Essence Devouring Art

Taiyi Emperor Star.

The Ultimate Creation Land.

A Thunder Continent on the periphery of the Huanwu Ancestral Land’s All Heaven Star Sea.

RUMBLE RUMBLE—

Billions of layers of scarlet Celestial Thunder flooded the universe in all ten directions, surging back to blast apart the stars of the Nine Heavens. From a cosmic vantage point, it looked as if a destructive Thunder Realm was rumbling into motion.

At the center of the Thunder Realm.

"My fist is my Dao! My Dao commands the heavens! Kill!"

Wuchen’s black hair danced wildly. His physique was like that of the Reincarnation Prison Master, a Heavenly Demon God, his entire body wreathed in erupting Divine Thunder Prison Fire.

He roared a grand celestial sound, unleashing a fivefold War God’s Will. His arms, rippling like coiling dragons, gathered an earth-shattering might.

Forming a Fist Seal, he punched out a pair of sky-sundering Overlord Whales, continuously smashing apart the Thunder Sea, tempering his body and his Fist Dao.

Within his body.

It was clearly visible.

Twenty-four Mixed Caves, suffused with the majesty of an Emperor and a Venerable, rumbled in operation. As the Dragon Veins within them pulsed, visions of Purgatory Reincarnation, Celestial Thunder Prison Fire, and Dragon-Formed Divine Demons intertwined, erupting with brilliant Mighty Power.

His every punch and movement crushed the great stars of the vast universe, shattered mountains and rivers like mirrors, making him truly seem like an Ancient Demon God reborn in the world.

CRACKLE—

BOOM!!

Wuchen’s rampage seemed to have angered the will of this Thunder Realm. The churning sea of Celestial Thunder that filled the sky began to spin, unleashing a golden deluge like a torrential storm.

"Break!!"

But Wuchen remained fearless.

With a deafening roar, his body’s power surged terrifyingly.

He seemed to transform into an undying Abyss of Reincarnation.

The myriad states of the mortal world—gods, demons, immortals, and fiends—intertwined in his Grotto Heaven, forming Netherworld Dragon Veins that coursed through the macro and micro structures of his mortal form. Liberating his Reincarnation Divine Demon Body’s Twenty-four Heavens, he charged straight up into the golden Thunder Sea without dodging or evading.

How does one distinguish between a Daoist Child and a Monster?

The number of Dragon Veins within one’s Grotto Heaven is a clear indicator.

The Main Path, Transverse Cultivation, and Soul Cultivation.

If one cultivates all three paths simultaneously, after entering the Cave Heavens Realm, each Mixed Cave would possess three Dao Foundations that have transformed into Dragon Veins, each corresponding to one of the three paths. This is what defines a Monster Level talent in the Hongyuan System.

However, if the achievements in the three paths are unequal—for example, in the case of the Twenty-four Heavens, if only twenty of the Mixed Caves give birth to three Dragon Veins, while the remaining four have only one or two, failing to advance in unison—then one cannot be considered a Monster. They are still just a Daoist Child.

Wuchen’s Twenty-four Heavens of Mixed Caves, however, were different.

Every single one possessed three Creation Dragon Veins—the Main Path, Transverse Cultivation, and Soul Cultivation—forged from Taoist Technique, Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

Without a doubt.

The current Wuchen, much like figures such as the Little Thunder King of the Emperor Palace, possessed Monster Level combat strength.

Three Paths and Twenty-four Heavens.

If not compared to a King of Monsters like Wu Dao, this was actually a terrifyingly impressive achievement in Hongyuan.

Those whose combat strength cannot be measured by their realm are known as Monsters.

Don’t be fooled by Wuchen’s realm of only the Twenty-four Heavens. In terms of true combat strength, only a Mixed Cave Daoist at the Thirty Layers of Heaven in a single path would be qualified to fight him.

BOOM!

The golden Thunder Sea, carrying a world-destroying, peerless Celestial Might, surged to cover the world in all ten directions. It was completely endless. No matter how fiercely Wuchen fought, he was only met with an even more intense assault from the Celestial Thunder.

BANG!!

A magnificent golden thunderbolt, as thick as a Divine Peak, pierced through the heavens. In a fraction of an instant, it tore through all of Wuchen’s defenses, blasting his Reincarnation Body—harder than Divine Gold—into a cloud of blood mist.

