Within his sea of consciousness, the Chaos Green Lotus Martial Soul radiated boundless azure light, holy and majestic. Above it, a hazy phantom of the World Tree swayed gently, drooping strands of extremely pure life essence, like the most solid barrier, firmly protecting Xiao Han's faltering soul essence, preventing it from completely collapsing under the impact of the Emperor's might.
At the same time, Xiao Han activated all his trump cards to the fullest extent!
The [Soul Origin Treasure Jade] hovered in the center of his sea of consciousness, radiating a warm glow and stabilizing his soul on the verge of collapse. The [Soul-Devouring Pearl] within his dantian spun wildly, forcibly devouring and refining the chaotic fragments of spirit and negative energy that had surged in along with the Emperor Lord's inherited memories. The newly formed [Netherworld Chaos Dragon Flame] burned fiercely, its domineering flame characteristics subtly restraining the Emperor Lord's will, which leaned towards pure shadow. The [Myriad Souls Battle Body Prototype] on his body surface flashed with alternating crimson and star patterns, frantically absorbing and refining the Primordial Shadow Origin and fragments of the Emperor Lord's inherited memories surging from the "Primordial Shadow Heart."
Countless fragments of inherited memories flooded into Xiao Han's mind like a tidal wave bursting its banks.
He seemed to personally experience a series of magnificent ancient paintings. He saw a majestic figure wearing an imperial crown and a robe of eternal night stars, reigning over the Shadow Realm, commanding billions of shadow gods and demons, annihilating stars with a wave of his hand, and causing all realms to submit with a single thought. Those were the glorious years when the Eternal Night Emperor conquered all heavens and shook the universe.
He also witnessed it: at the edge of the endless starry sky, the Eternal Night Emperor was besieged by several equally terrifying beings of the same level, and a world-destroying battle erupted. Imperial blood stained the galaxy red, the Shadow Law shattered, Eternal Night Emperor ultimately perished in the starry sky, his immense and unparalleled primordial core shattered into countless fragments scattered across the heavens—a truly horrific scene...
In the struggle against the remnants of the Emperor Lord's will and under the impact of a massive amount of inherited memories, Xiao Han's soul power, like divine iron being forged through countless trials, rapidly transformed under extreme pressure. His understanding of the Great Dao of Shadow and the Great Dao of Space also advanced by leaps and bounds, as if enlightened, reaching an unprecedented height.
"Roar!"
After an unknown amount of time, the Eternal Night King Martial Soul, having absorbed a massive amount of Primordial Shadow Origin and a portion of relatively pure Emperor Lord Power, suddenly unleashed a soul-shaking roar! Its original form as the [Eternal Night Void Emperor] (pseudo) solidified completely at this moment and began to evolve wildly towards a higher, more ancient, and more noble level!
A blurry figure, wearing a twelve-tassel crown symbolizing the beginning and the end, and draped in an imperial robe embroidered with endless shadowy star rivers and the birth and death of the universe, with eyes so deep they seemed to contain the secrets of the entire universe, slowly condensed and became clear in Xiao Han's sea of consciousness—[Primordial Eternal Night Overlord] (prototype)!
As his Martial Soul underwent its ultimate evolution, an unprecedentedly terrifying pressure emanated from Xiao Han. The aura within him surged like a raging dragon breaking free from all restraints! The incredibly Martial Master Realm Ninth Level was easily shattered like paper before this overwhelming power!
Martial Grandmaster Realm First Level Early Stage!
Martial Grandmaster Realm First Level Middle Stage!
Martial Grandmaster Realm First Level Late Stage!
His cultivation level soared all the way up, eventually settling steadily at the Martial Grandmaster Realm First Level Peak! He was only a hair's breadth away from the Martial Grandmaster Realm Second Level!
At the same time, two brand-new, terrifyingly powerful divine abilities began to slowly take shape deep within his soul:
[Eternal Night - Fall of All Realms] (Prototype of Domain-Type Divine Power): Once activated, it can initially draw upon a trace of the legendary Primordial Shadow Realm's power, forming an absolute dark domain. Within this domain, all laws are suppressed, life is mercilessly devoured, and enemies will be plunged into an eternal hell!
[Overlord's Gaze] (Prototype of Single-Target Soul Attack): Activated by the will of the Primordial Eternal Night Overlord, it contains a portion of the Emperor Lord's majesty. Within its gaze, it can directly intimidate and strip away the opponent's sanity; the weak may even experience an instant soul collapse!
The energy and inheritance within the "Primordial Shadow Heart" were completely devoured and refined. The powerful and unwilling remnant will of the Eternal Night Emperor, under the dual attack of the final counterattack of the [Primordial Eternal Night Overlord] prototype and the purification power of the Chaos Green Lotus Martial Soul, finally let out a roar full of resentment and unwillingness, and vanished completely like a candle in the wind.
Xiao Han succeeded! With his cultivation at the Martial Master Realm, he took a huge gamble and successfully seized this incredible opportunity that would drive countless Martial Emperors, Martial Grandmaster, and even Martial Venerables crazy!
Feeling the surging, terrifying power within his body, power that seemed capable of easily tearing the heavens apart, Xiao Han slowly opened his eyes. In those dark pupils, it seemed as if galaxies flowed and the universe was born and destroyed, carrying a trace of the majesty of a newly born ruler.
However, just as he took a deep breath, preparing to leave this underground cave and digest this earth-shattering gain, another unexpected event occurred!
At the deepest part of the cave, the once smooth and hard stone wall suddenly and silently cracked open with a huge fissure. Beyond the fissure was not an exit, but an ancient altar that was even deeper, darker, and exuded a chilling aura!
On the altar, a grotesque throne carved from some unknown black crystal stood silently. On the throne sat a emaciated skeleton draped in a tattered ancient imperial robe.
The instant Xiao Han's gaze fell upon the skeleton—
Within the skeleton's hollow eye sockets, two tiny, eerie green flames suddenly ignited!
A terrifying aura, even colder, more evil, and more violent than the remnant will of the Eternal Night Emperor, swept out from the skeleton like a cold tide that had accumulated for billions of years, instantly filling the entire underground cavern!
"Hehehe... Finally... Finally, the wait is over..."
A dry, hoarse voice, like the grinding of countless bones or a vicious curse from the deepest depths of Nine Nether Hell, carrying a chilling coldness that could freeze one's soul, suddenly rang in Xiao Han's ears, or rather, deep within his soul.
"A... perfect... fresh... body of dominion..."
Xiao Han's pupils contracted sharply. The chilling and violent aura emanating from that withered skeleton far surpassed the remnant will of the Eternal Night Emperor he had encountered before. This was no ordinary Martial Grandmaster; it was at least the remnant soul of Martial Venerable! In his previous life, he was probably a terrifying figure who commanded a powerful force under the Eternal Night Emperor!
Before he could ponder this further, two eerie green flames suddenly blazed brightly in the empty eye sockets of the skeletal emperor's shadow. It slowly raised its jagged bone claws, and in an instant, the Primordial Shadow power within the entire underground cavern surged violently like boiling water, transforming into countless hideous and twisted chains of vengeful spirits, emitting mournful howls as they swept towards Xiao Han like a tidal wave. Each chain was extremely condensed, containing a deadly poison that corroded the soul and a malevolent curse originating from the ancient past; wherever it passed, even space itself rippled.