Strongest War Emperor

Shen Lang used the Tai Chi Diagram to effortlessly swallow the Netherworld Demon Tribulation, startling even himself.

Previously, during his cultivation, the Tai Chi Diagram had always been remarkably fast at absorbing Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.

But it was never as fast as the Netherworld Demon Tribulation could gather Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.

While both involved the Tai Chi Diagram, the former process—absorbing Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi for his own use—took a bit of time.

The latter, however, involved directly gathering Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi for an attack, which was a much faster process.

The energy gathered by a single Netherworld Demon Tribulation was immense and dangerous.

The first time Shen Lang used it, he had been unable to fully merge the energies and nearly crippled himself, a testament to its wild and ferocious power.

Previously, it would have taken the Tai Chi Diagram almost a full day to absorb such an immense amount of energy.

But just now, in a single instant—truly, just an instant—the vortex of the Tai Chi Diagram had acted like the gaping maw of a Demon Beast and swallowed the Netherworld Demon Tribulation whole!

This development left Shen Lang utterly stunned...

’The Nine Revolutions of Life and Death Mysterious Technique was created by fusing countless cultivation techniques under the guidance of the Tai Chi Diagram. It can continue to integrate other techniques, constantly evolving and growing stronger. The Tai Chi Diagram itself has a special property: it can absorb any type of energy in the world and refine it into its purest form. If I could modify and guide this process, I might be able to develop a powerful new attack method.’

’No, that’s not right. The Tai Chi Diagram is already an incredibly potent weapon against Soul Body types. Even against physical entities, its devouring speed is terrifying. I relied on its devouring power to cripple the arm of that Demon Martial Artist, Ji Chengwu.’

’The key issue now is the strength of its absorption and devouring... If I could make it generate an immense suction force on physical bodies, or better yet, exert that force on a Martial Artist’s Spiritual Power without direct contact, I could completely disrupt their movements and even interfere with their Spiritual Power circulation!’

’If I could achieve that... I think I’m getting ahead of myself. Never mind. I’ll take it one step at a time. First, I need to figure out why the Tai Chi Diagram absorbed the energy so quickly this time.’

’Based on my past experiments, increasing the Tai Chi Diagram’s power and projection range requires absorbing more Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. This makes the diagram itself larger and allows the seed within it to take root and sprout...’

’The problem is, in all this time, aside from absorbing an Evil Spirit within the Ancient Strange Array in the Sorrow Swamp, I’ve barely had a chance to use the Tai Chi Diagram for any proper cultivation. I haven’t absorbed much Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi at all.’

’In fact, far from absorbing and replenishing Primordial Qi, I’ve been constantly draining the Tai Chi Diagram’s energy in major battles... especially the one against Yuwen Huaji...’

Shen Lang closed his eyes and immersed his consciousness in the Tai Chi Diagram.

He stood within the space of the Tai Chi Diagram, the seed that resembled an embryo of the world beneath his feet. Amidst the swirling winds and surging clouds, Shen Lang silently perceived everything within the diagram.

A moment later, within the space of the Tai Chi Diagram, Shen Lang’s eyes flew open, a divine light bursting from them!

"Incredible! How could this be happening?!"

Shen Lang, who was rarely one to be startled, couldn’t control his emotions this time.

He sensed that his connection to the Tai Chi Diagram had grown even stronger, and he was finally able to fully perceive a strange new anomaly within it!

Shen Lang gently tapped the empty space before him with his index finger. The void rippled outward in concentric circles, like the surface of a placid lake.

Then, lines of profound and mysterious golden characters materialized in the air!

These characters, astonishingly, described a series of wondrous Divine Techniques!

And these were the Innate Divine Techniques of the Demon Beasts Shen Lang had killed with the Black and White Qi while cultivating on the mountain!

Among them was even the Innate Divine Technique of the Great Array Evil Spirit he had captured and thoroughly refined within the Tai Chi Diagram: a Small Yin Yang Inversion Qimen Array!

