Starting with SSS-rank talent, I contracted the Forbidden Ferocity.

The atmosphere inside the main hall of Zhenmo Pass was even more somber than on the battlefield.

Wei Cang sat at the head of the table, his armor still damp with blood.

Clearly, he had just returned from another battlefield.

Besides Shen Ye, the people inside the hall included Qin Wuji, Li Xuance, Chu Jinglan, Meng Qianqiu, and the one-armed veteran Chen Pojun.

A huge battlefield projection hangs in mid-air.

In the deepest part of the projection, a pitch-black sun hangs upside down above the ruins.

Beneath the dark sun lies the ruins of an ancient city, burned to a glassy state.

Wei Cang pointed to the projection.

"The Black Sun's Legacy"

"One of the most dangerous ancient ruins on the eastern front of the battlefield of all races."

"It opens once every ten years."

"It contains a large number of ancient fire and soul-related relics."

"The Night King"

"The essence of the Nether Phoenix you're looking for is right there."

Shen Ye's eyes flickered.

Night Feather stood on his shoulder, its dark gold feather patterns glowing faintly.

Clearly, it also sensed some kind of calling.

Wei Cang continued:

"But this time the Black Sun Ruins were opened very abnormally."

"Three years ahead of schedule."

"Moreover, before the attack began, the main forces of all races suddenly attacked the seventh line of defense."

Li Xuance said softly:

"They're trying to stall the higher-ups at Zhenmoguan."

Wei Cang nodded.

"That's right."

"We have received intelligence that the Shadow Demon Clan, the Flame Prison Clan, and the Bone Demon Clan have all sent their young generation of powerful warriors into the Black Sun Ruins."

"Their goal may not be just heritage resources."

Qin Wuji asked:

"What is it?"

Wei Cang raised his hand, and the projection changed.

Deep within the ruins of the Black Sun, a pitch-black altar emerges.

At the center of the altar hangs a heart burning with black flames.

"Heart of the Black Sun".

"It is rumored to be the core of the heart fire left behind after the fall of an ancient, world-destroying ferocious bird."

"It is very likely that it shares the same origin as the Blood of the Underworld Phoenix."

Shen Ye looked at the black heart.

A system notification then appeared.

[A key clue to Nightfeather's fifth-tier evolution has been detected.]

[Target: The Black Sun's Ruins.]

[Core Material: Phoenix's Blood.]

[Hidden Objective: Heart of the Black Sun.]

[Note: If Ye Yu obtains both the Blood of the Nether Phoenix and the Heart of the Black Sun, a strengthening branch will appear on the fifth-tier evolution path.]

Shen Ye's eyes lit up.

Strengthen the branch.

This is more important than simply undergoing a fifth-order evolution.

Wei Cang looked at Shen Ye.

"The rules governing the Black Sun's legacy are unique."

"Entry is not permitted for those at level five or above."

"Tier 4 is the upper limit."

"Therefore, this time it can only be you who go."

Chu Jinglan said:

"Who are the young powerhouses among all races?"

Wei Cang said in a deep voice:

"The Flame Prison Clan, Flame Without End."

"Shadow Demon Clan, Shadow Without Daylight."

"Bone Demon Clan, Bone Thousand Mountains."

"Blood Demon Clan, Blood Glass."

"These four are all at the peak of the fourth tier."

"But they have all fought against the fifth rank."

Meng Qianqiu smiled.

"Sounds like someone who can fight."

Chen Pojun glanced at him from the side.

"Don't be careless."

"The young powerhouses on the battlefield of all races are not forged in the arena."

"They have lived in killing since birth."

"Especially Shadowless Day."

"That thing once assassinated a fifth-tier human captain."

Shen Ye asked:

"Mission objective?"

Wei Cangdao:

"First, enter the Black Sun Ruins."

"Second, retrieve the lifeblood of the Nether Phoenix."

"Third, investigate the purpose of the myriad races opening the ruins ahead of schedule."

"Fourth, if the opportunity arises, seize the Heart of the Black Sun."

Shen Ye nodded.

"When are we leaving?"

Wei Cang looked at him.

"You just finished attacking the seventh line of defense."

"Even the beast tamers are seriously injured."

