Dark Demon Ridge

Over at Huilong Temple, preparations were underway to open Dark Demon Ridge. At the same time. The Red Moon Domain. The chaotic void. A white-haired old man was traveling through the void. A jade pendant at his waist pulsed with a ripple, and a voice resonated from within: "There is movement in the Tianfang Great World. Quite a few Sovereigns are after your life." "After my life?" The old man sneered. "Then let them come!" "Do not get careless!" The voice in the pendant resonated, pausing briefly before continuing, "Silver Moon has opened its Star Gate. Their new king may also be in the Tianfang Great World right now." "Understood." The old man gave a brief reply and continued journeying through the void. After a moment, he asked, "What is this new king's strength?" "Unclear." "I want to make a trip to the Tianfang Great World." "Now?" "Yes." "Better not." The old man's expression was calm. "Why not? Since they want to kill me... I might as well deliver myself for the slaughter!" "It is too dangerous! Word has it that the Great Dao Universe over at Tianfang might revive. Numerous experts from nearby great worlds have already rushed there. You have some fighting chance if you encounter them in the chaos, but once you go there and end up trapped... that will spell trouble." The old man fell silent. Trapped. The Tianfang Great World was, after all, a great world. It could not be easily breached, possessing only four world gates. If those gates were sealed and multiple powerhouses blockaded the realm, it would indeed become perilous. Unlike in the chaos, one could not flee at will. Yet the old man still wanted to go. Right then, the voice from the jade pendant spoke again: "I know you wish to go, and I know you do not fear danger. But right now, this does not concern you alone. If you become trapped in Tianfang, Fang Ping will go search for you and become trapped as well... For Neo-Martial, that would be an unbearable loss! Fang Ping is currently outside projecting deterrence, but once he is trapped... it would be a dragon stranded in the shallows! If Neo-Martial wishes to break this stalemate and deter the universe, he cannot afford to be trapped." Although the old man was accustomed to independence, after a moment of quiet contemplation, he ultimately conceded. "So be it, then! What is our objective this time?" "To wipe out several great worlds!" The voice from the jade pendant was placid, as though annihilating great worlds was nothing of major consequence. "For every great world, we must produce a seventh-rank Sovereign! Red Moon is difficult to deal with, so there is no rush to clash head-on with them for now. Let them continually draw in the strength of surrounding great worlds. Ideally, Red Moon will gather a massive host of powerhouses, weakening every faction and granting us our chance." The old man pondered for a moment before speaking. "Understood. I know what to do." At that, he asked, "Who will receive the Dao of Bliss?" "No single person—we divide it equally! The Dao of Bliss is hardly an exceptional Dao. We will split it first to raise our overall strength! We'll produce a batch of middle-rank Sovereigns to lay a solid foundation. The Dao of Absolute Darkness was actually quite decent... A pity the circumstances at the time did not permit taking it, leaving no choice but to destroy it! For now, we remain in the foundation-laying stage." "Mm, I understand." The old man answered briefly and fell silent once more. The voice in the jade pendant gradually faded. The old man gazed in one direction for a short while, then swiftly turned around, no longer heading toward Tianfang. Since he could not go now—since going might lead to being surrounded and even cause Fang Ping to be trapped—there was no need to take reckless risks. Were he alone, he would not mind tangling with those who sought to target him. The Sword Venerable had never feared such things! Yet, after all was said and done, he remained a man of Neo-Martial. *** The Tianfang Great World. Huilong Temple. Temple Master Huilong was still contemplating the day's events when a treasure mirror before him suddenly rippled. His gaze focused, and he swiftly composed himself, his expression turning solemn. "World Master!" An ethereal silhouette materialized upon the surface of the mirror. A flat voice drifted out: "Have the people from Absolute Darkness arrived?" "They have," Sovereign Huilong replied hastily. "All six Sovereigns have formally joined Huilong Temple." "Very well." The World Master nodded slightly in approval, then asked, "Still no trace of the new Silver Moon king or the Silver Moon World?" "The whereabouts of the Silver Moon World seem to have been partially exposed. I am currently having people track it! However... as for that new king of Silver Moon..." Sovereign Huilong hesitated before continuing, "Previously, I suspected two individuals. One was a female Sovereign, but verification proved she hails from the Tianlan Great World. The other is a male Sovereign whom I do harbor suspicions about, but Kongji vouched for him..." "Kongji?" "Yes, the