In other words, after the Tai Chi Diagram killed those Demon Beasts, if it also directly refined and absorbed their souls, it could absorb and integrate their Innate Divine Techniques as well!

"This is simply inconceivable! Even the War Emperor would probably be left dumbstruck if he saw this!"

"This definitely isn’t a power that belongs in the Human Realm!"

These Innate Divine Techniques from the Demon Beasts weren’t a form of energy; they were more like the cultivation techniques that Martial Artists practice.

The difference was that these were things the Demon Beasts were born with.

They didn’t even need to study them; they were known from the moment of birth.

The cultivation techniques of the Human Race were developed by generations of powerful predecessors who explored and comprehended the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

The Innate Divine Techniques of Demon Beasts, however, were innate gifts bestowed upon them by the heavens.

Every Demon Beast, every living creature, has its own purpose for existing and is capable of cultivation.

Demon Beasts possess formidable power and unique Talent Abilities from the moment they are born.

They all contain the Natural Dao, the Dao of Heaven and Earth!

All these things invisibly contained wisps of the world’s Rules!

It was precisely because the Tai Chi Diagram had absorbed the obscure and profound Rules within these Innate Divine Techniques that it had grown larger and more powerful, even without absorbing any Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi!

’Holy shit, what the hell is this thing? It’s so ridiculously overpowered that it’s starting to make me uneasy...’

’The Nine Revolutions of Life and Death Profound Skill can fuse any cultivation technique or divine technique into itself, so it naturally needs more techniques for reference. I never imagined the Tai Chi Diagram could actually refine and absorb the Divine Techniques of Demon Beasts and Evil Spirits... While many of their techniques aren’t suitable for me to cultivate, some are definitely worth studying. Moreover, once I fully master the faint Power of Rules they contain, comprehend their various Realms, and reach the Great Success stage, I can definitely surpass the level the War Emperor once achieved! I’ll surpass the very peak of the Human Realm!’

With a thought, Shen Lang exited the Tai Chi Diagram and opened his eyes.

’Looks like in the future, besides Body Forging and absorbing Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, I’ll need to spend more time inside the Tai Chi Diagram to study these things...’

’For today, I’ll start by studying this technique of absorbing Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. I’ll see if I can turn it directly into an attack!’

Inspiration was fleeting, and Shen Lang didn’t want to let this idea slip away. He immediately summoned the four Bone Demons and the Ghost King.

The Ghost King was one thing; he at least knew to timidly curry favor, calling out, "Boss."

The four Bone Demons, however, just hung their heads, not daring to look at Shen Lang or say a word.

In the battle against Yuwen Huaji, the four Bone Demons had cowered inside the Heaven-Sealing Cauldron, doing nothing.

It wasn’t that they didn’t *want* to do something, but that they *couldn’t*...

This was a critical problem.

Whether a Martial Artist keeps pets, puppets, or anything else, aren’t they all meant to help fight enemies?

If they couldn’t do anything or be of any help, didn’t that make them useless?

And who would continue to feed and care for something useless?

Sure enough, just as the four Bone Demons were fidgeting nervously, Shen Lang spoke. "You four... are far too weak."

"Boss, you can’t abandon us!" Bone One shrieked, lunging forward to hug Shen Lang’s leg.

Bone Two followed his lead, grabbing Shen Lang’s other leg.

By the time Bone Three and Bone Four tried to do the same, they could only watch, dumbfounded, as their chance was gone. The two of them silently cursed Bone One and Bone Two’s entire family trees...

Shen Lang’s face darkened. With one kick for each, he sent Bone One and Bone Two flying.

"You have the Ice Soul Water Jade to help you, yet you’ve made no progress at all. I really don’t know what to say," Shen Lang said, shaking his head.

The four Bone Demons looked so aggrieved they were on the verge of tears.

’What kind of talk is that?’

’The Ice Soul Water Jade is powerful, sure, but didn’t we just get it a few days ago?’

