Not only Bram, but also Cain, who was crippled by him, coveted Seraphina's Ice Spirit Soul Body.

This woman was like a fragrant steamed bun—beautiful and pure—tempting to all who laid eyes upon her.

Everyone who encountered her wanted to possess her, to savor and claim her as their own.

This realization served as a warning to Ethan.

Despite the formidable power carried by the spirit body and holy body, they lacked the strength and independence required to be more than a marionette, a wedding dress to be donned by others.

Ethan put aside the Soul Devouring Art scroll without hesitation.

In truth, he possessed excellent conditions for practicing the Soul Devouring Art.

He had devoured the Four Spirits Holy Body and the Pure Spirit Body during this period, both temporarily sealed inside the Onyx Orchid.

These powerful physiques could have fueled the cultivation of such a technique.

But alas, he lacked the spiritual roots necessary for practice.

That was a pity.

Ethan shook his head at the thought. How splendid it would be to have spiritual roots—allowing cultivation of both spiritual energy and body, enriching combat methods, and greatly amplifying fighting power.

Yet, contentment was a joy within itself.

The absence of spiritual roots did not stop him.

In this era of declining physical cultivation, mastering complete body cultivation methods—the Celestial Jade Physique Scripture, Divine Flame Body Building Technique, and Nine Emperors Dao Body—was rare and invaluable.

Ethan was indeed fortunate.

He next picked up the incomplete bloody sheepskin scroll.

The tactile sensation was cool against his palm, sending a vague chill, yet his body, strong as a fierce beast, felt unaffected by the cold.

He closed his eyes, sensing the faint remnants of killing intent and contemplated them deeply.

Could the killing intent domain within Gilbert's body be derived from the cultivation method recorded on this scroll?

Ethan's mental energy radiated outward and enveloped the parchment.

Immediately, the scroll flared to life, bathed in a red glow.

Out floated a series of crimson characters, hovering in midair.

"The Immortal Level Secret Technique, One Word Severing Technique."

Ethan frowned thoughtfully.

One Word Severing Technique.

He reached toward the red script and absorbing a torrent of knowledge at once.

The One Word Severing Technique was a glorious method to gather killing intent.

Killing intent, unlike weapon intent, was sharper and far more formidable, yet notoriously difficult to wield.

Cultivators generally believed that the stronger they became, the more potent their killing intent.

Yet there was an alternative approach — through killing itself.

However, indiscriminate slaughter was perilous, capable of corrupting the mind with murderous madness.

Killing was hell, and those who indulged in it were punished by divine and mortal forces alike.

Few cultivators could wield the killing path without succumbing to mental ruin.

Though the killing path was one of the vast three thousand Daos, it was the most difficult and least accepted by society.

The rarity of cultivators was a testament to its harsh demands.

The One Word Severing Technique was an immortal-level secret precisely because it cultivated killing intent under a different framework.

Cultivators honed their killing energy by normal combat—killing enemies, gathering intent—without needing to become bloodthirsty murderers.

Under the nurturing warmth of the secret method, killing intent strengthened and evolved.

It traversed from a domain to an entire killing intent world.

The technique consisted of four phases—Condense, Shock, Break, and Kill.

Condense meant compressing killing intent into a tangible, weapon-like form.

Shock delivered raw impact to disrupt opponents internal energies.

Break amplified penetration, shattering defenses outright.

Finally, Kill exhausted the caster's killing intent in a final, devastating strike.

When the technique reached maturity, it locked a target's life essence.

If the target perished, the caster absorbed their killing intent to nourish their own strength.

If the target survived, backlash ravaged the caster's spirit.

Ethan reflected on Gilbert's failure to comprehend the One Word Severing Technique fully.

The gap between Gilbert and himself was far too vast—Gilbert never had a chance to unleash the technique's full potential.

Closing his eyes in concentration, Ethan studied the method with patience and precision.

Hours later, understanding dawned—true insight granted the power to master a secret immortal technique in mere hours.

Releasing his killing intent, Ethan silently recited the secret words within his heart.

Killing intent poured from his body as swirling gray ribbons, spinning like living shadows around him.

Each pulse subtly enhanced the energy, refining the power incrementally.

Though seemingly minute, over time these improvements became profound.

With continued practice, one month would bring qualitative transformation.

Such rapid progress owed to Ethan's remarkable comprehension and innate talent.

For cultivators like Bram, months or even years would be required to grasp even the basics.

A mere month of Ethan's practice surpassed others' years.

"Killing intent, Condense!" he commanded sharply.

His spiritual pressure focused; the diffuse waves of killing intent coalesced into a colossal sword.

Its destructive power was immense.

Generally, killing intent was merely an intimidation tactic.

Few wielded it like spiritual energy or essence to truly devastating effect.

The charm and strength of the One Word Severing Technique lay precisely in this ability.

Ethan smiled, satisfied.

"If I cultivate killing intent fully, this technique will become my ultimate killing move."

His gaze settled finally on the broken stone slab—half the size of a table—etched with unknown runes and inscriptions.

Upon first touch, Ethan sensed it was far from ordinary.

This object could isolate mental energies from being detected.

Even rare ores failed to achieve this.

Perhaps it had been specially refined.

Ethan activated his Azure Flames, swirling them gently around the slab.

The azure flame wrapped it in brilliant blue light.

Minutes passed, but no reaction came.

"So resistant to burning?" Ethan muttered, unconvinced, eyes narrowed as the flames flickered silently against the slab's surface.

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Capsule - 1 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 3 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

...

Thanks for the Massage Chair: @Dao_Explorer

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.