Chapter 691: When Man Has A Virtuous Thought, Heaven Will Grant Him Support
Nestled at the base of the Savadeen Mountains was the city of Eirwen. This prosperous city was under the direct jurisdiction of the Misty Sect.
The Misty Sect had been around for close to three thousand years, and its roots ran deep in the Central Continent. It had several branches across the land, and even across the other continents.
Eleanor and the Elder, Lady Miriam, were the people assigned to handle the Misty Sect Branch in the Southern Continent. They had discovered Rebecca's talents early on, and decided to bring her under their wing to be raised as one of the pillars of their sect.
Their plan would have been perfect if not for the thorn that had the name "William" written on it.
Now that the honor and dignity of their sect was about to be challenged, these two elders weren't able to sleep well at night, due to the anxiety and fear in their hearts.
The citizens of Eirwen didn't share their worries and were in a festive mood. Every establishment, and house, had hung snowflake lanterns, which was an old tradition when the founding day of the Misty Sect drew near.
Although the celebration was still a week away, several flying carriages, and other special flying artifacts could be seen soaring towards the Savadeen Mountains, where the Sect was located.
They were the delegations from the different powerful factions on the Central Continent, and emissaries from the other continents who had also received an invitation.
Within the bustling streets of the city, a chubby young man with above average features, who seemed to be in his late teens walked proudly. He was wearing very expensive clothes, and anyone that saw him would definitely label him as a member of the nobility, or a wealthy merchant.
By his side, a scholarly young man who was also in his late teens, walked steadily. The young man admired the surroundings around him with a calm gaze. Unlike his chubby friend, who wore expensive clothes, the scholar's clothes were rather plain. However, they were very clean, and gave the scholar a refined presence.
As the two passed through the marketplace, a little girl carrying a basket of snow apples approached the chubby young man.
"Sir, would you like to buy some apples?" the little girl asked with a smile. "They are freshly picked and very delicious."
"Oink, how much for a piece?" the chubby man asked.
"Three apples for one silver coin," the little girl replied with eyes filled with expectations. She had been trying to sell the apples for the past three hours, but she hadn't found any buyers.
"These apples do look fresh and delicious," the scholarly man said with a smile. "Okay, we will buy six apples. Here you go."
The little girl was about to happily receive the coin when a hand grabbed her arm and pulled it back.
"I-It hurts!" the little girl cried out in pain and dropped the basket she was holding.
The apples rolled on the streets, and everyone glared at the burly man who was holding the girl's arm in a vice grip. He was over two-meters tall and was surrounded by a dozen men who were wearing red robes.
"Little girl, who gave you the right to sell apples on our turf?" the burly man asked with a sinister smile. He then strengthened his grip on the girl's arm, making her cry out loud in pain. "Do you think that just because you are a child, the Red Devils will turn a blind eye
Advertisement
to your ignorance?!"
The vendors on the marketplace gnashed their teeth in anger. All of them wanted to help the little girl, but they were afraid that the Red Devils would come and mess up their business. The Red Devil was the biggest and most notorious gang in the city, and the locals were afraid to face their wrath.
"Wuwuwuwu! Mama!" The little girl's tears fell like a flood as she called out to her mother.
This was the first time that she had visited the main street to sell the apples that she, and her mother, had picked in their backyard.
Usually, she would just sell the apples near their home, but due to the influx of visitors that had arrived at their city, she decided to go to the main street in order to quickly sell everything, and return home to have lunch with her mother.
The passersby steered clear from the scene and looked at the crying girl with pity. Most of them were foreigners, so they didn't want to offend the local tyrants of Eirwen City.
The name of the burly man is Butch, and he was one of the captains of the Red Devils. He had managed to get his position by underhanded means, and was someone who liked to torture people.
He didn't care about their age, or gender. As long as he could hear their screams, he was more than happy to sate his sick hobby.
"Since you didn't pay us protection money then we have no choice but to collect it from you," Butch said in a teasing tone. "The protection fee for our services is a thousand gold a month. Pay up, and we will allow you to sell your apples anywhere in the city."
Butch's subordinates laughed because they had seen this scene many times in the past. All of them were already used to it, and of them cared if their captain's latest target was a little girl who was only under the age of ten.
"Wuwuwuwu! Mama! Help me!" the little girl's cry became louder. There was nothing that she could do but cry and call for her mother to rescue her.
"Awww, you poor child." Butch chuckled. "Go on. Call your mommy. Maybe she can pay us by spreading her legs."
Butch's subordinates laughed in agreement. The little girl was somewhat pretty, so they believed that her mother was pretty as well. All of them were lowlives. For them, a mature woman was way better than a little brat who was still wet behind the ears.
The burly man increased the strength of his grip further and a soft crack was heard, followed by the young girl's soul stirring scream. Butch and his subordinates had smiles on their faces as they teased the crying girl who'se tears, and snot, had already stained her adorable face.
The chubby young man clicked his tongue and walked towards them. He and his friends had just arrived at the city and they already saw this disgusting scene. It made his blood boil, so he decided to make his move.
"Oi, if you don't want to lose that arm, it will be best if you release the girl. Oink," the chubby young man said. "How dare you get in the way of my lunch? Did this Sir give you permission?"
Butch and his men stared at the chubby teenager before laughing out loud. This was also not the first time when they saw a "Knight in Shining Armor" trying to save the damsel in distress. Most of these knights were already buried six feet under, and Butch had tortured them until they breathed their last breath.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here." Butch grinned. He appraised the chubby teen's clothes and knew that he came from a rich family. "Are you talking to me, Pig?"
As one of the captains of the Red Devils, Butch's strength was of the Adamantium Rank. He could fight head to head with a Centennial Beast, and crush them with his superior strength. Because of this, even the Leader of the Red Devils favored him, and gave him the task of collecting the protection fees in the most profitable place in the city.
The chubby young man sighed and shook his head. "I do not wish for Dominion, but I cannot let the innocent suffer. Since you crossed my path, I can't turn a blind eye to your ignorance."
Butch's smile widened as a sinister glint passed through his eyes. "So you want to play the hero? I'd like to see how you can save this brat from my han— gaah!"
The captain of the Red Devil wasn't able to finish his words because he felt something hard hit the side of his face, sending him flying towards a nearby fruit stall.
The little girl cried out loud as she lost her balance. She was about to fall on the ground when a strong pair of hands held her in place.
The scholarly man chanted as he cast a healing spell on the girl's arm, who was already starting to turn into a darker shade of blue.
"Make sure to collect medical fees for this child's broken arm," the scholar stated as he focused on healing the girl. "Additional compensation is also needed for emotional trauma."
"Oink, got it," the chubby teenager said as he picked one of the apples that had fallen on the ground. He then took a bite without caring that it had already been dirtied. The crisp and delectable reverberated in the air, as the chubby teenager ate with gusto.
Butch roared in anger as he charged towards the chubby young man with bloodshot eyes. He had already summoned a bastard sword in his hands, and was hell-bent to cleave the "Pig" in two.
The scholar gently carried the little girl in his arms and walked towards a safe location. He was not concerned about his friend, because he knew that the burly man wasn't his friend's match.
"When man has a virtuous thought, Heaven will grant him support," the chubby young man stated as he held the handle of his rake firmly in his hand. "Fool who doesn't know your place, I Zhu will slap your face!"
Chapter 692: Well Then, Are You Guys Ready To Rumble?
"Die!" Butch roared as he swung his sword with all of his strength.
He was one of the Big Shots of the Underworld in the Savadeen Mountains, and this was the first time he had been embarrassed this badly.
Zhu didn't even glance in Butch's direction, and merely thrust the rake behind him. A resounding clanging sound was heard as the two weapons clashed against each other.
Everyone was expecting the chubby teenager to be cut in half, but the scene in front of them made their eyes widen in surprise.
Butch's bastard sword found itself trapped within the gap of the nine-tooth rake, unable to advance forward.
Zhu clicked his tongue as he twisted the handle of his rake, snapping the bastard sword in two. He then thrust the rake backwards once again, sending Butch flying a few meters behind him. The Captain of the Red Devils once again landed on the same stall he had crashed into earlier.
The merchant who owned the store was nearly in tears because all his wares were destroyed. Although he appreciated Zhu saving the little girl, he was still heartbroken due to the loss of his profits.
A powerful shockwave erupted from the stall as Butch released his battle aura. Blood flowed out of his nose, as his face contorted in anger. This was the second time that he had been sent flying by his opponent and his anger had reached its peak.
"I'll kill you!" Butch shouted as he once again lunged at Zhu while holding two short swords in his hands.
Zhu sneered as he gave Butch a side-long glance. "Can you?"
Suddenly, Zhu's body grew until he reached a height of five-meters. He then punched forward, and his meaty, right hand, smashed the incoming Butch into the ground, creating a small crater.
The members of the Red Devils' felt their legs turning soft when they saw their captain lying unconscious on the ground, with blood seeping out of all of his orifices.
