TL: Etude

Ye Tian became one of the Ten Kings, appointed by Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity and Dao Ancestor Divine Ruins. However, this matter remained unknown to most, including the Heavenly Kings and True Ancestors.

The coronation ceremony for the Ten Kings was attended solely by the Ten Kings themselves, Invincible Dao Ancestors, and Half-Step Domain Ancestors.

Ye Tian, initially in the Small Domain of the Time King, was brought to another Small Domain—the Blackwind Mountain Small Domain.

Strictly speaking, this was the true Blackwind Mountain. The outer Blackwind Mountain was merely an external peak.

In the boundless dark void, Ye Tian saw a massive black mountain. This was the real Blackwind Mountain. Even as a Pinnacle Dao Ancestor, he could not discern where this Small Domain was hidden.

Soon, Ye Tian met the Wind King, Fire King, Wood King, Gold King, Ice King, and Time King. However, these were not their true bodies but incarnations stationed in Blackwind Mountain.

After all, if these six Kings left the Blackwind Mountain base, it would easily draw the attention of outsiders.

Aside from these six Kings, Ye Tian also saw incarnations of several Invincible Dao Ancestors, one of whom he recognized as the Dao Ancestor Flowing Fire.

Presently, only six Invincible Dao Ancestors from Blackwind Mountain were publicly known. Yet, ten Invincible Dao Ancestors were present at the coronation ceremony, leaving Ye Tian astounded.

Soon, he learned their titles.

Dao Ancestor Ice Peak! Dao Ancestor Shadow Catcher! Dao Ancestor Dragon Phoenix! Dao Ancestor Feather Flight! Dao Ancestor Jade Cauldron! Dao Ancestor Golden Buddha! Dao Ancestor Flowing Fire! The presence of ten Invincible Dao Ancestors at Ye Tian’s coronation left him momentarily stunned.

However, upon learning this was a tradition of Blackwind Mountain, he calmed down.

Above the Invincible Dao Ancestors were Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity and Dao Ancestor Divine Ruins, two Half-Step Domain Ancestors.

The coronation ceremony was simple. First, the exchange of tokens occurred, with Ye Tian’s Great Heavenly King token replaced by the Ten Kings token.

Traditionally, a Pinnacle Dao Ancestor aspiring to join the Ten Kings needed to withstand an attack from one of the Ten Kings for a certain duration or avoid falling into disadvantage to inherit the title.

However, with four of the Ten Kings having fallen, the titles could not be reclaimed by the previous Ten Kings. Thus, new Pinnacle Dao Ancestors were chosen.

Hence, Ye Tian directly became the seventh of Blackwind Mountain’s Ten Kings.

“Ye Tian, among the remaining titles of the Ten Kings—Earth King, Water King, Space King, and Dark King—which title do you choose?” Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity asked.

“I choose the Dark King,” Ye Tian replied after some thought.

Immediately, Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity handed the Dark King token to Ye Tian. After Ye Tian performed the oath ceremony, he officially became the Dark King.

Abruptly, Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity pointed at Ye Tian’s brow, transmitting something to him.

“Soul-Immunity Technique!”

This was a secret technique that permanently sealed soul origin memories. Once cultivated, no one could extract even the slightest memory from his soul. It was an unparalleled secret technique of Blackwind Mountain, taught exclusively to the Ten Kings.

This secrecy ensured that Blackwind Mountain’s mysteries and true strength remained hidden from the outside world. Otherwise, their secrets would have long been exposed.

Afterward, Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity and Dao Ancestor Divine Ruins took Ye Tian to the Blackwind Hall within Blackwind Mountain.

Here, Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity personally explained some of Blackwind Mountain’s secrets to Ye Tian. Having ascended to the rank of a Ten King, he was now qualified to learn about Blackwind Mountain’s affairs.

…

“Dark King, you are now one of the Ten Kings and eligible to know most of the secrets. However, there are some matters even Invincible Dao Ancestors cannot know. Thus, it is impossible to reveal them to you!” Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity said.

“Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity, I understand,” Ye Tian nodded.

