Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 420 - Escape

The news of Liu Wuxie’s death sent shockwaves through the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. Many who had wished for his downfall took this as a cause for celebration.

When Bai Lin and Tang Tian learned of Liu Wuxie's death in the Scarlet Sun Mountain Range, they immediately went to look for Jian Xing'er and searched the Scarlet Sun Mountain Range for Liu Wuxie's whereabouts.

When they reached the cave and saw the shattered bridge, Jian Xing’er broke down in tears. Without the bridge, even if Liu Wuxie had survived, he would be stranded on the other side of the abyss for eternity.

After crying her heart out all day and night, Jian Xing'er fainted and had to be brought back to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion by Bai Lin.

In just a few days, Jian Xing'er lost weight and sat under a tree in a daze daily.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was divided. Some mourned Liu Wuxie’s death, while others celebrated. The Hou Clan’s disciples, in particular, were openly pleased by the news.

Although Liu Wuxie had killed Hou Lie, the Hou Clan’s disciples were surprisingly composed and even relieved upon hearing of Liu Wuxie’s death.

From the higher-ups to the outer disciples, everyone learned of Liu Wuxie's death.

Elder Tian Xing stood in a courtyard, gazing at the sky with a trace of loneliness.

"It's easy to become a target if you are strong. Why couldn’t you keep your talents concealed?” Elder Tian Xing sighed, recalling his repeated warnings to Liu Wuxie about the dangers of drawing too much attention. With Liu Wuxie gone, there was no way to undo the past.

The Heavenly Treasure Pavilion had disciples dying daily, including peerless geniuses. But once everything passed, life would return to normal, with the dead soon forgotten.

Just as deaths occurred daily, so too did new lives were born each day.

About half a month later, the dungeon, once filled with the sound of anguished screams, was now quiet except for an occasional groan.

Suddenly, Liu Wuxie’s eyes snapped open, a chilling gleam flashing from them. The intensity of his gaze left a deep, arrow-like mark on the stone wall.

"I have finally mastered the Soul Spear!" Liu Wuxie had spent twenty days in the dungeon. After countless forging attempts, he had finally mastered the first form of the Soul Forge Art.

Then again, he still had to refine it because the current power was insufficient. After cultivating the Soul Forge Art, the Ghost Eye had utterly merged with it.

Just as the Feather Emperor had said, the Spirit Clan's Soul Forge Art could assimilate everything.

The Ghost Eye was still active and had grown much stronger, allowing Liu Wuxie to perceive things with greater clarity. Through the stone walls, he could see the rumbling abyssal energy swirling beneath the surface.

"Father-in-law and mother-in-law should be arriving at the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion soon." It had been more than twenty days since Liu Wuxie had entered the dungeon. Based on his conversation with the peak master before he left, the five people he selected were anticipated to join the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion within a month.

He didn't dare to stay any longer and had to rush back to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

"The outside world must've thought I'm dead to be out of touch for so long. Father-in-law and mother-in-law will surely be bullied when they arrive in the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion or even be killed," Liu Wuxie muttered.

He was aware of the harsh conditions in the cultivation world, and it was almost impossible to survive in the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion without a background.

Standing before the Abyssal King, Liu Wuxie poured his soul energy into the Earth Binding Chains. After more than twenty days of cultivation, his soul sea had become a vast ocean.

His soul sea had surpassed that of humans and was almost on par with the Spirit Clan. The world would be shocked if they knew about his powerful soul sea.

When Liu Wuxie's soul energy wrapped around the Earth Binding Chains, a bizarre scene occurred because the runes seemed to have come to life and began pulsing.

With the death of the Feather Emperor, the Earth Binding Chains no longer had an owner. Thus, Liu Wuxie's soul energy easily penetrated the Earth Binding Chains.

He instantly felt a connection with the Earth Binding Chains, as though they had become a part of him.

An even more unbelievable scene unfolded next, with the Earth Binding Chains slowly disappearing into golden light and burrowing into his soul sea.

The Heavenly Dao Book unfolded with leaf-like words, representing the Spirit Clan.

Liu Wuxie wasn't surprised because the Feather Emperor had already said the Earth Binding Chains would slowly recover if he nourished them with soul energy.

Without the Earth Binding Chains, the Abyssal King's corpse began to collapse, shaking the entire dungeon, and rubble fell from above.

"I see...this place was supported by the Earth Binding Chains that prevented it from collapsing." Liu Wuxie wielded the Heretic Blade and knocked the falling rubbles aside while he searched for an exit.

The stone wall crumbled, revealing the brightly lit world outside to Liu Wuxie.

Without hesitation, Liu Wuxie pushed his movement technique to the limit and passed through the gap like a meteor appearing in a valley. This wasn't the entrance to the cave but the other side of the mountain waist.

