Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 191 - Protect

The center of the battlefield was enveloped in lightning, and no one could see what was going on.

“I heard the Great Thunder Sword Art is an earth-grade martial technique. It’s truly extraordinary to witness it!” Several Heaven Grade students muttered to themselves. They were clueless about where Xiao Yanlong had acquired the Great Thunder Sword Art, as an ordinary profound-grade martial technique couldn’t possibly be this terrifying.

Then again, even if Xiao Yanlong won today, there would be no glory in his victory as he was forced to execute an earth-grade martial technique against an Earth Grade student.

Qin Shi maintained his indifference as he observed quietly. His son had died, and he now pinned all his hopes on Xiao Yanlong, whom he treated as his son.

As lightning crackled, a bolt struck the trees on both sides, producing a sizzling sound and filling the air with the scent of charred wood.

Under immense pressure, Liu Wuxie found himself at the heart of the battlefield. If he wasn’t careful, the lightning could strike him down. The situation was dangerous, with no one helping him; he could only rely on himself to break this move.

Xu Lingxue’s fists were clenched, her eyes filled with deep concern. Despite knowing that Liu Wuxie was capable of defeating cultivators at the pinnacle of the Spirit Cleansing Realm, Xiao Yanlong was no ordinary opponent. His strength far surpassed those of the same cultivation level.

When everyone felt that Liu Wuxie was doomed, a terrifying force tore through the lightning that enveloped him. The lightning around him exploded into flames and scattered out.

A blue figure shot out from the flames, throwing a punch imbued with fire. This figure moved so swiftly that the naked eye couldn’t keep up, and in an instant, this blurred figure appeared before Xiao Yanlong.

Liu Wuxie’s resilience in the face of the terrifying lightning was unexpected. He not only withstood the attack but also managed to tear it apart. His counterattacks were swift and smooth. Before anyone could react, his punch landed on Xiao Yanlong’s sword.

This punch was heavy and powerful, shocking everyone in the surroundings. No one knew what fist technique this was to be so powerful that it was even more domineering than earth-grade martial techniques.

In just two months, Liu Wuxie’s growth rate had surpassed their comprehension. However, Liu Wuxie was still suppressing his cultivation to be in the second level of the Spirit Cleansing Realm and was not bringing out his full strength.

Suddenly, countless swords appeared around Xiao Yanlong and slashed down at Liu Wuxie. That was the manifestation of true essence, and it could only be achieved after reaching the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

Sensing the imminent threat of death, Xiao Yanlong began unleashing the seal on his cultivation, allowing it to rise.

“Too late!” He wasn’t about to allow Xiao Yanlong to unleash his power fully. His primary goal upon returning was to settle the score with Xiao Yanlong.

As Liu Wuxie moved rapidly, he executed the Nine Heavenly Crane Dance. This forced Xiao Yanlong to confront him directly, leaving him no room to evade the attack.

Having no choice, Xiao Yanlong poured his true essence into the sword, forming a vortex, and faced Liu Wuxie’s punch head-on.

With an explosion, a mushroom cloud rose from the ground and covered the sun in the sky. A powerful shockwave also swept out, sending all the nearby students flying away and smashing into the houses.

A silhouette burst forth from the vortex, the sound of bones cracking echoing in the air, and a spray of blood painted the sky.

“Long’er!” Qin Shi dashed out and caught onto Xiao Yanlong.

The defeat of one of the top ten core disciples at the hands of Liu Wuxie was unexpected. Despite Xiao Yanlong’s self-imposed cultivation suppression, it was still shocking, given that Liu Wuxie was merely at the Spirit Cleansing Realm.

The punch that had been thrown carried a deadly threat that many felt. It was not a punch a human could throw, but rather, one of a deity.

Xiao Yanlong’s complexion turned ashen, his body riddled with broken bones. Liu Wuxie had also shattered his sword, his arm gruesomely exposed with bone.

Xu Lingxue gasped in shock, her hand covering her mouth. She had been ready to aid Liu Wuxie, but the tables had turned unexpectedly.

As the dust settled and the battlefield quieted, no one could keep calm. “This youngster is too cunning, hiding his true cultivation level! If he can defeat someone at the pinnacle of the Spirit Cleansing Realm, why didn’t he reveal it?!” Many were enraged, suspecting that Liu Wuxie had intentionally concealed his cultivation level. This suspicion arose when Liu Wuxie executed the Overlord Fist, his aura reaching the sixth level of the Spirit Cleansing Realm.

Some people defended Liu Wuxie, saying, “Xiao Yanlong wanted to kill him, so there’s nothing wrong and unfair with Liu Wuxie concealing his actual cultivation.” If blame were to be assigned, it should fall on Xiao Yanlong for his excessive confidence in suppressing his cultivation. Amidst various discussions, it became clear that there was no absolute right or wrong. In a life-and-death battle, anything could happen.

Even if Xiao Yanlong brought out his full strength, Liu Wuxie also had the means to defeat him. He just couldn’t be bothered to tell them.

