One night, the patrolling military group found someone coming out from the forbidden forest. In the last year, the method of breaking the array had been popularized and the forbidden forest was not so forbidden anymore. Anyone with ability could go in to look for prey. Also, there were many dead monsters to be found once one went deeper inside. Thus, many experts with limited powers would form groups to go inside the forest looking for dead monsters. These dead bodies were resources.

The group took the man into custody and asked him all sort of questions which the man politely responded to. His coming from the forest was suspicious, but he was not from a different race. Therefore, the military leader let him go. But, he had asked his most talented scouts to follow the person from behind to figure out his identity. But, the scouts returned just a few minutes later telling him that they had lost the target. This became an unresolved case in the military as even saint realm general could not figure out who the mysterious man was. As the man's cultivation was not too high, the case was ultimately closed.

Michael only needed 10 days of travel to return. This was mainly because he had obtained the control mechanism for the array. After coming out, he raced to the Miller territory which was close to the point where he emerged from. He reached the city of Miller family, Rose, in a few days and got himself an inn.

Currently, Michael was in a very bad and un-noble like condition. He had not taken a bath for many days. The travel had caused his clothes to lose their lustre. If he went to the Miller Castle saying that he was Michael Rageberg, it would be a pretty comical incident. Thus, he dressed up properly for the occasion.

Michael had been rendered quite shocked by the news of the death of an immortal. Such things very rarely happened. But, in return, he had obtained the forbidden forest array formation. It was something that had changed tides of many battles in his previous life. Thus, it was an overall gain. Most importantly, his own power and path had advanced. If he had to fuck over an immortal or two along the way, Michael was fine with it! He did not come back in time to become a saint. He came back to become a powerful expert and leader.

After taking care of his look, he walked towards the Miller castle. It was just that he was no longer using any disguise and had not covered his cultivation.

It felt as if a storm had been created in the kingdom. Several communication stones buzzed at the same time throughout Atrexia! They all carried the same message - Crown Prince Michael Rageberg was in the Miller territory. He had become an emperor expert!

All experts from the different families who heard this news felt there was something wrong with it. Michael was only 12 years old. It was hard for even nobles to reach the emperor realm before they came of age. Prince Ronald was also a late king at the age of 19. But the scouts were saying that Michael, at the age of 12 was an emperor expert!

The scouts checked and rechecked several times sending the same information.

All nobles in different parts of the kingdom had the shock of their lives.

Heavens! This was inhuman! What kind of a freak was Michael?!

All humans had heard the name of their crown prince. But, they thought that he was a powerhouse of the future. But, it seemed like he was growing much much faster than they had estimated. Could he become a saint before coming of age? Then, what about the perfect realm? Would he not reach it in less than 50 years?

The only ones who were not shocked by the news of their scouts were the Rageberg family. They had been knowing Michael's condition all along his journey. Madam Rageberg would not allow a single day to go by without talking to her youngest son. Michael of course, did not tell his family that he put his life on the line to get his cultivation. He just said that he found a heavenly treasure.

The first ones to receive the news were naturally, Millers. It was their territory after all. As the people knew about the protection pact, the Millers responded quickly by sending guards to protect Michael from a distance. After reaching the main gate, Michael was given a grand welcome before being led to Paul's private meeting room. Paul had been already waiting for him to arrive.

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When Paul received the news, he did not know how to feel anymore. This kid was just unfathomable. From the time Michael had stepped out from the light tower, he felt that the kid had somehow changed his attitude. It was as if he had gone into a high-key mode! After coming out of the tower, he had created an alliance, led an immortal to death and created the record for cultivation speed! It was as if he had decided to do one shocking thing after another.

After Paul confirmed that Michael had indeed reached the emperor realm, he was overjoyed. As long as Michael reached the perfect realm, they could remove the Atrexias from power. Paul was not too interested in ruling humanity. In his heart, he had already accepted that Michael would sit on the throne in the future. He just wanted the Miller family to maintain close relations with Michael. He had a feeling that Michael was bound to reach the immortal realm. And when that happened, the Millers will benefit greatly from the association.

Paul said:

> Paul Miller : Good! Good! Very Good! Michael, you are really a monster! I don't know what to say after looking at your cultivation.

>

> Michael (smiles) : Its nice to meet you again, senior.

>

> Paul : Don't worry about pleasanteries! I heard from Collins that you went out to adventure. Seems like you unearthed some treasure! Very nice! The plane has not abandoned our race! As long as you reach the immortal realm, humans would have a solid foot in Aterna.

>

> Michael (turning serious) : The future is ever changing. No one knows what would happen. But, the race is always in my heart!

>

> Paul : Good answer! Okay, kid why are you here? Is it for that mission you took from the tower?

Michael thought that the Millers weren't an ancient family for nothing. He nodded, saying:

> Michael : I plan to set a new record in the final test. The highest combined score till now has been set by the beast emperor - Kevin Kross. He obtained 255 out of 300. I may be able to beat his score in potential section. But, in the combat section, it will be hard. Thus, I need to get full points in the wealth section. I want Senior Jerome, Senior Reez and you to help me take out the elven traffickers. Their group has only a single perfect realm expert - Diros. But, he would be no match if both Senior Jerome and Senior Reez team up. There are another two at peak saint realm. As long as you can handle them for sometime, killing all three is not a problem. I will take care of the rest.

Paul was surprised by Michael's confidence. The group of traffickers also had an early realm saint and many other emperor realm experts. Michael was proposing to fight with all of them by himself. But Paul could feel Michael's soul energy was much greater than his. It would not be wrong to assume that he really could win. When Paul thought that, he realized that the 12-year-old in front of him could kill a saint in face to face battle! Of course, if the saint had a soul guard, things would turn out differently. But this was not the point. The kid was already an expert. He also knew that Michael wanted to get a powerful master. But the more talent he showed, the greater the impact of humans would be. Paul was not an idiot. He knew that the death of an immortal expert had been a blow to the empire.

As long as Michael awed and dazzled those big-wigs, he would be able to become the personal disciple of an immortal! Personal disciples were a big deal. Many masters would love their personal disciples like their children. It was also true as immortals hardly managed to have children. Most of the immortal's families had long since turned to dust. Thus, they truly cherished their disciples.

As long as Michael got an immortal expert as his master, the entire humanity would also have a better protective umbrella. It would be a line of defence for the race!

Paul agreed to help Michael. There was no reason not to. After two days, Reez arrived at the Miller mansion and the four people set off to the traffickers' territory.

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Michael had improved his body significantly. Thus, his body could handle the flight pressure of weaker and slower of the aerial beasts. For the first time since his rebirth, Michael got to do areal travel. Flight was a symbol of the strong in Aterna. There was even a saying - "If cannot fly then you are not an expert!" Now, after tethering on the edge of life and death for almost a full year, Michael could be considered an expert. Albeit a weaker one.

The bird moved slowly and it had been estimated that it would take about 10 days for them to reach their destination. One would assume that the traffickers were hidden. But, that was not the case! Diros was himself a perfect realm expert. And he was definitely backed by an immortal expert. Or else, why would he go unharmed for so many years? Thus, their destination was known to all. It was just that people were scared of the immortal expert standing behind him. But, Michael had a perfect solution to this. He created an illusion array for all three perfect realm experts. He could do this after reaching the solid soul stage.

Thus, all the experts could now hide and mask their presences. This was the benefit of having a soul cultivator in your midst. As long as they went and left quickly, the immortal behind Diros would never find out who hit him.

This was the first time Michael was going to the territory of another race in his new life. But, he was ready.