Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 540 - Surrounded by Enemies

After Madam Li reprimanded them, the four youths didn't dare to argue further and could only leave to find seats elsewhere. There were still plenty of empty seats at the venue, but there were no empty tables, which meant newcomers had to share tables with others.

"Who's that kid? He looks unfamiliar!" The people at the nearby tables discussed among themselves because they didn't recognize Liu Wuxie.

The disciples of the three major sects were easy to recognize because they were donned in the uniforms of their respective sects. However, due to frequent washing, Liu Wuxie's blue robe looked ordinary and faded, making him look plain compared to the surrounding prodigies.

After all, everyone wore luxurious clothes or at least clothes made of silk in such an elegant setting, but Liu Wuxie boarded the boat with such simple clothes.

Then again, it was a sign of respect for others as long as one was dressed in decent clothes and the material they were made of was secondary. Even if someone wore delicate garments made with gold and jade on the outside, it was futile if their hearts were rotten. This was like a toad trying to look elegant by dressing in luxurious clothing.

"You don't know? He's the one who engaged in stone betting with the Azure Crimson Gate's Cheng Chen. He even cut open an ancient fragment and Saint Glazed Liquid," someone whispered. Many people were present in the morning, and they naturally recognized Liu Wuxie.

A commotion arose upon learning that Liu Wuxie had cut open an ancient fragment along with Saint Glazed Liquid, and they all turned their attention over. Many people even stood up and walked over to Liu Wuxie.

The competition had yet to start, and everyone could move around. When Liu Wuxie was about to sit down, two youths stood before him with a smile.

"Do you mind if we sit here?" The two youths were polite and asked for Liu Wuxie's permission to sit at the same table.

"My name is Zhang Lie, and this is my junior brother, Song Dong. We're disciples of the Grand Banner Gate. How should we address you?" The Grand Banner Gate was not one of the ten major sects, but they couldn't be underestimated. They had grown rapidly in recent years and even showed the potential to catch up with the ten major sects.

The fact that the Grand Banner Gate could grow and thrive in the territory of the three major sects was no easy feat, and it would be tough if they didn't have the strength to back it up.

"Liu Wuxie!" Liu Wuxie didn't hide his name because this place was far from the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, and he was confident that no one here had heard of him.

The two looked puzzled and were unfamiliar with that name.

"So, it's Young Master Liu! Forgive us for not recognizing you!" Zhang Lie cupped his fists politely.

Liu Wuxie's lips curled into a smile. He had met countless people and could tell from their expressions and demeanor that they had other motives for coming over.

"Stop beating around the bush. Why have you two come?"

"You're straightforward!" Zhang Lie laughed. He didn't expect Liu Wuxie to be so straightforward, making their conversation easier. Many people in the surroundings were eager to approach, but they could only watch Zhang Lie taking the lead.

Even those in the center were drawn to see what was happening.

Yin Jingwu was overwhelmed with murderous intent at the sight of Liu Wuxie.

"Senior Brother Yin, what's the matter?" An Azure Crimson Gate's disciple asked.

"This kid humiliated our Azure Crimson Gate in the House of Tea Art. Cheng Chen found me in the afternoon and said this person snatched the ancient spiritual bamboo shoot!" Yin Jingwu said.

"That guy? He looks ordinary, and there's nothing special about him." Many of Azure Crimson Gate's disciples turned their attention to look at Liu Wuxie in confusion. The latter was only in the Heavenly Phase Realm, but Liu Wuxie seemed too ordinary.

"He would've been dead if the House of Tea Art didn't stop me. But I can take this opportunity today to humiliate him and ensure he never returns," Yin Jingwu was seething with murderous intent. He recalled how Madam Li had stopped him when he wanted to kill Liu Wuxie. He kept a grudge in his heart and wouldn't rest until Liu Wuxie died.

"Senior Brother Yin, it's the treasures on him that you're after, right?" The other martial brothers teased. Everyone knew what Yin Jingwu was after, and his goal was to kill Liu Wuxie for his treasures.

People also discussed among themselves, and they all shared the same goal: to seize Liu Wuxie's treasures. They planned to use this opportunity to take his treasures for themselves. Everyone harbored ulterior motives!

Zhang Lie retrieved an interspatial pouch and placed it on the table, pushing it over to Liu Wuxie.

"What's this?" Liu Wuxie asked with a frown.

"I would like to buy a spiritual essence. I hope that Brother Liu can sell me one." The interspatial pouch contained one million spirit stones, and a mid-grade spirit stone was valued at at least three million.

One million could only buy him a low-grade spirit essence, and Zhang Lie had planned this carefully.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I have already absorbed all the spiritual essence." Liu Wuxie shrugged. He was telling the truth and had already refined all the spiritual essences he had obtained.

However, who would believe his claim? How could someone refine so many spiritual essences in just half a day? Even someone in the Astral River Realm couldn't accomplish it, and everyone assumed he was lying.

The Sky Devouring Divine Cauldron could devour everything and refine it quickly. The same was naturally true for spiritual essence.

But most people assumed that Liu Wuxie had cooked up an excuse because he didn't want to sell it to Zhang Lie. A sharp glint flashed in the depth of Zhang Lie's eyes, but he hid it well.

