Essence Devouring Art

RUMBLE—

ROAR!

A Qilin rides the wind and thunder; the Beast God commands all creatures!

For a moment, thunderbolts and astral winds roiled across thousands of miles of sky and earth. A myriad of beasts roared and stampeded, as if the world had returned to the age of Primordial Chaos.

The all-or-nothing, peak attack from Lu Hongye and the Celestial King briefly unleashed a Mighty Power sufficient to strike down an ordinary Peak Three-step Great Divine Power User!

And that wasn’t all!

"At a time like this, you’re still holding back?"

In this moment of life and death, Lu Hongye’s soul roared in fury.

The Celestial King was using the so-called Ancient Great Power Soul Crystal to fight him for control of their consciousness. It was a state of you-in-me and me-in-you.

Lu Hongye had long known that the Celestial King was hiding a final trump card, one capable of threatening a Peak Great Divine Power User!

If not for the immense cost, he suspected he would have been ambushed by the Celestial King long ago.

"I don’t need you to state the obvious!"

The Celestial King roared madly, the light of his soul flaring as he condensed a Soul Needle. It was as fine as an ox hair, so red it was almost black and seemed to drip blood, and it contained the restrained, ancient, baleful, and inauspicious aura of a Fierce God.

Hidden within the Wind and Thunder Roar, it silently pierced the void, aiming straight for Wu Dao’s soul!

He and Lu Hongye were two souls in one body; if Lu Hongye died, he wouldn’t survive either.

Therefore, there was no need to hide this final trump card.

Even if using it would completely drain his soul, leaving it weakened to the point of shattering, dazed and mad, with only one chance to strike—it didn’t matter anymore.

A heavily damaged soul had a chance to recover.

But if his life was gone...

It was truly gone!

"Kill!!"

Lu Hongye and the Celestial King shrieked madly, burning everything they had to launch their combined ultimate technique. In a brilliant sublimation, they stepped into the Peak Domain.

All stray thoughts were purged.

Only a single thought remained.

To kill the Wu Dao they had gnashed their teeth at day and night, right here and now!

"My casual strike is your all-out effort. You think you’re worthy of killing me? How... utterly clueless."

VMMMM—

Wu Dao sneered savagely. With a shake of his arm, an endless, incandescent, dreamlike current of starlight and Primordial Magnetism erupted from his body.

He became the great source of attraction for the Earth and Heaven Magnetic Field.

All that existed, all things in creation. Above and below, in the Ten Directions and eight extremities, the magnetic fields of thousands of miles of mountains and rivers instantly swarmed toward him as if on a pilgrimage, condensing into a billion threads that interwove and converged into a single fist—

Celestial Essence Magnetic Burst Fist!

"You can die without regrets! Trash!"

BOOM!!

The Divine Fist sundered the sky!

Infinite, multicolored magnetic field lines fused and blossomed!

A divine light, brighter than the simultaneous explosion of a thousand suns, flashed with high frequency. Like a supernova, it pierced through all existence, bleaching all scenery of its color, turning everything a washed-out gray!

The Wind and Thunder Qilin!

The Venerable Beast God Seal!

The Soul Killing Technique!

Useless!

All of it was useless!

They couldn’t even block it for the blink of an eye!

It was like a two-dimensional animation on a piece of paper.

When the Primordial Magnetism pulse from the Celestial Essence Magnetic Burst Fist rolled over them, frame after frame of the animation disintegrated.

It was torn into an infinite number of colored lines, then exploded into countless points of light, dissipating back into its primal magnetic state!

"My life is over!/My life is over!!"

At the end of the high-frequency, flashing magnetic burst pulse, the Heaven-Supporting Sea-Raising shadow of the Beast God rapidly disintegrated.

Lu Hongye and the Celestial King shrieked madly, their Spiritual Consciousness in chaos. Scenes from their demon and human lives flashed past like a rushing stream.

In the high mountains and dense forests, a lone black fox leaped and bounded, fighting with all its might to survive.

On a war-torn battlefield, a blood-soaked youth fought desperately, determined to achieve greatness.

From humble beginnings to being admired by all.

From a fledgling novice to a world-renowned name.

Countless hardships and obstacles, countless roars and shouts...

All these scenes, a fleeting current.

In the end...

...it was all an empty dream!

"No!!"

"Yue’Er..."

An unwilling roar, a gentle release.

CRACK—BANG!

The glazed river of time shattered.

The endlessly brilliant, vivid colors faded rapidly.

Gray.

Silence.

Stillness.

Boundless darkness!

BAM!!

The fist arrived!

The sky-supporting shadow of the Beast God, which made mountains seem like pebbles beneath its feet, was torn into heavenly colored lines, then exploded into a sky full of dreamlike fireflies that drifted down upon the world.

SHHH~

At the same time, the sound of some kind of condensation shattering, or perhaps of smoke and dust dissipating back into the Heaven and Earth Path, echoed in the Heart Lake of all living beings.

The Celestial Treasure Master was dead.

The Celestial Treasure had scattered.

This was Lu Hongye’s Celestial Treasure once again transforming into rules and returning to the Great Dao.

BOOM—

The desolate, beautiful silence of the world was broken.

