Apocalypse Forecast

Before he could speak, He Di was already dismembered by a flurry of axes, blood splattering everywhere.

Though it appeared brutal, in reality, only less than a tenth of his blood was shed.

The height of the tower decreased by just that much.

When the ’Huai Shi’s returned to the Eternal Frozen Heart, He Di’s high tower once again vanished into the mist, with only that chilling malice lingering persistently, sending shivers down the spine.

"Be careful, the Piper’s believers are very vengeful... especially these Abyss Handlers at the High Priest level, they more or less have a list in their hands."

Tong Ji, delighting in others’ misfortune, reminded while munching on seeds.

"A list?"

"Yes, a list... All Abyss Handlers will record on their list those who are threatening and need to be guarded against or killed. Everyone’s list is synchronized in real-time, and everyone on the list is an enemy of all Abyss Handlers.

And they often serve the Kings of Hell. For existences in Hell, being written on the list is no different from a black envelope from the Astronomical Society for people in the Current Circumstances."

"That’s incredible, even sharing enemies..." Huai Shi marveled, "The information age is really convenient."

Not at all worried about being put on the blacklist, Huai Shi thought, "The more lice, the less they itch; the more debt, the less it bothers."

He didn’t even know how many people and ghosts hated him so much they ground their teeth, having offended countless, so why care about a few more?

He even curiously asked, "Is that list useful?"

"Most of the time, it is... sort of like the Astronomical Society’s black envelope and chase ranking," Tong Ji shrugged regretfully. "But in reality, many people like to do reverse operations, you know? Just like pirates in comics comparing bounties, those wanted often pay great attention to their ranking."

Take Green Day’s leader Peron, for example, a regular in the top ranks of the wanted list across all three domains of Current Circumstances, Border, and Hell. Though his ranking occasionally fluctuates, he’s been in the top three for seventy or eighty years and still lives well.

Instead, it has become a symbol of status in the underworld.

"Isn’t that the legendary black-and-white celestial chart!" Huai Shi’s mind finally reacted, "Who’s the top of the list?"

"I haven’t followed it for many years, but let me think..."

Tong Ji thought for a moment and confidently said, "It should be that guy Chu Hai, right? I mean, who would like waking up at midnight and finding someone sitting at their bedside with a notebook, asking about some ancient mess from ten thousand years ago, for no reason other than to write an archaeology paper for the year... right?

Among the seven Natural Enemies in the world, he’s the most leisurely, yet likes to run around the most, even Tier isn’t as annoying as him."

Such energy!

Huai Shi was dumbfounded.

Didn’t expect Chu Hai to go to such lengths for Hell’s annual archaeology figure... squatting by people’s beds to gather material for papers, he didn’t know whether to call it boring or wicked.

Then, becoming increasingly curious, he asked, "So what rank am I?"

"Several hundred?"

Tong Ji thought for a long time, shrugged, and gave up: "How would I know? You should ask the old man, or just kill him and grab a list to save all the hassle. It wouldn’t just solve the problem, but also provide free updates afterward!"

"That’s actually possible?!"

"Why not?"

Tong Ji spat out the seed shells disdainfully, "He Di is just a list-writer; what does he know about rankings? The list is the main thing, understand? Once you get your hands on the list, you can look at it however you want."

It somehow felt incorrect but also strangely logical.

Huai Shi, rubbing his chin, began to consider a plan to eliminate threats to the Current Circumstances.

Having already offended the Ranch Owner, why worry about a Piper?

This Abyss Handlers thing, everyone should kill on sight; there’s no need to talk about any kind of underworld morality with him. If this were in the Current Circumstances, Huai Shi would have called for reinforcements long ago to storm in together.

Considering the chaos he had seen above Helios, it’s likely that old man was behind nine out of ten disasters; with such opportunities present, if he didn’t chop off that neck, it’d be a shame.

Once he made up his mind, he glanced at the countdown above.

11:57

About just under twelve hours left until the next round.

The break time left by the battle before the gods was quite ample.

The pace, unexpectedly slow.

He leaned back on the Sun Caster’s throne, changed to a comfortable position, and closed his eyes, intending to take a short rest, when Tong Ji’s seed-crunching paused beside him.

Seemingly puzzled.

"You’re not planning to sleep, are you?"

Huai Shi looked up in confusion, and then began to be wary of what kind of anti-sleep nonsense this sinister woman would come up with.

"Are you planning to lie down and win like this?"

Tong Ji questioned, "Using a phrase all parents in the world like to say — While you’re sleeping, others are working hard, Huai Shi."

"Huh?" Huai Shi was dumbfounded for a moment, somewhat incredulous, "Do all parents say this kind of thing?"

