I Am Overlord c1-962

by Translator: Pokka; Author: 我本纯洁 (I Am Pure); Licensed From: Migu

  Chapter 666: Dark Origin Energy

  Xiang Shaoyun had not expected to encounter spatial crested snakes here. He was forced to be on full alert. The spatial crested snakes were proficient in speed, capable of moving undetected, and they were extremely hard to catch.

  Of course, their weakness was rather apparent as well. Their offensive power was rather weak. So long as one had proper defenses up, one would be safe. With his Goldplates active around him, Xiang Shaoyun continued advancing.

  The spatial crested snakes occasionally appeared, trying to bite through his Goldplates to assault him with their poison. Of course, Xiang Shaoyun would not allow himself to remain in a reactive position for long. Just as the spatial crested snakes appeared once again, he grabbed the opportunity and swung the Overlord Skyslaying Saber, slashing one of the snakes into two.

  "Come at me, you poisonous life forms. I, Xiang Shaoyun, am not afraid of you," said Xiang Shaoyun, his battle intent soaring.

  If he hadn't comprehended the profundity of darkness, it wouldn't be so easy to detect the spatial crested snakes. But the more he advanced, the more spatial crested snakes there were. They became so numerous even he started feeling fear.

  "Don't tell me I have arrived at their lair," he muttered doubtfully. At this time, six spatial crested snakes shot out from six different directions.

  Xiang Shaoyun wanted to blast them to death by summoning lightning from the sky. However, he found that the only lightning power he had access to was his innate purple lightning. Even so, the power of darkness suppressed the innate purple lightning he released, and his lightning was thus not destructive enough to deal with the snakes. At that realization, he tried using the power of Yun Flame. Similarly, the power was weakened as well.

  Xiang Shaoyun finally realized that here, probably only the power of darkness would be effective. When that realization hit him, he switched his weapon to a black sword and swung it around madly, powering his slashes with dark energy. Sure enough, only when using the power of darkness would he be able to attack smoothly.

  Hiss! Hiss!

  The spatial crested snakes flitted in and out of existence, attacking him from numerous different directions. Some came from above, some came from below, some came from his waist, and so on. In an instant, the number of spatial crested snakes grew to more than 10, causing his Goldplates to be on the brink of collapse.

  If he hadn't been slashing his black sword madly, killing a few of the snakes, he would have been in much greater trouble. He no longer dared to continue flying. Instead, he activated his trait of invisibility.

  His trait of invisibility was not as simple as turning invisible. Even his entire presence was masked, causing the spatial crested snakes to lose track of him. They started appearing one after another, looking for him everywhere to no avail.

  Meanwhile, Xiang Shaoyun had completely blended with the darkness, letting him see the spatial crested snakes clearly. He no longer held back, slashing the spatial crested snakes with his black sword.

  The spatial crested snake's biggest weakness was its lack of defense. Under Xiang Shaoyun's mad slashes, they started dropping one after another. Some of the faster ones immediately fled, no longer daring to stay.

  Xiang Shaoyun heaved a breath of relief and continued advancing. Naturally, along the way, he encountered more spatial crested snakes. Hidden amid the darkness, they were extremely hard to see with the naked eye.

  However, Xiang Shaoyun had already comprehended the profundity of darkness. He now possessed night vision and could see them all clearly. He did not kill easily anymore, and he only attacked when his path was blocked.

  As he went deeper, he finally found the thing that had been calling him over. Almost a thousand spatial crested snakes were ahead of him, surrounding a clump of energy and absorbing it. The jet-black spiraling energy was a unique existence within this dark space.

  After he approached, Xiang Shaoyun sensed a dense dark energy emanating from that clump, and even he started to absorb the energy by instinct. His dark star grew rapidly, and his bloodline power stirred again.

  He could sense that the clump was no simple item. He swallowed and started approaching the spiraling clump. When he approached, he found that the spiral was akin to a black hole capable of swallowing everything. The dark energy it emanated was of the highest purity. Although it was not a type of unique dark power, it was even more precious than a unique dark power.

