Dark Moon Era

A month flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was already mid-autumn.

The Herrocky Mountain Ridge got colder but the world got hotter because of a girl. Her name was Higan. Her appearance in the Moon Chasing Celebration in the True Capital captivated everyone’s attention.

Toppling a city with her looks, she was a peerless beauty whose presence seemed to come from the heavens. Her looks must have been endowed by the finest spirit of the universe. Every single newspaper described her elegance with the best words they could put together and they were not stingy with praise.

However, in this tumultuous era, looks were not everything. The reason why Higan was able to capture the world’s attention was her mysterious power.

“Irresistible! She is the queen, the queen of the world.” That comment came from King Qian of the Four Kings of the True Capital.

What did he mean by irresistible? Despite King Qian’s power, could he not fight back? Was that not a little too ridiculous? One thing worth noting was that King Qian was a rank 6 Purple Moon General!

The queen? The queen of the world? Why would they say so?

King Qian provided a vague answer, “She’s the queen of a world that we cannot see.”

“She doesn’t even have to move. A single glance from her is powerful enough to erase an entire legion. We must pray to never anger her. Otherwise, the world will shake because of her,” commented Elliot, one of the three great castellans of Holy Tree City and one of the greatest scientists alive.

“Elliot, do you mean she can kill an entire legion with her beauty?” someone joked.

“Haha, if she wills it, she can do so.” Elliot was a kind and humorous elder, but even he could not help being serious. “But other than her beauty, she really has the power to erase an entire legion with a single glance as long as she wills it.”

Starstay City was powerful because of Higan. Every major faction acknowledged that fact. As long as she existed, she belonged to Starstay City and the Stardust Council. Furthermore, she would be the biggest tactical deterrent force in the world.

“If she went all out, the world would face a terrible calamity.” This particular comment was shared among many of those who knew what had happened.

So, what exactly was Higan’s power? She was so young at barely 16 years of age. Why were so many powerful figures remarkably afraid when they talked about her? According to her age, it was impossible for her to become a high tier Purple Moon General, not even a high-rank Purple Moon Warrior.

The only explanation was her terrifying talent.

Nevertheless, no matter how people thought about it, no one was able to provide an answer or anything close because those who knew the truth were all the most powerful men and women in the world and they had no intention of spilling the facts.

So, how could such a girl not win the entire world’s attention? Her beauty, mystery, power, lithe, and untouchable presence...

The whole world was talking about her and her popularity even surpassed Tang Ling, whose name stirred up some mixed feelings in the world a while ago.

This year’s Moon Chasing Celebration was a celebration of her own despite only showing herself no more than three times throughout the celebration and uttering no more than ten words. She stole the limelight from the group of genius prodigies like the True Capital’s Seven, the Stardust Sixteen, the Dark Nine Feathers, and so on. Everyone else paled in comparison to her.

Of course, despite her shining presence, the nearly peerless geniuses of the world such as Tang Long, Wangfu Ying, Durand V, and so on still had their own time with the crowd. However, even being peerless geniuses, they were none other than a supporting character to Higan.

It was without a doubt that this year’s Moon Chasing Celebration was worth all the attention because aside from the heated discussion revolving Higan, the fact that the celebration was held right before the War God Path Ranking Competition was an attraction by itself.

The Moon Chasing Celebration was held annually and everyone knew it was just an occasion for the major factions to show off their own geniuses that they had raised throughout the year. The geniuses had the chance to get to know each other and expand their network.

However, this time, it was held before the ranking competition, so some low-profile families or entirely hidden factions would send their representatives over. It might not be as grand as gathering all the genius prodigies in the world in one place, but at least 70% of them would be there.

In a room, there was a rather handsome and haughty man wearing a tangzhuang bearing a golden dragon with five claws. He was talking to the four other men in front of him.

“Do you guys think that the disciple with the inheritance that those few old men raised in the True Capital can compete with Higan?”

Each of the four men in front of him was emanating a powerful aura. Anyone who laid eyes on them would know that they were none other than the Four Kings of the True Capital.

