Essence Devouring Art

That will was tyrannical and supreme!

It seemed to rise from the source of the Great Dao, piercing through the veins of all existence and radiating across endless space and time!

The instant it descended upon the Burial Realm,

it manifested as the majestic voice of a woman—ethereal, vast, and indifferent:

”Suppress!”

A single word, like a Celestial Decree!

It was as if driven by the Celestial Mandate, something none dared to defy, carrying the incredible power of Words Become Law!

HUMMM—

The Great Dao trembled as all its facets rallied in obeisance!

Wu Dao could only observe the magnetic field of Hongyuan’s infinite rules and Great Dao veins mustering its forces, swarming and converging of its own accord after that single word was uttered.

It formed an all-encompassing Net of Celestial Mandate!

Wherever the Net of Celestial Mandate passed,

the Tribulation Qi retreated and the darkness dissipated!

In an instant, it snared all the Tribulation Qi that had erupted from the Burial Realm, forcefully suppressing it back within the realm’s confines!

The vast dimensions of space-time once affected by the Tribulation Qi were reclaimed by light, as if nothing had ever happened.

Words Become Law, with ten thousand Daos standing in attendance!

From across an endless cosmos,

a single thought could alter and suppress all of existence!

A Mixed Yuan Tao Emperor...

Wu Dao took a deep breath. He finally had a somewhat clearer understanding—a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg—of the beings at the apex of Hongyuan’s food chain.

’There’s simply no comparison!’

’As I am now, without the Extreme Dao Bell, even if I used every trick up my sleeve, I would be instantly annihilated by that supreme will.’

’If the Dao of an Emperor Realm expert is a constituent element of the Primordial Path...’

’...then those who are infinitely Near Dao...’

’...a Dao Emperor who has stepped into the initial Primordial Domain, wields a Dao that is one of the fundamental Extraordinary Dao Sources. Its sheer volume makes it a main structural component of the Primordial Path!’

’Such a magnificent being.’

’It’s hard to imagine how incredible their power must be!’

”We respectfully send off the Empress!!”

After the Tribulation Qi receded and space-time stabilized,

led by the host of Great Powers beneath the Treasure-Splitting Sword, the various forces of the All Heavens once again bowed respectfully, not daring to show the slightest negligence or disrespect.

However, a discordant voice cut through the solemn atmosphere.

”Master, take care on your way out!”

Aboard the Huishi Sect Flagship,

a disheveled Ye Xuan had reappeared from nowhere, affectionately waving farewell into the distance. The woman who had been chasing him earlier was now trailing behind him.

’Judging by the looks of it,’

’they had a lover’s quarrel and already made up.’

’Just moments ago, Li Xun had indignantly rushed out to be her white knight, but now...’

Wu Dao glanced over at Li Xun.

He was gritting his teeth, his eyes were bloodshot, and his fists were clenched so tight he looked like he wanted to rush over and land a few punches on Ye Xuan.

’His background versus yours... and you actually dare to hope...’

Wu Dao found it strange, unable to comprehend the thoughts of these lovelorn fools. In any case, ’they certainly aren’t as fun as those yandere girls from the restricted zones.’

However, Wu Dao wondered if Ye Xuan was genuinely foolish or just playing the part. ’Exposing a weakness in front of everyone like this... perhaps he’s just used to being unrestrained and carefree.’

Wu Dao hadn’t forgotten.

Jiang Han had once schemed against and killed one of Ye Xuan’s beauties, turning the two into mortal enemies.

But, judging from Ye Xuan’s current nonchalance,

’that so-called beauty was likely just one of his many romantic entanglements.’

’Any true feelings were an illusion.’

’It was really about a man’s dignity and pride.’

’You couldn’t call it true love. There’s no such thing as a second true love.’

’If I...’

Wu Dao stroked his chin, his gaze falling upon the peerless, green-robed Female Sword Immortal. An idea began to form in his mind.

’A weakness, served up on a silver platter.’

’Wouldn’t my conscience prick me if I didn’t take advantage of it?’

’But this can’t be rushed.’

’I have to find the right opportunity.’

...

”Everyone!”

After the chaotic eruption of Tribulation Qi in the Burial Realm was quelled,

a plain-looking, middle-aged man in gray robes with a sword on his back emerged from beneath the Treasure-Splitting Sword. After giving Ye Xuan a subtle glare, his resonant voice boomed across the Ten Directions of space-time:

”You’ve seen with your own eyes how vicious the Tribulation Qi in the Burial Realm is. The Treasure-Splitting Sword merely used a sliver of its Mighty Power, and it triggered a violent eruption of Tribulation Qi.”

