Essence Devouring Art

”So many?”

Wuchen frowned slightly.

Dao Stones contain the purest Power of Origin from the Dao Rules.

Obtaining one could defy the heavens and change one’s fate.

They could turn mediocrity into genius.

They raise a Cultivator’s potential, making every single one a priceless treasure.

Over the years, he had worked with Black Wolf.

They had braved several of the dangerous treasure grounds across the All Heavens that Black Wolf knew about, surviving multiple near-death experiences just to find twenty Dao Stones. This had raised his potential to the Emperor Grade, Twenty Layers of Heaven.

But now, Black Wolf was telling him that the number of Dao Stones needed for each subsequent step would double.

By the time he gathered enough, Mo Chen would have probably already surpassed the Dharma Realm.

Speaking of which, without comparison, one could never know the true disparity.

Back then, after Mo Chen left the Dragon Mud Cave Heaven, he had entered the Profound Yellow Celestial Domain, just like Wuchen. However, his treatment was as different as the clouds and the mud compared to Wuchen, who was a slave in the Spirit Beast Garden.

The moment Mo Chen entered the Celestial Domain, after passing a few so-called trials, he was accepted as the youngest disciple by a Female Immortal Emperor who hadn’t taken a student in over a hundred thousand years.

During these years, while Wuchen endured all sorts of life-and-death trials, he also kept a close watch on Mo Chen’s every move.

Compared to him, Mo Chen’s life was unbelievably carefree.

He roamed the world with his sword, and all his associates were renowned figures.

He would occasionally slay demons and monsters, or discuss the fist and debate the sword, and in doing so, he would comprehend various principles of the Great Dao. His Cultivation would then soar upwards.

Five years ago, all for the sake of a Female Sword Immortal, he led a large group of fellow Celestial Pride Daoists to challenge Azure Mountain, the leader of the Sword Dao in the Fuguang World.

With just himself and his sword, he fought his way up from the foot of the mountain, defeating a hundred opponents of the same realm. The event caused a huge commotion across two worlds and nearly triggered an emperor-level war.

And at that time, Wuchen had been tricked by a true disciple of the Qiong Wu Emperor Sect and trapped in a deadly predicament, barely surviving with his life.

”You think that’s a lot? Heh.”

The black wolf-dog said while picking its nose, ”Anyone with Daoist Level potential in a single path has a chance at Attainment Dao. If you want to catch up to that little monster, you must reach the Daoist Level in all three of your paths.

The number of Dao Stones I just told you was an understatement. You’ll need to find at least an entire Dao Stone Vein.

That way...”

As he said this, Black Wolf’s eyes darted around. ”Kid, how about we make a deal?

You tell me who your master is—the one who taught you Reversed Celestial Spirit—and I’ll tell you where to find a Dao Stone Vein.”

Black Wolf was genuinely curious.

This was because Reversed Celestial Spirit, a Great All Heavens Divine Technique, was created by that madman from the time of the Five Tribulations.

And that madman... had countless ties to its former master.

”Heh, the Taiyi Emperor Star, right?”

Wuchen just sneered and didn’t continue the conversation with Black Wolf, withdrawing his consciousness from his Dharma Dantian.

Within the All Heavens, if one were to ask where Heaven-defying Resources like a Dao Stone Vein could exist aside from within the major Emperor’s Lineages and Taoist Influences, the Taiyi Emperor Star, which held most of the buried treasures from the Chaotic Star Heaven of the Four Tribulations era, was definitely one such place.

Over the past few years, with the opening of the Taiyi Emperor Star, a grand event that occurred once every million years, had attracted Celestial Prides from all across the All Heavens to gather in the Chaotic Star Heaven.

If not for his lack of strength in the past, Wuchen would have gone long ago to seek out his own Creation and opportunities.

This trip down the mountain, climbing the All Heavens Stele was one objective.

Going to the Chaotic Star Heaven was his main goal.

Because a few months ago, he had heard that Mo Chen was gathering his friends and also preparing to go to the Taiyi Emperor Star.

When the time comes, he could also get a good measure of this fated future rival.

’Tsk, even if you didn’t say it, I would have guessed.’

Inside the Dantian, Black Wolf rested its head on its paws, recalling their first meeting. It had been drawn to Wuchen when he used Reversed Celestial Spirit, and the two had been bound together ever since.

Back then, it even wanted to accept a disciple on its master’s behalf.

But Wuchen had adamantly refused. Even when Black Wolf brought up the master of the broken blade, Wuchen insisted he would only ever acknowledge one master in this life.

