Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 178 - Bait

Sensing death approaching, the assassin made a bewildering move. His black robe unfurled with black poisonous needles flying out, enveloping a radius of ten-odd meters.

The two were close, and it should be impossible for Liu Wuxie to avoid so many needles. Liu Wuxie also didn’t expect the Assassin Pavilion to go to such an extreme to complete their mission. Then again, these assassins had no emotions, raised from young to become killing machines.

“You’re courting death!” Liu Wuxie flew into a rage when he looked at the barrage of needles. The needles were coated with venom. Even if he had the Detoxification Pills on him, the pills would need time to work. So, the assassin’s actions had aroused Liu Wuxie’s murderous intent.

“Overlord Fist!” A potent force repelled all the poisonous needles, forming a defensive barrier around him and preventing the needles from getting close. However, the force of the fist didn’t stop there; it continued, bearing down on the assassin who was about to land.

When the force reached the assassin, the assassin’s body blew apart, covering the ground with pieces of flesh and blood. Aside from a sword, the assassin had nothing else on him.

This was how professional assassins operated. They embarked on every mission prepared for the possibility of death, carrying nothing that could leave behind any traces.

Suddenly, a squeaking sound echoed as a bat demonic beast flew over Liu Wuxie’s head. When it spread its wings, they were as large as a basin, significantly larger than ordinary bats.

Typically, bat demonic beasts were the size of a fist, with wings spanning no more than half a foot when fully extended. However, this particular bat demonic beast was an anomaly. As it soared through the air, it emitted a peculiar sound, one that even a seasoned individual like Liu Wuxie had never encountered.

The bat demonic beast vanished into the distant woods, leaving Liu Wuxie with a sense of foreboding. As the sky began to darken, he realized he needed to find a safe place to rest quickly.

After cleaning up the battlefield, Liu Wuxie executed the movement technique and headed into the depths of the mountain range.

Not long after his departure, a figure cloaked in dark green emerged, appearing visibly worn out.

“You scoundrel! Don’t let me get my hands on you!” Chen Ruoyan seethed with anger. She was merely curious about Liu Wuxie’s identity, as she was unaware of when such a formidable individual had surfaced in the Great Yan Dynasty.

However, Liu Wuxie had vanished and wouldn’t have ended up here if he hadn’t encountered Wei Dong’s group along the way.

Approximately three miles away, Liu Wuxie discovered a tranquil spot. It was an open area, safe from the attacks of demonic beasts. He unpacked his pre-prepared tent, intending to rest for the night before resuming his investigation into the disappearances the following day.

Lighting a campfire, Liu Wuxie took out some dry rations to consume. When he glanced towards the depth of the woods, the night in the mountain range looked like the jaw of a demonic beast waiting for prey to come in.

The surroundings were dead silent, devoid of even the chirping of insects or cries of birds.

Right then, squeaking sounds echoed once more. This time, it wasn’t just one bat demonic beast but dozens of them flying across, looking as if they were patrolling the area.

“This is bad!” Liu Wuxie instantly realized that the previous bat demonic beast must have been a scout and informed its companions after spotting him. He swiftly packed up his tent and put out the campfire, then took cover under a large tree, clutching the Heretic Blade tightly.

The surroundings were quiet as time passed, and the bat demonic beasts seemed to have left. Even so, Liu Wuxie didn’t dare to be careless.

Bats being nocturnal creatures, hunted for food at night. The sky, blanketed with thunderclouds, further reduced the available light. However, when Liu Wuxie activated Ghost Eye, his surroundings became illuminated.

Suddenly, a flock of bat demonic beasts pounced at him. They had been lurking in the surroundings, waiting for Liu Wuxie to lower his guard before attacking.

“Shit!” Liu Wuxie swung the Heretic Blade, causing the bat demonic beasts that swooped down on him to explode. Their numbers were overwhelming, with over ten thousand of them congregating. Their shrill squeaks sent shivers down anyone’s spine.

Wei Dong’s group had only encountered over a thousand bat demonic beasts and had lost three members in their bid to escape from the mountain range safely. But Liu Wuxie was up against over ten thousand bat demonic beasts, and it was uncertain if he could make it out alive.

Liu Wuxie’s Heretic Blade formed a barrier that prevented the bat demonic beasts from getting within a meter radius around him. However, if this continued, he would eventually succumb to exhaustion.

The bat demonic beasts were fearless, continuing to attack Liu Wuxie even as their comrades fell and their bodies piled up on the ground.

Executing the Nine Heavenly Crane Dance, Liu Wuxie was like a ghost, and none of the bat demonic beasts could catch him.

Suddenly, a strange flute music echoed from afar. It sounded as if someone was playing the flute or perhaps it was the wind whistling. When the music started, the bat demonic beasts went berserk and lunged at Liu Wuxie.

That night, Liu Wuxie learned what fearlessness meant. These bat demonic beasts pounced at him without fearing death, and their sharp claws ripped a hundred-year tree into pieces.

The bat demonic beasts were like a powerful wave because they knew how to use the formation, which shocked Liu Wuxie even more.

