Essence Devouring Art

The Martial Arts Training Ground!

A summer breeze blew gently, causing the banners to snap in the wind.

On the raised platforms flanking a black ironstone stage nearly twenty meters square, two rows of folding chairs were placed at intervals.

Seated in the chairs were the upper echelons of the White Whale Martial Arts Hall. Their auras were profound, their gazes like torches, and they radiated an intimidating presence without any display of anger. Among them were both the old and the middle-aged, all of them at the Cocoon-Breaking Realm!

Those at the Divine Power Realm completely surrounded the stage, but they could only stand silently below. As for anyone below the Divine Power Realm, they didn’t even have the right to enter.

The selection of a County-level Hall Master was an event of the highest importance within the White Whale Martial Arts Hall.

Today, the elders of the White Whale Martial Arts Hall, along with the County-level and town-level Hall Masters from various regions, had all gathered here.

It was also a chance for everyone to put a face to a name, lest they find themselves in the awkward position of fighting one of their own.

Wu Dao’s gaze swept across the area.

He couldn’t help but be moved by the sheer scale of the White Whale Martial Arts Hall.

Just among those present, there were no fewer than twenty Cocoon-Breaking experts and over a hundred at the Divine Power Realm. The number of village-level Hall Masters below the Divine Power Realm who hadn’t attended would only be greater!

As for the ordinary disciples, there were nearly ten thousand of them!

If you included the Outer Sect disciples who managed various businesses, that number would explode!

It was no exaggeration to say...

...that with the White Whale Martial Arts Hall’s power, if it were placed in an ordinary ancient world, it could undoubtedly rival an army of a million soldiers and unify the land without any obstacles!

Besides these core members of the White Whale Martial Arts Hall’s upper echelon...

...Wu Dao finally had a formal look at Qi Canghai, the Overlord of northern Guangqing Prefecture, who bore the title "White Whale King"!

He wore a loose white robe, his hair was black and his face like jade. His temperament was gentle, his entire being immaculate. He sat with solemn dignity upon a large, fur-lined chair in the center of the high platform directly in front of the stage.

In his hands, he slowly toyed with a string of Sandalwood Beads.

A friendly smile, as pleasant as a spring breeze, always graced his face. He was like a Maitreya Buddha carved from pure white jade, beaming at everyone who entered.

Anyone who didn’t know better...

...would have mistaken him for a wealthy old man who observed Buddhist precepts and chanted sutras, never connecting him to his true identity as the Grandmaster of the White Whale Martial Arts Hall, whose might now dominated half the prefecture.

They would find it even more unimaginable what terrifying Power was hidden within that Maitreya Buddha-like physique!

The Innate Realm!

An Extraordinary’s source of power shifts from burning their vital qi and blood to utilizing the Heaven and Earth Energy. The two are simply not on the same level!

To say nothing of other things...

...take the Protective Yuan Qi Shield of an Innate First Realm expert, for example.

You could work a Transforming Force master to death, and he still wouldn’t be able to break it.

If you can’t even break through their defense, then don’t even think about trading blows.

This Qi Canghai before him.

Although he was only a Qi Sect master at the Innate First Realm...

...in Wu Dao’s perception, he was still as majestic as a mountain and utterly unfathomable. Even if Wu Dao were to use the Divine Ghost Heaven Secret Technique, he wouldn’t be able to move him in the slightest!

He estimated that only after reaching the Heroic Limit...

...would he have a chance to exchange a move or two with him.

As if noticing Wu Dao’s gaze...

...Qi Canghai, seated on his grand chair on the high platform, returned Wu Dao’s look with a friendly one of his own.

Then, a hint of surprise appeared on his face, and he nodded with an appreciative expression, seeming to have gauged Wu Dao’s strength almost perfectly with just a single glance.

Wu Dao was not surprised by this.

He was currently equivalent to a Dark Force Martial Artist who had undergone a Second Rebirth, at most. He could fool a Cocoon-Breaking expert, but not an Innate master.

The Spiritual Perception and experience of someone in the Innate Realm were immense. Even without a deep probe, they could see the truth of things at a glance.

The only thing Wu Dao was curious about...

...was how Qi Canghai would react if he knew Wu Dao didn’t possess a Dantian.

’Interesting. It seems the White Whale Martial Arts Hall has found a real treasure this time.’

Atop the high platform.

Qi Canghai withdrew his gaze from Wu Dao, a flash of surprise flickering in his gentle, jade-like eyes.

The Spiritual Perception of the Innate Realm completely crushed that of the Cocoon-Breaking Realm. Some information could be ’seen’ clearly even without a deliberate probe.

For instance, Wu Dao’s restrained Dominating Whale Fist Intent.

It was so profound that even Qi Canghai found it incredible, as if it had been honed for over a hundred years. In terms of the Mental Realm alone, it was in no way weaker than his own, which he had cultivated to the Meticulous level for many years.

This was highly illogical.

Based on his appearance alone...

...Wu Dao was thirty years old at most.

Even if he had started his Cultivation in the womb, it would be impossible to accumulate such a deep level of Power.

Another example...

Wu Dao had no Dantian!

