Apocalypse Circular-Chapter 547 - 545: The End of Immortality (Part 1)

In the sky, more and more rifts in space appeared. These rifts even began to affect the battle between Lu Luo and Yang.

Lu Luo forced his way through a rift, the powerful tearing force shredding his shoulder to pieces. But Lu Luo did not care at all, as the Fusioner's energy quickly healed his wounds. His body, unless impacted by the Destroyer's power, could heal any injury in a short time. Such a Lu Luo, if placed among ordinary people, could almost be said to be invincible.

"Thrilling!" Lu Luo licked the corner of his mouth, looking particularly bloodthirsty.

The Yang opposite him, however, looked somewhat sad. Her giantess form was marked by teardrop crystals at the corner of her eyes, created by the energy collision with Lu Luo just moments before. Now hanging on her face, they resembled the traces left by tears.

"It's about time we ended this, Lu Luo!"

"Yeah, I feel the same way."

Their fists collided once more! This time, neither of them gave ground, nor did they separate. Lu Luo's bones shattered, and Yang's muscles tore apart. Neither took a step back, their powers struggling against each other in this space. The intense pulling force made it impossible for the space to remain stable.

CRACK! A fragment of space suddenly appeared before Lu Luo's eyes. In his perception, this fragment was like a conspicuous light point, filled with danger.

Yang's gaze was also fixed on this fragment of space, a bad premonition dawning on her! "Not good, space is collapsing!"

What does space collapse look like? No one had ever known before, but this time, many witnessed it with their own eyes. At the location of Lu Luo and Yang, layers of depressions formed in space. These depressions were like the inverse hollows suddenly appearing on a sheet of white paper. Everything surrounding the depressions was being torn, absorbed, and devoured by this fracturing spatial force. Even Lu Luo and Yang were no exceptions!

"Will you let go?"

"What do you think?"

At this moment, they exchanged riddles, but neither was willing to let go. Their battle had long since reached a point of life-and-death. Even if they fell into an Alternate Space, they were determined to conclude their fight!

"Die, Yang!" Lu Luo threw another punch, and the already dented and twisted space completely collapsed.

A fearsome space black hole appeared above in the sky. As the black hole formed, the previously scattered Imperial Palace fragments were sucked into the void.

Gu Tianfeng and Bai Mo sensed the danger and immediately retreated. "Back off, everyone back off!"

Fortunately, the black hole was a good distance away from the crowd, and with the warning of the two War God-level masters, people began to retreat. But they also witnessed history. The New Imperial Palace was swallowed up by the space black hole.

The spatial fluctuation did not last long, only about two minutes. But after the black hole closed, there was nothing left below it. The Imperial Palace, and even the buildings around it, had already been lifted from the ground. A massive pit was left behind on the earth, and everyone looked at the gaping hole beneath their feet in silent contemplation. The Imperial Palace was, in essence, a landmark of the New Empire. But now, it was reduced to ashes.

"Where did they go?" asked Wu Ye Ji, looking at Gu Tianfeng.

Gu Tianfeng would normally not entertain Wu Ye Ji, even if she was an Imperial Princess—he simply could not be bothered to talk to her. But today was different; he too wanted to know where the pair had gone.

"I don't know either. Maybe they have entered an Alternate Space. But I feel that their battle is far from over!"

...

In the Western Suburbs, beneath the Upside-Down Sea, Meiqi looked towards the direction of the Imperial Capital, quietly bowing her head. She clasped her hands together, forming a praying gesture.

"Oh my lord, your wish is about to be fulfilled. Both the Destroyer and the Devourer have taken their places, and your coming shall no longer be stopped by anyone! This world shall be reorganized, and everything will return to its original state."

A tear fell from the corner of Meiqi's eye, a tear that seemed like a key to unlocking some great door. Never underestimate the tears of Medusa! As the tear floated upward and fell into the Upside-Down Sea, the sea finally trembled.

BOOM! Great waves churned, turning the world upside down!

