I Can Devour Spirits

Duan Rong was startled and immediately flashed to a position not far from Ximen Kankan’s side. Upon a closer look, he saw Ximen Kankan holding a big copper hammer, standing in front of the pile of broken weapons, the hammerhead as large as a human head.

In front of Ximen Kankan, a large pit appeared in the pile of weapons, and many broken weapons rolled to his feet.

Ximen Kankan turned his head back, looked at Duan Rong, and grinned, ”It’s nothing, I just pulled this thing up from below.”

Duan Rong secretly sighed and said, ”This kid always causes a racket wherever he goes!”

Seeing that Ximen Kankan was fine, Duan Rong then looked at the brass embossed ankle bracelet in his hand under the firelight. The bracelet was polished smooth, with exquisite patterns, clearly a fine piece.

”The sect is really generous, treating such items as trash...”

Actually, these things might still be top-notch in the mortal world.

But to the high-levels of the Taiyi Sect, these mundane items are nothing but burdens.

Moreover, the sect, with its long history, had become bloated and inefficient, with many things appearing splendid outside but rotten inside.

Holding the brass embossed ankle bracelet, Duan Rong thought to himself, ”Read the Artifact Spirit.”

In the dim cave, a set of data appeared before Duan Rong’s eyes.

Artifact: Brass Embossed Ankle Bracelet

Artifact Spirit Tier: Tier Four

Devouring Requirements: Host’s Spiritual Power Level Four (met)

Devouring Effect: Hundred Flowers Mistaken Body Step, First Level

Duan Rong’s heart moved as he looked at the data before him.

It really is a lightweight body technique, and it’s at the True Qi Realm First Level.

”Hundred Flowers Mistaken Body Step?!”

This name sounds a bit feminine, doesn’t it?

Duan Rong hesitated slightly, but still thought to himself, ”Devour!”

As the data panel before him dispersed and vanished, Duan Rong looked intently at the brass embossed ankle bracelet in his hand. This item was crafted with exquisite workmanship, so finely made that even a man like him found it appealing.

He’s going to see Xiao Yu later, right? Xiao Yu will surely be delighted to see this item.

However, since this is a second-hand item scavenged from a trash pile, would Xiao Yu get angry once she knows?

As Duan Rong pondered, Ximen Kankan, not far from him, suddenly exclaimed as he pulled a boot from the bottom of the large pit.

Ximen Kankan was thrilled as he brought the boot over to Duan Rong. ”Look! How about this? Boots! Things for the feet...”

Duan Rong’s face was immediately filled with disdain. ”Where the heck did you dig out this thing?! Keep it away!”

Ximen Kankan protested, ”Aren’t you looking for things for your feet?”

Duan Rong shook the black iron knee guards in his hand and said, ”Yes, things for the feet. But they’re weapons! Made of metal! Is this boot a weapon?”

Ximen Kankan was momentarily speechless at Duan Rong’s words, but then he suddenly noticed a yellow glow at the toe of the boot. Taking a closer look, he found a brass tiger head step fitted on it.

Ximen Kankan suddenly became excited, waving the boot in front of Duan Rong and shouting, ”How is this not a weapon? Didn’t you see the tiger head step on it?”

Duan Rong, at this moment, under the firelight, saw the glowing yellow item. He reached out for the boot and took off the shining item, revealing a tiger-head-shaped piece that could be fitted on the toes.

Duan Rong rubbed it in his hands, mumbling, ”Is this a weapon?”

This thing, he had never seen before!

Seeing Duan Rong’s confused look, Ximen Kankan got enthusiastic, snatched the tiger head step, and said, ”What? Never seen it before? Well, watch closely!”

Suddenly, Ximen Kankan’s body moved as he fitted the tiger head step onto the toe of his right foot. In a flash, he began performing moves.

He was executing a martial art that included the Tendon-Dislocating Hand and grapple techniques. After a few moves, he suddenly hooked his right leg and kicked at the ground.

With a bang, a small dirt pit appeared on the ground amid a cloud of dust.

Raising his leg again, Ximen Kankan said, ”This weapon is meant for those who practice leg techniques. It’s very powerful when used by an expert!”

