Second chapter! Two chapters today, tomorrow will be a make-up for yesterday's exhaustion...

Here stood the remains of Blood Soul Manor—the fabled estate founded by Li JueTian, the second most powerful among the eight Overlords of the ancient continent.

This place was naturally fortified: towering mountains formed an impenetrable ring around it, with the vast Tianfa Forest as its backdrop. It was a birthright of strategic dominance—offensive when needed, defensive when prudent.

Yet now, except for two colossal peaks that still stood like massive gate slabs, all other ranges and dense forests had vanished without trace!

Once spanning thousands of zhang in every direction, the entire area was reduced to an unnaturally smooth plain. The ground gleamed so polished it could make a fly lose its footing if it dared land on it.

At the very center rose an architectural monstrosity that defied classification—a palace so grand and opulent it seemed to eclipse all others in existence.

Even the bricks used for this palatial fortress were titanic: each measured two zhang wide, three long, one thick—each weighing at least ten thousand catties. Even a Saint-class warrior would struggle to shatter such a stone with brute force.

The entire perimeter wall was constructed from these colossal blocks, reaching an astonishing height of ten zhang. Lining the top were countless crystalline filaments no thicker than a hair, shimmering under sunlight like woven sapphires...

A single glance revealed their dual nature: razor-sharp edges laced with venom so potent it could slay lesser cultivators in seconds.

For any mortal below Saint-tier to leap over this barrier? Impossible. They'd inevitably touch the filaments for support—a fatal mistake that would seal their fate at Death's doorstep.

Colorful banners pierced the air around this vast plateau, each staff hewn from ancient trees over a century old. The banners themselves stretched dozens of zhang wide, billowing violently in the high-altitude winds...

Even without mentioning other details, merely observing these walls and flags stirred an overwhelming sense of supreme authority—one that seemed to command the very heavens.

From afar, countless crowds gathered across the hillsides—easily over a hundred thousand people. Every soul stood transfixed before this intimidating display, their faces etched with reverence bordering on terror toward the imposing plain and its deadly defenses.

“This Lord of Darkness truly deserves his meteoric rise as the era’s most fearsome figure,” Miao Zhan murmured in awe. “Old as I am, I’ve never witnessed such a grand spectacle.”

The distant palace loomed like a mountain itself—over one hundred chi tall—its presence exuding an aura so oppressive it compelled instant obeisance. It stood there silently yet dominantly, resembling an ancient colossus watching impassively over all mortal struggles below.

Though motionless and silent, its mere existence seemed to command the winds themselves.

As dawn broke...

The first golden rays of morning touched the castle when suddenly—BOOM! A thunderous roar echoed as two massive gates of imperial bronze swung open effortlessly. At several zhang in height, they parted smoothly without a single sound.

Miao Zhan and others exchanged awed glances once more. From such minor details alone, it was obvious how exquisitely engineered the mechanisms guarding this Lord of Darkness’s estate were.

Then another piercing whistle rose from above as a crimson rocket burst through the sky in an explosion of sparks!

This detonation marked the official opening of the Lord of Darkness’s grand establishment ceremony...

But none realized that this single rocket would also become the first spark igniting the long-anticipated unification of warring sects across millennia.

With a piercing cry, thousands of white nine-tiered celestial beasts took flight—soaring hundreds of zhang into the sky where they quickly formed a colossal sword formation. The blade tip pointed defiantly upward toward heaven while its hilt angled downward straight at the Lord of Darkness’s estate!

Then absolute stillness followed—the entire legion maintained perfect synchronization in their aerial pose.

The sight was striking: it seemed as if this dark lord's mansion itself was an ancient giant wielding a divine weapon capable of splitting heaven and earth, one strike cleaving through all existence...

A deafening roar erupted from the crowd below—cheers that shook the very mountains!

After what felt like eternity...

“Silence!”

A voice emerged, calm yet brimming with authority. It didn’t need to shout—it simply carried effortlessly over every sound in the chaos, piercing through directly into every listener’s ears.

“This is a Saint Emperor-level expert at minimum tier three,” Mo Wuda's expression paled as he turned toward Xi Ruochen urgently.

