Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 505 - Dead

The news of the Spirit Restoration Pill shocked the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, and more people made their way over after hearing it.

Song Ling carried the jar and went over to the man who had made the declaration earlier.

"Master!" The man who had boasted about eating feces started to back away and looked at Huang Tao.

But Huang Tao was in no position to assist. The Life and Death Curse embedded in his mind tightened its grip, constricting his primordial spirit. Agonizing pain wracked his body, forcing guttural growls from him like a wounded beast.

A curse was planted when he had signed the pledge, and no one could undo it unless the other party was willing to lift it.

"Weren't you so arrogant earlier? Here’s the faeces, and you can kneel now!" Song Ling walked up to the man fearlessly with the jar.

"You’re courting death!" The man, unwilling to face humiliation, decided to risk it all. Refusing to kneel and eat filth, he lunged at Song Ling, aiming to take him down. Song Ling, only in the Heavenly Dipper Realm, was no match for an elite disciple.

But before the man could land his strike, two cold flashes pierced the air. A scream followed, and the man crumpled to his knees, his kneecaps shattered, agony etched across his face. Liu Wuxie had acted—his ice-attribute energy manifesting as razor-sharp rays that immobilized the attacker.

"You dare lay a hand on my people?" Liu Wuxie's chilling voice echoed through the square. His dominance was undeniable, and even the elite disciples who had been in the sect for years trembled in his presence, none daring to intervene.

"Touch me? I'll make sure you get more than you bargained for!" Song Ling, furious and emboldened, approached the man. Gripping the jar tightly, he upended it over the man’s head.

The jar's content splattered everywhere, drawing waves of retching sounds from the surroundings. Everyone saw a yellow substance dripping over the man's head and slowly running down his face.

"Liu Wuxie, you're too disgusting!" Many people were displeased with Liu Wuxie. They knew that Liu Wuxie was the mastermind, even though Song Ling was the one who carried it out.

The man was covered in filth, and his fellow martial brothers fled, fearing it would get on them.

The female disciples were already throwing up.

Upon reaching the Heavenly Dipper Realm, cultivators no longer required food or drink, as their bodies had been purified of impurities. They survived by absorbing spiritual energy alone, leaving many to wonder: where had Song Ling managed to find the poop?

The man kneeling on the ground was in a complete daze. He could feel the stench drilling into his nose and seeping into his mouth, but he was too shocked to retaliate.

Three full breaths later, the man went insane and ran into the crowd, rushing straight for the river at the foot of the mountain.

People pinched their noses when he passed by them, and the farce ended quickly.

"Old rascal, you've lost! Why are you still not taking your life?" Bi Gongyu looked at Huang Tao with his murderous intent enveloping the square. Everyone finally came to their senses that the duel hadn't concluded yet.

Huang Tao sat on his chair with a pale face because he didn't want to die. He couldn't help turning to look at Qing Mu, but the latter averted his gaze. This only made Huang Tao's heart sink.

If Qing Mu had stepped forward, things would have only gotten worse. The outcome had been decided, and he would only be a clown if he intervened.

"Liu Wuxie, I admit my loss today. Can you spare my life?" Huang Tao finally lowered his pride and begged for mercy.

"No!" Liu Wuxie replied. Today, his objective in Treasure Pill Peak was to kill. He wanted to make them fear him and tremble upon hearing his name. This way, no one in the sect would dare to provoke him.

The crowd fell silent and wondered if they would spare Huang Tao's life if they were in Liu Wuxie's shoes. They didn't know because they hadn't experienced it themselves. How could they advise others to be kind without knowing what they had gone through?

When Huang Tao had slapped Bi Gongyu and driven him out of the Treasure Pill Peak, it was akin to slapping Liu Wuxie's face. Moreover, Huang Tao was one of Qing Mu's people, and who didn't know Qing Mu wanted to kill Liu Wuxie?

If Liu Wuxie spared Huang Tao today, he might conspire with others to kill him. Killing was undoubtedly the best way to stop retaliation.

The more enemies Liu Wuxie killed, the fewer opponents he would have.

"Liu Wuxie, do you intend to take it that far?!" Huang Tao roared hysterically like a madman. His chief disciple was crippled, and his other disciples chose to distance themselves after seeing that he had lost the duel.

"Did you think of this day when you humiliated my disciple?" Liu Wuxie didn't bother to waste time with Huang Tao and manipulated the curse on Huang Tao's primordial spirit.

Screams echoed from Huang Tao because they both had a curse planted in their soul seas, and the victor could control the curse of the loser to kill them.

An intense tearing pain came from Huang Tao's primordial spirit, which made him roll on the ground in agony.

The crowd in the surroundings fell silent, and even Mo Chong sighed. He might have a feud with Huang Tao, but he couldn't help but feel low when he saw the latter in this state.

The other alchemists also felt the same because Huang Tao treated his disciples well despite being arrogant and domineering.

"Qing Mu, save me..." Huang Tao clutched his head and cried out in pain for Qing Mu to save him.

Everyone's gaze shifted to Qing Mu. It was well known that Huang Tao had been acting under Qing Mu’s orders to obstruct Bi Gongyu’s entry to the Treasure Pill Peak.