Duan Rong’s eyes flickered; after Ximen Kankan’s demonstration, he fully understood how this weapon was used.

Holding the dusty tiger head step, Duan Rong’s heart moved, and he thought to himself, ”Read the Artifact Spirit!”

As Duan Rong’s thought passed, another set of data appeared before him.

Artifact: Brass Tiger Head Step

Artifact Spirit Tier: Tier Four

Devouring Requirements: Host’s Spiritual Power Level Four (met)

Devouring Effect: Broken Stele Leg First Level.

”Broken Stele Leg?! Indeed, it’s for leg techniques!” Duan Rong’s eyes were filled with joy, as he hadn’t practiced leg techniques before, given Xianggu County’s remoteness and limitations in martial arts.

”Devour!”

Duan Rong whispered to himself. As the data panel before him dispersed and vanished, he looked at the tiger head step. It was crudely made but solid in texture. Unknown for how long it had been buried in the darkness of the cave, the tiger’s mouth was already covered in verdigris.

By now, Duan Rong held three items: black iron knee guards, a brass embossed ankle bracelet, and the tiger head step.

Duan Rong looked at Ximen Kankan and asked, ”Kankan, can I take these things?”

Ximen Kankan replied, ”No one even cares about this junk. Just stash it in your clothes, and when you leave, don’t let the old man see it.”

Duan Rong said, ”I’ll toss the stuff over the wooden fence first. Once I’m out, I’ll fetch them.”

”Clever!” Ximen Kankan praised with a smile, ”That’s the safest way.”

The two of them walked out of the cave and sat in a corner chatting for a while.

Seeing it was getting late, Duan Rong said, ”Kankan, come with me to see Xiao Yu?”

Ximen Kankan’s expression darkened, ”I haven’t finished today’s tasks? Going out like this will get me scolded.”

Duan Rong said, ”It’s fine. Once you’re skilled, you’ll have time.”

As he said this, Duan Rong gave Ximen Kankan a pat on the shoulder.

The two of them stood up from the large bluestone where they had been sitting.

Ximen Kankan said, ”You should go. Pass my regards to Xiao Yu when you see her.”

Duan Rong nodded and turned to leave.

Just as Duan Rong turned around, Ximen Kankan kicked him in the butt.

Caught in the sorrow of parting, Duan Rong was taken by surprise and nearly stumbled.

”I told you, if you come over, I’d kick your ass. Just one kick, consider yourself lucky!”

Duan Rong turned around, and Ximen Kankan was already shouting curses and running away. He flashed to the cave entrance, turned, grinned at Duan Rong, and then his figure disappeared.

”Damn you!”

Duan Rong dusted off his backside and walked out of the wooden fence. As he left, the old man at the gate merely glanced at him.

Duan Rong walked outside, then circled back to the corner where he’d sat with Ximen Kankan. Under the wooden fence, he retrieved the three items he’d scavenged from the cave.

On his way here, Duan Rong had passed by a stream in a dense forest. He returned to the stream and washed the three items he had.

Especially the brass embossed ankle bracelet, which Duan Rong carefully cleaned for a long time, then dried with his clothing lining before tucking it securely within.

The tiger head step was the smallest, and Duan Rong tucked it into his sleeve.

Only the black iron knee guards, Duan Rong held in his hand, rubbing them as he walked...

These knee guards were a Tier Seven Artifact Spirit, and they even involved lightweight techniques... But unfortunately, he couldn’t devour them yet.

At Ximen Kankan’s place, Duan Rong discovered the cave filled with broken weapons. For him, it was an endless source to devour.

This solved a significant problem for him.

For someone like Ximen Kankan or Xiao Yu, cultivating the sect’s martial arts required visiting the Scripture Repository and exchanging contribution points.

But with this devouring source, and such lax management here, Duan Rong didn’t need to visit the Scripture Repository. He could gain martial arts realms directly through devouring.

Then, by consuming pills in heaps, he could nurture his Inner Power True Qi.

Duan Rong first gained martial arts realms and then nurtured his inner strength. This cultivation method was the reverse of normal cultivation.

It was like an open-book exam, with no need for exploration or trial. Just heap on pills, build up inner strength, and realms would be achieved!