The atmosphere in the office was somber, and Guo Xi didn’t try to lighten it this time, primarily because the incident that had occurred was too frightening.
A month earlier, the tremor that even Lixi Prefecture could feel had originated from Yi Ning Prefecture in Yingzhou. At first, no one paid it much mind, but when the news eventually arrived, everyone was flabbergasted. That Mega Secret Realm had shattered, and a terrifying demonic creature had walked out of it, breaking the ironclad rule that Secret Realm Natives could not leave their realms. The shattering of the Mega Secret Realm also created a powerful shockwave, which was the source of the tremor.
This shockwave, in turn, destroyed numerous other Secret Realms. Although Yingzhou didn’t have Mega or Gigantic Secret Realms, it possessed six Large Secret Realms. Consequently, many powerful Secret Realm Natives survived the destruction of their realms and entered the world of the Dajing Court. These Secret Realm Natives were incredibly formidable, with even the weakest being at the Morning Star level, which explained their survival. The demonic creature that emerged from the Mega Secret Realm was rumored to be a Daylight Level entity.
The good news was that this creature hadn’t headed towards their Yi State but had gone in the opposite direction; the reason remained unknown. However, according to the grapevine, the Domain Master of the Jing Room Domain had once descended to battle the creature, only to be killed on the spot. Sky Capital had also dispatched people, but all subsequent information was completely suppressed. One thing was certain: the entire Yi State had been placed on high alert, wary of Secret Realm Natives infiltrating their territory.
Wang Linchi and his colleagues knew this much thanks to the Soul Seed Bureau; members of other departments likely wouldn’t know about these matters. However, even they knew little.
Wang Linchi sighed. He was sure that this incident was inextricably linked to Yan Ming King.He had initially thought the most Yan Ming King could do was cause a massive commotion within a Secret Realm. Little did he expect that they would stir up chaos throughout the entire Dajing Dynasty.
With Secret Realm Natives now able to leave their realms, the many factions supported by Secret Realms were eager to release their masters, resolved to become these very traitors! This had led to a recent surge in their activities, as they desperately sought ways to bring out the Secret Realm Natives. The most effective method, naturally, was to lure the Heavenly Demon to the Secret Realm where their masters were located.
Wang Linchi also realized that if the Dajing Court couldn’t resolve this situation perfectly, the dynasty would likely enter its twilight years. It wasn’t that no one had resisted before; rather, those who did had been eradicated. The two sides were not on the same level of power at all, so how could resistance have been possible?
But things were different now. If many powerful Secret Realm Natives managed to break out, the Dajing Court would surely be unable to withstand them. The Sects and Great Families already had a detached relationship with the Court. They would side with whoever offered a higher price; few cared about betrayal. They were more concerned with benefits. Otherwise, if they truly possessed any sense of patriotism or national sentiment, the common people at the bottom wouldn’t be living in such miserable conditions.
"Could... could we be drafted?" Guo Xi suddenly blurted out.
This made everyone present tense up. They led comfortable lives, but they were aware of their status: they weren’t indispensable; rather, they were useless fodder. Being drafted as cannon fodder would be a perfect way to expend them.
"Probably not. We are, after all, part of the Soul Seed Bureau. Besides, our going there wouldn’t change anything," the department head said, trying to reassure them, though his voice lacked conviction.
Everyone understood that the Dajing Court valued only combat prowess. While they themselves couldn’t fight, they could serve as meat shields and exhaust the enemy’s stamina.
Hearing this, Wang Linchi also felt a jolt. It seemed very plausible.If the Dajing Court were to enter its twilight years, then they, who were like pigs being fattened, would definitely become too expensive to keep and would inevitably be slaughtered for their meat.
"We must believe in the Court. How could that Heavenly Demon possibly defeat the Court?" Wang Linchi said, feigning confidence, but he was actually thinking about how to flee.
Heavenly Demon—that was what the demonic creature called itself. Wang Linchi suspected that the Heavenly Demon was the origin of demons, monsters, ghosts, and perhaps even gods—the terrifying existence that had destroyed the era of Buddha and brought about the End of Dharma.What he wondered even more was how this Heavenly Demon had managed to destroy a Mega Secret Realm and free itself.Even the most powerful being or creature within a Secret Realm couldn’t be stronger than the Secret Realm itself.
Everyone nodded in agreement with Wang Linchi’s words; one had to maintain the proper stance, after all. However, judging by their expressions, they clearly didn’t believe it. Afterwards, the atmosphere fell silent once more, a silence that persisted until the end of the workday.
