Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 81 - Wuxie’s Return

Tian Qisha stepped forward, fearlessly facing Xu Yilin’s aura head-on. Instead of being intimidated, his murderous intent only grew stronger.

“Could it be that the Tian Clan has any trump cards?” whispered a few shop owners among themselves.

After all, anyone could tell that the Xu Clan already held the advantage in this fight. They might’ve lost ten-odd guards, but it didn’t shake the Xu Clan’s foundation because none of their higher hierarchies died. So what did Tian Qisha mean by saying that? Everyone was baffled and couldn’t figure out how the Tian and Wan Clans could turn the table around unless they also had someone in the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

Tian Qisha wouldn’t have spoken so confidently if he wasn’t sure of himself. This meant that he must have had some reason for his confidence.

“Brother Xue Yang, please make a move to hold back Xu Yilin while we slaughter everyone from the Xu Clan.” Tian Qisha turned to look at the four from the Xue Clan. Aside from Xue Yang, who was in the Marrow Cleansing Realm, three others were in the Spirit Cleansing Realm.

Upon hearing Xue Yang’s name, Xu Yilin narrowed his eyes. The Xu Clan’s oil mills had recently come under repeated attack, all carried out by the Xue Clan. They had been hiding in the shadows, and the Xu Clan had been unable to find them. So it turned out that they had long been in league with the Wan and Tian Clans.

“Xu Yilin, several members of our Xue Clan have gone missing in Azure Billow City. Did your Xu Clan have anything to do with it?” asked Xue Yang as he stepped forward. The Xue Clan did not want to get involved in a battle of this level, as the Tian and Wan Clans were more than capable of annihilating the Xu Clan on their own. But when Xu Yilin reached the Marrow Cleansing Realm, the situation changed. If Xue Yang didn’t intervene, the Tian and Wan Clans would be wiped out by the Xu Clan instead.

“The disappearance of your Xue Clan’s members has nothing to do with my Xu Clan,” replied Xu Yilin. He naturally would deny any involvement. The Xue Clan had sent several people to set fire to the Xu Clan’s oil mills, and one of them had been killed by Liu Wuxie.

“Since I said it’s related to your Xu Clan, it’s related,” said Xue Yang domineeringly. The four of them stepped forward, their aura clashing with Xu Yilin’s. The snow on both sides was swept aside, rising into the sky.

“Pushing the blame on us forcefully. Did you think my Xu Clan is a pushover?!” Xu Yilin was furious.

The difference between both sides was too great. After the Tian and Wan Clans joined forces, even the City Lord Mansion had to be afraid of them. Including those from the Xue Clan, they now had an expert in the Marrow Cleansing Realm and five experts in the Spirit Cleansing Realm. This sort of foundation was shocking to everyone.

On the other hand, the Xu Clan only had Xu Yilin, who had reached the Marrow Cleansing Realm. The deacons of the Xu Clan, who were only in the Xiantian Realm, would likely not fare well in a fight.

As a murderous intent filled Azure Billow City, the entire city was enveloped in an endless wave of hostility. Despite the biting cold wind, no one felt the chill. The strong smell of blood filled the air, causing many women to cover their mouths and noses to hold back their nausea.

“The Xu Clan is in danger now,” sighed the Grand Elder of the Song Clan. The intervention of the Xue Clan in this matter disrupted the balance of Azure Billow City. Once the Xu Clan was destroyed, their own Song Clan would likely not fare well either.

The corner of Qi Enshi’s lips rose into a sneer. He knew of Xue Yang’s arrival in Azure Billow City, so he was calm. Even Xu Yilin’s breakthrough couldn’t cause any fluctuation in his emotions because Xu Clan would still be doomed.

Xue Yang had reached the Marrow Cleansing Realm for a long time. He might be in the first level of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, but his fighting prowess was stronger than Xu Yilin, who had just made a breakthrough not long ago.

