Chapter 549

"Who are you calling a monster?!" Ye Fan's expression turned cold as he retorted: "He is my closest friend, my brother through life and death!"

Reborn from death—or secretly plotting all along?

Regardless of what the other truly was, the initiative now lay with them; they were in Su Lin's ancestral stronghold, and their own power had not vanished—so their tone naturally grew firmer.

But to drive the city lord into this state—just what kind of being was Brother Guai?

"I was wrong. Sir, please come over and sign the deal, pay the tax—henceforth, this Tiancheng City is yours." The former city lord pressed his forehead, looking utterly worn out.

Ye Fan stepped forward and saw twelve city lord candidate tokens laid out on the table, along with a simple contract on plain paper with no other clauses.

"Aren't you already dead, reincarnated as Shang Yue?" Ye Fan did not rush, nor was he tempted—he merely gazed at the other and asked.

Strange.

Even with his current temporary realm, Ye Fan could not sense the city lord's presence or aura—as if the man before him were merely a three-dimensional projection.

"If he had made Tiancheng City powerful and great, he might truly be called my reincarnation. But he didn't. You may call me Shang Yang." Shang Yang sighed deeply, glanced at Ye Fan's wrist, then suddenly cursed:

"Fuck reincarnation space!"

Ye Fan: "..."

Then came a flood of language Ye Fan had never heard before—whether due to long isolation or some other reason, the city lord's tongue was as slick as honey, spouting eloquence nonstop.

Only when Li Huowang and Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan played games had Ye Fan ever glimpsed such a rhythm.

"Senior." Ye Fan interrupted—he didn't know if this man was stalling for time.

"I use Tiancheng City as a platform to conduct transactions, thereby directly or indirectly influencing the myriad realms." The city lord fell silent, his chest seeming to swell with suppressed energy—but it dissipated instantly:

"These influences have spread across countless universes, and I have transformed my very existence from being into non-being, merging into them."

"Through countless mutual influences from transactions, my original weight has grown lighter, while the weight of Tiancheng City and these influences has grown heavier."

"Thus, as long as Tiancheng City endures, I will not truly perish—I remain forever on the threshold of that step, with negligible interference in reality."

So it was as he suspected. During the struggle with Dayuan Heaven, this old monster had surely been secretly observing and intervening all along.

These undead monsters are truly troublesome—they appear as mere names in history, yet one day might suddenly leap out before you alive and kicking.

"When it rains, it pours." His face held no pride or warrior's arrogance—only exhaustion and the relief of survival after disaster:

"This Dayuan Law absorbs and refines the influences I've cast across the myriad realms by fulfilling the wishes of all beings."

"I foresaw many possibilities—but this Law alone was the perfect counter, impossible to guard against."

"Therefore, I stand with you. In fact, I've secretly influenced events and helped you more than you know."

Had he been in his full prime, the Tiancheng City lord would have feared none of Yao Tian's tricks—but now, reduced to an "influence" lingering across realms, he could only watch helplessly from within Tiancheng City as Bei Wu gradually refined his influence through "transactions," relying on fleeting, intermittent awareness.

Yet Bei Wu had broken none of Tiancheng City's rules.

His current state allowed him little, and he had no way at all to stop Dayuan Heaven.

The Confucian Sage and that world seemingly born of madness were the catalysts—he had subtly pushed the Confucian Sage into the pivotal position, helping him accomplish certain "reasonable" deeds.

Manipulating the logic of all beings' actions, altering their destinies, secretly influencing reality.

"That's why that youngling in Yinglong Tower always fell one step short, while you always seized the initiative and succeeded in everything," Shang Yang said after a moment's thought.

"At first, I secretly promoted the spread of information about the Multiverse Eater, greatly increasing its credibility—and the effect was excellent."

"According to my projections and the futures I've seen, using this background scares off over eighty percent of clients, slowing their refinement of Tiancheng City."

Boom—!!!

Amid violent explosions, the entire tower trembled, on the verge of collapse.

Outside the tower, some unruly group members were unleashing their ultimate techniques—Ye Fan quickly intervened in the group chat, urging others not to cause chaos inside his Tiancheng City.

"Sir, no need to be wary—sit down." He glanced nervously at the outside world, gesturing to the seat before him, then sighed:

"From now on, whether you seek to devour Tiancheng City to revive yourselves—I can no longer interfere, nor can I stop you."

