Essence Devouring Art

"Keep up the good work, and you’ll be well-rewarded in the future."

Wu Dao casually made an empty promise and waved a hand, dismissing Zhao Jianji.

Once Zhao Jianji was out of earshot, Wu Dao’s expression turned cold. He turned to Shi Kui and asked,

"You mentioned that Qi Canghai has a master I should be wary of. What’s his level of strength?"

"Ten thousand taels. That’s the price at the merchant association as well."

Shi Kui corked his wine gourd and replied in an icy, emotionless voice. He was less like a man and more like a machine.

Wu Dao gave a wry smile and nodded in agreement.

’So it was true—he was all about the money.’

However, he liked dealing with people like that.

Because he certainly wasn’t short on money.

"Fang Tianxiong. Vice Sect Leader of the Giant Whale Sect, creator of the Giant Whale Skill. Fifty years ago, he faked his death to escape his enemies and fled to the Western Desert. He is now a Grandmaster of Gang Qi and has reached the Horizontal Refining Third Gate."

Shi Kui was a man of few words, but his brief, concise summary gave Wu Dao a clear picture of Fang Tianxiong.

"A Grandmaster of Gang Qi, Horizontal Refining Third Gate..."

Wu Dao’s eyes narrowed, and he ran his tongue over his teeth.

The White Whale Martial Arts Hall had its origins in the once-notorious Giant Whale Sect.

He knew a bit about the sect.

It had two leaders: a Sect Leader and a Vice Sect Leader.

One created the Giant Whale Skill, the other, the Overlord Whale Fist. Both were considered Celestial Prides of their time.

Unfortunately, they went down the wrong path, which brought ruin upon them. According to all records, both had died.

’I can’t believe it...’

’To think that Vice Sect Leader, Fang Tianxiong, didn’t actually die. And he’s Qi Canghai’s master.’

’With a connection like that... no wonder Qi Canghai vanished for over half a month. He must have gone to play his trump card: Fang Tianxiong.’

"Once you’ve spent ten million taels at the association, you’ll receive a ten-percent discount on your next ten million taels’ worth of purchases."

Seeing Wu Dao fall silent, Shi Kui assumed he was having second thoughts and offered a reminder.

’His target was supposed to be a Grandmaster of Gang Qi.’

’But Wu Dao had only just now learned about Fang Tianxiong.’

’Clearly, there was a mismatch.’

’In other words, there was another Grandmaster of Gang Qi left unaccounted for.’

"No need."

But to his surprise, Wu Dao shook his head indifferently, a hungry look in his eyes that Shi Kui couldn’t quite comprehend.

’This formidable enemy, Fang Tianxiong, was indeed an unexpected variable in his plan.’

’But a good plan must account for both the known and the unknown.’

’So while Fang Tianxiong was unexpected... he was also anticipated.’

’Shi Kui was his answer to just such a contingency.’

’As for what remained...’

’...that would be the final hurdle for his Overlord Domain!’

’My own Martial Dao!’

’And I must be the one to carve it open with my own hands!’

"Pick any room you like in the hall. If you need anything, just tell one of the disciples. I’ll let you know when it’s time to move."

With that, Wu Dao rose, his massive frame casting a long shadow. He strode out of the meeting hall under Shi Kui’s narrowed gaze.

’Confidence, or arrogance?’

Watching Wu Dao’s retreating figure, Shi Kui uncorked his gourd and took a slow swig. He felt like he couldn’t make sense of the Jianghu anymore.

Just like...

...he could never see through Wu Dao.

...

「Three days later.」

「Early morning.」

An autumn wind had arrived, carrying with it a fine rain and a thin mist.

The world was bleak, gloomy, and hazy. All of nature seemed to shrink back, its life force lying dormant.

Lancang County City, however, was abuzz with excitement.

For today was the White Whale Martial Arts Hall’s annual Autumn Assembly!

Every Hall Master, regardless of the size of their branch, was qualified to attend the grand event.

At the first light of dawn, groups of people began to pour into Lancang County City from all directions, an endless stream like long dragons.

On the main streets, squads of vigorous Martial Artists in the Martial Arts Robes of the White Whale Martial Arts Hall paraded by, earning cries of admiration from the crowds of onlookers.

