Desolate Devouring Art - Chapter 1034 - Threaten

Chapter 1034 – Threaten

If anyone else had made the request, the young attendant would’ve refused without hesitation. However, Liu Wuxie’s legendary feat of memorizing tens of thousands of materials in a single sitting still echoed through the halls of the Spirit Jade Pavilion. People still talked about it.

“Please wait here while I report to Elder Qin,” the attendant said, bowing once before hurrying toward the inner hall.

Liu Wuxie wasn’t in a rush. He stood calmly in the main hall, waiting patiently. About fifteen minutes later, the attendant returned, accompanied by a robust, imposing elder. It was none other than Elder Qin.

“Junior pays respects to Elder Qin,” Liu Wuxie greeted with a respectful bow.

“I’ve heard a great deal about you these past few months,” Elder Qin said with a hearty chuckle. “They say you’ve slain Earth Profound Realm cultivators while still in the Spirit Profound Realm, and even survived the Heaven-Curtaining Red Luan. Truly remarkable!”

By now, only a few in the Central Plains hadn’t heard of Liu Wuxie. It wasn’t just his rising fame, but more than anything, he was the first person to return alive from the Void Realm.

“Elder Qin, you flatter me,” Liu Wuxie said with a polite smile. “I’ve come today to ask for a favor.”

He had considered letting the Liu Clan request an invitation on behalf of the Heavenly Dao Society. However, the pavilion would issue such invitations under the Liu Clan’s name, not the society’s. That wouldn’t fulfil his expectations.

So he had come in person. Only this way could the Heavenly Dao Society participate in the upcoming commerce fair under its name.

This event would bring together not only major factions but also countless cultivators. And with Astral Glory City hosting the fair this time, they couldn’t afford to miss the opportunity.

“Come with me,” Elder Qin said, leading them toward the corridor. The front hall was too noisy for a proper discussion, so he led Liu Wuxie into the quieter inner hall.

The pavilion typically permitted only those of noble standing in the Central Plains to enter this space. Elder Qin’s invitation to Liu Wuxie was a rare exception and everyone noticed it.

“Who’s that brat? Why are they allowing someone at the Spirit Profound Realm to enter the inner hall?” someone in the crowd whispered, eyeing Liu Wuxie with suspicion.

“That’s Liu Wuxie,” another replied. “He’s a disciple of the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy, the one who founded the Heavenly Dao Society.”

Everyone in Astral Glory City had already heard of Liu Wuxie’s name.

“What a joke! Someone at the Spirit Profound Realm dares to establish his force? Does he even know what death means? The moment they threaten the interests of the major factions, those factions will crush them,” sneered voices from the surrounding crowd.

So far, the Heavenly Dao Society hadn’t challenged any established factions’ interests. That restraint alone had kept others from acting against them. But once they posed a real threat, suppression would follow swiftly and mercilessly.

Liu Wuxie heard every word of the mockery, but remained impassive. Not a flicker of emotion broke through his calm exterior.

Elder Qin, walking beside him, observed closely. He noted Liu Wuxie’s steady demeanor and couldn’t help but be impressed by the young man’s composure.

Inside the quiet private chamber, Elder Qin gestured for Liu Wuxie to take a seat.

Fan Zhen and Bi Gongyu stood respectfully behind him, saying nothing. They understood the rules well: the pavilion rarely allowed outsiders this deep inside.

“So, what brings you here?” Elder Qin asked, an amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“I’d like to request an invitation on behalf of the Heavenly Dao Society,” Liu Wuxie said directly.

“This…” Elder Qin’s smile faded into a look of hesitation. It was clear he had anticipated this request, yet he had waited for Liu Wuxie to speak it aloud.

An invitation wasn’t something he could grant on his own. It required agreement from the upper echelons of the Spirit Jade Pavilion.

While the pavilion didn’t hold overwhelming martial power like the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy, its status in the Central Plains was unmatched; even the Profound Cloud Sect couldn’t compare.

Not even the four great clans stood on equal footing with the Spirit Jade Pavilion. For years, numerous factions had attempted to form a partnership with them. Securing such a connection meant their products would never again lack a market.

“I know this request puts you in a difficult position, Elder Qin,” Liu Wuxie said sincerely. “But the Heavenly Dao Society needs this invitation. Otherwise, it won’t just be our loss, it’ll be a great loss for the Spirit Jade Pavilion as well.”

He had come fully prepared. Even if Elder Qin turned him down, he had backup plans ready. Still, he preferred to resolve matters personally rather than rely on external force.

“That’s an interesting way to put it,” Elder Qin said with a grin. “If anyone else had said that, I would’ve kicked them out already. But since it’s you, I trust there’s a reason behind those words. Go ahead, convince me.”

If those words had come from anyone else, Elder Qin would’ve dismissed them as arrogance. But he knew Liu Wuxie wasn’t one to boast without cause.

“Thank you, Elder Qin!” Liu Wuxie replied gratefully.

At Liu Wuxie’s signal, Bi Gongyu stepped forward and produced several items from his interspatial ring: a porcelain bottle, a longsword, a talisman, and an array compass.

Liu Wuxie had refined the compass so well that it already surpassed the Liao Clan’s craftsmanship. Liu Wuxie could now activate it instantly from any location. It was a significant advancement that placed it far above similar artifacts on the market.

Elder Qin cast a glance at the items before speaking.

“We’ve received weapons and pills from your Heavenly Dao Society before,” he said, pausing. “But their quality…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear. The Spirit Jade Pavilion had rejected the earlier products for failing to meet their high standards.

