No Wonder "Low-Key Reputation"!

Anyone who has read Harry Potter knows that the owner of this name is quite formidable. At least in the legends, he was considered invincible. However, once resurrected, he turned out to be not that impressive. 

Of course, the "Dark Lord" mentioned by this extraordinary adventurer wasn't the same as the one Haotian remembered from his childhood stories. He was just surprised by such a bold title—one that clearly indicated no good intentions. 

In the future, when he established his own kingdom or ascended to demigod status, his title would embody justice. In the name of justice, he would cleanse the world of evil.

Haotian mused, "I never knew there was a Dark Kingdom in the Kalar Desert."

The adventurer explained, "My lord, our kingdom is indeed not well-known. Although stronger than the Ratman and Gray Dwarf Kingdoms, we have far fewer citizens."

"We have less than ten thousand citizens, most of whom are indigenous desert people."

"Desert people" was a derogatory term, frequently used by the humans of the Fertile Land.

Haotian said calmly, "So, your kingdom's upper echelons are adventurers from the Fertile Land?"

The adventurer replied indignantly, "We were unfairly treated by the human kingdoms of the Fertile Land. Those self-righteous nobles expelled us. It was the Dark Lord who established the kingdom and provided us with refuge."

With that, Haotian understood. These individuals were essentially outlaws from the Fertile Land, and the notorious desert bandits of the Kalar Desert were composed of them. No wonder their kingdom had a low-key reputation; their citizens were likely captured and enslaved.

No wonder their leader called himself the Dark Lord. Any name with a semblance of positivity wouldn't suit their modus operandi.

"Enough," Haotian said, waving his hand. "Tell me, how many Saint-rank adventurers are in your ranks? Where is your kingdom's stronghold? Spill everything you know."

The adventurer hesitated. The location of the Dark Kingdom's base was a closely guarded secret. Revealing it would endanger their entire operation, as they had committed many atrocities in the Kalar Desert. If their location was exposed, they would face extermination from other kingdoms.

"Is there a problem?" Haotian asked calmly, his demeanor sending chills down the adventurer's spine. 

The adventurer hurriedly replied, "Our kingdom is southwest of your territory, about 270 kilometers away, in an underground space. We have three Saint-rank adventurers. The most powerful is the Dark Lord, at the peak of the Saint rank. He is a dark mage who has lived for over three hundred years. Even in the Fertile Land, the Dark Lord is a notorious fugitive with a bounty of ten million gold coins!"

Haotian raised an eyebrow, "You seem quite proud of that."

The adventurer dared not respond. Indeed, he felt a sense of pride. In the Dark Kingdom, the higher the bounty, the more respect one commanded. The Dark Lord was their king, highly ranked on the bounty hunter guild's list, which was a point of pride.

Haotian said, "I'll give you a chance to live. Take me to your kingdom."

Without giving the adventurer a chance to refuse, Haotian waved his hand, and a semi-transparent portal appeared in the hall. Haotian grabbed the adventurer and stepped through it. When they reappeared, they were floating above an endless sea of sand, with dunes stretching as far as the eye could see. The only signs of life were the undead creatures scattered about.

"Spatial teleportation?!" The adventurer turned pale with fear. Spatial mages were rare and powerful, and the fact that this lord was also a Saint rank made him even more terrifying. The adventurer feared that bringing Haotian to their kingdom would spell disaster, one even the peak Saint-rank Dark Lord couldn't avert.

"Where are we?" Haotian asked, smiling.

"The location you mentioned, southwest, about 270 kilometers," Haotian replied, smiling at the terrified adventurer. "Don't try any tricks, or you'll die a horrible death."

"I understand, I understand..." The adventurer frantically assured him of his cooperation. After calming down, he quickly found a familiar landmark: a structure made of a dozen irregularly shaped giant stones.

"My lord, our kingdom is there! Move the central stone to reveal an underground passage."

"Good boy," Haotian said, flying them over. With a wave of his hand, the entire stone structure disintegrated, revealing a rectangular tunnel beneath. The tunnel, reinforced with magical materials to prevent collapse, was about three meters high, easily accessible for humans.

Confident in his abilities, Haotian strode into the dark passage without hesitation, unconcerned about ambushes or traps. Even if he were to die, he could resurrect in the [City Hall].

After traversing several hundred meters underground, bright light appeared ahead, followed by a dense barrage of arrows. The Dark Kingdom's guards had noticed him. Haotian flicked his fingers, causing the space before him to ripple like water, absorbing all the arrows. A moment later, screams erupted from the lit area ahead.

Approaching, Haotian saw dozens of adventurers impaled by arrows, some dead and others writhing in agony. He ignored them, walking past without a second glance. The adventurer trailing behind noticed that the bodies were disintegrating rapidly, leaving nothing behind.

In that moment, the adventurer was utterly terrified, unable to comprehend this horrifying power. It seemed even more dreadful than spatial magic.

"We're doomed!" he thought, realizing that not even the peak Saint-rank Dark Lord could stop this ruthless invader. Looking around furtively, he began to plot his escape.