Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 558 - Demonic Dragons

The House of Tea Art had become noticeably quiet after being closed to the public.

"There's no need to rush," Murong Yi said calmly, standing by the window and showing no sign of anxiety.

She believed Liu Wuxie wouldn't miss out on such a grand event. The stone betting event was tomorrow, and half a day was left. If Liu Wuxie hadn't come out of seclusion by then, he would have missed the event.

Liu Wuxie stood upright after retracting his fists with beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. While four days had passed in the outside world, it had been more than a year for the trio in the cultivation world.

"It's time for us to go," Liu Wuxie said. His cultivation had finally stabilized after months of training, and he looked like an ordinary person after he withdrew his aura.

When the trio emerged from the cultivation chamber, it was already dusk. The moment they stepped out of the Profound Spirit Pavilion, Madam Li mysteriously appeared before Liu Wuxie.

"How did you know I would come out today?" Liu Wuxie asked curiously.

"Young Lady won't make any mistakes. She told me you will come out today," Madam Li replied respectfully. She was unusually humble in her attitude. This naturally attracted people's attention to the fact that someone in the Nascent Transformation Realm was polite before someone in the Heavenly Phase Realm.

Liu Wuxie nodded and didn't think much about it. Murong Yi was extraordinarily intelligent and perceptive, so it wasn't surprising that she had guessed his intentions accurately.

The lanterns were lit when the trio returned to the House of Tea Art.

Murong Yi had prepared a food and drink table and was waiting for Liu Wuxie.

Jian Xing'er and Chen Ruoyan were stunned when they saw Murong Yi. They couldn't believe such a beauty existed in the world.

They had also developed an ethereal temperament after their breakthrough, and their appearance was no less stunning than Murong Yi.

Murong Yi was also momentarily stunned by Chen Ruoyan and Jian Xing'er's beauty. She hadn't expected Liu Wuxie to be surrounded by such beauties. It was no wonder why Liu Wuxie did not react when he saw her—anyone who was constantly surrounded by such two beauties would naturally develop some form of immunity.

As everyone took their seats, Liu Wuxie was surrounded by three women, no less stunning than each other. However, Chen Ruoyan and Jian Xing'er were wary of Murong Yi, while the latter looked at Liu Wuxie strangely.

"Did you know that I would come out of seclusion today?" Liu Wuxie asked, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Murong Yi. He knew she wasn't as simple as she appeared.

"Young Master Liu wouldn't want to miss out on the stone betting event," said Murong Yi as she took out four invitations and placed them before Liu Wuxie.

Each invitation was addressed to both her and Liu Wuxie to participate in the stone-betting event that the three major sects held.

Liu Wuxie merely cast a glance at the invitations and said nothing. On the contrary, Jian Xing'er tugged Liu Wuxie's clothes, urging him not to accept the invitation.

After all, Liu Wuxie had offended the Azure Crimson Gate, and this would be a dangerous trip. Attending the event might expose him to various dangers and might even lead to his death.

The two women were still unaware of the background of the House of Tea Art and didn't know why they were protecting Liu Wuxie. Thus, it was natural for them to be concerned.

"What if I refuse?" Liu Wuxie asked, still contemplating whether to attend the event.

"I can just decline their invitation if you do not wish to attend," Murong Yi replied. She continued, "However, I hope that you can attend. Such an event is rare in the Southern Province, and I believe it will be helpful to you."

"If I refuse, I bet the Azure Crimson Gate and Ling Clan will send someone to the House of Tea Art tomorrow morning," Liu Wuxie said, waving his hand. He knew all too well how despicable the Azure Crimson Gate could be.

He knew they probably wanted to target him during the stone betting event and make things difficult. It would be hard for him to leave Serene Sea City unscathed then.

Murong Yi said nothing and acknowledged what Liu Wuxie said.

As the banquet continued, an awkward atmosphere hovered over the four. Jian Xing'er and Chen Ruoyan felt uneasy around a beauty like Murong Yi and naturally became wary of her.

Murong Yi stood up after the banquet and said, "I've arranged three rooms for you three, and you can all rest here for the night."

She hoped Liu Wuxie and the two ladies could stay the night in the House of Tea Art, ensuring their safety.

"There’s no need," Liu Wuxie replied, rising to his feet. He didn't want to grow too close to the House of Tea Art. He continued, "We'll spend the night at the inn and return tomorrow morning."

Although he had promised to help Murong Yi rescue her family, now wasn't the right time.

"Very well. Madam Li, please send Young Master Liu and his friends back," Murong Yi said graciously.

"No need. We can manage ourselves," Liu Wuxie replied, declining the offer again. He had no desire to live under the protection of the House of Tea Art, knowing it would hinder his growth. Relying on their safety would make him like a flower sheltered in a greenhouse—unable to withstand the harsh realities of the outside world.

He quickly left the House of Tea Art with the two ladies and returned to the inn.

Madam Li stood beside Murong Yi, looking at her and waiting for her decision.

"He's too prideful," Murong Yi remarked, her usual composure returning. "Do not intervene unless his life is truly in danger." The graceful demeanor she had shown earlier was merely an act, driven by her determination to rescue her parents.

"Understood," Madam Li replied. She followed Liu Wuxie from afar, careful not to be noticed.

As soon as Liu Wuxie left the House of Tea Art, several people followed behind them. Many people had been lurking around the House of Tea Art for the past few days, waiting for Liu Wuxie to show up.

"Big Brother Liu, we're being followed," one of the two ladies whispered. Their divine sense had grown after reaching the Heavenly Phase Realm, and they soon noticed many people tailing them.

