled and asked, "Is there something wrong with that?" Tony let out a bitterugh and exined, "Do you really think the gods alone could have in powerhouses from all these different races?" John froze, suddenly struck by a thought. He asked in astonishment, "You mean... these beings were all killed by The Immortals?" Tony nodded grimly. "The gods'' strongest warrior, that Overseer, only appearedter- created by the Shadow n specifically to deal with The Immortals. Without The Immortals'' deterrence, do you really think these beings would let you walk away so easily?" John frowned deeply, sensing the gravity of the situation. He asked, "Then what should we do now?" "Hide, and go as far away as you can," Tony advised. But John remained silent. He couldn''t simply run and hide. Although he had obtained the legacy of The Immortals, there was no guarantee that these gods wouldn''t find another way to connect their world to Earth. He had to stop this. Just as he was about to speak, an overwhelming aura descended from the direction of the grand hall, engulfing the entire Void Area. "Enough!" A furious shout echoed as a man with purple hair appeared, instantly suppressing both sides of the battle. It was Heidern, the strongest of the gods and also an Overseer. He had already ughtered all the Hunters. His icy gaze swept over the sudden appearance of the Beast n and Demon Race powerhouses. "Beelzebub, Cand-Dragon- are you sure you want to aid The Immortals and be enemies of the gods?" Beelzebub frowned and looked at Heidern warily, his expression cautious. He asked suspiciously, "The Immortals? What Immortals?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Heidern''s gaze pierced through the crowd and locked onto John. Pointing at him, he said coldly, "This little guy is The Immortals." "What?" Beelzebub shouted in shock, his eyes narrowing. A long spear formed from condensed dark powerws shot toward John with a whistle, appearing before him in the blink of an eye. Tony''s face turned pale. Without a second thought, he stepped in front of John to block the attack. Buzz! The air trembled, but before the ck spear could touch Tony, it disintegrated into nothingness. A man in a ck robe appeared-it was Cand-Dragon. John breathed a sigh of relief. He had sensed the terrifying soul power in that ck spear; it could have easily annihted both him and Tony. Cand-Dragon looked at Beelzebub calmly and said, "This little guy saved us. No matter what, he''s our benefactor." "But he''s The Immortals!" Beelzebub''s gaze was icy. Darkwings unfurled behind him as he red down at Cand-Dragon from above. "Have you forgotten what happened to your Beast n because of The Immortals?" Cand-Dragon nced at John, then responded lightly, "The Immortals are reduced to this single kid. He''s not a threat. What''s more important now is to deal with the gods." He then turned his gaze toward Heidern, his body brimming with the terrifying power of the Beast n, battle intent surging. "Heh, do you really think you''re a match for me?" Heidern raised his hand slightly. Winds roared and lightning crackled in his palm, as if a miniature world were forming in his grasp. Seeing this, both Cand-Dragon and Beelzebub''s expressions changed drastically. The Overseer couldmand an entire domain. Within this domain, he was an invincible existence. "Hmph, my Demon Race won''t meddle in this matter. We''re leaving," Beelzebub snorted coldly and, with a wave of his hand, led the powerful Demon Race beings away, disappearing in an instant. The battlefield was left with only the gods'' forces and the Beast n facing off against each other. Heidern turned his gaze to Cand-Dragon and spoke calmly, "Cand-Dragon, you''re no match for me, and I have no desire to make things difficult for you. Hand over this human, and I''ll let you leave in peace." "Lord¡ªno, we can''t..." Tony''s expression changed as he started to speak, but Cand-Dragon silenced him with a wave of his hand. Facing Heidern, Cand-Dragon''s eyes turned cold. "I''ve never liked being threatened, and I''m quite curious to see just how powerful an Overseer truly is!" He raised his hand, and a long, ck spear materialized. Dark dragon-shaped shadows swirled along the spear''s shaft, the icy tip pointing menacingly at Heidern hovering in the air. Boundless battle intent surged. Boom! Boom! Even before they shed, the sheer force of their auras colliding caused the space around them to tremble violently. Mid-tier gods caught between them spat blood, scrambling to retreat from the shockwaves. Fortunately, John was hiding behind Cand-Dragon, sparing him from the brunt of the impact. Suddenly, a ck dragon''s shadow and a blinding white bolt of lightning shot forth, colliding with each other in mid-air. Buzz! A deafening hum reverberated through the air as the space at the point of impact shattered, forming a massive rift that began to devour everything around it. This wasn''t an ordinary spatial tear-it was a rift in the void itself. Any lifeform sucked into it would be doomed, annihted without a trace. Several weaker lower-tier gods couldn''t resist and were swallowed by the rift, disappearing into nothingness, their auras extinguished,pletely eradicated. "Cough!" Cand-Dragon coughed up a mouthful of blood and staggered back slightly. He looked up at Heidern, who was floating effortlessly in mid-air, and said solemnly, "An Overseer, a master of a domain, truly lives up to his reputation." "Hmph!" Heidern snorted coldly and said, "Cand-Dragon, I don''t want to be your enemy. This is yourst chance-leave my Void Area." Cand-Dragon nced at John standing behind him and then turned back to Heidern. "I''m taking this human with me." Heidern narrowed his eyes slightly, pausing for a moment before replying, "Fine, I''ll give you this one concession. Remember, this is thest time I''ll show you mercy." Cand-Dragon said nothing more. With a wave of his hand, a vast surge of spatial power enveloped John and the rest of the Beast n powerhouses, and they disappeared from the Void Area in an instant. "Lord Heidern, the Beast n is incredibly powerful. Why did you let them go?" one of the gods asked, looking at Heidern in confusion. "Cough!" Heidern suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. His face was pale, and his body swayed unsteadily. It was clear that his injuries were even more severe than Cand-Dragon''s. "Lord Heidern, you''re... injured?" Several of the god-level powerhouses'' expressions changed dramatically. They immediately surrounded Heidern, their voices filled with concern. Heidern weakly shook his head and replied, "I underestimated those Hunters. Their attack methods were too bizarre. My soul has been wounded. If Cand-Dragon and Beelzebub had joined forces just now, I''m afraid I wouldn''t have been able to hold them off." "Then what should we do now?" one of them asked anxiously. Heidern was their sole pir of support. If something happened to him, the gods wouldn''t stand a chance against thebined forces of the Demon Race and the Beast n. "Don''t worry, these injuries won''t pose a real threat to me." Heidern took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "I need to go into seclusion for a while. Keep a close eye on the movements of the Beast n and the Demon Race during this time. Especially the Dark Humans-relocate all demigod-level and above powerhouses to the Void Area." "Thank you, Lord Heidern!" A Dark Humans upper-tier god nearby immediately expressed gratitude. They had betrayed the Demon Race in the past, causing severe casualties among them. Now that Beelzebub had been resurrected, he definitely wouldn''t let them off easily. "There''s one more thing," Heidern continued, turning to a fourteen-winged angel at his side. "Ling Xiao, keep a close watch on the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. The Immortals'' seal has been broken there, and I''m worried that the Shadow n might descend at any moment." "Yes, Lord Heidern. I understand." Ling Xiao nodded and then vanished instantly. "Lord Heidern, what about that Godyer?" another god asked. John''s actions had inflicted heavy losses on the gods and their subordinate races. It was a bitter pill for them to swallow. Heidern''s brow furrowed. He, too, harbored a deep hatred for John. But he was uncertain about the Beast n''s stance. If Cand-Dragon insisted on protecting John, there was little Heidern could do. "Leave him be for now. Everyone keep a low profile for the next few days. Don''t provoke the Beast n, the Demon Race, or the human race of the Skyline Continent." Heidern gave another warning. To him, John was still weak. Even if he had ties to The Immortals, he posed no significant threat. What he worried about most was the Shadow n. With that, Heidern turned back and returned to the grand hall to begin his seclusion, focused on healing his soul injuries. The Shadow n could descend at any moment, and he needed to recover as quickly as possible. ... Outskirts of the Eternal Forest. Cand-Dragon and the other Beast n powerhouses suddenly appeared. John was among them, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Grateful, he said, "Thank you, Senior, for saving my life." Chapter 234: Chapter 234: The Fall of The Immortals, Descent into the World of Gods Chapter 234: The Fall of The Immortals, Descent into the World of Gods ? "Hmph!" Cand-Dragon snorted coldly, his gaze sharp and unkind. "Kid, I''ve saved your life twice. The debt between you and the Beast n is settled. The next time we meet, we''ll be enemies." "Lord Cand-Dragon, please don''t!" Tony interjected urgently, even bringing up John''s identity as the prophesied savior. Ben, who stood beside them, also pleaded, "Lord Cand-Dragon, the Godyer is the key to defeating the gods." Boom! Suddenly, a deafening buzz erupted in John''s mind. He, Tony, and Ben simultaneously coughed up blood, their souls wounded. The soul connection between them had been forcibly severed, and the constraints of their soul contract vanished. Such terrifying power! John looked at Cand-Dragon, shock written all over his face. He had a soul contract with the Beast n''s roc as well, but during the recent conflict with the gods, roc had fallen. Cand-Dragon nced at the three of them, his expression haughty. "I have been resurrected. I have no need for a savior!" "Let''s go!" With a wave of his hand, he prepared to lead the Beast n powerhouses away. "Senior, wait." John stepped forward to block his path, speaking earnestly, "I need to know- where are the bodies of The Immortals?" Cand-Dragon frowned and stared at him coldly. "They''ve all perished. Their souls have scattered, and their Divine Souls have been obliterated." "What?" John eximed in shock, unable to ept this. "Is that really true?" He suspected Cand-Dragon was lying, perhaps to prevent him from resurrecting The Immortals, as their return could pose a threat to the Beast n''s supremacy. "Hmph, do you think I would lie to you?" Cand-Dragon''s tone was icy as he continued, "Although I detest The Immortals, I also respect those people. They sacrificed their soul power and performed a technique to reverse the flow of time..." He stopped speaking abruptly, having already deduced John''s true identity. "What?" John took a step back, realizing that his own rebirth might indeed be connected to The Immortals. But could it be that so many Immortal-level beings sacrificed their lives just to bring him back? Was it really worth it? The weight of responsibility pressed down on him, making it difficult for him to breathe. How could he, a single individual, possibly contend with the gods? Moreover, the Demon Race clearly harbored great hostility toward him, and the Beast n was equally unweing. Seeing John''s dejected expression, Cand-Dragon seemed momentarily moved. He, too, had once experienced such powerlessness. When the Beast n''s world was annihted, he had been just like John-watching his people perish, helpless in the face of the overwhelming power of the gods. "When you reach my level of strength, human, you will truly understand how insignificant you are," Cand-Dragon said, before turning away without another word, leading the Beast n away. Tony and Ben hesitated for a moment but eventually followed. "Godyer, take care!" Ben grasped John''s hand firmly. "Don''t do anything behind my back," Cand-Dragon''s cold voice called out. Ben dared not linger any longer and quickly chased after the others. John looked down at his palm in confusion. Two small words had been scribbled there: Jean. "What''s this supposed to mean? Why does everyone keep speaking in riddles?" He muttered to himself, unable to decipher the message. Jean was the Flower Fairy of the Beast n, but what secret could she be hiding? Tony had mentioned before that Jean could help him awaken his bloodline. But now John had already awakened his bloodline-the formidable Divine Dragon bloodline. He couldn''t figure out what other mysteries Jean might hold. "Forget it, let''s head back to Death Land," John decided, transporting himself back to his domain. The battle with the gods had inflicted heavy casualties on both the Demon Race and the Beast n. Even his trusted subordinates, Thunder and the Death Demon General, had perished- this time,pletely obliterated. The only silver lining was that Avis, being weaker, had not entered the Void Area and thus survived. "Master!" Avis stood beneath the colossal sword, curiosity written all over his face. Seeing John appear, he rushed over immediately and asked with concern, "Did you defeat the gods?" John shook his head. "There wereplications. I didn''t find The Immortals, but I did resurrect the powerhouses of the Demon Race and the Beast n. With them holding back the gods, I should be safe from any immediate action." He brushed the matter aside and asked curiously, "So, have you been able to obtain The Immortals'' legacy?" "This is... The Immortals'' legacy?" Avis was stunned. Although he hadn''t witnessed the great war of The Immortals firsthand, he had heard stories of their immense power and terrifying abilities. He continued, "Master, there is indeed a force within this sword that calls out to me, but it won''t let me refine it." "Is that so?" John was puzzled. Could The Immortals'' legacy include something specifically suited for Avis? He reached out again to touch the massive sword, but this time, there was no reaction at all. It seemed that only by descending into the world of Gods could he refine The Immortals'' legacy. He frowned, feeling torn, and let out a helpless sigh. He had been nning for so long, risking his life multiple times, resurrecting the Demon Race and the Beast n, only to discover in the end that The Immortals had vanished. It was a truth he found difficult-impossible-to ept. Gently stroking the de of the giant sword, he closed his eyes and murmured softly, "Seniors... what do you want me to do?" The giant sword remained silent, unmoved, offering no response. "''Enter the game with your own body," John whispered to himself, taking a deep breath before opening his eyes, his gaze resolute and unwavering. "Avis, I''ll be gone for a while," he instructed. Then, he privately messaged Chris and Ritchie, asking them to log off the game-they had urgent matters to discuss. ... In the real world, John sat before the game pod for a long time, staring at everything around him as if it were all from a previous life. He had already died once, and now he was saying a final goodbye to this world. There should be no lingering attachment. In this lifetime, he had to prevent disaster from striking. If he didn''t, it would mean failing all the Immortal powerhouses who had sacrificed themselves for him. At that moment, footsteps echoed from outside the door. It was Ritchie and Chris. John collected his thoughts, stood up, and nced at Sini''s figure resting inside the game pod. A soft smile tugged at his lips. He wasn''t nning on telling Sini about his descent into the world of Gods-there was no need to make her worry. "Boss, what''s so important that you had to discuss it in the real world?" Ritchie''s voice sounded, and the door swung open. Armstrong and Peter followed closely behind. "Senior." John first bowed respectfully to Chris, then nodded at Armstrong, inviting everyone to take a seat. He retrieved a small wooden box from a cab nearby and slid it across the table to Chris. Peter, curious, opened the box and was astonished. "Spatial stones? Brother-inw, what''s this all about?" Peter and Ritchie had both participated in the operation against the Mike White Family and had seen spatial stones before. They knew these stones were the key to descending into the world of Gods. John looked at Chris and said, "Senior, I''ve found the legacy of The Immortals. It exists only in the world of Gods, and only by descending there can one obtain it." Chris nodded, not questioning further, and simply said, "Tell me, what do you need me to do?" John smiled faintly, feeling the unconditional trust Chris had in him. He began, "There''s been a major upheaval in the world of Gods. My previous n failed-I didn''t find The Immortals. Instead, I inadvertently resurrected the Demon Race, the Beast n, and many other powerful beings. To stop them now, our only hope is to descend into the world of Gods ourselves, obtain The Immortals'' legacy, and perhaps gain a fighting chance." He paused, realizing the gravity of what he was asking. After a moment of silence, he continued, "Here are 307 spatial stones. I hope the Blues Family can select 307 of their most powerful fighters-or the most talented individuals-to descend into the world of Gods and seek the legacy of The Immortals. However, these people..." "I understand." Chris interrupted with a calm smile, then turned to look at Armstrong and Peter. "Which of you two will stay behind?" "Father, let Peter stay," Armstrong replied immediately. "No, I''m going," Peter objected, shaking his head. "Plus, I''m stronger than Dad. I''m the better choice." With John''s assistance and the merging attributes of the world of Gods with reality, Peter''s current strength indeed surpassed Armstrong''s. Chris nced at the two men and spoke decisively, "Peter, the future of the Blues Family is now in your hands." "Grandpa, I... I''m not capable..." Peter stammered, but Chris cut him off. "Don''t bring shame to the Blues Family name. The Blues Family has endured for over a thousand years. It didn''t fall during my time, and it certainly won''t fall during yours. Don''t worry, I''ll clear any obstacles in your path," Chris reassured him, his stern expression softening into a gentle smile. Though he was strict with Peter, his affection for his family ran even deeper. "Father, are you nning to go too?" Armstrong asked, unable to hide his reluctance. Chris''s eyes shed with pride as he replied calmly, "Is there anyone else in the entire Blues Family who''s more qualified than I am?" Both father and son wanted to say more, but Chris raised his hand to silence them. "Boss, what about me?" Ritchie looked at John, his voiceced with anticipation. He, too, wanted to descend into the world of Gods. "You can''t." John rejected him outright, his tone firm. "Ritchie, your legion is thest line of defense. If we fail, the fate of Earth will be in your hands." John knew what awaited them in the world of Gods-resurrected gods from various powerful races. One misstep could meanplete annihtion. This was his final, desperate gambit. Ritchie forced a bitter smile. "Boss, if you fail... do you really think I can stop any of this from happening?" John ced a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Just do your best." Ritchie nodded resolutely. He didn''t say much more, but John knew what he meant. John nced at his game pod, then instructed, "Don''t tell Sini about this. I don''t want her to worry. And remove my game pod. Tell her I''ve entered a secret area for training and that, forN?v(el)B\\jnn safety reasons, it''s been moved to the militarypound. We''ll meet up in the world of Gods." As he spoke, a spatial stone appeared in his hand. It was the same one he had received from Toby during the operation against the Mike White Family. He channeled his spiritual power into the stone, activating it. In an instant, a wave of spatial energy rippled through the room, and his figure vanished without a trace. The others exchanged nces, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on their shoulders. They could all sense that this time, John had been pushed to the edge, forced to make ast, desperate stand. Chris took out another spatial stone and handed it to Armstrong. "Let''s go. Peter, move John''s game pod. Make sure your sister doesn''t find out." "Understood." Peter nodded, then turned to help Ritchie move John''s game pod. Inside another game pod: Sini sat with her eyes tightly closed, but a single tear slid down her cheek. Only when she was certain everyone had left did she open her eyes, her expression filled with rage. "Hmph, you say I abandoned you? You bastard! You think you can leave me behind..." She stood up, quickly changing into a set of ck, stealthy attire. She had made up her mind to steal a spatial stone. She was a Shadow Assassin, a hidden ss with powerful Concealment abilities. With John gone, there was no one here who could detect her presence. ... Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Talent Upgrade, A Major Change Chapter 235: Talent Upgrade, A Major Change ? In the world of Gods, Death Land. A figure flickered, and John appeared. Unlike before, this time he wasn''t connecting through the game pod but had arrived on Skyline Continent in person. "What a strange feeling!" He took a deep breath, looking surprised. At this moment, his perception of everything around him was much sharper. Especially the giant sword in front of him, which gave him an immense pull. Now, he was ready to refine the inheritance of The Immortals. "Huh, Master, something''s different about you?" Avis came over, curiously eyeing John. "Is that so? What''s different?" John asked him, intrigued. Avis blinked, deep in thought, and then said, "It''s like... you feel more real." John smiled but didn''t exin further. Instead, he said, "Avis, keep watch for me." He needed to refine The Immortals'' inheritance and open the Divine Path. Death Land wasn''t entirely safe, and he feared interruptions. Sitting cross-legged under the giant sword, he began to focus. Buzz! A humming sound echoed. This time, John encountered no resistance while refining the giant sword. A peculiar thread of the power ofws slowly seeped into his body. Avis stood quietly by his side, clearly sensing the power ofws, though he couldn''t refine it himself. He sighed helplessly but stopped dwelling on it, silently keeping guard beside John. Time passed. John had already been sitting beneath the giant sword for a day but still hadn''tpletely refined The Immortals'' inheritance. ... Back in the real world. As per John''s instructions, Peter had selected 307 members of the Blues Family, including himself and Chris, to descend to the world of Gods. None of them hesitated. "Huh? There''s one less spatial stone?" As he was distributing thest of the stones, Peter realized one was missing. "Could John have made a mistake?" He frowned. By now, both John and Chris had already descended to the world of Gods, leaving him unable to ask. "Forget it, I''ll distribute the rest first." He decided not to dwell on it and handed out all the spatial stones, leaving the extra person to be dealt withter. Afterward, he too used a spatial stone to descend to Skyline Continent. Buzz! As the light flickered, Peter looked around curiously. Everything here felt incredibly real to him. "How amazing! It seems like my strength has also increased a bit," he said, delighted. He quickly found Chris and informed him about the missing spatial stone. "Did you lose it?" Chris frowned deeply, asking in irritation. Peter was speechless and retorted, "Father, why don''t you suspect John? Who''s really your son here?" Chris red at him and said, "Go get Armstrong." Before long, Armstrong came running over. Seeing them both, he asked in surprise, "Grandpa, Father, have you also arrived on Skyline Continent?" Peter nodded seriously and asked, "Armstrong, did you take a spatial stone?" Armstrong was taken aback, not understanding why his father was making such a fuss. He replied, "Dad, even though I mess around sometimes, I know better than to joke about something like this." Chris trusted him and said, "Armstrong, log off immediately and check if Sini is still there." "My sister?" Armstrong was confused but nced at his friends list and saw that Sini was online. Without asking further questions, he logged off and headed to Sini''s ce to investigate. Soon, he logged back on, his expression serious, and said, "Grandpa, Sini is gone." "That girl! Always up to something reckless!" Chris was furious. Before John descended to Skyline Continent, he had specifically told them to keep Sini in the dark. But somehow, she found out and secretly descended to Skyline Continent. The missing spatial stone was undoubtedly stolen by her. In the real world, aside from John, no one could rival Sini. If she wanted to steal a spatial stone, she could easily do it without anyone noticing. Peter asked, "Father, should we tell John?" "Do you think this is a joke? Of course we have to!" Chris snapped at him. "But John is still in seclusion. You''ll tell him when he wakes up." "Me?" Peter pointed to himself, clearly reluctant, but he didn''t dare disobey. However, he nced over at Armstrong. ... During the days that John was in seclusion, major upheavals urred on Skyline Continent. Powerful deities from various races descended, and the first to suffer were the cities of the Dark Humans. In just a few days, nearly all Dark Humans'' cities ranked Level 5 or above were wiped out, with heavy casualties. Most of this destruction was caused by the demon race and humans of Skyline Continent. Besides this, something even more significant happened arge number of Hunters appeared and began to recklessly attack the forces of various races. This caused the deities of these races to quiet down a bit. Even so, several factions were still annihted. Among them was Ritchie''s me City. The sudden arrival of the Shadow n army was too much for John''s forces to handle, especially with him still in seclusion. Helpless, Ritchie had no choice but to abandon me City and lead the me Legion and Malina''s Phoenix Guild to seek refuge with the Saint Martial Sect. The Saint Martial Sect was also besieged by Hunters, but fortunately, there weren''t too many, and they barely managed to hold them off. ... John had been in seclusion for seven full days, and atst, he finished refining The Immortals'' inheritance. [You have refined The Immortals'' inheritance, and your four basic attributes have each increased by 100,000 points.] [Your SSS-level talent, Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart, has upgraded to the Divine Unique Talent: One Breath, Three Purities.] [One Breath, Three Purities: Divine Talent; allows you to split into three avatars-Heaven, Earth, and Human-that can train and grow independently. Currently, your soul power is too weak to use this ability.] The notifications shed, and John was astonished. He could feel that he had only obtained a portion of The Immortals'' inheritance, yet his four basic attributes had already increased by 100,000 points. What delighted him the most was that his Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart talent had evolved into the one and only Divine Unique Talent: One Breath, Three Purities. This was none other than the legendary technique used by Lao-Tzu himself. The only regret was that his current Soul Technique was too weak, making him unable to use One Breath, Three Purities. To use One Breath, Three Purities, his Soul Technique needed to reach at least 40,000 points. The only way for him to currently increase his Soul Technique was through the Soul Technique skill itself. However, after his Soul Technique reached level 10,000, each additional level required 10,000 skill points. At the moment, he simply didn''t have enough skill points to make any significant improvements. Helpless, he had no choice but to temporarily give up on enhancing his Soul Technique. His gaze shifted to the giant sword. He had only gained the part of The Immortals'' inheritance that suited him, but now that he had refined the inheritance, he could allow others to train with it. The first person he thought of was Avis. "Avis," he called out. Avis, who had been standing guard, lit up upon hearing John''s voice and flew over immediately, visibly relieved. "Master, you''ve finally awakened." John nodded. "Didn''t you want The Immortals'' inheritance? I can help you now." "Really?" Avis''s eyes widened in delight, but he quickly shook his head. "Master, let''s put that on hold for now. I have something more urgent to report. The Hunters... arge number of Hunters have appeared, and Ritchie''s me City has already been destroyed. They''ve relocated to the Saint Martial Sect."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "What?" John eximed, confused. "Where did these Hunterse from?" The Hunters he had released from the Ancient Battlefield Ruins had all been ughtered by the god Heidern. Additionally, the queen bug had been killed by him, meaning the Hunters no longer had any way to resurrect. Once dead, they should be gone for good. There was no possible way for Hunters to reappear. Avis shook his head, unsure as well. He continued, "Master, Skyline Continent is in turmoil right now. The powerful beings of the various races are ming all these newly appearing Hunters on you, and they hate you to the core. Also, the Saint Martial Sect has been under constant attack by Hunters these past few days. I fear they won''t be able to hold out much longer." John frowned. He didn''t care about the hatred from the other races. What concerned him was the fate of the Saint Martial Sect. Faction power came with attribute boosts. me Peak and Phoenix City were respectively the camps of the elves and the undead, and they had already fallen one after the other. The Saint Martial Sect absolutely couldn''t be next. Just as he was about to leave Death Land, he sensed a fluctuation of Spatial power, and a figure appeared. It was Kamal from the demon race. "What are you doing here?" John asked coldly, his brows furrowed. He had previously signed a soul contract with Michelle and a few others from the demon race, but it had been forcibly severed. He suspected Beelzebub was behind it. The newly emerging powerhouses from several races all possessed unfathomable strength. "I mean no harm," Kamal said, ncing at him. "I''m here to deliver a message. The demon race and the humans of Skyline Continent have learned that both the Dark Sea and the vein of the Earth are in your Death Land. They want to take control of Death Land. However, they''re currently fighting because they each want it for themselves. Still, I believe they''ll eventually coborate to seize Death Land together." "What?" John eximed, his expression growing serious. Death Land was full of treasures, not only holding the demon race''s Dark Sea and the vein of the Earth belonging to the humans of Skyline Continent, but also the Tree of Life. He didn''t want to give it up. But with his current strength, going up against the demon race and the humans of Skyline Continent was utterly impossible. "There''s one more thing," Kamal continued, locking eyes with John. "The other powerhouses have learned that the Beast n won''t protect you. They hold a deep grudge against you for destroying the Ancient Battlefield Ruins and releasing the Hunters. They''re preparing to come after you, though for now, they''re distracted by the Hunters. You''d bettere up with a n." Come up with a n? John was speechless. Despite his significant recent power boost, he was still no match for these true powerhouses. Moreover, with his physical body now present on Skyline Continent, death here would mean true death. "Hunters?" A thought crossed his mind, and he looked at Kamal, puzzled. "Are these Hunters also from the Ancient Battlefield Ruins?" Kamal nodded and exined, "The Hunters, like you yers, are Undying and Immortal. Even if they die, they can be reborn." John frowned. The queen bug of the Hunters had been killed by him, so resurrection should be impossible. Additionally, all the Hunters had already been ughtered by the god Heidern. Could it be that new Hunters had appeared? Kamal didn''t know the secrets behind the Hunters and didn''t offer further exnation. "Onest question," John said, his curiosity piqued. "Why are you helping me?" Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Hunters Descend, Abandoning Death Land Chapter 236: Hunters Descend, Abandoning Death Land ? Kamal frowned and said, "Godyer, I don''t particrly like you. But since Sini chose you, I can only help you this much. Whether or not you can deal with the current trouble is up to you." After speaking, she paid no further attention to John, her mind shifting as she left Death Land. "Master, what should we do?" Avis asked gravely. John furrowed his brows, unable toe up with a solution at the moment. "Let''s return to the Saint Martial Sect." With a thought, he left Death Land and returned to the Saint Martial Sect. Roar... Roar... The air was filled with furious roars and battle cries. Around them, a sea of Hunters surged forward. Saint Martial Sect, me City, and the elves were doing their best to hold the line, but the yers had already started suffering casualties. Everyone knew that death at the hands of these Hunters meant true death. Yet, they weren''t willing to abandon Saint Martial Sect so easily. "Hate Mark!" A furious shout echoed as a demigod-ranked Hunter fixed its gaze on John. "Attack! Take him down first!" it roared, and countless Hunters surged forward like a tidal wave. John hovered in the air, his brow furrowed, though he felt no fear toward these creatures. He could tell that these Hunters were entirely different from the previous ones. He was certain these were newly descended Hunters. To test his suspicion, he directly used a soul skill-an attack targeting the soul. Buzz! The air trembled as his powerful soul force struck the leading Hunter. "Cough!" John suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood as his soul suffered bacsh. As he suspected, these Hunters possessed incredibly strong souls, and there was a new queen bug behind them. "Foolish human, how dare you provoke the Hunters? You will die!" Roars filled the air as countless Hunters swarmed over John. "John!" Sini gasped in shock upon seeing this. She already knew that John had descended to Skyline Continent in his true body. Even if he hadn''t, these strange Hunters could stillpletely kill yers. She was about to rush to his aid. Buzz! Suddenly, the air hummed with sword intent, and an endless wave of sword light enveloped the area. John unleashed his ultimate skill, Return of Ten Thousand Swords. His powerful attack instantly ughtered all the surrounding Hunters. Even the leading demigod-ranked Hunter was effortlessly cut down by him. [You have killed a Level 5000 Tier 9 Hunter, gaining 17.6 million experience points.] [You have killed a Tier 9 Legendary Hunter, gaining 563 million experience points.] [Plunder Talent activated: You have gained 0.01 Shadow Power, +100 Spirit, +10 Skill Points.] ... The notification messages shed continuously, and the surrounding Hunters were wiped out in an instant. But before he could even catch his breath, countless more Hunters surged toward him. John didn''t strike again. He had thought of a solution. He immediately shouted, "Everyone, get into Death Land!" "Brother-inw, what about the Saint Martial Sect?" Armstrong quickly asked. John shook his head and said, "We can''t hold it. Let it go. We''ll rebuildter." Though Armstrong was unwilling, he still entered Death Land with the others. In an instant, everyone disappeared. The Hunters, unaware of Death Land''s coordinates, couldn''t follow them. Losing their targets, the Hunters'' fury turned toward the Saint Martial Sect, and they began destroying everything in sight. Before long, the Saint Martial Sect waspletely annihted. In Death Land. Everyone gathered around John, waiting for his next decision. John furrowed his brow. Death Land was no longer safe. The demon race, Skyline Continent humans, and other powerful beings could show up at any moment to attack him. He had already decided to temporarily abandon Death Land. With powerful beings from various races hunting him, he thought of a safer ce-the Ancient Battlefield Ruins! There were many Hunters there, and the gods from the various races wouldn''t dare descend. Moreover, the queen bug''s nest within the ruins was a natural stronghold, easy to defend and difficult to attack. If he could secure it, he could guarantee their safety and level up at the same time. However, the cave was small, and he couldn''t bring everyone. Therger the group, the bigger the target, and that would be less safe. At this point, his forces had dwindled to just the elves, the Undying Legion, and a few individuals like Elsa, Sara, Behemoth, and the Undead Lord. The powerful members of the Beast n had already returned to their n. Though Tony and the others were willing to help John, they didn''t dare defy the orders of the Cand-Dragon. John didn''t mind this. He looked around at everyone and spoke gravely, "I''m afraid we can''t hold onto Death Land anymore, and I''m being targeted by powerful beings from various races. The safest ce now is the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, where the Hunters are." "Boss, you''re insane!" Ritchie eximed, startled by John''s n. He quickly added, "Those Hunters came from the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, and they''re targeting you specifically. Besides, you''ve already-" He nced briefly at Sini, hesitating to continue. He didn''t know that Sini was already aware of John''s descent to Skyline Continent in his true body. "I have a way to deal with the Hunters," John said confidently. He looked around the group and continued, "But I can''t guarantee everyone''s safety. This time, I''m only taking some Blues Family members, the elves, Jean, Ada, Sara, Elsa, and a few others." Among the elves, there were no deities. The strongest, Bonnie, had already signed a soul contract with John. The elves were the only race on Skyline Continent he could trust. Although their numbers were small, once they leveled up, they would be a powerful asset for him. Ding! At that moment, his private chat alert sounded-it was from Armstrong. John gave him a puzzled look before checking the message. Revitalizing Ancient Martial Arts: Brother-inw, Sini already knows that you''ve descended to Skyline Continent. She stole a spatial stone and has also descended. What?! John red at Armstrong, then turned to look at Sini. "Hmph!" Sini snorted coldly, her gaze sharp. It was clear that she was still upset about John hiding his descent to Skyline Continent from her. John felt helpless, knowing there was no time to exin everything to Sini now. He would have to address itter. His attention shifted to the treasures within Death Land. He had already refined The Immortals'' Inheritance and could take it with him, but The Tree of Life, Dark Sea, and Vein of the Earth were different-he had no way to take them. "Big brother," Jean approached him, sensing what he was thinking, and said, "I can take The Tree of Life." "Really?" John looked at her, surprised and delighted. She nodded, then ran over to The Tree of Life, gently touching the thick trunk while whispering softly to it. Whoosh! Suddenly, The Tree of Life shrank, transforming into a streak of light, which was absorbed directly into Jean''s forehead. "All done!" She ran back to John, pping her hands happily. With The Tree of Life taken away, the vitality in Death Land disappeared, reced by a gray mist, restoring thend to its former state. With Vein of the Earth and Dark Sea still present, the corrosive darkness here was now even stronger than before.N?v(el)B\\jnn Fortunately, everyone was powerful, even the yers were now above Tier 6, so they wouldn''t be in immediate danger. John quickly retrieved The Immortals'' Inheritance and wasted no time. He looked at Ritchie and the others, instructing, "We''ll leave first and draw the Hunters away. After that, you can leave and linger near the edge of the Eternal Forest. Focus on leveling up as much as possible." "Don''t worry, boss, I know what to do," Ritchie nodded confidently. Without further words, John led the group out of Death Land. Whoosh! They descended onto what was left of the Saint Martial Sect. By now, the Saint Martial Sect had been mostly destroyed by the Hunters. Chris looked on, his face filled with sorrow. "Roar..." "Human, you will die!" Coming the angry roars of the Hunters as they swarmed toward John upon seeing him appear. "Fight your way out!" John ordered coldly, wielding his Sword of Divinity and Demons. He unleashed several powerful spells of light and darkness, cutting down swathes of Hunters. There were over two thousand elves in total, most of whom were Tier 6 or Tier 7 in strength, but they hadn''t yet gained the ability to fly. Avis couldn''t carry so many people, and John had no choice but to lead them on foot. Fortunately, their speed wasn''t slow, and with John''s terrifying magic and sword skills, the Hunters couldn''t get close. However,pletely shaking them off was impossible. The group pressed northward, making their way toward the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. John proactively brought Sini, Tracy, Chris, and Peter into the party. Since they had all descended into the world of Gods, death here meant true, permanent death. Strengthening themselves was now of utmost importance. Boom! Boom! Terrifying bursts of magic echoed as John relentlessly ughtered the Hunters. Yet their numbers didn''t diminish; instead, they seemed to increase. These creatures were drawn by the Hunters'' hate mark etched on John. In a way, this was a good thing. With so many Hunters around, the powerful beings from various races wouldn''t dare make a move against him. Especially the upper-tier gods, who posed a far greater threat to him than the Hunters. "John, can you still keep going?" Sini asked, concerned. He had been fighting nonstop for an entire day and night, and yet the Hunters still surrounded them in endless waves. Among them, only Elsa and the Undead Lord were demigods and could barely fend off the Hunters. The others were of little help. Especially since they had over two thousand elves and more than three hundred members of the Blues Family to protect, which only added to John''s burden. John was tired, but he smiled and said, "Don''t worry, I''m far from my limit." "But the number of Hunters is increasing, and at our current pace, it''ll take at least another day to reach the Ancient Battlefield Ruins," Sini replied, her worry deepening. As they drew closer to the ruins, the Hunters would be stronger, more numerous, and more frenzied. She felt guilty, knowing she couldn''t offer more help to John. "Big brother," Jean suddenly spoke, looking at him. "I can control The Tree of Life to temporarily block the Hunters'' attacks." "Really?" Everyone''s eyes lit up as they turned toward John, seeking his confirmation. John looked at Jean, intrigued, recalling the hint Ben had given him before he left. This little girl certainly had some secrets. But now wasn''t the time for questions. Shaking his head, he replied, "No rush. I''ll let you know when I can''t hold them off anymore." He increased the frequency of his attacks, quickening their pace forward. The others didn''t press the issue, doing their best to assist John in cutting down the surrounding Hunters. ... Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Ancient Battlefield Ruins, Five Hunter Queens Chapter 237: Ancient Battlefield Ruins, Five Hunter Queens ? Another day passed, and John and his group had finally neared the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. Aside from the constant assault from Hunters, they encountered no other obstacles along the way. However, the Hunters now appearing were mostly at the demigod level, their strength terrifying. Elsa and the Undead Lord were no longer able to offer much help. Even John couldn''t take down these Hunters as easily as before, forcing the group to slow their pace. There were even a few instances where Hunters broke through John''s defensive attacks and reached the elves, killing three of them. Fortunately, no members of the Blues Family had been harmed. Boom... Boom... The heavens echoed with a series of booming sounds as John unleashed his ultimate skill Return of Ten Thousand Swords. Boundless sword light rained down, temporarily clearing the surrounding Hunters, allowing him to finally breathe a sigh of relief. After two days and nights of intensebat, John was mentally exhausted, his head spinning from fatigue. He nced at Jean beside him and asked, "Jean, can The Tree of Life block these demigod- level Hunters?" The little girl remained silent for a moment, seeminglymunicating with The Tree of Life, before replying, "Yes, big brother. But The Tree of Life says she can only hold them off for half a day." "That''s enough," John nodded, "I need some rest. I''ll leave it to you." "Okay!" Jean agreed happily, thrilled to be able to help John. A beam of light shot out from her forehead and expanded into a towering tree, its immense life force radiating out to shield everyone. She immediately instructed, "Everyone, stay under The Tree of Life." The group quickly gathered beneath the tree, leaning against it to rest. Although they hadn''t been inbat, two days and nights of constant marching had left them utterly exhausted. John also rested against the tree, trying to recover his energy and replenish his drained spiritual power. Despite his Wrath of the Gods talent, which reduced his spiritual power consumption by 99%, the continuous high-intensity fighting, coupled with frequent use of ultimate skills, had nearly depleted his reserves. And spiritual power couldn''t be restored with potions; it could only recover slowly on its own. Roar... Roar... Around them, the endless roars of the Hunters echoed as they furiously attacked The Tree of Life, making everyone anxious. John felt concerned as well. But he quickly noticed that the Hunters posed no real threat to The Tree of Life. These Hunters'' greatest strengths were their soul attacks and percentage-based health damage. However, The Tree of Life was special, and soul attacks were almost entirely ineffective against her. As for percentage-based health damage, her immense regenerative abilities made it a non- issue. At the very least, she could hold out for half a day. John no longer concerned himself with the Hunters, sitting cross-legged to focus on quickly restoring his mental and spiritual power. ... After half a day, The Tree of Life had reached her limit. Wilting leaves began to fall. Although the Hunters couldn''t threaten her soul, the terrifying percentage-based health damage had severely wounded her. Fortunately, John had fully recovered both his mental state and his spiritual power. The group had also regained their strength after resting. John nced at The Tree of Life and quickly said, "Jean, withdraw it." "Okay," Jean replied, her heart aching for the tree. She immediately approached The Tree of Life, gently touching the trunk. The tree quickly shrank into a beam of light and was absorbed back into her forehead. John, linked to The Tree of Life through life-sharing, could feel the tree''s vitality rapidly recovering, and thankfully, there was nosting damage. Roar... A chorus of roars erupted as the Hunters, no longer held back by The Tree of Life, surged forward, relentless in their assault.N?v(el)B\\jnn Nearly all of them were demigod-level Hunters. Everyone tensed up. John, however, let out a coldugh. The Sword of Divinity and Demons appeared in his hand as powerful sword intent surged, the winds howling around him. Without hesitation, he unleashed his ultimate skill, Return of Ten Thousand Swords. Buzz... A humming echoed as countless des of sword light filled the sky, mercilessly ughtering the surrounding Hunters. Even the powerful demigod-level Hunters could barely withstand the first wave of sword strikes. "Move!" Johnmanded, leading the charge into the army of Hunters. Sword light rained down everywhere, with the powers of light and darknessw swirling around him, tearing apart the Hunters and clearing a path. He led the group forward at a swift pace. Atst, the entrance to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins came into view. The Hunters became even more frenzied, trying their hardest to block their advance. John remained unfazed. With the cooldown of Return of Ten Thousand Swordsplete, he unleashed it once more. Sword light nketed the sky again, apanied by the haunting cries of dying Hunters. Even the demigod-level Hunters couldn''t withstand the relentless onught and were cut down mercilessly. Fortunately, the most powerful enemies they had encountered so far were only demigod- level Hunters. Had there been arge number of lower-tier gods, even John might not have been able to hold them off. John gave it everything he had, finally reaching the entrance to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. The seal on the ruins had long been broken, making it an open secret area that anyone could enter. However, the ce was swarming with Hunters, enough to threaten even upper-tier gods. Apart from John, no one dared step foot here. Choosing the Ancient Battlefield Ruins wasn''t just about escaping from the gods-there was an even more critical reason: to enhance his Soul Technique. If his suspicions were correct, the Hunter Queens should drop Soul Essence. Refining that essence would allow him to gain 10,000 Soul Technique points. His current Soul Technique had already reached over 30,000 points. If he could absorb just one Soul Essence, it would push him over 40,000, enabling him to activate his divine talent- One Breath, Three Purities. He was extremely curious to see what effect this talent would have. Buzz! With a surge of sword intent, John unleashed Return of Ten Thousand Swords once again, the cascading sword light clearing the surrounding Hunters. He quickly turned to the others and said, "I''ll enter the Ancient Battlefield Ruins first. Count to three, then follow me." "Got it," they nodded in agreement. Wasting no time, John took a deep breath and stepped into the ruins. Whoosh... Winds howled, and the constant roar of Hunters echoed throughout. The sky and ground werepletely covered with an endless sea of ck-more Hunters than he had imagined. "So many?" His scalp tingled as countless attacks rained down, rapidly depleting his health. Realizing the situation, he immediately retaliated with skill attacks. With Return of Ten Thousand Swords still on cooldown, John activated the ultimate abilities of the Sword of Divinity and Demons. He unleashed Wrath of the Gods and Divine Punishment simultaneously. Without the boost from the swordws, the damage from these two ultimate skills wasn''t as powerful as Return of Ten Thousand Swords, and he couldn''t instantly kill the demigod-level Hunters. Darkness and lightws surged around him as he cast magical attacks, barely managing to clear the nearby Hunters. Whoosh! Suddenly, bright shes of light appeared around him as the others entered the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. "So many Hunters?" They gasped, swallowing nervously at the sight. Fear gripped them all. With this many Hunters, even The Tree of Life wouldn''t be able to hold them off. If John ran out of strength, everyone here would die. "Move!" John shouted without further exnation. Battling through the relentless attacks of countless Hunters, he swung the Sword of Divinity and Demons, hurling spells and sword skills to carve out a narrow path. Even so, his health continued to drop, and the life-sharing recovery from The Tree of Life was slowing. He grew increasingly anxious. With so many Hunters, there had to be more than one Queen in these ruins. He quickly activated Soul Perception, his powerful soul force spreading out to cover nearly the entire Ancient Battlefield Ruins. "Five!" John eximed in shock. There were five powerful soul auras here, each as strong as the previous Queen they had encountered. That meant five Hunter Queens had descended upon the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. Where on earth were these creaturesing from? Could it be that the Ancient Battlefield Ruins connected to Shadow n''s shadow star? All these Hunters were from Shadow n. John didn''t dwell on the mystery. The sheer number of Hunters was overwhelming, and there was no way he could escort over two thousand people safely to the cave. He needed another n. Undying me! He thought of the Undying me at the center of the battlefield''s seal-a me that was eternal, terrifying in its power, and one that the Hunters would never dare approach. Surrounded by countless Hunters, the sky and ground covered in darkness, John barely managed to determine the direction of the Undying me and elerated his attack, cutting his way through the swarm toward it. "Everyone, stick close to me and don''t fall behind. Elsa, Undead Lord, you two take the rear and hold off the Hunters as best as you can," he quickly instructed. "Got it," Elsa and the Undead Lord replied, moving to the back of the group. Although the number of Hunters was overwhelming, their strength wasn''t as formidable as feared. Elsa and the Undead Lord could barely hold them off. Whoosh! With a wave of John''s hand, several magical attacks rained down, cutting through the surrounding Hunters as he pressed forward toward the center of the seal. ... The temperature around them steadily rose, and the weaker members of the Blues Family and the elves were already struggling to endure it. John hadn''t yet seen the Undying me, but he guessed they were close. The number of Hunters around them was also decreasing. But now a new problem had emerged-just as the Hunters couldn''t withstand the heat of the Undying me, neither could the rest of his group, except for him. He turned to Jean and asked, "Can The Tree of Life shield us from this heat?" "I''ll ask," Jean replied and immediately beganmunicating with The Tree of Life. Momentster, she said, "Yes, big brother, but we can''t get too close to the Undying me." "Good," John exhaled in relief. "I''m going to pick up the pace. Let me know when The Tree of Life reaches its limit." Jean nodded. John quickened his speed, furiously cutting down the surrounding Hunters as they advanced. "Big brother, it''s time," Jean called out shortly after. They still had some distance to go before reaching the Undying me, but the number of Hunters had significantly dwindled. It wasn''t that The Tree of Life had reached its limit, but rather that the other members of the group were hitting theirs. The health of the elves and the Blues Family members was rapidly draining. Any further, and they would face certain death. Thankfully, there weren''t many Hunters left, and The Tree of Life could shield them from the heat. Jean quicklymunicated with The Tree of Life, which then took its full form, releasing vast life force to block the heat of the Undying me and heal the group''s wounds. John, feeling the pressure lift for a moment, took the opportunity to recover his own strength. Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Securing the Cave, Group Comprehension of The Immortals Inheritance Chapter 238: Securing the Cave, Group Comprehension of The Immortals'' Inheritance ? There was still some distance between them and the cave where thest Hunter Queen had appeared. The number of Hunters was overwhelming, and John wasn''t confident he could safely escort everyone at once. Leave in groups! The first group would need to have enough strength to block the cave entrance and hold off the Hunters. With a n in mind, John turned to Avis and asked, "Avis, if you return to your full size, how many people can you carry at once?" At the moment, Avis had taken human form to help lighten John''s burden in fighting the Hunters. Avis thought for a moment and replied, "Master, at most, I can carry about 500 people. Any more than that and my flight speed will be affected." "That''s enough," John nodded. At 500 people per trip, it would take five trips to transport everyone. "Godyer, I can carry around 100 people," Judy quickly chimed in. Her strength even surpassed Avis, but her small frame andck of flying skills limited her capacity. John shook his head and declined, "Your flight speed is too slow, and you can''t cover as wide an area." Judy, feeling a bit dejected, said no more. John immediately began assigning the first group, saying, "Elsa, Undead Lord, Sara, Bonnie - can you hold the cave entrance?" Elsa and Undead Lord were familiar with the cave from before. They nodded, but the Undead Lord hesitated, "But we won''t be able to get inside." "Don''t worry, the creature inside has already been in by me. You can enter now," John exined. The reason he was the only one able to enter the cavest time was that he had plundered Shadow Power, and the Queen had interfered with ess. Now that the Queen was dead, the barrier preventing entry had been removed. Plus, with his Soul Perception, he had confirmed that none of the five new Hunter Queens were in that cave. He continued, "The first group will consist of the Blues Family disciples. Anna, Yuel, Ada, Judy-you''ll go as well." After naming several women, he turned his attention to Jean. The little girl quickly reassured him, "Big brother, with The Tree of Life protecting me, I''ll be safe." "Good." John nodded and then looked at Behemoth. "Behemoth, make sure to keep Jean safe." Behemoth promptly replied, "Don''t worry, sir. As long as I''m here, nothing will happen to Miss Jean." John said nothing more. Avis returned to his true form-a massive ck dragon. Over 300 members of the Blues Family quickly climbed aboard. In addition, over 100 elves were arranged, bringing the total to more than 500. Roar! With a mighty roar, Avis soared into the sky, ignoring the Hunters'' attacks as he sped toward the cave. He knew that John would handle the Hunters for him. Flying at top speed, Avis moved through the air while Hunters fell like rain around him. Soon, they reached the cave. There was no sign of any life inside-it was absolutely safe. John immediately said, "Quick, get inside. Elsa, Undead Lord, I''m counting on you two here." As he spoke, he handed over more than 10,000 artifacts to both of them. Although these artifacts might not perfectly suit their abilities, they all possessed ultimate skills. If they ran out of mana, they could use the artifacts'' skills to hold off the Hunters. "Don''t worry, Master, we''ve got this," Elsa said confidently as she epted the artifacts. She then led the Blues Family disciples and the others into the cave while the Undead Lord took charge of guarding the entrance. After ensuring they could secure the entrance, John left. "Avis, let''s go!" hemanded, and Avis quickly shrunk back to a smaller size. Together, they charged into the horde of Hunters. John moved like a whirlwind through the battlefield, protecting Avis as they sped toward the Undying me''s location. Once again, they carried 500 elves, rushing them back to the cave. Transporting only 500 people at a time and moving through the air made the task much easier for him. With the help of Avis, Johnpleted five trips in less than a day, sessfully escorting everyone into the cave without a single casualty. "Master, you should rest for a while. The Undead Lord and I can hold the entrance," Elsa suggested, noticing John''s exhaustion. The Undead Lord quickly nodded in agreement, assuring him that they could manage. "All right," John agreed. He was indeed tired, and he had other matters to attend to. He headed deeper into the cave, where the Blues Family disciples and the elves were curiously exploring their surroundings. The cave was spacious enough that even with over 2,000 people, it didn''t feel crowded. "Hm?" John noticed something unusual-the broken shell fragments and the corpse of the Hunter Queen that had been there were now gone. Perhaps they were devoured by other Hunters. Not giving it much thought, he pulled out The Immortals'' Inheritance, nting the giant sword in the center of the cave. Jean also brought out The Tree of Life. Like Avis, The Tree of Life could freely change its size. Additionally, The Tree of Life could fortify the cave, preventing the Hunters from breaching the mountain walls. It also emitted vast amounts of life force, which would aid in refining The Immortals'' Inheritance. "Master," John said as he approached Chris, pulling out arge quantity of The Immortals'' treasures and Spirit Stones. "Let''s start by letting everyone refine these treasures." These treasures were all obtained from the Azure Family disciples he had in at the Seal Grounds, more than enough for the 300-plus Blues Family members to use for refining and fusing with artifacts. He then took out other treasures from various races, handing them to Bonnie, and said, "Bonnie, if there are suitable treasures for the elves, let them start refining them to increase their strength." These treasures were ones he had picked up during the raid on the Gods'' Void Area a few days ago. Unfortunately, there were only about 300 sets, not enough for all the elves to refine artifacts. The only regret was that the Hunters didn''t drop any treasures. It seemed they couldn''t refine treasures, which might exin why they were unable to break through the demigod level. "Thank you, my lord," Bonnie said gratefully. John nodded and then removed the restriction on The Immortals'' Inheritance, allowing everyone to receive its power. The inheritance of The Immortals was immense, and even tens of thousands of people wouldn''t deplete it. Moreover, the 2,000 people here would be his future strength. As soon as the restriction on the giant sword was lifted, Avis was the first to rush forward eagerly, sensing and merging with the portion of The Immortals'' Inheritance that suited him. Everyone began refining and fusing with their treasures, absorbing The Immortals'' Inheritance.N?v(el)B\\jnn John didn''t remain idle either. He took a moment to check his own attributes. After nearly three days of relentlessbat and ughtering countless Hunters, his power had increased significantly, despite the dangers. Especially his four main attributes. His physique had reached over 2.4 million points, his strength surpassed 5.5 million points, his spirit was at 3.5 million points, and his agility had reached 2.3 million points. With his current power, he could now easily annihte demigods with his ultimate skills, and killing lower-tier gods posed no challenge at all. Even against mid-tier gods, as long as they weren''t among the top-tier resurrected beings from the Seal Grounds, he was confident he could take them down. However, what excited him most was the prospect of upgrading his One Breath, Three Purities talent. All he needed was to kill one more Hunter Queen and obtain another Soul Essence, and he would be able to activate it. But before leaving, he needed to ensure that the cave was secure. He approached the entrance of the cave to relieve Elsa and the Undead Lord. "I''ve unlocked The Immortals'' Inheritance. You should try to see if you can receive the inheritance." The two of them were overjoyed. Elsa, however, noticed that John still seemed fatigued and frowned, "Master, have you not rested?" John smiled slightly and said, "Don''t worry. This level ofbat is like rest for me. I''ll need to step out for a while, so focus on improving your strength while I''m gone." Elsa, knowing his nature, sighed inwardly but said nothing. She and the Undead Lord retreated deeper into the cave to immerse themselves in The Immortals'' Inheritance. ... John wasn''t exaggerating. For him, this kind of battle posed no challenge. With The Tree of Life fortifying the terrain, the Hunters couldn''t damage the area around the cave. At most, only four Hunters could attack at a time. He felt no pressure whatsoever. For two days, John guarded the cave until Elsa and the Undead Lord emerged, followed closely by Avis. "You''ve already obtained The Immortals'' Inheritance?" he asked, surprised. The first time he refined The Immortals'' Inheritance, it took him seven full days. Of course, he had fully mastered it. Elsa, brimming with joy, replied, "Master, my four basic attributes have increased by 200,000 points, and my understanding of The Law of Light has greatly deepened. I also feel that I can continue to gain more from The Immortals'' Inheritance as I grow stronger." The Undead Lord nodded in agreement but nced at Avis and added, "But the biggest improvement was made by this guy." "Oh?" John was puzzled, not sensing any significant change in Avis''s strength. "Master," Avis said proudly, "I''ve sensed an inheritance as powerful as the Cand-Dragon Bloodlines, but I''m too weak to refine it yet. I need to get stronger." He could tell that fully gaining that inheritance''s power would require at least reaching demigod-level strength. Suddenly, Avis grinned and asked, "Master, do you think Cand-Dragon will regret not joining The Immortals once he realizes how powerful this inheritance is?" John chuckled, but didn''t say much more. Seeing the improvement in their strength made him genuinely happy. Elsa spoke up, "Master, you should rest. We can take it from here." "Alright." This time, John didn''t refuse. After days of relentless battle, his mind and body were utterly exhausted, and only his iron will had kept him going. Moreover, he still needed to kill a Hunter Queen, so his strength needed to be fully restored. He headed back into the depths of the cave, where life energy pulsed through the air, and multiplews of power weaved through the space. There were even severalws he had never encountered before. Most of the group was deep in meditation, absorbing The Immortals'' Inheritance. Jean and Behemoth, in particr, radiated strong, uniquews of power. John didn''t think too much about it. He leaned back against the trunk of The Tree of Life and quickly drifted into sleep. Sini opened her eyes, noticing how exhausted he looked. Her heart ached as she quietly got up, moved to his side, and gently pulled him into her embrace. Chapter 239: Chapter 239: Slaying the Queen, Gaining Another Soul Essence Chapter 239: ying the Queen, Gaining Another Soul Essence ? "Could it be because I''m part of the demon race? It feels like The Immortals'' Inheritance doesn''t have anything suitable for me," Sini muttered, frowning as she stared at the giant sword in front of her. She could sense a powerful force within the sword drawing her in, but whenever she tried to connect with it, the sensation would vanish. It was as if that power didn''t want her to refine it. "Ugh," she sighed, frustrated, but unwilling to give up so easily. She closed her eyes again and focused, trying to sense the power once more. ... John awoke around noon the next day. The days of continuous fighting had taken a toll on him mentally. As he became aware of the soft sensation beneath him, he realized he had been leaning on Sini the entire time. A feeling of warmth filled his heart. Sini hadn''t been training. She was leaning against the trunk of The Tree of Life, staring absentmindedly at The Immortals'' Inheritance, her brow furrowed and her expression glum. "What''s wrong? Who''s got you feeling so down?" John asked, standing up and looking at her with curiosity. "Oh, John, you''re awake," Sini said, her face lighting up before she sighed again. "I can''t seem to obtain The Immortals'' Inheritance. Do you think it''s because I''m part of the demon race?" "That doesn''t seem right," John replied, puzzled. He had already removed the restrictions for refining The Immortals'' Inheritance-any race should be able to receive it. Elsa, Sara, Bonnie, and others had all been able to refine it, so Sini should be able to as well. "Can you sense the inheritance?" John asked, intrigued. Sini nodded. "Yes, there''s a strong force, but it resists me. It won''t let me refine it." "Resists you?" John was equally confused. He suddenly remembered that Avis had sensed a powerful bloodline inheritance and asked, "Could it be because your strength isn''t enough yet?" Sini frowned, thinking for a moment. "I don''t think that''s it. The inheritance seems to have a consciousness of its own and doesn''t want me to refine it." Now John was even more puzzled. He knew that The Immortals'' Inheritance was vast, and even he hadn''t fully understood its depths. Sini''s description of the situation was something he had never encountered before. Moreover, inheritance powers typically shouldn''t have their own consciousness. "Don''t worry about it. I''ll just focus on getting stronger for now," Sini said, deciding to put the issue aside. Since she couldn''t obtain the inheritance, she would continue leveling up. Over the past few days, Sara and the others had begun to wake up, having received parts of The Immortals'' Inheritance, and their strength had increased dramatically. Sara, Bonnie, and Behemoth were now able to easily hold off the Hunters at the cave''s entrance, alternating shifts with Elsa and the Undead Lord. John''s intervention was no longer necessary. John decided it was time to y a Hunter Queen and enhance his Soul Technique to see if he could activate his One Breath, Three Purities talent. After informing Sini and the others, he set off alone, leaving the cave. None of them were worried. If John could fend off the Hunters while protecting them, he would have no trouble on his own. Roar... Roar... The ferocious roars of Hunters echoed as soon as he left the cave, with countless creatures swarming toward him. Buzz! A powerful surge of sword intent filled the air. Without even using his ultimate ability, he summoned the Infinite Sword Array, effortlessly cutting down the Hunters. These creatures were no longer a match for him. Using Soul Perception, John could clearly sense five massive life forces within the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. He chose the closest one and began cutting his way through. The Hunters along this path grew stronger, all of them at the demigod level. It seemed as though these creatures had sensed his purpose, as their attacks became increasingly ferocious and desperate. They threw themselves at him recklessly, doing everything they could to halt his progress. The endless waves of demigod Hunters surged like a tide, each carrying 0.1% life damage and capable of soul attacks. Even a powerful upper-tier god would fall if surrounded by a thousand of these Hunters. But John had no fear. With his exceptional life regeneration, coupled with the cooldown reduction and skill cost reduction granted by his Wrath of the Gods talent, his ultimate abilities could wipe out demigod-level Hunters in seconds. They posed no real threat to him. "Hmm, another cave!" John slowed his pace, ughtering the relentless Hunters as he neared the entrance of a dark cave. The powerful life force he had been tracking emanated from within-it was undoubtedly a Hunter Queen. Without hesitation, John charged toward the cave. "Human, leave this ce!" roared the demigod Hunters emerging from the cave in waves. They fought desperately to block John''s advance, but their efforts were in vain. Buzz! The hum of sword intent filled the air as John unleashed his ultimate skill, Return of Ten Thousand Swords. The overwhelming force of his attack sent a storm of sword light raining down, instantly clearing the surrounding Hunters. A wide, empty space opened up before the cave entrance, and in a sh, John darted into the cave. Although the cave was protected by restrictive forces, John''s Plundered Shadow Power had reached over 50,000 points, allowing him to pass through the barrier without any resistance and delve deeper into the cave. Roar... Roar... More roars echoed through the cave as shadows flickered. Countless demigod-level Hunters rushed at him from inside. At the same time, Hunters began to appear at the cave''s entrance, closing in on him from both sides for a two-pronged assault. John showed no fear. In the cramped cave, the threat posed by these Hunters was nearly insignificant.N?v(el)B\\jnn The ground was littered with broken eggshells, and rows of Hunter eggs were neatly lined up along the rocky walls. These were all the Hunters that had been resurrected by the Queen. Without hesitation, John attacked, destroying them all. The giant eggs shattered, revealing the fragile, undeveloped Hunters inside, their pained wails echoing through the cave. This sight enraged the surrounding Hunters even more. They grew increasingly frenzied, roaring as they charged at him. "Human, you are unforgivable!" "Tear him to pieces and offer him to the Queen!" "Roar..." Their furious roars echoed through the cave, the Hunters piling up faster than they could devour the bodies of their fallenrades. John strode forward over the heaps of corpses, moving deeper into the cave. The Hunters were furious and frenzied, but they were no match for him. As he pressed onward, the cave became so packed with Hunters that it was almost impossible to move. Behind him, the echoes of roars and wails filled the air. Countless Hunters were being ughtered, but even more were rushing to take their ce. Many were being trampled to death by their own kind as they scrambled to block John''s path. John suspected that the Hunter Queen had sensed the danger and had ordered the Hunters, both inside and outside the cave, to do whatever it took to stop him. "Do you really think this will slow me down?" he muttered with a cold smirk, dark energy swirling around him. Buzz! The air trembled as he cast a powerful dark magic spell-Annihtion! Whoosh! The Spell Combo triggered, summoning multiple Dark Orbs, which rapidlypressed into small ck holes. The immense gravitational pull began devouring everything in their path. Even the powerful demigod-level Hunters were sucked into the ck holes, instantly shredded to nothingness. Blood mist filled the air. Guiding the Dark Orbs, John advanced toward the depths of the cave. Suddenly, the cave opened up into arger chamber, filled with more Hunters. At the far end, lying on an elevated stone tform, was the Hunter Queen. "Human, leave this ce!" the Queen roared in terror, unable to move. Her expression was one of fear and fury. John had no intention of talking. The Immortal Sword flew out from within him as he unleashed his ultimate skill once again-Return of Ten Thousand Swords. Buzz! The sword intent buzzed through the air as an overwhelming pressure filled the cave, and countless sword beams rained down in the confined space. Roar... The Hunters had nowhere to escape. The sword beams shredded them to pieces. The Hunter Queen fared no better, struck by wave after wave of sword light, leaving her covered in wounds. Her health was immense, but under John''s relentless attacks and percentage-based life damage, even she wouldn''tst much longer. "Human, stop! I''m willing to remove the Hunters'' hatred mark from you. If you kill me, the mark will deepen, and you''ll never escape the Hunters'' pursuit!" the Queen, sensing the looming threat of death, hurriedly pleaded. John sneered, "Heh, I don''t care." To him, these weak Hunters posed no threat, no matter how many came. Sure, they could overwhelm him with sheer numbers, but once he was outside, in the open world, he could outrun them easily. There was no way they could stop him. "Human, you underestimate the Hunters! There are beings among us stronger than demigods. Cross us, and your death is certain!" the Hunter Queen threatened once more. Stronger than demigods? John frowned slightly. If arge number of lower-tier god-level Hunters appeared, they could indeed pose a threat to him. But by then, his own strength would have improved as well. He was willing to take the risk. "Die!" John dered coldly. Wielding the Sword of Divinity and Demons, he unleashed the powerful forces of light and darkness, casting endless magic across the entire cave. The surrounding Hunters were swiftly obliterated, and a barrage of magic rained down upon the Queen. "No..." the Queen let out one final, bitter cry as her life force was rapidly drained. Her massive body burst open, scattering loot across the ground. John''s eyes lit up-there it was, a Soul Essence. [You have in the Hunter Queen and earned 100 billion experience points.] [Your level has increased to 1703...] [Plunder talent activated: Soul Technique +1000, Shadow Power +1000.] [Your Hunters'' hatred mark has deepened. You will now face relentless pursuit from the Hunters.] ... The notifications shed in front of him. John''s level had risen to 1703, and at level 2000, he would be ready for his eighth ss advancement. With the sheer number of Hunters in this area, it wouldn''t take long for him to reach the eighth tier. In addition to the experience, he had once again plundered 1000 points of Soul Technique and 1000 points of Shadow Power. His Hunters'' hatred mark had deepened, but John didn''t care in the slightest. "Human, you are unforgivable!" came the furious roars of the Hunters flooding into the cave. Seeing their Queen dead, they were enraged and charged toward him in a frenzy. John smirked as the air around him trembled with the surge of his powerful soul force. With the Queen dead, these Hunters had lost their ability to resurrect. He unleashed Soul Impact, enveloping the Hunters in an effort to annihte thempletely. Chapter 240: Talent Copy Stone and One Breath, Three Purities 240 Chapter 240: Talent Copy Stone and One Breath, Three Purities "Cough!" Suddenly, John spat out a mouthful of blood, his soul suffering a bacsh. "Damn, I almost forgot¡ªthere are still four other Hunter Queens here," he muttered, fighting off the dizziness in his head as he wiped the blood from his mouth. With no other choice, he continued his relentless attacks. Though the Queen he had killed left her Hunters without protection, the remaining four Queens were still alive. These Hunters not just the kindred with the dead Queen. The cave was cramped, and the Hunters posed little danger to him. As he ughtered the remaining Hunters, he collected the items dropped by the dead Queen. Among the loot were over ten thousand sets of artifacts, many of which were mid-grade, though none were high-grade. Additionally, there were a vast number of elemental Spirit Stones, bloodline awakening stones, and various items useful for fusing treasures. The most valuable part of the haul was the skill stones. He had acquired more than four million skill stones¡ªenough to level up his Immortal Sword Techniqueto 10,000. Of course, what he was most excited about was the Soul Essence. "Huh, what''s this?" Nearby, two milky white stones caught his attention. These two stones, along with the Soul Essence, had dropped from the Hunter Queen. Curious, John inspected them. [Talent Copy Stone: Allows you to copy one talent from a target. This will cause some damage to the target''s soul. The stone disappears after use.] [Note: Unique talents can also be copied, but the target must be willing. No mind control or coercion allowed.] John frowned. This item seemed a bit tricky. Copying talents sounded powerful, but the condition that the target had to be fully willing limited its potential. You couldn''t force it, even through hypnosis or mind control. Only those closest to him would likely agree to such a request. Hispanionshave no talent can attract him. Though John''s talents were suitable for hispanions, the soul damage caused by the stone made him reluctant to use it for now. He casually stored the two Talent Copy Stonesand turned his attention back to the Soul Essence. Fortunately, the Undying mehadn''t dissipated yet, so he could use it to refine and fuse with the Soul Essence. "Right, the Red Lotus Fireis also a special me. I wonder if it can refine the Soul Essence?" John mused, as a red me danced to life in his palm. "Just as I thought!" John grinned with excitement, realizing it was indeed possible. However, the refining process was much slowerpared to using the Undying me. Moreover, using the Undying mehad an additional benefit¡ªit would allow his Crimson Karma Lotusto absorb the me and grow stronger. "Time to fight my way out and continue refining with the Undying me." After thoroughly checking the cave for anything he might have missed, John prepared to leave. Whoosh! Several Dark Orbsappeared, rapidlypressing as he once again activated the dark magic skill, Annihtion. The demigod-level Hunters stood no chance before him. John easily burst out of the cave. Perhaps because the Hunters'' hatred mark on him had deepened, the surrounding Hunters became even more frenzied, swarming toward him like a massive tide. Inside the cave, he had to be cautious, fearing that the cave might copse. But outside, in the open sky and vast terrain, he could fight without restraint. The Three-Foot ck Dragon Swordsplit into three, spinning wildly, cutting through the surrounding Hunters like a whirlwind. Perhaps it was due to his upgraded Three-Apertured Exquisite Heart, but controlling three flying swords simultaneously now felt even more natural and fluid. The buzzing sword intent filled the air as powerfulws of light and darkness surged around him. He unleashed a barrage of magical and sword techniques, raining devastation upon the Hunters. These Hunters are powerless in front of him. John charged forward, cutting through the horde, quickly reaching the core of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins'' seal. The temperature around him rose dramatically, the scorching heat burning the air itself, forcing the Hunters to keep their distance. After hisst encounter with the Undying meand his mastery of the Red Lotus Fire, his resistance to the Undying mehad significantly improved. Now, he could directly enter the core area, though he still didn''t dare touch the Undying meitself. Outside, the Hunters roared in fury but didn''t dare to approach. As more and more gathered, some were pushed into the Undying me''srange, where they let out agonized screams as they spontaneouslybusted. The terrifying sight caused the remaining Hunters to retreat, unwilling to step closer. John paid them no mind. His thoughts turned inward as he retrieved the Soul Essenceand began to absorb the Undying meto refine it. Buzz! As the Soul Essencecame into contact with the Undying me, the searing heat began to scorch his soul. Pain twisted John''s features, but deep within his soul, the Crimson Karma Lotusemerged just in time to shield him, absorbing and refining the Undying me. Even with its protection, the pain was almost unbearable, a searing agony that pushed him to his limits. However, both his Soul Techniqueand the Crimson Karma Lotuswere growing, albeit slowly. ... The pain persisted for an entire day, pushing John to the brink of copse several times. Finally, he fully refined and absorbed the Soul Essence. [You have refined and absorbed the Soul Essence. Soul Technique +10,000] [Crimson Karma Lotus has absorbed the Undying me. Red Lotus Fire''s power has increased.] The notifications shed before him. His Soul Techniquehad increased by another 10,000 points, bringing it to over 43,000. Additionally, the power of his Red Lotus Firehad been significantly enhanced. John nced at the nearby white mes of the Undying me. The Crimson Karma Lotushad been able to absorb it while refining the Soul Essence¡ªcould it absorb the Undying medirectly? The thought tempted him, but he ultimately abandoned the idea, realizing it was far too reckless. Perhaps the Crimson Karma Lotuscould absorb the Undying medirectly, but John dared not attempt it. He knew his current strength was far from enough to withstand the me. Even the slightest contact with the Undying mecould result in his Divine Soulbeing obliterated, leading to his total demise. After all, the Undying mewas capable of instantly killing mid-tier gods and even posed a threat to upper-tier gods. "I should be able to activate One Breath, Three Puritiesnow," John thought, sensing that his Soul Techniquehad be powerful enough, with no more restrictions. He nced around. With the Undying meguarding the area, the Hunters dared note close, so the spot was safe. With that, he focused his mind and attempted to activate One Breath, Three Purities. Buzz! A violent buzzing filled his mind as if his soul were being torn apart. The pain was unbearable. "What''s happening?" he thought, startled, and immediately stopped. It felt as though using One Breath, Three Puritieswould directly split his soul, causing serious damage. John checked the description of the talent once more. The ability allowed him to split into three avatars representing Heaven, Earth, and Man, each capable of independent training and growth. Could this mean his soul would also split? There had been no warning from the system, so he shouldn''t be in any real danger. Gritting his teeth, he decided to push forward and try again. Buzz! The excruciating pain hit him once more, like his soul was being ripped apart. He gritted his teeth and persevered. Crack! It felt as though something shattered in his mind. A crack appeared in his soul, which had been protected by the Crimson Karma Lotus, and then, with a loud mental boom, his soul split into four parts. "Cough!" John spat out blood, his face pale as his soul took severe damage. But it worked¡ªthe three souls of Heaven, Earth, and Man had sessfully formed. Focusing, he willed the three souls to leave his mind. They floated in front of him, each pulsing with immense soul energy, and each one possessing 10,000 points in Soul Technique. However, these were still only souls. To fully form, they would need bodies as well. "The Tree of Life!" he suddenly recalled how Behemoth had regrown a severed limb, with Tony using branches from the Tree of Lifeto craft an arm. The reconstructed arm had been even stronger than before. Could he use the Tree of Lifeto form bodies for his avatars? This seemed entirely possible. "Time to head back," he thought, recalling the three souls back into his mind. With One Breath, Three Purities, each of the three souls had its own independent consciousness, though the main body¡ªhis original self¡ªstill remained in control. As the three souls slowly merged back into his mind, his Soul Techniquereturned to its previous state. Apart from the initial damage caused by the split, there were no other negative effects. Moreover, as the three avatars of Heaven, Earth, and Man grew stronger independently, when they merged back with him, his overall strength would see a significant boost. "Return to the cave!" John decided not to dwell on these thoughts any longer. Rising to his feet, he yed the gathered Hunters around him and made his way back to the cave. Cutting through the Hunters like they were nothing, John soon reached the cave from before. Outside the cave, Sara and the others were already engaged in battle, killing off the Hunters. Behemoth, in particr, was shining with golden light. The power of the golden Behemoth bloodline had grown even purer. With a single punch, he crushed a dozen Hunters instantly. Near the cave entrance, the elves and Blues Family disciples wereunching long-range attacks, taking down Hunters to increase their levels and strength. Having received The Immortals'' Inheritance, their power had seen a significant rise. John felt gratified by their progress. "Master!" Elsa noticed him and immediately rushed over. Seeing that he was unharmed, she breathed a sigh of relief. With a worried expression, she asked, "Master, I sensed that your soul was severely injured earlier. Did something happen?" Because of the life-sharing bond she had with John, Elsa could clearly feel when his soul was hurt. N?v(el)B\\jnn John reassured her, "I''m fine. I just used a new ability." He nced at the battlefield and saw that everyone was working together seamlessly, having cleared out a safe zone near the entrance. "Where''s Jean? I need to speak with her," he asked, noticing Jean wasn''t present. "She''s by the cave entrance. She and Tracy are using their healing abilities to help everyone recover," Elsa exined, pointing toward the cave. John nodded and headed inside, quickly finding Jean. "Big brother, what''s going on?" she asked excitedly as she ran over to him. John exined, "I want to use The Tree of Lifeto create a few avatars. Can youmunicate with her for me?" Although John had signed a life-sharing bond with The Tree of Life, he couldn''tmunicate with it directly. However, Jean''s unique abilities allowed her to talk with The Tree of Lifewithout any barriers. "Sure!" Jean agreed enthusiastically and pulled John toward the depths of the cave. The Tree of Lifewasn''t fully manifest, only upying half of the cave in its current form. "Huh? Sini!" John''s attention was suddenly drawn to Sini, who was standing in front of The Immortals'' Inheritance. Her eyes were bloodshot, ring intensely at the giant sword. The energy around her was chaotic and unstable, as if she was on the verge of losing control, possibly sumbing to a demonic state. rmed, John immediately interrupted her connection with The Immortals'' Inheritance. "Get away!" Sini roared in fury, her eyes crimson, and her demeanor utterly unfamiliar. She attacked John without hesitation. "Sini, what''s wrong?" Jean eximed in shock. They had all assumed that Sini was merelyprehending The Immortals'' Inheritance, and thus, no one had disturbed her. Creation is hard, cheer me up! Like it ? Add to library£¡ Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know. BigWhiteGoose Creator''s Thought Chapter 241: Rebuilding the Body, Leveling Up 241 Chapter 241: Rebuilding the Body, Leveling Up "Sini, stop! You''re about to fall into a demonic state!" John shouted sternly, effortlessly deflecting her attack. With a wave of his hand, he severed her connection to The Immortals'' Inheritance. "Cough!"Sini suddenly coughed up blood, looking disoriented. "John, did something happen just now?" She had no memory of what had urred, as if she had been under someone else''s control. John shook his head in confusion and asked, "What did you sense from The Immortals'' Inheritance?" Sini frowned, trying to recall. "It was a powerful, tempting force. It felt like it wanted me to abandon everything and give inpletely..." At this, she swallowed nervously, fear creeping into her heart. That force had made her forget everything, even John. It was something she could never ept. John''s expression grew serious as he nced at the giant sword. The Immortals'' Inheritanceshouldn''t harbor such strange, malevolent energy. Could someone have tampered with it? "Sini," he said, "don''t attempt toprehend The Immortals'' Inheritanceanymore. I''ll find another way to help you improve your strength." He thought about the two Talent Copy Stoneshe had recently acquired. If necessary, he could copy his Plunderand Undying and Immortaltalents for Sini. The Plundertalent would allow her to continuously grow stronger, and the Undying and Immortaltalent would enhance her survival abilities. However, doing so would cause irreversible damage to his soul. With his Soul Techniquestill at a rtively low level, John decided to wait until he had in the remaining four Hunter Queens before considering this option. Sini nodded and cast a wary nce at The Immortals'' Inheritance, clearly shaken by the experience. She sighed in frustration, ncing at John and Jean with a teasing look. "I''ll go outside and level up so I won''t interrupt the two of you." With that, she quickly ran off. John was left speechless. Clearly, Sini had implied something else entirely. Did she think he was that kind of person? He had serious business to take care of with Jean. The two of them made their way to The Tree of Life. Jean immediatelymunicated with The Tree of Life, exining that John wanted to create three avatars. Rustle, rustle... The leaves and branches of The Tree of Lifeswayed as if trying to convey something, though John couldn''t understand. Jean turned to him and exined, "Big brother, The Tree of Lifewants to know if your avatars have any special traits. She can absorb the energy of various items, like elemental Spirit Stones or bloodline awakening stones, and use them to create avatars with different attributes or even different races." "It can do that?" John asked in surprise. Excitement welled up inside him. The avatars could train separately, which meant they could also fuse with treasures from other races. In that case, it made sense for his three avatars to be of different races. After all, he had mastered four supreme techniques, each corresponding to different attributes aside from Soul Technique. The Immortal Sword Techniquewas a top-tier technique from The Immortals, and it represented John''s true self. Divine Pathwas a technique from the gods, while Overwhelming Battle Energycame from the Beast n. His avatars could each embody one of these: one for the Beast n, and one for the gods. As for the third choice, John was uncertain. Both the demon race and the Skyline Continent humans were strong contenders. In the end, he chose the Skyline Continent humans. The gods and demon race were somewhat simr, so with a gods avatar already in ce, there was no need for a demon race avatar. John exined his n to The Tree of Life. Jean continued, "Big brother, do you have elemental Spirit Stones, bloodline awakening stones, or other items? The more, the better." John''s mind raced as he pulled out the elemental Spirit Stones, bloodline awakening stones, and other items he had obtained from ying the Hunter Queens. He also had over 20,000 artifacts, enhancement stones, embedded gems, and various other materials. He looked at Jean and asked, "Can all of these be used?" The Tree of Lifeswayed gently once again. Jean''s eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes! Especially the artifacts¡ªthey can help The Tree of Lifecreate even stronger avatars, perhaps even stronger than your original self." "Really?" John nced at The Tree of Life, momentarily tempted by the idea of breaking down and rebuilding his own body from scratch. But he dismissed the thought¡ªit was too extreme. Focusing his mind, he split his soul, manifesting the Heaven, Earth, and Man souls. Each soul received 10,000 points of his Soul Technique. With his Soul Techniquereduced to just over 13,000 points, he felt significantly weakened and ufortable. Whoosh! The branches of The Tree of Lifegently descended, carefully wrapping around John''s three souls. Then, the soil near its roots began to churn, swallowing up all the materials John had provided¡ªartifacts, stones, and other items¡ªrefining and absorbing them to help the Heaven, Earth, and Man souls form their new bodies. The auras surrounding the three souls were distinctly different. The Heaven Soulwas imbued with the opposing forces of light and darkness. The Earth Soulemanated immense bloodline power. The Man Soulwas infused with the basic elements: wind, fire, water, and earth, each representing aw of nature. Jean spoke up, "Big brother, The Tree of Lifesays it will take seven days toplete the formation of the avatars. If the Vein of the Earthand Dark Seawere still avable, it could be done faster, and the avatars would be even more powerful." "Hmm. Don''t worry."John nodded. He could wait for seven days. He knew that eventually, he would reim both the Vein of the Earthand the Dark Sea, as well as the Elven Springfrom the Void Area. N?v(el)B\\jnn "Master!" Elsa suddenly rushed in, her face filled with panic. "Why has your soul weakened again?" John smiled and reassured her, "It''s fine. This is just part of a new technique I''ve learned." "Master, weakening your soul is no small matter," Elsa said, still worried. She could sense that while John''s soul had been weakened, its core remained intact, which reassured her somewhat. John nodded but didn''t borate further. One Breath, Three Puritieswas another one of John''s trump cards, and he didn''t want too many people to know about it. Of course, he trusted Elsa. "You two should focus on increasing your strength. I have a few things to take care of," John said, dismissing Elsa and Jean as he pulled out his skill stones to refine them. With over five million skill points at his disposal, it was enough to raise the Immortal Sword Techniqueto level 10,000. The sword technique would then grant 100% true damage, and he felt there was a high chance he couldprehend a new skill. [Consume 1,000 skill points, Immortal Sword Techniqueupgraded to level 5,429, Sword Mastery +1] ... [Consume 1,000 skill points, Immortal Sword Techniqueupgraded to level 6,000, Sword Mastery +1] [Sword Lawprehension: 60%, sword skills and attacks now deal 60% true damage] ... [Consume 1,000 skill points, Immortal Sword Techniqueupgraded to level 9,999, Sword Mastery +1] [Immortal Sword Techniquehas reached the current level cap and cannot be further upgraded] The notifications blinked before him. John had consumed a massive number of skill points, raising the Immortal Sword Techniqueto level 9,999, only to find it could no longer be upgraded. "What''s going on?" John was confused and puzzled. Thest time he upgraded his Soul Technique, there had been no such limitation. He attempted to level it up again, but it still wouldn''t go any further. "The Immortals'' Inheritance!" he realized. The limitation wasn''ting from the skill itself but from The Immortals'' Inheritance. Could it be because his level was too low? John furrowed his brows. He had been eager to upgrade the Immortal Sword Techniqueto level 10,000 to see if he could unlock a new skill. Thest time he had hit level 1,000, he had gained the ultimate skill Return of Ten Thousand Swords. Reaching level 10,000 held a strong likelihood of unlocking an even more powerful skill. But now, there was this unexpected restriction. "Forget it, I''ll focus on leveling up first," John muttered to himself. Although he had over 700,000 skill points left, it wasn''t nearly enough to cover the immense cost of further improvements. Divine Path Techniqueand Overwhelming Battle Energywere also avable for upgrades, but neither offered significant power boosts at the moment, so he decided not to prioritize them. John nced at the three souls wrapped by The Tree of Life, still slowly forming into avatars. With seven days before theirpletion, he resolved to focus on reaching level 2,000 andpleting his eighth advancement. He left the cave and found Sini. "Sini, let me help you level up." "Alright!" Sini agreed eagerly. Not having received The Immortals'' Inheritance, she had been feeling somewhat down. "Old man, I''ming too!" Tracy chimed in, stepping forward. John nodded in agreement and added both women to his party. At this point, Sini had reached level 1,455, and Tracy was at level 1,501. Both had made significant progress in their levels. John decided that during these seven days, he would help the two of them reach level 2,000 and achieve their eighth advancement, which would greatly increase their strength. He avoided killing Hunters near the cave, as his immense power and rapid killing pace would leave few Hunters for others to fight. Instead, he led Sini and Tracy on a journey through the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. Due to the hatred mark from the Hunters, they didn''t need to search for enemies¡ªHunters swarmed toward them without any effort on their part. With John leading the way, they faced no real pressure, as he continued to decimate the Hunters with ease. ... Four days passed quickly. During that time, John and his team returned to the cave twice to rest, spending the rest of their time ughtering Hunters relentlessly. [You have reached level 2,000. The advancement quest has been unlocked. You may now continue to level up afterpleting the advancement.] [Wrath of the GodsMage 8th Advancement Quest: Kill 100 Legendary-level 8th-tier creatures] [Nightmare Assassin8th Advancement Quest: Kill 100 Legendary-level 8th-tier creatures] [Sword Immortal8th Advancement Quest: Kill 100 Legendary-level 8th-tier creatures] John had finally reached level 2,000, unlocking the quest for his eighth ss advancement. Toplete the quest, he needed to y 100 legendary-level, 8th-tier creatures. Given that nearly all the Hunters in the Ancient Battlefield Ruinswere at least 7th tier, with billions of them around, finding and killing 8th-tier legends would be a simple task. At the same time, Sini and Tracy had both reached level 1,900. They would soon hit level 2,000 as well. John continued his relentless ughter of the surrounding Hunters. Buzz! Sword intent filled the air as the Immortal Swordflew out. He unleashed his ultimate skill, Return of Ten Thousand Swords. The oppressive aura spread wide, and countless sword beams filled the sky, cutting down all the Hunters within several hundred meters. In an instant, the area around him was cleared of Hunters, and John easilypleted his advancement quest, sessfully reaching the 8th tier. He attempted to raise the level of the Immortal Sword Techniqueonce again, but it still refused to budge. "Does it want me to reach the 9th tier first?" John wondered in frustration. To advance to the 9th tier, he needed to hit level 5,000. While there were plenty of Hunters here, it would still take at least a month to reach that level, even with constant grinding. Chapter 242: Forming the Avatars, Copying Talents 242 Chapter 242: Forming the Avatars, Copying Talents Hunters continued to swarm around them. But John brushed off his frustrations and resumed the ughter. Both women were actively engaged as well, asionally unleashing their own abilities to attack the surrounding Hunters. Tracy, especially, as an Alchemist ss, had gained considerable power after receiving The Immortals'' Inheritance. Not only did she master powerful healing skills, but she also wielded deadly poison attacks that inflictedsting damage on enemies. Even 8th-tier Hunters couldn''t withstand her attacks. Sini, armed with a longbow, fired arrows relentlessly,unching a fierce assault on the Hunters around her. However, her damage output was low¡ªbarely able to break through the defenses of 8th-tier elite Hunters. Against higher-level elites, her attacks failed to cause any real damage. ¡­ Three more days passed, and Sini and Tracy both reached level 2,000. With John''s help, they managed to kill 8th-tier legendary creatures andpleted their advancement quests. John''s level had also risen to over 2,100. It was time to return. Rather than continuing to level up, John decided to head back. Seven days had passed, and he could sense that the Heaven, Earth, and Man souls had sessfully formed their physical bodies with the help of The Tree of Life. He was eager to check on their progress. Leading the two women, John quickly made his way back to the cave. Roar¡­ The sound of battle echoed all around as countless Hunters still swarmed outside the cave. However, with everyone''s increased strength, the Hunters no longer posed much of a threat. The elves and Blues Family disciples had all reached the 7th tier, with their power significantly enhanced. With the help of Sara and a few other strong warriors, they easily held off the Hunters'' attacks. After greeting the others, John made his way to the depths of the cave. Buzz¡­ A vast life force surged around him. The Tree of Life, sensing John''s presence, lowered the three avatars, now fully formed. The three avatars looked exactly like him, but their auras werepletely different. One was a gods avatar, one a Beast n avatar, and the third a Skyline Continent human avatar. "Whoa, old man! Who are they?" Tracy eximed, staring at the three figures in astonishment. The three avatars were indistinguishable from John in appearance. If it weren''t for the difference in their auras, it would be nearly impossible to tell them apart. Tracy could clearly sense that these avatars had powerful soul signatures. They were truly alive. "They''re my three avatars," John exined briefly before stepping forward to examine their attributes. Each avatar had base stats of 100,000 in all four major attributes and shared the One Breath, Three Puritiestalent, allowing them to merge with his main body. However, they had no other abilities. It''s so weak, isn''t it? John felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. His greatest strengthsy in his Plundertalent, Wrath of the Godstalent, and Undying and Immortal. Yet these avatars hadn''t inherited any of his talents or abilities at all. The power difference between John''s main body and his three avatars was immense. However, he could transfer various attributes to his avatars, including talents, bloodlines, and ss techniques. But his most powerful, god-tier, and unique talents¡ªlike Plunder¡ªwere his trump cards and life-saving abilities, and there was no way he would transfer those to his avatars. "Wait, the Talent Copy Stones!" John suddenly remembered, producing two milky-white stones from his storage. These were the drops from killing the Hunter Queens earlier. He thought this thing was useless, but I didn''t expect to use it so quickly. The Talent Copy Stonecould replicate his own talents, making it almost as if it was tailor-made for his One Breath, Three Puritiesability. Unfortunately, he only had two Talent Copy Stones, which wasn''t enough for all three avatars. John thought about the remaining four Hunter Queens. If he was lucky, he could get up to eight more of these stones. But there was no rush for now. He turned his attention to the three avatars and, after some thought, decided to enhance the Beast n avatar. He transferred all his Beast n treasures, the Divine Dragon bloodline, the Spirit Fox bloodline, his top-tier technique Overwhelming Battle Energy, and the ss abilities from the Nightmare Assassinto the Beast n avatar. This avatar had been formed using the power of bloodline awakening stones absorbed by The Tree of Life, which made it a perfect match for the Beast n''s treasures and bloodline power. Buzz! A sh of light enveloped the Beast n avatar as it underwent a tremendous transformation. [Beast n Avatar''s Spirit Fox Bloodline strengthened, base stats +10,000 points across the board] [Beast n Avatar''s Divine Dragon Bloodline strengthened, base stats +100,000 points across the board] [Beast n Avatar merges with Beast n treasure, base stats +100,000 points across the board] Notifications blinked before him as the Beast n avatar''s power surged, and its base stats soared to over 300,000 points. Even without additional talents, the Beast n avatar was now strong enough to handle 7th-tier legendary-level enemies. Next, John used the Talent Copy Stone to copy one of his most powerful talents. He prioritized copying Plunderand Wrath of the Gods. While Undying and Immortalwas another essential talent, he only had two duplication stones, so for now, it would have to wait. Besides, the three avatars, having been formed by The Tree of Life, had already signed life-sharing pacts with it, granting them some life-saving abilities. Buzz! The duplication stone activated, and a milky white light enveloped both John and the Beast n avatar, sessfully duplicating the Plundertalent. "Ugh!" John groaned, his eyes wide with pain as his soul was wracked with agony. It felt like he was experiencing another soul-splitting event. Apain so intense it nearly forced him to abandon the process. But John quickly suppressed that thought, gritting his teeth and pressing on toplete the talent duplication. The key requirement of the Talent Copy Stone was that the target must offer no resistance¡ªotherwise, the process would fail. Whoosh! The excruciating painsted for a full quarter of an hour before the Talent Copy Stone sessfully copied his Plundertalent, transferring it to his Beast n avatar and disappearing from sight. N?v(el)B\\jnn The Beast n avatar had now inherited the SSS-level Plundertalent. John let out a sigh of relief, gasping for breath as his head buzzed with disorientation, his soul suffering a heavy toll. Thankfully, his Soul Techniqueremained intact, and he knew his soul would eventually recover over time. "John, are you okay?" Sini asked worriedly. She couldn''t sense the damage to his soul, but she could tell John had endured severe harm. "I''m fine," John replied, shaking his head as he took a moment to recover. Then, without hesitation, he retrieved the second Talent Copy Stone and began the process of copying the Wrath of the Godstalent. Buzz! His brows furrowed deeply as an even sharper pain shot through his soul, more intense than the first time. Still, he pushed through the pain, allowing the duplication stone to proceed with copying the Wrath of the Godstalent. Another fifteen minutes passed before the process seeded, and the milky-white stone dissolved into the Beast n avatar, granting it the powerful Wrath of the Godstalent. "Cough!"John couldn''t hold it in any longer¡ªhe coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale. "Old man!" both Sini and Tracy eximed in rm. "John, did that thing backfire on you?" Sini demanded, ring suspiciously at the Beast n avatar. She didn''t care who or what it was¡ªanything that hurt John was an enemy in her eyes. Sensing her hostility, the Beast n avatar instinctively stepped back, saying nothing. John waved them off. "I''m fine. I''ll recover soon." He leaned back against The Tree of Life, and deep within his soul, the Crimson Karma Lotusbegan to spin, releasing waves of healing soul energy, slowly mending his damaged soul. The two women stood quietly by his side, keeping watch. Gradually, the three avatars merged back into John''s body, their distinct energies not harming him but instead boosting his strength and elerating his soul''s recovery. In just half a day, his soul was fully healed. John opened his eyes to find Sini and Tracy still by his side, having not left his side for a moment. "You two should head out and keep leveling. I''m fine now," John reassured them before adding, "Oh, and bring Bonnie here." Seeing that he was truly recovered, the two women breathed a sigh of relief and turned to leave. Before long, Bonnie arrived. "Master, what are your instructions?" she asked respectfully, her gaze fixed on John. With her strength having significantly improved and having received The Immortalsinheritance thanks to John, her reverence for him had only deepened. "I need to know if you have any leftover treasures from what I gave you earlier. Specifically, I need one set for gods and one for Skyline Continent humans," John said. His two other avatars had yet to merge with any treasures. Moreover,his Skyline Continent human avatar stillcked a suitable ss. He hadn''t yet found a powerful hidden ss for it. "Master, I only have one set of gods'' treasures left," Bonnie replied, taking out aplete set of gods'' treasures and handing it over. The other treasures had already been absorbed by the elves. John sighed. There was no way to obtain more treasures for different races here in the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. He''d have to wait until they left to kill a demigod-level Skyline Continent human and acquire a set of treasures from them. "Alright, that''s fine. Keep focusing on improving your strength," he said, sensing that Bonnie had already reached level 8000. It wouldn''t be long before she reached demigod-level strength. John decided it was time to hunt down the remaining four Hunter Queens to boost his Soul Techniqueand, hopefully, obtain more Talent Copy Stones to further empower his avatars. This time, he didn''t bring Sini or Tracy. He needed to focus on rapidly increasing his strength to the ninth tier, which he hoped would allow him to level up the Immortal Sword Technique. He had a strong feeling that something significant would happen once the technique reached level 10,000. ... Once again, John left the cave alone, using Soul Perceptionto track down the nearest Hunter Queen. All around him, countless Hunters swarmed in, endless in number. These creatures were drawn to him by the Hunter''s Hatred Markimprinted on him. But John felt no fear. With a thought, his Beast n avatar appeared, and together they fought side by side, targeting the Hunter Queen. While the Beast n avatar was still far weaker than John''s main body, and required some protection. Butit did possess the Plundertalent, which meant it could steal attributes from the Hunters they killed. Additionally, with the Wrath of the Godstalent, the avatar was more powerful than both Sini and Tracy. The coordination between John and his avatar was seamless. Their minds were linked, and there was no need for verbalmunication. Together, they rampaged through the endless waves of Hunters, with John eventually sensing the presence of the Hunter Queen. Unlike the previous encounters in narrow caves, this Queen resided in a wide canyon. Giving the surrounding Hunters more room to flood in and block John''s approach. The open space provided some challenge, offering a bit more resistancepared to the confined tunnels. But it was still only a minor inconvenience. Chapter 243: Enhancing the Soul, The Earth Passage 243 Chapter 243: Enhancing the Soul, The Earth Passage Buzz! The sword intent reverberated as the Immortal Swordshot out from John''s body, unleashing a terrifying aura. Endless sword beams filled the air. The ultimate skill, Return of Ten Thousand Swords, was activated, mercilessly ughtering the surrounding Hunters, including the Hunter Queen. Splurt! Blood sttered everywhere. The Hunter Queen let out a series of agonizing wails as countless sword beams tore through her, causing her life force to rapidly plummet. Her screams enraged the nearby Hunters even more, driving them into a suicidal frenzy as they swarmed toward John in a relentless assault. But John remained calm, his Sword of Divinity and Demonsswung effortlessly as immense waves of light and dark power ofwssurged around him, raining down a flurry of devastating skills. His Beast n avatar was equally busy, shing in and out of sight while unleashing Assassinskills. With a 15% true damage boost, it was more than capable of one-shotting seventh-tier Hunters. Even when facing eighth- and ninth-tier Hunters, the Beast n avatar held its ground without fear. Against demigod-level enemies, however, the avatar''s attacks fell short. But John hadn''t expected the avatar to deal significant damage anyway. He was more than enough to handle the situation on his own. The bodies of fallen Hunters rained down like a storm, quickly piling up in the canyon. Meanwhile, the life force of the Hunter Queen was plummeting rapidly. [You have killed the Hunter Queen. You gained 100 billion experience points.] [Your level has increased to 2301...] [Plunder talent activated. Soul Technique +1000, Shadow Power +1000, Skill Points +1000.] [Hunter''s Hatred Mark deepened. You will face endless Hunter pursuit.] ... The notifications shed as the Hunter Queen, unable to withstand the onught, finally sumbed. Her massive belly exploded, scattering loot all over the ground. John''s Hunter''s Hatred Markintensified, and the furious roars of countless Hunters echoed around him as they charged from every direction. There was no time to inspect the loot from the Hunter Queen. He quickly gathered everything Then shielded his Beast n avatar, fighting their way out of the canyon as they pressed on to ughter the next wave of Hunters. ¡­ For over half a month, John roamed the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, taking down all four remaining Hunter Queens. Through his relentless Plunderability, he amassed a vast array of attributes, and his level soared to 4100. Now, he was just 900 levels away from his ninth career advancement at level 5000. "First, I''ll refine the Soul Essenceand copy the talents," John muttered to himself as he nced at the spoils of his recent battles. From the four Hunter Queens he had in, he had acquired four more Soul Essencesand eight Talent Copy Stone. During this period of relentless ughter, his Beast navatar had also plundered a massive amount of attributes, significantly boosting its strength. Now, it could just barely hold its own against demigod-level Hunters. But for John, this was no longer enough. With a single thought, John summoned back his Beast n avatar, instantly boosting his four core attributes by over five hundred thousand points. The attributes umted by the Beast n avatar were now fully integrated into his main body, further strengthening him. Wasting no time, heunched into Sword Flight, shing through the endless waves of charging Huntersas he headed toward the sealed core of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. His objective was to absorb the Undying meand refine the Soul Essencehe had collected. With all five Hunters'' Mother Beastsin, the Hunters'' ability to resurrect had ceased. Every Hunter he killed would not return. Yet, despite this, the battlefield still swarmed with nearly a billion Hunters. It was a task too immense toplete quickly. John estimated that if he managed to exterminate all of them, everyone in his group could likely ascend to demigodstrength. As he pressed forward, ruthlessly cutting through the endless horde, he soon arrived at the explosion zone of the Undying me. Outside, countless Huntersroared and howled in fury, but none dared to enter the perilous me zone. Their instincts warned them of the immense danger. John ignored their snarls. Instead, he calmly took out the four Soul Essenceshe had obtained and began absorbing the Undying me, focusing on refining the essences. ... 14:07 Void Area The strongest of all races had gathered here, upper-tier gods, brimming with unimaginable power. "Heidern, are you really asking us to help you open a passage to Earth?" Beelzebub from the demon race sneered, ring coldly at Heidern. "Yes," Heidern nodded, his tone measured. "You should all know by now that my original n failed. The entire Azure Family was wiped out, and the Immortals'' Inheritancehas been lost. If we want to open the passage to Earth, we need to work together." "Hmph, why should I help you?" Cand-Dragonshot him a cold nce, his voiceced with disdain. At this moment, a trace of blood could be seen at the corner of his mouth, and his aura was unstable. Moments ago, Cand-Dragon had fought Heidern¡ªand lost miserably. Only then did he realize that Heidern had been injured during their previous encounter, which had been his one chance to defeat him. But that opportunity had slipped through his fingers. Heidern wore a calm smile as he continued, "This isn''t about helping me. It''s about helping ourselves. Let me remind you, Shadow n may descend upon us. The only way to escape their control is for us to unite and open the Earth passage. Once the ultimate treasure of Skyline Continentemerges and a new Overseerarises, we''ll finally have a chance to be free of their grip." "Shadow n is making a move?" one of the human powerhouses from Skyline Continentgasped, causing the surrounding upper-tier gods to shift uneasily. The mere mention of Shadow n struck fear deep into their bones. "I''m in," Beelzebub dered, breaking the tense silence. He feared Shadow n as much as anyone, but more than that, the prospect of the Skyline Continent''s treasurewas too enticing to resist. Since the gods already had an Overseer, Beelzebub knew his only true rival was Cand-Dragon. If he could get his hands on the treasure, he had a real chance of bing the next Overseer. One by one, representatives from the various races voiced their agreement, leaving only the Beast n undecided. N?v(el)B\\jnn "Cand-Dragon, what about you?" Heidern asked, turning to face Cand-Dragon. Heidern valued Cand-Dragon''s strength highly and wanted to bring him under hismand. Cand-Dragon frowned, deep in thought, before nodding in agreement. He understood that even without his help, the others could still break the seal left by The Immortals and open the passage to Earth. It would just take them a little more time. "Good. Let''s begin immediately," Heidern said with a slight smile, preparing to act. Suddenly, his expression darkened, his brow furrowing as he said, "I have something to take care of." Without another word, Heidern vanished, reappearing momentster in a dimly lit chamber. The stone tform before him activated, casting a flickering shadow of a figure. "Master!" Heidern swallowed hard, immediately dropping to his knees in a deep bow. The shadowy figure''s gaze was cold and piercing as it looked at Heidern. "Are you hiding something from me?" it asked icily. Heidern''s heart skipped a beat. He swallowed again, quickly replying, "No, master! Why would I? Has something gone wrong?" He knew that while his n to unite the races and open the passage to Earth had its own hidden agenda, it was not something that should anger the figure. He could exin everything. "Hmph," the shadow let out a sharp scoff. "I sent five Hunter Queens to descend into the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, and all of them have been in. Are The Immortals still alive?" "What?" Heidern eximed in shock. He had assumed that the Hunters he had encountered were remnants from the original batch. But the fact that five new Hunter Queens had descended¡ªand been killed¡ªstunned him. Even more unbelievable was the thought that these powerful Hunter Queens had all been wiped out. Who else could possess such power besides The Immortals? John''s name flickered in Heidern''s mind, but he quickly dismissed the thought. John''s strength was far too weak¡ªhe couldn''t even handle regr Hunters, let alone kill Hunter Queens. Still, a sense of doubt lingered. After a moment of hesitation, Heidern spoke up. "Master, as far as I know, only a single human has received The Immortals'' inheritance. But that individual is only at the seventh tier of power¡ªthere''s no way he could kill a Hunter Queen. I''ve been searching for him, but I haven''t been able to locate his whereabouts." The shadowy figure narrowed its eyes, remaining silent for a long time before speaking again, its voice cold. "Open the passage to Earth as quickly as possible. I will descend myself to investigate these matters." "Yes, master, I''ve already made the preparations," Heidern quickly replied, bowing his head in submission. The shadow cast one final, chilling nce at him before disappearing. Heidern exhaled in relief, copsing onto the floor, his brow still furrowed in thought. His goal was indeed to open the passage¡ªbut not for Shadow n. Once the passage to Earth was open, he nned to seal off the Ancient Battlefield Ruinswith the help of the other races. By then, even if Shadow n tried to wreak havoc in the ruins, he would already have imed the Skyline Continent''streasure, gaining the strength to oppose them. At the very least, he would be able to free himself from their control. But one thing still puzzled him: who had killed the Hunter Queens? Could there really be a surviving Immortal stronghold in Skyline Continent? "It couldn''t be that Godyer has made his way to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, could it?" Heidern muttered to himself, before shaking his head, dismissing the absurd notion. With a slight movement of thought, he left the secret chamber and reappeared in the Void Area. Together with the assembled powerful figures, they began working in unison to refine the seal leading to Earth. ... In the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, seven days had passed unnoticed as John finally finished absorbing and refining the four Soul Essences. The Undying mehad also significantly diminished, as much of it had been absorbed and refined by the Crimson Karma Lotus. At this point, his main body''s Soul Techniquehad reached over 57,000 points, greatly enhancing the potency of his soul-based attacks. John then examined the other items dropped by the four Hunter Queens¡ªeight Talent Copy Stones, over 50,000 sets of divine artifacts, and more than 20 million skill stones. There were also various Spirit Stones, bloodline awakening stones, and other valuable items. Summoning his Beast n doppelganger, John handed it 9 million skill stones to refine, boosting its Overwhelming Battle Energytechnique. He, too, began refining the remaining skill stones, focusing on increasing his Divine Path Technique. [You have consumed 1,000 skill points. Divine Path Techniquehas been increased to level 1,032. Divinity stat +1.] ... [You have consumed 1,000 skill points. Divine Path Techniquehas been increased to level 9,999. Divinity stat +1.] [The Divine Path Techniquehas reached its current level cap and cannot be upgraded further.] The system notifications shed. Just as he had suspected, Divine Path Techniquemaxed out at level 9,999 and could not be advanced any further. It seemed clear that only after reaching level 5,000 and achieving ninth-tier strength could he attempt to upgrade again. Turning to his Beast n doppelganger, John noticed the same oue. The Beast n doppelganger shook its head with a resigned expression. "Even after upgrading Overwhelming Battle Energyto level 9,999, I can''t push it any further," it said. "Let''s proceed with duplicating talents then," John decided. Strengthening the other two doppelgangers by copying more of his talents would greatly enhance his overall power. Their growth would directly benefit him. Now, with over 57,000 Soul Techniquepoints, he no longer feared the damage caused by talent duplication. John retrieved a Talent Copy Stoneand used it to copy the Undying and Immortaltalent for his Beast n doppelganger. He then summoned the godsand Skyline Continent humanavatars. John proceeded to transfer the Plunder, Wrath of the Gods, and Undying and Immortaltalents, copying them onto the two avatars respectively. Creation is hard, cheer me up! Like it ? Add to library£¡ Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know. BigWhiteGoose Creator''s Thought Chapter 244: 100,000 Shadow Power, Shadow Human Tribe 244 Chapter 244: 100,000 Shadow Power, Shadow Human Tribe John''s Soul Techniquehad greatly improved, but duplicating talents in quick session had taken a toll on his soul, causing significant damage. Thankfully, the presence of the Crimson Karma Lotusensured that this damage would soon heal. He transferred the Wrath of the Godsmage profession and Divine Path Techniqueto his gods doppelganger, allowing it to refine the gods'' treasures. This boosted its four core attributes by an additional 100,000 points, further enhancing its strength. As for the Soul Technique, he passed it on to the human doppelganger. However, due to theck of suitable Skyline Continent Humantreasures or a profession to match. He would have to wait until they left this ce to further enhance the doppelganger''s abilities. "Onest Talent Copy Stone," John mused, gazing at the single stone left in his hand. He thought of Sini. Sini hadn''t received the Immortalsinheritance, so John decided to gift her one of his talents. The best choices were the Plunder, Wrath of the Gods, or Undying and Immortaltalents, but with only one stone, he had to make a careful choice. "This can wait. I should focus on leveling up and reaching the ninth tier first," he decided, shelving the dilemma forter.Merging the three doppelgangers with his main body, John''s strength increased once again. His four core attributes surged by over a million points. His strength attribute now reached an astonishing seven million, while his spirit attribute neared five million. With this power, he could easily y mid-tier gods. Even when facing upper-tier gods, as long as their Soul Techniquewas weaker than his, he was confident that he could defeat them. Looking at the swarm of Hunters around him, John felt reassured. Without the Hunter Queens, these creatures had lost their ability to resurrect, making them even easier to deal with. Buzz! The air quivered as powerful soul energy rippled outward. He unleashed Soul Impact. Pfft! Pfft! In an instant, tens of thousands of Hunters copsed, their souls annihted with no warning, dying instantly. [You have in a demigod-level Hunter. You gain 6.76 billion experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: You gain 0.01 Shadow Power, +200 Spirit, +200 Strength, +50 skill points.] [You have umted 100,000 Shadow Power. Your basic and skill attacks now deal 1% of the target''s maximum health as damage.] ... The notifications shed across his vision¡ªJohn''s Shadow Powerhad reached a new milestone. In the past few days, he had killed hundreds of millions of Hunters, umting 100,000 Shadow Power. Now, his attacks dealt a staggering 1% of his target''s maximum health as additional damage. This meant that if he attacked his opponent a hundred times, they would die, regardless of their defense. "Could I possibly kill upper-tier godsnow?" John thought excitedly. As long as their Soul Techniquewas weaker than his and theycked strong soul-based attacks, he was confident that he could now take down upper-tier godswith ease. However, it wasn''t realistic to think of easily defeating upper-tier godsjust yet. Their Soul Techniquewas immensely powerful, and most of them had mastered formidable soul-based attacks. If only there were more Hunter Queens. Killing a Hunter Queen guaranteed the drop of a Soul Essence, and refining one would increase his Soul Techniqueby 10,000 points. Upper-tier godstypically had Soul Techniquesover 50,000 points. While beings like Beelzebub of the demon raceand Cand-Dragon from the Beast nhad Soul Techniquessurpassing 100,000 points. Heidern, the Overseerof the gods, surely had an even more terrifying soul. John''s thoughts shifted as he once again activated Soul Perception. "What?" He frowned, surprised. "Another strong soul presence just appeared!" It was clear to him that this powerful presence was new, and its aura was entirely different from that of a Hunter Queen. It wasn''t a Hunter Queen. Could it be an upper-tier god? John''s expression grew serious. He could sense that this being was heading straight for him, quickly closing the distance. Whoever it was had clearly noticed him as well. "I guess I''ll find out what kind of creature you are soon enough," John muttered coldly, retreating deeper into the center of the Undying me, waiting for the unknown entity to arrive. He could tell that their Soul Techniquewas not too different from his own, which meant he wouldn''t be able to annihte them outright. But with his Undying and Immortaltalent, even if the intruder was an upper-tier god, as long as they couldn''t destroy his soul, they wouldn''t be able to truly harm him. Whoosh! The wind howled, carrying the overwhelming presence closer. The Hunters, which had been roaring moments ago, suddenly fell silent, all of them turning in unison to face the neer. One by one, they dropped to the ground in submission. John was taken aback¡ªthese Hunters, who hadn''t even shown such reverence toward the Queen, were now groveling before this approaching entity. Could this figure be even more powerful than the Hunter Queen? His curiosity piqued, John rose into the air on his sword. Though he hadn''t yet advanced to the ninth tier, he could still use his sword to fly. From the horizon, a figure rapidly grewrger, heading straight for him. John''s brow furrowed. The aura emanating from this being was strange¡ªsomething entirely foreign to him, a type of power he had never encountered before. Whoosh! The figure stopped a hundred meters away, hovering in the air. They both took a moment to assess each other. The figure was d in a ck robe, with striking red hair and piercing red eyes. The air around them was thick with the scent of blood, so strong it was almost suffocating. Below them, the Hunters trembled in fear. "Mid-tier god," John muttered as he assessed the red-haired figure. Despite the man''s rank, the power emanating from him felt on par with that of an upper-tier god. N?v(el)B\\jnn John quickly put the pieces together. Shadow n. The red-haired man spoke, his voice rough and ancient,ced with a deep, unsettling tone: "Human, was it you who killed my Hunter Queens?" "Yes," John replied calmly. "Interesting," the man remarked with a slight smile, showing no trace of anger. "Are you one of The Immortals?" John didn''t answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Are you from the Shadow n?" "That''s correct," the man confirmed. "I admire your abilities, human, but you will pay a price for killing my Queens."His voice remained eerily calm, devoid of any emotion. In an instant, the man''s figure vanished, reced by a sh of crimson light that shot toward John at impossible speed. 14:08 [You were instantly killed by Shadow n''s Blood Crow. The Blessed Ring has triggered¡­] The notification blinked in John''s mind as he resurrected on the spot, coughing up blood, his soul wracked with intense pain. Panic gripped him as he stumbled backward, eyes wide in shock as he locked onto the man. That attack was unlike anything he had ever encountered¡ªit came without warning, impossible to defend against. Even more rming, it carried with it soul damage, bypassing all of John''s defenses. It reminded him of his own Red Lotus Fire, capable of bypassing standard defenses and dealing direct soul damage. "Interesting," the Blood Crow remarked, seemingly fascinated by John''s Resurrection. He wasn''t surprised at all. If anything, he appeared more intrigued. "Let''s go again." With those words, he transformed back into a streak of blood-red light, hurtling toward John once more. John''s expression hardened. He swiftly summoned the Immortal Swordfrom within, unleashing his ultimate skill: Return of Ten Thousand Swords. "Pointless," came the calm voice of the Blood Crow amidst the swirling red light. "Your attacks won''t harm me."Sword beams flew, piercing through the blood-red light, seemingly to no effect. Yet, something unexpected happened¡ªdamage numbers shed. But it wasn''t typical sword or true damage. It was something far more potent¡ªpercentage-based health damage. -4,840,000,000 -4,840,000,000 ... The numbers blinked ominously above the Blood Crow''s head. Each sword strike inflicted a staggering 4.84 billion damage, calcted based on the enemy''s total health. This meant the Blood Crow''s total health exceeded a mind-boggling 480 billion! "What''s this? Have you mastered the Shadow Power?" the Blood Crow asked, his tone no longer indifferent. There was a trace of surprise in his voice as his body reappeared, allowing the sword beams to pass through him harmlessly. John chuckled coldly and said dismissively, "So the Shadow n isn''t so tough after all." His ultimate skill, Return of Ten Thousand Swords, was more than enough to unleash a storm of sword beams. As long as a hundred of them hit their mark, this guy would be dead for sure. But the Blood Crow merely smiled. "Human, you''re far too ignorant," he said. Despite his health rapidly dropping, he showed no fear. With a calm wave of his hand, a blood-red beam shot out, instantly connecting to John. "Life Drain," the Blood Crow''s chilling voice echoed. Immediately, John felt his life force being siphoned away through the blood-red beam, flowing directly into the Blood Crow, whose own health began to recover. "What...?" John muttered, rmed. He had never encountered such a bizarre attack before. His life force was draining rapidly, but thanks to his bond with The Tree of Life, it was replenished just as quickly. The life-sharing ability was saving him for now. "So, you have some life-sharing ability," the Blood Crow noted, still eerily calm as sword beams continued to rain down on him. "Damn it!" John''s panic intensified. This creature was draining billions of life points with each second. The Tree of Lifewouldn''t be able to sustain this for long. Desperate, John swung his sword toward the blood-red beam. Whoosh! The sword passed right through the beam as if it wasn''t even there. It was immune to both physical and magical attacks, like an ethereal, untouchable force. John gritted his teeth and withdrew the sword beams, realizing he was losing this fight. The Blood Crow, having restored his health to full, ceased his life-draining attack and looked at John with a smug expression. "Why stop? Go on, continue," he taunted, his tone dripping with arrogance. John''s heart pounded with fear. This creature''s attack methods were terrifying, far beyond anything he had faced before. St! He could sense that this Blood Crow not only had the ability to kill him but could also sever his connection with The Tree of Lifeand Elsa, potentially wiping them out as well. He couldn''t afford to be reckless. "Boring," the Blood Crow said with disappointment, shaking his head. "Very well, I''ll attack then." With that, he vanished into a sh of blood-red light, once again slicing through John''s body with impossible speed. St! [You have been instantly killed by the Blood Crow. Lifesaver talent triggered...] The notification shed, and John was defeated again, triggering his Lifesaver talent, granting him five seconds of invincibility. "I wonder if I can attack this guy during invincibility?" His eyes lit up as he unleashed his skill, Infinite Sword Array. Buzz! A sky full of sword lights descended again. Blood Crow maintained the same faint smile, neither dodging nor evading, even spreading his arms wide, allowing the attack to fall. sh, sh¡­ As before, John''s attack only dealt a percentage of Blood Crow''s health as damage. However, this time, that blood-red glow didn''t devour his health. As expected, invincibility made him immune to all damage. "Hmm?" Blood Crow looked puzzled, noticing the golden light surrounding John. He realized what was happening and said calmly, "I see." Whoosh! Hundreds of sword lights shed down, and Blood Crow''s health bar instantly emptied, turning him into a pool of blood. John let out a sigh of relief. "Wait, something''s wrong. There''s no system notification!" He suddenly realized there was no kill confirmation, and that blood-red glow still connected to the pool of blood. That guy wasn''t dead. Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Slaying Blood Crow, Comprehending Immortal Arts and Divine Powers Chapter 245: ying Blood Crow, Comprehending Immortal Arts and Divine Powers ? Whoosh! The five seconds of invincibility vanished, and his health was once again frantically devoured. He could even feel the Tree of Life withering. This couldn''t go on. "Damn it!" he cursed, and immediately activated his soul skill, Soul Impact. Buzz! A tremendous force of soul power instantly surged into the pool of blood, attacking Blood Crow''s soul. Boom! John''s head throbbed, encountering bacsh, but the enemy wasn''t spared either. The pool of blood trembled violently. "So that''s it!" John realized that Blood Crow feared soul attacks. Moreover, this Blood Crow''s Soul Technique wasn''t much stronger than his own, so the bacsh it caused wasn''t severe. Buzz! The air trembled as a crimson me ignited, enveloping the pool of blood. "Ah..." A painful howl echoed. The blood morphed into human form.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Blood Crow was no longer calm, struggling in agony as the Red Lotus Fire purified his soul bit by bit, leaving him unable to resist. "Human, let me go! If I die here, you won''t escape either!" Blood Crow gritted his teeth through the soul-searing pain, coldly threatening John. "Is that so?" John scoffed, saying coolly, "I''m willing to take that gamble." He stepped forward, closer to Blood Crow, whose soul power was now far inferior to John''s. Whoosh! The Red Lotus Fire dispersed, and Blood Crow was momentarily stunned, just beginning to rx when a surge of soul power invaded his mind again. Memory Extraction! John was intent on pulling secrets about the Shadow n from him. A flood of memories poured into John''s mind. Soon, he learned about the Shadow n and the hidden truths of the World of Gods from Blood Crow. "So that''s the truth!" John withdrew his soul power, his expression bing somber. At that moment, Blood Crow regained someposure, staggering back, his head buzzing. He red at John and growled, "What have you done to me, human?" He had just felt John invade his memories through some special method. "Hmph! You''ve lost your value," John said icily, snapping his fingers. The Red Lotus Fire reappeared and instantly devoured Blood Crow, purifying his soulpletely. [You have in the Shadow n''s Blood Crow, gaining 176.76 billion experience points.] [Your level has risen to 4101...] [Plunder talent activated, Shadow Power +1000, Soul Technique +1000, Skill Points +100.] The rewards for killing Blood Crow were simr to those for killing the Hunter Queen. Several items dropped to the ground. But John didn''t pick them up. He stood frozen, processing the memories he had plundered from the depths of Blood Crow''s soul. The Shadow Star was a powerful, home to a Supreme God-level being. The strength of a Supreme God was terrifying, far surpassing The Overseer. But the most terrifying aspect was the Shadow n, masters of Shadow Power, whose attacks were bizarre and deadly. Their only weakness was soul attacks. However, they possessed soul cultivation techniques. This Blood Crow was merely a mid-tier god, having just broken through to mid-tier status, yet his Soul Technique had already reached over 80,000 points. If it hadn''t been for John''s powerful soul attack methods, he would have been dead for sure. And that wasn''t even the most frightening part. From Blood Crow''s memories, John learned the secret of the World of Gods. It was a game yed by the gods-once it began, it couldn''t be stopped. Worlds were continuously devoured and destroyed, one after another. The true beneficiaries were the Supreme Gods. Shadow Star was merely one of the powers involved. Other races were also pulling the strings behind the scenes, and their strength rivaled that of the Shadow n. Moreover, the arrival of Earth''s humans in the World of Gods meant that the World of Gods had already connected with Earth, and the opening of a pathway was inevitable. Even if John could dy it, once the energy of Skyline Continent was exhausted, the World of Gods would automatically devour the next world. And Earth was its next target. There were only two ways to stop it. The first was what The Immortals once did: ughter every divine being in this world, severing their path to godhood. Without divine beings, the gods'' game would automatically end. Of course, the Supreme Gods would start a new game, so it wouldn''t be a permanent end. But John was still too weak to ughter all the divine beings on Skyline Continent. There was, however, a second option. That was to force the gods'' game to connect with another world sooner! "Heh, Shadow n, you didn''t expect this, did you? You personally got involved and ughtered The Immortals, but that caused the Shadow Star''s world channel to also connect with the World of Gods!" John smirked coldly, his mind already made up. The fact that the World of Gods could connect with Shadow Star was something the divine beings of Skyline Continent surely knew. At the very least, The Overseer Heidern, Cand-Dragon of the Beast n, and Beelzebub of the demon race knew. But they didn''t dare take that step. Connecting Shadow Star to the World of Gods would cause the World of Gods to devour Shadow Star''s energy until it was destroyed. They couldn''t afford to provoke the wrath of the Shadow n. But John didn''t care. He raised his head to the vast sky, smiled coldly, and said quietly, "The gods'' game, huh? Let''s y a round." Roar... Suddenly, furious roars erupted from all around as countless Hunters swarmed toward him. His battle with Blood Crow had already carried him out of the range of the Undying me''s protection. John swiftly collected the items dropped by Blood Crow. With a wave of his hand, crimson mes appeared, engulfing arge group of Hunters. Wails echoed all around as the Hunters, unable to withstand the attack, had their souls purified by the Red Lotus Fire, dying instantly. John retreated back within the range of the Undying me''s protection. He had absorbed arge amount of the Undying me, and the burning no longer affected him. Curious, he examined the items Blood Crow had dropped. He acquired another Soul Essence and two Talent Copy Stones. In addition, there was an entire set of treasures from the Shadow n. Blood Soul, Blood Bone, Blood Eye, Blood Wing. This set of treasures radiated a sinister, bloody power. To refine it, one needed to control Shadow Power. John could refine it, but he didn''t. He could clearly feel that the Shadow n''s treasures conflicted with his Immortal inheritance. All three of his avatars had alsoprehended the Immortal inheritance, making them unable to refine these items. Besides, he had already mastered the weaknesses of the Shadow n. There was no need to practice their techniques. Ding! At that moment, his private chat notification sounded-it was from Ritchie. John had maintained contact with him throughout. He quickly opened the private chat. Ritchie: Boss, Tony asked me to let you know that the divine beings from all the major races on Skyline Continent have teamed up. They''re trying to force open a portal to Earth. John furrowed his brow. He hadn''t expected the divine beings of various races to unite. A trace of killing intent shed in his eyes, but he also knew that with his current strength, he couldn''t stop them. He had to grow stronger quickly-before they could open the portal to Earth, he needed to connect to Shadow Star. That portal was located right here, in the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. John replied to Ritchie: "I understand. You guys should prepare to withdraw from the World of Gods. It might be dangerous soon." The Shadow n''s attacks included soul damage, meaning they could permanently erase yers. He didn''t want Ritchie and the others taking unnecessary risks. Ritchie: Boss, what''s happening? Godyer: Don''t ask too many questions. Nothing will happen to Earth. Just do as I say. Ritchie: Understood. John closed the private chat and absorbed the Soul Essence, increasing his Soul Technique by another 10,000 points. "Continue ughtering the Hunters!" John knew he had to reach Tier Nine as quickly as possible. Only then would he have the strength to open the connection between the World of Gods and Shadow Star. ... Half a month passed, and John finally reached level 5000. He had in 200 Tier Nine legendary Hunters and sessfully advanced to Tier Nine. His strength increased dramatically. He attempted once again to level up his Immortal Sword Technique and Overwhelming Battle Energy. "Still not working?" He frowned. The restrictive force was still there, though much weaker than before. "Wait, I shouldprehend the Immortal inheritance again." The thought struck him. Thest time he had gained the Immortal inheritance, he had been at Tier Seven. Now, having reached Tier Nine, he knew he would gain new insights. He took off into Sword Flight. Wherever he passed, crimson mes erupted, ughtering the Hunters that swarmed toward him. John flew effortlessly, cutting down all obstacles in his path, and soon reached a cave. During the past month, everyone''s strength had grown significantly. Especially Sara, Bonnie, and Behemoth, who had all reached level 9000 and were close to breaking through to demigod status. The women beside him had all reached Tier Eight. The elves and members of the Blues Family were slightly weaker but had also advanced to the midte stages of Tier Seven. John greeted everyone briefly, then returned to the cave to continueprehending the Immortal inheritance. Ensuring no one would disturb him, he focused inward, and soon, his three avatars appeared, each sitting cross-legged around the giant sword. As expected, with his increase in strength, his understanding of the Sword Immortal ss deepened. Strands of The Power of Laws flew from the giant sword and merged into his body. His three avatars experienced the same, each absorbing different strands of The Power of Laws. ... John''s mind immersed itself in theprehension, unaware of the passing time. After an unknown period, a notification shed before him. [You haveprehended the Immortal inheritance, +100,000 to all four basic attributes] [Immortal Sword Technique has broken through to level 10,000, unlocking the Immortal Sword Mastery - Nine Heavens Sword] [Nine Heavens Sword: Immortal Art. Wield flying swords to y gods and demons of the nine heavens. Requires 100% mastery of the Sword Law. Consumes 1,000 spiritual power per second.] ... [God Avatar hasprehended the Immortal inheritance, +100,000 to all four basic attributes] [Divine Path Technique has broken through to level 10,000, unlocking the Forbidden Spell - Divine Mindless] [Divine Mindless: Forbidden Spell, soul skill. Consumes soul power to control targets. The stronger and more numerous the targets, the greater the soul power consumed.] ... [Beast n Avatar hasprehended the Immortal inheritance, +100,000 to all four basic attributes] [Overwhelming Battle Energy has broken through to level 10,000, unlocking the Divine Power - Heaven and Earth Transformation] [Heaven and Earth Transformation: Divine Power. Transforms the body into a colossal giant, increasing all attributes a hundredfold. Consumes 10,000 spiritual power and 10,000 demon power per second.] -- [Human Avatar hasprehended the Immortal inheritance, +100,000 to all four basic attributes, +50,000 to Soul Technique.] ... Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Gods Unite, Portal Opens Chapter 246: Gods Unite, Portal Opens ? Several notification messages shed. John awoke from his cultivation, utterly shocked. His main body and three avatars had each gained 100,000 points in their basic attributes. Additionally, his Immortal Sword Technique, Divine Path, and Overwhelming Battle Energy all automatically reached level 10,000, unlocking three powerful abilities. Nine Heavens Sword, an Immortal Art-he didn''t know its exact level, nor did it have a detailed description, but he could feel its terrifying power. Then there was Divine Mindless, a forbidden spell, and a rare soul curse! Forbidden spells required the strength of at least a lower-tier god to master. Yet, despite only being at Tier Nine, John had alreadyprehended one. Though it wasn''t an offensive curse, it allowed him to control his targets. Just imagine¡ªif you were in the middle of a chaotic battle with multiple enemies, and one of them suddenly turned on their own allies, it would cause an unexpected and devastating effect. His Beast n avatar also unlocked an overwhelmingly powerful and borderline monstrous ability. Heaven and Earth Transformation, a skill that increased his size to tens of thousands of feet tall and boosted all his attributes a hundredfold. John was confident that once he activated Heaven and Earth Transformation, he could go toe- to-toe with upper-tier gods, even the strongest among them. However, the cost was enormous-10,000 points of spiritual power and 10,000 points of demon power per second. Even with his Wrath of the Gods talent, he couldn''t sustain it for long. Of course, his human avatar on Skyline Continent had also improved. Its four basic attributes increased by 100,000, along with an additional 50,000 points in Soul Technique, though no new skills were unlocked. John regretted having pushed his Soul Technique to level 10,000 too early. Otherwise, he might have unlocked a powerful new skill. Though he still didn''t know the exact levels of Immortal Arts and Divine Powers, he had a feeling these two abilities far surpassed forbidden spells. "Merge!" Johnmanded, and his three avatars fused into one. He immediately felt his strength surge dramatically, with his Soul Technique reaching over 147,000 points. If he activated Heaven and Earth Transformation, his attributes would increase a hundredfold, easily surpassing a billion points, making the defeat of upper-tier gods well within his reach. However, the skill''s energy consumption was staggering. With his current spiritual power and demon power, he could only maintain it for just over 40 seconds. And that was with his Wrath of the Gods talent reducing the energy consumption by 99%. Even so, it was still a monstrous ability. "Hmm? The connection portal!" John''s brow furrowed. With his increased strength, especially the immense boost to his Soul Technique, he could now clearly sense the connection portal to Skyline Continent. Skyline Continent was in shambles, its energy rapidly depleting as it was being siphoned through two connection portals, drawing energy from other worlds. One of the portals had be dangerously thin, on the verge of being fully opened at any moment. A massive force was actively wearing down the seal on the portal, attempting to fully connect Skyline Continent to another world-Earth. At the current pace, the portal would bepletely opened in less than a week. "Damn it!" John cursed, his killing intent surging. He knew this was the doing of the upper- tier gods from the various races. He had to stop them. John focused his mind, attempting to break open the other portal-the one that led to Shadow Star. "Hmm, such a powerful force blocking it!" His frown deepened as he felt a terrifying power preventing him from opening the portal. Despite his newfound strength, he was still far from a match for this force. It was clear that relying on his strength alone, breaking through to connect Shadow Star was impossible. "Am I really going to have to ughter the gods from the other races?" John muttered to himself, his eyes filled with murderous intent. The thought had certainly crossed his mind. But he decided against it. He was only one man, and the elves and Blues Family members were far too weak to assist him. Moreover, he wasn''t sure he could defeat all the upper-tier gods. If he went down that path, even Elsa, Tony, and Ben might not survive. "Maybe... I can use their own power to open the Shadow Star portal," he thought, his mind drifting to the powerful forbidden spell he had just mastered-Divine Mindless. He couldn''t break open the portal alone, and those upper-tier gods certainly wouldn''t help him willingly. But he didn''t need their cooperation-he only needed to control them. Divine Mindless was a forbidden spell. While it was impossible to control them for an extended period, short-term control was definitely feasible. With this thought, John acted immediately. In an instant, he appeared at the entrance of the cave. The area had already been cleared, and Sara, Sini, and the others were fully engaged in ughtering Hunters to level up. "Chris, Bonnie, do your best to keep leveling up. I have something important to handle. If anything happens, message me privately," he instructed Chris and Bonnie. "Got it. These Hunters are no longer a threat to us," they both nodded in agreement. John was still a bit concerned. Though the Hunters couldn''t pose a threat to them, he feared that powerful members of the Shadow n might descend again. Without wasting any more time, John took off in Sword Flight, leaving the Ancient Battlefield Ruins behind. Now that he was Tier Nine, he could fly unaided, but his flight speed was still much slowerpared to Sword Flight. As he cut down Hunters along the way, he quickly exited the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. Roar... Furious roars echoed as Hunters swarmed the area surrounding the ruins, rushing toward him. John''s thoughts moved, and crimson mes erupted around him, enveloping the approaching Hunters. Agonized wails filled the air as their souls were instantly wiped out, leaving their bodies untouched but lifeless. John didn''t bother continuing to ughter them, instead focusing on the coordinates of the Void Area. Buzz! With a fluctuation of spatial power, his body suddenly disappeared, and in the next moment, he appeared in the Void Area. A massive, oppressive presence filled the space, and among the dozens of powerful auras, there were at least a dozen that made him wary. These were upper-tier gods, all on the same level as Cand-Dragon. Without needing to focus too hard, John swiftly made his way to the center of the Void Area. There, over three thousand upper-tier gods were gathered. They all working together to break open the portal to Earth. "Godyer!" Heidern noticed John and sneered, "I''ve been looking for you. Didn''t expect you to walk right into our hands!" He was about to order his subordinates to attack John. It was a critical moment in their efforts to open the Earth portal, and they couldn''t afford distractions. "Calm down," John interrupted, his gaze cold as he addressed the gathered divine beings, "You''re all trying to open the portal to Earth, right? Let me lend you a hand." The gods looked at him in confusion, but before they could react, John unleashed his forbidden spell-Divine Mindless. Buzz... The air trembled as a powerful wave of soul energy surged, instantly taking control of over three thousand upper-tier gods. In that moment, a searing pain tore through John''s head, as though his mind was about to explode. John''s Soul Technique was still too weak. Controlling so many upper-tier gods at once had already pushed him far beyond his limit. Fortunately, Divine Mindless didn''te with any bacsh. Clenching his teeth and enduring the searing pain, he coldlymanded, "Attack!" He directed the powerful gods to unleash their strongest attack, aiming it at the connection portal to Shadow Star. Boom! A deafening explosion shook Skyline Continent violently. Though thebined attack of over three thousand upper-tier gods didn''t fully open the portal to Shadow Star, it caused a massive crack. Instantly, Skyline Continent abandoned its connection to Earth and began frantically drawing energy from Shadow Star. "Cough!" John spat out a mouthful of blood as a sharp ringing echoed deep in his mind. While Divine Mindless had no bacsh, pushing it beyond his limits had still damaged his soul. "You bastard, what have you done?!" The gods were stunned, frozen in ce as they watched the scene unfold. Then they turned their furious gazes toward John. If the connection to Shadow Star was fully opened, they would all be doomed. Heidern red at John with cold fury and quickly shouted, "Hurry, everyone! Repair the rift! We cannot allow Skyline Continent to connect to Shadow Star!" The other gods realized the danger and threw all their energy into sealing the crack in the portal. John frowned, ready to intervene and stop them. Buzz! Suddenly, a tremendous force surged forward, like a giant sword, directly piercing the connection portal to Shadow Star. John was shocked-it was the power of the Immortal inheritance! Boom! The heavens and earth trembled as boundless energy erupted, forcibly tearing open the portal to Shadow Star. Amid the overwhelming energy, four massive words appeared in the sky: Enter the Game with Your Body. Blinding light illuminated the world, lingering for what seemed like an eternity. At that moment, the upper-tier gods were struck by the bacsh of the Immortals'' power.N?v(el)B\\jnn Blood spilled from their mouths, and their faces were a mixture of despair, fear, anger, and unwillingness. Each of them was overwhelmed with conflicting emotions. John, however, erupted into wildughter, pointing at the four words glowing in the sky, "Hahaha! I get it now! ''Enter the Game with Your Body'' means dragging all of you down with me!" [Announcement: The World of Gods has connected to Shadow Star. The ultimate treasure of Skyline Continent will emerge in three months.] The announcement echoed three times. yers, confused by the situation, focused solely on the words "ultimate treasure," assuming it was some unimaginable fortune. The ignorant are fearless-they had no idea that this wasn''t a treasure but a catastrophe. And no one was there to exin it to them. ... In the Void Area, the gods finally grasped what had happened. "Damn you!" "Human! Do you even know what you''ve done? You have no idea how terrifying the Shadow n truly is!" "Godyer, you''ve doomed us all." "Stop wasting time-kill him! Offer him to the Shadow n, and maybe we can appease them and buy ourselves a sliver of hope." Furious curses filled the air as every god turned their wrathful gaze toward John. Whoosh! The terrifying darkness of The Power of Laws surged as Beelzebub struck first, hurling a ck spear charged with immense soul energy, aiming directly at John. Boom! A violent explosion shook the realm as devastating soul energy rippled outward. John was instantly obliterated, but The Blessed Ring triggered, reviving him. Even so, his soul took a severe hit, and he coughed up blood. Fortunately, with his massively enhanced Soul Technique, Beelzebub was no longer able to kill him in one blow. "Demon race, I''ve tolerated you for long enough!" John''s icy voice rang out, booming like thunder, echoing across the entire Void Area. As he spoke, his body grew immensely, towering over everything, radiating a terrifying pressure. He had activated the divine power-Heaven and Earth Transformation! Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Heaven and Earth Transformation, Shocking the Gods Chapter 247: Heaven and Earth Transformation, Shocking the Gods ? "What the hell is this?" Beelzebub gulped as he watched John suddenly transform into a giant. Regardless of John''sbat strength, just the sheer size of his form alone exerted an immense pressure on him. "Die!" John roared, his voice like thunder, causing several weaker lower-tier gods to cough up blood. Then, a massive fist, like a falling meteor, came crashing down toward Beelzebub. "Not good!" His expression tightened, feeling an overwhelming sense of life-threatening danger. He didn''t dare be careless. The power ofws surged around him, forming a massive ck shield for protection. Boom! With a deafening crash, the shield formed by the power ofws shattered into pieces. Beelzebub spat blood as his body was sent flying backward. -4,480,000,000 A terrifying critical hit damage number shed. This was just one of John''s regr attacks, and it dealt over four billion in damage. Whoosh! The wind howled, and before Beelzebub could react, several enormous fist shadows came crashing down again. Boom! Boom! The terrifying explosions echoed as Beelzebub''s tiny figure, inparison to John, appeared like a doll, utterly powerless to resist. His life bar, which measured in the trillions, was instantly emptied. Boom! With another massive crash, Beelzebub was killed on the spot. But immediately, he resurrected in ce. He had a lifesaver ability. ring at John in terror, The quickly retreated. "Why aren''t you all helping?" He roared at Heidern and the others in the distance. John''s strength after transforming into a giant was too terrifying for Beelzebub to handle alone. The others exchanged nces, their faces filled with shock. They no longer dared to underestimate John. Roar... A deafening dragon roar echoed as Cand-Dragon transformed into its true form. Its colossal body stretched out like a never-ending mountain range, upying half of the Void Area. Whoosh... Despite its immense size, Cand-Dragon''s body moved with surprising agility, stirring the skies as it lunged at John. Boom! Boom! The two giants shed directly, neither using any special skills, purely engaging in a contest of raw strength. The booming sounds reverberated, and the void trembled violently. The gods watching from afar were so terrified they kept retreating further back. The sh between two peak powers like Cand-Dragon and John was something they dared not interfere with. Boom! Another massive crash rang out as cracks appeared between the twobatants, the space around them torn apart by the sheer force of their battle. Both John and Cand-Dragon were forced back simultaneously. At this moment, a faint trail of blood hung from the corner of John''s mouth, and his chest heaved slightly. The continuous fighting had greatly depleted his spiritual power and demonic energy. Cand-Dragon looked a bit disheveled, but still maintained his peak form. His massive crimson eyes red coldly at John as his deep, rumbling voice echoed, "Human, you have surprised me, but you''re still no match for me!" "Is that so?" John wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his body radiating with intense fighting spirit. His gaze briefly shifted to Heidern, who stood nearby, watching like a predator waiting to strike. Heidern was the one John truly feared. "Dragon Transformation!" John roared, and in an instant, his massive body erupted in golden light, transforming into a colossal divine dragon. His size now surpassed even Cand-Dragon by a few lengths. This was the Dragon Form under the Heaven and Earth Transformation state! John''s attributes skyrocketed once again, but so did the cost-his spiritual power and demonic energy consumption had increased by another 1.5 times. He had to end this quickly! Roar! With a long, melodic dragon roar, the golden divine dragon soared into the sky, lunging toward Cand-Dragon. Once again, there were no fancy techniques, just a brutal close-range brawl powered purely by raw strength. Boom! The terrifying sh shattered the space between them. The whirling winds howled like des, cutting across both John and Cand-Dragon. Crack... crack... Their scales shattered instantly, blood sttering everywhere. Both dragons rapidly retreated. At this moment, blood trickled from the corner of Cand-Dragon''s mouth as he red at John, shocked and confused. He demanded, "Divine dragon bloodline? That''s impossible! Are you human or Beast n?" Fear stirred in his heart. John''s divine dragon bloodline was purer than his own. He was a member of the Beast n, one of the legendary Candle Dragons. For a mere human to possess such a pure divine dragon bloodline was beyondprehension. John was still human, but he had a Beast n incarnation. The Tree of Life had refined bloodline awakening stones for him, resulting in an exceptionally pure and powerful Beast n body, far surpassing Cand-Dragon. "Die!" John didn''t bother to answer. With a furious roar, his enormous body twisted, whipping up a fierce wind as he charged at Cand-Dragon once more. "Damn it!" Cand-Dragon cursed, his expression grim as he gritted his teeth and engaged in another fierce battle. Boom... boom... The terrifying explosions reverberated again as the space between them was torn apart. Both John and Cand-Dragon were gravely injured. Boom! With a violent collision, Cand-Dragon''s massive body was sent flying, crashing to the ground as he spat out arge mouthful of blood. Severely wounded, he was no longer able to fight. "Human, you will die!" Suddenly, an angry shout echoed as Heidern made his move. His palm opened wide, and an entire realm flew out, quickly enveloping John. The Overseer, master of his own realm. In this space, Heidern was the absolute ruler! John felt a strange force enveloping him, trapping him in a space where he was nothing more than prey waiting to be ughtered. "Nine Heavens Sword!" He quickly regained hisposure and, with a cold shout, used a skill for the first time-the Immortal Art he had just mastered, the Nine Heavens Sword! And this was under his divine dragon form with the immense attribute boosts from the Heaven and Earth Transformation state. Boom... boom... Suddenly, the sound of rolling thunder echoed as a colossal sword materialized high in the heavens, crashing down with terrifying power, tearing the space apart. Crack! The realm within Heidern''s palm, unable to bear the immense force, shattered into pieces. "Ugh!" Heidern coughed up a mouthful of blood, stumbling backward a step. His face turned pale, and he nearly copsed. Crack... crack... The giant sword dissipated, but the residual power it left behind tore through the Void Area, creating countless space rifts that opened and closed rapidly. In the blink of an eye, the Void Area became a deste wastnd, its space extremely unstable, on the verge of copsing at any moment. The gathered gods were filled with terror and dread. Especially Cand-Dragon and Beelzebub, who couldn''t help but swallow nervously as they looked at John, still in his full divine dragon form. If he hadunched such a terrifying attack at the start, no one but Heidern could have withstood it. This human... there was something eerily terrifying about him. "Human, who are you really?" Heidern, barely holding himself together, stared at John, demanding answers.N?v(el)B\\jnn Whoosh! As the overwhelming power dissipated, John saw that Heidern was no longer a threat. Unable to sustain both the Heaven and Earth Transformation and the divine dragon form, he reverted to his human shape. John merely cast a cold nce at Heidern, his icy gaze sweeping over the other gods. They all looked back at him, eyes filled with fear and apprehension. John spoke slowly, "I could kill every one of you and prevent the opening of the Earth Passage. But I haven''t. I''m giving you all a chance now-join me, and together we''ll fight against the Shadow n." "Fool! Human, you have no idea how terrifying the Shadow n is. They''re not something we can stand against. You''ve doomed us all!" Heidern cursed angrily. Most of the upper-tier gods here had witnessed the eerie power of the Shadow n. Against the Shadow n, they stood no chance. By opening the Shadow Star Passage, John had practically summoned their doom. "Hah!" John chuckled coldly, full of disdain. "What, are they supposed to be strong? To me, they''re still nothing more than weaklings." As Heidern and the others prepared to argue further, John tossed a few items in front of them. A blood-red glow spread out, radiating a sinister aura. Heidern and the others widened their eyes, instinctively stepping back in fear. "Shadow n treasures!" They had seen Shadow n treasures before, though it had only been a broken Blood Bone. That Blood Bone had been dropped by a powerful Shadow n warrior, killed after the Immortals fought with all their might. John looked at the group before him and continued, "You know where to find me. I hope this time you make the right choice." He raised his hand, and a sharp sword light shot out, instantly killing a powerful demigod from the Skyline Continent. Not only that, but John used a soul attack,pletely erasing the demigod''s existence. The treasured artifact of the Skyline Continent''s humans dropped to the ground. Conveniently, John''s Skyline Continent human incarnation was in need of such a set of treasures. "Human..." A high-ranking Wrath of the Gods from Skyline Continent began to speak, but when he met John''s cold gaze, he wisely closed his mouth. If John decided to attack him, there would be nothing he could do to resist. And losing one demigod wasn''t a huge deal, after all. "Hmph!" John snorted dismissively. With a simple wave of his hand, he collected the treasured artifact set from the Skyline Continent humans, along with the Elven Spring of Void Area. Heidern seethed inwardly, but didn''t dare to stop him. He could only watch as John disappeared from the Void Area before his eyes. "Did that human really kill a Shadow n member?" Beelzebub stared at theplete set of Shadow n treasures on the ground, still struggling to believe it. "Maybe he just got lucky and found them?" someone suggested. "They''re fresh!" Cand-Dragon took a deep breath, standing back up after recovering most of his injuries. Gazing at the blood-drenched treasure set, he could still sense the lingering Shadow Power. It was clear that the Shadow n warrior had been in recently. "Could it be... do we really need to side with that human and fight against the Shadow n?" a strong warrior from Skyline Continent asked hesitantly. They feared the Shadow n and doubted whether John could actually lead them in a fight against such a terrifying foe. Everyone turned their eyes to the peak powerhouses-Heidern, Cand-Dragon, and Beelzebub -waiting for their response. But none of them said a word. "The Immortals are madmen!" After a long silence, Heidern finally spat out. Everyone nodded in agreement. The first time the Immortals descended, they wanted to kill them all. The second time, John had grown stronger, breaking open the passage to the Shadow Star, forcing the Shadow n into y and demanding that they unite to fight the Shadow n together... Cand-Dragon nced at Heidern and said calmly, "Beast n members, return to thend of the Beast n." With a single thought, he led the Beast n away from the Void Area. After that, the strong warriors from the demon race and other powerful ns also began to leave the Void Area one by one. The passage to the Shadow Star had already been opened through the Skyline Continent. There was no stopping what wasing next. Chapter 248: Chapter 248: Reclaiming the Death Land, Beelzebub Retreats in Fear Chapter 248: Reiming the Death Land, Beelzebub Retreats in Fear ? "My lord, what should we do? Are we really going to submit to that human?" Grey of the Angel Race looked at Heidern, asking with a heavy heart. The thought of the Angel Race submitting to John left a bitter taste in his mouth. Heidern frowned deeply and replied, "There''s no need to rush this decision." With that, his figure vanished, reappearing in a hidden chamber. He approached a stone tform and immediately activated it. A shadowy figure appeared, cold-faced, and spoke in a low, chilling voice: "Give me an exnation. Why has the Skyline Continent connected the passage to the Shadow Star?" Heidern swallowed nervously, instantly dropping to his knees. He hurriedly exined, "My lord, it''s the work of the Immortals! I was no match for them." "Impossible. The Immortals have long since fallen," the figure said, clearly doubtful. Heidern quickly added, "It was a human from Earth. He inherited the Immortals'' legacy. My lord, is there any way to fix this?" Heidern desperately hoped to avoid the Shadow n''s involvement. "Fix it?" The figure sneered, eyes zing with fury as they bore down on Heidern. "You''ve disappointed me greatly. Prepare to face the wrath of the Shadow n!" Boom! Suddenly, the stone tform exploded, and the shadowy figure disappeared. It''s over! Heidern stood frozen in ce, realizing he hadpletely enraged the Shadow n. They were now clearly preparing to strike at the gods. Despair filled his heart, and his hatred for John deepened. But now, there was no one else who could stand against the Shadow n except for that human. Yet, could John truly resist the Shadow n? Heidern wasn''t sure. But John was his only hope. If the Shadow n decided to attack the gods, there would be no chance of survival. ... At the outskirts of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, John suddenly appeared. Cough! He violently coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face pale. The battle with Heidern and the others had left him seriously injured. He had been holding on for dear life, but now he could no longer maintain his strength. "I''m still too weak. Fighting against peak upper-tier gods is pushing my limits," he muttered to himself, frustrated by hisck of power. He felt an urgent need to grow stronger. If he could reach the demigod level, he wouldn''t have to fear those peak powerhouses anymore. Moreover, obtaining the final treasure of the Skyline Continent required a demigod-level fighter at the very least. Fortunately, there were still three months left-plenty of time. Roar... Suddenly, furious roars echoed all around as countless Hunters swarmed toward him. John smirked in disdain. With a simple flick of his hand, he unleashed his Sword Mastery. The Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword flew out, splitting into three, and began to mercilessly tear through the hordes of enemies. With his increased power, these Hunters were no longer a threat to John. He charged straight into the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, ready to lead everyone back to the Death Land. The ruins were still overrun with an endless sea of Hunters, covering the sky and the earth. John activated his Soul Perception, scanning the area, and found no trace of the Hunter Queen or Shadow n warriors. Although the passage between the Skyline Continent and the Shadow n had been opened, it seemed that those beings were not in any rush to descend. Not bothering to dwell on the matter, John cut through the swarms of enemies with ease, soon reaching the cave where hispanions were hiding. Inside, the sounds of battle echoed, and powerful energy surged through the air. Everyone had grown much stronger. Now, using the cave as a vantage point, they easily dealt with the Hunters. "My lord!" Bonnie and a few others rushed to greet John as soon as they saw him. "Was it you who opened the passage between the Skyline Continent and the Shadow Star?" they asked. They had all heard the recent system announcement and suspected that John had something to do with it. John nodded without offering further exnation. "There''s no need to stay here any longer. We''re heading back to the Death Land," he said. "But, my lord, hasn''t the Death Land been taken over by the demon race and Skyline Continent humans?" Behemoth asked, puzzled. Though they had all be much stronger, they were still no match for the demon race and the powerful humans of Skyline Continent. "Hmph, then we''ll just take it back," John replied confidently. He ordered Jean to retrieve the Tree of Life and told everyone to prepare for their return. This time, they wouldn''t need to leave in separate groups. John''s increased power allowed him to protect everyone in a single journey. With John leading the way, they easily ughtered their way out of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. "Let''s go, straight to the Death Land," he said. He had no intention of walking the entire way. Unlike the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, the Death Land allowed for direct teleportation, as long as you had the coordinates. Everyone understood and quickly connected to the Death Land''s coordinates, teleporting away. Buzz! Spatial power rippled, and in a sh, John and his group arrived in the Death Land. "Humans!" A furious shout rang out. Around the Dark Sea and the Vein of the Earth, arge group of powerful warriors from the demon race and the Skyline Continent had gathered. All of them were at least demigod level. "You dare return!" they roared, surrounding John and hispanions. Sara and the others tensed up. Though they had grown stronger, they were still no match for the demon race and Skyline Continent warriors. "Haven''t you lot scrammed yet?" John frowned. It seemed that the demon race and Skyline Continent hadn''t yet received the news from the Void Area. Not wanting to waste time, he was ready to strike. Suddenly, a terrifying presence descended-Beelzebub of the demon race. Though fearful of John''s strength, Beelzebub didn''t show himself. His voice echoed through the air: "All demon race members, leave the Death Land immediately!" The demon race warriors, who had been ready to attack John, looked bewildered. They were confused by Beelzebub''s suddenmand. Before they could react, another powerful aura descended. It was Wilson, one of the peak human powerhouses from the Skyline Continent. "All human forces from the Skyline Continent, withdraw from the Death Land immediately," hemanded, also without showing himself. The gathered warriors were confused and bewildered but didn''t dare disobey the orders from Beelzebub and Wilson. One by one, they disappeared. "Godyer," Beelzebub''s voice came again, but this time with respect, "The Dark Sea is a treasure of the demon race. May I take it with me?" "Scram!" John roared in response. Beelzebub, startled by the intensity of John''s voice, dared not argue further and retreated without another word. Wilson, too, had hoped to im the Vein of the Earth, but after seeing John''s attitude, he wisely chose to keep silent and withdrew from the area. Elsa, Sara, and the others stood there, dumbfounded. They had braced themselves for a battle to the death, yet Beelzebub and the others had retreated so meekly? Behemoth swallowed hard, his voice curious as he asked, "Was that really Beelzebub and Wilson just now? No mistake, right?"N?v(el)B\\jnn Everyone else looked equally puzzled. Bonnie seemed to realize something, and with a shaky voice, she looked at John and asked, "My lord, are you... can you actually kill peak upper-tier gods now?" Everyone turned their eyes to John, filled with curiosity. He smiled slightly and replied calmly, "What are you thinking? They''re upper-tier gods. But injuring them? That''s definitely possible." The group stared at John, astonished, their emotions churning with disbelief. Without offering more exnation, John turned to Jean and said, "Release the Tree of Life. From now on, no one will darey a hand on the Death Land." With that, he reached into his heart and summoned the Elven Spring''s fountainhead, merging it with the Death Land. Buzz! A gentle stream began to flow, instantly dispersing the mist that had shrouded the Death Land, filling the area with powerful spiritual energy. "The Elven Spring!" Bonnie and Anna gasped in awe as they gazed at the crystal-clear water encircling the Death Land, overjoyed by the sight. Jean was just as thrilled, quickly releasing the Tree of Life. Swoosh... The tree''s branches swayed as it took root beside the Elven Spring, absorbing the water''s power. It began to grow rapidly, bing even more lush and vibrant, radiating an even greater life force. "Big brother," Jean said, looking at John, "The Tree of Life is asking if she can absorb the Immortals'' legacy. She believes she can nurture an even more powerful Immortalself." "Immortalself? Of course, she can!" John agreed without hesitation. This was good news for him. Moreover, the Immortals'' legacy was so vast that despite the many people who had sensed it over a long period, they had barely scratched the surface. If the Tree of Life could nurture an elf capable of mastering the Immortals'' legacy, his forces would be significantly strengthened. Swoosh, swoosh... The branches of the Tree of Life swayed vigorously, as if sharing in the excitement. John looked at hispanions and said, "Everyone, keep working hard to strengthen yourselves. The enemies we''ll face next will be even more formidable." "Don''t worry, my lord, we won''t disappoint you," they quickly assured him. John had done so much for them, and with the presence of the Immortals'' legacy and the Elven Spring, as long as they had enough time, they would be powerful enough to contend with the gods. However, when it came to the Shadow n, they still felt uncertain. John didn''t say anything more. With a thought, he left the Death Land and appeared at the outskirts of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. He still had a lot to aplish-strengthening himself and restoring powerful factions like the Saint Martial Sect. ... In thend of the Beast n. Cand-Dragon, leading a group of upper-tier gods, arrived and immediately sought out Tony and Ben. Looking at Ben, Cand-Dragon asked, "Ben, with the Shadow n''s arrival, will the Beast n be destroyed?" He had witnessed the power of the Shadow n firsthand, and like Heidern, he didn''t believe John had the ability to stand against the entire Shadow n. Ben frowned. He had heard the system announcement and had foreseen the arrival of the Shadow n, but he never expected the Skyline Continent to connect to the Shadow Star. He understood Cand-Dragon''s concerns and, after considering it carefully, replied, "My lord, Godyer is the savior I saw in my prophecy. There''s no mistake about it." Cand-Dragon''s frown deepened as he looked between the two and said, "I understand. Contact the Godyer and let him know that the Beast n will fully support him, even helping him im the final treasure." The two exchanged confused nces, unsure why Cand-Dragon''s attitude had suddenly shifted. Ben spoke up, "My lord, we don''t know where Godyer is right now." The Death Land had been upied by the demon race and the humans of the Skyline Continent, and John had gone into hiding. They had no idea of his whereabouts. Cand-Dragon continued, "He should have already returned to the Death Land. Go now, your initial decision was the right one." With those parting words, his figure disappeared. The two of them watched as he left. Tony, puzzled, asked, "Has something happened recently? Why is Lord Cand-Dragon suddenly willing to support Godyer?" Ben shook his head, equally baffled. "I suspect the connection between the Skyline Continent and the Shadow Star has something to do with that kid. Let''s go check it out." With that, the two of them made their way toward the Death Land. ... Chapter 249: Chapter 249: The Submission of the Beast Clan, Changes on Earth Chapter 249: The Submission of the Beast n, Changes on Earth ? John was ughtering Hunters to level up when the world of Gods connected to the Shadow Star. However, despite this connection, no new Hunter Queens or Shadow n warriors had descended from the Skyline Continent, which puzzled him.N?v(el)B\\jnn Still, it worked in his favor, giving him more time to focus on leveling up. Just then, he received a private message from Sini. "Tony and Ben are here?" A smile spread across his face. He could easily guess their purpose -apparently, the Beast n was now willing to cooperate. Earlier, the gods had also sent word, saying they wouldn''t follow hismand but were willing to join forces against the Shadow n. John had dly epted that offer. Now, only the demon race and the humans of the Skyline Continent had yet to make a clear stance. He wasn''t too concerned, though. Once his strength increased further, these factions would have no choice but to submit. With a thought, John returned to the Death Land. The air was thick with powerful spiritual energy. Tony and Ben stood by the Elven Spring, their faces filled with amazement. Sara and a few others blocked their path, aware that the soul contract between John and the two had been severed. They didn''t trust them fully and refused to let them approach the Immortals'' legacy or the Elven Spring. Just then, John appeared, and the two immediately moved toward him. Tony was the first to speak, "Godyer, what have you been up to recently?" John smiled but didn''t answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Cand-Dragon sent you, didn''t he? What''s his stance?" The two exchanged nces-so it really was connected to John. Ben spoke up, "Lord Cand-Dragon has said that the Beast n will fully support you, even helping you acquire the final Skyline Continent treasure and assist you in bing the Overseer." "Oh?" John raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. He had assumed the Beast n would be like the gods, only interested in working together against the Shadow n. But it seemed Cand-Dragon was much moremitted than he''d expected. John asked, "Is Cand-Dragon sincere about this?" Ben nodded, "I know Lord Cand-Dragon well. He wouldn''t say this unless he meant it." John felt a bit moved. Honestly, the Beast n had always resonated well with him. Tony, sensing the dense spiritual energy in the Death Land, asked, "Kid, can we train here too?" "Of course," John responded without hesitation. From the very beginning, both Tony and Ben had supported him. Even after Cand-Dragon forcibly severed their soul contract with John, they had continued to secretly pass along information and helped him in countless ways. Without their assistance, John might not have been able to stop the upper-tier gods from opening the passage between Earth and the world of Gods. "What about the Immortals'' legacy?" Tony asked eagerly, his gaze fixed on the Immortals'' legacy nearby. He could feel a powerful force drawing him toward it. John smiled slightly and said, "That won''t be a problem either." After a moment of thought, he added, "Anyone from the Beast n whom you trust cane here to train andprehend the Immortals'' legacy." Tony and Ben''s eyes lit up. After some consideration, Ben asked, "Can Lord Cand-Dragone here to train as well?" "He can," John nodded, agreeing without hesitation. In the past, he might have been more cautious. But now that his strength had grown, even if Cand-Dragon turned against him after receiving the legacy, John was confident he could take him down. "If Cand-Dragon tries anything after gaining the Immortals'' legacy, I won''t hesitate to eliminate him," John thought. Tony quickly said, "Ben, you go inform Lord Cand-Dragon. I''ll stay here and train." "You sly old fox!" Ben shot him a re but nodded. After exchanging a few words with John, Ben left the Death Land in a sh. Tony, on the other hand, wasted no time, eagerly sitting down in front of the Immortals'' legacy, cross-legged, ready to begin hisprehension. John didn''t leave. He was waiting for Cand-Dragon. Not long after, a ripple of spatial power appeared, and two figures emerged. It''s Cand-Dragon and Ben. John immediately went to greet them, smiling, "Lord Cand-Dragon, we meet again!" Cand-Dragon cast him a cold nce and said, "Godyer, let''s be clear. I will never sign a soul contract. If I said I would help you, I meant it." He assumed John had called him here out of distrust and to force him into a soul contract. As the strongest of the Beast n, he would never pledge allegiance to a human. John looked at Ben in confusion. "Didn''t you exin it to him?" Ben looked a bit embarrassed. "I only told him you wanted to meet, not the details. My bad for not being clear." Ben then turned to Cand-Dragon, saying, "My lord, Godyer has offered the Beast n permission to train in the Death Land andprehend the Beast n''s legacy, but only for those he can trust." "Is that true?" Cand-Dragon''s eyes widened in surprise, staring at John with disbelief. John nodded and said, "Lord Cand-Dragon, I''ve never harbored ill will toward your Beast n. In fact, I need your full support in our fight against the Shadow n." Cand-Dragon stared at John for a long moment before sighing in resignation. "I''m afraid you''ll be disappointed. When ites to facing the strong warriors of the Shadow n, I''m powerless." John frowned slightly and asked, "The power of the Shadow n is indeed strange, but their souls are their weakness. Don''t you have any soul-based attacks?" Cand-Dragon, with his powerful soul, had easily severed his soul contracts with Tony and Ben. He undoubtedly had some form of soul attack. "You used that to kill the Shadow n warrior, didn''t you?" Cand-Dragon realized, nodding. "If you''ve identified their weakness, they surely know it too. You''re aware of the Hunters'' secret, right? Their souls are shared." John nodded, a realization dawning on him. "Wait... are you saying the Shadow n warriors also share their souls?" Cand-Dragon continued, "Exactly. They have a symbiotic rtionship with the Hunters, and they can share their souls with the Hunter Queens. I suspect the Shadow n warrior you killed hadn''t yet bound his soul to a Hunter Queen." John had a different take. He believed that the Hunter Queen bound to that Shadow n warrior had already been killed by him. The Shadow n''s power might be strange, but as long as he could find and kill the Hunter Queen their souls were linked to, they weren''t invincible. Perhaps other gods couldn''t handle swarms of Hunters, but he could. With confidence, John said, "I have a way to deal with them. For now, focus on your training here." He was preparing to resume his mission of ughtering Hunters to level up. He needed to reach level 10,000-demigod level-as only those at demigod level or higher were eligible to vie for the final treasure of the Skyline Continent. Just as he was about to leave, Ritchie and Armstrong suddenly appeared, both looking a bit panicked. "Boss!" Ritchie called out, visibly relieved when he saw John. He quickly ran over and said, "Something''s happened in the real world-yers can''t log out." "What?" John was surprised, immediately asking, "Did you all descend to the Skyline Continent too?" "No," Ritchie replied, "I checked. Everyone''s physical bodies are still in the real world; they just can''t log out. And when someone dies, they can still resurrect as usual-there''s no other impact." John frowned, feeling puzzled. Thest time he had experienced something like this was when he had been trapped in the Abyss of the demon race. But that was an entirely different region from the Skyline Continent. At that moment, Cand-Dragon interjected, "This must be the work of the Shadow n. The connection between the Skyline Continent and the Shadow Star is irreversible now. If there are Earth yers, after the Shadow Star is destroyed, Earth will be next. They''re likely seeking revenge." "Is that so?" John''s expression darkened. He had thought that by preventing the Earth''s connection from being opened, he could put an end to everything. But it seemed that wasn''t the case. However, this development bought him some time. If the Shadow Star was destroyed, they would descend there first, giving him time to grow stronger-perhaps strong enough to stop them. And if not, well, there was always the Immortals'' method: wiping out all the gods. John turned to Ritchie and Armstrong, giving them a stern warning. "Be careful. Avoid shing with the Hunters, and if you run into danger, retreat to the Death Land." "Got it," they both nodded in agreement. With a thought, John left the Death Land and once again appeared at the outskirts of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, continuing his relentless hunt of Hunters to level up. To kill Hunters more efficiently, he ventured deeper into the ruins, where their numbers were even greater. More than a month had passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, John had been ughtering Hunters non-stop in the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, raising his level to over 7,000. He still had around 2,000 levels to go before reaching 10,000, and with nearly two months left, it was more than enough time for him to ascend to the demigod rank. In a month of carnage, his three clones had joined the fight, together ying at least several billion Hunters, yet the numbers of the creatures showed no sign of diminishing. He couldn''t help but marvel at the endless waves of Hunters. During this period, there had still been no sign of a Hunter Queen or any Shadow n warriors. The Shadow n''s continued inactivity made him uneasy. He suspected those beings were nning something far more dangerous behind the scenes. "Keep leveling up!" John renewed his focus, and with a thought, summoned his three clones once more to continue the ughter. All three of his clones had been refined with treasures, replicating his Plunder, Wrath of the Gods, and Undying and Immortal talents. His Skyline Continent human clone had even acquired a hidden ss-Elemental Knight¡ª which perfectly suited its attributes. Although the strength of his clones didn''t quite match his main body, they were more than capable of easily wiping out demigod-level Hunters. Plus, the experience gained from their kills was shared with his main body. Once he reached demigod level, he could tap into the Immortals'' legacy again, further boosting his power. Each of the three clones, possessing their own consciousness, ventured deep into different regions of the ancient ruins, continuing their massacre of the Hunters. Suddenly, a life force appeared-it was an upper-tier god. "Dark Humans?" John murmured, confused. With his Soul Perception, he easily identified the intruder. He couldn''t understand why a Dark Humans upper-tier god had ventured here. Wasn''t he afraid of the Hunters? Quickly dispatching the surrounding Hunters, John flew swiftly toward the presence of the Dark Humans god. At the entrance of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, a Dark Humans warrior cautiously advanced, his heart pounding as the Hunters watched him closely, their gazes predatory. Yet strangely, none of the Hunters attacked him. His body exuded a sinister aura-the unmistakable presence of the Shadow n. Chapter 250: Chapter 250: The Betrayal of the Dark Humans, The Nine-Tailed Fox Chapter 250: The Betrayal of the Dark Humans, The Nine-Tailed Fox ? Roar... Roar... The fierce growls of Hunters echoed all around as John continued his ughter, quickly reaching the location where the Dark Humans figure was waiting. "My lord!" The Dark Humans warrior''s eyes lit up as he hurriedly called out, "I''m Sanki of the Dark Humans, and I''vee to pledge my loyalty to you." "Pledge your loyalty to me?" John''s brows furrowed as he coldly sized up the man. He had no fondness for the Dark Humans. Now he understood why the Hunters hadn''t attacked this Sanki. The man had refined a Shadow Human''s treasure. It must have been the treasure John had discarded in the Void Area-he hadn''t expected it to fall into the hands of the Dark Humans. But what puzzled John was how this guy knew he was here, and why he didn''t seek him out in the Death Land instead. With a sycophantic smile, Sanki bowed repeatedly, trying to please him. "My lord, the gods have betrayed you and joined that human from the Immortals. I am willing to be your new emissary." When John heard this, the situation became clear. This guy thought he was pledging allegiance to the Shadow n, mistaking John for one of their people. "Heh." John chuckled coldly, gazing at Sanki with amusement. "You don''t recognize me, do you?" Though John wasn''t exactly a celebrity, most of the powerhouses across the races knew who he was. Sanki was taken aback, looking puzzled. He quickly replied, "I''m just a lowly figure, how could I know of my lord''s illustrious reputation? But rest assured, the Dark Humans are sincere in our loyalty to you!" John''s face twisted with disdain. "Your loyalty sure is something." He recalled how the Dark Humans had previously pledged allegiance to the demon race. It was their betrayal that had led to the near annihtion of the demons. And now, these same Dark Humans were looking to betray the gods and throw themselves at the feet of the Shadow n. The demon race and the gods weren''t exactly paragons of virtue, but the Dark Humans were even more despicable. Sanki,pletely oblivious to the sarcasm in John''s words, eagerly added, "Don''t worry, my lord! The Dark Humans are absolutely loyal to you. We''d walk through fire and climb mountains of swords for you without hesitation!" Roar... Roar... The nearby Hunters continued to roar, their eyes locked menacingly on the two. Even they seemed to have had enough of Sanki''s groveling. Yet, sensing the Shadow n''s aura on him, they refrained from attacking. Sanki nervously nced at the restless Hunters, swallowing hard in fear. "My lord, could you perhaps order these creatures to retreat?" "I''m afraid that won''t be possible," John sneered, lifting the Sword of Divinity and Demons, his voice icy. "Because I''m not one of the Shadow n." "W-what?" Sanki eximed in shock, finally realizing the truth. The Hunters had been attacking John earlier, and now that he looked closely, John had no trace of the Shadow n''s dark aura. No one but the Shadow n could control the Hunters, which is why Sanki had misunderstood John''s identity. Taking a step back with a wary expression, Sanki coldly asked, "Who are you?" "Godyer!" John replied icily. His longsword swung, unleashing a Flying Sword Strike that whistled through the air toward Sanki. Boom! With a loud explosion, Sanki was forced backward, but he wasn''t seriously injured. His face twisted with anger. "Deceitful human! How dare you trick me? Fine, I''ll kill you and offer you as a sacrifice to the Shadow n!" Dark energy surged around him, coalescing into a ck spear charged with powerful soul attacks, which he hurled toward John. "Foolish!" John scoffed. Sanki was only in the early stage of upper-tier gods, and John didn''t even need to use his Heaven and Earth Transformation to take him down. Boom! Boom! Several ck spears struck John, dealing tremendous damage, but they didn''t kill him. His soul took a slight hit, but it wasn''t enough to be a serious threat. Sanki''s Soul Technique barely surpassed the ten-thousand mark, which wasn''t nearly enough to hurt John. The Blessed Ring triggered, and John resurrected instantly. Cough! Sanki spat blood, staring at John in disbelief. "How is your Soul Technique so powerful?" "Heh." John smirked. With a single thought, his three clones transformed into beams of light and merged back into his body. It greatly enhancing his own attributes. "Die!" Johnmanded, his voice cold as the air trembled. He unleashed his Soul Impact, a devastating soul skill. Boom! Sanki coughed blood again, his head ringing, and his body swayed unsteadily. John''s Soul Technique was leagues beyond Sanki''s. If not for Sanki''s soul defense abilities, he would''ve already died from the attack. "Escape!" Sanki finally realized the true extent of John''s power and knew he couldn''t win. He turned and fled in panic. "Stop him!" he shouted to the surrounding Hunters, hoping tomand them to block John''s path. But the Hunters ignored him, ring disdainfully. Although he carried the Shadow n''s aura, he wasn''t one of them and couldn''t control the Hunters. Whoosh! John raised his hand, and crimson mes erupted into the air. He cast Red Lotus Fire, engulfing Sanki and the nearby Hunters in a zing inferno. Sanki had no chance to resist. His soul waspletely purified by the mes, his life force dissipated, and he copsed lifelessly to the ground, his soul utterly destroyed. [You have killed upper-tier god Sanki. You gained 676.6 billion experience points.] [Your level has increased to 7,825...] [Plunder Talent activated:ws of darknessprehension +1%, magic crit +2, strength +500, spirit +500, skill points +100] The system notifications shed, and a few items dropped on the ground, including a full set of Shadow n treasures and a ck spear. It was the Overlord Spear, a top-tier divine weapon! John was pleased. The spear''s attributes were powerful, perfect for his Skyline Continent human clone. Roar... The surrounding Hunters roared again, surging forward now that the Shadow n''s oppressive aura had vanished. With a thought, John sent out his three clones, who resumed their relentless ughter of the Hunters to continue leveling up. ... Another month passed, and John''s level had risen to over 9,500, bringing him closer to breaking through to the demigod rank. He was resting in the same cave as before, recovering his spiritual power and mental energy while his three clones easily defended the entrance from the surrounding Hunters. Ding! At that moment, John''s private chat lit up-it was a message from Sini. Gale: "John, a powerful figure from Shadow Star has descended. Cand-Dragon wants to see you." "Shadow Human has arrived?" John frowned, puzzled. He had been in the Ancient Battlefield Ruins all this time and hadn''t sensed any Shadow n presence. Could it be that this wasn''t the only passage to Shadow Star? He quickly replied to Sini. Godyer: "I''ll be there soon." Closing the private chat, John, whose spiritual power had already mostly recovered, activated his power, merging his three clones back into his main body. With his power and mental attributes now surpassing ten million, the Hunters posed no threat to him anymore. shing his way through, John swiftly left the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. Connecting his mind to the Death Land, with a thought, he vanished from sight. John reappeared in the Death Land, where Cand-Dragon greeted him with a grim expression. John asked, "Has the Shadow n arrived? Where are they?" Cand-Dragon shook his head. "It''s not the Shadow n. It''s a Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox from the Beast n. She wants to meet you." "The Beast n? Meet me?" John was confused. He recalled that the fox demon bloodline within the Beast n was wiped out by him. Could this Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox be seeking revenge for the Fox Demon n? Cand-Dragon continued, "This Nine-Tailed Heavenly Foxes from Shadow Star and is a subordinate of the Shadow n. Do you want me to take her out?" The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox was a peak upper-tier god. Previously, Cand-Dragon wouldn''t have been a match for her. But now, having gained insights from the Immortals'' legacy, his power had grown tremendously, and he could easily kill her. John raised an eyebrow. "So, the Shadow n also has members of other races?" "Yes," Cand-Dragon nodded. "Most of them are prodigies from their homes. After theirs were destroyed, they were captured by the Shadow n." "I see." John understood, realizing the Shadow n was even more formidable than he had imagined. He said, "She wants to meet me, right? Bring her in." "Alright." Cand-Dragon thought for a moment and nodded. Though John''s power was immense, even Cand-Dragon wasn''t entirely certain of victory against him. The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox likely wouldn''t be a serious threat to John. With that, Cand-Dragon disappeared from the Death Land. Not long after, he returned, apanied by a stunning woman. She was seductive and alluring, her every gesture exuding an entrancing charm. John studied her curiously. She had a pair of soft, furry fox ears atop her head, and nine long, white tails swayed faintly behind her. This had to be the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox. Cand-Dragon introduced her, "This is the one you''ve been looking for-Godyer." "This is the Godyer?" The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox furrowed her brows, visibly puzzled. "How can someone so weak be him?" Cand-Dragon nced at her but chose not to exin further. John asked, "Why are you looking for me?" The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox studied John curiously for a moment before hesitating and finally speaking, "I want to talk to you privately." She nced at Cand-Dragon, clearly wanting him to leave. Cand-Dragon didn''t move, instead looking toward John and sending him a soul transmission: "Godyer, her Soul Technique is at 200,000 points. Are you able to handle her?" That high? John was a bit taken aback but nodded slightly, not sensing any hostility from her. Without saying more, Cand-Dragon shot a warning nce at the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox before moving to sit beneath the Tree of Life. He didn''t leave the Death Land, remaining nearby in case anything went wrong. "Speak," John said, turning his attention back to the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox. Woosh!N?v(el)B\\jnn Suddenly, a pink mist spread around them, carrying a light floral fragrance. John''s mind momentarily wavered-this fragrance had a hypnotic effect. Quickly, he held his breath and cleared his thoughts, focusing intently on the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox with a cold stare. Thud! To John''s surprise, the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox knelt before him and pleaded, "My lord, please save me!" John was taken aback, furrowing his brows in confusion. "Save you? Isn''t the Shadow n here to send you against me?" She nodded. "Yes, but I no longer want to be controlled by the Shadow n. You''re a strong figure from the Immortals. Only you can rescue me." John remained calm, replying, "You''re giving me too much credit. Besides, I don''t trust you." A peak upper-tier god like her was beyond the binding power of a soul contract, and given her origin from Shadow Star, John wasn''t ready to take her at her word so easily. Chapter 251: Chapter 251: Shadow Clans Target, Breaking Through to Demigod Chapter 251: Shadow n''s Target, Breaking Through to Demigod ? The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox looked at John with a serious expression. "You''re the savior from Ben''s prophecy. I believe in you. If you''re worried about me ying tricks, I can be your woman." As she spoke, she gave him a seductive smile, her beauty utterly mesmerizing. John swallowed hard, feeling even more cautious. This woman was from the Fox n, naturally skilled in Enchantment techniques. "You should know," John said, "that the savior in the prophecy was supposed toe from your Fox n. But I wiped out that Fox n genius along with the rest of your n." The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox nodded, seemingly indifferent. "Perhaps that''s just fate. Besides, the Fox n you destroyed wasn''t directly rted to me-they weren''t my bloodline, so it doesn''t matter much to me." John was speechless. It seemed the Beast n ced immense faith in Ben''s prophecies. This made him even more curious-what exactly was Ben''s true identity? Despite still being at the peak of the ninth tier and unable to break through to demigod, Ben was highly respected by Cand-Dragon and other strong members of the Beast n. Except, of course, for the Azure Dragon that John had in. Lost in thought, John didn''t give a direct answer. Instead, he asked, "Have any Shadow n warriors descended on the Skyline Continent yet?" "Not yet," the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox replied. "They''re currently trying to seal the connection between Shadow Star and Skyline Continent, but it''s impossible. The connection to Shadow Star can no longer be prevented. The Shadow n will likely wait until the final treasure is about to emerge before they descend and attempt to seize it." John listened, still feeling uneasy. The Shadow n was immensely powerful and terrifying, but it was still better than them bringing destruction to Earth. He continued, "Besides dealing with me, what other objectives does the Shadow n have here?" "They''re also helping the Shadow Humans search for individuals with special talents," she said, ncing at him. "Every time a world is destroyed, the Shadow n captures many talented individuals. I was taken when the Beast n''s world was destroyed." At this, she clenched her teeth in anger, a flicker of fear passing through her eyes. John, sensing a pattern, asked, "Do they want to replicate your talents?" "Surprised you know that?" The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox gave him a startled look before nodding. "It seems you''ve encountered a Talent Copy Stone before. This is unique to life on Shadow Star. They use it to copy our talents, and when they can''t copy any more, they plunder our talents directly. Once we''re no longer useful, they either kill us or use us as cannon fodder..." John had learned that using a Talent Copy Stone to replicate a talent had a limit. A talent could only be copied a maximum of five times. However, John had a lingering doubt. He looked at the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox and asked, "Isn''t one of the conditions for using the Talent Copy Stone that the subject must willingly consent? Why don''t you resist?" "Resist?" Her expression turned sorrowful, filled with anger and bitterness. "My lord, you underestimate the Shadow n''s methods. If anyone dares resist, they are subjected to endless torment, a fate worse than death. And they won''t harm your soul-so you can''t even wish for death." She swallowed, then continued, "I''ve had my talent copied three times already. I don''t want to be a puppet any longer. I truly seek your protection." John frowned. He believed the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, but he wasn''t confident that he could stand against the Shadow n. "I can help you," he said, "but don''t get your hopes too high." "You''re the savior from the prophecy. I believe in you," she replied, filled with unwavering confidence in him. John let out a helpless chuckle. From the beginning, he had never truly seen himself as any kind of savior. He turned to her again and asked, "Onest question. How do you locate individuals with special talents? And who else is on your list?" "It''s a mysterious method taught to us by the Shadow n. We can sense SSS-grade talents. You were our primary target. There are also some rare talents-like my Nine Lives talent, which allows me to die nine times. Even if my soul is destroyed, I can still resurrect." She spoke without hesitation, and it wasn''t really a secret anymore-many powerful beings already knew about her Nine Lives talent. "Resurrect even if your soul is destroyed?" John was astonished. This Nine Lives talent was undoubtedly stronger than his Undying and Immortal. Undying and Immortal granted him infinite resurrection, but only as long as his soul remained intact. If his soul were to be destroyed, he''d be permanently dead. The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox looked at him hesitantly before saying, "If want, my lord, I can offer to copy my talent for you." "Oh?" John eyed her suspiciously. "But," she quickly added, "it would require an exchange for one of your SSS-grade talents." "I''m not interested," John declined immediately. While the Nine Lives talent was powerful, he didn''t particrly want it. Moreover, he only had two SSS-grade talents: Plunder and Blessing of the Archmage. As for his god-level talent, it seemed she couldn''t detect it. Plunder was his most crucial ability, something he could never exchange. Blessing of the Archmage might not seem impressive at first nce, as it only boosted his skills by one level, but it was still something he preferred to keep under wraps. The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox seemed disappointed, clearly aware that John possessed powerful talents. The skill the Shadow n had taught her could only sense the level of a person''s talent but couldn''t identify its exact nature. The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox continued, "My lord, aside from you, there are a few others around you who are also targets of the Shadow n. Two women-one is the Beast n''s Flower Fairy, and the other is a young girl who possesses the power of Star Dust. Oh, and Ben is also on their list." "The power of Star Dust? Who?" John asked, confused. He was already aware that Jean, the Flower Fairy, had unique abilities, and Ben''s prophetic powers made him an obvious target. But the mention of Star Dust threw him off. The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, sensing his confusion, gestured toward the girl meditating in front of the Immortals'' legacy as the pink mist around them dissipated slightly. "That young girl over there. I can only sense a general idea of her talent, but I don''t know the specifics." "Tracy?" John was surprised. Tracy had never mentioned having a Star Dust talent, so it must have been something she recently acquired whileprehending the Immortals'' legacy. This revtion weighed heavily on him. With both Jean and Tracy now on the Shadow n''s radar, danger coulde for them at any moment. John knew he had to strengthen himself quickly. After a moment of contemtion, he said, "Nine-Tails, I need you to keep an eye on anyoneing from Shadow Star. If they make a move against anyone close to me, alert me immediately." "Of course," the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox agreed without hesitation. As the surrounding pink mist cleared, John gave a few quick instructions to his group and then returned to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins to continue his relentless hunt of Hunters. His goal was to reach level 10,000 and break through to demigod as soon as possible. In the following days, the Shadow n sent other races'' powerhouses to the Skyline Continent, but still no new Hunter Queens or Shadow n warriors arrived. It seemed they had realized that John could kill Hunter Queens and were wary of sending more of them. John''s n to improve his Soul Technique by hunting Hunter Queens had fallen apart. He figured the Shadow n was likely waiting for the final treasure of the Skyline Continent to appear before making their move. Unbothered, John pressed on with his hunt. ... [You have reached level 10,000. The fusion of the Immortals, Beast n, gods, and Skyline Continent treasures isplete. Demigod breakthrough conditions unlocked.]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om [Demigod Ascension: Kill 500 demigod-level powerhouses.] A new system prompt appeared. After another half month of wandering through the Ancient Battlefield Ruins and ughtering countless Hunters, John had finally reached level 10,000, unlocking the requirements for his demigod ascension. "Kill 500 demigod powerhouses?" John was astonished. Most people only needed to kill a single demigod to ascend to that level, but he had to kill 500! Luckily, there were plenty of demigod-level Hunters, otherwise, this ascension task would have been almost impossible toplete. John''s resolve sharpened, and he continued his relentless ughter of the Hunters. ... [You have killed 500 demigod-level powerhouses andpleted your ascension task. You have sessfully ascended to demigod.] In no time, John had in 500 demigod-level Hunters. His main body, along with his three clones, was suddenly enveloped in a radiant light. The sky seemed to shift, and an immense surge of power flowed into his being. [The Immortals'' treasure has fully fused. You have ascended to demigod. All four basic attributes +200,000, Soul Technique +1000.] [Beast n clone has fully fused with Beast n treasure. Ascended to demigod. All four basic attributes +200,000, Soul Technique +1000.] [gods clone has fully fused with gods'' treasure. Ascended to demigod. All four basic attributes +200,000, Soul Technique +1000.] [Skyline Continent human clone has fully fused with Skyline Continent treasure. Ascended to demigod. All four basic attributes +200,000, Soul Technique +1000.] The system prompts shed, confirming that both John and his four clones had all ascended to demigod. Each had gained 200,000 points in their four basic attributes, along with 1000 points in Soul Technique. With his clones merged, this amounted to a total boost of 800,000 in basic attributes and 4000 points in Soul Technique. The only thing that disappointed him slightly was theck of new skill insights. Still, with his newfound strength, he could furtherprehend the Immortals'' legacy. But before that, he had another matter to attend to-the Dark Humans. These traitors were already nning to align themselves with the Shadow n, and with the final treasure of the Skyline Continent about to surface, there was no reason for the Dark Humans to remain. Effortlessly cutting through the surrounding Hunters, John left the Ancient Battlefield Ruins and, with a thought, appeared in the Void Area. The Void Area was in shambles. Space rifts continuously opened and closed around him, and the environment had grown fragile, threatening to copse and be devoured at any moment. This destruction had been caused by his battle with Heidern. Fortunately, the space around The Temple remained somewhat stable. John''s sudden appearance immediately caught the attention of the powerful figures present. "Godyer!" An upper-tier god from the Angel Race stepped forward to block his path, his expression wary. John recognized him-Grey of the Angel Race, one of the strongest among the upper-tier gods. Butpared to John, Grey was no threat. John''s voice was calm as he said, "I''m here to see Heidern." Grey frowned, still on guard, and did not step aside. The gods had only agreed to cooperate with John against the Shadow n, but Grey harbored lingering hostility toward him. Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Comprehending the Legacy, Tony’s Ascension Chapter 252: Comprehending the Legacy, Tony¡¯s Ascension ? "Let him in," Heidern''s voice echoed through the air. Grey bowed to the void before leading John toward The Temple. John entered. The Temple was vast and empty, with Heidern having dismissed everyone else. His tone was neutral as he asked, "Human, what brings you here?" John didn''t bother with pleasantries. He directly pulled out the set of Shadow n treasures and threw them at Heidern''s feet. Heidern swallowed hard, his eyes widening in surprise. "You''ve killed another Shadow n warrior?" "No," John shook his head. "It''s the same set as before. You know the Dark Human named Sanki? He''s betrayed your gods and tried to join the Shadow n. I intercepted him." "What!" Heidern shot up from his seat, his face darkening, fury zing in his eyes. He didn''t doubt John''s im. The set of Shadow n treasures had indeed been taken by the Dark Humans. And recently, their behavior had been suspicious-frequently contacting strong figures from Shadow Star''s various races. Now it all made sense. These Dark Humans were nning to side with the Shadow n! "Fools!" Heidern spat angrily. He knew all too well the Shadow n''s methods. The Dark Humans would never be epted, not even as cannon fodder. Heidern''s voice turned cold. "Human, I know what must be done. The Dark Humans will no longer exist!" The gods were not like the demon race; they wouldn''t allow the Dark Humans a chance to betray them. John nodded. It was best if the gods handled it. Heidern continued, "Let me give you a warning. There are gods and powerful Angel Race beings descending from Shadow Star. They wille after you don''t mistake their intentions." "Don''t worry, I''m aware," John replied. "Just deal with the Dark Humans quickly. The final treasure of the Skyline Continent is about to emerge, and I don''t want those traitors causing any trouble." Without lingering further, John left the Void Area and returned to the Death Land to continueprehending the Immortals'' legacy. ... Heidern sat on his throne, his gaze dark and brooding as he stared at the Shadow n treasures lying on the ground. "Dark Humans. Hmph, you''ve really done it now!" His voice was icy, and the killing intent in his heart grew stronger. It was fortunate that John had discovered their betrayal in time. Otherwise, the consequences could have been disastrous. "Lincoln!" Heidern called out calmly. The doors of the temple opened, and Lincoln of the Angel Race walked in. He was the strongest warrior of the Angel Race, second only to Cand-Dragon in power. "My lord, you called for me?" Lincoln bowed and asked. Heidern nodded, his expression cold. "The Dark Humans have betrayed us. They''ve attempted to ally themselves with the Shadow n. I want you to give the order to the Angel Race-exterminate them all. Leave none alive!" "Leave none?" Lincoln looked at him in surprise and asked, "Even the weaker Shadow Humans?" "Yes!" Heidern was truly furious this time. "I understand." Lincoln turned to leave, but Heidern stopped him again. "One more thing." Heidern''s expression grew serious. "I can sense that the final treasure of the Skyline Continent is about to emerge. I will help you obtain the treasure so we can stand together against the Shadow n." Lincoln was astonished and stared at him in disbelief. "My lord, why not choose someone from the gods?" Heidern shook his head. "You know how I obtained my own final treasure. It can never be fully refined, and the same race can''t have two who possess the final treasure at the same time. Besides, you are the strongest among my subordinates, and the only one I trust." Lincoln was moved by Heidern''s words but quickly calmed down. "But my lord, this time the Shadow n will make a move, and there''s also the Godyer..." Having witnessed John''s terrifying power during the battle in the Void Area, Lincoln knew that even Heidern couldn''t easily defeat him. Heidern smirked coldly. "Who do you think hates that human more? The Shadow n won''t let him escape. When they''re busy with each other, all we need to deal with are the Beast n, demon race, and Sea n. None of them can match us. As long as everything goes smoothly, the treasure will be ours." Lincoln swallowed nervously. With this reasoning, they did indeed stand a good chance of iming the final treasure. Heidern continued, "I just hope that the Godyer can keep the Shadow n upied." "Let''s hope so," Lincoln agreed, his eyes falling on the Shadow n treasures on the ground. He hadn''t personally seen John fight against the Shadow n and still wasn''t sure of his true strength. ... Death Land. John and his three clones sat cross-legged before the Immortals'' legacy, deep in contemtion. Cand-Dragon was nearby, watching the scene with a mix of surprise and awe. He was particrly struck by the power emanating from John''s Beast n clone, which contained the strength of the divine dragon bloodlines-bloodlines even purer and stronger than his own. "Is this guy even a part of the Beast n?" he muttered softly to himself. Regardless of John''s true origins, Cand-Dragon was convinced that the Beast n clone was, without a doubt, one of their own. Buzz! Suddenly, a sh of golden light caught his attention-it came from Tony. Cand-Dragon was taken aback. Tony, too, had begun toprehend the powerful Immortals'' legacy! "My lord... huh, why are there so many Godyers?" Tony opened his eyes, looking around in shock at the four identical figures of John. Each one radiated powerful soul energy, and aside from slight differences in their auras, he couldn''t immediately tell which was the real one. It seemed that all of them were real. Cand-Dragon, curious, turned to John and asked, "Have you fully inherited the Immortals'' legacy?" Tony, filled with excitement, nodded repeatedly and turned to Cand-Dragon. "My lord, I want to spar with you." Cand-Dragon frowned, clearly displeased. "You haven''t even broken through to lower-tier gods, and you want to spar with me? Do you think you''re the Godyer?" Tony smiled calmly and said, "You misunderstand, my lord. I recently learned a powerful defense skill, and I just want to test its strength. You can attack me, and I won''t fight back." Cand-Dragon opened his mouth, feeling slightly insulted. Not fight back? Did this guy think he was stronger than the Godyer? Intrigued, Cand-Dragon finally agreed. "Fine, but let''s move further away so we don''t disturb the Godyer''s meditation." The two of them moved to the edge of the Death Land. "Come on, my lord!" Tony said excitedly. With a shout, golden light enveloped him, forming a massive golden shield in the shape of a tortoise shell,pletely encasing him. "Huh?" Cand-Dragon raised his eyebrows, sensing a significant boost in Tony''s defense. Without hesitation, Cand-Dragon waved his hand, sending a bolt of lightning crashing down toward Tony. Boom! The air exploded with sound as purple lightning crackled and golden light shed, but Tony emerged unscathed. Feeling confident, Tony grinned and said, "My lord, don''t hold back. I want to see how strong this skill really is. You can even use soul skills." "Soul skills? You must be out of your mind!" Cand-Dragon cursed. But seeing the terrifying strength of Tony''s defense, he couldn''t help but get serious. With a roar, he transformed into his true form¡ªa massive dragon, evenrger than before. "If you can''t handle it, tell me right away," Cand-Dragon warned before reaching out with his giant dragon w, gripping Tony and squeezing with increasing force. Buzz... The golden light flickered but held firm under his attack. Seeing Tony withstand his blows, Cand-Dragon didn''t hold back anymore, increasing his strength and adding soul-based attacks into the mix. Finally, when Cand-Dragon unleashed his full power, Tony reached his limit. "My lord, that''s enough!" Tony quickly called out. By then, the golden tortoise shell around him was covered in fine cracks, and Tony''s face showed clear signs of strain and pain. Cand-Dragon quickly released his grip, reverting to his human form, panting slightly as he stared at Tony in disbelief. "Tony, what kind of skill is that? It''s incredible!" Cand-Dragon was utterly amazed.N?v(el)B\\jnn He had attacked with his full strength, yet if it had been a real battle, breaking through Tony''s defense in a short amount of time would have been nearly impossible. Even his soul attacks were practically useless against him. Tony, wearing a proud smile, exined, "My lord, this is a new Immortal Art I''ve recentlyprehended: Indestructible Golden Body. It boosts my defense by 100 times, including soul defense." "What? A hundredfold increase in soul defense?" Cand-Dragon eximed. Physical defense was one thing, but boosting soul defense was notoriously difficult. Could all Immortals'' Arts be this ridiculously overpowered? Why hadn''t heprehended any himself? Tony nodded and continued, "That''s not all. In the Indestructible Golden Body state, I''m immune to all ranged physical and magical attacks. Only closebat can break through. The only downside is that it consumes a huge amount of energy-10,000 points of demon energy per second, so I can''t sustain it for long." "This is...," Cand-Dragon was left speechless. Immunity to ranged attacks,bined with Tony''s already formidable closebat defense, made him a terrifying opponent even at the demigod level. If Tony advanced to upper-tier gods, he''d be nearly invincible. "Ah, what a shame. If only we had more time. If you could reach mid-tier gods, the two of us working together could easily help the Godyer seize the final treasure of the Skyline Continent," Cand-Dragon sighed regretfully. The treasure was about to emerge soon, and Tony was still only at the demigod level. Advancing even to lower-tier gods, let alone mid- tier, seemed out of reach in such a short time. Tony, however, remained confident. "My lord, even now I can help you." Cand-Dragon shook his head. "You underestimate the power of the Shadow n''s elites." At that moment, a ripple of spatial energy appeared, and a figure materialized. It was an older man, his hair streaked with gray, exuding an aura of immense strength. "Sea King!" Cand-Dragon eximed in surprise. The neer was none other than the strongest warrior of the Sea n, Sea King, second only to Cand-Dragon in power. With a wary look, Cand-Dragon asked, "What brings you here?" The Sea n had yet to dere their stance regarding John, and Cand-Dragon had never been particrly fond of Sea King. "Cand-Dragon?" Sea King was also surprised to see him. "I came here to find the Godyer. Have you joined the Immortals'' side?" Cand-Dragon nodded cautiously, still on guard. "What do you want with the Godyer?" Sea King''s face lit up with excitement. "This is perfect! I''ve sensed that the final treasure of the continent will emerge in my Sea n''s territory. How about we form an alliance-our three factions together-to seize the treasure?" Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Mechanical Race Powerhouse, Soul Toxin Chapter 253: Mechanical Race Powerhouse, Soul Toxin ? Cand-Dragon frowned, contemting for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright, I will ry your message to the Godyer." "Excellent. I''ll head back to make preparations. Farewell," Sea King said, sping his fists together before his figure disappeared. As soon as Sea King was gone, Tony, still puzzled, asked, "My lord, it seems like you don''t trust Sea King?" Cand-Dragon nodded. "I suspect the Sea n has ties with the Shadow n." "The Sea n and the Shadow n? That doesn''t sound right," Tony said, confused. He had never heard of any connection between the two. Cand-Dragon narrowed his eyes. "Do you remember thest time the Shadow n descended? They wiped out the Immortals and mercilessly attacked other races-except for the gods and the Sea n." The Shadow n were known for their cruelty. They needed the gods to maintain control over the various races of the Skyline Continent, which is why they spared them. But without a special reason, there was no way they would have left the Sea n unscathed. Tony''s eyes widened as the realization hit him. "So, you think the Sea n really might be involved with the Shadow n? But why did you agree to work with Sea King?" Cand-Dragon responded coolly, "It was just a verbal agreement. And remember, keep your new abilities hidden for now. In the battle for the final treasure, Shadow n won''t be our only enemy." He believed that Tony''s abilities could be a trump card in a crisis, delivering an unexpected blow at a critical moment. [Announcement: The final treasure of the Skyline Continent will appear in seven days. Only demigod and above can enter topete for it.] ... Suddenly, three system announcements echoed, sending shockwaves across the world. The chat channels erupted in frustration from yers. "Demigod? What''s going on? I''m only at the eighth tier, how am I supposed to reach demigod in just seven days?" "It looks like Godyer is the only one who''s managed to reach demigod on the leaderboard." "This whole gods'' game is rigged! I bet it''s connected to that Godyer guy!" "Hey, what even is a demigod? Isn''t ninth tier the highest level?" ... The global chat was in chaos. Many yers had never even heard of the demigod level. Meanwhile, back in Death Land, Cand-Dragon frowned. Just as Sea King left, the announcement of the treasure''s emergence came through. He suspected that Sea King''s visit and this timing were no coincidence. Whoosh! Spatial power rippled once again, and a new figure appeared-it was the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox. "Where''s the Godyer?" she asked, her expression serious. "What''s going on?" Cand-Dragon asked, sensing the urgency. He already knew that Nine- Tails had allied with John, so there was no hostility between them. Nine-Tails quickly exined, "The Shadow n is preparing to descend. They''ve ordered us to capture the Godyer first. Other race powerhouses are gathering, and they couldunch an attack on Death Land at any moment." "Is that so?" Cand-Dragon''s expression grew serious. The powerhouses from the other races were no weaker than him, and if they united, the Godyer could be in danger. Buzz! Just then, the area around the Immortals'' legacy glowed as Johnpleted hisprehension of the Immortals'' teachings. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and quickly gathered around him. "Godyer, you''re finally awake," Cand-Dragon said, sensing that John''s strength had once again increased significantly. John nodded, merging his three clones with a thought, further boosting his attributes. This time, fromprehending the Immortals'' legacy, both his main body and his three clones had gained an additional 200,000 points in their basic attributes and 1,000 points in Soul Technique, simr to the benefits he gained from breaking through to demigod. Now, his physical attributes had reached over 11 million, his agility over 9 million, his spirit over 18 million, and his strength a staggering 26 million points. Most importantly, his spiritual power and demon energy had grown immensely. If he used Heaven and Earth Transformation again, he could now sustain it for ten minutes. Though he didn''t gain new skills, both his main body and his three clones each had one ss skill that had evolved into ultimate-level skills. It providing him with a significant power boost. Looking at Cand-Dragon and the others, John said, "I''ve heard about the final treasure emerging." "That''s not the only problem," Nine-Tails interrupted urgently. "The Shadow n has ordered us to attack you. Powerhouses from Shadow Star''s various races could arrive at any moment." "Is that so?" John chuckled, unbothered. He had already learned that the strength of those powerhouses was on par with Cand-Dragon. If he activated Heaven and Earth Transformation, he wouldn''t fear them at all. "Where are Tracy and Jean?" John asked, noticing that only a few of them were in Death Land and feeling concerned. Recently, Sini and the other women had been working hard to level up, aiming to break through to demigod status and help John secure the final treasure. But time was short, and it seemed they wouldn''t make it. "I''ll find them," Tony said immediately. With a thought, he vanished from Death Land. John then turned to Nine-Tails. "You go help them as well." "What about you?" she asked, worried for John''s safety. "Don''t worry about me, I''ll be fine. Go quickly," John said confidently, more concerned about the safety of the others. Nine-Tails nodded and disappeared after Tony. Cand-Dragon, still tense, asked, "Should we contact Heidern?" He felt unsure. Heidern had already agreed to cooperate with them against the Shadow n. While the powerhouses from other races weren''t members of the Shadow n, they were still part of its faction. "It''s toote," John said with a cold smile. The air around them rippled with powerful spatial energy, and seven figures descended. Two gods, three angels, a demon race warrior, and one from the mechanical race. Each of them radiated an aura on par with Cand-Dragon. "Which one of you is the Godyer?" the leader, a god-level powerhouse, stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Cand-Dragon. John sighed inwardly. These people hade to confront him, yet didn''t even recognize him. Raising his hand, he said calmly, "I am." "You?" The god-level warrior frowned in disbelief, his expression full of disdain. "And here I thought we''d face a real threat. You''re just a half-baked demigod, and you made us go through all this trouble?" "Enough talking, I''ll handle him!" the Mechanical Race powerhouse growled, eager to prove himself. With a roar, he charged directly at John. "Careful! He''s one of the Shadow n''s targets. Don''t kill him!" the gods'' leader reminded him. John sneered. They''re underestimating me. He held back Cand-Dragon, who was about to intervene, wanting to test his strength now that he had reached demigod status. Without using Heaven and Earth Transformation, John gripped the Sword of Divinity and Demons and shed at the approaching mechanical warrior. Boom! There was a violent sh, and as expected, John was knocked back, nearly being taken out in the process. Even as a demigod, my attributes aren''t quite enough to fight a peak upper-tier god without transforming, he thought. "Trash!" the Mechanical Race warrior scoffed in disdain, turning into a blur as he pursued the airborne John. Buzz! Just then, a powerful surge of sword energy rang out. A streak of light shed like a shooting star, slicing through the air. Flying Sword Strike! However, now that the Flying Sword Strike had evolved to its ultimate form at level 11, it dealt 1,100% of his strength and 550% of his spirit in damage. Boom!N?v(el)B\\jnn The sword light cut through space itself, and the mechanical warrior was knocked back, two massive damage numbers floating above his head. -1,455,120,000 -832,000,000 A critical hit of over 1.4 billion and true damage of over 800 million. It wasn''t muchpared to the warrior''s health pool of over ten trillion, but the fact that a mere demigod could break through his defenses left the mechanical warrior surprised. "Human, it seems you''re more peculiar than I thought," he said coldly, his expression no longer mocking. His metallic body shifted, covering him in ayer of armor, transforming him into a living weapon. "Die!" he roared, his speed increasing as he charged at John once more. Boom! [You have been killed by Mechanical Race upper-tier god Eddie. The Blessed Ring has triggered...] The system notification shed, and John resurrected instantly, his health fully restored. Buzz! Without giving Eddie a chance to strike again, John unleashed Soul Impact. He could sense that Eddie''s soul wasn''t particrly strong. As long as he had no soul defense skills, Soul Impact would easily destroy him. A torrent of soul energy surged into Eddie''s mind, but his body only paused for a brief moment before continuing its assault,pletely unfazed. "Heh, human, it seems you''re unaware of the Mechanical Race''s traits-soul attacks are useless against us," Eddie sneered, charging at John once more. Soul attacks don''t work? John was surprised. This was his first time battling a Mechanical Race powerhouse. The two shed again. While soul attacks didn''t affect Eddie, the Mechanical Racecked soul-based attacks themselves, meaning Eddie posed little threat to John''s soul. John didn''t even bother using Heaven and Earth Transformation, engaging in closebat and relying on his Lifesaver and Undying and Immortal talents, slowly whittling down Eddie''s health. Soon, Eddie''s health dropped to 100 billion, and his expression became serious, cautious in his every move. "Eddie, what''s the matter? Can''t you handle such a weakling?" someone from behind mocked. "Shut up!" Eddie snapped, but he had to admit defeat. "This guy''s talents are too strong- I''m not his match." He could feel it: if the fight continued, he would surely die. Without soul-based attacks, even if he managed to kill John, the Undying and Immortal talent would resurrect him in no time. Buzz! At that moment, spatial energy rippled, and Sini appeared. "Godyer!" She shot a wary nce at the group of enemies and rushed over to John''s side. John frowned in confusion. Why was Sini addressing him that way? "Why are you alone? Where are Tracy and the others?" He remembered that the women had been leveling up with Sini. Sini''s face darkened, and she replied urgently, "They''ve all been captured. I was the only one who managed to escape." "What?" John''s anger red, and worry flooded his heart. No longer holding back, he prepared to unleash Heaven and Earth Transformation to finish off the enemies quickly. Suddenly, stab! A sharp pain pierced through his chest-a dagger buried deep in his heart. Dark, evil energy surged from the dagger, attacking his soul. "Godyer, it seems you''re not as invincible as everyone thinks," Sini sneered, stepping back with a smug smile. John''s eyes narrowed as he realized what had just happened. His voice turned cold, "You''re not the real Sini. Who are you?" The womanughed coldly, her form shifting as she moved toward the group of enemies. Her body emitted a strange, dark aura, transforming into a woman in purple robes. "The Shapeshifting Witch!" Cand-Dragon gasped, recognizing her instantly. He quickly stepped in front of John, his gaze fixed on the dagger in John''s chest, concern etched across his face. The dagger wasn''t just any weapon-it wasced with a malevolent soul toxin. Chapter 254: Chapter 254: The Shapeshifting Witch, God-Level Disguise Chapter 254: The Shapeshifting Witch, God-Level Disguise ? "Godyer, how are you holding up?" Cand-Dragon asked in a low voice, watching the pained expression on John''s face. Cand-Dragon knew all too well the terrifying abilities of the Shapeshifting Witch. Her god- level disguise talent allowed her to take on the appearance and life force of anyone, even perfectly mimicking their aura. The most dangerous aspect of her attack, however, was the soul toxin she wielded-once infected, it was usually a death sentence. John''s brow furrowed as waves of dizziness hit him. His soul was being constricted by ck threads, constantly devouring his essence. But at that moment, the Crimson Karma Lotus appeared, instantly dissolving the ck threads. The Hellfire had the power to purify any form of evil. With his soul crisis averted, John didn''t let it show. He gritted his teeth and slowly pulled the dagger from his chest, fixing his cold gaze on the Shapeshifting Witch. "Where is Sini?" The witch smiled sweetly, brushing her hair back. "You mean that little girl? Don''t worry, she''s also one of the Shadow n''s targets. She won''t be harmed... for now." Sini is a shadow n target? John frowned. The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox hadn''t mentioned anything about this. He knew Sini didn''t possess any particrly powerful talents. But this was somewhat reassuring-being a target of the Shadow n meant she wouldn''t be in immediate danger. "Good," John said calmly, now more at ease. He then stared directly at the Shapeshifting Witch and added icily, "In that case, you have no reason to live anymore." "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" John roared, unleashing a torrent of overwhelming power. The sheer force of his transformation sent Cand-Dragon flying back. In an instant, John transformed into a giant over ten thousand feet tall, his immense aura causing the upper-tier god powerhouses to freeze in shock as they watched the transformation unfold. Whoosh! With a gust of wind, John reached out and grabbed the Shapeshifting Witch, her tiny form trapped in his colossal hand like a mere doll. "Dare to harm those close to me, and you''ll die!" he thundered, his voice echoing like rolling thunder. His massive hand clenched tightly. "What? You weren''t poisoned?" the Shapeshifting Witch gasped in disbelief, her eyes wide with pain as John''s grip nearly crushed her. Panic-stricken, she fought back, unleashing soul attacks in desperation. "Let me go!" she cried, summoning two daggers wreathed in dark tendrils, stabbing them into John''s palm with all her strength. Blood trickled from his fingers, and once again, the ck threads of soul toxin began to infiltrate his flesh, trying to bind his soul. It''s also soul toxin attack. Boom! But just like before, the Crimson Karma Lotus red up, and the Hellfire burned away the evil toxin with ease. John''s grip tightened even more. "Ugh!" the Shapeshifting Witch coughed up blood, her body distorting as she struggled to maintain her form. "Help... help me..." she stammered, her voice trembling as she called out to Eddie and the others for aid. The group finally snapped out of their shock, staring at the colossal form of John with wide eyes, nervously swallowing. The leading gods warrior gritted his teeth and barked, "Attack him together!" Without hesitation, theyunched their strongest attacks, unleashing a barrage of power aimed directly at John. Massive waves of The power ofws surged and collided with John''s arm. He staggered back slightly, his grip loosening, and the Shapeshifting Witch seized the opportunity to escape. She coughed up another mouthful of blood, her injuries severe, and retreated quickly, not daring to engage John again. "Human, you''re stronger than we expected!" The seven enemies closed in, surrounding John and bombarding him with theirbined might. John, unfazed, didn''t even bother using his skills. Relying solely on his raw physical strength, he easily fended off their attacks. Boom! Boom! Deafening explosions echoed across Death Land, causing the space to tremble violently. Fortunately, The Tree of Life radiated immense power, stabilizing the space and preventing Death Land from copsing entirely. Even so, chaotic spatial rifts swirled around John, slicing into his body like des, leaving his flesh bloodied and torn. The seven attackers fared much worse. Their bodies weren''t nearly as resilient as John''s. If they were pulled into the spatial rifts, they wouldn''t survive. "He''s too strong!" Cand-Dragon backed away repeatedly, retreating until he was safe under the protection of The Tree of Life. Staring at the giant form of John, he was utterly shocked. Compared to before, his strength has once again been terrifyingly enhanced. Cand Dragon faced John, who had transformed into a giant, for the first time and still had the power to fight. In the end, he transformed into a giant dragon and defeated him. Now, Cand-Dragon knew he had no chance. Boom! Another massive collision sent all seven attackers flying, blood spraying from their mouths. John, on the other hand, merely took a single step back, looking down at them with disdain in his massive eyes. "This ends now," he said coldly, as an overwhelming sword aura filled the air. The Immortal Sword flew out from his body, transforming into countless sword lights. Ultimate skill: Return of Ten Thousand Swords! "Not good! We can''t block this!" "Quick, Split Void, tear open the space!" The terrified group looked to a nearby fourteen-winged angel for help. Split Void possessed a unique space talent that allowed him to bypass spatial restraints and tear open dimensional pathways. "Got it!" the angel responded without hesitation, his wings slicing through the air as he tore open a space tunnel. But just as the tunnel appeared, the endless barrage of sword lights descended upon them. "Run!" The group wasted no time, leaping into the space tunnel in a panic. "Wait for me!" The versatile witch was seriously injured and hid far away from the battlefield, too far from the space passage to make it. But others ignored her and rushed into the spatial passage. Whoosh! Whoosh! Despite their haste, two of them were struck by sword beams, their bodies torn apart. Luckily, they had resurrection abilities and, without bothering to tend to their wounds, fled as quickly as they could. Buzz! The space tunnel closed, leaving Eddie plummeting from the sky. He had been shredded by the sword beams, and though his body had just reformed, he hadn''t escaped before the portal sealed shut. "Dammit, wait for me!" he cursed in frustration. But by then, John''s next attack had already fallen. "Die!" John roared, his voice thundering as a massive sword beam sliced through the sky, hurtling toward Eddie. "Human, don''t kill me!" Eddie pleaded in panic, begging for his life. Boom! The air shook violently, and Eddie''s voice was abruptly cut off as his mechanical body was once again obliterated by the attack. But within moments, Eddie''s body reformed, blood dripping from his mouth, his energy severely drained. After being killed by John twice in quick session, he had reached his limit. Looking at John, Eddie frantically said, "Godyer, I''m willing to submit to you! Let me help you fight against the Shadow n!" "You? You think you''re worthy?" John scoffed. His massive fist, like a meteor, came crashing down. Boom! [You have killed upper-tier gods Eddie, gaining 2.6766 trillion experience points.] [You have leveled up to 10,003.] [Plunder talent activated: Constitution +1000, Strength +2000, Skill Points +500.] ... The notifications shed as John''s fist annihted Eddiepletely. Now, only the Shapeshifting Witch remained on the battlefield. She sat frozen, trembling with fear as she gazed at the towering figure of John. Whoosh! John reached out and grabbed her once again, effortlessly lifting her into the air. His cold voice boomed, "I''ll give you one chance to live-where are Sini and the others?" The Shapeshifting Witch swallowed hard, her fear evident. But she gritted her teeth and sneered, "Human, go ahead and kill me if you dare. But you''ll never find them." As a peak upper-tier gods powerhouse with a powerful soul, she was nearly immortal. She didn''t believe this human could destroy her soul. "Oh really?" John chuckled coldly, his soul power surged, and a red me ignited in his palm, enveloping her. "Hellfire!" she gasped, her face contorting in agony. The searing pain of her soul being burned was beyond anything mortal or immortal could endure. Now she understood why John had been unaffected by her soul toxin-Hellfire was a strange, otherworldly force capable of purifying all forms of evil. Her soul toxin stood no chance against it. Realizing John''s mastery of Hellfire, terror overtook her. She could feel the very real threat of death looming over her. Desperately, she cried out, "Human! I''ll tell you where they are! Please, don''t kill me!" "You''ve already lost your chance," John replied coldly. He didn''t believe a word she said. "If I die here, you''ll never find them!" the Shapeshifting Witch shouted in panic, trying to bargain, her voice filled with desperation. John sneered. "Toote." With a subtle tremor in the air, John activated his soul skill- Memory Extraction. As the Hellfire cleansed her soul, John easily invaded her mind, extracting her memories.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Ah, so that''s where they are!" John quickly discovered the whereabouts of Sini and the others. They were being held in the Eternal Forest, their souls bound and guarded by Hunters. Moreover, he uncovered why they had captured Sini. Not because of her talents. But because of a mysterious and powerful force thaty dormant within her. This force had not yet awakened, but a peak upper-tier gods powerhouse from the demon race had sensed it. Unfortunately, that demon had managed to escape before John could deal with him. At that moment, the Shapeshifting Witch regained consciousness, her head spinning. It was as if her memories had just been invaded. "Human, what did you do to me?" she asked in terror, struggling to resist the searing burn of the Hellfire. "You''re no longer of any use to me," John said coldly, not wasting any more words. He unleashed Soul Impact, sending a surge of soul power directly into her mind, erasing her soul entirely. [You have killed the Shapeshifting Witch, gaining 2.6766 trillion experience points.] [You have leveled up to 10,005.] [Plunder talent activated: You have acquired the god-level disguise talent. Spirit +2000, Soul Technique +100.] The notifications shed. Both the Shapeshifting Witch and Eddie had been peak upper-tier gods, and killing them had allowed John to level up by five levels in one go. Even better, Plunder had rewarded him with arge number of attribute points, and most excitingly, he had acquired the Shapeshifting Witch''s god-level disguise talent. [Disguise: God-level, Unique; You can disguise yourself as any life form, including their aura, but cannot imitate the aura of beings more powerful than yourself.] What an incredible talent. John thought, surprised and thrilled. The Shapeshifting Witch had managed to fool even him by disguising herself as Sini. If he could disguise himself as someone from the Shadow n, perhaps he could infiltrate their ranks. There was no time to dwell on it. John quickly collected the loot dropped by the two, including a high-tier divine dagger, which would be perfect for Sini. "Cand-Dragon, Eternal Forest!" John called out, concerned for the safety of the women. With a sh of thought, he left Death Land, heading straight for the Eternal Forest to rescue them. Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Split Void Talent, Slaying Peak Powerhouses Chapter 255: Split Void Talent, ying Peak Powerhouses ? Deep in the Eternal Forest, Sini, along with the recently arrived Nine-Tails and Tony, had all been captured. ck ropes, imbued with soul-binding power, were wrapped tightly around them, and countless Hunters stood guard, keeping a vignt watch over their captives.N?v(el)B\\jnn Fortunately, these Hunters had yet to attack; they simply kept them imprisoned. Despite their struggles, the ck ropes were impossible to break-being tied to their very souls, they were bound by an eerie force they couldn''t escape. Tony nced over at the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox and asked, "Can you break free?" She shook her head helplessly. At the moment, Nine-Tails was covered in blood, her face pale-evidently, she had been through a fierce battle and hadn''te out unscathed. Tony frowned, his disappointment showing. "Aren''t these guys around the same strength as you? They''re all peak upper-tier gods, aren''t they?" Nine-Tails shot him a sharp look, replying, "Even among peak upper-tier gods, there''s still a difference in power. And even if I could break free from these ropes, the Hunters wouldn''t just let us walk away." "Looks like we''re done for, then," Tony muttered, closing his eyes in frustration, clearly unimpressed by her abilities. "Don''t worry. Big Brother wille and save us," Jean said, her voice full of certainty. She and the other women hadplete faith in John. Tony nodded. He had heard Cand-Dragon speak of John''s immense power before, and now he understood why-it was still overwhelming to think about. Buzz! Suddenly, there was a ripple of Spatial power, and a crack in space appeared. The group immediately went silent, their eyes fixed warily on the spatial rift. Momentster, Split Void and hispanions stumbled out, looking disheveled and battered. "Neither Eddie nor the witch made it," Split Void said as he nced around at hisrades, swallowing nervously. Remembering the terror of John, he feared the worst for the two who had stayed behind. "What should we do? Should we go back and rescue them?" "There''s no time. We need to get out of here," another of the group said, his voice filled with fear as he nced around the area, clearly anxious that John might show up at any moment. The recent battle, particrly John''s terrifying power in his giant form, had left them shaken -they knew they stood no chance against him. "What about these prisoners?" one of them asked, gesturing toward Tony and the others. The leader, a gods-level powerhouse, thought for a moment before coldly replying, "Take the ones chosen by the Shadow n. Kill the rest." Hearing their conversation, Tony couldn''t remain calm anymore. Among their group, only Jean, Tracy, and Sini had been marked as targets by these people. Tony wasn''t afraid of dying himself, but he knew how important these women were to John- he couldn''t allow anything to happen to them. He turned toward Nine-Tails again and whispered urgently, "I''ll hold off their attacks. Can you kill them?" He decided to reveal his hidden skill: Immortal Golden Body. During his battle with Cand-Dragon, Tony had already proven that the Immortal Golden Body could nullify ranged true damage and the life-draining abilities of the Hunters. Only close-range attacks could truly threaten him. While in this form, his defense was amplified a hundredfold-he was confident he could withstand the attacks of the six upper-tier gods without issue. "Are you joking?" Nine-Tails shot him a skeptical nce. She couldn''t believe Tony had the ability to withstand attacks from peak upper-tier gods, and she knew she didn''t have the strength to kill all six of them. Buzz! Just then, another spatial ripple appeared, and John and Cand-Dragon emerged from it. "Looks like I won''t need to," Tony sighed in relief upon seeing them. "John!" Sini and the others, feeling reassured, immediately called out for his help. The six attackers, seeing John and Cand-Dragon''s sudden arrival, were struck with fear. It was clear to them that something had already happened to the Shapeshifting Witch and Eddie. The leader of the gods was the first to react, quickly barking out an order, "Split Void, tear open a spatial rift! The rest of you, control those captives, we need to get out of here!" He nned to use Sini and the others as leverage against John. Before the other party could speak, Split Void had already opened up in the rift. The other few immediately controlled Sini and the other women, preparing to escape. "Hmph, you guys don''t have a chance! John''s cold voice came, and the women could be considered his reverse. If they dare to harm them, they will die! Buzz! The atmosphere shook as a massive wave of soul power surged forth. "Divine Mindless!" John shouted. The powerful soul curse instantly took hold of the six attackers, freezing them in ce. At the same time, Cand-Dragon rushed forward, immediately freeing Sini, Tony, and the others from their binds. Whoosh! Suddenly, a fierce wind howled, and the terrifying pressure of John''s transformed state filled the air. He had once again taken on the form of a giant, towering over everything. "Damn it, slow down, would you?" Cand-Dragon shouted in rm, hastily bundling Sini, Tony, and the others into a cloud to whisk them away from the battlefield. They know just how destructive John could be in his giant form. Boom! The ground quaked violently as John''s massive fist mmed down on Split Void. The unique spatial talent Split Void possessed allowed him to bypass spatial constraints, making him the key to their escape. But John knew that if he dealt with this one, the rest would be trapped. Blood sttered as Split Void was instantly crushed into pulp by John''s powerful blow. However, as a peak upper-tier gods powerhouse, Split Void couldn''t be fully killed as long as his soul remained intact. Blood and flesh reformed as Split Void resurrected, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his face pale and filled with terror. In a panic, he shouted, "Help me hold off this giant! If you don''t, we''re all going to die!" At that moment, the others also managed to break free from Divine Mindless and, without hesitation,unched abined assault on John. "Fools!" John sneered, effortlessly parrying their attacks as he continued focusing his relentless strikes on Split Void, denying him any chance to open a spatial rift. Boom! Boom! Each of John''s blows reverberated through the area, shattering space itself. Spatial rifts swirled chaotically all around, and the unlucky Hunters that couldn''t retreat fast enough were torn to shreds by the space currents. And this was John using only his basic attacks. If he unleashed his full power through his skills, he could easily tear the entire area apart. Split Void and hispanions were like mere toys before John, scattering in panic with no chance to retaliate. From a distance, the others watched in stunned silence as John rampaged in his giant form. Aside from Cand-Dragon, it was the first time anyone else had witnessed him in his Heaven and Earth Transformation. "What... what kind of monster is that?" Nine-Tails whispered, her voice trembling as she swallowed nervously. Deep down, though, she was more certain than ever that pledging her loyalty to John had been the right decision. Boom! Another thunderous crash echoed in the distance as John mmed Split Void into the ground, his soul gravely wounded and his life hanging by a thread. The others were also heavily injured, barely clinging to life. John, too, was covered in blood, his body riddled with wounds. Of course, these injuries weren''t caused by his enemies, but by the relentless spatial currents. Luckily for him, his mastery over the Laws of Life, along with his life-sharing bond with The Tree of Life, made such injuries trivial. "Die!" John roared as his sword hummed with power. He unleashed his skill: Infinite Sword Array. A storm of sword des filled the air, instantly engulfing the six attackers. The overwhelming sword technique,bined with 100% true damage, annihted them all in one fell swoop. Though they resurrected on the spot, their souls had been deeply wounded. John didn''t give them time to react. Waves of dark and light power ofws surged as he rained down spells on the battered enemies, relentlessly pummeling them. Although he had passed on the Wrath of the Gods ss to his gods'' avatar, his mastery over it allowed him to cast these devastating spells effortlessly after merging with the avatar. [You have killed Split Void, gaining 2.6766 trillion experience points.] [You have leveled up to 10,007.] [Plunder talent activated: You have gained SSS-level Split Void talent. Spirit +1000, Strength +1000.] [Split Void: SSS-level unique talent. Allows you to ignore spatial restrictions, tear open spatial channels, and travel freely through space.] The notifications shed as Split Void became the first among them topletely perish under John''s terrifying skill and the relentless burning of Hellfire. And to John''s delight, he had sessfully Plundered Split Void''s incredible spatial talent. Being able to ignore spatial restrictions and open spatial channels at will was undoubtedly another lifesaving tool added to John''s arsenal. "You can''t kill us, human! If we die here, the Shadow n won''t let you go!" the remaining attackers shouted in fear, desperately trying to threaten him. With Split Void dead, they were utterly hopeless, and their only option left was to invoke the wrath of the Shadow n to intimidate him. "Heh, do you think I''m afraid of them?" John scoffed coldly. He swung the Sword of Divinity and Demons, unleashing a barrage of magical skills, even more densely than before. The remaining five had no chance to resist. Their souls were obliterated and purified, leading to theirplete demise. [You have killed a peak upper-tier gods powerhouse, gaining 2.6766 trillion experience points.] [You have leveled up to 10,017.] [Plunder talent activated: Strength +1000, Agility +500, Skill Points +100.] ... The notifications shed, and John once again gained a significant boost to his attributes. His level had risen to 10,017. However, the only disappointment was that he didn''t manage to Plunder any new talents. These enemies must have possessed SSS-level or special talents, which was precisely why the Shadow n had marked them as targets. "Godyer, we need help!" Cand-Dragon''s voice called out urgently. They were surrounded by countless Hunters. Sini and the other women, being only at the ninth tier, were no match for these creatures. John didn''t waste time checking the loot from the fallen enemies. He quickly gathered the items and deactivated his Heaven and Earth Transformation state, rushing to their aid. Dealing with these Hunters didn''t require the use of his giant form. Boom! Boom! A few spells rained down, and the Hunters encircling Cand-Dragon and the others were obliterated in an instant. "Let''s go!" John called, and with a thought, he led the group back to Death Land. With the immediate danger gone, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Nine-Tails, are there any other Shadow n members currently on Skyline Continent?" John asked, turning to her. She thought for a moment before replying, "There were only nine of us who descended together. As for whether more willeter, I''m not sure. However, with the Skyline Continent''s final treasure about to appear, it''s certain that more Shadow n powerhouses will descend." John furrowed his brow, feeling a heavy weight on his shoulders. Even though his power had grown significantly, he still wasn''t entirely confident in facing the Shadow n elites. "By the way, does anyone else in the Shadow n possess the Shapeshifting Witch''s disguise talent?" John asked, recalling how dangerous her ability had been-she could even mask her aura, making it nearly impossible to detect her. Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Hiding in the Abyss, Disguised as Hunters Chapter 256: Hiding in the Abyss, Disguised as Hunters ? Nine-Tails shook her head. "I''m not sure. A talent can only be copied up to five times. At most, five members of the Shadow n can have that ability." Talents copied using the Talent Copy Stone could not be copied again. "Godyer," Cand-Dragon spoke up from beside him. "This disguise talent is powerful, but it''s not without a solution. If you ce soul marks on the people closest to you, it will be impossible for anyone to impersonate them." "Soul marks?" John asked, puzzled, as he''d never heard of such an ability. "It''s a simple soul spell. I''ll teach you." Cand-Dragon reached out and tapped John''s forehead, directly transmitting the soul mark spell to him. John quickly mastered the technique and immediately ced his soul marks on those around him. Now, even if a Shadow n member attempted to disguise themselves as one of hispanions, they wouldck the soul mark, making it easy for him to see through the deception. "John, I want to help you fight for the final treasure," Sini said, looking at him seriously. To qualify topete for the final treasure, one had to be a demigod. Sini was still at the ninth tier, and with only seven days left, she needed John''s help to break through to demigod. "Don''t be ridiculous," he replied, rejecting her outright. Competing for the treasure would draw out the Shadow n''s elites, and he couldn''t guarantee the safety of the women in such dangerous circumstances. Sini looked displeased, about to argue when, suddenly, a series of spatial ripples spread through Death Land as arge number of powerhouses descended. Everyone became instantly alert. They were all upper-tier gods from the Gods, Angel Race, and Orc ns. They led by Heidern himself. "Godyer!" Heidern, his face pale and bloodied at the corner of his mouth, hurriedly called out to John upon seeing him. "The Shadow n has arrived." John''s expression darkened. Cand-Dragon looked at Heidern, immediately asking, "Even you, as The Overseer, can''t deal with them?" Heidern gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "You''re overestimating me. The Shadow n''s methods are bizarre. I barely escaped with my life. This time, they are truly enraged, and I fear none of us will survive." He nced at John while speaking. If even he couldn''t handle the Shadow n powerhouses, then his Gods, as well as the Angel Race and Orc warriors under hismand, were doomed. "Godyer, do you have a n?" Cand-Dragon and the others turned to John, seeking his help. John nodded and said, "I need to find the Hunters'' queen they''ve soul-shared with." "That''s not possible," Heidern said, shaking his head. "I''ve already investigated. The Shadow n has taken control of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, and all of the soul-bound queens are deep within the ruins, guarded by two mid-tier shadow n gods." "Two mid-tier Shadow n gods?" John frowned. He knew firsthand how dangerous the Shadow n could be. Thest time he encountered a lower-tier god from the Shadow n, he had barely escaped with his life. If he couldn''t kill the Hunters'' queens that were life-sharing with them, he wouldn''t stand a chance against the Shadow n''s elites. With two mid-tier Shadow n gods standing guard, sneaking in to kill the queens would be nearly impossible. But perhaps... he could use his disguise talent tounch a surprise attack! He thought of the God-tier Disguise ability he had just acquired. If he disguised himself as a Hunter, they would never notice. Moreover, the Ancient Battlefield Ruins had an overwhelming number of Hunters. It was impossible for the Shadow n to inspect each one individually. Seeing that John hadn''t spoken for a while, Heidern pressed again, "Godyer, I suspect the Shadow n will soon arrive here in Death Land. We should hide for now." Elsa frowned and said, "But with the Divine Path open, all Secret Areas across Skyline Continent are exposed. Where can we hide?" Tony quickly responded, "I know a ce-the Abyss of the demon race!" Everyone''s eyes lit up. The Abyss wasn''t part of Skyline Continent, and the Shadow n couldn''t enter it. Furthermore, John had already obtained the key to the Abyss, refining it, which meant he could enter and leave at will. All eyes turned to John. John nodded. "Alright, we''ll head to the Abyss. Once the treasure appears, we''ll return." With a wave of his hand, John opened a passageway to the Abyss. Heidern, eager to flee, immediately led his upper-tier gods into the passage. Cand-Dragon quickly added, "Tony, inform the Beast n upper-tier gods toe here. All creatures below the upper-tier should disperse." "Understood!" Tony replied and vanished. John, still worried, asked, "Do you think the Shadow n will attack human yers?" His concern for Ritchie and the others was evident; their strength was too weak to adapt to the Abyss. Nine-Tails reassured him, "Don''t worry, master. They only target upper-tier gods. Human yers are essential for opening the Earth''s gateway, so they won''t ughter them. Even the Hunters won''t dare harm the human yers." "Good to hear." John felt a bit relieved but, to be safe, he instructed the Blues Family and all the elves who had descended on Skyline Continent to enter the Abyss as well. He then moved the Tree of Life, Elven Spring, Dark Sea, and Vein of the Earth into the Abyss, ensuring everything of value was relocated. Since both Death Land and the Abyss had been refined by John, he could control them as he pleased. He also sensed that Beelzebub and other demon race members had entered the Abyss, but he wasn''t concerned about them. "Cand-Dragon," John pulled Cand-Dragon aside and said, "I''ll send my Beast n avatar with you. If Heidern or Beelzebub tries anything, you and my avatar can handle it together." Cand-Dragon blinked in surprise and asked, "Aren''t youing with us?" John shook his head, lowering his voice, "I''m nning to head to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins and deal with the Hunters'' queens there." He knew that as long as the Hunters'' queens existed, the soul-sharing between them and the Shadow n would make the Shadow n gods invincible. He had to eliminate the queens first. "You''re insane!" Cand-Dragon said in rm, reminding him, "There are two shadow n mid-tier gods guarding that ce." "Don''t worry, I''ve got this. Just make sure you don''t expose the secret of my avatar," John instructed, as his Beast n avatar appeared. Then, his true body left Death Land, vanishing from sight. "Ah!" Cand-Dragon sighed, deeply worried. "Rx, I won''t die," suddenly, John''s Beast n avatar spoke, startling him. "What the-You can talk?" Cand-Dragon stared at the avatar, clearly astonished. "Of course, I can. There''s no difference between me and the true body," John replied, annoyed. His Beast n avatar was just as real, with flesh, blood, and a soul, no different from any living being. "Well, that''s amazing," Cand-Dragon muttered in disbelief, studying the avatar with curiosity. "Godyer, be honest. Are you really from the Beast n?" The Beast n avatar gave him an exasperated look, frowning. "Hurry up and enter the Abyss. Arge number of Shadow n forces are on their way!" Meanwhile, John''s true body had transformed into a demigod Hunter, blending in perfectly with the surrounding Hunters, none of which noticed anything strange. In the distance, ominous auras filled the air-death, ughter, bloodlust-it was the Shadow n. Over a hundred of their powerful warriors were speeding toward the Void Area. Unable to pinpoint the exact location of Death Land, they were following the trace of Heidern and his people, hoping to enter through the entrance to Death Land. Back in Death Land, the strong forces of the Beast n had already arrived. Cand-Dragon wasted no time, leading everyone through the space rift into the Abyss. John, sensing their departure, immediately closed the passage to the Abyss. Just as the portal sealed, therge group of Shadow n elites arrived. "Damn it, they got away!" one of them growled, ring at the now-closed spatial rift.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "It seems they''ve entered the Abyss of the demon race." "What do we do, my lord? Should we continue wiping out the other races'' strongholds?" one of the warriors asked their leader, an upper-tier gods peak-level warrior. The leader smirked coldly. "No need. Let''s head to the Sea n." In an instant, the Shadow n warriors vanished, heading toward the vast oceans at the edge of Skyline Continent. ... At that moment, John, still disguised as a Hunter, had sessfully infiltrated the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. Activating Soul Perception, John scanned the area. "Ten Hunter queens!" he frowned deeply. Heidern''s intel had been incorrect. It wasn''t two Shadow n mid-tier gods, but five. And those ten Hunter queens were clustered together, with the five Shadow n gods guarding them closely. John realized the situation was more difficult than he had anticipated. The Hunter queens had massive health pools, reaching trillions. There was no way he could silently eliminate them without alerting the guards. If even one of those five Shadow n mid-tier gods sensed him, he would surely meet his end. "Let''s get closer first," John thought, still disguised as a Hunter. On the surface, he appeared to be wandering aimlessly through the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, but in reality, he was methodically inching toward the ten Hunter queens. The area was packed with Hunters, forming a dense crowd, most of them demigod-level. None of the Hunters paid any attention to John''s sudden appearance. Soon, he reached the deeper parts of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins and saw the ten colossal Hunter queens. Each one took up thousands of meters, surrounded by clusters of Hunter eggs, making it impossible for John to get any closer without attracting attention. Nearby, five Shadow n warriors sat cross-legged, casually chatting. "I wonder how things are going on the lord''s side?" one of them asked out of boredom. "Probably better than us. There are so many gods on this Skyline Continent, but we can''t ughter any of them," another grumbled, ncing around at the surrounding Hunters. His gaze briefly swept over John, disguised as a Hunter, but he detected nothing unusual. "Quitining. Our task is more critical. That Godyer has the means to kill Hunter queens. If anything happens to them, and the lords hold us responsible, we''re as good as dead," a bald-headed warrior warned, closing his eyes to rest. "Yeah, yeah, I know that," the other warrior muttered, dropping the subject. John listened intently to their conversation, frowning as he eyed the Hunter queens in the distance. "I''ll give it a try. There are so many Hunters here that I shouldn''t be noticed," he decided, blending deeper into the swarm of Hunters and preparing to attack the queens. Buzz! With a soft hum, his Immortal Sword emerged from within him, its sword aura vibrating as a powerful pressure spread through the air. Chapter 257: Chapter 257: Fierce Battle with the Shadow Clan Warriors Chapter 257: Fierce Battle with the Shadow n Warriors ? The five Shadow n warriors were instantly on high alert.N?v(el)B\\jnn "What''s going on?" one of them stood up, his cold gaze fixed on the spot where John was hiding. The powerful sword aura had emanated from that location. Whoosh! Countless sword des whistled through the air, instantly enveloping the ten Hunter queens and the five Shadow n warriors. "The Immortals'' technique. It''s the Godyer!" one of them realized, immediately shouting a warning, "Quick! Protect the Hunter queens!" Without hesitation, the five warriors positioned themselves in front of the ten Hunter queens, their bodies radiating a blood-red aura that formed a protective shield around them. sh, sh... Despite the shield blocking most of the sword des, many still pierced through, striking the Hunter queens. -3,408,000,000 -1,704,000,000 -4,840,100,000 A series of terrifying damage numbers appeared. Each sword de caused an overwhelming critical damage of over 30 billion, with additional true damage in the tens of billions and life percentage damage in the 40 billion range. The Hunter queens had a total health of over 400 billion. But even with that, they couldn''t withstand John''s fearsome assault. "Coward! Show yourself!" one of the Shadow n warriors roared furiously, blood-red energy shing through the air and sweeping over the area where John had been hiding among the Hunters. Fortunately, John had anticipated this and escaped the moment heunched his attack. sh! Blood sttered, and the surrounding Hunters let out agonizing cries as tens of thousands were torn apart by the blood-red energy. John, watching from a safe distance, felt a wave of relief. Had he not fled in time, he would have been instantly killed by the attack. "Blood Soul, stop ughtering the Hunters!" one of the Shadow n warriors frowned and reminded the others. The warrior then turned to the Hunter queens and ordered, "Command the nearby Hunters to scatter." With a deafening roar from the ten Hunter queens, the surrounding Hunters quickly retreated, creating a safe zone. John, still disguised as one of the Hunters, moved with the retreating horde, blending in and biding his time. "Damn it!" John cursed under his breath. If he had just a few more opportunities to attack, he could have definitely killed the ten Hunter queens. But he wasn''t ready to give up. "Screw it!" he gritted his teeth and once again unleashed his magic. The power of light and darkness surged through the air, raining down multiple ultimate spells on the ten Hunter queens, unleashing chaos. "I''ve found you!" one of the Shadow n warriors'' eyes lit up as he locked onto John, who was still in his Hunter disguise. A blood-red shadow flickered as the warrior charged directly at him with incredible speed. John''s expression shifted. He quickly shot into the sky, ughtering any nearby Hunters, and fled toward the outskirts of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins at full speed. "You won''t escape, human!" Two Shadow n warriors transformed into blood-red shadows, pursuing relentlessly. Amid the Hunter army, one particr Hunter let out a silent sigh of relief. It was John. The figure that had bolted out earlier wasn''t his true form-it was merely his gods doppelg?nger. However, three Shadow n warriors remained guarding the Hunter queens. "Let''s do this again," John smirked coldly. Once more, he unleashed his sword technique. The air hummed as countless sword des formed and rained down upon the Hunter queens. "Hm? Another enemy?" The three remaining Shadow n warriors were startled. Could there be more than one Immortal from Skyline Continent? sh! sh! The des sliced through, terrifying damage numbers shing in the air as the Shadow n warriors scrambled to defend themselves. At that moment, a figure shot out from the Hunter horde, wielding a long spear surrounded by the four elemental forces. The spear morphed into elemental dragons, roaring as they charged forward. "Human, get lost!" One of the Shadow n warriors roared, his body transforming into countless blood threads that entwined the spear, shredding it into pieces. Meanwhile, the other two swiftly darted toward John. "Time to run!" Without hesitation, John turned and fled. "Trying to escape now? Toote! Bloodshadow Assault!" A cold voice echoed, and a sharp blood-red sh pierced through John. [Your Skyline Continent human doppelg?nger was instantly killed by Bloodjade. The Undying and Immortal ability has been triggered...] The notification shed. John''s Skyline Continent human doppelg?nger resurrected instantly, coughing up blood as his soul suffered severe damage. Without pausing, he spun around and continued to flee. "Human, stop!" Two more Shadow n warriors gave chase. "Be careful, it might be a trap!" The bald warrior shouted in warning, but the others had already rushed ahead. Now, only the bald warrior remained to guard the ten Hunter queens. This is my chance! John''s eyes lit up. With only one guard left, he was confident he could handle it. And he had to act fast-his gods and Skyline Continent doppelg?ngers wouldn''tst much longer against the relentless Shadow n warriors. Hum! Suddenly, the air buzzed with the ominous hum of a powerful sword aura once again. "There really is someone else!" The bald warrior''s eyes narrowed, his gaze turning blood-red as he scanned the surrounding Hunters coldly. Whoosh! A Hunter broke away from the pack, three longswords swirling around it as it unleashed three sword techniques simultaneously. Flying Sword Strike, Infinite Sword Array, and Unrivaled Sword Dance. The immense sword aura enveloped the ten Hunter queens. "Hmm, a god-level disguise ability!" The bald warrior was astonished. He hadn''t sensed anything unusual about this Hunter-only a god-level disguise could pull that off. "Damn you!" the bald-headed warrior roared, desperately trying to fend off John''s relentless assault. The sky was filled with countless sword shadows, and damage numbers shed repeatedly¡ª all based on life percentage damage. The bald-headed warrior''s health plummeted rapidly, but despite his shock, he didn''t panic. With a flick of his hand, a crimson thread appeared and quickly wrapped itself around John. "Not this again!" John muttered to himself. He had faced Shadow n warriors before and knew how terrifying this red thread could be-it allowed the warrior to transfer any damage The received back to his opponent. Whoosh! John shifted tactics. The sword shadows vanished, and he reverted to his true form, staring coldly at the bald-headed man. "If I''m not mistaken, you''re the infamous Godyer. How do you possess the shapeshifting ability of the Shapeshifting Witch?" the warrior asked curiously. The Shapeshifting Witch''s god-level disguise ability had already been replicated five times, meaning it couldn''t be copied again. Additionally, she was under the control of the Shadow n and would never have defected to a human. "You can ask her yourself," John replied coldly. Without wasting any more time, crimson mes surged from his hand, engulfing the bald-headed warrior. "Soul attack!" the warrior gasped, his face twisted in pain. Roar... Nearby, one of the Hunter queens let out a howl of agony. This is the queen that shares the soul with the bald man. John''s eyes lit up at the sight. It seemed that when one target shared its soul with another, as in the case of the Hunter queen and the bald-headed warrior, an attack on either would inflict damage on both. The Hunter queens possessed powerful souls, and his previous soul attacks had been met with bacsh. Only his Red Lotus Fire was unique-it could purify souls, bypassing any soul bacsh or defensive abilities. However, the cost in soul energy was enormous. Without a higher Soul Technique level than his opponent, fully purifying a target''s soul would be difficult. But John wasn''t aiming to destroy them outright-his goal was simply to keep the bald- headed warrior upied. "Die!" John roared, unleashing his Immortal Sword once again. Dark clouds gathered as a terrifying pressure filled the air. His ultimate skill, Return of Ten Thousand Swords, was unleashed again. Roar! Roar! The Hunter queens, sensing imminent danger, let out enraged cries, and the surrounding Hunters threw themselves recklessly at John. "Hmph, fools!" John sneered. Countless sword shadows swirled in the air as tens of thousands of des descended, enveloping the Hunter queens and the swarming Hunters. sh! sh! Blood sprayed in all directions as Hunters were shredded by the sword storm, disintegrating into a cloud of blood mist. The ten Hunter queens shrieked in agony as their bodies were riddled with wounds, their health plummeting rapidly. "Stop, human!" the bald-headed warrior shouted furiously. His rage surged as he tried to ignore the burning pain in his soul. A beam of blood-red light shot from his hand, piercing through John''s body. [You have been instantly killed by Shadow n warrior Meorite. The Blessed Ring has activated...] A notification shed. John was instantly resurrected with full health, paying no mind to the warrior''s attacks as he continued his onught against the Hunter queens. John understood the horrifying strength and trickery of the Shadow n warriors. If he didn''t kill the Hunter queens now, the Shadow n warriors would remain invincible. Boom! Boom! Explosions rang out across the battlefield as the Hunter queens wailed in despair, their health bars plummeting at an rming rate. "Cough!" John spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling a sharp pain as he sensed his two remaining clones were heavily injured. If this continued, the clones would undoubtedly be destroyed. "Unify!" He summoned both the gods and Skyline Continent human clones back to his main body, merging with them and significantly boosting his overall attributes. Whoosh! The power of darkness and light swirled around him, and he unleashed another barrage of relentless attacks on the Hunter queens. "Damn you!" Meorite cursed in frustration, his body transforming into a blur of blood as he dashed toward John, once again striking him down in an instant. But just as before, John''s Lifesaver ability activated, granting him five seconds of invincibility. "You''ve run out of time!" John sneered as he used those precious seconds to bombard the ten Hunter queens with spell after spell. His Spell Combo activated, unleashing dozens of devastating magical attacks in rapid session. Sword shes, enormous spear projections, and magic rained down on the queens like a storm of fury. "Human, how dare you!" The other four Shadow n warriors, having returned to the battlefield, saw what was happening and erupted with rage. They threw themselves in front of the Hunter queens, determined to block John''s attacks at any cost. Four crimson threads shot out again, wrapping around John in an attempt to bind him. They were desperate, trying to shield the queens with their own bodies. Boom! Boom! The battlefield shook violently. Fortunately, John was still in his invincible state. However, as soon as his invincibility wore off, his health dropped rapidly. This time, he was killed by the sheer force of his own powerful attacks, amplified by the red threads binding him. And yet, for the second time, Lifesaver activated, and John once more gained five seconds of invincibility. "Divine Mindless!" John''s voice echoed coldly across the battlefield as a massive surge of soul energy erupted from him. He cast his soul-binding curse, forcing his way into the minds of the five Shadow n warriors, attempting to seize control. "Cough!" John staggered as a wave of blood burst from his lips, his face pale-his soul had taken a heavy blow. The five Shadow n warriors shared their souls with the Hunter queens, making them immune to Divine Mindless. He couldn''t control them. But even a fleeting moment of distraction was enough. Seizing the opportunity, John unleashed his ultimate Immortal Art-Nine Heavens Sword. Hummmm! A terrifying sword aura filled the sky. Above, a colossal sword materialized, splitting the heavens as it descended with furious power, aimed directly at the Hunter queens and the Shadow n warriors. Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Slaying the Hunter Queens, the Mysterious Sea King Chapter 258: ying the Hunter Queens, the Mysterious Sea King ? Boom! A massive tremor rocked the ground, and the space around John began to fracture, forming thin cracks that splintered across the battlefield. Four Hunter queens fell, their massive forms copsing under the force of John''s strike. [You have killed a Hunter Queen, gaining 100 billion experience points.] [Plunder activated: Soul Technique +1000, Shadow Power +1000.] ... Notifications shed rapidly before his eyes. But before he could fully take in his sess, the five Shadow n warriors, now fully aware of the deaths of their shared Hunter queens, were consumed by uncontroble rage. "Human, you''re dead!" one of them roared furiously, their forms dissipating and merging into a swarm of blood-red shadows, enveloping John from all sides. It was a Shadow n ability-Blood Shadow Phantom! sh! [You have been killed by a Shadow n warrior. Undying and Immortal talent activated.] [You have been killed by a Shadow n warrior. Undying and Immortal talent activated.] ...N?v(el)B\\jnn The notifications continued to pop up. John''s heart pounded as he realized the relentless nature of their attack. Every time he resurrected, he was instantly in again, and each death further damaged his soul. If this continued, even his immortality wouldn''t save him. He would perish for good. He needed a solution-fast! Gritting his teeth, John summoned his two clones once more. Whoosh! Both his gods and Skyline Continent human clones appeared, immediately diverting the attention of the five Shadow n warriors. Using the distraction, John quickly escaped the blood-soaked area and, without hesitation, unleashed his Red Lotus Fire on the five enemies. "Watch out, that''s Hellfire!" The bald-headed warrior, who had already experienced the terrifying fire, shouted to warn the others. But it was toote. The Hellfire engulfed them, burning not just their bodies but their very souls. "Ahhhh!" Their agonizing screams echoed across the battlefield, and the shared Hunter queen. Their soul was linked with theirs, also let out a terrible wail. Sensing his advantage, John recalled his two clones and prepared to strike again. He called upon his most powerful Immortal Art-Nine Heavens Sword. The Nine Heavens Sword had no cooldown time, though it consumed a massive amount of spiritual power. Luckily, John''s Wrath of the Gods talent reduced his energy consumption by 99%. Whoosh! The immense sword shadow appeared again, and John zeroed in on the suffering Hunter queen. Boom! The sword descended, shattering the space around it as it cut through the air. The Hunter queen, unable to defend itself, was instantly annihted. "No!" The five warriors howled in agony, vomiting blood as their faces turned deathly pale. The death of the Hunter queen dealt a severe blow to their shared souls. John didn''t pause to gloat. Seizing the opportunity, he continued his relentless assault, directing the massive sword shadows toward the remaining Hunter queens. Boom! Boom! Space ruptured under the intense strikes, and chaos ensued as violent space-time distortions swept through the area. The remaining five Hunter queens, despite their size and power, fell one after the other. [You have killed a Hunter Queen, gaining 100 billion experience points.] [Level up...] [Plunder activated: Soul Technique +1000, Shadow Power +1000.] Relief washed over John as the notifications appeared. He had done it. "Human, you are unforgivable!" The enraged voices of the five Shadow n warriors echoed as they relentlessly attacked John, their souls still burning from the Hellfire. Despite the searing pain, their fury only grew. "Do you think killing the Hunter queens is enough to defeat us? You have no idea of the true terror of the Shadow n!" Their faces twisted with rage, blood-colored energy radiating from their bodies as they converged on John. Buzz! The air trembled as John unleashed Soul Impact, directing his attack at the most injured of the five-the bald-headed warrior. "Argh!" Both John and the bald warrior coughed up blood, their souls taking heavy damage. John''s Soul Technique had reached 170,000 points, nearly matching that of the bald-headed man. But this was only because John''s Red Lotus Fire had already burned away a portion of the enemy''s soul. Even so, John''s soul power was nearly depleted, and it would take time to recover. Without his soul-based attacks, he couldn''t truly threaten the Shadow n warriors anymore. "Time to run!" John made a swift decision to retreat. He dashed to the corpses of the Hunter queens, grabbing every piece of loot they had dropped. In the blink of an eye, he shifted forms, once again disguising himself as a demigod-level Hunter. "He''s trying to escape! Stop him!" The Shadow n warriors quickly realized what was happening and tried to block his retreat. But John had already melted into the mass of Hunters, his aura perfectly blending in with theirs, making it impossible to distinguish him. "You cowardly human! You won''t get away!" the bald-headed warrior cursed. Enraged, he unleashed waves of blood-red energy, indiscriminately ughtering the nearby Hunters in an effort to flush John out. Roar! The Hunters shrieked in pain, scattering in all directions. John, hidden among them, used the chaos to shield himself from the onught, dodging attacks as he fled through the stampede of terrified creatures. "Stop, Meorite! Do you want to kill all the Hunters here?" one of the other warriors shouted, trying to restrain hisrade. Meorite, blood dripping from his mouth, looked frustrated. "The Hunter queens are dead. The masters won''t forgive us for this. We need to capture that human to make amends." "Don''t worry, the Hunter queens belonging to our masters aren''t here. And that human won''t escape for long. We''ll seal off the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. The secret treasure is about to emerge. If he tries to leave, he''ll have to reveal himself," another warrior suggested confidently. "Good idea!" The others nodded in agreement. With so many Hunters around, killing them all wasn''t feasible. The only option was to seal off the entrances and exits of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins and wait for John to slip up. John, hiding nearby, overheard their entire conversation. "So, there are still more Hunter queens?" He frowned, realizing that the masters these warriors spoke of must be the true power behind this operation, and their Hunter queens were elsewhere. This situation was moreplicated than he had anticipated. "First, I need to refine the Soul Essence," John muttered to himself. After ying the ten Hunter queens, he had gained ten Soul Essences. He wasn''t the least bit concerned about the group trying to seal off the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. After all, he had killed Split Void and plundered his Split Void ability, which allowed him to break through any sealed space, including the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. If he wanted to leave, those guys wouldn''t be able to stop him. But leaving wasn''t part of his n. Once he refined the ten Soul Essences, his Soul Technique would increase by 100,000 points- enough to deal with the five Shadow n warriors with ease. At first, he had been worried that they would wander around searching for him. But now, with them foolishly focusing on sealing off the entrance to the ruins, he could openly absorb the Undying me and refine the Soul Essence without fear of discovery. John confirmed that the group had indeed moved to the entrance of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins and sealed it off. Feeling reassured, he maintained his disguise as a Hunter and quickly made his way to the area where the Undying me had previously erupted. Though he had already absorbed its power twice, and its strength had significantly weakened, it was still enough to keep the surrounding Hunters at bay. If those five Shadow n warriors had continued searching for him, they could have easily found him. But their choice to focus on the ruins'' entrance gave him the perfect opportunity. "Six days left until the final secret treasure of Skyline Continent emerges-there''s enough time," he mused, stepping into the range of the Undying me. He pulled out the ten Soul Essences and began the process of refining and absorbing them all at once. Whoosh! Through the Soul Essences, John absorbed the Undying me, channeling it into his soul. Intense burning pain followed. But the Crimson Karma Lotus appeared once again, helping him absorb and refine the me. As the refinement process continued, John''s Soul Technique and the power of the Crimson Karma Lotus steadily increased. ... Meanwhile, at the edge of Skyline Continent, beneath the vast ocean... Over a hundred Shadow n warriors swiftly made their way to the depths of the sea. Before long, a grand crystal pce emerged from the seabed, and the group entered without resistance, moving through the halls as if they knew the ce well. "You''re entering so openly?" a voice suddenly echoed through the hall, and a figure appeared. It was the Sea King. The leader of the Shadow n warriors, Blood Moon, stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Shadow n''s Blood Moon greets the great Sea King." Despite the usual arrogance of the Shadow n warriors, they now behaved with utmost deference in front of the Sea King. "What''s this about? Did Blood King send you here to use me of something?" The Sea King nced at Blood Moon, speaking in an indifferent tone. Blood King was the most powerful being in the Shadow n, a formidable deity and one of the masterminds behind the Gods'' Game. "I wouldn''t dare," Blood Moon replied, raising his head. "However, I do want to know why the Divine Path connected to Shadow Star." "Hmph, it seems Blood King doesn''t trust me after all," the Sea King snorted coldly, exining, "I wasn''t there at the time. I assumed with Heidern and the others acting, the Earth channel would be secured. But who could have guessed that this Godyer would possess such immense power...?" "Is the Godyer truly that powerful?" Blood Moon interrupted, his tone filled with doubt. The Sea King shot him a sharp nce, his eyes cold. "If you don''t believe me, feel free to verify it yourself." Cough... Suddenly, several dozen Shadow n warriors standing behind Blood Moon began coughing up blood, their faces pale as their souls were severely wounded. One of them, trembling in fear, reported, "Lord Blood Moon, the Hunter queen we were bound to has fallen." "What? What the hell were Meorite and his men doing?" Blood Moon cursed furiously. He then noticed the faint smirk on the Sea King''s face and quickly corrected himself, "Of course, I trust you, my lord. I just hope you can assist me in the uing contest for the treasure." The Sea King sighed and spread his hands. "You know I cannot enter the realm where the treasure is located. How exactly am I supposed to help you?" "I need you to protect my Hunter queen." As he spoke, Blood Moon summoned a massive Hunter queen, muchrger than the usual ones. It shimmered with golden light, clearly more extraordinary than the rest. As long as this queen survived, Blood Moon would be invincible. "Consider it done." The Sea King didn''t hesitate, extending his hand to reveal a small world in his palm, into which the golden Hunter queen was safely deposited. "Thank you, my lord," Blood Moon said gratefully. Then, as if something else was on his mind, he asked, "Lord, do you have any idea what the guardian deity of this final treasure might be?" The Sea King frowned, thinking for a moment before replying, "I can''t say for sure, but it seems to be connected to the Beast n." "The Beast n?" Blood Moon was puzzled. "Could Skyline Continent have once been part of the Beast n''s territory?" The Sea King shook his head. "That, I don''t know either." He then added, "Regardless of the connection to the Beast n, the one you should truly be wary of in this contest is the Godyer." "Hmph, he''s as good as dead," Blood Moon replied confidently, his eyes full of arrogance. The Sea King gave him a sidelong nce, then said in a calm tone, "You are wee to rest here, but don''t cause trouble." "Yes, of course. Thank you, my lord," Blood Moon bowed respectfully once again before leading the Shadow n warriors out of the chamber. Chapter 259: Chapter 259: Soul Enhancement, The Secret of Sea Clan Chapter 259: Soul Enhancement, The Secret of Sea n ? The Sea King watched as the group left, his gaze dark and brooding. Just then, the water in the grand hall rippled, and a graceful figure appeared, draped in a robe of radiant colors, her beauty unparalleled. She looked at the Sea King with a hint of doubt, asking, "My lord, are we truly going to assist the Shadow n?" "Hmph!" The Sea King sneered, his tone filled with disdain. "They''re nothing but a bunch of arrogant fools. There''s no way I''m helping them." Turning to the woman, he added, "Remember, when the Shadow n shes with the Godyer, notify me immediately. I''ll take that moment to destroy Blood Moon and his group''s Hunter queens." "Yes, my lord." The woman nodded, but still asked with a trace of uncertainty, "Do you really believe that Godyer can defeat Blood Moon and his men?" She found it hard to imagine a mere human standing against hundreds of Shadow n warriors, including three upper-tier gods at their peak. "We''ll find out soon enough," the Sea King chuckled coldly. He wasn''t sure if the Godyer was capable of such a feat either. But even if he failed to kill the Shadow n warriors, they wouldn''t dare retaliate once they learned he had annihted their Hunter queens. The woman, still curious, inquired, "So, is our main concern Beast n during this operation?" The Sea King nodded. "More urately, it''s the Godyer himself." He nced at her before continuing, "Remember, when the timees, try to work with the Godyer. I have a feeling that he may be the only one capable of entering the final treasure realm." "But you said the guardian is from Beast n, didn''t you?" The woman looked perplexed. "Trust me," the Sea King''s voice was grave. He fixed her with a prating gaze, "If, in the end, we cannot obtain the treasure, make sure it''s destroyed rather than allowing the Godyer to im it. Do you understand?" "Understood!" The woman bowed her head deeply, a flicker of fear passing through her eyes. To her, the Sea King seemed even more terrifying than the Shadow n itself. ... Back at the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. Five days had passed without incident. Meorite and his team had been guarding the entrance to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, preventing any Hunters from entering or leaving. With the Skyline Continent''s ultimate treasure about to emerge, there had still been no sign of John. It left the group frustrated. "Do you think that human might have escaped?" one of them asked with a frown. "That''s impossible. We sealed off this ce the moment he disappeared. He couldn''t have moved that fast." "Maybe Meorite killed him already?" "Let''s wait another two days. If he doesn''t show up, we''ll report to Blood Moon." The Hunters'' queens in this area were dead, and if John didn''t appear, there would be no point for the Shadow n to remain here. At the site of the Undying me explosion, white mes flickered around. A single Hunter sat cross-legged at the core of the area, looking entirely out of ce. This was none other than John, still disguised as a Hunter to remain unnoticed while absorbing the Soul Essence. [You have absorbed Soul Essence. Soul Technique +10,000.] [Crimson Karma Lotus has absorbed Undying me. The power of the skill Red Lotus Fire has increased.] The notifications shed, and John had finally finished merging with the Soul Essence. His Soul Technique had now reached an astonishing 270,000, with his mental strength receiving a significant boost as well. With this level of Soul Technique, John could now easily contend with upper-tier gods at their peak and could effortlessly defeat the five mid-tier gods of the Shadow n. "Tomorrow, the final treasure will emerge. Time to get moving," he murmured with a satisfied smile, canceling his disguise and returning to his true form. Roar... Roar... The surrounding Hunters sensed his presence and roared in fury, pacing around the edge of the Undying me but not daring to enter. Hum! Suddenly, the air trembled as John activated his soul skill, Soul Impact. A massive wave of spiritual energy radiated out like a sound wave, instantly covering several kilometers of the surrounding area. Thud... A series of muffled thuds echoed as tens of thousands of Hunters fell silently, all killed in an instant by John''s soul attack. [You have killed demigod-level Hunters and gained 6.76 billion experience points.] [Your level has increased to 10,035.] [Plunder skill activated. Shadow Power +0.01, Strength +200, Skill Points +10.] ... The notifications shed again as John''s level increased, and he plundered a significant amount of attributes, skill points, and a small amount of Shadow Power. His Shadow Power had already reached 140,000 points, but after his percentage-based life damage had increased to 1%, it hadn''t advanced further. John didn''t dwell on it. Instead, he swiftly flew toward the outskirts of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, his mind focused on the task ahead. Waves of Hunters surged toward him, but he dispatched them effortlessly, each one falling instantly with no resistance. The sound of battle echoed ahead, alerting the five Shadow n members guarding the entrance to the ruins. "Heh, that human finally shows up. Looks like he couldn''t hold back any longer," one of them sneered as they spotted John approaching. "That guy has a clone technique. Be cautious, there could be a trick. Blood Jade, stay here and make sure no one leaves, especially any Hunters," Meorite ordered, recalling John''s use ofN?v(el)B\\jnn clones. "Don''t worry, this ce is under control," Blood Jade responded confidently. "Let''s move. Quick and clean. Finish off this human, and then meet up with Blood Moon," the lead Shadow n warriormanded as they charged toward John. Hum! Before any of them could fully act, four blood-red threads shot out, instantly wrapping around John. Though they had lost the life-sharing connection with the Hunters'' queens, they remained wary of John''s attacks. "Heh, this again? Don''t you guys have any other tricks?" John looked at the blood threads winding toward him with disdain. These techniques, while strange, could only transfer physical damage but couldn''t redirect soul attacks. With his Soul Technique now at 270,000, wiping out these enemies was no challenge. Hum! The air vibrated as John, without wasting words, unleashed Soul Impact. Boom! Boom! A thunderous hum echoed in their minds. The four Shadow n warriors coughed up blood, their souls suffering severe damage. They paled in shock, realizing how outmatched they were. Despite their soul-defense skills, which prevented their immediate death. But their strength had diminished significantly, leaving them powerless against John. "You... you''ve refined the Soul Essence!" Meorite eximed in terror, suddenly recalling John''s control over Hellfire, a unique me capable of refining Soul Essence. But how could he have done it so quickly? As the realization set in, the four Shadow n members turned to flee. "Toote for that," John''s cold voice echoed. With a mere thought, four red mes erupted, surrounding the fleeing warriors. Red Lotus Fire! The mes consumed them instantly, and their agonized screams echoed through the battlefield. In moments, their souls were purified, and they were utterly destroyed. [You have killed Shadow n warrior Meorite, earning 676.76 billion experience points.] [Your level has increased to 10,038.] [Plunder skill activated: Shadow Power +1, Physical Crit +1, Strength +500, Luck +1.] ... The notifications shed as John casually collected the loot left behind by his fallen enemies. Four artifacts and eight Talent Copy Stonesy before John. Adding the ones dropped by the ten Hunters'' queens, he now had a total of 28 Talent Copy Stones. However, there were no suitable talents to copy for the moment. In the distance, Blood Jade, witnessing the scene, was filled with terror. Without hesitation, he turned and fled toward the exit of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. "Think you can escape?" John noticed his movements. With a thought, he activated the Riftwalker Talent, tearing open a spatial passage. He stepped through it, instantly arriving outside the Ancient Battlefield Ruins. Blood Jade stared at John in shock, disbelief written all over his face. "You... you can break through the Ancient Battlefield Ruins'' space? Why didn''t you escape before?" "Escape? Heh." John chuckled coldly. "The one who should be running is you." Only then did Blood Jade realize the gravity of the situation and attempted to flee. But before he could act, a terrifying wave of soul power struck him, freezing him in ce. It was John''s Intimidation skill. Immediately after, another pulse of soul energy hit-John activated Memory Extraction. John''s soul invaded Blood Jade''s mind, pulling out a wealth of memories. "The Sea King is the Overseer?" John''s eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn''t expected such a colossal secret to be hidden within the Sea n. Blood Jade snapped out of his daze, stumbling backward and ring at John. "Human! What have you done to me?" "Humph!" John snorted. He simultaneously unleashed Soul Impact and Red Lotus Fire, obliterating Blood Jade''s soul. [You have killed Shadow n warrior Blood Jade, earning 676.76 billion experience points.] [Plunder skill activated: Shadow Power +1, Skill Points +100, Soul Technique +100.] As the notifications shed, Blood Jade''s dropped items included two mid-level Talent Upgrade Stones, capable of upgrading an S-tier talent to SS-tier. And a skill scroll. [Rending Blood Strike: Shadow n skill, requires refining of a Shadow n treasure to learn.] "A Shadow n skill?" John wrinkled his nose in distaste, casually storing it away. His Apocalypse Stone had allowed him to fuse with an additional set of treasures. And he had already transferred the Beast n treasure to his Beast n clone. But Shadow n treasures were too malevolent, and they shed with the Immortals treasure he had already fused with. He had no intention of refining such dark artifacts. "The Sea n... this was certainly unexpected!" John muttered to himself, still reeling from what he had uncovered. From Blood Jade''s memories, he learned that the Sea King was a powerful Overseer. And the Sea n was backed by a deity on par with the Shadow n''s gods. The Sea n had joined the World of Gods in invading various realms, tasked with monitoring different races to prevent unforeseen events. However, the Sea King had underestimated John''s strength, especially with the help of the Immortals'' inheritance. John had seeded in opening the passage between the World of Gods and Shadow Star. "Heh, this means the Sea n''s world is also connected to the World of Gods," John mused, his thoughts turning darker. If the Shadow n continued trying to open the Earth''s passage, John nned to retaliate by targeting the Sea n''s realm, destroying one world after another connected to them. "It''s time to head back." John pushed aside his thoughts, activated the Abyssal Gate, and stepped into the Abyss once more. ... Chapter 260: Chapter 260: Return to the Void Area, Final Secret Area Chapter 260: Return to the Void Area, Final Secret Area ? John entered the Abyss and immediately merged with his Beast n clone without alerting anyone else. He curiously nced around. The Tree of Life and the Elven Spring were emitting vast amounts of spiritual power, dispelling the surrounding dark energy, which left everyone rtively unaffected. Members of the Beast n, elves, and disciples of the Blues Family were all cultivating around the Tree of Life. "Godyer, you''re finally back!" Cand-Dragon felt the change in his aura and knew it was his true form, finally feeling relieved. The final treasure of the Skyline Continent was about to emerge, and he was genuinely worried that John might not make it back in time. "So, did you manage to kill the Hunter broodmother?" he asked curiously. John nodded, "The broodmother from the Ancient Battlefield Ruins has been in by me, but there''s still one left, residing with that Shadow n powerhouse, Blood Moon. I wasn''t able to kill it." "Blood Moon?" Cand-Dragon furrowed his brow. He knew of the guy-a peak upper-tier god -andbined with the mysterious and unpredictable abilities of the Shadow n, he was simply no match for him. With a helpless sigh, he said, "It seems this battle for the final treasure will be dangerous." John didn''t have absolute confidence in dealing with Blood Moon either, but there was no way he could give up on the final treasure of Skyline Continent. He''d just have to take things one step at a time. "By the way, have you ever seen that Sea King make a move?" He recalled the secrets about Sea King and turned to ask Cand-Dragon. He already knew about Sea King''s desire to cooperate with him, suspecting that the guy had ulterior motives. "Sea King?" Cand-Dragon pondered for a moment, frowning. "I''ve never actually seen him in action. Does the Sea King have some issues?" "Yeah," John said quietly, "I''ve received some information that he''s also an Overseer." "What?" Cand-Dragon eximed in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief. "That''s impossible! The Sea n has never participated in any major battles between races, and I''ve never heard of him seizing any world''s final treasure." John said calmly, "What if, by the time you encountered him, he had already be an Overseer?" From the memories he obtained from Blood Jade, he learned that Sea King had been an Overseer for a long time, following the gods'' games, invading worlds, and monitoring various races. "This..." Cand-Dragon was speechless, recalling that there were indeed many strange things about Sea King. The Sea n rarely showed themselves, as if they lived in istion. Moreover, during thest massacre by the Shadow n, where many powerful beings of different races were ughtered, the Sea n was the only one spared. John continued, "I''m afraid this time, our greatest enemy might not be the Shadow n, but rather the Sea King." Cand-Dragon, however, spoke up, "If that guy really is The Overseer, there''s actually nothing to worry about. Overseers cannot enter the final Secret Area, and within the same race, only one Overseer can exist." "There are such restrictions? So does that mean Heidern also can''t enter?" John thought of Heidern, one of the gods. Cand-Dragon nodded. [Announcement: The final Secret Area of Skyline Continent will open at noon tomorrow. Coordinates: xxx, yyy] ... Suddenly, three system-wide announcements echoed, signaling that the final Secret Area was about to open. The coordinates pointed to an area within the sea of Skyline Continent. "It''s finally happening!" Cand-Dragon said with excitement upon hearing the announcement. "By the way, have you finalized the participants from your Beast n?" John asked, looking toward him. "Yes. There will be three of us-me, Nine-Tails, and Tony." The Secret Area was dangerous, so he didn''t involve too many people. Both he and Nine-Tails were peak upper-tier gods, strong enough to handle most threats, except for the Shadow n. "Tony''s joining too?" John asked in surprise. Tony was only at the demigod level, his strength far too weak. For this mission, John had already turned down several requests from people who wanted to apany him. Cand-Dragon nodded with a mysterious look on his face, "This guy hasprehended the Immortals'' legacy and has mastered a powerful skill. He''ll definitely be able to help you when the timees." "Oh?" John raised an eyebrow, about to inquire more when several figures appeared, led by none other than Heidern. "Godyer," Heidern greeted with a slight nod, though there was a sh of curiosity in his eyes. He sensed a change in John''s aura, like he was apletely different person from before. Still, he didn''t ask too many questions. At their level, everyone had their own secrets. Heidern continued, "Let me introduce the people participating in the Secret Area from our side-four gods, three from the Angel Race, and two from the Orcs." He introduced them to John one by one. Among them, two gods and Lincoln from the Angel Race were peak upper-tier gods, while the rest were all at the upper-tier god level. The group nodded politely in greeting. They had all witnessed John''s terrifying strength and held a great deal of respect for him. John nodded back, acknowledging their gestures. These people were different from the Beast n. Their cooperation was purely to deal with the Shadow n. When it came time to seize the treasure, everyone would be acting for themselves. Heidern waved his hand, signaling for the others to step back before asking, "I heard you''ve also formed a cooperation with the Sea n?" "Yes, is there an issue with that?" Cand-Dragon''s expression remained neutral as he stared at Heidern, wanting to see if he knew anything about Sea King''s secret. Heidern frowned, his expression serious. "There might be a powerful figure within the Sea n. I sensed the location of the final Secret Area in Skyline Continent a while ago and sent two upper-tier gods to investigate. But they vanished without a trace. Whoever did it... even I couldn''t achieve something like that." As he spoke, he nced toward John. John rolled his eyes and said, "You''re not seriously suggesting it was me, are you?" "You''re right," Heidern quickly corrected himself. "If you had killed upper-tier gods, you would''ve transformed into a giant, and I would have noticed." John gave a calm smile. In the past, he indeed needed to use his Heaven and Earth Transformation state to kill upper-tier gods. But now, with his improved Soul Technique, he could take down upper-tier gods just as silently. However, judging by Heidern''s reaction, he didn''t seem to know that Sea King was an Overseer. John felt curious. Both Heidern and Sea King were Overseers-he wondered which of them was stronger. "I was just checking in. If there''s nothing else, I''ll take my leave," Heidern said, before turning and walking away. After watching him leave, Cand-Dragon frowned. "I wonder what kind of scheme he''s cooking up." John replied indifferently, "He can''t enter the final Secret Area in Skyline Continent. With just those upper-tier gods, he won''t cause much trouble." "Oh, by the way, has the demon race made any moves?" John asked, remembering the demon race. Beelzebub, leading the demon race, had also taken refuge in the Abyss. This was their home territory, and John hadn''t bothered them. Cand-Dragon shook his head, "No. I suggested a coboration, but they declined." "Don''t worry about them," John said, unconcerned. In his view, the demon race wasn''t even as strong as the Angel Race under the gods. ... The next day, the passage to the Abyss opened, and John, along with his group, set off toward the entrance of Skyline Continent''s final Secret Area. Not long after they left, Beelzebub, apanied by ten upper-tier gods from the demon race, also departed from the Abyss. Roar! Roar! The roars of magical beasts echoed through the air.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Skyline Continent had be extremely unstable, with cracks in space appearing sporadically, as though the world could copse at any moment. Once the final treasure was taken, Skyline Continent would crumble entirely, and this world would cease to exist. The magical beasts seemed to sense the impending danger, bing restless and agitated. However, the Hunters were nowhere to be seen anymore. John didn''t think too much about it as his group flew swiftly, soon entering the vast ocean area. Here, the space was much more stable. Before long, they arrived at the entrance to Skyline Continent''s final Secret Area. Though it hadn''t opened yet, numerous races had already gathered here. The Sea n, humans from Skyline Continent, the demon race, Dragonkin, Giants, and over ten other races, with hundreds of powerful figures present. However, aside from the Sea n and Skyline Continent humans, the strength of the others wasn''t particrly impressive. The arrival of John and his group immediately caught the attention of these powerhouses. Everyone turned to look at him with hostility in their eyes. It was all because of him that the passage to Shadow Star had been opened. If they couldn''t seize the final treasure of Skyline Continent, they would be doomed when they arrived at Shadow Star. John ignored their hostility, indifferent to whether they lived or died. They had wanted to open a passage to Earth, and the fact that he hadn''t wiped them all out was already giving them more leniency than they deserved. John''s gaze swept past the crowd, focusing on Sea King. He could sense the aura around Sea King, who was merely a peak upper-tier god, unlike Heidern, who wielded some kind of special power. It seemed Sea King had some hidden strength that wasn''t obvious. Sea King noticed John''s gaze and smiled warmly in acknowledgment. John nodded back, then looked at the rest of the Sea n. Since Sea King was an Overseer and couldn''t enter the final Secret Area, it would have to be the ten people standing behind him. "Hmm?" John frowned. Among the ten upper-tier gods, one individual caught his attention. Dressed in a loose ck robe, the figure appeared to be a woman, but her face was obscured by arge hood, making it hard to see clearly. However, the aura emanating from her was no weaker than Cand-Dragon''s. "Not from the Sea n?" He furrowed his brow, then nced at Cand-Dragon and Heidern beside him, whispering, "Do you know who that robed figure is standing next to Sea King?" Both of them looked at the woman in the ck robe, equally puzzled. They could sense the strong aura as well. A being of such power in Skyline Continent was someone they should''ve known about. "Could she be from the Shadow n?" Tony suggested. Cand-Dragon shook his head. "No, I don''t recognize the energy she''s emitting. She must be from some unknown race." Boom! Suddenly, the sea roared as hundreds of figures shot into the sky, radiating an overwhelming aura of bloodlust and killing intent that sent shivers down everyone''s spine. The Shadow n had arrived! The gathered races immediately grew alert, instinctively banding together. "Things are really getting lively!" The lead Shadow n warrior sneered, his crimson eyes scanning the various powerhouses before finally locking onto John. He licked his lips, a twisted smile forming as he said, "If I''m not mistaken, you must be the Godyer, right?" Chapter 261: Chapter 261: Inferno of the Secret Area, First Trial Chapter 261: Inferno of the Secret Area, First Trial ? John stared directly at his opponent,pletely unafraid, and replied calmly, "That''s right." "Hmph!" Blood Moon snorted coldly. Suddenly, he raised his hand, and a blood-red beam of energy shot forth, piercing through both John and a gods upper-tier god behind him in an instant. [You have been instantly killed by Shadow n''s Blood Moon. The Blessed Ring has activated.] The notification shed as John resurrected on the spot, coughing up blood. Behind him, the upper-tier god also resurrected, his face pale, his soul wounded. Cand-Dragon''s expression darkened. He and Nine-Tails immediately stepped in front of John without hesitation, ring furiously at Blood Moon. In the distance, Sea King''s brow furrowed as he concealed one hand behind his back, a small world manifesting in his palm. Hidden within this miniature realm was the Hunter broodmother, its soul shared with Blood Moon and hispanions. Blood Moon saw the reactions around him and smiled faintly, saying, "No need to be nervous. I was merely saying hello." "Heh, the Shadow n sure knows how to be friendly," John sneered, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, a sh of killing intent appearing in his eyes. Buzz! The air hummed with sword energy as an immense sword shadow appeared in the sky, tearing through the clouds and descending with fury. The target wasn''t Blood Moon but the Shadow n warriors standing behind him. Boom! The earth trembled, and massive waves surged as over a dozen upper-tier gods from the Shadow n were severely injured, though none were killed outright. "Human, you dare court death!" Several of them roared in rage, ring at John, ready to attack. John remained calm, his tone cold as he said, "No need to get worked up. I was just returning the greeting." He then turned his gaze provocatively toward Blood Moon. Blood Moon''s face darkened, his fists clenching so tightly they cracked. "Enough," Sea King interjected. "The Secret Area is about to open. We''re all here to im the final treasure of Skyline Continent. There''s no need for unnecessary bloodshed." Blood Moon''s anger simmered, but he suppressed it, fixing John with a cold stare. "Human, you are the first to dare challenge the Shadow n head-on. I will ensure the entire Skyline Continent is buried with you." His words caused the faces of many nearby powerhouses to pale. Blood Moon''s message was clear-he didn''t intend to let anyone escape. Boom! Suddenly, the sky rumbled with thunder, and the ocean surged violently as an enormous wave of spatial power swept through, flinging everyone backward, Sea King included. As the rising seawater fell back, three system-wide announcements echoed across the continent. [Announcement: The final Secret Area of Skyline Continent has opened. All powerhouses at or above demigod level may enter topete for the treasure.] ... "Let''s go!" Blood Moon was the first to react, shouting themand as he led the Shadow n warriors through the spatial rift. The powerhouses from the other races quickly followed suit. They knew the journey would be perilous, but the temptation of Skyline Continent''s treasure was too great to resist. "Godyer!" At that moment, Sea King stopped John, pulling him aside. In a low voice, he said, "The Shadow n will definitely make a move against you in the Secret Area. Are you confident you can handle it?" John shook his head, unsure of Sea King''s intentions. Sea King gestured to the robed woman behind him and introduced her, "This is Jolyne, my strongest warrior. If things get dangerous, she might be able to help you." "Jolyne?" John nodded toward the woman, but she merely stared at him coldly, without acknowledging his gesture. Unfazed, John looked back at Sea King, puzzled. "So, you''re not entering the Secret Area?" Sea King shook his head. "The treasure of Skyline Continent is valuable, but I have to think of the Sea n. If something were to happen to me, there would be no one left to protect the Sea n, and they would be in grave danger. Still, I genuinely hope you can obtain the treasure." John smirked inwardly, though his face remained expressionless, and he said admiringly, "To resist the temptation of such a treasure for the sake of your race-Sea King, you''ve truly earned my respect." Sea King chuckled and replied, "Godyer, we are alike. We''re both willing to do whatever it takes for our people." John sensed a deeper meaning behind his words. Before John could respond, Sea King continued, "Jolyne, stay by Godyer''s side and make sure to protect him. Help him obtain the treasure." "Understood," Jolyne replied respectfully, her voice cold and detached. "Godyer, I wish you luck," Sea King said, patting John on the shoulder before stepping back. John nodded in acknowledgment and, without saying more, led Cand-Dragon and the others into the Secret Area. Jolyne, along with the other nine Sea n warriors, followed closely behind. Buzz! Spatial power surged, and a thick fog enveloped them, obscuring their surroundings. Not only that, but even John''s Soul Perception was restricted, limiting his range to only about a hundred meters. This space had powerful constraints. "Attack!" Suddenly, a shout erupted nearby-it was the Shadow n. John instantly became alert. Cand-Dragon, Nine-Tails, and Tony moved swiftly, positioning themselves in front of John to protect him. However, the Shadow n warriors weren''t targeting John-they were attacking the humans from Skyline Continent. Boom! Boom! A series of explosions rang out, and the mist was instantly dyed red with blood as several Shadow n warriors detonated themselves, erasing their existencepletely. The Skyline Continent humans were left trembling on the ground, paralyzed with fear by the eerie sight before them, too frightened to make a move. "Inferno Secret Area!" Blood Moon shouted in shock. Just then, a system notification echoed through the space. [This Secret Area is the Inferno Secret Area. Before reaching the final stage,bat is forbidden. Vitors will be erased.] [First Trial Activated: Elemental Trial. Comprehend thews of the four basic elements. Time limit: seven days. Failure will result in erasure.] ... The message left everyone with mixed emotions-some were relieved, others filled with anxiety. The good news was that they no longer had to worry about persecution from the Shadow n. The bad news was that if they failed toprehend the elementalws, they would still face erasure. The five upper-tier gods from Skyline Continent were particrly pleased. To refine Skyline Continent''s treasure, they had to understand thews of the four basic elements. The first trial seemed like it was tailor-made to give them an advantage. "Hmph, you''re quite lucky!" Blood Moon nced at John and said coldly, "Godyer, I hope you make it to the final stage. Let''s go!" With that, he led his group away, intent on finding Elemental Spirit Stones toprehend the four basic elements. "Godyer, since the Shadow n won''t attack, we should go our separate ways," Lincoln of the Angel Race said, before leading his people to depart as well. The gods and Orcs soon followed suit, heading out to seek the Elemental Spirit Stones. That left only John, Cand-Dragon, Nine-Tails, Tony, and Jolyne. John turned to Jolyne and asked, "You''re not leaving?" "My task is to protect you," Jolyne replied coolly, her tone making it hard for John to believe she had any real intent of protecting him. Certain that Sea King had ulterior motives, John grew impatient. "There''s nobat allowed here, so I''m perfectly safe." "There are elemental creatures," Jolyne said indifferently, unmoved by his words. Elemental creatures were special monsters in the Secret Area that wielded the power of the four basic elements. John frowned, annoyed by her persistence. Ignoring Jolyne, he turned to Cand-Dragon and the others. "Have any of youprehended the power of elementalws?" Cand-Dragon and Nine-Tails both shook their heads. Tony spoke up, "I''ve grasped the water element''s power ofws, but I still need to master the wind, fire, and earth elements." John nodded, thinking for a moment before saying, "Let''s split up. Try to kill as many elemental creatures as possible. We''ll meet back here in three days." "Understood." They all agreed, each choosing a direction and disappearing into the mist. John noticed Jolyne still lingering around and, unwilling to waste any more words, directly tore open a spatial rift and vanished. "Hm? A Split Void ability!" Jolyne''s eyes widened in shock as she attempted to follow, but the spatial rift had already closed. The Secret Area was filled with powerful pressure that hindered perception, making it impossible for her to track John. Frustrated, she had no choice but to act on her own, hunting down elemental creatures. ... John reappeared several hundred kilometers away in a forested area. Without hesitation, he sent three of his clones flying in different directions, each set on hunting down elemental creatures. John''s main body didn''t stay idle. He used his spiritual perception, and although he could only sense within a hundred-meter radius due to the fog, it still greatly improved his efficiency. Soon, he spotted a group of over a hundred wind-elemental creatures deep in the forest. "Lower-tier gods," he muttered, frowning. If all the elemental creatures here were at the level of lower-tier gods, Tony might struggle to handle them. He felt a bit worried about Tony''s safety. Although the various races couldn''t fight each other, there were no restrictions when it came to killing these elemental creatures. John focused on his Beast n clone, which happened to be moving in the direction Tony had gone. He ordered the clone to hunt down elemental creatures while also searching for Tony. Whoosh... Suddenly, a violent wind howled as countless Wind des swept through the air-the elemental creatures had noticed him and wereunching an attack. "Hmph, you overestimate yourselves," John scoffed. Using his spatial discement ability, he easily dodged the flurry of Wind des. In response, he unleashed his Infinite Sword Array, and the sky filled with countless sword des. sh! sh! With a cold gleam, the power of John''s Sword Law,bined with life-percentage damage, made the elemental creatures utterly powerless. In mere moments, they were all ughtered. A notification appeared before him. [You have killed wind-elemental creatures. Plunder talent activated: Mental strength +100, Skill points +100, Wind Element Comprehension +1.] ... "No experience points?" John mused, puzzled. Killing these elemental creatures didn''t yield any experience points, nor did they drop any loot. It seemed this Secret Area wasn''t governed by thews of the world of Gods. Fortunately, John''s Plunder talent still triggered, granting him 142 points of elementalprehension, converting into a 1% increase in his understanding of the wind element. But what about everyone else? Without his Plunder talent, how would they enhance their elementalprehension? He had assumed that these elemental creatures would drop basic Elemental Spirit Stones, but that didn''t appear to be the case. Comprehending the elements was difficult. Besides secluded cultivation, the quickest method was to refine Elemental Spirit Stones. "Wait, there''s a fluctuation of wind-elemental power," John sensed something. Hended on the ground and began searching through the remains of the elemental creatures. Sure enough, within the creatures'' nest, he found two Wind Elemental Spirit Stones. "Only two?" he sighed in disappointment and casually pocketed them. John''s human clone from Skyline Continent had already mastered the four basic elements. As long as he fused them, he could transfer that mastery to his main body and pass the trial. He didn''t need the Elemental Spirit Stones for himself; he was gathering them for Cand- Dragon and the others.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Distributing Spirit Stones, Provoking the Shadow Clan Chapter 262: Distributing Spirit Stones, Provoking the Shadow n ? John continued to roam through the forest, hunting down elemental creatures. This forest was home to wind elemental creatures. It seemed that these elemental creatures were confined to different territories. The forest was dominated by wind elemental creatures, while his three clones had encountered creatures of other elemental attributes in different areas. One clone found earth elemental creatures in the desert, another found fire elemental creatures near the volcanic region, and thest found water elemental creatures by thekeside. However, his Beast n clone had yet to locate Tony. He had ced a soul mark on Tony, confirming that he was still alive, but the restrictions of this space prevented him from sensing Tony''s exact location. John sighed helplessly. While hunting elemental creatures, he continued his search for Tony. ... Three days passed quickly. John and his three clones had killed numerous elemental creatures, collecting over 300 basic elemental spirit stones. What improved the most during this period was his understanding of elementalws. Hisprehension of the four fundamental elementalws had all surpassed 30%. With fire elementalw reaching as high as 41%. He even felt confident that he could eventually elevate his understanding of all four fundamental elements to 100%. "It''s time to regroup," John thought. He stopped hunting and merged with his three clones, tearing open a spatial rift and arriving at the entrance of the Secret Area. As soon as he appeared, he saw Jolyne standing nearby. John frowned. This woman really seemed to be haunting him. He approached her and asked with a hint of suspicion, "Have you been waiting here the whole time?" "I just arrived," Jolyne replied coldly, ncing around, seemingly wanting to say something but then hesitating. At that moment, Cand-Dragon and Nine-Tails also appeared. They greeted John, butpletely ignored Jolyne. "Has Tony not arrived yet?" Cand-Dragon asked, a bit concerned as he didn''t see Tony. "He''s here," Jolyne said indifferently. Sure enough, Tony''s figure emerged from the mist. He looked a bit battered, with dried blood on his clothes, clearly showing that he had been injured. As a demigod, fighting lower-tier gods'' elemental creatures was quite a challenge for him, though fortunately, his life wasn''t in danger. John nced at Jolyne suspiciously. His own soul perception hadn''t detected Tony, yet this woman had sensed him beforehand. "Master," Tony approached the group quickly, letting out a sigh of relief. Cand-Dragon nodded and said, "Everyone, take out any extra elemental spirit stones and hand them over to Godyer." He then produced 12 earth elemental spirit stones and 15 water elemental spirit stones. Nine-Tails took out 14 fire elemental spirit stones, 2 wind elemental spirit stones, and 9 earth elemental spirit stones. Tony, feeling a bit embarrassed, said apologetically, "I couldn''t find any elemental spirit stones." "No worries, I''ve got extras," John said as he casually took out over 300 elemental spirit stones. Everyone stared in shock. "Master, how did you find so many elemental spirit stones?" Nine-Tails asked in disbelief. The four elemental creatures were spread out across different regions, yet the Spirit Stones that John took out covered all four elemental attributes. Even if he didn''t spend time traveling, it seemed impossible to gather so many Spirit Stones in just three days. Cand-Dragon seemed to realize something, knowing that John had powerful clones at his disposal. John smiled but didn''t offer much of an exnation. He simply said, "I''ve alreadyprehended thews of the four basic elements. Take what you need. There are still four days left, more than enough time to fully grasp thews of the four elements." Cand-Dragon spoke up, "Nine-Tails and I don''t need them. We can take our time hunting down elemental creatures to find more stones. Tony should prioritize refining these. Any extras, you should keep for yourself. This is the final Secret Area of the Skyline Continent, and mastering the four basic elements will help you obtain the ultimate treasure." "Alright," John didn''t refuse. The elemental Spirit Stones weren''t of much help to him anyway. By plundering the elemental creatures'' essence throughbat, he could easily push hisprehension of the four elementalws to 100%. At that moment, Jolyne stepped forward and presented over seventy elemental Spirit Stones, her voice calm and distant, "These are the ones I found." John was slightly surprised, ncing at Jolyne''s still-cold demeanor, and offered a simple, "Thank you." A hint of doubt lingered in his mind. It seemed as if this woman was genuinely trying to help him. Tony received one hundred Spirit Stones each for wind, fire, and earth elements, and handed the rest to John. Cand-Dragon then said, "We''ve got four more days. Let''s continue searching for elemental Spirit Stones. Tony, you''lle with me." "Alright," Tony agreed. His strength was limited, and his only trump card was his Immortal Golden Body, but that was a defensive skill that consumed a huge amount of his demonic energy. Venturing out alone would indeed be dangerous for him. The group parted ways once more. "Godyer..." Jolyne began to speak, but before she could finish, John had already torn open a spatial rift and disappeared. "Damn it!" She gritted her teeth in frustration, carefully sensing his direction before quickly pursuing him. John reappeared in a vast desert. With a mere thought, his three clones shot out, each going in different directions to hunt down more elemental creatures. Boom! Boom! Suddenly, the sounds of intense battle echoed through the desert. John''s eyes lit up as he spotted two shadow n warriors ughtering earth elemental creatures. He swiftly flew over and positioned himself above the two, asking, "Need a hand?" "Godyer?" One of the Shadow n warriors recognized John, a sh of killing intent passing through his eyes as he growled coldly, "Get lost!" "Hah, feisty, aren''t you?" John chuckled lightly, and with a thought, three longswords flew out. His Sword Mastery took over, and the des frenziedly shed through the elemental creatures surrounding the two warriors. John''s old weapons, the Three-Foot ck Dragon Sword and the Sword of Divinity and Demons, had long been reced with three top-tier divine longswords. Before the two Shadow n warriors could even react, all the nearby earth elemental creatures were ughtered by John''s swift assault. "What do you mean by that, human?" one of them red at John, his voice cold. "What, you don''t even know how to say thank you?" John taunted, smirking at the two of them. "These bastards don''t know the meaning of gratitude," a clear, cold voice suddenly came from behind him. John flinched in surprise, frowning. It was Jolyne. He had no idea how this woman had managed to follow him. At that moment, seven earth-element Spirit Stones appeared from the elemental creatures'' nest nearby. Just as the two Shadow n warriors were about to act, a ribbon shot out, sweeping up the seven Spirit Stones and sending them into Jolyne''s hand. Without even looking at them, she tossed the stones over to John. "Those are ours, you bastard!" one of the warriors cursed angrily, ready to lunge forward to reim them, but hispanion quickly grabbed his arm to stop him. "Gene, calm down. Don''t forget the rules here," hispanion warned urgently. Jolyne''s expression was filled with disdain as she continued, "What''s the matter? Been groveling for so long you can''t stand on your own anymore? By the way, whosepdogs were you again? The Blood n''s? The Underworld n''s? Or maybe the Insect n''s?" "Who... who are you?" Gene, still ring at Jolyne, seemed to sense something familiar about her. "I''m your father!" Jolyne replied sharply. John was left dumbfounded. Was this icy woman really this aggressive? "You''re dead!" Gene roared, his rage boiling over as he shrugged off hispanion''s grip and charged at Jolyne. Her gaze remained cold and calm, watching him approach without moving an inch. Boom! Just as Gene was about to reach her, his body suddenly exploded into a cloud of blood mist, his soul instantly obliterated. "Idiot," Jolyne spat with disdain. She then turned her eyes to the other Shadow n warrior and added in a casual tone, "Oh, by the way, I heard that your n''s current status was bought by trading away your women? Got any women left in your n?" The Shadow n warrior''s eye twitched, fury ring up inside him, but he restrained himself. This woman''s words were cutting deep, and it was clear she knew far too much about the Shadow n. She wasn''t someone to be taken lightly. "Fine, I''ll remember this," he growled coldly, before tearing open a spatial rift and vanishing. This guy had the Split Void ability too! Jolyne frowned, clearly displeased. "You''re not from the Sea n, are you?" John walked over and looked at her, his tone t. Jolyne gave a small nod. John continued, "What''s your connection to the Sea King? And why are you getting close to me?" Jolyne raised a finger to her lips, motioning for silence. Then, with a flicker of mental energy, she sealed off the space around them. Such powerful soul energy! John was taken aback, feeling the sheer strength of her soul force, which far exceeded his own. John curiously looked at Jolyne. With thews of the Secret Area in ce, she couldn''t harm him, even if she wanted to. "Godyer, I mean you no harm. In fact, you could say I''m half a member of The Immortals," she said as her aura surged, revealing a treasure belonging to The Immortals. John was taken aback. Jolyne''s fusion with The Immortals'' treasure was more advanced than his own. And not only that¡ªshe had merged with more than one racial treasure. This woman had also used an Apocalypse Stone! John frowned, still not fully trusting her. Jolyne continued, "It''s true that the Sea King asked me to stop you from obtaining the final treasure, but I won''t do that. I will help you with all my strength and will never act against you." John stared at her and asked, "Why are you doing this? What''s your motive?" Jolyne fell silent for a moment before finally saying, "Consider it my way of repaying a debt." Repaying a debt? A debt to The Immortals? John was confused, but it was clear she didn''t want to exin further. With a wave of her hand, Jolyne dispelled the mental barrier she had set up and said, "I can sense Shadow n warriors nearby." "Lead the way!" John''s eyes lit up. Hunting down Shadow n was far more appealing to him than killing elemental creatures.N?v(el)B\\jnn With his three clones still active, and four days to spare, he had more than enough time to plunder enough knowledge to reach 100%prehension of the four basic elementalws. Working together, John robbed Shadow n of their elemental creatures. Jolyne, on the other hand, focused on provoking and taunting them, fueling their anger. Over the next few days, John learned more about the Shadow n from her. The rise of the Shadow n was steeped in filth and disgrace, much like the Dark Humans. They had repeatedly pledged their loyalty to several different races. But unlike the Dark Humans, the Shadow n was even more despicable. In their weakness, they bowed and scraped, even going so far as to sacrifice their own women. However, once they gained power, they ruthlessly ughtered the once-powerful races they had sworn allegiance to, all to erase their shameful past. Of the four main gods behind the Gods'' Game-representing the Sea n, Underworld n, and Nature n-none held any respect for the Shadow n. They were all filled with contempt for them. But because the Shadow n had a main god of their own, no one dared to act against them. Chapter 263: Chapter 263: Insulting Blood Moon, The Second Trial Chapter 263: Insulting Blood Moon, The Second Trial ? Over the span of a few days, John and Jolyne managed to cause the deaths of more than twenty Shadow n warriors. All of them had been goaded by Jolyne''s relentless verbal attacks, driven to fury and humiliation, causing them tosh out in anger-only to be instantly erased by the rules of the Secret Area. The two worked together so seamlessly that even John began chiming in with his own insults. Before they knew it, seven days had passed. Although John''s main body was primarily focused on hunting down Shadow n warriors, he had still managed to kill quite a few elemental creatures, plundering their elemental affinities. After merging with his three other clones, his understanding of the four basic elementalws reached 100%. His strength received a noticeable boost. This was particrly evident in his gods'' clone and his human clone from Skyline Continent¡ª both of which benefited from the elementalws'' foundational boost. "Let''s head back," John called out, tearing open space and returning to the entrance of the Secret Area with Jolyne. By the time they arrived, many powerful beings had already gathered. Cand-Dragon and the others had also arrived and quickly approached John. "How did it go?" John asked, looking over his group. Tony spoke up, "No worries, we''ve allprehended thews of the four basic elements." John nodded approvingly. His attention was then drawn to a few others who were desperately pleading with stronger beings from other races, hoping to exchange for elemental Spirit Stones. It was obvious that these unfortunate individuals hadn''t managed to gather enough Spirit Stones toprehend all four elementalws. "Lord Blood Moon, it was Godyer and this woman who caused the deaths of so many of our people!" A furious Shadow n warrior, trembling with rage, pointed at John and Jolyne. However, bound by the rules of the Secret Area, he couldn''t make a move. "Hm?" Blood Moon''s gazended on Jolyne, a hint of confusion crossing his face. He vaguely remembered her as someone associated with the Sea King. Not wanting to provoke the Sea King, Blood Moon addressed her, "Youngdy, I believe there''s no conflict between us, is there?" Jolyne had returned to her usual cold and distant demeanor andpletely ignored him. Blood Moon frowned in irritation but turned his attention to John, his tone icy, "Human, you''d better hope you don''t end up in my hands." "Trash," John spat, hurling the insult. Jolyne had taught him. "You dare seek death!" Blood Moon''s fury ignited. The shameful history of the Shadow n -full of disgrace and filth-was something he loathed being reminded of. And now, a mere human dared to insult him. "Master, don''t get angry, remember the rules of the Secret Area," one of his subordinates quickly reminded him. Blood Moon took a deep breath, barely managing to suppress his rage. He shot John a murderous re and growled, "I''ll make you regret ever being born into this world." "Yeah, whatever," John retorted with a scoff. "You''re nothing but a motherless bastard." "Damn you! I''ll tear you apart!" Blood Moon snapped, unable to hold back any longer. He let out a furious roar, about to strike. Hispanions, horrified, immediately tackled him to the ground, shouting desperately, "Master, calm down!" Blood Moon was the strongest among them, and if something happened to him, they might not be able to secure the final treasure.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Pfft..." Jolyne couldn''t help but let out augh from the side. She caught John''s nce, her expression turning a bit awkward as she quickly suppressed her amusement. Curiously, she asked, "Was I ever as bad as you are?" John sighed and replied, "You were worse." Jolyne''s eyes narrowed into happy crescents, clearly pleased by the banter. John couldn''t help but wonder what her face looked like beneath the cloak. Blood Moon finally managed to calm himself down, sitting cross-legged with his eyes shut, clearly trying to ignore everything around him. However, the slight rise and fall of his chest revealed the intense anger still boiling within him. Jolyne nced at him and casually taunted, "So spineless. Was that something your daddy taught you, or your granddaddy?" "Ugh..." Blood Moon immediately coughed up a mouthful of blood, ring at Jolyne with venomous fury. "How dare you cross me? Do you want me to expose what I know about the Sea King?" he threatened. He unable to strike but resorting to using the Sea King''s secrets as leverage. Jolyne''s eyes lit up. She was bound by a soul contract with the Sea King, which prevented her from telling John anything directly about him, but perhaps she could use Blood Moon to her advantage. With a mischievous smile, she said lightly, "Go ahead, I''d love to hear it." "You!" Blood Moon was on the verge of revealing the secret but quickly stopped himself. He remembered the Sea King''s ruthlessness and the might of the Sea n. In the end, he calmed down, albeit barely. Jolyne was about to continue provoking him when the announcement of the Secret Area suddenly echoed through the air. [The first trial has concluded. Any adventurer who has notprehended the four basic elementalws will be eliminated!] Boom! Boom! Thunderous sounds rang out as clouds of blood mist erupted. Over a dozen warriors were instantly wiped out,pletely erased from existence. Among the dead were even three powerful members of the Blood n. Blood Moon seethed with hatred as he red at John and Jolyne. It was because of their interference that many from his group hadn''t gathered enough elemental Spirit Stones. His hatred for the two of them ran deep. Whether Jolyne was connected to the Sea King or not, by the time they reached the final trial, Blood Moon was determined to kill her. No, he wanted to make her life a living hell first! At that moment, the announcement from the Secret Area echoed again. [The second trial of the Secret Area has begun: Strength Challenge. Enter the trial space, kill puppets, and earn points. You may form teams.] [Rule 1: Killing a demigod puppet earns 1 point, killing a lower-tier god puppet earns 2 points, killing a mid-tier god puppet earns 5 points, and killing an upper-tier god puppet earns 10 points.] [Rule 2: Each trial space will spawn 10,000 puppets. Teaming up increases the difficulty ording to the number of people in the team. Each person can only enter a trial space once. Death ends the trial.] [Rule 3: The trialsts for seven days. Anyone with less than 10,000 points by the end will be eliminated. The top ten scorers will receive additional rewards.] Before everyone, four pathways appeared, each leading to trial spaces corresponding to the demigod, lower-tier god, mid-tier god, and upper-tier god difficulty levels. Upon entering, participants would find themselves in individual spaces, and only those who formed teams could enter the same space together. Eager to prove themselves, most of the powerful beings from various races rushed to enter the trial spaces, with the majority choosing the lower-tier or mid-tier god difficulty levels. Failure in this challenge wouldn''t result in immediate death, and as long as they earned 10,000 points, they would be safe. Most people weren''t aiming to top the leaderboard; they just wanted to survive. "Let''s go!" Blood Moon shot a cold nce at John and Jolyne before assembling a team of ten and entering the upper-tier gods trial space. Other Shadow n warriors formed simr ten-person teams, with most opting for the mid- tier or lower-tier gods difficulty levels. "Master, who should I team up with?" Tony asked quickly. As a demigod, he would struggle against even demigod-level puppets, and with the need to kill 10,000 of them in seven days to score enough points. He knew he couldn''t manage it on his own. "I''ll team up with Tony," Cand-Dragon said. Since Tony hade under his protection, he felt responsible for ensuring his safety. "I have a suggestion," Jolyne suddenly spoke up. "Why don''t the five of us team up? I have a Universal Order that can reset the trial and let us select a lower-difficulty challenge. This way, we can help Godyer make a run for the leaderboard." John was taken aback and asked curiously, "The Universal Order can reset challenges in the Secret Area too?" Jolyne nodded and exined, "It can only reset the trial space to respawn weaker puppets." John was excited. He had collected several Universal Orders during this time but had never found the right opportunity to use them in the Secret Area. He hadn''t expected them toe in handy now. "Not a bad idea," Nine-Tails chimed in with agreement. "The five of us, except Tony, all have upper-tier god-level strength. If we choose a mid-tier gods trial space, it''ll be no problem for us." The others didn''t object to the n. "No," John said firmly, "if we''re going to choose, we''re going with the strongest-the upper-tier gods trial space." "Master, with just the five of us, we''ll be facing 50,000 upper-tier god-level trial puppets at once. Are you sure?" Nine-Tails asked, visibly concerned. "It''s not just five of us," John replied. He nced around and, seeing that most of the powerful beings from various races had already entered their trial spaces, summoned his three clones. The clones looked identical to John, but each had a slightly different aura. The group was startled, as this was the first time they had seen John''s clones-except for Cand-Dragon, who was familiar with them. "Let''s go!" John said, pulling everyone into his team. Without waiting for a response, he led them straight into the upper-tier gods trial space. Buzz! The air shimmered with spatial power as they arrived in a vast, open realm. "Master, you''re too reckless! We can''t hold off 80,000 upper-tier god-level enemies at the same time," Nine-Tails said, shaking her head with exasperation. She had initially hoped to help John secure a ce on the leaderboard. But now, just surviving and earning 10,000 points seemed like a daunting task. "Not necessarily," John said with a confident smile. At that moment, powerful forces began to gather around them as the trial puppets appeared -every one of them an upper-tier god, and there were over 80,000 of them. "We''re doomed!" Jolyne''s face showed her concern as she said, "Godyer, my attacks focus on the soul. They won''t work on these puppets." John was a bit surprised¡ªthis was the first time he had encountered someone whose main strength was in soul attacks. "Don''t worry, I''ve got this!" John stepped forward, his body vibrating with a powerful sword aura as the Immortal Sword flew out from within him. Buzz! In the sky, countless sword lights shed, enveloping the army of upper-tier god puppets and descending like a roaring storm. His ultimate move, Return of Ten Thousand Swords, was unleashed. ng! ng! The sound of fierce collisions echoed through the air as sparks flew, and several puppets were instantly torn apart by the sword light. John was slightly taken aback-his attacks didn''t trigger any damage numbers. These puppets didn''t have traditional health; only by shattering them could they be killed. This meant that his percentage-based damage skills were useless here. Nevertheless, John remained confident that he could ughter these puppets. With his first wave of attacks, he destroyed more than seventy puppets, while the rest were severely damaged, greatly reducing theirbat abilities. Whoosh! With a single thought, John merged his three clones back into his main body, significantly boosting his attributes. His sword aura intensified, and he unleashed another skill, Infinite Sword Array. Swords filled the sky, their sharp shes ringing out as hundreds more puppets were shattered. At this point, the puppet army had reached them. "These things are a real pain!" John muttered, frowning as he unleashed a terrifying surge of power from his body. "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" he roared, his body swelling as he transformed into a towering giant. The energy radiating from him stirred up a fierce wind, sending Cand-Dragon and the others flying backward. Chapter 264: Chapter 264: A Frenzy of Points, Trial Concludes Chapter 264: A Frenzy of Points, Trial Concludes ? Jolyne swallowed hard, looking up at the towering giant that John had be, her voice trembling, "W-What kind of monster is this?" She finally understood why the Sea King had ced such importance on this human. John''s current aura was overwhelming, easily surpassing the peak of upper-tier gods in strength. "Damn, this guy''s power has grown again!" Cand-Dragon stared at the transformed John, his face filled with shock. Thest time they fought, he could barely hold his own against John''s giant form. But now, there was no contest-he wouldn''t stand a chance. Boom! Boom! The ground trembled violently. The tens of thousands of trial puppets crumbled before John like toys, utterly powerless. One by one, the trial puppets were obliterated by John''s attacks. Some of the trial puppets managed to slip past John''s strikes, heading toward the rest of the group. Finally snapping out of their stupor, the othersunched their own attacks. With John taking out the majority of the puppets, they had little trouble dealing with the few that approached them. Easily smashing them to pieces. The trial puppets, being mere constructs, didn''t drop any items, nor could John plunder any stats from them. The only reward was points. But John didn''t mind. He was solely focused on umting points. He periodically unleashed skills to speed up the process. His Heaven and Earth Transformation consumed 10,000 spiritual power and 10,000 demonic energy per second. Even with the 99% reduction from his Wrath of the Gods ability, he was still burning 100 spiritual power and 100 demonic energy per second. His reserves would onlyst him about forty minutes. Finally, before his spiritual power and demonic energy ran outpletely, John had destroyed every single trial puppet. John reverted from his Heaven and Earth Transformation, sweat trickling down his forehead.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The vast space around them was littered with the shattered remains of the trial puppets. Each member of the team had racked up 100,000 points. But John had earned an astonishing 400,000 points. "Wait... it''s over already?" The group stood in stunned silence, unable to process what had just happened. Cand-Dragon nced at Tony, who was still standing there in shock, and asked, "How long did it take?" Tony gulped and, with some hesitation, said, "F-Forty-three minutes..." The group exchanged nces, all equally shocked and amazed. In just over forty minutes, John had in more than 80,000 upper-tier god-level puppets, a feat that was beyond astonishing. At that moment, John''s attention was drawn to the broken remains of the puppets scattered across the ground. Although they didn''t drop any loot, their bodies were made of special materials,parable to low-tier divine artifacts. This was definitely valuable stuff. John smiled with satisfaction and quickly collected all of the remains. The others approached him. Jolyne, still trying to calm herself, said, "Godyer, we''ll allocate all the remaining points to you to help boost your ranking." The others nodded in agreement. John pondered for a moment and then asked, "What if we all try to make it onto the leaderboard together?" The group''s eyes lit up at the idea. Considering John''s killing speed, it seemed entirely possible. With his clones earning four times the points of any single person, John was almost guaranteed to stay in first ce. However, Jolyne shook her head and said, "It''s not that simple. I only have three Universal Orders, and the Shadow n knows about this secret. They''ve likely prepared Universal Orders as well." While John''s speed at killing the puppets might outpace Blood Moon and the others. But the limited number of Universal Orders put them at a disadvantage. The points from the remaining three waves of puppet attacks would all go to John, totaling around 2.4 million points, which should be enough tond him in the top ten. "Universal Orders? I have plenty. We can still split the points evenly," John replied casually. "Really?" Jolyne was surprised, staring at him in disbelief. He nodded and added, "But I''ll need about an hour to recover my spiritual power." In the world of Gods, there were no potions or elixirs to quickly restore spiritual power or demonic energy, so they had to rely on their own natural recovery, which was slow. "That''s perfect," Jolyne said confidently. "At this rate, we''ll be able to wipe out a wave of trial puppets every two hours, far faster than the Shadow n." Since the trial puppets weren''t living beings, the Shadow n''s strange attacks, which were highly effective against living creatures. It wouldn''t give them an advantage here. After an hour, John''s spiritual power and demonic energy were fully restored. Jolyne immediately used a Universal Order to refresh the trial space. Whoosh! Spatial power surged, and once again, 80,000 upper-tier god-level puppets appeared before them. Without a word, John merged with his clones and activated Heaven and Earth Transformation, beginning another round of ughter. Cand-Dragon and the others, no longer as shocked as before, quickly joined the battle, doing their best to assist John in killing as many trial puppets as possible. This time, their speed improved slightly. In just 39 minutes, they had wiped out all the trial puppets. John canceled his Heaven and Earth Transformation, and the group let him rest while they cleaned up the battlefield, collecting the remains of the trial puppets. They repeated the same process-using a Universal Order, ughtering the puppets, resting to recover spiritual power, and then using another Universal Order to refresh the trial space. The routine became mechanical as time passed. Cand-Dragon and the others were visibly worn out. Their mental and physical energy were nearly depleted. Facing upper-tier god-level puppets, they couldn''t afford even the slightest mistake. Despite having an hour to rest between waves, they struggled to recover. Toward the end, their ughter speed slowed down significantly, and it was mostly John handling the battles on his own. Oddly enough, Tony had the easiest time. With his weaker strength, any hit from the puppets would be fatal. So he stayed in the back and helped clean up the battlefield. John lost track of how many waves of trial puppets they had faced, but he vaguely recalled using the Universal Order over ny times. [The second trial has concluded, trial spaces are closing...] The announcement finally came, and everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. The trial puppet that John had been fighting vanished into thin air, and unable to keep going any longer, he deactivated his Heaven and Earth Transformation. Buzz! With a ripple of spatial power, Tony didn''t even have time to finish cleaning the battlefield before being teleported out. Outside, many powerful beings had already gathered. From time to time, someone would be expelled from a trial space, copsing weakly onto the ground with pale faces, clearly exhausted. John and his group didn''t look much better, having pushed themselves to their limits with sheer willpower. "Heh, you lot think you canpete for the leaderboard?" A mocking voice called out from the side. It was Blood Moon, sneering at them. He recognized that they had been teleported from the upper-tier gods trial space and quickly figured out their intentions. "What''s the matter? Seven days weren''t enough for you to kill all the trial puppets? Got kicked out before you could finish?" He grinned arrogantly and continued, "Remember this, kid- Shadow n is the strongest! Anyone who dares challenge the Shadow n will die!" He shouted thest words, his face twisted in fury, startling a few nearby onlookers. John frowned but didn''t respond. He and Jolyne were too tired to bother dealing with this loudmouthed fool. [Points have been tallied. The leaderboard will now be disyed.] [157th ce: Toyo of the Evil Demon Race, 8,831 points, eliminated.] A massive screen appeared in the sky, showing the rankings from the bottom up. "No..." A mid-tier god from the Evil Demon Race, Toyo, let out a horrified cry, but it was cut short as his body exploded into a cloud of blood mist, erased from existence. A few onlookers nearby, witnessing the scene, copsed to the ground, their faces pale and their bodies trembling uncontrobly. Clearly, these unfortunate souls hadn''t umted enough points either. [156th ce: Magtis of the Barbarians, 8,875 points, eliminated.] Boom! Another explosion of blood mist as yet another warrior was erased from existence. The leaderboard kept updating. Not until the 133rd spot did the scores finally break 10,000. This time, 24 individuals were wiped out at once. "Human, I don''t know whether to call you lucky or unfortunate, but you''ll soon fall into my hands," Blood Moon taunted John again, sneering as the points continued to be revealed. "Will you shut the hell up, already!" a sudden angry shout startled everyone around. John was equally shocked-it was Tony who had shouted. He couldn''t help but wonder, when did the old man get so feisty? Blood Moon stood frozen, utterly stunned. It took him a few moments to process that a lowly demigod had dared to insult him. "You... you dare to insult me?" He red at Tony, feeling utterly humiliated. It was one thing for John and Jolyne to insult him-John was as strong as an upper-tier god at his peak, and Jolyne herself was an upper-tier god. But Tony? He was just a demigod, someone Blood Moon normally wouldn''t even bother to look at. "Master, please calm down," one of the Shadow n warriors hurriedly reminded Blood Moon, fearing he would lose control again. But Tony wasn''t done. "Of course I''m insulting you. Look at you, with your sharp chin and rat-like face. You''re a disgrace! If I were you, I''d crawl back into my mother''s womb and get a proper remake so I wouldn''t embarrass myself like this." Jolyne added the perfect jab, "He doesn''t have a mother." "I''ll kill you all, I swear!" Blood Moon roared, lunging to attack. But the Shadow n warriors were ready. They quickly tackled him to the ground before he could make a move. John ignored Blood Moon''s outburst and turned to Tony, surprised. "Old man, where did you learn to talk like that?" Cough, cough. Tony cleared his throat, suddenly adopting his usual gentle demeanor again. "A momentarypse, forgive me." Cand-Dragon, who was clearly embarrassed by Tony''s behavior, took a step back, trying to distance himself. "This is just embarrassing." But Tony wasn''t fazed. "Master, you should try it too. There''s something incredibly satisfying about pissing this guy off-watching him froth at the mouth, wanting to attack but completely helpless." Thud! Blood Moon, already enraged, coughed up blood again and fainted on the spot. "Master, wake up!" The Shadow n warriors panicked, scrambling to revive him. Nine-Tails, watching the scene unfold, smiled, a deep sense of satisfaction washing over her as though years of being tormented by the Shadow n had finally been lifted. She looked at Tony and said, "That does look fun. You''ll have to teach me how to do it." Cand-Dragon, unable to take it any longer, scolded them, "You need to be careful. In the final round of the trial,bat is allowed. If you provoke them too much, I won''t be able to protect you." Tony was about to retort, but the warning silenced him immediately. The leaderboard continued shing, now reaching the top thirty. Nearly all of the top fifty ranks were held by Shadow n warriors. [11th ce: Beelzebub of the Demon Race, 230,000 points.] Beelzebub looked at his ranking and sighed. He hadn''t made it into the top ten. Only the top ten received additional rewards. "Master, wake up! The top ten are about to be announced," one of the Shadow n warriors said, finally managing to wake Blood Moon. Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Horror Points, Exchanging Resources Chapter 265: Horror Points, Exchanging Resources ? Blood Moon opened her eyes, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and nced coldly at Tony. She asked, "What rank are those guys?" The group was stunned for a moment. One of them hesitantly replied, "My lord, it seems we didn''t see their ranking?" "What?" Blood Moon eximed, "You mean to say those guys made it into the top ten?" The group fell silent, unwilling and unable to believe it. "My lord, maybe we missed their ranking." "Yeah, there''s no way those guys made it into the top ten." Others quickly chimed in. "Useless! You can''t even handle such a small task!" Blood Moon cursed in fury. The group dared not refute her, though internally, they were dissatisfied. You''re not useless, yet you got so worked up by just a few words that you spat blood and fainted? At that moment, the rankings shed again, revealing the tenth ce. [Tenth ce: Angel Race''s Lincoln, Points: 310,000; Reward: One essence of each element- wind, fire, water, and earth.] Everyone looked over at Lincoln from the Angel Race, their gazes filled with envy. "Only tenth?" Lincoln frowned, clearly displeased with the result. "It seems like Godyer, Cand-Dragon, and the others haven''t appeared on the rankings yet. Could they all be ranked higher?" Lincoln nced toward them. He had been keeping an eye on the rankings and hadn''t seen John and the others'' names yet. Like the Shadow n, he didn''t believe those few could make it to the leaderboard. Especially Tony, who was only at the demigod level. At most, he could only earn about 10,000 points as a Lifesaver. "Elemental essences? What are those?" John asked curiously, noticing that Lincoln had received an additional reward. Jolyne exined, "They''re rare treasures. You can only use them if yourprehension of elementalws reaches 100%. They enhance your body''s elementalization, reducing true damage from the corresponding elements. If you reach 100% elementalization, you be immune to all magical and true damage from that element." "Elementalization of the body? Such a bizarre ability!" John was astonished. If he could fully elementalize his body in all elements, wouldn''t he be invincible? The leaderboard continued to sh. [Ninth ce: Shadow n''s God Wind, Points: 1,370,000; Reward: One essence of each element-wind, fire, water, and earth.] When the ninth ce was revealed, the crowd was abuzz. The ninth ce score had surpassed one million, far exceeding Lincoln''s in tenth. It was a massive leap. And as they reached the ninth ce, all the names on the leaderboard belonged to the Shadow n. Blood Moon and the others wore smug expressions, not forgetting to throw mocking nces at John and his group. "The strength of the Shadow n is really something!" Cand-Dragon couldn''t help but exim. He knew that without John''s help, his points would have been simr to Lincoln''s, and it would have been impossible for him to surpass a million. The Shadow n had a strange power, even when facing the lifeless trial puppets, they had a massive advantage. [Fifth ce: Shadow n''s sh Soul, Points: 4,550,000; Reward: Two essences of each element-wind, fire, water, and earth.] Soon, the leaderboard reached the fifth ce. Tony furrowed his brows in confusion and asked, "My lord, what''s going on? Why aren''t we on the board?" The rankings had already reached the fifth ce, yet the five of them had all scored over ten million points, and John had even reached over forty million. They should''ve made the leaderboard by now. Cand-Dragon and the others were equally puzzled. Could there be an error in The Secret Area''s scoring rules? "Hmph, you guys think you deserve to be on the leaderboard? Know your ce!" Blood Moon sneered from the side, ridiculing them upon hearing Tony''s words. At that moment, the leaderboard disyed the third ce. Blood Moon''s smile froze instantly. [Third ce: Shadow n''s Blood Moon, Points: 11,000,000; Reward: Two essences of each element-wind, fire, water, and earth.] Everyone was shocked. Blood Moon had entered the upper-tier gods'' puppet trial space, where each upper-tier god puppet killed earned 10,000 points. Eleven million points-this meant he had killed at least 1,100 upper-tier god puppets. Even for a team of ten, this result was impressive. "Impossible!" Blood Moon couldn''t ept it. He had paid a heavy price to break ten million points. In tens of thousands of years, he had opened nearly a hundred final Secret Areas in different worlds, and only one other person had ever reached ten million points besides him. With a score like this, he was sure he''d be first ce, but now, he was only third. This meant two people had scored far higher than him. Blood Moon couldn''t ept it. He couldn''t help but look at John. Could this human''s score really be higher than his? At that moment, the leaderboard refreshed again, and four names appeared. [Second ce: Beast n''s Cand-Dragon, Points: 11,250,000; Reward: Five essences of each element-wind, fire, water, and earth.] [Second ce: Beast n''s Nine-Tails, Points: 11,250,000; Reward: Five essences of each element-wind, fire, water, and earth.] [Second ce: Beast n''s Tony, Points: 11,250,000; Reward: Five essences of each element -wind, fire, water, and earth.] [Second ce: Feather Race''s Jolyne, Points: 11,250,000; Reward: Five essences of each element-wind, fire, water, and earth.] Just as expected! John saw the rankings and wasn''t surprised. Cand-Dragon and the others had the same score and were tied for second ce. "Four second ces? 11,250,000 points, and one of them is at the demigod level? How is that even possible?" "When did the Beast n be so strong?" "Wait, one of them isn''t Beast n-Feather Race? What kind of race is that?" The crowd erupted into discussion, unable to believe their eyes. "Feather Race? You''re one of the Feather Race?" Blood Moon eximed, staring at Jolyne, a flicker of dread crossing his eyes. "Impossible! The Feather Race was wiped out, not a single one survived. You can''t be from the Feather Race," he swallowed hard, unwilling to ept the truth. The Feather Race specialized in soul magic, their power was terrifying. Their soul force was so strong it could even obliterate the Hunters'' brood mothers, making them a natural counter to the Shadow n. Fearful of the Feather Race''s abilities, they had ughtered all of the Feather Race''s warriors andpletely destroyed their. There shouldn''t be any survivors left. "Hmph!" Jolyne snorted coldly, her aura radiating deadly intent as she said icily, "Shadow n, you''re all going to die!" Blood Moon frowned, sensing something was off. He snapped angrily, "What is your connection with the Sea King?" "You''ll find out soon enough," Jolyne replied, unwilling to borate. "Damn it, you''ve been plotting against me all along!" Blood Moon cursed. He had entrusted his Hunters'' brood mother to the Sea King. If the Sea King had killed his brood mother, and with the Feather Race''s bizarre soul attacks, it was very possible they could all perish here. He gritted his teeth and threatened, "If we fall here, the Lord God won''t spare you or the Sea n!" Jolyne only gave him a cold nce,pletely ignoring him. Feather Race? John looked at the information on the leaderboard. This was his first time hearing about this race, so he nced curiously at Cand-Dragon and Nine-Tails. Both of them shook their heads, equally confused. They had never heard of this race either. At that moment, the points leaderboard shed again, revealing the first ce¡ªand it was disyed in gold. [First ce: The Immortals (Human) Godyer, Points: 45,000,000; Reward: Ten essences of each element-wind, fire, water, and earth.] The crowd erupted once more. "Forty-five million? How is that possible?" "The Immortals? I remember Godyer teamed up with the Beast n. Could it be that they helped him rack up so many points?" "It''s possible. Especially that Feather Race warrior-we''ve never even heard of them before." "There''s actually someone more terrifying than the Shadow n..." Everyone was whispering among themselves, assuming that John''s sky-high points were entirely thanks to Jolyne. "Impossible!" Blood Moon looked deranged, like a clown having a meltdown, ring furiously at John. The Shadow n members around him were on high alert, worried he might lose control again, ready to subdue him at any moment. The others might not understand the Feather Race''s abilities, but Blood Moon did. The Feather Race''s greatest strength was their soul attacks. Against the lifeless trial puppets, they were likely less effective than other races. "Human, how did you manage this?" He stared coldly at John, demanding answers. He suspected there were deeper secrets hidden within John and hispanions. John couldn''t be bothered to respond to him. At that moment, The Secret Area announcement reappeared. [The Exchange Monument has appeared. You may exchange items freely based on your rank.] [The third trial has begun: Aptitude Test.] [Anyone with an aptitude score below 10,000 in seven days will be eliminated.] The message shed, and the sky rumbled. A massive shadow loomed overhead, and with a deafening crash, a colossal stone monument descended. Shaking the entire ground. "Is this the Exchange Monument?" John wondered, curiously examining the gigantic stone. The surface was covered with dense, unfamiliar inscriptions, unlike anynguage he had ever seen. It seemed to pulse with an enigmatic, otherworldly power. "Godyer, focus on exchanging your points, especially for the Creation Stone!" Jolyne quickly reminded him. "Creation Stone? What''s that?" John asked, confused. Jolyne shook her head. "I don''t know exactly what it does, but once, an Overseer obtained a Creation Stone and experienced a massive boost in power, strong enough to kill a Lord God- level being." "Lord God!?" The group was shocked. A Lord God was a being far more powerful than upper-tier gods, an invincible existence. Could bing an Overseer allow someone to challenge a Lord God? None of them had ever heard of such a thing. John, intrigued, hurried to the monument and reached out to touch it. As expected, a menu of exchangeable items appeared before him. Apocalypse Stone, Soul Essence, Talent Upgrade Stone, Basic Talent Stone, Basic Elemental Spirit Stone, Skill Stones... All were rare cultivation resources, avable for points, but with limited quantities. John quickly found the Creation Stone Jolyne had mentioned. There was only one, and the price was a staggering 10 million points! Aside from him and Cand-Dragon''s group, only Blood Moon would have enough points to afford it. A treasure worth that many points had to be something extraordinary. Without hesitation, John exchanged his points. [You have spent 10 million points and obtained the Creation Stone.] A seven-colored gemstone appeared in his hand. John examined it closely but couldn''t detectN?v(el)B\\jnn any specific properties or feel any energy radiating from the stone. Beside him, Blood Moon watched with a dark, brooding gaze, his thoughts unreadable. John, unbothered, stored the gemstone in his space storage, not wanting to dwell on it. Chapter 266: Chapter 266: Power Boost and Aptitude Test Chapter 266: Power Boost and Aptitude Test ? John continued browsing the exchange shop. He noticed the Apocalypse Stone, priced at 1 million points. This stone allowed the fusion of an additional set of racial treasures. Without hesitation, he selected it for exchange. Next, he saw Soul Essence-ten of them, also priced at 1 million points, the same as the Apocalypse Stone. He exchanged them all, knowing that refining each Soul Essence would increase his Soul Technique by 10,000 points. Ten Soul Essences would give him 100,000 Soul Technique points. In a sh, he had spent another 11 million points. Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of something that made him exim out loud in disbelief: "A God-level Talent Upgrade Stone!" It was an exceedingly rare item. A stone that could upgrade an SSS-level talent to God-level. Currently, John already possessed three God-level talents: Wrath of the Gods, Undying and Immortal, and One Breath, Three Purities-all of which were his secret weapons. Over time, he had in numerous mid-tier gods and upper-tier gods, obtaining quite a few talent upgrade stones, but most were low-level ones. He checked the price: 10 million points, the same as the mysterious Creation Stone he had just acquired. "Exchange!" Without a second thought, John spent another 10 million points to get the God- level Talent Upgrade Stone. A God-level talent was immensely powerful and definitely worth the investment. In addition to that, there were also 10 High-level Talent Upgrade Stones priced at 1 million points each, 100 Mid-level Talent Upgrade Stones priced at 100,000 points each, and 1,000 Low-level Talent Upgrade Stones priced at 10,000 points each. John exchanged all of them. "Hmm, out of points?" He frowned slightly, realizing that his over 40 million points had beenpletely used up.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om There were still 60 Mid-level Talent Upgrade Stones, 1,000 Low-level Talent Upgrade Stones, as well as 1,000 Grade-A Basic Talent Stones, priced at 1,000 points each; 10,000 Basic Elemental Spirit Stones, priced at 100 points each; and 10 million Skill Stones, priced at 10 points each. All these items were highly tempting. "Oh, right. There''s still Cand-Dragon and the others." John calcted their points. With theirbined scores, they could practically clear out the exchange shop. Stepping back from the monument, he allowed the second-ce team to step forward for their turn to exchange. He instructed them, "Exchange everything except for the skill stones. Use any remaining points to buy skill stones afterward." "Got it!" Cand-Dragon and the others'' eyes lit up as they activated the Exchange Monument and began exchanging items. Nearby, a group of powerful beings overheard John''s instructions, and their faces turned grim. There weren''t that many resources to go around. If John and his group took everything, others wouldn''t be able to improve their aptitude, which meant they might not survive the third trial. "Human, don''t go too far!" one of them growled. "Godyer, we''re supposed to be allies. Couldn''t you spare us some of the resources?" one of the gods looked at John, pleading. "And us, too..." More voices joined in, asking to cooperate. John scoffed, a cold smirk forming on his face. Earlier, when he had suggested an alliance, no one paid him any attention. Now, with their lives on the line, they shamelessly begged for help. John responded coolly, "If you want cultivation resources, fine. Exchange for skill stones. But at double the Exchange Monument''s price." It just so happened that the Grade-A Basic Talent Stones, Low-level Talent Upgrade Stones, and Basic Elemental Spirit Stones weren''t of much use to him, so he could trade them for skill stones. "Double? That''s outrageous!" the crowd protested in frustration. "Take it or leave it. No one''s forcing you," John shrugged, not caring about theirints. He did need skill stones, but he wasn''t desperate for them. At that moment, Cand-Dragon and the others finished their exchanges and stepped down from the monument. Blood Moon hurried forward, eagerly opening the exchange menu. When he saw what was left, his face turned pale with rage, and he almost coughed up blood again. He had painstakingly umted 10 million points in the second trial, all for the chance to exchange for the Creation Stone. But now, the Creation Stone was gone, and most of the other rare items had been snatched up too. The only thing left was 7.3 million skill stones. Skill stones wouldn''t do much to enhance his strength, but if he didn''t take them, they''d fall into the hands of the otherpetitors. Gritting his teeth, Blood Moon used all his points to exchange for 1.1 million skill stones. The rest of thepetitors had no choice but to do the same, exchanging all their points for the remaining skill stones. Soon, the exchanges wereplete, and about 2.4 million skill stones remained. John felt a bit disappointed. Cand-Dragon and the others handed over all the resources they''d exchanged to John without hesitation, helping him enhance his power. John didn''t refuse. He then turned to the group and asked, "What''s the requirement for passing the aptitude test in this trial?" Cand-Dragon shook his head. It was his first timepeting for a world''s final treasure, so he wasn''t familiar with the rules. Nine-Tails chimed in, "The aptitude test measures potential, not cultivation level. I know that anyone who possesses three or more SSS-level talents can pass." Three SSS-level talents? John rxed. He already had three God-level talents and two SSS-level talents, so passing the trial wouldn''t be a problem for him. "Mastering ultimate skills, forbidden spells, as well as the number of fused treasures, control over elementalws, bloodlines, and Soul Technique mastery can also increase your aptitude score. But the exact criteria aren''t always clear," Jolyne added. She had participated in several final Secret Area trials, and the rules for each test had varied. John nodded, then asked the group, "Will all of you be able to pass this test?" Cand-Dragon, Nine-Tails, and Jolyne all said they would be fine. Tony, however, looked a bit uneasy. "What level is Immortal Art considered? I have two SSS- level talents and one Immortal Art. Will that be enough?" "Immortal Art?" John was surprised. He himself had mastered an Immortal Art, the Nine Heavens Sword, which had elevated hisbat skills. He had learned it through the Immortals'' inheritance. Could it be that Tony had also mastered an Immortal Art? John now understood why Cand-Dragon had brought Tony into The Secret Area. Immortal Art was incredibly powerful. He didn''t know which one Tony had mastered, but in critical moments, it could indeed change the course of a battle. Jolyne looked puzzled. She hadn''t heard of Immortal Art before, likely because it was rted to The Immortals. She spoke up, "The rules for each test change slightly every time. With just two SSS-level talents, there''s still some risk." John immediately took out several talent stones and talent upgrade stones, saying, "See anything you can use? Pick one and upgrade your talent to SSS-level." He was confident that he could help hispanions pass the test. And if worst came to worst, he still had the Talent Copy Stone, which could duplicate an SSS-level talent. "I''ll just need one High-level Talent Upgrade Stone," Tony said, selecting one of the stones. Tony had an SS-level Wrath of Magic talent, which boosted magic critical hits. Once upgraded to SSS-level, he was certain he could pass the test. John nodded, then looked at Cand-Dragon and the others, saying, "If there are any resources you need, feel free to take them." "I don''t need anything," they shook their heads. Their goal was simply to survive the test and help John secure the final treasure. Jolyne added, "Godyer, you should also use these seven days to focus on your own cultivation. Enhancing your aptitude as much as possible will benefit you-and the ranking wille with extra rewards too." "Agreed," John nodded and decided to retreat for secluded cultivation. He had several High-level Talent Upgrade Stones now, so he could upgrade several of his talents to SSS-level. As for the God-level Talent Stone, he didn''t feel the need to use it just yet. Most of his SSS-level talents weren''t particrly game-changing enough to warrant upgrading them to God-level. Perhaps Lifesaver Talent would be a good choice, but since he already had the Undying and Immortal Talent, it felt unnecessary to use the stone. John consumed five High-level Talent Upgrade Stones, upgrading his Spell Combo Talent, Physical Damage Talent, Magical Damage Talent, Dual Mastery Talent, and Spatial Awareness Talent to SSS-level. His power surged significantly once again. After that, he retreated for deeper cultivation, using Hellfire to refine and fuse the Soul Essence to enhance his Soul Technique. Before he began his cultivation, he handed over several items he didn''t need¡ªsuch as talent stones, talent upgrade stones, and Basic Elemental Spirit Stones-to Cand-Dragon. They could use them for themselves or trade with other races for skill stones, at the standard rate of double the exchange price. John didn''t care if others cursed him for it. In life-and-death situations, there would certainly be those desperate enough to trade. The seven days passed quickly. John sessfully refined all ten Soul Essences, increasing his Soul Technique by 100,000 points, bringing it to a total of 370,000 points! He could clearly feel that his soul strength had surpassed Cand-Dragon and Nine-Tails. What shocked him, however, was that he still couldn''t sense Jolyne''s Soul Technique. Her Soul Technique was still far beyond his own. John couldn''t help but feel curious about what kind of existence Jolyne''s Feather Race really was. [The third trial has begun. Adventurers whose names appear, touch the monument to test your aptitude.] [The top ten adventurers with the highest aptitude scores will receive additional rewards.] [Evil Demon Race, Jone.] The prompt shed across the sky, and everyone stopped their cultivation, turning to look at the Evil Demon Race. three members of the Evil Demon Race remained. One upper-tier g -level warrior nervously stepped forward, took a deep breath, and slowly reached out to touch the monument. Buzz! Light shed. [Aptitude insufficient-under 10,000. Termination.] Boom! With a loud explosion, the figure of Jone instantly turned into a cloud of blood mist, completely obliterated. The crowd was filled with fear and anxiety. After all, that was an upper-tier gods warrior who had just been wiped out in an instant. John, however, let out a quiet sigh of relief. The monument only checked if you passed or failed the aptitude test, without revealing specific talents or other personal attributes. He had too many secrets he wanted to keep hidden. [Skyline Continent Human Race, Thouriver.] The monument disyed another name. Everyone turned to look at the human from Skyline Continent. An elderly man swallowed nervously but tried to maintain a calm facade as he walked forward. He was only a mid-tier gods-level warrior. Several people shook their heads, looking at him with pity. In the Skyline Continent, a mid-tier gods warrior would be considered a top-level powerhouse, but here, even upper-tier gods could be casually wiped out like ants, let alone a mid-tier god. No one had high hopes for Thouriver. He approached the monument, despair evident in his eyes, and closed them tightly as he shakily touched the stone. [Thouriver, aptitude test passed.] The prompt shed, and Thouriver had sessfully passed the trial. "I''m still alive?" The old man was in disbelief before a wild grin spread across his face. "Haha! I passed the test!" [Beast n, Tony.] At that moment, Tony''s name appeared on the monument. Chapter 267: Chapter 267: Talent Ranking, Sky Ladder Chapter 267: Talent Ranking, Sky Ladder ? N?v(el)B\\jnn "Is it my turn already?" Tony felt a bit anxious. Although he had gained three SSS-level talents and improved hisprehension of the Water Element Rule by 2%, he wasn''t entirely confident about passing the trial. "Don''t worry, it''s going to be fine," Cand-Dragon reassured him. Tony nodded and, under everyone''s gaze, walked toward the Heavenly Stele. "Hmph, a demigod dares topete with us for the treasure? You''re as good as dead!" A few Shadow n elites seized the opportunity to taunt with smug expressions. Tony ignored them, took a deep breath, and reached out to touch the Heavenly Stele. John and the others watched the stele nervously. ording to Nine-Tails, Tony, with his three SSS-level talents, should be able to pass the trial. But his cultivation was only at the demigod level, and his power wasn''t as monstrous as John''s, so they weren''t entirely sure. Buzz! The Heavenly Stele lit up, and a message appeared. [Tony, Passed the Trial] John and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Tony was also overjoyed as he stepped away from the stele. "Hmph, you got lucky this time. Old man, let''s see if you make it to the final round!" Blood Moon red at Tony, making a throat-slitting gesture as he coldly threatened him. "Don''t worry, your grandpa''s got this!" Tony smirked, unafraid. Then he added, "Wait, Lao- Tzu doesn''t have unworthy descendants like you. Ugh, what trash!" With that, he spat in Blood Moon''s direction. The insult wasn''t physically damaging, but it stung. "Dammit, I swear I''ll tear you to pieces!" Blood Moon raged again, but his fellow Shadow n members, ustomed to his temper, quickly pinned him to the ground. The testing continued. One after another, people stepped forward to test their talents. Some were killed instantly, turning into nothing but a cloud of blood. For every five or six participants, there was always one unlucky person who got obliterated. The odds were quite high. It was important to note that those who had made it this far, entering the final stage of the Secret Area, were all god-level experts with extraordinary talent. The conditions for the Heavenly Stele''s talent assessment were incredibly strict. Among the seventy-something remaining Shadow n elites, only three were killed. Clearly, their talent was far superior to that of other races. John knew that with the Talent Copy Stone, the remaining Shadow n members had likely copied a lot of powerful talents. [Shadow n, Blood Moon] The Heavenly Stele shed again, signaling that it was Blood Moon''s turn. Unfazed, Blood Moon shot John and the others a fierce look before stepping up to the stele, cing his hand on it. Buzz! The light from the stele grew even more intense this time, and Blood Moon smoothly passed the test. John was curious about what kind of talent that guy had, but unfortunately, the Heavenly Stele wouldn''t reveal that information. Beside him, Cand-Dragon, Nine-Tails, and Jolyne had all passed the test as well. Especially Jolyne-when she was being tested, the light emitted from the Heavenly Stele was on par with Blood Moon''s. John spected that her talent ranked just below Blood Moon of the Shadow n. One by one, the information on the Heavenly Stele flickered, and everyone nervously stepped forward for their test. The thick stench of blood filled the air around them. Soon, everyone hadpleted their test, leaving only John. [The Immortals (Human), Godyer] The Heavenly Stele disyed his name, cing himst in line. John looked at the shing information, a bit puzzled. He had fused with the treasure of The Immortals, and his race was now listed as The Immortals, so why was there still a note indicating that he was human? Could there be other cultivation races in the vast universe? All the cultivators he had encountered were from Earth, and this was a question no one could answer. He didn''t dwell on it too long. Walking up to the Heavenly Stele, he reached out to touch it. None of the others were worried in the slightest. They had already witnessed John''s immense power, but they were curious whether he would make it onto the ranking list. Buzz! The light from the Heavenly Stele red even brighter than it had during Blood Moon and Jolyne''s tests. [Godyer, Passed the Test] The notification shed, and John wasn''t surprised as he calmly stepped down from the tform. However, the surrounding elites of several major races stared at him with hostile gazes. Especially the Shadow n. [The third trial isplete. The top ten talents will receive additional rewards.] [Rank 10: Beast n Tony, awarded one elemental essence of wind, fire, water, and earth.] The notification flickered, and Tony stood there stunned, while the elites from other races looked on in disbelief. "Impossible! A mere demigod, how could he rank in the top ten?" "Does this guy have some sort of secret?" "I thought the strongest from the Beast n were Jolyne and Cand-Dragon, but it seems none of them are simple." "He''s just a demigod-he shouldn''t cause much of a stir." ... The crowd erupted into murmurs, with many casting unfriendly nces toward Tony. They suspected he was hiding some sort of treasure, and since his cultivation was only at the demigod level, they figured they could easily kill him. Especially the members of the Shadow n- the murderous intent in their eyes was unmistakable. "I actually made the ranking?" Tony was equally shocked, his face full of disbelief. Nine-Tails, curious, asked, "Tony, do you have some kind of secret?" "Secret?" Tony frowned. The only special thing about him was his recentprehension of The Immortals'' inheritance and the Immortal Art he had just learned. He spected that it might be rted to that Immortal Art. The ranking information on the Heavenly Stele continued to sh. [Ninth ce, Shadow n, Blood Butcher, awarded one elemental essence of wind, fire, water, and earth each.] ... The top ten talents were dominated by Shadow n elites. Neither Cand-Dragon, Lincoln from the Angel Race, nor the gods or demon race warriors appeared on the leaderboard. [Third ce, Feather Race, Jolyne, awarded two elemental essences of wind, fire, water, and earth each.] At this point, Jolyne also made it onto the leaderboard, ranking third in talent and receiving an additional reward. [Second ce, Shadow n, Blood Moon; awarded five elemental essences of wind, fire, water, and earth each.] Blood Moon was also ranked, his talent just slightly stronger than Jolyne''s. However, he wasn''t pleased and instead red coldly at John. [First ce, The Immortals (Human), Godyer; awarded ten elemental essences of wind, fire, water, and earth each.] As expected, John imed the top spot, a result everyone had already anticipated. When he was tested, the light emitted by the Heavenly Stele had been the strongest. "Godyer, Jolyne! Both of you are dead!" Blood Moon stared at the two of them, issuing a cold threat. "Master, you might want to hold your tongue," one of the Shadow n elites cautiously reminded him. This guy was both weak and always looking for trouble, ready to snap at the slightest provocation. If not for the rules of The Secret Area, they wouldn''t have bothered to hold Blood Moon back. Blood Moon shot a cold re at the speaker but said nothing more. [The fourth trial begins: Ultimate Challenge-Sky Ladder] The notification shed as the Heavenly Stele transformed, turning into a long staircase that stretched into the clouds, its endpletely out of sight. [Rules: Climb the Sky Ladder within seven days. The top 33 will proceed to the next round. Those ranked below 33 will be eliminated.] The crowd''s faces darkened upon seeing the system rules. There were 109 people left, meaning that 76 would be eliminated in this round. This was particrly troubling for the Shadow n. With 77 members remaining, even if all of them made it into the top 33, 44 of them would still perish. Moreover, the Sky Ladder tested one''s personal limits, not theirbat prowess, so it was impossible for all of them to rank. The casualties would undoubtedly be high. "What''s going on? I remember the Sky Ladder trial required just making it into the top fifty to pass," Nine-Tails asked, puzzled. "It''s because of us," Jolyne exined. "The number of spots avable for the final round is linked to the number of Elemental Essences. The Secret Area on Skyline Continent is likely to generate a total of 100 basic Elemental Essences. During the second trial, we tied for second ce, which gave us an extra 15 essences, so they reduced the avable spots by 15 in this round." "That makes sense now," Nine-Tails said, finally understanding. This trial wouldn''t have any additional rewards; each person who passes will receive one Elemental Essence and proceed to the final round. There were 33 spots remaining, and whenbined with the extra Elemental Essences rewarded in the second and third trials, it added up to exactly 100 basic Elemental Essences. Moreover, the Elemental Essences rewarded to each participant would drop upon their death, regardless of whether they had refined them or not. Cand-Dragon then asked, "What are the exact rules for this trial? Will Tony be able to pass?" "This trial tests one''s limits, including strength, defense, speed, soul power, and more," Jolyne exined the rules, though she wasn''t entirely sure if Tony could make it into the top 33. "Let''s focus on strengthening ourselves first," John said, pulling out a few Basic Talent Stones and talent upgrade stones. Physical Damage Talent Stone, Magical Damage Talent Stone, Defense Talent Stone, Health Talent Stone, Speed Talent Stone... All of them were rated as A-ss. Unfortunately, he had already refined all of his Soul Essences. "Aren''t you going to use these?" Tony asked, feeling touched as he looked at John, hesitating to take the stones. "I don''t need them. Besides, I don''t want to watch you die here. Refine all these Basic Talent Stones and upgrade them to SSS-level. It should give your strength a significant boost," John said, shoving the Talent Stones and talent upgrade stones into Tony''s hands. He continued, "Andter, I''ll copy a Lifesaver talent for you." John never held back when it came to helping those around him. Especially Tony and Ben, who had supported him from the beginning. Even when the Beast n had fallen out with him, Tony had secretly helped him a great deal. "Alright," Tony said, grateful, and stopped refusing the help-it was, after all, a matter of life and death. Soon, he had refined the Basic Talent Stones and upgraded them all to SSS-level. Then, John used a Talent Copy Stone to give Tony the Lifesaver talent. John had wanted to copy his Undying and Immortal talent, but he had already used that talent five times. Three times for himself, and twice more to ensure the safety of Sini and Tracy. He had also copied the Plunder talent for Sini. However, the Undying and Immortal talent had already been upgraded to SSS-level, allowing for five activations a day, with each resurrection granting ten seconds of invincibility. This should be enough to help Tony make it into the top 33. "Hmph, stop wasting your time. Even if you pass this trial, you''re all doomed in the next one!" Blood Moon sneered as he watched John help Tony grow stronger. Chapter 268: Chapter 268: Climbing the Sky Ladder, Enduring Insults Chapter 268: Climbing the Sky Ladder, Enduring Insults ? "Oh, really?" John looked at Blood Moon with a gleam in his eye, an idea forming in his mind. Pulling the group aside, he said, "I''ve got a n, though it''s not exactly honorable. Our biggestpetition is definitely the Shadow n. When you''re near any of them, you should intentionally provoke them-mock them, rile them up." "Is that really necessary?" Cand-Dragon and Nine-Tails exchanged uneasy nces, clearly ufortable. They were both upper-tier god-level powerhouses, figures of prestige and dignity. Stooping to the level of shouting insults likemon rabble didn''t sit well with them-it would tarnish their image. John rolled his eyes, "What''s wrong with that? Do you still want Tony to make it out alive or not?" Tony immediately nodded in agreement, saying, "Lord, insulting people is pretty satisfying, especially when it''s those Shadow n scum." Cand-Dragon shot Tony a sharp re. John continued, "If you''re not good at it, let Jolyne teach you." "Me?" Jolyne''s eyes widened in protest. "I''m a girl. Have you ever seen a pretty girl like me throwing around insults?" John looked at Jolyne, whose face was hidden under her loose robes, and couldn''t help but doubt how pretty she really was. "Don''t act like that. You were the one swearing the loudest before," John pointed out. "Hmph!" Jolyne snorted, clearly displeased but not denying it. She then reluctantly began briefing them on the Shadow n''s dirty secrets and shameful deeds. "Those bastards are this despicable?" Cand-Dragon was outraged after hearing her exnations and immediately started cursing them under his breath. "I can''t wait to teach them a lesson!" Nine-Tails'' eyes zed with fury. John reminded them, "Save it for the right moment. Use it when it counts." The group nodded in agreement. Tony, now feeling more confident than ever, said with a grin, "I feel incredibly strong right now." No one paid him much attention as they made their way toward the Sky Ladder. The area was already packed with people, all murmuring anxiously, wary of any hidden dangers. "It''s just stairs! Step aside and watch me." A mid-tier god from Skyline Continent boldly stepped toward the stairs. Boom! The moment he took a step forward, he copsed to his knees, feeling a crushing pressure that squeezed his internal organs. "Hmph, ignorant fool," Blood Moon sneered as he casually walked past the struggling god and ascended the Sky Ladder with ease. The other Shadow n elites followed suit, climbing thedder with an air of indifference. Not to be outdone, the elites of other races began making their way up the stairs as well. John, with steadyposure, also stepped forward, setting foot on the Sky Ladder. "Hm?" John frowned as he felt a strong force pressing down on his body. Fortunately, this pressure wasn''t much for him, and he could easily withstand it. He quickly picked up his pace, soon catching up to the Shadow n elites. Cand-Dragon and the others also stepped onto the Sky Ladder. The pressure hit them, but it didn''t affect these upper-tier gods at their peak much. John nced back at Tony and reminded him, "If it gets tough, reveal your trump card. Whatever it takes, make sure you get into the top 33." "Don''t worry, Lord, I''ve got this," Tony replied confidently as he stepped onto the stairs. "Hmph, fool," a Shadow n elite nearby sneered at him. Tony couldn''t be bothered to argue with the guy. Instead, he quickened his pace, moving ahead of the Shadow n warrior. Then, with his back to him, Tony stuck out his rear. Pfffft... A long, drawn-out sound echoed through the air. Everyone nearby froze, staring at Tony in disbelief. Did he... just fart? And in front of everyone? Was there truly someone this shameless in the world? Tony remained unfazed, looking around and saying, "What? You guys never fart?" "You bastard! I''ll kill you!" The Shadow n warrior, his hair ruffled by the wind, was furious. He had never suffered such humiliation in his life. Enraged, heunched an attack at Tony. Boom! Before he could even touch Tony, the warrior was sted into a cloud of blood and mist. "Tch, so much for self-control," Tony scoffed, looking smug.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Nine-Tails couldn''t help butment, "Cand-Dragon, is this how the Beast n acts these days?" "No, he''s not one of us. I don''t know this guy!" Cand-Dragon was clearly ufortable, especially with the odd looks he was getting from those around him. He sped up, quickly distancing himself from the scene. Nine-Tails, Jolyne, and the others followed suit, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and Tony. Godyer must''ve been a bad influence. Beast n aren''t like this! Cand-Dragon muttered to himself The others didn''t dwell on the incident either. Surviving the trial was their top priority now. The rest of the Shadow n red at Tony with murderous intent, itching to tear him apart. "Calm down. Let''s focus on passing the trial first," one of them reminded the group, and they reluctantly suppressed their anger, continuing the climb. "Boring," Tony muttered, disappointed. They were still at the lower section of thedder, and the pressure wasn''t enough to concern him. He wasn''t in a hurry to start verbally assaulting the Shadow n warriors yet. However, he kept close behind them, ready to provoke them the moment he hit his limit. ... Meanwhile, John had already made it to the front of the group, following closely behind Blood Moon, pacing himself steadily. Behind John were the Shadow n members, Cand-Dragon, Lincoln, Beelzebub, Nine-Tails, and Jolyne. These individuals were the strongest representatives of their respective races, aside from the Shadow n''s elites. As Cand-Dragon climbed the stairs, he kept an eye on Tony, mentally counting how many people were ahead of him. If the number exceeded thirty-three, his n was simple: provoke the Shadow n warriors. Luckily, Tony''s defense was remarkable. Though his cultivation was at the demigod level, he wasn''t much weaker than the Shadow n elites. He wasn''t falling behind; instead, he maintained a solid mid-position in the group. But as they climbed higher, the pressure mounted, and Tony was nearing his limit. "Should I use Immortal Art?" he thought to himself but quickly dismissed the idea. The Immortal Golden Body was powerful, but it consumed too much of his energy, making it not worth the cost right now. His eyes locked onto one of the Shadow n warriors ahead of him. The guy seemed calm, clearly not yet at his limit. "Hey, buddy," Tony called out, his voice cheerful as he greeted the man. "What do you want?" the warrior red at Tony, his expression wary, his tone hostile. Tony pressed on, "I heard your n used to serve a lot of powerful races. Ever been apdog for the Beast n?" "Watch your mouth!" The man snapped, anger ring, though he kept hisposure and didn''t strike. "Tch," Tony scoffed, continuing, "Is that what your old masters taught you? How about you kneel down and bark a couple of times for me?" The Shadow n warrior took a deep breath, closing his eyes, and chose to ignore Tony, quickening his pace up the stairs. But Tony wasn''t done. "Oh, so you can take it, huh? I wonder, is your wife this patient when she''s in someone else''s bed? I heard the Shadow n traded women for their status. Did your wife get passed around too?" "You bastard, die!" The man finally snapped. He was younger and hadn''t lived through the Shadow n''s shameful history of serving other races, so he didn''t feel the sting of those usations. But his wife had, in fact, been taken by a stronger Shadow n member. Most of the n''s women had been sacrificed to other races, and since they didn''t think highly of other races'' women, his wife had been stolen by an upper-tier god from within the n. Boom! A st of blood mist filled the air as the man was immediately killed by thews of The Secret Area. "Shame," Tony muttered, waving the mist away as he continued his climb. "I get it now! This sly bastard is trying to provoke the Shadow n so they''ll get eliminated, pushing his rank higher," a demon race upper-tier god eximed, realizing Tony''s strategy. The others had a moment of rity as well, quickly starting to imitate him. They all feared the Shadow n, but failing to make it into the top thirty-three meant certain death anyway. One warrior turned to a Shadow n elite ahead of him and said, "Hey man, why do people keep saying your n has no moms?" They didn''t actually know much about the Shadow n''s history, so they simply mimicked John and Jolyne''s earlier insults, trying to provoke the warriors. "Get lost!" The Shadow n elite cursed, anger rising. He knew exactly what the other party was attempting, and he resolved not to take the bait or strike back, no matter what. "Damn, such a filthy mouth. Let me help clean it up for you!" The taunting warrior gritted his teeth, rushed ahead, and, copying Tony, stuck out his rear. But this guy took it a step further-he straight-up pulled his pants down! Pfffft... A muffled sound echoed through the air,nding right in the Shadow n warrior''s face. The stunned elite stared nkly at the pale rear in front of him for three full seconds before he finally snapped, unable to hold back any longer. "You son of a¡ªI''m going to kill you-" Boom! His voice was cut off as blood mist filled the air. Everyone witnessing the scene stood in shock, eyes wide. "What the hell did I just witness?" "I feel like my eyes are forever tainted." "If I told anyone about this, there''s no way they''d believe it." "Pulling down his pants to fart-what a legend!" "Shouldn''t we be more mindful of our status? We''re gods, don''t we have any dignity?" "Who cares about dignity? Isn''t survival more important?" "Move aside, that next guy''s mine!" ... The crowd buzzed with conversation, and rather than feeling ashamed, many of them seemed almost proud of the ridiculous spectacle unfolding before them. Warriors from various races had gonepletely mad,ing up with increasingly bizarre ways to humiliate the Shadow n. The air was filled with constant booming sounds and clouds of blood mist, drawing the attention of John and Blood Moon at the top of thedder. John had been steadily trailing just behind Blood Moon. Seeing the chaos below, John called out, "Hey, Blood Moon, looks like your Shadow n is putting on quite the fireworks disy down there. Want to go check it out?" "Despicable! Shameless!" Blood Moon spat, his face red with fury. His exceptional hearing had caught every detail of what was happening below, and it enraged him beyond words. "Hmph, you''re nothingpared to your n''s dirty history," John taunted, adding casually, "I heard your Shadow n had a pretty sad past-serving countless races. Did you ever y servant yourself?" "You bastard. You won''t be gloating for long," Blood Moon growled, fully aware of John''s attempts to provoke him. Without a word, he cut off all his senses, shutting out any external distractions. "Damn," John cursed under his breath. He hadn''t expected Blood Moon to be able to block him out like that. There was no way John was going to stoop as low as Tony by farting in Blood Moon''s face. That kind of shameless tactic just wasn''t in him. It seemed his n to force Blood Moon into action had failed. Sighing, John resigned himself to continuing to follow closely behind him. Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Ultimate Challenge, End of the Sky Ladder Chapter 269: Ultimate Challenge, End of the Sky Ladder ? John followed Blood Moon, having already climbed thousands of steps. The others were far behind, barely visible in the distance. Ahead of them stretched the endless staircase, reaching straight into the clouds with no end in sight. ording to Jolyne, the Sky Ladder was said to be infinite, as no one had ever made it to the very top. At this point, even Blood Moon was struggling. The immense pressure weighed down on him, sweat continuously dripping from his forehead. With each step he took, he had to pause to catch his breath before moving on. The strength of the Shadow ny in their unpredictable and bizarre attack methods, but their raw physical endurance wasn''t as impressive. John, on the other hand, lookedpletely at ease, walking up the steps as if taking a casual stroll, showing no signs of reaching his limit. He thought about mocking Blood Moon, but the guy had already sealed off all his senses, making it pointless. With a casual step, John moved ahead of Blood Moon. He waved a friendly gesture toward Blood Moon. But it was futile-Blood Moon, with his senses cut off, neither saw nor heard him. "Hmph, useless!" John muttered in frustration. He left Blood Moon behind, focusing on the seemingly endless staircase ahead. Soon, he had put significant distance between himself and Blood Moon, and the others were no longer even visible behind him. But as he climbed higher, the pressure continued to mount. It felt like his internal organs were on the verge of being crushed. John had reached above the clouds, having climbed tens of thousands of steps, yet the staircase still stretched endlessly into the sky, with no end in sight. "I''m going to find out just how far thisdder goes," John muttered, determination filling his eyes. His battle spirit ignited, and he pressed on, step by step, each one deliberate and heavy. Boom! With each step he took, it felt like he was bearing the weight of a mountain. His face contorted in pain, his insides twisting under the immense pressure. By now, John had taken the lead, and Blood Moon was nowhere to be seen. But his goal wasn''t just to finish first in the Sky Ladder trial-he wanted to discover whaty at the top of this seemingly infinite staircase. He refused to believe that there was no end. Cough! As he took another step, John couldn''t hold back a cough, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Gritting his teeth, he lifted his leg again and mmed it down onto the next step, his chest heaving withbored breaths. The pressure here was tens of thousands of times greater than outside, pushing him to the edge of his endurance. He felt like if he kept going, his body might just explode from the crushing force. Struggling to stand upright, John looked up at the endless stairs above, taking a deep breath as a massive aura surged around him. "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" he roared, as a powerful wind whipped around him, transforming him into a towering giant. His massive form blotted out the sky, but even from this vantage point, he still couldn''t see the end of thedder. "Keep going!" With his attributes amplified a hundredfold by the Heaven and Earth Transformation, the pressure was greatly reduced, allowing John to continue his climb. Boom! With a thunderous roar, John leaped forward, crossing hundreds of steps in a single bound. His speed was astonishing, but the pressure also multiplied with each step. Rumble...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Suddenly, a terrifying surge of power enveloped him. It was the purest form of the four elemental forces-wind, fire, water, and earth-all crashing into John''s massive form, instantly crushing his body into nothingness. [You have been killed by elemental source power. The Blessed Ring has activated.] A sh of light indicated his resurrection, bringing him back in his Heaven and Earth Transformation form. Cough! John spat out a mouthful of blood, only to be torn apart by the elemental forces once again. [You have been killed by elemental source power. Lifesaver talent has activated...] Resurrected yet again, this time with ten seconds of invincibility, he remained unharmed by the deadly elemental forces. "There''s hope!" His eyes gleamed with determination as he endured the overwhelming pressure, lifting his foot to surge up the steps with renewed speed. Boom! Boom! Thunderous roars echoed as waves of elemental source power swirled around him, relentless and unyielding. Once the ten seconds of invincibility ended, he was killed once more. The second activation of his Lifesaver talent gave him another ten seconds of invulnerability. Roar... A majestic dragon''s roar reverberated through the sky as John transformed into a divine dragon, still in his Heaven and Earth Transformation state. Unfortunately, flight was forbidden on the Sky Ladder. Even in his dragon form, sprawling across the steps, his massive body seemed insignificant against the endless staircase. Whoosh! Using all four limbs, John Scrambled up thedder with increasing speed, his pace elerating as he climbed. Ten seconds passed, and as expected, he was annihted once more. The Lifesaver talent triggered for the third time, enveloping him in golden light, rendering him invincible yet again. John''s enormous dragon eyes locked onto the distant peak of the Sky Ladder, burning with relentless determination. His speed surged even further. Boom! With each step, the dragon crossed hundreds of steps at a time. But as the invincibility faded, the elemental forces became even more violent. Once again, he was instantly obliterated. The Lifesaver talent triggered for the fourth time. "Faster!" John growled through gritted teeth, feeling the golden light around him quivering. It seemed that even the elemental source power could challenge the limits of his invincibility. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself, climbing even faster. Boom! Blood sprayed as his body was torn apart, triggering the Lifesaver talent for the fifth time. John''s expression remained calm as he sped up the steps of the Sky Ladder. This was his final use of the Lifesaver talent. If he were killed again, there would be no more invincibility to save him. In just fifty seconds of invulnerability, he had managed to climb hundreds of thousands of steps. Boom! Blood mist filled the air as he was obliterated once again. [You have been killed by elemental source power. Undying and Immortal talent activated.] [You have been killed by elemental source power. Undying and Immortal talent activated.] ... The notifications shed continuously. Under the terrifying pressure surrounding him, John was struck down mere seconds after each resurrection. His body and soul were taking heavy damage. The challenge of the Sky Ladder meant that death would result in permanent destruction. At this rate, he knew he would soon meet his end. "Is that... the end?" As John resurrected once more, he caught a faint glimpse of what looked like the top of thedder-just ahead of him, not too far away. "Damn it, I''m going for it!" He gritted his teeth, determined to press on despite the crushing odds. With each resurrection, he had roughly half a second before he was killed again. He had to use that fleeting moment to continue his climb. John was determined to see whaty at the top of thedder. And he was gambling that his Undying and Immortal talent had enough resurrections left to get him there. Each time he came back to life, he could take only a few steps before being overwhelmed again, all while enduring immense pressure. Boom... boom... Blood mist swirled around him as he climbed, his body battered and broken. John, still in his dragon form, struggled to ascend. Step by step, he edged closer to the top of the Sky Ladder. But soon, his spiritual power and energy werepletely depleted. He could no longer sustain his Heaven and Earth Transformation or his dragon form, reverting back to his human body. Cough! He spat out another mouthful of blood before being killed once again. The Undying and Immortal talent triggered, bringing him back to life. But the crushing pressure was so intense that he couldn''t even move his legs. "No! I have to keep going!" John growled through gritted teeth. The end of thedder was so close, he couldn''t give up now. [You have been killed by elemental source power. Undying and Immortal talent activated.] ... The cycle of death and resurrection repeated, each time inflicting more damage to his soul. Deep within his soul, the Crimson Karma Lotus manifested, doing its best to protect him from further harm. Even so, the constant deaths and resurrections were taking a heavy toll on his spirit, causing greater injury with each attempt. "I can do this!" John refused to give in. Almost crawling now, he wed his way up the Sky Ladder, using both his hands and feet to drag himself forward. With each resurrection, he could only move about half a step before the elemental forces struck him down again. Even so, John continued inching closer to the end of the Sky Ladder. 100 meters. 90 meters. 50 meters. 10 meters. He had no idea how many times he had resurrected; it felt like an eternity had passed. Now, the end of the Sky Ladder was within reach. But the pressure surrounding him was so intense that it felt like he was being crushed t against the ground. He couldn''t even move a single finger. Those final ten meters seemed like an insurmountable distance-a gap as vast as the heavens and earth. Even worse, his soul was severely wounded. His consciousness was growing faint. If this continued, he feared he would truly die here. "Let''s go for broke!" John gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay conscious. With the few hundred points of spiritual power and energy he had barely recovered, he once again activated Heaven and Earth Transformation and shifted into his dragon form. Roar! A massive dragon''s roar echoed through the air, filled with defiance and indomitable fighting spirit. Seizing the brief moments between his resurrections, John charged recklessly toward the end of the Sky Ladder. Boom! The entire staircase seemed to tremble under the force of his strides. His colossal dragon body took one final step, crossing the ten meters, only to be obliterated again by the overwhelming elemental power, resurrected again in the process. But as his body fell, it finallynded at the very top of the Sky Ladder. Buzz! A sh of light, and John''s form vanished. He reappeared in a vast, empty space. Dark. Infinite. There was no light to be seen, no sound to be heard. The space was utterly void of anything. Everything around him felt so unreal. Even his own existence seemed questionable, as if he were merely a shadow of himself. "Am I... dead?" he wondered aloud, touching his body. Thankfully, he could still feel his physical form. "But what is this ce? How do I get out?" He swallowed hard, trying to steady himself. He couldn''t feel his strength, as if thews of this ce were entirely different. It felt like he was floating in space, without any sense of grounding or movement. This sensation was far worse than the endless cycle of death and resurrection on the Sky Ladder. "I have to get out of here!" John inhaled deeply, forcing himself to calm down. He sat cross- legged in the void, focusing inward. This strange space felt devoid of all existence, even time seemed to havee to a halt. He felt as if he were on the verge of a breakdown, fighting the overwhelming urge to end it all and escape the torment. ... Time passed-or perhaps it didn''t, as there was no way to tell in this void-until finally, John found a sense of peace. The world around him seemed to shift. The endless, empty space began to transform, like a massive egg encasing him. He could now feel the energy in this space. It was empty, elusive, but ancient, exuding a sense of eternity. It felt as though this was the true end of the world. What John didn''t notice was that the Creation Stone, which he had exchanged for at the Heavenly Stele, floated out on its own, emitting a soft glow that enveloped him. But even in this light, he could still see and feel nothing. Except for that one thing-the elusive, ancient force. As if it were the source of everything. Chapter 270: Chapter 270: The Sky Ladder Test Concludes, John Vanishes Chapter 270: The Sky Ladder Test Concludes, John Vanishes ? In a state of semi-consciousness, John vaguely saw a figure appear within the giant egg, wielding a massive axe, fiercely splitting it open. The figure then stood tall, raising the heavens with one hand and stomping the earth with the other. His body continued to grow as the sky and earth separated, and everything around became clear and bright. John jolted awake, his eyes snapping open. Yet, his surroundings remained shrouded in darkness he could neither see nor feel anything. It was as if everything that had just transpired was nothing more than an incredibly vivid dream. "Was that Creator creating heaven and earth?" he muttered to himself. The scene he had witnessed perfectly mirrored the legendary myth of Creator''s creation of the world. He felt a subtle understanding stirring within him, yet it remained elusive, just beyond his grasp. "Keep going!" he urged himself, once again immersing his mind in contemtion, trying to grasp the fleeting insights. ... On the Sky Ladder in the Secret Area of Skyline Continent. Curses and insults filled the air, apanied by the rumbling sounds of explosions. These were the sounds of the Shadow n''s elites being erased by the rules of the Secret Area. Other races'' elites were also among the casualties. In their desperate attempts to survive, many had resorted to all manner of unscrupulous tactics, ruthlessly cursing and humiliating those ranked ahead of them. Tony watched the scene unfold, clicking his tongue in silent disapproval. Of course, several others had tried to provoke him, but he paid them no mind. Tony was not some natural-born genius. His achievements had been hard-won after years of struggle. Moreover, he had been trapped in the Abyss for over a millennium, a ceparable to hell itself. Surviving there had steeled his heart to be unimaginably resilient. Mere taunts and insults couldn''t faze him. "The time should be almost up," he calcted. His current rank was 35th, but if he wanted to live, he needed to advance at least two more ces. He was in rough shape, covered in blood, and had already climbed over three thousand steps of the Sky Ladder, reaching the limits of his endurance. "My Immortal Golden Body hasn''t been triggered yet, nor has the Lifesaver talent bestowed by the Godyer. Advancing a few more ces won''t be a problem," he murmured to himself, not in any hurry to keep climbing. Instead, he sat down on one of the steps, focusing on recovering his demon power, preparing for a final push. "What''s the matter? Out of strength already? For a demigod to have made it this far is impressive, but it''s still a shame," a mid-tier god from the demon race remarked as he passed by, his tone filled with mock pity. "Hmph!" He snorted coldly, too uninterested to bother responding. On the Sky Ladder, nearly all challengers had reached their limits, and the rankings were bing hard to change. Cand-Dragon held a high rank on thedder, standing alongside Nine-Tails, Lincoln, and Beelzebub. There were also seven strong members from the Shadow n nearby. The Jolyne figure had fallen far behind, but fortunately, they were still within the top thirty- three, so they weren''t in immediate danger. "I wonder what rank Tony is in now?" Cand-Dragon couldn''t spot Tony anywhere, which made him feel uneasy. "Don''t worry," Nine-Tails reassured him, "The Master copied an SSS-tier Lifesaver talent for him. There''s no way he''ll fail to secure a spot in the rankings." Her tone carried a hint of envy. She could sense that John possessed several powerful SSS-tier talents. For a demigod to have such monstrous strength, it was definitely rted to those abilities. Unfortunately, her rtionship with John wasn''t close enough yet for him to share such talents with her. Cand-Dragon nodded, his gaze fixed on the Sky Ladder, where both John and Blood Moon were out of sight. Those two were far stronger than anyone else. He couldn''t help but wonder aloud, "I wonder how far Godyer has climbed by now." Nine-Tails sighed with a hint of regret, "It''s a shame there aren''t any extra rewards for thedder rankings. If there were, the Master would surely collect a ton of elemental essence." "It doesn''t matter," Cand-Dragon said, "The final challenge is the real danger." He already knew the rules of thest stage-an all-out brawl where they would fight to seize the elemental essence. No matter how much essence one gathered in the previous stages, it wouldn''t enhance their power during the battle. And if they died, they''d lose all of their essence. On thedder, Blood Moon had also reached his limit. Unable to climb any higher, he unlocked his sealed senses. "No one else around?" he muttered, scanning the area and seeing no trace of John. A smirk spread across his face. "Hah! A weak human trying topete with me?" He chuckled arrogantly, convinced he had left John far behind. Currently ranked first, and with the test nearly over, he saw no reason to push himself further. [System Notice: Sky Ladder test will conclude in three minutes.] At that moment, the system''s announcement echoed, and the crowd went wild. Especially those ranked below thirty-three-they started surging forward recklessly. "Hey, you motherless brat, climbing like you''re in a hurry to be reborn, huh?" Furious shouts echoed from below, followed by explosions and a mist of blood. Many Shadow n elites were enraged, attacking without any restraint. Some couldn''t withstand the pressure of the Sky Ladder and their bodies exploded under the crushing force. Fortunately, any god-tier being could still resurrect as long as their soul remained intact. However, immortality wasn''t absolute. Once someone died too many times and their soul was damaged, they could still face true death. After hearing the system prompt, Tony went all out, charging forward with everything he had. But before he could take more than two steps, the terrifying pressure of the Sky Ladder killed him instantly. [You have been instantly killed by the Sky Ladder''s pressure. Lifesaver talent triggered: 10 seconds of invincibility granted.] The notification shed as a golden light enveloped Tony''s body. "Huh, this is pretty simr to my Immortal Golden Body. It grants damage immunity," he said, surprised but not panicking. The Lifesaver talent could trigger up to five times, meaning he had fifty seconds of invincibility in total. Tony decided to wait until the final forty seconds before making his final push. If he reached a height he couldn''t maintain, he wouldn''t be able tost long. And by waiting, he wouldn''t need to reveal his Immortal Golden Body skill. With his n set, Tony quietly counted down the time. By now, he had fallen out of the top fifty, with most of the Shadow n elites ahead of him. Several other challengers had hit their limits and were hurling insults at the Shadow n members. Tony frowned, annoyed at how vile their insults were-even worse than his own. As the challenge entered its final minute, everyone became even more frantic. Quickly, only forty seconds remained. Tony knew it was time. He sprinted forward with everything he had. Boom! With a single step, the immense pressure of the Sky Ladder crushed him again. Immediately, the Lifesaver talent triggered, bathing him in golden light and granting him another ten seconds of invincibility. "This is almost too easy," Tony smirked, ignoring the shocked and anxious nces from those around him. With the crushing force weighing on him, he continued climbing quickly. He passed the 50th rank. Then the 45th. 40th. 35th... But as he climbed higher, the pressure from the Sky Ladder grew exponentially stronger. Even with the invincibility from his Lifesaver talent, his progress slowed significantly. "Just a little more!" he muttered, calcting his rank. He had reached 34th ce.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om One more person, and he''d secure his survival. However, to be safe, Tony decided to push ahead at least two more spots. "You Beast n demigod, you''re too weak for this. Just give up already. You''ll die soon enough anyway," a Shadow n elite ahead of him shouted, fear evident in his voice as he tried to rattle Tony. Tony didn''t bother to respond. He steadily overtook the man and, with a smug grin, said, "Sorry, but you''re the one getting eliminated." "No! Bastard, get back down here!" The Shadow n elite shouted in panic,unching a desperate attack to stop Tony. Boom! Predictably, the rules of the Secret Area instantly obliterated him. Only ten seconds remained in the Sky Ladder challenge. Tony resurrected once more, ncing at another Shadow n elite just ahead of him. Gritting his teeth, he chased after him. The elite ahead noticed and panicked, immediately trying to climb faster. "Don''t worry!" Tony called out quickly. "You''re ranked 32nd. Even if I pass you, you won''t die." "Really?" the Shadow n elite hesitated, uncertain. He had indeed reached his limit and couldn''t advance any further. "Of course!" Tony sped past him, letting out a sigh of relief as he turned back and grinned. "Idiot, I tricked you. You''re getting eliminated too." "Damn! You''re dead, you bastard!" The man roared in anger, realizing he''d been yed. With the test about to end, he recklessly tried to unleash a skill against Tony, ignoring the rules of the Secret Area. Boom! Before he could even finish casting his skill, the rules struck him down. "Moron, can''t even calcte ranks properly." Tony sneered, looking down at the spot where the 33rd-ranked challenger had just fallen. "Thanks for that," an Angel Race elite called out from below, letting out a relieved breath and casting a grateful nce at Tony. "Hmph, no need for thanks," Tony grunted coldly, responding indifferently. He recognized the Angel Race elite-Grey, an upper-tier god. While Tony wasn''t particrly fond of the Angel Race, they were certainly more tolerable than the Shadow n. [Sky Ladder Trial has concluded.] The system prompt appeared, and the overwhelming pressure that had been weighing them down vanished. The Sky Ladder itself disappeared as well. The restriction on flying was lifted, and everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief as they descended to the ground. Cand-Dragon and the others quickly found Tony, immediately asking, "What rank did you get?" "Rest easy, I''m ranked 32nd. I''ll be fine." Tony exhaled deeply, feeling immense gratitude toward John. Without the Lifesaver talent, even if he had exposed his Immortal Golden Body skill, he doubted he could''ve made it into the top 33. "What about Godyer?" Tony asked, realizing he hadn''t seen John and growing curious. The group froze for a moment before hurriedly scanning the area. "Nothing," Cand-Dragon shook his head, frowning deeply. "Do you think something might''ve happened to him?" Nine-Tails looked up at the sky, concern filling her eyes. The Sky Ladder had vanished, and everyone had returned-except for John. She worried that John had pushed himself too far, unable to withstand the pressure and getting obliterated by the Sky Ladder. "Impossible," Tony refused to believe it. John was the savior foretold by Ben''s prophecy, and with the disaster still unresolved, there was no way John would fall here. Jolyne spoke up as well, "Let''s wait a bit longer. There''s been no prompt from the Secret Area. It seems like this test isn''t quite over yet." The group paused, realizing she was right. Normally, the test would transition immediately to the next stage once it ended. The Shadow n elites also sensed something was off. One of them nced toward Blood Moon and said, "My lord, Godyer seems to have disappeared." "Could he have died during the Sky Ladder trial?" "That lucky bastard," one sneered. The Shadow n members were visibly pleased by the thought, reveling in their schadenfreude. However, Blood Moon''s frown deepened. He didn''t believe John had perished. Moreover, he had noticed the same dy in the system''s prompt. Having challenged many Secret Areas before, this was the first time he had encountered such a strange situation. Something was clearly not right. Chapter 271: Chapter 271: The Power of Chaos, The Final Test Chapter 271: The Power of Chaos, The Final Test ? Time ticked away, second by second. The group had begun to notice something was off, and murmurs of confusion spread among them. "Hasn''t the Sky Ladder test already ended?" "Could the Secret Area be malfunctioning?" "Maybe this is a good thing. We might get to survive." "Don''t get your hopes up. The final rules of the Secret Area are irreversible." ... As the final prompt from the Secret Area continued to be dyed, many of the challengers ranked below 33rd started to feel a sliver of hope. At first, everyone was restless, anxious even. But as time dragged on, the atmosphere grew quiet. Time passed, and before anyone realized it, three months had gone by. John had still not appeared. Tony and the others were growing increasingly worried. "Do you think something really happened to Godyer?" Tony had all but given up on training. Thankfully, the Secret Area''s rules prevented them from fighting each other, so for now, they were safe. Cand-Dragon frowned deeply. This was his first time participating in the final Secret Area trial, and he had no idea if this kind of situation was normal. He nced at the two women beside him. Nine-Tails shook her head, equally puzzled. She had never encountered something like this before. Jolyne was just as clueless. "I suspect Godyer is probably having some sort of unexpected encounter," she said. "Let''s hope so," Tony muttered, sitting down in a bored slump, clearly frustrated by the uncertainty. ... In the Void Area, John regained consciousness once more. He had no idea how much time had passed, but the image of Creator creating heaven and earth reyed in his mind over and over again. He studied every detail carefully, afraid to miss even the slightest thing. The mysterious, elusive force he had sensed earlier was bing clearer to him. Finally, as the creation scene finished onest time, John had a moment of rity. "Chaos Force!" he gasped aloud. It was the force that existed at the very dawn of the universe, the most pure and primal source of all power. [You haveprehended the Power of Chaos.] As the system prompt appeared, John''s vision gradually sharpened. He could now see everything around him, though it was still a vast, empty void. There was nothing in sight, but at least he could now sense the existence of the space itself. Aside from his newfound understanding of Chaos Force, there was no other noticeable change within him. "Huh? The Creation Stone?" he muttered in surprise, noticing the stone floating above him. With a wave of his hand, the Creation Stone descended into his grasp. Its name had changed-it was now the Chaos Creation Stone-but other than that, he still couldn''t see any attributes or specific properties. He still couldn''t figure out what purpose the stone served. He didn''t bother dwelling on it. Now that he could sense the space around him, he could use his Split Void talent to leave. Although he hadprehended the Power of Chaos, he couldn''t yet refine or absorb it, so his strength hadn''t changed at all. Buzz! Spatial power rippled, and with ease, he tore through the Void Area, opening up a space portal and stepping through. In the next second, his figure appeared back in the Secret Area. "Godyer!" Cand-Dragon immediately sensed his presence and breathed a long sigh of relief, finally letting go of the anxiety that had gripped him. "My lord, where have you been all this time?" Nine-Tails rushed over, curiosity filling her eyes. John simply shook his head, not offering any exnation. The space he had been in was far too strange, and he didn''t feel like revealing what had happened. Besides, he wasn''t sure how to exin it to them. "How long has it been?" John asked, realizing he hadn''t been able to perceive the passage of time while in that Void Area. "It''s been three months," Cand-Dragon replied. "Three months?" John was shocked, not expecting that much time to have passed. Blood Moon narrowed his eyes, sensing that something about John had changed, but his strength hadn''t increased, which puzzled him. At that moment, a notification from the Secret Area appeared. [The fourth stage of the trial has ended. Rankings have been finalized. Those ranked below 33rd will be erased.] "No...!" Boom! Cries of despair filled the air as explosions echoed around them. Blood mist erupted from all directions. As seventy-six people were eliminated, leaving only thirty-three survivors. "Godyer! Your death ising soon!" Blood Moon red at John with hatred, his teeth grinding in fury. Among the various races, the Shadow n had suffered the greatest losses. Now, only thirteen of them remained, though they still had thergest numbers. Aside from the five on John''s side, the other races had only one or two survivors each. Some of the weaker races had beenpletely wiped out. [Each survivor has received one of the four basic elemental essences. The Secret Area''s rules are now lifted. Transforming your body to 100% elemental essence will allow you to pass the trial and receive the Heart of Skyline Continent.] The notification shed. Before the survivors could celebrate, they immediately grew cautious. "Ha! Finally, the final stage. Every one of you will die here. Attack!" Blood Moonughed maniacally, his face twisted with rage, and at hismand, all the Shadow n elites charged straight for John''s group. "Godyer, stall them for a bit," Jolyne called out to John before quickly retreating. She focused her mind to contact Sea King, directing it to attack the hunters'' brood mothers that Blood Moon''s forces controlled. "Got it!" John responded, charging straight at Blood Moon without hesitation. Cand-Dragon and Nine-Tails also engaged the other Shadow n elites, while Tony, being the weakest among them, could only hide behind the group, barely contributing. "Hmph, courting death. Rending Blood Strike!" Blood Moon sneered. His figure transformed into a streak of blood-red light, piercing through John''s body in an instant, giving him no time to react. [You have been instantly killed by Shadow n''s Blood Moon. The Blessed Ring has been triggered.] The system notification shed, and John was resurrected with full health. Without missing a beat, three longswords shot out, shing wildly at Blood Moon. "Human, it''s useless. Give up," Blood Moon scoffed, shrouded in a crimson aura as he let the sword strikesnd harmlessly. Red threads of energy connected from Blood Moon directly to John. "That move again!" John cursed under his breath, recognizing the terrifying technique. Any damage dealt to Blood Moon would be absorbed and reflected back, devouring John''s life force instead. He hesitated, knowing he couldn''t attack recklessly. Boom! A deafening explosion resounded, and John was once again obliterated into a cloud of blood mist. His Lifesaver talent triggered, granting him ten seconds of invincibility. "Red Lotus Fire!" John shouted, raising his hand as crimson mes erupted, enveloping Blood Moon and the surrounding Shadow n elites. Taking advantage of his invincibility, he unleashed a ferocious assault. "Hellfire!" Agonizing screams echoed around him as the Hellfire burned their very souls, leaving the enemies powerless to resist. However, because they were bound to their Hunters brood mothers, their powerful soul techniques prevented immediate death, but the pain was excruciating nheless. John''s soul energy was draining rapidly. As long as the Hunters brood mothers survived, John''s Soul Techniques couldn''t fully extinguish the Shadow n elites'' souls. Boom! Soon, his invincibility wore off, and with another thunderous blow, he was killed again. Immediately, the Lifesaver talent activated for the second time, resurrecting him once more. "Jolyne, how''s it going?" John shouted urgently as he nced back at her. Maintaining Red Lotus Hellfire on so many targets was rapidly exhausting his soul power-he couldn''t hold on much longer. Meanwhile, Cand-Dragon and Nine-Tails were struggling, overwhelmed by several shadow n elites, unable to fight back effectively. "Almost there!" Jolyne replied, her face tense with concentration. But at that moment, two more Shadow n warriors turned their attention toward Tony and Jolyne, charging at them without hesitation. Jolyne''s expression turned frantic. She couldn''t defend herself right now-she was too busy trying to establish a connection with Sea King. But there was no response. It seemed like Sea King was locked in its own life-or-death battlen/?/vel/b//in dot c//om and couldn''te to their aid. This left her confused, wondering who in the Skyline Continent could possibly be strong enough to demand Sea King''s full power. With no other options, she continued trying to reach Sea King. If they didn''t eliminate Blood Moon''s Hunters brood mothers, they stood no chance in this fight. "Tony, can you hold them off?" She shot a pleading nce at Tony. The others were too entangled with the Shadow n elites, barely holding on themselves. "You really have faith in me, huh? Alright, let''s give it a shot." Tony muttered, his face serious as he eyed the two shadow n elites charging toward him. "Die, you old bastard!" one of them cursed, his hatred for Tony evident. Many of their fallen Shadow nrades had met their end because of Tony''s actions. Buzz! A blood de whistled through the air, shing toward both Tony and Jolyne behind him. "Immortal Golden Body!" Tony roared, his body instantly enveloped in radiant golden light. This was the first time he had used his Immortal Art in front of everyone. Boom! A loud explosion rang out as the golden light rippled around him, leaving himpletely unharmed. The Immortal Golden Body boosted his defense a hundredfold, making him immune to any ranged attacks, true damage, percentage-based damage, and even soul attacks. In short, the Immortal Golden Body was the bane of the Shadow n. "What kind of ability is this?" one of the Shadow n elites muttered, his eyes wide with surprise as he watched Tony glow with golden energy. "It''s an Immortal skill. It makes him immune to ranged damage. Get up close!" the other quickly shouted in warning. He had seen the Immortal Golden Body before. "Bastard! Let''s see how tough that shell of yours is!" one of them roared in anger as both charged in,unching a barrage of close-range attacks at the golden light around Tony. Boom! Boom! Explosions erupted, shaking the very space around them. Tony''s face twisted in pain, blood pouring from his eyes, nose, and mouth. His demon energy was draining rapidly-at this rate, he wouldn''tst much longer. He nced over his shoulder at Jolyne, desperation in his eyes. "How much longer?" "Almost there," Jolyne responded, her expression calmer now. She had sessfully sent her message to Sea King. All that remained was for Sea King to destroy the Shadow n''s brood mothers. Once that was done, Jolyne was confident they could defeat these Shadow n elites. Boom! Suddenly, the golden light surrounding Tony shattered. Blood spurted from his mouth as he was sent flying back, his soul severely damaged by the two Shadow n elites, who were experts in soul attacks. "I''ve got this." Jolyne stepped forward, her body shimmering with multicolored light as she barely managed to fend off the relentless attacks from the two Shadow n warriors. Chaos erupted all around as Cand-Dragon and the others fought for their lives, barely holding off the shadow n. In the distance, elites from various other races watched the fierce battle unfold, their faces filled with shock. None of them dared to make a move to snatch the elemental essences from others. The Shadow n and John''s group were far too powerful. If either side won, the others knew they wouldn''t stand a chance. They were all hoping for both sides to wear each other down, leaving the spoils for the taking. "My lord, shouldn''t we step in to help Godyer?" Grey of the Angel Race asked Lincoln. Lincoln shot him a furious re. "Are you an idiot? Our goal is the final treasure, not a suicide mission!" Grey opened his mouth to protest but quickly fell silent when he saw Lincoln''s temper re. Chapter 272: Chapter 272: Fierce Battle with the Shadow Clan, Immunity to Soul Damage Chapter 272: Fierce Battle with the Shadow n, Immunity to Soul Damage ? Heidern agreed to cooperate with John to take on the Shadow n, but only if the Shadow n initiated an attack on them. Lincoln had always assumed John was the weaker party. But now, it didn''t seem that way. In several Secret Area trials and the second power assessment, John had achieved first ce, amassing over forty million points - almost more than thebined total of all those outside the top ten. Lincoln didn''t believe John had achieved such a high score simply with the help of Cand- Dragon and others. And in the third aptitude assessment, John was once again in first ce. He had a feeling that Godyer might prove even harder to deal with than the Shadow n. Now that the Shadow n had targeted this human, it was exactly what he wanted to see. What surprised him most was John''s strength - he was able to effortlessly fend off an onught from seven powerful members of the Shadow n. In fact, John had even killed several of them before, including the infamous Blood Moon, although they had returned thanks to their Lifesaver talents and skills. As long as their souls remained intact, they wouldn''t truly die. He could only hope that both sides would end up badly wounded. Without the threat of the Shadow n and John, he was confident he could take on the other races. Especially now, with only Beelzebub remaining from the demon race, and only two strong members left in the Sea n. As for the other Dragonkin, Giants, and demons, he didn''t even consider them a threat. Boom! A loud rumble shook the sky, and John spat blood as he was flung backward, killed once again. The Undying and Immortal abilities triggered, but this time, the invincibility granted by his Lifesaver talent was gone. "What''s the matter, afraid to strike?" Blood Moon sneered as he looked at John. The Red Lotus Hellfire had dissipated, leaving Johnpletely vulnerable. "Human, this is what happens when you cross the Shadow n. Don''t worry, I won''t kill you!" Blood Moon''s tone was yful, clearly interested in John''s talents. With demigod-level cultivation and such formidablebat power, his talent had to be extraordinary. "Set up the Soul-Devouring Formation and trap this human''s soulpletely!" Blood Moon ordered coldly. Six other powerful members of the Shadow n immediately closed in around John. Blood-red energy surrounded them, strange forces intertwining and coalescing into a deadly. "Hm?" John''s expression shifted, his soul trembling - this was a soul attack he had never encountered before. "Damn it!" he cursed inwardly as red threads began to wind around him, connecting him to the Shadow n members. It was a unique technique of the Shadow n, a damage transfer ability. Without his invincibility, he couldn''t risk an attack. "Red Lotus Fire!" He gritted his teeth, drawing upon his barely recovered soul power to unleash another soul-based attack. Scarlet mes enveloped the enemies, searing their souls. Pain shed across their faces, but they could still endure it. "It''s useless, human; stop resisting!" Blood Moon, with teeth gritted against the soul pain, stepped into the fray and summoned a strange, blood-red that instantly enveloped John. John attempted to evade, but the descended in an instant and disappeared from sight. Before he could react, his soul was trapped, and the Red Lotus Hellfire faded away. "What is this?" he muttered, his brow furrowed in agony as his soul was bound deep within, his actions now entirely restricted. Buzz! At that moment, the Crimson Karma Lotus emerged, shrouding him in red mes that resisted the. "Undying me''s power?" Blood Moon was shocked as he sensed the Crimson Karma Lotus within John''s soul. "You, human, possess such a powerful soul treasure! It will be mine now!" Excitement and anticipation filled his eyes as he intensified his power, manipting the to fully bind John''s soul and im the Crimson Karma Lotus as his own. "Hmph, keep dreaming!" John snorted coldly, crossing his legs as he focused his mind within his soul, fighting desperately against the blood-red. But it was futile; his soul and the Crimson Karma Lotus were continuously enshrouded and devoured. His most powerful ability, Heaven and Earth Transformation, was utterly ineffective against the Shadow n. He''d never faced a situation this challenging. He had underestimated the Shadow n''s power. With John trapped, the others were faring even worse. Cand-Dragon, Nine-Tails, and Jolyne had been killed over a dozen times. Their faces were pale, and their souls were severely injured. Tony was in even worse shape, his golden aura shattered, injuries severe, barely holding on due to Jolyne''s aid. "My lord, shouldn''t we intervene?" Grey asked from afar, watching as John and the others were pushed to their limits, on the brink of death. Lincoln''s brow furrowed. He knew the Shadow n wouldn''t spare them once John and his group were dead. He exchanged a look with the other gods and nodded. "Go!" The four of them prepared to join the fight. Cough... Suddenly, several Shadow n members coughed up blood, their faces pale. Lincoln and his group halted, unsure of what had just happened. John noticed immediately, sensing the blow to Blood Moon and the others'' souls, freeing his soul and the Crimson Karma Lotus from the''s hold. "Sea King! So, you were plotting against me!" Blood Moon wiped the blood from his mouth and cursed toward the sky. The hunters'' brood mother, which Blood Moon had entrusted to Sea King''s dominion, had suddenly died. It could only be Sea King''s doing. "Godyer!" Jolyne quickly called out, "Their brood mother is dead - soul attack now!" With that, she unleashed a radiant aura, the air trembling as two powerful soul forces attacked the two Shadow n warriors before her. Boom!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Boom! Two heavy thuds, and the two Shadow n warriors fell with no resistance, their souls obliterated, utterly annihted. Cand-Dragon and Nine-Tails quickly joined in with their soul attacks. Unfortunately, their Soul Techniques were on par with the upper-tier gods of the Shadow n, making it impossible to kill them outright. At least for now, they were no longer in immediate danger. "Could Sea King actually be helping me?" John''s brow creased. Something about Sea King felt suspicious. There was no time to dwell on it. John gathered his barely recovered soul power, activating his Soul Impact skill. Buzz... The air buzzed with energy, as his powerful soul force enveloped Blood Moon and the seven Shadow n warriors. John''s Soul Technique had now reached 370,000, far surpassing his enemies. Boom! Boom! Two Shadow n warriors were killed on the spot. [You killed Shadow n upper-tier god Blood Massacre, gaining 1.6766 trillion experience points.] [Your level has risen to 10,040...] [Plunder talent activated. You gained an SSS-level space talent, spacewprehension +1%, Shadow Power +10, skill points +500.] [You killed Shadow n upper-tier god Blood Soul, gaining 1.6653 trillion experience points.] [Your level has risen to 10,042...] [Plunder talent activated. Luck +2, skill points +500, Strength +1000.] John''s notifications shed, showing a substantial gain in experience points, leveling him up by four levels. What thrilled him most was plundering an SSS-level space talent, gaining 1%prehension of spacew. "Human, you''re courting death!" Blood Moon, furious at the brutal deaths of his two subordinates, unleashed his attacks without holding back. Without the support of the hunters'' brood mother, it was impossible for him to trap John again. He resolved to wipe John out entirely, to eliminate this potential threat. A pity, though, about the talents on this opponent. "Think you can attack me now? Toote!" John sneered, focusing again as he prepared his soul skill. Buzz! The air quivered as Soul Impact struck Blood Moon. But it had no effect. "Human, did you think I didn''t know about the Shadow n''s weaknesses? Let me make this clear soul attacks arepletely ineffective against me," Blood Moonughed maniacally, his longsword sweeping through the air, casting blood-red light everywhere. Without fail, John was once again struck down. The Undying and Immortal trait triggered, and he resurrected in ce. "Soul attacks don''t work on him?" John frowned; besides the Mechanical Race, this was his first time encountering someone immune to soul attacks. "If that''s the case, I''ll start by taking out the others," he smirked coldly, ncing at the remaining four Shadow n warriors. Their faces immediately paled; unlike Blood Moon, they didn''t possess such formidable soul defenses. They attempted to flee, but John acted first, sending another wave of Soul Impact through the trembling air. Already weakened from thest attack, they had no defense left against John''s soul skill. Boom! With a resounding crash, blood streamed from their orifices, and all four dropped dead on the spot. John gained a massive influx of experience points, leveling up to 10,051, along with an abundance of attributes and skill points through Plunder. He also acquired five new talents. An SSS-level water element talent, SSS-level fire element talent, SSS-level wind element talent, SSS-level earth element talent, and SSS-level Lightning Elemental Affinity. It seemed that these Shadow n elites, havinge here to explore the Secret Area, each possessed the four fundamental elemental talents at an SSS level. They likely used a Talent Copy Stone to obtain these SSS-level talents effortlessly. "Don''t think that Sea King''s backing means I won''t dare kill you, human. You''ve crossed the Shadow n, and you''re as good as dead!" Blood Moon, eyes filled with murderous rage as he watched his fallen allies, unleashed a torrent of blood-red power at John. Over and over, John was in, only to resurrect through his Undying and Immortal trait. Even with his Soul Technique advanced, he couldn''t withstand such repeated deaths. What frustrated him most was Shadow n''s damage transfer ability, leaving him helpless against Blood Moon. "Human, it''s a shame about all those talents on you. I''ll ensure everyone here dies with you," Blood Moon sneered, mercilessly attacking John. From a distance, the other warriors who heard Blood Moon''s words showed fear on their faces. They wanted to help John, but they were no match for the Shadow n. Even Lincoln and his group looked on in frustration. Soul attacks were the best way to counter the Shadow n. But Blood Moon''s immunity to soul attacks,bined with his damage transfer ability, made him nearly invincible. "Enough!" John, finally pushed past his limits, growled, anger shing in his eyes. Being on the defensive wasn''t his style. With a faint trickle of blood at his lip, heunched his soul skill, Intimidation. Buzz! The air shuddered as a tremendous wave of soul force surged into Blood Moon''s mind. But Blood Moon remainedpletely unaffected. He sneered, unfazed. "Human, it''s pointless. No soul attack can harm me. ept your fate!" He resumed his relentless assault on John, a whirlwind of brutal attacks. Chapter 273: Chapter 273: Rainbow Veil, Slaying Blood Moon Chapter 273: Rainbow Veil, ying Blood Moon ? [You have been instantly killed by the Shadow n elite Blood Moon; Undying and Immortal trait activated...] Notifications shed as John was killed once again. This Blood Moon was unbelievably tricky, practically immune to soul attacks, with only the Red Lotus Hellfire able to harm him. But John''s soul power hadn''t yet recovered, leaving him unable to use it. In a short span, he''d been killed by Blood Moon hundreds of times. Moreover, with that strange red thread connecting them, which transferred damage, he couldn''t riskunching any attack. "Godyer, I''m here to help you!" At that moment, Jolyne arrived, having helped Cand- Dragon and the others eliminate the remaining Shadow n warriors. John quickly warned, "Be careful; this guy''s immune to soul attacks." He knew Jolyne''s strongest attacks were soul-based. "I''ll cut off the life connection for you!" Jolyne said, shedding her ck cloak. Her multicolored, flowing gown caught the light, framing her wless face, like an ethereal deity, stunning beyond words. For a moment, John was mesmerized. Buzz! A brilliant rainbow aura enveloped him, severing the crimson thread connecting them. "Hurry up, attack!" Jolyne urged as she noticed him staring, a hint of urgency in her voice. Boom! A sh of blood-red light struck, killing John once more, activating his Undying and Immortal trait. He finally snapping back to focus. John yelled, "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" His form shifted rapidly, morphing into a giant towering above, casting an overwhelming pressure over everyone. "What...what is that creature?" "So terrifying. I can feel my soul trembling." "Is this human actually going to kill a Shadow n elite?" "What''s there to question? Haven''t you seen Godyer already took down six Shadow n elites?" "Good thing we chose the right side in time..." People looked up at the towering form of John, filled with awe and shock. Especially the weaker survivors among them, who slumped to the ground in utter disbelief. "This human has grown even stronger," Lincoln murmured, a familiar sense of helplessness creeping in. This wasn''t the first time they had witnessed John''s Heaven and Earth Transformation, yet it still struck them with awe. Blood Moon stared in shock at John''s transformation, but he quickly collected himself. "Hmph, human! Do you think that getting bigger will make me fear you? You will die today!" he roared, disappearing into a flurry of blood-red light as heunched a frenzied assault. "How foolish," John''s deep voice resonated, causing the very air to quiver. In his Heaven and Earth Transformation state, his attributes were magnified a hundredfold, now matching Blood Moon''s power. With the blood link severed by Jolyne, he had no reason to hold back. Boom...Boom... The sky itself seemed to tear open, and three massive sword shadows appeared out of thin air. Nine Heavens Sword! But this time, John was controlling all three swords simultaneously. Boom! The colossal sword shadows shed down toward the blood-red light. With a deafening crash, the very fabric of space seemed to shatter. The Secret Area''s space was far sturdier than the outside world, yet before John, it shattered like ss. Endless chaotic spatial currents surged, tearing apart everything in their path with merciless fury. Jolyne''s face turned pale as she hurriedly retreated, her soul power was strong, but her physical body couldn''t withstand the raging spatial currents. Others watching were also jolted into awareness, stepping back repeatedly. Cand-Dragon, however, didn''t move. He stood with a serious expression, eyes locked on John as if he''d reached some understanding. "Cough!" Just then, Blood Moon reappeared, coughing up blood as he was thrown backward. "Godyer, just what are you?" he managed to steady himself, floating in mid-air, ring furiously at John. For the first time, Blood Moon felt fear - against this transformed John, he was almostpletely powerless. Whoosh... With a sweeping motion, John stepped forward, his body instantly sttered with blood. Although he didn''t fear the spatial currents, his body was still unable to fully withstand their damaging force. "Enough with the talking!" he shouted,manding the three enormous sword shadows to strike at Blood Moon. The sword shadows sliced through the air, fracturing space itself. Blood Moon''s expression shifted drastically. He knew he couldn''t withstand this strike. His gaze quickly scanned the surroundings and locked onto Cand-Dragon nearby. With a wave of his hand, a red thread shot out, aiming to connect his life force with Cand- Dragon''s. "Hmph, don''t even think about it!" Jolyne''s voice cut through, and with a sweep of her hand, another rainbow-colored light descended, severing the approaching thread. "Cand-Dragon, back away!" she urged. Yet Cand-Dragon remained in ce, his gaze still fixed on John. "Hm?" Jolyne noticed the peculiarity. Cand-Dragon seemed entirely focused, deeply immersed as if in a state of enlightenment. She chose not to disturb him, standing guard beside him to prevent interference from Blood Moon. Boom! The massive sword shed down, sending a spray of blood mist as Blood Moon was obliterated without resistance. A secondter, the blood mist condensed, and his figure reappeared, coughing blood again, his face pale and his soul wounded. Although his immunity to soul damage wasn''t absolute, destroying his physical body was enough to damage his soul. John''s Immortal Art skill had easily obliterated his body. "Hmph, I get it now. I just have to destroy your body to damage your soul!" John''s icy voice echoed. Blood Moon wiped the blood from his lips, responding coldly, "Godyer, even if I die, I''ll take you with me!" With that, he produced a crystal sphere in his hand, a flicker of white me dancing within. "Undying me!" Tony shouted from afar in rm. Blood Moon held the Undying me in his hand. "What? How did you get that?" John demanded, frowning. The Undying me was exclusive to The Immortals; Tony only happened to acquire one by pure chance. But now, Blood Moon, a member of the Shadow n, possessed the Undying me. The Undying me was as mysterious as John''s Red Lotus Hellfire, capable of attacking the soul and strong enough to threaten even peak upper-tier gods. "Hmph, you''ll never know. Die!" Blood Moon roared, hurling the Undying me directly at John. Boom! With a thunderous roar, the white me burst forth like parasitic fire, instantly wrapping around John''s massive form. The terrifying heat scorched his body and soul alike. "Ugh!" John grunted in pain, but deep within his soul, the Crimson Karma Lotus emerged, working hard to absorb and neutralize the power of the Undying me. He barely managed to hold off its deadly effects. "Human, did you think I only had one Undying me?" Blood Moon''s icy voice echoed as he produced two more Undying mes, hurling them toward John without hesitation. Boom! Boom! The Undying me detonated, sending the temperature of the entire Secret Area skyrocketing. More concerning was that the Crimson Karma Lotus couldn''t fully neutralize these mes, leaving John fatally wounded. [You have been instantly killed by Undying me. Undying and Immortal trait activated...] The notification shed, and John resurrected again, still surrounded by waves of Undying me. "Amethyst Battle Armor!" he shouted, and his massive form glowed with a violet light, transforming into a suit of armor that covered his entire body. This was the ultimate skill he had gained after upgrading his Diamond Armor. "Water Mist Clone!" He quickly summoned arge clone - not his true clone, but a skill- based copy. The immediate danger was momentarily diverted, but before he could catch his breath, Blood Moon revealed two more crystal spheres. He had even more Undying mes. "Human, I prepared these for Skyline Continent''s Guardian God, but I suppose they''ll serve well enough for you!" Blood Moon''s face showed reluctance, but he gritted his teeth and threw the crystal spheres again. Boom! Boom! John''s Water Mist Clone evaporated in an instant, and his Amethyst Battle Armor shattered, his body and soul suffering critical damage. The power of the Undying me was terrifying; at this rate, John feared he might actually fall. "Godyer, catch!" At that moment, Jolyne quickly discarded her rainbow-colored gown, once again cloaking herself in a ck robe, and tossed the gown to John. Not fully understanding her intent, John nevertheless grabbed the rainbow-colored gown. Buzz! The multicolored light enveloped him. As soon as it touched him, it transformed into a set of rainbow armor,pletely shielding him from the Undying me''s damage. "What...is this?" Blood Moon''s eyes widened in shock. "The Immortals'' Rainbow Veil? Impossible! How could such a treasure be in your hands?" He stepped back, his gaze furious and fearful as he looked at Jolyne. "Aren''t you from the Feather Race? Why do you have an artifact of The Immortals?" "Light Sword sh!" "Holy Light Demon-Buster st!" "Return of Ten Thousand Swords!" ... John''s cold voice echoed, his energy surging, causing the entire space to tremble. A storm ofn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om magical skills roared forth, engulfing Blood Moon. Boom! Space fractured, and Blood Moon was instantly killed once more. "Die!" John didn''t relent, his assault continuing. With Blood Moon''s body destroyed, John set his sights on his opponent''s soul. "Red Lotus Hellfire!" "Soul Impact!" Two powerful soul-based attacks struck in session. Bang! Blood Moon''s soul shuddered, flickering like a candle in a storm, and then was extinguished in an instant. "No...human, by crossing the Shadow n, you are doomed to die..." Blood Moon''s voice cut off as his soul dissolved, vanishingpletely. [You have killed Shadow n elite Blood Moon, gaining 2.6766 trillion experience points.] [Your level has increased to 10,055...] [Plunder trait activated. You have acquired an SSS-level Time Affinity, timew comprehension +1%, Shadow Power +10.] The notifications shed, marking Blood Moon''s fall. A few Elemental Essences scattered around, along with another Undying me. "An SSS-level Time Affinity?" John was stunned. Time affinity was even rarer than spatial affinity, and with it, he''d gained a 1%prehension of timew, allowing him to adjust time flow by 0.1X. It might not seem like much, but in battles against powerful foes, a fraction of a second''s advantage could be decisive. With the battle over, the powerful warriors from various races who had been watching in awe looked at John, towering like a deity, with a mixture of reverence and fear. "Blood Moon is really dead." "This human is terrifying." "I recall an old saying from long ago: don''t provoke The Immortals..." Roar... Suddenly, a resonant dragon''s roar echoed through the entire Secret Area. Fierce winds surged, fine cracks appeared in the space, and an enormous dragon emerged, upying nearly half of the Secret Area''s space. Its overwhelming presence filled the air, even more daunting than John''s. Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Cand-Dragon’s Breakthrough, Refining the Elemental Essence Chapter 274: Cand-Dragon¡¯s Breakthrough, Refining the Elemental Essence ? "Cand-Dragon?" The crowd was horrified, staring in disbelief at the massive dragon in front of them. Its colossal body stretched for miles, exuding a terrifying aura that made the entire space of the Secret Area tremble faintly. "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" John muttered, equally shocked as he observed Cand- Dragon, who had now transformed into its original form, growing to an immense size. John was all too familiar with this aura-it was precisely the Heaven and Earth Transformation he hadprehended from the Immortals'' legacy. He hadn''t expected Cand-Dragon to master it as well. But on second thought, it made sense. Heaven and Earth Transformation was an ability that evolved from the Beast n''s Overwhelming Battle Energy technique. Cand-Dragon was a rare genius within the Beast n, one in a million, who had also cultivated Overwhelming Battle Energy. With ess to the Immortals'' legacy, there was a significant chance he would grasp Heaven and Earth Transformation. What surprised John, however, was that Cand-Dragon had learned it by watching his battle against Blood Moon. "Godyer, do you dare to face me in a fight now?" Cand-Dragon''s voice thundered, resonating through the heavens. His terrifying aura spread wide, igniting an unbounded fighting spirit. A grin spread across John''s face as he unleashed his own powerful fighting spirit. Thest battle had barely satisfied him. "Why wouldn''t I dare?" he replied, taking off his five-colored celestial robe and handing it back to Jolyne. This treasure was immensely powerful; he didn''t want to use it to gain an unfair advantage over Cand-Dragon. Boom! He stepped forward, unleashing a fierce aura that shed instantly with the overwhelming force emanating from Cand-Dragon. Rumble... The space around them began to rupture, waves of spatial turbulence swirling in, drawing in a powerful pulling force. Jolyne gasped in surprise, quickly donning the five-colored celestial robe and retreating in haste. She could sense that she couldn''t withstand the residual energy waves from the two fighters'' battle. Further off, warriors from various ns awoke from their trance, retreating hastily, trying to distance themselves as much as possible from the two. Boom! With another thunderous sh, man and dragon charged at each other in a blur, using no special skills, relying solely on raw physical might. Boom! The air shook, sending out a violent gale as John''s massive figure was hurled backward, while Cand-Dragon was simrly forced to spin through the air. He quickly stabilized, the victor apparent in the sh. The distant spectators could only feel a buzzing in their heads, nearly fainting from the impact. "Lord Cand-Dragon is incredible!" Tony, one of the Beast n, looked thrilled. Though loyal to John, he still hoped to see Cand-Dragone out victorious. Jolyne shot him a disapproving re. "Again!" John steadied himself, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and roared with excitement as he charged at Cand-Dragon once more. Boom, boom... A giant and a massive dragon engaged in fierce hand-to-handbat, pure power colliding with no finesse involved. The space around them shattered, with spatial currents swirling and the battlefield continuously expanding. The onlookers retreated in fear, desperate to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. Boom! With yet another deafening roar, John''s giant body was once again flung backward. Hovering, Cand-Dragon roared, "Godyer, aren''t you going to transform?" He knew this was far from John''s full strength. John''s ultimate formy in his Heaven and Earth Transformation, his golden divine dragon state. "Alright!" John realized that his own Heaven and Earth Transformation form alone was no match for Cand-Dragon. Roar... A resonant dragon cry echoed through the heavens as golden light red around John, instantly transforming him into a massive golden divine dragon. His enormous body now rivaled Cand-Dragon''s in size. The crowd was once again stunned, deeply shaken by John''s transformed form. "A divine dragon bloodline! Is he also a member of the Beast n?" Nine-Tails asked in shock, staring at John in his dragon form. Tony was equally bewildered. He had seen John''s Dragon Transformation before, but at that time, John still retained a trace of the Immortals'' aura. Now, however, as this golden divine dragon, John radiated the purest power of the Beast n. There wasn''t a hint of the Immortals'' aura left. "Godyer possesses the divine dragon bloodline and has refined the Beast n''s treasure!" Jolyne approached, gazing up at the ck and gold dragons locked in closebat in mid- air, her face full of astonishment. "That makes sense," Nine-Tails nodded, then smiled with delight, "In that case, the Godyer could be considered part of the Beast n." Boom! With another violent collision, both dragons were sent flying backward. The space between them split open, nearly causing the Secret Area to copse. Wild winds howled as John and Cand-Dragon were engulfed in chaotic space currents. ng, ng... The space currents battered their tough scales, creating sharp, clear sounds upon impact. The spectators were once again rmed and retreated to the edges of the Secret Area with nowhere else to go. "We can''t let this fight continue. If the Secret Area shatters, we''ll all die!" one person shouted in terror. "To witness a battle of this magnitude-maybe it''s worth dying for." "It''s a shame, though; we can''t protect our Elemental Essence now," another said with regret. "Protect the Elemental Essence? I just hope the two of them don''t decide to wipe us out."N?v(el)B\\jnn ... The crowd murmured anxiously, their faces full of worry. Witnessing John and Cand-Dragon''s terrifying strength had extinguished any thought of resisting. At this moment, John and Cand-Dragon paused, both halting their attacks. "Haha, exhrating!" Cand-Dragonughed heartily. "Godyer, let''s call it a draw. If we keep going, this whole Secret Area will copse." "Agreed," John nodded, and both of them withdrew from their Heaven and Earth Transformation forms, returning to their human shapes. Only then did the crowd breathe a sigh of relief and hurriedly approached them. "Congrattions to both Lord Godyer and Lord Cand-Dragon on advancing your strength once again!" they cheered enthusiastically. Even the demon race''s Beelzebub, who had previously harbored ill intentions toward John, was now filled with reverence. "Enough!" Cand-Dragon interrupted coldly, cutting off the crowd''s ttery. He understood their motives well and said calmly, "Hand over your Elemental Essence, and we won''t trouble you." "Of course. The Elemental Essence rightfully belongs to you two," they replied without hesitation, promptly surrendering their individual elemental essences to Cand-Dragon. In their hearts, a faint hope lingered: if John and Cand-Dragon fought over the Elemental Essence, perhaps they might have a slim chance of escape. But that hope was destined to be shattered. After collecting all the Elemental Essence, Cand-Dragon handed it over to John without hesitation. "Godyer," Jolyne exined, "Once you refine the Elemental Essence, bringing the four basic elements of your body to full 100% enhancement, you''ll be able to pass the Guardian Test of Skyline Continent, gain the Heart of Skyline Continent, and be The Overseer." John nodded in understanding, took the Elemental Essence, and began the refining process immediately. Cand-Dragon and hispanions stood guard around him, vigntly eyeing the nearby strong warriors from various ns. The trial within the Secret Area was not over; only when someone fully refined all the Elemental Essence would they be transported out. "My lord," Tony leaned in, asking curiously, "Between you and Godyer, who''s stronger?" He had long been curious about the two''s power levels. Their recent sh had been neck and neck, and the space within the Secret Area couldn''t handle it, so it had ended inconclusively. Cand-Dragon nced at John, who was seated in meditation while refining the Elemental Essence, and sighed. "This human is still stronger; the guy hasn''t shown all his cards yet." "He''s still got cards up his sleeve?" Tony asked, stunned, then feeling lucky. "Good thing I followed Ben''s advice back then and chose this human." Cand-Dragon nodded in agreement. "It''s also fortunate for our Beast n." ... John continued to quietly refine the four fundamental Elemental Essences. The powerful beings from various ns gathered at a distance, waiting patiently for him to complete the test and leave the Secret Area. Jolyne, however, appeared a bit anxious, constantly surveying the surroundings, as if worried about something. "What''s wrong?" Nine-Tails noticed her unease and approached, asking curiously. "It''s nothing," Jolyne replied, shaking her head without borating. Nine-Tails assumed she was concerned about the other warriors in the Secret Area and tried to reassure her. "Don''t worry. With us guarding him, they won''t dare make a move. As soon as he finishes refining the Elemental Essence, the trial will end." Jolyne forced a small smile, nodding in agreement. But her worries weren''t about the others in the Secret Area; it was Sea King who troubled her. Sea King had ordered her to prevent John from obtaining the Elemental Essence, but she had no intention of following through. She truly wanted to help John. It wasn''t solely because of the Immortals'' kindness-she had a deep-seated feeling that this human could help her find freedom. John had already gathered all the fundamental Elemental Essences, yet a sense of unease still gnawed at her. Sea King was an unfathomable force, and he likely had the means to break into the Secret Area. Not only was he a peak-level, one-star Overseer, but his power would surpass even Cand-Dragon and Johnbined. Now, all she could do was pray that Sea King wouldn''t detect anything happening here, allowing John to smoothly refine all the fundamental Elemental Essence, pass the trial, and im the Heart of Skyline Continent. With John''s terrifying talent, bing The Overseer would mean he could undoubtedly stand against Sea King. ... Time ticked by, second by second, as John focused his mind entirely on refining the Elemental Essence. [You have refined Wind Elemental Essence, body wind elementalization increased by 1%] [You have refined Earth Elemental Essence, body earth elementalization increased by 1%] [You have refined Water Elemental Essence, body water elementalization increased by 1%] [You have refined Fire Elemental Essence, body fire elementalization increased by 1%] ... [Body wind elementalization reached 100%, immune to wind attribute damage; you haveprehended the Immortal Art, Wind Evasion Technique] [Body earth elementalization reached 100%, immune to earth attribute damage; you haveprehended the Immortal Art, Earth Evasion Technique] [Body water elementalization reached 100%, immune to water attribute damage; you haveprehended the Immortal Art, Water Evasion Technique] [Body fire elementalization reached 100%, immune to fire attribute damage; you haveprehended the Immortal Art, Fire Evasion Technique] ... Notices shed before him, and John opened his eyes, filled with joy and excitement. With his body''s four foundational elementalizations now maxed out at 100%, he had unexpectedly gainedprehension of four Immortal Art abilities. Wind Evasion, Earth Evasion, Water Evasion, Fire Evasion-each technique consumed 1,000 spiritual power per second when activated, allowing him to fuse directly into the corresponding element and be immune to that element''s damage. Only soul damage remained an exception. Chapter 275: Chapter 275: The Golden Flame Lotus and the Guardian of Skyline Continent Chapter 275: The Golden me Lotus and the Guardian of Skyline Continent ? The four elemental evasion techniques were potent escape and concealment skills. With the body merging into elemental form, without special detection means, it was nearly impossible to be found. "Godyer, how did it go?" Jolyne asked quickly when she saw John awaken. John nodded with a smile. "It worked!" Jolyne exhaled in relief. With all the Elemental Essence refined and the four foundational elements in his body raised to 100%, he hadpleted the Secret Area trial, and it seemed Sea King could no longer interfere. Just then, the Secret Area''s system notification shed. [Congrattions to Godyer for refining and merging all Elemental Essence. The four foundational elements in your body have reached 100%, and the Secret Area trial is nowplete.] A spatial passage appeared, and everyone felt a mix of relief and sorrow. Relief that they had survived, but sadness that the exploration hade at such a heavy cost. Over a hundred people had entered the Secret Area trial, but only sixteen remained. The Shadow n and a few weaker races were entirely wiped out. "Congrattions, Lord Godyer; we''ll take our leave now," the crowd came forward, offering their congrattions before exiting the Secret Area. Soon, only Jolyne and a few Beast n members remained. John furrowed his brow, looking puzzled. "What''s next? How do I obtain the Heart of Skyline Continent?" This was Cand-Dragon''s first time in the final Secret Area as well, so he looked toward Jolyne and Nine-Tails for answers. Both women were equally perplexed. They had participated in the final Secret Area before, but neither had reached thest stage, having been eliminated in earlier rounds. Thankfully, the final Secret Area they entered was not the lethal Purgatory Secret Area. Elimination didn''t mean death but rather being transported out. Nine-Tails spected, "Maybe we all need to leave?" "Possibly," Jolyne nodded, though she wasn''t certain. "Godyer, we''ll take our leave then," Cand-Dragon said, feeling that John would be safe here. John nodded, "Once I obtain the Heart of Skyline Continent, I''lle find you all." With that, the group took their leave one by one. The vast Secret Area was left in silence, with only John remaining. A dead silence settled over the ce, and no further notifications from the Secret Area appeared. "Strange?" John frowned, sensing something amiss. The system had already notified him ofpleting the Secret Area trial. Under normal circumstances, he should have already received the final reward¡ªso why was there no movement? He nced up at the sky. Whether it was his imagination or not, he felt as though someone was watching him. He surveyed his surroundings, noticing the fierce mes of the Undying me nearby, leaping and burning. "Let''s try the Fire Evasion Technique." With nothing else to do, he activated the Fire Evasion Technique, merging his body into the fire element, vanishing from sight. Whoosh! A breeze stirred, and the Undying me flickered as John moved effortlessly within it using Fire Evasion, unaffected by the mes-though his soul felt a stinging burn. Fire Evasion made him immune to all physical damage, but not to soul damage. Slightly disappointed, he thought, if only he could be immune to soul damage, he''d be truly invincible. Just as he was preparing to leave the Undying me, he sensed the Crimson Karma Lotus within his soul rapidly absorbing and refining the Undying me''s power. "Hmm, is the Crimson Karma Lotus evolving?" John was surprised. Compared to before, the Crimson Karma Lotus had grown slightlyrger, perhaps due to refining Soul Essence. With little else to do, he decided to absorb all of the Undying me here to strengthen the Crimson Karma Lotus further. He deactivated the Fire Evasion Technique and sat cross-legged in the heart of the zing Undying me. The Undying me could no longer harm him now. With his body''s fire elementalization at 100%, he was immune to any fire-based damage. Despite the intense power of the Undying me, it, too, was fire-based and thus harmless to him. The only pain he felt was in his soul, though it was manageable. ... Time passed as he devoured every bit of Undying me in the Secret Area. In his mind, the Crimson Karma Lotus expanded once more, the red mes flickering and gradually shifting to a golden hue. [Crimson Karma Lotus has absorbed Undying me, evolving into the Golden me Lotus, Soul Technique +100,000] [Red Lotus Fire has upgraded to Golden Lotus Hellfire] [Golden Lotus Hellfire: A soul-wide skill, Hellfire is intangible, purifying souls with no defense possible and free from soul bacsh; consumes 1,000 soul power per second; no cooldown] [You haveprehended a soul skill: Golden Lotus Manifestation] [Golden Lotus Manifestation: A soul skill, transforming into a manifestation state that grants immunity to soul damage, consuming 10,000 soul power per second; no cooldown] "The Crimson Karma Lotus actually evolved again!" John immersed himself in the sight of the golden me-ringed lotus deep within his soul, thrilled with the new power. With the evolution to the Golden me Lotus, his Soul Technique had gained an additional 100,000 points, totaling over 470,000. Furthermore, the Red Lotus Fire had upgraded to Golden Lotus Hellfire, doubling its potency. In other words, John could now obliterate anyone with a Soul Technique level of up to 940,000! Apart from Jolyne, he had yet to encounter an upper-tier god with a Soul Technique anywhere near a million. Even against an Overseer, he now stood a chance. On top of that, he had gained a new skill: Golden Lotus Manifestation, which granted immunity to soul damage! However, the soul power consumption for Golden Lotus Manifestation was immense, draining 10,000 soul points per second. With his current Soul Technique of 470,000, he could only maintain it for 47 seconds. Still, it was a lifesaving skill, one he wouldn''t need to use constantly. "Hm?" John frowned, gazing coldly at the sky. With his Soul Technique heightened, his Soul Perception had sharpened as well. He could now sense a probing presence from another dimension. "Hmph!" He snorted, his voice icy. "Show yourself already. How long do you n on spying?" The Secret Area remained eerily silent, with no response. Scoffing, John lost patience, summoning a long sword and unleashing a Flying Sword Strike into the air. Buzz! The sword intent hummed, slicing through space as the fierce sword light disappeared into the void. "Roar!" A pained roar echoed through the Secret Area as the sky split open, revealing a massive dragon head emerging from the tear. "A member of the Beast n?" John was taken aback. This creature was also a divine dragon of the Beast n. He asked, puzzled, "Are you the Guardian of Skyline Continent?" The dragon didn''t answer immediately. Instead, it studied him with a furrowed brow, then spoke in a low tone, "Human, the fact that you sensed me is quite surprising." John sneered, unwilling to waste time with this creature. "Where is the Heart of Skyline Continent? Hand it over." The guardian dragon frowned, looking displeased as he replied coldly, "Human, I cannot give it to you. I''ve promised another that the Heart of Skyline Continent will be left to them." Before John could respond, the dragon continued, "Consider the Elemental Body you''ve obtained aspensation. Leave this ce now." This guy was trying to back out! John was speechless. In all his explorations of various Secret Areas, he had never encountered such a shameless being. He looked up at the dragon and said calmly, "What? Are you holding onto it for the Shadow n?" In his mind, only a powerful figure from the Shadow n could pose a threat to this dragon. The guardian dragon shook his head. "No. You needn''t ask further; the Heart of Skyline Continent is no longer your concern." With that, he prepared to leave. "Stop right there!" John''s tone was cold and sharp. "And what if I insist on taking it?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Hmph! The guardian dragon exhaled a furious breath, his gaze icy. "Human, you''re testing my patience. As the Guardian of Skyline Continent, I am beyond thews here. Even if I kill you, there will be no bacsh." "Oh really? Then killing you might be the only way to obtain the Heart of Skyline Continent," John sneered, sensing that, while the dragon was indeed the Guardian, his power was weaker than Cand-Dragon''s, making him an easy target. Buzz! The air hummed with sword intent as John summoned the Immortal Art, Nine Heavens Sword. A massive sword shadow materialized, tearing through the sky as it descended upon the dragon''s enormous head. "No!" The guardian dragon''s face changed as he felt the terrifying power within the giant sword. Just as the de descended, he shrank back into a rift in space, vanishing. "Hmph, you can''t escape!" John had already locked onto the dragon''s position. Activating his Split Void talent, he tore through the fabric of space and pursued him. Buzz! The spatial energy rippled, and John''s form appeared in an unfamiliar dimension. It was deste, void of life, a realm in ruins and deathly silence. "Human, how did you get here?" a terrified voice echoed. John looked over, his expression shifting in surprise. The guardian dragon, aside from his head, wasrgely petrified his once-mighty body now drained of life, reduced to stone, as broken as the surrounding space. John realized that the guardian dragon and Skyline Continent were one. With Skyline Continent''s energy depleted, the dragon''s body had petrified, leaving only his head intact. But if he handed over the Heart of Skyline Continent, both he and Skyline Continent would be destroyed. "Sigh," John sighed, a hint of pity in his tone. "Hand over the Heart of Skyline Continent, and I''ll give you a swift end." The dragon''s gaze was cold, refusing to yield. "Human, I''ve already told you: it''s not yours to have. Even if you take it by force, it will bring disaster upon you." "Heh, that''s not your concern." John dismissed him, unwilling to debate further. With Skyline Continent on the verge of copse, he had to descend upon Shadow Star. No matter what, he needed the Heart of Skyline Continent to be The Overseer. Only then would he have any chance of contending with the powerful Lord God behind the game of the gods. Buzz! The air vibrated as three longswords flew out, shing relentlessly at the guardian dragon''s petrified body and head. "Human, begone!" The dragon roared in fury, unable to move as the four foundational elements surged around him, forming a massive shield to try and block John''s assault. Chapter 276: Chapter 276: The Collapse of the Continent, Sea King’s Descent Chapter 276: The Copse of the Continent, Sea King¡¯s Descent ? Boom! The massive shield shattered, utterly ineffective as the longsword descended with a fierce roar. Crack! Scales broke, blood sttered, and the guardian dragon cried out in pain. Before John, the guardian dragon had no power to resist. "Human, even if you kill me, I will never give you the Heart of Skyline Continent. Even if you obtain it, death awaits you!" He refused to yield, his tone icy as he threatened John. "Let''s see what secrets you''re hiding," John sneered, activating his soul skill, Memory Extraction. Buzz! The air trembled as John easily breached the dragon''s deepest memories, uncovering recent events. "Sea King!" he eximed, staring at the guardian dragon in surprise. This dragon had struck a deal with Sea King to reserve the Heart of Skyline Continent for someone from the Sea n. In return, Sea King would protect him from perishing along with Skyline Continent. "What did you do to me?" The guardian dragon''s eyes widened in fury. He realizing the human had somehow invaded his mind. "Hmph!" John let out a cold snort, wasting no words as he activated the Immortal Art Nine Heavens Sword, aiming to obliterate the dragon. Knowing that Sea King could enter this dimension, he needed to end this quickly. John had already tried soul attacks, aiming to eradicate the dragonpletely. But this creature seemed impervious to soul damage. ... Skyline Continent, Entrance to the Secret Area A crowd of powerful beings had gathered, waiting for John to return rather than dispersing right away. Within the Sea n''s group, Sea King couldn''t help but smirk as he noticed the Shadow n was nowhere to be seen. It appeared Godyer had indeed taken care of the Shadow n traitors for him. "Milord, are you injured?" Jolyne, standing nearby, sensed an unstable aura around Sea King and asked with concern. She had sensed Sea King engaged in a fierce battle back in the Secret Area. "It''s nothing, just a minor injury," he replied coolly. Noticing that John was still absent, he frowned and asked, "Did Godyer sessfully refine the Elemental Essence?" Jolyne nodded, her expression uneasy. "He''s powerful. I couldn''t stop him," she said in a low voice. "Hmph, no matter. He won''t get the Heart of Skyline Continent," Sea King snorted, confident. The Guardian of Skyline Continent had already struck an agreement with him and wouldn''t assist John. Soon enough, that human would fail and leave the Secret Area empty-handed. Jolyne frowned, a sinking feeling of dread growing within her. Meanwhile, a few gods and Angel Race members found Cand-Dragon. Lincoln greeted him with a respectful bow before asking, "Lord Cand-Dragon, have you seen Lord Heidern?" "Heidern?" Cand-Dragon looked surprised, only now realizing Heidern wasn''t among them. "Perhaps he''s already returned to the Void Area." "No," replied an upper-tier god, looking uneasy. "I checked the Void Area; Lord Heidern is not there. Furthermore..." He swallowed, continuing, "I can''t sense his presence. Something seems to have happened." "What?" Cand-Dragon eximed. Heidern was The Overseer. Even with his newly acquired Heaven and Earth Transformation, which had elevated his strength significantly, he doubted he could kill Heidern. Not even a powerful figure from the Shadow n could kill Heidern-they could at best defeat him but not eliminate him entirely. Unless another Overseer was involved. Sea King! The thought hit him, and he turned his gaze toward Sea King. If anyone here had the power to kill Heidern, it would be another Overseer like Sea King. Boom... Suddenly, a tremendous rumble shook the continent as the earth copsed, seawater flooding in, tearing the continent apart. Turbulent space currents surged, relentlessly devouring what remained of Skyline Continent.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Hm?" Sea King''s expression changed, anger shing in his eyes. "That human found the guardian dragon!" The continent''s shattering meant the guardian dragon had been wounded. "So, he''s that persistent," Sea King sneered coldly. He hadn''t nned on revealing his true identity or making a move on John. But now, it seemed he had no choice. Buzz! With a ripple of spatial energy, his figure vanished. "My lord..." Jolyne tried to stop him, but it was toote. Her face filled with panic, and she quickly approached Cand-Dragon. "Cand-Dragon, can you re-enter the final Secret Area?" The final Secret Area was a single-use dimension; once someone exited, re-entry was impossible. Cand-Dragon shook his head, frowning as he asked, "What happened?" Jolyne swallowed nervously, whispering, "Sea King is missing. I suspect he''s entered the final Secret Area to harm Godyer. And... Sea King is an Overseer." "What?" The gods and members of the Angel Race shouted in shock, staring at Jolyne in disbelief. "What did you say? Sea King is The Overseer?" "Lord Heidern! Was Lord Heidern killed by Sea King?" The gods red at Jolyne, their fury evident. "Silence. This matter doesn''t concern her," Cand-Dragon interrupted coldly, shooting the gods and angels a warning re. The group flinched and fell silent. Cand-Dragon, who already knew Sea King''s identity, showed no surprise. He looked back at Jolyne and asked, "But wasn''t The Overseer supposed to be barred from entering the final Secret Area? How did Sea King manage it?" "I don''t know either," Jolyne replied, a hint of panic in her voice, worried for John''s safety. "My lord, what should we do?" Tony looked to Cand-Dragon for guidance. Cand-Dragon sighed, helplessly watching the shattered continent and the turbulent space currents raging around them. "There''s nothing I can do. We can only hope that Godyer makes it through alive." Whoosh... A fierce gust swept across, pulling a few upper-tier gods into the chaotic space currents, where they were crushed by the immense spatial forces, meeting a grim end. Panic spread across the faces of the gathered crowd. Cand-Dragon turned to Beelzebub immediately, "Beelzebub, open a portal to the Abyss. Let everyone take shelter inside." "Yes, my lord!" Beelzebub answered respectfully, promptly creating a portal to the Abyss. The Abyss was an independent dimension, unaffected by the copse of Skyline Continent. Under Beelzebub''s guidance, everyone hurriedly took refuge in the Abyss. "Jolyne, aren''t youing with us?" Cand-Dragon asked, noticing that Jolyne remained rooted in ce. She shook her head. "I''ll wait for Godyer." Cand-Dragon frowned. "This area is about to be consumed by spatial currents. It''s dangerous to stay here." "Don''t worry, I have the Five-Colored Celestial Robe. It''ll protect me from the spatial currents," Jolyne replied calmly, her gaze fixed on the exit of the Secret Area, ignoring their pleas. Cand-Dragon sighed in resignation, leading the others to take shelter in the Abyss. ... In the Secret Area, within that isted space... The guardian dragon cried out in pain under John''s relentless assault, powerless to resist. Its vitality, however, was immense, and John couldn''t kill it instantly. He had tried soul attacks, but the guardian dragon''s soul was intertwined with Skyline Continent itself. Only bypletely destroying the dragon''s body and the continent could he finally eliminate it. At this point, the guardian dragon''s body was in ruins, severely wounded. Despite the longsword strikes raining down, it red at John with hate-filled eyes, growling through clenched teeth, "Human, even if you take the Heart of Skyline Continent, you''re as good as dead. Do you even understand who you''ve crossed? Sea King-he''s an Overseer, the Sea n''s greatest prodigy. If you kill me, he''ll never let you live." John''s gaze was ice-cold,pletely ignoring the dragon''s taunts. He had already uncovered the dragon''s pact with Sea King through his memories. He was well aware that Sea King was an Overseer, which only strengthened his resolve to kill the guardian dragon. Only by bing an Overseer himself could he truly stand a chance against Sea King. Almost there! Now, the guardian dragon was reduced to a single head, his body shattered. With one more strike, John could end him entirely-and with his death, Skyline Continent would copse too. John was beyond caring. The continent''s fall was the inevitable result of the gods'' game, and he could do nothing to prevent it. Just as he prepared to deliver the final blow, a furious voice cut through the air. "Godyer, stop!" It was Sea King. A terrifying surge of energy rushed toward John, mming into him with such force that he was sent flying, utterly powerless to resist. [You have been killed by Sea King, the Sea n''s Overseer. The Blessed Ring activates] The notification shed, and John was resurrected, spitting a mouthful of blood as he red coldly at Sea King. This guy''s strength was terrifying; John hadn''t been able to put up any resistance. He had been a single strike away from killing the guardian dragon, but now, with Sea King''s arrival, that chance was gone. Buzz! An intense energy radiated from Sea King''s hand, forming a realm that enveloped the guardian dragon, healing his injuries. The dragon, regaining some strength, immediately said, "My lord, he tried to steal the Heart of Skyline Continent! Kill him!" "Silence!" Sea King snapped, and the guardian dragon flinched, shrinking back and obediently falling silent. "Godyer," Sea King addressed John, his tone cold. "I have no desire to be your enemy. Leave this ce, and I won''t trouble you further." John frowned, looking directly at the guardian dragon, and said, "Hand over the Heart of Skyline Continent, and I''ll leave." "Impossible," Sea King refused tly. "I have other uses for the Heart. Godyer, you must know by now that I am an Overseer. Do you really wish to make me your enemy?" John didn''t answer, stepping forward, his aura expanding around him. His form rapidly grew, transforming into a colossal giant that towered over everything. "What...what is that?" The guardian dragon stared in horror, swallowing nervously as he looked up at the giant figure that John had be. "Hmph, so it seems we have nothing left to discuss," Sea King growled, his patience exhausted. He had given John multiple chances, but this human was refusing to show respect. Whoosh! Winds howled as Sea King''s body swelled, growing to match John''s colossal size. This was not Heaven and Earth Transformation-this was his true form. Sea King now stood in his true, terrifying form: a face of jade-green with fangs, twin horns atop his head, and a massive trident clutched in his hands. Chapter 277: Chapter 277: Fierce Battle with Sea King, Elemental Evade Technique Chapter 277: Fierce Battle with Sea King, Elemental Evade Technique ? "Godyer!" Sea King''s voice was deep and chilling. "I''m giving you onest chance: submit to me, and I''ll spare your life!" "Dream on!" John scoffed, his longsword swelling in size almost instantly. An artifact of the highest grade, able to change size at will. Whoosh! John''s longsword sliced through the air,ing down with tremendous force. "Hmph, overestimating yourself!" Sea King sneered, his gaze dismissive. He raised his trident effortlessly, blocking the strike with ease. ng! A sharp crash resonated, leaving Sea King firmly grounded, while John was sent flying backward, blood spurting from his mouth. "Godyer, you may be strong, but against The Overseer, you''repletely outmatched!" Sea King twirled his trident, casting a disdainful nce in John''s direction. "Is that so?" John wiped the blood from his mouth, his expression growing more solemn. Both he and Sea King held the title of The Overseer, but Sea King was in a league far beyond Heidern. There was noparing the two. So there are levels among The Overseers after all. "I''ll see for myself just how powerful The Overseer can be!" John wasn''t one to give up easily. An intense fighting spirit ignited within him. "Nine Heavens Sword!" he shouted, unleashing three fierce sword beams that shattered the surrounding space, the chaotic currents rushing around. Sea King''s expression grew serious, though he still looked unbothered. Crack, crack... The massive sword beams cut through the air, leaving copsing, shattered space in their wake, streaking toward Sea King. "Break!" Sea King roared, stabbing out with his enormous trident, sending ripples through the space. Boom, boom... A series of explosions erupted as the massive sword beams shattered instantly. John spat blood again, sent flying backward. "So powerful!" he thought, overwhelmed. Sea King''s attacks were terrifyingly potent yet controlled, leaving no rift in the void. Hismand of energy had reached an extraordinary level. "Once more!" John shouted through gritted teeth, activating his ultimate skill, Return of Ten Thousand Swords. Buzz! Sword energy filled the air, descending in torrents like rain, whistling as it fell, aiming to engulf Sea King. "A mere trick!" Sea King''s face twisted in scorn as he swung his arm, generating a powerful wind that dispersed everyst sword beam. John felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness. Even when he had faced a divine avatar, he hadn''t felt this outmatched. The gap between him and Sea King was vast. No matter how much power he summoned, he couldn''t even graze his opponent. "Godyer, I don''t want to kill you. Here''s yourst chance: submit to me!" Sea King pointed his massive trident at John, coldly threatening him. "Lord, don''t waste time with this guy; just kill him," the guardian dragon urged impatiently from a distance, clearly disliking John. Sea King shot him a frigid re, silencing him instantly. "I''ll say it again-dream on!" John rejected without hesitation, channeling his soul attack. He couldn''t sense any Soul Technique from Sea King, but it was the only ace he had left. Buzz! The air trembled as his Soul Impact technique activated. Sea King remained still, unfazed by the iing attack, as ripples coursed through the air around him, leaving him unharmed. "You... also possess Blood Moon''s ability!" John eximed, stunned. Sea King, like the Shadow n warrior Blood Moon, was immune to soul attacks. However, Sea King was an even more formidable opponent. Sea King''s physical strength far surpassed that of Blood Moon, making him indestructible, let alone kible. "Heh, Blood Moon''s ability?" Sea King scoffed with a coldugh. "That technique originates from the Sea n. That guy merely exchanged a part of himself to acquire it." "Godyer, since you''re so stubborn, it''s time for you to vanish!" His patience had run out. In a sh, his massive form disappeared, reappearing right in front of John, and he drove his trident straight through John''s heart. [You have been one-shotted by Sea King; Lifesaver talent triggered...] The system notification shed as John was resurrected in ce, though his soul had suffered substantial damage. Even Sea King''s basic attacks carried soul-damaging effects. Thankfully, his Lifesaver talent triggered, granting him ten seconds of invincibility. "Damn it!" John cursed, and as his invincibility held, the elemental powers around him surged in waves,unching dozens of magical attacks that crashed down with explosive force. Yet Sea King remained serene, deflecting each attack effortlessly and emerging without a scratch. He seemed to have no weaknesses whatsoever. "Godyer, I''d like to see how many attacks your soul can withstand!" Sea King sneered, raising his trident once again. As a powerful gale swept through the air, John''s invincibility ended, and he was killed instantly. Lifesaver talent triggered a second time. John''s face went pale, and he coughed up blood again, his soul severely damaged. A few more strikes like this, and he might truly be finished. This couldn''t go on. "Golden Lotus Hellfire!" he gritted his teeth, unleashing the soul skill Golden Lotus Hellfire, a technique that bypassed all soul defenses, his only move capable of harming Sea King. Whoosh! Golden mes erupted, engulfing Sea King in an instant. "Hmm? Hellfire!" Sea King winced in pain; his soul defenses couldn''t withstand the searing Hellfire, which began to consume and purify his soul. Yet, even this powerful soul attack posed only a minimal threat to him. Enduring the fiery agony from the depths of his soul, Sea King used a skill against John for the first time. Whoosh! In an instant, the void rippled with emerald waves that transformed into a towering tsunami, crashing down like an immense hammer. "Not good!" John''s face fell. He could sense that his soul couldn''t withstand this onught. "Golden Lotus Manifestation!" Within his mind, his soul was enveloped in a golden glow, a solemn aura taking form, protecting him from all harm in this divine soul state. However, the cost was enormous, depleting 1,000 Soul Technique points per second. Boom! The thunderous crash shook the very space around them as John was submerged in a torrent of seawater, once again one-shotted by Sea King. But this time, thanks to Golden Lotus Manifestation, his soul emerged unscathed. "What a powerful skill!" Sea King eximed, sensing the transformation within John''s soul. "Godyer, I have to admit, the abilities you wield are ones even I find enviable. But rest assured, once you''re dead, I won''t let your talents go to waste." He let out a chillingugh and continued his relentless skill attacks. Although Golden Lotus Manifestation made John immune to soul damage, every death still inflicted heavy trauma on his soul. If this continued, he''d inevitably fall. Whoosh! A hurricane rose, sweeping up towering waves that once again surged toward John. Without hesitation, John canceled his Heaven and Earth Transformation state, reverting to his true form. He merged mysteriously into the seawater, avoiding any damage. In his Heaven and Earth Transformation state, his soul power wasn''t enhanced, so maintaining it only wasted spiritual energy. "Water Evasion!" Sea King gasped, recognizing John''s skill. "Interesting." A faint smile appeared on Sea King''s face as he also reverted to his true form, his powerful mental strength instantly locking onto John''s presence. John had no chance of hiding from him. "I must admit, the skills of The Immortals are impressive. But you''re still far too weak!" Sea said coldly, with a wave of his hand dispersing the surrounding waves and siphoning off the water element, leaving John''s figure exposed. "What an uncanny ability!" John was shocked. The Overseer, truly in control of his domain, lived up to his reputation. Sea King looked smug. "Now, how will you respond?" With that, heunched another wave of attacks, the air swirling as countless Wind des whistled toward John. "I don''t rely on just one evasion technique," John sneered, his figure vanishing again as he activated Wind Evasion. The Wind des tore through the air, but John escaped unscathed once more. "More?" Sea King''s brow furrowed. The Golden Lotus Hellfire still burned around him, its agony intensifying deep within his soul. "I refuse to believe you''ve mastered all elemental evasions!" he roared, drawing away the surrounding wind element. In its ce, a beam of radiant light struck down from above. It was an attack of light magic. John frowned. He hadn''t mastered Light Evasion, but that didn''t stop him from using other evasion techniques. Buzz! The power of earth elements swelled around him as he activated Earth Evasion, and his figure faded once more. "Die!" Sea King roared in fury, unleashing not only his light magic but also a fierce soul attack. John anticipated it and activated Golden Lotus Manifestation once more. Boom! A resounding impact echoed deep in his mind, but his soul remained unharmed. Reappearing, John smirked as he looked at Sea King and taunted, "You can''t hurt me, but I can hurt you. Let''s see how long your soul can endure this!" A muscle twitched on Sea King''s face. Though his soul was indeed stronger than John''s, under the relentless burn of Golden Lotus Hellfire, it would eventually faceplete devouring. "Hmph! Do you truly think you''re a match for me?" Sea King took a deep breath and, using an eerie technique, drained the elemental power ofws surrounding John.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Let''s see how you use elemental evasion now!" He shed forward, appearing directly before John, thrusting his trident viciously. St! Blood sprayed as John was struck down instantly, unable to defend himself. Fortunately, he managed to activate Golden Lotus Manifestation in time, shielding his soul. He resurrected, barely catching his breath before Sea King''s onught continued. Boom, boom... The trident swept through the air, striking like a storm. Even in his Lifesaver invincibility, John felt the impact, blood pouring from his eyes, ears, and nose. As soon as his invincibility ended, he was killed once more. "Godyer, let''s see whose soul endures longer-yours or mine." Sea King''s chilling voice echoed, and his terrifying attacks fell once again. John felt a surge of panic; Sea King''s attacks were too bizarre, forcing him to use Golden Lotus Manifestation to protect his soul every time he resurrected. With Golden Lotus Hellfire draining his soul power, he wouldn''tst much longer. Once his soul power ran out, his death was certain. "Die already!" Sea King''s icy voice reverberated as his dreadful attacks fell once more. John''s expression grew grave. He''d already exhausted his five Lifesaver talent uses. Dying again would trigger Undying and Immortal, but without invincibility, he''d be no match for Sea King. He needed a way to turn the tables-and fast! Chapter 278: Chapter 278: World Within the Palm, Chaos Force Chapter 278: World Within the Palm, Chaos Force ? John''s mind raced as he scanned his surroundings, and his gaze locked onto the guardian dragon. It seemed Sea King valued this creature highly. If he could kill it and obtain the Heart of Skyline Continent, it might give him the power needed to face Sea King. Buzz! Spatial energy pulsed, and John''s figure disappeared, reappearing a secondter directly in front of the guardian dragon. "Hm? Split Void talent!" Sea King''s expression shifted in surprise. Split Void was a skill unique to the Shadow n-how John acquired it was a mystery to him. "Master, help me!" the guardian dragon cried out in terror. "Die!" John shifted back into his Heaven and Earth Transformation state, raising his fist to strike down on the dragon''s only remaining head. "Human, how dare you!" Sea King shouted anxiously. But the distance was too great; he couldn''t reach them in time. With the guardian dragon''s death, the Heart of Skyline Continent was sure to drop. Moreover, John had passed all the final trials in The Secret Area, meaning the Heart of Skyline Continent would automatically recognize him as its master-something Sea King was desperate to prevent. Boom! A thunderous st rang out as the guardian dragon howled in agony, blood pouring from its seven orifices. At that moment, Sea King''s attack struck John, instantly killing him again. The Undying and Immortal talent triggered, resurrecting John in ce. "Hmph, let''s see how you''ll save your guardian dragon now!" John''s voice echoed, and a powerful surge of sword intent filled the air as he unleashed the Nine Heavens Sword once more. Three massive sword beams tore through the void, slicing toward the guardian dragon with a fierce howl. "No! Master, save me..." The guardian dragon''s face was filled with horror. Already heavily injured, it couldn''t avoid or defend against John''s skill attack. Buzz! Suddenly, a ripple of spatial energy red, and the terrifying sword beams vanished as if they had never existed, leaving only chaotic spatial currents in their ce. Simultaneously, both John and Sea King''s figures disappeared. The guardian dragon, spared from death, exhaled in relief, muttering to itself, "Did they enter the master''s world? Now this human is as good as dead!" ... John found himself in a strange, unknown space-a clear sky and a vast, endless ocean spread out before him. Momentster, Sea King appeared, smiling as he looked at John. "Godyer, wee to my world," he said with a smirk. He continued, "Originally, I intended to recruit you. But now, your talents intrigue me even more." "Hmph, you really think you can kill me?" John sneered, attempting to summon Golden Lotus Hellfire. But nothing happened. "What''s going on?" His brow furrowed as he tried again, only to be met with silence. Not only that, but he couldn''t sense any of his powers-and his spiritual energy hadpletely vanished. "Heh!" Sea Kingughed arrogantly, spreading his arms wide, his face wild with confidence. "Here, I am The Overseer. I am invincible. Even the Lord God would dare not tread here lightly." John swallowed, involuntarily stepping back, and desperately tried to break through this space to escape. But even his Split Void talent failed to activate. "Godyer, stop struggling. Your death is certain!" Sea King could see John''s intent, spreading his hand and slowly clenching his fist. "Ugh!" John grunted in pain, feeling a crushing force tightening around him, as if it would shatter himpletely. What terrified him most was the realization that no skills or talents worked here, meaning his death wouldn''t trigger his Undying and Immortal talent. Death here meant a final end. He felt death creeping upon him, powerless to resist. Unwilling to give in, John desperately pulled two Undying mes dropped by Blood Moon from his Storage Ring, hurling them at Sea King. Boom... The Undying mes exploded, zing brightly, only to fizzle out a momentter without inflicting any harm on Sea King. With a dismissive sneer, Sea King said, "I told you, human. Here, I am invincible. ept your fate." As he spoke, his fist tightened further. It was over. Blood poured from John''s seven orifices, his body contorting, and he closed his eyes in despair. He''d done everything he could; he could only hope that Earth would be spared in this lifetime... Buzz! Suddenly, a strange pulse of power erupted, and an item flew from his storage space. It was the Creation Stone. "What''s this?" Sea King frowned, staring intently at the Creation Stone, his expression growing wary. He could feel a tremor in his world within, sensing a distinct threat. John, too, looked puzzled. The energy from the Creation Stone enveloped him, instantly nullifying the crushing force around him. Not only that, but he felt his powers return. Buzz! Another hum resounded as the Creation Stone''s glow intensified, and a terrifying surge of energy shook the entire space. "Chaos Force!" Sea King shouted in rm, his expression shifting in rage and fear. "Human, get out of here!" Panic-stricken, he tried to expel John and the Creation Stone from his world. But it was toote. Boom! A thunderous explosion echoed as the entire space copsed, the endless sea dissipating. John reappeared in the boundless void. And momentster, Sea King also emerged. "Argh!" Sea King coughed, blood spilling from his mouth, his face pale as he dropped to one knee, both shocked and furious. "Damn you! You destroyed my world within the palm!" he roared, only to cough up another mouthful of blood. His world was connected to his very being. With its destruction, his body and soul had suffered severe trauma. Though he still held the Heart of the Continent, he''d spent tens of thousands of years creating that world. Now, John had reduced it to nothing. "Master, what happened? Why is this human still alive?" The guardian dragon stared in confusion at the two of them, and even more bewildered to see Sea King injured. "Shut up, you old fool!" Sea King''s rage surged. If not for the guardian dragon, he''d never have drawn John into his inner world. And his world wouldn''t have been destroyed. Now, all he wanted was to kill the guardian dragon on the spot, but he restrained himself, clinging to his greater ns. "Human, you will die!" Sea King roared, channeling all his fury at John as he charged forward. His aura was unstable, his power significantly weakened. "Heh, do you really think you''re still a match for me now?" John sneered, focusing his energy as he summoned Golden Lotus Hellfire once more. Whoosh! Golden mes erupted, instantly engulfing Sea King. "Argh..." Sea King''s anguished cries filled the air as he staggered, his newly conjured skill dissipating in an instant. "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" John shouted, unleashing a fierce whirlwind as he resumed his Heaven and Earth Transformation state. Whoosh! With his fist clenched, John threw a devastating punch toward Sea King, relying solely on his raw physical strength without using any additional skills. Boom! Sea King spat blood as he was sent flying back, but it wasn''t a fatal blow. Even in his weakened state, his body''s resilience was formidable. Wasting no time, John activated the Immortal Art, Nine Heavens Sword. Buzz! The space tore open, and three terrifying sword beams descended, slicing relentlessly toward Sea King. "Back off!" Sea King roared,manding the vast water element around him to condense into a barrier, barely managing to fend off the sword attacks. John frowned, summoning his own elemental powers, andunched a flurry of magical attacks that rained down like a storm. Spatial Rift sh! Annihtion! Light Sword sh! Holy Light Demon-Buster st! Flying Sword Strike! ... The intense energy ripped through the space, fracturing it entirely. The water barrier protecting Sea King shattered under the relentless assault, and countless attacks descended upon him. Boom, boom... The deafening explosions left him engulfed, swirling in chaotic spatial currents.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om As the energy dissipated, Sea King was left kneeling on the ground, disheveled, with his body battered and covered in wounds. His face twisted in agony as the mes continued to torment his very soul. "Truly resilient!" John marveled, sensing Sea King was at the brink of death, yet his attacks couldn''tpletely destroy the Sea King''s body. Roar! With a fierce dragon roar, John transformed into his divine dragon form, further amplifying his power with Heaven and Earth Transformation, reaching terrifying new heights. "A dragon? Is he part of the Beast n too?" the guardian dragon murmured from afar, watching in stunned awe as John became a magnificent golden divine dragon. Yet he still believed Sea King would ultimately defeat him. "I''ll see just how strong your body really is!" John roared, summoning a whirlwind as a vast Power of Laws gathered around him, and he unleashed a barrage of devastating skills once more. Boom, boom... Sea King, now defenseless and filled with rage and resentment, could only let the onught rain down upon him. Boom! Finally, he reached his limit, sumbing to John''s relentless assault. Buzz! The air trembled. Seizing the moment, John activated his soul skill, Soul Impact, aiming to obliterate Sea King''s soulpletely. "Ugh..." Both he and Sea King spat blood simultaneously. John''s face went pale, feeling the bacsh in his own soul. Even now, Sea King''s soul force surpassed his own. "Damn it!" he cursed. Fortunately, he still had Golden Lotus Hellfire. Golden Lotus Hellfire''s damage was twice that of Red Lotus Fire, meaning his current soul force could deal over nine hundred thousand soul damage-more than enough to eliminate Sea King. He released Heaven and Earth Transformation, returning to his original form, conserving his energy to pour everything into Golden Lotus Hellfire. Sea King''s face twisted in agony, but he looked at John with defiance still in his eyes. "Godyer, killing me gains you nothing. Let''s call a truce; the Heart of Skyline Continent will be yours," he finally spoke coldly, unable to withstand the soul-burning pain any longer. "Master, no!" the guardian dragon cried out in panic. If John imed the Heart of Skyline Continent, it would spell certain death for him. But John remained unmoved. He looked at Sea King and said calmly, "If you''d offered this from the start, I might have spared you. But now that I''ve seen your true strength, I can''t let you live." "Human, you will regret this!" Sea King gritted his teeth, epting his fate as he closed his eyes, allowing Golden Lotus Hellfire to consume and purify his soul, ceasing any further resistance. Chapter 279: Chapter 279: Slaying the Sea King, Heart of the Skyline Continent Chapter 279: ying the Sea King, Heart of the Skyline Continent ? John frowned as he looked at the defeated Sea King, who had stopped resisting. He dared not let down his guard, focusing all his energy on controlling the Golden Lotus Hellfire. The Red Lotus Fire red higher. Sea King''s soul was gradually being devoured and purified, his cold gaze fixed on John. Around him, strange energy waves flickered. "Human, die!" he roared, suddenly making a move. So, he had a scheme after all. John had anticipated this and immediately activated his soul skill, Golden Lotus Manifestation. Boom! With a thunderous crash, he was annihted with no chance to resist. [You have been instantly killed by the Sea King. The Undying and Immortal talent is triggered...] A notification shed as John resurrected on the spot. He frowned. Though the Sea King''s attack was indeed fearsome, it hadn''t affected his soul, so it posed no real threat to him. "Something''s wrong. This guy''s trying to escape." Realizing suddenly, he noticed a spatial rift tearing open in front of the Sea King. He focused his thoughts and quickly cast the forbidden soul spell, Divine Mindless. Divine Mindless was not an offensive skill, bypassing the Sea King''s defenses entirely. Buzz! The air vibrated. The Sea King had one foot into the spatial rift, but in the next instant, a loud buzz filled his head, and he lost control of his body, stumbling backward. "Damn it, what did you do to me?" The Sea King looked at the closing portal with despair; his one escape chance had vanished. "Sea King, today is your end!" John''s voice was icy as Divine Mindless suppressed the Sea King''s soul, while he increased the output of Golden Lotus Hellfire. The Sea King''s face contorted in agony, yet he refused to bow. "Godyer, killing me will do you no good. Let me go, and I''ll overlook today''s events." John remained expressionless, ignoring him, intensifying the Red Lotus Fire. Feeling his soul weaken, the Sea King knew death was inevitable. He sneered, "Godyer, by crossing the Sea n and the Shadow n, even as The Overseer, you''re doomed." "Oh, really? Pity you won''t be around to see it." John scoffed. He had no intention of sparing any threat to Earth, whether it was the Lord God, the Shadow n, or the Sea n. The Sea King stopped responding, seated himself in resignation, and let the Red Lotus Fire burn through him, finally giving up his struggle entirely.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Time ticked by second by second, and John''s soul energy was nearly depleted. Finally, the notification appeared. [You have in the Sea King and earned 26,766 billion experience points] [Your level has increased to 10,057...] [Plunder talent activated; you''ve acquired the skills Tranquil Mind Technique and Crape Myrtle Mind Technique] "He''s finally dead!" John sighed in relief at the notification. The pressure from the Sea King had been enormous. If not for the sudden appearance of the Creation Stone, which had shattered the Sea King''s grasped world and left him heavily wounded, John wouldn''t have stood a chance against him. "This time, I actually plundered a mind technique!" This was the first time John had obtained a mind technique through plunder, and he checked it with curiosity. [Tranquil Mind Technique: Level 1; a high-grade skill unique to the Sea n, fortifies the spirit, preserves the body, and renders the soul invulnerable to harm] [Crape Myrtle Mind Technique: Level 1; a high-grade skill unique to the Feather Race, enhances soul techniques and improvesprehension of elemental powers and thews of nature] John was pleasantly surprised. Both of these techniques were powerful and rted to soul strength. Especially the Tranquil Mind Technique, which protected the body from destruction, effectively making the soul invincible. The only downside was that his physical strength still had room for improvement. The other technique, the Crape Myrtle Mind Technique, turned out to be a Feather Race skill. This reminded him of Jolyne. He suspected her formidable strength might have a lot to do with this Crape Myrtle Mind Technique. Setting these thoughts aside, John turned his attention to the items dropped by the Sea King. Two sets of supreme treasures and two crystals radiating unique energy. One was a Sea n treasure, and the other a Feather Race treasure. The Sea King had clearly used an Apocalypse Stone, allowing him to refine both sets of treasures. To refine these treasures required mastery of the Sea n''s Tranquil Mind Technique and the Feather Race''s Crape Myrtle Mind Technique. John''s clone was also capable of using the Apocalypse Stone, meaning he could refine both sets of treasures himself. But he wasn''t in a hurry. He instead inspected the two unique crystals. "Heart of the Continent!" John gasped. These turned out to be treasures from the Secret Area of the final stage of the: the Hearts of the Continent. One was the Heart of the Feather Race Continent, likely from the Sea King''s dominion. The other was the Heart of the Angel Race Continent. "That''s odd. I thought this belonged to Heidern''s world?" he murmured, quickly realizing the truth. The Sea King must have killed Heidern! "Human... you... you actually killed Lord Sea King..." A voice of shock came from the side. The guardian dragon stared, eyes wide, unable to believe it. "Almost forgot about you," John sneered, casually collecting the two sets of treasures and the Hearts of the Continent, then slowly approached the guardian dragon. Gulp! The dragon swallowed nervously, forcing a shaky smile as he stammered, "M-my lord, you''ve already in the Sea King and obtained two Hearts of the Continent. Only one can be refined per person, and any extra is useless. Why not let me go?" "Heh, I don''t think so," John sneered, disliking the creature immensely, and struck without hesitation. Buzz! Sword energy hummed as he unleashed the Immortal Art, Nine Heavens Sword. A terrifying de of light sliced through the void, hurtling downward. "No! Human, you''ve crossed the Sea n and the Shadow n; there will be no good end for you!" roared the guardian dragon in defiance. He was already gravely wounded, unable to evade or block John''s powerful strike. Boom! The entire space trembled, and his voice was abruptly cut off as he was obliterated by John''s blow. The guardian god fell, space fractured, and a strange crystal stone dropped to the ground. John took a step forward, plunging into the chaotic spatial currents to seize it. [You have obtained the Heart of Skyline Continent; auto-fusion initiated.] A notification appeared, and a powerful force descended from the void, enveloping him. "This is Chaos Force!" John muttered in awe, quickly sitting cross-legged to focus on absorbing this power. The Chaos Force was immense, capable of effortlessly destroying the Sea King''s grasped world-a rare opportunity indeed. The Heart of Skyline Continent and the Creation Stone flew out from his hands, hovering above him, assisting him in refining and absorbing the Chaos Force. ... Who knew how much time passed before the Chaos Force dissipated? John opened his eyes to find the Creation Stone and Heart of Skyline Continent had disappeared, fully merged within him. [You have refined the Heart of Skyline Continent, ascending to The Overseer] [+1,000,000 to all four base attributes; +100,000 to Soul Technique] The notification shed, signaling a considerable boost to both John''s power and Soul Technique. His Soul Technique had especially surged, reaching an impressive 570,000! What''s more, he felt a strange sensation, as if an entire realm had taken shape within him. Instinctively, he raised his hand. Whoosh! A surge of mighty energy swirled within his palm, revealing a chaotic realm-his very own grasped world. Curious, John willed his form to vanish, entering his inner world. Here, turbulent spatial currents shed, Chaos Force saturating the empty, featureless void. While he couldn''t yet exertplete control over this space, he knew it would require gradual transformation. But how should he reshape it? He recalled the Sea King''s realm, a boundless expanse of ocean. That wasn''t the kind of world he wished to create. Whoosh... The chaotic currents around him billowed, filled with Chaos Force, as memories of witnessing Creator''s creation scene in the chaotds resurfaced in his mind. "Maybe I can learn from Creator''s act of creation," John mused, and set to work, unleashing the immense energy within him. He activated Heaven and Earth Transformation, transforming instantly into a towering giant. Buzz! Sword energy hummed, and the longsword in his hand rapidly expanded in size. "Open!" he roared, sweeping the colossal de across the void, unleashing a powerful sword beam. Chaos Force quivered, yet this world remained whole. "Something''s off." John frowned deeply, sensing something was missing. The scene of Creator creating the world reyed in his mind, evolving over and over. He attempted it repeatedly. One sword beam after another shot forth, causing ripples in the Chaos Force, but never cleaving it apart. John didn''t give up. Multiple streams of the power ofws surged along the longsword, even incorporating time and spacews. Whoosh! He cleaved with the longsword again, this time causing a visible shift in the Chaos Force, but it still wasn''t enough to split it open. "It''s probably not about the skill itself," he murmured, closing his eyes slightly to focus on sensing the power within this space. Time passed. His spiritual power was nearly exhausted, unable to maintain the Heaven and Earth Transformation state. Oblivious to this, he remained amidst the chaotic spatial currents, concentrating on understanding the energy of this space. Chaos Force, capable of evolving all things... Could it be that if I fused all the powers ofw I possess, I''d be able to split this space open? With renewed conviction, he began by blending the four basic elemental powers ofw. Boom... Suddenly, there was a deafening explosion as the elements collided, instantly erupting. [You killed yourself. The Blessed Ring has been activated...] The notification shed, and John stared in shock. Could he really kill himself? He felt speechless. Thews seemed fundamentally ipatible, especially the water and fire elements; light and darknessws shed naturally, leading to explosions far more intense than any singlew could inflict. Yet, John felt he was on the right track. "These elements can''t merge alone, but what if I include other types of powers ofw?" Guided by this intuition, he let various types ofws swirl around him, experimenting one by one. Boom... Explosions reverberated, each attempt ending in failure, causing him to be sted apart tens of thousands of times. Thankfully, these were his own attacks, so without soul damage, he could endure them. "Nothing works?" John, looking disheveled, sank onto the void with a defeated sigh. He had tried every elemental power ofw, but none of them had seeded. Chapter 280: Chapter 280: Mastering Chaos Force, Creating Heaven and Earth Chapter 280: Mastering Chaos Force, Creating Heaven and Earth ? "Wait, there are still two powers ofw I haven''t tried," John suddenly realized, a thought sparking within him. Buzz! The surrounding space rippled, quivering faintly. It was thews of space and time. He resumed his attempts, using thews of time and space as a medium, gradually merging the other elemental powers ofw. "It''s working!" he eximed, his face lighting up with excitement. The fusion of thews of time and space seeded, causing the surrounding Chaos Force to tremble. Next came the gentlest-water elementw-which also fused sessfully. Wind and earth elements followed, but when fire touched the fusion, another explosion ensued. "Keep going!" John resurrected, took a moment to recover from the soul damage, and continued. ... Boom! Boom! In the void, explosions echoed over and over. John had no idea how many times he had tried, but just when his resurrection ability was nearly exhausted, he finally seeded. The four fundamentalws-wind, fire, water, earth-along with light, darkness, and the still-unmastered thunder elementw, all slowly merged under the harmonizing influence of the time and spacews, coating the sword. Buzz! The longsword hummed, its de cloaked in a gray haze. "Chaos Force!" John was astounded he had actually managed to create Chaos Force. Crack, crack... Just then, tiny cracks appeared along the de. The fused Chaos Force had be incredibly vtile, nearly slipping from his control. "Not good!" His face paled. This longsword, a top-grade divine weapon, was struggling to contain the Chaos Force. He could feel the Chaos Force radiating a soul-damaging effect. If it exploded, it might threaten his very life. "Open!" he roared, his mind filled with countless visions of creation. Channeling this inspiration, he swung the longsword, releasing the terrifying energy. This time, he didn''t use any skill. Yet, the longsword easily cleaved through the void. Buzz... The Chaos Force surged, slowly separating, the clear essence rising, the murky sinking- transforming into heaven and earth. "I did it!" John shouted with joy. Before himy a vast, expansive space, heaven and earth stretching endlessly, clear and bright. Yet it remained barren, devoid of life. But that didn''t matter. He still possessed treasures like the Tree of Life and the Elven Spring, which he could nt in this world to infuse it with vitality. The space was exceptionally stable. Even when John, in dragon form and empowered by the Heaven and Earth Transformation state, unleashed his strongest attack, it didn''t harm the realm in the slightest. More than that, this realm was deeply connected to his consciousness; here, he was truly divine-the Overseer! Now, he understood why the Sea King had been so confident. If not for his own extraordinary fortune-the Creation Stone''s absorption of Chaos Force-he could never have shattered the Sea King''s realm. Now, the Creation Stone had fully fused into this new world. [You have mastered Chaos Force, gaining the divine skill: Creation and Destruction] [Creation and Destruction: A divine skill that harnesses Chaos Force, allowing you to reshape worlds or obliterate them] The notification shed. John had sessfully mastered Chaos Force and gained a powerful divine skill: Creation and Destruction! "This skill... it''s practically an Overseer''s worst nightmare!" he muttered, astonished. Creation and Destruction could shatter any realm. If he were ever trapped in the Sea King''s world again, even without the Creation Stone, he could break free with ease. Moreover, using Creation and Destruction summoned Chaos Force itself-the fundamental power of creation-which even the Overseer couldn''t seal off in a pocket dimension. "It''s time to head back." John nced at his newly created realm. Although it was still barren, he was deeply satisfied. With a thought, he returned to the outer void. He checked his surroundings thoroughly to ensure he hadn''t missed anything before leaving the final Secret Area. ... At the entrance to the final Secret Area. By now, this ce had devolved into a chaotic swirl of spatial currents. With the guardian dragon in, Skyline Continent was no more. The powerful beings of various races, having no other choice, had descended upon Shadow Star. Meanwhile, Cand-Dragon and others had entered the demon race''s Abyss, waiting patiently for John''s return. In the endless sea of spatial currents stood a lone, graceful figure cloaked in a Five-Colored Celestial Robe, silently waiting. It was Jolyne. "The Sea King actually fell? Could it have been Godyer who did it?" Her beautiful eyes shone with astonishment and delight. With the Sea King dead, she was finally free, no longer under anyone''s control. "How should I thank you, Godyer?" she murmured, John''s handsome face shing in her mind as a soft blush colored her cheeks. Buzz! Just then, a spatial ripple emerged at the entrance to the final Secret Area, and a figure appeared in the distance. It was John. Jolyne''s eyes lit up, her heart settling with relief as she immediately moved to greet him. "Godyer!" she called, her face aglow with a genuine smile of joy. "Hmm, you seem a little different," John noted, momentarily taken aback. Jolyne had always been beautiful, but before, she seemed restrained, as though held back by something beyond her control. Now, however, she radiated vibrancy and freedom. "Yes." Jolyne nodded, beaming. "You killed the Sea King, freeing me from his control." Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at John, her expression soft and filled with gratitude. Unaware of her gaze, John nced around, seeing that Skyline Continent hadpletely dissolved into spatial currents, and couldn''t help feeling a pang of concern. "Where are the others?" "In the Abyss realm. Everyone is safe," Jolyne replied, stepping closer, her cheeks flushed as she gazed at him, murmuring, "Godyer, you saved me-how would you like me to thank you?" "Th-thank me?" John stammered, only now noticing the shift in Jolyne''s demeanor. He swallowed hard, but before he could say another word, Jolyne threw her arms around him. Her warm, sweet breath lingered on his lips, drawing him in, leaving him utterly entranced. "Godyer, I want to be yours," she whispered, holding onto him tightly, her eyes filled with unmistakable desire. "Alright." John smiled, pulling her close, his hand resting on the small of her back as he kissed her deeply. "Mmm..." Jolyne moaned softly, her eyes fluttering closed as her longshes trembled, responding to him with shy, inexperienced movements. John''s lips coaxed hers open, gently deepening the kiss. She gasped and tried her best to respond. Both breath growing heavy as their embrace intensified.N?v(el)B\\jnn "Godyer, wait!" Jolyne felt John''s hand drifting beneath her gown, reaching to loosen her robe. Reality struck her, and she quickly pulled back. "What''s wrong?" John asked, clearly taken aback. Jolyne''s face was flushed, her breath quick and shallow. Yet she quickly reassured him, "It''s just, um... if I remove the Five-Colored Celestial Robe, I won''t be protected from the spatial currents." "Ah, I see." John nodded, a spark of understanding in his eyes. With a wave, a surge of Spatial power enveloped them, and they vanished from the void. In the next moment, they appeared in a vast, deste world. "Godyer, is this... your grasped world?" Jolyne looked around curiously, sensing the immense energy surrounding them. John nodded, drawing her back into his arms. Jolyne began to ask him more, but he silenced her with another kiss, and her protests melted away. Their breathing grew heavier, and her gown slipped from her shoulders, revealing her wless form beneath. Her skin glowed with a soft radiance, smooth and fair as porcin. Her figure was delicate, her waist slender, her legs long and elegant, each detail a masterpiece. "Godyer... take me." Jolyne looked at John, her eyes wide with curiosity as she began to remove his gear. Soon, both stood bare before each other, the air between them warming rapidly. "Why is it so... big?" Jolyne whispered, her soft thighs brushing against John''s heated strength. A tremor ran through her as an electric thrill danced across her skin, making her swallow nervously. "Scared?" John teased, his voice low, as he gently caressed her body and kissed her earlobe with tender care. Jolyne shivered slightly but held her ground. "I''m not scared! I''m an upper-tier god peak powerhouse. I can definitely handle it!" Her defiance brought a small smile to John''s face, and he murmured, "You''re so tempting. When you start begging for mercy, I won''t go easy on you. By the way, I can keep going... all day and night." With a yful glint in her eyes, Jolyne chuckled. "Godyer, you''re exaggerating! I''ve never experienced this before, but I''ve heard stories. Men boast about things like this. ''Three minutes is half an hour,'' but... a day and night? That''s a bit much." "You doubt me?" John''s tone grew serious, and without further words, he pulled her into his arms, capturing her lips in a deep, fervent kiss. Overwhelmed by emotion, Jolyne''s legs began to part ever so slightly, and her hands instinctively sought out his warmth. Sensing her readiness, John gently ced her down, positioning himself above her. "It''s time," he whispered, his gaze locked on her as he slowly, purposefully moved forward, pressing gently against her. "Mmm!" Jolyne gasped in pain, her body tensing as she gripped John tightly with trembling legs. "It... it hurts so much," she whispered. Sensing her difort, John paused, moving with extra gentleness as he kissed her, offering soft reassurances to soothe her. Gradually, Jolyne''s body began to rx, and she took a deep breath, starting to move with him. Seeing this, John seized the moment, drawing her close as he leaned in, pressing deeper. A sharp cry escaped Jolyne''s lips, her breathing ragged, tears welling up in her eyes as she stammered, "Godyer, it hurts..." "Don''t worry; it''ll be okay soon," he whispered, brushing kisses along her cheek and neck before continuing upward to her soft curves. "Mmm..." Jolyne tilted her head, letting out a soft moan, her fingers tangling in John''s hair. The warm tingling sensation in her chest left her breathless, and she felt her lower body aching with a growing intensity. "Godyer, I... I want..." As her body adjusted to his presence, she found herself wrapping her legs around him, instinctively drawn in, eager for the heat to deepen. ... Chapter 281: Chapter 281: Capturing Jolyne, Fusion in the Land of the Abyss Chapter 281: Chapter 281: Capturing Jolyne, Fusion in the Land of the Abyss ? John watched Jolyne''s face, filled with raw emotion, and felt his own heart race with intensity. Unable to hold back any longer, he straightened up and moved closer, connecting deeply with her. "Ah..." Jolyne gasped, her hands gripping the fabric of her tight-fitting clothes. Her gaze was unfocused, her voice soft as she murmured, "Godyer, it hurts... but it feels so good..." Caught in the moment, she was entranced, drawn by the sensation and determined to match John''s energy. John''s rhythm quickened, intensifying the sensations building within him. Soon, Jolyne felt an overwhelming wave of pleasure well up in her heart. "Godyer, I can''t hold on... slow down, please..." she trembled, pleading softly as her jade- like feet arched, her lower abdomen rising with each breath, a soft moan escaping her lips as if flowers were blooming within her. The rush of joy seemed to resonate deep within her soul. "Godyer, you''re so strong..." she gasped, gripping John''s arm tightly. "This is only the beginning," John replied with a mischievous grin, leaning down to savor her skin, pressing kisses to her cheeks, neck, and chest. Every inch of Jolyne''s skin mesmerized him. While he delved deeper, seeking even greater intensity. Jolyne responded warmly, her voice filling the room as they moved in harmony. She surrendered once more under John''s intense movements, her delicate body trembling uncontrobly, warmth pooling from within. The strange pleasure deep within her soul held her captive, making it difficult to break free. Despite the sharp difort she felt, she continued to respond with enthusiasm. Unaware of the situation''s true intensity. Time slipped by unnoticed, hours blending into each other. Gradually, Jolyne''s soft moans grew in urgency, eventually turning into pleas for mercy. "Godyer, please, I need it now-I can''t hold on any longer..." Her voice quivered, and tears streamed down her face. She had climaxed countless times, her mind dizzy, on the edge of fainting more than once. "Immediately! "John''s breathing was slightly rapid as he turned over and directly embraced Jolyne, sitting cross legged on hisp as the dragon delved deeper. "No, it''s too deep, Jolyne can''t take it... "Jolyne begged for mercy in pain, her delicate body weak and powerless, at John''s mercy. That soaring dragon could reach the deepest part of her body every time, causing her a huge impact. "Godyer, please, Jolyne knows she''s wrong, I really can''t do it anymore... "Her eyes were already hazy, her consciousness blurred, and she could only subconsciously moan and beg for mercy. John ignored it, but his attack became even more intense. Jolyne was at his mercy, her delicate body trembling and her beautiful breasts constantly shaking. That deep dive stimted both of them at the same time. Finally, John reached his limit and pulled Jolyne tightly into his arms, one hand supporting her as he felt a surge of fiery intensity, drawing them closer. She lifted her head, gasping for breath, her body still trembling under his embrace. Together, they reached an even deeper peak. Johnyfortably on the ground, his face rxed, while Jolyney limply against his chest, her delicate body trembling as waves of sensation overwhelmed her. Each surge of pleasure felt like a release from her very soul, as if she were soaring free. Ovee, she slipped into unconsciousness, resting on John''s chest, her cheeks glistening, her breathing peaceful as she drifted into deep sleep. "Wow, I feel stronger than ever," John murmured, ncing at Jolyne''s delicate form with a protective affection. Although he wasn''t fully satisfied, he decided not to push her further. With a flicker of thought, he summoned fire elements around them, forming a Five-Colored Celestial Robe to gently cover Jolyne''s graceful form. Leaving her there to sleep, he watched over her quietly. -- When Jolyne awoke, it was already the next day. Feeling her strength slowly returning, the two shared another intimate connection. She couldn''t help but feel a pang of regret, realizing John hadn''t been exaggerating-he truly had the stamina tost an entire day and night. They lingering. This time, however, John was gentler, letting her go after he reached his first peak, sensing she had been through enough. "Godyer," she murmured softly, helping him adjust his equipment with care. Then, as a thought struck her, she asked, "Do you... have other sisters?" "How did you know?" John''s expression turned curious. Jolyne shot him a teasing, slightly annoyed look. "With that kind of appetite, how could one person handle you alone?" "You''re just too weak," John replied with a mischievous gleam, giving her a long, appraising look. Startled, Jolyne quickly dressed, pleading, "Godyer, I''m really done for. Give me a couple of days, and I''ll take care of you properly." "Alright," John agreed with a sigh. She was indeed at her limit, and even now, she was barely able to movefortably. Besides, he had concerns for the safety of the others in hispany. "Come on, let me introduce you to my team." Taking Jolyne''s hand, he summoned a portal to the Abyss Realm, guiding her inside. ... The Abyss Realm was, as ever, filled with powerful dark energy. Jolyne furrowed her brows, clearly ufortable with the intensity of the aura around them. But near the Tree of Life, the dark power had dissipated, reced by vibrant, flourishing life -a scene of pure tranquility. Noticing John''s arrival, a group of women rushed toward him immediately. "John, why were you gone so long this time?" Sini''s voice was tinged with frustration. John''s exploration had led him to The Secret Area, where he''d been trapped in the Celestial Tower, and after obtaining the Heart of Skyline Continent and attuning to Chaos Force, he had been away for half a year. The women had been deeply worried. "Alright, I''m back now, aren''t I?" he said, gently sping Sini''s small hand, his tone soothing. Tears glistened in her eyes, revealing how much she had missed him. "Old man, next time, if you leave us for so long again, we won''t let you off so easily," Tracy pouted in dissatisfaction. "Ooh, who''s this beautifuldy?" Her gaze shifted,nding on Jolyne with open admiration. Feeling a bit shy, Jolyne lowered her head. Sini immediately picked up on the situation, noticing Jolyne''s evident difficulty in moving and shot John a sharp re. The women collectively ignored him, surrounding Jolyne warmly and showering her with attention. John, slightly disgruntled, watched them. After so long apart, he''d hoped for some intimate time with them, too. "By the way, where is everyone else?" he asked, realizing he didn''t see Cand-Dragon and the others. It seemed only these women were present in the Abyss Realm. "They all entered the Shadow Star to scout it out in advance for you," Anna exined. Under Bonnie''s lead, her elves had all ventured into the Shadow Star. Leaving only her and Yuel behind. "They''re not in any danger, are they?" John''s concern surfaced. To the Shadow n, anyone arriving from outside was considered an invader. Particrly after he''d opened a passage connecting the Shadow n''s domain to the Gods'' Game, those entities likely bore him a grudge. Anna shook her head reassuringly. "Bonnie and I have ways to sense the presence of our elves. They''re still alive and seem to be safe for now." "Master, are we going to the Shadow Star too?" Elsa asked with anticipation. The Skyline Continent was already destroyed, and although the Shadow n was formidable, she was curious to explore. John nodded in agreement, though he first needed to integrate the Abyss Realm into his World-in-Hand. The Abyss Realm was unique-a separate space unaffected by the Skyline Continent''s fate and one he could incorporate into his domain. "By the way, can either of you refine the Heart of the Continent from your respective worlds?" He recalled the two Hearts of the Continent he obtained from defeating the Sea King, one for Elsa''s Angel Race and the other for Jolyne''s Feather Race. Handing each of them their world''s Heart of the Continent. He exined that he''d already tried refining them himself, but could only refine one. Even his avatars couldn''t manage more than that. The two women looked at the Hearts of the Continent from their worlds with a mix of nostalgia and sorrow.N?v(el)B\\jnn Elsa shook her head and said, "Master, it''s impossible. To gain recognition from the Angel Race''s Heart of the Continent, one must pass the final trials of The Secret Area. But that trial has already ended, and the Heart won''t recognize anyone else." "So, it''s useless now?" John felt a surge of disappointment; without recognition, the Heart of the Continent couldn''t appoint him as The Overseer, leaving it with no value. Jolyne furrowed her brow thoughtfully. "Godyer, keep it with you for now. I''m sure it has its purpose. Otherwise, the Sea King wouldn''t have gone to such great lengths to seek out the Heart of the Continent." John couldn''t help but feel a pang of regret for not using Memory Extraction on the Sea King back then. However, the Sea King''s soul had been incredibly strong; even in a weakened state, there was no guarantee the technique would have worked. Deciding not to dwell on it further, he turned to the women and said, "Enter my World-in- Hand for now; I need to refine the Abyss Realm." With a thought, he brought them all into his World-in-Hand. Along with them came the Tree of Life, the Elven Spring, the Human Vein of the Earth from the Skyline Continent, and the Dark Sea of the demon race. Of course, the ancestral legacy was the most precious of all. As these treasures entered his World-in-Hand, they didn''t quite bring the transformation he had envisioned. This realm was heavily constrained, allowing only him to modify it. The powerful Elven Spring and Tree of Life revitalized merely a hundred square meters or so around them, bringing a spark of life to this limited space. But for John, that was sufficient. At this point, he carefully controlled his World-in-Hand to begin devouring the Abyss Realm. Since he had already refined the Abyss Realm, the process went smoothly without a single hindrance. His World-in-Hand expanded slightly, though there were no other noticeable changes. The immense power of darkws within the Abyss Realm barely made an impact. "Too bad about the Death Land," John murmured to himself, recalling the other realm, Death Land. He had refined Death Land too, but that space had been connected to the Skyline Continent. With the Skyline Continent''s destruction, it had disintegrated into a chaotic stream, disappearing entirely. It was time to head to the Shadow Star. With the Skyline Continent gone, and now possessing its Heart, he had no reason to linger here. After letting the women know, he advised them to remain within his World-in-Hand to ensure their safety. Then, he plunged into the spatial turbulence, locating a passage to the Shadow Star, took a deep breath, and entered. Chapter 282: Chapter 282: Arrival at Shadow Star, Three Conditions Chapter 282: Chapter 282: Arrival at Shadow Star, Three Conditions ? Buzz! A ripple of spatial power spread as John entered a narrow space corridor. Turbulent spatial currents surged around him, forcing him to press forward with no option of retreat. He paid it little mind, advancing quickly down the unknown path. Soon, a sh of light signaled the corridor''s end, and without hesitation, he crossed through. Bang! A powerful force struck him as he exited, causing him to stagger, nearly losing his bnce. The spatial pressure here far exceeded that of the Skyline Continent. It was remarkably solid, nearly as stable as his World-in-Hand. "So, this is Shadow Star?" He nced around curiously. Ahead of himy a deste, dpidated vige surrounded by barrennd, and a faint scent of blood hung in the air, leaving him feeling uneasy. "Human, wee to Shadow Star!" A voice suddenly echoed as a man with flowing blood- red hair appeared out of nowhere, exuding an eerie, sinister aura. He watched John with a cold smile. An upper-tier god-level powerhouse. John''s expression hardened, eyeing the man cautiously but making no move to attack. The red-haired man continued smiling faintly. "No need to be rmed, human. You arrived just in time; miss this chance, and you''d have to wait another week. Follow me." He gestured and began walking towards the crumbling vige ahead. John decided to follow, curious to see what this man intended. If things turned hostile, he had no qualms about eliminating him. With his recent rise to The Overseer, his power had increased significantly; an upper-tier god was now hardly a challenge. Soon, he followed the man to a square at the vige''s entrance, where arge crowd had already gathered. These weren''t Shadow n members but powerhouses from various races, seemingly all from the Skyline Continent. "Vige Chief, here''s anothermb for you to arrange," the Shadow n warrior announced to an elderly man nearby, leaving John there before turning to walk away. John was surprised; he couldn''t sense this elder''s power level at all. "A demigod human, not bad." The elder appraised John, nodding approvingly before handing him a wooden tag. "Boy, here''s your number, 19557. From now on, it''s also your identification. Go join the others in line," He instructed, waving John away towards the end of the group. John frowned; the elder gave off an unsettling vibe, one he wasn''t confident he could best in a fight. Not wanting to reveal his strength, John took the wooden tag and moved to the back of the line. The queue was over ten thousand strong, filled with cold, even nk faces. Everyone stood in silence, not daring to make a single movement. Several gazes turned to John, some filled with open hostility. John frowned. He didn''t recognize these people and had no history of conflict with them. Stranger still was their mental state; they all seemed haunted, as if they had endured severe torment. "Godyer, is that really you?" The man in front of him whispered. "And you are...?" John studied him curiously. He appeared to be a demigod from the Dragonkind, but John didn''t recognize him. Hurriedly, the man introduced himself in a low voice. "Sir, I''m Dumas, from the Dragonkin. Lord Hidragon spoke of your feats in the final Secret Area and mentioned how you saved us. I''m deeply grateful." "It was a minor effort," John replied, ncing around in curiosity. "What''s the situation here?" Dumas shook his head, his voice low. "I don''t know much. I was brought here as soon as I arrived. Luckily, you didn''t resist. Over the past few days, anyone who resisted was killed. Worse, we''ve all been punished together; it''s a kind of soul torment that those below demigod level can hardly bear." He shuddered at the memory, clearly still shaken. Collective punishment? John scoffed quietly, quickly understanding the Shadow n''s n-to force everyone into submission. In the end, they wouldn''t even need to act; these powerhouses from various races would turn against anyone who dared oppose the Shadow n. "Silence!" The elder stepped onto a tform, his voice booming. Those who had been whispering instantly fell quiet, a tense silence settling over the area. Even Dumas snapped to attention, standing perfectly still. The elder nodded approvingly and continued, "From now on, I am your vige chief. You all have only your identification tags, and from now on, you will address each other only by the numbers on those tags. Is that clear?" Everyone exchanged uneasy nces, clearly displeased but afraid to show it. "Answer me!" The elder''s eyes swept over them, his expression darkening. "Yes!" The crowd shouted in unison, startled into a reflexive response. John frowned, curious about what ordeals these people must have gone through to be broken so easily. "Good." The elder''s smile returned as he went on. "Let me repeat the rules: here, you are forbidden from forming factions, leaving the bounds of the starter vige without permission, killing Hunters, or engaging in fights with each other. Any vition will result in immediate execution. Understood?" "Yes!" This time, no reminder from the elder was needed. The crowd shouted in unison, as if they''d rehearsed it a thousand times, their reflexive obedience tinged with a heartbreaking familiarity. John''s frown deepened. These rules entirely stifled any chance for the various races to thrive. It was only a matter of time before they became ves to the Shadow n. The elder continued, "Additionally, you must show absolute respect to the Shadow n and obey theirmands unconditionally." "Yes!" The crowd responded loudly again. "Damn it! Curse the Shadow n-I''ll never be theirpdog! Kill me if you dare!" Suddenly, a furious roar rang out as a lower-tier demon god charged at the elder, hatred in his eyes. The crowd''s expressions shifted, a mix of terror and anger, with some even moving to block the rebellious demon. "Disrespect the vige chief? Die!" Several figures burst out from the crowd, jointly striking down the demon in seconds. Watching this unfold, the others showed no reaction-only frantic desperation, with many hurriedly begging for mercy. "Spare us, Vige Chief! We don''t know him! We''re innocent!" "He''s a demon. All demons deserve death." "Lies! Vige Chief, we demons are also loyal to you! We don''t know him either!" ... Fearful voices rang out as everyone scrambled to prove their loyalty. John was speechless, curious about what these people had been subjected to that reduced them to such a pitiful state, stripped of any divine dignity. "Hmph!" The elder scoffed coldly. "Breaking the rules requires punishment. Rules are rules; they''re not to be desecrated!" With a wave of his hand, spatial energy fluctuated, summoning a hunters'' brood mother. "Hmm?" John was taken aback. This elder''s abilities bore an uncanny resemnce to those of The Overseer. Could this man also be an Overseer? No, that didn''t add up; the Shadow n didn''t have an Overseer. He''d likely mastered a technique simr to The Overseer''s abilities. Clearly, this ce held many secrets. "Please, sir, we know we were wrong. Spare us!" "That man truly had nothing to do with us, sir!" ... Upon seeing the hunters'' brood mother, the crowd fell to their knees, trembling in fear and pleading. "Silence!" The elder''s voice boomed, his gaze icy. "You failed to detect the presence of someone disrespecting the Shadow n. That is your failure. However, those who took action against this traitor will be spared punishment." "Thank you, sir! Thank you..." Those who had attacked the demon fervently expressed their gratitude.N?v(el)B\\jnn The others, however, looked stricken with despair, silently resolving that next time, they would not hesitate to strike first. "Face your punishment. Half an hour!" The elder patted the hunters'' brood mother beside him. Despair washed over the crowd as they sat on the ground, trembling. Roar... The hunters'' brood mother let out an ear-splitting roar, causing the air to ripple. It was a soul attack. John''s brow creased slightly. He''d killed many of these hunters'' brood mothers before and knew they had powerful souls. He''d always assumed theycked any soul-based attacks, but it seemed he''d underestimated them. A searing pain shot through his head, like a swarm of ants gnawing at his mind. Around him, agonized screams filled the air, with several people writhing in pain. Sitting cross-legged, John channeled the power of spatialws, using his World-in-Hand to block out the soul attack entirely. In front of him, Dumas was trembling, cold sweat pouring down his face, and a trickle of blood escaping his lips. The hunters'' brood mother''s attack easily threatened even demigods. At least it was only intended as torture. John thought quickly and extended his spatial power, surrounding Dumas to shield him from the soul assault. "Huh?" Dumas, suddenly free of the attack, looked confused-it hadn''t even been half an hour. Realizing it was John helping him. He whispered, "Thank you, Godyer." John gave a small nod and whispered back, "Don''t let it show." He didn''t want to reveal his strength just yet; he was curious about what these Shadow n figures truly intended. "Understood." Dumas''s eyes flickered with understanding, and he resumed his pained expression, pinching his thigh hard enough to make cold sweat bead on his forehead as he let out a pained wail. John was startled; he''d only meant for the guy to y along, not go all out in a dramatic performance. He turned his gaze to the hunters'' brood mother. It had to be a creature bound by a soul contract with the elder. He wondered if he could kill it. John wasn''t sure-the hunters'' brood mother wasn''t very powerful in itself, but the elder''s presence felt too unsettling. "Damn you, Shadow n! I''d rather die than submit..." Suddenly, a defiant shout erupted from the crowd as someone lost control, charging at the elder in a rage. Boom! The moment the person moved, they were instantly obliterated, reduced to a cloud of blood mist, their soul crushed to nothing. These were once elite figures from various races, beings with pride and courage, now crushed like ants, tormented by the Shadow n''s relentless cruelty. A few others, unable to bear the torture, also lost control and rushed forward, only to be easily struck down by the elder, leaving them no chance to resist. Chapter 283: Chapter 283: Shadow Clans Tactics, Gathering of the Lord Gods Chapter 283: Chapter 283: Shadow n''s Tactics, Gathering of the Lord Gods ? "Hmph, any further resistance will add another half hour for everyone!" the elder announced coldly. The crowd seethed in both pain and anger, enduring a deep soul-level torment while keeping a vignt eye on each other. If anyone dared disobey the Shadow n''s orders again, they wouldn''t hesitate to strike them down. Finally, the half-hour of torment ended. Thankfully, no one had been reckless enough to act out, and as the soul attack faded, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. "Thank you, Vige Chief, for sparing us..." The crowd fell to their knees, bowing in gratitude. John was stunned. Were these people truly this spineless? The torture was caused by this elder, yet they thanked him for sparing them in the end. He couldn''t help but marvel at the Shadow n''s methods, wondering if he might learn a thing or two from them someday-perhaps build his own authoritarian organization, where all his subordinates would obey him without question... But that was just a passing thought. Wherever there''s oppression, there''s bound to be resistance. And these spinelessckeys were nothing he would ever want under him. "Sir, I have something to report!" Just then, a ninth-tier powerhouse stepped forward, pointing usingly at John. "This guy is the Godyer! He''s ughtered countless Hunters in the past." A Dark Human. John recognized him immediately-one of the Dark Humans. Weren''t these degenerates supposed to have been wiped out by Heidern? Yet here was a survivor. John''s eyes glinted with cold fury as he gave the man a chilling look. "Oh, Godyer?" The vige chief''s gaze shifted toward John at the back of the group, a sly smile ying on his face. "I''ve heard of you." "Sir, there''s been a mistake!" Dumas quickly stepped forward to shield John. "This guy has been misidentified. He''s one of us, a Dragonkin, who only happens to look a bit like the Godyer. If you don''t believe me, he can transform into his true form." He turned back, shooting John a panicked look and subtly motioning for him to y along. He knew John could shift into a dragon form. While technically part of the Beast n, it was close enough to Dragonkin that the Shadow n might not notice the difference. "They already know my abilities," John whispered, shaking his head and signaling to Dumas to remain calm as he looked directly at the elder, his expression untroubled. He had no intention of hiding. The chaos he had stirred on the Skyline Continent was hardly something that could be concealed from the Shadow n. "Godyer, I''ve heard much about your reputation," the vige chief replied, his face impassive but his smile unwavering. "Since you''vee to my shadow Star, you''re considered a friend of the Shadow n. As long as you behave, I won''t trouble you." "Yes, absolutely! Vige Chief, don''t worry; we''ll be on our best behavior!" Before John could respond, Dumas quickly interjected on his behalf. The vige chief nodded approvingly and continued, "Good. Get to know each other. Tomorrow, you''ll all be assigned tasks. As long as you follow orders, you won''t be mistreated. Also, the house corresponding to your ID number is your designated residence. Now, you''re free to move about." With that, he turned and left. The crowd visibly rxed, slowly dispersing. John looked at the Shadow n human and made a cutting-throat gesture.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Hmph!" The man snorted in defiance, unfazed. Fighting was prohibited here, and he didn''t believe John would dare defy the vige chief''s orders and attack him. "Sir, your ce is right next to mine. Let me show you." Dumas led John enthusiastically to a small, shabby hut. It was cramped, run-down, and drafty-hardly a ce anyone, not even a beggar, would willingly stay in. "This is where we''re supposed to live?" John frowned, clearly displeased. "Please bear with it, sir," Dumas said, pitching in to tidy up and exining, "There''s something strange about this ce. At night, the air fills with a bloody, murderous aura that''s unbearable without these huts to shield us. A few days ago, someone tried absorbing that aura to cultivate¡ªthey all went mad." "Really?" John inspected the hut closely and sensed a unique energy barrier within it. "By the way, have you seen any other strong fighters from different races?" He hadn''t seen anyone from the Beast n or the elves and asked out of curiosity. Dumas shook his head. "I just got here myself, but I''ve heard that everyone who arrives on Shadow Star is assigned different tasks. We''ll probably be given tasks tomorrow, and maybe we''ll see them then." "Oh, and sir, I ran into someone familiar to you," Dumas added, "It was that ck dragon." "A ck dragon? Avis?" John asked with interest. "Yes." Dumas nodded, then looked troubled as he continued, "Avis was remarkably defiant. He withstood a full day and night of soul torture without breaking. They eventually took him away, but I don''t know where." "What!" John''s expression darkened; the thought of themying hands on his people filled him with fury. Luckily, he could still sense that Avis was alive. However, he couldn''t pinpoint his exact location. John continued questioning Dumas about the situation here. But Dumas didn''t know much either, having been confined to the starter vige without permission to leave. Powerful spirit beasts roamed the outskirts of the vige, but they couldn''t venture out or hunt them. The Shadow n clearly intended to stifle their growth, trapping them entirely. -- As night fell, a blood-red mist filled the air, thick with the aura of killing. From outside the vige, the roars of Hunters echoed, seemingly locked in a ughter against those spirit beasts. "Sir, it''s gettingte. I won''t disturb your rest any further." Dumas nced at the sky, excusing himself and taking his leave. John didn''t hold him back, instead stepping to the hut''s entrance to carefully sense the blood-filled mist outside. Just as Dumas had described, the air outside was thick with an overpowering, bloodthirsty aura, violent and nearly impossible to control. Attempting to cultivate it recklessly would surely lead to madness. John refrained from trying and returned to the hut, blocking out the invasive mist. With a thought, he entered his World-in-Hand. The women, who had stayed there the whole time, immediately came forward when they saw him. "John, did you make it to Shadow Star?" Sini asked urgently. "Yes. The situation isplex but not dangerous for now," John replied, exining the situation on Shadow Star. "Those despicable tactics... it''s typical of them," Jolyne spat angrily, recalling her own experiences of Shadow n''s cruelty. "Master, what should we do next? Should we resist?" Elsa asked, her distaste for the Shadow n evident. John shook his head. "Not yet. I need to locate Cand-Dragon and the others to ensure they''re safe before we n any resistance." The women nodded in agreement, understanding the need for caution. The Shadow n''s methods were insidious, and a hasty move would likely end poorly. "For now," John continued, "stay here and focus on absorbing the legacy of The Immortals to strengthen your powers." The women, apart from Jolyne, weren''t particrly strong and would be at risk on Shadow Star. "Alright," they replied obediently. John left his World-in-Hand, returning to the hut. He extended his mental senses but detected nothing unusual. Satisfied, he decided to let his guard down a bit and enjoy a rare moment of rest since cultivation wasn''t possible here. ... Meanwhile, in Shadow Star''s Supreme City. This ce was the Shadow n''s forbidden zone, perpetually shrouded in a blood-red mist laden with a murderous aura. Aside from the Hunters, any being below a demigod who ventured close would face certain death. Inside the grand hall of Supreme City, a gaunt, pale-faced middle-aged man set down amunication stone, muttering coldly to himself, "So, the human has finally surfaced. It seems he''s obtained the Heart of Skyline Continent... this could be troublesome." He was the supreme ruler of Shadow Star and one of the eight Lord Gods behind the Gods'' Game-the Shadow God. With a thought, his form vanished, appearing in the vast emptiness of the void. Whoosh! Blood-red energy emanated from him, his terrifying aura filling the void. Before long, figures began to materialize. In total, eight figures gathered-these were the eight Lord Gods who orchestrated the Gods'' Game. The eight figures present were the Sea God of the Sea n, the God of the Underworld from the Underworld n, the God of Nature from the Nature n, the Witch God from the Witch n, the Sky God from the Sky n, the Giant Spirit God of the Titan n, the Eternal God from the Eternal n, and the Shadow God from the Shadow n. "Shadow, why have you called us here?" the Witch God asked, casting him a disdainful look. Though the Shadow God held the title of Lord God, the others knew how he had achieved it, and none held any particr respect for the Shadow n. Unbothered by their contempt, he maintained a smile. "You''re all aware by now that my Shadow n has be entangled in the Gods'' Game." "Serves you right," the Sky God sneered in contempt. The Shadow God''s brow twitched, a flicker of anger crossing his face, but he held back. The God of the Underworld spoke next, "Shadow, you know as well as we do that we cannot intervene with the Gods'' Game." "Of course." Shadow nodded, smiling. "I''m not asking you to help prevent it. On the contrary, I''m inviting each of you to descend upon Shadow Star." The others fell silent, eyeing him suspiciously. They were all too familiar with the Shadow n''s underhanded ways. As the most powerful of the Lord God races, their presence on Shadow Star would only hasten its downfall. None of them believed Shadow''s intentions could be so straightforward. "Don''t misunderstand-I''m acting out of necessity," he continued with a forced smile. "Naturally, I have a condition: I need your help to eliminate the Godyer." "Oh?" The Eternal God raised a brow, watching him keenly. "You''re a Lord God, and yet you can''t manage to kill a mere follower of The Immortals?" Shadow sighed. "That one has be The Overseer, shielded by thews of the world. I''m barred from acting directly. That''s why I''m inviting your own Overseers to descend and assist in killing the Godyer." The group''s interest visibly piqued; the Heart of the Continent held by an Overseer was no small prize, but none of themmitted right away. "Shadow, what about the Sea King?" the Sea God demanded, fixing him with a steely re. Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Hidden Agendas, Forced Labor in the Mines Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Hidden Agendas, Forced Labor in the Mines ? "Hmph, I could ask you the same thing." The Shadow God snapped, his tone icy with irritation. "It was Sea King''s interference that led to the deaths of several of my subordinates, including Blood Moon. I''m beginning to suspect that you and your Sea n are in league with that human." "Sea King is dead!" the Sea God interrupted, his aura filled with killing intent. "Don''t tell me that this has nothing to do with the Shadow n." The Shadow God, genuinely surprised, shook his head. "This incident really has nothing to do with the Shadow n." "Could it be the work of the Godyer?" the God of Nature spected from the side. "Impossible. Sea King had reached the pinnacle of one-star Overseer. Even if that human had refined the Heart of Skyline Continent, he still wouldn''t be a match for Sea King." The Sea God''s gaze remained locked coldly on the Shadow God. He had once ordered Sea King to target the Shadow n''s Overseer, Heidern. And now suspected that Heidern had killed Sea King, possibly with assistance from the Shadow n. The Shadow God''s brows knitted tightly as his gaze flickered-he genuinely had no knowledge of this development. If Sea King was indeed dead, it was certainly tied to that Godyer. And if Heidern had also met a grim fate, it meant that human likely held three Hearts of the Continent. If the human seeded in merging them all, his power would skyrocket beyond expectation. "Well, everyone, I''ve delivered the news. How you respond is up to you." With that, the Shadow God cast a final nce over the group before dispersing, disappearing entirely. The remaining seven gods stood in silence, each absorbed in their thoughts. Finally, the Witch God broke the silence, "Are you really nning to get involved? If our races descend onto Shadow Star, the Gods'' Game will connect to our home worlds. That human broke the Shadow Star''s passage-he might be able to open connections to our worlds too, putting him beyond our control." "Hmph, just kill him, and the problem''s solved. Let me warn you all-don''t even think about Sea King''s Heart of the Continent," the Sea God warned with a menacing look before vanishing. "The Gods'' Game seems to be getting more interesting," the Sky God murmured with a cold smile, his figure disappearing as well. The others exchanged nces, each one disappearing shortly afterward. It was clear they all nned to descend upon Shadow Star. It wasn''t just the Godyer-they were enticed by Shadow Star''s Heart of the Continent. Though the Lord Gods seemed powerful, they had long hit a ceiling in their strength. Their only means of furthering their powers was to devour the energies of other worlds. Especially the Hearts of the Continent, which provided the greatest enhancement. ... Shadow Star, Starter Vige The next day, John was jolted awake by a series of angry roars-it was the hunters'' brood mother, its criesced with faint soul attacks. "Sir, time to assemble!" Dumas''s voice called from outside. John frowned, his dislike for the Shadow n growing. He blocked out the brood mother''s furious howls and finally opened the wooden door of his hut. "Hurry, sir! If we''rete, there''ll be punishment," Dumas insisted, grabbing John and pulling him towards the vige square. Around them, other powerful beings also hurried towards the square, moving quickly to avoid any dy. John rolled his eyes. These people were really acting like they''d fully embraced the role of ves. Before long, everyone was assembled. After a while, the vige chief finally arrived, strolling in at a leisurely pace. Looking over the crowd, he gave a pleased nod and said, "Good. Everyone assembled in under three minutes, but I expect you all to be even faster next time." As he spoke, he cast a pointed nce at John, who stood at the back of the group. John remained calm, his expression impassive, giving nothing away. The vige chief continued, "Today, I''ll be assigning tasks. Those who perform well will be moved to better work positions." He gestured, summoning a teleportation array in front of him. "Proceed through the portal in an orderly manner. You''ll be received on the other side and given instructions-just follow orders." "Yes, sir!" The crowd replied in unison, proceeding through the portal in an orderly line. John and Dumas were at the back of the line. "Dumas, do you know where this portal leads?" John asked quietly. Dumas shook his head, whispering back, "No, sir, it''s my first time leaving the vige as well." John said nothing further and followed the others through the portal, disappearing a momentter. "That human is far too arrogant!" the vige chief muttered coldly once John was gone. If it weren''t for the Shadow God''s orders, he would have killed John already. It seemed keeping this human around was part of a n to draw out other strong warriors from different races. The vige chief wasn''t sure of the Shadow God''s full intentions but didn''t dare question them and followed orders to the letter. ...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om With a ripple of spatial energy, John and the others appeared in a mining field. They stood at the edge of a massive pit, so deep it seemed bottomless, with echoes of harsh orders and pained screams rising from within. Everyone fell silent, quickly forming their previous lines as instructed by the vige chief, waiting for further orders. It is the vige chief order. "Sir, this ce gives me the creeps!" Dumas whispered, noticing the numerous Shadow n guards patrolling the area. He edged closer to John for reassurance. John didn''t seem particrly concerned; most of these guards were lower- and mid-tier gods. Even without hunting down their brood mother, he could simply pull them into his World-in-Hand, severing their connection to her and taking them out with ease. "Is everyone here?" A middle-aged Shadow n man appeared, holding a long whip and scanning the crowd with a steely gaze. He looked them over coldly. "Here are your tasks: demigods must mine 100 cubic meters of ore daily, lower-tier gods 200 cubic meters, mid-tier gods 500 cubic meters, and upper-tier gods 1000 cubic meters. Any peak upper-tier gods should report to me; I have a separate assignment for you." Everyone nodded,mitting the orders to memory. John frowned, realizing they were indeed being treated as nothing more than forcedbor. To find Cand-Dragon and the others, however, he had no choice but to endure it for now. Since Cand-Dragon was a peak upper-tier god, he was likely assigned elsewhere. The overseer continued, "Alright, head into the mine and get to work. Anyone who doesn''t meet their quota will be punished." An elevator appeared, and a powerful restraining force around the mine prevented anyone from flying. Several people looked reluctant but didn''t dare resist, obediently stepping onto the elevator to descend deep into the mine. "Let''s stick together, sir," Dumas said, joining John on another elevator. Once a hundred workers had boarded, the lift began its slow descent. The pit was dark and endless. The elevator creaked as it lowered them, and after a full five minutes, they finally reached the mine''s base. Below, an unknown mineral emitted a soft glow, illuminating the sprawling,byrinthinework of tunnels. All around, powerful figures from various races were toiling away, hauling massive stones, struggling with each step, their faces dripping with sweat. The strange minerals seemed unusually heavy. Crack! The sharp snap of a whip echoed as it struck flesh. "Don''t just stand there! Get to work!" barked a hulking Shadow n enforcer, his eyes scanning the new arrivals with a cold gaze. Nobody hesitated, moving promptly into the mine. "Dumas, keep an eye out for any of my people around here," John murmured. "Understood." Dumas replied, casting a curious look at the surroundingborers. The workers were bent over, barely managing to carry their burdensome stones. Their expressions were vacant, worn down by relentlessbor. Boom! Suddenly, there was a loud thud as an old, frail man copsed under the weight of his load, blood trickling from his mouth as hey pinned by the stone. The surrounding workers showed no reaction, their faces devoid of emotion. "Youzy scum! Who told you to ck off?" a Shadow n guard roared, bringing down his whip with a brutal crack. Crack! The old man''s back split open. He cried out in pain, pleading, "Sir, please... let me rest. I can''t carry it anymore." "Shut up and get back up!" the guard shouted, raising the whip again, though it didn''t strike. At some point, John had stepped forward, his hand catching the whip mid-swing. He looked at the guard with cold disdain. "He''s at his limit. What''s wrong with letting him rest for a moment? Do you really intend to beat him to death?" The guard eyed John, sizing him up with a sneer. "Neer, huh? Looks like someone needs a lesson in the rules around here." He raised a hand, and a hunters'' brood mother appeared, roaring as it unleashed a soul attack. "Back off!" John roared, releasing a powerful Soul Impact that sent the hunters'' brood mother staggering back. Then, he summoned Golden Lotus Hellfire, engulfing both the hunters'' brood mother and the Shadow n enforcer. "Aagh..." the enforcer screamed in agony, and the hunters'' brood mother let out its own shrieks of pain. "Human, stop this!" amanding voice called out as a squad of Shadow n soldiers rushed over, led by an upper-tier gods peak-level warrior. Ignoring them, John lifted the massive stone crushing the old man. So heavy! John''s expression shifted. The stone, less than a cubic meter, weighed over seven hundred tons-pushing the very limits of a demigod''s strength. The old man scrambled to his feet, frantic. "Young man, you shouldn''t have stepped in for me. Put out those mes, or they''ll punish everyone." Then, turning to the Shadow n soldiers, he fell to his knees, pleading, "Sirs, it''s all my fault. Please, let this young man go. I''ll carry double the stone load every day from now on." "Hmph, mistakes must be punished!" one of the soldiers snapped, raising his whip. But the upper-tier gods peak warrior stopped him. Looking coldly at John, he said, "I''ll pretend this never happened. Now, put out the mes." John frowned, sensing they seemed keen to avoid a direct conflict with him. Deciding not to escte the situation for now, he dispelled the Golden Lotus Hellfire with a thought. Both the enforcer and his hunters'' brood mother let out a collective sigh of relief. Especially the hunters'' brood mother, who nced at John in terror, its body trembling slightly. John smirked with disdain. He recalled a time when a hunters'' brood mother had boasted about being able to even kill a Lord God. Yet here it was, cowering. Crack! The whip snapped through the air as the upper-tier gods peak warrior barked, "No cking- get back to work, now." Chapter 285: Chapter 285: Behemoth, A Hard Day Chapter 285: Chapter 285: Behemoth, A Hard Day ? "Yes, yes," the old man quickly scrambled up from the ground, brushing the dust off his face as he struggled to lift a piece of ore. Coming over to John''s side, he murmured, "Young man, don''t stand up for others here. Life isn''t valued here, and it could cost you your own." With that, he painfully moved his feet and headed toward the other side of the mine, where ores were piled. "Sir, let''s go too," Dumas said nervously, tugging John away toward one of the mine tunnels, clearly anxious that John might interfere again. Once out of sight from the Shadow n elites, Dumas let out a sigh of relief, leaning in to whisper, "Sir, I think I saw a Behemoth earlier. Not sure if it''s the one you''re looking for." "Oh? Show me," John''s interest was piqued. Dumas seemed to have already familiarized himself with the area, as he led John through the mine tunnels until they eventually found a giant figure.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om It was indeed a Behemoth, one from the Behemoth n. However, John''s face fell with disappointment; it wasn''t his Behemoth. This Behemoth had the power of a lower-tier god, yet it was shackled with heavy chains around its feet, bearing an enormous ore almost asrge as itself and dragging its steps with difficulty. Still holding onto a sliver of hope, John approached and asked, "Excuse me, have you seen any other Behemoth around here?" The giant paused briefly, looking down at John with a cold, numb gaze, his eyes devoid of any light. Then, the sound of rattling chains filled the air as he continued carrying the stone, moving away with struggle. "What a rude guy," Dumas muttered with a frown. John didn''t mind and sighed, "If you were imprisoned here for hundreds or thousands of years, seeing no hope, you''d be the same." "N-No way?" Dumas shivered slightly, as though he''d glimpsed his own bleak future. "Young man, are you searching for a Behemoth?" A voice called out; it was the frail old man from earlier. John nodded, curiosity prompting him to ask, "Have you seen other Behemoths around here?" The old man nodded, picking up a rtively small piece of ore, lifting it with difficulty as he spoke weakly, "Just a few days ago, a Behemoth did show up here-a rare golden one, but it didn''t cooperate and was taken away by the Shadow n." John''s eyes lit up; that had to be the Behemoth he was looking for. He eagerly asked, "Do you know where they took him?" The old man shook his head, "Sir, don''t talk too long; if we stay in the mine without working for too long, the Shadow n elites will notice." With little choice, John and Dumas picked up chunks of ore roughly their own size. "So... heavy..." Dumas gasped, nearly stumbling under the weight. Thankfully, John steadied him with a hand. Dumas gave him a grateful look. The old man struggled as he walked out of the mine tunnel, speaking in a low voice, "I don''t know where they took him. Once they''re taken away, no one everes back. Chances are, it''s not looking good." John frowned deeply, worrying about the safety of his subordinates, Behemoth and Avis, who had also been captured. However, since he had signed soul contracts with both, he could feel that their lives weren''t in immediate danger. "There was one strange urrence, though," the old man continued, as if something hade to mind. "That Behemoth you just saw should know something. Back then, a group of Behemoth warriors refused to submit, and they fought back under his lead. Sadly, they failed, and everyone was taken away. When that one returned, he waspletely changed-numb, lifeless, justboring mindlessly every day without a hint of his former wild spirit." The three of them had reached the mouth of the tunnel, and the old man fell silent. Talking amongst themselves wasn''t permitted here. John figured that the Behemoth must have gone through something severe to end up like this. As they carried their loads of ore and trudged forward, John barely felt the weight. But after a single trip, Dumas was already gasping, nearly copsing from exhaustion. For a demigod, the daily quota of a hundred units of ore was nearly impossible to achieve. And for the old man, his quota was 200 units-a task that would be the death of him. Fortunately, John was there to help both of them. "Hurry up!" a Shadow n soldier barked, cracking his whip threateningly as he watched them moving slowly back toward the mine entrance. Though this time, he didn''t strike them, seemingly wary of John''s abilities. Once back in the tunnel and out of the guard''s line of sight. The old man leaned close again, speaking quietly. "Sir, if you want to save that golden Behemoth, you''d have to seek help from the Behemoth we saw earlier. But let me warn you: going up against the Shadow n doesn''t end well for anyone." John chuckled darkly; he hadn''te here to y nice but to stir the Shadow n into utter chaos and, if necessary, wipe them out entirely. "But will that guy really help us?" Dumas asked, his brow furrowed as he recalled the indifferent attitude of the Behemoth they''d encountered. "He will," the old man said confidently. "When that golden Behemoth was taken, I saw a flicker in his eyes. He still cares about his people." John nodded, though he hadn''t seen any sign of the Behemoth in the tunnel since. Dumas and the old man each hefted another massive chunk of ore. Curious, Dumas asked, "Why do you have to haul all this manually? Can''t it be transported through spatial magic?" The old man exined, "Sir, it''s impossible. This ore carries a unique energy field that restricts space; spatial skills won''t work here." "Is that so?" John raised an eyebrow, then casually waved his arm, tearing open a small spatial rift with ease. The old man stared in astonishment. "Sir, do you have the Split Void ability?" Only the Split Void ability can break through the spatial restrictions of this energy field. The old man nced around warily, quickly saying, "Sir, close the rift quickly. If anyone from the Shadow n sees, they won''t let you go." With another wave of John''s hand, the rift disappeared, as if it had never existed. Clink, nk... Just then, the sound of chains echoed, and the Behemoth from earlier appeared, his expression still numb, eyes vacant and lifeless. John stepped forward, about to ask him something, when the giant surprisingly spoke first. "You know the golden Behemoth?" His voice was raspy and hollow as he hoisted a massive chunk of ore, seemingly talking to himself. As he bent down, John caught sight of his back, raw and bloody, with bones even visible in some ces. It was clear this Behemoth had never been allowed a moment''s rest. John quickly asked, "Do you know where he is?" The Behemoth struggled to lift the ore again, the sound of chains almost drowning his faint reply. "And what are you to him?" "He''s one of my subordinates," John replied without borating. "A subordinate?" The Behemoth''s brow creased as he cast a cold nce at John, then continued onward. Just as they were nearly out of the mine, he muttered under his breath, "Come here at midnight." He provided coordinates-the location where he stayed at night. "Understood." John snapped his fingers lightly, sending a surge of life energy from thews into the Behemoth, slowly healing his wounds. The Behemoth paused briefly, nodding slightly without saying a word, then continued his trudging steps. John and the others resumed hauling ore. It wasn''t until nightfall that he and Dumas finallypleted the day''s quota. By then, Dumas was utterly exhausted, sprawled out on the ground. Even with John''s help, he could barely manage; on his own, he likely wouldn''t havepleted the required hundred cubic units until dawn. "Sir, you go ahead. I still have over seventy cubic units left. I''ll be at this for a while," the old man said, close to copse yet gritting his teeth to press on. His quota had risen to 200 cubic units, meaning he couldn''t rest until it was done. "Alright, we''ll see you tomorrow," John replied. Though he couldn''t openly assist, he discreetly channeled a burst of life energy into the old man''s body. Feeling the wave of vitality gradually heal his injuries, the old man looked at John with deep gratitude. He hadn''t felt his body so light in ages; it felt almost foreign, as though it wasn''t his own. John and Dumas didn''t linger; they turned and headed to the lift, which began to ascend slowly. "Dumas, have you ever heard of the Saint Spirit n?" John asked, curious. Dumas shook his head, admitting it was the first time he''d heard of such a race. The Saint Spirit n was indeed the old man''s race. After spending the day together, John had learned some things about him-the old man''s name was Quagmire, and he had been toiling in this mine for thousands of years, mercilessly exploited. They had once resisted, but the Saint Spirit n wasn''t skilled inbat, and all their attempts ended in failure. Eventually, they resigned themselves to this fate, struggling just to survive. "Sir, what''s the n now?" Dumas asked quietly, unwilling to spend his life as a ve. He was firmly set on following John. "No rush. I''ll gather some intel tonight," John replied, deciding to meet with the Behemothter that night. His next move would be to save Avis and the others, then make further ns. With a screech, the lift continued to rise. Shadow n guards were stationed at the top, checking identification tokens one by one. Once they confirmed that the day''s quota was met, they handed John and Dumas a portion of food and allowed them into the teleportation circle. "What the hell is this?" Dumas muttered, looking at the sludgy substance in his hands, a foul stench hitting his nose and making him retch. The smell alone was nauseating, let alone the thought of actually eating it. John also frowned, tossing his portion aside. As a demigod, he could go months without food without any problem. The only real issue here was that the unique energy on Shadow Star couldn''t be directly absorbed or refined. Luckily, he still had World-in-Hand. When they returned to the starting vige, the sky had already gonepletely dark, and they were among the first ones back. Many others hadn''t yet met the day''s quota. John didn''t see the old vige chief, nor did he wander around outside. The air was thick with a bloody mist that made him uneasy. He returned to his straw hut, waiting patiently for midnight to arrive. Chapter 286: Chapter 286: Midnight Operation, The Eerie Palace Chapter 286: Chapter 286: Midnight Operation, The Eerie Pce ? At midnight, John noticed that everyone around him had fallen asleep, yet he still couldn''t sense the presence of the old vige chief. It seemed the man wasn''t around. John didn''t pay it much mind. Using his Split Void ability, he tore open a spatial rift and stepped through. Spatial energy pulsed, and the next second, he appeared in arge, chaotic straw hut. The scent of blood permeated the air, and the straw on the ground was smeared with dried bloodstains. This was where the Behemoth resided. John frowned, noticing that the Behemoth was nowhere in sight, and he couldn''t detect his presence either. The guy wasn''t likely to be ying him he was probably stillpleting his daily work quota. John found a rtively clean spot in a corner, sat cross-legged, and waited in silence. Near dawn, the sound of chains echoed outside as the Behemoth finally returned. John sensed him immediately and opened his eyes just as the door creaked open. The Behemoth didn''t appear surprised to see him. Exhausted, he copsed onto a pile of straw nearby, apologizing, "Sorry I''mte." John noticed that the Behemoth''s back was still raw and bloody. Frowning, he asked, "Didn''t I channel life energy from thews into you? It hasn''t healed your wounds?" The Behemoth shook his head. "I did this on purpose. If I don''t appear beaten down, they''ll increase my workload even more." John raised an eyebrow. "What''s your daily quota?" "Ten thousand units of ore." He adjusted the straw beneath him, leaning back to find a morefortable position. "Ten thousand?" John was shocked. He knew the weight of ten thousand cubic units of ore. Even a peak upper-tier god would struggle with that load. And this Behemoth was only at a mid-tier god level. Unfazed by John''s surprise, the Behemoth kept a solemn expression as he asked, "Are you truly set on rescuing that golden Behemoth? Just know, you could endanger both him and yourself." "I know what I''m doing. Do you know where he''s being held?" John was determined to rescue both Behemoth and Avis. The Behemoth studied him closely, realizing John wasn''t joking. With a sigh, he finally replied, "The ce he''s held is in a Secret Area. You won''t be able to teleport in. It opens twice a day, at dawn and dusk. If you leave now, you should just make it." "Coordinates?" John asked, getting to his feet. The Behemoth shared the location coordinates with him. "Thanks!" John muttered, then activated his Split Void ability, tearing open a spatial rift and vanishing. "What a strange human..." The Behemoth stared at the fading rift, his gaze thoughtful, lost in contemtion. - The night was pitch-ck, and the air was thick with a blood-red mist. In the midst of a dense forest, spatial energy fluctuated, and John''s figure suddenly appeared. "This should be the ce." He surveyed his surroundings, frowning as the thick atmosphere of bloodshed made him uneasy. He tried using his spatial-tearing ability again to see if he could ess the Secret Area. But it didn''t work. Shadow Star hadn''t fully opened yet, so even with Split Void, he couldn''t force entry into the unopened Secret Area. It seemed he''d have to wait until dawn. John nced around, unsure of the exact time. Roars... Suddenly, furious growls and snarls echoed from all directions, and figures began to emerge through the mist. "Hunters!" He frowned, recalling the Hunter''s hostility mark on him. Within the Shadow n''s territory, it seemed the mark was suppressed. But here, in the wild, he was now a beacon for countless Hunters. "Ha, it''s been a while since I''ve had a proper fight!" He stretched, his eyes lighting up with excitement as his battle aura surged. Whoosh! The wind howled, the blood mist thickened, and the four fundamental elements of thews of power swirled around him. He unleashed his magical skills in a barrage of attacks, sting the iing Hunters relentlessly. With his current power, dealing with demigod-level Hunters was a breeze. Roar... Roars and screams of agony echoed around him, and any Hunters approaching fell in droves. The ground was soon littered with corpses, which were quickly devoured by others pushing forward. The Hunters were endless, pouring in from every direction. The brood mother he had once in hadn''t lied; these creatures were capable of killing even the Overseer. But not John. With his Wrath of the Gods ability-99% cooldown reduction and 99% skill cost reduction- he could practically fight indefinitely. And if he ever wanted to flee, these Hunters wouldn''t stand a chance. As waves of Hunters fell, his experience points crept up. Soon, he leveled up. By this time, the blood-red mist around him began to dissipate as dawn approached. A faint spatial ripple signaled the Secret Area''s opening. Sensing this, John immediately activated his god-level disguise talent, transforming himself into one of the Hunters, concealing the hostility mark on him. Roar... Roars and growls filled the air as the Hunters around him suddenly lost their target, standing around in confusion. At that moment, a spatial rift opened, and two Shadow n elites emerged. Both were upper-tier god-level at their peak. "Hmm, there''s an incredibly strong elementalw fluctuation here-what''s going on?" One of them frowned, noticing some Hunters still devouring their kin''s remains. "Something''s wrong-there''s an intruder!" the other one eximed, quickly catching on. In that split second, John, disguised as a Hunter, slipped into the spatial rift while the two elites were distracted. "That one''s suspicious-stop him!" the two Shadow n elites shouted, trying to prevent John from escaping. But it was toote. He slipped through the spatial rift, with the two Shadow n elites following closely behind, only to find no trace of him on the other side. John had already activated his Concealment talent, cloaking himselfpletely and masking his presence as he swiftly made his way toward a pce within the Secret Area. The Secret Area itself was unremarkable, save for the pce, the only structure in sight. He figured that this must be where Avis and the Behemoth were being held. John approached cautiously under Concealment, but as he neared the pce, strange energy waves emanated from it, instantly nullifying his Concealment ability. "It''s that same ore from the mines!" he thought in surprise, realizing the ore had even more applications than he''d anticipated. Thankfully, there were no Shadow n elites nearby. "Let''s try the god-level disguise talent," he thought, transforming again, this time into a Hunter. The strange energy couldn''t pierce through the god-level disguise. It allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief. However, since there were no other Hunters in the Secret Area, appearing as one would only draw attention. He then recalled the two Shadow n elites he''d encountered earlier. However, both were peak upper-tier gods. His god-level disguise talent allowed him to mimic any being but couldn''t emte a presence stronger than his own level. If he disguised himself as a peak upper-tier god, he''d be too easily detected. So, he shifted his appearance once more, taking on the form of a Shadow n soldier with demigod-level strength-the one he''d encountered in the mines. His aura matched the soldier''s perfectly, making him appear as an ordinary figure who could slip past the pce guards without raising suspicion. Keeping a calm expression, John walked confidently toward the pce entrance. "Halt!" The two guards at the door stopped him coldly, their expressions stern. Both were upper-tier gods. It suggested the pce was indeed of great importance. "Who are you? I''ve never seen you around before," one guard asked suspiciously, eyeing John closely. Remaining unfazed, John put on a look of urgency and replied, "I was sent by the lords outside. There''s been some trouble in the Secret Area, and I was instructed to verify that the captives are still here-especially the golden Behemoth." "Is it that troublemaker Quagmire again?" The guard''s brow furrowed, not doubting John''s story. Quagmire was the Behemoth John had encountered. "Don''t worry, this ce blocks all abilities-none of them could ever escape," the guard said confidently, showing no intention of letting John inside. "You can go back and report to the lords that we have everything under control here." John frowned, insisting, "It''s best to double-check so I can give a full report." "You''re thorough, aren''t you?" The other guard smirked, clearly impressed. "Alright then, let''s show you what you''re missing out on." In the guard''s mind, a weak demigod couldn''t cause much trouble, even if he had ulterior motives. "Come on, I''ll take you inside," he said, leading John directly into the hall. Buzz! A powerful pressure hit them immediately, filling the air with moans and screams that were hauntingly eerie. John''s heart pounded-this wasn''t a pce at all but a massive prison. Inside were cages filled with powerful beings from various races. nk! Chains rattled as a figure lunged forward, shouting furiously from one of the cells, "Damn you, Shadow n! You think you can make me submit with these despicable methods? Keep dreaming! If you''ve got the guts, just kill me!" Lincoln! John was startled, recognizing him as Lincoln, the strongest of the Angel Race. Covered in blood, battered and bruised, Lincoln looked a mess, his bloodshot eyes ring furiously at John and the Shadow n guard, curses spilling from his lips.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "No need to worry. These guys are locked up tight; there''s no way they can escape," the guard assured John as he led him further into the prison. John kept his cool, biding his time. He needed to confirm Avis and Behemoth''s safety before making any move. As they continued deeper into the structure, John recognized more familiar faces. There was Beelzebub from the Demon Race, Michelle, Grey from the Angel Race, and even some godly beings of the Saint Spirit... It was clear the Shadow n was trying to replicate their powerful abilities. John frowned, keeping his face neutral, and soon they reached the innermost section of the pce. Here, he saw members of the Beast n, weakened, with tubes inserted into their bodies to extract their bloodline power. How cruel! John''s gaze hardened, a growing fury simmering within him. Roars... Suddenly, a series of furious roars echoed from the depths. John''s eyes lit up; he recognized that voice-it was Avis! Chapter 287: Chapter 287: Crushing Blow and Return to the Lair Chapter 287: Chapter 287: Crushing Blow and Return to the Lair ? John quickened his pace, urgency sparking in his eyes. Deep within the pce, a fortified cage held a brood mother from the Hunters, relentlessly using a soul skill to torment Avis. Agony from the soul attack tortured Avis, pushing him to the brink. He roared furiously, "Damn it, when my master arrives, he''ll tear you all apart!" Boom! Across the hall, another cage held Behemoth, who pounded against the iron bars in rage. John''s anger ignited instantly. The Shadow n elite beside him, oblivious to the shift in mood, smirked with satisfaction, "See? I told you everything''s under control." "Not for long," John replied coldly, his tone dripping with killing intent. Suddenly, the two upper-tier god-level Shadow n elites burst into the room, realizing the imminent threat. "He''s a problem-kill him!" one shouted. "What?" The guard beside John barely had time to react before John struck. Boom! With a deafening st, the guard flew backward as John shed his disguise, revealing his true form. "You-who are you?" The two upper-tier gods circled him, watching him coldly, not yet making a move. "Master!" "Sir!" Avis and Behemoth recognized John, their astonished voices breaking the tense silence. "You''re the Godyer?" The elite sneered, piecing it together. "The masters had instructed us to leave you alone, but since you''vee to us, attack!" At hismand, a dozen Shadow n warriors surged forward, their eyes gleaming with malice. "Be careful, Master! These guys have strange powers," Avis shouted, worriedly warning John. But John merely smirked, unfazed. With a flick of his wrist, three long swords shot forward, slicing through the advancing Shadow n warriors in a frenzied assault. "Life Drain!" With a shout, red tendrils shot toward John, winding around him. "This trick again? Is that all you''ve got?" John scoffed, his mind steady as he summoned his Golden Lotus Hellfire. Whoosh! Golden mes erupted, engulfing the surrounding Shadow n warriors. Their screams filling the air in waves of agony. Avis''s face lit up with exhration. "Ha! Shadow n scum-didn''t expect to see the tables turn, did you?" "Damn you!" the elite Shadow n god roared, summoning a brood mother from the Hunters. One bound to him by a soul-sharing contract. "Now! Soul attack!" hemanded. John''s expression turned serious. The brood mother''s soul power was overwhelming, far surpassing his own, and a soul attack could put his life in danger. He prepared to counter with Golden Lotus Manifestation. Buzz!N?v(el)B\\jnn The air vibrated. John frowned. This soul power, although intense,cked any lethal effect-it was eerily identical to the torment he''d faced in the starting vige. These Hunter brood mothers possessed soul attack abilities, but none had truly powerful soul skills. "So that''s it!" John sneered, not even bothering with Golden Lotus Manifestation. He activated World-in-Hand, channeling a unique power that directly blocked the soul attack. "You''re all going to die today!" John''s voice was cold as he connected with World-in-Hand. With a single thought, he pulled the entire pce into his World-in-Hand. Boom! Spatial energy pulsed, and everything around them blurred¡ªa shift into an entirely different realm of power. "Wee to my world!" John spread his arms slightly, finally understanding what the Sea King must have felt back then. Here, he controlled everything; he was the sovereign. Even without World-in-Hand, he could now crush the Shadow n''s peak upper-tier gods and the Hunter brood mothers. But he didn''t want to reveal too much yet; he needed to end this quickly and return to the starting vige. "World-in-Hand! So, you really did refine the Heart of Skyline Continent." One of the upper- tier gods elites stared, astonished but unafraid. "Kid, bringing us into your World-in-Hand? That''s pure folly," he sneered, gathering a massive attack to shatter John''s domain. Buzz! A huge crimson de shadow sliced through the air, aimed at the void. A ripple appeared in the air, but the de shadow dissipated without leaving any impact. "What? Impossible!" The Shadow n warrior''s eyes widened in shock. "How... How is your World-in-Hand so stable? There''s no way! You''re not even a One-Star Overseer; it''s impossible to create such a solid world..." "One-Star Overseer?" John raised an eyebrow, realizing the Overseers must have ranks as well. "Quick, we need to escape!" The remaining elites, sensing the terror of John''s domain. They tried to generate a spatial rift to escape. John looked at them dismissively, raising his hand, causing all spatial energies around them to dissipate. "You''re finished!" He dered coldly as a massive surge of thews of power crushed toward them. The Shadow n was powerful, yes, and their methods were strange. But here, within John''s World-in-Hand, their powers were rendered useless. The weaker Shadow n members exploded instantly, along with the Hunter brood mothers at their sides, turning into clouds of blood mist, their very souls obliterated. Only the two peak Shadow n elites remained, barely holding on. Yet even they showed signs of strain, faces twisted in pain, unable to fight back much longer. "Human, you''ll regret crossing the Shadow n!" one of them cursed before his body burst apart, transforming into a cloud of blood, his soul erased entirely. [You have in a peak upper-tier god of the Shadow n, gaining 2,676.6 billion experience points] [You have leveled up to 100,061] [Plunder ability activated: Shadow Power +10, Luck +1, Magic Crit +1, Physical Crit +1] ... Notifications shed across his vision as John''s Plunder talent once again stole several of their attributes. This time, however, he didn''t Plunder any abilities. He could sense that those two peak upper-tier gods from the Shadow n possessed powerful SSS-grade talents. Not overly concerned, he collected the items they dropped. There were over a dozen Shadow n treasures, more than twenty Talent Copy Stones, four Soul Essences, and several skill stones among the loot. "Master, how did you be so powerful?" Avis, still locked in his cell, asked in shock. John merely smiled, without further exnation. With a thought, he shattered all the cages in the area. "Everyone,e out," hemanded calmly. One by one, captives emerged from the pce. "Godyer!" a few recognized him, their faces showing amazement. They had already sensed the unique rules governing this ce-it was a World-in-Hand. John scanned the group. Most were strong beings from Skyline Continent, while others were from unfamiliar races. "You''re safe here for now," he dered coldly. "Stay here and obey mymands from now on. Understood?" Some of them exchanged uneasy nces, clearly reluctant. They had been imprisoned here precisely because they refused to submit to the Shadow n, and they weren''t about to surrender to a human so easily. "Godyer, the Angel Race pledges allegiance to you," Lincoln was the first to step forward, willingly signing a soul contract with John. "The Demon Race agrees to serve as well," Beelzebub added quickly. The Skyline Continent elites, from several races, expressed their willingness to follow John. As for the others, they remained silent, showing no sign ofpliance. John didn''t bother pressuring them. Their hatred for the Shadow n ran deep, and with his impending assault on the Shadow n, he could simply release them then. "Lincoln, Beelzebub," John said, "keep an eye on these people. If anyone causes trouble, execute them on the spot." "Don''t worry, Master. Leave it to us," they nodded in agreement. John felt at ease; Sini and several other trusted women were also present here, and he had granted them limited control over the World-in-Hand. If anyone attempted to cause trouble, they could swiftly handle it. "Do you know where the others are?" he asked, concerned about Cand-Dragon, the elves, and members of Skyline Continent''s Undying Legion, none of whom he had seen. Lincoln spoke up, "The elves and the humans from Skyline Continent were taken to a ce called the Immortal Herb Garden, where they tend to the spirit herbs. Cand-Dragon and the others are reportedly mining Spirit Stones somewhere, but I don''t know the coordinates of these locations." John nodded. It was a relief to know they weren''t in immediate danger. With their locations identified, he could start gathering more information over time. "Stay here for now," John instructed, "Anyone who hasn''t signed a soul contract with me is forbidden from approaching the central area around the Tree of Life." With a few more reminders to those gathered, he left World-in-Hand with a thought. Dawn was approaching, and he didn''t want to draw attention. John reappeared in the Secret Area, set the pce back in its original ce, and exited. Activating Split Void, he returned to the starting vige. The moment he appeared in his straw hut, angry roars and waves of soul attacks echoed around him. He let out a sigh of relief; he''d timed it perfectly, just as everyone was gathering. John stepped out of the hut. The others around him looked weary, dragging themselves toward the square with tired bodies. Most of them had barely managed toplete yesterday''s quota, having had no rest. "Sir, how did it go?" Dumas approached John quietly, his voice hushed. "Not here," John replied, motioning for silence. From the distance, a figure sped toward them-it was the old vige chief. John guessed he might have already heard of what happened. Sure enough, the vige chief made a beeline for him. "Godyer, what were you up tost night?" He fixed a cold stare on John, questioning him sharply. The others looked on curiously, crowding around. John yawned, his face filled with feigned exhaustion, and asked with a puzzled look, "I was asleep all night. Why? Is something wrong?" "Oh, really?" The chief narrowed his eyes, clearly skeptical. He replied coldly, "Human, I''ll be watching you closely. You''d better stay in line." "I''m always well-behaved. By the way, don''t we have to mine today?" John said, changing the subject. Immediately,ints erupted around him. "Vige chief, can we have just one day off? The quota is too much. We just got back and haven''t even closed our eyes before we''re sent back to work." "Yes, we''ll serve, but this is too much." "The quota needs to go down, and the conditions need to improve. We should at least get some rest." "Exactly..." Voices of discontent filled the air as the crowd murmured their grievances. Chapter 288: Chapter 288: Under Strict Surveillance, Acting Independently Chapter 288: Chapter 288: Under Strict Surveince, Acting Independently ? The old vige chief wore a furious expression, his gaze icy as he bellowed, "Everyone, shut the hell up!" Everyone jumped, immediately recalling the fear the old vige chief had instilled in them over the past few days. Not daring to utter another word, they fell silent. "Hmph!" The chief sneered dismissively. "You have two choices: either work obediently or endure a full day of mental torture." Terror filled their faces. A day of mental torture was more than enough to break them. They swallowed hard, any thoughts of resistance quickly abandoned, and reluctantlyplied. "Good," the chief said, "now move out immediately. If you want a break, finish today''s workload as quickly as possible!" With a wave of his hand, he activated a spatial teleportation array. Expressionless, everyone lined up, resigned to their fate, and entered the portal one by one. John, as usual, was at the back. The vige chief kept a close watch on him, and as John stepped into the array, the chief followed right behind. Buzz! Spatial energy pulsed around them, and John and the others found themselves once again at the mine. The atmosphere was tense; more Shadow n soldiers patrolled the area, scrutinizing everyone coldly. The recent incident involving the pce had rmed the Shadow n, and they were convinced that John had something to do with it. "Vige Chief, how''s it looking?" A Shadow n leader approached, looking at the chief and asking in a low voice. The chief shook his head, casting a nce toward John in the distance. "No signs of trouble. You can handle them for now." "Don''t worry. I''ll keep someone watching him at all times," the leader replied, nodding as he waved his hand, signaling arge number of Shadow n soldiers to descend into the mine via the lift. John and the others were transported down as well. ng! ng! Deep in the mine, sounds of hammering and shouting echoed around. The sky was barely beginning to lighten, yet work had already started. John suspected that some of the workers hadn''t rested at all the previous night. The presence of even more soldiers down here made things worse; the entire area was now heavily guarded, leaving no opportunity to ck off. "Sir, it seems they''re targeting you," Dumas whispered as he took in the scene. "No talking!" A burly, scar-faced brute strode over, ring coldly at Dumas and John. "You two, split up!" "Yes, sir. Yes, sir." Dumas flinched, swallowing hard as he moved a few steps away. John frowned slightly. He hadn''t fully grasped the workings of the Shadow n yet and didn''t want to take action prematurely. For now, he had no choice but to tolerate the situation. Everyone worked anxiously, hauling massive chunks of ore withborious steps. Then, he spotted the Behemoth, Quagmire. Quagmire moved with a numb expression, his gaze hollow, dragging heavy chains behind him, hunched under the weight of the ore he carried. There were questions John needed to ask him, but no chance to do so. The Shadow n had stationed a significant number of soldiers inside the mine, clearly there to keep an eye on him. "This is such a hassle," John muttered to himself, lifting a boulder asrge as a person and walking slowly forward, contemting his next move. With such strict surveince, he''d have no freedom to act at all-likely, he''d even be watched throughout the night. His mind shed to an idea-his avatars! He could only rely on his avatars in this situation. With a single thought, he transferred his Split Void ability and god-level disguise talent to his Beast n avatar. Tonight, he''d use it to locate Quagmire and get some answers. In the meantime, the work in the mine was relentless. Dumas and the old man, Quagmire, suffered most without John''s assistance, now forced to carry their loads on their own strength. Dumas was in a slightly better situation with a quota of just 100 cubic meters; he might manage to finish by midnight. But Quagmire''s burden was far greater. With a quota of 200 cubic meters and no help from John, he had no hope ofpleting it, even if he worked around the clock. Resigned, he dragged his weary, frail body, struggling with the ore. ... The sun finally set, yet thebor continued. John deliberately slowed his pace, but stillpleted his task before nightfall. He hauled his ore to the storage area, and while the Shadow n soldiers were distracted, his Beast n avatar appeared, using the god-level disguise talent to transform into a Shadow n demigod soldier. No one took notice. John took out his ID card, recorded his task asplete, and headed towards the lift. A few Shadow n soldiers gave him a thorough inspection, but finding no issues, they allowed him to leave. He was among the first to finish for the day. As he exited the mine, most of the soldiers departed as well. Clearly, their primary purpose was to keep an eye on him. With reduced guards, the miners still didn''t dare let up, pushing through exhaustion to carry their loads. Meanwhile, John''s Beast n avatar, disguised as a Shadow n soldier, roamed the mining site, maintaining his patrol without raising suspicion. His main body had already returned to the novice vige. As he expected, two Shadow n soldiers shadowed him closely, one standing guard outside his door and the other entering his hut directly. John smirked, settling down to meditate andpletely ignoring their presence.N?v(el)B\\jnn ... Meanwhile, back in the mine. John''s Beast n avatar, disguised as a Shadow n soldier, continued his vignt patrol, staying close to Dumas as he made his way deeper into the mine. In the mine, a few workers were cking off, but the moment they saw him appear, they jumped in fright, quickly lifting the nearby ore and trudging away with difficulty. Dumas noticed that this Shadow n soldier was following him, so he nervously picked up a massive chunk of ore. Just then, a surge of energy entered his body, lightening the weight of the ore on his back. He looked up warily at John, unsure of what was happening. Was this Shadow n soldier helping him? "It''s me, Godyer," John exined in a low voice. "Sir?" Dumas was shocked and surprised. He immediately set down the ore, scrutinizing him in curiosity. "Sir, how did you turn into a Shadow n soldier?" "The Shadow n''s surveince is too tight, so I had to do this. In a bit, get Quagmire and bring him here¡ªI have some questions for both of you," John instructed briefly. Dumas nodded, hoisting up the ore once again, and continued hauling it. With John''s help, the load felt much lighter. Before long, the sound of chains echoed, and the enormous figure of Quagmire emerged. Dumas had already passed on the message. Quagmire looked at the Shadow n soldier that John had transformed into with suspicion. Without saying a word, he slowly approached arge boulder. "Sir," Dumas whispered in greeting, leading Quagmire closer. "Hold on. How do we know it''s really you?" Quagmire asked, his face cautious. He knew all too well the Shadow n''s treachery. He was wary that the Shadow n might impersonate John to achieve their own ends. Boom! With a loud thud, Quagmire dropped the massive boulder he''d been carrying, blocking the entrance to the tunnel, and watched John coldly with a doubtful gaze. Without much exnation, John raised his hand, channeling two streams of the power of the Life Laws into both men. "That should be proof enough. The Shadow n''s dark power could neverprehend the Laws of Life," he said calmly. Quagmire and Dumas exchanged nces, finally letting down their guard. "Sir, it''s strange to see you disguised as a Shadow n soldier," Quagmire remarked, still uneasy. He had endured so much suffering under the Shadow n that his fear ran bone-deep. John didn''t borate and instead got straight to the point. "Time is short, so I''ll keep this brief. Do either of you know where the Spirit Stone Mine or the Immortal Herb Garden are located?" Both shook their heads. Quagmlier spoke up, "Sir, I''ve only ever moved between the main mines and the novice vige. I''ve never been anywhere else." Quagmire added, "Same here. However, in my novice vige, there''s someone who works in the Immortal Herb Garden. Maybe he''d have some information." "Oh?" John''s interest was piqued. Quagmire looked worried. "But, sir, this guy is a traitor from the Windling Tribe, the Shadow n''s most loyalpdog. He won''t help you." Unfazed, John replied coldly, "Simple. I''ll just kill him and take on his appearance." "That could work," the group said, eyes lighting up at the idea. John''s current disguise as a Shadow n soldier was wless, and if he transformed into the Windling Tribe traitor, he would certainly be able to deceive the Shadow n soldiers. "Do you know anyone who works in the Spirit Stone Mine?" he continued. Quagmire shook his head, exining, "I''ve heard that the Spirit Stone veins are highly specialized; only peak upper-tier gods are allowed entry. We''re far too weak toe into contact with those powerhouses." "Peak upper-tier gods?" John frowned, his curiosity piqued. What was so unique about the Spirit Stone Mine that only peak upper-tier gods could mine there? Quagmire borated, "It seems it''s because the mine is filled with Undying me, and only peak upper-tier gods can withstand it." "Undying me?" John''s surprise grew. Tony had once mentioned that only The Immortals possessed such a thing. Could the Spirit Stone Mine be connected to The Immortals? Unfortunately, neither of them knew more about the Spirit Stone Mine, nor did they have any contacts with ess to it. It seemed that rescuing Cand-Dragon and the others would be more challenging than anticipated. "By the way," he added, turning to Quagmire, "you mentioned you''ve worked at several mines. Do you remember their coordinates?" These ores were unique, and John was intent on collecting all of them if possible. With his World-in-Hand ability, he could store any quantity of ores or veins, no matter the amount. "Yes, I remember." Quagmire thought for a moment before giving him several coordinates. These were from mines he''d worked in, though some had been fully depleted. "I have a few more mine coordinates as well," Dumas added. He didn''t know John''s exact purpose but was willing to support anything aimed against the Shadow n. John carefully noted each location, then channeled a bit of the power of the Life Laws into the three of them, healing their injuries and easing their fatigue. "I have other matters to attend to. You''ll have to work a bit harder today," he said before activating his Split Void talent. A spatial passage opened, and with a swift step, he vanished into thin air. Chapter 289: Chapter 289: Looting the Mines, A One-Star Overseer Chapter 289: Chapter 289: Looting the Mines, A One-Star Overseer ? As John vanished, Quagmire watched his fading silhouette with a satisfied grin, muttering quietly, "Looks like tonight''s going to be interesting." Quagmire nodded in agreement. Beside them, Dumas looked bewildered, scratching his head in confusion. "What are you two talking about?" "Don''t ask too many questions, kid. Get back to work," Quagmire rumbled, hefting the heavy boulder that blocked their path with ease this time, the nking of his chains resuming. "Uh..." Dumas sighed, deciding to drop it and just get on with his task. ... In a deep, dark mine, John''s figure suddenly appeared. This mine had been abandoned, now overrun by Hunters who had turned it into a nesting ground. The nearby Hunters noticed John''s sudden appearance and seemed a bit surprised. But, disguised as a Shadow n soldier, John was shielded from the usual hostility of the Hunters his appearance hid any hint of animosity markers they would otherwise detect. Hunters didn''t normally attack Shadow n members. So they merely observed him with curiosity, puzzled by the sudden arrival of a Shadow n warrior in their deserted mine. "Seems there''s no ore left here," he thought, scanning the abandoned mine. It had long since been emptied of resources. Just as he prepared to leave, he felt something unusual. "A Hunters'' Brood Mother!" he murmured, surprised and delighted. There were over a dozen Hunters'' Brood Mothers here. And they held something valuable-Soul Essence. An unexpected bonus. Without hesitation, John, still in his Shadow n disguise, boldly ventured deeper into the mine. He sensed two powerful Hunters'' Brood Mothers nearby. The surrounding Hunters continued to eye him curiously but made no move to obstruct him. The dim mine corridors were littered with Hunters'' eggs. Soon, John reached the two colossal Brood Mothers, their massive bodies sprawled awkwardly on a smooth stone b. They spotted him and looked on warily. "Shadow n? You''re not one of our contracted allies. Leave immediately," one of the Brood Mothers hissed coldly, ordering John away. They weren''t hostile toward Shadow n members but had no intention of allowing strangers toe close. A smirk crossed John''s face. "Rx. I''m just here to relocate you to a safer ce." "Hm?" The two Brood Mothers hesitated, confused. Before they could react, John unleashed a wave of spatial power, transporting them directly into his World-in-Hand. Inside the mine, he could have easily killed the two Brood Mothers, but that would have caused too muchmotion, potentially alerting Shadow n elites. With a thought, he himself entered the World-in-Hand. The two Brood Mothers scanned their new surroundings suspiciously. Spotting him nearby, one of the Brood Mothers roared, "This is World-in-Hand! You''re not Shadow n! Who are you?" "Smart," John said, his face shifting as he shed the Shadow n disguise to reveal his true form. "Beast n? Impossible. The Beast n has no Overseers!" one of the Hunters gasped, mistaking John for a Beast n member. This was, in fact, his Beast n avatar, radiating a powerful Beast n aura due to his divine dragon bloodline. He couldn''t be bothered to waste time with the two creatures. Manipting thews within the World-in-Hand, he swiftly dispatched the two Hunters'' Brood Mothers. The kill granted him a substantial amount of experience, along with a bit of Shadow Power and a few attribute points. What pleased him most, though, was the Soul Essence dropped by the Brood Mothers. He stowed it away, and with a thought, exited the World-in-Hand. This time, he transformed into a Hunter, allowing him to navigate more freely. He moved swiftly through the dark mine, and one by one, he summoned the remaining thirteen Hunters'' Brood Mothers into his World-in-Hand, swiftly eliminating each and iming thirteen Soul Essences. Not in any rush to refine them, he left the World-in-Hand again, this time assuming the guise of a Shadow n soldier. Utilizing his Split Void talent, he transported himself to the next mining site. This site was in a semi-abandoned state, though a fair amount of ore still remained, guarded by numerous Shadow n soldiers. John''s arrival immediately caught their attention. The leader, a soldier with a curious look, frowned and demanded, "You''re not stationed here. Which city are you from, and what business do you have in City 113?" City 113? John was intrigued; it was the first he''d heard of Shadow n cities. Not interested in exnations, he activated the World-in-Hand, absorbing everyone in the area. "What? World-in-Hand? Who are you?" the squad leader gasped, realizing John was no ordinary Shadow n warrior. Among the Shadow n, no one had refined the Heart of the Continent. The only possibility was that he was an Overseer from another Lord God realm. "I''m the one who''s here to end you!" John''s voice was icy as he wielded the power of thews to eliminate them. Themotion drew Lincoln and a few others over. Seeing the Shadow n soldiers, their anger red. "How dare you trespass into the master''s world! Prepare to die!" Lincoln and his group charged the Shadow n soldiers with fury, Lincoln and Beelzebub especially targeting John. "Stop! It''s me, Godyer!" he called out hastily, realizing he was still in his Shadow n disguise. He quickly deactivated his god-level disguise talent. "Huh? My lord?" They recognized John and halted immediately. Without further exnation, he swiftly eliminated the Shadow n soldiers, sparing only one upper-tier god. He needed information about the Spirit Stone veins, and his best option was to extract it from a Shadow n member. He nned to use Memory Extraction on this one, but since that was an ability only his main body possessed and not his Beast n avatar, he opted to restrain the man for now. "You...you''re that human, Godyer?!" the Shadow n soldier stared at John, both shocked and furious, yet too fearful to attack outright. In the World-in-Hand, John was the ultimate sovereign. John turned to Lincoln and the others, saying calmly, "This one''s yours to handle. Don''t kill him¡ªjust rough him up a bit. See if you can get any information about the Immortal Herb Garden or the Spirit Stone mines out of him." "Understood," Lincoln replied with a glint in his eye. "Leave it to us, my lord," Beelzebub echoed, eager to begin. Lincoln and Beelzebub, both peak upper-tier gods, had the upper hand within the World-in- Hand, where Shadow n powers were nearly useless. They''d handle the interrogation with ease. Without lingering, John returned to the mining site, surveying the piles of ore in front of him. "I wonder if I can store these ores in the World-in-Hand," he mused. These Shadow Star ores were unique, with properties that blocked Spatial Power, renderingn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om them ipatible with ordinary storage spaces. He focused, and the World-in-Hand activated again. Buzz! The mountain of ore disappeared, absorbed into his World-in-Hand. Momentster, a notification sounded. [Your World-in-Hand has refined Shadow Ore. Stability has increased, and you have advanced to a one-star initial Overseer.] "World-in-Hand can actually refine these ores directly?" he murmured, pleasantly surprised. Even better, he''d leveled up to a one-star initial Overseer. He could already feel an enhanced control over the World-in-Hand. "These ores have surprising uses," he noted, picking up a stray piece, astonished by its properties. Excited, he set off to search for the other mining sites. Quagmire and Dumas had given him coordinates for 19 mines in total. Three of the sites werepletely abandoned, overrun by Hunters and now serving as nests for Hunters'' Brood Mothers. John didn''t spare them, dispatching the creatures and gaining a total of 44 Soul Essences, enough to boost his Soul Technique by 440,000 points. Unfortunately, with Shadow n soldiers monitoring his main body 24/7, he couldn''t refine them just yet. At the remaining 16 sites, he gathered a substantial amount of Shadow Ore, storing it all in the World-in-Hand for absorption and refinement. The World-in-Hand grew even more stable, though he remained at the one-star initial Overseer level. "Time to track down that Windling traitor," John thought, ncing at the horizon as dawn approached. Lincoln and Beelzebub had yet to extract any useful information from the captured Shadow n warrior. Without dy, John activated Split Void, transporting himself to the novice vige where Quagmire was stationed. Quagmire hadn''t returned yet, so John kept his distance, activating Concealment to avoid detection. Using the coordinates, he located the residence of the Windling traitor, Hamen. To his surprise, it wasn''t a straw hut. Before him stood a modest wooden house, simple yet far more refined than a straw hut. It a clear attempt by the Shadow n to curry favor. John pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside. On the bed, Hamen stirred awake, jolting upright as he noticed the intruder. Frowning, he asked coldly, "Who are you, and why have you barged into my room?" Hamen''s hand reached instinctively toward a long stick by his bedside a signal stick given to him by the Shadow n. If he snapped it, Shadow n elites would be alerted immediately. John nced at him and asked coolly, "Hamen?" Hamen nodded reflexively. In the next instant, a surge of Spatial Power swept over them, transporting both John and Hamen into the World-in-Hand. And leaving the signal stick behind on the bed. "Aaaagh..." In the distance, agonizing screams echoed through the space. Lincoln and the others were still torturing the Shadow n warrior. They less for information and more to vent their anger for the torment they''d endured under the Shadow n. Hamen''s face turned pale as he heard the cries, and he swallowed hard, eyeing John with a shaky tone. "Do you have any idea who I am? If the Shadow n finds out youid a hand on me, you''ll regret it!" John smirked, unimpressed. He''d lost count of how many times he''d heard such threats, though usually they came from Shadow n elites. "Do you even believe that nonsense,ing from a merepdog?" he asked with a slight sneer. Fuming, Hamen forced himself to look braver than he felt, raising his voice in anger, "What do you want with me?" "You answer; I ask," John said simply, raising his arm. The elemental forces gathered, forming afortable chair. He settled back into it, crossing his legs casually. "Tell me, what is the Immortal Herb Garden?" Chapter 290: Chapter 290: Disguising as Hamen, Entering the Immortal Herb Garden Chapter 290: Chapter 290: Disguising as Hamen, Entering the Immortal Herb Garden ? "Hah! Dream on if you think I''ll betray the Shadow n!" Hamen gritted his teeth, attempting to put on a defiant front. "Hmm, still ying tough, are we?" John smirked, a yful glint in his eyes. With a flick of his finger, he summoned a re of Golden Lotus Hellfire that wrapped itself around Hamen. "Aaagh..." The room filled with Hamen''s agonizing screams as he writhed in pain on the ground. John frowned, unsure if Hamen was merely putting on a show or truly suffering. Considering the guy was only a weak demigod, he didn''t want to identally burn him to a crisp. He dismissed the Golden Lotus Hellfire and spoke again, "Tell me what is the Immortal Herb Garden?" Hamen knelt on the ground, tears in the corners of his eyes, trembling with terror. This time, he didn''t dare hesitate. John''s methods were far more terrifying than the soul torture inflicted by the Hunters'' Brood Mothers. "Immortal Herb Garden is where the Shadow n cultivates spirit herbs," he said quickly. "Those herbs are used to make various potions. They''re an extremely valuable resource for the Shadow n." John nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Are there any races there from the Skyline Continent?" "Yes!" Hamen answered immediately, not daring to pause. "Mostly elves and some humans from the Skyline Continent. They all follow my orders..." As he spoke, he grew animated, eagerly recounting how he helped the Shadow n torment and control the elves. John''s gaze turned icy, a murderous glint in his eyes. "Oh? And you''re proud of that?" With a flick of his hand, he reactivated the Golden Lotus Hellfire. Hamen''s screams of agony echoed again as he rolled on the ground, his forehead drenched in cold sweat. It dawned on him then that John was allied with the elves. Begging for mercy, he stammered, "My lord, I understand now-I won''t harm the elves anymore, I swear..." "Hmph!" John scoffed, withdrawing the Golden Lotus Hellfire and pressing on, "What are your daily tasks? Be honest." "Yes, yes," Hamen scrambled up, still trembling as he spoke. "My daily duties are simple-I oversee the worthless ves and the esteemed elves as they harvest spirit herbs, tally the count, and hand it over to the Shadow n." "Good." John nodded. "Onest question-if I were to disguise myself as you, what details would I need to know?" "W-what?" Hamen looked bewildered, struggling toprehend what John meant. "Answer!" John''s voice was cold andmanding. "Describe every detail of your daily routine." "Yes, yes!" Hamen responded quickly, rising to his feet and starting aical performance of his own actions. "Every morning, I first greet the vige chief." He mimicked a deep bow, nodding ingratiatingly toward John. "Then, I enter another novice vige, gather theborers, and organize their entry into the Immortal Herb Garden to start the day''s work..." He exined each task while acting out his every move, bowing and gesturing as he went through his routine. At that moment, John''s eyebrow twitched involuntarily. He regretted disguising himself as this character. This guy was a spineless ve to his core-fawning over the Shadow n while strutting around, full of bluster, in front of the elves. Such behavior was far beyond anything John could bring himself to imitate. But without this disguise, he had no way of entering the Immortal Herb Garden or getting close to the elves. For Bonnie and the others'' sake, he had to tolerate it. "Very well!" John took a deep breath, forcing himself to swallow his anger, and said coldly to Hamen, "Today, I''ll take over your duties." "Huh?" Hamen stared nkly, eventually snapping out of it. "But sir, the Shadow n will recognize your true identity." "What about now?" John activated his god-level disguise talent, transforming himself into an exact replica of Hamen, down to thest detail, even matching his aura. The one thing he couldn''t replicate, though, was that cringing, servile expression. Hamen gaped, looking John over, then reflexively touched his own face, eximing, "Wow, sir, you''ve even got my good looks!" John felt as if he''d swallowed a bitter pill. Hamen continued, "So, my lord, now that you''re disguised as me, what should I do? Just stay here?" "No. I have a much better ce for you." John''s eyes glinted with lethal intent. "Where, my lord?" Hamen asked, his curiosity piqued. "Hell!" John responded coldly. The power of thews surged around him, and before Hamen could react, he was reduced to dust, his soulpletely obliterated. "Damn, that''s much better." John exhaled in relief. He had thought the Shadow n were the lowest of the low, but now he realized he''d been mistaken; there were indeed creatures even more contemptible. Hamen had been a hundred times more revolting than the worst of the Shadow n. Returning to Hamen''s hut, John took on his likeness, grabbed the signal stick from the bedside, and waited for dawn. ... Meanwhile, chaos erupted in several Shadow n cities. A gathering of city lords took ce. "What''s going on? There''s been a disturbance on the Shadow Continent-someone is devouring the Shadow n''s resources!" One of them scanned the room, addressing the others coldly. "That many resources disappearing so quickly? Only an Overseer could pull that off. Could it be one of those outsiders from another Lord God realm?" "Impossible. Our master made an agreement-they''re only permitted to hunt spirit beasts, and they''re forbidden from plundering the continent''s resources until the endgame." The group muttered darkly amongst themselves. A bald man idly turning a Spirit Stone in his hand finally spoke. "Perhaps you''ve forgotten, besides the Overseers from the other Lord God realms, there is one more." "Godyer!" The group gasped. The man seated at the head of the table frowned deeply. "Quick, notify the vige chief. Have him check on this Godyer immediately and report back to me at once." "Yes!" A Shadow n soldier replied respectfully, breaking through a spatial rift and disappearing. Secondster, he reappeared. "Well?" the others asked eagerly. The soldier bowed before reporting, "The vige chief checked personally. The Godyer has remained in the straw hut, under constant watch by guards. He hasn''t left their sight for a moment." "So it''s not this human?" The group''s expressions turned grave. "Could an Overseer have truly broken the agreement?" The bald man gripped the Spirit Stone in his hand tightly, his gaze filled with murderous intent. "It''s possible," another added. "Overseers have protection from the Laws of Heaven-Lord Gods can''t intervene directly. These beings really think they''re untouchable!" The man at the head of the table frowned, speaking calmly, "I still feel this has something to do with that Godyer." "My lord!" Another soldier hurried in, bowing deeply before continuing, "It''s been confirmed -all the stolen resources are Shadow Ores. Sixteen mining sites have beenpletely emptied, and every guard there has vanished. Even the Hunters'' Brood Mothers, who share a soul link with those stationed, are unresponsive. It''s likely they''ve been killed." "This has to be the work of an Overseer!" someone mmed a fist on the table angrily. "I''ve had enough. If any Overseer dares to enter my domain, I won''t let them walk away!" another dered heatedly. "Nor will I!" others quickly voiced in agreement. "Silence," the head figuremanded, frowning. "This situation isn''t so simple. To eliminate so many peak upper-tier gods without a trace would require at least a two-star Overseer. Don''t act rashly; I''ll report this to the Lord God first." With that, he vanished instantly. ... Meanwhile, in the novice vige where John''s main body resided, two Shadow n elites who had been watching him withdrew. John barely took notice. Soon after, the distant roars of Hunters'' Brood Mothers echoed, apanied by waves of soul-based attacks. John stepped out of the straw hut and noticed Dumas emerging, looking equally exhausted. Everyone around bore expressions of despair, trudging heavily toward the square. Under the old vige chief''s supervision, they were teleported to the mines to begin another day of gruelingbor. While the guards near John had been pulled back, the number of soldiers surrounding the square had noticeably increased. He guessed that the raid on the mines the previous night had been discovered, though it seemed no one suspected him. A question nagged at him¡ªcould there be other powerful beings on Shadow Star aside from himself? John smirked; it seemed Shadow Star had its own conflicts. For him, though, that was a weeplication. He joined the others, taking the lift down into the mine to resume the endless task of transporting ore.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Meanwhile, his Beast n avatar. Now disguised as Hamen, left the wooden hut, holding the signal stick. He forced himself to adopt a submissive demeanor, bowing as he greeted the novice vige chief. "Hamen, you seem down. Have those elves been giving you trouble?" The chief observed him keenly, curious. John was taken aback by the old man''s perceptiveness, but he quickly forced a strained smile. "Yeah, those lot are bing more defiant, and their insults keep getting worse." The chief pped him on the shoulder with a sympathetic nod. "No problem-if they openly challenge you, feel free to make them suffer. And if you happen to kill one, I''ll cover for you." John''s eye twitched, though he maintained a grateful expression, nodding and thanking the chief profusely. "On your way, then." The vige chief, satisfied, opened a teleportation array and waved him through. A surge of Spatial Power enveloped him, filling the air with a rich spiritual energy and the scent of fresh herbs. John surveyed his surroundings: he had arrived at a sprawling garden filled with a subtle fragrance of grass and herbs, creating a tranquil and revitalizing atmosphere. "Amazing ce!" he thought, genuinely impressed. There was no trace of bloodshed or violence here¡ªthis felt nothing like Shadow Star. It made sense to him now why the Shadow n had assigned Hamen to manage the Immortal Herb Garden. The atmosphere here was almost ipatible with the Shadow n. It making it easier for him to act. "Move it!" A harsh shout sounded from afar as a group of elves and humans from Skyline Continent were herded into the garden. John''s eyes lit up, recognizing the leader of the group-it was Bonnie. Chapter 292: Chapter 292: Memory Extraction, Power of the Nine Nether Realm Chapter 292: Chapter 292: Memory Extraction, Power of the Nine Nether Realm ? The man smiled and exined, "We really owe it to those Beast n folks from the Skyline Continent. Especially that Tony¡ªhe even managed to grasp Immortal Art, unaffected by the Undying me, and transported arge amount of Spirit Stone ore." "Good, keep a close watch on those guys. The mines and the Immortal Herb Garden had issues one after another; we can''t afford any problems with the Spirit Stone mines!" the young man said, furrowing his brow slightly. It wasn''t the Nature n who were the main suspects behind the problems at the mines and the Immortal Herb Garden; it was that Godyer. However, he quickly dismissed the idea. The Godyer had just be The Overseer and likely only possessed the power of one star at best. With that level of strength, he certainly wouldn''t stand a chance against a top-tier upper god from the Shadow n. There was no way someone so weak could have ransacked so many mines and the Immortal Herb Garden. The crowd dispersed, ready to make a move against the Nature n. John had no idea that his actions were putting the me on The Overseer of the Nature n. Not that he would have cared, even if he had known. As the sky darkened, John finished his workload for the day. With his help, Dumas had also managed toplete his tasks early. There were still about twenty cubic units of ore left for Quagmire to process, which would be finished soon.N?v(el)B\\jnn John assisted both him and Quagmire, infusing a bit of the power of lifews, and then signed out with Dumas. ... Nightfall had settled, and people were gradually returning to John''s novice vige. He had already arrived at his thatched hut, sitting cross-legged, carefully sensing his surroundings. The old vige chief wasn''t in the vige, so John decided to enter the World-in-Hand with his true form to perform Memory Extraction on that upper-tier god. To be safe, he summoned his Beast n double, disguising it with his own aura to ensure nothing could go wrong. Only then did his true self enter the World-in-Hand. Buzz! With a ripple of spatial power, John appeared. A few individuals noticed and immediately approached. "My Lord, when will we make a move against the Shadow n?" Lincoln asked expectantly. These past few days, they had stayed here in rtive peace, but they hadn''t forgotten the torment they had suffered at the hands of the Shadow n. They hadn''t even been able to focus on cultivation and were itching for revenge. "No rush. Where''s the upper-tier god from the Shadow n? Bring him to me," John said, wanting to first rescue Cand-Dragon and locate the Blues Family disciples before acting against the Shadow n. "Understood." Lincoln signaled to two Angel Race subordinates and continued, "My Lord, we might not be in a rush, but those guys are incredibly disrespectful. They truly think they own this ce. A few have even tried to get close to the Tree of Life, and some dared to mess with your World-in-Hand." "Oh?" John''s gaze turned cold as he looked at the distant gathering of strong figures from other races. These individuals weren''t from the Skyline Continent. They had suffered who knows how long under the Shadow n''s torture, and instead of being grateful, they had the audacity to eye his World-in-Hand. "If they don''t behave," John said icily, "just kill them." He had no sympathy for them; while they had decent strength and could cause trouble for the Shadow n. He couldn''t afford to let them go yet. If they left now, his n against the Shadow n would be exposed. A direct confrontation wasn''t in his interest-not yet. Soon enough, two Angel Race warriors dragged a figure over like a lifeless dog and threw him down at John''s feet. "My Lord, this one''s tough," said one of the angels, giving the prisoner a hard kick. "We used every method we could think of, but he refused to give us any useful information." The Shadow n upper-tier gody there, battered and bloody, his life force barely flickering. Regaining a bit of consciousness, he red at John, voice hoarse and faint, "Human, if you have the guts, kill me! The Shadow n will never forgive you." "Shut up!" snarled one of the angels nearby, pping him hard enough to knock out two of his teeth. John crouched down in front of the man and said evenly, "I''m giving you a chance. Tell me everything you know about the Shadow n, and I''ll make it quick for you." The captive spat out blood, a cold smirk twisting his face, and forced out, "Keep dreaming." "Quite the tough one," John remarked with a hint of respect before wasting no further words. He immediately activated his soul skill, Memory Extraction. His Soul Technique was at over fifty thousand-a level far beyond an average upper-tier god. Buzz! The air vibrated as John''s soul easily prated the captive''s deepest memories, ruthlessly digging for any information about the Shadow n. The captive''s brows knit tightly, his face contorted in pain as guttural screams tore from his throat. In no time, Johnpleted the memory extraction, with a flood of information pouring into his mind, giving him a clearer picture of Shadow Star. Shadow Star housed 108 main cities, each ruled by upper-tier god elites, peak-level powers blessed by the Lord God and far surpassing the strength of typical upper-tier gods. Beyond these cities, there were thousands of smaller towns scattered across Shadow Star''s many regions. He also gleaned some details about the Spirit Stone mines and a mysterious snow-capped mountain. The Spirit Stone mines were sacred ground for the Shadow n, guarded by the Undying me, with only upper-tier gods at peak strength able to enter. But this captive, of low rank, didn''t even know the exact location of the Spirit Stone mines. The snow-capped mountain, however, was even stranger. Even the Shadow n regarded the snow-capped mountain as a myth; from beginning to end, no one had ever found it. John felt disappointed. He had captured this guy in hopes of finding the whereabouts of Cand-Dragon and the others. But this prisoner didn''t even know the exact coordinates of the Spirit Stone mines. And as for the mountain-if even the Shadow n believed it to be a legend. Then it seemed he''d have to capture a peak-level upper-tier god to get any closer to finding Cand-Dragon and the others. He did, however, manage to obtain several coordinates for various Shadow mines. One more piece of information surfaced: the Shadow Lord God had issued an order to temporarily refrain from attacking him. There seemed to be another agenda at y. This left John puzzled, with no clear understanding of their intentions. "What did you do to me, human?" The prisoner, now conscious, red at John from his position slumped on the ground. He could distinctly feel that this human had invaded the depths of his soul. John stood up, brushing it off. "He''s useless now. Do with him as you please." "I got this! Us demon race folks have plenty of ways," Beelzebub interjected, seizing the prisoner and tossing him back to the waiting demon crowd. Ignoring the scene, John decided to proceed with plundering resources from those Shadow n mines. "Hmm?" Just as he was about to leave, he noticed something amiss. Turning to a few women nearby, he frowned and asked, "Where''s Sini?" The women looked uneasy. Tracy quickly responded, "Sini''s probably still in her room, likely cultivating." "Tell the truth!" John snapped, annoyed. He had absolute control over World-in-Hand, yet he couldn''t sense Sini''s presence anywhere. Startled, the women hesitated, looking down nervously. Instinctively, they took a small step back, pushing Tracy forward. Buzz! At that moment, spatial power rippled, and a graceful figure appeared-it was Sini. "Oh, John! You''re here?" She smiled, though her eyes flickered evasively, as she approached him. "Did you leave World-in-Hand?" John asked, surprised. World-in-Hand was entirely under his control. Although he had granted the women some power of thews, none of them should be capable of breaking through the boundaries of this space. Even the Split Void ability wouldn''t work here; it was governed by apletely unique set of laws. Tracy hurriedly added, "I warned her, but Sini wouldn''t listen." Sini shot her a fierce look before turning to John, her gaze faltering. "I was just a bit bored... thought I''d take a little walk." "How did you get out?" he asked, puzzled. Could there be a w in his World-in-Hand? Seeing that John wasn''t angry, Sini rxed and exined, "Do you remember when I mentioned that I felt a powerful, dark energy calling to me from The Immortals'' inheritance? At the time, I couldn''t grasp it, but after receiving your abilities, I finally understood it. This energy is somewhat simr to the strength of the Shadow n-violent, bloodthirsty, with a unique trait: it can break through space." "Break through space?" John was surprised. Wasn''t this simr to the divine skill he''dprehended, Creation and Destruction? Sini nodded eagerly. "But don''t worry; I won''t destroy your world. I''m not capable of it anyway. I can only use the power of thews you granted me to open a path in space, allowing me toe and go freely." John frowned slightly, still impressed despite her reassurances. Looking at Sini, he said, "Show me what you''ve mastered." "Alright." Without hesitation, she focused, and wings unfurled from her back, shifting into a dark, ominous color, radiating a powerful and sinister energy. Her aura transformed as well, filled with a chilling bloodlust. She blinked mischievously, taunting, "I call this power Nine Nether. Wanna give it a try, John?" "Sure!" John stepped back, intrigued. Those around them quickly backed away, clearly wary-they''d all experienced Sini''s wrath before. "Watch out, John, it''s a soul attack!" she warned with a smirk, her tone smug. Suddenly, ck mist surged from her, spreading ominously and ignoring thews of World- in-Hand. John allowed the ck mist to engulf him, feeling it attempt to corrode his soul. With a thought, he summoned the Golden Lotus Hellfire, dispelling the mist effortlessly-it couldn''t even scratch him. Sini was taken aback. This was the first time her newfound ability had failed her. "Hmph, I''ve got more up my sleeve. Dream Ensnarement!" she shouted, a wicked grin on her face. Powerful soul energy wove itself into a dream, pushing into John''s mind. The technique was reminiscent of his own soul skill, Nightmare. But his soul was stronger, rendering her dream powerless. He glimpsed the scene she''d woven-a rather vivid image of him and Sini entwined, entirely unclothed. To make matters worse, in the dream, she was the one in control. He chuckled darkly, activating his Nightmare skill to flip the scene, pushing the vision straight back into Sini''s mind. "Mmm..." She flushed instantly, her face burning with embarrassment and fury. "You bully! I''m not ying anymore!" She stomped her foot in frustration, feeling utterly defeated yet again. Chapter 293: Chapter 293: Ransacking the Mines, Public Execution Chapter 293: Chapter 293: Ransacking the Mines, Public Execution ? Sini had thought that by mastering the strange power of Nine Nether, she could at least put up a fight against John. Yet, she found herself utterly powerless, and to make it worse, humiliated in return. "Alright," John consoled her. "Your ability is actually quite strong; it''s just that your Soul Technique is still a bitcking." He casually took out a handful of Soul Essences, over forty of them, along with one Undying me, and said, "These are Soul Essences. They''ll help strengthen your Soul Technique." That Undying me was something he''d obtained recently after defeating a peak upper-tier god from the Shadow n. It seemed that many of the Shadow n elites possessed the Undying me, which he suspected had something to do with the Spirit Stone mines. As for the Soul Essence, with plenty of hunter brood mothers around, he could easily obtain as much as he wanted. "Really?" Sini''s face lit up as she eagerly epted them. John cautioned her, "Only the Undying me can refine the Soul Essence. This fire is extremely dangerous, so be careful with it." "Don''t worry, I''ll be cautious!" She nodded quickly, aware of the Undying me''s power and knowing better than to release it recklessly. "And from now on, you''re forbidden from leaving the World-in-Hand!" John added, directly revoking her control over the World-in-Hand. The main reason Sini had been able to freely enter and exit the World-in-Hand wasn''t just because she controlled the Nine Nether power but because he had granted her partial ess to the space. "Why?" Her smile faded, reced with frustration. "No reason. Just do as I say," John replied, knowing all too well the dangers lurking on Shadow Star. The Nine Nether power Sini wielded was deadly, capable of killing hunters and Shadow n members, but if she encountered an upper-tier god, she wouldn''t stand a chance. Ignoring her protests, he warned the other women not to assist her in any way, and then left the World-in-Hand. Tonight, he intended to continue plundering resources from the mines. John returned to the novice vige, which was as silent as ever, with no sign of unusual activity. He nced at his Beast n doppelg?nger and, after some thought, used the Talent Copy Stone to replicate the god-level disguise talent. The god-level disguise talent had originallye from a Shapeshifting Witch he''d defeated, and he could replicate it further. While the Beast n doppelg?nger could act on its own, his true form was far more efficient and powerful. Soon, he sessfully copied the god-level disguise talent, transforming himself into a lower-tier god of the Shadow n, then tore through space to reach one of the mines. Night had fallen deeply, yet soldiers still patrolled the area, every one of them with a lower- tier god''s power or higher. John was curious-who exactly were they guarding against? The Shadow Continent was open to multiple races, yet aside from those from the Skyline Continent, he hadn''t seen any other races arrive. Even the human race, cut off when the Skyline Continent fell, no longer had a connection. And yet, Shadow Star still had a passageway connecting to Earth. John didn''t dwell on the matter further. Exposing himself, he summoned the Shadow n warriors guarding the mine into his World-in-Hand. Merciless ughter ensued.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Afterward, he collected all the mined ore and moved on to the next site. Several of these mines had been fully excavated and abandoned, now imed by hunters'' brood mothers and transformed into Hunter nests. John showed no mercy here either, killing the brood mothers and collecting their Soul Essences. --- By dawn, he had raided over seventy mines, amassing a vast quantity of Shadow minerals. What thrilled him most was obtaining 112 Soul Essences. However, a new issue arose. Having killed so many hunters'' brood mothers, the Hunters'' hatred mark on him had intensified, and even the god-level disguise talent couldn''t fully mask it anymore. This wouldplicate future actions. "Forget it. I''ll continue tomorrow night," he thought, noting the approaching sunrise. He opened a spatial portal and returned to the novice vige. During this raid, he had also captured a peak-level upper-tier god from the Shadow n. Tomorrow night, he''d perform Memory Extraction on him. What he didn''t know was that chaos had erupted across several cities on Shadow Star. A dozen city lords had convened. "Boss, we''ve tallied the losses. In one night, we lost 76 mines'' worth of resources, and a substantial number of hunters'' brood mothers were killed," one of them reported through gritted teeth. "It must have been that Nature n Overseer, Ice Talker! I almost caught herst night, but she escaped again!" a bald man said, frustration clear on his face. He believedst night''s events were all Ice Talker''s doing in retaliation. "Boss, I have an idea," sneered a dark-faced figure nearby. "Ice Talker herself doesn''t have many weaknesses, but her subordinate, Terran, cares deeply about the Saint Spirit n. Why not round up the Saint Spirit n members and conduct a public execution? That''ll force Terran to show up, and Ice Talker will certainly appear as well." "Hmm, not a bad n!" The others lit up at the suggestion, showing their support. The young man at the head of the group nodded in agreement. "Let''s proceed with this n. Oh, and let''s hold the execution at Mine 1099, where that Godyer has been seen. It''ll send a message and serve as a warning to him!" "Agreed!" "I''ll set it up right away!" "I''ll bring in all the Spirit Stone ores mined recently. If those Nature n fools show up, they''re as good as dead!" The group immediately set things into motion. ... At dawn, the novice vige echoed with the roar of the hunters'' brood mother. John frowned, tempted to eliminate the creature altogether. Before long, everyone had gathered in the vige square. It was now the third day, and they were physically and mentally exhausted, faces numb with despair, havingpletely lost hope for the future. [Announcement: Due to disrespect toward the Shadow n, the Saint Spirit n members will be publicly executed this evening at Mine 1099.] ... The announcement echoed three times, and a faint glimmer of interest returned to the people''s dull eyes as they murmured among themselves. "Saint Spirit n? What kind of race is that?" "Public execution... tough luck for those guys." "Sigh, maybe death would be a release for people like us." ... Most remained indifferent, their spirits deadened, and the plight of the Saint Spirit n didn''t stir much sympathy. "My Lord!" Dumas whispered, as if recalling something. "Isn''t old Quagmire a member of the Saint Spirit n? What did they do?" John shook his head, remembering that the mine they worked in was numbered 1099. A vague feeling crept over him that this had something to do with him. At that moment, the old vige chief appeared, having heard the system''s announcement, his face equally puzzled, seemingly clueless as to the intentions behind this. "Silence!" he barked, his voice cutting through the murmuring crowd, before adding coldly, "Gather at the mine." With a wave of his hand, a teleportation array appeared, and he stepped inside first. Everyone followed without hesitation, entering the array one by one. John followed at the back, arriving at the mine. The area was packed with Shadow n elites. The old vige chief was arguing with a man in a ck robe, though the surrounding space was isted, preventing John from hearing what they were discussing. Spatial ripples asionally appeared, as one Saint Spirit n member after another was escorted in, gathering in the square. John noticed that Quagmire was among them. The crowd below was silent; everyone had gathered in the square, whispering quietly among themselves. "Quiet!" A peak-level upper-tier god from the Shadow n appeared, casting a cold nce over the crowd. "Today''s your lucky day. You''ll get to rest and witness the execution of these Saint Spirit n fools!" With a wave of his hand, a squad of soldiers appeared, directing John and the others toward the square. The thirty thousand members of the Saint Spirit n were surrounded by Shadow n soldiers, with two hunters'' brood mothers stationed nearby. The upper-tier god climbed onto a hastily erected tform, his voice icy as he addressed the crowd. "Take a good look-this is the fate of those who dare to oppose the Shadow n!" He nced toward the two hunters'' brood mothers, giving them a signal. Roar... A guttural roar followed as the two hunters'' brood mothers began their soul attack, their sonic waves engulfing the Saint Spirit n members. "Aaagh..." Screams filled the air as thirty thousand people clutched their heads, writhing in agony on the ground. This soul attack wasn''t intended to kill them; it was merely meant to torment. John''s expression was cold. These Shadow n members were utterly ruthless, likely nning to torture them all day before executing them in the evening. He hadn''t had much interaction with the Saint Spirit n, but Quagmire had once helped him. He couldn''t just stand by and let something happen to Quagmire. Scanning the area, he saw tens of thousands of Shadow n elites. Most were mid-tier and upper-tier gods. With over a hundred peak-level upper-tier gods in the mix. If he could pull them all into his World-in-Hand, he might just have a chance of obliterating them. Clink... Clink... Suddenly, the sound of chains caught his attention. Quagmire had somehow moved closer, sitting cross-legged beside John. In a low voice, he said, "Kid, are you thinking of making a move?" John nodded, asking quietly, "Is there a problem with that?" "There is. Don''t do it! I know you''re The Overseer, but you''re not a match for these guys." Quagmire nced at the tform and continued, "That old man up there is your vige chief, right? And the man in the ck robe beside him is the lord of one of Shadow Star''s 108 main cities." "What?" John was taken aback. He''d already learned from his memory plundering how fearsome the main city lords of Shadow Star were. Quagmire went on, "The old man''s name is Kangus, once a main city lord himself, and his strength is profound. That gray-robed man, if I''m not mistaken, is Grimnir, lord of Main City 105. Both of them have the power to kill The Overseer." "They can kill The Overseer? Even in the World-in-Hand?" John asked curiously. "I''m talking about inside the World-in-Hand," Quagmire replied, casting him a sharp nce. "They have the means to destroy it. Just don''t act rashly. These people aren''t here for you." "Then who are they after?" John asked, confused. He already knew there were forces on Shadow Star opposing the Shadow n, but could these people be connected to the Saint Spirit n? Quagmire frowned, then said, "If I''m right, there''s a Saint Spirit n Overseer named Terran. He''s joined the Nature n, though. Could it be that he''s arrived on Shadow Star too?" Chapter 294: Chapter 294: The Overseer Ice Talker, The Secret of the Snow Mountain Chapter 294: Chapter 294: The Overseer Ice Talker, The Secret of the Snow Mountain ? John began to piece things together. From the memories of the Shadow n upper-tier god, he had learned that the worlds of the other seven Lord Gods had also descended upon Shadow Star, including that of the Nature n. It seemed the Shadow n''s target was indeed this Terran. As he looked at the members of the Saint Spirit n writhing in agony, he wondered if Terran would actually show up. If by evening that guy still didn''t appear, then John would risk everything to save Quagmire. At worst, he''d hide in his World-in-Hand, convinced those enemies wouldn''t be able to destroy it from outside. Time passed slowly, and many Saint Spirit n members, unable to endure the relentless torture,shed out desperately at the Shadow n. But the Shadow n merely contained them, refraining from any lethal action. It was clear they were determined to torture them for an entire day. Sighs filled the square, with people expressing sympathy for the Saint Spirit n''s plight. But sympathy was all they could muster; none dared to openly defy the Shadow n. "They''re here!" Suddenly, a low voice rang out as the ck-robed Grimnir and the vige chief Kangus both rose from the tform, their gazes intense, fixed on the distant horizon. Whoosh... A fierce wind howled as a powerful aura swept across the square, and three figures quickly approached from afar. One of them was a member of the Saint Spirit n-most likely the Overseer, Terran.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Apanying him were a woman dressed in white, her aura icy. With her arrival, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Her presence marked her as an Overseer as well. The third was an elderly man in a ck robe, horns crowning his head, suggesting Beast n bloodlines. Though not an Overseer, his aura was equally intimidating. As the three of them descended, the Shadow n grew tense, and their elites immediately surrounded them. Quagmire leaned over to John, whispering, "That woman in white is the Nature n Overseer, Ice Talker. As for the old man, I''ve never seen him before." John nodded, curiously observing the woman in white, Ice Talker. She exuded a powerful aura, but what intrigued him most was the faint trace of The Immortals'' energy he sensed from her. It seemed Ice Talker, too, had refined an Immortals treasure. But where had she obtained it? At that moment, both sides faced off, their hostility nearly tangible. Ice Talker wore a faint smile, her presence radiating a terrifying pressure that suddenly bore down on the two hunters'' brood mothers. Whimper... The brood mothers let out frightened, low whimpers, no longer daring to continue their soul attacks. The surrounding Shadow n soldiers looked tense, their hands gripping their weapons trembling slightly. Ice Talker ignored them, fixing her gaze on Kangus and Grimnir on the tform. With a faint smile, she said, "Sirs, if you''d show me some grace and let me take these people, I''llpensate you with an Immortal Herb Garden. What do you say?" Both men frowned, preparing to respond when another peak upper-tier god stepped forward angrily, "You''re the one who plundered our Immortal Herb Garden and mines, ughtering countless Shadow n soldiers. And now you think offering one garden will allow you to take these people? No way." Ice Talker nced at the man, her smile fading as she replied in a cold, measured tone, "Did I give you permission to speak?" Buzz! Suddenly, a snowke appeared in the air, fluttering lightly before shooting toward the Shadow n god. Boom... A mist of blood erupted as he was instantly obliterated. Momentster, the blood mist condensed, and he resurrected where he stood, coughing up blood, his face pale with terror. "Enough!" Grimnir roared, clutching two jade stones in his hand as he red at Ice Talker, his expression wary. "Today, you owe us an exnation." John''s gaze was drawn to the stones in Grimnir''s hand-they were Spirit Stones! It seemed Grimnir intended to use the Spirit Stones against Ice Talker. Did Spirit Stones have hidden abilities? Ice Talker''s expression darkened with irritation, but she said, "I''ve told you already, I haven''t plundered your Immortal Herb Garden or Shadow minerals. I''ll add another offer: I''ll tell you about the snow mountain if you let me take the Saint Spirit n members." "Snow mountain?" John couldn''t hide his surprise and blurted out, "You know the location of the snow mountain?" At his question, everyone''s attention shifted to him. "Oh, The Immortals'' Overseer? So, you''re the Godyer!" Ice Talker finally noticed John, her eyes lighting up with interest. Turning back to Grimnir, she smiled and said, "I''ve changed my mind. I''ll be taking both the Saint Spirit n members and this Godyer. And you''re not getting any information about the snow mountain." "Attack!" Grimnir shouted, tossing the two Spirit Stones into the air. Unusual energy waves rippled around them. It was a formation! John realized what was happening, but before he could react, a surge of spatial energy enveloped him and all the nearby Saint Spirit n members, transporting them into Ice Talker''s World-in-Hand. "Fight our way out!" shemanded, and a flurry of snowkes swirled, each oneced with lethal intent. Terran, the Saint Spirit n Overseer, joined the battle, wielding dual swords that emitted dazzling streaks of light as he cut down Shadow n soldiers. The old man was the most intriguing-his robe tore away, transforming him into a towering giant. The transformation reminded John of his own Heaven and Earth Transformation, though the aura the old man exuded was entirely different. "Earth Split!" the old man roared, stomping his foot down. A fissure split open on the ground, disrupting the formation just as it was solidifying. "Underworld n!" Vige Chief Kangus cried out in shock, eyes zing with fury as heunched himself toward the man. "Emperor of the Underworld, retreat," Ice Talker called out, pulling the old man back into her World-in-Hand. Taking advantage of the moment before the formation reclosed, she and Terran broke through together. Without the constraints of the formation, the Shadow n elites couldn''t hold them back, and the two escaped effortlessly. "Damn it!" Grimnir fumed, furious as he watched the two slip away. With the formation down, he was powerless to stop Ice Talker and could only watch them vanish into the distance. "Grimnir, you were too impulsive. You should''ve discussed this with me beforehand!" Kangus snarled, ring coldly at him. Grimnir shook his head, frustrated. "I didn''t anticipate him having an Underworld n member at his side." "Hmph. Now that Godyer has been taken by Ice Talker, you''ll have to answer to Lord Shadow yourself." Kangus snorted before disappearing. Grimnir''s expression shifted, finally realizing the gravity of the situation. Lord Shadow had other ns for Godyer, but now that he''d been taken by Ice Talker, Grimnir was likely in deep trouble if Shadow held him responsible. ... Meanwhile, John looked around curiously. Surrounded by lush mountains and rivers, with birds chirping and vibrant life all around. He quickly guessed this was Ice Talker''s World-in-Hand. "My Lord," Quagmire approached, looking pale and weakened. He whispered, concerned, "Do you think Ice Talker''s holding us here to harm us?" John shook his head. "You''ll be fine. As for me, I''m not so sure." He''d already learned that the Nature n was involved behind the scenes of the Game of the Gods. They should theoretically be allied with the Shadow n. Yet from their interactions, it was unclear whether they were friends or foes. Just then, a ripple of spatial energy appeared, and Ice Talker and herpanions materialized. Her gaze locked onto John, a faint smile ying on her lips. John felt a shiver run through him, unable to decipher what she intended. With a casual wave, Ice Talker dismissed her twopanions before finally speaking. "Rx, little one. How about we make a deal?" "What kind of deal?" John asked warily. "Simple. Hand over the two Hearts of the Continent you possess, and I''ll let you go." She smiled knowingly, fully aware that John held Heidern''s and the Sea King''s Hearts of the Continent. "Impossible," John refused outright, surveying his surroundings. "Besides, you can''t hold me here." He wasn''t bluffing. Ice Talker''s World-in-Hand was strong, but with his divine skill, Creation and Destruction, designed to counter World-in-Hand spaces, he could easily escape, even if he couldn''tpletely destroy it. And if that failed, he could retreat into his own World-in-Hand; as long as he kept his location hidden, this woman couldn''t touch him. Ice Talker didn''t seem fazed and continued, "Then let''s change the terms. I''ll let you go if you join the Nature n''s camp." John frowned, suspicious. "It seems like you''re quite eager to let me leave." She shrugged helplessly. "It''s not that I want to let you go; it''s just that I can''t stop you." John rubbed his nose, finding her words misleadingly suggestive. She went on, "You''re already in the sights of every Overseer from all the major ns, backed by their Lord Gods. I''m not nearly strong enough to contend with those forces, and I don''t want that troubleing my way." "Is that so?" John sensed she wasn''t lying, feeling he had the upper hand. He replied, "I''ll consider leaving-if you tell me the location of the snow mountain." Ice Talker looked at him, puzzled. "You don''t know?" "How would I know if you don''t tell me?" John frowned, beginning to think this woman was slightly out of touch. Ice Talker replied, "How should I know if you don''t know?" John mad, he don''t know what is she talking about. Exasperated, John snapped, "I''m not here to y riddles. Just tell me!" Ice Talker''s puzzlement deepened as she asked, "You really can''t sense the snow mountain?" John felt an urge to use Memory Extraction on her-provided his Soul Technique was stronger than hers. Taking a deep breath to control his irritation, he said coldly, "Spit it out." She smirked coyly. "Aw, aren''t you a fiery one, little brother." Noticing John''s anger re again, she quickly added, "You''re with The Immortals. You should be able to sense the location of the snow mountain." "What do you mean?" John asked, still frowning. Seeing that he genuinely didn''t know, Ice Talker exined, "The snow mountain is actually a World-in-Hand." "What?" John was shocked. "The snow mountain is an Overseer?" "No," Ice Talker continued. "That Overseer has long since fallen, but his World-in-Hand remains intact, concealed on Shadow Star. Only someone from The Immortals can sense it." John''s mind raced. "So the snow mountain was the Overseer of The Immortals?" "Yes." Ice Talker looked at him curiously. "Can''t you really sense the location of that World- in-Hand?" John''s brow furrowed. He shook his head, exining, "I''ve been out every night, but I''ve never sensed any trace of this snow mountain." Chapter 295: Chapter 295: Strengthening and Taking Action Chapter 295: Chapter 295: Strengthening and Taking Action ? "Strange," Ice Talker murmured, puzzled. "Wait... there''s another possibility." She paused, then said, "Unless someone has already inherited the snow mountain''s legacy. In that case, the aura would have automatically disappeared." Someone inherited the snow mountain''s legacy? The Blues Family! John immediately thought of the Blues Family disciples. They had vanished without a trace, leaving Bonnie with only one clue-"snow mountain." It seemed that one of the Blues Family members had indeed obtained the snow mountain''s legacy. John felt a sense of relief; this was good news for the Blues Family. And now he was sure that they were safe. Ice Talker, noticing his reaction, asked, "Do you know who inherited the snow mountain legacy?" "No idea," he replied quickly, feigning ignorance. He wasn''t about to ce his trust in Ice Talker. "So, you''re letting me go now?" he added. Ice Talker gave him a sly look. "But you haven''t agreed to join the Nature n yet." She winked at him, saying, "With Nature n''s protection, you''d be a lot safer." "Not interested," John replied bluntly. Ice Talker didn''t give up. "You should think carefully. You''re in a pretty dangerous position right now." John''s patience wore thin. "Are you going to let me go, or do I have to break my way out?" As he spoke, a longsword appeared in his hand, and he activated his divine skill, Creation and Destruction. Buzz! A streak of sword energy tore through the air, splitting the void and creating rifts with turbulent flows of energy swirling around. Ice Talker''s expression shifted slightly. "What a terrifying skill!" She regarded him with surprise before her expression softened into a smile again. "Fine, I''ll let you go. But remember, my door is always open for you, little brother!" With a wave of her sleeve, a surge of spatial power rippled, and John''s figure vanished. The smile dropped from her face as she watched him go, her brow furrowing. "My Lady," Terran approached, puzzled. "You''re really just letting him go like that?" "Don''t worry," Ice Talker replied with a smirk, a single snowke appearing in her hand and slowly melting away. "He won''t escape my grasp that easily." ... John reappeared in an open field. As soon as he materialized, the furious roars of Hunters filled the air. Drawn by the hatred mark he carried. Annoyed, he didn''t bother fighting them off. Instead, he calmly retreated into his World-in- Hand. Now that he had slipped out from Shadow n''s control, his movements would be much freer. "The Blues Family disciples should be safe. Next, I''ll rescue Cand-Dragon andunch an open attack on the Shadow n!" he decided. He still had a captured Shadow n peak-level upper-tier god. However, that one''s soul was powerful, and he''d need to refine some Soul Essence to strengthen his Soul Technique before he could perform Memory Extraction. "John, can you let me out now?" Sini came running over, pouting and looking at him expectantly. "No," John replied firmly. "Spend the next few days focused on cultivating. We''re about tounch an open strike against the Shadow n." "Really?" A smile lit up Sini''s face immediately. John nodded, though he felt a bit uneasy. He wasn''t sure if this was a good or a bad development. Ever since Sini acquired her Nether power, she had be increasingly fascinated by the thrill of battle and bloodshed. Setting aside his concerns, he focused on his own cultivation. He had ample resources on hand. 112 Soul Essences, unrefined treasures from the Sea n and Feather Race, and numerous skill stones that could enhance his concentration techniques-particrly the Condensed Spirit Technique and the Crape Myrtle Mind Technique. Under the Life Tree, where several wooden huts had been built, he entered the one prepared for him by the others and began his secluded training. ... A monthter, John emerged from his training. He had absorbed all the Soul Essences, pushing his Soul Technique to a staggering 1.69 million points. It far surpassing most of the Shadow n''s peak-level upper-tier gods. Of course, there was still a gap between him and the 108 main city lords or the other Overseers. Beyond this, he had also refined the Sea n and Feather Race treasures. His true form and godly avatar each used an Apocalypse Stone. His true form absorbed treasures from The Immortals and Feather Race. While his godly avatar refined those of the gods and Sea n. The Sea n, heavily reliant on magic, provided a powerful boost to his Wrath of the Gods mage ss. He had also raised two top-tier mind techniques-Condensed Spirit Technique from the Sea n and Crape Myrtle Mind Technique from the Feather Race-to level 10,000. These enhancements elevated his mental power and Soul Technique even further. Most notably, he gained new abilities. With Condensed Spirit Technique reaching level 10,000, he acquired a new skill: Mind Maniption. This ability allowed him to control any object, even living beings-simr to his Sword Control, but much more versatile. The Crape Myrtle Mind Technique, also at level 10,000, added soul damage to all his attacks. Both physical and magical attacks now dealt soul damage without risking soul bacsh. John''s power had once again advanced dramatically. "It''s time to rescue Cand-Dragon and the others," he decided, stepping out of the hut and locating the captured Shadow n peak-level upper-tier god. Despite his immense strength, the captive was helpless in John''s World-in-Hand and had been mercilessly tortured by Lincoln and the others for over a month. His spirit was nearly broken. Even so, his lips remained sealed, revealing nothing of the Shadow n''s secrets. Unwilling to waste any more time, John used Memory Extraction on him. He gleaned a wealth of information on the Shadow n. Though most of it offered little of immediate value. The most crucial piece was the location of the Spirit Stone mine. "The Immortals!" he eximed, stunned. There truly was a presence of The Immortals hidden here. Along with the coordinates for the Spirit Stone mine, John had uncovered another crucial detail. Shadow Star was previously known as Spirit Jade Star, a realm once controlled by The Immortals. The native creatures-the spirit beasts-were the original inhabitants of this land. At some point, however, an upheaval urred, allowing the Shadow n''s Lord God to seize control. The exact nature of this upheaval was beyond what this prisoner knew. "Sir, is this guy still of any use?" Beelzebub approached, eyeing the defeated Shadow n god sprawled on the ground. "No, you can finish him off," John replied, with no hint of sympathy for the captive''s fate. "John!" Sini came running over, her face bright with anticipation. "Are we going to make a move against the Shadow n?" "Yes," he nodded. "But first, I need to rescue Cand-Dragon and the others." "I''ming with you," Sini said eagerly. She had been cooped up in the World-in-Hand for a month, with little interest in training, and was itching for action. John considered it, then nodded. Having Sini by his side wouldn''t put her at risk. Then he turned to the other powerful figures from various races within his World-in-Hand and, with a thought, expelled them all. Now that he was beyond the Shadow n''s reach, there was no need to worry about exposure.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om These powerful individuals suddenly reappearing would likely draw Shadow n''s attention, giving him some cover. "Let''s go. We''ll pick up two people first." John nced up at the sky-it was the dead of night, ideal for his n. He and Sini exited the World-in-Hand, only to be met by the angry roars of Hunters charging at them. Sini''s eyes lit up, and she immediatelyunched into an attack. A ck mist spread around her, brimming with powerful soul energy. Within its radius, the souls of the Hunters dissipated, snuffed out instantly. John watched in surprise. "Your soul attack can actually kill these Hunters?" Sini looked back at him, puzzled. "Is there a problem?" John frowned slightly. The Hunters and their brood mothers shared a collective soul link; normally, only by killing the brood mother could the Hunters be permanently destroyed. But clearly, the brood mother was still alive. Even when facing these Hunters himself, he relied on the Golden Lotus Hellfire for a soul- damage attack that wouldn''t trigger bacsh. He said, "Use that soul attack on me." "Alright," Sini didn''t hesitate, knowing full well her soul attack posed no threat to John. Whoosh! The ck mist rose, enveloping Johnpletely. This time, he didn''t immediately use his Golden Lotus Hellfire to purify it. Enduring the soul pain, he carefully examined the sensation. "Just as I thought!" John murmured in surprise. Sini''s ck mist could actually sever the shared soul connection. This meant she could bypass the soul link and effortlessly kill Shadow n elites. "Alright, you can disperse the mist now," John instructed. If he didn''t have Golden Lotus Hellfire, even he would have been at a loss against this strange mist. Sini promptly dispersed the ck mist, her face beaming. "John, does this mean I can finally be of help to you now?" Her greatest wish was to be useful to him. John nodded, noticing more Hunters gathering around them. He stopped Sini from attacking further and said, "Let''s go pick up two people first." He activated his Split Void ability, tearing open a spatial rift, and pulled Sini into it. Buzz! With a pulse of spatial energy, they emerged at the novice vige where John had previously been. Sini looked around curiously. "John, where is this? I sense so many Skyline Continent beings here." "It''s the novice vige on Shadow Star," he exined briefly. Heading to Dumas''s wooden hut, he pushed the door open. Inside, Dumasy sprawled on a bed of dry grass, fast asleep. Without John''s assistance for the past month, he had been struggling. The daily quota of a hundred cubic units of ore was far beyond his capacity. He didn''t even notice someone entering his hut. John called out, "Hey, you dead yet?" "Huh?" Dumas jolted awake, sitting up quickly. Seeing John, his face lit up with relief. "My Lord, you''re back!" John replied coolly, "If I hadn''te, you''d likely be dead by now." Forcing a weak smile, Dumas said, "My Lord, don''t worry about me. You should get out of here. The Shadow n is actively searching for you." "I know. Just enter my World-in-Hand," John responded, pulling Dumas into his World-in- Hand without further exnation. As for the others in the vige, he didn''t intend to help them. Most were weak demigods or lower-tier gods, offering him little value. There was, however, one person he couldn''t allow to live. Thest surviving Dark Human. Expanding his mental power, he quickly located the man and used Soul Impact from a distance. The Dark Human died in his sleep, an end that was almost merciful given the circumstances. Chapter 296: Chapter 296: Flame Mountain Range, Many Powerful Beings Chapter 296: Chapter 296: me Mountain Range, Many Powerful Beings ? "Let''s go, there''s a big guy waiting," John activated his Split Void ability again and arrived at Behemoth Quagmlier''s residence. This creature was much more alert than Dumas and noticed him immediately. "Hmm, a Behemoth?" Sini eximed in surprise, curiously eyeing Quagmlier. This was only the second Behemoth she had encountered besides Dumas. "Human, are you here to rescue me?" Quagmlier replied, remaining cold and indifferent. John nodded and said, "First, let''s get you into my World-in-Hand." "No." Quagmlier refused outright, saying, "My lord, don''t worry about me. Just let me fend for myself; it would be a form of atonement for those guys." John furrowed his brow, having caught wind of some rumors regarding Quagmlier. Last time, he had organized the Behemoths to rebel and was captured in that pce located in The Secret Area. Besides him, the other Behemoths were tortured to death in front of him, which was why he was in such agony. John replied calmly, "Serving the Shadow n isn''t atonement. Stick with me, and I''ll help you take your revenge!" Quagmlier''s massive form shuddered slightly, and a glimmer of light returned to his eyes. nk! With a loud nk, chains rattled as he knelt before John, saying quietly, "If my lord can truly help me take revenge, my life is yours!" "I don''t want your life." John felt a stirring in his heart; he summoned his longsword and struck fiercely at the chains binding Quagmlier. ng! The sound of impact echoed as he stumbled back a step, the chains on Quagmlier remainingpletely unscathed. "What kind of chains are these that can''t be cut?" he eximed, astonished. Quagmlier sighed, "My lord, these are forged from Shadow Ore. Only powerful holy artifacts can damage them." "Holy artifacts?" John questioned, puzzled, as he had never heard of such weapons. He replied, "You''ll have to endure for a few days. I''ll find a way." Quagmlier didn''t mind; even if he could never break free from the chains, it wasn''t a big deal to him. Feeling a surge of determination, John drew him into his World-in-Hand. "Let''s go rescue Cand-Dragon and the others," he said, once again tearing open a rift in space to head towards the Spirit Stone mines. Buzz! The spatial power fluctuated, and the two arrived at the outskirts of the Spirit Stone mines. An intense heat engulfed them, revealing a vast mountain range shrouded in mes. "Undying me!" Sini gasped, stepping back with a pained expression. The mountains were filled with rising Undying mes, and the terrifying heat made it impossible for any life to approach. Sini, being only a demigod, couldn''t withstand the scorching temperatures of these mes. John, too, struggled to endure it. "You should return to World-in-Hand," he suggested. This time, Sini didn''t refuse; in such harsh conditions, she wouldn''t be able to help and would only be a burden. John pulled her into World-in-Hand and then focused on sensing everything around him. "What a rich source of spiritual power!" he eximed in shock. This entire mountain range wasposed of Spirit Stone mines. No wonder the Shadow Star space was so stable. With such immense resources, it would be impossible to destroy this without plundering them all. However, all these Spirit Stone mines were covered by the Undying mes, and without the peak power of upper-tier gods, one could not withstand the burn of these mes. "I wonder if this continuous Spirit Stone mine can be brought into World-in-Hand," John thought eagerly. However, he hesitated. These mountains were covered in Undying mes, and since his World-in-Hand was still in its early stages, the rules weren''t fully developed. It probably couldn''t withstand the scorching heat of the Undying mes. Right now, the most important task was to rescue Cand-Dragon and Tony. His spiritual energy spread out, covering the entire mountain range. Soon, he detected Cand-Dragon''s presence at the foot of the Spirit Stone mountains, where there was a cluster of buildings. Those living there were all peak upper-tier gods, numbering over seventy thousand. Strangely, these individuals were not from the Shadow n. Peak upper-tier gods were the pinnacle of power on any, rarely exceeding three digits in number. The fact that over seventy thousand strong beings were gathered here meant they must have destroyed countlesss. If he could subdue all of them, it would be an incredibly formidable force. Feeling a surge of excitement, John concealed his presence and quickly flew toward the cluster of buildings at the base of the mountains. It resembled a town, entirely constructed from Spirit Stone, rich in spiritual power,pletely shielding its inhabitants from the killing force of Shadow Star. It was truly a paradise for cultivators. Not only that, but the powerful beings residing here moved about freely, with many strolling down the streets, looking rxed and content. Compared to those mines, this ce was like heaven. John frowned, sensing that these individuals had chosen to stay here willingly. It seemed that persuading them would not be easy. Not wanting to rush into anything, he decided to locate Cand-Dragon and the others first. "Who goes there!" Just as he was about to make a move, a furious shout rang out, and a figure shot into the sky, locking onto him with a terrifying aura. He was a peak upper-tier god of the demon race, d in a ck robe, radiating an eerie aura. John was somewhat surprised; the Skyline Continent had once seen the emergence of the demon race, but the strongest among them had only been a lower-tier god. He hadn''t expected that such a weak race could have a peak upper-tier god among them. It seemed the demon race had been quite powerful back then. He looked at the man and said casually, "I''m looking for Cand-Dragon." "Cand-Dragon?" The ck-robed man frowned, his expression wary. "Are you that human Godyer?" "Oh? You know about me?" John was taken aback. "Hmph! The Shadow n has issued a bounty for you. I didn''t expect you toe here to seek your death!" He sneered and suddenly made his move. Dark powers surged ominously, and several Dark Orbs materialized around him, ready to devour everything in their path as they whizzed toward John. Not daring to be careless, John summoned his longsword, gathering several strands of power, and struck down fiercely. Boom! A loud explosion resonated, and the entire sky shook violently, instantly destroying arge portion of the buildings below. Numerous figures shot up into the air, all peak upper-tier gods, their terrifying auras filling the space, and they curiously sized up John. "Hey, who is this little guy? A demigod, yet he can unleash upper-tier god-level power." "Looks like a human. Could he be that Godyer?" "The one the Shadow n is after!" Everyone''s eyes lit up as they turned to John, their eyes gleaming with interest. "Get lost! I found this guy first!" The ck-robed man shouted angrily,unching himself at John once more. "This isn''t about who found him first! Charge!" another voice yelled as several figures surged forward. "Damn it!" John cursed. These guys were truly despicable. What shocked him even more was that they seemed utterly loyal to the Shadow n, making it clear that subduing them would be impossible. Still, he felt no fear; with World-in-Hand at his disposal, killing these guys would be easy. Just as he was about to act, another figure rushed in from the distance. It was Cand-Dragon! "Stop!" he roared, apanied by a powerful dragon''s roar, positioning himself directly in front of John to block all iing attacks. He looked at John with concern and said, "Kid, how did you end up here? These guys are ng. I''ll hold them off; you should run." "I can handle it," John replied confidently, scanning the area but not spotting Tony. He asked, "Where''s Tony?" Cand-Dragon quickly answered, "He''s up on the mountain, transporting Spirit Stones."N?v(el)B\\jnn "Cand-Dragon, I''ve long suspected you had ulterior motives. I didn''t expect you to team up with this human. Everyone, attack together!" The ck-robed man, wary of Cand-Dragon''s strength, dared not take all the credit and rallied the others tounch an assault. Whoosh! A fierce wind howled, and oppressive energy filled the air as the sky darkened with the onught of terrifying power, countless attacks descending. Without hesitation, John and Cand-Dragon unleashed their Heaven and Earth Transformation state. Roar... The resonant sounds of two dragons echoed as both transformed into their divine dragon forms. Buzz! John immediately activated Return of Ten Thousand Swords, the sword intent humming as a rain of sword light fell from the sky. "Hmph, a mere trick!" The ck-robed man scoffed, summoning several ck holes around him that devoured all the sword light. The ck holes trembled slightly, as if they might explode at any moment. "Hmm? Such a powerful attack-take this back!" He shouted angrily, and the ck holes shimmered with light as countless sword beams shot out, mirroring John''s earlier use of Return of Ten Thousand Swords, but this time they were directed at him. "What kind of ability is this?" John was taken aback, fully aware of the power behind those sword beams. The elementalws of earth surged, and he instantly transformed into Amethyst Battle Armor, shielding his entire body. ng! ng! The sound of collisions echoed as the armor sustained numerous cracks. Cand-Dragon also found himself in dire straits, hurriedly dodging and defending. "Damn it!" John cursed, ready to activate World-in-Hand to draw all these foes inside. "Godyer, they will destroy your world!" Suddenly, a woman''s voice echoed, and the space around him was sealed, cutting off his connection to World-in-Hand. John was startled and turned to look behind him. In the distance, three figures appeared in an instant. It was Ice Talker, Terran, and the elderly figure from the Underworld n, the Emperor of the Underworld. "What are you doing here?" John asked the woman, furrowing his brows. Ice Talker shot him an annoyed re. "Isn''t it obvious? I''m here to save you. Can''t you even say thank you?" With a wave of her hand, snowkes swirled around them, and the surrounding strong beings felt an immediate threat, hastily trying to evade. Those who couldn''t dodge in time were quickly encased in ice as the snowkes touched them. "It''s Ice Talker! Quick, notify the Shadow n!" They realized Ice Talker''s immense power and dared not confront her directly, scrambling to send out distress signals. Ice Talker frowned deeply; she wanted to intervene, but it was toote. Turning to John, she expressed her frustration, "Little brother, you really know how to cause trouble. This ce is dangerous; you need to leave quickly." Chapter 297: Chapter 297: The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, Trapped in the Cave Chapter 297: Chapter 297: The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, Trapped in the Cave ? John furrowed his brows. The powerful Ice Talker seemed wary of this ce, suggesting it was far from ordinary. He didn''t dare to be reckless and said, "I have one more person to save." He nced at Cand-Dragon. "Follow me." Cand-Dragon understood he was referring to Tony. With a roar, he unleashed his power, pushing the surrounding strong beings back as he soared toward the distant mountains.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om John followed closely behind. Ice Talker grew anxious and shouted, "Kid, it''s dangerous!" "I can handle it; you should go," John replied. He didn''t want to owe her a favor, and he had a nagging feeling that she had ulterior motives. "Bastard! You really are a handful!" Ice Talker gritted her teeth in frustration. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to chase after them. With a wave of her hand, a flurry of snowkes fell, freezing the strong beings below. Her methods only temporarily trapped them; they weren''t enough to kill these peak upper- tier gods. "Lord," Terran said urgently, "you can''t go in there; there''s a formation present." The Emperor of the Underworld nodded in agreement, "I can''t break this formation either." Ice Talker frowned as she watched John and Cand-Dragon rush into the mine. She said, "This human must note to harm, especially not at the hands of the Shadow n." After saying this, she hurried after them. Terran and the Emperor of the Underworld exchanged nces, sighing helplessly before following closely behind. The mountains rolled in waves, and the Undying mes soared, their terrifying heat capable of melting anything. But that wasn''t the worst of it; just like John''s Hellfire, the Undying mes could also scorch the very soul. Moreover, the mountains here were all made of Spirit Stone, continuously supplying abundant spiritual power. Coupled with the characteristics of the Undying me, it was almost an eternal presence that would never extinguish. John''s power had significantly increased; he was now an Overseer. Even so, resisting these mes was still somewhat taxing. He and Cand-Dragon had to slow their pace, distracted by the need to fend off the burning heat. Whoosh... At that moment, a chill swept through the air, and snowkes danced around them-Ice Talker had arrived. She red at John and said angrily, "Kid, if you get me killed, I''ll haunt you as a ghost!" "That''s an easy thing to misinterpret," John replied, still confused about her intentions. Ice Talker urged him, "Stop with the nonsense. Where''s the person you need to save?" "This way!" Cand-Dragon called out, flying toward a specific mountain. There, the Undying me seemed slightly weaker, and at the base of the mountain, there was an entrance to a cave, which appeared to be man-made. Tony was supposed to be here, transporting the mined stones. Behind them, numerous peak upper-tier gods were in hot pursuit, so the group quickened their pace and swiftly entered the cave. The cave wasn''t very spacious, forcing him and Cand-Dragon to revert to their human forms. "What pure spiritual power!" John marveled. Inside the cave, the abundance of spiritual power caused several of his cultivation techniques to activate on their own, absorbing the energy around them. He understood why these peak upper-tier gods were so loyal; even he felt tempted by the rich spiritual energy. They had to find a way to get this Spirit Stone mountain range into the World-in-Hand! Creak... At that moment, a series of sounds echoed as a giant tortoise pulled a long mining cart, struggling to move forward. It was Tony. Cand-Dragon fumed, "You old turtle, didn''t I tell you not to work so hard?" "Lord! Oh, Godyer, you''ve been caught too?" Tony finally noticed the others, his face lighting up with surprise. He then transformed into his human form, holding several stones in his hands, stuffing them into his mouth to devour. Tony nced at Cand-Dragon andined, "Lord, I''m not like you guys. These bastards set a quota for me. If I don''t meet it, I won''t get any Spirit Stones as a reward." John felt speechless; he realized he shouldn''t havee to rescue these two. "Alright, let''s go quickly," Ice Talker urged, feeling uneasy. The abundance of spiritual power here was not good for them. John directly pulled all the Spirit Stones that Tony had brought into the World-in-Hand and activated his Split Void ability to escape. Buzz! The space trembled, barely creating a crack, but the next second it sealed shut. "What''s happening?" John sensed a dangerous presence approaching. The surrounding space was actually sealed off, preventing even his Split Void ability from being used. Boom! Suddenly, a loud crash echoed as the cave entrance copsed, followed by the rise of several powerful energy waves around them. "This is bad; the Great Formation of Surrounding Star has activated!" the Emperor of the Underworld eximed, his expression shifting as his body expanded in size. "Hmm, Beast n bloodlines?" Cand-Dragon looked curiously at the transformed Emperor of the Underworld. "Earth Split." He ignored the question and shouted, stomping on the ground. Boom! A massive tremor shook the area, countless stones raining down from above, yet the strange sealing power remained unaffected. The Emperor of the Underworld shrank in size, ncing at Ice Talker, shaking his head in resignation. "Mydy, the formation isplete; I can''t break it." "Kid, you''ve really gotten us into a mess," Ice Talker red at John and snapped, "We need to break through!" With that, she directly smashed through the copsed entrance, stepping outside the cave. At that moment, they found themselves surrounded. The people outside were all beyond the formation, led by a powerful member of the Shadow n. "Mydy, that''s the Lord of Main City 101, The Absolute!" Terran recognized the Shadow n member, his expression shifting. Ice Talker hovered in the air, locking her gaze on the man. "The Absolute, are you really going to oppose me?" The Absolute smiled, quickly saying, "Mydy, I wouldn''t dare. You came here on your own. If you want to leave, I can let you go at any time." Ice Talker remained wary; she didn''t trust his apparent goodwill. Still, she spoke up, "I need to take my people with me." "Of course." The Absolute nodded without hesitation, holding a Spirit Stone and manipting the formation to create a narrow gap. "Let''s go!" Ice Talker, fearing he might change his mind, signaled to John and led the others toward the opening. "Wait!" The Absolute closed the gap immediately and stated, "Mydy, your people can leave, but this Godyer cannot." Ice Talker replied coolly, "He is one of my people. Besides, this guy has already joined my Nature n; just ask him if you don''t believe me." John shot her an irritated nce. "That''s not eptable either," The Absolute said, his tone menacing. "Everyone except the Godyer can leave. Otherwise, he will perish with you!" Ice Talker clenched her fists in frustration, ncing at the Emperor of the Underworld. He shook his head slightly. He had already tried; even if he opened the gap voluntarily, he couldn''t break the formation. After a moment of thought, Ice Talker proposed, "The Absolute, you simply want the Heart of the Continent from him. How about this: we give you the Heart of the Continent, and you let us leave." "No deal. This human must die. Even if you, the Lord God of Nature, intervened, you wouldn''t be able to save him," The Absolute replied coldly, showing no room for negotiation. Ice Talker''s anger red. "Then I''ll see if you dare to kill me!" "As you wish!" The Absolute had no patience for further discussion. The Spirit Stone floated in front of him as he coldly dered, "Star Circuit, restrain!" Whoosh! The formation activated, and despite it being daytime, stardust flickered above them. An overwhelming pressure filled the air, exuding a murderous aura. "Mydy, what do we do now?" Terran asked Ice Talker anxiously. John sensed the imminent danger and inquired, "Can''t we hide in World-in-Hand?" The Emperor of the Underworld shook his head. "No, the formation can lock onto your World- in-Hand and destroy it along with you." "Ice Talker, I''ll give you onest chance to leave," The Absolute said, still somewhat cautious, manipting the formation and not rushing to make a move. Ice Talker ignored him, simply sitting down in a cross-legged position. "Humph, do you really think I won''t dare to kill you? Star Circuit, kill!" he shouted angrily, and within the formation, countless stardust transformed, filling the air with an endless killing intent. Buzz! A piece of stardust shot through the air, followed by a rain of stardust falling like a meteor shower, each containing terrifying destructive power, crashing down toward John and the others. Boom! One piece of stardust fell, apanied by a thunderous roar, and John was directly knocked back, spitting out blood, a deep humming ringing in his soul. The overwhelming killing intent had the power to erase souls directly. Boom! Another roar followed, and Tony was thrown backward, his golden aura shattering completely. He couldn''t help but spit out blood, panicking as he eximed, "No way, my Immortal Golden Body can''t withstand these attacks!" John dodged the stardust attacks as best as he could, but the residual energy still injured him. He looked over at Ice Talker and asked, "Is there really no way to break it?" Ice Talker shot him a nce and replied coolly, "ept your fate. Once the Star Circuit formation is set, no one can break it; we''re as good as dead." "Seriously, you''re so calm," John said, feeling exasperated. He gritted his teeth, determined to bring everyone into World-in-Hand. Even if World-in-Hand were destroyed, he wouldn''t give up. "Master, I might have a way," Tony said, looking at him. "Then hurry up and say it," Cand-Dragon snapped, equally frustrated by the relentless stardust attacks. "Follow me," Tony said immediately, leading the way toward the cave, with the others following closely behind. Ice Talker, however, remained seated in her meditative position. John quickly called out, "Hey, do you really want to die? If you die, I''m not avenging you." "It''s useless. As long as we don''t leave the formation, we''re doomed," Ice Talker shot back, ring at him. Despite her words, she eventually followed the others into the cave. Boom, boom... Stardust continued to rain down from above, debris flying as the cave began to copse. The falling rocks weren''t a threat to them, but the aftermath of the stardust explosions was terrifying. "This way!" Tony transformed back into his true form, his body enveloped in golden light, and once again activated his Immortal Golden Body to break through the copsing cave. The others followed closely behind. This route wasn''t meant for transporting ore; the cave became increasingly narrow and complex, with the spiritual power growing denser. Tony had to shift back to human form, carefully navigating the path and shattering the massive rocks that continued to fall, leading everyone swiftly through the tunnels. Before long, they reached the end of the cave, where the path ended. Chapter 298: Chapter 298: Snow Mountain World, Understanding World-in-Hand Chapter 298: Chapter 298: Snow Mountain World, Understanding World-in-Hand ? Tony stopped in his tracks, with Star Dust continuing to rain down above him. In fact, one piece exploded right beside them, instantly killing the Lord of the Underworld. Fortunately, being an upper-tier god allowed him to resurrect on the spot; however, his soul still suffered severe damage. "Tony, this is a dead end!" the Candle Dragon fumed. Tony hurriedly exined, "There used to be a hidden space here that I could sense, but for some reason, it suddenly disappeared in thest few days. Maybe you all can find it." Ice Talker frowned, sensing nothing at all. She said, "Even if there is a hidden space here, we can''t escape the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. It would all be in vain." "You seem quite calm about this," John remarked, puzzled as to why this woman appeared soposed in the face of death. "Hmph, it''s still your fault. If I die, the Nature God avenge me," she said, finding a clean spot to sit cross-legged again. John ignored her and focused on sensing the surroundings, but he couldn''t pick up anything. "Tony, are you sure there used to be a hidden space here?" he asked, feeling uncertain. He had already grasped the power ofws rted to space, and if there was indeed a hidden space, he should be able to sense it clearly. "Absolutely!" Tony nodded affirmatively. "Moreover, there was some kind of power in that space that was attracting me, but I don''t know why it suddenly disappeared." "Drawn to you?" Cand-Dragon frowned and spoke, "I felt a force pulling me before as well. It seems to being from this spot." He scanned the surroundings, carefully sensing, yet found nothing. "Let''s break through and see!" John was struggling against the overwhelming Star Dust. If there wasn''t a hidden space here, he would risk being obliterated while trying to escape into World-in-Hand. Buzz! With a humming intent of the sword, a massive sword shadow suddenly appeared amidst the sea of Star Dust. The vibrant colors of Star Dust faded away. Immortal Art, Nine Heavens Sword. "sh!" John shouted in a low voice, directing the immense sword shadow to fiercely strike the cliff before him. Boom! A deafening roar erupted, causing the entire mountain range to tremble slightly, creating a massive gash that nearly cleaved the peak in two. From the shattered mountainside, Spatial power fluctuated, revealing a rift in space. There really was a hidden space here. Tony let out a sigh of relief and quickly said, "I told you there was a space here." Boom boom... The endless Star Dust fell, and the group found themselves in a dire predicament, even Ice Talker suffered significant injuries. "Stop dawdling! Let''s go in and take a look. This space is quite unique; it might actually block The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star''s attacks." She charged into the spatial rift first. John was speechless, "Aren''t you the one who doesn''t care about dying?" "Are you stupid? Who wants to die if they can live?" Ice Talker shot him a re and continued, "Little brother, remember this; you owe me a favor!" With that, she directly entered the rift. John and the others no longer hesitated. Dodging the falling Star Dust as best as they could, they also stepped into the rift. Whoosh! A biting cold wind howled, bringing a piercing chill. John couldn''t help but shiver; the surroundings were a stark white. This ce waspletely the opposite of the Spirit Stone Mountain range. The Spirit Stone Mountain range was enveloped in Undying me, creating a scorching environment. But here, it was a realm of winter. "So cold!" Tony couldn''t help but shudder, distancing himself from Ice Talker. He suspected that the frigid temperature was due to this woman. "What is this ce? It really blocked The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star?" Ice Talker eximed in surprise, ncing back at the now-closed rift in disbelief. John furrowed his brow; he had a vague suspicion. "Who goes there?" Suddenly, a furious shout rang out, and several figures sprang from the snow, rushing toward them. When John saw who they were, a smile spread across his face; his guess had indeed been correct. This was the snow mountain. Leading them was Peter, the head of the Blues Family! "Ah, John, you finally made it!" Peter recognized John as well, and the hostility vanished as he excitedly approached. "Senior, is everything alright with the elder and the Blues Family members?" Not seeing Chris, he couldn''t help but ask with concern. "They''re all fine. Plus, that old guy got pretty lucky and had an adventure of his own. Come on, let me take you all to where we''re staying." Peter grabbed John''s hand, noticing the three standing nearby, Ice Talker included, and his brows furrowed. He hadn''t seen these three before-they didn''t seem to be from Skyline Continent. John quickly exined, "It''s okay, they''re with us." Peter nodded, treating it as a casual greeting before leading them down to the foot of the mountain. It was like a whole new world here, with a pleasant climate, full of vitality. A stream formed from the melted snow at the mountain''s summit snaked its way down. Peter and the group were currently staying near the foot of this mountain. The Blues Family disciples were surprised and thrilled to see John. They came over to greet him one by one. He nodded in response to each of them. Peter spoke up, "Everyone, back to your work. Notify him the moment the old master leaves his retreat." The crowd dispersed. Peter then led John and the others to a simple wooden cabin, where he spoke up again, "John, did youe here because you heard about Bonnie?" John shook his head, "No, we stumbled into snow mountain by ident." "Snow mountain? This is the snow mountain?" Off to the side, Terran eximed, eyes burning with excitement. Ice Talker and the Emperor of the Underworld didn''t react, clearly having already figured it out. Terran realized his overreaction, gave an awkward smile, and then sidled over to Ice Talker, whispering, "My Lady, this ce is a World-in-Hand. If you refine it..." His voice wasn''t loud, but those nearby still heard it.