chsdbacks Chapter 177 "Dark Lodge" Changes Hands
Chapter 177 "Dark Lodge" Changes Hands
Chapter 177 "Dark Lodge" Changes Hands
Upon hearing the second "Master of the Dark Abode's" prompt, Raphael paused for a moment: "Source Material—no, I mean, the secret realm can also be used for sacrifices?"
"Of course," the other party said. "Do you remember? I said before that the secret realm was somewhat like a higher level of life."
"After discovering the Dark Lodge, we gradually figured out some of its temperament." As long as the offerings and prayers are appropriate, and with a large amount of spiritual energy, a ritual can be performed for the Dark Lodge. The Dark Lodge also cooperates by giving some responses.
The "Master of the Dark Abode" can check the condition of the "Dark Abode" based on those reactions.
Raphael nodded and asked again, "Just checking the condition of the 'Dark Chamber'?"
The second "Master of the Dark Abode" said with a strange expression, "I guess the 'Master of the Dark Abode' outside has noticed that you are inside, and may even use the 'Mirror of Heaven and Earth' to investigate the situation inside."
But what's a bit frustrating is that the visits didn't really help.
The "Master of the Dark Lodge" is indeed much more powerful than Raphael, but if he were to enter the "Dark Lodge" now, he would have to pay a huge price.
In Raphael's concept, the state between the "Master of the Dark Lodge" and the "Dark Lodge" is very subtle. The "Master of the Dark Lodge" and the "Dark Lodge" are highly in sync. In fact, the power he obtains from the "Dark Lodge" can support him to become a dual-path Angel King, and he can even reach the level of "half of the Old Ones".
However, their relationship is more like a collaboration. The "Master of Dark Lodge" and "Dark Lodge" have always maintained a distance, because this is, after all, "source matter". Once they get too close, the "Master of Dark Lodge" will easily be integrated into the process.
Raphael's arrival disrupted this balance to some extent.
It's like an employee who's been working on a computer and they're cooperating very well, and then Raphael appears, like a computer virus suddenly appearing on the computer.
The employee could still operate the computer normally, but he could sense that the computer was lagging.
Of course, this "virus" seems harmless now, but no one can say for sure what will happen in the future.
Thinking of this, Raphael also remembered that there was a "beginning" in his consciousness, so he wasn't afraid of the "master of the dark cottage" coming in.
Although he couldn't defeat the "Master of the Dark Lodge," he believed that "The Beginning" and "The Primordial" must have many clever tricks up their sleeves here.
Raphael then said to the second "Master of the Dark Lodge," "Thank you."
"No need to thank me," the other person said, opening their withered eyes. "I only hope you can continue to supply power to the Dark Lodge."
Without the power of the secret realm, this major sect would collapse in just a few days.
Raphael smiled and said, "Of course, that's no problem."
He currently has no way to stop the disciples of the Dark Pavilion from borrowing power from here, and even if he were to have the ability to stop them someday, he has no intention of doing so.
This is a force that people have helped him develop over thousands of years, how can it be easily destroyed?
However, this subordinate relationship still needs to be confirmed at the beginning.
Raphael's life has undergone tremendous changes in the past few days, and he is still adjusting. He has also been quite busy these past few days, so he hasn't considered contacting his current "Master of the Dark Lodge".
The other party's sudden "proactive contact" made Raphael feel a bit rushed.
Fortunately, the ceremony had only just begun, and Raphael still had time to think about the problem.
First, he considered his own advantages, or rather, the bargaining chips he could use to negotiate with the "Master of the Dark Lodge," trying his best not to provoke the other party into a desperate act, causing them to sneak into the "Dark Lodge" and fight him to the death.
However, one cannot be too weak in attitude, otherwise it will easily evolve into a situation where the "Master of the Dark Abode" is in charge and he is in a subordinate position.
Western Continent, Jingzhou.
The main altar of the Dark Lodge headquarters.
The altar was built in the middle of a majestic hall that resembled a hill, making it very conspicuous among the mountains.
The main hall is surrounded by long corridors, a huge square, and several small open-air altars.
The disciples of the Dark Lodge guarding this place are at least at the early stage of the "Transformation Realm," which is at least at the Sequence 6 level. They have their hair tied up in high buns, wear long black robes, and are equipped with standard, high-quality spears and swords, making them look very imposing.
Inside the majestic hall, drums and music resounded, performing ritual music to please the "secret realm." The high priest, dressed in full regalia, led the priests in a ritual dance and chanted prayers.
Several "Refining Void Realm" Grand Cultivators from Dark Lodge, that is, advanced cultivators from Sequence 3 to Sequence 1, were also present, including "Mysterious Sound Demon Lord" who had previously "invited" Raphael to visit the Dark Lodge headquarters.
They all stood below the altar, quietly waiting for the ritual to activate the secret realm.
Offerings were laid out on the altar's altar table. In the center was the blood of a mythical beast, contained in a bronze vessel. The blood seemed to be stirred by an unseen force, as if it still possessed life. To the left was a rare beast in a pottery jar, now emitting the cries of a woman. This beast, only the size of a palm, could speak human language. To the right was a rhombus-shaped crystal resting on a mahogany base, with black light flowing through its center.
Wearing a long black robe and with his long hair flowing freely, the "Master of the Dark Abode" stood in front of the altar, holding a bronze mirror, ready to check the condition of the secret realm.
At this moment, the sacrificial incantation reached its highest point, and even the great cultivators like "Mysterious Sound Demon Lord" felt the surrounding space surging. It was as if the sacrificial incantation and music resonated with some enormous entity.
In the next breath, the three offerings on the altar released a faint black light. The "Master of the Dark Abode" immediately infused the offering table with a large amount of spiritual energy. The black light meandered upwards and gathered together in the air in the center of the altar.
They were kneaded together by an invisible force, forming the shape of a simple roof and walls, which, from a distance, resembled a simple black thatched hut.
This is the origin of "Anlu".
With no emotion on his face, the "Master of the Dark Abode" closed his eyes, released his spiritual energy, and cleared the connection between himself and the "Dark Abode".
Ah!
There was indeed something wrong with "Dark Lodge".
He opened his eyes, chanted an obscure and difficult-to-understand incantation, and the bronze mirror in his hand suddenly floated up on its own. This was the Qiankun Mirror that the second "Master of the Dark Abode" had mentioned.
The "Master of the Dark Abode" continued chanting incantations and infused spiritual energy into the bronze mirror. The mirror emitted a copper-green light that entered the "Dark Abode" secret realm.
He first saw familiar lava, volcanoes, and exotic plants growing under such harsh conditions.
The "Master of the Dark Abode" made hand seals, adjusting the angle of the Qiankun Mirror. He saw a small courtyard surrounded by vegetation, and a wooden corridor inside—
wrong!
The location of the wooden corridor has changed! The location of the pavilion has also changed, and a lava pool has appeared in front of the pavilion.
The "Master of the Dark Lodge" frowned slightly, adjusted the mirror, and reflected the view into the pavilion.
A rustic wooden chair has appeared in the pavilion, and a figure exuding pure malice sits on it.
The figure spoke in a young man's voice: "Heh, the Dark Lodge has changed hands!"