"Brother Liu, please don't joke around with me. I'm humbly requesting to buy one," Zhang Lie insisted, not believing what Liu Wuxie said.

"Why would I joke around with you? I don't have any left on me," Liu Wuxie replied, irritated. It was an insult to him for Zhang Lie to offer one million spirit stones for a mid-grade spiritual essence.

One million spirit stones could only buy a low-grade spiritual essence the size of a fingernail, and Zhang Lie wanted to take advantage of him and buy it cheaply.

"We're doing you a favor by offering to buy it. Don’t push your luck!" Song Dong stood up, jabbing a finger toward Liu Wuxie’s face, angered by the lack of respect. To him, this was as good as offending the Grand Banner Sect.

"And who the fuck do you think you are? Why should I show you any respect?" Chilling light shone from Liu Wuxie's eyes. These two were only in the pinnacle of the Heavenly Phase Realm, and there was no way they could withstand the pressure he gave off.

The chairs Zhang Lie and Song Dong were sitting on shattered into pieces, but they reacted quickly and avoided falling to the ground.

Being humiliated by Liu Wuxie in public was a significant blow to their pride, and they didn't expect Liu Wuxie to be so unyielding.

"Liu Wuxie, mark my words! You're doomed to offend our Grand Banner Sect! Do you think the House of Tea Art can protect you for eternity?!" Song Dong flung his sleeves and left the table.

Zhang Lie took a peek at Liu Wuxie before retrieving the interspatial pouch on the table. They didn't dare to act because Madam Li wasn't far away. As long as Liu Wuxi’s life wasn't in danger, the House of Tea Art wouldn't intervene. They would turn a blind eye if Liu Wuxie were ridiculed.

No one else came over because they knew getting anything from Liu Wuxie was futile.

More people continued to board the boat, and the competition was about to start.

The disciples of the three major sects were divided into several areas, forming a triangle as they dominated the central region.

The disciples of the Demonic Heart Palace were particularly unusual because they exuded a devilish aura and rarely interacted with other people. Of the ten major sects, the Demonic Heart Palace was the only demonic sect.

The Sky Rift Valley rarely participated in conflicts, and their disciples had a harmonious relationship with others.

Only the Azure Crimson Gate's disciples' faces were filled with hostility as if a great battle was about to unfold.

"Liu Wuxie has quite the guts to offend everyone," the Azure Crimson Gate's disciples occupied dozens of tables in the central area, murmuring among themselves about Liu Wuxie.

"Liu Wuxie!" A disciple from the Azure Crimson Gate stood up, and his action attracted the attention of the surrounding disciples.

"Jia Fengmao, do you have a screw loose? Why are you jumping around?" Yin Jingwu scolded.

Jia Fengmao had average cultivation but extraordinary alchemy talent. Although he had only joined the Azure Crimson Gate for two years, he had achieved the rank of a seven-star alchemist.

There was a high chance he could be promoted to an eight-star alchemist in another year, and his status would then become equal to Yin Jingwu's.

Yin Jingwu was far ahead in cultivation but inferior to Jia Fengmao in alchemy. The reason why Jia Fengmao was invited was mainly because of his status as an alchemist. With his talent in alchemy, he could be considered an elite among the younger generations.

Everyone invited over were prodigies who had far exceeded their peers.

"Senior Brother Yin, where's Liu Wuxie you spoke of?" Jia Fengmao could never forget the moment when Liu Wuxie crippled him. He was only treated because the Azure Crimson Gate gave him a pill for his exceptional talent in alchemy, allowing him to recover and even reach the Heavenly Phase Realm now.

However, reaching the Astral River Realm would be his limit with his talent.

"You know him?" Yin Jingwu frowned.

"I'm not sure of it yet," Jia Fengmao replied. Too many people in the world had the same name, so Jia Fengmao didn't dare to jump to conclusions to avoid offending the wrong person. He had just arrived and heard of Liu Wuxie's name from a fellow disciple.

"He's over there!" An Azure Crimson Gate's disciple pointed at Liu Wuxie's direction.

When Jia Fengmao's gaze fell on Liu Wuxie, murderous intent gushed out of him.

"It's him; he has come to Serene Sea City!" Jia Fengmao said, gritting his teeth, unable to contain his murderous intent.

This surprised the surrounding Azure Crimson Gate disciples because they didn't even know Liu Wuxie. So, how did Jia Fengmao know him?

"Junior Brother Jia, what's the matter?" An Azure Crimson Gate's disciple stood up and asked Jia Fengmao.

The murderous intent Jia Fengmao displayed naturally attracted the attention of disciples from the Sky Rift Valley and Demonic Heart Palace. The surroundings became quiet as everyone looked at Jia Fengmao.

Then again, Jia Fengmao was the only person who recognized Liu Wuxie.

"I have an irreconcilable feud with him!" Jia Fengmao's voice was loud, and his voice naturally reached Liu Wuxie's ears.

Liu Wuxie raised his head to look at where the voice came from because this voice sounded familiar to him. He soon narrowed his eyes because he hadn't expected to see Jia Fengmao there. When they had participated in the Battle of the Hundred Nations, Jia Fengmao was injured and nearly disabled by him. Thus, he was naturally surprised that Jia Fengmao was also invited over.