Darkness and coldness were the eternal themes of the cosmos.
Deep within the dark cosmic starry sky, there were numerous dark and silent stars, emitting faint starlight.
If one did not observe carefully, they would mistake this for a lifeless star domain and pass it by.
Within this dim star domain, there was an exceptionally massive dark star at its center, perpetually shrouded in boundless black clouds that even sunlight could not penetrate.
Upon this dark star, a dark hall that reached the heavens stood tall, immeasurably larger than any mountain range. Several dark moons floated around it, casting dim, yellowish light, making it appear exceptionally sinister. An aura as cold as hell spread out, accompanied by endless oppressive might.
Standing before this dark hall, even a Divine King would tremble with fear, their heart pounding.
Within the most majestic dark hall, atop the highest point, stood a stone throne as massive as a mountain range. A Dark Monarch sat upon it, his true appearance unclear, his race unknown—everything was submerged in boundless black mist, with the faint sound of interlocking chains occasionally heard.
Merely sitting upon the stone throne, he exuded an intangible yet terrifying pressure that enveloped the entire dark hall. Strange phenomena manifested, as if scenes of eternal darkness, heaven-shattering cataclysms, and exploding star seas appeared.
Below the massive stone throne were numerous other stone seats, nearly every one occupied by a figure, each immensely powerful—at the very least, they were Great Powers, with many Divine Kings among them.
At the highest level, near the Dark Throne, there were nine tall stone seats, each only slightly smaller than the throne itself. Each seat was occupied by a Quasi-Monarch.
The second seat from the left among the nine great stone seats was empty.
The first seat on the left of the throne was occupied by none other than the First Hall Master of the Earth Hall of the Soul-Restraining Hall.
This dark hall was precisely the Soul-Restraining Hall—specifically, a Heaven Hall, one with an Ancient Monarch presiding over it, the highest level of Heaven Hall.
The figure on the Dark Throne was a Heaven Hall Master, an Ancient Monarch of the Soul-Restraining Hall.
The Dark Heaven Hall was solemn and silent, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
After a long while, the Heaven Hall Master seated on the central throne—the Dark Monarch perpetually shrouded in boundless darkness—first swept his gaze over the First Hall Master of the Earth Hall seated in the first seat on the left, giving a slight nod.
Even a Heaven Hall Master at the Ancient Monarch level held great regard for such a Heaven-Defying Quasi-Monarch.
The left side held the highest honor, and the first seat on the left spoke volumes.
After all, such a Heaven-Defying Quasi-Monarch possessed the ability to retreat unscathed even when facing an Ancient Monarch in direct combat.
The term "Heaven-Defying" originated precisely from this...
Subsequently, the Dark Monarch's gaze fell upon the burly Quasi-Monarch figure seated in the first seat on the right. Who else could this be but the Second Hall Master of the Earth Hall?
The Second Hall Master of the Earth Hall no longer bore any trace of his previous wretched state. His aura had recovered to a state of perfection and flawlessness, with the aura of his Origin World Heaven and Earth manifesting—clearly, it had been restored.
On the stone seats further back, every seated Quasi-Monarch was a true top-tier expert of the Soul-Restraining Hall.
At this moment, within this dark hall, numerous top experts of the Soul-Restraining Hall had gathered.
As the Dark Monarch's gaze from the throne fell, it immediately caused immense pressure for the Second Hall Master of the Earth Hall, a Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch. The former slowly spoke, his voice carrying a demonic tone that made souls tremble, rumbling and echoing throughout the entire Dark Heaven Hall: "Youdao, you have disappointed this Hall. Last time, you acted alongside Tianyin, leading six Quasi-Monarchs and numerous Divine Kings from our Hall to capture Moon Hall's King's Divine Crown, World Tree, Battle Saint Body, Pure-Blooded True Dragon, and that little girl with Chaos bloodline, yet you ended in failure. In the end, you caused our Soul-Restraining Hall to suffer heavy losses. Tianyin was captured by the Battle Saint King, his fate unknown, and your Origin World Heaven and Earth was shattered."
"If not for finally requesting Nine Netherworlds to personally intervene and bring you all back, you would be a dead man by now. Over these past few years, our Hall has paid a tremendous price to restore your Origin World. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Even as a Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch, facing the Heaven Hall Master's interrogation, he was drenched in cold sweat. Gritting his teeth, he spoke with hatred: "Please rest assured, Ancient Monarch Minggu. Last time, it was my incompetence. I did not know the Battle Saint King had returned, nor that he had mastered three hundred Monarch Rules. Caught off guard, I suffered a great loss. Now, Youdao is willing to follow Lord Nine Netherworlds in campaigning against Moon Hall. As long as Lord Nine Netherworlds takes action, no matter how monstrous that Battle Saint King is, he cannot possibly be Lord Nine Netherworlds' opponent."
Regarding the Earth Hall's First Hall Master, Nine Netherworlds, the Second Hall Master of the Earth Hall held near-blind confidence.
A Heaven-Defying Quasi-Monarch, and Nine Netherworlds was even ranked on the Epoch Quasi-Monarch List. Moreover, Nine Netherworlds' capabilities far exceeded imagination. During the war between the Soul-Restraining Hall and the Ultimate Ancient Path, an Ancient Monarch from the Ultimate Ancient Path had personally pursued him, even engaging in a peerless battle.
A Quasi-Monarch facing an Ancient Monarch—though both contained the word "Monarch"—the gap remained vast.
Under normal circumstances, an Ancient Monarch could easily suppress and kill a Quasi-Monarch, even a Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch requiring little effort.
But Nine Netherworlds, a Heaven-Defying Quasi-Monarch, not only battled one but ultimately retreated unscathed, shaking the entire Ancient Cosmos with his fame.
On the throne, the Dark Monarch looked toward Nine Netherworlds, his tone quite courteous, as if facing an Ancient Monarch of the same realm: "Nine Netherworlds, I must trouble you to make a trip. Although preparations are ample this time, this Hall still feels somewhat uneasy. If you personally go, no matter how monstrous that Battle Saint King is, he won't be able to cause any trouble."
Beneath the black mist, Nine Netherworlds slightly furrowed his brow, seemingly dissatisfied with the prospect of going to Moon Hall, as he had more important matters to attend to.
At his level—a Heaven-Defying Quasi-Monarch who had surpassed the limits of ordinary Great Perfection Quasi-Monarchs and could retreat unscathed from Ancient Monarchs—what mattered more to him was how to break through and become an Ancient Monarch.
For a Heaven-Defying Quasi-Monarch like him, once he became an Ancient Monarch, his strength would surpass that of ordinary Ancient Monarchs.
After a moment of silence, Nine Netherworlds finally nodded: "Very well, this time I shall personally make the trip."
Hearing this, many present breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as the Earth Hall's First Hall Master, Nine Netherworlds, personally took action, success was assured.
Youdao, the Second Hall Master of the Earth Hall, revealed a look of joy, half-kneeling on the ground and declaring loudly: "Youdao will certainly live up to the Hall's high expectations!"
"Good, go. This time, destroy Moon Hall and bring back the Chaos Cultivator, World Tree, Battle Saint, Pure-Blooded True Dragon, and the others. Our Hall's plan, schemed for countless ages, is nearing completion. Adding a Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch-level Chaos Cultivator will undoubtedly add wings to a tiger."
The Dark Monarch spoke.
Below, the many experts of the Soul-Restraining Hall revealed fervent expressions. If the Soul-Restraining Hall completed that plan, it would undoubtedly dominate the entire Ancient Cosmos, becoming the supreme, unparalleled number one power...