Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 88 - Driving Away

When news of this year’s competition reached the headquarters, it was clear that an alchemy prodigy had emerged, instantly becoming the talk of the Imperial City.

“Miss, he can’t come,” Bi Gongyu admitted, his head bowed in respect.

“He’s not in Azure Billow City?” the woman asked. Bi Gongyu’s letter to the headquarters had suggested otherwise. If this year’s champion wasn’t present, it would mean Bi Gongyu had misled them.

“He’s in Azure Billow City, but he’s in trouble. We have to hurry up, or he’ll be killed!” Bi Gongyu reported, but he didn’t explain Liu Wuxie’s situation.

“He’s going to be killed?” The woman frowned. It was rare for a genius alchemist to appear in the Great Yan Dynasty, and she couldn’t allow such a talent to be lost. Over the past decade, the Great Yan Dynasty’s alchemy techniques had stagnated and were gradually being overtaken by neighboring dynasties. This had greatly limited their ability to trade for pills.

The headquarters had taken great interest when they heard about the genius alchemist, and Bi Gongyu had promptly submitted information about Liu Wuxie upon his return.

This woman had come from the headquarters to meet this prodigy. If possible, she hoped to nurture and recruit him into the Treasure Pill Pavilion as an alchemist.

“Yes, indeed. He is likely in danger at this moment, and I implore you to help him out of this predicament!” Bi Gongyu pleaded as he bowed.

Five days prior, Bi Gongyu had a lengthy discussion with Liu Wuxie when he delivered the spirit stones to the Xu Clan. Everyone was aware of the predicament the Xu Clan was in, and it was certain that the Xue Clan would send their experts for retaliation. Given the Xu Clan’s current state, they were incapable of withstanding the Xue Clan’s vengeance. However, they devised a plan that could potentially deter the Xue Clan, which they finalized after extensive deliberation.

As Liu Wuxie set up the defensive spiritual array, Bi Gongyu sent Liu Wuxie’s information to the headquarters.

“What’s happening?!” The woman’s face turned cold as her anger flared. She was naturally intuitive and could sense that Bi Gongyu was withholding something from her.

“Here’s the situation. Liu Wuxie, our chief alchemist at this branch of the Treasure Pill Pavilion, and I traveled to Zen City for a competition a few days ago. Unexpectedly, the Tian and Wan Clans from Azure Billow City made a move to take over the Xu Clan’s assets, with the Xue Clan and the City Lord Mansion getting involved. When we returned five days ago, a conflict broke out, and Liu Wuxie ended up taking down members of the Tian and Wan Clans, as well as some experts from the Xue Clan,” Bi Gongyu summarized and roughly explained the story, which could be easily investigated.

“Wait a second!” The woman cut off Bi Gongyu. “You mentioned Liu Wuxie, but what’s his relation to the Xu Clan?”

She was confused. Since the champion of this year’s competition was surnamed Liu, then what was his association with the Xu Clan?

“Indeed, Liu Wuxie is the son-in-law of the Xu Clan. He was raised by his father-in-law after his parents disappeared when he was a child,” Bi Gongyu explained, his forehead creased with wrinkles.

The term ‘son-in-law’ often carried a negative connotation, as it was typically associated with a lower status.

“You’re using me and the Treasure Pill Pavilion to resolve his feud with the Xue Clan, aren’t you?” The woman stared at Bi Gongyu in the eyes.

Caught off guard by her insight, Bi Gongyu stammered, “Miss, I had no other option. I couldn’t stand by and let such a talented alchemist perish. I assure you, my intentions are pure. Everything I’ve done is for the benefit of the Treasure Pill Pavilion!”

Bi Gongyu even swore that all his actions were for the Pavilion’s sake.

“Hmph. A tiny Xue Clan dares to touch the alchemist of my Treasure Pill Pavilion?!” The woman wasn’t upset, as she had already figured out that Bi Gongyu was leveraging the Pavilion’s influence.

It was true that any alchemist registered with the headquarters would be protected by them. However, Bi Gongyu had only reported to the headquarters that Liu Wuxie was this branch’s chief alchemist a few days ago.

“Miss, when shall we depart?” Bi Gongyu asked cautiously. He didn’t know if the Xu Clan’s defensive spiritual array could stop the Xue Clan’s experts, so he naturally felt anxious as he waited for the lady’s arrival.

“Lead the way!” The woman waved her hand and climbed into the carriage.

Bi Gongyu took the reins himself, and they quickly set off towards the Xu Clan.

......

Outside the Xu Clan, the three experts from the Xue Clan launched successive attacks on the Azure Wood Killing Array, each strike causing a formidable shockwave. Despite causing the spiritual array to tremble, they were unable to destroy it.

Initially, everyone was filled with apprehension, fearing that the spiritual array might shatter. However, after two hours of relentless assault that not only failed to damage the array but also resulted in injuries from the Azure Wood Sword Aura, the Xue Clan’s experts could do nothing but sit on the ground in frustration, waiting for the Xu Clan to emerge.

“Second Brother, let’s not waste time with them. We can destroy all the Xu Clan’s assets and see how they will keep hiding inside the spiritual array,” suggested a vicious-looking middle-aged man on the left as he rose to his feet. His plan was ruthless: if the Xu Clan refused to come out, they would simply start destroying their assets one by one.

“Pretty good idea. The two of you go!” The leader of the group, a middle-aged man, agreed.

