The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1464: Entering the Jade Nest

Silence reigned between the Jade Princess and the veiled lady for several minutes until the latter finally sighed.

"Master, do you believe I can succeed in this task?" She paused, letting out a breath. "You know, in obtaining the Jade Pendant."

The veiled lady gazed through the window, her eyes settling on Klaus as he pulled a golden fruit from his space ring and began munching it, ignoring all the stares directed his way.

"Such a fascinating fellow. I've encountered plenty of prodigies, yet he stands out, acting as though he's superior to all. His arrogance might hold some truth," she murmured with a smile hidden behind her veil before facing the Princess again.

"My cherished disciple, you've spent 200 years readying yourself for this journey. You've completed all necessary research and pinpointed the Pendant's whereabouts, so surely you can claim it.

When I first ascended to True Immortal, the Jade Ant Queen emerged from her nest after an untold time. Having hit the Supreme stage's peak, she sought Celestial status and set off on a cosmic pilgrimage.

I was fortunate to meet her face-to-face once. That's when I beheld the Pendant closely. Afterward, I learned it's one of the three Primal Chaos Pendants, forged in the Primal Chaos Storm.

In time, I found out the Pendant unlocks the solution to the mental obstacle tormenting mind cultivators on their path to godhood.

Thus, my dear apprentice, no matter your current doubts, remember that to scale the heights and someday dominate all minds, you must seize that pendant."

The Jade Princess nodded firmly, her fist tight and gaze burning with resolve.

The veiled lady smiled once more. "You know, across the immense universe, only a handful have attained godhood and gone further using mind cultivation from the ground up.

The Hive Queen pioneered it, climbing to the Supreme stage and scraping into the Celestial stage. Naturally, her edge came from being an insect tamer.

Next came the Formation Queen, who also touched the Celestial stage. Given her Zorvian family roots, that was expected.

Then the 9th Paragon, who perished at demigod but pushed his mind to Celestial. Still, we both recognize the Paragon's freakish nature.

Beyond these three, others exist, including me. Yet we remain stuck, while you won't—and you realize that.

That's precisely why I urge you to treat this mission with utmost gravity. Plus, enlisting the renegade hunter's aid would be wise."

"Huh, why?"

"Do you need to ask?" The veiled lady rose and approached the Jade Princess. "What occurred when you probed his mental defenses?"

The Jade Princess toyed with her finger briefly before replying sheepishly, "I hit a brick wall, literally. His mind seemed guarded by an unbreakable barrier."

The four other ladies nearby exchanged glances. Evidently, they hadn't anticipated such a confession from their typically haughty Princess.

The veiled lady had foreseen it, though.

"I tested him too, without success. This points to one of two possibilities. One, his mind is extraordinarily fortified, beyond even a Universal God's reach. I didn't push fully, but my glimpse confirmed it.

Or two, his master, the Burning Angel, bestowed a treasure shielding him from divine mind assaults.

Should that prove true, for your pursuit of an artifact vital to all mind cultivators, assemble a team with solid mental shields.

The Pendant is undoubtedly safeguarded. So, trust him or not, recruit him. He's a fighter—compensate him for his support."

The veiled lady blinked back to her seat and peered out the window anew, her eyes now on Rory. "Approach him via the girl at his side. Your history with her will help,"

The Jade Princess nodded and fell into thought. Minutes passed before she breathed out, expressed gratitude to her master, and shut her eyes to mull other matters.

Outside, meanwhile, Klaus shared the fruit he'd been eating with his teammates while awaiting Lord Victor. Twenty minutes later, the lord came back with a weary sigh.

"No success?" Klaus inquired, receiving a nod.

"Nobody's willing to share maps. They all aim to claim their treasures first."

"Can't truly fault them for it. But there's no need to worry—we've secured two fragments already, and even better, I've pinpointed the exact spot we're after."

"Really?" Lord Victor inquired, his eyes sparkling with delight.

"Yes. The 7th Jade Princess graciously overlapped the maps. It turns out our target hides right between those two fragments. Which means someone present holds a map leading straight to our destination.

"Without that map in hand, we'll have to charge into the area without a guide. Rest easy though—we'll arrive no matter what dangers await."

"Great news indeed. Still, stay cautious. Most heading in are elite powerhouses from their clans and factions. Some carry grudges against you, so watch your back."

Klaus nodded firmly.

One hour passed before a deep hum echoed from a cave several kilometers off, unleashing waves of dense Spiritual Qi. All eyes snapped toward it.

"The gateway activates," Lord Victor announced, staring at the cave's direction. Minutes later, another hum rang out, then a radiant beam struck the cave, shattering the small mountain and exposing a magnificent jade gateway.

"It's open at last." Crowds surged forward to rush inside.

"Don't forget, the gate stays open for a full year, so handle your tasks before it closes. If you finish early and wish to exit, various portals scatter throughout the Nest. Find one, and it'll transport you out."

Klaus and his team nodded.

Observing the gateway, Klaus saw many had already vanished inside. While they waited, the silver ship parted once more, and the Jade Princess stepped out with four followers.

Gliding past Klaus and his group, she threw him a sharp sidelong look before continuing on. Once they departed, Klaus faced his teammates. "Let's move."

They nodded and trailed behind him. Moments later, only meters separated them from the gateway.

Rory drew the jade token and triggered it. An azure bubble enveloped the five of them, yanking them straight toward the portal without a single step.

Right before crossing the threshold, Klaus glimpsed a figure in a dark hooded cloak slashing a deadly gesture his way.

Silent, he plunged through. Floating before him, though, was a message in blood-red script.

<I have marked him for death, master>