Essence Devouring Art

「A few days later.」

On Golden Immortal Island.

The aftershocks of the great battle had completely dissipated.

SPLASH...

The waves of the Black Sea rose and fell, crashing against the long coastline. Golden Immortal Island, as vast as a continent, was desolate and gray.

In the void in all eight directions.

Lv Tiezhu led a group of Primordial Demons, diligently standing guard. While honing their cultivation, they also remained vigilant at their posts.

FWOOSH—

At a certain moment.

Space-time warped and fluctuated in the distance.

Lv Tiezhu opened his eyes. Gazing at the colossal figures traversing the void toward them at high speed, he broke into a grin. "They’re finally here."

The plan to attack Golden Immortal Island...

Strictly speaking, their team was just the advance force. They were supposed to rendezvous with the main army on Golden Immortal Island.

Now, Zhao Jianji was arriving with the troops.

’It seems the Overlord Whale Alliance has finished mining the Dao Stone Mine.’

BOOM—!

After getting closer to Golden Immortal Island.

The main forces of the Overlord Whale Alliance seemed to have sensed something. Overcome with excitement, their speed suddenly surged as they came rumbling across the sky, crushing the firmament with an aura that could devour the world.

FWOOSH—

A hurricane raged.

Holding the Blood-Dripping Divine Spear.

His physique was no less majestic or powerful than Lv Tiezhu’s.

Zhao Jianji, clad in Red Crystal Battle Armor, was carried by Chen Ergou, who had unfurled his Golden Wings. They arrived at Golden Immortal Island like a flash of lightning.

The two of them had no time to regulate their chaotic energy. With bloodshot eyes, they looked at Lv Tiezhu, who had come to greet them, and asked with trembling voices:

"Where... Where is the Alliance Leader?"

There was a connection between the Primordial Demons and their master.

Not long after entering the region, their Demon Embryos had begun to throb violently. The moment the figure they had longed for day and night appeared in their minds, the two shot forward like fledgling swallows returning to their nest, unleashing the greatest speed they had ever achieved.

"Heh heh, look at the state of you two."

Lv Tiezhu grinned amusedly, pointing toward the only intact grand hall on the island. "He’s waiting for you."

FWOOSH—

The two received the exact location.

They didn’t even bother bickering with Lv Tiezhu. Taking a deep breath to compose themselves, they rushed toward the core of Golden Immortal Island.

RUMBLE—

After them.

The main force of the Primordial Demons, with their magnificent and overwhelming presence, also arrived, unable to contain their joy.

After asking for the Alliance Leader’s location,

The crowd quickly straightened their clothes and appearances. With solemn expressions, as if on a pilgrimage, they marched in neat formation toward the island’s core.

Seeing that all seventy-two Primordial Demons had arrived,

Lv Tiezhu set up a warning Grand Array, then led a dozen or so Primordial Demons back to the island with the main force.

Everyone was present.

’The Alliance Leader has a major announcement.’

’Can’t miss it.’

...

In the core area of Golden Immortal Island.

Atop the island master’s throne in the grand hall.

Wu Dao sat silently in the shadows with his eyes closed. Information on ten new Great All Heavens Divine Techniques, obtained from Lv Tiezhu and the other Primordial Demons, churned within his Divine Sea—

Thousand Transformations, Body Stabilization Technique, Qimen Dunjia, True Martial Seven Techniques, Primordial Aurora, Heaven Mending Technique, Qiankun Furnace, Heaven-Reaching Treasure Talisman, Thunderous Divine Blade, and Stone-to-Pill Transformation.

Incarnation, Array Dao, Talisman Dao, Alchemy Dao, the Immortal Martial and Soldier Three Paths...

In total.

Ten Heaven-Opening Techniques!

All of them had been obtained by the Primordial Demons over the past twenty years as they adventured through the All Heavens or opened the treasures of the Slaughter Emperor.

Now, they had all been offered to Wu Dao without reservation.

If not for the decision made twenty years ago, Wu Dao would have had to take countless detours and waste an unknown amount of time to gather this many Heaven-Opening Techniques to perfect the second stage of his Essence Devouring Art.

FWOOSH—

His main consciousness returned to his Red Thunder Abyss Master’s main body.

After tossing the ten Heaven-Opening Techniques to the Primordial Star Mother for comprehension and analysis, Wu Dao retrieved the stored Divine Soul Materials from his Divine Country and took out ten Celestial Weapons from his treasury.

He began to forge the ten Second Generation Primordial Dao Wheels required for the ten new Heaven-Opening Techniques.

The Second Generation Primordial Dao Wheel.

It used weapons and Artifact Spirits to replace flesh, blood, and soul.

This removed the limitation of a lifespan.

As long as one continuously fed it materials, Divine Souls, and knowledge, the Primordial Dao Wheel’s hardware and computational power could grow indefinitely.

