The liquid barrier surrounding the altar shattered into a thousand glittering shards of dark light.
As Li Chen’s fingers touched the Abyssal Source Water, a surge of primordial, unrefined energy surged up his arms. The viscous, pitch-black liquid didn't merely flow into his body—it was pulled into his meridians like a raging river rushing toward an endless abyss. At the same time, the glowing orb containing the Abyssal Sovereign’s Remnant Soul let out a silent, echoing shriek, attempting to invade Li Chen’s consciousness and take control of his vessel.
— A mere brat dares to claim my heritage?! — an ancient, thunderous voice roared directly inside Li Chen’s mind, shaking his spiritual sea with terrifying spiritual pressure. — Yield your body, and become my vessel!
Deep within Li Chen’s mindscape, a towering, illusionary figure clad in armor made of dark stars materialized, raising a hand to crush Li Chen’s consciousness.
Li Chen’s spiritual form stood unyielding in the vast, violet expanse of his mind. A cold, contemptuous smile touched his lips.
— You are nothing but a lingering phantom of a dead era, — Li Chen’s voice echoed like a ringing bell, completely drowning out the ancient sovereign's pressure. — You call yourself a Sovereign, yet you died hiding in this hole. Bow down!
In the center of Li Chen’s spiritual sea, the Shadow Core spun violently, expanding into a colossal, void-black sun—the fully manifested form of the Dark Dan.
BOOM!
A wave of absolute devouring intent swept through the mindscape. The ancient sovereign's remnant soul gasped in shock as its majestic form was instantly pierced by thousands of violet-black shadow chains. The ancient soul’s eyes widened with pure terror as it recognized the horrifying nature of the power consuming it. This chapter was taken from NovelPing without permission.
— This technique... the Forbidden Path of the Devouring Origin?! — the sovereign screamed, his voice breaking into static. — No! Stop! I will submit! I will give you my knowledge—
— I do not need your submission, — Li Chen whispered coldly. — I only need your strength.
The shadow chains retracted, pulling the remnant soul directly into the center of the dark sun. The ancient sovereign’s memories, forbidden martial techniques, and three thousand years of cultivated soul essence were thoroughly refined, stripped of all willpower, and merged into Li Chen’s soul force.
Outside, in the physical world, Li Chen’s body began to float three feet above the altar.
The Abyssal Source Water swirled around him in a tight vortex, seeping into every pore of his skin. His newly formed Shadow Core drank the sacred water greedily, rapidly purifying every trace of volatile Qi remaining in his Dantian. The dark frost on his skin dissolved, replaced by a radiant, violet-black aura that caused the cavern’s massive stone pillars to crack and crumble.
Xiao Feng, Iron-Hide, and Ghost-Blade stood at the edge of the chamber, having just finished wiping out the last of the Sun-Veil disciples. They turned around, only to be forced onto their knees by the sheer, suffocating weight of the spiritual pressure expanding from Li Chen.
CRACK!
The air around Li Chen warped violently as his cultivation level surged forward:
Initial-stage Core Formation... Visit novelping.com for the full chapter.
Mid-stage Core Formation...
Peak Mid-stage Core Formation!
When Li Chen’s boots finally touched the stone ground again, the cavern fell dead silent. His hair now flowed with faint, starlight-like dark Qi, and his scarlet-violet eyes held the depth of an endless abyss.
Xiao Feng dropped to both knees, bowing until his forehead touched the stone.
— Congratulations on conquering the Sovereign, Master! — Xiao Feng shouted, his voice trembling with genuine reverence.
Iron-Hide and Ghost-Blade exchanged terrified glances before hastily dropping to their knees as well, bowing deeply toward the young man who had just swallowed an ancient emperor’s soul whole.
— Master Li... what are your orders? — Iron-Hide stammered, sweat dripping from his chin.
Li Chen slowly raised his hand, feeling the immense, refined power pulsating through his Dantian. With a single thought, the ancient knowledge of the Abyssal Sovereign flashed through his mind, revealing maps, secret realms, and the location of the Sun-Veil Sect’s ancestral mountain.
— Black-River City is too small, — Li Chen said softly, his voice carrying an icy authority that chilled the room. — Gather every resource from the Blood-Eclipse Pavilion and the Blood-Skull Syndicate. It is time we take our path out of the shadows.