Essence Devouring Art

Half a month passed in a flash.

Wu Dao’s branches had grown by another three hundred, but his strength remained at the Semi-Saint stage.

But the Heaven-Burying Alliance didn’t give him any time to develop in peace.

The reason was simple.

Su Xiuqi, who had been behind the scenes for only half a year, had once again stepped into the limelight. Not only had he reclaimed the Heaven-Burying Steles under his command, but he had also convened the Realm Master assembly as promised.

Red Dust Realm.

DONG! DONG! DONG—

A great bell shook the world, its chimes echoing across the Ten Thousand Realms.

After the ninety-ninth chime,

From one world after another,

Realm Masters soared through the sky as streaks of rainbow light, breaking through the Boundary Walls of spacetime and converging on the central Red Dust World, which shone like a Divine Sun.

”Didn’t the rumors say the Alliance Leader was severely injured and had relinquished his power? Why the sudden return...?”

”I don’t know, but Realm Master Jia and Realm Master Liang have invested immense manpower and resources to compete for the Alliance Leader position. This meeting... will likely be a fierce struggle.”

”Looking on the bright side, maybe the Alliance Leader just wants to directly announce his successor?”

”You mean Tao Chuan? Give me a break. Anyone below the Saint Realm is an ant. He’ll never win the people’s support.”

The Demon Cultivators from all the realms of the Heaven-Burying Alliance watched the departing Realm Masters, their rainbow streaks fading into the distance. They discussed and speculated endlessly, all sensing that something major was about to happen.

What was slightly strange was that...

...ninety percent of the attending Realm Masters remained silent. They expressed no opinion on the matter, nor did they try to placate their subordinates, acting as if it had nothing to do with them.

This abnormality...

...wasn’t because they were unconcerned.

It was because ninety percent of the Heaven-Burying Alliance’s Realm Masters—including ninety percent of the high-ranking members and even the trusted Realm Masters at the side of the three main competitors—

...had long since become Wu Dao’s believers and minions.

The life or death of the Heaven-Burying Alliance?

What the hell was that!

Therefore,

while this was called a Heaven-Burying Alliance assembly,

in reality, nearly all the attendees were spies. Wu Dao was simply watching to see what kind of grand performance Su Xiuqi and the others would put on.

Because of the advance notice,

none of the ninety-nine Realm Masters were absent or late. They quickly gathered at the Red Dust Realm headquarters.

In the center of the Red Dust Realm’s Nine Heavens Star Sea,

Star Rivers coiled around, dotted with Worlds.

Within a grand hall—ancient, solemn, and as magnificent as a divine palace—all ninety-nine Realm Masters had arrived.

According to their status,

they were seated on both sides, with the Venerable Alliance Leader’s throne—forged from Star Essence on the high platform—as the dividing point. The rows of seats stretched to the end of the hall.

The seats of honor on either side...

...were undoubtedly occupied by Jia Baocai and Liang Chen, the two most prominent figures in the Heaven-Burying Alliance. Seated on the left and right, they kept their eyes closed, their expressions impassive, betraying no emotion.

As for Tao Chuan,

his status was somewhat special.

Not only was he Su Xiuqi’s adopted son, but he was also the Vice Alliance Leader in charge of unified command. He stood on the high platform with a dozen other Vice Alliance Leaders.

On the high platform,

there were two more rows of seats.

Occupying them were the retired elders of the Heaven-Burying Alliance. They sat suspended in space, whispering and sending messages to one another, discussing which side to take later.

Anyone with eyes could see it.

Su Xiuqi’s sudden return to convene a meeting...

...couldn’t just be a final show of authority.

He either wanted to reclaim his power or was about to announce something of great importance concerning the future of the Heaven-Burying Alliance.

It could be about the next Alliance Leader!

In a situation like this,

choosing the right side was crucial.

In the midst of their discussions,

the elders’ gazes shifted uncertainly between Jia Baocai and Liang Chen below the platform.

These two men—

one representing wealth, the one representing martial might—

were both new powers who had risen within the Heaven-Burying Alliance over the past five hundred years. Their Saint Realm Cultivation was enough to deter troublemakers and take charge of the Alliance.

As for Tao Chuan?

