Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 423 - Death Sentence

No one came out to stop Gongsun Zhen from reaching for Song Ling. Fan Zhen had the highest cultivation among the five, but even he couldn’t move in this situation, not to mention Bi Gongyu or Lan Yu.

Veins bulged on everyone's foreheads as they faced the prospect of a casualty before they had even established themselves. Fan Zhen clenched his fists in frustration.

The events unfolding in the Mission Hall served as a harsh lesson, one that would deeply impact their future cultivation.

From this day forward, they would remember Gongsun Zhen and Lin Mingxu with a mix of resentment and resolve. The humiliation they endured only strengthened their determination to become powerful.

Only through facing life-and-death crises could they truly grasp the significance of strength. Dignity was forged through power, and without it, one remained vulnerable and at the mercy of others.

Just when the palm was a few inches away from Song Ling’s neck, a terrifying cold ray shot from outside the Mission Hall, severing Gongsun Zhen’s palm.

“ARGH!” Gongsun Zhen screamed in pain with blood gushing out from the stump of his wrist and dyed Song Ling’s clothes red.

The Mission Hall fell into chaos, and they wondered who had the audacity to act.

Aside from the last time Liu Wuxie had crippled Wang Tie and others, there wasn’t anyone who dared to cause trouble in the Mission Hall.

“Who is it? Come out!” Lin Mingxu looked around with the longsword, wanting to see who had severed Gongsun Zhen’s hand.

A palpable aura of murderous intent swept through the Mission Hall, and it became clear that the attack had originated from outside.

Hundreds of eyes, including those of Fan Zhen and his group, turned toward the entrance, eager to identify their savior.

A figure donned in a green robe stepped into the Mission Hall.

“A ghost!” the nearby disciples screamed in fear when they saw the green figure.

An unseen hand lashed out at the screaming disciple, hurling him through the air and into the distant underbrush, where his fate remained uncertain.

“I-It’s Liu Wuxie! He’s not dead!” When everyone saw Liu Wuxie, they all had fear on their faces, especially those who had mocked him earlier.

Liu Wuxie’s notorious reputation had long spread throughout the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. He was known for being decisive in killing and wouldn’t show mercy to fellow disciples who had a feud with him.

The crowd panicked, and some even tried to leave the Mission Hall quietly.

“Anyone who tries to leave will be killed without mercy!” Liu Wuxie’s voice enveloped the entire hall, making everyone freeze in place.

After practicing the Soul Forge Art, Liu Wuxie’s soul energy had reached an unimaginable height.

Everyone could only stop, with a few so terrified that they wet their pants with a foul stench filling the Mission Hall.

Fan Zhen and others naturally saw this scene. The five exchanged a look with joy and a hint of shock. They were happy that Liu Wuxie wasn’t dead and were in shock because Liu Wuxie’s status in the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion intimidated so many people.

Any one of them here could easily crush the five of them, but they were like chicks before Liu Wuxie.

The crowd parted instinctively, making way for Liu Wuxie to move to the center of the Mission Hall. The deacons hastily closed their counters, clearly unwilling to get involved in the unfolding drama.

Liu Wuxie’s eyes scanned the room, landing on Fan Zhen and his companions, but he frowned when he noticed that his father-in-law and mother-in-law were missing.

“Big brother, I knew you weren’t dead!” Song Ling came forward to hug Liu Wuxie, but his chubby figure nearly suffocated him. It had been six months since they had last met, and Song Ling had gained even more weight.

Upon seeing Liu Wuxie, tears began to roll down Chen Ruoyan’s cheeks.

“Wuxie, your father-in-law told me to give this to you!” Fan Zhen stepped forward with a letter from his bosom and handed it to Liu Wuxie.

Taking out the letter, Liu Wuxe tore off the wax seal.

It was his father-in-law’s handwriting, which he read line by line: “Liu Wuxie, I know you meant well for us, but there are many matters that we have to handle, and we can’t leave now. We’ll go again in the future if there’s an opportunity.

I chose the third princess and Lan Yu. Some things must be faced, and I’ve watched the third princess grow thinner by the day, and it pains me. You’ve grown up, and I believe you can handle the relationship well.

Lan Yu has strong management skills, not to mention he’s your disciple. Using him will be much more convenient, and I’m glad you’re doing well in the cultivation world...”

The letter was three pages long, detailing recent developments in both the Xu Clan and the Great Yan Dynasty.

Liu Wuxie carefully folded the letter and placed it in his bosom, resolved to honor Xu Yilin’s wishes, as he was his father-in-law.

“It has been tough on you guys!” Liu Wuxie bowed to Fan Zhen. Although he hadn’t witnessed what had happened earlier, he could guess from everyone’s expressions.

“Wuxie, you don’t have to be so polite!” Fan Zhen patted Liu Wuxie’s shoulder. Recalling Liu Wuxie as a former student of the Imperial Academy, a sense of pride surged in his heart.

“Disciple pays his respect to master!” Lan Yu went down on his knees and gave Liu Wuxie three kowtows, leaving everyone puzzled. They didn’t expect Liu Wuxie to have taken in a disciple in the mundane world.

“Rise!”

Lan Yu quickly stood up in excitement.