The Dantian of an Innate Realm expert had already opened the Celestial Human Bridge and undergone a qualitative change. Looking down from a higher level, they would have a vague sense of the innate organs of lower-realm Extraordinaries.

Under these circumstances...

...it was naturally easy to determine whether a person possessed a Qi Sea Dantian without relying on external objects.

No Qi Sea Dantian.

Yet his physique was powerful enough to rival someone who had undergone a Second Rebirth!

There was only one explanation—

A Celestial Treasure!

Furthermore, it was highly likely a Celestial Treasure related to the physical body and spirit, though he didn’t know exactly what it was.

But one thing was certain.

Anyone who obtained a Celestial Treasure...

...was without exception a person blessed with great fortune.

According to rumors, Prince Nanyang, who had recently been displaying his might in all directions across the Southern Border and harbored ambitions of restoring the nation, was a Celestial Treasure Master.

History served as a guide.

Throughout history, virtually every Celestial Treasure Master had achieved great things, each possessing their own miraculous abilities, their names recorded for posterity.

’If...’

As the thought occurred to him, a strange light flickered deep in Qi Canghai’s eyes, and the movement of his fingers across the Prayer Beads quickened slightly.

As for Wu Dao...

...he had no idea that a series of secret calculations had already flashed through Qi Canghai’s mind.

He saw that Qi Canghai had merely given him an appreciative look tinged with surprise, with no other intention behind it.

He inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

From Qi Canghai’s attitude, it was clear that the information Wu Dao had about Celestial Treasures was not wrong.

He reckoned that for a long time to come, no one would be investigating the illogical aspects of his being.

After a short while.

The nine Cocoon-Breaking Realm experts had all entered the arena.

On the high platform, Qi Canghai nodded to a Steward beside him and said, "You may begin."

Having received the order, the Steward leaped over ten meters, like a great roc spreading its wings, and landed steadily on the stage. He cupped his fist to Wu Dao and the other eight, saying:

"All you heroes are renowned masters in Guangqing Prefecture. Your fame precedes you, so there is no need for this old man to elaborate." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Your joint presence today brings great honor to our humble White Whale Martial Arts Hall. If we have been remiss in our hospitality in any way, I ask for your gracious understanding."

"You are too kind, host."

Hearing this, the people below the stage did not act conceited, and all cupped their fists in return.

After the pleasantries were exchanged...

...the Steward on the stage wasted no more words, stating concisely, "This old man will not say anything more superfluous. For this competition, it will be three people to a stage. The one who eliminates the other two may become a County-level Hall Master for our White Whale Martial Arts Hall."

"However, this old man must add one more thing. Fists, feet, and blades have no eyes, but when one travels the Jianghu, it is best to make fortune through harmony. You must not take another’s life."

"Other than that, there are no restrictions."

"Now, will those who drew lots number one and two please come up to the stage."

"May your martial fortunes prosper."

With that said...

...the Steward leaped off the stage, leaving it to the two combatants.

Wu Dao folded his arms and watched quietly, not moving a step.

He had drawn lot number eight. His opponent was number seven, Qin Nanchun—that so-called Young Master Qin. It wasn’t their turn yet.

Numbers one and two were two Harmonizing Force masters who had been famous in the Jianghu for a long time.

Years of roaming the Jianghu had etched the vicissitudes of life onto their faces, and numerous scars were visible on their burly physiques. They were clearly seasoned fighters who had been through hundreds of battles.

One was named Chen Kuang. He carried a long black iron staff on his back and had an overbearing aura. His Mad Demon Staff Technique had earned him a considerable reputation in the Jianghu.

The other was Li Shui. He carried a Thin-Blade Snowflake Saber at his side, its sharp edge exposed. He wielded the Covering Water Saber Technique, and his fame was even greater than Chen Kuang’s.

"Begin!"

There were no more superfluous words.

CLANG!

Once the two were in position, the Steward below the stage, who was also acting as the referee, quickly struck the bronze gong in his hands.

CLING-CLANG—

The two on the stage instantly tore through the air, crossing the dozen-meter distance as their saber and staff clashed in a fierce battle.

Chen Kuang’s staff moved like a mad demon, every move and stance revealing a frenzied wildness. Li Shui’s net of saber light was like a flowing river, dense and impenetrable.

As the two exchanged blows, the clash of metal rang out across the stage. Sparks flew wildly, the air howled and surged, and they fought in a tight deadlock.

The crowd below roared with excitement. Some of the Divine Power Realm experts were particularly fired up, their blood boiling as they shouted their approval.

Wu Dao merely glanced at them once before losing interest and looking away, no longer paying attention.

These two certainly had skill.

Their mastery of the staff and saber techniques had reached a state of perfection, attaining the Grandmaster level. Combined with their extremely rich combat experience and their Cocoon-Breaking Realm strength, they would have no problem establishing their own school and taking on apprentices.

But that was all.

If it were a fight to the death, Wu Dao could kill them in under three moves!

[PS: For those not paying close attention, a reminder: the great Hall Masters of the Four Seas Gang are also all at the Cocoon-Breaking Realm.]