’How can you expect to see results after only a few days of cultivation? It’s not that easy!’

’You can’t compare us proper Bone Demons to a monster like you...’

But they could only think these things to themselves; they would never dare say them out loud.

"Old Ghost, you first," Shen Lang said, beckoning to the Ghost King.

The Ghost King shuddered. Instead of coming closer, he floated backward. "Wait... Boss, just tell me what I did wrong first! I know I wasn’t able to help this time, but I was nearly sliced in half by the Sword Qi you released. It’ll take me years to recover! If you want to run experiments, you can start with Bone One and Bone Two..."

This old ghost was as cunning as they come; one look at Shen Lang’s eyes told him an experiment was about to begin.

But Shen Lang’s experiments were always terrifying, especially those involving the Tai Chi Diagram. Each time, he felt he was walking hand-in-hand with the Death God; each time, he was sure he was going to die...

These experiments were simply terrifying... no, ghost-ifying.

’What if the Boss slips up, his hand trembles, and he just annihilates me? Wouldn’t I be the unluckiest ghost in the world?’ The Ghost King refused to budge.

Being his test subject was worse than facing Yuwen Huaji himself.

Shen Lang’s expression turned stern. He made a grasping motion with his left hand, and a vortex materialized from thin air. "Get over here!"

"AHHH!" The Ghost King’s bloodcurdling scream echoed through the room. Hearing it, Bone One and the others shuddered violently, nearly bolting for the door.

Outside the room, the Tayun Academy students waiting for other Gravity Chambers to become available all clapped their hands over their ears, groaning in misery.

A shriek from a Xuanwu Realm Ghost King was a truly terrifying sound.

If not for the arrays isolating each Gravity Chamber from the outside, that single scream would have knocked out every student in the main hall.

"Boss, let’s talk this out, we can talk! Don’t use that thing... It’s too terrifying!"

Seeing the vortex formed by the Tai Chi Diagram, the Ghost King was scared out of his wits.

Shen Lang shot him a cold glare, retracted the Tai Chi Diagram, and slammed his right palm onto the Ghost King’s head.

With a flash of Spirit Light...

All the energy of the Evil Spirit that had been refined in the Tai Chi Diagram, along with its Innate Divine Technique, was channeled into the Ghost King’s body.

The Ghost King, who had just been wailing about his imminent demise, trembled violently. His form began to expand rapidly, like a balloon about to pop.

"Idiot, what are you gaping at! If you don’t want to die, then hurry up and absorb it! If you dare waste a single drop, I’ll destroy you!" Shen Lang barked.

The Ghost King felt a surging tide of Yin Attribute Energy pouring into his body, threatening to tear him apart.

"To think... such a thing is possible..."

His joy was immense. He immediately activated his Ghost Dao Technique and began to frantically absorb the energy.

"Oh, great Boss! I was only joking just now, trying to liven up the atmosphere! As your faithful servant, I, this Old Ghost, am completely loyal! I would go through fire and water for you!"

"Ah... Let the energy come even more fiercely! This Old Ghost doesn’t mind one bit being the great Boss’s test subject!"

Shen Lang rolled his eyes. "Shut up! If you keep blathering on, I’ll scatter your essence right now and feed you to Bone One and Bone Two!"

The Ghost King jumped in fright and immediately shut his mouth, not daring to make another peep.

"I’ve given you all the energy from the Evil Spirit in the Yin Yang Inverted Qimen Formation, as well as its Innate Divine Technique—the Small Yin Yang Inversion Qimen Array. I hope you don’t disappoint me, Old Ghost. This energy should be enough for you to break through to the Xuanwu Realm Third Heaven."

As he spoke, Shen Lang grabbed the ball of black mist that was the Ghost King and tossed it toward the door of the room.

"All... All the energy? Its innate... Innate Divine Technique? Xuanwu Realm Third Heaven..."

The Ghost King was completely dumbfounded. The four Bone Demons were frozen in place...