The sun began to descend in the sky, and the entire firmament gradually turned dark and heavy. This was a sign of the imminent appearance of Phantom Beasts, as night was their active period. Chen Tian and Long Yun needed to find a safe place to rest, and the safest place was within a city. Thousands of years ago, Phantom Beasts had signed a covenant with the Heavenly Dao, stipulating that as long as humans resided within cities, Phantom Beasts were forbidden from harming humans and living beings within those urban boundaries.
Outside the cities, this restriction did not apply, causing all humans and living beings within the city to fear leaving its gates after nightfall. For them, the city was the safest haven; they were no match for Phantom Beasts. Long Yun, guided by his familiar memories, located the nearest city, Cloud Dragon City.
Chen Tian was unfamiliar with the roads. He only knew that this plane was indeed more advanced than the Divine Realm and wondered if his strength was at its peak here. Chen Tian queried the system, but this time, the system remained silent, as if it had frozen. Unfamiliar with the way, Chen Tian had no choice but to follow Long Yun. Chen Tian believed that the Extermination Heaven Pavilion should have received news by now, but he was unsure of the methods they would employ to deal with Chen Tian and Long Yun.
Cloud Dragon City, the closest city to the mountain range, was a magnificent and vast metropolis. Its total area spanned a staggering thirty million meters, and it was considered one of the smaller cities. The city's name was inscribed on the white city walls, and Chen Tian sensed a mysterious power emanating from these words. In the presence of this power, the oppressive darkness vanished completely. It appeared that the city's ability to protect humans and living beings was connected to these inscriptions.
Chen Tian inquired, and Long Yun replied indifferently, "These characters were bestowed by the Heavenly Dao. Every city is given a name by the Heavenly Dao, and this name can repel Phantom Beasts. Any Phantom Beast attempting to enter a city will be annihilated."
"This is the Heavenly Dao's protection for humans and living beings. The Heavenly Dao finds Phantom Beasts difficult to control; they act as they please, and the Heavenly Dao cannot completely eradicate them. For the safety of the world, many such rules have been established."
Long Yun looked pensive. The Heavenly Dao of this world had done so much for them, yet internal conflicts persisted among humans. When would they, humans and living beings, unite to fight against the Phantom Beasts?
"Let's go in, Chen Tian. It's getting dark."
"Alright."
Chen Tian saw a reflection of himself in the Heavenly Dao of the Phantom Beast Continent. Hadn't he, in his desperate attempt to save the Divine Realm, acted similarly? To protect the world, any action was permissible as long as the world remained safe.
Chen Tian and Long Yun's arrival went unnoticed. Chen Tian directly employed his abilities to erase their presence, making it so that even passersby felt nothing.
Long Yun was curious. By all rights, he was a wanted fugitive, yet no one around even glanced at him, as if they couldn't see him.
"Chen Tian, could it be you?"
Long Yun suddenly thought of something. He turned around just as Chen Tian nodded, further solidifying Long Yun's suspicion.
It was Chen Tian's doing. Though Long Yun didn't know how Chen Tian managed to conceal his presence, this ability made him unafraid of being exposed.
Chen Tian indeed possessed this capability, but it had a limited range. Long Yun needed to stand beside Chen Tian for it to be effective.
Chen Tian explained his ability, leaving Long Yun in disbelief. The ability to conceal one's existence, this was an innate ability of Chen Tian.
From what world did Chen Tian hail?
"Ding, did the host seek this system before?"
"Yes, system, I wanted to ask about my strength in this world."
"Host, you ask what you already know. The answer is: peak. Unless the host stands at the pinnacle of the universe, in any world, you are at the peak of strength."
The system's voice perplexed Chen Tian. "Why?"
"Idiot host, have you forgotten your first life form? The higher the world, the more complete the Heavenly Dao, the better the origin, and the stronger the power of your first life form becomes."
"So, you mean..."
"Precisely. This system has other matters to attend to. Host, for the next few days, there's no need to contact this system unless absolutely necessary. Bye-bye."
"Beep, beep, beep!"
The system's screen went black. Chen Tian's expression turned grim. This system was utterly unreliable!
Besides, you're just a system; what business do you have?
I was still waiting for you to provide detailed information about the Phantom Beast Continent!
It seemed he would have to figure things out himself. Chen Tian and Long Yun arrived at an inn. The inn was crowded, as no one liked to venture out at night. Long Yun patted his pouch, which contained a few gold coins. The innkeeper's eyes lit up upon seeing the gold, and with a fawning demeanor, he asked, "Distinguished guests, would you like to book rooms?"
"Yes, prepare two rooms for us. Here are five gold coins."
"We plan to stay for a while."
