Vol 3. Chapter 121: I’m Going to ‘Make My Comeback’!

With the departure of the Demon King-class Abyss Demon Flame Prison, the frenzied Abyss Demon horde finally reined in its razor-sharp offensive, and the black tide slowly receded. A short while later, the monsters that had once plunged everyone into despair withdrew from Skyvault and disappeared in the direction of the distant Albero Mountains.

The crisis was completely over.

Although some people were confused and puzzled by the Abyss Demon horde's completely unexpected attack and large-scale retreat, the vast majority immediately immersed themselves in the joy of surviving the catastrophe.

And while the survivors of Skyvault embraced their families and companions, reflecting on just how precious life was,

they couldn't help thinking about a rather serious question.

Namely, where was their Emperor?

That so-called Chosen One who had proclaimed that as long as he was around, Skyvault would be impregnable—so what happened? During the entire period when the Abyss Demon horde was attacking, he was nowhere to be seen?

Although the people's trust and worship toward their new Emperor, Xue Tianao, had already vanished after this attack, they were still curious about exactly where he had run off to.

Could he have fled in the face of battle?

As this possibility surfaced, quite a few citizens of Skyvault immediately revealed expressions of extreme disgust.

However,

in a certain sense, the people's guess was actually quite accurate.

......

Elsewhere,

in the Homelrotz Mountain Region west of Skyvault,

although the violent aura of the Abyss Demons and the scorching waves released by Flame Prison had surged over from the distance like a tsunami and swept through the mountains, this region was far from Skyvault and rarely visited by people. Thus, it had escaped the ravages of battle, and there were no traces of Abyss Demons anywhere.

At most, the temperature had suddenly risen by several dozen degrees......

Yet at this moment, within this mountainous region enveloped in scorching air, hundreds of azure specks of light suddenly appeared, emerging without warning and floating among the forests, streams, and springs.

Such a phenomenon was clearly abnormal.

If a professional scholar had been present, they would have been astonished to discover that these azure specks of light were soul particles—the very particles that formed the souls of living creatures......

Under normal circumstances, after a living creature died, its soul would collapse into tiny soul particles, returning to nature and reentering the cycle of reincarnation. Ordinary soul particles were generally so tiny that they couldn't be seen with the naked eye.

However, for Eighth-Tier powerhouses possessing extraordinarily powerful souls, their souls might not completely collapse after death. Instead, they could transform into larger soul particles.

Larger soul particles also meant that some of the original consciousness had been preserved.

If handled properly, these Eighth-Tier powerhouses might even be able to reincarnate after death while retaining their memories.

Clearly,

the numerous soul particles appearing here all carried the exact same aura.

They were all fragments of the soul of the same ‘powerhouse.’

A gentle breeze swept past.

Guided by a mysterious force of nature, the scattered azure soul particles suddenly began to stir. Then, they rapidly surged toward a single point and gathered together, soon forming a palm-sized sphere of soul light.

“Ah...... Hah~”

A sharp gasp, like someone finally catching their breath after suffocating, suddenly came from within the sphere of light.

And the owner of this voice was none other than the renowned Child of Destiny—Xue Tianao.

‘Hah...... Hehe, just as I thought. I really won't completely cease to exist......’

Having regained consciousness, Xue Tianao couldn't help sighing inwardly.

Just like the previous two times he had died,

his soul hadn't directly dissipated after death. Instead, under the guidance of the world's consciousness, it had gradually begun to reassemble.

However,

perhaps because his soul had already become sufficiently powerful before his death, this time Xue Tianao didn't have to wait until after reincarnation to regain consciousness. Instead, while still in his soul state, he recovered all of his memories and entered a state of soul awakening.

Xue Tianao was extremely satisfied with this situation.

After all, this meant his new body wouldn't need to be chosen for him by the world's consciousness. Instead, he could rely on his own judgment and choose a new life for himself.

Naturally, it would be best to choose someone from a powerful family with deep foundations and limitless prospects.

That way, it would also help him make an even better comeback!

Moreover, this was his final opportunity to resurrect. He absolutely had to cherish it......

He had to cherish this opportunity to complete the trial,

and at the same time, cherish this opportunity to avenge himself!

At that thought,

the eye Xue Tianao had formed from his soul power stared venomously into the distance, toward Skyvault.

The moment he thought of the Black Rose Family, which had repeatedly targeted him, and of the forces he had painstakingly built being destroyed yet again, Xue Tianao's heart was engulfed by hatred.

‘Damn Black Rose Family! Once I find a new body, I'll definitely expose everything you've done!’

I'll make sure you human traitors die without a place to be buried!

However,

when he thought about the Black Rose Family, Xue Tianao couldn't help recalling the final scene before his destruction.

