This villain is too popular.

Chapter 151 The Gods Seated High Above the Heavens
[The timeline rewinds to the day Vivian was captured by the Heavenly Dao.]

[Nighttime, the heart of the steam city, inside a secluded villa]

Under the dim light of the chandelier, the three Hidden Star Society leaders—Andromeda, Scorpio, and Hydra—each occupied a corner of the hall.

Unlike when she wears a mask to conceal her true appearance.

Today, their faces are exposed to the air, as if they have shed a layer of disguise, yet also as if they have put on even deeper shackles.

Scorpio swirled the red wine in his glass, the scarlet liquid tracing alluring arcs on the crystal glass.

The elegant middle-aged man had a furrowed brow, and the 'gear family crest' on his chest, symbolizing the twelve brass nobles of the steam city, gleamed coldly under the light.

In stark contrast to the aristocratic air of Scorpio.

Although Hydra Tarn was dressed in a well-fitting suit, his round, middle-aged beer belly and the way he was wolfing down his steak were still noticeable.

They were just like starving ghosts from the downtown area who had never eaten anything good, very crude.

Interestingly, as he swallowed those bloody steaks, the bruises on his face began to fade at a visible rate.

"Long Serpent, did that Calamity from Martial Capital really not recognize your identity?"

Scorpio's voice broke the silence in the hall first.

Upon hearing this, Hydra, who was sitting at a table not far away, enjoying his steak, looked up.

"Do not worry."

Hydra's mouth was stuffed with beef, and its greasy hands waved.

"When it comes to concealing my strength, I'm one of the best among the cadres. At most, that person could tell that I was deliberately hiding my true power."

"But that person would never be able to tell his true identity, since the Star Core and the Star Source are indistinguishable in terms of aura alone."

At this point, Hydra put down his knife and fork, licked the grease off his fingers, and dropped his nonchalant expression.

"However, compared to that Calamity who is about to leave, I think the Demon Blade from the Lieyang family is more troublesome, isn't he?"

"After all, judging from the way that guy looks, there's no sign that he'll be leaving the Steam City anytime soon."

"Not only that, she seems to have actually caught some clues about us recently, to the point that I don't dare to go to my favorite restaurant anymore."

At this point, Hydra, who had already devoured half the food on the table and whose facial wounds had completely healed, picked up a napkin to wipe his face and laughed, "Let her investigate. Anyway, we'll retreat once the plan is complete, and she won't find anything."

"Yes, we're leaving soon."

Scorpio Layton's tone was somewhat complicated, and his expression was a little lost in thought.

Seeing this, Andromeda, who was leaning against the window not far away, using a silver file to trim her nails, suddenly looked up and spoke out of the blue.

"Lydon, it seems like you've been wearing a mask for too long and can't take it off anymore."

"Don't forget who you are, and what happened to that person thirteen years ago."

"Humans are the least trustworthy people."

Upon hearing this, Scorpio Layton composed himself.

Turning to Andromeda, she said in a cold voice, "Euphemisma, that's what I should be saying to you."

"After all, it seems you're quite enjoying being a saintess."

"If I didn't know the details, I would almost think you were a devout follower of the Cult of Machines."

Andromeda Euphemia silently put down the file in her hand.

She raised her hand, gazing at the moonlight streaming through the window, admiring the neat, jade-colored nails on her slender fingers.

However, unlike her current girlish behavior, her voice was filled with a chilling and sinister quality.

"Lydon, don't compare me to you."

"After all, I am not like you, who would get into playing house with weak humans."

"To me, a pet is just a pet, but if a pet is served on the table..."

"Then I will personally break their claws that are on the table."

Upon hearing Euphemia's words, Scorpio Layton seemed to have had something sore touched.

He crushed the wine glass in his hand, and the star mark on the back of his neck suddenly lit up.

The next second, a scorpion tail gleaming with a cold purple light suddenly shot out from her back and lay across Euphemia's long, fair neck.

"Euphemism, don't lump me in with those weak humans."

"Weak humans?" Before Euphemia could answer, a mocking voice suddenly came from outside the villa gate.

Upon hearing this voice, the three Hidden Star Society executives present immediately turned pale and looked towards the entrance.

“Layton, come here and say what you just said again in front of me.”

Tiandao walked slowly into the hall, the hem of his black trench coat sweeping across the gear-patterned tiles on the villa floor as he walked.

At this moment, the Heavenly Dao was clearly smiling, but there was not a trace of warmth in his azure eyes.

At the same time, before Layton could give an answer, the star energy around Tiandao transformed into a special black tide, instantly engulfing Scorpio.

"Ugh!"

Layton was enveloped by this black star energy, and his body slowly floated into the air.

He scratched in vain at the black star energy wrapped around his neck, his expression pained, and fine beads of blood seeped from between his fingers as he strained.

Just as someone was about to die, Andromeda Euphemia, who had originally been his adversary, stepped in to smooth things over.

"Lord Tiandao, Layton just spoke without thinking for a moment, please don't take offense."

"Euphemism, are you teaching me how to do things?"

The Heavenly Dao turned its gaze to her, and its calm gaze sent a shiver down Andromeda's spine.

She opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't dare to speak again.

Because she was well aware of the power of the Heavenly Dao, and the undeniable domineering nature hidden beneath that power.

Fortunately, Heaven did not truly intend to take Layton's life.

Just as Layton's consciousness was about to dissipate, the dark star energy of the Heavenly Dao suddenly receded.

boom!
Layton's body fell to the ground, and he began to gasp for breath, having narrowly escaped death.

He looked at Layton, who was kneeling on the ground, clutching his neck and coughing violently.

Tian straightened his trench coat collar and said in a calm tone, "Layton, next time you say something like that, remember to find a corner where I can't hear you."

"After all, I would much rather be a human being than a herd of beasts driven by desire."

"Not to mention, in my opinion, you are no different from ordinary people outside."

Upon hearing this, the three cadres fell silent, their eyes filled with apprehension, fear, and admiration as they looked at Tiandao, but not with hatred.

Just as a lamb does not hold a grudge against a lion's claws, so too does the Star Beast Intelligence Species, which believes in the survival of the fittest.

The strong should rule over everything.

Ignoring the thoughts of the three guys, Tiandao led Danica behind him straight to the center of the hall and sat down on the largest sofa in the middle.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the sofa, the crisp sound echoing amidst Hydra's chattering teeth, Euphemia's flushed face, and Layton's soft cough.

A moment later, the Heavenly Dao spoke again.

"How's the matter I assigned you going?"

The moment the words were spoken, the air in the entire villa seemed to freeze.

Under the dim light of the villa's chandelier, the Heavenly Dao's expressionless face transformed into an invisible pressure, heavily pressing down on Layton and the other two.

He clearly considers himself human.

However, in the eyes of Layton and the others, his words and actions made him seem more like a superior being among the Star Beasts than they did.

Because in the azure eyes of the Heavenly Dao, they could not see even a trace of humanity that humans should possess.

There was only a pure, emotionless indifference.

It seemed that in his eyes, everyone, whether ordinary or intelligent beings like them, was equal.

They were all just toys for his amusement and toy-play with.

If Layton and his ilk consider themselves a more advanced intelligent species than humans...

That day, Dao was a god sitting high in the heavens, looking down with disdain upon everyone below.

Ironically, this approach proved quite effective for Layton and his intelligent species.

Therefore, upon hearing Tiandao's question, Layton, who had just almost died at Tiandao's hands, was the first to speak.

(End of this chapter)