Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 50 - Golden Soul Sea

The two stared at each other for five minutes before Qi Enshi broke the silence with a smile. “Young Master Liu, I’m impressed by your tactics. You’ve surprised me today, but there’s still a long road ahead. I’ll take my leave,” he said, laughing and waving as he strode out of the main hall. This marked the beginning of their feud, although it had already started when Qi Enshi sent the Terrabreak Army to assassinate the Xu Clan’s transportation team.

“City Lord Qi, I have a question for you,” called Liu Wuxie. “With all the bad things you’ve done, aren’t you afraid of being haunted by the souls of your victims at night?”

As Qi Enshi stepped out of the main hall, he heard Liu Wuxie’s words and stumbled, nearly falling. He realized that Zhou Hu must have told Liu Wuxie everything. Only Zhou Hu knew about the books, and since Liu Wuxie had sent one, he likely had the others as well. Qi Enshi would be at Liu Wuxie’s mercy unless he could destroy those books. Alternatively, he could kill Liu Wuxie to keep the secret safe.

The Investigation Team left Azure Billow City that night, concluding that the Terrabreak Army died at the hands of Wolf Fang, who had likely fled to another country.

The result was unexpected, and when it was announced, the Tian Clan was shocked as they had already prepared to seize Xu Clan’s Weaponry Workshops.

The Wan and Song Clans were also stunned when they learned that both the Treasure Pill Pavilion’s Pavilion Master and the City Lord had visited the Xu Clan to defend them, especially when they heard about the City Lord.

After seeing off the Investigation Team, Xu Yilin returned to the main hall while the servants resumed their duties.

“Wuxie, what’s going on? Why did the Pavilion Master and City Lord come?” asked Xu Yilin, who had learned about the raid on the Iris Gold Mine by the Wolf Fang Mercenary, hired by the Wan and Tian Clans. Liu Wuxie had turned the tables and even set up a massive spiritual array. Xu Yilin had wanted to ask about it, but the Investigation Team arrived before he could.

“I apologize, father-in-law. There are some things I can’t tell you for now, but don’t worry about it. The Xu Clan will develop rapidly after this incident.” Liu Wuxie had anticipated the Pavilion Master’s arrival, having visited the Treasure Pill Pavilion the day before to make the Pavilion Master take value in him.

As for the City Lord, it was best that fewer people knew about this matter, and Liu Wuxie also wouldn’t take the initiative to reveal it.

“Okay, I trust you. The Tian and Wan Clans have ripped off their facades, and I’m afraid they’ll attack us in the remaining ten days. We need to prepare,” said Xu Yilin. The deadline was approaching, and only ten days remained of the month-long truce promised by the two clans to Master Huo.

“Has it been almost a month already?” exclaimed Liu Wuxie, surprised at how quickly time had passed. He no longer feared the Wan and Tian Clans; with Ghost Eye, he could even face an expert at the ninth level of the Spirit Cleansing Realm. His only concern was the Xue Clan’s retaliation, as he knew they wouldn’t give up easily.

Liu Wuxie returned to his courtyard as news spread that the City Lord had defended the Xu Clan and the Treasure Pill Pavilion’s Pavilion Master had protected him. As a result, the servants in the Xu Clan became respectful towards him, and their attitudes completely changed.

“Young Master, the Song Clan’s Young Master has come to see you.” Not long after Liu Wuxie returned to his courtyard, the butler came in, followed by a frowning fatty.

“Bring him in,” said Liu Wuxie, who was refining pills to repay his debt to the Treasure Pill Pavilion as soon as possible. Bi Gongyu’s defense of him was equivalent to announcing his support for the Xu Clan. Liu Wuxie also remembered the secret report from the Song Clan and intended to repay their favor.

“Big Brother, you’re finally back!” exclaimed Song Ling as he rushed into the courtyard. Liu Wuxie had already extinguished the fire beneath the cauldron before opening the door for Song Ling.

“Did your father send you?” asked Liu Wuxie, getting straight to the point as they sat on either side of a stone table. The Song Clan’s Spiritual Array Hall was already on the verge of collapse and would fall apart completely if not repaired in time.

“Yeah.” Song Ling was a little careful when facing Liu Wuxie. He behaved naturally when they first met, but the scene of Liu Wuxie nearly killing Song Clan’s Second Elder had greatly impacted him, not to mention the prestigious aura that Liu Wuxie gave off felt a little suffocating.

“Tell your father I’ll visit tomorrow,” said Liu Wuxie with a bright smile, his aura disappearing. At that moment, he seemed like an ordinary young man.

“Thank you, Big Brother. My father also has a message for you,” said Song Ling, revealing his signature smile before leaning in with a creepy grin.

“Speak!” said Liu Wuxie. If not for Song Tianhao’s warning, the Xu Clan’s fate might have been different.

“My father said that although the Investigation Team has left, the investigation isn’t over. If Xu Clan wants to expand, you should find a backer or join the Imperial Academy. This way, the Xue Clan won’t be able to make a move against you openly,” relayed Song Ling, mimicking his father’s exact words and tone.

Liu Wuxie fell silent, considering his options. He had publicly humiliated the Xue Clan in the colosseum, and part of the reason he had escaped retaliation was Baili Qing’s arrival in Azure Billow City for Xu Lingxue. The Xue Clan had been cautious because of Baili Qing.

But now everything was out in the open, and they had shown their true colors. Liu Wuxie had also offended the City Lord, making it difficult for the Xu Clan to expand in the future.

