Essence Devouring Art

Of course.

That’s not to say the grade of your Dharma Aspect determines the grade of the Grotto Heaven you will forge.

Fate is fickle, and fortune is unpredictable.

Resources, the state of one’s Dao heart, accidents, the depth of one’s foundation, damage to one’s origin...

All these factors...

...could influence the path ahead.

Take the Daylight Saint Child, Wang Tongguang, standing before Wu Dao for example.

In his Dharma Aspect phase, he had achieved the Emperor Grade Twenty-four Heavens.

But because his Dantian Origin was damaged while fighting over a treasure,

he fell from the Emperor Grade when breaking through to the Cave Heavens Realm.

He only managed to forge a Saint Grade Grotto Heaven and wasted a century before opening a Triple Cave Heaven.

As for whether he could reach Ninth Layer Perfection,

that would depend on his future Creation.

But even so,

Wang Tongguang’s accomplishments already surpassed ninety-nine percent of the cultivators in All Heavens.

After all, on the path of Cultivation,

the further one goes, the more difficult it becomes, and the fewer companions one will have.

The Cave Heavens Realm...

...was a height unattainable for countless people, let alone for a young Grotto Heaven expert who had cultivated for less than a thousand years.

This was also why

Wang Tongguang could become a Saint Child of the Ten Thousand Laws Alliance.

A Saint Grade Grotto Heaven still held the potential to become a Saint.

It was worthy of any faction pouring resources and status into nurturing it.

In Ten Thousand Laws City,

as a Saint Child, Wang Tongguang enjoyed many privileges and a great deal of influence. He also commanded a large private force and had many Dharma Aspect-level followers.

After joining the Ten Thousand Laws Alliance under the alias "Heaven-Reaching," Wu Dao was assigned to a treasure-hunting squad under the Daylight Saint Child’s command.

By being ’daring and relentless’ in the forbidden zone,

he had accumulated considerable merit.

Today, he had finally made contact with Wang Tongguang, earned his recognition, and been summoned for a meeting. His plan was now officially in motion.

The Holy Land ruins he mentioned...

...had indeed been found after expending great effort.

After all, the memories the old monster had given him only contained a general location. Searching for it in the forbidden zone based on that map still took him quite a lot of time.

"Excellent, excellent!"

After receiving the affirmative answer, the Daylight Saint Child couldn’t help but clap his hands in praise. He sized Wu Dao up for a few moments before saying with admiration:

"If the intelligence on the Holy Land is true, I can promise you, Fellow Daoist Tongtian, the status of a Ten Thousand Laws Envoy afterward."

This "Heaven-Reaching," an Emperor Grade Tenth Layer Sword Cultivator...

...had drawn his attention ever since joining the Daylight Saint Child’s faction.

He was of humble birth.

But he was daring and relentless, unwilling to remain at the bottom.

In order to get ahead and latch onto someone powerful, he was even willing to hand over a Gold and Silver Mountain of wealth.

A person like that...

...as long as he was managed well,

...could certainly become a sharp blade to protect his master. Naturally, one couldn’t be stingy when trying to win him over.

A Ten Thousand Laws Envoy!

Hearing the Daylight Saint Child’s promise, the followers in the palace all glanced at Wu Dao with envy.

Within the Ten Thousand Laws Alliance,

the status and privileges of a Ten Thousand Laws Envoy were second only to the elder class. They were, in effect, management trainees.

If he performed well in the future,

he could ascend step by step into the core of power.

For a Loose Cultivator to obtain this...

...was truly like a sparrow turning into a Phoenix on a high branch.

’A Ten Thousand Laws Envoy?’

’It sounds nice,’

’but it’s just a low-level public functionary.’

Wu Dao was inwardly dismissive. He had no interest in truly joining the Ten Thousand Laws Alliance to play at political games and waste his time.

However,

he still had to put on a show.

"I, Tongtian, have drifted for half my life. To be recognized by the Saint Child today... I will surely spill my blood and brains on the battlefield to repay this sacred grace."

Wu Dao trembled all over, cupping his fist to pledge his loyalty.

He wore an expression of gratitude, like a scholar willing to die for one who truly appreciates him.

"Hahaha, good! With a fine talent like Fellow Daoist Tongtian, how could my great undertaking not succeed?"

The Daylight Saint Child was very satisfied with Wu Dao’s attitude. He thought for a moment and said:

"Starting today, Tongtian, there’s no need for your great talents to be wasted on trivial tasks. Until the forbidden zone affair is over, you will first serve as my Close Guard."

"I am at the Saint Child’s command."

Wu Dao naturally had no objections.

Subsequently,

at the Daylight Saint Child’s inquiry,

Wu Dao explained in detail the location of the Holy Land within the forbidden zone, as well as some superficial information about it.

"Hiss... the Giant Axe Sacred Land?"

After hearing the information Wu Dao revealed about the Holy Land, the Daylight Saint Child’s expression immediately turned solemn, and an irrepressible glint erupted in his eyes.

If he reacted this way,

then the crowd in the great hall was even more so, their breathing quickening and their faces filled with fervent greed.

