Apocalypse Circular-Chapter 541 - 539: World Devourer

「Two days later.」

Qi Xinzhu, who was sleeping, slightly furrowed her brows. She felt a hand wrapping around her waist and, puzzled, she immediately turned around, only to relax once more.

Her man had actually come back! And he had done so without making a single sound.

Feeling the warmth on her fingertips, Qi Xinzhu buried her head into Lu Luo's chest. The child had somehow been placed in a small crib to the side.

Lu Luo slightly opened his eyes and held Qi Xinzhu a bit tighter.

"Don't... The child is still here."

Now was not the time for Lu Luo to stop—the child was sleeping soundly. If he didn't take this opportunity, there would be no chance once the child woke up.

"Honey, it's been such a long time."

Unable to resist Lu Luo, Qi Xinzhu gave in, letting his large hands roam over her body. She began to soften and submit.

...

「In the living room.」

Bai Yuetong slightly furrowed her brows. Qi Xinzhu is getting up rather late today! Is she oversleeping? Honestly, women of a certain age are always so sleepy.

As Bai Yuetong internally grumbled about Qi Xinzhu, she nearly forgot she herself was a month older.

A moment later, a rosy-cheeked Qi Xinzhu came downstairs, hand in hand with Lu Luo.

"Little Bai!" Lu Luo said softly.

"Ah? You jerk, you actually came back?"

It wasn't Lu Luo's months-long absence that truly angered Bai Yuetong, whose eyebrows furrowed tightly. It was Qi Xinzhu's satisfied expression and her ruddy complexion that really irritated her. Without needing words, she instantly knew what the two had been doing upstairs.

How could they not have made any noise! Those two are too much! Can Transcendents really get away with such outrageous things?

"Alright, Little Bai, I want to have a good rest now that I'm back," Lu Luo said.

Feeling that something was off about Lu Luo's mood, Bai Yuetong held back the words that were at the tip of her tongue.

Qi Xinzhu, at his side, also looked at Lu Luo. "Dearest, what's wrong?"

Lu Luo led Qi Xinzhu to the table. He didn't rush to reply, eating some food first before finally speaking slowly, "What my wife makes is truly delicious!"

"I made that, you idiot!" Bai Yuetong suddenly exclaimed.

"Oh, Little Bai's skills have reached such a level? Impressive!"

Lu Luo complimented Bai Yuetong. This was somewhat unexpected, as Bai Yuetong considered cooking an utter waste of time. Asking her to cook was even harder than asking her to cultivate.

"Alright, tell us," Bai Yuetong said, her mind still sharp. "What happened at the Imperial Capital that made you come back like this?" Seeing Lu Luo's expression, she realized something significant must have occurred.

Now, all they could do was listen quietly as Lu Luo recounted his experiences.

Lu Luo didn't hold back. After finishing his meal, he began to speak slowly, "The Angel Envoy will probably arrive soon. This world is likely to face some disasters and upheavals." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Oh, and then?" Bai Yuetong didn't quite understand the significance of the Angel Envoy.

Qi Xinzhu, on the other hand, clenched her fingers worriedly. "Is it the Orochi from before?"

"Yes, the Orochi, the Leviathan—they are actually both kinds of Angel Envoys. Such powerful beings are inherently enemies of humanity! They have been accumulating power for a thousand years. Soon, they should be able to break free from their seals and emerge completely."

Lu Luo's words worried Qi Xinzhu. She suspected that Lu Luo was somehow responsible for the Angel Envoys' release. That would explain why he was so troubled. Although Lu Luo often talked big, he was actually a very responsible person.

"Are you responsible for this in some way?" she asked.

But this time, she guessed wrong.

Lu Luo shook his head. "No, that's not it. The Angel Envoy issue is a matter of historical inevitability. It's not something that any individual or group can interfere with; their emergence was destined. My problem isn't their emergence, but how to solve this. I don't know what I should do now. I keep feeling I have so many responsibilities, like I'm supposed to be a savior. But I've suddenly realized that even without me, the world would still function normally. So, I wanted to come back, take a good rest, and sort out my thoughts."

Lu Luo picked up a bottle of alcohol from the cabinet and downed it in one go. This somewhat decadent action, however, was not stopped by the two women. They both knew Lu Luo needed to vent. He needed an outlet to release his inner turmoil. This was very important.

