Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

”And how does this relate to the current Hunt Reward Plan?”

Wen Yu’s attitude remained indifferent, but he still had to try and extract information. With the Almighty Demon Vine unwilling to elaborate, Luo Hai was undoubtedly a good source.

”The dispute between the Almighty Immortal Emperor and the Drunken Taoist has lasted for hundreds of millions of years. Under their leadership, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance split into two major factions.”

”After their resurrection, the grievances between the two factions did not cease. The leaders of these two factions have now become Lord Heaven’s Path and Alliance Chief Da Luo.”

”Young Master, your identity as the Son of the Heaven-reaching Immortal Emperor is beyond question and clearly marks you as belonging to Heavenly Dao’s faction.”

”Therefore, with this Hunt Reward Plan, I fear that members of the other faction might target Your Highness. That’s why I’ve taken the liberty of coming to meet Your Highness, to see if I can be of any service.”

After Luo Hai finished speaking, he paused briefly and then added, ”This is also the common goal of everyone from the Death Battle Faction participating in this hunting plan.”

”He’s spouting nonsense, don’t listen to his rubbish,” the Almighty Demon Vine within him bluntly refuted Luo Hai’s claims.

Wen Yu didn’t say anything, but asked with a hint of confusion, ”Aren’t you Da Luo’s son? How did you end up on Heavenly Dao’s side?”

Hearing Wen Yu’s question, Luo Hai gave a bitter smile. ”I was originally part of the Continuation Faction. But after the Immortal Emperor died, the Universe of Immortals and Heroes plunged into its most desperate battle. At that time, many from the Death Battle Faction chose to join our side, attempting to align themselves with the Dominator. But in the end…”

”We were betrayed by the Drunken Taoist and the Dominator.”

”Betrayed?”

Luo Hai nodded. ”In the entire Universe of Immortals and Heroes, only the Drunken Taoist survived.”

”He became the Treasure Land Protector for the Dominator.”

To survive by becoming someone else’s dog... Yes, in Wen Yu’s understanding, that phrase thoroughly explained everything the Drunken Taoist had done.

However…

Luo Hai’s words indeed contained a significant amount of information.

Only the Drunken Taoist survived in the entire Universe of Immortals and Heroes. Although he paid a hefty price, such a choice, in the most desperate of times, was still a means of self-preservation.

Wen Yu didn’t ask further about how the Drunken Taoist became the Dominator’s Treasure Land Protector—because even if he did, Luo Hai likely wouldn’t know.

Instead, Luo Hai’s subsequent words once again captured Wen Yu’s attention.

”Upon discovering the Drunken Taoist’s betrayal, the entire Continuation Faction immediately collapsed. Apart from a few die-hards who still clung to the idea that ’the Drunken Taoist’s plan is viable; he’ll eventually establish contact with the Dominator and come back for us,’ the rest abandoned all hope. They then joined the Death Battle Faction, preparing for a fight to the death against the Demon Tribe in the Heavenly Palace.”

”It was at that time I chose to leave the Continuation Faction and join Lord Heaven’s Path. Young Master, you don’t need to doubt my identity. My choices back then, and the conflict between the two factions—anyone who knows me can confirm these facts if you just ask.”

Luo Hai indeed had no reason to deceive Wen Yu about these matters. These were past events, and likely everyone in the Heavenly Palace, except perhaps Wen Yu, knew something about them.

Therefore, Wen Yu said nothing more, merely nodding to indicate he understood.

”So, Your Highness, what are your thoughts?”

”You should return for now. I’ll give you my decision the day after tomorrow, in the morning.”

In fact, there was no choice to make. Wen Yu’s stance was resolute—cooperation was impossible! No matter how eloquently Luo Hai spoke, it was absolutely out of the question! He said this only to stall for time, to annoy Luo Hai a little, and incidentally, to understand the meaning behind the Almighty Demon Vine’s earlier remark, ”He’s spouting nonsense.”

”In that case, I shall take my leave.”

Luo Hai didn’t linger and respectfully departed from Wen Yu’s room.

”He was talking utter rubbish just now!” the Almighty Demon Vine once again criticized fiercely.

Wen Yu remained silent, sitting still and waiting for the Almighty Demon Vine’s explanation.

”That fellow was right about the first part—I’m referring to the previous factional divisions within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.”

”But the latter part was absolute nonsense!”

”How so?”

”What damn factional feuds could there possibly be now? Use your head! After experiencing the great calamity of the Universe of Immortals and Heroes, neither the Death Battle Faction’s nor the Continuation Faction’s objectives were met. Heavenly Dao and Da Luo have long understood that these so-called factional disputes are nothing more than internal power struggles. If, after being reborn once, they still can’t see something that simple, then they’ve truly lived their long lives in vain.”

”Makes sense!”

A person’s life is always fair. Young people are strong and full of energy, but the elderly are not without their merits—living longer, experiencing more, and possessing rich experience are also forms of capital and assets.

The longer one lives, or the more one experiences, the more mature and comprehensive their views on certain matters tend to become. Now that even the Universe of Immortals and Heroes is gone, if Heavenly Dao and Da Luo were still truly hung up on so-called factional disputes, it would indeed be a waste of all their years.

In fact, Wen Yu had already discerned a few things from his meetings with Heavenly Dao and Da Luo. While they certainly appeared to be at odds on the surface, neither ever brought up ”factional disputes.” For a Level 10 Breakthrough Achiever and a Level 11 Transcender, so-called factions are merely tools. Given that the ”Dao” of both the Almighty Immortal Emperor and the Drunken Taoist have demonstrably failed, there’s no need for Heavenly Dao and Da Luo to cling to such things.

”That Luo Hai just now... he might have had other motives. Or perhaps, being of a lower standing compared to Heavenly Dao and Da Luo, he doesn’t grasp the thinking of those at the top. That could be why he brought up all that talk about factions.”

”The internal factional disputes within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance were indeed once very fierce. That was because the Universe of Immortals and Heroes hadn’t been destroyed yet, and they were trying to find a way for their people to survive. But now that the Universe of Immortals and Heroes has been annihilated and they’ve all become NPCs, if they’re still clinging to those old ideas... Heh...”

Hearing the Almighty Demon Vine’s explanation, Wen Yu nodded in response.

Luo Hai is a smart man; he must understand these principles. He’s probably trying to deceive me.

Wen Yu thus assessed Luo Hai’s words.

I just don’t know who instructed him to do these things.

To think that Luo Hai is some naive, second-generation rich kid who’s causing trouble just because he envies my status... No, I’d never believe that. In all my time in this apocalypse, I’ve never encountered such a brainless caricature.

Luo Hai’s attitude must be determined by instructions from higher-ups or a conflict of interest!

”It should be Da Luo.”

”Da Luo?”

Wen Yu raised an eyebrow. ”Why do I feel like it’s Heavenly Dao?”

”I know Heavenly Dao’s character. He wouldn’t use these petty tricks on you. In fact, his personality is a lot like yours—when facing someone weaker, Heavenly Dao would never resort to such convoluted schemes. If he genuinely wanted to kill you, he’d just slap you dead. Much cleaner!”

Wen Yu pressed his lips together and said nothing.