Chapter 348 Slaying the Great Demon Lord
"So you really are that powerful!"
Zoey looked at Alice, inevitably feeling a bit of admiration.
She was well aware that it was Alice's sword releasing the arcane pulse that had just annihilated the phantom of the demon god and those Underworld Warriors inhabiting human bodies. As for her own palm strike, it hadn't really caused any substantial damage to the demon god.
Alice herself hadn't expected the arcane pulse she released to be so powerful.
That monster, several stories high, had just been obliterated by her single strike?
And all those people in front, all dead?
"Well... not too bad..." Alice swallowed nervously, stealing a glance at William.
William's face was expressionless, his gaze calm. He glanced at Alice and asked, "Why are you looking at me?"
"You're handsome." Alice grinned foolishly. She didn't know why, but even with William's icy demeanor, she felt he wasn't truly heartless.
That powerful sword strike just now must have had some issue,it definitely wasn't due to her own strength.
Alice, with her hands behind her back and head held high, wore a faint smile on her lips. She didn't inquire further, knowing she didn't have the strength to obliterate such a terrifying entity with a single sword strike...
William also turned his head away, indifferent to whether she guessed the truth or not,he wasn't about to admit anything.
The commotion here naturally drew the attention of many Soulmancers.
The destruction of the terrifying demon god affirmed that the 13th Bureau had at least one Demi-God level powerhouse.
Previously, the Guilds had respected the 13th Bureau and complied with its management primarily because it represented the government.
Now, they were compelled to respect the 13th Bureau because of its strength.
Steven, having narrowly escaped death, had a broader perspective.
Alice's sword strike could be regarded as a stabilizing force in the Soulmancer community.
That one strike!
It ensured that the Soulmancers would continue to abide by their previous agreements with the 13th Bureau, preventing any disruption to the lives of ordinary people.
This sword strike could bring peace to the world.
Seraphina, having successfully obtained the Eternal Vine, thanked Steven, Alice, and others before continuing her solitary search for the Magic Lotus.
They roamed this domain for a few more days, during which the elites of the major Guilds began to demarcate their territories.
Steven also visited them one by one, reaching agreements with each.
Soulmancers were not to kill ordinary people.
If they chose to live in the world of ordinary people, the 13th Bureau would manage them and provide necessary assistance, ensuring they were treated as friends.
Additionally, a new rule was added: Soulmancers were not allowed to monopolize businesses of ordinary people.
Do some small businesses or run a family enterprise is fine, but disrupting the market and engaging in monopolistic practices is not allowed.
This rule was specifically aimed at Evelyn.
Though almost all her Underworld Warriors had perished, Evelyn herself was a powerful being at the pinnacle of the high-level Soulmancer. If she used her special abilities for business, it would be an unfair competition for ordinary merchants.
These terms were not a big deal for other Soulmancers.
Previously, they might have engaged in business or secretly supported others to do so, in order to acquire resources for enhancing their powers.
But now, with the sudden emergence of this vast new land filled with resources beneficial for Soulmancers, who would bother with business?
Money, which is important to ordinary people, was trivial for them.
If they wanted to make millions of dollars, there were plenty of ways.
They could use precognition to predict stock market fluctuations, read minds in casinos or during business transactions to understand the real intentions of their counterparts, among other methods. These were easy ways to make money.
But such pursuits held little significance for them.
As Steven put it, if any Soulmancer friends needed money, they could just ask him. Lending a few hundred thousand dollars was not an issue.
Moreover, with the sudden appearance of this new land, the major Guilds became more active. They approached Steven with the idea of recruiting more Soulmancer apprentices from among ordinary people.
Steven also mentioned that he would report back to the senior leadership before giving a response.
Previously, the scarcity of resources for enhancing Soulmancer abilities meant that training an exceptional Soulmancer required an unimaginable amount of resources. Now, with an abundance of resources available, why not recruit more apprentices to strengthen the Guilds?
After visiting the major Guilds, the 13th Bureau's team gathered some materials and selected a 200-acre plot of land for their base, then left the area.
"It seems that in this newly emerged territory, aside from plants, all animals are dead," Steven said, clenching his fist. He was even contemplating what it would be like if the entire human race were taught to become Soulmancers and if Soulmancer techniques were integrated with technology. What kind of unprecedented heights would civilization reach?
Like the 096 power armor.
If there were more gadgets like that, to what unprecedented level would world civilization ascend?
Pondering these thoughts, Steven deliberately walked over to William and asked in a low voice, "Master, what's your take on these Guilds recruiting apprentices?"
William pondered for a moment and replied, "That doesn't really concern me. You don't need to ask my opinion."
"How many ordinary people don't dream of becoming Soulmancers, of becoming superpowered? Even if you disagree, would it matter?"
In William's view, the difference between ordinary people and Soulmancers was not significant.
However, he now preferred the relatively peaceful world as it was.
If the emergence of more Soulmancers led to societal chaos...
Well, never mind!
Even if things became chaotic, he didn't feel like interfering.
After all, he had experienced all sorts of life.
He would rather live a quiet, ordinary life.
Hearing William's words, Steven also silently nodded in agreement. With the sudden appearance of this new land causing a global surge in energy, the Guilds recruiting apprentices and bolstering their strength was an inevitable trend. nOVe(Lb/In
All he could do was report the situation to the senior leaders.
William returned to school.
Today, Cozy Book Haven was unusually quiet. The Soulmancers, who used to flock here, had now mostly headed to the parallel dimension that had appeared, no longer considering this place as a treasure trove.
The news of the major Guilds planning to recruit apprentices in the New World must have spread. Instead of waiting for a stroke of luck here, those Soulmancers might as well try their luck in the New World.
William enjoyed a rare moment of leisure, sitting in the bookstore and reading for a while, when Lucien appeared at the bookstore's entrance.
"Hmm?" William looked up at Lucien, noticing that Lucien's abilities had improved, likely due to some enlightenment in Maplewood Town.
Most notably, Lucien now carried a new energy aura.
This made William's lips curl into a slight smile – it was the energy from the object he had expelled from his body.
This meant Lucien was also chosen by that object.
"Alice isn't here?" Lucien looked at William with a strange expression and asked a question before sitting down opposite William.
William smiled and said, "It seems that there's no one else within a 30-foot radius now, right?"
"Then... I want to kill you!" Lucien had an epiphany in Maplewood Town. Not only did his strength surge forward, but a system also appeared in his mind.
The system informed him that William was the great demon lord of this world and that killing him would grant a billion experience points, allowing Lucien to instantly become a God-King.
Lucien couldn't wrap his head around the idea of William being the great demon lord.
A seemingly ordinary young man – wouldn't killing him be an easy task?
Could it be that this great demon lord had not yet fully developed his powers?