Desolate Devouring Art

Liu Wuxie's will remained steadfast, and his Immortal Emperor's will shattered the black face again. The shadowy visage dissolved into black miasma and crept silently into his heart, waiting in ambush.

The moment Liu Wuxie's will wavered, even slightly, the inner demon would seize the chance to claim his body.

As soon as the golden pill dissolved, its medicinal power surged straight into Liu Wuxie's heart. Like an invisible barrier, the pill's energy wrapped around it. However, this was only a temporary fix, as time would weaken the seal.

Liu Wuxie understood that he had to find a way to eliminate the inner demon before the pill's effects faded away. However, resolving an inner demon wasn't so simple. Even immortals struggled with such things, let alone someone like him, who was still mortal despite his strength.

He would have to take one step at a time and slowly uncover a solution.

After all, the inner demon was a part of him. To overcome it meant to defeat a version of himself. Defeating it would demand not only strength, but exceptional wisdom as well.

More than a full day of cultivation passed before the inner demon finally fell silent. Liu Wuxie opened his eyes. The dark mark faded from his forehead.

"Liu Wuxie, are you alright?" Qu Su asked, concern etched across his face. He hadn't left Liu Wuxie's side even once during the entire ordeal.

"I'm alright now. Thank you for guarding me, Elder Qu," Liu Wuxie said sincerely.

More than anyone, he knew that many in the academy wanted him dead. Without Qu Su's protection, someone could have used this chance to assassinate him. His three senior brothers alone couldn't possibly defend him by themselves.

"That's good. I can finally breathe easy," Qu Su sighed in relief.

Though the crisis had passed, its aftermath lingered. The Heavenly Gate Peak was now in ruins. Rebuilding would take time.

After sending off the four elders, only Liu Wuxie and his three senior brothers remained atop the ruined peak.

"Junior Brother, what do you plan to do next?" Jiang Le asked as he stepped forward.

"I'll return to Astral Glory City first. After that, I may have to take a long journey," Liu Wuxie replied truthfully.

He still had matters to settle in Astral Glory City. Additionally, there was still the Eternal Spirit Mountain, where he had received numerous urgent summons, but he had no idea what was happening there.

"Then we'll go with you," Jiang Le said, exchanging glances with the other two.

They had made up their minds. The Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy was not a sect but a place to train and grow. Sooner or later, they would have to move on.

The rapidly expanding Heavenly Dao Society needed strong allies more than ever.

"Very well. Then the four of us shall walk this path together," Liu Wuxie said with a smile.

With his senior brothers at his side, the Heavenly Dao Society would gain immense support. All three held tremendous potential. Without further delay, the four set off together toward Astral Glory City.

......

Back at White Dragon Peak, Miao Hanxuan stumbled into his quarters. The moment he stepped through the doorway, he tripped on the threshold and fell flat on his face.

He had taken in many disciples over the years, but once news of his recent misfortunes spread, they all avoided him, afraid to be tainted by association.

Even his longtime friends abandoned him. Within half a day, Miao Hanxuan found himself completely alone.

He stared at the empty house, and then he slowly got back to his feet. As a dignified elder of the Earth Profound Realm, he collapsed to his knees, tears welling in his eyes.

He didn't even know whether it was shame, anger, or despair that blurred his vision.

"Liu Wuxie... this is all your fault. I will never submit. One day, I'll kill you with my own hands!" Miao Hanxuan growled.

He refused to die in disgrace. He clung to the belief that misfortune was only temporary.

However, fate had other plans.

Just as he stood again, the door behind him suddenly collapsed, slamming into the back of his head. Blood gushed from his scalp.

"What is happening to me?!" Miao Hanxuan roared. His voice echoed across the peaks, startling nearby cultivators.

"Isn't Elder Miao far too unlucky?" murmured several voices.

"We should stay away. Misfortune might be contagious," one disciple said warily.

"I heard it spreads! I'm moving off this peak immediately," another added.

Rumors spread quickly. Within a day, more than half of White Dragon Peak's residents moved away. Soon, the area around Miao Hanxuan's quarters became a ghost town—silent, deserted, and avoided for miles.

......

A few days later, Liu Wuxie returned to Astral Glory City with his senior brothers.

Their arrival reinvigorated the Heavenly Dao Society. Cultivators across the Central Plains sought the Heavenly Dao Society for their pills, talismans, arrays, and artifacts.

The Spirit Jade Pavilion continued its suppression, but the damage remained superficial. The Society's foundation remained untouched. In just a few short months, the Heavenly Dao Society had flourished, and countless experts flocked to join it.

With teleportation portals linked to the Southern Province, the sect sent a steady flow of pills southward, strengthening cultivators across the region.

Reinforcements arrived daily, so the Society surged in strength, rising swiftly toward superpower status. At this pace, they could surpass the Four Great Clans in just a few years.

......

"You're heading to Eternal Spirit Mountain?" Xu Yilin asked, brow furrowed.

