As the sanguine dust scattered into nothingness, Tusha's Swallowing Skill poured out of the Stele of Massacre, consuming the fallen Shentu Xiong's cultivation, Blood Energy and Soul Force. The infernal nun didn't pay much attention to these gains. Qi-based cultivation was of no use to her. As for Blood Energy and Soul Force, Shentu Xiong didn't have enough to impact Tusha's growth.
The Evil Qi and Blood Energy contained in the Void-Shredding Claw were of a much greater appeal. More importantly, Tusha couldn't allow an artifact able to open rifts into Colorful Wing Supercity to stay in the wrong hands. The infernal nun's war armor turned into a conservative red and gold monastic robe, and she stretched her hand out, reaching for the Void-Shredding Claw.
At first, following the death of Shentu Xiong, the claw turned inert, hovering like an abandoned puppy waiting for a new owner to provide shelter and leadership. But as the nun activated her Swallowing Skill, pulling the claw towards her chest, a berserk surge of dark-purple force erupted from the diamond-shaped gem at the center of the claw's palm—spreading in foul energy waves that resisted the pull of Tusha's Swallowing Skill.
The nun's Bloodsoul Sense scanned the black-gold hand, and from simple surprise, her face twisted into a grimace of sheer horror.
'Wait, isn't this...the Corrupted Hand of Kongtian? By the all the damnations, where...did the Shentu get their hands on this artifact?' Tusha saw through the claw's origin, and while pushing her Swallowing Skill to the limit, trembled uncontrollably.
Tongtian, Kaitian, Kongtian: the three Heavenly Dukes and strongest experts of the human race. According to legends, each was born with mediocre talent and, recognizing that they had no way to transcend the shackles of their low potential, they each dedicated a lifetime to the perfection of a single craft—a craft that'd enable them to make the world a better place.
Tongtian chose formations. Kaitian followed divination, and Kongtian invested himself in spatial alteration. Even as their lifespans waned, and their progress atrophied, they refused to stop, splitting their days between improving the craft, assisting the common folks, and passing on what they learned to worthy disciples.
Moved by their commitment, by their willingness to play with the cards they'd been dealt with without ever resenting fate for blessing men of low moral and virtue with greater talents, Heaven granted them immortality, occasionally advising them in their cultivation.
After dedicating trillions of years to the pursuit of their crafts, and with Heaven's guidance, they each reached the summit of those paths—becoming the leaders of humanity's three strongest sects.
Kongtian wasn't a god, but his mastery of space was such that, only Doumu, the Primeval of the Void Pantheon, could match or surpass his skills. Before Kongtian, space was one of the cultivation paths that humans and the majority of other mortal creatures, couldn't master. His success brought him much jealousy, especially from the deities of the Void and Space Pantheons, who refused to accept that a mortal could surpass them in a field that had always been their divine privilege.
By using the opportunity offered by a Crusade, they colluded with the Infernal Paradise, leading Kongtian into an ambush of 66 High Devils of immeasurable cultivation led by 6 Sovereign Devils. Kongtian managed to fight his way out, but in that battle, was forced to cut off his right hand, which had been corrupted by the Evil Qi of the six Sovereign Devils.
Rebranded as the Void-Shredding Claw, that hand later became a trophy of the Infernal Paradise, shifting from one owner to the next through alliances, deals or theft. But regardless of how often it shifted hands, it should still be in the Infernal Paradise. How did the Shentu Wind Spirits of the Great Desolation world manage to get their hands on that ancient treasure?
'The Shentu clan's supreme elder, Shentu Shun, is the one that had the first Shentu Spirit Emperor proclaim the decree that turned the Eastern Continent's mysterious beasts' lives into a torturous struggle. Like all other peak-stage Supreme Clarity realm experts, he must be desperate to secure an Immortal Destiny—a path towards the realms gatekept by the Hengye and Taiyang clans.
But why...is he hiding in a coffin?' As her Swallowing Skill struggled to overpower the claw's defenses, Tusha's assessed the situation. Only experts that neared the end of their lifespans, or those that tried to avoid or delay Heavenly Tribulations, hid in coffins. Shentu Shun was a Supreme Clarity realm expert with 100,000 years of lifespan—a lifespan that he wasn't close to exhausting.
Others didn't have that info, but thanks to her time in the Celestial Hall and knowledge gleaned from <anno data-annotation-id="a12cfaa0-e09e-f66f-52bf-3bca8fb9ea6d">Feng Jian</anno>, Tusha knew Shentu Shun's exact age: 80,000. And with 20,000 years left to seek an opportunity for immortality, hiding didn't make much sense.
'Unless...he has already found his opportunity and is only waiting for the right time to capitalize on it. The Void-Shredding Claw enabled the average Shentu Xiong to leap over a full realm and reach the limits of Supreme Clarity. With enough sacrifices, why wouldn't it allow Shentu Shun to achieve Immortal Ascension?
But for those that follow the mortal path, immortality isn't just about energy resources. They need the Seeds. Is it possible that Shentu Shun...also has a demonic patron? Before we left the Infernal Paradise, who was the last owner of the claw?' As waves upon waves of questions succeeded one another in Tusha's mind, a blinding flash of light flared from the claw's diamond. A face appeared in Tusha's mind, her Swallowing Skill broke down, and her eyes widened in disbelief.
'Him? Why? Why did it have to be him?!' Seeing through the infernal powers that hid behind Shentu Shun, the infernal nun panicked. The claw escaped her control, bolting the distance.
But as all seemed lost...
"Beh!" Loud clapping sounds and baby laughs echoed in the sky, announcing the arrival of six babies with mesmerizing butterfly wings that flapped in the sky. The babies stretched their small, fat hands out, conjuring irresistible suction forces that stopped the Void-Shredding Claw where it stood.
"Imp...impossible!" A voice boomed from the claw, trembling at the realization that these six babies individually possessed vastly stronger Swallowing Skills than Tusha's best efforts could produce.
"Bold and presumptuous toddlers, do you know whose property you're trying to rob? If you don't stop at once, it is a Lord of the Infernal Paradise that you're about to offend!"
"Bah!" The Mini Overlords couldn't care less, and with pouts of annoyance, increased the pressure of their Swallowing Skills. An explosion of Evil Qi and Blood Energy permeated the atmosphere. The diamond gem detached itself, falling into the Mini Overlords' hands while the claw forced its way out, opening a brand-new rift towards another location.