The mountain trembled and partially collapsed in an instant, sealing the cave forever. This meant that no one could enter the place again.

Liu Wuxie had long kept the Feather Emperor's corpse in his interspatial pouch, preparing to buy a fine coffin for him after returning to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

Since the Feather Emperor's corpse hadn't decayed over a hundred thousand years, it shouldn't be a problem even after a few more hundred thousand years.

After seeing the sun again, Liu Wuxie let out a roar that startled all the profound beasts in the valley, causing them to flee in all directions.

They weren't scared away by the earthquake but by Liu Wuxie's roar. The roar was infused with soul energy, and the profound beasts felt their soul seas were about to explode.

Using his movement technique, Liu Wuxie swiftly left the valley and headed out of the Scarlet Sun Mountain Range.

It had been a month since the outer sect's competition, and the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion had slowed down again. Most disciples had begun to leave after taking on missions.

Today, several unusual visitors arrived at the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, their nervousness evident in their demeanor and attire.

"Headmaster, is this really the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion?" Song Ling asked, looking around with curiosity. Unlike the others, Song Ling's nervousness was less pronounced.

Fan Zhen looked around but didn't reply to Song Ling's question.

After the Battle of Hundred Nations, the Great Yan Dynasty had risen swiftly, becoming a mid-grade nation and reclaiming all their lost territories.

When Fan Zhen was still handling the Imperial Academy's affairs a month ago, Xu Yilin had summoned him to the Xu Clan.

Upon entering the Xu Clan's main hall, Fan Zhen was met by a young man with his eyes closed, exuding a powerful aura that suggested a disinterest in matters of the mundane world.

Everyone standing before him didn't dare to breathe loudly, and Fan Zhen had only felt such pressure from the envoys. But this young man gave off an even more powerful pressure than the ten major sects' envoys.

"Patriarch Xu, who is this?" Fan Zhen turned to look at Xu Yilin, and he had no idea why he was suddenly called over.

"Take a look at this!" Xu Yilin handed a letter to Fan Zhen. The letter wasn't long, and Fan Zhen finished reading it in less than two breaths with shock and yearning in his eyes.

"Wuxie sent this?" Fan Zhen's hands were trembling with shock as he returned the letter to Xu Yilin. It had only been half a year, and Liu Wuxie had already established himself in the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. This sudden news naturally shocked everyone.

"Headmaster, what do you think? He wants the few of us to enter the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion." Xu Yilin kept the letter. Judging from this letter, Liu Wuxie was alone in the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion and needed some aid.

Since he had no friends in the cultivation world, the best method was to pick from those who were by his side.

"Brother Xu, what will happen to the Xu Clan if you enter the cultivation world?" Fan Zhen whispered, peeking at the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's envoy.

It was stated clearly in the letter that Xu Yilin, Yang Zi, Fan Zhen, Song Ling, and Bi Gongyu should be brought to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. It was easy to tell Liu Wuxie had picked them through careful consideration.

Fan Zhen was the Imperial Academy's headmaster. He had management skills and was a valuable talent in management, even in the cultivation world.

Song Ling was Liu Wuxie's first friend; he could have a friend in the cultivation world by bringing him over. It would be nice to have someone to talk to.

Most importantly, Song Ling would unconditionally follow any order, even if it meant death.

Last but not least, Bi Gongyu had a decent talent in alchemy. He could help Liu Wuxie refine pills in the cultivation world. After all, Liu Wuxie wouldn't give up on pills when they were the fastest way to enhance his cultivation.

Liu Wuxie planned to form the first team in the cultivation world with Fan Zhen's overall perspective, Bi Gongyu's alchemy skills, and Song Ling's support.

"The Xu Clan is currently undergoing rapid development. I have discussed it with my wife, and we plan to give our spots to someone else. We'll consider going after the Xu Clan stabilizes." Xu Yilin's decision won him countless people's respect.

After all, entering the cultivation world was a dream to many, not to mention Liu Wuxie had established himself. They only needed to join him and would have no worries in the future.

"Aren't you worried that Wuxie will become furious?" Fan Zhen could understand Xu Yilin's decision because the Xu Clan would scatter without him.

In the past six months, the Xu Clan had expanded rapidly, now boasting thousands of guards and disciples. Disbanding it would create significant challenges for its survival.

Despite the support from the royal family, Xu Yilin remained uneasy. He had built this clan from the ground up and was reluctant to let it go.

"He will understand!" Xu Yilin smiled bitterly. He was happy that Liu Wuxie had grown up and didn't care if he could enter the cultivation world.

The hall fell silent, and everyone had a heavy heart.

"Who do you plan to give these two spots?" Fan Zhen asked.

Bi Gongyu and Song Ling arrived at this moment, but they were still unaware of what was happening.