Chapter 186: Manager vs. Black God

The Black God stared at the dark clouds nearby, the venom in his ancient eyes turning to black liquid that streamed down his cheeks:

“You severed the mortals’ worship of me.

You destroyed my source of faith and caused my incarnation in the Human World to fall.

You deserve the most severe Divine Punishment.”

The Black God’s resentful words were also filled with a staggering secret.

As the Investigators fled, they committed his words to memory.

‘What did he mean by “severing the mortals’ worship of him”?’

‘And what did he mean by his incarnation in the Human World falling?’

‘What in the world had Mr. Dusk done to this legendary Supreme God?’

The Investigators didn’t understand, but they were profoundly shocked.

They occasionally glanced back at the dark clouds in the sky, their eyes filled with awe.

A portion of the dark clouds parted, revealing Jiang Chaosheng sitting on a jet-black throne.

Jiang Chaosheng’s gaze was somber.

He didn’t understand what the Black God was rambling on about either.

‘All he knew was that he was once again taking the blame for that Human Emperor.’

‘Of course, Jiang Chaosheng knew he had a thousand tangled connections to that Human Emperor.’

‘But what does any of this have to do with me, Jiang Chaosheng?’

‘Who would want to be connected to him?’

RUMBLE!

A startling peal of thunder rang out.

Black, demonic light shot out from the Black God’s eyes.

A bolt of lightning, wreathed in black smoke, descended from the higher heavens, striking viciously at the dark clouds where Jiang Chaosheng was!

Jiang Chaosheng looked up at the sky. With a thought, three Gates of Hell floated out from his chest and suddenly grew massive above his head.

CRACK!

The three Gates of Hell took a heavy blow, wobbling in the air like ordinary wooden doors on the verge of shattering.

The Black God held up a ball of black flame in each hand, then transformed into a black shadow that shot howling toward Jiang Chaosheng.

Wordlessly, Jiang Chaosheng rose from his jet-black throne.

The rusted scythe in his hand instantly transformed into a Giant Scythe covered in Runes.

Jiang Chaosheng shot through the rain towards the Black God.

The two jet-black figures converged.

The Scythe of Death clashed with the black flames.

BOOM!

A terrifying shockwave of energy ravaged the grounds of the Twenty-Fourth Middle School.

The academic building collapsed, and trees snapped in half.

Shattered wood and stone were swept into the air by the storm of energy.

The students clutched their heads, scared out of their wits.

The Investigators yelled anxiously:

“Go! Go!”

“Keep up in the back! Don’t push!”

The Black God, clashing with Jiang Chaosheng, curled his lips into a scornful smile:

“Human Emperor, you’ve grown weak.”

Jiang Chaosheng remained silent, relentlessly swinging the Scythe of Death at the Black God, aiming for his head and throat.

The Black God snorted coldly, his own attacks growing fiercer.

Jiang Chaosheng’s eyes darted about ceaselessly, like a precision camera, trying to imprint all of the Black God’s moves into his mind.

‘Any living being defeated by the Scythe of Death will have a portion of its soul imprisoned within it.’

‘Furthermore, a random ability will be stripped from them and granted to the wielder of the Scythe of Death.’

‘Once I kill the Black God, one of his abilities will become mine. Of course, I need to memorize exactly how the Black God uses his powers.’

“HUMAN EMPEROR!!!!”

The Black God roared in fury. Sparks flashed in his hand, and a Thunder Spear appeared.

Gripping the Thunder Spear with both hands, he hurled it violently at Jiang Chaosheng!

BOOM!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Countless lightning bolts rained down on the sports field.

Jiang Chaosheng retreated abruptly, gripping the Scythe of Death tightly with both hands to block in front of him.

Bolt after bolt of lightning struck the Scythe of Death, but they were all perfectly blocked.

‘After all, this Scythe of Death is the complete version, a true Divine Artifact!’

“You… you really have grown weak!”

The Black God grasped a Thunder Spear in one hand and waved his right.

A massive tornado appeared to the Black God’s right.

The Black God’s black robes whipped about in the fierce wind. He then pointed a finger lightly at the massive tornado.

Flames ignited within the tornado, and fanned by the winds, they swelled immensely.