They shared a quiet family dinner. Xu Yilin sat at the head of the table, while Liu Wuxie was seated beside Xu Lingxue.

"Yes," Liu Wuxie nodded.

"I've heard some troubling rumors. Many cultivators are heading there, and something must be going on," Xu Yilin said.

"Don't worry, Father-in-law. I'm only going to observe what's happening," Liu Wuxie said with a reassuring smile.

He knew the old man was concerned.

Even though this was a reunion, they would soon have to part ways again.

"I know your nature. You were never meant to stay put. But at least take some people with you," Xu Yilin said.

The Heavenly Dao Society had no shortage of capable cultivators at this point.

"That won't be necessary," Liu Wuxie said, shaking his head. "Traveling alone draws less attention."

Although the Society had grown immensely in the past two months, it still needed talent in every department.

"No! I'm going with you," Xu Lingxue said firmly, setting her chopsticks down and staring at him.

For months, she had been living in quiet fear for his safety. This time, she refused to stay behind.

"Xue'er, this trip to Eternal Spirit Mountain may be dangerous. You should wait for me at home," Liu Wuxie said gently.

"That's exactly why I must go," she replied, pouting stubbornly.

"Let her go with you," Xu Yilin finally said. "You're husband and wife—you should take care of each other."

Now that his father-in-law had spoken, Liu Wuxie could only nod with a bitter smile. There was no winning this argument.

......

The next day, Liu Wuxie returned to the Liu Clan with Xu Lingxue.

When Murong Yi, Jian Xing'er, and Chen Ruoyan heard that Liu Wuxie was planning to leave with Xu Lingxue, they emerged from their secluded cultivation one after another.

He realized that the moment he agreed to let Xu Lingxue come, there was no turning down the others. After spending the last two months together, the four women grew quite close, and there were no longer any barriers between them.

His return to the Liu Clan brought life back to the household. Word of Liu Wuxie's accomplishments at the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy spread rapidly.

The story of him purging the grandmaster's inner demon and defeating a peak Earth Profound Realm expert had become common knowledge.

During a family banquet, Liu Wuxie sat beside his grandfather and quietly asked, "Grandfather, tell me about Liu Xiaotian."

"He returned to the Liu Clan about a month ago and brought all his followers with him," Liu Xiucheng replied with a grim look. "More importantly, he's already reached the high-level Earth Profound Realm... even surpassing me."

What troubled Liu Xiucheng the most wasn't the loss of those clansmen, but the alarming speed at which Liu Xiaotian's cultivation was progressing.

In just one year, he leaped from the Spirit Profound Realm to the upper levels of the Earth Profound Realm. The growth was so unnatural that it couldn't have occurred without outside interference.

After half a year of development, the Liu Clan grew strong enough that the loss of clansmen taken away by Liu Xiaotian could no longer damage their foundation as it had in the past.

"Someone's helping him from the shadows," Liu Wuxie muttered. He knew Liu Xiaotian's talent well. The massive leap in strength couldn't have happened naturally.

"The Golden Cauldron Pavilion," Liu Xiucheng whispered.

Very few within the Liu Clan even knew of that name.

"Yeah," Liu Wuxie nodded. The Golden Cauldron Pavilion was a mysterious force. Jiao Ba, the one who poisoned his grandfather, had encountered Liu Xiaotian back in the Eternal Spirit Mountain.

Liu Wuxie still didn't know how to enter the Astral Domain. For now, he would have to carefully study the message left behind by the Barefooted Elder.

"Wuxie, do you have a plan for Eternal Spirit Mountain?" Liu Xiucheng asked.

The clan had sent scouts to investigate the area, but almost none had returned. That place devoured those who entered it as if it were a monstrous beast.

"No, but I'll adapt once I'm there," Liu Wuxie admitted.

He had no idea what he would find in Eternal Spirit Mountain, but since Ruan Ying had sent him an urgent message, something had to have happened there. He would only know the truth after seeing it for himself.

"Be careful. We've contacted our allies in Eternal Spirit Mountain. Use this letter to reach them." Liu Xiucheng handed him a sealed letter containing special communication codes.

Some things were too sensitive to say aloud. By giving Liu Wuxie that letter, Liu Xiucheng was entrusting him with the fate of the clan.

Liu Wuxie accepted the letter solemnly and retired for the night after the banquet.

When he returned to his courtyard, Xu Lingxue and the others also withdrew to rest.

At the break of dawn, Liu Wuxie set out for Eternal Spirit Mountain, accompanied by four women.

In recent days, more and more cultivators were heading in the same direction. Along the way, Liu Wuxie saw many groups trekking toward the mountain.

"Brother Liu, what kind of place is Eternal Spirit Mountain? Why are there so many people going there?" Chen Ruoyan asked, her curiosity obvious.

The four women chatted cheerfully like birdsong on a crisp morning breeze.