Apocalypse Circular-Chapter 537 - 535: Matters Concerning the Director General

Lu Luo raced along with great leaps and bounds, a mode of movement far quicker than flying directly. However, the Eighth Order pursuer was relentless. In terms of speed, the opponent matched him evenly, even exerting a slight pressure.

Lu Luo's brow furrowed. Upon leaving the city, his form suddenly changed. The Magma Greatsword in his hand, which he had been charging for a long time, was abruptly unleashed!

Sword Heart Third Form: Sundering the Void!

This move was remarkably similar to the Dark Sundering the Void his opponent had just used—both were exceedingly powerful Slash Strikes capable of cleaving the air itself. Lu Luo's Sundering the Void shot forward, colliding head-on with the approaching Eighth Order expert.

CLANG!

The Eighth Order expert blocked the Slash Strike in mid-air. The resulting shockwave condensed the surrounding vapor into water droplets, which scattered like fine rain.

This scene left Lu Luo somewhat stunned. His surprise attack, a fully charged strike no less, had been so easily parried. The might of an Eighth Order was truly extraordinary.

Hei Ya, who had been relentlessly pursuing Lu Luo, was also taken aback. The Slash Strike Lu Luo had unleashed was practically at a genuine Eighth Order level. Yet, the energy Lu Luo emanated and his current life aura both indicated he was only Seventh Tier. If he's Seventh Tier, how can he launch such an attack? This makes no sense!

While Hei Ya was vexed, Lu Luo's next move arrived.

Sword Heart Second Form: Fu Yu Sword, Tombstone of Death!

Sword Qi mingled with Netherflame as it descended, and the sky became shrouded by a dark power. Countless sword shadows, like sharp awls, converged on Hei Ya.

But Hei Ya, an Eighth Order expert seasoned by countless battles, remained utterly unfazed even by such an overwhelmingly powerful move.

"Such formidable swordsmanship! Your strength is indeed impressive, certainly above ordinary Seventh Tiers. But this is as far as you go!"

Hei Ya clapped his hands together, and black energy coalesced around him.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The Sword Qi struck the black energy, producing only a series of metallic tinkles. It failed to inflict any substantial damage on Hei Ya. Moreover, as the Netherflame attacked, its energy was continuously absorbed by the black energy shield. This defensive capability already surpassed the upper limits of Lu Luo's energy output. He had a premonition that his opponent's counterattack was imminent.

Be careful, prepare to defend!

Understood! Lu Luo raised his greatsword, assuming a defensive stance.

Hei Ya let out a sharp cry, and the black energy shield around him instantly exploded. This force, silent and intangible, pierced through space and Lu Luo's defenses, striking him directly.

BOOM!

The energy engulfed everything in the vicinity, including Lu Luo, rocks, plants, and trees. All living things were obliterated in that instant. Only Lu Luo, under this intense onslaught, desperately struggled to maintain his footing. His clothes and hair were consumed by the black energy. His skin burned relentlessly, as if layers of venomous insects and ants were devouring his flesh.

Though Lu Luo's expression was pained, his eyes never wavered, remaining as resolute as ever. He slowly raised his head, looking at Hei Ya in the sky, and spoke softly, "That's about enough. Now, it should be my turn!"

Clasping his hands in the same gesture, a gigantic eyeball materialized behind Hei Ya at the same moment Lu Luo completed the motion. Sensing something, Hei Ya turned to see the enormous, bloodshot eye with its sharp pupil staring intently at him, sending a chill down his spine.

This power… it's not something a normal Seventh Tier Transcendent can wield. This isn't an ordinary Sequence! This Lu Luo… he's too dangerous!

Trying to scare me?

Hei Ya lashed out, stabbing towards the eyeball. The eyeball, in turn, emitted a crimson beam. This was Lu Luo's signature skill: Eye Beam!

BOOM!

The clash of energies forced Hei Ya back. The power of an Eighth Order expert was unlike anything Lu Luo had previously encountered. Moreover, Hei Ya wasn't an ordinary Eighth Order; his master was Gu Tianfeng. As Gu Tianfeng's disciple, Hei Ya possessed almost unparalleled talent. With that single strike, he had shattered Lu Luo's Observer's Eye.

