Essence Devouring Art

Top-down!

The Primordial Magnetic Dao Body is the foundational starting point.

Give rise to the Three!

Give rise to All Things!

To put it vividly,

The Great Dao is like a Tree Diagram.

Seekers of the Dao climb from the bottom up, moving from flourishing branches step by step to the sparse main trunks. They ascend by a process of reduction, until they reach the origin point of the Dao Source.

But for the cultivating Wu Dao,

he starts from the origin, deriving the main trunk, branches, and thousands of veins... step by step, growing toward the flourishing Great Dao.

Thus,

the three stages of the Essence Devouring Art become clear.

The achievement of the primordial Dao Source.

The Primordial Magnetic main trunk is the One.

The Two is Yin and Yang.

All things carry Yin and embrace Yang. Life itself is the harmony of Yin and Yang.

There’s no need to achieve this deliberately.

Existence itself is the fruit born from the harmony of Yin and Yang.

The path that remains,

is to give rise to the Three, and then to All Things.

When All Things flourish, the Great Dao will form on its own!

The Three Tribulations stage of the Essence Devouring Art—

The Three Lives Realm!

The Dao gives rise to Three; the Three give rise to all things.

The Three is the fruit born from the conflict and harmony of Yin and Yang, the third element that generates the Ten Thousand Techniques and all things.

This fruit,

is the Extraordinary being itself.

The foundational principle for all possible changes.

What is the fundamental source of the Extraordinary Dao?

Essence, Qi, and Spirit!

Essence is matter.

Qi is energy.

Spirit is spiritual consciousness.

The Extraordinary system of Hongyuan long ago established the three foundational techniques of Essence, Qi, and Spirit. They are the three pillars of Hongyuan’s Extraordinary path.

Transverse Cultivation corresponds to Essence.

Divine Cultivation corresponds to Qi.

Soul Cultivation corresponds to Spirit.

Any Extraordinary Power is invariably a product derived from the flourishing of these three.

The so-called non-matter, non-energy, non-...

...is merely the ’Spirit’ that has not yet been understood.

Once it is cognized, moving from the unknown to the known, it too cannot escape the bounds of Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

To achieve the Three Lives of the Essence Devouring Art,

Wu Dao would need to summarize, organize, fuse, and create techniques to forge three main pillar veins of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, all rooted in his Primordial Magnetic Dao Body.

The materials were abundant.

Three hundred sixty-five Heaven-Opening Techniques.

They involved Transverse Cultivation, Soul Cultivation, and Divine Cultivation.

All that was needed was a Fusion Technique process.

It sounded simple.

But the required computational power—that is, Comprehension—and the energy to support that computation were far beyond what the current Wu Dao could manage.

However...

the existence of the Primordial Star Mother...

...and the massive amount of Soul Coins sacrificed daily by the believers in Nirvana City, turned the impossible into the possible!

After devouring the profound scriptures of All Heavens...

...and absorbing the Divine Souls, Comprehension, and wisdom of countless chosen ones and living beings...

...the Primordial Star Mother’s computational power...

...had reached an absurdly heaven-defying level. The so-called Innate Spirit Root, the Enlightenment Tree, was nothing but a foolish ant in the dust before Her.

The only drawback...

...was perhaps that Her hardware’s energy absorption couldn’t keep up with Her computational power. Every operation required burning a large amount of Soul Coins.

However,

with so many "workers" providing for Her for free...

...the energy problem was no longer a problem.

In just one short month,

one by one, the Heaven-Opening Techniques were fused and innovated upon.

The foundation for the Three Lives main veins of Essence, Qi, and Spirit...

...had been forged today!

*Huuu...*

He exhaled a breath of turbid air.

Atop the Infinite Golden Stele, Wu Dao’s visage was solemn and majestic. He slowly opened his eyes, and within his radiant pupils, infinite profound scriptures seemed to churn.

With a thought,

the attribute panel appeared in his Sea of Consciousness—

[Physique: Sacred Spirit]

[Extraordinary: Essence Devouring·Opening the Sky 365/365+]

[Essence·Transverse Cultivation: Infinite Primordial Scripture (Pseudo) +]

[Qi·Divine Cultivation: Juntian Creation Scripture (Pseudo) +]

[Spirit·Soul Cultivation: All Phenomena God Luo Scripture (Pseudo) +]

[Divine Format: Primordial Perfect True God (33/33) +]

[Celestial Treasure: Bitter Dust Robe (Emperor’s Artifact 100%)

Celestial Treasure Advancement Ceremony: Suffering Dust Mortal Transformation.

Celestial Treasure Law: Concealing Celestial Secret, Cause and Effect Immunity.]

[Teleportation Points: ...]

On the panel,

the data for his many Divine Techniques, Emperor Scriptures, Strongest Divine Techniques, and Primordial Magnetic Divine Techniques had vanished.

Through the tireless efforts of the Star Mother and Wu Dao, they had broken through their cocoon, fusing and transforming into the Three Lives of Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

However, for now, they had only laid the foundation.

