Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 407 - Fulfilling the Promise

After running hundreds of simulations in the Heavenly Dao Book, Liu Wuxie finally uncovered the solution to the spiritual array. Achieving this breakthrough with conventional thinking was nearly impossible; only some would sacrifice more than half of their chess pieces for even a sliver of hope.

As Liu Wuxie simulated the moves in the Heavenly Dao Book, his right hand descended, allowing the black pieces to cut through the white pieces.

With the six-hour mark approaching, concern, jealousy, and doubt surged among the spectators outside the Array Tower.

After all, Liu Wuxie had broken the sect's record by reaching the eleventh level. Some people dug out Liu Wuxie's recent deeds and found that he had broken many records.

Just then, a spatial ripple signaled Elder Wu Yang's emergence from the Array Tower. He had chosen to forfeit at the last moment after failing to break through the spiritual array on the eleventh level.

Despite his expertise in spiritual arrays and his ability to reach the thirteenth level, he struggled with the chess-based array.

Elder Wu Yang's face was gloomy as he walked into the crowd, and he did not notice the changes in the Array Tower.

"Master!" Kong Yan and Han Xing stepped forward.

"Master, you're injured!" Han Xing's face was full of concern. Elder Wu Yang was bleeding profusely from a wound on his right.

"I'm fine. Where's that kid?" Such injuries couldn't threaten someone in the Astral River Realm, and he immediately inquired about Liu Wuxie's whereabouts after coming out.

None of the surrounding disciples spoke as they looked at the trio with awkward smiles.

"H-He hasn't come out yet!" Kong Yan said reluctantly.

"He should still be stuck at the eighth level, given his cultivation," Elder Wu Yang remarked nonchalantly. He had exited just two minutes before the time was up and had lasted until the very end.

"Quick, look!" Before Kong Yan and Han Xing could explain, an exclamation came from the crowd, drawing everyone's attention to the Array Tower.

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"The twelfth level is lit up! He broke the spiritual array on the eleventh level!" The announcement sent shockwaves through the crowd as Liu Wuxie’s dot moved into the passage leading to the twelfth level. Even Elder Tian Xing was left in stunned disbelief.

"He's a monster!" Song Yuanqiu exclaimed, losing his composure. While he had been uneasy when Liu Wuxie requested five spots, he now regretted not offering more. Despite Liu Wuxie's relative lack of talent in cultivation, his prowess in the realm of spiritual arrays was unmatched.

Liu Wuxie showed the potential to be a grandmaster in spiritual arrays in the future.

Elder Wu Yang staggered when he looked at the Array Tower and almost fell.

"H-He...when did he reach the twelfth level?" Elder Wu Yang grabbed onto his beard like a madman, unable to believe what he saw.

Kong Yan smiled bitterly because he didn't get to tell his master that Liu Wuxie had entered the eleventh level.

Time was limited, and the six-hour mark was up. This meant Liu Wuxie could only leave the twelfth level without entering.

Then again, he had already resorted to almost all his trump cards because he had to rely on the Heavenly Dao Book to break the spiritual array on the eleventh level.

The twelfth level was filled with mystery, and he knew entering rashly could mean death.

Liu Wuxie didn't crush the crystal and chose to walk down step by step. He had already surpassed Elder Wu Yang in this aspect alone.

He walked back to the crowd with a faint smile, showing no sign of arrogance.

"Elder Tian Xing, please render your judgment!" Liu Wuxie, unsure of the exact outcome, placed his trust in Elder Tian Xing. Regardless of the result, he was content knowing he had given his best effort.

"You brat, you've truly impressed me!" Elder Tian Xing walked over and gave Liu Wuxie a heavy pat on his shoulder, not knowing what to say.

Liu Wuxie noticed the bizarre look everyone was giving him from the surroundings. They were looking at him like they were looking at a monster, and this made him wonder if there was dirt on his face.

Turning around to look at the Array Tower, Liu Wuxie finally knew the result. His dot had reached the twelfth level, while Elder Wu Yang had stopped at the eleventh level.

"Elder Wu Yang, isn't it time to fulfill your promise?" Liu Wuxie didn't hold back because they had suggested the bet. Since he had won the bet, they naturally had to follow the rules. Han Xing and Kong Yan had to kneel and kowtow while Elder Wu Yang gave him the Heavenstore Wood and Energy Purifying Pill.

"Don't take it too far!" Elder Wu Yang was enraged after losing to a junior, which was embarrassing for him as an elder.

"I'm taking it too far?" Liu Wuxie's eyes turned cold, and he continued, "You guys came to my courtyard and damaged my spiritual arrays, forcing me into a bet. Now that you lost, you said I'm taking it too far? Can you be any more shameless?"

Liu Wuxie's righteous words made many people nod in agreement. Since this was a fair duel, the loser naturally had to follow the rules. After all, even an elder couldn't go back on his words upon losing a fair duel.

"You!" Elder Wu Yang was left speechless by Liu Wuxie, and his complexion became ashen.

Kong Yan and Han Xing stood behind Elder Wu Yang, too intimidated to speak. Liu Wuxie's mastery of spiritual arrays had surpassed even their master's, leaving them with regrets. Had they known his capabilities, they would have sought someone else from the start.

