Chapter 96: The Returnees

Chapter 96: The Returnees

The appearance of five individuals identical to oneself would take aback even the most fearless like Feng Tianhuo or the most carefree like Yue Feng, causing them to freeze for a few seconds.

Therefore, it was natural for Yao Yan, controlled by the shadows, to stand in shock.

He incredulously looked at the five figures before him, his own will evidently overpowering the shadow's behind him at this moment.

"You... you..."

Who are you? What kind of beings are you? Why do you look exactly like me? And... why the tailcoats? I do believe tailcoats best showcase my charm, but why does it irritate me seeing you wear them when I'm not?

Six estranged souls met, all feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity and mutual disdain.

But the other five tailcoat-clad Yao Yans didn’t give the original any chance to respond; they charged at him the moment he was stunned and opened his mouth.

The five fragmented souls simultaneously made what appeared to be fierce attack motions.

"Die!"

They declared in unison.

Xiao Yao stood frozen in place, but the shadow behind him manipulated his body, turning the endless darkness into sword-like shapes, shooting towards the five fragmented souls from all directions.

"Foolish things!"

The shadow's voice overlaid with Yao Yan's.

The power of these five fragmented souls was barely one percent of his own.

Could Chen Sijin really expect such fragmented souls to turn the tide of defeat?

That's even less likely than the few words he just spoke!

At that moment, Chen Sijin watched the countless shadow swords and commanded: "Disperse!"

Instantly, the swords transformed from shadows vanished.

The expression of Xiao Yao, enveloped by shadows, darkened as he quickly transformed the shadow into shields facing five different directions, to block the attacks of the five fragmented souls.

At the same time, a faint shadow encircled Xiao Yao's entire body, preventing him from being fatally attacked.

However, the next moment, Xiao Yao's expression, shrouded in shadow, changed dramatically!

The youth dressed in a black tailcoat, resembling a hotel manager, sneered, and the energy in his hand vanished as he turned into a beam of light that entered Xiao Yao's forehead.

Meanwhile, the Yao Yan dressed as a restaurant chef casually tossed his cleaver, transforming into a white light that entered Xiao Yao's chest.

Afterwards, the foreman, beautician, and manor steward also canceled their attacks at the moment of striking, instead turning into streams of light that entered Xiao Yao's body.

When all five beams of light, the five fragmented souls, entered Xiao Yao's body, the shadow emitted a massive, furious roar: "Damned cunning humans!!"

"You dare to deceive me—"

By feigning attacks, they led it to believe they were going to destroy each other, but in reality, they intended to merge into one!

Even though the fusion of these fragmented souls wouldn't pose any problem, as their combined energy was less than one-tenth of its own, the shadow behind Yao Yan felt an indescribable panic when these souls merged.

But the shadow still didn't believe it could lose, until it suddenly found that a part of its power seemed to be restrained, and then... began to slip out of its control!

And the part of its power that was slipping away was—

"If we're talking about deceit, weren't you the first to deceive us?"

Xiao Yao spoke softly.

His voice was still somewhat shaky.

However, he soon underwent a bizarre transformation, with multicolored lights of energy flickering around him, his casual wear gradually morphing into a black tailcoat adorned with dark patterns and an ornate brooch at the collar.

His not-so-great short hair began to grow longer, turning jet black and naturally curly, and then he lifted his hands, adorned in a pair of white gloves, to tie his now mid-length curly hair at the back of his head.

"Wow."

Chen Zijin watched from across, nearly whistling in amazement.

It was truly a transformation from bronze to king.

The tailcoat now looked quite expensive.

Yuxi Dujia (seems like a mistranslation or out of context line that doesn't fit smoothly into English).

It also looked like it could handle a tough fight.

Then, Chen Zijin heard a rather loud, disdainful snicker right next to him.

The sound was almost sticking to his ear, making it hard to ignore.

With a resigned twitch of his mouth, he turned to see the fellow who had been doggedly following him pull off a dramatic transformation right before his eyes.

The white dog merely shook its body, and violent energy swirled around it. When the energy dissipated, a tall young man dressed in a lavish black suit appeared beside him. The gray-black suit, resembling a military uniform, hugged his physique, highlighting his power, yet the sharp decorations gave it an aggressive edge.

Most notably, this flamboyant black attire was not enough for him; over it, he wore a wild, wolf-pelt-like gray cloak, adding to his wild charm.

Such an outfit, paired with his aggressive and perfectly wild facial features, could make anyone who saw him feel the overwhelming aura of a male monarch.

And, like a peacock flaunting its feathers.

Chen Sijin: "......"

It must be said, at first glance, he was utterly astounded.

Anyone who saw Yue Feng at this moment would probably be mesmerized.

But soon, this almost "divine and demonic" non-human aura was completely shattered by Yue Feng's words—

"Don't compare those who work with someone like me who's in charge."

Chen Sijin: ""

Is he implying that even the most splendid and elegant tailcoat is merely fit for a high-class butler's fate?! Right, right?!

At this time, the newly revived Yao Yan had already begun his battle.

Yes.

This was a battle that belonged to him and this world, spanning hundreds of years.

