Netherworld Retrograde

Capítulo 855: Chapter 399: Champion Cloak (Part 2)

Li Yelai plans to ask Master Mo Hai to forge an S-Class for him once he ascends to Overlord level with the materials he has.

Mo He nodded: “No problem, you are a valued guest of the Mo Family. When you arrive, we’ll drink together.”

Then, she dragged the Doll away to eat something.

“Don’t wander too far, the area isn’t that large.” Li Yelai reminded.

Afterwards, Li Yelai saw Ma Hongyi drinking alone in a corner.

This made Li Yelai curious, and he asked, “Old Ma, what’s up with you?”

“Don’t call me Old Ma… How many Old Mas have you ranked?” Ma Hongyi grinned and tossed a bottle at Li Yelai.

He reckoned, all of Li Yelai’s mounts were called Old Ma, distinguished by numbers. Given Li Yelai’s tendency to be a Vehicle Killer, quite a few batches might have perished.

Maybe enough to rival Li Shimin and assemble a Six Horses of Zhaoling.

Calling me Old Ma, what a treacherous heart!

I treat you like a brother, and you still want to ride me?

Li Yelai thought for a moment, Old Ma No.1, Thunder Stepping Dragon Colt. Died in Disaster Fog 71, which is an eternal regret for Li Yelai…

Old Ma No.2, Heavenly Meteor Qilin, died in Heavenly Kingdom.

Old Ma No.3, Sky Hunting Sheep, died in the operation to hunt Mr. Shadow.

Old Ma No.4, Ancient Sky Comet Dragon. Survived.

Old Ma No.5, Ya Yu (Yayu), died in Immortal Palace Battlefield.

Old Ma No.6, Ba Snake, well… Li Yelai pulled out its tendons himself, so it was unusable and had to be tossed into the furnace as material.

“Well, thankfully, I haven’t ridden as many to death as Li Shimin, only five.” Li Yelai responded.

The Ancient Sky Comet Dragon is an Overlord level Extraordinary Creature, yet to be unleashed in the Immortal Palace. So it’s still alive.

“Well, thank you, really.” Ma Hongyi retorted.

Then, Ma Hongyi said, “My name seems absent from the future list.”

Li Yelai was stunned, this was abnormal. While the future list might not be entirely accurate, Ma Hongyi’s talent was undeniable.

To ascend to the Sixth Sense before thirty marked one as Heaven’s Chosen Son. Ma Hongyi achieved Sixth Sense at twenty-six.

This was even after being in hiding in the Forbidden Zone for over a year due to the Mei Wu incident.

Otherwise, he might have reached Sixth Sense at twenty-five.

With such talent, how could he not be on the list? It’s impossible. Anyone would call him a rare talent.

A person like that, how could they remain unnoticed in the future?

Ma Hongyi’s nature was incredibly resilient.

Such talent and character, yet went unnoticed by future civilizations?

“A clansman of mine faced multiple assassination attempts, and I haven’t faced even one,” Ma Hongyi said. “So, a few days ago, I consulted the Supreme. He didn’t disclose any intel from the list, but he did say that my name was absent from both lists.”

“Two possibilities, you hide very well, or you operate under another identity, which is why future enemies never discover you. But you aren’t that kind of person. Future you wouldn’t need to hide under any identity either.”

“Indeed, by that time, there’s no point in using an alias.” Ma Hongyi shook his head, replying.

Li Yelai thought for a while before speaking: “Then there’s another possibility, which is…”

“…which is, I was already gone before I could rise,” Ma Hongyi said solemnly, “If that’s the case, I suspect it might be that Mei Wu incident. After all, your team’s participation was a mere accident. Perhaps that changed it… Otherwise, the Yunling Civilization wouldn’t be so oblivious to me.”

The possibility seemed likely.

To eliminate a past beloved, Ma Hongyi had planned an assassination. At that time, he was willing to risk everything for the kill. Success or failure, his chance of survival was slim. Even if he managed to kill Mei Wu, escaping the Forbidden Zone amidst the angels’ pursuit was nearly impossible.

But Li Yelai’s appearance not only vanquished Mei Wu but also diverted the majority of the angels’ attention. It forcefully altered the outcome.

“In this light, you did save my life,” Ma Hongyi smirked, clinking his bottle with Li Yelai’s.

