"Yes, Young Master Chen."
The clan chief had long anticipated that Chen Changming would ask this, because when the Black Mountain Demon Venerable had descended back then, Saintess Ruoyou had been busy dual cultivating with Chen Changming and likely had not had time to explain the side effects of the Heavenly Toad Spirit-Devouring Art.
That was why Chen Changming asked this only after breaking through two minor realms today.
"What side effects?"
Chen Changming raised an eyebrow.
He felt that this method of cultivation—raising one's cultivation through devouring—was far too easy. Yet all things in this world were balanced; if a breakthrough came too easily, there had to be some flaw or drawback.
"The more people the Heavenly Toad phantom devours, the more karmic debt and retribution it becomes entangled with..."
The clan chief sighed and said heavily, "When breaking through from the Golden Core Realm to the Nascent Soul Realm, one must face the Heart Demon Tribulation. The more people one devours, the more powerful that tribulation becomes. Many members of our Heavenly Toad Tribe have perished at this stage."
"So that's how it is."
Chen Changming nodded, his expression grave.
This method of devouring divine souls truly went against the harmony of Heaven. It might not be obvious in the Golden Core Realm, but once one wished to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm, it would become incomparably difficult.
Although body cultivators did not face a Heart Demon Tribulation when breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm, Chen Changming was no stranger to such tribulations. He knew just how perilous this trial was.
Many whose Dao hearts lacked resolve were often defeated by the Heart Demon Tribulation.
Even an ordinary Heart Demon Tribulation was so terrifying. If its power were strengthened further, one could imagine just how