"What are you going to do about me? Crush me into smithereens and act as though I never existed after the years I spent trying to unseal you because we share a common goal?" Lucius broke out into laughter as he turned towards Lucifer with his arms spread out.
"Do you know how much pain and lifespan I've sacrificed just to destroy that seal so that you can help me accomplish my goals? Even after that, I willingly served you as your loyal servant and carried out your orders without fail. So, tell me! Why the hell are you backing out now?"
Even though Lucius had already given up, he wasn't able to let this matter just slide this easily. He wanted to release his pent-up anger and take revenge against the eight kingdoms that had united together to kill his wife just because they were afraid of his potential.
If it wasn't for the fact that his wife had used her lifespan to help him conceal his cultivation aura and change his appearance, he would be the one who was already dead. He wanted to avenge his wife, the woman he loved with all his heart.
That was the reason why he took on a new identity and snuck into the Valor kingdom and climbed up the ranks quickly, the achievements and contributions he had made for the kingdom were bound to go to him in the future anyways.
Lucifer was his only gamble and just when things were going on the right track, Lucifer actually decided to back out at the last moment?
"I understand, but you should just give up right now before it's too late, you'll understand my intentions one day."
"Prism Cage!"
Before Lucias could even react, he had already lost consciousness as his body remained in the prism while Lucifer sealed him in the dungeons meant for criminals.
As for his treasured prism, that would be the final apology towards Lucias. Even though danger lurked in the dungeons, the prism should be able to keep Lucias safe while bestowing him the opportunity to progress further in the four domains.
As for Lucifer himself, he had made a promise with Jay.
*Flashback*
Lucifer screamed in pain when Jay took out a mirror that revealed the deepest secrets of his heart. A secret he wasn't willing to believe regardless of the situation. In the end, what he wanted to achieve was create a disguise to fool the demon beasts so that he can backstab them and become the cultivator to unite both sides.
That was what the mirror showed him and regardless of how much he tried to deny that thought, he knew that it was the truth.
Of course, there were other divine species, but none of them had a leader who could surpass the shackles of their bloodline. They were limited to the pinnacle realm their predecessors had achieved.
The eighth stage of the Great Saint realm was the peak for all species besides the human beasts who had a legendary figure that exceeded the limit, only to be one foot away from the Mystical Sage realm no one had ever stepped into.
"Wake up and listen to your inner thoughts! You know what you truly want so stop allowing your inner heart to deceive you. Wake up and accept the truth!" Jay lashed out at Lucifer who was screaming in pain and hugging his head.
"Why! Why do I still feel this way after getting betrayed!" Lucifer screamed in agony, in his voice, he was begging. Begging for someone to give him the answer he was seeking.
"Because you know that the day we human cultivators have been waiting for will come, on that day, if the prophecy proves true, it'll only be fifteen short years before the chosen one steps into the Mystical Sage realm at the tender age of twenty eight."
"He'll be the one to rewrite the cultivation era, his name will resound across the seven continents, across the Holy Land, across the Divine realm to be revered before he departs to find the true meaning of cultivation and longevity…"
When Jay said this, his heart was in pain and his mind felt heavy, it was a taboo to be speaking about the prophecy and if it weren't for the fact that Lucifer was someone who knew about the prophecy, the curse would have taken his life just now.
"And that young boy is the one you've chosen? You really believe that he can step into the Mystical Sage realm? While he may be of the age stated in the prophecy, do you think that he can step into that realm just because he awakened all nine layers of the Foundation tower?"
Lucifer questioned in doubt, but in his eyes, Jay saw that hope that existed for a brief moment.
"I have confidence that when he steps into the Martial Apprentice realm, he'll also be someone who has awakened the forbidden slaughter law. Not only that, he would gain full control over it and it'll only be a matter of time before he forms all nine hundred and ninety nine stacks of blood stars."
"Just that? His potential is at most comparable to use at best, but that is far from enough. Will he be able to compete with the legendary Great Saint who reached his current cultivation realm at the age of thirty two? Will he be able to kill a Great Martial Master when in the Martial Apprentice realm and where else does he stand out apart from having potential?"
Lucifer posed question after question, but for each question he asked, he only felt energy seeping away from his body as he collapsed onto the ground.
Jay approached him and hooked his body over while picking him off the ground as he found them some shade under a few trees that still existed.
"What the legendary Great Saint did, he won't lose out in terms of combat strength. But at the same time, he managed to persuade the spirit tree to join him willingly, he managed to build up a sect of geniuses that can compete with those first tier elites in the Divine realm, the person that helped him build up the perfect foundation is unknown to even me."
Lucifer didn't show any reaction this time, but his bulging eyes were more than enough to express his shock.
"What did you just say? He managed to build the perfect foundation which was believed to be impossible? How in the world is he doing this? Is this even supposed to be possible?"
"Trust my words, while we can still stay here to help him cultivate, we should make full use of the remaining seven months or so he has left to fully exploit his potential. As for his sect, I'll be in full control of it while he's away." Jay said with a heavy sigh, his lonely back facing Lucifer who had found reason to live on.
"Will you join me in this seemingly impossible voyage or do you intend to leave?" Jay invited Lucifer as he walked away from him.
"Count me in,"
*Tch*
When Ace opened his eyes again after falling asleep to the sleeping powder the hawk used on him, he opened his eyes to see Jay sitting beside a man on the two thrones designed to show equal status of royalty.
"Are you prepared to die?" Lucifer teased as he swirled the glass cup filled with red wine, its aromatic smell traveling into Ace's nose.
"You won't kill me." Ace replied confidently without any signs of fear. Ignoring Lucifer, he looked towards Lucifer and asked with a confident smirk on his face, "Jay, care to explain what all this is about before you piss me off?"
Jay chuckled with his palm covering his face, only calming down moments later as he replied coldly, "I can't tell you anything. For the next seven months, you'll stay here with me to cultivate, I'll take care of your sect while you're occupied with cultivating here." Jay expressed his thoughts, expecting Ace to accept his offer readily.
"I refuse to, not when Charlotte is still waiting for me." Ace rebutted with a simple reason which made Lucifer raise his brows in disappointment, only for Jay to shut Ace down with his next words.
"The Snow family has already brought her back against her own will, if you yourself aren't able to become a peak expert in the four domains within five years time, then be prepared to collect her corpse. This isn't a threat, it's the truth and reason for you to stay here." Jay explained with a tone and expression devoid of any feeling.
He himself detested doing so, but he had to, it wasn't because he needed to pressure Ace for him to gain motivation, but because he wanted Ace to understand his intention for doing so shamelessly.
"I see...I'll stay here then." Ace replied calmly, but deep within his heart, killing intent was boiling towards the Snow family.
"Jay, if I find out that you held any malicious intentions for holding me back here today for seven months, then don't blame me for taking your life one day after I overtake you. This isn't a threat, but my true thoughts." Ace chose his words carefully, using the same words in the same way Jay did.
Though infuriated, Jay didn't counter back to Ace's argument and said to him while standing up, "Follow me."