The underground city began to ascend, and Meiqi, seated upon the throne, floated upward with the city. At this moment, the Tenth Angel Envoy, Meiqi, the Doomsday Serpent, had finally unsealed all of her seals. She was about to present herself before the world!

"I have waited a thousand years for this moment to finally arrive!"

At the same time, Leviathan, looking somewhat profound, glanced at the Floating City from the sky. His situation was different from Meiqi's. She had completely taken control of the Upside-Down Sea and the underwater world. Furthermore, she had used this dominance to breed a multitude of underlings, Exotic Species, and even Eighth Order Angel Envoy vessels. But up in the sky, he was alone. He too had freed himself of his seals, but that was the extent of it. Unlike Meiqi, he could not claim the Floating City as his own. This was related to innate talent, as well as their respective growth, experiences, and opportunities. If one cannot achieve that, then the only option is to let go. It's a pity, but he had no other choice!

"Forget it! There's not enough time." Leviathan's body began to swell: 1 meter, 10 meters, 1,000 meters, 10,000 meters. His enormous body continued to expand until it was nearly 100 kilometers in size before it barely stopped.

The Behemoth of the Firmament. What defines the Firmament? Like a curtain in the sky, Leviathan's body and its shadow nearly shrouded the entire Wasteland Alliance.

...

After Leviathan appeared, the masters inside the wall became aware of it. Lu Xiaotian stood atop the Fifth High Wall, her fingers trembling slightly! Beneath her feet were not just towering high walls, but also surging waves! The Upside-Down Sea had been completely drawn out by Meiqi, and Lu Xiaotian had to face more than just the fear outside the wall. There was also the Tenth Angel Envoy, the Doomsday Serpent!

This day has come a bit too soon! I feel like I'm not even prepared. Lu Xiaotian laughed self-deprecatingly. Behind her, her transformed subordinates from the Exotic Species were long ready for battle.

In unison, they shouted, "Master!"

Lu Xiaotian waved her hand gently. "Trigger!" Having said that, she transformed into her complete form of the Nightmare Demon, a black flame warhorse, and charged into the sky. And behind her, countless Exotic Species followed. They were the resistance of the Exotic Species. Angel Envoys are indeed Exotic Species, but they cannot always reign supreme over them.

...

In the Alternate Space, Lu Luo and Yang's fists slowly drew apart. They looked at each other, both already covered in wounds after fighting to this extent. Lu Luo could still heal ordinary injuries with his Fusioner abilities, but the damage caused by the power of destruction couldn't be remedied by any means.

"Lu Luo, who do you guess will die?"

At this point, the rhythm of the battle between the two of them had naturally slowed down. There was no air, no moisture, no energy. In this state of nothingness, it would be a test of who could last until the end.

"I guess it's you!" Lu Luo was unequivocal. His eyes were charred, and his body was missing large parts. Arms, chest, back, and legs were all missing. Even his robust tail and the horns on his head had broken off completely. But even in such a dire state, Lu Luo's spirit was still full. His will was like flames and lava, filled with the desire to fight. And Lu Luo believed that if the fight continued, the victor would undoubtedly be himself.

"You're still so spirited, so confident, Lu Luo."

"Yes, if a young person isn't confident, can he still be called a young person? Rest in peace." Lu Luo's vibrant appearance contrasted starkly with Yang's somewhat deflated state.

Yang surveyed the void around them before finally fixing her gaze on Lu Luo. "Lu Luo, here, it probably can't sense us anymore, right?"

The previous intensity, anger, and fierce desire to fight all dissipated with Yang's words, leaving no trace. The previously fervent expression on Lu Luo's face also cooled at this moment. He regained his composure and, with eyeless eyes, he too looked towards Yang. "Yeah, it can't sense us here."

What exactly "it" referred to, perhaps only the two of them knew. Yang nodded slightly, and the vitality in her body also began to fade along with her will to fight.

"Lu Luo, I'm going to die."

"I know."

"You really are amazing. I originally thought I would have to do this myself. I didn't expect you to be able to make it this far."