Zhu towered over the unconscious man and raised his right foot. He then stepped on Butch's right arm, turning it into meat paste.
The sudden pain made Butch regain his consciousness. A blood curdling scream followed suit as the pain of his injuries crashed down on him like a giant wave, making him cry out in pain. A few of his ribs had been broken earlier, making his breathing painful and difficult.
Zhu gazed down on him with a smile as he poked the burly man's body with the end of his rake.
"Awww, you poor child." Zhu chuckled. "Does it hurt? Don't worry, this is only the beginning."
"S-Stop!" Butch pleaded. "F-Forgive me! Have mercy!"
Zhu nodded. "Okay, but you have to pay. One million gold coins will do."
"I-I don't have that much. I only have over two thousand gold coins on me."
"Okay, give it to me."
Butch moved his still intact left hand and summoned a leather pouch from his storage ring. Although he was hurting all over, the fear of dying made him regret his earlier decision of bullying the little girl.
He thought that it would be just like one of those times when he had succeeded in torturing others and spreading fear to the merchants, to prevent them from resisting his control over the marketplace.
Zhu had already returned to his original size and grabbed the leather pouch filled with gold coins. "I have received over two thousand gold coins. Now, give me the rest. You still owe me over nine hundred thousand gold coins."
Butch coughed a mouthful of blood due to anger and shame. Now he understood what his victims felt like after he had tortured them to death.
"What's going on here?!"
A loud shout spread across the marketplace, as more than thirty men, wearing blue uniforms, stormed the scene.
Cassidy, one of the captains of the City Guards, appeared after receiving a report of a battle that was currently
Advertisement
happening in the marketplace. The Mayor had given them explicit orders to stop any potential problem that might arise during this crucial time.
The representatives of the powerful factions in the continent were currently congregating in their domain and he didn't want them to have a bad impression of his territory.
Naturally, he was also afraid that he would be kicked out of his position by the Elders of the Misty Sect if he didn't do his job right. Because of this, he had mobilized several guards to patrol the city in regular intervals.
Cassidy glanced at Butch who was lying in a pool of blood. A frown appeared on his face because he was one of the captains that was bribed by the Red Devils to turn a blind eye to their criminal activities.
However, with so many witnesses, he knew that he had to play his cards right in order to take control of the conflict.
"As the Captain of the City Guards, I order that all of you must come with me to the station for questioning," Cassidy replied. "Do not resist, and you will not be hurt. Men seize them!"
The men encircled Zhu and his scholar friend, but they completely ignored Butch and the members of the Red Devil. Clearly, they were in cahoots with the criminal organization, just like their captain.
Zhu chuckled when he saw this scene and glanced at his friend, who was currently standing beside the little girl.
"Sha, back me up," Zhu said with a smile. "It's time to sweep away the trash, Oink."
"Okay." Sha sighed as he shook his head. "To think that we would get into trouble as soon as we entered the city. I guess you still carry your bad luck with you."
Although Sha's tone carried a trace of resignation, the contempt and disappointment in his eyes towards the City Guards was very evident.
"Get behind me," Sha said as he patted the little girl's head. "This might get a bit messy."
The little girl nodded her head and obediently hid behind Sha. For her, the chubby teenager and the scholar were good people because they saved her. Her body had already been cured, and she was no longer feeling any pain in her body.
However, she was still sad because the apples that she and her mother had worked hard to pick, had been trampled by the bad guys.
"Hmm? The two of you plan to resist?" Cassidy sneered. "You think you can do whatever you want in Eirwen City?!"
The City Guards had all unsheathed their weapons and aimed them at Sha and Zhu. It was also at that time, when several men wearing red robes appeared in the marketplace.
"Captain Cassidy, it seems that there are some troublemakers roaming around the city today," a middle-aged man with a scar on his face greeted with a smile.
Cassidy was shocked because he recognized the middle-aged man. He was other than Devin, the leader of the Red Devils.
He had stepped into the Saint Rank two years ago, and had been the King of the Underworld in Eirwen City. The Mayor as well as the City Guards were also on his payroll, which allowed them to grow and become the biggest gang in the Savadeen Mountains.
"Sir Devin, everything is under control," Cassidy replied. "We are now in the process of arresting these criminals. They will be taken to the station and interrogated for the crimes that they have committed."
"Is that so?" Devin asked back and eyed Sha and Zhu with great interest. He glanced at Butch who was seriously injured on the ground before shifting his attention back to the chubby teenager who was looking at him with indifference.
"Captain Cassidy, these people injured my men," Devin stated. "Since that is the case, can you leave them to me?"
Cassidy frowned. There were many eye witnesses, and it would be difficult if the Misty Sect got wind of this incident. The only way to handle this matter was to resolve it as fast as possible.
The Captain of the City Guards scanned the surroundings and found that more men wearing red robes had arrived at the marketplace. According to his estimate, there were now over three hundred members of the Red Devils, and it would be very difficult to say no to Devin's request.
"Very well, but make sure that it doesn't go out of hand." Cassidy compromised. "You already know that now is a very difficult time for us and if the Misty Sect becomes displeased, it will be bad for your people as well."
Devin nodded his head in understanding. He also knew that if they wanted to wrap this incident up properly, their reaction must be swift and not leave any traces behind.
The leader of the Red Devils raised his hand, ordering his men to capture Zhu and Sha.
The CIty Guards backed away hurriedly because they didn't want to be involved in the Red Devils' revenge against those who dared to challenge their authority.
Zhu was about to transform into a five-meter tall giant when a carefree voice broke the tense atmosphere.
"I just left the two of you to buy a drink and you're already creating trouble?" a lazy voice said. Perfect! I love trouble. Why didn't you call for me?"
"Senior brother." Zhu chuckled as he waved at the person that was walking towards them holding a jug of wine. "Don't worry, you came at the right time. We were just about to start."
Sha smiled and nodded his head. Now that their Senior Brother has arrived, he could just focus on protecting the little girl that was hiding behind his back.
The new arrival drank the jug of wine as he walked over in a carefree manner. He had short brown hair, and his light-brown eyes were filled with mischief.
The brown-haired young man looked like someone in his early twenties. He walked unsteadily, but each step was like a flowing river that flowed freely across the land, unhindered by the affairs of the mortal realm.
After giving a loud burp, the newcomer threw the jug to the side, hitting Butch, and knocking him unconscious.
The corner of Devin's and Cassidy's lips twitched when they saw the burly man's pitiful state, but didn't say anything. For some reason, the newcomer made them feel a sense of dread that they couldn't explain.
It was as if they were being stared at by a wild animal who could go berserk at any moment.
"Well then, are you guys ready to rumble?" the brown-haired young man said as he pulled something out of his right ear.
Everyone looked in disbelief when they saw the golden, metallic, staff that had come out from the brown-haired man's ear.
Devin's expression became serious because his sixth sense was screaming at him.. It was telling him that this was someone that he couldn't afford to offend no matter what.
Chapter 693: I Still Want To Live Dammit!
"Who are you?" Cassidy asked. "You'd better not make trouble here in the city or we will not be lenient with your punishment!"
The brown-haired young man chuckled when he heard Cassidy's words. He had heard this question for millennia's, and his answer to this question had always been the same.
"Who am I?" the brown haired young man smirked as his eyes started to turn golden. "Great men need no introductions, but since you want to know that badly, I will allow you to know my exalted name. Remember it well, because it might be the last thing you remember in this world."
The brown haired man slammed the golden staff on the ground, creating a metallic ringing sound that reverberated in the entire city of Eirwen. He then raised his head arrogantly as he pointed his thumb at his face.
"I am…," the brown haired man said before turning his head to look at Sha. "Sha, introduce me to them. I'm too lazy."
The corner of Sha's lips twitched, but he still decided to play along. After all, it was this "Senior Brother" who had smuggled them into the World of Hestia to look for William. Introducing him to people was the least that he could do.
"He is other than the Handsome Monkey King!" Sha shouted.
Zhu decided to play along and also raised his voice. "A Great Warrior who will fight for good, truth, peace, and honesty!"
"Hero alone is he who vies with powers supreme!"
"The world revolves in the palm of his hands!"
"Good and Evil can't stand in his way, for he is the force that defies it everyday!"
"Look at his manliness, that makes all the maidens blush. Don't you know that he is everyone's crush?"
"Lo and behold, mortals of the realm. His presence alone, don't you feel overwhelmed?"
"He is other than the Great Sage that equals Heaven!"
"The warrior that fought against Heaven's might!"
"He is other than, the epitome of greatness, Sun Wukong!"
Sun Wukong may have the thickest skin in the multiverse, but Zhu's and Sha's praises were enough to make even the invincible monkey king feel that they were praising the wrong person.
