Essence Devouring Art

In the Joyful Forest, flames shot into the sky, burning the night curtain red. Ash flew like fluttering snow-white magnolias.

Amidst the burning, withering magnolias that filled the sky, Wu Dao stood tall like a pillar supporting the heavens. He used his old trick, controlling the White Fox’s Spiritual Wisdom Soul to ask a series of questions.

”Guangqing Prefecture’s... Chief Eunuch... is the Grandmaster of the White Whale Martial Arts Hall... Qi Canghai.”

The White Fox’s weak reply echoed.

Qi Canghai!!

’It really is that bastard!’

This first answer alone made Wu Dao’s expression darken, and he ground his teeth in frustration.

「Ten days ago.」

He had suspected Qi Canghai and even visited him in person to confirm, but the result was that Qi Canghai showed no signs of anything unusual.

In the following days, his suspicions hadn’t completely vanished. He had found excuses, both overtly and covertly, to enter the White Whale Headquarters and test Qi Canghai multiple times.

But he still came up with nothing.

Gradually, he let go of his suspicions, and his focus had almost shifted to the Gang Leader of the Four Seas Gang.

He never expected...

But now, it seemed Qi Canghai most likely had some kind of Concealing Breath Treasure on him, which was how he had been able to fool everyone with his human identity all this time.

However, it was good to have it confirmed. An enemy out in the open was always easier to deal with than a villain lurking in the shadows.

”How powerful is the Fox Race, and where is their headquarters?”

Collecting his thoughts, Wu Dao asked the question that concerned him most.

However...

This question seemed to touch upon some taboo topic.

The originally weak and feeble Divine Soul of the White Fox began to struggle and resist violently, muttering indistinctly in pain:

”Once one of the Overlords of the Demon Race in the Southern Border... Headquarters... is... is... taboo... cannot say... is... AHHH!!”

BANG!!

With a blood-curdling scream, an incredibly chilling aura suddenly erupted from within the White Fox’s soul, instantly obliterating it.

Wu Dao didn’t even have time to stop it.

’Taboo...’

Wu Dao held the limp, lifeless, golden-white fox, his gaze sinister as sparks of insight collided in his mind.

Although he hadn’t gotten a precise answer, by piecing together the various bits of information, he could still guess a thing or two.

The Fox Race was an enormous Alien Race, one that was even an Overlord-level power in the Southern Border in ancient times.

The phrase ”one of” reminded Wu Dao of the Four Seas Gang. The Immortal Family behind that gang seemed to be of the Snake Race.

As for the other Overlords, he didn’t know for now.

But what he could confirm was that these former Overlords of the Demon Race had been knocked from their divine pedestals for some unknown reason. After the fate of the Da Li Human Dao began to wane, although they had reappeared in the world, they still seemed to be wary of something.

They didn’t dare to fully reveal themselves. Even their race’s headquarters was a taboo topic; any clan member who dared to leak it would be executed by a restriction placed within their Divine Soul.

’The Jingzhe Bureau...’

Wu Dao fed the dead White Fox into his cavernous mouth, his throat expanding and contracting like a snake’s as he swallowed it. His mind, however, pictured Ding Bai, the Jingzhe Guard he had met in Lin Village that day.

The Jingzhe Bureau was founded by the Great Li Ancestor.

It had existed for over six hundred years.

Its duty had always been to monitor and suppress the dark underbelly of the nation. It was filled with numerous powerful and unusual individuals, its true depth unfathomable.

It was highly likely the Demon Race was wary of the Jingzhe Guard, which was why they didn’t dare to reveal themselves so wantonly.

Or perhaps...

They didn’t yet have the confidence to challenge the Extraordinary Human Path!

This was good news for Wu Dao. In the short term, he wouldn’t have to worry about being crushed to death one day by a Great Demon seeking revenge.

But he couldn’t let his guard down because of it.

It was the same old saying: never entrust your life and safety to luck.

”Looks like I’ll have to send some more money to the Black Dragon Commerce Association...”

His thoughts settled, and a plan formed in Wu Dao’s mind.

The Jingzhe Bureau was too blindly loyal, full of fanatics brainwashed by feudal Imperial Authority. He didn’t want to get too involved with them.

In comparison, the Black Dragon Commerce Association—which was also established at the founding of Dali, had a certain mystique, and operated in the grey areas between right and wrong—was much easier to deal with.

Because they recognized money, not people.

As long as one could pay the price, they claimed there was no secret, ancient or modern, within Dali that they didn’t know or wouldn’t discuss.

