TL: Etude

Ye Tian left Blackwind Mountain and returned to the Human Race.

This time, he had become the Dark King of Blackwind Mountain. His status was now on par with the Wind King, and he had access to many secrets. Even a variety of precious scriptures were freely available to him.

For example, the Grand Thousand Dao Technique inheritances within the library of Dao techniques—he could now cultivate them without cost.

Unfortunately, he had little interest in the Grand Thousand Dao Techniques, as they were of no real help to his strength.

At the level of a Pinnacle Dao Ancestor, Blackwind Mountain’s greatest benefit to him was as a backing. His future cultivation would largely rely on his own efforts.

Moreover, Ye Tian could now issue orders to many of Blackwind Mountain’s Heavenly Kings and True Ancestors, indirectly directing them to perform tasks for him.

Many resources also passed through his hands and were managed by him, granting him immense authority.

To a certain extent, even the rights of the Half-Step Domain Ancestors and Invincible Dao Ancestors in Blackwind Mountain did not surpass those of the Ten Kings. After all, these Invincible Dao Ancestors and Half-Step Domain Ancestors were not directly involved in managing affairs; the Ten Kings were the true executors of Blackwind Mountain’s power on the surface.

“Unfortunately, I can’t enter the Forbidden Void Realm for cultivation anymore!”

After becoming a Pinnacle Dao Ancestor, Ye Tian faced this issue, and he couldn’t help but feel regretful.

While he could send an incarnation into the Forbidden Void Realm, his incarnation could not cultivate there. As such, the Forbidden Void Realm could now only be used to train his family, nurture the Human Race, and develop the Nine Limits Legion. It held little value for his personal growth.

At this moment, he understood why Ouyang Jiu’er showed little interest in the Forbidden Void Realm. For individuals, the realm’s value was limited.

However, for an organization, the Forbidden Void Realm was of immense significance.

Thinking of Ouyang Jiu’er, he realized she had not appeared for quite some time.

From what he knew, Ouyang Jiu’er was currently not residing at the Human Race’s base, clearly having gone elsewhere. However, she had not ventured into the Dark Forbidden Domain to hunt Forbidden Insect Races. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Of course, her absence was not unexpected to him.

After all, the major bases established in the Dark Forbidden Domain were overseen by Half-Step Domain Ancestors. If Ouyang Jiu’er was acquainted with them, her identity might be exposed, which would be unfavorable.

Thus, Ouyang Jiu’er was most likely hiding somewhere to cultivate.

Based on what he knew of her, Ouyang Jiu’er had probably already stepped into the ranks of Pinnacle Dao Ancestors by now.

At Blackwind Mountain Base.

Ye Tian returned, this time appearing as the Dark King.

Of course, it was still a Copy Body that had arrived, while his true body maintained the identity of Ye Tian.

Many of Blackwind Mountain’s Heavenly Kings knew that the previous Dark King had fallen. With the appearance of a new Dark King, there was speculation. Some guessed that a Seventh Heaven Dao Ancestor had broken through to assume the role, while others suspected that a hidden Pinnacle Dao Ancestor from the shadows had taken up the mantle.

For now, Ye Tian’s identity remained unexposed. However, over time, as a Heavenly King was absent for long durations, others might begin to deduce his true identity as Heavenly King Nine Limits.

Nevertheless, Blackwind Mountain no longer placed much emphasis on secrecy of identity. Thus, even if his identity were revealed, it would not matter greatly.

Ye Tian appeared under the identity of the Dark King. He joined the other ten kings of Blackwind Mountain to hunt forbidden insects in the Dark Forbidden Domain. Gradually, he made a name for himself. Many forces came to know of a powerful top-tier Pinnacle Dao Ancestor from Blackwind Mountain—none other than the Dark King! On this particular day.

Ye Tian was preparing to execute a plan. The plan involved utilizing his Forbidden Talent—Concealment—to approach lord-level forbidden insects and copy their forbidden talents. Naturally, this plan was fraught with danger, but by using a Copy Body to attempt it, even if he was killed, it wouldn’t matter much.

Once he successfully copied multiple instances of the forbidden talent Dark Spear, it would greatly enhance his strength.

Previously, he dared not attempt this, as without the Forbidden Talent Concealment, forcing his way in would only result in interception by commander-level and numerous elite-level forbidden insects. He would have no chance of contacting those lord-level forbidden insects.

But now, with the Forbidden Talent Concealment in hand, he could effortlessly approach lord-level forbidden insects.

Within the infinite darkness of the Dark Forbidden Domain.

Ye Tian’s figure blended completely into the void of the forbidden domain, traversing past numerous forbidden insects. None of these creatures detected his presence.

The effect of the Forbidden Talent Concealment was even better than Ouyang Jiu’er’s Shadowless Divine Steps. While Shadowless Divine Steps could make one’s existence unnoticed from afar, it failed to work at close range. In contrast, Concealment allowed one to remain undetectable even at close proximity.

Not far from the nest of the forbidden insects, Ye Tian encountered his first lord-level forbidden insect. Coincidentally, this creature happened to be one whose forbidden talents he had not yet copied.

Unfortunately, this particular creature possessed only one forbidden talent, Dark Spear, and not Concealment.

It was evident that the commander-level forbidden insect he had encountered earlier, which possessed two forbidden talents, was a rare and exceptional case among the forbidden insects.

“Copy!”

With a single thought, Ye Tian activated his ability.

Abruptly.

The lord-level forbidden insect turned its gaze toward Ye Tian and immediately launched an attack.

With a sharp sound, Ye Tian’s Copy Body was instantly annihilated without resistance.

This experiment, however, allowed Ye Tian to test the effectiveness of the Forbidden Talent Concealment. At a distance, lord-level forbidden insects couldn’t sense him, but upon closer approach, they could detect his presence.

The destruction of the Copy Body meant that it would take ten thousand years to reuse this ability.

Thus, Ye Tian personally accelerated time by a factor of ten thousand. In just over a month, the ability to use the Copy Body was restored.

Subsequently, Ye Tian continued to dispatch the Copy Body to seek out lord-level forbidden insects.

Through repeated attempts, Ye Tian eventually succeeded in copying the forbidden talents of nine lord-level forbidden insects. Among these, he gained nine instances of the forbidden talent Dark Spear and two instances of the Forbidden Talent Concealment. The second Concealment talent came from another lord-level forbidden insect, which greatly surprised him.

By fusing these forbidden talents, Ye Tian’s proficiency in both Dark Spear and Concealment grew significantly stronger.

While comprehending the Dark Limit Dao Spear, Ye Tian noticed his comprehension progressed much faster than before. Additionally, the effects of Concealment improved significantly, although it still couldn’t deceive Half-Step Domain Ancestors or lord-level forbidden insects.

Time passed. In the blink of an eye, several years had gone by.

On this day.

Ye Tian prepared to infiltrate the nest of the forbidden insects once again. As long as he avoided close contact with lord-level forbidden insects, he wouldn’t be detected. This allowed him more time to investigate the situation within the nest, unlike the previous time when he was swiftly killed.