The Key to "Devouring"

"Golden Horned Beast, try 'devouring' the metal in front of you again."

Hen Ren pointed at the hundreds of tons of metal before her and called out to the Golden Horned Beast.

The secret patterns on the Golden Horned Beast's body lit up. A pitch-black black hole collapsed into existence in its mouth, pulling in the metal before it and swallowing it.

"So that's how it works. The 'devouring' secret pattern works like this. If I make some adjustments, it should be able to absorb other substances too..."

Hen Ren murmured, forming more ideas about the [Devouring Heaven Demon Art].

This Golden Horned Beast wasn't the one Luo Feng had taken over. That one hadn't come to Earth yet.

This was the Trial Space for the cheat's Trial function, and this Golden Horned Beast was simulated by the Trial specifically for Hen Ren to observe.

Besides the Golden Horned Beast, there were also other Star Behemoths, such as the Flame Star Behemoth, along with black holes and wormholes—all there for Hen Ren to study.

"Devouring Heaven Demon Art—"

Hen Ren formed a secret pattern. A black hole collapsed into existence at the center of her brow, drawing in the metal the Golden Horned Beast hadn't yet finished devouring.

Bang!!!

Hen Ren exploded on the spot. The instant she was reduced to dust, another Hen Ren re-formed.

"Failure... Why? Is it because I'm not a Star Behemoth?"

That's right! I'm missing an Origin Core and an Internal World!

"Hypothesis one: the Golden Horned Beast's devouring secret technique is released by its Origin Core. It must absorb metal to strengthen its Internal World, and the Internal World then generates... World Energy? That's what lets the Golden Horned Beast evolve?"

Hen Ren thought it over, then had the Flame Star Behemoth demonstrate its devouring secret technique on a star far away.

It created a black hole as well, but the Flame Star Behemoth flew over to the star itself.

"The secret patterns differ a little. That must be why the Golden Horned Beast grows by devouring metal, while the Flame Star Behemoth grows by devouring stars..."

Hen Ren recorded her observations, then had the other Star Behemoths demonstrate their devouring secret techniques one by one.

Devouring metal, devouring plants, devouring liquids, devouring flames, devouring soil, devouring gas, devouring electromagnetism, and devouring light.

These were the eight best-known peak bloodlines of the Star Behemoths, each a favored child of one of the laws: metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, and light.

There were also four other peak bloodlines, but they were more unusual...

They were time, space, body, and soul.

The devouring secret technique of a time Star Behemoth could devour the three types of matter associated with wind, thunder, and light. The devouring secret technique of a space Star Behemoth could devour the five types associated with metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

A body Star Behemoth could devour living beings made of flesh and blood, while a soul Star Behemoth could devour souls.

Besides these, there were a great many other, less important Star Behemoths. There were just too many kinds of devouring secret techniques!!!

Hen Ren first recorded their secret patterns, then had them reveal their Origin Cores so she could study them...

The [Devouring Heaven Demon Art] was progressing in an orderly fashion...

While Hen Ren was still working hard to develop the [Devouring Heaven Demon Art], Luo Feng had already arrived at HF Base City.

"Babata, call Hen Ren first and let her know I'm planning to visit her tomorrow."

After all, he knew Hen Ren, but they weren't close. She had mostly looked after him for Xu Xin's sake.

He couldn't show up uninvited. That might earn him Hen Ren's resentment and make marrying a rich, beautiful woman even harder...

Babata nodded, then called Hen Ren.

The phone rang for a while before the call disconnected automatically.

"She didn't answer. She's probably in seclusion."

Babata didn't mention that he'd peeked through the phone's camera. All he'd seen was the closed door of the Gravity Chamber.

Right, Hen Ren had gotten this Gravity Chamber from Hong again, and in the end, Thor had given it to her...

"Then we'll wait. Send her an email first. We'll stay at a hotel for a while..."

They waited three days...