“It’s impossible for bat demonic beasts to be so intelligent. Can it be that someone is behind this, trying to use the bat demonic beasts to kill people?”

Liu Wuxie retreated as he fought. If a bat demonic beast managed to bite him, he would be inflicted with severe poison. His supply of Detoxification Pills was dwindling, and he couldn’t afford to waste them.

Soon, he found himself backed against a cliff with nowhere else to retreat. The number of bat demonic beasts kept increasing, appearing like a small hill bearing down on him.

The eerie music persisted, causing an uncomfortable, numbing sensation in his soul sea. When Liu Wuxie activated Ghost Eye, he spotted a black figure standing a few hundred meters away, clutching something in their hand. However, due to the distance, Liu Wuxie couldn’t see it clearly.

When a rumble came from his golden soul sea, the discomfort soon disappeared.

“Momentous Gleam!” Liu Wuxie swung the Heretic Blade. His blade intent formed into a tidal wave, sending all the incoming bat demonic beasts flying away. This also created an empty ground within ten-odd meters of radius with piles of dead bat demonic beasts on the ground.

The bat demonic beasts hovered above Liu Wuxie’s head, preparing to unleash the second wave of attack. Their sharp claws and fangs emitted a luster in the night, looking sinister.

The bat demonic beasts had all undergone mutation. The disappearance of the nearby demonic beasts must have something to do with them. Some demonic beasts were expelled, while the bat demonic beasts had killed most.

Liu Wuxie slowly approached that black figure. He wanted to ensure the black figure was a human or demonic beast. But perhaps the black figure detected his approach as it disappeared with the bat demonic beasts.

Then again, how could Liu Wuxie possibly give up when he finally found some clues? He swiftly caught up with the black figure. If he weren’t strong enough, he would’ve been killed by those bat demonic beasts. After all, even someone in the low-level Marrow Cleansing Realm would die if they encountered the bat demonic beasts.

The bat demonic beasts were fast, disappearing into the valley in the blink of an eye, and their destination was unknown. The surroundings fell into darkness once more, with a pile of dead bat demonic beasts on the ground.

“Get lost! Get lost! You disgusting creatures!” Liu Wuxie could hear someone talking a mile away, and there was also the sound of a fight taking place.

“Who would enter the Western Breeze Mountain Range so late at night?”

Liu Wuxie had noticed that only a few people had recently ventured into the Western Breeze Mountain Range, and human tracks were scarce.

He decided to change his course, following the direction of the voice. After about ten breaths, under the soft glow of the moonlight, Liu Wuxie spotted a figure that he recognized.

“It’s her?!” The figure turned out to be the third princess, Chen Ruoyan. She had trailed Liu Wuxie into the Western Breeze Mountain Range and was now under attack from over a thousand bat demonic beasts, leaving her utterly drained.

The bat demonic beasts were tough to deal with, and Liu Wuxie could only maintain his ground by relying on his movement technique and true essence. However, he was unable to eliminate all the bat demonic beasts.

Chen Ruoyan wasn’t weak and could gain the upper hand against ordinary opponents. But when confronted with the peculiar bat demonic beasts, she found herself at a disadvantage. As she swung her sword, her clothes were torn in several places, revealing her skin.

If this continued, Chen Ruoyan would be exhausted to death because she didn’t have a true essence comparable to Liu Wuxie.

Wei Dong’s group of eight had faced over a thousand bats and sacrificed three to make it out barely alive. Their third junior brother would have died if it wasn’t for Liu Wuxie.

The situation was perilous, but Liu Wuxie stood with his feet rooted to the ground. He was hesitating if he should help. After all, they were merely strangers who had met by chance, with no deep ties binding them.

But Liu Wuxie couldn’t possibly watch her die before him. The third princess wasn’t a bad person; she even risked her life to avenge the innocent. But just as he was about to act, several large bats swooped down from the sky, seizing Chen Ruoyan by her arms. This caused Chen Ruoyan’s sword to fall to the ground as she was paralyzed by the poison.

"Insolent beasts! How dare you lay your hands on a princess!” Chen Ruoyan struggled in vain as over a thousand bat demonic beasts seized her and took flight. This development caused Liu Wuxie to reconsider his initial plan, suppressing his instinct to intervene. This was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

I should trail them and see where they’re taking her. I can only hope the third princess can endure a bit longer.

If Chen Ruoyan knew that Liu Wuxie wasn’t coming to her aid, she would likely be furious. However, Liu Wuxie didn’t have any better alternatives. If he wanted to uncover the mastermind behind this, he needed bait, and Chen Ruoyan fit the bill perfectly.

Given that the bat demonic beasts hadn’t killed her outright, it was clear they wanted her alive. So, Liu Wuxie discreetly followed from behind, ready to intervene if her life was in imminent danger.

With his ability, it wasn’t an issue for him to save Chen Ruoyan. This confidence allowed him to let the bat demonic beasts carry Chen Ruoyan away.

Roughly an hour later, a vast valley appeared. The valley was enormous, teeming with bats fluttering about. The sight sent a shiver down Liu Wuxie’s spine, briefly entertaining the idea of retreating before dismissing it.