CHAPTER 426: CHAPTER 426 BEATING ZHANG CHANGMING

I only came here to watch the show and casually inquire about some intel; at most, I captured a strange woman.

I really didn’t do anything else, truly nothing at all.

Lu Luo felt as innocent as a blank sheet of paper.

But society is just so dark, and it’s people as pure and kind as him who are easily wrongly accused and deceived.

"I could wrong anyone, but I wouldn’t wrong you. Besides you, who else has this kind of strength?"

Zhang Changming was truly enraged. He swung his sword at Lu Luo, and with such a ferocious posture, it was clear he wasn’t holding back.

At first, it wasn’t too bad; Lu Luo could barely dodge. But as time passed, Zhang Changming’s speed also kept increasing.

The power of his Sequence was finally manifesting.

Acceleration? Such a simple and straightforward effect.

The constant pursuit made it increasingly difficult for Lu Luo to defend himself. To be honest, his temper was hard to control during a fight.

Being continuously suppressed by Zhang Changming, Lu Luo was also getting impatient.

"Hey, are you even listening to me? I’m just here to see what’s going on. That woman is the one in charge of this operation. This uniform I’m wearing is just a disguise I scrounged up. Get it straight!"

"You can explain yourself back at the department."

"Damn it, talking to someone like you is really annoying."

Lu Luo finally couldn’t stop himself from swearing, the strength in his grip suddenly increasing.

His fingers, already as hard as steel, clamped down on Zhang Changming’s sword.

"I’ll say it one more time: I didn’t do it. I’m innocent."

"Hmph."

Zhang Changming snorted coldly, completely irritating Lu Luo.

Hmph, is it? Anyone who dares to ’hmph’ in front of me usually ends up dead.

"’Hmph,’ is it? Fine, I’ll give you something to ’hmph’ about."

Lu Luo’s imposing presence instantly retracted, and Zhang Changming was noticeably startled.

He had never felt such a concealed aura before.

If Lu Luo hadn’t been standing right in front of him, his senses would have registered Lu Luo as having vanished completely.

"What is this?"

Steam—Fifth Gear.

Pressure generates power. Power enhances impact. His fist, charged with spiraling Qi He, slammed straight onto Zhang Changming’s blade.

The rotating Qi He bore down on the sword’s edge, and Zhang Changming was immediately knocked back, crashing into the wall.

The building behind Zhang Changming shook again.

Relying on a special force-dispersion technique, Zhang Changming redirected Lu Luo’s spiraling Qi He into the wall behind him.

But the building itself wasn’t so lucky.

The continuous impacts had already caused the otherwise sturdy building to develop a subtle, almost imperceptible tilt.

If it were an ordinary structure, such a tilt might hold for a while.

But with a high-rise like this, once it begins to tilt, collapse is almost inevitable.

"I was trying to talk to you nicely, and you thought I was a pushover. Zhang Changming, don’t think your status as a Director of the Inspection Department is so impressive. I didn’t get where I am today because of any status or background, but on my own strength."

Fluctuations of Sequence Force emanated from Lu Luo’s body, flickering past in an instant.

Zhang Changming had keen perception, so he felt it momentarily, but after that fleeting moment, the sensation vanished.

When he looked at Lu Luo again, he found that Lu Luo was no longer in front of him.

"What?"

That display of Sequence Force was entirely Lu Luo’s feint. As Zhang Changming focused on the Sequence, Lu Luo also began his move.

Deliberate Bombardment Fist!

BOOM!

Immense steam pressure exploded right in front of Zhang Changming.

The shockwave flung him out.

He crashed through several walls of the high-rise building behind him.

Steam bursts kept erupting from Lu Luo’s legs with a "BANG! BANG! BANG!" sound.

Like high-speed turbines, or like the giant steam engines in some factories.

His skin had already turned completely red due to the pressure of the steam.

Zhang Changming, amidst the dust, had just gotten to his feet when Lu Luo sent him flying again.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

His fists were like cannonballs. Zhang Changming gritted his teeth and endured three punches before finally managing to create some distance from Lu Luo.

This guy’s speed and strength... it’s like a large-scale Bizarre! No, he’s far more outrageous than any large-scale Bizarre. This state... it somewhat resembles the Godless Armor!

Having truly experienced Lu Luo’s attack, Zhang Changming started to analyze Lu Luo’s condition.

His jet-propelled movements were even more unpredictable and erratic than before.

Qi He allowed Lu Luo to change direction freely in mid-air, without needing any physical movement.

Lu Luo’s way of fighting was like a precision instrument.

The only thing that astonished Zhang Changming was how Lu Luo’s body could withstand this fighting style, which involved Energy Transformation into steam and Qi He.

At this moment, Lu Luo’s entire body was red, and some specific areas of his pores would occasionally emit steam.

This indicated that the steam permeated Lu Luo’s entire body.