If he wanted to learn about the Fox Race, or rather, get information on those so-called Overlords of the Demon Race, the Black Dragon Commerce Association was an excellent choice.

”Teleportation Points +450”

The Demon Pill from the White Fox in his stomach had been digested.

It provided 450 Teleportation Points.

A bit less than expected. If its Divine Soul hadn’t been destroyed, it would probably have been comparable to the Stone God.

He checked his attribute panel.

After devouring four small foxes, one large fox, and one half-fox, his total Teleportation Points had reached 1,155.

Tonight’s late-night snack had been quite satisfying.

Wu Dao glanced at his highly distended belly. He felt a bit stuffed.

With a thought, he refined them with blood and fire, using Mind Control on his stomach muscles to compress the five chunks of Demon Pill Treasure Flesh into black bricks of varying sizes.

Afterward, he controlled his belly to split open.

He reached his large hand into his stomach and pulled out the five fragrant bricks of Treasure Flesh one by one.

Compared to aberrations, Wu Dao preferred demons, because you could get two uses out of one body.

The Demon Pill provided Teleportation Points.

The Treasure Flesh surrounding the Demon Pill, on the other hand, was somewhat similar to Spirit Stones. The stronger the creature, the more energy the Treasure Flesh contained, making it a good Cultivation Resource.

In addition to these five chunks of Treasure Flesh, Wu Dao also retrieved five black jade beads from his stomach. They were only the size of a candied haw, and after a quick scan with his Divine Thought, they seemed to be some kind of treasure for concealing one’s aura.

’No wonder these foxes were so bold and unafraid of being exposed.’

Wu Dao found a black cloth to wrap the five chunks of Treasure Flesh. His physique then returned to normal. As he rubbed the five black jade beads, understanding dawned on him.

These five jade beads were all Spiritual Objects refined with Spiritual Energy.

Extremely fine Array Patterns were carved inside them. When infused with Energy, they could deeply conceal one’s aura.

With such a treasure concealing their aura, even an Innate Grandmaster would be unable to see through the true forms of those foxes if their Spiritual Cultivation was insufficient.

Qi Canghai must have been able to maintain his human form without giving himself away by relying on a similar treasure.

Thinking of Qi Canghai, a murderous light flared in Wu Dao’s eyes. He ordered Zhao Jianji and the others to clean up, then kicked up a sonic boom as he sped toward Lancang County City.

...

「Before Wu Dao had made his violent move.」

In a dark corner of the Joyful Forest, the half-fox elder, his face fraught with anxiety, pulled a Fox-shaped Jade Token from his robes and quickly poured his Spiritual Thoughts into it:

”This is bad, Chief Eunuch! The Overlord Whale King, Wu Dao, suddenly showed up to cause trouble! He brought men and surrounded the Joyful Forest. And he specifically asked for those ’Fairies’. I’m afraid his intentions are hostile.”

「Meanwhile.」

Inside a dark training room at the White Whale Martial Arts Hall Headquarters, Qi Canghai, who had been recuperating for several days, had already recovered his usual calm and composure.

The moment he felt the heat from within his robes, his expression changed. He immediately took out an identical Fox-shaped Jade Token and sent his spirit into it to check the message.

’Trouble at the Joyful Forest?’

’Wu Dao?!’

”He’s really courting death!”

Qi Canghai’s face instantly became as cold as frost. He stood up, about to leave the training room.

The Joyful Forest was one of the ”granaries” for the Immortal Family behind him.

He had secretly established it a year ago, and it provided a continuous supply of ”food.” Its importance was self-evident.

Not to mention, there were several members of the Immortal Family inside.

If something happened to them, the Mountain Master would likely be furious, and he would be held accountable.

But just as he reached the door, Qi Canghai stopped. His eyes flickered a few times, and his expression turned sinister.

Previously, he had been trying to persuade the Immortal Family behind him to deal with Wu Dao.

But their response had been to wait for news, which was clearly a perfunctory answer.

He could guess the specific reason.

It was nothing more than their wariness of Wu Dao’s strength.

A pure Body Refiner who could slay a Qi Refining Daoist, and a Celestial Treasure Master to boot!

To entrap and kill such an enemy, it would require at least a 1,500-year-old Great Demon, comparable to a Grandmaster of Gang Qi, to be absolutely certain.

1,500 years!

That was an incredibly long time.

A Great Demon of that level...

