Chapter 268: Don't Cause Trouble in Wanghai City

The taxi driver glanced at the two men, puzzled in his mind—how could two grown men be clinging to each other like this, so affectionate/intimate?

But then he thought that nowadays, anything goes, so he kept quiet and asked, "Where to?"

You Feipeng replied coldly, "Wanghai No. 1 High School."

The driver stepped on the gas and added casually, "Bro, are you here to pick up your kid? You don't look that old—your kid's already in high school? You got married early, huh?"

You Feipeng grunted, too lazy to answer.

The driver kept talking: "Did your kid get in through merit or by paying a bribe? I heard even getting into a 211 school counts as failing in there."

"Got in through exams," You Feipeng snapped, his tone growing impatient.

"Then your kid's got real talent. Unlike my second son—just plays all day, never studies."

You Feipeng took a deep breath, clenched his fist, gripping the Regional Director's arm—his grip nearly snapped the man's limb.

"Oof!"

Even though the Regional Director gritted his teeth, he couldn't suppress a pained groan, startling the driver.

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror and asked, "What's going on? This guy looks awful—should we head to the hospital? Peace Hospital's nearby, right on the way."

"No," You Feipeng tightened his grip further.

The driver: "He's really—"

The Regional Director shouted, "No! Just drive!"

If the driver said another word, he'd probably be dead before they reached the hospital.

The driver flinched at the shout, fell silent, and dared not ask again.

When they arrived at Wanghai No. 1 High School, You Feipeng opened the door and yanked the Regional Director out—seeing they weren't paying, the driver immediately complained:

"Hey! You two trying to ride for free? Don't you know who I am? I'll tell you—"

The Regional Director seized the driver's stainless steel thermos and crushed it into a crumpled ball, his five fingers deeply indented into the metal.

"Get lost!"

"Got it!" The driver stomped the gas and vanished instantly.

You Feipeng glanced at the Regional Director, dissolving the energy gathered in his other hand, and sneered: "You still have time to care about ordinary people? Looks like I've been too gentle with you."

The Regional Director dared not show any resentment, only said: "Priority is the mission. Someone of your stature shouldn't waste effort on these ordinary folk."

With that, he led You Feipeng toward the school's grand auditorium.

It was already 8:30 PM—the latest club activity had ended, and only a few boarding students wandered the playground.

Their arrival drew no attention—or rather, the ordinary people in the campus unconsciously ignored their presence.

They walked straight to the auditorium, which was still under repair, sealed off from the outside; the section converted into a chapel had been fully demolished and would soon be usable again.

But when it reopened, students would be baffled: why had the auditorium been closed and under construction for three months, only to emerge looking exactly the same as before?

After entering the auditorium, You Feipeng tossed the Regional Director aside and began pacing excitedly inside.

"I feel it—the aura of the terrestrial divine realm. This place's energy is denser than anywhere else—it's the ritual's core!"

He put on a complex mechanical eyepiece; as the gears on the frame turned, he spun around, searching for something.

When he saw the spot directly above the podium, he stopped, his body trembling slightly.

"I see the lingering traces of the ritual—the one who stole your terrestrial divine realm won't escape."

"You little rat, you delight me. How should I thank you?" You Feipeng removed his glasses and turned to the Regional Director—but when he looked, the man was gone. He followed the aura, turning to see the man already clinging to the very edge of the podium.

This brat still had the strength to move—a dark premonition rose in him. He gathered his technique and spoke in a soothing, childlike tone:

"What are you doing? Get down. This isn't a place for your nonsense."

The Regional Director grinned, revealing a victor's smile: "You never saw me as human. You never thought I could pose any threat, right?"

You Feipeng smiled: "How can you say that? In my eyes, we're all the same."

The Regional Director raised his left hand in a stop gesture, while his right hand—still bleeding from You Feipeng's wounds—pierced into his own body, gathering a massive mass of energy.

A slight release, and he could blow himself to pieces.

