His figure flickered, and he dashed into the distance, leaving behind mottled bloodstains. Countless corpses, both human and beast, lay strewn about.
"These beasts are truly detestable," Zhou Yan clenched his fists, his eyes burning with intense rage. He harbored deep hatred for these ferocious creatures, but he knew he dared not act rashly.
That elder was a Martial King-level expert, while he was merely a Martial Master. The disparity was too vast.
"No matter what, I must survive!" Zhou Yan vowed inwardly.
Taking a deep breath, Zhou Yan adjusted his breathing, suppressing his anger. He then slowly walked forward, his gaze catching sight of a token emitting a brilliant glow on the ground not far away.
"Black Demon Art!" Zhou Yan's eyes lit up, a surge of exhilaration washing over him. This was the token the elder had given him.
"Indeed! It's the Black Demon Art. I never imagined I'd have the fortune to obtain a fragment of the Black Demon Art, and this secret technique is an offensive one!"
Zhou Yan thought to himself, "Now, I can finally cultivate the Black Demon Art properly!"
He then sat cross-legged, circulated the Black Demon Art, and began to frantically absorb the black energy of heaven and earth into his body, tempering his physique and enhancing his strength.
"Rumble~~"
Thunder rolled across the sky, dark clouds churned, and a colossal lightning dragon roamed within the clouds. A pillar of lightning descended from the heavens, striking Zhou Yan's body and fiercely tearing at his flesh.
The power of this lightning pillar was terrifying. After enduring one strike, Zhou Yan's face turned deathly pale, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as crackling sounds emanated from within his body.
"Damn it, this lightning tribulation is too powerful!" Zhou Yan's expression grew grim. His body trembled uncontrollably, and his heart was filled with shock.
"This is only the first wave. If I continue to endure further tribulation, the subsequent ones will undoubtedly be even more terrifying. Perhaps, a Heavenly Tribulation will descend!"
A bitter expression spread across Zhou Yan's face. He was now a peak Martial Master, yet he could not withstand a single strike of the tribulation, which left him feeling utterly stifled.
His heart was filled with trepidation regarding the Black Demon Art.
"No, I must find a way to improve my strength, or I will surely perish!" Zhou Yan gritted his teeth.
At that moment, a thunderous bolt of lightning split the sky and hurtled towards him.
"Bang!"
Zhou Yan quickly waved his hands, striking out at the void, deflecting the lightning bolt.
However, as he felt a searing pain in his arms, his heart grew heavy.
"This Black Demon Art is truly formidable; even my physical body cannot withstand it!"
Zhou Yan let out a low growl and then dashed into the distance, heading towards the ancient forest. Within, there was an ancient city, and perhaps, there he could find an opportunity to cultivate the Black Demon Art.
...
Elsewhere, a colossal ancient city stood, with a palace at its center. At the entrance of this palace stood two massive stone sculptures, each three Zhang tall and lifelike, emanating a terrifying aura as if two deities were guarding the place.
Within the palace, streaks of dark light radiated outward, illuminating the area with an eerie and unpredictable glow.
Under the shroud of this dark light, everything around seemed to be swallowed, leaving behind only remnants of withered bones.
Beneath this dark light lay a stone slab inscribed with characters that resembled tadpole script.
Beside the stone slab, two figures sat cross-legged, their eyes closed, motionless. Yet, a terrifying aura emanated from them, as if they were two divine beings.
At this moment, a dark gleam flickered, and the figure of a young man suddenly appeared before the stone slab.
He bore a scar across his face, was gaunt, with slightly sunken cheeks. His eyes, like stars in the night, flickered with an eerie red light.
He was a man, and a remarkably handsome one at that.
His face was chiseled, possessing an air of devilish charm and defiance. His skin was dark and rough, appearing robust, as if it might explode with a single touch. He exuded a savage and ferocious aura that sent shivers down one's spine.
This person was Zhou Yan.
At this moment, Zhou Yan's heart was filled with excitement. He never expected to successfully infiltrate the dwelling of the Black Demon Art. This was undoubtedly a great boon for him!
He had spent centuries in this desolate land and was on the verge of madness. If not for the fragment of the Black Demon Art, he would have likely starved to death in the wilderness.
Despite his extraordinary lightning talent, his foundation was unstable due to cultivating the Black Demon Art, and there were no shortcuts to its cultivation. All he wanted now was to rapidly improve his strength.
Only by becoming stronger could he ensure his safe departure and journey to the Southern Wind Empire to find Su Lin, tell her everything, and let her know his efforts were not in vain.
"The Black Demon Art is truly heaven-defying. This art can help one break through to the Martial Ancestor realm. If cultivated to its peak, one might directly ascend to the Martial Venerate realm!" Zhou Yan's face lit up with excitement.
He had already reached the eighth level of the Martial Master realm, yet his strength was immense. The terror of the Black Demon Art was evident.
"The cultivation method of the Black Demon Art is indeed extraordinary. This art is simply invincible," Zhou Yan's lips curved into a smile. The Black Demon Art was truly terrifying; when cultivated to its peak, it could even rival the Martial Saint realm.
Furthermore, this art contained a fearsome, sinister power. With just a single strike, it could render a person completely unconscious, turning them into a helpless puppet.