King Anan coughed. "But beyond this land of living beings around the Novice Village lies the black, dead, desolate fringe of death."
"There is no normal way to cross it. Once you step inside, your body gradually decays, and your life force steadily drains away. With our strength, we simply cannot get through."
The Demon Emperor raised an eyebrow. "On all four sides?"
King Anan shook his head.
"To the south of the Novice Village is a crystalline wall. We cannot break it, and getting past it is extremely difficult. So we can only remain in this area, unable to go anywhere."
The Demon Emperor's expression grew grave. It seemed he could only ask the World Manager.
The Demon Emperor rose into the air and flew off in one direction.
King Anan and the others exchanged glances. Understanding that the Demon Emperor wanted to explore this world, they followed close behind.
They were more curious about many things than anyone else.
Soon, the Demon Emperor reached the vicinity of the Novice Village, where he saw the World Manager again.
The feeling was entirely different from that overwhelming, invincible presence he had sensed back then.
The manager before him was merely in the Hongmeng Realm, and grievously wounded at that. He resembled an old man on the verge of decay, already not far from death.
"You..."
For a moment, the Demon Emperor could not bring himself to speak.
This was nothing like the immensely powerful manager he had imagined.
"Just an old soldier. No need to worry."
"For someone in the Perfection Realm to be so powerful is truly rare."
"But war now rages everywhere. I do not know what role any of you can still play."
"Never mind. New recruits must go to the battlefield eventually. Keeping you penned up