Liu Wuxie stayed calm.

“Elder Qin, I ask that you examine these first,” he said.

Seeing the confidence in Liu Wuxie’s expression, Elder Qin reached for the longsword. As he unsheathed it, a faint dragon’s cry echoed from the blade and resonated through the chamber like a living spirit roused from slumber.

Elder Qin’s eyes lit up with surprise.

“A fine sword,” he said, offering his praise without hesitation.

Setting the blade down, Elder Qin reached for the talisman next. As he infused it with his true essence, a brilliant radiance burst forth.

The talisman released spiritual runes that spun into the air, swirling like golden divine dragons.

Elder Qin praised, “An excellent talisman! Though it doesn’t compare to a profound talisman, it’s top-tier among spiritual talismans.”

The Spirit Jade Pavilion did sell profound talismans, but spiritual talismans made up the bulk of the market. After all, only Earth Profound Realm cultivators could craft profound talismans, and each one was worth a fortune.

Withdrawing his true essence, Elder Qin allowed the spiritual talisman’s glow to fade, then reluctantly set it aside.

Next, he examined the array compass. As he probed it with his divine sense, his face lit with surprise and approval.

Finally, he uncorked the porcelain bottle and tipped a pill onto his palm.

“Impressive,” Elder Qin said. “Judging from its color and luster, this is a high-quality pill.”

Though Bi Gongyu hadn’t reached the Spirit Profound Realm, he could already refine spiritual pills, a skill he owed to Liu Wuxie’s guidance.

Elder Qin praised all four items genuinely.

“How are they?” Liu Wuxie asked with a smile. He was confident these products could rival those sold by the Spirit Jade Pavilion.

“They’re excellent,” Elder Qin admitted. “If you can maintain this level of quality and supply them steadily, these could become some of our frontline products.”

“I’ll be honest with you,” Liu Wuxie said as he carefully packed the items away. “The Heavenly Dao Society produced all of these.”

“If I recall correctly, the batch previously submitted by the Heavenly Dao Society was subpar,” Elder Qin said bluntly.

Fan Zhen had personally delivered that batch to the Spirit Jade Pavilion just a month ago.

Inspectors had examined the goods on the spot in front of a crowd of witnesses, and everyone present had unanimously deemed the products substandard.

“That’s why I came to explain,” Liu Wuxie said, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. “The goods were tampered with. The Yuan Clan swapped our products for inferior ones.”

Elder Qin’s expression turned serious. If Liu Wuxie told the truth, then someone had already breached the Spirit Jade Pavilion’s internal operations, an offense the pavilion treated with utmost seriousness.

“Do you have any proof?” Elder Qin asked sternly.

The Spirit Jade Pavilion upheld strict protocols. It forbade bribery and closely monitored every delivery. If someone had tampered with the goods, it was an inside job.

Without a word, Fan Zhen stepped forward and placed a booklet on the table.

Elder Qin picked it up and began flipping through the pages.

The report provided thorough and detailed findings, far more than one would expect from the Heavenly Dao Society alone. But that was because of their alliance with the Liu Clan and their spy inside the Wang Clan.

Wang Chen’s undercover work allowed them to monitor nearly everything within the Wang Clan.

“You want to accuse us of tampering with the Heavenly Dao Society’s goods based on a single booklet?” Elder Qin abruptly stood up, his expression shifting into one of alarm. A flush crept up his face.

If word of this got out, the Spirit Jade Pavilion’s reputation would be in jeopardy. If the upper echelon launched an investigation, they would hold someone responsible and undoubtedly make heads roll.

Liu Wuxie had expected this reaction. It was only natural for Elder Qin to be on edge; after all, this matter touched the core of the pavilion’s credibility.

“This isn’t an accusation,” Liu Wuxie said calmly. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he remained seated. “If I had come to defame the Spirit Jade Pavilion, I wouldn’t have stepped foot in here today.”

“Then are you threatening us?” Elder Qin’s voice dropped. His tone sharpened, and his gaze narrowed. His stance was clear, and he was ready to act if necessary.

“If I wanted to threaten the Spirit Jade Pavilion,” Liu Wuxie replied evenly, “I wouldn’t have come personally. I could’ve just made copies of this booklet and delivered them directly to the pavilion’s upper echelons.”

His tone was calm but firm. And what he said was the truth. If he truly intended to threaten the pavilion, there was no need for a personal visit. He wouldn’t have wasted the effort.

“Wait here. I’ll consult the pavilion master,” Elder Qin said.

The situation turned out far more serious than he had expected. He had never imagined that elders in the Spirit Jade Pavilion would collude with outsiders for personal gain.

With that, Elder Qin left the room, leaving Liu Wuxie’s group of three behind.

“Wuxie, isn’t this a little too risky?” Fan Zhen asked, a trace of concern showing on his face. “If the pavilion turns on us and takes the booklet, we’ll have no evidence left.”

The booklet was the only copy from Wang Chen. If someone destroyed it, they would lose their only leverage.

“Elder Qin wouldn’t have left if he intended to silence us,” Liu Wuxie replied with a faint smile.

Even if the Spirit Jade Pavilion decided to act against them, Liu Wuxie was confident he could escape unharmed.

After about fifteen minutes, Elder Qin returned to the room. His expression was grim.

“The pavilion can make an exception and allow the Heavenly Dao Society to participate,” he said, his tone noticeably softer. “But we will be keeping the booklet.”

“Agreed,” Liu Wuxie replied without hesitation and tossed the booklet over to Elder Qin.

Moments later, an attendant brought in a golden invitation and handed it to Liu Wuxie.

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