Chapter 627 - 200: Meeting the Dean

Inside the Celestial Pride Hall.

The surrounding scenery was rapidly shattering, visibly disintegrating.

"I have a secret. Do you want to hear it?" the Apocalypse King asked, looking at Shen Bai.

Shen Bai asked, "Is there anything in it for me?"

The Apocalypse King mused, "Are the prodigies of today all so concerned with personal gain?"

Shen Bai nodded. "It’s not about personal gain. I just don’t want to get involved in anything dangerous. It’s only human nature."

He was being blunt, but it was the truth.

This was their first time meeting, and hearing a secret could lead to other kinds of trouble.

Shen Bai disliked trouble, but if the benefits outweighed the risks, he felt it might be worth a shot.

The Apocalypse King sighed, gently stroking the armrest of the Bone Throne. "It might be a good thing, or it might be a bad thing. Have you ever heard of the Netherworld?"

’The Netherworld?’

Shen Bai frowned slightly. "The world between life and death?"

He hadn’t just heard of the Netherworld—he had even been inside it.

Back then, Wang Tianxing had shattered a Netherworld Fragment, intending to use it against Shen Bai, but in the end, Shen Bai had been the one to reap massive benefits.

To others, a Netherworld Fragment might be mysterious and unfathomable, but for Shen Bai, it was a land of opportunity.

The entire Netherworld Fragment was composed of Deceitful Objects, and Shen Bai had obtained more than ten of them at the time.

Shen Bai even found himself wondering if he should go looking for the Netherworld. If he found it, he would strike it rich.

The Apocalypse King nodded. "I’m not surprised you know of the Netherworld. With your talent, it’s perfectly normal."

"Information about the Netherworld is sometimes more valuable than tangible benefits."

That much was true.

The Netherworld was mysterious enough, and it concealed great opportunities.

And sometimes, information was more important than the opportunities themselves.

Shen Bai stared intently at the Apocalypse King. "Go on."

If it was a secret about the Netherworld, he was indeed interested.

The Apocalypse King said, "As far as I know, the mastermind behind the Era of Ten Thousand Cities was actually searching for the true Netherworld."

Shen Bai rubbed his chin. "Why?"

The Apocalypse King shook his head. "I don’t know. But the Netherworld is an elusive convergence point for all death. Perhaps by using the deaths of countless living beings, one could find clues related to it."

"Using the aura of death as a guide to search for clues about the Netherworld."

"That is why he created so much chaos."

Hearing this, Shen Bai fell into deep thought.

He mostly understood.

If he connected the cause and effect, a clear line of reasoning emerged.

The mastermind wanted to find the Netherworld, for unknown reasons.

And finding the Netherworld required vast numbers of people to die, allowing one to follow the aura of death to trace its whereabouts.

That was why the mastermind behind the Era of Ten Thousand Cities had created so much chaos—to manufacture death and find an opportunity to enter the Netherworld.

’But why search for the Netherworld?’

It seemed to Shen Bai that even the Apocalypse King didn’t know the answer.

"I’ve said all I can say."

The Apocalypse King said slowly, "When you leave, you can tell this secret to the Emperor of the Great Zhou Country."

Around them, the scenery of the Celestial Pride Hall had shattered to its absolute limit.

Countless fragments floated before Shen Bai in all sorts of strange orientations, creating a bizarre spectacle.

"I am about to die."

The Apocalypse King spoke slowly, as if stating a trivial matter.

Shen Bai asked, "Do you have any regrets you wish to remedy?"

He had just asked casually.

Someone had once said that those who can face life and death with equanimity are people of great enlightenment.

He could not face death so calmly, but the Apocalypse King could.

Shen Bai could sense the decay emanating from the Apocalypse King, but also the tranquility with which he faced his impending death.

The Apocalypse King shook his head. "None. Regret is for the weak."

"I was born in the previous dynasty, held great power, and lived a carefree life."

"Though the world may not know of me because of the Dark Division, I was nonetheless a king of the dark night."

"Regrets... I had none in the past, and I have none now. As for the future..."

As he said this, the Apocalypse King slowly raised his head, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

Shen Bai knew that the Apocalypse King did seem to have a regret concerning the future.

"Please, speak."

After those two simple words, Shen Bai said no more, waiting for the Apocalypse King’s reply.

The Apocalypse King said slowly, "Actually, before my imperial brother fell from grace, we both wanted to create a great era of peace for the world."

"A world where the common people would have food and clothing, where peace reigned, and suffering was no more."

"But in the end, we failed."

As he spoke, the light in the Apocalypse King’s eyes grew brighter.

He slowly stood up, looked at Shen Bai, and said, enunciating each word,

"In the future, when peace comes to the world, light a stick of incense to the heavens for me."

"I think... perhaps I will see it."

Shen Bai nodded. "If the world finds peace, I will be sure to offer that incense."

The sense of fragmentation all around grew stronger.

"That woman, Zhu Xueshuang, has been tainted by the aura of the Celestial Pride Hall. I will help you by erasing her. It’s the only thing I can do for you."

Light bloomed from the Apocalypse King’s index finger, shooting straight into the shattering void before him.

After the light faded, the Apocalypse King slowly sat back down on his Bone Throne, a smile on his face.

Everything, including the Apocalypse King himself, vanished without a trace.

A blurry sensation washed over Shen Bai. He could hear sounds from the outside world and knew he was about to be sent out.

After a few breaths, Shen Bai found himself back in front of the main hall.

The surroundings were familiar.

Zhou Qing, his face etched with anxiety, hurried forward. "Lao Shen, are you all right?"

Qin Shuang and Ouyang Sword surrounded Shen Bai, giving him a thorough check-up.

They had just come out and hadn’t seen any sign of Shen Bai, which had made them frantic.