Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 381 - Take Care

Liu Wuxie was well aware of who Shao Wendong was, but his words were intended to provoke him. Everyone present understood that Liu Wuxie was deliberately trying to embarrass Shao Wendong.

“Since my junior brother doesn’t know me, let me introduce myself. My name is Shao Wendong, a disciple of the Heavenly Trigream Peak. Let’s be friends.” Shao Wendong had a deep scheming nature and wasn’t angry. Instead, he extended his hand with a smile.

Shao Wendong effortlessly defused the crisis caused by Liu Wuxie, making Liu Wuxie realize Shao Wendong was a formidable opponent. Liu Wuxie had intentionally spoken those words to provoke Shao Wendong as part of his plan to seek revenge for what had happened to Weng Li.

“Senior Brother Shao has many friends, and I’m just a new disciple. I’m unworthy of befriending you.” Liu Wuxie continued to provoke Shao Wendong, wanting to see what the latter was trying to do. He didn’t show malice or flattery and only mocked subtly with his words.

“Liu Wuxie, don’t push it! Senior Brother Shao has already lowered himself by showing you respect!” Those behind Shao Wendong couldn't contain their anger and pointed furiously at Liu Wuxie.

"Oh? Should I be overwhelmed with honor, then?" Liu Wuxie feigned fear, a hint of mockery playing on his lips. He continued, "I apologize if I've offended Senior Brother Shao in any way."

Liu Wuxie cupped his fists together after saying that and ignored them.

“Junior Brother Liu, I believe there must have been some misunderstanding. I apologize if I have done anything in the past to offend you. I hope you don’t take it to heart, and we can be friends in the future,” Shao Wendong said with a smile, fully aware of Liu Wuxie’s mockery.

Those behind Shao Wendong wanted to intervene, but he stopped them.

“Since Senior Brother Shao is here to find me, something must be important. We’re all smart people, so let’s not beat around the bush,” Liu Wuxie said, not wanting to play any more games with Shao Wendong.

“My intention is simple. Since we’re all Heavenly Trigram Pavilion’s disciples, I hope junior brother can help me fend off the disciples from the other peaks and help me win the championship. I will reward you generously if you do so,” Shao Wendong stated his intention, hoping Liu Wuxie could help him deal with the other disciples and secure the championship.

Aside from the Heavenly Trigram Peak, the other peaks also made similar arrangements, recruiting disciples to help them fend off potential opponents. Even if those disciples couldn’t defeat their opponents, they could at least exhaust their opponents’ true essence.

There wouldn’t be a break for the competition that day, and consumption of true essence would be harsh.

"In other words, if I were to aim for the championship, would Senior Brother Shao assist me in fending off the others? I would generously reward you as well," Liu Wuxie smiled, throwing the same question back.

No one expected this response from Liu Wuxie; they thought he would reject Shao Wendong outright.

“Hahaha!” A burst of laughter came from the surroundings. They were under the impression that Liu Wuxie had gone insane.

“Liu Wuxie, you must be out of your mind. Do you want to aim for the championship with your skills? I’ll kneel and kowtow to you if you can even get into the top hundred!” Everyone had disdain on their faces.

“Such blind confidence. I’ve never seen someone unaware of their limits like him.” Mockery came from the surroundings, but Liu Wuxie had already anticipated this reaction.

Liu Wuxie knew Shao Wendong wanted to kill him, so he tried using his identity to force Liu Wuxie to help him eliminate the potential enemies and clear a path for him.

No one took Liu Wuxie seriously because there were no records of a new disciple winning the competition. The best result was reaching the top hundred, not even the top ten.

Shao Wendong’s face gradually became grim, displeased by Liu Wuxie’s attitude. He was ranked first among outer disciples, and everyone respected him.

But Liu Wuxie’s words were like a resounding slap to Shao Wendong’s face, making him feel insulted.

“I understand your meaning. I hope you can take care of yourself!” Shao Wendong left with the crowd. Before leaving, over a hundred people looked at Liu Wuxie with malice and mockery.

Suddenly, Liu Wuxie realized no one was in the surroundings, and he was completely isolated. He could see the Heavenly Trigram Peak divided into two, with Liu Wuxie alone in one corner and the rest in another.

But this suited Liu Wuxie better because he could enjoy the peace.

When the ten elders arrived, they sat on the stage, and the martial field quieted down. The remaining five thousand participants radiated with strong fighting spirits.

According to this segment, half of the people would leave during each round, and everyone had to fight ten-odd battles. The lottery box was moved to the Heavenly Trigram Peak, and Liu Wuxie was the first to draw the lot.

“Number 99!” Liu Wuxie was chosen to take the arena again. He performed the Nine Heavenly Crane Dance and appeared on Arena 99 like a celestial crane. His elegant movement naturally drew countless people’s applause, impressed by his technique.

“What a brilliant movement technique!” Many from the Mortal Plume Peak applauded. After the previous day's events, no one was a stranger to Liu Wuxie, and his popularity even showed signs of overshadowing Shao Wendong.