"Aww shucks guys, you're making me blush," Sun Wukong said as he scratched his cheeks in embarrassment. "But, the two of you forgot to say that I'm the most awesome being in creation. The Legendary Legend that defies the balance of the world. The most powerful, supreme expert that…"
Zhu and Sha were doing their best to prevent their expression from spasming. They had already praised Sun Wukong to the high heavens, but it seemed that their method had only spurred on the Monkey King's narcissistic tendencies.
We already praised you, okay?
You still want to be praised?
Don't you know the meaning of moderation?
Bruh…
"I just realized that the words of this world are not enough to describe how amazing I really am," Sun Wukong rubbed his chin. "Welp, I guess I'll deal with all of you first before I write down all of my awesome qualities."
Without another word, Sun Wukong somersaulted in the air and transformed into his Monkey King Form.
"Enough talk, let's fight!" Sun Wukong roared. "Sweep away all adversaries!
"Ruyi Jingu Bang!"
A powerful explosion erupted in the middle of the city making the land tremble. However, the surprising thing was that no damage could be seen anywhere.
What happened next was truly outstanding because several people wearing red and blue robes were tossed in the air, similar to how fried rice was tossed in a wok.
Sun Wukong understood that he couldn't hurt innocent people in the mortal world, so he used the power of righteousness to separate the bad guys from the good.
"Let's go nuts!" Sun Wukong roared as he swung the golden staff in his hands like a baseball bat. "Reject Humanity! Return to Monke!"
Ruyi Jingu Bang grew until it was over hundreds meters long, and several meters wide. All that
Advertisement
got hit cried out in pain, and flew towards the Savadeen Mountains.
The Sect Master and the Elders of the Misty Sect immediately felt the strong fluctuations in their surroundings and were immediately alarmed.
They felt the overbearing presence descend on them like a mountain. All of them saw the giant golden staff that could potentially erase the entire city of Eirwen, and it made them shudder.
"Demigod!" Thea, the Sect Master of the Misty Sect, gasped in shock after witnessing the incredible scene in front of her.
The Guardian of the Misty Sect opened its eyes and looked at the Monkey King hovering in the air.
Sun Wukong glanced in the Guardian's direction and winked. The Monkey King even made a gesture to the Guardian to come down and join the fun, but the latter pretended that it didn't see it and closed its eyes to sleep.
"You don't want to join?" Sun Wukong asked the Guardian using telepathy. "Let's go play a hundred rounds! Relax, I'll give you a handicap. I'll only use one hand and my staff!"
The Guardian shuddered and pretended that it was deep asleep. No matter how much Sun Wukong coaxed it, the Sacred Beast refused to budge.
It doesn't matter if you give me a handicap or not. That staff alone is enough to kill me!
I still want to live dammit!
Seeing that the Guardian didn't want to play, Sun Wukong scratched his head helplessly. As he was thinking about what to do next, several Elders of the Misty Sect flew towards him.
"Your Excellency, I am the leader of the Misty Sect, Thea," Thea said respectfully. "A few days from now, we are going to celebrate the founding of our Sect. I respectfully invite you, Your Excellency, to join us in this joyous event."
Sun Wukong started to pick his nose with indifference.
"Well, I have some free time, so I guess I can honor your Sect with my exalted presence."
"We will be most grateful to host you, Your Excellency!"
"But, I am feeling rather irritated right now," Sun Wukong stated. "You see, my boys and I came here to sightsee, but we were harassed by those Red Devil guys and members of the City Guards. You know, when I get grumpy, I have the habit of demolishing mountains…"
The expression of Thea and the Elder's of the MIsty Sect became pale. The dissatisfaction in Sun Wukong's tone clearly hid a threat that meant "If you don't fix this, I'll smash your mountain."
This was something that they couldn't allow to happen no matter what!
"Rest assured, Your Excellency," Thea said, as she tried to hide the anxiousness in her heart, "We will immediately punish those who dared to make things difficult for you."
"Eleanor, Miriam, send the Executors to round up all the members of the Red Devils!" Thea ordered. "Also, bring in the Mayor and the Commander of the City Guards for questioning! I will not allow an evil organization, including corrupt officials, to stay in my Domain!"
""Yes, Sect Master!""
All the Elders moved at once. They had long turned a blind eye on the actions of the Red Devils, and the corruption of the city's officials, because they also received benefits on their end. If not for the fact that a Demigod was threatening to demolish their home turf, they would have continued to let the matters slide.
However, they couldn't do that anymore.
On that same day, every member of the Red Devil was caught and apprehended by the Executors of the Misty Sect. The City's Mayor, as well as the other corrupt officials, were kicked out of their positions and imprisoned inside the Sect.
A thorough Purge had been enacted and even the small-time gangs, and criminals, were apprehended.
The Misty Sect had used all the manpower in their disposal to show the Monkey King their sincerity to correct their wrongs.
Sun Wukong didn't make things difficult for Thea and promised the Sect Master that they would visit the Misty Sect on their Founding Day.
They were there to meet with William, so getting free accommodations was something they would not reject.
The Envoys from the different factions, who had witnessed the amazing scene, sent people to investigate Sun Wukong's origins. Most of them already knew the identity of all the Demigods in the World of Hestia.
They had never heard of a character like Sun Wukong, and they wanted to know which faction he belonged to.
As these undercover investigations were being done, the Monkey King drank wine as he laid on top of the roof of the inn that they were staying in. A chuckle escaped his lips as he thought about what William's reaction would be when he saw them at the Misty Sect.
"I just hope that the Jade Emperor won't lose his head when he finds out that I smuggled Zhu and Sha from the temple." Sun Wukong scratched his head. "I guess I'd better lie low when I return."
Ever since Zhu and Sha had been granted amnesty, they had been thinking of ways that they could repay William for their freedom. However, no matter how much they thought, the only way for them to repay the Half-Elf was to go to his world.
Because of this, they went to find Sun Wukong and asked him to smuggle them to the World of Hestia. To their surprise the Monkey King readily agreed and their great smuggling plan began.
High above the Temple of the Ten Thousand Gods, the Jade Emperor massaged his temple.
"Bastards, the lot of you," the Jade Emperor cursed under his breath. He was planning to send Zhu and Sha into one of the golden portals that connected to a higher world.
The plan was already made so the two faithful subordinates would be able to live wonderful lives in order to compensate them for the hardships that they had experienced these past thousand years.
However, all of that planning had now gone to waste because the ungrateful fools had decided to go to William's world and return the favor that the Half-Elf had given them.
In the end, the Jade Emperor could only sigh and allow things to take its course. He understood that some things were Fated to happen, so he decided to toss Zhu's and Sha's matter to the back of his mind for the time being.
The Primordial Goddess only chuckled at this unexpected outcome, but she didn't mind it too much.
Just as the Jade Emperor understood that some things were Fated to happen, the Primordial Goddess knew of this as well.. It would take a strong will to fight against Fate, and only a select few could break away from this Law that governed the Multiverse.
Chapter 694: I Can't Fall In Love With That Guy
Three days before the Founding Day of the Misty Sect…
More and more delegations arrived at the Savadeen Mountains. Due to Sun Wukong's earlier escapade, the Misty Sect had reinforced the security of their sect, as well as the City of Eirwen.
No one dared to cause any more trouble after the Red Devils and the corrupt officials were all dealt with.
Several Flying carriages pulled by Giant Eagles flew past the city and headed towards the mountaintop. Each of these carriages carried the banner of the Kraetor Empire.
After a few weeks of travel, Emperor Leonidas, Prince Maximilian, Princess Sidonie, Kenneth, Lilith, Pearl, and other high-ranking nobles had finally arrived at the main branch of the Misty Sect.
As soon as their carriages landed, several inner disciples of the sect respectfully greeted them, and brought them to their temporary residences. The Misty Sect had prepared for this event for a very long time, and all the influential people were given the VIP treatment.
Emperor Leonidas and Prince Maximilian went to see the Sect Master to personally give their greetings. Princess Sidonie, on the other hand, led their entourage to their respective quarters, in order to rest. Although their journey was uneventful, traveling for long distances was still exhausting.
Kenneth and Pearl shared a room, while Lilith went towards the quarters prepared for the Amazons. Empress Andraste had arrived a day earlier, and was waiting for Lilith to tell her about her experiences with William.
"The boy has a big appetite. Not only is Princess Sidonie his fiance, he also married the Sin of Gluttony?" Empress Andraste asked with great interest.
Lilith nodded. "Yes, Mother. Also, from what I can tell, he is also close to the Sin of Sloth."
Empress Andraste chuckled as she eyed Lilith with a smile. "So, are you interested in him, daughter?"
Lilith frowned. After the incident with Princess Sidonie, her impression of William had greatly changed. Also, during the conference, she had seen "William's" unrestrained attitude. This change in personality confused her, so she couldn't come up with an immediate answer.
"What's wrong? Is he not what you were expecting him to be?" Empress Andrasted pressed on for answers. "Is he not qualified?"