"Wu Yang, do you recall what I said? No matter the outcome, you and your group are forbidden from seeking out the other party in the future. Honor your promise now!" Elder Tian Xiang's tone was harsh, showing no leniency toward Elder Wu Yang.

Elder Tian Xiang had already shown leniency towards Elder Wu Yang, but it had been ignored. Back in Liu Wuxie's courtyard, the situation could have been resolved if they had simply apologized. Instead, they pressed Liu Wuxie into a bet, and now they were facing the consequences of their actions.

"A bet is a bet. Since you've lost, it's natural for you to fulfill your promise!" Many disciples stood on Liu Wuxie's side, emphasizing the importance of rules, even if Elder Wu Yang was an elder.

The crowd's excitement made Elder Wu Yang's face ugly.

"Kneel and kowtow!" turning to Han Xing and Kong Yan, he roared, scaring the two into kneeling before Liu Wuxie.

"Senior Brother Liu, we were wrong. We won't dare to cause any trouble for you again in the future!" After performing three kowtows, Han Xing and Kong Yan stood up, not daring to look at Liu Wuxie. From then on, their dao hearts were shattered, and this incident would hinder their future cultivation.

"I accept your apology," Liu Wuxie said, acknowledging their regret before turning his attention to Elder Wu Yang. He was now waiting for the Heavenstore Wood and Energy Purifying Pill.

In the presence of everyone, Elder Wu Yang reluctantly removed the Heavenstore Wood and Energy Purifying Pill from his interspatial ring and threw them to Liu Wuxie.

"Thank you, Elder Wu Yang!" Liu Wuxie kept the two items and remembered to thank Elder Wu Yang. Then again, that was more of a sarcastic thanks.

"Let's go!" Elder Wu Yang said quickly, retreating with his two disciples. He couldn't bear to stay a moment longer, feeling the stares of the crowd like a stinging slap to his face. He wanted nothing more than to find a hole and hide.

The crowd began to disperse as there was nothing left to see after the spectacle.

"Yang Xiao, stop right there!" Wei Dong's shout cut through the commotion, halting many who were about to leave. Yang Xiao, attempting to slip away among the crowd, was quickly revealed by Wei Dong's insistence.

Liu Wuxie watched in confusion. He remembered Wei Dong from six hours earlier when the youth had supported him outside his courtyard. They had even exchanged nods, leaving a strong impression on him.

"Yang Xiao, have you forgotten something?" Wei Dong took a step forward and blocked Yang Xiao's path.

Yang Xiao's face was ugly, meaning he had to kneel and kowtow. How could he maintain his foothold in the inner sect if he did that in front of so many people? He would only be reduced to a subject of ridicule.

"Wei Dong, don't push it!" Yang Xiao's words, including the tone, were identical to Elder Wu Yang's from a moment ago.

"A bet is a bet, and you've lost. Kneel and kowtow!" Wei Dong's tone was firm, demanding that Yang Xiao fulfill his promise.

Through their conversation, Liu Wuxie roughly understood their bet.

"Hmph, what can you do to me if I refuse to kneel?" Yang Xiao chose to disregard the bet. They had similar strengths, and a fight would only result in mutual perishing.

Furthermore, Elder Tian Xing and others had left, so who could intervene?

Both sides fell into a stalemate, with Yang Xiao refusing to kneel and Wei Dong unwilling to back down.

"Let's forget it. We're all fellow disciples, and Yang Xiao has already admitted his loss," many disciples suggested, attempting to mediate and de-escalate the situation.

"Why should I back down? Didn't you all see how Yang Xiao mocked Junior Brother Liu earlier? He wants to leave after losing now, so how is it fair?" Wei Dong was adamant and insisted that Yang Xiao fulfill his promise.

"So what if I mocked him? He's just a newly advanced inner disciple, and he only won against Elder Wu Yang relying on his skills in spiritual arrays." Yang Xiao had contempt on his face and showed no respect for Liu Wuxie.

"Since Senior Brother Yang looks down on a newly advanced inner disciple like me, why don't I challenge you to a duel?" Liu Wuxie looked at Yang Xiao coldly.

He had observed everyone’s reactions closely, noting Yang Xiao’s provocations from outside his courtyard. Liu Wuxie hadn't anticipated that Yang Xiao would persist in his antagonism, even continuing to challenge him after entering the Array Tower and betting with Wei Dong.

Liu Wuxie's strong stance instantly suppressed Yang Xiao's arrogance. If that were the case, they would have to fight to determine the result.

"Junior Brother Liu has quite the big tone here. You only joined the inner sect for less than five days, and you already want to threaten your seniors? Can I take it as a disregard for us?" A sixth-level Heavenly Dipper Realm disciple stepped forward, feeling that Liu Wuxie was too arrogant.

Many other disciples echoed in acknowledgment and shared the same sentiment.

"Who do you think you are, and why should I show you any respect? Did you all expect me to fail at the eleventh level after mocking me?" Liu Wuxie’s voice grew more assertive. It was clear that these people had ridiculed him while he was in the Array Tower.

"Fellow brothers. This brat is too arrogant. If we don't teach him a lesson today, how will we be able to maintain our footing in the inner sect?" Yang Xiao incited the senior disciples to unite against Liu Wuxie. He knew he was too weak and needed support against Liu Wuxie.