Essence Devouring Art

「Six days after the White Whale Martial Arts Hall changed hands.」

The buzz of discussion in the Jianghu gradually died down.

The wavering loyalty within the Overlord Whale Alliance was swiftly pacified by Wu Dao’s absolute power. Across their territories, the old banners were replaced, and members of all ranks accepted the truth of the matter.

Interestingly, after seizing power, Wu Dao did not purge his rivals or eliminate the factions once fanatically loyal to Qi Canghai.

Even with the Elder Council, which was nothing but a nest of parasites, he only reclaimed a portion of their authority. Aside from the Grand Elder he dealt with on the day of the takeover, he didn’t lay a hand on anyone else.

The alliance’s power structure remained largely unchanged. Aside from not appointing a Vice Alliance Leader, he only altered a few position titles.

As for the reason... well, the Overlord Whale Alliance had only just been formed. Its operations still depended on the old guard from the White Whale Martial Arts Hall.

Wu Dao’s own core team was pitifully small, composed of just a paltry few from the Tan County Branch.

Under these circumstances, a major purge was obviously not advisable in the short term.

Wu Dao wanted a complete intelligence network to oversee his territories, not to be a dictator with no one to command.

More importantly, after entering the Overlord Domain, he had plenty of ways to make people ”obey.”

He had no reason to worry about so-called turncoats.

Overlord Whale Alliance Headquarters.

The hall was antique and solemn, with intricately carved beams and painted rafters.

Sandalwood smoke curled through the air. Inside the council hall, which resembled an imperial court during a morning assembly, every seat on either side of the long, rounded table was filled.

At the head of the rounded table, on a raised dais, Wu Dao sat enthroned in a massive, fur-draped chair. He stroked an armrest carved in the shape of a Dragon Whale’s head.

His dark eyes swept over the two rows of trembling alliance executives below. Like a primordial overlord surveying his domain, his voice rumbled.

”Is everyone here?”

Zhao Jianji, standing attentively to one side, quickly bowed and said,

”Replying to the Alliance Leader, the Town Hall Masters, the County-level Leaders, the Commanders-in-Chief of the four Overlord Whale Orders, the Elder Council, and the Four Great Guardians—who were the Vice Hall Masters—are all present.”

”Mm.”

Wu Dao casually swept his gaze over them. Wherever his eyes passed, heads bowed. Then, his powerful voice echoed through the hall:

”There are only two matters for today.”

SWOOSH—

At his words, all the Overlord Whale Alliance executives seated on either side rose to their feet, cupped their fists, and bowed.

”We await the Alliance Leader’s commands.”

”The first matter.”

Wu Dao didn’t suffer from the tedious habit of turning every statement into a long-winded speech with multiple key points and sub-clauses. He was direct and to the point.

”From now on, within the territory of the Overlord Whale Alliance, the top priority is to gather information on Alien Species. Whether through wanted lists, bounties, or, even better, active searches.

Any branch or Chapter that obtains information about an Alien Species must report it immediately. If the information proves true, they will be recognized for their merit at the autumn assembly.”

”We will obey the Alliance Leader’s order.”

At his words, the assembly breathed a collective sigh of relief, quickly bowing in assent.

Though Wu Dao’s decree seemed to be a diversion from their ’proper business,’ it was a minor concern. As long as he wasn’t planning to make an example of them to assert his dominance, everything else was trivial.

”The second matter...”

VMMMM!!

Before the executives could even fully exhale their relief, Wu Dao’s tone shifted.

The air in the hall suddenly became crushingly heavy, pressing down on everyone until they could barely breathe.

It was a terrifying weight, a primal fear originating from the depths of their souls. It spread through their entire beings, affecting their physical bodies to the point where they couldn’t even lift their heads. They were dazed, their minds thrown into utter confusion.

In an instant, their gazes turned vacant, and they became like mindless puppets.

SPLASH~

KREEE!!

In the hazy chaos, they felt as if they could hear the roar of ocean waves. The air grew moist, heavy with the phantom presence of water.

At the head of the hall on the high dais, a vast, tangible Barbaric Whale emerged from the shadows behind Wu Dao. It was like a Whale God made manifest, ruling over the four seas, demanding the submission of the Ten Thousand Races.

Submit!

Kowtow!

Offer up everything!

An irresistible urge to worship welled up in their hearts, and the vacant-eyed crowd all knelt and kowtowed in unison toward Wu Dao on the high dais.

The Divine Manifestation Realm of the Overlord Whale Fist!

A nascent form of a True Boxing Dao!

Divine Manifestation!