“Hmph, only his movement technique is impressive. The upcoming battle won’t be between cultivation but whose true essence can last longer.” Cold snorts came from Earth Force Peak because they were embarrassed by yesterday’s events.

If they were favored by luck, they would face someone much weaker than them, allowing them to conserve their true essence. But if they were unlucky, they would deplete their true essence significantly.

This meant their next match would be disadvantageous, and they would have a low chance of winning even if they encountered an opponent at the same level. After all, luck was also a factor in cultivation.

When Liu Wuxie landed in the arena, his opponent also arrived.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Liu!” Liu Wuxie’s opponent was a woman who greeted him upon arrival. Judging from her purple robe, she was a disciple of the Mortal Plume Peak.

“Likewise!” Liu Wuxie returned the greeting. Since the other party showed respect, he would naturally reciprocate.

“I know I’m no match for you, and I admit defeat to save your true essence,” the woman said, leaving the arena after cupping her fists. Her strength was only in the ninth level of the True Core Realm, comparable to Deng Chong. Even Deng Chong was killed by Liu Wuxie with one strike, and she would only court humiliation by fighting him.

Thus, it was better for her to concede and form a good relationship with Liu Wuxie.

“Thank you!” Liu Wuxie said politely and stepped off the arena, returning to his spot.

"He's lucky his opponent conceded." Many people were disgruntled, viewing Liu Wuxie as excessively fortunate. Some speculated that the disciple from Mortal Plume Peak intentionally conceded to allow Liu Wuxie to conserve his true essence, suggesting a possible familiarity between them.

Similar situations occurred in many arenas when the gap in strength between two people was too broad. But the battles were mostly ferocious in other arenas because no one wanted to give up.

Liu Wuxie sat alone in a corner and quietly cultivated. As the Desolate Devouring Art would cause a great commotion, Liu Wuxie could only practice the Primordial Astral Fist.

Faint astral energy poured into Liu Wuxie’s body from the distant sky, increasing the power of the Primordial Astral Fist. It had been long since Liu Wuxie last used it, and he wondered how powerful it had become. He wondered if it could kill someone in the fifth level of the Heavenly Dipper Realm in one strike.

Time flew by, and four hours passed in the blink of an eye with over a thousand people eliminated. Many were injured, some crippled, and some were eliminated in a mutual defeat.

“Look, it’s the Earth Force Peak’s Chen Lin!” The martial field suddenly erupted with cheers, and countless disciples roared.

Liu Wuxie opened his eyes and gazed towards Arena 9. Chen Lin, alongside Shao Wendong, was a favorite for the championship, and Liu Wuxie was curious to discover what set this person apart.

Chen Lin was a woman with a slightly plump figure and short hair. She even had a few moles on her face. She looked unremarkable from her appearance, but Liu Wuxie could see a faint earth-yellow barrier around her with Ghost Eye after his divine sense couldn’t reach her.

“Interesting...she grasped the earth element!” Liu Wuxie was amazed. Most women comprehended water elements, with few comprehending earth elements. But if they comprehended earth elements, their fighting power would surpass men.

Chen Lin exerted force with her right foot, causing cracks to spread out on the ground. This instantly scared her opponent into surrendering.

The crowd was somewhat disappointed because they were looking forward to seeing Chen Lin fight, but her opponent turned out to be a coward.

Liu Wuxie retracted his gaze and continued cultivating. The Ghost Eye might not have seen through Chen Lin’s secrets, but he already had a rough understanding.

Whenever there was a popular candidate in the arena, it would draw cheers from the surroundings.

When Shao Wendong took the arena, an uproar emerged in the martial field.

Six hours later, only 2,400 people had advanced to the next round. Fifty disciples had perished, thirty were injured, and twenty had lost limbs.

There was no time to rest as the lottery continued for the next round. After each round, the arenas were dyed in blood, and the martial field gave off a faint blood stench.

The Heavenly Trigram Peak’s area became sparse, with one-third of the people eliminated. This time, Liu Wuxie was still the first to draw a number.

“Number 88!” Liu Wuxie put his number plate away and waited for the lottery to end. Roughly fifteen minutes later, people began to take the stage.

Liu Wuxie used the Seven Dipper Steps this time and vanished before reappearing on Arena 88. His opponent arrived a moment later, and Liu Wuxie stood firm with a blue figure that appeared five steps away from him.

His opponent was a disciple of Profound Inscription Peak. He wasn’t unfamiliar with this person either because he was among the three hundred people yesterday, mocking him and trying to have Elder Tian Xing punish him.

“Liu Wuxie, you will die today!” The youth slowly drew his sword and pointed it at Liu Wuxie.

In the morning, the Profound Inscription Peak had decided to eliminate Liu Wuxie at any cost, while also obstructing disciples from other peaks to bolster Wen Haoran's chances at the championship.

Even if the Profound Inscription Peak couldn’t get the championship, they had to get second place at least.