Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 434 - Punishment

An ancient star appeared above the chamber, radiating a suffocating power that penetrated even the spiritual arrays. Cracking sounds echoed from the central control system as numerous spiritual arrays shattered.

"What's going on?" Elder Yi Xuan asked upon his return, puzzled by the scene of five disciples battling a lone opponent.

The two elders, recognizing the gravity of the situation, didn't dare to conceal anything from Elder Yi Xuan. The matter had spiraled beyond their control.

Upon learning that Liu Wuxie had killed so many people, Elder Yi Xuan gasped with a hint of regret. They had all fallen for Qing Mu's trap; Liu Wuxie was not as simple as they had believed.

The five screamed when the ancient star descended from above.

"How could this be?!" the woman cried out in anguish, helpless as the star crushed her to death.

The other four fared no better because no one could withstand the combination of Primordial Astral Fist and Frost Finger. This meant Liu Wuxie was invincible unless it was someone in the Heavenly Phase Realm.

The entire Martial Hall trembled as a large crater formed in the chamber. Numerous spiritual arrays were damaged, rendering the Martial Hall inoperable and in need of extensive repairs.

"Damn it! Damn it!" The two elders beside Elder Yi Xuan stomped their feet in frustration, unsure of how to explain this disaster to the sect's higher-ups.

"Kill him! We have to kill him!" The elder on the right said with bloodshot eyes. They had to kill Liu Wuxie to compensate for the losses.

"That's enough!" Elder Yi Xuan roared. Given the situation, it was obvious that Qing Mu's plot was to try to use them to get rid of a threat.

"This kid has destroyed so many spiritual arrays. How will we explain to the sect if we don't kill him? The three of us will be punished if an investigation takes place!" The elder on the left realized the seriousness of the matter, and they could only try to cover it by blaming him.

"This is our fault, and I will explain everything to the sect. I will take the responsibility for this matter. Open the Martial Hall and let everyone out. The Martial Hall will be closed for three days," Elder Yi Xuan said with a weary expression. He had made a mistake and didn't want to make another.

It was still possible to prevent further escalation of this matter before it reached an irreparable point.

After hearing that Elder Yi Xuan would take the blame, the two elders had nothing to say. They walked over to the central control system and began injecting spiritual runes into the core to restore everything to normal.

After killing the five, Liu Wuxie collected their interspatial rings and was prepared for the next wave.

"There's an error in the spiritual arrays; everyone must leave. Starting today, the Martial Hall will be closed for three days to repair the spiritual arrays." The announcement echoed through the hall, instructing everyone to evacuate due to the temporary closure.

Liu Wuxie remained indifferent as the bloodshot hue in his eyes gradually subsided. Ignoring his injuries, he calmly exited the chamber.

Everyone, including Fan Zhen's group, began to leave and reached the first level.

One day wasn't enough for them to fully grasp the martial techniques given to them by Liu Wuxie. The five had wounds on them caused by an entire day of fighting with their lives on the line.

"Wuxie, why do you have so many injuries?" The five of their faces changed because Liu Wuxie was covered in blood.

"I'm fine. What about the five of you?" Liu Wuxie replied, consuming some pills. His wounds, though gruesome, weren't fatal. With his current physique, he could recover quickly without any lasting scars.

"We're fine!" the five replied.

They supported each other and returned to Liu Wuxie's courtyard. Upon seeing him covered in blood, Jian Xing'er burst into tears once more, while Chen Ruoyan remained silent, satisfied just to stand beside him.

......

Elder Yi Xuan left the Martial Hall and headed to the main peak. When he entered the main hall, Mu Tianli was already seated as though he had been waiting.

"I pay my greetings to the sect master!" Elder Yi Xuan bowed upon entering.

"Sit," Mu Tianli gestured for Elder Yi Xuan to sit before talking.

"Sect master, I'm guilty!" Elder Yi Xuan didn't sit down and admitted his mistake.

"What are you guilty of?" Mu Tianli asked with a smile.

The atmosphere in the main hall became oppressive because Mu Tianli was an expert in the True Profound Realm. Though Elder Yi Xuan was close to the True Profound Realm, he was still in the Nascent Transformation Realm.

"Qing Mu looked for me today to help him kill someone, promising the Spirit Restoration Pill in return," Elder Yi Xuan explained, recounting the entire incident without hiding anything. He even took all the blame upon himself.

Mu Tianli knew about the condition of Elder Yi Xuan's grandson, and he had been trying to find the formula of the Spirit Restoration Pill throughout the years.

"You believed Qing Mu!" Mu Tianli asked calmly, his eyes filled with wisdom. He seemed to know the whole story but didn't point it out.

This was because nothing within the scope of tens of thousands of miles around the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion could escape him. But as the sect master, he couldn't intervene in everything.

"Yes, I did!" Elder Yi Xuan admitted with guilt. He was foolish to have trusted Qing Mu.

Even the sect master couldn't refine the Spirit Restoration Pill, not to mention Qing Mu, who was only in the Nascent Transformation Realm. It was clear he had been deceived.