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Hey!" Peter frowned, ring at Terran, his expression cold, "This is the inheritance of The Immortals, something you have no right to covet!" Terran red back, showing no fear. The only one here who was somewhat of a threat was John, and they could deal with him easily. Ice Talker smiled calmly, saying, "Rx, we have no intention of interfering with The Immortals'' inheritance." "My Lady..." Terran tried to say more but was cut off by her. "It''s not ours to take." She then looked over at John, speaking softly, "Little brother, how about this-I help you refine the snow mountain world, and you join me in The Immortals?" "Oh?" John''s interest was piqued, and he asked, "Can this snow mountain be refined?" Ice Talker nodded, "Not just that, but the two Hearts of the Continent you have can also be fused into your World-in-Hand." She continued to persuade him, "With your big sister helping, you''d be able to avoid many pitfalls." John hesitated. Judging by Terran''s reaction, this snow mountain world was clearly a treasure. He asked, curious, "Why would you help me?" "Consider it a gamble on my part." A hint of sadness flickered in Ice Talker''s eyes as she continued, "If you don''t join my Nature n, you''ll owe me a favor." "Alright, I owe you a favor." John weighed his options and ultimately chose to agree. He knew that the two Hearts of the Continent in his possession were precious, but he didn''t know how to refine them. A smile broke out on Ice Talker''s face as she said, "Just remember, you can''t back out of thister. Let''s go; enter your World-in-Hand, and I''ll help you refine it." John nodded, and in an instant, two of them disappeared. Peter watched them vanish, then leaned over to Tony and asked curiously, "Tony, who is that woman?" He didn''t have a good impression of Ice Talker; he felt as if she was trying to seduce John. His daughter and goddaughter were both involved with John, so he needed to keep a close watch on this guy and prevent him from chasing after other women. Tony shook his head; it was also his first time meeting Ice Talker. -- Inside John''s World-in-Hand. Ice Talker looked utterly shocked. "You... this is a world opened with Chaos Force! You''ve mastered Chaos Force?" John nodded, and with a thought, several The power ofws fused under his control, transforming into Chaos Force. Although he had mastered Chaos Force, he still struggled to control it, especially in battle, where enemies didn''t give him time to fuse Chaos Force. Moreover, if he made even a small mistake, it could lead to an explosion, injuring himself before he could harm his enemies. Ice Talker swallowed enviously, murmuring to herself, "Perhaps you might actually break through to that legendary realm..." "What?" John didn''t hear her clearly and asked, confused. Ice Talker shook her head, changing the topic. "Even though you''ve opened a World-in- Hand, you haven''t fully integrated it yet. I''m here to help you." She sat cross-legged, waved her hand, and isted the surrounding space. John was taken aback; he had a feeling that even in his World-in-Hand, he couldn''t contain Ice Talker. It was as if this woman carried her own realm. "Focus and sense carefully," Ice Talker said, looking at him. John snapped back to attention, sitting cross-legged and, under her guidance, began to sense his surroundings. "Remember, if you want topletely control the World-in-Hand, you must make it a part of your being. It''s not just a cold world; it''s a living entity that can grow alongside you..." Ice Talker gently led the surrounding The power ofws to swirl around him. John furrowed his brows, lost in thought, as he closed his eyes and immersed himself in his insights. "What an incredible perception!" Ice Talker eximed in surprise, isting the surrounding space to prevent any interruptions. She watched John, her expression serious, murmuring to herself, "My lord, are you really willing to gamble like this? If you fail, the cost could be the entire Nature Star... sigh." She let out a soft sigh, no longer dwelling on the matter. With a thought, she exited John''s World-in-Hand. Her control over the World-in-Hand far exceeded John''s; it couldn''t confine her at all. ... Outside, at the Spirit Stone veins. The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star continued to operate at full power, bombarding the mountain where John and hispanions were hiding. Star Dust fell like raindrops, dense and relentless. The entire mountain copsed, exposing countless Spirit Stones. The surrounding upper-tier gods, the pinnacle of power, watched with gleaming eyes, but with The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star still in effect, they didn''t dare to enter. Chapter 299: Chapter 299: Late Stage One Star - The Overseer, Snow Mountain, and Mines Chapter 299: Chapter 299: Late Stage One Star - The Overseer, Snow Mountain, and Mines ? The bombardment of Star Dust continued for over ten minutes before The Absolute finally put away the Spirit Stone, halting the formation''s attack. After more than two hours of relentless shelling, the human was undoubtedly dead. Now, all he hoped for was that Ice Talker was still alive. Ice Talker was no ordinary being; he was a descendant of the Nature God. If he perished here, there would be no way to report it to the Nature God. "Search for the human''s corpse and the Heart of the Continent," The Absolutemanded. He led a group of powerful individuals to collect ores and search for the Heart of the Continent. The entire mountain peak was reverberating with energy, a result of the Star Dust explosions. However, this level of damage was no longer enough to threaten the peak power of upper-tier gods. The group rushed forward, eagerly scavenging the scattered Spirit Stones. Most of these Spirit Stones would need to be handed over, but the Shadow n''s casual reward of a few stones was enough to send them into a frenzy. Before long, they had collected most of the ore, yet they found no trace of John or the others'' bodies. "My lord, we didn''t find the human," a ck-robed man approached, speaking respectfully. "What?" The Absolute frowned. "What about the others?" "None of them," the ck-robed man shook his head. "Impossible. Under The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, even if they hide in World- in-Hand, they would be dead for sure. Search again, thoroughly." He was certain that John couldn''t have survived the attack from The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, and even Ice Talker would likely have little hope of making it out alive. However, he didn''t want Ice Talker to be in danger. The group continued their search, digging through the earth, but still, no sign of John and the others was found.N?v(el)B\\jnn "The Immortals! Does this human know formations?" The Absolute''s expression grew serious. He was convinced the human was still here. If these people had managed to escape the reach of the formation, they would surelye for him. But where could they be hiding? "Everyone, fall back!" he ordered coldly, then took out a Spirit Stone and activated The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star again. This time, however, it was a trapping formation, not a killing formation. He was certain that John and the others hadn''t escaped. They must be hiding somewhere, having avoided the deadly assault of The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. Once they showed themselves, they would be doomed! ... Inside World-in-Hand, John had been in seclusion, cultivating. The barrier set up by Ice Talker prevented anyone from disturbing him. He sat cross-legged, with the power of thews surging around him. This was the uniquew of World-in-Hand. After seven days, John slowly opened his eyes, and two sharp beams of light shot out from his pupils. His cultivation level had unexpectedly broken through directly to thete stage of One Star, The Overseer, with his strength receiving a significant boost once again. "So this is the feeling of merging with World-in-Hand?" He felt both surprised and delighted in his heart. With a casual wave of his hand, the power of thews surged. It felt as though his entire body was an independent world. If Ice Talker were to lock him into her World-in-Hand again, John could easily escape. Of course, this was assuming she didn''t interfere. Currently, his strength was still far from being a match for Ice Talker. "I''ll go out and have a look." John noticed that the few women under the Tree of Life, along with the others, wereprehending The Immortals'' legacy and cultivating. He didn''t disturb them. With a thought, he left World-in-Hand. A chill swept over him, and he couldn''t help but shiver. His curiosity toward the snow mountain grew even stronger. The snow mountain had already been destroyed, yet his World-in-Hand remained intact. No matter how many years had passed, it was still as solid as ever. Boom! Suddenly, a loud bang came from the distance, followed by a fierce wind and shes of de light. "Hmm? Such powerful sword intent!" John was shocked. The attacks from the de lights weren''t particrly strong, but the mastery over the sword techniques was as proficient as his own swordsmanship. He couldn''t help but feel intrigued and hurried outside to investigate. Amidst the swirling snow, two elders were engaged in an intense battle. It was Chris and Tony sparring. At this moment, Chris was only at the ninth rank, but facing Tony, a demigod, he held his ground and didn''t fall behind in the short term. The inheritance of the snow mountain! John was delighted. Chris must have received the inheritance from the snow mountain, which exined why he had be so strong. "Eh? Little brother, you woke up so soon?" Ice Talker eximed in shock upon seeing John. "You... you actually reached thete stage of One Star, The Overseer! What kind of monster are you?" John, feeling confused, asked, "Is it really that fast?" He didn''t feel that breaking through to thete stage of One Star, The Overseer, was particrly difficult. It had felt almost like a natural progression. "Fast?" Ice Talker replied helplessly. "It''s not just fast, it''s terrifying." She felt a sense of unfairness in her heart. With the Nature God''s help, the umtion of vast resources, and thousands of years of effort, she had only managed to reach thete stage of Two Star, The Overseer. Yet John, with no resources or external help, had so easily merged with World-in-Hand and reached thete stage of One Star. Her brows furrowed as she reminded him, "Little brother, your talent is too astonishing. If the Lord Gods find out, they will do everything in their power to eliminate you. You''d better hide your cultivation level." John nodded, not taking it too seriously. Even if he didn''t reveal his cultivation level, the Lord Gods would never leave him alone. At the very least, the ShadowLord God of Shadow Star had already marked him for death. They were in a situation where only one could survive. He looked at Ice Talker and couldn''t help but ask, "Why are you helping me?" He could feel that Ice Talker harbored no animosity towards him. Ice Talker gazed at him deeply, her expression growing much more serious as she spoke. "It''s not the time to tell you that. Just know that our goals are aligned." "To destroy Shadow n?" John asked, confused. Did Nature n and Shadow n have a grudge with each other? It didn''t seem like Shadow n had ever betrayed or allied against Nature n. Ice Talker shot him a sharp look before replying, "I was wrong. Our goals are not aligned." John wanted to ask more, but by this time, the battle between the two had already concluded. Chris, despite being at the ninth rank,cked the spiritual power to keep up and ultimately lost. Moreover, Tony hadn''t used his full strength. If he had activated his Immortal Art, specifically the Immortal Golden Body, he would have easily defeated Chris. "Senior, congrattions on your new discovery," John quickly stepped forward to congratte him. "John, you''ve finally made it here. I wouldn''t have had this fortuitous encounter if not for you," Chris said, a wide smile on his face. He had once thought his life would be nothing more than ordinary, but following John, joining The Immortals, and bing part of the legendary immortals had changed everything for him. Now, he had even received the inheritance from an Immortal ancestor. His future achievements would be far greater than this. He continued, "I''ve received the snow mountain inheritance and feel like I''ve gained new insights. I wish to go into seclusion and furtherprehend The Immortals'' legacy." "Alright, I''ll send you there," John said, his mind shifting as he ced Chris into World-in- Hand. Sini and Tracy had both been worried about him, so it was a good opportunity to reunite them. "Little brother, you have the inheritance of The Immortals in your hands?" Ice Talker asked, surprised. She quickly added, "Would you let meprehend it as well?" "Sure, but it''ll be an exchange of favors," John said. He didn''t want to owe anyone a favor. "Tch, never mind then," Ice Talker said, clearly disappointed, and decisively dropped the matter. "Godyer," a voice suddenly called out from the side. It was the Emperor of the Underworld. "I''m willing to offer ten low-level spiritual power pills in exchange for the opportunity to experience the legacy of The Immortals." "Spiritual power pills? What''s that?" John asked, puzzled. "Restorative pills for spiritual power," the Emperor of the Underworld replied, taking out a porcin bottle and tossing it to John. John quickly caught it and inspected it with curiosity. [Low-level Spiritual Power Pill: Restores 100 points of spiritual power per second for 100 seconds.] John was pleasantly surprised. It was indeed a pill that restored spiritual power. Although he had the Wrath of the Gods talent, which reduced 99% of spiritual power consumption, his consumption still remained quite high when using the Heaven and Earth Transformation state. With this item, it would be enough topletely offset the consumption of Heaven and Earth Transformation, allowing for continuousbat. John looked at the Emperor of the Underworld, curious, and asked, "How many of these do you have? A few thousand, or even some mid-level or high-level spiritual power pills would work." "A few thousand?" The Emperor of the Underworld''s eyes widened, his face turning red with anger. "Kid, do you think these are cabbages? One low-level spiritual power pill is worth a thousand Spirit Stones, and only an Alchemist can refine them. They''re incredibly rare. Don''t even think about mid-level or high-level spiritual power pills." "Stingy." John couldn''t help butin. Seeing the Emperor of the Underworld about to explode, he quickly added, "Fine, fine. I''ll ept." "Hmph!" The Emperor snorted, then took out nine more porcin bottles, tossing them to John. John eagerly caught them, and his thoughts turned to Tracy, who was an Alchemist in The Immortals. He wondered if she could refine spiritual power pills. If so, he would have an endless supply. He looked at Ice Talker and asked, "When do you n onprehending the legacy of The Immortals?" Ice Talker replied, "No rush. First, let me help you refine the snow mountain world and solve the current crisis." The snow mountain world here could block the attacks of The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. Perhaps, once John refined it, he could break the formation''s influence. She once again assisted John in sensing and refining the snow mountain world. The snow mountain world held an entirely new power ofws. John sat cross-legged, following Ice Talker''s guidance and focusing on feeling the world''s essence. But soon, he opened his eyes and furrowed his brow. "It''s not working. I can''t refine and merge it. It feels like there''s another force resisting it." "This is impossible," Ice Talker said in confusion. "The snow mountain has already fallen, and its World-in-Hand is masterless. Anyone should be able to refine it." She closed her eyes and attempted the refining herself. "Hmm?" After a short time, she opened her eyes, a look of puzzlement in them. "This isn''t right. This force ispletely different from the snow mountain world. It''s fiery, violent, filled with a destructive aura." "Spirit Stone Mine!" John and Ice Talker eximed in unison. The World-in-Hand of the snow mountain wasn''t just the snow mountain itself; it also contained the Spirit Stone mine. They were actually one and the same. Twopletely different forces-no wonder they were able to withstand the attacks of The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. "What should we do now?" John asked. Ice Talker furrowed her brow, clearly at a loss. To refine and merge the snow mountain world, they would have to leave this ce and enter the boundary where the snow mountain world and the Spirit Stone mine met. But The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star would surely sense their movement and launch another attack. Neither she nor John would be able to withstand another assault from The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. Chapter 300: Chapter 300: Breaking the Formation, ShadowLord God Chapter 300: Chapter 300: Breaking the Formation, ShadowLord God ? Ice Talker spoke helplessly, "Forget it, I''ll help you refine those two Heart of the Continent first. Then I''ll enter seclusion toprehend the The Immortals legacy and see if I can break through." With that, she took out twenty spiritual power pills and handed them to John. "These two should also enter seclusion toprehend with me." John took the pills and remarked, "I feel like I''m at a disadvantage here." The price of a spiritual power pill was high, at 1000 Spirit Stones each, but it seemed that Shadow Star didn''tck Spirit Stones. Shadow Star had more than just this one Spirit Stone vein-there were many scattered veins throughout the region, though not as rich as this one. Other Lord God worlds likely also hadrge quantities of Spirit Stone veins on theirs. Ice Talker exined, "The spiritual power pills are not particrly rare, but only Alchemists can refine them. The Alchemist profession is rare, and it''s controlled by a few Lord Gods. The price of 1000 Spirit Stones is just the surface value; some powerful factions or organizations are willing to pay even higher prices to acquirerge quantities of spiritual power pills. The price can go as high as over 2000 Spirit Stones per pill." "I see," John said, looking at the Emperor of the Underworld. The old man seemed to be an Alchemist himself. Perhaps Tracy could study under him. "Let''s go. We''ll enter World-in-Hand first." With a thought, John brought Ice Talker, Cand- Dragon, Tony, and Peter into the World-in-Hand. "What a solid world!" Terran marveled at John''s World-in-Hand, his astonishment evident. "John, can you take me out of here?" At that moment, Sini ran over to John, her eyes full of longing. "This is...?" Ice Talker''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Power of the Nine Nether!" "Huh?" Sini noticed her gaze and, upon realizing Ice Talker was another beautiful woman, red fiercely at John. John pretended not to notice, instead turning to Ice Talker with a puzzled expression. "You know the Power of the Nine Nether?" Sini had gained the Power of the Nine Nether through the Immortals legacy, something John had never heard of before. Ice Talker nodded, ncing between John and Sini. She said, "Shadow n got themselves into big trouble by provoking both of you. It''s lucky for us that we aren''t enemies. The only regret is that two The Overseers can''te from the same race; otherwise, this little girl would truly be invincible." The Overseer? John froze. Sini could be a The Overseer? But she wasn''t human-she was of the demon race. And among the demon race, no The Overseer had ever appeared. Did being a The Overseer somehow enhance the Power of the Nine Nether? John was about to ask more questions when Ice Talker and the others had already arrived at the The Immortals legacy site and entered seclusion toprehend it. However, John had already guessed that since Sini had mastered the Power of the Nine Nether, she could easily break the seal of his World-in-Hand. It seemed that the Power of the Nine Nether was a natural counter to The Overseer. "We can''t leave right now; we''re trapped here," John exined briefly to Sini. She looked disappointed, then asked, "John, do you think my ability could break the formation?" "Hmm?" John''s eyes lit up. There might be a possibility after all. However, the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star was too dangerous. He didn''t want Sini to take any risks. It would be better to wait for Ice Talker and the others to finish their seclusion. If they couldn''t find another solution, then he''d let Sini try. With a few people protecting her, there wouldn''t be much danger in the short term. After dismissing Sini, John focused on refining and integrating the Heart of the Continent, following the method taught by Ice Talker. ... Over a month had passed. John had already integrated the two Heart of the Continent, and his strength had improved significantly, though his realm had not increased. Ice Talker and the others had alsopleted theirprehension of the The Immortals legacy, and each had gained new abilities. The greatest improvement was seen in Ice Talker, who had gained a new power. However, she didn''t reveal what it was. John didn''t press her for the details; after all, everyone had their own secrets. Ice Talker sighed, "The abilities we''ve gained aren''t rted to formations, so we likely can''t break the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star." Cand-Dragon spoke up, "Maybe The Absolute has already left?" But the others didn''t think so. "Formation?" Peter approached, asking, "Are you all trapped in a formation? I comprehended the Immortals legacy, and I gained insight into the power of formations. Maybe I can help you." "Really?" Ice Talker asked eagerly. "Can you solve the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star?" Peter furrowed his brows and shook his head. "No, I can''t. The formation is tooplicated, and my strength is too weak to set it up." p! Chris immediately pped Peter, angry. "Who told you to set it up? Didn''t you hear that we''re trapped in a formation? You should be trying to break it, not set it up!" Peter rubbed his head awkwardly and gave a dry chuckle before saying, "I can destroy it, though. I just need to find the formation''s core. If I break the core, the formation will copse." Everyone''s eyes brightened. They hadn''t expected the solution to be so close at hand. "Senior, it looks like we''ll have to rely on you this time," John said, standing up. "John, I''m going too," Sini quickly added. John didn''t refuse. With a thought, he led the group out of World-in-Hand and back into the snow mountain. The biting cold hit them immediately. Sini instinctively moved closer to him. John''s thoughts stirred, and he gathered his spiritual power into a barrier, blocking the cold. Then, he gathered his Chaos Force once again and activated the Nine Heavens Sword, effortlessly breaking the passage connecting the snow mountain to the Spirit Stone mine. "Let''s go," John said, and the group passed through one by one, entering the copsed Spirit Stone mine. "The formation is still active!" Ice Talker frowned and quickly whispered a reminder. Hum! A strange energy wave rippled through the air, and the entire sky seemed to be filled with Star Dust as The Absolute shot up into the air. "Godyer, so you''re still hiding here!" He red coldly at John and said angrily, "This time, you will all die for sure!" "Surrounding Star, killing formation!" With a furious shout, The Absolute immediately activated the killing formation. Whoosh... Countless Star Dust rained down, bombarding the area where they stood with a relentless barrage. John and hispanions gritted their teeth, not only trying to avoid the Star Dust bombardment but also needing to protect both Peter and Sini. "Peter, can you sense it?" Cand-Dragon asked anxiously. Peter didn''t answer immediately. He looked up at the sky, his eyes reflecting the endless Star Dust. "I found it!" After a moment, he realized something and said helplessly, "The core of the formation is outside. Can you attack it from here?" He pointed toward the outside of the formation, where a slightly raised jade stone could be seen.N?v(el)B\\jnn "Great, if we could get out, we wouldn''t need you at all!" Terranined helplessly. "Maybe I can break it," Sini suddenly spoke up. Everyone was taken aback. Ice Talker furrowed her brows and warned, "Little girl, if you expose the Power of the Nine Nether, your situation will be even more dangerous than Godyer''s." "I''m not afraid. You all focus on breaking the core," Sini replied, indifferent, even eager for more enemies toe. John didn''t stop her. This was the only way out. If things got too dangerous, he could always keep Sini locked away in World-in-Hand. Hum! A cold, murderous energy gathered, and Sini put all her strength into opening a gap in the formation. "Hurry, now''s your chance!" she quickly urged. The group immediately gathered their most powerful attacks and rushed through the gap in the formation, aiming straight for the core. Boom! A thunderous roar shook the sky, and the entire area trembled. The Star Dust scattered into pieces as the formation was shattered. At the same time, the Spirit Stone in The Absolute''s hand shattered as well, and a trace of blood dripped from his mouth. Controlling the formation was connected to his mind and soul. With the formation destroyed, his soul suffered a devastating blow. "Power of the Nine Nether!" His eyes were filled with shock and fear as he stared at Sini. "Godyer, don''t spare anyone here. Remember, don''t take them into World-in-Hand!" Ice Talker quickly reminded him. If they killed everyone here, perhaps Sini''s secret would remain safe. "Understood!" John replied, and immediately drew Sini and Peter into World-in-Hand, removing any worries. He then activated Heaven and Earth Transformation without hesitation. Roar... A long and resonant dragon''s roar echoed as Cand-Dragon also activated Heaven and Earth Transformation. The two massive beings charged straight into the enemy ranks. The powerful beings within the mine were all at the peak of upper-tier god cultivation, making it somewhat difficult for John and hispanions to handle. However, Ice Talker and Terran had an easier time. Their control over World-in-Hand far exceeded John''s. Though they couldn''t pull these powerful enemies into World-in-Hand, they had their own surrounding worlds. As long as they stayed within a certain range, they were essentially invincible. Especially Ice Talker-just a wave of her hand and snowkes danced through the air, carrying endless killing intent. Even the mighty upper-tier gods at the peak of their power couldn''t withstand a single strike from her. Even the Emperor of the Underworld, after transforming, could easily block the attacks of four peak upper-tier gods. A fierce wind howled, the Undying me surged, and terrifying power radiated across the battlefield. The Absolute watched in fury as his upper-tier gods fell one after another. His eyes nearly bulged out with rage as he roared, "Ice Talker, does your Nature n really intend to go against my Shadow n?" "Hmph," Ice Talker sneered, "When I was trapped in The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, you didn''t say a word like that. Now, you''re going to apany these fools to the grave!" With a cold snort, she struck without hesitation. Snowkes filled the sky, instantly enveloping The Absolute, and they shot toward him like arrows. Hum! Suddenly, space trembled. The dancing snowkes froze mid-air, as though time itself had been bound, and the entire area seemed to be imprisoned. "Lord God!" Ice Talker''s eyes widened in horror. She quickly warned, "Godyer, get everyone around you into World-in-Hand!" With a swift motion, she immediately pulled the Emperor of the Underworld into World-in- Hand. John reacted just as quickly, and with a thought, he drew Cand-Dragon and Tony into World- in-Hand as well. Whoosh! Endless gusts of wind surged, scattering the snowkes into the air, and the sky became suffused with an endless blood-red hue. John couldn''t help but swallow nervously, his heart pounding as he watched the scene unfold. The blood-red sky revealed a massive figure, so immense it seemed to block out the sun, a presence so vast that even John''s Heaven and Earth Transformation appeared like that of an ant inparison. A deep sense of helplessness welled up inside him, as if a mere thought from this being could erase him from existence. So this is what a Lord God is like? "Lord God!" The Absolute, barely surviving, cried out in shock as he fell to his knees. The other peak upper-tier gods around him also fell to the ground, their faces filled with awe, as they knelt in reverence. Chapter 301: Chapter 301: Provoking the Lord God, Sealing the Spirit Stone Mine Chapter 301: Chapter 301: Provoking the Lord God, Sealing the Spirit Stone Mine ? Shadow God ignored the others, his ocean-deep eyes locked onto Ice Talker. His voice was as cold as ice. "Ice Talker, you dare to defy the pact set by our Lord God? Do you really think I wouldn''t dare to strike against the Nature n?" "Hmph, it was you who attacked me first," she replied icily, standing firm before the Lord God, unafraid. The Absolute immediately retorted, "Nonsense! You were the one who plundered resources from our first!" "I did no such thing!" Ice Talker shot him a frosty re. Shadow God, observing this exchange in silence, shifted his gaze away from Ice Talker, his piercing eyes settling on John, filled with a murderous intent. "Human, you have repeatedly provoked the Shadow n. For that alone, you deserve death!" With a roar, the earth trembled, and chaotic space currents appeared all around them. "Hmph, I''d like to see just how strong you really are!" John gritted his teeth, suppressing the fear within him as he gathered his Chaos Force and unleashed his Nine Heavens Sword. The colossal sword energy tore through the void, but against Shadow God''s vast form, it seemed no more than a pinprick. Still, John controlled the sword energy, directing it at the Lord God. Suddenly, a figure shot up and intercepted the massive sword energy-it was Ice Talker. Boom! A violent explosion rang out, and powerful energy waves surged. Ice Talker coughed up blood as she was thrown backward. Regaining her bnce, she red at John. "Kid, what the hell are you doing?" "What are you doing?" he replied, frowning, unable to understand why Ice Talker would use her body to shield the Lord God from his attack. "You really don''t know?" Ice Talker swallowed a mouthful of blood and snarled, "The Overseer is protected by thews of The Heaven. The Lord God can''t kill you. As long as you don''t provoke him, he can''t touch you." Shadow God''s expression darkened, his disappointment barely concealed. Just a bit more, and if John had managed to wound him, Shadow God could have broken free from his constraints and struck him down openly. John was taken aback, surprised by the level of protection granted to the Overseer. Then his eyes lit up, and he asked, "So, can I at least provoke this guy?" "I guess...?" Ice Talker hesitated. Theoretically, as long as no actual harm was caused, it would be allowed. But who would dare to provoke the Lord God? Besides, as the Overseer, wasn''t it a bit improper? John didn''t care at all; he had wed his way up from the bottom and had never cared about such formalities. He even considered releasing Tony. With that guy''s venomous tongue, he''d surely drive Shadow God to the brink of madness. But Tony wasn''t the Overseer; he wasn''t protected by thews of the heavens. The Lord God could obliterate him easily. So, instead, John looked straight at the towering figure in the sky and raised his middle finger, making a universally understood gesture. Shadow God''s brows knitted together, his gaze puzzled as he asked, "Peace? Boy, are you begging for mercy?" "Peace? Hell no!" John retorted angrily. "Old geezer, that''s my middle finger. It means I despise you, you idiot!" Boom... Thunder rumbled as the skies darkened. Shadow God''s re at John was filled with unrestrained fury. But such a gesture was merely an act of defiance, a mental taunt without any physical harm, leaving the system unable to intervene. "You brat, you''re asking for death!" The Absolute couldn''t contain himself. Shadow Lord God, seated high above, had never endured such humiliation. With an angry shout, he prepared to charge forward to avenge Shadow Lord God. John looked at him with disdain; killing this guy wouldn''t break thews of the heavens protecting him. "Stand down!" Shadow Lord God''s furious voicemanded, stopping The Absolute in his tracks. With his immense, chilling gaze fixed on John, Shadow Lord God took a deep breath, stirring fierce winds around them as he struggled to suppress his fury. "Boy, you''ve done well," he said icily. Then, with a sinister power, he sent both John and Ice Talker hurtling out of the Spirit Stone mine''s range. This power, however, caused no harm-it simply sealed off the entire Spirit Stone mine, making it impossible for anyone to enter or leave. It seemed Shadow Lord God was fully aware of the unique nature of this Spirit Stone mine. Afterpleting the seal, he withdrew without further action. Shortly after, three system-wide announcements rang out. [Shadow Lord God Announcement: Public bounty on Godyer and Gale. Anyone who kills either will be rewarded with a Holy artifact and one entire.] ... Everyone on Shadow Star heard the system announcement, and excitement surged across the realm, especially among the Overseers. "Kid, you''re in a dangerous position now," Ice Talker said, ncing at John with a hint of pity. "My lord, an entire," Terran muttered, staring at John, swallowing nervously. A Holy artifact was a rare and valuable item that held great appeal to god-level powerhouses. But a as a reward? That was enough to drive every Overseer mad with ambition. John frowned, looking confused. He''d heard Behemoth Quagmlier mention Holy artifacts before, though he had never seen one. It seemed these artifacts held incredible power. But it was the reward of an entire that surprised him the most. He looked at the two of them, puzzled, and asked, s can be given as rewards?" Ice Talker nodded and exined, "Yes. For the Overseers, it''s possible to refine and fully control a. But only a select few Overseers, those who''ve pledged loyalty to the Lord God, have managed to obtain a. An Overseer who fully controls and refines a bes a being as powerful as a Lord God." "Is it that powerful?" John asked curiously. "Do you have a of your own?" Ice Talker smiled faintly, looking proud. "I do, though I haven''t refined it yet." John was taken aback; it seemed her rtionship with the Nature Lord God was moreplex than he''d thought. Moreover, the bounty announcement issued by Shadow God listed only him and Sini, indicating that Shadow Lord God wasn''t willing to openly make Ice Talker an enemy. He looked at the Spirit Stone mine. They had all been cut off from it by that strange power, unable to enter. Of course, the peak upper-tier gods trapped inside the Spirit Stone mine couldn''t leave either, but they didn''t seem to mind. With the mine''s vast supply of Spirit Stones, they''d willingly remain there for tens of thousands of years if needed. Ice Talker looked at him and said, "This is a restriction ced by Shadow Lord God. Unlike a seal, only someone of Lord God''s level could break it. You''d best give up on it." "Is that so?" John felt a bit reluctant; he had a strong sense that if he could merge the snow mountain and Spirit Stone mine into his World-in-Hand, his strength would receive a substantial boost. Ice Talker continued, "I have some matters to attend to. Be cautious in the meantime. Try to stay hidden¡ªthere are plenty of Overseers, and even some peak upper-tier gods who are fully capable of killing you." With that warning, she left with Terran. Once they were gone, John concealed his presence, hiding near the Spirit Stone mine before retreating into his World-in-Hand. "Godyer, how did it go?" Cand-Dragon and Tony immediately came over as soon as they saw John appear, concern evident on their faces. Inside the World-in-Hand, they werepletely isted from Shadow Star, so they hadn''t heard the system announcement. John replied, "For now, things are stable. But Shadow Lord God has sealed off the Spirit Stone mine." "Sealed by the Lord God?" Both of them looked stunned. Though they were top-tier fighters on Skyline Continent, they were still as insignificant as antspared to a mythical Lord God. "We might have to stay hidden for a long while," John said, offering a brief exnation, then went to find Chris. He wanted to know how the Blues Family members had essed the snow mountain world. They couldn''t have entered through the Spirit Stone mine; the Undying me there would have been far too intense for them to withstand. He spected they had entered through the snow mountain first and then essed the sealed mine through it.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Chris looked puzzled and replied, "It''s near the Shadow n''s Immortal Herb Garden, not far from here. Wait-didn''t you enter from there?" The Blues Family members had indeed been confined within the Immortal Herb Garden, which John had thoroughly searched at the time without finding anything unusual. "Senior, do you still remember the entrance?" John asked, since he couldn''t enter through the Spirit Stone mine. His n was to use the Immortal Herb Garden''s entrance to reach the snow mountain world. "Yes, I remember it," Chris nodded. His impression of the ce was clear. Even if the snow mountain''s pull had diminished, he could still easily locate it. "Good. Once night falls, take me there," John said, ncing at the sky. He decided to wait until darkness before making a move. ... When night arrived, John and Chris exited the World-in-Hand, using his Split Void ability to reach the area where the Immortal Herb Garden had once been. The garden itself had long been absorbed into the World-in-Hand, leaving the ce deste. John turned to Chris and asked, "Can you still find the entrance to the snow mountain?" "Yes," Chris replied, carefully sensing the area until he located the entrance. "It''s right here." With that, he effortlessly opened a pathway leading to the snow mountain. The connection here turned out to be even weaker than the link between the snow mountain and the Spirit Stone mine. John was puzzled. The Immortal Herb Garden was tens of thousands of miles away from the Spirit Stone mine, so there was no way they could be part of a single unified structure. He couldn''t understand why the snow mountain had another entrance here. Setting aside his doubts, he entered the snow mountain with Chris. There were still over three hundred Blues Family members in the snow mountain. After a moment''s thought, John decided to bring them all into his World-in-Hand. With Chris having already obtained the snow mountain''s legacy, there was nothing left here for them to gain. The harsh environment of the snow mountain wouldn''t contribute significantly to their strength either. John made his way to the point where the snow mountain world connected with the Spirit Stone mine. This connection was far more stablepared to the entrance near the Immortal Herb Garden, and could only be broken by force. Gathering his Chaos Force, John wielded his Nine Heavens Sword, effortlessly breaking open the pathway to the Spirit Stone mine. But when he tried to enter the spatial rift, he was immediately repelled. It was Shadow God''s sealing power. He hadn''t expected Shadow God''s methods to be so formidable-Shadow God had even sealed off the passage between the snow mountain world and the Spirit Stone mine. Without ess to the Spirit Stone mine, he couldn''t merge and refine the snow mountain world. Unwilling to give up, John''s thoughts turned to Sini. The Power of the Nine Nether was rumored to be the nemesis of all binding and restrictive forces. With a sudden idea, he summoned Sini out from his World-in-Hand. Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Fusing the Snow Mountain and Spirit Stone Mine Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Fusing the Snow Mountain and Spirit Stone Mine ? When Sini saw John, she was thrilled and immediately said, "John, let''s go level me up!" She''d been cooped up in the World-in-Hand for days, eager to test her mastery over the Power of the Nine Netherbined with John''s Plunder talent. She couldn''t wait to kill some enemies and grow stronger. "Not so fast," John replied, shaking his head. He pointed to the seal in front of them and said, "This is a seal ced by the Lord God. See if you can break it." "A Lord God''s seal?" She was both surprised and intrigued, hurrying forward to examine it. Whoosh! The moment she stepped into the spatial passage, a powerful force hit her, throwing her back. "What a strong power!" she eximed, visibly shocked. Although powerful, this force only served to block ess to the Spirit Stone mine without causing harm. John turned to her and asked, "Well, can you break it?" Frowning, Sini focused, sensing the seal carefully before shaking her head. "Not yet. My Power of the Nine Nether is too weak right now. But with more strength, I think I could." As long as there was a chance, John was willing to pursue it. He continued, "What do you need to strengthen your Power of the Nine Nether?" Her eyes lit up, and she said eagerly, "With the Plunder talent, all I need is to kill enemies. And the more, the better." John thought of the Hunters. With him to protect her, Sini would be safe. To be extra cautious, he copied his god-level disguise talent onto Sini. While this talent wouldn''t increase her power, it was an invaluable life-saving skill. "Alright, let''s go hunt some Hunters," he said, summoning Chris back into the World-in- Hand before he and Sini left the snow mountain to search for Hunters. Shadow Star was swarming with Hunters, and since John carried the Hunters'' hatred mark, they didn''t even need to actively seek them out. All he had to do was show up in the wilderness, and hordes of Hunters woulde after them. "Remember, leave the hunters'' brood mothers to me. You just focus on ughtering the ordinary Hunters," he reminded Sini. Killing the brood mothers would transfer the Hunters'' hatred mark to Sini. John''s hatred mark was so potent now that even his Disguise talent couldn''t hide it, and he didn''t want Sini to be their next target. "Got it," Sini agreed readily. She had no interest in the brood mothers; she was solely focused on ughtering as many Hunters as possible to absorb their Plunder attributes and Shadow Power. The Power of the Nine Nether that she wielded was unique-any force she acquired could be transformed into the Power of the Nine Nether, enhancing her strength. Whoosh... ck mist surged, spreading over the surrounding army of Hunters, carrying a chilling, murderous aura infused with eerie soul attacks. The Hunters were defenseless against the mist unleashed by Sini, copsing in waves. With the Hunters'' hatred mark on John continually drawing them in, they charged forward in endless waves, almost in a suicidal frenzy. John barely needed to intervene; the majority of the Hunters were ughtered by Sini alone. - For several months, the two roamed the wilderness. They asionally encountered other Overseers and peak upper-tier gods from the Shadow n. Not wanting to confront them head-on just yet, John hid as soon as he sensed their presence. "John, I think my strength has grown enough," Sini said as she struck down thest Hunter in front of her and turned to him. Over these months, they''d lost count of how many Hunters they''d in. Sini had absorbed countless attributes, and their levels had also risen significantly. John had now reached level 13,044. But it was Sini who had seen the greatest gains, as she''d been the one to eliminate most of the Hunters. "Let''s go back to the snow mountain world." No longer waiting for nightfall, John used his Split Void ability to tear open a spatial passage, and the two arrived at the former site of the Immortal Herb Garden. With the Immortal Herb Garden gone and the Shadow n soldiers withdrawn, the area had be a paradise for the Hunters. John opened the passage to the snow mountain with ease, and as Sini looked tempted to keep ughtering Hunters, he pulled her in with him into the snow mountain world. The icy chill there was biting, and even with their increased strength, they still couldn''t fully resist the cold. John headed to the point where the snow mountain world connected with the Spirit Stone mine, once again using his Nine Heavens Sword to slice open a spatial rift. Sini stepped forward to inspect the opening carefully. "Well? Can you break through it?" John asked expectantly. Sini smiled and nodded. "Yes, but I can only create a narrow crack. I''ll also need to keep channeling the Power of the Nine Nether here to maintain the opening, or it''ll quickly seal up again." "As long as it connects the snow mountain and the Spirit Stone mine, that''s enough." John had already tested it-just having a connection between these two areas would allow him to merge them into his World-in-Hand. "No problem." Without further words, Sini sat cross-legged and activated her Power of the Nine Nether, forcing open a small gap in the barrier the Lord God had ced. It was justrge enough for one person. For John, that was all he needed. The crack was at the edge of the Spirit Stone mine''s seal. Unless someone inside actively sensed it, the upper-tier gods within would be unlikely to notice. "Sini, I don''t know how long I''ll need to stay in seclusion for this process, but I''m afraid you''ll have to endure it." John looked at her with a hint of concern. Sini would need to remain in the snow mountain world to maintain the opening. "Don''t worry, I''ll be fine," she said with a reassuring smile, signaling for John not to worry. As long as she could help John, even if it cost her life, she would be willing. John didn''t hesitate any further. He entered the crack, sat cross-legged, and sessfully connected his spirit to both the snow mountain and the Spirit Stone mine realms. Following the technique Ice Talker had taught him, he began the process of merging and refining the two worlds. Whoosh! Instantly, two extreme forces surged into his body-one was pure and zing, the other dark and icy. The two forces collided within him, unleashing a terrifying energy. Boom! With a thunderous explosion, John''s body was shattered. [You were destroyed by a unique force. The Blessed Ring has activated...] As the system message shed, John resurrected in ce, coughing up blood. Both forces had contained spiritual attacks, severely wounding his soul. "John!" Sini gasped, her face full of worry. "I''m alright," he assured her, wiping the blood from his mouth, signaling for her to keep the crack open. John frowned, hesitant to attempt merging the two worlds again so recklessly. He realized Ice Talker''s technique wasn''t wed. The problem was that the two energies-one bitterly cold from the snow mountain, and the other zing from the Spirit Stone mine-were fundamentally ipatible. If he tried to force the merger, his World-in-Hand would be destroyed. He began to question if these two realms could even be parts of a single world. Attempting to merge just one of the energies left the other one overpowering it, creating a deadlock. "Wait, what about the other powers ofw as a bridge?" he thought suddenly. Merging opposing forces reminded him of his previous struggle to fuse the various elementalws, all of which opposed each other in nature. After countless attempts, he had managed to merge them into Chaos Force by using the space and timews as intermediaries. Perhaps using space and timews could also help him merge these two opposing forces. He decided it was worth a try. Closing his eyes, he began carefully merging the two forces, channeling thews of space and time between them. Boom! The forces shed again, and in an instant, thews of time and space shattered, erupting in another violent explosion. Once again, he was obliterated, and his Lifesaver ability triggered to bring him back. "What are these forces?" John was stunned. The energies were so overwhelming that they ripped through the fabric of time and space with ease, rendering thews of space and time useless for merging them. John felt a flicker of despair. Time and space were his strongestws, and if they couldn''t serve as intermediaries, no other elementalw stood a chance. But he refused to give up. "Wait...there''s still Chaos Force!" A sudden realization struck him¡ªperhaps he''d been thinking too small. The individualws of time and space weren''t his strongest tools; Chaos Force, the unified power derived from all thesews, was. Although he hadn''t fully mastered Chaos Force yet, it was hisst hope.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Let''s give it a try," he murmured to himself. This was his final chance. If Chaos Force failed, he would have no choice but to abandon the attempt-for now. With a thought, John summoned the various powers ofw within him, merging them into Chaos Force, which began to concentrate around him. He resumed his attempt to fuse the opposing energies of the snow mountain and Spirit Stone mine. Buzz! This time, the two forces didn''t explode. Instead, they entered his body, slowly rotating around the Chaos Force-one dark, one light; one yin, one yang-forming a Tai Chi symbol. "A Tai Chi symbol!" John murmured, surprised as a realization began to dawn on him. But then the Chaos Force began to tremble, devoured hungrily by the Tai Chi symbol, which caused the two forces to grow increasingly unstable and vtile. His Chaos Force was still too weak to support the full operation of the Tai Chi symbol. An explosion was imminent, and this time, the resulting st would be even more devastating. Buzz! At that moment, a dark, icy power entered his body, simr to the snow mountain''s yin energy but far more stable. It was Sini''s Power of the Nine Nether! Surprised but with no time to dwell on it, John used the Power of the Nine Nether to stabilize the Tai Chi symbol as best as he could. But it still wasn''t enough. Just like his Chaos Force, Sini''s Power of the Nine Nether was too weak. Furthermore, its addition unbnced the yin-yang harmony, elerating the symbol''s copse. Just as John was on the brink of despair, a jade stone from within his World-in-Hand suddenly flew out, flooding him with an overwhelming surge of Chaos Force, stabilizing the Tai Chi symbol. It was the Chaos Creation Stone! John was stunned; he''d thought the Chaos Creation Stone had already merged with his World- in-Hand and vanished. But here it was, pouring its boundless Chaos Force into him. Calmed by the stone''s support, John focused his spirit, gradually absorbing and merging the two opposing forces with the help of the Chaos Creation Stone and Sini''s Power of the Nine Nether. "I see..." A profound understanding filled John''s heart as he finally grasped the essence of what it meant to be an Overseer. An Overseer didn''t simply control a world-they created one. Chaos Force was the primal source of all things, giving rise to the dual forces of yin and yang. All things in the world had two sides: male and female, day and night... Chapter 303: Chapter 303: Heaven’s Blessing, Shadow Lord God’s Return Chapter 303: Chapter 303: Heaven¡¯s Blessing, Shadow Lord God¡¯s Return ? [You have mastered Chaos Force] A system message shed before him, and within John, a Tai Chi symbol began to rotate slowly. Atst, he had truly mastered Chaos Force. Previously, in the Tower of the Sky, he had only glimpsed the nature of Chaos Force and couldn''t fully control it. Tounch Chaos Force attacks, he had to fuse multiplews together to approximate Chaos Force. But now it was different-he had fullmand of Chaos Force and could absorb and refine it directly. "So powerful!" John felt a surge of joy. Without pausing to explore the full extent of his mastery, he activated the Tai Chi symbol within him, refining the immense yin and yang forces. ... Over a month passed as John refined the two opposing powerspletely, and the snow mountain and Spirit Stone mine were now fully integrated into his World-in-Hand. He could absorb them into his body at will. [Your cultivation has advanced to One-Star Perfection of the Overseer realm, receiving the blessing of Heaven''s Law...] Another system message shed. "One-Star Perfection? What kind of realm is this? And what is Heaven''s Law?" John was full of questions. Previously, he had reached thete stage of bing an Overseer. This next breakthrough should have elevated him to the early stage of Two-Star. Yet now he had entered an entirely new realm: One-Star Perfection of the Overseer. Boom! Suddenly, a deafening noise echoed through the world as the barrier ced by Shadow Lord God shattered, and a brilliant pir of light descended, enveloping John. In an instant, a torrent of images flooded his mind. The sun and moon rose and set, the seasons changed, life blossomed and faded-it was as though he experienced countless lifetimes in a single moment. John felt like a silent observer, a passerby, witnessing it all with detachment, as if nothing in the world could stir his heart. But then familiar faces appeared before his eyes: Sini, Tracy, Anna, Tony, Cand-Dragon, Ritchie, Armstrong... These weren''t distant strangers but the dearest people in his life, the ones he was bound to protect. Yet as he watched, their images began to fade. "No!" John snapped awake with a furious shout, and the vision shattered, vanishing as if it had been a fleeting dream. But it had felt unbearably real, leaving him drenched in sweat, as if he were fated to lose everything one day. [Blessing of Heaven''s Law failed...] The system notification echoed as the radiant pir faded, leaving no trace of its existence. John frowned, feeling a profound sense of confusion. "John, are you alright?" Sini''s weak voice pulled him back to reality. John exhaled in relief. Regardless of whether that vision had been real or not, he would never allow it toe to pass. He looked at Sini, who was visibly exhausted. She had pushed herself to the limit, severely depleting her Power of the Nine Nether to help him merge the snow mountain world and the Spirit Stone mine. Shaking his head, John gently held Sini in his arms, his expression full of concern. "You''ve worked so hard. Thank you." "It''s fine, I just need a bit of rest." She smiled, sensing that John''s power had increased yet again, filling her with joy. "Godyer! How dare you intrude here again!" came an angry shout as The Absolute, nked by numerous peak upper-tier gods, closed in around him. The pir of light moments ago had shattered the seal set by Shadow Lord God, creating such amotion that it had drawn everyone''s attention. Ignoring them, John looked down at Sini in his arms and spoke softly, "Head back to the World-in-Hand to rest." "Alright." She nodded obediently this time, knowing she was too drained to help. As Sini disappeared into his World-in-Hand, John turned to The Absolute and the others with a look of utter disdain. Now that he had fused the snow mountain and Spirit Stone mine into his World-in-Hand, this ce was essentially his domain. Taking out these gods would be a trivial matter. Boom... Suddenly, thunder roared, a terrifying aura descended, and the sky turned blood-red. A colossal, ominous figure materialized. Shadow Lord God had returned. The Absolute and the others, trembling with fear, immediately fell to their knees. John, however, remained unfazed, meeting the figure''s gaze directly. Protected by thews of Heaven, he knew that the Lord God couldn''ty a hand on him. Shadow Lord God ignored The Absolute and the others, his massive, piercing eyes fixed on John, radiating a murderous fury. "Human, you actually received the blessing of Heaven''s Law!" John couldn''t be bothered to respond. Instead, he simply raised his middle finger, making an unmistakable gesture. Now that he''d fused the snow mountain and Spirit Stone mine, he no longer had to worry about the Lord God sealing the area again. "Damn you, you will die!" Shadow Lord God bellowed, the skies darkening further with his wrath. He couldn''t strike John himself, but that didn''t mean no one else could. Buzz! A ripple of spatial power appeared, and a young man suddenly materialized. The neer, looking momentarily bewildered, saw the towering blood-red figure in the sky and hastily dropped to his knees. "My lord, I greet you, Shadow Lord God." "Nick, kill the Godyer!" Shadow Lord Godmanded coldly. "Godyer?" The young man stood, spotting John nearby, and eximed, "So he''s the Godyer?" His expression brightened instantly as he remembered Shadow God''s reward-a Holy artifact and an unimed in exchange for this man''s head. "Another Overseer..." John noted, studying the man called Nick, his brow furrowing. This guy wasn''t part of the Shadow n but was likely an Overseer who had pledged himself to Shadow God. Judging by his cultivation, he was in the early Two-Star stage, around Terran''s level-a bit tricky to deal with. "Godyer, meeting me is truly your misfortune!" Nick sneered at John, licking his lips in anticipation. With a ripple of spatial power, he aimed to impress Shadow Lord God by pulling John directly into his World-in-Hand, intending to overpower him there. "This guy''s practically begging to die, isn''t he?" John smirked coldly, making no attempt to resist. Facing a Two-Star Overseer was challenging even with his recent power boost. But if he was inside Nick''s World-in-Hand, it would be much easier. All he had to do was destabilize Nick''s World-in-Hand, and Nick would suffer a devastating bacsh. Buzz! The scene changed around him, and John found himself in a twisted world filled with mountains of corpses and seas of blood-like a hellish nightmare. He couldn''t help but frown; Nick''s World-in-Hand was even more oppressive than Shadow Star. "Godyer, wee to my asura realm!" Nick''s figure materialized, his face twisted in a cold smile, eyes shing a sinister red as he transformed into a grotesque, monstrous figure. His voice was a low, raspy growl. Flicking his long, blood-red tongue across his fangs, he locked his gaze on John with dark excitement. "Don''t worry. Soon you''ll be another trophy in my asura realm." He pointed to the blood sea beneath them, littered with dismembered corpses, each with a horrified expression frozen on its face. John felt a shiver but wasted no words. The power of thews surged around him as his own World-in-Hand enveloped him, blocking Nick''s influence. "sh!" he roared, unleashing a powerful sword intent as he summoned the Immortal Art, Nine Heavens Sword. Whoosh! A massive sword energy burst forth, tearing through Nick''s domain and hurtling toward him with unstoppable force. "What a terrifying attack!" Nick''s expression changed to one of shock, and he braced himself to defend against the descending sword. Boom! The heavens trembled as Nick took the full brunt of John''s strike. He stood in ce, his blood-red fur flowing, a sinister smile creeping across his face as he kept his gaze fixed on John. John frowned. Despite his increased strength, his attack hadn''t been enough to deal real damage in Nick''s controlled world. "Human, I didn''t expect you to be so skilled. But in my world, I am the sovereign! You''re as good as dead!" Nick roared, extending his wed fingers until they pierced his palms. A sh of blood-red light appeared, and he transformed into a blurred shadow, lunging at John at incredible speed. A surge of blood-colored light engulfed John, attempting to swallow him whole. Yet John didn''t flinch; he took the blow directly. Whoosh! The bloody aura faded, revealing John, who couldn''t help but cough up blood. "Hah, did you really think you could withstand my attack?" Nick sneered, though a hint of caution flickered in his crimson eyes-this human''s resilience was beyond his expectations. "Hmph, time to finish this!" John wiped the blood from his mouth as an overwhelming aura erupted around him. His figure expanded, transforming into a towering giant. It was the divine skill, Heaven and Earth Transformation! "What the hell...?" Nick looked up at the colossal form of John, a sinking feeling rising within him. "Creation and Destruction!" John roared, raising a gigantic sword and shing down upon the entire realm with all his might. Boom! The entire space quaked as the sword cut through, shattering Nick''s world, causing chaot/?/vel/b//in dot c//om spatial currents to erupt in all directions. Thest time he''d been trapped in Sea King''s World-in-Hand, the Chaos Creation Stone''s Chaos Force alone had been enough to easily dismantle Sea King''s world. Now, using Chaos Force to unleash the divine skill Creation and Destruction, tearing apart Nick''s world was effortless. Blood-red mist filled the air as the entire realm copsed, crumbling away into nothingness. "No..." Nick''s eyes widened in terror, roaring in frustration as he watched the devastation unfold. He wanted to stop it, but under that immense force of destruction, his world crumbled like paper. Buzz! Another spatial ripple appeared, and the two of them materialized outside. John remained in his towering Heaven and Earth Transformation state, exuding a powerful aura-though still far from the level of Shadow God''s imposing presence. "Argh!" Nick coughed up blood, his face deathly pale, ring at John with hatred and rage as he trembled. "Human... you destroyed my asura realm! I''ll tear you to pieces!" With a furious roar, he charged at John, disregarding everything else. Shadow Lord God''s brow furrowed; clearly, he hadn''t anticipated Nick''s World-in-Hand to be destroyed, nor did he understand how John had managed it. "Nick, stop-this is dangerous," Shadow Lord God called, sensing a threat, but it was already toote. Another ripple of spatial power, and both figures vanished once more. This time, however, they had entered John''s World-in-Hand. As Nick struggled, weakened and enraged, John opened his arms slightly, wearing a calm smile. "Wee to my world." Chapter 304: Chapter 304: Establishing a Power, Nature Lord God Chapter 304: Chapter 304: Establishing a Power, Nature Lord God ? "Damn it!" Nick cursed in rage, desperate to destroy John''s World-in-Hand as John had done to his own. But this realm was iparably solid, and his efforts were useless. He finally began to understand the terrifying power John wielded and wanted to escape. However, with his own World-in-Hand destroyed and hisws in ruins, there was no way he could break through the restrictions of John''sws. Whoosh! Suddenly, the air hummed with sword intent, and des of light filled the sky. John didn''t bother with words, unleashing his ultimate skill: Return of Ten Thousand Swords! "No, Godyer, don''t kill me..." Nick cried out, pleading in terror, but his voice was drowned in the cascading waves of sword energy. As the sword light engulfed him, his body was obliterated. Moreover, with John''s Crape Myrtle Mind Technique reaching level 10,000, even his regr attacks now included soul damage. Nick didn''t even have a chance to resurrect; he waspletely annihted. [You have killed Two-Star Overseer Nick, gaining 2.6766 trillion experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: +1% Heaven''s Law, +10,000 Power, +10 Physical Crit, +500 Skill Points] A series of notifications shed. "Heaven''s Law? What is that even for?" John wondered, not feeling any immediate changes in himself. Moments earlier, he had received the blessing of Heaven''s Law, but after seeing visions of Sini and others dying horribly, he had forcibly rejected it, and the pir of light had vanished. It was almost as though Heaven''s Law had its own consciousness, a drive to erase everyone close to him. Now, after killing Nick and gaining 1% of Heaven''s Law through Plunder, he felt none of that ominous sensation. He couldn''t quite figure it out. With Nick''s death, a Heart of the Continent floated out. Raising his hand, John drew it over. He inspected it with curiosity. This Heart of the Continent was from a realm he''d never heard of-the Asura Realm. He put it away for now, not in a rush to refine it; he had more urgent matters to attend to. With a thought, he exited his World-in-Hand and reappeared at the Spirit Stone mine. "You killed Nick!" Shadow Lord God''s voice thundered as he red at the suddenly reappeared John. "So what? Is there a problem?" John retorted with a sneer, ncing around at The Absolute and the others. They involuntarily took a step back in fear. Nick had been far stronger than any of them, yet John had killed him. They knew they were no match. "Curse you!" Shadow Lord God was seething with anger, yet he was powerless to do anything to John. With a thought, he prepared to ce another seal, intending to lock down the entire Spirit Stone mine once more. Shadow God didn''t realize that John had already refined this entire area, assuming instead that John''s blessing from Heaven''s Law had disrupted his seal. Buzz! That familiar force surged up again, throwing John backward. This time, however, John wasn''t worried at all. He cast a defiant look at Shadow God, then, with a mere thought, pulled the entire snow mountain and Spirit Stone mine into his World- in-Hand. Boom! The vast expanse of the Spirit Stone mine vanished in an instant, leaving a massive spatial void that sent surrounding forces crashing inward, creating turbulent spatial currents. The Absolute and the others nearly got sucked into the chaos. "What? You actually refined the snow mountain world!" Shadow God''s eyes widened in shock, then zed with unrestrained fury. He had nned meticulously for years, only to have someone else take the prize. "So, you knew about it!" John sneered, realizing that Shadow God had long known about the connection between the snow mountain and Spirit Stone mine. But judging by his extreme reaction, it seemed there was an even deeper secret hidden here. "Human!" Shadow God roared, his voice thundering like a storm, his oppressive aura radiating out, crushing everything in its path. Boom, boom... The Absolute and the others couldn''t withstand the pressure and were instantly pulverized, only to resurrect in ce momentster. Unable to harm John, Shadow God''s rage had no outlet. "Spare us, my lord..." The Absolute, terror-stricken, fell to his knees, pleading for mercy. The wrath of a Lord God was catastrophic; they had no hope of withstanding it. Whoosh! The crushing force dissipated as Shadow God strained to contain his fury, ring icily at John. Heaven''s Law protected him, leaving Shadow God unable to do anything to this human. The only option left was to put a massive bounty on John''s head and hope other Overseers would take him down. [System Announcement: Ice Talker of the Nature n has destroyed City 1134 and established a new faction, Voice of All Things.] [Law protection on Shadow Star has been lifted. Resources are now open for all.] ... Suddenly, three system-wide announcements echoed. Just as he''d managed to calm himself, Shadow God''s anger red anew, erupting into a furious roar. "Ice Talker!!!" he snarled, seething, then spat venomously, "Nature God,e out and face me!" The Absolute and othersy prostrate, trembling. John had been about to leave, but the announcements stopped him in his tracks. When he''d first arrived on Shadow Star, the Shadow n had immediately imposed rules, forbidding anyone from establishing factions. Ice Talker was the first to destroy a city on Shadow Star and establish her own faction. This woman-or rather, the Nature n-must have some hidden agenda. Boom... The sky rumbled again as an aura equal in power to Shadow God''s descended. John looked up, seeing the figure of an old man appear in the sky, watching Shadow God calmly. "The Immortals?" John muttered, frowning as he studied the elder''s spectral figure. The Immortals'' presence surrounding this elder was as potent as that of Ice Talker. This wasn''t simply the result of acquiring one of the Immortals'' treasures. The Nature n and the Immortals must have a deeper connection. "Nature God, what is the meaning of this?" Shadow God''s voice was cold as he addressed the elder. The Nature God remained serene, his tone calm. "Don''t think I''m unaware of what you''ve done to Ice Talker. Did you really believe my Nature n is so easy to bully?" "Very well!" Shadow God gritted his teeth, his voice filled with malice. "I''d nned for the next world invasion to be Earth. But now? The next world to fall will be your Nature Star domain!" "Heh." The Nature God''s gaze turned icy as he sneered. "Let''s see if you have the strength to carry that out!" With a huff, Shadow God''s figure began to fade, the blood-red aura gradually dissipating as well. He took The Absolute and the other peak upper-tier gods with him, wary that John might take advantage of the situation and kill them. Whoosh! With the winds howling around them, the turbulent spatial currents subsided, leaving only John and the Nature God behind. The elder observed John with curiosity before saying, "Young man, let us speak in the void." With a wave of his hand, the space around them fractured, and John found himself pulled into a void realm, unable to resist. Though chaotic spatial currents swirled around, they didn''te close to the two of them. John felt puzzled; sensing no hostility from the Nature God, he asked, "Why have you brought me here, senior?" The Nature God studied him with a keen gaze, a strange light shing in his eyes. Memory Search... John''s expression changed. He could feel the old man''s soul invading the depths of his memories, performing an ability simr to his own Memory Search. Fury surged within him as he tried to resist, but he waspletely powerless. It was as if he stood exposed before the Nature God, unable to hide a single secret. Soon enough, the elder''s soul withdrew, and he seemed relieved, exhaling softly. "Old man, what do you think you''re doing?" John growled, his anger evident. Anyone would be furious at having their memories searched so invasively without warning. And with Heaven''s Law''s protection, he had no fear of this elder. The Nature God nced at him and exined, "Calm down, boy. I meant no harm. You''veN?v(el)B\\jnn recently received the blessing of Heaven''s Law, and I simply wanted to ensure you haven''t beenpromised by it." "Heaven''s control? What do you mean?" John frowned, recalling the scenes that had filled his mind when the blessing of Heaven''s Law descended upon him. It seemed that this "Heaven''s Law" wasn''t merely a cold, impersonal set of rules but possibly an entity with conscious intent. With his hands sped behind his back, Nature God''s expression turned somber. "It means bing like us... a puppet of Heaven." John''s confusion deepened, and he was about to ask more when Nature God continued, "Kid, don''t ept Heaven''s blessing. It''s a way to erase your humanity, turning you into a puppet with no will of your own." A puppet? For some reason, a chill ran down John''s spine. His life''s purpose was to protect Earth and prevent impending catastrophes. But as he grew stronger and closer to his goal, he also felt an increasing sense of dread. Looking at Nature God, he asked, "And you... do you still have your humanity?" "Me?" Nature God''s hands clenched, his gaze turning vacant as a single tear slipped down his cheek. John took an involuntary step back. He could feel Nature God''s sorrow and despair radiate from him. Even more intensely than Quagmlier''s anguish after being imprisoned for millennia and watching hispanions die. "Senior, I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to..." John said, realizing he may have touched on a painful memory. "It''s alright," Nature God sighed deeply, regaining hisposure. He continued, "Godyer, I sense that only you have the power to stop what''sing. If one day I am... no longer here, I hope you''ll protect Ice Talker. And if possible, extend your protection to the Nature n as well." John''s frown deepened. It sounded as if this old man was leaving hisst wishes. Before he could ask anything, Nature God continued, "Don''t ask any more questions. The less you know, the better off you''ll be. Just remember-under no circumstances should you ept the blessing of Heaven''s Law. We''ll meet again..." As his voice faded, Nature God''s figure gradually vanished. The space around John fractured, and in the next moment, he found himself back at the Spirit Stone mine. Roar... Suddenly, furious howls filled the air as waves of Hunters surged toward him. With the Spirit Stone mine gone, this ce had once again be a paradise for Hunters. With a thought, John summoned three longswords and used Sword Control, sending icy gleams shing through the air as he ughtered the approaching Hunters mercilessly. In mere minutes, he had cleared the area. "Hm?" He frowned, sensing an unexpected visitor within his World-in-Hand. It was Ice Talker. "How did she get in here?" he wondered. Curious, he vanished from the Spirit Stone mine and entered his World-in-Hand. Chapter 305: Chapter 305: Two-Star Overseer, Hunters Attack Chapter 305: Chapter 305: Two-Star Overseer, Hunters Attack ? In his World-in-Hand, Ice Talker looked around in awe at everything surrounding her. John had fully refined the Snow Mountain World along with the Spirit Stone Vein, transforming his World-in-Handpletely. The spiritual energy was now more concentrated and stable. The icy chill from Snow Mountain and the fiery heat of the Spirit Stone Vein were spread across the northern and southern ends of his World-in-Hand without the slightest interference between them, making the environment all the more pleasant. At that moment, spatial power rippled as John''s figure appeared. Noticing his arrival, Ice Talker smiled and greeted him, "Congrattions, Godyer. You actually managed to refine and merge the Snow Mountain World and the Spirit Stone Vein." John frowned, responding coldly, "How did you get in here?" A strange premonition stirred within him. Ice Talker always seemed to know his whereabouts --she was the first to arrive when he was previously trapped within the Spirit Stone Vein. He suspected this woman might have left a mark on him somehow. Ice Talker maintained her smile, saying, "What, not happy to see me?" Uninterested in wasting words, John replied, "Tell me what you want." Just now, he''d sensed quite amotion-Ice Talker establishing a city power, opening up Shadow Star resources. She wouldn''t be here now without a reason. "It''s the same proposal as before," she began. "I''m inviting you to join the Nature n." Before he could refuse, she continued, "Or, if that''s not to your liking, you could join my faction, Voice of All Things. This is the very first faction on Shadow Star, with plenty of benefits. Think it over?" Her tone even held a hint of pleading. John considered this for a moment but still shook his head. "I n to form my own faction." "Ah, you''re so heartless, only ever hurting your dear sister''s feelings," Ice Talker sighed, looking disappointed. She continued, "Actually, there''s one more reason I came to find you. Though I''ve managed to establish my city faction, I still need help to fend off a monster tide attack." "You''re asking me to help?" John asked, raising a brow. Ice Talker nodded. "Yes, our Nature n doesn''t have many powerful members here yet. I only have two strong fighters under mymand: Terran and the Emperor of the Underworld. It might be a bit challenging for us to withstand the monster tide on our own." John''s eyes glinted as he replied, "I can help, but¡ª" Before he could finish, Ice Talker interrupted, "Nope, this won''t count as settling the favor you owe me." John was left speechless. He couldn''t shake the feeling that he was walking into a trap of hers. "Time and ce," he finally said, deciding not to refuse. This would give him a chance to observe how challenging it would be to establish a city and resist a monster tide on Shadow Star, which would be helpful for his own ns. "Three days from now, at Shadow n City #1134. Here are the coordinates. See you in three days," Ice Talker said, providing him the exact location. She gave his World-in-Hand an envious nce before preparing to leave. "Wait," John stopped her and asked, "Do you know the details of The Overseer''s levels? After thete One-Star stage, is there something called One-Star Perfection?" He''d intended to ask Nature God about this, but the old man had left before he could. "One-Star Perfection?" Ice Talker looked shocked, her gaze suddenly wary. "Don''t tell me you''ve received the Heaven''s Law blessing?" Without waiting for an answer, she prepared to use a soul technique, attempting to delve into John''s mind. John stepped back, irritated. "Why are you acting just like Nature Lord God? Yes, I was offered Heaven''s blessing, but I turned it down." "You''ve met that old man?" Ice Talker looked a bit embarrassed, her suspicion fading as she exined, "Each level of The Overseer does indeed have a state of perfection, but very few reach that stage. If you do reach the state of Perfection, you''ll receive Heaven''s Law blessing. But make no mistake, that isn''t a gift-it''s Heaven''s way of cutting off your path to further growth. You were right to refuse." John frowned. He had sensed something strange about Heaven''s Law blessing, but he hadn''t realized just how dangerous it was. He was relieved he hadn''t epted it. Ice Talker continued, "There are too many secrets involved here, so I can''t exin everything. When you''re strong enough, you''ll naturallye to understand. Don''t forget to help me defend the city in three days. I''ll be going now." With that, she vanished from John''s World-in-Hand. "John, your taste isn''t bad-she''s quite a beauty," Sini remarked, appearing out of nowhere with a teasing grin. John rolled his eyes. "Don''t overthink it. I''m still not sure if she''s a friend or an enemy." "Hmph. My woman''s intuition tells me she means you no harm," Sini replied, giving him a sidelong nce. "And I want to be part of this monster tide defense in three days." "Don''t worry, you''ll be there," John agreed with a nod. This uing monster tide at Ice Talker''s city would be his first real confrontation with the forces of Shadow n, and he was eager to see just how powerful these opponents really were. The elves, Beast n, and Undying Legion from Skyline Continent under hismand had all reached the ninth tier. On top of that, their recent mastery of The Immortals'' heritage had greatly strengthened them. With the city walls on their side, defending against Shadow n''s Hunters shouldn''t be an issue. John guessed that the strongest threats in the monster tide woulde from the Shadow n army, the Hunters, and the spirit beast forces of Shadow Star. Additionally, some newly arrived powerful beings from other races might join in the attack. He shook off his concerns. Since Ice Talker dared to establish a city, she surely had ways to withstand her enemies. "Sini, make the most of these three days for training. I expect we''ll be in for a real battle when we face the monster tide," John advised. He''d decided to use this time to break through to Two-Star Overseer. "Alright." Sini nodded obediently and settled herself beneath the Tree of Life, resuming her focus onprehending The Immortals'' legacy. Meanwhile, John retrieved the Heart of the Continent dropped by Asura Nick upon his defeat. He began refining it and integrating it into his World-in-Hand. He was already at One-Star Perfection as The Overseer; with one more breakthrough, he could reach Two-Star Overseer. ... [You have refined the Asura Heart of the Continent. Your cultivation level has advanced to Two-Star Overseer.]n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om [Your four primary attributes +1,000,000; Soul Technique +100,000.] The notifications shed across his mind. John easily absorbed the Asura Heart of the Continent, smoothly advancing to the early stage of Two-Star Overseer. The stability of his World-in-Hand increased once again. And his power rose significantly, with each of his four primary attributes gaining an additional 1,000,000 points. Now, his strength attribute was over 30 million, and his mental attribute exceeded 20 million. Although his physique and agility were slightly lower, they too had risen to over 10 million points. With his current power, he could activate the Heaven and Earth Transformation state and take down upper-tier god-level opponents with ease. What thrilled him the most, however, was his Soul Technique stat, which had reached 1.8 million points, far surpassing the vast majority of upper-tier gods at their peak. "It''s time to help Ice Talker defend her city," he thought, ncing at the time. Without continuing his training, he focused and left his World-in-Hand. He reappeared at the former location of the Spirit Stone Vein. "Spirit beasts!" John eximed in surprise. The Spirit Stone Vein was gone, and the Shadow n forces had withdrawn. Strangely, Hunters hadn''t upied this ce; instead, it was swarming with spirit beasts. These creatures, native to Shadow Star, had a minimum strength of Tier 7. Among them were even some peak-level upper-tier gods, powerful enough that even Hunters and Shadow n avoided provoking them lightly. Countless spirit beasts roamed the area, scavenging the scattered Spirit Stones. To John''s amazement, these creatures could directly devour Spirit Stones to cultivate. A few of the spirit beasts noticed John''s sudden appearance, but they only gave him a curious nce before resuming their search for Spirit Stones. These creatures didn''t attack humans on sight? He was taken aback, and an idea formed in his mind as he thought of the Spirit Stone mountains within his World-in-Hand. Those mountains were still zing with Undying mes; only peak-level upper-tier gods could get close without risking their lives. Among his followers, only Cand-Dragon, Lincoln, and a few others were peak upper-tier gods. Relying solely on them to mine the Spirit Stone mountains wasn''t realistic. Perhaps... he could tame these spirit beasts. Watching the spirit beasts wandering around, John couldn''t help but feel tempted. This wasn''t urgent. First, he needed to help Ice Talker defend against the monster tide. Buzz! With a hum, he activated his Split Void ability, tearing open a spatial channel directly to City #1134. Roars filled the air. John appeared above a fortress, surrounded by an endless sea of Hunters, stretching out in a dark, surging wave as far as the eye could see. "Did the monster tide attack start early?" He wondered, as it should still be one day away. On the city walls, over three thousand Nature n members and more than thirty thousand Saint Spirit n fighters were straining to hold off the onught of Hunters. The three thousand Nature n members were all peak upper-tier gods, but against the tidal wave of Hunters, they could only manage to hold the line with the wall''s protection, barely keeping up. They noticed John above and frowned, eyeing him warily. Ignoring them, John''s gaze quickly found Ice Talker in the crowd. Ice Talker''s fighting style was unique, her body surrounded by countless vines that whipped out like whips, ruthlessly ughtering the Hunters that surged forward. She looked exhausted, strands of hair falling across her forehead in disarray, clearly having been fighting for a long time. She noticed John''s arrival and quickly called out, "Little brother, are you going to just stand there, or will you lend a hand?" John sighed,nding beside her, and asked, "Did the monster tide attack start early?" "No. This is just a typical Hunter assault. Foreign factions aren''t allowed to establish territories here without permission from Shadow n, so the Hunters attack relentlessly," she exined briefly, pulling out a few pills and popping them into her mouth. They were basic Spiritual Power Pills, restoring 100 spiritual power per second for 100 seconds, with stackable duration. As Ice Talker recovered a bit of spiritual power, she looked over at John and asked, "Where''s your team? We need some help holding off the Hunters." The Nature n and Saint Spirit n forces had already been fighting for three days and nights and were thoroughly exhausted. The monster tide attack wouldn''t hit until tomorrow morning, so they needed to save as much energy as possible. Besides, Sini, who was with John, wielded the Power of the Nine Nether, a power that was particrly deadly against both Shadow n and Hunters. With her assistance, their defenses could hold much more easily. Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Duel and Setting Up the Formation Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Duel and Setting Up the Formation ? John felt a spark of inspiration and summoned everyone from his World-in-Hand. With the city walls offering protection, there wouldn''t be too much danger. This was the perfect opportunity to help everyone improve their strength. "Wow, so many Hunters!" Sini''s eyes gleamed with excitement as ck mist swirled around her, and sheunched into a wild assault against the Hunters. Ice Talker watched, clearly envious. If she could wield the Power of the Nine Nether, she''d have no trouble wiping out any Shadow n fighters. But as a member of the Nature n, she couldn''t harness the Power of the Nine Nether. Her insights from The Immortals'' legacy rted to Nature n''s abilities instead. John nced around and issuedmands, "Cand-Dragon, you''ll lead the Beast n to defend the north wall. Ada, you take the humans of Skyline Continent and cover the west wall. Senior, the east wall is yours, and the rest can support the Blues Family disciples." "Understood," each of them responded, leading their forces to assist the Nature n in defending against the Hunter onught. "Quagmlier, hold on a moment," John stopped him, then turned to Ice Talker and asked, "Can you break the chains binding him?" "Shadow Iron!" she eximed, recognizing the chains on Quagmlier and shaking her head. "No, only a Holy Artifact can break those." A Holy Artifact again? John was intrigued. If even Ice Talker, a peak Two-Star Overseer, couldn''t handle it, what kind of power did a Holy Artifact truly hold? "How can someone obtain a Holy Artifact?" he asked, curiosity evident. Ice Talker chuckled slightly, looking at him. "Didn''t Shadow God put a bounty out on you? Kill you, and anyone would get one as a reward." Off to the side, Sini shot her an unfriendly look, allowing the ck mist around her to creep toward Ice Talker in a subtle show of displeasure. Ice Talker noticed and raised her hand, summoning a soft breeze that easily deflected the mist. "Careful there, little girl," she teased with a yful smile. "Hmph!" Sini huffed, ignoring her after that. "Sir, it''s fine. I''m used to it by now," Quagmlier said, shrugging off the chains with a clinking sound. "It doesn''t really affect my strength." John sighed, realizing he''d have to acquire a Holy Artifact somehow to free Quagmlier from the chains. "Head to the Blues Family group and focus on keeping them safe," he instructed. "Understood." Quagmlier nodded, dragging his heavy chains as he made his way toward the eastern wall. "John, leave the Hunters on this wall to me. You and that woman go help the others," Sini said, worried that John might take her Hunters. John sighed but nodded in agreement, reminding her, "Be careful, and don''t leave the wall." "I''ll be fine," Sini replied, assured of her strength. With John''s Wrath of the Gods ability now her own, her energy expenditure was minimal. As long as her stamina and mental focus held, she could fight without pause. "Careful, little girl. If things get too intense, don''t hesitate to call for help," Ice Talker advised, uncertain about the source of Sini''s confidence. Sini frowned, feeling her pride challenged. She shot Ice Talker a defiant re and dered, "How about a bet? Starting now, whoever takes down the most Hunters gets to call the shots!" Ice Talker''s eyes lit up at the challenge. With Sini wielding the Power of the Nine Nether, she was even stronger than John in some respects. If she could bring Sini into the Nature n, it would be a huge gain. "Are you sure?" "Absolutely!" Sini smirked, her eyes gleaming withpetitive fire. "Alright, it''s a deal!" Ice Talker agreed readily. She turned to the Emperor of the Underworld nearby and instructed, "Stay here and keep an eye on her, just in case." "Yes, understood." The Emperor of the Underworld nodded. Sini scoffed, unimpressed. Though her cultivation was only at demigod level, these Hunters posed no real threat to her. "Little sis, let''s see who has the higher count by the time the monster tide hits," Ice Talker smirked, popping another Spiritual Power Pill as she moved to another part of the wall to join the fray. Watching the two women begin their challenge, John shook his head, amused. He knew Ice Talker was in for a surprise. Sini was far less powerful than her, but if it came to a contest of killing Hunters, she was absolutely outmatched. With the Wrath of the Gods talent, Sini had no need to worry about spiritual power consumption. Moreover, the eerie soul attacks from the Power of the Nine Nether gave her a natural edge over Hunters, allowing her to y them at a speed that far outpaced Ice Talker. He didn''t get involved in the two women''s wager. Instead, he went to the northern wall, where defenses were rtively weaker, and began ughtering Hunters there as well. "Phew..." Golden Lotus Hellfire surged up, engulfing a vast number of Hunters. Echoes of wailing filled the air as Hunters fell in waves. Notification messages shed continuously. His experience points gradually increased as the Plunder talent activated, allowing him to seize numerous attributes and Shadow Power. ... The city was surrounded, a sea of endless Hunters stretching as far as he could see. Battle cries and shes filled the dusk as night began to fall, yet the Hunter assault showed no sign of stopping. After a full day of battle, everyone was worn out, but they clenched their teeth and continued to fight on. The walls were piled high with the bodies of countless Hunters, leaving the others little time to even devour the remains. Around John, Sini, and Ice Talkery the densest piles of fallen Hunters. John''s sheer power and wide array of attacks made it effortless for him to cut through the Hunters. While the two women, eager to win their wager, attacked with relentless determination. For a while, their kill rates were fairly even. But soon, Ice Talker began to slow. Her spiritual power was draining too quickly, and the basic Spiritual Power Pills were no longer enough to sustain her. Though she had a few intermediate Spiritual Power Pills, they were too valuable to use casually. Even so, she doubted Sini could win. ... As night deepened, several fireballs wereunched along the walls, casting a faint light over the surrounding area. The Emperor of the Underworld watched Sini''s relentless ughter of the Hunters in awe, unable to hold back his question, "Girl, don''t your skills consume spiritual power?" By now, half a day had passed, and Sini''s attacks had continued nonstop. She nced at him, replying coolly, "And how is that your business?" "Uh..." The Emperor of the Underworld was left speechless, but worry crept in. Sini''s rate of killing Hunters was clearly faster than Ice Talker''s. After days of continuousbat, Ice Talker was nearing her spiritual power limit. At this rate, she''d likely lose the wager. Casting onest look at Sini to ensure she was safe, he slipped away to find Ice Talker. "Ma''am!" He located Ice Talker, noting the piles of Hunters around her-obviously fewer than Sini''s. "I think you''re going to lose," he said urgently. "What?" Ice Talker frowned, confused. "Are you saying that little girl has killed more Hunters than I have?" The Emperor of the Underworld nodded emphatically. Unconvinced, Ice Talker took to the air, looking toward the distant figure of Sini, who was still cutting down Hunters at an astonishing pace. Her eyes filled with disbelief. It seemed everyone around John was a monster. "No, I won''t be outdone by some little girl!" Resolving not to lose, she gritted her teeth and reluctantly took out a handful of intermediate Spiritual Power Pills, swallowing them with a pained expression. Then, ncing at the Emperor of the Underworld, she instructed, "Hold the wall here for me." Before he could respond, she leapt into the mass of Hunters, opened her World-in-Hand, and began pulling scores of Hunters into it, unleashing a frenzied ughter inside. With thews of her World-in-Hand amplifying her strength, Ice Talker''s speed in ughtering Hunters more than doubled, while her spiritual power consumption decreased significantly. "She''s lost it," Emperor of the Underworld muttered, shaking his head as he continued fending off the endless waves of Hunters. Time passed, and exhaustion showed on everyone''s faces, yet they dared not rx for even a moment. John frowned as he looked out over the advancing Hunters. He had initially nned to help Ice Talker establish her city and then create his own faction. But with the constant harassment from the Hunters, it seemed unlikely anyone but himself could hold them back. Yet he couldn''t stay in the city indefinitely. He wondered if the Hunters would persist even after the city was established. If they couldn''t find a way to handle the Hunters, he might have to abandon the idea of setting up a city for now. With an assault of Hunters on this scale, even the Nature n would struggle to hold them back. Unless more powerful Nature n warriors arrived to defend the city in shifts. ... At dawn, instead of dwindling, the number of Hunters grew, and even a brood mother appeared, signaling a greater threat. To make matters worse, the Shadow n army had arrived-not vast in number, around a hundred thousand-but each fighter was a peak upper-tier god. The monster tide was imminent. The Shadow n forces blended into the Hunter horde, their presence only noticeable upon closer inspection. Leading them were four figures: three main city lords and the elder Kangus, the former city lord. Two of the three city lords had previously shed with John. Grimnir, the city lord of Main City #105, and The Absolute, the lord of Main City #101. The third was the city lord of Main City #107, Wrath of the Heavens. Each of these four emanated an overwhelming aura, their strength far surpassing that of peak upper-tier gods. Grimnir stared coldly at the city walls and dered, "This time, we must kill that Godyer!" His hatred for John ran deep. Last time, during the Saint Spirit n operation, John had escaped with Ice Talker''s help, leading Shadow God to severely punish him. If he failed this mission, he might lose his position as city lord. Unlike Kangus, who had resigned willingly, Grimnir would have his power stripped if dismissed. Without his position, the divine power provided by the Shadow Gods would be cut off. "Not just the Godyer," The Absolute added, his gaze fixed intently on Sini. "That girl Gale, with her mastery of the Power of the Nine Nether, is too dangerous to leave alive. She''s an even greater threat than John." "Enough," Kangus interjected. "Let''s set up the formation quickly and end this. I don''t want any unnecessaryplications." The group took out arge stock of Spirit Stones and handed them to The Absolute. By a stroke of luck, The Absolute had received the Immortals'' legacy, specifically in the rare art of formations. Nearly all Shadow Star formations had been set by his hand.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Chapter 307: Chapter 307: The Monster Tide Attack, Battle Against Kangus Chapter 307: Chapter 307: The Monster Tide Attack, Battle Against Kangus ? The Absolute swiftly moved through the army of Hunters, setting up formations. He knew that John had powerful subordinates adept in formations, so this time, he deployed two formations. The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star and the Myriad ughter Formation. Both of these were deadly offensive formations; even if one of John''s subordinates managed to break one of them, they would certainly be obliterated by the other. ... On top of the city walls, the defenders looked exhausted, while waves of Hunters continued to swarm relentlessly. The true monster tide assault had not yet arrived, so they couldn''t afford a moment''s rest. Buzz! At that moment, spatial power fluctuated, and Ice Talker appeared, her face filled with fatigue. She hadn''t rested for the entire night, and relying on her World-in-Hand ability, she had ughtered over twenty million Hunters. She refused to believe that Sini had surpassed her. "How did that young girl do?" she asked, finding the Emperor of the Underworld, who was battling Hunters atop the city walls. "Sigh," the Emperor of the Underworld sighed helplessly and replied, "Mydy, I think you''d better find an excuse. That young girl managed to kill more than thirty million Hunters in a single night." "Impossible!" Ice Talker couldn''t believe it. Even with her World-in-Hand, essentially cheating, she had only managed to kill over twenty million Hunters. Sini was only at the demigod level; even with her mastery of the Power of the Nine Nether, it seemed impossible for her to kill that many Hunters. The Emperor of the Underworld didn''t believe it either, but the facts spoke for themselves. "Mydy, that young girl is... strange. Over the course of this night, her strength has grown significantly." "Fine, a loss is a loss. I''m not one to avoid admitting defeat." Ice Talker was unwilling to lose, but she had no intention of backing out of the wager. At that moment, Sini approached. She looked a bit worn out, but her eyes sparkled with excitement. She looked at Ice Talker triumphantly and asked, "Do you have anything to say?" "I''ve realized that you and that Godyer are both monsters," sheined, then broke into a smile and said, "I admit defeat. From now on, you''re my big sister!" "Good girl!" Sini''s eyes curved into crescent moons as she gave Ice Talker a hearty pat on the shoulder,ughing boldly. "From now on, big sis has got your back!" "I''ll hold you to that, big sister!" Ice Talker replied with a smile. This little girl was exactly to her liking. Just then, John walked over, casting a nce at Sini, this young girl who never held anything back. However, he chose not to interfere with the matters between the two women. Turning to Ice Talker, he asked, "The monster tide assault is about to begin. Do you have any ns?" The relentless waves of Hunters had already pushed everyone to their limits; if they had no aces up their sleeves, the natural stronghold Ice Talker had established might not survive. She leaned tiredly against the city wall and replied with resignation, "I underestimated the power of the Shadow n. Let''s just resist as best we can. If we can''t hold out, then there''s nothing more we can do." Though she said this, there was a flicker of determination in her eyes. Building this stronghold was only the first step in herrger n. If it failed, she''d simply have to find another way. John looked at her and the other Terran, then asked with curiosity, "Are there really only two Overseers in the Nature n?" All the other Lord Gods had recruited several Overseers. With Nature God''s level of strength, it was impossible that they had only two Overseers. Ice Talker exined, "The others have missions that require them to remain hidden for now." John frowned slightly but, seeing that she didn''t want to borate, chose not to press further. [System Announcement: The monster tide assault willmence in five minutes. Resist the monster tide for 24 hours to establish the stronghold.] ... At that moment, three system notifications rang out. The Hunters'' attacks gradually subsided, and they slowly pulled back, surrounding the city walls in tight formation, awaiting the start of the monster tide. Moreover, amidst the army of Hunters, numerous brood mothers began to appear. Not only did the defenders fail to feel any relief, but they grew even more tense. The real challenge was about to begin. Ice Talker''s expression grew grim as she watched the Hunters gathering endlessly in the distance, forming a vast, shadowy sea. If they wanted to establish a foothold on Shadow Star, they would likely have to annihte everyst one of these Hunters. She flew up, surveying the soldiers on the city wall, all of whom looked exhausted, pushed nearly to their breaking point. She raised her voice and announced, "The monster tide assault is about to begin. Everyone, do your best, but prioritize your own safety above all. If you can''t hold on, reach out to me, Terran, or Godyer, and retreat into World-in-Hand. We''ve alreadyrgely achieved our objective with this battle." John frowned deeply. Ice Talker''s words went against the usual pre-battle mentality. Knowing they had an escape route, people might not fight with their full effort. But it seemed Ice Talker''s goal wasn''t really to defend this stronghold, so he didn''t bother questioning her. Roar! Roar! Just then, furious roars filled the air as the monster tide assault began, with countless Hunters surging forward like a tidal wave. Before the defenders could even catch their breath, they were forced to join the fray once again. Roar! Suddenly, a wave of sonic energy swept through, apanied by a terrifying soul attack that spread over the entire stronghold. It was the hunters'' brood mothers. Everyone''s expressions shifted to pain as they braced themselves against the onught. Upper-tier gods could barely withstand the soul attack from the hunters'' brood mothers. But many of the powerful warriors John had brought were simply overwhelmed. "Godyer, pull your people into World-in-Hand," Ice Talker found him and said urgently. This stronghold couldn''t be defended, so there was no need for unnecessary casualties. John nodded and immediately ordered the elves, members of the Blues Family, the humans from Skyline Continent, and the Beast n warriors to enter World-in-Hand. "John, I''m staying," Sini insisted stubbornly. Though she was only partially trained, she had refined a substantial amount of Soul Essence, and her Soul Technique level had reached over five hundred thousand, enough to withstand the hunters'' brood mothers'' soul attacks. "Old man, I''m staying too. This kind of Soul Technique attack won''t affect me," Tracy added quickly. "Oh? Are you certain?" John asked, surprised. It didn''t shock him that Sini could withstand the soul attacks. But that Tracy could also resist the brood mothers'' soul attacks was unexpected. It seemed that this young girl had also had some fortuitous encounters whileprehending The Immortals'' legacy. "John!" At that moment, Peter rushed over, fighting off the soul-piercing pain as he spoke gravely, "I sense formation energy fluctuations. Someone is setting up a formation." "A formation?" John''s brow furrowed, recalling thest time he was trapped in the Spirit Stone mines. He immediately activated his mental perception. "There!" Ice Talker was the first to lock onto a Shadow n elite hidden within the Hunters'' army and immediatelyunched an attack. If the Shadow n were allowed toplete their formation, everyone''s situation would be even more dangerous. "Sir, return to World-in-Hand for now." John acted swiftly, pulling Peter into World-in- Hand. Then he instructed Cand-Dragon to protect Sini and Tracy, and hurried to follow Ice Talker, charging toward the Shadow n elites within the Hunters'' army. "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" he shouted, and a fierce wind roared around him as he transformed into a towering giant, a colossus radiating overwhelming power. Buzz! Sword energy hummed as John wielded three divine weapons, mercilessly ughtering the Hunters that surged toward him while charging rapidly at the Shadow n soldiers. "What is this monster?" A Shadow n soldier, staring at the giant form of John, felt a chill run through him. "Quick, stop them!" shouted the vige elder Kangus, his reaction swift. Two blood-red scimitars appeared in his hands as he fixed his gaze on John. Whoosh! Several streaks of blood-red light shed toward him. John''s gaze was icy and unafraid as he swung his longsword, sending fierce, cutting sword energy directly into the path of the blood-red shes. Boom! A thunderous explosion followed as their strikes collided with equal force. John frowned slightly. This old man''s abilities were strange, bearing some of the characteristics of an Overseer. "Godyer!" Nearby, Ice Talker had been intercepted by two Shadow n city lords and called out in warning, "They''ve received the Shadow Lord God''s blessing and possess part of Shadow Star''s Power of Laws. Don''t bring them into World-in-Hand!" John''s brow creased in confusion. Could these beings actually destroy an Overseer''s World- in-Hand? "Human, you''re the one who escaped from my starter vige. Today, I''ll make sure to capture you!" Kangus snarled, sending waves of blood-red energy shing toward him. "Ha! This move again?" John scoffed, effortlessly cutting through the red energy with his longsword. Now that he had refined the Feather Race''s treasure and cultivated the Crape Myrtle Mind Technique, he waspletely unafraid of the Shadow n''s eerie abilities. "My powers go far beyond this!" Kangus sneered, showing no trace of fear as his formN?v(el)B\\jnn suddenly dissolved into an endless blood mist that spread out, enveloping John''s massive body. Soul attack! John felt a stabbing pain deep in his soul and immediately unleashed the Golden Lotus Hellfire, surrounding himself with the purifying mes. "Aaargh..." A wretched scream echoed from within the blood mist as it roiled and twisted. The Golden Lotus Hellfire was relentless against any form of soul defense or Soul Technique -this old man waspletely unable to withstand it. The blood mist recoalesced, returning Kangus to his original form, but the Golden Lotus Hellfire continued to engulf him. "Damn it, get off me!" he cursed, struggling frantically to shake off the mes, but it was impossible. The Golden Lotus Hellfire clung to him like a shadow. Simr to the Undying me, it only took a small trace to burn and purify the soul endlessly. "So, old man, is this all you''ve got?" John taunted, watching Kangus writhe in agony. "Human, I''ll see you dead!" Kangus snarled, his face twisted in pain as he roared through gritted teeth. Then, a fluctuation of spatial power urred, and a hunters'' brood mother appeared, marked with golden patterns across its back. This hunters'' brood mother seemed far stronger than ordinary ones. Additionally, this creature didn''t appear to be bonded with Kangus through a soul contract, or it would be suffering from the soul damage as well. "Roar!" The golden hunters'' brood mother let out a furious bellow, opened its gaping jaws, and devoured the Golden Lotus Hellfire-only to immediately copse and die on the spot. John looked on, astonished. This hunters'' brood mother had sacrificed itself to save Kangus. Chapter 308: Chapter 308: The Blood Domain, Killing Kangus Chapter 308: Chapter 308: The Blood Domain, Killing Kangus ? The golden-patterned hunters'' brood mother perished, leaving behind a single golden Soul Essence. Before John could react, Kangus swiftly snatched it up. Moreover, he suffered no bacsh. This golden-patterned hunters'' brood mother was clearly not one with whom he''d shared a soul contract. [You have in a golden-patterned hunters'' brood mother, gaining 2.6766 trillion experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Soul Technique +1000, Shadow Power +10, Shadow Laws +0.1%, Skill Points +10,000.] The notification shed, leaving John puzzled. Shadow Laws? What exactly was that? Noticing no immediate change in his power. He dismissed the thought and focused on Kangus, coldly stating, "Old man, I''d like to see how many more of those hunters'' brood mothers you can summon." Whoosh! mes ignited as he unleashed the Golden Lotus Hellfire once again. But this time, Kangus''s form disappeared in a strange blur. "Human, did you think you could try that move again?" Kangus''s cold voice echoed as he reappeared behind John. "Blood Domain!" His chilling voice reverberated as a vast blood-red mist surged forth, instantly enveloping John. "What? Such a bizarre power!" John''s brows furrowed as he noticed that this blood-colored mist was eerily simr to an Overseer''s World-in-Hand, isting him from other forces. Fortunately, his insight into World-in-Hand had deepened, allowing the Power of Laws to gather around him, shielding him from the blood mist''s effects. "Blood Assault!" Kangus''s cold voice rang out again as several blood-red beams sliced through the air, piercing John''s massive form in an instant. -104,444,000,000 ... Multiple terrifying damage numbers shed across his vision, and John was instantly killed. [You have been killed by Shadow n''s Kangus. The Blessed Ring has been activated...] A notification shed, and John resurrected on the spot, his face pale and his mind reeling with dizziness. This old man''s attack had also inflicted soul damage. "Flying Sword Strike!" John roared, sending a beam of sword light flying forward like a shooting star aimed directly at Kangus. Whoosh! With a strange ripple of energy, Kangus''s form vanished again. The flying sword cut through the air, slicing through the blood mist and obliterating hundreds of Hunters, but failed to hit Kangus. "Human, it''s useless. Within my Blood Domain, no one short of a Lord God can threaten me." Kangus''s cold voice echoed again as his form reappeared, coalescing from the blood mist. "Oh, really?" John muttered, his brow furrowing. He focused intensely, channeling his soul skill, Intimidation. He could sense the powerful soul presence of the hunters'' brood mother backing Kangus, so he refrained from using Soul Impact recklessly. Buzz! For a brief moment, Kangus''s face went nk, his concentration faltering. Seizing the opportunity, John unleashed Nine Heavens Sword, sending a terrifying arc of sword energy slicing through the sky and crashing down on Kangus. Boom! With a deafening st, Kangus''s body was shattered by the attack. Kangus couldn''t withstand John''s strike any more than John could withstand his. "Ugh!" Kangus resurrected in ce, coughing up blood. He red at John with cold fury and said, "Godyer, you''re indeed powerful. That only means I cannot let you live!" With that, his form dissipated once more, and his chilling voice rang out: "Blood Shadow Phantom!" A swarm of blood-red shadows surged forward,pletely enveloping John. Boom! Boom! Explosions shook the air as blood mist surrounded him, with terrifying damage values shing across his vision. John was killed once again. [You have been killed by Shadow n''s Kangus. Lifesaver talent activated...] The notification shed, and John''s body was bathed in a golden glow, entering the invincible state granted by the Lifesaver talent. ng! ng! The relentless blood shadows crashed into the golden shield, each impact producing a sharp, ringing sound. Taking advantage of his invincibility, Johnunched another assault. "Return of Ten Thousand Swords!" From within him, his Immortal Sword flew out, and an endless surge of sword energy filled the air, transforming into thousands of sword beams that nketed the blood mist. Unable to pinpoint Kangus''s location, he resorted to a wide-range attack. "Human, give it up! In the Blood Domain, you cannot touch me!" Kangus''s voice floated through the mist, his position untraceable. The countless sword beams fell, but the blood mist remained undisturbed. With his invincibility nearing its end, John''s expression grew tense as he carefully sensed the eerie blood mist around him, raising his longsword high above his head. The Blood Domain seemed very simr to World-in-Hand; perhaps Creation and Destruction could also shatter it? Feeling a surge of confidence, he raised his longsword, his aura reaching its peak. The wind whipped around him, and a suffocating pressure filled the air. "What kind of skill is that?" Kangus''s form started to solidify, his expression tense, a flicker of fear creeping into his gaze as he stared at John. "Creation and Destruction!" John roared, bringing his longsword crashing down. Whoosh... The massive de tore through the air, fracturing the space around it, and a chaotic surge of spatial energy rushed forth, making the entire Blood Domain tremble violently. Boom! The sword descended, the earth and sky roared, and the space shuddered as if on the verge of copse. The endless blood mist dissipated, and the Blood Domain shattered into pieces. Kangus was instantly killed again. His form reappeared, kneeling on one knee, his blood-red eyes fixed on John. "Human, is this also an Immortals skill?" He had never encountered such a strange and powerful technique before. John didn''t bother to respond, instead gathering the Golden Lotus Hellfire once more. "Hmph, even if you broke my Blood Domain, you''ll never kill me," Kangus scoffed, preparing to dodge. Buzz! At that moment, a strange fluctuation ofw energy appeared-it was the Time Law. The flow of time around Kangus slowed by 1.1 times, severely affecting his reaction speed. His eyes widened as he watched, helpless, while the Golden Lotus Hellfire engulfed him, his face twisted in shock and disbelief.N?v(el)B\\jnn He couldn''t understand-it should have been easy for him to evade. "Aaaah...!" A shrill scream echoed as he was once again devoured by the Golden Lotus Hellfire. John''s Soul Technique had reached an astonishing 1.8 million points, doubling the Golden Lotus Hellfire''s effect to 3.6 million soul damage. He doubted the hunters'' brood mother backing Kangus possessed such a high Soul Technique level. Buzz! With a fluctuation of spatial power, another golden-patterned hunters'' brood mother was summoned by Kangus. He intended for it to devour the Golden Lotus Hellfire as before. "Hmph, trying the same trick again?" John sneered, charging at the golden-patterned hunters'' brood mother. "Intimidation!" "Demon yer sh!" The air trembled as John''s soul power surged, hitting both Kangus and the golden brood mother. Immediately, he followed with Demon yer sh, sending countless sword beams shing through the air, fully engulfing the golden-patterned hunters'' brood mother. Blood sttered as terrifying damage numbers appeared-each of John''s attacks inflicted billions of critical damage. The hunters'' brood mother stood frozen, ring at John with hatred. With its soul weakened by Intimidation and stunned by Demon yer sh, it was utterly defenseless, forced to take the onught. sh! With the final blow, the hunters'' brood mother copsed lifelessly to the ground, dropping several items. [You have in a golden-patterned hunters'' brood mother, gaining 2.6766 trillion experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Soul Technique +1000, Shadow Power +10, Shadow Laws +0.1%, Strength +10,000, Mind +5,000.] The notification shed, and John plundered another 0.1% of the Shadow Power of Laws. Immediately, he activated Mind Maniption, retrieving the items dropped by the golden- patterned hunters'' brood mother and examining them with interest. [Golden Soul Essence: Refining this essence increases Soul Technique by 100,000 points. Requires special me for refinement.] A hundred-thousand-point boost to Soul Technique! John was thrilled and quickly stored it in World-in-Hand. As for the other items, they included a Talent Copy Stone, an Origin Stone, and several skill stones-none as valuable as the Soul Essence. He casually stowed the items away, then turned to Kangus, who was writhing in agony under the burning Golden Lotus Hellfire. Coldly, he said, "Now, it''s your turn." "No... human, you can''t kill me..." Kangus stammered, terror evident in his eyes. He had only managed to subjugate two golden-patterned hunters'' brood mothers, and now both had been in by John. He waspletely out of options. "Oh, really?" John sneered and unleashed Demon yer sh again. Whoosh! Several sword beams descended, striking Kangus, who froze in ce, his expression full of pain and despair. Though he had means to resist stuns, the searing soul pain from the Golden Lotus Hellfire made him powerless to retaliate. Even worse, John''s Demon yer sh also inflicted soul damage, relentlessly eroding his spirit, leaving him in unimaginable torment. His soul was slowly being devoured, his mind blurring as death drew near. "Human... Lord Shadow God will not forgive you. You will pay dearly for what you''ve done..." he snarled, barely clinging to consciousness as he gave his final threat. "Too bad you''ll never live to see that day." John had heard such threats countless times and dismissed them. "sh!" he shouted, simultaneously unleashing his Unrivaled Sword Dance and Sword Control,yered with Soul Impact. "Ugh!" Kangus let out a final groan, blood seeping from his eyes and ears as his soul was completely shattered. His lifeless body copsed to the ground. [You have in Shadow n elite Kangus, gaining 2.6766 trillion experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Shadow Power +10, Shadow Laws +1%, Physical Crit +10.] This time, John directly plundered 1% of the Shadow Laws but still felt no noticeable change. Deciding not to dwell on it, he examined Kangus''s loot. He found a massive pile of Spirit Stones-over a hundred thousand, including two faint purple Spirit Stones. These were Spirit Crystals, containing far purer and denser spiritual power, each worth ten thousand times a regr Spirit Stone. John scooped everything up. In addition, he found a trove of skill stones, enhancement stones for equipment, and elemental gems. But what excited him most was the golden Soul Essence. "Hm, a Holy artifact!" he eximed, noticing the two blood-red scimitars Kangus had dropped-they were actually legendary Holy artifacts. [Blood-red Scimitars: Tier 1 Holy Artifact] [Requirements: None] [Boosts all four base attributes by 100,000, with an additional 10% increase to the wielder''s base stats (rare and unique attributes excluded)] [Attacks deal an additional 1% Shadow damage] "Incredible!" John was impressed. This Holy artifact boosted his base attributes by a total of 400,000 points, with an additional 10% stat boost-a rare and potent effect. Unfortunately, he wasn''t skilled with scimitars, especially this rare, curved design. As powerful as it was, the weapon had limited use for him. Chapter 309: Chapter 309: Undying Flame, Slaughter of a Hundred Thousand Troops Chapter 309: Chapter 309: Undying me, ughter of a Hundred Thousand Troops ? "Godyer, stop The Absolute from setting up the formation!" Ice Talker called out urgently from the side. She and Terran were entangled with two of the city lords from the main cities and couldn''t break free. "Got it!" John responded, swiftly sheathing his curved de and charging toward The Absolute, who was in the process of arranging the formation. "Human, don''t even think about it!" A furious shout rang out as the hundred thousand Shadow n warriors, hidden within the Hunters, made their move. These hundred thousand were all peak upper-tier gods, powerful beyond measure. Though not as strong as Kangus, their sheer numbers were overwhelming. Whoosh! A sky full of blood-red rays shed, and John was instantly sted to pieces. "Damn it!" He resurrected on the spot, ring at The Absolute who was still arranging the formation. There was no way he could kill so many upper-tier gods in such a short time. Anxious, John immediately pulled the hundred thousand Shadow n warriors into his World-in-Hand, intending to use it to wipe them out. "Godyer, no!" Ice Talker noticed his movement and tried to stop him, but it was already toote. Buzz! A ripple of spatial energy spread out, and John along with the hundred thousand shadow n troops vanished without a trace. "It''s over!" Ice Talker''s expression darkened. The peak upper-tier gods of the Shadow n had the means to destroy a World-in-Hand. Moreover, with so many of them arriving at once, things looked grim. Inside World-in-Hand, the Shadow n warriors surveyed their surroundings, feeling the unfamiliar power of thews. Far from being afraid, they appeared somewhat excited. "Godyer, you''re truly ignorant to have summoned us into your World-in-Hand." The leader of the group looked at John with disdain and mocked, "Your World-in-Hand is the most stable I''ve ever seen, but to think you could trap us? Ridiculous!" As he spoke, he took out a blood-red jade stone and crushed it in his hand. Whoosh! An endless sea of blood spread out, quickly covering more than half of World-in-Hand. "Hmm?" John''s expression shifted slightly as he felt the blood-red aura. It was eerily simr to the Blood Domain that Kangus had used. What terrified him even more was that the power of thews within World-in-Hand was beingpletely blocked by this blood-red haze. "Godyer, I''ll destroy your World-in-Hand. Let''s see what other tricks you have!" The leader sneered coldly and ordered, "Bombard them!" Before John could react, the Shadow n warriors took out crystal orbs and casually threw them. It was the Undying me! Boom! Boom! Explosions rang out as World-in-Hand trembled, cracks forming all over it, its structure on the brink of copse. These Undying mes were different from those in the Spirit Stone Mines. In the Spirit Stone Mines, the Undying me merely covered the area but no longer had any destructive power. But the Undying me inside these crystal orbs exploded with world-shattering force. John finally understood why Ice Talker had warned him repeatedly not to summon these creatures into his World-in-Hand. Boom! Boom! The thundering explosions echoed, and World-in-Hand shook violently. At this rate, it might very well be destroyed. "Damn it!" John cursed, his soul energy surging as he cast the Golden Lotus Hellfire. Whoosh! Endless golden mes spread out, enveloping the hundred thousand soldiers. Immediately, shrill screams filled the air as John''s soul energy drained rapidly. Using the Golden Lotus Hellfire to cover such arge number of enemies was unsustainable for him. He wouldn''t be able to hold on much longer. "Everyone, stay calm. As long as we destroy his World-in-Hand, he is as good as dead!" The Shadow n leader gritted his teeth, resisting the soul-burning effects, and from his hands, dozens of crystal orbs appeared, which he casually threw, triggering massive explosions. "Return of Ten Thousand Swords!" John roared, the sound of his sword intent vibrating in the air. An endless wave of sword intent surged outward, engulfing the hundred thousand Shadow n warriors. "Hmph, useless. The Blood Domain is an independentw. You cannot harm us," sneered the Shadow n warrior, looking down on John with disdain. Countless sword beams rained down, killing over a hundred of the Shadow n warriors. However, they resurrected immediately, enduring the pain coursing through their souls, and continued to bombard John''s World-in-Hand. "Kangus was in by my hand. Do you think you can stop me?" John activated his Heaven and Earth Transformation once more. His longsword rapidly expanded in size, a violent wind spiraling around it, carrying with it an aura of world-shattering power. He was preparing to use Creation and Destruction again. The Shadow n warrior''s expression shifted slightly. He looked up at John and coldly said, "Godyer, that move of yours is powerful, but it''s an indiscriminate attack, isn''t it? You can destroy the Blood Domain, but your World-in-Hand won''t be able to withstand it." "Is that so?" John sneered, his body emanating a chaotic energy as his longsword descended once more. Creation and Destruction wasn''t just about annihting a world-it could also create and restore it. Now that he had mastered Chaos Force, he could control Creation and Destruction with greater precision. Whoosh... The wind howled, and the massive sword sliced through the air. As it passed, the space shattered by the Undying me was instantly repaired. The de retained its overwhelming aura, one that could destroy everything, and struck at the Blood Domain. "What''s happening?" The Blood Domain trembled. The Shadow n warrior''s face changed slightly. This was not what he had expected at all. "Break for me!" John roared, swinging his longsword down at the Blood Domain with all his might. Boom! The longsword passed through the air, causing the space to fragment, and an endless swirl of chaotic space surged outward. The Shadow n warriors were immediately sent flying, some even torn apart by the spatial chaos and instantly killed. The leader of the Shadow n was also sent crashing back, coughing up blood as he flew backward. "It''s impossible!" He wiped the blood from his mouth, staring at the scene in disbelief. Not only had John''s sword failed to destroy his World-in-Hand, but it had also repaired the damage they had caused and made the world even more stable. "Human, what kind of skill is this?" he asked, ring at John with frustration and disbelief. Without the Blood Domain''s protection, they were trapped inside the World-in-Hand,pletely powerless against him. John couldn''t be bothered to respond. His sword intent surged again, and the sword beams above the Shadow n warriors'' heads flickered ominously. The Infinite Sword Array and Return of Ten Thousand Swords were activated simultaneously. "You bastard! I don''t believe that with our hundred thousand warriors, we can''t destroy your World-in-Hand!" The leader of the Shadow n gritted his teeth and shouted angrily, giving orders: "No need to defend, focus on destroying his World-in-Hand as quickly as possible!" "Yes!" the others replied in unison. They ignored the endless sword beams raining down on them and once again took outrge quantities of Undying me, tossing them around the World-in-Hand, hoping to destroy John''s world. Only by doing so could they have a chance at survival. Otherwise, with thews of World-in-Hand in effect, they stood no chance of resisting. "Hmph, useless. Maybe you can destroy other Overseer worlds, but mine is different!" John sneered disdainfully, a powerful surge of the power ofws emanating from his body. With a swing of his longsword, countless terrifying spells descended. Hellfire! Dark Storm! Holy Light Demon-Buster st! Unrivaled Sword Dance! Nine Heavens Sword! ... A torrent of devastating energy surged as John waved his hand, releasing dozens of magic attacks in quick session, one after another, enveloping the hundred thousand Shadow n warriors. Boom! Boom! The sounds of explosions reverberated through the air as the space itself trembled. Even the peak upper-tier gods of the Shadow n couldn''t withstand John''s attacks while he was in his Heaven and Earth Transformation state. Not to mention, this was his World-in-Hand, enhanced by the unique power ofws. Many Shadow n warriors were instantly obliterated, only to resurrect at the same spot, their faces pale and weary.N?v(el)B\\jnn John''s attacks¡ªboth his skills and regr strikes-carried the added effect of soul damage. Moreover, within his World-in-Hand, their connection to the Hunters'' Brood Mother waspletely severed, and with their souls destroyed, there was no possibility of revival. [You have killed a peak Shadow n upper-tier god. You gained 26.766 billion experience points.] [Your level has risen to level 13451...] [Plunder talent activated, Space Lawprehension +1%, Shadow Power +10, Constitution +1000.] ... A series of notifications shed on screen as Shadow n warriors continued to fall under his onught. His experience soared, and his attributes grew stronger. These Shadow n upper-tier gods, nearly all of whom had mastered powerfulws and exceptional talents, were valuable targets for his Plunder talent. He acquired rarews and formidable abilities with each kill. The sound of anguished wails filled the air as the Shadow n warriors, faced with the threat of death, abandoned their attempts to destroy John''s World-in-Hand and began fleeing in panic. "Hmph, do you think you can escape in my World-in-Hand?" John scoffed, raising his hand to unleash a spatial confinement. Buzz! The surge of spatial power spread out, trapping everyone. Even the Split Void talent, known for its ability to bypass space, was rendered useless here, not to mention their basic space laws. One by one, Shadow n warriors were sted to pieces, and the rest were left in utter despair. Soon, the hundred thousand shadow n warriors were ughtered to thest, their bodies scattered across the ground, leaving behind a vast amount of loot-powerful top-tier artifacts, Origin Stones, Talent Upgrade Stones, and other rare items. Of course, the biggest gains went to John, who plundered not only attributes and power of laws but also increased his level to 19,740. He was now only two hundred levels away from reaching the lower-tier gods realm. "Bonnie, clean up the battlefield. You all can distribute the spoils," he ordered, gesturing to Bonnie to take care of the loot. The items no longer held much value for him. Then, with a thought, he exited his World-in-Hand. Around him, countless Hunters continued to spread across the battlefield, having already climbed up the city walls. The city was on the brink of falling. Ice Talker and Coldman were still engaged with two of the Shadow n city lords, unable to break free. The fall of the city was only a matter of time. "Godyer, are you alright?" Ice Talker asked, her voice filled with surprise and disbelief as she looked at John. She knew all too well the Shadow n''s treacherous methods. A hundred thousand peak Shadow n upper-tier gods were more than capable of destroying his World-in-Hand, yet John seemed unharmed. John didn''t have time to exin. His gaze was fixed on The Absolute, who was still in the process of setting up a formation. "Human, where are the Shadow n troops?" The Absolute noticed John and asked coldly. "They''re dead!" John replied dismissively, his tone filled with contempt as he charged toward The Absolute. By now, The Absolute was in the final stages of setting up the formation. He could not afford to be interrupted. "Impossible!" The Absolute couldn''t believe it. A hundred thousand peak upper-tier gods were a massive force-even for the Shadow n, suffering such a huge loss was unthinkable. "Quick, stop him!" The Absolute''s expression changed to one of panic as he immediately ordered the Hunters surrounding them to intercept John. No matter what, as long as the formation waspleted, they were certain to win. Roar! Roar! Countless Hunters howled in fury, swarming toward John in an attempt to overwhelm him. Several Hunters'' Brood Mothers alsounched soul attacks against him. "Hmph, overestimating yourselves!" John sneered, an overwhelming wave of sword beams erupting around him. The Hunters fell in swathes, their numbers decimated. The soul attacks from the Hunters'' Brood Mothers had no effect on him whatsoever. John plowed through the attackers, cutting a path toward The Absolute with ruthless efficiency. Chapter 310: Chapter 310: The Deadly Strike Formation of All Things, the Power of Star Dust Chapter 310: Chapter 310: The Deadly Strike Formation of All Things, the Power of Star Dust ? "Grimnir, tie down Terran, I''m going to help The Absolute!" At this moment, Wrath of the Heavens, the lord of the 107th main city, pushed Terran back and quickly charged toward John. "Bastard, your opponent is me!" Terran roared, attempting to strike, but Grimnir directly blocked him. "The Absolute, hurry up!" Grimnir''s figure was in disarray. He was never a match for Ice Talker, and now, with both Ice Talker and Terran attacking him, he found himself at an even greater disadvantage, with danger at every turn. "Human, your opponent is me!" Wrath of the Heavens'' voice rang out, followed by a wave of endless blood light. Once again, it was the Blood Domain! John sneered, directly activating Creation and Destruction. Boom! The massive sword howled, splitting the Void, and annihting everything in its path. The blood rage that Wrath of the Heavens had just summoned was instantly shattered. Having witnessed John''s methods before, Wrath of the Heavens was still deeply shocked. If this human continued to grow, he would undoubtedly be a major threat to the Shadow n! "Blood Shadow Phantom!" Wrath of the Heavens yelled, and endless blood light flickered as he shed toward John. [You were killed by the Shadow n powerhouse Wrath of the Heavens. Lifesaver talent activated...] The notification shed, and John was killed once again. His Lifesaver talent activated for the third time. "Get lost!" He cursed furiously, and activated Golden Lotus Hellfire. Then, a giant sword beam cut through the air, shing toward Wrath of the Heavens. Boom! A loud explosion sounded as Wrath of the Heavens was sent flying backward. Hellfire surged, his soul burned, and the air was filled with his agonized screams. John paid him no mind, looking instead at the iing Hunters. He immediately activated Wind Evasion, transforming his body into an elemental form and quickly closing the distance to The Absolute. "Godyer, you are toote!" The Absolute seemed to sense him, sneering coldly. Holding a jade stone, he spoke icily, "The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, activate!" Buzz! A strange fluctuation of power surged, and countless specks of Star Dust flickered, filling the sky with overwhelming power. They covered the entire city and the surrounding battlefield. John''s figure instantly materialized. The Absolute was taken aback. Holding the jade stone, he continued to manipte the formation. "The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, imprison!" Another wave of strange energy rippled through the air, and John and the others werepletely trapped inside the formation. "The Absolute, let us out!" Wrath of the Heavens, his face pale after escaping the burning effects of Golden Lotus Hellfire, weakly demanded. The Absolute ignored him, continuing to control the formation. "Surrounding Star, destroy!" Whoosh! A single Star Dust fell from the sky, heading straight for John. "Damn it, I''m toote!" John gritted his teeth and cursed, hurriedly dodging. Boom! The Star Dust exploded uponnding next to him, and John coughed up blood, sent flying through the air. Then, countless Star Dust pieces began to rain down from the sky. Under The Absolute''s control, they relentlessly bombarded John, Ice Talker, and Terran. "The Absolute, are you trying to kill us too?" Grimnir cursed loudly. He too was trapped in the formation, and after battling Ice Talker and Terran, he was severely wounded and could not defend against the falling Star Dust. "Shut up. Hold on a little longer, my next formation is almost ready!" The Absolute didn''t pay them any mind. He knew that there were people around John capable of breaking the formation, so he had to set up another formation-dual protection to ensure greater safety. Wrath of the Heavens and Grimnir were furious but helpless, forced to fully focus on blocking the constant falling Star Dust. "Godyer!" Ice Talker, evading the Star Dust attacks, rushed to John''s side, hurriedly asking, "Do you have any way to break the formation?" "First, we need to deal with the hunters'' brood mothers." John said as he charged toward the surrounding hunters'' brood mothers. These hunters'' brood mothers were also trapped within the formation, and their soul attacks were far too powerful-Peter couldn''t withstand them. They needed to be killed first. Ice Talker and Terran exchanged nces before simultaneously charging at the hunters'' brood mothers. The three major The Overseer worked together, while the indiscriminate attack of falling Star Dust continued from above. The hundred hunters'' brood mothers around them were all ughtered. Whoosh! A spatial power fluctuation urred, and Peter was summoned by John. "Senior, I need your help again." Peter said, using all his strength to fend off the falling Star Dust, his voice filled with urgency. Peter nodded, sensing the formation carefully. "Dual formations!" His expression changed, and he quickly warned John, "That guy has set up another formati working in conjun ion with the first one. It''s impossible to destroy!" "Hahaha!" The Absolute''s manicughter echoed through the air. "Human, it seems that you were the one who destroyed the Great Formation of the Surrounding Starst time. This time, you will all die!" "The Absolute, let us out first!" Grimnir shouted angrily, struggling to evade the falling Star Dust. He and Wrath of the Heavens had already been struck by the Star Dust twice. If this continued, they would certainly die. "Fine, you''re all useless." The Absolute sneered dismissively, activating the formation. The two of them were furious but dared not retort, fleeing in disarray. "Hurry, follow them!" Ice Talker snapped back to her senses and shouted, rushing after the two of them. "No!" Peter quickly shouted to stop her. "The Deadly Strike of All Things!" At that moment, The Absolute''s cold voice echoed again. Under the flickering starry lights, endless ck mist surged and transformed into grotesque, terrifying monsters, charging toward Ice Talker and the others. This was even more terrifying than the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star-the Deadly Strike of All Things formation. Boom! A loud explosion echoed, and Ice Talker, unable to resist, was sent flying by the monsters formed from the mist. "Hahaha! This time, you will definitely die!" The Absolute''s manicughter rang out from outside the formation. In the sky, countless Star Dust continued to fall, while countless more monsters formed from the ck mist surged around them, attacking John and his group. These mist-formed monsters had no souls and ignored any attacks-virtually invincible. The group was in utter despair. John transformed into his Heaven and Earth Transformation state and activated his Amethyst Battle Armor, using all his strength to withstand the falling Star Dust and the attacks from the monsters. He looked down at Peter, anxiety in his voice as he asked, "Senior, can''t the formation be broken?" The attacks from the Star Dust and the monsters formed by the ck mist were terrifying, and he couldn''t hold on much longer. Peter did not respond, his brow furrowed as he carefully sensed for any weak points in the formation. At this moment, the city walls were also covered by The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, with Star Dust continuously falling. Fortunately, the range of the Deadly Strike of All Things formation was not toorge and did not cover the city walls. Even so, the group was still suffering greatly. Star Dust continued to fall, the walls of the city were being destroyed, and there were casualties among the upper-tier gods of the Nature n. However, the Star Dust seemed to deliberately avoid one particr spot. Tracy looked up at the sky full of Star Dust, her brow furrowing as if she had an epiphany. Around her, Star Dust continued to fall, but not a single one exploded where she stood. It was as if the Star Dust was deliberately avoiding her. Cand-Dragon saw this and was stunned, but then he quickly reacted and shouted, "Quick, everyone,e here!" Jolyne and the others rushed over to take cover around Tracy. At this point, Tracy closed her eyes and slowly began to float into the air. "Tracy!" Cand-Dragon was startled. John had specifically instructed him to protect the two women, and if anything happened to Tracy, he wouldn''t be able to exin it to John. He was about to wake Tracy up when Nine-Tails, who was standing nearby, stopped him. "Don''t move. This little girl is perceiving the Star Dust power!" Nine-Tails said, her expression also filled with shock. "Star Dust power?" Cand-Dragon was taken aback, but then he realized. When the Shadow n descended, Nine-Tails had mentioned that Tracy had the Star Dust ability.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om He hadn''t expected her to be able toprehend it within The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. Boom! Boom! Star Dust continued to fall around them, but nothing touched Tracy''s immediate vicinity. The Hunters army, however, was not so fortunate. The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star was an indiscriminate attack, andrge groups of Hunters were being obliterated. The greatest danger stilly with John and the others. The Star Dust continued to fall, and the monsters created by the Deadly Strike of All Things were relentlessly attacking them. John had been killed several times already, and he could no longer sustain his Heaven and Earth Transformation state. He turned to Ice Talker and asked, "What if I enter World-in- Hand? What will happen?" "No!" she quickly stopped him. "The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star can track and destroy your World-in-Hand. I don''t know how you managed to block attacks from the peak Shadow n upper-tier gods, but your World-in-Hand can''t withstand the power of The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star." John furrowed his brow. Peter still hadn''t sensed any weaknesses in the formation, and if this continued, they would definitely die. They needed a way to break through. At worst, his World-in-Hand would be destroyed, and he could just recreate it. He made up his mind, about to take action, when suddenly, the Star Dust in the sky began to flicker. The falling Star Dust seemed to freeze midair in a strange, eerie stillness. "What''s going on?" John asked, confused. The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star had suddenly stopped its attack. "Star Dust power!" Ice Talker eximed, instinctively looking toward the city walls. At that moment, high above the city walls, Tracy floated in midair, her gaze fixed on the sky full of Star Dust. Her eyes shone with the same sparkling light, reflecting the stars above her. Outside the formation, The Absolute frowned, not understanding what was happening. He had lost contact with the formation. No matter how he manipted the Spirit Stone in his hand, there was no response. Vroom! Suddenly, the falling Star Dust resumed its movement, but instead of striking John and the others, it whistled through the air, attacking The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star in the sky. Boom! Boom! The sound of explosions echoed, and the sky trembled as the vast Star Dust shattered and broke apart. The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star was directly destroyed. "Cough!"The Absolute coughed up blood, staring in disbelief at the scene unfolding before him. "Impossible!" "John, the core of the Deadly Strike of All Things formation!" Peter had sensed the formation''s core and immediately warned John. Vroom! The sound of a sword''s aura hummed as John wasted no time and used the Immortal Art: Nine Heavens Sword. Ice Talker and Terran immediately followed suit, unleashing their strongest attacks on the formation''s core. Boom! With a tremendous roar, the formation shattered, and the terrifying monsters formed from the ck mist instantly dissipated. The Absolute once again suffered the bacsh from the formation''s destruction, spitting out blood. "The Absolute, what the hell are you doing? Didn''t you say they couldn''t destroy the formation?" Grimnir shouted angrily, questioning him. "How should I know that someone here has mastered the Star Dust power?" The Absolute snapped back, his eyes burning with frustration. "We''re no match for them. Let''s leave now!" He red at John, then immediately activated his Split Void ability to escape. Wrath of the Heavens quickly reacted as well and vanished into thin air. "Wait for me!" Grimnir finally realized that he couldn''t escape fast enough, but it was already toote. "Grimnir, you''re dead!" Ice Talker''s cold voice rang out as the power of thews surged, directly sealing off the space around them. Chapter 311: Unexpected Reinforcements, Destroying the Altar Chapter 311: Unexpected Reinforcements, Destroying the Altar It''s over¡­ Grimnir''s face turned pale, and despair filled his heart. Without the Split Voidability, he had no way to break the spatial lock. If it were just Ice Talkeralone, he wouldn''t be afraid in the slightest. But there was also Terranand John. He had virtually no way to fight back and was being relentlessly pummeled by thebined efforts of the three. John seized the opportunity andnded a fatal blow, triggering his Plundertalent and gaining 1% more of the Shadow Power of Laws. "Godyer, it''s just the Huntersarmy left. We should be able to hold them off!" Ice Talkersaw a glimmer of hope. She quickly made her way to the city wall, blocking the gap and putting everything into stopping the iing Hunters. John joined the battle, and with a thought, he summoned the Elves, Beast n, Blues Familymembers, and the Skyline Continenthumans to help halt the Hunters'' advance. With theirbined efforts, they gradually regained control of the city wall and sealed the gap where the Huntershad breached. Seeing this, Ice Talkerfelt a rush of joy. Perhaps she really could build the first city on Shadow Star, making her future ns much easier to carry out. What shocked her most, however, was John''sstrength. He had actually killed Kangusand defeated the peak-tier Shadow n upper-tier gods¡ªa force of over a hundred thousand. The only regret was that The Absoluteand Wrath of the Heavenshad managed to escape. She sighed inwardly but didn''t dwell on it. She turned her full attention back to fighting the Hunters. Meanwhile, Johnwasn''t hurrying to join the fray. Instead, he made his way toward Tracy. It was thanks to her that they had been able to destroy the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, allowing them to escape the danger. Now, Tracywas pale and weak, slumped against the city wall, clearly exhausted. Thatst strike had drained too much of her energy. "Tracy, are you alright?" Johnasked, concern evident in his voice. "It''s alright, let the others handle the rest. You go rest in World-in-Hand," Johnsaid, gently channeling pure life energy into her to replenish her mental strength. The little girl weakly shook her head and, with a soft sigh, opened her arms to him. She leaned into his embrace, speaking in a faint voice, "Old man, I''m a bit drained." "It''s alright, let the others handle the rest. You go rest in World-in-Hand," Johnsaid, gently channeling pure life energy into her to replenish her mental strength. "Okay," Tracynodded obediently. She couldn''t be of any help at the moment. Moreover, she had gained new insight into the power of Star Dustand wanted to return to World-in-Handto continue understanding the Immortalinheritance. Johnthen pulled Tracyinto World-in-Hand, before turning to Jean. "Jean, you can''t help here either. Go back to World-in-Handand look after Tracy." "Alright," she answered without hesitation. Among the women, apart from Sini, Jeanwas the one closest to Tracy, and the two of them got along extremely well. Now, Johnjoined the battle. The vast Power of Lawssurged from him as he put everything into holding off the Hunters. With his Wrath of the Godstalent, his skill cooldowns and energy consumption were nearly negligible. His power alone was enough to block an entire wall of Hunters. However, he didn''t reveal too much of his strength. Instead, he slowed the pace of his attacks slightly and worked with the Blues Familymembers to hold the line at one section of the wall. The one most pleased with this was Sini. Although the battles of the day had left her somewhat mentally fatigued, it didn''t affect her speed in ughtering Huntersin the slightest. John confirmed that Tracywas in no danger, and with the protection of powerful Beast nwarriors like Cand-Dragon, he allowed her to fight freely. "Ice Talker, we''re here to help!" A clear voice rang out, and four figures rapidly approached from the horizon. The Overseers! Johnfrowned. All four of them were The Overseers, and their cultivation levels were all above two stars. One of them had an aura that was no weaker than Ice Talker''s. He became wary. Now that only the Huntersremained, they could definitely hold the line. So why were these four showing up now? Were they really here to help defend the city? "Thank you!" Ice Talkerwas surprised to see the four but didn''t refuse their help. "Master." Quagmlier, with his massive form, stepped up to John, speaking in a low voice. "These four are The Overseersfrom the Underworld nand Sea n. The leader is Centerorfrom the Underworld n, a three-star The Overseerin the early stages. The other is Saukers, also from the Underworld n, a The Overseer. Thest two, Swordmanand Thunderover, are The Overseersfrom the Sea n." "Sea n?" Johncouldn''t help but look at Swordmanand Thunderover. Both had reached theter stages of two-star The Overseerstatus, more powerful than that Terranhe had encountered earlier. He wasn''t familiar with the Underworld n, but he had killed the Sea Kingfrom the Sea n, and the Sea ndefinitely didn''t have good intentions toward him. The Swordmansensed John''sgaze and coldly shot him a look but didn''t respond. Johnasked, curious, "Are these four really here to help defend the city?" Quagmlierpaused, unsure, "I think so. The Nature nholds a high position among The Overseers. Plus, Emperor of the Underworldis also from the Underworld n." Johnnodded, no longer paying attention to the four new arrivals. He turned to Chrisand asked, "Elder, do you think you can hold off the Huntershere?" "Don''t worry. With the city wall in ce, we have no problem," Chrisreplied confidently. "Good. Then I''ll go to other ces. Quagmlier, you stay here," Johninstructed, making his way toward Sini. Both he and Siniwere bounty targets for the Shadow n, and the rewards were hefty¡ªa whole. No The Overseercould resist such a tempting offer. He was worried they might try to harm Sini. Boom, boom¡­ The sound of explosions echoed through the area, apanied by battle cries and the anguished screams of the Hunters. Under the city wall, countless Hunterscorpses had already piled up. As time passed, it quickly became evening. Throughout the entire day, the Huntersnever once breached the wall. Ice Talkerhad been worried that the Shadow nwould send more forces to cause trouble, but as the monster tide was about to end, no Shadow nexperts had arrived. This relieved her a little. "Roar!" At that moment, a series of angry roars echoed from the distance. Johnnoticed that it was a golden-striped Hunters'' Brood Mother. The surrounding Huntersarmy seemed to hear the call and quickly began retreating, like a tide pulling back. The bodies of the Huntersand scattered spoils were all devoured by the retreating army. He really wanted to y the creature, but with the four The Overseersstill nearby, uncertain whether they were friend or foe, he didn''t dare to leave Sini''sside. Johnfocused on the golden-striped Hunters'' Brood Mother. This creature was likely very rare among Hunters'' Brood Mothers, and it would drop an even rarer golden Soul Essence, which, when refined, could directly increase his Soul Techniqueby a hundred thousand. He really wanted to y the creature, but with the four The Overseersstill nearby, uncertain whether they were friend or foe, he didn''t dare to leave Sini''sside. "The Huntersare retreating!" "Great! We''ve seeded¡­" Cheers erupted from the walls. But Ice Talkerdidn''t rx. There was no system notification, and the monster tide had not truly ended yet. As the Hunterswithdrew, a new army appeared outside the city walls¡ªSpirit Beasts! The leader was an upper-tier god-level Spirit Beast. It surveyed the city walls and its gaze lingered on Johnfor a moment. Then, it let out a low growl and led its army of Spirit Beastsin retreat. "Huh? The Spirit Beastsaren''t attacking the city?" Swordman, standing nearby, spoke in confusion, a hint of disappointment in his voice. [System Announcement: The Nature Cityhas sessfully repelled the monster tide attack. Nature n Ice Talkerhas sessfully established the first force, Nature City.] ... Three system announcements rang out, and only then did Ice Talkerlet out a sigh of relief, her face lighting up with joy. "We did it!" "Shadow nis nothing to worry about after all." "Nonsense. How could those despicable bastardspare to us, the Nature n?" Cheers resounded on the walls as well. However, John''s brow furrowed. He kept his eyes fixed on the four figures¡ªCenterorand the others. At that moment, the four seemed to make a move, and Thunderoverquietly began flying toward the city. His target was the city''s altar stone! If the altar of the city was destroyed, the entire city-building effort would fail. Johnquickly reacted and warned, "Ice Talker, be careful! That guy is trying to destroy the altar." "You dare!" Ice Talkeralso noticed Thunderover''smovement and shouted angrily, preparing to take action to stop him. But Centerorcharged forward, blocking her path. Ice Talkerwas furious. "Centeror, do you want to make an enemy of the Nature n?" "Don''t misunderstand," Centerorexined with a smile. "I only promised the Shadow nthat I wouldn''t let you establish a city. I don''t wish to be an enemy of the Nature n." "Very well. It seems you and the Shadow nare cut from the same cloth!" Ice Talkerretorted angrily, no longer willing to waste words. She waved her hand, and several vines flew toward Centeror, aiming to strike him. "Attack!" Centerorsaid, seeing that their n had already been exposed. He no longer bothered with Disguise. Beside him, Saukersmoved to engage the Terran, while Swordmanfrom the Sea nimmediately turned his attention toward John. "Human, today I will avenge Lord Sea King!" Swordmanshouted coldly. With a wave of his hand, Spatial powersurged, and he instantly pulled both Johnand Siniinto his World-in-Hand. Clearly, his goal was to kill the two of them and im the Shadow Godreward. Johnfound himself in an unfamiliar world, where towering mountains loomed and the air was thick with a powerful, cutting aura. This was obviously Swordman''sWorld-in-Hand. In the moment he had left the city, he noticed that Thunderoverhad already destroyed the city''s altar. It seemed that Ice Talker''seffort to establish the city had failed. "Sini, enter my World-in-Handfirst," Johnsaid, worried for her safety. She nced around, sighed helplessly, and nodded in agreement. She mastered the Power of the Nine Nether, which could counteract the World-in-Hand, but her strength was still too weak to destroy Swordman''sWorld-in-Hand. She realized that she would be of no help here and could only be a burden. Buzz! Sini''sform disappeared as she entered John''sWorld-in-Hand. Swordmanappeared in front of him, floating in the air, his long de held in an embrace, his gaze disdainful."Human, I highly doubt you can kill Sea King." He said coldly. Johnsmiled faintly, looking around at Swordman''sWorld-in-Hand."You''ll find out soon enough," Johnsaid calmly. "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" He shouted, and the winds began to howl. A terrifying aura spread, and his body rapidly erged, transforming into a towering giant, over ten thousand feet tall. Swordmanwas momentarily surprised by the sight, but he wasn''t intimidated. He sneered."Human, it''s useless. In my World-in-Hand, I am invincible. Just die already." With that, he drew his long de, and the Sword Intentsurged. The entire space seemed to bend and obey hismand as countless des of light gathered, roaring toward John, ready to strike. Boom boom... The explosions were deafening, and Johnwas instantly obliterated, his form crushed under the sheer force of the assault. Chapter 312: Slaying Swordman, God-level Swordsmanship Talent Chapter 312: ying Swordman, God-level Swordsmanship Talent [You have been killed by The Overseer Swordman. Lifesavertalent activated...] The system prompt shed across the screen as Johnwas resurrected on the spot, his soul suffering a slight injury. This guy is much stronger than that Nick. However, during this period, Johnhad experienced significant growth in strength. Dealing with him would be a breeze now. Swordmanlooked at John, who had resurrected, without a hint of surprise. He recognized the golden aura surrounding Johnas a special invincible state. Not in a rush to attack, he casually held his long sword in his arms and said with a yful expression, "Human, stop struggling. You are no match for me." "Don''t know where you get all your confidence from." Johncouldn''t be bothered to waste words. Raising his massive sword, Chaos Forcebegan to slowly gather, disregarding the rules of World-in-Hand. Seeing this, Swordmanwas somewhat surprised but still wasn''t overly concerned. He calmly said, "It''s useless. Unless you can destroy my World-in-Hand, here, I am invincible." "Heh, you''re actually right about one thing." Johnsmirked. Raising his longsword high, he shouted, "Creation and Destruction!"With a roar, his sword descended forcefully. Boom! The wind howled, and the longsword sliced through the air. The space itself cracked apart as endless spatial turbulence surged, wildly DevouringWorld-in-Hand. "Not good!" Swordman''sexpression changed slightly. He hurriedly stabilized his World-in-Hand, but at the same time, his long sword flew out to meet John''sattack. "Mountain Splitter!" He bellowed, and his long sword transformed into a massive de, shing at the giant sword to stop John. Boom! Crack! A violent crash echoed as the entire world trembled. There was a sharp sound of metal breaking, and Swordman''slong sword was shattered in the sh. But even so, it had still managed to interrupt John''sstrike. Whoosh... The howling winds continued, and the spatial turbulence raged on. The entire world seemed to be on the verge of copse. "Human, what kind of technique is this?" Swordmanwas horrified, his eyes locked onto Johnwith fear. Though World-in-Handhadn''t beenpletely destroyed, it had suffered a heavy blow. "Blocked it, huh." Johnwas slightly surprised, but his expression remained cold as he raised his longsword once again. "I wonder if you can block this one." Whoosh! Chaos Forcegathered, and Johnraised his longsword high once more. "Stop!" Swordmanwas filled with terror. He knew his World-in-Handcouldn''t take another blow like that. "Human, get out of here!" He cursed, attempting to throw Johnout of the World-in-Hand. But it was toote. "Ha, now you regret it? It''s toote!" Johnsneered, and with another mighty swing of his longsword, the world around them began to shatter, mountains and rivers crumbling. The endless spatial turbulence rushed forward and Devouredeverything. Buzz! Swordman''sWorld-in-Handwaspletely destroyed. Both he and Johnwere forcefully ejected from it. Cough!Swordmanfell to his knees, still clutching the broken half of his long sword. His eyes red at Johnwith a mixture of fury and disbelief, his voice trembling, "N-No... Impossible..." "Hmph, ignorant fool!" Johnsneered disdainfully, toozy to waste more words. Without hesitation, he immediately unleashed his Nine Heavens Sword. Whoosh! A terrifying sword beam tore through the sky, slicing down with overwhelming fury. "Damn it!" Swordmanwiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, feeling immense pressure. Slowly, he stood up, his eyes ring at the roaring sword beaming at him. His face twisted with rage as he gritted his teeth and roared, "Human, even without my World-in-Hand, I can still kill you!" As he spoke, energy surged around him, coalescing into half of his broken sword. He suddenly released a massive aura, no weaker than John''s. "Heaven''s sh!" He yelled, his de unleashing a sharp, blinding de beam aimed straight at John''ssword beam. Boom! The sword beams collided with a violent crash. The surrounding space trembled as fierce winds blew, sending the nearby Huntersflying in all directions. Johnwas forced to take a step back. Swordman, however, remained firmly grounded, his grip tightening around the broken de, veins bulging on his arm. "Cough!" He coughed up more blood, his murderous intent growing stronger. He red coldly at John, "Human, you''re nothing but a disappointment." "Asura Frenzy sh!" He muttered lowly, his form vanishing as it turned into a vast cloud of de beams, all surging toward John. John''sbrow furrowed. This attack was eerily simr to his own Demon yer sh. He dared not take it head-on. The wind elements around him surged, and he used Wind Evasion, disappearing in a strange, fluid motion. Whoosh... Endless de beams rained down, the howling winds tearing everything around him apart. Yet, not a single beam managed tond on John. "Cough!" As the storm of de beams dissipated, Swordman''s form materialized once again. He coughed up more blood, hisplexion growing even more pale. He was almost at his limit. "Human,e out!" He roared angrily. With his World-in-Handdestroyed, he no longer had control over the Power of Laws. Helpless against John''sWind Evasion, he was unable tond a single blow. "You filthy worm, do you dare face me head-on?!" He cursed, grinding his teeth, trying to provoke John. "Heh!" Johncoldlyughed. His form slowly began to condense, growing into a towering giant, gazing down at Swordmanlike an insignificant insect. "Seems like you''re nothing special after all." Swordmanswallowed nervously, his aura bing increasingly unstable. "I will kill you. Soul Annihtion!" With that, he sliced his broken de across his finger, blood sttering as the air trembled. It was a soul attack! Johnfelt an intense sense of danger. This attack had the power to obliterate his very soul. Not daring to underestimate it, Johnimmediately activated Golden Lotus Manifestation. A golden light enveloped his soul, granting him immunity to all forms of harm. Boom! A tremendous roar echoed in his mind as the golden light flickered. Despite the soul attack being nullified, the overwhelming shockwave still rattled his brain, causing a brief moment of dizziness and disorientation. "Die, Heaven''s sh!" Swordmanseized the opportunity, suppressing his internal injuries, and unleashed his Heaven''s shonce more. A terrifying de beam howled as it swept toward John''stowering form. His senses cleared, and his cold, unblinking eyes locked onto the iing attack. Without dodging, he activated his soul skillin response. Whoosh! Golden mes erupted, instantly consuming Swordman. "Ah..." A blood-curdling scream echoed as his energy shattered, and the massive de beam dissipated into nothing. "It''s over!" John''scold voice reverberated as a powerful sword intent spread, filling the air with countless shing sword beams. The Return of Ten Thousand Swordsskill activated, and thousands upon thousands of sword beams instantly engulfed Swordman''sform. The terrifying damage from the sword techniques,bined with percentage-based life damage, shattered Swordman''sbody beyond repair. Seizing the moment, Johnactivated his soul skill. Intimidation! Soul Impact! With Swordman''sWorld-in-Handshattered and his soul already critically damaged, without his physical form to protect him, there was no way for his soul to withstand John''sonught. With a mighty crash, Swordman''ssoul was obliterated, its mes extinguished andpletely erased. [You have killed The Overseer Swordman, gaining 26,766,000,000 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated. You have acquired the God-level Swordsmanship Talent, The Heavew +1%, Strength +10,000, Physical Critical Hit +10, Attack Speed +10.] [God-level Swordsmanship Talent: Increases sword skill damage by 500%, and enhancesprehension of swordsmanship by 100%.] "God-level talent!" Johnwas stunned. He hadn''t expected Swordmanto possess a God-level swordsmanship talent. Sword technique damage had increased fivefold, and hisprehension of swordsmanship was also enhanced by 100%. The only downside was that he wasn''t proficient with a sword himself. However, this talent could be passed to Chris, who had inherited the Snow Mountainlegacy and specialized in swordsmanship. It would undoubtedly be of immense help to him. In addition to the God-level swordsmanship talent, Johnalso plundered another 1% of The Heavew. It seemed that only by killing the The Overseercould one acquire The Heavew. Unlike the blessing of The Heavew, this Power of Lawswas fully refined by John, with no negative effects whatsoever. Johnwasn''t entirely sure what The Heavew would do, but it didn''t seem like a bad thing. Boom, boom... At this moment, distant sounds of explosions echoed. Ice Talkerand Terranwere being overwhelmed by Centerorand his threepanions, their situation looking grim. Meanwhile, the altar of Nature Cityhad been destroyed, the city now a pile of ruins, and a new wave of Huntersemerged around them. Johnpaid no attention to the Hunters, maintaining his Heaven and Earth Transformationstate as he charged toward Centerorand his threepanions. Flying Sword Strike! A sword beam cut through the sky like a streak of terror, instantly hitting Centeror. Boom! With a thunderous crash, Centerorstaggered back three steps, steadying himself. His brows furrowed as he stared at Johnin disbelief. "Godyer, you actually managed to kill Swordman!" Swordmanwas ate-stage two-star The Overseer. Even he would have to employ some tricks to kill someone like that, but Johnhad done it. This human was far stronger than the rumors had suggested! Centerorlocked eyes with John, his gaze flickering. He wanted to kill this man and im the reward from ShadowLord God. But Ice Talkerwas obviously allied with John. Unless he could trap them in World-in-Hand, there was no way to defeat them. Centerordared not try such a thing, as Swordmanhad only been able to trap Johnin World-in-Handbecause of his own power. It had ultimately resulted in the destruction of the World-in-Hand. This human likely had the means to destroy World-in-Hand, and Centerorwasn''t willing to take that risk. "Saukers, Thunderover, we retreat!" Centerorordered. His goal had been to destroy Ice Talker''sNature City, and he had aplished that. He had no desire to continue fighting. "Centeror, I swear, Nature n will never forget this!" Ice Talkerseethed with rage. The power of nature surged around her as hundreds of vines shot out, trying to trap Centeror. Johnwas somewhat surprised by Ice Talker''smethods. Her style of attack was somewhat simr to Jean''s. Centerorsneered and waved his hand, instantly destroying the vines. Breaking free from the restraints, the three of them disappeared in an instant. "My lord, are we really just letting them go?" Terranasked, his form ragged, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. His voice was filled with frustration. Ice Talkergritted her teeth and said coldly, "A three-star The Overseerlike Centerorcan''t be stopped from fleeing. Besides, the ability I justprehended has negative side effects, so I can''t use it recklessly." As she spoke, she couldn''t help but nce at John, her eyes flickering. Johnfurrowed his brow and took a step back. The look in her eyes was oddly familiar, reminding him of how Siniand the others had looked at him when they hadn''t seen him for a long time. Roar¡­ roar... The cries of Huntersechoed through the area. Ice Talkerbroke her gaze and turned her attention to the battlefield. With the city destroyed and no walls to defend, the group was being relentlessly assaulted by waves of Hunters, their situation growing increasingly dire. With a helpless sigh, Ice Talkerspoke, "Godyer, thank you for your help this time. Unfortunately, we still failed. When the timees to build the next city, I hope you''ll assist me again." She then reached into her pouch and pulled out over twenty Soul Essences, tossing them toward John. These were the rewards she had obtained from ying the Hunters'' Broodmother. While they were very helpful to her, she couldn''t let Johnleave empty-handed. Chapter 313: Chapter 313: Spirit Beast Thunder Fireworks, Taming the Spirit Beast "I have some matters to attend to, so I must take my leave," Ice Talker said, giving a brief nod. She then took the members of the Nature n and Saint Spirit n into her World-in-Handand disappeared.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The arrival of Centeror and the otherspletely disrupted her ns. She needed to counterattack. "Roar..." The Hunters roared angrily, a countless number of them surging forward like a tidal wave. John had already in over seventy Hunters'' Brood Mothers, including two Golden-striped Hunters'' Brood Mothers, causing the Hunter marks on his body to deepen even further. However, these Hunters posed no real threat to him. "Kill that Golden-striped Hunters'' Brood Mother!" he thought, recalling the Golden-striped Hunters'' Brood Mother that had appeared earlier. He wielded three longswords, cutting through the surrounding Hunters, and began pursuing the direction in which the Golden-striped Brood Mother had vanished. His Soul Technique and mental strength had both greatly improved, and his Soul Perception now covered a radius of a hundred miles. It didn''t take long before he detected the aura of the Golden-striped Brood Mother. "I found it!" he muttered, increasing his ughter speed and elerating toward the fleeing brood mother. It seemed the creature sensed the danger, as more and more Hunters flooded the area, pouring in from all directions. "Nine Heavens Sword!" John roared, invoking his Immortal Art. Three enormous sword beams swept through the air, cutting down the iing Hunters in their path. System prompts kept appearing as one Hunter after another perished under his des. He once again plundered arge number of attributes and Shadow Power. However, the percentage damage increase from Shadow Power had seemed to hit its cap at 1%. His Shadow Power had surpassed one million points, but the life percentage damage had not increased further. He wasn''t concerned, though. His current damage output was terrifying, far surpassing the life limits of Hunters with demigod-level strength. Soon, he spotted the Golden-striped Hunters'' Brood Mother, a massive body frantically fleeing. Clearly, it had noticed him. But its enormous size and clumsy movement made it impossible for it to escape. "Return of Ten Thousand Swords!" John shouted furiously, and a storm of sword beams whistled through the air, quickly clearing the surrounding Hunters as he closed in on the Golden-striped Brood Mother. "Human, don''t kill me!" the Golden-striped Brood Mother cried out in panic, speaking humannguage. "You possess Shadow Power. I can bind our souls and share power, sparing your life." "Hmph, I don''t need that!" John sneered. With his Golden Lotus Manifestation, he was immune to soul damage and had no interest in the Brood Mother''s soul-sharing offer. What he truly wanted was the Golden-striped Soul Essence from this creature. "Die." He was toozy to waste more time talking. Golden Lotus Hellfire surged upward and instantly devoured the Golden-striped Hunters'' Brood Mother. "Roar!" A pitiful scream echoed as the creature struggled in the golden mes. Soon after, a sh of sword beams illuminated the sky as Return of Ten Thousand Swordswas once again unleashed, shredding the Brood Mother into pieces. It had no ability to resist before John. It was much like an ordinary Hunters'' Brood Mother, except that it possessed a powerful Soul Technique, Resurrection Hunters, and the ability to form a soul-sharing pact with a Shadow n expert. Other than that, it had almost no offensive capabilities. [You have killed the Golden-striped Hunters'' Brood Mother and gained 26,766,000,000 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Soul Technique +1000, Shadow Power +10, Shadow Law +0.1%, Spirit +5000.] [You have killed the Golden-striped Hunters'' Brood Mother. The Hunters'' Vengeance Mark deepens.] System notifications shed as John once again Plundered a 0.1% increase in Shadow Law. His control over Shadow Law had now reached 2.3%. "What exactly is the use of this attribute?" he wondered. He felt as though something stirred within him, as if a unique force, one belonging to the Shadow Star, was beginning to awaken. Perhaps his mastery of the Shadow Law was still too weak to manipte it fully. He didn''t want to dwell on it. The surrounding Hunters were bing more frenzied, charging at him with increasing madness. He easily ughtered them, but his brow furrowed slightly as he turned his gaze toward a direction behind him, coldlymanding, "Come out!" There was a stir behind him as a powerful spirit beast appeared. It was the same spirit beast leader that had appeared outside Nature City earlier, with the peak power of an upper-tier god. "Roar!" it bellowed, sending ripples of fear through the surrounding Hunters, who slowly retreated. John was surprised¡ªthese Hunters actually feared the spirit beast. He locked his eyes on the creature, coldly saying, "You''ve been following me!" The spirit beast was merely at the peak of an upper-tier god, and John felt no fear. "Human, allow me to introduce myself. I am Thunder Fireworks, the Fire Kirin of the spirit beast tribe!" it said. Purple mes enveloped its body, mes that were no less powerful than the Undying me, and also carried a soul-damaging effect. John was astonished. This Thunder Fireworks was far stronger than an ordinary upper-tier god at the peak level. The spirit beasts must possess some unique abilities if they can establish a presence on the Shadow Star, controlled by both the Shadow n and the Hunters. "Let me see what you can do!" Thunder Fireworks roared, its figure turning into a blur as it charged toward John with lightning speed. John was unruffled. He swung his longsword, and the sword beams shed, striking precisely at Thunder Fireworks. Boom! The purple mes surged, and John was sted backward by the impact. He could sense that the strike was just a test, and this Thunder Fireworks'' power was no less than that of the Cand-Dragon. "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" John roared, and a gust of wind howled as a terrifying aura spread. In an instant, his form transformed into a towering giant, tens of thousands of feet tall. "Indeed, you are one of The Immortals!" Thunder Fireworks grinned with excitement. It let out a roar, and its own form twisted and expanded, growing to a massive size, easily matching John in stature. This was just its true form. "Roar!" With another shout, it stepped onto a cloud and charged at John once again, purple Thunder Fireworks swirling around it in the sky. The wind howled violently. John hesitated for a moment, then sheathed his longsword, choosing to face the beast with his bare fists. He could feel that the creature had no real malice. Its attacks had been nothing more than probes, testing his strength. Boom! Boom! Thunder echoed through the sky, like a series of violent explosions. The man and the beast were locked in battle, their every move shaking the earth. Rocks crumbled and the ground trembled with a deep, resonating Tremoras they shed. In terms of pure physical collision, their strengths were evenly matched. Boom! With another violent crash, both John and Thunder Fireworks were sent flying hundreds of meters before stabilizing their footing. "Haha, as expected from a The Immortalspowerhouse! Even with your demigod-level strength, you''re able to fight me!" Thunder Fireworksughed heartily. His massive form shrank, clearly no longer wishing to continue the fight. John also retracted his Heaven and Earth Transformation, equally surprised by the strength of the Fire Kirin. However, if the battle were to continue, he was confident he could eventually defeat the beast. He hadn''t even used his skills, soul attacks, or World-in-Handyet. His eyes flickered as he gazed at the Fire Kirin. A thought began to form in his mind: perhaps he could tame this creature. Moreover, his World-in-Handstill containedrge deposits of Spirit Stone mines waiting to be harvested. If he could capture a group of spirit beasts to use asborers, it would be an excellent option. "Human, I am willing to swear fealty to you as my master," Thunder Fireworks suddenly spoke. "W-What?" John was momentarily stunned. He had been thinking of ways to forcefully tame the creature, but here it was, offering itself voluntarily. Thunder Fireworks exined, "I have been waiting for the arrival of someone from The Immortals. You are strong, and you must be the one I''ve been waiting for." It nced at John, continuing, "You don''t need to doubt me. I was once part of The Immortals, and I truly wish to pledge my loyalty to you. I also have more than ten thousand upper-tier god-level spirit beasts under mymand. They should be able to assist you." "You were once part of The Immortals?" John was shocked. The abilities Thunder Fireworks had demonstrated, including the Heaven and Earth Transformation, seemed simr but were not exactly the same. Moreover, they were on Shadow Star, a ce where spirit beasts appeared to be native. How did this all tie into The Immortals? "You don''t know?" Thunder Fireworks frowned, seeing that John was genuinely unaware. It then exined, "Shadow Star was once the territory of The Immortals." "What?!" John eximed, even more stunned. Thunder Fireworks nodded, continuing, "The Immortalswere extremely powerful, but for some unknown reason, they suddenly began to decline. That weak Shadow actually became a Lord God, and with the help of other Lord Gods, they destroyed The Immortals. Afterward, the Gods'' Game descended, annihting countless life-bearing star systems..." "Wait a minute," John interrupted, his voice tinged with disbelief. "How many The Immortalsare there in this world?" Clearly, the The Immortalsfrom Shadow Star, as described by Thunder Fireworks, were not the same The Immortalsthat had appeared on the Skyline Continent. The The Immortalsfrom Skyline Continent seemed to originate from Earth, were much weaker, and had been destroyed by the Shadow n. The Shadow Lord God hadn''t even appeared in that timeline. "Many, but I don''t know the specifics," Thunder Fireworks replied, unsure how to exin. He looked at John and said, "But I can feel it¡ªyour aura matches The Immortalsmore than any I''ve encountered. You must have inherited the legacy of The Immortals." John nodded, trying to process all this information. After a pause, he asked, "What is your purpose in pledging allegiance to me?" He didn''t believe he was some great The Immortalspowerhouse, so why would Thunder Fireworks offer to join him voluntarily? "It''s simple," Thunder Fireworks said seriously. "Destroy the Shadow n, restore the glory of The Immortals, and stop the Gods'' Game from continuing to destroy other star domains. I believe this is your mission as well." Destroying the Shadow n, stopping the Gods'' Game from wreaking havoc¡ªthese objectives did indeed align with his goal of protecting Earth. However, restoring the glory of The Immortals¡ªhe didn''t believe he had the power for that. Still, taming this creature would definitely be a good choice. "Alright, I agree," John said decisively. Having a powerful army of spirit beasts would certainly be a great help. He looked at Thunder Fireworks and continued, "There''s one more thing I need your spirit beasts to assist me with. You''re aware of the Spirit Stone mines, right? I need your help to mine them. Of course, I can offer you some Spirit Stones as a reward." Mining Spirit Stones was grueling, physicalbor, and he worried that Thunder Fireworks might refuse. "No problem," Thunder Fireworks''s eyes lit up as he agreed without hesitation. Spirit Stones were rare and beneficial for spirit beasts'' cultivation. This was hardly a bad deal for them. "I''ll gather my subordinates right away!" He was afraid John might change his mind, so he immediately began summoning his followers. "Roar..." A deep, resonating roar echoed through the area, with multiple responses reverberating around them. One after another, spirit beasts began to appear, numbering over one hundred thousand. The weakest among them were mid-tier gods, but the majority were upper-tier god-level spirit beasts, with over ten thousand of them at the peak of upper-tier gods. John''s influence grew even further as his forces were bolstered. Chapter 314: Chapter 314: Mining the Spirit Stone Ore and Destroying the City Chapter 314: Chapter 314: Mining the Spirit Stone Ore and Destroying the City ? N?v(el)B\\jnn "Let''s go. Enter my World-in-Hand," John said with a thought, summoning all the spirit beasts into his World-in-Hand. "Wow, such a powerful world!" Thunder Fireworks marveled, his eyes wide with shock as he took in the surroundings. John couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride. His World-in-Hand was created using Chaos Force, so it was truly unique. He spoke, "Your task now is to help me mine the Spirit Stone ore. You can take one-tenth of the Spirit Stones as your share." Thunder Fireworks''s eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly responded, "No need for that. One percent would be enough for us." With another roar, Thunder Fireworks led his spirit beast army directly to the Spirit Stone mine at the southernmost point of World-in-Hand. The area was covered by the Undying me, but it posed little threat to the spirit beasts. Not to mention, the vast quantity of Spirit Stones made the journey well worth it. "Godyer, how did these guys get in here?" Cand-Dragon asked, his tone filled with surprise. The spirit beasts were powerful, especially Thunder Fireworks, who posed a potential threat. John smiled and answered casually, "I tamed them." "Wh-what?" Cand-Dragon eximed, shocked. He had encountered spirit beasts before- they were incredibly strong and prideful. Even the Shadow n couldn''t subdue them, so it was a surprise that John had managed to do so. "Kid, I can feel it... Shadow Star won''t know peace with you stirring things up," Cand-Dragon remarked, shaking his head in disbelief. "This is just the beginning," John replied with a smirk. His goal wasn''t just to stir up trouble in Shadow Star-he intended to destroy the entire Shadow n. With the spirit beasts'' help, his confidence soared. He turned to Cand-Dragon and continued, "I n to wipe out a Shadow n city. Want to join me?" From Ice Talker, John had learned that to establish a city on Shadow Star, one had to first destroy a Shadow n city to obtain a City Building Order. The main cities of Shadow Star were protected by powerful arrays, and John wasn''t sure if he could break through them. However, wiping out an ordinary city would be a piece of cake for him. "Sure," Cand-Dragon said, his eyes lighting up. He had never forgotten the oppression and torment he endured when he first arrived on Shadow Star. Now, with a chance for revenge, he wasn''t going to let it slip away. "I want to join too!" Tony, overhearing their conversation, eagerly stepped forward. "Fine," John said without hesitation. Although Tony was only at the demigod level, his mastery of Immortal Art and Immortal Golden Body greatly enhanced his defenses, making him a tough opponent. He was immune to ranged attacks, which made him particrly useful against the Shadow n. Soon, the group had gathered. Except for Tony and Sini, the rest of the group were all peak upper-tier gods. Cand-Dragon, Jolyne, Nine-Tails, and Lincoln. John didn''t n on having the spirit beasts take action. To destroy a regr Shadow n city, these few individuals were more than enough. He would save the spirit beast army for when they needed to fend off a monster tide. He led the group out of World-in-Hand and toward the nearest ordinary city. The Shadow n''s City No. 601 was under the jurisdiction of the main city No. 96 and was not far from the Shadow mine where John had been working. Along the way, they encountered Hunters everywhere, but they posed no threat to John and his group. Soon, City No. 601 came into view, and the number of Hunters around it decreased. They wouldn''t approach the Shadow n cities unless they had orders to do so. "Let''s finish this quickly!" John ordered, activating Heaven and Earth Transformation to turn into a giant. The terrifying pressure radiated from him, spreading over the city. The massive disturbance caught the attention of the Shadow n inside the city. "It''s that Godyer! Quick, alert the city lord!" The soldiers on the city walls immediately recognized John. His transformation into a giant had spread throughout the area, and anyone who entered the city in that form was obviously up to no good. Buzz! The sword intent hummed as a massive, terrifying sword beam tore through the sky, screaming toward the city. Boom! A deafening explosion echoed, and the great tremor shook the ground. The solid city walls, built with Shadow ore, were obliterated by the strike of John''s sword. Inside the city, hundreds of figures shot into the air, all of them peak upper-tier gods from the Shadow n. At the front was a bald man whose aura was the most powerful. He was the lord of City No. 601. Whoosh! The gigantic sword beam howled once more, shing down toward the city. "Godyer, how dare you!" The bald man shouted angrily, his body enveloped in a blood-red aura as he charged directly toward the descending sword beam. Bang! Blood sttered as he was sent flying backward. A terrifying damage number shed above his head-nearly two hundred million critical damage! "Quick! Activate the array and ask Lord Eclipse for help!" He staggered up from the wreckage, panic in his voice as he gave the order. Eclipse was the lord of City No. 96 and was incredibly powerful. "An array?" John''s expression darkened as he noticed the energy fluctuations around the city. A protective barrier rose, enveloping the entire city. He breathed a sigh of relief. It was just a defensive array and didn''t have any offensive capabilities, so there was no immediate threat. "Finish it quickly," John said, wary. He couldn''t afford to let his guard down. If reinforcements from Shadow n arrived, it would cause problems. Whoosh! The wind howled as the massive power ofws surged. The group unleashed their most powerful attacks, bombarding the city. Boom boom... The sound of explosions reverberated, but all their attacks were blocked by a barrier. The energy surged, but the city remained unharmed. "Godyer, it''s useless!" The bald man sneered. "This is the Four Symbols Defensive Array. With your strength, you can''t break it!" Seeing that the array had sessfully blocked their attacks, the bald man looked at them with smug satisfaction. "Is that so?" John didn''t believe it. A long, melodious dragon''s roar echoed as he transformed into his Heaven and Earth Transformation form, taking on the appearance of a divine dragon. His attributes were further boosted. Whoosh! The boundless sword intent surged as a terrifying sword beam ripped through the sky. He once again unleashed Nine Heavens Sword. Compared to his previous attack, its power had grown exponentially. Boom! A thunderous crash shook the entire formation, but it still managed to block the sword beam. However, the Shadow n soldiers in the city were not so lucky. The immense energy shockwaves sent several soldiers on the city walls spitting blood. "Truly sturdy!" John frowned, his expression growing serious. He noticed that the teleportation array at the center of the city was shing brightly, signaling that reinforcements were arriving. His mind stirred, and he immediately used his Split Void talent to open a spatial passage into the array. The Four Symbols Guardian Formation blocked space, but it could not restrict the Split Void talent. Moreover, this was merely a defensive formation with no offensive capabilities. "Go!" Johnmanded, stepping through the spatial passage and appearing inside the city. "Split Void talent? No... that''s impossible!" The bald man was stunned, his gaze fixed on John in disbelief. "Human, why do you possess the Split Void talent?" The Split Void talent was unique, something only five of the strongest Shadow n experts could replicate. John was not the first powerful being to control Split Void-it was simply inconceivable that he could possess this talent. "Attack!" John ignored him. With amand, he summoned three massive sword beams, but they weren''t aimed at the bald man. Instead, they targeted the teleportation array in the center of the city square. "Quick, stop him!" The bald man was immediately horrified, but it was toote to act. Boom! A deafening explosion rang out as the teleportation array was destroyed. Several reinforcements who had just stepped out of the array were instantly obliterated. Roar! Another loud dragon''s roar rang out as Cand-Dragon transformed into his true form and entered Heaven and Earth Transformation as well. He began rampaging, ughtering Shadow n soldiers around him. The Four Symbols Guardian Formation was meant to protect the city, but instead of safeguarding these soldiers, it turned them into sitting ducks. The city was in chaos, with energy swirling everywhere. The sound of agonized screams filled the air as Cand-Dragon and the others recklessly destroyed everything in sight. The only ones who might have been able to stop them, the peak upper-tier gods from the Shadow n, were now in John''s sights. Golden Lotus Hellfire erupted, and countless sword beams howled through the air, mercilessly cutting down everything in their path. "Quick, shut down the formation..." The Shadow n soldiers were panicking, scrambling to escape. The Four Symbols Guardian Formation, originally meant to protect the city, had now be a prison that trapped them inside. The bald man was in misery. In just a few breaths, John had killed him multiple times, his face turning pale, his soul severely wounded. He knew he was no match for John, and in a panic, he hurriedly spoke, "Godyer, all you want is the City Building Order. Let us go, and I will destroy the city and give you the City Building Order." In order to save his life, he was willing to offer anything. But John sneered disdainfully and coldly replied, "I can destroy the city and obtain the City Building Order even if I kill you." As he spoke, heunched another attack. "You shameless human! If that''s the case, you will never get the City Building Order!" The bald man cursed in anger, ignoring John''s attack. He turned and charged toward the city''s altar. He intended to destroy the altar and seize the City Building Order for himself. John realized his intentions and, with a thought, immediately summoned the man into his World-in-Hand. "Huh?" The bald man looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings, momentarily stunned before he quickly came to his senses. "Godyer, you dare summon me into your World-in-Hand! How ignorant!" His expression was one of excitement as a number of crystal spheres appeared in his hands-these were Undying me. Clearly, he intended to use these Undying mes to destroy World-in-Hand. John remained unfazed, unbothered by the threat. He spoke coldly, "Do you not know how I ughtered your Shadow n''s hundred thousand peak upper-tier gods?" "What do you mean by that?" The bald man was confused, but his actions didn''t pause for a second. He threw dozens of crystal spheres into the air, which immediately exploded. Boom boom... A series of loud bangs rang out, and World-in-Hand trembled slightly. Several space cracks appeared, but the attack was nowhere near enough to destroy it. "How ignorant," John muttered, tired of talking. He swung his longsword and activated the divine skill Creation and Destruction. Whoosh! The longsword sliced through the air, and the space cracks were sealed up. World-in- Hand remained unharmed and even grew more stable. "Impossible!" The bald man stood frozen, his face full of disbelief. He had never received the blessing of the ShadowLord God and couldn''t master the Shadow Laws. Undying me was his only means to destroy World-in-Hand. But now, these Undying mes werepletely ineffective against John''s World-in-Hand, and he was momentarily thrown into a state of panic. Buzz! The air trembled as John activated his soul skill. Although the bald man was a peak upper-tier god, his soul techniques were far weaker than John''s. Furthermore, within World-in-Hand, his soul connection to the Hunters'' Brood Mother was severed. "Ugh..." The bald man groaned in pain, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His eyes lost their light as he slowly copsed to the ground. Chapter 315: Chapter 315: Setting Up the Formation, Establishing the City Chapter 315: Chapter 315: Setting Up the Formation, Establishing the City ? [You have in a Shadow n upper-tier god, peak-level warrior, and gained 26,766 billion experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Shadow Power +10, Spirit +5000, Magic Critical Strike +10, Luck +1.] The prompt shed on the screen, and several items scattered around the bald man. John casually collected them before exiting World-in-Hand. The Shadow n forces in the city had been nearly wiped out by Cand-Dragon and the others. John''s eyes locked onto the altar in the middle of the square. His longsword swung down, shattering it with a single strike. Boom! The sword light howled, and the altar was destroyed, a City Building Order drifting out from the rubble. [Announcement: Godyer has destroyed Shadow Star City No. 601 and obtained a City Building Order.] ... Three system announcements rang out, stirring quite amotion in Shadow Star once again. Most notably, the Shadow n hated John with a passion. Major cities immediately sent Shadow n armies to the 601st city. The establishment of a foreign faction was a significant blow to Shadow Star, and they couldn''t afford to let it seed under any circumstances. "Cand-Dragon, stop ying around. Let''s withdraw." John called out. At this point, the city had been destroyed, and most of the Shadow n soldiers had been ughtered. Countless Hunters were rushing in from the distance. He didn''t want to get involved with the Hunters, especially since more reinforcements could arrive from other major cities, leading to unnecessaryplications. "Alright." Cand-Dragon and the others responded, entering his World-in-Hand. John, on the other hand, directly activated his Split Void talent, opening a spatial rift and vanishing into thin air. The next moment, he appeared in an abandoned mining site. He nned to build a city here-underground. The mine was abyrinth of tunnels, and even though the Shadow Mine had been depleted, it remained exceptionally sturdy. Even if the city were to fall, they could use the tunnels to slow down enemy advances. With the protection of the outer city walls, this setup would ensure their absolute security. However, there was a problem. The mine had been abandoned, and now the Hunters had taken control of the area. He would need to clear them out first. This, however, was not a problem for him. He summoned Cand-Dragon and the others again. "Huh? My lord, this is an abandoned mine. Are you nning to build the city here?" Quagmlier asked curiously. This used to be a mine where he had worked before. John nodded, pulling out the Holy Artifact, the Blood-red Scimitars, and cutting through the chains that bound him. Snap! With a sharp sound, the chains were effortlessly severed. It seemed that this Holy Artifact had more properties than just what was visible on the surface. The only downside was that these curved des weren''t suitable for him. Thest time he killed a city lord, Grimnir, he had dropped the Shadow Ghost w, an assassin-ss weapon. John could use it, but he wasn''t particrly skilled with it, so he gave it to Sini. It seemed that all major city lords dropped Holy Artifacts. Perhaps by establishing this new city, he could attract other city lords. He hoped that this time, by killing them, he would get a longsword-type Holy Artifact. "Thank you, my lord!" Quagmlier eximed gratefully, repeatedly thanking John. Without the chains restraining him, he immediately felt a significant relief. Although he had grown ustomed to the presence of the chains, no one wanted to remain bound like a prisoner forever. John nodded and said, "Help me clear out the Hunters around here." "Yes!" Quagmlier shouted in excitement, his fists, like giant boulders, crashing down with immense power as he wiped out the Hunters nearby. John didn''t need to take action. With Cand-Dragon and the others around, it was more than enough to clear the area of Hunters. Moreover, the Hunters'' Brood Mother had already been in by John, and no new Brood Mothers had appeared in the time since. Afterward, John summoned Peter and asked, "Master, are you able to set up a formation like The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star?" Aside from the Shadow n, other factions establishing cities would be constantly harassed by Hunters. Even the Ice Talker of the Nature n had difficulty defending against them, and John''s forces weren''t likely to hold their ground. Unless he remained in the city at all times, which wasn''t a practical option. "That''s a bit difficult." Peter''s face showed hesitation. He had only recently inherited the formation legacy and didn''t yet have a deep understanding of it. Additionally, he was still weak, and the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star was arge-scale formation that he was currently incapable of setting up. He added, "However, I can set up a medium-sized defensive formation and a medium-sized offensive formation. While they aren''t as powerful as The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, they should be enough to stop these Hunters'' attacks."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "That will do." John was pleased. He wasn''t nning to rely on the formations to defend against powerful foes like the Shadow n. He continued, "We''ll clear out the surrounding Hunters, and you can set up the formations." "Alright." Peter nodded in agreement. John, along with Sini and the others, then left the mine to clear the Hunters from the surrounding area. The Hunters'' Hatred Mark on John was strong. As soon as he appeared in the wild, countless Hunters would surge toward him. Fortunately, in the time since, their strength had significantly increased, and with the assistance of the Spirit Beast Army from Lei Huo, holding off these Hunters was no trouble at all. John and his group effortlessly kept the Hunter army at bay, preventing them from entering the mine. Peter took out arge number of Spirit Stones and, seizing the opportunity, began setting up the formations. Setting up and maintaining formations required a huge amount of Spirit Stones. But for John, this consumption was nothing at all. His World-in-Hand contained vast Spirit Stone mines, so this small expenditure was barely a drop in the bucket. The two formations Peter set up were the Four Symbols Guardian Formation and the Seven Kill Formation. One was a defensive formation, while the other was an offensive one. Both were mid-level formations. Although they weren''t capable of withstandingrge-scale attacks from peak upper-tier gods, they were more than enough to block the attacks of mere demigod Hunters. Hum! The energy of the formation surged, and a strange, powerful energy formed a protective shield that covered several kilometers around them. The Hunters surrounding the area were immediately sent flying by the force. This was the Four Symbols Guardian Formation. Roar... Roar... Angry howls filled the air as the Hunters relentlessly attacked the protective shield. Waves of energy rippled across its surface, but their attacks were nowhere near enough to break through the Four Symbols Guardian Formation. "John." Peter found him and spoke, "The Four Symbols Guardian Formation has been set up. I think we should wait until the city walls arepleted, and then set up four Seven Kill Formations on the walls, one on each side. That will greatly enhance the city''s defenses." "Alright, let''s do it your way." John agreed and immediately ordered the human forces from Skyline Continent and the disciples of the Blues Family to begin constructing the city. They would use the sturdy Shadow Stone from the mines to build the city. John had plundered Shadow Stones from hundreds of mines, storing them in his World-in- Hand, the pile of stones towering high. It was perfect for building the city. Everyone quickly got to work, each person handling their responsibilities. With the protection of the Four Symbols Guardian Formation, it became even easier to ughter the Hunters. As long as they were inside the formation, there was no need to worry about their safety. The Blues Family disciples and the human forces from Skyline Continent worked on the city walls while also attacking the Hunters. John didn''t mind this at all. In three days, the construction of the city walls wasplete, stretching over eight thousand meters, fully enclosing the entire mine. Peter continued working, setting up the Seven Kill Formation on each of the four city walls. Hum! One of the Seven Kill Formations was finished and activated. Instantly, a vast surge of energy erupted, and several magical orbs shot into the air, filling the sky. They cascaded down, covering the Hunter army outside the defense formation. Boom! Boom! The sound of explosions echoed as the orbs, formed from the purest spiritual power, rained down on the Hunters. The damage was devastating. In the blink of an eye, the Hunters surrounding the area were wiped out, leaving only a field of severed limbs and corpses. The women, including Sini, immediately grew displeased. They had been eagerly hunting down Hunters, but with the Seven Kill Formation in ce, the Hunters couldn''t get close. Moreover, the Seven Kill Formation was an indiscriminate attack, meaning even they couldn''t venture beyond the defensive formation without being hit. "Father, turn off the formation! We can''t kill any more Hunters!" Tracyined angrily. These formations could only be controlled by Peter. He shot an annoyed nce at Tracy and deactivated the formation. Soon, the Seven Kill Formations on all four city walls wereplete. The group was still eager to continue ughtering the Hunters, so they didn''t allow Peter to activate the formations yet. Especially Sini-she didn''t know how many Hunters she had killed, but she had plundered a massive amount of attributes and Shadow Power, which had all been converted into Power of the Nine Nether, further increasing her strength. But most importantly, she had leveled up significantly. Last time, when helping the Ice Talker defend the city, she and John had teamed up, gaining massive amounts of experience. As a result, her level had risen to over seventeen thousand. If all went ording to n, after this city defense mission, she would reach level twenty thousand, breaking through to lower-tier god status. "John, hurry up and establish the city." She urged. The city walls had beenpleted, and all the formations were in ce. It was nearly foolproof. "Alright." John nodded and immediately descended deep into the underground mine, intending to build the altar there, ensuring even greater security. [Announcement: Godyer has established The Immortals faction at Purple Sky City. A monster tide will strike in five minutes.] [Defend against the twelve-hour monster tide assault. City establishment sessful.] ... With all preparationspleted, John initiated the monster tide assault without giving Shadow n any time to react. He had already tamed an army of Spirit Beasts. This monster tide was likely to consist of Hunters, Shadow n forces, and possibly some other factions or powerful individuals who might try to interfere. The system announcement reverberated through the air, causing a stir among the factions on Shadow Star, especially Shadow n. At Supreme City, ShadowLord God heard the system announcement and his expression darkened. His eyes narrowed, and a surge of anger rose within him. "Purple Sky City? This human has learned the secret of Shadow Star!" he muttered coldly to himself. Shadow Star had once been the domain of The Immortals, and Purple Sky City had been thergest city at that time. "I absolutely cannot allow The Immortals to establish a faction here!" He took a deep breath and said coldly, "Order the lords of the surrounding main cities to destroy this human''s Purple Sky City, no matter the cost." "Understood!" A shadow shed and vanished from the empty hall. ... More than a dozen main city lords received the order. They immediately organized their forces, all of them at upper-tier god level, and hurried toward Purple Sky City. Other factions and races that had descended upon Shadow Star, upon learning the coordinates of Purple Sky City, also began making their way there. They would not allow John to be the first to sessfully establish a city. Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Monster Tide Assault, Powerful Formation Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Monster Tide Assault, Powerful Formation ? At Purple Sky City. As John established his city, the Hunters grew even more frantic, with waves of them continuously pouring in from all directions. Soon, a powerful Hunters'' Brood Mother appeared, its roar reverberating through the area as it unleashed a soul attack. While the Four Symbols Guardian Formation could defend against the physical attacks from the Hunters, it could not block the soul attacks. The roars of these Hunters'' Brood Mothers were not lethal, but they still caused immense difort to everyone. "Damn it, I''ll go kill those things!" Jolyne cursed angrily, charging out of the formation to kill the Hunters'' Brood Mothers. The Feather Spirit race specialized in soul maniption, making them naturally resistant to Hunters and Shadow n powers. The Hunters'' Brood Mother''s soul attacks were no threat to her. John and the others, including Cand-Dragon, also rushed out of the defensive formation to deal with the Hunters'' Brood Mothers. Sini wanted to join the fight, but John stopped her. Though she had mastered the Power of the Nine Nether, her strength was still too weak. If she got infected with the Hunters'' Hatred Mark, it would be far too dangerous. With theirbined efforts, the Hunters'' Brood Mothers were easily in, unable to retaliate at all. However, all of them became marked by the Hunters'' Hatred Mark, especially John. As long as he appeared, all the Hunters within a radius of several hundred miles could sense him. But John was unafraid. These Hunters, relying on their overwhelming numbers, might be able to kill upper-tier gods at their peak or even The Overseer. But they were no threat to him. With the Wrath of the Gods talent, he could even wipe out every single Hunter on Shadow Star if he wanted. More Hunters'' Brood Mothers kept appearing in the distance, but upon seeing the terrifying presence of John and his team, they no longer dared to recklessly unleash their soul attacks. Instead, they hid within the Hunters'' ranks, directing the Hunters tounch a frenzied attack on the group. Feeling the pressure, Cand-Dragon and the others withdrew back into the protection of the city walls and the defensive formation. The Hunters kepting in endless waves, their numbers seemingly infinite. But despite their numbers, they couldn''t break through the Four Symbols Guardian Formation, and Peter had not activated the Seven Kill Formation yet. Without the threat of the Hunters'' Brood Mother''s soul attacks, the group no longer had any worries. They went on a killing spree, ughtering the Hunters without mercy. Even someone, leading the army of Spirit Beasts, charged outside the defensive formation, showcasing his overwhelming strength. ... Buzz! At that moment, a spatial power ripple spread, and several figures appeared on the city walls. John was startled to see that it was Ice Talker and herpanions, but he didn''t pay them any mind. "Godyer, you''re being really unkind! You build a city and don''t even let me know? I came to help defend it!" she greeted him enthusiastically. Then, with a thought, she summoned the armies of Nature n and Saint Spirit n from her World-in-Hand. "Hmm, there''s a formation!" she noticed the formation with surprise. After a moment, her gaze turned to Peter, and she looked at him with envy. Being a Formation Master was an even rarer existence than being an Alchemist. Across the entire Shadow Star, it seemed that only Peter and the Shadow n''s The Absolute had inherited the Immortals'' formation legacy. "Why are you here again?" John asked, his tone somewhat displeased. "What? You''re not wee?" Ice Talker snorted, annoyed. "I specifically came to help you defend your city, and this is how you treat me?" Not only was John displeased, but the powerful members of the various races under hismand were also somewhat dissatisfied. With the formation in ce, the Hunters could not approach the city walls at all. Ice Talker''s arrival with her people seemed like they were simply there to farm monsters. "Of course, you''re wee." Before John could speak, Sini stepped forward. She looked at Ice Talker and said, "So, how about joining Purple Sky City? We can definitely fend off the monster tide and ensure the city is sessfully established." John''s eyes lit up as he also looked toward Ice Talker. This woman held a high status within the Nature n, even the Nature Lord God regarded her highly. If she were to join Purple Sky City, it would essentially bind the Nature n to them. "Hmm..." Ice Talker hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement, looking at Sini and saying, "Since you''ve asked, I won''t refuse." Then she added, "However, I only represent myself, not the entire Nature n." John received her request and immediately agreed, asking, "Ice Talker, if I were to formally invite you to join, would you ept?" "No." She answered firmly, without hesitation. "You don''t have the same influence as Sini." "John, don''t you think you should thank me?" Siniughed yfully, asking with a smug expression. John was speechless. Sensing that Ice Talker''s energy was unstable, he asked in confusion, "Are you injured?" He was somewhat surprised. Ice Talker was a Peak Level 2 Overseer, an immensely powerful figure. rare for anyone to hurt her. "Yeah, someone set me up." She frowned, clearly unwilling to borate, and then added, "Godyer, if we seed in defending this city, I''ll give you an enormous opportunity." "Oh? What is it?" John asked, intrigued. "It''s a secret for now." Ice Talker smiled smugly, before jumping into the fray to y the Hunters. The monster tide assault had already begun. The number of Hunters was growing, and they had now reached the barrier of the Four Symbols Guardian Formation. The strange thing about these Hunters was that their attacks carried soul damage. While their attacks were not powerful, the sheer number of them meant they could not breach the protective formation in the short term. Peter was not in a hurry to activate the Seven Deadly Strikes Formation. Additionally, there was a continuous supply of Spirit Stones keeping the guardian formation active. Its barrier was nearly indestructible. At this moment, in the distance, the Shadow n''s army appeared. It was vast, numbering in the millions, and all of them were upper-tier gods. Among them, there were over three hundred thousand at the peak of upper-tier gods. Ice Talker noticed the Shadow n''s army and eximed in surprise, "Eighteen city lords! Godyer, it looks like they''ve made up their minds to destroy your city." "Oh, really?" John replied nonchntly, even feeling a bit excited. If he could y all eighteen of those city lords, they would undoubtedly drop eighteen Holy Artifacts. These guys were practically delivering weapons, gear, and experience to him on a silver tter. "Human, you have dared to provoke the Shadow n, today you will die for sure!" A furious shout rang out as the Shadow n army charged forward, and the Hunters immediately parted to make a path.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Boom boom... A series of booming sounds followed as countless magic spells bombarded the Four Symbols Guardian Formation''s barrier. In an instant, cracks began to appear all over the barrier. The Four Symbols Guardian Formation was powerful, but it couldn''t withstand the full force of so many Shadow n experts attacking at once. Among them, there were also several hundred thousand upper-tier gods at their peak. "Senior!" John quickly called out to Peter. "Understood!" Peter acknowledged, his mind already focused. He took out a pile of Spirit Stones and immediately activated the Seven Deadly Strikes Formation. Buzz! A massive wave of energy surged as the Seven Deadly Strikes Formation activated. Countless magic balls screamed through the air, covering everything, and began assaulting the Shadow n army inside the formation. A violent wind swept through, and many of the Shadow n experts were sent flying. Although the Seven Deadly Strikes Formation was only an intermediate-level formation, with enough Spirit Stones fueling it, its power was not to be underestimated. Only the peak upper-tier gods could barely resist the barrage of magic balls. The regr soldiers, however, suffered catastrophic losses in an instant. They were unable to continue their assault on the formation''s barrier. "Eclipse, open the spatial passage." The leader of a peak upper-tier god turned to a red- haired man beside him and ordered. "Got it!" The red-haired man waved his hand casually and opened a spatial passage. "Split Void talent!" John''s face changed slightly. Among these people, there was someone who had mastered the Split Void talent. The Split Void talent created a spatial passage that ignored the istion of the Four Symbols Guardian Formation entirely. Whoosh! Inside the city walls, a spatial energy fluctuation urred, and a spatial passage appeared, linking the formation''s exterior. The Shadow n army and countless Hunters surged into the city. "Kill!" The battle cry echoed as chaos broke out on the city walls. "Quick, stop them!" Lei Huomanded, leading the Spirit Beast army straight into the fray, engaging the Shadow n experts pouring into the city. For a moment, the enemies were held back. But this was far from over. The red-haired man used his Split Void talent again, appearing at other sections of the city walls, and opened four more spatial passages. Countless armies poured in, an endless stream. The Four Symbols Guardian Formation set up by Peter instantly lost its effectiveness. Fortunately, there was still the Seven Deadly Strikes Formation, which continued to wreak havoc on the Shadow n experts and Hunters. Even so, the pressure on the Spirit Beast army increased dramatically. At this rate, the city''s fall was inevitable. Roar... At this moment, a series of furious roars echoed as numerous Hunters'' Brood Mothers appeared at the perimeter of the Seven Deadly Strikes Formation, immediately unleashing soul attacks. Instantly, the pressure on everyone increased. "Godyer, I''ll take care of those Hunters'' Brood Mothers, you focus on the enemies in the city," Ice Talker said, giving a quick reminder before charging out of the city walls with Terran and the Emperor of the Underworld, directly engaging and killing the Hunters'' Brood Mothers. John also took swift action, charging toward the Shadow n army inside the city. "Hmph, human, let''s see how strong you really are. Blood Domain!" The leading expert shouted angrily, joining forces with the eighteen city lords to directly activate the Blood Domain. Buzz! A blood-red mist spread, nearly covering the entire city. Under the influence of this special power ofws, everyone''s power was severely restricted. Meanwhile, the Shadow n army and the Hunters were unaffected. In an instant, the Spirit Beast side suffered considerable casualties, with Lei Huo even being hit by several blood-colored rays, severely wounded. "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" John roared in fury, and a terrifying aura erupted as he instantly transformed into a towering hundred-foot giant. "Godyer, we, the eighteen of us, are using the Blood Domain together. You''ll never break through," the Wrath of the Heavens leader, having already witnessed John''s power, said without panic this time. "Hmph, is that so?" John sneered, raising his massive sword high. Chaos Force gathered, and a violent gale surged around him as the Amethyst Battle Armor enveloped him, allowing him to endure the attacks of numerous Shadow n experts. "Creation and Destruction!" he shouted, and his giant sword tore through the sky, descending with terrifying force. Boom... The space shattered, and torrents of chaotic space energy swirled around. The giant sword plunged into the Blood Domain, and John felt a huge resistance. He was slightly surprised. The Blood Domain, set up by these eighteen people working together, was actually more stable than his World-in-Hand. But it was not indestructible. "Break for me!" he roared, and the overwhelming Chaos Force gathered. Space itself fractured as his giant sword slowly descended. "What kind of attack is this?" The leading Shadow n expert was horrified, his brows furrowing tightly. He quickly ordered, "Stop him! We cannot let him keep attacking." He could sense that the Blood Domain was incapable of withstanding John''s assault. Chapter 317: Chapter 317: Improvement in Cultivation, Mastery of the Shadow Law Chapter 317: Chapter 317: Improvement in Cultivation, Mastery of the Shadow Law ? Within the Blood Domain, countless blood rays flickered, instantly striking John down. [You have been killed by a Shadow n expert. The Blessed Ring has been triggered...] The notification shed, and John was resurrected in ce, coughing up a mouthful of blood as his soul was severely damaged. The lords of these Shadow n main cities all wielded powerful soul attacks, leaving him defenseless. "Human, this is the consequence of offending the Shadow n. Continue the attack!" The leader shouted angrily,unching another assault. "Dammit!" John cursed, his mind working quickly as he activated World-in-Hand, drawing all eighteen city lords into it. Buzz! Spatial power rippled, and the dozen or so figures were immediately transported into an unfamiliar environment, a world governed byws entirely different from those of Shadow Star. "What a stable world!" the leader eximed in shock. Wrath of the Heavens immediately warned, "This is that human''s World-in-Hand. Last time, tens of thousands of upper-tier gods at their peak and Kangus were killed here. Be cautious." Having been part of the previous assault on Ice Talker''s city, he knew just how terrifying John''s methods could be. "Hmph, no matter how stable this world is, it can''t trap us!" One of them scoffed, pulling out arge number of Undying mes. At that moment, John appeared, his figure descending with an indifferent gaze. He coldly spoke: "Wee to my world." "Human, do you really think you can kill us this way? Blood Domain!" The leader barked an order, and the group once again worked together to set up the Blood Domain. A fierce gust of wind howled, blood-red light spread out, enveloping Johnpletely,pletely isting his World-in-Hand from the outside. He furrowed his brows, carefully sensing the power of the Blood Domain. Raising his great sword again, he activated the Divine Skill Creation and Destruction. "Human, it''s useless! This time, you will die for sure. Blood Domain Storm!" The leader shouted with fury. A storm of wind howled, and countless blood rays shed, easily striking John down. The Lifesaver talent triggered, and he resurrected in ce once more, gaining ten seconds of invincibility. "Break it!" John roared. A massive wave of Chaos Force surged as the ground trembled. His great sword shed down toward the Blood Domain. The group was shocked. They threw everything they had at John, golden light shing, but they couldn''t even scratch him. Buzz! The great sword descended, and space shattered. Endless spatial currents surged, slowly devouring the vast Blood Domain. The leader''s expression grew serious as he quickly issued orders: "The Blood Domain can''t hold him back. Destroy his World-in-Hand first!" Saying this, he pulled out a dozen or so crystal spheres, which were Undying mes, and threw them in all directions, triggering explosions. The others immediately gave up on attacking John and began using Undying mes to destroy the World-in-Hand. Thunderous explosions rang out as the World-in-Hand trembled, cracks appearing in the fabric of space. John, however, showed no fear, coldly saying, "Is that all you have?" He looked at them with disdain. Creation and Destruction wasn''t just about destroying space; it could also repair it. Roar... A dragon''s roar echoed as John transformed into a Golden Divine Dragon. In Heaven and Earth Transformation, his attributes were boosted by a factor of one hundred and fifty. "Break for me!" he roared, and a massive sword beam shed down once more. The enormous sword beam carried an aura capable of destroying the heavens and the earth, yet its true purpose was to repair the shattered World-in-Hand. One by one, the spatial rifts were mended, and the World-in-Hand appeared even more stable than before. "What''s happening?" The group was stunned, their expressions grave. At that moment, the massive sword beam struck the Blood Domain. Boom! Boom! Boom! The blood rays trembled, the space shattered, and endless chaotic spatial currents immediately engulfed the entire Blood Domain, devouring itpletely. Cough... The group, caught in the Devouring force, coughed up blood. Their souls were severely wounded, and they stared in disbelief at the scene before them. "Die! Golden Lotus Hellfire!" John shouted furiously, unleashing a soul attack. He wasn''t sure what kind of Soul Technique these individuals had, so he refrained from using Soul Impact recklessly. Golden mes erupted, instantly enveloping them. Their agonized screams echoed as they clutched their heads, struggling in pain. John had already refined two Golden Soul Essences and one hundred regr Soul Essences, boosting his Soul Technique to a terrifying three million. As a result, the damage of Golden Lotus Hellfire was greatly enhanced. These enemies werepletely unable to withstand the damage from the Golden Lotus Hellfire. "Quick, summon the Golden Pattern Hunters'' Brood Mother!" The leader ordered through gritted teeth, as the pain from the soul attack intensified. Spatial fluctuations rippled, and eighteen Hunters'' Brood Mothers with golden patterns were summoned. John sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "What, you think these Hunters'' Brood Mothers can devour the Golden Lotus Hellfire?" He had encountered the tactics of the Hunters'' Brood Mothers before and wasn''t the least bitn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om afraid. "Attack!" The leader ignored John''s taunt, enduring the pain gnawing at his soul, and made contact with the Hunters'' Brood Mothers. John''s brow furrowed, a bad premonition rising in his heart. These enemies weren''t trying to have the Hunters'' Brood Mothers devour the Golden Lotus Hellfire. Roar... A series of angry roars echoed as the Hunters'' Brood Mothersunched their soul attacks. The soul attacks of the Hunters'' Brood Mothers were usually non-lethal, but under themand of these individuals, the power of their souls converged, transforming into eighteen arrows of soul energy that shot toward John at terrifying speed. John sensed the danger. His Soul Technique wouldn''t be able to block this. Without hesitation, he activated Golden Lotus Manifestation. Buzz! In the depths of his mind, the Golden me Lotus spun, golden light shing as it enveloped his soul. At that moment, the eighteen arrows of soul energy instantly struck into his mind. Boom! Boom! Boom! The sound of explosions echoed. The golden light flickered and scattered, but the Golden Lotus Manifestation barely managed to block the soul attacks of the arrows. Even so, the immense shockwave still severely wounded his soul. "Cough!" John coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face pale, his mind ringing with a buzzing sound. "Not dead?" The leader couldn''t help but swallow hard, unable to ept what he was witnessing. The Golden Pattern Hunters'' Brood Mothers had incredibly powerful souls. When eighteen of them joined forces tounch soul arrows, even a three-star The Overseer would have no chance of blocking them. And yet, John had only been heavily injured. Fortunately, the Golden Lotus Hellfire that enveloped them dissipated. "Again!" The leader ordered once more, directing the Golden Pattern Hunters'' Brood Mothers to continue their soul attacks. "Damn!" John''s expression grew grim. He could feel that, even with the Golden Lotus Manifestation, he wouldn''t be able to block a third such powerful soul attack. He couldn''t let them keep attacking! "Divine Mindless!" he roared, gathering his immense mental energy as he cast the forbidden soul spell, Divine Mindless, to control the Hunters'' Brood Mothers. Buzz! The space trembled, and an invisible force immediately invaded the minds of the eighteen Golden Pattern Hunters'' Brood Mothers. John couldn''t help but cough up more blood. These Golden Pattern Hunters'' Brood Mothers had a Soul Technique of no less than three million, and forcibly controlling them caused a bacsh on his soul. But he gritted his teeth and endured, maintaining control over the Hunters'' Brood Mothers, who continued to cast their soul attacks, now targeting the Shadow n experts instead. Dozens of soul arrows formed, but instead of striking John, they were aimed at the Shadow n warriors. "Bastards, are you out of your minds?" The group was immediately horrified, cursing and hurriedly activating their soul defense skills. The Golden Pattern Hunters'' Brood Mothers had incredibly powerful souls, and they could not withstand such an attack. Pfft! The soul arrows shot into their minds, and the Hunters'' Brood Mothers howled in agony. These Hunters'' Brood Mothers had all formed a soul bond with the Shadow n warriors. When the warriors suffered soul damage, the Hunters'' Brood Mothers'' souls also experienced a bacsh. Among them, eleven had weak souls and were directly annihted by the soul arrows. [You have killed a Shadow n upper-tier gods peak expert. You gained 26.766 billion experience points.] [Your level has increased...] [Plunder talent activated: Shadow Power +10, Shadow Law +1%, Physical Critical Hit +10.] [You have killed a Shadow n upper-tier gods peak expert. You gained 26.766 billion experience points.] [Your level has increased to level 20,000, unlocking the advancement quest. You can continue to improve after advancing.] [Lower-tier gods advancement quest: Kill ten lower-tier gods experts.] [You havepleted the advancement quest, your cultivation has reached lower-tier gods. All four basic attributes increased by 200,000.] [You have broken through to the mid-stage of the two-star The Overseer rank. All four basic attributes increased by 200,000.] [Plunder talent activated...] The prompt shed, and John''s level finally reached level 20,000, sessfully breaking through to the lower-tier gods rank. Moreover, The Overseer had also broken through to the mid-stage of two stars, significantly enhancing his attributes. Not only that, but by killing these Shadow n city lords, he once again Plundered 11% of the Shadow Power of Laws. His Shadow Power of Laws had reached 13.3%, giving him apletely new understanding of the Shadow Laws. He could even manipte the Shadow Power of Laws now. "So that''s how it is!" John muttered, both surprised and pleased. With a casual wave, blood- red light spread, and a vast Blood Domain formed. The remaining seven Shadow n experts widened their eyes in terror, unable to believe what they were seeing. "Human, y-you... how are you able to cast Blood Domain?" The leader''s voice trembled, disbelief in his tone. "You have mastered the Shadow Power of Laws!" "Heh!" John sneered coldly. Thousands of blood rays flickered, enveloping the group of Shadow n experts and the eighteen Golden Pattern Hunters'' Brood Mothers. "No!" The group screamed in terror, their voices filled with anger and disbelief. They had already suffered significant soul damage, and they knew just how powerful the Blood Domain was. They werepletely powerless to resist. Boom! Boom! The blood-red mist spread, and in an instant, the eighteen Hunters'' Brood Mothers, along with the seven remaining Shadow n experts, were all ughtered. John once again Plundered arge amount of attributes, as well as 8.8% of the Shadow Power of Laws. Now, his mastery over the Shadow Laws had reached a point where he was no longer afraid of Blood Domain. Even without using the divine skill Creation and Destruction, he could easily annihte the city lords of the Shadow cities. However, what delighted him the most were the spoils of battle dropped by these foes. Eighteen Holy Artifacts, three of which were longswords. He could easily rece the high- tier artifact he was currently wielding. In addition, there were eighteen Golden Soul Essences, which, when refined, would directly increase his Soul Technique by 1.8 million! John took everything into his possession. With a thought, he left World-in-Hand. At this moment, Purple Sky City was on the brink of copse. Countless Hunters and Shadow n troops had invaded the city through spatial rifts. Fortunately, the city''s altar was deep within a mine, protected by Cand-Dragon and the others. The invaders would not be able to destroy it in the short term. "Hmph, you think you can destroy my Purple Sky City?" John sneered, his voice full of disdain as he began to ughter the surrounding enemies. Chapter 318: Chapter 318: The Monster Tide Ends, the Lord God Descends Chapter 318: Chapter 318: The Monster Tide Ends, the Lord God Descends ? Several of the city lords of the main cities had fallen, and the remaining Shadow n forces and Hunters posed no threat to John''s stronghold. With the protection of city walls and formations, his army had no fear of losing their lives. The only real threat came from the Hunters'' Brood Mothers, but they dared not approach the city easily. John''s body radiated thousands of shing sword auras as he ughtered the invading forces with fury. The city was instantly turned into a hellish battlefield, filled with constant screams and roars of rage. Wherever he passed, only severed limbs and broken bodies remained, a sight too gruesome to bear. "Roar..." At that moment, a series of furious roars echoed as more Hunters'' Brood Mothers gathered, unleashing powerful soul attacks. With only Jolyne and a few others, it was impossible to kill these Hunters'' Brood Mothers in a short time. The overwhelming soul attacks caused the soldiers on the city walls to writhe in agony. "Godyer." Ice Talker found John and spoke, "You deal with those Hunters'' Brood Mothers. Leave this to me." Cold air surged around her, snowkes falling as the World-in-Hand rule activated. She easily ughtered the Shadow n forces and Hunters within the city. By herself, she could hold off the entrance to the mine. "Alright." John agreed, realizing that he couldn''t fully unleash his power here. He closed several spatial rifts within the city and appeared outside, locking onto the Hunters'' Brood Mothers. Hum! The air trembled as John immediately unleashed his Soul Impact. These ordinary Hunters'' Brood Mothers, with Soul Techniques around a million, couldn''t withstand his soul attack. In an instant,rge numbers of Hunters, along with the Hunters'' Brood Mothers, had their souls obliterated, dying on the spot. [You killed a Hunters'' Brood Mother, gaining 267.6 billion experience points.] [Plunder Talent Activated: Shadow Power +10, Spirit +1000, Skill Points +100.] [You killed a Hunters'' Brood Mother. The Hunters'' Vengeance Mark deepens.] ... The notifications flickered as John once again Plundered numerous attributes, and the Hunters'' Vengeance Mark on him grew even stronger. However, this had no impact on him. The Hunters were too weak; even if they were inrge numbers, they posed no threat. His experience points continued to rise steadily. He had now reached the strength of a lower-tier god, with his level breaking past twenty thousand. The required experience for his next upgrade had reached a staggering twenty billion. Fortunately, Shadow Star was filled with countless Hunters and arge number of upper-tier gods. Leveling up wasn''t a challenge for him. In just a short span of fifteen minutes, he had wiped out over a hundred Hunters'' Brood Mothers that had gathered around, once again reaping a vast amount of Soul Essence. In the distance, there were still a few Hunters'' Brood Mothers, but they were too far away. They dared not approach the city, nor could they unleash their soul attacks. John couldn''t be bothered to deal with those creatures. Instead, he plunged into the Hunter army, massacring them without mercy. The four spatial rifts leading into the city, opened by Eclipse earlier, had already been closed by John. The invading Shadow n forces and Hunters inside the city were quickly controlled by Ice Talker and the others. Outside the city walls, there were the Four Symbols Guardian Formation and the Seven Kill Formation, making it impossible for the remaining Shadow n forces and Hunters to pose any threat to the walls. The monster tide''s assault had not yet ended, but the oue was already sealed. Time passed second by second as everyone on the city walls continued to ughter the Hunters and Shadow n soldiers. Among them, Peter was the most excited. He had gained insight into formations, and while hisbat strength wasn''t particrly impressive, the enemies killed by these formations counted as kills for him as well. His experience points surged, and in less than a day, he broke through from a level-nine expert to a lower-tier god, skipping two levels in the process. A massive pile of Spirit Stones had umted in front of him, constantly replenishing the energy consumed by the formations. Using the Seven Kill Formation, he bombarded the enemies around him with relentless force. "Peter, how did your level increase so quickly?" Chris noticed Peter''s rapid level-up and asked in surprise. Peter wore a proud expression, excitedly answering, "Father, the monsters killed by the formations also count as my kills." "Really?" Chris'' eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "Invite me to your team." "Fine..." Peter reluctantly agreed. He was enjoying his rapid level-up. At this rate, if there were a few more monster tide attacks, he might even reach level 50,000 and break into mid- tier gods. But he didn''t dare refuse Chris'' request, so he obediently added him to the team. "Father, I want to join the team too!" Tracy, having overheard their conversation, excitedly approached them. Her ss was Alchemist, a support ss, so herbat ability wasn''t very strong. While Sini had already reached lower-tier gods, Tracy was still just level nine, nowhere near a demigod. "Go away. You''re a support ss. You don''t need a level. You''ll have others protecting you." Peter was unwilling. In a team, experience was shared equally. If Tracy joined, his share would be reduced to a third. "Tracy, join the team," Chris said directly, pulling Tracy into the group. "Grandpa is the best!" Tracy huffed at Peter, not hiding her discontent. "I''m the one who''s been helping you level up, and this is the attitude I get?" Peterined, but upon noticing Chris'' disapproving gaze, he wisely shut up and focused back on controlling the formations, ughtering the Shadow n and Hunter forces. The group''s experience points soared. ... In the distance, in a deste mountain range, a group of about a dozen individuals had gathered. These were The Overseers under themand of various Lord Gods. Among them were several who had previously been involved in the destruction of Ice Talker''s Nature City, including Underworld n Overseers like Centeror. "My lord, should we take action?" one of them, Saukers, asked, watching as it became clear that the Shadow n forces could no longer destroy the city. "Why the hurry? The monster tide assault hasn''t ended yet." Centeror spoke with a harsh tone, his gaze fixed firmly on John, who was ughtering Hunters. His expression was grim. This human felt too strange to him. He had seen John take the eighteen city lords of Shadow Star''s main cities into his World-in- Hand, and now this human had appeared, and the World-in-Hand had not been destroyed. Something had definitely happened to those eighteen! Centeror couldn''t help but swallow. Even he would have been in serious danger facing the assault from the eighteen city lords. This Godyer was too unpredictable. Thest time, when they attacked Ice Talker''s Nature City, it had been a surprise attack. While they had destroyed Nature City, Swordman still perished. He couldn''t help but regret having made an enemy of John. "My lord, this time we may not be able to destroy the city this human has built." Thunderover spoke up from the side. They had also received a mission from the ShadowLord God. Last time, the reward for destroying Ice Talker''s Nature City was a Holy artifact. This time, however, if they could destroy Purple Sky City or kill that Godyer, they would be rewarded with a. This was why so many powerful Overseers had gathered for this mission. "Don''t rush, we''ll wait and see how things unfold." Centeror nced at the surroundingN?v(el)B\\jnn Overseers. These guys weren''t fools, and they all had grim expressions as they watched the battlefield. John''s terrifying strength had clearly shaken them, but they weren''t willing to give up the rewards promised by the ShadowLord God. They had decided to let the Hunters and Shadow n forces wear down John''s spiritual power as much as possible. Once the monster tide ended, they would make their move. No matter the cost, as long as they could destroy this human''s city or kill him, it would be worth it. A as a reward was something most Hunters could never hope to acquire in their entire lifetimes. ... Time passed, and soon twelve hours had gone by. The defense against the monster tide was over. [Announcement: Purple Sky City sessfully repelled the monster tide. The Immortal John has sessfully established Purple Sky City.] - Three announcement chimes echoed through the air-Purple Sky City had been sessfully established. The people on the city walls cheered. "Did it really seed this quickly? I haven''t even made a real move yet." "I feel like we''ve just been here as spectators." "Yeah, most of the enemies were killed by the Godyer or by the formations." "Last time Nature City failed, but now Purple Sky City is the first city to seed!" "Indeed, following the Godyer is the smartest choice." Experts from various races were excited, discussing amongst themselves. "Wait, are these Hunters still attacking?" Even though the city had been sessfully established, the Hunter army outside the walls hadn''t retreated. Instead, it was growingrger andrger. Under normal circumstances, once a city was sessfully established, the monster tide would retreat. Clearly, the Shadow n was specifically targeting John. However, with the presence of the formations, the Purple Sky City was not in any danger. Boom! Boom! The sound of explosions reverberated as the Seven Kill Formation was fully activated, annihting the Hunter army. The Shadow n forces had already been wiped out, and these weak Hunters were no match for the power of the Seven Kill Formation. But the others weren''t happy about it and quickly found Peter to protest. These Hunters were all just experience points. With the formations in ce, they could not kill them. Peter was reluctant, but under the pressure of the others, he begrudginglypromised, deactivating three of the city''s Seven Kill Formation barriers and leaving only one active on a single wall. He wasn''t about to let anyone take credit for the Hunters outside the wall-those kills were his. John watched as the Hunters didn''t retreat and made no move to intervene. With the formations in ce, these Hunters posed no threat to his city. His concern wasn''t with the Hunters, but with the Overseers. He nced toward a deste mountain range not far off. He had already sensed the presence of more than a dozen powerful Overseers gathered there. With the monster tide over, these beings were beginning to stir. "I wonder what will happen if I kill these guys and Plunder 10% of the power ofws?" he thought, not the least bit afraid, but rather intrigued. After ying the eighteen Shadow n city lords, his Shadowws had increased to 10%, granting him mastery over the Shadow power ofws. He spected that once the Heavenws reached 10%, he could simrly gain control over the Heaven power ofws. Boom... Boom... Suddenly, thunder rumbled through the sky, and an immense pressure filled the air. A colossal figure began to slowly materialize in the sky. The Hunters charging toward the city stopped their attacks, trembling as they knelt to the ground, their eyes filled with fervent awe and respect. "They''re back!" John furrowed his brow. He was all too familiar with this aura-it was the ShadowLord God. With a thought, he instantly appeared within the city, pulling everyone into his World-in- Hand. Only he, Ice Talker, and Terran remained on the walls. Chapter 319: Chapter 319: Eternal Clan, Battle with The Overseers Chapter 319: Chapter 319: Eternal n, Battle with The Overseers ? John looked at Ice Talker with concern and asked, "Do you think this ShadowLord God will destroy my city?" He had the Heavenws protecting him and wasn''t afraid of the ShadowLord God, but the newly established Purple Sky City would not be able to withstand an attack from the ShadowLord God. "It won''t happen," Ice Talker replied, her eyes still fixed on the sky. "The Game of the Gods has begun. Even a Lord God can''t intervene directly and change the rules of the game." "Is that so?" John rxed upon hearing her exnation, standing proudly atop the city walls. He nced at the vast figure in the sky, silently raising his middle finger. "Human!" The Shadowlord God, Wrath of the Gods, roared, thunder crashing through the sky, as boundless mes soared. He struggled to contain his fury, coldly asking, "Where are Eclipse and the others?" "Eclipse?" John paused, then realized they were the lords of the main cities. He nonchntly responded, "I killed them." "What?" The ShadowLord God''s eyes widened in shock. His face contorted with rage as he screamed, "Why haven''t you made your move yet?!" In the distance, figures rapidly descended from the deste mountain range. A total of twelve figures appeared, all Overseers. They looked up at the massive figure in the sky and bowed respectfully. "We pay our respects to the ShadowLord God." "Stop wasting time!" The ShadowLord God impatiently interrupted them, his voice cold. "Destroy Purple Sky City, kill the Godyer and Ice Talker. Each of you will be rewarded with a!" Havingpletely turned against the Nature n, he no longer feared offending the Nature Lord God and felt no need to show them any respect. "Really?" The Overseers'' expressions lit up with excitement, their breaths bing quick and heavy as their eyes locked onto John, greedily swallowing. However, despite their eagerness, they still respected the power of the Nature n and were hesitant to make a move against the ShadowLord God. But John was different. A fallen member of The Immortals, without any significant backing or influence. "Go!" One of them took the lead andunched an attack, with the others following suit. Aside from Centeror and two others, everyone targeted John. The immense power of thews surged, each Overseer controlling their respective World-in- Handws. John felt a significant amount of pressure, as there were still two three-star Overseers among them. "Godyer, be careful of the people from the Eternal n. They can ignore the World-in- Handws," Ice Talker warned John, before charging toward Centeror. Last time, it was Centeror and his group who had destroyed her Nature City. "Eternal n?" John looked around at the people quickly surrounding him, asking, "Which one of you is from the Eternal n?" Thews they wielded were all different, and he didn''t recognize any of them, making it impossible to tell who was who. "Kid, the Eternal n, Humdwar!" One of them roared, charging directly toward John. John sized him up. The man''s skin was orange, with wings sprouting from his back and a single horn growing from his forehead-he looked somewhat like the demons from legend. "Hmph, I''ll see what you''re capable of." John wasn''t afraid at all. His thoughts stirred, and golden mes erupted, instantly enveloping the nine people who had surrounded him. "Hellsfire!" Humdwar''s eyes widened in surprise at the surging golden mes, but he showed no fear. "Human, soul attacks won''t affect us," the others said, their bodies brimming with the power ofws, which seemed to repel the Hellfire attack entirely. However, not all of them were unaffected. Four of the group howled in pain, unable to resist the Hellfire''s scorching assault. The others made no move to help. Instead, they continued their relentless assault on John. "Die!" Humdwar roared, thrusting his spear forward like a flood dragon rushing to sea. A sh of cold light cut through the air, ignoring any power ofws, and pierced straight through John''s body. [You have been killed by Humdwar, Eternal n The Overseer. Lifesaver talent activated.] A prompt shed in front of John, and he resurrected at the same spot, his eyes wide in shock as he stared at Humdwar. This guy''s attack was strange, as if it didn''t belong to any known force. Even his elemental evasion couldn''t protect him from the damage. "Shattering Light sh!" Another furious shout echoed as a streak of cold light ripped through the void, striking John in an instant. Boom! A tremendous explosion sounded as golden light shed around John. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his soul trembling. Another three-star Overseer. Even in the invincible state granted by his Lifesaver talent, John couldn''t fully resist their attacks. "Human, dying at the hands of us is an honor," one of them sneered coldly as waves of attacks descended upon him without pause, not giving him any chance to breathe. "Damn it!" John''s form staggered. The invincible time had ended, and he was once again struck down. This was thest time his Lifesaver talent triggered today. Pain twisted across his face as his soul was once again severely wounded. His current strength was still too weak; he simply couldn''t withstand thebined might of nine Overseers. He couldn''t help but nce toward Ice Talker. At this moment, Ice Talker and Terran were caught in a deadly battle with Centeror, Saukers, and Thunderover,pletely entangled and unable to offer him any assistance. John, feeling helpless, directly activated World-in-Hand, trapping all of the Overseers inside. "Hmph, ignorant!" ShadowLord God sneered upon seeing John seal Humdwar and the others into World-in-Hand. His expression turned cold, but inside, he finally rxed. He knew the power of these Overseers-these beings were strong enough to destroy John''s World-in-Hand and kill him without a doubt. As for Ice Talker, she was likely doomed as well. He nced at Ice Talker, who was being attacked by Centeror and was in a life-threatening situation, and he breathed a sigh of relief. The oue was already decided. There was no need for him to stay. The massive figure of ShadowLord God slowly began to dissipate, and the terrifying pressure he had been exuding vanished along with it. Meanwhile, the Hunters around Purple Sky City grew even more frantic, once again attacking the city with wild abandon. Fortunately, the Four Symbols Guardian Formation was in ce, and for the time being, they were unable to break through it. ... Inside John''s World-in-Hand Humdwar and the other eight Overseers arrived inside, immediately feeling the immense pressure surrounding them. At that moment, John''s figure appeared, coldly staring at the group as he slowly spoke: "Wee to my World-in-Hand." "Hmph, human, you are truly ignorant to bring us directly into your World-in-Hand like this!" Humdwar sneered. John''s World-in-Hand was powerful, but Humdwar wasn''t intimidated in the slightest. All he needed to do was destroy World-in-Hand, and John would die for sure. "Law of the Hand!" Humdwar said coldly, and with a burst of energy, his overwhelming power ofws surged, immediately severing John''s World-in-Handws from the inside. The other Overseers followed suit. For two-star and above Overseers, World-in-Hand didn''t really limit their power. "First, we destroy his World-in-Hand!" Humdwar ordered, gathering his most powerful attack to break John''s World-in-Hand. Whoosh... A gust of wind howled as boundless power ofws surged. Waves of powerful skills crashed relentlessly against John''s World-in-Hand. The sounds of explosions echoed as they easily tore through the space. Endless spatial turbulence began to churn, continuously devouring John''s World-in-Hand. John''s expression grew grim. These attacks were even stronger than the Undying me. Humdwar and another three-star Overseer from the Sea n had the most terrifying attacks. His World-in-Hand was being torn apart piece by piece.N?v(el)B\\jnn If the spatial turbulence continued unchecked, his World-in-Hand would likely be completely destroyed. "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" "Creation and Destruction!" John invoked his divine skill, transforming into a towering giant. He then swung his longsword down with immense force. A massive sword beam sliced through the air, and powerful Chaos Force surged forth, repairing the terrifying spatial rifts that had been ripping through his World-in-Hand. The Overseers stood in shock. "What is this skill?" one of them eximed, wide-eyed. This was the first time they had encountered a skill that could repair space itself. The parts of World-in-Hand that had been destroyed were quickly restored by John. "Impressive!" Humdwar couldn''t help but feel a twinge of fear. His brows furrowed as he poured even more strength into his attacks. The others also continued their relentless assault on John''s World-in-Hand. The areas of World-in-Hand that had just been repaired were once again shattered, piece by piece. "Damn it, Golden Lotus Hellfire!" John seethed with rage, activating his soul skill, Golden Lotus Hellfire. Golden mes erupted, but instead of attacking Humdwar and the others, John directed the inferno at the four Overseers whocked defenses against the Hellfire. Wails of agony filled the air as those Overseers were immediately consumed by the mes, their bodies writhing in pain. Seizing the opportunity, John used his divine skill to reshape the world. The part of World-in-Hand that had just been destroyed was immediately repaired, and the new structure was even more stable than before. "What kind of ability is this?" one of the Overseers muttered in disbelief, struggling to defend against the soul-shredding damage of Hellfire while continuing their attack on World-in-Hand. But their efforts were futile. Their rate of destruction was far slower than John''s ability to repair it. "We can''t keep going like this," Humdwar gritted his teeth, realizing they needed a change in strategy. He fixed his cold gaze on John and said, "Let''s kill this human first!" "Agreed!" The others also recognized that without eliminating John, they would never be able to destroy his World-in-Hand. Whoosh! A fierce wind swirled, and nine different powers ofw surged as they ignored the restrictions of World-in-Hand''sws,unching their most violent attacks against John. [You have been killed by The Overseer. Undying and Immortal talent triggered...] The notification shed, and John, overwhelmed by thebined attacks, was killed instantly. But as his body copsed, his Undying and Immortal talent activated, and he was resurrected right where he had fallen. "Human, let''s see how many times you can resurrect!" The Overseers showed no mercy,unching another barrage of attacks without giving John a moment to breathe. Among the attacks, four powerful soul skills joined the fray. John didn''t dare to take chances. He quickly activated his own soul skill, Golden Lotus Manifestation. His soul was enveloped by golden light as the Overseers'' attacks came crashing down. Boom! The explosive sound of the impact echoed as John was once again struck down, just as expected. Fortunately, he managed to resist the soul attacks. However, it was clear that Undying and Immortal wasn''t an unlimited resurrection. No matter how strong his soul was, if he kept dying, it wouldn''t take long before he could no longer withstand it. He had to fight back. The power ofws surged again as the Overseers'' attacks resumed. John gritted his teeth and immediately activated Wind Evasion, merging his body into the wind element. Boom! Boom! Most of the attacks missed, unable tond any hits on him, but there was one exception. It was Humdwar. "Human, it''s useless," Humdwar sneered. "The World-in-Hand I''veprehended ignores any power ofw!" With a cold voice, he swung his spear, moving with precision to strike John, who had transformed into the wind element. Chapter 320: Chapter 320: Killing The Overseer, The Heaven Laws Chapter 320: Chapter 320: Killing The Overseer, The Heaven Laws ? Pfft! Blood sprayed as John was once again struck down. Roar... A long, resounding dragon''s roar echoed, and a massive golden divine dragon appeared. John instantly transformed into a divine dragon, his power soaring with the enhancement of Heaven and Earth Transformation, his strength significantly amplified. "Blood Domain!" he coldly dered, and countless blood-red rays of light shed around him, manifesting the Shadow n''s power ofws. He merged with the Blood Domain, effortlessly dodging the attacks of the other Overseers. However, he still couldn''t withstand Humdwar''s assault. John was killed once again. The others were still in shock. Feeling the overwhelming power of blood surrounding them, one of them said in disbelief, "Shadow Laws! You''re from the Shadow n?" John didn''t bother to exin. Inside the Blood Domain, thousands of sword lights flickered- just as strange and deadly as the attacks of the Shadow n. At the same time, the sword intent hummed, and the sky above shimmered with countless sword lights that fiercely attacked the Overseers within the Blood Domain. The Overseers immediately began to struggle. John''s attacks not only carried soul damage, but the Blood Domain itself, much like his World-in-Hand, was bizarre and unpredictable. Except for Humdwar and another three-star Overseer, the rest of them had no ability to resist. Four of them were already engulfed by his Golden Lotus Hellfire, their souls suffering immense damage as their health rapidly drained away. "Lord, save me..." One of them cried out in fear, begging Humdwar for help, but Humdwar didn''t even nce at him. [You have killed a two-star The Overseer, gaining 26,766,000,000 experience points.] [Your level has increased...] [Plunder talent activated, gained SSS-level Perception talent, The Heaven power ofws +1%, Strength +10,000, Constitution +10,000, Skill points +1,000.] ... Several notification shes appeared. The four Overseers who couldn''t resist the Golden Lotus Hellfire had their souls extinguished and werepletely killed. Four Continental Origin Stones fell, and John immediately collected them. Humdwar and the others'' eyes gleamed as they looked at John, their murderous intent growing even stronger. By killing the four, John''s level increased by six, and he had plundered a considerable amount of attributes, including 4% of the The Heaven power ofws. Hisprehension of The Heavenws had reached 6%, though it hadn''t improved his actualbat strength yet. Much like with the Shadow Laws, he would need a 10%prehension to truly control The Heaven power ofws. In addition, he had plundered an SSS-level talent-Perception. This ability could negate all Disguises, an auxiliary skill that didn''t significantly improve hisbat prowess. "Human, even if you control the Shadow Laws, you will still die without a doubt!" Humdwar''s expression turned frigid. He didn''t care about the other Overseers; their deaths meant nothing to him. But the power John had shown shocked him deeply. No matter what, Humdwar was determined topletely erase John. "Break for me!" Humdwar roared, his body emanating an eerie The power ofws that directly shattered the Blood Domain. John furrowed his brows slightly. This was the first time he had encountered a force that could break through a space-type domain, aside from his own divine skill Creation and Destruction. "Die!" Humdwar''s spear trembled, and thousands of cold rays of light shed, directly aiming to devour John. [You have been killed by The Overseer Humdwar, Undying and Immortal talent triggered...] The notification shed, and John resurrected on the spot, his face pale as his soul took a heavy blow. Not only did Humdwar disregard anyw restrictions, but his soul attacks were also oddly intangible-John couldn''t even feel them. Deal with the others first! Seeing Humdwar gathering another attack, John hastily retreated, turning his attention to the three remaining Overseers among the five. Buzz... The sound of sword intent humming rang out as three massive sword lights appeared, tearing through the sky and shing toward the three Overseers. Immortal Art: Nine Heavens Sword! The three Overseers'' expressions turned grim as they hurriedly activated their defensive skills. At that moment, John immediately activated his soul skill: Intimidation! He wasn''t sure about these opponents'' soul techniques and didn''t want to risk bacsh from using Soul Impact. Intimidation was a support-type soul skill that wouldn''t cause any harmful bacsh. Buzz! The air trembled, and the movements of the three Overseers momentarily faltered. The three enormous sword lights came crashing down. Boom! Boom! Three thunderous explosions rang out, and John''s World-in-Hand shuddered slightly. The three Overseers were instantly killed, and they quickly resurrected at the spot, spitting out blood. Their souls had already suffered grievous damage. "Golden Lotus Hellfire!" John didn''t give them any time to react. Golden mes erupted, engulfing the three Overseers. The sounds of agonized screams echoed as two of them, the most severely wounded, couldn''t withstand the Hellfire''s attack and were instantly consumed by the mes. "Humdwar, he''s trying to pick us off one by one. Don''t let him get his way!" The three-star Overseer from the Sea n warned, immediately charging toward John. This time, Humdwar didn''t stand by. He joined in the attack. The two powerful three-star Overseers struck together, and John was again struck down. The other two seized the opportunity to hastily free themselves from the Golden Lotus Hellfire, their faces pale and shaken. John resurrected once again, but he too was in bad shape. His soul had suffered considerable damage. "Human, you will die!" The Overseers yelled in unison, unleashing a barrage of attacks that covered the sky. "Dammit!" John couldn''t withstand the onught. With a thought, he activated the timew, disrupting the flow of space around him, and interfering with the Overseers'' ability to judgen/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om his position. He easily dodged theirbined attacks, then continued using his soul skill, Soul Impact, once again targeting the three two-star Overseers whose souls were already heavily wounded. Buzz! The air trembled again. One of the Overseers had blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The other two stood frozen, their eyes zed, before slowly copsing to the ground. Two Hearts of the Continent floated out once again, and John immediately used his Mind Maniption skill to collect them. [You have killed a two-star The Overseer, gaining 26.766 billion experience points] [Your level has increased...] [Plunder talent activated, The Heavenw +1%, Spirit +5000, Strength +5000, Agility +5000, Luck +2] ... A series of notifications shed, and John''s understanding of the Heavenw increased by another 2%, bringing it to a total of 8%. He could sense the power of The Heaven, but still could not fully wield it. He had a feeling that if he killed just two more Overseers, his understanding of the Heavenw would reach 10%, and he would be able to control the power of The Heaven. His gaze turned toward thest remaining two-star The Overseer. "Hmm? Timew!" At that moment, the three-star Overseer from the Sea n eximed in shock, his face filled with fear as he stared at John. Coldly, he said, "Human, you''ve actuallyprehended the Timew? Solondz cannot allow you to live." "My lord, enter my World-in-Hand!" The remaining two-star Overseer quickly spoke up. Forcing a more powerful opponent into their World-in-Hand was a taboo for any The Overseer. If their World-in-Hand were destroyed, they would be severely injured, and their life would be in danger. However, he no longer had the luxury of worrying about that. It was clear that John''s next target was him. Without an absolute guarantee of being able to defend himself, his only option was to enter the World-in-Hand, hoping that it would provide him with a chance of survival. Buzz! A wave of Spatial Power rippled through the air, and John, along with the others, appeared in a strange new world-this was the two-star Overseer''s World-in-Hand. This two-star Overseer was peculiar. John furrowed his brows. In his World-in-Hand, he could sense the power ofws of his own World-in-Hand, but he couldn''t activate it here. Yet, this weak two-star Overseer was somehow able to do so. It seemed that anyone who could be a The Overseer was far from ordinary. However, this posed no threat to John. This guy''s World-in-Hand was weak and fragile, and John could easily destroy it. "Human, within my World-in-Hand, I''ll see what other tricks you have!" The two-star Overseer sneered. If it weren''t for his fear of offending Humdwar and the others, he would have attempted to imprison John in his World-in-Hand and kill him to earn rewards from ShadowLord God. "Heh, is that so?" John scoffed coldly, transforming into a giant dragon, with a massive sword floating above his head. A terrifying Chaos Force surged around him, causing the entire space to tremble. "No, he''s going to destroy your World-in-Hand!" Humdwar noticed the terrifying destructive energy and quickly shouted a warning. "What?" The two-star Overseer eximed in fear, "Isn''t this attack supposed to repair the world?" He swallowed hard, then looked at Humdwar and the others in panic, quickly saying, "Lord Humdwar, please, save me!" "Hmph, now you realize? It''s toote. Creation and Destruction!" John bellowed, swinging his massive sword down fiercely. Humdwar and the others tried to stop him, but it was already toote. Boom... The space trembled violently, and where the sword passed, the fabric of space shattered. Endless spatial turbulence surged, devouring everything in its path. "No..." The two-star The Overseer roared in disbelief. In an instant, his World-in-Hand was destroyed. Buzz! A ripple of spatial power spread, and John and the others appeared on Shadow Star. Boom boom... The sounds of explosions echoed nearby as Ice Talker and the others were still battling against Centeror and his group. The powerfulws of the universe flooded the area. At this moment, Ice Talker was clearly at a disadvantage. She was struggling, desperately dodging attacks. As a peak two-star, she was no match for a three-star The Overseer. The Terran was even worse off. His face was pale, a trail of blood at the corner of his mouth, and his soul had been severely wounded. The two of them were far too weak to stand up to Centeror''s strength. Hack... At this moment, the two-star The Overseer appeared, coughing up blood. His World- in-Hand had been destroyed, and he suffered bacsh from the attack, leaving him gravely wounded. He knelt on the ground, his breathing shallow, ring at John with fiery rage. "Human! You actually destroyed my World-in-Hand!" His World-in-Hand was gone, his thousands of years of effort reduced to nothing-it felt more cruel than even being killed. John, however, remained unmoved, his voice cold. "I''m sending you off... onest time." With that, he immediately cast his soul skill, Soul Impact. The Overseer''s eyes widened in terror, but before he could react, his soul was instantly erased. His pupils dulled, and his body copsed lifelessly to the ground. John plundered another 1% of the Heavenw''s power, along with some additional attribute points. His understanding of the Heavenw had now reached 9%, just 1% away from the crucial 10% threshold. He fixed his gaze on Humdwar and the other three-star The Overseer. "Go!" The two locked eyes, and without hesitation, theyunched their attack together. Having witnessed John''s terrifying abilities, they no longer dared to underestimate him. They joined forces, determined to destroy him once and for all. Chapter 321: Chapter 321: Mastering the Heaven Laws, Slaying the Three-Star The Overseer Chapter 321: Chapter 321: Mastering the Heaven Laws, ying the Three-Star The Overseer John felt the pressure mount as, in the blink of an eye, he was killed over a dozen times by the two three-star The Overseer. Even with his Golden Lotus Manifestationprotecting his soul, the strange and unpredictable soul attacks from that Humdwar were impossible to track, leaving him defenseless. His soul had been severely wounded. If it continued like this, it could soon threaten his life. "Damn it!" John cursed under his breath, his face grim. The strength of the three-star The Overseerwas far too overwhelming. With his current power, even taking on a single three-star The Overseerwas difficult, let alone two. He needed to find a way to boost his strength. John''s gaze flickered as he nced over at Centeror and his group, who were still fighting Ice Talker. Except for Centeror, both Saukers and Thunderover were two-star The Overseer. If he could just take down one more two-star The Overseer, his understanding of the Heavews would reach 10%, and he might finally be able to harness the Heavenpower. His strength would increase once more. He made up his mind and, with a thought, activated his World-in-Hand, pulling the two two-star The Overseerinto it. Buzz! A wave of spatial power spread out. The two looked around at the unfamiliar environment, confusion etched on their faces. John''s figure appeared before them, and they quickly realized that they were now inside his World-in-Hand. "Such a powerful World-in-Hand," Saukers said, his tone one of mild surprise. The space was solid, yet he still looked down on John with disdain. "Human, do you think you can use your World-in-Handto deal with us? You are truly ignorant!" "Heh," John sneered. "What''s wrong? Haven''t you noticed that the only ones still alive in World-in-Handare that Humdwar and the three-star The Overseerfrom the Sea n?" "What?" The two exchanged a nce, immediately sensing the danger. The power ofwssurged around them as they tried to destroy World-in-Hand. "Hmph, now you realize? Toote!" John coldly responded. Concerned that Ice Talker and the others might be overwhelmed by Humdwar''s attacks, he decided to end this swiftly. With a thought, he unleashed his soul attack¡ªGolden Lotus Hellfire. The golden mes flickered and instantly engulfed the two of them. These two were even weaker than the other two-star The OverseerJohn had killed before. They had no means to resist such a powerful soul attack. The two immediately howled in agony, writhing and struggling in the mes. Then, a vast sea of blood-red light engulfed them, and John activated Blood Domain, instantly obliterating the two. As The Overseers, they had numerous Lifesaverabilities and immediately performed Resurrectionat the spot. However, they still appeared pale, their faces contorted in pain, their souls severely injured. John wasted no time, not allowing them a moment''s respite. A myriad of sword energies flickered as he unleashed Return of Ten Thousand Swords. "Asshole!" the two cursed. They were still enveloped by Golden Lotus Hellfire, writhing in pain, gritting their teeth as they activated the power ofwsfrom their own World-in-Handto try and resist John''s attack. But their strength was too weak to be of any use, and within moments, they were killed again. "Human, let us go!" Saukers screamed in pain, finally realizing the extent of John''s power. At this rate, both of them would be dead for sure. John''s gaze was icy, and he didn''t show the slightest sign of mercy. The powerful sword intent around him hummed, and two enormous sword beams appeared, instantly tearing through the sky with a howling sh. It was Immortal Art: Nine Heavens Sword. Boom! Once again, the two were obliterated. They Resurrectedin ce, pale-faced, as the Golden Lotus Hellfireburned and purified their souls. The agony they felt was beyond what any normal person could endure. Feeling the cold grip of death, Saukers hastily begged for mercy. "Godyer, I know I was wrong. Please, let me go, and I swear I will never be your enemy again." Thunderover, standing by, also hurriedly nodded, his expression filled with unbearable pain. "Regretting now is toote," John said coldly, immediately activating his soul skill, Soul Impact. Buzz! The air vibrated with a powerful hum as two overwhelming waves of soul energy mmed into the two The Overseers, crushing their souls in an instant. A trickle of blood leaked from their mouths as their eyes zed over, gradually losing their color before copsing to the ground, lifeless. Two Heart of the Continentfloated out from their corpses, and John reached out to im them. The prompt message flickered. [You have killed The OverseerThunderover, gaining 26.76 billion experience points.] [Your level has increased...] [Plundertalent activated: The Heavenpower ofws +1%, spirit +5000, spell crit +5, skill points +1000.] [Your understanding of The Heavews has reached 10%, you can now wield the The Heavenpower.] [You have killed The OverseerSaukers, gaining 267.66 billion experience points.] [Plundertalent activated: You have acquired the SSS-grade Gold Elemental Talent, The Heavenpower ofws +1%, attack speed +10, luck +1.] ... John was surprised to have gained yet another SSS-grade elemental talent, especially the rare Gold Elemental Talent. But what truly delighted him was the increase in his The Heavenpower ofws. Having killed the two, his understanding of The Heavews had increased to 11%, bringing him a deeper insight into the power. Boom! He casually waved his hand, and the space shattered. Thunder roared, and an immense pressure descended, causing even his World-in-Handto tremble. He was startled and quickly retracted his aura. "Is that so!" His eyes widened in shock and joy. This was The Heavenpower ofws¡ªthe most primordial force in the world, more powerful than Chaos Force. Now, he was confident that he could y a Three-Star The Overseer. "It''s time to deal with those few guys," he muttered, no longer hesitating. With a thought, he left World-in-Hand. ... John entered World-in-Hand, and Humdwar, having lost his target, turned his attention to Ice Talker and Terran, who were fighting against Centeror. "Demesnor, go destroy Purple Sky City," John said, directing his attention to the Sea nThe Overseer, beforeunching himself toward Terran. He wasn''t afraid of offending Nature n''s Ice Talker, but Terran, being a mid-tier Two-Star The Overseer, wouldn''t attract much attention from Nature n. "Understood!" Demesnor nodded and charged toward Purple Sky City. Countless Huntershad gathered around the city walls, attacking the Four Symbols Guardian Formationrelentlessly. Their weak attacks created ripples in the air, but they were far too weak to break through the shield. "Hmph, a bunch of useless fools. Get out of my way!" Demesnor cursed, brandishing his long sword and bringing it down with force. It was a Rupture, infused with spacew. Boom! A deafening explosion shook the air, and the protective shield shattered instantly. Roar, roar... The Huntersaround the city shouted in excitement, pouring into the city like a tidal wave. Demesnor raised his sword once more, swinging it down to copse the sturdy city walls. He then entered the city openly, heading straight for the city''s altar. "Dammit, you dare!" a voice shouted in fury. A wave of Spatial Powersurged, and John''s figure appeared. His longsword sliced through the air, a fierce shing his way. "Human, I thought you''d run away," Demesnor sneered, easily blocking the sword beam with a wave of his hand. "Since that''s the case, I''ll deal with you first!" Demesnor turned his attention to John. Whether it was destroying the city or killing this human, both actions would reward him with a. Moreover, if he killed John, destroying the city would be an easy task afterward. "Split Void sh!" Demesnor roared, taking the first step in his attack. A gigantic sword beam screamed toward John, infused with the formidable space power ofws, reaching him in an instant. John''s expression grew serious, and he couldn''t afford to be careless. His Amethyst Battle Armorbegan to materialize around him. Boom! The sword beam struck, and his battle armor was shattered in an instant, his health reduced to zero. [You have been in by Three-Star The OverseerDemesnor. The Undying and Immortaltalent is triggered...] The prompt message shed, and John Resurrectedin ce, his face pale. He immediately retreated, keeping a wary eye on Demesnor. His power was still too weak. In the face of an Upper-Tier Godat the peak of Three-Star The Overseerstrength, he simply couldn''t withstand the opponent''s attacks. Demesnor sneered arrogantly, flicking his fingers against the de, producing a crisp ringing sound. He spoke with disdain, "Human, you''re nothing in the face of a true powerhouse. You''repletely powerless. Stop struggling, perhaps I''ll give you a quick death." "Is that so?" John took a deep breath, and a gale of wind howled around him, an overwhelming pressure radiating outward. His figure instantly transformed into a giant towering thousands of feet tall. Heaven and Earth Transformation. The sheer size of his form created an immense psychological impact on his enemies, but Demesnor still remained unimpressed. "Human, it''s useless," Demesnor said dismissively, raising his long de once more, the aura of his sword swirling around him as powerful ripples of spacewemanated from his body. "Soul sh!" he roared, and in an instant, a massive sword beam split the void, roaring toward John. It was a soul attack! John didn''t dare underestimate it. He immediately invoked his Golden Lotus Manifestation. At the same time, he concentrated the Heaven power ofwsinto his sword, and unleashed the Nine Heavens Sword. A massive sword beam ripped through the sky, howling toward Demesnor. But unlike his previous sword attacks, this beam contained the power of the Heaven Law. Demesnor looked at the massive sword beam, his expression one of cold arrogance. He didn''t dodge, sneering as he said, "Human, I told you, before a true powerhouse, you have no ability to resist." The giant sword beam descended in an instant, and a terrifying aura spread out, suppressing the very fabric of space and time. "The Heaven Law!" Demesnor''s smile immediately froze, his eyes widening in fear. Boom! A resounding explosion echoed as both Demesnor and John were simultaneously struck down. However, John''s injuries were not severe. With the protection of the Golden Lotus Manifestation, his soul remained unscathed. Both of them Resurrectedin ce. "Cough!" Demesnor spat out a mouthful of blood, his face contorted in pain and disbelief. "Impossible! Human, you''re only a Two-Star The Overseer. You should never be able to grasp the Heaven Law!" The Heaven Lawwas incredibly powerful, and only The Overseerand Lord Godscould perceive it. To truly master the Heaven power ofws, one would need to be at least a Five-Star The Overseer. John was only a Two-Star The Overseerin thete stages; it was absolutely impossible for him toprehend the Heaven power ofws. "Heh, what''s all this talk about Three-Star The Overseer? It''s nothing special." John scoffed coldly, his immense sword intent surging around him. Thousands of sword beams materialized. Return of Ten Thousand Swords, and it was infused with the Heaven Lawdamage as well. "No!" Demesnor''s face turned pale with terror. His arrogance waspletely gone, and he frantically tried to dodge. But facing the barrage of thousands of sword beams, there was no ce for him to hide. Puff... Blood sttered as Demesnor was struck down once again. "Soul Impact!" Before Demesnor could Resurrect, John immediatelyunched his soul skill. The air trembled as a powerful wave of soul energy mmed into his exposed soul. "No..." A voice filled with unwillingness echoed. Demesnor, who practiced the Sea n''s techniques, had his physical body destroyed. His Soul Techniquewas nowhere near John''s, and without any means of defense, he was directly obliterated. Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Slaying the Three-Star Overseer, City Establishment Chapter 322: Chapter 322: ying the Three-Star Overseer, City Establishment ? [You have in the Three-Star Overseer Demesnor and gained 2.6766 trillion experience points.] [Your level has increased...]N?v(el)B\\jnn [Plunder talent activated: Heaven Lawprehension +1%, Space Lawprehension +1%, Constitution +5000, Strength +10,000, Spirit +5000, Agility +3000, Skill Points +1000.] System notifications shed rapidly. John''sprehension of the Heaven Law rose another 1%, reaching a total of 12%. His mastery over the Heaven Law deepened once again. Moreover, his Space Lawprehension increased by 1%, reaching 22%, allowing him to execute space-rted skills and abilities with greater ease. Upon Demesnor''s death, a Heart of the Continent floated out. Alongside it, two treasures dropped-one belonging to the Sea n and the other to the Beast n-along with an abundance of other loot. John collected everything. Roar! Roar! Deafening roars echoed as countless Hunters surged into the city through its shattered walls. "Get out of here!" John roared in anger. Three long swords danced around him, their des shing brilliantly in mid-air. Thousands of sword lights rained down, furiously ughtering the invading Hunters. By the time he was done, most of the Hunters that had stormed into the cityy dead. With a thought, John activated his World-in-Hand skill, releasing hispanions. The Shadow Lord God had already retreated. Though the Hunters were powerful, they posed no real threat to the group. John quickly issued orders: "Cand-Dragon, you and a few others are responsible for clearing out the remaining Hunters inside the city." He then turned to Peter and instructed, "Senior, repair the formation and block the Hunter army. Everyone else, head to the city walls and ensure your own safety." "Understood." "Leave it to us," they replied, nodding resolutely before joining the fray. John also quickly leaped into another section of the battlefield. At that moment, Ice Talker and Terran were engaged in a desperate battle against two three- star Overseers, Centeror and Humdwar. They were clearly outmatched and on the brink of defeat. Terran, in particr, was struggling. His strength was already inferior, leaving him powerless against a three-star Overseer. His life hung by a thread. John intervened just in time, blocking Humdwar''s attack. "Go assist Ice Talker. I''ll deal with this one," John said firmly. Terran hesitated for a moment before retreating, suppressing the churning blood within his body. With a grateful nce at John, he warned, "Be careful. This one''s strong." Terran then joined Ice Talker, and together they faced off against Centeror. Whoosh! The wind howled, and sword intent filled the air. John unleashed the Nine Heavens Sword, a colossal sword light shing downward with immense force, forcing Humdwar to retreat. His expression shifted slightly as he nced toward the distant city. By now, the Hunters'' army had already been blocked by John''s forces, and they hadn''t discovered Demesnor''s death. Frowning, he asked coldly, "Human, where is Demesnor?" "Dead!" John replied icily, as the power of The Heaven Law surged around him. This Humdwar was even stronger than Demesnor. Moreover, the power he wielded was highly unusual-it didn''t belong to any recognizedw of power and could seemingly negate almost all forms of damage. "What? You managed to kill Demesnor?" Humdwar''s eyes narrowed slightly, his disbelief evident. "No need to be shocked," John said, his voice cold and unyielding. "You''re next. Nine Heavens Sword!" With a furious roar, John unleashed his attack. Chaos Force and the Heaven Law imbued his power, summoning three immense sword beams that tore through the void and descended with devastating force. "This is... the power of The Heaven Law!" Humdwar''s expression changed dramatically, and The cried out in rm. His unique power could nullify almost all attacks based on anyw, but The Heaven Law was the exception. Not daring to be careless, Humdwar summoned the strange power he wielded, creating a protective shield around him. Boom! The first sword beam struck, apanied by a thunderous explosion. Violent winds surged as the shield shattered instantly. Before he could react, the second sword beam shed down. "Damn it! Get away from me!" Humdwar cursed furiously, brandishing his spear with a deafening roar as it shed with the sword beam. Boom! The space around them trembled as the sword beam was broken, but not without cost- Humdwar spat blood and was hurled backward by the impact. John''s attacks, infused with the Heaven Law, were far too overwhelming. At that moment, the third and final massive sword beam descended, blotting out the sky and leaving no room for escape. Boom! Another earth-shattering explosion erupted as Humdwar was struck down, his body utterly destroyed. Yet, momentster, he resurrected on the spot. His soul was severely damaged, and he couldn''t stop himself from coughing up blood. "This is impossible!" Humdwar wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stared at John with wide eyes, his disbelief turning to fear. "Who are you? How can you possibly wield the power of The Heaven Law?" As a three-star Overseer, Humdwar could only barely sense the existence of the Heaven Law. To master it would require the power of at least a five-star Overseer. But John was only a two-star Overseer-mastery of such aw should have been utterly out of his reach. Buzz! The surrounding space trembled as powerful sword intent filled the air. Thousands of sword beams shimmered in the void, all imbued with the terrifying power of The Heaven Law. John didn''t bother wasting words andunched another attack. "Run!" Humdwar swallowed nervously. The sense of imminent death was overwhelming. If he took a few more of those attacks, he wouldn''t survive. Without hesitation, Humdwar retreated into his World-in-Hand space. Boom! Boom! Boom! Thousands of sword beams rained down, their immense power annihting everything around them. When the dust settled, the area within several kilometers was left in ruins. Humdwar''s figure had vanished without a trace. "Escaped?" John frowned and activated his Perception Talent, carefully scanning the surroundings. At that moment, spatial fluctuations rippled through the air, and Humdwar''s figure reappeared. He hadn''t truly escaped-he had only hidden within his World-in-Hand. "Human, the next time we meet, I will kill you!" Humdwar spat out the threat, his expression filled with dread. A trace of blood lingered on the corner of his lips as he tore open the space and fled without hesitation. "Damn it!" John cursed angrily, realizing it was toote to stop him. If he had known Humdwar was this vulnerable, he would have trapped him in the World-in- Hand and obliterated him immediately. John turned his gaze to the other battlefield. Centeror was proving to be immensely powerful. Despite thebined efforts of Ice Talker and Terran, they were clearly outmatched. They could only defend themselves passively, their situation growing increasingly dire. "You two, leave this one to me," John called out in a firm tone. Without further dy, he activated the World-in-Hand, trapping Centeror within it. He feared that Centeror might attempt to escape, but in the World-in-Hand, John had absolute confidence in his ability to annihte him. "Human, how dare you trap me in your World-in-Hand? Such ignorance!" Centeror sneered disdainfully as he surveyed his surroundings. Although John''s World-in-Hand was stable and durable, Centeror was confident that he could destroy it with ease. "You talk too much," John replied coldly, not wasting time on pointless banter. With a single thought, he unleashed the Golden Lotus Hellfire. Whoosh! Golden mes surged and swept toward Centeror, engulfing him in an instant. "Hmph! Human, this is useless. Your Hellfire can''t harm me," Centeror scoffed, waving his hand casually. Wind elements swirled around him, forming a shield thatpletely isted him from the zing inferno. John showed no concern. He hadn''t expected the Golden Lotus Hellfire to kill Centeror outright anyway. Taking a step back, John summoned the elements around him. The power ofws surged- wind, fire, water, earth, as well as the rare elements of light and darkness. "Die!" John roared as he unleashed the Wrath of the Gods mage skill. Inferno Dance! Wind de - Obliteration sh! Annihtion! Holy Light Demon-Buster st! ... A Spell Combo was triggered, unleashing nearly a hundred magic skills. The attacks nketed the space, converging on Centeror like a raging storm. "What? The power of The Heaven Law?" Centeror''s expression changed drastically, and he eximed in shock. He could clearly feel that all these skills carried the devastating damage of the Heaven Law. "Impossible..." The arrogance vanished from his face as fear overtook him. Realizing the danger, he franticallyunched his own attacks, desperately trying to shatter John''s World- in-Hand and escape. But his efforts were futile. John''s World-in-Hand was remarkably stable, reinforced by the divine skill Creation and Destruction, making it nearly indestructible. John had previously trapped eleven Overseers in his World-in-Hand, including two three-star Overseers, none of whom had been able to destroy it. For Centeror to attempt the same alone was nothing more than wishful thinking. Boom! Boom! Explosions roared as magic surged, tearing spatial fissures into the surroundings. However, the cracks were instantly repaired, leaving no room for escape. Centeror''s figure was quickly overwhelmed by the onught. He had no chance to retaliate and waspletely obliterated. Momentster, he resurrected in ce, his face pale as he dropped to one knee. The damage inflicted by the Heaven Law was utterly devastating. What made matters worse, John''s attacks also carried soul-damaging effects. "Gulp..." Centeror swallowed hard, a deep sense of powerlessness rising within him. Giving up all resistance, he spoke in despair, "Godyer, it seems we all underestimated your strength. To kill you... it would take the Lord God himself to intervene..." His expression was bitter. Overseers were protected by the Heaven Law, which prevented the Lord God from making a direct move. It was clear now-John had likely be an invincible existence. "Smart choice. I''ll make it quick for you," John said coldly. With a thought, he unleashed his soul skill,bining Golden Lotus Hellfire with Soul Impact. Whoosh! This time, Centeror didn''t resist at all. The golden mes devoured him entirely, his face contorted in pain as he grimaced. Immediately after, a surge of powerful soul energy pierced into his mind, mercilessly crushing his soul. "Ugh..." Centeror let out a muffled groan as a trickle of blood ran down the corner of his mouth. His eyes dimmed, and his body copsed lifelessly to the ground. [You have in the Three-Star Overseer Centeror and gained 2.6766 trillion experience points.] [Your level has increased to 20,144, earning 48 free attribute points.] [Plunder talent activated: Heaven Lawprehension +1%, Strength +5000, Spirit +5000, Skill Points +1000, Luck +1.] ... The notifications shed continuously. John''s Plunder talent activated once more, boosting his Heaven Lawprehension by an additional 1%, bringing it to 13%. As Centeror''s death marked the end, a Heart of the Continent floated out of his remains. John collected it casually before turning his attention to the spoils on the ground. Among the loot were:A Sea n treasure set, An Underworld n treasure set, A Holy artifact dagger, a piece of equipment suited for assassins. He stashed all of it without hesitation. With a single thought, he exited the World-in- Hand and reappeared above Purple Sky City. By now, countless Hunters had already swarmed toward the city, but the once-damaged city walls had been fully repaired. The Four Symbols Guardian Formation had been reactivated, bolstered further by the powerful Seven Kill Formation. These weaker Hunters posed no real threat. To John, they were nothing more than walking experience points. "Godyer, you didn''t actually kill Centeror and the other Overseers, did you?" Ice Talker eximed, visibly relieved to see John unharmed. "No, Humdwar managed to escape," John replied with a hint of regret. If he had trapped Humdwar in the World-in-Hand back then, that one wouldn''t have had any chance of survival either. Chapter 323: Chapter 323: Secluded Training, The Creator God Chapter 323: Chapter 323: Secluded Training, The Creator God ? "Human, how did you manage that?" Terran stared at John in disbelief as he asked the question. Both he and Ice Talker together couldn''t handle Centeror, yet John had annihted him with ease. John simply smiled without offering much exnation. Turning to Ice Talker, he asked curiously, "Earlier, you mentioned that building this city would bring me an incredible opportunity. What is it?" "You''ll find out soon," Ice Talker replied mysteriously. "Wait for my good news. Let''s go." She waved casually before leading Terran and the Emperor of the Underworld away. John watched her disappear into the distance, curiosity written all over his face. "Old man," Tracy''s voice interrupted as she approached. "Is there a Great Formation of the Surrounding Star anywhere around here? I''ve hit a bottleneck in my training. It seems like only that formation can help me break through." "The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star?" John sighed and said, "That''s only avable in the major Shadow n cities. Forget about it. With our current strength, we''re in no position to attack one of their main cities." The Shadow Star had 108 main cities, each highly valued by the Shadow n. Attacking one now would mean starting an all-out war with the Shadow n. While John''s strength had increased significantly, his forces were still too weak to mount such a campaign confidently. "Wait, have you already broken through to lower-tier gods?" John noticed Tracy''s power level and was surprised to see that she had already reached lower-tier gods at over level 22,000-higher than his own level. Tracy nodded proudly and exined, "Thanks to my father. Who would''ve thought that guy still had some use? He set up formations to kill enemies, and all the experience went to me. Unfortunately, his strength is too weak to set up a Great Formation of the Surrounding Star." John was speechless. This little troublemaker really showed no respect for her father. Still, the fact that formations could grant experience points when killing enemies was good news for him. John turned his gaze to the city walls. The Seven Kill Formation was still running, mercilessly ughtering the attacking Hunters. The other three walls were already sealed off. With the sessful establishment of Purple Sky City, the Hunters showed no signs of retreat. Instead, their attacks grew more frenzied, as if they had lost their sanity. It was like they were delivering free experience points on a silver tter. At this rate, John''s various factions could grow stronger quickly. Peter, for instance, had already reached over level 24,000. "Old man, why don''t we attack one of the main cities? If not, at least let me infiltrate one so I can absorb the power of the Star Dust for my training," Tracy pressed, refusing to give up. "No!" John rejected the idea without hesitation and sternly reminded her, "We''ll only consider attacking a main city when everyone has broken through to mid-tier gods. Alternatively, if Senior Peter can set up the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, we won''t need to risk it." "How long will that take?" Tracy asked with a frustrated expression. Reaching mid-tier gods required a level of 50,000. Though there were plenty of Hunters here, all of them were merely at the demigod level. Without at least six months of constant fighting, it would be impossible to advance to mid- tier gods. And that was assuming the Hunters continued their relentless assaults on the city without pause. John noticed the mischievous glint in the little girl''s eyes and quickly warned, "Behave yourself, and don''t pick up bad habits from your sister Sini." Sini often snuck out of his World-in-Hand, which already gave him enough to worry about. Tracy didn''t have Sini''s strength, and if she were to attract the attention of the Shadow n, the consequences would be dire. "Hmph! I''m going to find Sini!" Tracy huffed in displeasure, stomping off in anger. John suspected she was running off toin. Still, he didn''t give it much thought. With a moment of focus, he entered his World-in-Hand. The recent battle to defend the city had yielded abundant rewards. John had in 11 Overseers, gaining 11 Hearts of the Continent. He had also collected 18 golden Soul Essences and over 200 regr Soul Essences. Refining these materials would undoubtedly result in a significant increase in power. He made his way to the Tree of Life, preparing for a period of secluded cultivation. With Purple Sky City newly established and fortified by formations, he was confident it would remain safe for now. Clearing his mind, John took out the 11 Hearts of the Continent and began the process of refining them. ... Shadow Star, Supreme City. Humdwar''s figure appeared at the gates of the city, where several powerful Shadow n members immediately blocked his path. "Halt! Supreme City is off-limits to outsiders. Leave at once," the leader of the group said coldly. Humdwar frowned, his expression darkening. "Step aside. I have urgent business with the Shadow Lord God." "The Shadow Lord God doesn''t meet just anyone. Even if you''re an Overseer, you''re not an exception. Leave now, or don''t me us for taking action!" The Shadow n members stepped forward, theirbined power ofws surging and intertwining to form a small- scale formation. "Let him through," amanding voice echoed from the sky. The guards bowed respectfully toward the direction of the city and finally allowed Humdwar to pass. "Hmph!" Humdwar snorted unhappily as he entered Supreme City, heading straight for the tallest tower in the center. This was the residence of the Shadow Lord God, the very heart of the Shadow Star. Upon entering the tower, however, Humdwar found no sign of the Shadow Lord God. "Humdwar, are you here to im your reward? Because I haven''t received any notification that youpleted the task." In the vast and empty hall, the voice of the Shadow Lord God echoed coldly. Humdwar bowed respectfully before speaking, "My lord, I did not kill the Godyer, nor did I destroy his city." The hall fell silent. After a long pause, the Shadow Lord God''s furious voice rang out, "Are you here to plead for that human? Or perhaps you intend to join the Immortals'' faction?" "Of course not," Humdwar replied hurriedly. "I am simply not a match for the Godyer." "Hmph! Are you joking, or do you think I''m so easily deceived?" the Shadow Lord God snapped. His tone grew more hostile, and the oppressive force of his aura filled the hall. However, he refrained from directly attacking Humdwar. "My lord, I speak the truth," Humdwar said calmly, showing no fear. "That human has mastered the power of The Heaven Law." "What?" A startled cry echoed through the hall as a figure appeared¡ªa dignified middle- aged man d in a blood-red robe. It was none other than the Shadow Lord God himself. Fixing his cold gaze on Humdwar, he asked sharply, "Are you telling me that this human can wield the power of The Heaven Law?" Humdwar nodded and continued, "Not only that, but he can also use your Shadow n''s Blood Domain." "Impossible!" the Shadow Lord God scoffed, refusing to believe it. Overseers were blessed by The Heaven and couldprehend the Heaven Law, but the Shadow Law was unique to him. The Shadow Power possessed by the 108 city lords under hismand was a gift he personally bestowed upon them. There was no conceivable way for anyone outside the Shadow n to acquire the Shadow Power. "My lord, I witnessed the Godyer cast the Blood Domain with my own eyes," Humdwar asserted confidently. The Shadow Lord God frowned deeply, his expression grim. For a moment, he was unable toprehend what was happening. "The Immortals? No, that''s impossible. On Shadow Star, I am the true Overseer..." he muttered under his breath, his expression darkening further. "My lord," Humdwar interrupted his musings, "this Godyer is far too dangerous. Only a five-star Overseer or a Lord God acting directly could hope to kill him." "Hmph! Do you think I wouldn''t have done so already if I could?" The Shadow Lord God shot him a cold re. John had repeatedly provoked him, ughtered powerful members of the Shadow n, and even invited the invasion of the Game of Gods into Shadow Star. The Shadow Lord God had long desired to eliminate him. But with the protection of the Heaven Law, his hands were tied. Humdwar spoke again, his voice carrying a note of intrigue. "My lord, what if that human no longer had the protection of the Heaven Law?" "Hm?" The Shadow Lord God''s eyes lit up slightly. With a faint smile, he said, "I understand. You may go." "Yes, my lord." Humdwar bowed deeply, then turned and left the hall. In the now empty hall, the Shadow Lord God paced back and forth, his expression conflicted. After a moment of hesitation, he clenched his teeth and made his decision. With a sh, he appeared at the very top of the tower. The room was small, containing nothing but a modest altar. It was a restricted space-only he could enter. He retrieved an incense stick, lit it, and stepped back, lowering himself to kneel before the altar. His face was filled with reverence and awe as he spoke: "Shadow Lord God seeks an audience with the Creator God!" Whoosh! A light breeze swept through the room as the smoke from the incense began to swirl and coalesce into an ancient, weathered face. "What is it?" a faint yetmanding voice emanated from the smoke. Swallowing nervously, the Shadow Lord God replied, "My lord, there is an Overseer among the Immortals who has mastered the power of The Heaven Law. He poses a grave threat to Shadow Star. I beg you to remove the protection of The Heaven Law from him." The smoky figure frowned. "You mean the Godyer?" The Shadow Lord God''s surprise was evident. "You know of him, my lord?" "Yes. He is the first Overseer to refuse the blessing of The Heaven Law," the voice replied coldly. "I dislike him as well, but for now, I cannot strip him of The Heaven Law''s protection." "Why?" The Shadow Lord God was puzzled. "Isn''t the protection of The Heaven Law something you control?" The figure paused briefly before answering, "I am merely the proxy Creator God. I have not yet fully mastered The Heaven Law." "My lord, does that mean we are powerless to stop that man''s rampage?" The Shadow Lord God''s frustration was clear. The figure regarded him for a moment and then said, "Not entirely. The Nature God possessesN?v(el)B\\jnn an artifact capable of nullifying The Heaven Law''s protection." "You mean to have the Nature God kill that human?" The Shadow Lord God frowned deeply. His rtionship with the Nature God had already soured beyond repair. There was no way the Nature God would cooperate. And worse, the Nature God appeared to be aiding the Godyer. "No," the figure said coldly. "I want you to kill the Nature God. He has betrayed me." "What?" The Shadow Lord God''s eyes lit up with excitement. He had long wanted to deal with the Nature God but had always hesitated. Now he was uncertain. "My lord, I fear my strength is insufficient to defeat the Nature God." "I will orchestrate the Game of Gods to descend simultaneously upon both Shadow Star and Nature Star. When the timees, you will know what to do." With those final words, the smoke dispersed, and the figure vanished entirely. "My lord..." The Shadow Lord God tried to speak but could only sigh in frustration. He desperately wanted to protect Shadow Star, but deep down, he knew it was futile. Behind the Game of Gods was not merely a few Lord Gods-it was the Creator God himself. The Creator God sought to annihte all inhabiteds, destroying everything in order to establish a new order. When that time came, every Overseer would perish, and even the Lord Gods would not be spared unless the Creator God willed it. Only by destroying all life-bearings could the Creator God rewrite thews of existence, ascending from a mere proxy Creator God to bing the true Creator God. ... Chapter 324: Chapter 324: Two-Star Overseer Perfection, Ice Talker Gravely Injured Chapter 324: Chapter 324: Two-Star Overseer Perfection, Ice Talker Gravely Injured ? Purple Sky City had been established for seven days, and yet Hunters continued to pour in ceaselessly. Looking out over the horizon, the crowd of Hunters stretched endlessly, a ck tide surging without end. Despite this overwhelming scene, no one felt any pressure. With the defensive formation in ce, there was no danger at all. People gathered atop the city walls, relentlessly ughtering the invading Hunters. Peter still manned a section of the wall alone, activating the Seven Kill Formation to annihte the seemingly infinite army of Hunters pouring in. Over the past few days, everyone''s levels had skyrocketed. Strangely enough, the ones who had progressed the most were the weaker disciples of the Blues Family. This was all thanks to Peter. He had brought every Blues Family disciple into his team. With the Seven Kill Formation mowing down Hunters to provide shared experience, coupled with their own efforts in battle, every member of the Blues Family had advanced to demigod-level cultivation. A few had even reached the ranks of lower-tier gods. ... In the World-in-Hand, John remained in seclusion, refining the Heart of the Continent. Nearby, within the Immortals Legacy, several other strong cultivators were also in retreat, training diligently. Over the past few days, their levels had climbed steadily, and their understanding of the Immortals Legacy had deepened, prompting them to enter seclusion for further breakthroughs. This also provided a wee respite. With the Four Symbols Guardian Formation in ce, the Hunter armies posed no threat to Purple Sky City. [Your cultivation has advanced to Two-Star Overseer (state of perfection), and you have received the blessing of The Heaven''s Laws...] A system prompt shed before John. After refining seven Hearts of the Continent in session, his cultivation had broken through to reach the Two-Star state of perfection. Whoosh... A powerful gust of wind surged, and his World-in-Hand descended a dazzling pir of light. This was the blessing of The Heaven''s Laws. Compared to the first time he had received such a blessing, the current light pir was much more intense, infused with a far greater concentration of the power ofws. John frowned, standing bathed in the radiant light, feeling the energy of The Heaven''s Laws coursing through him. "Hmph, just likest time," he scoffed coldly. His gaze fixed on the descending pir of light. The power ofws it contained was pure and enticing, yet its intent to erase his emotions was utterly uneptable to him. Buzz! A sharp, resonating hum filled the air. A massive sword shadow tore through the void, aimed at the pir of light. At that moment, the Immortals Legacy beside him began to tremble faintly, emitting a low vibration. To John''s astonishment, the scattered radiance of The Heaven''s Laws began to drift uncontrobly toward the Immortals Legacy. "Huh?" John''s eyes narrowed in surprise. The Immortals Legacy could actually draw in the power of The Heaven''s Laws? Bathed in the dazzling light, the giant sword formed by the Immortals Legacy seemed to be cloaked in ayer of holy brilliance, radiating an awe-inspiring luster. He couldn''t help but recall how Sini had once sensed a resistance within the Immortals Legacy. Could the Immortals Legacy truly possess consciousness? Otherwise, how could it autonomously refine the power of The Heaven''s Laws? Nearby, the others who were meditating on the Immortals Legacy were startled out of their insights, their gazes fixed on the extraordinary scene with astonishment. "Sir, what''s happening here?" Tony approached, his curiosity evident as he asked the question. John shook his head. He couldn''t exin it either, though this development didn''t seem to be a bad thing. The Heaven''s Laws had sought to erase his emotions, but the Immortals Legacy appeared unaffected. The light pir persisted for a full quarter of an hour before gradually dissipating. When the Immortals Legacy returned to its original state, it once again resembled a simple, ancient stone sword. Yet John could clearly feel that it now contained a portion of The Heaven''s power ofws. Perhaps others meditating on the Immortals Legacy might gain insights into this power, but controlling it would likely prove incredibly difficult. Aside from Five-Star Overseers and Lord Gods, no one seemed capable of mastering The Heaven''s power ofws. Of course, John was an exception. With his Plunder ability, hisprehension of The Heaven''s Laws had reached an astonishing 10%. He decided not to dwell on this matter further. Retrieving another Heart of the Continent, he prepared to continue his refining. [Your level is insufficient. Mid-tier gods are required to advance to Three-Star Overseer.] The system prompt appeared. Causing John''s brow to furrow deeply. He could no longer refine the Heart of the Continent. Advancing to Three-Star Overseer required the cultivation of a mid-tier god. Ice Talker had never mentioned this restriction, likely because she didn''t know. After all, those capable of obtaining the Heart of the Continent were typically upper-tier gods at their peak. John was the sole exception-a demigod who had be an Overseer. "Advancing to mid-tier gods..." he muttered, feeling a headacheing on. Reaching mid-tier gods required a level of 50,000. Currently, he was only at level 20,000+, still far from the required threshold. Even with an endless supply of Hunters, leveling up to 50,000 in a short time seemed impossible. "Forget it. I''ll refine soul essences for now. If that doesn''t work, I''ll dere open war on the Shadow n," he decided, pulling out arge number of golden soul essences and ordinary soul essences to enhance his Soul Technique. With his Golden Lotus Hellfire, a special me, he could easily refine ordinary soul essences. However, the golden soul essences were more troublesome. Fortunately, he also possessed the Undying me, which he had obtained from ying a powerful Shadow n warrior. Bybining the Golden Lotus Hellfire with the Undying me, his refining efficiency increased significantly. ... Another half month passed. John had refined all the soul essences, boosting his Soul Technique by 3.8 million points, bringing it to over 6.8 million! His current Soul Technique far surpassed that of golden-patterned Hunters'' brood mothers and even the strongest upper-tier gods at their peak. Even if he encountered another Overseer, he would have no reason to fear. However, peak upper-tier gods and Overseers often possessed formidable soul defenses, and some could even withstand his Hellfire attacks. He wasn''t invincible. The next step was to level up. He still had four Hearts of the Continent that he couldn''t refine. Only by reaching level 50,000 as a mid-tier god could he further advance his Overseer rank. There were still plenty of Hunters lingering around his territory. But the strongest among them were mere demigods, offering far too little experience. He thought about the Shadow n''s army of upper-tier gods. If he could provoke another monster tide attack, it would undoubtedly help him level up quickly. For now, he wasn''t ready tounch an all-out war against the Shadow n, but establishing another city was entirely feasible. If necessary, he could always destroy itter. "John," Sini''s figure suddenly appeared in the World-in-Hand, her tone urgent. "Ice Talker and her team have returned, but Ice Talker is severely injured and unconscious. Do you haven/o/vel/b//in dot c//om any way to help her?" "Ice Talker is injured?" John was taken aback. Ice Talker was a Two-Star Peak Overseer-only a Three-Star Overseer could possibly harm her. Furthermore, as a respected figure within the Nature n, not even someone like Humdwar would dare act recklessly against her. "Let''s take a look." With a thought, John exited the World-in-Hand. Sini followed closely behind. John had granted her partial ess to the World-in-Hand''sws, andbined with her mastery of the power of the Nine Nether, she could now enter and exit freely. In Purple Sky City. Ice Talkery unconscious in a chair. The Emperor of the Underworld held two pills in his hand and carefully fed them to her. "How is she?" Terran asked anxiously. The Emperor of the Underworld shook his head gravely. "It''s no use. These Ice Restoration Pills can only sustain her life. Can''t you contact the Nature Lord God?" Terran snapped irritably, "If I could contact the Nature Lord God, would I havee here in the first ce?" The Emperor of the Underworld frowned and retorted angrily, "Don''t yell at me. It was your carelessness that caused her to fall into the Witches'' trap!" Terran was about to fire back when John appeared. Both of them immediately approached him. "Godyer, Ice Talker has been poisoned by Hellfire. Do you have a way to save her?" the Emperor of the Underworld asked urgently. "Hellfire?" John was startled. He turned his attention to the unconscious Ice Talker, took her wrist, and carefully examined her condition. "What a sinister power!" he eximed in surprise. Indeed, Ice Talker had been infected with Hellfire. Its potency rivaled his Golden Lotus Hellfire, but it carried a strange, malevolent energy that had seeped into her bones and was burning her soul. At the moment, Ice Talker''s soul was dangerously weakened, on the verge of copse. The two Ice Restoration Pills the Emperor of the Underworld had given her were barely holding off the Hellfire''s corrosion, but it was far from a long-term solution. "Wait. There''s more than just Hellfire in her body. There''s another, even more insidious force!" John frowned deeply and turned to the two men. Both of them looked bewildered; they knew nothing about this. Terran asked urgently, "Can you remove it?" John pondered for a moment before speaking. "I can handle the Hellfire, but the other force will have to be dealt with by her. It won''t threaten her life, though." "That''s a relief. Please, cure the Hellfire poison first. As long as you can save her, we''ll follow your lead in everything," the Emperor of the Underworld said quickly. Terran nodded in agreement. "Don''t worry. Ice Talker''s life isn''t in danger," John reassured them. With a thought, he brought Ice Talker into the World-in-Hand. They appeared beneath the Tree of Life, a vital resource for the healing process. To save Ice Talker, John would need the life energy provided by the tree. "Sini, I''m going into seclusion. Don''t let anyone disturb me," he instructed, setting up a barrier around the Tree of Life. Sini nodded, positioning herself nearby to ensure no one approached. Ice Talker remained unconscious, her brows tightly furrowed, clearly enduring intense pain. John felt a pang of sympathy. He suspected that her current state was connected to some significant opportunity she had encountered. "Hang in there. It''ll be over soon," he murmured softly. Taking a deep breath, he gently grasped Ice Talker''s smooth, delicate hand. From deep within his soul, the Golden me Lotus began to spin, drawing out the Hellfire poison. Whoosh... A dark me surged from Ice Talker''s hand into John''s body. "Hmm!" John frowned slightly. The ck Hellfire was even more potent than he had anticipated. Fortunately, the Golden me Lotus, an unparalleled treasure, effortlessly refined and absorbed the dark fire. Relieved, he shifted his hand up Ice Talker''s arm, continuing to extract the Hellfire poison. However, he quickly ran into a problem. He could sense the Hellfire poisoning her arm, but it seemed that the poison couldn''t be absorbed through her clothing. It appeared he needed direct contact with her skin. John nced at the unconscious Ice Talker and sighed inwardly with resignation. He couldn''t afford to hesitate. If he didn''t purge the Hellfire poison quickly, her soul would disintegrate, leading to her death. Chapter 325: Chapter 325: Fiery Detoxification and the Law of Wood Elements Chapter 325: Chapter 325: Fiery Detoxification and the Law of Wood Elements ? "Ice Talker, forgive me," John murmured as he slowly rolled up her sleeves, revealing smooth, baster arms that resembled tender lotus roots. He quickly refocused his mind, closing his eyes to maintain hisposure. cing his hands gently on Ice Talker''s arm, he began drawing out the Hellfire poison. ck mes surged into his body, causing waves of pain to course through him. The fact that these mes had already infiltrated Ice Talker''s body gave him a glimpse of the immense suffering she must have been enduring. Fortunately, the Hellfire poison posed no real threat to him; the Golden me Lotus easily refined and absorbed it. As time passed, John methodically absorbed and refined the Hellfire poison within Ice Talker''s body. Before long, the poison in both of her arms was entirely removed. However, John was faced with a new challenge. To continue detoxifying her, he would need to touch more sensitive areas of her body-without the barrier of clothing. Although he was no saint, doing so seemed improper. It felt like taking advantage of her vulnerability, which troubled him greatly. "Ugh..." Ice Talker let out a pained moan, her eyes remaining tightly shut. She was still unconscious, her expression marked by agony. The remaining Hellfire poison continued to gnaw away at her soul. If he didn''t act quickly, her life would be in serious danger. Taking a deep breath, John dismissed his hesitations and removed her shoes and socks. Her delicate feet, smooth and pinkish, were exposed to the air, exuding a soft radiance. John gulped involuntarily, then ced his hands on her feet, carefully drawing out the Hellfire poison. His palms moved up slowly, slipping under her dress as they ascended. "Hnn?" Ice Talker''s body trembled slightly, a painful whimper escaping her lips. John closed his eyes tightly, focusing his mind to avoid crossing any boundaries. He tried his best to steer clear of sensitive areas while continuing to extract the poison. Little by little, the Hellfire poison was removed from her body. Her disheveled clothing became more noticeable as the detoxification continued. John''s hands moved steadily upward-past her t stomach, her slender, supple waist, and her smooth back. Gradually, his hands reached her chest. Gulp... John swallowed hard. Despite her petite frame, Ice Talker''s figure was unexpectedly perfect- soft, full, and incredibly well-proportioned. He couldn''t help but feel a fleeting sense of admiration. Realizing the distraction, he quickly reminded himself that he was helping her detoxify the poison, not indulging in improper thoughts. Soft moans asionally escaped from Ice Talker''s lips as the Hellfire poison dissipated. The Tree of Life showered her with abundant life energy, healing her injuries. Her eyshes fluttered as her eyes slowly opened. A mixture of fury and embarrassment filled her gaze, her face flushing crimson. Her body trembled slightly, as if struck by an electric current. At that moment, John''s hands-acting of their own ord were still resting on her chest, kneading and pressing in a way that sent unfamiliar sensations coursing through her. This bastard... She cursed him inwardly. Although she knew John had been detoxifying her, the disarray of her clothing made it painfully clear that he had thoroughly touched her body. She nced at John''s tightly shut eyes and his serious, handsome face. Unconsciously, she swallowed hard. She wanted to tell him that she could handle the remaining Hellfire poison on her own, but a part of her found it surprisingly difficult to interrupt. Whoosh! The branches of the Tree of Life swayed, showering her with abundant life energy and the unique Wood Element power ofws, which surged into her body. "No... the Wood Element..." Ice Talker''s expression shifted. The other force within her absorbed the Wood Element''s power ofws, and she could no longer suppress it. "What''s happening?" John noticed the change and murmured to himself as he slowly opened his eyes. Their gazes locked. Both froze, the air thick with awkward tension.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om A thin mist of tears rose in Ice Talker''s beautiful eyes, mingled with anger, though she couldn''t summon even a shred of hostility toward him. "Y-you... get your hands off me!" she stammered, her voice trembling with indignation and a hint of grievance. John snapped out of it, hurriedly withdrawing his hands, his expression flustered as he tried to exin. "I''m sorry, I was just helping you detoxify the poison." "You... you bastard!" Ice Talker scolded, her voiceced with fury. However, her expression quickly twisted in difort as the suppressed Wood Element power ofws within her absorbed the Tree of Life''s energy and erupted uncontrobly. "What''s wrong?" John asked, noticing her distress and moving closer to investigate. "Don''t-don''t touch me!" Ice Talker eximed in panic, hastily adjusting her disheveled clothing as she backed away. She struggled to steady her mind and suppress the rampaging Wood Element power ofws within her. "This is... Lust Poison?" John muttered, realization dawning as his face filled with surprise. He couldn''t understand why Ice Talker would be afflicted with Lust Poison. There were only the two of them here, and he hadn''t done anything unusual. "No, that''s not it," he murmured, his brows furrowing as his gaze turned to the Tree of Life. Understanding finally struck him. Ice Talker wasn''t suffering from Lust Poison-it was the Wood Element power ofws she had cultivated. This particr Wood Elementw was bizarre, capable of triggering the seven emotions and six desires in a person. Ice Talker sat cross-legged, closing her eyes tightly. Her face flushed crimson, even her skin taking on a rosy hue. Her body trembled, and she was parched and restless. She desperately tried to calm her mind, but for some reason, John''s handsome face kept intruding into her thoughts. The fire in her heart grew stronger, and the Wood Element power ofws within her spiraled out of control, overwhelming her will. If this continued, she feared she wouldpletely lose her sense of self and sumb to primal instincts. Opening her eyes, she red at John, who stood nearby, looking unsure of what to do. Anger flickered across her flushed face as she bit her lip and growled, "Help me detoxify!" Before John could respond, she activated her World-in-Hand, pulling him into it without hesitation. The two of them found themselves inside a quaint wooden house, adorned with simplicity. Vines draped gracefully from the beams, their colorful flowers exuding a refreshing fragrance that filled the air. Before John could react, a soft, delicate figure embraced him, and warm lips brushed against his cheek. For a moment, he couldn''t distinguish whether the intoxicating aroma came from the surrounding flowers or the woman now so close to him. He felt the warmth of her body in his arms, and an involuntary response began to stir within him. At that moment, the Ice Talker stopped suppressing the wooden element within her. The power of thews seemed to take on a life of its own, eagerly tugging at his clothes with unrestrained fervor. Her long skirt slipped away, revealing a figure of unmatched grace¡ªa vision of perfection, with smooth, snow-white skin that seemed to glow in the soft light. Framed by the vibrant flowers, her form was mesmerizing, so much so that even the blossoms appeared to pale inparison, as if she were the world''s most exquisite masterpiece. "She''s so beautiful..." John thought, swallowing hard, his heart pounding with fiery intensity. Though he had already touched her entire body while helping her detoxify, seeing her bare now left him utterly captivated, unable to look away. He quickly took off his equipment and greedily sucked on Ice Talker''s delicate lips. Ice Talker''s breathing was rapid, his eyes tightly closed, his movements clumsy and unfamiliar, but his heart was extremely hot. His limbs were tightly wrapped around John''s body like octopus. He couldn''t hold on any longer, dragging Ice Talker''s perky buttocks and cing them directly on the bed, with the light blue curtain hanging down. He caressed Ice Talker''s soft hair, and the dragon slowly prated into the already muddy lower body. "Mmm! "Ice Talker eximed in pain, gripping John''s arms tightly with both hands. Tears welled up from the corners of his eyes and he said with grievance," It hurts "Don''t be afraid, it''ll be fine soon, "Johnforted softly, not in a hurry to attack, and kissed her cheek and neck in a soothing manner. She opened her small mouth, gasped slightly, and her tense body slowly rxed, responding enthusiastically to John. "Godyer, you want me. "She felt an unbearable heat beneath her, an emptiness in her heart, and an urgent desire for John to fill it up. John showed no mercy and crouched over Ice Talker''s delicate body, with the dragon fiercely thrusting in. "Ah... "Ice Talker cried out in pain, tears streaming down her eyes, her limbs tightly wrapped around John, her eyebrows furrowed, and her expression pained. John is aware that this is her first time and she cannot withstand the impact. He bent down and kissed the tears on Ice Talker''s cheek, gently soothing him. "Godyer, it hurts so much. "She looked at John with a look of grievance, and her voice was tinged with tears. After a while, she finally recovered and warmly catered. The strange sensationing from her lower body, pain and stimtion, stirred every cell of her, making her unable to stop and deeply fascinated. Soon, she couldn''t control herself under John''s attack, her legs tightly wrapped around John, her jade feet forcefully lifted, and she let out afortable moan from her mouth. Her delicate body trembled uncontrobly, and an indescribable joy reached deep into her soul She opened her small mouth, gasped slightly, and looked at John with infatuation, feeling satisfied in her heart. But John had no intention of letting her go easily, greedily kissing her delicate body and slowlyunching an attack. ... The painful pleading of Ice Talker echoed throughout the World in Hand. "Godyer, didn''t you say it would be over soon? "She cried with grievance and begged for mercy repeatedly. The consecutive orgasms fascinated her, but her body couldn''t support them at all. Gradually, her voice became hoarse as she repeated pleading words, her consciousness bing increasingly blurred. After reaching two orgasms, John was still unsatisfied and reluctantly let go of Ice Talker. "Godyer, you''re a jerk... you knew you were bullying me... "She continued to speak helplessly, tears of grievance hanging from her eyes, andy limp on the bed without any resistance. John looked at the mess on the bed, and with some heartache, he hugged the limp Ice Talker in his arms, leaned against the bed, suppressed his desires, and slowly fell asleep. ... By the time the two of them woke up, it was already the next day. Ice Talker opened his eyes and saw the two naked and facing each other, blushing with shyness. He hurriedly pulled the nket from the bed and covered himself. She noticed the grandeur beneath John, his delicate body trembling uncontrobly. No wonder he was in such painst night, which was probably beyond the endurance of ordinary people. She quickly avoided her gaze and panicked, "Godyer, you go out first, I need to get dressed" "What are you shy about? I''ve seen it yesterday and I''ve touched it all over, "John chuckled mischievously. Without waiting for Ice Talker to react, he pulled her into his arms and reached up and down. "Godyer don''t do it, let me slow down, I can''t bear it... "She looked at John with a panicked expression, pitifully pleading for mercy. She is still in severe pain and hasn''t recovered from the whole night. "This time it''s fast, "John didn''t intend to let her go and rudely took possession of her again. "You scammer! "Ice Talker angrily cursed, gritting his teeth in grievance, enduring the pain, and allowing him to act recklessly. Chapter 326: Chapter 326: The Witch Clan Burning Sky, Winter is Coming Chapter 326: Chapter 326: The Witch n Burning Sky, Winter is Coming ? After another long bout of exertion, John finally let Ice Talker rest, leaving her utterly drained. Ice Talker leaned weakly against his chest. Though no longer shy, a hint of unease lingered in her heart. "Godyer, let''s pretend this never happened. I don''t want Sini to misunderstand," she said with a hint of pain, biting her lip. She had great affection for Sini, just as she now did for John. But she knew the bond between the two and didn''t want to sow any misunderstandings. "Sini? There''s no need to worry about that," John chuckled, pulling her into a firm embrace. "You underestimate that little girl." He understood Sini''s personality well. If Ice Talker hadn''t been so powerful, he sometimes suspected that Sini herself might have dragged Ice Talker into his bed. "R-really?" Ice Talker asked, her eyes filled with tentative hope. John nodded but didn''t borate. Instead, his hands wandered again. Ice Talker gasped in rm and pleaded desperately, "Godyer, I really can''t take anymore. Please, have mercy on me!" Knowing she had truly reached her limit, John relented, suppressing the fire still burning within him. "By the way," Ice Talker said suddenly, lifting her head as a thought struck her. "How long was I unconscious?" "About ten days or so. Why?" John asked, puzzled. "Ten days?" Ice Talker eximed in surprise, frowning. "The Immortals'' Secret Area should be opening soon." "The Immortals'' Secret Area?" John repeated, intrigued. "The opportunity you mentioned- is it this Immortals'' Secret Area?" Ice Talker nodded. "Yes. Now that you''ve sessfully established a city, opening the Secret Area will fully unlock the resources hidden on Shadow Star. When that happens, the destruction of the Shadow n won''t be far off." "I see." John''s expression turned thoughtful. He had already learned from the spirit beast leader, Thunder Fireworks, that Shadow Star was once under the control of the Immortals. The Shadow n had been blocking other factions from building cities on the, but now that he had seeded, those resources should soon be essible. "By the way," John said, his tone suddenly icy, "who injured you?" His voice carried a frosty edge. No matter who it was, anyone who dared harm his woman would pay with their life. Ice Talker frowned, gritting her teeth as she said angrily, "It was Burning Sky from the Witch n. I didn''t expect the Witch n to collude with the Shadow n." "The Witch n?" John murmured softly. Holding the woman in his arms, his voice turned cold. "I''ll avenge you!" The Witch n resided on one of thes ruled by the Eight Lord Gods, but John had never encountered their warriors before. He was curious about their abilities. However, he didn''t take this Burning Sky seriously. With his mastery of The Heaven''s power ofws, not even a Three-Star Overseer would pose a challenge. Ice Talker shook her head helplessly and said, "You can''t. The one who injured me is Burning Sky, the strongest warrior of the Witch n. He''s ate-stage Three-Star Overseer, incredibly powerful with a body as tough as iron. He has mastered the techniques of the Witch n, the Sea n, and the Immortals. He has no weaknesses¡ªhe''s practically invincible." "Techniques from three ns?" John asked, surprised. Cultivating techniques from other races required refining their respective racial treasures. While Apocalypse Stones allowed the fusion of an additional racial treasure, each person could only use one Apocalypse Stone, enabling them to master techniques from at most two races. John, however, was an exception. His god-tier talent, One Breath, Three Purities, allowed him to split into three avatars, each capable of refining racial treasures, making him a unique case. Ice Talker exined, "The Witch n is special. Their powerful constitution allows them to fuse three sets of treasures." "Is that so?" John replied with interest. "I''d like to test him. Can you locate this Burning Sky?" Ice Talker immediately protested, "Godyer, you''re no match for him. This isn''t urgent. You''ve already established the city, and the resources of Shadow Star will soon be fully unlocked." John''s voice remained calm, but his tone carried an unyielding edge. "Anyone who dares harm my woman is already dead. No matter how strong Burning Sky is, he won''t withstand an attack from The Heaven''s power ofws." As he spoke, he raised his hand casually. The air stirred, winds howling, as a terrifying pressure spread. Even the World-in-Hand trembled slightly. "The Heaven''s Laws!?" Ice Talker''s eyes widened in shock. A mixture of joy and disbelief colored her expression as she stared at John. "Godyer, you''veprehended The Heaven''s power ofws? What kind of monster are you?" Her heart swelled with happiness, and the admiration in her gaze deepened. "With mastery over The Heaven''s power ofws, it might actually be possible to defeat Burning Sky," she admitted after a moment of thought. While The Heaven''s power ofws was formidable, she still doubted that John could kill Burning Sky. Defeating him, however, seemed entirely usible.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Burning Sky''s strength was far beyond what most could imagine. [System Announcement: Burning Sky of the Witch n has opened the "Winter is Coming" Secret Area. Resources on Shadow Star are now essible. All cultivators at or above the level of lower-tier gods may enter to explore.] ... Three sessive system announcements suddenly echoed. Ice Talker looked startled, her brows furrowing. "Burning Sky? Could it be that he isn''t allied with the Shadow n after all?" She was momentarily puzzled. Burning Sky had stopped her from opening the Immortals'' Secret Area, which suggested he had a hidden agenda. John asked, "Is this the Immortals'' Secret Area you mentioned?" Ice Talker nodded and said, "Godyer, there must be treasures rted to the Immortals in this Secret Area. We can''t miss it." John nodded in agreement. Not only were the treasures in the Immortals'' Secret Area crucial, but Burning Sky''s death was also a priority. Looking at Ice Talker in his arms, he asked gently, "Can you move?" Her cheeks flushed a deep red as she gave a small nod. John had pushed her to her limits for almost an entire day-something an ordinary person couldn''t endure. Fortunately, as an Overseer with peak upper-tier god cultivation, coupled with her mastery of the Wood Element power ofws, her recovery abilities were extraordinary. Although she still found movement a bit difficult, it wasn''t enough to hinder her. To her delight, their rtionship had also helped alleviate most of the Lust Poison embedded in her Wood Element power ofws, leaving her unaffected now. Her feelings for John, however, had only deepened. "I-I need to get dressed. You... you go outside first," Ice Talker stammered, still feeling shy- especially with John''s persistent, unrelenting energy. It left her both in awe and slightly terrified; if they continued, she doubted she''d be able to move at all today. "I''ll help you dress..." John said with a mischievous grin. After a bit of yful banter, they eventually managed to get her dressed before leaving the room. The two reappeared beneath the Tree of Life in John''s World-in-Hand, where Sini was still waiting nearby. Seeing that Ice Talker was unharmed, Sini sighed in relief but immediately shot a sharp re at John, her expression slightly aggrieved. She didn''t need to ask to know what had happened between the two. "Ice Talker, did this guy bully you?" Sini asked as she moved to support Ice Talker, her tone full of concern. Ice Talker quickly lowered her head, avoiding her gaze, and murmured, "N-no." Sini, however, wasn''t fooled. She said knowingly, "I know how shameless he can be. If he ever bullies you again, I''ll help you teach him a lesson." John, feeling exasperated, decided to change the subject. "Let''s head out." With a thought, he led the group out of the World-in-Hand, bringing them back to Purple Sky City. Outside the city, the roars of Hunters continued endlessly as they attacked the city walls in a relentless tide. However, with the Four Symbols Guardian Formation and Seven Kill Formation in ce, the Hunters posed no real threat. "Mdy, are you alright?" Terran and the Emperor of the Underworld immediately approached upon seeing Ice Talker. Ice Talker nodded. "Thanks to all of you, I''m fine now." "Mdy, it was entirely my fault. I fell into the Witch n''s trap through my own carelessness," Terran said, guilt written all over his face. The thought of what might have happened to Ice Talker had filled him with dread; he knew he could never forgive himself if something had gone wrong. "Godyer!" The Emperor of the Underworld turned to John and bowed deeply. "Thank you for saving Lady Ice Talker. If there''s anything you need in the future, don''t hesitate to ask." Terran quickly nodded in agreement. John''s eyes lit up as he turned to the Emperor of the Underworld and asked, "There is something I''d like your help with. Would you be willing to teach Tracy how to refine pills?" The Spiritual Power Pill was rare and could only be refined by an Alchemist. John had already asked Tracy, and she had the talent to refine pills, but she needed someone to teach her. "That''s no problem at all. I quite like that little girl too," the Emperor of the Underworld replied without hesitation, agreeing readily. Ice Talker spoke up, "In that case, for this Secret Area exploration, Emperor of the Underworld, you stay behind. Terran wille with us." "Mdy, you''re nning to explore the Immortals'' Secret Area? Burning Sky will likely make another move against you," the Emperor of the Underworld said, concern in his voice. Burning Sky had activated the Secret Area, and he was clearly after the Immortals'' treasures. Since they were already enemies with the Witch n, he was sure they wouldn''t let Ice Talker go without a fight. "Don''t worry, I can handle it," Ice Talker reassured him, her gaze turning to John, feeling a sense of security she had never felt before. "John, I want to go too!" Sini chimed in, quickly adding. "No. Stay here and focus on leveling up. This time, I''ll only bring Cand-Dragon and Jolyne," John said firmly, putting his foot down. The activation of the Immortals'' Secret Area in Shadow Star would attract many Overseers and peak upper-tier gods. Cand-Dragon and Jolyne were the two strongest members of his team, but even they wouldn''t be enough to contend with some of those Overseers. If he brought too many people, it could end up bing a burden. "Hmph!" Sini huffed in dissatisfaction. "Big Sis Sini, you can stay and help guard the city with me," Tracy said, winking at her to offer somefort. Sini blinked, then quickly understood, turning to John and saying, "John, next time, take us with you to explore the Secret Area." "Sure," he agreed with a nod, eager to put an end to the current conversation. He''d deal with the next Secret Area when it appeared. "Let''s go." John had already learned the coordinates of the Immortals'' Secret Area from Ice Talker. He immediately activated his Split Void ability, opening a spatial passage. The group stepped through, and the portal closed behind them. Sini and Tracy exchanged excited looks. "Big Sis Sini, I''ve already made arrangements with Thunder Fireworks, and we''re ready to go whenever," Tracy said, her voice eager. "Good," Sini nodded, a thought crossing her mind. She then released the spirit beast army from John''s World-in-Hand, who had been mining Spirit Stones. Having acquired part of the rules from John''s World-in-Hand and with the Power of the Nine Nether, Sini was now able to easily control John''s World-in-Hand. Chapter 327: Chapter 327: The Chaos of the Universe, The Test Begins Chapter 327: Chapter 327: The Chaos of the Universe, The Test Begins ? Emperor of the Underworld was startled when the army of spirit beasts suddenly appeared. He turned to the two women, Sini and Tracy, and asked in confusion, "What are you nning to do?" "Old man, I advise you not to meddle in our affairs," Sini said, ring at him and warning him sternly. Emperor of the Underworld''s beard trembled with anger, but he still spoke, "Godyer entrusted me with the task of protecting your safety. Don''t do anything rash." The army of spirit beasts numbered in the hundreds of thousands, and there were even numerous peak-tier spirit beasts among them. Such a force was clearly not meant for dealing with the Hunters outside the city. "Sini, this old man is so annoying. Let''s lock him up in the World-in-Hand," Tracy said, frowning in displeasure. "Don''t. I want to stay with you." Emperor of the Underworld could not stop the two women and, fearing something might go wrong, quickly added, "I''ll stay with you, but I''ll be no trouble." At that moment, Sara and Bonnie also led the elven army and the Beast n army to join them. With the spirit beasts, their forces now numbered close to 200,000. Emperor of the Underworld realized their intent: they were nning to attack the main city of the Shadow n. He was deeply rmed and immediately warned them, but the women ignored himpletely. "Don''t worry, old man. We''ll be fine. You cane with us, but don''t cause any trouble!" Sini said, her tone filled with threat. Though Emperor of the Underworld was displeased, he could not refute her. Sini''s army was quickly absorbed into John''s World-in-Hand, leaving only the disciples of the Blues Family and the people of Skyline Continent, led by Ada, inside the city. With the Four Symbols Guardian Formation and the Seven Kill Formation in ce, repelling the Hunters would be a breeze. Taking advantage of the others'' inattention, Sini left the city walls and charged straight into the Hunter army. Her figure swiftly disappeared into the distance. ... John had no idea what was happening in the city. He found himself in the midst of a vast snow-covered mountain range, the cold wind biting through the air, and an intense chill seeping into his bones. "It''s so cold," Jolyne frowned and tightened the thin dress around her, moving closer to John for warmth. Among the group, only Ice Talker was unaffected by the freezing cold. She had trained in the ways of the ice element, and such harsh weather had no impact on her. In fact, it even helped her strengthen her powers. Whoosh... At that moment, several figures soared through the sky, quickly vanishing into the snow- covered mountains. They were strong warriors from other races, with at least upper-tier god-level strength. John watched the direction they disappeared toward. There, he detected a wave of Spatial power-an entrance to the Secret Area. "Let''s go, we''ll head over too." John led the group, braving the howling cold winds, and flew deeper into the snow-covered mountains. Within the snow mountains, the cold wind was even more biting, like des scraping against their skin. Soon, they found the entrance to the Secret Area, half-buried under the snowstorm. "Hmph, humans. You think you can take the treasures of the Secret Area? You''re overestimating yourselves." A Shadow n warrior recognized John and sneered in disdain. He then led his subordinates into the Secret Area. John frowned and wondered aloud, "Was that guy the Lord of the Shadow main city?" Ice Talker, who didn''t recognize him either, spected, "He must have just been promoted. After you ughtered eighteen city lords, Shadow God would have definitely filled the vacancies." "Is that so?" John''s interest piqued. Killing those Shadow n city lords would allow him to Plunder the power of Shadow''sws. Hisprehension of the Shadow Law had already reached 22.1%, and he wasn''t afraid of any Shadow n experts now. He was curious: What would happen if he reached 100% in Shadow Lawprehension? "Godyer!" A shocked cry interrupted his thoughts. Humdwar appeared, leading a few powerful members of the Eternal n. When he saw John, his expression turned pale with fear. Thest time they met, Humdwar had barely escaped with his life. "Run!" Before John could even respond, Humdwar hurriedly pulled hispanions into the Secret Area. Ice Talker, seeing this scene, was dumbfounded. She asked in confusion, "That guy is a Triple Star Overseer. Godyer, what exactly did you do to him?" John shrugged casually and said, "Nothing much. I almost killed him. But this time, he definitely won''t get away." He turned his gaze back to the entrance of the Secret Area, preparing to enter. This time, not only would he im the treasures of the Immortals, but he wasn''t nning to let any of the Shadow n experts or the Overseers inside escape either. "Let''s go." He led the group through the spatial rift and entered the Secret Area. Buzz... A wave of Spatial power reverberated, and John felt a momentary disorientation. When he opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by a void, a vast emptiness, and Ice Talker, Jolyne, and the others were nowhere to be seen. "What''s going on?" He jumped in surprise, cautiously scanning his surroundings. It was a boundless expanse, with nothing in sight. "Kill..." Suddenly, the sound of enraged roars echoed around him. In the void before John, an image materialized. It was a brutal battlefield, two armies locked in viciousbat. One of the sides was The Immortals, while the opposing side consisted of the Shadow n, Witch n, Underworld n, the Eternal n, and other races John had never seen before. Mountains crumbled, earthquakes shook the earth, and cities were reduced to rubble. A divine dragon fell, and a phoenix cried out in blood. John watched helplessly as one powerful member after another from The Immortals fell, his heart aching in despair. He could feel it-the scene was not some illusion but a real event that had taken ce. In the final battle, the remaining forces of The Immortals were trapped in a city, surrounded by powerful experts from all the major races, including dozens of Lord Gods. "Not just eight Lord Gods..." John was astonished, his heart sinking in sorrow. The downfall of The Immortals was now unavoidable. Within the city, an array was fully activated. It was a formation even stronger than the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, but it still couldn''t stop the assault of the Lord Gods. The remaining hundred or so powerful members of The Immortals gathered in the great hall. John was also present nearby, but he seemed to be nothing more than a spectator, unable to take part in any of it. "Eh?" He was surprised as he noticed a woman in the corner, dressed in green, her beauty unparalleled. It was the same woman who had once saved him. At the time, she had appeared as nothing but an illusion, and he hadn''t been able to see her clearly. The woman in green seemed to sense his gaze. She slightly turned her head, looking directly at his location, and said in a soft voice, "Enter the game with your body." Enter the game with your body? Those same four words again. John frowned deeply, still unable to understand what they truly meant. Previously, he had thought it was a call for him to descend into the gods'' game, but now it seemed that wasn''t the case. He wanted to ask her what it meant, but with the vast distance of space and time separating them, he could only watch as things unfolded without being able to participate in any way. "Indeed," a nearby elder, with the appearance of a Daoist immortal, nodded slightly and said calmly, "We can no longer change this. This is the only hope for The Immortals." "To ce our hopes on an unknown, ordinary junior... it''s too risky." "Yes, it''s a faint hope." "What if it works?" Several of them were discussing, and it seemed as though their conversation was rted to John. He could sense that he was starting to understand something. The elder interrupted the ongoing debate and spoke in a low voice, "At this point, there''s no point in discussing further. Even if we fail, we can nt the seed of resistance. Let''s begin." The group gathered together, and the vast space was filled with the stirring of Time Law, as their lives began to rapidly drain away. John was shocked. These people were sacrificing their own lives to perform a powerful secret technique. "Disturb the order of the universe..." The voices of the group echoed, and the fabric of time and space gradually began to fade. John saw before him the scene of his past life, the moment when he fought against the Shadow n and perished... His Resurrection-it turned out that it truly had something to do with The Immortals. But was everything they did worth it? The scene before his eyes changed, and he found himself once again in the midst of a snow- covered mountain, surrounded by Ice Talker and the others. His consciousness returned, and he looked around in confusion. It seemed that only he had witnessed the earlier scene, as though it had been nothing more than a fleeting dream.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om But he knew-it had really happened. He was astonished by The Immortals'' methods. They were able to transcend the river of time ande to the future to Resurrect him. But what was their purpose in doing all this? To fight against the Shadow n? To prevent the gods'' game from continuing? That didn''t seem to be the case. It was clear that he had an even more difficult task ahead of him. "Enter the game with your body?" He murmured to himself, still unable to grasp the meaning of those four words. "Godyer, what''s wrong?" Jolyne asked, noticing that he seemed a bit absent-minded, her voice full of concern. John snapped out of his daze, shaking his head. He didn''t offer an exnation-he didn''t have one. He nced around curiously. They were still in the snow-covered mountains, but now, many powerful beings had arrived. The weakest among them were upper-tier gods, and they had all gathered together in their respective factions. Many of the individuals present turned their gaze toward John, filled with hostility, especially those from the Shadow n. Seven city lords and over a hundred Shadow n upper-tier gods at their peak strength gritted their teeth, looking as if they wanted to tear him apart. "Ice Talker, you''re still alive!" A middle-aged man in ck armor, carrying a longsword on his back, appeared. Upon seeing Ice Talker, his expression shifted to one of surprise. "Burning Sky!" A Terran warrior next to John shouted angrily and took a step forward, ready to strike, but was immediately stopped by Ice Talker. The rules of the Secret Area forbade fighting among the participants. If anyone vited this rule, they would be teleported away and permanently lose their chance to im the treasures of The Immortals. "So this guy is Burning Sky?" John thought, curiously examining the middle-aged man, his gaze sharp and hostile. "Heh." Burning Sky sneered, his face full of disdain, and said in a cold tone, "You should be grateful that killing isn''t allowed within the Secret Area." With that, he ignored the group and led his subordinates over to stand with the Eternal n. The Witch n and Eternal n had already formed an alliance, and Burning Sky had a close rtionship with Humdwar. The two of them spoke quietly to each other. Every so often, Burning Sky would nce at John, his expression filled with shock, his brow furrowed, and his eyes burning with killing intent. John didn''t need to guess; he knew what they were plotting. He dismissed the thought and turned to Ice Talker, asking, "The Secret Area prohibits killing each other?" "Godyer, didn''t you hear the rules of the Secret Area?" Cand-Dragon asked in confusion. When they entered the Secret Area, the rules had been announced. John suddenly realized, replying casually, "I must have spaced out for a moment." The others were puzzled but didn''t press him further. At that moment, the Secret Area''s rules sounded again. [Winter is Coming-The Secret Area temporarily closes, no entry or exit allowed.] [The rules of the Secret Area: Either gain the final treasure or fail the trials; if you fail, the Secret Area closes permanently.] [The first trial begins: The mes of War Ignite.] [Contestants must join either The Immortals or Shadow n factions to oppose each other. Different factions can engage inbat, and thews do not apply to protect them.] [If The Immortals faction wins, they automatically advance to the next trial. If Shadow n wins, they receive basic rewards, and the Secret Area will close permanently. Choose your faction now.] Chapter 328: Chapter 328: The Immortals Faction, Golden-Patterned Hunters Chapter 328: Chapter 328: The Immortals Faction, Golden-Patterned Hunters ? The system prompt shed on the screen, and John and his group decisively chose to join The Immortals faction. Other powerful figures from various races hesitated for a moment, but eventually, they also chose to join The Immortals faction. At this point, the warriors from Shadow n became restless. "This is unfair, this is targeting our Shadow n! I protest!" one of them yelled angrily. The others, however, looked at him with disdain. Although they were all part of the Lord God faction, they held no fondness for Shadow n. Of course, they were even more hostile toward The Immortals, but the reality was that only if The Immortals faction won could they advance to the next trial and obtain the ultimate rewards. For the treasure of The Immortals in the Secret Area, they had no choice but to temporarily align with The Immortals faction. One person sneered, "You can always choose the Shadow n faction. Who knows, maybe you''ll win after all?" "Exactly. You Shadow n people always im to be the top race, right? I have high hopes for you," another mocked. The others joined in, taunting the Shadow n warriors. Enraged, the Shadow n warriors gritted their teeth but had no other option. They dared not choose the Shadow n faction, for if they lost, they would be teleported away or even perish here. [Please choose a faction as soon as possible. If no choice is made within ten seconds, you will automatically be ced in the weaker faction.] The system prompt echoed again, and a ten-second countdown began. "My lord, let''s join The Immortals. We are no match for those guys," one of Shadow n''s subordinates said anxiously, looking at their leader. It was clear that Shadow n was the weaker side. The leader of Shadow n was Yealper, the lord of the 47th City. The number of a city lord signified their rank in strength. Yealper was exceptionally powerful, even rivaling a Tier 3 Overseer in the early stages. But despite his power, he knew that joining Shadow n to oppose the other factions would be a suicide mission. Grinding his teeth, Yealper hesitated for a moment, but as the countdown reached its final second, he joined The Immortals faction. "Humph, coward." "I thought your Shadow n was supposed to be so strong. Turns out, you don''t even have the courage to fight The Immortals." The others mocked him mercilessly. Yealper''s gaze turned cold, and he silently made a mental note of the individuals who had spoken so disrespectfully. However, his subordinates could no longer hold back their anger. One of them shouted, "We''re not afraid of you! We only joined The Immortals faction to fight for the ultimate treasure!" "Heh, still acting tough, huh? You''re just as shameless as before," the others sneered. John stood off to the side, arms crossed, in a posture that suggested he was just watching the show. It seemed that all the other races looked down on Shadow n. Jolyne observed that even Shadow n had joined The Immortals faction and felt a pang of disappointment in her heart. She, from the Feather Race, knew that the disaster her people faced was brought on by Shadow n. She had hoped to use this opportunity to kill a few of the Shadow n''s strong warriors. [Faction Selection Completed: It has been detected that no strong warriors from the Shadow n faction have joined, automatically generating Shadow n warriors.] The Secret Area prompt shed, and John initially thought that without a Shadow n faction, the trial would proceed immediately. But now it seemed that wasn''t the case. Whoosh! The surrounding Shadow Laws surged, and massive, powerful auras descended. "Golden-Patterned Hunters?" John was surprised. Arge number of Hunters with golden patterns appeared around him. They weren''t the queen insects, but they had reached the demigod realm. The majority were lower-tier gods and mid-tier gods, and some were even upper-tier gods, all with golden patterns. There were at least one hundred thousand of them. Not only that, a huge army of Shadow n puppets arrived, all of them at the upper-tier gods level, with many of them being city lord-level experts from Shadow n''s main cities. "Why do I feel like The Immortals are the weaker side?" someone said, astonished. Others also had serious expressions, vigntly watching the Golden-Patterned Hunters army and the Shadow n puppets. Yealper, seeing this, wore an excited expression and silently led the Shadow n warriors to retreat to the side. Although he had joined the The Immortals faction, he had no intention of fighting the Shadow n puppets. Moreover, the Golden-Patterned Hunters'' brood mothers were immensely powerful, and he didn''t feel confident enough to deal with them. [The First Trial of the Secret Area Begins] A prompt appeared. Instantly, the Golden-Patterned Hunters'' brood mothers and the Shadow n puppets were activated. They roared and charged at everyone. Burning Sky''s expression changed slightly. He immediately reminded the group, "The Overseers should deal with the Golden-Patterned Hunters, while the rest handle the Shadow n puppets." After speaking, he rushed straight at a Golden-Patterned Hunter. ck mes surged around him-it was Hellfire. However, the Hellfire that Burning Sky wielded was different from John''s Golden Lotus Hellfire. This ck me carried a sinister, corrupting power. Several Golden-Patterned Hunters were engulfed in the ck mes, and they instantly screamed in agony as the mes burrowed into their bodies. Within moments, they copsed to the ground, burning from the inside, their bodies charred ck and their life forces extinguished. What a bizarre method! John was shocked. Burning Sky''s power far surpassed what he had expected. Fortunately, he had his Golden me Lotus, which made him immune to the effects of this Hellfire. The battle erupted in an instant, and the area was filled with cries of pain. Ordinary upper-tier gods couldn''t withstand the attacks of the Golden-Patterned Hunters. These Golden-Patterned Hunters were far more powerful than ordinary Hunters. Roar! With an enraged roar, several Golden-Patterned Hunters locked their sights on John and his group. "Godyer, be careful, this one has soul-based attacks," Ice Talker warned. Around him, the power of the Ice and Wood elements surged as he charged toward one of the Golden- Patterned Hunters. John, curious, also joined the battle, but he didn''t actively attack. Instead, he wanted to observe the methods of these Golden-Patterned Hunters. One of the Golden-Patterned Hunters lunged directly at him. Puff! Blood sprayed as a damage number shed. -2,200,000 1% of his health was lost, and it was apanied by 1% of soul damage. John felt a wave of dizziness in his head. He now understood the Golden-Patterned Hunters'' attack methods. If he were surrounded by tens of thousands of these creatures, they could easily y even a The Overseer or a Lord God-level powerhouse. It seemed that the earlier warnings about the Hunters'' Brood Mothers weren''t exaggerated. However, for John, these Golden-Patterned Hunters still posed no threat. No longer testing them, he decisively struck back. Buzz! A massive sword intent surged, and three longswords flew out, effortlessly shredding the Golden-Patterned Hunter. [Golden-Patterned Hunter killed, 67.66 billion experience gained] [Plunder Talent activated, Shadow Power +10, Physical Crit +1] The prompt shed. Just like the Shadow n''s upper-tier gods, Golden-Patterned Hunters could be Plundered for 10 points of Shadow Power. His Shadow Power had already reached over 6 million points, but it was still only 1% of the health damage, with no noticeable increase.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Roar... Roar... More furious roars echoed as arge number of Golden-Patterned Hunters surged toward them. The pressure on everyone increased, and they had to fight with all their might. Particrly for Cand-Dragon and Jolyne, it was a life-threatening situation. Both were peak upper-tier gods, but there was still a significant gap between them and The Overseer. If even 100 Golden-Patterned Hunters struck them, they would surely perish. The Immortals faction had already suffered casualties. John no longer held back his power. A powerful gale swept through the area, and an overwhelming pressure enveloped the battlefield. He immediately activated Heaven and Earth Transformation, transforming into a towering giant. The massivemotion drew more attacks from the Golden-Patterned Hunters and the Shadow n puppets. "Die!" he roared, fearless. Three terrifying sword beams ripped through space. With a single horizontal sweep of his longsword,rge numbers of Golden-Patterned Hunters were in. "Impressive!" Burning Sky watched the scene, his brows furrowing. It seemed that Humdwar had been right-this human''s strength was not to be underestimated based on appearances alone. Even so, he was not afraid in the slightest. His soul was powerful, his body was strong, and he had no weaknesses. Killing John would be a simple task for him. Boom! Boom! The air was filled with a rumbling sound as the power ofws surged, and the Hunters roared incessantly. The casualties on The Immortals'' side continued to rise. It wasn''t that these individuals weren''t a match for the Golden-Patterned Hunters. Rather, they each had their own agenda and didn''t engage in a full-scale fight. Burning Sky and the others were intentionally holding back, allowing the Golden-Patterned Hunters to ughter more of the strong fighters in order to reduce the number of competitors. As a result, John and his group became the ones to kill the most Golden-Patterned Hunters. As the battle continued, the losses on The Immortals'' side grew severe, and only the peak- level The Overseer and upper-tier gods remained. Everyone had stopped holding back and was fully engaged in battle. John, in particr, focused on the Shadow n puppets, more than thirty of which were as powerful as the Shadow City Lords. He was curious to see if killing these puppets would also allow him to Plunder insights into the Shadowws. Whoosh! Blood began to fill the air as the Blood Domain was activated. This was a Blood Domain cast by the more than thirty Shadow n puppets, filled with a powerful, bloody killing aura that suppressed everyone''s strength. However, John was not afraid in the least. With a wave of his hand, he cast his own Blood Domain. Boom! Boom! The two Blood Domains collided, and the thunderous sound echoed across the battlefield. The powerful power ofws tore apart the space, and endless spatial turbulence surged around them. However, John''s Blood Domain was even more powerful and quickly dominated the field. These Shadow n puppets had no emotions. Ignoring the countless skill attacks, they charged through the spatial turbulence and fearlessly rushed toward John. "Hmph, overestimating yourselves!" John sneered, his disdain evident. Three sword beams intertwined as he unleashed a frenzy of attacks. Crack! The Shadow n puppet in the front was instantly shredded. [You killed a Shadow n puppet, gaining 26.766 billion experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: Shadow Lawprehension +0.5%, Shadow Power +10, Strength +5000, Skill Points +1000.] The prompt shed. These powerful Shadow n puppets could indeed be Plundered for Shadow Lawsprehension. However,pared to the Shadow City Lords, they only yielded 0.5% of the Shadow Lawsprehension. John was more than satisfied with this. With a thought, he directly stored the powerful Shadow n puppets into his World-in-Hand. Even if they only gave 0.5% of Shadow Lawsprehension, these Shadow n puppets would still provide a significant boost to his Shadow Power. With the powerful Shadow n puppets gone, the pressure on everyone was greatly reduced. They now found it much easier to ughter the ordinary Shadow n puppets. With the World-in-Hand backing him, John was even more confident, effortlessly killing thirty-two Shadow City Lord-level puppets. He gained another 16% in Shadow Lawsprehension, bringing his total to 38.1%. His control over the Shadow Laws became much more refined, and his strength also received a substantial boost. With a thought, he exited the World-in-Hand. The remaining Golden-Patterned Hunters and Shadow n puppets were quickly dealt with, and the The Secret Area prompt appeared once again. Chapter 329: Chapter 329: Spirit Stone Rewards, Lich War Chapter 329: Chapter 329: Spirit Stone Rewards, Lich War ? [The first trial is over. The Immortals faction has emerged victorious.] [All members of The Immortals faction receive 100 low-grade Spirit Stones. The top three enemy yers are awarded 100 mid-grade Spirit Stones.] A notification appeared, and John received 100 mid-grade Spirit Stones. "Spirit crystal? What are these?" He retrieved a finger-sized, translucent Spirit Stone, examining it curiously. Ice Talker exined, "These are treasures that enhance specific powers, even rarer than ordinary Spirit Stones." Low-grade Spirit crystals could enhance 10 points of spiritual power or attributes such as natural force or demon energy upon refinement. Mid-grade Spirit crystals could enhance 20 points of spiritual power. "What an incredible treasure!" John eximed. Spiritual power was usually umted by absorbing ordinary Spirit Stones and converting them into mental attributes at a ratio of 100 points of mental attributes to 1 point of spiritual power. However, these Spirit crystals directly boosted spiritual power or other attributes, making them invaluable. "I didn''t get any mid-grade Spirit crystal. If I''d known, I would''ve hunted more Shadow n puppets," Terranmented. He had ced fifth in the enemy-ying rankings and only received 100 low-grade Spirit Stones. Cand-Dragon and Jolyne simrly received only 100 low-grade Spirit Spirit crystals. The top three yers were John, Ice Talker, and Burning Sky. "The Secret Area rewards Spirit Stones as standard prizes!" Other strongpetitors from various races felt deep regret, wishing they had gone all out against the Shadow n puppets. At that moment, the scenery shifted. The group found themselves standing in a dense forest as another notification shed. [The second trial of The Secret Area begins: Lich War.] [Participants may choose to join the Beast n, Witch n, Underworld n, or Sea n.] [Combat is permitted between members of different factions, with no protection from universalws.] [If the Beast n wins, they will advance to the next stage. If the Witch n wins, participants will receive Chaos Force rewards, and The Secret Area will close. Choose your faction now.] "Lich War?" John muttered in surprise. He nced at Cand-Dragon and asked, "Did the Beast n ever fight the Witch n?" Cand-Dragon looked equally puzzled. After a moment of thought, he replied, "There is an old legend about it. The Beast n once established the Heavenly Court and became incredibly powerful. But how it fell, I don''t know-it was long before my time." Ice Talker interjected, "If your Beast n could rival the Witch n, then you must have had Lord God-level powerhouses during your peak." Her gaze shifted to Burning Sky, her expression icy. This time, it seemed inevitable they would sh directly with the Witch n. "My Sea n is an option here. Naturally, I''m joining my own faction," said an Overseer from the Sea n smugly, throwing a provocative nce at John. The members of the Underworld n simrly chose their own faction without hesitation. The Witch n faction, with Burning Sky-ate-stage three-star Overseer-was undoubtedly a formidable force. Few others stood a chance against them. The Witch n''s victory came with the coveted Chaos Force reward, capable of enhancing the World-in-Hand¡ªan unparalleled temptation for any The Overseer. Moreover, given that the ultimate reward in The Immortals'' Secret Area might not necessarily suit their respective races, many participants found it more pragmatic to side with the faction with higher chances of winning-the Witch n. "Godyer, which faction should we join?" Cand-Dragon asked, clearly unconvinced that the Beast n had any chance of victory. A loss not only meant forfeiting The Secret Area''s treasures but also potentially losing their lives. "Of course, the Beast n," John replied without the slightest hesitation, decisively aligning himself with the Beast n. He was unfazed by thepetition. If it came down to a fight, even Burning Sky might not be able to defeat him. Most powerhouses from the various races chose the Witch n faction. Yet, unexpectedly, Burning Sky began walking toward John''s side. "Sir, you''re mistaken. Our side is the Witch n faction," someone called out quickly upon noticing Burning Sky heading toward the Beast n faction. John, too, was puzzled by this move, unable to fathom what the man was nning. Wearing an amused smile, Burning Sky spoke calmly, "I appreciate everyone''s support for my Witch n. But this time, I choose the Beast n faction." "What... what?" "Sir, you must be joking," came panicked voices from the crowd. Most of those who chose the Witch n faction had not done so for the Chaos Force reward but rather out of fear of Burning Sky''s overwhelming power. But now, he had unexpectedly chosen the Beast n faction, putting himself at odds with the Witch n. "Sir, think carefully! Doing this is tantamount to betraying the Witch n!" "Damn it, I''m joining the Beast n too!" "This guy is messing with us!" ... The crowd erupted into curses and outrage. Some even tried to switch to the Beast n faction, but once a faction was joined, it was irreversible. Burning Sky led several Witch n elites and decisively joined the Beast n faction. Meanwhile, the remaining undecided members of the Eternal n and Sky God n also aligned themselves with the Beast n. Smiling, Burning Sky nced at John and Ice Talker, then said, "Looks like we''re allies now." "Hmph!" Ice Talker scoffed disdainfully, unwilling to engage with him. John, however, felt a pang of disappointment; he had hoped to use this opportunity to eliminate Burning Sky. Fixing a questioning gaze on him, John asked, "Are you aiming for The Immortals'' reward? Do you know what the final reward in The Secret Area is?" "I don''t know," Burning Sky replied casually, "but the final reward is definitely more enticing than Chaos Force." His expression was calm, as though Chaos Force wasn''t even worth his attention. John frowned but chose not to respond further. At this point, all factions had made their selections: Witch n''s side: Sea n, Underworld n, Shadow n, Sky n, and Titan n. Beast n''s side: John, Nature n, members of the Witch n led by Burning Sky, and Eternal n. With Burning Sky and Humdwar, bothte-stage three-star Overseers, the Beast n clearly had the upper hand. [Factions confirmed. Lich War begins.] The notification from The Secret Area rang out, and the atmosphere immediately grew tense as both sides prepared for battle. "We Sky Gods withdraw from this round of The Secret Area trials," a powerhouse from the Sky n announced abruptly. "We Titans withdraw as well," dered a Titan Overseer, leading his n members to step aside. Participants could withdraw from their faction before the battle officially started, though doing so meant failing the trial and forfeiting entry to the next stage. "You...!" The remaining powerhouses on the Lich faction seethed in anger, but many began to voice their intention to quit as well. It was at that moment that John and Burning Sky struck simultaneously. des of light filled the air as ck mes surged. Theirbined assault drew everyone still in the Lich faction into the fray, leaving them no option to withdraw. "You bastards!" "Despicable!" The Sea n, Underworld n, and Shadow n were caught off guard and forced to engage in battle. Chaos erupted as they scrambled to defend themselves. "Human," Burning Sky sneered, turning to John with a provocative grin. "Care topete? Let''s see who gets first ce this time." "Deal!" John agreed without hesitation. "Ha! Then you''ve already lost." Burning Sky smirked, raising his hand as ck mes surgedn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om forth, engulfing over 500 powerhouses across three factions. Screams of agony echoed through the battlefield as victims writhed and struggled in the hellish mes. Burning Sky''s Hellfire was terrifyingly powerful. Even Ice Talker struggled to withstand it, let alone the weakerbatants who were consumed instantly. At this rate, it was clear Burning Sky intended to annihte everyone in his path. John, unwilling to let him have his way, activated his World-in-Hand ability. In an instant, the powerhouses from all three factions, including Ice Talker and herpanions, were absorbed into his World-in-Hand. "What?" Burning Sky frowned as his intended victims disappeared. He hadn''t expected John to dare use his World-in-Hand to take in so many powerful beings. Even he wouldn''t have risked such an audacious move. "Foolish," Burning Sky muttered with disdain. "If your World-in-Hand is destroyed, you''re as good as dead." Inside the World-in-Hand Agonized cries reverberated throughout the dimension. The eerie ck mes clung tenaciously to the trapped powerhouses, refusing to dissipate. Several upper-tier gods began to smolder from within, ck smoke pouring from their bodies before theybusted entirely, wiped out without resistance. John was taken aback. Burning Sky''s Hellfire was far more horrifying than he had imagined. Only upper-tier gods at their peak and Overseers could barely withstand it, avoiding certain death. "You, human! How dare you trap us in your World-in-Hand? Utter foolishness!" Yealper from the Shadow n growled, barely holding off the burning Hellfire. He scanned the surroundings with a scornful expression. He sneered coldly, "Let''s destroy this human''s World-in-Hand first. After that, we''ll figure out how to deal with Burning Sky and his group." "No!" someone quickly objected. "If we leave here, we''ll be killed for sure. We should stay and force this human to abandon the trial and take us out of here." "That makes sense!" The crowd''s eyes lit up in agreement, nodding one after the other. An Overseer from the Underworld n turned to John, his tone icy. "Human, you wouldn''t want your precious World-in-Hand destroyed, would you? Abandon the trial. Take us out, and we''ll spare your life." "That''s right. Otherwise, not only you but everyone with you will die!" others chimed in, their voices heavy with threat. Ice Talker''s face darkened with anger, but deep down, she worried that John''s World-in- Hand might not withstand the power of theirbined assaults. There were 13 Overseers, 7 Shadow n city lords, and 400 upper-tier gods at their peak here - a force not to be underestimated. "Ha! You should worry about yourselves first," John scoffed, unfazed by their threats. He didn''t even bother to use Heaven and Earth Transformation, raising his hand as a blood-red mist engulfed the area-his Blood Domain activated. "What an overwhelming Shadow Power!" someone eximed, finding their strength drastically suppressed within the blood fog. "Impossible! Human, how can you wield such potent Shadow Power?" Yealper was stunned. As a city lord who controlled 10% of the Shadow n''s Power of Laws, he had never felt so constrained. Yet, even he couldn''t escape the suppressive force of John''s Blood Domain. "Destroy the Blood Domain first!"manded an Overseer from the Underworld n. Power surged around him, his Power of Laws resisting the domain''s pressure as he unleashed a devastating strike. The others followed suit, theirbined Power of Laws erupting into a torrent of terrifying attacks that shattered the Blood Domain within seconds. The domain held up for barely a dozen seconds before copsing under the overwhelming onught. The Blood Domain was effective against regr upper-tier gods, but it couldn''t stand against Overseers. "Human, this is yourst chance," Yealper sneered coldly. "Agree to take us out, or die!" John''s patience wore thin. Without a word, he summoned a myriad of sword lights, unleashing his Return of Ten Thousand Swords technique. "You arrogant fool! Let''s teach him a lesson first!" the crowd roared angrily, deciding not to destroy the World-in-Hand but insteadunching their attacks at John. Chapter 330: Chapter 330: Ranked First, The Final Trial Chapter 330: Chapter 330: Ranked First, The Final Trial ? Whoosh... A fierce wind howled as overwhelming Power of Laws surged, and an onught of abilities rained down, engulfing Johnpletely. Ice Talker and the others looked on nervously. Among their attackers were thirteen Overseers, most of them at the two-star and three-star levels-an intimidating force to contend with. John could sense the immense power of these enemies. Knowing he couldn''t take them head- on, he activated his Elemental Evasion, vanishing instantly and dodging the barrage of skills. Boom! Boom! A series of explosions rocked the World-in-Hand, causing it to tremble slightly. The attackers froze, startled. They dared not unleash their full strength. If they identally destroyed John''s World-in-Hand, they would be forced back into The Secret Area, where they''d face Burning Sky and his group-a certain death sentence. "Human, this is yourst chance. Don''t me us for being ruthless if you refuse," the Underworld n Overseer said coldly, his tone heavy with threat. "As if you could actually destroy my World-in-Hand," John sneered, his gaze sharp as countless sword lights shimmered into existence. This time, he wielded the Heaven''s Power of Laws. Whoosh! An infinite storm of sword lights descended, tearing through the void. "Heaven''s Power of Laws? Impossible!" several Overseers eximed, their faces darkening as they felt the overwhelming might of the attack. They mustered all their strength to defend. But even with theirbined efforts, they couldn''t withstand the damage inflicted by Heaven''s Power of Laws. Several upper-tier gods were obliterated on the spot. The survivors looked visibly shaken, retreating in disarray. Yealper wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression grave. "This human is far too dangerous. We can''t hold back any longer. Destroy his World-in-Hand, and we''ll deal with the rest after we get out." "Agreed," others responded, nodding as they realized how terrifying John truly was. Without hesitation, they unleashed their full power. Massive waves of Power of Laws surged as theyunched reckless attacks, aiming to obliterate John''s World-in-Hand. Shadow n powerhouses joined in, using vast amounts of Undying me, detonating it with explosive force equal to that of an Overseer''s strongest attacks. Under the relentless assault, the space within the World-in-Hand began to crack. Spatial rifts formed, and chaotic streams of energy surged wildly, further destabilizing the dimension. Ice Talker watched with growing concern, fear evident in her eyes. Yet John remained unperturbed. Raising his longsword high, Chaos Force swirled around him, gathering into a colossal sword light that pierced the heavens. "Creation and Destruction!" he roared, unleashing the massive sword light with an unstoppable momentum. The sword light, imbued with world-ending energy, cut downward in a devastating arc. But instead of further damaging the World-in-Hand, it began to repair it. Spatial rifts closed, chaotic streams of energy dissipated, and the dimension grew even more stable, showing no signs of copse. "What''s happening?" the attackers eximed in shock, staring in disbelief at the sight before them. "This is absurd! Such an ability exists?" Ice Talker murmured, her face pale with astonishment. It was her first time witnessing John use Creation and Destruction. No wonder he had been so confident, fearlessly dragging all the Overseers into his World-in- Hand. With this ability, he was practically invincible. "Stop standing around!" John snapped, turning to Ice Talker and the others, who were frozen in awe. "You handle the upper-tier gods. Leave the Overseers and Shadow n city lords to me." With his assurance, the others snapped out of their stupor, refocusing on the battle. Whoosh! Golden mes erupted, engulfing everyone in their path. "Ahhhh!" Agonized screams echoed through the dimension as the golden mes consumed the attackers, sparing no one from their relentless fury. "Hellfire! This human can wield Hellfire as well!" Hundreds writhed in agony within the golden mes, their struggles futile. Only a handful of Overseers and Shadow n city lords managed to withstand the attack. "Charge!" Ice Talker and the others quickly recovered from their shock,unching an all-out assault on the upper-tier gods. John could have easily dealt with them himself, but the more enemies a participant defeated, the greater the rewards. Roar! A dragon''s roar echoed through the space as Cand-Dragon unleashed Heaven and Earth Transformation, reverting to his true form-a colossal dragon that spanned the entire dimension. Though both Cand-Dragon and Jolyne were peak upper-tier gods, their strength paled inparison to Ice Talker and Terran. They could only manage to hold off some of the weaker peak upper-tier gods. "Human! I refuse to believe you can handle all of us!" Yealper bellowed through gritted teeth, his frustration palpable. Shadow n''s vast Power of Laws surged around him as he unleashed his full strength, abandoning any reservations. The others followed suit, coordinating an all-out assault on John. Faced with the overwhelming attack from over twenty enemies, even John found himself temporarily on the back foot, forced into a defensive position. [You were killed by a Sea n Overseer. The Blessed Ring activates...] A system notification shed. Caught off guard, John was instantly struck down by the Overseer from the Sea n. Momentster, he resurrected in the same spot,pletely unharmed. "Damn it!" John growled, his irritation evident. With a wave of his hand, he summoned another Blood Domain. Enveloping everyone within its crimson haze. Before the Overseers could coordinate to break through it again, John unleashed another skill -Nine Heavens Sword. Whoosh! Three massive sword lights tore through the space, their sheer size blocking out the sky as they shed downward with unstoppable force. Each sword light was imbued with the devastating power of Heaven''s Power of Laws. Panic spread across the faces of his attackers. They knew better than to take the attack head- on, and they scrambled to dodge. But not everyone was fast enough. Several Shadow n city lords failed to evade and were shredded by the devastating sword strikes. [You killed a Shadow n city lord, gaining 26.766 billion experience points.] [Plunder Talent activated: Shadow Power of Lawsprehension +1%, Constitution +5000, Agility +5000, Strength +10,000.] The notifications rolled in as John effortlessly dispatched several Shadow n powerhouses and a few weaker two-star Overseers. Adding another 1% to his Shadow Lawsprehension. The remaining enemies were thrown intoplete disarray. They could neither withstand John''s Heaven''s Power of Laws nor destroy his World-in-Hand. It became painfully clear that staying here or leaving would both lead to certain death. "Human! Don''t kill me! I''ll surrender to you!" one of the two-star Overseers shouted in desperation, his fear overtaking his pride. The others cast scornful nces at him. To them, this was the ultimate disgrace. As Overseers, protected by thews of Heaven itself, they typically didn''t even show deference to Lord Gods. For one of them to beg for mercy from a mere human was nothing short of an unforgivable humiliation. "Heh, you''re too pathetic. You''re not worth my time," John scoffed, his disdain evident as he ignored the pleas for mercy. A fierce wind roared as an overwhelming pressure filled the air. John transformed into a towering giant using Heaven and Earth Transformation, his body radiating power as waves of Laws surged outward. Unleashing a barrage of devastating abilities imbued with Heaven''s Power of Laws, he bombarded his enemies relentlessly. They had no chance of resisting. With thebination of his Wrath of the Gods talent and Spell Combo. John fought with the force of an entire army. [You killed an Underworld n Overseer, gaining 26.766 billion experience points.] [Your level has increased to 22,081.] [Plunder Talent activated: Heaven Lawsprehension +1%, Strength +10,000, Spirit +10,000, Skill Points +1,000.] The notifications shed endlessly as John easily annihted every enemy, earning a massive amount of experience and advancing to level 22,081. However, the road to reaching level 50,000 and ascending to mid-tier godhood remained a distant one. What saw the greatest improvement were his Shadow Lawsprehension and Heaven Laws comprehension. By defeating seven more Shadow n city lords, his Shadow Lawsprehension rose to 45.1%. At this point, only the Shadow n''s Lord God could pose a threat to him within the n. Meanwhile, his Heaven Lawsprehension soared by 13%, reaching 26%. He could feel the increased ease and precision with which he wielded the Heaven''s Power of Laws, making his techniques far more formidable. Boom! Boom! Thunderous sounds reverberated from the battlefield as Ice Talker and the others continued fighting the remaining 400 elite peak upper-tier gods. Thesebatants were the finest warriors of their respective races, and despite their efforts, they couldn''t be defeated in a short time. John casually collected the spoils left by the fallen enemies without inspecting them closely. He then joined the other side of the battlefield, cutting down the remaining upper-tier gods with ruthless efficiency. These opponents were a valuable source of experience points. More importantly, the top three trial participants in enemy kills would receive additional rewards. This time, John personally eliminated over 200 enemies. Ice Talker and Terran each took down over 100, while Cand-Dragon and Jolyne, being weaker, managed to defeat abined total of slightly over 100. Unlike previous trials, no trial puppets appeared during this faction challenge. Unsurprisingly, John, Ice Talker, and Terran seemed poised to im the top three spots. "Let''s go," John said calmly, signaling the group to return to The Secret Area after eliminating all the enemies. ... Burning Sky and hispanions stood waiting, their expressions bored as they loitered without a target. Suddenly, John and his team appeared, prompting immediate vignce. "Hm? Human, you killed the Sea n, Underworld n, and Shadow n powerhouses?" Burning Sky''s eyes narrowed in surprise as he noticed only John''s group returning. Humdwar appeared slightly surprised. He was well aware of John''s abilities, which were sufficient to kill Overseers, but his World-in-Hand shouldn''t have been able to withstand thebined assaults of those enemies. It seemed those attackers had been too afraid to destroy John''s World-in-Hand outright. "Human, you''re truly despicable," Humdwar growled coldly, fixing his gaze on John. ... [The second trial is over. The Beast n faction has won.] [All members of the Beast n faction receive 100 low-grade Spirit Stones. The top three enemy yers are awarded 100 mid-grade Spirit Stones.] The notification shed as the second trial concluded. As expected, John, Ice Talker, and Terran imed the top three spots, each receiving an additional 100 mid-grade Spirit Stones as a reward. Burning Sky and Humdwar red at John and his team. If not for John''s maniptive tactics, they were confident they could have also earned the 100 mid-grade Spirit Stones. [The Secret Area''s third trial begins: The Final Showdown.] [Participants may choose to join either The Immortals faction or the Eight Lord Gods'' faction.] [If The Immortals faction wins, participants will receive the ultimate reward. If the Eight Lord Gods'' faction wins, participants will receive rewards specific to their respective races.] - The notification marked the start of the third and final trial, the most challenging one yet. Thisst stage would pit The Immortals faction against thebined forces of the Eight Lord Gods'' factions. Without hesitation, John decisively chose to join The Immortals faction, throwing a taunting nce at Burning Sky and the others. With his increased mastery of the Heaven''s Power of Laws, John was eager for a direct confrontation with them-this time, to eliminate them once and for all. "Burning Sky, which faction will you choose this time?" Humdwar asked, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward Burning Sky. Besides John, only Humdwar''s Eternal n and Burning Sky''s Witch n remained. Humdwar had no desire to be on opposing sides with Burning Sky. Burning Sky smirked, his gaze locking on John. "Human, how about we make another wager? Whoever loses will hand over all their Spirit Stone rewards. Do you dare?" His choice was made clear as he once again joined The Immortals faction. John frowned. It was evident that Burning Sky was deeply interested in the final reward of Then/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Secret Area. Chapter 331: Chapter 331: Lord God Puppets, Law Enhancement Chapter 331: Chapter 331: Lord God Puppets, Law Enhancement ? The final reward in The Secret Area is rted to The Immortals. Could it be that Burning Sky already knew about the rewards of The Secret Area? "Alright, it''s a deal," John looked at him without a trace of fear and decisively epted the wager. He believed his strength wasn''t inferior to Burning Sky. Soon, the faction selection wasplete. The Witch n and Eternal n''s Humdwar all chose to join The Immortals'' faction. Not a single person joined the eight Lord God factions. [Faction selectionplete. No powerful individuals detected in the eight Lord God factions. Trial puppets will be automatically generated.] The notification shed. An overwhelming pressure filled the air as powerful figures began to materialize. "Lord God puppets? How is this possible?" Humdwar eximed in shock. Gazing at the formidable puppets, he couldn''t help but swallow hard in fear. For the eight Lord God factions, one Lord God puppet, forty Overseer puppets, and 80,000 peak-tier gods from various Lord God factions had been generated. On John''s side, there were barely over 300 individuals. In both numbers and strength, they were no match for the enemy. Burning Sky also looked grim. He wasn''t afraid of the Overseer puppets or the peak-tier gods, but the Lord God puppet was an opponent he couldn''t hope to defeat. This trial was outright impossible to clear. Had he known earlier, he would have joined one of the eight Lord God factions. Even if it meant forfeiting the final reward of The Secret Area, it would at least have been better than losing his life. He hesitated, debating whether to give up on the trial altogether. [Trial 3 begins. Sess will grant ess to the ultimate reward of The Secret Area.] The system notification shed again. Before Burning Sky could speak, an immense surge of The Heaven''s power ofws swept over them, enveloping everyone in an instant. "Die!" A cold, mechanical voice echoed as the Lord God puppet charged straight at him. Among them, Burning Sky had the highest cultivation level, making him the puppet''s primary target. Whoosh! A whirlwind howled as The Heaven''s power ofws condensed. With a casual strike, the Lord God puppet sent Burning Sky flying backward, blood spurting from his mouth. The Lord God puppet, being a mere construct, was immune to the bacsh of The Heaven''s blessing, allowing it to attack Overseers without restraint. "So strong!" John frowned slightly at the sight. He wasn''t sure if he could defeat this puppet. Buzz! The power ofws surged, and the Lord God puppet shed again, reappearing in front of Burning Sky. "Damn it!" Burning Sky panicked, ck and powerful Witch nws surging around him. A pair of ck gauntlets appeared in his hands. With a furious shout, he swung them toward the puppet. Boom! A deafening explosion resounded. He had no chance to fight back and was once again sent flying, coughing up blood. "This thing is too strong! We must join forces, or we''re dead for sure!" He struggled to his feet, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and dered grimly. "Burning Sky, I''ll help you!" Without hesitation, Humdwar joined the battlefield. Meanwhile, John remained indifferent and said, "Good luck, you two. I''ll take care of the other Overseer puppets first." "Idiot!" Burning Sky and Humdwar cursed in unison. The two of them stood no chance against the Lord God puppet. Four Overseers under theirmand had joined the fight as well, but even so, they were utterly outmatched.