NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1067: Pressure on Max
Lucien's eyes narrowed as the thousand demons roared with newfound freedom. Some were drenched in infernal energy, their bodies swollen with corruption, their presence pressing against the very air.
A single flick of his thumb pressed the controller in his hand, and a ripple of light expanded outward. Transparent cube-shaped cages materialized in an instant, locking every one of them inside. Not even the divine rank demon at the tenth cycle of life and death could resist the invisible lock. They pounded and shrieked but the cubes remained firm, glowing faintly with Lucien's command.
Mark chuckled softly, his black hair swaying in the still air. "Did you truly think I would allow that?" His voice was calm, but the arrogance beneath it was impossible to hide. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers. The cubes flickered once and dissolved as if they had never existed, leaving nothing but the wild presence of the demons stretching across the ruined palace grounds.
"I have some business to handle with these creatures," Mark said, his red eyes gleaming. "They belong to me now." His smile sharpened. "We will meet again." With a ripple of distorted air, he and the multitude of demons vanished, leaving behind the faint echo of infernal energy.
Lucien stood alone in the empty silence, his hand still resting on the controller. For a long moment he said nothing.
Finally, his voice broke the stillness. "Just another headache for this world." He turned away, walking deeper into the Bright Buddha Palace where the ancient seal once lay. He wanted to see the remnants for himself, to confirm what had been lost, and what might yet be restored.
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Far away, within the square of the Four God Nation, a heavy gathering took place. The four leaders of the God Nations stood with their elders and important retainers, while the leaders of the Middle Domain gathered opposite them.
Max stood slightly apart, his eyes narrowed as he watched their quiet exchange. He could sense their voices were locked behind barriers of runes, sealed away so that no one outside the circle could hear.
The atmosphere was heavy with tension. Everyone knew Mark's reappearance had shifted the balance of the world. The release of so many high-ranked demons was not a matter that could be ignored. Yes, when the demons were released, they already got information about it.
The leaders' faces were stern, their brows furrowed as they considered what this meant for their people.
Max's gaze flicked between them, his fists clenched. He could not make out the details of their conversation, but he knew the topics were obvious.
The aftermath of Mark's attacks. The sudden surge of demons into the world. The uncertain loyalties of Lucien, who had revealed his hand but vanished before the world could demand more of him.
And above all, the opening of—the Heavenly Lord Secret Domain.
It was due to open in one month. Everyone in the square understood that it would decide the fate of humanity. For the leaders, it was a chance to unite and prepare. For Max, it was one path to increase his strength to Divine Rank, and one more battlefield where he would be forced to fight.
The square fell into uneasy silence as the meeting stretched on. Max's heart pounded as he waited.
"There is only one month left for the Heavenly Lord Secret Domain to open," Lady Divine said softly as she stood beside Max. Unlike the others who were locked in discussion, she did not move closer to the circle of rulers. Her gaze stayed fixed on the leaders, but her words were directed only to him.
Max frowned slightly. "Why are you all focusing so much on the Heavenly Lord Secret Domain? You even tried to lock me away so that I could enter it safely. Why is it so important to all of you?" His voice carried the weight of suspicion, the same distrust he had shown them since the Valora Continent's destruction.
Lady Divine sighed. "It is because the Heavenly Lord Secret Domain is unlike any other secret realm in this world. Most secret domains are fragments left behind by experts of the Divine Realm or even higher planes. But the Heavenly Lord Secret Domain is different. It is not bound to our world alone. It exists as a bridge, a convergence of many small worlds scattered throughout the starry skies. When it opens, it draws in the chosen geniuses from countless mortal worlds. In that place, one does not only fight against demons or ascendants of our world but against talents born in other realms entirely."
Her eyes turned solemn, and her voice lowered. "Inside it lies inheritance beyond imagination. The domain contains laws of heaven and earth so pure they can push any genius with sufficient foundation directly into the Divine Rank. For some, it may even serve as the starting step toward the path of ascension. If someone conquers its trials, they may obtain relics, bloodlines, or techniques that could tilt the balance of an entire war."
Max listened, his gaze darkening as her words sank in.
Lady Divine continued. "This is why it is so important to us. The demons will not hesitate to send their best into the domain, and the Ascendants will do the same. If they gain the treasures within, we will not be able to stand against them. But if humanity seizes them, then for the first time since this war began, we may gain a true advantage. That is why the Four God Nation and the Seven Overlord Forces are treating this as the deciding battlefield. It is not just a competition of strength. It is a gamble for the future of this world."
Her eyes softened as she glanced at Max. "And you, Max, are the one they want to carry that gamble. You are already a symbol, whether you accept it or not. They believe only you can lead the other geniuses into the Heavenly Lord Secret Domain and bring back results strong enough to change the tide."
Max's brows furrowed as he listened to Lady Divine's explanation. Her words weighed heavily on his mind, and for a long moment he said nothing. His gaze stayed fixed on the ground where the shadows of the leaders stretched long beneath the light of the torches, but his thoughts wandered far beyond the square.
'So that's why they locked me away… so that's why they feared I would act rashly. To them, I'm not a person. I'm a weapon. A gamble they're all staking their hopes on.' He felt the pressure on him increase many times all of a sudden. The hopes of so many humans were heavy, but they only hardened his resolve to get stronger fast.