"… He is qualified," Lilith answered after arranging her thoughts. She didn't want to admit that a chill ran down her spine when Wililam had snuck up behind her, and asked for the collar that she had stolen from the Lusty Princess.
For a brief moment, she felt like submitting to his will, and this scared her a lot. Lilith was an unrestrained individual, and didn't want to be tied up, but, in that brief moment, she felt like several invisible shackles had locked her in place, leaving her no room to escape his clutches.
"Do you like him?" Empress Andraste arched an eyebrow because she could tell that her daughter was acting differently from her usual self. She still hadn't met William, but a glance was enough to tell her that he was no ordinary young man.
No ordinary man could make her daughter act with uncertainty, and this made her interest towards the Half-Elf rise to a higher level.
Lilith firmly shook her head. "Mother, giving birth to strong warriors is the duty of the Amazons. Whether we love our partners or not, we will always look at the bigger picture."
Empress Andraste stood up and walked towards Lilith to give her a hug.
"Silly girl," Empress Andraste teased. "Who said that you can't give birth to the child of the one you love? Although we do pride ourselves for choosing a strong partner, there is no law that prohibits us from falling in love."
"Mother,
Advertisement
I can't fall in love with that guy. He's so…"
"So?"
"Dumb looking and stupid."
Empress Andraste's shoulders started to shake as she stifled her laughter. "He really made an impression on you. You wouldn't call him dumb looking and stupid otherwise. Well, you don't need to do anything. I look forward to meeting this teenage boy who has recently become the talk of the entire continent."
—–
Inside Sun Wukong's residence inside the MIsty Sect…
"This girl has a lot of potential. I rarely see such a talented girl in my wanderings of the world. It will be a shame if she doesn't get proper guidance from your sect," Sun Wukong said as he patted the head of the little girl who sold apples to Zhu and Sha a few days ago. "Don't you agree?"
Thea forced herself to smile as she nodded her head. She had already subtly checked the body of the little girl a while ago to see if she had any special talent inside her body. Unfortunately, the apple seller was only a normal human, and her body was not suitable for cultivating magic.
"Your Excellency, I don't think she has what it takes to study in our Main Sect," Thea replied respectfully. "However, I can send her to a good learning institution to study. There are plenty of academies in the Central Continent, and I'm sure that she would fit into one of them perfectly."
Sun Wukong chuckled before staring eyeing Thea with contempt.
"Are you saying that my vision is lacking?" Sun Wukong inquired. "Do you think I am blind? Are you implying that I am not capable of seeing how amazing this child is?"
"N-No. That is not what I meant, Your Excellency," Thea stuttered. "I mean, this child is indeed worthy to study at our sect. I will be more than happy to take her in."
Sun Wukong ignored Thea's reply and took out a peach out of thin air. The little girl's name was Amy. A few days ago, she had found herself at the mercy of the Red Devils, but now, she had become the tour guide of Sun Wukong, Zhu, and Sha.
They had given ten percent of the total savings of the Red Devils to her family, so they were not lacking any money. The three decided to take her to the Misty Sect so she could be nurtured properly, and never suffer again.
However, just as Thea surmised, Amy was just an ordinary girl. She didn't have any talents in regards to magic, but this was just a minor matter for the Great Sage that Equaled Heaven.
"Eat this peach," Sun Wukong coaxed the little girl, who was looking at the peach with curiosity. "Although apples are good, I guarantee that this peach will taste better."
"Thank you, Uncle Wukong," Amy replied as she happily took the peach and bit it.
Sun Wukong nodded and patted her head. "Good girl."
What he had given Amy was one of the peaches that grew on the Orchard of Longevity back in the Celestial Palace. Those who consumed the fruit would have their bodies strengthened and allow the power of Heaven and Earth to be attracted to their body.
As Amy ate the peach, Wukong once again shifted his attention to Thea who was doing her best to retain her dignity as a Sect Master.
"I want her to have the best education, so make sure to make her one of your inner disciples," Sun Wukong said in a carefree manner. "I will visit her from time to time to check her progress. If I see her getting neglected… hehehe."
Wukong made a slicing gesture on his neck while looking at Thea.
As the Sect Master, she already knew that she couldn't afford to antagonize such a strong being. Even their Guardian refused to fight Sun Wukong, which proved that the latter was stronger than the protector of their Sect.
"We will do our best, Your Excellency," Thea bowed respectfully. "However, learning magic depends on the talent of the individual. Even if we give her all the best resources, if her ability falls short there is nothing that we can do."
There had been no precedence for a normal human to cultivate the secret arts of the Misty Sect. only those that were able to wield Ice Magic could benefit from it. Thea didn't want to antagonize Sun Wukong, but she didn't really have any way to create a miracle.
No matter how much you beat a dead horse, it will no longer move no matter how hard you try!
Sun Wukong snorted and waved his hands to dismiss Thea's words.
"Just do as I say," Sun Wukong ordered. "I am not asking for our opinion. The only thing that I want to hear from you is Yes and Yes. So, are you going to train Amy or not?"
"Yes," Thea answered in resignation. "We will train her to the best of our abilities."
Sun Wukong nodded. "That's more like it."
The Elders of the Misty Sect that had accompanied Thea to welcome Sun Wukong and his entourage had complicated expressions on their faces. Even so, at the face of absolute strength, they had no choice but to hold back their complaints in their hearts.
—–
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the City of Eirwen…
"Oh my goodness! We finally arrived."
"Kekeke. I'm hungry, can we find something to eat first?"
"Okay, the promised date is still a few days away so we can still do some sightseeing," the young man wearing a bamboo hat said with a smile. "Let's enjoy the local delicacies first. Maybe we won't have time to eat anything during the feast."
A little devil landed on William's right shoulder as he eyed the mountain whose peaks were covered by dense clouds. A devilish grin was plastered on his face. Clearly, he was looking forward to the things that he would see at the peak of the Misty Sect.
A little angel landed on Wiliam's left shoulder. He placed his hands behind his back as he, too, looked at the towering mountain in the distance.
The angel's eyes glowed faintly before returning to their normal color. Soon, an angelic smile appeared on his face as a plan formed in his mind.
The young man wearing a bamboo hat wasn't conscious of what his two companions were thinking.. The only thing on his mind was to enter the city and wait for the promised date to arrive.
Chapter 695: I Came Here To Help You Beat William
Rebecca came out from the Glazed Domain and was told to take a rest inside her room for the time being.
She had been inside the Domain for nearly two years, in preparation for the battle against William. For her, this battle was just tying up the loose ends of her past.
The genius of the Hellan Kingdom stared at the blizzard that was raging outside her window. This was a very common occurrence in the Savadeen Mountains and she was already used to it.
Rebecca sighed as she sat cross legged on the carpeted floor. She was planning to meditate to clear her mind from mundane thoughts, and circulate the magic power inside her body. Just as she was about to fall into that meditative state, she heard a light cough that came from her window.
Rebecca's eyes fluttered open as she gazed at the direction where the sound came from. There she saw a little person that was only as tall as an adult's hand, and looking back at her with an angelic smile on his face.
He had short blonde hair, light-green eyes, and a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar to her.
"Who are you?" Rebecca asked. She narrowed her eyes and and several icicles floated around her body, pointing at the visitor that had come to her room uninvited.
"My name is Elliot, and I am William's Familiar," Elliot replied. He didn't seem bothered in the slightest about the icicles that were pointing in his direction.
Rebecca's brows furrowed when she heard Elliot's reply. Now that she had taken a good look at her visitor, she noticed that he did look like the Half-Elf that she was to fight a few days from now.
"Did he send you a message to pass to me?" Rebecca inquired.
This was not the first time that she had seen a familiar. A few of the Elders in the Misty Sect also had familiars, but she had never seen a familiar like Elliot.
"No." Elliot shook his head. "I came here on my own volition. This has nothing to do with William."
A frown appeared on Rebecca's face, but she still decided to ask what Elliot's purpose was for coming.
"Why did you come to find me?"
"I came here to help you beat William."
Rebecca's eyes widened in surprise, but this only lasted for a brief moment. She suddenly became vigilant and thought that this was a scheme made by William, in order to deal with her before their promised battle.
"You have trust issues," Elliot chuckled, "but, this is also a good trait. This is the first time we have met, so being vigilant is the right course of action. Now where was I? Ah yes. I came here to help you beat William."
"I don't need your help."
"Oh, but you do. Even if you are a 7th Circle Magician, your chances of beating him are zero percent."
Rebecca's eyes glowed with power and the number of icicles increased exponentially. With just a thought, all of these icicles would fly and skewer the annoying familiar and make him shut his pretentious mouth.
Elliot was unfazed by Rebecca's
Advertisement
open hostility. Instead, he raised his hand and a white glowing crystal appeared.
