Essence Devouring Art

Outside the Burial Realm.

Within the fleet of Huishi Sect warships.

After the chaotic mess.

”Damn bastard!”

Li Xun stepped out of the void, a sword on his back and his white robes slightly disheveled. His once handsome and dashing face was now as black as thunder. Clearly, the pursuit had not gone as planned.

PHEW...

After letting out a long breath.

Li Xun composed himself, then turned to Wu Dao, who was sipping tea in the Grotto Heaven Dojo. He shook his head in embarrassment. ”An utterly shameless scoundrel appeared,” he said. ”My apologies for the scene, Fellow Daoist Wu.”

He and Wu Dao had become acquainted through a ”fortunate coincidence.”

He had been utterly astounded by Wu Dao’s mastery of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique from their very first meeting. Since then, he had tried every trick in the book to recruit Wu Dao into the Huishi Sect, treating him with the utmost courtesy throughout their journey.

”It’s nothing.”

Wu Dao smiled faintly. ’Li Xun’s attitude toward me is rather odd,’ he thought.

One of Li Xun’s ”good” senior brothers.

Just one day before the two of them became acquainted, he had been hunted down and killed by Wu Dao, which allowed him to add the Huaisi Sword Scripture to his collection.

’If that Daoist Child knew...’

’...that his dear junior brother was welcoming his killer with a smile, I wonder what his expression would be.’

Well.

It wasn’t like Wu Dao felt any guilt.

”From what you’re saying, Fellow Daoist Li, it seems that brat is quite something?”

Wu Dao set down his teacup and asked casually, a curious look on his face.

’My knowledge of Ye Xuan is limited to him being the Son of Revival of the Luotian Sword Realm.’

’Other information is sparse—or perhaps, the Luotian Sword Realm has been deliberately hiding it.’

’The Huishi Sect has crossed paths with Ye Xuan before.’

’He even managed to spirit away their eldest senior sister, a Daoist Child. They must know more.’

”That’s an understatement.”

Li Xun sat down, sighing with a mix of resentment and helplessness.

”As you should know, Brother Wu, the Luotian Sword Realm is the supreme Common Lord of the Daluo World. Its leader, the Luotian Sword Master, was the very first person to achieve Attainment Dao in recent history.”

’The Sword Master.’

’The Sword Dao Lord.’

Wu Dao nodded. He had heard the story of the Luotian Sword Master’s path to Attainment Dao back when he was in the Divine Wilderness. He was the victor of the Five Tribulations, and it went without saying who the vanquished was.

”Beneath the Luotian Sword Master, there are six great Sword Domains, and the status and power of their Domain Masters are on par with the Nine Heavens Celestial Venerables of the Celestial Court.”

Li Xun continued, his expression full of envy:

”That Ye Xuan’s grandfather is the Silent Domain Master. His biological father is the current Master of Sword Abyss, a Daoist Lineage in Daluo Heaven that is second only to the Luotian Sword Realm.

”What’s more, his master is Empress Hong Shi, the Heavenly Destiny Domain Master. She is widely acknowledged as the strongest of the six Domain Masters, wielding the Celestial Destiny Sword Dao, and her power blankets all creation.

”So...”

”Now, Fellow Daoist Wu, you should understand just how powerful that kid’s backing is, right? To say he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth would be an understatement.”

’Empress Hong Shi...’

’Another Empress for a master.’

Wu Dao raised an eyebrow. The imperial title wasn’t unfamiliar; this Empress had also become a Dao Emperor during the Five Tribulations.

’A single whale fall gives birth to a world of life.’

The Slaughter Emperor’s attempt to use the tribulation for his Attainment Dao had failed. The Great Tribulation’s power transformed into great fortune, leading to the rise of many powerhouses throughout the All Heavens.

It was said that Empress Hong Shi was born bearing the great fortune of the Five Tribulations’ Celestial Mandate. She rode the wave of fortune from the transformed tribulation and became the first Dao Emperor of that era, hence her title, Hong Shi, for ”Grand Beginning.”

As for the Life Destruction Domain Master and the Master of Sword Abyss...

They had reached the Dao Emperor realm even before Empress Hong Shi. They were considered elites among the old guard of Dao Emperors in the All Heavens.

’Three Mixed Yuan Tao Emperors for backing.’

’On top of that, he’s the Son of Revival of the Luotian Sword Realm.’

’Ye Xuan’s backing is indeed powerful beyond the imagination of any ordinary person, not much inferior to Mo Chen of the Celestial Court.’

’In comparison...’

’...my second disciple, Jiang Han...’

’...is like a firefly next to the bright moon. The only backing he can even remotely claim is me, his irresponsible master.’

’Setting their backgrounds aside, Jiang Han is still no match for Ye Xuan at present.’

’From that brief glimpse earlier...’

’I could tell that Ye Xuan’s cultivation has already stepped into the Creation Realm—and one in which he cultivates three Daos simultaneously.’

’His Physique is also extraordinary.’

