Apocalypse Circular-Chapter 536 - 534 The Chief

When Lu Luo walked out from the Bai Family, his mood was exceptionally bad. Even with the severe coldness of Apocalypse, he still felt an unprecedented heat. At first, he didn't even think this heat was problematic, not until the Observer's prompt appeared:

[Do you feel very hot? Irritable, with the urge to destroy things around you?]

"Hmm? What's wrong? Can't I feel this way? Does the Bai Family really not understand? At this point, they still want to drag things out. Old Bai should have some understanding of the Angel Envoy's power by now. The longer this drags on, the stronger the Angel Envoy's power might become..."

Lu Luo seemed to have a lot to say, but he was interrupted by the Observer again. It was rare for the Observer to interrupt Lu Luo, but something was genuinely off about him at this moment.

[Can you stop talking for a moment and calm down? No matter what, keep your mouth shut for one minute. Don't you feel there's something wrong with yourself?]

When the Observer told him to shut up for a minute, Lu Luo even had the urge to curse loudly. But when it mentioned something being wrong with him, Lu Luo hesitated.

A problem?

He pondered for a moment and decided to follow the Observer's suggestion: stay quiet for a minute and let his emotions cool down.

"Fine!"

Time passed agonizingly slowly. From Lu Luo's perspective, that one minute felt as long as a year. The feelings of heat and irritation incessantly overwhelmed his mind. Initially impatient, after thirty seconds, his Transcendent ability activated spontaneously.

[You are a Transcendent; you can reduce emotional influence by 90%. You are gradually regaining composure.]

When his Transcendent ability activated on its own, Lu Luo clearly felt a coolness spread through his heart. The heat had never been from the air, nor the current temperature. It was his mood. And his mood had been influenced by some external force.

[You should be feeling better now, right?]

"Yes, much better," Lu Luo finally returned to normal. He didn't immediately emerge from his state of self-imposed isolation, as he still felt something was amiss with his body and emotions. At this time, saying nothing and doing nothing was the best choice.

「...」

Not far from Lu Luo, a Seventh Tier expert turned to look at Gu Tianfeng.

"Chief, he seems to have calmed down."

"I know. He's even better than I imagined."

"What now?"

"Bring him back. We need to have a proper discussion with him about the Bai Family and matters concerning the Imperial Family."

After Gu Tianfeng finished speaking, he turned and walked into the night. The few remaining individuals didn't set off immediately but continued to ask, "What if Lu Luo resists?"

"Then break his arms and legs and bring him back."

No one could refuse Gu Tianfeng's command. With this order issued, Lu Luo's situation was about to become much worse. Three Seventh Tier masters had already targeted Lu Luo in the darkness.

Lu Luo, who was resting, sensed that something was wrong, but he couldn't pinpoint the source of his unease.

"Something's wrong!" Lu Luo muttered.

[Someone has likely targeted you. Their strength is probably considerable. Be careful!]

The Observer's prompt made Lu Luo vigilant again. The earlier heat had completely dissipated. The power that could influence his mind was terrifying.

To possess energy capable of reaching this level, the opponent's power must exceed the Seventh Tier! Another Eighth Order? A few months ago, the Imperial Capital was so stable. I didn't expect to encounter three Eighth Orders in just two short days! Nolan, Bai Mo, and this last mysterious person.

Lu Luo clearly felt the gap in energy levels between himself and this unseen opponent. An Eighth Order's abilities could already breach some of his Sequence defenses.

Although, if it came down to a deathmatch, my Sequence could still be highly effective. But in ordinary circumstances, if I'm not vigilant enough, their abilities can already infiltrate. This is the terrifying aspect of the Eighth Order!

As Lu Luo pondered, he walked, not paying much heed to the three Seventh Tiers closing in on him. Compared to an Eighth Order expert, the combat power and threat of Seventh Tiers were simply insignificant to him.

Three of them… If they're from the Inspection Department, they'd make good practice.

Lu Luo was now technically part of the Inspection Department, but he knew it had many branches. Wu Yi's Inspection Department, which liaised with the military, was only a small fraction of the entire organization. The three who had appeared now were clearly from other branches.

In a place unseen by others, Lu Luo's calves began to swell. Intense steam compressed around his ankles. Then, Lu Luo stepped into a deserted alley.

BOOM!