From that moment on, Black Wolf had grown curious about Wuchen’s master.

After all, its master was a figure who could walk alongside the Slaughter Emperor during the Fifth Tribulation. A single stomp of his foot could shake the Nine Heavens.

However, as it later pieced together the clues and truly came to understand the master Wuchen spoke of, Black Wolf fell silent once more.

’How could such a monster exist? How in the world did he cultivate? Could he be a pawn of the Slaughter Emperor...?’

All sorts of questions... Black Wolf still couldn’t make heads or tails of it. After a few fruitless guesses, it shook its head with a sigh and disappeared into the broken blade.

「Outside.」

WHOOSH—

After Wuchen retracted his focus, he saw that no one was approaching the Emperor Grade All Heavens Stele. He clenched his fists, pushed through the crowd, and strode forward like a shooting star, stopping beneath the Celestial Stele that pierced the Star Sea.

This action immediately drew the clamorous attention of everyone present.

”Whoa, the Emperor Grade Stele! Who is that?”

”He’s not just trying to show off, is he?”

”Probably not. His aura is pretty strong.”

Amidst the crowd’s murmuring, Wuchen’s expression was as calm as still water. He glanced up at Mo Chen’s name at the top of the twentieth layer and said indifferently, ”You may have an invincible posture, but I have an invincible heart. This is only the beginning!”

The moment he spoke, the three Dharma Celestial Realms within his body trembled.

Transverse Cultivation, Fist Dao, and Martial Arts Divine Techniques.

His three twenty-step Dharma All Heavens erupted with an endless, tyrannical divine light. Holy Spirit Blood, Celestial Thunder Prison Fire, Eternal Blade Light...

The foundations of his various Cultivations erupted all at once, like an abyssal volcano that had been accumulating power for millennia. It transformed into a boundless, majestic force as he ruthlessly smashed his fist into the All Heavens Stele.

BOOM—DONG DONG DONG!

It was as if a God and Demon was splitting the heavens and earth.

As his fist landed, the All Heavens Stele shook ceaselessly, its vibrations rocking the universe in all Ten Directions. Layer upon layer of vast Celestial Domains, spouting monstrous divine radiance, emerged from the base of the stele. They climbed higher and higher, pushing aside the names in their path.

Even Mo Chen, at the top of each layer, was pushed aside by the incomparably tyrannical Essence, Qi, and Spirit after resisting for only a moment. His name fell ignominiously, demoted to second place.

One layer!

Two layers!

Three layers!

Wuchen’s Dharma Aspect foundation seemed endless. His momentum showed no signs of weakening, and in an instant, he had climbed beyond the tenth layer of the All Heavens Stele.

On the plaza, the onlookers who had gathered around were utterly dumbfounded by the sight—

”Holy crap, where did this beast come from?”

”When Mo Chen of the Taiqing Empress’s lineage first dominated the list, a Great Emperor even predicted he would surely become a Dharma Venerable. How long has it been...?”

”Heh, what a slap in the face. I’ve been sick of that Mo Chen for ages. He’s easy on himself but strict with others. When he can’t win an argument, he fights. When he can’t win a fight, his elders step in for him. So shameless...”

”Hey, who can blame him for having good fortune? He stumbles upon great opportunities and Creation just by sightseeing. You’re just jealous.”

”Shh, quiet down! Be careful, or a group of people will show up at your sect’s gates tomorrow to challenge you.”

BOOM!

While the crowd was talking, Wuchen’s Dharma Celestial Realm had already ascended to the Twenty Layers of Heaven.

The name of the champion on every layer was replaced from Mo Chen to his martial title—

”Wuchen.”

His martial title, Wuchen, blazed in large, violet-gold characters, surrounded by Immortal Gods blowing conches and revered by all the Heavens—like a new, supreme emperor ascending the throne, majestic, tyrannical, and illuminating the Ten Directions.

WHOOSH—

After that one punch, Wuchen’s expression remained calm, without a hint of pride or complacency. Over the years, he had forged a temperament that would remain unshaken even if the heavens were to collapse.

Shrouded in a black robe, as if he had just done something trivial, he took a single step and vanished from everyone’s sight.

”Mo Chen... Wuchen? There’s definitely a grudge here.”

Before the All Heavens Stele, the spectating cultivators looked at the name ’Wuchen’ that had displaced ’Mo Chen’ and smelled the thick scent of gunpowder in the air.

One guy is named Mo Chen.

The other shows up with the name Wuchen.

Even a fool could tell it wasn’t a coincidence.

