Throne Of The Forbidden God

The Art of Devouring Cultivators

"System, where are the corpses of the cultivators you mentioned? I want to taste the human essence."

Ravian's voice sounded cold, trembling with a hunger he had only just realized. Beneath his feet, the carcass of the Shadow Predator began to evaporate into black ash.

"Walk three hundred steps to the north, through the narrow gap behind that stone pillar," the System replied in its usual flat tone. "There lies an area called the 'Soul Estuary.' It is the deepest gravitational point where corpses from the surface usually get stuck before being completely destroyed."

Ravian began to walk. His new legs stepped on the ground with terrifying precision. He no longer stumbled. Every step felt light, as if he were dancing upon death.

"Soul Estuary..." Ravian murmured while parting the thick mist with a wave of his hand. "How many people have been cast down here like me?"

"Thousands over the last ten millennia," the System replied. "However, only you have a contract with me. For the others, this abyss is nothing more than a massive coffin."

Ravian arrived at a more open area. A pungent stench immediately pierced his nose a mixture of rotting flesh, rusted metal, and stale spiritual energy. Under the dim red light of his own eyes, he saw a gruesome sight.

Dozens, perhaps hundreds of skeletons and half-intact corpses were scattered among the rocks. Some wore expensive silk robes that were now tattered, indicating they were once important figures or geniuses from great sects.

"Look at that," Ravian pointed to a corpse wearing a bright yellow robe. "That's the emblem of the Rising Sun Sect. They say that sect is a pillar of righteousness on the Astrala Continent."

"Righteousness is merely a narrative for the victors, Host," the System interrupted. "That cultivator likely tried to find forbidden treasure at the edge of the abyss and slipped, or was betrayed by his own comrades. In the eyes of this abyss, he is nothing but a pile of nutrients."

Ravian knelt beside the corpse. His trembling hand lightly felt a storage ring on a finger that was now just bone. "Should I take his belongings?"

"That is the way of a low-level cultivator, Ravian," the System mocked. "Physical treasures will not help you crawl out of here quickly. Use the 'Essence Grave' function. Touch his chest and let your Hell Meridians do the work."

Ravian was stunned. "Essence Grave? You mean... I have to absorb what's left of his body?"

"Exactly. You will absorb the remnants of meridian energy hardened in his bones and the fragments of technique memories still trapped in his frozen brain cells. It is the fastest way to gain a cultivation foundation without having to meditate for decades."

Ravian pulled his hand back. His face turned pale. "That's... that's cannibalism. That's heretical! If I do this, what difference is there between me and the monsters I just killed?"

"Difference?" The System chuckled, a sound like grinding metal. "The difference is that the monster lives to eat, while you eat to seek revenge. Did the morality of the Arkana clan you glorified save you when Kaelan crushed your legs?"

Ravian fell silent. The memory of that pain attacked him again.

"Did Xuelan think of morality when she turned her back on you and let you be cast into this place?" the System continued, its voice piercing deeper. "The world calls this method heretical because they are afraid. They fear a predator who can devour the results of their hard work in an instant. Now choose, Ravian. Remain a moral human and rot beside them, or become a demon and stand upon the throne they fear."

Ravian stared at his palms. The hatred in his heart began to boil again, swallowing the remnants of his disgust.

"To hell with morality," Ravian hissed.

He pressed his palm against the chest of the Rising Sun Sect corpse. Instantly, black flames surged from his pores, crawling into the corpse's body.

"Activate Essence Grave!" Ravian commanded.

Swoosh!

Ravian felt a cold and foreign wave of energy flow into his arm. It wasn't pure energy, but something that felt like a collection of information forced into his brain. He saw flashes of images a man practicing swordplay under the sun, the pride of reaching a new realm, and finally, the overwhelming fear as he fell into the darkness.

"Ugh!" Ravian gripped his head, kneeling on the ground as the energy merged with his Hell Meridians.

"Do not resist the energy; let it flow into the Hell Core in your chest," the System instructed. "This process is called 'Soul Digestion.' You are refining their trash into your power."

