Lang Zi Ying

Chapter 558 Strange Influx

Three layers…

Only three layers!

Dugu Jian stared upwards, but he could see nothing, only a void. One had to ascend to truly see what lay above.

"Forget it…"

Dugu Jian did not rush to try.

With each additional step, the pressure increased significantly.

This was not just a physical burden, but also a spiritual one. When his soul could no longer bear it, he had to stop and recover slowly.

Dugu Jian sat cross-legged, beginning to recuperate.

Half an hour later.

"Swish…"

Dugu Jian's eyes suddenly snapped open, a bright light piercing the sky.

"It's time!"

Dugu Jian prepared to make a final push, aiming for the two-thousandth level.

"Up!"

With a thunderous roar, he propelled himself towards the next tier.

His initial speed was incredibly fast, but halfway up, it halved, and he felt an immense resistance.

"Stop me?"

"Nothing can stop me!"

Dugu Jian bellowed, reaching the next level. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět

"Almost there!"

"Just two more levels, within reach!"

The pressure on Dugu Jian's body intensified, but his spirit grew more exhilarated.

Indeed.

Treasure was within sight; how could he not be excited?

One step.

Another step!

Finally, after over ten minutes of struggle, Dugu Jian triumphantly ascended to the two-thousandth tier.

He was about to receive his milestone reward.

"What could it be?"

Dugu Jian rubbed his hands excitedly, his face brimming with anticipation.

"Swish…"

The next moment, a blue jade bottle appeared before Dugu Jian. The bottle was opaque, and its stopper was firmly in place, making it impossible to discern its contents.

"This is…"

Dugu Jian held the stopper, muttering to himself.

This thing…

It didn't look particularly precious.

But this was the reward for the second stage. By all rights, it should be more valuable than the celestial artifact from the first stage, shouldn't it?

It couldn't be useless!

And so…

"Pop!"

The next moment, Dugu Jian directly pulled out the stopper.

"Buzz…"

As the stopper was removed, a stream of black gas surged out, carrying an eerie and malevolent aura that made one's scalp tingle.

"This is…"

Seeing this, Dugu Jian's expression changed drastically.

As a prodigy of the Xuanyuan Palace, how could he not recognize this substance? This was the dark, malevolent energy that repeatedly caused great calamities!

"Swish…"

Instinctively, Dugu Jian hurled the stopper away.

He then drew his Heavenly-tier sword, preparing to use his powerful sword techniques to destroy it, even though it might be beyond his capability.

"Slow!"

Just then, the dark, malevolent energy writhed, and a voice echoed in Dugu Jian's ear.

Incredibly sharp and utterly sinister.

Dugu Jian was aghast.

The dark, malevolent energy could speak? It could communicate?

"Do not be surprised."

"My abilities are beyond your imagination. Speaking is hardly astonishing."

Dugu Jian fell silent.

Then…

He slowly raised the sword in his hand.

"Dugu Jian!"

"Are you truly content to be overshadowed by Bai Zihe?"

"Do you not wish to trample Bai Zihe underfoot?"

"Do you not wish to obtain Palace Master Ji Xian Yuan?"

A series of questions, laced with seduction.

Indeed.

As soon as these words were uttered, Dugu Jian's hand froze in place, his intent to gather and channel energy ceasing.

And the dark, malevolent energy…

While Dugu Jian was momentarily stunned, it silently drifted towards his brow, his mouth, his nostrils, his ears…

Then, it slowly seeped in.

Until…

The last wisp vanished completely into Dugu Jian's body.

"Not good!"

Dugu Jian felt the abnormality within his body and snapped back to his senses, but it was too late. The dark, malevolent energy had already infiltrated him completely.

"This…"

Dugu Jian was overcome with panic. He immediately sat down cross-legged.

He began to perform internal observation.

He started circulating his energy.

He was attempting to locate the dark, malevolent energy and expel it, restoring his body to its pure state.

However…

Upon internal observation, Dugu Jian discovered.

The dark, malevolent energy had already invaded his Dantian and attached itself to his Nascent Soul. In an instant, it had dyed the Nascent Soul a pitch-black hue.

"Buzz…"

Concurrently, streams of sinister energy began to slowly settle.

Whenever true essence flowed from the Dantian, it would be tainted with a hint of darkness, like some form of brand.

"You, get out!"

Although Dugu Jian was deeply envious of Bai Zihe, he understood the wickedness of the dark, malevolent energy and did not wish to be tainted by it.

"Get out?"

"Dugu Jian, rest assured, I will not harm you."

"Moreover, I will make you increasingly powerful. We will eventually merge into one, and you will become the supreme ruler!"

"Then, kill Bai Zihe and win over Ji Xian Yuan."

"And in the end…"

"You will be the king of this world. Is that not good?"

The voice of the dark, malevolent energy was full of temptation.

Dugu Jian faltered for a moment.

Yes.

He desperately wanted to kill Bai Zihe, and even more, he yearned for Ji Xian Yuan. He dreamt of it day and night, never ceasing!

As he stood there in a daze…

The dark, malevolent energy in his Dantian achieved an ever-increasing compatibility with his Nascent Soul.

Simultaneously…

Dugu Jian also noticed that his true essence was steadily increasing without much cultivation, albeit at a small rate. Compared to before, it was much, much faster!

"Hmm?"

Dugu Jian wasn't sure why, but faster cultivation was always good.

So.

He decided to calm himself and begin cultivating.

At the same time.

On the west coast of the Atlantic Ocean, in a certain research institute.

"Mysterious Great Xia, mysterious cultivators…"

Dr. M, while studying the painting "Yellow Emperor Battling Chi You," sighed. He had already learned that Bai Zihe was not dead.

He had also learned of the recent events in Great Xia.

The powerful cultivators, whom even technology could not stop, greatly shocked Dr. M.

Did such terrifying power truly exist in this world?

Were they still human? Had they not already surpassed human limits and entered another realm? Why did they not have this power?

"Buzz…"

Just then, a black streak of energy floated over.

In the blink of an eye, it entered Dr. M's nostrils and immediately moved into his body.

"Hmm?"

Dr. M felt a slight sensation in his nose, followed by a brief dizziness.

However, this feeling was extremely brief, lasting less than three seconds before disappearing, as if it were just an illusion.

"Perhaps…"

A glint of light flashed in Dr. M's eyes: "My technology is not yet strong enough!"

At the same time.

In a certain location within the Dragon Island secret realm.

"Ah…"

"Damn it, I finally survived."

"Son of a bitch, this much time must have passed; Dragon Island has likely closed by now."

"But, no big deal."

"Even if Dragon Island is closed, as long as I keep killing these damned things, I can continue to grow stronger. I will become the strongest!"

"Hahahaha…"

"Bai Zihe, just you wait. Even if you get the treasures of Dragon Island, I will definitely kill you!"

"Great Xia is mine!"