Han Shuo quickly left the Laver House, went to another block, and spent five purple crystal coins to rent a gymnasium. This gymnasium was only five hundred square metres in size. It was surrounded by a defensive wall supported by two boundary towers.
After sealing off the gymnasium, Han Shuo had his two avatars emerge from the Cauldron of Myriad Demon . His Avatar of Death continued to absorb the Death Divine Essence he had obtained from his last mining expedition. His Avatar of Destruction continued to condense the Orb of Destruction, slowly tinkering with the method of complementing the Orb of Destruction with the Domain of Divinity.
During the incident at the Fort Verka Gymnasium, Han Shuo had focused his attention on the Orb of Destruction released by Brovst's Dark Golden Sphere. Using his consciousness, Han Shuo did his best to memorise the trajectories of those Orbs of Destruction and how they travelled on the surface of the gymnasium's boundary.
With this, Han Shuo now had at least a general direction in which to conduct his experiments to find out how to use the Orbs of Destruction. With the help of his consciousness' powerful ability to remember, Han Shuo re-created the trajectories of those Orbs of Destruction back at Fort Verka, and sent his Orbs of Destruction flying all around his domain of divinity.
Whenever Han Shuo concentrated on a task, he would lose track of time, especially in an enclosed space like the gymnasium he was in. He repeatedly experimented with finding the right trajectory for the Orbs of Destruction. Gradually, Han Shuo discovered that the Orbs of Destruction became more agile under his manipulation, and the trajectories seemed to be in accordance with the Edict of Destruction.
Han Shuo's main body and the Avatar of Death were also hard at work. Unknowingly, Han Shuo's Death Avatar had absorbed all the divine essence of death that the Metal Elite Zombie and the Earth Elite Zombie had obtained. Since his Death Avatar had previously absorbed a Midgod Soul without self-consciousness, his understanding of the energy of death would increase as his divine energy deepened.
After absorbing all of the divine essence, Han Shuo had a vague feeling that the divine energy in his Death Avatar was on the verge of another breakthrough. This meant that his Death Avatar would soon be able to ascend to the Midgod realm.
Progressing from the Lowgod Realm to the Midgod Realm was a huge hurdle. But once Han Shuo overcame this hurdle, his status in Elysium would rise by one class. For example, in the City of Shadows, there were countless Lowgods like Han Shuo. However, the number of Midgods was far less than the number of Lowgods. Practically every Midgod would be invited and recruited by at least one of the family clans and would claim a decent position in the City of Shadows.
While Han Shuo's avatars were cultivating to improve themselves, Han Shuo's main body was constantly researching some demonic arts techniques with the Cauldron Spirit. He began to practice the Invincible Omen Body, a demonic technique that could only be mastered by those in the Omen Realm. The demonic technique could strengthen the body and increase its physical defences by a considerable amount.
Based on the demonic knowledge left behind by the Exalted DemonLord Gu Tian Xie, the Invincible Omen Body could instantly flood every cell and bone with demonic yuan, increasing the body's defensive power by several hundred times and forming something like a defensive shield within the body. When attacked, the demonic body would automatically activate to form an Invincible Omen Body, rendering the enemy's attack ineffective.
As the Demonic Yuan of the Demonic Arts cultivator increased, the defensive power of the Invincible Omen Body would also increase. At the final stage of the Demonic Arts, one would not only have a body that was invincible to any physical attack, but the body itself could automatically fight back. Once attacked, the Invincible Omen Body would automatically gather the energy inside the body and unleash a terrifying burst of energy that would instantly injure the attacker.
It could be said that once a person succeeded in forming an Invincible Omen Body, he would not have to worry about being sneak attack. In fact, attacking someone who had fully formed an Invincible Omen Body was like hoisting one's own petard.
It was said that in ancient times, when Gu Tian Xie, the Exalted Demonlord, was refining a demonic weapon, he was tracked down by three of his enemies. When they saw that he wasn't awake, they immediately tried to kill him. However, with the extraordinary protection of the Invincible Omen Body, Gu Tian Xie, the Exalted Demonlord, only spat out a small amount of blood. Two of the attackers were killed on the spot and one was seriously injured by the Invincible Omen Body's spontaneous counterattack. The attacker who survived the counterattack eventually succumbed to his injuries while fleeing.
