Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 161 - Teacher Standing Out

Liu Wuxie wasn’t in a hurry as his blade manifested a mysterious mark, slashing down and tearing the snake apart. The speed at which the two clashed was fast, leaving the audience surprised and excited.

The outcome of the fight was of less importance; the observing students stood to gain the most. They could glean valuable insights from their duel, particularly Liu Wuxie’s unpredictable blade technique. This unpredictability left everyone in awe, as no one could anticipate where Liu Wuxie’s blade would strike next.

Liu Wuxie’s attacks were elusive and devoid of fixed patterns, which disadvantaged Xue Rui. The longer the fight went on, the more astonished Xue Rui became. He swung his sword thrice with a grave expression, but it couldn’t even get close to Liu Wuxie, which gradually filled him with anxiety. In response, he altered his attacks to even more complex angles, manifesting sword auras aimed at Liu Wuxie.

“If this is the best you can do, you can die now!” Liu Wuxie roared, raising his sword, and performed the strongest attack of the Blood Gleam Blade Art, converging all techniques to deal with a fatal strike. A powerful blade intent swept out, making Xue Rui feel suffocated as though his breathing was about to stop.

This was a suppression of the aura. It was humiliating for Xue Rui to be suppressed by someone in the Xiantian Realm when he was in the fifth level of the Spirit Cleansing Realm.

With a defiant roar, Xue Rui broke free from Liu Wuxie’s suppression, lunging forward with his sword, tracing an arc aimed at Liu Wuxie’s heart. He had put everything into this attack, knowing that his life would be forfeit if he failed to kill Liu Wuxie.

“Too slow!” Liu Wuxie disappeared before Xue Rui’s sword could reach him, leaving Xue Rui stunned. He had underestimated Liu Wuxie’s speed, primarily because Liu Wuxie hadn’t used his full speed in his duel with Tao Wenbing.

A chilling sensation crept up from behind Xue Rui, causing beads of sweat to roll down his forehead. He roared in frustration, “Damn it!”

A powerful blade aura shattered Xue Rui’s defenses, slicing through him. The sword cut across his entire back, but death would not claim him immediately. Xue Rui felt his entire body go numb and immobile, and he could sense his life force gradually ebbing away.

At that moment, disbelief was etched on everyone’s faces as they witnessed Xue Rui, a fifth-level Spirit Cleansing Realm expert, fall at the hands of Liu Wuxie, who was merely in the Xiantian Realm. When their gazes returned to Liu Wuxie, their eyes were filled with terror. The fact that Liu Wuxie had effortlessly slain someone of Xue Rui’s caliber was mind-boggling.

Xue Rui was a genius of the Xue Clan, nurtured since childhood. He was sent to the academy to improve before taking over the clan’s businesses.

“You bastard, I want you dead!” A roar reverberated as a figure launched from the Xue Clan’s area, hurtling towards Liu Wuxie’s arena. The sudden sneak attack took everyone by surprise.

“That’s Xue Wushuang! He’s a first-class teacher!” A voice from the crowd identified the newcomer as the Xue Clan’s expert finally made his appearance. A formidable aura from the Marrow Cleansing Realm radiated from him, engulfing the entire arena.

They were a few hundred meters away, and it would only take him two breaths of time to travel. It was also too late by the time Liu Wuxie wanted to respond to the assault.

There wasn’t a single person in the academy who didn’t know Xue Wushuang. He was still a Heaven Grade student two decades ago and applied to stay in the academy as a teacher. In just two decades, he went from an ordinary teacher to a first-class teacher, spreading his name throughout the academy.

“Xue Rui is his nephew, and it’s no wonder he would make a move.” Everyone came to their senses. It was rare to see a teacher making a move against a student.

When Xue Wushuang was in mid-air, he pushed his palm forth, producing a powerful gale that blew toward Liu Wuxie. This was an all-out attack from someone in the Marrow Cleansing Realm, and the odds of Liu Wuxie surviving it weren’t high.

“He’s in real danger now that someone in the Marrow Cleansing Realm attacked him,” students of Advanced Class Six cheered, hoping for Liu Wuxie’s swift demise.

Li Shengsheng and others clenched their fists; they even forgot to seek help.

“Trying to kill my student in front of me?! Are you disregarding me?” A bone-chilling voice sounded in the venue as Jin Jiangfeng suddenly disappeared. He was so fast that no one could catch up with him. He was twice as fast as Xue Wushuang and had already appeared in the arena the next moment.

An explosive clash occurred as Jin Jianfeng blocked Xue Wushuang’s palm strike, resulting in a powerful shockwave that radiated outward. The full force of a high-level Marrow Cleansing Realm expert was unleashed, causing the entire arena to crumble.

Panic ensued among the crowd, with students scrambling to escape, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire. The shockwave alone, released by a Marrow Cleansing Realm practitioner, was potent enough to kill students in the Xiantian Realm.

Xue Wushuang spun mid-air and landed at the other corner of the arena, facing Jin Jianfeng. As for Liu Wuxie, he stood behind Jin Jianfeng and went into the Overlord Fist form.

