Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 761 - Universal Artifact Pavilion

Without any warning, a blade aura descended from above. As the crowd had been entirely focused on the battle between Xin'er and the burly man, they were unaware of what was happening outside.

It was too late for the burly man to react, as the whip would hit him if he descended. But staying in mid-air wasn't a solution either, as a blade aura descended on him, which placed him in a disadvantageous position.

The man was a seasoned fighter who quickly shifted to the right. But no matter how quick he was, the blade aura was even faster.

Just when the man took a step back, he was struck by the blade aura, and he was cleaved into two in mid-air, his blood splashing down from the sky.

Those in the surroundings couldn't avoid it in time and were splashed by the blood rain, along with the man's internal organs.

Screams echoed as many people couldn't open their eyes due to the blood and flesh on their faces.

"Let's go!" A figure appeared, dragging Liu Xing and Xin'er before leaving amidst the chaos. By the time everyone had cleaned the filth from their faces, the trio had vanished without a trace, leaving the spectators to roar in frustration.

They began to wonder where the blade aura had come from with such precise calculations to obscure their view with blood.

At the same time, two men and a woman emerged from One Sword Shakes Mount Spirit.

"That was close!" Liu Xing's face paled with lingering fear when they came out. They had nearly died there, and he vowed never to return to this place again. After all, they would be killed if they weren't careful.

"Are you two alright?" Liu Wuxie glanced at Liu Xing before turning to the woman. He knew Liu Xing would be dead if the woman hadn't intervened.

"Big Brother Wuxie, let me introduce you. This is Liu Xin'er, a first-tier disciple of our Liu Clan," Liu Xing said. Only those who had successfully challenged an instructor would receive the title of a first-tier disciple, and this was the first time Liu Wuxie saw one.

Despite being a woman, he knew she couldn't be underestimated. Even he would’ve had to be careful against her whip attack from earlier.

"As for him, I believe there's no need for me to introduce," Liu Xing said.

Liu Wuxie had recently become a rising star in the Liu Clan, and his name had spread far and wide.

"You're pretty impressive to kill the Butcher. You're worthy of being a first-tier disciple," Liu Xin'er let out a hearty laugh. Her boisterous demeanor was more fitting of a rugged man than a woman.

Liu Wuxie's brows were furrowed; this was the first time a woman praised him.

The trio wasted no time in leaving, wary of drawing attention to them. They prioritized returning to the clan as soon as possible after winning so many spirit stones.

On their journey back, Liu Wuxie learned more about Liu Xin'er's background. They were blood-related, sharing the same great-grandfather, which meant they were cousins.

Although Liu Xin'er wasn't ugly, her tomboyish appearance made her look like a man instead. This even made Liu Wuxie wonder if Liu Xin'er had an unusual taste in her partners. Despite having a feminine name, she was the complete opposite.

The trio soon became friends as they walked in the Astral Glory City.

"Y-You won over three hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones?!" Liu Xin'er was stunned when she saw the fortune Liu Xing took out in a secluded alley.

"Why is there an extra thirty thousand?" Liu Wuxie frowned. Although he hadn't placed any bets himself, he was familiar with the betting system and knew he should've earned 320,000 high-grade spirit stones at best.

"I also placed a bet of five thousand on my own and won 160,000, and the thirty thousand is my way of saying thanks," Liu Xing explained.

"Why should I take it since you earned it yourself?" Liu Wuxie returned the thirty thousand spirit stones to Liu Xing as they didn't belong to him.

"I don't need it. I don't know what to do with them all," Liu Xing said. He didn't need to refine that many spirit stones daily like Liu Wuxie. He now had 130,000 spirit stones even if he gave Liu Wuxie thirty thousand, and he wouldn't have to worry about resources for the next year and a half.

"I'll take it then since neither of you wants it," Liu Xin'er said as she snatched the thirty thousand spirit stones, storing them in her interspatial ring.

This made Liu Wuxie and Liu Xing exchange a helpless smile, but they knew Liu Xing would be dead if Liu Xin'er hadn't intervened. Thus, they wouldn't mind giving her thirty thousand spirit stones as a token of gratitude.

As there was still time to spare, the trio wasn't in a hurry to return to the clan. After winning so much, they planned to shop for supplies.

"Do you know where I can find materials for blacksmithing?" Liu Wuxie asked. He planned to refine the Heretic Blade again since he couldn't increase his cultivation anytime soon. Now that he had merged his dao and blade technique, there was also a higher demand for the Heretic Blade.

"The Universal Artifact Pavilion!" Liu Xing and Liu Xin'er exclaimed simultaneously. This was the only place in Astral Glory City where the most authentic materials were sold.

Despite the steep price, the sheer variety they offered made it worthwhile. They also sold ready-made weapons in addition to raw materials—though their exorbitant prices were nothing short of astonishing.

The blacksmiths in the Universal Artifact Pavilion were renowned across Central Plains, and the weapons forged by them were so exceptional that the supply couldn't keep up with the demand.

Aside from winning 320,000 spirit stones, Liu Wuxie had also amassed a hundred thousand spirit stones from defeating his opponents during the challenge. His opponents had been challenging others relentlessly over the past few days, but the fortune they amassed had all gone to him now.

