With three supreme masters, they were invincible upon descending the mountain.

"A tyrant of evil thoughts? I never expected him to be a tyrant of evil thoughts?!"

Ye Yaocheng murmured to himself, his eyes filled with shock. It was a name that seemed to be shrouded in taboo.

He gripped Wang Shiyu's hand tightly, his palms covered in cold sweat.

He was all too familiar with that name.

The three masters mentioned that dark period of history more than once.

In recounting that dark history from a thousand years ago, what he found most unforgettable was the phrase, "The evil in people's hearts can swallow the sun and the moon."

Ancient books also contain detailed records of the evil tyrant, which was born and raised by nature and feeds on the purest evil thoughts in the world.

The more evil thoughts there are in the world, the stronger his power becomes.

He is the embodiment of calamity, the symbol of the dark ages, and the destroyer of all order.

"The Dark King from a thousand years ago—I never imagined I'd actually run into such a legendary being."

Ye Yaocheng reluctantly accepted this fact, and the words in the ancient books flashed through his mind.

That was the darkest hour, when evil tyrants ruled the world, and negative emotions such as greed, jealousy, and hatred in human nature were amplified infinitely.

Fathers and sons kill each other, brothers fight amongst themselves, nations collapse, and rivers are stained with blood. The whole world is like a pot of boiling poison, ready to evaporate at any moment.

Until Lü Zu suddenly appeared.

The legendary Taoist master, with extraordinary abilities, forcibly separated the evil tyrant from the human world and sealed him in an unknown place.

This led to the later period of peace and prosperity.

"But this doesn't make sense either." Ye Yaocheng's brows furrowed more and more as he muttered to himself.

If it was sealed by Lu Zu a thousand years ago, then what about the seal that Huijiang mentioned eight hundred years ago when several major sects joined forces to seal it?

The timing doesn't match.

Is Huijiang lying?

However, Huijiang's tone and eyes at the time did not seem like she was lying.

Moreover, he risked his life to get here, almost to the point of exhaustion; it's impossible that he did it just to fabricate a lie.

So, what is the truth?

Ye Yaocheng's brain was working at lightning speed.

Two seals?

Or perhaps, the seal Huijiang spoke of was not referring to the true form of the evil tyrant at all.

Or perhaps, these major sects were just one part of it at the time.

"Perhaps I was wrong before. What is truly sealed in this place is the evil tyrant."

Ye Yaocheng took a deep breath.

He had always believed that the Demon Cloud Vine was the core of this secret realm and the source of all the anomalies.

Now it seems that I misunderstood, and was completely wrong.

At best, the Demon Cloud Vine is merely a tool used by the evil tyrant to select nutrients.

Those who enter the secret realm and harbor evil intentions will become food for the tyrant.

If anyone loses themselves in that illusion and gives up on life, they will be trapped and devoured by the Demon Cloud Vine, which feeds on the corpses of those people and turns them into nutrients to nourish itself.

But the tyrant of evil himself is the most terrifying being in this secret realm.

Ye Yaocheng's gaze was fixed on the last chain.

The black chain, as thick as a train, was covered with fine cracks, each one slowly spreading and making a teeth-grinding "crackling" sound.

The chain was taut, and the other end was attached to the left ankle of the wicked tyrant.

With each breath he took, the chains trembled, the cracks spread an inch further, and they were always at risk of breaking.

"Once we escape, the world may once again be plunged into chaos and suffering."

Ye Yaocheng's fist clenched quietly.

His fingernails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood, but he was completely unaware.

Ancient books clearly state that Lü Zu had already ascended to heaven and was no longer in the mortal realm.

His strongest fighting force, his three masters, are now guarding the border in a secret realm.

They all had reasons why they couldn't leave, even though he didn't know what was inside.

But he believed that the disaster that would result from the fall of those places would be no less severe than that caused by a tyrannical ruler with evil intentions.

At that time, who in the world can stop it?

Relying on those reclusive old monsters?

Or should we rely on the infighting elders of the various sects?

Or perhaps, he relied on himself?

Ye Yaocheng looked at his trembling hands.