They were still just ’Pseudo.’

The All Celestial Circuits were still operating independently and would only truly integrate after Wu Dao shattered his shackles.

Only then could Essence, Qi, and Spirit fully fuse.

They would then become the true Three Lives Root Vein.

"All is ready. I must now press forward!"

Wu Dao adjusted his condition to its peak, then glanced at the thunder tribulation in the Nine Heavens above, which rolled like a nebula, surging with a myriad of phenomena.

He no longer held back.

He triggered his own advancement Tribulation Qi.

RUMBLE—

In that instant!

It was as if the Great Dao itself were enraged, its fury shaking the great chiliocosm!

In the minds of all sentient beings in Nirvana Valley and the surrounding area, it felt as if the heavens were collapsing. The terrifying Tribulation Qi was so heavy they could not draw a single breath.

"It’s starting!"

One after another, the Creation Realm experts in the city flew into the Nine Heavens above Nirvana City. With grave expressions, they gazed from afar at the world-ending nebula of a Celestial Tribulation deep within Nirvana Valley, which seemed poised to overturn everything.

A month of effort.

Would it be a fleeting flash in the pan...

...or would their great fortune continue?

It all depended on today!

"The Nirvana True Lord has only ever shown the strength to devour the Celestial Tribulation of a Grotto Heaven. With a tribulation of this scale, I’m afraid even a wisp of it would reduce a perfect Saint Grade Grotto Heaven to ash!"

The hundreds of millions of Demon Cultivators in the city

were also watching the void projection above the giant city with uneasy hearts.

There was no hostility.

Only pious prayers for his success.

Because they were all beneficiaries of the Soul Coin System.

Outside Nirvana City, having just finished a battle,

Jiang Han, who had just tricked and killed three Grotto Heaven experts, was refining Soul Coins. When he heard the heaven’s wrathful roar that echoed through the great chiliocosm, he also stopped his work and turned his gaze toward Nirvana Valley.

’Huuu~ A Celestial Tribulation of this scale completely defies logic. The Nirvana True Lord... he’s really not human.’

He let out a long, turbid breath.

Jiang Han was both shocked and terrified. He couldn’t tell what grade the Celestial Thunder was, but he could feel the world’s ultimate aura of disgust.

’What True Lord?’

’He’s most likely a Tribulation Demon!’

’Still...’

’Tribulation Demon or inauspicious being...’

’...if he can provide benefits...’

’...then he’s a good Demon.’

’So please, you have to hold on!’

Unconsciously, Jiang Han clenched his fists in nervousness.

But what happened next...

...was utterly outrageous.

Jiang Han’s pupils contracted, the Demon Cultivators in Nirvana City were dumbfounded, and the Creation Realm experts in the Nine Heavens began to question their very existence.

RUMBLE—

Just as the terrifying, nebula-sized Celestial Tribulation was about to descend...

ROAR!!

...from the depths of Nirvana Valley...

...a heaven-shattering roar, like that of an Ancient Fierce Beast, suddenly erupted.

The vast Celestial Tribulation...

...like a cloud in the eye of a storm, was uncontrollably seized by a massive gravitational force and brutally dragged into a Five-Colored Thunderfire.

Amid the blur,

even those with the most powerful sight

could only vaguely see an indescribable object bloom, open its abyssal maw, and swallow the myriad phenomena of the Celestial Tribulation in a single gulp!

’Is that the Nirvana True Lord’s true form?’

The observing Creation Realm expert, still shaken, retracted his gaze. In that instant, he felt as if his very soul had nearly plunged into that multi-colored, indescribable thing. He didn’t dare to continue looking at it directly.

’Such an evil, inauspicious existence...’

’Even a Terror Level divine punishment of a thunder tribulation couldn’t harm it in the slightest.’

’It swallowed it just like that!’

’If it ever walks out of Nirvana Valley...’

*HISS!*

After truly witnessing how terrifying the Nirvana True Lord was,

the group of Creation Realm experts discovered something.

They felt not the slightest excitement of a storm passing. Instead, a chill ran down their spines. Their past behavior had been like begging for food inside a coffin—courting death without knowing it!

"We should increase the amount of our offerings from now on."

One of the Creation Realm experts swallowed hard, feeling that their ten percent cut was still too much and might offend the Nirvana True Lord.

"Indeed! Indeed!"

The other Creation Realm experts nodded repeatedly in agreement.

’Faced with such a greatly inauspicious being...’

’...anyone below the Saint Realm...’

’...would probably have their legs cramp up just from looking at it. To live under its might is like begging for scraps. One misstep could lead to utter annihilation. All we can do is try our best to please it.’

"Excellent! Hahaha! Bullshit divine punishment! It couldn’t even withstand a single move from our Lord!"

"Now that the divine punishment is gone, does that mean we can start Crossing the Tribulation again? A huge number of Tribulation Crossers have come to the city recently!"