"This is the heart of a Crystal Phoenix," Elliot stated. "Tomorrow, you will be taken to meet the Guardian of this Sect, and you will form a temporary contract with it. However, your body is not strong enough to accommodate its power. This is why it will refuse to become your temporary Beast Companion.
"However, if you absorb this Heart Crystal, your body will become its perfect vessel, and you will be able to successfully form a contract with it."
Rebecca stared at the floating crystal in a daze. She could feel very strong magical powers inside of it. A power that was strong enough to make her jump to the 8th Circle, as long as she was able to obtain it.
"I don't believe that you came here to help me," Rebecca forcefully tore her gaze from the crystal and shifted her attention to Elliot. "A familiar betraying its master? I'm not born yesterday. What is your real purpose for coming to me?"
Elliot nodded his head. "You're right. I didn't come here to 'help you' out of the goodness of my heart. There's no free lunch in this world. This Heart Crystal is very precious, so naturally I won't be giving it for free. Would you like to have a bet with me?"
"A bet?"
"Yes."
The angel familiar pushed his hand forward and the crystal floated towards Rebecca, stopping a meter away from her face.
"If you win against William then this Heart Crystal will belong to you," Elliot stated. "That way it will continue to give you a great boost in raising your magical power. Perhaps, a few years from now, you will enter the 10th Circle, and you will be able to look down on this world in disdain."
"And if I lose?" Rebecca asked. She was confident about winning against William. What she was afraid of was that the crystal had been tampered with and it would cause her to lose her match against her Ex-Fiance.
"You will become my subordinate for two years," Elliot replied. "I will be your boss, and you are not allowed to refuse my orders, no matter how unreasonable they might seem to you."
Rebecca wanted to reject the Familiar's offer, but the temptation of reaching the 10th Circle made her heart beat wildly inside her chest. For the past thousand years, no one had been able to step into the 10th Circle.
For magicians, this was their ultimate goal. It was the highest honor, and her name would be written in the history books, joining the other masters that had also attained the pinnacle of magic.
No magician could possibly reject such an offer. Even though the rank of Rebecca's talent was Perfect Grade, it was not an absolute guarantee that she would be able to reach the 10th Circle in her lifetime.
"Very well, I accept this bet," Rebecca stated.
"Are you sure?" Elliot crossed his arms over his chest. "If you lose, you will become my subordinate for two years. Are you fine with that?"
"I will not lose."
"I like that confidence of yours."
Elliot waved his hand and a contract appeared beside the floating crystal. "Read the contract and sign it with your blood. Sorry, but verbal agreements don't carry any weight. I only trust contracts."
Rebecca eyed Elliot before glancing at the contract. She had read the details written on it, and there was nothing wrong with it.
It was exactly as Elliot said. If she won then the Heart Crystal was hers to keep. If she lost then she would become his subordinate for two years. Nothing more, nothing less.
An icicle dagger appeared in Rebecca's hand and she pierced her fingertip with it. She then smudged the contract with her blood, agreeing to the conditions that were written on it.
The contract glowed and two beams of light shot out from it. One flew straight into Elliot's chest, the other flew towards Rebecca's.
"Jolly cooperation," Elliot grinned before flying towards the window. "I'll see you in a few days."
The angelic familiar didn't wait for Rebecca's reply and left the room through the window. The ice-cold wind entered the room and blew across her face, but she wasn't bothered by it.
Rebecca waved her hand and the window closed on its own. She then stared at the Heart Crystal with a complicated expression on her face.
"Just what did you do, WIlliam, to have your own familiar betray you?" Rebecca asked softly.
She continued to stare at the floating crystal for a few minutes before finally making up her mind. Rebecca pressed the heart crystal against her chest and channeled her magical power to accept it.
High above the Savadeen Mountains, a powerful magical fluctuation was felt by everyone who had a very strong magical power. The Guardian that was sleeping on top of the mountain's peak, opened its eyes because it had felt the power of its kind for a brief moment.
Its ancient eyes narrowed and focused on a young lady, who was seated cross legged inside her room. It didn't know who Rebecca was, and this was the first time it was seeing her.. Nevertheless, its curiosity was piqued because a mortal was able to release a presence that was beyond her league.
Chapter 696: The Forever Alone
William and Conan were happily eating the barbecue they had ordered inside their room.
After arriving at Eirwen City, they didn't immediately go to the Misty Sect because the founding day was still two days away. Of course, this was not the main reason they decided to spend a few days in the city.
The main reason was because the red-headed teenager didn't want to mingle with the different factions of the Central Continent. Princess Sidonie had warned him that everyone wanted a piece of him. It was also her idea for William to stay low-profile until the celebration formally began.
"I wonder where Elliot went this time," Conan said after he finished eating.
William smirked as he placed his fruit juice on the table. "Knowing him, he's probably trying to get under a lady's skirt."
"Kekeke. I can already see that happening."
"Right?"
William and Conan chuckled at the same time. They had already seen how proficient Elliot was at wooing the ladies, that they often get discounts when they bought items from shops that were manned by female clerks.
"My goodness! I'm only gone for a few hours, and the two of you are already slandering my good name?"
Elliot entered the room through the window while shaking his head in disappointment. He then landed beside the plate of barbecue that had been reserved just for him.
"Are we wrong in our assumption?" William asked.
Elliot chuckled as he pulled a chunk of meat from the barbecue skewer, "You're only half right."
"You said you are going to sightsee alone, but your true aim was to find girls to hit on, right?" Conan crossed his arms in disapproval.
Elliot ate the meat he'd pulled off the barbecue skewer and chewed happily. He completely ignored Conan's words and just focused on eating for the time being.
"Sometimes, I wonder if your roles are reversed," William said as he rested his chin on the palm of his right hand. "Elliot should be the devil, and Conan should be the angel."
""No thanks.""
The two familiars replied at the same time. Clearly they disagree with William's words. For them, they were born perfect, so there was no need to swap places with each other.
Suddenly, the door of the room opened. Ian and Chiffon entered the room with smiles on their faces. Both of them had gone to the marketplace to buy a few souvenirs that could only be found in the Savadeen Mountains.
William wasn't too worried about their safety because Chiffon had Sharur accompanying her. If anyone dared to harm his adorable wife, the smasher of thousands would break their skulls with one strike.
As for Ian, he wasn't too worried about her. Unlike Chiffon who had a gentle side, Ian was someone that doesn't show mercy to people that tried to hurt her, or the people important to her.
After unlocking the Morpher Job Class, the beautiful mermaid could transform into an Elder Elemental that was over ten meters tall. When she took on this form, Ian's battle prowess rose to the Millennial Rank.
Unless a Saint were to deal with her personally, very few people would be able to defeat
Advertisement
her in combat.
"Looks like you girls enjoyed your shopping," William greeted the two who were in a good mood.
"Un! You should have accompanied us, Will," Chiffon replied. She then sat on William's right side, and planted a kiss on his cheek. "There will be a great bazaar that will open on the day of the Founding Ceremony. We should go and see if there are good items for sale."
William nodded and patted her head. "Okay. we will go there early before going to the Misty Sect."
"Un!" Chiffon snuggled close to William and closed her eyes in contentment.
She had always wanted to visit new places, and staying around William allowed her to do that. If possible, she didn't want to return to the Demon Continent or see her father again.
Ian sat on William's left side and brought out various pastries that she had bought in the marketplace. The mermaid was a foodie, and she liked to eat delicious food. Her twin sister, Isaac, had always handled the cooking, and she was an excellent cook.
Because of this, Ian's standard for food had become high. For her, only food that was equal to, or better than, Isaac's cooking was worth eating.
"You're going to get fat if you always eat cakes and pies," William commented.
Ian completely ignored him as she bit into the freshly baked apple pie that had come from a famous shop in the city. A smile appeared on her face because of how delicious the pie was.
"Chiffon, have some," Ian said as she gave the little glutton a slice of pie.
"Thank you, Big Sister," Chiffon replied as she held the warm pie in her hands.
Just like William, Ian spoiled Chiffon a lot. Now that the pink-haired girl had married William, she treated her as a little sister, which made Chiffon very happy.
"Well then, how confident are you in fighting against Rebecca?" Ian asked. "Can you win?"
"I will win," William answered firmly. "I promised you, your sister, and Est that I will lift the curses on your bodies. No matter what happens, I will win."
Ian smiled and nodded. She already knew that William was doing this for their sake, so she knew that the Half-Elf would do his best to win. The only thing she could in return was to stay by his side, and shower him with her love.
—–
At the base of the Savadeen Mountains…
"We're finally here." James looked at the towering mountain with a grin plastered on his face. "I hope those old bastards have arrived already. We have a lot of catching up to do."
Vlad snorted as he glanced at his old friend. "You mean you have a lot more bragging to do. I pity your acquaintances. They might have done some bad things in their past lives to have become your friend in this lifetime."
"Hahaha! Sucks to be them." James roared in laughter as he and Vlad traversed up the mountain. After Morgan had arrived at the Tower of Babylon, James had left him in charge.
