Ninth King's Palace

"Success!"

Seeing that Xiao Ming had succeeded, the two girls were both somewhat delighted.

Just then, a series of rushing sounds tore through the air, and several figures landed on the altar.

"Kid, hand over the treasure you obtained, or else... uh..."

The shouting suddenly choked off, and panic appeared on those people's faces.

"Damn it, how did we run into this person?!" The man who had shouted was drenched in sweat.

"Or else what?" Xiao Ming asked with a smile.

"Uh... or else... we'll get lost!" the other man replied after swallowing hard.

Xiao Ming merely glanced at them without replying, then looked toward the vortex. "Come out."

"Honored One's perception truly is sharp."

An aged voice rang out through the space. A white-haired old man dressed in black robes emerged from the vortex, carrying a faintly mysterious aura. There were no whites in his eyes—only a darkness as deep as black holes. His pair of black pupils seemed capable of forcibly devouring even the light between heaven and earth.

"I am Black Pupil. Greetings, Honored One, and congratulations on obtaining the Devouring Ancestral Symbol."

Black Pupil stared at Xiao Ming with his dark eyes. Then, an ancient voice sounded, filled with courtesy.

Xiao Ming had actually wanted to ask Black Pupil why he had placed a seal on the Devouring Ancestral Symbol. The Ancestral Symbol's own trial was already terrifying enough; failure meant immediate annihilation. Other than someone with strength like his, who could possibly forcefully subdue it?

Yet Black Pupil had still added a seal. Fine, perhaps he wanted to test his successor—but he had placed the Devouring Ancestral Symbol outside while hiding himself away. If someone did not forcibly break the seal, they could still take the Devouring Ancestral Symbol. The whole arrangement was simply baffling.