Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 443 - Human Nature

Of the ten major sects, the Dugu Clan conducted business at sea. The warship's farthest trading route reportedly took a year to reach its destination.

Over the years, the Dugu Clan had relied on its maritime business to earn massive resources. Although it was just above the Divine Sun Palace, it was ranked in the top three in wealth.

The Dugu Clan operated as both a sect and a clan, skillfully merging their collective strengths to maximize their advantages. Additionally, internal strife within the Dugu Clan was minimal, as its members were all part of the same extended family, bonded by the emotional ties of growing up together.

To join the Dugu Clan, one had to marry into the family, and their children were required to take on the surname Dugu.

The Jade Blood Yaksha's eyes locked onto Liu Wuxie because it was this inconspicuous youth who had killed his favorite nephew. He was the one who had sent his nephew to investigate the unrest on the coast, but he hadn't anticipated his nephew to die there.

"Brat, do you want to take your own life, or do you need me to help you with it?" The Jade Blood Yaksha's voice echoed, causing many people to cover their ears. This was because the Jade Blood Yaksha was an expert in the Astral River realm, and killing Liu Wuxie was as easy as crushing an ant.

"A mere sea demon dares to act with such arrogance? You'll have to ask our Law-Enforcement Hall's Deacon Jiang if you want to kill me," Liu Wuxie said righteously, looking at Jiang Gongming.

Jiang Gongming was the Law-Enforcement Hall's deacon, escorting Liu Wuxie. He had to ensure Liu Wuxie's safety on the way there and that he wouldn't escape.

Liu Wuxie diverted attention to Jiang Gongming. Since the latter wanted to use the Hou Clan to kill him, he naturally wouldn't mind using the latter as a shield today.

The Jade Blood Yaksha's gaze turned to Jiang Gongming, and everyone in the surroundings retreated to leave them alone.

Jiang Gongming couldn't leave because he would bring disgrace to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion if he did. With no choice but to stand up for Liu Wuxie, he questioned the Blood Jade Yaksha, "What evidence do you have to prove that he killed members of your sea demons?"

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"This is the evidence!" The Jade Blood Yaksha produced a spirit that hovered in the air, replaying scenes of how Liu Wuxie had killed the sea demons.

Everyone saw it clearly; this was the first time Liu Wuxie learned of something like the spirit. There were no sea demons in the Celestial Realm, so this was his first encounter. If he had known of the spirit, he would've destroyed the corpses and left no evidence.

"I'll be honest with you. I'm the Law-Enforcement Hall's deacon of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion and am responsible for escorting him to the Blood Sea Abyssal Island for his punishment. I won't let anyone harm him before we reach the Blood Sea Abyssal Island." Jiang Gongming stood up, feigning righteousness in public eyes.

He did intend for the Hou Clan to kill Liu Wuxie, but that was at night, and no one would know if Liu Wuxie died. However, the situation was different because the news would reach the sect within three days if he handed Liu Wuxie over.

Elder Tian Xing wouldn't hesitate to accuse him of cowardice and dereliction of duty then. The sect, not the Sea Demon Clan, was responsible for punishing Liu Wuxie.

The same applied to the Hou Clan. They could send people to kill Liu Wuxie openly, but it was a grave mistake for them to interfere with the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's internal affairs.

"I don't care who you are. He must be handed over today, or you will face the consequences." The Jade Blood Yaksha's voice turned into a sharp screech, carrying a soundwave that made those with weaker cultivation writhe in pain.

The Sea Demon Clan naturally wasn't afraid of the ten major sects because they lived in the sea. This meant humans would have to enter the sea to kill them, but the sea was their territory.

If the inland was the territory of the ten major sects, the sea was the territory of the Sea Demon Clan.

Jiang Gongming frowned, feeling the weight of the predicament. He turned to Liu Wuxie, as trouble had arisen just as they neared Jade Blood Island.

The Heavenly Treasure Pavilion commanded respect wherever they went, but today, the sea demons showed no such regard. Upon learning he was the Law-Enforcement Hall's deacon of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, even those in the vicinity looked at him respectfully. This was the benefit of being from a major sect, especially with the status of a deacon.

"What arrogance. He's right here, and you can take him if you have the ability!" Jiang Gongming's lips smirked coldly as if he were signaling that Liu Wuxie was on the deck and that they could take him away.

Everyone present was experienced in life, and they naturally understood the underlying message in his words.

Liu Wuxie's eyes turned cold, and he guessed that Jiang Gongming was trying to use the sea demons to get rid of him.

"Kill him!" The Jade Blood Yaksha gave the order as hundreds of sea demons charged out, targeting only Liu Wuxie and no one else.

The onlookers naturally stood by the side and watched, not interfering.

Liu Wuxie looked at the top of the warship, a mysterious place he couldn't penetrate with the Ghost Eye. It was likely forged with unique materials that block out all divine sense. He said coldly, "Is this how the Dugu Clan protects their customers?"

