"So you're still alive, 03."
As Galot's slightly mocking tone echoed through the grand hall, not only Duan Chen but everyone was stunned.
"Oh—?"
The man narrowed his eyes.
"It seems you're not as simple as I thought. You know me, so you must know my name, right?"
Galot's tone was somewhat casual.
"There's been more than one Apostle 03, too many to count. Do you think I have that much time to remember just you?"
"Sir, you were an Apostle before?"
"Heh heh..."
The man's expression turned a bit grim.
"Who exactly are you?"
"Fine, for the sake of your pitiful existence, I, your great Uncle Galot, will tell you my true identity."
Nia took out a bronze mask from behind and put it on.
"It... it's an Apostle?!"
The Seven Chief Apostles were greatly alarmed.
"That's why I said... this异城 of yours is nothing but a complete imitation!"
The man snorted coldly. "So what if you're an Apostle? There are too many of you. Can you guarantee you'll never be replaced?"
Galot still sneered.
"You've lived for so many years, and even before I was born thirty years ago, the position of Apostle 05 was always vacant, wasn't it?"
The man's expression changed.
"You... are Apostle 05?"
Duan Chen asked in confusion, "Is there anything to be so shocked about?"
Galot trembled slightly.
"Please, didn't you hear what I said? Before I was born into Nia, the position of Apostle 05 was vacant. The moment I was born, Nia obtained the bronze mask. This means that the position of Apostle 05 was always meant to be Nia's, and only his."
Duan Chen suddenly understood, not expecting such a story.
"Hmph! Even so, what does it matter? I realized decades ago that believing in the evil gods leads to a dead end. That's why I came here and painstakingly researched, creating 异城. Look at this prosperous city, it's all my creation!"
The man stood up, speaking with great passion.
Duan Chen merely sneered.
"In the end, isn't this just the story of a loser being discarded and choosing to escape?"
He finally understood. This man was once a subordinate of the evil gods, which was why he could make 异城 resemble Mirror City. And the man indeed had immense ambition; he wanted to make 异城 a second Mirror City and himself a second evil god!
The man heard this and didn't get angry, merely revealing a strange smile.
"Heh heh... No matter what you think, I've already succeeded. Whether it was a Spirit Hunter Agent or an Apostle, I've been both. But in the end, I still enjoy this feeling of being able to control everything!"
So he's a traitor...
"A traitor and a coward, and you're proud of it?"
"Is that so? Yet your Spirit Hunter Guild and most of your Spirit Hunter Agents have fallen into the hands of this coward. Heh heh," the man chuckled and sat back on his throne.
"I'm curious, is the purpose of your Feast truly as that man said? To infiltrate the city streets and alleys with heretics?"
"That's right. My ambition goes far beyond that. I not only want to control Mirror City, but every city on the mainland! Finally, I will destroy Mirror City and eradicate that old bastard, the evil god!"
Duan Chen's eyes were strange.
Does this guy have a screw loose?
"Idiot." Galot couldn't be bothered to argue with him. Arguing with such a brainless person would only lower his IQ.
"You deliberately let us in. It wasn't just to say these meaningless words, was it?"
"Of course not... Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Zhao Nan, and fifty years ago, I was from the Spirit Hunter Guild of Moon City."
Moon City was where the first Feast was held.
"Then what do you want?"
Duan Chen remained silent, gripping Qianhuan Pandora tightly.
"It's very simple. I just want to ask you if you're interested in joining 异城?" Zhao Nan's eyes suddenly lit up with excitement.
"No."
"I didn't give you the option to refuse!"
Zhao Nan's excited eyes dimmed slightly. The Seven Chief Apostles immediately stood in front of Duan Chen and the other, looking displeased.
"It seems... you don't have a sufficient understanding of your own strength."
Zhao Nan sneered.
"Wise men adapt to circumstances. Duan Chen, I hope you remember that."
"Attack!"
...
"Where are we going now?"
The city was filled with heretics, all staring at them with slightly strange gazes, making everyone uncomfortable.
"This place is practically a miniature Mirror City."
"Let's go that way."
Wu Suowei looked towards the tallest building in 异城.
"Oh ho, weren't you not going to get involved in this matter?"
Tian Qi said sarcastically.
Wu Suowei shook his head.
"If this matter didn't involve an Apostle, I indeed wouldn't have gotten involved."
"Are you implying... the master behind the Feast is an Apostle?"
"Heh heh... You could put it that way. It's just that that person has long been expelled from the ranks of Apostles. It was my oversight back then not to have eliminated him directly."
"What do you mean?"
Bai Ye vaguely recalled some rumors about a certain Apostle and his expression changed.
"Could it be a banished Apostle?"
"Something like that, I suppose."
"What do you mean?"
The others were bewildered.
Bai Ye took the initiative to explain.
"Among the evil gods, Apostles are actually divided into several categories. Like Gu Sang and 01, they are current Apostles. Like the Night Phantom before, after death, they are expelled from the ranks of Apostles, becoming deceased Apostles. There are also two extremely special types. One is like me, defecting to Lord Wu. The last type, rather than being special, is more of an exception."
"Spit it out quickly."
"It's faking death. They deceive the evil god, enjoying the benefits the evil god provides while not having to work for him. However... after so long, I've never met such an Apostle."
"You're about to meet one."
...
"Pfft—"
"How is it? Still want to go?"
Duan Chen flicked the blood from his hand. Before him, the Seven Chief Apostles lay on the ground like dead dogs, in a sorry state.
"How are you so strong?"
"This guy used at least three different abilities!"
"How could this be?!"
Zhao Nan's face was grim.
"You've truly exceeded my expectations!"
Duan Chen smiled, his smile neither warm nor cold.
"What's beyond your expectations is yet to come. I won't leave a single one of you, nor this 异城!"
"As for that damn Feast, you can have it in the underworld after you die."
"Boastful words!"
Zhao Nan was enraged and looked towards the door.
"Your friends arrived quite quickly, but unfortunately, it's too late!"
With that, he raised his right hand and abruptly waved it down!