"Definitely! The True Lord is probably digesting the divine punishment now. We’ll know for sure if we try tomorrow!"

In contrast to the Creation Realm experts, who felt like they were accompanying a tiger, the Demon Cultivators in Nirvana City, who had been anxious for a long time, were now cheering with joy.

As long as the True Lord was here,

the Soul Coin System wouldn’t collapse!

Their good days were far from over!

Wu Dao paid no attention to the commotion in Nirvana City.

He was now preparing to cross the true tribulation of teleportation.

’Utterly useless!’

Atop the Infinite Golden Stele,

Wu Dao, having unleashed his Divine No Evil Lotus, glanced disdainfully at the essence of the divine punishment’s Dao Source, which was now constrained and compressed within his own origin.

’Just this little bit of tribulation?’

’Who is it looking down on?’

’It’s not even enough for a warm-up.’

’Still...’

’...this counts as good news.’

’At least it proves the Great Dao is still a coldly operating program, not completely tainted and influenced by the Celestial Court.’

’If it had its own will...’

’...the Celestial Tribulation I faced today would probably have been truly tailor-made for me.’

’Instead of being a cold program that just gives feedback based on strength. No matter how monstrous, it wouldn’t be a complete curb stomp that leaves no path to survival.’

"Star Mother, take over the power supply to the Infinite Holy Hall and raise the Five-Colored Thunderfire to my true limit."

After taking out the Creation Qi and the large amount of Celestial Tribulation Dao Source stored up by his "power generators" during this time, Wu Dao emptied all his Celestial Circuits.

He ordered the Primordial Star Mother to control the Holy Hall.

He was preparing for a true, all-encompassing destruction and reconstruction, to once again build his third-stage Dao Body from the fundamental microscopic level.

This was very dangerous.

Because...

...last time, he was protected by a sliver of the Great Dao’s authority, which was why he hadn’t truly returned to nothingness. Now, he could only rely on himself.

However...

...today was different.

With the Primordial Star Mother assisting and protecting his Dao, even if his consciousness dissipated, She could hold onto his magnetic field information, rapidly model and reassemble him, and allow for a swift return.

It would be difficult for him even to die!

The Primordial Star Mother had also simulated and verified the theoretical ideas for the third stage countless times.

If he failed while operating on himself, the Star Mother could continue the procedure.

This reduced the risk to the absolute minimum!

"As you command, Father God."

Upon receiving the command, the Primordial Star Mother immediately extended her tentacles to take control of the Infinite Holy Hall’s core, the Golden Stele. She revived the Divine Techniques within it and gradually weakened the Holy Hall’s defensive power.

RUMBLE!

In an instant,

the sky was like a dam breaking in a sea of thunderfire.

A torrent of extremely dangerous Five-Colored Thunderfire surged in like a cascading waterfall, instantly submerging Wu Dao in the stele hall.

Like snow in the spring sun,

Wu Dao’s soul and physical body melted in an instant, degrading into trillions of brilliant Primordial Magnetic Crystal Particles.

But this was only the beginning.

As the thunderfire grew more ferocious,

the tight magnetic field links between the Crystal Grain Bodies further snapped, disintegrated, and exploded.

Subsequently,

his Sea of Origin was extinguished.

The microscopic particle structure within the Crystal Grain Bodies began to break down, collapsing layer by layer, continuously degrading toward the most microscopic Basic Particles.

"Critical point reached. Continue?"

The Star Mother’s master-protection mechanism activated.

She asked coldly.

’Continue!’

Wu Dao’s consciousness was resolute.

His perfect second-stage Primordial Magnetic Dao Body was incredibly difficult to destroy. He could only draw upon the power of the Five-colored Nirvana Thunder Fire to assist.

’Nirvana, Nirvana...’

’Rebirth in Nirvana... this is indeed a good place!’

At the brink of life and death,

Wu Dao even had the presence of mind for such thoughts.

BOOM!

But immediately after,

a cascade of Five-Colored Thunderfire that completely surpassed his limits descended, incinerating Wu Dao into Basic Particles in a mere instant and beginning to assimilate him into the Great Dao’s magnetic field.

VMM!

But just then,

the Primordial Star Mother took action.

A massive amount of Soul Coins burned fiercely.

Her immense computational power allowed Her to perform operations at the most microscopic level. Her magnetic field instantly locked onto Wu Dao’s countless Basic Particles, forcefully interrupting the assimilation process.

"Don’t waste energy."

Just then,

a cold voice

resounded in the Star Mother’s core.

Honed by countless life-and-death situations, Wu Dao’s will withstood the deathblow and remained clear. In an instant, he broke free from the dark slideshow of his life’s memories and shattered the billions of Divine Peaks blocking his path.

However, this was only temporary.

The magnetic field assimilation of Basic Particles was irreversible, just like the Divine Image Heaven. If he could not finish reconstructing himself quickly,

his final sliver of consciousness

would also fade into nothingness.