Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 175 - Sowing Discord

Mysterious seals seeped into the gate effortlessly, much like mercury.

Chen Ruoyan’s eyes lit up with curiosity, and she wished she could rush forward. She was eager to delve into Liu Wuxie’s mind, intrigued by his knowledge of things she had never encountered.

Meanwhile, Qian Kun was meditating to heal his injuries. The trembling of the gate startled him, causing him to open his eyes abruptly. “Second Brother, check the gate!” he commanded.

Ye Xiao, who had been resting, opened his eyes at the sound of the gate’s tremor. He quickly got up and dashed towards the gate. “Big Brother, don’t worry. The gate mechanism is inside this underground palace. It can’t be opened from the outside,” he reassured Qian Kun as he moved.

However, just as he finished speaking, a rumble echoed from the stone gate, which then exploded with a loud bang. Ye Xiao, who was closest to the gate and running towards it, was caught off guard by the explosion and couldn’t dodge in time.

The debris from the gate hit him, leaving him disoriented. He couldn’t defend himself adequately with one hand, and a large rock struck his chest. This caused Ye Xiao to spit out a mouthful of blood, and he collapsed on the ground, crying out in pain from his severe injuries.

Ordinarily, a mere rock wouldn’t harm an expert in the Marrow Cleansing Realm. However, Ye Xiao was unprepared and taken by surprise, which led to his current predicament.

The center of the gate crumbled, creating an opening just wide enough for a single person to pass through. Liu Wuxie strolled into the underground palace, his hands clasped behind him, his gaze landing on Qian Kun.

“You...how did you manage to blast open the gate?” Ye Xiao, covered in blood, managed to pull himself up from the ground, his face etched with disbelief. The gate had thwarted countless experts, but today, it had been destroyed by Liu Wuxie, a fact he struggled to comprehend.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Liu Wuxie drew the Heretic Blade and swung it, severing Ye Xiao’s head before he could utter a scream. In mere seconds, Ye Xiao’s corpse was reduced to a pile of skin.

Liu Wuxie was a decisive person and disliked noisy people the most. Along with Lu Huangzhong’s severed head, he also secured Ye Xiao’s head for his report. After killing Ye Xiao, he slowly walked towards Qian Kun.

Each stride Liu Wuxie took sent tremors of fear through Qian Kun. Once a formidable figure, Qian Kun now quivered in terror. After all, the fear of death is a universal human trait, especially when confronted by someone like Liu Wuxie.

“Found you!” Liu Wuxie said, staring at Qian Kun when they were five steps away. Qian Kun had managed to heal some of his palm injuries, but he was far from his prime.

Chen Ruoyan also made her way into the underground palace. She glanced at the spot where Ye Xiao had turned into a pile of skin, before looking at Qian Kun in disbelief. There had been no sounds of a struggle, and yet Ye Xiao was gone. She was beginning to understand just how terrifying the seemingly younger Liu Wuxie could be.

“Can you tell me your name before I die?” Qian Kun wore a bitter smile. He was an expert in the Marrow Cleansing Realm who had forged a notorious fame for himself, but he had fallen to such a state.

“No!” Liu Wuxie replied, and his response almost choked Qian Kun.

The latter had never encountered such a stubborn person. But then again, why should Liu Wuxie reveal his identity? He was under no obligation to do so.

Chen Ruoyan pursed his lips. She, too, was curious about Liu Wuxie’s real name, but every time she asked, she was met with a glare from Liu Wuxie.

“If you’re willing to disclose who sent you to assassinate us, I can share a startling secret with you. You must have noticed the food and weapons here. Doesn’t it pique your curiosity?” Qian Kun, aware of his impending doom, was desperate to uncover the identity of the person who had sent Liu Wuxie.

“Would you believe me if I told you that even I don’t know who sent me to kill you all?” Liu Wuxie shrugged, looking helpless. He was planning to investigate it after returning to the Imperial Academy.

The Scarlet Dragon Association had committed countless evil, so Liu Wuxie had accepted the task. If the task were to kill innocent people, he would have rather left the academy than agree. Many coincidences had led to the current situation.

Liu Wuxie’s answer surprised Qian Kun. He had expected Liu Wuxie to know who had sent him there. It was as though there was a huge conspiracy enveloping them, and Liu Wuxie was unwillingly drawn into it.

Chen Ruoyan looked at Liu Wuxie with a puzzled look and circled him.

“Is it the will of the heavens to annihilate the Scarlet Dragon Association today?” Qian Kun bellowed. He yearned to know who sought his life before his impending death, but it was a luxury he could no longer afford.

Liu Wuxie lifted the Heretic Blade. If Qian Kun had nothing more to say, he would take his head and complete his mission. As for the secrets here, he had no interest in them. Once he reached the Marrow Cleansing Realm, he could leave the Great Yan Dynasty for a more expansive world.

He had been reading recently and had a rough understanding of the True Martial Continent. The Great Yan Dynasty was located northwest of the continent and considered a barren land. He still had a long way to go if he wanted to return to the Celestial Realm.

“I bet none of you expected this place to be a secret base of Prince Yongxian. The food and weapons here are for his rebellion. He has been preparing for it for two decades.”

On the brink of death, Qian Kun managed a sorrowful smile, gesturing towards the mountains of food and weapons. He had lived under Prince Yongxian’s shadow for years. He hadn’t been granted a noble title, or an official position, nor had he gained fame. Instead, he would leave behind a notorious name in history.

