Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 636 - Ghost Rune

When a demonic flame engulfed the pagoda, the crowd exclaimed, "What is he doing? This is a demonic artifact prepared by the Demonic Heart Palace, and one will suffer the backlash from the demonic essence if not handled carefully."

The best way to refine a demonic artifact was to seal the demonic trait within it. However, Liu Wuxie didn't take that approach, nor did he prepare any protection. He engulfed the demonic artifact with flame, which was no different from courting death.

However, they didn't know that Liu Wuxie had devoured abyssal energy when he was in the Abyssal Underworld World. The demonic traits contained in abyssal energy were far more potent than the pagoda. In the world, nothing could harm him, be it poison or abyssal energy.

"Sect Master, can you tell what he is doing?" Elder He asked Mu Tianli nervously. After all, Liu Wuxie's forging technique was unheard of.

Ordinary cultivators could not withstand the demonic trait. They would usually seal it to forge the artifact before releasing it.

However, Liu Wuxie took an unconventional approach by igniting the demonic trait within the artifact rather than sealing it. A boundless demonic aura surged through the chamber, enveloping him in a presence so overwhelming that he appeared like a demonic god standing at its core.

"Let's carry on watching. Liu Wuxie isn't someone who will act without reason, and there must be a reason why he's doing this," Mu Tianli said. He could only comfort himself in this manner. After all, Liu Wuxie had already proven through his actions that he wasn't a reckless person.

The Demonic Heart Palace's sect master and elders had been paying attention to Liu Wuxie.

"Fascinating! This is fascinating!" The Demonic Heart Palace's sect master stroked his bead, and a sinister smile crept onto his face, causing the surrounding temperature to fall.

"Sect Master, this brat's forging technique even surpasses ours. The demonic trait in the pagoda has grown stronger," said a Demonic Heart Palace elder with shock on his face.

"Recruit him to join our Demonic Heart Palace if possible," the Demonic Heart Palace's sect master said in a hoarse voice that sounded like grinding stones.

"And if he refuses?"

Liu Wuxie was a disciple of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, and the possibility of recruiting him into the Demonic Heart Palace was slim.

The Demonic Heart Palace's sect master suddenly turned to look at the elder with boundless murderous intent released with green flame blazing in the depth of his eyes.

"I know what should be done!" the elder replied, shivering from the murderous intent. If the Demonic Heart Palace couldn't obtain something they wanted, they would destroy it. This had always been their tradition.

Meanwhile, a demonic aura enveloped Liu Wuxie as the Sky Devouring Divine Cauldron devoured all of it to strengthen itself. After absorbing the demonic aura, the demonic chains became even more powerful. Even the abyssal realm in the desolate world began to expand.

The desolate world had doubled in the past year, but there weren't any changes to the abyssal realm. Through this trial, the abyssal realm finally began to expand as demonic traits began to pour in, filling the desolate world with them.

Torrential demonic flame swept out with Liu Wuxie in the center. The hovering pagoda began to expand like a cave.

"What terrifying blacksmithing technique!"

In the past levels, most of the trials involved completing an incomplete artifact or ordinary spiritual treasures. But this demonic artifact was different because the demonic trait it gave off was too overwhelming.

They were curious how Liu Wuxie controlled the demonic trait and aura without suffering the backlash.

With a loud rumble, the tower crashed, causing the entire chamber to shake violently, with cracks appearing on the surrounding walls. The cracks continued to expand, and this chamber was beyond repair.

"He really succeeded!" Everyone was in disbelief as they looked at Liu Wuxie like he was a monster who defied logic. They were puzzled how such a monster existed in the Southern Province.

Meanwhile, Mu Tianli had waves surging in his heart. He couldn't believe that Liu Wuxie had succeeded in forging the pagoda without sealing the demonic trait, and this felt like an entirely new path was unveiled before him, a world that they had never even dared to imagine. Who could've thought that artifacts could be forged in such a manner?

A bizarre scene occurred when the tower was placed on the crystal orb. Instead of a purple beam, a sinister black mist enveloped the entire sky, blocking all the light.

"T-This is the Abyssal Emperor's will!" The Demonic Heart Palace’s disciples stood up because this pagoda had fused with a wisp of the Abyssal Emperor's will.

"Could Liu Wuxie be the reincarnation of a demonic god?"

Initially, Liu Wuxie was speculated to be the reincarnation of an alchemy immortal, but now, they began to think he might be the reincarnation of a demonic god. No one could fathom how the will of an Abyssal Emperor could reside within Liu Wuxie, making everyone wonder if he was someone of the Abyssal Race.

But this made no sense—Liu Wuxie was clearly human, and everyone could see that. So, where did the Abyssal Emperor's will come from? No one had an answer.

Liu Wuxie emerged from the black mist and ascended to the ninth level. The eighth level was considered a critical threshold, one that most contestants failed to surpass. But for Liu Wuxie, the ninth level posed no challenge. He completed it in just an hour and, without a moment's hesitation, proceeded to the tenth level.

This made everyone nervous, and they wondered if the tenth level could obstruct Liu Wuxie or if he would obtain the first rank again, like in the previous trials.

Those from the Heavenly Origin Sect were particularly on edge, and their expressions had betrayed their unease.

Meanwhile, Bai Yuan had only reached the seventh level and was still far from catching up.

