Chapter 1486: 1486. Surprise

Noah didn't initially feel that because he had been too focused on his project, but he couldn't miss it once his attention went on the outside world.

A purple forest appeared in his view. Tall trees filled the land, and a few white rivers ran through that azure terrain. Noah couldn't see any magical beast from his position, but he felt that he couldn't find any of them even if the sphere didn't limit his senses.

The environment appeared too perfect. The trees lacked claw marks, the ground didn't have any crack, and the rivers lacked ripples. It seemed that the entire region stood still. Nothing moved.

The only trace of life in the region was the oppressive aura that filled the whole area. Noah could feel it from inside the inscribed sphere. He could even understand the level of the beings that radiated it.

'Two rank 8 cultivators,' Noah thought as he moved his attention back on the separate space. 'I'm too late.'

Noah was exhausted. He had tested non-stop during the travel, and he didn't even take breaks during the actual procedure. His mind was in deep need of rest. He was in no condition to make a grand escape.

The plant wasn't ready either. Noah had just planted the Demonic Form into its new environment. The roots had to spread, and the destructive aura had to stabilize before he could use his new asset to break the sphere.

'It seems that I have to face rank 8 cultivators,' Noah concluded as he closed his eyes to maximize his recovery speed.

The destructive aura radiated by the plant continued to intensify. Noah didn't completely know its effects, but he didn't affect its growth.

Noah didn't care if the plant grew out of his control. His first opponent was a quasi-rank 8 inscribed item. He needed all the power he could get.

The army performed polite bows toward the immense palace in the distance before resuming the travel. The experts soon landed in front of a tall gate that opened to reveal the majestic insides of the structure.

Noah didn't see any of that. His consciousness couldn't expand, and his eyes were closed. His entire focus was on his condition. He was about to face the harshest battle of his life.

"Are you still planning something?" Miss Nine mocked him when she saw his state. "You are in Madame Canson's range now. You can put away your hopes."

Noah didn't even hear her. His concentration was unbreakable. Her voice was nothing more than a buzzing noise in his ears.

Still, the insides of the palace hid someone that could force Noah to open his eyes. As the group moved through the various large halls and spacious gardens, he heard a voice that made him unable to concentrate.

"I'm sorry," A old-looking man with long white hair said. "I didn't think my actions would lead to this."

Noah opened his eyes and revealed a cold gaze when he saw Shandal standing near one of the corridors' tall doors. Shame filled his expression. He barely seemed the same god that Noah had met in the lower plane.

Noah didn't immediately speak. His eyes remained fixed on the expert as countless thoughts filled his mind. Then, he opened his mouth to give voice to a simple but meaningful question.

"Who?" Noah asked. "Who ascended?"

Shandal couldn't reach the Immortal Lands on his own. He had to cross the passages opened by other divine cultivators during their ascension.

Noah had seen Shandal leave the main world during the invasion of the Eternal Snakes. He knew which powerhouses were in the other mortal plane. There was a high chance that the answer would feature familiar names.

"I am truly sorry," Shandal repeated without giving a proper answer.

A familiar man crossed the door behind Shandal at that point. Noah recognized him. He was Ethan Sailbrird, the expert that he had offended during the secret auction.

"You have no idea what we have prepared for you," Ethan said. "I must admit that you have been difficult to capture. Yet, we will make an example out of you."

Noah's mind grew cold when he heard those words. His black hole spun faster as the bloodlust radiated from his mental walls intensified. He knew how influential large organizations were, and a few guesses inevitably appeared in his mind.

Shandal had connections in the Immortal Lands. He had allies who had taught him about the complex political environment of the higher plane. It wasn't hard to guess that some forces were already aware of him.

Noah had arrived in the same landing zone that Shandal had used for millennia. That area was under the control of the Crystal City. It made sense that those fanatics could understand whether Noah and Shandal knew each other.

Most of his friends had migrated to the other world after the invasion of the Eternal Snakes, but those Mortal Lands were relatively close. Noah wouldn't be surprised if they shared the same landing zone or if those areas were close.

With the influence generated by two large organizations working together, it wasn't hard to target Noah's allies. Shandal was even on their side. Those realizations could only fill Noah's mind with worry.

"Who has ascended?" Noah asked again, and Ethan exploded into a loud laugh.

Shandal lowered his head even more. He didn't want to look at Noah's cold gaze, and he also wished to avoid those questions. However, his shame forced him to say something.

"You don't know what it feels to have a second chance after millennia spent wandering between two planes," Shandal said. "I can finally cultivate again. My journey isn't over."

"Who have you sacrificed for that?" Noah asked as roars mixed with his voice.

The group reached an immense hall at that point. Two thrones stood at the center of that room. White and purple crystals made the first one, while the second resembled a simple metallic seat.

A beautiful woman sat on the crystal throne. Her features resembled Miss Canson's, but she wore a cold expression that the weak expert lacked.

The other throne was empty, but a man supported his back on its side. The expert had long black hair and a pair of dark eyes. He was slender, and his expression radiated a slyness rarely seen on the natives of the Immortal Lands.

Those two experts were rank 8 cultivators. They were the source of the oppressive auras that filled the whole land. Their influence could spread as far as the region's edges, and they carried enough power to suppress every existence in their range.

The quasi-rank 8 sphere tried to shield Noah from their influence, but the item failed to block their dense auras. If the experts wanted to, they could crush Noah while he was inside that prison.

"This is the creature who has caused so many problems?" Madame Canson asked without moving her gaze.

"Yes!" Miss Nine shouted as she kneeled on the floor.

The other experts around her did the same. They all kneeled toward one of the pillars of the Crystal City.

"Don't worry, young one," Madame Canson said as she kept looking straight in front of her. "Your execution won't start yet. You have to understand the gravity of your actions first."

The wall in front of her moved after her line, and a vast garden appeared in Noah's view. The hall also went upward, lifting all the experts above that new environment.

Noah inspected the garden, and his eyes inevitably widened when he saw five familiar figures hidden behind a few trees in the distance. June, Flying Demon, Dreaming Demon, Faith, and Daniel were using the vegetation as a cover.