Chapter 4: The Dark Lord
“Dark Lord, I truly cannot understand what you are still hesitating or waiting for. Are these trivial and ridiculous worldly things really worth your attachment? Wealth? Women? Or power?” The voice of the man hidden in the darkness seemed to come from deep beneath the earth, always carrying a hint of coldness and uncertainty. “There’s no need for you to deny anything. My spiritual perception has already told me everything. There are things that no one can fake or conceal. Perhaps others may not be sure, but Xuro is no one else—spiritual perception from the Dark Sacred Source cannot be wrong. My lord, you are indeed the long-awaited Dark Lord. There’s no doubt about it. Please do not insult my spiritual perception, nor avoid the responsibilities and duties you ought to bear. We of the Great Secret Sect have been waiting for this day for hundreds of years.”
Seeing the determined gaze of the other party, Komer sighed inwardly. Ever since the members of the Great Secret Sect set foot in the Caucasus, his heart had never known peace. Just from one meeting, they had identified his identity. He wondered how they could have such keen senses. Could it be that King Kenifer III had left such a strong mark and influence on him?
“Great Envoy Xuro, first of all, I must remind you that whether I am attached to anything or not is my own business. It’s true that I know dark magic, but that’s all. It doesn’t mean I have to follow the path of your Great Secret Sect. There are countless magicians who practice dark magic—do they all have a connection to your so-called Dark Heritage? That’s rather absurd. I don’t understand those vague things you mention, nor do I want to. They are your own affairs. The Great Secret Sect has its own path and doesn’t need my guidance. I prefer my current life. Whether it’s power, women, or wealth, I think it’s human nature to desire these things. Cutting off emotions and desires isn’t necessarily required to practice dark magic. As long as there’s a spark of light in the heart to guide one, that’s enough.”
“Xuro was very disappointed by the Dark Lord’s words. The pursuits of our Great Secret Sect are far from as simple as the Dark Lord imagines. I believe that once you truly integrate yourself into our sect, you will realize that everything you’ve experienced before is but a drop in the ocean—so insignificant it’s not worth mentioning.”
Xuro wasn’t surprised by the other party’s firm attitude. Those capable of carrying on the glorious mission of the Dark Holy Church were by no means ordinary people. If they could change their opinions so easily, it would only mean there was a problem with one’s own perception. He had originally visited this newly developed land in the Caucasus merely to gather information, but upon meeting the person, he discovered a miracle that could shock the entire church—the long-awaited envoy of the holy church turned out to be the lord of this remote place. The surprise at that moment nearly made Xuro shout with excitement. Yet, to confirm that his senses and judgments were correct, he used dark spirits to summon the church’s supreme priest for verification. Their joint assessment finally confirmed the other party’s identity.
But it was obvious that this successor of the Dark Holy Church was unaware of his own identity; he simply thought he was a dark mage. Xuro had no idea how the previous dark ruler of the church had passed on his memories and the essence of the holy source to him. The holy source within this person was absolutely genuine—this dark essence from Hades could not be faked or replicated. Anyone from the dark lineage could sense it if they paid close attention. Yet, this person seemed to know nothing about the inheritance and history of the Dark Holy Church. He was only interested in superficial aspects like magical skills, showing no interest in the deeper fundamental aspects. Even when discussing these topics, he gave an utterly nonsensical expression, which left Xuro extremely frustrated.
However, these trivial details didn’t affect Xuro’s mood. Having finally found the hard-to-find dark ruler in this vast world already filled him with satisfaction. The lord’s persistent evasions only strengthened Xuro’s belief that the cause of the Dark Holy Church, after centuries of decline, had finally begun anew. From a spoiled young man to a local lord, from a frail youth to a skilled mage, he had transformed the Caucasus from a barren land into a thriving and vibrant territory in just one year—this fully demonstrated the extraordinary nature of this young man.
Xu Luo gathered all available information about this Caucasian lord, who had been identified as the ideal candidate for the Dark Lord, through various means. From what he learned, this man indeed had extraordinary qualities. Besides possessing magic derived from dark traditions, what impressed Xu Luo the most was his remarkable ability to adapt and take charge of situations—precisely what the Great Secret Sect needed most at the moment. The reason the Light Church was able to surpass all others and become the most influential and powerful sect on the continent was not because their deity was particularly beloved or because their magical powers were superior, but because they had several visionary popes who, through years of diligent efforts, transformed the Light Church from an ordinary sect into the most dominant one, gradually taking control of the religious beliefs of the entire continent. Much of this success was thanks to the leadership of these popes. For the Great Secret Sect to revive, it needed a pioneer who could carry forward its legacy. Besides the essential dark sacred sources and magical talent, it was crucial for the Dark Lord to possess exceptional leadership skills. And this lord seemed to meet almost all of these requirements. Could this not be a gift from the god of darkness, Hades, to enable the Great Secret Sect to revive and inherit the dark traditions?
