Chapter 78: Sorry, I’m in a Hurry

Shanghai Sports Arena, inside the VIP suite of Arena One, dim lights spilled across the bloodstained, one-way mirrored glass wall.

Ye Feng’s flesh had long since dried, its color dulled, the air thick with a nauseating stench of decay.

Cold steak, foie gras, caviar, and unfinished red wine sat untouched on the table; even the fallen cutlery on the floor remained unmoved, as if time itself had stalled in this room.

All of it was intentionally preserved by the staff at Shanghai Sports Arena, fearing that even the slightest change might arouse suspicion from the Zhang family and implicate them in the affair.

For Bai Yujing, this was a return to an old haunt; he wandered within the room.

Suddenly, a figure slipped through the open door like a phantom, appearing silently behind him, and murmured, “Master, the target is on St. James Island, at the banquet hosted by Stan.”

With that brief message, Liu Shuangling departed swiftly, her presence unnoticed by the staff guarding the corridor outside.

Bai Yujing continued to stroll, feigning nonchalance as imperceptible waves radiated from him, swiftly reaching distant places.

...

New York time, eight o’clock in the evening.

St. James Island.

Night had fallen, the deep sky scattered with stars.

Before the beachfront villa, dazzling lights illuminated the entire stretch of sand, making night as bright as day.

Senators from the Democratic Party, vampires, CEOs of major corporations, mermaid celebrities—conversed among themselves, laughter and desire mingling in the air.

The gathering of such disparate figures was inseparable from Stan’s identity; he was the “black glove” of the Blackrock Group.

To attend his banquet, to leave behind evidence of indulgence, was to submit one’s pledge to Blackrock.

Zhang Jiacheng had always yearned for entry into these elite circles.

To him, only the West was the beacon of human civilization.

Though in the East, even if Xia Kingdom favored him, showering him with wealth that most could never spend in a lifetime, he would abandon Xia without hesitation to embrace the West.

He invested in Britain, obtained a peerage recognized by King Arthur.

It was all in pursuit of entry into British high society.

Regrettably, King Arthur did not accept him.

His British dream shattered, Zhang Jiacheng was forced to return with his family to the land of Xia, where even breathing felt oppressive.

During his darkest days, Blackrock extended another olive branch of elite society, though the terms were harsh.

Yet Zhang Jiacheng believed the West’s rejection was solely his own failing.

He resolved to examine the “inherent flaws” lurking in his bloodline.

He must be more unconditional, more honest, cast aside everything—in order to gain acceptance among the Western elite.

This time, he came bearing utmost sincerity!

...

On the spacious balcony of the villa’s third floor, Fred stood by the railing, swirling a glass filled with vivid red liquid.

Drawn from a girl without illness or vice, he favored fresh virgin blood, and relished quiet, but made no move to quell the clamor below.

In his view, the louder the noise beneath, the more it highlighted his own solitude and transcendence.

That was power.

He sipped from his glass; soft footsteps sounded behind him.

A servant ushered an elderly-looking man onto the balcony.

Fred turned, his handsome face breaking into a gentle smile. “Welcome to the banquet, Mr. Zhang.”

“Delighted to meet you, Prince Fred.”

Zhang Jiacheng stared at his youthful and handsome visage, his heart pounding wildly.

This was one of the thirty-six senators of the Blood Moon Council.

Their rank surpassed even congressional senators; each one wielded such authority that a single stomp could shake America and the world thrice over.

Such a figure willing to meet him filled Zhang Jiacheng with hope for embracing America’s elite.

The servant barked coldly, “It is extremely rude to stare directly at the Prince!”

“Ah, forgive me!” Zhang Jiacheng jolted in fright, hastily apologizing, bereft of any seasoned cunning, more like a helpless child.

Fred waved his hand, his tone gentle. “Mr. Zhang is an honored guest of mine. No need for so many formalities.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Prince Fred.” Zhang Jiacheng’s face was awash with gratitude, nearly in tears.

A subtle derision flickered in Fred’s eyes.

A fickle dog, willing to abandon even its master, had no right to dine at the table.

But for now, he needed to make use of this dog and could not afford to fall out with him.

Fred’s smile remained elegant. “Mr. Zhang, let us discuss the matter of purchasing the port.”

“Certainly.” Zhang Jiacheng nodded, determined to sell off the port entirely, leaving not a single one.

As for imposing exorbitant entry taxes on ships manufactured in Xia Kingdom—it was none of his concern.

Even if Jesus descended, nothing would stop him from embracing America’s elite!

Bang—a muffled sound suddenly burst in the air.

Instantly, all three turned their attention.

Fred saw a stranger standing before the glass sliding door, his pupils contracting—he hadn’t seen any movement beforehand!

Who was this?!

Bai Yujing offered no introduction; he raised his hand, a searing white light gathering in his palm, like a star on the verge of eruption.

“Radiant Realm!”

Before his words fell, a spherical white glow erupted from his palm, sweeping forward like the universe’s first beam of light at creation.

White light surged like a tide, engulfing all. Where it passed, the air thrummed low.

At the instant it touched him, Zhang Jiacheng’s body scattered like grains of sand blown by the wind, dissolving from his fingertips into motes of light, vanishing into air.

His face still bore confusion and shock, as if he hadn’t grasped what happened—before he disappeared entirely.

The servant lunged at Bai Yujing, but as the light reached him, his body tore like paper, dissolving into countless specks, drifting away.

His expression froze in his final moment, eyes full of terror.

Fred was bathed in white light, his handsome face twisting, his body beginning to collapse, skin cracking like porcelain to reveal crimson blood beneath.

“No!” he roared, attempting to strike back, but the power he’d always prided himself on refused to answer.

His eyes brimmed with disbelief—how could he meet death so ignominiously?

Like a man urinating in a restroom, suddenly skewered by a rapier, his life ended in a humiliating instant.

Frustration, helplessness.

It shouldn’t be like this!

As a vampire prince, his death ought to be grand, worthy of history!

Fred’s resentment couldn’t halt the demise of his flesh.

The white light rapidly spread across the entire island—villa, trees, beach...

All were consumed by the sacred radiance, reduced to nothingness.

The guests at the banquet—senators, vampires, CEOs, mermaid celebrities...

Their bodies, like ignited paper in the white light, burned swiftly to ash.

Screams and wails erupted one after another, only to be snuffed out by the light, as if never uttered.

This was the evolved form of the Absolute Realm—the Radiant Realm—approaching the domain of gods.

Anything or anyone not permitted by Bai Yujing would be obliterated.

Those he allowed, no matter how gravely wounded or close to death, would be instantly healed.

For instance, those prisoners held underground for the amusement of the elite.