Shen Ye said:

"It can be restored."

Wei Cang remained silent for a moment.

"You will have six hours."

"Six hours later, the entrance to the ruins stabilized."

Shen Ye did not press the time limit any further.

Longyuan was seriously injured.

Ye Yu was only halfway to the fifth level and needed to stabilize his aura.

Six hours, just right.

After leaving the main hall, Chen Pojun called out to Shen Ye.

"You've just learned the Demon-Suppressing Slash, don't use it recklessly."

Shen Ye looked at him.

Chen Pojun said:

"That thing burns the killing intent of the battlefield, and it burns itself too."

"I lost this arm when I was young by burning it off."

Shen Ye nodded.

"clear."

Chen Pojun sneered:

"Every time you explain it clearly, I don't believe you."

Shen Ye thought for a moment.

"Try your best this time."

Chen Pojun was so angry he laughed.

"Go and heal your wounds."

Six hours later.

Outside the Demon-Suppressing Pass, at the entrance to the Black Sun Ruins.

A dark sun hung in the sky.

The sun has no light; instead, it devours all the bright colors around it.

The entrance is a black ring of fire.

Several human squads have already gathered around the ring of fire.

Shen Ye and his group were not the only ones to enter the ruins this time.

There are also the fourth-tier elites selected by the Demon Suppression Army.

But everyone knows that the real main force is Shen Ye's Night King Squad.

Shen Ye stood in front of the entrance.

Ye Yu's aura has stabilized at the peak of the fourth rank.

Zhu Jiu and Jie Chen have almost recovered.

Long Yuan was the most seriously injured, but after swallowing a portion of the Bone Demon Soul Fire core, he was able to fight normally.

However, it's still not enough to directly confront a sixth-tier monster.

Qin Wuji looked at Shen Ye.

"This time, don't rush straight to the deepest part as soon as you go in."

Shen Ye said:

"It depends."

Qin Wuji remained silent.

Li Xuanze sighed softly:

"That phrase is back again."

Chu Jinglan smiled.

Meng Qianqiu, on the other hand, seemed quite natural.

You'll get used to it.

The entrance to the ruins is stable.

Shen Ye was the first to step into the black fire ring.

The next instant, the world turned upside down.

Scorching, cold, decaying, destroyed.

Four completely contradictory auras surged in at the same time.

When Shen Ye landed, he was standing on a black glazed tile floor.

In the distance, a dilapidated ancient city stands under the dark sun.

There were no clouds in the sky.

Only that pitch-black sun hung silently.

Night Feather flew off Shen Ye's shoulder.

It looked into the depths of the ancient city, and the dark gold feather patterns lit up completely.

A system notification appears.

[Enter the Black Sun's Ruins.]

[Side Quest Unlocked: The Black Sun's Ruins]

[Task 1: Obtain the Blood of the Nether Phoenix.]

[Mission Two: Seize the Heart of the Black Sun.]

[Mission Three: Slay at least two of the four greatest prodigies of all races.]

[Reward: Nightfeather Tier 5 Evolution Enhancement Branch Unlocked, 50000 Evolution Points, 1 Black Sun Legacy Fragment.]

Just as Shen Ye finished reading the prompt, a sharp laugh rang out from the ancient city in the distance.

"The Night King of the Human Race"

"They came really fast."

A young man from the Flame Prison Clan slowly emerged from the black flames.

He was clad in black flame armor, with fiery horns on his forehead like blades, and his eyes burning with pitch-black flames.

The system panel appears.

【Yan Wujin, the prodigy of the Yan Hell Clan】

[Realm Level: Peak of the Fourth Tier]

[Bloodline: Black Flame King's Blood]

[Risk Rating: Extremely High]

Yan Wujin looked at Ye Yu on Shen Ye's shoulder and his smile widened.

"The bloodline of the Underworld Phoenix?"

"Perfect."

"The Heart of the Black Sun requires the sacrifice of a high-ranking fire spirit."

Shen Ye looked up.

"You want to sacrifice Night Feather?"

Yan Wujin grinned.

"It's not that I want to."

"It's already decided."

Night Feather slowly unfolded its wings.

Shen Ye gripped the black-gold short sword, his voice calm:

"Then you're doomed."