From Secret Clan to the Divine Dynasty

Chapter 178: 171 Hovern Sudden Change

Cyart, Glenborough Province.

The Hovern family's hundreds of core members hid in a secluded mountain range, and the Hovern people had erected powerful barriers near the cave ahead of time, with all the family members waiting for Earl Hovern's successful ascend to the Monarch Level.

Should he reach the Monarch Level, the teetering Hovern family could continue to hold up.

To avoid being attacked, they had sought two powerful allies of low-level Monarch strength, one was "Axe of the Highland," the next head of the Hovern branch from Vallere, and the other was a tall, masked, and mysterious woman known as "Destruction Lady."

Earl Hovern did not choose to break through to Monarch at the family residence because it was too conspicuous, even though the barriers at the residence were stronger, but it still made for a huge target, sitting there waiting for trouble to come knocking.

The present decision was somewhat risky, but they indeed had not been discovered by the family's enemies for an entire year.

At the entrance of the cave, an impatient man paced back and forth.

"Axe of the Highland," a low-level Monarch strongman, was only in his thirties, dressed in a straight black suit with an annoyed expression and tightly furrowed brows.

"Your branch is really quite pitiful, all the other big families within Cyart's territory actually isolate your existence..."

"It's been a year; why hasn't that old guy succeeded in his breakthrough yet, and why hasn't he failed either..."

He looked at the blood relatives of the Hovern family and couldn't resist complaining; the Hovern people responded with awkward smiles, not daring to rebuff his remarks.

Even though the two Hovern families have been separate for many years and established roots in two different countries, they still maintained contact, and "Axe of the Highland" was actually Earl Hovern's nephew.

Otherwise, no matter how many resources were offered, he wouldn't have come over to help so readily.

In fact, only the "Adranus" Meyer family and "Aether Giant Dragon" Wilson family hadn't split, while the other eight pillar families had branched out across the Eastern Four Kingdoms, but the supportive branches that could rise were still few.

A hundred years ago, everyone was an alliance against the Lorne citizens, intermarriage was normal, so it's routine for them to cohabit mixedly.

Therefore, during the Fifty Years War of the Eastern Four Kingdoms, the casualty rate of the nobles was very low, just as Old Ramon once said—nobles rarely kill other nobles easily; it was the commoners who suffered the most fatalities.

It was from the generation of Viscount Bast that the nobles of the Ten Great Families completely turned against each other, and the initial bonds of alliance finally faded away.

"I really can't wait any longer; there are many things I need to deal with over there!"

The complaints of "Axe of the Highland" were justified—they established "The Oath" to come here and help, and they couldn't leave until they saw the results.

None of them expected that Earl Hovern would be this enduring and drag things out, attempting to breakthrough for over a year without any sign, yet he never completely failed either.

It was as if "Axe of the Highland" was trapped in Cyart Kingdom, unable to return home, which put him in an aggravated mood.

The woman standing alongside, known as "Destruction Lady," was a figure wrapped in a black cloak, who had not uttered a word for more than a year and kept silently waiting for the outcome.

There were hundreds of extraordinary exponents in the cave, and even a dozen who had reached the Transmutation Level, all of them direct blood relatives of the Hovern family—as for the extraordinary exponents from subordinate forces, they were not called here by the Hovern family for secrecy's sake.

In the past, the members of the Hovern family waited anxiously every day, but now they too were somewhat relaxed and numb.

"Hahahaha!"

Suddenly, a loud laughter echoed through the mountain range, causing everyone to freeze before tensing up and becoming vigilant!

"Finally found you. Earl Hovern, hiding here for a year, is something many people didn't expect."

After a moment of silence, "Axe of the Highland" spoke in a cold voice, "Things aren't looking good, seems like the madmen from the Stars Embrace Order have found us."

The next moment, he had stepped out of the cave, instantaneously activating the powerful blood of a demi-god from the First Era, the Shattered Giant!

The giant, hundreds of meters tall, was covered with cracks and scars, as if he had survived countless brutal wars, and each crack released a wave of unsettling energy; the pale light seeping between the torn skin evoked thoughts of death and destruction.

Its eyes, as dark as abysses, held no emotion, only a cold void, and the giant's form was shrouded in deep shadows.

With every step the Shattered Giant took, the ground trembled with thunderous roars, as if the entire world was affected by its presence.

"Shattered Realm!"

In the next instant, "Axe of the Highland" opened up his bloodline domain without hesitation, unleashing a terribly white force that spread all around him.

Unlike spellcasters who actively choose "Precise Inscription" spells, the domain power of Bloodline Knights was derived from their own bloodline traits.

The barriers within the mountain had been activated, an endless shield enveloped the whole range of the mountain, and any enemy would be greatly suppressed.

After activating the barrier, the people of the Hovern family felt an endless fear because, before the mountain-like Shattered Giant, all hopes seemed insignificant.

Each breath from the Shattered Giant seemed to release an ominous sign, filling people's hearts with despair. The terrible Shattered Giant was like a harbinger of the apocalypse, its very existence a prophecy of disaster!

