Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 80 - Xu Clan's Crisis

The next day, Azure Billow City’s gates were opened to the public, welcoming visitors from everywhere. The shops in the city were open for business as usual, but it was strange because the city was full of desolation today.

As winter approached, snowflakes began to fall from the sky. A shop owner removed the last wooden panel from his shop and huddled his neck, shoving his hands into his sleeves as he complained, “This damned weather. It looks like the business today won’t be good. I better close up early today and go home to rest with my wife.”

The streets were empty, perhaps due to the weather or because something big was about to happen.

Suddenly, a loud booming sound echoed from the distance, shaking the ground like an earthquake. Shop owners emerged one by one, looking towards the source of the noise. But within seconds, chaos erupted as every shop quickly shut its doors.

“It’s the Tian and Wan Clans. They’re heading in the Xu Clan’s direction,” several shop owners whispered among themselves.

“I remember it now! The one-month deadline seems to be today. How could I have forgotten?” More people peered out, looking towards the Xu Clan. As the snowfall grew heavier, the streets were soon covered in a layer of silver and creaked underfoot.

“Quick, close up the shops, and let’s go see. Something big is going to happen in Azure Billow City!” The group followed behind the Tian and Wan Clans to the Xu Clan.

At Xu Clan’s main hall, the higher hierarchies of the Xu Clan were gathered. They had closed all five weaponry workshops and summoned back all the men to protect the Xu Clan.

“Second Master, bad news! Everyone from the Tian and Wan Clans is coming in our direction, and they’re only one mile away!” a guard came into the main hall and reported with one knee on the ground.

“Everyone listen up; prepare to fight!” Xu Yishan gave the order as everyone began to arm themselves, from the guards to servants, before rushing out of the Xu Clan to face the two clans.

Outside the Xu Clan, a ten-foot-wide street was lined with people on both sides, though none dared to approach. As the snowfall grew heavier, many were covered in a layer of snow on their heads and clothes. Despite the biting cold wind, no one felt cold; instead, they could feel their blood boiling with excitement.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the other side of the street. The snow stopped ten minutes later, and sunlight shone down as time passed. Under the sunlight, the snow on the ground glimmered faintly.

Suddenly, thousands of people approached from the other side of the street, their footsteps swift and loud as they advanced.

The members of the Xu Clan tightened their grip on their weapons, ready for what was to come.

In the distance, two men stood on a wall.

“Master, will the two clans succeed?” the man on the right asked, and this person was the City Lord Mansion’s advisor.

“Only a miracle could save them now,” said Qi Enshi, disdain flashing in his eyes. He gritted his teeth as he remembered how Liu Wuxie had threatened him to speak out in defense of the Xu Clan. If he hadn’t intervened that day, the Xu Clan would’ve already been taken away by the investigation team, and he wouldn’t have had to wait until today. All of this was because of that brat. But now, Qi Enshi was curious to see how Liu Wuxie would save the Xu Clan.

“I’ve received news that Xu Yilin is trying to make a breakthrough into the Marrow Cleansing Realm. If he succeeds, the two clans might be in danger instead,” the advisor said.

Qi Enshi fell silent at this news. He glanced briefly at the sky above the Xu Clan before saying, “It’s not that easy to reach the Marrow Cleansing Realm.”

He had spent more than ten-odd years breaking into the Marrow Cleansing Realm and became Azure Billow City’s City Lord.

“But we have to be prepared for it. We can truly control Azure Billow City if the Xu Clan is destroyed.” Among the four clans, only the Xu Clan didn’t have a connection with the City Lord Mansion. As for the Wan and Tian Clans, they had already joined forces with the City Lord Mansion.

“Even if Xu Yilin reaches the Marrow Cleansing Realm, the Xu Clan will still be destroyed today.” Qi Enshi sneered, looking like a wise sage.

The advisor no longer spoke because Qi Enshi never fought an uncertain battle. Since Qi Enshi said that the Xu Clan would be destroyed today, it would be destroyed today.

More than a thousand people from the Tian and Wan Clans surrounded the gates of the Xu Clan on both sides.

“Let Xu Yilin come out and die!” roared Wan Rongzhe, his voice shaking the snow from the rooftops.

A month had passed, and they were here as promised.

Not far away, Master Huo stood uncertainly. The pavilion master had instructed him to take care of the Xu Clan before leaving but had not told him what to do. Now, with the Xu Clan in danger, he was unable to stop the Tian and Wan Clans on his own. He was not afraid of them, but of the expert from the Xue Clan.

“Wan Rongze, my Xu Clan has no feud with your Wan Clan, so why are you attacking us?” Xu Yishan asked. The two clans had no feud, and he didn’t expect the Wan Clan to attack them. After all, only someone with a deep feud would want to wipe out the other party.

“Hmph, hand out that brat who killed the disciples of my Wan Clan. The feud between us is irreconcilable. Is that enough?” Back in the colosseum, Liu Wuxie had killed twelve disciples of the Wan Clan, and word of it had spread throughout Azure Billow City. As for the Tian Clan, they were already at odds with the Xu Clan, and only one side could survive.

“Why waste time with them? Kill them!” shouted Tian Qisha, losing patience. He waved his hand, and the experts of the Tian Clan sprang forward like hyenas, charging towards the Xu Clan. A fierce battle soon erupted as experts from the Wan Clan joined in.