  Xiang Shaoyun started searching his mind for the information he knew about dark energy, trying to figure out the spiral's origin. Finally, a look of astonishment covered his face as he exclaimed, "Is this a clump of dark origin energy?"

  The more he thought about it, the more certain he was that it was dark origin energy. The ultimate form of the power of darkness was a black hole, and this spiral seemed to be on the path of turning into a pure black hole. It was formed of pure dark energy, and perhaps after several tens of thousands of years later, it would become a terrifying black hole.

  This clump of dark origin energy was an optimal material to build one's soul foundation. Any Sovereign would turn mad over the discovery of this thing. Obtaining it would not only allow one's strength to grow rapidly, but would also help one perfect one's soul foundation. It would also alter one's body, helping one enter the Heaven Battling Realm. One could say that this clump of dark origin energy was a true saint-grade material. It could even be called a god-grade material.

  Xiang Shaoyun had not expected that he would be able to find something like this here. He repeatedly swallowed, not knowing what to do. He had just entered the Dragon Ascension Realm and was incapable of absorbing the dark origin energy. At most, he would only be able to absorb a tiny bit of it, and even that much was enough for him to benefit greatly.

  However, he was unwilling to give up on it just like that. It was a saint-grade material, one that was extremely rare. Some Sovereigns, and even Saints, would spend their entire lives never coming across it. Since he was lucky enough to encounter it, he had to grab onto this opportunity.

  I must take it away! Xiang Shaoyun told himself.

  He had an astral cosmos sea that was different from anyone else's. He planned to take the entirety of the dark origin energy into him. At present, his astral cosmos sea had reached a level nobody could imagine, capable of containing an incredibly massive item.

  Xiang Shaoyun acted immediately on his thought as he approached the clump of energy. Numerous spatial crested snakes were surrounding the dark origin energy, joyfully absorbing its energy. Perhaps they were only able to freely traverse the endless darkness thanks to the energy they had absorbed here.

  Xiang Shaoyun looked at the dark origin energy, his eyes burning with passion. He activated his astral cosmos sea, aimed his absorptive force at the clump, and pulled. However, what he expected did not happen...

  Chapter 667: Kill Them All

  The astral cosmos sea was supposed to be an object capable of storing anything without life. Xiang Shaoyun's astral cosmos sea, on the other hand, defied all common sense and could store even living beings.

  Of course, storing lifeless objects and living beings required different methods. The former only required him to scan the object with his consciousness, whereas the latter required him to form a connection with the being he intended to store. Only when both parties had the same intention would he be able to store the living being.

  Xiang Shaoyun had assumed that this clump of dark origin energy was just an object capable of being directly absorbed into his astral cosmos sea. But when he tried to store it, he failed and sensed a willpower fighting against his.

  "What is going on? Is there a living being in this clump of energy?" Xiang Shaoyun muttered in confusion.

  After more observations, he confirmed that there was no life in the clump of energy. It was simply energy. The so-called origin energy was the purest form of a particular energy. Although it was not a living being, it possessed its own willpower, and because of that,
the astral cosmos sea couldn't store it like a regular lifeless object.

  The only way of storing it was through either erasing its willpower or subjugating it. That placed him in a difficult position. His failure made him extremely gloomy. If there weren't all those spatial crested snakes around, he could take his time slowly refining the energy before fusing it with his own willpower and storing it away.

  At that thought, he steeled his heart as he thought, These spatial crested snakes are incredibly harmful. Today, I shall eliminate them for the greater good before taking this dark origin energy for myself.

  He acted on that thought immediately, and he noiselessly appeared near the snakes. Using his fingers as a blade, he activated his dark energy and slashed the snakes. Instantly, tens of the snakes were killed. The other snakes were alerted and immediately vanished into thin air.

