Apocalypse Gachapon

Chapter 2308: Who to bring and who not

A forest of arms shot up beside him.

The Cloud Peak King: ”...”

”Ahem.” Ye Zhongming coughed, slightly embarrassed. ”I canʼt take that many. Besides, if you all leave, whoʼs going to run Cloud Peak? Right now, only the country is stable—there are still countless battles ahead for you to fight.”

”Boss, I want to join the Novice Battlefield! Iʼm going to wipe out all those cosmic races!”

Little Tiger had drunk quite a bit the night before, his face still flushed red, arms raised like he was surrendering as he shouted.

Everyone looked at him like he was an idiot.

Clearly, the boss was now determining who could go with him through the smuggling route—people not on the cosmic racesʼ ”official” list. Those going that way wouldnʼt be able to participate in the Novice Battlefield at all. If Little Tiger wanted to join the Novice Battlefield, heʼd have to use an entry ticket.

”I really want to go up and see what itʼs like.” Guangyao rubbed his hairline, which even nine-star evolution couldnʼt save, and said with some emotion. ”Back in the Resistance Zone, I was always curious about the mysterious races up there. Now that I have the chance to see them, I really canʼt hold back.”

”No, I think Zhongming is discriminating against non-nine-stars.” Li Daqian said with a wry smile.

He also wanted to go up and see, but he was an eight-star evolved—his chances were instantly halved. Besides, his war beast, the Giant Mottled Bear, was level nine. If he left, what would happen to that top-tier war beast? What about the War Beast Legion? For now, his granddaughter still couldnʼt replace him.

Ye Zhongming smiled. ”It doesnʼt necessarily have to be nine-stars who go. Actually, I have more than four entry tickets, but Iʼve promised to share some with several friends, so I plan to let our nine-stars use these four—especially those with strong personal combat power. That way, theyʼll have a legitimate reason to go and can take advantage of the cosmic races on the Novice Battlefield.”

Everyoneʼs eyes immediately turned to the few recognized powerhouse nine-star evolvers.

Also, Ye Zhongming had said ”it doesnʼt necessarily have to be nine-stars,” which directly made many non-top-tier hearts race—especially those who usually worked in support roles; they could hear their own heartbeats.

Everyone knew that their boss wasnʼt considered a top expert among the cosmic races right now, but a king was always a king—his personal strength was growing rapidly, and his forces were expanding just as fast.

If they could go up now, theyʼd be starting a venture with the boss, becoming one of the founding members. Just look at Cloud Peakʼs earliest founders—where were they now? Who wouldnʼt be envious?

And Cloud Peak was just a power on ”Earth”—compare that to a power in the ”universe”—there was no comparison. In the future, even if both were called Cloud Peak, the one up there would be Cloud Peak Universe Headquarters; Earth would at most be a branch, or the birthplace!

”I want to go with you!” Liang Chuyin held back for a long time, then, not caring if others laughed at her, spoke through her embarrassment.

Ye Zhongming shook his head, and Liang Chuyinʼs expression immediately clouded over—but just as quickly brightened again, because she heard her man say, ”Youʼll use an entry ticket this year.”

Just like that, one of the four entry ticket slots was taken, and some people immediately grew anxious.

Little Tiger fidgeted, practically shoving his face under Ye Zhongmingʼs nose.

”You... stay at Cloud Peak for another year. The Cavalry Legion canʼt do without you for now, and Cloud Peak needs someone a bit ʼtoughʼ to keep in check those who might have other ideas.”

Little Tigerʼs face fell.

”Youʼre a father now—isnʼt it good to spend more time with Candy on Earth?” Xia Lei glared at him from the side, instantly deflating Little Tiger, while Candyʼs little hands twisted his arm left and right.

”I want to go. Earth is boring.” The Death King Tree suddenly spoke.

Xia Lei shot Ye Zhongming a look.

This unruly yet powerful existence had always given Xia Lei headaches. If not for the King of Hell Treeʼs relative respect for Liu Zhenghongʼs words, she wouldnʼt have known how to manage it.

Sending it up to the sky with Ye Zhongming was a good choice.

Ye Zhongming nodded. ”Alright, but youʼll also go through the entry ticket route.”

The King of Hell Tree was level nine, and though it was a mutated plant, entry tickets could still be used.

Just as Ye Zhongming finished speaking, he felt something nudge him from behind. Turning around, he saw Yellow Ball nudging him with its big nose—clearly, it wanted to go too.

”Haha, youʼre coming too, but youʼll go with me through the smuggling route.”

Big Yellow immediately grew happy, opening its mouth to lick him. Ye Zhongming quickly stopped it—if that tongue, almost as big as a tabletop, gave him a few licks, no one would be able to eat breakfast anymore; theyʼd be eating Big Yellowʼs drool.

In just a few sentences, Ye Zhongming had determined three picks: Liang Chuyin, the Death King Tree and Big Yellow.

”Guangyao, youʼll stay at Cloud Peak this year—we need you here. Xia Lei wonʼt go up this year either. Thereʼs movement needed in all directions this year, too much coordination required. You two continue working together to manage Cloud Peak well.”

Guangyao smiled at that—he had expected this outcome. He even knew that one year certainly wouldnʼt be enough; it might take several years, until Cloud Peak had basically taken control of the globe and the situation was completely stable, before he could go up.

But Guangyao had no complaints. Xia Lei would probably have to go up next year, to manage things up there once the forces there had grown slightly. After that, he would have the final say on Earth.

Guangyao marveled inwardly—who would have thought that just a few years after joining Cloud Peak, he might be on the verge of governing the entire world?

Life was truly unpredictable.

”You—are you willing to sign a contract with Xia Lei? If not, we can let you leave.” Ye Zhongming suddenly spoke toward the left window, where there was nothing visible, but no one seemed surprised. The next moment, an energy form materialized.

Yangfeng—Wang Hanranʼs war beast!

Back then, Wang Hanran, unwilling to be subordinate, had challenged Cloud Peak alone and was killed in a duel with Mo Ye. Yangfeng had been left behind, and part of the Cannibal Chain had merged into Cloud Peak under his instructions.

Yangfeng was visually striking, resembling a leopard-like lifeform with a pair of small energy wings. After hearing Ye Zhongmingʼs words, it materialized, fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

It had been in Cloud Peak long enough to know just how powerful Cloud Peak had become, and what Ye Zhongmingʼs words meant.

With Cloud Peak about to lose nearly a quarter of its top-tier lifeforms in a short period, the Cloud Peak King would not tolerate any unstable factors.

In the past, the Talking Lady, Black Cat, the Death King Tree, and Yangos had all been unruly existences. But later, Yangos had backed down, and after the Battle of Mei City, the Talking Lady and Black Cat had essentially integrated into Cloud Peak, earning Xia Leiʼs trust. The only remaining unstable element, held together only by its friendship with Liu Zhenghong, was about to go up to the sky. Looking around, the only remaining outlier was Yangfeng.

Clearly, Ye Zhongming intended to resolve this ”hidden danger” once and for all.

Agree, and all would be well. Refuse, and out of respect for Wang Hanran, Cloud Peak wouldnʼt harm it, but the entire Earth would soon be Cloud Peakʼs—leaving or staying wouldnʼt make much difference.

Yangfeng knew how to choose.

”By the way, whereʼs Yangos?”

Ye Zhongming suddenly asked.