"The Hall Master of Jiangning County, Sun Sheng, the Cyan Snake Sword! They say he’s already undergone a Second Rebirth. His branch is brimming with talent, too. He’s got a real shot at a four-whale Giant Whale Order at this assembly."

"The Iron Maiden of Guyang County, Zhou Yue, is here too! Tsk, she’s a woman who puts most men to shame."

"Qian Yi of the Meteor Darts..."

As one famous Hall Master of the White Whale Martial Arts Hall after another arrived, the crowd of onlookers on the streets buzzed with discussion. It seemed they could recall a story or two about every single one of them, and the clamor was unending.

"This Autumn Assembly is going to be anything but simple."

Within the crowd, a few Jianghu Travelers who knew a bit of the inside story were whispering amongst themselves:

"The White Whale King has been missing for days, and the hall is rife with rumors. Meanwhile, the newly risen Overlord Whale King is watching like a hungry tiger. Just you wait, there’s definitely going to be a big show."

"That’s to be expected. The Overlord Whale King has money and power. I heard most of the Hall Masters have already sided with him. He’s basically a king of a different name within the White Whale Martial Arts Hall. How could he be content to remain subordinate for long?"

"Shh! Watch what you say! Look who that is!"

At the well-intentioned reminder, everyone’s gaze snapped to the end of the street. Their eyes filled with fear, and they instinctively recoiled.

RUMBLE RUMBLE—

The galloping of powerful steeds sounded like rolling thunder.

As a towering, imposing figure drew nearer, a suffocating pressure descended upon the street, like a Living Yama passing by.

The noisy chatter died down instantly. People lowered their heads, feeling that it would take immense courage just to look at him directly.

Wu Dao’s expression was impassive. He paid no mind to the suddenly silent crowd as he led the contingent from the Tan County Branch, openly defying the hall’s rules by galloping his horse through the streets.

His path was clear all the way to the headquarters.

No one dared to block his path, much less utter a single word of criticism.

Everyone knew that in the White Whale Martial Arts Hall, as long as Qi Canghai remained missing, Wu Dao was the one in charge.

With such imposing might, forget galloping in the streets—even if he opened a slaughterhouse right there, no one would dare utter a word against it.

"WHOA!"

「Headquarters.」

At the foot of the thousand-meter-high Jingyue Mountain, upon the White Jade Square, the sound of horses being reined in rose one after another, drawing frowns and sideways glances from the various Hall Masters and high-ranking members waiting for the assembly to begin.

’Who could be so brazen!’

’Daring to ride a horse at the foot of Jingyue Mountain, the Holy Land of the martial hall?’

But when they saw Wu Dao’s immensely intimidating figure, their attitudes changed in an instant.

"Hall Master Wu, why did you ride here yourself?"

"Exactly! The servants at headquarters are so rude. Someone get a sedan chair, quickly!"

"And an umbrella? Do these people have no sense at all!"

The air filled with the sounds of fawning and flattery. Everyone scrambled to make a good impression, afraid of being even a step behind the others.

’Look at that upstart, acting all high and mighty!’

From within the crowd, the members of the Elder Council watched the unsmiling Wu Dao, who was being fawned over like a celebrity, and their hearts seethed with resentment.

Grand Elder Chen, dressed in a green Daoist Robe, had a particularly sinister look in his eyes. He grit his teeth slightly, then sighed in resignation, his heart filled with worry.

’He just couldn’t understand.’

’What kind of Immortal Elixir and Marvelous Medicine had Wu Dao taken? Two months ago, he was just a ’thorn in their side,’ but in such a short time, he had grown into a behemoth so powerful that Elder Chen could only hope to look at his back and live at his mercy.’

After Qi Canghai disappeared, the great mountain that had weighed down the Elder Council for years was finally gone.

He had been ecstatic.

But his joy was short-lived. Wu Dao, an even heavier mountain, had appeared and crushed all of his ambitions.

During this time, the Elder Council had used every trick in the book to win support and seize complete control of the White Whale Martial Arts Hall. But they were thwarted at every turn, all because no one dared to offend Wu Dao.

This made Elder Chen grind his teeth in hatred, but there was nothing he could do.

’In a word... when you are outmatched in strength, all schemes are futile.’

At this moment, Elder Chen found himself almost missing Qi Canghai.

