Zhang Pinglu's hand simply plucked out a seemingly unremarkable black wooden stick, barely twenty centimeters long. It wasn't until he held it that everyone else noticed its presence; before he drew it out, they hadn't seen such an object at all.

"Taiji Rod!"

Gazing at the small black stick, Zhang Pinglu blurted out the name, his eyes widening.

"Taiji Rod?"

Zhang Yang and Zhang Yungan craned their necks forward. Both had heard the name Taiji Rod—and not just once or twice.

The Taiji Rod ranked third on the Divine Arms List, a genuine masterpiece of that esteemed ranking.

Though ranked third, the Taiji Rod’s fame arguably surpassed that of the number one divine arm, primarily due to its function.

This divine arm was neither for offense nor defense; it was a Divine Formation Arm.

Among the Ten Great Divine Arms, it was the sole artifact dedicated to formations.

A Divine Formation Arm was a supreme tool capable of manifesting the power of complex formations. Such artifacts were exceedingly rare. During the height of the Qimen Dunjia (Mystical Arts of Door and Gate) school, these arms were virtually nonexistent, as masters of that discipline could conjure formations themselves without needing extra artifacts.

Only in later eras, as the number of Qimen Dunjia practitioners drastically declined, did artifacts like the Taiji Rod—a Divine Formation Arm appearing precisely during that time—begin to surface.

There were eight Taiji Rods in total, each identical to this one. Legend held that all eight could deploy sixty-four distinct formations. These sixty-four formations encompassed everything: offensive arrays, defensive barriers, and even natural formations capable of inducing energy fluctuations.

It was precisely for this reason that the Taiji Rod instantly secured a top-three spot upon its entry onto the Divine Arms List.

The main reason it settled at third was its passive utility—it required pre-arrangement and specific complementary methods for use. Were it not for these two constraints, the terrifying might of its sixty-four formations could easily have elevated it to the number one rank.

"Old Master, is this truly the Taiji Rod?" Zhang Yungan asked in a hushed tone, finding the tiny wooden stick almost unbelievable given its humble appearance.

"Indeed, this is the genuine article. You’ll know the moment you hold it!"

Zhang Pinglu nodded, then immediately handed the Taiji Rod to Zhang Yungan. As he gripped the unassuming little piece of wood, Zhang Yungan’s eyes instantly snapped wide open.

Energy from heaven and earth was constantly flowing across the rod. The eye could neither perceive nor sense this energy unless one physically held it. This singular attribute alone proved the wooden stick was anything but ordinary.

Zhang Pinglu then crouched down again. After a short while, he drew a second Taiji Rod from the ground. As this second stick was revealed, his expression shifted slightly, and he abruptly stood up.

His hands suddenly thrust forward, and the wall before them collapsed with a thunderous crash. Zhang Yang and Zhang Yungan then realized the wall concealed emptiness—a smaller cavern lay beyond.

This space was tiny, yet once Zhang Pinglu cleared the debris, everything inside became perfectly visible.

It was a small chamber, perhaps fifteen square meters, where three figures sat listlessly on the floor. Their bodies were gaunt, their eyes slightly open, yet utterly devoid of spirit.

Each one had an iron chain threaded through their collarbones. If not for the faint sounds of their breathing, one would have mistaken them for corpses.

These three shared one other commonality: a faint trace of black staining their faces, lighter than what they saw on Hu Yanfeng, but far more pronounced than the residue Zhang Yang had experienced after being afflicted by the Soul Devouring technique.

Zhang Yungan was the first to leap in, pressing down on the pulse points of each captive.

"They are alive, but their condition is extremely poor!"

Zhang Yungan whispered, then raised his head, a flicker of terror crossing his face as he added, "They... they are all Fourth Layer experts!"

Zhang Yang and Zhang Pinglu nodded in agreement. From the first glance, Zhang Yang had recognized the Fourth Layer internal energy within them. Yet, at this moment, even a Second Layer internal energy cultivator could likely dispatch them.

Their internal energy remained, but they were completely unable to utilize it. By their appearance, their minds seemed severely compromised—vegetative states, essentially.

"Is this the damage caused by Soul Devouring?" Zhang Yang moved closer, studying them for a moment before speaking. He knew intimately the agony brought by Soul Devouring; these three had clearly suffered from it, and far worse than he had.

"Precisely!" Zhang Pinglu nodded, continuing, "These are the three Fourth Layer experts Hu Yanfeng kept captive. Without them providing the continuous supply of life force he devoured, he would have succumbed to the backlash of his demonic art long ago and become a true lunatic!"

To practice Soul Devouring, one must constantly siphon the vitality of others just to maintain stability. The higher the level, the greater the necessary life force, and it had to be from cultivators of a specific tier. Hu Yanfeng, being a Great Perfection expert, required life force drawn exclusively from cultivators possessing Fourth Layer internal energy or higher.

Once Zhang Pinglu discovered Hu Yanfeng practiced Soul Devouring, he understood that Hu Yanfeng must be keeping at least three Fourth Layer experts captive; otherwise, he couldn't sustain his existence. These three were his prisoners.