"Of course, I am Sequence S-00-The Faithless." Lu Luo extended a large thumb towards himself, not sure if he was comforting Yang or just boasting about himself.

Yang giggled, her laughter light and cheerful. "It's a pity about Noah. I didn't fulfill my promise to him. If only we could really be together."

Lu Luo fell silent for a moment. Lovers not ending up together was a common occurrence. But for those involved, it was an extremely cruel affair. At this moment, Lu Luo could only offer comfort. "I believe everything will get better."

"Really?"

"Really, you can always trust me. Emperor Five Seven One, was it you who killed him?"

Lu Luo held some resentment towards the Emperor. After all, he was the father of Wu Yi, Wu Ye Ji, and Wu Liji. No matter whether this father was a qualified one or not, Lu Luo felt he owed an explanation to his alliance partners. If Five Seven One really was killed by Yang, then Yang dying by his hand could be considered giving closure to the three women. But if it wasn't Yang, Lu Luo didn't want to wrong the other party. It was a laughable principle, but at this time, Lu Luo truly did not want to deceive any longer. Because everyone had the right to know the truth, even if it was cruel.

"Emperor Five Seven One? Haha, do you think I had the power to kill him? At that time, I was so weak. Even with Noah's help, I couldn't contend against a War God-level expert. On the contrary, it was by using his body that I recovered most of my strength."

Yang's words took Lu Luo by surprise. If Five Seven One hadn't been killed by Yang or by Devourer, then how did he die? Could it be...

"How did His Imperial Majesty die?" Lu Luo's expression was odd, and Yang, who was very perceptive, caught the look of unease on Lu Luo's face.

"Haha, Lu Luo, you must have sensed it, right?"

"Was he killed by 'It'?"

"Yes, 'It' killed him. All of 'It,' everything, is poison. The stronger we become, the deeper the poison seeps into us."

"Is it 'eating'?" Lu Luo used a somewhat strange term.

However, Yang affirmed this peculiar phrasing. "'Eating'? That term could indeed be accurate. Lu Luo, when did you first sense 'It'? Moreover, is the 'It' we are talking about really the same 'It'?"

Yang's words were somewhat cryptic, but Lu Luo understood the implication very well. As for when he sensed its existence, it must have been when Lu Luo received Meiqi's power and felt the birth of consciousness. That feeling was overwhelmingly strong. If he had not been Faithless, Lu Luo might have sunk into the abyss of power, becoming a slave to Meiqi and 'It' forever. But fortunately, The Faithless saved him and made him aware of 'Its' existence.

"When did I sense 'It'? I think it was when Meiqi took me to the Upside-Down Sea. I sensed the birth of your original consciousness."

"The birth of an Angel Envoy... Indeed, that's one way to perceive 'It'."

Lu Luo nodded slightly, and the two fell silent once more. Their silence was not simply a lack of words. During the quiet, Lu Luo and Yang's bodies were also disintegrating. The energy within them was depleting rapidly. It seemed that in a short while, they wouldn't even be able to maintain their most basic forms.

Lu Luo raised his head again to look at Yang. "Yang, can you tell me about 'It'? Its name, its characteristics, and its existence? 'It' must have a name, right? Why do we refer to 'It' in such a way?"

Yang nodded, and just that simple action caused her hair to instantly turn to ash and dissipate into the air. Yang gave a wry smile, trying to grasp her hair, then shook her head and gave up.

"Looks like I don't have much time left! As for 'Its' existence, it's quite special. 'It' has many names: World Will, Shadow of the Primordial, Sequence Zero, and so on. No one knows exactly what 'It' is, but we all know that 'It' created us. As for why we don't call 'It' by name, it's because 'It' is truly immortal."

Hearing this term surprised Lu Luo! "Immortal?"

"Yes, immortal!"

"What is immortality?"

"You could guess, or think about it yourself."

