Chapter 74: Audience

Actually, WeChat already existed at this time, but due to Lu Mingfei’s habits, he still used QQ.

The group’s name was too avant-garde; the four of them were momentarily unable to adjust.

What the hell is this “loving family” nonsense?

The four bloodline hybrids nearly crushed their phones in their grip when they were added to the group.

No one spoke in the group, but the annotated names… damn, they were all familiar faces.

Zhao family, Zhao Huai Gu, Zhao You Sheng…

Li family, Li Hao, Li Qing…

Qian family, Sun family…

Add in our Wu family, and the group had about twenty people—so these bastards had already pledged allegiance long ago.

Wu Haoran thought: no wonder Zhao’s old bastard and young bastard called earlier today to congratulate us—their tone was so smug. Now it all made sense.

Group owner: [Supreme], administrators: [High-Intelligence Being at Late Foundation Establishment], [Supreme’s Favorite Younger Brother].

No one spoke in the group, and there was no chat history.

“Let’s eat first,” Su Lin said.

The dishes are all served—what are you standing around for? Let’s eat.

Only after seeing Su Lin pick up his chopsticks did the others follow suit.

Satiated with food and drink.

Su Lin wiped his mouth, then opened a portal beside him—he had left Shuijing Peak hovering above Tokyo.

“Let’s go.”

Su Lin stepped through first; the others exchanged glances and followed one by one.

Wu Zhongcheng leaned close to his younger brother and whispered: “If I don’t return with Father, remember what I told you.”

Then he patted his brother’s shoulder.

Only by going there will we know what’s really happening.

Before witnessing it with our own eyes, all speculation and conjecture are meaningless.

Wu Zhongcheng walked last, stepped through the portal, and then the portal closed.

The world beyond is accessible only to those with sufficient qualifications and who have been chosen.

“Don’t wander around, and don’t touch any flowers or grass by the roadside,” Su Lin said as he walked ahead. “This is private property. Your Supreme owns only one room here.”

“That room up ahead—go in,” Su Lin pointed to an ancient, elegant building ahead.

Through the open door, the interior was dark, devoid of light.

The group hesitated; Wu Haoran stepped forward first with Su Lin.

He was this old—what hadn’t he seen?

Since they’d already come here, whether it was a dragon that devoured those who entered or a deity seeking to guide humanity, they had to see it for themselves.

The deed was done—the Black King had awakened. Even to secure more information for humanity, he had to step inside.

Still, he hoped there might still be a chance for word to get out.

Their steps were heavy, as if lead weights were tied to their feet—like walking toward final judgment.

The corridor was pitch black, but the hybrids’ physical conditioning made no difference. Soon, a room ahead glowed with light—the door stood open.

They entered a spacious room, where melodious, uplifting music played, accompanied by the rhythmic clatter of keystrokes.

They pulled open the door.

“You finally arrived—I’ve been waiting an hour.”

Before they even stepped in, Lu Mingfei’s impatient voice rang out.

Dozens of people stood respectfully around a young man, who paused his game, turned, and looked back.

“We had dinner.”

Su Lin said it casually.

“You made me sit here playing video games for over an hour just to eat dinner?!”

Lu Mingfei’s voice rose sharply, accusatory: “Do you have any idea how garbage human entertainment games are in this era?!”

“It’s like I used to eat nothing but rare delicacies every day, and now you force me to eat spoiled rice for an hour!”

Su Lin shrugged. “You ate it, didn’t you?”

“I’m about to throw up,” Lu Mingfei stuck out his tongue in a gagging expression.

“Just hurry up and develop virtual reality already. Playing this shitty 3D garbage is beating my mind to a pulp,” Lu Mingfei sighed, stood up, and looked at the Wu family members.

“Twenty-one. About right.”

He nodded, shed his slumped demeanor, and smiled approvingly. The bloodline hybrids waiting with him lowered their heads, Bugan meet his gaze.

“Aren’t you Lu Mingfei?” Wu Yuxiang was a first-year at the Cassell Academy—she naturally knew of the legendary “S.”

In truth, Lu Mingfei was even more famous than she imagined; some bloodline families leaning toward the Secret Faction sent their outstanding descendants to Cassell for training.

Aside from classified data, Lu Mingfei’s basic information was practically common knowledge among powerful families.

But because his performance at the academy was so abysmal, some regarded him as An He’s “distant relative.”

A backdoor connection.

After all, his grades each semester could be bought from the News Department for just one dollar.

“Uh… you are?” Lu Mingfei had no memory of this girl with a ponytail.

“First-year, same major as you—Wu Yuxiang.”

“Oh, oh, nice to meet you,” Lu Mingfei replied automatically. “You’re here too, junior sister.”

The atmosphere froze.

Su Lin raised an eyebrow, watching Lu Mingfei with a strange expression—typical of you.

Wu Haoran shook his head, his aged but strong hand gripping Wu Yuxiang’s arm and pulling her back a step to stand behind the others.

“Your Excellency—are you the Black King?” Wu Haoran’s tone was respectful, yet not subservient; he calmly studied the disheveled young man before him.

“Oh, yeah,” Lu Mingfei affirmed. “You can consider me the Black King.”

“That answer is too vague,” Wu Haoran clearly wasn’t satisfied. What did “you can consider” mean?

“Does it make a difference?” Lu Mingfei’s pupils glowed—his dragon aura surged. All present bloodline hybrids felt as if they were in a tiny boat tossed in a storm-tossed ocean.

Zhao Huai Gu, head of the Zhao family, trembled, his face contorted as he resisted the pressure, yet his eyes locked onto Wu Haoran’s group.

They had already endured this once before Wu’s arrival—and now it was happening again.

They silently cursed inwardly.

Wu Haoran, you old bastard—you’re late and you talk too much!

Don’t you see we’re too scared to even speak? Fuck!

Less than five seconds passed—but to the bloodline hybrids, it felt like a century.

“Now?” Lu Mingfei retracted his dragon aura and asked the Wu family warmly: “Give me your answer.”

The four Wu members gasped for breath, sweat beading on their foreheads; Wu Haoran’s white training robe was soaked through with cold sweat.

“We pledge our service to the Supreme.”

No further proof or explanation was needed—the gap in power and rank was the most direct truth.

Lu Mingfei nodded at Su Lin. “I’ll be relying on you for now.”

“Whatever. You pay, I deliver,” Su Lin said indifferently. “It’s all yours now. When it’s done, send them back—don’t let them linger here.”

“I’ll escort them out personally. Don’t worry,” Lu Mingfei handed Su Lin a note. “The Secret Faction has noticed you. There might be trouble.”

“Whatever,” Su Lin smiled, opened the door, and walked out. “It’s all inevitable anyway.”