Chapter 135 - A king in the shadows

There were still many things to be done, and I was looking forward to something spectacular tomorrow, where I would get the chance to see the next tier of a Spiritual Land.

The [Snow Vines] had fully matured and ripened yesterday, and there was an abundant amount that many of the beasts could consume because of the effects of [Budding Farmer].

The fruits were specially made to raise the ranks of the beasts on the Spiritual Land, and their effects were apparent. Just on the past day when their consumption and absorption began, the [Emperor Penguin] was the first to successfully advance to LEGENDARY after consuming multiple fruits from the [Snow Vines]. His figure became slightly larger and more compact with the advancement, the sleek fur on his body becoming even glossier as the arrogant air returned.

His origin was injured beforehand, and yet he was still the one to advance towards the next rank first. His attitude aside, I was happy about this as the more talented beasts like him appeared, the faster I could upgrade the Spiritual Land after meeting the requirements.

One of the requirements that was about to be met was the advancement of beasts born in the Spiritual Land to become LEGENDARY. Five beasts had to undergo this transformation before the first condition was met. As for the second condition...I smiled as I thought about it and heard movement from the large hall that was boisterous with celebration.

It was now a few hours after the coronation that I watched in the dark while I was veiled. The celebration would continue throughout the night, but the new Queen rose from the throngs of Nobles and stepped out from the hall while being led by an EPIC guard.

Adelaide's own rank should be raised soon enough as I'd already given her access to an abundant amount of EPIC cores, [Sacred Rye] and even the fruits from the [Snow Vine] that were much less effective on beings not born in the Spiritual Land.

The Queen's face had slight delight showing as I heard her voice ring out silently beside my ear.

"Esteemed Sir, if you would please follow me."

The guards were left behind as the Queen entered her grandiose room with the excuse of resting. The Shadow Guards took their hidden positions as the newly instituted EPIC guard stood in front of the closed doors.

My figure flashed into the grandiose room, being met with the sight of the icy queen who seemed to have a complicated expression on her face.

"I feel like I've achieved something, and yet at the same time I'm feeling something else I cannot explain."

She seemed to be thinking about many things as she spoke, her gaze landing on my calm figure and becoming even troubled. She seemed to have made up her mind as she moved with a brave face and...kneeled down towards me.

"I can't shake this feeling, but there is still something that I can do."

I was about to tell her to rise up for what seemed like the third or fourth time as she had done this before, when her next actions threw me a curveball. Her white hands reached behind her and unclasped the grandiose white dress she wore. It slid down her body as she looked up at me with conviction in her eyes.

"My King."

---

In the Spiritual Land, A powerful [Emperor Penguin] with his beak raised high was overseeing the advancement of his brothers.

The long [White Mamba] was coiling around itself as its body pulsed a white light, its breakthrough imminent after absorbing so many of the blue gold fruits from the [Snow Vines].

These fruits were multiple times better to these beasts born in this Spiritual Land than even cores of the next level. Normally, they would be extremely rare for them to obtain, as close to 8 months were needed before they matured and ripened. Even when they did, their output was extremely low. Yet, [Budding Farmer] had thrown all of this logic down the drain.

There was an abundance of the fruits now growing and glistening blue and gold all over Frozen Plateau Spiritual Land, where the EPIC beasts had their pick with the permission of their master, and even the Leaders that were rank S received their own share. The sleek penguin observed this unbelievable growth that should have never been possible, even with all the possibilities of the Spiritual Land.

He looked at the [White Mamba], [Winged Spider], and many other beasts that were trying their best to put their experience to use and breakthrough to the next rank after absorbing treasures specifically catered to them.

Maybe his master wasn't too bad after all?

---

A scene that would shock many was playing itself out in a grand room where barriers preventing peering eyes were erected.

A young woman was laying her head on the chest of a man and tracing the protruding lines from the chest to the abdominal muscles as her crystal eyes seemed clouded.

"You're not staying, are you?"

Instinctively, Adelaide had seemed to understand what the foreboding feeling she continued to have was. Everything seemed to be on the right track, with the invaders retreating and their kingdom headed for extreme growth and expansion.

Yet, when thinking about the man whose hands made all of this possible, where did he fit in all of this right now? Would he stay, enjoy, and revel on the rewards of the things he had accomplished?

