Truly exceptional magic tools, each one an extraordinary artifact. A Qi Refining disciple who possesses one, even after advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage and converting their True Qi into True Essence, allowing them to use Foundation Establishment spirit tools, would still find such an exceptional magic tool difficult to replace with an ordinary spirit tool. This is because, let alone low-grade spirit tools, even many mid-grade spirit tools might not surpass the sheer power or unique utility of an exceptional magic tool. This is precisely why exceptional magic tools are so highly valued: immense power accessible to lower-tier disciples.

Purely in terms of destructive force, some high-grade spirit tools might indeed overpower an exceptional magic tool. However, when considering overall worth, a high-grade spirit tool’s value is far inferior to that of an exceptional magic tool.

Of course, that only applies to normal exceptional magic tools. The Wheel of Annihilation was an exception to this rule.

It was an exceptional magic tool that Wan Gui obtained during the early Foundation Establishment phase, the very artifact that earned him his fearsome reputation, and once his Natal Magic Tool. Countless Foundation Establishment cultivators had perished beneath its might. As Wan Gui’s Natal Artifact, its power had steadily risen over a century of continuous nurturing and mental refinement. Only when Wan Gui reached the second layer of the Golden Core stage did he finally sense that the Wheel of Annihilation’s growth had plateaued, unable to keep pace with his cultivation or adapt to the far more ferocious battles fought by Golden Core experts. Only then did he expend vast resources to commission a master Refiner within the sect to forge the Wheel of Purgatory, finally replacing his beloved Wheel of Annihilation.

This was an exceptional magic tool that Wan Gui had cherished enough to use as his Natal Artifact right up to the Golden Core stage—one must grasp that its might could not be underestimated. Furthermore, having been mentally refined by Wan Gui for a century, in a sense, this exceptional magic tool had already transcended the realm of standard exceptional magic tools, and it would certainly not be weaker than a high-grade spirit tool. Even if some damage had been inflicted upon it when Wan Gui stripped away the imprint of his divine sense, and even if Lei Dong, due to his insufficient cultivation, could not unleash its true potential.

Yet, one had to admit that Wan Gui quietly handing Lei Dong this Natal Exceptional Magic Tool—a veritable ultimate weapon for Qi Refining disciples—as a means to feign weakness and scheme against the Dry Bone lineage, was an act of extreme extravagance. One must remember that an artifact of this caliber would never be bestowed unless the recipient was truly considered a direct successor. Gifting a disciple something of this rank to participate in a competition marking only ten years of discipleship was blatant bullying.

Consequently, the moment Lei Dong unveiled the Wheel of Annihilation, even the elders seated in the viewing stands couldn't help but slightly furrow their brows, expressing clear displeasure at Wan Gui’s blatant disregard for the established unspoken rules. The purpose of the Grand Competition was to spur the core disciples in their cultivation and select the truly elite; it was not meant to arm low-level disciples with treasures they could wield to crush any opponent in their path.

While these stipulations were unwritten—mere conventions—the various Caves and Mansions usually respected this implicit rule. They wouldn't go too far, perhaps secretly granting an exceptional magic tool at most, coupled with stern warnings never to use it unless facing a life-or-death crisis.

But Ancestor Wan Gui remained serenely confident. Although this action did indeed violate the convention, as long as Lei Dong managed to eliminate Baili Yun, everything would be fine. He had already calculated that a fraction of the wealth won from Dry Bone would suffice to suppress the matter. Furthermore, Wan Gui was, after all, a Golden Core Ancestor with exceptional potential. The sect would hardly risk alienating him and losing an essential asset over such a minor infraction. Unspoken rules were conventions, not formal sect regulations.

Poor Lei Dong, meanwhile, still believed it was merely a standard exceptional magic tool. Although in practice drills, he had sensed its power was excessively immense—a full-force strike capable of piercing several zhangs of solid rock—this was his very first exceptional magic tool; he simply had no frame of reference for the true might of such an offensive artifact.

Baili Yun, however, was utterly horrified. The oppressive aura emanating from that artifact locked onto him so fiercely that he felt utterly immobilized.

Bang~

That high-grade defensive shield, already bearing faint cracks from the previous clash, stood no chance against the impact of something as formidable as the Wheel of Annihilation. It instantly shattered into fragments, scattering everywhere. Yet, the Wheel of Annihilation showed no sign of slowing after breaching the shield, seeming intent on cleaving Baili Yun in two.

