Chapter 658: Main Characters
"Among all of the mazes, the ones that made the most progress are only three. One of them is the one that all of us have been watching the most, where Du Shen and his company of puppets are progressing decently fast, and the second and third respectfully is the maze where the Demon Sword and the Scholar of the Lord of Lords faction, named Zhang Tian.
Quite a fast pace I may say," said the commentator.
However, before Eccentric Long or Xiao Du replied, a small cough was heard from one of the eight towers.
Everyone in the audience looked at the source of the cough, it was the Wisest Sun's tower. A Flag of a bright white sun fluttered above his tower room.
"You should pay more attention, someone already cleared their maze's goal," the Wisest Sun said.
The commentator scanned all of the screens and said, "I must have been blind to see this!" he then moved his hand and a small screen grew to showcase the man who seemed to be the only one remaining in his respective maze.
A young man was sitting down with his jaws opened up.
The man's existence itself exuded a power beyond anyone at his current level. And around him were the souls of a hundred cultivators that soon went right inside his mouth, consumed and devoured.
He then stood up. He was a handsome young man, who shared something with Du Shen. The pale greenish tint of his skin, and emerald eyes that cannot be mistaken for anyone who knew of the poison god's heritage.
"With this, I should be done with this stage," he muttered to himself as a red portal suddenly appeared in front of him. He simply walked inside it not bothered with anything or anyone.
"What an incredible man, I suppose he was given the Imposter role, but I have no idea how he managed to kill everyone inside the maze," The commentator said.
"That's the Dao of Devouring, a vicious glutenous Dao that isn't easy to cultivate. Seems that the young man absorbed everything in that maze and was done with the challenge in a record time," Eccentric Long explained.
"It's not just the Dao of Devouring, he also has something similar to Du Shen," said Xiao Du.
"Maybe, since that man's registered name is Dao Shen, perhaps they're acquainted?" the commentator said.
"Maybe they're from the same clan, regardless, he was very lucky to have obtained the role of an imposter, his ability is far too destructive to be used near allies," Xiao Du said.
"Not only that," Eccentric long said, "I think that he had some decent luck that no Origin level cultivators or powerful Void Shattering cultivators were with him, they would have been able to sustain the Dao of absorption he used and he would have had to chase after them. But in the Void Realm I suppose he is not someone that can easily lose," Eccentric Long replied.
"Between him and Du Shen, who do you think can win?" asked the commentator.
"I cannot give an accurate assessment," Eccentric Long said, "I have yet to see the full extent of Dao Shen's ability, and I have yet to see the 'real' ability of Du Shen, they both have yet to use their full power.
But right now, I'm leaning more on Du Shen, after all four of the Suns are actively paying attention to him, and that is enough to prove one's value and worth, not to discredit anyone else, but Du Shen had shown a lot of power while showing nothing at the same time," Eccentric Long explained.
"It is indeed the case. Let us see the rest of the cultivators now, the Scholar Zhang Tian for example," the commentator said as he widened the screen showing Zhang Tian sitting on his nimbus cloud and floating ahead of a massive group of cultivators.
"He had took the reign of the entire maze, gathering the people and making them follow after him, he already found the exit he needs to leave, but decided against leaving by himself, and wanted to gather everyone first," the commentator said.
"Why do you think he bothered doing this?" asked Xiao Du.
"I wouldn't know, to be completely honest, I could have just left," the commentator shrugged.
"It is to identify, and recognize friend from foe," said Eccentric Long.
"How so?" the commentator asked. *
"By law of elimination. Every cultivator there has a piece of map, and once he gathered everyone who has a map, the few who don't will be revealed as imposters, and going in a group will guarantee the survival of everyone because no one would dare backstab anyone else in a full group of people," Eccentric Long said.
"How did you come up with that conclusion?" the commentator asked.
"The people alive in that maze are still a hundred, a death has yet to happen, and so far he has about eighty people with him, once he gathers the remaining people he will then be able to locate the imposters as they won't have a map," Eccentric Long said.
"The imposters need to act fast, if they manage to kill someone they'll be able to obtain their map and blend in with the others," said the commentator.
"Indeed, it is the only way that the imposters could blend in, but with such a high level of alerted cultivators it will be very difficult to take them on. However, we can only watch and see how the scholar can clear this stage."
"The other two mazes, one where the Demon Sword is moving is also a bit similar," said the commentator. They're all following the Demon Sword," he said.
"Not quite," said Eccentric Long and Xiao Du at the exact same time.
"How so? You both seem sure of your words, would care to explain to our audience?"
"Go ahead master Du," Eccentric Long ceded the word.
"Thank you," Du Xiao nodded and said, "The difference is in the way of leadership, where the Scholar was leading by example, the Demon Sword is leading by power. The scholar Zhang Tian explained how they can all survive and clear the path forward, but for the Demon Sword, he killed anyone who didn't align with his judgement and words.
Threatening them and forcing them to act as his limbs in the maze, if you take a closer look, several cultivators are spreading around and back to the Demon Lord informing him of what's going on up ahead."
"I see, oh there is another interesting person in the mix too," the commentator said as he showed another screen.
It was of a man with a burning bright red hair, a flame for hair and red eyes that didn't look like those of a human.
An excessive amount of flames and heat constantly exuded out of his body, melting some of the maze's walls and floor as he steadily moved forward.
"Quite the impressive display," said Eccentric Long.
"How so?" asked the commentator.
"That man, he belongs to the Darkest Sun faction, and with all respect to the Darkest Sun, the way he is acting is very fitting for his faction. He is a lone wolf, destroying anything in his path, it is a clear challenge to anyone in the dungeon to not even think of confronting him.
Friend or foe, anyone who would dare approach will be roasted alive, not only that he is proving himself and displaying clear hostility to everyone. It is the very definition of the sovereignty of the Darkest Sun. To back away is a concept that they do not adhere to, there is no surrender, no giving up, it's either do, or die.
And showing oneself like a beacon of flame in this scenario clearly means that it is a challenge to everyone around him. Only a foolish imposter would dare approach that man," Eccentric long nodded.
Just as he finished his words, something came flying toward Eccentric Long and he grabbed it mid air.
Looking at it, it was also another token, a token of the Darkest Sun.
Eccentric Long didn't believe his eyes, of the eight suns he has five tokens already, he bowed in prostration thanking the Darkest Sun for his grace.
"Congratulations brother Long, at this point I'm not even surprised, hopefully by the end you'll manage to obtain all eight," the commentator laughed.
"It would be a tale I tell for generations to come; however, I speak not out of cheap praise, but actual and factual event. To follow the Dark Sun one must have a cruel heart." Eccentric Long said.
The commentator thought that the word 'cruel' would not be taken lightly by the Darkest Sun but nothing like that happened.
"Do not misunderstand, being cruel isn't a sign of vileness, but one must be cruel to their enemies as they are cruel to themselves. And showing power and courage in such situations is the definition of the Darkest Sun, since the dark hold many dangers one must be as dangerous a the dark to walk underneath that sun," he finished his words as he looked up.
"And as you see, no one would even dare come across the follower of the Darkest Sun, the cultivators that see him from far away or sense him, even the beasts of the maze are all actively avoiding him."
"Indeed, they seem to be close to their end goal, and will be leaving soon, but what about our crowd favorite Du Shen It's been a moment since we saw his progress," the commentator said.
"If I were you I'd brace myself…" Xiao Du said as he had been watching Shen Bao's progress by himself.
"What is that supposed to mean?" said the commentator as he displayed Shen Bao's screen only for him to say, "What in god's name is happening?!"