C13 Absorption Ability!

Before him stretched a vast, inky whirlpool, its tendrils reaching out into the surrounding space, which twisted and contorted under its relentless spin.

Black hole.

The term surged into Yang Chen's consciousness unbidden.

The black hole was a deep, impenetrable darkness, yet upon its surface, one could barely make out the inverted reflections of countless stars.

A sense of awe struck Yang Chen, yet inexplicably, the black hole exuded a strange familiarity, as if it were a severed piece of himself that he had now reclaimed.

It was then that Yang Chen realized the force that had drawn him here emanated from the mouth of this very whirlpool.

"Is it you that beckons me?" he murmured.

Silence enveloped him, save for the quivering black hole.

A slow smile crept across Yang Chen's lips as he gently lifted his arm, cautiously approaching the black hole's edge.

Curiously, the space near the black hole, which should have buckled under its oppressive force, remained stable under Yang Chen's touch. Despite his flesh being merely at the Grandmaster Level, and considerably weaker than the fabric of space itself, there was no disturbance where his arm rested, and the space around it fell into a tranquil hush.

It felt oddly vacant, stark against the tumultuous backdrop.

As if to affirm his intuition, Yang Chen stepped closer to the black hole, the gravitational pull intensifying with each stride.

His heart swelled with excitement, quickening his pace.

Soon, Yang Chen stood face-to-face with the black hole, observing dark beams of light spiraling from its surface, warping the space around it.

He inhaled deeply and plunged his hand into the abyss.

Anticipating agony, he was instead greeted by warmth. Comfort radiated up his arm, a pleasant sensation blooming within.

Energy from the black hole surged into Yang Chen, coursing through his meridians, encircling his body, before settling into his dantian.

The spiritual energy that had entered his body began to transform, shrouded in the pitch-black glow. Droplets of spiritual essence, once clear, now took on a dark sheen, shifting toward the black luster.

The spiritual energy within Yang Chen's dantian became cloaked in darkness, emanating a formidable power.

Yang Chen's cultivation had already broken through to the Grade A Ability User level, but now, under the black light's embrace, he sensed a subtle shift in the essence of his spiritual energy.

Enhancement.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was basic at best. The difference in energy quality was what set apart Ability Users. Some could leap across realms, defeating those of higher standing, all due to the superiority of their energy.

One might linger at Grade A, yet if another's energy quality surpassed yours, even a newcomer to the rank could outmatch a seasoned veteran. Such was the disparity in energy quality.

Now, with the aid of the black hole's light, Yang Chen was refining his own energy's caliber.

Over time, the spiritual energy veiled in darkness began to mirror the black light's hue, gaining not only a darker color but also a significant increase in potency.

Yang Chen felt empowered, confident that even with his spiritual energy alone, he could best Wild Wolf, who, despite his tenure at Grade A, had neglected the pursuit of superior energy quality.

Wild Wolf's survival against an S-ranked Ability User owed to his defensive abilities, which were commendable, but without that edge, his chances would have been slim. This nuance had eluded even Wild Wolf himself, explaining his inability to withstand a single blow from Yang Chen.

A subtle black radiance then emerged from Yang Chen, a gentle but palpable pressure bursting forth. It lacked the strength to warp space as the black hole did, yet it rippled through the air.

The black hole seemed to shudder with sentience, its vast form whirling into motion. Under Yang Chen's watchful eye, it shrank, becoming a mere wisp of darkness that sliced through the void and settled into his dantian.

Inside, the darkened spiritual energy, sensing the arrival of the black hole, shifted as if to make way for a sovereign, tucking itself into a corner of Yang Chen's dantian.

The black hole seemed to revel in the full force of its power, arriving at the center of Yang Chen's dantian with a certain haughty air before settling into a quiet stillness.

It transformed into a dark pearl, serenely hovering above his dantian.

Yang Chen couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

Had this thing become sentient, puffing itself up with such arrogance?

Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he eyed the black hole in his dantian with suspicion, murmuring, "But what kind of ability did it grant me?"

He had encountered many stars endowed with special powers before reaching this black hole, yet none seemed as formidable as this one.

Despite having assimilated the black hole, he felt nothing out of the ordinary.

What, then, was his superpower?

Yang Chen was thoroughly baffled.

It was as if the black hole sensed Yang Chen's confusion.

The once tranquil black pearl began to shake violently, its darkness intensifying as a fearsome force of attraction burst forth.

Streams of pitch-black brilliance emerged in the blink of an eye.

Like chains wrought of shadow, they extended through Yang Chen's form, racing toward a distant point in the cosmos.

Before Yang Chen could gather his wits, a fiery red star was engulfed by a mass of dark light and yanked toward him.

It hurtled at him with breakneck speed.

"Holy crap, what's happening?"

Yang Chen was flabbergasted, realizing too late to evade.

A star was barreling toward him! Given its immense size, not even Yang Chen's Grandmaster-level physique could withstand a collision unscathed!

He watched, eyes wide, as the flame-engulfed star bore down on him.

Then, he squinted slightly.

But moments later, instead of pain, a warm sensation filled his body.

What was this?

Stunned, Yang Chen quickly turned his attention inward to inspect his body.

To his surprise, he found a small fiery red patch atop the black pearl.

A scorching energy pulsed from this red zone.

"Could it be..."

Yang Chen swallowed hard, a realization dawning on him about the nature of his ability.

Yet, if it was what he suspected, it was almost too outlandish to believe!

With a heart pounding in anticipation, Yang Chen spread his palm open. At his command, a flame erupted, dancing on his hand.

Feeding the flame with his Spiritual Qi, it rapidly expanded, engulfing his entire body in a fiery embrace.

This flame bore an uncanny resemblance to the aura of the star he had just encountered!

"Devouring?"

Yang Chen observed the blazing inferno, feeling no heat whatsoever.

Then, a page materialized before his eyes.

It was similar to the one before, but now, at the bottom, there was a new section for an Ability!

Character: Yang Chen (Grandmaster)

Constitution: Common Rank

Title: None

Level: A Rank

Limits: Sign-in (Cooldown: 14 days!)

Shopping Mall: Unlocked!

Ability: Devour!

The page's information had updated, adding an Ability to his attributes.

A wave of elation washed over Yang Chen.

So he did possess an Ability after all!

Then, as if the earth and sky had turned upside down, Yang Chen's surroundings spun wildly. When he regained his senses, he found himself back in the comfort of his own home.