My skills have mutated again!

Chapter 397 Old Days
Ahead of the dark passage, the flow of people remained constant.

The Dark Domain is so vast that many Level 11 players are still on their way.

Amidst the crowd, Luo Zhidao slowly pulled up his hood.

The Immortal Treasure, the Thousand Machine Robe, concealed his aura and disguised his form, making Luo Zhidao blend into the crowd unnoticed.

Look up and gaze at the entity ahead known as the Dark Realm Passage.

It resembles a black ink stain dotting the starry sky, exuding an ominous aura.

At the last moment, Luo Zhidao hesitated.

The two options, "go in" and "leave," swirled in Luo Zhidao's mind, making it difficult for him to choose.

"Going in" means facing risks and the unknown, and may even mean confronting the original dark side.

"Leaving" means that Luo Zhidao stands idly by and lets Wuxin face the storm alone.

Yes, he came without intention.

This wasn't some order from his sect; Luo Zhidao simply felt that even if he wasn't strong enough, he should follow in Wuxin's footsteps and help Wuxin with his troubles—regardless of whether Wuxin needed it or not, he had to show some attitude.

I would gladly sacrifice myself for this...

This is probably what is called a sense of faction honor.

A sense of honor and an instinctive fear surged within him, locked in a fierce and unyielding struggle.

Suddenly, the entire passage to the dark realm fell silent.

This means that yet another, and the last, Black Domain King has arrived.

"Lord Nicholas."

"I have seen the Pale King."

"May you be well, my lord..."

The voices were chaotic, containing flattery, fear, ingratiation, and humility.

Just as Luo Zhidao was about to integrate into the local culture and pay his respects to the Pale King, he saw that the Black Domain King, also known as the Pale King, had already appeared in front of him.

"grown ups."

Luo Zhidao bowed his head humbly, but a chill ran through his heart.

No, what are you doing here?
The Pale King smiled and patted Luo Zhidao on the shoulder.

"Who do you belong to?"

Luo Zhidao's breath hitched, and he sighed as he spoke: "I am a wandering hermit of the Black Domain, with no affiliation."

"Judging from your accent, are you a cultivator specializing in immortality?"

Luo Zhi said, "That's right."

Do you know any formations?

Luo Zhidao was about to say no, but Nikolai changed his mind: "Never mind, you probably know more about formations than I do."

"I see you also want to enter the Dark Realm, why don't you come with me?"

After speaking, Nikolai shielded Luo Zhidao in front of him without further ado and pointed.

"Let's go, you lead the way, I'll cover the rear."

Luo Zhidao's face immediately contorted into a bitter expression.

Nicholas, the Pale King, is a synonym for cunning and power.

What Nikolai is doing right now is conscripting men!

The Dark Realm is incredibly dangerous... every step is fraught with peril. If you want to venture into the Dark Realm, you'll inevitably need plenty of cannon fodder to pave the way.

There are even rumors in the Black Domain that Nikola's Level 12 qualification was snatched by him using cannon fodder tactics.

Luo Zhidao, unfortunately, became the first cannon fodder under Nikolai's command.

But it's by no means the last one.

"You, you, you...you all come with me, in front of me, behind this kid."

"And you two, what are your names?"

"Qin Tai".

"indifferent."

"Okay, you two will be my protectors on either side... Don't stand shoulder to shoulder with me, move forward a bit, yes, three body lengths forward."

As if summoned by the King of Hell, Nikolai surrounded hundreds of people, shielding them in front of him.

Those who defy discipline will inevitably meet a tragic end—a flower blooms red, and a sword pierces the heart.

For a moment, everyone trembled under Nikolai's tyranny.

About an hour later, the queue was ready to depart in front of the Dark Realm Passage.

Luo Zhidao and three or five others took the lead as the vanguard.

"Come in."

After Nikolai finished speaking, Luo Zhidao gritted his teeth and stepped into the Dark Realm Passage.

……

In unknown space.