  Hiding amid the void, they started searching for their enemy to no avail. In this space of darkness, Xiang Shaoyun's trait of invisibility had been greatly enhanced. One could say that he could stay hidden for unlimited time here. That was why he had the courage to attack all these snakes.

  When the snakes failed to find their enemy, they gradually appeared near the dark origin energy again. Once again, Xiang Shaoyun attacked and killed a bunch of them. After a few repetitions, about half the snakes were killed. As for the others, they all fled after feeling threatened.

  After spending some time observing, Xiang Shaoyun found that new spatial crested snakes were no longer appearing. Only then did he start dealing with the dark origin energy.

  He used the most commonly used method, absorbing the dark origin energy by circulating his cultivation method. His first step was to cram his dark star full of energy. Each strand of origin energy he absorbed brought with it a dense and pure dark power.

  Only a short while had passed when Xiang Shaoyun sensed that his dark star was completely full, reaching a point he couldn't even compress the energy within anymore. Part of the reason he couldn't compress it was the purity. At this point, his only option was to cram his other eight stars full as well before converting his energy into draconic aura. He would then be able to advance into the third stage.

  And now, the disadvantage of cultivating nine powers showed. If he only cultivated one power, just this clump of dark origin energy would be enough for him to advance several stages in a row, perhaps even bringing him straight to the Sovereign Realm.

  With his dark star full, he was forced to channel the energy into his bloodline instead, trying to further awaken his bloodline power. As his bloodline power grew, Xiang Shaoyun sensed that his Imperial Nether Clan talents were improving. He even awakened a new ability—Nethergate.

  Nethergate was an extremely tricky ability to deal with, one that could be activated by gathering dark elemental devilish energy through his bloodline. It was capable of shifting an opponent's energy into the void, causing the opponent's attacks to be harmless. With enough strength, one could even banish an opponent into the void.

  It was an ability that was supposed to only awaken after one reached the Devil Sovereign realm or above. For Xiang Shaoyun to awaken it now, it was evident his bloodline had been purified significantly.

  Xiang Shaoyun was completely out of words. "The Imperial Nether Clan is truly scary. Each ability is inconceivable. No wonder they are one of the Four Paramount Clans."

  He tried activating the ability, but even after using the entirety of his bloodline power and astral energy, he could only form a door as big as a head. The door was so small it couldn't even shift a regular attack. Thus, it wouldn't be able to display his ability's incredible prowess.

  Xiang Shaoyun understood that although he had awakened the Nethergate ability, his cultivation level was not high enough to display its true might. Instead of wasting his time thinking about it, he refocused on the clump of dark origin energy and tried to think of a way to absorb it.

  "Right, since it can fight my willpower, I will try influencing it with my will, making it obey," decided Xiang Shaoyun after thinking about it for a while.

  And thus, he sat down cross-legged before the dark origin energy, trying to penetrate it with his consciousness. With the filthless soul at the level of a Sovereign, he was able to create a rather powerful pressure.

  Since the dark origin energy was without an owner, its consciousness was rather pure and innocent. Soon, Xiang Shaoyun's consciousness penetrated inside, but he still couldn't store it away.

  "What do I lack?" Xiang Shaoyun sank into confusion.

  He tried activating his dark star, forming a resonance with the dark origin energy, before pulling with his consciousness. Finally, the dark origin energy reacted. It started enveloping Xiang Shaoyun, and it moved so fast he couldn't even escape in time.

  He was trapped right in the middle of the clump, allowing him to sense the deeper truth of darkness. The energy also started permeating his body, forcefully entering his dark star, causing the star to expand rapidly. It spoiled the balance between his nine stars, and since he couldn't convert the excess energy into draconic aura, he had a feeling his dark star was on the verge of implosion.

  "I refuse to believe I can't subdue you! Refine!" Xiang Shaoyun roared and channeled the excess energy into his astral cosmos sea, using it to enlarge the astral cosmos sea.