A pang of pain shot through Lu Luo. This was the first time his Observer's Eye had been shattered so soon after activation. Truly impressive! Such a powerful counterattack is indeed beyond what a Seventh Tier expert can manage.

By now, Lu Luo truly understood the saying: the stronger one becomes, the wider the gap to the next level. At First Tier, he could easily defeat a Second Tier. At Fifth Tier, he could reliably defeat a Sixth Tier. But at Sixth Tier, he had to exhaust all his wits to defeat a Seventh Tier. Now, at Seventh Tier, defeating an Eighth Order seemed almost impossible. Even techniques like the Eye Beam and the Observer's Eye were easily countered. Lu Luo was already showing signs of impending defeat. If he couldn't turn things around soon, he would very likely be defeated by Hei Ya here.

Having just created some distance from Hei Ya, Lu Luo once again activated all the Sequence Power within his body. He poured his accumulated power into the earth. After a series of violent tremors, sky-obscuring tendrils burst forth from the ground. Lu Luo, standing amidst the tendrils, looked like an ancient god descended.

Yet, even this display didn't cause Hei Ya to falter in the slightest. In his eyes, these terrifying tendrils were not even a tenth as frightening as his master's power.

Hei Ya looked at the surrounding tendrils and smiled faintly. "Impressive skills. Defeating someone like you would actually be worthwhile!"

Hei Ya's hands slowly clenched. The black energy condensed and swirled again, this time not forming a black mist, but a substance resembling black electrical currents. With a flick of his fingers, the vast net of tendrils vanished as if they were mere drawings erased by a swipe.

Lu Luo was aghast at this sight. Devouring the World's Core was his strongest move, arguably not even a conventional technique. He never imagined his ultimate ability could be nullified so easily. What is that black energy? And what kind of technique can simply erase an opponent's abilities?

"Does it seem strange? Actually, if you had lived in the Imperial Capital longer and knew more about the Inspection Department, you wouldn't find it strange at all. This technique has always existed within the Inspection Department. Legend says it's an exceptionally advanced skill left by the first Head of the Inspection Department. The very purpose of this technique is to combat sealed artifacts. Lu Luo, no matter how powerful you are, can you be stronger than a sealed artifact?"

Lu Luo's pupils contracted. So the Empire *does* have methods to combat Angel Envoys. This technique was specifically created to counter them! No wonder it's so powerful… and no wonder it affects me this way.

Retreat!

"Very impressive!" Lu Luo exclaimed, retreating while marveling at his opponent's strength.

Hei Ya's hands moved like a conductor's baton; each sweep erased a large number of Lu Luo's tendrils. However, Lu Luo didn't give up just because his abilities were countered. He stared intently at his opponent, watching his hand gestures and the fluctuations of energy, hoping to find a flaw. He continued to unleash his tendrils, consuming energy as if it were limitless. Countless tendrils wrapped around Hei Ya, and even he couldn't break free immediately.

Lu Luo's tactic was simple: stall. He intended to drag this out, to wear down an Eighth Order expert with his Seventh Tier body. This sounded incredible. This was because the energy reserves and recovery rate of an Eighth Order Transcendent far surpassed those of a Seventh Tier. But Lu Luo wasn't afraid. He knew his own limits and possessed enough energy for a prolonged engagement. Right now, his goal was to stall.

Clasping his hands together once more, a trickle of blood flowed from Lu Luo's nose. Two Grade S Sequence Powers flared alternately, and the massive eyeball reappeared in the sky. Lu Luo had instantly repaired the shattered eye and unleashed the Eye Beam again!

"Let's see how much energy you can block!"

The longer Hei Ya fought, the more astounded he became. Lu Luo's power output was undeniably at the Eighth Order level. At worst, he was only a slightly weaker Eighth Order. That wasn't the most frightening part. It was true that some exceptional Seventh Tier individuals could briefly match an Eighth Order's power. But that was always temporary! There was a fundamental difference between Seventh Tier and Eighth Order. What was terrifying about Lu Luo was his endurance! His stamina, his resilience, his energy reserves—all were incredibly durable.