After watching Xia Lin walk into the Dark Realm Passage, the Creator of Heaven, the Demon Emperor of Soul Control, the King of Kings, and the Four Pillars of Super Stars all withdrew their gazes.

The Dark Realm, the original lair of the dark side.

Its nature is equivalent to the Demon Emperor's Demon Palace, though its power is slightly inferior, but there is no fundamental difference.

This means that while the Four Pillars' vision can see through the Dark Domain, it cannot see through the Dark Realm, and therefore cannot exert any further influence.

Therefore, the stage was handed over to the real protagonists.

"wait."

Chaoxing lay back on a comfortable recliner, his hands behind his head, striking a relaxed and carefree pose.

After uttering those two words, he looked at the King of Kings.

"By the way, Brother Wang, I've never been to the Dark Realm in my life, but I've heard that you often go there to stroll around and gather inspiration... Would you mind telling me about what it's like there?"

The King of Kings conjured a drink out of thin air, which floated automatically to the other three, who then took it in their hands before speaking.

"curious?"

"How could I not be curious?"

The King of Kings smiled and said, "If you're really curious, you should ask the Immortal Emperor and Wen Yu about this, not me."

Chao Xing raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"

Even without the King of Kings' explanation, the Demon Emperor sighed, "The birth of the primordial dark side is something that I and the old thief must take the blame for."

The Creator of Heaven, whom Wen Yu called an old thief, was not ashamed or angry, but simply sighed.

"I accept this responsibility."

"The primordial dark side is the remnant spirit of the old universe, a collection of all the resentment and grievances of the old universe."

"And as you know, the cause of the resentment and bitterness in the old universe was me and Wen Yu."

This matter is known not only to those at the sixth level, but also to those at the twelfth or even eleventh level.

Their personal feud was the culprit behind the destruction of the ancient universe.

The two of them were the executors and executioners who destroyed the old universe.

"When the original dark side bound itself to the new universe and became the six pillars, its power underwent a transformation."

The six pillars represent identity, status, and even more so, power.

Therefore, each of the six pillars possesses unimaginable power—the primordial dark side is no exception.

"In fact, because the primordial dark side cannot control its immense power, the extent to which its power leaks out is far deeper, stronger, and more intense than ours, and it also causes the greatest changes to the surrounding environment."

Chaoxing easily understood this logic.

If the Six Pillars do not actively restrain and suppress their own power, then their power can easily cause a cosmic catastrophe!
The primordial dark side is a prime example—the birth of an evil god can actually be considered part of the radiation of this power.

The other pillars can do similar things simply by wanting to, or even without making any special effort.

The Creator of Heaven continued, "And this forms the foundation of the Dark Realm."

A bizarre zone filled with the radiation of primordial dark forces.

The one who took up the mantle of the Creator of Heaven was his mortal enemy, the Demon Emperor.

"I've ventured deep into the Dark Realm a few times; it's quite interesting there..."

When he uttered these words, the Demon Emperor's gaze was deep and unfathomable, as if stirring up reflections of the past.

He spoke slowly in a melodious tone: "Uncontrolled power radiation often carries the inner reflection of the power's subject."

“The primordial dark side can be seen as a colossal beast that never awakens, dreaming, and the dark realm is an extension of its dream.”

Having said that, the Demon Emperor looked at Chaoxing: "Then do you know what kind of dreams the Primordial Dark Side likes to have the most?"

These words made Chaoxing laugh.

"I think I know what the Dark Realm looks like now."

The remnants of the past dream of rebuilding its former glory.

To reclaim one's former identity and power is an instinct of the primal dark side.

"And the Dark Realm is the promised land of the original dark side."

"That place is the false past."

These words made Chaoxing straighten his posture and demeanor.

"I suddenly thought of something..."

"whats the matter?"

"If the Dark Realm is a false past, then there must also be false characters within this false past."

The Demon Emperor nodded: "It exists."

Chao Xing laughed and said, "And among the four of you here today, two of you are figures who have emerged from the past... I'm wondering if there are any remnants of the two of you in that false past?"