The truth was already clear in his mind. He just hadn’t wanted to believe it—and secretly hoped for denial from others.

But Xi Ruochen’s grim nod crushed that hope instantly. His heavy eyes lingered on the ground, finally confirming what none wished to hear.

Then that authoritative voice returned: “June fifteenth—the day of Lord Darkness's establishment! Sun and moon align their brilliance upon this moment. Today marks our estate's first public appearance before all mankind—and with it, the rise of another force capable of shaping destiny itself... Gratitude for your presence.”

“Such audacity is sheer delusion!”

Miao Xiao miao scoffed. She'd seen arrogant types before, but none who so brazenly declared themselves world-shapers in their first breath! Where was the humility? This was pure nouveau riche hubris!

“She doesn’t need humility anymore,” Mo Wuda smiled faintly. “Had they shown such arrogance at a lesser power level, this ceremony would have collapsed into chaos overnight. But for the Lord of Darkness to succeed, dominance is essential—modesty might only invite ridicule.”

Miao Zhan and other elder spectators nodded in agreement. This was no ordinary gathering. The three ancient sanctuaries—the most powerful sects on the continent—were among those present today!

By announcing their establishment as a peer to these titans, Lord of Darkness had forced them into attendance. Though publicly they'd come as congratulators, everyone knew better than to trust such gestures.

Thus this master of ceremonies now spoke with no turning back—he could not show weakness under any circumstance! If weakness showed today, the entire ceremony would become a laughingstock in history's annals.

The three sanctuaries might not attack directly during this event, but their interference was inevitable. And this speaker—representing Lord of Darkness himself—had already crossed an irreversible threshold!

These two forces now stood in direct opposition: one determined to undermine the ceremony, the other refusing to yield even slightly.

So from that moment onward, any threat posed by the three sanctuaries needed immediate and overwhelming retaliation—total annihilation before it could take root. Only such decisive action could preserve Lord of Darkness’s dominance!

No half-measures would suffice. Total commitment was required.

Thus these words spoken by the master of ceremonies weren’t just a declaration—they were an open declaration of war against three ancient powers right in front of all heroes and masters of the world!

No wonder Xi Ruochen and Mo Wuda wore such grim expressions. Even Miao Zhan, after careful contemplation, eventually sighed as he understood the same truth—this was the only logical conclusion.

“...All darkness in this world shall kneel to me! The authority of the Lord cannot be defied! I hereby announce to all heroes and masters across the land: show us some respect or face ruinous consequences. Should my dignity be slighted, a million corpses will float upon rivers of blood stretching for thousand-square li fields...”

The speaker’s voice grew increasingly cold and resolute with every word—utterly devoid of any festive tone, instead radiating pure menace beneath its formal veneer. By the end it had descended fully into threats: “You give me face today, everyone benefits. You don’t? Then I erase you.”

As this master of ceremonies became ever more arrogant and domineering in his speech, many faces among the crowd darkened with anger. On your own establishment day, to publicly threaten all heroes present? Do you truly think yourself the new Nine Yin’s First Heir?

“Gagaga...”

Inside the palace, Yan BoKong laughed like a hawk who’d cornered its prey: “That Windrolling Sword Saint has turned into butchering butcher at the podium—truly formidable! Even I could never match that kind of audacity. Heaven knows what I would have said in his place.”

The murmurs among the crowd grew increasingly chaotic...

Then, just as the speaker was about to finish his rant, something changed dramatically.

“The official establishment ceremony for Lord of Darkness now begins!”

No sooner had these words left his mouth than a massive crimson banner began ascending slowly from atop the castle.

Bathed in morning sunlight and rosy dawn hues, it resembled an entire blood sea rising into existence!

Etched upon this flag was a single character: (Xie) - “Evil.” But what a monstrous one—gilded with golden lacquer that shimmered under the sun. Even from hundreds of li away, commoners could clearly see its defiant message without doubt.

As soon as this banner unfurled and revealed itself to all eyes present, an inexplicable sense of unease began spreading through every soul in attendance.

Indeed, only a true Lord of Darkness would dare make such a proclamation...

This is one hell of evil—and madness incarnate!