WHOOSH~

But in the next moment, the Dragon Veins in Wuchen’s Grotto Heaven devoured the Heaven and Earth Creation Qi. The blood mist solidified, and he reappeared, completely unscathed, before once again charging back into the Thunder Sea.

"Kid, hang in there!"

Within the Grotto Heaven, the Big Black Wolf offered some rare words of encouragement:

"Between life and death, there is great terror, but also great opportunity. The Celestial Thunder Power is Supreme Yang, the most ancient power of destruction and creation.

It’s the best for tempering the body and Divine Soul, and it can also wash away the impurities in your Dragon Vein Dao Foundation, making it flawless.

I can sense it.

Deep within this Thunder Sea, there is a Creation Thunder Pool. If you can refine that Thunder Liquid, you’ll undergo a transformation. Catching up to that good-for-nothing Mo Chen won’t be difficult at all!"

"Mo Chen..."

As his body was constantly destroyed and reborn under the Might of Celestial Thunder, a blazing killing intent erupted from Wuchen’s eyes. He recalled his pathetic retreat last time, gritted his teeth, and charged higher against the Celestial Thunder once more.

For twenty years, the humiliation at the Golden Lotus Pool and the promise from that night had, under the influence of his Great Dao oath, become his obsession, his Heart Demon.

Until that demon was slain, he felt his thoughts would never be clear, and a great mountain would forever block his path on the Martial Dao.

"Kill!!"

RUMBLE—!!

Within the storm of the golden Thunder Sea, Wuchen’s black hair whipped about as he battled the Celestial Might itself. He fought until he was on the verge of madness, unleashing all he had ever learned. His body constantly exploded, only to be ceaselessly reformed, yet his ascent never stopped.

THUD!!!

Finally, with a punch that was magnificent, vast, abyssal, and utterly brilliant, Wuchen fought his way into the deepest part of the golden Thunder Sea. There, he saw it: a Thunder Pool, swirling with immense Essence Qi and filled with concentrated golden Thunder Liquid.

But the instant he saw the Thunder Pool, Wuchen’s pupils contracted sharply, and the hair on his body stood on end. A primal terror, an instinctual sense of mortal danger, made him want to turn and flee without a second thought.

"When did..."

Within his Grotto Heaven, the Big Black Wolf’s expression grew stern. It even subconsciously gripped the five-sectioned black blade fragment, ready to erupt at any moment.

The man and the wolf were so shocked and solemn for no other reason than the fact that... that Thunder Pool, a place of both extreme danger and great Creation, was currently being tossed up and down like a toy in the hands of a mysterious man with a powerful build, dressed in a black Daoist Robe!

Even though they couldn’t see his face or sense any aura from him, the sheer oppressive power he exuded—treating the Thunder Pool like a plaything, so powerful that even the rampaging golden Celestial Thunder dared not approach him—still left Wuchen with a feeling of helpless suffocation, as if he were facing the boundless heavens or a bottomless Abyss. He didn’t have the slightest thought of resistance.

BUZZ~

But the instant the thought of escape crossed Wuchen’s mind, the universe inverted and space-time shifted. The world in his perception warped into a bizarre phantasmagoria as he was completely transported to an unknown location.

When he recovered his senses, Wuchen found that he had been brought to an otherworldly place, seemingly completely disconnected from heaven and earth. Even when he extended his perception to its Limit, he couldn’t detect any information from the outside world.

"Kid, we’re in trouble."

Within the Grotto Heaven, the Big Black Wolf’s expression was more grave and solemn than ever before. With its experience, it actually couldn’t see through the man in the black robe at all!

’You can’t see through him either?’ Hearing this, Wuchen was also horrified.

After all, at its peak, the Big Black Wolf was the Emperor’s Weapon Spirit of the Reincarnation Emperor. Even if its status had fallen, its fundamental nature remained.

Yet it still couldn’t see through him.

’Then this mysterious person’s strength...’

"Don’t panic."

The Big Black Wolf was, after all, an old fossil, a living monster who had weathered countless storms. It quickly calmed down and said:

"He didn’t attack you immediately, which proves the situation isn’t hopeless. There’s still room to maneuver.

No matter what he says or what he does, just be compliant.

