Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 499 - Argument

Unlike the bustling atmosphere on the Treasure Pill Peak, the great hall felt somewhat heavy and oppressed.

Qing Mu stood up, and his every word was filled with hostility toward Liu Wuxie, trying to get him expelled.

"Qing Mu, I didn't expect you to be so shameless. If it weren't for you instigating Huang Tao to humiliate Bi Gongyu and slap him, do you think Liu Wuxie would waste his time to challenge the Treasure Pill Peak?" Tian Xing stood up with his face full of anger.

He had received a summon from the sect master when he was about to head to the Treasure Pill Peak. It turned out that Qing Mu had gone to the sect master to report Liu Wuxie.

If Liu Wuxie had been an ordinary inner disciple, Qing Mu would not have needed to trouble the sect master, but his status was different now. He was an elite disciple favored by Tian Xing. This was an entirely different story now.

"What a joke. Someone with just a handful of alchemy tricks dares to show off on Treasure Pill Peak? It was mercy not to kill him that day, yet he shows no gratitude and dares challenge Treasure Pill Peak. Isn't that a grave insult?" Qing Mu retorted sharply. Their centuries-long feud had only grown deeper with time.

"We'll know in a while if what you say is true. I'm curious to find out who the clown is here," Tian Xing sneered. He was confident about Liu Wuxie because he believed in the latter. After all, who would’ve believed that Liu Wuxie could survive his death match with Jiang Gongming before the fight?

"Sect master, please uphold justice. If this carried on, it would only make the alchemists disheartened. Who will bear the responsibility if everyone comes to challenge the Treasure Pill Peak, affecting the production of pills?" Qing Mu was a nine-star alchemist with an aloof status in the sect.

The Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was famous for its pills; seventy percent of its income came from alchemy. If the production of its pills were affected, the sect's income would also be affected, which was why Qing Mu dared to oppose Tian Xing.

"An alchemy competition would only foster growth! Do you even realize why the Azure Crimson Gate has outpaced the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion and chipped away at our market? It’s because we’ve grown complacent!" Tian Xing’s voice was sharp as he glared at Qing Mu, fury in his eyes. "When was the last time this sect produced a nine-star alchemist? It’s because stubborn fools like you keep stifling any disciple with promise!" He pointed an accusing finger at Qing Mu, laying bare the root of the sect's stagnation.

Qing Mu had gathered a large group of seven- and eight-star alchemists throughout the years to form their clique. To maintain their position, they suppressed any promising talent that could threaten it.

They even nurtured disciples in the dark to monopolize the Treasure Pill Peak's resources. The Treasure Pill Peak was no longer as glorious as it once was. It was like a hollowed-out giant tree infested with pests. While it looked strong and big on the outside, the slightest pressure would cause the tree to crumble.

Mu Tianli remained silent and quietly watched the two. He was naturally aware of the Treasure Pill Peak's problem, but there were some things he couldn't interfere with as the sect master. These chronic problems had accumulated over decades, and they had reached a point where the root of the problem had to be eradicated.

If things continued to develop this way, the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion would soon decline to a second-rate sect.

"What nonsense! When have we suppressed promising talents? The Treasure Pill Peak won't let you off if you don't clarify your words today. If you think there's an issue with the Treasure Pill Peak, why don't you take over the management starting today? The losses will be on you if the Treasure Pill Peak can't meet the target," Qing Mu sneered.

Seventy percent of the alchemists on the Treasure Pill Peak listened to him, and one word from him could make all the alchemists stop their work to incur losses for the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. After all, a day without pill production would result in having their market snatched away by others.

"Qing Mu, do you think we don't know how you bribed the alchemists? How many resources have you embezzled over the years? I've put up with you over the years as the Law-Enforcement Hall's elder, but I don't mind exposing all your dirty deeds throughout the years since you're unrepentant," Tian Xing said. He had naturally collected evidence of Qing Mu's corruption as the Law-Enforcement Hall's elder.

Considering Qing Mu's status as a nine-star alchemist, Tian Xing had held back for the sect's sake. Losing an alchemist of his caliber would be a blow, especially since ninth-grade pills were worth hundreds of their lower-grade counterparts.

"That's enough! You're both elders of the sect. Aren't you guys feeling shameful to be arguing like this?" Mu Tianli finally spoke because the situation would get out of hand if Tian Xing and Qing Mu continued their argument.

He was the sect master, so how could he not know that Qing Mu had formed factions and embezzled the sect's resources throughout the years? But he could do nothing about it because Qing Mu was merely taking a bit more commission, which didn't harm the sect's foundation.

As Tian Xing had thought, the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion couldn't afford to lose a nine-star alchemist, or the sect's ranking would diminish. Tian Xing's broad perspective earned him Mu Tianli's respect.

"Sect master, are we going to let that brat do as he pleases?" Qing Mu turned to look at the sect master with a hint of threat in his tone. If Mu Tianli did nothing and allowed Liu Wuxie to act freely as he wished, he would use his status as a nine-star alchemist to pressure the sect master.