’It’s similar to the Chaos Body of Su Chen, whom I killed in the Boundless Sacred Land, but applied to the Sword Dao, resulting in some incredible kind of Sword Dao Physique.’

’According to my predecessor’s memories...’

’Ye Xuan transplanted a Military Dao Dantian. That must be what granted him his current Physique.’

’As for Jiang Han...’

’...when he disappeared about half a year ago...’

’...he was merely at the Single Dao Cave Heaven cultivation level.’

’His only advantage is the Exquisite Method, one of the Ten Great Supreme Divine Techniques. But with a background like Ye Xuan’s, he surely doesn’t lack for Strongest Divine Techniques.’

’In just half a year...’

’...to close such a massive gap...’

’...the only way would be through the Primordial Magnetic Demon Body, or if he stumbled upon some heaven-defying stroke of Great Fortune.’

’However...’

’When I recall how the Primordial Magnetic Seed was last infused with that unknown, supreme aura, a spark of anticipation lights within me.’

’If he can’t pull it off...’

’...he still has me, his master, as a safety net.’

’It might be a case of the strong bullying the weak, but since Ye Xuan initiated that karmic bond, it’s only right that he now face the consequences, whatever they may be.’

’However...’

Wu Dao suspected...

’...it won’t be that simple.’

’Ye Xuan may not have Heavenly Destiny Protection, but those three titans backing him, not to mention the Luotian Sword Realm, are not to be trifled with.’

’Therefore...’

’...this special forbidden zone, the Burial Realm...’

’...is the perfect opportunity. If I miss it, things will become infinitely more difficult later on.’

ZZZING—

Wu Dao hadn’t been talking with Li Xun for long when...

...a sword’s cry rang out.

A purple, treasured light erupted with it, like a great sun rising at dawn. It slowly bloomed, unleashing countless brilliant rays that pierced through all worlds and illuminated the boundless expanse of spacetime.

The churning, crimson Burial Realm...

...was bathed in the sword light, taking on a purple hue. The dense tribulation clouds of the Ten Directions were pierced through, and innumerable shafts of purple sword light drove away the darkness and its ominous aura.

Within the Nine Heavens, now radiant with purple light...

Li Xun and Wu Dao stood side-by-side.

His eyes gleaming, he gazed down at the center of the Burial Realm. There, a purple ”sword sun” spun, formed from intertwining, boundless sword patterns that scattered a treasured light. He exclaimed excitedly:

”The Treasure-Splitting Sword has finally been activated! All the Creation in the Burial Realm will be revealed!”

’The Treasure-Splitting Sword...’

Wu Dao narrowed his eyes, staring at the great sun of purple light that now illuminated the entire Burial Realm. He recognized the origin of this wondrous sword.

’The Treasure-Splitting Sword.’

’It originates from the Treasure Division Cliff, a Spirit Root of heaven and earth.’

’The Treasure Division Cliff is under the control of the Luotian Sword Realm and is said to have reached the level of a Primordial Emperor Weapon. Any artifact born from it possesses the Mighty Power to scan through spacetime and reveal the locations of Creation Lands.’

’This Treasure-Splitting Sword before us...’

’On the surface, it appears as a magnificent purple sun wreathed in sword light. But deep within its hazy form, a Grand Cosmos of endless treasured light churns with immense power.’

’This is an Emperor’s Artifact!’

’An Emperor’s Artifact born from the Treasure Division Cliff!’

’Its Mighty Power isn’t limited to revealing Creation Lands. Once fully awakened, it could sink and annihilate an entire cosmos without any trouble.’

Surrounding the Treasure-Splitting Sword...

...were towering, seated figures. With every blink of their eyes, they seemed like Divine Beings from the Nine Heavens surveying the Ten Thousand Realms, their presence so oppressive that the Dao Rules of the surrounding spacetime blurred.

’Their Magnetic Field auras!’

’They’re not the slightest bit weaker than the recently returned Heaven-Burying Emperor—in other words, they are Great Venerables.’

’And even...’

’...guarded by those Great Venerables...’

’...were other figures with even more terrifying Magnetic Fields. Most of them are likely Quasi-Emperors!’

’The Emperor Realm may be powerful, but it has its limits.’

As Wu Dao observed, he recalled some of the hidden, unspoken rules of the Hongyuan Civilization.

The Daluo Celestial Domain had only dispatched forces below the Emperor Realm, along with Emperor’s Weapons, to assail the Burial Realm. This wasn’t just because the Burial Realm was the source of all Tribulation Qi.

’A more important reason is that...’

’...unless it’s a special period where a Great Tribulation rocks the very foundation of the Great Dao...’

’...within Hongyuan...’

’...those in the Emperor Realm are forbidden from fighting at full strength!’

Otherwise, they would incur an incredibly terrifying Celestial Punishment. It was a protective mechanism of the Primordial Path.

How mighty were those in the Emperor Realm?

