Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 413 - Coerce

Liu Wuxie's act of turning a powerful profound beast into an ice sculpture in the blink of an eye quickly attracted many people's attention, especially those in the pinnacle of the Heavenly Dipper Realm.

"What a powerful ice technique!" An Azure Crimson Gate's disciple exclaimed ferociously and vanished before reappearing behind Liu Wuxie. If he could master this technique, it would significantly enhance his combat abilities.

A strange scene unfolded because the low-level cultivators liked to follow those in the pinnacle of the heavenly Heavenly Dipper Realm. This was natural because they could harvest whatever was left over.

The disappearance of an expert was a clear indication that they had discovered a treasure, and everyone would naturally flock to it. In less than a minute, a group of people followed Liu Wuxie.

"Damn it!" Liu Wuxie was furious because he had planned to collect the stalactite essence secretly, but it wasn't easy now, with so many people following behind him.

It was too late to turn around, and the scenery before him suddenly changed, with a ravine in his way. It looked as though the entire mountain was split into two, with a bottomless abyss from which a black abyssal energy surged out, accompanied by ghostly wails.

There was a narrow stone bridge leading to the other side. Liu Wuxie stood at the ravine's edge, and the Azure Crimson Gate's disciple following him stopped a short distance away.

Shortly after, another group stopped, facing the ravine. More people began to gather, and everyone looked at each other in disbelief.

The ravine was about a hundred meters wide, and everyone could only fly on flying swords aside from using the narrow stone bridge to get to the other side.

Endless black winds emerged from the abyss, mingling with a terrifying toxic gas. This gas, which had been filling the cave, was being released from this very spot. Curiously, the rate at which the toxic gas was dispersing had significantly slowed, possibly due to external factors that allowed people to enter.

"Quick, look over there!" Everyone could faintly see the situation on the other side through the black wind.

"The seven-colored ray is coming from the other side!" Rays of light seeped through the cave to illuminate the sky.

"The treasures are on the other side! Let’s go!" someone urged, taking the lead and stepping onto the narrow bridge.

Most people remained in place because the stone bridge was too narrow, and the black wind filled the abyss. There was a high possibility for them to fall, and no one knew what was at the bottom of the abyss. But it was sure they would die if they fell.

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The person on the bridge was a cultivator at the fifth level of the Heavenly Dipper Realm. He advanced cautiously across the bridge, carefully maintaining his balance to avoid being swept away.

After walking about ten meters, a powerful gust of wind assaulted him.

"Zhong Shu, come back quickly!" Several cultivators yelled and urged the person who had gone ahead to return.

The powerful gust manifested into a skull's head, hovering in the air, sending a shiver down everyone’s spines.

When the powerful gust hit, Zhong Shu swayed, and he hugged the stone bridge tightly to avoid being swept away.

Zhong Shu’s screams echoed as the black gust enveloped him. The highly toxic wind swiftly eroded his flesh, consuming him entirely. Within moments, Zhong Shu was reduced to a skeleton and plummeted into the abyss, witnessed by thousands of people.

The sight was horrifying and disheartening. Many were already considering abandoning the attempt. If even a cultivator at the fifth level of the Heavenly Dipper Realm couldn't cross the bridge, those of lower levels would likely perish in seconds. Zhong Shu’s death was a grim reminder that more than half of the group would be unable to make it.

Liu Wuxie stood in place and frowned because the mysterious tree in the world in his dantian reminded him there was something valuable on the other side.

The mysterious tree's roots had stretched out of the world into the void. In addition to Ghost Eye, Liu Wuxie saw a pond full of ten-thousand-year-old stalactite essence, consisting of over a few thousand droplets.

If he could obtain all of the liquid, he wouldn't have to refine pills for the next few years, as consuming the liquid daily was far better than consuming pills.

After all, every pill contained a trace of impurities, and long-term consumption would result in the impurities building up in the body over time.

If too many impurities accumulated in his body, a cleansing process would be required to remove them from the meridians.

Such pills were extremely rare, and he could save the trouble of refining pills if he could obtain the pond full of liquid. Furthermore, the stalactite essence could extend his lifespan and strengthen his physique.

The stone bridge was perilous, and Liu Wuxie dared not attempt to cross it recklessly. He waited for a better opportunity, observing the black wind churning in the abyss alongside the others.

Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.

"Have you all noticed? The black wind will calm down every two hours, and we should be able to cross it safely during this time." Some observant people took out pens and books to record the patterns of the black wind.

"I also noticed that the black wind has gotten weaker." Many people stood out.

Liu Wuxie had already noticed it by analyzing the black wind with Ghost Eye, including its speed, and recorded everything in his soul sea.

The stalactite essence was on the other side. Everything calmed down when the black wind vanished, and the opposite side was revealed to everyone.

