Desolate Devouring Art

Eastern Emperor City rested beneath the looming weight of three great superpowers, namely the Eastern Emperor Pavilion, the Azure Flame Dao Hall, and the Xiang Manor.

Of those three towering forces, the Eastern Emperor Pavilion stood at the peak, the Azure Flame Dao Hall claimed second place, and the Xiang Manor held third. Beneath them stood the other clans, including the Shen Clan.

Those major clans were far from weak; they merely lacked the same deep foundation as the three giants above them. The Shen Clan also had powerhouses at the Divine Immortal Realm, so they naturally had no reason to fear the Xiang Clan.

"Everyone knows what happened in the Dragon Burial Mountain Range, so how is this interference? Or do you people think you can march into the Azure Flame Dao Hall and throw your weight around?" Xiang Zicheng asked calmly.

The moment he had appeared, he had given Liu Wuxie a slight nod, his gaze steady and reassuring, silently promising that as long as he stood there, no one would be allowed to harm him.

From the moment Xiang Zicheng had learned that Liu Wuxie could refine the Soul Healing Pills, his attitude toward him had changed completely.

"A bastard like him should've been thrown out of the Azure Flame Dao Hall a long time ago!" Bai Jingye said, stepping forward.

Shen Chao and several other mentors nodded in agreement. Shen Chao belonged to the Shen Clan. Not only did he serve as a deacon in Eastern Emperor City, but he also held the position of acting mentor in the Azure Flame Dao Hall.

"Exactly. Someone like him has no place here!" an upper echelon of the Azure Flame Dao Hall said, backing Bai Jingye.

"Throw him out! Throw him out!" many students shouted together, turning the demand for Liu Wuxie's expulsion into a rising wave of noise.

Shen Guang couldn't kill Liu Wuxie inside the Azure Flame Dao Hall while he still carried the title of assistant mentor. But if the Azure Flame Dao Hall expelled him, that protection would vanish, and they could move against him without restraint.

They shouted for a long time, yet none of them dared to act right away, wary that the Azure Flame Dao Hall's upper echelons would step in. For now, only a small portion of the upper echelons supported Shen Guang, while most wore furious expressions, because not everyone had lost the ability to tell right from wrong.

"We're all mentors of the Azure Flame Dao Hall. If we can't even tell right from wrong, how are we supposed to teach our students? How are we supposed to command any respect?" Lao Kaiyu asked.

He had never expected so many people to abandon even the most basic righteousness and morality just to crush Liu Wuxie.

The crowd split instantly into two factions. One side backed Shen Guang, while the other stood with Lao Kaiyu, and the argument churned on without end.

"Enough! All of you, quiet!" Zuo Yang shouted as he appeared.

"You're mentors, yet you're arguing like this in front of the students? Have you no shame?" he snapped, forcing Bai Jingye and the others to lower their heads.

"Elder Zuo, you came at the right time. Every year, our Shen Clan sends many students to the Azure Flame Dao Hall, yet a mentor killed a student for no reason. The Azure Flame Dao Hall owes us an explanation," Shen Guang said, his accusing gaze fixed on Zuo Yang.

Everyone turned toward Zuo Yang. They all knew he was the hall master's trusted subordinate, and his presence represented the hall master's stance.

"The Azure Flame Dao Hall will handle this matter fairly. If you've come as guests, we welcome you. If you're here to cause trouble, then leave now," Zuo Yang replied, his voice hard as iron. His stance made it clear that the hall master intended to protect Liu Wuxie.

As soon as he spoke, Shen Guang and the patriarchs beside him exchanged glances, suspicion flickering in their eyes. They could hardly believe the Azure Flame Dao Hall would offend so many clans for a mere assistant mentor.

"Elder Zuo, our clan sends a huge amount of resources to the Azure Flame Dao Hall every year. Is this how you treat us? Are you telling us our disciples are supposed to die for nothing?" Shen Guang asked, his face darkening.

"If the Azure Flame Dao Hall refuses to punish the murderer today, then our clans will stop sending students here!" Zhu Chaoyang added to put pressure on Zuo Yang.

The Azure Flame Dao Hall obtained its resources by recruiting students. If these clans refused to send their clansmen in the future, their income would suffer a sharp decline.

Even so, Eastern Emperor City housed many clans, and losing a few hundred students would not truly wound the Azure Flame Dao Hall.

Liu Wuxie stood quietly to the side, watching the situation unfold like a storm gathering around him. He was also curious why the Azure Flame Dao Hall would rather offend Shen Guang and the other clans than abandon him.

Liu Wuxie was not the only one confused; Ye Linghan and the other students were just as baffled. Xiang Zicheng alone was not enough to sway the Azure Flame Dao Hall.

In the distance, an old man appeared accompanied by a young man and a woman, and they walked toward Gongye Zhang.

"Brother Meng, you still haven't told me why you're so determined to protect this young man," Gongye Zhang said with a smile as he looked at the approaching old man.

If Liu Wuxie had been there, he would have recognized the trio immediately. They were the same three people he had encountered deep inside the Dragon Burial Mountain Range.

"You'll understand the reason one day," the old man replied with a smile, offering nothing more.

"If he's caught your eye, then there must be something extraordinary about him," Gongye Zhang responded.

From his tone, it was not difficult to tell that the old man's status was extraordinary, because a trace of respect was evident in his voice.

The conflict at the Southern Lake continued, and Zuo Yang had already made the Azure Flame Dao Hall's stance clear. They would investigate this matter thoroughly and announce the result once the investigation ended.