Yang's suggestion sent Lu Luo into deep thought. What really is immortality? The continuation of life? No, life has never been immortal. Any great catastrophe could lead to the extinction of life. Therefore, life is never immortal. If life is not immortal, then what is immortality? World Will, this planet? No, planets are not immortal either. Not to mention a large celestial body impact. Black holes, and stellar instability among other factors—even the celestial bodies themselves are not eternal and immortal. Celestial bodies can be destroyed and ruined at any moment. So, celestial bodies are not immortal. Then... what exactly is it?

"This question sounds simple, but it seems really difficult..."

"Hehe, indeed it is difficult," Yang suddenly chuckled. "I've pondered this question before and didn't understand it. It wasn't until I was sealed, confined in the Doomsday Disc for a span of 2,500 years, that I gradually came to realize."

"2,500 years? Wasn't it 1,000 years?"

"Do you think human history is only 1,000 years old? Before the establishment of the New Empire, humans had already experienced several epochs."

Upon hearing this, Lu Luo slightly nodded. "I see!"

"Immortality is simple to explain. Immortality is just immortality!"

Lu Luo's expression froze instantly. Are you kidding me right now? So, your profound insight amounts to... just more words? Is this a game of Russian dolls?

"Um, Lord Yang, I don't quite understand what you mean."

"Immortality is simply that: when it is recalled, used, perceived, and remembered by people, it exists."

This reply from Yang plunged Lu Luo into deep thought. Recalled by people? So, it exists when people remember or contemplate its name? Perceived by people? It exists when someone feels its presence? Used by people? That's even more frequent. Remembered by people? So it would exist forever if recorded in history? Such existence can indeed be called immortal.

"I think I understand some of it..."

"Immortality is just that. It's a special existence; it's growing, nurturing, and budding. It's devouring everything, and its next target... I'm sorry, I can't say it out loud. Because once I do, it can sense me even across the void. But I think you already know what its purpose is. Lu Luo, you are very smart; you should know what I mean," Yang said.

Yang's reminder was crucial, and Lu Luo now understood her point. "Predecessor, I understand. Thank you."

"No need to thank me. We are just tools that were created; everything is its will. You are merely its prey, with no way to break the game. At least, I have yet to think of a way to break through. It's a pity! I've been under its control my whole life. Even after awakening my own emotions, I couldn't escape its fetters. Lu Luo, carry on with my share, live well!"

As she spoke, Yang's body began to disintegrate, her torso turning into pure black energy. This was the purest form of the power of destruction. Lu Luo gently touched this destructive force, and the blackness immediately burrowed into his body, starting to destroy all of his tissues. Lu Luo's head, body, and limbs began to disintegrate bit by bit. All energy was drawn away at that moment. The energy Lu Luo had stored up was also released instantly.

Behind him, the Doomsday Disc unfurled. The force of destruction expanded slowly like a flood, swelling. It turned into a giant energy tsunami, completely engulfing this Alternate Space. But soon, an origin of energy began to flow into the center of the Doomsday Halo, from the spot where Lu Luo had dissipated. Then, as the Doomsday Disc rotated, the energy streamed into the Sequence slot of the Gold Twelve Wheels.

Sequence S-01-Destroyer! 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Effect: Destruction!

Description: Annihilate everything!

The simple and straightforward description proved the power of this sequence. But at this time, Lu Luo could no longer perceive any of this. He could only wait quietly with the movement of energy, just waiting! This wait, in Alternate Space, lasted a hundred years!

...

A hundred years in the space, but only a little over a minute passed outside of it. The Alliance's Transcendent Army looked around at the ruins of the Imperial Capital in a daze. The Imperial Palace was no more, Lu Luo was gone, and so was the Emperor. What could they do standing here now? Stare blankly?

"Commander, what should we do now?"

"Prepare to reassure the public," said Gu Tianfeng, also helpless. The spatial shards from earlier were without direction, making tracking impossible. It seems that Lu Luo has truly disappeared. He vanished with all the secrets of the Imperial Palace.

"Is Lu Luo dead?" Wu Yi asked.