"Qing Mu, you've been a nine-star alchemist for fifty years, right?" Mu Tianli's sharp gaze turned to look at Qing Mu.

Qing Mu's heart skipped a beat because he could sense a hint of murderous intent in Mu Tianli's eyes.

"Yes!" Qing Mu nodded slightly.

"In the past fifty years, you’ve only refined 270 ninth-grade pills. Do you think that’s acceptable?" Mu Tianli's voice grew colder with each word, his gaze piercing. "That’s an average of six pills per year—your progress is no better than a snail’s."

Qing Mu, feeling the weight of his guilt, tried to defend himself. "Sect Master, ninth-grade pills are notoriously difficult to refine. One batch can take months."

"I've checked the number of spiritual herbs you took. You took a total of 3,700 portions. Even if you can't produce 1,000 pills, 500 shouldn't be a problem. Or could it be that your alchemy skills have deteriorated?" Mu Tianli continued to press on.

Cold sweat began to drip from Qing Mu's forehead. He didn't expect the sect master to know how many spiritual herbs he had taken. It was also impossible for Qing Mu to fail all the batches unless his alchemy skills had deteriorated, but where did all the pills go?

There was only one possibility—Qing Mu had embezzled those pills. He had most likely sold them privately and pocketed the proceeds.

Qing Mu, as an esteemed alchemist, had long enjoyed privileges within the sect. Minor embezzlement would usually go unnoticed or unchallenged. However, only Qing Mu himself knew the true extent of what he had taken.

"Sect master, what do you mean by that? Are you accusing me?" Qing Mu raised his head. He knew he couldn't admit to anything now, and even the sect master couldn't do anything to him as long as he insisted that all the pills had failed.

"I'm just asking casually. The production rate in recent years has dropped, and it's time for a chance. Since someone wants to challenge the Treasure Pill Peak, I think it is fine and should be encouraged. Since you have nothing to hide, what are you so afraid of? Why bother as long as you're not guilty of anything? Not to mention, there won't be any losses to the sect regardless of the competition's outcome," Mu Tianli said.

Since Qing Mu claimed to have nothing to hide, there should be nothing he was afraid of. Mu Tianli used this tactic, applying pressure on Qing Mu before softening his stance so that the latter would compromise.

If Qing Mu continued to target Liu Wuxie, Tian Xing would expose his corruption. With things coming to this point, Qing Mu knew that the sect master was determined to support Liu Wuxie.

"I agree with the Sect Master’s position, but the time of the alchemists at the Treasure Pill Peak is valuable. If challenges like Liu Wuxie’s become common, the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion will be the one to suffer. I propose that the losing party be expelled from the sect. What are your thoughts on this, Sect Master?" Qing Mu's intention was clear: he wanted Liu Wuxie removed from the sect.

"Qing Mu, you're the one who suggested it!" Tian Xing said before Mu Tianli could.

"I request to have the sect master bear witness to it!" Qing Mu turned to look at the sect master to prevent any denial of the agreement after Liu Wuxie lost the challenge.

"Isn't the alchemy competition about to begin? Don't you two want to witness it with your own eyes?" Mu Tianli didn't respond. The rest was up to them to decide, and he wouldn't interfere.

"In that case, I'll take my leave first!" Qing Mu was the first to leave the hall. The alchemy competition hadn't started, and he planned to inform Huang Tao to set up an agreement in his competition with Liu Wuxie to have the loser leave the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. Otherwise, it would be too late for them to set up an agreement beforehand.

Only Tian Xing and Mu Tianli were left in the main hall.

"Sect master, why do you keep tolerating him? Don't you know how many pills he has embezzled over the years?" Tian Xing said. He didn't hold back his words because Mu Tianli was the sect master.

"Do you think I don't want to?" Mu Tianli smiled bitterly. He had difficulties as the sect master because there were grand elders whose status was above sect masters. Their authority in the sect was equal to that of the sect master.

"I understand!" Tian Xing's face flashed with a hint of disappointment, and the two men suddenly sighed.

"Let's go. I hope he can help the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion reclaim our honor on the Ten Grand Ceremony." Mu Tianli's eyes flashed with a trace of sharpness.

"There's only three months left. I hope that kid can create a miracle," Tian Xing said, leaving the main hall.

The Treasure Pill Peak was packed with people, many standing on roofs or trees. The elders long occupied the best spots in the center.

Yi Xuan, holding a noble status, sat at the forefront with Yi Nan beside him. Yi Nan, irritated by the commotion, kept his eyes closed, seeking some peace amid the noise.

The sudden alchemy competition had alarmed all the Treasure Pill Peak alchemists to come out to watch. After all, it had been many years since anyone dared to challenge the alchemists of the Treasure Pill Peak, not to mention their target was an eight-star alchemist, which was unprecedented.

Liu Wuxie led the group through the buildings and arrived at the Treasure Pill Peak. This was his first visit here since joining the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, and they walked a specially opened path to the square.