On the tenth level, Liu Wuxie frowned after seeing the material on the desk. This was a small chunk of meteorite iron. It seemed unremarkable at first glance, and Liu Wuxie used Ghost Eye for assurance.

"So, they still refuse to give up!" A cold smirk rose on Liu Wuxie's lips. He noticed a ghost rune at the center of the meteorite iron.

If the ghost rune couldn't be removed, it would be futile no matter how hard Liu Wuxie tried to eliminate the impurities. He had long anticipated that the Heavenly Origin Sect wouldn't let him get past the tenth level so easily.

The ghost rune embedded in the meteorite iron was a devious mechanism capable of being controlled from the outside. If Liu Wuxie forged recklessly, the ghost rune would activate, destroying the meteorite iron entirely. This would render Liu Wuxie’s efforts futile, leaving his points at zero regardless of his extraordinary forging techniques.

It was clear that the Heavenly Origin Sect had orchestrated a cunning scheme. Given the circumstances, it was highly likely that ghost runes were planted in the other pieces of meteorite iron as well.

"Sect Master, should we activate the ghost rune now?" Wang Ba asked with a sinister grin, clutching a ghost talisman in his right hand. The moment he ignited the talisman, the ghost rune would activate, devouring the essence of the meteorite iron and sabotaging Liu Wuxie's progress.

"Not yet. Wait until he's halfway through before activating it," Bai Jin instructed coldly. Activating the ghost rune too soon would risk drawing suspicion, but triggering it midway would make it seem as though Liu Wuxie had faltered in his forging technique.

"What's wrong? Why hasn't Liu Wuxie started yet?" someone questioned in the crowd.

Liu Wuxie hadn't hesitated on the other levels, so why now?

"Could there be an issue with the meteorite iron on the tenth level?" someone in the crowd speculated, their voice tinged with suspicion. After the Heavenly Origin Sect’s earlier tampering with the spiritual arrays during the first trial, many began to suspect foul play once again, this time involving the meteorite iron.

"How could anyone possibly tamper with the meteorite iron?" another muttered in disbelief. While skepticism lingered, some thought Liu Wuxie was merely strategizing how to handle the challenging material.

"Sect Master, something isn't right," Elder He said, noticing Liu Wuxie's furrowed brows as he observed the meteorite iron.

"I hadn’t expected the Heavenly Origin Sect to resort to such underhanded means!" Mu Tianli said with a hint of anger in his eyes.

Five minutes passed, and Liu Wuxie remained unmoving on the tenth level. Bai Yuan was closing in on him, reaching the eighth level. If he remained motionless, it would only be a matter of time before Bai Yuan would catch up with him.

At last, Liu Wuxie took a deep breath with a faint, contempt-filled smile. Did the Heavenly Origin Sect think a ghost rune could stop him?

With a flick of his finger, golden spiritual runes burrowed into the meteorite iron, an action that baffled everyone as they couldn't figure out what Liu Wuxie was trying to do.

This isn't good! Wang Ba exclaimed inwardly.

When the golden spiritual rune sank into the meteorite iron, Liu Wuxie formed seals rapidly. His movements were mesmerizing, faster than the eye could follow.

The meteorite iron hovered in the air, expanding and contracting.

"What a bizarre forging technique!" The Indigo Cloud Gate’s disciples were confused. The Indigo Cloud Gate was known for blacksmithing, and they were versed in hundreds of forging techniques.

However, they had never seen Liu Wuxie's forging techniques. It looked like he was playing instead of forging.

The meteorite iron continued its rhythmic rise and fall, endlessly tossed into the air with no sign of stopping. The repetitive motion captivated the crowd at first, their heads bobbing up and down in unison like pecking chickens.

"I can't take it any longer!" someone groaned, rubbing their sore neck. Yet, some remained fixated on the meteorite iron, hoping to decipher Liu Wuxie's actions.

Over time, most had lost interest, dismissing Liu Wuxie's actions as mere tricks.

Only the Heavenly Origin Sect's upper echelons maintained their focus on Liu Wuxie, waiting for the perfect moment to activate the ghost talisman.

An hour passed like that, and Wang Ba was beginning to lose patience as his neck ached.

"Sect Master, what should we do?" Wang Ba asked, seeing that Liu Wuxie had no plans of forging the meteorite iron and was only playing with it. His neck would likely snap if he didn't activate the ghost talisman soon.

"Activate it!" Bai Jin said. He had no idea what Liu Wuxie was trying to do.

Wang Ba felt relieved after receiving an order from the sect master and began injecting his true essence into the ghost talisman. But to his horror, nothing happened as the talisman neither burned nor sent any signal.

"What's going on?" Bai Jin questioned as he looked at Wang Ba coldly.

Wang Ba panicked as there was no reaction from the ghost talisman even after he injected his true essence. He replied, "I-I don't know! The ghost talisman doesn't seem to be working."

The ghost talisman could control hundreds of ghost runes, and there was no reaction when Wang Ba tried to control the ghost rune in Liu Wuxie's meteorite iron. Aside from Liu Wuxie's meteorite iron, the other pieces of meteorite iron also contained ghost runes within them.

Wang Ba tried to activate the ghost rune for the other meteorite iron, but there was no reaction. The ghost talisman in his hand had become ineffective.

"You useless piece of garbage!" Bai Jin was enraged as he gave Wang Ba a slap across his face.

His sudden act caught everyone by surprise. No one knew why Bai Jin suddenly slapped Wang Ba.