I've Become the King of Villains in the Game

A moment later.

Feeling uncomfortable and with a slight headache, Chen Lun finally rose and left the White Throne, descending the steps.

The White Throne is the manifestation of the "No Return Land", providing Chen Lun with a feeling of overseeing all things when seated atop it. He greatly enjoyed this sensation and utilized it for numerous activities.

Such as thinking without any disturbance.

Even like an omniscient True God, he could freely perform divination, acquiring clues or information through this method with high authenticity.

Standing on the Heavenly Fields, Chen Lun felt the subtle breeze of the Old Spirit Realm.

His state of mind had never been this serene.

Even though he was well aware that the war in the Spirit World was merely a prelude, and the true malice from the Fierce Father had yet to descend...

Chen Lun glanced at Maggie napping beneath the Holy Tree and exhaled deeply.

He slowly took out a mahogany music box.

[Unknown Token - Music Box of the Epoch Eternal]

This had been obtained from Sigmund after hunting the Destiny Clown.

Chen Lun had maintained sufficient vigilance toward this unknown token at the time, hence had not researched it extensively.

But now, he was totally fearless.

With a soft click, Chen Lun flipped open the lid.

Inside was revealed a male figurine.

It had no discernible features, stood upright, dressed in a striped white suit with a scarlet tie hanging from its chest.

By all appearances, it carries an eerie vibe.

Chen Lun remained composed, slowly twisting the music box's right-side spring.

Crunch, crunch, crunch—

After ten turns to the limit, he released it.

A series of gentle, crisp ding-dong sounds began, with a rather peculiar melody, inducing imagination, and upon closing one's eyes, it seemed as though a flame was dancing in the darkness.

The red-tied doll in the center of the music box began to move.

No, more precisely, it came to life.

A set of detailed facial features gradually emerged on the once faceless figure, and upon opening its eyes to see Chen Lun, the man revealed a hearty smile.

Those pristine, tidy teeth contrasted sharply with his dark skin.

Leaving a deep impression.

The man bent at the waist, with a hand on his chest, bowing to Chen Lun, then spoke:

"Honored Lord of the Spirit World, King in Azure, Your Majesty Jack Spett, it is a privilege to meet you..."

Chen Lun narrowed his eyes slightly.

He hadn't expected this wooden puppet to recognize him.

"Who are you?"

Chen Lun asked calmly.

The cheerful smile on the red-tied man's face seemed eternally unchanged, answering:

"I am Nate Sofite, you may call me Nate, though over numerous eras I've had many names, like 'Ageless One', 'Wanderer through Time', and 'Great Disseminator', but my preferred name is 'Epoch Eternal'..."

"'Epoch Eternal' Nate Sofite."

Chen Lun repeated this name.

He felt this individual was peculiar; having lived through several eras proves he is at least an Angel...

Yet Chen Lun had never heard of this title.

And his intuition told him, this figure is far from simple.

Nate placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head in response.

Chen Lun thought for a moment, deciding to show the proper respect and spoke:

"Your Majesty Nate, what purpose does this token serve?"

"Honored King in Azure, it is an entry pass to the 'Worldly Secret Cult'..."

Nate explained with a smile.

"Worldly Secret Cult?"

Chen Lun felt unfamiliar once again.

"Indeed, it is an ancient organization, with no hierarchy within; members interact mutually in an accommodating manner, loose rules and quite free... However, owing to this, the conditions for joining are rather strict, solely accepting recommendations from internal members and requiring half-agreement to enter,"

Nate explained.

Gazing at him, Chen Lun contemplated for a few moments before asking:

"Who are the members of the 'Worldly Secret Cult'?"

"Apologies, Your Majesty King in Azure, the member identities are confidential, I am unable to disclose... But, the Worldly Secret Cult has existed since the end of the Second Era, with most members being ancient entities."

Nate chuckled gently.

Chen Lun's gaze tightened.

Ancient entities...

Ancient God!

The Worldly Secret Cult is a secret organization of Ancient Gods!

"So Your Majesty Nate is also an Ancient God."

Chen Lun gave the small figure on the music box a profound look, speaking gravely.

Unexpectedly, Nate Sofite shook his head in denial.

"No, no, no, I am not an Ancient God... Just a humble messenger of a great existence, concurrently holding responsibilities as a disseminator of the 'Worldly Secret Cult'."

As Chen Lun continued to speculate privately over who Nate referred to as the "great existence", Nate continued:

"Would Your Majesty Jack be interested in joining the 'Worldly Secret Cult'? I could recommend you... I have heard much of your illustrious name recently, and I believe the members of the cult will be intrigued by you. Maybe in the struggle against the Empire, they could even lend you a hand?"

Chen Lun considered for a moment, figuring there was no harm in engaging with a group of Ancient Gods.

Given his current power and resources, he had enough confidence and qualification to converse with the Ancient Gods.

