Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 206 - Truth Revealed

Liu Wuxie, with a sweeping gaze, refrained from further elaboration, allowing everyone to ponder his previous words.

“Young lad, what’s the issue with the Blood Mirage Pills?” Even Qin Tian, a cultivator at the pinnacle of the Spirit Cleansing Realm and patriarch of the Qin Clan, was taken aback by the earlier events.

After all, it would be embarrassing if news got out that so many cultivators were scared to the point of wetting themselves due to a confined demonic beast. Nonetheless, that day’s incident was destined to become a historical event.

This was because, regardless of their cultivation, no one could withstand the demonic energy of the Head Hunting Eagle.

“I clarified earlier,” Liu Wuxie began his explanation, revealing the secret behind the Blood Mirage Pills, “The Snake Demon Flower is the main ingredient for the Blood Mirage Pills, the primary food source for snake-type demonic beasts. When humans consume it in large quantities, it produces snake demon essence in the body, damaging meridians. As the Head Hunting Eagle is the bane of all snake-type demonic beasts, you feared it. However, if you can eliminate the snake demon essence from your body, you can naturally neutralize the poison.”

The fear of the Head-Hunting Eagle among these individuals was due to their consumption of the Snake Demon Flowers in large quantities, which led to an accumulation of snake demon essence within their bodies.

“We’ve been consuming the Blood Mirage Pills for a month, and we’ve felt no discomfort in our meridians. Are you sure you’re not overstating things?” They knew they couldn’t venture into the mountain range if they feared the Head-Hunting Eagle. However, if their meridians were indeed compromised, the repercussions would be severe, potentially leading to a loss of their cultivation abilities.

“Verifying the state of your meridians is simple,” Liu Wuxie responded. “Just make a small incision on your arm, and you can check if it’s as fragile and damaged as I’ve mentioned.” Liu Wuxie had already used his Ghost Eye to see through their bodies, and he knew their meridians were severely damaged.

It might seem fine on the surface, and the circulation of their true essence was smooth. However, that was an illusion because the walls of their meridians were already corroded.

“I’ll do it!” A man in his thirties stepped forward, unsheathing a dagger and making a cut on his left arm, revealing several meridians. Strangely, no blood flowed out, and the exposed meridians were shriveled, resembling those of a deceased person.

All eyes were drawn to it as he lifted a meridian with the dagger. A bizarre sight unfolded as numerous red spots appeared on the inner walls of the meridians, indicating rapid corrosion.

“What’s happening?!” The crowd was in shock. After all, who would willingly cut open their body to inspect their meridians? Only a lunatic would do such a thing.

A trace of anger appeared on Qin Tian’s face. Hundreds of disciples from the Qin Clan, who represented the Qin Clan's future and hope, had consumed the Blood Mirage Pills.

If their meridians were compromised, it would mean the end of their cultivation journey. The Qin Clan couldn’t afford to lose them.

The man who had made the incision on his arm suddenly collapsed to his knees. His wound, although shallow, wasn’t healing on its own, which was highly unusual.

“Please save me! How did my meridians end up like this?!” The man kowtowed, begging Liu Wuxie to save him. His meridians were in severe corrosion, and he only had roughly a month to live.

Even if he were to die, the actual cause of his death would remain a mystery. After all, who would suspect that a cultivator’s demise was due to the pills they consumed?

“This is the Spiritual Rhyme Pill produced by our Treasure Pill Pavilion. It’s cheap and can neutralize the snake demon essence in your bodies!” Liu Wuxie left the remaining matter to Master Mao, who took the Spiritual Rhyme Pill and handed it to the man.

Upon swallowing the Spiritual Rhyme Pill, the man soon felt a numbing sensation in his arm. His damaged meridians began to heal rapidly, a sight so extraordinary that no one had ever witnessed such an effective pill before.

“This is incredible! My meridians are healed!” The man exclaimed, standing up in excitement. He hadn’t expected the Spiritual Rhyme Pill to be so miraculously potent.

“To confirm the efficacy of our Spiritual Rhyme Pill, please open the box,” Master Mao instructed the man, asking him to unseal the Head-Hunting Eagle.

Initially, the man was reluctant due to lingering fear. However, under Master Mao’s persistent urging, he finally approached the box. The crowd, still shaken by the earlier events, had retreated to a safe distance.

When the man opened the box, he was no longer afraid when he faced the demonic energy released by the Head-Hunting Eagle. Anyone could tell that he wasn’t pretending to be calm.

“I also want to buy the Spiritual Rhyme Pill!”The crowd erupted into chaos as everyone surged forward, eager to secure a pill for themselves.

“I only brought two Spiritual Rhyme Pills with me. All of you can go to the Treasure Pill Pavilion if you want to buy them! First come, first serve!” The crowd surrounded Master Mao, and the last Spiritual Rhyme Pill was snatched away. This meant that everyone could only give up for now.

“Cloud Xing Pavilion, how dare you use a poisonous pill to harm us! Today, we will dismantle the Cloud Xing Pavilion!” The thousand people gathered outside charged into the Cloud Xing Pavilion, causing destruction wherever they went.

In just a few minutes, the Cloud Xing Pavilion was heavily damaged, and all the pills on the counter were scattered on the ground. But no one dared to snatch the pills because they were poisonous. There were too many people, so the Cloud Xing Pavilion couldn’t stop them.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Liu Wuxie had already left with Master Mao.

Jiang Yue was the chief alchemist, and everyone naturally targeted him. He was given a beating to the point that his face became bruised. Geng Ye’s group was also targeted, and none were spared.

