Desolate Devouring Art

Liu Wuxie tried to keep as much distance from Enchantress as possible. His resistance only deepened her interest, and she tightened her grip around his arm.

"Brat, since you're determined to court death, she'll devour you until not even your bones remain," Black Tiger warned.

He couldn't risk fighting Enchantress inside the Yin Market.

The two had clashed for decades without either gaining the upper hand. Most of their confrontations therefore remained verbal.

Black Tiger didn't know what the Fragrant Yin Wood contained. He had caught only a brief glimpse, but that glimpse revealed mysterious energy flowing inside it.

After delivering his warning, Black Tiger turned away and resumed searching for other items.

Liu Wuxie immediately pulled his arm from the Enchantress’s embrace, deeply uncomfortable with her breasts pressed against him.

"Thank you for defending me, Big Sister Enchantress," Liu Wuxie said.

He hurriedly expressed his gratitude before retreating several steps, clearly preparing to leave.

Showing too much enthusiasm or volunteering to remain beside her would only awaken her suspicion. Even for Liu Wuxie, this was his first attempt at playing hard to get.

"If you truly want to thank me, spend the night with me," Enchantress replied.

Ignoring the surrounding gazes, she reached for Liu Wuxie's arm again.

"Please conduct yourself with dignity," Liu Wuxie said, widening the distance between them as anger flickered across his face.

"Oh? You have quite a temper. Now I like you even more," Enchantress replied with laughter instead of anger.

Every man she had captured over the years had been timid and obedient. Liu Wuxie was the first to resist her so openly, awakening an intense desire within her.

Liu Wuxie didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Enchantress's shamelessness truly knew no bounds.

Without warning, two spectral figures materialized behind him. They resembled black phantoms, and the chill radiating from them pressed against the back of his neck.

Enchantress kept many experts at her side, and these two were likely her most trusted subordinates. If Liu Wuxie continued retreating, they would attack without hesitation.

"Big Sister is so beautiful that I can barely contain my happiness. This is simply happening too quickly," Liu Wuxie replied.

Escape had already become impossible. No man who caught Enchantress's eye ever walked away unharmed. More importantly, Liu Wuxie needed to take this risk if he wanted to approach the Heavenly Derivation Codex.

"You certainly know how to sweet-talk a woman. Don't worry, I won't mistreat you," Enchantress said, covering her mouth with one hand.

She hooked her arm through Liu Wuxie's again and led him away.

This time, Liu Wuxie offered no resistance. Struggling would accomplish nothing against Enchantress, much less the two experts following them.

Liu Wuxie also needed Enchantress to keep Black Tiger at bay. Although he had walked away, he still coveted the Fragrant Yin Wood and hadn't gone far. He would undoubtedly strike the moment Liu Wuxie was alone.

Only moments earlier, Liu Wuxie had worried that Enchantress might release him. Had she done so, his entire plan would have collapsed.

Wherever Enchantress walked, the crowd hurriedly opened a path and refused to approach. Even the vendors treated her with profound respect.

"If you find anything you like, I'll buy it for you," Enchantress said.

Along the way, she spent over a million immortal stones and three thousand yin crystals.

Her wealth astonished Liu Wuxie, making him wonder whether the Shadow Divination Gate possessed such staggering resources. He soon shook off the thought. Most items sold within the Yin Market involved poison and held little value for him.

Time slipped away until only an hour remained before dawn. The Yin Market was also approaching its closing time.

Enchantress was finally exhausted and sat on a rock. Liu Wuxie had no choice but to remain beside her.

He activated Ghost Pupil and effortlessly examined the interiors of the surrounding treasures.

"What's that?" Liu Wuxie murmured as his gaze halted upon a battered piece of tree bark dozens of meters away.

It was unmistakably bark, yet numerous strange runes lay hidden inside it. They resembled writing, though Liu Wuxie couldn't be certain. Ghost Pupil revealed only that its internal structure differed from ordinary tree bark.

A thick layer of grease coated the bark, preventing ordinary divine sense from penetrating it. Ghost Pupil, however, passed through without obstruction.

Ever since Ghost Pupil and the Divine Tribulation Pupil had entered Liu Wuxie's upper dantian, they had complemented each other and grown even more powerful.

"Big Sister, rest here while I take a look over there," Liu Wuxie said.

He rose and walked toward the piece of tree bark.

"It's getting late. Don't keep me waiting," Enchantress replied.

She remained seated but signaled to her subordinates. They silently followed Liu Wuxie to prevent him from escaping.

The vendor had already begun packing. With dawn approaching, the Yin Market would soon close.

"May I examine that piece of bark?" Liu Wuxie asked, pointing toward the corner of the stall.

"If you want it, you can have it for one hundred yin crystals," the vendor replied.

He had noticed long ago that Liu Wuxie accompanied Enchantress and didn't dare demand an outrageous price. The vendor had purchased the bark for two hundred yin crystals, yet he offered it to Liu Wuxie for one hundred purely out of respect for Enchantress.

"I don't have any yin crystals. Take these two thousand immortal stones instead," Liu Wuxie said.

He placed two thousand immortal stones before the vendor and stored the tree bark inside his interspatial ring.

