Chapter 233

At the moment the energy shield stabilized, time seemed to be pulled into thick syrup.

"Brother..."

Wang Zhitao's voice was no longer coming from his throat; it was more like a wisp of air squeezed out from a crack in his soul. His body was the battlefield.

That stream of primordial energy, coming from Grandfather Wang Shan and polluted by the vortex, was like a pack of mad dogs, rampaging through his Meridians, tearing and biting at everything.

Pain.

Pain was no longer enough to describe this feeling; it was more like a kind of 'error.' Every cell in his body screamed, protesting this power that did not belong to this world.

"Don't lose focus! Treat it as food!" Wang Zhe's voice exploded directly in his mind, "Are you a pig? You can't even chew the meat delivered to your mouth!"

That scolding was more useful than any comfort.

In Wang Zhitao's hazy consciousness, that violent surge of energy seemed to truly turn into chunks of flesh bristling with barbs and soldering irons. The hunger instinct deep in his blood was ignited completely by those rough words.

"Can't chew it? Then swallow!"

"Roar!"

A suppressed beastly roar rolled out from Wang Zhitao's throat. He no longer resisted, no longer guided, but completely released his 'Devouring Sovereign Body.' His body became like a greedy black hole, frantically pulling, tearing, and digesting that energy.

Veins bulged beneath his skin like black-gold earthworms wriggling. His bones emitted a strained 'creak,' but in the next second they were forcibly repaired and reinforced by the newly surging energy.

Destruction and reconstruction proceeded within his body at a speed far beyond limits.

"Exactly! That's it!" Wang Zhe's pressure suddenly eased.

The energy that 'leaked' over from Wang Zhitao's side became less chaotic and more… pure. It was like throwing an iron ore mixed with sand and dirt into a furnace; although what came out was still molten iron, at least most of the impurities were burned away.

This refined black-gold energy, passing through the jade slip in his palm, became much more docile. Controlling it no longer felt like walking a tightrope; it was more like taming a fierce horse. Though still dangerous, at least there was now a chance to master it.

His ten fingers flew, no longer merely maintaining a shield, but beginning to weave this energy into more complex forms. Black-gold runes flickered at his fingertips, imprinted on the shield, turning what had been purely passive defense into an active guide that directed and distorted the surrounding space.

The energy storm spilling from the vortex's edge, when it neared the shield, would be naturally drawn aside by those runes, greatly easing the pressure on the forefront Wang Shan.

This cycle came alive.

It was no longer three independent entities passively enduring; it had become a precise and efficient machine.

Giant Beast Wang Shan is the engine and intake of this machine. It takes root in the energy vortex, enduring the most terrifying pollution and impact, drawing in the most primordial and chaotic 'fuel.' Its massive body is the first filter; countless twisted laws leave horrible wounds on it, yet also grant it a deeper understanding of this power's essence.

Wang Zhitao is the furnace. Using his near-self-destructive Sovereign Body, he swallows the 'fuel residue' and 'exhaust' that Grandfather Wang Shan cannot fully digest, for a second forging. His sole task is to burn away all impurities and refine the most Core 'power source.'

Wang Zhe, meanwhile, is the machine's 'pilot' and 'weapon system.' He transmutes the pure energy refined by his brother into 'armor' that protects the three of them, and even into 'cannon fire' for counterattack.

What startled Wang Zhe most was that, through the jade slip, he could vaguely 'see' some things.

In his perception, the energy vortex ahead was no longer pure chaos. He could see countless threads finer than a hair, intertwined to form the vortex. These 'threads' are the laws of this place—only they are twisted, erroneous, and full of malice.

What Grandfather is doing is using his body to forcibly 'straighten' these threads.

What the younger brother is doing is taking the most chaotic thread ends that have been 'straightened' and 'eating' them.

And he himself is analyzing those eaten thread ends, understanding their structure, and then… attempting to weave his own 'threads'.

"So… that's how it is…" Wang Zhe murmured to himself.

What curses, what pollution—in Grandfather Wang Shan's plan this is nothing less than an unprecedented massive 'inheritance'! He is not sacrificing himself; rather, in the most extreme way, he is feeding his complete understanding of this twisted power, bit by bit, to his two grandsons.

Just then, the energy flow emanating from within Giant Beast Wang Shan's body suddenly shifted.

It was no longer the pure violence of before; mixed in was a hint of… a clear imprint. It was a kind of information, not belonging to any language, yet both Wang Zhitao and Wang Zhe understood it at the same time.

Within that imprint lay the Giant Beast's method of tearing at energy, its techniques for opposing the laws, and even a hint of… satisfaction.

It was like a stern blacksmith seeing his two apprentices finally manage to lift a hammer, albeit awkwardly and weakly, but having at least entered the door. So he casually tossed a red-hot iron billet their way, as both a reward and a new trial.

"Ugh!"

Wang Zhitao let out another muffled groan. This energy bearing the 'imprint' was harder to digest than before. But this time he did not panic; instead, he learned from the imprint's manner, using his Sovereign Body to imitate that rhythm of tearing and devouring.

Efficiency instantly doubled!

The energy he transmitted to Wang Zhe also became purer and more massive.

Wang Zhe had a sudden inspiration, controlling the surging energy, no longer satisfied with merely weaving a shield. He extended his left hand and lightly grasped at the void.

Hum!

A spear forged from black-gold energy condensed into shape in his hand. Its shaft was covered in mysterious runes, exuding an aura of annihilating all things.

This was no longer mere energy; it was power that he had 'defined,' belonging to him.

In the distant darkness, Li Hu and Zhang Mei, who had remained silent, were left dumbfounded.

"What… what is that?" Zhang Mei's voice trembled.

Li Hu's Adam's apple rolled once, and he remained speechless for a long while. He didn't understand any energy circulation or any laws; he only saw that the two brothers, in that place like the core of hell, had not died but seemed to be… eating.

Especially the black-gold spear in Wang Zhe's hand made even this onlooker feel a pang of palpitation.

"Madman…" Li Hu finally squeezed out two words from between his teeth: "Damn it, the whole family is mad."

He suddenly felt that Old Master Wang Shan was not raising two grandsons.

He was forging two weapons capable of overturning the world.