When Qi Canghai was in charge, he had been concerned with his reputation and wanted to avoid internal conflict.

He had always shown a measure of respect for the elders on the council, and would often turn a blind eye to their more excessive actions.

His attitude set the precedent.

The other members of the hall had followed his lead, treating the Elder Council with the utmost respect and welcoming them with open arms wherever they went.

When had they ever been given the cold shoulder like this? Now, few people would even look them in the eye.

*HUFF...*

He let out a long breath.

Elder Chen looked toward Whale Leaping Peak, hoping Qi Canghai would return in time to ring the White Whale Bell, suppress this traitor, and restore the Elder Council to its former glory.

On the square, a light drizzle was falling.

The commotion caused by Wu Dao’s arrival didn’t last long, as Chen Ergou and his men dispersed the fawning crowd.

Zhao Jianji strained to hold an umbrella over Wu Dao, who was resting with his eyes closed, and shielded him from the rain. He looked toward the misty Whale Leaping Peak and whispered,

"Only the Grandmaster can ring the White Whale Bell, and the assembly begins when it sounds. But it’s almost noon... I suspect Qi Canghai doesn’t dare..."

DONG DONG DONG—

Zhao Jianji hadn’t even finished his sentence when the sound of a bell ringing from Whale Leaping Peak, echoing in all directions, proved him wrong. His face instantly flushed with embarrassment.

"The bell rang? Could the Grandmaster be back?"

"It must be him! The White Whale Bell is made of a special material, and only a hammer of the same material can make it ring. And only the Grandmaster has that hammer!"

"But wasn’t there a rumor that the Grandmaster and a dem— Er, ahem, never mind."

As soon as the White Whale Bell rang, the Hall Masters and high-ranking members waiting on the square burst into an uproar. They all had different expressions, but no one moved a muscle.

Most of them turned to look at Wu Dao.

Now that Qi Canghai was back, the nature of this assembly had changed completely... 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

When gods fight, mortals suffer.

Picking a side was one thing; throwing their lives away was another.

"Heh. You really didn’t disappoint me."

Wu Dao, however, paid no attention to the stares. His dark eyes ’looked’ toward the peak as his lips curled into an inhumanly vicious smile. Wisps of Red Gold Blood Flame began to flicker within his pupils.

"Wait in the Inner City. Tell our people to leave immediately if they don’t want to die."

Leaving them with that chilling command, Wu Dao cracked his neck, producing a grinding sound like metal on metal. With murder in his eyes, he strode past the crowd and started up the mountain.

"Do me a favor and hold this for me."

Shi Kui, who had been following close behind Wu Dao, raised an eyebrow. He took a huge swig of wine, then tossed his gourd to Zhao Jianji. With his Black Blade on his back, he took a single step and vanished from the end of the square.

"Shi Kui... Shi Kui of the Chong Guang Saber?"

Zhao Jianji subconsciously caught the gourd. Staring at Shi Kui’s retreating back, he muttered to himself. He frowned for a moment before he finally placed the name, and his expression turned to one of utter shock.

’A top-tier expert like that is here...’

’If a fight breaks out...’

*HISS!*

He snapped his head up to look at Whale Leaping Peak.

In that daze, Zhao Jianji seemed to see dark clouds gathering and thunder crashing. An invisible, murderous intent was building like a tsunami, ready to blot out the sky and sunder the earth at any moment!

Then he remembered Wu Dao’s words.

"Er Gou! Tiezhu! Run!"

Zhao Jianji’s face went pale with fright. He let out a panicked shout and scrambled away from the square.

BOOM!!

But he hadn’t gotten far.

From the peak of the mountain, a pillar of crimson gold blood-and-qi smoke, thick as a rainbow, erupted like a volcano. It shot a hundred meters into the dark sky, instantly heating the cold, autumn air.

RUMBLE!!

A footstep like a god beating a war drum, like a clap of spring thunder, echoed in all directions. Immense Power crashed down like a falling meteor, and the entire thousand-meter-high Leaping Dragon Mountain instantly exploded at its midpoint.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH—

Countless chunks of earth and rock tore through the air like a meteor shower, rocketing in all directions with a deafening roar. A Gangfeng Qi Flow swept through like a hurricane, carrying a rolling cloud of dust that blotted out the sun, turning the world a murky yellow.