Essence Devouring Art

The executive power of a Celestial Domain’s top Overlords.

It was beyond question.

The Dragon Hunting Tower had only just committed its crime.

And in the next moment, majestic, towering auras descended upon the space outside the Burial Realm, making even the vast, boundless realm itself seem insignificant by comparison.

”Emperor’s Weapon...”

Within a forbidden zone.

Wu Dao, who was sorting out the Magnetic Field’s veins, lifted his eyes, his gaze piercing through the churning Nine Heavens Tribulation Qi of the Burial Realm to look beyond it.

Space-time shattered as Chaos ebbed and flowed.

A bone-white Killing Sword.

It emanated a taboo, ominous aura.

Within it, a Grand Cosmos rumbled and churned.

It descended without a sound, pulling on the Hongyuan Dao Lineage and suppressing the Ten Directions, along with innumerable dimensional worlds.

The unparalleled sword light.

Even across the vast expanse of space-time, it still made Wu Dao’s eyes sting, making him feel as minuscule as a dust mote under that endless pressure.

Immediately after.

RUMBLE—CLANG CLANG CLANG!

Surging Chaos concealed the Emperor’s Weapon.

A massive earthquake occurred in the domain of the Magnetic Field!

The various vein-like connections between the Burial Realm and outer space-time were severed by the blades of Emperor’s Weapons, as if the realm itself were being cast out of space-time.

To be precise.

It was more of a blockade, a seal.

The All Heavens Emperor’s Lineages did not dare to completely sever the vein-like connections between the Burial Realm and the Daluo Celestial Domain.

At the very least.

They dared not touch those Tribulation Veins, which were as thick as the spine of heaven and earth and pierced through all of existence.

’I suppose I should thank you all...’

The corner of Wu Dao’s mouth curled up as he retracted his gaze and looked back into the Burial Realm. With the originally chaotic and tangled network of veins severed, only the Tribulation Veins remained. Following them to their source would be simple.

For others, it might be an incredibly difficult task.

No less difficult than finding the end of a thread in a tangled mess. But for him, who controlled the Magnetic Field, it was as if all the other colored threads in the mess had vanished.

Finding the loose end was effortless.

As for the Heaven and Earth Net?

He had never planned on running from the moment he made his move!

In the time that followed, Wu Dao ended his Cultivation and began to wander the lands of the Burial Realm with his aura concealed, searching for the source of each ”thread.”

Every time he found one.

He would leave behind a batch of Saint-realm Incarnations.

The Seventy-Two Primordial Demons.

As soon as the hunt was over.

He had also dispatched them to all corners of the Burial Realm, having them traverse the Magnetic Field to search for lower-level Tribulation Vein ”threads.”

The Burial Realm was not peaceful.

The Dragon Hunting Tower’s bloody revenge.

It made the forces in the Daluo Celestial Domain’s rear lines panic, as if every bush and tree were an enemy soldier. The masses were stirred up, and every Creation Land was fortified with a Heaven and Earth Net and overseen by a Venerable, cutting off any possibility of a sneak attack.

Wu Dao was no fool, of course.

A one-shot deal couldn’t be done a second time.

He had already plundered the resources of many top Creation Lands, completing three thousand Emperor Scriptures. There was no need to take risks eating those thorny leftovers.

Now.

His primary objective.

Was only the second Extreme Dao Bell Fragment, located within the Great Freedom Celestial Kingdom. If possible, he was also interested in the Divine Format of the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon King.

But Wu Dao estimated that such good fortune was unlikely.

He could plot for the Extreme Dao Bell Fragment by exploiting an information gap, but the Free Divine Format, which was known to both Celestial Domains, was out of the question.

However.

’The Great Freedom True Realm...’

Wu Dao thought of Jiang Han, the one who had likely abducted Ye Xuan’s beloved and then announced he would be waiting for Ye Xuan in the Great Freedom True Realm.

If it really was Jiang Han.

And he chose the frontline between the two warring Celestial Domains as the place for their showdown—did this prove that Jiang Han’s great fortune was related to the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon King?

If not.

How else could Jiang Han have snuck into the Great Freedom True Realm right under the noses of two Celestial Domains? He must have had an unknown backdoor.

It had to be said.

This kid’s move was quite a Heart Punishment.

Abducting Ye Xuan’s beloved in front of everyone and then announcing the location for a final confrontation.

If Ye Xuan didn’t dare to go.

Never mind what the cultivators of All Heavens would think of him.

He probably wouldn’t even be able to overcome the trial of his own Dao Heart.

All attachments and obstacles arise from desire!

That’s why.

