The metallic lifeform flew at a constant, rapid speed. In the room shared by Lin Lei and Dilia, Lin Lei gazed out the window. Below, on the boundless expanse of earth, he could see many humans, along with beastmen, magical beasts, and all manner of other races.
"Those are all Saints." Lin Lei could tell.
In Hell, the most numerous beings were actually Saints. Countless Saints dotted the landscape of Hell, though their lives were utterly without guarantee.
"If I had entered Hell back when I was only a Saint... that would have been disastrous," Lin Lei thought to himself. "That
"Lin Lei, what are you thinking about?" Dilia asked with a puzzled look.
"Nothing." Lin Lei shook his head with a smile. "Dilia, we've been on this metallic lifeform for over ten years now, haven't we? Time really flies."
"Indeed, it's been ten years. I'd estimate another ten or so before we reach Blue Maple City. I hope that by the time you arrive, your comprehension of the Wind Elemental Law reaches the Mid-stage Deity level," Dilia said with a smile.
"Have my Wind elemental divine clone also reach Mid-stage Deity?" Lin Lei had no confidence in that whatsoever. Breaking through a bottleneck could happen quickly or slowly — no one could say for certain when it would occur.
And while Lin Lei and Dilia were talking — Solomon and Nisi were in a room together.
"Brother, what did you want to see me about?" Nisi looked at her older brother with a smile.
Seeing Nisi as she was now — a straw hat atop her head, a gift from
"Nisi, do you really want to be with that Bei Bei?" Solomon's voice was low and serious.
The smile on Nisi's face faded, and she nodded solemnly. "Brother, I never actually wanted to go to the Bifu Continent. I only couldn't bear to leave you. When I think about what we went through back on the Bifu Continent, I just..." Nisi's fists clenched involuntarily.
Solomon sighed inwardly. "I understand. What I want to ask is — you and Bei Bei, what exactly do you plan to do?"
"Brother, Bei Bei is wonderful. He likes to joke around and be playful from time to time, but he's genuinely sincere toward people, and he treats me very well. Being with Bei Bei... I feel happy and carefree, without a single worry." Nisi's face lit up as she spoke. "Sometimes when I'm in a bad mood, Bei Bei cheers me up. Brother, don't let his joking demeanor fool you — Bei Bei is actually very perceptive. The moment I'm even slightly down, he notices right away."
"I really enjoy being with Bei Bei." Nisi looked at her brother. "Brother, I'm sorry."
Solomon spoke in a low voice. "So you're not planning to come back to the Bifu Continent with me?"
"No." Nisi shook her head.
Solomon fell silent. He had been with his sister Nisi for so many years — naturally, he couldn't bear to part with her.
"Brother, I'm sorry," Nisi said quietly.
Solomon shook his head and smiled. "Going back to the Bifu Continent right now is somewhat dangerous anyway. It's fine — go ahead and travel with Bei Bei for now. Once I've arranged everything on the Bifu Continent, when you and Bei Bei have time, come find me there."
Nisi's face lit up with delight.
"Brother!" She threw her arms around him excitedly.
"Heh." Solomon chuckled. "Alright, alright. But Nisi, when you're with Bei Bei and the others from now on, be careful — I won't be by your side."
"I know, Brother!" Nisi said quickly. "Don't worry. We'll just take a simple escort mission — there won't be any danger. See, we've been on this metallic lifeform for ten years now and haven't run into a single threat."
"BOOM!"
The metallic lifeform suddenly shuddered violently. Nisi and Solomon both staggered.
"Whoosh!" The entire metallic lifeform instantly dissipated, transforming back into a person. Everyone who had been inside was now suspended in midair. Over a hundred people stared in shock. Many demons who had been in the midst of cultivation were jolted awake.
And there, hovering before the hundred-plus travelers, was a dense mass of divine-level powerhouses — so many that the one-star and two-star demons among Lin Lei's group went pale on the spot.
"Boss, how many are there?" Bei Bei's eyes went wide as saucers.
"Looks like nearly ten thousand." Lin Lei's heart clenched. "Nearly ten thousand powerhouses, and from the looks of it, almost all are Mid-stage Deities, with quite a few High-stage Deities as well! If that many charged in all at once, the consequences..."
Lin Lei's heart lurched.
"Bei Bei, stay right next to us. And Dilia, get the Death Puppet ready," Lin Lei ordered quickly. "At a time like this, prioritize survival. Just hold on until that six-star demon drives them off."
"Nini, come here." Bei Bei immediately called out.
"Bei Bei." Nisi's face actually broke into a smile, looking somewhat excited to be with Bei Bei. Solomon also flew over to join Lin Lei and the others.
Solomon looked worried as well. "This is trouble. So many enemies — even a High-stage Deity would be in danger facing hundreds of Mid-stage Deities attacking at once. And there are nearly ten thousand Mid-stage Deities here."
"Gentlemen!"
A clear, hearty voice rang out across the heavens and earth. "You're blocking us for money, nothing more. We don't want a fight to the death today — it benefits no one. Name a sum, and as long as it's within what I can afford, I'll hand it over immediately. How does that sound?"
The speaker was the silver-haired elder with three black horns protruding from his head.
At that moment, the silver-haired elder was cursing inwardly: Since when did this wretched place produce a bandit group of over ten thousand? And with twenty High-stage Deities among them? I've never heard of such a thing!
"Haha..."
The red-robed giant leading the nearly ten thousand bandits laughed heartily. "You seem like a straightforward fellow, so we won't make things difficult for you. Our brothers here number ten thousand in all. Tell you what — we won't ask for too much. Just give us ten billion inkstones. How about it?"
Ten billion inkstones!
The moment that sum was uttered, the silver-haired elder nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Ten billion inkstones?" The silver-haired elder stared at the red-robed giant in disbelief.
"Ten billion?" Bei Bei muttered. "That's quite the price tag."
Lin Lei heard the number and thought of his own fortune of just over one hundred million inkstones. They throw out ten billion like it's nothing. Looks like my little stash really doesn't amount to much.
"My good man, ten billion inkstones — isn't that a bit steep?" The silver-haired elder's tone grew slightly firmer. "I can't afford ten billion inkstones. Perhaps a lower price..." The silver-haired elder fixed his gaze on the red-robed giant.