You Feipeng didn't know what he intended, but held his temper and asked: "What are you planning?"

The Regional Director said: "You treat all of us as less than human—that's why you slaughter us without hesitation. You kept me alive not to spare me, but to humiliate me, to amuse yourself, to lure the Bishop out."

You Feipeng's face turned icy. "And then?"

The Regional Director grinned: "Pride is the greatest sin. I hope I see you in hell."

With that, the energy in his hand detonated, blasting a gaping hole through his abdomen—viscera and blood gushed out in thick, sticky fluid, splattering onto the original core node of the terrestrial divine realm, sizzling as it corroded.

The meat pulp landed on the ground, coalescing into a unique rune, launching an assault on the terrestrial divine realm's sovereignty.

This trick alone couldn't seize control of the terrestrial divine realm—but it was more than enough to draw its holder's attention.

The Regional Director stared at his own hollowed-out body and severed right hand, grinning: "Fucking hell, hurts more than I thought."

Thud.

You Feipeng looked at the corpse on the ground, his face ashen—he realized he'd been outmaneuvered.

The man's injuries were too severe to save; normally, he'd stomp on the corpse twice just to vent—but not now.

Because beside the corpse, a figure suddenly appeared—he hadn't even seen how the person arrived.

It was a woman. Her face was stunning—more beautiful than anyone You Feipeng had ever seen, so beautiful she seemed unreal, so beautiful that even little You, whose libido had been drained dry by multiple rounds of Revelation cultists, still stirred with desire.

The woman stared at the corpse on the ground, her eyes filled with sorrow, tears glistening in her lashes, faint traces of old tears still on her cheeks—utterly pitiable, only intensifying You Feipeng's urge to destroy her.

A woman so deeply attached to this dead rat must be another Revelation cultist.

You Feipeng licked his lips and said: "You're the Bishop of Revelation? I knew it—the so-called stolen terrestrial divine realm was a lie. If you truly had the power to seize it, how could you still not have digested it after all this time?"

"I planned to play along, see what tricks you'd pull—but you've handed me such a grand gift."

"Listen carefully: surrender the terrestrial divine realm, give up resistance, and I'll spare your life. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rough. Believe me—don't even think of activating the terrestrial divine realm to beg your rat god for help. I won't give you that chance."

Drawn by the terrestrial divine realm's disturbance, Ailin arrived, looked at the corpse that had triggered it, and her face filled with confusion.

She wiped away the tears leaking from the corners of her eyes; the drama she'd just watched had been too moving, too much for someone who had only just gained emotions, and she remained immersed in it, unable to recover.

Before she could make sense of the situation, a man behind her, radiating hostility and lecherous intent, spat out bold words.

Eileen, whose soul had been completed by virtue and sin, now possessed not only joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure—but also negative emotions she had never known before.

At this very moment, she felt deep dissatisfaction toward You Feipeng.

"You say you're going to seize my terrestrial divine realm?"

You Feipeng gestured with his hand, and five flames, each three meters in diameter, appeared behind him; each flame emitted astonishing heat, as if capable of melting the air.

This was his signature skill, Five Suns Across the Sky—each flame held the power to instantly kill players below level forty, and each one required ten days to replenish after use.

Five Suns Across the Sky not only possessed immense power but also carried a spiritual pressure; previously at the Apocalypse outpost, he needed only summon one flame, and its overwhelming aura was enough to pin a group of rats to the ground, gasping for breath.

To show Eileen the seriousness of his intent, he summoned all five flames at once, determined to utterly shatter her mental defenses.

"You have ten seconds to decide: kneel, or die."

Seeing Five Suns Across the Sky, Eileen's face changed instantly; such extreme heat—what if it melted the grand hall?

She frowned slightly, and white light spread from beneath her feet, enveloping the entire grand hall; the five flames, capable of melting anything, now appeared like five harmless ambient lamps—offering only light, with no heat whatsoever.

