I am the Thunder Emperor in the fight

The Dark Current Cavern is far more complex and dangerous than the Shadow Beast Wasteland.

The moment you step into the cave entrance, all light is stripped away, leaving only eternal darkness that seems to absorb your very soul.

The air was thick with moisture and a more refined, yet more violent and chaotic, shadow energy, mixed with the musty smell of moss and the faint fishy odor emanating from some unknown mineral.

The ground beneath my feet was slippery rock, and the air was filled with the roar of the ceaseless underground currents, as well as unsettling rustling and hollow echoes coming from countless forks and fissures.

The terrain here is like a huge maze, with crisscrossing passages that are sometimes wide and sometimes narrow, and are divided into upper and lower levels. In many places, you have to wade through water or climb.

Even more troublesome is that this place is inhabited by more bizarre and troublesome shadow creatures adapted to the dark and damp environment, as well as many naturally formed areas containing deadly shadow traps or chaotic energy fields.

After entering the labyrinth, the Night Falcon did not rush to go deeper. Instead, relying on its extraordinary perception and subtle control over dark energy, it chose a relatively hidden side path with unusually active energy fluctuations.

He needs a relatively safe and energetic environment to accomplish something he has planned long ago.

He partially broke the seal, raising his surface strength to the level of a half-step Earthly Supreme.

His true cultivation level was that of a superior Earthly Sovereign, formed by his main body using a large amount of resources and incorporating the origin of the Dark Ancestral Symbol.

However, in order to perfectly disguise himself and avoid arousing suspicion from the higher-ups of the Black Heaven Ancient Clan, he has always sealed most of his power deep within the Dark Ancestral Symbol, maintaining it only at the level of Ninth Grade Supreme.

However, as the trials deepened, especially with the anticipation of an inevitable battle against the Nightmare, and the anticipated even fiercer competition in the Silent Heart Forest and the Nine Nether Platform, the Ninth-Rank Supreme's trump cards were becoming insufficient.

Reaching the half-step Earthly Supreme is a reasonable breakthrough point.

It can significantly enhance our visible combat capabilities to meet the challenges ahead, without being too shocking.

After all, this trial is not only a test but also an opportunity, and many geniuses have used the treasures obtained from the trial to break through in the final battle.

The opportunity for Night Falcon's breakthrough came from the high-quality dark attribute treasures he obtained in the Shadow Beast Wasteland.

He found a dry cave near an underground tributary, partially hidden by huge stalactites.

After activating a few simple warning and concealment arrays, Night Falcon sat down cross-legged.

He took out several precious materials he had obtained in the wasteland from his storage equipment.

The three "Nine Netherworld Lotuses" had natural Daoist patterns on their petals that glowed faintly in the darkness.

The ancient shadow jade seems to have sealed a small piece of ancient dark starry sky inside.

There are also several high-quality Shadow Cores obtained from powerful Shadow Beasts, containing pure Shadow Origin Energy.

"Using these external objects as a guide, I simulate the phenomenon of breaking through to a higher realm, but in reality, I am breaking the first layer of bloodline and ancestral symbol seal..." Night Falcon silently recited in his heart, his hands forming a profound hand seal.

The Black Heaven Bloodline within his body began to flow slowly and rapidly, emitting a deep, tide-like sound.

At the same time, the Dark Ancestral Symbol, which had been dormant deep within his dantian, trembled slightly, releasing a trace of primordial dark power that had been strictly suppressed and refined to the extreme.

He placed the Nine Netherworld Lotus in front of him, and the patterns on the lotus petals seemed to be activated, automatically peeling away and turning into strands of black light that merged into his mouth, nose, and pores all over his body.

Next came the Ancient Shadow Jade. Under the guidance of his spiritual power, the jade transformed into a viscous black liquid that enveloped his hands, and the ancient shadow energy within was slowly absorbed.

Finally, he crushed those few Shadow Cores, and the pure Shadow Essence enveloped him like mist.

The darkness inside the grotto suddenly became as thick as ink, and the air seemed to solidify.

The pores of the night falcon opened, frantically devouring the pure dark energy from outside, which mingled and refined with the trace of primordial dark power that had been unsealed from his body.

His aura began to rise at a visible speed!
Peak of the Ninth Grade Supreme... Touching the barrier of the Earth Supreme... Half-step Earth Supreme!

The whole process seemed to be a natural progression, but in reality, it was the Night Falcon that used its superb control to precisely manipulate the opening range of the seal and the speed of external force absorption, simulating the most perfect breakthrough scene.

To prevent powerful figures from the Black Heaven Ancient Clan from spying on him in the shadows, he even deliberately caused the spiritual energy fluctuations to become unstable and impactful several times, making them appear more realistic.

About an hour later, the thick darkness inside the cave gradually subsided.

The Night Falcon slowly opened its eyes. Deep within its pure black pupils, an even more profound vortex seemed to be slowly swirling, and a spiritual pressure several times stronger than before naturally spread out.

