Outside the Black Abyss, in Vallo City, inside a grocery store.
"Is this what you called foolproof?"
The old demon Vopal lowered his eyelids, fiddling with a crystal-clear section of vine in his hand.
"My lord, at the time..."
A Demon Clan member clad in black armor, wisps of black smoke rising from his body, knelt on one knee with his head lowered.
"I know someone from the Winged Clan was present."
Vopal waved his hand.
"Thank you for your understanding, my lord."
The black-smoke demon secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Who said I would understand you?" Vopal dropped the vine in his hand. After glancing at the black-smoke demon, he continued, "I had you handle this because I wanted to give you some credit. Who would have thought you'd coat yourself in bronze instead? Get out. You've disappointed me."
"My lord..."
The black-smoke demon's eyes reddened. The feeling of disappointing someone who had placed great hopes in him was awful.
"Get out."
Vopal rose to his feet. His pinky fell off and transformed into a stream of black smoke. He would handle this matter personally.
The Void, Lan Ling Sent.
"Hahaha, you catalyzed the Soul Vine?"
A man wearing a crown and possessing exceptionally handsome features was laughing loudly.
"Yes, my lord."
Kneeling before the handsome man was a woman with a cold expression who never smiled.
"I really wish I could see the look on that old goat Vopal's face right now. What a satisfying sight that would be."
The handsome man sounded regretful, but in reality, he cared more about something else.
The shallow layer of the Black Abyss, the High Ground of the Redeemed, central area.
On a cold, hard stone altar, a burly man sat cross-legged. He was bare-chested, with a beast