"... Well, not everyone, I mean... forget it, damn it, just pretend I didn’t say anything."

Life is hard, the crow sighs.

Tong Ji shook her head, and after a long silence, seriously reminded, "But I’m afraid you can’t rest now, after all, time is pressing."

"If I don’t rest, what shall I do, daydream?"

"You finally managed to bring others onto the same level, at least you need to keep up with the pace of progress, right? Don’t forget what the most numerous thing on this ship is."

Tong Ji gazed at the fire lights rising first from several towers after the fog, speaking thoughtfully, "Do you think they will rest?"

No wonder she is a Great Grandmaster, she was the first to notice the loopholes in the rules.

No, it should be said that at the moment of being involved, she already had some understanding of the essence of the divine duel, right?

Even Tong Ji cannot completely overturn everything here.

Rather, why overturn it?

Why brutally nullify decades of brewing and effort, turning this valuable creation meaningless?

There is no do-over, merely a reestablishment of rules — replacing the mystic ritual of deity rebirth with a divine duel tailored from events.

Its essence has never changed, even far more stable than the original model. All variables are ordered, transforming Hell into the Heavenly Kingdom.

Everything is a sacrifice and offering dedicated to the deities reborn within the furnace.

All Tong Ji can do is strive to create rules advantageous to her side, but once the rules are set, even she cannot modify them again.

"Fool, the real duel is just beginning now..."

The so-called Alchemist is an existence that extracts Gold from Iron Stone, best at turning decay into magic.

No matter how dazzling the things created by the divine duel are, at best, they are just materials — just like buying models home, with the same time, when a novice can’t even manage a sprue, an expert has already begun magical modifications, along with repainting, seamlessness, matte finishing, and even creating cool weapon accessories from runner gates, even setting up scenes and lighting effects.

How can anyone compete like this?

The outcome is decided even before the starting line.

The primary focus is how to best use these twelve hours, how to achieve a qualitative enhancement in the combat power of your summons!

Now, in the abandoned Eternal Frozen Core, the Alchemy Fire reignited.

Numerous professional equipment is already in position.

Tong Ji pointed to Huai Shi’s exclusive Casting Furnace: "Please start your performance!"

Ah, this...

Huai Shi was completely dumbfounded.

Looking at those few summons not far away that finally sensed something was amiss and became alert, he started scratching his head: What is this wave considered as? Stewing oneself in an Iron Pot?

"Isn’t this a bit bad?"

Huai Shi felt a bit embarrassed, "What if I refine myself to death?"

Upon saying this, the Peppa group not far away began nodding madly in agreement.

"Don’t worry, this is your unique advantage, Huai Shi."

Tong Ji happily laughed, "The divine duel is a result of event correction. As event records from the Book of Fate, here, their essence is immortal, even if broken, they can be reborn anytime... making them best practice material!"

No losses, no restrictions. Unlike others being cautious and meticulous, Huai Shi does not fear losses, with infinite opportunities to start over.

Tong Ji asked again, "You should know your biggest advantage at the Whitboard Sublimator Stage, right?"

Huai Shi nodded.

At the Whitboard Sublimator Stage, without having gained the Stigma, all of his combat power came from continuous practice in the Book of Fate on one hand, and critically, his output methods all relied on the Axe of Anger forged by the Hand of Confinement on the other.

Stewing oneself in the Iron Pot is merely a process, the goal is Soul Armor!

The initial stage Axe of Anger still holds greater potential and room for enhancement. All it takes is for Huai Shi to fully develop it according to experience.

He can even use himself as the prototype to explore further possibilities!

"It’s okay if there’s no theory, you can supplement it with the skills of a Forger."

"It’s okay if there’s no experience, you have unlimited opportunities to try."

"Besides, I’ve specially invited a consultant and guide for you... quite a rare Alchemy treasure talent!"

Saying so, Tong Ji stepped aside, revealing the long-awaited visitor behind her.

A Skeleton.

The Skeleton had a foolish look, still not understanding what happened, holding a white mouse in hand, maintaining a soft buzzing posture.

Huai Shi’s eye twitched violently.

If Tong Ji didn’t say, he would have forgotten this guy is Publius...

"Are you sure?" Huai Shi asked in a lowered voice, "Isn’t he already a fool!"

"I don’t know if he’s a fool, but you’re a real fool." Tong Ji sighed helplessly, "Even if it’s a foolish Great Grandmaster, it’s still a Great Grandmaster, isn’t it? Did you forget, even if the Creator dies, their Scholar name can still interfere with laws! A Great Grandmaster is only more useful..."

This is, a perfect catalyst to enhance the quality of results!