"They’re beyond saving; their consciousness cannot be restored," Zhang Yungan concluded after thoroughly checking their pulses and observing their state, shaking his head again.

Irreversible mental damage meant they were essentially vegetative. Their current state was merely a biological reflex; as long as they received basic nutrition, they wouldn't technically die.

"What a waste," Zhang Yang shook his head firmly. These were three Fourth Layer experts, not stray kittens or dogs. Three Fourth Layer experts could instantly elevate the strength of any family or sect. Conversely, the loss of three such experts would undoubtedly inflict a devastating blow upon any organization.

"Wait—this one looks like he's from the Hu Yan family! I remember now, this is Hu Yan Chen. Didn't the Hu Yan family say he died from qi deviation? How could he end up like this?" Zhang Yungan exclaimed, recognizing one of the men.

Hu Yan Chen was slightly older than Zhang Yungan. They had met during a period of martial experience years ago, though they shared no particular camaraderie. The Hu Yan family had announced over a year ago that their Third Elder, Hu Yan Chen, had perished due to a cultivation mishap. Zhang Yungan had felt a sense of regret at the time. He had just broken through to the Fourth Layer then and understood the immense difficulty of reaching that stage; the passing of such a talent was indeed lamentable.

"He doesn't even spare his own family members. Hu Yanfeng is truly insane. However, he likely reached a point where he couldn't find suitable replacements, forcing him to target his own kin. If he had any other choice, he wouldn't have done this," Zhang Pinglu snorted, speaking slowly.

His analysis was close to the truth. Fourth Layer experts weren't common strays; they were rare. Lone Fourth Layer masters like Chu Yuntian were exceptionally scarce. Any family or sect would keep their Fourth Layer experts close to home. If one ventured out and failed to return for an extended period, they would certainly attract attention, leading to searches. Those sent to investigate would likely be Great Perfection masters. If such a master discovered Hu Yanfeng's secrets, Hu Yanfeng wouldn't just lose his life; the entire Hu Yan family would suffer consequences. Forced by circumstance, unable to endure the demonic backlash, he resorted to sacrificing his own people. "As for the other two, I have no idea who they are!"

Zhang Yungan shook his head again. The sight of three Fourth Layer experts kept like livestock had deeply shaken him. Being a Fourth Layer expert himself, currently at the early stage alongside them, he couldn't help but feel a pang of shared sorrow, the fate of the rabbit eliciting grief in the fox nearby.

"Give them release," Zhang Pinglu suddenly stated. Zhang Yungan nodded softly, crouched down, and soon, all three stopped breathing.

Since their minds could not be restored, their souls were essentially gone. To keep their bodies breathing served only to prolong suffering. They were Fourth Layer experts; they should not endure such torment.

Zhang Yang watched them, his heart heavy with unspoken thoughts. If Hu Yanfeng had truly captured him back then, would he have been similarly imprisoned and farmed for his vitality? That possibility was terrifyingly real, yet thankfully, with Zhuifeng by his side, he had ultimately escaped that fate.

Zhang Pinglu approached the small cavern and retrieved the remaining six Taiji Rods hidden within.

Hu Yanfeng had used the Taiji Rods to construct a simple concealment formation here, ensuring that no aura from the three captives leaked out—even Zhang Pinglu hadn't detected it from the outside. This formation was amateurish, seemingly cobbled together by repurposing other Qimen array principles, treating the Taiji Rods merely as common formation flags.

Using the Taiji Rods as mere flags—Hu Yanfeng was truly wasteful. It was fortunate he lacked true knowledge; otherwise, the resulting concealment might have been so perfect that even Wuying couldn't have sensed the rods’ existence. True Qimen Dunjia formations were formidable.

Inside the small cave, Zhang Pinglu also discovered a more deeply concealed wooden box containing an ancient scripture: the manual for Soul Devouring.

Without even looking at it, Zhang Pinglu immediately destroyed the secret text. Soul Devouring was too cruel, utterly unsuitable for human cultivation. He would never allow disciples of the Zhang family to practice such a demonic art. Keeping such a manual could only lead to disaster; better to annihilate it entirely.

Having retrieved the Taiji Rods, they had now claimed every treasure of the Hu Yan family. Zhang Daofeng had not yet returned. After giving a few instructions to Zhang Yang and Zhang Yungan, Zhang Pinglu left alone, taking with him the roasted chicken and Erguotou liquor.

More accurately, he wasn't entirely alone; he also carried Hu Yanfeng’s corpse. Though Hu Yanfeng was detestable, he was now deceased. He had once been a Great Perfection expert, and he had known Zhang Pinglu. Zhang Pinglu intended to find a suitable place for a proper burial. He couldn't enjoy the Erguotou or the roast chicken in life; that pleasure would have to be reserved for after his demise.

Not long after, a small mound appeared about two hundred li from Five Pillar Peak. An elderly man, whose face showed the signs of sixty years, sat beside it, holding a bottle in one hand and a chicken drumstick in the other. He spoke aloud as he drank, though no one knew to whom he was speaking. To be continued...