The Strongest War God

Chapter 1382: Opening

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

However, this didn’t prevent them from covertly backing their family from the shadows.

If anyone posed a threat to the Stone family, even as soul slaves, they could intervene.

As long as their actions didn’t undermine the interests of the Hall of Souls, soul slaves enjoyed a considerable degree of freedom.

“Exercise restraint,” Wolfhart Neal cautioned via mental voice transmission. “Our objective today is the Ivory Tower. Any other grievances can be addressed at a later time.”

Wolfhart remained composed, understanding the purpose of their current expedition—they weren’t here to instigate conflict.

His focus lay elsewhere, set firmly on the Ivory Tower.

Kellan Stone’s interest was piqued.

Having received word of the Neal family’s ancestor venturing out to welcome back a young man, he sought to probe further.

Who was this individual?

The Stone family harbored suspicions that the newcomer might be linked to Thirteen.

If proven true, the Stone family would spare no effort to eliminate them.

Kellan’s deliberate approach aimed to provoke Braydon Neal.

The longstanding animosity between the Neal and Stone families was common knowledge among the major factions in the Spirit Sea.

Observers stood at a distance, awaiting the unfolding drama.

Yet, Wolfhart cast a cool glance at Kellan and uttered calmly, “Leave my sight within three seconds, or if I act, all four hundred members of your Stone family will meet their demise.”

His words, though seemingly casual, carried a weighty threat.

Kellan’s demeanor turned frosty, and the members of the Stone family bristled with indignation.

Nonetheless, Kellan chose to withdraw.

Having sparred with Wolfhart for decades, he understood the man’s temperament all too well.

He wasn’t one to utter hollow threats; when he acted, he followed through with lethal force.

The Stone family harbored their own reservations—they understood that today’s mission revolved around the Ivory Tower.

They had no interest in engaging the Neal family in combat; such a conflict would only serve to benefit external factions and wasn’t worth the trouble.

In the crowd, Braydon stood unassuming amidst hundreds of Neal family geniuses, their presence hardly conspicuous.

Those gathered here were seldom ordinary, with over 90% having transcended the divine realm.

Born and bred in the Spirit Sea, they lacked neither cultivation methods nor coveted external resources, making advancement to the divine realm a natural progression.

Beside Braydon, Jaromir Neal communicated telepathically, cautioning him about revealing his ten-eyed dual-pupils. “Thirteen, the Ivory Tower has yet to manifest. Avoid revealing your ten-eyed dual-pupils; I fear it may attract unwanted attention from old adversaries.”

In the past, Thirteen had garnered enmity from numerous factions across the Spirit Sea, some proving particularly troublesome.

While Thirteen remained alive, their hands were tied.

However, Braydon’s current cultivation paled in comparison, rendering him vulnerable to these formidable adversaries.

Jaromir and Wolfhart recognized that Braydon bore the brunt of this challenge; his potential, stemming from his ten-eyed dual-pupils, far exceeded theirs.

Despite being merely at the third level of the emperor realm, Braydon’s prowess extended to vanquishing extreme divines effortlessly, a testament to the extraordinary power latent within him.

His prowess in battle amplification was certainly impressive.

The sea area grew increasingly crowded as more experts arrived, including the eminent figures from the Spirit Sea’s leading factions.

Among them was Kohen Neal, the head of the Neal family, whose arrival signaled the commencement of events.

Kohen’s demeanor exuded authority as he cast his gaze upon Wolfhart and then Braydon, acknowledging them with a subtle nod.

Regardless of whether Braydon was the reincarnation of Thirteenth Master, his ten-eyed dual-pupils marked him as part of the Neal bloodline, elevating his status above Kohen’s.

Under Kohen’s penetrating gaze, Braydon felt the weight of his presence.

This was a true powerhouse, surpassing even Wolfhart and the others in strength.

As the head of the family, Kohen embodied the pinnacle of strength and leadership—a standard against which all others were measured.

Braydon observed the vast sea region, where the Neal family members occupied the core area within a hundred miles.

Within the core area, aside from the Neal family, there were nine other major factions.

In the second layer, there were 23 factions.

In the third layer, there were 49 factions.

Lastly, 108 factions were positioned at the rear.

This was the dominant force entrenched in the heart of the Spirit Sea, a testament to the ten-thousand-year history of the realm.

The emergence of such formidable factions was to be expected.

The Neal family’s stature among them was undeniable.

Positioned within the core area were the nine major forces.

Alongside the Stone family and Foreman family stood the Neal and Siegel families.

The Neal and Siegel families shared the same ancestral lineage.

Despite their differing surnames, their connection was widely acknowledged among the Spirit Sea’s elite.

Of these ten core forces, both the Neal and Siegel families traced their origins to a common ancestor, underscoring their significant influence within the Spirit Sea.

As representatives from all major factions assembled, the surface of the usually placid sea began to churn.

A gleaming silver light radiated from beneath the water’s surface, revealing a colossal structure—an awe-inspiring sight known as the Ivory Tower.

Over the course of ten millennia, no one had managed to breach its formidable defenses.

Observing the scene, Jaromir cautioned Braydon against activating his dual-pupils, emphasizing the potential risks of injury and the difficulty of their recovery.

The towering silver structure emerged, parting the seawater in its wake.

Despite hours passing, only half of the colossal tower had breached the surface, yet it still loomed at an impressive height of 1,500 meters.

Such was the customary unveiling of the Ivory Tower, revealing only a fraction of its grandeur.

As the tower emerged, the fabric of space seemed to warp, heralding the arrival of a figure clad in black, brandishing a matching sword.

Draped entirely in shadowy robes, he exuded an aura of mystery, impervious to any attempts to gauge his spiritual energy.

Emblazoned upon his sword was a serial number: 3.

Upon his appearance, the leaders of the ten forces bowed in deference, prompting a curious inquiry from Braydon.

“Who is he?”

Jaromir responded in a hushed tone, “The Hall of Souls has a history as long as the Spirit Sea. Back then, our family’s ancestors were the first batch of people to enter. There were many people who entered during the same period, but most of them died. Some of them also had fortuitous encounters. As for the soul slaves of the Hall of Souls, the first three were people from the same period as our ancestors.”

Braydon couldn’t conceal his astonishment.

How was that even possible?

Soul Slaves No.1, No.2, and No.3 had been living for ten thousand years?

It sounded almost unbelievable.

Yet, it was the truth.

“The Hall of Souls possesses the secret of immortality,” Jaromir explained calmly. “It’s shrouded in mystery. Generally, those who become soul slaves can endure indefinitely as long as they avoid being killed by outsiders.”

Braydon seized upon the crucial issue.

“If someone near the end of their lifespan enters the Hall of Souls and becomes a soul slave, can they truly live forever?”

Wolfhart responded with solemn affirmation.