”Once you enter the realm,”

”I hope you all know where to draw the line. Don’t cause trouble for yourselves and others, lest you have to ask why when the final reckoning comes.”

Clearly, this was a warning to the Imperial Influences participating in this grand Taotie feast—

Don’t be so quick to protect your own, disregard the bigger picture, and ruin it for everyone.

The subtext was clear.

The protagonists of this event were the younger generation. Whether they lived or died would depend entirely on their own destiny and Creation.

The older generation could only serve as anchors,

and were not to intervene unless something catastrophic occurred.

Of course, the older Great Powers all knew the true reason for this ”cleansing” of the Burial Realm. They had other, secret missions to explore.

The Creation revealed by the Treasure-Splitting Sword,

though astonishing in quantity

and tempting enough for Emperor’s Lineages to fight to the death over, was not their primary objective.

The Great Freedom Heavenly Demon King!

That was the primary target of this joint operation by the Daluo Celestial Domain!

”Elder Ye speaks the truth. The younger generation has their own destiny; if their strength is lacking, they have no one to blame but themselves.”

As soon as Elder Ye finished speaking,

an Imperial Influence immediately chimed in to curry favor, with other factions quickly voicing their agreement. Not a single voice of dissent was heard.

The Common Lord of the world.

It wasn’t just a pleasant-sounding title.

As long as their bottom lines weren’t crossed, both Daoist Lineages and Emperor’s Lineages were little more than vassal states in the empire’s shadow; they would not dare to lightly defy the will of the Common Lord.

”Mm, it is good that you all understand.”

Elder Ye wasn’t overbearing. He gave a calm nod, then let his gaze sweep over Ye Xuan and the other members of the younger generation. His voice turned slightly cold as he continued,

”The Divine Ruins Heaven also has Evil Gods who have snuck into the Burial Realm. Should you encounter them, you need not hold back. You must exterminate them all!”

You’d have to be a fool not to know what the Divine Ruins Heaven wanted to achieve by entering the Burial Realm.

They were after the Divine Format of the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon King!

The Divine Race had long since withdrawn from the world stage.

Huddling in a corner of the universe.

After the Second Tribulation, they were demoted to ”Evil Gods” by the Ten Thousand Races of the All Heavens. If not for the apprehension surrounding the Divine Ruins Heaven’s Dao Artifact, they would have been eliminated by the All Heavens long ago, vanishing into the river of time.

It would have been one thing if they had just remained hidden,

but now they actually dared to covet the Divine Format of the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon King, that Tribulation Master of all evil.

It was pure self-destruction!

”We will ensure They never return!!”

The Celestial Prides of the various Emperor’s and Daoist Lineages roared in unison, their voices like a billion thunderclaps. Like a celestial army taking an oath, they were all brimming with killing intent.

’The victor is crowned king, the loser branded a criminal.’

Wu Dao glanced at Li Xun, who was just as indignant as the others, and sighed to himself.

’Survival of the fittest, respect to the strong.’

’Such a natural, iron-clad law.’

’No matter how glorious one’s past, upon defeat and elimination, one becomes nothing more than a reviled stain in the history books.’

’I wonder...’

’How will history judge me after I die?’

Wu Dao’s expression was placid, but his mind drifted to the world he had left behind. He wondered how things had unfolded after his ”death” in his past life, and how the history books would remember him.

However, even though he was no longer in that time and place,

he had a good idea of the path that world would take.

’Because it was inevitable!’

’I was defeated.’

’But that doesn’t mean the Essence Devouring Art was defeated!’

’The Genetic Annihilation Bombs developed in the old era could only hit a living target like me—someone who didn’t dodge or evade, who was willing to die for the pursuit of the Dao.’

’They could never restrain a truly powerful Heaven Stealer.’

’Without my restraints,’

’it was self-evident what those fanatical Heaven Stealers would do.’

’I wonder...’

’if anyone managed to break through the shackles,’

’surpassed the master, turned the impossible into possible, and walked the path beyond the 100% mark of the Essence Devouring Art?’

A seed of curiosity

was planted in Wu Dao’s heart.

VMMMM—

A large-scale vibration in the space-time Magnetic Field

pulled Wu Dao from his thoughts.

Looking up,

he saw fleets filling the Ten Directions of space-time like a swarm of locusts, their banners obscuring the sky. They opened one Space-Time Channel after another, carrying the Celestial Prides and heroes of the Daluo Celestial Domain as they officially set off for the Burial Realm.