Although Qi Canghai didn’t have a deep understanding of the Immortal Family behind him, he did know some secrets—

within Dali, Great Demons over a thousand years old had been suppressed by the Human Dao in ancient times. They had been severely injured, and most were still in deep slumber. Very few had reawakened.

To prematurely awaken a 1,500-year-old Great Demon, the Fox Race behind him would likely have to pay a significant price.

That was why the Fox Race had never agreed to his proposal, even though Wu Dao was an incredibly tempting physical Celestial Treasure Master.

Because the gains didn’t outweigh the losses.

But today, an opportunity had presented itself.

Given Wu Dao’s usual style, once he made a move against the Joyful Forest, he would surely slaughter them all, devour them completely, and not let a single demon escape.

With such a blood feud, Qi Canghai refused to believe that the so-called Immortal Family—who always held themselves high and mighty, viewing the Human Race as an inferior species and a food source—could still swallow their anger and remain silent!

Therefore, Qi Canghai didn’t plan to stop what was happening at the Joyful Forest. After the dust settled, even if the Immortal Family blamed him, most of their hatred would be directed at Wu Dao.

”However, I can’t stay in Lancang City any longer in the short term.”

Various schemes surfaced in his mind, and Qi Canghai had already made a decision.

”Don’t panic. I’ll be there right away.”

After sending the disingenuous reply, Qi Canghai hastily packed his things, informed a few confidants that he was leaving to visit an old friend and would return before the Autumn Assembly, and then swiftly departed from Lancang County City.

Although he had secretly organized the Joyful Forest, and his contacts there didn’t know his true identity, there was no guarantee those foxes wouldn’t expose him.

He could deny it to his death and use the excuse of ”demonic words meant to delude the masses.” Other people wouldn’t believe Wu Dao’s one-sided story either.

But Wu Dao was too domineering and cautious.

It was hard to say whether he would attack him on the spot.

He had this concern because during this period, Wu Dao had visited the County City several times, both openly and secretly, always for some trivial matter.

It was all just to test him up close.

If he didn’t have a string of Breath Concealing Treasure Beads gifted by the Mountain Master, he would have likely exposed himself.

To be so cautious based on mere suspicion... what would happen if he had actual evidence?

Until he could confirm that the Immortal Family behind him would take action, Qi Canghai didn’t have the confidence to face Wu Dao head-on.

Therefore, he could only beat a hasty retreat and avoid the brunt of the attack for now.

In fact, this move of his was absolutely correct.

Wu Dao had always been the type of person who wouldn’t let a grudge last overnight if he could help it.

After confirming that the fox-headed man was Qi Canghai, he didn’t hesitate for a moment, speeding toward Lancang with murderous intent.

Hardly had Qi Canghai left when Wu Dao barged into the headquarters.

Unfortunately, he was ultimately one step too late.

”Visiting an old friend? Returning for the Autumn Assembly, ha.”

At Qi Canghai’s residence in the headquarters, Wu Dao scoffed upon hearing the news and tossed aside one of Qi Canghai’s confidants he was holding.

Then, he ignored the experts from the headquarters who were surrounding him as if facing a great enemy. Without publicizing Qi Canghai’s collusion with demons, he turned and left the headquarters directly.

Since Qi Canghai dared to leave with confidence, it meant he wasn’t afraid of Wu Dao exposing his secret.

Because his status was undeniable.

The prestige he had accumulated over several decades couldn’t be shaken by a few words from an ’outsider’ like Wu Dao, who had only joined the martial hall for a month or so.

A matter as serious as colluding with demons... unless he were caught red-handed in public, any accusations would just be seen by the hall’s upper echelons as rebellious and treasonous words from Wu Dao.

”The Autumn Assembly... you want to challenge me in the arena?”

Outside Lancang County City, Wu Dao looked up at the deep darkness in the distance, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The Autumn Assembly.

It was the White Whale Martial Arts Hall’s annual conference.

Merits and demerits, rewards and punishments, promotions and demotions, strategic planning...

All sorts of major decisions were made at this assembly.

Summer wasn’t over yet, so the Autumn Assembly was still about a month away.

Qi Canghai had deliberately revealed he would return for the Autumn Assembly. He was clearly issuing a challenge to Wu Dao, wanting to face off against him at that time.

Knowing he was exposed and outmatched, he still dared to issue a challenge. You didn’t need to be a genius to know that Qi Canghai’s confidence came from the Fox Race behind him.

”Heh, we’ll see who’s in for a surprise!”

With a Sen Leng smile, Wu Dao’s formidable physique vanished into the darkness, and with a rumbling sonic boom, he quickly left Lancang County City.