"Alright," Bai Yuetong said gently. "Now that you're back, put all those terrible things out of your mind. There's still so much beauty to find in life. Take Lu Xiaofang, for example. She's grown a bit more in the few months you've been gone."

If these words had come from Qi Xinzhu, Lu Luo wouldn't have been surprised at all. But hearing them from Bai Yuetong really startled him!

"Have you had a change of heart in the past few months?"

"Uh, what do you mean?"

"Nothing, it just feels like you're not the person you used to be."

"Bullshit!"

"Don't worry about her. Bai Yuetong's brain is just a bit addled from all the fertility foods and medicines she's been taking," Qi Xinzhu said, covering her mouth to hide a smile. She mercilessly exposed Bai Yuetong.

The three of them bantered for a while, and the atmosphere became joyful again. Perhaps it was just as Lu Luo said; he really didn't know what he should do right now. But if he didn't know what to do, then it was better to do nothing at all. Doing nothing was certainly better than doing something wrong!

In the following days, Lu Luo thoroughly enjoyed some family time. Every day, he took Lu Xiaofang around the estate for walks and play. Sometimes, he even took his daughter to the outskirts to fight monsters.

Watching his daughter clap and cheer for him, Lu Luo thought, In this moment, in my daughter's eyes, I might truly be a real hero.

"What, feeling moved again?" asked Dumb Hair, noticing the change in Lu Luo's demeanor.

"Yeah. I just killed a Second Tier Exotic Species in front of Xiaofang, and she was so thrilled. In her eyes, I must seem so grand, like a hero."

Dumb Hair chuckled at Lu Luo's words, her expression suddenly softening with unprecedented tenderness. "Lu Luo, you've always been a hero. You always have been. If there are any heroes in the Wasteland Alliance, then even if you aren't the greatest, you are certainly one worth remembering."

Dumb Hair's soft body made Lu Luo momentarily lost in thought. But her words were what really shook him.

Was I really a hero? I'm not sure myself. I always felt I was more of a scoundrel, a small figure doing small-time things. And the result? The Wasteland Alliance even erected a monument for me... Isn't that what a hero is? Does that not count? Ludie is the Fourth Ring's greatest hero, that's undoubtedly true. But just because Ludie is the greatest hero doesn't mean I'm not one! I've done a lot for the Fourth Ring, for the Wasteland Alliance. These are all real achievements that no one can erase. After arriving in the Empire, why did I feel so lost? Largely because I'd never truly considered myself part of the Empire, had I? My resolve to save the Empire wasn't as strong as it had been during the Wasteland Alliance era; that's the difference.

"Dumb Hair, who would have thought you could be so insightful? Just a few words from you have given me a new understanding of myself."

"It's not me who's insightful, it's you. Many things are hard to see clearly when you're in the thick of them; it's always clearer from an outside perspective."

Today, Dumb Hair is full of intellectual beauty! Lu Luo thought. Her gentleness overwhelmed him. He swiftly picked up Dumb Hair and carried her into the depths of the villa.

A melodious tune soon played out from within.

Qi Xinzhu smiled slightly and began to prepare food for her family.

Lu Xiaofang, however, frowned slightly. "Mommy, what are Daddy and Little Mom doing?"

Qi Xinzhu replied, "They're making a little brother or sister for you."

"Why do I need a little brother or sister? Am I not good enough?" Lu Xiaofang pouted.

"No, sweetie, it's not that. Having a little brother or sister means you won't be lonely!"

"But I don't feel lonely now!"

"Hmm..." Qi Xinzhu paused. "Well, Mommy already has you. We should at least let Little Mom have a child too, don't you think?" she said, playing her trump card, as she was struggling to convince her daughter.

Upon hearing this reason, Lu Xiaofang finally nodded slowly. "That does make sense. Little Mom must be very lonely all by herself."

Lu Luo and Bai Yuetong were entwined for a long while, and their voices continued until the next day.

...

「More than half a month later.」

Bai Yuetong looked at Qi Xinzhu nervously. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure!" Qi Xinzhu, too, wore a serious expression.

"Are you really, really sure?"

"You! Doubting my expertise? I studied medicine, and Han Shiyu is my senior. How could I not be sure?" Qi Xinzhu felt somewhat displeased at Dumb Hair questioning her skills.

But at this moment, Dumb Hair was still incredulous. "I'm really... pregnant?"

"Yes, really pregnant."

