Chapter 74: The Unknown

The Obsidian Woodlands loomed ahead, a foreboding expanse shrouded in eerie shadows. Its reputation as a merciless and bloodthirsty place was well-earned after thousands of years of bloodshed. Demonic beasts roamed its depths—some weak, others terrifyingly strong, with the most fearsome among them rivaling Nascent Soul Realm experts.

Jiang Feng stood rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed on its dark expanse even thought his was very far away. The longer he stared into its abyss, the more peculiar his feelings towards it became. It wasn't mere fear or unease. Me No, this sensation was deeper, more instinctive, boarding on the lines of pulling him in. His brows knitted tightly as he tried to make sense of it.

An oppressive energy pulsed faintly from the forest, a presence both vast and suffocating. It was dark, consuming, and cold, a void that seemed to crave more than existence itself. A deep loneliness that felt alive, yearning to devour. Jiang Feng's frown deepened as he extended his senses further, attempting to grasp the source of this unsettling feeling.

'What could it be?' he thought, frustration creeping into his mind as the sensation grew heavier, threatening to swallow his focus whole.

"Stop!"

The command rang out abruptly, the familiar voice of the Eternal Flame Codex reverberating in his mind like a scorching wind, dispelling the oppressive haze. Jiang Feng blinked, his breath catching as clarity returned to him.

"Senior?" he called within his thoughts, his tone edged with disbelief, relief and fear.

"That sensation you felt just now" the Eternal Flame Codex began, its tone grave, "Is the power of Darkness in its nascent form. Something lies within that forest, deep in it—whether a beast, a person, or something else entirely, I cannot say for sure. But know this: as you sensed it, it senses you too. Darkness does not merely exist, it hungers, and it binds. The concept of Darkness hasn't showed up in millions of years- too far to even remember"

Jiang Feng's fists clenched reflexively before loosening. "Darkness..." he murmured, unease blooming in his chest like a rose unfolding.

The Eternal Flame Codex continued, its voice carrying a lot of weight. "The concept of Darkness is not to be taken lightly. It is a dangerous thing, Jiang Feng, especially for one who walks the path of reverse cultivation. Karma itself twists around you, warping the threads of fate, infuriating the world around you. This is why the heavens forbid such paths—why they recoil against them. Every step you take from here must be measured, carefully. You've already crossed into a realm where things are no longer as they seem."

Jiang Feng exhaled slowly, his mind racing even as his body stood rooted in place. Whatever awaited him in the Obsidian Woodlands, it was more than just a challenge of strength, will power, desire and backbone—it was a trial against forces beyond mortal comprehension, and he seemed to be sinking further into it the further he walked and the stronger he got.

"The book is right" the Aetherion Dragon's voice emerged as a low, guttural growl, its tone ancient and steeped in a primal power that vibrated through Jiang Feng's entire body. "The Concept of Darkness is a strange thing, even in the old days. My bloodline, born from the very essence of chaos, is bound to draw it forth. The stronger I become, the stronger you become, and with it, the likelihood of the Concept of Chaos descending grows. Whether a fragile vessel such as yours can endure the weight of both darkness and chaos... is yet to be known."

-

Jiang Feng stood frozen, utterly flabbergasted. Fear gripped him on two fronts. First, the very concept of darkness was something he had always instinctively dreaded. Second, the idea of chaos, vast and untamable, was so foreign to him that he couldn't even begin to fathom what it truly entailed. And now, to top it off, the Aetherion Dragon had casually referred to the Eternal Flame Codex as merely "the book." The sheer audacity of it left him mind-blown.

"I should've known it was something like you," a voice suddenly snapped in his mind. It was sharp and layered with annoyance, clearly belonging to the codex. "Only you maniacs of the dragon race could cause such a disturbance in the lower realms upon awakening. I should've figured as much. Hmph! Just don't push the child into a rampage, or we'll both regret it."

Jiang Feng's mind reeled. He had never heard the codex sound so agitated.