Hen Ren came out of the Gravity Chamber. She hadn't showered in three days, but she wasn't dirty.

"The devouring secret technique and the Clone Technique both involve the Origin Core and the Internal World. The Origin Core is a type of Life Core, and only Domain Lords and above have one. The Internal World only appears at the World Lord level..."

If she had an Origin Core and an Internal World, she'd already be a World Lord...

"How can I get around that and complete the devouring secret technique and the Clone Technique?"

Hen Ren kept thinking as she walked.

Hen Ren wasn't the only one at it. Xu Ai had put aside her clingy antics with Xu Xin, while Cai Yi was frantically poring over the knowledge in the Zerg Inheritance Treasury.

"What if I simulate an Origin Core and an Internal World—make an organ specifically for using the devouring secret technique and the Clone Technique? Something like... Genshin Impact's Vision? An external magic organ?"

Inspired, Hen Ren stopped in her tracks and was about to head back to the Gravity Chamber, but in the end decided to check her phone first.

"Hmm?"

Hen Ren looked at her phone in confusion. There were several emails, one per day. Were they letters of introduction from Luo Feng?

With that thought, Hen Ren called him.

He answered immediately, and Luo Feng's image appeared on the screen.

"Luo Feng, what did you want to see me about?"

"I'd like to visit you tomorrow. Will you be free, Hen Ren?"

Luo Feng said with a smile.

Hen Ren nodded, then shook her head.

"I'm going into seclusion. If you have something to discuss, come over now."

"Okay, I'll head over now."

After waiting so many days, Luo Feng had finally heard that Hen Ren's seclusion was over. He couldn't wait to hurry over, deal with Babata's matter, and then go back to cultivating.

Luo Feng headed out. With the Soaring Sky Shuttle, he could fly very fast, and soon he arrived at Hen Ren's doorstep.

"Come right in."

Hearing Hen Ren's voice, Luo Feng opened the front door and went inside.

No one was in the reception room, so Luo Feng made his way downstairs without hesitation.

Sure enough, Hen Ren was still in the Martial Arts Hall.

"What did you want to see me about?"

"Well, it's like this..."

Luo Feng explained Babata and Hu Yanbo's legacy, then had Babata come out and meet Hen Ren.

Babata looked at Hen Ren and asked the question he'd been wondering about for a long time.

"Hen Ren, I want to know how you managed to spread your Spirit Force across the entire Pacific Ocean."

"Planetary Level Nine, a Mental Power Amplitude of 40, nine layers of the Water Domain, and the thresholds of the Law of Water and the Law of Space. That's all..."

Hen Ren left out the role of the 'enhancement' secret technique.

"Planetary Level Nine, and you've already achieved all that!?"

Th-this... She was definitely one of the most talented geniuses in the universe!

If she was this impressive at the Planetary Level, she might have already worked out one or two of the fundamental principles of the Law of Space by the Star Level!

Babata stared at Hen Ren, his eyes shining.

"So, what do you think? Want to become my great leader, the mighty Immortal God Hu Yanbo's student? I'm telling you, with my leader's legacy, as long as you don't die, you're guaranteed to become an Immortal!"

Luo Feng was surprised to hear that. According to Babata's assessment of him, with Hu Yanbo's help, he could probably become a World Lord as long as he survived. Becoming an Immortal would take some luck.

But Hen Ren was guaranteed to become an Immortal God. Her talent was incredible!

Luo Feng gained a deeper understanding of Hen Ren's talent!

Hen Ren looked at Babata.

It wouldn't really matter if she didn't become his student. At most, Babata would be annoyed with her.

But if she did, she could also get a share of Babata's resources and quickly reach Star Level Nine.

"All right, then. I'll become Hu Yanbo's student."

"Hahaha! That's definitely the best decision you've ever made!"

Babata laughed loudly. There was no need for a formal kowtow; accepting the student in words alone was enough.