After Long Yun finished speaking, his generous gesture made the innkeeper bow and usher Chen Tian and Long Yun into their rooms.
In the room, Chen Tian knew he could only wait until morning. No one dared to go out at night, and even if they did, they couldn't leave the city. Phantom Beasts, Chen Tian had heard of them for the first time. The Phantom Beast Continent was indeed a peculiar land.
He had assumed it was a world dominated by humans, only to discover that Phantom Beasts ruled this realm. If not for the Heavenly Dao, humans and other living beings would have long vanished from this continent.
Chen Tian slowly closed his eyes. In the Dark Realm, Chen Tian's clone flew forward. Chen Tian sensed Chen Feng's aura, which was very faint but still detectable.
Chen Tian flew forward, transforming into a streak of light. In the darkness, a beam of light, like a shooting star, caused everyone in the Dark Realm to gasp in astonishment.
It was a question.
Who dared to fly like this in the Dark Realm? Such speed!
In the Dark Realm, within a massive canyon, darkness prevailed, enveloped by dark energy. The entire canyon was black, its sides resembling two claws converging, forming a bizarre chasm. Chen Tian frowned. This was his clone, possessing ninety percent of his strength, yet he hesitated for a moment. The canyon before him made this clone sense a trace of danger; this canyon was definitely not an easy place to enter.
Chen Tian hesitated again, then made a decision. He had come this far; how could he give up? Furthermore, Chen Feng had to be rescued. He was a crucial ally for the upcoming battle, and time was running short. Chen Tian needed people, allies to help share the burden.
Chen Tian stepped into the canyon. Anyone witnessing this scene would be astonished, for this was the Black Death Canyon. No one who entered it in the Dark Realm had ever returned. Some had perished on the spot, while others had died just a few steps into the canyon.
Chen Tian proceeded alone toward the center of the canyon. As he walked along the canyon path, the black energy and oppressive feeling caused Chen Tian's expression to become solemn. This black energy was evil spirit energy. Could there be Evil Spirits here?
Judging by the purity of this evil spirit energy, it was that of ancient Evil Spirits from the Evil Spirit tribe. Chen Tian walked along the path, unaffected by the evil spirit energy.
Rumble!
The ground cracked open, and figures crawled out from the earth. They were densely packed, their eyes entirely black, their bodies devoid of flesh, only bones. Chen Tian realized these were people who had entered this canyon and been affected by the evil spirit energy. But why had they transformed like this?
Logically, those tainted by evil spirit energy should assimilate, but these individuals were completely different from assimilation. As Chen Tian contemplated, these figures attacked, advancing towards him. The ground trembled. Chen Tian's eyes snapped open. He unleashed his fists, gathering all his strength. With a single punch, a heaven-shattering pillar of light shot out. A passage appeared amidst the crowd. With that one punch, Chen Tian killed tens of thousands.
The might of his fist, terrifying indeed!
This was merely a casual strike. Chen Tian's clone employed no martial arts, only pure combat instinct.
Chen Tian suddenly sensed something. He unleashed his speed, transforming into a streak of light, rushing towards the open passage ahead.
Ahead, Chen Tian felt Chen Feng's aura, but it felt strangely off.
In no time, Chen Tian arrived at the center of the canyon. There was nothing in the center; even the sides of the canyon were barren.
"You've come, Chen Tian."
A familiar voice rang out. Chen Tian froze. The black energy that had obscured the canyon parted to the sides, revealing a figure before Chen Tian.
Chen Tian looked at the figure and said, "Chen Feng, I've come, but you... what is this appearance...?"
"As you see, I chose to sacrifice myself to suppress the evil spirit energy, transforming into a seal to contain all of it within this canyon."
"But time is running out. Chen Tian, it's good that you've arrived in time."
"Chen Feng, what happened? Weren't you fighting the Evil Spirit tribe in the Divine Realm? Why are you in the Dark Realm?"
"It's a long story. Chen Tian, now is not the time for this. I need your help. Beneath my seal, a powerful Evil Spirit is suppressed. I need you to defeat it, or the seal will eventually be broken, and this entire world will fall."
Chen Feng spoke, and Chen Tian nodded. He had already sensed the Evil Spirit beneath the seal constantly battering it.
"I'll be back shortly."
Chen Tian transformed into a streak of light and dove into the magic array behind Chen Feng. This seal was taught to Chen Feng by Chen Tian, so Chen Tian knew exactly how to enter it.
Chen Tian appeared within the seal. The inside was a blank white space. Chen Tian watched a black light continuously batter the edges of the white space. Chen Tian stepped forward and decisively attacked.
"Brat, you're seeking death. You alone cannot stop me."
The Evil Spirit saw Chen Tian attack and turned to face him.