After returning to his residence, Shen Hao impatiently shut the door and took out the Ironback Bear's demonic core. This demonic core was a full size larger than those of the low-tier Demon Beasts he had hunted before. It was pitch-black throughout, heavy in the hand, with faint earth spiritual energy lingering over its surface and giving off a weighty aura.
Shen Hao pressed the demonic core against the Companion Jade Pendant. A cool sensation came from the pendant, carrying faint ripples of earth spiritual energy. Then he slowly closed his eyes, circulated the second layer of the Spirit Devouring Art, and activated the Spirit Devouring Vortex within his body.
The Companion Jade Pendant flickered with azure light, releasing a powerful devouring force. Unlike before, this time the vortex not only devoured the pure spiritual energy within the demonic core, but also swallowed the earth spiritual energy it contained. Earth spiritual energy was heavy and steady, carrying the breath of the land, utterly different from the deep-blue spiritual energy within Shen Hao's body.
The moment the earth spiritual energy entered the vortex, it was slowly broken down and refined by it, transforming into strands of incomparably pure earth spiritual energy that merged into Shen Hao's sea of qi. Shen Hao could clearly sense that, besides its original deep-blue color, the spiritual energy in his sea of qi now held a faint earthy yellow. This thread of earthy-yellow spiritual energy drifted through his sea of qi like a wisp of silk, blending with the deep-blue spiritual energy and making his spiritual energy heavier, imbued with a steady strength.
"As expected, the second layer of the Spirit Devouring Art can devour attribute spiritual energy." Shen Hao was overjoyed, and an excited smile appeared on his face.
Spiritual energy of different attributes had different effects. Earth spiritual energy was heavy and steady, able to strengthen spiritual energy's defensive capabilities and make it tougher; fire spiritual energy was violent and domineering, able to increase the force of attacks and make them more ferocious; Wood Spiritual Energy was mild and nourishing, able to nurture the body and accelerate recovery from injuries... If he could devour spiritual energy of multiple attributes and diversify his own spiritual energy, his strength would surely rise to another level.
Shen Hao immersed himself in the pleasure of cultivation, feeling the earth spiritual energy merge into his sea of qi bit by bit, his heart filled with delight. He could feel that his spiritual energy had become denser and tougher, while his control over it had also grown stronger.
Half an hour later, the Ironback Bear's demonic core had become dull and lusterless, like an ordinary stone. The spiritual energy within had been devoured completely. Shen Hao slowly opened his eyes, feeling the denser spiritual energy inside him, and a satisfied curve rose at the corner of his lips.
He clenched his fist, and a steady force surged from his palm, carrying a trace of the heavy aura of earth spiritual energy. He could feel that his strength had improved considerably again. If he encountered Li Wei now, he was confident he could defeat him within ten moves.
Shen Hao glanced out the window. The sun was setting, and the sky gradually darkened. There were still two months until the Inner Sect Grand Competition. He needed to seize the time to hunt more mid-tier Demon Beasts and devour more attribute spiritual energy, making himself stronger. Only then could he stand out in the Inner Sect Grand Competition and win the coveted Foundation Establishment Pill and High-grade Cultivation Method.
His gaze grew ever more resolute, filled with fighting spirit. The Inner Sect Grand Competition would be the stage upon which he displayed his strength. He would surely make a thunderous debut and claim first place in the Inner Sect Grand Competition, making everyone remember his name—Shen Hao!
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