Chapter 556: Unlocking New Features

"How do we leave this secret realm?" As the other person disappeared, Zu'an suddenly remembered the most important question he hadn't asked. Unfortunately, there was no reply. He didn't know if Wu Geng intentionally refused to answer or if he had already left this world.

Next, the air around them twisted, and both felt a sense of weightlessness. When they regained consciousness, they found themselves still in the pose of reaching out and pressing their hands on the Fu Hao owl zun.

This was clearly the place where they had just initiated the trial. The surroundings were empty. Initially, they had been somewhat worried that the skeletal general named Yachang might pose a threat to them nearby. However, after undergoing the trials of the Wu Ding era, they now understood that Yachang was a loyal and dependable companion. They had even wanted to catch up with him, but he wasn't there at all; he had evidently returned to his coffin to sleep.

"Oh, you're back so soon? Could it be that you couldn't start the trial?" Just then, Mi Li's familiar voice echoed in his mind.

Zu'an was taken aback. "How much time has passed since we pressed our hands on this platform?"

"Not long at all, just a few breaths," Mi Li replied. "Did you not manage to start the trial, or have you already successfully completed it?" Being experienced, she had a faint guess.

"Of course we passed," Zu'an sighed softly. "I can't believe we spent decades over there, while only a few breaths passed here."

Although several centuries spanned from the Wu Ding era to the last King Zhou's reign, Zu'an and the other person only personally experienced a few decades.

Of course, this "several decades" might not be precise, as Zu'an always felt that the decades within the trial passed much faster than decades in the real world.

"The flow of time in such trial worlds is independent, so this phenomenon is quite common," Mi Li answered. "When you have a moment, tell me the specifics of the trial. For now, what did you gain after completing the secret realm?"

She realized she hadn't felt such anticipation in a long time. Even her own extraordinary encounters during her cultivation hadn't excited her this much. Yet, the thought of Zu'an potentially improving his strength made her uncontrollably excited.

This realization puzzled her considerably, but then she reasoned that the faster his strength improved, the sooner she could remold her physical body. Yes, that must be it.

Zu'an replied, "I received something called the 'Taotie Devouring Heaven Art'."

"The 'Taotie Devouring Heaven Art'?" Mi Li was startled.

"You know about it too, Sister Queen?" Zu'an was surprised by her reaction.

"Of course I know. The Shang royal family's 'Taotie Devouring Heaven Art' is a terrifying cultivation method," Mi Li said with a complex expression. "Most cultivation methods in the world follow the Heavenly Dao, which means diminishing the excess to supplement the insufficient. However, this method of the Shang royal family does the opposite: it diminishes the insufficient to nourish the abundant, growing stronger by plundering and devouring the vital energy of other cultivators..."

After hearing her description, Zu'an blurted out instinctively, "Star Sucking Great Art?"

"What 'Star Sucking Great Art'?" Mi Li asked, confused.

"Nothing..." Zu'an quickly found an excuse to change the subject, secretly thinking that the principle of this art must be similar to the Star Sucking Great Art, but clearly far more advanced. At the very least, it didn't require abandoning one's existing cultivation to re-practice.

He also couldn't help but complain about the nature of the Shang people. Back then, they would frequently use live sacrifices and even eat human flesh. Now, even their cultivation methods involve absorbing human vital energy, making them seem inseparable from cannibals.

Mi Li then said, "Although this cultivation method is somewhat sinister, it's perfectly suited for your current situation. Your cultivation is still too low, and this method can quickly increase it. However, I must warn you beforehand: this art is extremely insidious. If you're not careful, you'll become its slave, and your malevolent aura will intensify, eventually causing you to lose yourself."

Zu'an smiled. "Sister Queen, you worry too much. In this world, there are only good people and bad people; how can there be so-called 'righteous' or 'evil' cultivation methods? As long as I use this art exclusively to absorb from bad people, even an evil method can become righteous and awe-inspiring."

Mi Li nodded. "It's rare for someone your age to have such understanding. However, you don't need to limit yourself to only absorbing from bad people. There are no absolute good or bad people in this world, so you only need to maintain your true self and not be overly fixated. Now that you're awake, I can rest assured. I won't disturb your private time with that big-breasted girl."

After speaking, she fell silent, seemingly having entered a deep slumber.

Although the text makes it seem like they talked for a long time, it was actually only a momentary exchange because it was direct communication between souls.

Pei Mianman, who was beside him, hadn't noticed anything unusual. She said, "A'Zu, that Wu Geng didn't mention how to leave the secret realm earlier. What should we do now?"

Although they had left the trial world, they were still within the secret realm of the stone tablet and didn't know how to exit.

"We'll have to take it one step at a time," Zu'an said solemnly. "Oh, by the way, Wu Geng said he would give you the Fu Hao owl zun. Try to see if you can refine it."

Pei Mianman gently caressed the owl zun beside her. "I seem to feel an inexplicable sense of closeness and connection with this owl zun. I should be able to refine it, but it will take some time."

"No rush. Refine it first. We have plenty of time here, and I'll protect you while you do," Zu'an said.

Pei Mianman nodded, gently embracing the owl zun's wings with her hands, and diligently tried to communicate with it using her mind.

Noticing that she had entered a meditative state, Zu'an knew it would likely take a while. So, he began to study the "Taotie Devouring Heaven Art" that Wu Geng had given him.

As soon as he took out the bronze slip from his pocket, a cold voice echoed in his mind: "Detected the Mysterious Tome of Yin Ruins, 'Taotie Devouring Heaven Art'. Do you wish to cultivate it?"

Zu'an naturally chose yes. The bronze slip in his hand transformed into specks of starlight and vanished, as a massive stream of information surged into his mind.

At that moment, he felt as if he could see the situation inside his own body. He vaguely saw a Taotie pattern gradually forming, then greedily devouring everything it could, and when it had consumed everything on the ground, it even swallowed its own body whole, leaving only a large mouth.

Even so, it remained unsatisfied. Suddenly, it looked up at the sky, opened its enormous mouth, and swallowed the sky itself.

Then, with a boom, the Taotie's massive maw transformed into an infinitely dark black hole, devouring any celestial bodies that approached it in the starry sky...

After watching this "demonstration animation," Zu'an swallowed hard, thinking to himself that this cultivation method was truly sinister. If he kept practicing it, would he turn himself into a black hole?

As he was still dazed, the system's voice echoed in his mind again:

"Due to obtaining the second complete Mysterious Tome, the keyboard has activated a new function – the Valkyrie System!"

"Unlike other dynasties where men were superior to women, women held quite a high status in the Shang Dynasty. Successive Shang kings and queens jointly governed the realm, and throughout the Shang era, many heroic women emerged, regarded as Valkyries by the Shang people."

"Similar extraordinary women existed in other worlds. Unfortunately, with the collapse and destruction of their respective worlds, those radiant Valkyries lost their former strength and glory. Their souls became fragmented, instinctively drifting through the turbulent currents of space-time."

"You can use a Tiger Seal to make a wish to the Valkyrie System. If you are lucky enough, there's a chance you might resonate with a Valkyrie in the space-time turbulence, drawing her to your world to fight for you."

"Tiger Seals can be obtained probabilistically through Anger Value lottery draws. As this is the host's first activation of the Valkyrie System, 10 Tiger Seals are specially gifted for wishing. We hope your luck is good enough to resonate with a Valkyrie within the first 10 wishes."

"Friendly reminder: If you haven't won much in lotteries since childhood, don't have high expectations about resonating with a Valkyrie..."

Zu'an: "..."