Dark Emperor

"The so-called code word is that as long as I mention the code word, you must listen to me, no matter how unwilling you are, you must do as I say. Otherwise, I will come back and tell the Sect Master that you are not listening to me," Zhong Shan said seriously.

"What's so fun about that? No, I'm not doing it," Tian Ling'er immediately said with an unwilling expression.

"No, this matter must be agreed upon beforehand. If what I ask you to do is wrong, you can tell the Sect Master. Even if the Sect Master punishes me, I'll accept it. But if you don't agree to me, we won't go out," Zhong Shan said with a serious face.

"Okay, okay, you're so long-winded. I'll listen to you," Tian Ling'er said reluctantly.

Looking at Tian Ling'er's expression, Zhong Shan smiled slightly. She really had a spoiled young lady's temper.

"Let's find something a bit unusual. Hmm, you like to eat 'Osmanthus Cake', so let's use 'Osmanthus Cake' as the code word. As soon as I say Osmanthus Cake, it means I'm very serious, and you must listen to me. It must be, absolutely must," Zhong Shan said solemnly.

"Okay, okay, Osmanthus Cake, hehe!" Tian Ling'er laughed, amused by this code word. What kind of code word was this?

"Okay, since that's the case, wait a moment. I'll get my luggage, and we'll go together," Zhong Shan nodded and said.

After speaking, Zhong Shan went into the house and took out a huge bundle, weighing a full fifty jin. Zhong Shan carried the bundle on his back and held the large saber, saying, "Alright, let's go."

"Give it to me. Put it in my Storage Bracelet. You look quite tired," Tian Ling'er said with a smile.

Zhong Shan didn't act coy and directly gave her the bundle. In his hand, he only had a large saber.

"Alas, my Red Silk is only second-grade. It can only carry me alone. You use the Wind Chasing Boots, and we'll go quickly together," Tian Ling'er said.

"Okay," Zhong Shan carried the large saber, circulated his True Qi, and shot out rapidly in one direction.

Tian Ling'er stepped on a piece of Red Silk and kept flying, following him. She was going out, and Tian Ling'er was extremely happy in her heart.

Tian Ling'er knew the way out of the mountain and quickly led Zhong Shan, bypassing the large formation and leaving the Kaiyang Sect.

After leaving the Kaiyang Sect, Zhong Shan looked at the small thatched hut and sighed inwardly. He was also now a member of an Immortal Sect.

Zhong Shan did not go to greet the 'Shoushan' inside the thatched hut but took Tian Ling'er and quickly galloped in one direction.

It had taken several months to come here. To leave the mountain, Zhong Shan believed that with his current speed and the Wind Chasing Boots, it would take at most fifteen days. After fifteen days, he would be able to reach his manor.

After running in the mountains for a day, it was dark, and both of them were a bit tired. They found a place with a good environment. From the bundle, they took out two hammocks, tied them to tall trees, and sprinkled some herbs on the branches to prevent poisonous insects.

"Alright, we'll sleep on these tonight," Zhong Shan turned his head and said to Tian Ling'er.

Looking at the large nets between the two trees, Tian Ling'er's eyes were full of little stars. Looking at Zhong Shan, a hint of excitement flashed in her eyes.

"Zhong Shan, this is great! How did you think of this?" Tian Ling'er immediately flew onto one of the hammocks, lay on it, and twisted and swung back and forth excitedly.

Looking at Tian Ling'er's lively and innocent appearance, Zhong Shan shook his head and didn't say much. He also leaped a few times into his own hammock.

"Alright, you look at the stars. I'm going to sleep first," Zhong Shan said.

Lying on the hammock, looking at the stars all over the sky and listening to the chirping of small insects in the forest, Tian Ling'er was in a state of excitement. It was clear that it would take a long time for her to fall asleep.

At the same time, as darkness fell, in the Zhong Manor in the Great Kun Kingdom, Zhong Shan's Hidden Body sat cross-legged in the room.

Gently, the Hidden Body Zhong Shan stood up. He picked up a small notebook from the table beside him. On the small booklet was written "Dark Assault Art". This was what the Main Body had seen in the Kaiyang Sect's Scripture Pavilion not long ago. At the same time, inside the Dark Assault Art, there was also a portrait, a portrait of Hao San.

Holding the Dark Assault Art, the Hidden Body's figure flickered slightly and turned into a black shadow. Then, it truly became a shadow. In the darkness, it passed through the door crack as thin as paper, drilled out, and under the moonlight, a black shadow rapidly galloped across the ground. Its speed was as fast as a ghost, disappearing in a flash.

The Hidden Body was different from the Main Body. The Hidden Body's physique seemed exceptionally excellent. The Supreme Yin True Scripture cultivated very quickly. As long as the Main Body broke through, the Hidden Body would immediately break through. This was also a major limitation of the Hidden Body. Currently, the strength of Zhong Shan's Hidden Body was also at the Innate Third Stage.