“Thank your father for me; I’ll consider his suggestion!” Liu Wuxie and Song Ling chatted for a long time. He wasn’t stingy in teaching and gave Song Ling some pointers in spiritual arrays. Song Ling’s talent in the spiritual arrays was higher than Deacon Lan, and he learned a lot in two hours. Strictly speaking, Song Ling was his first friend since he came to the True Martial Continent.

Liu Wuxie came to the Spiritual Array Hall the next morning as promised. The Song Clan’s higher hierarchy was already waiting there, and they had prepared all the materials required.

Their gazes towards Liu Wuxie had changed, filled with respect as he was the first person to have the Treasure Pill Pavilion’s Pavilion Master vouch for his innocence.

Repairing spiritual arrays required powerful soul energy, and Liu Wuxie enlisted Song Tianhao’s help to repay his favor from the previous day. Song Tianhao was amazed by Liu Wuxie’s skill, and after repairing the third spiritual array, he felt his own understanding of spiritual arrays had greatly improved.

“Young Master Liu, let’s take a break!” suggested Song Tianhao, noticing Liu Wuxie’s sweat-soaked clothes.

“There’s no need for a break. Let’s repair the spiritual arrays as soon as possible. I have other matters to attend to,” replied Liu Wuxie, executing his movement technique and forming countless profound hand signs. Song Tianhao and Song Ling exchanged a look, knowing they couldn’t reach Liu Wuxie’s level without centuries of comprehension. They wanted to ask him about it but didn’t have the courage and simply followed him in silence.

At sunset, Liu Wuxie was done repairing the central control system, making it more durable and capable of controlling more spiritual arrays.

“Young Master Liu, I don’t know what to say, and I’m grateful for your help. Please accept my bow,” said Song Tianhao, deeply grateful as he bowed to Liu Wuxie. Not only had he repaired the central control system, but Song Tianhao and Song Ling had also greatly improved their understanding of spiritual arrays by watching him work. With some time to reflect, they could gain even more insight.

“You’re welcome,” said Liu Wuxie, waving as he disappeared down the street.

“Patriarch, is it really fixed?” The Song Clan’s elders asked. They couldn’t believe that Liu Wuxie repaired the central control system in one day, which had far exceeded their comprehension.

“Young Master Liu is really a genius. Not only did he fix our central control system, but he even fortified it and added several new spiritual arrays.”

Liu Wuxie naturally couldn’t hear their conversation, and it was dark when he returned to the Xu Clan. He immediately went to rest without eating because repairing the central control system was taxing to his soul energy. As he slept, his soul sea began to change, and his right eye throbbed like a beating heart, emitting a golden radiance. This was a sign that Liu Wuxie had made a breakthrough in Ghost Eye.

Ghost Eye was divided into different levels. Liu Wuxie could use it to pierce into his opponent’s soul sea now. However, there was a significant drawback: after executing his attack, his soul energy would be greatly exhausted.

After a brief rest, Liu Wuxie’s consciousness entered his soul sea to check his condition, fearing there might be a problem. But he froze when he saw that the soul energy in his soul sea was different from before. It had been foggy, but now, it had a hint of golden radiance and looked like threads floating in his soul sea.

“Is this the golden soul sea?!” exclaimed Liu Wuxie, shocked by what he saw. Soul energy was divided into three levels: grey, brown, and black. Black was the highest level, while grey was the lowest. In his memory, only the ten Immortal Emperors had black soul seas, while those with brown soul seas were considered monstrous geniuses. However, 99% of cultivators only had grey soul seas.

“Could this be because of Ghost Eye?” But Liu Wuxie soon denied that speculation. He also practiced Ghost Eye in his previous life but didn’t obtain the golden soul sea. The only possibility would be the Sky Devouring Divine Cauldron. This meant that the mysterious liquid wasn’t just transforming his physique but his soul as well. When Liu Wuxie released his soul energy from his soul sea, it began to shuttle around the room like mercury.

“What a powerful soul sea! It’s twice as strong as before!” Liu Wuxie was excited. He didn’t expect to receive so many benefits by fixing spiritual arrays that he made a breakthrough in Ghost Eye and transformed his soul sea.

He circulated the Desolate Devouring Art to devour the surrounding spiritual energy. The Spirit Convergence Array in his courtyard could still last a few more days, but the spirit stones used to set up the array were more or less drained.

Resources! I need more resources! Liu Wuxie roared inwardly. He required ten times more resources than others cultivating the Desolate Devouring Art. Staying in Azure Billow City could no longer satisfy him because the Xu Clan could only help him reach the fifth level of the Xiantian Realm at best. Reaching the Spirit Cleansing Realm would require even more resources, which was a headache.

I have to go to the Imperial Academy. I heard that the Imperial Academy will allocate spirit stones to the students monthly, and the students can even earn more spirit stones by doing missions. Liu Wuxie made up his mind to go to the Imperial Academy. He didn’t lack experience, meaning he didn’t need anyone to teach him. Going to the Imperial Academy was just a channel to obtain more resources and find backing for the Xu Clan.

“There’s trouble! One of our oil mills is on fire!” Gongs sounded throughout Xu Clan as countless people exited their rooms. The guards gathered outside the main hall in an orderly fashion.

This made Liu Wuxie frown because the two oil mills were a huge portion of Xu Clan’s income. He swiftly disappeared into the night, heading straight to the oil mill, having a bad premonition.