Five years later.
BOOM!!!
An explosion suddenly rang out from the Central Laboratory, located at the heart of the enormous Floating City in the Black Smoke World.
The shockwave from the blast spread across the Floating City, only to be swiftly suppressed by the Magic Arrays that had been set up in advance. It caused no damage to the surrounding area.
The Devils living in the Floating City merely paused for a moment when they heard the explosion, then went right back to their work.
Over the years, explosions had occurred in the Central Laboratory from time to time. The Devil residents had grown completely used to them.
However, some of the Devils gazed at the Central Laboratory with hope in their eyes.
With a sharp creak, the Central Laboratory's door was flung open. Green, disguised as Black Smoke Venerable, emerged from the smoke-filled laboratory.
The dragon horns that had once crowned his head had been stained completely black by the smoke.
"Cough, cough!" Green coughed, then smoke billowed from his entire body. The dust clinging to him swiftly crumbled into particles and dispersed, revealing his soot-blackened face.
Just then, Tricky, who was standing by the laboratory door, quickly waved to a team waiting nearby.
The Devils swiftly took out a large assortment of tools and rushed into the laboratory.
But unlike ordinary Devils, these ones had far less savagery in their eyes. Instead, they seemed far more rational.
"Great Black Smoke Venerable, the laboratory has suffered considerable damage this time. It may take some time to repair!"
Tricky stood respectfully beside Green as he spoke, a trace of fervor in his eyes.
All these years, Tricky had witnessed Green's experiments firsthand. Green's research had greatly benefited the Demonic Qi advancement of low- and middle-ranking Devils. Tricky had even participated