Chapter 1077: The Grand Monarch’s Birthplace (1/2)

Dong Li’s location wasn’t very far from the Astarte Clan’s headquarters.

Thanks to the Star Boat’s exceptional speed, it took Nie Tian only five hours to get there.

It was a vast, dark, overgrown forest where countless demonic insects and low-tier Demons devoured each other nonstop.

Seen from afar, the forest looked as if it was enveloped in complete darkness, and wouldn’t see a shred of light year-round.

As Nie Tian unleashed his bloodline power, he sensed nothing but countless puny insects and hordes of low-tier Demons in his surroundings.

Apparently, Dong Li and her black tortoise had already gone deep into the forest.

Instead of them, Nie Tian found Wu Yun, who was at the late Void domain, waiting outside the forest.

She bowed respectfully upon seeing Nie Tian, and said, “Lord Nie, Miss Dong went into the forest. That tortoise of hers showed her to this place.”

Scattered around Wu Yun were the corpses of about a dozen high-tier Demons. Judging from the way they were dressed, they seemed to be members of the Astarte Clan.

“We found these Demons when we got here, and I killed them,” Wu Yun explained. “They were members of the Astarte Clan, whose job was to keep other Demons from entering this forest. Apparently, this place is a forbidden area controlled by the Astarte clan, and that tenth grade grand monarch had been born in this very forest.”

Taken aback, Nie Tian asked, “How do you know all that?”

Wu Yun pointed at the dead high-tier Demons that were lying at odd angles on the ground. “I stripped their memories. These Demons were only at the fifth or sixth grade. It wasn’t hard to extract memories from their souls.”

Nie Tian seemed impressed. “I see. So that grand monarch was actually born in this forest?”

Wu Yun nodded. “According to the memories of these Demons, yeah. Apparently, that Demon grand monarch, who died millions of years ago, had been nothing but a low-tier Demon in this forest at the very beginning. He had dwelt in the depths of the forest and upgraded his bloodline by devouring his own kind.

“After his bloodline had risen to a high grade, he gained remarkable intelligence, and became the overlord of the forest.

“After that, he had left the forest to roam the Sixth Demon Realm, and had soon become the master of the entire realm. Then, he had left the Sixth Demon Realm and taken his descendants to higher Demon realms.

“After he had left, the Astarte Clan gradually rose to power and gained control of this area.

“It’s said that members of the Astarte Clan carry bloodlines that partially originate from his bloodline.

“Every member of the Astarte Clan would be arranged to battle against low-tier Demons in this forest when they’re young, so that they can temper themselves.

“Many of them would be able to benefit from such experiences, and upgrade their bloodline. According to them, this forest was the very place where that Demon grand monarch derived his enlightenment regarding the profound truths of dark power.

“Therefore, the Demons now call this forest the ‘Dark Forest’ and view it as the most mysterious place in the Sixth Demon Realm.”

“So why didn’t you go in there?” Nie Tian asked curiously.

Wu Yun smiled bitterly. “I tried, but even my domain couldn’t fend off the dark power in the forest for long. However, Miss Dong and that black tortoise of hers didn’t seem to be affected at all. They even found the environment very agreeable.”

Nie Tian quickly realized the reason behind this.

Both Dong Li and her black tortoise strengthened themselves with dark power.

Therefore, even though people like Wu Yun, who didn’t know anything about dark power, would find this forest inaccessible, it didn’t affect her or her black tortoise in the slightest.

Rubbing his chin, Nie Tian pondered briefly before taking out his Sound Stone.

Through it, he received another message from Dong Li that told him to come find her in the forest.

Nie Tian turned to Wu Yun and said, “Why don’t you stay here and keep an eye out? Let me know if there’s a problem.”

Just as he was about to steer his Star Boat into Dark Forest, Wu Yun reminded him, “But Lord Nie, you... you don’t practice dark power.”

“Well, let’s see.” Nie Tian smiled and flew into the forest on his Star Boat.

“Be careful, Lord Nie!” Wu Yun called out as Nie Tian disappeared into the darkness.

Nie Tian waved his hand, signalling her to leave.

Perhaps it was because Nie Tian didn’t have a domain to use, but he didn’t feel much discomfort while traveling in the forest.

Neither Demon qi nor dark power infiltrated his body.

It was just that the Star Boat’s star power ward continued to grow dimmer in Dark Forest, as if it was being worn down by some unknown force.