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om To make matters worse, the Lord God puppetpletely ignored John and focused solely on attacking them. "Human! If we die here, you won''t survive either!" ck mes roaring to life as he threw himself fully into defending against the Lord God puppet''s assault. His Hellfire wasn''t just destructive; it also inflicted soul damage, burning his enemies from the inside out. The Overseers managed to barely hold off the Lord God puppet''s attacks, but it was only a temporary reprieve. John and the others were also under immense pressure. Over forty Overseer puppets and more than 80,000 peak upper-tier god puppets had surrounded them entirely. Among them, Cand-Dragon and Jolyne, being the weakest, were in constant peril. "If I''d known, I would''ve brought Tony along," Cand-Dragon muttered, his body transformed into its Heaven and Earth Transformation state, covered in countless wounds. He found himself missing Tony''s Immortal Golden Body, which could perfectly counter these enemies'' attacks. John''s brows furrowed tightly. "Enter my World-in-Hand," he ordered. With a single thought, he pulled the forty Overseer puppets and the 80,000 peak upper-tier gods into his World-in-Hand. He also granted Cand-Dragon and Jolyne a portion of the World-in-Hand''sws, empowering them while they were inside. "Despicable human, pulling the same trick again!" Burning Sky cursed as he watched John and his group vanish along with the enemies. Yet, they remained entangled with the Lord God puppet, unable to intervene. ... Inside World-in-Hand, tens of thousands of powerful foes suddenly descended, including the forty mighty Overseer puppets. The overwhelming aura rippled through the space, causing it to tremble violently. John''s expression was solemn. He transformed into his Heaven and Earth Transformation state, wielding a massive sword, ready at any moment to unleash Creation and Destruction. So many enemies posed a severe threat to his World-in-Hand, and he couldn''t afford to give them a single opening. "End this quickly!" he reminded hispanions, his sword buzzing with intent. Bolstered by The Heaven''sws, three colossal sword shadows tore through the sky, shing toward the Overseer puppets. Ice Talker and Terran immediately invoked their World-in-Handws as well, unleashing their full power in the attack. Boom! Boom! Explosions echoed endlessly as terrifying energy wreaked havoc, shredding the space of the World-in-Hand apart. Even the energy spilling over from their attacks was enough to cause devastating damage to the World-in-Hand. John dared not be careless. Wielding his longsword, he brought it down with immense force, unleashing Creation and Destruction. Whoosh... As the massive sword swept through the air, the shattered space was momentarily restored, only to be destroyed again by the relentless, rampant energy. The cycle repeated endlessly. With a solemn expression, John continued to cast Creation and Destruction, stabilizing the space. While his surroundings brimmed with sword intent. The overwhelming power ofws surged around him as countless sword beams and powerful abilities rained down on his enemies. Every single one of his attacks carried the essence of The Heaven''s power ofws, making them unstoppable against both the Overseer puppets and the peak upper-tier god puppets. At the same time, Ice Talker and Terran unleashed their full strength. One puppet after another was in, and John began to Plunder vast amounts of attributes, causing his level to rise slowly. Surprisingly, even the Overseer puppets could provide fragments of The Heaven''s laws through Plunder, though only a mere 0.5% at a time. For John, this was still a great boon. Unfortunately, these puppets were not true Overseers and thus could not drop the Heart of the Continent. Despite the numerous puppets being destroyed, the pressure on John''s group did not diminish. The remaining puppets became even more ferocious, especially the Overseer puppets. Their aura surged with immense power ofws, making them nearly as formidable as Terran and Ice Talker. Only John could barely keep up with these formidable foes. Whoosh! A bloody mist filled the air as John activated his Blood Domain, enveloping the Overseer puppets and greatly suppressing their cultivation levels. However, the Blood Domain also affected Ice Talker and the others significantly. John quickly called out, "You handle the upper-tier god puppets! Leave these ones to me!" "Alright, be careful," Ice Talker and the others acknowledged, knowing they were no match for the Overseer puppets. They immediately withdrew from the battle against them and turned their attention to the upper-tier god puppets from various races. These puppets, though weaker than the Overseers, were still at the peak upper-tier god level and numbered a staggering 80,000, creating immense pressure on the group. Fortunately, as Overseers, Ice Talker and Terran were powerful enough to barely hold their ground. Boom! Boom! Explosions roared as the Overseer puppets easily tore through John''s Blood Domain, ripping open spatial cracks that unleashed chaotic space currents. The entire World-in-Hand trembled violently under the strain. The strength of these Overseer puppets was truly formidable. John didn''t dare rx. Once again, he cast Creation and Destruction, stabilizing the ruptured space. Then, gathering the full power of The Heaven''sws, he unleashed a barrage of magical skills, bombarding the puppets mercilessly. [You have killed an Overseer Puppet, gaining 26.766 trillion experience points.] [Plunder ability activated: +0.5%prehension of The Heaven''sws, +10 to physical critical rate, +10 to magical critical rate, +1 to luck.] ... The notifications shed continuously as the Overseer puppets, unable to withstand the might of The Heaven''sws, were destroyed one after another. Soon, all forty Overseer puppets had been ughtered by John. Through Plunder, he umted a vast amount of attributes, increasing hisprehension of The Heaven''sws by 18%. His totalprehension of The Heaven''sws now stood at 44%, significantly enhancing his strength once more. Of the forty puppets, John had personally in thirty-six, while Ice Talker and Terran, working together, had managed to take down four. Now, only the army of over 60,000 peak upper-tier god puppets remained. Buzz! A massive surge of sword intent filled the air, sword beams flickering across the skies, nketing the entire puppet army. John joined the fray, and the tide of battle shifted instantly. It became a one-sided massacre. In less than fifteen minutes, every single upper-tier god puppet was wiped out. John''s level shot up to over 23,000, and he had plundered an enormous number of attributes. Unfortunately, these trial puppets didn''t drop any weapons or equipment. "Godyer, it seems like your strength has increased again?" Ice Talker turned to John, her face filled with shock. Previously, John had needed considerable effort to kill peak upper-tier gods, but now he was annihting them with ease. John merely nodded without offering much exnation. Instead, he said, "Let''s go. I wonder how Burning Sky and the others are holding up." He wasn''t sure if Burning Sky and his team could defeat the Lord God puppet, but with a thought, he led his group out of the World-in-Hand. Boom! Boom! Explosions echoed as the power of The Heaven''sws surged wildly. Burning Sky, Humdwar, and their remaining allies were no match for the Lord God puppet and were in a miserable state. Their forces had suffered devastating losses, leaving fewer than one hundred survivors. The Lord God puppet also wielded The Heaven''sws and possessed terrifying attributes that directly countered the Overseers. "Human, hurry up and help us!" Burning Sky, covered in blood and looking battered, had just been sted apart once more. He resurrected on the spot and, seeing John appear, urgently cried for assistance. Fortunately, the puppets generated by The Secret Areacked soul-based attack methods; otherwise, they would have already been doomed. John hesitated for a moment before deciding to intervene. He was curious about the Lord God puppet''s true strength. Buzz! Sword intent resonated through the air as three massive sword beams materialized out of nowhere, tearing through the void and shing directly at the Lord God puppet. Boom! With a deafening explosion, the heavens seemed to tremble. An endless surge of The Heaven''sws rippled outward, sending everyone nearby flying. Even John was forced to take a step back. Chapter 332: Chapter 332: Killing the Lord God Puppet, Passing the Trial Chapter 332: Chapter 332: Killing the Lord God Puppet, Passing the Trial ? "So powerful!" John frowned slightly, his expression grave as he formed a general assessment of the Lord God puppet. This puppet also wielded The Heaven''s power ofws, and at a level exceeding 15%. Considering the puppets generated by The Secret Area only possessed 50% of their original''s strength, the true power of a real Lord God would be far more terrifying. At his current strength, John suspected he would still fall short against an actual Lord God. However, as for this Lord God puppet, he could just barely manage to contend with it. John retreated to the edge of the battlefield, refraining from further attacks. Perhaps he could use this Lord God puppet to wear down or even kill Burning Sky and Humdwar. Even if they survived, it would still severely weaken their strength. "What are you trying to do, human?" The two quickly realized his intentions, their faces flushing with anger. In retaliation, they deliberately lured the Lord God puppet toward John''s direction. Boom! Boom! The overwhelming surge of The Heaven''s power ofws rippled outward, affecting everyone in its range, including John. He sighed internally. It seemed avoiding the conflict entirely wasn''t an option after all. "Get back, all of you," he called out to Ice Talker and the others. Then, once again activating his Heaven and Earth Transformation, John surged forward with a powerful wave of The Heaven''s power ofws, charging directly at the Lord God puppet. The sh turned into a fierce melee. The overwhelming power ofws collided, and the heavens themselves seemed to rumble. In terms of pure physical strength, John was no match for the puppet and was repeatedly forced backward, temporarily overwhelmed. Even so, the sight left Burning Sky and Humdwar in utter shock. They had barely been able to resist the puppet''s attacks, yet John was holding his ground in directbat. The brief reprieve allowed the two to catch their breath, and they watched the scene with astonishment. "Do you think you can kill this human?" Humdwar asked, suppressing his internal injuries and turning to Burning Sky with a low voice. Burning Sky frowned deeply, his face heavy with thought. After a moment, he shook his head slightly. "Hard to say. In a life-or-death battle, if we worked together, we might stand a chance." Humdwar nodded in agreement, his voice cautious. "This guy is too strange. I suspect his World-in-Hand hides some kind of ultimate move. If we want to kill him, we can''t enter his World-in-Hand." "That''s easy," Burning Sky replied with confidence. "We''ll just drag him into our own World- in-Hand instead." Burning Sky remained convinced that killing John was possible. His most powerful ability was his soul-based attack, especially his ck Hellfire. However, the Lord God puppet,cking a soul, was immune to such attacks. Furthermore, the Hellfire''s destructive power couldn''t destroy the puppet''s physical body. Boom! A deafening explosion resounded as John spat out blood and was sent flying backward. His physical body had been destroyed outright by the Lord God puppet. [You have been killed by the Lord God Puppet. Lifesaver talent activated...] The notification shed as John resurrected on the spot, his body enveloped in golden light, triggering the Lifesaver talent''s invincibility state. "Come on!" he roared, his fighting spirit surging. Seizing the moment granted by his invincibility, he charged at the Lord God puppet once more. Boom! Boom! The golden light surrounding him gradually dissipated. Even with the invincibility provided by his Lifesaver talent, he was still no match for the Lord God puppet. Ice Talker and the others looked tense, their hearts filled with unease. Even though it was just a puppet, it possessed the strength of a Lord God, and they were deeply worried that something might happen to John. Crack! A sharp sound echoed as the golden light surrounding him shattered, and he was struck down once again by the Lord God puppet. John resurrected on the spot, quickly retreating as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression growing increasingly serious. Although the Lord God puppet only had half the power of a true Lord God, its four basic attributes were likely around five billion each, making it far stronger than him. "Enough ying around," he muttered. He stopped trying to engage the puppet in directbat, and instead, the massive sword intent around him began to hum. Chaos Force gathered, enhanced by The Heaven''sws, and countless sword beams roared forward, aiming at the Lord God puppet. In an instant, the puppet''s figure was engulfed by thousands of sword beams. Furious roars echoed as a surge of immense power erupted, tearing through the onught of sword beams. The puppet charged straight at John at terrifying speed. Whoosh! The wind howled as a colossal palm shadow,rge enough to block out the sky, descended toward him. John remained unflustered. With The Heaven''s power ofws surging once more, he unleashed the Nine Heavens Sword technique. Three massive sword beams materialized, slicing toward the enormous palm shadow. Boom! Boom! Boom! A horrifying pressure permeated the area as the space around them shattered. Chaotic spatial currents surged violently, and the overwhelming energy unleashed whirling gales. Burning Sky and Humdwar were stunned by the scene. Faces pale with fear, they scrambled to retreat, terrified of being caught in the battle''s devastating aftermath. Amid the spatial copse, John and the Lord God puppet were drawn directly into the chaotic space streams. Fortunately, his Heaven and Earth Transformation was powerful enough to resist the chaotic flows of space. "Not good!" Ice Talker''s face turned grim as she urgently called out, "Godyer, don''t fight within the chaotic space! If you''re devoured by the currents, you won''t be able to return!" John understood the dangers of the chaotic space streams all too well. However, with the Lord God puppet relentlessly pursuing him, he couldn''t disengage. Boom! Another deafening explosion rang out as John sustained severe injuries, his body hurtling deeper into the chaotic space currents. "Godyer!" The others rushed to the edge of the spatial fissure, watching in rm and desperation. The terrifying energy rippled outward, and the spatial cracks continued to expand, threatening to devour nearly half of The Secret Area. Buzz! At that moment, a powerful aura erupted from deep within The Secret Area, instantly stabilizing the fractured space. Burning Sky''s face shifted dramatically as he looked toward the source of the energy deep within The Secret Area. His eyes widened in excitement and disbelief as he shouted, "It''s the ancient artifact of The Immortals! I knew it!" "An ancient artifact?" Ice Talker frowned but had no time to dwell on the revtion. She turned her attention back to the chaotic spatial currents, scanning for any trace of John. Within the turbulent currents, the sounds of a fierce battle reverberated, apanied by constant explosions. However, neither John nor the Lord God puppet was visible anymore. Ice Talker was anxious, her heart racing with worry. Yet she didn''t dare rush into the chaotic spatial currents. All she could do was pray that John would return safely. The sounds of the battle gradually faded away, until finally, there was only silence. "It''s over," Ice Talker whispered, her expression filled with despair. Burning Sky and the others approached the edge of the spatial fissure. A faint, almost imperceptible smile yed on his lips as he remarked casually, "What a pity. I did have a certain appreciation for that human." Ice Talker''s cold gaze locked onto him, her killing intent palpable, though she refrained from acting. The trial wasn''t over yet, and the restrictions of The Secret Area were still in ce. Members of the same faction couldn''t kill one another-viting this rule would result in immediate expulsion from The Secret Area, with no chance of ever returning. Cand-Dragon frowned. "Godyer has mastery over the spacew. He should be able to make it back, right?" Even so, his voice betrayed uncertainty. Terran shook his head and exined, "Chaotic spatial currents are a strange and unpredictable domain. Even with control over the spacew, escape is nearly impossible. Not even a Lord God could guarantee survival if trapped inside." "Godyer will make it!" Jolyne snapped, ring at him with determination. "Let''s hope so," Terran replied with a sigh. He, too, silently wished for John''s safe return. The group remained by the spatial fissure, waiting anxiously. Thanks to the intervention of the immense power within The Secret Area, the spatial fissure neither expanded nor closedpletely. Time slipped by unnoticed. A week had passed. By now, Ice Talker and the others were losing hope. "That human ruined us!" Humdwar growled angrily. With both John and the Lord God puppet trapped in the chaotic spatial currents, their fates unknown, the trial seemed to be stuck in limbo. If they wanted to leave, they could simply attack each other, viting The Secret Area''s rules and triggering a forced expulsion. But no one wanted to forfeit the ultimate reward of The Secret Area. Deep down, they all clung to the faint hope that John might somehow manage to kill the Lord God puppet and return. Terran cast a cold nce at Humdwar and said icily, "If it weren''t for him, you''d already be dead." "Hmph!" Humdwar snorted in disdain, unwilling to engage further. The restrictions of The Secret Area prevented him from acting out, no matter how furious he felt. Buzz! Suddenly, a fluctuation in spatial power rippled through the area. The massive spatial fissure began to close slowly. "This isn''t good! We can''t let the fissure close!" Terran''s face darkened. If the fissure sealedpletely, John would likely be lost forever. The group quickly prepared to attack, intending to disrupt the space and stop the fissure from closing. "Wait!" Ice Talker raised her hand to halt them, her voice trembling with excitement. "It''s Godyer!" From within the spatial fissure, a powerful hum of sword intent reverberated. A massive sword beam shed through the endless chaotic spatial currents, cutting them apart. In an instant, a figure emerged. John! "I knew Godyer would be fine!" Jolyne exhaled deeply, the weight of her worry finally lifting from her heart.N?v(el)B\\jnn The group rushed forward to meet him. "Human, did you really kill the Lord God puppet?" Burning Sky frowned deeply, his cold gaze fixed on John as he asked. "What else?" John responded, his expression calm and unbothered. A faint twitch appeared at the corner of Burning Sky''s eye. A flicker of fear shed across his face as he couldn''t help but wonder-if they truly fought, would he even be a match for John? At that moment, the Secret Area''s system prompt echoed. [Trial 3 has ended. The Immortals faction is victorious.] [All members of The Immortals faction are rewarded with 100 medium-grade spirit crystals. The top three enemy yers are rewarded with 100 high-grade spirit crystals.] The rewards this time were better than those from the previous trials. Every member of The Immortals faction received 100 medium-grade spirit crystals. As expected, John, Ice Talker, and Terran once again ranked as the top three yers, earning an additional 100 high-grade spirit crystals. High-grade spirit crystals granted an increase of 50 points in spiritual power when used. John happily epted the reward. Turning to the side, he noticed Burning Sky''s darkened expression and stretched out his hand. "A bet''s a bet. Hand it over." Burning Sky narrowed his eyes slightly, his jaw clenched as he struggled to suppress the anger rising within him. He was clearly reluctant to hand over his spirit crystals. "Human, you cheated!" protested one of the Overseer members of the Witch n. "If you hadn''t used your World-in-Hand, there''s no way you would''ve killed more enemies than our lord!" John shot the man a cold re. "Who said you could speak here?" The Overseer flinched, instinctively shrinking back. Remembering John''s overwhelming strength, he realized he wasn''t a match for him. [The Secret Area trial isplete. The Immortals faction may im the final reward.] The Secret Area''s system prompt echoed again as a spatial fissure appeared, leading to the deepest part of The Secret Area. Their eyes lit up at the sight, and without paying the system prompt much heed, the group immediately rushed toward the fissure. Bang! Bang! Cries of pain rang out as they were all violently repelled, unable to pass through the fissure. It appeared that among them, only John was truly a descendant of The Immortals. "The Immortals?" Burning Sky froze for a moment before his eyes zed with anger. They had been yed by this Secret Area all along. They had chosen The Immortals faction, fought to help the faction pass the final trial, and now couldn''t even im the reward. Chapter 333: An Ancient Artifact, the United Sword 333 Chapter 333: An Ancient Artifact, the United Sword N?v(el)B\\jnn Spatial power fluctuated. Before they could even touch John, both were instantly teleported away. The restrictions of the Secret Area remained in effect, making it impossible for them to kill one another. Burning Sky and Humdwar, two formidable warriors, vanished into thin air. The remaining Witches and Eternals exchanged uneasy nces. They knew all too well how powerful John was and dared not act rashly. Furthermore, under thews of the Secret Area, they couldn''t harm John. The ultimate reward of the Secret Area was now beyond their reach. After suffering great losses, they had merely paved the way for the Immortals. They red resentfully at John before leaving the Secret Area entirely, unwilling to linger. Now, only five people remained in the Secret Area alongside John. Ice Talker gazed at the spatial rift and spoke, "Godyer, the ultimate reward of the Secret Area is something only you can im. Go ahead." John nodded, ncing at the group. He cautioned, "I suspect Burning Sky and the others might ambush us outside the Secret Area. Stay here for now and don''t leave." "Understood," they agreed in unison. Taking a deep breath, John approached the spatial rift and passed through with ease. "I wonder what kind of fortune Godyer will stumble upon this time," Cand-Dragon remarked enviously. John''s constant encounters with extraordinary opportunities had propelled his strength to terrifying heights, enabling him to annihte upper-tier deities effortlessly. When faced with John, Cand-Dragon no longer had any advantage. "An ancient artifact, perhaps?" Ice Talker murmured softly. She recalled Burning Sky''s earlier words. The ultimate reward of the Secret Area might very well be an ancient artifact. Though she felt envious, Ice Talker would still be genuinely happy if John were to obtain such an artifact. ... Buzz! Spatial power fluctuated again as John found himself in the depths of the Secret Area. The air here was rich with spiritual energy, verdant greenery abounded, and flowers bloomed in every direction. It was like a paradise removed from the mortal world. "What dense spiritual energy!" John marveled inwardly. The spiritual power here far exceeded that of his World-in-Hand. He surveyed his surroundings curiously, his gaze drawn to a distant tform where a lone longsword stood. The longsword exuded an ancient aura. Its de was broad, one side etched with sun, moon, and stardust, while the other depicted mountains, rivers, and vegetation. "This is¡­ the United Sword!" John eximed, his voice tinged with disbelief. The sword bore an uncanny resemnce to the legendary United Sword of myth. He rushed forward eagerly, his curiosity piqued as he examined it. ... [United Sword: An Ancient Artifact] [Requirements:Sessor of the Immortals; must be refined.] [Base Attributes:+1,000,000 to all four fundamental attributes, with an additional 100% increase to base attributes.] [Additional Effect:Enhancesprehension of all elementalws by 10%.] [Description:Forged from the divine copper of Shou Mountain, this unparalleled sword holds immeasurable power. It is a weapon crafted to vanquish demons and protect all beings.] [Note:Only those who inherit the Immortals'' legacy can refine it.] "What an incredible weapon!" John murmured, stunned. The United Sword''s power far surpassed the Holy Artifact of the Shadow n. A million-point boost to the four basic attributes, coupled with a doubling of his base stats¡ªits strength was beyond imagination. The most critical aspect was the 10% increase inprehension of all elementalws. Even a normal person wielding the United Sword could possess strengthparable to a lower-tier god! The stronger the wielder''s attributes, the more terrifying the sword''s empowerment bes. John couldn''t wait any longer. He stepped onto the high tform, sat cross-legged, and began refining the divine sword. Whoosh... The spiritual power within his body surged wildly, pouring into the United Sword as it was slowly refined. He was startled. The rate at which the United Sword absorbed spiritual power was astonishing. Despite his impressive spiritual power reserves of 660,000, he wasn''t certain if he couldplete the refinement. With a thought, he took outrge quantities of spiritual pills and Spirit Crystals, using them immediately to restore his spiritual power and expand its upper limit. However, the rate of recovery was far slower than the spiritual power being consumed by the United Sword. Before long, his spiritual power waspletely depleted, and the United Sword began to devour his health points instead. "Hmm?" He was just about to pause and recover his spiritual power when he realized that his health points could also be used for refinement. This discovery delighted him. Thanks to his life-sharing bond with the Tree of Life, his health points were nearly infinite, so he had no need to worry. Reassured, he focused entirely on refining the United Sword. ... Three days passed without him noticing. Over the course of those days, the United Sword absorbed hundreds of billions of his health points, finallypleting the refinement. Thankfully, his life-sharing pact with the Tree of Life sustained him. Without it, his health points¡ªjust over 200 million¡ªwould have been far from sufficient to meet the sword''s demands. [You have sessfully refined the United Sword.] The notification shed across his vision. Overjoyed, John grasped the hilt eagerly and slowly drew the sword. Buzz... The de gleamed, humming with an ethereal resonance. It seemed toe alive, radiating power as its attributes underwent a transformation. [United Sword, An Ancient Artifact: Recognized Owner. Non-droppable, Non-tradable.] John''s four fundamental attributes instantly doubled:Constitution:over 40 million points, Strength: 150 million points, Spirit: 110 million points, Agility: over 37 million points, His power had once again skyrocketed. If he were to face that Lord God puppet again, even with its Heaven and Earth Transformation ability, John felt confident he could defeat it head-on. Carefully stowing away the United Sword, John chose not to rush out of the area. Instead, he immersed himself in the dense spiritual power that surrounded him. "I wonder if this ce can be incorporated into my World-in-Hand?" he thought, tempted by the idea. Without hesitation, he began attempting to merge it. Buzz! Spatial power fluctuated as the World-in-Hand activated, slowly refining the Secret Area. It worked! His heart filled with excitement. This part of the Secret Area was rich in spiritual power and spatially stable. If he could incorporate it into his World-in-Hand, his strength would be enhanced even further. A day passed, and John sessfully refined this paradise-like area into his World-in-Hand. However, other parts of the Secret Area remained connected to the Shadow Continent, making them impossible to incorporate. Still, he was more than satisfied. Only this part of the Secret Area had the densest spiritual power; the rest wasn''t particrly special. "It''s time to leave," he said to himself. Crossing through the spatial rift, he reunited with Ice Talker and the others. "Godyer, how did it go?" they asked eagerly, rushing to greet him. John smiled faintly, and with a thought, the United Sword appeared in his hand. The de gleamed brilliantly, reflecting the sun, moon, stardust, mountains, and rivers. Its radiance filled the entire Secret Area, illuminating it in dazzling light. "It really is an ancient artifact!" Ice Talker eximed in awe, her eyes filled with envy. John was slightly surprised and asked curiously, "Ice Talker, you know about an ancient artifact?" She nodded. "I''ve heard some things. Ancient artifacts are the most powerful weapons left behind by the Immortals, and their strength far surpasses that of ninth-tier holy artifacts." She nced at John, hesitated for a moment, then continued, "The Nature God also possesses an ancient artifact." "What? That old man has an ancient artifact too? I thought only the Immortals could wield them!" John eximed, his voice filled with doubt. Ice Talker shot him a re, clearly displeased with his disrespectful tone. Terran frowned slightly but spoke directly, "My lord, Nature God holds a position of immense reverence. Please mind your words." Both seemed to hold great respect for the Nature God. Especially Ice Talker, who appeared to be his sessor. She exined, "In truth, all the major races today have some connection to the Immortals. This is especially true for the Beast n, the Witches, and our Nature n, as our cultivation methods all originate from the Immortals." "I see," John nodded. He had already noticed some peculiarities about the Beast n. The legacy of the Immortals seemed to benefit not only himself and the disciples of the Blues Family but also the Beast n most significantly. However, it was unexpected for the Witches and the Nature n to also be linked to the Immortals. He was quite curious about the ancient artifact in the Nature God''s possession, but since Ice Talker was unwilling to borate, he refrained from pressing her further. "Cand-Dragon, Jolyne, both of you enter my World-in-Hand. I suspect there may be an ambush outside," he cautioned. With a wave, he absorbed them into his World-in-Hand. Afterward, he signaled to Ice Talker and Terran, and the three of them left the Secret Area together. ... Spatial power fluctuated as John and hispanions reappeared, only to be immediately surrounded by hundreds of powerful warriors. The strong from all the major races hadn''t left; they had been waiting at the Secret Area''s exit. "Human, hand over the ancient artifact, and I may consider sparing your life!" Burning Sky demanded coldly, his eyes locked onto John. "Hah," John sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. "You still owe me a good amount of Spirit Crystals. What''s this? Are all Witches untrustworthy scoundrels?" Burning Sky ground his teeth in fury. He had no intention of relinquishing his Spirit Crystals, and he wanted not only the Spirit Crystals in John''s possession but also the ancient artifact. "Is that so?" John replied with a faint smirk. He couldn''t understand where Humdwar''s confidence came from. 12:07 "Burning Sky, stop wasting time with this guy. Let''s settle this inside my World-in-Hand," Humdwar interjected, his mind already set. With a mere thought, he pulled John, Burning Sky, and several other two-star pinnacle Overseers into his World-in-Hand. Ice Talker and Terran were not pulled into the World-in-Hand and were left standing outside. They exchanged worried nces, clearly concerned about John''s safety. "Attack! Let''s take these two down!" came an angry roar. Immediately, several Overseers and hundreds of upper-tier gods at their peak charged toward them. "Courting death!" Ice Talker''s expression turned icy cold. With a wave of her hand, a blizzard of snowkes filled the air, each one infused with the power of ughter. The strongest of their attackers were merelyte-stage two-star Overseers¡ªnot remotely a match for her and Terran. ... Inside the World-in-Hand, John and his adversaries found themselves in an unfamiliar environment. Towering mountains pierced the sky, fierce winds howled, and the entire area radiated potentws. "Chaos Force!" John muttered in surprise. Humdwar''s World-in-Hand was also created with Chaos Force and appeared even more stable than his own. But the idea of trapping him here? Impossible. John had mastered the divine skill Creation and Destruction,which could easily obliterate this World-in-Hand if he chose. "Human, I know your World-in-Hand holds deadly traps," Humdwar sneered, gripping a long spear as he fixed John with a cold re. "But within my World-in-Hand, the Myriad Mountain Domain, you are doomed!" "Is that so?" John replied with a faint smirk. He couldn''t understand where Humdwar''s confidence came from. "My lord, enough talk. Let''s finish him!" one of the two-star Overseers barked angrily, rushing forward with a battle cry. John didn''t flinch. A fierce wind erupted around him, and an immense pressure spread outward as he activated Heaven and Earth Transformation. In an instant, he transformed into a colossal giant towering thousands of meters high. The United Sword appeared in his hand, growing proportionally with his size. Its de reflected the sun, moon, stardust, mountains, and rivers with even greater rity. "United Sword!" Burning Sky eximed, swallowing nervously. Excitement and awe shed across his face as he stepped forward, charging at John with clenched fists. Boom! Fist met de in a thunderous collision that caused the space around them to tremble.The sh sent Burning Sky flying backward, while John merely took a single step back to steady himself. The gap in their strength was instantly evident. "Human, how has your power increased so much?" Burning Sky asked, his face filled with shock and his tone heavy with dread. Chapter 334: The Secret Area Ambush, Battle Against Burning Sky 334 Chapter 334: The Secret Area Ambush, Battle Against Burning Sky John''s strength had advanced significantly since his battle with the Lord God puppet. It had to be the augmentation from the United Sword! Burning Sky stared at the longsword in John''s hand, his eyes glinting with greed. "Netherworld Hellfire!" he roared, unleashing his most powerful attack. ck mes surged into the air, howling as they engulfed John''s massive form in an instant. A searing pain coursed through him. This ck Hellfire didn''t just attack the soul; it also corroded the body. It was even more sinister than his Golden me Lotus. Fortunately, John had already encountered this type of me''s power through Ice Talker. His Golden me Lotus could refine and absorb it, neutralizing its threat to his soul. With a thought, the Golden me Lotus began to circte within him, absorbing and refining the ck Hellfire. "You''ve mastered the power of Hellfire as well!" Burning Sky eximed in shock before gritting his teeth and charging at John again. "I''ll help you!" Humdwar shouted, knowing he couldn''t defeat John on his own. With a furious cry, he joined the fray. Buzz! The spear''s shadow roared through the air, shrouded in the overwhelming power of Eternal Laws, suppressing John''s abilities. In his own World-in-Hand, Humdwar was nearly invincible. Facing thebined assault of Burning Sky and Humdwar, along with the asional sneak attacks from other Overseers, John felt the mounting pressure. Fortunately, the United Sword had greatly boosted his strength. Without it, he might not have stood a chance against this group. "Human, in my World-in-Hand, you are doomed!" Humdwar roared, astonished by John''s power but still brimming with confidence in his ability to kill him. "Die!" Humdwar bellowed again as an endless wave of Eternal Power surged forth, isting all surroundingws. Only his Eternal Laws and Burning Sky''s Netherworld Hellfire could operate in this domain. "You really think you can trap me?" John sneered, raising the longsword high as Chaos Force and the supreme power of Heaven Laws converged around it. Heaven Laws, superior to all others, were immune to any suppression. Chaos Force, the origin of all powers, was equally impervious to Humdwar''s Eternal Laws. "Creation and Destruction!" John roared, activating the divine skill. The longsword descended with cataclysmic force, carrying an aura of utter annihtion. Boom! The longsword tore through the air, splitting the void as chaotic spatial currents surged forth, ravenously devouring Humdwar''s World-in-Hand. "What''s happening?!" Humdwar''s face turned pale with terror as he finally sensed the danger. His World-in-Hand trembled violently, teetering on the brink of copse. Frantically, he unleashed his Eternal Laws to reinforce the space, but the destructive might of Creation and Destructionrendered his efforts futile. Burning Sky watched in horror as the world around him disintegrated piece by piece. He was inwardly thankful he hadn''t recklessly pulled this human into his own World-in-Hand. "Perish!" John roared, swinging the longsword again. Boundless energy erupted, apanied by the terrifying power of Heaven Laws and Chaos Force. Humdwar''s World-in-Hand crumbled inch by inch. "No!" he roared in despair, watching his world disintegrate, his voice filled with panic and helplessness. Crack! With a crisp shattering sound, thest remnant of his domain was destroyed, giving way to endless spatial turbulence. The group was forcefully ejected and reappeared on the Shadow Continent. Nearby, the sounds of battle rang out. Ice Talker and Terran were entangled with other powerful figures but were holding their ground without any significant danger. When they saw John emerge unscathed, they exhaled in relief. Cough!Humdwar materialized, coughing up a mouthful of blood. His face was deathly pale, his eyes fixed on John with seething hatred."Human, how dare you destroy my World-in-Hand!" he snarled, his voice trembling with rage. "Hmph, I''ll send you off for good!" John retorted coldly. With a wave of his hand, he unleashed the Golden Lotus Hellfire, engulfing Humdwar and the others. Agonized screams filled the air.Except for Burning Sky, the rest of the group couldn''t withstand the devastating Hellfire. "Die!" John shouted, giving them no chance to respond. He unleashed Soul Impact,targeting their very essence. Buzz! The air quaked as an overwhelming wave of soul energy surged forth like an enormous hammer, mming into the depths of their souls. John''s Soul Technique had reached over 6.8 million points, far exceeding the level of a three-star Overseer. "Watch out! Danger!" Burning Sky sensed the iing threat and tried to warn Humdwar, but it was toote. Boom! Humdwar''s mind was overwhelmed with a deafening hum. Already weakened by the destruction of his World-in-Hand, his soul was critically injured. Before he could react, his soul was obliterated. [You have in three-star Overseer Humdwar, earning 2,676.6 billion experience points.] [Plunder Talent Activated: Acquired God-Tier Spear Mastery Talent, Heaven Law Insight +1%, Attack Speed +10, Physical Crit Chance +10.] ... The notifications shed rapidly. Along with Humdwar, seven other Overseers had beenpletely wiped out. John''sprehension of the Heaven Laws increased by another 7%, and he even gained a god-tier spear mastery talent through Plunder. Although he wasn''t adept with spears, he could pass the skill on to Cand-Dragon or Judy. Only now did he truly realize the extent of John''s power.John''s ability to kill the Lord God puppet in the Secret Area had not been a fluke. Is this man really just a two-star Overseer? How can his strength be this overwhelming? "Now, it''s your turn," John said icily, not giving Burning Sky a chance to flee. With a flick of his hand, he pulled him into his World-in-Hand. "Such a stable world¡­ and such dense spiritual power!" Burning Sky eximed in shock as he examined his surroundings. Despite John being only a two-star Overseer, his World-in-Hand rivaled that of a three-star expert. "Godyer, I admit I am no match for you, but you cannot kill me either," Burning Sky said cautiously, trying to negotiate. "I''ll hand over my Spirit Crystals, and we''ll go our separate ways. What do you say?" John smirked disdainfully. "Begging for mercy now? Toote!"Without hesitation, he gripped the United Sword andunched a ferocious attack. "Curse you!" Burning Sky roared in anger. Unleashing his full power, he merged the strengths of the Witch n and the Beast n, causing his body to expand to a size rivaling John''s Heaven and Earth Transformationstate. "What an incredible power!" John muttered in surprise before engaging Burning Sky in closebat. The two shed, their raw physical strength colliding with devastating force. Boom! Sword met fist in an explosive impact, causing the very space around them to tremble. Both fighters were forced back simultaneously, neither gaining the upper hand. John frowned, his expression growing serious. "You''ve been hiding your strength all along!" The current Burning Sky disyed power rivaling that of the Lord God puppet John had fought before. "Hmph," Burning Sky sneered. "I was merely using you to deal with the other Overseers. If it weren''t for the ultimate reward of the Immortals'' Secret Area, I would have dealt with you long ago. But in the end, even I was yed by the Secret Area."His eyes gleamed with regret as he clenched his fists, veins bulging along his arms. His bones crackled audibly, and a gust of wind howled around him as he surged forward once more."Godyer, I gave you a chance, but you failed to seize it!" John''s expression turned grim as a sharp sword aura emanated from his body. With a flick of the United Sword, three zing sword beams tore through the void, shing down mercilessly. This time, John wielded the Heaven Laws directly. Burning Sky faced the iing sword beams head-on. With a single punch, he shattered one. The second forced him to stagger, and the third struck him squarely. Boom! With a resounding crash, Burning Sky was sent flying backward. A thin line of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Despite taking a direct hit from John, the damage he sustained was minimal¡ªa mere light injury. "What an unbelievably durable body!" John muttered in astonishment. There was something deeply uncanny about Burning Sky, particrly the way the Witch n and Beast n powers fused within him. The resulting strength bore a striking resemnce to John''s own Heaven and Earth Transformation. Burning Sky wiped the blood from his mouth, his gaze cold and filled with disdain. "Human, I told you¡ªyou can''t kill me." Around John, elementalws surged in unison, radiating immense magical power. Wielding the United Sword, he unleashed an onught of magic attacks, each spell cascading like a meteor shower onto Burning Sky. Burning Sky''s physical resilience was formidable, but John''s attacks dealt percentage-based damage, bypassing sheer toughness. If he could destroy the body, he would target the soul directly. Spell Combos triggered repeatedly, unleashing a barrage of magical skills that engulfed Burning Sky in a relentless storm of explosions. Powerful energy surged through the battlefield, causing the space to tremble and fracturing it with spatial rifts. However, this energy alone was not enough to destroy Burning Sky''s World-in-Hand. As the magical storm dispersed, Burning Sky''s figure emerged, still standing tall and defiant. Though his injuries had worsened, he refused to fall. John frowned, his expression heavy. Burning Sky''s body wasn''t just resilient¡ªhe clearly possessed advanced regeneration abilities, likely simr to John''s own. "Cough!"Burning Sky spat out a mouthful of blood, his crimson eyes fixed on John with murderous intensity. "Human," he growled. "To be honest, I didn''t want to be your enemy. But you''ve repeatedly tested my patience, and now, you must die!"His face twisted into a snarl as immense power radiated from him, the unmistakable energy of the Sea ncoursing through his body. But this was not simply the power of the Sea n! John''s eyes widened in shock. Burning Sky had merged the treasures of three great ns¡ªthe Witch n, Beast n, and Sea n. The most terrifying part was that thews of the three ns'' powers could seamlessly fuse together. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om It was simr to the way John fused elementalws. But the union of the three racial powers was far stronger. Thebination of Witch n and Beast n powers had already turned Burning Sky into a giant, making him as strong as John''s Heaven and Earth Transformation. Now, with the Sea n''s power slowly joining the mix, his strength was growing even more terrifying. However, the fusion process was iplete and unstable. Burning Sky''s face twisted in pain, his body trembling as he struggled to control the Sea n''s power. I can''t let him seed! Sensing imminent danger, John''s sword intent red, emitting a sharp hum that filled the air. His killing intent surged as countless sword beams shot out, blotting out the sky and raining down on Burning Sky. sh! sh! The sword beams tore through Burning Sky''s body, sttering blood everywhere. Yet he stood firm, ignoring the attacks as he continued merging the powers of the three ns. Rumble! The fusion was finallyplete.Thebined power of the three ns''ws resonated with a deafening hum, causing the space around them to quake. Thunder rolled across the battlefield, heralding the rise of something truly monstrous. "The Heaven Laws!" John gasped in shock.Burning Sky''s fusion of the three ns'' powers bore an uncanny resemnce to the Heaven Laws that John had mastered. "Die!"With a roar, Burning Sky''s body expanded again, doubling in size. His face contorted into a grotesque snarl as he clenched his massive fists and swung them toward John with overwhelming force. Boom! [You have been in by Witch n''s Burning Sky. The Blessed Ring has activated...] The notification shed before John as the Blessed Ring resurrected him on the spot. His soul, however, was injured from the attack, leaving him dazed and forcing him to retreat hastily. Burning Sky''s attacks carried a devastating soul-damaging effect. "It''s over!"Burning Sky''s voice was filled with fury and confidence. He wasn''t surprised by John''s resurrection and wasted no time.With a single step, he closed the distance and swung his massive fists down again, giving John no chance to recover. Chapter 335: Chapter 335: Slaying Burning Sky and Netherworld Hellfire Chapter 335: Chapter 335: ying Burning Sky and Netherworld Hellfire ? "Get lost!" John roared, his voice thunderous as a resonant dragon''s cry echoed across the heavens. Golden light red, and he transformed directly into his divine dragon form. Boom! The impact sent him reeling. Blood surged within him as he was once again sted backward. Even in the divine dragon state, empowered by the Heaven and Earth Transformation, he couldn''t withstand Burning Sky''s relentless assault. John''s only edge against Burning Sky was his mastery of Soul Techniques. Yet, as someone trained in the Sea n''s Condensed Spirit Technique, his soul-based attacks were useless unless his opponent''s physical body was first destroyed. Jolyne was right-this guy was practically invincible. "Human, I almost feel bad about killing you. But unfortunately, you''ve made the wrong choice," Burning Sky sneered, ck mes surging around his body. His aura exuded a terrifying, oppressive power. Stepping forward, he closed the distance in an instant and raised his fist, mming it down toward John''s dragon head. Boom! A thunderous explosion rocked the space. John was once again annihted without suspense. The Lifesaver talent triggered, and he resurrected on the spot, gaining ten seconds of invincibility. "I refuse to believe you''re truly invincible!" John''s battle spirit ignited entirely. Letting out another resonant dragon''s roar, he unleashed a tempest. The overwhelming power of elementalws surged as hundreds of magical spells and countless sword lights swept toward Burning Sky like an unstoppable tide. Boom! Boom! Boom! Explosions reverberated throughout the battlefield as Burning Sky struggled to break free from the barrage of skills. His movements grew disheveled, and his injuries worsened, though none were fatal. "Human, you are indeed powerful. But how long can your spiritual powerst?" Burning Sky sneered, his expression feral as his aura swelled again. He lunged at John once more. "Longer than you think," John retorted without a hint of fear. Thanks to his Wrath of the Gods talent, his spiritual power consumption was reduced by 99%, and his skill cooldowns were cut by the same margin. He was confident he could oust Burning Sky. The divine dragon and the colossal giant shed again in a chaotic melee. John was clearly no match for Burning Sky and continued to fall back. When his Lifesaver talent''s invincibility ended, he was killed once more. But Burning Sky wasn''t faring much better. John''s relentless skill attacks carried percentage- based damage and were bolstered by The Heaven''sws, making the battle excruciatingly difficult for him. What was worse, John''s attacks seemed endless, as though they required no cooldown at all. "Cough!" Resurrecting again, John spat out a mouthful of blood. His soul had taken yet another heavy blow. But then, he noticed something peculiar about Burning Sky. While still terrifyingly strong, the chaotic aura around him had grown increasingly unstable. Realizing this, John smirked coldly. "It seems you haven''t fully mastered the fusion of these threews." "Hmph. Killing you doesn''t require perfection," Burning Sky snarled, his face grim. He couldn''t sustain this state for much longer. Letting out a furious roar, he charged at John again. Terrifying energy rippled through the air, causing the space around them to tremble. John was sted apart over a dozen times, his soul taking heavy damage. He endured solely through his indomitable will. Burning Sky, on the other hand, was in even worse shape. Though he hadn''t been obliterated by John''s attacks, the power within him was nearing its absolute limit. "Human, what kind of talent do you possess?!" he roared, his voice tinged with greed. His eyes gleamed with avarice, certain that John''s prolongedbat capability was tied to his innate talent. If he could obtain that talent, his own strength would undoubtedly soar, perhaps even allowing him to break through to the fabled four-star The Overseer rank. John ignored his question andunched another series of relentless attacks. Countless magical skills and a storm of sword lights surged toward Burning Sky once more. "Damn it!" Burning Sky''s expression grew graver. His internal energy reserves were almost entirely depleted, leaving him unable to withstand the endless onught. "Human, I refuse to believe you can still fight me once I destroy your World-in- Hand!" Disregarding John''s attacks, Burning Sky gathered thest remnants of his strength and began violently tearing apart John''s World-in-Hand. A howling gale filled the battlefield as terrifying energy shattered space itself. Chaotic currents swirled wildly, gradually devouring John''s World-in-Hand bit by bit. John, however, remained unfazed. "Hmph. Do you think I''d pull you into my World-in- Hand if I feared your attacks?" His voice was calm yet scornful. In his divine dragon state, he controlled the United Sword, summoning the divine skill Creation and Destruction, shing directly at the spatial fissure. "What is he doing?" Burning Sky frowned, puzzled. John''s actions seemed self-destructive, hastening the copse of his World-in-Hand. But the next moment, Burning Sky froze in shock. The massive sword strike passed through the fissure, and the tear in space began to close. Not only was John''s World-in-Hand repaired, but it also became even more stable. "What kind of power is this?!" Burning Sky was horrified. He vividly remembered John using the same skill to obliterate Humdwar''s World-in-Hand. Now, to his disbelief, that bizarre ability had somehow repaired and reinforced the damaged World-in-Hand instead. John reverted from his divine dragon state, transforming into a towering giant. He gazed calmly at the disheveled Burning Sky, his expression unreadable as he spoke evenly: "If I''m not mistaken, your Witch n''s cultivation techniques focus on enhancing the physical body, correct? Otherwise, you would''ve already been dead by now." Burning Sky''s eye twitched slightly as he struggled to conceal the fear rising within him. John''s deduction was spot on. He was at his limit. Clenching his teeth, he said grimly, "Godyer, let me leave. I can guarantee that we''ll stay out of each other''s way from now on. But if the Witch n intervenes, you will stand no chance against us." The Witch n intervenes? John frowned. Hadn''t the Witch n already joined the fray? It seemed there was more to thisn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om situation than met the eye. John had no intention of sparing Burning Sky. The sword energy around him hummed violently as he activated the Immortal Art: Nine Heavens Sword. Three massive sword beams tore through the sky and came crashing down with an ear-splitting roar. "You ignorant human! You''ll regret this!" Burning Sky shouted in a mixture of fury and despair, but there was nothing he could do. He waspletely spent. The three sword beams struck him with devastating force, obliterating his body on impact. Boom! Burning Sky''s physical body was destroyed, exposing his soul. John didn''t finish him off immediately. Instead, golden mes of the Golden Lotus Hellfire surged around him as he activated the soul skill Memory Extraction. John''s current level in Soul Techniques far exceeded that of a three-star The Overseer. Burning Sky had no means to resist. The burning pain of the Golden Lotus Hellfire made his torment unbearable. A surge of powerful soul energy effortlessly prated the deepest recesses of Burning Sky''s mind. In an instant, John received a flood of information. His brow furrowed, his expression turning grim as the weight of the revtions settled in. Burning Sky, regaining partial rity, managed to restore his body by sheer willpower. He forcibly severed the Memory Extraction, but his face turned deathly pale, his soul gravely injured. "What did you do to me?" he demanded, ring at John with a mixture of rage and dread. The truth was dawning on him. "Hmph. You''re no longer of any use," John replied icily, his expression devoid of mercy. His attacks grew even more ferocious as countless skills rained down upon Burning Sky. This time, Burning Sky could barely muster any resistance. He was obliterated outright. Without hesitation, John cast Soul Impact. The air trembled as his condensed soul energy formed a razor-sharp de. It pierced through Burning Sky''s exposed soul in an instant. Burning Sky let out a muffled groan. His soul fire was extinguished. He was utterly and completely dead. [You have in The Overseer, Burning Sky, gaining 26.766 trillion experience points.] [Your level has increased to 24,110...] [Plunder talent activated. You have obtained Netherworld Hellfire, Eight Destion Body Tempering Art, +1%prehension of The Heaven''s Laws, +10,000 Spiritual Power, and +1,000 skill points.] John''s eyes flickered with surprise and delight. He had actually plundered Burning Sky''s Netherworld Hellfire and acquired a high-tier mind technique of the Witch n, the Eight Destion Body Tempering Art. His earlier suspicion was correct: the Witch n indeed cultivated techniques focused on enhancing physical strength. Burning Sky''s death also brought other rewards. He had dropped treasures from the Witch n, Beast n, and Sea n, including a two-star Holy Artifact gauntlet, the Heart of the Continent, and various misceneous items. John casually collected them but didn''t examine the rewards closely. His brow remained furrowed as he processed the memories extracted from Burning Sky. The truth behind the Game of Gods was far more sinister than he had imagined. The real mastermind wasn''t the Eight Lord Gods, but a being of unparalleled terror-the Creator God! The Creator God''s goal was to destroy all life-bearings and recreate an entirely new world. Even without John''s interference, the World of Gods would eventually connect with Shadow Star. His actions had merely elerated the timeline of the game. The Witch God, fully aware of the Witch n''s inevitable downfall, had sent Burning Sky with a singr purpose: to plunder a treasure soon to be born on Shadow Star, the Chaos Green Lotus. This was the Immortals'' treasure, capable of reconstructing a physical body and transforming it into a chaotic physique, enabling its wielder to escape the impending catastrophe. John also uncovered a critical piece of information: the destruction of the Immortals and the decline of the Beast n were closely tied to the Witch n. Behind it all, the Witch n''s influence loomed in the shadows. Moreover, the Witch n had already secretly allied with the Shadow n. "The Witch God... To think he ughtered the Immortals to curry favor with the Creator God and ascend as a Lord God. This guy is even more despicable than the Shadow Lord God," John muttered coldly, his gaze icy. Despite his rage, he couldn''t help but feel a deep sense of powerlessness. The Creator God, a being who had yet to appear in person, possessed unfathomable powers. His abilities were bizarre and overwhelming, allowing him to manipte The Heaven and create Lord Gods at will. John knew that with his current strength, confronting the Creator God would only lead to certain death. He had to seize every opportunity to grow stronger as quickly as possible. Fortunately, the Creator God couldn''t descend into this world freely, so John still had time. Taking a deep breath, he began examining the abilities he had plundered from Burning Sky. [Netherworld Hellfire: A powerful soul me with terrifying corrosive properties. Absorbable.] Absorbable? John was surprised. This Netherworld Hellfire could be absorbed and refined by his Golden me Lotus. Though intrigued, he didn''t rush into absorption, choosing instead to review the techniques he had plundered. [Eight Destion Body Tempering Art: Level 1, a high-tier Witch n technique that enhances physical strength.] As expected, it was a technique designed to strengthen the body. John''s earlier suspicions were confirmed. Moreover, whenbined with the Sea n''s techniques, this art could significantly bolster soul defense. The Eight Destion Body Tempering Art enhanced physical strength and increased defense, while the Sea n''s Tranquil Mind Technique ensured that as long as the body wasn''t destroyed, the soul would remain unharmed. Of course, some exceptional soul attacks-such as the Golden Lotus Hellfire or the Netherworld Hellfire-could bypass this safeguard. But now that John controlled both these abilities, and with the presence of the Golden me Lotus, he no longer feared Hellfire-based attacks. "This was truly a bountiful haul," John thought with satisfaction. With a single thought, he exited the World-in-Hand. Outside, Ice Talker and Coldman, along with a few surviving experts from various races, were locked in battle. The fight was nearing its conclusion. With only a handful of two-star The Overseers barely holding on. John intervened directly. The overwhelming power of The Heaven''sws surged forth, obliterating the remaining opponents with ease. Hisprehension of The Heaven''sws soared further, reaching 52%, surpassing his previous grasp of The Shadow''sws. Several of the defeated Overseers dropped Heart of the Continent fragments, which John promptly collected. Chapter 336: Chapter 336: Conquering the Main City, A Grand Formation Chapter 336: Chapter 336: Conquering the Main City, A Grand Formation ? "Godyer, don''t tell me you actually killed Burning Sky?" Ice Talker approached John, looking at him with a mix of curiosity and disbelief. John smiled and nodded. "Really?" Ice Talker''s eyes widened in astonishment. She was fully aware of Burning Sky''s strength. A four-star The Overseer was practically invincible to anyone below that rank. Yet John had managed to kill him. It seemed John''s power far exceeded her expectations. The exploration of The Secret Area had yielded abundant rewards this time. John had earned a massive amount of spirit crystals, killed numerous powerful opponents, plundered many attributes, and raised his level to over 24,000. On top of that, he had plundered the Netherworld Hellfire and the Witch n''s Eight Destion Body Tempering Art after defeating Burning Sky. John decided to let his Beast n avatar refine the Witch n treasure and practice the Eight Destion Body Tempering Art. Most importantly, he had acquired the ancient artifact United Sword. John had a strong feeling that the United Sword was far more powerful than its visible attributes suggested. It would require careful exploration to unlock its full potential. "It''s time to head back," John said decisively. He nned to return to Purple Sky City and enter a period of seclusion to refine the Netherworld Hellfire, the Underworld n treasure, and improve his techniques. To break through to the mid-tier gods, he not only needed to reach level 50,000 but also to advance his techniques to level 20,000. Currently, he possessed seven high-tier techniques, most of which were at level 10,000. However, progressing beyond level 10,000 became exponentially harder. Each additional level required 10,000 skill points, meaning leveling a single technique to 20,000 would cost 1 billion skill points. For seven techniques, he needed a staggering 7 billion skill points, far more than what he had now. He could only umte them gradually. Just as they were preparing to return, three system announcements rang out suddenly: [System Announcement: Gale and Star Dust have conquered Main City No. 101. All Shadow n forces are to provide immediate reinforcements.] ... Gale and Star Dust? John froze in ce. Those were the in-game IDs of Sini and Tracy. There was no way someone else would have the same names in this game. Those two girls... are they insane? He couldn''t believe it. They had managed to conquer a main city. John knew how much the Shadow n valued the 108 main cities. They would undoubtedly mobilize everything to retaliate. His worry for Sini and Tracy''s safety intensified. "Ice Talker, do you know the coordinates of Main City No. 101?" John quickly turned to Ice Talker and asked. "Yes, I do," Ice Talker responded immediately, providing the coordinates. John didn''t hesitate for a moment. He tore open a spatial rift, and the group immediately set off toward Main City No. 101. ... Shadow Star, Supreme City The Shadow God also heard the announcement, and his fury was boundless. "Godyer, what a cunning move!" he growled through clenched teeth, convinced this was one of John''s schemes. While everyone''s attention was drawn to the Immortals'' Secret Area, John had orchestrated an attack on one of his main cities. "The Shadow n''s main city cannot fall." Though he had already ordered all Shadow n elites to retake the city, his confidence wavered. His figure vanished, reappearing at the pinnacle of the Supreme City''s Tower, where he lit a stick of incense to contact the Creator God. As smoke curled into the air, it condensed into a face that red coldly at him. "What is it?" the voice asked. The Shadow God knelt immediately, his tone urgent. "My lord, one of my main cities has been destroyed. I beg you to dy the invasion of other Lord God domains." The figure''s expression darkened, its voice icy. "Shadow, are you trying to tell me how to conduct my ns?" The Shadow God swallowed nervously, his face pale with terror. "My lord, the main cities are my strongest defense. If they fall, Shadow Star will be destroyed." "Your Shadow Star was doomed from the start. The Game of Gods has already begun its invasion and cannot be stopped. Solve your problems yourself." With that, the voice vanished, and the smoke dispersed. "My lord..." the Shadow God whispered in frustration, copsing to the ground. The invasion of other Lord God starfields had been carefully orchestrated by him and the Witch God, who worked behind the scenes. However, once the other Lord Gods realized what was happening, the Shadow n would be a target for retaliation. The Shadow God knew he couldn''t stand against the other Lord Gods if exposed. He''d face certain death. The 108 main cities of Shadow Star were hisst line of defense. Losing them was unthinkable. "Godyer!" he snarled, his figure vanishing into thin air. ... Main City No. 101 John and hispanions arrived. All around them, the air was filled with the mor of battle. Shouts of war echoed through the sky as a gale roared, powerful pressure radiating through the area. Countless skills rained down in an unrelenting assault. John effortlessly deflected the iing attacks and spotted Sini and Tracy. The two were leading an army of spirit beasts, Beast n warriors, and elves, numbering in the tens of thousands. They had already breached the city''s defenses. The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, which protected the city, had been destroyed, and the city lord himself had been in. That was the only reason their army had managed to take the city so easily. However, Shadow n reinforcements were pouring in from all directions, joined by an endless tide of Hunters. Retaining control of the city was going to be nearly impossible. John quickly made his way to join the two women. "John!" Sini was in the middle of ughtering a group of Hunters when she noticed him. Her face lit up with joy, though it was tinged with a trace of apprehension. She had acted without John''s permission this time, and she couldn''t help feeling anxious. "Hmph!" John snorted coldly. Seeing that the two girls were unharmed, he felt relieved but still scolded them angrily, "You two are getting bolder and more reckless! Once we get back, you won''t leave my World-in-Hand again!" John nned to bring everyone into his World-in-Hand and retreat from the area. "Old man, we can''t do that," Tracy quickly interjected. "The 108 main cities of Shadow Star are actually part of a massive Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. If it operates at full capacity, its power would be devastating-even The Overseer wouldn''t be able to withstand it." "What?" John was shocked. Ice Talker also looked stunned, disbelief written all over her face. "Little girl, are you sure?" Tracy nodded vigorously. Sini chimed in eagerly, "John, doesn''t discovering such a huge secret earn us some credit?" John shot her a sharp look, his brows furrowing deeply as he nced at the endless waves of Shadow n reinforcements flooding in. Gritting his teeth, he made a decision. "Find a way to hold this ce!" Ice Talker''s eyes lit up with an idea. She immediately released tens of thousands of Nature n soldiers and Saint Spirit n elites from her World-in-Hand. "Quick, take the walls and block the Shadow n army!" shemanded urgently. The troops, initially confused, quickly grasped the gravity of the situation as they saw the unending tide of Shadow n forces and Hunters. They rushed to the city walls, taking defensive positions to hold off the assault. However, their strength was still far too limited. John''s mind raced. He tore open a spatial rift and turned to Tracy. "Tracy, head to Purple Sky City and bring Senior Peter here to support us. But remember, don''t bring everyone. Purple Sky City must remain secure." He wasn''t sure if they could truly fend off the shadow n''s army, and Purple Sky City was his stronghold-he couldn''t risk leaving it defenseless. "Got it!" Tracy agreed swiftly and stepped through the spatial rift. Not long after, she returned with Peter. Followed by a dozen members of the Blues Family, including Chris. "So many enemies!" Peter eximed, startled by the scene. The forces here dwarfed those he''d faced when defending Purple Sky City against the monster tide-not only in numbers but also in strength. "Senior Peter," John asked urgently, "can your formations block these armies?" Peter shook his head. "Right now, I can only set up intermediate-level formations. The Four Symbols Guardian Formation and Seven Kill Formation are the strongest ones I can deploy. They might hold against the Hunters, but against these Shadow n upper-tier gods armies, they won''t stand a chance. However, there''s another way. Then, after carefully sensing the surroundings, Peter''s expression shifted. He turned to John and said, "I can repair the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star here." Every main city on Shadow Star was equipped with a Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. While the formation here had been destroyed by Tracy, Peter couldn''t create a new one from scratch-but he could repair the damaged one. John''s eyes lit up with hope. "Good. Leave it to you. We''ll buy you the time you need." John joined the fray, ordering his forces to purge the city of the Shadow n and Hunters armies. The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star was powerful enough to kill even The Overseer, so it would have no trouble holding off these Shadow n elites. Roar! A resonant dragon''s cry echoed across the battlefield as John activated Heaven and Earth Transformation, assuming his divine dragon form. His piercing gaze locked onto a massive Shadow n army advancing to reinforce their forces. The army was nearly a million strong,posed entirely of upper-tier gods, led by more than a dozen city lords of Shadow Star''s main cities. "Human, how dare you target Shadow n''s main city? You truly don''t know your ce!" one of the city lords growled. "Enough talk. Kill him!" another barked. The Shadow n elites roared in unison, unleashing theirbined might as they activated the Blood Domain. Blood-red energy spread like an endless tide, enveloping John entirely. Inside the Blood Domain, the Shadow n forces and their Overseer-level leaders were unhindered, while their enemies were severely suppressed. John stood amidst the overwhelming Shadow Power, his expression one of disdain. Hisprehension of Shadow n''sws far exceeded that of these enemies. Within the Blood Domain, his power wasn''t restricted in the slightest. "Break for me!" John roared. Sword energy surged forth, tearing the Blood Domain apart in an instant. The air trembled violently as he followed up with Soul Impact. John had no interest in dragging out the fight. He unleashed his most lethal attack right from the start. A wave of terrifying soul energy swept across the battlefield. The Shadow n forces had no means of resisting. In an instant, the souls of hundreds of thousands were obliterated. [You have in Shadow n upper-tier gods. You have gained 676.6 billion experience points.] [Your level has increased...] [Plunder talent activated...] Notifications flooded in as John''s experience points skyrocketed. His level jumped by over a thousand in one go, and he plundered a substantial amount of attribute points. He was ecstatic. At this rate, he might even reach level 50,000 soon. Only a few peak upper-tier gods with soul defenses and some of the city lords managed to survive his soul skills. John alone held an entire section of the city wall against the Shadow n army. Despite his efforts, the pressure on the others didn''t ease.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Countless Shadow n forces and Overseers continued their relentless assault on the city walls. On several asions, sections of the wall were breached. Thankfully, Ice Talker and Terran unleashed their full strength, retaking the walls at all costs. Even so, John''s forces suffered heavy casualties. The spirit beast army, which had been the main force in capturing the city, had lost over half its numbers. The cries of battle filled the air as John focused on ughtering as many upper-tier gods as possible to relieve the pressure on his allies. Hum! Suddenly, the space around them quaked, and an invisible barrier spread outward, enveloping the entire city. Countless shimmering stars appeared in the sky-it was the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star! John exhaled in relief. Peter had finallypleted the repair of the formation. Chapter 337: Chapter 337: The True Body of the Lord God, Ragnarok Chapter 337: Chapter 337: The True Body of the Lord God, Ragnarok ? Whoosh... The howling wind whipped through the air, and the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star spun into motion. Star Dust rained down from the sky, crashing into the Shadow n''s army and the Hunters below. The sound of anguished wails echoed around, and John found himself within the formation''s reach. The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star was an indiscriminate attack. However, with his newfound strength, John no longer feared the assault of this formation. But the others couldn''t defend themselves. Even the powerful lord of Shadow Star''s main city had to flee in panic from the falling Star Dust. "Everyone, retreat into the city!" John ordered immediately, then charged toward the city lords. Killing these figures would allow him to plunder theprehension of the Shadowws. He was curious about what would happen if he increased his understanding of the Shadowws to 100%. The city lords saw John charging at them, and they immediately fell into disarray. But none of them retreated. "Everyone, hold on. Lord God ising soon!" one of them shouted, fully concentrating on blocking John''s attacks. Is Shadow Lord God about to intervene? John''s brow furrowed when he heard that. His attacks became even fiercer. Countless sword lights and magical abilities rained down, working in tandem with the falling Star Dust to relentlessly assault the city lords. Among these attacks was the power of the Heavenws. One after another, the lords were blown apart. "You human scum, you won''t die easily!" they cursed in fury. They were no match for John, but under themand of Shadow Lord God, they dared not retreat. Boom! Boom! Star Dust continued to fall from the sky, and the terrifying damage was enough to overwhelm even upper-tier gods at their peak. The Shadow n army suffered heavy casualties. If they didn''t destroy the formation, they would never capture City 101. Buzz! Suddenly, a terrifying aura descended, and the sky was drenched in blood, thunder booming across the heavens. The overwhelming pressure seemed as though it could destroy the world. It was Shadow Lord God! John''s brow furrowed as he looked up at the sky. Unlike the previous two times, this wasn''t just a projection, but the true body of Lord God. The sky turned crimson, filled with a terrifying aura of ughter. A figure slowly appeared-a middle-aged man. Blood-red hair, blood-colored robes, and a murderous aura so thick it seemed to imprison space itself, sending chills down the spine. "It''s Lord Shadow God!" "Wonderful! We''re saved!" "Human, this time you will die for sure!" ... The powerful members of the Shadow n, along with the Hunters, fell to their knees in worship, their faces filled with fanatical respect. John, however, remained proudly floating in midair, gazing directly at the middle-aged man with no sign of fear. He could sense that, with his current strength, he was still no match for the Lord God. But with the protection of the Heavenws, Lord God wouldn''t be able to harm him. "Godyer, do you dare to fight me?" Shadow Lord God''s gaze was cold as he spoke. John sneered and silently raised his middle finger. "Bastard!" Shadow Lord God cursed, and with a wave of his hand, a sh of blood-red light shot out, not targeting John, but instead aimed at the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. Boom! There was a deafening roar, and the blood-colored light surged. The falling Star Dust shattered, and the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star waspletely destroyed. "Retake the walls! Not a single one of these bastards is to be spared!" Shadow Lord God ordered coldly. "Understood. Kill them!" The roar of battle rang out as the morale of the Shadow n army surged. Without the threat of the formation, they charged recklessly towards the walls, fearless of death. John''s expression changed slightly. Without the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, they were no match for the Shadow n''s powerful warriors. The situation was set, and he no longer struggled in vain. Quickly, he turned to return to the walls, nning to absorb everyone into World-in-Hand. Buzz! Suddenly, a ripple of Spatial power surged. The entire space was locked down, and he found that he couldn''t activate World-in-Hand, nor could he break through the spatial barrier. "Godyer, this is the work of Lord God!" Ice Talker said, frowning. She blocked several attacks from upper-tier gods at their peak and quickly warned him. "Damn it!" John cursed, his gaze cold as he red at Shadow Lord God. He hadn''t expected this enemy to be able to block World-in-Hand. Fortunately, Shadow Lord God didn''t attack immediately. John quickly spoke, "We have to retreat. Without the formation, the city can''t be held." "But old man, these main cities are part of a huge formation. If it activates with full power, its strength will be terrifying," Tracy replied, unwilling to give up. She could feel that if the formation in these cities was fully activated, it would seal off the entire Shadow Star domain. At that point, they would all be doomed. "Then destroy it!" John said coldly. He might not be able to hold the city, but he could certainly destroy it. Whoosh! The fierce wind howled around him. He was still in the state of Heaven and Earth Transformation. The United Sword in his hand grew rapidly, and behind him, the sky was filled with Star Dust, and the reflections of mountains and trees seemed to follow him. "Creation and Destruction!" John roared, his longsword enveloped with a destructive aura as it swung down with earth-shattering force. "This is bad!" Shadow God''s expression changed slightly. He could sense the terrifying power of this strike, and he knew that the city walls would not be able to withstand it. "Human, how dare you!" Shadow God shouted, decisively making his move. While he couldn''t attack John directly, there was no issue with defending against his attack. A massive blood-red aura gathered in the air, forming into a giant shield that appeared above the city. Boom! There was a deafening crash as John was forced back, the blood-red shield cracking with deep fissures before it shatteredpletely. "How strong!" Both John and Shadow Lord God were shaken. Shadow Lord God''s face turned icy as he waved his hand. A gust of wind surged, and an invisible force struck, pushing John and the others away from the city, though they were unharmed. An invisible barrier then formed, trapping John, his group, and the Shadow n and Hunters'' armies inside. Shadow Lord God''s voice was cold and unwavering: "Human, this is the consequence of offending the Shadow n. You will all die here." The Shadow n and Hunters'' armies roared again as they charged. John and his group were once again forced into a passive position. The area around them was open, with no city walls in sight, and the pressure mounted significantly. Although John wasn''t afraid, holding off such a vast number of enemies from all directions was impossible. Not to mention, there was still Lord God watching from the sidelines. Although Shadow God couldn''t act against The Overseer, the others were not protected. If he decided to go on a killing spree, no one would be able to stop him. "Sini, can you break through this barrier?" John asked quickly, turning to Sini. She sensed the barrier carefully, then nodded. "Yes, I can. My strength has greatly improved, and this barrier won''t be able to hold us." In the past few days, she had ughtered many powerful Shadow n members and Hunters, plundering a vast amount of attributes. Her Power of the Nine Nether had experienced a huge boost. John spoke, his voice firm: "As long as you can break through this spatial barrier, I won''t punish you for your actions this time."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Alright." Sini''s eyes brightened, and she agreed decisively. "Old man, we didn''t do anything wrong in the first ce!" Tracy protested, visibly unhappy. John didn''t respond to her, instead focusing on working with Ice Talker to hold off the enemy''s attacks as best they could. Under the protection of herpanions, Sini carefully sensed the power of the spatial confinement around them, and with all her strength, she activated the Power of the Nine Nether. Buzz! The spatial energy trembled, and the binding force ced by Shadow Lord God began to be slowly consumed. "Power of the Nine Nether!" Shadow Lord God eximed, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he prepared to strike at Sini. Suddenly, three system announcements echoed through the air. [Announcement: The Gods'' Game has connected to the Sea n Star Domain, Underworld n Star Domain, Nature n Star Domain...] [Ragnarok has begun. All Star Domain resources are now fully open.] ... The announcement sent shockwaves through the battlefield, sparking a frenzy of activity. "Damn it! That Creator God bastard is trying to set me up!" Shadow Lord God cursed, his face darkening. He didn''t have time to deal with John and the others anymore. Immediately, he gave a new order. "Everyone, return to the main city! Activate the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star!" With a wave of his hand, the formation that had been destroyed in City 101 waspletely restored. It seemed that Shadow Lord God had mastered the power of the formation, and it was now even stronger than before. The Shadow n army, which had beenying siege to John and his group, began to retreat, as did the Hunters. A massive pir of light shot up from City 101, and soon after, multiple pirs of light appeared in the distance. These were the major cities of Shadow Star, each one connecting and intertwining with the others. Buzz! The space trembled as a terrifying force rapidly expanded, covering the entire Shadow Star. It was a massive Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. John could feel an overwhelming pressure radiating from the formation. The force was so powerful that even Lord God-level beings would likely not be able to resist it. Fortunately, at that moment, Sini managed to break the spatial lock Shadow God had set up, and the spatial power began to return. "Retreat!" John immediately gave themand, activating World-in-Hand to withdraw all their forces. Ice Talker also took her subordinates into her World-in-Hand, and then entered John''s World-in-Hand herself. As they found themselves back in the familiar environment within World-in-Hand, the group couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. "My Lord, why is the Nature Star Domain also connected to the Gods'' Game?" Terran asked Ice Talker, his expression filled with concern. His family was in the Nature Star, and now that it was connected to the Gods'' Game, he feared for their safety. Ice Talker''s brow furrowed. She knew some hidden truths, but even she hadn''t expected that the Gods'' Game would suddenly connect to the star domains of all the major Lord Gods. Under normal circumstances, the Gods'' Game wouldn''t connect to other star domains unless Shadow Star hadpletely fallen. "Ragnarok, huh?" John sneered, his voice cold. "The Gods'' Game is trying to devour all the star domains and establish a new order." From the memories he had obtained from the Witch n''s Burning Sky, John hade to understand the truth behind the Gods'' Game. It seemed that the process had elerated. "You know about it?" Ice Talker looked at John in surprise. This final conspiracy was known only to the major Lord Gods. Her position was special, and only the Nature God had revealed the truth to her. John nced at Ice Talker, recalling what she had said earlier, "You mentioned that we have the same goal-stopping the Gods'' Game from continuing to devour the world?" "That''s right." Ice Talker nodded. Since John already knew, there was no point in hiding the truth anymore. John frowned, confused. "How do we stop it?" Ice Talker''s voice was calm as she answered, "It''s simple. Kill the Creator God." "Simple?" John was left speechless. From the memories he had absorbed from Burning Sky, he knew how terrifying the Creator God was. The eight Lord Gods were all creations of the Creator God. If he wished, he could easily cultivate more beings of Lord God level. Right now, John could barely handle even a single Lord God, let alone that terrifying Creator God. Chapter 338: Chapter 338: Diamond Shield, Creator Bloodlines Chapter 338: Chapter 338: Diamond Shield, Creator Bloodlines ? Ice Talker pondered for a moment before speaking, "It''s said that The Overseer of five stars and above has the ability to kill the Creator God." "Five stars?" John furrowed his brows. He was currently only at the second-star peak of The Overseer, not even at the third-star level, let alone five stars. There was still a long way to go. Ice Talker didn''t dwell on this issue further and continued, "Godyer, I need to return to Nature Star. You should be careful. It''s best if you don''t leave World-in-Hand for now." With the Gods'' Game unfolding, she was concerned about the situation on Nature Star. "Do you want me toe with you?" John asked. "No need. That''s my hometown. No one dares to touch me there." She said confidently, then gave a brief farewell, leading Terran and the Emperor of the Underworld as they left. John watched them depart, his brow furrowed, lost in thought. "John." Sini approached him, a smile on her face, and asked cautiously, "Aren''t we going out recently?" "Hmph!" John snorted, ring at her. "I''m going into seclusion. You all stay here quietly." "Cand-Dragon." He then turned to Cand-Dragon and ordered, "Keep an eye on Sini. If they try to sneak out again, you''ll answer for it." "Me?" Cand-Dragon hesitated, clearly aware of theplicated rtionships between John and the others. He didn''t want to upset anyone, but he had no choice but to reluctantly agree. John finally rxed and made his way under The Tree of Life to begin his seclusion and cultivation. This time, during his exploration of The Immortals'' Secret Area, he had gained a great deal. He had killed The Overseer and the Shadow City Lords, plundering vast amounts of attributes, as well as the power of the Heaven and Shadow Laws. Moreover, he had in Burning Sky and obtained Netherworld Hellfire, whose power was on par with his Golden Lotus Hellfire. He had also acquired the Eight Deste Body Refining Technique and several priceless treasures from the Witch n. He nned to refine the Netherworld Hellfire and merge it, increasing the level of his techniques. His goal was to level up quickly and break through to mid-tier gods. Sitting cross-legged, he began the process of refining the Netherworld Hellfire. Buzz! Deep within his soul, the Golden me Lotus appeared, slowly spinning and absorbing the ck Netherworld Hellfire. ... [Your Lotus merges with Netherworld Hellfire. The Golden me Lotus has evolved into the Purple me Destruction Lotus.] [Golden Lotus Hellfire evolves into Purple me Hellfire, dealing triple Soul Technique damage.] Two dayster, John sessfully refined the Netherworld Hellfire. The Golden me Lotus was now surrounded by purple mes, transformed into the Purple me Destruction Lotus. Furthermore, his Golden Lotus Hellfire had evolved into Purple me Hellfire, and his soul damage had been increased once more. Whoosh! He focused his mind, and a wave of purple me erupted, sending heat waves sweeping through the air. "Impressive!" He was both surprised and delighted. The Purple me Hellfire not only increased soul damage but also added powerful fire magic damage, making it even more potent than the previous Netherworld Hellfire. The Purple me Hellfire can deal three times the amount of soul damage. With John''s current Soul Technique at over six million, that means he can inflict nearly twenty million points of soul damage. John was taken aback by this figure. It was enough to threaten even Lord God-level beings. However, the Purple me Hellfire inflicts continuous damage rather than a sudden burst of twenty million soul damage. Killing a Lord God with this attack alone was still unrealistic. He withdrew the Purple me Hellfire and took out a Witch n treasure. With a thought, his Beast n avatar appeared. He intended for the Beast n avatar to refine this treasure. Burning Sky had the ability to fuse the powers of the Witch n and Beast nws, and John had tried merging other races'' powers as well, but all those attempts had failed. He spected that only powers from the same origin-like those of the Witch n and Beast n-could be fused. [Your Beast n avatar fuses and refines the Witch n treasure. All four basic attributes increase by 600,000.] The prompt shed on the screen. Since his Beast n avatar had used the Apocalypse Stone, it easily refined the Witch n treasure, causing its power to increase once more. "Time to level up the Eight Destion Body Tempering Art!" John opened his attribute panel and began to improve his martial technique. During this time, he had plundered a massive number of skill points and skill stones-over four hundred million in total. But it still wasn''t enough. To break through to mid-tier gods, he needed to level up his seven advanced techniques to the 20,000 level. This meant he would need at least seven hundred million skill points. John couldn''t help but feel a headacheing on. Earning skill points was far more difficult than leveling up. "One step at a time," he muttered, no longer dwelling on it. He began consuming skill points to level up the Eight Destion Body Tempering Art. [You consume 10 skill points. Eight Destion Body Tempering Art has been upgraded to level 2. Body strength +1.] The Eight Destion Body Tempering Art was a body-refining technique, increasing physical strength without providing any other boosts. John''s physical constitution wasn''t particrly strong, so for him, this was especially important. He continued to level it up. ... [You consume 100 skill points. Eight Destion Body Tempering Art has been upgraded to level 100. Body strength +1.] ... [You consume 1,000 skill points. Eight Destion Body Tempering Art has been upgraded to level 1,000. Body strength +1.] ... [You consume 10,000 skill points. Eight Destion Body Tempering Art has been upgraded to level 10,000. Body strength +1.] [You haveprehended Immortal Art: Diamond Body Protection.] A prompt shed, and John had finally unlocked a new skill after upgrading the Eight Destion Body Tempering Art to level 10,000. [Diamond Body Protection: Immortal Art. A powerful body defense technique that increases your defense by 100 times and reflects 10% of the damage back to the enemy. Cannot resist soul damage. Consumes 1,000 spiritual power per second.] "Diamond Body Protection?" John was surprised. "It seems simr to Tony''s Immortal Golden Body." In his Heaven and Earth Transformation state, with a 100-fold defense boost, he was confident he could block even the peak attacks of upper-tier gods, and he wouldn''t be afraid to face a Lord God either. Not only that, but it also reflected 10% of the damage back to the attacker. The only weakness was that it couldn''t resist soul damage. "Let''s see if the powers of the Witch n and Beast n can fuse." John sat down cross- legged again, carefully controlling the fusion of the Witch n and Beast n powers within his Beast n avatar. Buzz! The hum of energy echoed through his body, and the two forces showed no signs of resistance. Instead, they fused together naturally. John opened his eyes, surprised. He had braced himself for pain or injury, but everything was going incredibly smoothly. [You have sessfully fused the Witch and Lich powers, gaining Creatorbloodlines. All four base attributes +1,000,000. Heaven and Earth Transformation enhancement increased, Creation and Destruction skill power increased...] "Creatorbloodlines... this..." John eximed, unable to believe what was happening. The Witch Lich was a being born after the death of the Creator, and John never expected that fusing the Witch n and Beast n powers would grant him Creatorbloodlines-his strength had significantly increased. Most notably, his Heaven and Earth Transformation multiplier had jumped from 100 times to 200 times. As for the power of the Creation and Destruction skill, he''d need to test it out to fully understand its capabilities. "Does fusing Demonic Power really grant Creatorbloodlines?" John thought to himself, a new realization dawning on him. With excitement, he took out another Witch n treasure. He had killed quite a few Witch n strongmen, and he still had seven Witch n treasures in his possession. John decided to test his theory, so he found Cand-Dragon to verify the fusion. "Big eel, are you ever going to stop? I told you already, I''m not sneaking out," Sini''s voice grumbled in dissatisfaction. For the past few days, Cand-Dragon had been keeping a close watch on her. "I can''t help it. You can''t leave my sight," Cand-Dragon said helplessly, unable to get angry despite being insulted by her. It wasn''t just his rtionship with John-without the Heaven and Earth Transformation state, Cand-Dragon knew he wasn''t a match for Sini, especially with her newfound mastery of the Power of the Nine Nether. Her power had grown significantly, making her more unruly by the day. "Master, you''re finally out of seclusion!" Cand-Dragon noticed John and visibly rxed. "John!" Sini hurried over, her face brightening. "Can I finally go outside? I''ve been cooped up for days, I''m going crazy." "Hold on a bit longer," John replied, shooting her a re. This girl had grasped the Power of the Nine Nether, and her strength had increased dramatically. She was bing increasingly difficult to manage. Ignoring Sini, John took out a Witch n treasure and an Apocalypse Stone, handing them to Cand-Dragon. "Here, this is a Witch n treasure. The Witch n power can fuse with the Beast n power. After you refine it, see if there''s any change." Several of the Beast n''s upper-tier gods were incredibly powerful, most of them having fused two different race treasures. However, Cand-Dragon only had a Beast n treasure. "Witch n? Alright." Cand-Dragon was a bit confused but trusted that John wouldn''t harm him. He began refining the Apocalypse Stone and quickly proceeded to fuse the powers. Under John''s guidance, he carefully merged the Witch n and Beast n powers. "Witch n power and Beast n power are so simr?" As the two forces fused sessfully, Cand-Dragon''s eyes widened in disbelief. John nodded and asked, "So, did you gain Creatorbloodlines?" "Creator...bloodlines?" Cand-Dragon shook his head in confusion, then his face lit up. "But my Heaven and Earth Transformation multiplier has increased to 150 times." "150 times?" John furrowed his brows. Cand-Dragon had not gained Creatorbloodlines, and his Heaven and Earth Transformation multiplier was not as high as his own. His multiplier had reached 200 times, and his other divine skill, Creation and Destruction, had been enhanced as well. He suspected that the boost was due to the Creatorbloodlines. Even so, Cand-Dragon''s improvement was still impressive. John took out the remaining Witch n treasures and several more Apocalypse Stones, handing them to Cand-Dragon. "Give these to the Beast n experts to refine. Thebination of these two races'' treasures will unlock their full potential." "Got it," Cand-Dragon said, gratefully epting the items. "Thanks, John!" He quickly left the area, eager to escape the constant pressure from Sini and the others. With John out of seclusion, Cand-Dragon was finally free from their persistent nagging. "John, can I go outside now?" Sini pestered him once more. John sighed, about to respond when a private message notification suddenly appeared. He froze, confused. He had descended in his true form to Shadow Star, which meant he was no longer a yer, and there were no other yers around. It had been a long time since he''d received a private message. He quickly opened the message, and to his surprise, it was from Ritchie. Ritchie: "Boss, long time no see. Did you miss me?" John furrowed his brows, puzzled. When the Skyline Continent was destroyed, all yers had their connections severed. Only they had descended onto Skyline Continent, unable to leave, and had entered Shadow Star. But how was Ritchie suddenly online? Not only that, but a familiar name also appeared in his friends list. Flow of Time! It was Malina.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om He quickly typed a message to Ritchie. Godyer: "How are you online?" Ritchie: "The Gods'' Game suddenly reconnected to Earth. This time, it opened eight star domains, and entry was random. I got lucky and ended up in the Shadow Star, where you are." Chapter 339: Chapter 339: Meet Again With Ritchie – Perform, Don’t Sell Yourself Chapter 339: Chapter 339: Meet Again With Ritchie ¨C Perform, Don¡¯t Sell Yourself ? Is the Gods'' Game reconnecting with Earth again? John furrowed his brow, his expression grave. He suspected this was rted to the sudden reconnection of the Gods'' Game to the Eight Lord God Star Domains. He couldn''t help but feel uneasy. He feared Earth might also be one of the targets for destruction by the Creator God. Godyer: "Where are you? I''lle find you." The situation on Shadow Star was bing increasinglyplicated, and John was worried that Ritchie might be in danger. Soon, Ritchie sent over coordinates. John looked at Sini beside him and spoke, "Let''s go, I''ll take you out." "Old man, I want to go too!" Tracy quickly approached, her eyes full of expectation. John sighed and reluctantly led the two women out of World-in-Hand. The group appeared at the outer perimeter of the main city, number 101. At this moment, the main city had once again fallen under the control of the Shadow n''s powerful members. Arge number of Shadow n elites had gathered, and the sky was filled with sparkling stardust, covering the entire Shadow Star. This was part of the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, awork of 108 main cities that covered the entire Shadow Star. "Such powerful Star Dust energy!" Tracy eximed, staring up at the starry sky, excited. The Star Dust energy was something she could absorb and refine directly. But John''s brow remained furrowed. The massive formation was already activated, locking down all of Shadow Star. They could not enter or leave freely. Fortunately, the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star had not yetunched an attack. He looked at Tracy and asked, "Can you break this formation?" He could feel the terrifying power of the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. Its existence was always a looming threat. Tracy concentrated for a moment, then shook her head helplessly. "No, this formation is too powerful, and I''m too weak to destroy it." She nced toward the main city and continued, "But these main cities are the core of the formation. If we destroy just one of them, the whole formation will copse on its own." Both women looked excitedly at the nearby main city, number 101. "No!" John immediately rejected their idea with a firm tone. The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star had already been activated. Arge number of powerful figures were gathering, and the Shadow Lord God could arrive at any moment. Attacking the main city now would be far too risky. "Ritchie and the others areing, let''s first bring them over." He changed the subject, using his Split Void talent to open a spatial passage with a wave of his hand. "Ritchie? Did Earth reconnect with the Gods'' Game again?" Both women were surprised, noticing several familiar IDs appear on their friend list. John and the others passed through the spatial rift and arrived in a deste city. This had once been a beginner''s vige, but now the Shadow n''s forces had withdrawn, and no one was around to manage it. The vige had fallen intoplete ruin. Fortunately, the protective mechanisms of the beginner vige were still functioning. The roaming Hunters and powerful spirit beasts dared not enter. Inside the city, several hundred people had gathered-yers from Earth. "Boss!" Ritchie spotted John and quickly ran up to him. "Godyer!" Several familiar faces also stepped forward to greet him. They were all members of the me Legion. Most of them had been fortunate enough to enter Shadow Star, and they had been assigned to the same beginner''s vige. Among the me Legion members, John also noticed a familiar figure. Malina! "Hmph!" Malina, sensing John''s gaze, snorted coldly, her face filled with resentment. It seemed like she was still upset with him for leaving without a word. John noticed Sini''s knowing look beside him and felt a bit awkward. Although he had flirted with Malina before, nothing beyond that had happened between them. And besides, Malina''s twenty G-rated videos were still in Sini''s hands, and she hadn''t given them to him yet. Clearing his throat awkwardly, John quickly changed the subject. "Ritchie, how is Earth doing now?" Ritchie spoke up, "When the Gods'' Game suddenly shut down, some people were unhappy, and there were a few uprisings, but we easily suppressed them. Now that the Gods'' Game has suddenly returned, it caused quite a stir, but everything is under control, and no riots have urred." John nodded. He was well aware of Ritchie''s strength. Even uniting the entire Earth would be no challenge for him. "What about Armstrong?" Sini asked. She hadn''t seen Armstrong, and his name wasn''t on her friend list either. With the Gods'' Game reconnecting, considering his personality, he would definitely have entered the game. "He''s on Nature Star. Don''t worry, he''s safe. The Nature n on that is very friendly toward Earth yers," Ritchie exined, ncing at John as he spoke. He suspected this situation might also be rted to John. The sudden reconnection of the Gods'' Game to the Eight Lord God Star Domains had been random for everyone involved. Hearing that Armstrong was safe, the group rxed. John spoke up again, "Let''s head to my city first and get you all leveled up as quickly as possible." Ritchie''s group wasn''t very strong-most of them were at the sixth or seventh tier of power. With their current strength, they wouldn''t even be able to handle the weakest of Shadow Star''s Hunters. If it hadn''t been for the protection of the abandoned beginner vige, they would have been wiped out long ago. John opened a spatial portal and led everyone through to Purple Sky City. The sound of angry roars echoed through the air as the massive energy of the formation surged. Hunters continued to swarm around Purple Sky City. Luckily, with the protection of the Blues Family members, the Undying Legion from Skyline Continent, and the city''s defensive formation, Purple Sky City remained safe. Ritchie and the others arrived and curiously looked around, their eyes widening in surprise as they observed the endless swarms of Hunters. They were also shocked by the strength of the others around them.N?v(el)B\\jnn Ritchie couldn''t help but feel a pang of regret for not staying with John. If he had, his own strength would have increased much faster. "Senior." John spotted Peter and approached him. "Ritchie and the others have just entered Shadow Star. Please arrange for them to level up quickly." "Has the Gods'' Game reconnected with Earth again?" Peter was also surprised. After learning that Armstrong was on Nature Star and safe, he let out a sigh of relief. Peter knew that Ice Talker was the Overseer of the Nature n, a highly respected figure, and that he and John had a good rtionship. With the protection of the Nature n, Armstrong would be fine. Peter immediately made arrangements, directing Ritchie and the others to the city walls to help defend against the Hunters. With the Four Symbols Guardian Formation in ce, as long as they stayed within the formation, they would be safe. The only real threat would be the Hunters'' Brood Mothers. However, since the monster tide attack had ended, no Brood Mothers had appeared. It seemed they had also realized the danger here. "Wow, this level-up speed is incredible!" the group eximed excitedly. Their own strength was still rtively weak, but even killing a demigod-level Hunter could instantly boost their level by one. Everyone was motivated now. They took up positions on the city walls and focused all their efforts on taking down the Hunters. "Godyer, I need your help with something," Malina approached John. Sini and Tracy exchanged a nce and discreetly left. John felt a bit awkward. He turned to Malina and asked, "What is it? Feel free to say." "My people from Phoenix City are being enved in another beginner vige on Shadow Star, forced to mine ores. I hope you can rescue them," Malina looked at John, gritting her teeth, already mentally prepared to ept any humiliating conditions he might impose. "Mining ores? And there are still active beginner viges?" John was surprised. He had thought that after causing such a stir, most of Shadow Star''s beginner viges would have been wiped out. He didn''t expect that they were now starting to oppress Earth yers. He didn''t dare make a move against the main cities, but these beginner viges and ordinary towns were no challenge at all. "Do you have the coordinates?" he asked. "I do." Malina nodded and provided John with several coordinates. The oppression wasn''t just affecting Phoenix City members, but also yers from other factions of Earth. As fellow Earthlings, John decisively agreed. "Do you have any special requests?" Malina asked, a bit puzzled. She looked at John with suspicion, feeling a strange sense of disappointment. "Can I make special requests?" John''s eyes lit up as he looked her up and down. Malina was still dressed in her signature loose red robe, her impressive figure subtly outlined, especially her long legs encased in ck stockings. John couldn''t help but swallow. Perhaps it was because they hadn''t seen each other in a while, but this woman seemed to have be even more alluring. "Shameless!" Malina''s face turned bright red, and she instinctively took a step back, her expression wary. "I sell my skills, not my body." "Tch." John was speechless. It was you who mentioned special requests earlier, and now you''re backing out? Not wanting to tease her further, John opened a spatial rift and said, "Let''s go." This time, Sini and Tracy stayed behind, obediently not following. John led Malina through the rift, and they arrived at a mining site. Around them, Shadow n soldiers had gathered, their angry shouts filling the air. Earth yers were suffering greatly. The Shadow ore was heavy and difficult to mine, and the tasks assigned by the Shadow n soldiers were nearly impossible for them toplete. Many yers, unable to bear the torment, chose to log off, permanently severing their connection. Still, many others, hoping to grow stronger, endured the humiliation and heavy burden. "Godyer!" At that moment, a Shadow n soldier spotted John, his eyes widened in shock, and he immediately sounded the rm. The surrounding Shadow n forces quickly swarmed in, encircling John like a defensive wall, prepared for battle. "Quick, activate the formation!" the leader, a peak upper-tier god, immediately ordered. The power of the formation surged around them-it seemed to be a mid-level formation, which could never hold John in ce. He looked at it with disdain, toozy to waste words. With a flick of his wrist, his United Sword appeared in his hand, the sword''s aura buzzing as its cold gleam shed, sweeping over the Shadow n army. In a single exchange, tens of thousands of Shadow n soldiers were killed or injured. "So strong..." Malina had just raised her staff, a fire spell still forming at the tip, but seeing John''s overwhelming strength, she quietly lowered it. A bitter feeling welled up inside her. It seemed the gap between her and John was growing wider by the day. Hesitating, she bit her lip, then cautiously sent him a party invitation. John nced at her and epted the invite, a yful look crossing his face as he asked, "You said you sell your skills, not your body. What skills do you sell?" Malina raised an eyebrow, clearly frustrated. It seemed her suspicions had been correct-this guy was just as shameless as before. Her eyes flickered, and she spoke up, "I can draw. I can sketch something for you." Chapter 340: Chapter 340: Level Up, Ice Talkers Message Chapter 340: Chapter 340: Level Up, Ice Talker''s Message ? "I''m not interested. How about you dance for me instead?" John''s gaze roamed over Malina without restraint. Malina''s twenty G-rated dance videos were still in Sini''s possession, and John had never had the courage to ask for them. He had never seen them, even though he was quite curious. "Scoundrel! Shameless! Pervert!" Malina hissed in fury, though she didn''t refuse. "Godyer is here!" "Awesome, Godyer is here to save us!" ... Themotion was so loud that it drew the attention of the mining yers. With some courage, they left the mines and saw John. Excitedly, they gathered around him. Most of them were members of the Phoenix Group, Malina''s faction. She had just been teased by John, and her anger was still burning. Now, these guys werepletely ignoring her and fawning over John instead. Furious, she shouted, "Can''t you see me standing here?" "Huh, Boss, you''re here too," several of them greeted her, but their attention was firmly on John as they eagerly discussed among themselves. "A bunch of ingrates!" She stomped her foot in rage, ring at John with burning eyes. She didn''t doubt for a second that if John made a single word of request, these people would dly abandon her and rush to join Purple Sky City. "Quiet." John''s voice rang out, and the noisy crowd immediately fell silent. He nced at Malina, pleased by her frustration, then continued, "I can offer temporary protection for you, but the situation on Shadow Star isplex, so you all need to level up as quickly as possible." "Godyer, we won''t disappoint you!" "Boss, once we level up, we''ll help you deal with Shadow n!" The group was excited, all speaking at once. John nodded, then added, "Head to my Purple Sky City to level up. Don''t worry, you''ll be safe there. But anyone who causes trouble will be expelled. Let them fend for themselves." "Don''t worry, Boss! If anyone dares to cause trouble or disrespect you, I''ll be the first to stand against it," they promised angrily, all of them swearing their loyalty. The loudest voices belonged to members of the Phoenix Group. Malina was growing more irritated by the second. "You guys remember, you''re still Phoenix Group members," she snapped. "Uh... Boss, are you really going against Godyer? If you keep this up, it''ll be hard for us," one of them hesitated. "Yeah, Boss, we''re family, right? Why not just listen to Godyer?" another said. "Exactly. If you get kicked out, we won''t be backing you up," a third added. ... The others were getting bolder. Malina''s face darkened, her chest rising and falling with her heavy breaths. Clenching her teeth, she snapped, "Get out of here!" Her outburst silenced everyone. Her reputation still held weight. Her cold, piercing gaze swept over the group, and she spoke in a frigid tone, "Anyone who dares to speak out again, I''ll expel you myself." "What a tigress... No, wait, a mother T. rex." "Feel sorry for Godyer for two seconds." ... The crowd fell silent for a moment before starting to whisper among themselves again. John could see Malina was about to lose her temper again, so he quickly spoke up, "Alright, everyone, let''s head to Purple Sky City." With that, he tore open a spatial rift and led everyone back to Purple Sky City. The city was protected by formations, so there was no need to worry about safety. Moreover, Hunters surrounded Purple Sky City in endless waves, relentlessly attacking. Even if an army of a hundred thousand came, it would still be enough for everyone to level up. After making sure everyone was settled, John tore open another rift and, together with Malina, headed to one new yer vige after another, rescuing the oppressed Earth yers. At this point, the yers had fully understood the situation on Shadow Star. They were invaders, but they were also the weak ones. It was rare for them to unite in solidarity to fight against the Shadow n. John had visited over a dozen viges and mining fields, rescuing more than thirty thousand Earth yers. Originally, the number of Earth yers assigned to Shadow Star was massive-several tens of millions. But most yers couldn''t bear the oppression and torment inflicted by the Shadow n soldiers and had quit the game altogether. Perhaps, for them, it was a good thing. There were too many Hunters in Shadow Star, and the Shadow n''s strongest warriors often had soul-attack abilities, which couldpletely erase a yer from existence. When the great battle eventually broke out, given the current rate of yer progress, it was likely that they would end up as cannon fodder, if not worse. ... Once everyone was settled, John began to focus on leveling up, aiming to break through to mid-tier gods as quickly as possible. Only by reaching mid-tier gods could his Overseer rank progress further. He decided to attack a Shadow n city, but not the main city. Sini and Tracy volunteered to join, and they also invited Malina. John knew exactly why the two women wanted to join, but he said nothing about it. As for his feelings toward Malina, he couldn''t quite figure it out himself. The group arrived at a Shadow n city, and without saying a word, they immediatelyunched their attack. Whoosh! The sword intent hummed, and a massive sword light sliced through the air, crashing down with overwhelming force. Boom! There was a deafening roar as the ground trembled violently. The solid city walls were completely destroyed. [Announcement: Shadow Star City 311 has been attacked by Godyer] ... Three system announcements rang out, but John didn''t even nce at them. With his current strength, destroying a normal city was a piece of cake. "Human!" A peak upper-tier gods figure flew out from within the city-it was the city lord of City 311. Upon recognizing John, the city lord''s face filled with terror, and he hastily ordered, "Quick, activate the formations! Do whatever it takes to block this human''s attack!" He immediately retreated back into the city and sent a distress signal to the nearby cities. Whoosh! The surrounding formations began to ripple with energy. It was the Four Symbols Guardian Formation. John wasn''t afraid in the slightest. His power had increased tremendously, and he could easily break this defensive formation now. Not only that, but the Power of the Nine Nether that Sini controlled and the Star Dust power that Tracy wielded could unleash tremendous force, easily destroying this defensive formation. Crack! With a sharp sound, the Four Symbols Guardian Formation was effortlessly shattered. The two women charged at the Shadow n army, wreaking havoc and ughtering them mercilessly. "That''s terrifying..." Malina stood behind, wide-eyed in shock. John''s power had already stunned her, but she hadn''t expected the two women to be so incredibly strong as well. Facing Shadow n forces with mid-tier gods and upper-tier gods, they were able to ughter them with ease. Malina couldn''t help but feel sense of inferiority. The women around John were no less attractive than she was, and their power was overwhelming as well. Maybe she wasn''t even worthy of John. ... Countless sword lights filled the sky, covering the entire city like raindrops, relentlessly raining down upon the Shadow n inside. Constant notifications popped up on John''s screen. John plundered numerous attributes, and his experience points slowly increased. At this rate, in less than two months, he would reach level 50,000 and break through to mid- tier gods. "Still too slow," he muttered, dissatisfied. Most of the Shadow n soldiers in the normal cities were mid-tier gods or upper-tier gods in rank. The number of peak upper-tier gods was rare. Compared to the one hundred and eight main cities of Shadow Star, these guys were much weaker. Perhaps building a city of his own could help him fend off the monster tide and level up more quickly. ... Soon, the entire Shadow n garrison in the city had been wiped out, and the buildings were destroyed. John found the city''s warehouse, where arge pile of items had been stored. Spirit Stones, basic Elemental Spirit Stones, equipment enhancement stones, skill stones, treasures of various races, and countless artifacts... Among them, there were over ten million skill stones! John was ecstatic. Right now, the most important thing he needed was skill points. If every city could provide him with ten million skill stones, he would only need to destroy forty more cities to gather enough skill points to upgrade all of his mind techniques to level 20,000. "Malina sister, these will help you improve," Sini said as she collected several Fire Element Spirit Stones and handed them to Malina. "This..." Malina hesitated for a moment and looked at John. Sini shoved them into Malina''s hands, frowning in annoyance. "What are you looking at him for? Take them!" "Thank you," Malina said, touched by the gesture. John could only roll his eyes. He knew exactly what Sini''s intentions were. A thought crossed his mind, and he immediately looted the entire treasure vault, storing everything in his World-in-Hand. These items could greatly enhance a yer''s power. "Let''s go, to the next city," he said, tearing open another spatial rift. ... For the next few days, John and his group destroyed several more ordinary cities, looting vast amounts of resources. Their levels increased significantly. Especially Malina, who had now broken through to demigod rank. Herprehension of Fire Elements had reached 100%, causing her power to skyrocket. However, when facing the powerful members of the Shadow n, there was still a huge gap in strength. Ding!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om At that moment, John received a private message. It was from Ritchie. Ritchie: "Boss, there''s news from the Nature n. Where are you right now?" Nature n? John was puzzled, suspecting it might have something to do with Armstrong. Godyer: "I''ll be back soon." He replied to Ritchie, hastening his pace in the battle. He quickly wiped out the remaining forces in the city in front of him, obtaining a City Building Order, looted the city''s warehouse, and then led the women back to Purple Sky City. Around them, Hunters were still endless. And new yers, under the protection of the formations, experienced rapid level-ups. John found Ritchie waiting for him. "Boss, the news is from Armstrong," Ritchie said. The Shadow Star waspletely surrounded by the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, and it was now impossible to enter or leave freely. After Ice Talker and the others left, they also couldn''t re-enter Shadow Star. Fortunately, Armstrong was on Nature Star, and he could log off and return to the real world to ry messages. Ritchie continued, "The Nature n, along with several Lord Gods, is preparing to make a move against Shadow God. However, due to the restrictions of the formation, they can''t get inside." "Lord Gods are going to take action?" John''s expression grew serious. He then asked, "What does the Nature n want me to do?" Ritchie replied, "They want you to destroy the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star." He paused for a moment before continuing, "However, there''s a person from Nature n named Ice Talker. She said you shouldn''t destroy the formation and should wait for the Chaos Green Lotus to emerge. She ims that the lotus is very important to you. They''ll help you keep Shadow God upied in the meantime." John knew what this treasure was. From the memories he had gained from Burning Sky, he understood that this was one of The Immortals'' greatest treasures. It could reshape the body and transform it into a Chaos Body, allowing the user to escape theing disaster. Right now, the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star had sealed off all of Shadow Star, and this seemed to be a good thing for him. Moreover, he didn''t believe that he currently had the power to destroy the formation. Chapter 341: Chapter 341: Battling Lord Gods, the New Heaven Law Chapter 341: Chapter 341: Battling Lord Gods, the New Heaven Law ? John paused for a moment, deep in thought, before speaking: "Tell Armstrong to inform Ice Talker that I know what to do." "Got it. Boss, there''s another thing." Ritchie nodded and continued, "Ice Talker mentioned that the Heaven Law is weakening, and the protection from The Overseer is starting to fade." "What?" John furrowed his brows, his expression turning serious. The Heaven protection was his greatest source of support. Without it, he would have to face the Lord God-level powerhouses directly. Given his current strength, he was nowhere near being able to take on a Lord God. A sense of pressure washed over him. He had to break through to mid-tier gods as soon as possible and increase his The Overseer rank. "Boss, is this really that serious?" Ritchie asked, noticing John''s grave expression. He didn''t fully understand what the Heaven Law protection was, but he could tell it was important. John nodded and exined, "It''s very important. Without the Heaven Law protection, we''ll be facing the threat of Lord Gods." "Lord Gods..." Ritchie swallowed hard. Although he had just entered Shadow Star, he understood what a Lord God was. They were beings far beyond the power of gods. In front of a Lord God, even gods themselves were like ants. Fear gripped him, and he asked nervously, "Boss, what should we do?" John took a deep breath, managing to calm himself. "The Heaven Law protection hasn''t disappearedpletely yet. As long as we can gain the strength to fight a Lord God before that happens, we should be fine." He was confident that once he reached mid-tier gods and The Overseer''s rank hit three stars, he would have enough strength to face Shadow God. However, as it stood, he couldn''t risk breaking the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star around Shadow Star. Even if he broke through to mid-tier gods, he''d still only be able to hold his own against a single Lord God. If he encountered more than one, he would bepletely outmatched. He nced at his level. Over the past few days, he had destroyed over a dozen regr Shadow n cities and in countless Shadow n warriors. His level had increased to over 27,000. Reaching level 50,000 still felt like a distant goal. "Ritchie, I''ll leave things here in your hands, along with the Blues Family. If there''s any news, let me know immediately," he instructed Ritchie. "Also, make sure to keep an eye on Sini and Tracy. Don''t let them get up to any mischief." John decided to go off on his own to continue leveling up, worried that the two women might secretly slip away again. Sini''s strength had increased dramatically, and now, World-in-Hand was no longer able to restrain her. "Don''t worry, boss, leave it to me," Ritchie assured him. John didn''t say anything more. With a thought, he tore open a rift in space and vanished. He appeared in the wilderness, continuing his search for regr Shadow n cities to destroy. Roar... Roar... The sounds of countless Hunters echoed around him as they surged forward. John scoffed. United Sword appeared in his hand, and several elements of The Power of Laws surged, the sword intent humming with power. A storm of sword beams and magic skills rained down, decimating the Hunters. His strength had grown significantly, and dealing with these regr Hunters was no longer a challenge. Apart from the Golden-Tier Hunters he encountered in The Immortals'' Secret Area, he hadn''t run into anotherrge group of them. He was certain that Shadow Star still had Golden-Tier Hunters-he just didn''t know where they were hiding. As he wandered through the wilderness, ughtering Hunters and searching for Shadow n cities. He came across a few other yers, but they had all been killed by the Hunters. He didn''t pay much attention to them. The Gods'' Game had reconnected with Earth, and the world was in chaos. The situation was dire, and he couldn''t save everyone. ... Half a month passed without him realizing it. John had destroyed more than twenty regr Shadow n cities, earning a bountiful reward-over four hundred million skill stones, enough to level up all of his techniques to the 20,000 mark. However, in thest few days, he had noticed that the Heaven power was weakening more and more. The protection from The Overseer could disappear at any moment.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Looking at his level, he had risen to over 34,000. "Leveling up is still too slow," John muttered, standing on the ruins of a city he had just destroyed. It seemed like the Shadow n had be numb to their losses. He had wiped out over forty cities, and yet no main cities hade to their rescue. It appeared that the Shadow n''s situation was dire too, with all their efforts focused on protecting the main cities, leaving their ordinary cities to bepletely abandoned. Boom! Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed through the air. The starry sky above flickered, and a massive rift in space appeared, with terrifying energy pulsing through it. Someone was attacking the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star! John was startled. He had caught a fleeting glimpse of a figure disappearing into the rift. Then, the rift closed, and the Star Dust continued to sparkle as if nothing had happened. "Lord God!" John frowned deeply. He was sure that the figure who had just entered Shadow Star was a Lord God power, and not a Shadow God. A sense of unease gripped his heart. He quickly contacted Ritchie, asking if Nature n knew anything about the situation. Ritchie logged off and contacted Armstrong. A few minutester, he logged back in. Ritchie: "Boss, I asked Armstrong about the news from Nature n. It turns out that all eight Lord Gods are in a battle in the Void, and none of them have descended into Shadow Star. Also, Lord Gods can''t break the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star." All eight Lord Gods are there? John frowned. He was certain that the figure he had seen earlier was a Lord God. It seemed that there were more than just eight Lord Gods in the entire star domain. [System Announcement: The Heaven Law is disrupted, and The Overseer''s protection, The Heaven Protection, has vanished.] ... Suddenly, three system notifications echoed. John''s frown deepened, and a growing sense of unease overwhelmed him. Something major was happening in Shadow Star. Ding. At that moment, Ritchie sent another private message. Ritchie: "Boss, there really is a Lord God who descended. He''s arrived at Purple Sky City, and his targets are Sini and Tracy!" John''s expression shifted. Without time to reply, he immediately opened a spatial rift and rushed toward Purple Sky City. Boom! As soon as his figure appeared, a tremendous tremor shook the ground, and an overwhelming aura of pressure spread out. The Four Symbols Guardian Formation and the Seven Kill Formation were instantly shattered, and Purple Sky City was nearly destroyed. Above the city, a gray-robed elder stood, holding a long spear. His robes fluttered in the air, exuding a terrifying aura. The surrounding Hunters trembled, too afraid to approach. Lord God! John moved swiftly,nding on the city walls. He fixed his gaze on the gray-robed elder, unable to identify his race. Coldly, he asked, "Who are you?" The gray-robed elder slightly lowered his head, his eyes filled with disdain. He spoke indifferently: "You must be the Godyer, right? My target isn''t you. If you don''t want to die, get out of the way." His voice was calm, his tone indifferent. His long spear hung loosely in his hand, the cold tip aimed directly at Sini and Tracy, standing behind John. John frowned. He had no idea why the elder was targeting the two women. Could it be because they wielded the Power of the Nine Nether and Star Dust? A thought crossed his mind, and he drew United Sword from his side, coldly replying, "What if I don''t move?" "Heh, then I''ll kill you both!" The gray-robed elder scoffed, his form suddenly vanishing. The next moment, he appeared directly above John. A sh of cold light gleamed from his spear as it whistled through the air toward John. This was a basic strike, but John felt an overwhelming force pressing down on him, as if the very heavens and earth had been bound. He couldn''t even raise his sword to block. The pressure was so intense that he could only brace himself. "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" John roared, unleashing his divine skill, Heaven and Earth Transformation. He fused the power of the Lich, gaining the Creator Bloodlines. With the enhancement from Heaven and Earth Transformation, his strength was increased by 200 times. A fierce wind howled as he transformed into a towering giant, the United Sword growing in size alongside him. With a mighty swing, he brought the sword down on the gray-robed elder. Boom! The heavens and earth trembled, a violent wind whipped through the air, and several people around them were instantly sent flying. A few weaker yers were directly obliterated. John was also knocked back repeatedly by the shockwave. "Huh, so that''s all you''ve got?" He fixed his gaze on the gray-robed elder, feeling relieved. From the earlier strike, he had sensed that the elder''s attributes were simr to his own Heaven and Earth Transformation. "Ha, you''re ignorant!" The gray-robed elder sneered. "Though I have just recently ascended to Lord God, what I have been granted is the new Heaven Law, something that you could neverprehend." "God Form!" The elder bellowed, his figure rapidly expanding to match John''s size. Simrly, his attributes were massively amplified, at least ten times stronger than before. "A new Heaven Law?" John frowned, his expression darkening. He remembered the truth about the Gods'' Game that he had learned from the Burning Sky''s memories. The Creator God aimed to destroy all star domains and rebuild a new order. With the disappearance of The Overseer''s protection, had he already seeded? John''s gaze remained fixed on the gray-robed elder, unshaken. His thoughts raced, and he immediately used World-in-Hand to gather all the people of Purple Sky City, ensuring they wouldn''t be caught in the crossfire of their battle. The gray-robed elder watched this nonchntly, sneering. "Humans. It''s useless. Even if you die, World-in-Hand will be destroyed, and those people will meet the same fate." "Hmph, do you think you can kill me?" John''s voice turned cold as immense sword intent surged around him. A gigantic sword light condensed, and he unleashed the Immortal Art: Nine Heavens Sword, shing it toward the gray-robed elder. "Presumptuous!" The elder didn''t flinch at the iing attack. With a slight shake of his spear, he summoned a massive surge of power, shattering the sword light effortlessly. "Die!" The elder''s spear lunged forward like a flood dragon leaping from the sea, striking directly at John''s chest without giving him any chance to evade. Buzz! Golden light flickered around John''s body-Immortal Art: Diamond Body Protection-which boosted his defenses by a hundredfold. Boom! [You have been killed by a Lord God. The Blessed Ring activates...] A notification shed before his eyes. Even with his defense increased a hundredfold, John was still unable to block the gray-robed elder''s attack. John resurrected on the spot, his face pale. He realized this was an attack using the new Heaven Law. Although he had been killed, the gray-robed elder wasn''t unscathed either. The Diamond Body Protection''s 10% damage reflection had wounded him considerably. "A new Heaven Law? Well then, I''ll see whose grasp of the Heaven Law is stronger," John took a deep breath, and the Heaven Law began to condense around him. Chapter 342: Chapter 342: Powerful Lord God, Creation and Destruction Chapter 342: Chapter 342: Powerful Lord God, Creation and Destruction ? John''s understanding of The Heaven Law had reached 53%, surpassing the strength of the Lord God-level experts. The power of The Heaven Law coalesced around him as he once again unleashed the Immortal Art: Nine Heavens Sword. Buzz! The massive sword intent hummed loudly, and three enormous sword beams tore through the void, howling as they charged forward. "Hmph, just a petty trick!" The gray-robed elder remained unfazed. He swung his spear, also condensing three spear beams that collided head-on with the iing sword beams. Boom! Boom! Boom! Three resounding explosions echoed as the space shattered, endless spatial turbulence swirling and spreading, the terrifying energy raging through the air. John''s body was once again sent flying. The gray-robed elder''s mastery of thew was no weaker than his own, and with his powerful attributes, he could almost effortlessly crush John. "Damn it!" John wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and red coldly at the gray- robed elder. A powerful battle intent surged through him, and Chaos Force began to gather. "Human, you''re no match for me. ept your fate!" The gray-robed elder still wore a calm expression, his spear swinging again. Thunder rumbled, the overwhelming momentum of his attack surging forward. Boom! The golden light around John shattered, and he was once again struck down. [You have been killed by a Lord God. The Lifesaver talent activates...] A notification shed before his eyes. He resurrected on the spot, his body enveloped in golden light once again. This time, it was the Lifesaver talent''s invincibility state. His mind raced, and he quickly activated Diamond Body Protection once more. Two powerfulws of energy surrounded him, while elemental power gathered. Thousands of sword beams rained down, apanied by dozens of magical attacks, all crashing toward the gray-robed elder. Boom! Boom! Thunderous explosions rang out as the terrifying magic force surged. The barrage of attacks overwhelmed the gray-robed elder''s form. The space shattered, and the elder was sent reeling, battered by the relentless magical assault. "Human, useless!" The gray-robed elder snarled, forming a protective shield around himself to block John''s attacks. He quickly broke free from the range of John''s skills, charging forward with blinding speed. Whoosh! Suddenly, a swirl of purple mes erupted, instantly engulfing the elder''s body. "Hellfire!" His expression shifted slightly in rm. He tried to evade, but was consumed by the purple mes before he could escape. John had merged with Netherworld Hellfire, and his Golden Lotus Hellfire had now evolved into Purple me Hellfire, dealing devastating soul damage. The gray-robed elder''s pained screams echoed from within the mes. "Human, do you think this will be enough to defeat me?" he roared angrily, shedding his gray robe as he was engulfed by the purple mes. He pulled back, struggling to escape. Although he had escaped the burning torment of Hellfire, the gray-robed elder''s soul had already been severely damaged, and hisplexion had turned pale. "Unforgivable!" The gray-robed elder snarled in rage and howled as he charged toward John again. John''s expression remained grim, his body radiating golden light, showing no signs of retreating. The two giants shed once again. Each time they collided, powerful gusts of wind were created, and terrifying energy raged across the battlefield. The space shattered, chaotic turbulence swirling and devouring everything around them. The entire abandoned mine, along with Purple Sky City, was being slowly devoured, at risk of being destroyed at any moment. John was in a difficult situation. He had no choice but to use all his strength to barely block the elder''s attacks. He had also tried using soul attacks. However, the gray-robed elder''s Soul Technique was on par with his own, and he had special defensive measures. Apart from Purple me Hellfire, ordinary soul skills couldn''t even scratch the elder. And this man even had a way to evade Purple me Hellfire. Boom! Another massive explosion resounded as John was struck down again. [Lifesaver talent activates. Resurrection... You have been revived.] A notification shed, and he rose to his feet, hisplexion pale. So strong! John''s expression grew heavier, feeling a sense of powerlessness in his heart. This elder might not be as strong as the Shadow God-level Lord God, but his power far exceeded that of the Lord God puppet he had faced in The Immortals The Secret Area. The most troublesome thing was that the elder hadprehended a new The Heaven Law, which was mysterious and difficult to deal with, making it a painful challenge for John. At this rate, he was no match for this guy. It''s now or never! John gritted his teeth, deciding to use World-in-Hand to trap the elder and then obliterate him using thews of World-in-Hand. Buzz! The spatial energy rippled. The gray-robed elder furrowed his brows, sensing the change, but he did not resist. Instead, he allowed John to pull him into World-in-Hand. "You fool, you''re digging your own grave!" The elder''s face twisted into a sneer, his tone mocking. For The Overseer, World-in-Hand was the most powerful tool, but also the weakest. As long as he destroyed World-in-Hand, John would be doomed. "You should know that in the face of true strength, your World-in-Hand is nothing but a fragile illusion!" The gray-robed elder said, slowly raising his spear. Thunder rumbled as terrifying pressure spread, and thews of The Heaven began to coalesce, causing the entire World-in-Hand to tremble slightly. John frowned but showed no fear. He spoke coldly, "Feel free to try!" "Hmph, ignorant!" The gray-robed elder sneered. The huge shadow of his spear howled through the air, like a giant dragon, instantly ripping apart the space and wildly destroying John''s World-in-Hand. John''s expression grew even more serious. He coldly observed the scene and raised his United Sword high, Chaos Force gathering around him. Buzz! A powerful force radiated outwards, causing the The Heaven Laws around the gray-robed elder to tremble slightly. "Hmm? What''s going on?" The elder''s expression shifted as he looked at John, surprised. The longsword gleamed, and a sky full of Star Dust, mountains, and trees scattered across the entire space. "Creation and Destruction!" With a furious shout, he swung his longsword down with immense force. Whoosh... As the longsword passed, the shattered space was instantly restored, and the crumbling edges of World-in-Hand were brought back to their original state. Not only that, the The Heaven Laws surrounding the gray-robed elder were instantly shattered,pletely wiped out. "Cough..." He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his body flying backward. This was the first time he had been injured by John''s attack. "Impossible!" He disregarded his injuries, struggling to rise from the ground, ring at John in disbelief. He angrily demanded, "Human, what kind of power is this?" John''s face mirrored his confusion. He had never used Creation and Destruction to actively attack an enemy, yet somehow, it had destroyed the elder''s The Heaven Laws and severely injured him. But John quickly realized what had happened. Creation and Destruction were two abilities-one to reshape the world and one to destroy it. The gray-robed elder had gained a new The Heaven Law, which was also a power of the world, and thus, Creation and Destruction naturally had the ability to destroy it. Now understanding everything, John felt his confidence soar. "Hmph, so much for your new The Heaven Law-you''re not as invincible as you think!" He shouted angrily, once again activating Creation and Destruction. "Damn it, let''s see how many times you can fix World-in-Hand!" The gray-robed elder, fearing John''s power, refused to sh head-on with him again. Instead, he wildly began to destroy John''s World-in-Hand. The wind howled. Every time the elder swung his spear, terrifying power erupted. World-in-Hand trembled, on the verge of copse. But the next second, John''s longsword struck down, shattering the space and restoring the World-in-Hand, making it more stable than before. The elder''s face grew grave, and he couldn''t help but swallow hard. John''s abilities were too strange, far beyond hisprehension. Boom! Another loud crash resounded, and the elder was sent flying once again. He couldn''t stop himself from coughing up more blood, his body shrinking rapidly. His energy reserves had been drained severely, and he could no longer maintain his God Manifestation state. On the other hand, John, after hours of intensebat, showed no signs of fatigue. The gray-robed elder wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with difficulty. He used his spear to support his swaying body, staring at John with burning hatred as he shouted, "What exactly is this ability of yours?" Fear began to creep into his heart. This human was too strange. He wielded several elements of The Heaven Laws and even had the Four Basic Elemental Body. Not to mention, he had also mastered the power of the Shadow n. The most terrifying thing was the divine skill Creation and Destruction, whichpletely countered his own The Heaven Law, making it impossible for him to defend himself effectively. "It''s over!" John sneered, toozy to care about the elder. With a casual wave of his hand, blood spread throughout the air as he activated the Shadow n''s Blood Domain. Then, a massive surge of The power ofws erupted. A storm of magic skills, alongside several sword beams, howled and shed down, instantly enveloping the gray-robed elder. "You''re strong, kid, but if you think you can kill me, you''re just dreaming!" The elder shouted angrily, unleashing an enormous surge of The power ofws around him to block the storm of iing attacks. Then, he forcefully tore open a space rift. "This guy is trying to escape!" John froze for a moment before quickly realizing what was happening. He hadn''t expected the elder to be able to tear open his World-in-Hand, and by the time he wanted to stop him, it was toote. Whoosh! At that moment, the Star Dust flickered across the sky, followed by a surge of gray mist. A strange force gathered, forcibly sealing the space rift. It was Tracy and Sini. "The power of Star Dust! Power of the Nine Nether!" The gray-robed elder eximed in surprise, ring at the two women who had appeared out of nowhere. "These two powers are indeed formidable. No wonder Lord Creator God ordered me to kill you at all costs!" His face twisted with fury as he shouted, then decisively attacked, charging at the two women. "Be careful!" John''s face changed, and he quickly shouted a warning. At the same time, his massive body stepped forward, positioning himself in front of the women to protect them. Whoosh! The Purple me Hellfire surged once more, its violet mes rising and enveloping the gray- robed elder. "Dammit, get away!" The elder howled in pain, tearing off his robe and wrapping it around himself to shield against the purple mes. At that moment, John''s gigantic fist descended like a hammer. Boom! A deafening roar echoed as the gray-robed elder coughed up blood, his body flying backward, nearly being killed in the process. "Hmm? So that''s it!" John''s eyes lit up as realization dawned on him. The reason the elder could resist soul attacks wasn''t because he had mastered some special ability, but because of the gray robe he wore. It had the power to resist soul attacks and could even block the damage from Hellfire. Now understanding this, John''s confidence grew. He gathered the Purple me Hellfire once more, sending it crashing down. This time, the elder was genuinely panicked. He could feel the threat to his life for the first time. He no longer cared about killing Sini and Tracy and instead began to retreat in a hurry.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Whoosh! The violet Hellfire fell again, engulfing him. His face contorted with agony, but this time, he dared not remove his robe, fearing John''s next wave of attacks. Enduring the excruciating soul-burning pain, the elder gritted his teeth and braced against John''s strike. Whoosh! An eerie ripple of The power ofws spread out, and time seemed to slow down. It was the Time Law. The elder was momentarily stunned, watching as several enormous sword beams howled toward him. Chaos Force converged, bolstered by The Heaven Laws, and they arrived in an instant. Chapter 344: Chapter 344: John’s Benevolence, Breaking Through to Mid-Tier Gods Chapter 344: Chapter 344: John¡¯s Benevolence, Breaking Through to Mid-Tier Gods ? An individual from the Underworld n flew into the air, holding a long de. His aura was powerful, a peak two-star The Overseer. He stared warily at John and spoke, "Godyer, our goals align; we are both after the Shadow n. I think we could work together." "Heh, really?" John sneered, his voice cold. "Unfortunately, I''m not interested in teaming up with you." As he spoke, he swung his sword and attacked. "Seeking death!" The Underworld n expert fumed, crossing his de in front of him. Boom! A loud explosion rang out, and the Underworld n member spat blood, sent flying through the air. "Impressive!" His expression changed slightly, and his eyes narrowed in focus, gazing at John. Whoosh! Suddenly, purple mes rose from his body. It was Purple me Hellfire. His figure was immediately consumed by it, followed by a piercing cry of agony. "Die!" John roared, his overwhelming sword intent humming in the air. A massive sword beam tore through the skies, apanied by a powerful soul attack, striking with fury. Puff! Blood sttered, and the Underworld n expert was instantly in. [You have killed a two-star The Overseer. You gained 26,766,000,000 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated: The Heavenwprehension +1%, physical critical hit +10, attack speed +10.] The system notifications shed. The surrounding experts stood frozen, dumbfounded by the scene. "You... you actually killed Lord Humder!" one of the Underworld n members stammered, his voice shaking as he stared at John in disbelief. John''s power had surpassed everyone''s expectations. With just two strikes, he had easily in a The Overseer. Even Lord Gods seemed no more than a distant possibility at this point. "Next, it''s your turn!" His icy voice rang out, like the toll of a death bell in everyone''s ears. In the next instant, boundless sword rays flickered, enveloping the entire battlefield. "Retreat, quickly!" The others finally reacted, abandoning their attacks on the Shadow n city as they fled in panic. Even so, nearly seventy percent of them were struck down in the ensuing onught. John''s level surged again, increasing by over thirty levels. He couldn''t help but feel a surge of joy. It seemed that killing upper-tier gods and peak upper-tier gods was the fastest way to level up. Roar... A series of furious roars echoed around him as endless Hunters surged toward the battlefield. John couldn''t be bothered to deal with them. He controlled three longswords and mercilessly shredded the iing Hunters. His gaze turned toward the Shadow n army on the city walls, and he coldly said, "Don''t you dare stay up there;e down and die!" On the city walls, the Shadow n soldiers exchanged fearful nces, their eyes wide with terror. No one dared leave the city walls, and none of them dared tounch an attack. "This is troublesome!" John frowned. He only wanted to ughter the Shadow n experts, not destroy the city. Boom! Just as he was mulling over his next move, a violent explosion suddenly rang out from above. Star Dust shimmered in the sky. Someone was attacking The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. John''s expression shifted slightly. Could the formation really be broken this soon? Inside the city, the Shadow n was also in a state of panic. "Quickly, send for Spirit Stones from the other cities! The formation cannot fall!" Chaos erupted inside the city. The energy consumption of The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star was enormous. The Spirit Stones in the city had already been depleted over the past few days. If they didn''t replenish the energy soon, the formation would copse. John heard themotion inside the city and immediately tore through space, appearing inside the main city. In the central za, a huge beam of light shot up into the sky, connecting the heavens with the Star Dust. This beam was one of the coreponents of The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. At that moment, the light of the beam had dimmed significantly. Without an energy infusion, it was on the verge of copse. In the za, hundreds of Shadow n experts had gathered, with the newly appointed city lord of the 101st main city leading them. "Human!" Suddenly, a cry of surprise rang out as someone noticed John. The surrounding crowd immediately tensed up, drawing their weapons and surrounding him in a defensive stance, as if facing a great enemy. "Don''t be so nervous. I''m here to help you," John said with a faint smile. His mind shifted, and from his World-in-Hand, he took out a massive pile of Spirit Stones, stacking them high. The Shadow n soldiers around him stared in confusion, not understanding his motives, but they still didn''t dare lower their guard. The city lord, realizing what was happening, quickly gave an order. "Quick, replenish the formation''s energy!" Only then did the crowd react, hurriedly collecting the Spirit Stones and feeding them into the beam of light. Buzz! With the energy replenished, the beam stabilized again, and the starlight shed across the sky, temporarily blocking the iing attacks from the forces outside Shadow Star. The city lord let out a sigh of relief, gathering his courage to walk up to John and bowing respectfully. "Human, I don''t know what your intentions are, but thank you for this." "Verbal thanks aren''t enough," John said coldly, his tone turning sharp. Before the city lord could respond, he struck. A sh of cold light gleamed. The city lord froze, caught off guard, and before he could react, he was sted away. The attack only dealt 1% soul damage, but he was immediately resurrected at his original spot, his face pale. He hastily retreated, ring at John with fury. "Human, what is the meaning of this?" "Hmph, do I need a reason to kill you?" John sneered, unfazed, and struck again. He had already noticed that maintaining the operation of the formation only required a dozen or so people. He wouldn''t destroy the city or the formation, but he wouldn''t spare these powerful Shadow n experts. Buzz! The air trembled as he directly unleashed Soul Impact. The overwhelming power of his soul surged like a giant hammer, crashing into the minds of the surrounding individuals, shattering their souls instantly. The Shadow n upper-tier gods at their peak shared their souls with the Hunters'' Brood Mother. However, under John''s terrifying soul attack, even the Brood Mother was obliterated alongside them. [You have killed the Shadow n city lord of the 101st main city, gaining 26.766 billion experience.] [Your level has increased...] [Plunder talent activated: Shadow Lawprehension +1%, Shadow Power +10, Spirit +10,000, Luck +1.] ... The notification shed on screen, signaling that John''s soul attack had been devastating. The city lord, along with several peak upper-tier gods of the Shadow n, werepletely annihted. Only a few Shadow n experts, standing by the light pir, remained, trembling with fear as they witnessed this scene. However, John didn''t continue to attack them. Instead, he took out tens of thousands of Spirit Stones and said indifferently, "No need to thank me. This is your payment." With that, he soared into the sky, turning his attention to the Shadow n soldiers on the city walls. The air was filled with the sound of wailing. The remaining Shadow n soldiers looked at the pile of Spirit Stones beside them and then turned to the soldiers on the city walls being ughtered. They couldn''t help but swallow nervously. "This human is protecting The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star!" one of them finally realized, his voice trembling. "Should we destroy the formation?" "Shut up! Are you crazy? If the formation is destroyed, Shadow Star will be doomed." "This human won''t kill us. We''ll pretend nothing happened and just focus on guarding the formation." The group gradually calmed down, standing near the formation as they closed their eyes in anguish. From time to time, the chilling screams of the Shadow n soldiers echoed, making their scalps tingle and cold sweat bead on their foreheads. Those soldiers were theirrades, and some were even their family members. But now, they couldn''t afford to think about that. All they cared about was surviving. Soon, John had almost wiped out all the Shadow n experts in the 101st city. Only a few remained around the formation, with a handful of lower-tier gods still alive. John didn''t continue to ughter them. His figure vanished as he headed toward the next Shadow Star main city. The few people standing by the formation saw John disappear and let out a quiet sigh of relief, their expressions filled with sorrow.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "As soon as Lord Shadow God returns, he will surely avenge us..." one person muttered to themselves, feeling a bit better inside. ... John continued to roam between the major cities, hunting down the powerful Shadow n experts. Of course, he also made sure to take out arge number of Spirit Stones, helping to support the consumption of The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. His World-in-Hand contained vast Spirit Stone mines, and for him, the Spirit Stones he used were just a drop in the ocean-almost negligible. The main cities of Shadow Star had been, to varying degrees, under siege by the powerful forces of various races. In a way, this had elerated his leveling efficiency. In less than half a month, John had ughtered fifty Shadow n main cities, and his level had finally reached 50,000. [Your level has reached 50,000, unlocking the advancement quest. After advancing, you can continue to level up.] [Mid-tier gods advancement quest: Kill 20 mid-tier gods.] ... [You havepleted the mid-tier gods advancement quest. Your cultivation has advanced to mid-tier gods, and your four primary attributes have increased by 500,000.] [You have broken through to early-stage three-star The Overseer, and your four primary attributes have increased by 1,000,000.] The system notifications shed. John had sessfully advanced to mid-tier gods and had reached early-stage three-star The Overseer, significantly boosting his power. He had killed many of the Shadow n city lords and plundered arge number of attributes. Hisprehension of the Shadow Law had reached 90%, and after that, it could no longer be improved. It was unclear whether it was because of the progress in the Shadow Law, but he could clearly sense that the resource consumption of Shadow Star was growing, and the power of itsws was weakening. He even heard a mournful cry from Shadow Star. It seemed that Shadow Star itself had some form of consciousness. He had a feeling that if hisprehension of the Shadow Law reached 100%, he would be able topletely control Shadow Star. However, after reaching 90%, an invisible force seemed to limit further advancement. He didn''t mind too much. His strongest sword techniques and the enhancement of the Shadow Law were just the icing on the cake. During this period, he also killed a fair number of other races'' The Overseers, including ate- stage three-star The Overseer from the Sky God race. Hisprehension of The Heaven Law had increased to 71%, and he became more adept at applying the principles of The Heaven Law. He nced up at the sky, where the Star Dust still twinkled. However, over the past while, the frequency of attacks from The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star had increased significantly. He suspected that the formation wouldn''t be able to hold up much longer and could be broken at any time. "I should be able toprehend The Immortals'' legacy once more," he muttered softly to himself. All seven of his main techniques had been leveled up to level 20,000, but this time, he didn''tprehend the Immortal Art divine skill. Even his other skills hadn''t beenprehended. Yet, he could sense thatprehending The Immortals'' legacy would provide a significant boost. He didn''t continue ughtering other cities. Instead, he tore open a space rift and returned to Purple Sky City. The area around the city was still under siege by countless Hunters. The yers, along with John''s allied forces from various races, were all putting in their full effort to destroy the attackers, rapidly leveling up. Especially the yers who had recently entered Shadow Star-most had reached level 9. A few had even advanced to the demigod realm. Chapter 345: Chapter 345: Comprehending Skills, Lord God Free-for-All Chapter 345: Chapter 345: Comprehending Skills, Lord God Free-for-All ? However, the yers'' strength was still too weak. Without the protection of formations and city walls, they were unable to deal with even the Hunters. John didn''t expect much help from these yers. He found Ritchie and learned that nearly a hundred Lord Gods had gathered outside Shadow Star. These Lord Gods were all newly emerged. Fortunately, the Lord Gods from the Eight Star Domains had set aside their differences and teamed up to fight back. With the assistance of The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, they were barely able to hold off the attacks of the Lord Gods. Even so, they couldn''t hold out for much longer. John felt that time was running short. After exchanging a few words, he entered World-in- Hand and beganprehending The Immortals'' Legacy. ... Under the massive sword of The Immortals'' Legacy, powerful flows of The Power of Laws circted, merging into John''s body as he sat cross-legged, eyes closed in deep concentration. He could feel time slipping away as his mind was filled with images-visions of powerful forbidden spells, Immortal Arts, and divine skills. He lost track of time, but the images in his mind became clearer and clearer. In the vast expanse of the universe, boundless sword light flickered. This was an enormous domain, freely wielding and destroying everything in its path. The scene shifted. The sky was shrouded in dark clouds, casting the world into an ominous shade. Purple lightning shed within the clouds. Fierce roars echoed through the sky. A massive divine dragon rose from the clouds, its roar shaking the very heavens, causing John''s soul to tremble. Then, an endless surge of elemental power stirred the air, exuding the aura of world- destroying might... John''s understanding deepened, and the various The Power of Laws surrounding him grew increasingly stronger. [Comprehended Immortal Art: United Sword Domain] [United Sword Domain: Immortal Art, Domain; A powerful sword intent envelops the heavens, isting allws and destroying the world.] [Comprehended Soul Skill: Judgment] [Judgment: A soul attack skill that contains The Heaven''s Power of Laws. It deals fatal damage to an enemy''s soul, ignoring any soul defense measures and soul bacsh damage.] [Comprehended Soul Skill: Dragon Soul Storm] [Dragon Soul Storm: A ranged soul attack skill that requires transforming into a divine dragon. The powerful dragon''s roar mesmerizes the enemy, dealing massive soul damage.] [Comprehended Divine Skill: Elemental Awakening] [Elemental Awakening: Divine skill; Awakens the powerful elemental The Power of Laws, casting with a single word. Elemental magic damage increases a hundredfold, but each cast consumes 10,000 spiritual power per second.] A series of notifications shed, and John opened his eyes, his pupils deep and mysterious, as a vast flow of The Power of Laws surged within him. "I actuallyprehended four powerful skills!" he thought, astonished. One Immortal Art, one divine skill, and two powerful soul skills. Especially Judgment, which contained The Heaven''s Laws-a soul damage skill that ignored any soul defenses and the bacsh damage. The potential for destruction was terrifying. He was even confident that he could now kill Lord God-level experts. "There''s still one more divine skill." He murmured softly to himself. Elemental Awakening- a magic damage boost that increased his power a hundredfold. His Wrath of the Gods mage ss had once again undergone a huge improvement, now rivaling the strength of his Sword Immortal ss. However, these skills were not the most powerful ones he could sense. In his mind, there was still a faint image-a scene he had seen when he entered The Immortals'' Secret Area. It depicted a divine skill that the Immortal experts had used together: Disturb the Order of the Universe. He calmed his mind, focused his energy, and once again tried toprehend it. Within The Immortals'' Legacy, the Power of Laws continued to flow, but that image never appeared. "Can''t I continue toprehend it?" He opened his eyes with a look of disappointment. His cultivation was still too low. It seemed that the next time he would be able toprehend The Immortals'' Legacy would require reaching the upper-tier gods realm. To break through to upper-tier gods, his level would need to reach 100,000, and his major skills would also need to be raised to level 50,000.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om In the short term, he couldn''t achieve that. "Wait, The Overseer cultivation can still be improved." He suddenly thought, pulling out more than twenty Hearts of the Continent. These were all obtained from killing The Overseer. Since he had already broken through to mid-tier gods and reached the three-star rank of The Overseer, there was still room for improvement. He closed his eyes once more and began to refine the Hearts of the Continent. ... [You have broken through to Three-Star Mid-Tier The Overseer, +500,000 to the four main attributes.] Soon, he had refined all twenty or more Hearts of the Continent, and his The Overseer rank had reached Three-Star Mid-Tier, resulting in another boost to his attributes. "Only Three-Star Mid-Tier?" He couldn''t help but feel a little disappointed. Thest time he refined a dozen Hearts of the Continent, he had jumped from Two-Star Early-Stage to Two-Star Full Completion. It seemed that as his The Overseer rank increased, the resources required to break through also became muchrger. Thankfully, there were plenty of Hearts of the Continent to support him; otherwise, he didn''t know how many years it would take to break through to Three-Star Mid-Tier. With the increase in his The Overseer rank, his World-in-Hand also underwent some changes. It became more expansive and stable. At this point, his World-in-Hand was nowparable to a. He once again attempted toprehend The Immortals'' Legacy, but once again, he failed. "It seems my rank is still too low," he sighed in frustration. He would probably have to wait until he broke through to upper-tier gods before he could tryprehending The Immortals'' Legacy again. Boom... Suddenly, a violent roar came from afar, shaking Shadow Star itself. Even his World-in- Hand trembled slightly. "This is bad. The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star has been broken!" His expression changed slightly, and with a flicker of thought, he left World-in-Hand and appeared in Purple Sky City. Boom! Boom! Thunder rumbled ominously, and a terrifying pressure spread across the area. In the sky above, the Star Dust shattered, and waves of terrifying Power of Laws swirled through the air. The Void split apart, and endless chaotic space currents surged. In the midst of it all, several figures could be seen engaged in battle. These figures were all Lord God-level experts. "Boss, The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star has been destroyed!" Ritchie, who had been searching for him, immediately rushed over when he saw John appear. John nodded, his gaze fixed on the ongoing battle in the sky. Dozens of Lord God experts were shing, and Shadow Star would surely be affected by the chaos. "You all head into my World-in-Hand," John instructed. He gestured for everyone, except Cand-Dragon, to enter his World-in-Hand. "Cand-Dragon, let''s go meet them!" The battle intent around John surged as he broke through to mid-tier gods, his The Overseer rank increasing. With the several powerful skills he hadprehended from The Immortals'' Legacy, he was confident he could hold his own against Lord God experts. "Alright!" Cand-Dragon was equally excited. Now that he was also a Lord God, he was eager to test his newfound strength. Roar... With a mighty roar, Cand-Dragon transformed into a divine dragon. John leaped onto his back, and with a gust of wind, the massive dragon shot through the space turbulence, heading straight into the battlefield where the Lord Gods were shing. "Another Lord God!" The figures caught the aura of Cand-Dragon and noticed that he was a newly ascended Lord God. They didn''t pay much attention to him and continued their chaotic battle. Only Nature God noticed John on Cand-Dragon''s back. With a slight nod, he acknowledged him, a silent greeting in the middle of the chaos. The other Lord Gods ignored them. John gripped his United Sword and, with Cand-Dragon, observed the ongoing battle between the Lord Gods. The space around them was torn apart by the swirling currents, but they were unaffected. The Lord Gods were divided into three factions. One faction consisted of Nature God and six others, another had Shadow God and Witch God along with two others, while the final faction numbered over seventy. Which made up of newly promoted Lord Gods who had gained The Heavenw with the help of Creator God. These were the weakest of the three factions, but they held the advantage due to their numbers. ording to the information Ritchie transmitted, over one hundred new Lord Gods had appeared, but now only about seventy remained. At least thirty had already been killed. Among the three factions, Shadow God and Witch God were the weakest, facing constant danger. Fortunately, the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star had not beenpletely destroyed. With the power of the formation, he was barely able to keep entangled with both sides. What shocked John the most was the strength of Nature God. The old man was surrounded by a powerful aura of elemental force, and in his hand was a weapon in the form of a towering structure. The tower shimmered with golden light, easily blocking the attacks from multiple Lord Gods while continuously striking back. "An ancient artifact, Heidern Tower!" John recognized the weapon, one that was as famous as his own United Sword-the Heidern Tower. Boom! With a deafening roar, a newly ascended Lord God''s physical body was shattered by the towering weapon. Buzz! The sword intent hummed as John suddenly made his move, striking directly at the exposed soul of the fallen Lord God. It was a soul skill, Judgment! Boom! The soul of the Lord God was obliterated, and a Lord God Divine Core dropped to the ground. John used Mind Maniption, immediately seizing the Divine Core. "You human, you''re asking for death!" Several newly ascended Lord Gods noticed him, s they charg toward him. shouting "Come at me!" John grinned, his battle intent soaring. He didn''t make a move just yet, instead calling out, "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" With a mighty dragon roar, Cand-Dragon unleashed the Heaven and Earth Transformation, his colossal body appearing in the void, charging straight at one of the Lord Gods. In the Heaven and Earth Transformation state, Cand-Dragon''s attributes increased by 150 times, making him just as powerful as the newly ascended Lord Gods. John also activated the Heaven and Earth Transformation, and his sword intent hummed as countless sword rays enveloped the entire void. Immortal Art: Qian Kun Sword Domain. John joined the Nature God faction, confronting the two newly ascended Lord Gods from the Shadow God faction. "Not bad, kid. Your strength has increased so dramatically!" Nature God was astonished, casting a nce at the sky full of sword rays. His fighting spirit soared as he threw himself into the battle. "Is this the Godyer?" One of the newly ascended Lord Gods nced at John and asked in curiosity. "That''s me." John spoke coldly, his battle intent surging as he controlled the boundless sword domain, with sword rays pouring down from all directions. The pressure on the battlefield increased dramatically. The newly ascended Lord Gods were being ughtered one after another. Shadow God and Witch God exchanged solemn nces, shocked by the turn of events. They hadn''t expected the addition of John and Cand-Dragon topletely change the tide of the battle. Exchanging a look, they seemed to reach a silent agreement to join forces with the new Lord Gods to take on Nature God and John with full force. The power ofws surged violently as the Lord Gods shed in an earth-shattering battle. The void shattered, devouring everything around them. Lord Gods were continuously being torn apart, their physical forms obliterated. John''s gaze remained fixed on the battlefield. As soon as he saw a Lord God fall, he immediately activated his soul skill-Judgment-topletely erase them. Killing Lord Gods was not an easy feat. But with his involvement, within a short time, three Lord Gods had already fallen. Chapter 346: Chapter 346: Immortal Sword Formation, Subduing the Lord God Chapter 346: Chapter 346: Immortal Sword Formation, Subduing the Lord God ? The Shadow God and the Witch God were both shocked and terrified when they saw this scene. John''s power far exceeded their expectations. The two of them had no absolute confidence in withstanding his overwhelming soul attacks. "Why is this human so terrifying?" the Witch God said, his expression grave. A sense of retreat began to form in his heart. "Don''t be afraid. Shadow Star is my domain, and these people will die for sure!" Shadow God quickly reassured him. As he spoke, he was simultaneously fending off attacks from several other Lord God powerhouses while fully activating The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star. [Announcement: Nature Star Domain Destroyed] [Announcement: Sea n Star Domain Destroyed] [Announcement: Underworld n Star Domain Destroyed] ... Suddenly, several system notifications echoed through the chaos. Everyone in the midst of the battle paused. Except for Shadow Star, all seven Lord God star domains had beenpletely destroyed. "Haha, the Creator God has finally made his move. Your star domains are gone, let''s see how you act all high and mighty now!" a newly promoted Lord God powerhouseughed with excitement. "Dammit!" Nature Wrath of the Gods cursed, enraged. Looking up at the boundless void, he shouted angrily, "Creator God,e out now!" "Impudent, how dare you show such disrespect to the Creator God!" Another newly promoted Lord God powerhouse red at Nature God, but did not dare to make another move. After a series of battles, they had already suffered significant losses, and with John and Cand- Dragon now joining the fray, they could feel the pressure mounting. Their goal had only been to disrupt The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star and seize the Chaos Green Lotus. Now that the formation had been destroyed, there was no need for them to continue fighting to the death. "Shadow, why was my Witch n star domain also destroyed?" The Witch God''s face darkened, and he coldly questioned Shadow God. He had been working with Shadow God, who had promised to protect the Witch n''s star domain. But now, the Witch n, along with the star domains of other races, had been destroyed, leaving only Shadow God''s Shadow Star. "How would I know?" Shadow God''s expression grew more serious, and he took a step back, warily eyeing the others. Now, he had be the target of everyone''s suspicion. He could feel that the Creator God was intentionally trying to destroy him, or else why would only Shadow Star be left intact? "Shadow God, you will die!" Wrath of the Gods from the heavens cursed, charging directly at Shadow God. At the same time, several Lord Gods from various star domains also made their move, including the Witch God. "Dammit!" Shadow Wrath of the Gods cursed under his breath. Despite the protection of The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, he was no match for thebined forces of the seven Lord Gods'' star domains. "Everyone, farewell!" He had no intention of wasting time fighting and immediately fled toward Shadow Star. "Don''t let him escape!" The others swiftly followed, pursuing him into Shadow Star. Boom! Boom! A storm of Star Dust rained down, slowing their pursuit. "Let''s go, into Shadow Star!" The newly ascended Lord Gods did not continue attacking. They cast cold res at John, then scattered and descended into Shadow Star. "Godyer, what''s our next move?" Cand-Dragon asked after releasing the Heaven and Earth Transformation state, watching as the gods disappeared. While the newly ascended Lord Gods weren''t particrly strong, if they managed to escape, it would be difficult to catch them. "We''ll go after Shadow God." John thought for a moment, then jumped onto Cand-Dragon''s back. With other Lord Gods, they continued the chase after the fleeing Shadow God. The pursuit continued, with Shadow God in a sorry state. Even with the protection of The Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, he was no match for the seven Lord Gods,ing close to death several times. He fled relentlessly, not daring to pause for even a moment. Once he entered Supreme City, he would be safe. In the distance, a towering city appeared it was Supreme City, the forbidden zone of Shadow Star. Shadow God saw hope. With a burst of speed, he charged toward it. Buzz! Suddenly, a deep hum filled the air, and the world was flooded with a terrifying aura of ughter. At the four corners of Supreme City, four longswords rose into the sky, and endless sword light enveloped the area. "This is bad, Immortal Sword Formation! Retreat now!" Nature God''s expression changed as he quickly warned. The others realized what was happening and quickly tried to halt their advance, but Sea God and Witch God had pushed too deep into the formation and were immediately trapped. Thousands of sword beams shed, carrying terrifying principles of ughter. The bodies of the two were instantly destroyed, their souls mercilessly torn apart. "No!" A roar of unwillingness echoed as Sea God''s soul was ruthlessly shredded, and he fell. The Witch God, surrounded by the powers of necromancy, desperately burned his soul force, barely managing to escape the formation in panic. "Such power!" John arrived, his eyes widening in shock as he looked at the shing sword beams. The Immortal Sword Formation contained an overwhelmingly powerful sword intent. Then, he noticed the Witch God nearby. His body had been destroyed, his soul exposed, unstable and severely wounded. John was confident that he could easily finish him off. "Hold off for now." A voice from Nature God echoed in his mind. John froze, ncing at him, then decided to hold back. "Haha! You wanted to kill me, didn''t you? Come inside and try!" Shadow God''s arrogant voice rang out from within Supreme City. The group''s anger red up, but they didn''t dare to step into the formation recklessly. The Immortal Sword Formation was far too terrifying; only Nature God, with his Ancient Artifact Heidern Tower, might be able to barely resist it. They all turned their eyes toward Nature God. Boom! Boom! At that moment, the sky rumbled with thunder, and several space rifts appeared, from which powerful figures of various races descended. These were the strongest beings from the seven star domains, all of whom had seen their domains destroyed and now had arrived at Shadow Star. Among them were also many yers from Earth. Shadow Star was thest remaining star domain. If this were destroyed, apart from the Lord Gods and The Overseer, all other life would likely be wiped out. "Gentlemen," Nature God spoke up, his gaze sweeping over the group. "I know none of you want to cooperate, but Shadow Star cannot afford to fall. We must unite and fight against the Creator God." "Fight against the Creator God?" A blond, middle-aged man scoffed, sneering. "Nature God, are you overestimating yourself or us? Our star domains have been destroyed, thews of the Heavens have weakened, and our power is waning. What do we have left to fight the Creator God?" He was the Lord God of the Sky n, and his strength was on par with Nature God''s. The others also sighed in despair. In their prime, they hadn''t been able to face the Creator God; how could they now? Nature God continued, "Of course, I know that. But rather than sacrificing ourselves for nothing, why not take a gamble? What if we seed?" The group frowned, deep in thought. "I''m in!" The Witch God was the first to speak up. The others immediately shot him disdainful looks. This man was double-dealing; first, he had sided with Shadow God, trying to protect the Witch n''s star domain, but when that domain was destroyed, he shamelessly switched sides. Now, he was unashamedly joining forces with Nature God. "I''m in too." The God of the Underworld also spoke. The Underworld n had always had a good rtionship with the Nature n. With those two voices raised, the others also began to speak in agreement. With Sea God dead, all five of the remaining Lord Gods, aside from Shadow God, agreed to stand with Nature God. Nature God nodded in satisfaction and continued, "There''s one more issue. Since we are all cooperating, we need to choose a leader. I propose that Godyer from the Immortals lead us." At that moment, John, who had been quietly observing the situation, was stunned upon hearing Nature God''s words. "What?" the group eximed, looking utterly unimpressed. "You want this human to lead us? Nature God, are you joking?" "Impossible!" Eternal God spoke coldly, his murderous intent palpable. "The Eternal n is the strongest race. There''s no way we will let this human lead us. And besides, this man killed Burning Sky." "I also disagree," Sky God said, his voice cold. "If anyone is to lead, it should be me. Otherwise, we''re done for. The Overseer under mymand hasn''t suffered any significant losses, and my strength is unmatched. I''ll never submit to a human''s orders." "I agree!" The Witch God voiced his support once again. Sky God and Eternal God both sneered at him, looking even more disdainfully at this traitor. "I agree too," Cand-Dragon chimed in eagerly. If John could manage to recruit these Lord Gods, he couldn''t even imagine how powerful his forces would be. The others red at him coldly. Their allegiance wasn''t something that a newly ascended Lord God could decide. "Human, I can join you, but I have one condition: I want toprehend the Immortals'' legacy." A giant turned his gaze toward John and spoke slowly. It was Titan God from the Titan n. This man''s size wasparable to John when he used his Heaven and Earth Transformation. John couldn''t help but wonder what secrets the Immortals'' legacy held, to the point where even Lord Gods were interested. He looked at Titan God, nodded, and replied, "Okay." All the other Lord Gods from the various star domains, with the exception of Sky God and Eternal God, agreed to join John. Nature God, holding the Heidern Tower, cast a cold nce at the two and spoke tly, "And what about you two?" The two exchanged a look. They could sense the murderous intent from Nature God. With the Heidern Tower in y, if it came to a real battle, they knew they wouldn''t be a match for Nature God and the four Lord Gods backing him. Moreover, John and Cand-Dragon''s battle prowess couldn''t be underestimated either. Sky God relented, speaking up, "Fine, I''ll join, but like Titan, I also want toprehend the Immortals'' legacy." "I agree as well," Eternal God chimed in. "No problem. But the two of you will be on probation first," John replied. He didn''t fully trust these two. The Immortals'' legacy was contained in his World-in-Hand. These two Lord Gods were strong, and if they harbored any ill intentions, they could potentially destroy his World-in- Hand. The two of them weren''t happy with this, but they said no more. "Let''s go. We''ll head back to my Purple Sky City." John had just received word that Ice Talker and Armstrong, along with others, had arrived on Shadow Star and were making theirn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om way to his Purple Sky City. He immediately tore open a space rift and entered first. The others followed closely behind. In Purple Sky City, they were still being relentlessly attacked by countless Hunters. Suddenly, several terrifying auras descended. They were Lord Gods. The Hunters shuddered and, for the first time, retreated. "Master!" Ice Talker saw Nature God and immediately rushed forward, her face filled with sorrow. "I''m sorry, I failed to protect Nature Star." John was taken aback. She was actually Nature God''s disciple. No wonder Nature God had been so protective of her. "It''s not your fault. Even if I had been at Nature Star, I wouldn''t have been able to stop this." He sighed helplessly andforted Ice Talker. Chapter 347: Chapter 347: The Reincarnation of the Divine Artifact, Seeing the Future Chapter 347: Chapter 347: The Reincarnation of the Divine Artifact, Seeing the Future ? The sudden destruction of several star domains could only have been caused by Creator God. Fortunately, Shadow Star still remained, and the Nature n experts had arrived, preventingplete annihtion. Whoosh! At this moment, several Lord Gods emitted powerful auras, as they began to summon their subordinates. Figures kept appearing around them-powerful experts from various races, including many from The Overseer. Upon learning that they were aligning with John, these experts weren''t pleased, but they had no choice. Even the Lord Gods had joined John''s side. No matter how unwilling they were, there was nothing they could do about it. "Godyer." Nature God found John and spoke, "I need to see Ben from the Beast n and Flower Fairy." Ben? Jean? John was puzzled. He couldn''t understand why Nature God would know about these two and be interested in them. Ben and Jean weren''t particrly focused on cultivation. They were still lower-tier gods at best. Could it be that there was something special about them? John nced at Ice Talker, who shook her head, clearly just as clueless. "In my World-in-Hand." John could sense that Nature God didn''t harbor any malice, so he gave a simple reminder and led both of them into his World-in-Hand. He asked Sini to call for Ben and Jean. "Big Brother, you''re looking for me?" Jean skipped over excitedly and affectionately looped her arm through his. She had always been carefree. Ben gave him a nod and then noticed Nature God standing nearby. His brows furrowed. He didn''t recognize Nature God, but he could sense the terrifying aura emanating from them, far surpassing the peak of upper-tier gods. It seemed that this person was the legendary Lord God. Nature God looked at John and said, "I need to speak with them privately." "Alright." John nodded and stepped aside. With a wave of his hand, Nature God summoned the power of spacews, leading the two to the edge of World-in-Hand. They directly locked the surrounding space to prevent anyone from eavesdropping. John grew more confused; he felt that Nature God was shrouded in mystery. He turned to Ice Talker and asked, "Do you know if Ben and Jean have any special traits?" "I''m not sure." She shook her head, her face also filled with confusion. ... At the edge of World-in-Hand, once Nature God was certain that no one could probe into their conversation, they turned toward Ben and Jean, saying, "Long time no see, Massive Mirror, Five-colored Stone." "Y-You know my true form!" Ben stepped back, his expression wary. However, Jean appeared a little puzzled and curiously examined Nature God. Whoosh! A golden light shimmered, and behind Nature God appeared a golden tower. The surrounding aura became ancient and profound. "Heidern Tower!" Ben gasped, looking at Nature God with a mix of awe and recognition. His hostility faded away. So, this person was the Heidern Tower''s reincarnation. No wonder they knew their true forms. Nature God nodded and turned to Ben, speaking, "I want to know what our ns were, and if we seeded in the end." The Massive Mirror, like Heidern Tower, was an ancient artifact with the incredible ability to glimpse into the future. "Are you saying we should go against Creator God?" Ben furrowed his brows, his expression helpless. He sighed and added, "I advise you not to learn the oue." "Did we fail?" Nature God''s voice trembled slightly. Ben nodded. After a brief hesitation, he spoke up, "I saw that everyone died-every living being, all the star domains, The Overseer, Lord Gods, and even Godyer." "Big brother will die?" Jean frowned, pouting and casting a dissatisfied re at Ben. She suspected that he was cursing John. Nature God nced at Jean and asked in confusion, "Didn''t you tell her about her true identity?" Ben shook his head and turned his gaze to Jean, his expression warm and gentle. "The oue has already been decided. There''s nothing we can change. I just want this little one to grow up happy and carefree." Jean rolled her eyes and spoke up, "I already know that I''m the reincarnation of the Five- colored Stone and that I have a mission. Big brother will definitely be fine." The Five-colored Stone, also known as the Creative Stone, was one of the Ancient Artifacts, with the greatest power being Resurrection-rebirth. Now, it was Ben''s turn to be surprised. He said, "You... you''ve awakened too?" "Tch, I''m strong, okay?" Jean puffed out her chest, looking quite pleased. Nature God smiled, feeling the little one''s optimism. He asked, "Even the Five-colored Stone can''t change this?" Ben shook his head. "It only gives you one more life. But as you''ve sensed, the new Heaven''s Laws are slowly devouring the old ones. The creation of a new world is inevitable. We, the products of the old era, will be erased. There''s nothing we can do to change that." The Massive Mirror foresaw the future, and Ben had witnessed the formation of the new Heaven''s Laws, the copse of the universe, and the suffering of all beings. Everyone''s efforts would ultimately be in vain. He had avoided speaking of this for a long time, because anyone who knew such a fate would fall into despair, and give up entirely. Nature God furrowed his brows but still insisted, "Maybe there''s still a chance. Isn''t Godyer the savior you saw in your prophecy?" "Maybe..." Ben sighed deeply, his gaze distant. He had seen John''s fate-twice dead, yet it had not changed a thing. "Big brother will be fine." Jean spoke up firmly, ring at the two with a resolute look. Ben gave a bitter smile but didn''t argue. Though hope may fade, it was still better than having no hope at all. "I believe you." Nature God smiled and said. He had originally nned to reveal Jean''s mission, but it seemed the little one already knew everything. "Let''s go back. And remember, do not tell Godyer about this." He reminded them, his heart shifting. He tore open the fabric of space and appeared where the others had just disappeared. John and Ice Talker were still waiting at the original spot, and upon seeing the three return, they immediately approached. "Master." Ice Talker looked at Nature God with a questioning gaze, ready to speak. Nature God shook his head and answered calmly, "Heaven''s secrets cannot be revealed." John was speechless. This Nature God was just like Ben-so cryptic. "Big brother, I''m going to meditate and cultivate." Jean waved and ran off to the Tree of Life to begin her cultivation in seclusion. John was left dumbfounded. This was the first time the little girl had actively asked to enter closed-door cultivation. He couldn''t help but nce at Nature God, curious about what exactly this old man had said to Jean. Ahem. Nature God cleared his throat twice, noticing John''s curious gaze. He didn''t want to keep talking about Jean and decided to change the subject. Instead, he asked, intrigued, "Godyer, how did your subordinate Cand-Dragon advance to be a Lord God?" "By refining the Divine Core, of course. Didn''t you know?" John asked, puzzled. During the chaos of battle, he had once again obtained four Lord God Divine Cores, and now, with his help, he could elevate four of his subordinates to Lord God strength. "Refining the Divine Core?" Nature God was taken aback. "Didn''t he suffer the bacsh from the Heaven''s Laws?" To be a Lord God, one would typically need the help of Creator God. Attempting to refine a Divine Core on one''s own would result in a bacsh from the Heaven''s Laws, erasing the consciousness and turning the person into a puppet of Creator God. John nodded. "There was a bacsh from the Heaven''s Laws, but I broke it." Nature God''s eyes widened in shock. "You can break the Heaven''s Laws?" He looked at John with a mixture of astonishment and excitement. If that were the case, it meant that they could produce Lord Gods inrge numbers. Moreover, Nature God could feel that Cand-Dragon, like him, was still practicing the old Heaven''s Laws. As long as the old Heaven''s Laws still existed, Creator God could not easily destroy the world, and their chances of victory had just increased. A thought crossed Nature God''s mind, and he took out five Lord God Divine Cores, handing them to John. These were all obtained by him after ying newly ascended Lord Gods. The others still had more than twenty such cores in their possession. He had originally thought these Divine Cores were lost, as many of them had been devoured by spatial turbulence. "Godyer, help those two little girls reach Lord God strength first. They wield the Power of the Nine Nether and the power of Star Dust, both of which will be extremely beneficial to you." Nature God said, referring to Sini and Tracy. John frowned and replied, "The Divine Cores can only be refined by peak upper-tier gods. Their ranks are too low." Both Sini and Tracy were only lower-tier gods, and they hadn''t even reached the mid-tier gods. To elevate them to upper-tier gods would be impossible within a few years, even with his help. And Creator God wouldn''t give him that much time.