“I can spare their lives as long as the Xu Clan’s guards are willing to lower their weapons and betray the Xu Clan!” Xue Yang said coldly as he gazed through the Xu Clan’s guards. As long as he turned sides from the Xu Clan, he wouldn’t mind sparing their lives.

“We swear to protect the Xu Clan to death!” Deacon Lan roared and was determined not to betray the Xu Clan.

The guards behind him raised their weapons and echoed, “We swear to protect the Xu Clan to death!”

They had long considered themselves part of the Xu Clan, with many of the guards living in the clan’s residence as if it were their own home.

“Since you’re seeking your own demise, don’t blame me for being merciless. You can all die now!” As Xue Yang waved his hand, the members of the two clans charged forward. Xue Yang himself dashed forward, throwing a punch at Xu Yilin. Even before he finished speaking, the powerful gust generated by his fist reached Xu Yilin.

“Fight!” Xu Yilin also dashed forward and punched out. As both sides approached, the slabs on the ground began to shatter, and the stone walls beside them were blown apart.

As a powerful shockwave swept out with Xu Yilin and Xue Yang at the center, everyone observing the battle quickly retreated. The shockwave tore apart some people’s clothes as they were sent flying out.

Shortly after, Xu Yilin and Xue Yang both retreated. Xu Yilin retreated about twenty meters before stabilizing himself, while Xue Yang only retreated about ten meters.

Xu Yilin suppressed the blood and true essence surging within his body. He had just made a breakthrough not long ago, and his aura wasn’t very stable.

“Attack them together and wipe them out!” Tian Qisha gave his order as everyone charged at the Xu Clan’s guards.

As both parties approached, the Xu Clan was in a crisis, with the Spirit Cleansing Realm experts making a move.

Master Huo stood nearby, unsure of what to do as he had not received any news from the pavilion master. The two clans had agreed not to touch the Xu Clan for a month, and the deadline had passed. So, there was no reason for him to stop them.

As the two sides approached each other, the guards of the Xu Clan prepared to fight with all their might. They knew that even if they surrendered, they would not be spared. The two clans would kill everyone associated with the Xu Clan, as they would be considered threats if left alive. Weeds must be removed from their roots.

The experts in the Spirit Cleansing Realm charged first, releasing their aura and shaping their true essence into various forms. They knocked the guards of the Xu Clan flying and caused them to spit out blood. The guards were blown away by the aura of the Spirit Cleansing Realm experts before they even made contact.

“Fight to the last breath!” Deacon Lan raised his sword and charged at Tian Qisha.

“Get lost!” Tian Qisha waved his hand, sending Deacon Lan flying away and smashing onto the wall with blood dripping down their lips. Shortly after, more guards were injured, and the scene was brutal. The guards who were struck were lying on the ground, injured with their lives at the mercy of their enemies.

Xu Yishan and Wan Rongzhe engaged in combat, with Xu Yishan sustaining injuries the moment they clashed. He gasped for breath, and if the battle continued, it wouldn’t take long before the Xu Clan’s guards were all slaughtered.

Several guards struggled back to their feet with their clothes dyed red in their blood. After being struck by the Spirit Cleansing Realm experts’ aura head-on, they were heavily injured even if they were still alive. But the guards would rather die fighting than wait for death.

The Tian and Wan Clans’ disciples were like madmen as they dashed forth with their weapons, ready to slaughter the Xu Clan’s guards.

Suddenly, a terrifying blade aura descended from the sky, splitting the street in two. It halted the advance of the Tian and Wan Clans’ disciples, for if they took another step, they would be torn apart. They had no choice but to retreat in the face of the terrifying blade aura that contained such powerful blade intent.

As cracking sounds echoed, the slabs on the ground exploded, and a ten-odd-meter-long cut was left on the ground. To leave behind such a long cut relying on blade aura alone was beyond the comprehension of everyone present.

The guards of the Xu Clan watched the scene with lingering fear, for they had nearly been massacred by the two clans. The blade aura had stopped the advance of the disciples of the two clans, saving their lives.

