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Chapter 43: The Six Rulers of the Emerald Cavern

The deeper Dan Moriarty ventured into the Emerald Cavern, the quieter the world became. The underground river that had accompanied him for most of his journey gradually faded into the distance until even its gentle current could no longer be heard.

The emerald crystals protruding from the cavern walls became larger, some towering over thirty meters high, their interiors pulsing with an ancient green radiance that illuminated the darkness without dispelling it. The air itself had changed , colder, heavier, every breath carrying a faint metallic scent mixed with damp earth.

Dan walked without haste. There was no reason to rush. The six overwhelming auras waiting ahead hadn’t moved since he first sensed them, remaining deep within the cavern like six ancient kings patiently seated upon their thrones. Before confronting them, however, he still had quite a journey ahead.

SCRRRR—

A faint scraping sound echoed through the tunnel. Dan didn’t stop walking, he had already sensed them. More Cavern Crawlers. This time they didn’t appear in groups of three or four like before, as dozens emerged simultaneously, crawling along the walls, across the ceiling, and through cracks in the stone floor.

Their emerald shells reflected the light around them while countless crimson eyes locked onto the lone human standing in their territory. A low hiss spread throughout the cavern as one became five, five became twenty, then nearly fifty Level Nine monsters surrounded Dan from every direction.

Most beginner Streamers would have turned pale, and even experienced Streamers would think twice before allowing themselves to be surrounded so completely. Dan merely looked around calmly, his expression unchanged.

"The deeper I go, the more they gather."

His hand slowly rested upon the hilt of Night Sovereign, and the Divine Sword seemed almost eager.

SHING—

The black blade emerged from its sheath. Unlike the Thousand Heavens Rainfall Divine Sword, whose appearance had been accompanied by flashes of heavenly lightning, Night Sovereign made no sound, no explosion, no overwhelming pressure.

Instead the surrounding light quietly dimmed, as though the sword itself consumed brightness. The livestream instantly exploded.

[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: Hahaha! You’ve finally brought out your new sword! This immortal has been waiting ever since that weapon evolved. The pressure it emits isn’t violent, yet it carries an indescribable depth. It reminds me of an endless night where even immortal senses struggle to perceive their surroundings.]

[@GoldenFeatherPrincess: Fascinating... The sword appears completely restrained. Many Divine weapons announce themselves with overwhelming auras, but yours does the opposite.]

[@StoneGiantKing: A weapon that conceals itself is often more frightening than one that boasts. Mountains do not announce their weight. Oceans do not proclaim their depth. Only shallow rivers make excessive noise.]

[@ShadowWarden: Do not underestimate a sword that embraces darkness. Those who believe darkness is merely the absence of light rarely survive their first encounter with someone who truly understands it.]

[@NineTailEmpress: I wonder... after comprehending the Dao of Darkness, how differently will he wield his blade? Comprehension rarely changes technique overnight, yet it transforms the mind guiding the technique. That difference often determines life and death.]

Dan smiled faintly. They were right. The greatest change wasn’t his sword, nor his level — it was his thinking. Before touching the Dao, he had viewed combat as a sequence of attacks. Now he viewed combat as information.

Every movement conveyed intent, every breath revealed rhythm, and every hesitation created opportunity. Darkness had taught him one profound lesson: those who saw everything often overlooked what truly mattered.

The first Cavern Crawler lunged, its massive claws descending toward Dan’s head. Dan didn’t dodge immediately, instead he observed. The monster’s weight shifted toward its right foreleg before attacking, its abdomen lifted slightly, and its center of gravity moved forward.

Without consciously realizing it, the creature had already informed Dan where its attack would land. Dan took one small step, only one, and the claw missed him by less than an inch.

SHHK—

Night Sovereign swept horizontally, and the Crawler split neatly into two pieces. Dan didn’t stop moving. Another descended from the ceiling — he leaned slightly, its fangs missed, and one upward slash ended the monster.

Another attacked from behind, and without even turning around, Dan casually reversed his grip. The sword pierced backward, straight through its head. Blood splashed across the cavern floor, yet none touched Dan.

The viewers noticed immediately.

[@GoldenFeatherPrincess: Beautiful... Did everyone notice? His movements have become significantly smaller. Previously he relied upon speed. Now he relies upon understanding. Every dodge uses the minimum amount of movement necessary. Every strike eliminates unnecessary force. That is the hallmark of genuine progress.]

[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: Exactly! Hahaha! This little brat finally resembles a true swordsman! A sword should never waste movement. The fewer motions required to achieve victory... the greater the swordsman.]

Dan continued walking. Every few steps another Crawler fell, another slash, another corpse. Each attack differed slightly: sometimes a thrust, sometimes a diagonal cut, sometimes only the tip of the blade moved. Yet every strike achieved the same result. Death. The monsters couldn’t even force him to stop advancing, and watching him fight resembled watching flowing water navigate around stones.

Ordinary people believed masters defeated opponents because they moved faster. In truth, masters appeared faster because they already knew where they needed to be. A novice chased opportunity, while a master arrived before opportunity was born.

Dan hadn’t become dramatically stronger within the past few hours — his muscles remained the same, his attributes unchanged, his level still twenty. Yet his understanding had advanced, and understanding multiplied strength far beyond numbers.

Another wave emerged, this time nearly seventy Crawlers, and the cavern trembled beneath countless legs. Dan quietly inhaled. He still didn’t activate Shadow Crossing or Abyss Severance — there was no need.

And if the six bosses ahead possessed albeit of intelligence, allowing them to witness every ability beforehand would be foolish. He would preserve those techniques until truly necessary.

Instead he continued relying upon pure swordsmanship. Night Sovereign danced gracefully, the blade seeming almost alive. Every slash appeared ordinary, yet each carried traces of the Dao of Darkness.

Darkness wasn’t destruction. It was inevitability. Every strike emerged from unexpected angles, every movement concealed another, and the Crawlers gradually became confused.

They could no longer predict Dan’s position, nor his timing, nor his intentions. Even without activating Shadow Crossing, his understanding of darkness had naturally made him more difficult to read.

The viewers quickly realized it.

[@DrunkenSwordImmortal: Hahaha! That’s right! Fight like that! A swordsman who depends upon flashy techniques eventually dies when those techniques fail. Build your foundation first!]

Dan silently appreciated his observations as the battle continued. Minutes passed, then another thirty minutes, until eventually the final Cavern Crawler collapsed. Silence returned, and only Dan remained standing.

He slowly looked ahead. The tunnel widened, and far ahead an enormous chamber revealed itself — a natural underground cathedral, with massive emerald pillars supporting a ceiling nearly two hundred meters above, ancient roots piercing through the stone, and countless glowing crystals illuminating the vast space. And there, waiting without moving, were six enormous figures.

Dan’s footsteps finally stopped as his eyes narrowed. Each monster possessed a different appearance — one resembled an armored scorpion, another a giant serpent covered in emerald scales, and a third looked almost humanoid, carrying two massive stone axes. The remaining three radiated equally terrifying presences. They hadn’t attacked. They simply watched, as though acknowledging his arrival.

Dan observed their levels and was quickly astonished.

The first, Level 33. The second, Level 35. Third, Level 37. Fourth, Level 38. Fifth, Level 41. Finally, the sixth, Level 45.