  He also set his Nether Soul Domain free, completely trapping the dark origin energy within the domain before releasing all 8,000 of his ghostrunes. As the ghostrunes were of a similar origin with the Imperial Nether Clan, they also longed greatly for the dark origin energy. They started devouring the dark origin energy like crazy. Even his filthless soul benefited greatly.

  Chapter 668: Severing Saber Manor's Young Master Xiao Xie

  The soul was an existence of extreme yin, and it could be considered similar in nature with the power of the dark origin energy. With the nourishment of the dark origin energy, Xiang Shaoyun's filthless soul further solidified. His soul power grew rapidly, reaching a level comparable to the soul of a third-stage Soul Foundation Realm cultivator.

  The Nether Soul Domain also grew rapidly, its durability reaching a brand new level. With the current strength of his Nether Soul Domain, he could trap and kill a bunch of Sovereigns easily. Every single one of the ghostrunes had also undergone a thorough transformation. They now looked much fiercer and extraordinary, and their cultivation levels had also grown.

  That was especially true for Gui Qi, who reached the eighth-stage Devil Emperor realm from the sixth stage. His pair of ghostrune wings was now dreadfully bewitching. Even so, the clump of dark origin energy had not reduced in size by much. That was because in this unique environment, the dark origin energy could endlessly replenish its energy from its surroundings.

  At this point, Xiang Shaoyun had formed a tiny level of affinity with the dark origin energy. His will could now penetrate it deeply.

  "Withdraw!" Xiang Shaoyun waited no longer and tried pulling the dark origin energy into his astral cosmos sea.

  This time, he succeeded, and the entirety of the dark origin energy converged in his astral cosmos sea.

  Xiang Shaoyun isolated the dark origin energy at a corner, not allowing it any sort of contact with the rest of his astral cosmos sea. The so-called origin energy was energy with zero impurity. If it made contact with other energies, its purity might be ruined, losing the perfect balance of its makeup.

  The astral cosmos sea was something Xiang Shaoyun had personally formed. Thus, he could alter it as he wished. It wasn't a problem for him to make some empty space to store the dark origin energy.

  But he soon found that after leaving the space of endless darkness, the dark origin energy started constricting, and there were indications that it was going to gradually dissipate. If it continued, it would become smaller and smaller until it eventually vanished.

  At that discovery, Xiang Shaoyun muttered, "Looks like I need to increase my cultivation as quickly as possible before refining the entirety of this thing into my d
ark star. But for now, I should look for an exit."

  After deciding on a direction, he started flying at full speed. He believed that this place was definitely not boundless in size. However, even after flying for an unknown amount of time, he still did not find anything. He almost sank into despair.

  Here, there were no other sources of energy he could absorb. The only thing he could do was replenish his energy using spirit crystals while cultivating his other stars at the same time.

  He finally couldn't take it any longer and took out the chakram as he muttered, "I'll split the space again! I refuse to believe I can't find an exit!"

  He did so immediately. Powering the chakram with all his strength, he struck at a random direction.

  ...

  Castle of Darkness.

  This was one of Dragon Phoenix Academy's nine great cultivation zones. The castle was perfectly conserved, built with unique architecture. Each unit of the castle contained the unique architecture of a different race. The ancient construction at the center of the others was the actual place of importance within the Castle of Darkness.

  It was rumored that the central building used to be a super expert's exclusive residence. His inheritance was contained within, which granted the building an extraordinary significance.

  Within the Castle of Darkness, the most commonly seen life form was a beast called the dark bat. They occupied the castle, and the moment someone approached, they would attack in great numbers.

  Fortunately, they mostly restricted their activities to the central keep and its vicinity. They wouldn't easily approach the other buildings around the keep. Thus, the castle's outer buildings became the cultivation spots of the Dragon Phoenix Academy disciples.

  A space of darkness shrouded the entire Castle of Darkness. Hence, the dark energy in the air was extremely dense. Staying at the castle would allow a cultivator to grow rapidly. Apart from that, the disciples could also earn contribution points by slaughtering the dark bats.