Xue Yang and Xu Yilin ceased their fighting and looked towards the other side of the street. Two figures were approaching from that direction, slowly making their way towards the battlefield. With each step they took, the murderous intent emanating from them grew stronger. But what was even more frightening were the black clouds that followed them, casting a bleak shadow over Azure Billow City. The snow began to fall once again, covering the bloodstains on the ground.

“Pavilion Master, you’re finally back!” Master Huo quickly ran over upon seeing Bi Gongyu. He didn’t know what had happened in Zen City, so he didn’t have a good attitude with Liu Wuxie. He had already recovered from his injuries, and it wouldn’t matter to him even if Liu Wuxie died.

“Wuxie, do you need me to do anything?” Bi Gongyu asked softly, looking at the corpses of the Xu Clan’s members on the ground. His tone was respectful, and he didn’t look like he was speaking to someone younger than him.

After the death of Yun Lan and the mysterious demise of Nangong Qi on the night of the ambush, Bi Gongyu grew increasingly fearful of Liu Wuxie. Liu Wuxie had already demonstrated his ability to defeat Marrow Cleansing Realm experts while still in the Xiantian Realm. Bi Gongyu could only imagine how powerful Liu Wuxie would become once he reached the Marrow Cleansing Realm, and he knew he had to befriend him before he grew even stronger.

He might be the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pill Pavilion’s branch, but the branch was located in Azure Billow City, so he didn’t have a high status.

“Help my father-in-law hold that person down. Everyone here must die, and you’ll know the consequences if anyone escapes!” Liu Wuxie’s voice was terrifyingly cold. As he approached the battlefield, each step he took caused the ground to crack, leaving footprints behind.

“Don’t worry. None of them will escape today!” Bi Gongyu grinned.

This scene shocked Master Huo, who began to wonder what had happened in the past few days for Bi Gongyu’s attitude to change so much towards Liu Wuxie. Wasn’t Liu Wuxie garbage? So why was the pavilion master being so respectful to him?

“That’s the Xu Clan’s son-in-law. Why is he back?” Thousands of gazes fell on Liu Wuxie.

“So what if he returned? He’ll only die in vain!”

The label of being worthless wasn’t easy to shed, and Liu Wuxie’s image as such was deeply ingrained in everyone’s minds.

Xu Yilin felt relieved upon seeing Liu Wuxie for some reason. He could reach the Marrow Cleansing Realm thanks to the mantra that Liu Wuxie gave him, allowing him to make a breakthrough within half a month.

Liu Wuxie acknowledged his father-in-law with a nod before turning his cold, emotionless gaze towards Wan Rongzhe and Tian Qisha. His gaze then shifted to Xue Yang’s group. If the Xue Clan hadn’t interfered today, the Xu Clan wouldn’t have suffered such losses, as the Tian and Wan Clans posed no threat to them.

Xue Yang squinted under Liu Wuxie’s gaze, sensing a hint of threat.

“Xue Yang, how dare you commit murder in Azure Billow City!” Bi Gongyu roared. Having visited Imperial City several times, he was familiar with some of its renowned experts.

“Bi Gongyu, are you planning to get involved?” Xue Yang’s face darkened. He could handle Xu Yilin, but if Bi Gongyu got involved, his chances of winning would be slim, and he would have no choice but to retreat.

“You killed members of the Xu Clan and expect to leave this place alive?” Bi Gongyu’s responsibility was only to restrain Xue Yang, as Liu Wuxie had not instructed him to kill him. This was a matter concerning the Xu Clan, and Liu Wuxie did not want the Treasure Pill Pavilion to become involved.

“Bi Gongyu, how dare you meddle in the affairs of our Xue Clan!” Xue Yang was outraged. In the Imperial Capital, even the Royal Family showed them respect, let alone the Treasure Pill Pavilion.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve promised Young Master Wuxie to hold you down. No one can leave Azure Billow City today.” Bi Gongyu shrugged.