Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

The Heavenly Palace had been unlocked and tampered with by the Almighty Demon Vine, with the Demon Lord also involved. As a result, the Heavenly Palace Treasure Land was no longer under the control of its Treasure Land Protectors!

However, this was merely a probe. Golden Armor understood this, and the Dominator was equally aware.

With the attempt to forcibly close the treasure land having failed, the Dominator’s second command began to take effect!

Mental power instantly permeated the entire space. The profound killing intent carried by the Spiritual Fluctuation sent a shiver down the spines of all Guardians present.

”The Dominator’s decree arrived: ’Gather all captive Demon Fiends and deploy them all into the Heavenly Palace Treasure Land.’”

”’Reprogram the Demon Clan Puppets. Their new orders: kill all dead souls of the Universe of Immortals and Heroes currently inside the Heavenly Palace Treasure Land... and all professionists still within the treasure land!’”

Outsiders couldn’t fathom the power represented by deploying all captive Demon Tribe members, but Golden Armor knew it crystal clear.

This was a super-army capable of completely annihilating an entire major world!

These two brief sentences in the command clearly demonstrated the Dominator’s attitude regarding this matter: So, you two have a plot, do you? It doesn’t matter if I don’t know about it. I’ll simply obliterate the very ground where you nurture your schemes. Let’s see what tricks you can pull then!

It was just one Heavenly Palace. The Dominator possessed countless such treasure lands; one more or one less made no difference. Even if the entire Heavenly Palace were completely destroyed, the Dominator wouldn’t feel a shred of regret or similar emotions.

After relaying the command, Golden Armor directly crushed the white steel needle the Dominator had shot out.

Its spiritual will slowly diffused, and an enormous spiritual power flowed directly into the Heavenly Palace Treasure Land through the dedicated Guardian channel.

Almost simultaneously, a clear alert echoed in the minds of all professionists currently within the Heavenly Palace Treasure Land.

”’An unforeseen incident has occurred in the Heavenly Palace Treasure Land. All professionists currently inside are advised to evacuate. To do so, crush the teleportation jade charm in your hand.’”

The alert sounded three times in succession, but no further information followed.

This announcement was undeniably unconvincing. The treasure land had just opened, and before professionists could reap any significant benefits, they were being urged to evacuate.

This approach—inviting them into a treasure mountain only to offer no benefits—would undoubtedly fail to sway many of the professionists in the Heavenly Palace; well, at least a certain portion of them.

Most professionists of lesser strength readily heeded Golden Armor’s warning and began to evacuate the Heavenly Palace Treasure Land. However, in the eyes of those with greater strength and courage, the fact that the treasure land hadn’t forcefully ejected them meant they could still remain inside and continue to gather benefits. With fewer competitors, even if there are unknown risks, they seem minor. If you can’t even forcibly teleport us out, what kind of risk are you even talking about?

Thus, even after many professionists had evacuated the Heavenly Palace Treasure Land, a substantial number still remained. Coupled with the fact that the treasure land’s entrance was still open, this bizarre warning and the overall situation paradoxically attracted even more professionists...

Of course, these matters were of no immediate concern to Wen Yu. At this moment, he was facing Tang Haofei’s question with a bewildered expression.

”What have you done?”

”What have you done?”

Wen Yu repeated the same question, word for word, to the Almighty Demon Vine.

However, the Almighty Demon Vine only responded to Wen Yu with an exceptionally simple Spiritual Fluctuation.

”’The entrance to the fifth layer is in that direction, hurry up!’”

”’Answer me. At least you should let me prepare for the worst, right?’”

The Almighty Demon Vine’s evasive reply clearly dissatisfied Wen Yu.

The Almighty Demon Vine remained silent for a moment before divulging a part of the truth.

”’The Dominator made a move.’”

A simple sentence, yet it immediately conveyed the gravity of the situation to Wen Yu.

Upon hearing this grim answer, Wen Yu’s eyes narrowed. He had no intention of probing further. He immediately stood up and sprinted in the direction the Almighty Demon Vine had indicated.

The plan had long been established, and with Wen Yu’s own consent. Therefore, whatever happened, Wen Yu himself had to bear the consequences. He understood the principle perfectly: to reap the rewards, one must first accept the risks.

”Hey, hey, hey, what did you do?”

Behind him, Tang Haofei scrambled to his feet, shouting, and closely followed on Wen Yu’s heels.

However, the current situation gave Wen Yu no time to worry about Tang Haofei, that piece of sticky candy. As he sprinted onward, Wen Yu tried to process the details of these events in his mind.

However, the more he dwelled on it, the more terrifying the implications became...

Why did the Dominator intervene? To capture the Almighty Demon Vine? As far as I understand it, the only variable currently in the Heavenly Palace Treasure Land is the Almighty Demon Vine itself… But the Almighty Demon Vine was merely the planner, not the one executing it. I’m the one who has flawlessly acted as the plan’s executor, all the way from the First Layer of Tiangong. Besides, the Almighty Demon Vine is my own treasure. All the clues point directly to me! Reviewing the entire sequence of events, even an impartial observer wouldn’t believe I wasn’t involved! What if I’ve angered the Dominator, and in a fit of rage, it decides to obliterate me…

The more Wen Yu pondered, the greater this possibility seemed. Things had progressed to this stage, and the suspicion against him was now astronomically high!

The Almighty Demon Vine beside him, perhaps sensing Wen Yu’s inner turmoil, transmitted an indifferent Soul Fluctuation.

”’Don’t dwell on such useless matters. Just focus on what you need to do. Rest assured, my old master will help you handle certain things!’”

”’You mean like finding someone to be my scapegoat?’”

Wen Yu voiced his greatest fear, a bitter taste in his mouth.

He had initially believed his visit to the Heavenly Palace Treasure Land would be a delightful treasure-harvesting trip. He never imagined things would escalate to this point—inexplicably, he might have landed himself on the Dominator’s blacklist or even a wanted list.

Wen Yu desperately wanted to scream his defense: I truly don’t know anything!

A maelstrom of thoughts raged in his mind: uncertainty about what was to come, fear of having possibly provoked the Dominator, and anxiety for his own insignificant life. These various emotions tangled together, making his head throb with a dull buzz.

Until, at a certain instant, an immense force slammed into his back.

”Watch out!”

”BOOM!”

A tremendous explosion roared from behind. Carried by the massive shockwave, Wen Yu was flung nearly a hundred meters forward before he could turn his head to look back at where he had just been.