Chapter 141 – Neither Strength nor Authority Is Enough!

Volume 3: Rising Winds and Clouds

Wisps of mysterious gas slowly emerged from Andrei's head.

Originally invisible, colorless, and odorless, the gas was gradually dyed black by the black cylinder before flowing inside it.

After a long while, no more gas rose from Andrei's head. The Ancient Demon Seed quickly replaced the cylinder's lid, then shook it vigorously.

Clink, clink, clink.

The sound of two hard objects striking each other came from inside the black cylinder, making Wen Yu's heart sink.

After shaking it for a while, the Ancient Demon Seed steadied the object in its hand. It opened the lid, peered inside with great concentration, then slowly raised its head with a strange smile on its face.

"Guess… what's inside?"

At the Ancient Demon Seed's words, Wen Yu's heart tightened.

…

The entire area fell into an eerie silence.

The Ancient Demon Seed simply held the black cylinder. Wen Yu and Claire stood nearby without speaking.

"Forget it. I won't tease you anymore. This is something you need to see for yourself, or you might think I'm lying to you."

The Ancient Demon Seed shrugged and placed the black cylinder directly on the ground.

"I'll leave this here. I also need to make one thing clear: I haven't put any traps or tricks on it. Of course, whether you believe me is up to you."

"Oh, and here's an important warning."

"If I were you, I would leave right now without paying this thing any attention. Not everyone can endure the truth. I'm honestly afraid this tiny object might destroy you! Kekekekeke…"

The Ancient Demon Seed let out peals of delighted, sinister laughter. It waved at Wen Yu, silently but unmistakably mouthing a final phrase.

"Until we meet again!"

Silver light flashed repeatedly. In the space of a few moments, the Ancient Demon Seed used Teleportation several times and sped toward Demon City.

It left only Wen Yu and Claire behind, their expressions shifting as they stared at the black cylinder on the ground, each lost in thought.

…

"Take Kuangliu and leave."

Wen Yu controlled the Dark Demon Monarch, pulling Kuangliu from within its body and placing him in Claire's arms.

Claire looked up at the Dark Demon Monarch's enormous frame. After hesitating for a long moment, she accepted Kuangliu.

The situation was obvious. Wen Yu had no intention of sharing the secret. To claim Claire had no desire to explore the unknown would have been nonsense.

But strength dictated everything. Claire had no doubt that Wen Yu would attack her if she failed to recognize the situation.

"Be careful…"

Claire suppressed her curiosity, spoke to Wen Yu, then quickly headed toward the Outpost's exit.

…

The black cylinder on the ground emitted ominous Black Light. Beneath the Treasure Land's eternally bright sky, it resembled a black hole that held Wen Yu's gaze firmly in place.

He hesitated for only a few seconds.

Then Wen Yu decisively released the Dark Demon Monarch form.

Faceless, wearing Wen Yu's exact appearance, stood beside him and guarded him faithfully.

"Go. Check whether that thing has any traps."

The Ancient Demon Seed might have claimed it had left no tricks on the black cylinder, but Wen Yu would never entrust his safety to an enemy's word.

Faceless faithfully carried out Wen Yu's order. It walked directly to the black cylinder, bent down, and picked it up.

Under Wen Yu's direction, Faceless opened the lid and looked inside.

Ten minutes passed.

Nothing happened.

…

The facts proved that the Ancient Demon Seed had not deceived Wen Yu.

There was indeed no trap on the black cylinder.

"Bring it to me."

At Wen Yu's command, Faceless carried the black cylinder over to him.

The cylinder felt cold in his hand, and the material was somewhat hard. Its unknown black exterior prevented Wen Yu from seeing what it held.

He shook the black cylinder gently. After a long silence, Wen Yu finally opened its lid and looked inside.

What entered his sight…

Was a…

Magic Crystal.

…

There was a kind of trap that was not a trap at all.

It was called fact.

And it could inflict damage even more terrible than an ordinary trap.