For an ordinary person, even slight contact with such steam would cause their internal organs to rupture and blood vessels to burst.

Yet, the steam Lu Luo was enduring was already potent enough to dominate a battle against a Seventh Tier expert.

Doesn’t he feel any pain?

Before Zhang Changming could figure it out, Lu Luo had already closed in again.

He threw out his Chasing Murder Chain, but before the chain could fully extend, Lu Luo had already grabbed it.

Lu Luo’s strength was like that of an irresistible Monarch.

And Lu Luo’s will was like that of a sovereign who had descended upon this very place.

He yanked the chain, which originally belonged to Zhang Changming, and for the first time, their Sequence Forces clashed before Zhang Changming’s eyes.

Lu Luo had guessed correctly: the tools used by the Imperial Inspection Department all contained Sequence Force.

This chain in front of him was no exception; an information fragment of a Grade A tracking Sequence was stored within it.

He couldn’t use these information fragments, but he could use his own Sequence to make this Sequence information submit.

Sequences had ranks, and among them, there was submission.

When the Observer manifested in the form of the Eye of World Insight, the chain in front of him started to tremble slightly.

Among Sequences, there are also hierarchies.

At this moment, the Sequence on the chain chose to submit to Lu Luo.

"What have you done?"

Zhang Changming was greatly shocked to see his own chain lose its effectiveness.

He knew that the equipment of department heads like himself were all products of the Imperial Research Department.

These items represented the highest secrets of Sequence research. How did Lu Luo manage to control them?

"Shut your mouth!"

Lu Luo was in a bad mood. The girl was gone, although that girl wasn’t for sleeping with.

But her identity and purpose clearly had tremendous value.

It was all Zhang Changming’s fault. This guy had to stir up trouble for no reason and ruined his plans.

Now, he could only vent his anger on this Inspection Department Director.

In a flash, Zhang Changming drew his sword to counterattack, but Lu Luo was faster.

The Fu Yu Sword technique manifested as finger strikes, raining down like a torrential storm on Zhang Changming’s arm.

Zhang Changming cried out in pain and lost his grip. Lu Luo took advantage of the opening to close in again.

With the chain in his grasp, Lu Luo swung it and wrapped it around Zhang Changming’s body.

Zhang Changming wanted to resist, but the power of the Sequence chain was not that simple. Before he could move, the chain had already started to tighten.

"Lu Luo, don’t push people too far!"

"’What crap are you talking about? Who’s really pushing things too far here? Go to hell!’"

BANG!

Lu Luo punched Zhang Changming in the stomach, and the pain almost made the tough-as-nails man buckle.

It didn’t end there. Lu Luo yanked the chain, sending Zhang Changming hurtling into the center of the building, then followed him in.

Dragging the chain, Lu Luo violently flung Zhang Changming aside.

BOOM!

The Seventh Tier expert was slammed hard onto the ground.

Zhang Changming stared blankly at the ceiling; Lu Luo’s throw had nearly knocked him senseless.

How many years had it been? How many years had passed since he had suffered such treatment?

Even when fighting those ferocious and utterly evil syndicate criminals, they were at least on equal footing.

What’s the deal with a guy like Lu Luo? How could he suddenly take control of my chains? And even use them to counter me?

"Lu Luo, I advise you to be reasonable! What you’re doing now is a crime!"

"Shut up!"

Lu Luo’s response was the same. He was angry; he couldn’t just hold it in, could he?

Either I have a heart-to-heart with my sister, or I beat someone up to vent.

Right now, Zhang Changming was a perfect punching bag, allowing Lu Luo to test his strength with no issues whatsoever.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Zhang Changming was continuously slammed to the ground by Lu Luo. The chains’ restraint and Lu Luo’s immense strength left Zhang Changming unable to resist.

His once-prideful speed was suppressed by Lu Luo, and he was even more outmatched in strength.

Zhang Changming had the feeling that Lu Luo had become even stronger in just these few days since their last encounter.

How on earth did he do it?

What followed was a long beating.

Generally speaking, when Transcendents fought, if a battle dragged on for more than ten minutes, it usually spelled trouble.

But the sounds of the struggle between Lu Luo and Zhang Changming continued, somewhat muffled, for a full half-hour, and no one knew exactly what the two were doing inside the building.

「Half an hour later.」

"Zhang Changming, Director of the GuiXi District Inspection Department, was beaten and disabled in an unknown building. The perpetrator remains at large..."

"How’s that for a headline?"

"Not very good."

Zhang Changming lay on the ground, his eyes devoid of spirit. Truly, his face bore no scars.

Lu Luo was measured in his actions. He could hit Zhang Changming anywhere else, but not the face.

Because a facial injury would be too obvious, and his conflict with Zhang Changming hadn’t escalated to that point yet.

If he were truly reported, he would have no choice but to flee to the Wasteland Alliance.