"Look! Stalactite essence. There is so much of it!" Everyone's vision was obscured by the black wind earlier, and they couldn't see clearly. But the opposite side was in full view when everything cleared up.

The pinnacle Heavenly Dipper Realm experts showed excitement, and those in the high levels were thrilled. Only the low-level Heavenly Dipper Realm cultivators backed off.

The black wind had just diminished, not wholly vanished. The high-level experts could cross the bridge, but not the low-level ones.

"Send someone to test if the stone bridge is still dangerous." A pinnacle Heavenly Dipper Realm expert from the Azure Crimson Gate gave an order.

"That's right, send someone to test it first!" Many people agreed because no one was willing to take the risk.

"Who should we send?" Everyone was at a loss because no one wanted to put their lives on the line. Those in the low levels retreated far away, not to mention they had come with their companions.

It didn't take long before everyone's gaze fell on Liu Wuxie. Only Liu Wuxie was by himself because everyone had a team, and even the smallest team had two people. This naturally made Liu Wuxie stand out.

Everyone's gazes harbored malice as they looked at Liu Wuxie.

"Brat, go on the bridge and see if it can be crossed." A seventh-level Heavenly Dipper Realm genius from the Azure Crimson Gate pointed at Liu Wuxie in an ordering tone.

There was a reason why he picked Liu Wuxie. Firstly, Liu Wuxie's cultivation wasn't high, and cultivators at high levels could easily handle him. Secondly, Liu Wuxie was alone, and no one would stand up for him.

Many nodded in agreement with the Azure Crimson Gate's disciple, urging Liu Wuxie to cross the bridge.

Liu Wuxie's eyes turned cold as he looked at the Azure Crimson Gate's disciples.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up, or don't blame me for what will happen next!" The Divine Sun Palace's disciples also joined in, urging Liu Wuxie to cross the bridge.

The black wind would soon rise again, and if they missed this chance, they would have to wait for two more hours.

Liu Wuxie glanced at the disciples from the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. Though the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was on par with the Azure Crimson Gate, none of its members intervened on his behalf. This suggested they had tacitly aligned with the Azure Crimson Gate's actions and needed someone to scout ahead, even if it meant relying on a disciple from the same sect.

Looking at all these ugly faces, Liu Wuxie clenched his fists, facing over a thousand people. But he knew he couldn't kill cultivators in the pinnacle of the Heavenly Dipper Realm with his current strength, not to mention there were too many people for two fists to fend them off.

"Liu Wuxie, stop struggling and go on!" Someone recognized Liu Wuxie because there were a few hundred Heavenly Treasure Pavilion disciples. The one who spoke was Hou Lie, who had arrived in the Scarlet Sun Mountain Range a few days ahead of Liu Wuxie.

The Hou Clan was still plotting to kill Liu Wuxie, and this was undoubtedly a great opportunity.

Liu Wuxie ignored Hou Lie and turned to look at the pinnacle Heavenly Dipper Realm disciples from the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. They were all strong, and the Azure Crimson Gate's disciples wouldn't dare to be so arrogant if someone spoke out for him.

"Don't look at us. You have three breaths to cross the bridge," a youth said without a hint of emotion in his tone.

"I’ll remember you!" Liu Wuxie committed the face of the man, along with those from the Azure Crimson Gate, to memory. Surrounded by a group of ten experts, he was forced to retreat, with the risk of falling if he moved back any further.

In the end, it was because Liu Wuxie was too weak. Who would dare to order him this way if he was a cultivator in the high-level Heavenly Dipper Realm?

With no room to back away, Liu Wuxie’s right foot had already stepped onto the stone bridge.

He took a deep breath because he knew now wasn't the time to get angry. There was no doubt he would die if a fight broke out.

"Hurry up!" Those behind him urged relentlessly.

"I, Liu Wuxie, swear that if I survive today, I will exact vengeance on all of you!" Even as an Immortal Emperor from the Celestial Realm in his past life, he was pushed to this brink.

"Say that after you survive!" Mockery came from behind, even from the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion disciples.

"Liu Wuxie, you have no chance of surviving. Just go!" Hou Lie jumped around because no one would let Liu Wuxie go even if he survived, and they would certainly kill him.

Step by step, Liu Wuxie performed Ghost Eye to observe the black wind. Five minutes later, he had taken approximately thirty steps and was close to the bridge's center.

The black wind began to rumble because the calm period was almost over. Intense wind rose from the abyss, accompanied by enraged roars.

Liu Wuxie quickened his footsteps because he would die if he didn't make it over to the other side. He didn't want to die because his initial goal in coming here was to make friends, which seemed laughable now.

"The black wind is raging. Let's see if he can make it through alive." If Liu Wuxie succeeded, they might still have a chance.