The two-story building beside the alley instantly collapsed. A man in a black cloak was sent flying hundreds of meters by the powerful impact. But this was only the beginning of the battle. The other two Seventh Tiers engaged the moment their companion was attacked. Their cultivated abilities were very similar, a kind of strange, black energy. The moment it made contact with Lu Luo's Qi He, the energy attempted to penetrate his body.

But Lu Luo was no longer the same person he had been. For the past two-plus months, aside from necessary tasks and being intimate with Wu Ye Ji, he had cultivated day and night. He had a thorough understanding of the Inspection Department's Cultivation Techniques. Although the energy of these three seemed somewhat outside the normal system of the Inspection Department, it still bore some of its hallmarks. So Lu Luo immediately determined that all three were from the Inspection Department.

"Are you from the Inspection Department? What do you want with me?"

"No comment!"

BOOM!

The two exchanged another punch, but this person's punch was significantly weaker than Lu Luo's. However, the trio's coordination was impeccable; whenever one was repelled by Lu Luo, another would fill the gap. Shockwaves and impacts continuously erupted in the narrow passages. The successive shockwaves began to awaken the surrounding ordinary people.

Such Seventh Tier battles were extremely rare within the Imperial Capital. Generally, Seventh Tier experts would take their fights outside the city. At their level, their combat power was too great, and the destruction too vast. Too much destruction could easily lead to losses among the common populace, something the higher-ups did not wish to see.

"If there's an issue, we can talk it over properly. I don't want to kill you here!"

"How arrogant."

Hearing Lu Luo's words, one of the younger-sounding voices betrayed a hint of humiliation. For Lu Luo to speak so confidently while facing a three-on-one assault was embarrassing for the three Inspection Department cadres, who considered themselves top-tier experts. Moreover, their inability to take down Lu Luo, who seemed to be handling them with ease, was even more infuriating. So, after Lu Luo spoke, their attacks intensified.

"Black Bird!"

The black energy coalesced into a bird that flew towards Lu Luo through the night. Lu Luo narrowed his eyes slightly, his right arm beginning to swell. Since these people were so unappreciative, there was no need for him to hold back any longer. He was already angry enough from his encounter at the Bai Family; this was a good opportunity to let loose and vent on these individuals.

Deliberate Bombardment Fist!

The steam built up in his arm erupted instantly. With the black energy bird as the focal point, the glass of all buildings behind it shattered in an instant. The reflections from the shattering glass created a spectacle as dazzling as nighttime fireworks.

The foremost Seventh Tier expert suddenly spat out a large mouthful of blood. Lu Luo's strength had completely exceeded their imagination; this level of power was not that of an ordinary Seventh Tier!

After defeating one, Lu Luo had no intention of stopping. His speed suddenly increased. Steam acted like a helical accelerator, allowing him to break the sound barrier in an instant. At that moment, he moved almost horizontally through the air, turning without any lag. In a blink, he was in front of another person.

Hundred Cracks!

WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!

In an instant, Lu Luo threw hundreds of punches, which fell upon the other Seventh Tier like raindrops. The relentless assault quickly overwhelmed the opponent. Their energy defense crumbled bit by bit under the barrage of fists. When dozens of punch shadows finally landed on the person, that individual gradually lost consciousness.

Lu Luo hadn't actually killed him; such an attack merely caused serious injury. He still needed the Empire's strength, so it was best not to kill at this time. Another Seventh Tier now meant additional strength in the upcoming struggle against the Angel Envoy.

After defeating two, Lu Luo shifted and moved, coming to face the last person.

It was a woman. She appeared to be no longer young, probably in her forties.

"Senior, may we speak now? Who sent you here?"

"Have you ever heard of an Inspection Department member being successfully interrogated?" the woman said coldly.

Lu Luo thought about it; indeed, he hadn't. "So this is the end of your attack? The strength of the Inspection Department should be more than this, right? After all, I am also from the Inspection Department. Which department are you from?"

Lu Luo wanted to extract some information from the woman, but she didn't take the bait and attacked him directly. This made Lu Luo somewhat regretful.

"What a pity. I originally thought I could meet the people behind you!"

The woman revealed a sharp blade in her hand, thrusting it straight at Lu Luo's eyeball. At such close distance, even with his Transcendent protection, Lu Luo would probably not withstand an Outburst from a peer of the same rank. So, he extended his right hand and clamped the blade.

"You are all too weak!"