A single, full-powered attack could shatter an entire cosmos and countless worlds within spacetime. Without the restraint of Celestial Punishment, the Hongyuan Civilization could never have flourished to its current, brilliant state.

’Being an Iron Head Child comes at a great cost!’

’The last time I killed Mo Chen on the Taiyi Emperor Star, the Taiqing Empress—an All Heavens Great Emperor Level expert—went berserk and struck the Taiyi Emperor Star with her sword.’

’She was struck by Celestial Punishment the moment her sword fell. I fled too quickly to see how terrifying an All Heavens Level Celestial Punishment was, but according to the rumors, the Taiqing Empress nearly fell from her realm!’

’If the Celestial Court hadn’t intervened to protect her...’

’...she would have certainly fallen to the rank of a mere Great Emperor. Her Dao root might have even been so severely injured that she would have no hope of recovery in this lifetime, let alone further advancement.’

’I wonder what Celestial Punishment feels like.’

Wu Dao thought, an eager itch for trouble stirring within him.

’But I’m still a long way from having a Great Emperor’s Battle Power, and the punishment for using an Emperor’s Weapon doesn’t apply to the wielder. I won’t be able to experience it anytime soon.’

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!—

While Wu Dao was lost in thought...

...the light scattered by the Treasure-Splitting Sword completely pierced the Tribulation Qi barrier of the Burial Realm’s Ten Directions. Beams of purple light locked onto the great tomb-like forbidden zones one by one.

The purple light seemed to trigger the Magnetic Fields of the Creation Lands within those tomb-like zones. A myriad of treasured lights erupted like ancient volcanoes, unsealing themselves and manifesting visions of various Immortal Realms within spacetime.

Wu Dao casually glanced at a few of the visions.

He discovered that even the weakest of the Creation Lands revealed by the Treasure-Splitting Sword were at the Saint Realm level!

Great Saints, Saint Masters...

Those were everywhere!

It was as if countless sealed Treasure Basins were being opened, revealing all sorts of Heavenly and Earthly Treasures... their allure was endless!

Even Wu Dao was tempted.

After all, who would say no to more Creation?

”GULP... As expected of a former main battlefield of a One Tribulation Celestial Domain! The treasures buried here are likely on par with the Taiyi Emperor Star!”

Li Xun, standing beside him, had a dry mouth.

He looked like he wanted nothing more than to rush into the Burial Realm and devour all that Creation for himself!

RUMBLE!!!

But at that very moment.

The Mighty Power of the Treasure-Splitting Sword seemed to disturb the fundamental order of the Burial Realm, inciting the Tribulation Qi within to run rampant!

From the outside, one could clearly see the endless, crimson Tribulation Thunder of the Ten Directions, which formed the Boundary Wall, surging with rage. Inside, Tribulation Qi of a Chaos Color, which had lingered for eons, gushed back out into the spacetime of the All Heavens like a torrent from the Abyss, threatening to capsize the entire Daluo Celestial Domain!

”Holy crap! The eye of the tribulation is blowing up!”

Li Xun, who had just been drooling with greed, instantly went pale. He stumbled backward and fell right on his rear, landing hard on the deck.

The scene was absolutely terrifying!

It was as if the floodgates of some ominous, hellish Abyss had been thrown open!

Outside the Burial Realm, the vast dimensions of spacetime flickered. A suffocating, malevolent, and ominous aura of disaster spread rapidly, giving rise to all manner of destructive phenomena. As everything trembled, the very Dao Rules seemed to cry out in mourning!

The Tribulation Qi stored within the Burial Realm!

It was no ordinary tribulation from natural disasters or human calamities.

This was the Tribulation Qi of the Great Dao itself, from the Three Tribulations that had nearly overthrown the Hongyuan Civilization!

Even after eons of decay!

If it were to erupt in full, it still possessed the Mighty Power to drag every living being in the Daluo Celestial Domain’s boundless spacetime into darkness, damning them for all eternity!

However.

Just before the Tribulation Qi could fully erupt...

”We request the Domain Master’s decree!!”

Beneath the Treasure-Splitting Sword, in the dim and ominous sky.

A voice as deep and sonorous as a great temple bell rang out, respectful yet powerful. It thundered through all of creation.

At the sound of that voice, the various factions, who had been panicking just moments before...

...quickly regained their composure.

They all bowed toward the Treasure-Splitting Sword—the sole point of light in the center of the Dark World—and saluted:

”We respectfully request the Domain Master’s decree!”

ZZING!

Another sword cry rang out!

It drowned out the thunderous roar of countless voices requesting the decree!

It was as if the divine blade of the Great Dao itself had been unsheathed, as if a Supreme Divine Being had opened its eyes to gaze down upon the world. All Daos and all things submitted, as though in the very presence of the Great Dao!

Wu Dao could feel it distinctly.

The Dao Essence of a supreme, unparalleled existence crossed endless cosmos and spacetime, carrying with it an irrefutable will as it cast its gaze upon the Burial Realm.