Romantic entanglements were truly a burden, completely useless except for creating more attachments and weaknesses.

Time passed quickly.

While Wu Dao was frantically searching for the ”threads,” the conflict and Cultivation within the Great Freedom True Realm had become completely one-sided.

The Zizai Celestial Kingdom.

After being unsealed, it was gradually transforming from a mirage into reality. Before this, the Innate Divine Race could only defend desperately, gaining nothing.

After the Daluo Celestial Domain sealed off space-time.

The Divine Race could no longer send troops into the Burial Realm through the Faith Channel.

In the Chaos outside Divine Ruins Heaven.

Primordial Giants from the Daluo Celestial Domain were even blockading the entrance, cutting off all rear supply lines.

If there were no unexpected variables.

This contingent of the Divine Race in the Burial Realm would be reduced to sacrificial pawns, gradually wiped out by the Daluo Celestial Domain after a futile last stand.

Ye Xuan, after all, was not a fool.

Even though he had snuck to the front lines, he hadn’t lost his senses and acted rashly.

Because.

The mysterious person who had abducted Qingyu.

The final clue he gave pointed to a location inside the Zizai Celestial Kingdom!

This piece of intelligence was rather serious.

It meant someone had entered the Zizai Celestial Kingdom before both the Divine Race and the Daluo Celestial Domain!

If they found the Divine Format...

The consequences would be unimaginable!

For a time.

The frequency and intensity of the Daluo Celestial Domain’s attacks increased dramatically. Soon, the Divine Race’s exploration team was reduced to just a dozen or so Great Venerable Gods and Quasi-Emperors.

However.

Just as the Daluo Celestial Domain was about to launch its final assault, an unexpected change occurred without any warning!

BZZZT—

On this day.

The Zizai Celestial Kingdom, which had been in a mirage-like state, seemed to have broken free of some restraint, transforming from illusion to reality.

Like a colossal creature plunging into the sea.

It sent heaven-shaking ripples through space-time.

A pure, sacred light blazed from the core of the Great Freedom True Realm like a boundless great sun, washing over and saturating the entire Burial Realm. As far as the eye could see and perception could reach, there was nothing but a vast, empty whiteness.

This unannounced, strange transformation.

In an instant.

Caught everyone, including Wu Dao, completely off guard.

After the white light dissipated.

The Burial Realm was completely empty. Whether Human Race or Divine Race, all living beings had vanished, transported to an unknown location.

Outside the Burial Realm.

The group of Great Powers from the Daluo Celestial Domain who had been standing guard were also caught off guard by the True Zizai Country’s sudden change.

Before they could react.

The situation was set. Everyone had disappeared. The desolate Burial Realm was now empty, save for the magnificent Celestial Kingdom suspended high in the center of the Nine Heavens, casting its endless, pure, divine light.

”The connection isn’t broken.”

After the initial panic.

A Quasi-Emperor from the Luotian Sword Realm breathed a sigh of relief. ”Elder Ye and the others have been scattered and transported into the Zizai Celestial Kingdom. They haven’t encountered any danger for the time being.”

”But the younger generation...”

The Great Powers were still worried. The Divine Race still had several Venerables and Quasi-Emperors who hadn’t been eliminated, and they had also been transported into the celestial kingdom.

If the younger generation were to run into them.

There would be no chance of survival!

”Damn that Great Freedom Heavenly Demon King!”

Hearing this, the Great Powers cursed through gritted teeth. They never would have expected the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon King to have left such a contingency behind after his fall.

The Zizai Celestial Kingdom.

It was extremely special—an independent pocket of space-time within the Burial Realm. Judging by its strength from the outside, only an Emperor’s Weapon could chisel an opening.

But the Burial Realm did not permit Emperor Level Power.

Otherwise.

It would trigger a new round of Tribulation Qi riots.

At that point, not to mention the external impact.

The safety of the older generation of Great Powers and the younger generation inside the celestial kingdom could not be guaranteed.

For a moment.

The various powers of the Daluo Celestial Domain were caught in a dilemma. They could only report the situation upwards, as they could not bear the consequences.

”The Domain Master has given an order: do not act rashly.”

A moment later.

A Venerable from the Luotian Sword Realm received the Domain Master’s decree. Barring an emergency, they were not to use brute force to break into the Zizai Celestial Kingdom.

The Tribulation Qi had already rioted once.

If it happened again.

The difficulty of suppressing it would be far greater than last time.

It was highly likely to cause irreversible damage to the Daluo Celestial Domain.

Which was more important.

The decision-makers naturally had a clear grasp of the priorities.

An emergency...

