Rise of The Demon General Chapter 792. The Ancient Battleground

Bo Wu continued his search for an exit from the cavern, the incessant chatter of Amon a grating presence in his mind. No escape route presented itself. Attempts to breach the walls and ceiling proved futile, a mere few centimeters yielding to his strikes and digging before an unyielding force field halted his progress, fueling his frustration. Amon’s volleys of words only exacerbated the situation.

"For crying out loud, I never pegged you as this annoyingly vocal," Bo Wu grumbled.

"Oh, so now you understand how I feel when you constantly plague me with your voice, eh?" Amon retorted.

After completing another circuit of the cavern, Bo Wu finally conceded defeat and settled onto the massive skeleton of an unidentified beast.

Amon’s voice persisted within his consciousness. "...Tell me, why does your resolve to take over waver for so long?"

"Because I must surpass your strength," Bo Wu replied.

"Oh." Amon fell silent upon hearing Bo Wu’s response.

Noticing that this indeed silenced Amon, Bo Wu elaborated on his strategy. "When I was integrated into your being, my power was greatly diminished. That was the extent of Hai Di’s capability, performing the ritual from a different world. I lacked the strength to fully possess you. My path to regaining power necessitates the consumption of other entities. Your cultivation speed, however, has been astonishingly rapid, far outpacing my ability to grow. Had things remained on this trajectory, I feared I would never reach a level sufficient to overwhelm you."

"So, you were waiting for an opportune moment when I was critically injured," Amon deduced.

Bo Wu inclined his head in confirmation. "Your conclusion is accurate."

"I have sustained severe wounds in the past," Amon stated.

"Not severe enough for my purposes. To usurp your control, I require your power to be utterly eclipsed, and your body critically compromised. The previous instance where you were somewhat vulnerable for my aims was when Zhang Daofeng nearly took your life. Regrettably, you had already consumed the Divine Immortal Growth Pill, and your recovery was so swift that it precluded any chance of me seizing your body. This time, however, you are not only physically devastated but also mentally scarred from the snail beast's psychic assault. An opportunity this perfect is unlikely to arise again."

"Except for the inconvenient fact of being confined within this place," Amon interjected.

"Indeed, apart from that," Bo Wu concurred.

A brief silence ensued before Amon's voice returned, "Listen, how about I lend you a hand in escaping this prison?"

"Huh?" Bo Wu was taken aback by the unexpected offer.

A long pause followed his non-response. Amon also remained quiet, the silence stretching so long that Bo Wu began to suspect it was merely a figment of his own fractured mind.

"Hello?" Bo Wu ventured.

"What hello? Do you seek my assistance or not?" Amon inquired.

"Are you truly capable of aiding me?"

"Initially, I was uncertain. However, as I mentioned, I have extensively reflected on recent events. I possess a somewhat clearer grasp of the nature of the energy vortex above. If my hypothesis is correct, I may understand why my physical form survived the transition."

"Is that so?" Bo Wu questioned. Unlike Amon, he had not borne the full brunt of the impact upon entering this cavern. The agony Amon endured was exponentially greater than his own. How could Amon possibly recall or analyze anything amidst such torment? He attempted to recall their passage through the energy conduit, but could find no distinct memories beyond a complete loss of control, leaving them at the mercy of fate.

"My comprehension deepened after observing the surroundings within this cavern as well," Amon added.

"What makes this cavern so distinctive?" Bo Wu asked.

"I surmise this is the very place whispered about in the lower realms as the legendary ancient battleground."

"The ancient battleground..." Bo Wu was already familiar with the term, having heard of it long before Amon learned it from Un Lao. After all, he too hailed from the lower world.

"It is said to be the site where the sovereigns of two realms clashed. It strains credibility to imagine such mighty beings engaging in combat within this cramped cavity. This cavern would surely have been obliterated."

"The conflict occurred many millennia ago. Who can say if the battleground retains its original form? No, I believe the fabled battle transpired above, directly over the chasm where we underwent the Worthiness Trial. The immense pressure unleashed from their colliding energies must have cascaded downwards, causing a spatial and temporal collapse. It consumed all within its vicinity, giving rise to this place."

"You imply..."