"Hey, why must you insist? Do I need to explain it to you once again? This incident really wasn’t my doing. When I got here, they had almost finished killing everyone. I’m a newcomer to Coal Capital, unfamiliar with the place. Why would I commit such a major crime right after arriving? Am I crazy?"

Zhang Changming hadn’t been receptive to previous explanations, as he was still fuming at that time.

But this time, the explanation was different.

He had been beaten by Lu Luo, and his mindset had already shifted.

This man is clearly so strong, yet he can still speak to me so calmly and gently. Surely, he can’t be the perpetrator, right? That was likely Zhang Changming’s thought at the moment—pure wishful thinking.

"Really not you?"

"Really not me. If it were, may I be struck dead by a car the moment I step outside."

"What car could kill a monster like you?"

Lu Luo fell silent for a moment. An image of a certain ’Her Highness Qiao Biluo’ flashed through his mind before he replied earnestly, "A Tiger Tank."

"Is that vehicle... that powerful?"

"It’s not about being powerful; it’s about being terrifying," Lu Luo said, nodding seriously. The two of them were chatting so cordially that one would never guess a vicious assault on an official had just occurred.

"Good, as long as it wasn’t you."

Zhang Changming seemed to heave a sigh of relief, but Lu Luo was also curious at this point.

"Those people in gray robes, what are they up to? Why haven’t I heard of this group before?"

Zhang Changming looked at Lu Luo and finally decided not to hide anything. "They are simply called the Grey-Robes. They have no other name, and their purpose is unknown. However, judging from their current actions, capturing Sequence users is one of their objectives."

"Isn’t that the same as what your Inspection Department does?"

By this point, Lu Luo felt it was time to speak plainly.

What was the significance of Sequence abilities within the Empire?

Others might not know, but someone of Zhang Changming’s status should have some inkling, right?

"You don’t need to know about this, and I am not going to tell you."

"Come on, we’re practically acquaintances now. You could at least reveal a little."

Zhang Changming watched Lu Luo walk over again and, to be honest, he was a bit worried that Lu Luo would continue to hit him, so he relented slightly.

"Sequences are a forbidden power for humanity. The origin of this power lies with certain powerful Bizarres. According to historical records, Sequence Force is a lure spread among humans by certain terrifying Bizarres. With every additional person who uses a Sequence, the Bizarre King draws one step closer to awakening. To prevent this catastrophe, the Empire must prohibit the use of Sequences."

Lu Luo was slightly surprised; this explanation wasn’t entirely implausible.

The culmination of Sequences is the Bizarre King!

According to the records of S-02 Devourer, its precursor—or rather, the catalyst that truly transformed it into a Grade S Sequence—was the seal of Xu, the World Devourer.

Xu was sealed and throttled within the Doomsday Disc.

That’s why it became S-02 Devourer.

And the S-02 Devourer, in its complete form within the Doomsday Disc, *is* the World Devourer.

Endless tentacles, endless maws, devouring everything.

If I keep using the Devourer, will Xu be resurrected?

Lu Luo was asking himself as well as the Observer.

Why would you entertain such a shallow thought? Why shouldn’t Xu become a part of *you* instead?

Indeed. My own standing is quite high; a being like Xu is merely at the Angel Envoy level.

"What are you muttering about?"

"Nothing, nothing. Thank you, Director Zhang, for telling me these things I was unaware of. As for what ultimately happens to Sequence users... I won’t ask. I know it would be pointless. Today’s incident was just a misunderstanding. I’ll continue to follow up on the Grey-Robes. Director Zhang, next time you’re out on a mission, it would be best to investigate more thoroughly beforehand."

Having finished speaking, Lu Luo had already changed his clothes and was gradually departing.

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly said, "Oh, by the way, Director Zhang, I’ve already called the police and an ambulance for you. Someone will be here to rescue you shortly, so just wait patiently."

Zhang Changming was momentarily stunned. Looking at himself, trussed up so elaborately, he suddenly grew anxious.

"Hey, wait! Who asked you to call the police?! Come back here, you bastard!"

And so, amidst Zhang Changming’s angry roars, Lu Luo disappeared into the night.

The Security Office and the Inspection Department quickly arrived.

Seeing Zhang Changming trussed up, some members of the Inspection Department wanted to laugh but didn’t dare.

"Director, you..."

"Just untie me..."

"Alright, alright... TEE-HEE-HEE..."

"What are you laughing at?" Zhang Changming said expressionlessly.

"I’m not laughing. I really am not. Rest assured, Director Zhang, we’re professionals when it comes to this."

"That’s right, we absolutely won’t laugh. Unless... we can’t help ourselves... TEE-HEE-HEE..."

Zhang Changming’s expression grew even more displeased.

"You lot are too much! You can all work overtime for this!"

Member A: ?

Member B: ??