"I entrust Your Majesty Nate with the matter."

Chen Lun nodded.

"No need to be polite, it's my duty."

Nate Sofite once again placed his hand on his chest in salute.

At that moment, the tinkling sound from the music box abruptly ceased, and the man's motion with the red tie froze, the previously lively sensation dissipating.

*

*

*

Current world.

Nightfall descended.

The Purple Moon hung high, generously spreading its serene moonlight.

Yet within the Empire, countless residents raised their heads in astonishment, discovering that tonight's moon was unusually round and bright, while the stars, normally sparkling, were now dull and dim.

Almost simultaneously.

Throughout the Empire's seven states, totaling one hundred thirty-two major cities, the magnificent structures known as the "Daytime Obelisks" within the Sun pathways began to tremble one by one.

A buzzing sound echoed nationwide.

Ordinary citizens and even the privileged and wealthy merchants felt puzzled by this.

Straight upwards, the obelisks all emitted intense white light, interweaving beneath the night sky.

If looked down upon, one would see that the entire Empire was glowing, with each obelisk resembling the brightest point, interconnected and seemingly forming an odd diagram of external circles nesting upside-down triangles.

Amber City in the Gem State.

Pompey Manor.

On the lawn outside the estate, Viscount Pompey and Mr. Xibert were drinking and chatting leisurely.

The two had long since reconciled past differences and restored their friendship and camaraderie.

"Speaking of little Rebecca, she should be twenty-one this year, shouldn't she?"

Xibert took a sip of fine wine and asked casually.

The slightly pudgy Viscount Pompey nodded with a smile and couldn't help but sigh:

"Yes, in a blink of an eye, this little girl has grown this much... Her coming-of-age birthday banquet seems like it was just yesterday, and the great Your Majesty Jack was Rebecca's family tutor at the time."

"Enough, Pompey, you've said this a hundred times, and I don't want to hear you brag anymore."

Xibert laughed and scolded.

Pompey glared and pointed at him with the finger holding the goblet.

"This is a fact, not boasting. Rebecca is a student of a mythological existence..."

"My family has even preserved the sword used by Your Majesty Jack!"

Xibert countered, unwilling to concede.

The two bickered back and forth, but after a moment, they burst into laughter.

"Ah, who would have thought that we could have connections with such great beings..."

Pompey shook his head in lament.

He seemed to have thought of something, sighed again.

"It's just a pity that Rebecca can never forget Him, no matter how her mother persuades. But the little girl just doesn't understand that it's a dream that can never be realized..."

"Speaking of which, old General Malediz's granddaughter, Miss Rey, is the same."

Xibert whispered.

The two fell silent for a moment, both aware of what those higher beings truly meant in this world... Not to mention they were merely nobles, what significance would even royal family members have in the presence of mythological existences.

A century passes, and mortals have long become mere bones.

Yet They remain resplendent.

"Xibert, I heard the old general hasn't been well lately, do you know what's going on?"

Pompey changed the subject and asked.

But after a while, he didn't hear his friend's response and looked over in puzzlement.

He was momentarily taken aback.

Because Xibert maintained a posture looking upwards, covering his eyes with his hand, yet his gaze dazedly focused on the Purple Moon in the night sky.

"Xibert? Xibert!"

Pompey called out twice but received no answer, gradually realizing something was wrong.

He stood up swiftly, came to his friend's side, and shook his shoulder, trying to wake him.

Yet beside his ear, he vaguely heard Xibert murmuring:

"Such dazzling sunlight, Pompey, can you see it?"

"Sunlight? What sunlight? It's nighttime, you must be drunk, Xibert..."

"I'm certain I'm not drunk, Pompey, it's real, such dazzling sunlight... so hot, my skin feels scorching, help me, Pompey, help me."

Xibert's face showed pain as he stumbled to the ground incoherently.

As if there truly was blistering sunlight roasting him, his entire body curled up, skin turning red and purple, blistering with countless bubbles.

Pompey watched this scene, feeling his hair stand on end.

Evidently, it was still winter and nighttime, but what Xibert said and felt was incredibly bizarre, and Pompey momentarily even thought his friend was afflicted with some illness.

But he soon dismissed this thought.

"It's a mysterious event!"

Pompey took a deep breath.

"Xibert, hold on, I'll inform the Shelter..."

He turned to run towards the villa, planning to ask old Butler Binose to prepare a carriage, but he hadn't gone far when he heard a muffled bang behind him.

Pompey turned around, dumbstruck.

His former comrade and friend had already burst into a mass of blood mist, and the high temperature even caused the remains to steam intensely...

Such scenes were not isolated but occurring simultaneously throughout the Empire.

Whether ordinary citizens or the middle class, or even the privileged and wealthy, countless people gazed at the Purple Moon on this night, only to be "scorched to death" by the light.

Of course, a small number underwent mutations, successfully ascending to become Sun Path Transcendents...

But those individuals all went mad.