Many people had not heard of James, but everyone in the Central Continent had heard of Morgan.
As the leader of the notorious Red Plague, he held a considerable deterrence effect that made people behave in the Floors that belonged to the Ainsworth Family. Morgan wasn't known to be a merciful person, and all those who annoyed him would have their bodies melt in a pool of blood.
To James' surprise, the envoys of the Amazons were also very interested in Morgan. They had long heard of him, and his name was placed in the Top Ten of ideal partners of the Amazon Race.
Right now, William's name was on top, while Morgan's was in the Top 5. Unfortunately, Morgan wasn't interested in letting the Amazons have their way with him, which greatly disappointed James.
The old coot sighed as he remembered that he had deemed his son to be a candidate for the "Forever Alone Club".
Morgan and Maxwell were twins, and both of them were handsome men. However, unlike Maxwell who liked socializing with people, especially with the ladies, Morgan was the complete opposite.
Although many women had made advances on him, he rejected them all and remained aloof. James hoped that the Amazons would be able to sneak into his bed and give him a surprise when he returned to the Tower of Babylon.
For the time being, James pushed this concern to the back of his mind and stared at the peak of the mountains.
"There are only two days left before William's and Rebecca's fight," James said softly. "I hope that the Misty Sect doesn't pull any underhanded tricks, for their own good."
Vlad's expression remained calm as he walked beside James. The Demigod of the Southern Continent didn't like to interfere in the affairs of mortals, but since he was dragged around to accompany James, he had no choice but to clean up his mess.
Vlad, too, hoped that nothing underhanded would happen during William's fight with Rebecca. He had secretly observed the war that had happened in the Southern Continent and admired how William resolved the conflict.
If possible, he didn't want to see this ancient mountain, that was as white as snow, be covered with blood.
Chapter 697: Looking Forward To An Entertaining Scene
Rebecca walked behind Thea as they climbed up the secret passageway that led to the peak of the Savadeen Mountains.
This place was a forbidden ground, and no unauthorized members of the Misty Sect were allowed to trek these stairs.
After several high-level meetings over the past few weeks, Thea and the Elders had decided to seek the aid of their Guardian and have it form a temporary contract with Rebecca. This would greatly increase her magical powers, which might allow her to break through the 8th Circle instantly.
With so much pressure hanging over their shoulders, they felt that this was the only way for them to gain an advantage over William. All of them had no idea of how strong the Half-Elf was. The only thing they knew was that he was the new owner of the 51st Floor, and they couldn't take him lightly.
Soon, Thea and Rebecca arrived at a clearing.
The young genius of the Hellan Kingdom unconsciously shuddered when she saw the magnificent creature that was looking at her with great interest.
"Your Excellency, Meredith, I have brought Rebecca here to seek your aid," Thea said. She had talked to their Guardian a week ago, and the latter had decided to approve their request.
Meredith's only concern was whether Rebecca's vessel was strong enough to accommodate her powers. However, with the help of the Heart of the Crystal Phoenix, this was no longer an issue.
"Good," Meredith replied as her gaze never left the young lady that it had set its eyes on. "Your name is Rebecca, yes?"
"Yes, Your Excellency," Rebecca answered.
"Do you wish to attain my power?"
"I do."
Meredith narrowed its eyes and a powerful gust of icy wind descended upon Rebecca. A powerful pressure pushed down on the young girl that almost made her kneel.
Channeling all of the magic powers inside her body, Rebecca gritted her teeth as she held her ground. She knew that this was the Guardian's test, and she had every intention of passing it.
Several minutes passed, and Rebecca felt her body warming up. This was pretty unusual, especially for someone who lived in a cold place like the Savadeen Mountains. A flash of surprise flashed past Rebecca's eyes because she never expected to encounter the signs of a second stage frostbite.
The young genius had thought that she was already immune to the cold, due to the special body refinement that she had practiced since she entered the Sect.
Breathing deeply, she once again circulated her magic powers inside her body. A few seconds later, her heart turned into an ice crystal. It pulsed with power and washed away the cold that had seeped deep inside her body.
This was the power of the Heart of the Crystal Phoenix that she had absorbed a day ago. It would allow her to strengthen her resistance not only against the element of ice, but the other elements as well.
'I thought it was just my imagination, but it seems that this girl had a really fruitful encounter,' Meredith thought.
Soon, the powerful pressure decreased, before vanishing completely. Meredith's test was over, and Rebecca was able to gain its approval.
"You are qualified to form a temporary contract with
Advertisement
me," Meredith stated. "However, I will only allow you to use a quarter of my powers. More than that and your body might really turn into an ice statue. Is this arrangement fine with you?"
Rebecca nodded. "Yes, Your Excellency."
Meredith spread her wings wide before glancing at Thea.
"Leave, and make sure that no one disturbs us," Meredith ordered. "Come pick her up in the morning. I will need to impart my knowledge to her, so that she knows how best to wield my powers."
Thea respectfully bowed before leaving the clearing. As the Sect Master of the Misty Sect trekked down the mountains, she could feel her heart beating wildly inside her chest. She was feeling excited, and even looking forward to the celebration that was soon to happen.
Thea had complete confidence that no matter how strong William was, Rebecca had the home court advantage. With the Savadeen Mountains serving as an inexhaustible source of Ice Magic, Rebecca would have no problem burying William in a heap of snow.
—–
Chiffon was humming as she looked at her fishing line with great expectations.
William had taken them to the frozen lake that was a mile away from the city in order to spend some quality time with his lovers.
The Half-Elf had created a few holes in the ice that covered the lake's surface, and encouraged the two girls to try ice fishing.
Fishing had become Chiffon's favorite hobby after climbing the Tower of Babylon. As a mermaid, Ian was also good at fishing. But, she wasn't that good at traditional fishing. She preferred to go into the water and capture her prey in their natural habitats.
Of course, right now, all three of them weren't allowed to use any cheats in order to catch fish.
The smell of barbecued fish reached their noses, and the golden piglet that was seated beside Chiffon's left foot salivated.
Elliot and Conan were in charge of the barbecue, and the two of them diligently cooked the fish that William, Ian, and Chiffon had caught.
So far, all three of them had caught several fish, which proved that the lake held bountiful resources under its frozen surface.
Just as William was about to grab a skewered fish, he felt several presences that were observing him from afar. He ignored them and bit on the barbecued fish in his hand.
'The watchers from the Misty Sect are like the paparazzi in my previous world,' William thought as he pretended that he didn't notice them. 'Well, it doesn't matter. As long as they don't do something stupid, I won't do anything to them.'
He had already expected the Misty Sect to keep an eye out for anyone that matched his features. There were very few people that had the same hair color and good looks as him, so he wasn't too surprised that they had started monitoring him right after he arrived in the city.
They had been given strict orders by the Sect Master to just observe William and not make contact with him. Some of them were even using artifacts to secretly measure his strength and magical powers in the distance. However, the results made them think that their measuring devices were broken.
Optimus had ways of shielding William from these prying artifacts. Everytime that someone tried to gauge the Half-Elf's powers, the result that they would get was that of a normal human.
"Leader, are our artifacts broken?" one of the inner disciples, who was tasked to monitor William, whispered.
"No." the leader replied. "Notify the elders and tell them that we can't gauge his current power level. Also, tell them that the target has already discovered us."
"What?" the inner disciple's eyes widened in shock. "Impossible. How can he discover us from this distance? We are also using the stealth technique of our sect. Leader, I think you're just being paranoid."
The leader glanced at his subordinate with a calm expression on his face. He couldn't be bothered to explain, and just ordered everyone to return to the city.
The leader of the Inner Disciples glanced at William one last time before running away. He had a highly developed sixth sense, and this had saved his life countless times in the past.
Although the Half-Elf wasn't doing anything peculiar, his small angelic familiar had been looking in their direction, while barbecuing. The latter had even winked at him when he was observing William's group through the lens of a telescope.
Although the familiar had a dazzling smile on his face, the leader felt that if he didn't leave soon, he would definitely regret it.
Elliot watched the disciples of the Misty Sect back away as he handed Bacon a fish skewer. His eyes glowed briefly, and a peal of thunder echoed in the distance, followed by a lightning strike that landed a few meters away from the retreating disciples.
If the disciples had thought that their captain was only being paranoid earlier, they realized their folly as all of them ran away in earnest.
"Good job, Elliot," William said as he gave his Angelic Familiar a thumbs up.
"Hahaha, this is but a small thing," Elliot replied as he gave William a mischievous smile. 'This is the least that I can do to compensate for the hardship you will encounter in two days' time.'
Elliot chuckled internally as he gave Bacon another fish skewer.. He was looking forward to actually watching the entertaining scene that he had seen in his vision several weeks ago.
Chapter 698: Don't Worry You Little B*tch
In a wide open space, just outside the Sect Building, thousands of tables all filled with delicious foods were laid out for the guests of the Misty Sect.