“No, Higan has no need to compete with anyone. They aren’t even on the same level, to begin with,” answered King Qian, who was one of the few who knew Higan’s strength. Meanwhile, the other three kings were silent.

“What about old Elder Wu’s three disciples of Mount Zhongnan?” asked the man with the haughty temperament.

“My answer remains the same,” King Qian answered respectfully.

“What about the youngest son of the Peacock Sovereign from the south-east?” The man pinched some tea leaves from a small yet delicate porcelain urn.

“Hmm, maybe a little weaker,” King Qian responded after a quick thought.

The man picked up a delicate bronze pot and put it on his hand while uttering a few names, “What about the descendants of the Dracula family? The crown prince of the Light Lion family? And...”

These names were not that well-known by the world, but those who knew understood how powerful they were. These names no longer got involved in the petty conflicts of the world.

“If I must provide an answer, my answer is still the same. They aren’t on the same level,” King Qian respectfully answered before he elaborated, “Emperor Han, you should know Higan’s power better than all of us.”

The man known as Emperor Han smiled in silence. While he was listening to King Qian, the pot in his hand boiled and steam poured out from its spout. He leisurely poured the boiling water into the teacup and the little pinch of tea leaves bloomed like flowers, floating on the top of the jade-colored tea like lotuses.

Emperor Han poured the cup of tea away and filled it with hot water again. Two minutes later, he poured five smaller cups of tea of the same jade color from the bigger cup with the tea leaves. He took one himself and signaled to the four kings. “Have some.”

The four kings lifted their respective cups. Emperor Han then said, “Indeed, I have an answer in my head, but there are also some unanswered questions like that young man named Tang Ling or the president of the Stardust Council. Are Tang Long and Higan his trump cards?

“There are also a few other mysterious bunches. Do they have any disciples? And where is Zero? If he had a disciple, how would he turn out?”

After he blasted a barrage of questions, he lifted the little tea up and drained it to the last drop. When he put it down, the whole room was filled with the faint fragrance of tea, it was an intoxicating smell.

The four kings looked at each other when asked, they did not have the answers to the questions.

Emperor Han stood up, he sauntered on the black stone floor that was as reflective as a mirror with his gunny shoes. Every step that he made was quiet.

“As a matter of fact, none of those matter. Only those who can grow can be real geniuses. No matter how shiny one’s youth is, only by entering the world of the adults can the shine settle down and strengthen itself. The stable glow can then cast its light over the dark world with its own colors.”

“But I still envy the geniuses of this generation,” Emperor Han lamented as he strolled towards the window, “The opportunities given to them are unlike the others. The world will give them a chance in Darkness Port. I suppose this year’s War God Path will be more exciting than any other.”

...

Draconic Seven put down the newspaper with a complicated look. He then looked at the stone tablet at the little square.

It had been a whole month, but the troops and the science team that he brought over still could not clear the third-level formation. Therefore, to his frustration, he missed the Moon Chasing Celebration in the True Capital.

Nevertheless, he endured the anger as he kept the news about the Ninth Ruins tight-lipped. Therefore, he was only granted a very limited amount of reinforcement. The council would provide him with some cultivation resources at times plus some news about the outside world.

At first, Draconic Seven was restless, but now he was as calm as water.

Although a month had passed, it was not without results. The genius Colo and his team had almost solved everything regarding the third-level formation despite having lost nine men in the process, but who cared?

Colo said that these men were not even qualified as stepping stones because they failed to provide useful and valuable information, so to him, they died in the dullest way possible.

Draconic Seven shared the same view. He was waiting for Colo’s perfect solution, and according to the genius, he and his team were near their goal. By then, Colo would hand over all the steps to achieve the perfect solution to Draconic Seven so that he could do it himself. With that in mind, Draconic Seven kept the newspaper away.

It might only be in the middle of autumn but many areas in Herrocky Mountain Ridge were snowing, except for this boring Ninth Ruins! The same old morning in spring was repeated forever, and it was irritating to look at as time went by.

