Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

It was evening, after Wen Yu had finished sweeping through Ling Yun City. He was enjoying dinner in a pavilion within the City Lord Mansion when Tang Haofei sought him out by himself.

After some idle chatter, Tang Haofei got straight to the point.

”The alliance between the military and the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has essentially been cemented.”

”Are the results satisfactory?”

Tang Haofei smiled and nodded.

”Very satisfactory. The gains were significant; an Esoteric Level skill was well worth it.”

In saying this, Tang Haofei couldn’t resist a hint of sarcasm regarding Wen Yu’s attitude of taking payment without necessarily doing the work.

However, when faced with benefits, Wen Yu had absolutely no need for ’face’.

He shrugged nonchalantly.

”Did you come all this way just to take a jab at me?”

”Of course not. I came to ask for a favor.”

”What favor?”

”You’re definitely heading to the upper layers, right? I want to go with you. Just me.”

After a moment’s thought, Wen Yu readily agreed.

”No problem.”

Actually, if Tang Haofei hadn’t brought it up, Wen Yu would have invited him to the Upper Heavenly Palace when the time came to leave. This wasn’t out of concern for safety; rather, Wen Yu still coveted the treasures of the Upper Heavenly Palace—particularly the pinnacle of scientific technology of the Universe of Immortals and Heroes that his Senior Brother possessed. Wen Yu didn’t particularly need these things, but the military certainly did. Without Tang Haofei, how would Wen Yu negotiate with the military?

After they had made their arrangements, Tang Haofei promptly left the pavilion where Wen Yu was staying.

Only after Tang Haofei had departed did Wen Yu sigh, a bitter smile touching his lips.

”Almighty Demon Vine, how long must I wait?”

Although Wen Yu had just told Tang Haofei he would take him to the upper layers, the crux of the matter was that whether or not they could ascend wasn’t up to Wen Yu! His recent rampage through Ling Yun City, seemingly stripping it bare, might have appeared puzzling. Knowing there were greater rewards above, why did he remain in Ling Yun City? It was simply because he couldn’t ascend. Thus, his actions over the past two days were merely a way to kill time.

”Wait!”

The Almighty Demon Vine replied decisively with that single word. As for what to wait for, or how long, the Almighty Demon Vine offered no details whatsoever.

”Then can I go take a look outside the city?”

Now that Ling Yun City had been thoroughly plundered by Wen Yu, hunting Demon Fiends outside the city seemed like a good way to pass the time.

”Don’t go out. It’s very dangerous outside. Just wait here in Ling Yun City!”

”Dangerous? What kind of danger?”

”Do you think the Demon Fiends outside aren’t targeting you? Also, let me remind you, news of your identity must have spread throughout the entire Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance by now. Your status not only attracts internal hatred but also draws external attention. In the Universe of Immortals and Heroes, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance is merely the most powerful organization, not the only one. You understand what I mean by that, right?”

Wen Yu immediately fell silent. It was just like on Earth, where there was still no single unified global organization, let alone in the vast Universe of Immortals and Heroes, teeming with powerful experts. As the Dominator of the Universe of Immortals and Heroes, the Almighty Immortal Emperor had undoubtedly made countless enemies during his rise to power. Now that the Immortal Emperor was dead and his ’son’ was still around, there was no guarantee that some resurrected dead soul, holding a grudge against his ’false father,’ wouldn’t try to viciously attack him. Having accepted the benefits of this identity, he naturally had to bear its risks. Even if Wen Yu didn’t actively seek this responsibility, trouble would find him because of this identity, and he had no easy solutions. Currently, Wen Yu could only rely on the contingency plans left by the Almighty Immortal Emperor being robust enough, and on his ’Senior Brother,’ whom he had yet to meet.

Fortunately, the Almighty Demon Vine and the Almighty Immortal Emperor’s contingency plans didn’t keep Wen Yu waiting too long.

Two days later, as Wen Yu was idly tending to some flowers and plants in the pavilion, Mo Xuan rushed to his location.

”Young Master, a decree has come from the upper echelons, requesting your presence at the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance Branch on the Sixth Layer of the Heavenly Palace.”

Hearing Mo Xuan’s words, Wen Yu appeared to ponder for a moment before sending a Spiritual Fluctuation to the Almighty Demon Vine.

”Is this it?”

”Yes, just go with them!”

After the brief exchange of Spiritual Fluctuations, Wen Yu immediately looked at Mo Xuan.

”Then let’s go. I’ll have to trouble City Lord Mo to lead the way.”

”By the way, some time ago I made an agreement with a friend from another world to bring him to the Upper Heavenly Palace. That shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

”It is entirely up to you, Young Master.”

For the Young Master of the Heavenly Palace, bringing along a ’follower’ who also served as a ’bodyguard’ was a trivial matter, decided with a single word, even if this person was an Earthling.

He called for Tang Haofei on the way. Catching sight of the up to eighteen space rings of various grades adorning Tang Haofei’s ten fingers, Wen Yu couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Profit-seeking is human nature. Perhaps Wen Yu was a bit greedy, but weren’t Tang Haofei and the military the same? No one is truly noble, and no one can stand on the moral high ground to condemn others. Nor can anyone truly suppress their own nature. If you’re so superior, why not try Bigu? Doesn’t eating meat count as taking a life? Doesn’t eating staple foods count as taking a life? Plants have life too! If you’re so noble, do you pick up money you see on the road? You don’t? That doesn’t prove your nobility; it just means the amount was too small! That’s why Wen Yu enjoyed dealing with Tang Haofei. At least this person wasn’t fake—or rather, Old Tang’s strength meant he had no need to be.

Seeing Wen Yu’s expression, Tang Haofei felt no embarrassment at all. He even waved his hands, showing off the dazzling array of large rings on his fingers, and sent Wen Yu a Spiritual Fluctuation.

”I have a few more skills. If you’re interested, I’ll be counting on you to help me fill these space rings.”

”What skills?”

”Guaranteed to satisfy you!”

Tang Haofei tilted his chin with great confidence.

”Hah! If you really satisfy me, I’ll give you a big one. See this?”

Wen Yu casually waved the S-class space ring on his middle finger.

”An S-class, from the fifth layer. There are definitely better ones in the upper layers. Serve me well, and I’ll give this one to you!”

”Big Bro, are you asking me to warm your bed? In that case, I’d better wash up thoroughly today...”

The two chatted and joked as they followed Mo Xuan along the main street of Ling Yun City.

With the revival of the dead spirits from outside the city and their return to Ling Yun City, the city was now much more bustling than when Wen Yu had first arrived.

However, as Wen Yu prepared to head to the Sixth Layer of the Heavenly Palace, everything here would soon become like a passing cloud, with no further connection to him.