’My will is the will of a god. Let all mortals under heaven do nothing but kowtow!’

It could influence everything within a certain radius, affecting both the Spiritual World and reality. What one saw and heard was a mix of truth and illusion.

SPLASH~

Inside the hall, ocean waves surged, and a Divine Whale roamed.

Wu Dao sat with his eyes closed. Behind him, the vast manifestation of his Spiritual Will transformed into countless miniature Overlord Whales that burrowed into the minds of the Overlord Whale Alliance members.

With their minds empty and in a state of ultimate worship, they were completely defenseless. They offered no resistance as Wu Dao altered their very thoughts.

Perhaps ’altering’ is not the right word.

Human nature is fickle, not like that of a mechanical puppet.

To change a person’s thoughts is tantamount to changing their very soul.

Wu Dao was not yet capable of such a feat.

To be precise, it was more like planting a psychological suggestion.

Hmm... akin to hypnosis or brainwashing.

When they came to their senses, they wouldn’t notice anything amiss.

But deep in their Spiritual Consciousness, a seed had been planted.

A seed that would make them Wu Dao’s fanatical followers.

From now on, they would prioritize Wu Dao’s interests above all else and treat his will as a divine oracle.

Acts of betrayal, treachery, and backstabbing would become impossible.

In addition to that, Wu Dao also set up a ’firewall’.

Should anyone skilled in the Divine Soul attempt to manipulate the minds of the Overlord Whale Alliance’s leadership and turn them against him, this ’firewall’ would activate, instantly shattering the subordinate’s own Divine Soul.

His Divine Manifestation Fist Intent alone was incapable of this. Brainwashing and planting psychological suggestions was the absolute limit of its power.

Because once they left the range of his Mental Realm’s influence, he could no longer control their Divine Souls, let alone make their Divine Souls self-destruct.

He was using Magnetic Field Power.

Spiritual and conscious activity also generates a type of magnetic field.

Within the system of Primordial Magnetism, a larger magnetic field holds absolute control over smaller ones.

So he could easily alter the Divine Soul magnetic fields of these Martial Artists—none of whom had surpassed the Third Rebirth—and force them to grow their own ’Divine Soul bombs’.

If his power over the rotation of the Magnetic Field were any stronger, he could even seize control of their cultivation power and ’borrow’ it for his own use.

VMMM~

After finishing all this, Wu Dao retracted his Fist Intent. The surging, illusory ocean disappeared. The Divine Whale vanished, and the hall returned to normal.

HUFF HUFF HUFF~

The assembly awoke as if from a long, troubled dream. It felt like they’d had a nightmare, but they couldn’t recall any of the details. They could only gasp heavily for air.

”The second matter!”

Wu Dao’s booming voice jolted the assembly from their stupor. His voice was icy. ”Loosen all restrictions. I don’t care if they walk the path of light or darkness. Send out a call for talent far and wide. Use any means necessary to recruit new members and expand our forces at every level.

Also, after you return, inform all ranks to prepare for war. Everyone at the Inner Strength realm and above is to disperse and conceal themselves along the northern and southern borders.

In five days, the Four Seas Gang will hold its autumn assembly.

I want there to be only one Whale King in Guangqing Prefecture!

Before we make our move, none of you are to leak a single shred of information.”

’Make a move on the Four Seas Gang? Isn’t this too rushed? The Overlord Whale Alliance was just formed. We should be focused on stabilizing our own foundations...’

Many of the executives subconsciously felt this was inappropriate, but the thought had only just formed when it strangely vanished. A ’voice’ told them that obeying was the right thing to do.

”The Alliance Leader is wise!”

After a moment’s hesitation, their expressions turned to firm resolve, and they praised him in a loud, unified voice.

”See to it at once.”

A faint smile touched Wu Dao’s lips. Satisfied, he waved his hand, dismissing them.

’He saw nothing wrong with toying with the souls of others. The strong dominate the weak—that was the law of the heavens!’

’If you can make people serve you with the undying loyalty of a dog, why waste time and effort testing their character?’

The crowd dispersed, and the hall became deserted.

Only Zhao Jianji and Wu Dao remained.

Remembering something, Wu Dao asked, ”How is the investigation I gave you?”

Zhao Jianji was a bit dazed, seemingly not yet recovered from the intoxicating feeling of being second to one and above all others.

Hearing Wu Dao’s question, he snapped out of it with a shiver, gathered his thoughts, and quickly replied:

”The investigation is complete. Among the core leadership of the Four Seas Gang, the easiest target should be Lv Yutao.

