Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 463 - Astral River Realm’s Pursuit

They coveted his soul technique and came under the pretense of recruiting him. Aside from the two major forces, the surrounding cultivators also eyed Liu Wuxie greedily.

Due to the spiritual array, no one in the Heavenly Phase Realm could break in. But it was different for cultivators in the Astral River Realm because they could easily tear through the spiritual array's defenses.

No one dared to act because the Wolf Fang Regiment and Ding Feng Hall's people hadn't come yet. Everyone believed these two major forces would take such a golden opportunity, and the two forces came as everyone had expected.

The only thing they didn't anticipate was Liu Wuxie's rejection. Rejecting the two forces placed Liu Wuxie in the spotlight because no one on the Blood Sea Abyssal Island would be willing to back him up.

This meant Liu Wuxie's next two months would be challenging, and he might even die on the Blood Sea Abyssal Island.

Ninety percent of the city's territory had fallen into the hands of the Wolf Fang Regiment and Ding Feng Hall; the two forces forbade Liu Wuxie from stepping foot in their territory. The remaining territory was divided among the smaller forces.

However, Liu Wuxie entering their territory was the same as walking into the lion's den, while leaving the city meant facing the pursuit of the sea demons and abyssal devils, further compressing Liu Wuxie's space to go to virtually nothing.

Even so, Liu Wuxie still didn't choose to compromise because some things couldn't be changed for a lifetime.

Gu Yu said nothing because he supported Liu Wuxie's decision. He wouldn't join the two forces even if his grandfather were present.

"Big Brother Liu, let's leave the Blood Sea Abyssal Island if there's no choice!" Gu Yu suggested, believing they would be safe after leaving.

"Are you afraid?" Liu Wuxie asked Gu Yu, narrowing his eyes. The latter had significantly matured over the past month, but that didn't change the fact he was still young. Thus, it was natural for him to be afraid under such tremendous pressure.

Fear was a natural human emotion, and Liu Wuxie felt it sometimes, just that he kept it hidden in his heart.

"I'm not afraid!" Gu Yu puffed his chest out with no hint of fear in his eyes. After all, leaving was only the last resort.

"Don't worry about it; we won't die so easily," Liu Wuxie said with a sharp flash in his eyes. He could only grow quickly under tremendous pressure and needed to make the most out of the next two months to increase his cultivation as much as possible.

After all, Liu Wuxie had sworn that Jiang Gongming would meet his end once he returned from the Blood Sea Abyssal Island, and he couldn't die before exacting his revenge. He also knew that the Hou Clan would likely send more experts, so he had to remain vigilant.

The next two days passed quietly, with no one daring to disturb Liu Wuxie. It wasn't that they didn't want to, but rather that they were hesitant. With the possibility that Liu Wuxie might still join a faction, they weren't willing to take the risk. But once the two-day deadline passed, the situation would change.

On the third day, Liu Wuxie and Gu Yu came out of their courtyard, and many people, including men from the Wolf Fang Regiment, gathered in the surroundings.

Liu Wuxie glanced around calmly and walked through the street, heading out of the city.

Outside the city were desolate mines and a dense forest. They would be safe there as long as they could hold out for two months.

Thousands of eyes watched as Liu Wuxie and Gu Yu left the city.

"He’s left the city. Now, he'll have to face abyssal devil attacks at night and sea demons during the day. And let’s not forget—the Wolf Fang Regiment and Ding Feng Hall won’t let him go so easily," the crowd murmured as they watched Liu Wuxie depart.

"He only has himself to blame for being so stubborn. If he had just handed over his soul technique, he wouldn’t have had to join the Wolf Fang Regiment. Trading the soul technique for his life would’ve been worth it," another added.

Many believed Liu Wuxie didn’t know what was best for him and should’ve exchanged his soul technique for the right to live safely in the city. Even if he didn’t join them, the Wolf Fang Regiment would have ensured his safety. After all, they had plenty of elites, and Liu Wuxie wouldn’t have changed much.

Liu Wuxie felt a burden lifted off his shoulders when he came out of the city.

"Gu Yu, we might have to stay on the run for a while. Be prepared," Liu Wuxie said, knowing that the next two months would be a relentless struggle to survive.

"I'm ready!" Gu Yu replied with an honest smile. They had made their decision, and there was no turning back.

The two couldn't stay in one place for more than an hour, constantly on the move as they were followed by those eager to strike. Their pursuers knew that killing Liu Wuxie and seizing the soul technique in broad daylight would draw too much attention, so they patiently waited for nightfall, planning to take the soul technique and flee into hiding afterward.

Throughout their journey, Liu Wuxie used Ghost Eye several times, scanning the area within thousands of meters for any subtle movement. If they detected any sign of an ambush, they would immediately change course, avoiding danger.

"Big Brother Liu, why are we back at the mines?" Gu Yu asked curiously because they went in circles and ended up back at the mines.

"We're too conspicuous on the surface, but there's an underground network of tunnels. It won't be easy for them to find us once we're inside," Liu Wuxie explained.