Unfortunately, Wuchen did not reveal his face, and his aura was concealed by the black robe. He didn’t even reveal any Divine Power Dharma Aspect when he struck, so the onlookers had no way of guessing his origins.

Otherwise, if word of this got out, there would most likely be a good show to watch.

”Two Venerables competing for the top spot in just one year. The Profound Yellow World is about to flourish.”

”My money’s on Mo Chen. His luck is just too heaven-defying. His cultivation method is just too casual. If he were to work hard, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to reclaim the top spot.”

”Yeah, that guy’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit was tyrannical and powerful, but he was clearly going all out, using his entire foundation.”

”Hah, if you ask me, there’s no need for the Nine Heavens to even compete for this generation’s All Heavens Dharma Aspect Venerable. Everyone already knows the answer... ahem, I didn’t say anything. I’m out of here.”

The know-it-all who spoke sensed the strange, silent atmosphere around him, gave a dry cough, and promptly bolted.

”Sigh, what a pity.”

In the silent atmosphere, someone sighed. There was hatred in their eyes, but also admiration. The other silent onlookers were much the same.

There really was no need to compete.

Because among the Nine Heavens, no one had the power to, while in the Pseudo-Dharma Realm, fight against the peerless Celestial Prides of the All Heavens, let alone slay a young Great Emperor Celestial Venerable.

It wasn’t one-on-one.

Nor was it a battle of attrition.

Instead... it was the damn old monsters and young monsters from five heavens, joining forces to besiege a single Pseudo Dharma Aspect from the Wilderness.

And they were all wiped out!

That incident caused a massive uproar back then.

The Emperor’s Lineage Overlords from the five heavens lost all face, and they lost a huge batch of peerless Celestial Prides.

A Celestial Venerable from the Celestial Court became a laughingstock.

The Empress of the Thunder Emperor Palace nearly birthed a Heart Demon, and no one knew what her avatar had experienced in the Divine Wilderness.

In short, starting from eighteen years ago, the name Divine Desolate Tribulation Demon became a complete taboo that could not be mentioned within the five heavens.

The major figures might not act because they were concerned about their reputation.

But if any of those hot-headed Celestial Prides heard it, anyone without a strong enough background would inevitably suffer for it.

However, in private, most people in the five heavens believed that if the Divine Desolate Tribulation Demon hadn’t died, he would have definitely become the All Heavens Dharma Aspect Venerable of this generation.

In fact, even the title of All Heavens Venerable would be insufficient to describe his achievements.

Unparalleled in All Heavens would be a more fitting description.

He was just too monstrous, too perverse.

If it hadn’t actually happened, no one would have dared to believe that someone at the Pseudo-Dharma Realm could accomplish such a heaven-defying feat.

...

The news that Wuchen had displaced Mo Chen, forcefully claiming the top spot of the Profound Yellow World’s Emperor Grade Dharma Aspect Twenty Layers of Heaven, spread through various channels and soon caused a sensation throughout the entire world, sparking endless, heated discussions.

Unsurprisingly, the matter soon reached the ears of the person in question, Mo Chen.

「Profound Yellow World, Taiqing Immortal Realm.」

Within a small bamboo cottage on a mountain peak suffused with immortal light, Mo Chen, now eighteen years older, wore a long cyan robe and had shed all his immaturity.

His demeanor was calm and gentle.

His physique was not burly or imposing. He was humble like jade, his eyes held the light of wisdom, and he resembled a worldly scholar.

BUZZ—

A Communication Jade Talisman vibrated.

A message entered his mind.

”Wuchen?”

Mo Chen, who was adding firewood to cook a mortal delicacy for his master, paused, a look of slight surprise on his face.

’An enemy?’

’But he couldn’t recall provoking such a character in recent years.’

’However, Wuchen...’

For some unknown reason, the image of the Little Mudman from the Dragon Mud Cave Heaven surfaced in his mind—the one from Broken Clothes Alley, covered in blood outside the Golden Lotus Pool.

Wuchen.

WHOOSH—

Mo Chen closed his eyes and used a Divine Technique to perform a divination.

There was indeed a karmic thread tangled with hostile energy connecting the two of them.

But the reason was unknown.

”Set out early tomorrow. The answers you seek are in the Taiyi Emperor Star.”

As Mo Chen was pondering this, the mystical, celestial voice of his master—cool, yet tinged with affection—resounded in his mind.

”The Taiyi Emperor Star...”

Mo Chen’s gaze lowered. He put down the fire poker in his hand and rubbed the Sword Nurturing Gourd at his waist.