It was said that a true Shattered Giant had a body tens of thousands of meters tall, becoming broken after challenging the superior gods. Just by breathing, it could release a power of calamity unimaginable to humans.

"Axe of the Highland" was constantly on guard, scanning every position. Where was the lunatic from Stars Embrace Order? Why could he not sense his presence at all?

The next moment, a powerful and terrifying force appeared out of nowhere, as if an invisible giant eye stared at "Axe of the Highland" through the sky.

"Sinners, you do not understand the greatness of our god. Naturally, there is no need for redemption," a voice declared.

Extraordinary Exponents from all directions gradually appeared, and among the people who came to attack Earl Hovern, there were even more than one at the Monarch Level!

In the valley, a barrier slowly rose up, and the members of the Hovern family were extremely tense while "Axe of the Highland," transformed into the "Shattered Giant," resisted the invisible scrutinizing force and prepared to act without hesitation.

He swung a massive axe made of mountain stone and runes that, with just one motion, stirred the unsettling pale energy and instantly shattered the distant mountain peak.

Even the "Destruction Lady," who had been silent for over a year, emerged from her cave.

A melee involving several Monarch powerful experts was about to erupt!

However, at that moment, everyone felt a subtle change; a power and momentum that had been building up seemed to dissipate unintentionally.

"Axe of the Highland" and "Destruction Lady" were the first to realize that their Oath was complete, yet Earl Hovern, who was about to break through to the Monarch Level, had not emerged from underground.

"It seems, in the end, he has failed," said "Axe of the Highland," disappointedly shaking his head and sighing.

The leader of Stars Embrace Order, still at an unknown location, slowly transmitted his voice:

"We, too, have wasted a year's time. The sinner's failure is, in fact, something to be expected. Earl Hovern's own talents were insufficient; he risked everything on a dangerous method from Forbidden knowledge, foolishly trying to force his way through, hoping to step into the palace."

"The chances of success were indeed too slim. Unable to break through the gates, without the ability to step into the palace, dying outside the splendor is undoubtedly his ultimate fate."

Stars Embrace Order chose to withdraw, and "Axe of the Highland" and "Destruction Lady" had no intention to pursue.

"Destruction Lady" immediately vanished, while "Axe of the Highland" let out a roar that echoed through the mountains.

"Payment has been made; we will no longer concern ourselves with matters in Cyart. If you wish to leave Cyart and join my family, I would welcome that... After all, our surname is Hovern."

Afterward, he burrowed into the ground and left.

The two Monarch powerful experts who had decided to watch from afar also left, choosing to track the traces of Stars Embrace Order and immediately contact the powerful forces of True Gods Church to deal with that group of lunatics.

In the end, only the weeping and wailing people of the Hovern family remained.

----

After that day, Byrne returned to the Fischer family, and a month had passed in the blink of an eye.

By using the Extraordinary powers of "Deconstructive Perspective" and "Self-Extracted Formula," he had recently improved the special Magic Potion used in the Lost Ritual called "Shadow of the Lost." Daybreakers who consumed the "Shadow of the Lost" would now further sense the radiance of the Lord of the Lost.

Not only the low-level Extraordinary Exponents, but the influence of "Shadow of the Lost" would now be effective for any level of Exponent.

Savoie, a junior officer in the Royal Army and a Daybreaker, now a Lieutenant, had finally reached the 2nd Rank of the Path of Calamity, "Thunder Attendant."

Mormir, the chief of the Fein Police Department, had also smoothly reached the 2nd Rank of the Path of Divine Sacrifice, "Listener."

Among the second generation of Daybreakers, only Inna of the Path of Wholeheartedness had yet to make a breakthrough.

That day, the calm Byrne picked up a popular book in the study. The black-covered book bore the title "The Greatest Emperor of the Seven Stars."

Although the Lorne Empire was already the most powerful and terrifying empire in the world, the Seven Stars Empire had suddenly brought forth what might be the strongest Extraordinary Exponent many decades ago—the Seven Stars Emperor, known as the "Military God," who managed to lead the Seven Stars Empire in resisting the combined assault of the Lorne Empire and the neighboring countries with his own power.

At that moment, the study door opened, and Darren, who was engaged to a girl from the Oder family, walked in with his head lowered.

The young man hesitated, struggling to speak, but eventually asked with a smile:

"Father, tell me, if my children are mortals and do not consume the Knight's awakening potion or grasp the Power of Consecution for their entire lives, can they procreate without any restrictions?"

Without even putting down the book in his hands, Byrne simply shook his head and replied:

"Of course not. Otherwise, what would be the point of the gods' limitations? Your children too have the latent bloodline, and even without activating it, they still will be bound by the laws."

After hearing the explanation, Darren subconsciously touched his own face to ease the awkwardness and said:

"Oh, I see. Well, then it seems that every offspring of the Fischer family is indeed very important."

Suddenly, Byrne put down the book in his hand, gazed intently at the somewhat panicked Darren, and felt a not-so-good premonition deep inside.