You Feipeng's expression turned solemn; the fact that she could draw upon the power of the terrestrial divine realm meant she was no ordinary opponent. In the Wasteland Realm, such ability alone would let her walk with impunity—but for a refined player like him, it was still insufficient. He must make her suffer, to force her to recognize reality.

He waved his hand, and two of the five suns broke off and hurtled toward Eileen; according to the mystical standards of the Wasteland Realm, even with divine realm power, she could not withstand this move.

You Feipeng crossed his arms, eager to see Eileen flustered—but instead, he saw the slender girl behind him suddenly unfurl four golden wings, and in her hand appeared a massive warhammer.

She swung the warhammer, effortlessly shattering the two suns as if smashing two walnuts.

You Feipeng swallowed hard, feeling the pressure radiating from Eileen; his hands began to tremble.

A deity! The woman before him was a deity!

Not merely a demigod with partial divinity—but a complete embodiment, a low-tier deity whose divinity already bore distinct traits!

Even in the Rational Realm, such a being could freely descend to the third layer of the Abyss; as far as he knew, even within the Church of Light, the number of true low-tier deities did not exceed one hand.

Could it be that a low-tier deity actually existed in the real world? Had the Apocalypse secretly used a divine descent ritual to summon their god?

Eileen gave You Feipeng no time to think; she despised the middle-aged man before her and charged directly at him.

With a single beat of her wings, she appeared before You Feipeng in an instant; her warhammer came crashing down, and the remaining three suns before her shattered like three fragile bubbles.

!

The warhammer continued downward, smashing through You Feipeng's defensive skills, special abilities, the outer layer of his defensive item, and the armor beneath his clothing.

The violent hammerwind tore away everything on You Feipeng's body, leaving him with only a pair of red underwear.

Eileen had learned this fact: it was the year of one's birth sign.

The warhammer halted one centimeter from You Feipeng's chest; she gripped it tightly, unable to bring herself to strike.

As a former holy maiden, she had long loved every living being equally; taking a life was something alien to her—especially taking a human life.

To her, the man before her was a complete stranger; she had never seen him, did not know him, and knew nothing of his deeds.

She had no right, nor the ability, to judge him—could she kill him simply because he claimed he would seize her terrestrial divine realm and attacked her first?

Eileen knew that from Wu Chang's perspective, she ought to do so—but she could not bring herself to.

In human culture, one who shows mercy to an enemy is called a saintly mother; though she was not that, she was a true holy maiden.

As Eileen hesitated, You Feipeng collapsed to his knees with a thud, slamming his head hard against the floor—the force so great it nearly shattered the floor's protective barrier.

"Your humble servant had eyes that failed to recognize Mount Tai! Your humble servant deserves death—but he still has use! He begs to serve you as beast of burden, slave, and servant—please, do not kill me!"

Seeing the abject humility of You Feipeng, Eileen felt reluctant to strike; she decided to restrain him first and hand him over to Wu Chang for judgment.

As she hesitated, she suddenly sensed a divine fluctuation within You Feipeng; she swung her warhammer instantly—but it was too late.

A petal of a lotus flower emerged from within You Feipeng, blocking Eileen's hasty strike; the petal shattered, but the warhammer in her hand was violently repelled.

The shattered petals enveloped You Feipeng, carrying him away from the grand hall before Eileen could activate her Light Prison to contain him.

Eileen stared at the empty floor, her face filled with regret for having failed.

The lotus petal carried You Feipeng away, far from the Wanghai No. 1 High School grand hall, severing Eileen's lock on him.

You Feipeng was deposited in an alley, outside which lay a brightly lit commercial district, filled with the clamor of passing crowds.

He wore only red underwear; stepping out like this, he feared he'd be mistaken for a pervert. He retrieved a spare outfit from his personal space, changed into it, and stepped out of the alley—where he saw a sign not far ahead.

"Peace Zone Commercial Street."