Li Yelai, however, was lost in thought. The two future versions of himself were distinct, one was the Green Flame Chosen One, the other remained unknown. The authorities hadn’t informed him.

But evidently, both future selves were without Mr. Shadow.

Mr. Shadow might be the variable? Or one of the variables?

If it weren’t for Mr. Shadow, Li Yelai probably couldn’t ignore others’ curses, so he couldn’t bond with the Doll and Little Mad King either.

He wouldn’t have been invited by Little Mad King to hunt down the human traitor, Mei Wu.

Without his unexpected intervention, in that future, Ma Hongyi may not have survived the Forbidden Zone either, leaving Yunling Civilization unaware of his existence. He perished before he could rise…

Moreover, if it were the future of the Dawn Monarch, Li Yelai might not have even known Ma Hongyi. The Wilderness Rangers didn’t interact much with the authorities.

The future, the chains…

Li Yelai recalled that when those mighty ones crossed the river of time, they would be bound by chains. It was the price of time reversal.

Even those as powerful as the Holy Emperor, the Governor, and that sword-wielding woman were not exempt, wrapped in chains.

And those chains were very similar to those on Mr. Shadow…

But the chains on Mr. Shadow were thicker and more numerous, amounting to four…

The Holy Emperor had only two… Does this imply Mr. Shadow is far stronger than the Holy Emperor? Or does it mean he is from an even more distant future?

No wonder it’s called an entity not belonging to this space-time…

‘So, Mr. Shadow, are you from the future too?’ Li Yelai whispered in his heart. Mr. Shadow remained as indifferent as always, silent. Perhaps… acknowledging Li Yelai’s thoughts?

But both the Yunling and Scale Remains Civilizations crossed time using the Time Worm. How did Mr. Shadow manage it?

If trading with him means helping Mr. Shadow shed those ‘costs,’ once all ‘costs’ are eliminated, would he be unbounded?

Too little information… It’s necessary to gather more intel from the Witness at the next ark gathering.

Not far away, the Doll was brought in front of several female captains by Mo He, and who knows what they talked about, but her cheeks were flushed.

Observing this scene, Li Yelai exhaled a deep breath.

Every time he thought of Mr. Shadow, he couldn’t help but feel a heavy heart.

Who knows what Mr. Shadow intends to do in the end…

As the gathering concluded, everyone prepared to leave.

Ma Hongyi and Mo He had to drive back to their respective Giant Cities.

Meanwhile, Li Yelai and others boarded the Netherworld Train.

But just before departure, a Giant City Overlord rushed over, it was the Hong Family Dominator.

The Hong Family Dominator first bowed respectfully to the leading Sword Mad Tyrant, addressing him as teacher.

Then, he approached Li Yelai, handing over a sizable embroidered box with both hands.

“Apologies for the delay, repairing this took considerable time. The Amber King believes it’s best to return this to its rightful owner,” said the Hong Family Dominator.

“Return to the rightful owner?” Li Yelai was surprised. What could he possibly own with the Amber King? Yet, he accepted the embroidered box with both hands.

“Indeed, you are now fully qualified to use it. It is an honor and a responsibility,” said the Hong Family Dominator solemnly, then departed the train.

When Li Yelai opened the embroidered box, the nearby officials gasped in astonishment.

Within the box lay a blood-red cloak.

On the cloak were interwoven bloodstains, each drop representing some terrifying foes, including Chaos Chosen, Forbidden Zone Dominators, Ancient Dragons, Returning Souls, and even living Taboo Items…

These bloodstains formed a whole, resembling a Black Dragon roaring at the sky, imposing and mighty. It also evoked the image of a black Great Wall, unwavering and steadfast.

Fierce menace coexisting with protection!

An overwhelming sense of terror spread, yet it caused no discomfort to those present. On the contrary, some living Taboo Items became agitated. They sensed the danger!

This is…

The Night Watchers from Champion Team One widened their eyes; they recognized this cloak, naturally.

Generations of champions donned this blood-red cloak, battling the enemies of humanity.

It had been passed down through the ages, symbolizing the emblem of the Human Champion!

“Champion Cloak!”

(“Everyone, the next dungeon isn’t small either. Old Lang needs to find the rhythm first; continuous ones don’t feel quite right.”)