“You’ve been around for ages but can’t see through such tricks?” Mu Tianli sighed. Despite Elder Yi Xuan’s loyalty to the sect, his focus on finding a Spirit Restoration Pill for his grandson had led him to every major sect except the Azure Crimson Gate, seeking aid. But all other sects had refused to sell it, even if they had it.

"Sect master, please punish me!" Elder Yi Xuan was straightforward and didn't even bother defending himself. A mistake was a mistake, and any explanation was just an excuse.

“You may leave now. You’ll forfeit three years of your salary,” Mu Tianli said, dismissing Elder Yi Xuan. This was a light punishment compared to what could have been, but it would remain a permanent blemish on his record.

Elder Yi Xuan, resigned to a harsher penalty, added, “Sect Master, I am no longer fit to be the chief elder of the Martial Hall. Please appoint someone else in my place.”

“I will consider it, but you will remain in your position until a new elder is appointed,” Mu Tianli responded, acknowledging Elder Yi Xuan's request. When that change would occur was yet to be determined.

Elder Yi Xuan left the main hall, his reluctance visible as he departed without further words.

Once Elder Yi Xuan was gone, Mu Tianli stood alone in the hall. A satisfied smile crept onto his face as he murmured, “It’s time to address the sect’s issues. The internal strife has reached a critical point, and if left unchecked, it will lead to the sect’s downfall. This young man could serve as the perfect catalyst, exposing all the hidden conflicts and bringing them into the open.”

Following this conflict, internal strife within the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion intensified, even affecting its higher echelons. What had begun as healthy competition among disciples had deteriorated into severe discord, requiring drastic measures.

If Mu Tianli wanted to rectify the sect, the best way was to uproot some people entirely.

"Young man, you better not disappoint me. What you will face next isn't a group of people but a pack of wolves and tigers." Mu Tianli's eyes flashed with a hint of concern.

As the sect master, Mu Tianli understood that Qing Mu had not broken any rules and therefore would not be held accountable. However, the presence of certain troublesome elements within the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion posed a significant threat to its stability. These "parasites" needed to be addressed to prevent the sect’s eventual collapse, a situation that weighed heavily on Mu Tianli.

He was determined to act decisively if the opportunity arose. Many elders and deacons had been exploiting the sect's rules, creating problems even he struggled to control. Liu Wuxie's emergence offered a glimmer of hope, someone unbound by conventional limitations, willing to challenge even the heavens if necessary.

......

After returning to the sect and resting for a day, the long-awaited reward from the Celestial Spirit Cave arrived. Disciples were instructed to assemble in the Mission Hall the following day, where they would be escorted to the cave.

Liu Wuxie felt a wave of relief upon hearing the news. The Celestial Spirit Cave represented a crucial opportunity for advancement, and how far he could progress would hinge on the three days he spent there.

He had amassed considerable energy from his numerous kills and was carrying millions of spirit stones. Additionally, he possessed a substantial number of pills, distributing some to Fan Zhen and the others while retaining the rest for himself. He had refrained from using them, saving them for his time in the Celestial Spirit Cave.

Song Ling returned alone after reaching the seventh level of the Array Tower. He had lost weight, so he indulged in a feast upon returning.

"Headmaster, I need you to help me investigate Elder Yi Xuan and the Hou Clan's information for your next task, including their whereabouts in the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion."

All five of them had become inner disciples, which made it easier for them to carry out their tasks in the sect.

"Wuxie, you don't have to address me as headmaster anymore. You can call me by my name." Fan Zhen was now the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's disciple, not the Imperial Academy's headmaster. Thus, it was inappropriate to address him as headmaster.

"Then, I'll address you as Old Fan from now on!" Liu Wuxie didn't mind that because it was just a form of address.

"Understood. I'll get right on it!" Fan Zhen appreciated being addressed by his name, signifying Liu Wuxie's respect and recognition rather than treating him as merely a servant.

Then again, Liu Wuxie had never considered the five as his servants.

"Master, what should I do?" Lan Yu felt anxious because they didn't want to idle and wanted to find something to do.

"You're responsible for gathering information on the ten major sects, especially the Azure Crimson Gate." This was a perfect task for Lan Yu to be assigned.

"Master, what about me?" Bi Gongyu stood up with anticipation on his face.

"You head to the Treasure Pill Pavilion to become an alchemy disciple. It's better if you can apprentice under an elder, making it easy for us to carry out our plans." Liu Wuxie had used most of his formulas, while the others were useless for mortals because they were immortal pills. He couldn't steal them from the Treasure Pill Pavilion and only send Bi Gongyu over.

"Yes, master!" Bi Gongyu was happy because alchemy was his lifelong pursuit.

"Big brother, what about me?" Song Ling wiped the grease from his mouth and looked at Liu Wuxie.

"You and the third princess focus on cultivating." The two were too young and inexperienced, unlike Fan Zhen and others who were more experienced. Those three even surpassed Liu Wuxie in some aspects.

With that, a team centered around Liu Wuxie began to take shape.