The man in black slowly stretched out a hand, which was slender and had distinct joints. He gently stroked Xingyue's delicate and smooth cheek, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a faint smile.

Looking at the stars and the moon in my dreams, I feel as if a gentle spring breeze is blowing across my face, making me feel comfortable and a little warm.

At that moment, the man in black turned around, walked lightly to the bookshelf, and reached out to pick up the bottle containing the Nether Water. He held the bottle in his hand, carefully examining it, a hint of determination and resolve flashing in his deep eyes.

Immediately, the man in black uncapped the bottle without hesitation, raised his head, and drank the Netherworld Water from the bottle in one gulp. At this moment, a mysterious and powerful dark force instantly surged over the man in black, enveloping him tightly. His aura became incredibly powerful, as if merging with the darkness.

The man in black slowly turned his head, took a last deep look at Xingyue who was still sleeping, then turned around and left the palace silently.

Only after the man in black left the palace did Xingyue gradually awaken from her slumber. She rubbed her eyes, sensing a strange atmosphere around her, though she couldn't quite place it. She sat up straight and glanced around in confusion, only to discover that the bottle of Netherworld Water, which had been placed on the shelf, was gone.

Xingyue's heart tightened, and Qianye's instructions flashed through her mind. She immediately realized the seriousness of the situation. She quickly jumped off the bed and began to anxiously search around for the Netherworld Water.

Meanwhile, the man who had drunk the Netherworld Water was practicing Qigong and regulating his breathing in a secluded place. As the dark power continued to surge within him, his breathing became increasingly steady.

As time passed, the man gradually adapted to the power of the Nether Water. He opened his eyes, and a flash of black light appeared in them. He felt an unprecedented power, but a sense of confusion and uneasiness in his heart inexplicably crossed his mind.

Xingyue hurriedly searched the Dark Temple, her anxiety growing stronger. As she walked, she sniffed the air for the scent of Netherwater, hoping to find its trace.

Finally, after some effort, Xingyue found the mysterious man in black in a dense forest. He was standing quietly under a big tree, his eyes closed, as if he was carefully feeling the surrounding environment and atmosphere.

Xingyue approached him cautiously, her eyes filled with confusion and vigilance. She asked softly, "Excuse me, who are you? Were you the one who took the Netherworld Water just now?"

However, the man in black did not answer her question immediately. Instead, he slowly opened his eyes, his eyes revealing a hint of alertness and vigilance.

Seeing this, Xingyue couldn't help but ask again, "Who are you? Why are you in this dark temple? Did you really take the Netherworld Water?"

Facing Xingyue's question, the man in black was silent for a moment, then turned to look at her and replied calmly, "This Netherworld Water originally belonged to me."

Hearing this, Xingyue's face showed a look of doubt, as if she didn't believe the other party's words. After all, Qianye had just told her that this Nether Water was an important magic weapon in the underworld. How could it be easily obtained by a stranger?

The man in black sighed softly, a look of helplessness and amusement on his face. He said softly, "Star-Moon Goddess, the Netherworld Water originally belonged to me. Because... I am the Netherworld Water itself."

Xingyue stared at the man in black in astonishment. She had never imagined the truth would be this. The Nether Water, a legendary divine object, how could it possibly be the incarnation of a human? However, the facts before her forced her to accept this shocking truth.

The man in black looked at Xingyue's shocked expression and smiled helplessly. He slowly extended his right hand, and a faint blue light slowly emanated from his palm. That was the power of the Nether Water.

"I was originally a spirit of the Netherwater, silently guarding this stretch of water," the black-clad man said calmly, his voice filled with profound tranquility. "However, one day, an evil force suddenly intruded, shattering the tranquility. To protect this stretch of water from erosion, I was forced to transform into a human and engage in a fierce battle against those evil forces."

Xingyue listened quietly to the black-clad man's narration, a surge of admiration welling in her heart. She knew full well the immense power contained within the Nether Water, and as its guardian, the black-clad man must possess unparalleled strength and unparalleled courage. Facing such a formidable foe, he stood undaunted, a spirit that deeply impressed the Star-Moon Goddess.

As if recalling something, Xingyue asked doubtfully, "Could it be that what Prince Lian said earlier, that the demon race had obtained a magical weapon, was... you?"

The man in black nodded, a wry smile on his face, and said, "Yes, I am that magic weapon. However, what the Demon King doesn't know is that my soul can only unleash its incredible power when it is with the Netherworld Water. However, he took me away from the Netherworld Water, which is why I am so weak now."

Xingyue felt relieved upon hearing this, but at the same time, she was shocked and angry at the demon race's ambitions. She gritted her teeth and said, "As long as this demon race isn't eliminated, the people will never have peace."

The man in black nodded in agreement, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. He said, "What the Star-Moon Goddess said is absolutely true. The demon race has great ambitions. Their goal is definitely not just to occupy the human race, annex the elves, tame the beasts, and defeat the underworld, the demon world, and the divine world. They want to unify the world, replace the rules of heaven and earth, and become the most supreme existence in the world."

Xingyue's face darkened after hearing this. She feared the seven realms would soon be plunged into chaos by the demon race's ambitions. She secretly pondered how to deal with this...