Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 291 - Swastika

“It’s nothing!” Fan Lin grinned, patting Liu Wuxie’s shoulder with his greasy hand. His robe was dirty and messy, looking ragged, but he had clear eyes. As the saying went, the eyes were the window to the heart.

Liu Wuxie returned to his area to continue cultivating; the battles in the arenas had nothing to do with him.

The battles became increasingly intense, with representatives from the various empires clashing, and the death toll continued to rise. At this rate, there might be a few people left.

“Look, Ye Feng is going on the stage!” The appearance of those top-tiered geniuses naturally attracted more attention than Liu Wuxie, and countless gazes turned to Ye Feng.

“I surrender!” Ye Feng’s opponent admitted retreat before the battle even began. This was to prevent humiliation, and everyone was gambling on luck now.

For example, someone in the third level of the True Core Realm ran into Ji Xinghe and was brutally eliminated. A third-level True Core Realm expert could have made it into the top hundred, but unfortunately, he ran into Ye Feng.

If there weren’t a hundred people left, the envoys would pick from the eliminated participants to make up for the numbers.

Mu Hongyang, Shui Huan, Yuwen Tianqian, and Xiao Wenlai took turns to go to the arena, but their opponents surrendered without any hesitation.

All the battles finally ended at sunset, and only ninety people were left. There were some whose lives were left behind in the arena forever.

Those who advanced danced around excitedly while those who failed lowered their heads. They were only one step away from entering the cultivation world.

The ten envoys came down to the monuments and picked some elites to fill the hundred slots.

“Next would be the ranking match. Like in previous years, those who make it into the top ten would be rewarded with an earth-grade martial technique, and the top three would receive an earth-grade martial technique along with a cultivation technique of similar grade. The second would receive both, including a spiritual treasure. As for the first place, he would receive an additional Everlasting Pill aside from the three.” This time, it was Xi Jian who spoke instead of Jiang Kaicheng.

The rewards rotated among the ten major sects, and it was the Transcendent Plume Gate this year. This was to encourage everyone to compete for a good ranking. Simultaneously, this was to determine who had the higher ranking.

“Everlasting Pill? The Everlasting Pill? It was rumored that it could allow one to advance one realm unconditionally!” The crowd erupted. An earth-grade martial technique, a cultivation technique, and a spiritual treasure were enough to drive everyone insane. However, they hadn’t expected there to be an Everlasting Pill.

Liu Wuxie narrowed his eyes with a faint smile rising on his lips. The two techniques weren’t essential, but the Everlasting Pill was crucial. After all, it would be a fresh start in the cultivation world. The higher his starting point, the more resources he would receive.

Someone in the second level of the True Core Realm was too low in the cultivation world.

Ye Feng, Ji Xinghe, and everyone had excitement in their eyes. They were stuck in the fourth-level True Core Realm. If they could obtain the Everlasting Pill, they could use it to reach the fifth level, which also meant they would have a higher authority in the cultivation world.

“Draw lots! The rules are the same: determining the top fifty, top twenty, and top ten!” Jiang Kaicheng took out a box for everyone to draw lots.

When a hundred people ascended, they couldn\'t contain their excitement, knowing this was crucial for obtaining the Everlasting Pill.

Liu Wuxie was ranked at the last, and only one number plate was left in the box.

“Number one!” Liu Wuxie was surprised to see the number plate, and this was too coincidental. However, having reached this point, there was no room for retreat, and he went straight to the first arena.

When Liu Wuxie landed in the arena, a figure landed before him. When their eyes met, fighting spirits burst out from them.

“It’s the Black Chu Empire’s Thousand Hands Buddha Gong Gaomiao!” Exclamations came from the surroundings because Liu Wuxie ran into a formidable opponent in the first round.

Gong Gaomiao might not be the strongest in the Black Chu Empire, but he was only second compared to Ye Feng. He was also in the fourth-level True Core Realm.

His fame might be slightly inferior to Ye Feng, but that didn’t mean he was a pushover.

Gong Gaomiao received the nickname Thousand Hands Buddha because he practiced a palm technique resembling a barrage of attacks.

Even Ye Feng would find him a formidable opponent, and Ye Feng won narrowly in their fights. Thus, one could imagine Gong Gaomiao\'s power; he wasn’t ordinary.

“Liu Wuxie, you can die now!” Gong Gaomiao said. His words weren’t mockery or threat but a plain declaration of Liu Wuxie’s death.

The Black Chu Empire was one step away from the dragon bone, but Liu Wuxie had seized it. Thus, they had been holding resentment in their hearts.

“Likewise!” Liu Wuxie had already anticipated this outcome when Gong Gaomiao went on stage. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at Jiang Kaicheng, a chill radiating from him. After all, it was too much of a coincidence for his first opponent to be someone from the Black Chu Empire. He was confident that Jiang Kaicheng had played some tricks.

