Chapter 1293: After Two Years, He's Back Again
Chapter 1293: After Two Years, He’s Back Again
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Braydon Neal had hoped to uncover more about her ancestors, but Sariyah Johannes’s knowledge was limited as well.
Nevertheless, she led Braydon to her father’s study.
Inside the wooden house lay numerous ancient tomes and handwritten manuscripts.
Among them, Braydon picked up a handwritten manuscript and perused its contents, delving into the life of Sariyah’s father.
He discovered that Maximus Johannes, an extreme path emperor from a millennium ago, had graced the pages.
From Braydon’s estimation, Maximus likely stood at the peak of the extreme path emperor, wielding formidable power that could rival even divine-level figures.
His mastery of the extreme path hinted at his prowess, capable of killing adversaries with terrifying attacks, akin to the display of extreme yin and extreme yang by the Seventh Sovereign Lord.
Maximus had been one of the 91 emperors who, under the Seventh Sovereign Lord’s banner, waged war against foreign races in the ruins.
In a bloody skirmish, he single-handedly confronted two divine-level figures from the Donta Imperial Dynasty, managing to slay one and wound another.
However, victory came at a steep cost, nearly depleting Maximus’s life force.
With the extreme path as his shield, he valiantly stalled the enemy forces, preventing their advance through the bronze door.
Despite harboring aspirations of reaching the divine realm, Maximus abandoned his ambitions to join the Seventh Sovereign Lord’s cause.
Following a fierce battle, he sought refuge in Yin Feather Mountain, where he lay unconscious and on the brink of death.
Upon awakening, he found solace in Sariyah’s mother’s care.
However, Maximus’s injuries had taken their toll, leaving him with a scant decade of life.
Unaware of his survival, the Seventh Sovereign Lord presumed him deceased and sealed the bronze door, leaving Maximus to his own devices.
Maximus harbored no resentment toward the Seventh Sovereign Lord.
Moreover, with little time left in his life, he and Sariyah’s mother sought refuge in Yin Feather Mountain, where they eventually married.
Both were nursing wounds from their past battles.
Sadly, Sariyah’s mother’s health deteriorated rapidly after giving birth to Sariyah, passing away within just two years.
Left to raise Sariyah alone, Maximus preserved her in stasis using the mystic ice stored in his void pouch.
His hope was that when the bronze door reopened, outsiders would find and return Sariyah to Hansworth.
As an emperor, Maximus had contributed significantly to his nation’s defense and the welfare of its people.
Therefore, his descendants deserved to be treated with respect and care.
Closing the book, Braydon grasped Maximus’s final wish: for Sariyah to eventually leave the ruins and lead an ordinary life in the outside world.
The book chronicled not only Maximus’s life but also the events of the battle a millennium ago.
Many historical figures featured prominently, their heroic deeds immortalized within its pages.
Tragically, they all perished within the ruins, fueling the millennia-old animosity between the outside world and the ruins.
However, a more pressing concern loomed—the imminent expiration of the thousand-year-old imperial decree issued by the Seventh Sovereign Lord.
With Braydon’s year-long confinement in the Frost Prison, less than a year remained until the deadline.
Once the threat of the imperial decree dissipated, unrest would surely grip the ruins’ inhabitants, all vying for entry into the outside world.
With 3,000 ruins in existence, each harboring aspirations of escape, the stage was set for a monumental conflict.
Braydon feared the lack of readiness on the part of the outside world’s nations.
Despite being aware of the impending crisis, the global leadership seemed content to feign ignorance, leaving martial artists ill-prepared for the impending chaos.
The outside world remained unprepared for war.
Once the time limit elapsed, the dynasties within the ruins would inevitably wage war against the bronze door—an outcome favorable to Hansworth.
Both the Ten Great Empires and the 72 powerful beings of the South Pole would be impacted without exception.
Failure to prepare for battle would force them into a defensive stance against the chaos within the ruins, leading to countless casualties.
This prospect filled Braydon with dread, prompting his decision to return.
“Your father’s dying wish was for you to return to Hansworth one day. Would you be willing to accompany me?” Braydon gently asked Sariyah.
Braydon felt compelled to assist the descendant of Maximus, the extreme path emperor.
However, Sariyah, with her innocent demeanor, was reluctant to leave the Yin Feather Mountain.
Born and raised in the ruins, she had grown accustomed to its flora and fauna, fostering a strong attachment to her home.
Respecting Sariyah’s wishes, Braydon decided to leave her behind at the Yin Feather Mountain.
He vowed to protect her when the Northern Army eventually swept through the 16th ruin, decimating the Donta Imperial Dynasty.
Meanwhile, the Yin Feather Mountain, with its status as a forbidden zone and the presence of a beast emperor, offered Sariyah a safe haven.
In contrast, the 16th bronze door would soon become the site of the cruelest battlefield in just ten months’ time.
Aware of Braydon’s impending departure, Sariyah enlisted the Philippine Eagle’s assistance in escorting him back to the 16th ancient city, its massive wings slicing through the sky as it soared at breakneck speed.
Meanwhile, in the 16th ancient city located tens of thousands of miles away, Braydon’s younger brother, Sorrell Neal, held dominion.
Sorrell possessed the regal bearing befitting a Northern King, much like his older brother, Braydon.
Adept in martial arts, he commanded the black-armored elites of the 16th ancient city, earning his stripes as a seasoned young general through numerous battles.
However, over the past two years, the teenage Sorrell had taken on the mantle of a provider, diligently tending to the needs of his soldiers and steeds in preparation for the looming conflict.
He had been apprised of the thousand-year imperial decree by the Northern Army—a decree signaling an imminent war that would engulf all the ruins, leaving no one unscathed.
Though indifferent to the affairs of other ruins, Sorrell was unwavering in his resolve to safeguard the 16th bronze door, staunchly forbidding any aborigines from crossing into the outside world.
He tirelessly fortified the defenses of the 16th ancient city and bolstered his forces by recruiting martial artists and expanding the Black Armored Army.
Furthermore, as Braydon’s younger brother, Sorrell enjoyed the fraternal affection of Luther Carden, Frediano Jadanza, and others, who treated him as one of their own.
They diligently managed the 16th ancient city, ensuring its prosperity by sending a monthly shipment of resources.
The Northern Army, commanding 37 aboriginal cities, was a crucial source of sustenance for the Northern Army, providing a steady influx of rare resources such as spirit stones, spirit crystals, and spirit herbs.
These invaluable commodities amassed in the military warehouse, a testament to the fruitful governance of the Northern Army over the aboriginal cities.
With Braydon absent for over two years, and the Northern Army undergoing profound transformations aided by the resources from the 37 cities, a cadre of elite warriors had been quietly nurtured.
This formidable force remained largely unknown to outsiders, save for the core figures of the Northern Army.
Under Luther’s stewardship, a significant number of Northern Army elites had been dispatched to the ruins, augmenting the ranks of the Northern Army.
The Gray Wolf Army boasted seven legions, while the Sanguine Army fielded nine.
Additionally, the five legions of the Western Army, Cora Yanagi’s Phoenix Army, Tobey Lapras’s royal guards, Cartley Yanagi’s Southern Hansworth Army, and Christopher Jenkins’ Groot Army, further bolstered their formidable military might.