After a brief conversation with the Venomous Ying Divine Emperor, Dongbo Xueying bid farewell and departed for the Bone-Corroding Hall.
Whoosh.
Moving swiftly through the Void Realm with continuous teleportation, guided by the resonance of the Three Demon Halls’ token, he soon arrived at his destination.
“Hmm?” Before his eyes, a bubble materialized out of thin air, enveloping him, and in the next instant, he was shattered and vanished from the spot.
…
Dongbo Xueying surveyed his surroundings—a vast black lake stretched before him, its center marked by towering pillars that plunged deep into the water, supporting an ancient hall. The hall’s entrance bore weathered traces, with three characters inscribed above: *Bone-Corroding Hall*.
With a single step, he traversed dozens of feet and landed before the hall’s doors.
“One of the Three Demon Halls—the Bone-Corroding Hall.” Dongbo Xueying strode inside. The interior was decrepit, its doors perpetually left open, leaving the space grimy and neglected. His gaze lifted to the walls, quickly finding densely packed inscriptions—the *Bone-Corroding Secret Art*, one of the three foundational techniques.
“So, you entered with a token. You must be that soldier from the Destruction Legion,” a voice echoed as countless black droplets coalesced within the hall, forming a black-robed elder.
“That’s me,” Dongbo Xueying replied.
“The Bone-Corroding Secret Art is right there. Master it quickly. Fail within ten thousand years, and you’ll be thrown out,” the elder barked.
“Such hostility toward a Destruction Legion soldier under the Demon Ancestor’s banner. I’m not even from the Third Cosmic Epoch,” Dongbo Xueying remarked.
“Hmph.”
The elder snorted coldly, retreating to a corner to sit cross-legged, unwilling to engage further.
Unfazed, Dongbo Xueying turned his attention to the inscriptions, memorizing the Bone-Corroding Secret Art meticulously. With the token in hand, there was no urgency. Even if he failed within ten thousand years and was expelled, he could still practice outside and return once he succeeded—passing the trial effortlessly. That was the advantage of possessing the token.
The token granted unlimited entry to the Three Demon Halls, offering endless opportunities.
Thus, the first fortuitous entry was the most crucial—success was imperative.
“Bone-Corroding Secret Art?” Dongbo Xueying nodded slightly after reading. “A completely different approach from the Blood-Melting Secret Art—this one focuses on bones, and the pain is excruciating. I wonder why the Demon Ancestor’s supreme technique, *True Body of Ten Thousand Demons*, has three foundational arts, each so agonizing?”
The Blood-Melting, Bone-Corroding, and Heart-Refining Secret Arts were all torturous.
The first two, targeting blood and bones respectively, inflicted pain so severe it seeped into the soul.
The Heart-Refining Secret Art, however, targeted the true divine heart itself.
Pain.
Amidst the torment, one had to remain lucid and continue cultivating. Dongbo Xueying couldn’t fathom why such techniques were devised. The Demon Ancestor, the creator of the *Dark Abyss*, truly lived up to his name—even his techniques were uniquely brutal.
“Time to begin. Hopefully, I’ll succeed within ten thousand years.” Dongbo Xueying sat cross-legged and immersed himself in the technique, his true body in the Red Rock Mountain World also delving into its mysteries.
As he practiced, bones gradually pierced through his flesh and skin, protruding outward. These crystalline bones interconnected, forming a unified structure. Layer by layer, his body became encased in bone, transforming him into a skeletal figure.
*Crack!*
The bones fractured, followed by a rapid succession of snaps—his skeletal framework collapsing from within. In an instant, every bone in his body disintegrated, leaving him boneless. But immediately, his inner World Divine Power reconstituted them, restoring his skeleton anew.
Time flowed.
After over a century, a flawless bone armor finally enveloped Dongbo Xueying’s body—crystalline and seamless, even covering his head with a skeletal helmet, leaving only his eyes exposed.
“First step complete. Now for the next phase…” He continued cultivating as the bone armor began corroding, as if weathered by wind and sun. The excruciating pain furrowed his brow. Moments ago, he had been clad in gleaming bone, striking and formidable. Now, his armor was eroding, crumbling into ruin.
“Bone-Corroding Secret Art—the name fits perfectly. It truly corrodes bones.” Dongbo Xueying knew this was merely the first method. Three thousand such corrosion techniques had to be mastered before the art was complete.
The most frustrating part? Mastering it offered no tangible boost in strength—only proof of one’s supreme mastery over bone manipulation.
…
Days turned to years.
The pain intensified, yet Dongbo Xueying suppressed it and persevered. He knew the Three Demon Halls were one of the Demon Ancestor’s great legacies for future cosmic epochs—a rare opportunity. Otherwise, who would endure such agony for no immediate gain?
“Grr—” A low growl escaped his throat, his face contorted in agony.
The torment had his body trembling violently, barely maintaining his seated posture as his limbs convulsed uncontrollably. This state had persisted for three full days.
He was at the final stage—the pain at its peak.
*Boom.*
His bones suddenly stilled, returning to calm.
Sweat evaporated from his body as he exhaled in relief, opening his eyes.
“Success.” A smile tugged at his lips. Though he had known the token granted multiple attempts, ensuring high chances of success, the joy of completion was undeniable—especially after three millennia of relentless suffering.
He turned to the black-robed elder.
*Boom.*
His aura erupted, manifesting a colossal phantom behind him—a four-legged, shaggy beast with pillar-like limbs.
The elder observed the totemic apparition. “The Colossus Totem. Three thousand years to master it—impressive comprehension.”
He wasn’t surprised, having known Dongbo Xueying had previously mastered the Blood-Melting Secret Art with similar speed.
Elated, Dongbo Xueying reflected on his progress. With two of the three foundational arts mastered, only the Heart-Refining Secret Art remained. Once completed, he would claim the Demon Ancestor’s legacy—a rare boon even among Venerables. Many never gained entry to the Three Demon Halls, and those who did often failed their first attempt. For most Venerables, accustomed to slow cultivation over eons, mastering a technique within a mere million years was daunting.
Failure the first time almost guaranteed dashed hopes.
Thus, in this cosmic epoch, few had ever claimed the treasures of the Three Demon Halls.
“The Demon Ancestor’s rewards must be extraordinary.” Dongbo Xueying’s anticipation surged, though a glance at the scowling elder sent a tremor through him. *As a Destruction Legion soldier, I can endure some bias now… but if I pass all trials and still face unfair treatment when claiming my reward…*
“Leave now that you’ve succeeded,” the elder commanded, flicking his sleeve.
A bubble materialized, swallowing Dongbo Xueying.
In an instant, he was shattered and gone.
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