Throughout the years, Han Shuo had placed great importance on tempering and forging his body. As soon as he obtained the cultivation method of the Invincible Omen Body, he began to practise it day and night. If he came across something he wasn't too sure about, he would immediately ask Cauldron Spirit about it. Cauldron Spirit was indeed worthy of being called the ultimate demonic weapon. His understanding of demonic art was much deeper than Han Shuo's. He was able to answer all of Han Shuo's questions in detail.
Han Shuo diligently practised the Invincible Omen Body under the guidance of the Cauldron Spirit. Cultivating Invincible Omen Body required the destruction and reconstruction of the body. As a result, Han Shuo's blood vessels would often burst and his organs would shatter when he practised the demon technique. Accustomed to the cultivation of the Demonic Arts, which resembled self-harm, Han Shuo endured and persevered through the inhuman pain, strengthening his body over and over again...
An unknown amount of time had passed. The first body of Han Shuo's to awaken was his Avatar cultivating in the energy of death. After completely absorbing all the divine essence containing the energy of death, it would no longer be so easy to further improve his strength.
As Han Shuo lifted his head to look at the energy clock at the top of the gym, he realised that half a year had unknowingly passed. During that time, Han Shuo had only absorbed all of the divine essence. His other two bodies were still cultivating.
Another three months passed. Han Shuo's Avatar of Destruction had also stopped studying the Edict of Destruction. After countless trials and errors in mimicking the scene that his powerful consciousness had memorised, Han Shuo had mastered part of the method of manipulating the Orb of Destruction. At this point, Han Shuo could cause five Orbs of Destruction to revolve around him in trajectories according to the Edict of Destruction simply by thinking. He could also manoeuvre the Orb of Destruction to attack any point around him.
Han Shuo knew that his ability to use the Orb of Destruction could only gradually increase as his understanding and comprehension of the Edict of Destruction increased. This avatar of his was also on the verge of a breakthrough. Han Shuo believed that as long as he had one more moment of enlightenment, he would take another step forward and reach the Late-stage Lowgod Realmn of Edict of Distructions
Another two months had passed. Han Shuo's main body had also stopped his intensive study of the Invincible Omen Body. The almost insane cultivation and self-torture had rewarded Han Shuo with some slight progress in the Invincible Omen Body. All he had to do was think and the Invincible Omen Body would take shape, flooding every cell of his body with demonic yuan in an instant.
However, this was only a small step, Han Shuo was still far from being able to spontaneously activate the skill when attacked. As for the ultimate stage where the Invincible Omen Body would automatically strike back, that was still far out of Han Shuo's reach at the moment.
All three of Han Shuo's bodies had progressed as far as they could through cultivation. If Han Shuo wanted to progress even further and make a breakthrough, he would have to do more than just cultivate. Han Shuo knew that there was no point in staying in the gymnasium any longer. He sent his avatars back into his main body, took a proper shower in the gymnasium, put on new clothes, and left the gymnasium.
Han Shuo had stayed in the gymnasium for almost a year, which had exceeded the rental period he had received for five purple crystal coins. Therefore, he paid an additional six purple crystal coins to make up for the overstay. After Han Shuo handed the purple crystal coins to the old man in charge of the gymnasium, he asked, "Where is the largest scroll shop around here?"
"Travel north. It won't be long before you find a scroll shop called God-Given. They should have what you need!" the old man held out the six purple crystal coins and enthusiastically pointed Han Shuo in the right direction.
Han Shuo thanked him and made his way to the scroll shop. After walking for about twenty minutes, he entered the scroll shop called God-Given.
Han Shuo had come here because he needed a real insight into the Edict of Destruction.
Compared to the scroll shop in Fort Verka run by Rahman the Godhunter, this scroll shop was much, much bigger. Although it was only one storey high, it was divided into many regions. Apart from the energies of Life and Light, all of the other ten major energies had their own section in the shop. There was even a special section dedicated to scrolls on all sorts of non-mainstream energies, namely combat aura, the energy of fear, and even the energy of lust. Han Shuo could not have been more surprised.
When Han Shuo arrived at the destructive energy section, he discovered that it was further divided into three sub-sections. The first was for scrolls on understanding the Edict of Destruction , the second was for methods of attack, and the third was for the use of divine weapons of Destruction Energy.
All three sections were guarded by shopkeepers. They were responsible for selling and explaining the few hundred scrolls on display. From the wide smiles on their faces and their friendly demeanour, it was obvious that they had all received professional training.
