Subduing the Quasi-Emperor Artifact

Without further delay, Zhang Huan felt the Saint power within him rapidly draining. Several black tentacles suddenly appeared on his body, stabbing towards the corpse.

"Clang!"

A sound like colliding metal came from the skin where the tentacles struck. The tentacles, formed from the Demonic Cultivation Method, couldn't withstand the impact and shattered piece by piece.

"As expected of a Quasi-Emperor, their physical body is incredibly tough, containing the secrets of laws. Few artifacts can even scratch it."

Zhang Huan marveled. The fact that even a Great Saint couldn't break through its passive defenses showed how high its Origin level was. This was the first Quasi-Emperor he had devoured, and he wondered how many surprises it would bring him.

He could clearly feel the explosive energy contained within the aging body before him. Its owner must have been a renowned powerhouse in the starry sky during their life.

Taking out the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar, Zhang Huan smashed it over in the most primitive way. He found that controlling an Emperor Weapon like this was exceptionally effective.

With a boom, the coffin let out creaking sounds and cracked, revealing several long fissures. The corpse within had its crystalline bones dislocated, piercing through the skin and opening several gruesome bloody wounds.

"Swallow it for me!"

Not wasting a single drop of blood, Zhang Huan's eyes couldn't hide his excitement. Before the blood could even flow down, he extended his demonic energy tentacles, piercing into the corpse and devouring everything within the body.

Abundant energy entered his body, and Zhang Huan felt utterly comfortable. His pores opened and closed, emitting golden radiance as if he were ascending to immortality, enveloped by countless laws and freely swimming in the ocean of the Great Dao.

This devouring process took an unusually long time, lasting a full seven days. When he opened his eyes, Zhang Huan had reached the pinnacle in all aspects, on the verge of breaking through to the High-level Great Saint realm.

Not long ago, he had performed a self-inflicted "cut," dropping his cultivation to the third layer of the Great Saint realm. Now, after merely devouring a Quasi-Emperor, he had returned to his peak, even taking another step forward.

This Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art was truly miraculous. As long as there was enough Origin, promotion was as easy as drinking water, completely disregarding requirements like innate talent. It was simply heaven-defying.

To create such a cultivation method, the Ruthless Emperor was undoubtedly first in talent.

Looking at the Quasi-Emperor, who was now reduced to a mere husk, Zhang Huan sincerely thanked him for his sacrificial contribution.

Arriving at the medicine garden, Zhang Huan swept his palm, and ancient Medicine Kings were all collected into his sleeve. The remaining resources were also swept clean, all taken by Zhang Huan.

Exiting the tomb, the forest was filled with the fresh scent of earth. Zhang Huan retraced his steps.

Walking past a stone wall, Zhang Huan glanced at it, then shook his head and continued outward.

Just then, the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar vibrated, drawing Zhang Huan's attention. His Spiritual Sense detected that the Demonic Box he had stored within was restless, emitting waves of Divine Sense. Zhang Huan intensified his suppression.

"Don't even think about causing trouble. Even if you rage within the Emperor Weapon, it's useless. If I have time, I'll smash you to pieces."

Zhang Huan warned coldly. He genuinely had this thought; a weapon that was an enemy rather than a friend would eventually become a disaster, so it was better to eliminate it sooner rather than later.

"Master, it's not me causing trouble, I'm finding opportunities for you~"

"There's a great inheritance on that stone wall. The deceased master carved all his Dao onto it before he died. This stone wall is equivalent to an inscription of his lifelong learning and insights, immeasurably valuable."

The Demonic Box chuckled, revealing its old master's inheritance and speaking to Zhang Huan in a fawning manner.

"Heh, do you think I don't know there's a trap inside? Even if it's engraved with a Quasi-Emperor's lifelong learning, what of it? How could I obtain it? If I were to forcefully seek it, I'd fall into a killing formation, which would be exactly what you want, wouldn't it?"

Zhang Huan's smile was sinister, showing no trace of mirth.

