After explaining the first method, let's move to the second. The second method is much simpler. Put plainly, it is… quantitative change leading to qualitative change. It can also be described as brute force. In short, it means devouring a massive number of shadows or evil spirits in one go, forcing a breakthrough past the bottleneck into the Third Rank. In fact, most cultivators use this method.
There is also the method of persistence, like water wearing down stone, or water overflowing once full. But this takes too long—at least half a year, sometimes three to five years. Few have that patience.
The third method is also simple: cultivate another demonic art. Once Kael refined the mana from that art, he could use the Primordial Heavenly Demon Chapter to absorb it. This would make his Heavenly Demon Mana purer. With that refined mana, he could break through the bottleneck into the Third Rank.
Though there were other methods, none were as reliable as these three. After some thought, Kael discarded the first method. It was the simplest, but also the most dangerous. If he couldn't defeat the strong opponent, he might be killed instead—that would be laughable. So even though the first method had the highest success rate, Kael was cautious. He focused on the second and third methods.
The second method was straightforward and suited his taste. More importantly, the streets were full of evil spirits, enough to meet his needs. But the third method also seemed promising.
After consideration, Kael decided to use both methods together. That way, it would be safer and more reliable.
He searched his vast knowledge of demonic arts and found one particularly suitable—the Devouring Heaven and Earth Art, also known as the Gluttonous Art.
The name itself revealed its nature: eating. Indeed, its core principle was consumption. Those who cultivated it had enormous appetites, able to consume anything—earth, stone, steel, bronze, poison, food. Anything edible could be swallowed, digested, and used to strengthen the body and increase mana. The more energy-rich the item, the tastier it was.
With this art, one could even survive by chewing bark. It seemed like a technique designed for famine victims. But it was still a demonic art. And all demonic arts had drawbacks.
The flaw of the Gluttonous Art was hunger. Once cultivated, the stomach became a bottomless pit, never full.
Anything could be eaten and digested, but the hunger never ceased. If one day passed without food, or without enough food, the hunger grew. The longer the hunger lasted, the more terrifying it became. Eventually, it would erupt, overwhelming the cultivator. They would lose reason, devouring endlessly, becoming a monster that only ate. When they consumed more than they could digest, they would die from being overstuffed.
That was one possible end. Another was worse—if hunger struck and no food was available, the cultivator would eat themselves. This was why the Devouring Heaven and Earth Art was called the Gluttonous Art. The mythical glutton devoured even itself.
Because of this, few dared to cultivate it, despite its power. Its weakness was too obvious. If captured and imprisoned, a cultivator of this art would eventually consume themselves.
Why did Kael dare to cultivate it? First, because modern society had abundant resources—food was never lacking. Second, because he had the Primordial Heavenly Demon Chapter, the ancestor of all demonic arts. It allowed him to merge many arts into Heavenly Demon Mana and suppress their flaws. With it, he didn't fear backlash. He could cultivate as many arts as he wished.
Having decided, Kael left the Metaverse. The shadows on the first path had nearly all been devoured. The Metaverse contained many paths. He was on the Path of Thought Deprivation. Next were the Paths of Harmony Deprivation, Temperance Deprivation, Virtue Deprivation, and more. Each path had multiple levels.
Kael had slaughtered his way through the Path of Thought Deprivation, reaching its end. There, he found a tightly closed door.
In the game, the Metaverse opened gradually as the Phantom Thieves gained fame. Each Palace conquered unlocked a new area. Unexpectedly, the same applied in reality. And now, it blocked Kael's way.
It was frustrating. The Metaverse was the Palace of the Masses, so the door wasn't real. It was a seal, rejecting entry into the collective subconscious.
If it were just a seal, Kael wouldn't care—he could force his way in. But this was the collective seal of nearly ten million people in Tokyo. To pass, he would need to be like the Phantom Thieves—famous, heroic, inspiring people to open the door. Otherwise, he would have to break it by force. But he couldn't.
Though powerful, Kael was still only Second Rank Upper. Breaking this seal was beyond him. It would take Fourth or even Fifth Rank strength. Without it, he could only sigh and turn away.