The Rise of the Black Plain

As far as the people in that family knew, that statue represented some ancient expert, and the painting next to the small text on that statue was loaded with a high cultivation understanding.

Just by looking at it, one could understand many things about cultivation and easily pave one's journey to the 9th stage.

Because of this, having found this place thousands of years ago, the Spiritual Saint who had founded this family decided to establish his organization's headquarters there and has lived in seclusion since then.

After generations, the first Spiritual Demigod emerged, being that level 90 man who currently commanded this family.

But throughout this family's time in this place, some of its members had tried to connect to the picture at the base of the statue, for besides the dense cultivation understanding, it also exuded another feeling. It told everyone in the surrounding area that true 'gold' would be obtained when one tried to connect to the painting.

Unfortunately, the members of this family who tried to do so died of spiritual exhaustion without exception!

According to these people's theories, this was probably a test left by an expert. But with none of them having achieved the minimum to fulfill the demands of this test, they didn't know what it was about and only theorized about it.

Seeing Minos committing this suicidal act, all three Demigods suffering to protect their people, they couldn't help but open their mouths in shock, seeing that all this had been just for him to attempt this stupid act.

But as they thought about it and freed their people from Minos' previous actions, Emperor Stuart felt part of his consciousness being taken to another place.

This place looked very much like the one represented by Henricus Longus' painting, a world slowly being surrounded by darkness and only one standing out to try to prevent the end of the world as it was.

Minos then saw that person with his back to the painting glowing in an intense golden light and changing shape.

Blond hair grew from this person's brown hair, while his white skin had a golden glow.

Armor appeared around his body, growing along with what appeared to be a throne.

A halo appeared above this person's head while his eyes were closed.

His eyes moved from side to side, and then his hands closed, causing a gigantic hourglass to appear behind him.

Then that person's eyes opened, revealing a golden iris as bright as the surroundings.

"My heir, you have come a long way and are about to reach your destination." This man opened his mouth, and a voice that was ancient and full of power sounded until it reached Minos' ears, causing him to frown and stare at it.

"This is but a mere memory recorded on a screen, but know that this is your destiny. Sooner or later, you will be alone against this darkness.

I hope my descendants can help you reach this point in your journey more easily." He said as the hourglass behind him moved slowly around his body, like the hand of a clock.

Time!

Minos opened his eyes wide and felt Henricus Longus' innate ability for the first time as the surroundings changed like a recording returning quickly.

The hourglass near Henricus Longus' figure moved counterclockwise, circling his body rapidly, while his eyes shone like a star.

Gulp!

'Incredible!' Minos struggled not to vomit, feeling a terrifying sensation capable of even unbalancing his solid spiritual foundation.

'Even though he left the Spiritual World so long ago, can his painting activate his innate ability?' Minos wondered, discovering this now since he didn't know much about what Henricus Longus had left for him there.

As he was thinking, the hourglass stopped moving, and the distorted surroundings stabilized, showing the interior of that mountain that Minos had just invaded.

In particular, he could see a group of people moving around the sides of the village, carrying things with them as if they were leaving.

In the middle of the place, where the statue representing the God of Time stood, a man was prostrate, as part of his soul connected to that painting there.

"Ancestor, I am sorry that the family has to disappoint you again. But we are weak to continue living in this state.

If we do not find a better place for ourselves, I fear that when the chosen one reaches us, we will be useless to him.

Therefore, I will move the family to the Divine Continent. I hope to find a way to stop the current decay."

The man left this message engraved along with the picture drawn by Henricus Longus, while his level 93 aura was easy to notice.

'Level 93?' Minos sensed that and frowned.

'It seems that the family was facing a decrease in the number of talents... Hmm, they must not have succeeded in their attempt in the Divine Continent, or they wouldn't have used that cowardly approach with me.'

As he was thinking, the man in that memory recorded on that board said. "Our family will try to find a place in Grinia Empire. I hope the chosen one will arrive here and make his way there. We will be waiting for him in the forests."

'Grinia?" Minos considered that name, knowing exactly where to go.

The Divine Continent had only three states, empires that had existed since the time of Henricus Longus.

Grinia Empire was one of the three states on that continent, the closest to the Central Continent from the Snow area.

He clenched his fists and made up his mind to travel there!

'I will return to my state and depart from the Snow area...'

As he was thinking, the surroundings of that memory suddenly froze.

The blond man looked into Minos' eyes and said. "I hope you will achieve victory against the challenges in your path. Now go. There is no time to waste!"

The surroundings became more transparent, gradually returning to normal, as Minos found himself inside his body again, in front of that statue.

As he looked at that place, he felt the people in the surroundings still battling against his techniques.

He then stood up, startling those people who had seen him finish infusing his energies into that painting, and then, in a single breath, returned as if nothing had happened.

"He managed to overcome the challenge?" The patriarch of that family exclaimed in shock.

But immediately after realizing his situation and noticing nothing else there, Minos immediately moved toward the exit.

'Time to leave!'

...