Chaoxing's words caused the four of them to exchange glances, and then they all burst into laughter.

"That must exist!"

For the past, these two represent an inevitable end.

"How is the strength?"

"Compared to the original body, the difference is enormous."

"You can't even think of them as our afterimages... Think of them as Level 12 beings who possess our power system from the Old Universe and have similar personalities, that's about right."

These words made Chaoxing chuckle.

"These little guys are going to suffer a lot."

……

Tearing, dizziness.

This is Xia Lin's personal feeling after entering the Dark Realm Passage.

It's similar to teleportation, but much more brutal.

When the dizziness subsided, Xia Lin found himself on a desolate, dead star.

The cold, burnt-smelling air filled Xia Lin's mouth, making him feel uncomfortable all over.

It wasn't a lack of oxygen; rather, there was a peculiar, unmasked pollution in the air that was constantly corroding Xia Lin's body.

Fortunately, for someone of Xia Lin's caliber, this pollution was not fatal, nor would it cause any irreparable consequences in the short term.

But for the vulnerable, this pollution is hard to bear...

A scream of "Ah".

Xia Lin turned to look to the side, where one of the cannon fodder he had brought—probably the weakest in the group (even weaker than Luo Zhidao, with attributes hundreds of times worse)—was screaming and scratching his skin, soon drawing blood.

Dark scales grew from beneath its bloody skin, quickly covering its entire body.

In the blink of an eye, this Black Domain Level 10 native, who should have been human, had already transformed into a demon.

Then, his body gradually turned to ashes and vanished into nothingness.

This scene caused those in the group who were entering the Dark Realm for the first time to feel uneasy and look at each other in bewilderment.

Charlin, still using Nikolai's identity, spoke slowly: "Deteriorating demonic energy, one of the pollutants in the Dark Realm."

The corrupting demonic energy will transform all other races into demons, and demons under its influence will experience a surge in combat power. Resistance to this corrupting demonic energy varies depending on individual physical attributes.

From the information he obtained beforehand through the Soul Searching Technique, Xia Lin knew that this pollution was pervasive throughout the Dark Realm.

This has become a kind of aura that makes the weak in the dark world retreat – if you want to make a lot of money in the dark world, you always need some confidence and leverage.

Those who died suddenly can obviously be classified as the weak.

Watching the others use their various methods to isolate themselves from the effects of the worsening demonic energy, Xia Lin gazed around with a deep, thoughtful look.

Apart from their own group of one hundred, there were no other people around.

After entering the Dark Realm Passage, the Dark Realm Passage will send the entrant to different areas of the Dark Realm depending on the time of entry.

People who enter at similar times will be placed in the same location, but this time window is very short, perhaps only a few seconds.

Just now, Xia Lin entered the Dark Realm Passage as Nikolai, which served as a deterrent to villains—no one wanted to team up with the King of the Dark Realm, so naturally no one followed Xia Lin.

"We're landing here, but if we want to get out, we'll have to find another way."

Once the Dark Realm portal is completed, it will move to another location.

Therefore, how to leave the Dark Realm became another problem.

There are some solutions, but they either require time or involve risks. Xia Lin isn't in the Dark Realm to go shopping right now, so he's not in a hurry to find a way out.

He was thinking about something else.

"The Dark Realm Passage is at the top of the leaderboard, but the entire teleportation process is too short. I can't destroy the Dark Realm Passage during this stage... So how exactly should this Dark Realm Passage be destroyed?"

The solution to destroy the Dark Realm passage likely lies within the Dark Realm itself...

"Hmm, never mind, these aren't important for now."

The primary and secondary contradictions must be distinguished... Xia Lin's goal for this trip is to be unintentional.

Quietly crush a tracking card, but the tracking still targets an unintentional location.

This time, the tracking card provided clear feedback.

Wuxin is located in the northeast direction, far, far away from here.

Just then, Leng Mo stepped forward respectfully and asked, "Sir, where should we go next?"