Two hours later, Liu Wuxie appeared on the ten-mile-long street. He had handed the Treasure Pill Pavilion’s affairs to Master Mao for the time being and also given him the formula to refine the Spiritual Rhyme Pill.

“Wuxie, thank you for today. Without you, the three of us might have been doomed,” Master Mao expressed his gratitude as he saw Liu Wuxie off.

“As the chief alchemist of the Treasure Pill Pavilion, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. Go back; the business of the Treasure Pill Pavilion will bounce back soon,” Liu Wuxie reassured him.

Given that Mu Yueying had risked obtaining a fifth-grade talisman paper for him, it was only natural for Liu Wuxie to lend a helping hand to the Treasure Pill Pavilion. After bidding everyone farewell, Liu Wuxie returned to the Imperial Academy.

......

In the Cloud Xing Pavilion, the black-robed man’s face was terrifyingly grim while Li Wuhai trembled in fear beside him. The black-robed man asked without a hint of emotion in his tone, “What’s his name?”

“Deacon Lu, the individual in question is Liu Wuxie. He serves as the chief alchemist for the Treasure Pill Pavilion and is also a student at the Imperial Academy,” Li Wuhai promptly relayed all the information he had gathered about Liu Wuxie.

“Good. Since he dares to stand in the way of our Azure Crimson Gate, find a way to kill him.” The black-robed man was furious because he was the one who had prepared the Blood Mirage Pill, bringing in a hefty profit in just one month. However, all his efforts were thwarted by Liu Wuxie.

......

Two men and a woman appeared at the gate of the Imperial City.

“Are you three here in search of Liu Wuxie?” Bai Zhan, who had just returned from outside, inquired. His face hardened instantly upon hearing that they were looking for Liu Wuxie, and the murderous intent within him hadn’t yet subsided.

Wei Dong dared not meet Bai Zhan’s gaze, for he perceived him as an executioner due to the palpable murderous intent he exuded.

“Senior Brother, Liu Wuxie has been of great help to us, and we are here today to express our gratitude,” Wei Dong revealed. It turned out that they had come to thank Liu Wuxie for his assistance in the Western Breeze Mountain Range. Since Liu Wuxie had departed abruptly, they hadn’t had the opportunity to express their gratitude earlier.

Wei Dong, who was nearing forty, showed respect to Bai Zhan by addressing him as ‘senior brother.’ This was their respect for the Imperial City from the depth of their hearts.

If they were looking for someone else, Bai Zhan would have considered bringing them in and helping them find the person they were looking for. But when he heard Liu Wuxie’s name, he became furious. Because of Liu Wuxie, he had failed to make his breakthrough into the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

After spending fifty credits to access the third floor of the Golden Pagoda, he had successfully advanced to the Marrow Cleansing Realm. Following his breakthrough, he had been training outside to solidify his cultivation and had returned that day, where he encountered Wei Don.

“There’s no one by the name of Liu Wuxie here. Get lost!” Bai Zhan’s hostility was evident as he demanded that Wei Dong and his companions leave immediately, clearly not wanting to entertain them any further.

“Brother Liu told us that he’s a student of the Imperial Academy. Could you please guide us to him?” Wei Dong, unaware of the animosity between Liu Wuxie and Bai Zhan, even offered a spirit stone to Bai Zhan as a gesture of goodwill.

“Do you take me for a beggar?!” Bai Zhan retorted, tossing the spirit stone back. As a prodigy of the Bai Clan and a Profound Grade student of the Imperial Academy, he had high aspirations, including plans for promotion to a Heaven Grade student upon his return.

“You said Liu Wuxie assisted you?” Bai Zhan inquired, clenching his fists. The Bai Clan was known for their combative nature, a trait ingrained in their genes. Consequently, the Bai Clan boasted numerous military officials in the Great Yan Dynasty.

“Brother Liu’s assistance saved my third junior brother. We’ve come to express our gratitude, and I’ve brought my third junior brother for that purpose,” Wei Dong explained. His third junior brother, having recovered after a month, stepped forward.

“Since you three are friends of Liu Wuxie, I’ll vent my anger on you,” Bai Zhan declared, appearing before Wei Dong and slapping him across the face without warning. Caught off guard, Wei Dong was sent flying, utterly bewildered by the sudden attack from an Imperial Academy student.

“How dare you harm our senior brother?!” The third junior brother and the woman drew their weapons, positioning themselves between Bai Zhan and Wei Dong. They knew they were no match for Bai Zhan but refused to let him disrespect their senior brother.

“You two weaklings think you can stop me?” Bai Zhan sneered, waving his hand and releasing his Marrow Cleansing Realm aura, forcing the two to back off.

“Second junior sister, third junior brother, leave this place quickly!” Wei Dong got back up from the ground with blood dripping from the corner of his lips. He knew that even if an Imperial City student killed him, their master wouldn’t dare seek revenge and would have to accept it as a misfortune.

“None of you will escape today! I’ll kill the three of you to settle some scores!” Bai Zhan’s face twisted into a sinister smile, his intent to strike the two clear. If his attack landed, their heads would likely burst like watermelons.

The disparity in their cultivation levels was evident, and Bai Zhan, being a prodigy, was a formidable opponent even for those at the lower levels of the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

The force behind his impending slap was immense, generating a powerful wave that swept outwards. However, just as his palm was about to connect with the two, a potent blade ray descended, compelling Bai Zhan to withdraw his hand. Had he not done so, his hand would be severed by the blade ray.