’I’m getting a little short on manpower.’

Wu Dao’s consciousness returned to his Main Body in the Black Abyss. He communicated with the Primordial Demon Incarnations wandering and hunting throughout the All Heavens, preparing to recall them.

To this day,

his reserves of Emperor Scriptures had reached 2,500. His returns were gradually diminishing; sometimes half a month would pass without acquiring a single one.

Ultimately,

although he had adopted a slow and steady approach, the All Heavens Emperor’s Lineages were no fools. They had strengthened the protections around their Daoist Children.

It was becoming very difficult for the Primordial Demons to succeed.

Only stronger Incarnations would stand a chance.

Under these circumstances,

leaving the Primordial Demons out there was just a waste of manpower and resources. It would be better to summon them back and scheme for the Creation within the Burial Realm.

However, what Wu Dao hadn’t expected was that

just as he was about to contact the Primordial Demons, one of his Incarnations hunting in the Qingming World was ambushed without any warning.

”You’re courting death!”

Wu Dao’s consciousness chilled.

In an instant, he opened the Faith Channel, and a vast, boundless Magnetic Field Power surged across the great expanse of space-time, descending upon that Incarnation.

「Qingming World.」

In the outer space of a Great Realm.

The stars were brilliant, the Star Sea vast and majestic.

The boundless cosmos presented one magnificent vista after another.

BOOM!!

ROOOAR—

Without warning, the silence was shattered!

Countless white Evil Dragons tore through the deep cosmos, and a tyrannical, bloodthirsty baleful aura surged from the rift like the Celestial River bursting its banks!

They transformed into white Evil Dragons, each as large as a Star River, their forms twisting together like five-fingered hands. Within them churned three thousand frenzied worlds as they sealed the rules of space-time into a prison, ruthlessly slapping down at the magnificent Star Sea formed by the galaxy cluster below!

VMMMM—

At the same time,

from within the black hole that surged with tyrannical power,

emerged numerous blurry, black-robed figures. They released ropes wreathed in Profound Yellow qi, which extended infinitely to ensnare the target within the Star Sea.

Dragon-breaking Skill!

Reversed Dragon Dominating Body!

Immortal Binding Rope!

These three signature abilities proved the origin of the mysterious, black-robed assailants—

The Dragon Hunting Tower!!

Wu Dao truly hadn’t expected it.

He hadn’t expected that the Dragon Hunting Tower, those son-of-a-bitch scapegoats, would be so vengeful. So little time had passed since the Emperor Star incident, yet they already dared to show their faces again.

Led by a Saint!

More than ten Semi-Saints!

And their timing was impeccable!

It was as if they knew the location of this Incarnation of his at all times!

’Did the Bitter Dust Robe fail?’

Wu Dao’s thoughts raced like lightning.

’Its internal Dao has Primordial Chaos as its limit.’

’The Bitter Dust Robe on my Incarnation, while its ability to Conceal Celestial Secrets and causality is weakened, should still make it impossible to pinpoint my location without using a Dao Artifact.’

’The activation of a Dao Artifact would shake the All Heavens.’

’It can’t be a Dao Artifact!’

’Transverse Cultivation!’

’The Dragon Hunting Tower has hunted Horizontal Refiners across All Tribulations.’

’They must have some unknown, heaven-defying Technique for locking onto their prey. The stronger my physical body, the clearer their senses must be!’

RUMBLE!!

In the instant it took for that thought to flash through his mind,

the boundless hand formed of Evil Dragons had already slammed down!

The vast Star Sea shuddered and roared. Countless giant stars were extinguished in an instant, exploding into nothingness. In one Pocket World after another, immeasurable beings were instantly shaken to death!

”You brought yourselves to my doorstep!”

Wu Dao’s black Daoist Robe billowed violently as his wild hair whipped about. He looked up with a savage grin, then stomped his foot, shattering the trembling Star Sea. His Demon God Physique activated its Magnetic Field, blasting through layers of space-time as he charged forward instead of retreating!

With only the power of an Incarnation,

he was at most a High Tier Creation Realm expert, not even a Semi-Saint. Naturally, he couldn’t contend with a Saint.

But!

the backing for his Incarnation was his Main Body!

And right now, his Main Body was not far from possessing a Great Saint’s Battle Power!

Through the Faith Channel,

he could ignore all distance and perform a ’Divine Descent,’ channeling the power of his Main Body.

Given the strength of this Incarnation,

bearing that power for a short time was no problem at all!

A single Saint thought they could hunt him?

How utterly clueless!