I Am A Notorious Hidden Boss In The Alternate World

Half an hour after the call ended, Cao Wudi arrived in Stillwater City using the spaceship before appearing before Albion and Fenriri on the rooftop of Profound Blossom Hotel.

"What kind of life-or-death task do you have for me this time, Master?" Cao Wudi asked with a resigned yet determined look as if he was prepared to embrace death.

Without any surprises, his comical behavior easily made Albion smile with amusement. 

"Life-or-death task? You speak too seriously, Wudi. Take this to the local Hunter Association branch and inform them about the bug infestation taking over this city. You will need Polemos's help to resolve it."

"Bug infestation?"

A sealed wooden box was tossed into Cao Wudi's arms before he felt it shaking vigorously as if something was trying to break out. 

However, the sealed wooden box contained spiritual energy reinforcement, making the wooden box far sturdier than any ordinary wooden box. 

Thus, the creature inside cannot escape the box unless the box is voluntarily opened from the outside. 

After briefly studying the sealed wooden box, Cao Wudi figured out that the bug inside the box was not normal, considering its weight and strength.

Nevertheless, Cao Wudi still had to ask with curiosity, "What kind of bug is in this box, Master?"

"The kind that takes control of your body and turns you into its puppet if you let it latch onto your body."

"Ah?!"

Albion's explanation scared Cao Wudi into nearly dropping the box before stumbling to catch it and feeling relieved afterward. 

"You don't have to try and scare me like that, Master." 

Cao Wudi smiled wryly before his gaze suddenly paused on a lifeless male body lying in the ground beside Albion.

"Scare you? Do you think I'm that bored?"

"Yes." 

Cao Wudi's flat answer immediately made Albion change the topic with a cough.

"Ahem, anyway. As you can see on this man, there are several holes around his chest area. The bug was ripped off his chest, but the man quickly died as a result. Evidently, the man cannot survive without the bug after having his heart eaten."

"His heart was… eaten?" Cao Wudi inhaled a deep breath of cool air as Albion's explanation gave him anxiety before he asked, "There's bound to be more people like this… right, Master?" 

"Hm…" Albion hummed for a moment for casually glancing over the rooftop's edge and said nonchalantly, "Not too many. Just about a third of the city."

"A-a third of the city is not too many?!" Cao Wudi immediately cried, feeling weak in the knees due to the shock. 

One-third of a tier-3 city implied millions of people had already been infected with otherworldly bugs.

And he was meant to carry a box containing one of their kin through such a large number of infected people? 

"Master, I am just a small-time Initiate Realm Martial Artist. If the bugs found out about the box, wouldn't I be swarmed to death? Also, wouldn't there be a chance that the Hunter Association's people are also infected?" 

Cao Wudi asked wryly as the corner of his eyes twitched.

"You don't have to worry about that," Albion glanced at Cao Wudi and said cooly, "There's no need for you to worry about that, Wudi. I've already placed a concealing spell on the box."

"Also, I have been secretly studying these bugs for the past half hour. They can only control ordinary people by spreading their roots through the body, coiling around the limbs. They can't control brain—or at the very least, the weaker ones cannot."

"Nevertheless, you are right about one thing. Don't you think it's been a tad too long since you've been in the Initiate Realm? Take this Blood Refinement Pill and breakthrough to Innate Realm already."

Albion casually tossed Cao Wudi a blood-red pill of High-rank quality as if he was tossing candy to a child. 

The Dark Emperor had hundreds of such pills in the Ashura Ring for rewarding his subordinates, but they were rarely ever used.

"I'm only at the Mid-stage Initiate Realm. Can I really skip several stages and breakthrough to the Innate Realm directly with this pill, Master?" 

Cao Wudi studied the blood-red pill with surprise.

"Just shut up and take it. Others cannot, but you definitely can. Being at the Initiate Realm for so long, did you think all that previous training was for naught? Your foundation is far sturdier than others at the same stage."

"U-Understood, Master." 

With Albion's urging, Cao Wudi swallowed the High-rank Grade-2 Blood Refinement Pill without further hesitation before he felt the surging blood energy in his body, compelling him to enter a meditative position on the spot. 

Several minutes later, the vigorous blood energy in Cao Wudi's body transformed into innate energy, signifying his successful advancement to the Innate Realm.

Cao Wudi's eyes quickly snapped open with newfound confidence that came along with his leap in strength as he shot to his feet excitedly.

"Hahaha! With this sort of strength, I am—"

Smack!

Albion gave Cao Wudi a quick smack on the back of the head, wiping away any trace of arrogance and conceitedness born by his rise in cultivation.

"Just a little bit of breakthrough, and you are already letting it get to your head. With such little strength, you are still a pipsqueak," Albion chided before sending Cao Wudi off with a wave of his hand, "Go to the Hunter Association now."

"Yes, Master…." Cao Wudi scratched his head with embarrassment. 

"Wait. Leave the spaceship behind for me," Albion stopped Cao Wudi from taking the spaceship before saying, "Just head there directly."

"Also, you can consult Polemos regarding the three realms of Spirit Transformation now that you have reached the Innate Realm. I will let Polemos know I have permitted you to learn the Heaven-grade Starmoon Refining Art from him." 

"Thank you, Master. Wudi understands."

Shortly after Cao Wudi left, Albion took out his phone to dial Polemos's number directly. 

Even though Polemos was not prepared for Albion's call, he dropped everything to answer the call without delay as a hint of rush could be sensed in his voice.

"How may I serve you, my Lord?"

"The bug infestation in Stillwater City, are you aware of it?" Albion casually asked.