"No, he would never die," Wu Ye Ji declared emphatically. For some reason, she had absolute confidence in Lu Luo. This confidence stemmed from her negotiations and interactions with him. In her heart, Lu Luo was the true symbol of strength. It was a kind of strength more tangible than Gu Tianfeng's, even more so than Bai Mo's. Therefore, she firmly believed that Lu Luo would reappear! "He will definitely come back, and soon!"

"Let's hope so." Wu Yi was not as optimistic as Wu Ye Ji. Rather than Lu Luo's situation, she was already considering her next move.

The massive battle in the Imperial Palace had not broken out as expected, so those who came here gained no merits. Of course, there were also no injuries. It seemed as if everyone had simply taken a trip without any substantial gains. But this meant they had to consider how they would face each other moving forward. After all, most people had revealed their trump cards this time. They could no longer hide, and so the targets of the many Princes and Princesses suddenly became clear.

Zhang Changming looked at the Inspection Department's team, his expression complex. The disappearance of Lu Luo made him very uneasy. What would Bai Yuetong think if she knew about this? Having lost her husband, Bai would be very upset, right? I'm sorry, Bai, I failed to take care of your daughter... Zhang Changming muttered quietly to himself before beginning to command the Inspection Department members, "Disband, clean up the scene, prepare to reassure the public."

No matter what, life must go on. He needed to reassure the people, and everything had to be reorganized. As for the Imperial Palace, whether to rebuild it or make other choices would have to depend on the situation. In any case, the most important thing right now was to pacify the populace of the Imperial Capital. There were too many Transcendents in this place, and if unrest were to break out, the consequences would be unimaginable.

...

Just as everyone was preparing to disband, a strong spatial fluctuation suddenly emanated from the center of the huge pit where the Imperial Palace had stood. The intensity of this fluctuation was so noticeable that even ordinary people could feel it.

"There's a spatial fluctuation!"

"Yes, I feel it too."

"Someone's there, look over there!" Some with better eyesight had already pointed to the center of the crater.

In the middle of the pit, a young man looking slightly disheveled stood motionless. In his hands, he held a black and red greatsword. The greatsword had impaled another person. The entire scene was frozen in time, still as can be.

This sword-wielding young man was none other than Lu Luo. His eyes were lifeless, devoid of any vitality, as if he were dead. His body also emitted no energy response. At this moment, he seemed to have been stripped of everything. The black and red greatsword he clutched was his own weapon, Ashbringer. Many members of the Inspection Department had seen this sword, so when they spotted it, some immediately shouted, "That sword, it's Lu Luo!"

"It's indeed Lu Luo's weapon, I've seen it too."

The crowd grew noisy, but Wu Ye Ji and Zhang Changming developed an ominous premonition. They simultaneously thought of who the person in front of Lu Luo might be.

Gu Tianfeng and Bai Mo, despite their conflicts, glanced at each other and immediately rushed toward the center of the pit. Bai Mo laughed uproariously upon seeing the skewered individual, "Hahahaha, hahahaha! Heaven has eyes, this guy, he's finally dead!"

Compared with Bai Mo, Gu Tianfeng's expression was much more complex. The Emperor, Five Seven One! After all, regardless of their differences, this man was his pupil and the leader of their nation. His existence was tied to the stability of the country. And now that he was dead, it meant the entire country would fall into chaos. He had left no will, given no warning. The era of power struggles and sibling rivalries among the Princes and Princesses was about to begin prematurely.

Gu Tianfeng walked forward slowly, closed Five Seven One's gaping eyes, and then spoke in a voice loud enough for all to hear, "His Majesty has passed away! The regicide, Lu Luo."

The crowd was in uproar. The man beneath the sword was the Emperor? Emperor Five Seven One, a War God-level expert, was dead just like that? Was he killed by Lu Luo? Was the battle before between Emperor Five Seven One and Lu Luo? What an astonishing battle! Has Lu Luo's power really become so formidable? But now it seems that Lu Luo is no longer able to continue. Is he dead?

At some unknown point, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, "Kill Lu Luo, seek revenge for His Majesty!"

"That's right, kill Lu Luo, seek revenge for His Majesty!"