Qin Shi took a pill and fed it to Xiao Yanlong to stabilize his heart pulse. This meant that there was no immediate danger to Xiao Yanlong’s life, but he needed a long period to recuperate from his injuries.

“Brat, not only did you kill my son, but you also severely injured my disciple. I want you dead!”

Several disciples came forward to carry Xiao Yanlong. After resting briefly, Xiao Yanlong opened his eyes with malice reflected in his eyes.

Liu Wuxie merely stood proudly with a hint of a disdainful smile hanging on his lips. He had executed that punch to kill Xiao Yanlong, but the latter had released his Marrow Cleansing Realm aura at the very last moment and barely survived.

Xu Lingxue moved and stood before Liu Wuxie after hearing what Qin Shi said.

“Xu Lingxue, I’ve been tolerating you since earlier, given that you’re Baili Qing’s disciple. Don’t blame me for killing you as well if you continue to stand in my way!” Qin Shi was on the verge of exploding and determined to kill whoever dared to interfere.

The atmosphere was tense as everyone held their breath. Even Li Shengsheng and his group were at a loss for words. It was common knowledge that Liu Wuxie had used the strategy of hiding his cultivation to overcome Xiao Yanlong, who had lowered his cultivation for the battle. This implied that Liu Wuxie’s chances of victory in a fair fight were slim.

“Vice-Headmaster Qin, as an elder, aren’t you ashamed to attack a junior?”

Xu Lingxue’s steadfast decision to protect Liu Wuxie puzzled everyone. Her continuous defense of him led to speculation about their relationship, especially considering her stunning beauty. This caused a wave of discontent among many, who labeled Liu Wuxie as a coward.

In the crowd, Xue Yu stood with his fists clenched. He was aware that the two were a married couple, and he also knew that Liu Wuxie had surpassed him in a matter of months. Reflecting on his past visit to Azure Billow City, Xue Yu questioned whether he had made a mistake by provoking such a formidable adversary.

“If you wish to perish alongside him, then so be it!” A violent shockwave erupted from Qin Shi, encapsulating the entire area and creating a barrier.

As Liu Wuxie watched Xu Lingxue, he was filled with complex emotions that he couldn’t articulate. Their relationship was a delicate balance, akin to both friendship and kinship.

Standing on a far-away roof, Baili Qing waved the Taoist fly-whisk in her hand and was prepared to rescue Xu Lingxue at any moment. She was indifferent to Liu Wuxie’s fate and hoped for his swift demise, believing that it would allow Xu Lingxue to let go of her worldly attachments and concentrate on her cultivation. Having cut off her own worldly emotions, Baili Qing naturally wished the same for her disciple.

“You can leave. This is my affair,” Liu Wuxie said, asking Xu Lingxue to leave and not get involved.

Xu Lingxue turned around and looked into Liu Wuxie’s eyes for a minute before she responded, “You defended the Xu Clan, and now that you’re in danger, I will protect you.”

Xu Lingxue wanted to protect Liu Wuxie; she was that straightforward.

Liu Wuxie was overcome with a wave of emotion that left him speechless. He felt a lump in his throat, as no one had ever offered to protect him before. As a former Immortal Emperor, he was always the protector, not the protected. The sudden role reversal left him feeling disoriented. Xu Lingxue had found a place in his heart from the very beginning.

“Don’t worry, I won’t meet my end here,” Liu Wuxie assured her, his smile as bright as it was back in Azure Billow City when he faced challenges from the Wan and Tian Clans.

“Have you two finished? If so, prepare to meet your end!” Qin Shi grew impatient. He raised his hand, releasing a massive palm made of pure essence. As a cultivator at the peak of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, he could mold his true essence into any form.

His palm, resembling a tiger ready to strike, lunged at Liu Wuxie. The force of the attack caused the ground to shake and a violet wind to blow, snapping Liu Wuxie’s hairband and letting his hair fly freely in the wind.

“Leave! He won’t dare to kill me!” Xu Lingxue drew her sword and faced the incoming palm attack head-on. She was confident that her master wouldn’t stand by and let her be killed.

Seeing the delicate figure standing before him, Liu Wuxie was taken aback. Then, a surge of energy erupted from his dantian, and he roared, “Old fool, if you dare harm a single hair on her head, I’ll annihilate your entire clan!”

Liu Wuxie was engulfed in flames, and an overwhelming fire energy illuminated the battlefield. He was seething with anger as he executed the Overlord Fist; his true essence formed a pair of wings, lifting him into the air.

The true essence Liu Wuxie released was no weaker than Qin Shi’s. This surprised everyone, as they hadn’t expected Liu Wuxie to be still hiding his strength. Perhaps this was his true power.

“The two of you will die today!” Qin Shi lost his patience. He was shocked by Liu Wuxie’s strength and couldn’t imagine how strong the latter would become if he continued to grow. Perhaps only someone in the True Core Realm could kill him then.

“Who dares to kill Liu Wuxie?!” A green figure rushed into the battlefield, disrupting everyone’s rhythm.

Qin Shi and Liu Wuxie were about to fight, but the sudden appearance of this individual forced them to stop, demanding their attention.