Immediately, Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity continued, “First, you should understand the approximate strength of Blackwind Mountain.

Currently, Blackwind Mountain possesses sixty-two Pinnacle Dao Ancestors and twenty-one Invincible Dao Ancestors. This is our true combat strength.

As for how many Half-Step Domain Ancestors there are, you cannot know for now.

However, Dao Ancestor Divine Ruins and I often travel outside as Half-Step Domain Ancestors. Thus, members of Blackwind Mountain ranked at Ten Kings and above are aware of this!”

Ye Tian was deeply shocked at this moment.

Sixty-two Pinnacle Dao Ancestors and twenty-one Invincible Dao Ancestors—such numbers were astonishing.

“Do you feel that the strength of Blackwind Mountain is formidable?” Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity asked.

“Yes!” Ye Tian nodded.

Suddenly, Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity sighed and said, “In truth, during Blackwind Mountain’s peak, we had hundreds of Pinnacle Dao Ancestors and over fifty Invincible Dao Ancestors. But alas, the war that shattered the Domain Realm was unimaginably brutal. Blackwind Mountain forcibly participated, not only due to the threat of Domain Ancestor Vast Sea but also for other reasons I cannot disclose.

In short, far more than just a few Ten Kings perished in battle from Blackwind Mountain.

Even those Ninth Heaven forces suffered heavy losses. However, since their battlefield was on the fringes, their losses were not as severe as ours.

Blackwind Mountain was stationed on the primary battlefield adjacent to the Heavenly Emperor Palace. Thus, the Heavenly Emperor Palace has some knowledge of our strength.

Moreover, during our time in the Dark Forbidden Domain, Blackwind Mountain also encountered terrifying events, leading to significant losses.”

Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity then revealed a startling piece of news.

“In strict terms, Blackwind Mountain is divided into three branches: Wind Mountain, Black Mountain, and the true headquarters, Blackwind Mountain itself. Each branch has its own Mountain Master.

The branch here in the Dao Mountain Domain is the Wind Mountain branch. Unfortunately, the sudden eruption of that battle and the fact that the other two branches were not in the Vast Sea Domain at the time mean we cannot currently contact Black Mountain or Blackwind Mountain headquarters.

The strength of the three branches is roughly equal. The headquarters is not significantly stronger than us, but since we splintered from the headquarters, Blackwind Mountain’s headquarters is the main branch.

The Heavenly Emperor Palace’s plan to facilitate the birth of the Forbidden Realm—we are aware of it. However, the fundamental reason we do not stop them is that we also wish to use the Forbidden Realm as a coordinate to bring Black Mountain and Blackwind Mountain headquarters here!

Black Mountain and the Blackwind Mountain headquarters have not fared well in the Divine Heaven Domain. They have powerful enemies. If they can arrive in the Dao Mountain Domain, it would be beneficial for their peaceful development.

Thus, our goal is also to facilitate the birth of the Forbidden Realm. As long as the Heavenly Emperor Palace does not provoke us, we will not attack them!”

After Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity finished speaking, Ye Tian curiously asked, “Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity, is the Mountain Master of Wind Mountain here?”

“He is.”

Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity replied, “However, you are not yet qualified to meet the Mountain Master of Wind Mountain unless you reach the level of a Half-Step Domain Ancestor. Do you understand? Additionally, if one day you attain the level of Invincible Dao Ancestor, you could send your clone to venture into the Forbidden Insect Nest. Perhaps you could gain some benefits. There must be plenty of treasures within the Forbidden Insect Nest, but we Half-Step Domain Ancestors dare not risk it.”

“Dao Ancestor Eternal Perpetuity, I understand!” Ye Tian responded.

Following that, Ye Tian received equipment belonging to the Dark King from Wind Mountain—or more accurately, from Blackwind Mountain—and also acquired numerous resources.

What interested Ye Tian the most was the ability to observe the insights of various Half-Step Domain Ancestors regarding Forbidden Dao Techniques at any time. These insights were engraved on Forbidden Steles, and careful observation would undoubtedly yield some harvests, greatly aiding his creation of Forbidden Dao Techniques.