Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100

Glancing around cautiously, Max noted with relief that he had yet to encounter any black dogs. The stories about their pack mentality and viciousness were still fresh in his mind. Taking a deep breath, he continued forward, his guard slightly lowered but his senses still alert.

However, unbeknownst to him, he wasn't the only person in this abyss.

In a deeper section of the Black Dog Abyss, a stocky figure suddenly stopped mid-step, turning his head sharply in Max's direction. If Max had seen him, he would have been shocked, for this figure was none other than a monk of the Bright Buddha Palace.

The monk's eyes, small and piercing, glimmered faintly as he muttered under his breath, "It seems someone else has entered the Black Dog Abyss. I wonder what his purpose is. Hopefully, it's different from this humble monk's…"

His words trailed off as his figure blurred, his speed increasing dramatically as he disappeared into the thick black fog that clung to the abyss walls.

At that very moment, Max, oblivious to the monk's presence, continued his own steady advance deeper into the abyss, unknowingly walking closer toward a convergence neither of them had anticipated.

"Shua."

At that very moment, above the dark and oppressive expanse of the Black Dog Abyss, a lone figure streaked through the sky like a black meteor. The young man wore a pitch-black robe that fluttered in the cold wind, his tall and lean figure exuding an eerie sense of sharpness and stillness.

His face, pale and bloodless, looked almost like it had been carved from wax, devoid of warmth, but his eyes gleamed coldly with intelligence and malice. This man was none other than Kevin.

Hovering in midair, he gazed down at the yawning fissure below him, a chill creeping through his bones as he muttered to himself, "This is the Black Dog Abyss?" His voice was low, almost uncertain, as if he were both speaking to himself and questioning some unseen presence.

To any outsider, it would appear to be a strange act of solitude. Yet, almost immediately, an answer came—an eerie, deep voice that echoed unnaturally in the empty air, replying to Kevin's words: "Yes, this is indeed the Black Dog Abyss. Go in quickly."

The response carried an unmistakable authority, yet there was no one else present, no living being in sight aside from Kevin. If anyone were there to witness the scene, they would have been chilled to their core, wondering where such a voice could possibly originate.

Kevin, however, didn't so much as flinch. He knew exactly where the voice came from—it wasn't outside him. It was within his very body.

The source of that voice was Master Dave, an ancient expert whose existence defied the natural cycle of life and death. His soul had taken refuge inside Kevin's body, a fact Kevin tolerated only because he had no choice.

Kevin frowned slightly, his pale lips curling into a thin line as he replied in a hushed tone, "Master Dave, you said you found this treasure more than fifty years ago. So much time has passed… Are you sure no one else has taken it already?"

The ancient voice within him responded immediately, tinged with pride and certainty. "Do not worry. The man who originally held the treasure sealed it with his dying breath. That seal can only be broken by me, and no one else possesses the knowledge to undo it. It will still be there, untouched, waiting for us."

Kevin's eyes narrowed, his expression mixed with hope and wariness. "I hope so…" he murmured, though deep in his heart he remained cautious. His mind involuntarily drifted back to Azure Wolf Mountain, and a faint shiver ran down his spine.

It was there he had first encountered Master Dave—or, more precisely, the corpse that had once housed him. Dave had been a formidable expert in life, one whose strength must have been terrifyingly profound. Even in death, his soul had not dissipated, preserved by a secret technique that allowed it to linger in the physical world. His corpse had remained sealed, dormant for decades, until Kevin stumbled upon it.

Breaking that seal required one thing—blood. Kevin's blood.

Dave had deceived him into providing that blood, and once the seal had been undone, the soul had attempted to take over Kevin's body. It had nearly succeeded too, because Dave's power in life had been monstrous.

If not for the fact that Kevin had, by sheer luck, acquired and practiced a forbidden technique known as the Great Demonic Art, his soul would have been devoured, his body permanently occupied by the ancient specter.

The Great Demonic Art not only saved Kevin's life but also gave him the ability to suppress Dave's soul. He could not completely expel it, but he managed to subjugate it, forcing it to co-exist within his body rather than dominate it outright.

That was why, even now, Kevin never lowered his guard around the presence that lingered inside him. It was the reason he had avoided revealing his true strength during his encounter with Max in Hidden Sound Valley—he couldn't risk injury. A serious wound might weaken his control, giving Dave the opportunity to strike and fully seize his body.

The old devil had once told Kevin of a treasure hidden deep within the Black Dog Abyss, a treasure so rare and powerful that it could accelerate strength to terrifying levels, allowing one to progress thousands of miles in a single day.

More importantly, it was said to hold a connection to the supreme Divine Rank, something that only a handful of beings in history had ever touched. That promise alone was enough to make Kevin's heart stir.

Kevin had long harbored great ambition. He did not simply want strength to defend himself; he wanted to stand at the pinnacle, to crush all who looked down on him, to ascend to the very peak of power and authority.

The mention of such a treasure was enough to eclipse even the dangers of the Black Dog Abyss, and though he fully understood the risk of death, he had to see it for himself.

Sensing Kevin's intent, the old devil residing within his body laughed darkly, his voice filled with confidence and deceitful charm. "Kevin boy, rest easy. This treasure is fated to be yours alone. Even if it does not directly push you into the Divine Rank, there is no doubt it will raise you to the peak of the Mythic Rank. At that point, who under heaven could stop you?"

Kevin, however, was not so easily swayed by sweet words. His expression hardened, and he let out a cold snort. "Humph. Who knows if what you're telling me is true or false? If I'm injured down there, won't you just seize the opportunity to take over my body completely?" His voice was calm, but every word carried an edge of hostility, like the faint glint of a blade unsheathed.

The old devil chuckled, his laughter echoing eerily within Kevin's mind. "I won't deny that I'd like to. You are, after all, quite a suitable vessel. But you also know the truth: I spent a great deal of my strength trying to erase your soul before and failed. With my current condition, I barely have enough power to sustain myself, let alone wrest full control from you. And with that Great Demonic Art of yours protecting your soul, my chances of success are pitifully low."

Kevin said nothing but narrowed his eyes slightly, his vigilance unchanged.

The old devil, unfazed, continued speaking, his tone almost wistful. "Tsk tsk… that Great Demonic Art of yours… do you even know what you're holding? That technique was the root of a war between good and evil ten thousand years ago, a war so fierce that countless righteous forces and evil experts alike were destroyed in pursuit of it. When the dust finally settled, the Great Demonic Art vanished completely, and all who sought it failed to find even a trace. And now… you, a mere boy, have obtained it. Truly, heaven favors you."