"I originally thought it was merely the Confucian Sage's confused mind—but I never imagined the myriad realms truly contained such a forbidden zone. So, Ye Tian Di, let us be candid with each other."

"I only ask you to complete this final transaction. Tiancheng City, my path to transcendence, and all my remaining legacies are yours."

Shang Yang swept his hand across the table—the transaction terms now included several new items besides Tiancheng City.

It sounded good—but Ye Fan froze, because he had no idea what the man was talking about.

Shang Yang himself had pushed the initial movie universe and spread those false rumors—how had he ended up fooling himself?!

"Five cosmic origins, one cosmic origin as transaction tax." Ye Fan glanced at the terms.

"Tax is the rule—it imposes heavy fate upon beings of other realms," Shang Yang explained.

"After you complete this transaction, you will naturally understand its principle. If you wish to repair yourself, you may try this method."

Ye Fan said: "Senior, the Multiverse Eater isn't real."

"Yes, yes, it's not real," Shang Yang nodded hastily.

Bullshit it isn't real!

That massive Wish Sea world, linked to Tiancheng City across the myriad realms, had been dragged across dimensions and space in one sweep—he'd never seen such a heavyweight universe!

And the "Fallen God"—were those grand paths, each equal in stature to this universe, fake?

Without doubt, that being could devour every world Shang Yang had ever influenced through Tiancheng City—or even reverse himself entirely!

Shang Yang smiled faintly:

"There is no Multiverse Eater, no forbidden zone. Rest assured, Ye Tian Di—I'm just a merchant."

Ye Fan stared at this heavily-browed man who appeared utterly obedient—his expression twisted.

He sat across from him, gazing silently at the paper on the table for a long while.

"So, if I complete this transaction with you—what do you gain?"

"Six cosmic origins alone? That hardly seems balanced."

"Tiancheng City and a path to transcendence? That's a massive deal."

Under Shang Yang's expectant gaze, Ye Fan remained calm—and through the family members of several group members—such as Gu Xiaosang and Zhuge Yuan (Qing Wanglai)—he uncovered several problems.

"You said earlier that Tiancheng seized its own weight?" Ye Fan asked.

"I need a city lord. Who that lord is, whether or not he is my reincarnation, does not matter," said the man with white hair and a youthful face, merging the twelve into a single flickering light:

"After Tiancheng reboots, the more and larger the transactions, the greater the impact—and I will gradually regain clear consciousness, returning from the influence exerted upon all realms."

"Then, when Tiancheng restores its ancient glory, find the most suitable candidate."

The light in his hand became a purple crystal prism, swirling mist and deep, ghostly light rising within it: "Trade away Tiancheng itself."

Ye Fan, upon hearing this, understood: "Trade away everything you are—become empty, yet omnipresent, transcending all things."

"It needn't have been this complicated. The accumulated influence still isn't enough," said Shang Yang, his silver eyes dimming as he gave a self-deprecating smile:

"Now I am but fish on the chopping block. I leave it to you—whether you're willing to go with the flow and send me away, and add one more favor along the way."

Hard to say—what if you go out and blab? Our reputations would be ruined.

This time we went too far. No matter how we explain it, this cultivator has surely taken it as truth.

Even so—

The purple-gold divine dragon in the group suggested silencing him, but Ye Fan glanced at the Six Dao Primordial Sources in his hand and thought: it was already destroyed enough.

This was, in fact, his leverage. Tiancheng could be given—but only if you help him follow proper procedures; otherwise, Ye Fan could never gain full authority as city lord.

At his level, surely he has methods of mutual destruction. If Ye Fan were truly the All-Realm Devourer from some movie plot, he wouldn't care—it would be a mere thought away.

"Lord Haotian outside sent me to deliver a message," Ye Fan sat down and tossed out the Six Dao Cosmic Primordial Sources. In the other's delighted gaze, he sealed it with a thread of true spirit:

"We're just filming a movie. Thank you for your heartfelt performance in 'Zone: The Destruction of Tiancheng'."

"I hope you'll make a cameo in the next filming of 'Zone: Eternal Future'—and if you have friends, bring them back too."

"." Shang Yang maintained a stiff smile: "I understand."

Ye Fan didn't know what the other understood—he was merely reciting the nonsense sent by Su Lin in the group chat.