As Wen Yu stared at the Magic Crystal inside the black cylinder-or rather, the Black Container-countless words gathered in his heart, yet he could not utter a single one.

Thought after thought churned through his mind, becoming a violent storm that left his head buzzing.

"Weren't humans supposed to have no Magic Crystals? Humans… shouldn't have Magic Crystals…"

The countless words gradually condensed into a single thought. Wen Yu poured the Magic Crystal from the Black Container, held it beneath the sunlight, and examined it closely.

Unfortunately, it was nothing more than an ordinary Level 4 Beast Attribute Magic Crystal.

It was identical to those produced by an Exchange Pillar.

Wen Yu stared intently at the Level 4 Magic Crystal in his hand, as though he were looking at a monster.

After a long while, he drew a deep breath, put the Magic Crystal and Black Container into his pocket, and raced toward the ruins.

…

Wen Yu dug furiously with both hands. After some time, he found what he was looking for.

A corpse.

The explosion had mangled it beyond recognition. The person might have possessed considerable strength in life, along with a defensive Skill, which was the only reason the tremendous blast had not torn the corpse to pieces.

None of that mattered.

Wen Yu studied the body on the ground. After a long moment, he slowly took the Black Container from his pocket.

Recalling the Ancient Demon Seed's movements, Wen Yu opened the lid and slowly pressed the Black Container against the corpse's head.

In the next instant, wisps of smoke dyed black emerged from the corpse's head and were absorbed into the cylinder.

…

The hand with which Wen Yu gripped the Black Container trembled ceaselessly. After the smoke within the corpse's head had been completely absorbed, he slowly withdrew the container, carefully replaced the lid, and shook it with all his strength.

After a while, a faint clinking began. The sound gradually grew louder, and Wen Yu slowly stopped moving his hand.

The confusion and hesitation in his eyes faded.

In their place came towering fury and killing intent.

Wen Yu hurled the Black Container away with his right hand. His left hand covered his face as he roared wildly.

"Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck! Kaldor! Get the fuck out here! Get out here and face me!"

"My lord, I'm right here."

Before Wen Yu's words had even faded, Kaldor's voice sounded directly in front of him.

A strange smile hung on Kaldor's already unsettling face, and Wen Yu felt a chill rise from the depths of his heart.

Kaldor was holding the Black Container.

He smiled.

"Lord Sequence 2, you dropped this."

…

Wen Yu stared at Kaldor's apparently humble smile, yet a sense of helplessness rose within him.

His hand trembling, he accepted the Black Container from Kaldor and drew a heavy breath.

"Give me… an explanation…"

"My lord, what would you like me to explain?"

Wen Yu's nostrils flared.

"Why do humans have Magic Crystals inside them?"

Kaldor instead looked at Wen Yu with apparent "confusion."

"Nearly every species infected by Demon Qi possesses Magic Crystals. Why would the Human Race be an exception?"

"Fuck!"

Wen Yu cursed viciously.

"You fucking know that's not what I mean! I'm asking why we can't find the Magic Crystals inside human bodies!"

Kaldor smiled faintly.

"My lord, you possess neither the strength nor the authority required for an answer to that question."

Hearing those familiar words, Wen Yu instead calmed down.

"Then what can you tell me about this?"

Kaldor shook his head.

"My lord, this is not something you should be considering yet. If you insist upon receiving an answer from me, then I can offer you only one sentence."

"Neither your strength nor your authority is sufficient."

"The Ruler naturally has its own considerations. I believe that instead of exploring such a 'profound' question, you should be thinking about how to increase your strength. Don't you agree?"

Kaldor kept his body bent humbly, but a strange smile hung on his lips. The respect had vanished from his gaze when he looked at Wen Yu. Now he seemed to be looking at a laboratory rat, a venomous insect trapped in a jar… perhaps even a dead man.

"If there is nothing else, my lord, I will take my leave."

With that, Kaldor gave Wen Yu a "respectful" bow and began to turn away.