The higher hierarchies of the Xu Clan were livid. They hadn’t anticipated that the Xue Clan would stoop so low as to target their assets when they couldn’t breach the spiritual array.

“So that’s the best the Xue Clan can do? What a letdown!” Liu Wuxie scoffed. His words caused the two middle-aged men, who were about to depart, to halt and turn their gaze towards him.

“You’re the one who killed Xue Yang, aren’t you?” The leader of the trio, a middle-aged man, asked, his voice heavy with murderous intent.

“Indeed, it was my blade that ended him. And he won’t be the last, as I plan to wipe out the entire Xue Clan in due course,” Liu Wuxie openly admitted. His confession of not only killing Xue Yang and his group but also his intention to annihilate the entire Xue Clan left everyone stunned, including those from the Xu Clan. They hadn’t expected Liu Wuxie to be so audacious.

Before departing, the three experts from the Marrow Cleansing Realm had conducted an investigation and discovered that Liu Wuxie was responsible for Xue Yang’s death. Initially, they were skeptical, as it seemed implausible for someone in the Xiantian Realm to kill an expert in the Marrow Cleansing Realm. However, they later found out that Xu Yilin had been restraining Xue Yang at the time.

Consequently, everyone naturally attributed Liu Wuxie’s ability to kill Xue Yang to Xu Yilin’s assistance, including those from the Xu Clan.

“You have successfully enraged me. From this day forward, I’ll ensure that your Xu Clan lives in constant fear!” The middle-aged man stood up, intending to head towards the Xu Clan’s assets and initiate a massacre. As he slowly walked away, the higher-ups of the Xu Clan grew increasingly anxious, but they were powerless to stop him.

Xu Yilin frowned because the Xu Clan had many assets. If they lost the assets, it would be a devastating blow to the Xu Clan. He asked anxiously, “Wuxie, what should we do?”

“Wait!” was Liu Wuxie’s immediate response. They had to keep waiting, even if it meant losing all their assets. As long as they were alive, there was always a chance for a comeback. But if everyone was dead, what good would those assets do?

Just then, the sound of carriage wheels rolling over the ground echoed through the air as a luxurious carriage made its way towards the Xu Clan.

The three experts from the Xue Clan halted their actions and turned their attention to the approaching carriage, exchanging puzzled glances.

“Our saviors are here!” Liu Wuxie exclaimed, pulling out his jade token and stepping out of the spiritual array.

Seeing this, Xu Yilin quickly followed to ensure Liu Wuxie’s safety. A few deacons also clutched their tokens and stepped out, weapons drawn, ready to protect Liu Wuxie.

“Wuxie, do you think anyone would be willing to help our Xu Clan?” Xu Yilin asked, unable to think of anyone who might come to their aid. He had considered countless possibilities, even contemplating reaching out to Xu Lingxue in hopes that her master might intervene and resolve the crisis facing the Xu Clan. But he ultimately dismissed the idea. Xu Lingxue’s talent had caught Baili Qing’s attention, and she wouldn’t concern herself with the life and death struggles of the Xu Clan. Even if he did send a message, it would only serve to worry Xu Lingxue and potentially disrupt her cultivation at the Imperial Academy.

“We’ll know in a while!” Liu Wuxie wasn’t too confident about it either. This plan was risky and had a low possibility of success, but it was better than having no hope.

As the carriage came to a halt, a woman alighted and cast her gaze over the Xu Clan, her eyes finally resting on Liu Wuxie. At that moment, as Liu Wuxie and the woman locked eyes, they recognized shared traits in each other—pride, arrogance, and dominance.

The woman then withdrew her gaze from Liu Wuxie and turned towards the three experts from the Xue Clan, her expression filled with disdain.

“Mu Yueying...why are you here?” The three experts from the Xue Clan trembled, their eyes filled with a mixture of shock and fear upon seeing Mu Yueying.

“Why shouldn’t I be here?” Mu Yueying responded, her demeanor akin to a lofty saintess, her presence seemingly illuminating the sky.

“That’s not it...” The three didn’t know how to reply.

“If I hadn’t shown up, your Xue Clan would have dared to kill an alchemist from my Treasure Pill Pavilion. The audacity!” Mu Yueying retorted coldly.

A sense of dread filled the hearts of the three Xue Clan experts. They hadn’t anticipated that Mu Yueying would come to Azure Billow City on behalf of the Xu Clan.

“Lady Mu, this young man has taken the lives of members of our Xue Clan. Even your Treasure Pill Pavilion cannot protect him!” The three quickly regained their composure. Despite their fear of Mu Yueying, they stood tall, reminding her of the Xue Clan’s strength.

“I am determined to protect him today. What are you going to do about it?” Mu Yueying’s response was assertive and commanding. Her words implied a disregard for the consequences, even if it meant the demise of the Xue Clan.

“Lady Mu, I don’t think this is appropriate. He’s merely an alchemist from a minor branch. Is it worth offending our Xue Clan for his sake?” The middle-aged man argued, emphasizing the low status of an alchemist in a branch and their lack of influence within the headquarters.

“Xue Changnian, it seems you’re not aware. Young Master Liu is this year’s competition champion. Why don’t you try laying a hand on him?” Bi Gongyu interjected

The champions of each year’s competition were considered prodigies in alchemy and were nurtured by the headquarters. There was even a chance they could be recruited into the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

Upon hearing the news, Xue Changnian’s eyes narrowed. His resentment towards Liu Wuxie intensified, as Liu Wuxie not only excelled in cultivation but also in the art of alchemy.