Wu Dao took in everyone’s shock and excitement, feeling no surprise in his heart.

Within Hongyuan,

only factions with a Saint-realm Great Power presiding over them or a Saint’s inheritance were qualified to be called a Holy Land.

For instance, the Ten Thousand Laws Alliance he had just joined.

It was a Holy Land in the Chaotic Star Heaven.

This was because the Alliance Leader of the Ten Thousand Laws Alliance was an Immortal Dao Great Saint, considered a leader among the many Holy Lands.

And the Giant Axe Sacred Land...

...was a Military Dao Holy Land from the era of the Four Tribulations, whose power was no weaker than the present-day Ten Thousand Laws Alliance.

The ruins of such a power’s Ancestral Land...

...if all its treasures were completely excavated, could be used to nurture and build a new Holy Land. One could imagine how tempting that was.

Of course,

the risks were also immense.

After tens of millions of years of being washed by Tribulation Qi,

the special Magnetic Field of the Giant Axe Sacred Land had gathered all sorts of extremely terrifying great Killing Arrays of destructive order.

What other dangers had been born inside?

It was all a complete unknown.

The reason Wu Dao joined the Ten Thousand Laws Alliance...

...was precisely to borrow its power to help him open the Giant Axe Treasure Land.

Before the Fifth Tribulation,

before the Slaughter Emperor had reached the peak and before the opportunities of Creation on the Emperor Star had opened, he had ventured into the forbidden zone once.

The Giant Axe Sacred Land...

...was one of the treasure lands the Slaughter Emperor had discovered on the Emperor Star back then.

However,

the intensity of the Tribulation Qi on the Emperor Star in that era far surpassed the present.

The main treasure area within the Giant Axe Sacred Land...

...was a place that even the Slaughter Emperor of that time could not enter, forcing him to miss it with regret.

Besides the Giant Axe Sacred Land,

there were many other treasure lands in other regions of the Emperor Star that the Slaughter Emperor had identified but never excavated.

Some of the important ones...

...were created by the Slaughter Emperor himself, burying some of his inheritances and contingency plans, all of which had been passed on to Wu Dao in one go.

A long time ago,

Wu Dao had guessed...

...that the Slaughter Emperor might have known he would be defeated before the tribulation even began, which was why he left so many contingency plans throughout All Heavens.

If that were true,

then the truth of the Fifth Tribulation would be rather thought-provoking.

Of course,

it could also be that it was simply in the Slaughter Emperor’s nature.

He liked to have multiple bolt-holes, like a crafty rabbit with three burrows.

"According to ancient records, the supreme inheritance of the Giant Axe Sacred Land is a top-ranking Military Dao offensive Great Technique among the Seventy-two Heavenly Great Divine Techniques—Heaven and Earth Creation!"

Upon the palace throne, a sharp glint flickered in the Daylight Saint Child’s eyes. His fingers tapped incessantly on the armrest, unable to hide his excitement.

"It is said that once this Divine Technique is cultivated to its highest level, it is claimed to be unbreakable and can cleave through the Three Thousand Worlds, even striking down those in the Emperor Realm!"

Heaven and Earth Creation!

A Great All Heavens Divine Technique!

As soon as this information was revealed,

the hearts of everyone in the great hall began to pound like war drums, their mouths dry with thirst.

The Seventy-two Heavenly Great Divine Techniques.

Any one of them was a peerless treasure that had illuminated an entire era of Hongyuan since the dawn of time, capable of making countless people break their heads fighting for it.

Don’t be fooled just because the Ten Thousand Laws Alliance was a Holy Land.

Its inheritances were countless, as vast as a sea of smoke.

But in the face of a Great All Heavens Divine Technique, all the inheritances within the Ten Thousand Laws Alliance were nothing but worthless trash.

If they could obtain the Giant Axe’s inheritance,

it would absolutely be a heaven-defying merit!

Wu Dao stood quietly in the hall with his eyes downcast, his face a mask of extreme excitement and longing. In his consciousness, however, he calmly glanced at the numerous Great All Heavens Divine Techniques and Emperor Scriptures on his data panel.

’Hm.’

’Not that many.’

’Just about twenty of them.’

’And one of them is from Cyan Yu Celestial Venerable.’

’One of the Ten Strongest Creation Divine Techniques that even Emperors would fight over—the Great Silence of All Heavens!’

’If the Daylight Saint Child and the others knew...’

’...that the Wu Dao presenting this treasure was himself carrying a supreme Treasure Mountain,’

’I wonder what their reaction would be.’

Taking a deep breath,

the Daylight Saint Child calmed down. He scanned the crowd and said coldly, "The cake that is the Giant Axe Sacred Land is indeed huge. If we can eat it, all of us will have a glorious future.

However,

if I find out anyone has betrayed us from within, don’t blame me for disregarding our past camaraderie!"

"Rest assured, Saint Child! If anyone dares to leak this information, we will be the first to not let them off!"

The crowd in the hall immediately pledged their loyalty.

’Are you kidding?’

’With such great Creation at stake,’

’every single one of them wanted to take a bigger bite of the meat, or even devour it whole. How could they possibly share it with others?’

However,

there are always exceptions.