Near the sign, he spotted a gallery; it radiated a peculiar, irresistible aura—as if waiting for him to claim something within.

Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise.

The waters of Wanghai City ran deeper than he thought: not only did it harbor true deities, but even ordinary shops concealed things capable of drawing him in.

I've struck gold!

He entered the gallery. Its interior differed from its exterior: a long, narrow corridor over a hundred meters stretched ahead, lined on one side with paintings of all kinds; at the end stood an easel, where someone sat painting.

No—before entering, the gallery's street-facing side had been transparent glass windows. Why had it become a sealed interior?

He spun around sharply—only to find the entrance door had vanished.

You Feipeng laughed—a bitter, furious laugh.

To think that a tiger fallen to the plains would be bullied by dogs—every stray cat and dog dared to scheme against him. Clearly, he must strike hard, or these Wasteland Realm rats would never recognize their place.

He strode forward toward the corridor's end. Even without Five Suns Across the Sky or protective gear, crushing a Wasteland Realm player would be no harder than snapping a packet of instant noodles.

He had intended to walk straight to the end—but after only two steps, his gaze was drawn to a painting on the wall.

The artwork was shockingly powerful: each piece centered on a human figure, rendered in intense style, emotions bursting beyond the canvas; merely glancing at it pulled him in involuntarily.

From the moment he saw the first painting, his eyes could not leave the wall; as he grew more absorbed in the content, his immersion deepened—each painting he finished viewing felt as if a burden had lifted from him.

It was as if the filth within him was being slowly replaced by art.

He began to shed his worries, his troubles, his craving for greater power—even his longing for the Church of Light.

He wanted to abandon everything, to remain forever in this gallery, lost in the ocean of art.

You Feipeng had just begun to appreciate the beauty of art when his journey of admiration came to an abrupt end. He had clearly only walked a third of the corridor's length, yet in the blink of an eye the paintings had run out, and the painter who had painted them was already at his side.

"Where are my paintings?"

Lu Langfeng shifted his gaze from the canvas, looked at You Feipeng, and said: "You can no longer see any more paintings."

"What do you mean?" You Feipeng wanted to be angry, but found that he could not summon any rage, as if he no longer had anything to be angry about.

He turned back to look at the path he had come from, and suddenly discovered that in front of every painting where he had paused, something had been left behind.

His coat, his trousers, his red underwear, his skin, his flesh, his innards, his organs, and even his various emotions lay scattered across the ground.

Lu Langfeng kindly took out a mirror and handed it to You Feipeng. You Feipeng looked into the mirror — the reflection no longer had a human form; his body had been entirely replaced by lines and large clumps of color.

No wonder his steps grew lighter and lighter the further he walked, and the more he could immerse himself in the works.

Because at this moment, he himself had become a work of art.

"Give it back to me!"

You Feipeng panicked. He staggered as he lunged at Lu Langfeng. Lu Langfeng shook his head, took out an easel, and watched as You Feipeng crashed into a brand-new canvas and became his latest work.

"So-so, I suppose."

Lu Langfeng took out a picture frame, placed the painting inside it, and hung it in the tenth-from-last position among the corridor's paintings.

He said softly to the figure in the painting:

"Young people just aren't careful enough — they still need an old-timer like me to clean up after them."

"You can't reveal yourself too quickly. I'm still counting on you to draw their attention up ahead."

After smoothing the painting into place, Lu Langfeng returned to his previous spot and continued working on his piece.

The male art student Wu Chang had once seen stepped out from the shadows, carrying a mop and a trash bin, and began collecting the bits and pieces You Feipeng had left scattered on the ground.

After two brushstrokes, he felt something, and looked toward the entrance of the gallery.

He wondered how far the newcomer could get once he came in.

Meanwhile, on Night Island, Wu Chang, holding the key that opened the underwater iron gate, carried Tian Hongzhi's corpse back to the research station.

It was time to clear the dungeon.

(End of this chapter)