Desolate Devouring Art

The Cloud Xing Pavilion, located a little over ten miles from the Treasure Pill Pavilion, was a manageable distance away, requiring approximately fifteen minutes of travel time. Upon their arrival, they found that over a thousand people had already assembled outside the Cloud Xing Pavilion, forming a dense, nearly impenetrable crowd.

The Cloud Xing Pavilion was a subsidiary of the Azure Crimson Gate. However, because of the poor development in recent years, they didn’t have many alchemists. This was why they only had twenty percent of the market share.

However, a month ago, their fortunes changed dramatically when they welcomed a mysterious individual. This led to the release of the Blood Mirage Pill within just three days, which quickly became the top-selling product in the Imperial City. Priced lower than the Golden Spirit Pills and with demand outstripping supply, the sales records were broken daily.

However, an ongoing argument inside the Cloud Xing Pavilion could be heard from the streets. When Liu Wuxie released his aura in the high levels of the Spirit Cleansing Realm, he cleared a passage forcibly and entered the Cloud Xing Pavilion.

The interior of the Cloud Xing Pavilion was more opulent than the Treasure Pill Pavilion. They had also expanded significantly, purchasing nearby shops to increase their size in less than a month. Their main hall alone spanned over two thousand square meters.

Two parties confronted each other in the main hall, and over five hundred cultivators surrounded them and pointed fingers at them.

“Master Mao, what are you trying to do by coming to the Cloud Xing Pavilion and claiming that there’s a problem with our pill?” Jiang Yue was now the Cloud Xing Pavilion’s chief alchemist, possessing a high status, questioning Master Mao.

Lan Ruoyu, who had also become an alchemist in the Cloud Xing Pavilion, stood behind him. With the alchemist token displayed on her chest, she held her head high with pride.

“If the Treasure Pill Pavilion doesn’t provide an explanation, you won’t be allowed to leave!” Geng Ye, who had also joined the Cloud Xing Pavilion, interjected. Although he was no longer an alchemist, he was secretly refining pills for the Cloud Xing Pavilion. He and his accomplices kept this a secret for fear of retribution from the Alchemist Association.

“Everyone, please listen! The Blood Mirage Pill contains the Snake Demon Flower, which is addictive and will gradually corrode your meridians. If you consume it for a prolonged period, your meridians will weaken!” Master Mao earnestly addressed the cultivators present, who were there to purchase the Blood Mirage Pills, urging them to stop consuming it.

“Old man, what are you blabbering about? I’ve been taking it for a month, and I’ve had no issues. In fact, my cultivation has even improved!” A cultivator who had bought ten Blood Mirage Pills in one go retorted.

“That’s right. I’ve been taking it for over ten days, and I’ve felt no discomfort. In fact, it feels good to consume it. I don’t feel any weakening of my meridians as you claim.” Over five hundred people, loyal customers of the Blood Mirage Pills, echoed similar sentiments in the main hall.

Many people who had gathered outside also consumed the Blood Mirage Pills. The pills had become a trend in the Imperial City, and it would be embarrassing not to partake in it.

“That’s because it has only been a short time, and the symptoms haven’t appeared yet. Everyone, believe me, and stop taking the Blood Mirage Pills. Only the Spiritual Rhyme Pill sold by the Treasure Pill Pavilion can resolve the toxin in your bodies!” Master Mao took out a porcelain bottle and poured out a pill. It was the pill that Mu Yueying had given him before she left.

The formula for this pill was written on the paper that Liu Wuxie had given to Mu Yueying. Apart from Liu Wuxie, only Mu Yueying knew how to refine this pill.

“Such a farce. We’re not poisoned, so why would we need an antidote? You all should leave this place immediately,” the crowd erupted in laughter upon hearing Master Mao’s words.

“They must be unable to sell their pills, and they’re intentionally causing trouble by accusing the Cloud Xing Pavilion’s pills.”

After all, the Treasure Pill Pavilion’s sales had dropped rapidly in the past month, and the herbs shipped from the various cities had piled up. If they couldn’t increase their sales, they would suffer greatly if this continued.

Master Mao attempted to explain multiple times, but no one paid him any heed and even ridiculed him. They believed that Master Mao was framing the Cloud Xing Pavilion because they were unable to sell their pills.

“So, you all are here to frame us because you can’t sell your pills. None of you will be able to leave this place alive!” Jiang Yue scoffed. Geng Ye’s group were his supporters, and they all had their alchemist status revoked, not to mention the death of Zhang Dejun.

He believed that since his followers were mistreated, he naturally needed to avenge Zhang Dejun’s death.

A fierce-looking group came out from the depths of the Cloud Xing Pavilion. Each of them was strong, and they surrounded Master Mao’s group without giving them a chance to explain themselves, seemingly ready to wipe out Master Mao’s group.

Sang Yan was filled with anxiety. They had come fully prepared, but no one believed their words. After all, the mystery surrounding the Blood Mirage Pill would be resolved if even one person believed them and took the Spiritual Rhyme Pill on the spot.

They had underestimated the influence of the Blood Mirage Pills and didn’t anticipate that the Cloud Xing Pavilion would attempt to silence them.

In the Cloud Xing Pavilion's depths was an eerie-looking middle-aged man. This man donned a black robe, overlooking the whole incident from above.

