Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 560 - Teng Clan's Remnants

The crowd was overwhelming, and Liu Wuxie knew the two ladies would feel uneasy amidst such a large gathering. It was best to find a quieter place, away from the chaos of the marketplace. Male cultivators far outnumbered female cultivators, and the air was thick with voices haggling and negotiating.

Though the higher-ups of the three major sects had yet to arrive, people had already begun conducting private transactions, eager to gain an advantage before the official event started. As Liu Wuxie’s group passed through a long corridor, the number of people around them noticeably thinned. Ahead stood a small two-story pavilion, strategically positioned to overlook the entire bustling hall.

This gathering was grand in scale, with over ten thousand people already assembled. The pavilion, however, was reserved for select individuals, and only those of considerable status were invited. Dozens of tables were neatly arranged inside, with a few guests already having claimed prime spots.

When Liu Wuxie stepped in, dozens of eyes from the pavilion turned to focus on him in unison.

Shortly after, a powerful outburst of murderous intent swept through the pavilion, causing it to produce a creaking noise under pressure.

On the left sat two elders. They were both in the Nascent Transformation Realm and were likely elders of the Azure Crimson Gate.

Last night, three of their true disciples had died because of Liu Wuxie, and the loss was a significant blow to the Azure Crimson Gate.

"Liu Wuxie, how dare you step foot here?!" The two elders stood up, ready to kill Liu Wuxie on the spot.

It was evident that it wasn't the Azure Crimson Gate who had invited Liu Wuxie. Given their hatred for Liu Wuxie, how would they allow him into the pavilion?

"Let's calm down for now, gentlemen. Today's gathering is for guests, and there's no need for bloodshed." Two elders appeared, donning the attire of the Sky Rift Valley.

An elder of the Sky Rift Valley waved his hand to dismiss the murderous intent.

"Wei Qisheng, will you stop me from avenging our Azure Crimson Gate's disciples?!" The two elders from the Azure Crimson Gate were furious. They were the ones who gave the invitation to the House of Tea Art to lure Liu Wuxie over for them to kill.

Now that Liu Wuxie was here, it was the perfect opportunity for them to take his life and settle their grievance once and for all. After all, the Azure Crimson Gate had lost several of its elites in the past few days, which had caused an uproar and struck a significant blow to its reputation.

The entire sect was humiliated to be repeatedly embarrassed by someone in the Heavenly Phase Realm.

Wei Qisheng, the elder from the Sky Rift Valley who intervened, looked amicable and didn't seem prone to conflicts.

"Elder Li, please calm down. He's a guest since he's here, and this isn't where you can settle your grievances. Don't forget that fighting is strictly forbidden in this place, as agreed by the three major sects. The violators will face our collective punishment if they dare to break this rule. With that said, do you still intend to test the rule with your life?" Wei Qisheng said with a smile, unfazed by the tension.

When the three major sects had established the guild, a rule was established to prevent anyone from causing trouble and affecting the guild's business.

Throughout the years, they had dealt with anyone who dared to cause trouble in the guild with no exception, and no one dared to seek revenge against the three major sects.

"You dare talk to me about the rules? This brat killed several disciples of my Azure Crimson Gate, and you want me to let it go?" Li Hongda, the other elder from the Azure Crimson Gate, was seething with rage. The aura he gave off was so powerful that it caused the pavilion to tremble, with dust falling from the ceiling.

The Azure Crimson Gate had no plans to let it slide.

"Why don't you try and make a move?" Madam Li stepped forward with her cane and released an even more powerful aura, forcing the two elders from the Azure Crimson Gate to take several steps back.

This finally drew the attention of the two Azure Crimson Gate elders, who turned to Madam Li. Her action confirmed the rumors that the House of Tea Art and Liu Wuxie were in league with each other.

"The House of Tea Art has always maintained a neutral position in Serene Sea City. This is the feud between the Azure Crimson Gate and him. Please don't interfere in our matter," Li Hongda replied. He was one of the elders who had visited the House of Tea Art the previous day, but they were all thrown out by a mysterious man in black, which was a huge disgrace for them.

"Young Master Liu is our guest," Madam Li replied coldly. She continued, "Anyone who dares to go after him would become an enemy of the House of Tea Art. I suggest you sit down obediently."

She naturally wouldn't act for real because her goal was only to ensure Liu Wuxie's safety. As for his grievance with the Azure Crimson Gate, she didn't want to get involved.

"Fine! Let's see how long the House of Tea Art can protect him!" Li Hongda growled, seething in frustration. Liu Wuxie was within his reach, but he couldn't make a move. Thus, anyone could imagine the frustration he felt.

They could only find another opportunity to kill Liu Wuxie. They could use the upcoming stone-betting event to eliminate him.

All the while, Liu Wuxie said nothing and simply remembered the faces of the two Azure Crimson Gate elders. He then walked over to the two elders from the Sky Rift Valley and gave them a bow. He said, "Thank you for speaking on my behalf."

"You're being too polite. We've heard of your performance on the boat, and our disciples were filled with praises for you," Wei Qisheng said with a smile, examining Liu Wuxie with no air around him.

The Sky Rift Valley had always maintained a reputation for peace, rarely engaging in disputes with other factions. However, anyone who underestimated them would be making a grave mistake. It was precisely their policy of staying out of conflicts that allowed them to grow steadily over the years, earning them a spot among the top five sects in terms of strength, despite not being widely recognized.

"You're flattering me," Liu Wuxie replied humbly. The two parties exchanged pleasantries because there was no harm for him to build a good relationship with the Sky Rift Valley.