The flaming tornado moved with great speed, plowing a path forward. After destroying the cafeteria and the library, it was about to reach Jiang Chaosheng.

The Black God tilted his head back, his gaze chilling:

“It’s time to settle this grudge.”

…

「Imperial Capital, Beimang Mountain, Anomaly Administration Bureau—a corridor.」

“Director.”

“Hello, Director.”

Cao Ye ignored the staff members greeting him, striding hastily down the corridor.

He stopped in front of the archives.

This was where the Taboo Items were kept.

The Mother-Child Black Coffin, the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse, and that… Old Cat.

Cao Ye swiped his card in front of the archives. After his identity was confirmed, the archive’s watertight door opened.

He walked straight into a large room filled with antiques.

A young girl was clutching a cat treat, dozing off with her head on the desk.

‘Playing with Prince Bright Lamp is just too exhausting. I don’t get it. My physical fitness scores are supposed to be excellent.’

The young girl heard footsteps and woke up instantly. Upon seeing Cao Ye, her face filled with anxiety:

“Um, Director, I wasn’t slacking off…”

Cao Ye took the cat treat from her hand:

“Get out.”

“Oh, oh, okay!”

The young girl quickly ran out of the Antique House.

Clutching the cat treat, Cao Ye watched the old black cat lying on a chair playing with its tail. He walked over, squatted down, and offered the treat to the Old Cat’s mouth.

The Old Cat glanced at Cao Ye and began nibbling at the treat.

Cao Ye organized his thoughts and said in a slightly fawning tone:

“Your Highness, could you enlighten me?”

The Old Cat swatted the treat away with a paw:

“Bring me antiques. From the Qin Dynasty’s imperial family. Ten pieces, to start.”

Cao Ye chuckled and said:

“Your Highness, it’s not that I’m being stingy, but I was in a rush and didn’t have time to prepare. Could I put it on a tab?”

The Old Cat’s eyes darted:

“No antiques? Then there’s nothing to talk about. Unless…”

Cao Ye quickly asked:

“Unless what?”

The Old Cat let out a lazy yawn:

“Find me the Heirloom Seal of the Realm.

Forget just enlightening you, I’ll even help you fight.

You’re having a headache over the Black God, right?

Get me the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, and I’ll destroy him in minutes.”

Three black lines appeared on Cao Ye’s forehead:

“Your Highness, the Heirloom Seal of the Realm is likely even rarer than antiques from the Qin imperial family. Could you perhaps give me a bit more time?”

This Old Cat was willing to live at the Anomaly Administration Bureau precisely because it hoped the Bureau would find the Heirloom Seal of the Realm for it.

But how could such an item be so easy to find?

Throughout history, what Emperor wouldn’t have wanted that thing?

Even modern archaeologists lose sleep over the Heirloom Seal of the Realm.

The Old Cat lay back down on the chair:

“You have nothing, and you expect to negotiate with me with empty words?”

Cao Ye thought for a moment:

“I’ll trade you other information.”

The Old Cat sneered:

“You common folk, what information could you possibly have that I would care about?”

Cao Ye pressed his lips together and said slowly:

“What if… it’s information about the Human Emperor?”

The Old Cat’s pupils contracted abruptly. All its fur stood on end, and its tail shot straight up.

The tuft of red fur at the tip of its tail began to sputter with sparks, as if it could burst into flames at any moment.

The Old Cat stared intently at Cao Ye:

“Do you know the consequences of deceiving me?”

Cao Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

‘So Prince Bright Lamp really is interested in the Human Emperor.’

Cao Ye chuckled and said:

“Of course I do. So, Your Highness, are you willing to exchange information?”

The Old Cat said:

“Speak. What do you want to know?”

Cao Ye said:

“The Black God… what exactly is he?

And what is the exact grudge between him and the Human Emperor?”

A human-like smile appeared on the Old Cat’s face:

“The fact that you can ask this question proves you really do have information on the Human Emperor.

Just as I thought. The Last Human Emperor is still alive.

Fine. I can tell you the origin of the Black God.

In exchange, you must tell me the Human Emperor’s identity in this era.”

Cao Ye nodded:

“Deal.”