Although this Dark Lord was not yet willing to accept this reality, Xu Luo wasn’t worried. Hundreds of years had passed, and he had plenty of patience to help the other party gradually come to terms with this unavoidable truth.
“Is that so? Perhaps my experience isn’t enough to grasp such profound truths. You have your convictions, and I have my pursuits. We’re unrelated, okay?” Komer suggested with a smile.
“Dark Lord, we won’t force anyone to accept anything, but we have a duty to make everyone understand many things unknown in this world. The right to explain the mysteries of this world shouldn’t be monopolized by any single religion or sect. Our Great Secret Sect simply aims to do this even better. Well, since the Dark Lord hasn’t understood all this yet, Xu Luo can’t push too hard. I believe one day the Dark Lord will understand everything we’re doing.” Xu Luo understood that haste leads to failure; sometimes stepping back was actually progress. “Then let’s change the subject. Since the Light Church can preach in the Caucasus, I think the lord won’t reject the Great Secret Sect either. Why then can’t the lord tolerate the Great Secret Sect preaching here?”
“Great Envoy Xuro, it seems you’ve forgotten one thing. I once said that the Caucasus belongs to the Kingdom of Nicomedia, and anything that violates the kingdom’s laws and prohibitions will not be permitted. Although the Great Secret Religion can openly preach in the southern part of the continent, this is still territory of the Kingdom of Nicomedia and remains prohibited. I can only apologize. As for the rationality and legitimacy of the teachings of the Great Secret Religion, I think this needs to be proven over time and through practice. Even I, as the lord here, don’t fully understand your religion—how could I violate the kingdom’s prohibitions and allow you to preach here?” Komer deliberately guided the conversation toward the purpose of inviting the other party today.
“This question is simple. For the Dark Lord, everything related to the Great Secret Religion is open; there’s no need for any concealment. Whatever the Dark Lord wishes to know, Xuro can tell him frankly without reservation. In fact, Xuro hopes that if the Dark Lord has time, he might allow Xuro to accompany him south to witness the true splendor of our religion. The Light Church merely claims to be the largest sect on the continent by relying on its foundations established in the mortal societies of the north, but in the south, it’s our religion that thrives. I believe that once the Dark Lord understands the true essence of our religion and the goals we pursue, he will grasp the mystery behind why our religion has endured for so long and is revered by people of various races.” With a slight smile, the Great Secret Religion’s envoy hidden in the darkness suddenly appeared brighter, even the dark aura around him fading significantly, making him particularly striking.
“Very good. I also hope to see that. I’m not a narrow-minded religious fanatic, but I’m not opposed to the spread of religion either. People have the freedom to believe. Of course, those beliefs that bring spiritual peace, encourage good and discourage evil, and benefit society should naturally receive the understanding and support of secular governments.” Komer’s words carried hidden meanings, which were easily understood by the worldly-wise man in black.
“Dark Lord, if there is anything you need our Great Secret Sect to do, please go ahead and ask. Whatever the Light Church can do, our Great Secret Sect can do as well; and whatever they cannot do, our Great Secret Sect can still accomplish. There are too many prejudices in the world, fueled by the Light Church’s misguidance—as if the Light Church is the only pure and righteous choice for guiding the people, while our Great Secret Sect is nothing but evil demons hiding in the darkness. I really want to ask these people: where do they see the purity of the Light Church, and where do they witness the evil of our Great Secret Sect?” Xuruo’s tone remained as calm and steady, as if he were chatting with an old friend by the fireplace on a winter day.
“Mr. Messenger of Darkness, the prestige of the Light Church was gradually built over hundreds of years through countless acts of punishing evil and promoting good, starting after they fought to repel the monster invasions that nearly destroyed humanity. Such prestige cannot be achieved in just a day or a month. If the Great Secret Sect wants to truly establish itself on the continent, it is not enough to merely develop in the southern regions inhabited by extraordinary people. They must face challenges head-on, allowing the people to see their discipline and actions in their daily lives, to see what they believe in and what they despise. Each member of the Great Secret Sect must prove the truth of their beliefs through their actions, rather than using slander and insults to achieve their goals,” Kemo suggested calmly with a slight smile.
“Hmm, the Dark Lord’s words indeed make sense. But what opportunities does the Dark Lord think we have to prove the beliefs of our Great Secret Sect?” He secretly laughed to himself—these tricks were far too crude for Xuruo. It was obvious that the other party needed his help but didn’t want to get entangled in requests related to it, so they used such a roundabout approach with a seemingly forced reason to persuade him. Yet Xuruo had no intention of exposing them. Goodwill and trust could only be gradually built through more interaction. The Great Secret Sect still had a long way to go before the other party could accept this reality, especially for someone who had always lived under the glow of the Light Church.