After entering the shop, Han Shuo had to admit that this was indeed a large shop. After going to the section for advanced understanding of the Edict of Destruction, Han Shuo had to take a second look at the price tags as his eyes flickered. All the scrolls were priced in black crystal coins. They were so expensive that even Han Shuo felt a little dizzy just looking at them.
The cheapest scroll was priced at three Black Crystal Coins and the most expensive scroll, aimed at Midgods, was priced at nine thousand Black Crystal Coins, far exceeding Han Shuo's current net worth.
"Every scroll for sale in our shop has been examined by professionals to ensure that what you buy is worth what you pay for. To advance in the realm is to fundamentally advance in strength. Therefore, it's to be expected that they are slightly more expensive," a young and handsome looking shopkeeper explained to Han Shuo in a very polite manner. He then asked, "Have you encountered any difficulties in your cultivation? I can select a suitable scroll for you."
Han Shuo was stunned for a moment before he replied, "I am at the Mid-stage of the Lowgod Realm. I have a vague feeling that I'm about to break through to the Late-stage, but unfortunately, I can't seem to grasp the key and have no idea what aspect I'm missing. I'd like to see if there's a scroll here that might help.
The shopkeeper flipped through a small booklet and after a while, he lifted his head, pulled out a scroll from under the counter, and confidently said to Han Shuo, "This scroll! It contains the realisations of a person who has reached the Late-stage of the Lowgod realm. The selling price is forty-seven black crystal coins. I think this should be useful to you!"
Wow! A professional! Han Shuo was impressed, and his confidence in this shop grew a little. Without hesitation, Han Shuo took out forty-seven black crystal coins and handed them to the shopkeeper, saying, "All right, I'll buy it!"
"Before I sell it, as per the shop's policy, I must give you a word of warning. Although this scroll contains the understanding of a person who has successfully progressed in his cultivation, everyone has different cultivation paths. Their experience may or may not be suitable for you. This scroll might give you some new insight, but it does not guarantee that you will make a breakthrough," the shopkeeper explained to Han Shuo.
"Alright, I understand. I'll buy it," Han Shuo knew of course that scrolls might not be one hundred percent useful and he didn't need the reminder.
"Please give me your divine tablet. We have to keep a detailed record of all scroll sales," the shopkeeper said apologetically.
Han Shuo handed over his divine tablet along with the forty-seven black crystal coins. After a smooth transaction, Han Shuo received the scroll. But after impatiently reading the scroll once, Han Shuo had a big bitter smile on his face. The author of the scroll was very poor at communicating his thoughts. The contents and descriptions were absolute mumbo jumbo and so confusing that Han Shuo had no idea what the hell he was writing about.
Perhaps the only thing that was useful was his experience with hatred. He said that hatred created the impulse to destroy all things. When the author was filled with immense hatred, all he could think about was destroying his enemy. Then, the moment he killed this enemy of his, whom he hated with all his heart and soul, he made a breakthrough.
"As we agreed earlier, we cannot refund you even if you find your purchase unsatisfactory," the shopkeeper hastily reminded Han Shuo as he immediately realised from his bitter smile that he had not gained the enlightenment he was seeking.
"Forget it. I should have known better. Everyone's cultivation experience is different. If divine scrolls were actually useful, there wouldn't be so many people stuck in the same realm," Han Shuo sighed helplessly. No longer pinning his hopes on divine scrolls, Han Shuo turned and left the scroll shop.
"Hatred... hatred breeds the impulse to destroy all things... hatred... hatred..." Han Shuo kept thinking about the sentence after he left the scroll shop. He felt that it might be something.
However, Han Shuo had long since killed all his enemies with bone-deep hatred. Currently, Han Shuo did not hate anyone deeply enough. Even if he wanted to try, he had no target to lay his hand on.
Suddenly, Han Shuo raised his eyebrows. He stopped his steps and turned to look behind his back.
Soon, a group of divine guards from the City of Shadows rushed over to Han Shuo and surrounded him, trailing a cloud of dust behind them. The man leading the group was the green-haired man Han Shuo had met in the Godhunters valley. As soon as he saw Han Shuo, he coldly shouted, "Are you Bryan?"
"That's me. What's going on?" Han Shuo was dazed for a moment and looked at him in confusion.
"You should know best about your own deeds. Come with us!" the green-haired divine guard shouted angrily, "Such a shameless fellow to rob us of our spoils of war. We will make you spill everything from your stomach!"