Adelaide had been around him for many days these past few weeks, and somewhat understood his mindset, even if it was just a bit. The man in question heard the words as his eyes stared into the ceiling, not knowing exactly what to say.

"I'll still come by. There are just too many things to be done, and even those that retreated from the fight right now did just that, only a retreat. The threat still exists."

There was a period of silence as the girl just continued to trace the lines of muscle.

"You could always just stay. Relax and kickback. Watch as the thing you've just begun creating bloom into something beautiful. I haven't even given you the Empire I promised, much less the world."

Noah gave a mysterious smile at these words as he replied,

"I'm relaxing now, and that's enough for me. I'll see if I can relax like this every now and then when I find the time."

The night was long, with many people spending it thinking about the future while not fully living in the present.

---

Early morning of the next day, something magical was happening in the skies of the Frozen Kingdom. In the middle of the four peaks floating in the sky, a fifth one had appeared!

Those knowledgeable would be able to recognize this peak as the Skypeak Nest that had disappeared mysteriously some time ago, while others just watched in shock at the appearance of it.

It seemed to be glowing in shades of white and blue as boundless essence began congregating in the skies.

In the center of the Spiritual Land, Noah was looking at the fifth beast that was successfully promoted to the LEGENDARY tiers by consuming and absorbing the inordinate amount of fruits from the [Snow Vines]. The process had only taken the span of a few days, but they achieved the stupendous results of the rise of 5 LEGENDARY powerhouses.

This number was shocking, as there were still 10 other EPIC beasts on the Frozen Plateau Spiritual Land that had consumed the same treasures and might have the talent to break through soon enough, not to mention the rank S Leaders that were trying their best to achieve the same result.

If you took into account the strength of someone like Demon King Gremory who was ranked 56 among the rulers of the Demon World, and held the power equivalent to three LEGENDARY beings with his unique skill, you would become even more astounded by the treasure that was the Spiritual Land.

It could give rise to powerhouses like this, but it was normally never as explosive. The unfair skill that was [Budding Farmer] made it possible for this event that defied the norms and created 5 LEGENDARY beings in a few days.

Yes, these were the beasts that had the top talent in their level and just needed the stimulus and energy to breakthrough. Yes, maybe there won't be others as talented that would rise as fast as they did. But, that was still the genuine advancement of five LEGENDARY beasts, it would still give a shock at the speed in which it was achieved.

Beside the suave [Emperor Penguin] and deadly [White Mamba], the [Winged Spider], [Snow Leopard], and a winged [Golden Eagle] that was among the EPIC beasts to not participate in the Trial of Supremacy, all stood proudly as they looked around the Spiritual Land that seemed to be trembling in excitement.

The first requirement in order to upgrade to the next tier of the Spiritual Land was now met, 5 beasts born from the land itself had risen to the LEGENDARY rank. Now came the second requirement.

This requirement was one that evaded many beasts and caused their Spiritual Lands to be stuck at the second level for many years. It was a requirement dependent on the master of the Spiritual Land, as it was not only the beasts born in it that should be strong, but also its master.

Simply, the second requirement needed the owner of the Spiritual Land to be powerful enough and have a large reserve of mana that many in the LEGENDARY stage struggled to have in order to catalyze the transformation of the next tier.

A light laugh escaped Noah's mouth as he couldn't help but raise his hands into the air and watch the explosion of essence around him. The figure of Sophia could be seen standing serenely by his side as she watched the show in fascination.

Noah looked around him excitedly as he waited to see what surprises this unique treasure of the Beast World would provide for him in the future. It gave him an unscratchable itch of wanting to look for even more unique treasures across the many worlds out there.

He thought of his tremendously risky destination that was The Lost World of Atlantis where he would go to next. It was a world where many powerhouses from multiple origins descended in as they all looked for this Large World's supreme treasure, the Trident of Neptune.

From the memories of the two Demon Kings he had plundered, the one that stood atop all the demons in the Demon World was also in this world searching and bolstering his forces.

At the thought of an oppressively powerful being that was his enemy, Noah's heart palpitated in excitement, many thoughts and ideas passing through his mind as he watched the birth of a third-tier Spiritual Land, and the new functions it would unlock.