Murderous intent enveloped the entire arena, with thousands of people in the surroundings focused on the stage. They were curious if Liu Wuxie would die in this battle.

After killing Wu Zheng and obtaining over a hundred strands of dragon auras, Liu Wuxie now had over two hundred strands.

“Eat my palm!” Gong Gaomiao shot out like a stallion, clasping his hands together to form seals. A bizarre scene occurred next as his hands manifested into a Buddha clasping its hands with chants capable of disrupting people’s thoughts.

The incoming attack was imbued with soul energy, and this was Liu Wuxie’s first time encountering something like this. The crimson blade and Soul Captivating Bell he had previously encountered weren’t considered martial techniques.

Gong Gaomiao appeared a meter away from Liu Wuxie in a fraction of a second, striking down with his palm. He roared, “Assembly of Myriad Buddhas!”

Countless Buddhas appeared, clasping their hands with chants burrowing into Liu Wuxie’s mind.

However, the discomfort was soon alleviated when Liu Wuxie circulated his soul energy. His gaze pierced through all the incoming attacks when he executed Ghost Eye.

“Overlord Fist!” Liu Wuxie threw a punch without any warning. He might’ve reached the limit with the Overlord Fist, but the power was horrifying after being executed by his true essence, which contained a strand of dragon aura.

All the incoming palms exploded from the Overlord Fist’s impact. This time, Liu Wuxie didn’t use his blade but engaged in bare-handed combat.

The impact produced a powerful shockwave that separated Liu Wuxie and Gong Gaomiao. When they retreated, the shockwave began to spread, causing creaking sounds in the arena.

“This is impossible!” Exclamations came from the surroundings because Gong Gaomiao was in the fourth-level True Core Realm. No one could accept it when they saw he and Liu Wuxie were evenly matched.

Ye Feng’s face changed, and he finally realized the direness of the situation. Liu Wuxie’s strength might exceed their imagination.

Only Fan Lin retrieved a drumstick from his interspatial pouch and began to gnaw on it. No one understood Liu Wuxie’s talent better than him, and he didn’t dare to go against the arrangement with the young missy.

“Fourth-level True Core Realm? Is this the best you got?” Liu Wuxie asked, already having a rough gauge of Gong Gaomiao’s strength from the previous clash.

His mockery made Gong Gaomiao furious, and he clasped his hands together to unleash even more ferocious attacks. His palms enveloped the sky, forming a thick layer of thunderclouds.

The clouds began to change and manifested into a giant Buddha, descending like a mountain.

The arena finally couldn’t withstand the pressure and showed signs of breaking apart. Liu Wuxie stood in the center of the arena, and anyone could imagine the pressure he felt.

“I know this move! It’s called World Annihilation Buddha!” Those gathered around the arena waved their hands in excitement to witness this formidable technique. This should be Gong Gaomiao’s strongest attack. But if he couldn’t kill Liu Wuxie with it, he would have to bear Liu Wuxie’s wrath next.

Destructive shockwaves spread out, sending those close to the arena flying away and preventing them from getting closer.

A series of rumbles and thunder flashed from the sky. A giant ‘卍’ representing the Buddhist Race’s swastika appeared in the sky.

In the Celestial Realm, there were many races besides humans. There were Buddhist, Dragon, Abyssal, Demon Races, and many more.

Each race had its own culture, and ‘卍’ represented the highest spirit of the Buddhist Race.

Liu Wuxie didn’t dare to be careless and clasped his hands together if he failed. He didn’t practice any palm techniques, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know how palm techniques worked.

Based on his experience, every palm technique could produce a miraculous effect. Each rune hovered in the sky, changing the ten envoys’ faces.

“Spiritual rune!” Xi Jian exclaimed. The aura of the spiritual runes was far stronger than they had imagined. No one could contain their composure, not even Fan Lin.

Not only was Gong Gaomiao talented in the martial path, but he also knew the art of spiritual runes. Was there such an all-rounded genius in the world?

As the spiritual runes converged, they formed a palm that looked plain and ordinary. However, if the Buddhist race used it, it would be on a whole new level.

This seemingly plain palm made everyone’s hearts tremble. Gong Gaomiao felt a strong threat of danger because Liu Wuxie\'s ability to maintain his composure showed he wasn’t simple.

“Liu Wuxie, die!” Gong Gaomiao controlled the Buddha to descend without any hesitation. Facing this move would be certain death, even for someone in the fourth level of the True Core Realm.

The entire arena began to collapse under the pressure.

“That brat is finally going to die!” Those from the Black Chu Empire gloated, relieved to see Liu Wuxie’s demise.

Countless ‘卍’ symbols converged into golden radiance enveloping the arena. Liu Wuxie was like a raft on the vast ocean, and the golden radiance represented seawater that would engulf him at any moment.

“Kill me? This isn’t enough!” Hundreds of spiritual runes converged to form a net hovering before Liu Wuxie, pressing towards the Buddha.