Draconic Seven might not be in a hurry anymore, but he was on the brink of breaking down after experiencing the same day over and over again.

It was then that the warrior who put his hand on the trigger disappeared, meaning that he had been transported out of the Ninth Ruins.

Excited, Colo then ordered his men to search for the warrior. “After pinning down the last detail, I’ll be able to provide you with the steps to achieve the perfect solution.”

His eyes were filled with excitement. For a scientist or at least a wanna-be, the deciphering process was much more interesting than pursuing power itself. Moreover, after spending more than a month in the Ninth Ruins, Colo believed that he had mastered a certain part of the formation, and the reward was better than anything he could ask for.

“Very well.” Draconic Seven also shared his delight.

“But I have a request. After you achieve the perfect solution, you must bring me into the core. I want to learn something there and I am sure that this Ninth Ruins has its own legacy.” Colo pushed his glasses up as he talked to Draconic Seven.

“That’s not a problem.” Draconic Seven had no reason to reject Colo who continued typing in front of the machines. He had to seize the time and figure out everything about the Ninth Ruins.

After 20 minutes, the warrior that had been transported out of the Ninth Ruins was located. Colo went up to him excitedly and confirmed the details with him.

Another five minutes later, Colo stood in front Draconic Seven with a flush on his face. “Did you know the problem that I’ve been facing? It is strength! You must have the matching strength to perfectly solve the third-level formation! And now, I’ve finally figured out the puzzle.”

“Young Master Seven, give me 10 minutes and I’ll explain the key points to perfectly solve the formation for you, so you’ll be able to make it!”

“Great!” Draconic Seven got even more excited. He had been stuck in these ruins for far too long that he longed for fresh air in the outside world. If he could achieve the perfect solution and get the legacy...

However, he somehow started to wonder how Tang Ling deciphered the formation.

Tang Ling should not have achieved a perfect solution because according to Colo, if he did, no one would be able to decipher the formation anymore. So, if it was not the perfect solution, why would the three of them be staying inside for so long?

Indeed, Draconic Seven was certain that Tang Ling and the siblings were still within the Ninth Ruins. He had been paying close attention to the outside world, and the whole Santos Branching Ridge was under the Stardust Council’s control.

If Tang Ling, Ro Xin, and Ro Li had somehow gotten out, it was impossible for them not to leave a trace behind.

So, would he meet the three of them at the center of the formation? Draconic Seven chuckled sinisterly. He now had a rough idea about how powerful Tang Ling was via the council.

So what if Tang Ling could transform? He would never be his match!

Everyone in the Stardust Sixteen was powerful prodigies, and each of them could rival a rank 1 Purple Moon Warrior and challenge a rank 2 Purple Moon Warrior!

The rank of a Purple Moon Warrior was determined by how many genetic locks one had unlocked. The strength of a Purple Moon Warrior was not solely determined by the ranks.

While those thoughts were running through his mind, Colo started to explain the key points to clear the third-level formation to him.

In 10 minutes, Draconic Seven stood in front of the tablet while Colo and his team quickly calculated the accurate location of the trigger. Another 30 minutes later, Draconic Seven placed his hand on the trigger that Colo and his team had found, and waited.

At the same time, inside that spacious room, Ro Xin was sharpening a thunder-striped bamboo. She would look towards the left corner of the spacious house, more specifically, at the little House of Legacy.

She had completed her acceptance process and it had been five days whereas Ro Li had also completed his and came out a week ago.

However, nothing happened in Tang Ling’s House of Legacy.

No one was there to answer her question because Joshua’s projection was gone and they were not allowed to touch anything in the spacious house. Once, Ro Li accidentally touched something, and a bolt of lightning almost struck him. It was only just a warning, so the actual punishment could be a lot worse.

“Xin, this place is really boring. When will the idiot complete his acceptance?” Ro Li commanded his puppet to fly up and down as he asked his sister.

The puppets were a gift for Ro Li, and after he came out from the House of Legacy, all of them appeared in front of him. To his delight, it seemed like he was able to keep his gift. Once, he thought he had lost them while he fell asleep.