Today was their Founding Day, and Thea, along with the Elders were busy talking to the important people of the realm and the mood was quite lively.
Of course, the majority of them were there to witness the battle between William and Rebecca. This was not a secret, and those that had done their research about the Half-Elf's history would know the significance of this battle between the two of them.
James, William's grandfather, was given a VIP seat, and the old coot was happily eating and drinking alongside several old foxes of the Hellan Kingdom.
"You old bastard. If you sought me and not Lawrence for matchmaking, I would have definitely agreed to your request," a chubby old man said. "You see, my granddaughter has grown to be a beauty. She's just a year younger than William, but I believe that the two of them are a match made in heaven. Why don't we have the two of them meet, and see if they get along?"
"Hah! That granddaughter of yours is indeed a little pretty, but my granddaughter is a little angel. She just turned twelve this year. Give her a few more years and she will become the ideal wife…"
"Hold it right there, old man! Have you no shame? Your granddaughter is practically a child! James, we've known each other for a long time. My granddaughter is twenty three this year. Although she's a bit older, young men these days prefer someone with a more mature charm…"
Lawrence glared at the senile old men that were doing their best to ingratiate themselves to James. If these were normal times, the old fools would have ignored William's grandfather and even forcefully kicked him out of their territories.
Jevan, Wendy's grandfather, had a contented smile on his face as he drank his wine. William and his granddaughter were already married, so the Ainsworths' were practically his in-laws. He didn't have to ingratiate himself to James, because they already had William in the bag.
Although the rice was still not cooked, the pot was already on the burner. Wendy's position as William's first wife was firm and secure. No matter how many wives William had in the future, his granddaughter would be the main wife.
'My granddaughter is good,' Jevan thought. 'It's quite unfortunate that Ainsworths didn't have any daughters. James would kill me if I propose that his granddaughter Eve be engaged to Spencer.'
Jevan glanced at this grandson, who had come with him to the Central Continent. Wendy was currently inheriting the Secret Arts of their family, so she was unable
Advertisement
to accompany them to see her husband.
James, who was the center of attention, laughed out loud and enjoyed being in the spotlight. He even started to brag that he was the one that taught William everything he knew since he was a baby.
Not far from James, another VIP table was set. However, in this table, there were only four people. Sun Wukong, Zhu, Sha, and the little girl, Amy.
Amy had been officially accepted as a disciple of the Misty Sect and was even registered as one of their inner disciples. Naturally, this special treatment was due to Sun Wukong's presence, because no one would dare to offend a Demigod.
Sun Wukong eyed James with great interest. He only found out that the old braggart was William's grandfather an hour ago, and with a glance, he could tell that both of them were two peas in a pod.
After sipping his wine, the Monkey King's gaze landed on Vlad who was seated beside James. Vlad sensed Sun Wukong's gaze and gave him a brief nod.
Sun Wukong briefly nodded as well in greeting. Both of them were Demigods, so it was quite easy for them to sense each other's strength.
'This person is stronger than me,' Vlad mused as he eyed the brown-haired man who was coaxing the little girl seated by his side to drink some fruit juice.
Vlad was confident that he was among the strongest Demigods in the World of Hestia. However, after seeing Sun Wukong, he realized that there was someone who managed to reach the level that blurred the distance between a Demigod and a God.
Sun Wukong might not be a God, but he was the next best thing, and very few were his match under the ranks of Gods.
Princess Sidonie was seated beside the Royal Family of the Kraetor Empire. She was feeling very bored because she was waiting for William to appear. Although she was able to be together with the Half-Elf inside the Thousand Beast Domain, she felt envious of Ashe and Chiffon who were always by his side.
'Such is the responsibility of the Royal Bloodline.' Princess Sidonie sighed.
As one of the most beautiful young ladies of the realm, several young men weren't able to take their eyes off her. Some of them were Princes', while others were prodigies whose name reached far and wide.
Princess Sidonie politely rejected their invitations and advances to talk to her. She was not in the mood to socialize with other men. Her beloved was more than enough for her.
'Still, there are a few annoying people here as well,' Princess Sidonie thought as she felt the presence of the members of the Seven Virtues.
Ephemera, the maiden that represented Justice, was chatting with two young ladies whose Divinities made Princess Sidonie's skin crawl.
After she arrived at the Central Continent, he went to the Royal Library in search for the identities of the counterparts of the Seven Deadly Sins. Although the Seven Sins and Seven Virtues were not openly hostile to each other, conflicts between them were as natural as the sun rising from the East.
'Temperance and Fortitude.' Princess Sidonie eyed the Ephemera's acquaintances. 'Could they also be here for William?'
As if sensing her gaze, Ephemera glanced at her direction. The two ladies beside her did the same thing. Soon, a mocking smile appeared on Ephemera's face as she mouthed a word to Princess Sidonie.
Right after that, she chuckled. The two ladies beside her only smiled and gave Princess Sidonie a brief nod.
Princess Sidonie returned their greeting with a nod of her own.
Slut.
That was the word that Ephemera had said in order to mock her. The beautiful princess wasn't offended by her words. The past bearers of the Divinity of Lust were well known for their passionate hobbies of making love to men and women alike.
If Princess Sidonie hadn't met William in his life, she might have also suffered the same fate as them.
Lilith saw this exchange but didn't do anything. Although she and Princess Sidonie were both carriers of the Seven Sins, the two of them weren't close. She didn't feel the need to help her against their counterparts, and was even looking forward to a confrontation.
Unfortunately, Princess Sidonie wasn't someone who could be taunted by such petty schemes. She just waited for her beloved to arrive. Because she knew that no matter what anyone said behind her back, her future husband was the reason why everyone had come to the Misty Sect.
'Don't worry, you little b*tch.' A smile appeared on Princess Sidonie's face as she lightly twirled the fruit juice in her cup.. 'After I'm done with you, we'll see who will have the last laugh.'
Chapter 699: Prepare For Trouble! And Make It Double!
While everyone was having a lively chat with each other, a young lady with long, light-brown, hair and green eyes, walked towards the arena that was a hundred meters away from the banquet.
At first, no one noticed her because she was wearing the same light-blue robes of the inner disciples of the misty Sect.
Rebecca stood at the center of the arena with her hands behind her back. Her hair fluttered in the breeze as she waited for William to arrive.
She was like a fairy that came out of a fairy tale. The little girl whom the Half-Elf had seen back in Lont, had grown up to be a beauty that many would want to covet.
Soon, almost everyone in the banquet was looking in her direction. Everyone appraised her bearing from head to toe, trying to know more about this young lady whose fate had been tied with William's since they were babies.
"So, that's Rebecca," Princess Sidonie muttered as she arched an eyebrow. "Well, she's not half bad."
Several young ladies had the same opinion as Princess Sidonie as they looked at the girl who was said to be William's very first fiance. Even though they were all girls, they had to admit that Rebecca was someone who was worthy to be paired up with the red-headed teenager, who managed to surprise the entire world.
Lawrence looked at his granddaughter and sighed in his heart. No matter what happened, he was on her side. Although he felt that her chances of winning were slim, he would still cheer for her because blood was thicker than water.
"The heroine is already here, but the protagonist is still not around," Empress Andraste said with a smile. "Who do you think will win, Lilith?"
Lilith lazily leaned on her chair as she eyed Rebecca from afar. Now that she had seen William's childhood friend, her interest in her had already waned. "No one here is expecting her to win. The only thing I care about is how she will lose, that's all."
Although Lilith didn't raise her voice, it was still loud enough for those who were near their table to hear.
The Elders of the MIsty Sect had calm expressions on their faces, while their disciples looked at Rebecca with a complicated gaze.
All of them belong to the same camp, but the disciples weren't too optimistic of her chances of winning. Only the Elders of the Sect were aware of the Trump Cards that they had prepared for this match.
They were very confident that Rebecca would win, and her victory would spread their sect's fame across the world.
While everyone was wondering when William would appear, a peal of thunder rumbled
Advertisement
across the heavens. A few seconds later, a lightning bolt descended upon the arena and bathed the venue with light.
When the light receded, everyone saw a golden spear that was stuck in the ground. Floating beside it were two small people who were only as big as an adult's hand.
One of them was wearing a white robe, with white wings flapping behind his back. The other wore black, and had bat-like wings that were spread out wide.
"Prepare for Trouble!" Elliot said as he made a dabbing pose.
"And make it Double!" Conan said as he also made a similar pose.
"To protect the world from Monster Infestation."
"To unite all Awesome men within our nation."
"To denounce the evil of handsomeness and love."
"To extend our reach to the Gods and Goddesses above."
"Elliot!"
"Conan!"
"Team William blasting off with all our might."
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
The golden spear glowed and a handsome Half-Elf with red hair, and light green eyes appeared in front of everyone.
"That's right." William flipped his hair before taking an arrogant pose.