"Kill Lu Luo, seek revenge for His Majesty!"

"Kill Lu Luo, seek revenge for His Majesty!"

The shouts grew louder and louder, and the crowd quickly became uncontrollable. This was understandable. After all, the Emperor is the symbol of Imperial power. A regicide, under any circumstances, would never be accepted by the people.

Amidst the crowd's shouting, Gu Tianfeng slowly floated into the sky, and in his deformed state, he issued a grand voice like never before, "Hear me, everyone, the regicide, Lu Luo, shall face the harshest punishment of the Empire. His death is inevitable. There is no circumstance that can absolve him of his sins. But before that, the Inspection Department must investigate everything clearly. Rest assured, within ten days, we will give the public a satisfying response. Give the Imperial Family a satisfying response. At that time, regardless of the circumstances, we will carry out the death penalty on Lu Luo. And the place of execution will be the Central Square of the Imperial Capital!"

After Gu Tianfeng finished speaking, the people began to cheer. His actions might not satisfy everyone or quell all their anger. But it was enough to calm most people down. Ten days of investigation time is indeed more than enough for this matter. There were only Lu Luo and the Emperor there, no complicated twists and turns. Actually, it won't take long to get the results of the investigation. But all these premises are based on the condition that Lu Luo can wake up. If Lu Luo can't wake up, then everything is just idle talk.

Everything seemed to be coming to an end, but soon, the phones of many intelligence officers present began to ring.

"Report! In the Western Suburbs of the Empire, an Exotic Species invasion is underway. An Orochi easily breached the defenses of the Western Suburbs. The opposition's power is too mighty, requesting support from the Imperial Capital! Requesting support from the Imperial Capital!"

The same message came repeatedly. Soon, anyone with even a bit of intelligence connections was aware of this incident. The Exotics have invaded! The Exotics have invaded the Empire? How unbelievable is this? The Exotics dare to invade the Empire?

While many people were astonished, Gu Tianfeng's face became unsightly. He was very clear that the Exotics wouldn't dare to invade the Empire. If the Exotics truly had invaded the Empire, then there must be the presence of Angel Envoys! He picked up the phone and asked in a deep voice, "Give me the details on the opposition."

"An Orochi! A sky-enveloping Orochi! And huge fish, fish that fly in the sky, too massive. Tens of thousands of meters, no, more than tens of thousands of meters, indescribable. They could destroy a city in one breath, we can't defend against them!"

The panicked voice made Gu Tianfeng somewhat irritated, but he didn't scold anyone at this time. Revealing his emotions would also unsettle those around him. What needed consideration now was how to resolve the situation in the Western Suburbs! He looked at the people in the square and once again said loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Empire is in trouble, and now it's time for you to fight for the Empire."

Gu Tianfeng spoke, but no one responded. People could still accept his handling of the Emperor's death investigation because that was the duty of the Inspection Department. But this was different; mobilizing for combat was never something the Inspection Department should do. Even the head of the Inspection Department didn't have enough power and prestige to mobilize for combat.

Looking at the unmoved crowd, Bai Mo suddenly sneered. Gu Tianfeng glanced at him, finding the old man increasingly annoying.

Just as everyone stayed silent, Wu Ye Ji suddenly flew into the sky. Although she was still worried about Lu Luo, and knew that flying would expose many things—even more, that exposing herself meant her competitors would thoroughly study her abilities—she understood most clearly that she was, at this moment, a citizen of the Empire. She was a member of the Imperial Family, a Princess. A Princess must assume her royal responsibilities, and now is the time for her to step forward.

Hovering in the air, everyone understood that this Princess, who had always been treated as a mere decorative figure, was far from inconsequential. Yet astonishingly, at the age of 26, she challenged the Seventh Tier. What an extraordinary and stunning talent was this? Apart from a freak like Lu Luo, Wu Ye Ji could already be considered one of the most powerful members in Imperial Family history.

She cleared her throat. As Sequence Charm was deployed, her clear, penetrating voice resonated in every corner of the room and entered everyone's hearts.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Angel Envoys have awakened, and the Empire has entered an unprecedented crisis.

