Desolate Devouring Art - Chapter 1047 - Bow and Apologize

Chapter 1047 – Bow and Apologize

Everyone watched as Hu Shi carefully injected the rune sequence into the groove at the base of the sword’s hilt, the very spot he had pointed out earlier. The runes shimmered faintly, nearly invisible to the naked eye unless examined up close.

“The rune sequence is the same as the sword in his hand!” someone cried out.

The plaza erupted into an uproar. Shock rippled through the crowd; some were amazed by Hu Shi’s extraordinary blacksmithing while others were stunned by the Society’s strict, methodical protocols.

From the outset, the Society had calculated every step and anticipated every outcome.

“What profound blacksmithing skills. If a mere disciple is this strong, how powerful are Liu Wuxie’s blacksmithing skills?” someone in the crowd muttered.

Not long ago, Bi Gongyu had addressed Liu Wuxie as “Master.” Bi Gongyu was a renowned alchemy grandmaster, someone who could easily have become a chief alchemist in any top-tier force.

Yet, such a figure willingly served in the Heavenly Dao Society as a mere alchemist. It was something many still couldn’t make sense of.

The same was true for Hu Shi. With his level of skill, any faction would welcome him with open arms. And yet, he chose to remain within the ranks of an obscure group like the Heavenly Dao Society.

No one could understand it; what power could draw such rare talents to this seemingly insignificant group?

“Patriarch Yuan, do you have anything else to say?” Liu Wuxie asked softly with a harmless smile that sent a chill down everyone’s spine.

Just like that, a confrontation on the verge of violence was silenced by the Heavenly Dao Society.

Who would still dare to question the authenticity of their blacksmithing skills? Who would now claim the sword wasn’t their work?

The Memory Talisman couldn’t be faked. The rune sequences couldn’t be forged.

Each rune sequence was unique, like a serial number. If the sequence on Hu Shi’s sword represented “one,” no future weapon could bear that same pattern.

Unlike numbers, rune sequences couldn’t be reused. Attempting to duplicate one would render the sword completely useless.

That was the brilliance of the Heavenly Dao Society. They had created an anti-counterfeiting system so precise, so foolproof, that no one could hope to imitate it.

Despair settled over the Yuan Clan.

They had calculated every angle and prepared for every possible piece of evidence that Liu Wuxie would produce.

However, they hadn’t accounted for this.

Shi Yuan slowly backed away, dread settling deep in his chest as his gaze locked onto Liu Wuxie. In his eyes, this man was no longer human. He was a demon in disguise.

“I have to admit, the Heavenly Dao Society’s plans are far too secure,” Yuan Huaiguang said through clenched teeth. If not for the irreconcilable hostility between them, he might have showered Liu Wuxie with praise.

Alas, that possibility no longer existed. There was no future in which they could coexist.

Beyond the plaza, many second-tier forces who had initially objected to the Heavenly Dao Society’s presence now watched in awe. Their resentment had faded.

Whether in alchemy or blacksmithing, the Society had proven itself superior, even surpassing some of the continent’s most established powers.

“Since that’s the case,” Liu Wuxie said, his voice light and laced with amusement, “isn’t it time for Patriarch Yuan to fulfill his promise?”

His tone remained cheerful with the same easy smile on his lips. But that smile had fooled them all.

Many had once believed the Heavenly Dao Society thrived under the protection of the Liu Clan. Now, they realized they had it backward: the Liu Clan had risen because of the Heavenly Dao Society.

However, by the time they saw the truth, it was already too late.

“You!” Yuan Huaiguang staggered, his chest heaving as he nearly coughed up blood in fury.

As the patriarch of one of the Four Great Clans, he knew that if he slapped himself in public, it wouldn’t just be his disgrace; it would drag the entire Yuan Clan into humiliation.

“Patriarch Yuan, don’t tell me you plan to go back on your word now?” Liu Wuxie said in a calm but sharp tone, laced with irony. “That would be quite the disappointment.”

His words sliced deep, leaving the Yuan Clan seething in silence.

“Liu Wuxie, don’t take it too far!” Yuan Ziping stepped forward, unable to watch any longer.

“You’re right,” Liu Wuxie replied coldly. “I am going to take it far today.”

The playful gleam in his eyes vanished. What replaced it was a chilling gaze, filled with murderous intent that spread across the plaza like frost.

Even if a Heaven Profound Realm expert appeared now, it wouldn’t change a thing. He was ready to overturn the entire event.

He had shown restraint at first, hoping to preserve some decorum for the Spirit Jade Pavilion, but that changed the moment Shi Yuan had arrived and Elder Qin was abruptly reassigned.

He had understood clearly then that the Spirit Jade Pavilion had never intended to work with him.

So be it.

If they wanted to burn bridges, then he would set the whole river ablaze. From this day forward, he would use every opportunity to etch the Heavenly Dao Society’s name into the Central Plains.

Initially, surpassing the Spirit Jade Pavilion wasn’t even a dream. Especially, not with his strength or his people.

However, after today’s demonstration, he was confident the Heavenly Dao Society could replace the Spirit Jade Pavilion within a year.

That alliance had always been a stepping stone, a temporary tactic, which was never part of his true plan.

And now that the Spirit Jade Pavilion had torn it apart, he would offer no forgiveness in return.

“Liu Wuxie, don’t push it!” Yuan Zilong stepped forward, blocking his father. “If you’re willing to let him off from slapping himself, the Yuan Clan is prepared to accept one of your conditions.”

Yuan Huaiguang was the face of the Yuan Clan. Forcing him to slap himself would be no different than dragging the clan’s pride through the mud.

“Yuan Zilong, who the hell do you think you are to negotiate with me?” Liu Wuxie snapped, his gaze sharp as blades. “You’re just a coward who ran from the Sacred Ground with your tail tucked between your legs.”

