Desolate Devouring Art

The Xu Clan was on the brink of extinction, but Xu Yilin had kept this from Xu Lingxue to avoid disrupting her cultivation. “I’ll accompany you back to Azure Billow City in five days once I’ve taken care of some matters,” Liu Wuxie decided after some thought.

“Okay. I’ll come find you in five days,” Xu Lingxue replied.

After Xu Lingxue returned, Liu Wuxie and Chen Ruoyan left.

“Thanks for your help,” Liu Wuxie said gratefully. If not for her, the situation could have unfolded differently. He might have been able to defeat Qin Shi, but at a significant cost that could potentially obstruct his cultivation path.

“You’ve saved me twice, and I’ve only helped you once. So, I still owe you one. But don’t worry, that old man won’t be able to lay a finger on you as long as I’m here,” Chen Ruoyan assured him, her carefree demeanor intact. Liu Wuxie could tell she was sincere.

Liu Wuxie merely smiled and said nothing about it. The feud between him and Qin Shi had to be resolved eventually, and he didn’t want anyone to interfere.

After a brief chat, Chen Ruoyan left with Chen Leyao.

With his home in disarray and no other place to go, Liu Wuxie decided to visit the Treasure Pill Pavilion. He knew he could not afford any errors in the upcoming battle in twenty days and needed to prepare thoroughly.

The news of the death match between Liu Wuxie and Vice-Headmaster Qin spread throughout the Imperial City within an hour. However, the general sentiment was not in his favor, as absolute power often overshadowed raw talent.

The battle between someone in the Spirit Cleansing Realm and someone in the pinnacle Marrow Cleansing Realm was a fantasy. Not to mention that Liu Wuxie only had twenty days to make a comeback.

All the inns and taverns were filled with discussions about this matter. Some people even set up a bet for it, and Liu Wuxie’s odds of winning were less than ten percent.

This did not affect Liu Wuxie. He entered the Imperial City, heading towards the Treasure Pill Pavilion. It wasn’t impossible to kill Qin Shi, and he was pondering the most suitable and effective method.

Liu Wuxie was acutely aware that a direct, brute-force confrontation with Qin Shi would not result in victory. However, he wondered if he could leverage opportunities to his advantage.

In terms of skills, Liu Wuxie was unmatched. He was adept at alchemy, blacksmithing, talisman crafting, and martial arts. Given that there were no shortcuts on the path of martial arts, he had to consider alternative strategies.

While on his way, Liu Wuxie was intercepted by a young man who respectfully informed him that their headmaster requested his presence.

“Your headmaster?” Liu Wuxie queried, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“That’s right. Vice-Headmaster Zhang Shuli of our Heavenly Govern Academy,” the youth said proudly. The Heavenly Govern Academy was now on par with the Imperial Academy, and their students received respect wherever they went.

Liu Wuxie commanded, changing his initial inclination to decline the invitation. He reasoned that even if he declined now, the Heavenly Govern Academy would find another way to bring him to the Vice-Headmaster.

Being in the Imperial City, he was not worried about the Heavenly Govern Academy causing him any public harm. Moreover, he was confident that his reputation would deter anyone from making things difficult for him.

Moreover, Liu Wuxie’s fame was a deterrent, preventing anyone from causing him trouble.

Deep within the Imperial Academy, Fan Zhen sat at a table, his index finger tapping rhythmically. In front of him was a package containing several heads and the core of an Earth Scorch Dragon. These items were delivered by Li Shengsheng, acting on Liu Wuxie’s instructions. Liu Wuxie had successfully completed the three tasks assigned to him.

“Headmaster!” Gong Ao walked in and bowed. He was a Profound Grade student, and it was unknown to others that he was the headmaster's confidant. He was also the one who had delivered Liu Wuxie’s punishment to him.

“Has the Heavenly Govern Academy sought him out?” Fan Zhen asked, having a rough idea of why Gong Ao had come to see him. Given the recent events at the academy, it was only natural for the Heavenly Govern Academy to seize the opportunity to recruit Liu Wuxie.

Now that Liu Wuxie had a deathmatch with the Imperial Academy’s vice-headmaster, it would be hard for him to stay in the academy. Thus, joining the Heavenly Govern Academy was the best option.

The mistreatment Liu Wuxie experienced during his two-month tenure at the Imperial Academy was gradually brought to light, and the Heavenly Govern Academy was poised to capitalize on this situation.

“That’s right!” Gong Ao has been tailing behind Liu Wuxie since he left the academy, and he had the latter’s whereabouts like the back of his hand.

“Who approached him?” Fan Zhen inquired.

Liu Wuxie’s rapid rise to prominence in just two months, culminating in the Nine Stars Illumination phenomenon, was undeniable proof of his extraordinary genius. A talent of his magnitude would undoubtedly shine anywhere, and the Heavenly Govern Academy would leave no stone unturned in their efforts to recruit him.

“Zhang Shuli!” Gong Ao replied.

The room fell into a hushed silence, broken only by the rhythmic tapping of Fan Zhen’s finger on the table as he furrowed his brows in thought.

“Headmaster, should we intervene? The audacity of the Heavenly Govern Academy to openly poach our students is unacceptable!” Gong Ao suggested, his gaze fixed on the headmaster.

“There’s nothing we can do if he’s truly disappointed in the Imperial Academy. Just let it be,” Fan Zhen dismissed the suggestion with a wave of his hand after a moment of contemplation. Acknowledging this, Gong Ao bowed and exited the room.

