Chapter 496 - 494: News About Nerida

Chapter 496: Chapter 494: News About Nerida

Her mother was here, and her uncle was too.

So now, the Demonic Domain was their home.

The Exalted One had always been generous to his own people. Six months ago, he had allocated a large territory for Elder Sawyer upon his ascension to the Upper Realm. This land would serve as their family’s base, ensuring that any of the Sawyers who arrived would have a home.

As for Elder Sawyer, he hadn’t been idle. He joined the Judicar and was now one of its elders. After all, this was his comfort zone; he was very familiar with the work. Now that Yvonne Sawyer and the others had arrived, they could assist Elder Sawyer. They would surely continue to work under him and wouldn’t be idle either.

Unlike the laid-back Victor Rhodes, who was content to live off his wife, Yvonne Sawyer was a career-driven female cultivator. She was incredibly ambitious and wouldn’t stay idle for long.

All in all, Yvonne Sawyer’s family was reunited—a joyous occasion. After all, to have family by your side on the long path of cultivation is a true blessing, no matter where you are.

...

「That evening.」

While they were gathered for hot pot,

Celeste Grant learned something from Yvonne Sawyer about Nerida.

Yvonne said Nerida had already ascended to the Upper Realm.

’No, that’s not right...’

’Nerida is in the Upper Realm? But... when did that happen? How come I don’t know anything about it?’

She had people monitoring all the ascension channels, so she should have been the first to know if one of her own people from the Lower Realm arrived.

So, when she heard Yvonne Sawyer say Nerida was already in the Upper Realm, the hand holding her chopsticks froze.

Celeste Grant looked up at Yvonne Sawyer, her face filled with confusion. "You said Nerida is already in the Upper Realm? When did she ascend? We haven’t seen her."

She should have known immediately if Nerida had arrived. At that moment, a sliver of worry entered Celeste Grant’s heart. ’Did something happen to her? Or did something go wrong during her ascension?’

Celeste Grant couldn’t help but wonder.

’Where in the world is Nerida now?’

Before she could say anything else, Elder Sawyer and the others, sitting on the other side, spoke up.

"Nerida actually came up?"

"Really? When did the Left Protector arrive? We had no idea."

As they spoke, Elder Sawyer and his sister exchanged a look and shook their heads slightly.

Elder Sawyer said, "This is strange. What’s going on? We’ve had people monitoring all the ascension channels. If the Left Protector had arrived in the Upper Realm, we definitely would have known immediately."

Elder Sawyer’s sister nodded as well and said softly, "After we ascended, we never heard any news of Nerida. We thought she was still in the Lower Realm."

Hearing this,

Yvonne Sawyer, who sat opposite Celeste Grant, was also stunned.

"How is that possible! The Left Protector isn’t in the Upper Realm?"

Beside her, Victor Rhodes scratched his head in confusion. He said, "Based on our calculations, the Left Protector passed her tribulation and ascended to the Upper Realm six months ago. We saw her leave with our own eyes. I thought she would have reunited with you and the Madam long ago. I was even a little envious."

Yvonne Sawyer nodded slightly and said, "That’s right. After my uncle and the others ascended, the Left Protector followed suit just half a month later."

Nerida was always the most worried about the Madam.

Back in the Lower Realm, she was always thinking about the Madam. She constantly said she needed to cultivate faster so she could come to the Upper Realm and find her. Therefore, knowing the Left Protector’s personality, she would have come straight to the Demonic Domain to find the Madam after ascending. Even if she didn’t know the Madam’s whereabouts, she would have asked for directions and found her way.

The Umbral Sovereign’s reputation is widespread. No matter where Nerida ended up, as long as she was within the domain of the Immortal Sects, she could have easily found news and made her way here. But now, six months after her ascension, she hasn’t appeared and has vanished without a trace. This is more than a little wrong.

Celeste Grant frowned slightly.

"Where in the world is Nerida now?"

she murmured, unable to stop herself.

’It’s been half a year.’

Thinking of this, Celeste Grant spoke, "Have the disciples of the Demonic Domain who are stationed outside discreetly inquire about Nerida’s whereabouts. Notify me the moment you have news. If you find her, bring her back."

She was truly worried about Nerida.

She thought of how good Nerida had been to her and to her child. Their bond was like that of family. She genuinely saw Nerida as a sister. In fact, she wasn’t the only one worried; Javier Sinclair felt the same way.

Though Javier Sinclair appeared calm on the surface, he was also very concerned about Nerida. He spoke up, "We can send more people to find her. Once she is located, bring her back."

His memories of Nerida from the Lower Realm were very real. She was the one who found him, took him in, taught him cultivation, and raised him. Sometimes, she would even chase him around, frustrated that he wasn’t living up to his potential. Those memories were all real. So, even if Javier Sinclair was cold and ruthless to others, to him, Nerida was like an older sister. Though they shared no blood, their bond was no different from that of family.

Elder Sawyer and the others nodded slightly.

"Yes, Exalted One."

Victor Rhodes placed a hand over his chest and declared, "Exalted One, leave this matter to me. I will be sure to find the Left Protector and bring her back."

Thinking of Nerida, Celeste Grant lowered her head, pondering where she could be now.

She had people watching all the known ascension channels connecting the Lower Realm to the Immortal and Demonic Realms. So, if Nerida had ascended but hadn’t been seen, there was only one possibility.

A theory formed in her mind.

Considering this possibility, Celeste Grant said, "Since Nerida has already ascended, assuming no accidents occurred, my guess is that she might have come up through some unknown ascension channel."

As everyone’s gaze turned to her,

Celeste Grant softly explained her thoughts.

She lifted her gaze, her eyes sweeping over them as she spoke. "Normally, cultivators from the Lower Realm ascend to the Upper Realm through the existing, known channels. However, the Immortal and Demonic Realms are vast. There are bound to be other ascension channels connecting to the Lower Realm hidden in ancient, remote lands or within old ruins. So, if Nerida came up through an unknown channel, that would explain why we have no news of her. These unknown channels are often accompanied by certain dangers. I just don’t know if Nerida might have encountered some kind of trouble."

Hearing this, Elder Sawyer and the others fell silent.

Hannah Sawyer glanced at her older brother, her worry growing. "It’s already been half a year. We have to find Nerida as soon as possible. If she’s trapped in some ancient ruins, she could be in real danger."

With that said, the hot pot in front of them suddenly lost its appeal.

"Nerida, where on earth are you!"

Celeste Grant murmured, the urgency clear in her voice.

Javier Sinclair, sitting beside her, glanced at her and calmly placed some food on her plate.

He said softly, "My lady, don’t be anxious just yet."