Before Xia Lin could respond, Qin Tai interjected, "I...I'm also curious, where has this level twelve opportunity in the Dark Realm landed?"

Leng Mo's question about Qin Tai drew the attention of everyone present.

Xia Lin sensed the concealed sword energy, the dragon energy poised to be unleashed, and the compressed immortal power one after another.

The three human race members each have their own pride.

Given the situation, if Nikolai truly is not a human being, then don't blame them for launching a desperate counterattack.

To describe Qin Tai and his two companions' experiences and current reactions in eight words: extremely unlucky, and overestimating their abilities.

If the real Nikolai were here, these three would surely be dead.

—Well, Nikolai might not necessarily conscript them.

Fortunately, Xia Lin wasn't the real Nikolai. He simply reached out and patted Leng Mo's shoulder, secretly infusing him with a trace of blood energy.

Meeting the indifferent and astonished gaze, Xia Lin chuckled lightly.

"Northeast direction, we'll head northeast next."

"As for where the level 12 opportunity in the Dark Realm is... you will know when the time comes... relax, when that thing comes out, it will cause quite a stir."

Leng Mo opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something.

However, he swallowed the words back down his throat.

Just then, Xia Lin raised an eyebrow and looked at Luo Zhidao.

"What are you standing there for? Head northeast, let's go!"

Luo Zhidao gritted his teeth and glanced at Leng Mo and Qin Tai, only to find that the two were looking at each other but had no intention of making a move.

This made Luo Zhidao stiffly take out the immortal boat as a means of travel, while cursing inwardly.

"You two idiots, can't you even distinguish between the primary and secondary contradictions? What kind of time is this to still be clinging to your factional leanings?"

Little did they know that Xia Lin had already created a private chat group for three people... Sigh, I'm not including you in this group!
Indifferent: "Brother Lin?"

Xia Lin: "Yes, it's me."

Qin Tai: "Then Nikolai..."

Xia Lin: "The grass on the grave is already two zhang tall."

Qin Tai said coldly, "...Brother Lin is awesome."

Xia Lin: "You're definitely awesome, but what are you two doing here?"

Qin Tai: "Let's see what happens. I hadn't even decided whether to come in or not, and you've already conscripted me..."

Xia Lin: "...I thought you two were going to solo the Dark Realm...Forget it, come with me, at least you'll have someone to look after you."

Having two more trustworthy assistants was also beneficial for Xia Lin.

Qin Tai: "Then what's next..."

Xia Lin: "Go find Wuxin and settle things once and for all."

We boarded the flying boat, and it began its journey.

The figures of the group gradually disappeared into the depths of the silent starry sky.

……

The power of the Six Pillars is mysterious and immense.

Therefore, information about the Dark Realm is varied and full of speculations from those who have personally entered it.

Ironically, none of these speculations were correct.

Just like Xia Lin and his group right now, they don't know that the true nature of this Dark Realm is merely a dream of the primordial dark side. The scenes presented are simply reflections of the old universe.

They considered the Dark Realm to be an unexplored and mysterious place.

A desolate, deserted, broken, and inexplicable place.

There was no human habitation, no living creatures, and not even many stars. Where the celestial ship flew, there was only endless, desolate emptiness.

Space sometimes cracks open, and void storms sometimes sweep through.

All kinds of pollution are ravaging the bodies and souls of everyone.

This entire Dark Realm is completely unsuitable for living beings; perhaps only those with level eleven strength can reside here for an extended period.

Loneliness and fear gradually crept into everyone's hearts as time went by.

Even Xia Lin gradually frowned.

After an unknown amount of time, when the faint light first appeared in their field of vision, everyone on the entire immortal ship finally breathed a sigh of relief.

They finally saw something that could move...

……

Of course, not everyone is completely unaware of the nature of the Dark Realm.

The significance of inheritance is undeniable at this moment.

As the first being to enter the Dark Realm Passage, Wuxin was both a pioneer and an informed individual.

It was a vast distance away from where Xia Lin was currently located.