Hei Ya knew he wasn't the best among Eighth Order experts, but he wasn't the worst either. I'm not particularly known for my endurance, but what in the world is going on with Lu Luo? With a Seventh Tier body, he's actually managed to hold me off and might even wear me down to death!

The energy consumption of his extermination technique was immense. Even though I can quickly destroy Lu Luo's tendrils, they regenerate far too quickly. The attack power of these tendrils is immense; each one can strike with the force of an ordinary Eighth Order attack. This is what's truly absurd. While Hei Ya's energy shield was formidable, he couldn't simply ignore the attacks from Lu Luo's tendrils. He had to continuously eliminate the tendrils, leading to a stalemate! Now that Lu Luo had summoned the giant eyeball again, Hei Ya was suddenly forced onto the defensive.

To be pushed this far by a Seventh Tier! Am I really going to be forced to use *that* move now, by a Seventh Tier? Veins throbbed on Hei Ya's forehead; his anger was almost uncontrollable. But he seemed to have little choice, as Lu Luo's Eye Beam—Demon of a Thousand Eyes!—was already descending from the sky.

Just as an astonishing burst of energy erupted from Hei Ya, poised to end the battle decisively, a giant black hand materialized out of thin air. The hand crushed Lu Luo's eyeball and tore apart all his tendrils, but it also stifled the power surging from Hei Ya.

A somber voice resonated from the sky, "Enough. Lu Luo, go with him. Come and see me."

Lu Luo didn't press the attack. He knew his objective had been achieved. Their top expert has finally shown himself! This person is very likely the true Head of the Inspection Department and one of the Empire's three great War Gods. A legendary figure, celebrated in folk tales. Gu Tianfeng, Head of the Inspection Department.

"Since a senior has spoken, this junior will naturally comply."

Lu Luo knew this person might have been watching him all along. Watching the Bai Family was, after all, the Inspection Department's duty. The surveillance he'd felt at the Bai Family's gate was probably arranged by Gu Tianfeng. People like Hei Ya were likely Gu Tianfeng's subordinates.

Frankly, Lu Luo detested such people—those who lurked in the shadows, reeking more than corpses in a sewer. In my opinion, these people are like a disgusting concoction, existing solely to sicken others. But he couldn't refuse Gu Tianfeng now. Both Gu Tianfeng and his Inspection Department were Lu Luo's targets. The Bai Family alone couldn't truly stand against the Angel Envoys. But with the Inspection Department, it was a different story. The Inspection Department was a truly ultimate division, possessing immense combat strength and numerous personnel. Only with the support of the Head of the Inspection Department would Lu Luo have a fighting chance against the Angel Envoys.

Therefore, no matter how much he disliked the Inspection Department or individuals like Gu Tianfeng who operated from the shadows, he would find a way to negotiate with them. There was also the Bai Family's stance to consider. The Bai Family's hesitation is likely also related to Gu Tianfeng. If I can't win over Gu Tianfeng and the Inspection Department, any deal with the Bai Family will be meaningless. Lu Luo had only just pieced all this together.

"Hmph!" Hei Ya turned away coldly. He now needed to clean up the battlefield and write a report on the damage to the Imperial Capital. Though deeply dissatisfied with Lu Luo's resistance, Hei Ya had come to acknowledge his strength. For someone so young to contend with him on equal footing, Lu Luo was indeed remarkable.

But Hei Ya still believed himself superior. If I had unleashed my ultimate technique, Sky-Extinguishing Earth-Ending Territory, Lu Luo would have undoubtedly been defeated! Actually, it's better this way. At least I didn't waste such a powerful technique on Lu Luo.

"You should know the Inspection Department's location. Get there quickly, don't be late," Hei Ya said gruffly.

"Understood."

This sudden shift from a life-or-death battle to a state where they could converse normally was something Gu Tianfeng, observing, found somewhat unsettling. It was clear Gu Tianfeng was a rather inflexible individual. Lu Luo, however, was accustomed to such changes. There were no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.