one who arrived a century ago. I have always suspected... that he hails from the Bright Great World, perhaps even being that genius prince of theirs... though I cannot be entirely certain. He was originally a fifth-rank Sovereign and an heir to the Dao of Light, but he now appears to cultivate something related to the Dao of Darkness... I cannot say for sure. "Only... today, during our casual conversation, he mentioned some matters regarding Dao Sources, which reignited my suspicions." Sovereign Huilong was evidently far from as incompetent as he appeared. He voiced his uncertainty: "The suspect goes by the name of Sovereign Haoyue—which aligns somewhat with the name 'Silver Moon.' Kongji took the initiative to meet him that day and later vouched for him, claiming they were old friends from years ago and that he hails from the Haoyue Minor World. "Therefore, I chose not to startle the snake." At this point, Sovereign Huilong added, "By the way, Kongji also secured a chance for him today to enter Dark Demon Ridge." The World Master in the mirror fell silent for a time. He seemed to be consulting records, or perhaps lost in thought. After a while, his voice came through: "The new king of Silver Moon must be found! The Silver Moon World must be found as well! Silver Moon is inextricably linked to the Yin-Yang World! And the Yin-Yang World is extraordinary—the Neo-Martial Human King is currently on the verge of stepping into the eighth rank... Reaching the eighth rank in a mere thousand years is simply unimaginable! "Yin and Yang are indeed powerful, but by all rights, the Dao of Yin-Yang should not advance at such an astonishing pace. If he can step into the eighth rank in a thousand years, then given a bit more time, perhaps... the myth of Tianfang will replay itself, and another uncrowned king may emerge in this territory! "To us, a ninth-rank Sovereign is enough to drive any great world to despair!" The World Master spoke at length before concluding, "Kongji, was it? Pay him no heed. Whether he is that genius of the Bright Great World or not does not matter. Since that person wishes to enter Dark Demon Ridge... test him." "That was precisely my intention!" Sovereign Huilong nodded. In truth, his agreement had carried the intent to test the newcomer. Yet he remained slightly hesitant. "World Master, how should I determine whether he is truly the new king of Silver Moon?" Everyone knew nothing about this new king. One could not brand him the king of Silver Moon merely because he was a newcomer, could they? Were there no identifying traits whatsoever? If he mistook the man, wouldn't he offend Kongji for nothing? "The new king of Silver Moon..." Identifying traits? The World Master pondered for a moment before speaking. "He understands the Sword Dao, and his mastery is far from weak! That is the first trait. Second, he possesses the ability to fight above his cultivation realm. If he is of the first rank, he should be capable of slaying the second rank... or even the third rank! A third-rank Sovereign of Red Moon died recently, and it was likely at his hands." Sovereign Huilong drew a sharp breath in secret. A first-rank slaying a third-rank? Terrifying! "Third, should he go all out, he may also exude the aura of a Great Dao Universe... Not the Origin Great Dao Universe, but the aura of a completely different Great Dao Universe!" Sovereign Huilong froze. "World Master, what do you mean by that?" "Silver Moon... may have given birth to a new Great Dao Universe." The World Master's tone was entirely placid. "Silver Moon and Neo-Martial are intimately connected, holding boundless potential. It managed to birth a Sovereign so quickly and broke open the sealed Star Gate. Furthermore, the Sword Venerable guarded it for many years back then. Therefore... the possibility of a Great Dao Universe having formed is very real. And this is your opportunity! If a Great Dao Universe has truly been born, your path to the seventh rank will be within reach. "As for the Great Dao Universe of the Tianfang Great World, leaving aside whether it can even revive, even if it does... far too many people will contend for it. Several seventh-rank Sovereigns are already watching it closely; your chances are slim. "Rather than that, taking advantage while others pay no attention—if Silver Moon has truly birthed a Great Dao Universe—presents a rare, golden opportunity for you!" Sovereign Huilong's expression shifted slightly. Could this be real? Silver Moon might have birthed a new Dao universe? Of course, these words came from this unfathomably powerful World Master. Had anyone else said this, he would have scoffed. But coming from this World Master... the possibility was exceedingly high. "World Master, do you mean to say that if this Haoyue is truly the new king of Silver Moon, he likely commands a Great Dao Universe? Since this universe would be newly born, if I can seize it... I will have hope of reaching the seventh rank?" "Precisely... provided you can nurture it. A newly opened Great Dao Universe is not particularly powerful, but right