When the two sides parted, the Sky Rift Valley went to the right, while Liu Wuxie's group was assigned to the left.

"Liu Wuxie, stop right there!" a voice bellowed from below the pavilion, and a young man appeared, racing his way up the stairs.

Liu Wuxie didn't recognize this young man, but he could sense the murderous intent coming from the latter. He suddenly narrowed his eyes because he found this young man familiar even though he was sure they had never met.

"It's Teng Yue!" Jian Xing'er exclaimed upon recognizing the youth.

Teng Yue was unfazed after being identified. He strode to Liu Wuxie, releasing a terrifying aura in the Astral River Realm. The tremendous pressure he gave off lifted the planks on the floor.

"So, who are you?" Liu Wuxie asked in a calm tone. He waved his hand and dismissed the murderous intent, leaving many people in the surroundings shocked.

After all, Teng Yue was in the high levels of the Astral River Realm, but Liu Wuxie's ability to effortlessly neutralize his murderous intent was nothing short of astonishing.

When the murderous intent vanished, the planks on the ground returned to normal. However, that didn't stop the boiling murderous intent in Teng Yue's eyes.

"Junior Brother Liu, he's a disciple of the Teng clan!" Jian Xing'er whispered into Liu Wuxie's ears.

Liu Wuxie nodded in acknowledgment. He now knew why Teng Yue looked familiar—he was from the Teng family.

"Liu Wuxie, you destroyed my clan, and I will avenge my deceased clansmen today!" Teng Yue continued to approach Liu Wuxie. He had rushed over upon hearing that Liu Wuxie had come to Serene Sea City.

Liu Wuxie was surprised that someone from the Teng Clan was still alive, and Teng Yue had only survived because he resided in the Azure Crimson Gate.

"Get lost!" Even before Liu Wuxie could react, Madam Li waved her hand and sent Teng Yue stumbling back down the stairs. The immense aura that she gave off left him gasping for breath.

"Liu Wuxie," Teng Yue spat angrily. "Come and fight me in a duel to the death if you have the guts! Hiding behind the back of others—what kind of hero are you?"

Before confronting Liu Wuxie, Teng Yue had already learned of his current situation. His face became ashen with rage at the House of Tea Art's interference; he could barely contain his strong desire to rip Liu Wuxie apart.

"Talk to me about a duel if you can get past Madam Li," Liu Wuxie said dismissively. To him, the Teng Clan was already destroyed, and he didn't care much about killing a remnant of the clan.

"Very well. Let me see how long you can keep hiding," Teng Yue snarled, his face distorted with rage as he gritted his teeth. Veins bulged on his forehead as his fists tightened, trembling in fury.

"I'm right here, and you're welcome to kill me if you have what it takes," Liu Wuxie said with a devilish and mocking smile.

Teng Yue's cultivation in the eighth level of the Astral River Realm was nothing in Liu Wuxie's eyes. Just last night, he had killed three people in the high levels of the Astral River Realm.

Infuriated by Liu Wuxie’s words, Li Hongda rose from his seat. If the word went out, Liu Wuxie's blatant disregard and provocation for the Azure Crimson Gate would further affect the sect's reputation.

The two elders from the Azure Crimson Gate were only in the low levels of the Nascent Transformation Realm and were no match for Madam Li.

"Mark my words—I will find my chance to kill you!" Teng Yue hissed before greeting the two elders and descending the stairs.

The pavilion soon returned to peace, and two elders from the Demonic Heart Palace arrived roughly fifteen minutes later. Their eyes were locked on Liu Wuxie when they stepped into the pavilion.

After all, everyone in Serene Sea City has recently been talking about Liu Wuxie. From outside, they couldn't see anything special about him. But this seemingly unremarkable young man had come up with such a legendary poem and even played such a beautiful piece of music, capable of shocking the world.

A sinister aura swept out when the two elders from the Demonic Heart Palace came in. They cultivated demonic techniques, and it was natural for them to ooze a sinister aura.

Liu Wuxie remained composed, his attention focused on the uncut stones below. Since reaching the eighth level of the Heavenly Phase Realm, his mastery of the Soul Forge Art had grown, allowing his Ghost Eye technique to evolve even further. His vision now extended beyond its previous limits, enabling him to perceive far more than before. As he scanned the stones, he quietly took note of which ones contained hidden treasures.

"Young Master Liu, is it true that you can see through the stones?" Murong Yi asked softly, her curiosity barely concealed.

"What do you mean by that?" Liu Wuxie asked, turning his head over to her.

"There are rumors," Murong Yi continued, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Her tone was playful, but there was a hint of probing behind her words. "Everyone is saying you have a special gift, a power that lets you see through the stones. This is why the ten stones you picked all contain something valuable."

"It's just a coincidence," Liu Wuxie replied. He naturally wouldn't admit it to anyone. After all, it was impossible even for those who had practiced an eye technique to see through the stones.

"From what I've heard, the remaining stones from the Xiang Clan Manor were all bought after that incident, but only three spiritual essences were found among them. It was like you could see through them and pick out the valuable ones."

After Liu Wuxie's stone bet with Cheng Chen, the leftover items were all snatched up in a frenzy. But to everyone's disappointment, there were only three spiritual essences in the remaining stones, and no one had the same luck as Liu Wuxie.

"Perhaps I'm just fortunate," Liu Wuxie said with a chuckle, brushing off this topic. So what if there was suspicion as long as he denied it?

However, it appeared that he had to keep a low profile, or he would invite unnecessary trouble if someone found out that he could see through the stones.