Not long after Wu Dao led the well-prepared Daylight Saint Child and a group of top experts from his faction out of Ten Thousand Laws City under the cover of concealment,

from within the surging Tribulation Qi ahead,

a warship suddenly appeared, reeking of sinister energy.

It was a massive, Grotto Heaven Level warship, like a Nether Ghost Ship. The surrounding Tribulation Qi was crushed by its presence as it domineeringly blocked Wu Dao and the others.

’The Profound Yin Saint Child?’

Wu Dao glanced at the Ten Thousand Laws Alliance Saint Child’s banner on the warship and raised an eyebrow. He knew there was a traitor.

The Profound Yin Saint Child.

His status in the Ten Thousand Laws Tower was almost identical to the Daylight Saint Child’s; both were at the Third Layer of the Saint Grade Grotto Heaven.

But on a normal day,

the two had no dealings with each other, each minding their own business. It was naturally impossible that the Daylight Saint Child had called for his help.

"Heh, so I’ve raised an ungrateful wolf."

As expected,

the Daylight Saint Child also knew he’d been backstabbed.

He coldly scanned the followers behind him, probably already scheming in his heart how to find the culprit and punish them severely.

BUZZ—

At that moment,

the Profound Yin Saint Child’s warship, which was suppressing the Chaos Tribulation Qi, stopped a thousand miles away from the group. An old man in black robes, who looked like a smiling tiger, walked out onto the prow. Looking down from his high vantage point, he cupped his hands and said:

"My master has asked me to deliver a message to Prince Zhuguang—it is impossible for your group alone to take down the Giant Axe Sacred Land. Why not cooperate for a win-win situation? He only wants the Giant Axe Sacred Artifact; the inheritance will go to Prince Zhuguang."

’What a piece of work.’

’Not even pretending.’

’Coming right out and dictating the terms as if he’s the host. The sheer arrogance is astounding.’

However,

what surprised Wu Dao somewhat was that,

although the Daylight Saint Child’s face was grim, he didn’t fly into a rage. It seemed that after weighing the risks, he knew they were too great and had begun to consider cooperating.

When Wu Dao saw this unfolding,

he thought, ’That won’t do.’

’This clone of mine has limited strength.’

’I’ve never fought a Grotto Heaven expert across realms, let alone someone like the Daylight Saint Child at the Third Layer.’

’If the Daylight Saint Child and the Profound Yin Saint Child decide to make a fortune peacefully and join forces, there will be far too many uncertain factors.’

Therefore,

’these two must be young and aggressive. They must be full of fire!’

Thinking of this,

Wu Dao abruptly took a step forward, pointed at the old man’s nose, and bellowed with furious eyes:

"You insolent dog slave who doesn’t know life from death! What is your status? What is my Saint Child’s position? Do you think you’re worthy of looking down on us from above?"

"You..."

Being reprimanded and humiliated so publicly,

the old man’s "smiling tiger" expression instantly turned foul. He was just about to retort.

"You what? Die!"

Wu Dao’s gaze turned frosty. His physical body seemed to transform into a sky-shaking Sword Box, and an unparalleled, bone-chilling sword light was suddenly unsheathed.

CLANG!

It was without any warning, far too sudden.

The sound of the Swordsman drawing his blade had just rung out.

The crowd saw a brilliant streak of sword light that reached from the earth to the heavens rise from within Wu Dao’s body. It slashed through heaven and earth, cutting through tens of thousands of miles of primordial Tribulation Qi and giving rise to all sorts of terrifying phenomena of slaughtering immortals and gods.

SCHLICK!

In less than the time it takes for a thought to form,

the heaven-cleaving, god-slaying sword light struck the mortal world like a world-shaking bolt of white lightning, appearing and then vanishing without a trace.

SHLIIICK!

After the sword light disappeared,

the "smiling tiger" old man, a Tenth Layer Emperor Grade Dharma Aspect, still wore an expression of rage, but a thin line of blood appeared on his brow.

Then,

BOOM—

with a SPLAT, his entire body split into two halves. A surging torrent of vital energy and blood flooded the Ten Directions like a vast ocean, leaving only a faint, dying Dharma Aspect behind.

"Stop!"

Only then

did the Daylight Saint Child belatedly raise his hand to stop him. A flash of satisfaction appeared deep in his eyes, but his face was contorted in fury as he berated,

"Heaven-Reaching, you are too insolent!"

"When the master is insulted, the subordinate must die!"

Wu Dao retracted his sword light and spewed righteous nonsense, his voice clanging like thunder, his face filled with righteous indignation.

RUMBLE!

And at that very moment,

heaven and earth shattered, and the Ten Directions trembled.

From within the Profound Yin Ship, it was as if an Ancient Fierce Beast was awakening in a rage. Faintly, one could see three heavy Mixed Caves—each capable of creating and destroying all things in heaven and earth and collapsing spacetime—rising up.

From within, a ghostly, luminous hand that seemed to come from Hell itself reached out. It stole all light, and its aura collapsed layer upon layer of the void, blasting a vast expanse of the forbidden zone.

"Vile slave! How dare you defy me! Die!"