now, it is an opportunity! Huilong Temple has gathered many Sovereigns. If all of them can integrate into that Great Dao Universe, it will mature rapidly, and reaching the seventh rank will no longer be difficult for you!" The seventh rank! The power of a master of a great world! Moreover, not all masters of great worlds stood at the seventh rank; some of the weaker ones were merely at the sixth rank. Yet even at the sixth rank, they were vastly stronger than sixth-rank Sovereigns without a Great Dao Universe like him. Thoughts raced through his mind, and he could not help but ask again, "Then... how do I determine whether he truly controls a Great Dao Universe?" "The Silver Moon Great Dao Universe should not be particularly strong. If it truly exists, it must be under his personal control; no one would ever abandon a Great Dao Universe! Dark Demon Ridge is an ideal location... When he reaches his peak, you can isolate Dark Demon Ridge. If his strength declines, it means he has been severed from his Great Dao Universe. If there is no change... it means he possesses no such universe." In that case, he might not be the new king of Silver Moon. In truth, the World Master was convinced that Silver Moon had likely birthed a new Dao universe; otherwise, the new king could not have attained the Sovereign realm so swiftly, nor could he have slain a Sovereign of Red Moon with such speed. Understanding dawned upon Sovereign Huilong. "I understand! In other words... as long as he exerts his full strength and I isolate Dark Demon Ridge, a drop in his power will confirm his identity." "Correct." The World Master spoke slowly, "Once his identity is confirmed, take him down directly! Pay no mind to Kongji. Even if he truly is that genius from the Bright Great World, you have nothing to fear. Should his father attempt to intervene, I will personally step in to deal with him!" With those words, Sovereign Huilong felt an immediate wave of relief. The Bright Great World! That was by no means a weak realm. The chaos was vast, and the domains in this vicinity were named after powerful worlds—such as the Red Moon Domain, the Tianfang Domain, and... the Bright Domain! Under normal circumstances, the hegemons of these domains possessed eighth-rank Sovereigns. Of course, this was not absolute. If the strongest great world in a territory only had a seventh-rank Sovereign, that seventh-rank Sovereign would be the overlord. Regarding Kongji, though it was merely a suspicion... on a few occasions, he had faintly sensed the presence of another powerful figure. Although extremely subtle, it had kept his suspicion alive. Naturally, he had no desire to voice mere uncertainties. "Understood. Thank you for your guidance, World Master!" "No need. It is all your own doing... In addition, keep a close watch on Tianfang! Tianfang holds both opportunities and perils. What is visible now is merely the surface; the deeper secrets have yet to be unearthed!" The World Master's tone grew grave. "A ninth-rank Sovereign, the Spatial Dao Lord... It is very likely that another world is hidden within Tianfang. Whether it truly exists, I cannot say, but Tianfang definitely conceals secrets! Huilong, I hope you can bring me some pleasant surprises." "I will certainly not fail your expectations, World Master!" Sovereign Huilong responded, and the World Master's silhouette soon faded away. The mirror returned to stillness. Sovereign Huilong stood in place, silent for a moment. *Haoyue, Silver Moon, a Great Dao Universe... Could it truly be so?* He glanced toward the grand hall where Kongji resided. Sovereign Haoyue was over there right now. After a long while, he spoke slowly: "Men. Summon Ju Ao to see me!" "By your command!" Soon, someone went to search for Ju Ao. Though curious as to why a Sovereign would summon someone who was not a Sovereign... since the Sovereign had given the order, Ju Ao had to come no matter where he was. *** "The Dao of Darkness in Dark Demon Ridge is quite interesting." Inside Kongji's grand hall. Sovereign Kongji smiled. "A hundred years ago, I visited it once. Some Dao resonance still lingered there. That person's Dao of Darkness was rather peculiar, even encompassing numerous other Daos of the same series. "The master of that place was none other than the Dark Divine Envoy among the Twin Emissaries of Light and Darkness from the ancient Tianfang Great World, known as Sovereign Yinye! "According to certain records, at his peak, he once destroyed a great world. His combat prowess was formidable, reaping lives from within the shadows without anyone noticing. Word only leaked after that great world fell into ruin. That alone speaks volumes!" Li Hao nodded. Destroying a great world was immense power indeed. An eighth-rank Sovereign... One had to remember that the only ones currently known to have destroyed a great world were the Neo-Martial Human King and his allies. No one else had been heard accomplishing such a feat. "The territory of the Huilong Domain is by no means simple; it gathers many powerhouses of the Tianfang Great World." Kongji continued, "The