His true energy was still surging through his meridians, and the life force he had just absorbed had brought his power to an unprecedented peak.

But in front of this tyrant who had lived for over a thousand years, he was nothing more than an ant.

He understood the meaning of those two words.

"Kid, the expression on your face is really something."

The voice of the tyrannical evil spirit interrupted Ye Yaocheng's thoughts.

The crimson vertical pupils in the black mist were scrutinizing him with great interest, as if he were looking at an interesting toy.

He laughed wildly, his laughter deep and hoarse, carrying an undisguised mockery.

"Although I don't know exactly what you're thinking, I can clearly sense every emotion and every thought you emanate."

"Fear, confusion, resentment, and that... ridiculous sense of responsibility."

The tyrant of evil thoughts shook his head, and the black mist swayed accordingly.

"Give up, it's no use."

He raised his hand and made a wiping gesture.

"Do you know what kind of opponent I most enjoy fighting?"

Ye Yaocheng looked at him silently without answering.

"Tsk, boring."

The tyrannical ruler with evil intentions seems to be very dissatisfied with this kind of passive-aggressive violence.

But he continued talking to himself anyway.

"What I like most are those guys who are full of evil thoughts, greedy, jealous, and hateful. Fighting them is like eating a feast; the more I fight, the stronger I get."

"There's another one."

He paused, his scarlet vertical pupils narrowing slightly.

"You know, those guys who think they're righteous, but are actually surrounded by evil intentions, guess what?"

The voice of the wicked tyrant carried a morbid pleasure.

"Those evil thoughts will continuously flow into my body and become my power, while that righteous guy can only watch helplessly as he is devoured in despair and resentment."

"Isn't this interesting?"

Ye Yaocheng's heart sank. From the few words he spoke, he understood the meaning of the "Evil Tyrant"—the other party was the embodiment of evil.

As long as evil thoughts exist in this world, he is an almost invincible being.

If your own motives are impure, fighting against him will only strengthen his malice. The malice of those around you will also strengthen his malice.

Unless, there is someone whose strength far surpasses his, who can instantly and completely suppress him.

For example, Lü Zu back then.

But now, Lü Zu is no longer here.

"It seems you've figured it out."

The tyrannical evil spirit nodded in satisfaction.

He slowly extended his left hand, palm open, facing upwards.

The black mist swirled in his palm, forming a deep vortex.

"Boy, as long as the world exists, I am immortal."

His voice suddenly softened, becoming alluring.

"No one can truly kill me. Even someone as powerful as Lü Zu can only seal me away."

"So, surrender."

The vortex is spinning faster.

An invisible force emanated from the vortex, like countless fine threads, quietly entering Ye Yaocheng's mind.

"I admire your talent."

"As long as you nod, I can give you everything you want: power, authority, and wealth."

"And I can also help you repair the cracked source of your dantian."

Ye Yaocheng's eyes suddenly became empty, as if his soul had been ripped out.

His body began to move forward uncontrollably.

step.

Two steps.

His steps were mechanical, his eyes unfocused, staring intently at the vortex in the palm of the tyrant of evil thoughts.

The distance is getting closer and closer.

"younger brother……"

Wang Shiyu stood behind her, her hands clasped tightly in front of her chest.

She couldn't understand what those "evil thoughts," "tyrant," and "seal" meant.

But she could see Ye Yaocheng's current state; he was being controlled.

If he were to actually stand before that black mist, if he were to actually place his hand on it, then he might be doomed forever.

Wang Shiyu bit her lip until it bled, but she didn't move.

She didn't shout or stop them; she just stood there, tears streaming silently down her face.

"If this is truly your choice, even if it means falling into darkness, I will stay with you."

She watched Ye Yaocheng's retreating figure, her voice as soft as a sigh.

But her eyes remained firm, because she would always support Ye Yaocheng's choice.

Regardless of right or wrong.

A glint of light flashed in Ye Yaocheng's empty eyes, but he quickly suppressed it, and his eyes returned to their usual empty state.

Like a moth drawn to a flame, it rushes headlong into the fire.