After a few minutes, the corpse in front of Ravian crumbled into fine white dust. Ravian panted, yet he could feel his strength increasing significantly. His body felt denser, and he now had a basic understanding of spiritual energy circulation that he never had before due to his defective meridians.

"How does it feel, Host?" the System asked.

Ravian stood up, staring at his hands which were now filled with a stronger dark aura. "It feels... terrible. But I feel more alive than ever. I feel like I could crush stone with just a grip."

"Good. That was only one Beginner realm cultivator. Imagine if you devoured an Elder or a King."

One week passed.

The bottom of the Abyss of Soul Annihilation, which once felt like hell to Ravian, had now become his playground. He no longer hid. With the increasingly perfected 'Hell Step' technique, he darted from one group of corpses to another, devouring every remnant of energy he could find.

"System, how many now?" Ravian asked, standing in the middle of a pile of dust that was once a group of cultivators who died together.

"Thirty-two Beginner realm cultivators, and seven Intermediate realm," the System reported. "Your cultivation has now reached the peak of the Beginner realm. To break through to the next realm, you need higher quality essence. You can no longer rely on this trash."

Ravian wiped his face, which now looked sharper and colder. "I feel it. The energy from these corpses is starting to taste bland. I need something stronger."

"Then, walk further into the 'Forbidden Zone' at the center of the Soul Estuary," the System said. "I detect a very powerful aura there. Something that has been buried for hundreds of years, yet its essence has not fully extinguished."

Ravian moved without hesitation. Every step he took left scorched footprints on the ground. He felt he was no longer the weak Ravian. He was something else. Something hungry.

At the center of the valley, he found a small cave covered by large stone ruins. With one strike of hell energy, Ravian shattered the stones into pieces.

Inside the cave sat an old man cross-legged in black robes that still looked intact. Even though he was a corpse, the aura around him was so strong it created heavy air pressure. In his lap lay a black jade scroll emitting a dim purple light.

"Who is he?" Ravian whispered, feeling the hair on his neck stand up.

"This is a big catch, Ravian," the System's voice sounded slightly excited. "This is the remains of the Great Elder of the Black Shadow Sect who went missing three hundred years ago. He was a master of silent assassination techniques. And look at that... the scroll in his lap is his final legacy."

Ravian approached, feeling the spiritual pressure trying to repel him. "He still has an aura this strong after being dead for hundreds of years?"

"That is because he reached the King realm before falling. His meridians have hardened into essence crystals. If you manage to devour him, you will not only break through to a new realm, but you will also obtain your first true combat technique."

Ravian swallowed hard. He felt adrenaline coursing through his veins. He placed both hands on the elder's shoulders.

"System, do it now!"

Whoosh!

Black flames exploded larger than before, engulfing the entire cave. Ravian screamed as a massive wave of information and energy slammed into his soul. This was far more painful than when he devoured ordinary cultivators. He felt as if his arms were being twisted and his bones were being reshaped.

"Hold on, Host! Do not let this elder's memories take over your consciousness! You are the predator!" the System shouted amidst the energy storm.

Ravian gritted his teeth until they bled. "I... am... the owner... of your life... now!"

Suddenly, an image of a technique appeared in Ravian's mind. Hand movements curving like a predator's claws, capable of tearing the soul from an opponent's body even before they realized the attack.

"Soul-Severing Claw!"

The final explosion of energy destroyed the entire cave, making the abyss walls shake violently. As the dust began to settle, Ravian stood in the center of the crater, his hands emitting a razor-sharp blackish-purple aura.

He looked at his hands, which could now pierce through solid stone walls as if they were just a pile of straw. A terrifying smile appeared on his face.

"System," Ravian called, his voice now sounding like distant thunder.

"Yes, Successor?"

"I am ready to hunt bigger monsters. I need more essence to test these new claws."

"A good choice," the System replied. "Because something very large has just awakened due to your energy explosion earlier. And it is heading your way right now."

Ravian did not run. Instead, he lowered his body, his claws glowing with an insatiable bloodlust.