Although he quickly suppressed it, the solid aura belonging to a half-step Earthly Sovereign was now firmly established.

He felt the surging power within him; although only a small portion of it had been unsealed, it was enough to cause a qualitative change in his combat strength.

At this moment, with only his apparent cultivation as a half-step Earthly Sovereign, combined with the supreme control and exquisite supernatural abilities of dark power granted by the Dark Ancestral Symbol, he was already capable of easily crushing ordinary experts of the same level, and could even directly contend with lower-level Earthly Sovereigns, and even defeat them.

“That’s enough.” Night Falcon stood up, removed the array plate, and stretched his limbs, his bones making a slight popping sound.

He did not leave immediately, but spent a few more moments familiarizing himself with and integrating his newly acquired power, ensuring that he could use it smoothly and without revealing any shrewdness in battle that was inconsistent with his recent breakthrough.

After doing all this, he disappeared back into the endless dark passage of the labyrinth.

After breaking through his strength, Night Falcon moved more calmly and efficiently in the Dark Current Cave.

Instead of avoiding powerful shadow creatures or dangerous areas, he began to selectively and proactively challenge them.

A "Dark Water Anaconda" lurking in the whirlpool of a dark river, skilled in mental attacks and venom spray, was enveloped by his newly unlocked and usable shadow magic "Nightfall," stripping it of most of its senses, and then torn apart by "Shadow Strangulation."

A naturally formed "bone-corroding wind tunnel" that erupts with chaotic shadow energy.

He walked directly through the raging energy turbulence, and with his powerful control over darkness, he used the turbulence to refine his newly broken-through spiritual power, gaining several rare "Dark Current Crystals".

His speed far surpassed that of most participants, and the quality and quantity of the "Shadow Marks" he acquired soared once again, causing his ranking to climb at an astonishing rate.

Soon, he traversed the outer and middle layers of the labyrinth and gradually approached the core area, which was also the entrance to the next area, the "Silent Heart Forest".

The deeper you go, the fewer participants you encounter, but the stronger they become.

Those who made it this far are all outstanding participants in this trial, possessing at least the strength of a half-step Earthly Sovereign, and each with their own unique methods.

Just as the Night Falcon was passing through an area with an exceptionally complex terrain composed of countless huge black mushroom-shaped rocks, a familiar, chilling, and bone-chilling killing intent, like a leech, suddenly locked onto him!
Atop a towering mushroom-shaped rock ahead, a figure slowly rose. It was Ghost Nightmare!

At this moment, the Ghost Nightmare's aura was even more sinister and dark than when it entered the wasteland. It was surrounded by a tangible gray-black ghost aura, and within the ghost aura, a hideous ghost face appeared, wailing.

His cultivation level had already stabilized at the peak of the half-step Earthly Sovereign, just one step away from becoming a true Lower Earthly Sovereign.

Judging from the appearance, this Nightmare has had another encounter in this labyrinth. Its ghostly aura now possesses an unsettling filth and corrosive quality, indicating that its strength has clearly improved.

He looked down at the night falcons below, a cruel and gleeful smile spreading across his pale face: "Finally found you, rat!"

Behind him were three followers with considerable auras who also cultivated the Ghost Path: two early-stage Ninth-Rank Supremes and one peak-stage Ninth-Rank Supreme.

The four of them spread out in a fan shape, subtly blocking any possible escape routes for the night falcon.

"In the wasteland, you crippled two of my men, causing me to lose face in front of everyone." Ghost Nightmare's voice was like a venomous snake's tongue, filled with resentment.

"Now, it's time to pay back the principal with interest! I won't kill you; I still know the rules of the trial."

But I will break every bone in your body, cripple your newly broken-through cultivation, take away all your gains, and make you crawl out of the maze like a dead dog! This is the consequence of offending me, Ghost Nightmare!

The Night Falcon stopped and looked up at the Nightmare. Its pure black eyes were chillingly calm in the dim light.

He showed no panic despite being surrounded; instead, he seemed to be scrutinizing the changes in the other party's aura.

"A half-step Earthly Supreme Peak, your ghostly aura is filthy, carrying a hint of 'Soul-Eating Netherwater'... It seems you gained some benefits from some dark pool." Night Falcon spoke slowly, his voice calm, yet he revealed the source of Ghost Nightmare's improved strength.

Ghost Nightmare's pupils contracted slightly, a hint of surprise flashing through his mind. How could the other party see through his secrets? But it was quickly replaced by even greater rage: "Playing tricks! Attack! Take him down first!"

Upon hearing this, the three attendants immediately roared and pounced!

Two ghost cultivators at the early stage of the Ninth Grade Supreme level, one of whom held a quasi-sacred artifact, the Soul-Summoning Banner. As they shook it, ghostly wails and howls were heard, and streaks of gray-black ghostly shadows rushed out, directly attacking the soul.

Another creature, adorned with ghostly claws glowing with green light, moved with uncanny speed, reaching for the Night Falcon's vitals from its flank.