Huilong Domain is the southern gateway to the Tianfang Great World..." After a brief pause, Kongji added, "Normally, experts of a great world are distributed evenly across the land. Yet the southern domain of Tianfang gathered a large host of powerhouses. Beyond places like Coiling Dragon Well, Fire Element Mountain, and Dark Demon Ridge, there are several other Dao resonance lands, all likely the cultivation grounds of high-rank Sovereigns." Why were they all concentrated in the south? At this, Li Hao fell into deep contemplation as well. Kongji went on, "It is even rumored that the cultivation site of the Master of Tianfang is also located in the south, though no one has discovered it so far. "The south faces the Red Moon Domain directly!" Kongji pondered for a moment. "Could it be related to the Red Moon Domain, or perhaps to Neo-Martial?" These eras clearly had no connection. The Tianfang Great World had existed for countless years, long before Neo-Martial came into being. Never mind Neo-Martial—even the era of the Nine Emperors and Four Sovereigns had spanned less than two hundred thousand years. And that was relative to Silver Moon; in the chaos, the time frame was even shorter. Only around a hundred thousand years. Yet a hundred thousand years ago... or even earlier, the powerhouses of Tianfang had already vanished. There was no relation whatsoever between the two, so Li Hao did not understand why Kongji felt this might be connected to Neo-Martial. Seeing Li Hao look over, Kongji chuckled. "Just a guess. Perhaps... they foresaw the future?" He did not elaborate further, as the idea was indeed rather far-fetched. He continued, "Setting everything else aside, Dark Demon Ridge is definitely worth a visit! In addition, Huilong's behavior today was slightly unusual. When entering Dark Demon Ridge tomorrow... be careful. Huilong has controlled Dark Demon Ridge for many years, and he likely intends to test you." "Unusual?" Li Hao was puzzled. He was unfamiliar with the man. What was unusual? Kongji explained, "Given his smooth and tactful nature, and with so many Sovereigns in Huilong Temple, knowing you had arrived, he would have sent a Sovereign to welcome you no matter what, rather than simply ignoring you! From the moment you entered the South World Gate, you should have recognized Huilong Temple's conduct—toward any Sovereign, regardless of their immediate usefulness, Huilong Temple maintains courtesy! "Yet despite knowing you were coming, that you were backed by me—a fifth-rank Sovereign—and that he was the one who had invited you to return... having sensed your arrival, could he truly not spare even a single first-rank Sovereign to receive you just because he was hosting those Sovereigns from the Absolute Darkness Great World?" Li Hao's heart stirred. That was true! Huilong Temple was indeed known for its all-around tactfulness. When Li Hao first arrived in the Tianfang Great World, he had felt this faction was quite decent. Why? Because of Ju Ao. Upon meeting, Ju Ao had been exceedingly hospitable, acting as a guide, offering free gifts, and accommodating them in every way... For Sovereign Huilong to neglect Li Hao today merely to host the Sovereigns of the Absolute Darkness Great World was indeed out of character. Earlier, Sovereign Tianhe had ignored Li Hao to host the third-rank Shenghong, which made sense. Yet today... Li Hao had a fifth-rank Sovereign standing behind him. And Sovereign Huilong had still ignored him! That made no sense! Kongji had stayed here for a century; surely he was far more reliable than a few newly arrived Sovereigns from the Absolute Darkness Great World. Li Hao mused, "You mean to say he did it deliberately? Knowing we would go over?" "It's possible." Kongji nodded. "Or perhaps not to test me, but to test you! The people from the Absolute Darkness Great World arrived on the exact same day as you. He could easily have adjusted the timing—the Absolute Darkness people could have joined at any time. Why insist on today? Your movements were unpredictable, but someone knew where Ju Ao was. "Within the Huilong Domain, very little escapes his eyes. The Absolute Darkness Great World was just destroyed by Neo-Martial, so... he likely suspects your identity." *Suspects my identity?* According to what Kongji said, that was indeed a possibility. "We will simply adapt to the circumstances!" Kongji did not seem overly concerned, adding, "No need to worry too much. Huilong is an exceedingly cautious person. Without absolute certainty, he will not act against you rashly. The reason he has maintained his footing here for so many years lies precisely in his vigilance." "Understood. Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist." Li Hao sighed with emotion. "Arriving as a stranger and knowing nothing about this place, every step feels difficult!" "It will get better in time." Kongji smiled. "Do not worry too much either. Strike when you must; there is no need to hide everything! Geniuses are everywhere, and you are not the only one. As long as you do not expose your identity as the King of Silver Moon, my standing as a fifth-rank Sovereign still carries some weight. Of course, if your identity is exposed, a fifth-rank Sovereign won't be of much use." As long as it remained hidden, he felt there was nothing to fear. Li Hao nodded and let the matter drop. The two chatted a bit longer. Since Li Hao had to enter Dark Demon Ridge the next day, Kongji did not linger and soon took his leave. Li Hao was left alone in the grand hall, deep in thought. *** In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived. Early in the morning, multiple Sovereigns gathered. Huilong Grand Hall. Sovereign Huilong said little, leading the group straight toward the rear of the hall. As they walked, he spoke: "The Dao resonance of Dark Demon Ridge has nearly dissipated. Each opening consumes an immense amount of resources! "This time, seven Sovereigns are entering, making the consumption even more staggering... I hope all of you will gain something, making this trip worthwhile! "For cultivators of the darkness attribute, the manifestation of Dao resonance and the shroud of the Great Dao's light present a rare opportunity... Still, you must exercise caution." His tone carried a subtle, meaningful weight: "When the Dao resonance manifests, Dark Demon Ridge loses all distinction between heaven and earth, all sense of direction, and all traces of aura... At that time, the entire realm will be plunged into pitch darkness. Sound will be the only thing that exists within the gloom! "And sound... cannot travel very far." He glanced back at the group. "In past years, every opening saw occurrences I would rather not have witnessed—individuals fishing in troubled waters, seizing the chaos to murder and pillage... Such actions are strictly forbidden!" He cautioned them: "All of you are Sovereign consecrated elders of our Huilong Temple. Those entering today are all our own people, so I hope there will be no disputes among you. Let everyone comprehend their own Dao in peace." The expressions of the group turned peculiar. Several Sovereigns toward the back cast subtle glances at Li Hao. This time, there were six Sovereigns from the Absolute Darkness Great World and one outsider. Hearing those words, they could not help but break into a cold sweat on Li Hao's behalf. If trouble arose, Li Hao would be the one in danger. Among the group, the weakest were second-rank Sovereigns, while Li Hao was the sole first-rank Sovereign. He was simply too weak! Some also glanced at Kongji, but Kongji remained as serene as ever, completely placid, as though oblivious to the undertones. Right then, Li Hao smiled. "Senior, rest assured. Once inside, I will certainly keep to myself and obey the rules!" Several people sneered internally. *Keeping to yourself won't help you.* *You should worry about the other Sovereigns finding you an eyesore and striking you down amidst the Dao resonance. You wouldn't even know how you died.* Soon, the crowd arrived before a new hall. Sovereign Huilong pointed toward the sole massive gate within the hall. "The entrance to Dark Demon Ridge is here! It involves spatial teleportation. Though it appears to reside within our Huilong Temple, it is actually an independent, sealed pocket dimension!" With a wave of his hand, the massive portal rippled with fluctuations. He added, "I hope you will all reap gains after entering. Furthermore, this opening cannot last indefinitely... It is best that you all exit within a month. Staying beyond that is permissible... but occasionally, Sovereigns go missing when they fail to emerge. This place is not as safe as one might imagine." The Sovereigns grew solemn. Xunhan could not resist asking, "Go missing?" "Indeed!" Sovereign Huilong nodded. "It has happened before." Xunhan mused over this, casting a sidelong glance at Li Hao. "Failing to emerge within a month can result in disappearance... Does that mean if someone exits early and those behind them go missing, it becomes impossible to determine whether they truly disappeared or were killed?" Sovereign Huilong seemed not to catch the implication and nodded. "Yes, it is difficult to determine." "Understood!" Xunhan said no more, while the other Sovereigns once again looked toward Li Hao. Those words were laced with ill intent. They felt somewhat suspicious: did Xunhan truly intend to get rid of Sovereign Haoyue? Was that really necessary? Though a slight friction had occurred yesterday, it was only a minor conflict, hardly justifying such hostility. Was it merely an empty threat? Li Hao, however, seemed oblivious to the subtext, examining the teleportation gate with apparent curiosity. A teleportation gate was nothing extraordinary in itself. Those who reached the peak of the spatial Dao had some level of comprehension, tearing space and traversing distances. Yet at the Sovereign realm, cultivators possessed the power to shatter space. For a portal to still execute spatial teleportation at this level meant it was exceptionally formidable, and the internal space was extraordinarily stable. Otherwise, a Sovereign could easily burst through the spatial fabric! This