Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

Cooperate?

Tang Haofei probably assumes I just stumbled in here by chance, not realizing I actually have an advantage, Wen Yu mused. That’s why he proposed cooperation.

The reasoning was simple. Sequence Number 1 and Sequence Number 2 were the only two Breakthrough Achievers known to the Human Race. If they cooperated to climb as many levels as possible and reap more benefits, it would be a win-win situation.

But Cyclops, fully aware of the current situation, was certain that Wen Yu had no possibility of cooperating with Tang Haofei.

So, Cyclops just chuckled, gave a vague response, and sent a Spiritual Fluctuation back to Wen Yu.

”Boss, I’ve blocked Tang Haofei.”

Wen Yu chuckled upon hearing Cyclops’s somewhat boastful Spiritual Fluctuation, then paid no more attention to the situation on the ground.

BOOM!

A wave of black energy, carrying immense power, instantly slammed into the badly damaged stone gate.

The stone gate, already covered in cracks, seemed to reach its limit. It emitted a series of sharp, CRACKLING sounds before collapsing with a deafening CRASH.

Amidst the swirling dust and fragments of some unknown material, Wen Yu calmly surveyed the scene before him.

After a moment, he sighed silently.

”Number Seven: standard-issue equipment for Level 7 professionists. Its grade is likely around S-Class,” the Almighty Demon Vine explained from the side.

Wen Yu immediately retorted, ”But even S-Class weapons and defensive tools couldn’t withstand the test of time.”

Then, Wen Yu punched another crate, and shattered defensive tools spilled out with a series of CLANGS.

Witnessing this, the Almighty Demon Vine was struck speechless.

”Let’s continue.”

The disastrous state of the A-Class and S-Class item repositories didn’t dampen Wen Yu’s urge to explore. Compared to the A-Class items, these S-Class ones were relatively more ’intact’—’intact’ meaning Wen Yu could at least discern what these scraps of metal had originally been.

However, if the tier was higher, like the SSS-Class items the Almighty Demon Vine mentioned... well, perhaps, just perhaps, a few usable things might have survived.

Regardless, giving up halfway was not an option for Wen Yu.

The next moment, an even deeper, darker energy wave erupted violently from Wen Yu’s fist.

Seeing Wen Yu so driven, the Almighty Demon Vine swayed back and forth, as if cheering him on like a cheerleader, trying to boost his morale.

However, what the Almighty Demon Vine, which knew the entire Heavenly Palace Treasure Land like the back of its own vine, was truly thinking deep down, likely no one but itself could ever know!

”Brother Fei, the unknown Energy Fluctuations inside are intensifying. It’s as if... some kind of seal is continuously being broken.”

Hearing the report from a professionist behind him, Tang Haofei nodded expressionlessly, his gaze shifting to the palace entrance.

That simple glance made Cyclops tense up all over; he nearly wet himself.

Old Tang’s power... My own strength combined with Star’s... The comparison is painfully clear.

Under the pressure of such absolute power, Tang Haofei’s slightest movement made Cyclops intensely nervous.

”WOOF, WOOF!” Cyclops barked suddenly, then said, ”Big Brother Fei, let’s continue that story about the canine-type divine beast you saw a while back!”

Tang Haofei looked at Cyclops with a half-smile.

Cyclops’s actions were easy for Tang Haofei to interpret: Wen Yu had discovered a significant treasure here and had left Cyclops and Star to guard it. Cyclops knew what was inside, which was why he was deliberately fooling around and stalling.

Moreover, this unknown energy signature was incredibly faint and strange—so much so that even Tang Haofei himself hadn’t initially detected it. If it hadn’t been for the special professionists trained by the military, whose skills were incredibly diverse and capable of handling any situation, no one would have ever discovered that beneath this abandoned blacksmith’s forge lay such a potent energy signature.

Now, every action Cyclops took seemed perfectly normal in Tang Haofei’s eyes.

A ’beautiful misunderstanding’ thus arose. How could Wen Yu know what was truly beneath? He was simply aiming for the SSS-Class items.

However, even though Tang Haofei had come to this conclusion through his own speculation, he had no intention of interfering.

In Tang Haofei’s mind, unless it was a treasure on the scale of the Eternal Sky City, nothing else was worth the repercussions of antagonizing Wen Yu.

So, Tang Haofei continued, ”Ah, that canine-type divine beast... it had long, white fur. I’ve touched her up close before; her fur was incredibly fluffy, like cotton. Before she mutated, she must have been a Samoyed, and a female one at that...”

The drawn-out, enticing tone made Cyclops’s legs clench, and his eyes widened instantly.

It had to be said, when a bored Cyclops and an equally bored Tang Haofei got together, they could indeed spin some tales that left one unsure whether to laugh or cry.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

The continuous BOOMS didn’t disturb Cyclops and Tang Haofei’s engagement in the slightest.

Tang Haofei even took out a wine glass and a cigar, chatting animatedly with Cyclops as if with an old friend.

Meanwhile, what Wen Yu was experiencing below was far from pleasant.

CRACK.

With a slight exertion of force from his right hand, the seemingly intact sword blade snapped instantly.

He casually tossed the broken sword aside and scanned his surroundings.

Ahead, there were no more stone doors. This meant he had reached the very bottom of the secret chamber.

And this lowest level should house the most precious items—standard-issue equipment once provided to Level 9 and Level 10 powerful experts. All of it SSS-Class weapons and armor!

Just like that ancient sword he had just snapped...

Wen Yu heaved a long sigh. Half a day of effort had been completely wasted.

Actually, I should have realized sooner. With the restrictions from the Universe of Immortals and Heroes completely gone, even standardized equipment—SSS-Class or not—couldn’t possibly withstand erosion over tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands to millions of years.

The power of time was truly mysterious and formidable!

However, Wen Yu wasn’t one to wallow in regret or blame fate.

With a hint of regret, Wen Yu surveyed the secret chamber once more, then gently tugged the Almighty Demon Vine and said decisively, ”The SSS-Class items are all ruined too. Let’s go.”

”Wait a moment,” the Almighty Demon Vine interjected. ”Gather the remains of these SSS-Class items. I know a place on the upper levels where these fragments can be reforged. All this material combined should yield dozens of SSS-Class weapons or defensive tools.”

Dozens of items, compared to the hundreds of destroyed SSS-Class items here, was certainly better than nothing. Having come this far, Wen Yu naturally wouldn’t leave them behind.

Hearing the Almighty Demon Vine’s words, Wen Yu nodded decisively.

”We’ll work together, one on each side, to speed things up. After we clear this place, we’ll go back out and gather some of the SS-Class items. Those can probably be repaired or reforged up there too, right?”

”Of course!” the Almighty Demon Vine sent back an affirmative Spiritual Fluctuation.

With that, the Almighty Demon Vine immediately moved away from Wen Yu, slithering like a snake toward the area to Wen Yu’s right.

Seeing this, a glint flashed in Wen Yu’s eyes.

The Almighty Demon Vine is definitely hiding something from me!