The vendor frowned but said nothing. The Yin Market existed primarily to exchange goods for yin crystals and rarely accepted immortal stones.

By the time Liu Wuxie returned, Enchantress had already risen to her feet.

"Let me see what you bought. I don't want anyone cheating you," Enchantress said, extending her hand for the bark.

As Liu Wuxie stored the tree bark, the Enchantress swept her divine sense over it. Finding nothing remarkable or valuable, she could not understand why he had spent two thousand immortal stones on what appeared to be a worthless scrap of bark.

The Yin Market appeared overflowing with treasures, but most goods were inferior products or outright counterfeits. Many people had been deceived here.

Liu Wuxie knew Enchantress wouldn't let the matter go unless he showed her the bark. He obediently handed it over.

Enchantress weighed the tree bark in her palm and examined it several times with divine sense. She found nothing unusual, not even the faintest trace of energy.

"This is bark from a Bloodspirit Cedar. It's worth one hundred immortal stones at most. That vendor cheated you," Enchantress said after inspecting it for a long time.

She returned the tree bark to Liu Wuxie.

"Then I'll find the vendor and return it," Liu Wuxie replied, turning around.

He needed to convince Enchantress that the bark was worthless. If she became suspicious and seized it, all his effort would have been wasted.

"Forget it. He's long gone by now," Enchantress said, grabbing Liu Wuxie.

Liu Wuxie put on a frustrated expression, thoroughly dispelling her suspicions. She no longer pursued the matter.

"Let's head back," Enchantress said, leading Liu Wuxie toward the exit.

When the first light of dawn appeared in the eastern sky, Liu Wuxie finally discovered that the Yin Market had occupied a small valley. It would reopen in a completely different location next year.

Three young men were bound near the exit with a special rope, while a black-clad figure stood beside them on guard.

"Enchantress, you old witch! How dare you capture us! Do you know who we are?!" the young man in the middle demanded.

He glared viciously at Enchantress while struggling with all his strength.

Liu Wuxie examined the three youths curiously. Like him, they had likely caught Enchantress's eye and been captured.

All three were handsome. Anyone capable of attracting Enchantress's interest naturally couldn't look ordinary.

"You're courting death!" the two spectral figures shouted.

Before Enchantress could respond, they vanished and reappeared beside the young man, slapping him twice across the face.

"I despise insults more than anything. Say something pleasant, and if I'm in a good mood, I might let you live a few more days," Enchantress said.

She seemed to transform into a completely different person.

Liu Wuxie felt the surrounding temperature plummet. The three youths struggled desperately against their restraints, unable to break free yet unwilling to submit.

"Enchantress, you might as well kill us! Even in death, we'll never join you in your depravity!" the youth in the middle retorted.

He would rather die than leave with Enchantress. The other two merely lowered their heads, lacking the courage to resist.

"Dying won't be that easy. Take them back," Enchantress ordered.

Her smile returned as though nothing had happened. She ignored the three youths and walked ahead while the spectral figures hoisted them up and followed her.

After returning to Moonveil City, the group headed directly toward the teleportation array.

"Release my son immediately!" two elders demanded as they appeared and blocked the road before the group reached the teleportation array.

"Father, save me!" the middle youth shouted desperately.

Anyone who fell into Enchantress's hands had virtually no chance of surviving.

"You demoness! How dare you abduct men from my Qin Clan in broad daylight? Release them immediately!" one elder demanded.

He drew a long spear and pointed it directly at her.

The elder possessed cultivation at the pinnacle of the Origin Immortal Realm, placing him roughly on par with Enchantress.

"Old Qin, you should consider it your son's good fortune that I took an interest in him. Get out of my way, or don't blame me for showing you no mercy," Enchantress replied.

She rolled up her sleeves and exposed her arms.

For some reason, the sight of those arms immediately reminded Liu Wuxie of two venomous vipers.

"Attack together and save the children," the two elders shouted.

Fury consumed them, but they still hesitated to confront Enchantress directly. She was one of the Four Great Guardians, and killing her would mean offending the Shadow Divination Gate, an enemy they couldn't afford to make.

"Go ahead and wait for me at the teleportation array," Enchantress ordered.

She charged forward and single-handedly confronted both opponents.

The remaining spectral figures shoved Liu Wuxie from behind, signaling for him to continue walking.

Left without a choice, Liu Wuxie obediently followed. He had wanted to remain and observe Enchantress's true strength. Countless dangers awaited inside the Shadow Divination Gate, and the slightest mistake could condemn him beyond redemption.

The battle caused a tremendous commotion that spread far and wide, yet no one stepped forward to interfere.

When Liu Wuxie entered the teleportation array, he discovered Black Tiger already waiting there with a grim expression.

Roughly fifteen minutes later, Enchantress arrived just as the teleportation array was about to activate. Her clothes were disheveled, especially around her chest, with her breasts nearly exposed. The sight made several Shadow Divination Gate disciples swallow hard.

"What are you staring at? Keep looking, and I'll gouge out your eyes," Enchantress threatened as she sat beside Liu Wuxie.

Every nearby Shadow Divination Gate disciple lowered his head, not daring even to breathe too loudly. Judging by Enchantress's condition, the two elders had failed to harm her, revealing that her strength was far more terrifying than Liu Wuxie had imagined.