The Inspection Department, eh! Lu Luo looked towards the outskirts. It wasn't far from the Inspection Department headquarters, but there were many parts of it he had never visited. How should I find Gu Tianfeng now?

With this question in mind, Lu Luo returned to the Inspection Department.

Upon entering the Inspection Department gates, Lu Luo was startled. Zhang Changming was already there, waiting for him at the entrance, fully armed and accompanied by a squad.

Lu Luo found this odd. Zhang Changming should know that this level of force is meaningless against me now. So what's he trying to do with this display?

"Old Zhang, what are you doing?"

"Lu Luo, Lady Nolan has informed me. The Empire truly needs a turning point."

Beside Zhang Changming stood another Seventh Tier expert, who also saluted Lu Luo. "Greetings, Mr. Lu Luo. Lady Nolan and His Highness the Seventh Prince have informed us about certain matters. We will give you our absolute support. Proceed with confidence, Mr. Lu Luo."

Seeing their support, Lu Luo's mood inexplicably lightened. It seems this world isn't as hopeless as I thought. At least there are still some sensible people left. And these sensible people haven't given up. While he strived, they too were striving. It made Lu Luo feel he wasn't fighting alone. He had companions. A path shared with comrades is never a lonely one!

"Rest assured, I will give it my all!" Lu Luo didn't make any definite promises; Gu Tianfeng's attitude was still an unknown. All he could do now was try his best to persuade him. If Gu Tianfeng agreed, things would become much simpler. Of course, if Gu Tianfeng refused, all their previous plans would be for naught.

Lu Luo felt the minimum acceptable outcome would be for the Inspection Department to stop coercing the Bai Family. The Empire needed to consolidate its strength to fight the Angel Envoys. At the very least, the Angel Envoys within the Imperial Palace had to be eradicated. Only with their demise would the Empire have breathing room. With a strong core, they could then counterattack the Angel Envoys on the periphery, like Meiqi and Leviathan. Lu Luo's plan was roughly this: simple, yet practical.

"Then I'll be going, Minister Zhang!"

"Don't worry, we'll be your staunch support."

Lu Luo nodded slightly. Unbeknownst to him, a considerable force had gathered behind him: Zhang Changming, a Seventh Tier from the military, the Seventh Prince, and Lady Nolan. If the Wasteland Alliance was included, Lu Xiaotian counted too. This was a significant force, even within the Empire.

After the recent battle, Lu Luo had a profound understanding of his own strength. He could contend with an Eighth Order expert and even remain undefeated for a considerable time. Perhaps Eighth Order experts possessed devastating techniques he couldn't withstand. But if he couldn't win, he could run! The Doomsday Disc was exceptionally effective for escaping. With the Doomsday Disc, he could repeatedly disengage and re-engage; wearing down an Eighth Order expert wasn't out of the question.

By this count, our side effectively has the combat power of two Eighth Order individuals. Though this power is currently scattered. But I believe the day will come when we unite! It definitely will!

...

Lu Luo followed Zhang Changming into the basement of the Inspection Department. It was a deep, unfamiliar place. Zhang Changming said nothing cautionary along the way.

Finally, Lu Luo broke the silence, "Minister Zhang, is there nothing you want to tell me?"

"We're already here. What else is there to say? That man is not easy to deal with. His personality is extremely radical. He firmly believes that only Transcendents are true humans. He champions the Transcendent Evolution Theory and the Secondary Talent Evolution Theory. Honestly, in terms of strength and advancing Transcendent development, he's a figure of unparalleled genius, perhaps unique in all history. But as a person... he might not even qualify as normal!"

Lu Luo was surprised to hear Zhang Changming's assessment. He hadn't expected Zhang Changming to hold such a view of Gu Tianfeng. "Minister Zhang, you seem to know Gu Tianfeng quite well?"

"He is my teacher... Everything I know, he taught me."

"Oh... is that so?"

Zhang Changming suddenly turned, fixing his gaze on Lu Luo. "Don't read too much into it. He may be my teacher, but he did something I can never forgive."

"What was that?"

"He was the one who sent Bai Qingshuang away!"