In one exchange, blood and flesh flew around as several Xu Clan’s guards were hacked to death.

“Defend the Xu Clan’s dignity to death!” Xu Yishan roared as he joined the battle.

The battle was indeed brutal. Despite the courageous efforts of the Xu Clan’s guards, they were unable to prevent the deaths. The difference in strength between the two sides was too great, and if the battle continued, it wouldn’t be long before the Xu Clan was completely wiped out.

At that moment, two figures appeared at the gates of Azure Billow City, gasping for breath after traveling all night without rest.

“There’s a smell of blood in the air!” exclaimed Liu Wuxie, whose sensitive sense of smell had immediately detected the scent of blood.

“Shit!” He immediately turned into a streak and rushed to the Xu Clan.

Ten-odd corpses were lying outside the Xu Clan, and they were all loyal guards of the clan.

“Xu Yishan, you won’t be able to stop us for long. Get your elder brother out and let him face his death!” Even though Wan Rongzhe had not yet taken action, the Xu Clan had already suffered heavy losses.

So far, only the disciples of both clans had taken action, while some people stood by and watched the battle.

As both sides returned to their parties briefly, the Xu Clan’s guards quickly bandaged their wounds. No one retreated as they vowed to protect the Xu Clan. The Xu Clan nurtured the guards since they were young, and they had sworn their unwavering loyalty to the Xu Clan. Many guards had even changed their surname to Xu to become part of the Xu Clan.

“Kill them all! Let’s see how long Xu Yilin can carry on hiding!” Tian Qisha released a horrifying aura that swept the snow off the ground.

“Kill them all!” echoed the disciples of the Tian Clan, their roars spreading for miles as more people gathered from different directions.

Both parties engaged in another fight as blood splashed around. The Tian and Wan Clans also lost ten-odd people, but the two clans soon dragged their corpses away.

Suddenly, a horrifying aura swept out from the Xu Clan.

“This...” The few experts from the Xue Clan narrowed their eyes as they looked towards the Xu Clan.

Qi Enshi nearly fell from the wall as he staggered, also looking in the direction of the Xu Clan. The terrifying aura grew stronger and approached the battlefield, causing the fighting to stop as everyone looked at Xu Clan’s residence.

“Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivator’s aura. Did Xu Yilin really make a breakthrough to the Marrow Cleansing Realm?!” exclaimed Wan Rongzhe, beginning to panic. The City Lord’s Mansion was the only place in Azure Billow City with a Marrow Cleansing Realm expert, and none of the four clans had anyone who had reached that level. This meant that whoever could produce the first Marrow Cleansing Realm expert would have the upper hand in devouring the other clans.

“It’s the patriarch! The patriarch has reached the Marrow Cleansing Realm!” The Xu Clan’s guards cheered. The Xu Clan’s crisis would be resolved as long as the patriarch reached the Marrow Cleansing Realm, and they could even take a step further in Azure Billow City.

A figure flew out of the Xu Clan’s residence with a whoosh, landing at the Xu Clan’s gates. This person released an aura in the Marrow Cleansing Realm, and the entire battlefield fell into silence as they looked at Xu Yilin.

When Xu Yilin looked at the corpses on the ground, a terrifying murderous intent swept out from him that sent all the nearby Tian and Wan Clans’ disciples flying ten meters away.

“All of you deserve to die! Your clans must be erased from Azure Billow City for killing the guards of my clan!” Xu Yilin said with sadness in his voice. He had nurtured the guards, and they were like family to him. As an expert in the Marrow Cleansing Realm, he was qualified to speak those words.

Wan Rongzhe and Tian Qisha’s faces were terrifyingly ugly because they didn’t expect Xu Yilin to successfully reach the Marrow Cleansing Realm just when they were about to win.

The two clans’ disciples retreated, not daring to step forward.

“Wan Rongzhe, Tian Qisha, prepare to die!” Xu Yilin approached, his aura growing stronger. The fact that he had such a powerful aura after just making a breakthrough was thanks to the mantra that Liu Wuxie had given him.

It was surprising that Xu Yilin’s aura was so powerful immediately after his breakthrough, as ordinary people would need some time to stabilize their foundation.

The Song Clan, who were observing the battle from nearby, were also taken aback by the outcome.

“The Xu Clan is going to rise!” the Song Clan’s Grand Elder muttered.

“First, they must survive today’s crisis,” replied Song Tianhao, his brows furrowed with concern as he was not optimistic about the Xu Clan’s chances.

As Xu Yilin advanced, those from the two clans retreated, unable to withstand the pressure he exerted.

Wan Rongzhe’s face twisted with frustration as victory had been within their grasp, but Xu Yilin’s breakthrough had disrupted all their plans. He and Tian Qisha were only at the pinnacle of the Spirit Cleansing Realm, and even if they joined forces, they would be no match for Xu Yilin. Things were becoming more complicated.

“Xu Yilin, do you really think you can turn the tables around after reaching the Marrow Cleansing Realm? Even if you’ve reached the Marrow Cleansing Realm, you still can’t change the fact that the Xu Clan will be wiped out today!” Tian Qisha grinned as he turned to look at the members of the Xue Clan.