First of all, everyone knew that the star river was filled with a mysterious and terrifying energy known as Extinction.

This strange energy possessed horrifying destructive power toward all living beings. Whether it was the physical body or the soul, everything would gradually erode beneath the influence of Extinction energy.

Even someone as powerful as Li Yun would not be able to survive there for long.

If he entered the star river with his current cultivation, then under the invasion of the Extinction energy, he would completely perish within less than ten breaths of time.

From this alone, one could imagine how terrifying that energy truly was.

Only experts who had reached the Spirit Manifestation Realm possessed the qualifications to barely resist the power of Extinction and survive within the star river.

However, survival alone did not mean safety.

The star river was recognized throughout the world as one of the most dangerous regions in existence.

Besides the terrifying Extinction energy, countless horrifying creatures also inhabited the endless void.

Among them were the infamous Star River Giant Beasts.

These monstrous creatures were incomparably terrifying. Even the weakest among them possessed combat power equivalent to a Peak Heavenly Core Realm expert.

Yet despite all of this, the true terror of the star river still did not lie in either the Extinction energy or the Star River Giant Beasts.

The most frightening things within the endless void were the natural disasters that occurred there.

Solar storms capable of annihilating entire regions of space.

Sun and moon tides that could distort the laws of heaven and earth.

And black holes capable of devouring everything in existence.

Every one of these natural disasters possessed incomparably horrifying destructive power.

Even Spirit Manifestation Realm experts would be instantly killed if they were caught within them.

Take the black hole before him as an example.

If one truly wished to comprehend Devouring Intent, then they had to personally witness the terrifying scene of a black hole devouring all existence. However, the moment a black hole fully erupted with its devouring force, every living being within tens of thousands of li would immediately fall into despair.

Nothing could escape.

Everything would be swallowed.

Under such terrifying devouring power, even Spirit Manifestation Realm experts would be unable to resist.

Perhaps only the legendary Martial Saint experts possessed the qualifications to survive the pull of a black hole and escape alive.

"There is only one opportunity. I absolutely cannot waste it."

Li Yun slowly took a deep breath and forcibly calmed the chaotic thoughts within his heart.

Soon after, he sat down cross legged within the endless void.

His eyes gradually closed as his breathing became calm and steady. His mind slowly entered a state of absolute tranquility where all distracting thoughts disappeared completely. At this moment, Li Yun devoted every ounce of his concentration toward comprehending Devouring Intent.

Comprehending Devouring Intent did not simply rely on observing with one’s eyes how the black hole swallowed stars and matter.

What truly mattered was comprehension.

One needed to use their mind, soul, and perception to understand the profound mysteries and Dao laws hidden within the black hole itself.

One day passed.

Li Yun gained nothing.

Five days passed.

There was still no progress whatsoever.

Ten days passed. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Yet even after all this time, Li Yun still had not managed to touch even the faintest trace of Devouring Intent.

The difficulty of comprehending Devouring Intent was simply horrifying.

One must understand that although Li Yun currently appeared to be sitting within the endless star river, his true location was still inside the Enlightenment Dragon Hall. Because he remained within the Enlightenment Dragon Hall, the mysterious ancient formation inside continuously enhanced his comprehension ability to an astonishing degree.

Li Yun’s own comprehension talent was already monstrously high to begin with. His sixth tier comprehension talent alone far surpassed ordinary geniuses, and after receiving the amplification of the Enlightenment Dragon Hall, his comprehension ability had already reached a terrifying level comparable to a supreme prodigy among prodigies.

Such a description might sound vague, but the difference became obvious through comparison.

With Li Yun’s current comprehension speed, if he were given a Heaven Rank martial art to study, then within a single day, he could cultivate it to the Proficient Stage.

Within three days, he could reach the Completion Stage.

And within five days, he would definitely be capable of comprehending its True Meaning.

Such comprehension speed was already enough to shock the world.

Yet despite possessing this terrifying level of understanding, Li Yun still failed to comprehend even the slightest shred of Devouring Intent after ten entire days.

From this alone, one could imagine just how difficult Devouring Intent truly was.

Perhaps among all Martial Dao Intents, only the legendary Space Intent and Time Intent could surpass Devouring Intent in terms of difficulty.

Time continued flowing silently.

Days passed like flowing water while months slipped by like a fleeting shadow.

Without Li Yun even realizing it, three entire months had already gone by.

Then suddenly—

The body of Li Yun, who had remained motionless like a stone statue within the endless star river, trembled slightly.

An ancient and obscure aura slowly began emerging from his body.

If someone could see inside Li Yun’s body at this moment, they would witness an astonishing scene.

Under the influence of that mysterious aura, countless ancient black characters suddenly appeared throughout his body out of nowhere. Every one of those black characters emitted an ancient and domineering presence that seemed capable of devouring all things beneath heaven.

The mysterious black characters soon began trembling violently.

Then, like streams of flowing darkness, they surged throughout Li Yun’s limbs, flesh, bones, and meridians before gradually imprinting themselves directly onto his body.

At the same time, strange black patterns slowly appeared across the skin beneath Li Yun’s neck.

The patterns resembled ancient demonic tattoos.

Within those black markings, streams of black light continuously flowed and flickered, releasing an incomparably domineering aura capable of swallowing everything around it.

Dozens of those mysterious black patterns spread across Li Yun’s body.

Yet instead of appearing ugly or sinister, they gave him a strange and eerie temperament that made him appear even more mysterious and unfathomable than before.

These markings were known as Devouring Patterns.

And only those who had successfully comprehended Devouring Intent possessed such patterns.

At this very moment, Li Yun had finally comprehended Devouring Intent.

Crack.

The instant Devouring Intent formed within Li Yun’s body, a crisp sound suddenly echoed throughout the endless star river.

Then countless cracks rapidly spread across the surrounding void.

In only a single breath, the cracks covered every corner of the boundless space.

The next moment, the entire star river shattered apart like a gigantic mirror breaking into countless pieces.

Boom!

The endless world collapsed completely.

Li Yun slowly opened his eyes once more.

He discovered that he had already returned to the Enlightenment Dragon Hall.

However, Li Yun paid no attention to his surroundings.

At this moment, all of his focus rested entirely upon the newly comprehended Devouring Intent within his body.

As he sensed the terrifying devouring fluctuations radiating from the Intent, a faint smile slowly curved across the corners of his lips.

"I should test its power."

The moment Li Yun’s thoughts moved, a pitch black radiance suddenly erupted from his body.

The black light rapidly condensed behind him before transforming into a slowly rotating black hole.

The black hole released a terrifying devouring aura that caused the surrounding air itself to distort faintly.

Then Li Yun waved his sleeve calmly. In an instant, one hundred thousand mid grade spirit stones appeared before him.

The massive pile of spirit stones immediately flew toward the black hole all at once.