Wang Linchi had dinner in the cafeteria and then went straight home. Standing at his door, he noticed some barely perceptible marks, then pushed it open and went inside. "Old Classmate, you’re back from the Secret Realm?"
"Why are you still at the White Porcelain level?" Yan Ming King emerged from the shadows nearby. He had wanted to give Wang Linchi a surprise but hadn’t expected to be discovered. But another look revealed Wang Linchi’s progress to be absurdly slow.
"It’s normal to be slow. I’m not a genius like you," Wang Linchi replied. Having successfully lured the other person out, he breathed a sigh of relief; he had been worried it wasn’t Yan Ming King but someone else. "I heard something happened with the Secret Realms. Is it true?"
Wang Linchi didn’t ask Yan Ming King his purpose in coming. He figured Yan Ming King would reveal it eventually, so he might as well ask about something valuable to himself first.
"It’s true. The Secret Realms shattered, and the Evil Cult Forces, the Court, the Great Families, and the Sects are practically at each other’s throats."
"And it’s true that the Domain Master was killed by the Heavenly Demon," Yan Ming King stated with a solemn expression.
"I see. Then what brings you to Yi State?" Wang Linchi felt a wave of exhaustion at the thought of Yan Ming King stirring up immense trouble in Yi State again.
"Fleeing for my life, of course. I can’t very well head in the Heavenly Demon’s direction, can I?" Yan Ming King looked somewhat puzzled. Why would he court death for no reason?
"For you, old classmate, to use the word ’flee’ is enough to prove this Heavenly Demon’s power. What do you want from me this time?"
"Let me be clear, the fifth generation of Soul Seed Boiling has only just begun development; it will take until next year at least," Wang Linchi said. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs NoveI(F)ire.net
Yan Ming King touched his nose with a wry smile. "I’m not that impatient. I just wanted to ask, besides Soul Seed Boiling, can you develop other Soul Skills?"
"Currently, I can’t. You should know that this Soul Skill of mine is based on the books my parents left me. I only managed to create it by combining the powers of my Soul Kind and Soul Resemblance."
"Developing other Soul Skills would require starting from scratch, and that would take even longer."
"Why the sudden interest in a new Soul Skill?" Wang Linchi implied it was possible, but it would take a very long time.
"It’s nothing. Soul Seed Boiling is effective, true, but the damage to the Soul Kind is too great. I want something with fewer side effects but greater power," Yan Ming King said bluntly.
He and his beloved had managed to escape their dire situation largely thanks to Soul Seed Boiling, amplified ten-thousandfold, which had provided immense assistance. That was why he had hoped for something even better, not expecting it to be so difficult.
Furthermore, what no one knew was that although the Mega Secret Realm was destroyed because of the Heavenly Demon, he himself had played a part in it and, as a result, had reaped the greatest benefits.Indeed, it was The Heritage of the Sky Devil.However, the Heavenly Demon hadn’t given it willingly; he had snatched it.It was precisely because of this that the Heavenly Demon had managed to break free from its seal.From what he had learned, the Heavenly Demon was not a Secret Realm Native but an entity from beyond the heavens, which was why it could shatter Secret Realms so easily.If he cultivated The Heritage of the Sky Devil, he would possess not only the power of his Soul Kind’s Soul Skills derived from his Soul Resemblance, but also the power of the Heavenly Demon.
Fortunately, there was some good news: the Heavenly Demon seemed to be afraid of something and was desperately trying to flee.Otherwise, with the Heavenly Demon’s power, it would have long since posed a massive threat to the Court.
"It’s too difficult. Even iterating on the Soul Seed Boiling Soul Skill leaves me with no spare capacity," Wang Linchi refused directly.
Developing Soul Skills specifically for Yan Ming King wasn’t worth it; it would delay his own progress in becoming stronger.
"I was just asking," Yan Ming King didn’t press further. "I won’t stay in Yi State for too long. After a while, I plan to go to Xuan Spirit Heaven in the Territory Mansion. If you have the means, you should leave as soon as possible."
After saying this, Yan Ming King rose and departed.
Wang Linchi was left somewhat speechless. The reminder was well-intentioned, but the problem was he couldn’t act on it.It was like someone telling you they’ve given you a huge bowl because you’re hungry and have no money for food, implying the big bowl itself should solve your hunger.With his status, he simply couldn’t afford to purchase passage to Xuan Spirit Heaven in the Jing Room Domain’s Territory Mansion.As for walking, aside from the inherent dangers, the sheer distance was enough to make anyone despair.