His voice wasn't loud but reached every corner of the warship. Everyone onboard knew that this warship belonged to the Dugu Clan.

"Brat, the Dugu Clan won't oppose us as long as we target you alone and not anyone else unless they no longer wish to conduct maritime business," the Jade Blood Yaksha let out a sinister laughter.

The Dugu Clan's warship was indestructible and caused much trouble for the sea demons. Facing the Dugu Clan, the sea demons wouldn't provoke them recklessly, but that didn't mean they were afraid.

The Dugu Clan did not respond as Liu Wuxie's voice echoed on the ship. They simply observed as hundreds of sea demons charged at Liu Wuxie with their forks.

"Slash!" Liu Wuxie roared, knowing he couldn't trust Jiang Gongming or the Dugu Clan. He could only rely on himself, and he swung the Heretic Blade down, unleashing a suffocating blade aura, enveloping the entire ship with his blade intent.

"What a terrifying attack!" the surrounding cultivators exclaimed in shock, deeply captivated by Liu Wuxie's attack.

The incoming sea demons, felled by Liu Wuxie, began to collapse in clusters. The deck was soon covered in their blood, with severed bodies twitching as they lay dying. A pungent reek of blood filled everyone's nostrils.

The Jade Blood Yaksha was enraged to see his soldiers killed and struck with his palm at Liu Wuxie.

"How dare you try and harm the disciple of my Heavenly Treasure Pavilion!" Jiang Gongming intervened and blocked the Jade Blood Yaksha's attack, and they continued to clash. But neither could harm the other because this was all for show, as none of the attacks were lethal.

Jiang Gongming knew he had to put on a convincing act; failing to intervene while the sea demons killed Liu Wuxie would leave him in a precarious position. Not only would he struggle to explain himself to the sect master, but Elder Tian Xing, known for his fierce protection of Liu Wuxie—even at the risk of offending Elder Qing Mu—would certainly come after him.

The entire sect was aware of Elder Tian Xing’s favoritism towards Liu Wuxie. If Liu Wuxie died due to Jiang Gongming’s negligence, he would undoubtedly face severe consequences. To avoid giving Elder Tian Xing any excuse to target him, Jiang Gongming had to create the impression that he had done his utmost to protect Liu Wuxie.

He needed to ensure his actions were beyond reproach, providing the sect with a solid explanation regardless of Liu Wuxie’s fate. Returning with injuries would absolve him of blame; he might even receive commendation for his efforts to protect a disciple.

The irony was bitter. This was why Jiang Gongming put on a show, fighting the Jade Blood Yaksha fiercely. But everyone knew it was just that—an act. Stopping one yaksha was futile, with so many sea demons swarming around.

Liu Wuxie naturally knew what Jiang Gongming was trying to do. Elder Tian Xing had warned him that he would deal with a pack of wolves in the next three months, and Jiang Gongming was one of them.

Looking at the fallen sea demons, the Jade Blood Yaksha was enraged and made a sharp cry. This caused the swordfish to leap out of the sea with bills aimed at Liu Wuxie like arrows.

One or two swordfish wasn't terrifying, but a swarm of them was different. They were like rain arrows, and it was hard for Liu Wuxie to dodge even if he was strong.

The swordfish were about a meter long, and their bills comprised two-thirds of their overall length. Their bills were like arrows that whistled when they ripped through the air.

"Quick, dodge! The swordfish won’t distinguish between friend and foe—they’ll kill anyone in their path!"

The sheer number of swordfish was terrifying. Some flew off course and shot into the crowd, piercing through several cultivators before they could react.

A look of determination flashed in Liu Wuxie's eyes as he wielded the Heretic Blade. He knew he could only put his life on the line if he had no other options.

He had gone through countless hardships over the past two years, narrowly escaping death each time. The Primordial Astral Fist was useless because the swordfish were too fast. Meanwhile, the Soul Spear could only target individual enemies, making it effective only in sneak attacks. Liu Wuxie had to rely on the Fatality Blade Art and Frost Finger for this battle.

"Sixth Fatality Form!" The Heretic Blade flew out and left behind countless afterimages, forming a wall of blades. The bill of some swordfishes were even bent from the impact when they crashed against the blade wall.

"What a powerful blade technique!" Exclamations came from the surroundings, and even some cultivators in the Heavenly Phase Realm looked at Liu Wuxie in a new light as those in the low-level Heavenly Phase Realm couldn't accomplish this feat.

However, the blade wall was ultimately too small, and Liu Wuxie could only defend the front, facing the swordfish from the surroundings. A few swordfish pierced through his thigh and covered his pants in blood.

"Grandfather, why didn't anyone help among all these people? Are we just going to watch the sea demons bully that man?" a young boy asked, tilting his head towards the old man beside him.

"This is human nature. You have to keep this in mind and never show mercy in the future when you walk the world." The old man couldn't explain it to the boy and could only blame it on human nature.

Human nature was the hardest to fathom because no one would help another person without benefits, not to mention they had to put their lives at risk.