He turned and walked back towards the tomb, determined to take advantage of the tomb's concealment, which could mask any commotion, and seize the opportunity to completely destroy this Demonic Box.

Seeing that Zhang Huan was ruthless and possessed an Emperor Weapon, capable of killing it, and truly intended to do so, the Demonic Box was terrified and repeatedly begged for mercy, its divine nature babbling incessantly.

"Master, you misunderstand. Oh, the immense injustice! The stone wall indeed has a trap, but I, Little Box, have a way to disarm it, Master."

"Spare my life. I also know the tombs of several other deceased masters. Little Box can lead you to a path of ascension."

Seeing that Zhang Huan was unmoved and still heading towards the tomb, the Demonic Box offered various temptations, such as treasures left by the deceased masters, knowledge from before the ancient era, and information unknown to others.

Finally, it couldn't help but plead tearfully, begging Zhang Huan to refine it.

"Do you truly wish for me to refine you? Know that once refined by me, your divine life will be at my whim, and you can never betray me."

"Little Box has been waiting for a wise master like you for a long time. I beg you to refine Little Box."

"Then don't resist. Obediently let me refine you, and from now on, follow me, and I can guarantee your safety."

The little Demonic Box was exceptionally proactive. With a flip of its hand, it cooperated with Zhang Huan within the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar to begin the refinement. In just a few days, a Quasi-Emperor artifact was in Zhang Huan's possession.

There was no resistance whatsoever during the refinement.

"Why did you actively request to be refined? What is your purpose?"

Zhang Huan asked the little Demonic Box. Now under his Divine Sense control, he could tell if the divine being was lying with a single thought.

If he sensed anything abnormal, Zhang Huan would destroy it immediately.

"I'm scared."

"..."

It then added.

"Life is my own. Why should I risk my life for a dead person? Don't you agree?"

"In the future, when you and the ancient Emperor Weapon Grandpa go to war, I'll follow behind and pick up scraps. It's better than dying."

"If you can defeat them, you don't need me. If you can't, I'm useless. Generally, it's not my business, and I can get offerings for free. Why wouldn't I seek this?"

These were all genuine thoughts. Hearing such nonsensical words, Zhang Huan inwardly grumbled.

They say a divine being's personality is closely related to its master. What kind of nonsensical master could cultivate such an unusual divine being?

"Who is your master?"

"You."

"Your former master, the 'dead ghost' you mentioned, what's his background?"

Zhang Huan took a deep breath, calming his mind until it was as clear and still as a mirror.

"That must have been a very, very long time ago."

The little Demonic Box's expression was distant, as if reminiscing and recalling the distant past.

"The old ghost came from the demon race. From humble beginnings, he reached the fourth heaven of the Quasi-Emperor realm at his peak. He followed an Emperor into the Underworld and became one of its high-ranking officials, holding the lives and deaths of billions of beings in his hands."

"As his lifespan gradually faded, he couldn't hold on any longer. In his twilight years, he delved into the study of spiritual awakening and transformation. He fell into a slumber in a corner of the Underworld a step ahead of that Great Emperor, hoping to revive in the future."

"Oh, right. That Great Emperor was called the Prison Suppressing Emperor. The old ghost studied a lot of what he passed down. I heard he researched the Nether Emperor quite deeply. Whatever he discovered in that path, the old ghost became very fixated on it, believing that by imitating the Nether Emperor, he could live a second life."

The divine entity briefly recounted the past. Zhang Huan, at the opportune moment, asked again.

"Your former master held such a high position. Did he know if the Underworld had ever recruited cultivators from the outside world since ancient times? What happened to them?"

"There were, there were. They were enslaved not long after. Those battle slaves you see most often are them."

"It's almost laughable. 'People die for wealth.' This saying applies most fittingly to them."

The divine entity chuckled, as if discussing a commonplace event. However, it then let out a surprised sound.

"Hey, aren't you from the Underworld? How come you don't even know this?"

Zhang Huan smiled mysteriously at it twice, not answering its question.