Chapter 998 Shadow [4]



Elena's battle was catastrophic, but the Tomb of Ayakashi itself was built so sturdily that not even a ripple of it made its way to the surface, projecting a calm aura over the tomb.

Unfortunately, those within weren't feeling the same calm.

Those who fell into traps and were unable to free themselves, those who were injured and weak…

…they found their bodies leaving their control as their consciousnesses were swallowed by a foreign entity.

In total, the number was only around 100. Compared to the tens of thousands of demonic spirits still in the central area with Elena, it was nothing.

However, these were 100 young geniuses of the universe.

Their potential and their importance weren't light.

Every single one of them was to become a pivotal force of the universe's strength.

But that future was no longer available to them.

Those targeted were at their weakest, which gave these demonic spirits an opportunity to completely take them over.

Their egos were erased, and their bodies became mere vessels.

Those 100 demonic spirits immediately left the Tomb of Ayakashi, easily avoiding the traps they spent countless millennia observing.

And finally, they made their way into the Holy Light Realm.

The group immediately split as the demonic spirits followed their individualistic instincts and separated to strengthen themselves…

BOOM!

Fearsome explosions filled the air in all parts of the Holy Light Realm with clouds of smoke.

It started from the east.

A man with shining black hair and domineering golden-red draconic eyes stared down a group of about ten demonic spirits with his brow raised.

"That's quite odd. I didn't expect to see something like this," he said casually, resting his massive greatsword on his shoulder.

The demonic spirits looked at each other and came to a consensus.

A dangerous enemy was in front of them, so they would work together just this once!

It seemed eons of isolation had some effect on their mentality after all.

They pounced as a group, strange mana erupting from their bodies.

It was a twisted mix of the original mana of the bodies' owners and the deathly mana of the demonic spirits, a result of the rapidity of their possession and proceeding combat.

Long Chen's eyes twinkled as he watched them.

"These entities are pure yin, right? Isn't this what you were looking for?" He said, glancing at his sword.

Brrr!

The sword purred in response.

"No, you can't have her. If you knew who her husband was, you would understand why she's untouchable."

Bang!

Ling Chen casually jumped back and avoided the strikes of his enemies as he continued his conversation.

Bzzt! Brrrr!

He sighed as he interpreted the sword's thoughts.

"Look at them. If they originate from this realm, do you think there will only be ten of them?"

Bzzt…?

"Yes, I'll hunt as many as I find."

Brrr?

"Damn brat, can you learn to be less greedy? Being a dragon doesn't excuse this nonsense."

Brr…

Long Chen sighed in annoyance. The Empyrean Dragon Sword was just as gluttonous as it was domineering!

'I coaxed him for now, but he'll surely make a fuss later if I don't feed him properly.'

Long Chen shook his head and slashed the sword through the air. It seemed to be the most casual possible movement, but it was actually hiding a great deal of profound intent.I think you should take a look at

'A Single Claw To Dominate All.'

A simple slash that represented just one claw of a dragon, that tiny piece of its body holding the grand ability to destroy countless living beings with a single touch.

Splatter!

The demonic spirits' physical bodies were immediately torn to shreds, and unlike other geniuses, they remained in the realm, becoming fertilizer for the trees that would grow in the future.

Meanwhile, the demonic spirits rushed out of those bodies and fled madly, their every instinct screaming that death was near.

Though, running was never an option.

The Empyrean Dragon Sword suddenly began to glow, and a projection of a massive five-clawed golden dragon appeared in the air.

The dragon opened its mouth, and a suction force like a black hole filled the atmosphere.

One by one, the ten demonic spirits were directly swallowed by the dragon, who happily burped before returning to the sword.

"Hmph," Long Chen snorted. "What a waste of time."

He took a vial out of his spatial ring and downed a few pills, easily replenishing his mana and stamina.

This time, the Human Domain came wholly prepared.

Whether it be pills or artifacts, strength or mentality, the Human Domain's group arrived with it all in spades.

100 demonic spirits?

What did that mean to them?

Ignoring Long Chen's strange method, Ruyue was a literal ruler of yin, and Rose's entire path to power was based on controlling the ethereal and bringing it into reality!

Demonic spirits were nothing more than snacks to them!

As for Xue Fang, he didn't personally have a method to interact with the immaterial, but he did have a treasure that could imprison spirits!

After he killed the host bodies, he collected the demonic spirits, which was actually the most beneficial method in the long term!

The screens in the banquet hall were only Chaos-rank treasures. Their ability to project was just as much as the perception of a 4th class who had yet to step into the nine revolutions.

Originally, there was going to be a riot in the first banquet hall when those experts saw their geniuses dying without the realm's protection, however, it was Xue Fang's actions that gave physical presence to the demonic spirits themselves and allowed the experts to understand the situation!

Rather than a disaster that could've ruined the universe's chances at survival, the release of demonic spirits became an event for geniuses to rise.

And all of its gains…

…were granted to and monopolized by those of the Human Domain.

Each of them had a nigh-infinite supply of pills, and now that they'd been in the Holy Light Realm for an entire day, their kill count had rapidly risen into the hundreds.

Luckily for the poor geniuses who fell prey to their assault, the Holy Light Realm was filled with alluring treasures, and slaughter wasn't the only way for those four to prove themselves.

Eventually, they halted their killing spree for a single reason.

In Rose's own words:

"What better way is there to show these fools up than monopolizing all the treasures they were supposed to get?"

It was a genius plan.

And oddly enough, it was a plan proposed by two of Damien's wives on completely separate occasions.

One had to wonder…

Just who influenced them to think like that…?

***

The Holy Light Realm was originally planned to be an exciting event that lasted roughly 2 months.

This was because, frankly speaking, nobody expected the sheer number and power of the universe's geniuses.

Because each of the individuals that stood out so far were those who didn't show themselves on this grand stage often, if at all, the actual standard for geniuses was considerably lower than their level.

Therefore, a change was proposed.

And within a day, it was implemented.

Heaven and Earth rumbled…as the Holy Light Realm began to expand.