portal had likely not been constructed by Sovereign Huilong, but had existed since ancient times. Rumor had it that the Master of Tianfang was a Spatial Sovereign. And the core Dao and Dao Source of the Tianfang Great World's Great Dao Universe was space itself. Consequently, the powerhouses of this world all possessed some degree of spatial comprehension. Of course, this was not absolute. "Everyone, since all is prepared, please enter!" Sovereign Huilong offered a reminder. Everything that needed to be said had been said, primarily directed at Li Hao. Yet this Haoyue seemed utterly indifferent—whether genuinely foolish, oblivious, or playing dumb, he showed virtually no reaction, making Huilong feel as though he were playing a lute to a cow. Huilong's words had also harbored an ulterior motive: even if Haoyue did not stir trouble, it would be ideal if Xunhan provoked him. That way, Huilong could discern whether Haoyue was truly the new king of Silver Moon. If he was... his great opportunity would have arrived. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Kongji once more. Was this man truly that genius prince from the Bright Great World? One cultivated the Dao of Light, while the other cultivated something akin to the Dao of Darkness. Could they truly be the same person? Yet during that period, as far as his investigations went, only that prince of the Bright World had vanished. Rumors suggested he had committed some act of grave defiance against the world, throwing the entire Bright World into turmoil. Could he have... severed his Dao connection with that great world? Though thoughts churned in his mind, he revealed nothing on his face. Among the seven Sovereigns, there was one fifth-rank, three third-rank, two second-rank, and one first-rank... In reality, Li Hao was also a second-rank Sovereign. However, his aura was concealed within the River of Life and Death, making it exceedingly difficult to detect under normal circumstances. At this moment, the seven Sovereigns assembled before the gate. With a calm, relaxed demeanor, Xunhan stepped forward without a word and crossed through. He vanished into the portal instantly, without causing the slightest ripple. The other Sovereigns exchanged glances and strode through effortlessly, disappearing one after another. Li Hao was the last. Smiling genially with a slightly foolish air, he stepped into the portal as well. Only after everyone had entered did Sovereign Huilong wave his hand, calming the portal's ripples. In the next breath, he poured a massive quantity of Sovereign blood essence into the gate, a faint smile surfacing on his face. "I hope our fellow Daoists will reap some gains this time!" Turning toward Kongji, he said, "Kongji, the Dao resonance land is temporarily sealed. You have just reached the fifth rank; shall we find a place to chat?" "No need. I will enter seclusion to consolidate my realm!" Kongji made no pretense of politeness and vanished into thin air. Huilong was not surprised, having fully anticipated this response. "The rest of you may disperse as well!" Huilong smiled. "I, too, shall enter seclusion for a few days. We will discuss other matters once they emerge!" The remaining Sovereigns glanced at the dimming gate, remaining silent. Sovereign Huilong appointed a Sovereign to guard the portal before departing directly. When someone emerged, the portal would naturally flash with light. *** Heaven and earth spun! A leap across spatial dimensions, akin to traversing from one world to another. At this moment, Li Hao silently sensed it—it was not the sensation of the Star Gate opening, but a pure, unadulterated spatial leap. He knew he was currently traversing through space. Crossing from the Huilong Temple region into the Dark Demon Ridge region. The two were not in the same dimension. Instead, they occupied distinct spaces. *Did a powerhouse of the Dao of Darkness truly need to create an independent space just to cultivate?* Doubts surfaced in his mind one after another. A moment later, darkness enveloped his vision. His feet struck solid ground; he had seemingly entered Dark Demon Ridge. After waiting briefly, Li Hao was finally able to discern his surroundings. Looking ahead... as a Sovereign, he could only see a distance of roughly a hundred meters, which was nothing short of incredible. At his level, a single glance could pierce heaven and earth! Yet right now, he could only perceive an area of a hundred meters around him. All around was utter darkness. Silent and breathless! Even the soil was pitch-black, saturated with rich darkness energy. For darkness cultivators, this place was indeed a blessed sanctuary. It was deathly still. On the ground, faint traces of... white bones could be seen? People had died here! There was not the slightest disturbance in the distance. He did not know whether the six Sovereigns who had entered before him were nearby or had been teleported to different locations. Li Hao had no idea how vast Dark Demon Ridge truly was. *Fascinating!