Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 32 - Collapse of Spiritual Arrays

It had been a long time since the Song Clan’s Spiritual Array Hall was repaired. Ever since their ancestor had died, the central control system had been malfunctioning, and the problem had worsened over the past two years. If this continued, the Song Clan would eventually lose their income from the Spiritual Array Hall, causing the Song Clan’s status in Azure Billow City to plummet or even disappear.

“It’s just a coincidence!” Liu Wuxie didn’t want to reveal too much and gave an ambiguous reply.

Song Tianhao was a devious man. He knew his son well and understood that Liu Wuxie must have some skills for Song Ling to admire him and call him ‘Big Brother’ as he followed behind him like a lackey. After all, not many people could make Song Ling revere them.

“Father, there has always been an issue with our central control system. Why don’t we let Big Brother Liu take a look at it? Perhaps he might be able to repair it!” Song Ling stepped forth and suggested.

However, Liu Wuxie’s forehead was wrinkled, and the Song Clan’s elders gave themselves a facepalm. The central control system was the foundation of the Song Clan, and even the descendants of the Song Clan weren’t allowed to enter. Only the core elders were permitted to enter and maintain it.

“Young Master, don’t forget that the central control system is the core secret of our Song Clan. So how can we let an outsider in?” the Grand Elder of the Song Clan interjected. They would naturally resolve the issue with their Song Clan’s spiritual arrays on their own.

The other elders nodded in agreement, as they couldn’t risk leaking their central control system.

“Then why haven’t you all fixed it already? The central control system has been deteriorating for years, and none of you have found a better solution. This is a great opportunity for us to resolve this issue... Or do you prefer waiting until the Song Clan collapses before abandoning your stringent views?” Song Ling pouted in disdain.

Many elders fell into deep thought, and even Song Tianhao raised his brow, knowing that Song Ling had a point. They would reach the point of no return if the central control system actually collapsed.

“That won’t work either. We can’t let outsiders into the Song Clan’s central control system,” the Grand Elder refused flatly, unwilling to let Liu Wuxie into the central control system.

“We can’t just listen to the young master’s one-sided words. How can this garbage possibly know how the spiritual array works?” the Second Elder argued with his tone full of sarcasm. After all, everyone in Azure Billow City knew about Liu Wuxie’s reputation.

Liu Wuxie’s gaze became cold. He hadn’t even mentioned repairing the spiritual array, but the elders were still mocking him one after another.

“Patriarch Song, I have some matters to attend to, and I’ll take my leave!” Liu Wuxie suppressed his rage for Song Ling’s sake. Did they truly believe he was scared? Being at the second level of the Xiantian Realm and equipped with Ghost Eye, he was confident that even opponents in the Spirit Cleansing Realm might not be able to defeat him.

With a wave of his sleeve, he walked out, unwilling to stay any longer.

“Big Brother, wait for me!” Song Ling called out and hurried after Liu Wuxie, fawning a smile. He knew Liu Wuxie was furious. He, too, was appalled by the Grand Elder and the Second Elder’s prejudice against Liu Wuxie.

Right then, cracking sounds came from outside as a building collapsed. Countless martial cultivators escaped the fall, and the entire Spiritual Array Hall was shocked by the event.

“Not good! The Spiritual Array Hall is collapsing! Run for your lives!” Screams and yells could be heard from the surroundings as martial cultivators fled in every direction. The Song Clan’s Spiritual Array Hall covered a vast area, spanning tens of miles in radius. If all the buildings were to collapse, the Song Clan would suffer a significant loss and might not recover for the next decade.

......

The entire Spiritual Array Hall was in chaos, and even a stampede had occurred. The higher-ranking members of the Song Clan looked at each other, fear visible in their eyes as their breathing became heavy.

“The Song Clan is finished!” the youngest elder exclaimed in a low voice. Without the Spiritual Array Hall, the Song Clan would be devastated.

“The central control system has collapsed. Patriarch, think of a way quickly! What should we do now?!” The Grand Elder panicked and turned to look at the Patriarch. The central control system was connected to all the buildings. If it collapsed, the entire Spiritual Array Hall would cease to exist.

Members of the Song Clan tried to maintain order, but their efforts were in vain as the collapse of the buildings continued to intensify and spread. Even Song Tianhao panicked when he saw the chaos unfolding.

The Song Clan had been researching the issue with the central control system for decades, but they hadn’t found a solution. Now that half of it had collapsed, they could only watch helplessly as the Spiritual Array Hall crumbled.

“Big Brother, I beg you. Please save our Song Clan. You must have a solution, right?” Song Ling almost knelt on the ground, begging Liu Wuxie to save the Spiritual Array Hall and their Song Clan.

“It’s not that I’m unwilling to help, but it’s already too late. The best I can do is to slow down the collapse and find a way to repair it.” Liu Wuxie shook his head. If he had made a move earlier, there might still be a glimmer of hope. But there was nothing he could do about it now.

Song Tianhao naturally heard their conversation and turned to look at Liu Wuxie. “Can you really stop the spiritual arrays from collapsing further, Young Master Liu?” Song Tianhao asked.

Song Tianhao was out of ideas now, and he would grab onto any hope he could. He naturally didn’t expect Liu Wuxie to repair the central control system.

Liu Wuxie responded to Song Tianhao’s question with a snort, indicating that he was willing to help Song Ling but not his father. This response made Song Tianhao and the other elders unhappy.

“Boy, how dare you humiliate our patriarch?” The Second Elder jumped out, wanting to make a move against Liu Wuxie. He was still fuming because the central control system was collapsing. If they lost the Spiritual Array Hall, they would lose their source of income. So Liu Wuxie’s words naturally sparked his fury even more.

