Not lingering too much, Zhang Huan felt the Saint Power within his body rapidly flowing away as several black tentacles suddenly appeared on his body, piercing toward the corpse.
Clang
The sound of a collision between hard metals came from the pierced skin, followed by a strange noise as the tentacles transformed by the Demonic Art secret technique were actually unable to withstand the impact, shattering section by section.
As expected of a quasi-emperor, the physical body is extremely tough and contains the secrets of the Dao, with few artifacts capable of harming it even a fraction.
Zhang Huan sighed in admiration; a Great Sage could not even break through its passive defense, which was enough to show the high level of its origin. This was the first quasi-emperor he had devoured, and he wondered how many surprises it could bring him.
He could clearly feel how much explosive energy the aging body in front of him contained, and in life it must have been a renowned powerhouse in the starry sky.
Taking out the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar, Zhang Huan smashed it down using the most primitive method, finding that wielding an Imperial Weapon this way was exceptionally handy.
With a loud boom, the coffin made crisp cracking sounds, splitting into several long lines. The corpse upon it had every single crystalline jade bone dislocated, piercing out of the skin and tearing open several ferocious bloody mouths.
Swallow for me!
Not a single drop of blood was wasted. Zhang Huan could hardly conceal the excitement in his eyes, and before the blood could flow down, he extended demonic energy tentacles, thrusting them straight into the corpse to devour everything about this physical body.
Plentiful energy entered his body, leaving Zhang Huan feeling supremely comfortable all over. Every pore in his body was expanding, spewing out golden brilliance as if he were transforming into an immortal, enveloped by countless Dao laws and swimming freely in a vast ocean of the Dao.
This devouring was exceptionally long, lasting a full seven days. When he opened his eyes, Zhang Huan had reached the absolute peak in all aspects, and could step into the ranks of high-level Great Sages at any moment.
Not long ago, he had performed a Self-Severing Slash, dropping to the Third Layer Heaven of the Great Sage, but now, merely by devouring a quasi-emperor, he had returned to his peak and even taken a step further.
This Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art was indescribably wondrous. As long as there was sufficient origin, advancing was as easy as drinking water, completely disregarding requirements like innate talent, making it simply heaven-defying.
To be able to create such a cultivation art, number one in talent belonged to none other than the Ruthless Emperor.
Looking at the quasi-emperor who had already been reduced to a mere skin, Zhang Huan sincerely thanked him for his self-sacrificing contribution.
Arriving at the medicine garden, Zhang Huan swept his hand, and stock after stock of ancient medicine kings all fell into his sleeves. The rest of the resources were also swept clean, completely taken away by Zhang Huan.
Walking out of the tomb, the forest was mixed with the fresh scent of earth, and Zhang Huan returned along the original path.
Passing the stone wall, Zhang Huan glanced at it, shook his head instead, and walked outward.
Just at this moment, the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar vibrated, causing Zhang Huan to cast a sidelong glance. His spiritual sense sensed that the Little Demonic Box stored within was restless, transmitting bursts of divine sense, and Zhang Huan suppressed it even harder.
Don't even think about making trouble. Toss about as much as you like within the Imperial Weapon and it will be of no use, or else when I have time I'll definitely smash you to pieces.
Zhang Huan warned coldly. He truly had this thought; keeping a weapon that would be an enemy rather than a friend would sooner or later be a scourge, so it was better to eradicate it early on.
Master, it's not that I'm making trouble, I'm finding an opportunity for you~
There is a great inheritance on that stone wall. Before death, the old ghost carved all his own Dao onto it. This stone wall is equivalent to engraving his lifelong learning and insights, and its value is immeasurable.
The Little Demonic Box chattered and revealed the old master's inheritance, speaking to Zhang Huan in a flattering manner.
Hah, do you think I don't know there's a trap inside? Even if a quasi-emperor's lifelong learning is carved on it, so what? Is it something I can obtain? When the time comes to forcefully demand it and fall into the killing array, wouldn't that just play right into your intentions?
Zhang Huan smiled with a vulture-like expression, not a shred of a smile visible on his face.
