When Ye Yunfei had first obtained these Dark Infant Fruits, he had asked Lü Dandan about their specific effects, but even she didn't seem to know.
Lü Dandan only knew that these Dark Infant Fruits were a famous and extremely rare type of Dark medicinal herb, not easily encountered.
Their appearance at that time was primarily due to them coming to worship the Dark Heart.
"If I refine one, then I'll know," Ye Yunfei thought.
After studying it a while longer and still unable to discern its specific use or what kind of pill it could be used to refine, he decided to try refining one.
With the quality of his physical body, Ye Yunfei was confident he could withstand the medicinal energy of the Dark Infant Fruit.
He had obtained a total of four Dark Infant Fruits. Setting aside three, he left one suspended before him and began attempting to refine it.
At first, the Dark Infant Fruit seemed highly resistant to his refining process. It continuously released vast amounts of powerful Dark Energy and Dark Laws, forming a black protective energy barrier, even going as far as to launch an attack against Ye Yunfei.
After all, it was only a medicinal herb, so its offensive capabilities were limited. Before long, Ye Yunfei forcefully subdued it and began refining it in earnest.
"I finally understand the effect of this Dark Infant Fruit," Ye Yunfei said softly after finishing the refinement.
Based on his perception, the effects were as follows.
First, it could help living beings comprehend and cultivate the Dark Dao Laws. The fruit contained extremely advanced Dark Dao Laws, which could be obtained upon refining.
To put it plainly, even a being who had never had any contact with Dark Dao Laws would be able to immediately comprehend and cultivate them upon refining this Dark Infant Fruit.
Second, the Dark Infant Fruit contained an immense quantity of extremely pure and high-level Dark Energy. Refining it would grant one powerful Dark Energy.
Third, upon refining this fruit, one would also obtain a Dark Skill: the ability to blacken another's Soul Body, causing them to lose their original nature, or even become a Dark-type being.
"Blackening another's Soul Body, making them lose their original nature... that is equivalent to a strange Soul Force Martial Art, specifically for attacking an opponent's Soul Body," Hun Lao commented via Sound Transmission after hearing Ye Yunfei's explanation.
"You've already cultivated several advanced Soul Force Martial Arts, including the two inheritance techniques of the Samsara Ghost race and Soul Purification Art. Adding this Dark Skill that can blacken an opponent's Soul Body truly adds wings to the tiger."
"Yes, after I refine the remaining fruits, I'll have gained another Soul Force Martial Art for attacking the Soul Body," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
In the time that followed, Ye Yunfei proceeded to refine the other three Dark Infant Fruits.
*Rumble…*
Upon refining the last fruit, Ye Yunfei focused his will, and powerful Dark Energy immediately surged from his body. The surrounding space filled with rolling black mist, shaking violently.
*Whoosh…*
Strands of black Dark Dao Law chains materialized, trembling continuously.
"Just by releasing this high-level Dark Energy now, I could directly transform into a Dark-type being," Ye Yunfei remarked, sensing his current energy aura.
"Indeed. You look completely like a Dark-type being now," Hun Lao agreed with a nod. "Moreover, the Dark-type energy and laws you possess are more advanced than many of the Dark Creatures we saw earlier."
"Since that's the case, I'll enter this Dark Dragon Pool again," Ye Yunfei said, looking at the pool before him. "Since I've become a Dark-type being, other Dark Creatures probably won't randomly attack me, right?"
"What? You want to go back into the Dark Dragon Pool? That's too dangerous!" the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm exclaimed, startled by Ye Yunfei's words.
"No need to worry," Ye Yunfei reassured. "We'll proceed slowly, first staying in the relatively shallow areas to observe the Dark Creatures' attitude towards me. If they truly treat me as one of them, then we won't have to worry."
"Alright. Miss Lü is still inside the Dark Dragon Pool anyway. If we really encounter a danger we can't handle, you can just send a message asking her for help," the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm conceded.
Ye Yunfei's figure flashed, and he re-entered the Dark Dragon Pool.
*Slosh…*
The pitch-black, inky water surged around him.
Ye Yunfei focused his will, and a torrent of black Dark Energy continuously emanated from his body, enveloping him.
Immediately, the dark water around him stopped attacking him. Ye Yunfei even discovered he now felt a sense of affinity with the surrounding water.
Moving through the dark water, Ye Yunfei felt like a fish swimming freely, completely at ease and unhindered.
"After gaining Dark Energy and Dark Laws, you've become somewhat more compatible with this water," Hun Lao said with a smile via Sound Transmission.
"Yes," Ye Yunfei nodded. "Previously, when I entered, I always felt a faint hostility from the water, likely because I cultivated Yang-attribute energy, creating a conflict of attributes.
Now that I have vast amounts of pure, dense Dark Energy within me, the water feels friendly towards me."
*Slosh…*
Right then, Ye Yunfei suddenly heard violent churning coming from the water in one direction. Looking over, he immediately saw an enormous black fish swimming towards his location.
"I can actually see fairly far in this pitch-black water now," Ye Yunfei transmitted to Hun Lao.
Seeing the approaching fish, Ye Yunfei thought for a moment, then dodged to the side. He wasn't afraid of the fish, but the environment here was complex. Getting into a conflict with a Dark Creature within the water might have unpredictable consequences, so he chose to avoid it proactively.
The huge fish swam directly past him. As it passed by its vicinity, its gaze seemed to sweep over Ye Yunfei briefly, but in the end, it paid him no further mind and swam off into the distance, disappearing into the dark water moments later.
"Now that you possess Dark Energy, the Dark Creatures in this pool truly consider you one of them," Hun Lao observed. "That fish only glanced at you casually, not paying any special attention."
"Yes," Ye Yunfei nodded. "It must have regarded me as one of the Dark Creatures; otherwise, it would have attacked long ago."
Subsequently, Ye Yunfei encountered quite a few Dark Creatures. Whenever he did, he deliberately released more Dark Energy, wrapping his entire body in it until he appeared completely pure black, with extremely high-level Dark Dao energy shimmering around his form. As a result, the other Dark Creatures fully accepted him as a denizen of the Dark Dragon Pool.
"Be careful," Hun Lao transmitted, a note of caution in his tone. "Although the Dark Creatures here now consider you one of them, some still harbor hostility. After all, even among the same kind, there can be conflict."