"Let them follow," Liu Wuxie replied nonchalantly. The trio quickened their pace and were only an hour away from the inn.

But just as the inn came into view, three figures appeared in their way.

"Liu Wuxie, your time has come!" The three were donned in the Azure Crimson Gate's uniform, faintly discernible through the weak lighting. These were the same men who had mocked Liu Wuxie on the boat.

"Trash like you three wish to kill me?" Liu Wuxie thought it would be someone in the Nascent Transformation Realm, but the three were in the Astral River Realm.

Though their cultivation was impressive—one at the ninth level and two at the eighth—they were still far beneath him.

"Trash? You'll regret those words! I'll make you regret coming to this world! We'll enjoy these two women after we kill you," one of the three sneered, looking at the two ladies beside Liu Wuxie with a lustful glance.

He realized that the two ladies beside Liu Wuxie were not inferior to Murong Yi. However, if he had to classify the three ladies, Murong Yi was a tad superior due to her temperament.

"Big Brother Liu, be careful!" The two ladies felt helpless that they couldn't help Liu Wuxie.

"You two, stay back," Liu Wuxie nodded. This was his first time facing opponents in the high levels of the Astral River Realm, and he had to be cautious. Then again, he wasn't perturbed with the Heavenly Dragon Seal and Earth Binding Chains on him.

After reaching the eighth level of the Heavenly Phase Realm, his primordial spirit was strong enough to unleash Soul Spears multiple times.

"Strike first to leave no room for error!" one of the three commanded, drawing his weapon and charging toward Liu Wuxie. They had been the first to receive news of Liu Wuxie's whereabouts and had caught up.

"Let's finish this quickly!" Liu Wuxie charged forward, wanting to end the battle quickly in case more enemies arrived.

The Azure Crimson Gate's disciples also shared the same thought, wanting to take Liu Wuxie down before anyone else arrived.

However, the Primordial Astral Fist was so powerful that it could be felt from a few hundred miles away once executed. The best Liu Wuxie could do was to minimize the commotion caused by their fight.

"Frost Ray Seal!" Liu Wuxie yelled and unveiled a new dao technique that he comprehended during his seclusion. This technique was born from his mastery over Frost Finger, adding more intricate changes.

This new technique focused on compressing icy energy into a razor-thin ray, making it extremely difficult to defend against. Unlike the Frost Finger, which was easier to predict due to the overwhelming chill it radiated, this refined technique significantly boosted Liu Wuxie’s offensive power. The icy energy glimmered like a silver thread as it wove through the three opponents, freezing the air around them and drastically reducing their movement speed.

"What a powerful dao technique!" one of the three from the Azure Crimson Gate exclaimed. They were surprised because dao techniques were usually comprehended only after reaching the Astral River Realm.

With their speed suppressed, Liu Wuxie's chance had finally come. The exchange between the four was so rapid that it looked like lightning crackling in the night sky, unleashing a terrifying current surging in all directions to paint a chaotic scene.

Liu Wuxie grasped the moment their speed faltered to split the Soul Spear into three. This was another evolution of the dao technique—the Soul Spear was no longer confined to a single form. It could now be divided into three.

The three men let out agonized screams, their voices echoing as everything unfolded far too quickly for them to react. This was the chaotic scene Madam Li stumbled upon when she arrived. She hadn’t expected this outcome, especially not when she was about to intervene.

Then again, the main reason was that the trio had underestimated Liu Wuxie. If they had gone all out right from the start, Liu Wuxie wouldn't have been able to shatter their primordial souls so quickly.

The bizarre nature of Frost Ray Seal and the sneak attack of Soul Spear surprised the trio. The pain radiating from their primordial souls severely hindered their movements.

They were all in the Astral River Realm; the pain was temporary, not fatal.

"Sky Devouring Divine Cauldron, it's on you now!" Liu Wuxie didn't resort to using the Earth Binding Chains. Though the Earth Binding Chains was powerful, it also had an obvious flaw: it could only target one person at a time.

While the Heavenly Dragon Seal was powerful, it would be unwise for him to reveal it with several experts hidden in the surroundings unless he could kill everyone. He didn't possess such strength, so he didn't use the Heavenly Dragon Seal.

Upon receiving Liu Wuxie's summon, chains shot out from the depth of the Sky Devouring Divine Cauldron. The chains were pitch-black, each wrapped in thick demonic energy.

The chains sounded like they came from the depths of hell. Before they even appeared, they made Liu Wuxie feel a terrifying force surging from within, trying to break out of his body.

The chains were as thick as a grown man's arm and looked terrifying. Each chain was connected to a pointed spike, making it impossible for anyone to escape once caught. Moreover, the more one struggled, the deeper the spikes would pierce into the flesh, causing excruciating pain.

The chains hovered in the air after they shot out from the Sky Devouring Divine Cauldron. But strangely enough, the people in the surroundings couldn't sense them, and they could only feel a wave of terrifying energy sweeping out.

They couldn't discern what that mysterious energy was. Only Liu Wuxie could see the chains—pitch-black, ominous, like demonic dragons from another realm, coiling menacingly in the air. These abyssal dragons bared their fangs as they wrapped themselves around the three from the Azure Crimson Gate, ensnaring them with terrifying speed.

Everything unfolded in an instant, the chains moving entirely in sync with Liu Wuxie’s thoughts. It was his first time using them, and though he wielded their power effectively, he knew there were still many nuances he hadn’t yet mastered. More practice would be needed before he could fully command their immense potential.