"Liu Wuxie, release him immediately!" Qing Mu finally broke his silence. Who would dare to heed his orders in the future if he allowed Huang Tao to die?

"Release him?" Liu Wuxie sneered, "Who the fuck do you think you are?"

Everyone wondered where Liu Wuxie got the courage to rebuke a nine-star alchemist in the Nascent Transformation Realm.

However, there was no need for Liu Wuxie to be polite with how their conflict had progressed.

Qing Mu clenched his fists to be insulted publicly. If there weren't so many experts present, he would've acted and slapped Liu Wuxie to death.

"Very well! Liu Wuxie, I'll make sure you learn the consequences of offending me!" Qing Mu took a deep breath to calm his anger. He knew that now wasn't the time to act rashly.

However, Liu Wuxie was unfazed by such empty threats. He asked bluntly, "You want to kill me?"

"That's right! I want to kill you!" Qing Mu didn't hide his desire to kill Liu Wuxie.

"I'll be waiting!" Liu Wuxie revealed a devilish smile. Since returning from the Blood Sea Abyssal Island, he hadn't neglected his cultivation while guiding others.

He was getting closer to the fifth level of the Heavenly Phase Realm, and his strength would undergo a drastic transformation once he reached the high levels.

Elder Tian Xing was present, and there was another Elder Yi Xuan now. Qing Mu couldn't act against Liu Wuxie in the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

There was no reason for Liu Wuxie to fear as long as he remained cautious outside the sect. His top priority now was to reach the Astral River Realm as soon as possible.

The curse continued to erode Huang Tao's soul sea, causing blood to pour out of his ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. He looked tragic, and Huang Tao's body convulsed before he collapsed to the ground after his primordial spirit was shattered.

The duel had come to an end with Huang Tao's death. Bi Gongyu had successfully replaced Huang Tao as an eight-star alchemist.

He was granted the badge of a nine-star alchemist, but Bi Gongyu refused and was satisfied with the eight-star alchemist's badge.

When everyone returned to their abode, their faces were beaming with excitement.

"Senior Brother Liu, over five hundred people have expressed their intentions to join our Heavenly Dao Society. What should we do?" Bai Lin approached and asked. Many disciples intended to join the Heavenly Dao Society after Liu Wuxie displayed his strength.

"Record their names and choose the best from their talent. They will soon be useful," iu Wuxie nodded in approval. The duel had gone better than expected—not only had they reversed the three-month decline, but the Heavenly Dao Society's standing within the sect had also soared. On top of that, he had earned the favor of Elder Yi Xuan.

Liu Wuxie planned to leave the Heavenly Dao Society's future affairs to Fan Zhen. He had little time because he had to focus on his cultivation.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and everyone was still discussing what had happened on the Treasure Pill Peak.

Many people came to look for Liu Wuxie during this time, hoping to buy a Spirit Restoration Pill, but Lan Yu rejected them all.

Liu Wuxie hadn't shown himself in the past two days, and it was impossible for ordinary people to meet him. Therefore, they had no choice but to wait for the Spirit Restoration Pill to be launched into the market so they could buy one.

"I pay my greetings to Elder Tian Xing!" Lan Yu was about to go out on an errand and ran into Elder Tian Xing, who was heading straight to Liu Wuxie's abode.

"Where's that kid?" Only Elder Tian Xing dared to address Liu Wuxie in this manner. After all, Song Ling and others would've died if not for Elder Tian Xing during the three months Liu Wuxie wasn't in the sect. This was why Lan Yu became respectful upon seeing the elder.

"Master has been waiting for Elder Tian Xing in his abode!" Lan Yu made an inviting gesture and wondered how Liu Wuxie knew Elder Tian Xing would visit him that day.

"That brat...is he a ghost? How did he know that I'll be coming?" Elder Tian Xing was speechless. In their past conversations, he had sensed that Liu Wuxie didn’t carry the demeanor of a young man but rather that of someone who had lived for millennia. He found it impossible to read Liu Wuxie’s thoughts or understand what truly lay beneath his calm exterior.

Lan Yu walked alongside Elder Tian Xing through the passage of the abode. As they entered the hall, they found Liu Wuxie already waiting, a pot of tea brewed and ready.

"I pay my respect to Elder Tian Xing!" Liu Wuxie was cold and indifferent when facing others, but he was respectful when facing Elder Tian Xing.

"You knew I was coming today?" Elder Tian Xing made himself at home in the hall. Their bond had long surpassed that of simple acquaintances, more akin to master and disciple.

Liu Wuxie began pouring tea for Elder Tian Xing after he sat down while Lan Yu quietly excused himself. He knew it wasn't appropriate for him to listen to their conversation.

"Not only did I know you were coming today," Liu Wuxie began, setting the teapot down and taking his seat opposite Elder Tian Xing, "but I also know you're merely a messenger. A middleman for someone else."

Elder Tian Xing leaned in, his eyes narrowing as he studied Liu Wuxie closely. "Do you possess the ability of foresight?" he asked, searching for any hint of an answer in Liu Wuxie's expression.

"If I'm not mistaken, many alchemists, including the sect master, have tried and failed to replicate the refinement of the Spirit Restoration Pill," Liu Wuxie said with a smile, looking at Elder Tian Xing.