The words cut deep. He hadn’t forgotten. These people were the reason behind Han Feizi’s tragic fate.

Yuan Zilong’s fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms until blood welled up. But he didn’t flinch. The pain in his heart far outweighed anything his body could feel.

“Liu Wuxie, I won’t slap myself,” Yuan Huaiguang said at last in a cold tone. “State your condition. As long as it’s not excessive, I’ll agree to it.”

He couldn’t bear the sight of his son’s broken dao heart. The humiliation was unbearable, but he restrained his fury. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to flay Liu Wuxie alive.

A heavy silence fell across the plaza.

Everyone could see that Yuan Huaiguang would never slap himself, not even in defeat. But he would pay a price, so long as it didn’t shatter the Yuan Clan’s foundation.

“I can let you off the hook,” Liu Wuxie replied. “But my condition won’t be an easy one.”

He had known from the start that forcing Yuan Huaiguang to slap himself was difficult. If it happened, the Yuan Clan’s prestige would collapse to that of a second-tier force.

“Name it,” Yuan Huaiguang said through gritted teeth. He had already resolved himself to accept whatever came, so long as it didn’t shake the clan’s foundation.

“My condition is simple,” Liu Wuxie said, raising his voice so the entire plaza could hear. His eyes grew misty, heavy with memory. “I don’t want your resources. I want your entire clan to bow to the families of the Liu Clan disciples who died.”

He was well aware of the blood price the Liu Clan had paid. After the rumors of his death in the Sacred Ground, they had clashed repeatedly with the Yuan, Wang, and Zhou Clans. Dozens of Liu Clan disciples had perished. Each one had parents, lovers, and children left behind to mourn.

“What? Bow to the Liu Clan? Impossible!” Yuan Ziping shouted, unable to contain himself. To bow would be to admit fault, to lower themselves publicly, and that would fracture their authority within the Yuan Clan.

“That’s just shameful,” someone from the crowd muttered. “You asked him to name a condition, and now you’re backing down?”

The words cut deep.

The Yuan Clan had started this fight. They had set the terms. Now, trying to retreat from their bargain only brought disdain.

“Patriarch Yuan, if that’s too much for you, maybe the Yuan Clan should just go into hiding! Or leave the Central Plains!” someone from the Liu Clan’s supporters shouted with scorn.

“Liu Wuxie, you’re truly venomous!” Yuan Huaiguang growled. A spurt of blood burst from his mouth, the force of his rage breaking through his cultivation. A dignified cultivator of the Earth Profound Realm, reduced to this by a single man.

“Right back at you,” Liu Wuxie sneered, his tone colder than steel.

His gaze turned toward the edge of the crowd, and like water parting before a blade, the people stepped aside.

A group of elderly men, grieving women, and children with red-rimmed eyes emerged. All of them wore white mourning clothes wrapped around their heads. There was no mistaking it. These were the families of the dead.

“What’s going on? Why are the Liu Clan’s widows and orphans here?” someone gasped. “Did Liu Wuxie plan all of this?”

The plaza erupted with murmurs of disbelief.

It took hours to travel from the Liu Clan’s territory. These people hadn’t just arrived. They had been waiting all along. Which meant—

“If Liu Wuxie planned all of this… that’s terrifying,” one of the other major sect leaders muttered, a look of horror etched across his face.

No one could comprehend the extent of such foresight. They couldn’t imagine how a single person could plan so far ahead with such precision.

What they didn’t know was that Liu Wuxie had spent every ounce of his energy preparing for this moment five days ago. He had even used the Heavenly Dao Book to simulate countless outcomes.

“Patriarch Yuan,” Liu Xiucheng said, rising slowly to his feet. His voice was calm, but his presence weighed down on him like a mountain. “They’re here. Are you going to go back on your word again?”

At that moment, it became clear to all that the Yuan Clan was no longer equal to the Liu Clan.

Although the Liu Clan had lost prestige in recent years, they still bore the weight of their bloodline and the dignity of their heritage. Honor and truth defined them.

The others? All they had left were schemes and masks.

“BOW!”

“BOW!”

The chant rang out like thunder, rising from the crowd in a wave of fury and righteousness.

“Elder Long Chen, you’ve witnessed everything,” Liu Xiucheng said, turning toward the Spirit Jade Pavilion’s elder. His voice was calm, but the weight behind his words was unmistakable. “Whether it’s our Liu Clan or the Heavenly Dao Society, we have followed the rules from the beginning to the end. It was the Yuan Clan that provoked us. If this matter can’t be resolved fairly, we have no reason to stay.”

With those words, he placed the Spirit Jade Pavilion directly on the scale.

“I agree with Patriarch Liu,” the sect master of the Nine Profound Sect spoke up. “Since we’re all here for the commerce fair, the rules must be upheld. The Heavenly Dao Society has proven itself. Now it’s the Yuan Clan’s turn to fulfill their end of the wager.”

One by one, others rose in agreement. Even the neutral sects began to shift their stance, siding with Liu Wuxie.

The Heavenly Dao Society had momentum. With this level of preparation, strength, and strategic foresight, it wouldn’t be long before they surpassed even the top-tier powers. Now was the best time to win their favor, before they became untouchable.

And if the Yuan Clan refused to apologize?

Then, the commerce fair would fall apart right here. Dozens of sects would walk out in protest, and the Spirit Jade Pavilion’s hard-earned prestige would collapse in a single day.

That was something the Spirit Jade Pavilion could not afford.

“Patriarch Yuan, please uphold your part of the wager,” Long Chen finally said with a heavy sigh. He hadn’t anticipated the situation spiraling to this point.

Search the NovelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.