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "I have a method." Nature God said, pulling out a dozen jade bottles. A faint, pleasant fragrance wafted from them. John couldn''t help but swallow. The various cultivation techniques he practiced began to automatically activate under the influence of the faint, fragrant scent. "What is this?" He examined it with curiosity. [Spiritual Liquid: Contains special powers, can be consumed directly. One drop of Spiritual Liquid can increase one level, with a maximum increase to upper-tier gods level.] [Spiritual Milk: Contains special powers, can be consumed directly. One drop of Spiritual Milk can increase ten levels, with a maximum increase to the peak of upper-tier gods.] "Directly increasing levels!" John was astonished. He hadn''t expected such a treasure to exist. Leveling up was notoriously difficult, especially in theter stages. For upper-tier gods, each level required trillions of experience points. Yet, this Spiritual Milk could directly increase a person''s level by ten! Nature God continued, "I have more than 10,000 bottles of Spiritual Liquid and over 1,000 bottles of Spiritual Milk. The other Lord Gods also have quite a few." Each bottle of Spiritual Liquid and Spiritual Milk contained 100 drops. With just 2,000 bottles of Spiritual Milk, it would be enough to help the two women reach the peak of upper-tier gods and refine their Lord God Divine Cores. A thought crossed John''s mind, and he led everyone to Purple Sky City, where he found the other Lord God experts. Though they had pledged allegiance, he didn''t fully trust them yet and didn''t dare allow them into his World-in-Hand just yet. "Hand over all the Spiritual Milk, Spiritual Liquid, and Skill Stones you have," John ordered. Although the others were reluctant, they couldn''t refuse outright, so they obediently handed over the Spiritual Milk, Spiritual Liquid, and Skill Stones. In total, John received over 45,000 bottles of Spiritual Liquid, just over 2,000 bottles of Spiritual Milk, and around 700 million Skill Stones. He knew these people were hiding some of their stock, but the amount of Spiritual Milk, Spiritual Liquid, and Skill Stones was enough to elevate the two women to the peak of upper-tier gods. He didn''t feel it was too much of an overreach. Chapter 348: Chapter 348: Cultivating Lord Gods, Creator God Descends Chapter 348: Chapter 348: Cultivating Lord Gods, Creator God Descends ? In addition to these items, there were 31 Lord God Divine Cores. This time, however, these individuals didn''t hide anything. The Lord God Divine Cores were of no use to them, and they figured it would be better to leave a good impression on John. With these Lord God Divine Cores, he could cultivate more than thirty Lord Gods, further strengthening his forces. "John, you should take these," Sini said, looking at therge amount of Spiritual Milk and Spiritual Liquid, but she didn''t consume any herself. She felt that it was more important for John to increase his strength. "I don''t need them. Once you both reach Lord God, you''ll be able to help me more effectively," John replied. As a The Overseer, he couldn''t refine Lord God Divine Cores. Moreover, he only needed to raise his level to upper-tier gods to fullyprehend The Immortals'' legacy. The remaining Spiritual Liquid would be enough for his use. The two women didn''t insist any longer, and began absorbing the Spiritual Liquid and Spiritual Milk to raise their levels. Supreme City. The sky was still covered by countless sword beams, filled with an overwhelming aura of ughter. Shadow God had confirmed that John and the others had retreated, but he didn''t dare to deactivate the Exterminate Immortal Sword Formation, fearing that they mighte back and attack. At that moment, on top of the tower in Supreme City, smoke rose and coalesced into a human shape. Creator God descended once again. Shadow God knelt on the ground respectfully and said, "My lord, is Shadow Star truly beyond saving?" "And what do you think?" Creator God''s voice was cold as the swirling smoke surrounded him, his gaze fixed on Shadow God. His tone softened a little as he continued, "However, seeing as you have been somewhat loyal, I will spare your life." With a casual wave of his hand, an immense surge of The Power of Laws flowed through the air. The The Heaven Law that Shadow Star had cultivated was reced by a new The Heaven Law. "Thank you, my lord!" Shadow God was overjoyed, repeatedly thanking him. He then continued, "There is one more task I have for you. You must not allow that human to acquire the Chaos Green Lotus. I will send more Lord God experts to assist you." "Don''t worry, my lord. I am the Lord God of Shadow Star, that human will not get the Chaos Green Lotus." Shadow God spoke confidently, but there was a trace of sadness in his eyes. The only reason Shadow Star had not been destroyed yet was because of the Chaos Green Lotus. Once the Chaos Green Lotus emerged and was taken by someone else, Shadow Star would copse and vanishpletely. He couldn''t stop it all, but he had to seize the Chaos Green Lotus. The smoke dissipated, and the figure vanished. Shadow God let out a long sigh of relief and stood up. "The Chaos Green Lotus should be emerging soon," he muttered as he closed his eyes. The The Power of Laws of Shadow Star surged, and he carefully sensed the surroundings. "Huh? What''s this? Why is there another presence of Shadow The Power of Laws?" He opened his eyes abruptly, his brows furrowing. He could clearly sense the presence of a powerful Shadow The Power of Laws. Someone had been cultivating the Shadow Laws, reaching an astonishing 90%prehension.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om It wasn''t the city lord of his main city. The people under hismand had only been granted the Shadow Laws by him, and they could only reach 10%, barely able to tap into Shadow Star''s The Power of Laws. He focused intently on the source of the powerful Shadow The Power of Laws. "Godyer!" He eximed in disbelief. It was that human who had raised hisprehension of the Shadow Laws to 90%. Luckily, Shadow God was still the Lord God of Shadow Star, and with his power to suppress it, otherwise that human would likely be the new ruler of Shadow Star. Even so, he still felt a sense of threat. "I cannot let that human continue to grow. I''ll use the Chaos Green Lotus as bait to kill him!" His eyes locked on the endless sword lights in the sky, and his mind began to hatch a n. Not just Godyer, but anyone who dared to covet the Chaos Green Lotus must die- including those newly ascended Lord Gods under Creator God. ... Purple Sky City. After the arrival of Nature God and the other Lord God experts, the Hunters never showed up again, and the area around the city became unusually quiet. In the span of one day, Sini and Tracy had refinedrge amounts of Spiritual Milk, raising their levels to 200,000 and achieving upper-tier gods peak cultivation. The two women''s power increased dramatically, and most importantly, they were now able to refine Lord God Divine Cores. In addition to them, Elsa, Judy, Sara, Bonnie, and Tony-the people under John-had also refined Spiritual Liquid and reached upper-tier gods cultivation. However, due to the limited amount of Spiritual Milk, they couldn''t reach the upper-tier gods'' peak level. There were too few upper-tier gods at their peak under John''smand. Nine-Tails, Jolyne, Lincoln from the Angel Race, Beelzebub from the Demon Race, and the newly joined Spirit Beast leader, Thunder Fireworks. A number of Lord God subordinates did possess many upper-tier gods at their peak, and they were capable of refining Lord God Divine Cores. However, John didn''t trust these people and wouldn''t rashly increase their strength. In the end, he chose five of his subordinates and eleven strong individuals, including Emperor of the Underworld from the Nature n, to refine the Divine Cores and ascend to Lord God strength. Some Lord God experts from other star domains were dissatisfied, but they didn''t speak up. "Refine the Divine Cores directly. The rest, leave it to me," John instructed. The only threat to the group came from the new The Heaven The Power of Laws, but his Divine Skill of Creation and Destruction could easily break through it. Sini and the others nodded, beginning to refine their Divine Cores. They trusted John. The members of the Nature n hesitated for a moment but also began refining their Divine Cores. John gripped the United Sword, ready to act at any moment. Boom! Boom! Boom! All sixteen of them simultaneously refined their Divine Cores, creating a massivemotion. Thunderous rumbling echoed through the sky as sixteen colorful light pirs descended, enveloping everyone. This was the new The Heaven Law-while it would elevate their cultivation, it also sought to erase their consciousness, turning thempletely into puppets of The Heaven. "Creation and Destruction!" John shouted with fury, decisively swinging his longsword. With a powerful strike, he shattered the sixteen light pirs effortlessly. "What an eerie ability!" On the other side, several Lord God experts were secretly shaken. Breaking through The Power of Laws, they thought, was beyond their ability. As the light pirs dissipated, the new The Heaven The Power of Laws vanished, only for another version of The Heaven Laws to condense. This was the older The Heaven Law, without any real threat. The group bathed in its aura, their eyes closed, holding their breath and focusingpletely toprehend The Heaven Law. Soon, the immense The Heaven The Power of Laws faded, signaling the end of theirprehension. They opened their eyes, their faces filled with joy as powerful The Power of Laws surged around them. "John, I''ve be a Lord God!" Sini said, excited and thrilled. Breaking through to Lord God, her four primary foundations were directly enhanced by one hundred million, and with her mastery over the Power of the Nine Nether, her strength was not to be underestimated. Boom! Boom! Boom! Suddenly, rolling thunder echoed again in the sky, approaching rapidly. A terrifying aura descended, and cracks began to appear in the sky, with chaotic space-time ripples swirling around. "What an overwhelming aura!" John''s expression changed slightly as he stared at the sky, his face growing serious. This aura was far beyond that of a Lord God. "Creator God!" Several of the Lord God experts gasped, trembling uncontrobly, as if ovee with an impulse to bow in reverence. It was the kind of fear etched deep into their bones. Nature God frowned, the Heidern Tower appearing in his hand. A golden light enveloped the tower as it shot toward the sky. He looked up and shouted angrily, "Creator God, stop hiding and show yourself!" His roar made the surrounding people jump in shock, their hearts pounding in fear. John was also taken aback. Was Nature God really this brave? He dared to directly confront Creator God. The sky churned with dark clouds, and an ancient, withered voice seemed to echo from the farthest reaches of time. "Nature God, do you truly wish to oppose me?" a furious shout rang out, causing the winds to stir and the skies to change color. Nature God stood tall and proud, his expression cold as ice. "You destroyed my Nature Star. This grudge will not be forgotten!" "Hmph, everything you have was granted to you by me, including your life," the voice swelled, and Creator God was clearly struggling to suppress his anger. "Heh." Nature God sneered disdainfully. "I was once The Overseer. Even without your help, I could have be an existence that surpasses Lord God, but you destroyed my World-in- Hand, cutting off my path of cultivation. Am I supposed to be grateful to you for that?" Nature God was once The Overseer? John felt a sh of confusion. He didn''t know much about Nature God''s past. The thunder continued to rumble in the sky, and the pressure became even more overwhelming. "Do you ants also wish to seek death?" Creator God ignored Nature God and bellowed. The force of his words was so terrifying that the others fell to their knees in fear. The authoritative voice continued, "I will give you all a chance to survive. Go to Supreme City, and once again submit to me. Otherwise, you will die!" With a thunderous roar, it felt as though a bomb had exploded in the ears of everyone present. "My lord, I was just deceived by them! I will go to Supreme City," Witch God was the first to crumble under the pressure. Kneeling on the ground, his expression was one of utter submission. Before anyone could react, he stood up and led his followers from the Witch n away. The remaining Lord God experts exchanged uneasy nces. They all clearly understood the terrifying power of Creator God. John and Nature God were no match for him. "Thank you, my lord, for sparing us," Eternal God and Sky God quickly followed suit, begging for mercy as they hastily led their people away. Even a newly promoted Lord God from the Nature n joined them in leaving. In an instant, the alliance John had just established crumbled. And this was only from a single pressure wave from Creator God. On John''s side, only God of the Underworld and Titan God remained, standing firm behind Nature God. "Very well," came the cold voice as the dark clouds surged, forming into a gigantic ck hand that blotted out the sky. The terrifying pressure spread across the space, causing the entire area to tremble violently. "Since that''s the case, you all shall die!" With a thunderous roar, the enormous ck hand rushed down upon them. Boom! A burst of golden light exploded as Nature Godunched the Heidern Tower from his hand. The tower grew in size in an instant, aiming to resist Creator God''s attack. Witch God and Titan God also moved, trying to intercept the massive ck hand''s strike. However, both were too weak. After a single collision, they spat blood and were sent flying backward, severely injured. "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" John shouted, his voice filled with fury. A violent wind stirred as his form transformed into a towering giant, directly facing the iing massive ck hand. The Sword Intent hummed as the United Sword erupted with a brilliant golden light, illuminating the heavens, the stars, and the earth. Creation and Destruction were unleashed. A terrifying sword beam cut through the air, tearing apart the ck hand. The swirling dark clouds dispersed, and the overwhelming pressure vanished in an instant. Chapter 349: Chapter 349: Comprehending "Disturb the Order of the Universe", Discussing the Future Chapter 349: Chapter 349: Comprehending "Disturb the Order of the Universe", Discussing the Future ? "The power of heaven and earth!" A startled exmation came from the air. "Human, very well! Remember, this is just the beginning. When we meet again, all of you will die!" Creator God''s voice gradually faded, the dark clouds dissipating, and light returned. Only then did everyone breathe a long sigh of relief. Nature Godnded on the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood. The earlier collision had left him severely injured. "Master!" Ice Talker was startled, rushing to support his weakened form with a worried expression. "I''m fine, just a minor injury," Nature God shook his head, though a sense of helplessness arose in his heart. "John, was that really Creator God just now? Are we even capable of defeating him?" Sini asked, voicing the question everyone had in their minds. Just now, it was only the oppressive pressure of Creator God descending, yet it had nearly cost them their lives. Everyone looked despairing. If Creator God himself had descended, they had no chance of resistance. They would undoubtedly die. John''s expression was serious, but he nodded and affirmed, "We will defeat Creator God." It was both a reassurance to everyone and to himself. He looked towards God of the Underworld and Titan God, asking, "Are you sure you want to follow me?" The two exchanged nces and nodded. God of the Underworld spoke, "The Underworld n''s star domain has already been destroyed. I have no more attachments, and I trust Nature God." He said this while looking at Nature God standing nearby. Titan God also nodded and said, "We are nothing more than remnants of the old era. We only have two choices: either save the old world or destroy it. I do not sincerely swear allegiance to you, but I will never stop fighting Creator God." "Good." John was quite pleased with their stance. He said, "Each of your three races should choose twenty-three of your strongest upper-tier gods to be promoted to Lord Gods." He still had twenty-three Lord God Divine Cores remaining. From his earlier confrontation with Creator God, he had clearly sensed that the new The Heavenws that Creator God had adopted were still unstable. He had a feeling that as long as the powerful beings who cultivated the old era''s The Heavenws weren''t entirely wiped out, Creator God''s ns would not seed. "Godyer, I''m sorry. I failed to keep an eye on my subordinates, and one of them betrayed us," Nature God said with an apologetic expression. John didn''t mind and said, "It''s not toote to realize it now." Soon, Underworld n and Titan n each selected twenty-three of their strongest upper- tier gods to be promoted to Lord Gods. These were the most powerful of their subordinates. Nature God did not select any members from the Nature n, clearly still holding a grudge against the betrayal from earlier. However, John knew that even if these remaining individuals were not entirely loyal to him, they had already decided to fight Creator God to the end. Otherwise, under the oppressive threat of Creator God''s power earlier, they would have long since turned on him. More than twenty people, under John''s protection, simultaneously began to refine the Lord God Divine Core. Colorful light pirs descended once again. John had already prepared, easily shattering them. The old The Heavenws surged, and the group easily refined the cores, with everyone breaking through to be Lord Gods. This time, Creator God''s oppressive aura did not descend. At this point, John now had thirty-eight Lord God subordinates, greatly increasing his strength once again. However, there was still a vast difference in power whenpared to Creator God. "Everyone, enter my World-in-Hand andprehend the inheritance of the Immortals, and try to improve your strength as much as possible," John said, looking at them. He clearly sensed that the power of Shadow Star was weakening, and the Chaos Green Lotus should be about to appear. He had a feeling that Shadow Star was about to copse soon, and at that point, they would likely have to face Creator God directly. Everyone was taken into World-in-Hand by him toprehend the inheritance of the Immortals, entering seclusion to cultivate. Then, he took out over five hundred vials of spiritual liquid and more than twenty billion skill stones to raise his level. He aimed to reach upper-tier gods and gain a deeper understanding of the Immortals'' inheritance. Soon, he had refined and absorbed the five hundred vials of spiritual liquid, and all seven of his cultivation techniques were raised to level fifty thousand, sessfully breaking through to upper-tier gods. Although his techniques had advanced, he had still notprehended any new skills. However, he could now re-enter the Immortals'' inheritance. He focused, entering World-in-Hand once more. Beneath the enormous sword of the Immortals'' inheritance, everyone sat cross-legged, their bodies filled with powerful The power ofws. It was vast and varied, with each individual grasping thew that best suited them. He was curious about the Immortals-what kind of existence were they that their The power ofws covered all things in the universe? Moreover, such a powerful race had been destroyed, which further intensified his sense of dread towards Creator God. "Ah..." He sighed in resignation, no longer dwelling on these thoughts. He sat cross-legged under the Immortals'' inheritance, focusing intently on hisprehension. The The power ofws surged, and he could feel the powerful time and spacews. It was as though he saw the Immortals'' powerful beings, at the end of their time, using their skill to Disturb the order of the universe. ... [You haveprehended the divine skill, Disturb the Order of the Universe] [Disturb the Order of the Universe: Divine Skill; Sacrifice yourself to break the rules of time and space, reshaping the fabric of time and space] He didn''t know how much time had passed, but finally, a notification shed, and John opened his eyes. "Indeed, I''veprehended Disturb the Order of the Universe," he said, not at all surprised. What did startle him, however, was the fact that the cost of this divine skill was his own life. "Is this skill even useful?" he couldn''t help but wonder. While the ability to reshape time and space was undoubtedly powerful, the price was far too high. He didn''t see how this skill would be of any use to him, so he closed his eyes and continued to focus on hisprehension.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The The Immortals'' inheritance, the The power ofws, flowed around him, yet he could no longer sense aw that would suit him. It was as if he had reached an impasse and could no longer continueprehending the inheritance of the Immortals. "Is that it?" He opened his eyes, a look of disappointment crossing his face. Around him, the others were still deeply immersed, working hard to grasp the inheritance of the Immortals, and their strength was steadily growing. In particr, Sini and Tracy, with their overwhelming Power of the Nine Nether and Star Dust powers, had seen the most dramatic improvements in strength. When he saw the two women, an image unexpectedly shed through John''s mind-the scene from when he broke through the The Overseer One-Star Perfection stage and received the blessing of the The Heavenws. It was a scene filled with tragedy: Hispanions falling one by one, including the women, while he could do nothing. The crushing sense of helplessness left him in utter despair. He shook his head vigorously, trying to cast that memory aside, but he could not calm his mind and focus onprehending the Immortals'' inheritance. "Forget it, I''ll go out for a walk," he muttered to himself. Without disturbing anyone, he thought to himself and left World-in-Hand, appearing in Purple Sky City. At this moment, the city was eerily quiet, empty, with everyone still within his World-in- Hand, absorbing the inheritance of the Immortals. Perhaps it was due to the earlier arrival of the Lord God, but Purple Sky City seemed to have returned to peace. The Hunters no longer besieged the city. For a moment, he found it somewhat unsettling. "Mm, someone?" On the city walls, a lone figure caught his attention-Ben. He leapt up to the walls and, puzzled, asked, "Senior, when did you appear here?" Ben saw John and gave a slight smile before replying, "Godyer, congrattions on your rise in strength." John''s face, however, was filled with bitterness. He felt that the inheritance of the Immortals no longer contained anything useful for him. His cultivation had reached a point where further improvement was nearly impossible. His current strength would easily deal with Lord God or The Overseer, but it was nowhere near enough to challenge Creator God. Once again, the images of hispanions falling, one after another, appeared in his mind, leaving him restless and uneasy. "Senior, what is your prophecy this time? Am I still the savior?" he asked, trying to make light of the situation. Ben seemed somewhat surprised. He looked him up and down before responding, "Oh? Haven''t you always dismissed my prophecies?" John gave a helpless smile. He felt as though he was grasping at straws, seeking somefort or reassurance from the elder. "Sigh." Ben let out a soft sigh, his voice calm as he spoke, "Actually, you already know the oue." "Yes." John sighed in return, then asked, "Senior, if everything is already destined, do you think what we''ve done is worth it?" Ben smiled faintly and replied, "Don''t ask about the oue, just ensure that you have no regrets." "Don''t ask about the oue, just ensure that you have no regrets?" John repeated, a wry smile crossing his face. He then said, "I suppose I was being shortsighted." The image of the Immortals using Disturb the Order of the Universe to resurrect themselves shed in his mind once again. And now, he too had mastered Disturb the Order of the Universe. It seemed like everything was somehow preordained. An idea struck him, and he asked, "Senior, do you think this is some kind of cycle?" "What?" Ben looked at him, confused. John shook his head, "I guess it''s nothing. I was just overthinking." Not wanting to continue with the heavy topic, he changed the subject, "Senior, if we seed in the end, what will your ns be?" "ns?" Ben was momentarily taken aback; he had never really thought about the future. His gaze turned distant as he pondered, then he spoke, "I admire people like you, those who act like heroes, but I don''t think that''s the kind of life I want. Living in seclusion would be nice, but it would also be dull and monotonous. I have it... If we seed, there will undoubtedly be more wars ahead. I hope to be like a strategist, sitting at the heart of decision-making, leading victories from afar." John chuckled, "Senior, isn''t that exactly what you do right now?" "Not the same." Ben shook his head with a sigh, then asked, "What about you? What are your ns for the future?" "Me?" John paused, never having thought much about the future. After a moment of contemtion, he said, "I''m no hero, and I don''t want to be one. If we seed, I think I would just want to live in seclusion with the one I love. We would see a few friends from time to time, let the tides ebb and flow, watch the clouds drift by, and live a quiet, peaceful life." Ben raised an eyebrow, curious, "I wonder, would I be one of your friends?" "Of course," John replied confidently. "Ha, it will happen," Ben said with a heartyugh, and just like that, the somber atmosphere between them lifted. They stood there in silence, on top of the city walls, enjoying the rare moment of peace. Boom! Suddenly, a loud rumble echoed through the air, and the entire Shadow Star shook violently. A massive spatial tear appeared in the sky, and a torrent of Chaos Force surged, nearly engulfing the entire star. The Chaos Green Lotus had emerged! John and Ben exchanged a nce, their expressions hardening. "It looks like it''s time to act," John said, taking a deep breath. The uncertainty in his eyes vanished, reced by a sharp and determined gaze. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 351: Chapter 351: Refining the Extermination Immortal Sword and Breaking the Formation Chapter 351: Refining the Extermination Immortal Sword and Breaking the Formation ? John was in deep distress. His divine skill Creation and Destruction was powerful, but under the destruction caused by this terrifying force, it was barely effective. He could only continuously activate Creation and Destruction without a moment''s rest. Fortunately, he had the Wrath of the Gods talent, which reduced skill consumption by 99%. Now, it was a matter of whether he or Shadow God would falter first. "Human, it''s useless," Shadow God mocked, seeing through John''s intentions. "The formation consumes Spirit Stones, and I have plenty of them. Even if your spiritual power is vast, you won''tst long." John frowned. He could indeed feel some pressure. Even with the Wrath of the Gods talent reducing his skill consumption, it wasn''t without cost. Moreover, the attacks from the Extermination Immortal Sword Array were so terrifying that even with Creation and Destruction, his World-in-Hand was on the verge of copse. He couldn''t afford to gamble. He had to find a way to break the formation. Buzz! The sword intent hummed as sword rays rained down like a storm. John vaguely sensed something. "This is the Sword Law?" he murmured in surprise. He had sensed the Sword Law within this formation, something he hadn''t encountered during hisprehension of The Immortals legacy. He was already proficient in sword intent and could easily grasp the The Heaven Law. Perhaps, if he could understand the Sword Law, he would be able to break the Extermination Immortal Sword Array. Chaos Force surged within him. He activated Creation and Destruction again, and his longsword cleaved down once more, repairing World-in-Hand. His World-in-Hand was constantly being destroyed and repaired, repeating the cycle. Everyone watched anxiously. While they were temporarily safe, no one knew how long John could hold on. If World-in-Hand was destroyed, they would all die without a doubt. Among them, only Nature God, with his Heidern Tower, had the ability to resist the attacks of the Extermination Immortal Sword Array. But even he could only hold on by the skin of his teeth. Breaking the formation was impossible. The final oue would still be death. "Damn it! Human, I advise you to give up struggling," Shadow God sneered from outside the formation, watching as World-in-Hand was repeatedly destroyed and repaired. His brow furrowed in concern, as he felt a hint of pressure. This Godyer was too strange. A skill as powerful as that should have a huge energy consumption, yet he had been using it for more than half an hour without stopping. Shadow God took out arge pile of Spirit Stones, feeling a pang of regret. Although he had a vast number of Spirit Stones, they were not infinite. And maintaining the full-force attack of the Extermination Immortal Sword Array consumed a staggering amount of energy. He couldn''t help but think of the Spirit Stone mines that John had plundered, his anger increasing further. If he had those Spirit Stones, he was confident he could protect Shadow Star. However, once he killed this human, those Spirit Stone mines would still be his. He held his breath, eyes icy cold, and continued to fully manipte the formation,unching an even more intense barrage at John. He didn''t believe that this human could continue using such an enigmatic skill. Time passed, and unknowingly, a full day had already gone by. John appeared exhausted, almost mechanically activating Creation and Destruction. In addition, he had to focus his mind onprehending the Sword Law, which was severely draining his mental energy. Everyone around him was anxious but powerless to do anything. However, Shadow God wasn''t faring much better either. Fully activating the formation was also taking a heavy toll on his spirit. The strong individuals who had recently joined Shadow God''s ranks were growing impatient. One of the Lord Gods spoke up, "Shadow God, are you even capable of doing this? If you can''t, let us enter Chaos Green Lotus The Secret Area and search for the Chaos Green Lotus ourselves." "Shut up." Shadow God shot a cold re at the speaker, saying with a chilling voice, "You are to obey me, and me alone. Anyone who dares defy me, I won''t hesitate to destroy them!" The others frowned, their faces filled with dissatisfaction, but under the pressure of the Extermination Immortal Sword Formation, they could only submit. Moreover, the soul oaths they had sworn meant that even if they obtained the Chaos Green Lotus, they wouldn''t be able to im it for themselves. Shadow God continued, "It won''t be much longer. This human won''tst." He sensed that John was approaching his limit, his expression growing pleased as he once again exerted full control over the Extermination Immortal Sword Formation. [Yourprehension of the Sword Law has reached 10%. You haveprehended the Sword Law.] System Notification appeared. John had finally grasped the Sword Law. He could clearly perceive the tremendous power ofws contained in the sword beams that were shooting towards him, but he still couldn''t stop them. Buzz! Suddenly, his spiritual power began to drain rapidly, as four forces relentlessly devoured his spiritual energy. "What''s going on?" he was startled. He had already used up much of his spiritual power from repeatedly activating Creation and Destruction, and now this strange force was devouring what little remained. He wouldn''t be able to hold on for much longer. If his spiritual power ran out, his World-in-Hand would inevitably be destroyed, and everyone else would die along with him. "Something''s wrong!" he frowned, feeling a sense of familiarity. When he was refining the United Sword, his spiritual power had been simrly devoured. Now, four strange forces were aggressively consuming his spiritual energy. He began to suspect what was happening. It was the four divine swords of the United Sword Formation. He was refining these four divine swords-or rather, these four divine swords had actively chosen him as their master. This was a good thing, but right now, it was deadly for him. He needed enough spiritual power to continue using Creation and Destruction, or the consequences would be disastrous. "Perhaps, if I refine the four divine swords, the formation will fall apart on its own." He nced at his stats. He still had over 170,000 spiritual power left, but in just this short time, over 40,000 had already been devoured. At this rate, his spiritual power would not be enough to sustain the refinement of these four divine swords. "Do you have any pills that can restore spiritual power? Hand them over to me." John looked at Nature God and the others, ordering them. They were momentarily stunned, then quickly took out arge number of Spiritual Power Pills and handed them over to him. And these were all rare mid-tier Spiritual Power Pills and high-tier Spiritual Power Pills. A mid-tier Spiritual Power Pill restores 200 spiritual power per second for 200 seconds. A high-tier Spiritual Power Pill restores 500 spiritual power per second for 300 seconds. The effects of the mid-tier and high-tier Spiritual Power Pills could be stacked, but the recovery speed still couldn''t match the speed at which the divine swords were devouring hisN?v(el)B\\jnn spiritual power. "Maybe I can refine one of the divine swords first." John had an idea, and forcibly severed the three remaining forces that were devouring his spiritual power. Only one force remained, devouring his spiritual energy, but he could just about manage to hold on. "Ha ha, human, it seems like you can''t hold on anymore!" Outside the formation, Shadow God saw John starting to take the pills andughed triumphantly. He was certain that the skill John was using consumed an enormous amount of energy. Now, by using pills to restore his spiritual power, it was surely already toote. Seeing this, Shadow God felt a surge of hope and took out another pile of Spirit Stones to replenish the consumption of the Extermination Immortal Sword Formation. He had acquired the Four Extermination Swords and could set up the Extermination Immortal Sword Formation, but he hadn''t mastered the Sword Law, so he couldn''t refine these divine swords. As a result, he didn''t realize that John was in the process of refining one of the divine swords. Time passed, minute by minute. John''s spiritual power was rapidly depleting, and just as it was about to run out, the strange force devouring his spiritual power vanished. He had formed a mysterious connection with one of the divine swords, as if it had be a part of his body. Poof! At that moment, a sword beam shed and instantly pierced through his body. John staggered, coughing up a mouthful of blood, badly wounded. "John!" Sini and the others cried out in worry. "Ha ha, human, it''s over now. Die!" Shadow God saw this and grinned manically, controlling the sky full of sword beams,unching them down with full force. "Heh, it''s over, indeed." John sneered, looking at the vast sea of sword beams descending upon him. There was not the slightest bit of panic in his eyes. "Rise!" He casually waved his hand, and the sky full of sword beams shattered with a thunderous crash. In one direction of the formation, a faint cyan longsword shot up into the air, causing the Extermination Immortal Sword Formation to copse with a resounding crash. The cyan longsword floated gracefully before John, hovering silently. A faint cyan glow flickered, lively and ethereal, and the cold de of the sword radiated a sharp, murderous aura. It was one of the Four Extermination Swords-the Extermination Immortal Sword. Cough! As the formation shattered, Shadow God was struck by a bacsh, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His eyes widened in shock as he red at John. "Impossible! You-you actually refined the Extermination Immortal Sword?" His expression was one of utter disbelief, "Human, how did you manage to do this?" Not just him, but even the women standing next to John were stunned. John hadn''t done anything; he simply waved his hand, and the cyan longsword flew toward him. As though it had be one with him. Clink! John gently tapped the sword''s body, emitting a crisp, clear ringing sound that was both enchanting and unsettling. A confident smile appeared on his face as he looked at the stunned Shadow God. With a thought, he activated his Sword Mastery. Whirr! A sh of cyan sword energy shot out, aimed directly at Shadow God. "Not good..." Shadow God''s expression shifted. He finally reacted, but it was already toote to dodge. Thud! Blood sttered as he was pierced by the longsword, suffering a devastating blow to his soul. "Die, Judgment!" John''s cold voice rang out, and the Extermination Immortal Sword flew once more, this time infused with the The Heavenws and a powerful soul attack. "No! Human, you can''t kill me..." Shadow God, sensing the imminent threat of death, panicked and hurriedly begged for mercy. But the longsword pierced through his soul, his voice was abruptly cut off, and hepletely perished. [You have in Shadow God and gained 26,766,000,000 experience points.] [Your level has increased...] [The Plunder talent is activated, granting you the following: Divine-Level Formation Talent, 10% understanding of the Shadow Laws, 2% understanding of the The Heaven Laws, +10,000 Shadow Power.] [Your understanding of the Shadow Laws has reached 100%, and you have be the new Shadow Star Sovereign.] The notification shed before him. "Shadow Star Sovereign?" John was taken aback as a tremendous surge of Shadow Laws flooded through him. Everything around him became incredibly clear, and he felt as if he was in control of everything, as though he were within his World-in-Hand. "So that''s how it is!" He realized, the reason Lord Gods were so powerful was that they controlled an entire. The Overseer only controlled a World-in-Hand, which put them at a significant disadvantagepared to a Lord God. Of course, John was an exception. "It seems... this doesn''t really amount to much." He furrowed his brows. Even though he had be the Sovereign of Shadow Star, the current state of Shadow Star was pitiful, its The power ofws weak, and it could copse at any moment. Especially now that the Chaos Green Lotus had appeared. Chapter 352: Chapter 352: The Heaven Lawmaker, The Mantis Stalks the Cicada Chapter 352: The Heaven Lawmaker, The Mantis Stalks the Cicada ? John had a feeling that once the Chaos Green Lotus was refined, Shadow Star would bepletely destroyed. Even if he became the Shadow Sovereign, he would not be able to change that oue. What pleased him the most, however, wasn''t bing the Shadow Sovereign; it was the fact that he had plundered a divine-level talent. Formation Talent! He had seen the power of formations before. The Four Symbols Guardian Formation, the Seven Kill Formation, the Great Formation of the Surrounding Star, and now, the terrifying Extermination Immortal Sword Formation. Peter had only acquired an SS-level formation talent, and with the formation inheritance, he was able to set up formations strong enough to withstand the Hunters'' siege. Now, John had obtained a divine-level formation talent, one that allowed him to set up even stronger formations. "You... you actually killed Shadow God!" A cry of shock rang out. The people around Shadow God finally reacted, their faces full of fear. John''s power had exceeded all of their expectations, especially now that he had obtained such a powerful Divine Weapon. "Quick, into the Secret Area!" one of them shouted, hastily flying toward the entrance of the Chaos Green Lotus Secret Area. They weren''t a match for John. The only way to possibly fight back was to seize the Chaos Green Lotus, gain the Chaos Body, and hope to stand a chance. "Hmph, you think you''re worthy of the Chaos Green Lotus?" John sneered. His mind moved, and he activated his Blood Domain, enveloping everyone in a sea of blood light. Now that he had be the Shadow Star Sovereign, the power of his Blood Domain was no longerparable to what it had been before. This was the purest form of the Shadow Laws. Amidst the blood-red light, the murderous intent was overwhelming. A sh of cyan sword energy flickered, and with each appearance, it imed the life of one person. The air was filled with screams as no one could withstand him. Even the powerful Lord Gods were no match for him in this state. [You have in The Overseer, gaining 26,766,000,000 experience points.] [Plunder talent activated, The Heaven Lawsprehension +1%, Physical Critical Hit +10, Attack Speed +10, Skill Points +1000.] [You have in a Lord God, gaining 26,766,000,000 experience points.] [Your level has increased...] [Plunder talent activated, The Heaven Lawsprehension +2%, Constitution +10,000, Strength +10,000, Luck +1.] ... [Yourprehension of the The Heaven Laws has reached 100%, and you have be the new The Heaven Lawmaker. All four basic attributes +1 billion.] [The Heaven Lawmaker: The representative of The Heaven, the strongest under the Creator God. Controls the The Heaven Laws, and eliminates any existence that defies The Heaven.] "The Heaven Lawmaker?" John was taken aback. After ying numerous Lord Gods and The Overseer, hisprehension of the The Heaven Laws had skyrocketed to 100%. A terrifying surge of The Heaven Laws descended, causing his attributes to skyrocket, with his four basic stats increasing by one billion each. John looked at the description of the Heaven Lawmaker title. The most powerful being beneath the Creator God, whose duty was to eliminate any existence that defied The Heaven. Here, the Creator God referred to the supreme deity who created the world. Not the current Creator God, who had stolen the fruits of victory and sought to rece the original Creator. John had a feeling that if he were to face that Creator God now, he would be able to fight back. Perhaps, they could actually seed. "Wait, what''s going on? The old The Heavenws have revived?" Nature God eximed in shock, clearly feeling the The Heavenws, which had previously weakened, suddenly be incredibly powerful. This change was all due to John bing the Heaven Lawmaker. "Godyer, don''t kill me! I am willing to submit to you..." Witch God, trapped in the Blood Domain, was in a pitiful state, dodging the cyan sword beams that sought to y him. John was speechless. This guy was even more shameless than the Shadow n. First, he had joined John''s ranks, then betrayed him under the threat of the Creator God, and now, he wanted to join him again. John couldn''t be bothered to waste time on words. He controlled the Extermination Immortal Sword and directly struck down Witch God. Once again, John Plundered arge amount of attributes, but this time, he did not gain any moreprehension of The Heaven Laws. Hisprehension of The Heaven Laws had already reached the maximum 100%. "Sini, the rest of these guys are up to you," John said, looking over at Sini, who was still in a daze. He could no longer Plunder any moreprehension of the The Heaven Laws. Killing these remaining enemies and Plundering their attributes didn''t even interest him anymore. "Alright!" Sini snapped back to her senses, a smile appearing on her face. The Power of the Nine Nether surged as arrows rained down, relentlessly attacking those within the Blood Domain. The others quickly reacted as well,unching their own frenzied attacks. With the The Heavenws reviving, their strength had greatly increased. Moreover, with John''s Blood Domain restricting their enemies, even the Lord Gods and The Overseers were no match for them. Once John confirmed that everyone was safe, he moved to the center of the Extermination Immortal Sword formation, sat cross-legged, and continued to refine the remaining three divine swords. Buzz! The swords hummed with energy as three strange forces began to devour his spiritual power. Now that the danger had passed, John wasn''t concerned about the consumption of his spiritual power. Moreover, having be the Heaven Lawmaker, his four base attributes had increased by one billion, bringing his Mental attribute to 1.3 billion, and his spiritual power to over 13 million. This was more than enough to refine the three divine swords. Soon, he had sessfully refined the three divine swords, using just over a million spiritual power points in the process. Buzz! The sword energies vibrated again, and three long swords shot toward him, rotating around him before hovering quietly in front of him. The four swords were distinct in shape, each radiating a unique aura, but all were incredibly powerful. The pale cyan Extermination Immortal Sword, the fiery red Trap Immortal Sword, the deep blue ughter Immortal Sword, and the dark purple Destruction Immortal Sword. The four longswords were all ancient artifacts, and their power was even greater than that of the United Sword. But the most important thing was that these four longswords could set up the terrifying Extermination Immortal Sword formation. Of course, the prerequisite was to possess a divine-level formation talent. When John killed the Shadow God, he happened to Plunder the divine-level formation talent. Having refined the four divine swords, he was now able to unleash the full power of the Extermination Immortal Sword formation. At this moment, the battle on the other side was also nearing its end. The Lord Gods, The Overseers, and even the ordinary deities on the Shadow God''s side had all been ughtered. On Shadow Star, there were no obstacles left. "Let''s go, enter the Secret Area," John thought to himself. The four divine swords merged into his body, and he led everyone into the Chaos Green Lotus Secret Area. With a fluctuation of spatial power, they appeared in a vast, boundless void. The surrounding space was chaotic, and there was no trace of the Chaos Green Lotus anywhere. "Creator God!" Nature God shouted in fury, summoning the Heidern Tower and smashing it toward an elder who was floating in the void. The elder looked disdainful, raising his hand slightly. Buzz! An invisible surge of The power ofws rippled out. He clenched his hand in the air, effortlessly blocking Nature God''s attack. "You dare attack me?" The elder''s voice was hoarse and ancient, and with a slight exertion of his hand- Boom! With a resounding crash, the Heidern Tower was crushed to pieces. Cough! Nature God coughed up blood. Since he was mentally linked with the Heidern Tower, its destruction caused him serious harm. The elder nced at him indifferently before his gaze locked onto John. He spoke faintly, "Godyer, I have already refined the Chaos Green Lotus. What will you use to defeat me?" As he spoke, a cyan lotus bloomed above his head, and Chaos Force surged, enveloping him in its power. He hadpletely refined the Chaos Green Lotus, transforming into a Chaos Body- an Undying and Immortal existence. Upon seeing this, the others'' expressions turned to despair. The Chaos Green Lotus had been their only hope of defeating the Creator God. But now, that hope was utterly shattered. "Good technique!" John furrowed his brow and coldly stared at the Creator God, as realizationn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om dawned on him. Both John and the Shadow God had been outyed by this Creator God. It was a ssic case of "making a show of one thing while secretly achieving another." On the surface, the Creator God appeared to support the Shadow God, sending his subordinates, the Lord Gods, to seize the Chaos Green Lotus. But secretly, he had infiltrated the Secret Area, refined the Chaos Green Lotus, and gained its power for himself. His cold gaze swept over John and the others, his toneced with mockery: "What The Immortals? In the end, you will all perish at my hands. You are all relics of an old era, and you will fall." "And I, I will create an entirely new universe and be the true Creator God!" He spread his arms wide, his hair and robe swirling in the air as he exuded a sense of unparalleled arrogance. "We''re not dead yet, and the oue is still uncertain!" John''s mind shifted. The United Sword appeared, and the immense The Heaven power ofws gathered, creating a sword beam that ripped through the sky andunched the first attack. "Hmm?" The Creator God felt the intense surge of The Heaven power and furrowed his brows slightly. "You''ve be the The Heaven Enforcer!" He was somewhat surprised but still maintained a dismissive attitude. He spoke coldly, "If this were before, I would have taken you more seriously. But now, all the star domains have been destroyed by me, and I have refined the Chaos Green Lotus. You are no longer a threat." As he spoke, he clenched his fists, casually sweeping them to destroy the sword beam. "Heaven and Earth Transformation!" John roared. His body suddenly expanded into a towering giant, his power skyrocketing as his four primary attributes broke past two billion! Whoosh! Endless gusts of wind howled, and cracks appeared in the surrounding space. The space here could no longer withstand the overwhelming pressure radiating from John. "Die!" He shouted, charging directly at the Creator God. "Overconfident!" The Creator God''s brow furrowed. He too felt some pressure and instantly put aside his earlier disdain. He grew to match John''s size and met him inbat. Crack, crack... The space shattered, chaos surged, and terrifying The power ofws rippled out. The entire void trembled under their tremendous strength. This void could no longer bear the weight of the two colossal powers shing. "How powerful!" Nature God and the others stood at a distance, watching the battle between the two in the raging space rifts. They couldn''t even attempt to intervene. "Kill!" Roar... Suddenly, the sound of battle cries echoed, apanied by furious roars. Numerous space cracks appeared in the void. Countless Lord Gods and Golden Patterned Hunters emerged, charging toward Nature God and the others. These were all subordinates of the Creator God, sent with the order to eliminate them. Only once the old wielders of The Heavenw were wiped out could he create the new world he envisioned. "Good!" Sini, worried for John''s safety and having nowhere else to vent her frustration, saw the iing enemies. Without hesitation, she charged forward, ready for battle. "Charge!" Several of the Lord Gods shouted, leading their forces to engage in fiercebat with the Lord Gods and Golden Patterned Hunters. Chapter 353: Chapter 353: Battle Against the Creator God, The Heaven Law Chapter 353: Battle Against the Creator God, The Heaven Law ? Boom! Boom! The sound of explosions echoed as the two sides collided, engaging in a fierce battle. The Lord Gods were powerful, and the Golden-Patterned Hunters used bizarre attack methods, including soul attacks. The battle was brutal, and after just a single exchange, both sides suffered heavy casualties. Although the enemy outnumbered them, their strength was far inferior to that of Sini and the others. These individuals were newly promoted Lord Gods, aided by the Creator God, and were trained in thetest version of The Heaven Law. Now, John''s understanding of The Heaven Law had reached 100%, making him an enforcer of The Heaven, causing the old The Heaven Law to awaken once again. Nature God and the others had restored their peak power and gained insights from The Immortals'' legacy, greatly boosting their strength. Dealing with these Lord Gods was a breeze for them. Sini and Tracy, the two women, were not to be underestimated either. One wielded the mysterious and unpredictable Power of the Nine Nether, while the othermanded the vast and powerful Star Dust power. These newly ascended Lord Gods were no match for them. Lord Gods continued to fall around them, but the ultimate deciding factor of the battle stilly in the confrontation between John and the Creator God. At this moment, the two had entered the deep void, amidst endless spatial turbulence, transforming into two towering giants, locked inbat. Boom! Boom! The sound of thunder echoed, shaking the void as neither side could gain the upper hand. "Godyer, the new The Heaven has already been formed, and this world cannot amodate you. Stop struggling in vain," the Creator God''s Wrath of the Gods rang out, though in his heart, he felt a deep bitterness. He had initially thought that killing John would be easy, but he never expected that this man had be the enforcer of The Heaven. This waspletely unimaginable. The Creator God from before had long since fallen, and without the Creator God''s aid, no one could haveprehended The Heaven Law to such an extent-not even The Overseer could have done so. "Hmph, who lives and who dies is not yet certain!" John sneered, having already gauged the strength of his opponent. The Creator God was not particrly powerful. If it weren''t for this new version of The Heaven Law and the fact that the Creator God had refined the Chaos Green Lotus, John would have easily overwhelmed him. Whoosh! Purple mes rose, and John immediately unleashed his soul skill, Purple me Hellfire, enveloping the Creator God. "Human, it''s useless. I am the embodiment of The Heaven, and I have no soul," the Creator God sneered, standing unfazed under the Hellfire,pletely unharmed. "No soul?" John murmured, puzzled. He was certain that the Creator God was a living being, but how could it have no soul? Buzz! A terrifying hum filled the air as a powerful force of The Heaven Law descended. With a wave of his hand, the Creator God summoned several des formed from The Heaven, transforming them into countless sharp weapons that rushed toward John. His cold voice echoed: "Godyer, you are the enforcer of The Heaven. And I am The Heaven. What do you think you can use to fight against me?" As he spoke, thousands of des rained down, heading straight for John. The Blessed Ring activated, and John resurrected on the spot. So powerful! John was horrified. These des forged from The Heaven could strike at the soul directly. Thankfully, he had activated the Golden Lotus Manifestation in time, which made him immune to most of the damage. Even so, his soul still suffered significant damage. "I don''t believe you''re invincible." John''s gaze hardened, his battle intent rising, and a chilling aura of murderous intent filled the air around him. Buzz! The sound of sword intent reverberated as four longswords shot into the sky, trapping the Creator God. "Immortal Sword Formation!" John eximed, his expression shifting slightly. The Immortal Sword Formation was the most powerful killing array of The Immortals, and even the Creator God himself felt a sense of fear when facing it. "Exterminate the Immortals!" John shouted coldly, activating the Immortal Sword Formation. Countless cyan sword beams shed and surged forward, immediately overwhelming the Creator God''s form. He hadpletely refined and mastered the Four Extermination Swords, causing the power of the Immortal Sword Formation to increase by a hundredfold-nothing like what the Shadow God couldpare to. Boom! Boom! Endless sword beams shed, and the Creator God''s body was shattered into pieces. But the next moment, his physical form reassembled,pletely unharmed. "Human, I told you, you cannot kill me." He looked at the countless sword beams swirling toward him, his expression turning furious. "The Heaven Law, Destruction!" With a roar, he gathered the immense power of The Heaven Law, releasing an aura of destruction that seemed capable of annihting the very heavens and earth, sting toward John. As the Creator God, his words becamew, and his power surpassed anything John could have imagined. "Diamond Body Protection!" "Golden Lotus Manifestation!" John could sense the terrifying power of the approaching attack and immediately activated his strongest defensive skills: Diamond Body Protection, which enhanced his physical defense by a hundred times. Golden Lotus Manifestation, which granted immunity to soul-based damage. Boom! With a violent crash, the golden light surrounding John shattered instantly. Even the Diamond Body Protection could not withstand the Creator God''sw-based attack.N?v(el)B\\jnn Almost immediately, an immense force struck his soul. Buzz! John''s mind rang with pain as his soul was dealt a heavy blow. Then, his body began to reassemble, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. The damage to his soul was irreparable. Fortunately, the Golden Lotus Manifestation had immunized him from most of the soul- based attacks, sparing his life. "Not dead yet?" The Creator God''s brow furrowed, and the power of The Heaven Law continued to coalesce around him. "Immortal Sword Formation, Exterminate the Immortals!" John shouted coldly, not giving the Creator God a chance to retaliate. Brilliant blue sword beams shed, filled with an overwhelming aura of ughter. But that was not all. "Immortal Sword Formation, Trap the Immortals! Immortal Sword Formation, Annihte the Immortals!" John roared, his voice carrying a murderous edge as the entire void trembled under the force of his attack. Countless sword beams shed in all directions. A red Trap Immortal Sword array, a dark purple Destruction Immortal Sword array, a brilliant blue ughter Immortal Sword array, and a pale cyan Immortal Sword Formation-all interwoven together, forming a colorful sky above that pressed down like a suffocating force. Boom! Boom! The void shattered, and endless spatial turbulence raged, devouring everything in its path. The entire space shook violently. The Creator God was repeatedly struck, his body shattered and then reconstructed through resurrection. Above his head, a cyan lotus flower bloomed, protecting his form. It was the Chaos Green Lotus. Even though he had obtained the Chaos Body, the overwhelming force of the Immortal Sword Formation was proving difficult to withstand. Boom! He was struck again, coughing up blood, his expression grim. Under the protection of the Chaos Green Lotus, he hurriedly retreated. "Human, stop!" He quickly raised his hand to block John''s attacks, suppressing the surging blood within his body. Through gritted teeth, he spoke, "I admit I underestimated your strength, but you still can''t kill me. Our battle is too intense. If a higher-dimensional being detects it, neither of us will have a good end." "Higher-dimensional beings?" John was confused, eyeing him suspiciously. Could there be other forms of life in this world? The Creator God wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and continued, "You''re still not aware of these things. Our world is not the only one. There are many other powerful worlds. If they discover us, they will devour our world, and everything will be destroyed." John furrowed his brow. He didn''t feel that this Creator God was lying. The Creator God went on, "Human, how about this? We cooperate. I''ll create a new world, and you will be the new The Overseer, above all others. We can set new rules for the world." "Heh." John sneered in disdain, "Our goals are different. You want to destroy this world, and I want to protect it. You will die!" With a roar, John once again summoned the Immortal Sword Formation, preparing to unleash his strongest attack. "Stubborn fool!" The Creator God waspletely enraged, no longer holding back. "Human, do you really think you''re my match? I am the The Overseer of this world''s war. I am The Heaven! Die!" Buzz! The air hummed as the void trembled again. The terrifying force of The Heaven Law gathered once more, forming into a de of destruction that sought to tear apart the world itself and struck down toward John. John knew the Creator God''s attack was too powerful to be taken head-on. "Hmph, so what if it''s The Heaven? You are not invincible!" John''s expression grew serious as he lifted the United Sword high above his head. A powerful sword intent radiated out, and under the reflection of the sword, Star Dust sparkled in the sky. Beneath his feet, mountains andkes seemed to form, as though he were creating an entirely new world with his sword. "Creation and Destruction!" John roared, and the United Sword, carrying the powers of mountains, rivers, nts, the sun, the moon, and Star Dust, struck down with immense force. The two forces werepletely different. The Creator God''s attack was filled with an aura of destruction, while John''s was full of vitality. The two powers collided in an instant. Buzz! The void trembled, and a surge of life energy spread out. The new The Heaven Law surrounding the Creator God was instantly shattered. Boom! With a deafening roar, his body was shattered once again, and the Chaos Green Lotus above him quivered. It seemed that even the Chaos Green Lotus could not protect his body anymore. Buzz! Countless cold rays flickered as the Immortal Sword Formation was pushed to its limit. At the same time, John once again unleashed Creation and Destruction-a terrifying sword beam that shattered the void, sparkling with starlight, bringing endless vitality, and striking down with immense force. Creation and Destruction perfectly countered the Creator God''s new The Heaven Law. The The Heaven Law that had been gathering around the Creator God began to break apart, and he was once again struck down by John. "Cough!" The Creator God coughed up blood, his face pale, and a trace of terror shed in his eyes. "Who... Who are you?" His voice trembled. He had believed he had reced the previous generation of Creator Gods and controlled everything. But John''s appearance made him feel a fear he had never known before. He even began to suspect that John might be the reincarnation of the previous Creator God. Buzz! The sword intent hummed, and the Sun, Moon, and Star City in the void, along with mountains, rivers, nts, andkes, solidified further. It was as though they were already forming a new world. John continued to unleash Creation and Destruction. "Human, stop!" The Creator God, sensing the threat to his life, hurriedly begged, "I''ll make you the Creator God. We can create and manage this new world together." "Hmph, no need." John sneered in disdain, and with a sh of his longsword, he shattered The Heaven Law again and struck the Creator God down. Buzz! At that moment, the Chaos Green Lotus trembled, as if resisting the Creator God. A thought flickered in John''s mind. Mind Maniption surged, and he forcefully took control of the Chaos Green Lotus, ripping it away from the Creator God. "No!" The Creator God screamed in despair. He reached out to seize the Chaos Green Lotus, but was immediately repelled by a powerful surge of Chaos Force. From the beginning, he had never fully refined and fused with the Chaos Green Lotus. Chapter 354: Chapter 354: Destroying the Creator God, and the Stronger Beings from Higher Realms Chapter 354: Destroying the Creator God, and the Stronger Beings from Higher Realms ? Without the protection of the Chaos Green Lotus, the Creator God was no longer in an Undying and Immortal state. Even the new The Heaven Law he had created began to weaken with each passing moment. Meanwhile, the old The Heaven Law, mastered by John and the others, was slowly but surely reviving and growing stronger. "It''s over." His expression cold, John manipted thousands of sword beams, striking directly at the Creator God to kill him. Before the Creator God''s body could even recover, John once again invoked Creation and Destruction, aiming at the World-in-Hand created by the Creator God. John had already sensed it-just like The Overseer, the Creator God had his own World-in- Hand. However, the World-in-Hand created by the Creator God was far stronger, containing theplete The Heaven Law, and was the core of all his power. As long as he destroyed the Creator God''s World-in-Hand, the Creator God would certainly die. "Human, even if I die, I won''t let you live!" The Creator God red at John, his face filled with determination. The terrifying The Heaven Law gathered around him, causing the World-in- Hand to tremble. John felt an overwhelming force, and his soul trembled slightly. "Self-destruct!" The Creator God shouted with fury. The World-in-Hand shed with intense light, and a burst of energy capable of annihting heaven and earth erupted with a violent explosion. "This is bad!" John''s expression changed slightly. He clearly sensed that he was utterly unable to block this attack. The Creator God was self-destructing his World-in-Hand, intending to die with him. "What a madman!" John''s expression darkened. The surrounding The Heaven Law power surged, and he immediately activated Diamond Body Protection and Golden Lotus Manifestation. Then, the United Sword and the Four Extermination Swords flew out and hovered before him, automatically forming a protective barrier. Boom! A deafening roar filled the air, and everything turned to a vast expanse of white. John could only feel the constant buzzing in his mind, his thoughts swirling with dizziness. Soon, endless energy surged toward him. The United Sword and the Four Extermination Swords hummed in unison as cracks began to form along their surfaces. Crack! With a series of sharp sounds, an ancient artifact was shattered, and the terrifying energy swept in relentlessly. The golden light surrounding John dissipated, and his body was destroyed. His golden soul trembled violently, on the brink of annihtion. It''s over! In the depths of despair, at the very core of his soul, two lotus flowers appeared one after another. It was the Chaos Green Lotus and his own Purple me Destruction Lotus. The powerful energy poured out, protecting his soul and resisting the violent energy surge. Boom! With another explosive roar, boundless energy rushed through the vast and endless void. When the energy finally dispersed, only shattered space and chaotic, swirling space storms remained. The ethereal voice of the Creator God echoed, "Human, opposing The Heaven is a grave sin. The strongest beings from the highest nes have already learned of this, and you will die..." The voice gradually faded, its presence vanishing. The Creator God had fallenpletely. Even the newly created The Heaven Law he had forged disappeared along with him. "The highest nes? What are those?" John sneered, furrowing his brow. He didn''t sense anything unusual, and he certainly didn''t take the Creator God''s words to heart. He nced at the boundless void, felt the locations of Sini and the others, and with a thought, shattered the space around him, heading straight for their positions. At this moment, the Creator God had beenpletely destroyed, and his The Heaven Law dissipated. The Lord Gods he had cultivated-those powerful beings-suddenly lost the source of their strength. Faced with Sini and the others, they had no power left to resist and were swiftly and mercilessly in. "Did we win?" Nature God asked, still in disbelief as he looked at the scene unfolding before him. "John!" Sini spotted him and flew over with joy in her eyes. "My understanding of The Heaven Law has reached 100%, and I''ve be a The Heaven Law enforcer." "Oh?" John smiled, pleased. The Heaven Law enforcers were the strongest beings beneath the Creator God. Now that the Creator God was gone, he and Sini had be the strongest forces in this world. "Godyer, did we truly seed?" Nature God asked, flying over and gazing at the shattered void with uncertainty. "We killed the Creator God, but it seems like nothing has changed." Despite ying the Creator God, everything seemed the same. All the star realms had been destroyed, and even thest Shadow Star no longer existed. The universe they were in had been reduced to nothingness. It seemed that they would be left wandering aimlessly in this void, a fate worse than death. John, however, smiled and nodded confidently. "Don''t worry, all the worlds will be rebuilt." With that, he transformed once more into his Heaven and Earth Transformation state, his massive form standing tall in the void, towering over everything. His presence seemed to have grown even more immense. Buzz! The sword intent hummed, and the shattered United Sword restored itself,nding back in his hand. A tremendous surge of energy gathered, filled with powerful vitality. Behind him, the Sun, Moon, and Star Dust flickered, mountains, rivers, and nts converged, and rivers andkes flowed. The embryonic form of a new world gradually began to take shape. He had in the Creator God and had be the new Creator God, with the power to shape and create this world. But that was not his intention. They had fought so hard, risking their lives time and again, all for the sake of protecting their world. It was a world tied to them by deep bonds, memories, and connections. He had no desire to create a new world; instead, he wanted to repair the broken one. "Creation and Destruction!" He shouted, swinging his longsword toward the vast, boundless universe. Buzz! The void trembled, and immense vitality began to gather. It felt as though time and space itself were being reshaped. Broken Star Dust particles began to reappear, and the world that had been destroyed slowly began to reform. [Announcement: Earth world restored] [Announcement: Skyline Continent restored] [Announcement: Shadow Star restored] [Announcement: Nature Star Domain restored] ... A series of announcements echoed, one after another, as the star domains that had been obliterated were remade,ing back to life. Even the lives that had perished due to the destruction of the star domains were reborn. This included the long-destroyed Skyline Continent. The entire void shimmered with starlight, bursting with vitality, bing more stable and solid. Cand-Dragon tried to destroy the space once again, but to his shock, he found that it was no longer possible. "Our star domains are restored! This is incredible, we truly seeded..." The others were overjoyed, some even moved to tears. Although they were gods, they had their emotions. Each of their star domains held people and things that they were deeply attached to. Now, everything had been restored to its former state. Most importantly, the game of the gods was over. The newws were about to take shape, and all of their universes would coexist peacefully. Even though there might still be conflict in the future, there would be no more star domains destroyed. Everyone was ted. But John''s brow furrowed. As the world restored itself, he sensed a terrifying energy lurking, watching them. "A being from a higher ne?" His expression shifted slightly, recalling the Creator God''s words before his death. It seemed that the Creator God had not been speaking nonsense.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om This world was not unique. There were other unknown worlds out there in the vast universe. Buzz... Suddenly, there was a strange buzzing sound, and an eerie energy infiltrated the space. The once-imprable void shattered instantly. "This is bad, there''s danger!" John''s face changed, and he quickly warned the others. "Be careful, the crisis is not over!" The others sensed it as well. Their smiles faded, and their expressions turned serious as they cautiously scanned their surroundings. "What''s going on? Didn''t the Creator God already fall? The new The Heavenws have vanished. How could such a powerful enemy still exist?" the God of the Underworld asked, confused. But no one could provide an answer. They had no idea what was happening. Boom... Thunder rumbled, and the void shattered. A voice, heavy with pressure, echoed through the space. "Anyone who defies The Heaven, anyone who opposes The Heaven, shall be exiled!" A furious roar followed, and an irresistible force swept toward them, tearing apart the space and creating a massive ck hole. Whoosh! A terrifying force surged in, and before anyone could react, they were all sucked in. Even John wasn''t spared. This power was mysterious and unpredictable, unlike anything he had ever encountered. It was beyond his ability to resist. Crack, crack... Inside the spatial passage, lightning crackled and thunder roared, filling the air with terrifying energy that relentlessly struck the group. They couldn''t fight back. "John!" The women cried out in pain and panic, reaching out for him. "Don''t be afraid, I''m here!" John gritted his teeth, enduring the barrage of lightning strikes as he quickly closed the distance to hispanions. He activated World-in-Hand, trying to shield them from the iing attacks. Boom! A bolt of lightning struck, and to his shock, John''s World-in-Hand was shattered instantly. He didn''t even have time to unleash Creation and Destruction. Moreover, he had a feeling that even if he had used Creation and Destruction, it would have been futile. Cough! He spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale. His World-in-Hand was destroyed, and his soul was severely injured. Dimensional suppression! A term shed in his mind. The lightning was too terrifying, it was a power beyond anything he had encountered before. It was aw of power unlike any he could fathom, one that he could not resist. His only choice was to endure it physically. "Let me try!" Nature God gritted his teeth and summoned the Heidern Tower, intending to shield everyone within it. Boom! A bolt of lightning struck, and Heidern Tower was shattered effortlessly. These strange lightning attacks were simply impossible to withstand. The God of the Underworld was heavily wounded and struggling. He realized something and urgently warned everyone, "These strange lightning attacks are not fatal; they are destroying ourw powers!" John focused and, to his relief, realized that the God of the Underworld was right. Though their lives were not at risk, everyone was still unwilling to relent. They had spent countless years cultivating their powers, and now, to have them destroyed like this, was uneptable. Moreover, none of them knew what kind of world awaited them at the end of this space. With their powers destroyed, they might be facing more dangers ahead. Everyone fought back with all their might, but it was useless. Boom, boom... Countless lightning strikes rained down, and John could clearly feel the power ofws he had once mastered slowly disintegrating. His consciousness was beginning to fade. He also noticed that, within this spatial passage, powerful beings were continuously being transmitted in. All of them were people who had once fought alongside him against The Heaven. Even Ben and others who had stayed behind at Purple Sky City were being transported in. "Is this really the end?" John thought, unwilling to ept it. Lightning continued to strike, and the power ofws he controlled gradually dissipated. His soul was growing weaker. His consciousness began to blur, and finally, he could no longer hold on. He copsed into unconsciousness. Before he cked out, he faintly saw a bright light, as if at the end of this passage. [You have been exiled to the Realm of Chaos...] A faint system prompt echoed, and then, Johnpletely lost consciousness. ... Chapter 355: Chapter 355: The Disappearance of the Laws and the Realm of Chaos Chapter 355: The Disappearance of the Laws and the Realm of Chaos ? In the void of space, a figure appeared-a young man. "Hmm, it''s actually a universe formed by Chaos Force, and it''s unimed!" His eyes widened, and his breath quickened. "If I can refine this world, I can definitely break through to the Lord God realm!" He couldn''t wait to begin refining this world. Buzz! The space trembled, and a vast power ofws intervened. The young man frowned slightly, his tone filled with confusion. "Is there still a The Heaven enforcer here? Strange. There is no Creator God in this world, so why is there still a The Heaven enforcer?" He recalled the individuals he had exiled to the Realm of Chaos earlier. It seemed that among them, there was still a The Heaven enforcer. He had to kill that enforcer before he could begin refining this world. "This is really troublesome," he sighed helplessly. He marked the spot in time and, with a thought, his figure disappeared. ... "Where is this ce?" A groan escaped John''s lips as he struggled to open his eyes. Pain shot through his entire body, and his strength seemed to have been drained. Curiously, he looked around. He was in a simple thatched hut, lying on a hard wooden bed. Inside the hut were a rudimentary wooden table and two worn-out wooden chairs. He tried to sit up, but his body felt stiff and unresponsive. Only then did he realize that his body was wrapped in strips of cloth. "I''ve been injured?" His voice was hoarse, and his expression was one of surprise. With the Tree of Life''s life-sharing ability, and the power ofws governing life, he shouldn''t have been injured. Even if he had been hurt, the damage should have healed quickly. "Hmm, where is my lifew?" He eximed in shock, trying to move and causing a sharp pain. His brow furrowed in agony. His power ofws rted to life had disappeared. Moreover, all the otherws he had once controlled seemed to have vanished entirely. His mind raced. He quickly called up his attribute panel. Fortunately, his basic attributes remained, but all his skills and techniques had turned gray. Without the support of hiswprehension, he couldn''t use any skills. "What''s going on?" His brow furrowed deeply, and he began to sense his surroundings more carefully. The United Sword and the Four Extermination Swords were still within his body, but he couldn''t summon them. Not only that, he sensed something strange within his soul. Apart from the Purple me Destruction Lotus, there was now another lotus-a green one. It was the Chaos Green Lotus! He recalled what had happened earlier. He had in the Creator God and restored the various star domains. Just when everyone thought the battle was over and they had seeded, a terrifying aura descended. Soon after, a massive ck hole appeared, and everyone was devoured within it. Even his World-in-Hand had been destroyed. "Sini and the others?" He thought of the women with a deep sense of concern. Creek! At that moment, the door to the hut creaked open. He caught a strong scent of herbs and, curious, turned his head to look. A young girl entered carefully, holding a wooden basin. The girl was around thirteen or fourteen years old, with bright eyes, a white smile, and an innocent, cute appearance. The wooden basin was filled with unknown herbs, their pungent odor filling the room. She twitched her nose, muttering softly to herself, "I really don''t know where Grandpa gets his confidence. This big brother is really unlucky. I hope these herbs don''t end up poisoning him." Saying this, she struggled to ce the wooden basin on the wooden table. The table trembled slightly, as though it could copse at any moment. She let out a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and walked over to the bed, preparing to change John''s bandages. "Eh? You''re awake?" The girl eximed, taking a step back. In a flurry, she ran out of the room. "Grandpa, Grandpa, the big brother you saved is awake..." Her excited voice echoed from outside the room. John was even more confused now. It seemed that someone had saved him. Soon, an elderly man, hunched and frail, entered the room, followed by the curious little girl, who peeked her head around the door to watch John. "Young man, you''re finally awake. You''re the first person I''ve saved. I knew my herbs would work," the old man said with a gleam of pride and joy in his cloudy eyes. John furrowed his brow. He felt that his awakening had nothing to do with this old man, and he even suspected that the old man''s herbs had side effects. Although his lifews had vanished and his World-in-Hand had been destroyed, John could still feel that the Tree of Life remained intact. It hadn''t been destroyed. His awakening was likely rted to the Tree of Life and thews of life. The old man sat beside the bed, observing John''s injuries. "How do you feel, young man?" he asked. "Much better," John responded weakly, nodding gratefully. He was about to ask a question when he saw the old man signal for the girl to bring over the basin of herbs. Startled, John quickly spoke up, "Old sir, I feel like my injuries are already healed. There''s no need for your herbs." "Not at all! My herbs will help you recover faster," the old man insisted, without giving John a chance to refuse. He ordered the girl to help him change the bandages. The bandages were removed, revealing horrific, gaping wounds. Even the old man, who had seen many injuries in his time, couldn''t help but feel a shiver down his spine. But the girl seemed unfazed, as though she had grown ustomed to it. John had given up on resisting and let the two of them go about their work. He could feel that his injuries would heal on their own. Even if the herbs had side effects, they wouldn''t kill him¡ªat worst, they might slow down his recovery. The old man pulled out a pipe from somewhere, lit it, and said, seemingly to himself, "Young man, you really are lucky. If we hadn''t found you in time, the wolf pack would''ve torn you to pieces." Wolf pack? John''s face twisted with bitterness. He, a powerful upper-tier god, a three-star Overseer, and a The Heaven Enforcer, had been threatened by a pack of wolves. It truly felt like a tiger being bullied by a dog when it falls to the ground. "By the way," the old man exhaled a puff of smoke and asked curiously, "What''s your name, young man? How did you end up in our Apricot Vige?" Apricot Vige? That must be the name of this vige. John weakly leaned back on the bed and spoke, "Old sir, my name is John. As for how I ended up here, I''m not sure. I was transported here by a ck hole. By the way, have you seen anyone else?" "ck hole?" The old man gasped, nearly dropping his pipe. His face went pale, and he quickly said, "Ling''er, close the door! Stay by the door, don''t let anyonee near!" "Alright." The girl, Ling''er, shot a curious nce at John before putting down the herbs and retreating outside. John was puzzled, not understanding why the old man was reacting so strongly. He couldn''t help but ask, "Old sir, is something wrong?" The old man took two more puffs of his pipe, sizing John up before asking, "Were you resisting The Heaven and got sucked into the ck hole, then exiled here?" "Resisting The Heaven? Well, sort of," John frowned. Although Creator God had established a new The Heavenw, it wasn''tpletely sessful yet, so it could barely be considered The Heaven. "Strange," the old man muttered to himself, exining, "This is the Chaos Zone. Anyone who resists The Heaven in the major universes will be sent here. However, they''re usually sent to prison. This is the first time I''ve seen someone in your situation." "Prison?" John grew worried. He feared that Sini and the others might have been imprisoned as well. The old man noticed his concern andforted him, "Don''t worry too much. Those newly imprisoned aren''t in any danger. If they behave well, they can get their sentence reduced, even get released from prison." "Really?" John was still uneasy. He needed to find Sini and the others to feel truly at ease. "Old sir, were you also exiled here for resisting The Heaven?" he asked, looking at the old man with curiosity. "Me?" The old man took a deep drag on his pipe, gave a bitter smile, and shook his head. "No. Ling''er''s father resisted The Heaven, and we were caught up in it. Though we don''t have to be locked in prison, we''ll never leave here in our lifetimes. Sigh..." He sighed deeply, a look of sadness crossing his face. "It''s a pity for Ling''er. She has godly talent but can''t cultivate." Godly Talent?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om John was astonished. He hadn''t expected that the cute little girl, Ling''er, possessed such an incredible talent. "Old sir, is it impossible to cultivate here?" he asked curiously. After waking up, he had been unable to sense anyws around him, which left him feeling frustrated. It was as if he was guarding a mountain of gold but couldn''t spend a penny. "Impossible," the old man shook his head. "But it''s not absolute. Some of The Heaven''sckeys seem to have special means to utilize the power of thews. How exactly they do it, I don''t know." The Heavenckeys? It seemed that the old man harbored a strong resentment toward The Heaven. But as long as there was a way to cultivate. John felt better. He was confident that he could restore his power. "By the way," the old man''s expression grew serious, and he warned, "You must never reveal your identity to anyone else. If those The Heavenckeys find out, you''ll be as good as dead. You can''t even trust the ordinary people here. Although most of them have fought The Heaven in some way, the majority have already surrendered here." John nodded in agreement, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Old sir, where is the prison where they keep the prisoners who resist The Heaven?" He was concerned about Sini and the others'' safety and decided that once his injuries healed, he would go find them. The old man exined, "There are many such prisons, all scattered across the territories of the major lords. The thing is, you don''t have a legal identity, so you can''t enter their territories. I''d advise you to give up. Staying alive is more important than anything else." John shook his head, not agreeing with the old man''s viewpoint. He pressed on, "Can you help me get a legal identity?" "Sigh!" The old man sighed in resignation when he saw John''s determination. "Alright, I''ll help you. Once you''re fully healed, I can create a legal identity for you. All you need to do is go to the town and get the blessing of the Goddess. With that, you''ll have a legitimate identity." Goddess? John was puzzled. He didn''t understand who this Goddess was. Before he could ask, the old man threw his pipe aside and started applying medicine to his wounds. John wanted to refuse, but in the end, he gave in. He knew that his life wasn''t at risk, so he let the old man do his work. ... Seven dayster, John''s injuries were almost fully healed. He could now get out of bed and move around without any issues. Over the course of these seven days, he had gotten a basic understanding of the situation here. Chapter 357: Chapter 357: Killing Fierce Beasts, Attribute Activation Chapter 357: Killing Fierce Beasts, Attribute Activation ? John followed the group and quickly entered the dense mountain forest.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The area was filled with thick trees, and danger lurked everywhere. Everyone quieted down, gripping their weapons tightly, staying alert to their surroundings. John also took out his longbow, nocking an arrow, prepared to defend at any moment. He wasn''t particrly skilled with the bow, but he had the basic techniques down. "Be careful, don''t disturb the giant-horned deer here. We''ll hunt them on the way back," Cena whispered, scanning the surroundings. He moved with ease, clearly familiar with the area, and led the group deeper into the forest. They soon encountered a small group of giant-horned deer-seven in total-but they didn''t initiate an attack. Although giant-horned deer were generally gentle, they would retaliate if provoked. With seven of them, the group wasn''t confident they could take them down without injury. Cena decided to check the traps first and hunt the tusked wild boars and demon wolves to obtain their cores. Eeeee... A distant, blood-curdling scream echoed through the forest. It was the tusked wild boar! The group''s eyes lit up; the trap they had set earlier had been triggered. "Anason, go scout ahead," Cena ordered. A young man from the group stepped forward, nimble and agile. He swiftly navigated through the dense forest and soon disappeared from sight. Momentster, a sharp, clear bird call rang through the woods. It was a signal from Anason, indicating that it was safe. The group breathed a sigh of relief and quickened their pace. Eeeee... The screeching of the wild boar grew louder as they approached. In one of the traps, a massive boar was impaled by sharp, barbed spikes. It was deeply lodged, its body covered in blood, and upon noticing the group, it let out an ear-piercing scream. "Quick, finish it off before it attracts other boars," Cena ordered, holding his spear firmly and thrusting it into the boar''s pit. Tusked wild boars typically appeared in pairs, so itspanion was likely nearby. The air was filled with the harsh cries of the boar. The wild boar tried to avoid the group''s attacks, repeatedly attempting to leap out of the pit, but each time it failed, getting stabbed by the barbed spikes, blood flowing freely. The group swung their spears wildly, but they couldn''tnd a fatal blow. Instead, the boar''s struggles grew more frantic. The tusked wild boar''s tough hide made it incredibly difficult to kill. Without hitting a vital spot, it was nearly impossible to bring it down. The longer they took, the more dangerous their situation would be. Cena grew increasingly anxious. He noticed that John had been pulling his longbow taut, but hadn''t yet released an arrow. Growing impatient, Cena barked, "Kid, are you stunned or what? Attack already!" John ignored the others, focusing all his attention on the struggling tusked wild boar, waiting for the right moment. Whoosh! The bowstring vibrated, and the arrow flew, striking the boar directly in the eye, burying itself deep. "Graaah!" The tusked wild boar let out a piercing, agonized scream and copsed into the pit. "Great shot!" The others eximed in surprise. "Hmph, just a lucky shot," Cena scoffed. He didn''t believe John could have aimed so urately at the struggling boar''s eye. John''s expression remained calm as he drew his bow again. The boar''s struggles grew weaker, and this time, John shot straight into its other eye with even more precision. [You have in a Tusked Wild Boar. The Plunder talent has been triggered. Your base attributes have been restored by 0.0001%.] A surge of warmth spread through John''s body, and he felt his base attributes increase noticeably. The Plunder talent had activated! John was surprised. Since arriving in this world, both his talent and base attributes had been sealed, but it seemed that his Plunder talent hadn''t beenpletely suppressed. Killing one fierce beast had unlocked 0.0001% of his base attributes. While this seemed like a minuscule amount, John''s base stats were incredibly high-his four core attributes totaled billions of points. Unlocking 0.0001% meant that his four core attributes had each increased by over a thousand points, boosting his strength a hundredfoldpared to before. He felt a surge of excitement. He had finally found a way to regain his strength. If he killed 100,000 fierce beasts, his base attributes should be fully restored. Next, he would need to figure out how to recover his talent and thews of this world. Even if those couldn''t be restored, with his base attributes of billions, he could likely dominate this world. "Such impressive archery. Young man, were you also a powerful hunter before?" A middle- aged man looked at John, astonished. The other young men also looked at John with admiration. Young people often idolize the strong. "Something like that," John nodded. He wasn''t a hunter, and the beasts he had previously hunted were not ordinary creatures-they were powerful gods. Beside him, Cena scowled as he saw the others crowding around John, his face darkening. He felt that his position was being challenged. Eeeee... Suddenly, an enraged scream echoed through the forest. The nearby bushes shook, and a muchrger tusked wild boar charged out. This must have been thepanion of the boar that had been trapped, drawn in by its cries. "Not good, it''s a peak-tier beginner beast! Fall back!" Cena''s face turned pale as he quickly ordered. Without the support of the traps, they were no match for the tusked wild boar, let alone a peak-tier beast. The group immediately retreated without hesitation, firing arrows to slow down the boar''s charge. "Kid, move! We can''t handle this!" The middle-aged man saw John frozen in ce, thinking he had been stunned, and urgently called out to him. John ignored the others and notched another arrow, aiming at the charging tusked wild boar. "Hmph, such ignorance!" Cena, seeing John''s actions, couldn''t hide a hint of excitement in his eyes. Whoosh! A cold gleam shot through the air, striking precisely once again, this time into the boar''s other eye. "Graaah!" The tusked wild boar let out a pitiful, agonized howl as it reeled in pain, falling to the ground. The arrow was nearly embedded in its skull, and blood poured from the wound. The group immediately halted their retreat, stunned by the sight. The tusked wild boar struggled to get back on its feet, blood dripping from the sharp tips of its tusks, making it look even more ferocious. It roared, locking its remaining eye on John with a deathly re before charging again. It was determined to tear this human apart in vengeance for the arrow that had struck it. John stood his ground,pletely unperturbed as the beast charged towards him. He drew his bow again, his focus never wavering. Whoosh! The arrow shot out with pinpoint uracy, burying itself once again in the boar''s other eye. The massive force behind the shot drove the arrow even deeper. Thud! The tusked wild boar crashed to the ground. Its momentum sent it sliding toward John. The sharp tusks came within an inch of John''s chest, leaving a deep gouge in the earth as it skidded to a stop. John remained perfectly still, his face unchanged. [You have in a Tusked Wild Boar. The Plunder talent has been triggered. Your base attributes have been restored by 0.0001%.] The prompt shed, and John felt another surge of heat course through him as his core attributes rose once again. The power flowing through his body was immense. "John, your strength is incredible! Two arrows to kill a tusked wild boar-at the peak of his power, even Old Vige Head couldn''t have done that!" one of the men eximed. The others quickly gathered around him, their faces full of awe. Cena, meanwhile, had beenpletely isted. His face darkened with frustration as he red at John with resentment. John sensed the hostility and turned to look at him, a faint, knowing smile ying on his lips. Cena felt a chill run through him. He quickly masked his toxic expression, recing it with an awkward smile. John''s presence felt strange-powerful, mysterious. What bothered him the most was the overwhelming strength John had just demonstrated. It was a direct threat. He had to find a way to eliminate him. Cena''s mind began to turn with a devious n. "Alright, everyone, let''s not bother John. We need to clean up the battlefield," he said with a smile. The others, snapping out of their reverie, quickly took out their daggers and began to dissect the bodies of the two tusked wild boars. The beasts were full of treasures. The crystal cores had to be offered as tribute, the tusks were special materials that could be used to craft weapons. And the meat of the boar was food. Even the barbed spines on its back and the damaged hide were all collected. "Hey, can I take a look at that?" John noticed that the middle-aged man had taken a crystal core from the tusked wild boar''s head and curiously asked. "Of course." The middle-aged man did not hesitate at all and respectfully handed the crystal core over. Clearly, in his mind, John had already been regarded as the leader. [Low-Grade Crystal Core: Can be refined to increase 0.1 points in Constitution and 0.1 points in Strength.] A description appeared. John was surprised. This thing could directly increase base attributes. He looked at the middle-aged man and asked, "Do you know what this thing does?" "We know. It absorbs and enhances attributes. But we can''t keep them for ourselves. Every month, we have to submit a hundred cores, so there''s no surplus to use for cultivation." The middle-aged man sighed, looking helpless. "Alright, we still have a heavy task ahead. Let''s continue hunting the beasts." Cena stepped forward and nonchntly took the crystal core from John''s hand. John sneered. He didn''t care about such worthless things. Cena, wearing a warm smile, said, "I didn''t expect you to be so powerful, little brother. This hunt will be all on you." "Heh, no problem," John said coldly, toozy to engage with the man. Cena, however, continued, "How about this? Let''s hunt a few intermediate-level beasts, like the Demon Wolves. We only need fifty medium-grade crystal cores to meet the quota." "Brother Cena, we''re still short by fourteen low-grade crystal cores. There''s no need to take such a risk." A young man spoke up, offering a reminder. Cena shot the young man a re and snapped, "Of course I know. I''m just gathering materials for next month''s tribute!" Saying this, he turned to John and smiled, exining, "Brother John, we''ll need to hunt them eventually. Why not take this opportunity to gather more?" "Sure," John nodded slightly. He sensed that this guy was up to something, but he didn''t call him out on it. He actually needed to hunt the beasts to restore his power. "Anason, go and lure the Demon Wolves," Cena looked toward the agile young man and pulled him aside, whispering something to him. "Brother Cena, this... isn''t it a bit too risky?" Anason frowned slightly, his gaze lingering on John in the distance, his expression filled with reluctance. Chapter 358: Chapter 358: Killing With a Borrowed Knife, Tearing Apart the Demon Wolves Chapter 358: Killing With a Borrowed Knife, Tearing Apart the Demon Wolves ? "What''s there to be afraid of? Just do what I said. If something goes wrong, I''ll take responsibility," Cena snapped, his toneced with a veiled threat. "Alright," Anason nodded reluctantly, sighing as he disappeared into the dense forest. John watched the scene unfold and let out a mocking chuckle. With his extraordinary hearing, he had naturally overheard the entire conversation. Cena nned to have Anason lure the wolf pack to ambush him. But John was unfazed. ording to the old vige chief, the Demon Wolves were intermediate-level fierce beasts, not significantly stronger than the Tusked Wild Boars. With his current stats-his four core attributes exceeding 2,000 points, and his strength nearing 3,000-killing intermediate-level beasts would be a simple task. "Brother Cena, shouldn''t we set up traps?" one of the hunters asked, confused by Cena''sck of preparation. Typically, when hunting Demon Wolves, they would always set traps in advance; otherwise, they wouldn''t stand a chance. Cena red at the man and replied, "What are you afraid of? Don''t we have Brother John here?" He finished with a smile, turning to look at John. "Are we close or something?" John quipped coldly, unable to tolerate Cena anymore. His mind was already racing with ns to deal with himter. Howoooo... Suddenly, a chorus of wolf howls echoed through the forest, reverberating ominously. Anason''s agile figure burst out from the woods, looking genuinely panicked. "Run! I''ve attracted arge wolf pack-more than thirty Demon Wolves!" Anason shouted, clearly terrified. Originally, he had intended to draw out only seven or eight wolves, but to his horror, nearby wolf packs had been drawn in as well. "What?" "Anason, you idiot! Are you trying to get us all killed?" the others cursed as they scattered in different directions. Cena was the first to flee, shouting back, "Anason, don''t bring them my way!" Anason understood perfectly. Gritting his teeth, he ran toward John, who was still standing motionless. The thirty Demon Wolves were an imposing sight, closing in rapidly with howling fury. John, seemingly frozen in fear, remained rooted to the spot, calmly drawing his bow once again. This time, the icy arrow was aimed directly at Anason. Anason''s heart sank. He had seen John''s marksmanship firsthand-there was no way he could dodge this. It''s over. At least my death will pay for this. Anason felt despair welling up inside him. He hadn''t wanted to harm John, but Cena had threatened his family, leaving him no choice. Whoosh! The icy arrow streaked through the air, and Anason didn''t me John for his actions. The arrow grazed past his cheek, leaving a searing pain. "Huh? It missed?" Anason thought in confusion. Then he heard a pained howl from behind him. One of the Demon Wolves had been struck. It turned out that John''s arrow wasn''t aimed at killing Anason, but rather at saving him. If it hadn''t been for that arrow, the Demon Wolf that had been charging behind him would have already torn out his throat. Anason struggled topose himself and said, "Brother John, run! I''ll lead the wolves away." He gritted his teeth and turned to chase after Cena. He had never liked the man, and if he were to die, no one would be left to threaten his family. Whoosh! Another sharp sound cut through the air, and an arrow struck one of the Demon Wolves chasing behind Anason. With a powerful force behind it, the arrow pierced the Blood Fiend Wolf''s throat, killing it instantly. "That''s... so powerful..." Anason noticed the movement behind him and couldn''t help but feel a chill run down his spine. Meanwhile, Cena, who was fleeing in the front, noticed Anason''s rapid approach. His expression turned panicked, and he yelled angrily, "Damn it! What the hell are you doing following me? Lead them toward John!" Anason shot him a cold re,pletely ignoring his orders. He just increased his speed, putting as much distance between himself and Cena as possible. Whoosh! The sound of arrows whizzing through the air continued behind him, making Anason feel oddly reassured. As long as John was there, it seemed like he would be safe. A stream of messages flickered in front of John''s eyes. A heat surged through his body as his four core attributes experienced a sharp boost. But after killing twelve Demon Wolves, his arrows ran out. There were still twenty-four Demon Wolves left, relentlessly chasing Anason. "Brother John, your arrows..." The middle-aged man quickly unstrapped his quiver and offered it to him. "No, lend me your longsword!" John replied. He wasn''t particrly skilled with a bow, and the killing speed was too slow. The longsword felt much more natural to him. Unfortunately, his own divine weapons couldn''t be summoned for the time being, so he had no choice but to borrow the iron sword. The man didn''t hesitate, tossing the sword directly to John. John caught the longsword, and his demeanor shifted slightly. Though he had lost his Sword Law, the sword intent he hadprehended still lingered. Now, John stood like a longsword, its sharp edge exposed, making others hesitant to meet his gaze. Whoosh! In the blink of an eye, John appeared in front of Anason, grabbing him and pulling him out of the way just as two Demon Wolves lunged at them. Buzz! The longsword hummed, its cold gleam shing as it sliced through the air, cutting toward the two Demon Wolves. Thud! Crack! Blood sttered as one Demon Wolf was instantly decapitated. But when John swung the sword toward the other Demon Wolf''s head, the de snapped in two. The Demon Wolf''s skull was too tough. "Damn, this is junk!" John muttered, ncing at the broken longsword before tossing it aside. Howl! The enraged howls of the remaining Demon Wolves filled the air. Over twenty of them abandoned Anason and charged straight at John. "Watch out!" The group shouted in rm, hurriedly pulling back their longbows. But the Demon Wolves were too fast. They couldn''t hit them at all. John, however, wasn''t the least bit afraid as he looked at the charging Demon Wolves. Clenching his fist, he mmed it into one of the wolves with all his might. Boom! Crack! A deafening roar echoed, followed by the sound of bones shattering as the Demon Wolf fell to the ground. Its neck twisted at an unnatural angle, and blood poured from its seven orifices. John had killed it with a single punch. "What..." The others stood dumbfounded, unable to believe their eyes.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Even if twenty of them joined forces, they couldn''t possibly take down a Demon Wolf without injury. But John had killed one with a single punch. How terrifying was his strength? Roar! A growl of rage echoed as another Demon Wolf lunged at John, aiming for his neck. He narrowly avoided the lethal strike, grabbing the wolf''s head with one hand and its front limb with the other. His arm bulged with veins. Rip! Blood sprayed everywhere as John tore the Blood Fiend Wolf in half. Its scarlet blood sttered across his body. It was brutal. It was savage. The onlookers felt their scalp tingle with horror. Especially Cena, who nearly wet himself in fear. This John was too terrifying. If he knew about Cena''s ns, he wouldn''t hesitate to kill him. Cena wanted to run, but his legs were trembling so badly that he couldn''t even move. "A cultivator... he must be a powerful cultivator!" One of the men swallowed nervously and eximed. "I knew it, no wonder the old vige chief was so protective of him. His strength is incredible!" ... As the group watched John ughter the Demon Wolves, their expressions were filled with excitement. Especially Anason, who sat on the ground, his life spared. His eyes were full of admiration, burning with intensity. Watching John tear apart the Demon Wolves, the brutal and bloody scene made Anason''s blood boil with excitement. "If only I could be as strong as him one day..." he thought wistfully. In the blink of an eye, all twenty-plus Demon Wolves were in, and John was unharmed. "My lord, are you alright?" The group rushed up to him as soon as the battle ended, their tone of address having changed. "Thank goodness for you, my lord. If it weren''t for you, we''d have been in serious trouble." "Yeah. Anason, what were you thinking? How could you bring so many Demon Wolves here? Were you trying to get us all killed?" They all turned their anger on Anason. "I-I..." Anason stuttered, his voice trembling with guilt. He lowered his head, unable to look John in the eye. John didn''t pay him any attention. Instead, he looked at Cena, his voice cold. "You wanted to use these Demon Wolves to kill me?" "W-What? No, no!" Cena panicked, swallowing nervously and shaking his head repeatedly. The others furrowed their brows. They had all heard what had happened. This man had told Anason to lead the wolves in John''s direction. Cena trembled slightly, his eyes shifting as he pointed at Anason. "My lord, it was this bastard who tried to harm you! This traitor!" Anason froze for a moment, stunned by the usation. "You''re ndering me!" he cried out. "It was you who told me to attract the Demon Wolves, and try to kill our lord!" Saying this, he suddenly fell to his knees in front of John. His voice urgent and pleading, "My lord, I swear, I never wanted to hurt you! It''s Cena! He threatened me, forced me to betray you!" "Get up. I believe you." John, already aware of everything, coldly looked at Cena. Thud! Cena immediately dropped to his knees, raising his hand to p his own face twice. Trembling, he said, "My lord, it was my ignorance. Please, show mercy and treat me as if I were nothing. Let me go. I swear, I''ll never do it again." As he spoke, he kowtowed repeatedly. "ording to the rules, anyone who harms theirrades must at least be exiled." The middle-aged man spoke up from the side. Cena was startled and quickly shook his head. "No, please! My lord, please, I can''t survive outside. I won''t make it." Not everyone had John''s strength. Not every vige was kind enough to take in outsiders. If he were exiled to the wilds, he''d probably be dead by the end of the night. John frowned. Honestly, he didn''t want to deal with a person like Cena. In his eyes, Cena was nothing but an ant. He spoke lightly, "Leave it to the old vige chief to decide." John wasn''t nning to stay here long, nor did he want to interfere with the affairs of Apricot Vige. "As youmand." The others obeyed without hesitation, quickly binding Cena without further discussion. "Alright. Clean up the battlefield, and we''ll hunt more beasts." John reminded them. There was still time left in the day. The monthly tribute for Apricot Vige was already taken care of, but he wanted to gather more crystal cores to repay the old vige chief for saving his life. Moreover, hunting these beasts would also help him further enhance his strength. At this moment, his four core attributes had all surpassed thirty thousand, with his strength approaching fifty thousand. Dealing with these weaker beasts was a simple task. Soon, the battlefield was cleaned, and the others handed over all the collected crystal cores to John. John didn''t refuse and curiously exAnasoned them. The Demon Wolves were mid-tier beasts, and collecting medium-grade crystal cores from them would, after refinement, increase strength and agility by 0.2 points each. Chapter 359: Chapter 359: Punishing Cena, Enhancing Strength Chapter 359: Punishing Cena, Enhancing Strength ? Compared to the low-grade crystal cores, these were twice as effective, but John still didn''t think much of them. He led the group as they wandered through the mountains and forests. In one day, they had killed over two hundred beasts, mostly Demon Wolves and Razorback Boars. Among them, there were also three Saber-toothed Tigers and one Earth Bear. Saber-toothed Tigers were high-tier beasts, while Earth Bears were already low-tier Spirit Beasts. Above beasts were Spirit Beasts. However, the Spirit Beasts of this world were quite different from those of Shadow Star; their strength was far weaker. They were roughly ranked between tier 4 and tier 6. Above Spirit Beasts were Demon Beasts, ranked from tier 1 to tier 9. A tier 1 Demon Beast was equivalent to the strength of a tier 7 creature, and so on. Demon Beasts dwelled deep in the forests, and John wasn''t strong enough to face them yet, so he didn''t venture further. "Let''s go," he said, as the sky began to darken. The group made their way back to the vige. At the forest''s edge, they killed two Giant-Horned Deer and one Green Bull Monster. These creatures were the vige''s food source. The Giant-Horned Deer and Green Bull Monsters weren''t even considered beasts, so they didn''t require John''s intervention, and the group easily handled them. Carrying the carcasses of their prey, their faces were filled with smiles as they returned. Their haul far greater than in any half-month period-no, perhaps even more than in six months. When they arrived back at the vige, night had fully fallen, and several figures were waiting at the vige entrance. Among them were the vige chief, Jackey, and Spoorate. "Big Brother!" Spoorate called out, recognizing John, running toward him with excitement. "Eh, you''re covered in blood. Are you injured?" she asked, concerned. "It''s fine, it''s just the blood of the beasts," John exined with a smile. "Hmph, you''re so concerned about your man. Little girl, looks like you''re in heat," a woman sneered from the side. Smack! A sharp p rang out, and a man stepped forward from behind John, pping the woman across the face. "You... you dare p me?" The woman, holding her reddening cheek, was stunned. Her eyes widened in fury as she red at the man before her. "Shut your mouth. If you dare disrespect the lord again, I''ll tear that mouth of yours apart!" the man growled, his anger ring. His woman had been far too ungrateful. He had seen John''s terrifying power. Offending someone like him? Even if they were torn apart by a Demon Wolf, it would be a pointless death. Jackey frowned, noticing the drastic change in the group''s attitude toward John. There was awe, admiration, even a hint of fear. He couldn''t help but be curious about what had happened that day. "Eh? What''s wrong with Cena?" He finally noticed Cena, who was standing aside, and asked in confusion. One person quickly exined, "Vige Chief, this guy tried to secretly harm Lord John. Thankfully, Lord John is powerful; otherwise, we would all be dead by now." Thud! Cena, his hands bound by ropes, copsed to the ground and begged, "Vige Chief, I know I was wrong. Please spare my life and don''t exile me." He knelt there, his backside sticking upically as he struggled but couldn''t rise again. "Shut up. The fact that you''re still alive is already a huge mercy from the lord. And you still dare to beg for mercy!" One person angrily kicked him in the rear. "That''s right! He must be exiled!" Several others were furious, with no room for debate. Jackey frowned. He didn''t want to exile Cena. He was the strongest in the vige, and John''s strength was likely formidable as well, but John couldn''t stay here forever. If Cena were exiled, the vige might not be able to deliver its tribute on time in the future, and it could even cease to exist. However, everyone''s attitude was so unified. It seemed Cena had really incurred the wrath of the people. After a moment of thought, Jackey spoke, "John, I think Cena was just confused for a moment. How about sparing him this time?" He didn''t like Cena, but as the vige chief, he had to consider the vige''s future. "Yes, yes! I was wrong, Lord! Please spare me, I promise I''ll never do it again!" Cena, seeing a glimmer of hope, struggled and crawled towards John. "Do as you wish." John frowned and didn''t say much more. Cena was a resident of Apricot Vige, and John didn''t want to get involved in their internal affairs. The others were dissatisfied, but since both John and the Vige Chief had spoken, they didn''t say anything further. "Cena," Jackey said, "Though I won''t exile you, there will still be a punishment. You''ll be on patrol for a month." "Yes, yes!" Cena eagerly agreed, but no one noticed the flicker of resentment that shed across his dirt-smeared face. "Big Brother, I''ll go boil some water for your bath," Spoorate called out, then ran back toward the vige. Sigh Jackey watched this scene with a helpless sigh. The little girl was clearly developing feelings for John. But he could sense that they were from different worlds. John would leave Apricot Vige sooner orter. "Vige Chief, here are the spoils from this trip," John said, taking out the Beast Crystals he had collected and handing them to Jackey. "Th-this many?" Jackey eximed in shock. There were more than two hundred crystals, most of them mid-grade. There were even three high-grade crystals and one low-grade one. This many crystals would be enough to supply their vige for half a year. "Did you hunt all of these?" Jackey couldn''t help but swallow, realizing why everyone showed such reverence toward John. He knew the strength of the vige''s hunters well enough-none of them could even deal with the Blood Fiend Wolves, let alone hunt high-level beasts or spirit beasts. His gaze involuntarily shifted to Cena, wondering if the punishment had been too light for him. The words had already been said, and there was no turning back. "Vige Chief, Lord John is truly powerful," several of the vigers eagerly chimed in, excitedly recounting John''s feats that day. Two arrows to kill the Fang Boars, a punch to kill a Blood Fiend Wolf, tearing a Blood Fiend Wolf apart with his bare hands, and single-handedly killing a Saber-Tooth Tiger... Everyone was stunned, feeling as if they were in a dream. John quietly slipped away. Most of what they said was true, but there were definitely some exaggerations. Though, even with their exaggeration, he could have done it-all of it-once. But that was in the past. "Big Brother, I''ve prepared hot water for you," Spoorate eagerly said as she offered John the bath water, even wanting to help him bathe. John was startled and quickly sent the little girl out, settling into the warm water, his face rxing infort. He hadn''t properly bathed in a long time. After his cultivation improved, if he got dirty, a simple water-washing spell was enough to clean him. "I wonder where Sini and the others are..." he thought with concern, deciding that once he obtained an identity, he would leave and search for Sini and the others. ... In the vige square, a bonfire was lit, and a group of people gathered around, cheering. Today''s hunt had been a great sess, so they had started a bonfire party. John didn''t want to participate, but since he was the guest of honor, and Spoorate insisted, he reluctantly agreed. The group danced around the fire, performing what seemed to be a traditional dance from their tribe. Unable to resist Spoorate''s persistence, John reluctantly joined in for a dance. Laughter and music filled the air, but in the dark corner of the vige, Cena watched the festivities with a grim expression, resentment beginning to fester in his heart. "Damn it, I''ve never been so humiliated. I will have my revenge!" he gritted his teeth. Though he wasn''t a match for John, he could seek help from others. Some viges were notorious for their brutality, burning, killing, and piging for tribute. If he could find those people, revenge would be his. "Just wait. All of you will die!" He took a deep breath, preparing his weapons and equipment, then quietly left the vige while no one was paying attention. The celebrationsted well into the night, and people slowly began to disperse. Cena''s disappearance wasn''t noticed until the next morning. "Cena is gone?" Jackey furrowed his brow as he listened to the vigers'' report. "Forget it. Let him go. He was supposed to be exiled anyway." He couldn''t be bothered to send anyone to search for him. ... In the following days, John didn''t stay idle. He went into the mountains and forests, hunting beasts to restore his strength. After Spoorate learned of John''s strength, she insisted on following him, and even Old Vige Chief Jackey couldn''t stop her. Having witnessed John''s power firsthand, Jackey no longer tried to stop her. He allowed the little girl to do as she pleased. In four days, John had hunted over a thousand beasts, and his four main attributes had all risen to several hundred thousand. His strength attribute had reached 170,000, while his mental attribute had also risen to 140,000. However, hisprehension of thews had not yet recovered, so he couldn''t use any skills. The boost from his mental attribute wasn''t of much help. At this point, John''s strength was barely enough to fight a first-tier magical beast. As long as he was cautious in the wilderness, he wouldn''t be in any danger. "Big Brother, do you really not need these crystal cores?" Spoorate, with a pile of crystal cores in her arms, trotted after John and asked once again. "I don''t need them." John dismissed them with a wave. Even powerful high-grade crystal cores only raised his attributes by 0.5 points. He could casually kill a beast and recover a thousand points in each of his four main attributes. John nced at the little girl and said, "Aren''t you trying to improve your strength? You can refine these crystal cores yourself, or give them to the old vige chief." "Well, I think I''ll give them to Grandpa instead." Spoorate hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to hand them over to the old vige chief. John thought the little girl was a bit naive and advised, "You could refine them yourself. If your strength improves, you can hunt more beasts and better protect the vige." "Mmm... I still want to give them to Grandpa." Spoorate blinked her eyes, clearly having her own ns. She already knew that John was going to leave, and she wanted to go with him. If she left the crystal cores with the old vige chief, it would ease some of the vige''s burdens. "Suit yourself. These crystal cores are yours, you can decide how to use them." John didn''t know what the little girl was nning, so he didn''t press the matter further. As the sun set, the two of them made their way back to the vige. The harvest from the past few days of hunting had been plentiful, and the vigers weren/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om enjoying better days. They celebrated with song and dance nearly every night. John didn''t participate, instead asking the old vige chief about the situation on the Continent of Chaos. Chapter 360: Chapter 360: The Traitor Cena, the Demon Wolf Thugs Chapter 360: Chapter 360: The Traitor Cena, the Demon Wolf Thugs ? "I know most of what I can tell you, but my strength is too weak, so I haven''t had ess to the higher-ups," Jackey said apologetically. "That''s enough. What you''ve told me is already very helpful," John replied gratefully. From the vige chief, John had learned that this continent was vast, with seven territories, each ruled by one of the Seven Great Kings. The exact strength of these kings was unknown to the old vige chief, but all of them were able to wield The Power of Laws. Even the soldiers of the seven royal cities and the guards of the towns were capable of wielding The Power of Laws. "First stop, Forest City!" John looked down at the crude map in his hands, one drawn from the old vige chief''s descriptions. Forest City was located in a dense, primeval jungle, and its lord, the King of the Forest, was brutal and vicious. His expertisey in absolute physical strength, and those who had fought him before had all been in in a single blow, without him even using The Power of Laws. The reason John chose this ce was simple: it was the closest to him. "John, are you sure you want to leave?" The old vige chief asked, his gaze heavy, wanting to convince him to stay. It wasn''t just for the sake of the vige, but also for his granddaughter. John nodded, speaking with conviction. "Vige chief, all good things muste to an end. Once I find the people I''m looking for, I''lle back to visit. The crystal cores I left behind, both you and Spoorate can use them. Refining them will help you both protect yourselves here." "Sigh... Alright. Tomorrow, I''ll arrange for you to head to the town and get your official identity," Jackey said with a heavy heart, before falling silent. Neither of them noticed, however, that Spoorate had been hiding by the window, listening to everything. ... The night was deep and quiet. The vige gradually fell silent, and the surroundings were pitch dark.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Howl! Suddenly, the quiet night was pierced by the haunting sound of wolves howling. Outside the forest, a cavalry force of more than thirty men appeared, mounted on fierce demon wolves. The leader, a man wielding a massive machete, had a hideous scar running diagonally across his face, almost splitting it in half. He looked vicious and brutal. He licked his lips, narrowed his eyes slightly, and looked toward the vige in the distance. "Cena, is this the ce?" One man crawled over quickly, his face full of ttery. It was Cena, who had run away from Apricot Vige. He nodded eagerly and said respectfully, "Yes, my lord. This is the ce. But there''s a problem... the human here is quite powerful. These ferocious demon wolves were no match for him. He even tore them apart with his bare hands..." Cena nced at the demon wolves under the leader''smand, their eyes gleaming with malice. He involuntarily stepped back, swallowing hard. The brutal scene of John ughtering the demon wolves still haunted his mind. "Hmph, what''s the big deal?" The scar-faced man sneered. "These weak demon wolves are nothing. I can deal with them just as easily." "Yes, yes, of course," Cena quickly agreed, eager to stay in the man''s good graces. He had seen the terrifying strength of the scar-faced man firsthand, and with over thirty of them here, theirbined strength was no less than that of the human John. "Lord, could you leave that human to me?" Cena thought of the humiliation he had suffered, and he longed to dismember John piece by piece. "Fine," the scarred man replied, his voice cold as he brandished his massive de. "But if you''re lying to me, and they don''t have this many crystal cores, I won''t let you off." Cena swallowed hard and quickly reassured him, "My lord, when I left, that guy killed over two hundred ferocious demon wolves. They''ve definitely been busy these past few days. The number I''m giving you is only going to be more, not less." Cena knew the old vige chief well. He wouldn''t casually refine the crystal cores; he''d have been saving them up for the uing months to offer as tribute. "Make sure you leave none behind!" The scarred man barked themand, and immediately he urged his ferocious demon wolves forward, charging straight toward the vige. Howl... The wolf howls echoed through the night. Many of the vigers were awakened by the noise, but they didn''t think much of it. Ferocious demon wolves were known to roam the forest at night, but they rarely left the woods, let alone attacked viges. However, this time the howling seemed to be getting closer. It sounded as if it wereing straight for their vige. Inside his straw hut, John sensed something was wrong. "Enemies!" he shouted, quickly throwing on his cloak and rushing out of the hut. Jackey, on the other side of the vige, was also disturbed by the noise. Whoosh! A fire arrow shot through the air and immediately set one of the straw huts aze. John saw clearly now that the attackers were a group of cavalrymen riding ferocious demon wolves. "Magical Wolf Thugs!" Jackey shouted in horror, his face paling as he immediately rang the rm bell. Puff! Blood sttered everywhere as one man was caught off guard and swiftly cleaved in two by a merciless strike. These thugs were like demons, storming the vige, burning, killing, and looting. Many were in in their sleep. The vigers, terrified, scattered in all directions. Screams and cries for mercy echoed through the night as they were no match for the attackers. The old vige chief took out a longsword and shook Spoorate awake. "John, please look after Spoorate. I''ll buy you some time, you need to run." John furrowed his brows and said calmly, "I can handle this." Several vigers had always treated him kindly, and he had decided to take action. "Vige chief, may I borrow your sword?" John asked, and before the old man could respond, the longsword was already in his hand. Buzz! A hum of sword intent rang out as the de glinted with cold light. One of the thugs, along with his mount, was sliced in half in a single strike. The old vige chief wielded an Adamantine Sword, which was enough for him to fight with full strength. He shed into the wolf pack, his de shing coldly as he ruthlessly ughtered. In just one sh, more than a dozen men were instantly in by his sword. "My lord, that''s John!" Cena pointed at John, his voice trembling, unable to stop himself from taking a step back. "Hmph, he has some skill. But that''s all!" The scarred man sneered, shouting angrily as he urged his ferocious demon wolves forward. His long knife howled through the air, aiming straight at John. Buzz! The cold gleam of the de shed, and John''s figure passed by him in a blur. Boom! A deafening crash sounded behind him, and the scarred man tumbled to the ground, along with his ferocious demon wolves, rolling in a pool of blood that stained the surrounding earth. The scarred man, along with his mount, had been cleaved in two with a single strike. The surrounding area fell intoplete silence. The thugs, along with the vigers, stared in disbelief at what had just happened. "Bastard Cena, you lied to us!" One of the thugs shouted in rage, charging directly at the stunned Cena. John''s strength was far beyond what Cena had imed. With one sword strike, he had killed the scarred man- at least the strength of a first-tier Awakener was needed for that. "Th-That''s impossible..." Cena stood frozen, hastily trying to exin. He had witnessed John struggling to fight the high-level ferocious beasts like Saber-toothed Tigers just days ago. How could his power have grown so terrifying in such a short amount of time? Ssh! Blood sprayed into the air, and before Cena could even speak, he was instantly cut down by the angry thug. "Run!" The remaining dozen or so thugs, already terrified by John''s overwhelming strength, scrambled to flee. "Hmph, do you think you can escape?" John coldly remarked, his form shing like Bonnie''s, quickly catching up to one of the ferocious demon wolves. The cold gleam of his sword flickered again, and another thug was cleaved in two. These thugs were nothing more than prey in front of him. Screams echoed as John ughtered the thirty or so thugs and their ferocious demon wolves, leaving none behind. The vigers watched in stunned silence. Those who had mocked him before were now shaking in fear, their bodies trembling. In this world, strength held absolute power. If John decided to kill them, even the most powerful would be powerless to stop it. But he didn''t even care about these people. After finishing off thest of the thugs, John returned to the vige and handed the longsword back to Jackey. "Vige Chief, these people likely have quite a few crystal cores on them. You should have someone clean up." By killing these thugs, John''s Plunder ability had activated, restoring quite a bit of his attributes. As for the spoils from these people, he wasn''t interested at all. Jackey instinctively took the longsword, swallowing hard in shock. "John... did you... have you already mastered The power ofws?" "No, I haven''t," John replied casually. "I''ve just recovered some basic attributes. Dealing with these thugs was nothing." Basic attributes? Jackey was even more stunned. The power John had just disyed was no weaker than that of a first-tier Awakener. How high must his basic attributes be? He looked at John deeply but didn''t ask any more questions. Instead, he instructed the dazed vigers to clean up the battlefield. The thug attack had resulted in significant casualties, and even two of the hunters had died. "Damn Cena, he actually colluded with the demon wolf thugs to harm us!" One of the vigers spat angrily on Cena''s corpse. "Thankfully, Lord John was here, or we''d all be dead," several others remarked, their eyes now filled with admiration and awe as they looked at John. The vigers finished cleaning up the battlefield, but sleep had long left their minds. They were all submerged in grief. But it wasn''t all without gain. From the bodies of the thugs, they found over five hundred crystal cores, most of which were mid-tier or low-tier. Adding to the haul from the beasts John had hunted in recent days, they would no longer have to worry about tribute supplies for the next few years. "Big brother, will you take me with you when you leave?" The little girl, Spoorate, once again clung to John, her eyes full of admiration as she pleaded. "No, it''s too dangerous." He refused decisively. Although he liked the little girl, the outside world was fraught with unknown dangers, far beyond the weak beasts they had encountered so far. His strength was only enough to barely protect himself, let alone ensure her safety. "Why not?" The little girl pouted, looking displeased. "Spoorate, stop being troublesome," Jackey approached and gave her a disapproving look. "Hmph!" Spoorate huffed and ran back to her room. The old vige chief sighed helplessly as he watched her retreating figure, then shifted the topic. "John, after this incident, no one is in the mood to sleep anymore. We''ve decided to head out to Peach Town now to deliver the tribute." "Alright," John nodded in agreement. Although it was still dim outside, with him around, they didn''t need to worry about beast attacks. Soon, the preparations wereplete. In addition to the 100 low-tier crystal cores they needed to hand over, there were also some materials from the beasts. These could be exchanged for weapons, armor, and other items. The world''s circting currencies were beast crystal cores, spirit beast cores, and magical beast cores. However, crystal cores had to be handed over as tribute; they couldn''t be used for trade, only for bartering. Under the cover of night, a caravan set off. Apart from John and the old vige chief, there were three hunters. The remaining vigers stayed behind to protect the vige. At the vige entrance, Spoorate, noticing the others'' distraction, quietly slipped out of the vige and followed them stealthily. Chapter 361: Chapter 361: Heading to Peach Town, Identity Exposed Chapter 361: Chapter 361: Heading to Peach Town, Identity Exposed ? Apricot Vige wasn''t far from Peach Town. By dawn, John and his group arrived. The journey wasn''t without its challenges-there were asional beast attacks, but John easily dealt with them. A sizable town appeared before them, with wide roads where a few pedestrians could be seen here and there. These were adventurers from Peach Town, many of whom had once resisted The Heaven and had been imprisoned because of their family connections to powerful rebels. However, the townspeople here were far stronger than the hunters in Apricot Vige. ording to the old vige chief, Jackey, they were all at the Body Refining Realm. The cultivation system in this world waspletely different from the one John came from. The stages were: Body Refining Realm, Spirit Body Realm, and Awakened Ones. The Body Refining Realm corresponded to beast-level power and was divided into three stages: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The Spirit Body Realm corresponded to spirit beast-level power, also split into beginner, intermediate, and advanced stages. Above these stages were the Awakened Ones, who were ssified from one to nine stars, corresponding to the strength of one to nine-star demon beasts. However, normal people could only reach the Body Refining Realm at best. To break into the Spirit Body Realm, one had toprehend thews. The power ofws in this world was sealed, and without special means, it was impossible to awaken. John had been trying to restore the power ofws but had not been sessful so far. "John," Jackey pulled him aside and whispered, "The guards in the town are quite strong. You mustn''t reveal your true strength, and definitely not your identity. It would be dangerous." "I know what to do," John nodded. He observed that most of the city''s guards were at the Spirit Body Realm. To ordinary people, they seemed quite formidable. But to him, they were no threat. His four core attributes had recovered to nearly 200,000 points, and his strength attribute had reached 230,000 points. Even without mastering thews, these guards posed no danger to him. Jackey nced at the three hunters apanying them and warned, "You all should know what you can and can''t say, right?" The three men nodded seriously and responded, "Don''t worry, vige chief. We won''t reveal anything about Lord John." Jackey nodded in satisfaction and led the way toward the town. "Halt!" Two guards stopped them at the city gate, the lead guard sizing them up before coldly speaking, "Where are you from, and what is your purpose in Peach Town?" "Honored sirs," Jackey stepped forward, subtly slipping two low-tier crystal cores into the lead guard''s hand as he spoke, "We''re from Apricot Vige, here to deliver this month''s tribute. We hope you''ll allow us entry." The guard nced at the two crystal cores in his hand, clearly pleased. It was customary for all outsiders to pay an entry fee to the town. He nodded, but his gaze fell on John, standing behind Jackey. His brows furrowed in suspicion. "This guy isn''t a legal resident, is he? He doesn''t have the mark." The guards in these towns had special methods to sense the marks on people. Those without the mark were either homeless or escaped criminals from The Heaven prison. "Yes, yes," Jackey quickly nodded in agreement and exined, "My lord, this is a refugee I saved. He wants to join Apricot Vige, so we came here to request the Lady''s blessing for the mark." "Is that so?" The guard rubbed his hands together, making his intentions quite clear. Jackey, feeling helpless, quickly took out four low-tier crystal cores from his pocket, offering them with a smile. "My lord, please show some mercy." "You''re sensible," the guard said with satisfaction, stepping aside to let them pass. "Thank you, my lords, thank you," Jackey breathed a sigh of relief and repeatedly expressed his gratitude, leading the group into the town. The town was bustling, with shops lining the streets and people moving about. However, John noticed fresh bloodstains on the ground, still not fully dried. Several servants in in clothes were cleaning the area. It seemed there had been a recent battle here. Noticing John''s curiosity, Jackey lowered his voice and said, "There are nows here to bind the strong. Those with power hold absolute rights over life and death, so conflicts aremon. As long as we''re careful, we''ll be fine." John nodded, understanding. Once they entered the town, the group split up. The three hunters went to sell fur and materials and exchange them for weapons and other essential survival supplies. John followed the old vige chief to the center of the town, where arge manor stood. This was the City Lord''s Manor. The soldiers guarding the manor gate stopped them for another round of questioning. Jackey handed over two low-tier crystal cores before they were allowed to enter. Inside the grand hall of the City Lord''s Manor, arge tiger-skin couch stretched out before them, with a portly middle-aged man slouched on it. He resembled a mountain, his eyes half-closed as hezily leaned back, still waking up. Beside him, six young girls, scantily dressed, knelt on the floor. They were massaging his shoulders and back, trembling with fear and careful not to make a sound as they served him. These girls looked in poor condition, their spirits drained and their faces gaunt from abuse. Jackey immediately tugged at John''s sleeve, signaling him to lower his head. "City Lord, this is Jackey from Apricot Vige. We''vee to deliver this month''s tribute," Jackey said, bowing respectfully, then handed over a package. A soldier stepped forward to ept the package and checked its contents before nodding at the obese man. The fat man opened his mouth, and one of the girls quickly ced a blood-red, unknown fruit into his hands. Crunch. The blood-red juice sshed out, staining his luxurious robe. "p!" A sharp, crisp p rang through the room. "Dammit, can''t you see? You''ve ruined my new robe! Do you think you can afford to pay for this?" The fat man stood up angrily and kicked the girl, sending her crashing to the ground. "My lord, I''m sorry! I... I''ll clean it for you. Please, don''t kill me..." The girl was terrified, scrambling to crawl and kneel at his feet, pleading. The other girls immediately dropped to their knees, lowering their heads deeply, frozen in fear and silent as if their lives depended on their obedience. "Get out!" The fat man sneered with contempt, his voice cold. "Take her away, feed her to the lions!" "No, no, my lord, please..." The girl screamed and struggled, but two soldiers dragged her away like a mere animal. John''s brow furrowed as he was about to act, but Jackey gripped his arm tightly, preventing him from moving. Jackey shook his head, his eyes pleading. John was powerful, but he was no match for the obese city lord. If he acted rashly, not only would he jeopardize himself, but it could also bring disaster to their entire vige. John furrowed his brow, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down. At that moment, the fat man noticed John. He remainedzily slouched on the couch, then casually spoke, "Jackey, right? It seems this young man isn''t from your vige." "Yes, yes, my lord," Jackey hurriedly replied. "He''s a refugee whom I saved. He is grateful for my help and wishes to join Apricot Vige, seeking the Lady''s blessing." "Oh?" The fat man furrowed his brow, sitting up straight. His eyes began sizing up John with curiosity. For some reason, looking at the young man in front of him, he felt ufortable. He spoke in a tone of indifference, "Jackey, I rather like this one. Leave him with me as a ve." "My lord..." Jackey was shocked. He knew full well the fat city lord''s methods-ves under him either ended up dead or horribly mutted. He opened his mouth to protest but was interrupted by John. "My lord, if I were to be your ve, would I gain legal status?" John asked, his tone calm. "Of course," the fat lord smiled coldly, the corners of his lips curling into a cruel grin. "As long as you behave, no one in this town would dare touch you." "Is that so? I ept," John replied with a smile, but a cold, murderous intent flickered in his eyes. "Ha! Good. You, take him to receive the Lady''s blessing," the fat man said with a much lighter tone, now in a much better mood. He looked at one of the soldiers nearby and gave the command. The soldier nodded and led John and Jackey away. "John, you''re too impulsive," Jackey said, his face filled with worry. He nced at the soldier in front of them, clearly hesitant to speak. He knew all too well what the obese city lord was capable of. Bing his ve meant not only losing freedom but also enduring all kinds of abuse. "Vige Chief, I know what I''m doing." John had already realized that the mark given after receiving the Goddess''s blessing would indicate which vige he belonged to. If things got out of handter, it could drag Apricot Vige into trouble. It was better to gainn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om the mark of this town instead. The fat city lord was strong, but he was no match for John. Worst-case scenario, he could kill the man and escape. "You stay here," the soldier said as the three of them reached a bell tower. The soldier blocked Jackey''s path. "My lord," Jackey took out a few mid-tier crystal cores from his pouch and pleaded, "Could you make an exception? Please don''t let John be the city lord''s ve." "What do you think?" The soldier''s eyes lit up. He snatched the crystal cores from Jackey''s hand and roughly shoved him aside. This man had no shame-epting bribes while refusing to help. Ignoring Jackey, the soldier led John into the bell tower. The bell tower was solemn and imposing, and John could faintly sense the fluctuating energy of The Law of Light emanating from within. John was intrigued; it seemed someone here could cultivate The Law of Light. The soldier stopped in front of a door, knocked, and respectfully said, "Lady Goddess, the city lord has captured a refugee and wishes for you to bless him." The soldier''s attitude was respectful, and it seemed the Goddess held a higher status than the city lord. "Come in," a soft feminine voice responded from inside after a brief pause. The soldier stepped back, ring at John. "Boy, go in. Do as the Goddess says." John ignored the soldier and simply pushed open the door. Inside, the room was neat and simple. A woman in a white gown, holding a staff, sat high on a throne-like chair. John couldn''t help but be curious about her. She appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six, with an outstanding appearance. She radiated a noble elegance and an air of superiority, as though she considered herself above others. "What a handsome man!" the Goddess thought to herself, somewhat surprised. She raised her delicate brows slightly, but quickly dismissed her thoughts. It was a pity-bing the city lord''s ve, he probably wouldn''t live long. Sheposed herself, regaining her aloof demeanor. "ce your hand on the crystal ball on the table. I will bless you." John, intrigued by the crystal ball on the table, could clearly feel the power of The Law of Light emanating from it. It seemed that the power of The Law of Light in the bell tower was radiating from this very crystal ball. He did as instructed, cing his hand on the crystal ball. Buzz! Instantly, the light around them surged. "Huh?" The Goddess''s eyes widened in shock as she stood up abruptly. "Y-You... you''re a convict from The Heaven!" Chapter 362: Chapter 362: Capturing the Goddess, Spoorate is Captured Chapter 362: Chapter 362: Capturing the Goddess, Spoorate is Captured ? John furrowed his brows, not expecting that his identity would be exposed. What shocked him even more was the crystal ball in front of him. The moment his palm touched it, he sensed something unusual-this object was actually absorbing the power of the Laws sealed within him. He quickly withdrew his hand, and the light faded. "Someone!" the woman shouted angrily, running towards the door. John''s figure moved in an instant, blocking her path and grabbing her by the neck, mming her against the wall. The woman was both shocked and enraged. In a panic, she raised her staff, but before she could cast a spell, the staff was already in John''s hand. "Lady Goddess, what''s going on?" a soldier''s voice came from the doorway. John frowned deeply, covering the woman''s mouth with his hand, and spread her legs, pressing her tightly against the wall to prevent her from struggling. The woman''s eyes widened as she red at him with hatred. "Stay still!" he hissed, the cold tip of her staff pressing against her forehead. He spoke icily, "If you don''t want to die, do as I say." The woman swallowed, slightly nodding. John removed his hand from her mouth and coldly ordered, "Tell them there''s nothing wrong. Tell him to leave." The woman nced at the sharp tip on her forehead, gritted her teeth, and coldly responded, "There''s nothing wrong. I''m bestowing a blessing. Leave, don''t disturb me." "Yes, ma''am," the soldier replied, his footsteps fading away. John sighed in relief. While he wasn''t afraid of these people, he didn''t want to escte things into an open conflict just yet. "Can you let me go now?" The woman red at him, clearly embarrassed by the position she was in. Especially since John was nearly pressed against her. As a goddess, she was high and mighty, and had never been so close to a man before. "Heh, don''t be in such a hurry," John sneered, lifting her chin. He asked, "Since you know my identity, can a criminal from Heaven get your blessing?" He needed to find Sini and the others, and he required a legitimate identity to freely move between cities and act without attracting attention. The woman nodded slightly and replied, "If you let me go, I can grant you a blessing." "Hmph, I doubt you''ll pull any tricks," John took a step back and released the woman. "Staff," she said angrily, extending her delicate hand. Her voice was cold, "Without the staff, I cannot bestow a blessing." John said nothing, spinning the staff in his hand before handing it back to her. She took the staff and stepped back two paces, her expression cold. With a hint of fury, she said, "You dare disrespect the Goddess and still wish to receive my blessing? You might as well be my ve!" She muttered an incantation, and a pure, holy light descended, directly enveloping and restraining John. Soul power! John was puzzled. He not only felt the power of light, but also sensed a powerful soul force. This woman was trying to establish a soul contract, to enve him. He looked at her with contempt. His soul power and mental attributes might be sealed, but that didn''t mean they were nonexistent. For such a weak force to try and control him was nothing short of delusional. He spoke coolly, "I am a person of the City Lord''s domain. Aren''t you afraid of offending him?" "Hmph, the City Lord cannot control a Goddess!" The woman sneered arrogantly. As a representative of The Heaven, the Goddess was far beyond the reach of any city lord. "Is that so?" John regarded her with a bemused expression, his smile one of faint mockery. The woman furrowed her brows, sensing something was wrong. Her soul power had entered John''s mind, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea-there was no response. She couldn''t establish any connection with him, let alone enve his soul. John lost interest and impatiently said, "You''d better bestow the blessing, or I won''t hesitate to kill you!" With ease, he broke free from the light''s restraints and slowly walked toward her. "What?" The woman was stunned, stepping back in fear. "You... you don''t have a soul?" Whoosh! John stepped forward, grabbing her throat again. With a slight pressure, he lifted her off the ground, his expression icy. "Bestow the blessing, and don''t try any tricks. I could kill you as easily as crushing an ant." The woman''s face flushed a deep red, and she struggled slightly, nodding in agreement. Only then did John toss her aside. "Cough, cough!" The woman copsed to the ground, coughing violently as she looked at John, her expression filled with terror. She felt as though she were nothing more than a ything in his hands. Such a terrifying powerhouse should have been locked away in the most secure prisons of the royal cities, never to escape. She couldn''t understand how John had appeared here. Not daring to resist, she obediently followed his instructions, raising her staff again, but this time, she dared not y any tricks and dutifully bestowed the blessing. Whoosh! A radiant light surrounded him, and a warm current spread through John''s body, leaving behind a unique mental imprint. Now he understood why the guards in the city could sense his identity. He could also clearly perceive the imprints on others now. "Very well." John was pleased with the woman''s performance. His gaze shifted to the crystal ball on the table, which was now glowing. It contained the Power of the Laws that he possessed. His tone wasmanding: "Now, tell me what this thing does." The woman tightened her grip on the staff and coldly red at him, weighing the pros and cons before she spoke. "This is a crystal ball with no specific attribute. It can absorb the Power of the Laws. It''s generally used to deal with The Heaven criminals, to devour the Power of the Laws they possess. It can easily be used by others." Devour the Power of the Laws? John''s expression grew serious. He hadn''t expected such a strange artifact to exist in this world. The Power of the Nine Nether that Sini wielded, and the Star Dust power that Tracy controlled, were both extremely rare. It seemed the two women were in a dangerous situation. He had to find them as soon as possible. "Very good." John nodded, stepping forward and grabbing the woman''s neck again. His voice was cold as he said, "But it''s a pity that you know my identity. You still have to die." "No..." The woman was terrified. She felt a sense of suffocation as John''s grip tightened. Desperately, she clutched his wrist, pleading, "Don''t-don''t kill me. I-I swear I won''t reveal your identity..." "Hmph, trusting you is no better than trusting a dead man." John had nopassion for her. Besides, the goddesses in this world were The Heaven''sckeys. They must have often abused their power to bully ordinary people. "I-I''m serious! I can swear it, no-I can help you..." The woman''s face flushed red with panic, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Oh?" John''s interest was piqued. He rxed his grip slightly. The goddess might know a lot about this world. Perhaps she could actually be useful to him. Seeing a glimmer of hope, the woman quickly continued, "If you don''t trust me, I can voluntarily be your servant and sign a soul contract." "So you''re afraid of dying, are you?" John sneered and directly threw her to the ground. Cough, cough... The woman coughed violently, humiliation welling up inside her. But in front of John, she had no choice but to submit. At least for now, she wouldn''t die. Even if she had to live in humiliation, losing her freedom. "Now, sign the contract," John said coldly. His soul power was sealed and couldn''t be used. He could only have her voluntarily sign the soul contract. The woman''s expression turned desperate as she slightly closed her eyes and willingly signed the soul contract. Hum! A wave of soul power entered John''s mind. The woman''s eyes widened in shock. "You-you possess such powerful soul energy?" The contract had been formed, and she clearly felt the vastness of John''s soul. It was as vast as an ocean. No wonder her previous attempt to establish a soul contract had been futile. It was lucky forn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om her that John''s soul was sealed, or else she would have been consumed by the bacsh and killed long ago. "Master." She lowered her head in humiliation and bowed deeply. John was quite pleased. He lifted her chin gently and said, "Don''t be so despondent. As long as you obey, I won''t make things difficult for you." The woman didn''t speak, merely closing her eyes in despair. She knew well what kind of man he was, and she had already resigned herself to her fate. "What''s your name?" John asked, curious. "Debbie," the woman replied. John nodded in acknowledgment. "My lord, step aside, I demand to see you!" A voice called out from the doorway. It was Anason. John nced at Debbie in confusion. She understood at once, adjusting her clothing before returning to her usual regalposure. She spoke coolly, "Let him in." The door opened, and a soldier entered, escorting Anason. "My Lady, this man tried to force his way in, but I''ve already restrained him," the soldier said, eager for praise. Debbie merely nced at him before replying coldly, "This has nothing to do with you. Leave." "Yes, my Lady." The soldier, not daring to defy her, shot a cold look at Anason before turning and leaving. John spoke, his voice firm. "Anason, what''s going on?" Anason quickly looked at Debbie, then hurriedly exined, "My lord, it''s bad news. Spoorate has been captured by the City Lord." "What? She was supposed to be in the vige, wasn''t she?" John asked, confused. Anason shook his head. "I''m not sure, but it seems she must have followed secretly. The old vige chief was frantic and tried to go to the City Lord''s Manor to rescue her. Now, he''s been captured as well." Anason was anxious, having no choice but to turn to John for help. The fat City Lord? John''s expression hardened. Now that he had received the goddess''s blessing, and had already subdued Debbie, the City Lord had lost his usefulness. He spoke decisively. "Anason, take the crystal ball on the table and head to the City Lord''s Manor." "What?" Anason was startled and nced at Debbie. She didn''t react, merely following John. Anason hesitated for a moment before picking up the crystal ball from the table and hurrying to catch up with John. The group made their way straight to the City Lord''s Manor. "My Lady!" The guards saw Debbie beside John and dared not stop them. John coldly asked, "Where is your City Lord?" The guard furrowed his brows, clearly displeased. Just as he was about to speak harshly, Debbie''s cold voice cut through. "Answer!" "Of course, my Lady. He''s in the back garden. I''ll take you there." The guard, after a nce at John, respectfully led the way. Roar! A few angry roars echoed from the garden. In the center of arge arena, a massive fiery-red lion was attacking an elderly man. It was the old vige chief, Jackey. Chapter 364: Chapter 364: Slaughtering the City Guards and Killing the City Lord Chapter 364: Chapter 364: ughtering the City Guards and Killing the City Lord ? Most of the city guards were at the Spirit Body Realm, posing no threat to John whatsoever. The most important thing was that killing these guards would activate his Plunder talent, allowing him to restore his strength. The sheer number of guards in the town made it a perfect ce for him to grow stronger. The sound of sword intent rang through the air, the cold gleam of the de shing. No one could withstand his attacks. Blood sttered, and the sound of screams echoed as more and more guards fell beneath his sword. "Damn it, I will see just how strong you are!" The obese city lord watched as the city guards perished in droves, his expression cold and indifferent. To him, these guards were nothing but ants. As long as his position as the Lord of Peach Town remained intact, he could always cultivate more soldiers in the future. One soldier after another fell to John''s sword. The town continued to send more guards to the battlefield, with even some of Peach Town''s adventurers joining the fray. They fought in order to gain favor with the obese city lord. "Grandpa, do you think Big Brother will be in danger?" Spoorate looked at the old vige chief, Jackey, her expression full of worry. She was still locked in a cage. Several people had tried to open it, but the iron bars were too solid to break, leaving them with no way to free her. "He should be fine," Jackey said, swallowing nervously. He had thought he understood John''s abilities, but now it seemed he knew nothing about his true power. Though Jackey was also worried about John''s safety, he nced over at the divine woman Debbie standing nearby and kept his thoughts to himself. The divine woman''s strength was not to be underestimated, and she had already acknowledged John as her master. If he were in danger, she would surely act. The battle raged on, and the garden was now littered with corpses. The obese city lord no longer appeared as calm as before. His brows furrowed as he muttered to himself, "Is it just my imagination? Why is this human growing stronger?" He was shocked. After such a prolonged battle, more than a thousand city guards had died, yet John showed no signs of exhaustion. On the contrary, he seemed to grow more formidable with each passing moment. It was as if his strength was endless. "This can''t go on!" The city lord''s face darkened. There were fewer and fewer city guards left in the town. If they were all defeated, he would be in danger. His eyes shifted,nding on Spoorate in the cage. It seemed that this little girl was the human''s weak point. A cruel smile spread across his face as he raised his long knife with one hand. His obese body leapt into the air, charging toward Spoorate. "You dare!" A furious shout echoed, and Debbie acted decisively. A pir of light mmed down. Boom! The obese city lord barely managed to dodge, hisrge body rolling on the ground in a clumsy escape. "Divine Woman, are you sure you want to oppose me?" He looked at her with wariness in his eyes, his tone carrying a faint undertone of threat. Had he been at his peak, he wouldn''t have feared Debbie in the slightest. But now, with one of his arms severely injured, his strength had been significantly reduced, and he knew he wouldn''t be able to defeat her in a short time. Debbie didn''t respond. She simply took a step forward, positioning herself in front of the cage. Her intentions were clear. "Fine!" The obese city lord, tired of wasting words, shouted angrily and struck without hesitation. He had to kill Debbie and control the girl before John finished off all the city guards. Whoosh! A violent wind howled as his attack became increasingly reckless, each strike aimed directly at Debbie''s vital points. Although his arm was injured, he still attacked with overwhelming force.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om On the sidelines, Jackey and Anason watched with anxious hearts, nervous about the ongoing battle. They were too weak to offer any help. Fortunately, Debbie was a master of Holy Light magic, and a radiant aura enveloped her. Her white dress seemed to glow, enhancing her holy presence. With each wave of her staff, beams of light magic shot out, barely managing to fend off the obese city lord''s attacks. "Die!" The obese city lord snarled, his expression twisted in fury. He had noticed that no city guards wereing to his aid, and he had to finish the battle quickly. He charged forward,pletely unphased by the iing light magic. Boom! Boom! The light spheres exploded around him, tearing into his flesh. His skin was ripped open, but the wounds were not life-threatening. In a sh, he was in front of Debbie, his long knife slicing through the air with terrifying speed. Bang! The force of the strike sent Debbie''s staff flying out of her hands, and she was sent staggering backward by the tremendous impact. "Hmph, daring to oppose me-such a shame for your beauty," the city lord sneered, taking a step forward as he raised his long knife for another deadly strike. It was over! Debbie''s heart sank into despair, and she closed her eyes. She had underestimated the city lord''s strength. ng! Suddenly, a longsword shot through the air, knocking the long knife away. The cold de scraped past Debbie''s neck, and several strands of her hair fell to the ground. It was John-he had killed all the city guards. Debbie''s eyes snapped open, her breath quickening with relief. Her chest rose and fell slightly. As she looked at John, who was walking toward them, his bare upper body covered in blood, looking like a god of ughter. As he approached, something stirred deep within Debbie''s heart. "Damn it!" The obese city lord cursed angrily. He hade so close he was just about to kill Debbie and take control of the little girl. As he watched John slowly walking toward him, a trace of fear began to rise in his heart. This young man was too strange. Despite not havingprehended anyws, and being at most at the peak of the Body Refining Realm, he had ughtered thousands of city guards in the Spirit Body Realm. This was simply impossible. Crack... crack... John slowly moved his body, his bones cracking as they shifted. In this battle, he had killed over seven thousand enemies. His attributes had recovered by 10%, and the immense power flowing within him made him feel invigorated and at ease. He looked at the obese city lord and spoke in a calm tone: "Fatty, your opponent is me." "You''re looking for death!" The city lord growled coldly. The thing he hated most was when people mocked his body. "You don''t have a weapon now. Let''s see what you''ll fight with!" With that, he kicked the longsword away, sending it flying across the ground. Then, with a furious shout, he swung his cleaver at John with all his might. A violent wind howled as the de came down with enormous force. John stood calmly in ce, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He didn''t dodge or retreat. Instead, he clenched his fist and punched straight at the de. Boom! With a deafening crash, the obese city lord''s massive body was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground and rolling several times beforeing to a stop. Meanwhile, John stoodpletely unharmed, though there was a small bloodstain on his fist. It was almost impossible for an ordinary person to withstand such a strike with their bare flesh, let alone defeat a weapon with nothing but their body. "No... no way!" The obese city lord trembled in disbelief as he struggled to rise from the ground. His eyes locked onto John, his voice shaking. "Y-You''re a The Heaven criminal!" It suddenly clicked in his mind. He couldn''t sense any fluctuations from thews around John, but the sheer strength and monstrous defense he had disyed could only mean one thing. John was a The Heaven criminal. The city lord swallowed hard, ncing over at Debbie, and sneered coldly: "As a divine woman, how dare you collude with a The Heaven criminal? Aren''t you afraid of Lord Forest King''s punishment?" Debbie furrowed her brow but didn''t respond to him. "It''s over!" John shouted in anger. His body flickered, and in an instant, he appeared right in front of the obese city lord. His fist came down with a single, powerful strike-no flourishes, just raw force. Boom! The obese city lord felt as though he had been struck by a falling meteor. His body flew backward like a deting balloon, blood surging in his veins as the terrifying impact shattered his internal organs. "You!" The obese city lord rolled over and spat out a mouthful of blood, unable to rise. He struggled to lift his head, pointing a trembling finger at John. "Lord Forest King will never forgive you..." Crack! John didn''t waste any more words. With a flicker of movement, he stepped forward and crushed the city lord''s throat under his foot. The obese city lord''s eyes bulged, his death was grotesque and miserable. Jackey and the others, witnessing the scene, couldn''t help but feel their scalps go numb. Even Debbie, who had seen many things, turned her gaze away with a sense of nausea. However, Spoorate was brimming with excitement, her eyes shining with admiration. "Big brother, you''re amazing!" John merely smiled, then walked over to the iron cage. With a slight exertion of force, he tore the bars open and released her. "Ah, finally free!" The little girl eximed joyfully, not forgetting to kick the cage in frustration before turning back to John. "John, what are your ns for the future?" Jackey nced at Debbie, then asked. This incident had been too big-it had nearly wiped out half of Peach Town. There was no way John''s identity could remain a secret for long. John wasn''t afraid, but he was worried that Jackey and the others might be dragged into it. He looked at Debbie and asked, "Will the higher-ups know about what happened here?" "They will," she nodded, exining, "Just like the viges below, the town needs to send a thousand low-tier crystal cores-or equivalent items-every month to the higher-ups." She nced at Jackey and the others, understanding John''s concerns, then continued, "But you don''t need to worry about the safety of others. The higher-ups don''t care about the life or death of a town lord. As long as a new lord is appointed, this matter will be covered up." "Oh?" John raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Can you appoint a new lord?" "I can," Debbie nodded. She understood what John meant and raised her staff, pointing it toward Jackey. The Law of Light surged, and a powerful beam of light descended upon him. Jackey was blessed and immediately became the new lord of Peach Town. It took him a moment to realize what had happened. He hurriedly spoke, "Lord John, Divine Woman, my strength is too weak tomand respect." Although Peach Town was small, it was filled with experts. Jackey had been injured many years ago, and his strength was only at thete stage of the Body Refining Realm. He could never intimidate the powerful figures in Peach Town. "Don''t worry, I''m here," John reassured him. He waved toward Anason and said, "Give me the crystal ball." Anason quickly handed over the crystal ball he had been carrying. John held the crystal ball in his hands. Although his Power of Laws wasn''t fully restored, he could still control it to some extent. He guided a thread of Life Law into the crystal ball, followed by a powerful infusion of Earth Elemental Law. The crystal ball absorbed the Power of Laws, its transformation irreversible. However, since John hadprehended all four basic elementalws, the Earth Elemental Law and the Life Law were inexhaustible for him, and there would be no loss at all. As for the consumption of Life Law, it wasn''t significant for him. He handed the crystal ball to Jackey and instructed, "Vige Chief, this contains both Life Law and Earth Elemental Law. The Life Law will heal your injuries and restore you to your prime. The Earth Elemental Law will help you cultivate. If you can fully refine it, reaching the sixth tier of Awakened One is well within your grasp." Chapter 366: Chapter 366: The Gnoll Strategist and the Two Women’s Fate Chapter 366: Chapter 366: The Gnoll Strategist and the Two Women¡¯s Fate ? Boom, boom... The ground rumbled, and John was feeling the pressure. His strength had not fully recovered yet. Though his physical attributes were powerful, without the Power of Laws, the enemy''s ranged attacks still posed significant trouble for him. "This is really troublesome," he muttered as he fended off the attacks of a dozen or so Gnolls. His gaze swept rapidly across the battlefield. "Capture the leader first," he thought, spotting the Gnollmander standing in a rtively safe position. However, at the moment, he couldn''t do anything about it. "First, take care of the ranged Gnolls!" he decided in his mind. His longsword whistled through the air as he repelled the Gnolls in front of him. Then, his figure blurred into an afterimage as he swiftly dashed toward the Gnolls positioned for ranged attacks. "Quick, stop him!" the Gnollmander shouted, realizing toote. But it was already toote. John had already plunged into the ranks of the Gnolls, moving like a fish in water. His longsword cut through the air, causing chaos and ughtering his enemies in a frenzy. In no time, the Gnoll formation was in disarray, and cries of pain filled the air. The Gnolls tried to counterattack a few times, but it was futile. Their efforts only resulted in more casualties. In just a few minutes, hundreds of Gnolls had fallen. "Damn it. Why is this human so strong?" the Gnoll leader cursed. While he didn''t care much about the casualties of his subordinates, the sudden loss of so many men would certainly draw the ire of the Strategist. "Those two women!" His gaze turned cold as it fixed on Debbie and Spoorate. He immediately issued amand: "Forget the human, capture those two women first." "You dare!" John shouted angrily, quickly dispatching more Gnolls in his path as he rushed toward the two women. Debbie was only a one-star Awakened One. Though her Holy Light magic was powerful, it was no match for the numerous one- and two-star Gnolls attacking her. She couldn''t hold them off for long. As for Spoorate, her strength was negligible, and she could barely defend herself. The surrounding Gnolls immediately abandoned John and rushed toward the two women. Debbie felt the pressure intensify. Her staff swung through the air, casting Holy Light magic spheres. She sent them flying, blocking the Gnolls'' attacks while trying to protect Spoorate as they retreated. Her skill attacks had too little damage, barely managing to slow the advance of the Gnolls but not dealing any real damage. With the Gnoll army pressing in relentlessly, the situation grew increasingly dire. Fortunately, at that critical moment, John charged in. Voom! The sword''s intent hummed, and a cold gleam shed. With a single strike, four Gnolls were killed instantly. Not a single Gnoll under his sword was merely wounded. Each blow was a fatal strike. Debbie''s pressure was greatly relieved. However, at that moment, the Gnolls quickly reorganized. The melee units moved to the front to hold John back, while the ranged unitsunched a barrage of attacks. Countless magic spells and arrows whistled through the air, and this time, both Debbie and Spoorate were caught in the barrage as well. "Master, there are too many Gnolls, we should retreat," Debbie urged anxiously. She and Spoorate couldn''t be of much help. They could only hide behind John, watching as he bore the brunt of the enemy''s attacks to protect them. John, however, had no intention of retreating. To keep them safe, he had no choice but to face the oing attacks head-on. "It''s fine. They can''t threaten me," he said, frowning, as he disregarded the attacks and once again increased the speed of his ughter, pushing forward toward the enemy''s main force, cutting through the Gnolls with relentless efficiency. Blood sprayed in all directions, and screams filled the air as one Gnoll after another fell to his sword. [You have killed a one-star Gnoll. Plunder ability activated. Restoring 0.0001% of base attributes.] ... The prompt shed, and John''s power began to recover. His four primary attributes rapidly increased, and he grew stronger with every kill. The Gnolls around him could no longer stop his advance. Debbie and Spoorate stayed close behind him. Debbie continued casting Holy Light spells, trying to lessen the pressure on John. Spoorate wanted to help, but her strength was too weak, and she couldn''t deal any damage to the Gnolls. "Who exactly is this guy?" The Gnollmander watched John draw closer, his brow furrowing. If this continued, they would likely be wiped out. He clenched his teeth, turned to one of the nearby Gnolls, and ordered, "Go tell the strategist. We''re in trouble. Have him bring reinforcements immediately." "Yes!" The Gnoll responded, quickly disappearing into the forest. Meanwhile, the Gnollmander drew his longsword and entered the fray. He was a three-star Awakened One, even stronger than the overweight city lord, and with the aid of the Gnoll army, he was able to bring John some serious pressure. "Hmph, if that''s the case, I''ll kill you first!" John''s eyes locked onto the powerful Gnollmander. His longsword flipped in his hand, and he abandoned the nearby Gnolls to focus all his attention on themander. ng! The swords collided, and the Gnollmander was sent flying, crashing to the ground. What kind of human is this? How is his strength so terrifying? The Gnollmander was stunned, his heart racing in shock. Gritting his teeth, he got back up and engaged John again, but this time, he dared not sh directly. Instead, he tried to stall for time, hoping for reinforcements. "Master, it looks like they''re going to call for reinforcements," Debbie noticed the Gnollmander''s intentions and reminded him. "It''s fine," John replied indifferently. He was actually d for more enemies; it would help him increase his strength. Boom! Boom! The rumbling continued, and the Gnolls grew more and more rmed. At first, their arrows and magic attacks were still able to inflict some damage on John. But now, the damage was almost negligible. This human was continuously growing stronger! Some Gnolls were starting to have second thoughts and considered retreating, but the commander hadn''t given the order. They dared not flee-if the strategist found out, their punishment would be worse than death. With no other option, they could only grit their teeth and continue their attacks. Boom! With a resounding crash, John sent the Gnollmander flying once more. Just then, the jungle erupted in noise, and battle cries echoed in the air. Tens of thousands of Gnolls surged forward. "Haha! Human, it''s over for you. Our reinforcements have arrived!" The Gnollmander scrambled to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth andughing wildly. "Hm?" John frowned, slowing his attacks just a moment toote and almost getting struck by a Gnoll. "Damn it! Everyone, stop!" a voice bellowed. The Gnolls immediately halted their attacks, all turning to look at the source of themand. An elderly man appeared before them-a human, dressed in a gray robe, with white hair and a beard. His expression was imposing, and on his forehead, there was a brand. A The Heaven prisoner! John had learned from Debbie that this was a mark used to identify The Heaven prisoners, a measure to prevent them from escaping or blending in with ordinary people. "Master Strategist!" The Gnollmander quickly ran over to greet him, bowing respectfully. "You''ve finally arrived. This human is incredibly strong. He''s killed thousands of our brothers." "Damn it!" The elderly man kicked the Gnollmander to the ground, angrily scolding, "Didn''t I tell you? When encountering a strong opponent, try to recruit them first?" The Gnollmander was stunned and quickly exined, "B-but, Master, he''s with the Goddess. Clearly, he''s not on our side." The elderly man, seething with anger, kicked him again. Meanwhile, John had already sheathed his longsword, watching the elderly man with a faint, mocking smile. "Long time no see, Master Strategist of the Gnolls!" "Godyer, don''t mock me," the elderly man said with exasperation, ring at the Gnollmander. He coldly ordered, "Go, take your men and stay out of this. It''s none of your business now." "Master Strategist, you... you know each other?" The Gnollmander froze for a moment, then quickly realized what was happening. He hastily led his men to retreat to a distance. "Godyer, long time no see!" The elderly man opened his arms, and the two embraced warmly. The elderly man was none other than Ben! John spoke first, "Senior, I didn''t expect your wish to be realized here." Before the final battle at Shadow Star, Ben had once said that if the war ended in victory, hen/o/vel/b//in dot c//om wanted to be a strategist, someone who worked behind the scenes, directing the battlefield. "This is nothing. Just a small skirmish," Ben chuckled bitterly, then changed the subject. "Godyer, how did you escape?" "I was never imprisoned in The Heaven prison. How did you get out?" John noticed the mark on Ben''s forehead-clearly, he had been locked up and had suffered quite a lot. Ben didn''t rush to answer. He looked over at the two women beside John, then asked curiously, "Who are these two?" His gaze lingered on Debbie, and he seemed to sense something unique about her. He could feel a distinct aura emanating from her-something only a Goddess would have. The Goddess'' power came from The Heaven, making her one of The Heaven''s most loyal followers. John understood his concern and reassured him, "Don''t worry, they''re on our side." Though he was puzzled about how John had managed to subdue the Goddess, he didn''t ask further. Instead, he exined, "I was imprisoned in the Xuandu City prison. Luckily, a powerful member of the Angel Race helped me escape." "Angel Race?" John asked, his confusion apparent. Was there really an Angel Race in this world? Ben nodded and continued, "They are also fighting against The Heaven. The locals here pay special attention to the Angel Race that controls the Law of Light. Though he''s a prisoner, he holds certain privileges. Originally, Tony and I were supposed to escape, but in the end, there was a slip-up, and he and Tony were captured." He nced over at the distant Gnolls, then added, "After I escaped, I was saved by these Gnolls. By chance, I became their strategist. Now, I''m working with the vigers in nearby towns to prepare an attack on Xuandu City to rescue Tony and the others." "Tony''s in Xuandu City too?" John said in surprise, impressed by how quickly Ben had found two familiar faces. Ben nodded, "Not only that, but I''ve also gathered information about Sini and Tracy." He already knew the real names of the two women. "Oh?" John''s eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly, "What about them?" Ben replied, "Tracy is imprisoned in the high-level city, Golden Tiger City, but she''s under the protection of an Angel Race member named Lincoln, so she''s not in danger. As for Sini, I''m not sure. It seems her The power ofws hasn''t disappeared. Recently, a mysterious woman with control over the Power of the Nine Nether appeared outside Golden Tiger City, but when I sent Gnolls to search, she disappeared again." The Power of the Nine Nether was mysterious and unique, and only Sini had mastered it. "Sini''s Power of the Nine Nether hasn''t disappeared?" John frowned, deep in thought. The Power of the Nine Nether seemed particrly special. However, from what he understood, this was likely a good thing. Sini was already a Lord God- level powerhouse. If her The power ofws hadn''t been affected, her strength would beparable to a seven-star or eight-star Awakened One. As long as she was careful, there wouldn''t be any danger in this world. The Novel will be updated first on this website. 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