The peak ninth-rank supreme being wandered around the perimeter, constantly launching poisoned hidden weapons to disrupt the sneak attacks.

Faced with the combined attack of three, the Night Falcon finally made its move.

His figure flickered like a ghost, leaving behind a solid, lingering dark afterimage.

The true form had already appeared beside the follower wielding the ghost claw!
"So fast?!" The attendant was shocked and hurriedly swung his ghostly claws back.

The Night Falcon neither dodged nor evaded; its right hand, covered in a faint black light, brought its five fingers together and slashed down like a knife!
"Shadow Chop!"

scoff!

A flash of black light, and the seemingly sharp ghost claw was severed at the wrist!
The follower screamed and staggered backward, black energy swirling around his severed wrist, the wound rapidly corroding and expanding.

At the same time, Night Falcon pressed his left hand backward, and a smooth, mirror-like shield, formed entirely from pure dark spiritual energy, appeared out of thin air.

"Shadow reflection".

The gray-black ghostly figure that pounced crashed into the shadow shield but did not break it. Instead, it seemed to hit some kind of slippery curved surface, its trajectory was forcibly reversed, and it shot back at an even faster speed, rushing towards the follower who was waving the summoning banner!

"What?!" The attendant was horrified and hurriedly waved the soul-summoning banner to defend against his own supernatural power, resulting in a chaotic scene.

The poisoned hidden weapon shot by the ninth-rank supreme being on the periphery was quietly corroded and dissolved by an invisible dark force field when it came within three feet of Night Falcon, failing to cause any impact.

In a flash, Night Falcon not only broke through the three-man encirclement, but also severely injured one and countered the other, demonstrating astonishingly precise control over the dark forces and combat wisdom.

"Useless!" The Nightmare on top of the Mushroom Rock looked even more gloomy, knowing that his subordinates could not defeat the opponent.

He stopped watching, let out a sharp cry, and took action himself!

"Thousands of ghosts devour the heart!"

He formed hand seals, and the gray-black ghost energy around him surged out wildly, transforming into a ghostly mist domain that covered an area of ​​several dozen feet in radius!
Within the domain, countless hideous ghost faces emerged, emitting piercing shrieks. These shrieks directly attacked the soul, while the ghost mist, carrying strong corrosive and binding forces, pressed down on the Night Falcon from all directions!
At the same time, Ghost Nightmare himself transformed into a gray shadow, merging into the ghostly mist, silently approaching, his five fingers forming claws, the tips gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light, aiming straight for Night Falcon's back!
This attack was insidious and ruthless, and combined with the interference of the Ghost Mist Domain, it was a sure kill!

Faced with the Ghost Nightmare's long-awaited all-out attack, Night Falcon finally held nothing back.

In his pure black eyes, it seemed as if a dark flame was ignited.

The spiritual power of the half-step Earthly Supreme suddenly erupted, and the dark pressure, several times stronger than before, soared into the sky, actually forcibly opening up a blank space in the ghostly mist domain that was enveloping it!
He didn't turn around, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. His right index and middle fingers were joined together, and the tip of his fingertip was extremely dark, as if it was swallowing up even the surrounding light.

"Shadow Pulse Interception Finger".

He flicked his finger with his other hand, striking the palm of the ghostly blue claw that Ghost Nightmare had pulled out with perfect precision!
The instant the fingertips touch the palm of the claw!

puff!
With a soft sound, the ghostly blue energy that Ghost Nightmare had gathered in his palm dissipated instantly as if it had encountered its nemesis!

A sharp, cold, and absolutely corrosive dark force surged forward along his meridians like a poisonous dragon drill!

"Ah!" Ghost Nightmare let out a shrill scream, his entire right arm instantly turned as black as ink, and the terrifying dark finger force even began to erode towards his heart meridian!

He retreated frantically, simultaneously striking several acupoints on his body with his left hand, spitting out several mouthfuls of foul blood, barely managing to force out some of the invading dark finger force, but his right arm had already suffered severe damage!

He staggered to the ground, his gaze towards the night falcon filled with shock and disbelief!

Half-step Earthly Supreme?
This Night Falcon has actually broken through to the half-step Earthly Supreme realm!?

Moreover, it wasn't just an ordinary half-step Earthly Supreme. The dark primordial power contained in that finger strike was pure, domineering, and supreme, even more terrifying than some of the core disciples of the Black Heaven Ancient Clan he had ever seen!
"You...when did you break through to the half-step Earthly Supreme?!" Ghost Nightmare's voice was shocked, all of his previous arrogance gone, replaced by deep fear.

Night Falcon slowly turned around, his pure black eyes indifferently watching the disheveled Ghost Nightmare and his three terrified followers.

The dark spiritual energy around him rose and fell slowly like the tide, carrying a suffocating sense of oppression.

"Breaking through to the half-step Earthly Supreme realm..." Night Falcon's voice remained calm as he said indifferently, "Is it difficult?" (End of Chapter)