Essence Devouring Art

Outside Puyang Prefecture, Southern Border.

’Teleportation Points +50,000.’

After Wu Dao swallowed the core of the Eye of the Gap, a delightful sound echoed in his mind.

[Physique: Peak of Human Extremes]

[Extraordinary: Essence Devouring Art (97% Potential Release) +

Three-Phase Divine Punishment Fist - 20,000 Years (Seventh Transformation of Fist Momentum) +

Undying Transformation - 20,000 Years (Horizontal Refining Ninth Gate, Eighteen Extreme Yang Heavens, Minor Achievement) +]

[Great Divine Techniques:

Primordial Magnetic Gang Shield, Primordial Magnetic Celestial Saber, Ten Directions Divine Slaughter, Primordial Magnetic Tribulation Finger, Celestial Essence Magnetic Burst Fist, Primordial Magnetic Celestial Prison Cage, Primordial Magnetic Demon Embryo, Black Tortoise Incarnation.]

[Great All Heavens Divine Techniques: Reversed Celestial Spirit (Seventh Transformation) +]

[Teleportation Points: 365,100]

The Teleportation Point balance on his attribute panel had also jumped significantly, reaching a total of over three hundred sixty thousand.

’Fifty thousand... what a score...’

Wu Dao smacked his lips, still wanting more.

The Eye of the Gap’s strength in life had been, without a doubt, at the Peak of Four Transformations. It was also the first Alien Species from the Divine Power Domain that Wu Dao had ever consumed.

By that calculation, it seemed he only needed to consume about thirty more Alien Species on the level of the Eye of the Gap to gather 1.8 million points.

But...

that was just wishful thinking.

The entire Southern Border, with its thirteen vast prefectures—a territory vaster than the largest country from his previous life—had only produced a single Eye of the Gap, and it was an old monster left over from a bygone era.

He estimated that even if he scoured the entire Divine Wilderness, he wouldn’t find many Alien Species on the same level as the Eye of the Gap.

HUFF...

He dismissed the attribute panel. After getting his bearings, Wu Dao broke through the air and flew toward the main branch of the Black Dragon Commerce Association in the Southern Border.

If any power in the world today possessed a Horizontal Refining Ninth Gate technique, it would have to be the Black Dragon Commerce Association, which boasted it could sell anything.

Wu Dao had previously learned about this power’s background from Prince Nanyang, and his suspicions had been confirmed. Standing behind the Black Dragon Commerce Association was none other than the current absolute overlord of the East Sea—

King Bao Tong, Qian Kuiyun.

To be more precise, it was the Qian Family—a millennium-old merchant clan from the East Sea, whose wealth could rival a nation’s.

Their trade had continued uninterrupted for a thousand years, spanning the worlds of cultivators and mortals alike.

The foundation they had accumulated was beyond the imagination of ordinary people. No wonder the Black Dragon Commerce Association had the confidence to operate under its golden slogan: ”Wealth to rival the gods, and nothing we won’t sell.”

Not long ago, Wu Dao had tried to purchase a Horizontal Refining Fifth Door cultivation technique from the Black Dragon Commerce Association, but the result was less than satisfactory.

When it came to Transverse Refining Techniques above the Celestial Being realm, the Black Dragon Commerce Association simply wouldn’t sell them. They could only be obtained through barter, or by joining the Association to earn the right to purchase them.

At the time, Wu Dao met neither condition, so the deal naturally fell through.

But now...

if the Black Dragon Commerce Association truly had the Holy Spirit Technique he wanted, what was wrong with a little barter?

...

「Nanyang Prefecture. Sihai County City.」

The Southern Border Main Branch of the Black Dragon Commerce Association.

”Alliance Leader Wu, I have long admired your great name. Your visit today truly brings honor to our humble establishment.”

Inside the Heaven-grade reception room, Yu Qing, the Chairman of the Black Dragon Commerce Association’s Southern Border branch, was dressed in the robes of an affluent squire. His appearance was unremarkable, like a wealthy secular patriarch, and he greeted Wu Dao with a cheerful smile and a clasped-fist salute.

’Divine Power Fifth Transformation...’

A flicker passed through Wu Dao’s eyes. He had discerned Yu Qing’s strength at a glance and wasn’t particularly surprised. He simply returned the gesture with a faint smile. ”Chairman Yu, you’re too kind.”

After they were seated and had exchanged a few brief pleasantries, Wu Dao stated the purpose of his visit.

”A Ninth Gate Transverse Refining Technique, and a Holy Spirit Technique at that...”

Yu Qing’s hand, which was stroking his beard, paused for a moment. A hint of surprise crossed his face, followed by a wry smile as he shook his head. ”I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you, Alliance Leader Wu.

To be honest, the best our association has are a few Eighth Gate Transverse Refining Techniques. A rare and wondrous skill like a Ninth Gate technique, especially a Holy Spirit Technique... that is truly...

As far as I know, only Martial King Mountain possesses such a technique. And judging by your radiant, sun-like aura, Alliance Leader Wu, you have most likely already obtained it.”

”Not even the Qian Family has one?” Wu Dao didn’t seem surprised. Instead, he asked calmly.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Yu Qing’s expression shifted slightly before he relaxed and said with a casual air, ”My lord is known as the living God of Wealth. It’s possible he does indeed possess the technique you require, Alliance Leader Wu, but...”

He paused here, took a sip of tea, and continued with a smile, ”You should be aware, Alliance Leader Wu, that a wondrous skill like that has a price as high as the heavens.

Even if you could afford it, whether my lord would be willing to part with it is another matter entirely.”

The implication was clear: unless Wu Dao could offer a cultivation technique of equal value in trade, there was basically nothing to discuss.

Wu Dao was not surprised by this either.

He wasn’t so famous that people would just hand him whatever he wanted. And so, he stated his offer: ”The Immortal Black Tortoise Divine Skill.”

Although this cultivation technique was the ancestral heritage of Martial King Mountain, now that it was in his hands, it belonged to him, Wu Dao.

If it could be exchanged for benefits, he wouldn’t hesitate for a second.

He had no belief in the notion that techniques shouldn’t be shared.

”You’re not joking, Alliance Leader Wu?”

Yu Qing was startled to hear the name ”Immortal Black Tortoise Divine Skill” and asked again with a solemn expression to confirm.

The Immortal Black Tortoise Divine Skill.

It was the supreme Horizontal Refining Technique with which the founder of Martial King Mountain had dominated the world a thousand years ago.

A Holy Spirit Technique!

An Undying Incarnation!

Either one of its qualities alone was enough to make the world’s cultivators fight to the death for it; it was the most dazzling pearl among priceless treasures.

If Wu Dao was truly willing to part with it, then even King Bao Tong would undoubtedly be tempted.

”I never joke.”

Wu Dao nodded, his expression calm, as if he were just talking about some worthless trinket.

In fact, to him, aside from Essence Devouring with the Root Method, all other cultivation techniques were merely auxiliary tools, pieces of training equipment. The question of being willing to part with them didn’t even exist.

Using his existing equipment to trade for even more—why wouldn’t he do it?

”Hah... In that case...”