Upon hearing Qian Kun’s revelation, Liu Wuxie’s brow furrowed. He wasn’t particularly interested in the information, but Qian Kun had divulged it nonetheless. Liu Wuxie was well aware of Prince Yongxian, the puppet master behind the Heaven Govern Academy. As the younger brother of the reigning Emperor and Chen Ruoyan’s uncle, Prince Yongxian wielded considerable power, with half the officials in the Imperial Court siding with him.

It was surprising that Qian Kun had pledged his allegiance to Prince Yongxian.

“I was right. You’re a lapdog of Prince Yongxian,” Chen Ruoyan said with a cold face and pointed her sword at Qian Kun. She had already suspected that the Scarlet Dragon Association might be a force under Prince Yongxian, primarily tasked with gathering food and forging weapons.

After all, Qian Kun was a blacksmith, and he had forged countless weapons for Prince Yongxian throughout the years, waiting for the rebellion to take place. Whenever someone was dispatched to eliminate the Scarlet Dragon Association, Qian Kun would be notified.

“The current Emperor has no heir, while Prince Yongxian is both talented and wise. He alone is fit to ascend the throne. What would you know?!” Qian Kun retorted, feeling a sense of relief after unburdening his secrets. Prince Yongxian held a high place in his heart, and he would never betray him, no matter the circumstances.

He knew that news of his death would eventually leak out and become public knowledge. He had shared this information with Liu Wuxie because he didn’t want to die with a secret.

“What utter nonsense! My father might be old, but both princes have been diligent. It’s just an excuse for your ambition to seize the foundation of my Chen Clan!” Chen Ruoyan furiously placed her sword on Qian Kun’s neck.

“Your two brothers?” Qian Kun sneered, “A retard and a fool. If the Great Yan Dynasty falls into their hands, the surrounding dynasties will destroy us in less than three years. Only Prince Yongxian can lead the dynasty to prosperity!”

There were rumors that the current prince had intellectual issues while the second prince behaved like a fool. There were also rumors among the citizens that the Great Yan Dynasty’s fortune was running out.

The Emperor was growing old, and this predicament was due to his inability to produce another heir to stabilize the dynasty.

“Have you finished your last words?” Liu Wuxie asked, his patience wearing thin. He had no interest in the matter at hand.

“Do you not find it suspicious? This is a plot by the Emperor to have you end my life, thereby weakening Prince Yongxian’s power,” Qian Kun retorted with a smirk, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He had cut his own artery, choosing to take his own life rather than be killed.

“How dare you defame my father even in death! How could my father possibly have sent him to assassinate you?” Chen Ruoyan was livid. Qian Kun’s final words were intended to drive a wedge between Liu Wuxie and the royal family, causing Liu Wuxie to harbor resentment towards the Emperor.

If Liu Wuxie became the enemy of the emperor, he would become Prince Yongxian’s friend.

However, Liu Wuxie was not one to be swayed by mere words. He would conduct his own investigation to uncover the truth.

“Don’t trust his words. A person like him deserves to die a thousand times over!” Chen Ruoyan implored Liu Wuxie. She had no desire to become adversaries with Liu Wuxie, whom she found to be terrifying.

“Mission accomplished. I’ll take my leave now!” Having decapitated Qian Kun, Liu Wuxie shrouded the head in a black cloth and exited the underground palace, leaving the stockpiled food and weapons untouched.

Watching Liu Wuxie’s retreating figure, Chen Ruoyan stomped her foot in frustration. She had never encountered someone so intractable.

Upon returning to the surface, Liu Wuxie found that the members of the Scarlet Dragon Association had already fled upon learning of their leader’s injury. The mountain was deserted, save for the occasional straggler who crossed paths with Liu Wuxie and met their end.

Following the path back to Mulberry Town, Liu Wuxie planned to rest for a day before heading to the Western Breeze Mountain Range.

The news of the Scarlet Dragon Association’s destruction began to spread in just two hours. Those who had a feud with the Scarlet Dragon Association made a move to kill the remnants of the Scarlet Dragon Association.

Just like that, the Scarlet Dragon Association, which had ruled this region for decades, disappeared in one day.

Liu Wuxie returned to his room at the inn and shut the door behind him. He then retrieved three interspatial pouches that belonged to Qian Kun, Ye Xiao, and Lu Huangzhong. These pouches concealed their treasures. Ordinary jewelry held no appeal for him, as it was of no use.

“I’ve hit the jackpot!” Liu Wuxie exclaimed, jumping around in excitement like a child, with no one around to witness his joy.

The three interspatial pouches were significantly larger than his own. As he gazed at the resources amassed within the pouches, a broad smile spread across his face, and he felt an urge to cheer.

“5,000 spirit stones, 10,000 grade-three pills, 30 grade-four pills, an abundance of herbs, and a variety of weapons. They must have plundered these over the years, and now they all serve to benefit me.” With such a wealth of pills and spirit stones at his disposal, Liu Wuxie no longer had to worry about gathering the resources needed to reach the fifth level of the Spirit Cleansing Realm.

The reason why Liu Wuxie didn’t touch the food and weapons in the underground palace was because he didn’t have an interspatial pouch large enough to contain them. Secondly, those things weren’t useful to him, and they would benefit Chen Ruoyan more as the third princess. She had also helped out in destroying the Scarlet Dragon Association, and it wouldn’t be fair for her if she got nothing for her effort.

One shouldn’t be too stingy. Since he was having the meat, he naturally had to leave some soup for others.

“Earth Origin Pill, a treasure!” Liu Wuxie took out the Earth Origin Pill from Qian Kun’s interspatial pouch. Ye Xiao had given this fourth-grade pill to Qian Kun. Anyone consuming this pill in the Marrow Cleansing Realm had a fifty percent chance of reaching the next level.

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