Hundreds of years ago, he died in this world, oblivious, ending his destiny to become a king.

Even though he left himself a "sliver of hope," that hope was too faint; in the second before his death, he never believed he would see the day he would come back to life.

Yet fate is such a capricious thing that captivates people.

Against all odds, he waited, and that slim chance came.

Now, he could personally rewrite the ending of this battle that had already concluded, hundreds of years later.

"You once tasked me with finding the only person in this world who was not ill."

Yao Yan swiftly dodged countless attacks from the shadows, then seemingly effortlessly dispersed the black souls condensed by the shadow.

He appeared to be very familiar with the shadow's mode of attack, to the extent that he could easily evade or neutralize every action it took.

"But after I died, I realized that in that world, there simply wasn't anyone who wasn't ill."

"You are a world that becomes more diseased, more despairing, the longer it exists."

"So what—of it—then—"

This time, the shadow's voice didn't come through Yao Yan but resounded directly throughout the heavens and earth.

"You are—indeed—our—food!"

"After entering this world, whether you live or die is for us to decide!"

An offended look appeared on the polite face of Yao Yan, who then laughed again: "You're not wrong."

"We're enemies after all, there's no morality to speak of!"

With a wave of his white-gloved hand, suddenly countless silver knives appeared in front of him, "Please, enjoy your meal."

The myriad of silver knives then surged like a sudden downpour towards the shadow.

The shadow conjured up a black tsunami, coldly snuffing out the silver onslaught with a sneer.

"You know how I attack, and I'm well aware of your capabilities."

"Even if your soul has merged again, what of it? Your power is still worlds apart from mine!!"

After saying this, the shadow burst into an arrogant laugh, its form swelling as if to cover the entire heavens and earth.

But soon, the laughter between heaven and earth abruptly stopped.

Because the man in the tailcoat with his curly hair tied in a low ponytail suddenly reached out to grasp the black phantom directly.

Then those black, originally belonging to the shadow, phantoms began to gather towards him bit by bit, piece by piece!

"Impossible!"

The shadow roared in fury.

How could this damned human snatch its power?!

Yet, Yao Yan sneered coldly.

What's impossible? He had been invaded and controlled by these negative energies for hundreds of years. Why couldn't he reverse control?

It's like if a seasoned employee has worked in a company for decades, what about the company would he not know?

Moreover, he had reached the position of the eternal second in this world.

After hundreds of years, what's so impossible about this worker pulling the rug from under the entire "company world"?

Then, this "worker" as described by Yue Feng, who was still a worker no matter what, uttered words that would make any boss's heart skip a beat:

"Boss, you've been sidelined."

"Now, please step aside."

As he spoke those final words, the shadows swirling around Yao Yan completely enveloped him, while the originally massive shadow opposite him began to reveal its true, much weaker form—

It turned out to be a monster resembling a spiky ball.

Although this monstrous spiky ball was larger than a building, it now appeared utterly non-threatening.

As it revealed its true form, the overwhelming phantom energy snatched by Yao Yan condensed into a gigantic black spear, piercing through the mountainous monstrous spiky ball from above.

"No—"

In the moment the monstrous spiky ball exploded, it was as if the [virus] had been completely eradicated.

Then the endless darkness of the world gradually dissipated, and Chen Sijin seemed to see the peaceful night sky again.

He looked down, glanced at the still-burning flames, and spoke.

"Rain."

Rain fell from the sky, gradually extinguishing the raging flames within the safety zone.

It also slightly healed the scorched flesh of the youth with the braids.

He had persisted until now without giving up, and when the heavy rain fell on his body, his eyes, filled with an endless desire to survive, suddenly burst into a fervent glow.

Then he silently grinned in a smile.

He always knew he could survive till the end.

He would never give up on even the slightest, possible hope.

And so, he lived on.

Chen Sijin, watching the bald, skinny man lying on the ground laughing louder and louder in the rain, also smiled.

He directly took out a duplicated [Shortcut Card] from his storage ring, sending it to the now bald youth with the braids amidst the heavy rain.

This too was a victory that belonged to him.

Then, as the world crumbled, the man reborn in a lavish tailcoat and wearing white gloves respectfully approached him.

First, he bowed respectfully, then he extended his hand, looking at the young man before him with a contemplative expression:

"Chen Sijin, we finally meet. I am Yao Yan."

"A would-be king among exiles. A jack-of-all-trades."

"I hope to become your dedicated worker."

Chen Sijin hesitated for a moment.

Before he could extend his hand, a large hand wearing a black leather glove suddenly reached out and forcefully grasped the white-gloved hand.

Then, with a slap, it was pushed away.

"He doesn't need it."

"He already has his dedicated Yue Feng."

The one who can transform into cats, dogs, groundhogs, plants, and various other beings of the world, his dedicated Yue Feng.

Crackling.

It was uncertain whether it was the collapse of the world or the sparks of thunder stirring the fires beneath the earth.

Chen Sijin stood by, watching this standoff between black and white, never having imagined he would one day face such a bizarre confrontation.

A dedicated Yue Feng and a dedicated worker, is there really a need to compete for exclusivity?!