He is the Four Seas Gang’s Master. He’s spent half his life following Menghuai Mountain on his campaigns, devising strategies for him. He is Menghuai Mountain’s absolute confidant.

He knows every single secret the Four Seas Gang has.

Most importantly, although Lv Yutao has a sharp mind, he was born with a weak constitution and is not skilled in the Martial Dao. His cultivation is only at the Inner Strength Realm.

He shouldn’t be one of the ’walkers’ the Hall Master mentioned. There is no Demon Seed inside him, so we don’t have to worry about tipping our hand by going after him.”

”Have you tracked his movements?”

”Yes. Lv Yutao’s only vice is his love of fine food. Every few days, he goes to a place outside Qingyuan City...”

”Well done.”

Wu Dao listened and nodded.

’Since I’ve decided to move against the Four Seas Gang, I have to wipe them out in one fell swoop and devour them completely.’

’Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated.’

’Plan before you move.’

’Never underestimate any opponent.’

This was a creed he had always lived by.

’Go rushing in headfirst for a life-or-death battle without knowing a thing?’

’Wu Dao knew he wasn’t lucky enough to guarantee he wouldn’t get tripped up by some unforeseen detail.’

’Many things aren’t as they seem.’

For example, the Four Seas Gang’s leader, Menghuai Mountain.

Although rumors claimed he was an Innate Grandmaster, the information from the Black Dragon Commerce Association said he was a Grandmaster of Gang Qi.

He was clearly hiding his true cultivation level.

Not to mention, behind him was the Snake Race, a power no smaller than the Fox Race.

The question of whether there were hidden Snake Race experts within Qingyuan City was another problem.

He also needed to consider the right time to strike to ensure he could annihilate them in a single blow.

’You weigh the pig before you sharpen the knife.’

If he wanted to swallow the Four Seas Gang whole, from the inside out, these were all problems that needed to be uncovered early so he could plan accordingly.

”Alliance Leader, if there is nothing else, this subordinate will take his leave.”

Seeing Wu Dao lost in thought, Zhao Jianji quietly announced his intention to depart.

The Overlord Whale Alliance had just been established.

During this period, thanks to Wu Dao’s patronage, his role as the alliance’s Document had elevated him to the position of de facto second-in-command. He was, to say the least, incredibly pleased with his success.

His only regret was that he had no Dantian, and in this life, he could only ever reach the Divine Power Realm.

Throughout the alliance, the other high-ranking members were wary of Wu Dao’s might and didn’t dare use this weakness against him.

But he knew his own weakness best.

He often felt a sharp pang of resentment.

”Wait.”

Zhao Jianji had just turned to leave when Wu Dao’s voice sounded from behind him.

”Uh, does the Alliance Leader have any other instructions?”

Zhao Jianji didn’t understand, but he still turned, bowed, and asked.

At the same time, he noticed that in Wu Dao’s large, broad hand, there was suddenly... an electric ball?

The electric ball was the size of a meatball.

Its entire body seemed to be made of Crimson Gold, undulating and squirming as it sprouted tentacles. Arcs of crimson-gold electricity constantly shot out from it, emitting a demonic aura that made his skin crawl.

”Take off your shirt.”

Wu Dao, holding the ’electric ball’, rose to his feet, casting a large shadow. His voice was indifferent and permitted no argument.

”Yes!”

Freshly ’brainwashed’, Zhao Jianji didn’t hesitate. He didn’t even ask why. He simply and cleanly took off his shirt, revealing a lean, well-proportioned, and sinewy torso.

SHLICK!

Wu Dao took a step forward. An icy, crimson-gold steel claw shot out from his right index finger. He swiped it across Zhao Jianji’s chest, cutting through flesh as easily as tofu and opening a ghastly wound that revealed the beating heart within.

VMMM~

A vast wave of Spiritual Thoughts surged forth.

Wu Dao directly seized control of Zhao Jianji’s nervous system, putting him under ’general anesthesia’.

With a shift of the Magnetic Field, the ’electric ball’ in his palm flew toward Zhao Jianji’s beating heart. It sprouted a thousand tentacles and drilled inside like a parasite.

Afterward, a bit of fragrant Healing Fluid appeared on Wu Dao’s fingertips. He wiped it over Zhao Jianji’s heart and the wound on his chest.

In the span of a few blinks, new flesh knitted together and the wound healed rapidly, not even leaving a scar.

He retracted his Spiritual Thoughts.

”Hss...”

Zhao Jianji snapped awake. A strange, swollen feeling from the foreign object in his heart made him clutch his chest and grimace. It wasn’t pain, just a deep, full-body discomfort.