He turned around and walked toward the tomb again, resolute in taking advantage of the tomb's concealment, which could mask any commotion, to thoroughly annihilate this Little Demonic Box on the spot.
Seeing that Zhang Huan was ruthless and possessed an Imperial Weapon, completely capable of killing it and genuinely intending to do so, the Little Demonic Box was scared into begging for mercy repeatedly, its deity's mouth flapping away endlessly like peeling skin.
Master, you've misunderstood. Ouch, what a huge grievance! The stone wall indeed has a trap, but little box I have a way to dismantle it, Master.
Spare my life! The little box knows of the tombs of several other old ghosts as well, and will lead you onto a path to the heavens.
Seeing that Zhang Huan remained unmoved and continued walking into the tomb, the Little Demonic Box offered various temptations, such as the treasures left behind by the old ghosts back then, ancient anecdotes, and unknown information...
In the end, it couldn't help but weep tears of grief, begging Zhang Huan to refine it.
Is it truly your wish to have me refine you? You must know that once you are refined by me, the life of your deity rests solely in a single thought of mine, and you shall never betray me.
Little box here has long been waiting for such a wise master. I beg you to refine the little box.
Then do not resist, obediently let me refine you, and follow me from now on. Your safety will be assured.
The Little Demonic Box was exceptionally proactive, with a wave of its hand cooperating with Zhang Huan inside the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar to begin the refinement. In just a few days' time, a quasi-emperor artifact belonged to Zhang Huan.
Not the slightest resistance was encountered during the refinement.
Why did you actively request refinement? What is your purpose?
Zhang Huan asked the Little Demonic Box. Now, under the control of his divine sense, whether the deity was lying or not was entirely within a single thought of his.
If any abnormality was sensed, Zhang Huan would destroy it at the first moment.
I'm scared.
.
Then it added.
My life is my own. What would I risk my life for a dead ghost for? You tell me, right.
In the future, when you and the Ancient Emperor Weapon grandfather go into battle, I'll follow behind to drink some soup. That's still much better than dying.
You don't need me for the ones you can beat, and I'm useless against the ones you can't beat. Usually it has nothing to do with me anyway, and I can even get offerings for free. Why wouldn't I ask for it?
These were all its genuine thoughts. Hearing such unhinged words, Zhang Huan felt a wave of inner derision.
They all said a deity's personality was closely related to its master. What kind of unhinged master could cultivate such an unusual deity?
Who is your master?
You.
Your former master, the dead ghost you spoke of, what is his background?
Zhang Huan took a long breath, making his heart as clear and still as mirror-like water.
That must have been from a very, very early era.
The Little Demonic Box wore a dazed expression, as if reminiscing and recalling the distant past.
The old ghost originated from the demon race, rising from obscurity. At his peak, he reached the Fourth Layer Heaven of the Quasi-Emperor, followed an emperor into the Underworld, became one of the upper echelons, and held the life and death of billions of living beings in his hands.
As his lifespan gradually faded away, he could no longer hold on. In his later years, he wandered among the lore of spiritualization and rebirth, stepping ahead of that Great Emperor to fall asleep in a corner of the Underworld, hoping to recover in the future.
Oh, right, that Great Emperor was called the Prison Suppressing Emperor. Most of what the old ghost studied were the things he passed down. I heard he researched the Nether Emperor profoundly and figured something out regarding this path, which was why the old ghost was so persistent, believing that emulating the Nether Emperor could allow him to live out a second life.
The deity concisely and succinctly recounted past events, and Zhang Huan timely asked once more.
Your former master's status was so high; do you know if the Underworld has recruited any cultivators from the outside world since ancient times, and what happened to them?
There were some, yes. They were just enslaved shortly after, and those war slaves you see most commonly are them.
Thinking about it, it's also quite laughable. Men die for wealth; for them, this saying holds truest.
The deity sneered, as if speaking of a most commonplace matter, but then it let out a cry of startled doubt.
Hey, aren't you a person from the Underworld? How come you don't even know something like this?
Zhang Huan smiled mysteriously at it twice, not answering its question.
Before you continue