"I understand how all of you feel, but the Azure Flame Dao Hall has its own rules. Whether you send your clansmen here in the future is your choice, but don't interfere with our classes. If you're here as guests, you may go to the reception hall," Zuo Yang repeated, his position remaining firm.

His words carried an unmistakable warning that if Shen Guang and the others continued stirring trouble here, the Azure Flame Dao Hall would no longer treat them politely.

An uproar erupted through the surroundings, especially among Wei Wenbin and Nangong Shan's students, who looked as if they wanted Liu Wuxie removed immediately.

"Is the Azure Flame Dao Hall really going to protect a murderer?" a cold voice called from afar, its bone-chilling tone spreading across the Southern Lake.

When everyone turned around, two old men came into their sight.

The moment Liu Wuxie saw them, his eyes narrowed. They were the Yin-Yang Elders from the underground fight club.

Zuo Yang also frowned when he saw them. Everyone knew the underground fight club belonged to the Eastern Emperor Pavilion. While others didn't know what Liu Wuxie had done there, the Azure Flame Dao Hall's upper echelons knew it clearly. After all, Ye Linghan had sent them a message.

"Yin-Yang Elders, what exactly are you trying to say?" Zuo Yang asked with a frown.

He had already brought the situation under control, so why was the Eastern Emperor Pavilion choosing to interfere now?

"Nothing complicated. Some of the dead students belonged to our Eastern Emperor Pavilion," Yang Elder replied, his tone sharp and aggressive.

A sinister smile instantly crept across Shen Guang's face. They naturally couldn't fight the Azure Flame Dao Hall to the bitter end, but the Eastern Emperor Pavilion could.

Liu Wuxie remained silent, and by now, he could confirm that Eastern Emperor City was the true mastermind behind this incident and had instigated Shen Guang and the others.

Back when Liu Wuxie had passed through the life gate, he had caused the underground fight club a tremendous loss. Their reputation had plummeted as well, and many cultivators had tried to imitate Liu Wuxie by challenging the life gate.

With the Eastern Emperor Pavilion stepping into the matter, the situation instantly became far more complicated, forcing the Azure Flame Dao Hall into a passive position.

"Based on our investigation, Assistant Liu was not at fault that day," Zuo Yang replied after a brief pause, weighing every word with care.

"If that's true, then show us the evidence that proves his innocence," Yin Elder replied with a cold smirk.

The valley had been flooded with immortal beasts that day. Although many people had witnessed the events, no substantial evidence remained. Everything had only spread by word of mouth.

After learning that the Eastern Emperor Pavilion had involved itself in the matter, everyone who had witnessed the truth chose to remain silent. They all knew that if they stepped forward, they would only offend the Eastern Emperor Pavilion.

Yin Elder's words left Zuo Yang stumped because he had no evidence to present. Although everyone understood what had happened, they had all focused on survival that day, and who would have had the mind to care about another person's life?

"Yin-Yang Elders, you're twisting the whole matter," Lao Kaiyu argued. As a mentor, he was the most suitable person to speak at this moment.

After all, Xiang Zicheng was the patriarch of the Xiang Manor. If he spoke now, it would be equal to opposing the Eastern Emperor Pavilion.

"If you can provide solid proof that Liu Wuxie did nothing wrong, we'll drop the matter," Yin Elder replied, his sinister tone wrapped beneath a false smile.

"We were there that day, and Liu Wuxie slaughtered ordinary students like a madman!" three cultivators said as they ran from afar. Their cultivation was only ordinary at the Spirit Immortal Realm, and they had also been present in the valley.

Surrounding students and mentors began exchanging glances. The matter grew murkier by the second, making it difficult for them to choose sides.

Some claimed that others had forced Liu Wuxie to retaliate, but the three who had stepped forward accused him of being a murderous maniac.

"You all heard that, didn't you? These three were in the valley that day, and they personally saw Liu Wuxie kill those students. We have witnesses now. Is the Azure Flame Dao Hall still going to protect him?" Yang Elder declared with righteous confidence, pointing at the three cultivators.

Zuo Yang's brows furrowed even deeper, and he subconsciously turned his gaze toward the back of Southern Lake.

"Liu Wuxie, you don't deserve to be an assistant mentor. If I were you, I'd end my own life right here and let the dead rest in peace!" the students standing behind Wei Wenbin said, stepping forward and calling Liu Wuxie by name.

Anxiety rose in Ye Linghan's heart, and she turned to look at Liu Wuxie, only to find that he did not appear worried at all. Instead, a faint mocking smile lingered at the corner of his mouth.

"Elder Zuo, step aside. I'm going to avenge my clansmen today," Shen Guang said, pressing forward. The advantage had shifted to their side, and they used it to pressure Zuo Yang.

Zhu Chaoyang and the others advanced toward Liu Wuxie step by step, searching for a chance to strike. With so many experts present, Zuo Yang and Ye Linghan alone couldn't stop them all.

"Second Uncle, you have to protect Assistant Liu!" Xiang Rulong whispered to his second uncle.

Xiang Zicheng nodded. He had come to ask Liu Wuxie for a favor, so he naturally would not stand by and watch him die here.

The situation had become extremely unfavorable for Liu Wuxie.

"I have evidence!" a voice rang out from the edge of the Southern Lake as a young man and a woman strode into view.

Liu Wuxie narrowed his eyes when he saw the newcomers, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

When the Yin-Yang Elders saw the young man and the woman, they could not help frowning. The man looked dignified and imposing, while the woman appeared graceful and elegant. Anyone could tell at a glance that they came from a noble background.

"Who are they? I've never seen them before," someone asked.

Both clearly did not belong to the Azure Flame Dao Hall. They were neither students nor mentors.