The Venerable from the Luotian Sword Realm’s expression darkened as he thought of something. Ye Xuan had also been swept into the Zizai Celestial Kingdom.

The so-called ”emergency.”

It wasn’t stated explicitly, but the meaning was clear: even if all the All Heavens Emperor’s Lineages were wiped out, Ye Xuan had to be saved.

”This...”

When the Great Powers from the other Daluo Daoist Lineages and Emperor’s Lineages heard this order, their expressions turned ugly. They were very displeased with the Luotian Sword Realm’s domineering attitude of making unilateral decisions.

The Luotian Sword Realm was massive enough.

The loss of a batch of Celestial Prides, Great Powers, and Quasi-Emperors.

It was nothing to them.

But the other powers couldn’t compare to the Luotian Sword Realm’s foundation. The losses from the recent retaliatory attack by those brutes from the Dragon Hunting Tower still made their hearts ache.

If another large batch of their people died.

It would definitely be a crippling blow to them.

Therefore.

Since their bottom line was being crossed.

None of the Emperor’s Lineages or Daoist Lineages agreed immediately. They all decided inwardly that if the losses were too great, they would use their Emperor’s Weapons to save their people and cut their losses.

Besides.

Even if the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon King’s Divine Format was obtained, it wouldn’t be their turn to receive it. There was no need for them to risk their lives to pave the way for others.

As for the Tribulation Qi.

As long as the Burial Realm didn’t explode, it wouldn’t cause much of an impact here in the Border Wilderness!

”I hope everyone can consider the bigger picture and not act on impulse. Don’t make things ugly.”

Seeing the silence from the various Emperor’s Lineages and Daoist Lineages, the Venerable from the Luotian Sword Realm narrowed his eyes and offered a reminder.

”The Domain Master has spoken. We shall obey.”

The Great Powers replied, though their words didn’t match their thoughts.

The existence of Celestial Punishment.

Prevented any power from running rampant and acting unscrupulously within Hongyuan. Therefore, while the All Heavens Emperor’s Lineages and Daoist Lineages respected the Common Lord Power, there was no such thing as absolute obedience.

The price of flipping the table and turning hostile was immense.

Even the Common Lord could not afford it.

「At the same time.」

News of the strange manifestation of the Zizai Celestial Kingdom.

Was also noticed by some of the Primordial Giants who were paying attention to the Burial Realm.

In the Sea of Chaos outside Divine Ruins Heaven.

Six incredible figures, like a Chaos Dam, blocked Divine Ruins Heaven. They faced off against the majestic being seated upon a throne of gods at the end of Divine Ruins Heaven’s endless divine light.

TWANG—

Upon sensing the Zizai Celestial Kingdom’s manifestation.

The six figures of the Great Dao flicked their sword blades and said coldly, ”Divine Master, do not delude yourself. The Innate Divine Race cannot return to the Divine Altar!”

”If you dare to leave the Celestial Domain, we will cut you down!”

Among the six figures.

A woman in a white palace gown, interwoven with the torrent of the Celestial Mandate, was the most domineering. She held the Celestial Destiny Sword, its tip aimed directly at the Lord of the Divine Court!

SPLASH—

It was as if great waves were surging within Divine Ruins Heaven.

The six figures in the Chaos also narrowed their eyes. Their invisible Dao Essences clashed, agitating the Sea of Chaos and sending ripples out to affect the Hongyuan All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds.

”Heh~”

Just as tensions reached a breaking point.

The sound of the boundless, churning ocean subsided.

The Lord of the Divine Court gazed toward the center of the Sea of Chaos, at the gateway to the Celestial Court hanging high above the Nine Heavens, and let out a meaningful laugh.

A few juniors.

He naturally did not fear them.

What He feared was the one in the Celestial Court, high up in the Supreme Mysterious Heaven...

After the Second Tribulation.

The first Daoist of the Ten Thousand Races!

His might pressed down upon All Tribulations in Hongyuan, unopposed—

The Supreme Celestial Venerable!

His origins were mysterious and unfathomable; not even the Daoists of past and present could spy on them. He was so powerful that he seemed completely unlike a being born of Hongyuan.

The fall of the Divine Race from the Divine Altar.

The reformation of the Great Dao, the rise of the Ten Thousand Races.

The shadow of that Great Celestial Venerable was behind every step, and even in the All Tribulations to come...

However.

The Divine Race dared not act recklessly for now.

But that didn’t mean no one dared to defy him.

The Lord of the Divine Court’s gaze shifted from the Celestial Court to Buzhou Mountain, then past Buzhou Mountain to the Mountain and Sea Realm, and finally returned to the Burial Realm—

The All Tribulations Masters all defy the heavens!