A giant explosion appeared behind the three, which would put the Power Rangers' fighting pose to shame.
Everyone in the banquet quieted down due to the unexpected entrance of the young man whom they had traveled a great distance to see.
Suddenly, a loud laughter broke the silence as James stood up from his seat and clapped his hands with great joy.
"Bravo! That's my boy!" James shouted. "Damn, you were almost as awesome as me when I was your age."
The people who sat beside James looked at the old man in contempt. When he was William's age, the only thing he did was get beaten to a pulp by Erza (James' wife), whom he was trying to woo.
Rebecca, who was standing in front of William, was doing her best to keep the grimace that pressed for release from showing on her face.
The three fools were still basking in their "awesome" entrance, and had no time to care about what Rebecca, or everyone else, was feeling.
"I should have worn glasses and raised my chin one more centimeter," William muttered as he tried to fix his pose. "In doing so, my coolness factor would have increased another twenty five percent."
"Indeed. We also should have worn matching clothes," Elliot nodded his head in agreement. "That would have given our group more appeal."
"Kekeke, we should have added some confetti after the explosion." Conan joined in the discussion. "Flower petals would also do. It will give us that extra OOMF!, which would make our entrance have more impact."
"Right." William nodded his head. "Elliot, I'll leave you to handle the preparations. The next time we do this, we're gonna do this right."
"Aye, aye, Captain." Elliot saluted. "Leave this task to me. Consider it done."
William and Conan nodded their heads. They knew that if they left these tasks to Elliot, it would be handled with perfection.
Princess Sidonie covered her face due to second hand embarrassment. For a brief moment, she wanted to pretend that she had no relationship with William. Only Morgana, who was inside their shared Mindscape was laughing out loud, and even clapping her hands in enjoyment.
Suddenly, a Black Qilin landed in the arena. Sitting on its back was Ian and Chiffon who had accompanied William to the Misty Sect.
Chiffon was looking at William with sparkling eyes, while Ian had a similar expression to Princess Sidonie. If possible, they wanted to pretend that the handsome Half-Elf was a stranger and had no relation with them.
"Join Sidonie and wait for me to finish this, Chiffon," William said as he patted the pink-haired girl's head. "Look after her for me, Ian."
"Un!"
"Okay."
The two left the arena walking hand in hand and headed towards the beautiful Princess who was already waving in their direction.
After looking at his lovers for a few seconds, William then shifted his attention to Rebecca who had already managed to compose herself.
"Long time no see," William said with a smile. "You've become prettier."
Rebecca smiled. "Indeed. It has been a while. You've become rather handsome."
"Shall we start?"
"Okay."
William and Rebecca unleashed their magical powers at the same time, sending a gust of air blasting in every direction.
Both of them had waited many years for this day and, now, all of their grievances would finally be settled on the peak of the Misty Sect.
Chapter 700: If You Don't Want Me To Smash Your Face, You Better Keep Your Hands In The Right Place
"I didn't think you had the ability to wield magic," Rebecca said as her powerful magic power clashed against William's.
William smiled as he crossed his arms over his chest. "There are many things you don't know about me."
"Well, you're not wrong."
"Right?"
The two once again increased the strength of their magical powers. A sound that was similar to something cracking spread across the arena as both of their magical powers tried to overwhelm each other.
Suddenly, both of them took a step forward and disappeared from where they stood. The sound of crystals breaking reverberated in the air as both of them fought each other, using weapons made from ice.
With each clash, their weapons would shatter.
With each exchange another explosion would take place.
Eleanor's eyes widened in shock because she couldn't believe what she was seeing. The Shepherd was actually using ice magic, and from the looks of it, he was an expert in wielding its power.
Back then, when she was still in the Hellan Kingdom, William didn't show any signs that he was able to use Ice Magic. Even when he fought against Kingsley and won, he never showcased this kind of mastery over magic.
Lady Miriam, the one who had suffered humiliation under William's hands, was equally shocked at the scene in front of her. She had thought that the red-headed teenager had managed to clear the 51st Floor as a warrior, and not as a magician. She even thought that someone was impersonating William to battle in his place.
Thea, who was paying close attention to the battle, frowned. According to the information that she had gathered from Eleanor and Lady Miriam, William didn't have any affinity with magic. Since that was the case, she could only think that the Half-Elf had a fortuitous encounter.
However, the one who was most shocked of all was Lawrence.
The Old Fox of Griffith had used his magic to appraise William during his visit to Lont. As an Archmage, his sensitivity to magic was higher than most. During that time, he didn't sense any kind of Magical Power inside William's body. Even if the boy had hidden this talent, Lawrence would have been able to unearth it due to his uncanny ability.
"You. Explain this to me," Lawrence glared at James. "How did your grandson manage to be able to use Magic?"
James glanced at the Old Fox whose veins were at the verge of popping out of his head.
"What's there to explain?" James asked back. "William is my grandson. Naturally, he is as talented as me. Wielding magic is as easy as breathing to him. When he was ten years old, he killed a Millennial Beast using Ice Magic."
Everyone that was seated near James wanted to drown him in spit. They completely ignored
Advertisement
the old man's claim about William being as awesome as him, because bragging was James' natural disposition.
However, even if you beat them silly, they would never believe that a ten-year-old had been able to slay a Millennial Beast using Ice Magic.
They were not little kids that could be tricked so easily!
"Impossible! Do you think I'm a gullible child?" Lawrence wanted to slap James out of anger because he thought that the old coot was joking with him.
James shrugged as he shifted his attention back to the battle that was currently happening in the arena.
"I answered your question," James answered. "Whether you believe it or not is completely up to you. I wouldn't lose sleep over something so trivial. He is my grandson, so him being awesome is only natural."
William and Rebecca both took a step back and distanced themselves from each other. After fighting in close range, the Half-Elf was pleasantly surprised that his opponent was also proficient in close combat.
Not all mages could do this. This only meant that Rebecca had undergone extensive training in both her magical and close quarter abilities.
Rebecca waved her hands simultaneously and hundreds of Icicle shards flew in William's direction.
The Half-Elf didn't make a move to dodge Rebecca's strike and simply stomped his right foot.
Suddenly, several pillars of ice that formed a triangle appeared in front of him, deflecting the ice shards and making them bounce off his improved Ice Wall.
Elliot and Conan had flown outside of the arena and acted as spectators. William had said that this would be a one-on-one battle, so they were not allowed to interfere.
After Rebecca's icicle barrage lost its power, William stomped his left foot on the ground and several ice shards protruded on the ground, charging in his opponent's direction.
These shards were over two meters tall, and looked incredibly sharp and deadly.
Rebecca jumped upwards and spun in the air, creating an ice tornado. It absorbed the ice shards and flung it in different directions.
Naturally, the protective barriers of the Arena activated, preventing their attacks from harming the people who were watching the battle as they ate, and drank. For most of the guests, this was the reason why they visited the Misty Sect. It was all just entertainment, and a way to gauge William's overall strength.
They wanted to see the power that allowed him to conquer the Devil's Floor and open a new era to mankind.
Empress Andraste's eyes never left William. She was dissecting his every move, his usage of magical power, and even his breathing.
As the battle progressed, she was liking the Half-Elf more and more because the way he fought was outstanding for his age. There were very few individuals who could achieve such mastery, but she knew that both fighters were still not using their trump cards.
"I'm sure this warmup will end soon," Empress Andraste muttered as she glanced at her daughter, Lilith, who was also paying close attention to William. She hadn't even looked at Rebecca once when the fight started.
Ephemera and her two companions were chatting casually as the battle waged on. For them, this wasn't a big deal, especially for Ephemera.
As one of the Virtues that specialized in combat, her only concern was whether both fighters would fight with the intention to kill. It was very easy for her to tell that neither of the two combatants showed any killing intent towards each other.
In her eyes, the two were just playing house, and it was not the least bit exciting.
Suddenly, an idea came to her head. She gathered a bit of her magical energy in her hand, as she looked at the ongoing battle in the distance.
Just as she was about to subtly interfere with the battle, she felt a stinging pain in her hand, which almost made her cry out loud.
"Just watch," a little girl with fairy-like wings hovered in front of her face with her arms crossed over her chest. "My disciple is fighting. If you don't want me to smash your face, you better keep your hands in the right place."
William's sixth Master, Chloee, eyed Ephemera like an annoying pest. She had just arrived at the banquet, and was just in time to see the battle. However, when she felt the subtle fluctuation that was gathering in Ephemera's hand, she knew that the girl with long purple hair was planning to play a dirty trick towards her disciple.
This was something that she couldn't allow to happen, so she immediately went to slap her hand, which made Ephemera cry out in pain.
"Y-You!" Ephemera said through gritted teeth.
She had met Chloee in the past, and knew how scary this little familiar was.. Even someone as arrogant as her would not dare to antagonize this little juggernaut who liked to smash furniture, and people's faces.