The Cosmic Divining Rod was an arcane device originally created by Atrocitus of the Five Inversions after he was taken from the tomb world of Ysmault by Abin Sur in order to find the host of "the Black" who would bring about the Blackest Night Prophecy. However, Atrocitus's prophecies regarding Abin Sur's own death allowed fear to enter into the Ungarans mind thus weakening his own Lantern Energy Constructs which gave the demon the chance to free himself and flee onto Earth where The Blackest Night was said to start. The demon later determined that the person he sought was William Hand and intended to steal the power within him so it could be used to help Atrocitus bring about his vengeance against the Guardians of the Universe for their part in the Massacre of Sector 666.