“Are you alright?” Jin Jianfeng asked, squinting at Liu Wuxie who stood still, seemingly unaffected by the overwhelming aura of a Marrow Cleansing Realm practitioner. Under normal circumstances, anyone in Liu Wuxie’s position would have been sent flying or severely injured.

However, Liu Wuxie appeared unperturbed.

“Thank you for helping, but I’m fine!” Liu Wuxie expressed his gratitude. If Jin Jianfeng hadn’t blocked this attack for him, he would have been heavily injured if he had done it himself.

Jin Jianfeng felt relieved and looked at Xue Wushuang coldly. “Since you dared to make a move against my student, I’ll be taking your life.”

Jin Jianfeng disappeared and attacked Xue Wushuang.

Wrinkles creased Liu Wuxie’s forehead. He had heard of Jin Jianfeng’s protective nature towards his students, but he hadn’t expected it to be to such an extent.

“Jin Jianfeng, do you think I am afraid of you?” Xue Wushuang wasn’t a pushover either, as they clashed.

The students who retreated stopped to observe the fight. After all, it wasn’t every day you could see a fight between two high-level Marrow Cleansing Realm experts.

The battle between the two teachers escalated, with powerful shockwaves radiating out as they exchanged a series of rapid attacks. The force of their clash was so immense that it shattered the nearby arenas.

The situation spiraled out of control as the area of impact expanded. Liu Wuxie had pulled back to a safe distance of a hundred meters, employing his Ghost Eye technique to scrutinize every aspect of the ongoing battle.

“Xue Wushuang, let’s see how long you can last!” Jin Jianfeng and Xue Wushuang were both in the high levels of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, but it was clear that Jin Jianfeng was stronger, suppressing Xue Wushuang throughout the fight. Xue Wushuang struggled to face every move, and Jin Jianfeng’s attacks were unusual in Liu Wuxie’s eyes.

Liu Wuxie muttered, “Teacher Jin isn’t simple.”

Jin Jianfeng launched an attack on Xue Wushuang, his right hand clenched into a fist and his left hand open, demonstrating a unique fighting style.

Xue Wushuang’s expression shifted, but he held his ground, brandishing his sword towards Jin Jianfeng’s head. They were both fully committed to the battle.

“Are you so bold as to display your average swordsmanship before me?” Jin Jianfeng’s presence intensified. Unfazed by the impending assault, he ascended into the sky, gliding for several meters, and crafted enigmatic seals during his descent.

These cryptic seals shattered Xue Wushuang’s sword energy, surpassing the realm of typical martial arts. It resembled a spell more than a martial technique. When mastered, it even incorporated elements of the dao.

Jin Jianfeng materialized in front of Xue Wushuang, his right hand descending in a swift motion. This action sent Xue Wushuang hurtling backward; his left cheek puffed up. An attack from someone at the peak of the Marrow Cleansing Realm could shatter his mind, but Jin Jianfeng restrained himself at the last moment.

All along, Jin Jianfeng had been disregarded by everyone, his peers and students. But today, they realized they had underestimated him because his strength surpassed star teachers. First-class teachers were nothing before him, and he could send them flying easily.

Xue Wushuang crashed into the debris, his face smeared with blood. His left cheek was swollen like a steamed bun since Jin Jianfeng had only used half of his strength in that previous palm strike.

“Jin Jianfeng, you will pay with your life!” Xue Wushuang spat out blood and staggered to his feet. As a first-class teacher, being publicly humiliated was unbearable. If word of this incident spread, he would be too mortified to remain at the academy. He lost all reason and charged at Jin Jianfeng.

“If it’s death you seek, I shall grant your wish!” Jin Jianfeng’s eyes sparkled with an icy glint as he formed seals with both hands. A black vortex materialized before him, exerting a potent suction force that drew in all the surrounding stone.

Fan Zhen, who had been observing from the sidelines, knew it was time to intervene. A formidable True Core Realm aura swept across the venue. His aura instantly immobilized those in the Xiantian Realm, as they were incapable of withstanding the aura of someone in the True Core Realm.

Jin Jianfeng ceased his actions and reverted to his usual nonchalant demeanor, lifting his gourd for a sip.

Meanwhile, Xue Wushuang’s face was a mask of fury as he sheathed his sword, hatred etched on his features.

“Headmaster, you must deliver justice! That brat has taken many lives, and according to the academy’s rules, he should be executed!” Xue Wushuang demanded, advocating for Liu Wuxie’s punishment.

“I am aware of the circumstances and have no further comments. This year’s banquet is now concluded. Both of you, come with me!” Fan Zhen scanned the crowd and declared the end of the banquet.

“What’s going on? Isn’t the headmaster going to punish Liu Wuxie?” Everyone was baffled because Liu Wuxie had killed so many people.

“Punish him? Today’s events were a trap set by the Xue Clan, and Liu Wuxie was merely defending himself. If the headmaster were to punish him, it would dishearten everyone.” Many were privy to the truth and understood that Liu Wuxie had been compelled to act.