Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 276 - Dragon Aura

No one expected Liu Wuxie to be so fast. They only saw a blur as Liu Wuxie vanished, evading Liu Guangpeng’s punch.

Liu Guangpeng instantly realized that something was amiss and chose to duck sideways. Ducking sideways was faster than retreating backward.

“You’re too slow!” Liu Wuxie’s voice sounded like a reaper, which made Liu Guangpeng shiver.

With a resounding slap, Liu Guangpeng was sent flying away and smashing into the ground.

Liu Wuxie didn’t take Liu Guangpeng’s life because it wasn’t the right time. The Battle of the Hundred Nations hadn’t begun yet, and if he revealed his strength, he would become everyone’s target. Liu Wuxie chose to maintain a low profile.

The surroundings fell silent, and everyone even held their breaths. They were stumped as they looked at Liu Guangpeng.

“What’s going on? Why was Senior Brother Liu sent flying?” The other Sky Mansion Dynasty’s disciples were puzzled.

“His movement technique! There’s something weird about it!” Someone discovered that Liu Wuxie didn’t send Liu Guangpeng flying with his strength but with his movement technique.

This meant that Liu Wuxie wouldn’t be able to do anything to them as long as they restrained his movement technique, and this was what everyone thought except for those from the Great Yan Dynasty.

“How dare you hurt our Sky Mansion Dynasty’s disciple?” The other Sky Mansion Dynasty students dashed forward and wanted to kill Liu Wuxie.

The Great Yan Dynasty’s party also came to Liu Wuxie’s side. They might have some grudges and feud internally, but it was nothing compared to the feud between nations.

“Tan Wenxiong, can’t accept a loss? The Battle of the Hundred Nations hasn’t begun yet. If you have the guts, wait till the Battle of the Hundred Nations to settle our scores!” Fan Zhen stepped forward and interrupted them. Their goal was to strike at the Sky Mansion Dynasty’s arrogance, and they had achieved it. Thus, there was no need to reveal Liu Wuxie’s true strength and let him shock everyone in the Battle of the Hundred Nations.

Fan Zhen was clever with his words because continuing to pursue this matter would make the Sky Mansion Dynasty seem petty. After all, Liu Wuxie had sent Liu Guangpeng flying with a slap upon Sky Mansion Dynasty’s provocation.

“Very well. Tomorrow is the Battle of Hundred Nations, and I will ensure you regret being born!” Tan Wenxiong said, viciously glaring at Liu Wuxie before he left.

Liu Wuxie naturally ignored Tan Wenxiong’s arrogance and merely smiled.

By the time the farce ended, almost all fifty-seven nations had arrived. They gathered outside the Dragon Battlefield, unable to enter as the Battle of the Hundred Nations had yet to commence.

The Great Yan Dynasty was not the only one to face provocation. Similar incidents had occurred among various nations. After all, feuds between nations, deeply ingrained over centuries, were bound to ignite conflicts when they encountered each other.

These feuds even extended to the cultivation world. After all, many nations’ representatives would become members of the cultivation world, and their conflict would continue.

In the previous Battle of the Hundred Nations, only one person from the Great Yan Dynasty had entered the cultivation world, which was insignificant compared to the other nations.

Over the years, the other nations had effectively solidified their presence in the cultivation world, bolstering their strength and exhibiting indications of exerting dominance and unification over the others.

“Look over there!” Ma Zhuoyu exclaimed as he pointed to the sky. A fire dragon appeared, breathing fire and soaring through the clouds before descending in the distance. This alarmed everyone, who raised their heads to look at the sky.

“They’re from the Glory Flame Empire, a high-grade nation. They’re mighty and beyond our reach.” Fan Zhen reminded everyone not to provoke the high-grade nations.

The strong would continue to grow stronger. Over the years, most spots in the cultivation world were divided among the high-grade nations, leaving little opportunity for the weaker nations.

Then again, this was unavoidable because the stronger nations could produce more geniuses.

Among the fifty-seven nations, there were several other high-grade nations besides the Glory Flame Empire, including the Dark Tide Empire, Azure Lion Empire, Blue Wind Empire, and Black Chu Empire.

These were high-grade nations with over ten times larger territories than the Great Yan Dynasty. They occupied the most prosperous region of the Southern Province. As they were closer to the cultivation world, the cultivation world would send people to those nations to recruit talents.

The high-grade nations had an advantage in terrain and resources, so it was no wonder they became the high-grade nations.

The Glory Flame Empire’s party slowly descended under countless envious gazes because they were riding an earth dragon. The earth dragon possessed the dragon’s bloodline, albeit being heavily diluted.

Earth dragons were a level above serpentine dragons but still far inferior to divine dragons. They were merely hybrid descendants of the dragon race with thin bloodlines.

However, in the eyes of ordinary people, earth dragons were beyond their reach because they possessed the dragon’s bloodline.

“What terrifying aura! There’s someone in the third-level True Core Realm!?!” an exclamation could be heard from the crowd, as it was terrifying for someone under the age of twenty-five to reach the third-level True Core Realm.

“Look! Even the weakest among them is in the first-level True Core Realm!” The Glory Flame Empire had sent thirty-one representatives. Aside from one leader, the others were outstanding geniuses, and anyone could easily suppress the representatives from low-grade nations.

It was nearly impossible for the Great Yan Dynasty to distinguish itself, especially amidst several other nations on par with the Glory Flame Empire. Competing for a share of the pie seemed all but impossible.