A massive hand swept across the sky, snatching away a falling Demon Race Golden Core, a single scale, and a black, diamond-shaped crystal from within the countless specks of firelight.

In the blink of an eye, from the moment the attack was launched to its end, had taken but a single breath.

And with just one punch.

The Celestial King, who had dominated the Warring States seven hundred years ago.

The ambitious Saint King of seven hundred years later.

Even the greatest of heroes eventually return to dust.

All that was left was a wisp of a remnant soul, intentionally preserved by Wu Dao!

VMMM~

His Spiritual Consciousness delved into the Golden Core, which shone like a great sun, and plundered all the complex memories from the remnant souls of the Saint King and the Celestial King.

Most importantly, there was the memory of that purple Holy Spirit Qilin that trod on wind and thunder—

The Wind and Thunder Qilin Scripture!

The final Holy Spirit Technique was his!

"Wu Dao! You cur, you’ve gone too far!"

Before Wu Dao could even inspect his other two spoils of war, the furious and violent roar of Zhou Prison echoed from the core of Naihe County.

"Die!!"

Before the word had even faded, Naihe County, swirling with a turbulent Chaos Storm, was plunged into darkness, as if the Candle Dragon had closed its eyes.

In a single thought, the world darkened, and the Netherworld lost its light.

The inauspicious scene of wailing Evil Ghosts and roaring Gods and Demons filled the world, as if one had arrived in the Eternal Hell.

RUMBLE—

At the far end of Hell, Zhou Prison, wearing the White Bone Emperor’s Crown, stood with the authority of Yama. His bright red Da Hong Pao robes were a dazzling sight, the only light in this Hell.

He reached out with a massive hand. His palm seemed to hold the Eighteen Layers of Purgatory, which rumbled as they rotated, displaying various scenes of torment before crushing down on Wu Dao, blanketing the sky and earth.

Its might was overwhelming, its momentum magnificent, in no way inferior to the world’s number one, Zhou Heng, during the final battle in the Central Plains.

His strength was infinitely close to the level Above Divine Techniques.

An ordinary Peak Master, let alone fighting back, would consider it the greatest of Creations just to survive a single one of his moves by risking their life.

Not to mention, Zhou Prison was currently in a state of fury, intending to annihilate Wu Dao in a single blow!

But at such a critical moment of life and death, Wu Dao didn’t even raise an eyelid. He completely ignored Zhou Prison, offering no resistance whatsoever.

"Wu Dao!!!"

Wu Dao’s dismissive attitude instantly made Zhou Prison’s rage burn through the heavens. His eyes nearly burst with blood as the Light of Hell in his palm flared, and he unleashed his full power!

’Does he really think that just because he’s reached the Absolute Peak, he has the right to challenge this emperor?’

’Let me show you what the word "senior" truly means...’

DING DING DING—

Before the thought could even finish forming, the Heart Lake Alarm Bell in Zhou Prison’s mind rang without warning, sending a chill through his entire body!

"Having such a fiery temper is not a good thing."

A ghostly, Sen Leng voice boomed across the world.

Before Zhou Prison could even determine its direction, BOOM!

The dark, hellish sky covering Naihe County shattered and exploded.

Amidst the flashing light and shadows, a fair and flawless, sky-blotting fist, wreathed in black Karmic Fire, appeared like a God and Demon performing Heaven Opening. Its supremely unyielding and domineering aura suppressed the universe in all eight extremities. Carrying the force of colliding stars, it rumbled through all existence to strike the Purgatory hand.

VMMMM—

The loudest sound is silence; the greatest form is formless.

In the instant the fists of the two contemporary Peak Masters collided, the world lost its sound and color.

Within the silent spacetime, all scenes, all of existence, with the clash between the two as the dividing line, the universe split in two, like an ocean.

The scenery on both sides rapidly distorted and blurred along with the waves of the sky-sea, receding and losing color before being annihilated into nothingness.

At the nearly stagnant core, one could only see the Light of Hell dissipating like spring snow, while the black Karmic Fire, like maggots clinging to bone, seemed to have found the perfect fuel.

The flames grew uncontrollably. Accompanied by the screams of countless Evil Ghosts, it surged madly along the giant hand toward Zhou Prison’s main body, transforming into the Ancient Evil God Qiongqi, which intended to devour the sin-ridden Zhou Prison like a delicious meal!

’Qiongqi’s Karmic Fire?! A clone?’

Zhou Prison’s heart trembled. As one of the top experts in the world, how could he not recognize this domineering Holy Spirit Divine Technique that fed on evil karma?

What was even more terrifying was... ’Wu Dao’s clone actually possesses the combat power of a Peak Master! His Main Body has arrived, and it met my furious attack without being at a disadvantage at all! Just what is this monster...’

THUMP THUMP THUMP~

But before his shocked and doubtful thoughts could settle, a magnificent heartbeat, like the thunder of Jingzhe or a Divine Being beating a war drum, echoed through the sea of consciousness of all sentient beings.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

The moment the heavy heartbeat sounded, Zhou Prison felt his mind fill with illusions—of raging wars and endless chaos. It ignited his evil thoughts like a spark starting a prairie fire, transforming them into countless Heart Demons that gnawed at his Spiritual Consciousness, driving him toward madness and demonic transformation.

