The Giant Devil Race ancestor propped his chin on one hand and looked at the Giant Devil Race envoy, Chi Xiong, before him. Not a trace of emotion showed on his face.
"So the bead was swallowed by a spatial rift. Who else knows about this besides you?"
Chi Xiong thought for a moment, then bowed toward the ancestor and replied, "Reporting to you, Ancestor, besides this disciple, there are also Lin Yi, the envoy from the Zhao Kingdom, and Luo Chuan, the ancestor of the Hengyue Sect."
"This disciple erased everyone else's memories. No one knows about the bead."
"Luo Chuan... is he the brat you mentioned back then, the one who broke through to the Spirit Severing Realm in his twenties?"
Chi Xiong nodded. "Yes, Ancestor. That boy has an extraordinary talent. He broke through to the Spirit Severing Realm in his twenties and is the foremost cultivator on the Vermilion Bird Planet."
"This disciple originally wanted to recruit him into our Giant Devil Race, but the boy didn't know what was good for him and turned me away time and again. If you invited him personally, Ancestor, perhaps he would join our Giant Devil Race."
At those words, a barely perceptible chill flickered in the Giant Devil Race ancestor's eyes. A moment later, the corner of his mouth curled into a smile.
"In that case, you can go die."
"What!"
Chi Xiong jerked his head up, but before he could react, his blood and qi surged violently. In an instant, his body exploded, and he vanished from the spot in a cloud of blood mist.
"A treasure passed down from the ancient Kunxu Sacred Domain couldn't simply disappear. It must be in the hands of that Lin Yi and Luo Chuan..."
"If I can hand the Heaven Defying Bead over to the Cultivation Alliance, my Giant Devil Race will surely be granted the status of a Level 6 Cultivation Country and exclusive dominion over a cultivation star field!"
"Then this branch of the Giant Devil Race will have a chance to ascend to the peak of the clan. Hahahahahaha!"
"Luo Chuan, Lin Yi, there's no need for either of you to remain in this world!"
Time flew by. Before anyone knew it, spring had passed and autumn had arrived. At that moment, Luo Chuan was cultivating, and his cultivation had successfully advanced to the mid Spirit Severing Realm.
[Congratulations, host! You have successfully broken through to the mid Spirit Severing Realm. Reward: Ancient God Art!] [Next reward: Thunderclap Finger, suitable for cultivators below the Ascendant Realm!]
"I finally got the Ancient God Art."
Luo Chuan clenched his fist and fixed his gaze on the golden glow before him. He merely pointed a finger, and the light immediately flowed into the space between his brows, allowing him to master the art without having to cultivate it.
The original work once described the Ancient God Art as the highest inheritance of the Ancient God race, a system of body cultivation exclusive to Ancient Gods.
The Ancient God Art focused on tempering the body. Its cultivators had to feed on the stars and draw nourishment from the sun and moon, ultimately attaining sainthood through the flesh.
At its peak, it could withstand the attacks of mighty beings of the Third Step.
With every star gained, an Ancient God Star would condense within the body, and combat power would grow exponentially. Eight-Star Ancient Gods could tear open the void with their bare hands, while the Nine-Star realm was only a legend.
Furthermore, the Ancient God Art exerted bloodline suppression, naturally intimidating demonic beasts and ordinary body cultivators. Lower-level Ancient Gods could even cow higher-level cultivators.
The first layer of the Ancient God Art was divided into three stages: Spirit Seizing, Spirit Devouring, and Spirit Transformation. Every Ancient God naturally practiced the first layer's incantation from birth, and by adolescence, they would reach the Spirit Transformation stage.
Upon breaking through to the second layer, one could absorb a planet's energy. Those who failed to do so might fall into a deep slumber.
The Ancient God Art was extraordinarily difficult to cultivate. One had to possess Ancient God bloodline and consume vast quantities of resources, such as Ancient God blood or stellar essence, to advance.
It could also make a cultivator's body and soul exceptionally powerful, granting them strength, speed, endurance, spiritual perception, and spiritual defense far beyond those of cultivators at the same level.
It also allowed cultivators to unleash powerful divine abilities such as Ancient God Power, Ancient God's Wrath, and the Ancient God's Finger. Moreover, it could accelerate their cultivation and help them break through bottlenecks more quickly.
"I see. With the Ancient God Art, I'll be able to obtain the Ancient God's Memory Inheritance more easily."
Luo Chuan stood up and brushed the dust from his shoulders. He was just about to leave when a figure appeared before him.
The person's features were hidden beneath a black cloak, but it was clear that his appearance was unfriendly. A vast killing intent radiated from him.
Luo Chuan stopped and looked at the black-robed man before him, narrowing his eyes. This energy fluctuation... early Yingbian Realm...
"Although he has only just broken through to the Yingbian Realm, the spiritual power in his body has already transformed into immortal power. Ordinary Spirit Severing Realm cultivators would probably have a hard time defeating him."
The Giant Devil Race ancestor stared at Luo Chuan, just as astonished by his appearance. "As Chi Xiong said, he really has reached the mid Spirit Severing Realm at such a young age. His talent truly is extraordinary."
"If I can possess his body, I'll surely gain his talent as well. Then breaking through to the Ascendant Realm will be a piece of cake."
"Are you Luo Chuan?"
Luo Chuan held one hand behind his back and said indifferently, "If I'm not mistaken, Senior must be the Giant Devil Race ancestor. You've only just broken through to the Yingbian Realm, yet you've come all the way here to find me. How interesting."
The Giant Devil Race ancestor gave a cold snort. "You Spirit Severing brat, answer me. Did you take that bead?"
"If you hand it over now, I might take pity on how hard you've worked to cultivate and let you leave. Otherwise, I'll rip out your soul and refine you to death!"
Hearing the Giant Devil Race ancestor's words, Luo Chuan laughed aloud. "I doubt even you believe what you've just said, Senior."
"You know I have an extraordinary talent, so naturally you wouldn't let a potential threat live. So even if I handed over everything I had, you'd still kill me, wouldn't you?"
Seeing that his plan had been exposed, the Giant Devil Race ancestor instinctively clenched his fists. He glared at Luo Chuan, his eyes brimming with killing intent.
"Clever people rarely live long. You Spirit Severing brat, since you're so stubborn, I'll show you what a true Yingbian Realm powerhouse is today!"
The Giant Devil Race ancestor didn't take Luo Chuan seriously at all. He shot toward him in an instant, and the energy was so violent that the void on either side warped and twisted.
Luo Chuan gripped the Jade Flute as energy surged around him. "Exiled Immortal Artistic Conception, unfold!"
As the artistic conception opened, the space before him transformed into a landscape like an ink painting. Boundless energy gathered and slammed into the Giant Devil Race ancestor, forcing him back two steps.
The Giant Devil Race ancestor frowned and glanced around. "An artistic conception—and one that seems no weaker than that of someone at the great perfection of the Spirit Severing Realm."
"No wonder even the Vermilion Bird State cares so much about you, young man. Today, I'll rip out your soul and seize your body."
"Then my Giant Devil Race will become the next Vermilion Bird Child!"