One Sword Shakes Mount Spirit was lucrative, but such places were best to avoid whenever possible. After all, no one could guarantee what opponent they would face next.

Now that Liu Wuxie reflected on it, he felt a lingering sense of unease. He had only managed to kill the Butcher relying on Ghost Eye, or the fight would’ve been troublesome for him.

Unbeknownst to the trio, they were being watched when they left One Sword Shakes Mount Spirit. Although the trio tried to move inconspicuously in the city, many people were stationed at the entrance, and they were recognized the moment they emerged.

As a result, many people began tailing the trio, planning to strike once they reached a less crowded area, as it was impractical for them to attack now in the bustling streets.

Suddenly, Liu Wuxie slowed as Fiery emerged from his clothes and nudged him.

"What an adorable profound beast!" Liu Xin'er exclaimed at the sight of Fiery, and she even reached out to touch it.

However, Fiery glared at her, refusing to let her touch it.

"Big Brother Wuxie, what's wrong?" Liu Xing asked with a frown.

"We're being followed!" Liu Wuxie said. The large crowd made it difficult for him to notice that they were being followed, but Fiery had detected them.

Upon hearing that they were followed, the smile on Liu Xin'er's face vanished, replaced with a vigilant expression. She asked, "Could it be someone from One Sword Shakes Mount Spirit?"

After all, winning close to half a million spirit stones must be a painful blow for them, and it wasn't surprising for them to try and kill Liu Wuxie, not to mention the Butcher's death dealt an even more significant blow to them.

The Butcher's death meant One Sword Shakes Mount Spirit would struggle to fend off powerful challengers for some time, and it would take considerable time for them to groom a replacement.

"I'm not sure. Let's keep moving as usual," Liu Wuxie said. He wasn't sure who they were, but he had identified several suspicious figures and was observing them closely.

The trio had lowered their voices and remained on high alert as they proceeded to the Universal Artifact Pavilion.

The journey took an hour before they arrived at their destination. A grand gate adorned with luxurious decorations greeted them, reflecting the pavilion's prestigious status.

Cultivators moved in and out in a steady flow, and within just a few minutes, hundreds had passed by them.

Liu Wuxie hadn’t expected a place selling weapons to be so extravagantly built. The two jade lion statues flanking the gate alone hinted at extraordinary value, each radiating a faint spiritual essence.

Using Ghost Eye, Liu Wuxie discovered two top-grade spiritual essences embedded within the statues. The fact that the Universal Artifact Pavilion could display such treasures openly, unafraid of theft, spoke volumes about their strength and influence.

When Liu Wuxie stepped through the doors, he was left in awe by the grand sight.

"What an incredible place!" Liu Wuxie had been to countless places and could even pluck stars from the heavens. Even so, it was surprising for the True Martial Continent to have such a remarkable place.

The hall was vast, covering nearly ten thousand square meters. It was one of many halls with countless items on display, and Liu Wuxie was overwhelmed by the dazzling array of goods.

Entering this place felt like one had plunged into a sea of weapons, and one could buy anything one desired with enough resources.

"I've had my eye on a particular material for ages, and I have to buy it today now that I have finally gathered sufficient spirit stones," Liu Xing said, rubbing his palms together. His longsword still needed some materials to reach the level of a monarch artifact.

He could have sought help from his father in the past, but his status in the clan had plummeted over the years due to his father's condition. As a result, Liu Xing led a harsh life for the past few years.

Although his father had recovered, he had used most of his wealth to treat his injury in the past few years. As a result, Liu Dazhi felt deeply guilty for not helping his son.

"I also found a material I want. We'll split up and shop," Liu Xin'er said. With her winnings of twenty thousand spirit stones and the thirty thousand from Liu Xing, she was ready for a shopping spree.

Liu Wuxie also nodded in agreement. This was the Universal Artifact Pavilion, and they weren't worried about anyone causing trouble for them. The trio soon parted ways as Liu Xing and Liu Xin'er knew where to go as they had visited this place in the past.

Only Liu Wuxie wandered as the Heretic Blade wasn't like other artifacts, and ordinary materials couldn't satisfy it.

Precious materials were hung prominently on the walls, allowing those to see them even from a few hundred meters away.

Liu Wuxie approached the right wall, which had various exotic items hung on it. There were beast horns, rare blood essences, exotic woods, and meteoric ores. The sheer variety was staggering.

"The Silk Cloud Iron from the deep sea is rare!" Liu Wuxie muttered as he saw a palm-sized iron that radiated with a dark red glow. But he soon shook his head after looking at the price.

A piece of the Silk Cloud Iron was priced at a staggering hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones. But it was indispensable to forge an origin artifact.

It became clear that cultivation had a high demand for wealth, and he couldn't even sustain his needs without substantial resources. With the Heretic Blade's quality, even the Silk Cloud Iron was inadequate.

His visit today was primarily to familiarize himself with this place. He would decide if he found any suitable material. If not, he wouldn't mind taking a stroll here to heighten his experience.

After strolling for roughly fifteen minutes, a bizarre feather on the west wall caught his attention. The moment he saw it, the Earth-Binding Chains in his soul sea began to stir, eager to break free.