Chapter Forty-Four: Entering the Sacred Domain

After concealing the black round altar and the Violet Blood Divine Sword, the handsome young man melted some broken stones to forge a stone platform. He then sat cross-legged atop it and addressed the Saint Realm Black Dragon, Oakes, “Oakes, I am going to enter seclusion for a period of cultivation here. During my training, you must personally guard this place for me. Do not allow any humans or magical beasts to disturb me.”

“Rest assured, Master. I will stand watch here and will not let anything interrupt you,” Oakes replied, nodding earnestly.

Satisfied, the handsome young man nodded, then slowly closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and began to absorb the thick elemental energies within the cave. He carefully sensed the profound fluctuations of the various elements.

In the world of Panlong, there are seven major elemental laws and four grand rules, making a total of eleven types of paths. The mysteries within each path are further divided and referred to as profundities. Just as the paths differ in power and rank, so too do their profundities vary in depth. The profundities of different laws and rules each possess unique wonders.

The strength of a Saint Realm expert and the rank and power of a divine being are determined by the depth and breadth of their comprehension of these profundities.

To gain insight into these profundities, one must possess talent for a certain law or rule. Some may have talent for only a single law or rule, while others may be gifted in two, three, or even more.

After sensing for a while, the handsome young man clearly felt that his talents were quite good in the earth, wind, water, and fire elements among the seven, allowing him to easily absorb these four elemental energies and perceive their profound fluctuations with relative ease. He also possessed some talent for the Law of Light, but none for the Laws of Darkness and Thunder. As for the four grand rules, aside from Death, he had varying degrees of talent for Destruction, Life, and Fate.

To possess talent for so many elemental laws and rules was rare indeed—one might search through all the material planes, divine planes, and supreme planes in Panlong and still struggle to find such an all-rounded genius.

For those laws and rules in which one lacks talent, it is not impossible to cultivate them, but the efficiency is simply lower.

For the handsome young man, however, given the realm of his soul, even when cultivating laws and rules he was not adept at, his speed of comprehending profundities would not be that slow. Moreover, the mysteries of the path in Panlong are more systematic and easier to comprehend compared to those in the world of Honghuang. Conversely, if he were to deepen his insight into the profundities of Darkness, Thunder, Death, and the like here, it would become much easier to comprehend the corresponding paths in Honghuang.

He began by attempting to sense the profundities of the Law of Darkness, since within this cave the darkness element was most abundant and thus relatively easier to comprehend.

As he actively absorbed dark elemental energy and sought the profundities of the Law of Darkness, the darkness within the cave gradually gathered towards him, forming a hazy black mist, and even the fluctuations of the darkness element grew noticeably intense.

“Is Master cultivating dark magic? How is it causing so much darkness element to converge?” Oakes, the Saint Realm Black Dragon, looked on in astonishment.

Soon, both he and the Spine-armored Dragon, Sadeus, grew excited, for when the fluctuations of the darkness element became so intense, the profundities of the Law of Darkness were easier to sense. As a Saint Realm magical beast, comprehending the mysteries of the laws was the best way for Oakes to increase his strength. Sadeus, wishing to attain the Saint Realm, likewise needed to gain insight into these profundities.

Before long, all three—man and two magical beasts—were immersed in the comprehension of the Law of Darkness.

Time flowed quietly by; during cultivation, it often seemed to pass especially quickly. Unknowingly, two or three years had gone by. Whether it was the handsome young man or the powerful magical beasts Oakes and Sadeus, they could all replenish their energy by absorbing the elemental forces of heaven and earth, rarely needing food during their training.

One day, the tranquil cave was suddenly swept by a gust of wind. Dense darkness elements gathered towards Sadeus, who trembled all over and could not help but emit a low, pained dragon’s cry, awakening the meditating young man and Oakes.

“Hm? Is Sadeus about to break through and become a Saint Realm magical beast?” the young man wondered, surprised as he watched Sadeus, whose dragon form was enveloped in misty darkness.

Oakes was both surprised and delighted as he gazed at Sadeus. “Sadeus, you've finally taken this step and are about to become a Saint Realm magical beast.”

After a long while, as the dense black mist of darkness slowly dissipated, Sadeus, who seemed little changed on the surface, suddenly burst forth with a surging, terrifying aura, stirring a violent wind through the cave—the aura of a Saint Realm magical beast.

“Ha ha… Sadeus, congratulations! After so much arduous cultivation, you’ve finally stepped into the Saint Realm,” Oakes said, laughing heartily.

Sadeus was likewise excited; he lifted his head to look at Oakes, eyes blazing with battle spirit, and spoke in a low, cold voice, “Oakes, now that I’ve entered the Saint Realm, you may not be my match anymore.”

“Eh… You rascal, do you mean to challenge me as soon as you reach Saint Realm?” Oakes grumbled, slightly annoyed.

“What’s the matter? You, a dignified Saint Realm Black Dragon, who reached Saint Realm two hundred years before me, won’t accept my challenge?” Sadeus growled, his momentum rising, clearly baiting Oakes.

Oakes was so angry that his nostrils flared. He raised his head and retorted, “Not accept your challenge? Nonsense! Sadeus, don’t think that I’ll fear you just because you’ve entered the Saint Realm. Do you really believe my two hundred years in the Saint Realm were spent idly?”

“Ha ha… You two are both formidable Saint Realm magical beasts. If you want to fight, take it outside and don’t destroy this place,” the handsome young man said with a smile.

“Come, Sadeus, let’s take this outside!” Oakes called, flying first into the passage connected to the cave.

With a low snort, Sadeus shrank his form and flew into the passage as well.

The handsome young man rose lightly, following Oakes and Sadeus out of the deep, shadowy tunnel, arriving in the valley outside, ready to watch this spectacular battle.

“Sadeus, come! Take my first blow!” Oakes shouted, swinging his tail at Sadeus.

With a hiss, Sadeus did not dodge. He struck out with his dragon claws—like two huge pincers—meeting Oakes’ tail, tearing off several scales, while Oakes’ tail sent him flying.

Blood surging, Sadeus’s fighting spirit only grew stronger. In a flash, he became a blurred shadow, charging at Oakes.

Oakes, unafraid, soared to meet him, and the two engaged in fierce combat. The battle between magical beasts was pure, brutal melee, appearing far more intense and thrilling than those between humans. In terms of defense and attack, Oakes was ultimately a bit inferior to Sadeus, so before long he was covered in wounds—mostly minor, but looking somewhat battered.

“Ha ha… Oakes, I told you, you’re no match for me! The power of the Spine-armored Dragon is something you cannot overcome!” Sadeus laughed confidently, attacking with even greater ferocity, intent on defeating Oakes.