The underground world beneath the Blood Sea Abyssal Island was a labyrinth of interconnected tunnels, formed over years of excavation. Liu Wuxie had mapped out these tunnels using Ghost Eye while digging for the Wild Lion Gate, making him perhaps the only one who fully understood this hidden network.

As night fell, Liu Wuxie led Gu Yu to a deserted mine, carefully scouting the area to ensure no one was guarding it. The two major forces controlled most of the mines, leaving only low-production areas for smaller groups to squabble over.

Suddenly, a terrifying aura descended from the sky like someone had found them.

“Astral River Realm!” Liu Wuxie exclaimed in surprise because they thought they had been careful, but who could've tracked them down?

Gu Yu wielded his longsword and was prepared for a fight.

Although the sky had turned dark, the Blood Sea Abyssal Island was enveloped in a faint glow that kept the visibility high at night.

Facing someone in the Heavenly Phase Realm was Liu Wuxie's limit, and his odds of winning were low against someone in the Astral River Realm.

"Run!" Liu Wuxie immediately chose to flee without hesitation. The two used their movement technique to dart towards the underground world.

As long as they entered the underground world, they would be safe because even cultivators in the Astral River Realm didn't dare to unleash any large-scale attacks underground.

After all, everyone would be buried if they were underground, and this was also Liu Wuxie's main reason for choosing the mines.

"Brat, where do you think you're going?" A roar came from behind as the person shot forward with his high-speed movement technique, creating a powerful air current.

A middle-aged man appeared before Liu Wuxie, blocking his path with a teasing look in his eyes.

"Who are you?" Liu Wuxie didn't recognize this person. He was familiar with most of the two major forces' higher-ups but hadn't seen this man before.

"You crippled three members of my Qingxiu Clan, and you don't know who I am?" The middle-aged man hovered in the air with his aura crashing down, and the sheer pressure alone made Gu Yu collapse onto the ground.

The Heavenly Dao Book unfolded, and all the pressure vanished.

"Mhm??" The middle-aged man showed a hint of doubt in his eyes that Liu Wuxie could resolve his pressure.

"You're Qingxiu Clan's leader, Li Xiaohai!" Liu Wuxie said slowly.

The Qingxiu Clan's leader had a cultivation in the second level of the Astral River Realm. In the past three days, he had recruited hundreds of people to establish a force and occupied a large territory.

"That's right. So, you know who I am!" Li Xiaohai's eyes flashed with a strange light.

"Are you here to avenge Wei Zhong and others?" Liu Wuxie asked coldly, secretly accumulating his strength to strike instantly if danger arose. He had secretly sent a voice transmission to Gu Yu, telling him to retreat because the commotion caused by the battle would be great.

There were no outsiders around; Liu Wuxie had skillfully evaded all his pursuers and thought he had successfully escaped. But despite his efforts, Li Xiaohai had still managed to track him down.

"Revenge is one thing, but I'm curious how you defeated Wei Zhong. I can consider sparing your life if you tell me." Li Xiaohai's face was full of smiles, and he could consider sparing Liu Wuxie if the latter was willing to hand over his soul technique.

Then again, this was only a strategy to appease Liu Wuxie.

"I even rejected the Wolf Fang Regiment and Ding Feng Hall. What makes you think I'll tell you?" Liu Wuxie looked at Li Xiaohai with a smile. He was fearless of the two major forces, not to mention the Qingxiu Clan.

"You're bold—boldest I've ever seen. But have you considered that my chance to catch you here exists precisely because you refused those two forces?" Li Xiaohai said, acknowledging Liu Wuxie's audacity.

He had encountered countless geniuses in his life, but very few made it to the end. Most were cut down before they could realize their full potential, either by the hands of others or by fate itself.

"And you think you're capable of killing me?" The Heretic Blade appeared in Liu Wuxie's hand.

Since Li Xiaohai had found him, he naturally wouldn't let him go. This meant they would have to fight, but Liu Wuxie wasn't confident that he could retreat safely from this battle against someone in the second level of the Astral River Realm.

Liu Wuxie knew there was no path of retreat because Li Xiaohai wouldn't let him go even if he handed the soul technique over. After all, secrets were only allowed to be enjoyed by one person, and the soul technique wouldn't be unique to him as long as Liu Wuxie lived.

His promise of sparing Liu Wuxie's life was nonsense, and the two knew well that a battle was inevitable.

"You want to defeat me with cultivation in the first level of the Heavenly Phase Realm? This is the biggest joke I've heard!" Li Xiaohai laughed because it wasn't easy for Liu Wuxie to injure him with his soul technique.

His astral river power formed into a galaxy and enveloped Liu Wuxie. This was the astral river power, which could harness the power of the universe. Even if Liu Wuxie was strong, it didn't change the fact he was a mortal.

The surrounding space began to tremble violently, and Liu Wuxie felt an unprecedented pressure even before the astral river energy struck, with an impending sense of death looming over his heart.

Gu Yu stood in the distance and took out a compass to start calculating. He suddenly walked to the right and scattered some strange items.