"I know many of you are unclear about what an Angel Envoy is, so allow me to explain briefly today.

"The New Empire itself was established to seal the Angel Envoys away and defeat them.

"Angel Envoys are a disaster for humanity. They were born to destroy humankind.

"The Empire is mighty, but many have no concept of the Angel Envoys' strength.

"The appearance of two Angel Envoys in the Western Suburbs is a threat that requires the whole Empire to unite to counter.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Empire needs you, and humanity needs you.

"I, Wu Ye Ji, of modest ability, implore you all to lend your strength to humankind, and to our Empire."

This time, Wu Ye Ji's voice was high and sonorous, devoid of any element of charm, merely a subtle influence. But the content of her speech genuinely touched people's hearts. Emotion is the most important ingredient for a speaker. Once the speaker conveys sufficient emotion, the listeners will fight for the cause.

After a period of silence among the crowd, a Transcendent suddenly shouted, "For the Empire!"

With one person paving the way, other voices grew increasingly louder. And then came a tsunami of roars:

"For the Empire!"

"For the Empire!"

"For the Empire!"

Some Imperial family members frowned slightly, with peculiar looks in their eyes toward Wu Ye Ji. This woman... this being who had always been dubbed a decorative vase, they hadn't expected her to unleash such power at this time. This speech, this declaration, undoubtedly earned her immense prestige. No matter what happened in the future, as long as humanity survived, they would remember Wu Ye Ji's declaration today. This event would go down in history.

While several Princes and Princesses felt as if they had missed an opportunity, their subordinates also began to join in the shouting with the crowd.

"For the Empire!"

"For the Empire!"

"You?" The Second Prince looked at his guard in surprise. This guard was a Seventh Tier expert!

Confronted with the Second Prince's query, the guard scratched his head somewhat awkwardly. "Uh, Your Highness the Second Prince, is there a problem with my shouting?"

Indeed, what's wrong with shouting for the Empire? There is no problem at all! For the Empire, who dares to say there's a problem? That would be suicidal!

The Second Prince shook his head helplessly; suddenly he stood up and also shouted, "For the Empire!"

The roar of the crowd had already struck deep in their hearts, and battle was on the horizon. Watching all this, Wu Ye Ji's gaze was more resolute than ever. Lu Luo, no matter what happens, no matter what occurs, I will fulfill your will! Please grant me strength!

...

In the deep of the fourth night, most of the Transcendents from the Imperial Capital had already rushed to the frontlines. The power of the Angel Envoys was beyond imagination. In just four days, three out of the nine major regions of the Empire had been lost. Seventh Tier experts were as frail as babies in the face of the Angel Envoys.

Under the leadership of Bai Mo, Gu Tianfeng, and Wu Ye Ji, the Imperial army arrived at Central District, Shuangpang City. The Empire's army and the Exotic Species' forces were facing each other. The Tenth Angel Envoy, Doomsday Serpent Meiqi, stood atop an Eighth Order giant's head. She looked at the human alliance and spoke softly, "Where is Lu Luo? I know he's not dead. Hand him over to me. I will give you a satisfactory outcome."

Wu Ye Ji stared at Meiqi, confronting the monster with a head full of serpentine hair that was the fabled Angel Envoy. As they made eye contact, her very soul seemed to tremble. But Wu Ye Ji knew she must not retreat, for she represented humanity and the Empire! She had to withstand the onslaught of Meiqi's will and do it gracefully. "Humanity will never compromise with an Angel Envoy, you aberration, so give up your delusions."

"Heh, such resistance is utterly meaningless. After all, living is always more significant than dying, don't you think?" Meiqi's tone was somewhat arrogant, her confidence irking many.

Wu Ye Ji thought so too. "Do you feel that you're certain to win?"

"I feel that way. What about you?"

"I believe that humanity will prevail!"