Fan Zhen was the only one sitting there when the hall returned to tranquility. He muttered, “Kid, I hope you can persevere till the end and don’t lose faith.”

......

The Supreme Pavilion, a renowned restaurant within the Imperial Academy, catered primarily to the nobility and was seldom open to commoners. This was due to the exorbitant prices of their dishes, which could bankrupt a commoner with just a single meal.

A pot of finely brewed Red Daughter Wine [1] cost ten spirit stones, equivalent to two months' worth of resources for an ordinary student. It was no wonder that ordinary people couldn’t afford this place.

Each dish was meticulously selected and finely prepared, with superb colors, taste, and fragrance comparable to the food used in the palace. There were rumors that the owner behind the Supreme Pavilion had a huge background, and no one dared to cause trouble when dining here.

A middle-aged man sat in an elegant private room, exuding refinement from his attire to his grooming. The room was adorned with exquisite dishes, creating a scene of sophistication. This man was Zhang Shuli, who had meticulously prepared for his meeting with Liu Wuxie, demonstrating the seriousness with which he approached their encounter.

“Young Master Liu, please!” As the door opened, a representative from the Heavenly Govern Academy ushered Liu Wuxie inside with a polite gesture. Once Liu Wuxie entered, the door was gently closed behind him. In addition to Zhang Shuli, a woman, dressed provocatively yet tastefully, was present to serve wine.

Upon entering, Liu Wuxie’s gaze immediately fell on Zhang Shuli, taking in his polished appearance. “Young Master Liu, please have a seat!” Zhang Shuli rose to invite Liu Wuxie to sit. Without any hesitation, Liu Wuxie took a seat directly across from Zhang Shuli. The woman poured wine for both of them before stepping aside, ensuring a private conversation without the risk of eavesdropping.

“Come, let me toast to you. I’ve long heard of your accomplishments, and seeing you now, you truly live up to your reputation,” Zhang Shuli initiated a toast, raising his cup to Liu Wuxie. If word got out that the Vice-Headmaster of the Heavenly Govern Academy was toasting an ordinary student, it would undoubtedly cause a sensation.

The two clinked their cups together and downed their drinks in one gulp. “Hahaha! You’re quite audacious. Aren’t you afraid I might have poisoned the wine?” Zhang Shuli laughed heartily, setting his cup down. Most people would be nervous in his presence, but Liu Wuxie remained calm and composed from the moment he entered. Zhang Shuli could tell this wasn’t an act - Liu Wuxie was genuinely self-assured to his core.

“If you wanted to kill me, there would have been no need for such elaborate measures. You would have simply sent an assassin,” Liu Wuxie responded with a smile. He understood that the Heavenly Govern Academy had invited him with the intention of recruiting him, and they wouldn’t resort to killing him before achieving their objective.

“Your maturity and perspective at such a young age are truly admirable. Allow me to propose a toast,” Zhang Shuli said. He had anticipated needing to persuade Liu Wuxie, but he was pleasantly surprised to find that Liu Wuxie had a clearer understanding of the situation than he did. This was why he found conversing with intelligent individuals so enjoyable.

After three rounds of drinks, the conversation remained light and casual, avoiding the main subject. “Vice-Principal Zhang, let’s get down to business,” Liu Wuxie suggested, lifting his gaze and narrowing his eyes slightly. He had already shown respect to Zhang Shuli by partaking in three rounds of drinks.

His interest did not lie in the conflict between the Imperial Academy and the Heavenly Govern Academy. As long as it didn’t pose a threat to him, he wouldn’t intervene. His primary focus was on his cultivation. His presence was due to the fact that the Heavenly Govern Academy had not wronged him.

For instance, if a notorious villain who had caused numerous deaths treated him as a brother, would he kill this brother? Even if the Heavenly Govern Academy had committed countless atrocities and caused many deaths, what did it have to do with him?

Their relationship was currently peaceful, but the future was uncertain. “You’re a sharp one, so I’ll cut to the chase. I’m aware of your history at the Imperial Academy. If you’re open to transferring to our Heavenly Govern Academy, I can help settle your dispute with Qin Shi,” Zhang Shuli stated, getting straight to the point.

“Do you believe I’ll fall at the hands of Qin Shi?” Liu Wuxie asked with a smile. It seemed that everyone had already written off his chances of survival.

“You’ve misunderstood. I trust that you have a strategy since you dared to challenge him. I’m merely pointing out that Qin Shi is more complex than he appears. However, I can mediate the conflict between you two,” Zhang Shuli clarified, hoping Liu Wuxie would reconsider, given the life-or-death stakes.

“Interesting!” Liu Wuxie’s eyes landed on Zhang Shuli, seeking answers in his expression. “Settle the dispute between Qin Shi and me with just a word from you? If I’m not mistaken, the Heavenly Govern Academy has influenced Qin Shi, correct?”

Zhang Shuli narrowed his eyes as Liu Wuxie deduced the situation from his tone. This young man, who appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen, had the cunning of a seasoned strategist to infer so much from a mere tone or glance. “That’s not your concern!” Zhang Shuli rallied his composure. He had anticipated a cordial meeting but had underestimated Liu Wuxie. It seemed everyone had underestimated Liu Wuxie.

“Let’s discuss the advantages!” Liu Wuxie expressed, showing disinterest in the other issues. Whether Qin Shi was affiliated with the Imperial Academy or influenced by the Heavenly Govern Academy was irrelevant to him. He had no authority to question it, and frankly, he didn’t care.

1. This wine is known as Nü Er Hong, and it’s a speciality of Shaoxing ☜

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