“We’re fortunate that the Great Yan Dynasty isn’t close to these high-grade nations, or we would’ve been destroyed long ago,” Chen Nanxiang muttered.

In the beginning, the Battle of the Hundred Nations used to be a genuine battle among a hundred nations. However, as more nations were eliminated through competition, they became vassals to the stronger empires or merged with them. As a result, there were only fifty-seven nations left.

When the representatives of the empires descended, they swept their sharp gazes around, making everyone uncomfortable.

“This is boring. These people are too weak and will only die if they enter the cultivation world,” a youth from the Glory Flame Empire said after landing on the ground. He didn’t hold back with his mockery, fully displaying his arrogance.

However, no one dared to speak up to him because this young man was in the third-level True Core Realm. Even Luo Zhaojun might not be the young man’s opponent if she went against him.

“Senior Brother Zhai is right. These people are garbage compared to us, and it’s a waste of time to participate in the Battle of the Hundred Nations with them.” Many people in the surroundings echoed with flattering voices.

The intermediate-grade nations, let alone low-grade nations, didn’t dare to express any unhappiness. After all, the Glory Flame Empire could wipe them out at any moment.

“Wuxie, there’s a change in the situation this year. Don’t aim for the rankings mindlessly; survival is more important. These high-grade nations won’t make things easy for low-grade nations like us,” Fan Zhen whispered, advising Liu Wuxie to avoid a conflict with those from the high-grade nations.

Liu Wuxie nodded because he knew Fan Zhen meant well, as these people were strong. With his current strength, he might be able to kill a cultivator in the third-level True Core Realm, but he would have some difficulties facing multiple of them unless he could reach the True Core Realm himself.

These people were geniuses. Even if he could make a breakthrough, these people could also use the Dragon Battlefield to make a breakthrough in their cultivation.

Shortly after, the Black Chu Empire arrived on a Kunpeng. [1], and this was a horrifying sight.

When darkness fell, all fifty-seven nations had arrived, waiting for the cultivation world’s envoy to arrive the following day to open the Dragon Battlefield.

Deep in the plain, ten massive stone monuments, shaped like towering mountains, formed a row, stopping anyone from entering the Dragon Battlefield.

Everyone rested in their tents, conserving their energy for the next day. In the tent, Fan Zhen gathered everyone and explained some rules that needed to be clarified in advance.

Luo Zhaojun was only responsible for their safety and didn’t participate in any activities. She mainly patrolled the surroundings to avoid any ambushes.

“Any questions on the rules?” Fan Zhen scanned everyone’s faces after explaining the rules.

Aside from Liu Wuxie, everyone had some understanding of the Dragon Battlefield because their ancestors had participated in the Battle of the Hundred Nations.

“Headmaster, can dragon auras really be found in the Dragon Battlefield?” Xing Lian asked curiously, as this was the first time she had heard of it.

Everyone looked hopeful upon hearing that except for Liu Wuxie, who maintained his composure. The dragon aura was released after the death of divine dragons. If someone could absorb it, it would also bring significant benefits.

“Dragon aura has decreased over the years, and this year’s competition might be intense. A strand of dragon aura can enhance your cultivation and allow you all to possess the strength of a dracophant. It will benefit you all in the future even if you fail to enter the cultivation world,” Fan Zhen emphasized.

“Headmaster, I heard you also participated in the Battle of the Hundred Nations. Did you manage to absorb any dragon aura?” Ma Zhuoyu asked, drawing everyone’s attention because they wanted to know about the effects.

Fan Zhen sighed upon hearing that, seeming reluctant to bring up the past.

“Headmaster, please tell us!” Li Nanxiang urged.

“I obtained two strands of dragon aura in the past and barely reached the final ranking. However, my dragon aura was forcibly taken away from me.” Fan Zhen’s lifelong pain made him clench his fists and grit his teeth.

The rules of the Battle of the Hundred Nations were simple. Everyone would enter the Dragon Battlefield to search for dragon auras for seven days.

Seven days later, those who could obtain two strands of dragon aura would have the qualification to participate in the final ranking battle, and only those in the top hundred had the opportunity to be chosen by the major sects.

Another option was to give up the final ranking battle and return to the nation to live as an ordinary person after obtaining the dragon aura.

Fan Zhen wanted to attempt the final ranking battle but ran into a formidable enemy. Not only was his dragon aura seized from him, but he was nearly crippled before he returned to the Great Yan Dynasty.

The dragon aura was the key to entering the cultivation world. However, even if one managed to obtain the key, one couldn’t enter the cultivation world if one didn’t get into the top hundred. Conflicts and battles over dragon auras would be expected in the next seven days.

Then again, many people wouldn’t even get to partake in the final battle ranking as they would die in the Dragon Battlefield.

There was a saying in the cultivation world that cultivating didn’t just require talent but also fortune. The more dragon auras one collected, the better luck one would have. Only those who reached the top hundred and obtained more dragon auras could be chosen to enter the cultivation world.

Even so, this cruel selection continued to attract people like moths to a flame.

Everyone fell silent and contemplated whether they should partake in the final ranking battle after obtaining dragon auras or return to the Great Yan Dynasty and live as ordinary people.

The Battle of the Hundred Nations was held once a decade, and everyone only had one chance in their lifetime.

As the night grew deeper, everyone lost interest in cultivating.

1. In Chinese mythology, Kunpeng is a large, solitary beast that looks like a cross between a fish and a bird. ☜