The voice that suddenly appeared was everywhere, deafening, like a supreme and eternal ruler passing final judgment on Ji Mo.
Ji Mo's Dao heart was as calm as an ancient well. He formed a sword seal with his hands, and his Void Sword Intent emanated from his body. Infinite sword light converged behind him, forming a colossal sword wheel.
In the outside world, this sword wheel would have been more brilliant than a thousand suns, but here it was suppressed by darkness, its radiance incredibly dim.
Yet, it still managed to cast a light in this world of darkness.
"The one who dies might not necessarily be you, you bastard Qi Hei."
Ji Mo retorted, his words sharp and direct.
At the same time, his divine sense spread wildly, attempting to pinpoint the other party.
But to his surprise, the surroundings were a void. He could clearly sense the presence of the other party nearby, yet he found nothing.
This was terrifying. How could he fight if he couldn't even see his enemy?
Qi Hei sneered, "I am everywhere, how can you kill me? You can't even see me, so what right do you have to be my opponent?"
Ji Mo remained silent. His eyes snapped open, and Dao runes pulsed furiously. His eyes spewed beams of chaotic light, scanning everything around him.
He had activated his Heavenly Eye, confident he could see through anything, but it was still futile. He had seen nothing.
The opponent seemed formless, without any physical substance.
"It seems I've overestimated you..." Qi Hei's contemptuous voice echoed.
However, he stopped mid-sentence.
"Using bronze as a mirror, one can straighten one's robes; using history as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of dynasties; using people as a mirror, one can understand one's gains and losses; using the heart as a mirror... one can distinguish between black and white."
Ji Mo closed his eyes, not relying on his senses, but using his heart to perceive the world.
And this method proved effective. His vision distorted, and a figure appeared out of thin air.
This figure looked exactly like Ji Mo, the only difference being that it was entirely black, devoid of any other color.
Ji Mo was stunned, then roared, "Stop playing these tricks!"
Qi Hei grinned mockingly, "Why would I play tricks? I am you, and you are me. If you want to kill me, you'll probably have to kill yourself first."
"I understand now."
Ji Mo murmured to himself. His Dao heart was clear and empty as he slowly opened his eyes.
Qi Hei's appearance then changed, no longer resembling Ji Mo, but a humanoid ball of light.
To be precise, Qi Hei was not a person, nor any living being, but a consciousness formed from countless malevolent thoughts and resentments.
He was born from the dark side of all sentient beings and grew stronger by harvesting all things, which is why he was regarded as the root of darkness, the dwelling place of all sin.
"I am you, and I can also be all sentient beings. Do you still naively believe you can kill me now?"
Qi Hei's voice was filled with endless mockery. His power came from the evil thoughts of every creature; he was immortal and could never be destroyed.
Unless the universe itself was destroyed and all life extinguished, but as long as new life appeared, he would reappear in the world.
Upon learning the truth, Ji Mo was filled with a profound sense of powerlessness.
In this way, Qi Hei was already in an invincible position, and Ji Mo truly had no chance of winning.
He couldn't possibly destroy the entire universe, could he? What would be the point of that?
Ji Mo suddenly smiled, drew his Zhu Xian sword, pointed it at Qi Hei, and said, "Who knows? I want to try."
Kill...
In an instant, the Zhu Xian sword blazed with billions of sword energies. Its radiance cut through the eternal stillness of the dark land, unleashing an unparalleled strike.
Heaven and earth roared, Dao flowers bloomed, and Ji Mo unleashed his full power in an offensive, his ferocious battle intent overwhelming all eras.
"A mantis trying to stop a chariot, a futile resistance. Why bother?"
Qi Hei raised his hand, and the dark primordial energy churned as he retaliated.
Boom!
The entire dark land shook violently, as if it were about to be overturned. The two engaged in their final battle.
Outside.
Terrifying black mist surged from the ends of the universe towards all realms, enveloping the entire cosmos. All living beings were filled with dread and trembling souls, sensing the approach of eternal silence.
Heaven and earth lost their colors, all celestial bodies gradually faded, and cold, dead stillness spread.
"Mo Bao, you are not fighting alone. I need to find a way to do something for you."
Li Er's heart was in his throat. He racked his brains and finally figured out what he could do.
In the dark land.
Blood sprayed, staining the void.
Ji Mo was injured, bleeding from every part of his body. Several of his bones were broken, and even the Zhu Xian sword had developed cracks.
He possessed the strongest physique and bloodline in history, but he was still no match. His opponent was too terrifying, an invincible existence.
He let out a roar, his body erupting with immeasurable radiance, illuminating the past, present, and future. He unleashed various divine abilities, unleashing waves of destructive power.
Qi Hei was struck, but he could recover instantly, possessing an immortal body.
Countless runes churned in Qi Hei's palm, and infinite power poured down, riddling Ji Mo with wounds. Finally, with a "bang," he exploded.
"As long as the sea of blood does not dry, my body shall not perish!"
Ji Mo resurrected, but the Zhu Xian sword had broken into several pieces.
His face was ashen. With a resolute heart, he began to frantically absorb the surrounding dark energy.
At this point, he had to find a new path; otherwise, he had no chance of winning at all.
The dark power fiercely eroded Ji Mo's body and soul. He endured unimaginable pain, gritting his teeth and forcefully elevating himself.
"What, surrendering? Willing to willingly return to my embrace?"
Qi Hei laughed. Surely no one was naive enough to believe they could resist the assimilation of dark energy.
To dare absorb dark energy was like drinking poison to quench thirst; it would only lead to becoming his slave.
"Dwelling in darkness, embracing the light."
Ji Mo's body emitted a strange dark glow, but his eyes remained clear, unpolluted.
He decided to take a dangerous gamble, to throw himself into darkness and use darkness to fight darkness.
Ji Mo felt his soul and body being torn apart and reassembled. Black flames rose from his entire being, and he was mutating all over, yet his heart remained pure and unchanging.
"Impossible. The most evil thing in the world is the human heart. How can you maintain your original intention?"
Qi Hei had never witnessed such a thing. How could one embrace the light while immersed in endless darkness?
Even he was shocked and felt a chill, sensing unease.
Although he firmly believed that Ji Mo would eventually succumb and fall completely into darkness, he dared not gamble and wanted to nip the uncertain factor in the bud.
"I must admit you are exceptionally outstanding, so much so that even I cannot see through you. But ants are still ants. Your legendary life is about to come to an end."
Qi Hei whispered, his killing intent soaring.
The entire dark land trembled and roared with his words. Myriad laws struck Ji Mo, who was undergoing transformation, like thunderbolts.
The Chaos Bell glowed, emitting infinite chaotic ripples, but it could only hold on for a moment before shattering into pieces.
Ji Mo fought valiantly, his body blown apart several more times, his internal blood completely depleted.
At the brink of death, he took out the bronze coffin gifted by Li Er, intending to fight for his life.