* Li Hao murmured inwardly. To exert such an effect on a Sovereign meant the Dao resonance here was exceptionally potent. That darkness Sovereign had cultivated here for countless years, and the lingering resonance continued to disrupt the surroundings to this day. A sharp light flashed in his eyes as he attempted to see farther, only to find he could not penetrate the black mist drifting through the air. Li Hao tried again, circulating life and death within his gaze. One side brimming with vitality, the other steeped in deathly stillness. This time, his vision stretched farther, allowing him to faintly perceive things five to six hundred meters away, but the range was still too limited. Li Hao tried once more. A faint trace of time power seeped into his vision, his gaze turning illusory. Looking out again... his sight reached even farther, piercing through a full thousand meters. It was then that Li Hao realized he appeared to be standing at the edge of a mountain peak. Could Dark Demon Ridge be a single mountain? Was he standing on the periphery of a mountain? *The Dao of Darkness...* Li Hao possessed some understanding of the Dao of Darkness, though his comprehension was not particularly deep. After some consideration, a divine character manifested. A divine character was the Dao. At his realm, he no longer required divine characters, yet he condensed one nonetheless, drawing his own Dao of Darkness from the River of Life and Death. A star merged into the divine character. Soon, the divine character took shape. "Dark!" As the divine character appeared, Li Hao's heart stirred. The character suddenly began drawing in the surrounding darkness energy. Li Hao draped the character over his entire body, instantly causing his aura to vanish. At that moment, his vision extended even further! Even without using time, he could see a thousand meters away. *Interesting!* Li Hao thought. In this place, the effects of time and darkness were virtually identical, proving far more potent than life and death. Those darkness Sovereigns from the Absolute Darkness Great World likely had quite a broad range of vision as well. *The path of divine characters, the Dao of Darkness... absorbing darkness, strengthening the character, and enhancing the power of darkness... not bad at all!* The "Dark" character seamlessly blended into the gloom, and surrounding darkness energy began converging toward Li Hao. He began striding forward. Word had it that the densest Dao resonance in Dark Demon Ridge was not here, but in the central region. Over there, a Dark Divine Hall was said to stand. It was the daily cultivation ground of that eighth-rank Sovereign of darkness. That place was the true convergence of Dao resonance, the premier choice for comprehending the Dao of an eighth-rank Sovereign. However, more often than not, people failed to find it altogether. Kongji seemed to have visited it once. Presumably, Xunhan and the others would also be rushing in that direction. Dealing with Li Hao—or Li Hao dealing with them—was secondary. The Dao resonance land of an eighth-rank Sovereign was the ultimate opportunity; who would squander it? *** Just as Li Hao set off. The pitch-black Dark Demon Ridge resembled an erupting volcano. From the central mountain peaks, plumes of black smoke surged into the air, blending into the surrounding expanse. The entirety of Dark Demon Ridge was vast beyond measure! At this moment, Li Hao and his companions were not the only ones advancing toward the central region. Within the darkness, shadowy creatures seemed to be moving silently, spreading out in all directions. At the central mountain peaks. The source where boundless black smoke billowed. A divine hall radiating a faint black luster stood erect, appearing ancient and utterly stable, completely motionless through the ages. The dark hall was empty, save for a single prayer mat. Yet the endless aura of darkness seemed to diffuse entirely from this single mat. The very wellspring of darkness throughout Dark Demon Ridge originated from this prayer mat—a terrifying reality. Beneath the prayer mat, something seemed to be hidden, emitting faint wisps of light that vanished in an instant. Over countless years, people had visited the Dark Divine Hall, and some had even laid eyes upon this prayer mat, yet no one had ever been able to take it away. Many who entered the divine hall had never even seen the mat at all. *** At this moment, Li Hao paid no heed to such things, maintaining a moderate pace. A divine character continuously absorbed the darkness energy, and within it, a star grew steadily stronger. Li Hao felt the darkness energy here was remarkably pure, operating at a level even higher than the power of the River of Life and Death he currently wielded. He was in no hurry, taking his time. At the very least, it allowed him to experience the power of darkness. Back in Silver Moon, hardly anyone specialized in the Dao of Darkness. Auntie Bright was skilled in the Dao of Light and cultivated darkness as well, though not to a very high level. Broadening his horizons out here would allow him to share his insights with the two Dao Masters once he returned.