The force that surged down from the Dark Night Throne nearly crushed Xiao Han's body.
Countless ancient shadow runes darted beneath his skin, a mix of stinging and tingling sensations making it difficult for him to distinguish his limbs.
Consciousness was pulled into chaos.
Intermittent images flooded in.
A tall figure dressed in a dark purple imperial robe stepped out of the void; it was the young Eternal Night Emperor.
He watched as an ordinary mortal, an unknown shadow Martial Artist, rose step by step to the top, becoming the king who ruled over the darkness of all realms.
The scene then shifts to a bloody battle between the gods.
The Eternal Night Emperor fought alone against nine so-called gods of light, causing the sky to collapse and the earth to cave in, staining the galaxy red.
He finally collapsed, his body falling, leaving only a whisper that transcends time and space.
"The day the Dark Night Throne chooses its master, the day eternal night returns... Those who defy fate, who will bear my will, will face the dual annihilation of the Bright Light Divine Court and the Void Abyss..."
"... Reclaim the glory of the night."
The sound exploded in his head, giving him a splitting headache.
The one who defied fate and returned—that's quite a heavy title.
The power of the throne was still flowing into his body.
The [Primordial Eternal Night Overlord] Martial Soul behind him, wearing a twelve-tassel crown, was rapidly solidifying. The starry river pattern on the imperial robe flowed endlessly, and the heavy pressure made the surrounding air freeze.
His Martial Soul's rank jumped directly from a phantom to the initial perfect stage, and a brand new divine ability was also imprinted on his soul—[Dark Night Judgment].
A method that can drag the enemy's soul directly into eternal darkness, inflicting endless torment.
"This power..."
Xiao Han clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking as energy surged within him.
His cultivation level was forcibly raised from the Martial Grandmaster Realm First Level Peak Martial Grandmaster Realm Third Layer.
The physical body is also being reshaped by this power, transforming into the prototype of the [Eternal Night Emperor Body].
Even more strangely, the enormous Dark Night Throne began to shrink, eventually transforming into a dark purple imperial seal that flew straight toward his brow.
The brand touched the skin, causing a burning sensation before disappearing, leaving only a delicate shadow pattern.
[Eternal Night Emperor Seal]
The supreme authority of the Eternal Night Clan.
"Hey, so I, Xiao, am destined to be an emperor?"
Xiao Han subconsciously touched the warm mark between his eyebrows; the feeling was unusually complex.
They had the power, but the mess behind it weighed on them like a mountain.
Just as he was about to leave the cave, a violent roar came from above.
A blinding golden beam of light tore through the thick rock layer, descending from the sky and piercing straight into the ground.
Several figures slowly descended from within the pillar of light.
The leader was clad in platinum armor, exuding a chilling aura.
Divine Court Knights?
Xiao Han's figure instantly merged into the darkness, and the [Eternal Night - Fall of Myriad Realms] domain silently unfolded.
"Great Knight, the aura of the Eternal Night Emperor Seal is nearby," a knight reported to the leader.
The great knight removed his helmet, revealing a cold and stern face, with flames dancing in his golden eyes.
"After searching for so many years, I've finally caught you." He sneered, "The 'returner of fate' from the prophecy, today I'll send you to your demise!"
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly turned around, his golden longsword pointing towards where Xiao Han was hiding.
"Come out, you rat of the eternal night!"
Xiao Han emerged from the darkness, no longer hiding.
"The dogs of the Divine Court certainly have a keen sense of smell."
"Court death!"
Enraged, the three knights charged forward, swords raised.
Xiao Han merely raised his hand, unleashing [Dark Night Judgment] for the first time.
In an instant, the three knights froze, their eyes dimming rapidly.
They let out inhuman screams, clutching their heads and writhing on the ground in agony, their souls seemingly dragged into an abyss by an invisible hand.
Within three breaths, the three men were bleeding from all seven orifices and fell silent.
"It is indeed an evil force." The Grand Knight's expression turned slightly solemn, and his longsword blazed with holy fire. "[Divine Judgment]!"
Golden sword light tore through the darkness, slashing towards Xiao Han with the will to purify everything.
Xiao Han dared not be careless and unleashed the full power of the [Netherworld Chaos Dragon Flame].
Boom!
The two forces collided, producing a tremendous sound.
Xiao Han was so shocked that he staggered back several steps, felt a sweet taste in his throat, and a trace of blood slid down the corner of his mouth.
How could that be?
He was clearly at the Martial Grandmaster Realm Third Layer, while his opponent was only at the peak of the second level, yet this divine power was so strong in restraining him.
The great knight struck a blow and his offensive grew even fiercer, the golden sword light stretching endlessly, each strike seemingly aimed at pinning him to the spot.
Xiao Han could only parry the attacks awkwardly, and he was already cursing under his breath.
These lackeys of the Divine Court are practically natural nemesis; fighting them is ten times more difficult than fighting Martial Artists of the same level.
Just when he was about to give up, the [Eternal Night Emperor Seal] between his eyebrows suddenly became hot.
A phantom figure quietly appeared behind him.
It is the remnant will of the Eternal Night Emperor!
"How dare the minions of the Bright Light Divine Court be so insolent before me?"
The illusory figure of the Emperor Lord snorted coldly, casually raising his hand and pointing out with a finger.
A seemingly casual flick of the finger shattered the great knight's prized divine protective shield.
He flew backward like a tattered sack, crashing heavily into the rock wall, breaking countless bones.
"The will of an Emperor... Emperor Lord- level powerhouse!" The Grand Knight coughed up blood, his face filled with horror, "Your Eternal Night Clan... weren't you already..."
The illusory image of the Eternal Night Emperor became much fainter, clearly indicating that this attack had exhausted his remaining strength.
"Boy, the Divine Court has its eyes on you. You can't stay here any longer."
The Emperor Lord turned to Xiao Han, his voice weak but still carrying an air of authority.
"Go to the Shadow Sanctuary; I've left a backup plan there."
As he spoke, he placed a black talisman into Xiao Han's hand.
"[Shadow Teleportation Talisman] can help you escape. Remember, be careful of those around you; there are spies from the Divine Court within your Imperial Capital Academy."
Is there an inside agent at the Imperial Capital Academy?
Xiao Han's heart sank.
The Emperor Lord's illusory image was about to dissipate, his last voice fading away.
"The Eternal Night... is entrusted to you..."
As the voice faded, the phantom image also vanished completely.
In the distance, the sound of rapid footsteps approached; reinforcements from the Divine Court had arrived.
Xiao Han dared not delay any longer and immediately crushed the [Shadow Teleportation Talisman].
A black teleportation array unfolded beneath his feet, and just before his figure was about to disappear, a beam of holy light descended from the sky and struck him precisely in the chest.
Puff!
Xiao Han spat out another mouthful of blood as a strange power took root within his body.
[Divine Punishment Mark].
The dog-skin plaster used by the Divine Court for tracking.
The light from the teleportation array completely engulfed him.
The next moment, he had fallen into an unfamiliar, shadowy forest.
The atmosphere here eased the burning pain in his chest, but another familiar fluctuation made him suddenly raise his head and look into the depths of the forest.
The Martial Soul fluctuations of the Extreme Ice Phoenix.
"Su Linglong?"