"Is that so?" Just as Lu Luo was preparing to deal with the last one, another voice appeared behind him. It was another presence Lu Luo hadn't detected. This person's strength absolutely surpassed the other three by an entire dimension. Lu Luo's Observer hadn't discovered this person.

Another Eighth Order?

Lu Luo became slightly cautious, tendrils instantly appearing behind him. Facing an Eighth Order was no longer a mere game like it was with Seventh Tiers. Lu Luo knew that even the weakest Eighth Order was stronger than the strongest Seventh Tier. Wu Ye Ji, a powerful Seventh Tier, was quite strong, but in the hands of an Eighth Order like Nolan, she was laughably like a toy. So, facing an Eighth Order, Lu Luo had to give his all!

Endless Tendrils!

Numerous tendrils shot from behind Lu Luo towards the opponent, but all were blocked by the black energy emanating from their body.

Black energy again! This power is from the same system as those three. They must be practicing the same Cultivation Technique, perhaps even taught by the same master. To be able to instruct so many Seventh Tiers, and even produce an Eighth Order, the source of this Cultivation Technique must truly be terrifying!

As Lu Luo slightly furrowed his brow, his released tendrils were completely severed by the opponent's dark energy. His adversary merely lifted a hand slightly.

"Dark Void Slash."

An invisible and intangible force descended from the sky. Although Lu Luo couldn't observe the force's trajectory, he sensed danger as the Dark Void Slash descended. Steam erupted, and he abruptly retreated!

BOOM!

A chasm formed before Lu Luo. The surrounding buildings crumbled to pieces. Under such circumstances, no ordinary person could survive. The terrifying Slash Strike had carved out a cliff-like terrain.

"You're using such a move in the city?" Lu Luo asked, unable to understand. The opponent was clearly a member of the Inspection Department.

Members of the Inspection Department are, after all, part of the Imperial forces. They should have some regard for the lives of citizens within the Empire's borders. Not to mention those in the Imperial Capital. Such a massive Slash Strike could easily kill Imperial officials accidentally. It was unleashed so recklessly. Do these people have no scruples at all?

"You're surprisingly compassionate. But compassion isn't a trait that should be found in our kind. Otherwise, it will only bring endless trouble to you. If you want to save them, then go ahead!"

In just a moment, Lu Luo knew that the opponent's philosophy was entirely different from his own. He recalled some things Wu Yi had told him before. Zhang Changming had also mentioned similar matters. Within the Imperial Inspection Department, there were not only heroes who wished to serve the Empire but also some who hid in the shadows. They were an extreme manifestation of the Empire's power, and no ordinary organization could accommodate their existence. They were evil, the true embodiment of human wickedness. They adhered to a unique doctrine where power was honored above all, with strength as the supreme rule. Believing that Transcendents were the true humans while ordinary people were nothing but beasts, they existed within the Inspection Department. Under normal circumstances, the Inspection Department was their residence and also their seal, keeping them in check. But once problems arose within the Inspection Department, these individuals became the greatest source of instability for the Empire.

"You are... the Shadow Department of the Inspection Department?"

"So you know about the Shadow Department too! Well, that makes things easier. If you don't want to cause too much damage, then come with me!"

"Moron!"

Lu Luo cursed and immediately turned to run towards the city outskirts. He had no intention of fleeing or compromising; his decision to run towards the outskirts was primarily to avoid battling the opponent in such an environment. Although he wasn't exactly a good person, he did not possess a purely evil nature. He could not bring himself to fight without restraint, wantonly slaughtering innocent and uninvolved people.

The figure clad in black, upon seeing Lu Luo flee and even curse at him, immediately felt a surge of indignation. He glanced at the three downed Seventh Tiers with some disdain.

"Three of you couldn't beat one. What a bunch of failures."

The three Seventh Tiers didn't dare to talk back and could only lie silently in place. At that moment, they were somewhat grateful to Lu Luo. Judging by the power he had just unleashed, it was clear he could have killed all three of them. But Lu Luo hadn't done so; he had defeated them and then spared them. This attitude engendered a slight favorable impression of Lu Luo among the trio.

Of course, this slight favorable impression wouldn't change anything. At most, it shifted their feelings from hostility to indifference. But this indifference was enough; at the very least, they wouldn't unreasonably antagonize Lu Luo any further.

The final Eighth Order black-clad figure pursued Lu Luo. The Chief had already given his orders today: no matter what, they were to bring Lu Luo back. Otherwise, what they would face wouldn't be injury or pain, but the Chief's wrath!