“Step aside and leave the rest to me.” Liu Wuxie gave them a reassuring look.

Fan Zhen and Bi Gongyu exchanged a look, and they said, “Wuxie, why don’t we let it go since we didn’t suffer any losses?”

Bi Gongyu didn’t want to escalate the situation, not to mention it wasn’t worth it to offend so many people for their sake.

“Let it go?” Liu Wuxie revealed a sinister smile, which sent a shiver down their spine. The temperature in the Mission Hall also dropped under his smile.

“I know you all mean well and don’t want me to make too many enemies. But they dared to humiliate my friends today, and it won’t calm my anger without teaching them a lesson.” Liu Wuxie unleashed a powerful aura that swept throughout the Mission Hall.

“Liu Wuxie, I didn’t mock or target your friends. Can I leave?” Many of the hundreds of people present hadn’t caused trouble earlier and hoped Liu Wuxie could distinguish right from wrong.

“That’s not up to you guys, but my brother!” Liu Wuxie grabbed Song Ling by the shoulder and pushed him forward. He continued, “Point out who humiliated, threatened, and wanted to kill you guys.”

Liu Wuxie wanted Song Ling to point out the targets for him because Song Ling had likely remembered their faces.

“Big brother, do I have to point them out?” He wasn’t as bright as Liu Wuxie but wasn’t stupid either. He knew the consequences would become unimaginable if he pointed them out because he would offend so many people simultaneously.

“Point them out for me!” Liu Wuxie ordered.

“Him, him, him...” Song Ling began to point, and those he pointed shivered in fear. He pointed out forty to fifty people before Fan Zhen kicked him to make him stop.

Many had mocked them earlier, but the ones pointed out were the worst, especially Lin Mingxu, Gongsun Zhen, and Zhang Shu.

“Those who were pointed out cripple your cultivation. Don’t make me do it for you.” Liu Wuxie didn’t start a massacre and only wanted to cripple their cultivation. If they lost their cultivation, they would be no different from garbage and die in the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion in a matter of time.

“Liu Wuxie, you’re despicable!” Lin Mingxu stepped forward and pointed at Liu Wuxie. He knew he wasn’t Liu Wuxie’s match.

“Get lost!” Liu Wuxie’s kick sent Lin Mingxu crashing to the ground, his dantian shattered, and his body sprawled out like a lifeless ragdoll. There was no need for words when his fists could handle the matter effectively.

“Liu Wuxie, please don’t cripple our cultivation. We were wrong for mocking them!” Fifty-odd people went down on their knees to beg Liu Wuxie for forgiveness.

Fan Zhen and others had disbelief in their eyes. They didn’t expect Liu Wuxie to have such a high status in the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion that even the inner disciples went down on their knees.

There was no pity or sympathy as Liu Wuxie swept his icy gaze at them.

“You all have three breaths. Don’t make me do it!” Liu Wuxie’s words were like a death sentence to them. He would have otherwise only punished the leaders lightly, but his experiences in the cave had taught him that weakness only invites exploitation.

The threats from Shao Wenliang, the cunning of Geng Mochou, the cruelty of Yuchi Xiang, and the brutality of Du Sheng—all of their foul deeds replayed in Liu Wuxie's mind.

The anger he had suppressed for over twenty days erupted like a volcano.

“What arrogance!” A voice cut through the tension as a figure clad in brown entered the Mission Hall. His powerful aura, emanating from the seventh level of the Heavenly Dipper Realm, immediately neutralized Liu Wuxie’s aura, lifting the weight off those on their knees.

Looking at the newcomer, a cold smirk rose on Liu Wuxie’s lips.

“It’s Senior Brother Hou Ye. We’re saved!” The brown-clad figure was Hou Ye, a disciple of the Hou Clan and Hou Lie’s elder cousin.

“You intend to interfere?” Liu Wuxie’s gaze sharpened as he locked eyes with Hou Ye. He had no qualms about killing him if he dared to meddle. The Hou Clan’s animosity towards him was well known, and this was a matter of life and death.

“I just can’t stand your arrogance. They’re merely some low-level disciples, and they’re beneath you. Why make trouble for them?” Hou Ye pointed at those on the ground mockingly, implying that Liu Wuxie was bullying the weak.

“Beneath me?” A hint of contempt flashed in Liu Wuxie’s eyes. He continued, “Did they think my friends were beneath them when they bullied them?”

Liu Wuxie’s words left everyone speechless. If Liu Wuxie was bullying the weak, then what had they been doing when they had tormented Fan Zhen’s group?

“They have already admitted their mistake, and you’re unwilling to let it go. Do you think you can challenge everyone?” Hou Ye’s intention was simple: to win over people’s hearts.

Liu Wuxie’s enemies were naturally the Hou Clan’s friends. It was that simple and direct.

“If admitting mistakes was enough, why do we need laws? I don’t care who you are, and you will have to bear my rage if you dare stop me.” Liu Wuxie’s words drew agreement from many onlookers because the world would be in chaos if apologizing was enough for killing someone.

“Liu Wuxie, do you think I’m afraid of you? I’ll take the opportunity today to teach you a lesson. I heard you obtained a large amount of stalactite essence. It’s mine now!”