He was just a brute with low cultivation. He couldn’t accomplish anything significant and wasn’t even within their consideration.

On the high platform,

Tao Chuan’s massive frame was clad in black heavy armor. A violent aura that refused to dissipate swirled around him, and his wild, crimson hair made him look like an Ancient Fierce Beast.

He had been meditating with his eyes closed like a War God Stone Sculpture, but he sensed the elders’ gazes of admiration toward Jia Baocai and Liang Chen, and their cold indifference toward him.

He couldn’t help but sneer inwardly:

’A bunch of old fools who judge a book by its cover. If I ever get power, I’ll definitely make you all suffer!’

DONG—

Just then,

the final chime fell.

Inside the hall, the whispering elders and Vice Alliance Leaders,

as well as Jia Baocai and the other two contenders who had been meditating, all wore solemn expressions as they looked toward the end of the high platform, at the Alliance Leader’s throne set against the backdrop of a vast Star River.

A thousand years of accumulated authority.

The only one with a Great Saint Realm Cultivation.

Even though Su Xiuqi had fallen from grace,

when it came to facing him directly, everyone in the Heaven-Burying Alliance, no matter who they were, felt a profound sense of gravity and didn’t dare show the slightest disrespect.

But,

what the assembled Realm Masters didn’t expect...

...was that the one they were waiting for wasn’t Su Xiuqi, but—

”The Ten Great Demon Saints have arrived!”

With this joint cry from the Guardians beside the Alliance Leader’s throne,

ten figures with ancient auras and somber, twilight-aged faces

appeared one by one in the distorted space beside the throne. They looked like decrepit old men who had just been dug out of their coffins.

An ancient yet vast Saintly might...

...spread from the gazes of the Ten Great Demon Saints, instantly filling the entire hall. Outside, the thousands of Star Rivers and Worlds came to a momentary halt, unable to withstand the immense pressure.

Everyone in the hall...

...had a sudden change in expression.

In the seat of honor on the left,

Jia Baocai stopped fiddling with his Treasure Bead. His eyes narrowed, and his expression darkened.

In the seat of honor on the right,

’Bastard!’

Liang Chen cursed in his heart. He gritted his teeth slightly as his consciousness descended into his Inner World, where he slaughtered a hundred million beings in an instant to vent his anger.

On the high platform,

Tao Chuan was also slightly stunned.

They had considered all sorts of possibilities,

but they never imagined that Su Xiuqi would actually bring out the Heaven-Burying Alliance’s Ten Great Demon Saints to hold down the fort!

’How on earth did he do it?’

Liang Chen and the others were filled with doubt.

The Ten Great Demon Saints.

They were the ultimate foundation of the Heaven-Burying Alliance, impossible to summon unless it was a matter of life and death, or unless one possessed half of the Heaven-Burying Steles.

’Could it be...?’

As a certain possibility came to mind,

Liang Chen and Jia Baocai gritted their teeth. If not for their fear of the Ten Great Demon Saints, they would have cursed Su Xiuqi on the spot, calling him an old bastard!

’Impossible.’

’Unless he found a descendant of the Heaven-Burying Emperor!’

A sliver of hope remained in their hearts, because if their guess was correct, they would have suffered a loss so great it would make them vomit blood!

”We pay our respects to the Demon Saints! May you be indestructible through ten thousand tribulations and forever enjoy the Great Dao!”

Regardless of their private thoughts,

with the Ten Great Demon Saints present, all the high-ranking members of the Heaven-Burying Alliance smoothed their robes, rose to their feet, and obediently bowed.

”Mm, be seated. Xiaosu will tell you what happens next.”

The leader of the Ten Great Demon Saints, a white-haired old woman in a jade-green palace gown and Cyan Snake Earrings, opened her eyes and nodded. Her gaze lingered pointedly on Jia Baocai and Liang Chen.

It was unclear whether it was a warning or an unintentional glance.

The Ten Great Demon Saints.

Although six of them were not quite the real deal,

the four leaders were undeniably Saint Realm Great Powers. The strongest, the white-haired old woman Bixia Demon Saint, had achieved Sainthood through poison and reached the Third Heaven of the Saint Realm.

It was no exaggeration to say

that if the four of them wanted to act, crushing Jia Baocai and Liang Chen would be no different from crushing an ant.