Remembering that absurdly powerful scarlet Shadow of Silence Power and the oppressive force that had plunged his very soul into despair, Xue Tianao couldn't help feeling a lingering terror.

Even though he had already escaped death, he still began trembling involuntarily.

‘That woman... Blood Butterfly... what the hell is she......’

That kind of power was far more terrifying than Flame Prison or Xiao!

There was absolutely no way a newly born Demon King-class existence could possess such strength.

That black-haired girl had been able to ignore the spirit medicine, and she had made him, even while empowered by divine power, feel fear and helplessness from the very depths of his soul. That woman's strength might already be approaching the legendary realm......

Why

had such a terrifying monster suddenly appeared?

After arriving at this conclusion, Xue Tianao, now reduced to nothing more than a cluster of soul energy, couldn't help shuddering.

After all, if his enemy really was an existence of that realm, defeating her and taking revenge would be anything but easy.

‘Maybe after I'm reborn, I should just find somewhere peaceful and live a quiet life......’

Xue Tianao couldn't help having such a thought.

However, very quickly,

the Child of Destiny threw that idea straight out of his mind.

‘No! No way! I can't just let it end like this!’

I'm the Chosen One!

The stronger my enemy is, the stronger I become! There's no reason to fear her! What's more, the enemy is out in the open while I'm hidden in the shadows. As long as I conceal my strength and bide my time even more thoroughly, it'll definitely work!

If thirteen years wasn't enough before, then this time I'll wait thirty years!

If that still isn't enough, then three hundred years!

Once everything is perfectly prepared, I'll take my revenge!

The reason I failed this time was because I didn't understand those enemies lurking in the shadows.

‘Next time, that absolutely won't happen!’

Losing everything he had painstakingly built over the years, inexplicably and all in a single day, had indeed left Xue Tianao overwhelmed with grief.

But as the saying went, as long as the green mountains remain, there will never be a shortage of firewood.

As long as he was still alive, there was still hope.

Destiny was on his side. No matter what kind of enemy stood before him, as long as he worked hard, he would ultimately defeat them.

Xue Tianao continuously comforted and encouraged himself with these thoughts.

At the same time,

the Child of Destiny thoughtfully turned his attention toward the west.

Now,

if he wanted to make his comeback, he first needed somewhere that could provide him with a safe environment to develop, abundant resources, and sufficiently great potential.

The Snow Night Empire was basically finished now. Continuing to develop here would be meaningless.

The Crimson Leaf Empire was the headquarters of the Asumos Church, so it wasn't suitable for building up his own forces. After all, there was still that terrifying existence known as the Pope over there.

As for the Sadik Empire?

That was the Black Rose Family's home turf. It would be better not to court death.

After thinking it over,

Saint Lomari, one of the Four Great Empires, might be a pretty good choice. That place had limitless potential for development and remained aloof from worldly conflicts. It was definitely an excellent place to secretly build up his strength!

‘Mm, Saint Lomari it is!’

He would go there, find a suitable target, seize their body, and reincarnate.

Having made his decision, Xue Tianao no longer hesitated. He immediately mobilized his soul power and rushed westward.

Just you wait! I'll definitely come back!

The day I make my mighty return will be the day you all die!

However,

just as Xue Tianao was making this grand declaration in his heart and was about to rush out of the Homelrotz Mountain Region, his speeding soul suddenly slammed into an invisible wall......

“Clang~”

Accompanied by a crisp impact and waves of spiritual power, the azure soul body was abruptly sent flying backward.

?!!

What the hell?!

There's a wall?!

No, this... this is a barrier?!

After being knocked completely senseless for a moment, Xue Tianao finally recovered and stared incredulously at the invisible barrier ahead, where layer after layer of ripples were spreading across its surface.

In an instant, an intense sense of foreboding surged endlessly through Xue Tianao's heart, and the Child of Destiny, who had only moments ago been enthusiastically planning his future, was suddenly engulfed by unease.

?!

Why?!

Why is there a barrier here?!

And this barrier is clearly designed specifically to block souls?

What the hell is going on?!

......

However, just as Xue Tianao once again stood frozen in place because of yet another completely unexpected development, a familiar aura abruptly entered his field of perception, causing his soul to tremble violently.

And as that aura appeared,

a familiar and pleasant girl's voice, yet carrying a chilling coldness, slowly drifted toward him.

“Just as I thought. You weren't completely dead after all.”

?!!

“Y-You?!”

His soul trembling violently, Xue Tianao shakily turned his spiritual body around and looked toward the silver-haired girl who had appeared behind him at some unknown point.

Xue Tianao couldn't help crying out in shock:

“Mengxi?! Why... why are you here?!”