Wu Xin stood with his hands behind his back in the void, seemingly waiting for something.

As the faint sound of space shattering echoed in the distance, Wuxin's expression gradually became agitated.

He knelt down and kowtowed deeply!

"father!"

A powerful aura approached from afar.

If you don't look up, you'll see a magnificent giant approaching from afar, towering over the heavens and the earth!
The giant had the appearance of a middle-aged man, wearing a pure black Taoist robe made of pure magic power. As he moved, the space trembled, the rules shattered, and the Heavenly Dao tilted.

Even the extremely weakened version of the Creator of Heaven displayed breathtaking destructive power.

Compared to him, Wuxin, who knelt before him, was like an ant under a giant's feet, utterly insignificant.

However, the word "father" still made the Creator of Heaven slowly lower his head and look at the little insect at his feet.

"father?"

He murmured this affectionate title, and a rainbow of light slowly burst forth from his eyes.

"Who do you think you are? You dare call me 'Dad'?!"

A turbid aura surged forth, like a raging storm.

That aura was filled with various energies from the immortal path, such as immortal power, demonic energy, and monster power.

Especially at the center of the Heavenly Creator's brow, a crystal-clear life-bearing planet seemed to sense the Creator's anger, and it rotated slightly, radiating light.

This caused the Creator of Heaven to grin, revealing sharp teeth forged from the remains of ten thousand divine beasts, layered and uneven.

A person's personality always changes according to different external environments.

In the end times of the old world, both the Creator and the Demon Emperor had gone mad with bloodlust, becoming the source of all destruction.

Humanity has been swept into the dustbin of history in the long struggle.

Bestiality and instinct dominate the life-or-death struggle!

The cruel aura blew over Wuxin, even causing him to feel pain.

The skin and flesh began to crack, and the aura of death was stronger than ever before.

But Wuxin had been prepared for all of this.

He reached out, took out a longevity lock made of immortal gold, and held it high in front of his forehead.

"father……"

He called out again.

This time, the Creator of Heaven remained silent.

He simply gazed at the longevity lock, his eyes gleaming with an unusual light.

Before long, the Creator of Heaven reached out and touched the space between his eyebrows.

Thus, another, newer longevity lock, made of the same materials and craftsmanship as the one in Wuxin's hand, appeared in the hands of the Creator of Heaven.

"Oh……"

A long sigh followed, tinged with a sense of enlightenment.

Suddenly, Wuxin felt as if the sky had fallen and the earth had collapsed.

He was swallowed whole by the Creator of Heaven.

……

Once the celestial vessel came to a stop, Luo Zhidao once again took the lead, flying out of the vessel and stopping in front of the "anomaly".

The murky air blew against Luo Zhidao's clothes, causing them to flutter. The immense pollution made Luo Zhidao's face pale and disrupted the flow of his immortal energy.

It wasn't until a few seconds later that Xia Lin crossed the Luo Zhi Road and arrived at the "abnormality" very close.

Staring at the prismatic crystal in front of him, which resembled a spaceship, and watching the deteriorating demonic aura emanating from the four corners of the spaceship, Xia Lin narrowed his eyes.

The infamous malevolent aura in this dark realm was actually created by human intervention.

Suddenly, a "click" sound was heard.

A tall, strong demon peered out of the hatch—this thing really was a spaceship.

He spoke in a cold voice: "Who are you?"

Before Xia Lin could respond, the man turned to look at Luo Zhidao, and then his ferocious demonic face suddenly became even more ferocious.

"Damn it! It's that damned cultivator!"

A fairly powerful force began to gather.

Upon seeing the cultivator, the demon reacted as if he had encountered a mortal enemy and immediately prepared to fight to the death.

Xia Lin suddenly raised his hand and struck Luo Zhidao. With one strike, Luo Zhidao immediately felt that all his power was blocked!

"Don't attack, they're friendly forces."

Xia Lin said this and took the initiative to hand the Luo Zhi Dao to the demon.

"This is my prisoner, and also my pledge of allegiance."

(End of this chapter)