”The Alliance Leader has arrived!”

Before everyone could sit back down,

the Guardians’ voices rang out once more.

Under the gazes of all,

Su Xiuqi’s figure finally appeared on the throne that symbolized supreme authority.

「In Nirvana Valley」

Wu Dao, watching through the broadcast of his many believers,

saw Su Xiuqi—the legend of the Heaven-Burying Alliance and even the entire Burial Realm—for the first time.

He wore a simple, unadorned, gray robe.

His salt-and-pepper hair was draped over his shoulders. His broad-boned frame was like that of an old lion, and his features were stately and masculine. As he opened his eyes and looked down, his gaze held both the vicissitudes of time and the noble dignity of one long accustomed to a high position.

His former Great Saint Cultivation...

Now...

...Wu Dao felt he was only a notch stronger than Jia Baocai.

Moreover,

although Su Xiuqi maintained a dignified posture, anyone whose strength reached a certain level could feel the decaying Magnetic Field he exuded.

He was like a divine statue about to weather and collapse—decrepit and powerless, no longer possessing his former lofty and inviolable presence.

’The Heaven-Burying Great Emperor’s Tomb is probably not that simple.’

After seeing Su Xiuqi’s miserable state, Wu Dao’s appraisal of the Emperor’s Tomb rose to a new level.

Reality wasn’t a puzzle game.

It wasn’t a matter of collecting all the clues and items to get the final secret treasure.

A Great Saint...

...had made one wrong step in that Emperor’s Tomb and ended up in such a wretched state.

The danger within was clear to see.

Not to mention...

...that tomb was a contingency left behind by that madman, the Slaughter Emperor. There was absolutely no way his treasure could be obtained so easily!

”We pay our respects to the Alliance Leader...”

After all the high-ranking members finished their salutations,

”Mm, may we all share the Great Dao.”

Su Xiuqi nodded calmly and sat steadily on the Alliance Leader’s throne. After his gaze swept over the crowd of Realm Masters, it also lingered pointedly on the sullen-faced Jia Baocai and Liang Chen.

After the routine meeting pleasantries,

Su Xiuqi’s eyes grew profound. He finally got to the point, speaking with a hint of emotion:

”Everyone, what do you think of our Heaven-Burying Alliance’s current situation?”

The elders and Vice Alliance Leaders were taken aback.

Tao Chuan didn’t understand.

Jia Baocai and Liang Chen, however, were cursing inwardly. They knew exactly what Su Xiuqi was planning.

”The foremost power in the Burial Realm, whose might awes the Ten Thousand Realms?”

From the ranks of the elders,

Elder Ji stood up and replied with pride. He truly loved the Heaven-Burying Alliance, having personally witnessed its rise step by step, and he knew how hard-won this glory was.

’Old fool, you talk too much damn nonsense!’

Liang Chen shot an imperceptible glare at Elder Ji, who immediately shivered and sat back down resentfully.

”Mm, Elder Ji is correct.”

Su Xiuqi acted as if he hadn’t seen Liang Chen’s subtle action. He smiled and nodded at Elder Ji before sighing again.

”But that is far from enough. To put it bluntly, the Burial Realm is just a large graveyard. The Heaven-Burying Alliance may seem glorious,

”but in reality, its very survival depends on the whims of those great figures. At any moment, it could all... go up in flames.”

As soon as these words were spoken,

everyone in the hall, including Jia Baocai and Liang Chen, fell silent.

This wasn’t alarmist talk.

The Burial Realm was a gathering place for Demon Cultivators from All Heavens.

In essence, it was a Demon Cave!

And this Demon Cave...

...was located in the Daluo Celestial Domain, a place that revered righteousness and despised evil!

From the Three Tribulations until now,

countless ages have passed.

Why hasn’t an Emperor Level power, or even a Saint Master Level power that could unify the Burial Realm, ever emerged from its vast territory?

Even the current Heaven-Burying Alliance...

...is merely an organization built on a covenant, not a monolithic power with a united leadership and populace.

The environment? The hearts of the people?

Those were part of it.

The most important reason...

...was that the Daluo Celestial Domain would not allow it!

It would not allow

such a powerful Demon Dao existence or faction to breed within the Demon Cave that was the Burial Realm.