"Didn't they say... it was only a one in several hundred million chance? My constitution is so frail, and Lu Luo's strength is so great... it's nearly impossible for us to have a child." As Dumb Hair spoke, she unexpectedly burst into tears. It seemed the issue of having children had a truly tremendous impact on her; it's just that she had never talked about it before. Now that she was truly pregnant, Dumb Hair was overwhelmed with tears of joy.

"You need to maintain a calm emotional state so the fetus can grow healthily, understood?" Qi Xinzhu advised.

"Understood, I understand! I'll definitely maintain a good emotional state... BOO HOO HOO!" Dumb Hair covered her mouth, but the tears would not stop.

Seeing her like this, Qi Xinzhu found it both amusing and exasperating. Although Dumb Hair often bickered with her, over the years, their relationship had changed. Now, seeing Dumb Hair pregnant, Qi Xinzhu was sincerely happy too!

"Everything will be alright; it will all get better. When Lu Luo hears this news, he will definitely be very happy too."

"Will he really be happy?"

"Of course. He loves children."

...

At this moment, Lu Luo was unaware of Bai Yuetong's pregnancy. He was sitting under a tree, watching two Second Tier Exotic Species fight each other. Although the two Exotic Species glanced at Lu Luo as they fought, their mutual hatred outweighed their wariness of him. Therefore, a fierce battle ensued.

These past few days, Lu Luo had been absorbing Exotic Species, not only to accumulate energy but also to seek fulfillment for his state of mind.

Watching the sunset, Lu Luo felt a stirring in his heart!

A child? I, Lu Luo, am having another child? Is it Qi Xinzhu? Or Bai Yuetong?

Lu Luo didn't know how, but he suddenly sensed a will of life connecting with his own. This was a very mysterious feeling, but he had experienced it once before – at the birth of Lu Xiaofang.

So, what is this feeling this time? Is someone at home pregnant?

Lu Luo didn't know what triggered this sensation or under what conditions it appeared. But he had a strong feeling that its appearance was no accident. It meant a child was truly on the way!

A second child?

Lu Luo's initially blank eyes gradually firmed with resolve as the will of the heavens gathered upon him. The earth trembled beneath his feet, and his aura began to fluctuate unpredictably.

Having experienced so much, the Lu Luo of today was no longer the youth of the past. He had his own journey, his own family, children, and path. All past events, recorded by the Observer, unfolded before his eyes.

As Lu Luo looked up at the sky, a bolt of lightning descended. It was as if welcoming the advent of some great will—welcoming Lu Luo.

Watching the lightning, Lu Luo reached out and pinched it! The blue electrical light actually gathered between his three fingers. This terrifying display of power instantly made the two Second Tier Exotic Species fighting nearby wet themselves in fear. No longer caring about their battle, they quickly separated and fled from the spot.

Lu Luo gazed at the lightning orb in his hand and, for some reason, sensed a will within it. This will seemed to be welcoming, or rather, greeting him!

What is welcoming me? What desires me to become an Eighth Order being?

As Lu Luo furrowed his brows, the Observer's voice rang out. "Everything is ready, but the future is unknowable. Are you sure you want to face him?"

Lu Luo narrowed his eyes. The Observer of the past would never have offered such a warning. Now, it seemed the Observer truly possessed its own will and was genuinely cautioning him.

"Do you think the future holds danger?" Lu Luo asked.

"Of course, it will," the Observer replied. "Choosing compromise is the true way to survive. Most people, creatures, even specks of dust, will choose to compromise. So, there's nothing wrong with compromise."

Lu Luo nodded slightly. He knew the Observer was right, but he wasn't going to do that. If it had been the him of the past, he indeed would have chosen to compromise. But not anymore, not now.

He had a child!

His own future was one thing, but his child should not have to live in shadow.

"Some things we have to face eventually," Lu Luo said. "No matter what happens, we should stand. Standing is always better than kneeling, don't you think?"

"No one can say for sure about such things!" the Observer stated.

Lu Luo nodded again. He slowly extended his fingers, releasing the lightning back into the sky.

"Break!"

The Doomsday Disc appeared behind Lu Luo as he floated slowly towards the sky. The entire sky seemed to offer a majestic welcome; countless energies converged in the air, forming a vortex. This vortex began to condense around Lu Luo!

Lu Luo's skin prickled, pores opening wide as countless fine tentacles emerged. Lu Luo resembled a monstrous being adrift in a vast ocean.

The devouring finally began!

It used to be just biological energy, but this time, it was the heavens and the earth!