In a sense,

It could be considered a "once and for all" solution.

After doing all this,

Wu Dao’s main consciousness returned to his incarnation on Golden Immortal Island.

Currently, his main body was rapidly refining the essence of the Thunder Pool to temper his physical body, while his other incarnations were also making progress by leaps and bounds with the help of the Dao Wheels.

Wu Dao estimated...

’In less than half a month, my various cultivation practices, and all my Primordial Magnetism All Heavens, can definitely ascend to another level, reaching a tier higher than the Twenty-four Heavens.’

FWOOSH—

After his consciousness returned,

With a thought, Wu Dao sensed Zhao Jianji and the other Primordial Demons madly traversing toward him on Golden Immortal Island and couldn’t help but smile faintly.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The sound of armor scraping rang out.

Under Wu Dao’s gaze,

Zhao Jianji and Chen Ergou were the first to enter the grand hall.

"Alliance Leader..."

Zhao Jianji’s entire body trembled as he looked at the figure on the high, shadowed throne. It was the figure he had dreamed of, now even more majestic and grand than before.

His vision blurred with unstoppable tears.

But he still suppressed the fervent excitement in his heart. Taking a deep breath, he straightened his clothes, stepped forward with Chen Ergou, and dropped to one knee. His thunderous voice shook the hall:

"Your subordinates, Zhao Jianji and Chen Ergou, pay our respects to the Alliance Leader! May the Alliance Leader live for millennia and unite the All Heavens!"

These words.

The two of them had held them in for nearly twenty years!

Now that their emotions were finally released,

They wished their voices could shatter the Nine Heavens!

For no other reason.

Their king had returned!

From this day forward,

The Overlord Whale Alliance would no longer be a scattered band of masterless soldiers. Under the Alliance Leader’s guidance, they would surely unite the All Heavens and shine gloriously for all eternity!

RUSTLE—

After them,

The legions of Primordial Demons arrived, clad in armor and holding sharp weapons. Their forms were as burly and imposing as Ancient Fierce Beasts, their killing intent boundless.

Upon entering the grand hall,

The crowd retracted all their sharp edges.

They bowed and paid their respects with utmost reverence.

Wu Dao sat upon the throne in the grand hall. His Black Abyss eyes looked down upon the seventy-two Primordial Demons bowing before him, and he nodded in satisfaction.

’Lv Tiezhu didn’t exaggerate.’

The seventy-two Primordial Demons in the hall.

The weakest among them was at the peak Yang God level!

Furthermore, they were all equipped with Desolate Divine Body Soldiers, which was why their killing intent was so primal and vigorous.

The leader, Vice Alliance Leader Zhao Jianji.

His aura was the strongest!

He had long since broken free from the shackles of the Pseudo-Sacred Spirit Transformation and stepped into the Eighth Heaven of the Divine-Demon Body of the eleventh gate of Transverse Cultivation!

Within his physique, Blood Slaughter Dragon Veins coursed eternally, containing world-shaking power. If unleashed, he could create heaven and earth, and rip apart a Mixed Cave!

Besides Transverse Cultivation,

Zhao Jianji’s Fist Dao had not been neglected either.

In the beginning, Wu Dao had only taught the Primordial Demons the Thunder Punishment Dominating Whale Fist. After twenty years of absorbing the mysteries of the All Heavens Divine Power Boxing Skill, this Fist Dao Technique, the Thunder Punishment Dominating Whale Fist, had actually been pushed by Zhao Jianji to the Grotto Heaven Level, on par with his Transverse Cultivation!

’If he also had a Divine Power Main Dao, then he would possess the combat power of a Monster Level Celestial Pride.’

’Unfortunately, Divine Techniques in this world are founded upon the three great Innate Dantians.’

’On this point, Zhao Jianji, Chen Ergou, and Lv Tiezhu, who have no Dantian, are always a step behind the other Primordial Demons and cannot cultivate Divine Techniques.’

’However, although the other Primordial Demons possess Dantians, their potential is too low. Even with the aid of the Primordial Magnetic Demon Embryo 4.0, they are still far from being true Daoist Child-level monsters.’

’Without the Primordial Magnetic Demon Embryo and the treasures of the Slaughter Emperor, the most talented among the seventy-two Primordial Demons might have only reached the Celestial Human Level at best. Every step they’ve taken to get here can be described as defying fate.’

’However, potential and talent are minor issues for the current Wu Dao.’

’His purpose in seeking out the Primordial Demons this time was also, in large part, to solve this very problem.’

’The Primordial Magnetic Demon Embryo 5.0!’

’It’s time for an upgrade.’

"Sit."

After inspecting the group of Primordial Demons, Wu Dao calmly uttered a single word. He tapped his fingers on the armrest, and magnetic fields instantly converged on both sides of the hall, ’growing’ rows of chairs.