Deep within the Cloud Xing Pavilion, a sinister-looking middle-aged man in a black robe was observing the entire incident from above. “Deacon Lu, are we going to eliminate them all? The Treasure Pill Pavilion is a subsidiary of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. They may not be directly affiliated, but killing them would be akin to slapping the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion’s face,” a grey-robed old man standing beside the black-robed man questioned. It was an odd sight to see the pavilion master of the Cloud Xing Pavilion showing such deference to the man in the black robe.

The man in the black robe was likely a representative sent by the Azure Crimson Gate. He possessed high cultivation and bore a seal, similar to Mu Yueying, to limit his true cultivation. This was due to an agreement that those from the cultivation world had to seal their actual cultivation when they entered the mortal world to prevent disruption of the mortal world’s order.

“Eliminate them!” the black-robed middle-aged man ordered. As an immortal cultivator, he viewed ordinary people as insignificant as ants, and their deaths meant nothing to him.

“How do we explain when Mu Yueying comes back?” The grey-robed old man was a little afraid. After all, Mu Yueying had an extraordinary status, and they knew it better than anyone else.

The black-robed middle-aged man frowned, seemingly unhappy to hear Mu Yueying’s name.

“What does it matter if they’re dead when she returns?” The black-robed man soon made a decision. If they managed to kill Master Mao, they would monopolize the market in the Imperial City.

The Cloud Xing Pavilion had already received news of Mu Yueying’s departure, so they dared to target the Treasure Pill Pavilion fearlessly.

A battle was imminent. The surrounding cultivators retreated, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire.

“Master Mao, what should we do?” Sang Yan was a little nervous. He and Sheng Lian were only in the seventh-level Marrow Cleansing Realm, while Master Mao was in the ninth level. They would be in trouble if they faced so many experts.

“I’ll hold them off. You all find a way to return to the Treasure Pill Pavilion and wait for the lady’s return before making any decisions.” Master Mao quickly made a decision. He was the strongest among them and had lived for over a hundred years. Even if he died now, he had lived a full life.

“No, the two of us will hold them off while you find an opportunity to escape. The Treasure Pill Pavilion will still need you in the future!” Sang Yan knew that the Treasure Pill Pavilion was too small for someone like Liu Wuxie, and it wouldn’t be long before Master Mao would reclaim his status as the chief alchemist.

If they lost a fourth-grade alchemist, it would be a severe blow to the Treasure Pill Pavilion, even if they managed to regain their market share.

“None of you will leave this place alive!” A grey-robed old man, Li Wuhai, the pavilion master of the Cloud Xing Pavilion, emerged from the depths of the pavilion, striding big steps.

With the pavilion master’s command, Jiang Yue grew more confident. He had been trying to intimidate Master Mao’s group earlier, but with Li Wuhai’s words, he boldly signaled the group of experts to advance towards Master Mao’s party.

These individuals were not experts cultivated by the Cloud Xing Pavilion. The Cloud Xing Pavilion was a shop, and it wouldn’t make sense for them to train experts. This raises the question: who was truly backing the Cloud Xing Pavilion?

There were fifteen experts, each wielding identical long blades, all forged by the same blacksmith. Most notably, military insignias were engraved on the handles of the blades.

“Kill them all!” At the command, the fifteen blades formed a torrent as the fifteen experts instantly arranged themselves into formation, all at the sixth level of the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

Individually, they might not have been a match for Master Mao. However, their auras linked together when they formed their formation, releasing an overwhelming pressure that made Master Mao’s group of three feel suffocated.

“Kill!” The roars from the fifteen formed into a wave, sweeping towards Master Mao.

The three were alchemists who rarely fought due to their noble status. It had been fifty years since Master Mao had fought someone; he didn’t even bring a weapon.

Sang Yan and Sheng Lian weren’t any better. They spent most of their time in the Treasure Pill Pavilion and rarely fought with others. Thus, they didn’t expect the Cloud Xing Pavilion to try to kill them.

Once the formation was established, it became challenging for Master Mao’s group of three to escape the encirclement. As the experts closed in, the space available for Master Mao’s group to maneuver was further compressed.

When the fifteen experts swung their blades, it was accompanied by a suffocating pressure that sent the surrounding tables and chairs over to the heart of the battlefield.

“Break out!” Master Mao, though unarmed, pushed his palms forward, creating a powerful gust of wind that ripped open a gap. However, the fifteen experts easily neutralized Master Mao’s attack, demonstrating the power of their formation.

Sang Yan and Sheng Lian drew their weapons and charged in two different directions, attempting to find a weakness in the formation. But as soon as they launched their attack, their weapons were knocked away.

Disarmed, Sang Yan and Sheng Lian were at the mercy of their opponents, and the surrounding crowd fell silent. No one had expected the Cloud Xing Pavilion to attack Master Mao’s group so ruthlessly.

In the eyes of everyone, the Treasure Pill Pavilion held a position of reverence, one that even the royal clan respected. Thus, no one had anticipated such a turn of events.

Fifteen long blades formed into a tide of steel, causing the ink-green cobblestones laid on the ground to explode under the wave.

“Shit!” Liu Wuxie, having made his way through the crowd and into the Cloud Xing Pavilion, found Master Mao’s group of three in a dire situation. He considered the three as friends, and Sang Yan had always treated him well whenever they met.

Transforming into a streak of light, Liu Wuxie charged forward. Having reached the eighth level of the Spirit Cleansing Realm, his strength had increased manifold. Even if he were to face someone at the seventh level of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, he could defeat his opponent with a single strike.

When the Heretic Blade appeared in his hand, Liu Wuxie swung it out. With just one exchange, Liu Wuxie instantly found the flaw in the formation.

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