"Heh, it seems we can't come to an agreement. But keeping Lu Luo around is a risk for you. Don't you know that Lu Luo is my greatest piece on the board? Isn't it odd to protect a chess piece for so long? Investigate him properly—he is more special than you can imagine! Remember my words, hand Lu Luo over to me, dead or alive!"

Having said that, Meiqi waved her hand and the giant took her away from the center of the battlefield. The war had just begun, and the truly brutal moments were yet to come!

Even though Meiqi had left, her last words spurred an uproar within the entire human army. Was Lu Luo really Meiqi's pawn? Did he not only kill the Emperor, but he was also an Angel Envoy's inside agent? Suddenly, there were countless voices within the army demanding Lu Luo's immediate execution.

Confronting till dawn, Wu Ye Ji had not rested. At the military meeting, many had already proposed to Gu Tianfeng to execute Lu Luo ahead of time and to bring his corpse here.

"Commander, your strength is beyond doubt, but often, strength is not the standard for judging a situation. We cannot tolerate, nor can the soldiers, any issue with Lu Luo. No one in the Imperial realm can stand it! Commander, execute Lu Luo! If Meiqi wants Lu Luo's corpse, then let's dismember him completely in front of her to dampen her spirits."

"Yes, Commander!"

Many people agreed with this sentiment, but Gu Tianfeng remained silent, turning his gaze to Wu Ye Ji. Clearly, Wu Ye Ji's earlier speech had brought not only prestige to her but also trouble. She had thought herself a rational woman but found herself caught up in an emotional whirlwind when it mattered most. Upon hearing that everyone wanted Lu Luo dead, she finally spoke, "What if Meiqi only wants us to execute Lu Luo ahead of time? We shouldn't do anything rash before we investigate the matter thoroughly."

"Isn't it a fact witnessed by everyone that Lu Luo killed His Majesty?"

"Princess, you couldn't possibly have feelings for Lu Luo, could you?"

"Indeed, I've heard that the Princess and Lu Luo were together before."

"Wasn't he the guard of the twelfth princess? Can the guard of the twelfth princess also be handed over to Princess Ye Ji? The relationships within the Imperial Family are truly complex."

The atmosphere in the meeting room became awkward upon the mention of Lu Luo. Wu Ye Ji's face turned cold; she could not tolerate such mockery. "I will personally go to the battlefield tomorrow and fight the Exotic Species. If any of you think there is something wrong with me, think I'm an inside line for the Angel Envoy, think I'm a traitor, then follow behind me and witness my actions. If you can't, then I ask you to keep your mouths shut. The Commander has already made a decision regarding Lu Luo. Ten days mean ten days. It's better to let the Inspection Department investigate thoroughly than for you all to speculate wildly here. Also, I am Wu Ye Ji, and I am also a Princess. The Emperor was my father. I want to know the truth more than any of you. While you are busy gossiping, think about what you have done for this country! HMPH!"

Wu Ye Ji left with a sweep of her sleeves, but her voice was strong enough to silence everyone present. The Princess herself is going to the battlefield. If you disagree, why don't you go too?

Indeed, many are willing to go to battle, but even more are not. They prefer to wait and watch. This is a herd mentality. Everyone is the same. As for what they are waiting and watching for, perhaps even they don't know. The people looked at each other and eventually stopped bringing up Lu Luo's matter.

Meanwhile, Gu Tianfeng watched Wu Ye Ji's retreating back, his lips curling into a slight approving smile. As one of the last two War Gods of the Empire, Gu Tianfeng's strength, power, and status played a vital role. Although Bai Mo was also powerful, the Bai Family's current position was extremely unique. This made it difficult for them to be accepted by other Imperial families. Especially at the time of Emperor Five Seven One's death, the scene of Bai Mo laughing in the pit made many label the Bai Family. Perhaps the Bai Family had grand aspirations, or perhaps they were not deserving of death and were persecuted by others. But today's Bai Family is no longer one with the Imperial Family. Therefore, with the Bai Family unable to intervene, Gu Tianfeng could even be said to be a key figure for the prospective Emperor. It is apparent now. Gu Tianfeng has a high opinion of Wu Ye Ji.