Remember, do not defy or resist him. Resistance is meaningless."

’When your strength is inferior, you must conceal your edge!’

WHOOSH~

Wuchen took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent unease in his heart. He retracted his sharp aura, doing his best to appear humble and harmless. He bowed respectfully with clasped hands and said:

"This junior was unaware that the Thunder Pool belonged to Senior. I had no intention of offending you. I hope Senior can be magnanimous."

’Of course, the Thunder Pool doesn’t belong to this mysterious man. But right now, I’m outmatched. I have to be as humble and weak as possible, making my subordinate position clear to avoid infringing on the mysterious man’s interests in any way. Conflicts in the world ultimately originate from conflicts of interest. If there are no interests involved and someone still wants to kill, they’re either a deranged lunatic or a sworn enemy. When facing an unknown and irresistible enemy, indulging in a moment of reckless bravado is just a foolish way to get killed. Staying clear of the interests of a superior Hunter is the best choice.’ His master’s teachings, which he had found unfailingly effective over the years, surfaced in his mind, and he naturally knew how to respond.

’Of course... if the mysterious man is a lunatic or an enemy, then the laws of survival will no longer apply. The only option left would be a desperate, life-or-death struggle.’

"You’re a clever one."

Wu Dao tossed the golden Thunder Pool in his hand. Shrouded by the Bitter Dust Robe, his entire being seemed transcendent. He watched the humble Wuchen in the distance with an air of amusement and spoke.

’Mmm. He hasn’t gone astray. He’s become mature and steady, but just like when we first met, he still understands how to judge a situation and knows the laws of survival.’

"Just a fool’s clumsy attempt. I’ve embarrassed myself in front of you, Senior."

His thoughts having been exposed, Wuchen actually sighed in relief. ’He’s not a lunatic, and he has no killing intent. Then capturing and controlling me must be for a reason. If I proactively cater to his interests, I’ll have a better chance of getting away.’ Someone willing to talk was much better to deal with than someone who couldn’t be reasoned with and would just kill you without a word.

With this in mind, he maintained his humble posture and asked cautiously, "I wonder if there is anything Senior needs this junior to do? If it is within my power, I will certainly not refuse."

"I don’t need you to do anything for me. It’s just a whim. I want to play a game with you."

Wu Dao’s voice was faint and ethereal, distant and placid like smoke drifting over a cold pond, his true intentions impossible to fathom.

’A game...’ Wuchen’s heart sank. ’It’s only a game when both sides are equal. When they’re not, it’s just a cat playing with a mouse, where the cat decides the rules of winning and losing, and the mouse is just meat on the chopping block.’

"I await Senior’s instructions."

Suppressing the frustration in his heart, Wuchen bowed with clasped hands again. His life and death were not his own to decide; rebellion would only lead to a quicker death.

More importantly... "This space-time is completely independent of the outside world. All connections have been severed. It even seems to be reinforced by a World Heavy Artifact. Unless we awaken the Abi Saber, otherwise... we can only admit defeat."

Inside the Grotto Heaven, the Big Black Wolf also gave up looking for an escape route in frustration, because there simply wasn’t one.

The means the mysterious man had used were too bizarre and esoteric to be analyzed, and there were no loopholes to exploit. The only way out was to break through with brute force.

But revealing one’s trump card without knowing the opponent’s true strength... the odds of winning were simply too low.

"The rules are simple."

The golden Thunder Pool, which had been rising and falling in Wu Dao’s hand, settled in his palm. It rippled with wisps of dangerous yet captivating energy as he said with a faint smile:

"Seeing as you seem to have some decent attainments in the Fist Dao, and since I happen to have studied it a little myself, let’s decide the winner and loser with a single punch.

Of course..."

At this point, Wu Dao’s tone shifted slightly. "I won’t bully the weak. I will only exert power at the level of your true Limit.

As for the prize, besides this Thunder Pool, there’s also a decent Divine Technique. Whether you can take them or not will depend on your ability."

’My true Limit?’ Wuchen’s eyes flickered. He knew better than anyone where his Limit lay.

’In other words, this person before me saw through my foundation completely with just a single glance. The gap between us is truly terrifying.’

However, since the rules of the game weren’t entirely one-sided, he still had a chance to win.