"This cavern was an actual subterranean space, carved by the force of their energies. Simultaneously, it became a distinct dimension, a pocket realm that ensnared everything within its confines. Even if you could penetrate the cavern's walls, you would be unable to shatter the dimensional barrier."

Bo Wu grasped Amon’s words. His earlier endeavor to tunnel an escape route corroborated Amon’s hypothesis.

"That dark vortex represents the residual energy from the event that formed this place," Amon elaborated. "It persists even after such a long time, underscoring the immense power of the entities responsible for unleashing the formative energy. This vortex also serves as the sole passage linking this pocket dimension to the true world."

"All of that sounds quite intriguing. But how does it assist us?" Bo Wu inquired.

"The ancient tales described the conflict between the sovereign of the lower realm and the sovereign of the upper realm. After experiencing the energies within the vortex, I find myself leaning towards the truth of that legend...

"Tch!" Bo Wu expressed his irritation. Amon continued his explanations, yet seemed to disregard Bo Wu’s pressing question.

"...This inclination stems from my sensing both divine and infernal energies within the vortex. It's highly probable that this locale was originally endowed with a ley node of the darkness elements. A clash between this ley node and the energies originating from the two opposing cultivation paths precipitated a peculiar phenomenon, giving birth to the energy vortex that has sealed this dimension. My survival upon traversing the vortex was due to my unique energy amalgamation. I possessed both divine and infernal cultivation, coupled with the highest affinity for the darkness elements. This composite nature granted my physique unparalleled resilience against the vortex’s unique energies. The absence of even one component would have guaranteed my demise."

"Remarkable," Bo Wu responded with palpable sarcasm. "Now, could you enlighten me on why I cannot simply traverse back out using your vessel?"

"Because the passage exclusively permits one-way travel. One must possess sufficient strength to contend with the current. My physical form merely offers protection against the destructive energies within, it does not grant control over them. Nonetheless, I feel as though I've attained some form of understanding after enduring the intensity of the vortex. I find myself unable to articulate it precisely."

"Are you referring to a Dao?" Bo Wu probed.

"As anticipated, you are familiar with the Dao."

Bo Wu’s expression suggested a slip of the tongue, but he quickly shrugged it off, stating, "So what if I am aware?"

"Heh, you consistently feigned ignorance when I inquired previously. Are you prepared to divulge what you know now?"

"What possible benefit could it offer you? Even if you were to grasp the Dao now, you are powerless with me in control of your body."

"Then, there is no detriment in sharing it with me at this juncture, is there?"

"Hehe. Very well. I shall impart this knowledge to you, driven solely by pity. Enticing you with that which you can no longer possess will serve as retribution for all the times you deprived me of my sustenance."

"Proceed, then," Amon commanded.

"Heh. While I claimed awareness, it was merely superficial. I am, after all, a spirit beast. We are incapable of accessing the Dao. Only a cultivator can. A cultivation Dao represents comprehension of a subject at its most fundamental level. It emerges only upon achieving ultimate enlightenment regarding that specific subject."

"What subjects are amenable to the formation of a Dao?" Amon inquired.

"Virtually anything. The most prevalent Daos are elemental. Those who attain an elemental Dao can elevate their arcane arts pertaining to that element to extraordinary heights, surpassing even those with a natural affinity. However, a Dao can encompass a broader scope, with no discernible limit. Some achieve proficiency in Daos related to specific weapons. Individuals who possess the Dao of the Sword, for instance, can execute astonishing feats when wielding a blade."

"Fascinating," Amon mused.

"Crucially, one can only attain a single Dao," Bo Wu added. "Once a Dao is chosen, it precludes the possibility of acquiring further Daos, even in the event of achieving subsequent enlightenment."

"Indeed? Yet, how does one forgo comprehending a Dao? Upon receiving enlightenment, would one not instantly grasp that Dao? Does this imply an absence of choice regarding the Dao one learns?"

"Well, I cannot definitively assert this, having never personally experienced it. However, I have learned from Hai Di that when one attains an enlightenment leading to the acquisition of a Dao, the Voice of Heaven will be heard."

"The Voice of Heaven?"

"Yes. A celestial voice, posing the question of willingness to accept a Dao."