"Yellow Springs Nether River! Suppress them for me!"

But Zhou Prison was worthy of being a Peak Master at the Five Emperors Level. He reacted in less than a thought, and a dim yellow light within him transformed into the surging torrents of the Nether River, extinguishing the Heart Demon and Karmic Fire.

Everything in the world exists in a cycle of creation and destruction. There is no such thing as an absolute counter.

Qiongqi’s Karmic Fire and the Chaos Heart Monkey, although they countered the path of Hell forged from sin and evil karma, the water of the Yellow Springs Nether River that Zhou Prison had cultivated using his Celestial Treasure Born Hell was supremely Yin and evil. It could extinguish all worldly karmic fires and heart fires, long ago patching up that weakness.

"Tsk, what an unfavorable start~"

His Karmic Fire and Heart Monkey combo was broken on its very first use, yet Wu Dao wasn’t surprised in the slightest.

The upper limits of the world were set. Although he was confident he could defeat any one of the Five Emperors if he went all out, it would by no means be a complete domination.

If he could kill Zhou Prison, who was on par with the Five Emperors, with just the Karmic Fire and Heart Monkey, now *that* would be truly surprising.

VMMM~

Just as Wu Dao was about to make his next move, a sudden change occurred!

A magnificent and majestic golden sword light rose from a temple outside Naihe County.

Like the moment when night and morning meet, it was the first ray of the great sun’s light, gentle and warm, separating Yin and Yang.

The moment the Dawn Holy Sword fell, all the endless darkness, evil, and chaotic tides of Energy in Naihe County were swept away, leaving only that brilliant seven-foot holy sword, its light illuminating the Great Thousand World.

The Demon Suppression Emperor!

Wu Dao frowned slightly as he looked at the Emperor’s Golden Sword, which hung in the space between him and Zhou Prison, releasing the aura of Shaking God and Slaying Demon.

’A Divine Technique? A grand momentum? Neither. This sword is more like the new fruit that comes after a Divine Technique’s grand momentum has undergone a Rebirth, flowered, and matured. It stands in another realm entirely.’

Even though it held no hostility, Wu Dao still felt an sense of invincible danger from it.

’The Pseudo-Dharma Realm...’

Thinking of the Demon Suppression Emperor’s strength, Wu Dao slowly retracted his fist, no longer displaying his sharp edge.

"Unworthy descendant Zhou Prison pays his respects to the Great Ancestor!"

Before his Great Ancestor, Zhou Prison didn’t dare to act presumptuously. He took a deep breath, suppressed the boiling killing intent in his chest, and bowed respectfully to the Emperor’s Sword.

No matter how crazed or mad he was, he still possessed a sliver of humanity. The blood of the Demon Suppression Emperor flowed in his veins. The heroic tales he heard since childhood, the figure he aspired to equal was always the Demon Suppression Emperor.

Even after becoming a king and an emperor, that respect in his heart had never faded.

Not to mention... the Demon Suppression Emperor’s current strength!

The Pseudo-Dharma Realm!

His true body wasn’t even present. Just a Sword Dao Dharma Aspect manifested through the temple’s Golden Body was enough to suppress him so completely that he couldn’t muster any will to resist!

The gap was too immense. He didn’t have the right to act out of line even if he wanted to.

"The Great Tribulation is at hand. Harmony is most precious. Do not cause further harm through internal conflict."

The Golden Sword trembled, and an ancient yet majestic voice, like that of a Divine Being, resounded throughout the world. It seemed to be everywhere, inspiring awe and reverence.

’He’s suppressing his divinity...’

Wu Dao’s eyes flickered. Although it was well hidden, he could still feel two consciousnesses within the Golden Sword struggling to maintain a delicate balance.

’Ascending from human to god... It sounds wonderful, but the price to be paid is not something an ordinary person can bear. To be without emotion, without desire...’

Wu Dao knew what that feeling was like. It was like being a cold, mechanical program. The True Self no longer exists. No matter how powerful you become, it is meaningless.

If the Demon Suppression Emperor possessed the unyielding will of a True Self that could cross the Sea of Suffering, his humanity might be able to suppress his divinity.

Unfortunately...

"Since the Great Emperor has spoken, this junior will not be so tactless. Today’s ’sparring’ ends here."

Wu Dao cupped his hands in a salute toward the Golden Sword. He didn’t make a scene or leave any threatening words, but simply turned, took a step, and left Naihe County.

The way of the strong is to adapt. When you are not as strong as your opponent, you should avoid conflict. There’s no need to stubbornly fight for a moment of bravery.

Besides, there was nothing to be gained from winning anyway. That was the most important thing.

’Sparring? That fucking bastard!’

Zhou Prison watched Wu Dao, who had destroyed Naihe County and figuratively slapped him across the face before leaving calmly. He was so furious he almost coughed up blood.

But the Demon Suppression Emperor himself had mediated. He didn’t dare to lash out.

He could only bow again, filled with immense frustration.

"I shall obey... the Great Ancestor’s command."