Boom~~~
Before Xia Chuan could utter another word, the air was split by a deafening roar. The barbarian warriors, who had just spoken of their conquest, were crushed by an overwhelming force—an invisible pressure that felt like a thousand times the weight of the heavens themselves.
In an instant, the entire barbarian army was torn apart as though it were made of paper. Their massive forms, once towering and mighty, exploded into a shower of blood and entrails, scattering across the battlefield in a horrific display of carnage.
Not a single warrior remained standing; their bodies shattered like brittle clay, torn into countless pieces of flesh, bone, and muscle. The force of the destruction was so immense that the battlefield was filled with the grotesque scent of death.
"Dead? So swiftly?" Xia Chuan muttered in disbelief. "I had no idea that the power of world artifacts could be so overwhelming. Crushing these formidable barbarian warriors is like crushing ants beneath one's heel."
He watched, still stunned, as the remnants of the barbarian army lay scattered, their once-proud bodies reduced to nothing more than mangled corpses. Xia Chuan marveled at the sheer might of the artifact in his hands.
Truth be told, he was still only a consummate Bronze-ranked warrior. If he had faced these barbarian soldiers in combat with his own strength, victory would have been all but impossible. Yet, with the power of the world artifact, he had eradicated tens of thousands of them in an instant. This power, akin to that of a god, left him awestruck.
Such was the terrifying nature of the world artifact—the weapon that could shatter the balance of any world. With its might, a single individual could wield enough power to create an empire, to conquer and subjugate all.
Xia Chuan now stood not only as a god in this miniature world but also as a force to be reckoned with in the real world. His strength had reached divine proportions, able to crush countless enemies without effort.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the space tunnel, the remaining barbarian soldiers could only watch in horror as their comrades were obliterated in a single, catastrophic moment. The sudden and utter annihilation of their brethren sent waves of terror through the ranks.
"All of them are dead—Basque, the generals, everyone! Not a single one survived!" A voice trembled from the depths of the tunnel.
"My gods… thousands of our finest warriors perished in an instant! What happened?!"
"Run! Run! There are gods in this world—gods that will destroy us!"
The barbarians, once full of bloodlust and ambition, were now consumed by fear. The thought of their invasion, once certain to be victorious, had turned into a desperate flight from an unknown terror. The sheer force that had wiped out their comrades in a flash was beyond their understanding.
Panic spread like wildfire through their ranks. Many of the barbarians, realizing that their invasion would bring nothing but doom, turned tail and fled, abandoning their mission to invade Xuanhuang Star. Their footsteps echoed with a mixture of dread and regret, retreating into the safety of the unknown.
For a long moment, Xia Chuan could hear their terrified footsteps, retreating back into the dark depths of the space tunnel. The invaders who had once threatened to conquer this world were now reduced to fleeing cowards.
Xia Chuan narrowed his eyes, sensing the immense aura that still lingered from the other side of the tunnel. It was a wild, untamed force that seemed to belong to a world far removed from the miniature realm he inhabited. Yet, he could also sense the danger that emanated from it—something primal and unknown.
But Xia Chuan, ever cautious, decided against venturing into the rift. He had witnessed the power of the world artifact firsthand, but that did not mean he was invincible. The unknown world beyond the rift carried risks that even he could not predict. His curiosity was tempered by wisdom—there was no need to rush into danger when his strength had not yet reached the level of absolute invincibility.
"Master, may I devour the souls of these barbarians?" The Book of Wisdom's voice rang out in his mind, its tone filled with excitement.
"Devour their souls? Why?" Xia Chuan asked, his brow furrowing in curiosity.
"This is an evolutionary method of the Book of Wisdom," the artifact explained. "By consuming souls, the Book of Wisdom can evolve and unlock new abilities. The souls of these barbarians are incredibly potent. Their energy alone will sustain the Book of Wisdom for a long time."
Xia Chuan understood now. The Book of Wisdom thrived on the souls of powerful beings, growing stronger with each one it consumed. These barbarian warriors, fierce as they were, had souls rich in power—perfect for fueling the artifact's evolution.
"Then, go ahead," Xia Chuan said with a nod, allowing the Book of Wisdom to feast on the souls of the fallen.
Immediately, waves of ethereal energy surged from the Book of Wisdom. The souls of the barbarians were drawn into its pages, their very essences consumed by the artifact. As the souls entered the book, their memories, powers, and experiences were absorbed, transforming into knowledge that would aid Xia Chuan in the future.
"Can you truly extract their memories?" Xia Chuan asked, intrigued.
"Indeed," the Book of Wisdom replied. "When I consume a soul, its memories are recorded within me. I will know everything they knew, and their experiences will become mine."
A smirk tugged at Xia Chuan's lips. "So, by consuming their souls, I can learn of the other world, the world they came from?"
"Yes," the Book of Wisdom confirmed. "It will take some time to fully process the souls, but soon, all their memories will be at your disposal."
"Very well," Xia Chuan said, nodding. "Take your time. Let's move on for now."
With a flash of speed, Xia Chuan disappeared from the battlefield, his form vanishing into the distance as the Book of Wisdom continued its work. The remnants of the barbarian army lay in ruin behind him, and the knowledge of their world would soon be his to command.