So people should fall in love several times when young; otherwise, like Su Lin, single for thirty years, then becoming a god, he gets dizzy with joy at a drop of dew and drags his groupmates into the sea to destroy the world—

It's utterly insane.

"Alright."

Ye Fan took the crystal prism from Shang Yang's hand: "That's it?"

"That's it."

Shang Yang nodded, his lips slowly curving upward: "Tiancheng is yours."

Before Ye Fan could speak, the next second, the inner space of Qiongqi Tower in his vision began folding endlessly, while Tiancheng outside surged with dominion over all directions, expanding relentlessly, about to become its own realm!

Shang Yang pulled out a common pass from nowhere, bowed slightly toward Ye Fan and the outside world, then his figure blurred and vanished.

Outside Tiancheng, above the shattered Wish Sea, star mist dimmed. Creatures occasionally flew out from the Ten Days Wish Sea, all promptly suppressed by outstretched hands. The former Ten Directions True Ruler, too, returned to stillness with Yao Tian's defeat.

"Brother Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan, you say you're not the All-Realm Devourer—I naturally believe you," said Xiao Xun'er, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

"I knew my Xun'er wouldn't be fooled by appearances. Here, Xun'er, take this." Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan placed a cosmic primordial source resembling a starry river into her hand and smiled:

"While I can still maintain this realm, I'll help you refine it."

Xun'er didn't get angry with him—she even sought him out to comfort him.

No wonder his own girl knew how to care—Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Xun'er in his arms and suddenly felt everything was worth it; others' misunderstandings meant nothing.

"Do you want to stand beside me?" Xiao Xun'er looked up, tears glimmering in her eyes: "Brother Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan, think of Sister Cai Lin and Xiao Xiao."

"I grabbed nine primordial sources—you, Cai Lin, Xiao Xiao, and the teacher all get a share. Shit," Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan suddenly remembered that the Master of Medicines was still in the Mystical Realm—had the old man not been split into four pieces?

Xiao Xun'er lowered her head and pulled at Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan's collar: "."

"Xun'er, wait for me—they found another universe! I gave Cai Lin a divine fruit; this time I saved you an extra primordial source to refine. Wait for me." Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan patted Xiao Xun'er's shoulder and dashed out.

Left behind, Xun'er turned back to gaze at the towering Flame Cauldron that reached heaven and held earth, and finally sighed helplessly: "Xun'er… will face all this with you."

As if making a firm decision, Xiao Xun'er's gaze gradually hardened.

As Tiancheng underwent its changes, and as the number of universes meeting the criteria in the Wish Sea dwindled, the group gradually gathered together.

"I suggest we gather thirteen people, set up a long table, lay a white tablecloth, and place these cosmic primordial sources on each plate—preferably prepared by the Supreme Chef, Master Emiya."

Su Lin drew a long scroll with a brush. The painting's tones were dark, the background blurred figures of the group members, and the long table itself assembled from the ruins of countless shattered worlds.

"Hey, why is everyone silent?"

"This is our All-Realm Devourer's first big group meal."

Su Lin tried to liven the mood, but everyone lowered their heads, staring at the cosmic primordial sources they'd greedily seized, sinking into deep inner conflict.

"Look who we have here—the Fool, Mr.?" Su Lin clapped his hands enthusiastically, slinging an arm around the shoulder of Kleine, whose eyes were as lifeless as ash:

"Could you do a divination? How long until we're sealed again? I want to prepare early and enjoy the rest of my life."

After speaking, Su Lin set up a sound barrier and whispered softly beside his ear: "Want some fish, Lord Azathoth!?"

"I don't know who Azathoth is. Please keep personal matters confidential."

Kleine knew some things couldn't be hidden from Su Lin, who now possessed omniscience. To prevent other group members from further "slandering" him or launching irrational attacks, he came specifically to confront Su Lin:

"I'll do anything. Really."

The Faceless One didn't speak, but Kleine's eyes grew darker still—reminding Su Lin of late nights after overtime, staring at the starry sky, still owing mortgage payments, wages stagnant while prices soared, drowning in inner exhaustion.

"I'm not some devil, Miss Kleine," Su Lin patted her back.

He snapped his fingers, lifting all restrictions on Tiancheng.

As a passage stretched infinitely through the void, the twelve towers fused completely into one. A towering Gao Ta rose into the clouds, and from any angle, it overlooked all realms.

The scene of old days has returned.

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