“Humiliation?” Liu Wuxie shook his head and said, “You people aren’t even worthy of that.”

Liu Wuxie turned around and left. The life and death of the Song Clan had nothing to do with him. These people might’ve looked down on him, but he also couldn’t be bothered to look at them either.

A violent rumble came from the distance as another building collapsed. This was the Song Clan’s most profitable large-scale spiritual array, bringing them hundreds of thousands of gold coins daily.

“Boy, you insulted the Song Clan and still want to leave? Do you even know where you are?!” The Second Elder confronted Liu Wuxie, releasing his murderous intent.

“You want to kill me?” Liu Wuxie narrowed his eyes, directing his own murderous intent towards the Second Elder. This frightened Song Ling, who knew how strong Liu Wuxie was. Liu Wuxie had massacred opponents in the fifth-level Xiantian Realm like mere flies back in the spiritual array.

The Second Elder was also in the fifth level of the Xiantian Realm, and Liu Wuxie only needed one hand to kill him.

“I won’t kill you, but I’ll teach you a lesson and let you know the immensity of heaven and earth!” The Second Elder, needing to vent his emotions, launched an attack against Liu Wuxie. His palm was quick, and it was already too late for Song Ling to stop him.

“Father, stop him quickly! Only Big Brother Liu can save our Song Clan now!” Song Ling begged. He knew that only Liu Wuxie could prevent the Spiritual Array Hall from collapsing. He was anxious and on the verge of crying.

More buildings collapsed, causing a cloud of dust to rise. No one knew what was happening here because the outside world was already chaotic, and crying could be heard everywhere. A terrifying rumble came from underground, signaling that the central control system was about to collapse.

“You’re courting death!” Murderous intent poured out of Liu Wuxie’s eyes. Since he had already offended the Wan Clan and Tian Clan, he didn’t mind offending the Song Clan as well. His blade drew a cold arc in the air, sweeping out a horrifying aura.

“Big Brother Liu, please spare him!” Song Ling fell to his knees. The Song Clan would be finished if the Second Elder died because they would form an irreversible feud with Liu Wuxie. At that time, no one could stop the central control system from collapsing.

When Liu Wuxie’s blade aura swept over, the palm wind created by the Second Elder was torn apart. After all, Liu Wuxie had easily slain nine opponents in the fifth level of the Xiantian Realm in the spiritual array.

Song Tianhao narrowed his eyes. Realizing that something was wrong and unable to find a weakness in Liu Wuxie’s attack, he quickly released his true essence, creating a protective gale around the Second Elder.

But his attempt was futile as Liu Wuxie’s blade easily tore apart the defense created by Song Tianhao. The blade came to a halt just an inch away from the Second Elder. Had Liu Wuxie advanced even a single step further, he would have been decapitated.

Liu Wuxie sheathed his blade, sparing the Second Elder’s life. “If Song Ling hadn’t begged for mercy on your behalf, you would already be dead,” he warned.

The Second Elder was soaked in sweat and trembling from fear. He thought he was dead for sure at that moment.

Everyone present was also shocked, including Song Tianhao, who looked at Liu Wuxie with disbelief. They couldn’t fathom how someone in the Spirit Cleansing Realm failed to stop Liu Wuxie from killing. None of them could comprehend what had just happened. After all, the Second Elder’s cultivation was at the fifth level of the Xiantian Realm!

No longer able to keep the secret, Song Ling stepped forth and blurted out, “Not long ago, Big Brother Liu slew nine opponents in the fifth-level Xiantian Realm without effort.” A wry and helpless smile hung over his face. After all, Liu Wuxie had already revealed his aura in the Xiantian Realm.

“What?!” Song Tianhao’s lips trembled as though he was struck by lightning. Only someone at the ninth level of the Xiantian Realm could have defeated nine opponents at the fifth level of the Xiantian Realm with a single blade!

The Grand Elder also wore a wry smile. He was in the sixth level of the Xiantian Realm, but even he couldn’t accomplish such a feat. He had mocked Liu Wuxie, and their mockery sounded ironic now that they thought about it.

Liu Wuxie ignored everyone and continued on his way out. This place looked as though it was struck by a powerful earthquake, with cracks covering the ground.

“Young Master Liu, please hold on.” Song Tianhao could no longer deny that his son had been telling the truth. He could tell that Liu Wuxie had truly changed and might even have a way to prevent the central control system from collapsing or to repair it. He was likely the Song Clan’s last hope.

“Patriarch Song, what do you need?” Liu Wuxie turned around and wore a mocking smile. This time, no one spoke as they looked at Song Tianhao.

“I represent the Song Clan and apologize to you for what happened earlier. Please help our Song Clan for my son’s sake,” Song Tianhao said, bowing deeply toward Liu Wuxie. This gesture, typically reserved for juniors greeting seniors, was performed by Song Tianhao for Liu Wuxie. The elders of the Song Clan wanted to intervene, but they were at a loss for words.

“What can I get out of helping your Song Clan?” Liu Wuxie sneered. He might have considered helping if the Second Elder hadn’t acted, but the situation had changed. He had already repaid his debt to Song Ling by sparing the Second Elder’s life, and they were, after all, just ordinary friends.

Song Tianhao stomped his foot in frustration. “If Young Master Liu can prevent the Spiritual Array Hall from collapsing, I will reveal something to you that concerns the very survival of your Xu Clan,” he said, resorting to sharing information he had not intended to divulge for the sake of the Song Clan.