103: Ninth level of the Divine Power Realm! Encountering the Skeleton King! [Gift + 7 updates]
Although he had previously begun practicing the Heart Canon, he had never found the right method, only passively strengthening his mental energy and making his Divine Soul more refined.
Until just now, through continuous combat and insight, he had finally broken through that barrier.
Willpower is power.
However... Su Jue frowned slightly.
He could feel that the strike just now had taken a massive toll on him.
It wasn't True Essence, nor was it physical strength.
Rather, it was a deeper exhaustion that originated from his soul.
It was like an ordinary person who had stayed awake for three days and nights straight; his entire brain was groggy, feeling as if he might drop dead at any moment.
It seemed this power could not be used lightly.
At least, until the strength of his Divine Soul reached a brand new height, this could only be used as a trump card.
Having understood this, Su Jue slowly opened his eyes.
He glanced at his small palms, then looked toward the wandering "Bone-Eaters" in the distance.
Just moments ago, he had viewed these fellows as delicious "experience packs."
But now, in his eyes, the attraction of these things had diminished significantly.
[Ding! Detected change in the Host's state of mind.]
[As a qualified 'Scrap Collector', your taste is gradually improving.]
[Congratulations, you have moved beyond low-level interests.]
That damn system was being sarcastic again.
Su Jue didn't bother to pay it any mind.
He walked over to Capybara and kicked its round buttocks.
"What are you dazing out for?"
"Ah? Oh! Here!"
Capybara jolted, snapping to attention with its two front paws behind its back, looking exactly like an elementary student called on by a teacher.
The way it looked at Su Jue had completely changed.
Fear, awe, and fanaticism.
"Bo... Boss..." it stammered, "That thing you did just now... was it..."
"Standard operation."
Su Jue interrupted it expressionlessly.
"Lead the way. Let's find that immortal divine stone."
"Al... Alright!"
Capybara didn't dare ask more, bowing and scraping as it led the way in front.
It even thoughtfully ran over, used its paws to slap the fainted Mao Xiaomeng awake, and then dragged her along to keep up.
The group (plus one being dragged) set off once more.
The Land of the Forsaken was much larger than imagined.
The further they went, the thicker the aura of Decay in the air became, and the skeletal remains of Primeval Behemoths scattered on the ground grew increasingly gargantuan.
Su Jue even saw a dragon skull as massive as a mountain; within its dark, hollow eye sockets, a lingering Will of Destruction seemed to remain.
Along the way, they encountered several more waves of "Bone-Eaters."
This time, Su Jue did not use "Heart Power" again.
He simply activated the [Decay Aura]. Those "Bone-Eaters" below the Divine Ability Realm couldn't even get within a hundred meters of him before they were dissolved into primitive energy by that domineering power of laws.
As for those in the Divine Ability Realm, he dealt with them in an even more simple and crude manner.
—Physical salvation.
He directly hoisted that [fragment of the annihilation demonic sword], using it like an indestructible brick, and rushed forward to pummel those energy bodies.
[Power of Decay] counters all negative energy.
The [fragment of the annihilation demonic sword] itself contained the Law of Destruction at the Saint King Level.
Combining the two, those "Bone-Eaters" that seemed immune to physical attacks were as fragile as glass before him.
Every strike hit its mark.
Every strike shattered them.
Following behind, Capybara watched Su Jue waddle on his short legs, swinging a black sword tip taller than himself to smash a third-layer Divine Ability Realm serpent-shaped "Bone-Eater" until its soul dissipated. He then skillfully pulled out its core and crunched it like a candy bean.
It felt its worldview being refreshed once again.
This boss... not only possessed divine methods but was also capable of physical exorcism.
He's truly a master of both the pen and the sword!
"Boss is mighty!"
Capybara cheered loudly with great discernment.
Su Jue glanced at it, said nothing, and continued charging toward the next target.
And so, they walked and ate all the way.
About half a day passed.
Capybara suddenly stopped in its tracks.
"Boss, something... seems wrong up ahead."
Su Jue also stopped, following Capybara's gaze.
On the grey earth ahead, a giant shadow appeared.
The source of that shadow was a skeleton so massive it was hard to imagine.
A single collapsed rib was like a white mountain range spanning heaven and earth.
In the central area of those remains, a group of over a hundred "Bone-Eaters" had gathered.
They weren't wandering around like their previous counterparts; instead, they lay prostrate on the ground in silence, as if worshiping something.
At the center of their worship, a figure distinctly different from the other "Bone-Eaters" sat upon a throne of white bone.
It was also in a translucent energy form, but its body was incredibly solid, wearing a suit of black armor and a bone crown upon its head.
Most importantly, it held a... scepter composed of Death energy in its hand.
[Ding! Discovered high-order energy lifeform: Skeleton Monarch (Divine Power Realm Ninth Layer Peak)!]
[Warning! This lifeform has developed rudimentary intelligence and has mastered a portion of the law authority of the 'Kingdom of Death'!]
[Devouring Suggestion: A decent collectible, but it is suggested that the Host be careful not to chip your teeth.]
Oh?!
Divine Power Realm Ninth Layer Peak.
It even developed intelligence and mastered authority.
This is much more exciting than those scattered "little snacks" from before.
Su Jue licked his lips; his mouth was practically watering.
"Boss, this... this one seems like someone we shouldn't mess with!"
Capybara's voice trembled as it looked at the "Skeleton Monarch" sitting on the throne in the distance.
Its Faster-than-light Quantum Core flashed wildly, providing a blood-red evaluation result.
[Target: Skeleton Monarch]
[Threat Level: Baka Level!]
[Comprehensive Combat Power Evaluation: Equivalent to the combined strength of five human first-layer King Realm experts!]
[Win Rate Analysis: 0.01%]
[Survival Suggestion: Immediately, right now, flee at the highest possible speed!]
This win rate was predicated on the assumption that Su Jue could limitlessly use that strange "Words Become Law" ability from before.
But according to its observations along the way, after Su Jue insta-killed the first "Bone-Eater," he never used that power again, turning instead to more "primitive" combat methods.
What did this mean?
It meant that such an ultimate move definitely had massive limitations!
Once he could no longer use that out-of-spec power, facing this "Skeleton Monarch" head-on would result in only one outcome—being hammered into meat paste!
"Boss, should we make a strategic retreat first?" Capybara continued to persuade him. "For a gentleman, ten years is not too late for revenge!"
"It won't be too late to come back and deal with it after you've developed a bit more!"