268: Ancestor of Darkness

Although the Devilish Qi around him had largely receded, it still caused the other Great Emperors nearby to secretly focus their minds, showing how unfathomable his cultivation was.

The Devil Ancestor's gaze swept outside the mirror, and seeing it was Origin Emperor Lord, he spoke in a calm tone: "Fellow Daoist Origin, you suddenly sought me today, is there an important matter to discuss?"

"Reincarnation Emperor Lord is preparing to open the Creation Secret Realm, does Fellow Daoist Devil Ancestor know about this?" Origin Emperor Lord went straight to the point, without any pleasantries.

The Devil Ancestor's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this, and he slowly nodded: "I already know about this. So, Fellow Daoist, you came to me for this matter?"

"Precisely." Origin Emperor Lord asked directly, "I wonder if Fellow Daoist has a creation key in your possession?"

The Devil Ancestor gently shook his head, his Devilish Qi subtly shifting: "No."

"Then, Fellow Daoist, do you plan to make a trip to the Creation Secret Realm?" Origin Emperor Lord pressed on.

The Devil Ancestor refused without thinking: "No."

Origin Emperor Lord's eyes narrowed slightly: "Why?"

"My Demon Realm and the Immortal Realm are inherently like fire and water, with wars never ceasing. If I were to leave the Demon Realm, the other supreme Devil Emperors of the Demon Realm would simply be unable to withstand a large-scale attack from the Immortal Realm." The Devil Ancestor's voice carried a hint of solemnity, and this was indeed the truth.

The Immortal Realm had coveted the Demon Realm's territory for a long time.

Origin Emperor Lord's tone became more earnest as he slowly advised: "It would be better for Fellow Daoist to go. This time, I have already dispatched Zhen Shi and five other Supreme Great Emperors, but the Creation Secret Realm is filled with powerful experts. With just the five of them, I fear they won't gain much, let alone contend for creation divine object."

The Devil Ancestor raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, his tone hinting at confusion: "Since you know there will be little gain, what is the point of going this time?"

"Whether we get creation divine object or not is secondary to us." Origin Emperor Lord's voice suddenly deepened, each word forceful, "The key is that we absolutely cannot let the Immortal Realm obtain creation divine object. The Immortal Realm's foundation is already profound; if they were to add creation divine object to increase their strength, with one side growing and the other shrinking, it would indirectly weaken our strength."

The Devil Ancestor still had heavy concerns, his brows tightly furrowed: "But if I leave, what about the safety of the Demon Realm?"

"Fellow Daoist can rest assured." Origin Emperor Lord's tone was certain, "The opening of the Creation Secret Realm is the foremost Opportunity in the All Heavens and Myriad Realms. The Immortal Realm will undoubtedly dispatch a large number of powerful experts to contend for it. At this moment, they are too preoccupied to spare any effort to attack the Demon Realm."

Seeing that the Devil Ancestor was still hesitant and undecided, Origin Emperor Lord finally revealed his deepest worry, his tone extremely solemn: "To be honest, what I worry about most is not the Immortal Realm obtaining creation divine object, but the cosmic supreme treasure rumored to be hidden deep within the Creation Secret Realm."

"The power of this item far surpasses that of the Heavenly Book. If it truly falls into the hands of the Immortal Realm, and they launch another attack in the future, we will have no power left to resist."

These words struck the Devil Ancestor's heart like a heavy hammer. He was silent for a moment, then finally relented: "Alright, then I shall follow Fellow Daoist's wishes and make a trip to the Creation Secret Realm." His tone then shifted, adding a new concern, "However, I do not have a creation key, so I may not be able to enter the Secret Realm smoothly."

Origin Emperor Lord's eyes flashed with understanding upon hearing this, his tone incredibly certain: "Fellow Daoist, rest assured, you will definitely be able to enter."

"Oh? Why are you so sure?" The Devil Ancestor's eyes were full of doubt.

"I have already discussed this matter thoroughly with Reincarnation Emperor Lord," Origin Emperor Lord slowly said.

The Devil Ancestor's expression shifted slightly: "Reincarnation Emperor Lord would agree so easily?" Reincarnation Emperor Lord's temperament was unpredictable, always prioritizing his own interests. How could he agree to let someone without a key enter the Secret Realm for no reason?

Origin Emperor Lord gently nodded: "Indeed."

The Devil Ancestor instantly understood, his tone carrying a knowing chuckle: "I suppose Fellow Daoist must have given Reincarnation Emperor Lord many precious treasures for him to relent."

"It was a regrettable necessity." Origin Emperor Lord sighed softly, but his tone was incredibly firm, "For us, whether we have the cosmic supreme treasure or not is secondary, but the Immortal Realm absolutely cannot possess this item."

"That is very true." The Devil Ancestor nodded in agreement, then asked, "Fellow Daoist Origin, besides this, are there any other important matters?"

"Nothing else."

"In that case, we shall meet again."

"We shall meet again."

As his voice fell, the Devilish Qi around the Devil Ancestor gradually faded, and his figure slowly dissipated on the mirror surface of the time-space divine mirror. The light receded, and the mirror surface returned to its pristine, ancient state.