This attitude, which could be described as cold and unfeeling,

did not cause any dissatisfaction among the Primordial Demons.

On the contrary.

Decisive, domineering, and looking down on the world!

This was their beloved Alliance Leader!

If he had put on a sentimental act of master-servant affection, they would have suspected he was an imposter.

After everyone was seated,

only Vice Alliance Leader Zhao Jianji remained standing. However, his position was the only standing spot below the throne, symbolizing his status as an absolute confidant.

For twenty years, he had exhausted his mind, devising strategies and plans.

He had led the Primordial Demons from nothing, step by step, to build the foundation they had today. He truly deserved this position.

"What are the reserves of the Dao Stone Vein?"

Under the gazes of the crowd, Wu Dao spoke faintly, breaking the silence of the grand hall.

"Reporting to the Alliance Leader..."

Zhao Jianji’s battle armor clanked. His face, much more weathered and majestic, stepped forward at the sound of the question. He bowed and presented a White Jade Treasure Cauldron that vibrated with Daoist Teachings, saying respectfully:

"The mining area has a full hundred Dao Stone Veins. The reserves are astonishing. They have all been excavated and sealed, enough to raise the aptitude of everyone in the Alliance to the Daoist Child level!"

Daoist Child-level aptitude.

This referred to the Emperor Grade Thirty-Third Heaven.

Although all seventy-two Primordial Demons had a foundation in Transverse Cultivation at the Yang God level, most only had a Saint Grade Body Image. Those with an Emperor Grade were few and far between.

This was only because the Primordial Magnetic Demon Embryo 4.0 was heaven-defying enough that they would constantly grow stronger just by eating and pushing their Horizontal Body Refinement to the limit.

As for other aspects like Soul Cultivation and Divine Techniques, those were entirely propped up by massive amounts of Creation Resources, and even Saint Grade achievements were rare.

But if they were to digest this batch of Dao Stones,

the situation would be completely different.

Dao Stones were first-class treasures of the All Heavens. They involved the power and rules of the Origin of Tao, making it easy to defy fate and achieve the status of a Daoist Child.

However...

’What’s so great about a Daoist Child?’

Wu Dao looked down on it completely. As his claws and fangs, they had to be a truly invincible army composed entirely of monstrous anomalies!

"The Daoist Child level is too inferior, and it can’t guarantee stability in the long run. There’s no need to waste the Dao Stones."

Wu Dao shook his head slightly, then with a wave of his hand, he took the White Jade Treasure Cauldron from Zhao Jianji, which contained the one hundred sealed Dao Stone Veins, and absorbed it into his All Heaven.

The Dao Stone Veins.

They involved the Power of the Origin of Tao. Not only could they enhance potential, but they were also the preferred nourishment for growth on any path.

Including the Divine Dao!

Because no matter how special a Pantheon was, it could not exist outside the scope of the Great Dao.

Right now, with the development of the Second Generation Primordial Dao Wheel, his Divine Format’s rank was truly starting to lag behind.

The Divine Format determines the strength of the believers.

Because the Primordial Star Mother’s true body was a low-level magnetic field substance, he was able to use the Divine Image Heaven to build a Faith Channel that transcended the ranks of the Divine Format.

But there was a limit to how many ranks could be crossed.

Wu Dao could clearly feel it now.

As the Primordial Star Mother continued to grow, the Faith Channel connecting the two was constantly shrinking and narrowing, and the amount of feedback being transmitted was also continuously decreasing.

For this reason, he had stopped feeding and upgrading the Primordial Star Mother for the past few days.

Within the Divine Spirit System, if the disparity in magnitude between the believer and the Divine Format becomes too large, the Faith Channel will crumble and disappear.

At that point,

Wu Dao would only be able to look, but not use it.

The appearance of this batch of Dao Stone Veins happened to solve his problem.

If his Divine Country could completely digest them, then before he reached the rank of a Divine King, his path would be completely unobstructed.

"The Alliance Leader’s lesson is correct. This subordinate was short-sighted."

Zhao Jianji’s face flushed slightly red, but he had no complaints, because he knew Wu Dao must have his reasons for doing this.

Not to mention,

Compared to Wu Dao’s truly heaven-defying, fate-changing methods that could turn decay into magic, Dao Stones were nothing at all.

"Two things!"

After putting away the Dao Stone Veins, Wu Dao didn’t waste any words. His voice, like thunder, boomed through the grand hall:

"First, a new world, a new atmosphere. Starting today, the Overlord Whale Alliance will be renamed the Heaven-Stealing Alliance. The organizational structure will remain unchanged."

The Heaven-Stealing Alliance!

In his previous life, he had single-handedly founded the Heaven-Stealer Alliance, and every member of the organization was a master of the Essence Devouring Art.

Renaming it to the Heaven-Stealing Alliance also meant that he was preparing to let the seventy-two Primordial Demons come into contact with true power!