An hour later, a black figure entered a valley. Within the valley were numerous houses, extremely well-hidden.

The black figure of Zhong Shan headed straight for the central hall. On the plaque above the hall were three dark characters: 'Dark Night Hall'.

The Dark Night Hall was the nightmare of high-ranking officials in the Great Kun Kingdom and the five surrounding countries. It was the most powerful assassin hall. It housed countless killers with terrifying strength, some reaching the tenth stage of the Acquired Realm. Legend had it that there were even Innate Realm experts within. Therefore, in the six countries, it was a name that struck fear into people's hearts.

At the entrance of the Dark Night Hall, Zhong Shan suddenly revealed himself and walked step by step towards the interior.

Inside, there was only one person, someone holding a lamp and looking at a large map.

Zhong Shan entered, and this person didn't even notice.

"Who's there?" Finally, as Zhong Shan fully entered the hall, the person became alert, turned around, and a thin sword appeared in their hand.

Upon seeing the arrival, the person's heart relaxed.

It was a man around fifty years old, with an ordinary appearance, the kind that would be completely unnoticed in a crowd.

"Master," the man said respectfully upon seeing Zhong Shan.

"Ah, Dark Emperor, how many times have I told you? We can address each other as brothers. Why do you need to be like this? And you've already reached the Innate Realm, yet you're unwilling to enter the Immortal Sect selection. This is too unfair to you," Zhong Shan said, shaking his head.

"Master, this life of Dark Emperor was saved by you. The revenge for my clansmen, parents, wife, and children was also achieved because of you. Dark Emperor has sworn to be loyal to you for life, without any complaints, let alone talk of unfairness," Dark Emperor said respectfully.

"You are now the Hall Master of the Dark Night Hall, someone who makes the noble families and royal courts of all countries tremble," Zhong Shan said, shaking his head and smiling.

"Everything is because of Master that Dark Emperor is where he is today. The Dark Night Hall will forever be loyal to Master," Dark Emperor immediately said.

"Alright, I won't say anymore. It saves you from constantly calling me Master, which I also find awkward. Take this Innate cultivation technique and continue cultivating," Zhong Shan handed the small booklet to Dark Emperor.

"Innate cultivation technique?" Dark Emperor said in surprise.

He gently took it. On it were the three characters: Dark Assault Art.

"I am also practicing an Innate cultivation technique now, just different from yours. This one of yours is also a top-tier Innate cultivation technique, with ten stages, capable of cultivating to the Golden Core Stage. Cultivate diligently, and when you reach the Golden Core Stage in the future, I will find another one for you," Zhong Shan said seriously, looking at Dark Emperor.

"Yes, I will cultivate diligently and also train the best assassins for Master," Dark Emperor said respectfully.

"Oh, right, within the Dark Assault Art, there's a portrait of an Innate expert. Search everywhere for him, dead or alive. Once you find him, there's no need to act, just inform me," Zhong Shan said.

"Yes, I will search for this person with all my might," Dark Emperor bowed.

"Alright, alright, I'm leaving now. You can continue being busy," Zhong Shan said, shaking his head.

Then, Zhong Shan slowly walked out. After leaving Dark Emperor's sight, he transformed into a dark shadow and quickly returned the way he came.

Looking at the Dark Assault Art in his hand, Dark Emperor sighed with emotion. At the same time, he looked at the place where Zhong Shan disappeared, his eyes filled with determination.

***

The main body of Zhong Shan woke up before dawn the next day. Looking at Tian Ling'er, who had been excited for most of the night before falling asleep, Zhong Shan didn't wake her up. Instead, he packed up the hammock, took his large saber, and practiced his saber techniques nearby.

Heaven Splitting Strike! Exterminate!

Practicing on a large stone, what Zhong Shan wanted to do was to cut through the large stone as if cutting tofu, relying on feel to find its weak points.

Only Zhong Shan could have such an idea. Even the person who created the saber technique back then probably didn't have such a terrifying thought as Zhong Shan. Wood grain was one thing, but could one find the weak points of stone grain?

Zhong Shan practiced for an hour before resting and quickly sat cross-legged to circulate his energy.

At this moment, Tian Ling'er also woke up. Upon waking, she saw Zhong Shan diligently cultivating there. Tian Ling'er felt a wave of shame, because Tian Ling'er's root bone was just the opposite of Zhong Shan's. Tian Ling'er's root bone was too good, so much so that she didn't need to work very hard to cultivate faster than ordinary people.

In this desolate mountain area, Zhong Shan didn't dare to immerse himself for too long. He merely summarized the insights from splitting the stone earlier.

He gently opened his eyes and happened to see Tian Ling'er's large, flickering eyes. The morning sun shone on Tian Ling'er's porcelain-like face, making her look even more like a perfect, radiant work of art.

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