Origin Emperor Lord raised his hand and beckoned, and the time-space divine mirror transformed into a streak of light, steadily falling into his palm, then was stored within his body's Small World.

In the Dark Realm, gales of sky wind carried bone-chilling dark haze, howling above the boundless territory. And the center of power in this world—the Dark Imperial Palace—stood atop the Dark Abyss at the deepest part of the realm.

The Dark Grand Hall was even more suffocatingly solemn. Its pillars were all cast from ten-thousand-year-old Profound Iron Dark Crystals, with withered bone Dragon patterns coiling around them. Each pattern flowed with the Darkness Origin that annihilated vitality. Countless Ghost Lamp (You Ming Deng) hung from the ceiling, their flickering dark purple flames casting eerie shadows throughout the hall.

At the very top of the grand hall, the Ancestor of Darkness sat on the imperial throne, seemingly enveloped in endless void, his true appearance obscured.

Only a pair of eyes, like black holes silent for eons, swept across the surroundings, causing even the space to slightly twist and collapse. That was the supreme pressure capable of crushing the All Heavens and Myriad Realms, making all the Emperors in the hall bow their heads and hold their breath.

Below the imperial throne, sixteen imperial chairs were arranged on either side, each occupied by a Supreme Great Emperor.

Some were clad in pitch-black battle armor, with lingering killing Qi on their gauntlets; others wore dark-patterned robes, surrounded by swirling dark mist. Each possessed heaven-reaching cultivation capable of tearing apart star rivers and annihilating immortal domains. Their Auras intertwined, causing the air in the entire Dark Grand Hall to almost solidify.

The Dark Realm's foundation was far more than this; there were also several other Supreme Great Emperors of the same rank, currently stationed at strategic passes, vital strongholds, and Secret Realm outposts in the four directions of the realm, strictly guarding against external enemy movements and defending every inch of the Dark Realm's territory.

After a long silence, the voice of the Ancestor of Darkness finally rang out, calm yet bearing unquestionable majesty, piercing through the dark haze and echoing throughout the grand hall, making even the flames of the You Ming Deng tremble: "Reincarnation Emperor Lord intends to open the Creation Secret Realm. This Venerable One plans to lead ten Supreme Great Emperors there."

The Auras of the Emperors in the hall slightly condensed. The name Creation Secret Realm exploded like thunder; it was a supreme Secret Realm, rumored to contain the Creation Origin and even cosmic supreme treasures.

Immediately after, the voice of the Ancestor of Darkness resounded again, naming them directly and clearly, each word forceful: "Darkness, Dark Realm, Dark Ruins, Dark Cinder, Dark Profound, Dark Dragon, Dark Absolute, Dark Heaven, Dark Transformation, Dark Ferocious, the ten of you, come with this Venerable One."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the six Great Emperors who had not been called, his tone solemn: "The rest of you, remain in the Dark Realm, be on high alert, and strictly guard against the Light Realm taking advantage of the situation to launch an invasion and covet the territory of my Dark Realm."

The six unselected Supreme Great Emperors below rose in unison, their figures tall and straight like pines, bowing to receive their orders, their voices like a great bell. The Aura of the sixteen Emperors was already immense, and now the six echoing in unison caused the palace to subtly vibrate: "Yes, Your Majesty."

No sooner had the six finished speaking than the Darkness Great Emperor, at the head of the left side, stepped forward.

The dark power around him solidified into tangible black threads coiling around his body. He bowed towards the imperial throne, his tone cautious yet without losing the dignity of a Great Emperor: "Your Majesty, entering the Creation Secret Realm requires a creation key. Do we... have a creation key?"

As these words came out, the other nine named Great Emperors also looked sideways, a hint of anticipation and solemnity flashing in their eyes. Opening the Creation Secret Realm required nine creation keys.

The Ancestor of Darkness heard this and said: "There is one."

The supreme pressure around him suddenly dispersed, and the figure on the imperial throne slowly stood up. From within the void-like figure, a sharp determination emerged: "There is no time to lose, we shall depart now. Let's go."

Upon hearing this, the ten named Supreme Great Emperors all rose, bowing in unison towards the imperial throne. Ten powerful voices intertwined, echoing through the grand hall, carrying an Aura of unyielding resolve: "Yes, Your Majesty."

The Ancestor of Darkness moved first, his figure transforming into a black streak of light that pierced through the heavens and earth, directly breaking through the dome of the Dark Grand Hall. His speed was so extreme that even space had no time to leave ripples.

The ten Supreme Great Emperors followed closely, their dark power surging, instantly transforming into ten brilliant streaks of light, some like black Dragons leaping, others like dark lightning tearing through the void, tightly following behind the Ancestor of Darkness.

Eleven supreme streaks of light, carrying dark pressure capable of obliterating star rivers, shot straight into the sky of the Dark Realm, breaking through the realm barrier, and speeding towards the Heavenly Road that connected the All Heavens and Myriad Realms, their target clear—the soon-to-be-opened Creation Secret Realm.