"This... why do you want me to climb on top of the bed." Lia's voice softened as she glanced shyly at Grey.

Grey face palmed with a dark look that screamed defeat. He really had caught Lia's disease. There was no other explanation.

"Cough, it is not what you think. Climb onto the bed so we can start your training." Grey shook his head helplessly.

"Oh..." Lia's cheeks reddened. After a brief hesitation, she climbed onto the bed and sat beside him, posture stiff with embarrassment.

"Alright then, let's begin. Bring your hands forward." Grey smiled lightly.

Lia obediently raised both hands.

Grey reached out and wrapped his palms around hers. Lia froze, mind blanking before exploding in embarrassment.

"I... is holding hands necessary?"

"Yes. This way I can comfortably sense the energy channels across your body. There is another method, but that would require me to sit behind you and you would need to undress from the back for direct contact."

"Holding hands is fine!" Lia blurted out instantly, her entire face crimson.

"Alright, begin circulating your energy and start cultivating."

Lia immediately complied. Divine energy rushed out of her two cores, one originally her elixir field that had transformed in shape, and the other in the area where her heart should have been.

The heart core pulsed rapidly and golden blood surged through her body. One glance was enough for Grey to grasp the depth it possessed. It was no ordinary blood but the blood of a god.

Lia activated Endless Heavens of God Transformation, drawing cosmic energy toward her. The moment the technique circulated, the vast energy of the heavens surged in as if recognizing its long lost master, pouring into her meridians without hesitation.

As it entered her body, the technique took effect at once. The deep blue cosmic energy twisted and refined until it transformed into pure divine energy.

The conversion followed the principles recorded in the cosmic energy diagram. Though the absorbed energy diminished in quantity, the final result was still divine energy, its quality completely altered.

The divine energy surged toward her cores, travelling along her meridians arranged neatly throughout her body. As it settled inside, it suddenly spiraled out of control.

Lia's expression stiffened. A silver purple brilliance flared within her core the next moment, a suppressive force pressing down on the disobedient divine energy.

Relief washed through her at the familiar glow.

"Continue." Grey's calm voice guided her.

She resumed cultivating, slowly guiding the divine energy bit by bit. Time flowed quietly and two hours passed before either realized it.

"It's done." Grey stretched lazily. Although it took two hours, the results were impressive. Lia cultivated for only a short period but made remarkable progress and Grey was genuinely stunned.

"Thank you, Grey." Lia opened her eyes and stood from the bed. Not only had he stayed with her for two hours, he helped her guide the unstable energy whenever needed.

"It's fine." Grey smiled. 'I gained insight in the process as well.'

Every time she used Endless Heavens of God Transformation, his comprehension rose sharply. Within two hours, his insight had crossed almost twenty percent.

He did not expect such results. At this rate, would he not comprehend it fully in a few days?

"Alright, I will head back to my room." Grey tied his hair, ready for a warm shower and some sleep. "Tomorrow morning we will go to Nova City. We will visit your father and the Duskwood family and also meet my father."

Today had been eventful and tomorrow would be no different. Nova City was the next step. He planned to finish things quickly.

The city and the tri city province were the easiest to bring under his rule and merge with Ascension Province. Hence, he planned on taking over those cities before he came back.

He also wanted to meet Richard.

...

The next day, Grey woke up early and so did Lia. They freshened up quickly and prepared to leave.

For Little Hong, Grey had already arranged supervision. He called Valeria and his granddisciples to watch over her.

Mimi could not remain with her, since it's existence was tied to Grey's mental ability and would disperse once out of his perception range.

He brought Werner along to speed things up.

They boarded his AV and shot off toward Nova City. After several hours of flight, the familiar city finally appeared on the horizon.

"Nova City." Grey smiled.

This was where everything began. His transmigration, his awakening, all of it.

And now he was back.

Eterna appeared in his mind interface.

"Grey, the city is in lockdown. I checked the local news. It is the Duskwood family."

"They cannot sit still at all huh?" Grey smiled coldly. He knew they would make a move. After all, the matters of the Ashspire city must have already spread to Nova City.

The Duskwood family making a move was within what he had expected. At the same time, he was slightly concerned, Richard was still in the city after all.

...

Inside Nova City, members of the Duskwood family walked through each sector with cold, expressionless faces. Shops were shut, lights dimmed, and every window in every apartment was sealed tight.

A heavy air pressed down on the entire city.

All citizens of Nova City had been forced into silence, trapped under lockdown, waiting for a nightmare to either pass or devour them.

This was the Duskwood family's decree.

A message carved into the city itself.

If Grey Lockhart dared to step into Nova City, every civilian here would die.

Back then, the people believed Grey Lockhart was the villain.

The traitor.

The man who betrayed mankind.

Rumors painted him as a calamity in human skin, a high order member wearing a friendly mask.

The Duskwood family never hesitated. They hunted him like a beast, cornered him, poisoned him with lies, and made sure the world feared his name.

But the truth arrived like a blade against their throats.

Grey was not the threat.

Grey was not the traitor.

Grey was not the monster.

He was the one who uncovered their secret. The sins the Duskwood family hid in blood and shadow.

And he was hunted down for it.

He was never the villain. He was the savior.

Everyone in the city had seen the video. The video of Grey Lockhart, the same man they once despised, ascending to city lordship and taking control of four cities at once.

The same man who had completely eliminated high order disasters and corruption fields as a whole.

The civilians were fearful. Those who had mocked him in comments, those who cursed him without hesitation, those who spat venom at his name now lived with trembling hearts.

To them, the Duskwood family's conflicts meant nothing. Their real fear was what Grey would do to them.

He was a god like existence, and they had dared to speak against him. How could any of them live with a sense of peace now?

...

"Did you find Richard Lockhart?" Alaric Duskwood sat in his office chair, expression cold and ruthless.

Malric, the patriarch, shook his head. "We couldn't find him. It's almost as if he vanished."

"Useless." Alaric's voice cracked like a whip. Corruption energy burst from him uncontrollably.

After hearing the news about Grey, every member of the Duskwood family had already taken the Abyssal Transformation Pills gifted by Varyn.

"Lord Varyn is dead, father..." Malric said quietly. "How are we supposed to survive the wrath of Grey Lockhart?"

"Survive his wrath?" The ancestor sneered. "If he dares touch our family, I will make this entire city a graveyard before we fall."

His aura erupted. He was now late stage. The Abyssal Transformation Pill had forced him into it in one leap.

Within hours, he cornered every major family in the city, sealed their powers, and imprisoned them, even the city lord.

Nova City was under his fist. And if Grey dared to appear, Alaric would make sure he regretted it, even at the cost of his life.

However, the next moment, both father and son froze.

A powerful voice thundered across the sky. "Hey Duskwood family, I'm here to deliver a few presents."

Civilians trapped inside their homes jolted in shock. One by one, windows flew open across the city.

A blinding silver purple brilliance filled their vision, sweeping across the entire skyline and swallowing Nova City in light.

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