Baili Yun’s face turned deathly pale, cold sweat drenching him. He cursed internally, wondering what kind of demonic artifact possessed such terrifying power.

His resolve hardened. He raised his left hand, revealing an arm that was pitch-black, ferocious, and utterly inhuman. He thrust it forward, and a ball of dark, gleaming energy erupted from his strong, powerful palm, slamming directly into the Wheel of Annihilation.

With a deafening “Boom!”

Two immensely powerful forces, neither of which belonged to the Qi Refining realm, collided violently, sending concentric shockwaves rippling outward. Even Baili Yun himself was thrown backward by the impact, spitting a mouthful of blood.

Lei Dong fared no better. To drive the Wheel of Annihilation, he had to bind a large portion of his divine sense to it. Such an exchange of power exceeding the Qi Refining stage naturally inflicted mental trauma; his face paled, and his spirit flagged visibly. He watched the reeling Baili Yun and that monstrous, inhuman arm with equal parts shock and suspicion.

“Lei Dong, you forced me to do this, you forced me!”

Baili Yun stabilized himself mid-air, screaming like a madman, his face contorted and savage.

“Aaaahhh—”

Screams, agonizing and bizarre, erupted from Baili Yun’s mouth. His breathing deepened, and low, guttural moans—like those of a wild beast—began to emanate from him.

“Saint Demon Arm? Demonization?”

Wan Gui, who had been watching with unflappable calm in the stands, suddenly gasped in alarm. “Dry Bone, you actually grafted a remnant of a Saint Demon onto your disciple? Don't you know the consequences?”

“Hahahaha. Wan Gui, you drove me to this!” Dry Bone’s corpse-like face also twisted into a horrifying grimace. “So what if he’s completely demonized? With my methods, can I not control a mere nascent demon? Once subjected to absolute control and allowed to grow, I will eventually possess a puppet no weaker than your supreme Ghost General. Using this Saint Demon Left Arm on Baili Yun was perfect; his spiritual root aptitude is excellent, and his hatred runs deep enough. The chance of success was extremely high, otherwise, I wouldn't have dared risk it!”

Wan Gui’s expression grew uncertain. While a newly demonized fiend might not exhibit excessively monstrous strength initially, it posed a fatal threat to Lei Dong, who was stuck at the eighth layer of Qi Refining. Could it be that he was about to lose this bout?

……

Though horror gripped Lei Dong as he watched Baili Yun writhe in agony, surrounded by swirling demonic energy, his intuition and experience screamed that this was by no means a benign transformation. Given his cautious nature, he wouldn't dream of simply waiting around to see what Baili Yun would become.

He immediately suppressed the turbulent trauma to his spirit and commanded his three spirit soldiers to charge forward desperately. The more than two hundred fierce ghosts from the Wan Gui Banner also surged forward in a dense, black tide. Simultaneously, sensing his True Qi was near exhaustion, he swallowed two Return Essence Pills.

He recalled the Wheel of Annihilation, intending to unleash a devastating blow while Baili Yun was preoccupied with whatever grotesque transformation was occurring. But the moment he tried to activate it, a splitting headache seized him. Covered in a cold sweat, he was forced to put the Wheel of Annihilation away. Clutching the last three Yin Fiend Lightning Talismans in his palm, he moved with spectral agility, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.

Tear~ Baili Yun’s body began to violently expand toward a massive, hulking form, the surging muscles savagely ripping through his robes. Tendrils of black sinew erupted from that strange arm, relentlessly crawling and consuming its way up the interface where the arm connected.

The three spirit soldiers struck in quick succession. The Bloodthirsty Spirit Soldier attacked first, cleaving down with a gust of fierce wind. But Baili Yun suddenly snapped his eyes open, his black claw shooting out to clamp down on the Bloodthirsty Soldier’s blade.

Snap! The blade, made of superior metal, was instantly crushed to shards. Immediately following this, the demonic claw latched onto the Bloodthirsty Spirit Soldier itself.

“Hngh—!”

A plume of dark energy burst forth from the demonic hand. With a grating shriek, the Bloodthirsty Spirit Soldier was torn into fragments by the violent, immense force. Simultaneously, Lei Dong felt a wrenching tear in his own core, causing him to spew a mouthful of blood. In his terror, he desperately flung the three hidden Yin Fiend Lightning Talismans toward Baili Yun.

…… (Announcing the reader fan group, and many thanks to everyone who aggressively smashed recommendation votes these past two days~ Thank you)