A deep, rumbling chuckle resonated in his consciousness like distant thunder. "Don't think I don't recognize you, book. Eternal Flame Clan—oh, I remember your kind well. Word destroyers, plunderers, builders of star-destroying weapons. Hypocrites. You're no better than I am!" The Aetherion Dragon's voice carried a weight that threatened to crush Jiang Feng's mental defenses. His vision blurred as the dragon's words echoed through him.

For a moment, silence lingered, but the codex's reply broke it like a blade through still water. "The Aetherion Dragon race... I assume you're the ancestor dragon. Your reputation precedes you. Race destroyer, chaos bringer, heaven sinker—your hands are stained with blood as old as the cosmos itself. Perhaps even more than the Shadow Church!"

It was the first time Jiang Feng had heard the codex so animated, its usual aloof demeanor completely absent. The hostility between the two entities radiated through his mind like a growing storm.

"If I hadn't just awakened, I'd shred every last page of yours, book!" the dragon snarled, its voice rising in intensity.

"And if I wasn't bound to this boy, I'd burn every scale off your hide, you filthy beast!" the codex shot back.

Their voices clashed like titanic forces battling in a vast, unseen war. Jiang Feng's spiritual energy wavered dangerously, his consciousness on the brink of collapse. His mental landscape began to fracture as opposing energies surged forth. On one side, blue flames rose like a tidal wave, crackling with unfathomable heat. On the other, black lightning tore through the void, its chaotic strikes searing his mindscape with unrelenting ferocity.

"Stop it! Just stop!" Jiang Feng's desperate cry broke through the cacophony. His hands shot up to clutch his head as if he could physically hold his mind together. His voice trembled, a mix of panic and disbelief. "Hey...hey, if you two don't stop, I'm going to lose my mind!"

Neither entity responded immediately, their conflict a roaring tempest in the backdrop of his thoughts. Jiang Feng felt on the verge of tears. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine finding himself in such a situation. Two ancient forces of unimaginable power, locked in a heated argument—and somehow, he was at the center of it.

And to make matters worse, they seemed to know each other. Not just in passing, but deeply, like rivals from a time long past.

"How is this even possible?" Jiang Feng thought, barely holding on as his spiritual energy spiraled out of control.

Blue flames surged, black lightning crackled, and his mind threatened to fracture completely.

-

"Hmph I'll let you off for now!"

"I'll let you jump around for now hmph!"

-

Shortly after, Jiang Feng's mind began to calm, and the chaotic energies within him gradually subsided. He exhaled shakily and opened his eyes, only to find Yumo and several other blacksmiths staring at him, their expressions a mixture of concern and unease, while disdain was on others faces.

"Are you okay?" Yumo asked, his tone cautious as he tilted his head slightly. His eyes narrowed, as if trying to decipher what had just happened.

Jiang Feng blinked, momentarily disoriented, before realizing why they were looking at him. Moments ago, he had been clutching his head and shouting seemingly out of nowhere.

Before he could respond, a beast tamer approached, his frown as sharp as his tone. "If your guy's unstable, he shouldn't be here. This isn't a place for people who can't keep their heads together."

The man's words carried weight. The Eastern Wall was no ordinary place; it was a volatile, dangerous battlefield where a single mistake could lead to death—not just for the person making it, but for everyone around them. Weakness, whether mental or physical, was a liability.

"I'm fine," Jiang Feng said quickly, straightening his back. He forced his expression to settle into one of calm, though his head still throbbed faintly. His gaze turned cold as he met the beast tamer's eyes. "There's no need to worry, and I'm not mentally unstable, either."

The beast tamer studied him for a moment, his frown deepening, but he seemed satisfied enough to leave it alone. With a grunt, he turned and walked away.

Yumo, however, wasn't convinced. He leaned closer, his voice dropping slightly as he asked, "Are you sure you're alright?"

Jiang Feng glanced at him and nodded. "Hmm. I'm okay," he replied, his tone steady.

But inwardly, Jiang Feng couldn't shake the lingering shock of what had just transpired in his mind. The codex and the dragon had clashed fiercely, almost tearing his consciousness apart. While he appeared composed on the outside, he knew this was far from over.