Chapter 97: Evolution — Ultimate Darkness
After the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger died, a crystal dropped from its body—its Soul Crystal.
This Soul Crystal contained its origin energy. Within it lay the forces of evil, lightning, wind, strength, and even the power to manipulate time and space. The Soul Crystal was far stronger than its soul ring.
Such a rare opportunity was something Gui Mei would absolutely never let slip by.
When Gui Mei directly swallowed that eerie crystal, both Yue Guan and Dugu Bo were shocked.
Yue Guan grew worried and hurriedly asked,
"Old Ghost, what is that?"
"That is the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's Soul Crystal. It contains the essence of its life, similar to that old poison's inner core. I'll refine it first, then absorb the soul ring."
"Soul Crystal? Old Ghost, you'd better be careful!"
Dugu Bo exclaimed in alarm.
With the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Core inside him, he naturally understood how terrifyingly powerful a Soul Crystal was.
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
Gui Mei had consumed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot, and his body had been forged by the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. His physique was incredibly resilient.
On top of that, the lingering vitality of the Blue Silver Emperor seed granted him an undying body.
And now, his soul power has already reached Rank 98.
He believed he could suppress and refine the energy of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's Soul Crystal.
Gui Mei sat cross-legged as soul power surged wildly around him, rising and falling like turbulent tides.
Very soon, he felt a vast and violent surge of energy crash through his body like a broken dam.
That energy carried a wicked will, savage lightning, a razor-sharp wind attribute, a sense of overwhelming brute force—each power threatening to tear his body apart.
Gui Mei's expression turned solemn, yet he did not panic.
He quickly circulated his soul power, attempting to tame this raging energy.
As the evil energy surged into him, the aura around Gui Mei grew increasingly terrifying.
The air around him suddenly twisted violently, and within a blink, it condensed into a massive vortex of energy.
Storm winds howled. Lightning flashed. Radiance erupted in all directions!
Seeing this, Yue Guan and Dugu Bo grew tense.
Feeling the terrifying aura, both couldn't help but sweat nervously for Gui Mei.
That sinister will was like a cunning specter, attempting to corrode Gui Mei's consciousness.
At this moment, Gui Mei felt as though he had fallen into a vast, boundless space of darkness.
A suffocatingly evil aura coiled around him like something tangible, pressing down on him until he could barely breathe.
Suddenly, an ethereal yet eerie voice echoed through the darkness:
"Insignificant human… You dare dream of bearing my power?"
The voice carried an overwhelming sense of superiority.
Gui Mei's heart tightened, but instead of fear, a flicker of excitement flashed in his eyes.
He knew that the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger carried a trace of an Evil God's power. It was precisely because of that power that it had become so monstrous.
A super soul beast like this, if allowed to cultivate to its limit, could even become an Evil God one day.
"Your power? Are you saying you are… an Evil God?"
That ethereal voice responded again, dripping with arrogance:
"Hmph, so you do possess some knowledge. I am a fragment of an Ancient Evil God, a trace of power left in this world. You are strong, but this is Evil God power—how could a feeble human like you possibly withstand it?!"
"Is that so? It's only a fragment of an Evil God's leftover strength. How would I know I can't withstand it unless I try?"
"Arrogant fool who knows nothing of the heavens' height! Very well—let me see what you think you're capable of!"
As the voice fell, black waves of energy erupted through the dark space like a roaring tsunami, crashing toward Gui Mei.
Wherever they passed, space itself split open with jagged cracks.
Yet Gui Mei did not fear it—he was thrilled.
"Hmph! So what if it's Evil God power? I will make you submit!"
With that, his soul power erupted explosively.
His soul power fused with extreme ice and fire, colliding and intertwining with the sinister black energy, attempting to suppress it.
The evil power seemed enraged by Gui Mei's defiance and grew even more violent.
Gui Mei clenched his teeth, relying on sheer willpower to maintain clarity of mind as he battled against it.
…
"Human… you are strong. I acknowledge you. From now on, I shall serve you…"
At last, after a fierce struggle, Gui Mei fully suppressed the evil power and fused it into his own soul.
The dark space gradually dispersed, and Gui Mei's consciousness returned to the real world.
A powerful and mysterious aura now radiated from his body.
Seeing him awaken, Yue Guan and Dugu Bo broke into relieved smiles.
"Old Ghost, you actually refined that Soul Crystal?"
"Yes."
"It's already been an hour. Hurry and absorb the soul ring."
Yue Guan urged.
Gui Mei had refined the Evil God Soul Crystal and was in peak condition.
Still, he felt a bit dazed, unsure whether his experience in that dark space had been reality or simply an illusion.
Meanwhile, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's soul ring had fully condensed.
Although it was merely a soul ring nearing 70,000 years, the energy and aura contained within it far surpassed even a 100,000-year ring, enough to make one's blood run cold.
Without wasting time, Gui Mei guided the soul ring toward himself and began absorbing it.
Having already refined the Soul Crystal and subdued the evil power within it, absorbing this soul ring was effortless.
Just like when he simultaneously absorbed the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape's soul rings, his figure again became blurry, shifting back and forth between ghost demon and body martial soul state.
But his expression remained calm, and his breathing steady.
Seeing this, Yue Guan finally relaxed.
He knew the Evil God Tiger's dark attribute was a perfect match for Gui Mei's ghost demon martial soul.
At this moment, both his ghost demon and body martial souls were sharing the energy from the soul ring.
Dugu Bo snickered:
"That old ghost is really something. After absorbing that soul ring and the Soul Crystal, his strength is going to undergo another qualitative leap."
"Perhaps. We'll know when he wakes up."
Yue Guan smiled faintly, eyes filled with anticipation.
Time slipped by quietly.
Dusk approached, and the forest dimmed.
Gui Mei slowly opened his eyes after finishing the absorption.
Feeling the changes within himself, joy flashed in his eyes.
Yue Guan and Dugu Bo immediately approached.
"Old Ghost, you finally finished absorbing it. How do you feel?"
"The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's power truly is vast. Evil, time, space, lightning, wind, and strength—these six attributes broadened my abilities significantly. More importantly, the dark attribute of my ghost demon martial soul has advanced further… reaching the ultimate level."
"You mean… Ultimate Darkness?"
Gui Mei smiled and nodded as he rose to his feet.
With a thought, he shifted into his ghost demon martial soul state.
As his soul power surged, his nine soul rings—two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red—rose in sequence beneath him.
Though the colors were unchanged, each soul ring now carried the power of the Evil God Tiger, radiating an even more frightening aura.
Black mist coiled around Gui Mei as the very space around him twisted. A strange black vortex suddenly formed at his side.
That vortex was bottomless, like the eye of a demon—capable of devouring all things.
—
End of Chapter